John Mandes, 1953-2008

I just heard the news that John Mandes, former Denverite and former news editor at Out Front Colorado, died in September of last year.

He and I only worked together at Out Front Colorado briefly but it was obvious that John was a man of talent and intellect and his professionalism definitely helped Out Front Colorado to make leaps and bounds as a newspaper.

Jason Wu: Inaugural designer 'outed'

Young designer Jason Wu has been in the news lately as the designer of Michelle Obama's inaugural gown but I first interviewed him in 2005 for a series of dolls he did for RuPaul and Amanda LaPore.

Towleroad's been doing a series of posts on the fact that Wu is allegedly upset at having been 'outed' in a recent interview but I referred to him as gay several times in my article five years ago and I know he and his people got copies of the paper and it wasn't a problem as far as I knew.

Maybe his family doesn't read Out Front Colorado.

But seriously, how did this guy ever think he was in the closet? He told me he played with Barbies as a kid and got his 'inspiration' from gay clubs.

Read the original interview after the jump.







A million DNC photos

Just in case you didn't get your fill of the DNC last week, Out Front Colorado's Matt Kailey provides us with about a million more awesome DNC photos.

Yes We Can!


Check out the other 999,999 photos after the jump.


Gov. Bill Ritter

Signs on the 16th Street Mall

Inside the Pepsi Center


Invesco Field




Obama

Recreate 68


Sheryl Crow

Stevie Wonder

Families for Obama

Joe Biden

Andrew Tobias

Obama

Obama

Rednecks for Obama

Al Gore

Anti-Gay Protesters

Demonstrators






Instinct's Denver Issue: Blind Date Second Stop: Starz FilmCenter

Starz FilmCenter is a great gay venue, with Cinema Q featuring GLBT-themed movies once a month at the very least. Cinema Q is sponsored by The GLBT Community Center of Colorado (The Center) and Out Front Colorado and has great offerings for everyone. Anyone looking for a good film, including you straight people out there, should check out Cinema Q as well as the other films at Starz FilmCenter. Our Blind Daters got a gift certificate (from Denver Film Society's Keith Garcia, left) to take in a future show and pig out on refreshments. Will they go together? Only time – and Instinct magazine – will tell. Remember, Denver is the featured city for the September issue of Instinct, on stands real soon. Find out more this week on MHGG.

MileHighGayGuy in Out Front Colorado

OutFrontColorado.com mentions MileHighGayGuy today in a short piece on the Denver-themed September issue of Instinct.

Thanks, guys!

And congratulations to Matt Kailey for nabbing the opportunity to write the intro letter introducing gay Denver to the rest of the country. Thanks to this high profile assignment, Matt Kailey is the face of GLBT Denver. For the month of September at least. Then I'm coming for the title.





Here's our boy Matt posing a mile high.

So Sweet: Party tonight at the Sugar House

Tonight's sweetest party will be at The Sugar House, 1395 W. Alameda. There's no cover charge and you can enjoy an all-you-can-drink premium open bar for only $15. Mention Out Front Colorado when you walk in the door and you will be entered into a drawing to win free "ABBA: The Concert at Red Rocks" tickets with VIP access, courtesy of Out Front Colorado. Party at the Sugar House, 1395 W. Alameda tonight, July 18, with:

I haven't been to The Sugar House yet myself but OFC Sales Manager Lynette Elliott says, "The Sugar House is definitely an upscale bar that offers something for everyone, with a DJ on site, great signature martinis and other drinks, and a really fun, outgoing staff."

Nanananana, bats!

My good friend Matt Kailey, who I am going to see Batman with tonight, just sent me these photos of a real live bat that is currently hanging out at the Out Front Colorado offices. Coincidence? No such thing!

Out Front Colorado party at Fortune Valley

A big gay bus trip to a casino? Count me in!

* click to embiggen

Out Front Colorado presents MAMMA MIA! at JR's

Out Front Colorado will be throwing a MAMMA MIA! singalong party at JR's tomorrow night (Friday, July 11) beginning at 9 p.m. Prizes will be given away throughout the night and will include tickets to a special advance screening of MAMMA MIA!, the movie.

MileHighGayGuy/Drew Wilson featured in Out Front Colorado

Many thanks to my friends (and former employers) at Out Front Colorado for being so kind as to feature me in their current PrideFest issue (on stands now!).


* click to embiggen

Do you want to be on the cover of Out Front Colorado?

Out Front Colorado is conducting a Cover Search at Pride events across Colorado through the month of June. Find their booth at these events and get a photo taken in front of their gigantic OFC background for a chance to make the cover of an upcoming issue. Get more information at Out Front Colorado and check out the videos below to see how it's done:

PrideFest issue of Out Front Colorado (including the Official PrideFest Pullout Guide) is on stands now (with articles by MileHighGayGuy)

Be sure to pick up the latest issue of Out Front Colorado. The first of two official PrideFest issues for this year, the May 38 edition of OFC features articles on the new Sex in the City movie, Trans 101, an interview with Aubrey Sarvis, El Futuro Community Center, Naughty Pierre, fabulous Las Vegas, and all of the rest of the regular OFC features and columns you've come to know and love over the years.

Yours truly has a piece on Bisexual Pride in the paper proper and one on Blogging for Pride in the PrideFest pullout. Read them after the jump.

Denver speaks out about California same-sex marriage affirmation

"I think it's a wonderful thing and I hope it doesn't get burned on the back end in the Supreme Court. It's good to have states' rights but we also need something national for the people who want to do that. For me personally, I think there are ways to affirm your relationship other than aping straight rituals but that's just my personal opinion." - Jerry, staff writer for Out Front Colorado

Denver speaks out about California same-sex marriage affirmation

"I think it’s an important decision and, no doubt, a groundbreaking one but there is a difference between gay marriage and marriage equality between same-sex couples so I think people need to keep that in mind. Also, we need to be aware that, coming up in November, there is a ballot initiative that will go before the voters of California that may overturn this whole thing. But if California can do it on the west coast and Massachusetts can do it on the east coast it’s really just a matter of time before it makes it through all the states. We need to remember that, yes, it is a victory but there is still a long fight ahead of us." - Greg Montoya, publisher of Out Front Colorado

Denver speaks out about California same-sex marriage affirmation

"Although I believe that there are many other issues out there that are equally or more important than an assimilationist version of marriage for same-sex couples, I still believe that this is a very important ruling and it's one step closer to legal equality and it should be celebrated." - Matt Kailey, author and managing editor of Out Front Colorado