This month in gay history

August 2, 1981: PFLAG is founded in Los Angeles by Adele Starr. Today PFLAG has 200,000 members in 500 affiliates nationwide.

August 2, 2005: the California Supreme Court rules that businesses must treat the state's domestic partnerships in the same way they treat ordinary marriages.

August 3, 1982: Michael Hardwick is arrested in his Atlanta home while having sex with another man. The arrest led to Bowers v. Hardwick, the 1986 Supreme Court decision which held that private, consensual sex between gay men was not protected by the Constitution. This decision was reversed in 2003, when the court ruled, in Lawrence v. Texas, that adults had a fundamental right to engage in private, consensual gay sex.

August 8, 1973: the American Bar Association calls for the repeal of state laws barring homosexual acts between consenting adults.

August 12, 2004: the California Supreme Court rules that the 3,995 same-sex marriages that took place in San Francisco earlier that year are illegal and void.

August 15, 1981: The Celluloid Closet, Vito Russo's groundbreaking book about gays in film, appears in bookstores.

August 22, 1966: The first national convention of gay and lesbian groups gathers in San Francisco. Originally called the National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations, it later became the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations.

August 22, 2005: the California Supreme Court rules that gays and lesbians who are non-biological parents of their children have the same legal rights as heterosexuals who are non-biological parents.

August 28, 1981: The Centers for Disease Control announces that cases of Kaposi's sarcoma are inexplicably increasing across the United States, and more than 90 percent of the cases affect gay men.

August 28, 1982: The first Gay Olympics (changed later to Gay Games, after a lawsuit) opens in San Francisco.

* Information courtesy of the GLBT Historical Society

What to wear to your gay wedding

I think these are adorable. Click here for more.

Coolest thing I've ever seen at a First Friday

First Fridays take place the first Friday of every month, from 6-9 p.m., in Denver's Santa Fe Art District (Santa Fe Drive from 5th Ave. to 10th Ave.) It always draws big fun crowds and always features the fabulous works of local and international artists at over 30 galleries.

Tomorrow's First Friday is also the 1st Annual Denver’s Art Day on Santa Fe. There will be live music will including Funk & Groove Band: Freddie Henchie, Contemporary Band: Wide Open, Brass Jazz Band: O-Tone, Jazz Band: Jill Carr Orchestra.

Here are two clips of the coolest thing I've ever seen at First Friday ... a drivable alligator that breathes fire. Did you hear me? I said a DRIVABLE ALLIGATOR THAT BREATHES FIRE!

Check out the 'Avenue Q' podcast

Join Avenue Q creators Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx as they discuss the evolution of the show, Princeton and Kate Monster visit with actors Howie Michael Smith and Mary Faber plus Rod, Nicky, the Bad Idea Bears, Lucy the Slut and Trekkie have a little fun along way too. Be sure to take a stroll around the neighborhood courtesy of the free Masterworks Broadway/Avenue Q Podcast - available on iTunes.

'If You Were Gay' from Avenue Q

Funny stuff.

The one you've been waiting for: Avenue Q tickets go on sale this Sunday

AVENUE Q is the smash-hit Broadway musical about real life in New York City, as told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent, Tony-winning book and score. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical will make its Denver debut at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, running September 9 – 21. Tickets go on sale this Sunday at 10 a.m.


AVENUE Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone's looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a "purpose." Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that "the real world" isn't so bad, after all!

The New York Times hailed AVENUE Q as "a breakthrough musical of a very different stripe…savvy, sassy and delicious!" and Entertainment Weekly claimed it was "one of the funniest shows you're ever likely to see!"

AVENUE Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and direction by Jason Moore. Puppet design is by Rick Lyon, musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

Single tickets for AVENUE Q start at just $25. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303-893-4100. Tickets may also be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby, or at the Guest Services Desk at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. TicketsWest outlets are located in all King Soopers stores. Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org.

Six lawncare tips from a gay man who works for Denver Water

With it being one of the hottest and driest summers on record, here are a few tips from Denver Water on taking care of your lawn in such extreme conditions:

1. Now is a good time to aerate your lawn because it helps water get to the roots.
2. Bluegrass goes dormant in extreme heat. It's not dying – you don't have to pour on extra water.
3. Don't water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. It's bad for your lawn and against Denver Water's rules.
4. Make sure your sprinklers are watering evenly.
5. Deal with a dry spot by hand-watering that spot in the evening.
6. Doing regular fertilization – spring & fall is wise, though now is not a good time to fertilize. Wait until it cools off in September (chemicals burn the grass right now).

And be sure to look into xeriscaping if you've got some landscaping to do.


* click to embiggen

Controlled Chaos at First Friday

Denver Area Tennis Enthusiasts picnic

DATE does not have court permits for Saturday this week (8/2). Instead, they're having a picnic at Congress Park (8th Avenue & Josephine) starting at 11 a.m. The group will be at the picnic tables next to the tennis courts and there should be some open courts if you can brave the heat. Contact DATE at DenverAreaTennis.net to RSVP.

Monday evening tennis is also back at City Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. DATE plays on courts 1 - 4.

Check out Examiner.com today for a DNC blogstravaganza

Examiner.com has dedicated today to the DNC and every single one of us Examiners (I'm Denver's Gay Examiner in case you didn't know) has committed to posting, in our respective fields, about the upcoming Democratic National Convention to be held here in Denver at the end of August.

Head on over to read such bloggerific posts as:
Barack 'n' Roll
What Does Your Style Say About Your Political Views?
Looking to do some celeb watching during DNC week? Check out these DNC hot-spots
DNC Housing Shortage!!