Stonewall Fitness: By, For, and About Denver’s Gay Community!

David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group Fitness.

Smith specializes in exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes, personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars and workshops.

His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to make it accessible for everybody.

Denver Limo November Special for MileHighGayGuy Readers!

Denver Limo is offering a special deal for MileHighGayGuy readers through the month of November. Rent four hours and get two hours free!

Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog - MileHighGayGuy

Do you want to advertise to Denver’s gay community? Of course you do, it’s the 7th largest in the United States! And the best way to reach them is with MileHighGayGuy – Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.

"Bearracuda has placed ads on MileHighGayGuy.com for all of our Denver events and they've provided a huge exposure to our party! Between that and the shout-outs we get from MileHighGayGuy, we've seen our numbers grow and grow. Highly recommended!!" - Matt Mikesell, founder of Bearracuda.

Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

#DineSmall at Colorado Restaurants This Saturday

November 29th is Small Business Saturday, and this year organizations like the SBA and the National Restaurant Association are encouraging food fans to #DineSmall at local restaurants and watering holes in the evening.


Which are your favorite small restaurants in Denver?

Federal Judge Strikes Down Mississippi Marriage Ban

Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled in favor of equality, striking down Mississippi’s discriminatory constitutional amendment banning same-sex couples from marrying. Attorney Roberta Kaplan represented two plaintiff couples on behalf of Campaign for Southern Equality, arguing that Mississippi’s marriage ban violates the U.S. Constitution. Kaplan successfully argued United States v. Windsor against the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) before the Supreme Court of the United States last year. The Supreme Court’s ruling in that case has been cited in every state and federal court decision striking down state marriage bans since. Another case challenging the state marriage ban filed in state court – Czekala-Chatham v. Melancon – is on appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court after a judge denied a same-sex couple’s divorce petition, citing the state’s ban on recognition of out-of-state marriages between same-sex couples. This evening’s ruling comes just hours after a federal judge in Arkansas struck down that state’s ban on marriage equality.

“Judge Reeves’ ruling today affirms what we already know to be true – that all loving, committed Mississippi couples should have the right to marry,” said HRC Mississippi director Rob Hill. “However, there is still much to be done to advance equality here in the Magnolia State. For thousands of LGBT Mississippians, the reality remains that we risk being fired from over jobs, kicked out of our homes or refused service simply because of who we are and who we love—that’s not right. HRC Mississippi is here to ensure all Mississippians are treated with dignity and respect.”

Denver Lights up with Grand Illumination on Friday

The streets and buildings of Downtown Denver will light up for the holidays during this Friday's Grand Illumination! 

Hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights and entertainment will mark the festive occasion from Denver Union Station to the City & County Building, including the 16th Street Mall, Skyline Park, the D&F Tower and more.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains to Provide Free HIV Testing for World AIDS Day

In recognition of World AIDS Day on December 1, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) will provide free and confidential HIV testing at select health centers in Denver and Colorado Springs. PPRM is also doubling down on its vision of an AIDS-free generation by working in partnership with young people, communities of color, and people living with HIV to create the healthiest generation ever.  
                                                            
Since 2010, PPRM has offered free HIV testing on World Aids Day. Over the last year, PPRM health centers in Colorado provided 17689 rapid HIV tests as well as education and information to their patients.  They’ve also helped those patients who needed additional care, connected them with trusted, quality resources, and followed up with them to make sure they were cared for with the attention they needed.
“World Aids Day offers an opportunity to unite in the fight against HIV as we support PPRM’s mission to provide quality and affordable health care to all people, regardless of their economic or insured status”, said Savita Ginde, Vice President and Medical Director at PPRM.

According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV – and nearly one in six of those are not aware that they are infected.

“The only way to know for sure if a person has HIV is to get tested. Testing is relatively simple and will help prevent HIV from advancing to AIDS,” said C. Owen, Colorado’s Regional Director at PPRM.

“PPRM is committed to fighting for the world we want: a world with zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero discrimination,” said Amy Dickson, Vice President of Clinical Operations at PPRM.

'Test' Nominated for Film Independent's John Cassavetes Award

Film Independent, the non-profit organization that champions independent filmmakers announced yesterday that TEST from Writer/Director Chris Mason Johnson and Producer Chris Martin has been nominated for the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award, which is given to the best feature film made for under $500,000. Distributed by Wolfe Video, TEST is currently available on DVD as well as streaming and download on iTunes, WolfeOnDemand and other digital platforms. The 30th Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony is set to take place on February 21, 2015 in Santa Monica, CA. The show will air live on IFC.

Featuring standout performances from newcomer Scott Marlowe and Matthew Risch (HBO’s “Looking”), Test premiered at the Berlin Panorama and took home both the Best Screenplay and Best U.S. Feature Awards at LA's Outfest, as well as being hailed as a New York Times Critic’s Pick. Test was also the recipient of the San Francisco Film Society’s KRF Filmmaking Grant in 2013.

“Releasing accomplished films like Test is our reason for being,” says Wolfe president Maria Lynn. “We’re extremely proud of Chris and grateful to everyone at Film Independent for the amazing work they do supporting filmmakers."

Bent’s Fort Celebrates Holidays, 1840s-Style

Here's something different to do during the holidays; Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site will celebrate the holidays in 1840s fashion beginning on Friday evening, December 5 and continuing all through the day on Saturday, December 6.

Events begin with guided candlelight tours through the fort starting at 6:30 pm on Friday, December 5.  Groups depart at 15 minute intervals and are led through the rooms of the fort interacting with fort inhabitants preparing for or celebrating the holidays as they might have in 1846.  Reservations are needed for these tours.  As of November 25, about 75 slots remain for the Friday night tours.

On Saturday, December 6, festivities will continue all day.  The fort will open at 9 am with the first event being toy-making in the carpenter’s shop beginning at 9:30.  Wagon rides down to the river and through the woods will begin at 11 am.  Afternoon activities will include a taffy pull, more toy-making, a piñata break (2 pm), and a Yule log hunt (2:30 pm).  The fort will close at 4 pm and then reopen for candlelight tours at 5 pm.  No reservations remain for the candlelight tours on Saturday as all slots are already filled.

Even at an outpost far from home for many, the holidays were a memorable time for the men and women of the fort.  Over 50 living history volunteers will bring those times to life during this event and offer a glimpse into the meaning of the season for the fort’s diverse occupants.

Nadine Shah - Stealing Cars

Nadine Shah has released the video for her new single 'Stealing Cars.' The track, from her forthcoming album is now available via iTunes. Seemingly finding herself lost in a house of mirrors after dark, the kaleidoscopic clip spins and swirls around Shah, perfectly accompanying the track’s smoky wonder without detracting from its gritty guitars or Shah’s majestic vocal.

Deals and Discounts on Andrew Christian With MileHighGayGuy!

Andrew Christian is one of the largest retailer and manufacturers of men’s underwear on the web. They carry hundreds of styles from cutting edge basics to performance fabrics, to body enhancing designs and everything is made in sunny Los Angeles, California.

Click the pic to start your summer shopping today!

Gay Help Wanted: Work In the Gay Community as Part of Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Do you like working in and for the gay community? 

Are you friendly and outgoing?
 
Award-winning MileHighGayGuy.com is seeking advertising sales reps. The position requires someone who is self-motivated, detail-oriented and who, preferably, is familiar with the GLBT community. This is a contract position and pay will be commission-based.
 
To apply, email resume and references to Drew Wilson at Drew@milehighgayguy.com.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Arkansas’ Constitutional Ban on Marriage Equality

Today U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker struck down Arkansas’ ban on marriage equality, joining over three-dozen state and federal courts that have ruled such bans unconstitutional over the last year. In response to today’s ruling, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president and native Arkansan Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

"More than five hundred committed and loving gay and lesbian couples have already married in the state of Arkansas, and two separate courts have now both declared that the state's ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. There's no excuse for delaying justice even one more day. I am proud to be an Arkansan by birth, but I'll be even prouder when this shameful stain on the state Constitution is erased once and for all. Thanks to today's historic ruling and the courageous plaintiffs and attorneys who made it possible, that day is closer than ever before."

Judge Baker stayed the ruling, so no marriages will take place while the state decides whether to appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Last month the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order allowing the pro-marriage equality rulings from the Fourth, Seventh and Tenth Circuits to stand, immediately making marriage for same-sex couples possible in five new states – with many more following soon after. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned lower court rulings that struck down Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee bans on marriage equality. Up to that point, no state marriage ban had survived a federal circuit court ruling. The rulings out of the Sixth Circuit are now on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Same-sex couples can legally marry in thirty-five states and the District of Columbia, while fifteen states have a constitutional amendment restricting marriage to the union of one man and one woman. For more information on this and other marriage equality cases across the country, visit www.americansformarriageequality.org

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted For Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

Nice to See StevieB: Seven Years of StevieB

By StevieB

I'm having trouble believing that it's been seven years of the Nice To See StevieB blog.  Seven years ago today,  I began to post on the struggle of a full-grown man, coming to terms that he has a never-aging teen age girl trapped inside of him.

I do have to mark the occasion by saying that these years have been truly amazing. The blog has facilitated in bonding with amazing fellow bloggers and turning them into friends. Every year I celebrate my blog anniversary by saying, thank you.  Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog and for looking into my small corner of my homo-crazed world.  Seven years of blogging, sharing my struggles and fun adventures, thank you for stopping by for just a bit during your busy day.
I’m grateful for your time.

Seven years also marks:
The gaining of thirty pounds
The losing of thirty-five pounds
Three cars
Three jobs
Eight strangely themed vacations
Four iPhones
Six different hair styles.
One thousand seven hundred four trips to coffee shops to write.
Two thousand five hundred fifty-six cups of coffee
Countless guys in their twenties robbed of their virginity.
Two gay cruises (has it only been two?????)
Four years of school

One thousand two hundred four blog posts

Let's begin year number eight looking forward to the awaiting adventures. 

This post originally appeared on Steven Bennet's website Nice to See StevieB. Republished with permission.