Catching Up With Frankie Grande

By contributing writer Jason Kelly

You’ve seen him up on the Broadway stage, starring as Franz in “Rock of Ages,” blowing up social media with his “Grandetourage” of millions of followers, and of course, stirring things up as a contestant on CBS-TV’s “Big Brother.” Frankie J. Grande never seems to slow down. After watching his sister headline White Party’s 25^th Anniversary last year, Frankie is set to serve as the 2015 White Party Ambassador for Uber-party producer Jeffrey Sanker’s annual desert extravaganza.   White Party Palm Springs 2015 happens April 24-27, 2015.  For more information, visit:  www.jeffreysanker.com

Luckily, we were able to catch up with the booty-shaking, globetrotting media personality and philanthropist. Here’s what he had to say….

You seem so comfortable on stage, but what was the most difficult part of being in “Rock of Ages?” The most challenging times were juggling the non-stop press schedule producers set up for me while simultaneously learning the show/opening in the show, but now that everything has settled in I couldn't feel more happy and at home – I’m in the groove!

What advice would you give other gay men or lesbians hoping to compete on “Big Brother?” I'd give the same advice to them that I would give to anyone, it's a game, walk in with a shell protecting your heart and your inner core, and play to win EVERYTHING.  And of course, always be yourself. 

What was your reaction when Jeffrey Sanker asked you to be his “White Party Ambassador?” I was absolutely thrilled, last year was the first time I went to the White Party and I fell in love with everything about it. It's such a great celebration of life and making new friends and new experiences and I'm honored to have been selected as the ambassador for this year. 

You aren’t a White Party virgin, are you?  What was your first White Party experience like? Last year I came with my sister and she was the headliner, so as you can imagine it was extremely exciting, and extremely gay- can't wait!!

How long will you be staying White Party weekend? Will you be enjoying all that Palm Springs has to offer? Who's offer? Hahaha, seriously though I have not yet made plans- but I would love to stay and enjoy the many splendors the welcoming City of Palm Springs has to offer.  I hear the tram ride up to the snow covered mountain top is an amazing experience.

Will your White Party white carpet outfit be as daring as what you wore to the AMA Awards? Absolutely! It will be even more so. This is the opportunity to go Grande or Go Home!  Get ready Palm Springs for my walk down the white carpet and my hosting duties with Kelly Osbourne.

Do you run your own twitter account?  Will you be tweeting LIVE from White Party?  (Here is a chance to shamelessly plug all your social media!) I do run my own Twitter account and I will be live tweeting. Follow me on everything and all weekend long at White Party Palm Springs @frankiejgrand!

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s White Party Palm Springs? I always love the musical performances, so I'm really looking forward to whoever Jeffrey has up his sleeve this year.  His talent choices over the year always surprised and amaze!

What has your gym regimen been to get yourself in shape, pumped up and prepared for White Party? I'll be in Soul Cycle three days a week, getting snatched for the Gods! 

What’s next for Frankie Grande? I’m not ready to talk about my next project yet, but when I am, you will be the first to know. 

Freedom to Work Reacts to Exxon-Mobil Adding Protections for LGBT Employees

Statement by Tico Almeida, founder and President of Freedom to Work, on news that Exxon-Mobil has finally added protections for LGBT employees.  Almeida is a civil rights attorney who brought forward the historic and currently pending lawsuit Freedom to work v. ExxonMobil in Illinois in 2013:
 
"Exxon's management deserves little credit for finally adopting the LGBT fairness policies they have rejected year after year for almost two decades, but this is an important victory for the company's current LGBT employees and future LGBT job applicants,

It's obvious Exxon is making these changes now because of mounting legal pressure and the impending risk of losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts thanks to President Obama's executive order."

We will continue prosecuting our civil rights lawsuit against Exxon in Illinois because the corporation should be held accountable for its discriminatory actions from the recent past. We will also remain vigilant and file new cases, including under the Obama executive order, based on any new evidence of discrimination that we find at Exxon. The new policy is a good step, but it must be implanted meaningfully to prevent future anti-LGBT discrimination at Exxon."

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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 to Drew Wilson at Drew@milehighgayguy.com.

LGBT Youth Deserve To Learn in Environments Free From Harassment and Bullying

Today, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the bipartisan reintroduction of the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). SSIA would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to require school districts in states that receive ESEA funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and religion.

“All of our nation’s children deserve to learn in environments free from harassment and bullying,” said David Stacy, HRC Government Affairs Director. “Bullying and harassment of LGBT students - as well as students perceived to be LGBT - is heartbreakingly widespread and leads to dangerous situations that no young person should have to face. This bill would go a long way in helping to change that sad reality and make an important difference in the lives of so many of our nation’s youth.”

“Bullying is a challenge that impacts far too many children and families across the country,” said Senator Casey. “Right now only 17 states have anti-bullying laws that contain protections for members of the LGBT community- that has to change. With the advent of text-messaging, social media, and social networking, many children find they cannot escape the harassment when they go home at night. It follows them from the moment they wake until the moment they go to sleep. This legislation will ensure that school districts across the country take proactive steps to combat bullying and protect children.”

"1 in 4 kids have been bullied more than once, and with my Student Leadership Advisory Board in Illinois we are working on ways to end bullying and cyberbullying in Illinois and across the country,” said Senator Kirk. “Every child deserves a safe environment, free of harassment, in which they can learn."

Books: Not Too Cocksure by Mark Freden

Mica Daly is an aggressive, ambitious on-camera entertainment reporter. Chad Martin is a strikingly handsome cater-waiter and ambitious, driven aspiring actor. When their two worlds collide at a dinner party in the Hollywood Hills, Mica and Chad’s lives -- and bodies -- become inextricably intertwined in the first book in author Marc Freden’s new book Not Too Cocksure. 

“It has been said that my novels have all the steaminess of a 50 Shades of Gay and the Hollywood-insider deliciousness of Jackie Collins, which I consider a compliment,” says Freden. “All my characters are drawn from, or are a pastiche of, real Hollywood personalities. People have asked me if certain incidents in the book have really happened. And the answer is yes!”

Matthew Shepard Is A Friend Of Mine Screens In Denver On Feb. 27

Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine will begin a theatrical rollout in twelve cities during February 2015, following a year of acclaim on the festival circuit. The film comes to Denver's AMC Cherry Creek 8 on Friday, Feb. 27. 

Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, Michele Josue's debut and the first film helmed by someone from Matt's life, is an intimate tribute to the young man she knew, the young man behind the story that rocked the nation and caused outcry around the world in 1998.  Josue's journey took her across the United States, Switzerland and Morocco and the heartfelt result has screened at over two dozen festivals worldwide. 

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore Urges Governor to Ignore Federal Marriage Equality Ruling

In a letter dated January 27th and obtained by AL.com, Roy S. Moore, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court wrote to Governor Robert Bentley to express his outrage over recent rulings striking down the state’s ban on marriage equality.

Moore, who famously ignored a federal judicial order to remove a large sculpture of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judicial Building, continues to see the wisdom of ignoring binding orders from higher judicial authorities.

“I ask you to continue to uphold and support the Alabama Constitution with respect to marriage,” Moore urged Governor Bentley, “both for the welfare of this state and for our posterity. Be advised that I stand with you to stop judicial tyranny and any unlawful opinions issued without constitutional authority.”

In response to the letter, HRC Alabama director Ashley Jackson issued the following statement:

“There’s something deeply ironic about a judge seeking the right to ignore another judge’s ruling while crying ‘judicial activism.’ The federal constitution guarantees the equal protection of the law for all Americans, and, sooner rather than later, that equality must come to Alabama’s families, too.”

Moore has previously spoken out against marriage equality. In 2012, at a rally of the DeKalb County Tea Party, Moore said, “same sex marriage will be the ultimate destruction of our country because it destroys the very foundation upon which this nation is based.”

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade struck down Alabama’s marriage ban in the case Searcy v. Strange, ruling that the marriage of plaintiffs Cari Searcy and Kimberly McKeand should be recognized under the federal constitution’s equality principle. The judge issued a second ruling striking down the marriage ban today, in response to a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs James Strawser and John Humphrey. The rulings are stayed until February 9th, and the matter is now on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Denver Named One of WalletHub's 2015’s Best Cities for Football

With Super Bowl XLIX just days away and football being the most followed sport in the U.S., the leading personal finance social network WalletHub followed up on its Super Bowl XLIX By the Numbers infographic with an in-depth analysis of 2015’s Best & Worst Cities for Football Fans.
To identify the best cities for football fans, WalletHub analyzed 142 U.S. cities with at least one college or professional football team based on 11 key metrics, ranging from the number of NFL and college football teams to average ticket prices.
 

	Best Cities for Football Fans			Worst Cities for Football Fans
	1	Green Bay, WI		133	El Paso, TX
	2	East Lansing, MI		134	Norfolk, VA
	3	Pittsburgh, PA		135	Lexington, KY
	4	Denver, CO		136	Winston-Salem, NC
	5	Tuscaloosa, AL		137	Albuquerque, NM
	6	San Francisco, CA		138	Colorado Springs, CO
	7	Dallas, TX		139	Akron, OH
	8	Cincinnati, OH		140	Mobile, AL
	9	Boston, MA		141	Tulsa, OK
	10	Minneapolis, MN		142	Las Vegas, NV

Key Stats

• The performance level of the NFL team is four times higher in Denver than in Jacksonville, Fla.
   
• The performance level of the college football team(s) is 11 times higher in Columbus, Ohio, than in Moscow, Idaho.
   
• The average ticket price for an NFL game is two times higher in Boston than in Cleveland.
   
• The number of sports bars per capita is 37 times higher in Morgantown, W.Va., than in Evanston, Ill.
   
• The viewership rate for NFL games is three times higher in Green Bay, Wis., than in Oakland, Calif.

Attorney Scott Squillace Discusses The Legal and Tax Issues Faced By Gay And Lesbian Couples

For same-sex couples, the decision to marry is not as simple as saying, “I do.” Complex issues due to recent court and legislative actions, which affect couples in some states differently than those in other states, have created a complex web of legal and tax issues for same-sex couples. Whether To Wed: A Legal And Tax Guide For Gay And Lesbian Couples, by Scott Squillace, Esq., provides an in-depth look at the legal and tax consequences of marriage, and is an invaluable tool with practical suggestions for both married couples and those contemplating marriage.

The Pros of Getting Married:
Income Tax: By filing a joint tax return, married couples whose incomes are different may be eligible for a lower tax rate, known as the “marriage bonus.” Refunds may now be available for already married same-sex couples who paid too much over the past three years.

Estate Tax: States that have an estate tax and that recognize same-sex marriages allow an unlimited marital deduction for a surviving spouse. The federal government now also recognizes the marital deduction – so no estate tax will be due for a surviving spouse.

Social Security: Same-sex couples are eligible for Social Security spousal benefits at retirement, when disabled, or at one spouse’s death, as long as they reside in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage.

Private Pension/Retirement Benefits: Following the Supreme Court decision, the Department of Labor stated that the term “spouse,” when pertaining to employee benefit plans, shall include same-sex spouses, even if the employee resides in a state that does not recognize the marriage.

The Cons of Getting Married:

Income Tax: Married couples whose incomes are both high may be subject to higher income tax rates and fewer deductions since they will now be required to file as “married” – known as the “marriage penalty.”

Medicaid: Since the assets and income of both spouses are considered for determining eligibility, being married can be a handicap if one spouse has income and assets that cause the couple to be above the eligibility limits. This can affect eligibility for nursing home care.

Divorce: If a married couple lives in a non-recognition state, even if lawfully married in a recognition state, divorce can be tricky, or even impossible.

How to Put Your Inner Child in Time Out - 3 Ways to Retrain Your Brain & Put the Adult in Charge

The human brain is a wonder of the universe, but our understanding of it can seem contradictory, says Steven Jay Fogel, author of the new book Your Mind Is What Your Brain Does for a Living.

“On the one hand, we’re often told of those crucial years that our brain develops in childhood, when we’re rapidly progressing in development of our language and other skills, and our preadolescent and teenage years, when our brains undergo a sort of second Big Bang of learning,” says Fogel.

“But although it may seem that the brain is pretty much set by adulthood, it remains malleable throughout adulthood; it continues to change as we learn and adapt.”

Most of us are unaware that elements of our inner child’s development are constantly tugging atus, and we don’t have a clue that it’s happening, he says. In Jungian therapy there’s a concept called the dark side, or shadow side, the place in our unconscious to which certain feelings and thoughts are banished because they don’t support our image of ourselves, he says.

The Gay Vegans: Is your place of faith anti gay?

By Dan Hanley

So many churches and other places of faith express that they "welcome all". Many have cool pastors or clergy or whoever leads them. They are friendly, loving and seem like awesome places to worship.

But many of them are anti gay. To be specific, they believe that gay people are going to hell. To be a little more specific, they believe that gay people who have sex are going to hell.

They might not talk about it. They might try to convince you that no matter what you believe, no matter how many gay friends and/or family members you have, that being in a sexual gay relationship means hell.

They say things like "we're not against something we are just for Jesus" and "it's really between the person and God". Yet invariably something negative will be said about gay people. My favorite is when these same people refer to our marriage as "so called gay marriage".

I acknowledge that this is a difficult topic for many, and that biblically speaking it is a topic with a lot of feelings and emotions.

I also believe that it is well past time for equality-loving folks to stop supporting anti-equality places of faith.

One of the most difficult things for me to experience in my life is watching people I love, and who I know love me, support places of faith that teach that I am going to hell.

I see this often. I am reminded by it all of the time by posts I see on Facebook. It's heartbreaking.

It's heartbreaking because I know these folks love me, and Mike. I know they support us 100%.

Financially supporting places of faith that denigrate gay people, in any way, is taking action against gay people, against equality.

Our church does not believe that we are going to hell. There is absolute love for us as a married couple. Those who preach at our church believe fundamentally that our love, our marriage, is not "sin".

This is a tough topic for both of us. We both have experienced hate and persecution from religious people.

Please don't support them. As with many things, we can vote with our dollars.

Thanks for reading. 

This post originally appeared on Dan Hanley's website The Gay Vegans. Republished with permission.

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.

Film: What Can We Do? Bias, Bullying, and Bystanders

Now streaming free, see experienced educators in action using Welcoming Schools’ lessons to help students stand up for each other and have real conversations on bias and bullying.

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.