I Need A Hero!

By Mona Lott

I’ve been under attack since I was a kid. The Gallegos family three houses down would throw snowballs at me, but they wrapped them in rocks first. Russell Harmon pushed me off my bike on my way home from first grade so he could beat me up. Mike Donovan tormented me every day in 7th grade gym class until I finally couldn’t take it anymore and I threw a full can of Arid Extra Dry spray deodorant at him narrowly missing his head and screamed, “LEAVE ME THE F**K ALONE!!” That temper and my sense of humor combined created a force shield so powerful that in high school they didn’t even bully me in person anymore, they wrote nasty shit on anonymous notes and had them passed to me so I didn't know who they came from. By the way Simon Suarez, I knew.

Now I’m approaching the ripe old age of fifty and even though those childhood wounds have healed leaving faint scars, I’m still being wounded every day. Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom law and makes intolerance and discrimination against the GLBT community legal. POW!

Then Ted Cruz, in one of many anti-gay statements, declared, “We look at the jihad that is being waged right now, in Indiana, and in Arkansas, going after people of faith who respect the biblical teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman." Sucker punch. "Hey, look over there!" BAM!!

In April, 700 Club leader Pat Robertson warned that if the Supreme Court strikes down bans on same-sex marriage, Christians in America will soon be “the victims of vicious, vicious attacks,” just like the angels who visited Sodom and were nearly raped by “virulent homosexuals.” WHAP!!

GOP Presidential hopeful, Ben Carson, makes the statement, "How I feel and what I think isn’t just my opinion. God in his Word says very clearly that he considers homosexual acts to be an ‘abomination.’" ZING!!

“Seeing that it is better that offenders should die rather than that all of us should be killed by God’s just wrath against us for the folly of tolerating-wickedness in our midst, the People of California wisely command, in the fear of God, that any person who willingly touches another person of the same gender for purposes of sexual gratification be put to death by bullets to the head or by any other convenient method ...” was in a ballot initiative submitted in March by California lawyer Matt McLaughlin. POW!! BANG!! ZONK!!

Earlier this week, US Cardinal Raymond Burke stated, ‘If homosexual relationships are intrinsically disordered, which indeed they are … then what would it mean to grandchildren to have present at a family gathering a family member who is living [in] a disordered relationship with another person? "If it were another kind of relationship – something that was profoundly disordered and harmful – we wouldn’t expose our children to that relationship, to the direct experience of it.’ And neither should we do it in the context of a family member who not only suffers from same-sex attraction, but who has chosen to live out that attraction, to act upon it, committing acts which are always and everywhere wrong, evil.’ KAPOW!! BIFF!! ZAP!!
And yesterday Bobby Jindal signed a newly refined law in Louisiana protecting businesses that refuse to serve same sex marriages. ZING!!

I need a hero!! No, strike that. I need a gay super villain who can live up to all the evil vile deeds that these so called God-fearing morons are accusing the GLBT community of. We are attacking Christians, even though many gays and lesbians also identify as Christian. We’ve been accused of making children gay, just by being in their presence, even though I don’t ever remember being around anyone gay until years after I had decided I was. Gays and Lesbians have been accused of causing floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. We’ve had the proverbial finger pointed at us as the catalyst for World Trade Center bombings, the Boston Marathon bombing and now, even a tragic Amtrak train crash.

Isis and her pretty headband

So it's become obvious to me that we are very powerful!! We have superhuman abilities that allow us to make foreign extremists carry out horrendous acts of terror. We have fairy tale magic that turns straight children gay; though I can’t fathom why we don’t use this magic in Hollywood on, say, Joe Manganiello or Ryan Gosling instead.

Like Isis, no, not that one, the pretty one with the headband from Saturday morning cartoons back when we had Saturday morning cartoons, we hold power over Mother Nature and the winds and the sea! The religious right is afraid of us; they are worried that we will make them all disappear long before the rapture has the opportunity.

So I propose that we all become Gay Super Villains!! I want to be called Rapture. Yes, like the Christian end of times, but even more like an overly floral scented perfume by some aging movie star or like the feeling I get just before a guy engulfs the whole of my being with in mouth. Pick your own Gay Super Villain name but I call dibs on Rapture.

Then create a costume built for the Gods, one that RuPaul would gag on and would make Bob Mackie drop to his knees in defeat. Grab your glitterbombs and put them in that utility belt and don’t forget a dildo of death, cock ring of torture and a cat o' nine tails for those moments when you’re alone with your Gay Super Villain sidekick.

Now head on down to the steps of your Capital Building or to that soapbox in the city park or to the gilded doors of the local Catholic Church and wreak havoc! Proclaim your evil desires while stroking the bald pussy in your lap and poking your pinky finger into the corner of your mouth. Lesbians, don't get mixed up; this isn't that kind of a protest! 

Call out Carson and Huckabee and Bobby Jindal as your arch nemesis and warn them of the coming doom you are planning. Dare them to try and stop you. Have your henchmen spring on the crowd and spray them with glitter and announce that you have now turned them gay. Call down the powers of the wind and threaten to destroy the whole town with a tornado powerful enough to turn Miss Gulch into an evil witch. Laugh maniacally and run around with your cape billowing behind you! Yes, own it! Be the Gay Super Villain they already see us as and if that doesn't finally stop the attacks, then get me several cans of Arid Extra Dry!

RNC to pass resolution for religious freedom bills

The Republican National Committee is expected to pass a resolution backing religious freedom bills on the state level, despite controversy over similar measures passed in Indiana and Arkansas. A committee pushed the resolution forward for a full vote by the 168-member group.

Anti-transphobia activists rally in Washington, D.C.

A rally and march against transphobia were held in Washington, D.C.. The events were organized to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

"Trans people of color are disproportionately impacted by structural oppression," said Lourdes Ashley Hunter of the Trans Women of Color Collective, who spoke out about treatment of trans people. "We are denied access to housing, health care. We are denied access to employment opportunities."

5 Actions the Obama Administration Can Take Immediately to Improve the Lives of LGBT Service Members & Veterans

Today, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense strongly urging him to update equal opportunity policies across the Department of Defense “to prevent discrimination, harassment or intimidation of service members based on sexual orientation” – an important step the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, has repeatedly called for. Today HRC thanked the Senators for their call to action and highlighted five steps the Obama Administration can take immediately in both the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to advance fairness and equality for our nation’s LGBT service members and veterans who continue to face unique challenges and discrimination even after the successful repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).

Today’s highlights are a first in a series focused on HRC’s 2015 Blueprint for Positive Change – a series of actions the administration can take to change the lives of LGBT Americans for the better. This first release highlights five specific areas that would make an immediate difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes who happen to be LGBT, including: revising restrictions on transgender individuals serving in the military; including non-discrimination protections for service members based on sexual orientation; ensuring transgender veterans have full access to transition related care; providing increased VA cultural competency training for service providers; and providing a blanket waiver to same-sex couples to ensure access to veteran’s burial rights regardless of state of residency.

“Since the overwhelmingly successful repeal of the discriminatory DADT policy, we’ve seen tremendous progress within both the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs for LGB service members, LGBT veterans, and their families, but there is clearly still important and significant progress to be made,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “We urge the Administration to continue the President’s legacy of profound progress for the LGBT community by updating the outdated regulations and policies - like the barriers for transgender service and equal opportunity programs - that continue to harm our nation’s LGBT service members and veterans.”

Five actions the Obama Administration can take immediately to improve the lives of LGBT service members and veterans include:

Department of Defense

• Revise Restrictions on Transgender Individuals Serving in the Military

There are approximately 15,500 actively serving transgender members of the U.S. military, making the Department of Defense (DOD) the largest employer of transgender people in America. These courageous service members are forced to serve in silence by DOD medical regulations prohibiting their service and requiring their separation from the military if discovered. These regulations are outdated and out of step with current medical practice. Unlike the statutory ban that interfered with lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members from serving (known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”) the ban on transgender military service is regulatory and only requires action by the Department of Defense to update. The Secretary of Defense should immediately direct the chief medical personnel in each service branch to update their medical regulations, which would pave the way for transgender military service. In addition, the Secretary of Defense should issue regulations that extend non-discrimination protections to transgender service members.

• Include Non-Discrimination Protections for Service Members Based on Sexual Orientation

Today’s bipartisan letter from U.S. Senators to the Secretary of Defense calls for this action, saying “The absence of formal equal opportunity protections [based on sexual orientation] not only undermines foundational American principles of fairness and equality, it also presents an unneeded risk to national security by negatively impacting the morale and readiness of our all-volunteer force.” Civilian Department of Defense employees may file a complaint for discrimination based on their sexual orientation. The regulations also prohibit retaliation of any kind for filing a complaint. Unfortunately, this same protection has not been extended to the uniform services, leaving many LGB service members with limited options for addressing incidents of discrimination and harassment for themselves and actions against their families. Service members also deserve these core protections. The Secretary of Defense should issue regulations that extend non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation in the military equal opportunity program.

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Ensure Transgender Veterans Have Full Access to Transition Related Care

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide the full range of medically necessary care to transgender veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs should revise its regulations to ensure transgender veterans have access to all medically necessary services and treatments for transition related care.

• Provide Increased Cultural Competency Training for Service Providers

Long-term discrimination by the federal government against LGBT service members has left many LGBT veterans hesitant that their needs will be met with care and attention, or has left them with the misunderstanding that they are not entitled to government services. The Department of Veterans Affairs should provide cultural competency training to service providers to ensure LGBT veterans are comfortable coming out to their service providers and to ensure LGBT veterans are receiving respectful, appropriate care.

• Provide a Blanket Waiver to Same-Sex Couples to Ensure Access to Veterans’ Burial Rights Regardless of State of Residency

Burial rights for the spouse of a veteran are determined by the validity of the marriage in the state of residence. Many same-sex couples continue to live in states that fail to recognize their marriages, and sadly, some veterans passed away before marriage equality arrived in their home state. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs is making determinations about whether the same-sex spouse of a veteran in a non-marriage equality state can be buried in a national cemetery on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Veterans Affairs should provide a blanket waiver to same-sex couples to ensure access to veterans’ burial rights regardless of the state of the couples’ residency.

The entire 2015 Blueprint for Positive Change can be found here.

Nathan Sykes - Kiss Me Quick

Nathan Sykes has released the music video for his highly anticipated debut solo single "Kiss Me Quick."

The song comes hot on the heels of Nathan Sykes announcing his solo career following five years with The Wanted. Nathan is busily working on new music with some of the biggest producers in the music industry, including Diane Warren, Babyface, Harmony Samuels and UK based LDN noise.

HRC Urges Boy Scouts of America to Take Full Step to Equality by Adopting National Policy of LGBT Inclusion

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today acknowledged the movement of the Boy Scouts of America and its president, Robert Gates, toward broader inclusion, but reiterated its call to make full LGBT equality a national policy.

“We welcome as a step in the right direction President Gates’ announcement that the organization will not revoke the charters of chapters that welcome LGBT Scout leaders and employees,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “But, as we have said many times previously, half measures are unacceptable, especially at one of America’s most storied institutions.”

“It’s time for BSA leaders to show true leadership and embrace a full national policy of inclusion that does not discriminate against anyone because of who they are,” Griffin said.

HRC finds it heartening that Gates in his speech today characterized the discriminatory position is “unsustainable,” and we look for a day very soon that the the policy is also an artifact of history.

Earlier this year, when the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America hired an openly gay man to serve as a summer Scout camp leader, HRC called on the organization and President Gates to move quickly to end the outdated policy of excluding LGBT adults from serving as volunteers and employees.

Magic Mike XXL reveals new poster

Magic Mike XXL revealed a brand new poster today. And in case you missed it, you can see the new trailer here.

Röyksopp - I Had This Thing

Here is the brand new video for Röyksopp’s new single ‘I Had This Thing’ featuring Jamie Irrepressible - taken from their recent album ‘The Inevitable End’. (Dog Triumph via Cherrytree/Interscope.)

Give OUT Day: One Colorado

Today is Give OUT Day, a day when the LGBT community and allies come together to support organizations that advance LGBT equality. You have until midnight tonight to join thousands of supporters across the country investing what they can in LGBT causes -- big and small.

You have 24 hours to support LGBT equality on Give OUT Day. Click here to chip in $10, $25, or $50 to support the work of One Colorado.

One Colorado works every day to ensure that all students -- including LGBT young people -- feel safe in their own schools and feel empowered to stand up for what they believe is right. As part of this work, One Colorado’s GSA Network has provided thousands of students with the skills they need to be leaders in their schools and in their communities.

Can you take a moment to chip in $10, $25 or $50 to support these efforts on Give OUT Day?

Give OUT Day 2015: National LGBTQ Task Force

With all the talk about multi-million dollar campaigns for LGBTQ rights, do you wonder how you can make your mark on history? Do you feel like your small but meaningful gift won’t be recognized and might get lost in the mix? That’s what Give OUT Day is about, giving all folks a chance to help raise the critical funds to support equality and freedom with a HUGE impact, together.

Without you, we won’t have the resources to get our programs off the ground, our team in the field, and our butts on the front line to create real change in communities across the country.

Today folks from all over the country will open their hearts and wallets to raise critical funds for the LGBTQ community by taking part in the 3rd Annual Give OUT Day.
Support the Task Force today with a Give OUT Day gift of $20, $42 or even $280 (in 28 states there are no explicit state level non-discrimination protections!).
This year’s Give OUT Day happens a few weeks before the Supreme Court will come back with its decision on marriage equality.
By choosing to give to the National LGBTQ Task Force on Give OUT Day 2015, you’ll be throwing your support behind the work to help solve problems that affect all sorts of folks, not just LGBTQ folks.

CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS: SOAR, FLY AND ZIP ACROSS COLORADO THIS SUMMER

Colorado is known for its world-class skiing, riding and high-octane winter pursuits, but during the summer months, Colorado boasts a wide assortment of adventure activities, especially for adrenalin junkies. While many enjoy rafting the state’s first-rate rapids and biking down rugged mountain terrain, Colorado also offers a variety of attractions for those in search of a thrill. From ziplining across the Rockies in Crested Butte or Steamboat Springs, to walking across a ropes course 65 feet in the air in Salida, or shooting out over a canyon on a Giant Canyon Swing in Glenwood Springs, the state is bustling with adventure. After the jump is a sampling of activities that are sure to get the heart racing. 

 

Transgender woman Michelle Norsworthy wins parole hearing

Today, Transgender Law Center and Michelle Norsworthy celebrated the outcome of a hearing that found Michelle suitable for parole, pending review by the Governor. Typically, a person who receives parole is released within five to six months of the parole board’s decision. The Ninth Circuit also today granted the state’s request for a stay of Judge Tigar’s order requiring CDCR to provide Michelle the medical care she needs, and set a hearing for the week of August 10.

“We are thrilled that Michelle’s parole hearing was successful, and that she might soon be able to live her life freely as a woman,” said Ilona Turner, Legal Director of Transgender Law Center, which is representing Michelle in her case for transition-related care along with pro-bono co-counsel from the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

“Being housed with men, sexually assaulted, and denied critical health care these past thirty years, Michelle has suffered greatly in prison and continues to suffer every day she is denied the surgery she desperately needs,” Turner added. “Whether you’re transgender or not, everyone should find it troubling that the state is trying to further delay the care that all the evidence showed is critical for Michelle’s health. We are disappointed that the stay was granted, as delays like this cause Michelle serious harm every single day. Still, we are delighted by the possibility of parole for Michelle and are confident that she will find support networks and services upon release, including access to gender-affirming surgery through Medi-Cal should the California Department of Corrections fail to provide her the care that the court and her medical providers have concluded she urgently needs.”

On April 2nd, Michelle won a preliminary injunction ordering the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide her with adequate medical care, including gender-affirming surgery. The prison had denied this care, even though her treating psychologist had repeatedly concluded that it was medically necessary to treat her gender dysphoria. The state is currently appealing that decision.

Play Mile High LGBT Kickball and Volleyball Leagues: Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open for Play Mile High's Denver LGBT Kickball and Volleyball leagues. 

It’s just like the kickball you remember from your youth, but the emphasis is not so much on the actual game as it is on the socializing, running around with your friends, the flip cup after each game and all of the other fun things that go along with playing kickball in Colorado with your friends!

Play Mile High recommends that kickball teams consist of 20 to 25 players (it seems like a lot until half of your team is stuck at the office) and you realize you must have at least 14 players on your team to play!

Find out more information and register at PlayMileHigh.com and be sure to use code 'MHGG' for $10 off registration fees!

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.

Obama touts freedom for all on IDAHOT

President Barack Obama proclaimed that "LGBT rights are human rights" in a statement commemorating International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. 

"We work toward this goal every day. Here at home, we are working to end bias-motivated violence, combat discrimination in the workplace and address the specific needs of transgender persons," Obama said in a statement.