Pet Portraits By Maurice Becnel

Immortalize your furry friends with a pet portrait by Maurice Becnel. Clients admire Becnel's ability to capture the essence of a pet's personality in his work.

Says Becnel, "Painting animal portraits, for me, is more fun than it is work. I began painting them several years ago. The first one I did was for a friend on her birthday. Because it was a gift it never dawned on me that other people would commission me to do more. Word got out and before I knew it more and more of the emails I was receiving from my website were going to the dogs! And cats!"

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.

Congress Forms New Transgender Equality Task Force

The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus has announced the creation of the new Transgender Equality Task Force, to be chaired by Rep. Mike Honda (D-Silicon Valley).

“To this day, transgender people face formidable barriers in employment, housing, health, education, and other areas. And to end the ongoing violence and discrimination transgender people experience, we need everyone’s help and support,” said Victoria Rodriguez-Roldan, Trans/Gender Non-Confirming Justice Project Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund who attended today’s press conference that launched the task force. “We’re elated to see the formation of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force. We thank the LGBTQ Equality Caucus for their ongoing efforts to advance legislation that extends critical protections to LGBTQ people.”

The new Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force will work to develop legislation and other initiatives to ensure that transgender people have equal access and treatment under the law. Members of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force also include Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-5), Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-3), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8), Rep. Joe Kennedy (MA-4), and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

“This week, as we seek to raise awareness of the issues facing the trans community, it is important to renew our commitment to help trans individuals be free of the fear of violence or bullying just for being who they are,” said Representative Honda. “It is my hope that by launching this workforce and holding a first-ever forum, we will reach some of my colleagues and encourage them to stand with the trans community. It is only through social change that we can truly elevate the conversation in this country and reach a place of true understanding and embrace all people for who they are.”

Eight transgender artists and organizations - including Denver's Buried Seedz - release original art highlighting trans resilience, power and leadership

Today the Strong Families movement launched the Trans Day of Resilience campaign, an art and activism project that supports trans women and femmes of color in their lives and leadership. It is an extension and re-imagining of Transgender Day of Remembrance, the annual event memorializing people (mostly trans women of color) killed by anti-trans violence. Trans Day of Resilience goes beyond remembrance, and uplifts the resilience and power of trans and gender non-conforming communities of color.

Forward Together, which houses Strong Families, and visual artist Micah Bazant joined together to create this project. It paired eight trans and gender non-conforming artists with eight organizations across the country doing trans justice work. Although trans and gender non-conforming people of color face disproportionate rates of violence and poverty, they are also thriving and leading movements for social justice. The shareable art created for Trans Day of Resilience tells those stories of trans power, vision and leadership.

“Too often we’re only fighting the things we don’t want, like violence and poverty. Its just as important to imagine and build the world we do want,” explains Micah Bazant, founding artist. “I partnered with Forward Together because we are committed to modeling the change we want to see. For example, by hiring trans and gender non-conforming artists and leaders, especially from communities of color, to lift up their visions for a different world.”

"A lot of people don't have the language or capacity to understand a trans woman if they haven't met or spoken to one,” said Wriply Bennet, an artist who created art for Black Lives Matter through this campaign. “This project provides a platform to introduce people to trans women and trans life. It’s important for trans women to be able to mediate that conversation, mediation through art is a beautiful way to transmit our lives.”

This year’s “Trans Day of Resilience” project is an expansion of the collaboration between Micah Bazant and the Audre Lorde Project in 2014. They received overwhelming feedback about last year’s collaborative Trans Day of Remembrance artwork that lifted up trans women of color so Micah wanted to build the project to include more organizations and artists. There was also a conscious shift toward “resilience” as opposed to only “remembrance” to also highlight the important trans justice organizing work that is happening in communities of color around the country.

Elle Hearns from Black Lives Matter and GetEQUAL notes, “It’s not enough to just commemorate folks on Trans Day of Remembrance. It’s important to uplift all of the trans folks who are determining the ways that they want to be seen in the world as their true selves. The call to action is to affirm us every day by creating opportunities for trans people to have resources, especially in a world that has denied us opportunities at every corner.”

Trans Day of Resilience also encourages people to not only share this powerful art, but to take action and support with local and national trans justice groups. Visit the “Get Involved” page to learn more about Trans Day of Remembrance and Resilience actions and how to participate online and offline.

Participating organizations and artists:

Audre Lorde Project of New York City is matched with artist Micah Bazant.

BreakOUT! of New Orleans is matched with artist B. Parker

New Mexico Trans Women of Colour Coalition of Albuquerque, New Mexico is matched with artist Adelina Cruz.

Transgender Law Center, a national organization, is matched with artist Mojuicy.

Buried Seedz of Denver, Colorado is matched with artist Bishakh Som.

SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW of Atlanta is matched with artist Ebin Lee.

TransLatin@ Coalition, a national organization, is matched with artist Rommy Torrico.

Black Lives Matter, a national organization, is matched with artist Wriply Bennet.

Forward Together builds relationships across lines of race, gender, and sexuality to connect marginalized people and catalyze social change. Our work influences culture and policy to ensure that every person, family and community has the power and resources they need to reach their full potential. For more info visit: www.ForwardTogether.org and www.StrongFamiliesMovement.org
.

Want To Reach Gay Denver? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!

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.

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

HIV & PrEP: Denver Brings It Up

Let's talk. No, let's really talk. About HIV. While we have come far, gay and bisexual men continue to bear the greatest burden of this disease in Colorado. Nearly four of out of every five individuals newly diagnosed with HIV identifies as a gay or bisexual man. We still have more work to do to get that number to zero. Let's work together to change the future of HIV/AIDS by talking about testing, PrEP and staying in care.

Since talking about HIV in the heat of the moment can be a buzz kill, why not bring it up before you get it up? By bringing it up, everyone wins.

The Feline Fix, Colorado's Leading Spay/Neuter Source for Community Cats

Divine Feline is Colorado’s leading spay/neuter source for free roaming (“community”) cats and a significant provider of spay/neuter services for pet cats, all through their in-house clinic, The Feline Fix. 

To date The Feline Fix has performed more than 27,000 spay/neuter surgeries, preventing the births of hundreds of thousands of unwanted cats in Denver and surrounding communities. 

For more information about the clinic, or to request a reservation for your tame, stray or feral cats, please click here. 

Divine Feline is a Colorado nonprofit corporation and a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All contributions are tax deductible. To make a donation please click here.

OUT on DVD/VOD: The Surface

Aimes Media and Ariztical Entertainment have announced the December 15th DVD and VOD release of Michael J. Saul's The Surface.The Surface tells the story of Evan Jones, an orphan who was shifted from one foster home to another for years. Now a disaffected college student, he lives with his wealthy boyfriend, Chris. Their social and financial differences have made their relationship increasingly volatile despite their love for one another.

While sifting through relics at an elderly man's yard sale, Evan finds an 8mm movie camera. The man offers to teach Evan how to use it if he comes back the following week. Upon returning, Evan meets the man's 43-year-old son, Peter. Peter gives him reels of old 8mm movies that are collecting dust in the garage. The home movies, featuring a young Peter and his boyhood friend touch a nerve with Evan. Their youthful flirtations and tenderness are uncomplicated and pure. Evan begins to live vicariously through the home movies and his friendship with Peter soon turns romantic. Evan's relationship with Chris splinters as he pushes for greater understanding of himself and the notions of family, love and fulfillment.

FBI Releases New Hate Crimes Report Ahead of First-Ever Congressional Forum on Anti-Transgender Violence

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, responded to the release of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Hate Crime Statistics for 2014. For the second year in a row, the report included statistics on bias-motivated incidents based on gender identity, which grew from 31 reported to the FBI in 2013 to 98 in 2014.

The new statistics come just days after HRC released a joint comprehensive report with the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) on the epidemic of violence against transgender people – particularly transgender women of color. It also comes ahead of the first-ever Congressional forum on the scourge of violence against transgender people tomorrow afternoon.

“Hate crimes affect not only the victims who are targeted and their families, but create fear and instability throughout entire communities,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “So much more work is needed to prevent bias-motivated violence, and far too many states still lack LGBT-inclusive hate crimes laws – a problem that HRC is committed to working with our allies to change. It’s also essential that local law enforcement fully and accurately report incidents of bias-motivated crimes to the FBI so that we truly understand the full scope of the violence.”

While the FBI data is helpful, it does not paint a complete picture of hate crimes against LGBT Americans because of two significant factors. First, under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), enacted in 2009, the FBI only began collecting data on hate crimes committed on the basis of gender identity in 2013. Even with the increase in reported incidents this year, HRC remains concerned that local law enforcement continues to mischaracterize hate based crimes against transgender people as ones based on either sexual orientation or gender. Second, current statistics only provide a partial snapshot of hate crimes in America because reporting these incidents to the FBI is not mandatory. Thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country did not submit data – including at least two jurisdictions with a population of more than 250,000 people. The vast majority (89.2%) of the agencies that did participate reported zero hate crimes. This means that law enforcement in those participating agencies – including cities with large populations – affirmatively reported to the FBI that no hate crime incidents occurred in their jurisdictions, which seems highly unlikely especially since at least 13 transgender women were murdered in the United States in 2014.

HRC and partner organizations have worked with the FBI since the passage of the HCPA, assisting in updating the agency’s crime reporting form, training materials, and providing details on recent hate crimes when they occur. HRC continues to press for improved reporting that is crucial to understanding the state of hate violence in America. In addition to new recommendations released last week in a joint HRC-TPOCC report on addressing anti-transgender violence, HRC has identified additional opportunities to strengthen reporting and help combat violence, including:

Amend the HCSA to mandate reporting. HRC supports mandating local jurisdictions report hate crimes statistics. This would provide a more complete picture of hate based violence in the United States and allow for targeted efforts to address areas with high levels of hate crimes.

Passage of state laws that protect LGBT individuals from hate crimes. The HCPA only protects LGBT victims from violent crimes where the federal government has jurisdiction over the underlying criminal act, regardless of the bias motivation. Since most crimes in the U.S. are still prosecuted at the state level, LGBT victims remain particularly vulnerable to hate crimes in the states that do not provide protections for individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Passage of state level HCPAs allows states to prosecute hate crimes without a federal nexus and in many instances crimes against property. Sixteen states plus the District of Columbia have laws that address bias-motivated crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Expand education and training initiatives. The government must complement tough laws and vigorous enforcement – which can deter and address violence motivated by bigotry – with education and training initiatives designed to reduce prejudice. The federal government has an essential role to play in helping law enforcement, communities, and schools implement effective hate crimes prevention programs and activities. Education and exposure are the cornerstones of a long-term solution to prejudice, discrimination and bigotry against all communities. A federal anti-bias education effort would exemplify a proactive commitment to challenging prejudice, stereotyping, and all forms of discrimination that affect the whole community.

The A-List Interview: Tina Fey

Tina Fey’s next dream project? “A movie about Stonewall where I play all the people,” she deadpans. Until then, the Emmy-winning 30 Rock creator-star will keep making the Netflix streaming series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which returns this spring. Reteaming with comedy cohort Amy Poehler for Sisters, in theaters December 18, the Saturday Night Live alum talks toThe Advocate about her womance with Poehler, Tituss Burgess’s Kimmy Schmidtcharacter, and her ability to sexually confuse straight women.

On her womance with Amy Poehler:
With a w? I like that. Yes, and what makes it work is that from the moment we met each other in Chicago in 1992, we’ve had tremendous respect for each other. We started on the same improv team, and we were put together like two beautiful baby lions in a cage who miraculously did not have the impulse to eat each other. What makes it great now is that the only time we see each other is when we work on things — hosting the Golden Globes, doing Sisters — so those experiences are exciting and fun. We’re both thrilled to be there, and hopefully that’s reflected in the work. She and I haven’t really talked about this, but I don’t know if we could ever do a series together. We’re both alphas who like to do our own thing and then meet up occasionally.

On an Amy-Tina love story:
Ooh, maybe we could do a lesbian period piece like a comedic version of Carol, that movie with Cate Blanchett. Really, we should just do a movie with all the women of SNL and set it on the Isle of Lesbos.

On whether Tituss Burgess’s Kimmy Schmidt character is too stereotypical:
I know people like Titus. If a person exists, it’s fair game. Titus makes Barbie clothes, for example, and that’s based on an old gay friend of mine who worked as a cater-waiter when he first moved to New York. He was too broke to go out, so he’d literally sit inside and sew Barbie clothes to kill time. I try to base everything in some kind of truth. I don’t worry about what the Internet says. Getting in trouble with the Internet is not real. The Internet is not a force you have to obey.

On her power to sexually confuse straight women:
I think I might’ve lost it. Maybe because it looks like I’m halfway there? I’ve also been a stepping-stone to help a lot of men realize that they’re gay, so I may just be a transitional person. I’m like human transition lenses.

PAWS TO GIVE to help homeless pets this holiday season

While you’re making your holiday gift list, don’t forget about the furry, four-legged homeless friends in need of a little extra help this holiday season. The Dumb Friends League is holding its annual Paws to Give holiday fund drive to help the many homeless pets and horses in its care.

Each holiday season, patrons are invited to the three facilities—the Quebec Street Shelter in Denver, the Buddy Center in Castle Rock, and the Harmony Equine Center in Franktown—to fill out a "paw" decoration with a donation amount and a message, which then is displayed on the walls. Children and adults alike often write something in honor or memory of a special pet or horse. Donations of supplies are also welcome to help care for the animals, and a wish list can be found online at ddfl.org/supplies. 

“For those who aren’t able to adopt, it’s a great way to make a difference in the life of a homeless pet or horse in need,” said Bob Rohde, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League.

Last year, the Dumb Friends League saved nearly 18,000 homeless pets, and placed 100 percent of healthy cats and dogs into loving homes. This year’s Paws to Give goal of $25,000 will help the Dumb Friends League care for the thousands of homeless cats, dogs, small pets and horses that will come through its doors in the coming year. Donations can be made at each of the facilities, online at ddfl.org/give or by mailing a check to Dumb Friends League Paws to Give, 2080 S. Quebec St., Denver, CO 80231.

In addition to making a donation, you can also help support homeless pets at the Dumb Friends League through your holiday shopping:

· 2016 Calendar: Purchase a full-color 2016 Dumb Friends League pet photo calendar for $15 in person at one of our shelters or online at ddfl.org. It’s the gift that gives all year round!

· Gift cards: Give a gift card to the pet lover in your life, which can be used toward adoption fees or pet supplies in our gift shop.

· AmazonSmile: Shop online through AmazonSmile, and they will donate a percentage of your purchases to the Dumb Friends League. Visit smile.amazon.com to sign up.

· Holiday cards: Pick up a pack of holiday cards to send to friends and family. For $15 you get 10 cards and envelopes sure to spread holiday cheer.

For more information about Paws to Give, and to find out more ways you can help homeless pets this holiday season, visit ddfl.org or call (303) 751-5772.

Alabama Mother Asks Supreme Court to Review Unprecedented Alabama Refusal to Recognize a Same-Sex Parent Adoption from Another State

Today, a lesbian mother in Alabama asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an Alabama Supreme Court decision refusing to recognize her as an adoptive parent of her three children and holding that Alabama does not have to recognize second-parent adoptions granted by Georgia courts. The mother also asked the Supreme Court for an emergency order permitting her to visit her children while her appeal is pending. As a result of an earlier Alabama order, she has not had visitation with her children—ages 12, 10, and 10—for nearly seven months, even though she has raised them from their birth.

In her request, V.L. the adoptive mother, notes that the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision is unprecedented. Before this ruling, no state supreme court has refused to recognize a same-sex parent’s adoption from another state—or any out-of-state adoption—based on a disagreement with how the court issuing the adoption interpreted its own adoption laws. Under the United States Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause, states are required to respect court judgments, including adoption orders, issued by courts in other states. V.L.'s request says "this Court’s review of the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision is urgently needed" because "the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision flouts a century of precedent on the Full Faith and Credit Clause and will have a devastating impact on Alabama adoptive families."

V.L and E.L. were in a long-term same-sex relationship in which they planned and raised three children together, using donor insemination. To ensure that both had secure parental rights, V.L., the non-biological mother, adopted the couples’ three children in Georgia in 2007, with E.L.’s support and written consent. When the two later broke up, E.L. kept V.L. from seeing the children, fighting her request for visitation, and arguing that the Georgia adoption was invalid in Alabama, where they live.

On September 18, 2015, the Alabama Supreme Court issued an order refusing to recognize V.L.’s Georgia adoption and declaring that it is “void.” Even though V.L. raised the children from birth and both women participated in the adoption hearing and consented to the adoption, the Court broke with more than a century of precedent requiring states to honor court judgments from other states. Disregarding this clear precedent, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Alabama can treat the adoption as void based on the Alabama Supreme Court’s view that the Georgia court should not have granted the adoption in 2007.

The children’s Guardian Ad Litem will also file a motion to allow the children to visit V.L. pending the appeal, arguing that the children will be harmed if they are not allowed to have visitation with V.L.

A Thank You to All ACLU Clients who Have Taken a Stand for Marriage Equality

Why not take a moment today to sign a thank-you to all the ACLU clients who have taken a stand for marriage equality. Today, America is a better place because of them.

Ahead of First-Ever Congressional Forum on Violence Against Transgender People, HRC & TPOCC Release

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, and the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) released a comprehensive report on the epidemic of violence against transgender people – particularly transgender women of color. The report comes ahead of the first-ever Congressional forum set for next Tuesday on the scourge of violence against transgender people.

The joint report, Addressing Anti-Transgender Violence: Exploring Realities, Challenges and Solutions for Policymakers and Community Advocates, comes in a year when at least 21 transgender people have been killed -- the most reported since 2006 when advocates began working to track reported homicides of transgender people across the United States.

“There are now more transgender homicide victims in 2015 than in any other year that advocates have recorded. At least 21 people––nearly all of them transgender women of color––have lost their lives to violence,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This kind of violence is often motivated by anti-transgender bias; but that is rarely the only factor. At a time when transgender people are finally gaining visibility and activists are forcing our country to confront systemic violence against people of color, transgender women of color are facing an epidemic of violence that occurs at the intersections of racism, sexism and transphobia––issues that advocates can no longer afford to address separately.”

“The LGBT community has long counted on our non-LGBT allies to stand beside us in the fight for equality; and right now, the transgender community needs allies more than ever as we fight for our very survival,” said Kylar W. Broadus of TPOCC. “We are proud to partner with HRC on this work, and we ask all of our cisgender lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight friends, loved ones and supporters to stand up against the continuing stigma and discrimination that is killing transgender people of color at alarming rates.”

This new HRC & TPOCC report expands on an issue brief that the HRC Foundation released in partnership with TPOCC in January; it tells the stories of victims, and highlights key data, challenges, and case studies of cities working to address violence against transgender people. Stopping violence against transgender people will require action on a number of fronts. Key recommendations made in the report are included after the jump.

Free Stuff: Redbox Offers Free Movie Rental for "America's Movie Night"

This Monday, November 16th, Redbox, America's destination for movie and video game rentals, is hosting "America's Movie Night." This is Redbox’s way of celebrating America’s love of movies—they’re offering all Redbox customers a complimentary rental! 

Movie fans can participate in America’s Movie Night by redeeming their promo code on the Redbox Instagram page on November 16th and reserving their movie online or via the Redbox app.