Give a Little, Get a Lott Toy Drive and Comedy Show to Benefit Colorado AIDS Project

Bring a toy and share some laughs with some of Denver's best comics! 

Hosted by Denver's own Mona Lott, the Give a Little, Get a Lott Comedy Show and Toy Drive will benefit the Colorado AIDS Project's annual toy drive for children affected by AIDS. Tickets are only $5.

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!"

Brokeback Mountain Recreated by Seniors

Tuesdays With Matthew is a volunteer program for Senior Citizens founded by television host Matthew Hoffman. TWM takes iconic scenes from famous movies and recreates them with the Scene-ior Citizens starring as the leads.

100% of the monetization from the views of these movies will be donated to Matthew’s local Senior Center, and Meals On Wheels an organization that helps feed seniors in need.

Check out the Tuesdays With Matthew Scene-iors version of Brokeback Mountain that went live today in honor of Brokeback's 10 year anniversary.

HRC Marks World AIDS Day with Effort to End HIV Criminalization Laws That Harm LGBT Community

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, in partnership with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP), launched a national public education campaign to sound the alarm on dangerous HIV criminalization laws and the disproportionate harm they cause LGBT people, particularly LGBT communities of color.

To focus attention on this dire issue, HRC and its partners released the above video detailing the harm of criminalization - including driving people away from potentially lifesaving testing and healthcare -- and launched a website, EndBadHIVlaws.org.

“As work continues to end the HIV epidemic, we must also eradicate the stigma surrounding HIV – including modernizing laws that are rooted in fear, not science,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “These laws do not reduce HIV, and only serve to increase confusion and shame. When 51 percent of young gay and bisexual men don’t even know they have HIV, laws that penalize people for getting tested to determine their status aren’t just outdated, they’re dangerous.”

Griffin continued, “With condoms and the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimens, individuals have more prevention options than ever. We are pleased to be working with NCLR and CHLP on this project, which builds on our important HIV and AIDS educational efforts generously supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation. We join our partners in the firm belief that an AIDS-free generation is within reach."

HRC will continue to work with NCLR, CHLP, and other partners at the local, state, and federal level to monitor the landscape of HIV criminalization laws and to combat efforts to further target people living with HIV. HRC stands together with the global community to fight stigmatization and end HIV and AIDS. This new video helps to debunk myths about HIV, and to highlight the harm of criminalization, and its negative impact on the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Catherine Hanssens, Founder and Executive Director of The Center for HIV Law and Policy, said, “It is a huge boost to this work to have an organization with the reach and sophistication of HRC join in this fight. We are looking forward to great things and measurable progress.'"

"Ensuring that no one is left behind means closing the gap between people who can get services and people who can’t, the people who are protected and the people who are punished,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Stigma, discrimination and punitive approaches against people living with or at risk of HIV remain highly prevalent. They not only hurt those who suffer them, but they also threaten effective responses to the epidemic."

NCLR Policy Counsel Tyrone Hanley said: “This video is a great collaborative first-step to raise public awareness of the harmful impact of HIV criminalization laws and ending HIV stigma. These laws hurt the most vulnerable members of society and we will continue to fight against these counterproductive laws.”

Around the world, people living with HIV and AIDS continue to be targeted, harassed, and harmed by criminalization laws: 

• In at least 58 countries around the world, people have been prosecuted and some imprisoned for transmitting HIV and/or exposing others to the virus

• Here in the U.S., more than 30 states have laws in place that have been used to prosecute people living with HIV

• Many advocates, medical professionals, and public health experts oppose HIV criminalization laws, including the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV & AIDS, United States Conference of Mayors, American Medical Association and American Psychological Association

New ONE report: World is leaving MSM and transgender communities behind in fight against HIV/AIDS

In a new report published on World AIDS Day, the ONE Campaign sounded the alarm about a growing complacency in the global fight against HIV/AIDS and warned that the fight will be unwinnable if especially vulnerable populations, including men who have sex with men and transgender women, continue to be underserved.

Compared with the general population, men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to be living with HIV and people who inject drugs are 28 times more likely. Transgender women are 49 times more likely to be living with HIV than other adults of reproductive age.

“The progress we’ve made against HIV/AIDS is so powerful that it’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security about the size of the fight in front of us,” ONE Director of Global Health Policy Erin Hohlfelder said. “Social and legal barriers for men who have sex with men and transgender persons in many countries increase their vulnerability to contracting HIV and make it less likely that they can access the testing and treatment they need. In many instances, we don’t even do a good enough job measuring basic disease indicators among these groups, making it hard to tailor and deliver effective services. These barriers will need to be addressed if the world is to turn the tide against the AIDS epidemic.”

To better serve men who have sex with men and the transgender community, and to prevent the world from losing ground in the fight against the epidemic, the report recommends that governments, implementers, and advocates do three key things:
Ensure that marginalized and most at-risk populations are better measured so we understand where these populations are and what levels of disease burden they carry and face. 

Better tailor programs and investments – with focused marginalized and most at-risk populations or gender strategies where possible – to ensure that specialists are able to design appropriate outreach approaches and that affected groups can weigh in and meaningfully advise throughout the process. 

Track how well programs and mechanisms are delivering services for these populations, holding countries and implementers accountable for
greater impact.

Today, Matthew Shepard Would've Been 39. See the Story of his Life on DVD, VOD and Netflix

Education Pictures and Virgil Entertainment are honored to continue Matt's legacy with the acclaimed documentary Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine.  After over a year on the international festival circuit, taking home 10 Best Documentary and Audience Choice Awards, as well as a unanimously acclaimed theatrical run earlier this year in the US and Canada, the film is available now to purchase on DVD (SRP $19.99) and to rent or own on all digital platforms.  The film was recently added to Netflix for rental.

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. 

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.

The Gay Vegans: I Lost A Follower Today

By Dan Hanley

I lost a follower today. On Twitter.
It was because of a post I wrote in support of Syrian refugees.
When they said they were unfollowing me, and why, I simply responded that if they were connected with me here and had read my blog, that the comment I made would be no surprise.
I have been surprised about the huge amount of anti-refugee speak from people in this country. Even on my Facebook page. So I decided to post this:
I must say that I am surprised by how many people I am connected with here are part of the frenzy against Syrian refugees coming to the States. I get the fear part. If you know me, you won't be surprised that I would do anything I can for these people, my fellow human beings who have suffered so much. So much, in fact, that they have left their home and everything they own just to survive and hopefully create a safe place for them and their children. And for those of you who have made comments about supporting veterans before refugees, that is super pathetic. I can, and do, support both. And the homeless, and abused kids, and people living in poverty, animals being tortured and anyone who is treated like shit just because of who they are.
This world is a living hell for many people. Most reading this live in a privilege that those seeking basic humanity can't even dream of.
I know there are many who disagree, yet my blog has always been an honest reflection of who I am and my thoughts about pretty much everything. I have always welcomed debate and I have always listened to viewpoints contrary to mine. Dialogue. And, I have always been outspoken against the constant demonizing of many just because there is disagreement.
Thank you for reading this.

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

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.

World AIDS Day 2015: "The time to act is now."

On the eve of World AIDS Day 2015, the National LGBTQ Task Force is urging everyone to “decisively act” to help end stigma and advance health care access for people living with HIV/AIDS — and to “seize the opportunity” to create an AIDS-free world. This year’s theme is Think Positive, Rethink HIV.

“World AIDS Day is an opportunity to focus on strengthening support for people living with HIV and AIDS — and to take action to deliver a world free from AIDS. The National LGBTQ Task Force believes that we can be most effective by fighting for policies that will improve the lives of people who are the most vulnerable and whose voices are often ignored.  For example, we need better access to sterile syringes for people who inject drugs and transgender people who use street hormones. We need better access to HIV and AIDS-related care for people in prisons, jails, and immigrant detention centers who are particularly at risk for transmission. We need better law enforcement practices, as many people engaged in sex work have stopped carrying condoms out of fear of prosecution, and as a result are engaging in behaviors that put them at increased risk of transmission. As this year’s theme suggests, we all need to think positive and rethink HIV and in doing so decisively act to create a world where people living with HIV and AIDS do not face stigma and have full access to all the care they need. We are so close to achieving an AIDS-free world. We must seize the opportunity together and we can make it happen. The time to act is now,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.

Blossoms of Light

Blossoms of Light is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Denver Botanic Gardens is proud to host this annual family-friendly event that has become a tradition for people across Colorado. The 2015 event features new elements, including the return of the grand illuminated O’Fallon Perennial Walk and the Romantic Gardens. Enjoy thousands of twinkling lights throughout the Gardens, as well as the always anticipated HoloSpex glasses.

Support Colorado's Community Cats at Olive or Twist

It's only days until Olive or Twist, Divine Feline's pawsome holiday event! Along with tasty vegan appetizers and desserts, they'll be serving the following holiday-inspired cocktails: Candy Cane Martini, Cranberry Margarita; Red Hot Santa-tini, and of course, the classic Vodka Martini, served with an olive or a twist! 

The event also features live music, a silent auction, and our Kitty Korner Gift Bazaar where you can find fun and unique presents for the cats and the cat lovers in your life.

Olive or Twist is the perfect place to purchase all of your holiday gifts,
while giving to a worthy cause at the same time! The silent auction features in-town get-aways, gift certificates to local dining hot spots, ski passes, theater and movie tickets, vegan skin care items, and much more!

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.

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Nice To See StevieB: Thanksgiving

By StevieB

There have been two times in my life when Thanksgiving taught me what I'm thankful for.

The first was in 1993. My fellow gay waiter, and best friend, Nick suggested that all the family drama that I was coping with could easily be avoided by just not participating in the poultry based holiday. Nick, my best friend was a Buddhist at the time, and always suggest simple answers to complex problems. I simply said "no" to the holiday. This was truly the first time I felt like an adult. By shirking responsibilities and going my own way. This choice led me to be in The Buddhist's 1990 Nissan Altima for a long drive around Denver as we searched for a Chinese restaurant that would be open for lunch on that Thanksgiving Day. We dined that afternoon on unexplainable Chinese delicacy. That Thanksgiving found me enjoying pickled pig ear and chicken feet. I learned two valuable life lessons that day.... One: you create your own happiness. Two: never blindly accept food prepared by a one-hundred year old Chinese woman. It truly is one of my happiest Thanksgiving memories. The Buddhist and I, sitting in a Chinese restaurant, truly thankful for the gifts we had.

The second was in 2001. I had moved to Dallas, Texas. My best friend and roommate, Jamie had recently discovered the joys of Methamphetamine. Slowly he had changed from a happy wonderful person into a creature on the night. Barely recognizable has human. In one of his on-going empty promises he promised we would spend Thanksgiving together. For some reason I felt this dinner would be my chance to rescue him from Meth. I would use the time to make him see the horrors he was creating. I passed up invites to return home, or spend time with friends in Dallas. Instead we would meet for Thanksgiving dinner at the only restaurant open Thanksgiving day on Cedar Springs. I sat in a booth. Alone. I would find out later that Jamie woke up in an abandoned house across town. As I ate pumpkin pie alone, I learned two valuable life lessons. One: you are truly in change of your own happiness in life. Two: there are things in this life you will not be able to change. 

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

Denver Limo – The Hottest Limousines in Denver!

Denver Limousine offers the hottest stretch limousines in Denver Colorado! Whatever the occasion, Denver Limousine’s team of professional drivers and top-of-the-line fleet of vehicles is waiting to serve you.