The Gay Vegans: A 20-Year Vegan

By Dan Hanley

 In simple terms, if one becomes vegan and doesn't die, eventually they will be vegan for 20 years.

That's the case in my life. January of 2016 marks 20 years of being vegan. I have honestly never looked back and never considered not being vegan since that first day.

I became vegan because I no longer wanted to be part of animal cruelty. I no longer wanted to think that my taste buds trumped the life of an animal who wanted to live.

A lot has changed. There are more vegans. A ton more vegan products. More people today get that animals are tortured and live in fear just to become someones meal.

Many restaurants at least have a vegan option.

Activism has grown too. I was involved in human rights work when I became vegan and now am happily also part of the animal rights movement.

Like many of us, I have passions in other areas, specifically trans equality, liberation, homelessness and poverty.

Being vegan is easy. Becoming vegan is easy. There is so much I don't know so I have a bunch of web links on the main page of my blog which can be helpful for those wanting to learn more.

Newly vegan? Considering veganism? Go easy on yourself. Learn all about food and what foods bring what nutrients to your body. Be kind to yourself and others. Life, veganism and activism are all paths and we each walk them a little differently.

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

Join One Colorado at LGBT Lobby Day 2016

By Dave Montez
Executive Director
One Colorado 

2016 is here, and it’s poised to be a big year for equality in Colorado.

It’s easy to do your part. Join us at LGBT Lobby Day on February 29th. RSVP now!

For our 2016 legislative agenda, we’re committed to advancing critical legislation that will advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans and their families: 

• The Birth Certificate Modernization Act will make it easier for transgender Coloradans to update the gender on their birth certificate. Transgender people whose birth certificates reflect their sex at birth – and not their current gender identity – risk being denied housing, employment opportunities, and the right to vote because of this discrepancy.

• Banning conversion therapy for minors will protect LGBT young people from dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

• It's important that everyone is treated equally under the law, so we're working with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition to improve and maintain protections, accountability, and community trust between public safety agencies and immigrant communities. 

• Colorado's civil unions laws must be updated to align with the Supreme Court's historic decision that the freedom to marry is a precious, fundamental right that belongs to all.

• We can't let our opponents roll back our hard won victories and we will work to defeat any and all bills that allow individuals and businesses to claim their religion gives them permission to ignore the law, stop all attempts to stigmatize and attack transgender Coloradans and their families, and fight any other bills that will hurt LGBT Coloradans.

Our legislative agenda is based in this simple belief: LGBT Coloradans deserve the same chance as everyone else to earn a living, be safe in their communities, pursue health and happiness, and take care of the ones they love.

Let your legislator know that these issues matter. Join us at LGBT Lobby Day on February 29th. Click here to register.

When it comes to advancing pro-equality legislation, nothing is as powerful as an in-person visit to your legislators. That's why each year LGBT Coloradans and their allies gather at the Capitol for Lobby Day. Together, we will learn about current issues, get trained on how to discuss our concerns with elected officials, and make personal lobby visits to the people who represent us. It's a day you don't want to miss!

Registration is now open so reserve your spot at LGBT Lobby Day today!

Whether you have to rearrange your schedule, travel hundreds of miles, or take a day off work -- we hope you are able to join us on February 29th. We’re counting on you to be there.

Let’s make 2016 count.

'All We Need is Love' Cabaret for a Cause

On February 8, Ebner-Page Productions presents its second annual 'All We Need is Love' Cabaret for a Cause benefiting Random Acts, a non-profit organization that is aiming to conquer the world, one random act of kindness at a time. 

This celebration of love and kindness featuring Denver's own star vocalists:

Lauren Shealey, Brian Merz-Hutchinson, Jimmy Bruenger, Jennifer Brunett, Brandon Jay Lopez, Michael Sullivan, Norell Moore, and George Zamarripa, plus very special performances by Emmy award winning composer Denise Gentilini, vocalist Sam Nichols and the fierce and fabulous drag entertainer Daniella DeCoteau.

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.

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.

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.

Local puppies will star in Puppy Bowl XII

Puppies from the Dumb Friends League will be representing the Mile High City during Puppy Bowl XII on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 1-3 p.m. (MST) as the world’s cutest sporting event returns to Animal Planet. 
 
Three puppies from the Dumb Friends League were drafted to star in Puppy Bowl XII to complete Animal Planet’s roster of adoptable players for the Big Game—Riley, Moose and Ollie. Teammates Moose and Ollie will be representing #TeamFluff, while Riley will play for the opposing #TeamRuff.

PLAYERS AT A GLANCE:

RILEY

Stats: Dachshund, 3 months old, 7.2 lbs.
Team: Ruff
With experience beyond his ears years, Riley was drafted for Puppy Bowl XII as a last-minute substitution and had a sensational rookie season. He was the first puppy to poop on the field this year, giving him a successful “number-two” point conversion and endearing him to fans nationwide. Riley went from shelter to chic when he was adopted by a smitten New Yorker, with whom he now lives on the Upper West Side. He enjoys going for walks in Central Park and bringing smiles to people all over New York City. After Puppy Bowl XII, Riley hung up his cleats, trading football glory for Instagram fame—you can follow this little dachshund and his big city adventures at @RileytheDoxie.

MOOSE
Stats: Poodle mix, 3 months old, 2.54 lbs.
Team: Fluff
Shy-but-determined Moose went from living an uncertain life to finding himself traveling to New York City as a starter in Puppy Bowl XII—a dream come true for this once-neglected puppy. He first entered the Dumb Friends League as part of a large neglect case from southeastern Colorado. It wasn’t long after his player debut that Moose’s adoption contract was permanently signed into the pros with a loving new family. Moose continues his training at home by going for three-mile walks and playing with his teammate brother, Bob the poodle. We are all excited to see where this shy-but-happy puppy takes his new life in the pros!

OLLIE
Stats: Poodle mix, 4 months old, 2.75 lbs.
Team: Fluff
Curious Ollie had a rough start to life after being rescued from a neglect case in southeastern Colorado, but that turned around after he arrived at the Dumb Friends League. Eventually, his talents in playing and generally looking adorable were discovered by scouts at the Dumb Friends League, and he was drafted as a first-round pick for Puppy Bowl XII. Ollie’s dreams of a happy home came true when he returned to Denver and found himself a permanent contract with a loving family. While Ollie’s football career was short-lived due to his preference for cuddling rather than running plays, he still finds time to relive his Puppy Bowl glory by playing fetch with his people in between snuggles.

The Dumb Friends League is among 44 shelters and rescue groups representing 25 states across the U.S. and Puerto Rico participating in Puppy Bowl XII. All three of the Dumb Friends League’s puppies were adopted following the event.

“The Puppy Bowl is more than entertainment,” said Megan Rees, public relations manager for the Dumb Friends League. “It encourages adoption, a message that is engrained in every aspect of the event. We are proud to partner with Animal Planet to help drive that message into millions of homes across the country that will be watching.” 

In addition to watching our puppies compete for the famed title of Puppy Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Puppy), viewers can also enjoy the Kitty Half-time show, adoption success stories and lots of fun animal antics during the two-hour program. Viewers are invited to vote online for this year’s MVP on game day.

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XII premiers Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, from 1 – 3 p.m. (MST) and repeats all day and night until 1 a.m. Game-day coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. with the Puppy Bowl Pre-Game Show, featuring analysis and commentary from a team of sports correspondents.

To learn more about Puppy Bowl, visit AnimalPlanet.com/PuppyBowl.

Lili Elbe Fellowship to be awarded to a transgender filmmaker

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the LA Film Festival, has selected 30 filmmakers for Project Involve, the organization’s signature diversity mentorship program which fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.

Film Independent also announced major new studio support of the program, with two new donor-named fellowships in Project Involve: Focus Features’ Lili Elbe Fellowship, which will be awarded to a transgender filmmaker in the 2016-2017 program, and will provide the filmmaker with a $10,000 grant; and The Walt Disney Studios will support a female director in the current class with a $10,000 grant through The Walt Disney Studios Fellowship. Additionally, the 5th annual Sony Pictures Entertainment Diversity Fellowship in Project Involve will provide a $10,000 grant to a current Fellow, and the second annual Sony Executive Track Fellowship will provide a year-long paid executive training fellowship in development and production with Columbia Pictures along with participation and mentorship through Project Involve.

This year’s mentors include producer Nina Yang Bongiovi (Fruitvale Station, Dope), writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton (Short Term 12 ), writer/director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines), casting director Kim Coleman (Chi-raq, Dope), writer/director Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler, The Bourne Legacy), cinematographer Michael Gioulakis (It Follows, Split ), writer/producer Misha Green (Underground, Sons of Anarchy), writer/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Apocalypse, Fantastic Four), writer/director Tina Mabry (Mississippi Damned), cinematographer/director Reed Morano (Meadowland, Vinyl ), writer/director Justin Simien (Dear White People), producer Christine Vachon (Boys Don’t Cry, Carol ), and cinematographer Bradford Young, ASC (A Most Violent Year, Selma).

“We are thrilled to welcome the 23rd class of Film Independent’s Project Involve,” said Jennifer Kushner, Director of Artist Development. “Through Project Involve and across all of our programs, we are working to change the landscape of the industry by discovering and nurturing unique and underrepresented talent. Our commitment to diversity stems from our desire to see the richness of human experience represented in film and television; it is through the stories we tell that we create empathy, dialogue, and deeper cultural understanding. We are thrilled to have Kiehl’s Since 1851 returning to support the Project Involve shorts this year. This funding will allow our fellows to bring their visions to life.”

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is headed to Denver!

Winner of the TONY and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is about an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents who vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of [potentially made-up] words hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will perform February 5 through 27, 2016 with shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM. There will also be a pay-what-you-can industry night on Thursday, February 25, 2016. Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door/$17 for groups of 6 or more in advance only. All performances will be at The Bug Theatre at 3654 Navajo Street in Denver. 

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.

Colorado Log Cabin Republicans Meet Monthly

The Colorado chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans invites you to become a member. Your $65 annual contribution ($30 for students) goes to support the group's presence at Pride events, GOP events and general overhead. A portion also helps to support othe national organization and our efforts in DC. The Colorado Log Cabin Republicans meet monthly at
X Bar, for more information visit www.logcabincolorado.org.

New look for the Dumb Friends League

New year, new look for the Dumb Friends League! Starting this month, the well-known, Denver-based animal-welfare organization is introducing a fresh image in the form of a new logo, tagline and mission statement.

The new logo illustrates the Dumb Friends League’s expanded scope of work for homeless animals to include horses and other equines, while acknowledging the heartfelt bond between animals and people. The tagline “Compassion Always” conveys the League’s strong commitment to its core value of compassion for pets and people at its shelters and in the community.

The Dumb Friends League also has updated its mission statement to reflect the 106-year-old organization’s collaborative nature and overarching goals: Working with our compassionate community, we will end pet homelessness and animal suffering.

“The Dumb Friends League is guided by compassion in everything we do and in every interaction we have with both animals and people,” said Bob Rohde, president and CEO. “Our new logo, tagline and mission statement represent who we are and what we strive to do, each and every day: to save homeless animals’ lives while ensuring that animals have quality of life. And of course, our organization would not be able to make a life-changing difference for so many animals in need without the support of our entire community.”

The Dumb Friends League will incorporate the new look into every aspect of its organizational brand, from its website and signage to publications, vehicle wraps and dozens of other uses.

To learn more about the Dumb Friends League and its programs and services for pets and people in our community, visit ddfl.org.

Hold On To Your Wigs! Logo Announces New Slate of Shows Including 'Gay For Play Game Show' Starring RuPaul

Fresh off the heels of the highest rated year in the network’s 10-year history, Logo heads into 2016 with the eighth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and a new season of “RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race” along with a diverse slate of programs and high profile tentpole events.

“Gay For Play Game Show Starring RuPaul,” a celebrity-filled pop culture trivia show, will premiere later this year along with the eighth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Fans don’t have to wait for the premiere to meet the new queens though. The next set of contestants battling it out to become America’s next drag superstar will be ru-vealed during the “New Now Next Honors,” Logo’s annual celebration of the hottest new TV, film and music, on February 1. Logo will also continue to deliver groundbreaking LGBT events including the television premiere of the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards this spring.

“After reaching ten consecutive quarters of year-over-year ratings growth, Logo is continuing on its track as one of the fastest growing cable networks,” said Pamela Post, SVP of Original Programming for Logo. “From fresh comedic voices, to the phenomenal RuPaul and a new partnership with GLAAD, Logo will build on its momentum with a diverse slate of quality series and specials that keep audiences enthralled.”

An Evening With Mr. Johnson, the Gay Version

In An Evening With Mr. Johnson, Ed wants to win back the fiancée he cheated on to satisfy the demands of his insatiable and extremely opinionated Penis. Ed attempts to confront his Penis about ruining his life, but fails miserably. When his fiancée shows up to get closure, Ed finds himself sandwiched between the one he intended to spend the rest of his life with, and the organ who, up till now, has run the show. An outrageous comedy about fidelity that dives into the man/penis relationship and answers the question on how a tool that makes up such a small part of a man's body control 100% of his life?

American Adoption Congress to Hold Annual Conference in Denver

Participants from around the world will converge in Denver, Colorado. March 29- April 3, 2016, at the Grand Denver Hyatt, 1750 Welton Street, Denver CO for the American Adoption Congress’ 37th annual international conference: “Trailblazing Change: Moving Mountains Together in Adoption.” With 40 workshops, seven keynote speakers, two films and one play, the conference offers an immersive look into this unique community and the complex issues faced by the adoption and foster constellation.

This year’s featured keynote speakers are Dr. Amanda Baden, Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao, Mark Hagland, Amanda Transue-Woolston, Delores Teller, Marilyn Mendenhall Waugh and Kathleen Nielsen. Attendees will be able to choose from 40 workshops with 60 presenters during the four days.

Conference workshop topics will cover a variety of issues for those who have created families in adoption and assisted reproduction, including search and reunion, transracial and international experience, loss and trauma, adoptee, birth/first parent, adoption parent issues, historical perspectives, ethical and clinical practices, identity issues, and legislative efforts. Workshops will be geared toward all members of the adoption and foster constellation. Professional Continuing Education Credit (CEU’s) with be available.