Nice to See StevieB: Train

By StevieB
 
I always thought living in proximity to a train track sounded romantic. I once had a house out in the country. At night, when the wind was just right, I could hear the far away call on the train whistle. Its lonesome call in the middle of the night evoked a call to iindividualisticwandering on a Jack Kerouac scale of fiction. No matter how stressful my life was, I could sit in my bed late at night and escape to a dream like world as the drifting call of a train whistle mixed with the late-night breeze. Blowing the sheers. Calming my busy brain. 

When the roommate and I were looking for new place to rent, I was excited to see an opening in a building within walking distance to a train stop. Just two blocks down, and we could be on a train platform that would whisk us to either Denver’s city center, or Denver’s Airport. I was also secretly excited that my train, the one from my late night visits would be back. 

The first night in the new place I drifted off to sleep with the window open.
HHHHOOOOONNNNKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I startled awake! The frickin’ train sounded as if it were running through the driveway. Why would moving next to the stupid train tracks be a smart move? All night a train horn blared every fifteen minutes. All night every night. Since this Jack Kerouac nightmare started in June, I have now become accustom to the late night train whistle. I drift off to my dream like world as train cars full of passengers make their way to and from the airport. Horns ablazing.

20 black LGBT leaders discuss the new African American history museum with MetroWeekly

For months, Earl J. Fowlkes drove past the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, watching as the building slowly took shape. And now, on the cusp of its official opening, Saturday, Sept. 24, he’s overjoyed.
“This is our museum,” he says. “It’s our history.”

Read full article here. 

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Another Reason Why We Endorsed Hillary Clinton for President

By Pablo Manriquez VP, Communications, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Hillary Clinton's 's decision last summer to hire Rhett Buttle to lead her campaign's nationwide business outreach operation only validated, once again, why the USHCC decided to give Hillary our association's first-ever presidential endorsement.

Last month, we were proud to announce Rhett will be the recipient of our 2016 “LGBT Business Advocate Award.” We'll celebrate Rhett and LGBT business owners across America at an award reception hosted in partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)

The reception will take place at our USHCC national convention which will be held October 9th to 11th at the historic Fountainbleau Miami Beach, located in the heart of Mid Beach at 4441 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140.

Our national convention is the largest gathering of Hispanic business owners in the country. We've invited Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and a nation of Hispanic entrepreneurs.

Denver Metro Out of the Darkness Walk to Raise Awareness and Prevent Suicide

Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death overall in Colorado, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) intends to help change that. The AFSP Colorado Chapter will hold its Denver Metro Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Saturday, September 24, 2016 to raise funds to help create a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, research and advocacy, and support for those affected by suicide.

Suicide is not a new concern for Colorado and has been the focus of recent government talks and initiatives. In June Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a new bill aimed at suicide prevention, which will fall within the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Each year over 42,000 Americans die by suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has made the bold goal to reduce the suicide rate nationally 20 percent by the year 2025. The upcoming Denver Metro walk will help put us closer to that goal.
 
“Together we are making an impact in educating and empowering our society to help save lives,” said Sheri Cole, Rocky Mountain Area Director of AFSP. “The event brings the community together in such a powerful way, and fundraising efforts come back to benefit our local communities.

Last year, this event brought nearly three thousand participants to Coors Field and raised over $200,000 dollars.

Suicide Statistics in Colorado

· Suicide is the 7th leading cause of death overall in Colorado

· On average, one person dies by suicide every 8 hours in the state.

· Six times as many people die by suicide in Colorado annually than from homicide; the total deaths to suicide reflect a total of 22,280 years of potential life lost (YPLL) before age 65.

· Suicide cost Colorado a total of $1,053,409,000 of combined lifetime medical and work loss cost in 2010, or an average of $1,217,814 per suicide death.

WalletHub Names Denver One of America's Funnest Cities

With the upcoming fall season bringing cooler weather to enjoy more activities indoors and out, the personal-finance website WalletHub took a close look at 2016's Most Fun Cities in America.
To help Americans find the cities with the greatest number and variety of cheap, fun activities, WalletHub’s number crunchers compared the 150 largest cities across 51 key metrics, ranging from “number of fitness clubs per capita” to “movie costs” to “average open hours of breweries.”
 

	Top 20 Most Fun Cities in America
	1	Las Vegas, NV		11	Tampa, FL
	2	Orlando, FL		12	Portland, OR
	3	Miami, FL		13	Tempe, AZ
	4	New Orleans, LA		14	Pittsburgh, PA
	5	Salt Lake City, UT		15	San Francisco, CA
	6	Cincinnati, OH		16	Honolulu, HI
	7	Fort Lauderdale, FL		17	Knoxville, TN
	8	St. Louis, MO		18	Reno, NV
	9	Atlanta, GA		19	Denver, CO
	10	Scottsdale, AZ		20	Minneapolis, MN

Celebrate Bisexual Awareness Week 2016

The National LGBTQ Task Force is celebrating Bisexual Awareness Week from September 19-26, and Bisexuality Day September 23, by urging everyone to educate themselves more about the realities of bi+ people’s lives.

"This week we urge everyone in the LGBTQ community and the general public to educate themselves more about the issues affecting people who are attracted to people of any gender—bi+, bisexual, fluid, queer, etc. We exist in abundance and we deserve more attention to the reality of our lives,” said Stacey Long Simmons, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, National LGBTQ Task Force who identifies as bisexual.

“Bi+ people are some of the most maligned and misunderstood members of our LGBTQ community, yet statistically they comprise the largest group in the LGBTQ community. We need more public awareness, as the lack of visibility about the lives and specific experiences of bi+ people has serious consequences. For example, research shows that bisexual women experience higher rates of sexual assault, smoking, and suicide as compared to heterosexual women and gay men. Stereotypes such as the hyper-sexualization of bi+ people, and assumptions that we “don’t exist,” that we’re “confused” or that we can be “turned” gay or lesbian or straight contribute to marginalization of the bi+community. And as we approach National Coming Out Day, October 11, we encourage more bi+ people to come out, live their lives genuinely, authentically, and freely.”

Demi Lovato on Sexuality, Mental Health and Stigmas

In the October issue of Women’s Health magazine, Demi Lovato takes a stand on stigmas. Named to the magazine’s 2nd annual “Game Changers” list – Demi opens up about being an advocate for social issues and why no one should have to apologize for their sexuality.

Demi has never been shy about sharing her personal story – including her advocacy of mental health - which is one reason why she was chosen as a Women’s Health Game Changer. 

Last May, she told the magazine, “I remember sitting with my manager and my family and talking to them about whether or not to speak out about the issues that I was dealing with. I knew that there were two options: I could either not talk about my stint in rehab and hope that it went away, or I could talk about it and inspire people to get help for their issues, as well, so that’s exactly what I did.”

Bloc Party - Stunt Queen

 
Bloc Party today debut their brand new single "Stunt Queen" ahead of one of their biggest ever live shows at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles this Sunday, September 25th. 

"'Stunt Queen' has its genesis in an idea that dates back to the Australian tour we did at the start of 2016," says Okereke. "It was an idea that we worked on at sound checks and was one of the first ideas to come along after Justin and Louise joined the band. Playing the Hollywood Bowl feels like a significant milestone for the band, and we wanted to mark it with a new release. We're excited to be playing our biggest ever headline gig in the U.S. and releasing new material in the same week."

Celebrate Bi/Pan/Fluid Awareness Day at the LGBTQ Student Resource Center

You are invited to celebrate Bi/Pan/Fluid Awareness Day! This is a great opportunity to learn about non-monosexual identities and the myths and oppressions that this community experience in today’s society.

OUT on DVD/VOD: The Falls: Covenant of Grace

The Falls: Covenant of Grace picks up one year after the events of The Falls: Testament of Love. When the Church of Latter-Day Saints makes an announcement against the baptism of children of same-sex couples, RJ calls Chris to talk about his feelings towards the matter.

They decide to meet in Portland for a weekend to address their Mormon faith, and discuss their relationship. Together, they must decide whether to go their separate ways, or try to build a life together despite the disapproval of the Mormon church, and their family members. If they choose to be together, can their faith still play a role in their lives? Or will the two men have to choose between God and love?

“The fact that The Falls became a trilogy at all is a surprise to even me, and even more surprising was the innate need I had to finish it”, said director Jon Garcia. “Though I'm a little sad I'll never work on another one of these movies, I think collectively, we found the right way to bring this story to a fitting close.”
 
“I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Breaking Glass on these motion pictures”, continued Garcia. “I don't know, or hear of, many distributors that get behind the gritty independents like they do.”

Mom’s Children’s Book Inspired by Her Son’s Princess Dress

With more and more families and schools grappling with how to respond to gender diversity among children and with gender issues increasingly in the news, a Berkeley, California mom has reached into her own experience with her son to write an affirming and beautiful bilingual children’s book about gender diversity.

Already receiving praise from book reviewers and LGBTQ community advocates nationwide, One of a Kind, Like Me/Único Como Yo is the first of a new series of diverse children’s books being issued by Blood Orange Press, dedicated to bringing diversity to children’s literature. The book is available now at bloodorangepress.com, Amazon.com and retailers throughout the United States.

In One of a Kind, Like Me/Único Como Yo, first-time children’s book author Laurin Mayeno introduces us to Danny, a multiracial Latinx preschooler who wants to go to his school costume parade as a princess – so he and his mom head out in search of the perfect princess dress. As time runs out, the tension mounts: Will he find his dress in time? The book shows us a loving multicultural family, teacher, and friendships that embrace Danny for who he is.

Robert Liu-Trujillo draws the reader into Danny’s world with his charming illustrations and Teresa Mlawer retells the story beautifully in a Spanish translation that appears directly opposite the English text.

Serena Yates of Rainbow Book Reviews wrote, “There are very few children’s books that challenge gender stereotypes, but this one is a perfect example of what such books could look like. … The author has written Danny’s story based on what happened to her son, and he is a very lucky boy!”

Jean Hodges, National President of PFLAG said, “What a great way to show young children that they can be whomever or whatever they want to be. … I highly recommend this book to every primary, elementary educator and parents of that young princess!”

Ever since Mayeno’s son told her he wanted to dress up as a princess over 20 years ago, she has been learning about gender diversity and sharing what she has learned as an educator, writer, and self-taught film-maker.

“When I was growing up as a mixed-race child, I didn’t see people who looked like me in books,” Mayeno says. “And, when my son Danny decided to dress up as a princess, I didn’t know other children like him. Danny started to realize he was different and felt very alone. I also felt very alone as a mother. I wanted a book where children and families like ours could see themselves reflected back, know that they are not alone, and know that they are beautiful.”

Travel: Virginia is for Lovers Announces Launch of New LGBT Tourism Marketing Efforts

Today, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) announced the official launch of its new LGBT tourism marketing efforts. The implementations, including a brand new landing page for LGBT travelers and Virginia is for Lovers PRIDE merchandise, are part of the recommendations offered by Governor Terry McAuliffe's LGBT Tourism Task Force. The task force, comprised of 21 community leaders and supporters of the LGBT community from across the Commonwealth, met in 2015 and was charged with delivering recommendations to help inspire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers to visit Virginia by promoting the state's welcoming and safe destinations as well as inclusive experiences. The announcement precedes this weekend's Virginia Pride Festival, where Virginia is for Lovers PRIDE merchandise and a signature LOVEwork will be unveiled. The PRIDE logo is comprised of the classic Virginia is for Lovers logo, with the traditional red heart replaced with a rainbow heart. Virginia is one of the few states in the nation to launch such efforts.

"Virginia is proud to be an open and welcoming destination for every visitor attracted by our scenic mountains and beaches, as well as our world-renowned restaurants, wineries and breweries," said Governor Terry McAuliffe. "I am pleased the Virginia Tourism Corporation has created this landing page to connect travelers with inclusive, LGBT-friendly establishments across the Commonwealth. Virginia is truly for lovers, and we hope you have an unforgettable experience visiting the greatest state in the greatest nation on Earth!"

One Colorado's 2016 legislative endorsements

Today, One Colorado has announced their endorsements for the 2016 election.

Click here to see the full list of pro-equality candidates who have pledged to stand up for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Coloradans and their families at the Capitol.

LGBTQ Coloradans and their families know how important elections are -- and we've seen firsthand the difference a pro-equality majority can make in the Colorado legislature. For the past two years, we've watched every bill that would improve the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans get voted down in our state legislature.

RUVENGE on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2, Tonight on LOGO

This week, the face crack of the millennium will send ripples through the workroom. We’ve had shocking twist after shocking twist, but this week, the challenge is so big it will air exclusively on Logo. The revenge of the queens airs on Logo tonight. September 22, at 6pm our time.

New HUD Regulation to Expand Shelter Access to Homeless Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a new rule that requires shelters to respect the gender identity of transgender and gender non-conforming homeless people. In response, the National LGBTQ Task Force released the following statement.

“This new HUD rule is an important step towards protecting the marginalized of the marginalized — who are the most defenseless from discrimination — homeless trans and gender nonconforming people. We know that trans and gender nonconforming people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, are disproportionately people of color and people with disabilities, and trans and gender nonconforming youth are especially vulnerable as they often are being forced to flee abusive families. By taking this action, HUD is sending the message to shelters and service providers that discrimination against the trans and gender nonconforming community is against U.S. Federal law,” said Victoria M. Rodríguez-Roldán, Trans/Gender Non-Conforming Justice Project Director, National LGBTQ Task Force.