The Feline Fix - Caring for Colorado's Community Cats

More than 20,000 cats are euthanized annually in Colorado simply because there are not enough homes for them all. Unfortunately, we can't simply adopt our way out of the problem. 

An unaltered female cat, tame or feral, may become pregnant as early as five months of age and bear two to three litters per year for her entire life; which for a feral cat is roughly five years.

The purpose of Divine Feline and it's clinic, The Feline Fix, is to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless cats and to promote the health and welfare of all cats, feral and tame, through the practice of providing quality and affordable spay and neuter services and the practice of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

We Are One Colorado Tour

The “We Are One Colorado” tour will address One Colorado's priorities for 2017 and the future, including continuing to ensure LGBTQ Coloradans have equal access to health care, making sure every school is safe for LGBTQ young people, and removing barriers for transgender Coloradans. One Colorado will also present the findings of their 2016 needs assessment, which surveyed over 3,600 LGBTQ Coloradans.

LGBTQ people living in different parts of the state face many unique challenges. Issues affecting a gay man living in Denver can be completely different than the issues affecting a transgender woman living in a rural area. That's why, from Durango to Arvada — from Fort Collins to Telluride — the "We Are One Colorado" tour is an opportunity for One Colorado to make sure our organization’s work aligns with the needs of LGBTQ people all across our state.

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.

Debt Free Guys: The Most Important Question for Same-Sex Spouses to Ask Before Filing Taxes

By John R. Schneider, III

Since same-sex marriage was legalized, the number of same-sex couples who play Tax Loophole Twister like our straight peers has increased.

We’re heading into tax season and getting a hold of your accountant may be harder than the 2016 election. Here’s the most important question same-sex spouses should ask before filing taxes: Should we file “married and jointly” or “married and separately”?

For most same-sex spouses, this question is new, the difference is considerable and the decision consequential. Here’s what you should know.

Pros & Cons of Filing Jointly
Considering the tax incentives offered to married couples, the government wants people married. (Up until recently, it just wanted the right people to be married.)

First, there’s the marriage bonus. The marriage bonus happens when there’s income disparity between spouses. If it applies, the marriage bonus puts the average income of the couple in a lower tax bracket because of the lower income earner.

Being married and filing jointly offers tax credits that may not apply if you’re married and filing separately. These credits include, but aren’t limited to Credit for Child and Dependent Care, Earned Income Tax Credits and education credits, such as American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Education Credits. Joint filers also have higher income thresholds for deductions, which means they can qualify for incentives while making more money.

Credits and deductions lower the net total in taxes couples pay. Qualifying for them keeps more of your hard-earned money as income.

Married life and taxes aren’t all roses, though. The con with married and filing jointly is the marriage penalty. Married couples without income disparity can be bumped into a higher tax bracket than when they filed as individuals or if they filed separately.

Filing jointly poses a risk if your spouse has tax problems. If your spouse has tax liens or owes the government money, you may become responsible for their burdens. If you file separately, you’re shielded from such risks.

Pros & Cons of Filing Separately  
Certain deductions that require a percentage of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) are more easily achieved with the lower AGI from filing separately rather than jointly. For example:

Miscellaneous expenses that are more than 2% of your AGI may be deducted
Emergency expenses over 10% of AGI may be deducted
One of you may qualify to contribute the max for a Roth IRA, whereas jointly neither of you might qualify

However, you’re off the hook for tax liabilities your spouse may have if you file separately. Doing so might shield certain assets from the government.

Going solo isn’t a bed of roses, either. Filing separately lowers deductions for Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contributions. While it’s good to invest in an IRA regardless, this reduces immediate benefits.

Along with the other tax deductions and credits afforded to couples who file jointly, you can’t take the student loan interest or tuition deduction if you file separately.

If this all sound confusing, that might be the point. Therefore, consult your tax professional.

Come Out. Get Fit With Stonewall Fitness.

Looking for more guidance and direction at the gym? Someone who can help you design a workout to maximize each workout at the gym so you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible? Check out Stonewall Fitness. Whether you're just starting out or looking to mix up your current routine, no matter if your gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or straight, you can be a part of it.

Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? 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.

Denver Limo, Inc. - The Hottest Limos In Colorado!

Denver Limo, Inc. is the leader in ground transportation in Denver, Colorado. Providing limousine service in Colorado for over 17 years, Denver Limo, Inc. has the hottest limousines, SUV limos, and Party Buses in the state!

American Wrestlers - Give Up

 

American Wrestlers are kicking off their 2017 tour with a new video for “Give Up,” the first single off their sophomore album, Goodbye Terrible Youth, out now on Fat Possum. The video is centered on the band performing in a recording studio with a mysterious Plant Man working the boards in the background. It was filmed at Steve Albini’s Chicago studio, Electrical Audio. Here’s what frontman Gary McClure has to say about it:

I wanted a very simple video, which had one other odd element that remained unexplained.

The band performing in the studio felt like the most straightforward and it was a little bit of a throwback. I always wanted to record in Electrical Audio in Chicago. It's a very beautiful building inside and out and they had all these cool looking instruments ready to pick up and play. Of course, the whole thing could be a witty knife-in-the-back comment on 21st century music. But that's unlikely.

Ignite Theatre Concludes Production as They Ease on Down the Road With "The Wiz"

Ignite Theatres' thirty-first production, The Wiz, will be its last.

In 2009 Keith Rabin, Jr., Reace Daniel and Will Adams introduced a different kind of theatre company to the theatre going public – one that only produced musicals, and only musicals that were regional premiers or under-produced. On August 7, 2009, they opened their first production, bare: the musical.

According to Co-Founder and Executive Producer Will Adams, "Set pieces were falling apart and microphones were not working. Several audience members left at intermission. But we did it!"

A program of Lucent Performing Arts, the company began as Gravity Defied Theatre and produced their first five shows under that name. In May of 2011 the decision was made to change the name to Ignite Theatre. The change to Ignite was more in line with the mission of providing the community with provocative and innovative theatrical experiences.

Ignite Theatre is an SCFD funded Tier III organization and the decision to close the theatre was not made lightly or due to lack of financial resources. While there were a number of factors involved, two key issues played a major role in the decision; Ignite does not own its own performance space, and changes at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, a wonderful partner for 30 productions, resulted in challenges scheduling its productions appropriately. Additionally the board and artistic leadership found it could no longer dedicate the time and necessary resources to continue at the current pace.

Adams stated, "Eight years and thirty-one productions later, Ignite Theatre has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of actors, directors, designers and musicians, and many thousands of audience members. We’ve created a difference in the Denver-area theatre community. "I’m proud of what we have accomplished, and thankful for the support of so many people over the years, especially our audience members."

Co-Founder and Artistic Director Keith Rabin, Jr. said, "As I quickly near the end of my time in the Denver theatre community, and as Ignite Theatre slowly dims its flame until the next spark of creativity lights it I can only say that I’ve met some of the most amazing, loving and supportive people who took us to where we are today."

Lucent Performing Arts will remain in operation leaving them open to possibilities of future programs that will continue in Ignite Theatre’s footsteps, such as educational workshops, guerilla theatre or remounts of past productions.

It seems appropriate that Ignites' final production is "The Wiz." Written as an allegory for the political, economic and social events of America, Dorothy's experiences, like Ignites’, were, none the less, magical and inspirational.

This beloved Broadway musical sets Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz to a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel, and soul music. "The Wiz" plays through January 29 on the Aurora Fox Mainstage Theatre, 9900 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, Co 80013. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Monday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $28 Adult, $26 Senior/Military, $20 Student and $25 Group (6+) and are available online at www.ignitetheatre.com or by calling 866-811-4111.

LAST DAY! Get Fit, Get 30% Off Vibe from Andrew Christian

Nice To See StevieB: I Am Not One With the Force

By StevieB

I have never played a video game. Not Really. 

I know, it seems strange, even to me in this day and age. I had played around with a game back in the 90’s, with Jamie the bestie. But I have never had a gaming system in the house. I have a strange addictive personality, where if I involve myself in something is becomes all-consuming.  This is why I’ve never watch a single second of the television show, Glee. I know I would have quickly devolve into the biggest Gleeck, or Glick. I don’t have time to become obsessed with musicals again… I mean, Betty Buckley still has a Restraining Order out on my ass. 

I can tell you the beginning storyline, and ending story line for every character on Dynasty, Doctor Who, Dallas, and a dozen other shows before I identified my obsessive condition. With the amount of characters in Game of Thrones, I believe I couldn’t spare the brain space.  So, spending free-time on video games, while I should be writing scathing essays on Shirley Chisolm for school, would be a catastrophe. 

Then we got an Xbox for Christmas. 

Can I tell you how embarrassing it is to be forty-five and not able to operate a controller? So, under the pretext of defending my honor, I have begun to “practice” my craft. A remote and icy planet in a remote star system known to locals as Hoth, is my training ground. Star Wars, Echo Base is where I will unleash my Jedi Powers.  I have embraced the Dark Side. This means I can walk around and slash Rebel scum with my red Lightsaber. Really it’s because I can’t aim and shoot a blaster. Yet. I tried, but after having Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, die seventeen times because of my incompetence in shooting her blaster, I switched to the Lightsaber.  Too soon, Leia, too soon. 

I hope to one day be a gamer. When school isn't in session. Right now, I’m a pushing middle-age gay gamer Wannabe.

OUT on DVD/VOD: Fall

In Fall, the memory of a teenage boy haunts an aging Catholic Priest after he receives a letter confronting him about the time they spent together 40 years ago. Fall will be available On Demand and DVD starting February 7, 2017.

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.

Take Action for LGBTQ Health: Call Colorado Congressional Leaders Now!

Colorado Congressional leaders need to hear from you right now! Congress has threatened to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would leave millions without access to the health care they need. The ACA has greatly benefitted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Coloradans and their families — from its nondiscrimination provisions to ensuring that people can’t be denied health care based on a pre-existing condition.

Call your members of Congress and tell them: "Please do not take away health care from 22 million people without a plan that offers more affordable care, better coverage, and better consumer protections than what Coloradans are currently receiving."

Below is contact information for each senator and representative. If you need to know who your representative is/which district you live in, click here (Senators represent the entire state so call both of them!).

Senator Cory Gardner - 303-391-5777
Senator Michael Bennett - 303-455-7600 / 866-455-9866
Representative Diana DeGette - 303-844-4988 (CO District 1)
Representative Jared Polis - 303-484-9596 (CO District 2)
Representative Scott Tipton - 970-241-2499 (CO District 3)
Representative Ken Buck - 970-702-2136 (CO District 4)
Representative Doug Lamborn - 719-520-0055 (CO District 5)
Representative Mike Coffman - 720-748-7514 (CO District 6)
Representative Ed Perlmutter - 303-274-7944 (CO District 7)

So much is on the line! Without a comprehensive replacement plan, many LGBTQ Coloradans' health care will be in jeopardy. Call your U.S. Senators' and Representative's local office now!

It’s more important than ever that Congress hears from you about the potential impacts of a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Thank you for speaking up for your health care.

In health, 
Daniel Ramos
Executive Director
One Colorado

PS — We are working to protect the progress Colorado has made with health care reform. Do you have a success story to share about how the Affordable Care Act has helped you? Tell us why access to quality and affordable health care is important to you.

Kiesza - Dearly Beloved

 

Kiesza, whose landmark multi-platinum worldwide smash “Hideaway” netted nearly 500 million global streams, premieres her brand new track and video,“Dearly Beloved” today! The electric slice of disco-infused pop was produced by three-time Grammy-winning British electronic musician, songwriter and producer Stuart Price (famously known for his work with Madonna, The Killers, Gwen Stefani, etc.), marking the first taste of new music to come from Kiesza this year on the Island Records/4th and B'way/Lokal Legend imprint.