Caitlyn Jenner to Attend Donald Trump Inauguration

Caitlyn Jenner will attend the inauguration on Friday, People has exclusively confirmed.

“Caitlyn has been a Republican all her life and she sees this as an opportunity to represent and defend the LGBTQ community within the party,” a source close to Jenner tells People.

Contrary to reports, however, Jenner was not invited by President-elect Donald Trump, but rather she will be a guest of the American Unity Fund, a non-profit conservative organization dedicated to advancing the cause of freedom and equal opportunity for LGBTQ Americans.

“Caitlyn sees this as a chance to bring attention to LGBTQ causes and she is committed to protecting human rights no matter the political party in power,” says the source, adding, “She has no problem speaking out if Republicans fail to protect equal rights.”

Jenner, 67, who has been an outspoken advocate of nondiscrimination legislation, underscored her mission in a tweet on Wednesday: “Republicans need help understanding LGBTQ issues, and I’m here to help.”

In July, Jenner took part in the American Unity Fund’s “Big Tent Brunch” at the 2016 Republican Convention alongside like-minded conservative guests.

A Chat With Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, Portlandia's stars and co-creators Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein mark the start of the show's seventh season by sitting down together for a chat. Over the course of their wide-ranging conversation, the two friends and longtime collaborators discuss their cooking habits, bizarre medicinal uses for garlic, Fred's trip to Japan to find his roots, This is Spinal Tap, the difference between live comedy and live music, erroneous details on their Wikipedia pages, and much more.

 

You can listen to the full episode HERE.

Logo and Aspen Gay Ski Week Team Up for Snow Days

Logo recently announced it is returning as the premiere sponsor for Aspen Gay Ski Week, the longest running week-long gay ski event in the nation. Logo will air programming from Aspen, titled Logo Snow Days, beginning January 22 and running through January 29. RuPaul’s Drag Race favorites Katya, Ginger Minj, Alaska and Shangela, along with Comedian Matteo Lane, will host a week of mayhem from the slopes, giving viewers a taste of Aspen’s most exciting events, parties and ski bunnies.

Logo’s stars will lead viewers on a new adventure each day in a series of 10 original short segments. From a snowman-building competition to ski lessons, their antics will keep viewers entertained during the commercial breaks of your favorite Logo programs. The group will also have the run of the town, playing out hilarious skits and getting the gay skiers excited for the nightly naughtiness ahead.

Each evening, a recap short will highlight the day’s adventures and feature exciting events that include:

Thursday, January 26 – A Logo-hosted Aprés Ski Party featuring all kinds of naughty stage games and antics, including a speed dating game.

Thursday, January 26 – The Comedy Cabaret hosted by Ginger Minj, featuring a roster of hilarious comedians including Logo’s very own Shangela, Matteo Lane and Fortune Feimster.

Friday, January 27 – The Downhill Drag Race costume contest

Friday, January 27 – The Top of the Mountain finale party, where the Queens of Drag Race will put on a series of performances throughout the epic dance party. Drag legend Lady Bunny will DJ the event.

Denver Puppy Makes it to Puppy Bowl!

A puppy from the Dumb Friends League will be representing Denver during Puppy Bowl XIII on Sunday, Feb. 5 from 1-3 p.m. (MST) as the world’s cutest sporting event returns to Animal Planet.

Squirt was drafted to star in Puppy Bowl XIII to complete Animal Planet’s starting line-up of adoptable players for the Big Game. Although small in stature–Squirt, the Dumb Friends League Puppy Bowl XIII starter is sure to make the Mile High City proud.

Go Behind the Scenes of the Andrew Christian Trophy Boy Modeling Contest

NSFW-ish unless you work at Andrew Christian!

Gay Help Wanted: Part-Time Survivor Support Coordinator for SOL/BSeedz

SOL/BSeedz is expanding their Hotline Advocate Team to become a COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM that responds more holistically to the needs of LGBTQ survivors of violence - including intimate partner violence, police violence, discrimination, hate violence, suicide and other ways our community is targeted.

 Position Summary: Individual is responsible for providing direct advocacy to survivors of hate/bias violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the LGBTQI community through phone and in-person advocacy and support, case linkage to resources in Colorado. Individual is also responsible for treating survivors of crime with dignity and respect, assist them through the criminal justice system and legal system, give referrals for community resources and listen to the survivor’s needs and concerns.

Essential Job Functions:
Responds to contact from survivors to assess needs, provides direct services, conducts safety planning, makes linkages to other services, and directs to appropriate individual;

Provides linkage to services to consumers for local and statewide resources;

Conduct liaison work with law enforcement, emergency shelter facility staff, criminal justice system, medical staff and social service agencies concerning victim services as needed;

Assist with staffing the SOL hotline;

Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and referrals to LGBTQI victims as needed;

Maintain documentation for program and fiscal reports as required by supervisor;

Engage in community outreach, education, and develop relationships with traditional mainstream programs in their area;

Hours and Job Locations: This is a 20 hours/week, including some evening and weekends, position in Denver, CO.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

To Apply: Submit your resume and cover letter to hiring@solcolorado.org. Application deadline is January 27, 2017, with position starting soon after. No phone calls please. Youth, people of color, transgender and gender non-conforming people, bilingual/multilingual, people with disabilities, and low-income people are encouraged to apply.

Log Cabin Republicans: Chelsea Manning Commutation "Nothing to Celebrate"

As one of his final actions in office, President Barack Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, a transgender former soldier who was convicted in 2013 of leaking classified information regarding United States national security.

Log Cabin Republicans has always condemned Manning’s actions, and consistently stood against efforts by the left to elevate Manning as a paragon of the LGBT community.

“Chelsea Manning is no hero, and the commutation of her sentence is appalling,” Log Cabin Republicans President Gregory T. Angelo stated. “Manning was not imprisoned for being transgender — in fact, the government agreed to accommodate and facilitate her transition during her well-deserved sentence; she was imprisoned for traitorous clandestine activity that put military lives at risk. Her actions — and President Obama’s clemency — are nothing to celebrate.”

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association Announces Partnership with Argentina’s LGBT Chamber at FITUR

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association has formed an expanded partnership with Camara de Comercio Gay Lesbica Argentina (CCGLAR), the LGBT chamber of commerce for Argentina. CCGLAR will serve as the association’s representative throughout the country, providing Spanish-language membership support and helping to grow IGLTA’s presence in this key South American market for LGBT travelers. IGLTA has volunteer ambassadors in 22 countries and regions, and has been engaged with CCGLAR’s founders in the annual Gnetwork360 conference in Buenos Aires for many years.

“Argentina is a leader in LGBT rights in Latin America and a top LGBT travel destination, so we are very pleased to align ourselves more closely with the chamber of commerce,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “CCGLAR is a proven organization with well established connections in the Argentinean business community and we look forward to working alongside them to expand our LGBT tourism network.”

The official announcement coincided with FITUR, the international travel trade fair held at Feria de Madrid in Madrid, Spain, 18-22 January. CCGLAR President Pablo de Luca and Vice President Gustavo Noguera and IGLTA Board Chair Juan Julia and Clark Massad, IGLTA Vice President-Global Partnerships, were in attendance.

"We have been working for almost a decade with IGLTA as members, partners, on the board of directors and now also through our organization (CCGLAR) working as ambassador of the association representing IGLTA in Argentina,” de Luca said. “Proudly and together with IGLTA, we will continue promoting LGBT tourism to Argentina and Latin America.”

IGLTA’s global ambassador program also has representatives in Canada, the Caribbean, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

National LGBT Bar Association Honors Level 3 Senior Corporate Counsel Jason Prussman

The National LGBT Bar Association – the country's largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied legal professionals – has honored Jason Prussman, senior corporate counsel, Level 3 Communications, with its 2017 Denver Out & Proud award. The award recognizes outstanding legal professionals who advance LGBT equality through words and actions to create more secure and welcoming workplaces.

Prussman earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado. He counsels the human resources department and other units within Level 3 on employee relations matters, corporate policies and compliance programs. He joined Level 3 in 2011.

Call for Performers - Love Is A Drag

truTV Greenlights New Series from Comedy Icon Amy Sedaris

truTV recently announced the greenlight of an all-new scripted series from comedy legend Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). In the Untitled Amy Sedaris Project, Sedaris will apply her sincere yet distinctive brand of silliness to a one-of-a-kind mash up of hospitality, variety and talk show formats. Through her imaginative characters and unique point of view, the series will showcase Sedaris' diverse but necessary homemaking skills, from Frenching beans, to gutting a trout, to crocheting miniature sweaters, to entertaining business-men. Each episode of the series will revolve around a traditional theme – such as Fish! Wood!, or Grieving! – and will seamlessly combine Sedaris' humor and talents as a crafter, chef, baker and hostess. truTV has ordered 10 half-hour episodes of the series.

"I've been doing this show in my head for years. It will be terrific to get it on TV so I can free up some wiggle room up in my skull," said Sedaris.

A prolific actress, author, comedian and rabbit educator, Sedaris has appeared often on screen, both large and small. She is the co-creator, with Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, of the hit cult comedy series Strangers with Candy and half of the Obie-winning "Talent Family" playwright team (with her brother, David). She is also the author of two best-selling books, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence and Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People.

"It only took one meeting for us to want this show out of Amy's head and on our air," said Marissa Ronca, executive vice president and head of programming for truTV. "Amy is a creative genius who, throughout her career, has created authentic, original characters and worlds that comedy fans like us have loved. We're incredibly excited to bring her specific and hilarious brand of comedy to truTV."

The Untitled Amy Sedaris Project is produced by PFFR, with executive producers Sedaris, Alyson Levy, John Lee and Vernon Chatman. The series will go into production this summer.

Bayard & Me

 

Bayard & Me, a short doc about gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin who adopted his partner for legal rights, will premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival; Award-winning filmmaker Matt Wolf shares why he made Bayard & Me in a video for the It Gets Better Project.

Nice To See StevieB: Small Town Boy

By StevieB

There comes a time when you realize that your youth, no matter how far back on the calendar, is officially ancient history. For me, it was when I received the news that Carrie Fisher had passed, but even closer to my heart, it was when I heard that Larry Steinbachek, keyboardist with pioneering synth-pop trio Bronski Beat, died at the age of 56.

Never heard of Bronski Beat? Yeah, it's truly a generational thing. Bronski Beat was a band starting in the 1980's British synthpop scene. Never heard of synthpop? Yeah. It was just one of the most distinctive subgenres of new wave. A sound heavily influenced by David Bowie.  During this generation, a trio achieved success with their distinctive sound and lead singer, particularly with the 1984 No. 3 in the UK chart hit "Smalltown Boy." They made a video for "Smalltown Boy" and it was late at night when a twelve-year-old me, watched it for the first time. It was a message in a bottle washing up on the shores of my deserted island.

All members of the group were openly gay, their songs reflected this. It was pop music with a commentary on gay-related issues. In a generation of subversive and double entendre messages, Bronski Beat was clear in message.

Pushed around and kicked around, always a lonely boy
You were the one that they'd talk about around town as they put you down
And as hard as they would try they'd hurt to make you cry
But you never cried to them, just to your soul

In 1984 I was twelve. I had already come to terms with being gay. What I could not comprehend, nor functionally comply with was how to operate on a rural ranch outside of a small town in the middle of nowhere. Within a dysfunctional family with Mormon ideal. I was failing to cope. Then, late at night, as I sat crying, the Bronski Beat video came on television.  It was a bolt from the blue. I could. I had to wait, but I would get out. I would have the life I wanted. The life I needed. Thank you Larry Steinbachek, rest in peace. You saved my life.

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'The Who's Tommy' is now playing in Denver

Based on the iconic 1969 rock concept album, The Who's Tommy is an exhilarating story of hope, healing and the human spirit. The story of the pinball-playing, deaf, dumb and blind boy who triumphs over his adversities has inspired, amazed and puzzled audiences for more than 40 years. This five-time Tony Award-winning musical was translated to the stage by theatrical wizard, Des McAnuff, into a high-energy, one-of-a-kind theatrical event.

After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother's lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia and, as the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbors. As an adolescent, he's discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball and, when his mother finally breaks through his catatonia, he becomes an international pinball superstar.
 
Performances will be January 13 through February 4, 2017 with performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM. There will also be one pay-what-you-can industry night on Thursday, February 2, 2017. 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. Tickets and more information available online at www.EquinoxTheatreDenver.com.