San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Announces The Lavender Pen Tour

This Fall, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will be traveling to Southern red states to share their music and help build a bridge between communities for conversation through the arts. Art has the power to make an impact on people’s lives, educate and affect real people.

The Gay Vegans: Pick An Action, Any Action

By Dan Hanley

Pick an action, any action Now is not a time to sit on the sidelines. With so much going on in the world, it’s time to act. Many who read this blog are already engaged in some type of activism and action, and I am grateful to be immersed in community with you. For those in our communities who have thought about doing something but aren’t quite there, now is the time to pick an action, any action.

The Dakota Pipeline.

A crazy election.

Poverty.

Local injustice.

The list is endless. I believe we all have the power to make our world a safer, better place for all. We all have passions and many of us are in a position to make change. Action can be attending a local protest or even creating one of your own. It can be a letter to the editor. It can be an article that explains an issue that is important to you shared on your Facebook page. Things we have done recently include a vegan potluck to introduce delicious vegan food to friends and neighbors who are not vegan as well as using our social media to put a spotlight on what is happening in North Dakota. We also made a donation to a group we love that is doing incredible work in Los Angeles. None of these are big actions, and we think each has made a difference.

One person can make a huge difference.

Nice to See StevieB: Death to Steve

By StevieB

Since the day after Christmas, I had been fighting a cold. But, since it was Christmas, then New Years, I ignored my body and added Dayquil to my choices of holiday refreshment. This is when the sharp pain in my chest added a delightful appearance every time I began to cough. Still, I was too busy showing off my new Burberry coat I received for Christmas to take care of my lungs. This was until last Friday when an intervention was staged. Well, the intervention from my closest friends was staged because I started a fun new quirk where I would cough so strongly it would pull all the air from my lungs, causing none to reach my brain. This initiated a trick, of me blacking out. Yes, I would cough until I blacked out. Driving was fun. 

I was kindly asked to seek medical attention. By this I mean; my Kaiser card was ripped from my wallet and an appointment was made for me. After all the tests and a dramatic scene of me blacking out on the exam table, It was diagnosed; Pneumonia. Yay! I spent three days at home, unable to drive as I had promised not to kill myself. I simply just let the drugs work, and healing began. In this un-plugged state, I am reminded how I run non-stop. All the time. On a typical day off, I’m up and out of the house as soon as possible. This is followed by days filled with activities and adventures. So, when I was forced to stay home and rest, I quickly found the lack of movement strange. 

I did practice my video gaming skills, I’m sure you are wondering how that’s going. Well; I can now fire a weapon and move at the same time. So, I can add that to my resume. I had to stop myself from re-organizing closets or the kitchen. As I was ordered to not “exert myself.” And, the Sweet Baboo and the roommate cooked all the meals. It was a strange couple of days. Breakfast at home, followed by just quality time hangout with my little wonderful family. 

By Sunday night I found that I was sad about going back to work on Monday. The cocoon was beginning to make me happy. These feelings were based on the fact that I so enjoyed being around my people. It wasn’t the physical home (spending time at home, doing home-stuff) it was the great people I had around me caring for me.

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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!

OUT on DVD/VOD: Bwoy

 

Bwoy follows Brad O’Connor, who, after the death of his son, becomes entangled in a chaotic and passionate online love affair with Yenny, a young Jamaican man (newcomer Jimmy Brooks). With both Brad and his wife Marcia seeking solace in destructive ways, their lives and relationships are pushed to the brink, culminating in tragic confrontations that no one can avoid.

World OutGames Miami Announces Juana Mora Cedeño and Tamara Adrián as Plenary Speakers

World OutGames Miami 2017, a 10-day multi-sport, human rights and cultural event to be held May 26 through June 4, has announced Juana Mora Cedeño and Tamara Adrián as plenary speakers for its Global Conference on Human Rights. The three-day conference (May 26-29) will feature as many as 25 notable activists, thought leaders and community figures addressing more than 35 topics that promote inclusivity in sports, health & wellness and global social justice.

“We are excited to welcome Mora Cedeño and Adrián to our distinguished roster of speakers who will share their stories of strength and hope with an international audience as part of the World OutGames Miami Global Conference on Human Rights,” said Ivan Cano, CEO of World OutGames Miami. “This conference, along with our other pillars of sports and culture, will offer an amazing experience and serve as a powerful tool to promote unity and inclusiveness.”

Juana Mora Cedeño is a renowned artist and independent LGBTQ activist from Havana, Cuba, who has advocated for the rights of LGBTQ people in Cuba with other independent civil society members. Through her work with “Proyecto Manos Project,” a federation of LGBTQ Human Rights advocacy groups, she, along with other members of the project, met with leaders from the United States, including Former President Barack Obama and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, to discuss the status of LGBTQ Human Rights in Cuba and their broader concern for overall democracy in Cuba. Juana Mora Cedeño is joining the Conference through the sponsorship of the Washington D.C.-based International Institute for Race, Equality and Human Rights.

Tamara Adrián, a lawyer, prominent transgender activist and advocate for LGBTQ rights, is the first transgender politician elected to office in Venezuela and only the second transgender member of a national legislature in the western hemisphere. Based in Caracas, Venezuela, she is a member of a number of international LGBTQ boards and organizations. She is the president of the Committee of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO-T); the female co-president of the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association (GLISA); and president of the board of directors of Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE). During the Conference, she will be discussing “Sex, Gender and Sports: a remaining space for discrimination.”

For a full list of participating speakers and workshops, visit www.outgames.org/human_rights/conference.

Stonewall Fitness: The Irony of Self Defeat - How Your Attitude Determines Success

By David Smith
Whatever your reasons for exercise might be, make sure you have one!
​Working at a gym, not only as a personal trainer and fitness instructor or even simply as the dude at the front desk, you get to know all the different types of people who come into the gym. You get to know their personalities, attitude, goals and probably a few things you didn’t want to know about them.

The most common theme among participants of course is attitude and approach, particularly how much people discount themselves and their abilities. More often then not gym goers will brush off trying something new or adding a variation to their routine without even trying. Which is ironic because isn’t the whole reason one visits the gym is to challenge and better oneself?



While generally it is not specific to any particular group or crowd, when you narrow down the demographics the different types of training and reasons become very diverse. Ever hear someone tell themselves they can’t do something? It’s not just limited to the gym either but in every day life. When you discount the possibility of accomplishing something new, you’ve set yourself up for failure before you even try.

There are many things in the world that one might not have any intention on doing or trying or anything. That’s perfectly okay and everybody has that. If you look at the stages of change chart, you’ll see that everything we have (or not) going in our lives fit within that chart.

Think positive!
We all have that one overly positive friend that gets on our nerves sometimes. However that friend always approaches every challenge with an optimistic spirit and is already setting themselves up for success with a “can do” attitude.Compliment others!
Next time you see someone doing a complicated exercise that intrigues you, give them a compliment. It’ll open up a conversation that you can learn more about the exercise itself.Look up to others but don’t compare yourself to others!
Just because you can’t run as fast, lift as much or perhaps look as good as someone else doesn’t mean you can’t use them as your motivation to one day work up to them. However don’t discount your own accomplishments and progress, no matter how little. We all strive to be something more, every step, no matter how small is one step closer.Focus on your own goals.
We seek motivation from many different sources, including the people we look up to. However the only person that matters is yourself and what you are doing to be better. Stay focused on what the work you need to do and not how it compares to what someone else is doing. They don’t matter, all that matters is doing what you need to do to get better.Build your Plan of Action.
When you set yourself a goal, you need a plan to reach that goal. Take your starting point and your finishing point (the goal) and start to assemble the steps in between. You don’t have to figure out all the steps right now but focus on the next step and think about the step after that. Work toward accomplishing each step like it was your goal.Fake it till you make it.
Especially when you don’t necessarily have the confidence, courage or belief in yourself to take that first step. It’s okay to be scared; change is something we all fear. Be scared, then do it anyway.Remember, everybody has had to start from the beginning. Even the strongest person at the gym had to start somewhere. In the end your attitude is what determines your success. You have all the tools you need to succeed, even if you don't with a goal and a plan you will find a way to make it happen. Get started and don't look back, for in a year from now you'll be glad you started today.David Smith is the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group Fitness.

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Colorado Springs Theater Company Seeking LGBT Submissions

Colorado Springs' Funky Little Theater Company is seeking submissions for 10 minute plays exploring LGBT themes for their second annual Spectrum Festival.

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

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).

Debt Free Guys: Further Protecting Your Same-Sex Marriage

By John R. Schneider, III & David Auten

Many in our community are concerned about the future of same-sex marriage and our civil rights. If this is you, let’s do something about it. Take the following steps to legally and financially protect your relationship as much as possible.

Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship

Put your assets in a Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship. Joint tenancy means that when one of you passes away, the other automatically and fully owns of all your assets. This protects against others’ claims to your assets.

Wills

Each of you should draw up a will that spells out the owner of your assets when you pass away. Unless you come to another agreement, inherit your assets to each other. In the unfortunate event that you both pass away at or about the same time, include a per stirpes clause to outline the sequence of inheritors.

Designate an executor, likely each other, to oversee the division of your estates. If you have children, designate non-biological parents as their guardian.

Beneficiaries

Update all the beneficiaries on all accounts to be in line with your will, unless you and your spouse agree otherwise. This technicality catches many by surprise, but beneficiary designations supersede wills. For this reason, update your beneficiaries annually when you file your taxes.

Second-Parent Adoptions

If you have or will have children, non-biological parents should legally adopt and be listed on their birth certificates as second-parents. This will be hard in some states, as some state constitutions have outdated language that prohibit two people of the same gender on the same birth certificate.

Powers of Attorney

Designate each other as both financial and medical powers of attorney. Financial powers of attorney designate an agent to handle financial needs. Medical powers of attorney designate someone to handle medical needs.   

Choose a durable power or springing power of attorney. Durable powers of attorney authorize an agent to immediately act on your behalf, including if you become temporarily or permanently incompetent or incapacitated. The authorization ceases when you pass away.  

Springing powers of attorney authorize an agent to act on your behalf and only goes into effect if you become permanently incapacitated, as authorized by a medical doctor. This, too, ceases when you pass away.

Living Wills

Living wills outline medical and end-of-life wishes, if you cannot speak for yourself. Specify DNR (do not resuscitate), the use of feeding tubes, respirators, dialysis and blood transfusions instructions.

Contact Information

Document important contacts, such as doctors, accountants and attorneys, and their contact information should you become incompetent or incapacitated.

Archiving

Store important documents and information electronically. DocuBank electronically stores legal documents and information on an easily accessible card the size of a credit card. This is helpful when you must access information on the fly, such as when medical professionals question your rights to visit your spouse in the hospital.

Even if some of these steps are redundant, they provide added protection in case the legality of our marriages are questioned.

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.

World OutGames Miami Launches Poetry Contest

World OutGames Miami 2017, a ten-day multi-sport, human rights and cultural event held from May 27 until June 4, 2017, invites poetry enthusiasts to submit their favorite poem for a chance to be chosen to read it aloud during a special event at The Betsy Hotel. The cultural event, which is a collaboration between World OutGames Miami and the Favorite Poem Project, will feature a special appearance by the 39th Poet Laureate of the United States (1997-2000) and the project’s founder, Robert Pinsky.

Readers of all ages are encouraged to enter for a chance to be selected to read their favorite poem at World OutGames Miami’s Favorite Poem Project event on Sunday, May 28, at 5 p.m. at the Betsy Hotel. Poetry submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m.on April 13.

“Our three pillars – Sports, Culture and Human Rights – are at the core of everything we do,” said Ivan Cano, CEO of World OutGames Miami. “Like the World OutGames, the Favorite Poem Project brings together individuals from all walks of life. This cultural offering adds another dimension to our amazing 10-day program which will inspire, motivate and celebrate the human spirit.”

Founded by Robert Pinsky, the Favorite Poem Project, a collaborative effort dedicated to celebrating, documenting and encouraging poetry’s role in Americans’ lives, has been committed to strengthening communities through the art of poetry. Since its inception, the project has facilitated nearly 1,000 community reading events across the country.

The Favorite Poem Project event at World OutGames Miami is co-sponsored by The Poetry Foundation, The Betsy Hotel, Miami Book Fair International and O, Miami. For more information, visit www.outgames.org.