VH1 today announced the guest judges set to join the milestone 10th season of Emmy Award-winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” premiering Thursday, March 22. RuPaul will be joined by a star-studded line-up of celebrities to help alongside show regulars Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley and Ross Mathews as they decide who will stay, lip-synch for their life, or “sashay away.”
This season’s guest judges include Christina Aguilera, Shania Twain, Lena Dunham, Halsey, Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Kate Upton, Billy Eichner, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon, Padma Lakshmi, Courtney Love, Nico Tortorella, Audra McDonald, Ashanti, Logan Browning, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Carrie Preston, Andrew Rannells, Miles Heizer, Todrick Hall and Lizzo. Additionally, Stephen Colbert, Andy Cohen and Cheyenne Jackson will treat the queens to special guest appearances.
Savannah PRIDE, the organizers of Savannah’s annual LGBTQ Pride Festival, will be presenting the first annual MERMAID FEST, Friday, March 23 – Saturday, March 24, on Tybee Island, Georgia. MERMAID FEST is a 2-day long celebration of the surf, sand and sun in the Savannah-area. Events include live music, parties, club crawls, beach games, mermaids and, of course, mermen.
“Savannah PRIDE attracts people from all over the world for our annual Pride Festival during the Halloween weekend,” says Rich Walczak, one of the organizers. “Mermaid Fest is a chance to show that Savannah is a year-round LGBTQ destination, where five miles of beaches are only 20 minutes away from an historic downtown.”
Highlighting Mermaid Fest will be an appearance by Blixunami, the gay Geechie Merman, one of the country’s most popular mermen, described as “the most beautiful person imaginable” by Metro UK and “as the most magical mermaid there is” by YouTube personality Davey Wavey.
Savannah PRIDE made history this past year when it relocated its festival to downtown Savannah and made the event free to the public. “Our goal was to have everybody celebrate the area’s diversity with us,” says Walczak. “And it was a huge success. People of all backgrounds, colors, ages - from college kids with rainbow streaked hair to people living deep in the country to Southern conservatives – all joined in for a day of fun and friendship.”
In response to a new FOIA release on Department of Justice influence on the Census, Meghan Maury, Policy Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, released this statement:
"The Census should count LGBTQ people because we count. New information uncovered about the Trump administration confirms that the Department of Justice chose to halt the Census Bureau’s progress toward adding sexual orientation and gender identity questions to the Census. The Census controls billions of dollars in federal funding, determines our representation at the state and federal levels, and impacts scores of other programs like how our school districts are drawn.
The addition of sexual orientation and gender identity questions would have had a significant impact on our community’s access to services, democracy, and education, which is why we demand to be counted.
The Civil Rights Division must reverse this course and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. The Trump administration appointed John Gore (the attorney who helped defend North Carolina in a federal lawsuit against HB2) to head the Civil Rights Division in 2017. Unfortunately, under the leadership of a champion of anti-LGBTQ legislation, the Division made a decision that betrayed the needs of our community.
On March 7, 2017, the Department of Justice told the Census Bureau it needed time to carefully consider inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity questions on the long-form Census, also known as the American Community Survey (ACS). A year after that date, we call on the Department to reaffirm its request of November 4, 2016 to include these topics on the ACS.
The Trump administration appears to be hellbent on erasing LGBTQ people, but the reality is we are a significant part of the population. We’re here, we’re queer, we’re not going anywhere. We deserve to be counted in the Census."
One hundred and forty years ago, Cherry Creek North
was part of a small town called Harman. Since then, Cherry Creek North
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In this part of the universe, Coloradoans are fools for camping —
and nothing elevates a night under the stars like a fireside feast.
Consider one of the state’s favorite campsites below, conveniently
paired with ideas on where to pick up Colorado-made ingredients to
prepare tasty eats.
Crow Valley Recreation Area, Briggsdale. Cradled by Pawnee National Grassland’s
sun-kissed prairie, Crow Valley’s dark skies delight Milky Way chasers
and solitude seekers. Choose from 10 spacious sites, and capture
Insta-worthy views of the Pawnee Buttes — twin castle-like mesas that
rise above the plains — from the nearby Pawnee Pioneer Trails Scenic and
Historic Byway. Supply stop: stock up on cans of Denver-based The Infinite Monkey Theorem wine at Pringle’s Fine Wine & Spirits in Fort Collins, then pick up some house made garlic brats to char over the campfire from Beavers’ Market, also in Fort Collins.
Pearl Lake State Park, Clark. Pearl Lake’s
placid waters beckon travelers to answer the call of the wild, and
nearly all of the park’s 36 campsites afford knockout vistas of the lake
and surrounding peaks. Activities include kayaking, Gold Medal
trout-fishing and frolicking in the surrounding forest via
out-of-the-way trails. Supply stop: collect cured meats, cheeses and
lovingly prepared chocolate bark (for extra-special s’mores) at
Steamboat Springs’ The Homesteader, adored for its inventory of locally produced goods.
Ute Campground, near Pagosa Springs. This 26-site locale near Chimney Rock National Monument
boasts glimpses of the monument’s archeological ruins, home to more
than 200 seemingly frozen-in-time homes and structures built by
ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians. Choose a site shaded by soaring
pines, and take a guided walking tour of the monument. Supply stop:
dazzle the campers brood with picks from specialty food shop The Choke Cherry Tree
in Pagosa Springs. Made onsite, delicious homemade fruit syrups in
flavors like the namesake wild chokecherry or boysenberry are a perfect
topping for campfire pancakes in the a.m., while Grandpa Bill’s Caramels
make an excellent evening treat.
Mosca Campground, near Hooper. Tucked in the shadow of always-pretty Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve,
San Luis State Park’s 51-site campground is an ideal base for spying on
shorebirds, songbirds and raptors, and hiking or biking amid the lower
sand dunes as the Sangre de Cristo Mountains tower above. Supply stop:
grab snack items like Salazar Meats smokehouse sausages (the small-scale livestock and meat-processing operation is family-run in nearby Manassa) and Blue Moose of Boulder dips at Alamosa’s Valley Food Co-Op. Though members can join the cooperative, it’s open to anyone for shopping.
Island Lake Campground near Delta & Cedaredge. Colorado’s Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-topped mountain, is the holy grail of outdoor playgrounds. Island Lake Campground’s
39 sites are situated at 10,000 feet, offering primo access to Grand
Mesa’s 300 fishing lakes, 3,000 miles of trails and wildflower shrouded
meadows. Supply stop: whip up a coveted cheeseburger supper with
provisions from Homestead Natural Meats in Delta: patties made from their own expertly raised beef and a selection of Rocking W Cheese, an export from nearby Olathe.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association officially announced today that Milan was chosen as the host city for its 37th Annual Global Convention in 2020. This will be a first for Italy, and will mark the event’s return to Europe for the first time since 2014.
"Hosting in Milan the IGLTA tourism convention in 2020 is a reason of pride for me, and I sincerely thank the IGLTA association, CEO John Tanzella, the Board Chair Juan Julià and the IGLTA Italian Ambassador Alessio Virgili,” said the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala. “This victory is not only a recognition of the quality of the tourism offer in Milan—increasingly competitive at an international level—but also and above all, a clear prize to the maturity and the commitment with which the city is fighting for the affirmation of civil rights. This is why we are very pleased to welcome this appointment: in this way, we will be able to contribute even more strength and determination to the growth and cultural change of our society.”
The IGLTA’s board of directors selects each year’s host city through an extensive bidding process that considers the association’s diverse membership as well as the destination’s support for LGBTQ tourism and its desire to grow that presence. Over the years, the convention has been held in various cities in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“Some of our previous host cities have been in the LGBTQ market for a long time, but we also want to reward destinations that have made progress in recent years. We had eight cities outside of the U.S. submit bids to host our 2020 convention, and Milan rose to the top,” said IGLTA Board Chair Juan Julià. “Milan is a fashion-forward center of LGBTQ life in Italy, with colorful gay pride events attracting 200,000 participants, and 20 LGBTQ associations, including a branch of AITGL, the Italian Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. We’ve also witnessed Italy’s progress regarding LGBTQ rights in recent years, most notably the addition of a same-sex civil union law in 2016. We know Milan will provide an incredible setting for the convention.”
In 2017, the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) became a global partner of IGLTA, joining the elite group of companies and destinations that have committed to year-round support for the association and LGBTQ-welcoming travel. “The choice of Milan reaffirms the commitment of The Italian National Tourist Board—in concert with several Italian LGBTQ associations and regional administrations—to strengthen Italy’s gay-friendly image in an effort to gain positions in the ranking of LGBTQ destinations and attract more LGBTQ travelers to our country,” said ENIT Executive Director Giovanni Bastianelli.
Alessio Virgili, IGLTA’s ambassador in Italy and the CEO of AITGL, also was instrumental in securing the bid for Milan.
“When I started doing LGBTQ business in Italy in 2007, I found many obstacles. But with the collaboration of an engaged business community, we helped to change perceptions,” Virgili said. “Today the Italian culture is much more open and in fact, Italy is one of the countries with the most IGLTA members in Europe.”
Colorado Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy knew he was gay since he was about five — but “because I was afraid of being different, that became my secret,” he says.
He first came out to his best friend, fellow skier Bobby Brown, and Brown’s girlfriend after the 2104 Olympics in Sochi. “I was crying, but it made me feel so good, so real, and I’d never, ever felt that,” Kenworthy, 26, says.
In Coming Out Stories, a new video series from PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly, 16 LGBTQ people from all walks of life share how they opened up to friends, family and the world — and how their lives changed.
One inspiration for the series: the new movie Love, Simon (in theaters March 16), a moving comedy-drama about a gay teen (Nick Robinson) struggling with how to come out to his friends and parents (played by Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel). Love, Simon director Greg Berlanti (the producer behind TV’s Riverdale and Supergirl) tells his own coming out story in the series, as does costar Keiynan Lonsdale.
Others sharing their stories include Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Grey’s Anatomy actress Sara Ramirez, retired NBA player Jason Collins, social media star Tyler Oakley and Brooke Guinan, a New York City firefighter who is transgender.
PEOPLE and EW partnered with GLSEN, a nonprofit that fights to make schools safe for all kids, to create Coming Out Stories.
Koelbel Urban Homes (KUH) has
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By Dirk Smith
At my writing gig with Compete Magazine we’ve been talking a lot and sharing the story of Dr. Jen Welter whom (if you’ve been keeping up with Compete Magazine) has recently released her book “Play Big” to share her story of being the first female coach of the NFL on the sidelines with the Arizona Cardinals and the first woman to play professional American Football in a men’s league when she took the field with the Texas Revolution.
About 2 months ago, I had the pleasure to meet Dr. Welter at the 2017 Compete Magazine Sports Diversity Awards where she was being honored for her impact and leading the way for young girls and woman to defy gender stereotypes and become anything they truly want to be. Although I didn’t know much about her when I met her, my first impression was that she was unapologetically authentic and a very confident, kind, person that you can immediately establish a personal connection with.
Of course she brought copies of her new book “Play Big” and of course with my favorite reading topics tend to be sports and sports autobiographies, I had to get my hands on a copy. (She even autographed it for me, Thanks Dr. Jen!) Having just finished reading it, I can tell you I really appreciated learning her story and hearing about her experiences as a woman breaking into the ultimate “man’s world.” While I will leave the details for you to read yourself, she talks about her famous notecards that she wrote for each player of the Cardinals during her time coaching with them and the impact that they had on each player. She also leaves “notecards” and insights into her philosophy throughout the book that the reader can apply to their own lives. Her insights always come with a personal reflection or story that she describes in the book and all from lessons that she has learned in her own experiences. Adding a personal perspective to her philosophy and advice as a coach, player, woman and person you can better understand the kind of impact and insight she had and continues to have.
The biggest thing I took away from Dr. Jen Welter’s story, besides her awesome “Flaming Manicure” story, is that no matter what you do or pursue in your life; you must always be 100% your authentic self. No matter who you are or what you do, the most important thing is you going for you is the things that make you unique as a person. We all have strengths and weaknesses and Dr. Jen remarks that by using your strengths to your best effort while working on your weaknesses, you can establish yourself in whatever it is you’re doing. Dr. Jen recognizes that if she had been anything less then her authentic self, she would have never made it to the NFL. Again using her personal experiences to establish a personal connection with her readers, just like she has done with her athletes, fellow coaches, teammates, friends and family.
What I’ve learned most from “Play Big” is that you can truly have an impact with taking action. Dr. Jen never sought to break the “glass ceiling (sideline?)” because all she wanted to do was play some football for the love of the sport. Playing 15 years of professional women’s football and what her and her teammates had to do to make that happen really makes it a passion of theirs. By taking every opportunity that came her way and going forward to “play big” with her 100% best effort, she let her passion carry her beyond any limits and anybody that might have tried to stop her.
Check her out at https://www.jenwelter.com/!
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After what seemed an insane amount of shopping, I have finally bought new glasses. This is my first pair of bi-focal lenses. And, it's the problem I'm having. I spend most of my day unable to see anything. I am constantly looking through the top part of my lens, designed for distance vision, to read and text. Then using the bottom section to drive. The optometrist did warn me, but really. At this point I would see better without glasses at all.
I will; however, keeping trying. But, if you see me without my glasses upon my face, you know not to inquire to their whereabouts. If you see me with my glasses on, I won't see you anyway. So I'll probably step on your foot. I'll apologize now.
Rhein Haus
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In an article published by Billboard Magazine, Nashville-based LGBT publicist Joey Amato (pictured) is quoted criticizing the decision of the Country Music Association for inviting Mike Huckabee to join its Board of Directors. Historically known for being conservative, Nashville’s country music industry was outraged by this decision and some industry executives threatened to pull funding of the organization due to Huckabee’s stance on the LGBTQ community.
"I have heard nothing but negative comments from those working in the industry on this decision," he said. "From my own personal perspective, when I moved to Nashville seven years ago, Music Row was still pretty closeted. There were LGBT people that worked on the Row, but they weren't as open about it as they are now. We've come so far in just those seven years, with people being proud of who they are now and everyone being so supportive of everyone else, it seems so contrary to what Mike Huckabee's agenda is. He's been openly vocal on being anti-LGBT throughout his entire career, and currently, so it seems like this decision is neither productive nor was given much thought [by the CMA]. I know people who identify as LGBT in every single record label on the Row -- managers, agents, producers, promoters -- and it seems like a move specifically made as a slap in the face to those people."
The first person to speak up against the CMA was Jason Owen, head of Sandbox Entertainment whose clients include country artists Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves and Faith Hill. Owen sent the CMA Foundation a letter Thursday declaring that neither he nor his artists would support the association in any way going forward.
Owen then told Billboard: "All the labels are really supporting my stance, with the loudest being [founder of Big Machine Label Group, and CMA Board Director at Large] Scott Borchetta. He has called for an emergency meeting [of the CMA Board] to get this rectified ASAP. Props to him for sure."
“A lot of people have a misconception about Nashville as being a conservative city. I believe the recent events involving Mike Huckabee have proven that this can’t be further from the truth. The people of Nashville, and more specifically, the county music industry have spoken up in a unified voice to take a stand against hatred and those who are not accepting of LGBTQ individuals,” stated Amato.
“We are one of 20 cities left vying for Amazon’s coveted HQ2, and any form of intolerance will not be allowed in Nashville. Jeff Bezos and Amazon have made it clear that the company fosters an inclusive environment, so it is our goal as a city to stand together and fight off any form of discriminatory actions against our community.”
Within 24-hours of his appointment, Huckabee formally resigned from the CMA Board of Directors.
In his decade-long career in entertainment, Amato has worked with some of music’s biggest stars including Dolly Parton, Gloria Estefan and Tanya Tucker. His company Agency33 PR is the only public relations firm in Nashville with an LGBT outreach division. Over the years, Amato has been a member over numerous LGBT organizations including IGLTA, NGLCC and NLGJA among others.
