In Other WHC Dinner News, Out Artist Ty Herndon Performed

Photos by Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Award-winning artist Ty Herndon was recently invited to perform at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner where he sang an exceptional rendition of “America The Beautiful” and “God Bless America.” To view a clip of his performance, visit here.

The event, hosted by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), also featured comedian Michelle Wolf on the entertainment line-up - you may have heard something about that! 

The Association, founded in 1914 to represent the White House press corps, works to maintain independent news media coverage of the president, advocating for access, handling logistics for pools of reporters who stay close to the president and those who travel with him and providing scholarships to journalism students.

The annual dinner has been attended by U.S. Presidents and First Ladies for decades as well as many other senior government officials and members of the press corps. Proceeds from the dinner support the association's year-round work as well as scholarships for aspiring journalists and awards recognizing excellence in the journalism profession.
The WHCA represents the White House press corps in its dealings with the administration and advocates for journalists' ability to see and report on the president and his staff.

Herndon attended the event with the intention of raising awareness for the "Beyond I Do" campaign which is working to bring attention to the discrimination of the LGBTQ community in the U.S. This campaign is raising awareness of this discrimination by giving real Americans a platform to tell their stories of being fired from their jobs, evicted from their homes, or denied basic services because of their sexual identity.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Announce Search for New CEO

Renowned home furnishings brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is conducting a CEO Search. “After careful consideration and in light of our company’s growth plans, we have decided to initiate a search for a CEO to help lead us to a new stage of success in the future,” said Mitchell Gold, Chair-man and CEO, who co-founded the company with Bob Williams, President of Design, in 1989.

“Bob and I built this company from the ground up with an incredible team, and now we want someone to take the reins, work with us to transition the company to the next generation of leadership, and allow me to focus on my strengths, including new strategic partnerships for both our products and our ethos,” he notes. Gold will continue as Chair-man following completion of the search.

Based in Taylorsville, NC the company operates a state of the art manufacturing and distribution center spanning close to one million square feet that supports the brand’s expanding retail, wholesale, office and contract/hospitality sectors.

Adds Williams: “With 32 stores and more on the horizon, we are particularly interested in finding someone who is an expert in retail to help guide our expansion.”

Many consumers know the brand’s furnishings and philosophy of comfort from its extensive coverage in national and regional media. The company offers employee friendly benefits that help attract top talent, including a not-for-profit, education-based on-site daycare center and a health-conscious gourmet café run by the company’s corporate chef. The company also provides health fairs, an on-site nurse, and college scholarships for children of employees.

The Stephens Group, a family-owned investment firm based in Little Rock, AR, has backed the company since 2014. The Stephens Group uses its permanent capital base and extensive resources to support private companies with compelling growth opportunities in pursuit of their long-term strategies.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has retained the services of global executive search and leadership advisory firm, Spencer Stuart to lead the search for the next CEO.

Tom Leeb - Go On

Arvada Center Announces Spring Pottery Sale

The Arvada Center is holding its Spring Pottery Sale May 15 – 20, 2018 in the Upper Gallery. Now in its 41^th year, the Pottery Sale is one of the Arvada Center’s most popular annual art sales and it features pieces by Arvada Center faculty, students and artists.

Sale hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 20 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. There is an opening reception that is free to the public from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15. Many of the ceramics artists featured in this year’s show will attend the reception.

Come and shop for a functional handcrafted gift for yourself or a one-of-a-kind art piece for your garden or home. Works offered in this annual show, and sale ranges from functional dinnerware, jewelry to sculpture for your home and garden. Presented by the Arvada Center's nationally recognized faculty of ceramic artists and advanced students, this 6-day sale is free and open to the public. Proceeds benefit the Arvada Center Ceramics Studio.

OUT in Theaters: The Misandrists

Cartilage Films is leading the revolution with the national theatrical rollout of Bruce LaBruce's The Misandrists.  Following a world premiere at Berlinale and screenings at Karlovy Vary, Sitges, Raindance London and Guadalajara, legendary provocateur LaBruce (Gerontophilia, Hustler White) comes to the States with The Misandrists.  Balancing sharp social commentary and salacious popcorn entertainment, LaBruce's latest feature is an experience that's a blast to watch and just as much fun to dissect afterwards.
 
The Misandrists will begin its national rollout May 25th with a weeklong run in New York City at the Village East Cinema.  The following week, the film will switch coasts for a week's showings in Los Angeles at the Nuart Theatre starting June 1st.  LaBruce will introduce screenings at both openings.  The Misandrists will continue to open throughout Pride Month in Washington DC, Austin, New Orleans, Seattle, Denver, Philadelphia, Cleveland and more.

Travel: Key West Cocktail Classic Finals to Showcase Top LGBT Mixologists

 
Libation lovers can applaud regional bartending champions from 14 U.S. and Canadian cities as they vie for mixology mastery Wednesday through Sunday, June 6-10, in the final rounds of the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic.

For the fifth consecutive year, the challenge is scheduled during the Key West Pride celebration and is presented in partnership with the Key West Business Guild.

The cocktail classic brings together regional winners from previous competitions held in LGBT bars across North America. During the final rounds, they compete to create the cocktail that best embodies Key West’s creativity and spirit.

The top two bartenders are to receive a combined total of $20,000 for charity — with a portion given to a Key West organization of their choice and the rest to a favorite hometown charity. The first-prize mixologist also is named honorary grand marshal of the 2018 Pride Parade.

The dueling bartenders are to be rated by an all-star lineup of celebrity judges including Emmy Award–winning comedy writer and actor Bruce Vilanch, singer/actress and former “American Idol” finalist LaToya London and acclaimed Key West female impersonator Sushi.

The festivities culminate in the Pride Parade, led by the Stoli winner and slated to begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 10. The parade route proceeds up Duval Street from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.

Books: Raised By Unicorns: Stories from People with LGBTQ+ Parents

Perfectly timed for Father's Day, Mother's Day and nationwide PRIDE events this summer season, RAISED BY UNICORNS: STORIES FROM PEOPLE WITH LGBTQ+ PARENTS, edited by acerbic Twitter and LGBTQ+ media personality Frank Lowe, is poised to not only inform LGBTQ+ families about the challenges they may face and provide insight on how to overcome them, but to also further the definition of the American modern nuclear family. 

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to spread the love, and maybe you'll find yourself inspired along the way!

Charlie Puth featuring Kehlani - Done For Me

Multi-Grammy nominated singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth has premiered the Syn Cole Remix for "Done For Me" the third single featuring Kehlani off his highly anticipated sophomore album Voicenotes (available May 11th via Atlantic Records). The remix follows this week's premiere of an 80s-nostalgic video companion, already boasting over 5.7 million views on YouTube.

Join One Colorado's Gubernatorial Forum on LGBTQ Issues

One Colorado is presenting a Gubernatorial Forum on LGBTQ issues on Thursday, June 7th, and they want you to be there!

Candidates vying to be our next Governor will participate in a forum at the EXDO Event Center, where they will answer questions on issues important to LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. After the forum, there will be a cocktail meet and greet where you’ll have a chance to chat with the candidates themselves!

Click here to sign for the gubernatorial forum and learn where the candidates for Governor stand on LGBTQ issues.

Attendance is free, but a suggested donation of $10 is highly encouraged to ensure the event is successful. When you sign up, you can submit a question that may be asked of the candidates. Please keep in mind that not all questions submitted will be able to be used at the forum.

Glendale Takes on Seattle in First Professional Road Game

 

Hot on the heels of a victory against Austin Elite Rugby in their home opener, the Glendale Raptors will travel to Starfire Stadium on Saturday to take on the Seattle Seawolves. Formed in 2017, the Seattle team enjoyed success at its own home opener last weekend, defeating the San Diego Legion side 39-23. Saturday’s match kicks off at 8:30pm MT, and can be viewed on CBS Sports Network.

Throwback to 4/20!

 

Big thanks to everyone who braved the weather to attend second-annual, first-of-its-kind 420 On The Block. Artists, organizers, staff, vendors, and the crowd showed the world how we celebrate cannabis culture here in Denver.

Dining Out For Life: Patrick Mangold-White (And His Six Restaurants) Support Project Angel Heart

On Thursday, April 26, Denver does good just by dining out! Twenty-five percent of your bill will be donated to help Project Angel Heart prepare and deliver medically tailored meals to clients living with HIV/AIDS when you eat out at participating restaurants today. Delicious, right? More than 230 restaurants in Denver and Boulder are taking part in Project Angel Heart's 24th annual Dining Out For Life and six of them belong to Patrick Mangold-White - Mas Kaos, Kaos Pizzeria, Bird, Palizo, Uno Mas Taqueria.

Serving up a wide variety of cuisines and dining experiences, all six of the restaurants are united in their support of Project Angel Heart and Denver’s LGBT community.

“This is the first year that all of the restaurants are taking part in Dining Out For Life,” said Patrick. “We stand behind the community, employ the community, and the community should feel exceptionally welcome in our spaces."

Dining Out for Life is an internationally licensed event hosted in 60 markets since 1991. This year, an estimated 300,000 people across North America are expected to help raise more than $4 million in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Project Angel Heart’s event in the Denver/Boulder metro area is the largest in the nation, with more participating restaurants and more funds raised than any other market. In 2017, Denver/Boulder-area restaurants, breweries, and community members helped Project Angel Heart raise more than $330,000.

“The wonderful thing about Dining Out for Life is you can do it three times a day, a different restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” says Dining Out For Life Ambassador – and Denver native - Mondo Guerra. “You can sit down and have a meal with someone interesting, someone you love, maybe someone you haven’t seen in a while. And, it’s an opportunity to have a conversation. The fight against this disease begins with real, honest conversation.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: Pompeo Must Commit to Represent All, Promote Human Rights

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Michael Pompeo as Secretary of State:

“The Secretary of State is our nation’s top diplomat, who must represent all in America and promote human rights abroad. Mike Pompeo has yet to prove that he can fulfill that duty. Until now, Director Pompeo’s record shows that he does not equally value the rights of all, in particular LGBTQ people, women, Muslims, and refugees. We urge Mr. Pompeo to recognize the enormity of his new role by valuing the rights of all - including members of the State Department’s diverse workforce. Most importantly, Congress must ensure that he stays true to the task.”

Earlier this month, The Leadership Conference and 54 other civil and human rights groups wrote to the Senate in opposition to the Pompeo nomination. The letter is available here.

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.

Do Good by Dining Out For Life at Rhein Haus and Wally's Wisconsin Tavern

Dining Out For Life is an annual restaurant-based event with a truly fulfilling call to action: Dine at one of the 3,000 participating restaurants in more than 60 cities across North America on Thursday, April 26, 2018 and that restaurant will donate a generous portion of the day's proceeds to fund HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education, testing, counseling and other essential services in their city.

And no city raises more than Denver! Project Angel Heart’s event in the Denver/Boulder metro area is the largest in the nation, with more participating restaurants and more funds raised than any other market. In 2017, Denver/Boulder-area restaurants, breweries, and community members helped Project Angel Heart raise more than $330,000.

One Denver restaurant taking part is Rhein Haus, gay owned and part of an ever-increasing family of German inspired beirgartens and bocce halls with locations in Tacoma and Seattle, I had a chance to speak with owner Matt Fundingsland about their participation, pretzels, and their plans for Denver PrideFest!

How long has Rhein Haus been participating in Dining Out For Life? 
This will be our second year participating in Project Angel Heart. We are also happy to announce that our sister restaurant, Wally's Wisconsin Tavern, is participating for the first time this year. 

And why do you participate in Dining Out For Life? 
Project Angel Heart has been delivering meals to patients with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses since the early 90's. We feel it's a wonderful cause to contribute to and we plan on participating every year.

What message do you have for readers of MileHighGayGuy and why should they come to Rhein Haus?  
We take pride in our service, food, and drinks at both Rhein Haus and Wallys Wisconsin Tavern. We can cater in-house events of any size with our 14k square foot, two level facility. Whether our guests are here to kick back with a stein of beer on one of our four indoor bocce ball courts, or have a nice seated dinner with friends and family, we will make it happen! Plus, who doesn't love bottomless mimosas and french toast on weekends? We feel we have something to offer for everybody!

And once they get there, what should they order?
Some of our guest's favorites are pork schnitzel, our house-made sausages, and fresh baked pretzels.

All proceeds from Dining Out for Life in the Denver/Boulder area directly support Project Angel Heart, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals for people living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, and other serious illnesses. Funds raised through this event specifically benefit those clients living with HIV/AIDS.