Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Pixelated: Sculpture by Mike Whiting
Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted For Denver's Best Gay Blog!
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.
Tickets Now On Sale for New Wild Fall Events at Denver Zoo
“We completely reimagined our fall events and
created three distinct experiences that we think will really make Denver
Zoo stand out from the crowd this season,” said Marie Revenew, vice
president of external relations for Denver Zoo. “Our
new creative team has spent months crafting these events to perfectly
capture the details and spirit of fall and Halloween.”
Taps & Tails (Oct. 11, 18 and 25)
A 21-and-over pop-up bier hall inside Denver Zoo
featuring Colorado’s best breweries, seasonal food, wine and cocktails,
and a dynamic entertainment lineup, including host comedian Janae
Burris, two-time Grammy winner Will Champlin (Oct.
11), singer/songwriter Rob Drabkin (Oct. 18) and DJ Rockstar Aaron
hosting an animal onesie Halloween dance party (Oct. 25). Pricing for
non-members at the door is $20 for adults (ages 21-64) and $17 for
senior (ages 65 and up). Member pricing is $15 for adults
and $12 for seniors. Guests who purchase online receive a $2 discount
on each ticket. Click
here for tickets and more information.
Enchanted Hollows (Every Friday and Saturday in October)
An eerie nighttime experience designed for families
with children 8 and over that brings Halloween story and lore to life.
Enchanted Hollows features Woodland Hollow, an immersive night walk,
Jack-o-lantern sculptures and spooky décor;
seasonal foods, beer, wine and cocktails; animal meet-and greets and
demonstrations; and trick or treat candy stations (Oct. 26 and 27 only).
Pricing for non-members at the door is $20 for adults (ages 21-64), $17
for senior (ages 65 and up) and $14 for children
(3-11) and free for kids 2 and under. Member pricing is $15 for adults,
$12 for seniors and $10 for children. Guests who purchase tickets ahead
of time online receive a $2 discount on each ticket. Click
here for tickets and more information.
Boo at the Zoo, presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores (October 20, 21, 27 & 28)
The 34rd annual Boo At The Zoo, presented by Your
Hometown Toyota Stores, offers creepy crawly animal demonstrations,
trick-or-treat stations and exciting, family-friendly entertainment
under the canopy of the beautiful fall foliage of
Denver Zoo. Boo at the Zoo is included in the price of regular Zoo
admission, or covered under membership, as applicable. Click
here for more information.
Pride Journey: Kansas City
The only things I knew about Kansas City prior to visiting, were the tales of legendary BBQ and the Chiefs. I went with an open mind and little expectations. The city has been generating a lot of positive buzz as of late, so I thought I’d see what all the talk was about. I found the city to be on the cusp of a breakthrough so to speak. A sleeping dragon ready for its day in the sun. The next “It City” - Nashville being the current “It City” and where I reside.
For starters, Kansas City airport is literally the smallest international airport I’ve ever been to. But that will all change in the next few years as it undergoes a major transformation. Icelandair just began flying direct routes to its capital city of Reykjavik and other routes are being added regularly.
The 21c Museum Hotel served as my home for the weekend. The small chain is known for embracing the LGBT community and is located in cities that aren’t always known for being LGBT-friendly destinations (Des Moines, Lexington, Fayetteville, among others), so staying here is always a safe and comfortable option. This particular property is located in the historic Savoy Hotel in downtown Kansas City. The hotel opened this summer and is led by a welcoming, knowledgeable, and quite attractive staff. The one downside of the property is the fitness center, which is has serious acoustic problems. Furthermore, the free weights are located in a dark corner of the gym, a problem that can easily be fixed but is a bit uncomfortable currently.
Having arrived a bit later in the day, I decided to stay on property for dinner. The hotel’s restaurant, The Savoy, doesn’t serve your standard hotel fare. I began my meal with a delicious steak tartare, followed by the fish of the day, which was cooked to perfection. The most exciting part of the meal however, was the Baked Alaska. I have not seen that item on a menu outside of a cruise ship and even though I tend to skip dessert, I felt the need to give it a try. I’m glad I did. It was absolutely delicious. I even convinced the table adjacent to me to order some. The only thing it was missing was the tableside flambé.
Nina Flowers Headlines Pride Las Vegas
NCLR Calls on the White House to Direct the FBI to Investigate Sexual Assault Allegations Against Kavanaugh
Professor Christine Blasey Ford requested yesterday that the FBI conduct an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Trump Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before Senators move forward with his nomination. National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Legal Director Shannon Minter issued the following statement in response:
“No person has a right to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States, and members of Congress must serve the interests of the American people, not Brett Kavanaugh.
“The people of this country deserve a thorough and nonpartisan process. No one facing such serious allegations of sexual assault should be confirmed to our nation’s highest court without a full investigation of these claims.
“Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations are detailed, credible, and corroborated by third parties. Professor Ford had nothing to gain by coming forward. Her allegations must be taken seriously and investigated fully.
“Professor Ford’s story cuts close to the bone for many members of the LGBT community who have been subjected to the pain and devastation of sexual violence. LGBT people are more likely to experience sexual violence, and survivors in our community also fear discrimination and are less likely to report assaults to the police or seek medical care.
“All survivors who make the courageous decision to come forward must be treated with dignity and respect. We join the chorus of voices demanding that the Senate ensure a full, fair, and respectful investigation before moving forward this process.”
“No person has a right to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States, and members of Congress must serve the interests of the American people, not Brett Kavanaugh.
“The people of this country deserve a thorough and nonpartisan process. No one facing such serious allegations of sexual assault should be confirmed to our nation’s highest court without a full investigation of these claims.
“Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations are detailed, credible, and corroborated by third parties. Professor Ford had nothing to gain by coming forward. Her allegations must be taken seriously and investigated fully.
“Professor Ford’s story cuts close to the bone for many members of the LGBT community who have been subjected to the pain and devastation of sexual violence. LGBT people are more likely to experience sexual violence, and survivors in our community also fear discrimination and are less likely to report assaults to the police or seek medical care.
“All survivors who make the courageous decision to come forward must be treated with dignity and respect. We join the chorus of voices demanding that the Senate ensure a full, fair, and respectful investigation before moving forward this process.”
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Tickets Now Available for 20th Annual Power Gala
GDASA: Denver's LGBTQ Sports Association
Looking for a safe and positive atmosphere for the LGBTQA community through engaging social and competitive sports within Colorado?
Greater Denver Area Sports Association welcomes and encourages everybody to join and participate. And more leagues are coming soon!
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Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.
Trump Administration Motion to Dissolve Preliminary Injunction Blocking Trans Military Ban is Denied
“In the history of military service in this country, ‘the loss of unit cohesion’ has been consistently weaponized against open service by a new minority group,” wrote U.S. District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal in the order denying the motion. “Yet, at every turn, this assertion has been overcome by the military’s steadfast ability to integrate these individuals into effective members of our armed forces. As with blacks, women, and gays, so now with transgender persons. The military has repeatedly proven its capacity to adapt and grow stronger specifically by the inclusion of these individuals. Therefore, the government cannot use ‘the loss of unit cohesion’ as an excuse to prevent an otherwise qualified class of discrete and insular minorities from joining the armed forces.”
“Anyone willing to risk their life to protect our country should be treated fairly and with dignity and respect,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “As long as President Trump continues to double down on this unpatriotic and discriminatory ban, we’ll continue to fight him with everything we’ve got — and we have a pretty good track record of winning.”
The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) are representing plaintiffs in this case, Stockman v. Trump, along with Latham & Watkins LLP. Stockman is one of four cases in which plaintiffs challenging the constitutionality of the president’s proposed purge of transgender servicemembers from the military have successfully blocked the ban from being put into effect while the cases proceed through the courts.
Have you signed up for the Denver GSA Leadership Summit?
Whether it is in schools or at the State Capitol, Colorado students are creating change to make their schools safer and more welcoming environments for all to learn in. But parents, teachers, administrators, and allies need to be involved as well. Attend this year’s Denver Metro GSA Summit so you, or someone you love, can learn how to make Colorado schools safer and more welcoming communities for all!
Click here to sign up and join folks for this free summit! Lunch is included!
There’s A New Proposed Crimes Against Humanity Treaty: But Where Are Women’s and LGBTI Rights?
In Iraq, accused ISIS fighters are being prosecuted with unprecedented speed, with some sentencing hearings lasting just seven minutes, and zero consideration given to the anti-gay or gender-based crimes the fighters committed. The new crimes against humanity treaty would give LGBTIQ and women’s rights activists a historic opportunity to fight against hate-related crimes during armed conflict. For this reason, MADRE, an international women’s rights organization and OutRight Action International, a global LGBTIQ rights organization, have joined forces with lawyers at CUNY School of Law’s Human Rights and Gender Justice Clinic to challenge the treaty.
Civil society has until December 1, 2018 to provide input on the draft treaty. As part of their campaign, MADRE, OutRight, and CUNY Law have launched a new toolkit that provides activists with concrete ways to make their voices heard before the deadline.
“We have real-world conflict situations, including those featuring hardline militias like ISIS, where women and LGBTIQ persons, are being persecuted because of their gender,” said Lisa Davis, Associate Professor of Law, CUNY School of Law and MADRE Senior Legal Advisor. “The new treaty could help bring these perpetrators to justice. However, a treaty that adopts an opaque definition of gender could result in even greater impunity.”
“There is a dearth of jurisprudence on LGBTIQ rights under international criminal law. This means that when LGBTIQ people are targeted in times of war and conflict, we lack the tools to hold perpetrators accountable and deliver justice to survivors,” said Jessica Stern, Executive Director of Outright Action International. ”What we do now could determine how we protect LGBTIQ people for generations to come.“
The campaign will continue throughout the fall with convenings with civil society groups and legal experts to make as many activists as possible aware of the ramifications of the treaty and encourage them to take action to make their voices heard.
California is Now the First State in the Country to Guarantee Trans Foster Youth Can Access Gender-Affirming Healthcare
California
Governor Jerry Brown signed landmark transgender rights legislation
into law last week, guaranteeing the right of California’s foster youth
to access gender-affirming healthcare services. Authored by California
State Assemblymember Todd Gloria, AB 2119 is the first bill of its kind
in the nation.
“Every
young person in foster care deserves, and is entitled to, medically
necessary health care. The harms caused by the denial or delay of
medically necessary care are particularly acute for transgender and
gender non-conforming children and youth, who often encounter barriers
to receiving the care they need to ensure their health, safety, and
well-being,” said Shannan Wilber, Youth Policy Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
“We applaud Governor Brown for taking this historic step to help these
vulnerable young people thrive and reach their full potential.”
AB
2119 ensures that transgender youth in foster care have timely access
to appropriate, needed care that respects their gender identity and
supports their healthy development. Withholding timely, gender-affirming
treatment for adolescents prolongs and worsens gender dysphoria and can
increase risk of abuse and stigmatization. Failure to treat any medical
condition—including gender dysphoria—subjects foster youth to risk of
significant harm and violates the child welfare agency’s obligation to
protect their safety and promote their well-being.
Many
individuals shared their stories with NCLR as part of this process,
including former foster youth and transgender man *Ian. Ian was a month
old when he entered the foster care system, and he was 16 years old when
he tried to access gender-affirming healthcare while living in a
California group home. Ian’s group home was unsupportive and refused to
connect him to the care he needed. Eventually, Ian was able to find
support from a local LGBT center who helped connect him to care. Ian was
depressed when he wasn’t able to access gender-affirming care because
he felt he was being denied who he was. He felt lost and
misunderstood—feelings that were alleviated when he was finally able to
the healthcare he needed.
“California
has a special obligation to ensure that youth in foster care receive
the medical care that they need, since the state stands in loco parentis to these youth,” said Alexander Chen, Equal Justice Works Fellow at the National Center for Lesbian Rights,
who testified regarding AB 2119 before the California Senate Judiciary
Committee on June 26, 2018. “AB 2119 helps to ensure that California
lives up to that obligation for transgender and gender non-conforming
foster youth.”
In
addition, this new law requires the California Department of Social
Services and the Department of Health Care Services to develop
guidelines on how to identify, coordinate, and support transgender youth
who wish to access gender-affirming healthcare, which must be issued by
the Department by January 1, 2020.
AB
2119 was sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of California,
Equality California, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the National
Center for Lesbian Rights.
*Pseudonym used to protect the privacy of this individual.
Dumb Friends League Wag `n Trail: Dogs, hiking & craft beer!
Hikers can enjoy the 1.6-mile hike with their pups, a beer garden sponsored by 38 State Brewing Company, a silent auction, dozens of pet-related vendors, food trucks, music, adoptable dogs and access to a five-acre, off-leash dog park before
or after the festivities.
Proceeds help the Dumb Friends League provide shelter, medical care, behavior training, foster care and other services to homeless pets at the Buddy Center— the only animal shelter serving Douglas County, which plays a vital role in reuniting owners with lost pets and finding loving homes for thousands of cats, dogs and small animals each year.
Grindr Takes A Stand Against Sexual Racism And Discrimination With “Kindr” Initiative
Grindr, the world’s largest queer mobile social network, today kicked off its “Kindr” initiative, which aims to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment on Grindr and elsewhere within the queer community. The campaign is built around a combination of new community guidelines, stricter enforcement policies and awareness-raising videos that highlight user experiences of discrimination in-app.
“Sexual racism, transphobia, fat and femme shaming and further forms of othering such as stigmatization of HIV positive individuals are pervasive problems in the LGBTQ community,” said Landen Zumwalt, head of communications at Grindr. “These community issues get brought onto our platform, and as a leader in the gay dating space, Grindr has a responsibility to not only protect our users, but also to set the standard for the broader community that we serve.”
“Grindr has a new suite of queer leadership - myself included - who share this same mission to take much-needed action, make impactful changes in the app and use Grindr's enormous power to do good for greater LGBTQ community,” continued Zumwalt.
"Like many of us, I was a user of Grindr before I started working here, so I was already familiar with the racism and issues faced by people of color or non-masculine identifying people on the app,” said Zach Stafford, chief content officer at Grindr and editor-in-chief of INTO. “I joined Grindr because I saw an opportunity for the company to be a leader and social change agent.”
“Online discrimination has reached epidemic proportions affecting not only Grindr but other social networks. Our ‘Kindr’ initiative is a rallying call for Grindr and our community to take a stand against sexual racism and all forms of othering. Together, we will work to maintain a welcoming and inclusive environment and end the need for people to include exclusionary statements on profiles,” said Zumwalt.
Kindr is built around education, awareness and specific policy changes in the Grindr app. Its new community guidelines will serve as the first step of many Grindr will be taking to help foster a more inclusive and respectful community on its platform. As part of the video campaign, Grindr partnered with notable queer leaders and activists, including The Vixen and Jai Rodriguez, in addition to a number of every day users to share their experiences with discrimination and speak to ways to engage in respectful conversations online.
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