Monday, April 29, 2019
HRC Launches Powerful New Video of Olympian Adam Rippon in “Americans for the Equality Act” Campaign
Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization released a new video from HRC’s Americans for the Equality Act campaign featuring Olympian and figure skater Adam Rippon. As an openly gay athlete, Rippon calls on Congress to advance the Equality Act — bipartisan legislation that would finally extend clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections to millions of LGBTQ people nationwide. The Americans for the Equality Act series, filmed by award-winning directors Dustin Lance Black and Paris Barclay, was first launched in March and has featured Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field and her son Sam Greisman, transgender singer and songwriter Shea Diamond and actress Justina Machado.
“An out and proud star both on and off the ice, Adam Rippon is a trailblazing athlete whose advocacy is changing countless hearts and minds,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “As LGBTQ Americans face real and persistent discrimination in their everyday lives, Adam Rippon is using his global platform to urge Congress to pass the Equality Act and to extend comprehensive non-discrimination protections to all LGBTQ people.”
“So much of the progress of the LGBTQ movement has hinged on our ability to tell our stories and move people — and that’s the same spirit with which we’ve approached this compelling project,” said Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay when the campaign launched last month.
“Every American deserves a fair shot at a job to support themselves and their family, and the security of a roof over their head. These are key ingredients in what we’ve long cherished as our ‘American Dream.’” said Academy Award-winning director Dustin Lance Black. “But until the Equality Act is signed into law, this dream may not be a reality for far too many Americans in many areas of our wild and wonderful country.”
Rippon won the hearts of America and the world at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea where, in winning a bronze medal in the team competition, he became the the first openly gay athlete to medal in a Winter Olympics. Known for his refreshing candor and wit, his rise to fame on the global stage has provided him with a platform to speak out in support of LGBTQ rights and the freedom to be oneself. He has inspired young and old with his passion and charm, becoming a role model and icon to millions. Rippon was also a competitor and winner on Dancing with the Stars: Athletes with professional dancer Jenna Johnson, where he became the first openly gay celebrity to win the competition. An outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality, he has called out Vice President Mike Pence and the Trump administration on their anti-LGBTQ record. HRC honored Adam Rippon with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2018 Los Angeles Dinner and the HRC Upstander Award at the 2019 HRC Time to THRIVE Conference.
Currently, 50 percent of LGBTQ Americans live in one of the 30 states without statewide legal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people — leaving millions at risk of being fired, denied housing or refused service simply because of who they are or whom they love. The Equality Act would guarantee existing civil rights laws apply to LGBTQ people by providing clear, consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally-funded programs and jury service.
Reintroduced in Congress on March 13, the Equality Act has growing unprecedented support, including from nearly 70 percent of Americans, hundreds of members of Congress, 190 major businesses and more than 350 social justice, religious, medical and child welfare organizations. Recent polling finds that a growing majority of Americans support federal non-discrimination protections and LGBTQ equality. A recent survey by PRRI found that nearly seven in 10 Americans support laws like the Equality Act, including majorities in every single state and majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike.
Over the coming weeks, HRC will roll out additional videos in the Americans for the Equality Act series featuring a powerhouse lineup of supportive film and television actors, influencers, musicians and professional athletes, including Alexandra Billings, Charlie and Max Carver, Dustin Lance Black, Paris and Christopher Barclay, Gloria Calderon Kellett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita, Karamo Brown, Marcia Gay Harden and Nyle DiMarco. The Americans for the Equality Act series is modeled after HRC’s successful Americans for Marriage Equality campaign.
Friday, April 26, 2019
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.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!
Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Furry Scurry: A short walk can help thousands of animals in need!
A classic Colorado event, the Furry Scurry combines activities Coloradans love – exercise, the outdoors and quality time with their canine companions. Participants and their pups will enjoy a two-mile walk or fun run around beautiful Wash Park, followed by food trucks, contests, dog demonstrations and the Flealess Market—where you can treat yourself or your furry friends to goodies from pet-related vendors and sponsors.
Registration for the Furry Scurry is $50 per person and $25 for kids 12 and under and includes a Furry Scurry event T-shirt and walk participation bib. Participants can register as an individual, form a team or join a team. Registration is easy and convenient at furryscurry.org.
Participants are encouraged to make an even bigger difference in the lives of homeless pets and horses by collecting donations from friends, family and co-workers. Those who raise money above and beyond their registration fee will be eligible to receive fundraising incentives.
“When you register and fundraise for Furry Scurry, you are directly impacting the lives of pets and horses in need,” said Dr. Apryl Steele, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League. “Money raised helps us provide medical care to sick and injured animals, behavior training that allows pets to be adopted more quickly, investigations of animal neglect and mistreatment and supports our overall mission to end pet homelessness and animal suffering.”
Madonna & Maluma: Medellín
Madonna today unveiled the video for “Medellín” with Maluma, the first track from her highly-anticipated 14th studio album Madame X to be released on June 14th
globally. Directed by Diana Kunst and Mau Morgó (A$AP Rocky, FKA Twigs,
Rosalía), the visually-stunning video takes place in a surreal world
where Madame X comes to life — bringing dance and the rebellious spirit
of individuality into another dimension.
The Cast of FX’s Pose Releases Video Discussing LGBTQ Youth Homelessness
LGBTQ young people are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth, with identity-based family rejection being the most commonly cited reason. To help understand the issue and the ways we can all play a role in ending it, True Colors United launched #TrueColorsDay to raise public awareness about LGBTQ youth homelessness and provide supporters with simple ways to make a difference.
The cast of Pose - including Billy Porter, Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson and Ryan Jamaal Swain - has also released a video discussing the issue and what everyday people can do to help.
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.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!
Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.
OUT in Theaters: The Lavender Scare
With the United States gripped in the panic of the 1950s Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower deemed homosexuals to be “security risks” and vowed to rid the federal government of all employees discovered to be gay or lesbian.
Over the next four decades,the longest witch-hunt in American history, tens of thousands of government workers would lose their jobs for no reason other than their sexual orientation.
But the mass firings have an unintended effect: they stirred outrage in the gay community, helped ignite the gay rights movement, and thrust an unlikely hero into the forefront of the LGBTQ fight for equality.Partly based on the award-winning book by historian David K. Johnson, THE LAVENDER SCARE illuminates a little-known chapter of American history, and serves as a timely reminder of the value of vigilance and social action when civil liberties are under attack.
Director Josh Howard is a producer and broadcast executive with more than 25 years of experience in news and documentary production. He has been honored with 24 Emmy Awards, mostly for his work on the CBS News broadcast 60 Minutes.
As Vice President of Long Form Programming for CNBC, he created a unit that produced a series of award-winning documentaries focusing on American business. The 90-minute film Big Brother, Big Business, which explored the ways in which corporate America works hand-in-hand with the government to collect information about the personal habits of private citizens, won the Emmy Award for Best Documentary on a Business Topic, one of three Emmy Awards he earned for CNBC.
Jane Castor Becomes First LGBTQ Big City Mayor in Southeast
Former
Houston Mayor Annise Parker – now President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory
Fund and the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a top 5 American city –
released the following statement about Castor’s victory:
“A
lavender ceiling was shattered in Florida Tuesday night – with voters
overwhelmingly electing Jane Castor the first openly lesbian big city
mayor in the Southeastern United States. Both LGBTQ people and women
face tremendous obstacles in running for public office, but Jane’s
victory shows lesbian candidates can win citywide office with a strong
record of public service and policy priorities that align with their
constituents. While voters chose Jane because of her vision for Tampa,
her willingness to be open and honest about her life lent her an
authenticity that voters are drawn to not just in Tampa, but across the
nation. That is why an unprecedented number of lesbian candidates are
plowing through crowded primaries and winning big city mayoral races
this cycle – putting us on-track to make 2019 the Year of the Lesbian
Mayor.”
Only
five out lesbians have ever been elected mayor of top 100 cities –
three of them elected just this year. If Jolie Justus wins her race for
Kansas City mayor this June, that number will rise to six, tripling the
number of lesbian mayors elected to top 100 cities. Before this cycle,
only two out lesbians were elected big city mayors: Mayor Annise Parker
and Mayor Jenny Durkan. The complete list includes:
- Mayor-elect Jane Castor, Tampa (2019 – present)
- Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle (2017 – present)
- Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, Chicago (2019 – present)
- Mayor Annise Parker, Houston (2010 – 2016)
- Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway (2019 – present)
There
are 38 openly LGBTQ people currently serving as mayors in cities large
and small. Their names are available on LGBTQ Victory Institute’s Out for America elected officials map.
FATE IS A LIE. THERE IS ONLY CHOICE: Renée Zellweger stars in the new Netflix Original Series WHAT/IF
Neo-noir social thriller WHAT/IF
explores the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people
start doing unacceptable things. The first season of the Netflix
original series focuses on a mysterious woman's lucrative, but dubious
offer to a cash-strapped pair of San Francisco newlyweds. All 10
episodes of WHAT/IF will become available to Netflix members worldwide on May 24, 2019.
The Netflix original series WHAT/IF stars Renée Zellweger (Cold Mountain, Jerry Maguire), Jane Levy (Castle Rock, Suburgatory), Blake Jenner (American Animals, Glee), Samantha Ware (Glee), Keith Powers (Famous in Love), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Juan Castano (Shades of Blue), John Clarence Stewart (Marvel’s Luke Cage) & Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters).
Los Angeles Declares Wednesday May 29th "The Specials Day"
The City of Los Angeles has declared Wednesday, May 29th "The Specials Day" in Los Angeles, California. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez introduced the resolution, which includes an official commemorative certificate presentation at City Hall.
The iconic British ska band will be in Southern California as part of a North American tour in support of their new album "Encore" - the first new music the band have released together since 1980, and the first album of theirs to go to #1 on the UK charts.
The Specials formed in Coventry, England in 1977 and released two albums "The Specials" (1979) and "More Specials" (1980), quickly becoming one of Britain's most successful bands and bringing them to international attention. They released a string of hit singles, including "Gangsters", "Ghost Town","A Message To You, Rudy", "Too Much Too Young" and "Rat Race". The Specials' message of racial harmony was integral to their music. The band formed out of a youthful sense of anger and injustice during a time of high unemployment in the UK and a rise in neo-facist skinhead groups of the punk era. Along with fellow UK bands like The Clash - with whom they toured in 1978 - The Specials stood squarely in the opposing corner, as very vocal proponents of anti-racist organizations like the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism. They infused ska with punk, homegrown political anxiety with wider issues and their success spawned its own genre and attendant youth cult. Through their music - in their reworking of reggae classics, with their lyrics of unity, and with their black-and-white checkered pattern logo that was symbolic of the multiracial makeup of the band - they promoted multi-cultural harmony at a time of rising racial tension. Their music was - and remains - a joyous, anthemic rebuttal for a generation keen to reject the intolerance and racist nationalism of the far right. The band's popularity has continued for 40 years and their fanbase now spans multi-generations.
In accepting the invitation from the LA City Council The Specials said, "We're delighted to have May 29th named "The Specials Day" in Los Angeles. We love the city and have found Angelenos to be some of the warmest and most enthusiastic audiences in the world. We love spending time there and have made a great many friends over the years. It's extremely rewarding to see our music resonate so deeply with the people of Los Angeles and we thank the LA City Council for this honor. We share it with the fans."
Throughout the '80s and '90s the band members pursued other musical projects before reuniting in 2009 for a 30th Anniversary reunion tour. Since then they've toured the globe together, finding that audiences around the world are as enthusiastic about their music - and their message - now as they were when they first burst onto the music scene in the late '70s. On February 1st, 2019 they released their first new recordings in 39 years. "Encore" (Island Records) has been critically lauded and its singles "Vote For Me", "The 10 Commandments" and "Embarrassed By You" continue the band's tradition of biting social commentary. They play an all ages show at the Novo Theater at LA Live in Downtown Los Angeles on June 1st. They will tape a performance for ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live in the JKL parking lot in Hollywood on May 28th. The group comes to Denver's Ogden Theatre on June 5, tickets available HERE.
Denver Parks & Recreation's Summer Recreation Guide Now Live!
Lots of NEW outdoor activities have been added this year in support of the Denver Parks & Rec's mission to connect residents with the outdoors. Be sure to check out all 10 of DPR's program areas: ‧ Active Older Adults, Adaptive Recreation, Aquatics, Arts & Culture, Drop-in fitness & art at Commons Park, Fitness & Wellness, Outdoor Recreation, Out-of-School Time & Special Events, Adult Sports & Youth Sports.
One Colorado: How did your legislators vote on Jude's Law?
By Sheena Kadi, Deputy Director, One Colorado We did it! After five years, the first transgender-specific piece of legislation introduced in Colorado is headed to Governor Polis's desk for his signature!
An iteration of a transgender birth certification modernization act has been introduced in Colorado each session since 2015. In previous sessions, the Republican leadership in the Senate would send this legislation to the kill committee, prohibiting members from the opportunity to vote on the bill. We are so excited to see this bill finally pass with bipartisan support in both legislative chambers.
Jude’s Law will cut through the red tape for transgender Coloradans trying to update the gender on their birth certificate, allowing them to have the identification documents that match who they are. Coloradans will be able to update their gender on their birth certificate to M, F or X — without a surgery, a doctor’s note, or court order. This bill removes both the surgery requirement and court order requirement, allowing trans people the ability to self-identify on their ID document. The bill removes the publication requirement for a name change in order to reflect one’s gender identity. A new birth certificate will be issued instead of an amended birth certificate when updating gender. Colorado is the third state in the country (including California and Oregon) to have non-binary gender options for both driver’s licenses and birth certificates.
Your elected officials recently cast their vote to cut through the red tape for transgender and nonbinary Coloradans to access identity documents that reflect their authentic selves. Show your elected officials that LGBTQ Coloradans and their families care about their votes and are watching to ensure that our elected officials are representing us. Send them a quick email now.
The IGLTA Foundation brings Voyage to NYC
This year’s event will include a special presentation of the IGLTAF Humanitarian Award to Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class) and theater producer Tom Kirdahy (Master Class, It's Only a Play). The couple, a powerhouse of Broadway, will also participate in an on-stage interview with emcee Reginald Charlot of NYC & Company, who serves as the IGLTAF Board Chair.
“It’s a great honor to recognize Terrence McNally and Tom Kirdahy,” Charlot said. “They have elevated the voices of LGBTQ+ people through their years of contributions to the stage and made the theater a richer, more diverse place for us all. They also have inspired us through their personal activism in support of marriage equality and HIV/AIDS organizations.”
Voyage will feature music from DJ Dawson, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. IGLTA convention registration is not required to attend. Tickets are available via the igltaconvention.org website and may be collected at the Lighthouse on the evening of the event.
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