One Colorado's 14th annual Pink Party is less than a month away!

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado

One Colorado's 14th annual Pink Party — pride weekend's premier dance fundraiser — is less than a month away! Grab your tickets TODAY starting at $50 for entry into the party and $70 for entry into the party and Tracks.

Featuring an open bar, music, a photo booth, plenty of entertainment, and lots of special guests, this year's Pink Party is the place to celebrate pride in Denver this summer.

Every ticket purchase goes towards our work to elect pro-equality candidates — so get your tickets now and come party with a purpose!

And don’t forget to RSVP on Facebook to get all the updates!

Kat Cunning - Birds

Today, singer, songwriter and actor, KAT CUNNING released the music video for her single, “Birds” Watch HERE This video is a queer collaboration between KAT, Mi Legget from OFFICIAL REBRAND and Cinematographer Maddie Talias. 

“I put a status up on Facebook looking for a cinematographer that would be passionate about capturing the queer community honestly. A handful of people recommended Maddy Talias, who I am very lucky to say, was crazy enough to help me bring this video to life. We made a handful of impulsive decisions - choreographed a last minute phrase, threw some tulle over my head for a one-shot, and ran in circles around the space like little kids.” 

The costumes were a collaboration with Mi Leggett (OFFICIAL REBRAND) and inspired by the space and movement of the video. 

“The song is about birds pecking at you - thoughts that keep you up at night... the arresting feeling that you can’t and won’t ever fit in. That feeling has been very amplified for me when I was in school. In college, I used to dip class and walk to the empty auditoriums to sing the blues. Singing was sort of like yelling louder than the voices in my head. Singing and dancing have always brought me that sense of belonging and solace. I wanted us to look like the freaks in school that a lot of us were. Degenerates that bite their nails all through math to leave at the bell and dance more freely, sing more loudly and speak more clearly than the structures that hold us back.”

DNC: Senator Gardner Parades as Pro-LGBTQ to Raise Money, But Fails To Advocate For Equality

Via DNC War Room - Last week, Senator Gardner took the label of “pro-LGBTQ Republican” to raise money from a conservative LGBTQ group, despite his dismal record on supporting pro-LGBTQ legislation in the Senate. The LGBTQ community needs real allies in the Senate who will push for equality, but Gardner has been more than happy trumpeting the GOP’s anti-LGBTQ policies while taking money from the community.

Gardner, along with other vulnerable GOP senators, took money from a conservative LGBTQ rights group despite his record of opposing pro-LGBTQ legislation.

Colorado Times Recorder: “Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner was one of three swing-state Republican senators to receive money from a fundraiser hosted by American Unity Fund (AUF), a conservative LGBTQ rights group. First reported by North Carolina conservative blog the Daily Haymaker, AUF hosted the $250 per person event on Tuesday at the Washington D.C. office of Hogan Lovells, a white shoe law firm with a large Denver presence.”

Gardner received one of the lowest scores from the Human Rights Campaign, but got a perfect score of 100 from the anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council.

Human Rights Campaign: In the HRC’s 114th Congressional Scorecard, Gardner received a score of 16, having failed to support seven out of eight pro-LGBTQ legislation, including the Equality Act.

Family Research Council: Meanwhile, the anti-LGBTQ organization Family Research Council gave Gardner a perfect score for voting for Sam Brownback to become the Ambassador-at-Large to the Office of International Religious Freedom in the Department of State despite Brownback’s long record of opposing LGBTQ rights.

Gardner’s anti-LGBTQ stance is out of step with Colorado voters, who overwhelmingly support LGBTQ rights.

Public Religion Research Institute: According to a 2018 survey, 72% of Coloradans support nondiscrimination protection for LGBTQ people, one of the highest levels of support in the country.

After the Democratic-led House passed the Equality Act, it’s unclear if Mitch McConnell will bring the legislation up for a vote, and Gardner has been silent on the issue.

Washington Post: “As Democrats cheered and applauded, the bill passed 236-to-173, with eight Republicans breaking ranks and joining all Democrats in backing the measure. It is unlikely to get a vote in the Republican-led Senate, and the White House has signaled President Trump would veto the measure if it ever reached his desk.”

Breckenridge International Festival of Arts Celebrates Fifth Year

The Breckenridge International Festival of Arts (BIFA) returns to the high country for a fifth year with its celebration of adventure, play and creativity from August 9–18, 2019. From aerial artistry and in-river performance installations to gypsy folk-punk and the return of a stone-hearted troll, BIFA offers an exhilarating program of extraordinary events in spectacular places and spaces across Breckenridge, Colorado.

Inspired by themes of environment and mountain culture, the 10-day festival brings together a variety of performances, exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks and surprise collaborations, with an eclectic mix of music, dance, film, visual arts and family entertainment. Dozens of scheduled events, indoors and outdoors, ticketed and free, are showcased at venues and sites throughout town.

The 2019 festival features a variety of eco-minded performances and exhibitions, including new commissions by Rotterdam-based Sicilian artist Giuseppe Licari, American art collective The Canary Project (Susannah Sayler and Edward Morris) and Danish artist and designer Thomas Dambo who returns to Breckenridge to create a new wooden troll sculpture. In addition to outdoor installations, trailside concerts and open-air cinematic events, BIFA will also present transcontinental rockers DeVotchKa in support of their new album, multimedia artist DJ Spooky (Paul D. Miller) in a musical exploration of geological phenomena, and renowned vertical dance company BANDALOOP in a series of site- reactive performances in and around town.

Along with an eclectic mix of national and international creatives, the festival also showcases visual and performing artists from throughout the region and state, including Gretchen Marie Schaefer, Tara Rynders, Cortney McGuire, Jess Webb, Chimney Choir, Russick Smith, Kevin Larkin, Karen Lauffer, Jess Rose, Patrick O’Halloran, Kenn Lee, Beau Thomas, Leon Joseph Littlebird, Nina Waters, DeWater & Wagner, and many more.

Additionally, the Breckenridge Arts District once again serves as the heart of BIFA, bringing together studios, galleries, performance spaces, public art and historic landmarks that animate and populate a vibrant cultural corridor in downtown Breckenridge. Throughout the festival, the Arts District’s campus becomes an interactive hub of creativity, offering free workshops, demonstrations, artist talks and hands-on activities for all ages.

Juxtaposed with so much lighthearted play, this year’s festival also promises a series of ecological artworks and experiences to inspire a range of thought-provoking responses—from reflecting on how our interaction with the environment affects humankind, to environmental activism as an expression of patriotism.

“Like many of the works we have presented at BIFA in the past, our ecological series can be appreciated on a purely aesthetic level, because it will transform the landscape with the kinds of awe-inspiring spectacles our 10-day summer festival is known for,” said Robb Woulfe, President and CEO of Breckenridge Creative Arts, the event’s producer. “However, for those who wish to dig deeper, these works will also provide a jumping off point for contemplations—and ecological action—concerning our role in nature.”

OUT on DVD/VOD: Before Homosexuals

 
Trailer "Before Homosexuals: From Ancient Times to Victorian Crimes" from After Stonewall Productions on Vimeo.

John Scagliotti, producer of the landmark films Before Stonewall and After Stonewall, guides us in a wondrous tour of erotic history, poetry and visual art in his new documentary on same-sex desire – from ancient times to Victorian crimes - in Before Homosexuals, available on DVD, iTunes and Amazon VOD June 11.

Traveling all over the world and talking with dozens of experts on history, art and sexuality, he revels in lesbian love spells from ancient Rome, censored chapters of the Kamasutra, Native American two-spirit rituals and much more.

A prequel to Before Stonewall (which is being released theatrically this June in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots), Before Homosexuals unearths the diverse and fascinating garden of human same-sexual desire.

Heather Strange - Ruthless

 

Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and artist Chris Kittrell has released the debut music video for his new project, Heather Strange. The track, "Ruthless," is available now and is produced by Dave Sitek (TVOTR, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jay-Z & Beyoncé) and Christopher Hines.

Of the track, Chris says: "I wrote 'Ruthless' at a low point in my life. I had insecurities and doubts about where I was going, and the world around me. It was rough, but I kept holding on and pushing myself forward, creating music and art. Perseverance is so important. If you hold on and put energy into the things you love, life will balance out."

One Colorado: Historic Bill Signings Announced!

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado

Exciting news! Both Jude's Law and the bill to ban conversion therapy have passed out of the Colorado General Assembly and are heading to the Governor's desk to be signed!  We will be having a public bill signing on the West Steps of the Colorado Capitol to celebrate this momentous day for LGBTQ Coloradans and we would love to see you there!

Where: West Steps of the Colorado State Capitol, 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203

When: Friday, May 31st at 9:30 am

We are so excited to see you there. Please feel free to bring your family and friends as this will be an exciting celebration for all! Sign up to join us here. Share with your friends on Facebook here.

The Gay Vegans: We Love Women and We Vote

By Dan Hanley

I can’t say that I am surprised with the news from Georgia and Alabama. I’m not. Straight, white, male bigots in office who want power over women. The new laws have nothing to do with abortion or some supposed love of life.

I am outraged. And sad for the many women these laws affect, both directly and indirectly.

The purpose of this post is to stand up for women and to ask once again for people to vote. To vote, to speak out, to write letters and emails. We cannot idly sit by. We haven’t been able to for some time, and things keep getting worse.

Take an action today.

There is a lot online about boycotts, and those tend to hurt communities that are with us. Polling I have read shows that there is not a majority of support for these bills in either state. The problem is not with those who live in these states, it’s with those in political power in these states.

Take an action today.

Support women.

And please realize that this is just the beginning. These politicians aren’t going anywhere (unless more of us vote) and they are not changing their minds. They want Roe v Wade overturned, and many of them believe doing this at the state level gets them to the Supreme Court.

Take an action today. This is not a drill.

Rilès - Against The Clock

 

'Against The Clock' deals with my relationship with Time. How I had to do and make everything by myself at the expense of my own physical and mental health. For a long time, I was not surrounded by the right people, which resulted in my introverted relationship with my craft. And when you're alone and you feel like you've reached your limits, you can't help but just run against the clock that sits in your mind and tells you to quit," Rilès.

Lambda Literary: Announcing the Winner of the 2019 Jeanne Córdova Award

Lambda Literary has announced that Karen Tongson has been named the winner of the 2019 Jeanne Córdova Prize for Lesbian/Queer Nonfiction.

The award, given in memory of the beloved activist and author Jeanne Córdova, honors lesbian/queer-identified women and trans/gender non-conforming nonfiction authors. The award goes to a writer committed to nonfiction work that captures the depth and complexity of lesbian/queer life, culture and/or history.

Judges Lynn Harris Ballen, Judith Branzburg, and Alicia Vogl Saenz were unanimous in choosing Tongson as the winner for this prize from a group of wonderfully talented lesbian/queer nonfiction writers who submitted their work.

 

From the judges: "We selected Karen Tongson based on her work as a cultural critic and memoirist. Her two books and essays are written at the intersection of popular culture, queer politics/culture, and critical race analysis, and she brings the sensibilities of both a public intellectual and a queer fan to her work. Karen's beautifully layered writing is also deeply personal and intimate, weaving in her own life stories and the lives of other queer people of color in Los Angeles and beyond. And her forthcoming work shows that she continues to be committed to producing groundbreaking lesbian/queer nonfiction."

Karen Tongson is the author of Why Karen Carpenter Matters (2019), and Relocations: Queer Suburban Imaginaries (2011). She is a professor of English, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and American Studies and Ethnicity at USC, and co-editor of the award-winning book series, Postmillennial Pop (with Henry Jenkins) at NYU Press. She has two books in progress: Empty Orchestra: Karaoke, Queer Aesthetics, Queer Theory (Duke University Press), and NORMPORN: Television and the Spectacle of Normalcy (NYU Press). You can hear Karen talk about pop culture, the arts, and entertainment on the weekly Pop Rocket podcast at MaximumFun.org.

The award was introduced in 2018 and includes a cash prize of $2,500. Tongson will be recognized as the winner of the Córdova Prize at the 31st Annual Lambda Literary Awards ceremony on June 3 in New York City.

The awards ceremony is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased here.

PFLAG Chapter Leaders Across The Country Endorse the Equality Act

 

Today, hundreds of chapter leaders from PFLAG—the nation's first and largest organization for LGBTQ+ people, their parents and families, and allies—signed on to endorse the Equality Act, a federal bill that would add LGBTQ+ people to existing civil rights laws.

Despite significant steps forward, LGBTQ+ people living in the U.S. lack basic legal protections under federal law, and the patchwork of current laws leaves millions of people subject to uncertainty and potential discrimination that impacts their families, their livelihoods, their safety, and their day-to-day lives. The Equality Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights protections, prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity at work, in the context of housing, credit, education, and jury service; and in programs that receive federal funding and places of public accommodations.

PFLAG's chapter network has been working in every state across the country, reaching out to their representatives to ask them to endorse and vote in favor of this legislation, so crucial to PFLAG families. This on-the-ground work is all part of PFLAG National's #EqualityStartsWithMe campaign, which launched in March at the introduction of the Equality Act in Congress, with the entire PFLAG National Board of Directors unanimously endorsing a resolution in support of the Equality Act, a resolution which was also translated into Spanish. The resolution was shared at the Congressional introduction by Rep. David Cicilline, lead sponsor on the Equality Act.

Last week PFLAG National released a new video for the campaign, featuring musical artists Indigo Girls, Antigone Rising, K’s Choice, Lauren Ruth Ward, Smoke Season, and Violet and The Undercurrents sharing what equality means to them, and why passing the Equality Act is a crucial step in protecting LGBTQ+ people in America from discrimination and harassment.

Books: Simply Gourmet

Simply Gourmet — the title says it all. Open this beautiful cookbook and prepare to be transported to the wonderful world of Rivky Kleiman’s SIMPLE to prepare yet GOURMET in taste recipes. Rivky is the co-author of the very popular Bais Yaakov Cookbook and is celebrated in the kosher culinary world for her passion in presenting recipes that really work.

Simply Gourmet features over 135 recipes from appetizers, salads, and brunch, lunch & beyond, to soups, fish, meat, poultry sides, and desserts. Each of Rivky’s recipes is beautiful to serve, delicious to eat, and, with its clear instructions and easily available ingredients, so simple to prepare!

“Life has become so fast paced that one aspect of my goal in creating this cookbook is to alleviate the stress of feeding families in record time,” Rivky says. “I wrote this cookbook after being urged by friends and readers for a complete cookbook with easy, doable recipes that simply work! My style and niche have always been traditional leanings with an updated twist. I tried very hard to develop recipes that will work with our very fast-paced society, where the average home cook has the desire to turn out nutritious and delicious meals but always is short on time.”

Netflix's "Tales o First Look at Jen Richards as Young "Anna Madrigal" & Daniela Vega as "Ysela"

 

Go behind the scenes and learn the history of Netflix’s upcoming limited series Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, the new chapter in the beloved franchise that has spanned generations. Get a First Look at guest star Jen Richards as young “Anna Madrigal” and Daniela Vega as her best friend “Ysela” from a flashback episode focused on Anna’s arrival to San Francisco. The episode depicts 1966 San Francisco and the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, one of the first events in LGBTQ activism in the U.S.

VidCon Announces Olympic Ice Skater Adam Rippon as Speaker

VidCon, the world’s largest celebration of online video and digital creators, just announced that Olympian Adam Rippon will attend and speak at VidCon - for the first time - during the 10th annual VidCon US, July 10-13, 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Following the recent launch of his own YouTube channel, Rippon will speak on the "The Emergence of the Celebrity Creator" panel, which will explore opportunities and ways Hollywood’s top traditional talent can expand, and how some have already successfully launched, in the world of owned and operated, original video content.

New Publication Promotes Health and Safety of Transgender Youth in Confinement Facilities

Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP) released a new publication, Model Policy: Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex Youth in Youth Confinement Facilities, with support from the National PREA Resource Center. The model policy provides a blueprint of practices that promote the safety, dignity and well-being of transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex (TGNCI) youth in youth justice facilities. The policy was developed with input from a diverse group of advocates, justice professionals and formerly incarcerated young people.

The vulnerability of TGNCI youth is well-documented. In a 2018 survey of 5,600 transgender and gender nonconforming youth, 84% of youth experienced verbal threats, 53% experienced bullying at school, 57% had been mocked or taunted by their families, and 16% had been sexually attacked or raped – all based on their actual or perceived gender identity.  Because of pervasive stigma and discrimination, TGNC youth are more likely to experience be psychological distress, homelessness, and bullying. TGNC youth of color, who experience discrimination at the intersections of race and gender, are vulnerable to extraordinarily high rates of violence and mistreatment.

Researchers estimate that up to 1.7% of people are born with intersex traits. Although transgender and intersex identities are distinct, both groups encounter discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression and both groups lack access to competent medical care. Some intersex children undergo unnecessary, irreversible, and involuntary surgeries, and transgender youth are often denied medically necessary, gender affirming treatment.

Pervasive rejection and discrimination in their homes, schools, and communities contribute to the overrepresentation of TGNCI youth in youth confinement facilities. According to recent national data 12% of youth in juvenile facilities identify as transgender or gender nonconforming, and 85% of those are of color.  “TGNCI youth are extremely vulnerable in confinement settings. They experience higher levels of sexual abuse, harassment, and mistreatment, particularly when facilities lack clear, enforceable guidance on how to protect their safety and promote their well-being. They deserve affirming care and support, and this model policy will be the blueprint.” said Shannan Wilber, youth policy director at NCLR and one of publication’s authors. The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) standards require confinement facilities to adopt policies and procedures to protect TGNCI youth from sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Many confinement facilities need assistance developing policies that appropriately implement these protections and the National PREA Resource Center supported NCLR in development of this policy.

The model policy addresses a range of practices that create a safe and healthy environment for TGNCI youth:

• How can facility staff safely and respectfully identify TGNCI residents?
• What concrete steps can facilities take to affirm the gender identity of youth?
• How can facilities assess and remedy the risks associated with TGNCI status?
• Where should TGNCI youth be housed in sex-segregated facilities?
• How can facilities protect the privacy of TGNCI residents?
• What specific considerations govern searches of TGNCI youth?
• How can facilities provide gender affirming medical and behavioral health care?
• What systems can facilities create to permit youth to confidentially report abuse and protect them from retaliation?
• How can facilities prepare TGNCI youth to successfully return to their communities?
• What can facilities do to prepare custodial staff to support and affirm TGNCI residents?

Jason Szanyi, deputy director at the Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP) and one of the publication’s authors says, “We are seeing a huge demand among youth justice professionals for training and guidance on the unique needs of TGNCI youth, particularly in secure settings. This publication provides the foundation for an agency or facility policy on TGNCI youth. Adopting a policy based on these model provisions will significantly decrease the harms experienced in custody by this vulnerable population and create a safer environment for all youth.