HRC and Coalition Partners Submit Over 130,000 Public Comments on Trump’s Proposed Attack on Transgender Health Care

 

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced that it--along with a dozen coalition partners--submitted over 130,000 public comments against the Trump-Pence administration’s proposed regulation to strip out protections for transgender patients and other marginalized communities in the Affordable Car Act, commonly known as Section 1557.

“Everyone deserves access to care, and no one should be turned away because of who they are or whom they love,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “The Trump-Pence administration’s proposal undermines crucial non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people provided by the Affordable Care Act and puts LGBTQ people at greater risk of being denied health care solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. We oppose this proposal in the strongest terms.”

Fear of discrimination causes many LGBTQ people to avoid seeking healthcare, and when they do enter care, studies indicate that LGBTQ people are not consistently treated with the respect that all patients deserve. Studies show that 56% of LGB people and 70% of transgender and gender non-conforming people reported experiencing discrimination by healthcare providers -- including refusal of care, harsh language and physical roughness because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. According to a report, 23% of transgender respondents did not see a doctor when they needed to because of fear of being mistreated as a transgender person and a startling 55% of transgender respondents who sought coverage for transition-related surgery were denied. Delay and avoidance of care due to fear of discrimination compounds the significant health disparities experienced by LGBTQ people.

HRC joined a broad coalition of organizations, including the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Transgender Law Center, and the Center for American Progress in a campaign to collect comments from members of the public rejecting the proposed regulation. Through a robust digital and organizing strategy, HRC significantly contributed to the final coalition total with 23,850 comments.

Last month, HRC released a video urging the public to submit comments and partnered with former Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta and Dr. Jennifer Gunter on national op-eds. HRC also organized a briefing by the NYU Policy Institute for key congressional staff regarding the administrative procedural flaws around the 1557 regulations.

Heating Up in The Mile High: Denver’s Summer Finale

The Mile High City can never get enough summer, so as the season comes to a close, Denver maxes out the fun with not just one long weekend, but more than a month of celebrations as its unofficial summer finale. Visitors can soak up every last ray of summer sun at culinary and cultural festivals, professional sports games and events, headliner concerts, live performing arts, blockbuster museum exhibitions and many more activities through Labor Day and beyond.

After the jump are several events taking place during Denver’s summer finale; for a full list, including exhibitions and hotel deals, go to the VISIT DENVER website.

Colorado Arts Organization Awards Collegiate Students for Conceptual Public Art Designs!

MOA has announced the award winners of their first national collegiate design competition. The competition is part of MOA's award winning Design and Build program.

Student teams from Temple University, University of Colorado Denver, University of North Alabama and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign took home the top prizes for their pop-up makerspace designs.

Stay tuned for details about the next competition challenge that will launch in the fall and will be open for individuals as well as for university faculty to take on as a class project.

Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Do you want to advertise to Denver’s gay community? Of course you do, it’s the 7th largest in the United States! And the best way to reach them is with MileHighGayGuy – Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.
 
Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

OU Ton DVD/VOD: Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots

On DVD & VOD September 10, Bathroom Stalls & Parking Lots follows a Brazilian transplant and his friends as they take to the streets of San Francisco to pursue an American fling begun on Grindr, doing whatever it takes, even if it means trekking through the seedy club scene with clandestine meetings in bathroom stalls and parking lots. Along the way, these men discover truths about themselves and the reality of modern dating. 

Featuring award-winning crew members including colorist Edo Brizio, (“Kong: Skull Island”, “Lego Batman”), and Russian music producer and DJ Same K, who composed the original soundtrack for the film, which features queer artist Dilmond Meeks and Terrell Carter – cast member of FOX's Empire. Premiered at qFLIX Philadelphia where the film took home the Audience Award, as well as Best Picture and Best LGBT Film at IFS Film Festival.

To Dog Park or Not to Dog Park: That is the question.

Dog parks can be a polarizing topic both for dog owners and among dog professionals. With the Denver-metro area being such a dog-friendly city, dog parks are part of the day-to-day for many people. Let’s get down to it – are dog parks great? Are they bad news? Are they good for every dog?

It’s important to recognize that dogs are active, social creatures who love to run. Playtime with other dogs can be a wonderful outlet for them. This means, for the right dogs, dog parks can be a fantastic way to:

• keep their social skills fine-tuned
• their bodies well-exercised
• their minds enriched 

This is especially true in a busy metropolis where many dogs live in apartments without the luxury of a large, securely fenced-in yard. For some dogs though, they’re an absolute nightmare!

  So how do you know if your dog is dog-park appropriate?

1. Your dog should be physically healthy and up-to-date on all vaccinations, including Bordetella (kennel cough).
2. Your dog should have good play or social skills – watch closely for play invitations, role reversals, and natural pauses. Also, monitor if your dog reacts well to being told “no" by their playmate. Dogs will correct each other for rude or annoying behavior, and it is important your dog can take the hint without escalating into a scuffle.
3. As dogs get older, many of them become less tolerant of rude behavior and become choosier about their buddies. You may even notice an overall decline in the desire to play as your dog matures.

  There are also some dogs who may be able to become dog-park dogs with a bit of work! These dogs include dogs who may not seem to know how to play, seem awkward, or sometimes escalate play into scuffles (so long as no one is getting hurt!). If your dog falls into this category, consider working with a force/fear-free trainer who specializes in dog-dog dynamics.

  There are some dogs who just shouldn’t go to dog parks. They include dogs who are very fearful or nervous around other dogs – overwhelming them with lots of dogs all at once can make their fear more intense or may cause them to escalate into a fight or flight response. Instead, work with a professional fear/force-free trainer to get them more comfortable and work through their fears. These pups may never be dog-park aficionados, but they might grow to have a small circle of friends and be able to engage in play, either with a small group or one-on-one.

  Dogs who have a history of injuring other dogs during fights or scuffles, even if those scuffles are rare, should not attend parks.  These dogs are likely to bite with the same force again - which is not a fair risk to another family’s dog. Dogs who are aggressive, assertive, or always escalating into scuffles should not attend dog parks.

  When you are at the park, pay attention to what is going on and don’t be afraid to leave if you see an inappropriate dog at the park. Listen to your dog! Not all dogs enjoy the company of other dogs, and it’s unfair to force them into uncomfortable situations just for the sake of “socialization.”

Your pooch probably prefers the company of you over other canines if they are:

• frequently tense
• retreating from other dogs
• always telling them off when they get close 

And that’s OK! Not all of us are social butterflies. 

Lastly, take ownership of your own dog – if they are frequently the problem child, maybe it’s time to mark “dog parks” off the list of recreational activities. With the help of a professional, however, you may be able to get your dog’s social skills back on track.
Here is more info on all of Denver's amazing dog parks!

One Colorado is coming to Highlands Ranch!

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado

Summer is here and we’re a hosting a town hall to hear from you about what’s next for LGBTQ equality in Colorado.

This year, we have been able to accomplish so much together - from electing our nation's first gay governor, to banning conversion therapy, to making it easier for transgender Coloradans to update their identity documents!

SO, WHAT'S NEXT? Sign up to learn more.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

ieuan - Virtual Reality

Quickly becoming one of music's most talked-about new artists, ieuan, is exclusively premiering his brand new single "VIRTUAL REALITY" via Ones To Watch! Give it a spin here.

ieuan wrote this song in 30 minutes with producer Phil Cook (Little Mix, Olly Murs), and shares,"The song is about how everyone has their own sort of virtual reality - a disconnect from their real lives. The song hints at being ignored in your every day life. You go into a virtual reality where no one lies to you, everyone likes you, and you're not crazy.

"I sometimes feel like I'm on autopilot. Doing the same things every day, not feeling things the way I used to. Everything around me started to feel computer-generated. I felt really alone in busy places because everyone started to feel like software. It's almost as if this song is the anthem to my disassociation."

ieaun is a California kid, now based in London, writing with a voice beyond his years, tackling topics of love, loss, religion and youthful angst, fusing pop & R&B into a compelling style. Since uploading his first mixtape on Soundcloud, the Bay Area native has built up a rapidly growing following, with tens of thousands of monthly listeners and millions of streams. Additionally, he has shared the stage with artists such as Charlotte Lawrence and Elijah Daniels, has played the main stage at San Francisco Pride in 2018, and has even previously collaborated with Jesse Saint John on his track "Love It When U Love Me" which was featured on Billboard Pride's October 2018 Playlist.

Colorado Tourism Sets All-time Visitor Spending Record in 2018

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) announced today that travelers set an all-time spending record of $22.3 billion on Colorado trips and vacations in 2018, a 6.7 percent increase from 2017, significantly above the national average spending increase of 4.1 percent.

Overnight stays by discretionary leisure travelers – those targeted by Colorado’s “Come to Life” campaign -- was up to a record-high 19.5 million, a 3 percent increase from 2017. Colorado had the ninth-largest share of these travelers nationally in 2018, up from 18th largest in 2009.

Even as their spending climbed sharply, the overall number of visitors rose by just 1 percent, with increases centered among day trippers, about two thirds of whom are Colorado residents. The findings signal that the CTO’s strategy of attracting higher-spend visitors, rather than ever-increasing numbers of travelers, may be yielding results.

The CTO’s 2018 research also found travelers across the country chose Colorado as the top-ranked destination for protecting and preserving its natural resources. In a survey fielded in April by Strategic Marketing & Research Insights (SMARI) to more than 2,500 U.S. travelers, Colorado was selected by 76 percent, compared with 73 percent for British Columbia, the next most highly rated state. Other ski states won relatively high rankings as well.

“Colorado’s rivers, forests, mountains, and plains are part of why so many people love our great state,” said Governor Jared Polis. “That’s why we continue to emphasize protecting our special wild places, ensuring Coloradans and visitors alike can enjoy them long into the future. With the full backing of tourism and outdoor recreation leaders across Colorado, we have been putting a collective stake in the ground to protect our natural assets, and others are paying attention.”

CTO research also shows Colorado residents are increasingly aware of and highly approve the state tourism office’s efforts to educate travelers about reducing impacts on natural resources, visiting in off-peak seasons and exploring less-visited destinations. Less than a year after the CTO introduced the new Care for Colorado Principles in a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, a resident sentiment study in April found 28 percent of residents already aware of the public awareness campaign.

“The leadership position that our state’s tourism industry has been carving out to promote responsible travel not only protects what makes our state such an extraordinary destination, it’s shaping up as an important competitive advantage,” said CTO Director Cathy Ritter.

“More and more travelers – especially Millennials and GenXer’s – are reporting that a destination’s sustainability practices are important in their choice of where to vacation,” she said. “Not only do we want to attract the kinds of travelers who care about our environment, now we have proof that Colorado is the best place for those travelers to find what they’re looking for.”

Colorado’s overall domestic visitation for 2018 edged up to 85.2 million from 84.7 million in 2017. Overnight leisure and business travel was virtually flat overall, while day trips – which account for 56 percent of all Colorado travel, increased by 1 percent. Nationally, overnight and day travel were up by 2 percent in 2018.

With new nonstop international flights launched in 2018, Colorado for the first time attracted more than a million international visitors. About 40 percent of those 1,049,000 international visitors came from the two border markets of Mexico and Canada, with the remaining 60 percent from overseas markets, including the UK, Australia, France, Germany, China and Japan.

Overseas visitors represent Colorado’s highest-value traveler, spending an average $2,438 per person per trip in 2018. That compared with an average spend of $775 per person for visitors from Mexico and Canada.

Colorado’s domestic discretionary leisure traveler spent an average of $495 per person per trip, compared with $386 for the national average. Colorado’s highest-spending domestic travelers are people on ski trips, who spent an average of $1,208 per person per trip, compared with $405 for Colorado’s outdoor travelers.

Colorado hung on to its historic position as the top state for ski vacations. With a 19.8 percent share Colorado retained the fourth-largest share of outdoor trips.

Colorado’s record-high traveler spending also generated unprecedented tax receipts of $1.37 billion, with 61 percent going to the state’s local governments. To replace those visitor revenues would have cost each Colorado household $806 in additional taxes last year.

The number of jobs directly supported by the industry also was at a record high of 174,400, a 1.9 percent increase from 2017, slightly above the national average.

Colorado residents ranked tourism as the state’s most important industry (77 percent), surpassing agriculture/farming (73 percent), technology (71 percent), retail (66 percent), financial services (61 percent), aerospace (59 percent) and mining (51 percent).

See after the jump for citations of CTO research and additional findings.

Gimme Some Shuga: Shuga Cain Serves Up Dazzling Cakes and Iconic Lewks

 

Pour some Shuga on it! The new digital series Gimme Some Shuga, featuring Drag Race Season 11 star and baking extraordinaire Shuga Cain premiered yesterday on WOW Presents Plus.

The how-to cake-decorating show will follow Shuga Cain as she teams up with baking aficionado Justin Salinas from Cake it With Justin. On each episode, the talented duo will serve up one of Drag Race’s most iconic lewks into the most dazzling sugary masterpiece you’ve ever seen!

California Dreamin': The Most Enchanting Gay-Friendly Hotels in The Golden State

As one of the most captivating destinations in the U.S., California has long held a certain allure for gay travelers. No matter what draws you to the Golden State, you’re guaranteed a wide range of experiences at these gay-friendly hotels, from relaxed beach vacations and urban adventures to wine country exploration and championship golf.

Register Now: MMAA Rainbow Shield Certification

Register now to join the MMAA Rainbow Shield training cohort set to take place online next Tuesday, August 13, 2019, starting at 11:00 AM ET.

This LGBTQ cultural competency training is a unique opportunity for military and veteran service providers or advocates to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge base.

All participants will receive certificates that they can provide to their organization for potential CEU or CPU credit. Participants will also receive digital badges to display on their LinkedIn profile, email, social media, or elsewhere.

Do You Want To Reach Denver's Gay Community? Advertise With Denver's Best Gay Blog!

Do you want to advertise to Denver’s gay community? Of course you do, it’s the 7th largest in the United States! And the best way to reach them is with MileHighGayGuy – Colorado’s Best Gay Blog.
 
Just click the Advertising page or email sales@milehighgayguy.com to get started today.

Reconstructing Cinderella City: The Rise and Fall of a Mid-Century Shopping Fairytale

MOA has teamed up with Denver Modernism Week and The Cinderella City Project to host an engaging presentation and digital virtual tour of the rise and fall of a mid-century shopping fairytale.

Experience the colorful history behind one of Colorado's most famous and quirky shopping centers. Presenter Josh Goldstein will explore the forces, trends, and little-known facts behind the rise and fall of Cinderella City.

Josh will also take you on a virtual tour of the mall using a 3-D model driven by video game technology, where he has been accurately reconstructing every detail of this massive shopping center! Still a work in progress, The Cinderella City Project is an effort to digitally reconstruct the mall in distinct time periods for an immersive history experience.

Fun Fact! MOA currently occupies part of the last remaining buildings that was originally part of Cinderella City Mall.

Ariana Grande & Social House - boyfriend

Today Ariana Grande and buzzing LA singer, songwriter and producer duo Social House release their new song “boyfriend” via Schoolboy Records/Republic Records.

The video, also out now, made its broadcast premiere on MTV Live, mtvU and the iconic Times Square Viacom billboard, and it will also air on MTV’s Fresh Out Fridays and TRL.

Of the song, Social House says, “We’ve always had so much fun working with Ariana, so we’re really excited for this song to finally be out in the world and for our fans to hear it! We hope everyone loves it as much as we do.”