Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Human Rights Campaign President to Congress: Anti-LGBTQ Housing Discrimination is “Morally Bankrupt”



Today, Alphonso David, the President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, testified in a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on anti-LGBTQ discrimination in housing and lending. The hearing also addressed the inhumane and unprecedented attacks on transgender people by HUD Secretary Ben Carson.

HRC President Alphonso David said:


No one should be turned away from an apartment, kicked out of their home, or sent back to the street simply because of who they are or whom they love. LGBTQ people and our families demand fair and equal access to housing opportunities. We want affordable homes, we want quality schools, and we want to feel safe when we lay our heads down at night. These are simple things, but without them the right to fully participate and contribute to our communities as equal members is simply out of reach. Discrimination continues to persist and, for an agency that purports to ensure housing for all, it is illogical and frankly morally bankrupt to harm those in our community who are often closest to the edges. Explicit, federal protections in statute are critical to end discrimination. That is why we need the Equality Act.

On any given day, as many as 10,000 LGBTQ young people do not have a safe place to sleep. In some U.S. cities, 30% of the homeless adult population is LGBTQ. The faces behind these numbers reflect our community’s most vulnerable—our youth, our transgender siblings, and people living with HIV. LGBTQ people face discrimination and rejection in every area of life-- at school, at work, and at home. Distressingly, the weight of this discrimination falls disproportionately on the shoulders of LGBTQ people who are Black and Brown.

Last month, Ben Carson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), made horrific anti-transgender comments at a closed meeting of agency personnel that shocked many staff members and compelled one to walk out during his remarks. Under the leadership of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, Carson’s agency has published potential changes that would severely undermine existing protections for transgender people. If this proposed rule is published in its current form, federally-funded emergency shelters would be empowered to turn away transgender people who are homeless or displaced.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Ride Horses to Help Horses!

Equine enthusiasts are invited to ride horses to help homeless horses! The Buffalo Bill Saddle Club and Intermountain Horse Association are teaming up for their 2019 Poker Ride to benefit the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center this Saturday, October 26!

What is a poker ride? Participants ride their horses to 5 stations along the trail. At each station they pick a playing card and a volunteer records it on a card to create a poker hand. At the end, the participants select prizes from an array of horse related merchandise. Best hand picks first, then the second best hand picks, and so on.

The ride takes place at Alderfer Three Sisters Open Space in Evergreen, CO. Anyone interested in participating can click here to register. Adult registration is $45 and includes lunch. Riders can pick the length of their ride and discounts are available for seniors, minors and families.

This Saturday is the 2019 Denver Metro GSA Leadership Summit!

One Colorado's Denver Metro Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Leadership Summit is THIS SATURDAY, October 26th! You can register for this amazing event here.

This summit is bigger than just One Colorado: it will bring together organizations from around the state, all focused on fighting for safe and welcoming schools for all students, including LGBTQ youth.

The GSA Leadership Summit is a free, day-long event that features workshops and speakers addressing topics that impact LGBTQ youth. By bringing together a wide range of voices and experiences, the summit will activate attendees to be the change they wish to see in the world.

Healing From Hate

HEALING FROM HATE: Battle for the Soul of a Nation (TRAILER) from Big Tent Productions on Vimeo.

Healing From Hate examines the root causes of hate group activity through the bold work of those battling intolerance on the front lines, featuring Life After Hate, an organization founded by former Skinheads and neo-Nazis to help others exit hate groups. Documenting a stunning era of hatred in America – from Trump, to Charlottesville, to Parkland – Healing From Hate follows these unique reformers in their work to de-radicalize White Nationalists, transform attitudes of intolerance, and heal communities torn apart by racism.

Peter Hutchison is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, NY Times bestselling author, educator and activist. Based in Brooklyn, his experience in film and TV production – as a documentary director, producer and writer – spans nearly two decades.

He recently produced & directed Requiem for the American Dream: Noam Chomsky and the Principles of Concentration of Wealth and Power – an exploration of wealth inequity in American, grounded in an intimate, long-form interview with Noam Chomsky (Netflix).

Chart-Topping Out Musician MikeMRF Drops Stellar New Album

Take the good looks of any A-list star and combine with the talent of Harry Connick Jr. and you get the one and only MikeMRF! The chart-topping musician just dropped his new album, MobMusic 2.

MikeMRF won the Lennon Award (Hip-Hop) in the 2017 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for the title track of his Mob Music album. He also took home Humanitarian Songwriter of the Year at the 2014 OUTmusic Awards for his LGBT youth anthem on that same album called "Be Strong".

The first three singles off Mob Music 2 were featured in 30 The Series, a show that chronicles the love and lives of three queer women of color living in Houston, Texas: "Tip Jar", an ode to performing musicians everywhere and an instructional guide for audiences on how to reward said musicians, "Clean House" a sassy breakup story of firing your significant other, and "I Can't Make You Love Me". MikeMRF wrote a string arrangement to support the vocals of his front persons Lisa Bello and Justin Waithe on the Bonnie Raitt classic. 

Other songs from the album include "Wedding Day" (a celebration of you, no matter how the day turns out) "Me Completes" (Reggaeton track in Spanish featuring Puerto Rican artist Iisma) and "End This Sentence" (the album closer and a cathartic take on current state of the U.S.  featuring the words of D.Ruff and bars of Shawn Caliber, whose verse on Mob Music helped take home the Lennon Award).

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Kellogg Company Partners With GLAAD For Spirit Day, Launching New 2019 Edition of "All Together" Cereal

Kellogg Company continues its partnership with GLAAD as an official sponsor for Spirit Day on Oct. 17 by launching a new “All Together Cereal” and donating $50,000 to support GLAAD’s anti-bullying and LGBTQ advocacy efforts. As a company, Kellogg dedicates efforts to promote inclusivity in the communities where we both work and play. The company, its employees and brands join millions of people “going purple” to support the LGBTQ youth community and Spirit Day—the largest and most visible anti-bullying campaign in the world.

This year, Kellogg releases the all-new, limited edition 2019 “All Together Cereal” with six mini cereal boxes packaged inside one larger exclusive “All Together” box to celebrate the belief that we all belong together. The box brings together six of the famous Kellogg mascots and cereals inside the same carton as a symbol of acceptance no matter how you look, where you’re from or who you love. "All Together Cereal" is available while supplies last for a limited time on Thursday, Oct. 17 for online retail through Kelloggstore.com for $19.99. Kellogg is donating $50,000 to GLAAD to support its anti-bullying and LGBTQ advocacy efforts.

Each limited-edition carton of “All Together Cereal” includes individual boxes of some of Kellogg’s most beloved cereals including Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, Frosted Mini-Wheats and Corn Flakes.

“At Kellogg, we are firmly committed to equity and inclusion in the workplace, marketplace and in the communities where we work and live,” said Priscilla Koranteng, Vice President, Global Talent and Chief Diversity Officer. “We have long been allies and supporters of LGBTQ employees, their families and the community. For more than 100 years, Kellogg has nourished families so they can flourish and thrive, and the company continues to welcome everyone to the table.”

“We are proud to partner with Kellogg’s again this year to help extend the important message of Spirit Day to households across the country,” said John McCourt, Senior Director of Development & Integrated Marketing at GLAAD. “The All Together cereal encompasses the values of diversity, equality, and solidarity that Spirit Day is all about, and we hope that LGBTQ youth everywhere receive the messages loud and clear."

To celebrate, actor and activist Joshua Rush will host a Spirit Day event at the Kellogg’s NYC café, located at 31 E 17th St. The limited-release All Together boxes will be available for purchase, along with the chance to mix your own one-of-a-kind cereal. Guests will have the chance to meet with Rush, sign the Spirit Day pledge, and learn more about the mission and GLAAD.

Black LGBTQ Youth Leader Warns Congress about the Unique Mental Health Challenges Experienced by Black Queer Youth

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) yesterday, joined Susan Taylor, former Essence magazine editor-in-chief, and the National CARES Mentoring Movement to support a youth delegation offering testimony about the experiences of Black youth struggling with trauma, stress, and mental health-- specifically Black queer students-- at “Hearing Their Stories: Students and How They Handle Their Mental Health,” hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health.

Justin Calhoun, a senior political science major at Howard University and a member of the NBJC Youth and Young Adult Advisory Council, testified at the Capitol Hill event and talked candidly about his own experiences, as well as the importance of educators, policy makers, and medical professionals to consider the experiences of Black queer students when responding to the diverse mental health needs of the Black community.

“Black queer people face unique health disparities because of stigma, discrimination, and denial of our civil and human rights,” said Calhoun. “Because Black queer students are at greater risk for mental illness, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts greater attention must be paid to supporting us.”

He also shared his own personal story noting that the impact of oppression for being both Black and queer is a struggle that some queer folk cannot resolve on their own. “Every queer person I know has either attempted or thought about attempting suicide…" Calhoun explained to Congress members. "When I was a 12-year-old Black boy, I thought tying a noose around my neck was the only way to end my pain. Black queer students are at greater risk for mental illness, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts greater attention must be paid to supporting us.”

According to various studies, when compared to people that identify as straight, queer individuals are three times more likely to experience a mental health condition and two-and-a-half times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. Discrimination against queer people is associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and suicide. Queer youth are also four times more likely to attempt suicide, experience suicidal thoughts, and engage in self-harm, compared to straight youth.

“The NBJC is proud of the work we lead to ensure that the needs of youth who have the double gift of being both Black and LGBTQ/SGL are considered and addressed,” said David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition. “Too often conversations about Black people, and Black students, ignore the reality that as long as there have been Black people there have been Black LGBTQ/SGL people.

Johns also sites some critical statistics. “Black LGBTQ/SGL students face unique challenges that I have spoken about before the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health," said Johns. LGBTQ/SGL youth experience violence and bullying nearly twice as much as children who are or are presumed to be heterosexual. 74 percent of LGBTQ/SGL students report feeling unsafe, bullied, and harassed in schools throughout the country according to GLSEN. LGBTQ/SGL students are five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual peers.”

In May, the NBJC helped launch the CBC Taskforce, chaired by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), with policy experts and mental health practitioners who are focused on educating Congress members about this mental health crisis and identifying solutions and legislative recommendations. The Taskforce continues to convene experts in Washington, DC, and around the country.

“We are honored to support Youth and Young Adult Advisory Council member Justin Calhoun in providing color to the experiences of Black LGBTQ/SGL youth,” said Johns. "Justin has served as an intern at the National Black Justice Coalition and president of CASCADE, the LGBTQ student group at Howard University, and he is a brilliant and compassionate advocate who has already helped improve policies and practices to ensure that schools and communities are more inclusive, safe and supportive of all Black people."

Today is Spirit Day!

By Team One Colorado; Daniel, Sheena, Garrett, Sarah, Jordan, Mikayla, Heidi, and Kris
 

Today we are celebrating Spirit Day!

One Colorado is asking our supporters to "Go Purple" today, October 17th, and raise awareness about the bullying many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young people face in school. In Colorado, 7 out of 10 students are harassed because of their sexual orientation. Today on Spirit Day, you can show your support for LGBTQ youth by wearing purple and spreading the word about #SpiritDay.

"Spirit Day is a means of speaking out against LGBTQ bullying and standing with LGBTQ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities" - GLAAD. You can find GLAAD's resource kit for parents and educators here.

So find time today to show your spirit! Post a photo of yourself wearing purple on social media and tag #SpiritDay and @One_Colorado on Twitter and @onecolorado on Instagram.


Happy Spirit Day!

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

One Colorado: Your ballot is on its way!

By Sarah Smith, Organizing Manager, One Colorado 


Colorado counties start mailing ballots to voters this week. Once you get your ballot, make sure to return it by 7pm on Tuesday, November 5th.

Click here to find your closest polling place or ballot drop box.

As a voter this year, you'll be joined by millions of your fellow Coloradans in making your voice heard. Many contests will be so close that a small number of votes will determine the outcome.

One of those crucial votes could be yours -- but only if you're a voter.

Make sure you return your ballot by 7pm on Tuesday, November 5th.

Voting by mail? Put your ballot in the mail by Tuesday, October 29th.
Dropping it off? Find a convenient ballot drop box at www.justvotecolorado.org.
Voting in person? Find your closest Voter Service and Polling Center at www.justvotecolorado.org.

Voting While Trans or Non- Binary? Check out our resource guide for transgender and non- binary Coloradans here.

Have concerns about voting rights? Learn more about voting rights here.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Op/Ed: Help Us Get Big Money Out of Aurora Elections

By Owen Perkins, President, CleanSlateNow Action

I hope you can join in an urgently needed conversation about the scourge of big money in the Aurora municipal elections just over three weeks away -- and the launch of a new effort to restore power to the people in local elections.

After historic reforms in the area of campaign finance in both Denver and Lakewood-- two of Colorado's five biggest cities by population, CleanSlateNow Action is partnering with PDA Colorado to continue the conversation in Aurora, to explore potential reforms for Colorado's third biggest city, and to hear from local elected officials and candidates on the November ballot about their perspectives and plans on campaign finance reform in Aurora.

Hopefully you've heard about the changes Denver and Lakewood made over the past year, including bans on corporate contributions, lowing of contribution limits, establishing public financing of campaigns, disclosure of dark money, and much more.

As you may know, Aurora currently has no limits on the size of contributions, allows contributions from corporations, and the city's only prohibition on contributions is to exclude contributions from other candidates and from foreign individuals, foreign governments, and some foreign corporations.


As a result of these wide-open policies, Aurora is seeing record-breaking campaign contributions and expenditures in the 2019 municipal elections, with unprecedented spending by big money and special interest groups. We're committed to moving the conversation forward in Aurora, empowering small dollar donors, taking wealth and access to wealth out of the equation of running for office, and ensuring that elected officials represent the public interest, not the special interests.

Please join us on Thursday, October 17th at 6:30 p.m. at The Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda, upstairs in the City Cafe. We'll hear from Aurora Council Member Nicole Johnston, a representative from Congressman Jason Crow's office, and other special guests -- we've invited all Aurora municipal candidates and elected offices -- with plenty of time to include your comments and questions to help you make an informed decision as you fill our your ballots. The non-partisan event is free and open to the public. If you think you can make it, please click here to RSVP and help us plan for the number of participants.

Thanks, and I hope to see you on the 17th!

OUT on VOD: If The Dancer Dances

IF THE DANCER DANCES - Official Trailer (2019) from Monument Releasing on Vimeo.

IF THE DANCER DANCES invites viewers into the intimate world of the dance studio. Stephen Petronio, one of today’s leading dance-makers, is determined to help his dancers breathe new life into RainForest (1968), an iconic work by the legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham. With help from three members of the former Cunningham company, the film tracks Petronio’s dancers as they strive to re-stage this great work, revealing what it takes to keep a dance – and a legacy – alive. Timed to coincide with Cunningham’s centennial, IF THE DANCER DANCES  is the first documentary on the subject of Cunningham’s work since his passing in 2009.

Merce Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who stood at the forefront of American modern dance for more than 60 years. As a choreographer, teacher, and leader of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Cunningham had a profound influence on modern dance and earned some of the highest honors bestowed in the arts, including the National Medal of Arts and the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellowship. Cunningham is also notable for his frequent collaborations with artists of other disciplines, including the musicians Radiohead and John Cage (also his life partner), as well as visual artists Andy Warhol, who did the décor for  RainForest, the dance featured in If the Dancer Dances, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. 


Vintage Theatre presents the Regional Premiere of “Looped”

Based on real events, “Looped” takes place in the summer of 1965, when Tallulah Bankhead needed to redub - or loop - one line of dialogue for what would be her final movie. What starts out as a friendly visit to the studio quickly dissolves into a hilarious battle of wits and wills between the divine diva and the film’s editor.

Vintage Theatre presents Loopedat Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010 with a preview performance on November 1, opening on November 2 and running through December 15. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 16 & Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 - $32 and available online at www.vintagetheatre.org or by calling 303-856-7830.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Travel: Head to 2019 Honolulu Pride for Hawaii’s Biggest Gay Party!

For gay travelers who love jaw-dropping beaches, a sophisticated cityscape, and all the fanfare of Pride, Honolulu beckons! Hawaii’s most gay-friendly city will host the 2019 Honolulu Pride Parade & Festival on Saturday, October 19.

Pete Buttigieg Announces Comprehensive Plan to Secure A New Era of Equality for LGBTQ+ Americans



Today, Pete Buttigieg released his plan ‘Becoming Whole: A New Era for LGBTQ+ Americans,’ a comprehensive policy that brings Americans together to break down the walls of exclusion and secure full equality for the LGBTQ+ community. With a plan grounded in the real lived experiences of LGBTQ+ Americans, Buttigieg’s plan covers issues of Equality, Health, Youth and Families, Community, Justice, Honor, and Leadership.

“Twenty years ago, an awkward teenager at St. Joe High, who didn’t know a single out LGBTQ+ student there, never would have imagined how far we would come,” said Buttigieg. “And yet discrimination and the ever-present fear of it continue to govern aspects of LGBTQ+ people’s lives who question if they can be who they are and keep their job, or come out at school knowing they might be bullied for it. When I’m President, we will implement solutions bold enough to meet the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces while bringing the American people together to understand that our freedoms are bound up in each other.”


Under a Buttigieg Administration, LGBTQ+ individuals and communities will be supported in every aspect of their daily lives, from equitable health care to workplace protections to a new national mentorship program that will build up a sense of belonging among LGBTQ+ youth. As president, Pete will ensure anti-discrimintation is the law of the land and work to put an end to the violence that is taking the lives of transgender Americans.

Pete’s plan will ensure that LGBTQ+ people can live a life free from discrimination or harrasment with policies that:



    •End discrimination against LGBTQ+ people by passing the Equality Act and rescind the Trump Administration’s efforts to strip protections against discrimination. 

    •Launch the We Belong National Mentorship Program for LGBTQ+ youth, which will call on leaders in the public and private sectors to mentor and strengthen the sense of belonging they need to thrive.

    •Improve access to and quality of health care for LGBTQ+ people.

    •End the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030 by restoring investments into researching a cure and ensuring access to affordable medication.

    •Protect LGBTQ+ students from bullying by providing resources for school districts to develop training programs to support students targeted by harassment.

    •End “conversion therapy.”

    •Ban medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex infants and children.

    •Protect the rights of all LGBTQ+ families by prohibiting discrimination against adoptive and foster parents and passing the FAMILY ACT to provide 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to care for a new child or sick loved one, including chosen family members.

    •End youth homelessness as part of a comprehensive housing agenda.

    •Ensure the safety of all LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender women of color, by vigorously enforcing hate crimes prevention laws and properly training law enforcement.

    •Rescind the transgender military ban and grant honorable discharges and appropriate benefits to the over 13,000 veterans discharged solely based on being LGBTQ+.

    •Lead on LGBTQ+ rights around the globe, including by strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees.

    •Celebrate LGBTQ+ history and culture, including by expanding the representation of LGBTQ+ people and history in our National Parks System.


    Read his full plan HERE.

    Uganda Plans to Re-introduce “Anti-Homosexuality Act”

    In an interview with Thomson Reuters today the Ethics and Integrity Minister of Uganda, Simon Lokodo, has announced plans to introduce to parliament a bill imposing the death penalty for same-sex relations and “promotion and recruitment” of homosexuality in order to curb a rise in “unnatural sex”. Local activists confirm that it is to be tabled on October 28, 2019.

    The so-called “Anti-Homosexuality Act” was first passed by the parliament of Uganda in 2013 and signed into law by President Museveni in early 2014. It was invalidated by the Constitutional Court of Uganda on procedural grounds the same year. According to Thomson Reuters, the government now plans to resurrect the act in the coming weeks with a death penalty foreseen not only for same-sex relations, but also for “promotion and recruitment” of homosexuality.

    Kasha Jacquelin, founder of the Uganda LGBT Community, comments:
    The timing of the resurrection of the bill is callous - LGBTIQ people are being used as a scapegoat as elections approach. Violence against us has escalated in recent months, countless community members have fled, and I fear it will only get worse. We urgently need support from the international community if we are to stand up against the witch hunt being launched against us.

    Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International, comments:
    Same-sex relations are already criminalized in Uganda, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Efforts to impose a death penalty constitute legal overkill, and only serve to increase hate and stigma against LGBTIQ people, putting them at risk not only of government persecution but also vigilante violence. More concerning still are Minister Lokodo’s remarks that “promotion” of LGBTIQ issues should also be criminalized to the same extent. This is an extremely dangerous addition to the resurfacing anti-homosexuality bill, which would, in essence, put activists in grave danger not only for being LGBTIQ, but also for engaging in any community support, awareness raising or service provision activities.

    Same-sex relations are have been criminalized in Uganda since British colonial times. Articles on “unnatural offenses” and “indecent practices” have been retained in the Penal Code since independence. “Carnal knowledge against the order of nature” between men carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.