Hear from the people impacted by One Colorado's work

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado

Tomorrow, December 10th, is one of our biggest fundraising opportunities of the year. It's Colorado Gives Day! We are asking for your support so that we can continue empowering people to become leaders in the fight LGBTQ equality.

How does One Colorado empower people? In all of our focus areas (LGBTQ health, youth & schools, civic engagement & advocacy, and transgender equality) we equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to make positive change for LGBTQ folks across the state. Check out this year's Colorado Gives Day video below to hear from some of the people impacted by One Colorado's work.

One Colorado is more than just an organization, we are powerful force for LGBTQ equality. Will you be a part of the movement by donating on December 10th for Colorado Gives Day?

Schedule Your Donation Today!

Colorado Gives Day: Why I Support The Alexander Foundation

By Alexander Limas, Vice-Chair, Alexander Foundation

I joined The Alexander Foundation Board of Directors because TAF provides direct support to people who need a hand up. I joined TAF as our scholarship chair and having had the opportunity to read about our recipients, it is clear they are going to help change the world. A gift to TAF on Colorado Gives Day means supporting LGBTQ+ students reach their goals.

“Being a Alexander Foundation Scholarship recipient is amazing. When I received the e-mail it made me realize that the work I put into any project or opportunity truly pays off, thank you!” - Emilio, Scholarship Recipient.

You don't have to wait until December 10th to participate! 

Visit ColoradoGives.org/TheAlexanderFoundation to schedule your donation early!

Cyber Monday: Everything Tom Goss is On Sale!

 
Hey Holiday shoppers, everything in the Tom Goss store is 20% off this week when you use the promo code TOMLOVESME2019 at checkout.


Or, join his Patreon community and become a part of the team that helps make this type of ambitious artistic production possible, get direct access to advance content, and be in the know before anyone else.

Black & Pink Holiday Card Party

You're invited to join the LGBTQ Student Resource Center on Tuesday, December 3rd from 2:00 – 4:00 for a Holiday Card Making Party! They are partnering with Black & Pink , an organization that supports LGBTQ folks in the prison system. 

From their website: 
The holiday season can be a really rough time for folks inside prison. All too often members of the LGBTQ community do not have family and friends to reach out to them with cards or visits, making this time particularly isolating. With your support someone on the inside will experience a moment of joy, connection and kindness, while telling prison staff that people on the outside are watching.

This event will be held in conjunction with MSU Denver’s Equity Peer Leader Semester Wrap-Up Celebration, and will be hosted in the Gender Institute for Teaching & Advocacy space in Boulder Creek, Room 132.

DNC on Transgender Day of Remembrance

DNC Chair Tom Perez, DNC LGBTQ Caucus Chair Earl Fowlkes, and DNC Member Dr. Marisa Richmond released the following joint statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance:

“Today, we remember and honor the transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially women of color, whose lives have been tragically cut short because of transphobic violence. This national epidemic has taken the lives of at least 22 Americans — nearly all Black transgender women — this year alone. We will not forget:

Dana Martin

Jazzaline Ware

Ashanti Carmon

Claire Legato

Muhlaysia Booker

Michelle “Tamika” Washington

Paris Cameron

Chynal Lindsey

Chanel Scurlock

Zoe Spears

Brooklyn Lindsey

Denali Berries Stuckey

Tracy Single

Kiki Fantroy

Bubba Walker

Pebbles LaDime “Dime” Doe

Jordan Cofer

Bailey Reeves

Bee Love Slater

Jamagio Jamar Berryman

Itali Marlowe

Brianna “BB” Hill

“Today, and every day, Democrats stand with the transgender and non-binary community, and will continue to fight for their rights and their lives. While Republicans and the White House try to drag us back and erase trans people, House Democrats have taken action by passing the Equality Act to prohibit discimination based on gender identity, sex, and sexual orientaiton. We recognize there is more work to be done to reach full trans equity. Democrats are committed to that work, and Republicans will face consequences for their bigotry and inaction in 2020.”

Transgender people in crisis can find help by calling the TrevorLifeline at 866-488-7386 or the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.

THE TREVOR PROJECT RAISES MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION AT TREVORLIVE LOS ANGELES GALA

The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people, hosted its 2019 TrevorLIVE Los Angeles fundraising gala at The Beverly Hilton where it honored Cybill Shepherd, Hayley Kiyoko, and the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc., which announced a $6 million investment in The Trevor Project’s mission. Zazie Beetz and Sasheer Zamata hosted the event, which helped raise more than $1.2 million and included show-stopping performances by singer-songwriter Grace VanderWaal and the world’s top Beyoncé impersonator, Miss Shalae.

 

Additional attendees included Heidi Klum, Jesse Williams, Samira Wiley, Jane Lynch, Debby Ryan, Lance Bass, Jonathan Tucker, Madison Beer, drag personalities Raja & Nina West, Eugene Lee Yang, EJ Johnson, Gigi Gorgeous, Nats Getty, August Getty, Chris Daughtry, Terrell Carter, Alyson Stoner, Bruce Vilanch, Cassandra Cass, Charlie Barnett, Chester Lockhart, Daniel Franzese, Gregory Zarian, Ian Alexander, Jen Richards, John Flanagan, Lawrence Zarian, Mark Tennyson, Michael D. Cohen, Michael Turchin, Mikalah Gordon, Miss Shalae, Morgxn, Obiageliaku, On Mekahel, Parson James, Ryan Russell, and Sisterhood Band.

 

Highlights from the organization’s annual star-studded fundraiser included:

• Jane Lynch presented the Champion Award to Cybill Shepherd: “Cybill is being honored tonight because, for many decades, she has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and full equality… For years, Cybill Shepherd has been boldly, fearlessly and loudly making the case that everyone deserves acceptance,  no matter who they love.”
• In an emotional acceptance speech, Champion Award honoree Cybill Shepherd tearfully thanked her late sister, who was unable to live openly as a lesbian. “No, my sister did not have the support that these young people will be getting from this wonderful, wonderful organization; and so, I want to thank everyone here tonight, because we all have in our lives people that we would have liked to have saved.” Shepherd continued, “My sister lived the life she wanted to live, but she didn’t live it openly. Gladys Terry Shepherd, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the honor of being here tonight.”
• “We’re thrilled to announce that the PwC Charitable Foundation is investing $6 million over the next four years… the largest grant ever received by The Trevor Project,” said Yolanda Seals-Coffield, President of the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. “PwC (the company) is thrilled to announce now that they will be providing nearly $2 million in pro-bono consulting services and our subject matter experiences in people, technology, and business transformation to complement the PwC Foundation’s investment,” added Shannon Schuyler, PwC’s Chief Purpose & Inclusion Officer.
• Hayley Kiyoko accepted the Youth Innovator Award, stating: “So many LGBTQ youth don't have that same support in their own communities. It is our duty to share our strength to help guide the ones that get lost in the dark. I’m very proud to be standing here today, and I thank you all for continuing to inspire others by existing.”
• “There is still so much more to do. We recently put out research that there are more than 1.8 million LGBTQ young people in the US who seriously consider suicide each year,” said Amit Paley, CEO of The Trevor Project. “One day, we will reach every single one of those young people in crisis. But we’re not there yet. And we don’t have the luxury of growing slowly. We are literally talking about life and death. That is why we need to build a global movement to end suicide among LGBTQ young people NOW."
• Eugene Lee Yang surprised seventeen-year-old high school senior Julia Lacher, who traveled all the way from Somerset, Wis., to share her story reaching out to The Trevor Project for support after watching a Try Guys video about Eugene volunteering at the organization.

Bearracuda Denver: 10 Year Anniversary

DJ Wayne G, six sexy dancers and 700 guys await you this month at the 10th Anniversary Party of Denver Bearracuda!

The Gay Vegans: Getting Politically Active

By Dan Hanley

With the 2019 election results coming out of Virginia, good news for me as the Democrats took control of the state senate and state house, I remembered living there back in my Navy days and post Navy days, also the period of time I started becoming politically active.

I have been consistently registered to vote wherever I have lived since I was 18. And I haven’t missed an election, even when deployed.

Being politically active is more important than ever. Every day I hear elected congress people spew permission for our president and name call anyone who might have an opposing thought to the president. Our power comes in our vote and in speaking out against electeds we disagree with. I often use hashtags #vote and #votethemout when on social media, and me voting is the first step. It doesn’t end there though.

Consistently speaking out against those complicit is part of being politically active for me. Watching any news program or reading any online news, I see what those complicit are saying. I want to add to their narrative, so they know and others paying attention realize that there is so much more to the story than those complicit allowing the president to do and say whatever he wishes.

Join your local political group. Attend a protest. Plan a protest. Donate to a favorite candidate or two. Run for a local office. Write a letter to the editor. There are so many actions we can take.

We do not have the luxury to wait this one out or to decide to do nothing.

Thanks for reading.

State of LGBTQ Equality in Eight Colorado Cities Detailed in HRC’s 8th Edition of the Municipal Equality Index

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute, released its eighth annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), assessing LGBTQ equality in 506 cities across the nation, including eight in Colorado.

The Municipal Equality Index, the only nationwide assessment of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy, shows that cities across the country, including in Colorado, continue to take the lead in supporting LGBTQ people and workers — even in the face of renewed attacks this year on the LGBTQ community by federal and state officials.

The average score for cities in Colorado is 74 out of 100 points, which falls above the national average of 60. 

Aspen	Colorado	62
Aurora	Colorado	72
Boulder	Colorado	96
Colorado Springs	Colorado	60
Denver	Colorado	100
Fort Collins	Colorado	95
Lakewood	Colorado	58
Littleton	Colorado	5

“These inclusive and welcoming cities are standing up to the unrelenting attacks on the LGBTQ community by the Trump-Pence administration, and sending a clear message that the fair and equal treatment of our community, our families and our neighbors is a true American value,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “This year’s Municipal Equality Index shows that across the country, city leaders are working tirelessly to ensure that their constituents can secure housing, make a living and participate in community life without being discriminated against because of who they are. And the people overwhelmingly agree with these leaders: support for non-discrimination protections to protect LGBTQ people topped 70 percent, which includes a majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents. These policies are not only the right thing to do, but they are also critical in driving economic success by attracting residents, visitors and businesses that place a high value on inclusivity.”

“This report on LGBTQ equality at the local level couldn’t be more timely. There are critical decisions being made about our lives at the Supreme Court, in the federal administration and state and local legislative bodies. If they listen to the millions of Americans represented in this report the answer should be simple: we need protections for LGBTQ people now,” said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation Institute. “We are proud to partner with HRC on the Municipal Equality Index. It is a powerful tool for elected officials and community leaders to use as they advocate for equality. This marks the third year in a row that the national city score average increased, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that number continues to grow. It’s time for leaders at every level to take a stand and demand that no one be treated differently because of who they are, where they live or who they love.”

This year’s report also includes two new issue briefs for policymakers: Achieving a Healthier, Stronger Workforce through Inclusive Paid Leave and Expanding PrEP Access to Help End the HIV Epidemic.

Since the MEI’s debut in 2012, the number of cities earning the highest score has increased by more than eightfold, and today at least 25 million people live in cities that have more comprehensive, transgender-inclusive non-discrimination laws than their state.

Progress on transgender equality has been particularly noteworthy in cities across the U.S. this year, continuing a positive trend that the MEI has tracked — and encouraged — since 2012. Transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits are offered to employees of 164 municipalities this year — up from 147 in 2018, 111 in 2017 and just five in 2012. The MEI’s Issue Brief on Transgender-Inclusive Health Benefits is available here.

New Report On Lives of Trans People in Rural America

Stereotypes and pop culture portrayals often overlook the diversity of rural America, framing rural regions as made up predominantly of white, politically conservative people who are hostile to LGBT people. But millions of LGBT people, including transgender people, live in rural communities—and while some struggle, others thrive. Today, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released a new report, Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America, which includes original analysis of the unique challenges and opportunities for transgender people in rural America. As the third publication in the Where We Call Home series (released in partnership with the Equality Federation, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights) this report details how the structural differences of rural life amplify acceptance of or discrimination against transgender people.

Today’s report release coincides with a Congressional briefing on the unique experiences of LGBT people in rural America, cosponsored by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and in cooperation with the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota. The briefing will also discuss how Congress can ensure that all people in rural America, including LGBT people, can have an equal opportunity to support their families and contribute to their communities and the country.

“Despite a lack of visibility, transgender people have always been a part of the social fabric of rural America,” said Ineke Mushovic, executive director of the Movement Advancement Project. “But because there are fewer employment and healthcare options for rural transgender people, discrimination can effectively prevent them from getting a job or medical care at all. And these challenges are even starker for transgender people of color in rural communities. This is why it is vital for states and the federal government to update nondiscrimination laws to include and protect transgender people, to modernize processes for updating identity documents, and to overturn HIV criminalization and religious exemption laws that further harm and limit transgender people’s access to health care and other needed services."

This report, which includes original analysis of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS), offers extensive new findings on transgender people in rural communities. Although experiences of discrimination are typically as common in rural areas as in urban areas, structural challenges in rural areas, such as fewer employment or healthcare options, means the impact of discrimination on the lives of rural transgender people may be particularly profound.

As discussed in the report findings:

• Roughly one in six (16%) transgender people live in rural areas—the same percentage of the non-transgender population which lives in rural areas—according to a recent analysis by the Williams Institute of nationally representative federally-funded data.

• Rural transgender people are more than two times more likely—and rural transgender people of color are nearly four times more likely—as the general rural population to be unemployed and living in poverty, despite being more likely than their rural neighbors to have a college degree.

• Rural transgender people are two times more likely (18%)—and rural transgender people of color are over three times more likely (30%)—to be uninsured than the rural U.S. population (9%).

• For rural transgender adults who had insurance and sought coverage for transition-related surgery, 69% were denied coverage, compared to 55% of all insured transgender adults.

• Rural transgender people travel remarkable distances to see their healthcare providers. Nine percent (9%) of all transgender people travel 75 miles or more to see their transgender-related healthcare provider, but in rural areas, 27% of transgender people and 33% of transgender people of color travel 75 miles or more.

• Rural transgender people are six times more likely (1.7%) and rural transgender people of color are 20 times more likely (6%) than the general U.S. population (0.3%) to be HIV+.

Click here to view this as an infographic.

“Black transgender and gender non-conforming people face some of the highest levels of discrimination of all transgender people,” said David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition. "We know, based on the Where We Call Home: LGBT People of Color in Rural America report, that these experiences are compounded by the unique challenges of rural communities—especially because rural states are home to some of the worst LGBTQ policy climates and some of the highest populations of people of color, making it easy to maintain racial discrimination in rural communities. Too often people forget that Black transgender and gender non-conforming people call rural America home, too, and this erasure can result in gaps in services and supports. There's no reason why rural transgender people of color should be nearly four times more likely as the rural population to be unemployed and living in poverty, despite being more likely than their rural neighbors to have a college degree. The National Black Justice Coalition is proud to contribute to a report highlighting these important intersectional realities.”

Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America concludes with critical recommendations:

• Because transgender people in rural communities face significant obstacles to accessing and receiving care, improving access to transgender-inclusive health care that is both affordable and culturally competent is vital to adequately serving transgender patients.

• States and the federal government should rescind and block harmful religious exemption laws that may allow service providers and employers to legally discriminate against transgender people.

• State officials and lawmakers should adopt laws to ensure transgender and non-binary people can update their identity documents, including driver’s licenses and birth certificates, to match their name and gender identity.

• Passing and enforcing transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination laws, as well as repealing discriminatory laws that disproportionately harm transgender people (e.g., HIV criminalization laws), will help to improve the quality of life for transgender people in rural America. 

“Transgender people in rural areas face some of the most severe isolation and discrimination in our country, and yet their voices have for too long gone almost entirely unheard,” said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “This breakthrough report shines a much-needed light on both their resilience and their struggles—and provides a roadmap for a policy agenda to build long-term change.”

“Our members in rural areas are fighting for access to transgender-inclusive healthcare, affordable updated identity documents, nondiscrimination protections, and relief from HIV criminalization laws and religious exemptions,” said Rebecca Isaacs, executive director of Equality Federation. “The current policy landscape is failing our transgender neighbors in rural communities and we need more research and data collected to know the full scope of the harm done. What we do know is that transgender people have a harder time getting documents to match their gender identity leading to increased discrimination. Finding quality medical care nearby is another major challenge transgender individuals face. This important report is a blueprint for reversing the harm done to transgender people living in rural areas.”

Do You Have THE Voice?

Opera Steamboat is producing their first ever vocal competition to showcase the talent of Steamboat Springs. 

Showcase your talent and raise funds for your favorite nonprofit!

Tomorrow X Together - Magic Island

 

As the buzz around TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s latest album, “The Dream Chapter: MAGIC” continues to build, the band has released its latest official music video for the track, “Magic Island.” Ahead of the debut of the full video, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, debuted 5 teaser trailers, individually featuring each of the members of the band, including BEOMGYU, YEONJUN, SOOBIN, HUENINGKAI, and TAEHYUN.

Profiles in Courage: Meet Active Duty Transgender Military Members Proudly Serving Our Country

For Transgender Awareness Week, get to know a few of the thousands of transgender military members who are openly and proudly serving our country, despite Trump's indefensible transgender military ban.

Transgender Day of Resilience

The LGBTQ Student Resource Center celebrates Transgender Day of Resilience this Wednesday, November 20 from 2-5 p.m. in the Tivoli Multicultural Lounge to memorialize, remember, and honor the trans and non-binary individuals who have been attacked and killed for living their lives authentically.

Denver Makes WalletHub's 2019 List of the Most Sinful Cities in America

Source: WalletHub

The holidays are here. And one thing they’re known for is encouraging indulgence, such as overeating and overspending, which can lead to unfortunate economic consequences. Americans are the fattest people in the world and every year sustain $150 - $210 billion in losses as a result. Plus, Americans began 2019 with over $1 trillion in credit card debt.

In light of this dark pattern perpetuated every holiday season, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the 2019’s Most Sinful Cities in America as well as accompanying videos. To determine the most wicked places in America, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on seven sinful behaviors: anger and hatred, jealousy, excesses and vices, greed, lust, vanity and laziness.
Here are some highlights from the report:
 

Most Sinful Cities	Least Sinful Cities
1. Las Vegas, NV	173. Newport News, VA
2. Los Angeles, CA	174. Madison, WI
3. St. Louis, MO	175. Bridgeport, CT
4. Houston, TX	176. Columbia, MD
5. Atlanta, GA	177. Burlington, VT
6. Philadelphia, PA	178. Port St. Lucie, FL
7. Chicago, IL	179. Virginia Beach, VA
8. New York, NY	180. Chesapeake, VA
9. Miami, FL	181. South Burlington, VT
10. Denver, CO	182. Pearl City, HI