Netta - Ricki Lake

 

Today, Netta drops her newest single, “Ricki Lake” (via S-Curve Records/BMG), continuing the Israeli artist/composer/songwriter’s exciting journey of making some of today’s most experimentally brilliant pop music. Her brash but lovable personality is front & center on this song, which is ripe with a self-empowered spirit, a sense of humor, and an infectious beat.

After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 with her Spotify chart-topping song “Toy”, Netta has continued to turn heads with her electrifying visuals, genre-breaking quirk pop, infectious charisma, glass-shattering vocal prowess, and looping ingenuity. 2019 saw Netta on international stages and in unique situations including catwalks at leading fashion events and a stroll with Prince William during his visit to Israel. Her music and videos continue to gain popularity, notching over 600 million global streams to date.

The video for “Ricki Lake”, which is a highly irreverent, junk food-laden, absurdist look at commercialism, serves as Netta’s fascinating love letter to American culture.

“I used to watch the “Ricki Lake Show” obsessively when I was a teenager, and I was fascinated by all the colorful characters she featured in her show. It was a glimpse into the ultimate America at its best and worst. Like Ricki’s guests, we're all seeking guidance, quick solutions and simple life hacks that would make us happy and would take away the sadness. A new jacket, a new nose, a happy meal or cellulite reduction,” said Netta about the inspiration for both the video and song.

As Netta noted, “Ricki Lake”, the song and the person, is about being a happy individual, listening to your gut instead of society’s rules, and dancing to your own drum. Ricki Lake for me was always how the misfit became America’s sweetheart, and this song and video are my cheesy, messy and greasy homage to her.”

Steamboat's Locals Go Vocal!

Opera Steamboat is producing their first annual voice competition, and it's not just opera! Many types of songs will be performed.

Eleven finalists will compete to win the top vocal prize! Finalists are also raising money for a variety of local nonprofits.

Get your tickets for the performance and support the singer of your choice at operasteamboat.org/voicesofsteamboat

Fab the Duo featuring Mariahlynn - No Prince Charming

Fab the Duo, a biracial glam pop-rock duo and real-life couple, have released “No Prince Charming,” their latest song and video and follow-up to their viral 2019 hit, “I Want A Man.” The new release from the self-described “modern day Sonny and Cher (but we’re both Cher)” is an upbeat empowerment anthem that assures listeners, “I don’t need no Prince Charming to save me/I don’t need no dragon just to slay,” because “all I need is me.”

Of the new release, Fab The Duo explain: “‘No Prince Charming’ is about realizing your own worth and knowing you don’t need anyone but yourself to make you happy. Even though we’re a couple, we’re also very strong individuals and we wouldn’t be able to be together if we weren’t confident in who we are.”

The duo adds: “Finding love in the gay community can be super hard - we’re often separated into obscure groups divided by race or body type. It can be superficial and demeaning. Everyone needs to be reminded that they’re fabulous and deserve nothing but the best.”

One Colorado: Colorado ranked as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states!

By Sheena Kadi, Deputy Director, One Colorado

Thank you to everyone who has fought alongside us throughout the years. You are the reason Colorado has become a great state for LGBTQ folks and their families. Let's continue to work towards a fair and just Colorado together.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released its annual State Equality Index report— and Colorado is ranked among the top states in the nation for LGBTQ equality! This report looks at law and policy at the state level, both positive and negative, that affect LGBTQ equality in six areas: parenting, relationship recognition & religious refusal, non-discrimination, hate crimes & criminal justice, youth, and health & safety.

Check out the full report here, including a feature on One Colorado's Executive Director, Daniel Ramos.

Yes, we've come a long way from being known as the "Hate State" back in the nineties, but we cannot rest here. This year, we have already seen six anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in Colorado. This is a humble reminder that while we have made great progress, we have to keep fighting to ensure LGBTQ Coloradans have indisputable rights and protections against such attacks.

Shaun Boothe and the Unauthorized Biography Series

Recording artist and TEDx and motivational speaker Shaun Boothe tells the inspiring life stories of cultural icons through hip hop, rhyme, and spoken word this Thursday at the Lone Tree Arts Center. 

Boothe’s Biography Series is a celebration of greatness made not just to inform and entertain, but to inspire and awaken the greatness within us all. In this performance, Boothe will look at the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Malala Yousafzai.

WalletHub: Best Places for Valentine’s Day 2020

To determine the most romantic yet affordable cities for celebrating the Day of Hearts, WalletHub compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 26 key metrics, ranging from florists per capita to forecasted precipitation to cost of a three-course meal for two.
 

Top 20 Places for Valentine's Day 2020
1. San Francisco, CA		11. Los Angeles, CA
2. New York, NY		12. Washington, DC
3. San Diego, CA		13. Atlanta, GA
4. Honolulu, HI		14. Denver, CO
5. Las Vegas, NV		15. San Jose, CA
6. Seattle, WA		16. Virginia Beach, VA
7. Orlando, FL		17. Austin, TX
8. Portland, OR		18. Boston, MA
9. Scottsdale, AZ		19. Tampa, FL
10. Chicago, IL		20. Gilbert, AZ

Source: WalletHub

BENEE Featuring Gus Dapperton - Supalonely

 

New Zealand’s indie pop sensation BENEE returns with the video for “Supalonely” featuring Gus Dapperton. “Supalonely” is featured on her latest EP, STELLA & STEVE, released to critical acclaim in November.

BENEE worked with rising Australian director, Rome, on the video. Explaining how she wanted the video to match the song’s colorful and fun mood but also convey its contrasting lyrical theme, she says, “It starts with me being a lonely teen at home then turns into this weird dreamscape, where I end up dancing around with Gus who appears through a TV screen in the lounge!”

Gus Dapperton chimes in, saying, “It was a really seamless shoot, and the final product is a great depiction of the song!”

BENEE will be back in North America this spring for the biggest headline tour of her burgeoning career. The tour kicks off on April 21st in Santa Ana at Constellation Room and makes stops in Los Angeles at The Roxy Theatre on April 24th, Brooklyn at Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 7th and more.

Books: What We Will Become: A Mother, A Son, And a Journey of Transformation

What We Will Become: A Mother, A Son, And a Journey of Transformation by Mimi Lemay  is an extraordinary tale of the endless bonds between families and the lengths they will go to protect the ones they love.

From the age of two-and-a-half, Jacob, born “Em,” adamantly told his family he was a boy. While his mother Mimi struggled to understand and come to terms with the fact that her child may be transgender, she experienced a sense of déjà vu—the journey to uncover the source of her child’s inner turmoil unearthed ghosts from Mimi’s past and her own struggle to live an authentic life.

Mimi was raised in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, every aspect of her life dictated by ancient rules and her role as a woman largely preordained from cradle to grave. As a young woman, Mimi wrestled with the demands of her faith and eventually made the painful decision to leave her religious community and the strict gender roles it upheld.

Having risen from the ashes of her former life, Mimi was prepared to help her son forge a new one — at a time when there was little consensus on how best to help young transgender children. Dual narratives of faith and motherhood weave together to form a heartfelt portrait of an unforgettable family. Brimming with love and courage, What We Will Become is a powerful testament to how painful events from the past can be redeemed to give us hope for the future.

Mimi LemayI is an international advocate for transgender youth and the author of the viral essay “A Letter to My Son Jacob on His 5th Birthday.” Lemay and her family meet regularly with legislators, business leaders, educators, and clergy to share their vision of a more equitable world. She is a member of the Parents for Transgender Equality National Council at Human Rights Campaign and holds a master’s in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.

George Takei Makes Waves on Queen Mary 2’s Holiday Voyage

Celebrated actor, author and LGBTQ activist George Takei headlined Cunard’s popular holiday voyage on the flagship liner Queen Mary 2 as part of the luxury cruise line’s renowned Insights program in December. 
 
George is an activist for LGBTQ rights, marriage equality, and has won several awards and accolades for his work on human rights and Japan-U.S. relations, including his work with the Japanese American National Museum, where he is chairman emeritus and a trustee. He was appointed to the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission by former President Clinton and the government of Japan awarded Takei the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his contribution to U.S-Japan relations.

While sailing on the 12-night Caribbean voyage, roundtrip out of New York, George and his husband rubbed elbows with QM2 guests and delivered two presentations, a Q&A, and a book signing for guests. His candid, first person accounts gave him the chance to reflect on American history and his childhood spent in a Japanese American internment camp during WWII. In his second lecture, George regaled every guest with his storied Hollywood moments and behind-the-scenes anecdotes with some of his famous friends such as Tom Hanks, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Brad Pitt, Howard Stern, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart and Jane Fonda.

An internationally beloved figure, George is most notably known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise, in the acclaimed TV series Star Trek. His acting career has spanned six decades including appearances on the TV series Fresh Off the Boat, Hawaii Five-0, The New Normal, The Big Bang Theory, Heroes, Will & Grace, Miami Vice, MacGyver, The Six Million Dollar Man, Mission: Impossible and The Twilight Zone, among others.

Takei is the author of five books, including his autobiography To the Stars, and his latest graphic memoir, the New York Times bestseller They Called Us Enemy, which debuted in July 2019. He first sailed with Cunard as an Insights speaker in 2014 when Queen Mary 2 screened the documentary “To be Takei,” about his journey from imprisoned child to pop culture icon.

HBO Max to Offer Ballroom Voguing Competition Series

HBO Max announced today that actress, activist and host Jameela Jamil will MC and judge Legendary, the 9-episode unscripted voguing competition series from Scout Productions. Additionally, the streamer comes ready to battle with a judge panel that will chant, chop and destroy each ball featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Law Roach, Leiomy Maldonado (pictured) alongside a weekly rotating guest judge with commentary by Dashaun Wesley and DJ MikeQ at the turntable.

In this series highlighting modern day ball culture, divas battle on teams called "Houses" in fashion and dance challenges including vogueing for the chance to snatch the legendary trophy and win a cash prize. Voguing is a competitive style of modern dance featuring high fashion and choreography based on poses struck by models. Legendary features eight voguing houses, each comprised of five performers and a leader—the house “parent.” The teams compete in an arcing competition that documents a themed ball every episode from start to finish giving full access to the behind the scenes action.

Travel: South Africa, India and Colombia Featured in IGLTA’s New LGBTQ+ Travel Guides

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association has published a series of LGBTQ+ travel guides, expanding the online resources it offers LGBTQ+ travelers and the travel industry at large. The 26 country guides reflect IGLTA’s diverse global membership and include destinations with progressive LGBTQ+ legislation and protections such as Iceland and the Netherlands as well as destinations where LGBTQ+ acceptance is not as widespread.

For all its rewards, travel presents additional challenges for the LGBTQ+ community given the wide variations in acceptance and laws around the globe. More than 70 countries have anti-LGBTQ+ laws so it’s particularly important for LGBTQ+ travelers—and the travel advisors who are assisting them—to be properly informed and do additional research when planning a trip. The IGLTA guides combine information on when to visit and destination highlights with LGBTQ+ safety considerations and travel tips.

“Since its founding in 1983, IGLTA has been a resource for travelers looking to find LGBTQ+ welcoming businesses around the world,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “We’ve now taken it a step further by working with our LGBTQ+ media members to create guides that will help LGBTQ+ travelers to ensure their travel experiences are not only enjoyable but also LGBTQ+ welcoming and safe.”

Additional guides will be added throughout the year.

Logo's LGBTQ State of the Union

For the second year in a row, Billy Porter, presents Logo’s LGBTQ State of the Union, an impassioned speech, focusing on LGBTQ rights and challenges, and the LGBTQ communities’ triumphs, and it publishes hours before President Trump delivers his to a combined session of Congress.

Modern Military Magazine - The Voice of the LGBTQ Military & Veteran Community

The Modern Military Association of America has announced the launch of Modern Military Magazine — the voice of the LGBTQ military and veteran community.

We're also proud to dedicate our inaugural issue to the thousands of transgender servicemembers who boldly and selflessly serve this great nation in the face of an unconscionable military ban.

AFSP Colorado Chapter Honored at the Chapter Leadership Conference in Denver

Suicide remains one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. The nation’s largest suicide prevention organization, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), recently recognized the AFSP Colorado Chapter with several awards for 2019. 

• The AFSP Colorado Chapter’s 2019 Arapahoe High School Campus Walk was ranked #1 in the nation for AFSP Out of the Darkness Campus Walks, raising more than $77,000 and bringing together more than 1,200 participants. 

• The AFSP Colorado Chapter’s 2019 Denver Metro Community Walk was ranked #12 in the nation for AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walks, raising more than $300,000 and bringing together nearly 4,500 participants. 

•  The AFSP Colorado Chapter also received the 2019 Outstanding Chapter Advocacy Program Award. In February 2019, the AFSP Colorado Chapter joined together with Mental Health Colorado, Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado (SPCC), and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Colorado to host Colorado’s 1^stAnnual Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol. The event was a great success with a number of speakers, including Governor Jared Polis, talking about the public health crisis of suicide here in Colorado. The State of Colorado House of Representatives officially recognized February 26^th as Suicide Prevention Day.

 

The 2^nd Annual Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol will be held on Feb. 26, 2020 

These awards were presented at AFSP’s annual Chapter Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 25, 2020.

“Our nationwide network of Chapter leaders and volunteers are making a difference. They help to create a culture that’s smart about mental health, and bring more awareness to their local communities about suicide prevention,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. 

Nearly 400 volunteers from the AFSP chapters, representing all 50 states, attended the annual conference to learn how to bring to their communities a greater understanding and awareness of suicide prevention. During the annual conference awards ceremony, AFSP chapters were recognized for outstanding work over the past year. Speakers at the conference shared expertise about the science behind suicide prevention and volunteers shared what’s working for them in their communities in fighting this leading cause of death. 

“We are thrilled for AFSP Colorado Chapter to receive the Advocacy, Campus Walk and Community Walk awards,” said Gillian Kaag, president of the AFSP Colorado Chapter. “This past year’s accomplishments would not have been possible without the many amazing volunteers who support our chapter.”  

National Civil Rights Organizations Call on the FBI to Support the Murder Investigation of 17-year-old Ja’Quarius Taylor as a Possible Hate Crime

In response to the gruesome murder of 17-year-old Ja’Quarius Taylor of Varnado, Louisiana, and possible hate crime, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director David Johns, and President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Kristen Clark released the following joint statement:

“It is tragic and heartbreaking that 17-year-old Ja’Quarius Taylor was murdered so gruesomely and possibly because he was gay. We extend our prayers to the Taylor family and hope our words and our actions help honor the memory of Ja’Quarius and keep his name in the light.

“The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law support calls for the FBI to aid the local investigation into the murder of Ja’Quarius Taylor given evidence suggesting that this was a potential hate crime.

“The dangers faced by young, Black, LGBTQ+ people are disturbing and becoming increasingly violent and fatal. With the increase in reported hate crimes since President Trump took office, we are deeply concerned that there is not a full accounting of the violence that members of our community have faced. It is critical that the FBI support Washington Parish law enforcement by providing the resources necessary to ensure a full and fair investigation.

“Over the past several years, we have seen one too many young, Black, LGBTQ+ people violently murdered, beaten, bullied, and even harassed to the point of suicide. We cannot grow numb to this reality or ignore what is continuing to happen. Members of the Black community are dying because of crimes inspired by hate and vitriol — from 15-year-old Nigel Shelby who died by suicide after being bullied for being both Black and gay, to the near fatal attack of Daniela Calderon Rivera, to the murder of Ja’Quarius.

“Out of fear of more retribution and abuse, many Black LGBTQ+ people do not report these crimes to law enforcement. Furthermore, our nation does not have data on intersectionality, so we should imagine the incidents of hate crimes against Black LGBTQ+ people are worse than reported. These startling statistics, and the Black people they represent, should inspire each of us to action--to demand full and complete investigations whenever we learn of victims of potential hate crimes and investments in programs and policies to mitigate the impact of racism and homophobia.

“The murder of Ja’Quarius Taylor demands immediate attention- the same level of attention devoted to our brother Trayvon. We’re in this together. Ja’Quarius deserves justice and his family deserves answers. Our community and our country deserve better.”