Denver Zoo Welcomes Pair of Cubs to African Lion Pride

Denver Zoo’s African lion pride grew even bigger last Thursday, April 23 with the arrival of two lion cubs. The cubs, whose sexes have yet to be determined, were born to mom, Kamara, 4, and dad, Tobias, 4. Animal care staff say both mom and her cubs are healthy and bonding behind the scenes in Benson Predator Ridge. The cubs join the rest of the pride that includes an unrelated female, Sabi, 7, Kamara’s mom, Neliah, 7, and their half-brother, Tatu, who was born to Neliah and Tobias on July 25, 2019.

“We are watching Kamara closely to make sure she’s showing appropriate maternal behaviors, like nursing and grooming,” said Assistant Curator of Predators Matt Lenyo, “She learned a lot by watching Neliah and interacting with Tatu last year, which really prepared her to be a mom. We’re seeing a lot of positive signs that things are going well, and will continue to keep a close eye on her and the cubs in these critical first days and weeks.”

Kamara and the cubs will stay behind the scenes for approximately two months to give them time to bond and gradually introduce the cub to the rest of the pride. They'll primarily stay in their den box, which the Animal Care team provides to mimic the space Kamara would seek out to give birth in the wild. Kamara will still have access to other holding areas behind the scenes, but the addition of the den box gives her a sense of security for her and her cubs.

MYKKI BLANCO Drops New Song Ft. Devendra Banhart

 

MYKKI BLANCO has released a new song “You Will Find It” today featuring a collaboration with Devendra Banhart. This song was originally meant to be an interlude on the forthcoming LP that Mykki has been recording over the last few years. While working on this track with their producer FaltyDL (Drew Lustman), Mykki reached out to Devendra asking if he would like to contribute to the interlude. A few days later vocals, guitar parts and hand chimes were in FaltyDL’s inbox. Eventually the decision was made to build out the track properly and Lustman notes, “Mykki rapped and proclaimed her parts over the next two days in the studio with ease. I’ll never get tired of watching Mykki write lyrics on the spot in their notepad. Little giggles, ah-ha moments, just pure excitement and imagination. To be honest, it’s almost jazz the way we work - off the cuff - first thought is right, don’t overthink it - feel it.”

Devendra says:
“It will never find you,
‘You need to find it, you need to find it….’
The world will never change,
You need to change, you need to change...
We are intimately intertwined with each other, intimately intertwined with the earth and if this lockdown doesn’t emphatically verify that I don’t know what does...
I'm writing about Mykki and this song and also I want to tell you that
I honestly didn’t know how much I needed you till this all began...
self-love, self-discovery and self-knowledge run through Mykki’s flow, this is THE time to explore those three gems...
Thank you for letting me be a part of your beautiful world dearest M, I love you.”

Mykki notes, “I wanted to make a song with Devendra. I wanted to make a song with one of my heroes just like a few years ago when I made a song with Kathleen Hanna. I had met him a few times now playing the same festivals in Europe and he was just open and it felt like a full circle moment. I could honestly say a lot about this song - I mean Devendra not only sings on the record, but he plays. He's not just a feature, he is now in the blood of the song, he's a part of the composition. It felt right to release this song now, I felt like I had this capsule of really good energy and I needed to release it now and not wait but let the vibe be felt now in this really anxious moment - so it can feel like a light hearted mini mediation amidst all the current noise.”

Rep. Khanna, Sen. Warren Lead Letter to Include Essential Workers Bill of Rights in Next Relief Package

Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and over 50 additional members sent their proposal for an Essential Workers Bill of Rights to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The lawmakers urged Congressional leadership to support frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic by prioritizing these basic protections in the next relief package.

Essential workers are still at work in high-risk conditions without appropriate equipment, safety standards, or job protections. From the doctors, nurses, home care workers and other healthcare workers, to the grocery store and drug store employees, domestic workers, food service workers, federal, state, and municipal employees, janitorial staff, farm workers, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, transportation workers, and child care workers, these Americans are on the frontlines of this pandemic.

"Every day this crisis continues, more and more essential workers risk their lives on the front lines so we can get urgently needed resources and services," said Rep. Khanna. "That work, undervalued for far too long, is finally being recognized for what it really is. The grocery clerk that packs our groceries behind a plastic shield, the bus driver sanitizing seats between shifts, and the security guard on watch from a distance: these heroic workers are keeping this country afloat. They deserve every benefit and protection we can give them, starting with those outlined in our Essential Workers Bill of Rights."

"Frontline workers -- including health care workers, transit workers, farm workers, grocery workers, domestic workers, and delivery workers -- are risking their lives to keep America running. Congress has a responsibility to protect them and their families," said Sen. Warren. "Essential workers in all fields lack the basic safety equipment and guarantees they need, and many essential workers are low-wage workers who were underpaid with minimal job protections even before this crisis hit. The next relief package needs to put these workers front and center -- and include our Essential Workers Bill of Rights."

"The next coronavirus relief package to pass Congress must include an Essential Workers Bill of Rights containing a comprehensive set of policies to protect frontline workers during this public health emergency," wrote the Members in their letter to Congressional leadership.

Cosigners in the Senate: Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA).

Cosigners in the House: Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Joaquin Castro (D- TX), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Andy Levin (D-MI), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), André Carson (D-IN), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Mark Takano (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Judy Chu (D-CA), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Danny K. Davis (D- IL), Filemon Vela (D-TX), and Ted Lieu (D-CA).

The full text of the letter is available here.

PEOPLE Exclusive: Sean Hayes Reveals One of His Favorite Will & Grace Episodes Was with Cher: 'She's the Best'

 

Sean Hayes still has a love for Cher!

While appearing on PeopleTV's Couch Surfing Thursday afternoon, the actor reminisced on one of his favorite scenes from the beloved NBC sitcom, Will & Grace.

During season 3 of the 11-season show, Hayes' character, Jack McFarland, unknowingly came face-to-face with one of his idols, superstar Cher, in episode seven. In the scene, Jack mistook Cher as a drag queen and told the star he could do a better impersonation of her.

"It was so wild to have, to have the character be in love with this icon and superstar like Cher, and then to have Cher on the show, like, out of nowhere," Hayes, 49, told PEOPLE.

"She’s the best," he added of working with her for the scene in 2000. "She’s super cool, super down to earth, really fun and funny and got a big heart. She is who she is because you feel that from her. You feel that she, ‘Okay, I could hang out with this girl for a long time.’ She’s very, very cool."

Alex Winston shares folk-tinged "I Saw A Tiger" cover from "Tiger King"

It's the #1 trending show on Netflix, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," the bizarre cat breeding expo turned true crime drama that everyone's talking about. Last week, indie pop artist Alex Winston dropped a surprise cover of the infamous "Here Kitty, Kitty" song by the documentary's protagonist Joe Exotic, and today she unveils a folk-tinged edition of "I Saw A Tiger." Both tracks are now available on all streaming platforms.

 

"I Saw A Tiger" was created by Winston during quarantine and she has pledged that "proceeds from this song will be donated to Best Friends Society to help the animal shelters in Los Angeles that are struggling to keep their doors open right now. An additional donation from her track "Here Kitty, Kitty" will be made to MusiCares and their Covid-19 relief fund for artists.

Education & Action During COVID-19: Protecting Incarcerated People

While individuals and families practice social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, little has been done to address the spread of the virus among a population for whom physical distancing is not possible: incarcerated people. In the time of COVID-19, we must not shy away from what is happening in the nation’s prisons, jails, juvenile justice facilities, and immigration detention centers.

Recent widespread testing among people incarcerated in Ohio’s prisons found more than 3,300 cases of COVID-19. One facility alone reported 1,828 cases, or 73% of its total incarcerated population. As a result, more than a quarter of all of Ohio’s confirmed cases are in the state prison system, indicating just how devastating an outbreak can be among incarcerated populations. And it’s not just Ohio: the virus is spreading rapidly in local, state, and federal jails, prisons, and detention facilities across the country.

There are an estimated 2.3 million incarcerated people in the U.S., and according to the Legal Aid Society, the virus spreads in prisons and jails at nearly nine times the rate it does in the general population. Within these spaces, COVID-19 safety precautions — such as washing hands, cleaning spaces, and physical distancing — are simply not possible due to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. What’s more, these facilities operate in institutions that have provided inadequate health care even under normal circumstances, evidenced by the recent deaths of immigrants who received substandard care in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Prisons and jails are currently struggling to provide needed medical supplies and masks to ensure the safety of incarcerated people. And every day, correctional officers, health care workers, and people admitted and released from these facilities increase exposure, potentially harming both incarcerated people and the communities surrounding these facilities

 
Source: Prison Policy Initiative, No need to wait for pandemics: The public health case for criminal justice reform, 2020

Many incarcerated people are in poor health, and due to longer sentencing policies of recent decades, the prison population is aging — two major risk factors for COVID-19. One third of people in federal prisons have pre-existing medical conditions and roughly 10,000 are over age 60. LGBTQ people are also overrepresented in U.S. prison and jails. And with Black and Latinx people comprising 70% of the prison population in federal custody, prison outbreaks would disproportionally impact people of color, including LGBTQ people of color.

Bearracuda's Virtual Locker Room Party This Saturday!

Don't miss Bearracuda's Virtual Locker Room Party this Saturday, April 25th from 9:30pm-1am MST with DJ Paul Goodyear and Hot Go-Go's from Bearracuda Denver & Chicago!

Join the party in your singlet, gym shorts or dressed for the showers!
$10 suggested donation or whatever you can give! Donations split between the staff
 
DONATE HERE:
U.S. friends VENMO @lumbertwink
Rest of world PAYPAL.ME/BEARRACUDA

All DJs and dancers at this event rely fully or partially on working in nightlife. Be sure to buy them a virtual drink before, during or after the party!

Hudson Gardens Cancels The 2020 Summer Concert Series

The Hudson Gardens & Event Center announced today that the 2020 Summer Concert Series has been canceled in its entirety. The organization issued the following statement: “Normally, this would be the time when we would announce the lineup for our upcoming summer concerts. However, as the circumstances arising from COVID-19 evolve, this is clearly the socially responsible and appropriate choice. The health of our patrons, artists, concert crew, and staff is paramount. We thank everyone who is continuing to do their part to mitigate this crisis. The difficult decisions we make today will result in a safer tomorrow.”

The Summer Concert Series has been presented annually at Hudson Gardens since 1999. From humble beginnings, the series has grown to provide hundreds of world-class performances for over a million fans within an intimate, outdoor setting.

Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce: Back-To-Work Survey Regarding Colorado's Re-Opening

Help the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce inform Colorado state officials as to what the business community needs to safely and effectively re-open by taking a short Back-to-Work survey. The Chamber will be providing these results to the Governor's Office and other state leaders so that your business needs can be aligned with future policy recommendations and initiatives.

This survey closes today at midnight.

One Colorado: Complete your 2020 Census now!

By Branden Shafer, Political & Organizing Manager, One Colorado 
 
Once a decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States. Information from this count provides the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting, and distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support states, counties and communities’ vital programs — impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.
How Do I Respond To The Census?

The 2020 Census is underway and the most important thing you can do is respond online, by phone, or by mail when you receive your invitation. Responding now will minimize the need for the Census Bureau to send census takers out into communities to follow up.







Why Should The LGBTQ Community Be Counted?

The LGBTQ community has been fighting to be counted on federal surveys since 1990. Learn more about our history here. The U.S. Census Bureau has submitted to Congress its planned questions for the 2020 census, and for the first time ever, the survey will allow respondents to specify that they are part of a same-sex couple. The expansion of the relationship question is a step in the right direction, and we look forward to the day when everyone from the LGBTQ community is recognized.

The information collected will be used in a number of ways. This includes planning and funding government programs and exploring whether existing programs are effective. In preparation for the 2020 Census, LGBTQ organizations will work to revitalize efforts to educate and engage our community on the importance of being counted.

Celebrating J. August Wilson and Diversity in Representation on NBC Show 'Council of Dads'

In response to J. August Richards’ Instagram Live segment where he said that he was a gay man, and to news that he would be portraying a gay man in NBC’s new show, Council of Dads, David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition released the following statement:

“Representation matters, and in today’s global society, diversity in representation that reflects the plurality of our reality is paramount. Too many people think that homophobia is natural, rather than appreciating that as long as there have been people there have been beautifully diverse expressions of love. The lack of representations of queer love on television and in the media, more generally, are important because they provide windows into worlds that for some may be foreign or unexplored and for others they provide mirrors that reflect back the best parts of who we are and how we show up in the world — parts of ourselves that we are too often told to hide or neglect.

“There are not nearly enough examples of Black queer people loving themselves and being loved by other Black queer people. Among other things, this can compound mental health challenges young LGBTQ+ people experience of feeling they’re the only one, ever in the history of the world, to live and find love alone. It is for all of these reasons, and many more, that we applaud the J. August Richards for inviting us all in and for NBC’s Council of Dads for displaying love between two same gender loving Black men when few others are doing so.

“We applaud J. August Richards for making space for more people to think about, talk about, and make space for those of us who are both Black and same gender loving or LGBTQIA+. We also applaud everyone involved with Council of Dads for extending the foundation that has been established by similar groundbreaking efforts to showcase Black queer love.”

Cyndi Lauper, Troye Sivan, Todrick Hall and more to Appear on Live-Streaming Concert ‘Stonewall Gives Back!’

World of Wonder Productions and the official 501(c)(3) of The Stonewall Inn, The Stonewall Gives Back Initiative, today announced that on Thursday, April 23rd, the partnership will present a live-stream concert event benefiting the LGBTQ+ nightlife industry directly impacted by COVID-19. Hosted by Michelle Visage and Tyler Oakley, guests and performers at the event will include Alan Cumming, Allie X, Betty Who, Carlie Hanson, Darren Hayes, Dave Mizzoni, Greyson Chance, Issac Dunbar, John Cameron Mitchell, Kim Petras, Kristin Chenoweth, Leland, Lorna Luft, Matt Rogers, MUNA, Nina West, Our Lady J, Pabllo Vittar, Peppermint, Rufus Wainwright, Shoshana Bean, Todrick Hall, Troye Sivan, TUCKER, VINCINT and a special performance by Cyndi Lauper.

The event is being executive produced by Erich Bergen, who recently produced The Rosie O’Donnell Show fundraising event as well as the “Saturday Night Seder” streaming event which raised $2.9 Million. “I think this pandemic has made it even more clear just how vulnerable some of our communities actually are,” said Bergen. “We are coming together to respond to this crisis in a collaborative way, through music, which is the great unifier.”

Co-Producer and Golden Globe nominated songwriter and producer Brett McLaughlin adds, “So many careers are built and sustained by the support of the LGBT nightlife community. It’s our turn and duty to support them during this time of need. I’m so grateful that many of my friends jumped at the chance to give back when asked. This is going to be an incredibly special evening.”

Streaming live on World of Wonder’s YouTube channel WOWPresents, all proceeds from the event will go directly into a fund where industry professionals can apply for emergency assistance. These funds will then be distributed as $1,000 grants based on need, on a first come first serve basis to those who have lost their livelihood due to the coronavirus pandemic and are struggling to afford basic necessities. Impacted industry professionals can apply for a grant at www.stonewallgivesback.com.

“The Stonewall Inn in New York City has, for decades, served as a beacon of hope in the LGBTQ+ community,” said World of Wonder co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey. “World of Wonder similarly strives to build opportunities and access for the community, while standing beside them and The Stonewall Inn in the struggle for equality. In that same spirit, we are thrilled to partner for this one-night-only concert to offer help and support to the LGBTQ+ community during this difficult time.”

While the effects of COVID-19 are felt globally, The Stonewall Inn and World of Wonder recognize the increased hardships the virus presents to the LGBTQ+ community. As an often-marginalized group, the community is more likely to feel isolated during this crisis and have less access to resources.

“In general, LGBTQ bars and nightlife have been decimated due to the mass closures during the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Stacy Lentz, CEO of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. “These are the original safe spaces for our community, which often makes us feel less alienated and alone. They are a true refuge where we can be ourselves. This industry is now gone and employees of those bars, venues and event spaces are struggling. They rely on tips and gig work and are no longer able to make ends meet. We need this moment to come together as one and help those who keep the LBGTQ nightlife industry thriving.”

𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗔’𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁!

The Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) is thrilled to announce the launch of our very own talent competition — MMAA’s Got Talent.

As we all try to cope with the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus, MMAA is hoping to raise folks’ spirits while also raising critical funds in their fight for fairness and equality.

Do you have what it takes to win? Submit a video showcasing your talent!

From singing to playing an instrument, or even a magic trick, it can be any family friendly talent.

The top submissions will be selected by MMAA staff, and then the public will cast their votes for the winner. Each $1 donation will count as one vote. (It’s a fundraiser after all).

The winner will win a brand new Facebook portal AND bragging rights as the winner of the very first MMAA’s Got Talent.

Lauv - Modern Loneliness

Lauv debuts the music video for anthemic single for the technology driven generation: “Modern Loneliness.” Jason Lester, the director of the video, captured the footage entirely remotely while both were in quarantine, and tells the story of Modern Loneliness through the perspective of Lauv's cell phone. The single is currently #25 at Top 40 radio and climbing and has over 50 million streams. 

The power ballad was written as both a statement and a commentary on society and our relationships with social media, where we are increasingly “alone together”—a sentiment that is even more relevant during this time. Originally set to be shot in LA in early March, the concept was set to be captured with over 100 fans who were going to be reunited with friends they lost touch with, but that shoot was cancelled due to concerns over everyone's health and safety in the midst of the global pandemic. Lauv did a fan call out for duets on a variety of social media apps (TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram) so that he could still include fans from around the world in the video — including fans as far away as China, Germany and Norway. 

Earlier this month, he delivered an acoustic version of the track as part of an exclusive merch bundle where all profits were donated to Partners in Health COVID relief efforts.

 

Ryan Murphy's HOLLYWOOD arrives at Netflix on May 1

A new limited series from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, HOLLYWOOD follows a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood as they try to make it in Tinseltown — no matter the cost. Each character offers a unique glimpse behind the gilded curtain of Hollywood's Golden Age, spotlighting the unfair systems and biases across race, gender and sexuality that continue to this day. 

Provocative and incisive, HOLLYWOOD exposes and examines decades-old power dynamics, and what the entertainment landscape might look like if they had been dismantled. HOLLYWOOD stars David Corenswet as Jack, Darren Criss as Raymond, Jeremy Pope as Archie, Laura Harrier as Camille, Samara Weaving as Claire, Dylan McDermott as Ernie, Holland Taylor as Ellen Kincaid, Patti LuPone as Avis, Jim Parsons as Henry Willson, Jake Picking as Rock Hudson, Joe Mantello as Dick, and Maude Apatow as Henrietta.