Colorado For All: The Centennial State Elevates Its Inclusive Travel Experiences

Colorado is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates the state’s diverse origins and embraces travelers and residents from all walks of life. This month, Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis signed a bill into law passing historic legislation officially recognizing Juneteenth, African American Emancipation Day, as Colorado’s 11th state holiday. June also marks National Pride Month and Pride celebrations are happening across the state. Below is a sampling of experiences that showcase Colorado’s rich cultural heritage, diverse and minority-owned businesses, as well as adaptive adventures for all abilities, LGBTQ+ offerings and events and more. For more information, visit www.COLORADO.com.  

Explore Colorado’s Rich Cultural Heritage:

Amache Named as America’s Newest National Historic Site, Granada: President Biden signed the Amache National Historic Site Act in spring 2022, designating the Amache site in Granada, Colorado as part of the National Park System. This designation, the first in the National Park System during this Administration, will permanently protect the site for future generations and will help tell the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II.

Journey Across Colorado’s Black History Via a New Interactive Mobile App: Later this summer, History Colorado will launch the “Black Heritage Trail,” an interactive mobile app that maps sites and places of Black historical significance to explore throughout Colorado. This mobile guide will highlight virtual and in-person experiences that present historical narratives that trace Black history from pioneer days to modern times. It will feature important locations, landmarks and photographs alongside oral histories from History Colorado’s collections.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation Named the Historic Chicano/a/x Community Murals of Colorado to Its 2022 List of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places: The Chicano/a/x Community Murals of Colorado represent the Hispano history and culture of the Chicano/a/x people of Colorado. They were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 70s, which used art as a means to educate young people and citizens-at-large about the significant contributions of Hispanos, Chicanos, Mexican Americans and Latinos to American society.

2022 Marks the 100th Anniversary of Lincoln Hills, the Historic Mountain Resort for African American Families, Black Hawk: Lincoln Hills was developed in 1922 in Gilpin County as a recreation area by and for African-American families who were not welcomed in more popular vacation spots due to segregation. It was only one of four such areas in the United States, and the only resort of its kind in the West. In honor of the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of Lincoln Hills, History Colorado is producing a series of programs to highlight the unique history of Lincoln Hills, and the Black experience in Colorado.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Colorado’s Oldest Church Commissions Labyrinth, Conejos: Colorado’s oldest church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, in Conejos on the New Mexico border, is receiving a new piece of architecture. El Santuario de los Pobladores will be completed in the fall of 2022 and is a giant labyrinth that is meant to be walked through slowly and contemplatively by designer Ronald Rael.

Ute Mountain Tribal Park Offers Guided Tours, Towaoc: The Ute Mountain Tribal Park on the southern border of Mesa Verde offers tours with a Native American Ute guide. To preserve the Ancestral Puebloan architecture, the area was set aside by the Ute Mountain Utes and is accessible to the public only through guided tours. Ute guides interpret the history, dwellings and centuries old rock art decorating the canyon walls.

Support Colorado’s Diversity and Minority-Owned Businesses:

The Culture Museum Opens in Denver: The Culture Museum, a selfie experience, is a new immersive, multi-room art installation dedicated to celebrating iconic moments in Black pop culture. The museum, which recently opened in the RiNo Art District in Five Points, explores an array of Black culture expressions with themed rooms ranging from ‘90s sitcoms and iconic films, to hip hop music, to the barbershop and family reunions.

Inclusive Guide Launches in Colorado: Inclusive Journeys was founded by two Black women with a mission to create data-driven, economic incentives for businesses to be more inclusive and welcoming, resulting in safer spaces for people who regularly experience discrimination. The Beta version of their Inclusive Guide, a digital Green Book and website like Yelp for inclusivity, launched in the Denver community on Juneteenth with a plan to launch in other cities across the country in the future.

Juneteenth Music Festival, Denver (June 17-19, 2022): This historic street festival returns to Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, the historic “Harlem of the West,” with live performances, art, vendors and fun for the entire family. Don’t miss the interactive and educational programming at acclaimed African American cultural institutions and landmarks across Five Points.

Latino Outdoors, Statewide: Latino Outdoors is a unique Latinx-led organization working to provide members of the Hispanic and other underrepresented communities with transformative outdoor experiences. As part of this work, the organization serves as a platform for sharing cultural connections and narratives that are often overlooked by the traditional outdoor movement. It is a space for the community to be present, share their voices and showcase how conservation roots have been ingrained in la cultura Latina for generations.

Mango House, Aurora: Mango House is a refugee resource center with several non-profits operating inside, along with a food hall with international offerings including Burmese, Sudanese, Syrian and Somali cuisine.

“Pioneering the Field: Women in Mining” Exhibit, Leadville: The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to announce the women featured in the upcoming temporary exhibit, “Pioneering the Field: Women in Mining”. After thorough examination of the more than 50 women nominated, 15 have been chosen to be included in the exhibit. Women were nominated from across the country who have a wide variety of experience in the mining industry. Opened May 22, 2022.

Tocabe, Denver and Greenwood Village: This restaurant is the only American Indian owned and operated restaurant in Metro Denver specializing in Native and Indigenous cuisine. It offers guests a warm, open space to dine with connections to American Indian cultural elements, infused with a contemporary atmosphere.

Celebrate LGBTQ+ Events:

Beers for Queers, Leadville (June 23, 2022): FREIGHT celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with beers, music and games. This all-age friendly event is welcoming of anyone and everyone. Special cocktail and mocktail menu will be available. No cover, just love.

15th Annual Big Gay Raft Trip, Glenwood Springs: The Big Gay Raft Trip is held twice each summer: the second week of June and the third week in August. Each weekend trip offers a full day of rafting, including lunch, welcome parties, happy hours, friendship dinners at various Glenwood Springs restaurants and a Sunday brunch. There have even been a few weddings during Big Gay Raft Trips. Summer 2022 marks the 15th annual Big Gay Raft Trip bringing together men and women for two weekends of rafting and camaraderie on the Colorado River.

Blockwide Pride at the Dairy Block, Denver (June): Denver Milk Market is hosting events from June 23-27, including a Family Day, a Drag Revue, Drag Bingo Brunch and the Musical Monday Broadway sing-along. The Maven Hotel is offering a YAS Queen Getaway that includes two rainbow cocktails, a box of colorful sweets from Colorado’s Temper Chocolates and an in-room disco experience featuring a curated Prideful Playlist and a disco ball! Several other Dairy Block partners are also offering month-long specials like the Pride Flight at Blanchard Family Wines.

Boulder Pride Festival (June 6-12, 2022): To celebrate the goal of equality and respect for all, the Boulder Pride Festival takes place June 6-12 with the main celebration happening Sunday, June 12 with a motorcade, 150 vendors, food and drinks in Boulder’s Central Park and more. Fun Fact: America’s first same sex marriage license was issued in 1975 in Boulder at the Boulder County Court House.  And because of its significance in LGBTQ+ history, the Court House is now on the National Register of Historic Places.   

Denver PrideFest (June 25-26, 2022): Denver PrideFest features a two-day festival that draws visitors from throughout the state of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. The weekend kicks off with the Pride 5K on Saturday, June 25, followed by the two-day Denver PrideFest at Civic Center Park. The Fest includes over 250 exhibitors, 30 food and beverage vendors, and live performances all weekend long. Sunday begins at 9:30 a.m. with colorful floats, marchers, music, and much more at the annual Coors Light PrideFest Parade.

Meow Wolf Celebrates Pride Month, Denver: On June 1, Denver Meow Wolf is hosting the official kick-off to Denver Pride month hosted by Indie 102.3's LGBTQ+ show, Serve It. The event will feature music and performances from all LGBTQ+ artists, including DJ Kori Hazel, drag queen Mikki Miraj and friends, and musical headliners Wheelchair Sports Camp and Destino. The Denver Meow Wolf location is hosting two official pride events, and will be out in the community participating in myriad ways in Denver PrideFest.

Experience Adventures for People of All Abilities:

Accessible Colorado State Parks: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) strives to ensure everyone can access the state’s special places and activities. CPW offers the Columbine Pass, which provides reduced park entrance fees to Colorado residents with different abilities. It also offers accessible fishing locations in every corner of the state and offers people with disabilities hunting accommodations and services. Requests can also be made for sign language interpretation and assistive listening equipment in the parks. Visitors searching for wheelchair-accessible trails across the state can access the Colorado Trail Explorer app.

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) Offers Adaptive Sports and Recreation Programs, Breckenridge: BOEC’s Summer Wilderness Program features camps and retreats for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities who want to enjoy the experience of rafting, rock climbing, hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, stand up paddle boarding (SUP), camping, an accessible high ropes course and much more. As a national leader in adaptive outdoor adventure, BOEC’s programs take place on their 39-acre campus in Breckenridge as well as provide an opportunity to explore the amazing sights and sounds of the western United States.

The Creede Repertory Theatre is a Place of Belonging, Creede: The Creede Repertory Theatre (CRT) is an artistic haven with an EDI committee informed by work done in society and the larger theatre world. CRT commissions new, diverse playwrights annually and employs reduced bias hiring practices. This August, CRT will present five American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted productions, and high-quality assisted listening devices and trigger warnings are provided for every performance. Each year, the Education Department reaches over 35,000 underserved young people through camps, workshops and touring productions, and free childcare is provided for all company members.

Meow Wolf Offers Audio Tours for Blind and Low Vision Travelers, Denver: Meow Wolf Denver has created a groundbreaking two-hour Audio Description Tour, Highlights of the Convergence. Travelers who want or need a guided experience can explore the Convergence through the descriptive narration of expert guides, detailing key visual elements and action that might not be observed by someone with limited vision. This complimentary Audio Description Tour is designed specifically for audience members who are Blind or have low vision, allowing for a more inclusive experience of the exhibition by means of description, storytelling, touch exploration and play.

National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park: The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) has provided adaptive sports lessons in Colorado for more than 40 years. NSCD offers a variety of adaptive lesson opportunities--including skiing, rafting, horseback riding and more--for both groups and individuals.

The Sensory Trail, Boulder: The Sensory Trail is designed specifically for people with vision impairment and for sighted visitors to imagine what it might be like to be blind.  The 1.2 mile dirt trail, near Artist’s Point, has signs in English and in Braille that encourage hikers to use their other senses – touch the trees, smell the native flowers, listen to the birds and the wind blowing through the trees. Thirty trails and sites in Boulder are accessible for people experiencing disabilities. 

Wilderness On Wheels, Grant: The mission of Wilderness on Wheels, or WOW, is to stimulate the development of access for disabled persons to natural outdoor environments. WOW accomplished this through the construction of a 1-mile, 8-foot wide boardwalk starting at 9,100 feet to the top of a 12,300-foot mountain 60 miles west of Denver near Grant. It is free to hike the boardwalk at Wilderness on Wheels.

EPA reaches settlement with Public Service Company of Colorado over allegations of noncompliance with Coal Combustion Residual Regulations

This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a first-of-its-kind settlement under the Agency’s Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) program at the Public Service Company of Colorado’s (“PSCo’s”) Comanche power station in Pueblo, Colorado. The settlement commits PSCo to address groundwater contamination issues and to ensure the proper closure of CCR surface impoundments under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

Under the agreement, PSCo agrees to return to compliance with the CCR program and to pay a civil penalty of $925,000.

Produced primarily from the burning of coal in coal-fired power plants, CCR is a large industrial waste stream by volume and can contain harmful levels of contaminants like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. Without proper management, contaminants from CCR can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and the air.

“EPA is committed to enforcing the law against facilities that mismanage coal ash,” said EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Enforcement Larry Starfield. “In particular, we are committed to holding coal ash facilities accountable for operating and closing their facilities in a manner that protects public health and the environment.”

“Today’s settlement will protect the Pueblo community and surrounding environment by ensuring the safe disposal and management of coal ash at the Comanche power plant,” said Suzanne Bohan, EPA Region 8’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director. “We will continue to work with our state partners to hold owners and operators of CCR facilities accountable, restore the environment where damage has occurred, and protect communities, like Pueblo, that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

The administrative settlement was approved by the Regional Judicial Officer for EPA Region 8 on May 20, 2022. In the agreement EPA alleges that PSCo did not meet certain requirements under the CCR program, including failure to:

• Monitor groundwater under the facility and prepare corrective action reports;
• Conduct statistical analysis of groundwater data and establish groundwater background contaminant concentrations;
• Cease using a CCR surface impoundment after the “cease receipt” date; and 
• Provide access to documents that were required to be posted on a publicly-accessible website.

The settlement requires PSCo to design a groundwater monitoring system that meets CCR program requirements. PSCo will also develop a corrective measures plan, a remedy implementation plan, and a closure plan for the impoundment. The EPA will oversee all work, including planning for closure of the CCR landfill at the facility. PSCo is required to comply with all other requirements of the CCR program including timely posting of updated and accurate information about compliance on the Xcel Energy® website at https://www.xcelenergy.com/coal_ash_management. EPA will continue to coordinate its activities with the State of Colorado during implementation of the settlement.

PSCo is an operating utility engaged primarily in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Colorado and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc., which is headquartered in Minnesota. The company has worked cooperatively with the Agency to address the issues in the agreement. The civil penalty is due 30 days after the effective date of the agreement.

To address the risks from improper disposal and discharge of coal ash -- leaking of contaminants into ground water, blowing of contaminants into the air as dust, and the catastrophic failure of coal ash surface impoundments -- EPA established national rules for coal ash management and disposal. In April 2015, EPA promulgated a comprehensive set of requirements for the safe handling and disposal of coal ash from coal-fired power plants which established technical requirements for CCR landfills and surface impoundments under subtitle D of RCRA. EPA is increasing its efforts and working with its state partners to investigate compliance concerns at coal ash facilities in Colorado and around the nation to ensure compliance and protect the health of communities overburdened by pollution such as coal ash residuals.

Meet the Suitors of “Vanje: 24 Hours of Love," WOW Presents Plus’ New Dating Show

 

Drag icon Miss Vanjie has just 24 hours to find love in a mansion filled with 18 men!

“Vanjie: 24 Hours of Love” is a social dating experiment brought to you by the producers of RuPaul’s Drag Race and it explores the complexities of modern gay dating as seen through the eyes of 18 perspective suitors from all walks of life and one legendary queen. Over eight episodes, watch Miss Vanjie as she puts her suitors to the test and eliminates the rest in order to find her one true love! The series will feature compelling conversations about sex positivity and confront the often-unspoken subjects within the gay dating community.

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Lambda Literary Hiring for New Executive Director

Lambda Literary is hiring for a new Executive Director. Lambda Literary is the most comprehensive LGBTQ literary nonprofit in the US, serving writers at every stage of their careers, and readers of every age. Lambda Literary, believes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of their culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when their stories are written, published, and read.

Lambda Literary’s longevity in the LGBTQ literary space as well as the wide array of services it has provided to the community for over 30 years have positioned the organization as a hub for LGBTQ literature nationwide. Its unique value is the holistic and centralized support it can and does offer to the community of authors, readers, agents, publishers, teachers, librarians, and others who turn to Lambda for touchstone resources that enrich their personal and professional engagement with LGBTQ literature at various stages of their development and work.

Lambda Literary is poised to thrive. Undergirded with a new, community-driven strategic roadmap and an expanded donor base, Lambda Literary is at the threshold of a new phase in its institutional lifecycle, where the formidable strength of its 34-year history and the unique scope of its programmatic offerings and services converge with expanded public discourse about the diversity and range of LGBTQ stories as well as a broader societal interest in justice and equity.

Now more than ever, they need to ground themselves in the power of their words, nurturing their individual and collective creativity and artistic capacity as a means to fuel and sustain their communities, preserve and expand their rich creative legacy, and resist the forces that continue to try to undermine them. Centering these goals remains a radical act.

Take a Sneak Peek at 'Love, Victor' Season Three

Today, Hulu and Disney+ released an exclusive clip from "Love, Victor" season three as a part of PFLAG's Parent Day Livestream.

The new season of "Love, Victor" premieres with all eight episodes on Hulu and Disney+ on June 15.

San Francisco's Gay All-Male Burlesque, BALONEY, Laid Bare in Expertly Choreographed Doc on VOD June 7th

13th Gen and Gravitas Ventures are proud to present Baloney, Joshua Guerci's no-holds-barred documentary chronicling 18 months in the life of Baloney, a mostly male, mostly naked, very erotic San Francisco burlesque troupe. The clothing optional documentary made its world premiere at Frameline and went on to inspire audiences at Outfest Los Angeles, Seattle Queer Film Festival, Cinema Diverse Palm Springs, Winnipeg Reel Pride Film Festival, TLVFest: Tel Aviv LGBT Film Festival, Boston Wicked Queer LGBTQ+ Film Festival, and Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. At RuPaul's DragCon Los Angeles, the film is nominated for Best Documentary.

Baloney debuts June 7 across North America and will be available on a number of digital and cable platforms, including iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Spectrum, and inDemand.

Baloney was directed, produced and shot by Joshua Guerci in his feature debut. Marc Smolowitz (Being BeBe, Transfinite) produced.

Queer artist Michael Phillis realized that “his worst day as an artist was still better than his best day as a tech manager.” So, he quit his day job, not just to create art, but to connect with other artists, many of whom work in jobs similar just to cover the cost of living in America's expensive queer mecca.

Thus, Baloney, the performance troupe, was born -- a classic variety show combined with burlesque, using theater, dance, and strip tease to explore and celebrate queer sexuality and life experience. Michael, together with his life partner Rory Davis, have been delighting and surprising audiences for years, and this documentary offers up an under-the-covers look at the real life people who create and perform the show, and a behind the scenes view into all of the hard work that goes into putting on this powerful and beautifully produced professional theatrical production.

With Baloney about to be released to the world, co-creators Michael Phillis and Rory Davis shared, "After doing the show live onstage for the past 8 years, it's thrilling to see Baloney reach an international audience through Joshua's documentary. Our hope is that young queer adults will see the movie, connect to the show, and know that they're not alone. There's a wonderful world of underground queer performance out there and your chosen family is waiting for you."

“'Till You Get There,” the first single from Ty Herndon’s forthcoming album JACOB, ships to radio

“Till You Get There,” the first single from groundbreaking Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning country artist Ty Herndon’s forthcoming album JACOB, shipped to country radio today and is now available for streaming and download here: https://vydia.lnk.to/TillYouGetThere

“This song is about the trials and tribulations we all face in life — both big and small — that can seem so overwhelming and discouraging when they’re happening. But I believe everything happens just the way God intends, and we don’t always know what all those bumps along our journeys mean until we reach the end. I wanted to kick off this album with a fun, uplifting, and inspiring song that we can all relate to, and I think we nailed it,” said Herndon, who co-wrote the track with Jamie Floyd, Erik Halbig, and Jimmy Thow. Thow also serves as the track’s producer.

Praise for the single was swift and certain from CMT’s Cody Alan, who proclaimed, “This isn’t just a comeback song for Ty Herndon—this is EVERYONE’S comeback song! Every country fan can relate to these lyrics. Perfectly written for 2022!”
“Till You Get There” kicks off Herndon’s first album of all-new music since 2016’s House On Fire. Due out July 15, JACOB is the culmination of a life of hard-fought struggles and hard-won triumphs. Herndon's most personal album to date invites listeners to go with him from darkness to light – a trip he has taken in both directions. As he chronicles new parts of his life never before shared, the music plots a path to where Herndon finds himself today — a destination marked by recovery, inner strength, and peace. With each song based on experiences from his own life — part country, part rock, part gospel – but all Ty Herndon – the country luminary has captured the pain, sorrow, and redemption that are universal to the human experience.

Released in partnership with Pivotal Records, a division of Pivotal Moments Media, JACOB, is an 11-track musical experience that discloses vulnerable truths. Herndon derived the album title from the Biblical Old Testament figure, Jacob, who dealt with severe challenges and mistakes before rising to become a leader of his tribe.

The album will be accompanied by the release of a new, ten-episode podcast hosted by Herndon in Partnership with Pivotal Moments Media and featuring conversations with high-profile artists discussing their struggles and wins along their mental fitness journeys. The series is designed to mirror the themes of JACOB and will be launched in June.

Herndon burst onto the scene and made his chart debut in 1995 with "What Mattered Most," which became his first No. 1 song and garnered a Song of the Year award (Music Row Magazine). It was also the title track to his first album, which debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville.

Between 1995 and 2002, Herndon charted 17 singles, including his three No.1s and numerous top 10 hits, such as "I Want My Goodbye Back," "Loved Too Much," "A Man Holding On," and "Hands of a Working Man." He topped the charts in 1996 with the single "Living in a Moment" and again in 1998 with "It Must Be Love."

In 2014, Herndon became the first major male country artist to publicly come out as gay in an exclusive with People magazine. He received an outpouring of support that only strengthened his relationship with fans and the country music community, expanding his reach to new and diverse audiences. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted a first-of-its-kind country music event, The Concert for Love and Acceptance, now an annual event that provides a stage for LGBTQ and allied artists. In 2020, he created the Foundation for Love & Acceptance to further his work on behalf of LGBTQ youth.

Film Threat Award This! Announces 2022 The Best of Independent Film Winners

Film Threat, led by founder and filmmaker Chris Gore, and in conjunction with their partner Magical Threads, are thrilled to announce the Award This! 2022 winners. Award This!! nominees were selected from the nearly 2,000 indie films reviewed on Film Threat in 2021 (this year we extended our deadline into the first quarter of 2022 due to the pandemic). Award This! returned for its fourth year with a live in-person, in-theater event on Saturday, May 21^st at non-profit arthouse cinema the Frida Cinema to honor the best and brightest in independent film. Film Threat’s Award This! has become an independent film industry staple celebrating the best in independent cinema.

“This years’ incredibly diverse Award This! nominees made deliberations brutal for our team. Amid two years of literal pandemic struggle, we saw the independent spirit in all its glory. We are honored to share our winners and encourage you to watch this years’ nominees,” said Chris Gore.

This years’ Award This! bold and diverse categories including Indie Sci-Fi, Indie Horror, Indie Comedy, Indie LGBTQ+ Film, Indie Action/Thriller, WTF Indie, Indie Romantic Comedy, Indie Drama, Music Documentary, Pop Culture Documentary, Socially-Relevant Documentary, Best Director, Best Directress, Indie Made for Less Than the Contents of an Oscar Gift Bag (Under $100K), and Indie Movie of the Year. The nominating board of Award This! is comprised of the staff of Film Threat’s editors and critics which number 30+ worldwide along with an advisory board of media figures and independent film luminaries.

Human Rights Campaign Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Carpenter v. James, in Support of Business & Corporate Interest in LGBTQ+ Inclusion

This week, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, as co-counsel with Steptoe & Johnson LLP, filed an amicus brief before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on behalf of a group of diverse businesses. The case, Carpenter v. James, involves a wedding photographer in New York who is effectively seeking permission to turn away same-sex couples and to advertise that she will not provide services to  same-sex weddings. The argument before the Court addresses the scope of protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ patrons seeking goods or services under New York State Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law.

 

On behalf of a number of prominent businesses, HRC Foundation and Steptoe & Johnson LLP argue that the plaintiffs’ proposed speech-based exemptions to the non-discrimination laws are overly broad and difficult to predict. Next the brief points out that plaintiffs’ position would create confusion in the marketplace and disrupt businesses' operations. Additionally, the brief highlights that creating expansive new speech and religious-based exemptions would create holes in non-discrimination laws that may subject many businesses’  employees to discrimination both inside and outside the workplace.

 

“Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in the state of New York and throughout the United States has been adjudicated repeatedly.  The law is clear—discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is against the law and religious objections are no excuse to denial of equal access to goods and services under a neutral and generally applicable public accommodations law like the one in New York,” said Cynthia Cheng-Wun Weaver, Human Rights Campaign Litigation Director. “This amicus brief adds to the chorus of companies that have stressed, in this court and others, that discrimination against same-sex couples is not only wrong and illegal, it also affects businesses and their bottom line.”

 

This amicus brief on behalf of businesses is similar to briefs filed in other federal cases about LGBTQ+ rights, for example in Masterpiece Cakeshop in the Supreme Court of the United States, which involved a cake store in Colorado that refused to serve same-sex couples on the basis of religious exceptions. The Supreme Court there ruled that the state of Colorado’s enforcement of its civil rights law was flawed, while reaffirming that LGBTQ+ Americans should not face discrimination in the provision of goods and services and state law may continue to prohibit such discrimination.

PEOPLE Exclusive: Colton Haynes Has 'No Secrets' After Surviving Abuse, Addiction and Homophobia in Hollywood

Colton Haynes says writing his new memoir "nearly killed me." 

After an overdose and suicide attempt, recovering from alcoholism, addiction and an eating disorder, and then overcoming childhood sexual abuse, the 33-year-old Arrow and Teen Wolf actor has earned the right to speak about facing death. 

But these days, Haynes is more about facing the truth — his own — as he tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue: "I know today I'm only as sick as my secrets." 

With the publication of Miss Memory Lane, he doesn't have any left. 

"I needed to rid myself of the things I've held onto for so long," he acknowledges.

Raised in poverty outside Wichita, Kansas, by a single mom with substance abuse issues, a combustible father who would return now and then, and alongside an athletic older brother with whom he'd fight over food stamps, Haynes had dreams of being the male Kate Moss. 

"Delusion was my first drug," he says.

In high school, he attended class during the day and at night danced as a go-go boy at a gay bar (a job secured with a fake ID). 

"Once I knew something was going to get me the attention that I wanted, there was nothing holding me back from using my body, or doing whatever I could to help me get that love I needed," he says. 

“PFLAG Parent Day” Announces Special Guests Including Busy Philipps, Chef Melissa King, Harvey Guillén, Ramin Karimloo and More

PFLAG National has announced additional star power to the lineup for its second annual PFLAG Parent Day on Sunday, May 22, 2022, including actors Busy Philipps, Harvey Guillén (FX’s What We Do in the Shadows; Mickey Mouse Funhouse), Bravo’s Top Chef winner Chef Melissa King, along with a musical performance by Tony-nominated Ramin Karimloo (Funny Girl; Les Misérables). The fundraiser will feature stories of courageous LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, parents and caregivers, as well as interviews, performances and messages of support for the community from these special guests and more.

As a virtual event, PFLAG Parent Day makes it possible for supporters of LGBTQ+ people to connect, be entertained, and get inspired no matter where they live. The event begins at 2PM ET // 11AM PT at PFLAG.org/ParentDay and offers supporters the opportunity to donate to PFLAG National’s life-saving programs that provide support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people, families and allies across the country.

The event will be hosted by Matt Doyle, 2022 Tony Award-nominated star of the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and will also feature a special award presentation of the Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award to actor and longtime advocate Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Newly announced speakers and performers include: Avi Roque (Disney’s The Owl House), Frankie A. Rodriguez and Joe Serafini from Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and pop musician Madison Rose.

In addition to these newly added special guests, PFLAG Parent Day’s lineup will include Big Freedia (rapper), Cody Rigsby (Peloton Instructor and Dancing With the Stars alum), iconic actor George Takei, Hayley Kiyoko (award-winning musician), Tony-winning producer Jordan Roth (Moulin Rouge! The Musical; Hadestown) & Richie Jackson (author of Gay Like Me), electronic pop band MUNA, Peabody-winning and Emmy-nominated writer/director/producer Steven Canals (FX’s Pose), Tommy DiDario (TV host and lifestyle contributor), actor Torian Miller (Hulu’s Fire Island), cast members from Hulu’s Love, Victor and more.

PFLAG Parent Day is executive produced by Philip D’Amour, a seasoned producer with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, with credits including the White House Correspondents Dinner, NAACP Image Awards, 2020 Democratic National Convention, as well as Celebrating America: 2021 Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“It’s an honor to work with the PFLAG National team, along with PFLAG families, LGBTQ+ community members and allies to put together such an important and inspiring event,” said D’Amour. “PFLAG Parent Day empowers advocates everywhere to be able to join together virtually to support, celebrate and embrace LGBTQ+ loved ones and I look forward to bringing it to life this Sunday.”

CDPHE to receive $2 million to advance environmental cleanups

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will receive a $2 million Brownfields assessment grant to advance the cleanup and revitalization of sites in the cities of Longmont, Lyons, Cortez, Firestone, and Evans. Priority sites are historic, vacant commercial and industrial buildings, gas stations, dry cleaners, a site with abandoned construction equipment and vehicles, and a former turkey farm that contains 25 abandoned structures.

With the Brownfields community-wide assessment grant for states and tribes, CDPHE will inventory and prioritize sites and conduct up to 48 environmental site assessments. These site assessments will examine current and historical uses of properties, and sample soil, water, air and building materials, to evaluate potential contamination, determine cleanup options, and initiate reuse planning. Additionally, grant funds will be used to support community outreach activities, ensuring involvement of communities with environmental justice concerns.

“With this funding, CDPHE will take an important step to assess polluted, vacant properties and provide economic opportunities for people across the State of Colorado,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “I applaud CDPHE for its focus on providing critical financial assistance to overburdened and vulnerable communities.”

The Brownfields Program advances President Biden’s Justive40 Initiative, which aims to deliver at least 40 percent of the benefits of certain government programs to disadvantaged communities. Approximately 86 percent of the communities selected to receive funding as part of this announcement have proposed projects in historically underserved areas. EPA’s Brownfields grants and other technical assistance programs like the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative are also helping to build the clean energy economy.

Today’s announcement includes approximately $180 million from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help turn brownfield sites across the nation into hubs of economic growth and job creation, along with more than $75 million from fiscal year 2022 appropriations.  

The funding includes:

• $112.8 million for 183 selectees for Assessment Grants, which will provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments, and community outreach.
• $18.2 million for 36 selectees for Cleanup Grants, which will provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites owned by the recipient.
• $16.3 million for 17 selectees for Revolving Loan Fund grants that will provide funding for recipients to offer loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.
• $107 million for 39 high-performing Revolving Loan Fund Grant recipients to help communities continue their work to carry out cleanup and redevelopment projects on contaminated brownfield properties. Supplemental funding for Revolving Loan Fund Grants is available to recipients that have depleted their funds and have viable cleanup projects ready for work. 

The list of selected applicants is available here: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicants-selected-fy-2022-brownfields-assessment-rlf-cleanup-arc-grants-and-rlf

Since its inception in 1995, EPA’s investments in brownfield sites have leveraged more than $35 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. This has led to significant benefits for communities across the country. For example:

• To date, this funding has led to more than 183,000 jobs in cleanup, construction, and redevelopment and more than 9,500 properties have been made ready for reuse.
• Based on grant recipient reporting, recipients leveraged on average $20.43 for each EPA Brownfields dollar and 10.3 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds expended on assessment, cleanup, and revolving loan fund cooperative agreements.
• In addition, an academic peer-reviewed study has found that residential properties near brownfield sites increased in value by 5% to 15% as a result of cleanup activities.
• Finally, analyzing data near 48 brownfields, EPA found an estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup—2 to 7 times more than the $12.4 million EPA contributed to the cleanup of those brownfield sites.

Judge Halts Alabama Law Criminalizing Parents for Obtaining Essential Medical Care for their Transgender Children

An Alabama federal district court judge has issued a ruling blocking enforcement of Alabama SB 184 while a legal challenge to the law proceeds.  SB 184 criminalizes parents who seek to get essential medical care for their transgender children’s needs. It provides up to 10 years in prison as penalty for anyone, including doctors and parents, who assists in getting the care these young people need.  

The suit, Rev. Eknes-Tucker v. Marshall, is brought by four Alabama parents from across the state on the grounds that it strips them of the right to make important decisions about their children’s healthcare. They are joined by a private practice pediatrician in rural Southeast Alabama, a clinical psychologist with the UAB medical system, and Reverend Paul Eknes-Tucker, Senior Pastor at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Birmingham, all of whom could face criminal penalties under the law. The U.S.  Department of Justice has also joined the suit as plaintiff-intervenor challenging the constitutionality of the law which would deny established medical treatments to youth who are transgender but not to others.

 

The ruling follows a two-day evidentiary hearing May 5 and 6 at which doctors and medical experts described the well-established safety and efficacy of medical care for transgender youth who experience gender dysphoria and the damage to children’s health when such care is denied. The Court received evidence confirming that over 22 major medical organizations recognize the established course of care for transgender youth. The court also heard from plaintiff parents, in briefing and in closed-court testimony, about the profoundly positive impact access to appropriate medical care has had on their children’s health and wellbeing and the devastating harm that would come from having to stop treatment.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Alabama Chapter of the Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and other state and national medical organizations submitted a friend-of-the-court brief describing the consensus in the medical community supporting standards of care for transgender youth and opposing laws like SB 184 that criminalize and ban proven, necessary care.

 

James Zoe, father of 13-year-old Zachary of Birmingham:

“This ruling means that we will be able to continue providing our child with the medical care he needs and nothing could be more important or more of a relief to our family. Alabama is our home and we hope this cruel law will not be allowed to force us from it. We are fighting for our child and will continuing fighting so that he and all transgender youth in Alabama remain able to receive appropriate medical care.”

 

The families challenging the law come from across the state and are proceeding anonymously due to the risk of criminal prosecution under SB 184 as well as for their privacy and safety. They are Brianna Boe and her 12-year-old transgender son, Michael Boe of Montgomery; James Zoe and his 13-year-old transgender son Zachary Zoe of Birmingham; Megan Poe and her 15-year-old transgender daughter Allison Poe of Northern Alabama; and Kathy Noe and her 17-year-old-transgender son Christopher Noe of Eastern Alabama.

 

The plaintiffs are represented by Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC, King & Spalding LLP, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

 

“This ruling means that parents of transgender children in Alabama will continue to be able to make the healthcare decisions that are best for their families. It is an extraordinary relief. Parents should not be punished for wanting to do what’s best for their kids,” said Jennifer Levi, GLAD Transgender Rights Project Director.

 

“This ruling lessens the enormous stress families across Alabama have been under since SB 184 passed last month. A state should not criminalize parents and doctors for following medical guidelines and providing needed medical treatments,” said NCLR Senior Staff Attorney and Transgender Youth Project Director Asaf Orr.

 

“We’re grateful the court heard the powerful pleas from the families and providers who would be so harmed by this law. Parents should never be put in the unimaginable position of choosing between denying their transgender children needed healthcare or facing prison,” said Sarah Warbelow, HRC Legal Director.

 

“Blocking enforcement of SB 184 supports the well-being of transgender youth in Alabama and the rights of parents who under the law would be prohibited from seeking the best possible care for their children,” said Scott McCoy, SPLC Interim Deputy Legal Director LGBTQ Rights & Special Litigation.