Denver Zoo Raises $50,000 for Ukrainian Zoos

In March, Denver Zoo launched a Wildlife Emergency Fund to assist zoos in Ukraine that have been impacted by Russia’s war. Since then, the Zoo has received more than 865 individual donations, and distributed $50,000 to three organizations across the embattled country—Kyiv, Cherkassy and Odessa Zoos—to help them care for their animals under extremely dangerous and difficult conditions. Denver Zoo is continuing to accept donations and plans to send more funds to those—and potentially other—Ukrainian zoos in the near future: Wildlife Emergency Fund.

 

“If there was no support of friends who send us money, it would be very, very difficult to buy the fruits and vegetables we buy for our primates every day,” said Kyiv Zoo Director Kyrylo Trantin in a video statement shared with Denver Zoo. “Our main goal is to make sure that our animals do not feel that something is wrong behind the fence. They must eat well, we must serve them very well and give them our love and respect.”

 

As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), Denver Zoo has closely monitored the situation in Ukraine, and stayed in touch with other zoo leaders to ensure assistance will reach the people, animals and organizations most in need. The Zoo also received assistance from Ukrainians of Colorado, which helped build connections with zoo leaders in Ukraine and facilitated the direct transfer of funds to those organizations.

 

“We’ve all watched in horror as this crisis has unfolded in Ukraine, and our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people who have shown incredible bravery and resilience,” said Bert Vescolani, President and CEO of Denver Zoo and a council member of WAZA. “Our community is so compassionate and caring, not only for Denver Zoo, but for other wildlife and conservation causes around the world. I’m inspired—but not surprised—to see such an outpouring of support for our friends in Ukraine.”

 

Denver Zoo has a long history of responding to wildlife emergencies around the world. It has participated in more than 600 wildlife conservation, rescue and rehabilitation projects by providing staffing or funding over the past 25 years. The Wildlife Emergency Fund will be used to support Ukrainian zoos now, as well as other global wildlife emergencies in the future. For more information, visit DenverZoo.org.

Hulu To Livestream NYC and LA Pride Parades, Showcase Robust LGBTQIA Library, For Ongoing 'Pride Never Stops' Campaign

In 2019, Hulu launched its “Pride Never Stops” campaign as a commitment to celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices year-round.  This year, in honor of Pride Month, the streaming platform continues that tradition by finding new and unique ways to elevate LGBTQIA+ stories and events as well as the incredible artists behind them.  

 

As Hulu continues to diversify its live content offerings, for the first time ever, the platform will livestream both the Los Angeles and New York City Pride Parades to all Hulu subscribers. Now, you don’t have to be in one of those two major cities in order to experience the joy and festivities of these iconic events.  Both parades will be available via the “Pride Never Stops” hub, and remain viewable on Hulu for 30 days after their respective livestreams.  

• The Los Angeles Pride Parade returns in person to Hollywood!  The parade will have numerous surprise celebrity hosts and appearances alongside KABC’s Ellen Leyva, Karl Schmid, Christiane Cordero and Eric Resendiz. The event will livestream on Hulu on Sunday, June 12 from 11:00am - 1:00pm PT.  
• The NYC Pride March will livestream on Hulu on Sunday, June 26 from Noon - 3:00pm ET, and will be hosted by WABC’s Ken Rosato, Lauren Glassberg and Sam Champion. The NYC Pride March will have surprise celebrity appearances and honorable mentions as the celebration makes its way down 5th Avenue and past the Stonewall National Monument, plus will feature live music and in-depth profiles of people who have made a difference in the community. 

 

Hulu’s “Pride Never Stops” hub will continue to showcase a diverse library of series and films, filled with LGBTQIA+ favorites like Pose, First Day, Changing The Game, Ignorant Angels, Will & Grace, Kissing Jessica Stein, and The Family Law, as well as several highly-anticipated premieres including:

• June 1: Glee (seasons 1-6) - A musical comedy about a group of ambitious and talented young adults in search of strength, acceptance and, ultimately, their voice. Over six years the critically-acclaimed, award-winning series followed a dynamic group of high school students from the halls of McKinley to the streets of New York City, as they embarked on life after high school. 
  
  
• June 3: Fire Island - Fire Island is an unapologetic, modern day rom-com set around two best friends (Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang) who gather in the iconic vacation spot to have a legendary summer in gay paradise with their cadre of eclectic friends and chosen family.
  
  
• June 7: Vida seasons 1 & 2 - A half-hour drama series focusing on two Mexican-American sisters from the Eastside of Los Angeles who couldn't be more different or distanced from each other. Circumstances force them to return to their old neighborhood, where they are confronted by the past and surprising truth about their mother's identity.
  
  
• June 15: Love, Victor season 3 - The third and final season finds Victor going on a journey of self-discovery – not only deciding who he wants to be with but, more broadly, who he wants to be. With their post-high school plans looming, Victor and his friends are faced with a new set of problems they must work through to make the best choices for their futures.
  
  
• June 24: Mormon No More - An ABC News docu-series following two married Mormon moms who fall in love and leave the faith. How will they navigate telling their husbands, families, and the church? What will it be like to co-parent their combined seven children with their ex-husbands? In their journey, we meet other Mormon and ex-Mormon LGBTQIA+ allies who wrestle with the church's doctrines prohibiting same-sex relationships which could result in expulsion from the church.
  
  
• June 24: Wildhood - This coming-of-age LGBTQIA+ drama takes place in a rural east-coast trailer park, where Link (Phillip Lewitski) lives with his toxic father and younger half-brother Travis (Avery Winters-Anthony). When Link discovers his Mi’kmaw mother could still be alive, it lights a flame and they make a run for a better life. On the road, they meet Pasmay (Joshua Odjick), a pow wow dancer drawn to Link. As the boys journey across Mi’kma’ki, Link finds community, identity and love in the land where he belongs.

EPA celebrates future and former environmental cleanup and redevelopment projects in Denver

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Administrator KC Becker met with partners to celebrate a new $500,000 grant to the City and County of Denver, Colorado to advance environmental cleanups along Federal Boulevard in the cities of Denver and Sheridan. On May 12, EPA announced the selection of the City and County of Denver for Brownfields grant funding, part of a nearly $255 million investment nationwide made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Denver City Councilwoman At-large Robin Kniech, and staff from the offices of Senator Michael Bennet, the City of Sheridan, Denver City Councilwoman At-large Debbie Ortega, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), joined Director of Environmental Quality Gregg Thomas of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) and other essential partners at the historic Kuhlman Building in the West Colfax neighborhood in Denver. The former St. Anthony Hospital campus building benefitted from brownfields grant funding and has been converted into 49 affordable housing units.

“Denver has a proven track record of working with community partners on strategies to revitalize neighborhoods, including the ongoing effort with the Colfax Mainstreet Coalition to redevelop sites like the one we are standing at today,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “I am looking forward to seeing what this new grant will do to bring about redevelopment for the benefit of vulnerable and overburdened communities."

“This is a big deal for our area,” said U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO). “This funding will allow us to start the process of cleaning up this important site. Not only will it help us make this land usable once again but, by doing so, it will provide a tremendous boost to our local economy.”

With the $500,000 Brownfields grant funding, the City and County of Denver, working with DDPHE, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, the City of Sheridan, and the Urban Land Conservancy, plans to conduct 20 environmental site assessments, which evaluate the potential contamination of a property to determine cleanup options and prepare cleanup plans. Program funding will prioritize community engagement opportunities.  

“Sheridan looks forward to partnering with the City of Denver and the Urban Land Conservancy to address brownfields along Federal Boulevard. This corridor crosses a number of historically under-resourced communities and neighborhoods that will benefit from this infusion of funds,” said City of Sheridan Mayor Tara Beiter-Fluhr. “We look forward to finding solutions to community needs with our residents and project partners.”

"It may be tempting to turn our backs on brownfields, to wait for 'someone else' to take it on who has the means to assess or cleanup, but who then needs to earn more profit to cover those up-front costs," said At-large Denver City Councilwoman Robin Kniech. "But these grant dollars will allow local government and non-profit partners to lead, to prioritize affordable housing and other community-serving or benefitting uses for tougher sites they couldn't otherwise afford to consider on their own."

“This project will help catalyze a much-needed rejuvenation of the Federal Boulevard corridor, an underutilized and environmentally blighted part of Denver,” said Gregg Thomas, director of Environmental Quality for the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment. “We are pleased to join with our partners at Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, the City of Sheridan, and the Urban Land Conservancy to take this important first step in a project that will provide redevelopment opportunities for a key thoroughfare in our region.”

EPA also selected CDPHE to receive a $2 million Brownfields assessment grant during this grant cycle. With the funding, they plan to advance the cleanup of priority sites across the State of Colorado.

"EPA’s recent announcement that CDPHE has been awarded a $2 million Statewide Assessment Grant is an exciting opportunity to advance the cleanup and revitalization of sites in the cities of Longmont, Lyons, Cortez, Firestone, and Evans," said Tracie White, CDPHE's Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division Director. "This work will support under-resourced populations within these communities by identifying potential environmental concerns that could impact human health and the environment. We are grateful to have resources to invest in these and other Colorado communities and look forward to working with all of our partners to facilitate Brownfields redevelopment throughout the state.”

Please participate in the annual LGBTQ community survey

Please participate in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 16th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey!  This annual research closes May 31.

For over a decade, this survey has provided free data to help non-profits, universities, media, organizations, and businesses better understand and serve the LGBTQ community. The report will be published on the CMI website for free download. Previous surveys have attracted 30,000+ participants.  The survey is the starting point for many different types of research throughout the year as the data gained covers so many topics.

Everyone who completes the survey may enter into a drawing to win one of twenty US $50 cash or gift certificate prizes or donate your prize to an LGBTQ charity of your choice. 

The survey should take 12 minutes to complete.  

CMI works hard to ensure that your personal information will remain SECURE and CONFIDENTIAL. We never use our lists for marketing purposes. We never sell or rent your contact information to other companies. Our research reports are about the collective opinion of the LGBTQ community, not your personal information. For more about CMI's privacy policy, please click click here.

To begin the survey, CLICK HERE

Human Rights Campaign Condemns Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt For Signing Anti-Equality Legislation In Violation Of Federal Civil Rights Law

Today, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — condemned Governor Kevin Stitt’s signature of legislation,  S.B. 615, a bill copying other efforts - most recently in Alabama - to discriminate against LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Specifically, the bill puts Oklahoma in a small and infamous group of states that have chosen to defy federal civil rights law by forbiding transgender youth to access restrooms consistent with their gender identity. North Carolina and Tennessee both faced swift challenges in the courts for these violations, and Alabama’s recent law is only months old. The legislation also adds penalty provisions for schools that fail to comply (5% decrease in funding from the state) and gives parents a cause of action if they believe the law has been violated.
 

This bill is a continuation of Oklahoma’s “leadership” in legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ people over the last several years, and comes as data from the Trevor Project shows that 42% of LGBTQ+ youth nationwide seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth. The nation’s leading child health and welfare groups representing more than 7 million youth-serving professionals and more than 1,000 child welfare organizations released an open letter calling for lawmakers in states across the country to oppose dozens of bills that target LGBTQ+ people, and transgender youth in particular.

Human Rights Campaign State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel Cathryn Oakley issued the following statement in reaction to today’s vote:

“What states like Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina have done time after time is find new ways to attack these kids for their political gains among radical voters. Governor Stitt has repeatedly disregarded the real harms these bills will impose on Oklahoma’s youth. Transgender youth who cannot use the restroom at school are effectively denied access to their education.  Legislation targeting transgender youth in this way is a violation of both federal civil rights law as well as the United States Constitution.  Unfortunately, Governor Stitt continues to support and sign bill after discriminatory bill - making Oklahoma among the most anti-LGBTQ states in the country.”

Already this year, Governor Stitt has signed two pieces of anti-transgender legislation. The first, S.B. 2,  prohibits transgender students from playing school sports consistent with their gender identity. It does so despite the fact that banning transgender girls from participating in school sports programs solves nothing and in fact causes great harm. The Governor also signed  S.B. 1100, a bill that would prohibit Oklahomans from obtaining non-binary gender markers on official documents. These bills constitute nothing less than an all out attack on  LGBTQ+ rights, particularly impacting transgender people, led by Governor Stitt and anti-equality legislators in the state house. This legislation passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives would also be against the views of a majority of Oklahomans as new polling from PRRI shows that 75% of Oklahomans support expanding LGBTQ+ rights including protections from discrimination. 

OUTBermuda Names Tiffany Paynter as First Executive Director

Bermuda’s LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit OUTBermuda has hired its first ever Executive Director as it looks to expand its impact and strengthen its sustainability as a resource.
 
Bermudian Tiffany Paynter has taken up the Executive Director role as of May 23, 2022.
 
A social entrepreneur and longtime advocate for the local LGBTQ+ community, Ms Paynter joins OUTBermuda following five years as Community Centre Manager for the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation. Ms Paynter is also well-known island-wide as a yoga teacher, spoken-word poet, and volunteer for organisations including Spirithouse Bermuda and The Family Centre.
 
As OUTBermuda’s first Executive Director, Ms Paynter will oversee the group’s growth and evolution, leading day-to-day operations and longer-term strategy, including increasing volunteer and education programmes to boost the community outreach part of its work. She’ll also be responsible for relationships with Government bodies and the business world.
 
“I’m excited  to join OUTBermuda at such an important time  for LGBTQ+ equality,” said Ms Paynter. “I look forward to working closely with the board and with our local community to establish priorities and drive momentum toward our goals.”
 
Adrian Hartnett-Beasley, OUTBermuda’s chair, noted that Ms Paynter’s hiring represents a new chapter for the charity. “We have such an opportunity to make a real impact, but couldn’t do so solely as a volunteer-led organisation,” he said. “We welcome Tiffany, and know she’s just the leader we need as we look to the future.” 
 
The appointment comes as OUTBermuda officially takes over supervision and management of Bermuda Pride, now in its fourth year. OUTBermuda was the first sponsor of the Bermuda Pride, which was founded by Liz Christopher, Chen Foley, and David Northcott. 
 
OUTBermuda is able to fund its Executive Director position for the next three years thanks to a recent grant. Earlier this year, the group announced the doubling of size of its board with four new appointments.

Human Rights Campaign Praises Colorado Gov. Jared Polis for Signing “Marlow’s Law”

This week the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — praised Colorado Governor Jared Polis for signing HB22-1153, “Marlow’s Law,” legislation that modernizes Colorado family law including for same-sex parents by streamlining the process for non-biological parents of a child conceived through assisted reproduction to be presumed the parents and complete the adoption. The law provides them equal opportunity in legally recognizing their parental status.

“Governor Polis’s signature on this bill is a significant step forward in ensuring the legal recognition of the parent-child relationship for children conceived with reproductive assistance. Modernizing the laws benefits many LGBTQ+ people in Colorado as they become parents and create families,” said Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “By removing barriers to the legal recognition of parenthood, lawmakers are affirming families and providing greater security to children. We applaud Gov. Polis for taking action to support all Colorado families and celebrate this victory for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Discrimination in the Adoption Process for Same-Sex Couples

Many same-sex couples face discriminatory hurdles and inequity when trying to gain legal recognition of their parental status. When testifying on behalf of this bill in February, Colorado State Representative Daneya Esgar shared her own experience confronting the discriminatory adoption laws for same-sex couples who conceived through assisted reproductive technology. While Rep. Esgar was pregnant with her daughter, Marlow,  Rep. Esgar’s wife, Heather, discovered that the pre-existing Colorado adoption law would force Heather to file for a step-parent adoption even though she is Marlow’s biological mother. Regardless of the fact that both Rep. Esgar and Heather were listed as parents on the birth certificate, Heather was not presumed the parent of their daughter and was not eligible for equal parental rights. Rep. Esgar and Heather’s story is not unique and highlights one of the many ways that LGBTQ+ families have faced discrimination in the adoption process. Gov. Jared Polis’ signature of the “Marlow’s Law” shows a commitment to safeguarding LGBTQ+ parents from discriminatory adoption policy and is a step forward towards ensuring that LGBTQ+ families have equitable protections.

Watch Rep. Esgar’s testimony here.

LGBTQ+ Adoption Resources here and here.

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted For Denver's Gay Blog!

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective of interest to Denver's gay community.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

OUT on VOD: Becoming A Queen

An intimate portrait of one woman’s quest to become Queen of Caribbean Carnival for an unprecedented tenth time in her final competition, award-winning documentary BECOMING A QUEEN premieres on digital this June from Gravitas Ventures.

Through Joella Crichton’s lens we explore expressions of identity, love and family through Caribbean artistry, against a larger society that often lacks understanding of its significance.

Joella aims to win for a historic tenth time in Caribbean Carnival's Queen Competition, in her final year. A tenth win would forever solidify her legacy in the Caribbean-Canadian community. Joella hopes to leverage this legacy to be viewed as an ambassador for Caribbean Carnival, educating youth and the larger society on its significance so that the vibrant event is seen as the fine art that it truly is.

BECOMING A QUEEN takes us inside Toronto’s world-famous Carnival, an annual celebration of Caribbean pride and identity in this ultra-multicultural city. Among the biggest events of its kind in the world, Toronto’s Carnival draws participants and tourists from across the Caribbean, Europe, and all over North America. This immensely enjoyable and insightful film invites viewers to experience Carnival through the eyes of Joella and her tightknit team. It’s the celebration of the year, suffused with meaning and significance. And at its centre is the King and Queen competition that Joella has been preparing for. This is where the real artistry of Carnival is.

From award-winning filmmaker Chris Strikes, BECOMING A QUEEN is available on digital June 14 in the U.S and June 19 in Canada.

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.