MAP: The Respect for Marriage Act and the Path to Full LGBTQ Equality

By Ineke Mushovic, MAP Executive Director Yesterday, I had the honor of watching President Biden sign the Respect for Marriage Act into law, standing next to my colleagues from MAP and many others throughout the LGBTQ movement on the South Lawn of the White House. The Respect for Marriage Act is vitally important — for same-sex couples and interracial couples alike. As we saw with the U.S. Supreme Court decision this year that overturned Roe v. Wade, even some of the most basic, fundamental rights that we depend on are at risk. Today, the overwhelming majority of the country — more than 70% — supports marriage equality and nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, with broad support across the political spectrum. But when MAP was founded in 2006, we — alongside our movement colleagues — faced a steep uphill climb in working to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, as one part of securing equality for LGBTQ people across every part of their lives. And it would be another five years — in 2011 — before polling would show majority support for marriage equality. MAP’s messaging work to help change how people think and feel about the freedom to marry and LGBTQ equality was instrumental in shifting that public opinion. Slowly but surely, state after state passed laws giving same-sex couples the ability to get married. And in 2015, we celebrated the Obergefell decision guaranteeing that same-sex couples nationwide have the freedom to marry. But the past three years have seen a dramatic increase in political attacks on LGBTQ people, especially on transgender people, as well as increasingly hostile courts. MAP research this year found that half of U.S. states still have laws on the books banning same-sex couples from marrying, even though those laws are currently unenforceable under the Obergefell decision. Prior to the Respect for Marriage Act, even the fundamental freedom to marry could be at risk from the U.S. Supreme Court. With the Respect for Marriage Act, couples who are legally married anywhere will have their marriages recognized everywhere in the country, regardless of state bans that still exist — in a truly bipartisan law passed by majorities in both chambers of Congress and signed by the president. We’re celebrating this important victory, and also looking ahead to our ongoing work for full equality for LGBTQ people, no matter what state they live in. Standing shoulder to shoulder with movement colleagues invited to the White House, I am reminded of the power of our movement and our collaborations. We will keep working together to change hearts and minds, as we have done before, on our path to full equality for LGBTQ people.

Carly Rae Jepsen Releases Video for "Surrender My Heart"

In collaboration with Lenovo and Intel Evo, Carly Rae Jepsen releases the video for “Surrender My Heart” today.   The Broadway inspired clip was filmed over two days at the iconic United Palace Theatre in New York City with GRAMMY® Award winning director Brantley Gutierrez and features actress Jane Krakowski and world-renowned ballerina Isabella Boylston. Jepsen worked with Gutierrez previously on the video for “The Loneliest Time” featuring Rufus Wainwright.  Watch the video for “Surrender My Heart”

“Surrender My Heart” appears on Jepsen’s fifth studio album The Loneliest Time which is available now at all digital retailers.

Books: Rich Tapestry of Townspeople and Offbeat Humor Buoy Catboat Road

In the Massachusetts seaside town of Horton, cut off from the world, boats sway on their moorings, while beneath the surface bubbles a primal brew of salt and sea life — much like the family at the center of Catboat Road, the quirky, sometimes racy new novel from Kate Rounds.

The Ragsdales, unmoored from social convention, well-meaning and decidedly modern, have learned to surf a wave of family tumult and weave their way into the rich tapestry of townspeople — often to comic effect.

 

“Early readers flatteringly pronounced Catboat Road sexy, funny and smart,” Rounds said. “Of these, I love funny best. Our world is brutal, and if readers laugh out loud, as one blurbist did, that would make me happy.”

 

Catboat Road immerses readers in the journey of teenager Candace “Ace” Ragsdale. Infatuated with her mother’s best friend, Ace sees Mrs. Forest as an irresistible force of nature, luscious, tantalizing — and maybe not completely out of reach.

 

Rounding out Ace’s family is her “Irish twin” brother Sawyer, who gives the best pedicures in town, and her laidback but loving parents.

 

Into this eccentric New England household careens a rebel grandmother who shows up to help the Ragsdales save the town windmill, whose mysterious energy has been blamed for everything from night sweats to nymphomania. As this spectacle of public conflict and private anguish unfolds, readers will be fully on Ace’s side as she navigates the turbulent waters of love, sex and small-town values.

 

Readers will race toward the finish line as this sly, seductive narrative moves at breakneck speed. 

 

“Spoiler alert: Catboat Road doesn’t end as you might expect,” Rounds said. “For every raised eyebrow, there will be raised hopes for a fresh vision of what it means to be family.”

Joy Oladokun Performs at The White House During Respect For Marriage Act Signing Ceremony

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun performed her songs “sunday” and “jordan” at the White House yesterday as part of the Respect for Marriage Act signing ceremony.

Of the performance, Oladokun shares, “I’m extremely grateful for the chance to perform at the White House yesterday. The signing of the Respect for Marriage Act means a lot to me as a queer human. Yes, it means I have the ability to marry someone I love, but I think it also serves as a reminder that the loving and accepting world I longed for as a queer kid is not a myth. It’s a reality that we have to build brick by brick every single day. Grateful for President Biden and Vice President Harris for helping build that world and protect that reality.”

Telluride Gay Ski Week 2023 Lodging Guide

Enjoy a variety of lodging accommodations in the historic Town of Telluride or in Mountain Village during Telluride Gay Ski Week February 25 - March 4. 

From accommodations with intimate Victorian settings or modern design elements, there are a variety of lodging options available. Stay in the Town of Telluride close to the après-ski and event venues or head up to Mountain Village and discover slope-side lodging with town access via the free Gondola and full-service spa experiences. Explore deals and unique properties from these official Telluride Gay Ski Week lodging partners.

Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra presents Big Band Royalty: Dukes, Counts and the Greats of Jazz Featuring Marion Powers

The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra’s (CJRO) brings in the new year with two evenings of live jazz that will delight its listeners. From Counts to Dukes, jazz has a long lineage of royalty and heirs, and a fresh take on many of these greats will be heard when the CJRO big band takes the Arvada Center stage on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, January 22, at Lone Tree Arts Center. Songs featured include Duke Ellington’s “Jack the Bear,” Billy Strayhorn’s beautiful ballad, “Star Crossed Lovers,” and Count Basie’s “In a Mellow Tone.” Led by CJRO artistic director, Drew Zaremba, this promises to be a fantastic night of big band music! Vocalist Marion Powers will be featured along with the full orchestra. To purchase tickets, go to https://www.coloradojazz.org/concerts 

Founded in 2012 by bandleader, Art Bouton, with a mission to perform the best music with the best musicians, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra does just that and more. Exciting world-renowned guest artists and many of the finest regional musicians perform anything from rollicking big band classics to contemporary large and small ensemble jazz to enthusiastic concert goers across Colorado. Audiences at the Arvada Center, PACE Center in Parker, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lone Tree Arts Center, Parsons Theatre in Northglenn and beyond have heard the CJRO perform music from Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, and Buddy Rich as well as original arrangements by CJRO composers and other artists. 

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted to Write About Denver's Gay Community

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.

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.

New Human Rights Campaign Foundation Report: Online Hate & Real World Violence Are Inextricably Linked

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation – the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization –  recently released Online Harassment, Offline Violence: Unchecked Harassment of Gender-Affirming Care Providers and Children’s Hospitals on Social Media, and its Offline Violent Consequences, a report showing how anti-equality, online extremists are leading a proactive and coordinated campaign of hate against hospitals and medical providers who offer gender-affirming care for transgender, non-binary and questioning youth. According to this new research, accounts like LibsOfTikTok and individuals like Matt Walsh are leading a highly-organized attack campaign; HRC Foundation researchers identified online harassment campaigns against 24 different hospitals and health care providers, across 21 states, between August and November alone. In addition to the report, HRC released a video featuring Dr. Angela Goepferd of Children’s Minnesota, discussing the attacks on medical providers.

These accounts are spreading falsehoods about gender-affirming care and using violent rhetoric to encourage targeted attacks on providers, including harassing phone calls, death threats and bomb threats to hospitals. The spread of disinformation online is directly correlated to the real-life violence happening across the country, such as recent bomb threats on Boston Children’s Hospital; as the report concludes, without intervention from social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, this cycle will viciously continue.

“As threats against the transgender community continue to rise – especially impacting Black, Brown and young transgender people – it is crucial that we look at who are the major players fueling this campaign of hatred,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “This report confirms what we have suspected for some time: these dangerous accounts are playing a major role in causing harm to healthcare providers and patients. They are no longer just making the internet an unsafe place for transgender people and allies. The ruthlessness and the vitriol has long ago expanded beyond the confines of the screen to spawn threats of physical harm on people.”

HRC identified a five-part cycle of violence:

1. Hate speech accounts such as Libs of TikTok or Matt Walsh, a known anti-trans extremist at the alt-right news site The Daily Wire, post an inflammatory message full of disinformation about gender affirming care and call out a specific hospital or doctor by name.
2. The doctor and hospital almost immediately begin receiving a barrage of harassing and threatening messages online.
3. Offline, doctors and hospitals named in social media harassment campaigns face harassment and threats at their homes and workplaces. In the most extreme examples, doctors face death threats and hospitals face bomb threats, halting care for all patients.
4. Extremist politicians looking to rile up the most extreme members of their base join in spreading the same transphobic rhetoric from their platforms, in some cases going so far as to introduce legislation to regulate children’s hospitals and gender-affirming care providers.
5. Hospitals halt gender-affirming services or remove online resources and websites in order to protect the safety of their patients and staff.

HRC’s report documents dozens of instances where posts have led to violence and prevented patients from receiving the healthcare they need at places like Boston Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Wisconsin. In other instances, online campaigns have been taken up by extremist politicians to justify investigations and legislation to block or pressure hospitals and doctors into ceasing providing gender-affirming care. One such incident happened on September 21, 2022, when Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti called for an investigation into Vanderbilt University’s Transgender Health Clinic just 24 hours after Matt Walsh, a known far-right ideologue working for the alt-right media company The Daily Wire, tweeted that the clinic would “castrate, sterilize, and mutilate minors.” Vanderbilt health providers also received death threats, according to the report.

The damage isn’t limited to doctors, administrators, and patients receiving gender-affirming care – it impacts all patients and families who visit these hospitals and clinics. The report notes that when hospitals are forced to go into lockdown and hire extra security, it impacts access to care for everyone. As stated in a letter sent to the DOJ from the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), “In one hospital, a new mother was prevented from being with her preterm infant because the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was on lockdown due to a bomb threat.”

Even though some social media platforms have policies banning such dangerous disinformation and violent threats, the enforcement is inconsistent, and this kind of rhetoric continues to thrive online. Despite occasional bans or suspensions, accounts are routinely reinstated and their posts remain available to incite viciousness. HRC demands social media platforms take meaningful action before even more harm is done.

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Outright International Welcomes the Repeal of Buggery and Gross Indecency Laws in Barbados

Outright International welcomes the repeal of Barbados’ buggery and gross indecency laws. The oral decision was handed down on December 12th by the Supreme Court of Judicature of Barbados and will be followed by a full written decision in January of next year. Although these laws do not explicitly mention gender identity or expression, law enforcement officials often conflate gender identity with sexual orientation, and, as such, these laws are also used to criminalize gender expression and identities which don’t correspond with the norms associated with the sex assigned at birth. Despite the fact that these laws are rarely enforced, they provide legal cover for police abuse and discrimination against LGBTIQ individuals.  

"Access to justice is never easy for LGBTIQ persons. We see this historic win in Barbados as a stepping stone to acknowledge and render justice to vulnerable people who are not necessarily acknowledged by the law,” said Kenita Placide, executive director for the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE). 

"With the repeal of similar laws in Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis, this ruling caps a historical year for LGBTIQ human rights in the region. The progress we have seen this year in the Eastern Caribbean is unprecedented and comes as a result of years of advocacy, community building and organizing. While the decriminalization happens as a result of a legal challenge, the verdicts do not happen in a vacuum,” said Maria Sjödin, executive director of Outright International. “We congratulate ECADE, Butterfly Barbados, and Equals for this win and could not be more proud of our partners who tirelessly fight to end these colonial-era laws.”    

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, February 17, 2023

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, the innovative, immersive and highly-anticipated themed land officially opens at Universal Studios Hollywood on Friday, February 17, 2023. So, get ready; this exciting debut marks SUPER NINTENDO WORLD’s official arrival to the United States.

This all-new, dynamic land will be a visual spectacle of vibrant colors and architectural ingenuity located within a newly expanded area of Universal Studios Hollywood. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will feature the groundbreaking “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge” ride, as well as many thrilling and interactive activities designed to engage the entire family within the captivating Mushroom Kingdom. Along with themed dining at the Toadstool Cafe™ and shopping at the 1-UP Factory™ retail store, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will be an inspiring, game-changing addition to the world-famous theme park.

From the moment guests pass through the iconic green pipe, a journey filled with exploration, discovery and play awaits that is entirely unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Their journey begins as they enter Peach’s Castle before venturing further into the colorful Mushroom Kingdom.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will sweep guests into the 360-degree world of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach where they will become an integral part of their exhilarating universe. Plus, with purchase of a Power-Up Band™ – wearable, interactive wristbands – guests will be able to deepen their interactions across the land.

As the countdown to the grand opening begins, here’s a sneak peek of what to expect:

• “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge:” This all-new, technologically-advanced ride, inspired by the popular Mario Kart™ video game series, will seamlessly fuse cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) with projection mapping technology and actual set pieces along a moving ride track. Set against a multi-sensory backdrop of color, sound and movement, guests will be seated in stadium-style, four-seat vehicles as they navigate familiar courses through the creative use and integration of head mounted AR goggles. This unique feature is a key point of differentiation that distinguishes this ride from other theme park attractions.

The premise of “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” is simple but equally inspiring and challenging, appealing to guests of all ages regardless of gaming experience. As part of Team Mario, guests will steer through underwater courses and courses in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting coins to defeat Team Bowser and win. “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” raises the stakes for guests as an intriguing and repeatable ride with a variety of outcomes.

• Mount Beanpole: This towering landmark sits at the heart of the land and also serves as the entry queue for “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.”

• Bowser’s Castle: Adorned with a breathtaking sculpture of a large and powerful Bowser, this structure serves as a key centerpiece of the land, home to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD’s signature ride, “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.” As guests navigate the winding corridors and pass through the hall of medallions and trophies of the ominous castle towards the “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” ride, they will learn more about Bowser’s calculated plans to defeat Team Mario for the coveted Golden Cup.

• Power-Up Band™: These wearable, state-of-the-art wristbands sync with Universal Studios Hollywood’s free downloadable app to level-up the guest experience within the land and enhance its many interactive elements. These include, but are not limited to, keeping individual and team scores, collecting digital coins and obtaining keys after winning challenges throughout the land. Power-Up Bands will also invite guests to enjoy extra-special interactions with Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. They will come in six design options with character themes and will be available for purchase both within the land and at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD retail shops located in the theme park and on CityWalk. 

• Interactive Gameplay: Within the land, guests will become fully engulfed in an engaging world of real-life gameplay, including punching ? Blocks to collect digital coins and a variety of interactives. They will discover a new dimension of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD via the interactive binoculars employing augmented reality technology positioned within the land. Guests can beat the four Key Challenges and collect keys from Goomba, Koopa Troopa, Piranha Plant and Thwomp interactive activities to ultimately allow access to the culminating boss battle with Bowser Jr.  These energetic, familiar and fun interactive games will further enhance the entire kinetic experience within the land and immerse guests into the unique world of Super Mario.

• Toadstool Cafe™:  The land’s signature restaurant Toadstool Cafe will serve a gourmet menu perfected by Chef Toad where he will greet guests upon entry. Menu items prepared fresh daily include Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, Super Mushroom Soup, Piranha Plant Caprese, Mario Bacon Cheeseburger, Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger, ? Block Tiramisu and Princess Peach Cupcake.

• 1-UP Factory: What better way to commemorate a visit to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD than to visit the 1-UP Factory retail shop to purchase collectable memorabilia. The 1-UP Factory will offer an extensive selection of merchandise from Mario and Luigi themed apparel to iconic character hats and an array of plush characters, including Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Bowser.

On the Two-Year Anniversary of the First COVID-19 Vaccine, Secretary Becerra Celebrates Administration's Progress in Protecting and Saving Lives During Pandemic

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra released the following statement celebrating the second anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine:

 

"The COVID-19 vaccines save lives, and the Biden-Harris Administration has made it a priority to continually work to reach, vaccinate, and protect our most vulnerable communities across the country. Although we can celebrate the more than 657 million shots in arms administered in the last two years, we are not done with COVID. 

 

"We have seen COVID infections, hospitalizations, and deaths increase in prior winters, and it does not have to be that way this year. We now have updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect communities against the Omicron strain. Our message is simple: Don't wait. Get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. It's safe and effective."

 

On November 22, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an aggressive six-week campaign to get more Americans vaccinated with the updated COVID-19 vaccine before the end of the year. The campaign focuses on reaching seniors and the communities that COVID-19 has hit hardest by making it even more convenient to get vaccinated and increasing awareness through paid media.

Rayland Baxter Announces 2023 Spring Tour

Today, Rayland Baxter announces his Spring Tour in celebration of his recently released and highly received album, If I Were A Butterfly, released on ATO Records. 

His tour will kick off with a show in Aspen, Colorado on 3/21 and will include stops in Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and a final show in Austin, TX on 4/8. 

Human Rights Campaign: Reports of Texas AG’s Attempts to Collect Data on Trans Adults Are a Terrifying Overstep into the Lives and Privacy of LGBTQ+ People

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, responded to reports of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s purported efforts to collect names and other identifiable information of transgender adults living throughout the state. As originally reported by The Washington Post this morning, the Texas Department of Public Safety received communication from Paxton’s office earlier this year requesting a total number of gender marker changes on driver’s licenses since 2020, later expressing interest in names and full license numbers as well.  

Human Rights Campaign Legal Director Sarah Warbelow released the following statement:  

“For the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, but for transgender Americans in particular, today’s story out of Texas is chilling. Weaponizing state agencies and their public records to pinpoint and single out transgender Texans is terrifying, albeit not shocking. Throughout 2022, Attorney General Paxton, along with Governor Abbot, have stopped at nothing to attack the very existence of transgender youth and adults. This development shows how far they’re willing to go in discriminating against transgender people.  HRC stands with all members of the trans community in Texas who are living in an even higher state of emergency today, as we will continue to hold extremist officials accountable.” 

WATCH: HRC President Kelley Robinson Testifies to U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform On Surging Anti-LGBTQ+ Extremism and Violence

Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, just finished testifying before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Reform Committee about the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ extremism and violence in the United States in the wake of the recent Club Q shooting.  At the hearing, titled “The Rise of Anti-LGBTQI+ Extremism and Violence in the United States,” Robinson discussed the threats facing the LGBTQ+ community, including a rise in online harassment, anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation, threats of violence, and attacks on queer spaces and people, particularly Black and Brown transgender women.

Robinson’s testimony comes one day after HRC released a report on the correlation between online harassment and offline violence, finding online harassment campaigns against 24 different hospitals and health care providers, across 21 states, between August and November alone. It also comes one day after the historic Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law.

Watch HRC President Kelley Robinson’s Testimony HERE.

 

Key excerpts of Robinson’s remarks are below:

“Violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities is the tragic result of a society that devalues our lives — particularly the lives of Black and Brown transgender and gender non-conforming people.

“And this hate and violence is on the rise.

“Fueled by nearly unfettered access to guns, and political extremism and rhetoric that is deliberately devised to make our community less safe, less equal and less free.

“Violence has become a lived reality for so many in our community...”

“This violence does not happen in a vacuum.

“Anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers’ efforts directly increase the risk of violence facing our communities today.

“State lawmakers have advanced an onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ bills to restrict where and how we can freely and openly be our true selves.

“In 2022, 344 of these bills were introduced across 23 states.

“More than 25 of these bills were ultimately enacted across 13 states — 17 of which have a disproportionate or targeted impact on transgender people.

“These bills often target the youngest among us, harming children and their families.

“They also target the trained professionals, like doctors and teachers, who care for them…

The recent increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric amplified by lawmakers is fueling growing attacks on our communities -- in statehouses, in schools, and on street corners.

Yesterday, we released a report identifying 24 different hospitals and providers across 22 states attacked online — following misleading and inflammatory social media posts from bad actors.”