News
Polis prevails in primary
Out gay politician Jared Polis won the Democratic primary on August 12 for Colorado’s Second Congressional District, defeating contenders Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald and Will Shafroth. All candidates had followings in the GLBT community. The morning after his victory, Polis was pictured in the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post holding up his partner’s hand in victory.
“During this election cycle, this win represents one more chip in the glass ceiling for the LGBT community, women and African Americans,” Polis told Out Front Colorado. “We’re going to continue to work hard through November to elect the next president, Barack Obama.”
The Second Congressional District, which includes Boulder, is considered a liberal district that is favorable to Democrats, and most expect Polis to win the seat in the general election in November. If he wins, Polis will be the first openly gay man elected to Congress as a freshman.
AIDS Walk Colorado changes
Those planning to participate in AIDS Walk Colorado this year have probably already noticed that the Walk has moved from its usual Sunday to a Saturday date, but there are other changes as well, including the addition of a beer garden and food vendors and an increase in post-Walk entertainment.
“We took a look at the equation of the event,” says Michael Lee, director of marketing and communications for Colorado AIDS Project (CAP). “In the past, the Walk has relied completely on charity – on people going out and raising funds. Last year we had 8,000 registered walkers, but only about 2,000 of them actually raised money for the event. With $4 per gallon of gas and a really tight economy, many events are coming in under what their organizers had hoped for. Three years ago, we added the Run to bring in a new audience and create a different experience. That is the same idea behind starting to build a bit more of a festival atmosphere to the Walk. We are one of a very few organizations that can hold an event of this nature – serving alcohol – in Cheesman Park. We also have been looking for ways to capture the energy that is felt at the beginning of the event, to give participants something to do when the return to the park at the end of the Walk.
While entertainment for the event is not yet set, Lee says that Mayor HIckenlooper will be at the Walk, along with Karen Leigh from CBS4 and Luis Canella from Univision. With its new schedule, the Walk will begin at 10:30 a.m., with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m., the beer garden opening at 11 a.m. and entertainment throughout the day until the event ends at 4 p.m. See the complete schedule and map on page 17 of this issue of Out Front Colorado.
But even though CAP has changed the event in the hope of creating a new and exciting experience for participants, Lee says that the need for AIDS Walk Colorado hasn’t changed – in fact, it has increased.
“There is a pervasive misconception out there that we have defeated this disease,” says Lee, “which is simply not true. In fact, the CDC recently revised their infection estimates for the United States showing that annual HIV infection is actually 40 percent higher than we had previously thought. In addition, AIDS Walk supports the work of not only Colorado AIDS Project, but of 30 other HIV/AIDS service and education providers throughout the state. This is an event where people can gather and stand up together to say we will not forget those who have gone before us, and we will not back down until we have defeated this disease.”
Lee says that one of the most important aspects of HIV/AIDS now is self-awareness.
“Your readers should absolutely know their HIV status,” he says. “One out of every four people living with HIV in the United States doesn't know it. Here in Colorado, two-thirds of our HIV/AIDS infections occur in the MSM (men who have sex with men) community. The vast majority of new infections come from the 25 percent of people who are unaware of their status. While we haven't defeated this disease, we do know how to stop it. And in order to stop it, people have to know if they are infected.”
More information about AIDS Walk Colorado, AIDS Run Colorado and HIV/AIDS programs in Colorado is available at www.coloradoaidsproject.org.
“Waynes’ boys,” present and former Charlie’s employees, remember Jakino during a moment of silence
Wayne Jakino
Remembering Wayne
Loved ones, friends and supporters gathered on Sunday, August 3 at Charlie’s Denver to remember Wayne Jakino, a longtime businessman and activist that made countless positive changes for both the GLBT community and the larger Denver community.
The “Celebration of Life” began with food, then continued with speeches from many who had known and worked with Jakino. Prominent public figures, including Mayor John Hickenlooper, District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, Denver City Councilperson Carla Madison and Rep. Joel Judd spoke, as did Charlie’s employees, personal friends and representatives from several different organizations that benefited from Jakino’s hard work and activism.
Mayor Hickenlooper recalled Jakino as “a real pathfinder” and a man who “took a lot of risks.”
After the indoor program, attendees exited through a gauntlet of balloons. Outside, ballroom dancers LeighAnn Gould and Morris Vaccarella danced to “I Can Only Imagine,” sung by Chad Bryan. The balloons, along with several doves, were released during the song.
In support of inclusive ENDA
When the Democratic Party meets for its convention in Denver from August 25 to August 28, it is imperative that our platform prioritize employment protections for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans.
The United States of America prides itself as the land of opportunity. However, for most LGBT Americans, that opportunity is at risk due to social, cultural, and legal realities that threaten economic security and fairness.
Chief among these realities is the absence of any federal laws to protect LGBT Americans from employment discrimination.
Currently – to most people’s astonishment – dozens of states allow employers to fire, refuse to hire, or deny promotion to a person – simply because of the person’s sexual orientation, gender expression (the way a person “looks”), or gender identity. In fact, in 31 of our 50 states, gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are unprotected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Likewise, in 39 states, transgender people face employment discrimination because of their gender identity – and no protections exist for gender expression in those same states (which is to say, men who are judged as “effeminate” or women deemed “masculine” literally can be fired from their jobs).
Last fall, America came close to addressing these disparities. Thanks to the on-going advocacy efforts of LGBT and allied organizations, the U.S. House of Representatives considered a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) for LGBT Americans. When Democrats in the House contemplated the bill’s route to passage, however, some feared that Republicans might attack the bill – particularly its provisions to protect transgender Americans. That fear led Democrats to introduce a watered-down version of ENDA that excluded gender identity and gender expression – generating uproar, and divisions, within the LGBT community nationally. Fear led to a bill that betrayed the LGBT community – and the American people – by failing to educate them on the moral and ethical imperative behind ENDA.
Going into 2009, it is clear that the American people long for hope, change and true leadership – not fear. We have suffered under a fear-based mindset and regime for far too long, and we are famished for a new vision in Washington. During past civil rights struggles, the Democratic Party has demonstrated that it can shepherd the country towards sweeping change and towards progressive values of hope, prosperity, and equality. We must not taint and undermine that great history.
Later this month, the Democratic Party will lay out a bold and strategic new vision for America – one that moves us beyond our current tribulations: war, climate change, and more. Surely in the wake of America’s credit, housing, gas, and employment woes, that vision will underscore the Democratic Party’s commitment to real economic prosperity and security for all Americans. If Democrats, and indeed the country, are serious about economic opportunity and prosperity; about the party’s legacy of civil rights leadership; about the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and about putting an end to fear-based politics, then our vision must include workplace protections for all LGBT Americans.
United ENDA is a group of approximately 386 national, state and regional organizations that formed in response to an employment non-discrimination bill introduced into Congress last year that did not include gender identity. More information is available at www.unitedenda.org.
HGTV Design Star: Season 3
Colorado Springs native Matt Locke, contestant for HGTV Design Star: Season 3 and Out Front Colorado cover boy for the July 9 issue, came in second on the show, edged out by Jennifer Bertrand of Olathe, Kan. Here’s what Locke told OFC about the experience:
“I’m genuinely happy for Jen. I love her so much, and I think she’s amazing. I was disappointed in the moment, then I was happy for her and then I just felt good because I got so much out of being on that show – way more than I expected. I got my family back together, I got to show off my design style – all sorts of cool opportunities and job prospects. It’s all good. Everything’s gonna work out for both of us.”
But Locke has been bitten by the TV bug, and he has plans to return to the small screen, getting together a pitch package for a series he has on the drawing board.
Best of luck, Matt, from Out Front Colorado!
‘Instinct’ comes to Denver
Instinct magazine will feature Denver in its “You Are Here” section of the September issue. Each month, Instinct features a different city and its residents with segments that include an introductory letter; “Cornered,” which profiles four local gay men; “Blind Date,” in which two local men go on a blind date to various locations and then rate their date; “Couples Quiz,” which features a local couple and finds out how well they really know each other; “Bachelor,” which highlights a local single man; and “Business,” a profile of a local gay-owned business. The Denver feature includes an introductory letter written by Out Front Colorado managing editor Matt Kailey and several features written by Kailey and Denver blogger Drew Wilson (MileHighGayGuy.com). The September issue of Instinct is expected to be available on stands the last week in August.
