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Another successful AIDS Walk Colorado
More than 8,500 people gathered at the north end of Cheesman Park on Saturday, August 14 for the 23rd Annual AIDS Walk Colorado, featuring speakers and panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Walk was followed by the Celebration of Life Festival, which included live music, food, beverages and the 2nd Annual AIDS Walk Colorado Volleyball Tournament, held in conjunction with the Colorado Gay Volleyball Association.
This is the third year that the Walk has been held on a Saturday.
"The move to Saturday has proved successful," says Tim Schuetz, Director of Marketing and Development for Colorado AIDS Project (CAP). "Since the move to Saturday in 2008, attendance has increased yearly. One of the reasons is that faith-based partner agencies and teams are able to participate and raise money for the event. The other is, with the addition of the Celebration of Life Festival, it makes more sense to have the event on a Saturday so that people spend the day in the park without feeling like they have to get home and ready for work on Monday."
Schuetz says that Colorado AIDS Walk and similar fundraisers for HIV/AIDS programs are still essential, and that, regardless of the advances that have been made in recent years, it is important for people to understand that HIV/AIDS is still a serious problem.
"Annually, the CDC estimates that more than 56,000 individuals are infected with HIV," says Schuetz. "That equates to an infection every nine and a half minutes. In Colorado, there are currently 11,000 individuals living with HIV or AIDS. It is imperative that those individuals have access to support services in order for them to maintain healthy, self-sufficient lives. With more than 70 percent of all new HIV infections occurring in the MSM community in Colorado, there is still a need for education and prevention. AIDS Walk Colorado provides funds vital to supporting supportive services and prevention and education programs. Complacency is another major concern. A lack of HIV awareness can contribute to increased risk behaviors and reduce community and governmental mobilization."
Schuetz says that this year's AIDS Walk Colorado is on target to match last year's total raised - $400,000. And although the Walk is over, it's not too late to donate. AIDS Walk Colorado will be collecting individual donations through September 10. To donate, go to www.AIDSWalkColorado.org.
Primaries bring mixed results for LGBT community
The August 10 primary brought good and bad news to lesbian and gay aspirants to the Colorado state legislature. Sen. Lucia Guzman handily won her primary contest, while Mark Thrun lost his bid to join the state House of Representatives.
Guzman easily defeated Joel Judd for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 34 in northwest Denver. She polled 62 percent of the vote to Judd's 38 percent.
Guzman was originally appointed to the seat, which became vacant in May of this year. Still, she said, it was "delightful" to be elected by such a large margin. She said she is confident of winning in November in the largely Democratic district.
"This is a huge boost to have another representative in the legislature," she said. "We will have someone there who has walked the journey, experienced all the challenges and all the joys of the community."
If Guzman wins in November, she hopes to join Sen. Pat Steadman in the Senate. She said she wants to advance LGBT issues such as "respect for our kids and families."
"I hope to meet with the community to bring out other issues of importance to people," said Guzman.
In House District 5, Mark Thrun, a physician who has long been active on public health and LGBT health issues, conceded defeat to Crisanta Duran. Duran took 57 percent of the vote to Thrun's 43 percent. The winner of this primary is also expected to win in November in the largely Democratic district.
Clearly disappointed with the results, Thrun thanked his supporters.
"I thank all of you for all your efforts over the last year and a half," said Thrun. "We did what was right, reached out to people, and said a lot of things that needed to be said."
In other primary races, Sen. Pat Steadman won the nomination by the Democrats in Senate District 31. Rep. Mark Ferrandino won the Democratic nomination in House District 2 in west Denver. Rep. Sue Schafer won the Democratic nomination in Jefferson County's House District 24. All were unopposed in the primary.
[Editor's note: After apologizing for donating a large sum to the campaign of an anti-LGBT candidate in Minnesota, Target has ceased negotiations with HRC.]
Somebody call Tom Cruise. The Human Rights Campaign is on a Mission: Impossible.
Its goal? To convince two of the world's largest corporations, Target and Best Buy, to donate a combined quarter-million dollars to pro-equality candidates in Minnesota after the retail behemoths contributed an equal amount to MN Forward, a right-wing political action committee that backs anti-equality gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
Pressure mounted against the consumer juggernauts as the HRC led a charge intended to shame both outlets into giving funds to politicians who work on behalf of equal rights. As if that's supposed to "right" the "wrong."
Where the HRC gets off scolding Best Buy and Target is beyond me. As a business, the HRC makes business decisions too, like choosing not to compensate its hardworking volunteers - the men and women who canvass the streets in extreme heat and cold to spread the pro-equality message. I dare anyone to ask how much Solmonese gets paid to sit in his cushy office while his underpaid and, in some cases, unpaid minions do the grunt work. In fact, I double dare you. And I want to be there when you fall out of your chair in disbelief.
It goes without saying that I'm siding with Best Buy and Target on this one. But not just because I think the HRC is a crock.
I'm Team Target because the numbers don't lie. Target is one of the most philanthropic companies in the nation, and it gives more than $3 million each week - each week! - to the communities in which it operates. And I'm Team Best Buy because the consumer electronics retailer donates up to 1.5 percent of pretax earnings to support national organizations like the United Way and American Red Cross, as well as funding scholarship and other community initiatives throughout the country.
Let us not overlook either that both companies were featured in the HRC's Best Places to Work 2010, listed among the "top businesses that support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees."
None of that matters to the HRC, though. Still, despite the HRC's smear campaign, Target and Best Buy are sticking to their positions of support for MN Forward and Emmer, because at the end of the day both corporations have to protect their bottom lines - two of which include providing top-quality merchandise to Americans at affordable prices and providing jobs. Lots of jobs. Target defended itself best in response to a letter from an outraged customer - both of which were posted on Queerty.com - when it said, "Our support of causes and candidates is based strictly on issues that affect our retail and business objectives" and "MN Forward's objective is to elect candidates from both parties who will make job creation and economic growth a top priority."
Right on. Jeremy Bentham would agree.
He's the dead English philosopher who advocated and made popular an idea called utilitarianism - that is, choosing an action based on the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I believe that's what's happening here.
Target and Best Buy aren't stupid; they don't take their political decisions lightly. One must assume that they knew what they were getting into. One must also trust that theirs was a strategic decision that in the long run will benefit more people than it will put off.
By now, however, you've probably made up your mind to boycott both establishments because the venerable HRC told you to. But I hope you'll permit these three words: Beware the propaganda.
The HRC has an agenda, too - and as much as you think it's advocating for equal rights, it's equally intent on raising a ton of cash. Because Solmonese doesn't get paid in rainbows and unicorns. If you think that statement's false, take a good long look at the bold blue "Donate Today" button on the bottom of your HRC e-mails.
Why is it there? Because money - not idealism - makes the world go 'round.
At least Target and Best Buy admit it.
Mikey Rox is an award-winning writer and journalist and the founder of Paper Rox Scissors, a copywriting and creative consulting company in New York City. He can be reached at mikey@paperroxscissors.com.
CAVP seeks volunteers, announces new training topics and framework
Colorado Anti-Violence Program (CAVP) has announced new upcoming volunteer
trainings with new methods and topics that provide a solid foundation, comprehensive framework and critical skill set for addressing the root causes of violence. All trainings will integrate Theater of the Oppressed exercises and interactive discussions, allowing for deeper engagement and learning.
The CAVP Fundamentals training takes place for a full day on September 25 and is for anyone interested in community outreach and tabling, including at PrideFest; fundraising activities, including events, mailings and donor meetings; or other administrative tasks.
The Hotline training is for those who want to carry the emergency pager and support and advocate for survivors of violence.
The Hotline training involves the CAVP Fundamentals, along with additional training on September 26 and October 9-10. If you are interested in either of these trainings, RSVP to crystal@coavp.org by September 17. Lunch is provided. For more information, contact CAVP at 303-839-5204.
One Colorado to hold Latino/a Community Gathering
One Colorado will hold a Latino/a Community Gathering on Thursday, September 2 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Colorado Progressive Coalition/COLOR Office, 1029 Santa Fe Dr. in Denver.
This will be the third community gathering focusing on marginalized populations within the LGBT community. Other gatherings have focused on the trans community and the African American LGBT community.
For more information, e-mail Brad Clark at bradc@one-colorado.org.
Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference
The premier professional education forum for medical marijuana, the Plant Medicine Expo & Healthcare Provider Conference, takes place on Saturday, September 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. The event is open to all healthcare and wellness professionals who have questions about medical marijuana. More information and registration is available at www.plantmedicineexpo.com.
Denver City Council approves LGBT/UAFA Resolution
On August 16, the Denver City Council unanimously passed resolution CP10-0726 in support of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Doug Linkhart and spearheaded by Mark Gerardy, along with support from Tom Tierney from Out4Immigration, Inger Knudsen, Jesse Ulibarri and the Denver GLBT Commission, and many other supporters.
The Uniting American Families Act would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their permanent partner for legal residency under the concept of "family unification." The idea is that without the legislation, so-called bi-national families would be split up because of immigration laws. While a Denver resolution is non-binding on Federal Immigration Law, supporters say its passage sends a message to Congress about support for the UAFA.
DCTC presents Pride Night at 'The 39 Steps'
The Denver Center Theatre Company will feature a special "Pride Night" at the company's presentation of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps on Thursday, September 9 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
A $25 ticket includes a pre-show reception wtih the show's out gay director, Art Manke, a cocktail, gift bag and performance. Manke, who is active in the California LGBT community, will speak at the reception.
The 39 Steps is a fast-paced, comedic whodunit featuring four actors portraying 150 roles. This "Pride Night" event will be the first of several for the LGBT community over the course of DCTC's season.
To order tickets for this special event, call 303-446-4849 or e-mail trisch@dcpa.org.