April 5, 2017 :: Money, Honey

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CONTENTS

APRIL 05, 2017 vol40 no25

18 06 ADVOCATE SPOTLIGHT: CHRIS ROSS

20

08 DENVER’S PROFESSIONAL CUDDLER 10 DEBT FREE GUYS 20 NOMADS DITCH THE MUNDANE 25 S&W PETERSON LLC 33 POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY 40 LGBTQ MONEY

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Recent winner of 8 awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, an Excellence in News Writing award, and an Excellence in Feature Writing award from the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.

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Phone 303-477-4000 • Fax 303-325-2642 Web OutFrontMagazine.com Facebook /OutFrontColorado Twitter @OutFrontCO Instagram /OutFrontColorado FOUNDER Phil Price 1954-1993 ADMINISTRATION info@outfrontmagazine.com Jerry Cunningham Publisher J.C. McDonald Vice President MaGGIE Phillips Operations Manager Jeff Jackson Swaim Chief Strategist EDITORIAL editorial@outfrontmagazine.com Ryan Howe Editorial Brent heinze Senior Columnist arianna j. balderrama Editorial Intern Jeremiah ntepp Editorial Intern Contributing Writers Ginny Taylor, Joseph Soto, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Kelsey Lindsey, David-Elijah Nahmod, Yvonne Wright, Mike Yost ART art@outfrontmagazine.com Lisa Force Art Director CONTRIBUTING artists Charles Broshous MARKETING + SALES marketing@outfrontmagazine.com DUSTIN KRIER Director of Sales & Marketing TOPHER LA FLEUR Marketing Executive Trevor Hoyt Marketing Executive National Advertising Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 | sales@rivendellmedia.com

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Advocate Spotlight

CHRIS ROSS OFFERS A LIGHT IN DENVER Back in 1992, a fresh-faced Chris Ross was looking for a way to give back and support Denver’s queer community. The AIDS epidemic had plagued the community for more than a decade and was showing very few signs of regression — gay men were still suffering nationwide. This brought Chris to the doorstep of Colorado AIDS Project, where he volunteered as a buddy.

Through the buddy program, Chris underwent training before visiting a Korean man living with AIDS every, single week. The two would talk, laugh, and share while Chris transported him to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, or just around the city. Most importantly, Chris was there for him when no one else was. Although small, it was one of his first acts of selflessness, which would continue on for decades in Denver.

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“He really didn’t know a lot of english, but that didn’t stop us from communicating,” Chris said. “I knew that I was one of the only people — if not the only one — to come see him. He didn’t speak to his family. He didn’t have friends. I was all that he had. It really opened my eyes to how privileged I was and how I need to use that to help other people.”

Chris left the buddy program when he moved to Chicago for five years. But his memories of Denver’s community dragged him out of the Windy City, across the Midwest, and into the Rocky Mountain Range once again. He wasted no time diving back into his activism.

He started answering phones at the Center on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. While he was volunteering, the Center started looking for a new bank. Ross’s position as the senior manager of U.S. Bank lead to his involvement, serving as Chair of Development on the Center’s board.

Chris has been an invaluable member of the Center for more than ten years. Whether he was serving as an important member on the board of directors or simply volunteering his time, Chris has continually proved his loyalty to Denver queers.

After a two-year term, Chris recently stepped down as co-chair of the Center’s board, but he will continue to serve on the board for two more years. He is truly a beacon of hope, working tirelessly to help where he can.

During his five years on the board, Chris’ influence has spread throughout the Center’s many programs, including RANGE counselling and SAGE. 6 \\ A P R I L 0 5 , 2 0 1 7

Seniors and Advocacy for GLBT Elders, SAGE, offers activities and events that focus on health, housing, legal and financial planning, legacy, and social connection for LGBTQ persons over the age of 50.

Retention Advancement and Non-Discrimination of GBLT Employees, RANGE, counseling provides a strategic training and consultation program to meet the unique human resources needs of corporations and government entities seeking to create or expand their diversity and inclusiveness initiatives related to LGBTQ employees. Chris was one of the driving forces to get this new program up and running.

It started when a local business reached out to the Center and asked for counseling on how to make a transgender employee feel safe and welcome as she transitioned at work. The Center went in ready and willing to share their knowledge.

“Once we were finished, the owner told us that we should be doing this on a regular basis,” Chris said. “We had helped him and the rest of his employees with inclusion as well as broadening their knowledge of trans rights and issues. So we ran with the idea, and it’s been going for about two years.”

On top of contributing to these programs, Chris brought many businesses and people to the Center, whether they were there to donate or to receive assistance from the number of programs the Center offers.

“It’s difficult to imagine what the program would be like without Chris’ wise counsel,” Rex Fuller, the Center’s VP of Communications, said.

Throughout the years Chris has dedicated his time to advocating for the community. The work and counsel he’s given the Center has undoubtedly improved the lives of many people, whether directly or indirectly.

“You know, when you stop and converse with those in need at the Center, it’s amazing how loving and accepting they are — and they really just need love and acceptance in return,” Chris said. “Meeting people and seeing the struggles they endured for us, it’s really inspiring.”

Chris plans to draw inspiration from his forebears to continue advocating for the queer community. He continues to draw support for the Center from local business and continues to keep a close eye on RANGE and help it grow.

Ed Cannon and Chris Ross at the Matthew Shepard Honors night in 2016.

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denver’s professional opens his arms

Cuddler

All to

People

Corwin Duncan cuddles people for a living. Seriously.

From the moment he rolls up to a house or apartment on his sleek, black motorcycle and reveals a long, ginger mane from underneath his helmet, Corwin means business.

The 28-year-old, six-foot-tall man may look a bit intimidating at first, but as soon as he speaks all qualms about a stranger coming into your home and cuddling are squashed. His soft, stern, and slow voice could put a baby to sleep or seduce the most prude among us. The first thing he goes for is a strong yet gentle hug. Then, he cuddles you.

“What happens really depends on what each client wants,” Corwin said. “What it usually looks like is just lying down and cuddling.

Sometimes there is spooning with a head rested on someone’s chest and an arm around the shoulders. It can be a gentle massage, a back rub, or something similar to that. I’m not licensed in massage nor have I been trained in it, but I’m happy to give a shoulder rub here or there.”

Cuddling Corwin started when he saw an advertisement similar to the ones on cuddlist.com.

In his past, Corwin struggled with touch. His unique experiences with trauma and overcoming it made him the perfect candidate to jump into the growing cuddle movement.

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Cuddling provides a service to anybody seeking empowerment through physical touch or individuals who have had bad experiences with physical touch in the past. For some, a need for healthy and positive cuddle therapy is essential.

Professional cuddling is a non-sexual service. There is no sexual activity (physical or verbal) permitted during a cuddle session. Consent is always given both ways. Clients can cry, laugh, sneeze, cough, pass gas, excuse themselves to go to the bathroom, request alone time, and conclude the cuddle any time during the session.

Before a cuddling session begins, clients discuss boundaries and what they are comfortable with when it comes to physical touch.

“I believe that there are some things in life that you can not be bad at. Cuddling is one of them,” Corwin said. “The number one thing you can work on to be a better cuddler is expressing what you are and are not comfortable with.”

Corwin’s goal is to empower each client to have a great experience with being physical anywhere, even with people who are not him — although he provides the magic touch.

“I don’t want to be the only safe place,” Corwin said. “I want my clients to be able to get that anywhere. I want them to be able to communicate, respect other people, and be comfortable asking for the respect they desire. I am not just here to make my clients feel good; overall this is a therapeutic healing practice and experience.”

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The sessions can include whatever you want. Cuddling is different for everyone and he’s down for anything, whether it be a relaxing session of Netflix and chill, cuddling to some of your favorite songs, a talkative session, or simply letting silence fill the air. He’s willing to cuddle on the couch, chair, bed, or floor. But every session is strictly non-sexual.

Clothes have to remain on at all times and neither party is permitted to touch above the knee or in waist regions. There is no encouraging or pursuing sexual arousal, even though the occasional boner is natural and acceptable. In addition to that, standard of hygiene must be upheld so that there is no smelly spooning.

“Both the client and practitioners agree that we will not encourage or pursue any kind of sexual arousal,” Corwin said. “Cuddling services are a great way to feel relaxed, to feel comfortable, to de-stress, and get your mind off of something.”

According to cuddlist.com, cuddling can release oxytocin, which is a hormone that makes you feel relaxed and pleasant. Studies suggest cuddling can significantly reduce stress and boost your immune system.

Although Corwin has only been cuddling professionally for a few months, his cliental is constantly growing and he’s even picked up a few regulars.

To schedule a session with Corwin, you must go to cuddlist.com and create an account. Through this account you can request various professional cuddlers who have all gone through extensive training, in which they focus on the emphasis of positive verbal and physical communication. You can set your personal boundaries and start cuddling. Corwin is open to cuddling no matter the time, setting, or person.

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1. Express what you like. Be open with your cuddling partner about boundaries and expectations. 2. Say what you do not want, make your boundaries clear. An uncomfortable cuddle has no benefits. 3. Give your partner space to respond however they are comfortable with. Listen compassionately and openly. 4. Curl up and relax!

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ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER

If you’ve never struggled with debt, then we want to know your secret. Chances are, unless you are being bankrolled by a huge trust fund, you’ve dealt with something like student loan debt, credit card debt, or hospital bills. This type of financial burden can feel insurmountable, especially if you are dealing with other issues in your personal or professional life.

“many of us in the queer community carry limiting beliefs, including limiting money beliefs, from our childhood,” auten said. “we’re making up for being bullied, forced into the closet, or kicked out of our homes.”

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Financial

Tips

from the

Debt Free Guys

To help you navigate the difficult parts of debt, especially those unique to the LGBTQ community, OUT FRONT caught up with financial consultants and writers John Schneider and David Auten, also known as the Debt Free Guys. Here are some of their tips to get, and stay, out of debt.

1.

know your limits and budget.

It’s easy to get caught up in having money to go out or enjoy a bit more financial freedom. But it’s important to really figure out a budget before you go on a wild spending spree.

“Back when there was a different gay bar to go to every night in Denver, we were at a different gay bar every night in Denver,” Auten admitted. “We overspent on happy hours that lasted several hours, expensive dinners despite having an overflowing fridge, clubbing at all hours every night, clothes we couldn’t afford, and vacations we shouldn’t have gone on. When we realized we weren’t heading in the direction we wanted, we changed.”

2. realize that combining your finances isn’t an easy out.

Many people in relationships feel that by having two incomes working as one, they can solve all their financial problems without pinching pennies or making a budget.

In fact, people in relationships often end up spending more carelessly because they are caught up in the rush of being with each other or because one individual is handling the finances.

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“It’s so easy to not pay attention to your own finances,” Brandon Beston, one of the Debt Free Guys’ customers, said. Beston and his husband learned through financial counseling that it is important to pay attention to spending and saving.

“Many times, one partner can end up taking the driver’s seat when it comes to taking care of paying the bills. This usually leads to a breakdown in communication. It happened to us. We lost sight of the big picture and ended up getting ourselves into a financial pickle.”

3. understand that queerness can be an added challenge for financial wellbeing.

When some think of being queer, they think a fabulous lifestyle. There’s a misconception that queer people can afford to have a good time and support the arts. But in reality finances in the LGBTQ community are extremely underdiscussed. Because queer lifestyles have been underground for so long, and marriages weren’t legally binding, many end up overlooking their economic priorities.

“Many of us in the queer community carry limiting beliefs, including limiting money beliefs, from our childhood,” Auten said. “We’re making up for being bullied, forced into the closet, or kicked out of our homes.”

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4. believe that money can do good things in the right hands.

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Some in the LGBTQ community fear that too much money can change a person and take away the good, simple qualities that are a part of one’s inherent nature. However, in the right hands money can make a positive difference, both for personal lifestyle and the greater good.

“With financial freedom, those of us lucky enough to live in states with employment and transgender protections can continue and fight for our brothers and sisters who live in the other 28 states that don’t,” Schneider explained. “Also, we can also make sure that number decreases rather than increases.”

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5. you can change your financial situation.

It doesn’t take a genius — or someone with a trust fund or financial backing — to make money and be successful. Even if you have debt, come from a poor family, or don’t start off with much, you can create positive change.

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“If you’re struggling financially for any reason, you can change your financial situation,” Auten said. “It requires time, attention, and focus. You may encounter some mistakes and the occasional setback, but it can be changed if it’s not ignored.”

“There are newer financial companies with whom you can refinance personal and student loans,” added Schneider.

“The gig-economy and technology have brought unique business models to make saving money, investing money, paying off debt, or managing your budget easier. The trick is to find what works for you and act.”

Contact the Debt Free Guys on their website DebtFreeGuys.com for more information.

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ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER

Recognizing Financial Privilege privelege

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I

t is n ’ t sur pr is in g that so many people today are frustrated with capitalism and earning money. After all, the wage discrepancies in the U.S. lead to some serious economic disparities. Some may assume that the differences in income stem from a lack of inherited wealth in marginalized communities. While this may be true, the issue isn’t being corrected, as women, LGBTQ

individuals, and people of color are still being paid less than their male, straight, cis, and white counterparts.

This kind of data explains why so many people feel that capitalism is inherently evil, or a game that can’t be won by certain groups of people.

As a bisexual woman from a poor family struggling to get ahead, I’ve run into many of the frustrations that seem to be common to marginalized groups. Without a financial safety net to fall back on from my family, I’ve never had the option of taking on a free internship, or the low-paying jobs in my field, which meant schooling had to be accompanied by 40 hours a week of paid work. I’ve also had to deal with sexism in the workplace and discrimination when it comes to the quality of my work as a woman, and I’ve felt the need to cover my sexual identity in order to stay employed.

According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, African American women in same-sex relationships have an incredibly high poverty rate, with 24.7 percent considered impoverished. The same study explains that if both racial and gender equality gaps were removed, poverty would decrease by 20 percent for unmarried individuals.

To get even more perspective on financial privilege, I spoke to someone with similar experiences, but also with an added “layer” of marginalization. As a white woman, my privilege has often helped me scrape by even with other factors working against me. As a short, chubby, white girl, I’ve mostly been perceived as cute and harmless despite my radical political ideas or musical and cultural preferences. This worked to my advantage, a privilege that people of color do not necessarily get to enjoy.

Ru Johnson, founder of hip-hop agency Roux Black, freelance writer, and entrepreneur, had a lot to say on this issue — as I knew she would. In many ways, Ru’s experiences have been similar to my own. With no trust fund money in the bank, she has funded all her own endeavors and works hard to do so. However, she faces some unique challenges.

“As a woman of color, but I mean specifically as a black woman, it has been difficult to put my skill set on a level playing field with people who might be white or male,” Johnson explained. “I don’t think I have struggled with that; I’ve always understood that.”

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According to the Williams Institute at UCLA, African American women in same-sex relationships have an incredibly high poverty rate, with 24.7 percent considered impoverished. The same study explains that if both racial and gender equality gaps were removed, poverty would decrease by 20 percent for unmarried individuals.

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Some might ask why those with added financial struggles don’t just give up.

But Johnson sees a positive side to her struggle.

“I feel being a black woman in a creative industry has definitely been an advantage to me because I’ve had this cultural understanding of society,” she said. “So in a lot of ways it is an advantage to me to be a creative black woman because I know how to use my culture and turn that into work.”

Not to mention that for those who have to struggle financially rather than have everything handed to them, there is really no other choice. As Johnson points out, “to be able to opt out of capitalist society is in itself totally privileged.”

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For marginalized Americans making money and working hard are necessary. As long as capitalism persists, poverty and disparity will exist, but hard work and determination will allow people to rise up and overcome the very system that oppresses them.

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What is TRUVADA for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)?

TRUVADA is a prescription medicine that can be used for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection when used together with safer sex practices.

This use is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This includes HIV-negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex, and male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV-1. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

I What is the most important information I should know about TRUVADA for PrEP? Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: u You must be HIV-negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. u Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected.

If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: u You must continue using safer sex practices.

Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. u You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. u To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior.

• Have fewer sex partners.

• Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. u If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1.

TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: u Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency.

Symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats. u Serious liver problems. Your liver may become large and tender, and you may develop fat in your liver. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain. u You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight (obese), or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time. In some cases, these serious conditions have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. u Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you also have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider tells you to stop taking TRUVADA, they will need to watch you closely for several months to monitor your health. TRUVADA is not approved for the treatment of HBV. I Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP? Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1.

TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you also take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA).

Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following pages.

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Have you heard about

TRUVADA for PrEP ?

TM

The once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when used with safer sex practices.

• TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex.

• You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

I What are the other possible side effects of TRUVADA for PrEP? Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: u Kidney problems, including kidney failure.

Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA for PrEP. u Bone problems, including bone pain or bones getting soft or thin, may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones. u Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking TRUVADA or medicines like TRUVADA. Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

I What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking TRUVADA for PrEP? u All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection. u If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

Pregnancy Registry: A pregnancy registry collects information about your health and the health of your baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take medicines to prevent HIV-1 during pregnancy.

For more information about the registry and how it works, talk to your healthcare provider. u If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. The medicines in TRUVADA can pass to your baby in breast milk. If you become HIV-1 positive, HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. u All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. u If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA for PrEP, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (HARVONI).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

visit start.truvada.com

3/28/17 PM Outfrontmag a z i n3:22 e.c om

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IMPORTANT FACTS

(tru-VAH-dah)

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected.

Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection: • You must continue using safer sex practices.

Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.

• You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • Tell your healthcare provider if you have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away.

• If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1.

If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

• See the “How to Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information.

TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, stomach-area pain, cold or blue hands and feet, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or fast or abnormal heartbeats.

• Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, and/or stomach-area pain.

• Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you have HBV and take TRUVADA, your hepatitis may become worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking TRUVADA for a long time.

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ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP (PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) TRUVADA is a prescription medicine used with safer sex practices for PrEP to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults at high risk: • HIV-1 negative men who have sex with men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex.

• Male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection and the other does not.

To help determine your risk, talk openly with your doctor about your sexual health.

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Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

• Take lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) or adefovir (HEPSERA).

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP" section.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Bone problems.

• Changes in body fat.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

• Have any other medical conditions.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you become HIV-1 positive because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

• Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• You must practice safer sex by using condoms and you must stay HIV-1 negative.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare provider tells you.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections.

Other infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior.

• Have fewer sex partners.

• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information • Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 about TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit HIV-1 infection. Talk to your healthcare provider or start.truvada.com for program information. pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV-1 infection.

TRUVADA, the TRUVADA Logo, TRUVADA FOR PREP, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and HEPSERA are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: April 2016 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0087 03/17

3/28/17 3:22 PM Outfrontmag azine.com

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Health Care: why it really costs so much yvonne wright

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epublicans are learning a hard lesson. Passing bills and filing lawsuits to try and defeat the Affordable Care Act (ACA) isn’t easy. Coming up with a comprehensive health care plan that will benefit most Americans is hard. In fact, republicans recently failed to get enough votes to pass an Affordable Care Act replacement plan.

“Can’t someone reel in the cost of pharmaceuticals?” Melisa Masters is a 47-year-old Colorado realtor who is diabetic with high blood pressure and neuropathy. She doesn’t have health insurance and often can’t afford needed medication.

“It scares and angers me that my life will be shorter and my quality of life will be less … there are days I can’t walk. I have no insulin, blood pressure medication, or pain therapy,” she said.

Masters is not alone. A new Gallup poll shows 10.9 percent of Americans do not have health insurance. Sounds bad. Keep in mind, since Gallup started tracking insurance nine years ago, more people than ever are 1 8 \\ A P R I L 0 5 , 2 0 1 7

covered. And the rate of people without insurance fell 6.2 percent since the ACA, also known as Obamacare, went into effect.

That does not mean Obamacare cured all of our health-care ills. Far from it. Here is what we know.

When it comes to health care in America, we are in trouble.

Study after study shows the U.S. spends the most on health care worldwide, while being outranked in quality time and time again. The Commonwealth Fund found the U.S. ranks dead last overall in health care quality among the top 11 industrialized countries. Worldwide, the World Health Organization puts us at 37, right behind Costa Rica. At the same time, a recent study done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found the U.S. spends two and a half times more for health care than most other developed nations.

“A coherent system that covers everybody is cheaper than the fragmented, incomplete, crazy-quilt U.S. health care system that leaves millions with no coverage,” said T.R. Reid, a health care advocate, best-selling author, and Chairman of the Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care.

He said whether we are looking at Obamacare or the GOP’s newly proposed American Health Care Act, the bottom line is the major winners will always be, “the Big Four insurance companies, big pharma, and forprofit hospital corporations. It’s their bottom line.”

To be fair, the CRP shows Hillary Clinton received more drug money than any other presidential candidate, and MapLight reports even Senator Bernie Sanders has taken campaign donations from pharmaceuticals.

MapLight also lists Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) having received $127,050 from big pharmaceuticals since he began his bid for Senate. He was elected in 2015. MapLight doesn’t list Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) having received money directly from drug companies, but during the same election period, the CRP reports he received $291,317 from pharmaceuticals and health products. Neither Colorado senator responded to requests for comments on this story.

Even with Obamacare expansion, millions remain uninsured.

In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled states did not need to participate in the law’s Medicaid expansion requirement that would have insured more lower-middle-income families.

Right now, nearly 29 million Americans are uninsured, and The Congressional Budget office estimates that will double under the GOP’s proposed plan.

“ No American should suffer at the expense of drug and insurance companies and their huge profits.”

Masters said affordable health care can’t come soon enough. For her, high-cost treatments are simply out of reach.

Figures from the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) and the Federal Election Commission support Reid’s claims. During the last election, the pharmaceutical and health care industry donated an accumulated amount more than $15 million to candidates Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, and John Kasich.

Last year alone, Pfizer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies spent more than $10 million lobbying Congress.

And both sides of the aisle benefit. When Obamacare was being debated, a record $273 million was spent lobbying our representatives and senators in Washington.

It worked.

Obamacare provided critical concessions that allow companies to keep drug prices high. Remember the outrage when a two-pack of EpiPens jumped from $100 to $600? Or when the cost of an often life-saving HIV/AIDS drug jumped from $13.50 to $750 per pill?

Congressional hearings were held. Threats were made. Then presidential candidate Donald Trump called the executive who raised the price “a spoiled brat.” What’s happened since? Nothing. Drug prices are still high.

Will President Trump succeed in lowering them? He says he will. At the same time, his transition team includes lobbyists who represent some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. These drug companies have given millions to key lawmakers, including $200,000 over the last two years to each of the two Republican congressmen spearheading Trump’s new health care bill, according to MapLight.

Why is that important? Study after study shows people without health insurance often die from treatable diseases because they couldn’t get care until they were too sick.

Figures over the last 10 years range from 22,000 to 45,000 unnecessary deaths every year.

What’s the answer?

Reid believes we should take a page from other industrialized nations, especially those that outrank us in quality. “The most important step for fixing U.S. health care would be to make a national commitment to universal health care.”

While doing research for his book The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, Reid visited 15 industrialized democracies around the world to see what is working and what isn’t.

“The fairest and most cost-effective way would be Medicare for everybody. Medicare is a single-payer system that is the most efficient and the most popular health insurance scheme in the U.S. Systems like Medicare work in various countries around the world,” Reid said.

One of the world’s leading health care authorities, Harvard professor William Hsiao said higher taxes to pay for universal care would still be lower than what people pay in insurance premiums, deductibles, and copayments. But he told Physicians for a National Health Program that, “no country can control costs unless it has a health care system operating as a whole.” This includes health care providers and financers.

For instance, all financing, from billing to payments, would be unified. That not only cuts down on administration costs, it also makes it easier to detect and eliminate fraud.

“No American should suffer at the expense of drug and insurance companies and their huge profits.” Masters said affordable health care can’t come soon enough. For her, high-cost treatments are simply out of reach.

“My meds cost over $1,500 a month. The cost of drugs to sustain life is ridiculous,” she said.

Outfrontmagazine.com

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Nomads Mundane & the World of Adventu yvonne wright

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photos : 1, 2, 3, 5 provided by jeremy noronha. 4 provided by la shawn. 6 provided by nomadjazzing.com

asi Schläfer was only 25 years old when she married.

Within a few years she had a PhD and her dream job at an international magazine. It was the life she wanted. The life she planned. But not, it turned out, the life she would lead.

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“I would walk along the park to work with my coffee-to-go in hand and think, ‘wow, you are doing this again today. Do you really want to be doing this every day?’” Schläfer said she soon realized the answer was “no”. She quit her job and joined the rapidly growing number of people using modern technology to bring back an ancient way of life.

There is no specific data, but those who follow trends believe the number of modern-day nomads stretches beyond 2 0 \\ A P R I L 0 5 , 2 0 1 7

100,000. Figures out of the very first International Digital Nomad Conference estimate there will be 1 billion digital nomads in less than 20 years. These are people who work remotely while traveling the globe.

Others travel with little to no money, joining groups on social media to help them find a place to sleep in exchange for work.

“I have my hammock with me here in Asia and I try to camp anywhere to save money,” said Terzia Van de Kuil, who is from the Netherlands. When we spoke, she was trying to figure out how to cross overland from Thailand into Myanmar without getting stuck on the other side of the border. Hammock in hand, Van de Kuil said she’s ready for anything. “I just ask a guesthouse if they have two trees available instead of a dorm

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. . . other days I just walk outside the village and hang my hammock in the forest nearby.”

of color, women, transgender, disabled, and non-Christians refusing to participate in the status quo,” she said.

A surprising number of nomads are women travelling alone.

Of those I spoke with, every one said they had to let go of fear. LA Shaw says traveling alone as a self-described “exotic, black queer woman” has been, “as painful as a face full of spit in Serbia, and as joyful and loving as three grandmothers trying to rub me clean in a Greek front yard.”

“I have a lot of amazing stories from climbing one of the world’s biggest mountain passes to meeting the Dalai Lama,” said Jeremy Noronha, who had $200 in his pocket when he left his home in Goa, India. He kept costs low by hitchhiking, couchsurfing, and building websites for extra money. Now he finds he’s able to cover travel by travelling: “I started a travel blog and grew it and now it pays for all my expenses,” he said.

Shaw was a banker in Hollywood, California. Following 9/11, she quit her job and hit the road. So far she’s travelled through 45 countries and has no plans to stop.

“We are few but powerful, and I hope to see more people

Aline Dahmen also uses her travel experiences to help cover costs. This young German woman started living what she called a “location independent” lifestyle four years ago. She Outfrontmagazine.com

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“ This voice is telling me go out there, choose to be whoever you want to be, have a lot of firsts.”—Jasi Schläfer (nomadjazzing.com) “ There really isn’t much I can’t get done with authentic love, that power and money usually does for other folks.”—LA Shaw

mysterious unknown,” she said. Right now the Azores are calling her heart. After that? Who knows? “I feel my soul is being called to be true to itself.”

That’s a sentiment Schläfer agrees with. She said, “you can do anything you want to do even if you don’t have the money. That just makes you more creative. That’s what happened to me.” The former magazine executive is now a self-described multi-talented artist who finds herself creating something every day. While in Nicaragua, she’s made money doing everything from making and selling jewelry to building instruments from trash.

“ You have two options with everything in life, find a way or an excuse.”—Jeremy Noronha

soon realized most nomads travel alone and have a hard time finding love. Nomad Soulmates is an app she created that matches people by location, interest, travel plans, and sexual orientation. Dahmen said, “nomads love to remain flexible when it comes to their travel plans, and this is a point we want to emphasize.”

All nomads have two things in common: They love to travel and they love adventure. Some move constantly, others stop in locations for several months before moving on. Maria Do Carmo Correia discovered she needed to “go with the flow” shortly after leaving her home in Portugal.

“I’m adjusting to my new lifestyle, all this wonderful freedom, and a million possibilities. Each day is a big adventure to the

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“I have the feeling I’m on a huge playground, and I love playing every day.”

You can find more information about these nomads at the following websites: nomadjazzing.com @GoTravelBroad.com thinktravelliftgrow.com nomadsoulmates.com

Outfrontmagazine.com

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Every office is different; every client special.

Providing personalized janitorial services to the Denver Metro area.

720.361.8673 SWPeterson.com An LGBT owned & operated commercial cleaning company

Tyler’s Suite Rocky Mountain Premiere May 5—Broomfield Auditorium 7:30pm May 6—Central Presbyterian Church, Denver 7:30pm Under the direction of Dr. Tim Seelig, Artistic Director, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

Presented by Harmony together with Sine Nomine, this nine-piece choral movement is dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi, a talented young musician who died by suicide after being bullied by his roommate during his first weeks of college.

Tickets: $25 adults $20 students & seniors $5 from each ticket donated to

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jeremiah ntepp

suzy & wilma peterson

Sweep Their Way

into your hearts & living rooms

When Suzy and Wilma Peterson walk through the door, the two ladies will most likely have smiles plastered to their faces. These rarely fade as they navigate their way through the floor plan of your home or business with a vacuum, assorted colored rags, spray bottles filled with soapy liquid, a feather duster, or – Suzy’s personal favorite – a buffer.

Suzy and Wilma are two transgender entrepreneurs who have swept their cleaning company, S&W Peterson LLC, into a number of residential homes alongside a few businesses in Denver. It’s something neither thought they would be doing but both found a love for.

“We take great pride in the work we do,” Suzy said. “I want to walk out of a building knowing that we took care of the client. We want the homes we visit to be livable and the businesses to be workable when we walk out. Unfortunately, we are in the minority in that regard.”

In order to accomplish this goal, the ladies must have a keen eye for detail. At first there was a learning curve, but they’ve trained their eyes to walk into a building and immediately start assessing what needs to be done — honing in on the obvious obstacles and those that lurk beneath the surface.

Before S&W Peterson LLC, Suzy was an electrical engineer and would travel for weeks out of state, while Wilma stayed in Denver to work. Although they were both satisfied, the erratic scheduling and distance put a strain on their relationship. The couple was pushed to the breaking point when Suzy left the state on a 12-week project in California.

Suzy didn’t last the twelve weeks and came back early to be with Wilma. After a few discussions and some soul searching, S&W Peterson LLC was born.

“When Suzy came back, she just told me, ‘I don’t want to be away from you anymore,’” Wilma said. “It made me feel so good and wanted for just being me. It’s a feeling I’d waited a long time for.”

The two worked in various fields both before and after their transitions. While neither of them faced blatant discrimination once they came out, transitioning in the workplace can be very challenging. The trans community is often discriminated against or targeted both during and after transitioning, but these two have shown that the broom is mightier than the sword.

According to the National Transgender Discrimination

Survey, the trans community experiences unemployment at double the rate of the general population, while 26 percent have lost a job because they are transgender.

Explicit nondiscrimination laws and workplace protections are important because they protect the transgender community from these injustices when they happen and even before they occur.

In May 2007, Governor Bill Ritter signed Senate Bill 25 — the Employment Nondiscrimination Act — that added protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans into Colorado’s employment anti-discrimination laws.

This expanded law defines sexual orientation as heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgender status. Under Colorado law, it is now unlawful to consider sexual orientation or gender identity when making employment-related decisions, including hiring, firing, or inquiries about an employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

This law applies to all employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, on-the-job training, and vocational training programs and schools, regardless of size.

“I worked at a Fortune 500 company for 25 years and came out as trans during that time. It was a boys’ world type of company and didn’t feel comfortable afterwards,” Wilma said. “The trouble and discomfort trans people face when it comes to the workforce was in play when we decided to go down this path.”

The couple has opened their business to other transgender employees who may have been facing employment discrimination or are looking for a safe and welcoming workplace. As the business continues to grow, the need for more employees will follow. As this happens, Suzy and Wilma will employ those who need a helping hand and show them the ups and downs of functioning in a professional setting, from proper attire to punctuality.

In a little more than a year, S&W Peterson LLC, has been rapidly growing. With it, a newfound love for janitorial service has sprouted in both Suzy and Wilma. You can connect with the team at SWPeterson.com.

“We’ll come take care of you — no matter who you are,” Wilma said.

Outfrontmagazine.com

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We update our website with original content regularly, so check us out online at outfrontmagazine.com Follow us on twitter for regular updates: @outfrontco Follow us on Instagram for photos in the community: @outfrontcolorado

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Send us love! We do everything for our readers, so your input is precious to us.

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Providing the Denver community with comprehensive HIV medical, pharmacy, care management services, PrEP and HIV prevention.

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3/27/17 3:39 PM

calendar Denver LGBTQ History Tour

4/7

Take an audio tour right on your smartphone to learn about LGBTQ history of Denver. Developed by AARP Colorado and the GLBT Community Center, the tour will guide you through Denver’s LGBT landmarks in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and along Colfax Avenue. The 10 point- tour includes Cheesman Park; Charlie’s; and Smiley’s Laundromat, a community landmark which generated intense debate about historic preservation and community identity. Download the free Geotourist app to access the tour!

4/14 Ominous: A Body Art Party Ominous, one of Track’s monthly parties, is celebrating your bodies and the art that covers them! Get out and display your tattoos, body painting skills, piercings, alterations, plastic surgery, or anything you queers are doing to your bodies! $5 presale tickets available now at OminousDenver.com.

4/22 Laganja Estranja Takeover Party Just two days after 4/20 Laganja Estranja, the queen of marijuana who death dropped her way into all of our hearts on RuPual’s Drag Race Season 6, is taking over Trade as they celebrate their first anniversary. Get out and party while supporting one of Denver’s newest queer spaces, okkurrrrrr!

4/27 Dining Out for Life Dine out. Do good! On Thursday, April 27, more than 250 restaurants and breweries in the Denver/Boulder area will donate 25 percent of sales to Project Angel Heart to support home-delivered meals for Coloradans living with HIV/ AIDS. Learn more and see the restaurant list at DiningOutForLifeDenver.org.

Tyler’s Suite Denver’s LGBTQA Harmony chorale presents Tyler’s Suite, a nine-piece choral movement dedicated to Tyler Clementi, a young musician who died by suicide in 2010 after being bullied by his roommate during his first weeks of college. Created under Tony award-winning Composer Stephen Schwartz and Dr. Timothy Seelig (San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus), the concert will be performed May 5th at the Broomfield Auditorium and May 6th at the Denver Central Presbyterian Church. Visit HarmonyChorale.org for more info.

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JOSEPH SOTO

POVERTY

“When you’re on the street, survival is more important than your dreams.”

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ina, a young person who wants to be an animator, said that as part of Urban Peak’s #thestoriestheycarry campaign.

Tina also happens to be a young person experiencing homelessness, one of many in our community who are. In all of the statistics and opinions around homelessness, real lives like Tina’s are forgotten and the humanity of those living in poverty loses its poignancy.

If they are able to get a job, LGBTQ people of color are more likely to experience frequent anti-LGBTQ harassment while on the job. These discreet and often ignored aspects of discrimination in various aspects of public life contribute to an already exacerbated poverty epidemic that stretches from fair access to housing and education to health care and other social services.

Facts are facts, and we know poverty impacts LGBTQ Americans disproportionately more often than straight Americans. According to the [Williams Institute,] gay men are more than five percent more likely to live in poverty than straight men. Lesbians are only one percent more likely to live in poverty than straight women.

Poverty is disproportionately felt by LGBTQ people of color, but poverty is also a disproportionately LGBTQ experience overall, especially when looking at homelessness.

People of color are an intrinsic part of our community, but they also experience many obstacles in society that white people don’t have to. As in many intersectional communities, LGBTQ people of color are more likely to face discriminatory and unfair treatment across areas of life than white LGBTQ people.

According to One Colorado’s report “Facing Barriers: Experiences of LGBT People of Color in Colorado,” LGBTQ people of color are less like to have a college degree than white members of the community, and are more likely to work a full-time job but still have an average personal income of around $7,000 less than white people.

Queer people of color are more than twice as likely to experience discrimination in housing, are more likely to be bullied in school, and are 13 percent more likely to experience employment discrimination than white queer people.

Urban Peak is the only non-profit organization in Denver providing a “convergence” of services for 15 to 24 year olds experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness in the area. According to their website, 28 percent of those who accessed their services identified as LGBTQ, while the Williams Institute reported that 40 percent of youth experiencing homelessness nationally is comprised of LGBTQ persons.

Urban Peak was the first organization to focus on youth experiencing homelessness in Denver. What started out in St. Pauls United Methodist Church in Capitol Hill in the late 1980s as little mats strewn across the church’s floor, has now become the go to resource for youth experiencing homelessness in both Denver and Colorado Springs.

Now 29 years old, the organization has a 40 bed youth shelter at Iowa and Acoma that caters to the ages of 14 to 21. There are also two rooms set aside for those experiencing extreme trauma or are transgender and don’t feel comfortable staying with the general public.

Outfrontmagazine.com

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legal Directory

DO YOU REALLY NEED A WILL? You have likely heard the advice about the importance of having a will. To help figure out if a will is right for you, here are five things to keep in mind: 1. Who will get your stuff?

The most common and simple reason to make a will is to decide who will get your property. Without a will, state laws determine how your property will be distributed.

2. Who will handle things?

You can use a will to name an executor. Someone you trust, that will take care of all your final affairs and wishes. Without a will, a court will appoint someone to do the job.

3. Who will take care of the kiddos?

A will is the only place to designate a guardian to care for your children. Without a will, a court will decide who will be their caretaker. Moreover, if you leave property to children, the process must be managed by an adult, which should also be designed in a will.

4. What about your pets?

Use a will to name a trusted caretaker for your pet(s). You can also leave money to that person to help them with pet-care expenses. Using a will isn’t your only option, but it is surely the simplest.

5. What’s your backup plan?

Maybe you have a living trust or perhaps don’t have children or pets that need guardians. It’s still a good idea to have a backup will — a catch-all for any property that isn’t taken care of by a living trust or other estate planning instrument.

Not everyone needs a will, but having one isn’t a bad idea.

Your best bet is to consult with an attorney to determine (if any) what your end-of-life planning options should include.

Remember, if you don’t declare your final wishes, the state will do it for you.

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303-GOOD-LAW• SawayaLaw.com 1600 Ogden St • Denver, CO Auto Accidents • Personal Injury • Worker’s Comp. • Social Security The opinions expressed in this article are general in nature. For specific legal advice, please contact an attorney.

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“We can support homeless shelters, food banks, and antipoverty organizations, and ensure that they are LGBTQ+ inclusive,” said Scarlet Bowen, the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of Colorado. “We can advocate at our workplaces the importance of including gender identity and sexual orientation as valuable aspects of diversity.”

Homelessness is a complex societal problem with connections to many underlying systemic inequalities across life, and whether a person may currently be homeless is a pretty reliable indicator of whether someone is also currently in poverty.

Homelessness is a dangerous living situation to have to manage.

Thirty percent of homeless youth will be actively recruited for purposes of sexual exploitation and other forms of human trafficking within two days of leaving home. So, homeless is as dangerous as it is indicative of poverty. However, homelessness is not the only indicator of poverty.

Another issue indicative of poverty that impacts our community is food insecurity. In Urban Peak’s #thestoriestheycarry campaign, one young woman pulled a bag of animal crackers out of her bag and said, “some see an afternoon snack. I see a week’s worth of meals.”

The [Williams Institute] defines food insecurity as a time when someone did not have enough money to feed themselves or their family. The Atlantic reported that while one in six American adults reported being food insecure in 2012, nearly one in three LGBTQ adults reported being food insecure in that same time — that rate is almost twice as high.

Fifty-nine percent of food-insecure households participated in one of three major federal food assistance programs, according to Feeding America. Many of these programs, which provide a substantial amount of critically needed calories to people everyday, are currently on the chopping block in budgets and policy proposals supported by Donald Trump and his administration, as well as by congressional leaders like Speaker Paul Ryan.

Food insecurity is yet another aspect of poverty that directly and disproportionately impacts LGBTQ families across our country.

One of the programs intended to alleviate some of food insecurity’s bitter consequences that Donald Trump and republicans in congress want to eliminate is funding for food stamps, the miniscule allotment of funds granted to the poorest families to support food purchases throughout the month.

According to data from the USDA, food stamps, which The Atlantic says same-sex couples are 1.7 times more likely to receive than different-sex couples, provide only as much as $357 per month to couples earning a maximum of $20,826 in Colorado.

Food insecurity and the complexity of homelessness are two of the most poignant indicators of poverty, and they are both social occurrences that disproportionately impact the health and vitality of our community.

Poverty has the potential power to keep people poor, sick, malnourished, and without formal education in a cyclical pattern that traps generations in the same socioeconomic situation. Maybe when we’re thinking about human’s rights for our community, we’ll start talking more about poverty, too.

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perspectives joseph soto

some of the gay money floating around town Money is power. There’s no denying it. Organizations and individuals shovel money to those with power in efforts to persuade or control what happens in public policy. To ignore this would be foolish. To take advantage of the controversial system would be beneficial. So where is all of our LGBTQ money going?

LGBTQ Coloradans are more likely to experience a broad number of issues related to poverty, including homelessness and food insecurity. But, on the other end of the spectrum, a strong culture of political donations and associated political activism from the gay community has transformed Colorado’s political culture for generations to come.

The culture of political activism among people in the LGBTQ community was born out of necessity. It wasn’t long ago that our community was regularly targeted by state-sanctioned violence and oppression.

Scarlet Bowen, the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of Colorado, noted that even though we’ve continually gained support on a social level, and passed a number of bills that push us closer to full equality, we still have a long road ahead of us — and it isn’t going to be pretty. She also stressed the importance of taking care of the queer community as a whole, and that we don’t forget about the most vulnerable of our family.

“Make sure that LGBTQ advocacy groups support reforms to housing, raising minimum wage, immigration reform, affordable childcare, health care, food stamps, access to education, job training programs, and equal employment/access to antidiscrimination laws,” she said.

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In all of these areas our community is clamoring for change, but that often costs money. That’s where “queer money” comes in.

Often times, finding out who is funding the grassroots activities of local organizations can be difficult, especially if the organization is newer, smaller, or consists of community organizers taking action of their own volition and contributing their own financial support to continue.

There is a strong culture of political activism in Colorado by the LGBTQ community, and we don’t have to look further than the civil rights protections that were enacted in Colorado at the urging and pressuring of LGBTQ activists and their allies. Though less of an issue today, Colorado has permitted unmarried couples to adopt each other’s children since 2007, and passed civil unions in 2013. Colorado also protects LGBTQ people against discrimination in public accommodations or employment, which are both at least nine years old.

One Colorado is an organization that relies heavily on donations from the LGBTQ and allied community to fund its efforts across the state. Its education fund, which supports efforts ranging from creating the third largest gay-straight alliance network in the country to training educators on how to meet the needs of LGBTQ students and supporting training and networking for youth leaders in Denver, had a 2014 budget of nearly $1.3 million.

Nearly $500,000 of that came from more than 2,395 individual donors. Information for that year on the number of corporate and institutional donors and

foundation donors was not available.

That means nearly one-third of the budget for the education arm of Colorado’s largest LGBTQ advocacy organization came from donors. That is an increase from years past, including 2011, when 661 individuals donated about $116,000 — or 15.5 percent of the fund’s annual budget.

There are a number of LGBTQ political organizations, but one of the most important to the development of LGBTQ political power in Colorado has been the Gill Foundation. Founded by software developer Tim Gill, the Gill Foundation has donated $299 million to LGBTQ nonprofits across the country since its inception, according to the foundation’s website.

In 2015, that amounted to $2.7 million for Colorado programs and initiatives.

That funding went to support everything from the State Agencies Project and Federal Agencies Project to community partners in Colorado like One Colorado Education Fund and the Colorado Education Initiative to prepare more students for careers in STEM fields.

There is a respectable amount of money coming into our state to support LGBTQ equality in tangible ways, and there seems to be a steady flow of activists and community organizers working to turn those very important checks into very important initiatives on the ground.

The work being done in the LGBTQ community continues to diversify and change to meet more comprehensive needs in the lives of every day people, especially as we move away from marriage as the sole goal for all of the organizations working with us for our own advancement.

In a political climate in which so many different communities are being attacked by the Administration and by Congressional leadership, it is important to remember the resources and dedicated work that got us all to a place where it became normal to expect that we would be afforded the same rights and privileges as other people in the first place. If we can remember that, and remember that there is an entire network organized – and funded – to support as much good advocacy work as possible, we’ve got that much more of a chance to build on that legacy and build a stronger community.

Outfrontmagazine.com

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M

Yos ike

t

N I G WI L e U D TH

DE

VE I T I

N : COGN whatever that may be to you.

Perhaps it’s taking a long nap in the thick, green grass of Cheesman Park on a lazy, sunny afternoon. Maybe it’s skiing or snowboarding down a steep slope in six inches of powder with the sun warming your back.

Or perhaps it’s a rowdy, lascivious threesome in the kitchen with your partner, a hot redhead, and several ball gags before the three of you sit naked around the kitchen table eating a nutritious breakfast of fresh fruit and toast topped with butter and elderberry jam.

Then there’s a minor incident. Someone who isn’t paying attention trips over you in the park. Someone cuts you off on a run, almost forcing you into the trees. Or the hot redhead won’t pass you the elderberry jam.

A small group of depressive or anxious thoughts begin to crawl out of the darkness. They begin attributing negative intent to the actions of others while personalizing and catastrophizing the incident, formulating erroneous conclusions.

Why won’t the hot redhead pass the elderberry jam? He passed it to my partner. Ah ha! They’re both screwing behind my back! My partner is going to leave me. Love is bullshit.

I’m leaving first and moving to Antarctica!

These fallacious thoughts grow in strength and begin to bully good experiences, abusing happy thoughts that were just minding their own business. The warm sun feels great on the slopes! The warm toast tastes great with elderberry jam!

These notions are suddenly shoved down a flight of stairs.

Bleeding and helpless at the bottom of a stairwell with two broken legs, good thoughts are strangled out of existence by the grimy hands of erroneous thinking — something I like to call cognitive f*ckery, or CF for short.

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IO

Imagine for a moment the perfect day,

PRESS

Y

KER C * F

CF spreads like an aggressive virus, infecting the entire thought process while vomiting caustic rhetoric into my mind and interfering with any chance to just enjoy life.

“What were the three things I needed from the store? Bread.

Lube. What was the third? YOU’RE AN IDIOT! CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER THREE GROCERY ITEMS! Was it chocolate gelato? That would be a nice … YOU’RE FAT AND UNWORTHY OF LOVE!” Bad thoughts cultivate bad feelings, which in turn cultivate bad thoughts, which in turn foster additional bad feelings — a recurring cycle that flings open the door for anxiety and depression to come crashing through.

The key in the process of recovery for me was identifying CF as categories of bad thinking, such as personalizing incidents and catastrophizing future outcomes.

There are other categories, such as mind-reading people’s intent, filtering out good experiences while focusing on bad experiences, and the ever popular should of, could of, would of. You could probably come up with ten more categories from your own experiences.

But once these categories of CF are identified, you can use reason to argue against them.

“If love is bullshit, why are there happy couples? THOSE HAPPY COUPLES ARE ALL LYING ABOUT BEING HAPPY! But how do you know all those happy couples are lying about being happy? No one can read minds, after all.”

This method of critical thinking is like a cognitive inoculation for the brain, using logical arguments to vaccinate my mind so I can truly enjoy those precious perfect days.

“Can you pass the elderberry jam?”

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heinzesight BRENT HEINZE

the bad kissers club

For many of us, unskilled kissers signal doom during an intimate encounter. Making out with someone can let you know so much about them. Some are extremely passionate and connected. Others shock you by their strange techniques or apparent lack of awareness that they’re doing it quite wrong and you aren’t turned on by it.

Unfortunately, most people don’t give critical feedback or attempt to correct the offending behaviors. They either suck it up and don’t say anything, get really turned off, or become so frustrated that they end the session or never call the other person back. People also compare notes (and you know how we love to talk crap about bad sexual engagements.) Here are some of my favorite awkward techniques.

Eyes wide shut

It’s like navigating to the bathroom in the middle of night without a nightlight. Without seeing where you’re going, you risk running into a wall or tripping over something.

Take the time to look at your partner, connect, and evaluate if they are enjoying what is going on. It makes you wonder what they are thinking with their eyes closed.

Gaping chasm

Attacking someone with your wide-open trap could make him or her feel that his or her face is about to be swallowed.

Using your lips to create a variety of shapes and sizes can be much more enjoyable than an attempt to unhinge your jaw and eat their head.

The licker

Some people really get into licking teeth, lips, or more unusual places like the ear canal or end of the nose. Most of us think this is quite weird. This interest may be something important to disclose to your partner before engaging so they don’t freak out when it happens.

Hoover

These people suck. It can be terrifying, uncomfortable, or

painful to have someone use heavy suction in an attempt to dislocate your tongue from inside your mouth.

Biter or nibbler

This is often the natural progression from the Hoover where the tongue is pulled into their mouth and chomped on.

Sometimes it is a gentle nibble, but some enjoy chewing on it like a meaty steak.

Little Pecker

Much like a baby bird may search for worms in the dirt, these individuals enjoy micro smooches that can remind of you the kind of kisses you give to your awkward aunt at family events. These passionless kisses often signal a low desire to be intimately engaged with someone.

The Drooler

There is always time for adequate lubrication, but covering someone with your mouth slobber can make them feel like they are drowning. Even if you are really into what is going on, take time to swallow.

Desert

There isn’t a beautiful hidden oasis there. It doesn’t need to be a flood, but there should be some moisture during making out. If you dry out, grab a drink or find some way to make your mouth water.

Darter or Flicker

This is also known as “the jackhammer.” Stop using your tongue as a flesh spear to stab someone’s mouth. It should be firm but pliable.

Stank Ass

Unless you both had a garlic-fest for dinner, most of the time it is a good idea to have some type of method to become minty fresh accessible. A travel toothbrush, gum, mouthwash, or an awesome piece of chocolate is a great way to ensure that you both taste yummy.

Outfrontmagazine.com

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COLORADO LEATHER FEST

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