December 7, 2016 :: The Rise of the Right

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RISE of theRIGHT

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CONTENTS

DECEMBER 07, 2016 VOL40 NO17

16 08 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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12 BRIDGE-BUILDING IN THE AGE OF TRUMP

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14 HOPEFULLY 20 TRUMP IS PRESIDENT 24 THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND YOUR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT 30 ASIAN-AMERICAN TRUMP SUPPORTER 34 DO WE REALLY WANT TO IMPEACH TRUMP? 36 TIS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY THEATER 38 CALENDAR 44 KRIS KRINGLE WHO? 47 HEINZESIGHT

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SERVING THE LGBT COMMUNITY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS SINCE 1976 PHONE 303-477-4000 • FAX 303-325-2642 WEB OutFrontOnline.com FACEBOOK /OutFrontColorado TWITTER @OutFrontCO INSTAGRAM /OutFrontColorado FOUNDER PHIL PRICE 1954-1993 ADMINISTRATION info@outfrontonline.com JERRY CUNNINGHAM Publisher J.C. MCDONALD Vice President MAGGIE PHILLIPS Operations Manager JEFF JACKSON SWAIM Chief Strategist EDITORIAL editorial@outfrontonline.com BERLIN SYLVESTRE Editor RYAN HOWE Digital Content Manager BRENT HEINZE Senior Columnist ARIANNA J. BALDERRAMA Editorial Intern CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sarah Farbman, Mike Halterman, Addison Herron-Wheeler, Kelsey Lindsey, Denny Patterson, Kevin M. Smith, Joseph Soto, Vanessa Williams, Yvonne Wright, Mike Yost ART art@outfrontonline.com TRISHA HIMMLER Art Director CARLA ROSAS VITAL Graphic Intern CASSIE SOUCHEK Graphic Intern CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Alex Brandon/Associated Press, Charles Broshous, Ryan McGuire, Getty Images

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WHAT WE FEEL, FOR YOU TO READ

FROM THE EDITOR

THE BLACK MAGIC OF YELLOW JOURNALISM

Berlin Sylvestre

I rarely write these, but I’m compelled by what I’m seeing today. Let’s talk.

legislation that would nicely balance out the manufactured anguish.

Since I took over as editor of OUT FRONT, I vowed to continue making up for every egomaniacal, singlesided, heavy-handed editor I ever had the misfortune to work for. (And yes: I ended that sentence with a preposition. It sounds more human than “... ever had the misfortune for whom to work.” Lookin’ at you, Helen of the Atlanta Journal Constitution!)

The left, of course, was furious. How can an entire news channel be so biased? Most of us tried in vain to have decent political conversations with family who’d just been briefed on how to feel about a certain topic, and they were sticking to it.

There was no room for discourse, and the scales were tipped to the right. There was a great and terrible imbalance.

I’ve always treated this publication with the utmost respect for its writers. These are people from mixed backgrounds, races, genders, orientations, religions, political stances, creeds, tax brackets — you name it and we’ve either had or have it on deck. And I will never cease to cull as much diversity as I can.

That includes people of our community who identify with right-wing political views.

By far, the most controversial pieces we’ve published, those that have garnered intense (and understandable) fingerwags on our social media platforms, have involved the opinion of someone who is critical of certain aspects of left-wing liberalism inside the LGBT+ movement. More than they’ve criticized the authors of the pieces, they’ve criticized me for publishing them. I totally get that; I’m the editor, the “gatekeeper,” the one who “filters out the noise” to bring people what they’d rather be reading.

This, dear reader, is something I’ve found problematic of media — especially media in the age of bloggers and Facebook algorithms that suss out points of view you may not appreciate to hide them from you. Then there’s the “unfriend me if ___” or “I’ll unfriend you if ___” that tilts the floor beneath you even more. This kind of slant in your media creates, as you see today, a bubble … a vacuum, perhaps, where everyone thinks almost exactly like you do. Uncanny, right? Not at all. It’s by design.

Fake news is a big deal. When the 24-hour news cycle came to be, producers and journalists clamored for more info to pump into the needy veins of news junkies. Fox News entered its hat into the ring, and sensationalism with a hardright slant whipped the right into a frenzy. Their Chicken Little reporting (“The sky is falling!”) churned out terrifying stories and batsh*t allegations while ignoring some of the brighter

But make no mistake: The right doesn’t have a monopoly on what we call “yellow journalism.” We, indeed, have plenty of Chicken Littles over here, and the public is in hysterics. Please hear me out: As media, those in this business possess a great deal of power, I’ll be frank with you. As with all things powerful (money, the church, politicians, etc.), special attention must be paid not to let that power be corrupted. Consider fairy tales and entertainment involving magic. When it’s used for good, it’s respectable and pleasant. When it’s used for bad, darkness and terror soon follow. In this industry, many of us have pledged to follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics (please google it), but have sadly left it in our feverish wake in favor of casting journalistic black magic. Morale in our community has taken a huge hit over doomsday headlines and opinings with no factual basis.

I want everyone out there, right/left/middle/neither/ all/whatever, to know: If a story tells you how to feel, it’s not real news; it’s someone’s opinion. There might be a news bit in there, but please be wary of what this author is doing with that information.

I’m seeing so many of my friends and family emotionally huddled in the corner at the shameful, abysmal posts that seem to come from an army of left-leaning outlets that now employ Fox Newsesque scare tactics about concentration camps that (to be completely blunt) sound as ridiculous as “Obama death panels” did when coming from the right. Please don’t let them into your psyche. We’ve got work to do and we won’t be able to suit up if we’re wringing our hands.

While I no doubt forecast more dark days ahead, there’s nothing to be gained by listening to journalism sellouts who strive for clicks more than they strive for professional integrity. That’s point one.

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WHAT WE FEEL, FOR YOU TO READ

Point two is about balance. I’ve long predicted that the inability to listen to another viewpoint will create a backlash from people we’re demonizing for (on many occasions) no good reason. As I read criticisms of me on both social media and from my inbox, I’ve been told I’m “internalizing [my] homophobia.” I’ve been called “transphobic.” I’ve been called “privileged.” We had an issue called I’M OFFENDED that intended to bring a point/ counterpoint to some hot-button issues that truly needed sorting. For one of the pieces within, I was called “racist,” and certain spots refused to let us in. (They’re back now, btw. Whew.)

But can you imagine how strangely that falls onto the ears of a disgustingly empathetic lesbian born to an impoverished, illiterate, Thai immigrant in the (massively racially f*cked) Deep South?

I really don’t get this cannibalization in our community and have sounded the warning bells that name-calling and lashing out at people with the “-phobia” and “-ism” and “-ist” business over the slightest perceived offense will dissolve our strength. Some hideous trend formed within the last few years that simply wouldn’t allow us to tolerate the idea of civil disagreement. It got really

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ugly and (worse) took away our relatability.

And you can write to me your anger. I can take it — I’m the editor. But I fear that what we’re seeing now is part of the pain we’ve inflicted upon perfectly reasonable people who just didn’t know our latest terminology and declarations only to be called horrific things because of it. How could they vote our way when we’ve done such a brilliant job of alienating them? Am I saying we’re responsible for the Rise of the Right? Not entirely — but our anger at people who would’ve loved to continue being allies didn’t help. But we can undo it, and it starts by taking a breath and actually listening to a different opinion. Not all people who are right-wingers are these hideous things our media demands we allege. Often, there is value in civil debates for all parties involved.

In summation, watch for a manipulation of your media and don’t be afraid to (in spite of their calls for apoplexy) reach outside of the bubble. As our publisher would say, “Seek to understand.” Either that or we keep losing come midterms. (And remember: This is only my two cents; it’s an opinion.

Take it as you like — or leave it as you don’t.)

expires 12/30/16

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PERSPECTIVES

BRIDGE-BUILDING IN THE AGE OF TRUMP FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, IT’S HARD FOR ME TO LOOK at the outcome of these elections and feel okay about them. I’m not going to polish my name or reputation as a columnist by regurgitating tired old lines about us all coming together. It is a fact that there are many who are profoundly hurt by this election, and who are struggling to figure out their place in this new political climate. Yet still, Americans are in this together whether we like it or not, and it is worth talking about two of the many issues we can tackle together, regardless of what party we belong to or who we voted for. It is still not a foolish endeavor to hope we could work together as one people.

Though it is not very sexy to talk about, spending on our crumbling infrastructure is one of the most popular solutions for stimulating our economy.

Gallup reported in March 2016 that 75% of Americans supported spending more federal money on infrastructure. Luckily, this popular idea might also be a beneficial one for the economy. Researchers at the College of William & Mary released a study that said in the short-run, “a dollar spent on infrastructure construction produces roughly double the initial spending in ultimate economic output.” Think Progress published an article going further, saying that just $1.3 billion in added infrastructure spending in 2015 would have added nearly 30,000 new jobs and $2 billion in economic growth, while reducing our deficit. If we’re going to spend so much time arguing with each other over these election results, I propose we spend an equal amount of time talking about how we can create good union jobs in infrastructure.

Another policy area we could work together on is gun safety. Though media and national political leaders like to cast gun safety as a lightning rod for national differences, the American people are actually not that far apart on the issue — at least in parts. CNN reported in a June 2016 poll (keeping in mind this came after the Orlando gay nightclub massacre) that 92% of Americans support expanded background checks and that a smaller but still meaningful majority (54%) support tougher measures such as banning assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition clips. This is an issue we should all want to seize upon together. Guns kill nearly 34,000 Americans every year, according to FiveThirtyEight.com. To set 1 2 \\ D E C E M B E R 0 7 , 2 0 1 6

this in comparison, nearly 33,000 deaths occurred in over 30,000 fatal motor-vehicle crashes in 2014, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. About 12 million people visit Starbucks every day, and if just one in 350 of them got involved in gunsafety policy in honor of those who will die because of guns this year, we could make a real difference.

The impulse to want to work together and intentionally work on the issues that bridge the divides between us is a commonly held sentiment. Carlos Calderon, an athlete and former classmate in Aurora Public Schools, said that “coming together through our common interests plays a vital role, now more than ever. Our goal now should not be to undo the past, but rather focus on how to better shape the future of this country while breaking down the social barriers that divide its citizens.”

Building on that, Anit Koirala, a college student and active community member from my neighborhood in northern Aurora, was happy to share his thoughts on this election with me. His words are the essence of what I’ve tried to say in this entire story. He said, “Unity is diversity, and diversity is power. That’s what we represent as a nation. Let’s not spread hate, but peace and love. Let’s not raise guns, but raise our voices, voices of equality. Like President Obama said, ‘Whatever happens, the sun will rise in the morning,’ so there is always hope.”

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PERSPECTIVES

HOPEFULLY I’M ON SPEAKER PHONE AND MY PARENTS ARE ARGUING, something I’ve rarely heard them do. In the preTrump era, the closest I ever knew my mother to attending a rally was a non-profit board meeting.

But now she wants to go to the Women’s March on Washington, a demonstrative protest scheduled for January 21st. My dad thinks it’s foolhardy, even dangerous.

Exactly one week after the election, the American Jewish Committee and the Islamic Society of North America partnered up to form The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council in response to anti-semitism and Islamophobia.

My brother’s never been an activist either. More of a band geek/rock climber. Yet he called me during election night, as the results were starting to crystalize, voice shaking. “How could this happen?”

Days later he had posted a Google Doc in his Facebook status with the following text: Now is the time for us to take action and stand up for the causes we believe in. With that in mind here [are] the beginnings of a list of local New Haven organizations that could use your help.

My heart swelled until it became a lump in my throat.

And to be honest, I’ve never been much of an activist, either. Yet Thursday morning found me in Rite Aid, stocking up on sidewalk chalk. I went first to Union Station and then to the 16th Street Mall to write on the sidewalk, “What gives me hope is … ” and invite passersby to contribute. A lot of people wrote Jesus.

One guy wrote tequila. But it’s the fact that people wrote at all that finally pushed the frustrated tears that had been threatening me since waking up that morning firmly back into my tear ducts.

On November 10th, people chalked the sidewalk outside of the Islamic Center of Nashville. The messages? We stand with you. We see you and we want you here. We <3 you.

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a backlash against the forces of compassion and plurality that are growing stronger every day. Maybe this makes life sound too much like a comic book.

On November 9th, I was in a coffee shop fashioning myself a life preserver: a list, post-election, of what gave me hope. But the words of a nearby conversation kept interrupting my thoughts: women discussing recent events. I needed the fellowship, so I sauntered over.

Where were they managing to find hope that day? For one, it was the fact that people seemed to be rallying together behind progressive causes in general. For another, hope came through her work. Beth works with The Blue Bench, a comprehensive sexual-assault center providing counseling, a 24-hour hotline, and other services. In the first 36 hours after the election, the organization had received 30 volunteer applications. It normally sees between five and ten in an entire week. When I email Beth a week after our conversation, she writes: “I think that is one of the biggest things that has given me hope, that people are moved to take action. The work of my organization … will continue regardless of who’s in the White House.”

Sarah Farbman

Now is the time for us to take action and stand up for the causes we believe in.

This past week has witnessed Americans falling victim to hate speech and to physical assault. We have read about various nefarious nominees for White House cabinet positions and fretted over rumors of hostile, even negligent legislation. But there has also been an outpouring of love speech. Of rallies. Of petitions, of intentional coffee-shop conversations, of volunteers. Of action.

I just hope it continues.

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Kevin M. Smith

THE THIRDPARTY EFFECT

Candidates for those parties didn’t come close to winning any electoral votes, but how did they affect the election? And what’s the point if not the presidency?

Scott McLarty, media director for the Green Party, says the presidency is a goal, but “we’re realistic.”

“One of the major reasons we run presidential campaigns is they help promote local campaigns,” McLarty explains.

He reminds us that the Green Party is a grassroots effort and while the platform could be fully executed by a Green Party president, many goals of the party could be

RAND ON / ASSO CIATE DP PHOT O // A LEX B

We all watched as states turned red or blue on election night, giving Electoral College votes to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. However, not everyone voted Republican or Democrat. Of more than 130 million votes cast Nov. 8, roughly 5% went to alternative parties, mostly the Libertarian and Green parties.

RESS

HOW DID ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATES INFLUENCE THE ELECTION? WHAT WAS THE POINT?

accomplished by more candidates winning offices at the state and federal levels.

Similarly, the Libertarian Party wants to increase its following.

“The biggest thing is we get the word out,” says Wayne Harlos, vice chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party.

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DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

HOW THEY FARED

Colorado was one of nine states that gave the Libertarian ticket at least 5% of its vote.

However, six of those states gave its Electoral College votes to Trump — each by wide margins over Clinton. “We’re excited about it,” Harlos says about collecting slightly more than 5% of the vote in Colorado. He notes that the Libertarian Party was started in Colorado in the early 1970s and maintains a strong base here.

“We just keep collecting [members] here,” Harlos says. The Green Party garnered 1.37% in Colorado and 1% nationwide. “I think a lot of us were disappointed, but given the contest between Clinton and Trump … it was not a surprise,” McLarty says.

McLarty says 1% is still an accomplishment given voters in three states couldn’t vote for the Green Party because it wasn’t allowed on the ballot or as a write in.

MOMENTUM & PLATFORM

“He still got a lot of press — a lot of press for a third party,” Harlos says of Gary Johnson’s campaign. Harlos says outreach is a major goal. He notes that the Libertarian Party had a presence at the past two Pride Fests in Denver.

Harlos explains the Libertarian Party is not in the middle, rather extremes both right and left with a focused view on constitutional rights and personal liberties. Harlos believes that aligns with the LGBT community. “We don’t believe the government should be involved in marriage at all,” Harlos says.

The basic tenet of the Libertarian Party is that people should be able to do what they want as long as it doesn’t hurt someone else.

“Go about life as one sees fit,” Harlos explains.

McLarty says he doesn’t have a problem with people voting for other parties if they’re voting for a platform that aligns with their beliefs.

However, he feels many voted Libertarian just to avoid voting Republican or Democrat.

“Our impression was a lot of people voted for the Libertarian Party without knowing what it stands for,” he says.

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The Green Party, in addition to a strong focus on the environment and climate change, is

LEGAL DIRECTORY

MANAGING THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT ALCOHOL — in general — in favor of civil liberties. “The Green Party will be out front in defending the rights of LGBT as well,” McLarty says.

McLarty says the Green Party differs from Libertarians on giving power to businesses.

SPOILERS?

“People who continue to blame Jill Stein need to learn some arithmetic,” McLarty says.

There’s no way to know for sure that if Jill Stein and Gary Johnson weren’t on the ballot, how those voters would have cast: Trump, Clinton, another alternative party, or not at all. “Even if every Green voter had voted for Clinton, the number of electoral college votes … wouldn’t have ... elevated her to victory,” McLarty points out.

THE PERIOD BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND New Year’s Day is meant to be a joyous time to celebrate with family and friends, yet many of those celebrations include alcohol.

For those who are abstaining, parties and gatherings can be especially challenging.

In addition, visitors, family gatherings, extra expenses, and end-of-year pressures at work can lead to additional stress — and urges to drink.

But it is possible to enjoy the holidays alcohol-free.

Find a favorite non-alcoholic drink and don’t be afraid to ask for it. People who don’t imbibe can feel left out of the party when it comes to drink choices, but there are plenty of options that say “celebration”

without the booze.

Start new traditions or look for new ways to celebrate. If past holidays involved alcohol, doing the same activities can trigger a desire to drink. Creating a new, alcoholfree tradition can support your sobriety and keep you on the right path.

Identify potential sources of holiday stress and make a plan to cope — without a drink.

Good options include exercise, taking time for yourself, and talking with a supportive friend or professional.

Embrace being the designated driver. Make your sobriety a gift to your friends and family by ensuring they get home safely after a celebration.

At last check, Trump held a 290–232 lead over Clinton in Electoral College votes despite Clinton holding the popular vote.

The closest margin was 0.27% (13,107) votes for Michigan’s 16 electoral votes that go to Trump. There were several states including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that came down to 1–2%. All alternative party votes combined accounted for more than the gap between Clinton and Trump.

“I was dismayed that Trump won the presidency,” Ryan Fuchs says. “I felt it reflected badly on the character of the average American citizen.”

Fuchs, 39, of Arvada, voted for Johnson/Weld.

“Had there not been a Libertarian on the ballot this election, I would have withheld my vote for president,” Fuchs explains via email. “Normally I lean right, though.”

Fuchs says the third-party votes don’t influence the election.

“While it’s true that had [the] third party [voters] voted for Clinton, she would have won, third parties heard the same thing when Obama was elected: that we should have voted for Romney,” Fuchs writes.

“People automatically assume that if you don’t vote third party, you’d automatically vote for their candidate.”

Fuchs says the Libertarian Party more closely resembles his ideals as a voter. He opposes big government, which he feels Clinton and Trump both represent.

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Ryan Howe

TRUMP I S PRESIDENT HERE’S WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR QUEER PEOPLE

In a shock to progressives, minorities, and queer people everywhere, Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2016 presidential race.

What does this mean? We aren’t exactly sure. With the meager amount of policies put out by Trump, and his ever-changing opinion on our community, there is no way to predict how this may go for us.

What we do know is that we are hurt. We are tired of being labeled second-class citizens. We are scared for our future as queer people. We can also take a look at the list of queer issues facing this country, and where our new president and his team likely stand on them.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Trump has been against marriage equality since 2000 when he said, “The institution of marriage should be between a man and a woman.”

Back in January, Trump told Fox News that he disagrees with the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage and hopes that it could be changed in the future.

“It has been ruled upon. It has been there.

If I’m elected I would be very strong in putting certain judges on the bench that maybe could change things, but they have a long way to go,” he said. “I disagree with

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DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

There’s no way of knowing what a Trump presidency will bring, but if past is precedent with his cabinet choices, we’re in for a bumpy ride.

the court in that it should have been a states’ rights issue.” But, he has been quoted saying that the decision has been made, and he must respect it. “The decision has been made, and that’s the law of the land,” he said in one interview. In another he says, “I mean at some point, we have to get back down to business … they have ruled on it. I wish that it was done by the state.”

In 2006, Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, claimed “societal collapse was always brought about following an advent of the deterioration of marriage and family.” That same year, he supported a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality in Indiana. But wait: Seven years later he signed a bill jailing same-sex couples who attempted to apply for a marriage license.

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

The fight for trans rights will be directly influenced by whomever Trump nominates for the Supreme Court. He has vowed to replace the late Antonin Scalia — one of the high court’s most homophobic jurists — with someone who will follow in his footsteps. Now, this will cause a lot of trouble for queer people.

One in particular is Gavin Grimm, the teen who was denied the right to use facilities matching his gender identity. Gavin’s case is the first time the Supreme Court will tackle the issue of trans rights.

The justices will determine whether Gavin, a 17-year-old student at Gloucester High School in Virginia, is protected by Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments Act of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on gender at publicly funded schools.

Again, it’s unclear where Trump stands on

the issue of trans rights. Initially Trump said he favored allowing trans people to use the bathroom of their choice, but closer to Election Day, he came out in support of North Carolina’s HB2.

“I’m going with the state. They know what’s going on, they’ve seen what’s happening,” he told reporters. “I’ve spoken to your governor, I’ve spoken to a number of different people, and I’m going with the state.”

Mike Pence, meanwhile, has also vowed an “immediate” review of executive orders issued by President Obama — which could include his directive to schools to allow students to use facilities matching their gender identity.

ANTI-QUEER LEGISLATION

Trump has pledged to sign the First Amendment Defense Act, which protects discrimination on religious grounds and prohibits the government from taking action against anyone who “believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman.”

It’s eerily familiar to the bill that lost Indiana $60 million and alienated the queer community from the Hoosier state — The Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The measure would invalidate President Obama’s executive order from 2014 barring federal contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Trump/Pence’s win also effectively kills the Equality Act, or any effort to protect queer Americans from discrimination in the workplace, housing, healthcare, or other arenas.

On his website, Pence declared, “Congress should oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals as a ‘discrete and insular minority’ entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.”

HATE VIOLENCE

“As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” Donald Trump promised after the attack at Pulse Nightclub.

We appreciate the sentiment, but what about the native threats that continue to plague our community?

The massacre in Orlando in June was the worst mass shooting in American history and the deadliest terrorist attack on US soil since Sept. 11. Sadly, this was not the outlier.

Although the magnitude and violence of the attack was unusual, the targeting of LGBT Americans is sadly common.

In 2014, the number of hate crimes stemming from sexual orientation and gender identity clocked an alarming 1115 incidents. Eighteen of those were directed toward heterosexuals, however. So the total number of reported hate crimes targeting queer people comes in at 1097.

Of the nearly 5500 hate crimes in the US in 2014, about a fifth were motivated by bias against a sexual orientation or gender identity. Of those incidents, 54% targeted gay men specifically. Only two groups were the targets of more hate crimes than gay men: black and Jewish people — although these communities are not mutually exclusive.

Queer Americans, however, are targeted in hate crimes at 8.3 times the rate you’d expect based on the size of their population; that’s higher than the rate for both Jews (at 3.5) and black people (at 3.2).

Mike Pence, meanwhile, complained when the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Bill was signed into law in 2009. He insisted it was part of a “radical social agenda” that would have “a chilling effect on religious expression, from the pulpits, in our temples, in our mosques, and in our churches.”

HIV/AIDS

Trump has not issued a policy statement about addressing HIV/AIDS in America or worldwide.

His VP Mike Pence, however, has a checkered past when it comes to HIV. One of his defining moments as Indiana’s governor was enabling a massive HIV outbreak spurred by public-health funding cuts and Pence’s moralistic stance against needle exchanges.

Pence first laid the groundwork for Indiana’s HIV outbreak as a congressman back in 2011, when the House passed his amendment to defund Planned Parenthood. Then in 2013, Pence’s first year as governor of Indiana, Scott County’s single Planned Parenthood closed in the wake of public-health spending cuts. Since that particular Planned Parenthood was also the county’s only HIV testing center, there was no longer a place for the county’s 24,000 residents to get tested.

Fast-forward to 2015. Local health officials began to report HIV cases linked to intravenous prescription opioid use in Scott County. Scott County residents were sharing needles to inject their opioids, and nobody was getting tested.

At the height of the outbreak, 20 new cases of HIV were being diagnosed each week, reaching a total of nearly 200 cases by the time the outbreak was finally under control.

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Mike Pence also supports the debunked efforts to “cure” queer people. On his campaign website he wrote, “Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

This summer, the Republican Party approved a platform that included a rejection of state laws preventing the practice of conversion therapy on minors. The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, now a member of Trump’s “pro-life advisory council,” fought for the platform to endorse the practice even more strongly.

Perkins has said that Trump’s campaign was the only GOP campaign in recent history that he hasn’t had to fight with over issues of “human sexuality” in the party platform.

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DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

Joseph Soto

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND YOUR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT The American people have spoken, and the notso-gentle gentleman from New York will be our 45th President. Well, okay, the American people did speak, but they actually elected Secretary Clinton.

Does that not make sense? Does that aggravate you? Do not fear, my good reader. Let me explain.

The constitution crafted a plan that ensures your vote doesn’t actually count the way you think it does, because while we’re a democracy, it becomes difficult to follow through what that means when it dictates giving the people the power to decide who runs it. You might have heard of the plan our constitution crafted for electing our president. It’s called the Electoral College, and it has evolved to essentially structure a system whereby the

50 states plus Washington, DC each hold their own separate elections for president on Election Day. Eligible citizens can vote, but they aren’t actually voting for the presidential candidates themselves; they’re voting to elect so-called “electors” in their state who will go on to cast the actual votes for president. Each state is given a number of electoral votes equal to the number of

representatives and senators they have, and DC gets three. Candidates receiving the most votes in a state wins all of that state’s electoral votes. They must find a way to win in enough states (but not necessarily the country as a whole) to get to 270 electoral votes. That’s not actually what most of us would characterize as “democratic,” though. NPR did the math and found that a candidate could get to 270 with just 23% of the total popular vote.

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In substantial numbers, the American people have grown tired of the Electoral College, a relic of 18th-century power grabs and prejudiced electoral strategy. Gallup reported in 2013 that 63% of adults would vote for getting rid of it. In fact, the percentage of those who would vote for getting rid of the Electoral College does not fall below 60% for any age demographic, or for Republicans, Independents, and Democrats.

Aldo Torres, a college graduate from Aurora, is one of the many people who are fed up with the system we have. He said, “I believe a political reform is necessary, and having Donald Trump as the president only emphasizes that point.”

Like many millennials, he is obviously weary over the proposed policies of Mr. Trump, but he is also concerned that the will of the majority is being ignored in this country. In an unfortunate repeat of the 2000 presidential election, his concerns have seemingly been validated.

Dan Valdez, a current college student also from Aurora, gave me a similar opinion. He stated, “Yeah, the electoral thing has got to go. It’s not fair. I’m disappointed more than anything. It’s sad that somebody with no political background can run for office, even though Clinton worked so hard for it.” Dan is exactly right. It’s not fair, and the nonchalant attitude Dan showed toward the implicit unfairness of our Electoral College is symptomatic of a deep-rooted disillusionment with an electoral process seemingly aimed at undermining the voice of each individual voter.

Those two aren’t not the only ones who feel this way. When I spoke with Eric Soto — yes, I talk to my Dad about the articles I write — about the results of the election, he was confused at how Hillary Clinton received more votes but ended up having to give a concession speech the next morning. “I’m old-fashioned, but one vote is one vote.” While I wish he were right, the projected 1.5 million more people who will have voted for Clinton than for Trump would probably beg to differ.

However you are feeling about the outcome of this election, it has to grate upon your democratic sensibilities to see one candidate win the election without the popular vote. If you believe in the idea of a democratic election, and if you also believe in one person having one equal vote, call your representative at 202225-3121 and your senators at 202-224-3121 to tell them that.

TEST AND TALK TO PUT AN END TO HIV. Let’s talk. No, let’s really talk. About your HIV status. Because in the Denver metro area, 1 in 7 gay and bisexual men who are living with HIV do not know their status. So, before things go to the next level, bring HIV into the conversation and talk about it.

D E N V E R B R I N G S I T U P. O R G

DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

Denny Patterson

LGBT FOR TRUMP When Donald Trump won the presidential election, the world was stunned. After inciting hatred and violence throughout his campaign, many believed the votes would go to Hillary Clinton, which would have made her the county’s first woman president.

Obviously, that did not happen.

Although Trump has claimed to be a Democrat in the past, he ran as the Republican nominee. As we all know, the Republican party is extremely conservative in their ways and generally oppose many LGBT rights such as marriage equality, adoption, and health benefits. However, Trump did not manage to scare away every LGBT voter.

Matthew Schanz, 29, a police officer being one of them. I received the chance to chat with Schanz and pick his brain on why he voted for Trump.

What was the deciding factor that made you want to vote for Donald Trump?

Being in a profession of law enforcement, officers are fighting a war and we’re losing.

Every time you turn on the television, we see that another office has been shot or paralyzed. Another officer is dead. Then we have to go to a funeral. Police officers

are very unified; we’re all brothers in blue.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a partner and we just got married on September 24 of this year and I know Trump and Mike Pence are against that, but at the same time, I feel there is another war going on. The police department and officers who are fighting this are losing. We need to take a stance on that right now. I’m not saying

forget about the LGBT fight, just put it on hold for a second.

Were you for Trump from the start?

Back when Hillary tried running for president in 2008, I was actually for her then. When she said she was running again this year, for some reason, I just wasn’t for it. Different factors come into

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DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

play, and the whole email scheme. I don’t know what exactly happened with that, and I really don’t care, but at the same time something obviously happened. The FBI opens an investigation then closes it, then hackers end up finding new stuff so the FBI opens a new investigation, and she didn’t really stand for anything. Trump was all for making America great and he stands for law enforcement which I’m deeply involved in.

What do you hope to see from Trump’s presidency?

The United States is so divided, and I hope he can bring everyone together. I hope he can show the American people that we can be great when we are unified. I think that’s the biggest thing right now. We just all need to stand unified and try to work out our problems and get on the same page. We are heading in the wrong direction which will only get worse.

So what about all of these hate crimes? Do you think Trump can stop this? Because right now they are escalating.

They are escalating right now, especially with the protests out there. Here’s the thing: People don’t know what Trump is made of yet. People are protesting, and we haven’t seen Trump do anything yet. He’s not in office. People have not given him a chance. The hate is so strong against him.

Even Hillary and Obama said that we need to see what Trump is made of. Let him get in office and let us see what he can do for the American people. I stand for every race, religion, sexual orientation, etc., and I hope that he can bring us all together. A lot of my friends who know that I voted for Trump have been like, “Thank you for not letting me get married to my partner.” I’m like, there are bigger fights to be won right now.

I’m not dissing the LGBT community; there are just some bigger issues right now. We are losing lives.

Have you received any backlash from family or friends?

Oh, yes. Definitely.

As a member of the LGBT community, you’re not frightened at all by a Trump presidency?

No. It’s more Mike Pence that I’m worried about. Trump is a business guy. He usually sits at the table and lets other people run his company, and I feel like he’s trying to figure

out how to do that now which isn’t good. I hope he takes charge, but it’s like I said, Mike Pence is the one I’m really worried about.

He’s going to be the one who tries to change things around. The LGBT community has won some fights, and lost some fights. I’m not saying, “Hey, we should give up.” We can fight some more and that’s the biggest thing we need to keep in mind. We have our numbers out there. We just have to wait until Trump gets in office and see what happens.

Do you think marriage equality could be turned over?

That’s such a tough question. You know, I don’t know. I hope not. I saw Trump hold up a rainbow flag at one of his rallies, and you know, that takes a lot for someone who doesn’t believe in gay marriage to hold that up. Trump said marriage equality is what it is, and let it be. Mike Pence, on the other hand, is going to fight it until the end. That is when we are going to have to fight to show him he’s wrong. History is repeating itself.

African Americans didn’t have the right to vote, drink from a white man’s water fountain, etc. We are not at the front and we are trying to get to the point where we are as equal as everyone one.

Speaking of the rainbow f lag Trump held up at a rally, do you think he was genuinely supporting the LGBT community, or could that have just been a publicity stunt to help his campaign?

It could go either way. It could have been genuine, but it also could not. I think a lot of people think it’s a publicity stunt, but like I said, you don’t know until we get him in office and see what he’s made of. We need to see what he’s going to do.

Do you think we should be concerned by how many antiLGBT people Trump is appointing to his staff ?

I think we should be concerned about that.

The more people Trump has on his team who are against gay marriage, I think the stronger we will become. Whenever he wants

to change something or make something into law, he’s going to have people backing him, and that’s what we need to watch for. Like I said, I definitely have feelings for the LGBT community, I want to make that clear. Right now, we are not losing our marriage equality.

I have seen on television people who voted

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for Trump being pulled out vehicles and beat on. I don’t think that’s right. I think we need to shift our focus on bigger issues such as law enforcement. LGBT rights is a huge issue, but let’s worry about things when they arise.

Do you honestly believe America made the right decision?

I do. I just did not care much for Hillary. I agree with Trump on making America great. That is something big to live up to. He can’t just go out whenever he becomes president and be like, “Hey, I’m overturning this, the Supreme Court had no right.” He has to go through channels. Gay rights are not going to be gone within the snap of a finger. We will be able to voice our opinion and fight for it.

Do you think the outcome would have been different if Bernie Sanders was the Democratic nominee?

Yes, I think Bernie would have won it. I don’t know much about him, but it looks like he is making it a point to let Trump know ahead of time that there are going to be problems if he tries to pick on minorities. I think once Trump gets in office, we will have to play it by ear and see what happens.

How does your partner feel about you supporting Trump?

[Laughs] Well, he didn’t vote at all. He’s always voted before, but he didn’t like either one of them and he’s not going to settle on either one.

What advice do you have for those who are freaking out?

I’ve heard it from my friends, and you know, it’s all hate. It’s just pure hate. People are like, “Trump is going to do this and that,” when he hasn’t done anything right now. One of my cousins called me.

She’s a school teacher, and she had some people from the LGBT community come up to her and voice their opinion on how scared they are. I feel that we have won so much that we shouldn’t be scared. I think we have the ultimate power, and if Trump leads us in the wrong direction, we have the right to impeach him.

We have the right to do many things as citizens of the United States. We do not have to settle. I really want to emphasize to the LGBT community to wait and see what the outcome is. If it begins to head in the wrong direction, then voice your opinion. There is no need to go out on the street and protest when nothing has happened yet. Just because you didn’t get your way, you don’t cry about it. You wait and see what happens.

You move on. That’s what African Americans did when they were fighting for equal rights — they fought and won. We can do the same. We can stand, united.

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DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

Vanessa Williams

INTERVIEW WITH AN

ASIANAMERICAN TRUMP SUPPORTER During the presidential primaries, I recall seeing a meme that said, “Everyone I know is voting for Bernie, but somehow Hillary keeps winning.” And it made me think, Do I have a skewed view of what is normal, true, or common based on who I’m around?

Who is “everyone”? Is “everyone” just “everyone I know”? Because those are two different things. And last week, Donald Trump won the presidential election because — guess what — basically half the country wanted him to. (That’s a wake-up call that America ain’t all that “woke.”)

So last night, I sat down with a newer friend of mine, Lizz, and asked her to do me the pleasure of engaging me in a conversation about why she — a young, Asian-American woman — voted for Donald Trump.

In the primaries, who was your first-choice candidate?

Who was in the primaries? [I rattled off the list — Rubio, Carson, Cruz ...] Oh, yeah. I didn’t vote. My first choice would have been Paul Ryan. He didn’t run so I didn’t vote. Paul Ryan is more of liberal Republican. He has strong family values, his faith is a part of his views, but I don’t feel like he’s as pushy as Donald Trump.

Trump seems to mainly want to control people and enforce his personal views on a power trip.

Were you sure of your vote during this election?

I was undecided until the day before. I looked up the options for valid write-ins, and I didn’t like any of them so I decided to just going with my party.

Why did you feel Trump was the best choice?

I just feel like — I mean he’s rude, sexist, racist, or at least came off that way in his campaign. But I think he did a lot of that to stir the pot. Even if he feels that way for real, I’d rather at least have someone be honest about their views. We probably only get about 60% of the truth at best from politicians. I feel like he’s giving us closer to that 60%. Hillary Clinton seems like she wants to present a picture-perfect American front. But you can just tell she’ll do whatever benefits her.

Did you see any value in her campaign at all?

No. Not really.

How do you typically align yourself politically?

I would say I am a liberal Republican.

Is that how you’ve always identified?

Yeah. I had super-liberal parents, and most of my family is pretty liberal. Like, back in

2008, that was the first time I could vote. I voted for John McCain, and I was basically alone in that. But I was also raised with conventional values — traditional, Christian values. I ultimately decided as I grew up that I wanted to line up my political views with my religious views. I felt like liberal parties veer away from Christian values.

So, what about Donald Trump’s campaign or issues he brought up did you feel lined up with your views?

There was nothing largely standout.

I was drawn to his honesty. And the crazier stuff he wants to do? I don’t feel like he can do it. He can’t really change gay marriage. I think men and women will stay equal. I mean, there are parts of this that do tug at my heart. I don’t like that people are fearing for their

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lives — muslims, minorities, gay people feeling they aren’t safe anymore. I think the threat is really those radical people.

Just like people fear radical Islam, there are radical people in America who are violent. But I think they would feel that way anyway.

I do think we need to vet who we let into the country better. I’d be nuts to say all Muslims are a threat.

Trump kind of said that, though, by saying he’d ban them all coming in.

Well there are radical Muslims and that’s where the focus should be. You have people who fear Black Lives Matter, but that’s just ignorant. BLM isn’t trying to kill anyone; they are trying to create awareness. Saying, “Hey, this isn’t okay.”

But ISIS is something to actually worry about. Our focus is all wrong.

You don’t think this election and Donald Trump’s passive condoning of his radical fans’ behavior has ANYTHING to do with that fear?

No.

Have you seen people at his rallies yelling ‘fuck the f *gs’ and ‘hang the n*ggers’?

No.

Well it did happen. Lots and he never said, “Hey, that’s not what we’re doing.” And what he did say was a lot of things that people who hold racist and religious biases wanted to get behind. ‘All black people live terrible lives. Stop and frisk is fine. The gay marriage ruling needs to be overturned.’

People felt that way, anyway.

So, you don’t think people feel more comfortable coming out of the shadows with hateful views now — when they feel the leader of the free world is just like them?

People would do it anyway, eventually.

Would you rather know a person is racist or have them be that way and keep smiling in your face?

“The 2016 election has proven to be one of mixed results for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. While we are pleased that many of the pro-equality champions we endorsed in this election won their races and have vowed to stand up for our families at the state Capitol, we were unable to gain a pro-equality majority in Colorado’s State Senate, putting several important rights and protections for Colorado’s LGBTQ community in jeopardy. We are proud that One Colorado’s staff and volunteers worked around the clock to talk to voters about the stakes of this election and make sure our voices were heard — knocking on nearly 4,000 doors, making over 15,000 phone calls, and turning over 80% of our supporters out to vote.

“We want to congratulate Senator Michael Bennett, a consistent pro-equality champion, on his re-election to the United States Senate. We look forward to seeing him continue to represent our Colorado values of openness, respect, and equality in Washington.

“We also know that a Donald Trump presidency is likely to have an unprecedented impact on LGBTQ Americans. We fear transgender people across the country will be denied access to restrooms. We are worried that the US House and Senate will push even harder to pass religious-exemption laws, like the one that passed in Indiana, to deny our families protections.

Our President-elect has vowed to take health coverage away from millions of Americans — including LGBTQ Americans — so they can no longer get the care they need. And our next President will have the opportunity to change the composition of the Supreme Court and roll back the progress we have made.

“There is a lot at stake, as there always has been, and One Colorado is committed more than ever to holding the line, so that none of our victories are taken away at the state level. We will continue to work with our LGBTQ-friendly state legislators and the governor’s office on important issues such as the Birth Certificate Modernization Act and a statewide ban on the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy. We will also continue our work to block religious-exemption legislation from becoming law in Colorado and fight any other attempts to roll back protections for LGBTQ Coloradans. In the coming years, we’ll be watching carefully to make sure our community holds our leaders accountable.

“Ultimately, One Colorado will continue to build partnerships on both sides of the aisle to win on the issues that matter to LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. This includes advocating for transgender Coloradans who face barriers at every turn, LGBTQ students who face bullying and harassment in our schools, those encountering obstacles in doctors’ offices or at work, and making sure religious-exemption measures don’t turn back the clock on our victories. LGBTQ Coloradans deserve the same chance as everyone else to earn a living, be safe in their communities, pursue health and happiness, and take care of the ones they love.”

Daniel Ramos, Executive Director of One Colorado One Colorado is the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBT+) Coloradans and their families. One-Colorado.org

DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

Um, I don’t want them to kill me or harass me. So, while I’d rather they didn’t feel that way … they can feel however they want, but they can’t take those feelings and harm me without consequence. What about all the people who stand to lose rights if Trump has his way?

I didn’t agree with the Supreme Court taking away the states’ right to vote on gay marriage. If it got overturned, I wouldn’t be brokenhearted.

You think it would be cool to invalidate a marriage or make only one of an adopted child’s parents able to stay the parent?

Most Americans didn’t agree with gay marriage, but they didn’t get to choose.

Um, where did you get that from? It’s the opposite everywhere I’ve looked. Why do you think gay marriage even needs to be up to the state? Shouldn’t it just be a constitutional right?

I think it goes back to the basic principles that the country was built on. I don’t think we should control people’s basic rights to happiness. The church is founded on principles that don’t align with that. So why should I care?

Would it be okay for someone to feel that way about you? For them to say well, it’s not a part of my religion so I don’t care if it hurts you?

Well no. But people benefit from Christian morals and then don’t want to follow the rest. And people typically get married in church.

Christianity happens to be a religion of some founders. But ‘don’t lie, kill, steal’ etc., pretty much everyone believes that. That’s religion and basic human decency — not just Christian. Satanists believe in the same morals. And while you might have a marriage in a church, the church doesn’t marry you.

The state does. You can have married outside or in a museum. [Think about] the old racial miscegenation laws — you couldn’t marry any of the white boys you’ve dated. And that’s how this country was founded. On some good thing but a lot of crap too.

Well I can see that. I don’t want laws infringing on my choices.

But you did vote for someone who raved about how he would do just that …

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DEC E M B E R 07, 2016

Yvonne Wright

DO WE REALLY WANT TO IMPEACH TRUMP? IF WE WANT A MIKE PENCE PRESIDENCY, THEN I SUPPOSE SO

Google searches for “how to impeach a president” increased by nearly 5000 percent within hours of Donald Trump’s win. As you read this, the right and the left are organizing strategies to do just that.

Others aren’t just calling for it; they’re certain of it. Allan Lichtman is known as the “Prediction Professor” for correctly forecasting nearly every presidential election since 1984. Now, he tells the

Washington Post he’s “quite certain Trump will give someone grounds for impeachment, either by doing something that endangers national security or because it helps his pocketbook.”

On the face of it, impeachment sounds good to those frightened by the business mogul’s rise to power. Before jumping on the impeachment bandwagon, you may want to consider who would then run the

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country: Mike Pence. Many Republicans would love that. The soon-to-be vice president is one of the most conservative politicians in the country and party members feel he can be controlled. If you’re on the left, beware! A Pence presidency would likely be worse for you than a Trump one.

A few issues to consider:

LGBT Rights: While Trump is promising to approve the most wide-sweeping anti-gay federal legislation of our time, Pence has already done so. As governor of Indiana, he signed the nation’s first “religious freedom” law that allowed Indiana businesses to refuse to serve members of the LGBT community. (Like how companies used to be allowed to refuse to serve African Americans.)

The law was so restrictive, Pence had to sign an amendment to reverse it after several major organizations, including the NBA and Walmart, threatened a boycott.

Right to Choose: During his campaign, Trump did not specify the type of laws he’ll approve to restrict abortion. If he’s looking for guidance, Pence is the man. In April, he signed into law a measure outlawing abortions based on fetal chromosomal abnormalities that can lead to serious (sometimes fatal) birth defects. Among other things, it also bans fetal-tissue donation and requires aborted fetuses to be cremated or buried.

A federal judge put this law on hold.

Drug Laws: We don’t know for sure what Trump’s position is now, but in the past he’s opposed stronger drug laws. Not so for Pence. Not only does he support stricter laws, he expressed pleasure while signing an Indiana law that reinstated mandatory minimum drug sentences.

Two offenses will land a person in prison for a full decade.

Immigration: Trump appears to be softening on immigration. Despite campaign promises to deport millions of people here illegally, he’s now focused only on those who have committed crimes (most, under current laws, would be deported anyway).

As for his wall along the Mexican border? He told 60 Minutes he’s settling for a fence in some parts.

Pence is not backing down. While governor, he blocked all Syrian refugees from Indiana and illegally tried to cut aid to refugees already there.

The truth about Trump is that he tends to say one thing, then either denies saying it or contradicts it. We don’t know for sure what he will do on any of these issues when push comes to shove. Pence, on the other hand, has a proven track-record.

I

often find myself comparing humans to other species and — unsurprisingly — find similarities that prove we’re often more alike than we are different. Take winter migration, for example. It’s an instinctive ritual that happens year after year. So is it a coincidence that we humans often return home this time of year to be with our friends and families? Probably. But it does seem oddly similar.

When it comes to holidays, I would contend that we’re drawn to tradition — the tradition of recreating fond memories, loving feelings, and festive activities. If not, our friends over at the Colorado Ballet wouldn’t produce their amazing Nutcracker Ballet year after year.

So if you’re a sentimental type (or know someone who is), here’s a list of traditional shows that should find their way onto your holiday activity list. No need to check your list twice — we’ve done it for you!

Tis the Season for HolidayTheater Jerry Cunningham

A CHRISTMAS STORY THE MUSICAL

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY

Town Hall Arts Center: Now through Dec. 28

Spotlight Theatre: Now through December 18

Follow 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts — an Official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn with, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Ralphie plots numerous schemes to satisfy his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. A Christmas Story, The Musical will bring an exciting new dimension to those who have seen the movie and will certainly stand on its own for those who haven’t. TownHallArtsCenter.org

This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. MetroLyrics.com

THE SANTALAND DIARIES Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Now through Dec. 24 Looking for a little more snark in your stocking? Crumpet the Elf returns for more hilarious hijinks in this acclaimed one-man show based on stories by David Sedaris.

Crumpet will regale you with twisted tales from his stint in Macy’s SantaLand. Get all of those holiday carols out of your head and check out the sure cure for the common Christmas show. DenverCenter.org

THE NUTCRACKER Colorado Ballet: Now through Dec. 24 Colorado Ballet’s 56th annual production of The Nutcracker will feature more than 300 costumes, 30 Company dancers, 20 Studio Company dancers, 65 Academy dancers, scenery by José Varona, and timeless choreography paired with Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary arrangement performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

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I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Arvada Center: Now through Dec. 23 Set in 1969, the Bright family prepares for their annual Christmas variety show, one of the most-watched and anticipated television events of the year. In the midst of rehearsals, they welcome their eldest son home from the war. The show features fun costumes, great dance numbers, and exciting new music along with a few seasonal favorites.

ArvadaCenter.org

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Miner’s Alley: Now through Dec. 23 This hilarious, fast-paced adaptation uses only five actors to bring Dickens’ most beloved characters to life. From Scrooge and Tiny Tim to Bob Cratchit and Mrs. Fezziwig, Barlow’s A Christmas Carol uses nothing more than simple props, fun physicality, and the power of imagination to convey this timeless story of redemption. Witness Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from a stingy miser to a man who generously celebrates the spirit of the season all year long in this brand-new adaptation that’s destined to become your favorite holiday celebration! MinersAlley.com

MERRY AND GAY! The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus’ Holiday Spectacular was held at the Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Denver on Dec. 1–3, and will wrap up at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch on Dec. 11. The DGMC, under the tutelage of artistic director James Knapp, was founded in 1982 and strives to build community and foster acceptance, diversity and tolerance through music.

Photos by Charles Broshous

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CALENDAR As I’m writing this column, I can’t believe that Colorado is actually seeing highs close to 80! Hopefully by the time you read this, we’ll reach a temperature that’s a little more in tune with the season!

If you’re having trouble getting into the holiday spirit, go to some of the events recommended in this issue’s calendar! Remember, you can recommend events to me directly! j.m.halterman@gmail.com @Mike_Halterman

Mike Halterman

DEC 07

A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS Avant-garde filmmaker John Waters has given us such cinematic gems as Serial Mom, Hairspray, Cry Baby, Polyester ... and who can forget that scene (you know which one) in Pink Flamingos?

Now Colorado audiences will get to hear his thoughts on the holiday season, what it would be like if gay people became straight for a day, and more in A John Waters Christmas, which will take place at the Boulder Theater on Wednesday, December 7 at 8pm. Tickets start at $35 ($115 for VIP) and can be bought at BoulderTheater.com.

DEC 08-11

DEC 09-11

A COLORADO CHRISTMAS WORLDS OF ENCHANTMENT Feld Entertainment is proud to present the latest Disney On Ice arena show called Worlds of Enchantment.

Whether you have kids yourself or you’re a kid at heart (and who among us Disney fans aren’t?), you will have fun seeing your favorite Disney characters up-close! Characters from Cars, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen will be featured, as will Mickey and Minnie Mouse! Eight shows (matinees and evenings) will be performed at the Pepsi Center in Denver from Thursday, December 8 through Sunday, December 11. Tickets start at $15. Visit AltitudeTickets.com for more information.

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‘Tis the season to attend a Colorado Symphony concert! The first of three shows I have to tell you about this issue is called A Colorado Christmas and will also feature the talents of the Colorado Symphony Chorus and the Colorado Children’s Chorale. Sing along with the chorus as they present your favorite carols, and get your photo taken with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus! There will be four performances at the Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver between Friday, December 9 and Sunday, December 11. ColoradoSymphony.org

DEC 11

RUDOLPH THE

DEC 16-18

RED-NOSED REINDEER

TIG NOTARO Comedienne and writer Tig Notaro has had an eventful last few years — she successfully battled cancer, she wrote and released her memoir I’m Just a Person, and she wrote, produced, and starred in her own Netflix series called One Mississippi. Now she will be bringing her one-woman stand-up show to the Boulder Theater on Sunday, December 11 at 8pm. Fellow lesbian comic Nancy Norton will open. Tickets are $35 and can be bought at BoulderTheater.com.

DEC 12+18

You know the story well: Rudolph, a reindeer at the North Pole, was made fun of and excluded by the other reindeer, but eventually saved the day when he proved his worth to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve! Watch the TV adaptation of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer come to life as a musical on stage at the Buell Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex from Friday, December 16 to Sunday, December 18. Tickets start at $20. Visit DenverCenter.org for more information.

DEC 20

CELTIC WOMAN QUARTET The quartet Celtic Woman (Máiréad Carlin, Susan McFadden, Éabha McMahon and Tara McNeill) will come to the Mile High City for a special Christmas concert with the Colorado Symphony.

Their angelic voices, mixed with superb performances from the local symphony, are guaranteed to make you feel “holiday cheerful!” This unique presentation can be seen at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver for one night only, Tuesday, December 20, at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $40. Visit ColoradoSymphony.org for more information.

LESSONS + CAROLS Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church (1980 Dahlia St., Denver) offers two free events in the month of December. The first is Love Unbound: A Service of Remembrance on Monday, December 12 at 7 pm, geared toward helping people process feelings of sadness during this time of year. The second is Lessons and Carols, which retells the Christmas story through scripture and music.

That special hour will be performed twice, at 9 and 11am, on Sunday, December 18. For more information, visit Montview.org.

DEC 17-18

COLORADO SYMPHONY + CHORUS Nicholas Kraemer returns to Denver to lead the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Symphony Chorus for three holiday performances of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. One of the most revered oratorios of all time, Messiah is led to new heights when performed by the Symphony and the Chorus.

There will be performances on Friday, December 16 and Saturday, December 17 at 7:30pm, as well as Sunday, December 18 at 4pm at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver. ColoradoSymphony.org.

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T

he holiday season is a great time to stay cozy, spend time with loved ones, and take some much-needed time for rest and relaxation. But many thoughtful and conscious people today are starting to take a real issue with the days being celebrated during the winter months. Between the racist and oppressive connotations of Thanksgiving and the religious and consumeristic overtones of the Christmas season, it is hard not to think about these moral issues when trying to get into the holiday spirit.

Be that as it may, there’s a reason that this time of year has been celebrated even since the days of the pagans. When it is dark and cold outside, in order to stave off feelings of loneliness and depression, humans find it necessary to band together, celebrate life, keep things cheerful and festive indoors, and feast to keep themselves warm and snug during months that encourage hibernation.

And inherently, these basic ideas behind the time of year aren’t anything to be opposed to; everyone can get behind things like love, unity, giving back and staying safe, warm, and well-fed. Here are a few ways to celebrate the holidays with a non-traditional flare that will inspire creativity as well as warmth and good vibes.

The Holidays Minus Racist Iconography & Rampant Consumerism Addison Herron-Wheeler

DECK THE HALLS Just because you don’t celebrate Christmas or another traditional December holiday that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate and keep your house warm and festive during the cold winter months. If your idea of decking the halls means hanging Pride flags and banners everywhere or keeping your Halloween decorations up all year long, do you and keep things colorful and happy inside. This will help stave off winter depression during long, cold months indoors.

FEAST, COOK, AND SHARE FOOD This is also a great time of year to get together with loved ones and share awesome meals. You don’t have to cook the traditional holiday fare; go ahead and give it a vegan spin, keep it gluten-free, or make (or order) traditional cuisine from other countries if you’re tired of American food. Whatever you do, just make sure you’re eating and having a good time with people who you care about. And if you’re on a hardcore diet, that means no sweets or carbs, consider cheating a little for the good of the holiday season.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LOVE This time of year can be particularly rough for those who feel they don’t really have a home to go to during the holidays. Whether you dread trips home because you aren’t out to your parents or feel you have to be someone you’re not around them, or you just can’t afford a plane ticket back home, 4 0 \\ D E C E M B E R 0 7 , 2 0 1 6

linking up with extended family isn’t in the cards for everyone every year. If this is you, then spend extra time with a significant other or others, and keep your friends and colleagues close. Even consider having a party or get-together for those you love who might be sticking around without their extended families this year. You’ll feel great and closer to everyone, and the weeks and days off will fly by instead of drag on.

GIVE BACK, GIVE, AND SPREAD JOY Another aspect of the holiday season, namely Christmas, that gets an especially bad rap is gift giving. Somehow, Christmas has turned into a commercial bonanza in the US, with a whole lot of focus on buying a bunch of crap you don’t need to give away on Christmas day. Instead of just participating in this cycle, take your extra cash or food this winter and give back to a charity or drive. This will help brighten things up for others during the cold months and it will definitely put you in a good mood. Also consider exchanging cheap or homemade gifts with friends. Making something from the heart or playing a fun gift exchange game is a good way to get closer to friends without feeling like you’re buying their affections.

So this year, when you hear those first Christmas carols on the radio and want to punch a hole in the wall, stifle your inner Scrooge, put in some headphones to block out the noise, and start planning some fun activities for your unique holiday season.

NETCHIX AND CHILL AT CHARLIE’S NetChix and Chill was held during Neon Friday at Charlie’s on November 11th. The interactive drag extravaganza uses visual technology to enhance each performance. The show, hosted

by Veronica Taylor-Michaels, featured performances from Khloe Katz, Vandy J. Sexton, Kristina Fatale, and Jazzmin Love. NetChix and Chill is held in the Jack Daniels Lounge on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month.

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Kris Kringle Who? Arianna J. Balderrama

HANUKKAH Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration rooted from a victory made over 2000 years ago.

The Jewish triumph was over religious mistreatment from the Greek-Syrian oppressors during the Maccabean Revolt.

C

hristmas gets all the attention these days. Can we switch it up and learn a bit about other ways to celebrate the season?

The history began when the Land of Israel was under the ruling of the Seleucid king of Syria known as Antiochus III. This ruler allowed the Jews in the land to continue their religious practices, but once when Antiochus IV Epiphanes came under ruling, Jewish religious practices were banned and Greek religious practices became forced.

Syrians used the sacred Jewish worshipping monument called the Second Temple to construct a temple for Zeus, the Greek God. Because of the lack of religious expression and sudden dictation, a revolt led by Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons began.

This war lasted for three years until the Jews managed to drive the Syrians out of the land only to find the temple had enough oil to light the menorah for a single night. As a result, the menorah happened to burn for eight days, buying enough time to produce more oil.

This accomplishment is now celebrated as a holiday traditionally beginning on the 25th of Kislev, a month on the Jewish calendar, usually falling on November or December.

This holiday is celebrated within eight days and each day is celebrated with lighting a menorah along with traditional foods, gifts, and games.

KWANZAA Kwanzaa is traditionally a holiday rooted in African culture. This holiday was introduced by a professor in the 1960s, Dr. Karenga, in order to recognize African roots and thrive in culture. The holiday was intended for that reason only, but soon became a religious branch.

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Kwanzaa is celebrated by lighting seven candles on a Kinara, each representing its own meaning. The center black candle holds the meaning of unity. The left side holds three red candles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; these symbolize self determination, cooperative economics, and creativity. The three green candles symbolize collective work, purpose, and faith. When each candle is lit, the representation is discussed the night of the lighting. The lighting of the Kinara begins on the 26th of December.

Traditional songs are sung and sharing a meal is a must. In fact, in order to celebrate, people drink wine from the same cup as a representation of unity. Then the family pours out the wine as an honor to their ancestors.

YULE Yule is a winter holiday celebrated

by Wiccans and Pagans in order to acknowledge when the dark half of the year falls into the light half of the year also, known as Solstice Night.

Pagan and Wiccan ancestors celebrate this night in honor of the Oak King, the Sun King, and the Giver Of Life.

People in celebration of the Winter Solstice light bonfires and trees are wassailed.

Children are then escorted to houses to sing carols and share food baskets. Apples and oranges in the baskets represent the sun, wheat stalks represent harvest ,and flour hold the meaning of triumph, light, and life.

The root of this celebration was the ceremonial Solstice log which is decorated with traditional seasoning. This log is then burned and left to smolder for 12 days, before being ceremonially put out. It is said that these customs and many more are used in the popular holiday, Christmas.

Yule is a Pagan and Wiccan holiday that is mainly celebrated around the shift between summer and winter.

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H E I N Z ES I G H T

NEXT EVOLUTION OF THE GAY MOVEMENT Brent Heinze

For the past six years, I’ve been writing this column in the hopes that individuals in our community will read these perspectives and decide to make changes in their personal lives, both with how they treat themselves and others. So many people complain about how the gay community doesn’t seem to be a supportive environment even though most of us have experienced extreme social awkwardness, judgement from people in our lives, and fear that we won’t be accepted by others. Unfortunately, many have experienced the discomfort caused by interactions with individuals around us.

I think it’s extremely important to make the distinction between talking about how some people choose to act as compared to describing an entire group of people. Not everyone is aggressive or dismissive, but for many of us, it may seem like it at times. It doesn’t matter if you are in a social environment or engaging online — there are individuals who play games, lash out, feel threatened, or act like jackasses. Some deal with mental, emotional, or physical issues. Others’ issues because of past experiences become so debilitating that it affects many aspects of their lives and creates barriers for them from developing supportive relationships. The trick is to pick out the great ones

while dismissing the individuals that make you want to unplug from anything social with gay people.

Unfortunately, our community has two completely divergent stereotypes. The first is that we are comprised of highly attractive, intelligent, dynamic people. Many times, personal experiences support the second perception that we show extremely high levels of insecurity, judgment, lack of social grace, and negative attitudes toward ourselves and others around us. Issues like race, HIV status, economic status, age, and body type support stigma that can separate us and lead into creating snap judgements to treat people disrespectfully.

We don’t have to act like this. There is nothing in our genetic or societal make up that drives us to be mean-spirited. It is all about personal choices about how we choose to treat other people and handle ourselves in a variety of situations. Think about ways that we have control over our interaction with others. It is up to all of us to make changes. Take the next evolutionary step by changing the way we treat people.

Let’s move our culture to a new place of personal acceptance and kindness by challenging ourselves and others to be respectful, compassionate, and friendly. It’s not a difficult concept to understand, but may be tough for some to implement. This change in philosophy takes time to wind through social circles, but if we all stand united, it can work. We have the opportunity to stand together just as we have in the past when struggling for equality. All of us have the ability to have a direct impact on the LGBTQ community right now. Give being nice a chance.

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PHOTO // RYAN MCGUIRE

I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY GAY MEN ARE MEAN AT EVENTS OR ONLINE. THESE GUYS SEEM TO GET OFF ON MAKING OTHER PEOPLE FEEL BADLY OR JUST IGNORE THEM LIKE THEY DON’T EXIST. FOR A COMMUNITY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE, IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT MOST OF THE TIME. WITH ALL OTHER GREAT STRIDES TOWARD NONDISCRIMINATION, WHY DO PEOPLE MAKE OUR CULTURE SO HOSTILE?

H EA LT H

I SOMETIMES IMAGINE DEPRESSION AS PAIR OF OPAQUE LENSES nailed directly to my face. Everything is about as clear as obsidian glass, the weight pulls at the skin, and my peripheral vision is narrowed, like I’m stuck in a coffin and can only see in a single direction.

What sucks is that you can’t just pry them off of your eye sockets, no matter how hard you try — short of taking a claw hammer to the skull.

Antidepressant medications are costly and not always successful, assuming you aren’t debilitated by the multitude of dreadful side-effects. And though therapy helps others, I’ve found that finding a therapist who can actually help remove those lenses is problematic and (of course) expensive.

“Just get over it,” I’ve been told on multiple occasions. And most of the time I do, pushing through the tasks of the day inundated by smog, trapped inside an askew reality no one else can see or experience but me.

And because those lenses cover the eyes, they insulate the mind: the genesis of thought, of consciousness, of the very decision-making process itself. Life becomes a vacuum, and depression thrives in isolation.

However, over the years I’ve learned to develop a healthy distance between myself and what I see and experience — an experience sometimes filtered through those irksome lenses.

Lenses that make a birthday celebration with friends feel about as cheerful as a funeral. What should be a nice drive into the mountains to reset mentally, becomes a monumentally overwhelming task void of meaning. Eating lunch becomes a pointless chore.

Then those feelings become incessant, lasting for weeks or months at a time, all while I’m frantically yanking at the lenses with cracked fingers, yearning to once again see just a patch of green grass or a sliver of blue sky — anything that would make me feel at least content.

I used to think that if I could isolate the cause, the reason those lenses were nailed to my face, I could somehow abate or even stop depression from turning the simple act of chewing and swallowing food into a miserable act of desperation to survive.

But no matter how I changed my circumstances — from getting a new job that was more fulfilling or removing toxic people from my life — those lenses would remain steadfast in front of my eyes.

DUELING WITH DEPRESSION: DEVELOPING DISTANCE Mike Yost 4 8 \\ D E C E M B E R 0 7 , 2 0 1 6

And it’s those opaque lenses that are turning a birthday celebration into an open-casket reception, not a moldy cake or an obnoxious drunk at the party. That feeling of seclusion and despair would be there regardless of my surroundings (which can of course diminish or exacerbate depression).

I try to remind myself that these damn lenses are the cause of the distortion, affecting not only everything I see, but how I feel and experience the world around me. Digging that ditch between how I feel and why I feel makes managing my depression much more ... well, manageable.

RED BALL 2016 The 2016 Annual Red Ball was held at the EXDO Event Center on November 20th. Local fashion designers, hairstylists, and makeup artists teamed up for a cutting-edge runway experience to raise awareness for World AIDS Day, and to support services provided by Denver Colorado AIDS Project. The annual event also featured a cocktail reception and silent auction.

Photos by Charles Broshous

BRUTUS

Meet Brutus! This sweet boy is ready to settle into his new home. He does well on the leash and already knows some basic commands. He would do best in a home with older children and would like to meet any resident dogs before adoption.

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H EA LT H

FIRST, BREATHE. THEN, FIGHT. Kelsey Lindsey WEEKS AFTER THE ELECTION, MANY ARE STILL IN SHOCK. Something that was once a punch line is truly real, and a Trump presidency will most likely have a deep impact on the social, health, and environmental progress we have seen in the past eight years.

As members of the LGBT+ community, being stressed at this time is understandable. And while this stress is the perfect fuel for activism and community organizing — two things we will heartedly need in the next four years — it can, unfortunately, also negatively affect your health and wellbeing. The body’s response to stress can lead to a variety of ailments, including a weakened immune system and rising blood pressure. If left unchecked, stress can contribute to depression and anxiety.

There are many stress busters out there, including therapy, exercise, and surrounding yourself with a support group.

But one response is fairly easy, requiring only a basic human instinct: breathing.

Deep breathing, the fixture of meditation and yoga, can help relax the body by stabilizing blood pressure and slowing the heartbeat. But while it may sound easy — “Just breathe! I’ve been doing this my whole life!” — deep breathing requires a mindful approach to the act.

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Trump’s election has stressed the LGBTQ community out. May I suggest a remedy?

Many people only take shallow breaths while “chest breathing,” focusing on holding their stomach muscles in rather than breathing deeply. While this may create the appearance of a flat belly, it also limits the diaphragm’s full range of motion and restricts airflow to the upper parts of the lungs, building up tension and anxiety. To fully enjoy the benefits of a good breath, you gotta let the belly hang out.

Once the stomach is loose, find a quiet place where you can concentrate on your breathing without feeling self-conscious.

Breathe in through the nose long and slow, filling every inch of your lungs from top to bottom. Your belly will most likely expand, almost like you’re doing your best Santa impression.

Then, exhale out slowly through your nose or mouth.

Once you have an idea of this full-belly breathing, there are exercises that can help you focus on your breath and relax even more. The most basic requires you to count while breathing, taking four counts to inhale, then four counts to exhale. Try placing one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach to make sure you’re expanding the diaphragm not the chest when you inhale. Try doing this for about 10 minutes everyday while relaxing your muscles at the same time.

Now that you’re calm, it’s time to focus. And go raise some hell.

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