September 19, 2018 :: Fitness + Health

CO LO R A D O'S LG B TQ M AGA ZINE | F R E E

FITNESS& HEALTH

Pro-LGBTQ Athletes Bird Watching Denver's New HIV Clinic

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 VOL42 NO11

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DROP IN TO DENVER’S NEW HIV HEALTH CENTER: PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S THE DROP IS AN HIV COMMUNITY HUB 8 ACT UP ACTS OUT 12 YOGA: GOOD FOR ALL BODIES, ALL MINDS 17 THE PRESSURES ON LGBTQ DANCERS 24 FOR THE BIRDS: BIRDWATCHING, SAVING THE EARTH, AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY 27 FIVE LGBTQ MAJOR LEAGUE (AND COLLEGE) SPORTS STARS TO PAY ATTENTION TO

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30 DIET DECISIONS: WHICH ONE WORKS FOR YOU

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DROP IN TO DENVER’S NEW

HIV HEA

CENTER

By Gem Sheps

D

enver is one of the many major cities nationwide that made a pledge to end AIDS by 2030. By 2016, the city's public health department reported that Denver was two-thirds of the way to its goal. Programs like the safe needle exchange and a brand new HIV drop-in center, The Drop, are tackling the HIV and AIDS epidemic and helping Denver reach its AIDS-free goal.

The Drop, also known as the PPRM Denver Central Health Center, is the first clinic of its kind. It serves as a hub for a variety of Denver’s communities in search of HIV prevention, treatment, and education.

While any Planned Parenthood location can provide HIV testing and prevention, The Drop provides much 6 \\ S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 8

more. In addition to free HIV testing for anyone—anyone—who comes in, The Drop offers Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), other sexually transmitted infection prevention, and community resources.

“The Drop is specifically about community,” said Thera Marshall, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains’ (PPRM) HIV Program Manager. “It was built for and is run by the community as a whole, which is what makes it different than any other Planned Parenthood location. What we wanted to do was lock into Central Denver and build something great here.

The Drop is a clinic built for and run by the community as a whole, which is what makes it different than any other

Planned Parenthood location.”

According to Marshall, anyone in Denver can reach out to The Drop to find a safe space for clubs and organizations to gather, host meetings, and get educated.

The clinic’s main function is to provide HIV resources, but community is directly related to that mission in Marshall’s eyes.

HIV can be transmitted as a result of sexual contact, drug use, and even through breastfeeding. The infection can impact anyone, which is why The Drop has a strong focus on cultural engagement and connecting people.

“HIV isn’t just a gay issue,” Marshall said. “And even if it was, gay issues are community issues. The Drop isn’t a gay

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space; it isn’t an alternative space; it’s a life space. I want to bridge the gap between communities in Denver.”

assistance with PrEP navigation, STI education, and other sexual education resources, keep the conversations going.

Stigma about HIV is still prevalent in society, and many HIV-positive people feel as though there are few safe spaces for them to simply exist among people who understand what they’re going through. The Drop also serves as a safe hangout space where people can socialize, make friends, and take reduce some of the intimidation of getting HIV resources.

Though no facility can meet the needs of everyone out there, Marshall wants to reach out to everyone in Denver.

“If you come in here to crochet, you’ll probably get a PrEP talk,” Marshall said.

“We want to keep that conversation going no matter what you come in for.”

A team of educators from PPRM, who also bring in outside organizations for

“The door is open,” Marshall said. “If there is anything out there that the community would like to do or see and doesn’t have the means or space to do so, I would love to be the one to approach. I would like to have a discussion. I want to know what the community needs, and I want to try and help.”

The Drop is located at 921 E. 14th Ave. Ste. A, and is open seven days a week.

Reach out by calling 303-813-7794 for facility hours, activity and education information, and health services.

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ACT

By Carina Julig

B

ack in the 80s, the work of David Wojnarowicz captured the turbulent ethos and rapid change of the era, and as the AIDS crisis unfolded, documented the pain of his community and fought back against the dominant culture’s abandonment of AIDS victims. He focused on those the world ignored.

“Wojnarowicz saw the outsider as his true subject,” the Whitney Museum website states. “His work deals directly with the timeless subjects of sex, spirituality, love, and loss.”

But, a new exhibit at The Whitney of the late Wojnarowicz’s art led to a protest from the AIDS protest organization ACT UP, who criticized the lack of context and the omission of Wojnarowicz’s AIDS activism.

David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night is a retrospective exhibit of the artist’s work spanning photography, painting, music, film, and writing.

Wojnarowicz, a gay man, began his career in the 1970s and rose to prominence in the New York City art scene of the 80s.

Wojnarowicz died in 1992 of AIDS-related complications, but his work remains a strong cultural touchstone in the LGBTQ community. It is used to remember the urgency of the AIDS crisis. One

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self-portrait shows Wojnarowicz en­ gul­ f ed in flames; another, a photograph, shows him staring defiantly at the camera with his lips stitched together. His paintings are vivid explosions of color, scenes of both violence and desire leaping out from the canvases. Even in death, Wojnarowicz is all action.

But some of this action was absent from the exhibit.

When members of New York City’s ACT UP chapter visited the museum, they were dismayed that Wojnarowicz’s AIDS activism was only briefly discussed, and his involvement in ACT UP was not mentioned.

ACT UP—AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power—is a directaction group that was formed in 1987 to combat the AIDS crisis. They engaged (and continue to engage) in political protests, sit-ins, and public awareness campaigns that target the government,

ACT

the pharmaceutical industry, and other figures hindering access to HIV/ AIDS treatment. While many chapters are now dormant, the NYC chapter is still very active. Its members participated strongly in the 2017 protests to save the Affordable Care Act and have numerous events agitating for more access to HIV/AIDS treatment.

Wojnarowicz was a member of ACT UP and referenced the organization in a number of his works. His jacket, which was embroidered with the group’s pink triangle logo and the command, "IF I DIE OF AIDS—FORGET BURIAL— JUST DROP MY BODY ON THE STEPS OF THE FDA,"

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became an iconic image of AIDS activism.

So, one evening in July, ACT UP members came to the Whitney and stood in front of artworks in the Wojnarowicz

T UP

TS

UT

exhibit and in the Whitney’s protest exhibit with framed articles about HIV/AIDS from within the last year, to draw attention to the centricity of ACT UP and the AIDS crisis to Wojnarowicz’s art and also to inform people that the AIDS crisis is ongoing and

not something that was left behind in the 80s.

They said that many of the museum visitors were “shocked” by the group’s information about HIV/AIDS and seemed to have little idea about how prevalent the disease still is in America.

Many of the museumgoers interacted with them positively, and they didn’t have anyone treat them with hostility.

“When arts institutions do not connect historical activism to the present activism being done on the same issue, they are missing an opportunity to reach an interested and sympathetic audience who might then become activists themselves, or who might at least be inspired to read up

are not able to transmit the virus through sexual contact or any other means (commonly summarized as undetectable=untrans­ mittable, or u=u). This is groundbreaking news, and means that, with the proper medication and routine, people can live life as though they do not have the disease.

on the state of the world,” ACT UP said in a statement.

The Whitney was also receptive to the protest, and ACT UP said that museum staff appreciated their protest and are working with them to make AIDS activism more visible within the museum. The group repeated their protest in August with the Whitney's support, and the museum updated some of the plaques on their artwork to include more information about HIV/ AIDS. ACT UP said they also received messages of support from HIV-positive people around the globe thanking them for the protest.

But ultimately, ACT UP’s protest wasn’t about the Whitney, or any art, but about the continued lack of access to HIV/AIDS treatment and the broad sentiment among the general public that HIV/AIDS is a thing of the past, not something that thousands of people die from every year in the U.S. alone.

A recent study confirmed the widely held theory that people with HIV who have an undetectable viral load

However, many people are not afforded this possibility.

It’s estimated that one in two black gay and bisexual men in the U.S. will contract HIV, which is a rate higher than that of any other country in the world. And while lifesaving drugs like PrEP and PEP are now on the market, many are not aware that they exist or simply can't afford them.

“It is frustrating that a small, polite, educational action has gotten more immediate attention than anything else ACT UP has done this year,” ACT UP said in a follow-up statement about their action. “The Whitney is not a Goliath. Gilead Sciences, which charges over $1,600 per month for HIV prevention medications that cost $6 to manufacture, and which we have been actively fighting against for years, is a Goliath.”

Lack of access to treatment, combined with continued ignorance and stigma of HIV/AIDS, is a deadly combination. It’s what Wojnarowicz fought against, and what ACT UP is still fighting against today.

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Good for All Bodies, All Minds

By Helen Armstrong

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E

very Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at Dawson Park in Longmont, families flock to the grass in hopes of stretching the last bit of summer. As they paddleboard, boat, and barbecue, a gaggle of queers gather under a tree whose leaves act as a source of shade.

They huff through planks and then bring their hips up into downward dog before relaxing back into child’s pose, cradled by the soft earth beneath their mats.

They have come together for Rainbow Karma Yoga.

The event is hosted by Out Boulder, an organization that provides services, programs, and support for Boulder County’s LGBTQ community. Out Boulder’s powerhouse director, Mardi Moore, approached newly minted yoga instructor James Allison about leading an LGBTQ yoga class. The previous instructor of the class had left, and Allison, already involved with the organization as a volunteer, decided to marry two of his passions: helping the LGBTQ community and yoga.

Everyone SOMETHING FOR

One of the students at Rainbow Karma Yoga is Logan. He’s new to the class, but he exudes relaxation. He's practiced yoga for several months now, ever since a traumatic life incident forced him to find new ways to work through everything.

FLOWER CONCENTRATES EDIBLES TOPICALS TINCTURES VAPES & MORE

“Mentally, spiritually, and physically it’s been a big release of negativity and a door to becoming one with myself and the universe,” he said. “I feel stronger as a person and more confident from being closer to myself.”

This is a sentiment shared by Jordan Smiley, a transgender, full-time yoga instructor, mentor, and trainer of yoga instructors who lives and practices in the Denver area.

“Yoga asks us to soften our grasp on what we think we know, especially about ourselves, and open our hearts and ears to experiences and voices we would otherwise habitually silence. We become synthesis detectives, fearless tellers of the truth, and beings who accept total responsibility for the digestion of their human experience.”

The benefits of yoga can be especially important for members of the LGBTQ community like Logan.

“The truth is that queer and transgender populations experience higher levels of trauma,” Smiley said. "Yoga reduces stress hormone levels in only a week of practice and teaches the body and mind ways of processing and responding to stress. All of this is the equipment that marginalized people need to survive, align, and thrive, and ultimately to re-inform a culture that is learning our value.”

An Ancient History People across the country are falling increasingly in love with this ancient practice. Yoga is so old—some researchers estimate its emergence as early as 10,000 years ago—that the first records of it were written on palm leaves. Although these records are lost to the ages, we know that the word ‘yoga’ emerged in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India.

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Yoga is first mentioned in the sacred texts, Vedas, which contained songs, rituals, mantras, and other materials used

by Brahmans or Vedic priests. Brahmans and Rishis, mystic seers, developed the practice and wrote many scriptures about yoga and their beliefs.

From there, yoga morphed as different cultures adapted and changed it. Approximately 1,700 years ago, an ancient Indian sage, Patanjali, composed the Yoga Sutra, comprised of 195 words of wisdom about yoga. In it, he defined the practice as “योग: चित्त-वृत्ति निरोध.” Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Hindu monk, translates this to “Yoga is the inhibition of the modifications of the mind.”

Modern Intersectionality Yoga spread its ancient roots throughout the world—and especially Denver. Splashed across the covers of magazines in every grocery store checkout line are skinny, white, cis women in varying states of bendiness intended to show off their sculpted abs, shoulders, biceps, et cetera. Yoga, these photos declare, is for people like this. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Yoga is not now, nor has it ever been, a practice aimed at physical mastery for its own sake,” wrote Susanna Barkataki in an article for Decolonizing Yoga. “Yoga was originally intended to prepare the body as a foundation for unity with the spirit.”

The message? Yoga is good for everyone.

“Yoga means liberation from every construct, including that of race, gender, time, space, location, identity, and even history herself,” wrote Barkataki. The benefits of yoga are immense and are something that every individual can experience.

“I see time and time again... how the core, underlying benefit of yoga is learning more about your body and self,” Anna Guest-Jelley said. She’s the founder of Curvy Yoga, an online yoga studio and teacher training center that “helps people of all sizes find true acceptance and freedom both on and off the mat.” That last distinction is important.

“The benefits of [yoga] extend so far,” she said. “Figuring out where it might be useful to increase flexibility or build strength in your body, learning how to adapt different poses to your body, and even discovering what your body signals are for and how to make decisions in your life.”

She’s an advocate for the importance of inclusive—and accessible—yoga. Her online studio not only offers different pay scales, but it’s filled to the brim with an abundance of resources. These resources can help anyone from yoga newbies to those who already have a regular practice.

There are tons of YouTube channels cropping up that offer free yoga practices. Adriene Mishler, owner of the YouTube channel Yoga with Adriene, has amassed a following of millions; 3.8 million people subscribe to her channel. She’s a yoga instructor who has posted hundreds of videos that are all free to access.

In her videos, she’s careful to use inclusive language and keep the practices open to everyone.

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Her mantra? “Find what feels good.” It isn’t about the shapes, she tells her audience time and again; it's about how it feels.

Many of the YouTube yogis offer the option of a regular, quality practice to those who may be uncomfortable in a traditional studio environment, or who are unable to access those environments because of money, time, distance, and other factors.

"When it comes to her online practice, Guest-Jelley also focuses on helping studios to be more inclusive." She helps studios to be more inclusive. “[Studios] can seek out and receive training in how to make the poses they teach more accessible to more bodies,” she said. Reviewing marketing materials and responding to student feedback are important to ensure that a studio remains a safe and inclusive space for all. In the end, though, Guest-Jelley said, "It all boils down to being open to learning and change and not assuming that just because you’re welcoming in your heart that you automatically have the necessary tools to make that a reality.”

Smiley cautioned against this as well. "It is possible to be situated in a mindfulness community and to bypass color, gender, socioeconomic, and consent conversations by way of one's spirituality, as in, ‘we're all one, so I don't even see gender.’ There are studios that claim to be inclusive and still gender their products (like t-shirts), allow touch without consent, and omit statements of safety and inclusion from their mission statements.”

His advice to studios?

“Gender-neutral bathrooms; teaching staff to use genderneutral languaging; to ask for consent to touch; to inquire about pronouns instead of assigning gender; training, seeking, and hiring visibly queer people, trans people, and people of color... and mostly propelling a conversation at the administrative level about what it means to be a safe, non-biased space, especially when it gets uncomfortable.”

The importance of educating oneself is something that Allison touches on too. He said that an important part of developing his studio was seeking out people who could teach him how to be as inclusive as possible of the broader community. He recognized his own limitations of experience as a gay man and took advantage of the resources offered by Out Boulder to ensure that he—and his instructors—help all to feel welcome.

As a result, Boulder County has events like Rainbow Karma Yoga to turn to for community and a regular practice. Studios like Kindness Yoga, where Smiley is a teacher, swing their doors wide open for all. And others, like Mishler, allow you to practice in the comfort of your living room, at no cost.

The yoga community still has a lot of difficult conversations ahead: How can yoga be more affordable and accessible to marginalized individuals? How can yoga be more inclusive and welcoming of every identity and body type? These aren’t conversations that can be held without queer and trans folks’ voices.

“The more bodies and beings we include in the conversation of evolution, the deeper the conversation gets,” said Smiley.

“And anyway, you can't spell transformation without trans!”

Kimberly, 31 — Denver

Kimberly, 31 — Denver

Kimberly takes PrEP to protect the transformation she has made into the strong and empowered woman she is today. If you think you may be at risk for HIV, PrEP could be right for you. For more information and personal stories visit ProudToBePrEPPED.com.

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P LI E

The Pressures on LGBTQ Dancers

“F

ive, six, five-six-seven-eight,” a voice echoed through the empty nightclub at the corner of 35th and Walnut.

Without the veil of night, the home of LGBTQ club Tracks is but an inconspicuous warehouse in RiNo amid construction of the transitioning neighborhood.

On this particular Sunday afternoon, the empty bar, set up on concrete floors under unfinished ceilings, will be home to Carlos Spanic and his halfdozen team of dancers for the next few hours.

Story and Photos by Veronica L. Holyfield

When he moved from Lima, Peru to Colorado at the age of 10, Spanic never imagined he would be in charge of a dance company whose sole purpose was to work with queens in stilettos. Yet, the 28-year-old is doing exactly that as owner and lead choreographer of International Dance Crew.

“OK, let’s go through it once more, and then to music,” Spanic told the dancers. With his left leg outstretched, he swept his right arm overhead as the assembled formation of dancers watched behind him and followed each motion. Later, between group rehearsals, Spanic explained his journey from dancer to choreographer and now business owner.

“I started dancing for Denver Dance and Drag Nation at Tracks two years ago,” Spanic said. “Then, led by Marguerite Endsley, I was lead choreographer when she decided to take a break.

I made it my own dance crew, and last November, I started my company, International Dance Crew.”

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Spanic’s dance education is non-traditional; as a teenager he would lock himself in his room for hours and watch Britney Spears music videos, learning each move with a meticulous perfection as though preparing for his inevitable big audition someday.

“It’s tough out there for dancers; you have to start from zero,” he said. “I started from zero dancing at a Latin club where only 20 people come to the show.”

At the age of 21, he took the leap into professional and began as back-up dancer for Mariah Spanic and other queens at El Potrero Night Club. He then was introduced to Endsley and the rest of the Tracks house dance group who performed for Drag Nation and other Tracks-hosted events, and the rest is history.

International Dance Crew now has more than 20 dancers, and Spanic works diligently beside manager Rachel Gibbons to keep things running smoothly as they perform beside some of Denver's, and the nation’s, biggest names.

“I help Carlos pick up the lost pieces,” Gibbons explained.

“Whatever he can’t get to is what he’ll toss my way. He knows how to take charge and how to run this company. He does the majority of the work, and has been doing so for this last year.

It’s really fun to see him grow into this position; he’s found a new Carlos by doing so.”

“Not a lot of people have the opportunity to dance,” Spanic said. “I have a lot of friends that went to California and are suffering; they don’t get any gigs. We do have that platform to dance every month; we perform a lot at this venue.”

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Sometimes opportunities are given, and sometimes they are made. In the case of Buddy Bravo, one choreographer for International Dance Crew, opportunities were made. He created a pathway for himself within the world of Denver’s queer dance scene, bringing a unique form of dance fitness from his hometown in Pueblo: a non-traditional fusion of hip hop and modern burlesque, which he teaches out of the studio Tease.

“The modern burlesque class has been a really good form of expression for me. That really allows me to express myself in much different way than I’ve ever been allowed, or than I’ve even tried,” he said. “I teach my class in heels, a platform with a nine-inch heel. I decided to go full-force with it because I feel like I had held back to so long on anything that slightly interested me. It's been so cool for me, because in my class it almost acts as an excuse for people to express themselves as well.”

Through incorporating his queer identity, he found confidence and a way of standing out that generated success.

“As I express myself more authentically, and as I am more comfortable with myself as an individual, my performance also increases. Personal success and professional success walk hand-in-hand.”

“Denver is on fire with creativity; we are being challenged as a city about what our own identity is. It’s up to us to decide.

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Back at Tracks, Meghan Trainor’s “Lips Are Moving” played on repeat in the background as Spanic continued to work with Bella C Le Cher and the group of back-up dancers. They learned the moves at an impressively rapid pace, one section at a time. Combinations of turns and intricate footwork were taught at half-speed, then were immediately compounded by an eight-count of hip pops and Sailor Jerry salutes.

This sequence is but one of the dozen performances choreographed for the August Drag Nation show.

On average, eight to 13 queens perform per show each month. While some choose to perform as solo acts, the majority of numbers will include dancers and some choreography.

“It’s a lot of work to do 10 or 13 numbers,” Spanic admitted. “I don’t think I’ll ever have time for that.” Even though he does most of the heavy lifting, there is a lot of help within the crew of eager dancers who offer to help choreograph the handful of songs that he has to hand off.

Collaboration, it appears, is the recipe for a beautiful production.

Take Angie Simmons, founder, coartistic director, and choreographer for Evolving Doors Dance. Specializing in a contemporary, modern-based form of dance, her process of creating a finalized piece of choreography is very much a collaborative venture with her cast and fellow contributors.

“A lot of our work has deep, contextual meaning, and I like for that to not come just from my brain,” Simmons explained.

“We’ll do some movement work based on discussions we have had; a lot of it comes from the dancer’s input and their experiences.”

“We are so trained to look at bodies in a gendered way,” she said. “If I make a female-female duet, the audience sometimes identifies that on their own as a lesbian duet. Unfortunately, sexualization is something that audiences automatically put on what they see.”

Simmons continued, “If there are two females who dance in an intimate way that involves touch, even if I as a choreographer intended to be familial or friendly touch, there will always be audience members who will place it in a certain category no matter what my intent is. In the past, we have cast from the trans community, the queer community, the non-binary community,” she explained. “However, I do find that most of those who audition tend to not be from those communities."

For Simmons, who entered formal dance training as a child, she found that self-exploration through movement was not only helpful but crucial to her self-development and self-acceptance.

“I’ve often wondered if I should create a queer-specific dance class in Denver,” Simmons said. “Dancing sometimes feels vulnerable, and while it does feel vulnerable, it also gives us an opportunity to become friends with our bodies. I’ve had some students in the queer community in my classes, and that is really rewarding to me, to be a fly on the wall as that person gets a different understanding of where their power is as a mover. When somebody who has maybe not been comfortable in their body before, for whatever reason, suddenly figures out they can move big or can really travel [across the dance floor], that is super empowering.”

“Being that I am a lesbian, I have spent some years in creating work that speaks to my experiences,” she said.

“Sometimes there is content in shows that has to do with being queer or being a lesbian specifically.”

Pressure around body size and shape is intense in the dance community and is often informed strictly by genetics. From the length of a leg to the shape of a foot, the height of a dancer and their waist size, all of these become focal points for casting directors and choreographers in the profession.

While often creating pieces that are inspired directly from her own experiences, Simmons pointed out that may not always be the case, even though audiences can be quick to assume based on socialization around gender.

“The dance world is so interesting,” Simmons said. “There are some longstanding stereotypes that all of us bump up against. There are some body specifics that we expect in the dance world, that all dancers

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are very fit and trim. Going in as a professional, I would never call this an easy road...”

Gibbons spoke to her own experience in pursuing the profession, before meeting Spanic and joining International Dance Crew. “There have been auditions that I have attended that it’s very clear that I do not have the proper body type,” she said. “I’m not this skinny, tall ballerina, which is what most professional companies do look for.”

Spanic agreed, “A lot of the auditions require a dancer to be fit, to be completely in shape,” but emphasized, “Here at Tracks and in International Dance Crew, there is no discrimination.

You can be any weight, and you don’t have to be a trained dancer as long as you have that will to perform.”

Spanic, Bravo, and Simmons embody an essence of plie, which means to bend, an approach of taking on the traditional, hetero normative world of dance and making it their own. Each

of them are pushing boundaries outside the box for dancers, allowing space and opportunities for those who may not have them elsewhere.

A week later, at Tracks, the night has come to see the hard work pay off in front of hundreds of eager audience members.

Song after song, the queens vogue and vamp away, strutting their finest attire and striking the most ferocious poses. Then, the familiar words came on over the speakers: “If your lips are movin', then you’re lie, lie, lying...”

Spanic and his dancers took the stage with Bella Le Cher in an energetic execution of the dance moves they learned less than seven days prior. Not a single clap, hip sway, or spin was missed, and every single dancer had a grin a mile wide.

“It feels overwhelming sometimes because you do get tired,” said Spanic. “You do get to that point where it’s like ‘Oh my God, do I really want to continue to do this after so many rehearsals?’ but that feeling I get when I’m on stage and that feeling that I get when I see my dancers performing on stage trying to kill it... it’s a fulfillment for me.”

He admits that while the burden of being a business owner can sometimes be dramatic, uphill, and exhausting, it’s one worth fighting.

“When I hear ‘thank you,’ it makes me feel like I’m here for a purpose,” he said. “If my purpose is to lead them, I’m still going to do it. It makes me happy, even though I get really tired, when I see the number come together at the end—it's amazing.”

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FOR THE BIRDS

Birdwatching, Saving the Earth, and the LGBTQ Community

By Addison Herron-Wheeler

E

arly on, Gregoriah Hartman loved to hike and watch birds. In a world that can sometimes be cold to nonbinary and queer folks, ze enjoyed the quiet piece of nature and the trails, miles with nothing around but beautiful scenery and wildlife to observe.

Unfortunately, as much of a refuge as nature can offer to outcasts, not every queer person has an affirming experience when they set out into the great outdoors. Despite efforts to be more inclusive, the culture of outdoor enthusiasts is still very white, hetero, and upper-class. Many who find themselves outside of those demographics don’t get invited to the outdoors, or don’t feel they have the resources to do things like hiking. Hartman, field organizing associate for the Audubon Society, wants to change this.

“I got involved with the Audubon Society as a volunteer ages ago, and was a birder throughout my youth,” Hartman explained. “I was always interested in nature and hikes, but birds always stood out to me. Through some friends, I found out about this job opportunity 2 4 \\ S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 8

and thought it would be the perfect role, applied for it, and got it.”

In zis position, Hartman works on all kinds of different projects every day with the Audubon Society. Ze works with many different organizers throughout the U.S., helping to pass different laws and make changes on a legal level to protect the environment. With a background fighting for human rights and abortion access, ze was the natural choice to take over and help out at an environmental nonprofit centered around advocacy. Hartman works remotely with the base in New York from Colorado so that ze can still enjoy the wildlife and nature in Colorado. And even better, it affords zim the chance to get out into nature with those who share zis interests.

Birdwatching is essentially the act of getting outside and observing birds.

Whether that involves an intense mountain hike or an urban walk, a notebook and field guide to record info about birds or simply a keen eye for wildlife hiding in the trees, is strictly up to the hiker. This is one of the reasons

that birdwatching can be a good activity for the beginner outdoor fitness enthusiasts. The welcoming environment of the Audubon Society helps drive that message home even more.

“I’ve been working with non-profits for a while, and you always deal with some microaggressions,” Hartman admitted. “They’ve been really good about avoiding those. They always use my pronouns or correct themselves. I’ve had to deal with other places that don’t do that. They do a lot of advocacy in getting queer people out into nature.

In June they have an LGBTQ program called Let’s Go Birding Together, so we can all go out in nature, and it’s not like a few miles into the hike you find out someone’s a homophobe.”

This is one of the reasons that many queer people aren’t willing to just get out there and hike. Organized hikes with strangers leave people open to microaggressions and all-out homophobia from those who don’t affirm queer identities, and the idea of being stuck out in the middle of nowhere with folks who aren’t accepting isn’t a very appealing idea.

“As many queer people will tell you, what seems like an innocuous and welcoming activity to straight people can be a profoundly uncomfortable experience for those in the LGBTQ community,” explained the Audubon Society’s website. “In that way, Let’s Go Birding Together is intentionally welcoming of the LGBTQ community and the people who support them, and is designed to be a space where people can be themselves without fear of judgment or worse.”

In addition to getting more people outside, Hartman hopes that sharing the message of nature’s beauty with more queer people will help highlight both LGBTQ and environmental issues.

As the culture of outdoor activity becomes more welcoming to queer folks, events like LGBTQ birdwatching hikes will be a common occurrence, and the relationship between preserving the Earth, staying healthy, and affirming sexual preference and gender identity will become even stronger.

“I talk to people about climate change quite frequently, and a lot of people are still denying that humans are causing it, so I really try and strive for sharing scientific facts with folks. I try to tell them there is research to support that humans are the one causing this.”

“I think making sure you make overtures to the community that has been marginalized, understanding their aversion to participating, and letting them know we want to make sure everyone is welcome will make a big difference,” Hartman said.

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FIVE LGBTQ SPORTS STARS

Major League (and College)

By Hannah Gartner

A

to Pay Attention To

thletics have traditionally been a spaces that exclude those who don’t fit a certain mold.

For men, toughness, strength, and a disregard for the emotional and strange were the norm for most of modern history, while signs of weakness, femininity, and vulnerability were ridiculed and shunned.

All of this was especially true within the major leagues, which didn’t even allow women players until the late 20th century. It may feel like history now, but the Women’s National Basketball Association wasn’t formed until 1996, and the National Women’s Hockey League became the first organization to pay female hockey players in 2015.

In this context, it is no surprise that coming out as LGBTQ while pursuing a career as a top-level athlete may appear to be a daunting task. Those who did so in the past had to brave a culture that denied their existence and validity. Men were afraid of becoming pariahs, stigmatized and ostracized by their teammates, while women were threatened by the prospect of being considered too masculine in a culture that already saw their strength and physical prowess as a threat to their status as female.

The good news is that this seems to be changing. There were 45 gay and lesbian participants in most recent Winter Olympics, and the rate of young athletes coming out to their teammates and the public seems to be on the rise. Here are five players who came out in the last few years, three of whom currently play for the U.S. major leagues and two who play college football.

Collin Martin The biggest news for gay athletes this summer was Martin, a midfielder for Minnesota United's soccer team, coming out publicly on the same day that his team was set to play their Pride Night game.

Although he was out to his friends, family, and teammates for years, Martin decided it was important to also use his platform to help others struggling with being an LGBTQ athlete find their voices.

He is the second gay man to come out while playing major league soccer, and he is currently the only gay male athlete playing for any American major league sports organization.

Sue Bird At 36, Bird is by far the oldest person on this list. She has played for the WNBA since the early 2000s, and although she has known that she is gay since her undergraduate years at the University of Connecticut, she did not come out until 2017. This is not to say that she has been in denial (her family and close friends have known about her orientation for almost as long as she has), but she knew she was a lesbian to her identity as a private person. Privacy aside, when Bird was coming into her career, it was impossible to come out as an athlete without it being a big deal that would politicize a figure overnight.

The changing demographics within the sports industry make it easier for private individuals like Bird to share who they are on their own terms.

Bird continues to play basketball for the Seattle team, and is currently the oldest person in the WNBA. She is also dating U.S. national team soccer player Megan Rapinoe, who is a powerhouse athlete in her own right.

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My-King Johnson Johnson is a defensive lineman at the University of Arizona, and was the first openly gay man to be recruited to a Division One team on a full scholarship.

He has been out to his family and friends since he was twelve, and made his sexual orientation clear to recruiters and coaches when deciding where to play college football. At Arizona, he found a welcoming environment that made it clear to him they cared more about his abilities as a player than who he is attracted to.

Last season Johnson didn’t play, but this year he will be a starting player in the Football Bowl Subdivision in which Arizona plays.

His comfort with being a gay athlete seems to have sparked something within the college football scene; the 2018 season set a record number of LGBTQ college football players, with a total of eight, including Johnson, now proudly out.

Scott Frantz One of the other seven gay college football players in Johnson’s cohort, Frantz was the second player to publicly divulge his sexuality and set the precedent on what is hopefully a continuing trend.

Taylor Smith Smith is an up-and-coming athlete on the U.S. national soccer team. She came out to her friends and family right after high school, something that she struggled with growing up Christian in Texas.

Smith still holds on to her faith, firmly believing that God loves everyone even while others may denounce her. This strength led her to publicly come out on her YouTube channel in 2017.

Despite being a private person, Smith realized that she could help other young people by telling her story.

She now stands as an example of what both women and LGBTQ individuals can achieve within athletics.

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Unlike Johnson, Frantz was closeted to both his teammates at Kansas State, as well as his friends and family, until very recently. He played one season as a redshirt, and began to feel the burden of his secret when the opportunity to be honest presented itself in the form of an offsite team-building exercise.

During this exercise, the players were encouraged to share personal information that they had previously not divulged, and Frantz decided it was time to be honest about his sexuality. He was met with love and acceptance and reported feeling closer to his teammates than he did before.

He came out to his family a few weeks later and is now leading the vanguard for acceptance of LGBTQ athletes in college football.

Like Johnson and the others in the sport who are now openly gay, Frantz may be entering the NFL Combine within the next few years.

This is an exciting prospect, because this could mean openly gay NFL players becoming the norm. Furthermore, the reactions of athletes, teams, and coaches to this news proves that our society is ready for this change.

DIET DECISIONS

By Yvonne Wright

Which One Works for You

D

iet. The most emotion-packed four-letter-word in our vocabulary. We’ve all been on one. We’ve all failed on one—some of us, several times.

Here is what we know. We are getting heavier. Alarmingly so. New federal data shows 40 percent of Americans are obese. Forty percent.

«You?» That’s a sharp 10 percent increase over the last decade.

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During that same time period, we saw people who fall into the severely obese category jump from around 6 percent to nearly 8 percent.

The findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show efforts to educate people about the dangers of obesity are largely falling on deaf ears. Or, they are falling on ears that are too tired and too overworked to listen.

Losing weight is hard. Keeping weight off is even harder. Diet companies know this and continue to spin their wheels, selling everything from exorbitantly priced, pre-packaged meals to highly caffeinated pills masquerading as guaranteed weight loss boosters.

This is big business.

It’s one of the biggest profit-making industries in the world. A report by the Market Research Engine predicts weight loss products will top $253 billion worldwide within the next four years. In the U.S. alone, the weight loss market is expected to hit the $70 billion mark by the end of this year.

There is good news. Millennials now outnumber baby boomers, and they tend to lean toward inexpensive, convenient diet plans. More importantly, they’re focusing on lifestyle changes that work—clean eating, exercise, and avoiding processed foods.

The main thing to remember is there is no one diet that works for the entire population.

Each of us is different, and different plans work for different people. Luckily, technology is dramatically increasing our understanding of how our bodies work, and with with technological breakthroughs come eating lifestyles for nearly everyone.

Let’s break it down.

Mediterranean This is also great if you enjoy variety, and studies show people often stick to this eating program longer than other ones.

The Mediterranean diet is perhaps the most studied, long-term weight loss program that consistently shows healthy, sustainable results. It also tied this year for best overall diet as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. (The DASH diet also came in first. It’s a similar plan that was specifically created to lower hypertension.)

The Plan: Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil. Seafood should be eaten a couple times a week. Poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt are eaten in moderation.

Red meat is saved for special occasions. Top it all off with a glass of wine with dinner, and you’re set.

Who Benefits: Anyone looking for proven heart-healthy results.

Who May Struggle: Anyone who needs more structure. The Mediterranean diet doesn’t come with a “one-size-fits-all” manual. It’s up to you to decide how many calories to eat and how to count them. It’s also up to you to come up with daily eating plans.

What People Are Saying: “I make a big bag of shredded cabbage on Sunday; then during the week I add different proteins, nuts, and dressings for dinner.

It’s as easy or as hard as you make it,” said Tammy Torche, a 50-year-old office worker who’s been eating Mediterranean for 10 years and has lost 40 pounds.

Pre-Packaged Foods These may be among the easiest (and most expensive) diets to follow. In the list of overall top eating plans for 2018, Jenny Craig came in 12th, Nutrisystem in 19th, and Medifast in 29th. These are just some of the companies that send pre-packaged food, shakes, and protein bars right to your door. In addition, you usually need to buy supplemental foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Plans: Usually these diets work in two phases. The first step is to lose weight. The second is to shift back to regular eating. On Jenny Craig, all food is pre-packaged until you’re halfway to your goal weight.

Then you begin cooking for yourself twice a week. Once at goal, you transition to making all your own meals. Nutrisystem also provides you with pre-made

meals that transition to regular eating. Medifast does a 5-1 plan.

Eat five pre-packaged meals, then make one meal yourself.

Who Benefits: Anyone who doesn’t want to count calories.

These diets are super easy and don’t require a lot of thought.

Just add water and microwave (many don’t even require water).

The hardest part is deciding between beef stew or pasta.

Who May Struggle: Anyone on a budget. These plans range from around $330 a month for Medifast and Nutrisystem to more than $600 a month for Jenny Craig. And that’s just for the basic food. You’ll need to budget money for extra food bought at the grocery store and for any enrollment and monthly fees. This also may not be the best plan for foodies or people who enjoy cooking.

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Vegetarian The vegetarian lifestyle rounds out the top 10, with vegans pulling in at 19th for best overall diets. Research shows vegetarians tend to eat fewer calories, weigh less, and have a lower body mass index than those who eat meat. This does not, however, mean you will lose weight by only cutting out meat.

The Plan: Simple. Don’t eat meat. Actually, it’s far from simple if you want to be healthy. Most vegetarians choose the lacto-ovo approach turning their backs on meat, fish, and poultry, but still eating dairy products and eggs. Vegans shun all animal products. It’s important to make sure you get enough protein by adding beans and whole grains to your diet.

Who Benefits: Anyone who loves animals. Documentaries on how farm animals are raised and killed is enough to turn many people into vegetarians. Others do it for the health benefits. It’s also a good plan for people on a budget. Even though fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive, meat is often the high-ticket item at the grocery stores. People with heart disease and diabetes can also benefit from a vegetarian lifestyle.

Who May Struggle: Anyone who likes a good steak. If you can’t take the turkey out of Thanksgiving, chances are this meal plan is not for you. It also takes a lot of initial planning. Like most programs, it gets easier the more you do it. But, at first, it’s important to measure daily protein grams to make sure you’re getting enough.

Weight Watchers An oldie and a goody. This program ranked fourth overall, but in the fast weight loss and commercial weight loss categories, it scored first place.

The Plan: Weight Watchers replaces calories with points. Nutritional values dominate the rating system.

That is why a 100-calorie apple is zero points, while 100 calories worth of potato chips will quickly add up. How many points you get to “spend” each day depends on factors like weight and gender. Exercise can also be used to earn extra points.

Technically, you can eat whatever you want if you stay within your points. But, with zero-point foods like skinless chicken, fish, and eggs, it’s easy to see how it gently pushes people toward healthier eating. The program also offers everything from do-it-yourself internet programs to weekly, in-person group meetings with lessons and support.

Who Benefits: Just about everyone. Because the program is so flexible, you can cater it to your specific needs. This is one reason the plan has been around for so long. If you need extra support, you can attend as many Weight Watchers meetings as necessary.

Who May Struggle: People who have a lot of weight to lose may want to consider other options or modify this plan, as this program is set for a two-pound-perweek loss. For people with a few pounds to lose, it’s a very healthy rate. But, for severely obese people, doctors often recommend something that will drop the pounds faster. You’ll pay around $7-$14 a week, depending on which plan you select.

What People Are Saying: “I like that I do not have to give up my favorite things. I simply must keep moderation in mind,” said Denny Pfeifer, a 51-year-old woman who teaches English as a Second Language to college students.

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What People Are Saying: “I can be an example … and tell my story about how eating plant-based foods made me better and made me feel better too,” said 24-year-old Vivian Kong Man-wai, the world's ninth-ranked fencer, who turned to a vegan diet after she suffered a knee injury. She told the South China Morning Post eating vegetarian not only sped up her recovery, but helped her improve her game.

Medical Weight Loss By the end of this year, medical weight loss programs, including bariatric surgery, will make up an estimated $7.6 billion market. The increase in medical weight loss is being driven by two factors: the increasing number of severely obese Americans and research showing bariatric surgery may be the only true long-term way for super-obese people to get their weight under control.

The Plans: Bariatric surgeries are more popular than ever. The gastric sleeve is the fastest-growing operation where surgeons remove about 80 percent of your stomach. Gastric bypass also severely reduces stomach size while re-working your intestines so you’ll absorb less calories.

The gastric band involves having a band inserted around your stomach that is then filled with fluid to restrict stomach size. This is decreasing in popularity, as many bands slip and need to be removed. Finally, the gastric balloon is a newer approach to temporary weight loss. A balloon is inflated inside the stomach, making it smaller. Eventually, the balloon is deflated, and the stomach goes back to its regular size.

Who Benefits: People who have 100 pounds or more to lose or people who are overweight and suffer from obesity-related comorbidities like diabetes, sleep apnea, or heart disease. Weight loss surgery is a serious approach for extreme cases. Many say these surgeries saved their lives.

Who May Struggle: People who do not have an extraordinary amount of weight to lose. Weight loss surgery is far from easy. It involves weeks of no solid food, then years of eating less than a half cup of food at a time. It also may not be for people with medical conditions that could put them at risk. Often doctors and patients weigh the medical risks of surgery against the medical risks of being morbidly obese.

What People Are Saying: “For the first time in my entire life, I feel like I’m living. This surgery not only saved my life, it gave me back my life.

I can fit in airplane seats and roller coasters. And I can finally keep up with my kids,” said Alita Jones, a 33-year-old mother of two.

Keto Keto ranked dead-last on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 diet rankings. For people who follow the eating plan, this may not be surprising. Keto can be controversial and is often misunderstood. It turns the traditional food pyramid on its head. Fat is on top; carbs are on the bottom. With Keto dominating best-selling book charts and the popular Netflix documentary, The Magic Pill, this is a diet that’s catching fire. Fast.

It's potential to eradicate some common illnesses, depression, and anxiety drives a lot of followers.

Since the 1920s, some people have even used it to prevent seizures.

The Plan: The idea is to put the body into a state of ketosis where it burns fat instead of carbs. Sugar is a no-no. A strict no-no. So are grains. The plan is about 70 percent healthy fats, 5 percent carbs, and 25 percent protein. When only fat is available for the body to burn, the body converts the fats into fatty acids, and then into compounds called ketones, which can be taken up and used to fuel the body's cells. The more fat you burn, the more weight you lose.

For you, it’s

There are dozens of apps you can use to help calculate how many calories, carbs, proteins, and fats your body needs a day to successfully lose weight. It is important to note, long-term studies on Keto are still coming in. And a recent study shows you may do better to lean toward a lot of plantbased fats like avocados and olive oils instead of relying heavily on animal fats.

Who Benefits: People who have a lot of weight to lose. This plan dramatically cuts cravings, so it’s easier to stick to, once you get past the first few weeks (those can be hard, given sugar withdrawals and your body changing how it burns energy).

Some doctors are recommending this eating plan for people with cancer, sugar-level challenges, and/or people with chronic immune disorders.

By eliminating sugars and grains, you’re also eliminating foods that fuel cancer cells and cause internal inflammation. (Note: there is no definitive proof Keto cures or prevents cancer.)

For us, it’s

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Who May Struggle: Many people with diabetes use Keto to control their sugar levels. But, always check with your doctor first, because going into ketosis with some types of diabetes can be dangerous. People who need quick and easy plans may struggle with this at first. It’s challenging to learn how to cook without wheat-based flour and sugar. Meal planning is a must.

What People Are Saying: “I have tried so many plans, and I'm happiest with this lifestyle, and I'm finally seeing results while not being overly strict and being deprived,” said Rosa Loaiza, a woman in her 20s who said she’s not only lost weight, she’s resolved several health issues like heartburn and psoriasis.

Whatever approach you take, the possibilities are endless. Just remember the basics. Good nutrition, adequate sleep, and exercise are the only healthy and sustainable ways to lose weight and keep it off.

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ONE COLORADO'S ALLY AWARDS

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Photos by Charles Broshous

Photos by Veronica L. Holyfield

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TRACKS' CIRCUIT SATURDAY

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Photos by Charles Broshous

Connecting with a Therapist for Your Child

By Jennifer Shivey, MA, LPC, RPT-S

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Connecting your child with a mental health professional for support can be incredibly scary for a parent! It can feel as if you’re handing your child’s emotional well-being off to another individual, and you probably won’t be in the room with them, so you have no idea what they’re saying, or what’s being said to them, and what are they doing in there...! I’ve been on the other side of this as a parent. That first time I sat out in the waiting room while my own child saw their play therapist was a humbling experience for me. This is when you really want to know that the therapist you have chosen has a solid understanding of what they are doing, more so when they are working with families and individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.

I encourage parents to schedule an initial session with their child’s clinician before the child’s first session. This is for two reasons: First, so the parent has a chance to convey whatever information might be important for their clinician to know, without having to filter it for little ears. Nobody likes to feel like someone else is talking about them in front of them. Second, I want the parent to truly feel comfortable with the clinician! I want to know that we “click.” If you have a young child, this will be an ongoing relationship with the caregiver(s) as well. Sometimes a clinician is not a good fit, and that’s OK! Connection is key, and we will help you find it.

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DUELING WITH DEPRESSION:

MISSING THE POINT Photo and Column by Mike Yost

So, I have a question.

Fire away, disembodied voice in my head.

You wrote an article a few months ago about going to metal shows.

Metal shows are amazing!

And I said they were anxiety-inducing nightmares of noise.

Nightmares of amazing, guttural sonic noise!

Anyway. You wrote that if you’re going to a metal show to relieve depression, you’re missing the point.

Indeed. That’s for any concert, not just metal shows.

Can this idea be applied to any activity?

Like what?

If I meditate to relieve my depression, am I missing the point?

I would say yes, indeed you are.

But what if I go to therapy to relieve depression; am I still missing the point?

Think about it this way. Let’s say you want to hike a fourteener.

Which one?

Mount Elbert.

The tallest mountain in Colorado.

And you start at the trailhead with all the enthusiasm and determination of making it to the summit.

At an elevation of 14,439 feet.

Okay. Stop spewing facts.

It was named after Samuel Elbert.

This doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it?

Hush! Let’s say you start this hike, focused solely on getting to the summit, and never stop for breaks during the hike except to hurriedly eat a sandwich or rest your legs.

You’re the writer. You tell me.

Your goal is to reach the summit, after all.

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That’s how self-care works—at least for me. I step outside of the chaos in my head to drink a cup of hot cinnamon tea, not because it’s going to cure anything . . .

But to just enjoy the damn tea.

And then usually I feel better without trying to feel better.

Sounds like living in the now. The method I should use is “live in the present?”

No. No. No. Stop thinking about methods or how to live in the now. Stop thinking about which mountain would be the best mountain to hike. Stop thinking about what kind of therapy would be the best kind of therapy for your mental anguish.

Isn’t that important to know?

I’m not saying it’s not important. I’m only saying that therapy is a chance to confide in someone else who isn’t going to judge you for all the f*cked up sh*t swirling around in your head.

That’s not a pleasant image in my head.

Is the sole purpose of the hike to reach the summit?

Of course.

But if that’s the case, you might not stop to focus on the sweet smell of pine filling your lungs. You might overlook a Monarch butterfly flapping its bright, orange wings at your feet. You might not stop to tilt your head toward the vast, blue sky just to watch a gaggle of bright, white clouds float by in silence.

Clouds travel in gaggles?

All these marvelous events unfolding all around you, just waiting to engage your wonder—ready to add to your hiking experience. Summiting Mount Elbert is certainly the goal, but the point of the hike is to just enjoy the hike!

So, if I meditate to relieve depression rather than to just enjoy the experience of meditation, I’m missing the point.

Therapy can provide a very basic need for human connection, something a lot of people don’t have. It’s a chance to chip away at that immense ocean of icy isolation that seems to saturate my life when I’m depressed.

So go to therapy and just enjoy the experience of human connection?

And if you gain a handful of powerful cognitive tools along the way, all the better.

You know, not all therapy sessions are good experiences.

And not all hikes are good hikes. I’ve been hailed on before, golf-ball sized hail that left large, red welts on my arms. I had to sprint along the trail for shelter, diving under a rocky outcrop in a maelstrom of lighting, thunder, and hail that covered the forest floor like a blanket of snow.

Sounds like the experience itself would make for a great story.

Now you’re starting to get it!

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CLOCKTOWER CABARET

16th St. Mall @ Arapahoe, Denver (303) 293-0075 clocktowercabaret.com

COMPOUND BASIX

145 Broadway, Denver (303) 722-7977 compounddenver.com

Uptown_Ad.indd 1

5/7/18 7:33 PM

1035 E. 17th Ave. (720) 485-5503 Stoneysuptown.com WED: ½ Price Wings; Pub Quiz THU: Team Trivia SAT/SUN: Brunch, Bottomless Mimosas 'til 2 p.m.

HAPPY HOURS: M-F 4-7 p.m.

S-T 10 a.m.-Close

TRACKS

BL

CLOCKTOWER 16 T

Bust again? Couldn't find mention of "Bear Bust" on Saturdays on Google Bust 3:30-7:30 p.m.

SUN: Beer Bust 4-8 p.m.

AL

17TH AVE.

L

COLFAX AVE.

K

PRIDE & SWAGGER

TS

T.

O AH AP

AV E

TRIANGLE

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ES

ES

T.

31ST AVE.

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HAMBURGER MARY’S

STONEY'S XBAR

CHARLIE’S BLUSH & BLU 11TH AVE.

GLADYS TRADE COMPOUND BOYZTOWN 1ST AVE. LI’L DEVILS

OGDEN ST.

6TH AVE.

CLARKSON ST.

8TH AVE.

WASHINGTON ST.

VYBE

BROADWAY

1027 N. Broadway, Denver (720) 608-8923 vybe303.com

ST .M

PA R

PENNSYLVANIA

VYBE

H

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629 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 832-2687 xbardenver.com

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DADDY’S BAR & GRILL

R+R DENVER

X BAR

E

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ST

AR

TRADE

475 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 627-5905 THU: Skivvy Stripdown SAT: Is this supposed to be Beer

AK

W

VD BL

4 4 \\ S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 8

STONEY'S UPTOWN JOINT

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LIL’ DEVILS

255 S. Broadway St. Denver (303) 733-1156 lildevilslounge.com

www.StoneysUptown.com

EE

HAMBURGER MARY’S

1336 E. 17th Ave. Denver (303) 993-5812 hamburgermarys.com/denver

THE TRIANGLE BAR

2036 N. Broadway, Denver (303) 658-0913 triangledenver.com

SP

500 Santa Fe Dr. Denver, (303) 893-6112

N • T JOI N

3500 Walnut St. Denver (303) 863-7326 tracksdenver.com

SANTA FE DR. KALAMATH ST.

GLADYS: THE NOSY NEIGHBOR

W

YORK ST.

EL POTRERO

4501 E. Virginia Ave. Glendale (303) 388-8889 Facebook - Elpotrero.180

O

COLORADO BLVD.

1120 E. 6th Ave. Denver (303) 993-6365 daddysdenver.com

TRACKS

BROADWAY

DADDY’S BAR & GRILL

T

P

CLUB Q

3430 N. Academy Blvd.

Colo. Springs (719) 570-1429 clubqonline.com

R&R DENVER

4958 E. Colfax Ave. (303) 320-9337

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CHARLIE'S® NIGHTCLUB

900 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 839-8890 charliesdenver.com MON - SAT: Happy Hour 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

FRI: Neon Fridays SUN: $7 Beer Bust 4-8 p.m.

PRIDE & SWAGGER

DOWNING ST.

BLUSH & BLU

1526 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 484-8548 blushbludenver.com

OUTBACK CLASSIFIEDS | ENVISIONED BY BOBERTO

Playmates and soul mates...

REAL CHAT WITH REAL MEN 1-303-563-4828

Denver:

1-303-433-6789 18+ MegaMates.com

4 6 \\ S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 8

ONE HOUR FREE

MORE NUMBERS:1-800-777-8000 GUYSPYVOICE.COM

HIGH LEVEL H E A LT H

39 Awards & Counting!

HIGH LEVEL H E A LT H

970 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO

HighLevelHealth.com

2028 E. Colfax Ave, Denver, CO

Recreational & Medical

(303)-839-9333 (303)-355-9333

ALL Eighths Under $30, All Day - Every Day

Off Exit 234 On I-70

Providing Denver and the surrounding areas with the highest quality products on the market since 2009.

1221 Co Rd 308, Dumont, CO (720) 242-8692