December 21, 2016 :: The Underdog Bites Back by OUT FRONT Magazine

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THE UNDERDOG

BITES BACK Planned Parenthood Stands Strong // Latino Students Speak Out // A Word on Privilege // Trump Vs. Disability Benefits + George Takei

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 21, 2016 VOL40 NO18

12 08 2016 BLEW 10 ON PRIVILEGE 16 MAKE AMERICA DEBATE AGAIN 18 AMERICANS, TOO. LATINO STUDENTS IN COLORADO AND THE LAEF

24 GATHER â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ROUND 28 PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS 38 CALENDAR 40 A COME TO JESUS WITH BRIAN HENDERSON OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 48 HEINZESIGHT 54 ASK A SLUT

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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 Mike Halterman, Elliot Imse, Nathaniel Lacrue, Kelsey Lindsey, David-Elijah Nahmod, Denny Patterson, Joseph Soto, Akiva Weinstein, Yvonne Wright, Kristin Ziegler, The Cycle Sluts ART art@outfrontonline.com TRISHA HIMMLER Art Director CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Charles Broshous, Ryan McGuire, Matthew Murphy, Jeremy Paige MARKETING + SALES marketing@outfrontonline.com DUSTIN KRIER Director of Sales & Marketing TOPHER LA FLEUR Marketing Executive TREVOR HOYT Marketing Executive NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 | sales@rivendellmedia.com

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PERSPECTIVES

2016 BLEW THE DAY IS NEARING FAST. THE COUNTDOWNS HAVE begun. Holiday music is on the radio. Lights are up everywhere. The year is quickly coming to an end, once again, and it seems like we all have the same sentiment: Hurry up and end already! From the deaths of some of our most beloved celebrities to the presidential race that angered and baffled us all, 2016 has been a ride that has most of us screaming, “GET ME OFF THIS THING!” Thankfully, we’re in the home stretch, but just in case you’re waking up from a coma and were lucky enough to miss this stinking load of a year, let’s take a moment to look back at all the things that make 2016 a dystopian novel to rival The Hunger Games. • The Chewbacca Lady’s laugh is still stuck in our heads. • “Damn, Daniel!” • Another Call of Duty game came out. • Those damn grandkids skipped dinner with Pawpaw. • We found the Zodiac Killer but he got away. We’re watching you, Mr. Cruz. • Harambe was killed. D*cks out for you, buddy. • Actual freaking clowns were running around scaring people. • We had to say goodbye to some of our favorite celebs. Here’s just short sampling: David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, Muhammed Ali, Gene Wilder, Glenn Frey, Harper Lee, Christina Grimmie, Henry McCullough, Anton Yelchin, Elie Wiesel. • 2-year-old Lane Graves was killed by an alligator at Disney World. DISNEY WORLD! • Flint, Michigan still doesn’t have clean water. • Standing Rock could lose their clean water and the DAPL pipeline is planned to go through sacred land. • Brussels bombing. • The Pulse Nightclub shooting leaves 49 people dead.

• COUNTLESS OTHER BLACK LIVES WERE TAKEN BY POLICE. • Hurricane Matthew. • Bernie Sanders lost the primary election. • Hillary Clinton won the popular vote of America but lost the presidency. • Some Cheeto with a toupee won the presidential election. • Zika Virus. • Louisiana floods. • Five police officers were shot and killed in Dallas as they stood guard at a protest. • Six more were shot in Baton Rouge leaving three dead. • Istanbul Airport attack. • B a s t i l l e Day terrorist attack in Nice, France. Did we already talk about the racist, misogynist, homophobe, that was elected president with terrifying vice president who condones conversion therapy for LGBTQ teens? What, at first, had us all hurt and sad in the beginning has led to our confused and tortured crawl to New Year’s Day. The cries of “This can’t be real,” and “It’s all a joke, right?” have only died down because it is real and it’s not a joke anymore.

• Keith Lamont was shot and killed by police.

2016, you’re an a**hole. Finish packing your bags, don’t touch anything else, and get the hell out of here. 2017, we’re dying here, friend. We’re begging you: Please be better than 2016. It’s a pretty low bar so it shouldn’t be that hard.

• Countless other black lives were taken by police.

Otherwise, bring on that asteroid.

• Brexit. • Alton Sterling was shot and killed by police. • Philando Castile was shot and killed by police.

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Nathaniel Lacrue

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PERSPECTIVES

ON PRIVILEGE Yet, as a white, heterosexual male, things will doubtless be easier for me. As the color of my skin, my sexual orientation, and my gender define me, I can only try to relate to the struggle and pain POC, women, LGBTQ+, Muslims, Latin Americans, and the countless others who have fought and bled for their rights. We have made progress toward acceptance and this is a step back. Donald Trump will not be okay for these groups; this does not make me “fortunate” as some may say, but rather privileged. I mean, I am the most privileged, let’s face it. Despite being Jewish and living with a debilitating disability, things are handed to me — pretty much on a silver platter — and they probably always will be. I think times like these are a good a time as any to wake up and look white, straight male privilege right in the face. Let’s face it, shall we? Privilege is Trump, a man who is literally accused of rape losing to Hillary, a woman who has been doing this for 30 years and is way overqualified; privilege is not fearing for my life on a daily basis based on the color of my skin; privilege is the world telling me my sexual orientation is the norm; privilege is immunity from Donald Trump based on having a penis.

SO HOW TO USE THIS PRIVILEGE? It’s not about “being an ally” to the oppressed groups Trump is doubtless to further oppress, but rather going out and using our privilege to fight the fight. Hey, white men: Stop saying it will be okay. Maybe for you it will be, but you have to understand the privilege that goes into that statement. Things will not simply be okay — not when Trump may march hundreds of troops into cities like Los Angeles to round up thousands of undocumented immigrants, and not when hate crimes against Muslims, LGBTs, and women among others run rampant. It is your job (and mine) to fight against this and use our privilege as a shield and, in doing so, fight. 1 0 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Fighting is not solely de-friending your buddy on Facebook or telling your coworker, “You wish Hilary was Madam President” — we all do. Fighting is volunteering for Planned Parenthood, the Trevor Project, or Project Angel Heart. Fighting is standing before your friend, family, or coworker as a shield against hate by telling the oppressor, “I am with him or her” when they are attacked.

Akiva Weinstein

Because you know what? If this election is an indication of anything, it’s that the white, male straight voice is still the most listened to in the room. Take that job and when a hateful slander or violence is thrust, use the privileged voice to shut it down. Fighting is promoting awareness of the community’s fight or the POC’s fight through rational thought and intelligent conversation with your friends or family who may not know the difference. Fighting is being aware of your privilege, and using it to help others who are not so. To start, pick up a book, talk to a woman or a Muslim or someone who is trans about their struggle, or get right out there and volunteer or get involved in local government. As far as myself, to start, I pledge to use my white, straight body as a shield for my family, friends, and others who will be told in the years to come that they are not accepted by this land. I urge my white and heteronormative friends to understand the power you have, and use it accordingly.

PHOTO // RYAN MCGUIRE

THESE ARE TROUBLING TIMES, TO SAY THE LEAST.

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AntiTrumping The Takei Way The Star Trek legend brings his show Allegiance to Cinemas

David-Elijah Nahmod

FOR

openly gay Star Trek icon George Takei, the unexpected rise of Donald Trump to the presidency has taken on a deeper and more personal meaning. In his youth, Takei — who is of Japanese descent — spent several years in an internment camp. During WWII, the United States government kept countless Japanese Americans, none of whom had committed any crimes, under lock and key in the aftermath of the bombing of Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor by the Japanese government. During his controversial campaign, Trump spoke of building a wall between the United States and Mexico. The president-elect has also suggested a ban on Muslims entering the country and a possible “Muslim registry.” Trump continues to promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants as soon as he takes office. “I was hoping Trump would moderate his words and behavior with the thought of the presidency becoming

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reality but now, with his selection of Jeff Sessions as attorney general, I sense something ominous beginning to rise,” Takei tells OUT FRONT, speaking from his home in Los Angeles. “I’m worried. And he has done little to quell many of his own supporters’ actions, which also has me worried. The sight of neo-nazis sieg heiling in victory just blocks away from the White House was chilling.” The president-elect has since made a few brief comments in which he denounced hate, but Takei feels that these statements weren’t enough. “Trump must do more to distance himself from such hate groups and to moderate his own rhetoric and actions that seem always to divide and point blame rather than bring us together,” the actor says. On December 13, Takei’s recent show Allegiance will screen in cinemas nationwide. The show was taped before a live audience. Allegiance might resonate even

more intensely for audiences who see it today — it’s a musical which recalls the Japanese internment camps. “Allegiance follows the story of a Japanese-American family caught up in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and the internment,” Takei explains. “The storyline centers around a brother and a sister who choose fatefully different paths in response to their unjust incarceration. Allegiance involves two love stories that blossomed behind those barbed-wire fences. The fracturing of the family in Allegiance metaphorically represents the rupture of the Japanese-American community under the strains of the internment years.” Takei plays dual roles in the show. “In the beginning, I am the older version of Sam Kimura, in the present, looking back on his life,” he says. “I’m an old veteran with a big chip on my shoulder over what transpired those many decades ago. But once we go back in time to the story that took place just before, during, and just after the war, I play another character, Ojii-chan, which means grandfather in Japanese. Ojii-chan is OUTFRONTONLINE.COM

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Takei, now an “elder-statesman” for both the acting profession and for the LGBT community, spoke warmly of Telly Leung, the young, openly gay Asian actor who co-stars in Allegiance. “Telly is an enormously gifted and disciplined artist who has the promise of becoming a commanding star,” Takei says. “He is my hope for the future 1 4 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

of Asian-Americans in theater, film, television, and the performing arts generally — a multi-talented star. And he also happens to be a great friend.” Both actors share their admiration for each other. “George is one of the hardest-working men in show business,” Leung tells OUT FRONT. “At 78, he did eight shows a week. He never missed a show, and his stamina and dedication to the story we’re telling. His story was an inspiration to the entire

company. He also found the time and energy to be a top-notch, warm, generous human being.” Leung shares many of Takei’s concerns for the future under a Trump presidency. “Trump’s surrogates have suggested that the Japanese-American internment was a lawful and justified precedent for the intense vetting of Muslims entering the US,” Leung says. “This eerily echoes the kind of speech and rhetoric of 1942, when Executive Order 9066 forced thousands

PHOTO // MATTHEW MURPHY

a jovial old farmer who helps anchor the Kimura family in their Japanese culture and traditions.”

LEGAL DIRECTORY

MANAGING THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT ALCOHOL of Japanese-Americans to relocate to camps because of prejudice, fear, war hysteria, and poor political leadership.” The actors also expressed their concern for the future of gay rights, as Mr. Trump has appointed a number of openly antiLGBT people to his cabinet. “No one, not a single appointment, is an advocate for the LGBT community,” Leung points out. “In fact, many of them have been vocal about their opposition to marriage equality. Trump has said he himself is a supporter of LGBT rights, but actions speak louder than words.”

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.

But Leung isn’t giving up. “I am confident that the LGBT community will fight relentlessly for equality,” he says. “The spirit of those first, feisty, brave brothers and sisters at Stonewall, the spirit of Harvey Milk, the spirit of Edith Windsor, it is something we have in our DNA as a community, and we will not have our rights taken away without a good fight.” “We need to be ever vigilant,” adds Takei. “[Trump] has begun to appoint very troubling people to his cabinet, with the transition team headed by the most anti-LGBT vice president in our history. Many of his short-list picks for the Supreme Court are publicly antiLGBT, some even saying that consensual gay sex should be criminalized.” These are some of the messages which Takei hopes people will take from Allegiance. “We live in a time when we again hear the chilling words of irrational fear and hatred against Muslims, as well as Mexicans and trans people,” he says. “We must never allow the mass hysteria and racism that happened to Japanese-Americans during WWII to ever be inflicted again on other minorities. If there is any takeaway from our show, it is to demonstrate that this type of massive tragedy not only did happen, but could happen again to another group if we are not vigilant against the excesses of our own democracy.”

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Joseph Soto

Coming from my inner-city

community in northwest Aurora, I was fortunate to have Speech & Debate because it prepared me for college like nothing else could. Other students are not so lucky. In fact, many inner-city communities don’t have Speech & Debate programs, either due to prohibitive personal and team costs associated with them (registration fees, transportation, cost of professional attire, food, etc.) or because the infrastructure and resources to support those programs left inner-city communities when affluent families moved into the suburbs. Sadly, this has meant that for generations, many students who otherwise would have developed speaking skills, deliberative reasoning, and leadership abilities had to go without those opportunities in a climate where not enough opportunities existed for them in the first place. One organization in the Aurora/Denver metro area is trying to change that. The Denver Urban Debate League (DUDL), launched in 2008 and housed at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, has grown in communities throughout the area and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for underserved and marginalized students by giving them opportunities “to learn and achieve through competitive debate activities.” Jessica A. Clark, the executive director of DUDL, spoke to me about the work DUDL does and where they see themselves going over the next four years. 1 6 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Make America Debate Again … and start with urban students

Jessica, remembering DUDL’s humble beginnings, recounts, “When DUDL launched in 2008, we served three schools in one district and only offered one format of competitive debate. This season, we are serving over 200+ students across four districts and DUDL now offers competitive policy debate as well as a student congress and four individual speaking events.” Part of the reason for this unyielding growth is that DUDL eliminates the cost barrier between itself and the families and communities they aim to serve. This is a difficult task that relies heavily on private donations and support from school districts, but DUDL and its board of directors believe it’s important to cover associated expenses so, in Jessica’s words, “all students are able to join the speech and debate teams at their schools at no cost to their families.” The schools DUDL serves are at least 60% free-and-reduced lunch, so saving $100 a year on an extracurricular activity is huge for their families. Jessica spoke to me

not only about the importance of low-cost activities, but about Speech & Debate specifically. She believes DUDL helps give opportunities to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, and said that it “is a way to fight for education equity in our community.” She says it also gives students access to an activity that increases everything from high-school graduation rates to help finding scholarships for college. Jessica told me that DUDL is a “small organization and we rely heavily on our army of volunteers who serve as mentors and debate judges.” Even in soliciting judges, DUDL tries to reach out to a diverse pool of community members, and has gone even further to include organizations such as One Colorado in programming meant to engage students with different marginalized communities. The work DUDL does is important to inner-city communities and the intelligent students who live in them. When asked how people can help support DUDL’s work, Jessica first said, “Volunteer!” She told me that to do the work DUDL does and expand into other communities, they need judges. She made a point to say that no experience is needed and that a short training session is offered. Whether it’s volunteering time as a judge, serving on their board of directors, or offering professional support in everything from PR to event planning, DUDL could use your help. DUDL also needs financial support. Jessica said that a “$25 donation can provide lunch for five students at a DUDL competition” and that donations by private individuals or corporations looking to sponsor DUDL can be made at DenverDebate.org.

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Words matter, and often,

those who dissect political rhetoric fail to forget that words uttered by politicians have a tangible impact on the lives of real people who live and work as members of our own communities. Though media and mainstream society have raced to normalize Donald Trump’s violent white nationalism under the troubling guise of needing to “come together and give our president a shot,” the vitriolic bigotry he has used to gain power has placed a tragic burden on many different communities, including Latino college students. As many of you can probably attest, it is easy to become so enraged and yet so disillusioned with our political system that we forget one meaningful fact: Communities Donald Trump has attacked have thrived despite him and will continue to grow and prosper regardless of what his presidency becomes. The resilience of marginalized people is profound, and that is certainly the case for Latino college students as well. There are entire bodies of research that Latinos can toss back to refute the racism we often hear, but more meaningful than that are the countless narratives of Latino college students working against the odds to build lives for themselves as members of campus communities across the country. One of these narratives is that of Laura Valle, a college student in Colorado. She told me, “The college experience as a student of color gives me great pride as a student.” Wanting to “break the barriers Hispanic women face,” she said. “It is my purpose now to be an example for my four nieces and other younger Hispanic girls out there that an education can open up more doors than one can imagine.” To advocate for incredible college students like Laura, strong organizations need to be working behind the scenes 1 8 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Joseph Soto

Americans, Too: Latino Students in CoLorado and the LAEF to support them. One of the many nonpartisan organizations doing incredible work on behalf of Latino students and undocumented students specifically is the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF). This 68-year-old Colorado organization’s mission is to provide “access to higher education for Hispanics in Colorado.” The oldest and largest scholarship organization of its nature in the state, LAEF has awarded over 6000 scholarships. In an economy that has not seen household wealth rise equally with the unyielding growth of tuition and fees, the work of LAEF has become more critical than ever. Research done by Nina L. Dulabaum highlights the added educational disparities in prepostsecondary schooling that unduly burdens Latinos with challenges once they get to college. Her work quoted one Latino student as saying, “We need help transitioning from high school, coordinating school with work schedules, making future plans, improving poor study habits, and math skills.” The difficulty of that, piled on top of the financial burden of college, creates an isolating environment that makes it difficult for Latino college students to succeed. This need for financial support, and for a sense of community and support outside the classroom, is urgent and continues to be supported by LAEF.

Communities Donald Trump has attacked have thrived despite him and will continue to grow and prosper regardless of what his presidency becomes.

On the importance of LAEF, Laura says, “[It’s] very important to me as a student because they are more than just another organization. LAEF is — above all — a second family to all of its recipients. Whether we’re having issues with a class or problems at home, LAEF is always there to help regardless of the situation.” In 2016, to be Latino and in college means having to work harder against the troubling current of aggressive racism present on even the most liberal of campuses. Yet, we’re succeeding, and many with the support of organizations like LAEF.

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“I don’t even have words.”

Athan Miller has worked with developmentally disabled people for more than two decades. When asked what she thought of our soon-to-be president standing on a podium, mocking a person with a disability, she found herself at a loss. Nicole McBride, who is herself intellectually challenged, has plenty to say. “What I don’t understand is how he can be president if he makes fun of disabled [people].” Nicole works hard for the money she earns — and she pays taxes. She, along with more than 70 other people with developmental disabilities, works at Jack’s & Steamers. It’s an Arvada restaurant, prep-kitchen, and specialty jam company co-owned by Athan. Athan says she tries to match each job to the individual. “If you can find what a person is naturally good at, then have them do that, you get a higher production and happier workers. I once had a lady ask if we use a machine for our tomatoes. I told her, ‘No, we [employ] an autistic person — cuts them perfectly.’” Each job is also catered to a person’s ability. “I wash dishes on the weekends,” says Nicole, “but with Trump, I’m afraid I will lose my job.” That’s because this program, like many others, is largely supported by federal tax dollars. People must be specially trained, supervised, and carefully watched. They are not capable of working full-time and living on their own. This is a way to help them earn a little money and participate as productive members of the community. Trump has said little about his plans when it comes to people with disabilities. What he has said is that he plans to make cuts to Medicaid, the program that provides funding for people with developmental disabilities and the 2 0 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Yvonne Wright

WiLL Medicaid Reform Trump DisabiLity BeneFits? people who serve them. “I don’t want to pretend this is not a crisis,” Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility. She tells Disability Scoop, “the fact is that President Obama and Hillary Clinton had very strong ties with the disability community and had very clear plans for [them].” She says she is hopeful Mr. Trump will make this an important issue. “Nobody knows what he’s going to do,” says Athan. “Can you imagine what will happen if they revamp Medicaid? Programs like ours that are innovative are going to be the first programs cut.” Given that both the House and the Senate are also Republican controlled, she fears for her business. “Looking at the future, it’s so unsteady and the ground we thought was stable is not anymore, especially involving the realm that I work in.”

thoughts about cuts in disability funding get mixed reviews from those who directly benefit from federal tax dollars.

Not everyone is afraid. Rudy Whiteman-Jones is also in supported services and has worked in Jack’s & Steamers’ prep-kitchen for the last three years. She says she voted for Trump. “I think he will be a good president. I think he can make the country great again. He’s gonna bring more jobs into our country. He’s gonna help people save money.” That, she says, will be better for the economy and therefore better for all businesses. She says she even knows caregivers who get paid with Medicaid dollars who voted for Trump as well. Organizations that advocate for disabled people are more cautious. Specifically, they worry Trump’s proposal to convert Medicaid to a block-grand system will limit federal funding and transfer significant control to the states. “I just wanna keep my job,” says Nicole. “If he thinks we’re so bad and makes fun of us, why would he want to help us?”

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Anthony Grimes is a Denver native with a lot of passion surrounding his hometown. More specifically, he’s passionate about the neighborhood he grew up in and is willing to fight for its survival — and for the survival of his neighbors. Grimes is an activist, and has one very important mission: redeeming the soul of America.

A pastor, writer, and community animator, Grimes spends a lot of time connecting people and ideas. He founded the Park Hill Parish that serves the residents of Park Hill, a mostly black, now gentrifying community in Denver. He also founded the Denver Freedom Riders, which bussed Coloradans to the protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Grimes’ activism stems from a tragedy in his childhood where his sister and cousin were killed by a street driver. The driver walked away with nothing — not even a ticket. After his mom challenged the offender in court, he was allegedly released due to police negligence. “I watched my mom say she was going to be committed to loving all people, including the man who did this,” Grimes recalls. “I grew up with the need for justice and the need to love all people. Both are still realities in my soul.”

Tell us about what you’re doing as an activist today. My focus for the last two years has been mostly national, but I’m still very involved in my local community. I’m now working for a national organization, so my network and reach is much wider. I currently work for the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and we are one of the world’s oldest and largest interfaith political organizations. We were founded on the eve of World War I, and we focus on campaigns around nonviolence. Recently, what that has looked like has been non violence, direct-action trainings in Ferguson, Baltimore, and across the nation. 2 2 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Ryan Howe

ActiVist Anthony Grimes & the Ground Game We’ve had a wide array of members; people like Dr. Martin Luther King have been a part of this organization. We started the ACLU and the Congress of Racial Equality.

What is the Fellowship doing since the nation elected Donald Trump as our next president? I can’t speak directly for our organization yet, because our plans are in the works. What I do know is that we are very much involved in helping to spread sanctuaries. We just began a petition around encouraging churches and institutions to be sanctuaries for people who are affected by violence. Along the way, Trump has been a very big issue and concern for people, so we are formulating conversations and groups around how we can respond. The other big thing — probably the most tangible — [is] we’ve been sending several staff members to help support and organize the effort at Standing Rock. Personally, I was a part of a rally in support of Standing Rock at the White House, asking Obama to do the right thing and stop the pipeline. Those are a few things we are doing on the ground, every single day. [We spoke to Anthony before the Army Corps of Engineers announced that they would not grant the permit for the Dakota Access pipeline to drill under the Missouri River.]

a lot of people in the Mile High City are asking what they can do to help, to get involved. What would you say to those people? Join a group that is known for organizing around issues of this kind, and get together with people and have dialogues. I would recommend one thing that we could all do — go to some kind of nonviolent, direct-action training. I know those happen every once in awhile, and more and more will continue to pop up as we navigate through this post-election world.

Everyone is Talking about

Introducing the New Metro Collection - Widest Lots in Midtown Prepare yourself for what will be —most certainly — four years of needing to defend human rights. Prepare yourself with training. Pay attention to the news. Pay attention to current events that affect all of us. Call your state representatives, question them about what the community is demanding, demand and lobby congress with issues that you are knowledgeable on. Find your one focus — the thing you are passionate about or directly affects your livelihood — and engage that issue. Not one person can do it all. One very easy access point for every citizen is kindness. The one thing every human needs to do on a pure human level is to be compassionate and neighbor really well. We are going to see funding stripped from education and aid programs and services that the state used to provide through government services, so when that is stripped, we need to rely on neighborhood organizations to really step up their game and to care for their neighbors.

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We are all going to be called to the forefront to make a more passionate society.

Is there anything else you want to say to our readers? I think that we all need to realize what happened before we jump so quickly to the next thing. Take a moment and reflect and see where they are. When Trump got elected, it was almost as if we were thrown into a cold pool without being ready. Take a minute and let the shock set in that our nation is not as progressive as we thought it was. If we have not taken a moment to process that, we will end up doing more harm than good. What we need to do is stop, meditate, and realize. Then after all that, we need to organize. The Trump presidency doesn’t change what we need to do any more than a Hillary presidency would. It just gives it a lot more urgency. So, like I said, I encourage dialogue between family, friends, and strangers. I encourage joining some coup that is promoting justice. Train yourself in new ways to make change. With training we can change the world. Then get to work and start fighting.

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720.366.2566 OUTFRONTONLINE.COM

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The entrance to Denver’s

The Gathering Place — a respite for women and children who’ve fallen on hard times — has a bit of university registrar’s office feel. There’s a cozy lobby for people who are waiting, presumably, to speak with those at the welcome desk, and a bulletin board neatly organized by job and housing opportunities beckoning to those in need of either or both. The clear difference, however, is that reception here requires very little information from the women. Privacy is paramount. Teresa Densmore, the director of The Gathering Place’s Art Restart program, and former board member and current volunteer Deborah Radman gave us a lengthy tour that began at the bulletin board. Apart from both housing and job offers, there are invitations for pro bono legal advice surrounding a number of issues. “It’s everything from unemployment compensation to domestic violence that someone might need legal counseling for,” Deborah tells OUT FRONT. “It’s not hard at all to come here and get support.” “I’d say [we serve] about 50/50 — people who are experiencing homelessness to people who are just trying to make ends meet,” Teresa adds. Around the bend is a wellness area where physical and mental challenges are managed with as many resources as possible, including a mobile clinic. Their wellness center serves up to 250 women per day. “It’s basically like a yearly physical,” Teresa says of what the clinic primarily offers. “We have pro bono [mental-health] counselors who come in a couple times a week,” she says. “We can’t do long-term care here, but we do offer referrals.” The intake procedure for the clinic is no different from the front desk — they ask very little info of the guests. As we meander through The Gathering Place’s halls, Deborah and Teresa lower their voices to a whisper as we round a corner; a dark room just to our left 2 4 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Gather ’Round Berlin Sylvestre

A basic needs and services provider for women and children doubles as a launchpad to a new life contains four women sleeping on bunkbeds. “When you think that these women often don’t have a safe place to sleep at night, the nap room just makes sense,” Teresa whispers. For the low, low price of cleaning up after yourself — bedding included — you get a dark, quiet spot to catch a few hours’ worth of winks. “This is the resources desk,” Deborah informs as we walk into a roomful of bustle. “This is where you sign up for a lot of different services.” Hotel-sized shampoo and conditioner bottles are spilling from a box, and tampons and pads — expensive necessities, mind you — billow just the same. These are among the many items donated to The Gathering Place. “You can sign up to take a shower, to wash your clothes,” Deborah counts off before we’re shuffled along by workers and guests going about the daily routine. (The room was really hopping.) But it doesn’t just end with toiletries. “Among other things, this is a place you come to when you need helping getting your identification if you’ve lost it,” Deborah adds. Then she points to another room. “Over here, we have our pantry,” she says. Shelves of dry and canned goods threaten to spill over as more donations pour in from a side door. The woman at the helm chimes that patrons can sign up and select 25lbs of food a month. As much as it seems, she also admits that they’re always in need of more donations. “A favorite is canned tuna,” Deborah says. The next roam through the altruism labyrinth includes a closet that contains mostly business-casual clothing and shoes that range from sandals to winter boots — some of each category with tags still attached. The Gathering Place gets so many clothing donations that they ask donors to call and see if they’re in need before coming by. “Shoes, boots, hats, gloves, mittens, socks and underwear … cold-weather wear … all these are something we’ll take in all the time,” Teresa

says. There are also bra-fittings once a month — something that’s oft-overlooked when it comes to women’s needs. We stride along down another hallway where a group of people are scribbling furiously onto sheets of paper. “This is our GED training room,” Deborah tells me. On a whiteboard is an algebraic equation, and heads are bowed, breaking it down in pursuit of the solution. As in old Looney Tunes reels, the smell of food pulls us into the cafeteria, which doesn’t look anything like you’d imagine in a place that serves free meals. If you’ve ever seen the clean, minimalist look of IKEA’s eatery, you’ll get a better picture of how The Gathering Place feeds its patrons. Unlike most places that dole out meals for those in need, this is a place where you can make your own salad from a salad bar, then take a seat — someone will be serving your food shortly. They even have live music from time to time. Onward, we find ourselves in a bright, colorful room with babies, toys, books, and a gentle reader with a sweet little service dog. This is where mothers can take their children for entertainment and positive growth. It’s not a daycare, however, but The Gathering Place does provide everything up to that point. A tiny sink was custombuilt for the tots to wash their hands, and a closet full of diapers and other expensive necessities alleviates some of the stress that struggling mothers experience. In yet another room overflowing with life, we come upon the Art Restart hub. Art Restart is a social enterprise of The Gathering Place in which women experiencing poverty and/or homelessness create astounding pieces of work meant specifically for greeting cards. The artist will receive 5% of the card sales, which is competitive with greeting-card industry standards. What’s left of the earnings goes back into the foundation. To walk around the third-floor art room is to surround yourself with talent, quietly at work. Women lean over canvases, carefully blending and refining their artistic expressions. A veritable tool chest of acrylics and watercolor tubes

gives them access to a burst of color for their palettes. Cups of well-used paint brushes serve as reminders for how well regarded Art Restart is for The Gathering Place’s guests. “Teresa’s business, Art Restart, has started to produce sustainable, earnedincome to help support the foundation,” Deborah beams. “How is all this funded?” I ask. “Through a lot of donations and individuals,” Teresa responds. “We get less than 5% in government funding, and have a huge support network of individuals that really believe in what we do.” In a world of uncertainty concerning what funds the new administration might cut, this is welcome news. For more info about The Gathering Place, head to TGPDenver.org. Check out ArtRestart.org to purchase the latest holiday collection, or browse year-round selections that support local artistry and help those in need. OUTFRONTONLINE.COM

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Between Bernie Sanders

and Donald Trump, it seems Americans are getting a crash course in civics. While Sanders, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, didn’t make it past the primaries, Trump surprised many by taking the presidency. Now some on the left see this as a good thing; they’re convinced a Trump presidency will reinvigorate the far-left and bring even more social programs to the table. “Give us eight years of this bastard and watch — our economy is on threads and can only be milked so much longer,” says Thomas Thompson, who’s growing his own food in anticipation of “a major economic collapse [that will] cause the rise of the far-left.” Like others, Thomas is looking at the past as a possible predictor of the future. Socialism often follows capitalism when capitalism is left unchecked. I’ll explain. First, socialism, like capitalism, is an economic system. Democracy and fascism are examples of political systems. Because of the Soviet Union and Cuba, people often associate socialism with dictatorships when, in fact, many dictators oversee capitalistbased economies as well. (Think Angola, Sudan, Iran, and just about every Central- and South-American country during the last half of the 20th century.) There is no country that is completely socialist; that requires people (communities) own, work, and drive the means of production. Imagine if everyone who worked at Walmart owned part of it and shared in the profits and/or the losses. There are also few countries that are totally capitalist. Pulling community resources to build socialistic structures like public roads, schools, and water supplies is usually required to make a society function. Capitalism left unchecked is a term that refers to a society where things become more and more privatized and, usually, 2 6 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Yvonne Wright

Economics and PoLitics: A Pendulum

More people looked up the definition of socialism than any other word in 2015. Interestingly, Merriam-Webster also reports fascism as the mostsearched word the night of the presidential election. the wealthy steadily get wealthier while the poor get poorer.

things that make it simple for people to work.”

Countries with the most socialistic economic structures include Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, and Finland. Do they pay more taxes? Yes! Do they get more bang for their buck? Many say “absolutely!” Finland has a literacy rate of 100% and they enjoy the highest standard of living in the world. Most of these countries have some form of a free-market economy. Some, if not most, businesses are privately owned and run. At the same time, these countries also offer free education, healthcare, daycare, and many other social programs.

Others on the left worry this country is heading in a direction where the average person has little or no say. “What I see are all the fundamental institutions that are necessary to support any democratic society shutting down.” Cliff Sommers is a retired manager with the US Forest Service. He maintains America has no functioning press, fraud-ridden elections, local police forces resorting to militarized armies, institutions of higher learning suppressing free thought, and a government effectively under one party rule. “All the lights of democracy are winking out one by one.”

Aaron Johnson supported Bernie Sanders and he says these social programs would be good for either economic system. “I truly can’t understand why wanting universal healthcare isn’t something that every business would want. It would eliminate so much hassle for them. Why would every business in America not want free universal childcare? These are

Most on the far-left do not want this country to go through a loss of civil liberties to birth more socialistic systems. But, more and more are optimistic that Trump, his appointees, and a Republicanled Congress will ultimately push America in the opposite direction.

OUTFRONTONLINE.COM

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Kristin Ziegler

While many of us within the LGBTQ community have spent the aftermath of the 2016 elections in a state of disbelief, doubt, and fear, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has been gearing up to fight for reproductive freedom and dignified healthcare for all. And they are cautiously optimistic this is a winning battle. “We have had some significant successes this year,” says Sarah TaylorNanista, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado. “Our message is still really strong.” Taylor-Nanista is quick to acknowledge this has been a difficult time for vulnerable populations, which is why it is so important to celebrate their victories. This year, Colorado voters affirmed their commitment to women’s and LGBTQ people’s total equality — including access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare. Coloradans did choose the pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, in the general election, and elected Democratic US Senator Michael Bennet to another term. We also sent two new, strong supporters of PPRM to the Colorado State Senate. In addition to voting for candidates who support PPRM, Coloradans have also been voting for the organization with their dollars and time. A fundraising arm of PPRM saw a massive donation increase following the election when compared to that same time last year. Some of those donations have been made in Mike Pence’s “honor,” a jab at the vice president-elect’s notoriously anti-choice record. PPRM currently has 150 new volunteers waiting to participate in its Health Center Advocacy Program. “We are definitely hearing people say very loudly that they are on our side and they are going to work for us,” says Taylor-Nanista. 2 8 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

PLanned Parenthood oF the Rocky Mountains “These doors will stay open.”

Of course, PPRM knows that in order to fully care for their patients and community at this time, they must address their concerns and fears regarding the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Trump and VP-elect Pence have both expressed support for overturning Roe v. Wade, and Pence has advocated for anti-gay “conversion therapy.” Taylor-Nanista and colleague Ashley Wheeland say common concerns include ultra-conservative Supreme Court appointees and possible challenges to Roe v. Wade, the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act (including provisions specific to women’s reproductive health), the potential privatization of Medicaid, and a loss of federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

“Defunding Planned Parenthood would come through attacking Medicaid, which 38% of our patients use.”

While there are no abortion-related cases facing a Supreme Court decision at present, Planned Parenthood anticipates litigation will be filed once Republicans take over the House, Senate, White House, and, subsequently, the Supreme Court next year. Republicans have also vowed to weaken or do away with the ACA and make significant changes to Medicaid. These Medicaid changes could ultimately jeopardize Planned Parenthood’s funding. “Defunding Planned Parenthood would come through attacking Medicaid, which 38% of our patients use,” says Wheeland, legislative and political director for PPRM. “That would endanger their ability to get the care they need. We are the experts at providing reproductive healthcare. We are inclusive, and we are compassionate.”

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So how do we fight back? “Stand up for your healthcare,” Wheeland asserts. Wheeland encourages PPRM supporters to contact their representatives and let them know where they stand on these vital issues — and don’t be afraid to get personal. “Tell your story,” she says. “That is how we change minds.” No matter what challenges we may face under the Trump administration, PPRM vows to be one of our toughest allies. Among its expansive services, PPRM provides hormone therapy for transgender patients, STI treatment, and birth control in a comfortable and sensitive setting. And they pledge to continue. “We just celebrated our 100th anniversary here at PPRM. We have seen backlash and attacks, and we continue to fight back,” says Taylor-Nanista. “Our promise to our community is, regardless of what this administration may have for us, these doors will stay open.” For more information on volunteering for PPRM’s Health Center Advocacy Program or participating in PPRM’s political advocacy work, such as Women and Family Wednesdays at the Capitol, please visit PlannedParenthood.org/PlannedParenthood-Rocky-Mountains.

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On November 10, more than 5000 people took to the streets of Denver for an inclusive march to show the rest of the city that although Donald Trump won the presidential election, the voice of the disenfranchised will not go unheard.

At 5pm, an hour before the planned rally took place, nearly 2000 people had already congregated around the Capitol building downtown. Some came with premade signs. Some came with a few extras. Some brought bags that looked as if they just robbed Meininger Art Materials — of course they didn’t. Some just came with a light jacket, and their cell phones. By 6pm, more than 5000 people had gathered on the Capitol grounds, huddling as close as they could to a woman wearing a bright orange dashiki and wielding a megaphone. To the best of her ability, Dezy St. Nolde, aka Queen Phoenix, shushed the continually growing crowd. She shushed. She yelled into the megaphone. She tried to rally those around her to help. It didn’t work. But, it didn’t stop her from addressing those that could hear her. “Many of us are heart-broken, filled with fear, and ready to create change. With Trump’s miraculous win last night, we now have to stand up to an administration filled with bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia, and a complete lack of compassion. “We don’t know what is coming next, but let’s show them our presence and make them hear our voice. Let all the oppressed communities and cultures come together and actually stand for a change. Let’s support each other, spark some hope, and makes plans for a better tomorrow. “This is a peaceful movement, a safe place for us to express ourselves and find hope in each other.” 3 0 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Ryan Howe

Community F or Unity After that, she knew it was time to move. The crowd was too large, and her only instinct — besides walking away from the overwhelming group she gathered from a single Facebook event — was to walk it down the 16th Street Mall and hope that no one take out their aggression violently. So she walked. She pushed her way through the crowd and solidified her place in the front. Locking arms with the person to her left, and throwing her right fist into the air Queen Phoenix began a march that would make its way down 16th Street Mall, wrap around in a circle down 17th Street, invade Speer Boulevard, and finally end back at the Capitol. The group had no permits. They didn’t consult with any officials, and the numbers reached far beyond what they originally expected. But in all the chaos, Queen Phoenix found herself. “When I first started that event, I thought, ‘Maybe 20 people will show,’” she says. “Literally I thought 20 people would show up and it would be a group hug, a little bit of a walk, and a little support session.” But she was better at social media than she realized. In a single day, the event page Denver Unites for Better than Trump grew from 700 people to 9000 and was shared by Westword, Surge, and Occupy Denver. “At first I was really, really nervous, and that was all I could focus on,” she says. “I had no idea what I was going to do with that amount of people. How was I going to control them? I literally didn’t know anyone. Yes, people offered to help me, but I didn’t actually know if they were going to be peaceful. And that was my intent from the beginning, to keep things 100% peaceful.” Luckily, the march went without a single hitch. The crowd even separated to let a fire truck through. The point of the night was to show those who felt scared or wronged that they were not alone. With chants like, ‘HER BODY, HER CHOICE,’ ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER,’ ‘QUEER LIVES MATTER,’ and ‘NO MORE WALLS,’ the most destruction done to Denver that night was that it nearly reached its highest decibel level.

It was powerful. It was therapeutic. It was uplifting. It was beautiful. “That night made me realize that this is my true calling; this is what I was put here to do. And this is what people needed,” Queen Phoenix says. Queen Phoenix has been an activist for five years. Starting in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin as a queer activist, she moved on to something she felt needed more attention after Dontre Williams was shot by police outside of a Starbucks in Milwaukee. Once she moved to Colorado, her activism switched over to medical marijuana’s healing abilities, and veganism. For a stretch of time, Queen Phoenix, her wife, and a small collective of others traveled the US in an RV showing people how to make their own medicine with cannabis. But it wasn’t always like this.

Locking arms with the person to her left, and throwing her right fist into the air Queen Phoenix began a march that would make its way down 16th Street Mall, wrap around in a circle down 17th Street, invade Speer Boulevard, and finally end back at the Capitol.

Growing up in the third-most segregated city in the nation as a queer person of color was not easy. Being raised in a mixed family with a strong pull to the white side, Queen Phoenix felt ostracized both from her family and her peers in school. She was one of eight black kids in high school — that she can remember — and it made her feel like one of the first to ever integrate into a white school.

She was bullied, sexually assaulted, and shamed. “I’ve attempted suicide three different times,” she confides. “The last time I attempted, I was 24 and it was an absolute miracle I survived. I overdosed on 30 grams of Vicodin. I took the fact that I survived at all as a kick in the ass. Clearly the universe wanted me here for a reason, so I started using my voice to help others.” And she has. From her time as a queer, musical activist to the present, Queen Phoenix is doing everything in her power to help those who need it. A fulltime activist, she is tackling something she sees a lack of: unity. Before, the things she was advocating for were hyper-focused on one issue. After the election, and seeing the responses from so many different communities, Queen Phoeni x is combining them all and starting an OUTFRONTONLINE.COM

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organization that will bring together all minority groups as one. Community for Unity is a peaceful collective of neighbors focused on administrative, environmental, social, and educational reform. The goal is to provide a safe space for people of all races, gender expressions, orientations, and religions. Since that first rally, Queen Phoenix has been flooded with support and volunteers wanting to make a change and help others. With the workload growing, she assembled a leadership team of six very different, very “Everyone is so passionate people to help her organize and become a nonprofit while still giving back to the community. focused on their “It’s something that really hasn’t happened before,” she says. “Everyone is so focused on their own issues, and used to comparing struggles with one another. We shouldn’t be doing that; black people shouldn’t think that they’re more targeted than LGBT people, and LGBT people can’t think that they’re more targeted than Muslims. We all need to realize we are facing the same issues, and we need to come together to fix them.” For Bailey Howes, the message sent out to the world on November 10 resonated, and she Facebook messaged Queen Phoenix that same night. Now, Bailey sits as one of six people in Queen Phoenix’s inner circle.

own issues,and used to comparing struggles with one another. We shouldn’t be doing that. We all need to realize we are facing the same issues, and we need to come together to fix them.”

Working as the volunteer organizer for Community for Unity, Bailey has never considered herself an activist, but the election inspired her to join the ranks of those marching in retaliation to our president-elect and the small faction of bigots and racists that he inspired to come out of the woodwork. “I have experienced violence as a woman,” she says. “I have not experienced violence or hatred because of race, gender expression, or because of my religion. I went to that rally to show support for those who have.” 3 2 \\ D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 6

Although she’s never been involved in activism, she is dedicated to spending most of her free time fighting for those who need it, and reaching out to the community as someone they can rely on — no matter their background. Unlike Queen Phoenix, Bailey cannot dedicate all her time to the community — she goes to school full time and works a full-time job. So, how does she find time to give back? “I don’t have much of a social life,” Bailey says. “But I have a purpose. I have a goal in mind to help people. Even if I don’t know exactly how they feel, or the way they’ve been treated in the past, I still look at them with compassion. The world needs more of that, you know?” As the small group of leaders try to maintain momentum on the ground here in Denver with community meetings, establishing themselves as a nonprofit, and working with similar activist groups in the area to address the very real problems we face on social issues, they realize marching is not the only way to get things done. In reality, they don’t want to be known as a marching group. “Yes, there will come a time when we need to take to the streets and scream at the top of our lungs,” Queen Phoeni x says. “But unless some kind of legislature or major event happens, there is no reason to be disruptive. We need to march when it is needed, and I have no problem leading those marches.” Community for Unity continues to host regular community meetings and encourages anyone who can to get involved to tr y and make a difference. The last march was on December 18, the day before electors i n each state cast t heir vote for president and vice president. The group wanted to encourage electors to vote based on the popular vote and not the electoral college. OUTFRONTONLINE.COM

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Elliot Imse

As our movement prepares for a presidential administration opposed to LGBT equality, LGBT elected officials will play an essential role in preventing anti-LGBT legislation and demanding equality. On Nov. 8, several LGBT candidates achieved historic wins, and 86 of 135 Victory Fund-endorsed LGBT candidates won their elections. In response to the presidential election results and victories for LGBT candidates across the nation, Victory Fund President & CEO Aisha C. Moodie-Mills released the following statement: “Today I am heartbroken that racist, xenophobic, sexist, and transphobic demagoguery won last night’s presidential election. The devastating results hit the LGBT community particularly hard because we are unique in spanning all the demographic groups targeted by the president-elect throughout his campaign. We are Latino, black, women, Muslims, undocumented, and we have disabilities. We are all stronger together, and Victory Fund will continue to work to ensure that our collective voices are represented in the halls of power. Amidst this election’s darkness, however, there were rays of light. Kate Brown became the nation’s first openly LGBT governor, a stunning accomplishment and a win for the history books. Carlos Guillermo Smith became the first openly LGBT Latino elected to the Florida state legislature, representing Orlando and

NewLy ELected LGBT OFFicials CriticaL in MoVing Forward 86 LGBT Victory Fund-endorsed candidates won their races

many LGBT people of color who danced at Pulse nightclub that horrific night. Georgia expanded LGBT representation in its state legislature, electing Sam Park to join three other openly LGBT voices. And voters reelected all six openly LGBT members of Congress despite a tough night for House Democrats — affirmation that LGBT leadership is effective and respected. Now more than ever, LGBT elected officials are critical to defending our community and pushing forward equality for LGBT people, and Victory Fund will be at their side. We will work to support incumbents and build the next generation of diverse LGBT candidates so we can cement our gains and further equality for all people. But let’s not kid ourselves: We made huge strides these past eight years, and this election we took steps back. Now our community and allies need to rally and demand all elected lawmakers — not just LGBT elected officials — unequivocally stand on the side of equality for all people.”

We mustn’t overlook the pro-LGBT candidates who got elected this year. They’ll be fighting for us on Capitol Hill.

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