December 2022 :: Queers Who Care

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

Truly Family-Friendly

This year, there is a certain set of buzzwords and rhetoric swirling around the radical far Right that is especially concerning. While on the surface, “groomers” and “pedaphiles” are the obvious enemies, people we want to keep out, and “familyfriendly” is a good thing, meaning all-ages and for kids, those terms aren’t being used the way most of us think of them.

According to the Right, simply speaking about queer issues in school, explaining that some kids have two moms or two dads, is “groomer,” behavior, and exposing kids to queer spaces with drag or giving them the freedom to explore their gender is child abuse, or worse. And “familyfriendly” is becoming a dog whistle meaning a space or group that is not queer-affirming.

That’s why, around the time of the holidays, it is so important to create spaces that truly are affirming for youth and friendly for families of all kinds, no matter what that looks like. OFM is celebrating with our Gay and Merry Market, an event held December 3 at the Milk Market to celebrate queer love, families, and the joy of the season.

And in this issue, we celebrate all things queer and truly family-friendly, incuding YouthSeen, a group that uplifts POC, queer kids, and some celebs and queens who embody these ideals.

So, however you celebrate, and whatever you celebrate, know this: Showing love and support is not grooming, and the only way to be truly family-friendly is to love and include all families. Seasons greetings to you and yours, and we’ll see you again in the new year, bolder and better than ever.

-Addison Herron-Wheeler

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by Ray Manzari

Supreme Court to Vote

on Affirmative Action in Colleges and Universities

The SCOTUS began hearing arguments both for and against affirmative action last month, in a case re garding Harvard Law School allegedly discriminating against Asian American applicants, and a separate but similar case from the University of North Caroli na. Affirmative action has been used as an admissions policy in colleges and universities in the U.S. since 1964, but it hasn’t always looked the way it does today.

In its original form, affirmative action was a way for colleges and universities to give special consideration to racial minorities in an effort to undo past discrim ination in admissions. Often, higher education in stitutions would set aside a specific number of seats for minority students in the form of diversity quotas. However, in 1978, a SCOTUS ruling on the case Uni versity of California v. Bakke outlawed the use of quo tas to improve campus diversity.

In a 2003 ruling on the case of Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court ruled that the only way colleges and universities may now consider an applicants’ race is if it’s a factor of another factor. For example, if a stu dent writes their application essay about overcoming racial discrimination or the hardships of being an im migrant, their race maybe considered then. Further more, applicants who are involved in extracurricular activities involving their race, such as Black Student Unions or other culture clubs, may also be considered based on affirmative action.

The previous amendments to affirmative action changed the aim of the policy from trying to correct past discrimination to what it is today: a tool to diversify college campuses. There have been several studies to come out of the last decade that suggest having a more diverse student body is not just beneficial to mi nority students, but to everyone. A 2016 study published by The Century Foundation found that diversity in education promotes critical thinking and problem solving.

The latest Supreme Court case is looking at two colleges, Har vard and the University of North Carolina, for discriminating against Asian Americans (and in the UNC case, white Ameri cans) and capping their admission numbers. The lower courts in both cases found that neither school was misusing affirmative action to racially discriminate; however, the conservative-ma jority SCOTUS will be harder to convince.

Lawyers from both schools attempted to argue for affirmative action in early November, but the conservative-packed court remained skeptical. Justice Amy Coney Barrett cited the court’s majority opinion in the 2003 Grutter case which suggested that affirmative action eventually be terminated, perhaps in the next 25 years. Should the court follow its predecessor’s advice, affir mative action would come to an end in 2028.

Conservatives argue that after a certain amount of time utilizing affirmative action, schools should be able to say that they have met their “diversity goals” and begin to terminate the admis sions policy. However, Justice Sonia Sotomayor brought forth evidence from schools that have stopped using affirmative ac tion and have begun seeing less diversified student bodies since.

“We have nine states who have tried it, and in each of them, as I mentioned earlier, white admissions have either remained the same or increased. And clearly, in some institutions, the num bers for underrepresented groups have fallen dramatically,” Jus tice Sotomayor says during the hearing.

Throughout all the arguments for or against affirmative action, one critical piece of the puzzle seems to be left unspoken about. Our public education system in this country is still highly seg regated. Though students of any race or ethnicity may attend public schools within their district, socio-economic factors keep minority students in schools with less funding and few er resources. Even forgetting past discrimination and familial wealth discrepancies, white students are still more likely to have advantages in their education leading up to college than that of their Black and Latinx counterparts.

Should the Supreme Court ban colleges and universities from using affirmative action in their admissions process, schools will be forced to introduce a truly colorblind consideration for applicants. Will topics of race and immigration be banned in fu ture college essays; will students last names be redacted from their applications as they are being considered? Our society is not colorblind, to take race out of the equation of college ad missions is to ignore countless systems of racial discrimination within our society. Though affirmative action has helped diver sify colleges and universities over the last 58 years, that may soon come to an end.

by Ray Manzari

Election 2022 Results

nother election cycle has come and gone, and with it, new insights into the future of abortion access, medical uses of psychedelics, and the 2024 Pres idential election have come to light. While many political analysts forecasted a “red wave” on Tuesday, record numbers of young voters, exceeding 2018 records in some places, turned out and caused more of a red ripple.

In the Senate, democrats picked up an extra seat but have yet to defend their majority. A democratic win in Pennsylva nia, where John Fetterman beat out T.V. personality Dr. Oz, means battleground states such as Georgia, Nevada, and Ar izona will likely determine the Senate majority. The Georgia race between Hershal Walker (R) and Raphael Warnock (D) is expected to head into a run-off election in early December, as neither candidate has exceeded 50% of the vote.

Though there are many races within the House of Represen tatives that remain too close to call, political experts project a partisan control of the house. Of the 213 Democratic-held seats, six were picked up on election. Republicans now hold 222 seats with a net gain of 14 from election night.

History was made in Massachusetts last month, as voters elected Maura Healey, the nation's first openly lesbian gov ernor-elect, and the first woman to be elected governor of Massachusettes. Ballot measures in California, Kentucky, Michigan, and Vermont dealt with the right to abortion ac cess, all four states voted overwhelmingly to codify the right to reproductive health.

“If there’s one thing this election has shown us, it’s that the American people see the threat that Republicans pose to their right to reproductive care, and it’s a right they will not give up without a fight," Representative Diana DeGette (DCO) says in a statement.

"The American people made their voices heard loud and clear in this election, and it should end any doubt about Americans’ overwhelming desire to restore the protections we had under Roe v. Wade nationwide. As we await the final outcome of this election, our mandate from the American people is clear: We must fight with everything we have to re store and protect Americans’ right to abortion care.”

Colorado remained a blue state after this year's election with incumbent, democratic candidates beating out republican opposition in the Senate, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Governor's offices.

"I am proud of the progress we’ve made together and proud of how the Polis-Primavera administration has put the needs of Coloradans above all else every step of the way,” says Lieu tenant Governor Primavera.

“We have a bold, positive vision for this state we love so much, and we have worked to deliver on that vision by lis tening to and solving problems for the people of Colora do. I couldn’t be more thankful to the people of Colorado for trusting us to keep getting the job done for four more years.”

Colorado voters also decriminalized hallucinogenic com pounds for adults 21-plus, making it the second state after Oregon to do so. Colorado also voted yes on ballot mea sures that allocated tax revenue for affordable housing funds and the creation of a public-school meal program. Voters did not, however, pass the ballot measure allowing alcohol delivery.

Results from last month's election also shed light on the upcoming 2024 Presidential election. Florida incumbent Ron DeSantis maintained the governor's office despite his plans on running for President in the next two years. Elsewhere, Trump-backed republicans lost their races in several states, leading political analysts to conjecture that the GOP has begun to move away from the previous pres ident's politics.

OFM will continue to monitor election results as more bal lots are counted and run-offs completed.

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by Kerry Shatzer

Queer Word Search

by Zach Breeding

Queers Doing Good Fighting Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is more common than you might think. Living with out reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food— otherwise known as food insecurity—im pacts one in every four LGBTQ folks, with even higher rates among women and BI POC.

As I’ve noted in previous articles, the per centage of people in the LGBTQ commu nity who are food insecure is more than twice that of the general population. And this has a significant impact on our com munity. Thankfully, organizations such as Gay for Good plan an array of events with the mission to strengthen ties to the broader community. I took the opportuni ty to connect with one of the co-leaders of the Denver chapter of Gay for Good, Ben Gunderson (he/him), to discuss the depth of work done in the space of food insecuri ty at the local level.

How did Gay 4 Good Denver get started? What is the mission of the organization?

Gay For Good Denver has been bringing together queer front range volunteers since June of this year. People are surprised to hear we’re that new, as our community has grown exponentially over the past five months! We are the newest (and 19th) chapter of Gay For Good (G4G), a national nonprofit that mobilizes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and ally volunteers to promote diver sity, foster inclusion, and strengthen ties to the broader communi ty. Our chapter is led by five committed co-leaders that keep busy with four service projects and one social per month. It has been a true labor of love.

Tell me about the various specific programs or initiatives that support food insecurity.

It’s funny, we have unintentionally centered many of our service projects around food justice initiatives: community gardening, food rescue, meal delivery, and one very special community cafe. We partnered with Denver Urban Gardens several times this sum mer tidying existing gardens and helping to build a new one. We have also put love and care into some community gardens on school grounds with the help of organizations such as ReGenera tion Now, DPS Gardens, and Huerta Urbana.

G4G just had our first project at the Food Bank of the Rockies, where we packed 648 boxes (which amounts to 17,658 meals). One volunteer bragged about lifting 21,189 pounds that day.

Our popular, bi-monthly “Bag & Brew” gathers folks together at a brewery where we chat, make connections, sip beer, and decorate meal delivery bags for Project Angel Heart, a really incredible or ganization that prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to people living with severe illnesses.

How does

G4G

support SAME Café?

First of all, if you don’t know about SAME Café, you should. They build community by gathering folks around nutritious, nourishing food. They are a participatory cafe, which means you can contribute any amount (a penny to a hundred) for your lunch, bring produce from your yard, or even offer 30 minutes of volunteer time. Lunch is typi cally a delicious pizza, a colorful salad of some kind, and a soup. They’re located in a great spot on Colfax and are about to expand into a neighboring space. Fun fact: they are the longest-running community cafe of this model and just celebrated 16 years!

SAME Café was one of our very first community partners. One Wednesday each month, we squeeze nine volun teers into their kitchen and get to chopping, slicing, dic ing, and puréeing produce, baking cookies, and baking bread. We are usually prepping food for a special event or for their farmers market food truck, but we sometimes prep staples to be frozen and used over the winter.

Does G4G accept direct donations? How can some one learn more about how to get involved with G4G?

The core of our work is showing up and offering our goodwill, laughter, and labor, but cash or in-kind dona tions are always welcome. You can make a one-time or monthly donation by clicking “Donate” on our website (gayforgood.org), and if you’d like to brainstorm in-kind donation ideas, you can always email us at denver@gay forgood.org or message us on social media. We are al ways looking for spaces to hold events, businesses that will offer our volunteers a deal, connections to merch supply or printing, and a host of other things.

The best ways to keep up with our events are to follow us on social media (Instagram/Facebook: GayForGoodDenver) and by signing up for our monthly newsletter by visiting gayforgood.org/denver and clicking “join.” Our only volun teer requirement is that you show up at projects ready to contribute! If you ever have questions about accessibility, you are welcome to message us, and we will gladly accom modate.

Love Is Love is Breaking Norms in the Capitol Hill Area

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Freedom is the right to choose, even if that is just your hairstyle or color, or your friends or your lovers. Whether LGBTQ+ or simply an ally, love is love.

re you looking for a place to get a haircut? Per haps you are wanting a new color so you can live out your dreams of being the main character in an anime. Maybe you want to show off your pride. No matter the reason, you’re looking for a salon that caters to your needs. Love Is Love is a lovely local hair salon in downtown Denver, located at 450 E 17th Ave Unit 100, Denver, CO, 80203, and I don’t think you’ll find a more queer-focused salon in such a great area.

I had the privilege of visiting the salon, and as I entered, I was first struck with how chic and cool it looks. With open, natural lighting and sleek black chairs, the modern look of the salon exudes a comforting feel while still be

Love Is Love’s website contains the beautiful senti ment: “Freedom is the right to choose, even if that is just your hairstyle or color, or your friends or your lovers. Whether LGBTQ+ or simply an

The Capitol Hill area is an incredibly progressive zone for the LGBTQ com munity. There are several great bars and nonprofits, as well as The Center, the largest LGBTQ com munity center in the Rocky Mountain area. Love Is Love is another amazing addition to the region.

I was also given the oppor tunity to interview Cassan dra Zetlmaier, a senior styl ist, and Megan Yarbough, the director of operations.

What is Love Is Love?

We are an inclusive, queer-fo cused salon. The owners of Love Is Love are a husband couple, and they have three other brands of salons, all in dependently branded. It was really important to them as a gay couple and also having a trans friend that they cre ated a space that was inclu sive to the LGBTQ commu nity, and they felt that there is a big hole in that being avalible in denver.

Photos courtesy of Love is Love

Could you tell me a little bit about your services?

All our services are gender-neutral. They are booked by the hair service, so we don’t have men’s and wom en’s cuts; everything is either a short haircut, a bar ber haircut, or a long cut. All our color services are just what they are.

What is a barber cut?

A barber cut is any quick, sort of fast cutting service. Generally it is executed with clippers over using a scissor or comb technique, so it’s not an exact-pre cision cut.

What exactly was the inspiration behind the name Love Is Love?

Love Is Love is a powerful name in and of itself; it’s inclusive in and of itself, and when the owners of the salon were thinking about what they want ed to name a queer-focused salon, Love Is Love is something that just kind of resonated with them. It basically spoke that everybody is welcome, and ev eryone belongs, and everybody has a right to be who they are and love who they love.

Is there a reason for this location?

No, it actually fell into (the owners’) hands perfect ly. It’s great that it’s in the Capitol Hill area; the pre vious owner (of the establishment) was looking to leave the state and wasn’t particularly looking to sell the salon but just looking to hand it over to some body who was going to make it their dream. So it just kind of fell into their laps. Right location, right space.

Would you say this is their dream come true?

It was just kind of right place, right time. I think that the owners had it in the back of their minds that they wanted to eventually do a salon that was LGBTQ-fo cused, and the fact that it fell into his lap that it’s in Capitol Hill, so close to The Center, who they have a close relationship with, it just kind of helped. Like, OK, this is meant to be.

To learn more about Love is Love, visit loveislove hairsalon.com.

Art with Heart: YouthSeen Art Benefit

At its heart, the well-being of individual people in an LGBTQ community is a reflection of the wellness of the whole community. Over half of LGBTQ youth in Colorado experience severe isolation, negative com ments, feel unsafe at school, and encounter verbal abuse because of their sexual orientation and/or gender expression.

One way to support LGBTQ youth is to patronize organizations that work to improve their lives. This year, it is easy to double up on supporting queer youth while getting a thoughtful gift for a loved one by bidding on a handcrafted item through a silent auction that benefits YouthSeen. The live auction featuring these artists will end on December 10.

YouthSeen is a Colorado-based nonprofit whose mis sion is to foster and empower the social and emotion al well-being of LGBTQ youth and their families in all communities. YouthSeen does this through their annual overnight camp that is nestled in the foothills of the Rock Mountains, by connecting youth to a net work of wellness providers, and through many other individualized services and events. Below is a round up of a few of the creatives whose work you can pur chase online or commission. Even when the auction is over, you can still support these artists!

Ren Brian (She/Her/Hers)

IG: Foullorraine

Ren is an artist and illustrator. You’ll find Ren’s cute creatures saying affirming quotes in her illustrations. She organized a silent auction over summer 2022 that funded both scholarships for trans youth to attend an overnight retreat called Camp BeeSeen and general funding for YouthSeen. Now she’s back as an organizer of this silent auction and has artwork available to bid on.

“It gives me joy to see something for and by trans people

M. Kade (They/Them/Theirs)

IG: @evilhand.shop

Etsy: Evil Hand Shop

M. Kade is a multimedia artist based in Salt Lake City who makes hand-painted earrings, art prints, and vinyl stick ers. M. says, “I believe the work YouthSeen is doing is in credibly important. That kind of community support was so essential to me as a queer teen. I love to see organiza tions like YouthSeen doing work to support young queer people.”

Joanna Hoge (She/They)

IG: @joannallyson

Website: joannahoge.com

Joanna is a visual artist who creates drawings that they cut and embroider. “My drawings use anatomical render ing as a site for integration, blurring the lines between an objective, scientific understanding of the body’s parts and a personal sense of embodiment,” says Joanna.

River Story (They/Them)

IG: Aeaea_art

River is a visual artist who paints watercolors with stippling and ink. “My inspiration comes from the beau ty of nature and my intense desire to create. I adore animals. I also love creating in many forms and that feeling of needing to create is the life force behind my inspiration,” says River. River continues “Supporting the LGBTQ youth community is very near and dear to me. As a member of the community, I did not feel safe or supported in my youth. I want to help others have a better experience than mine. I want our LGBTQ youth to feel safe, supported, loved, and to have a community to support this experience.”

Basil Beckham (They/ThemTheirs)

IG: @passion4goo ! Etsy: HandofBasilisk

Basil is a painter and illustrator. Basil says, “Most of my work is intended to be reflective and emo tive. My paintings capture a sense of queer intimacy. I wanted to donate to a YouthSeen fundraiser because it is one of very few or ganizations in Colorado that focuses on all ages of trans people of the global majori ty (PoGM) youth. YouthSeen builds such a beautiful foundation for these individuals to connect to each other and get support with many challenges they may face. Being involved as a volunteer with YouthSeen has been so special and important in my life, and I just want others to witness the good they do.”

Brooke Svitak (They/Them)

IG: bsvis

Website: http://brookesvitakphotos.com

Brooke is a Denver-based photographer who shoots land scapes, portraits, and lifestyle photography. They are in spired by polarity. Brooke says, “When you look at a pho to, you see the highlights, the shadows and the midtones. They exist because of each other, and you can’t have one without the other. To me, Photography shows the dichot omous fluidity of life and all its mystery. The contrasts il luminate the hidden and obvious beauties and meaning of the world, relationships, nature, and the combo of all collective experience.”

Service to the Community: A Chat

with Tara from YouthSeen

by Ray Manzari

Photos by Julius Garrido

Not only is YouthSeen one of the leading nonprofit organiza tions in Colorado helping QTBIPOC youth, they’ve also part nered up with OFM on some upcoming events and projects. We sat down with YouthSeen founder Tara Jae (they/them), who is also one of the founders of Black Pride, to get the in side scoop on all the amazing work they do for the commu nity.

Can you tell me a little bit about what y'all do at Youth Seen?

Yes, so I am the founder and executive director of YouthSeen, and our focus is mental health and wellness for QTBIPOC folks in Colorado; however, I also try to be conscious of the fact that we do work with folks outside of the state as well.

What are some of the programs or initiatives that you offer?

We have four different programs right now. We have our mental health program, which is our clinical program. That is for folks to come in and get talk therapy, so it's affirming care. We also have CampSeen, which focuses on getting folks out into nature and being able to take up space in nature. Our last program is TransSeen, and that focuses really on trans and nonbinary folks. We’re also involved with Black Pride as well.

How did YouthSeen get started?

Youth Seen really came out of a need for me. As I moved to Colorado in 2017, I very quickly realized that there was a lack of resources, affirming care specifically, and mental health and wellness for QTBIPOC folks. So, it started there, and then it grew.

What were some of the holes in community resources that you were looking to fill?

In the beginning, there was a strong focus around therapy services. Most of the therapists that I was going to were not people of color. What I was finding is that, even in 2017, for therapist of color there's a waiting list and then therapists of color who identify as queer is a even smaller group. I knew most of them, so it's kind of hard to go in and get therapy from people that you're already working with. So, yeah, I was really just focusing on that and making sure that we have those resources within the community.

Can you expand a little bit on your CampSeen program?

CampSeen is an excuse to get people out in nature and able to enjoy what is surrounding us here in Colorado. Most folks get to enjoy and have that privilege of enjoying without be ing watched or being interrupted because of the color of their skin, and other folks feel that they are doing something wrong. CampSeen is really about giving that space to our youth to grow into. I think that that's really what it comes down to is just being able to just show up and being able to connect without having oppressive rules around how they're showing up.

Does TransSeen have a similar motif about being out doors and with nature, or is it different?

It’s kind of different in the sense that we like to educate folks. So, it's really about sexual health. We do work with It Takes

a Village to do testing because we want to normalize testing and having that as a part of our sexual health and making it routine. That isn't something that you should be fearful of. It is something that the more knowledge you have, the better it is for you and the folks around you.

In your experience, do you feel like that was something that was particularly lacking in the trans community?

Oh absolutely, gender-affirming care is still a thing. What I mean by it's still a thing is, there’s still not a lot of education even for the providers who are giving it to people. What bedside manner is, which questions to be asking. Consent is still a thing when you're going in to see the doctor and being able to like go into those spaces with that knowledge. Sometimes it's just nice to have someone go with you so that if you're not understanding or you're feeling that there is something off you have someone who's right there advocating with you because oftentimes it falls on trans and nonbinary folks to teach their providers how to treat them.

I work with Denver Health a lot within their LGBTQ+ center. I’m often working with medical providers and, you know, pretty in volved with WPATH and how those standards are coming to be. In fact, there's not a lot of trans and nonbinary folks making those decisions, so advocating for more folks with lived experience to be able to be making those decisions and pointing out the fact that often times, when policies and standards are set up, the folks who actually need to meet those standards are not even at the table.

How did you get involved with Black Pride?

I was one of the co-creators of Black Pride Denver. I grew up on the East Coast, and Black Pride was a staple in the community, like that was just a part of Pride. And Denver was lacking, and that is not to say that there weren’t other things that were going on, but specifically around Black Pride, there was a void. So, there was a small group of us that gathered and put it together, and now it's going on its third year.

What’s some of the work that you've done with them?

In 2021, we had our first Black Pride events; it was three or four days, and there were different events ranging from drag shows to a gala. It was really just an opportunity to have fellowship with the rest of the community, specifically for queer folks of color, and it also happens to coincide with Juneteenth. It was really about bringing folks together who felt that they weren't being repre sented at Pride events but then also weren't being represented in Juneteenth as a queer person, and then coming together to have black pride.

This year, which was our second year, we added another compo nent to it because we got feedback from the community that we needed to be a little bit more family-friendly as opposed to just bar events. So, this year we ended up doing a cookout, which was an all-afternoon event where there were vendors and kid games and shows, and it was just an opportunity for folks to come out and relax and get to know other community members, but very focused on family this time around.

Keep up to date with future YouthSeen events and programs by fol lowing them on social media @youth_seen or visiting their website: youthseen.org.

Fabulous Colorado LGBTQ Nonprofits to Support This Holiday Season

by Denny Patterson

While many of us exchange gifts and spend time with our family and friends this holiday season, we should always be aware that there are plenty of people out there who are not as fortunate. The spirit of generosity is always especially strong during this time of year, and if you want to do something to help out, consider supporting a variety of nonprofit organiza tions and charities that are passionate about giving back to the Colorado communities. Below are some opportunities to make someone’s holidays a little bit brighter this year.

Black Pride Colorado

Black Pride Colorado is a program that was created to celebrate, liberate, and engage the Black LGBTQ commu nity by building resiliency, honor and preserving history and culture. It is through the organization’s fellowship and gatherings that they provide aid, dismantle the op pressive ideals behind mental health and wellness, com munity engagement, and showcase where Black LGBTQ individuals thrive and create in arts and culture.

BlackPrideDenver.com.

Envision:You

Envision:You is an LGBTQ mental health and substance abuse disorder initiative that aims to support, educate, and empower members of Colorado’s LGBTQ community who are living with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Committed to improving the mental health of Colorado’s LGBTQ community with a multifaceted ap proach in collaboration with partners from around the state, the organization seeks to close gaps in behavioral health outcomes for LGBTQ individuals through co-cre ated community programming, advocacy engagement, public awareness campaigns, and evidence-based train ing.

Envision-You.org.

Colorado Health Network

Founded in 1983, Colorado Health Network (CHN) has sought to meet the evolving needs of individuals in Col orado living with and at risk of HIV and other health con ditions. CHN is a statewide organization and currently serves over 5,250 individuals living with HIV by providing a broad spectrum of holistic support services including medical and oral health care, case management, behav ioral health services, housing assistance, nutrition ser vices, and emergency financial assistance. Each service is strategically designed to help empower people eliminate barriers to treatment and care and to make healthy choic es leading to increased stability and healthier lives. CHN also works to prevent the spread of HIV through testing, promoting treatment as prevention and providing PrEP services.

ColoradoHealthNetwork.org.

One Colorado

One Colorado is the state’s leading advocacy organization dedicated to advancing equality for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families by lobbying the General Assembly, the executive branch, and local governments on issues like safe schools, transgender equality, relationship recognition, and health and human services. One Colorado also works to change the hearts and minds of everyday Coloradans on LGBTQ issues through public education efforts such as tell ing stories about the barriers LGBTQ Coloradans face every day.

One-Colorado.org.

PFLAG Denver

PFLAG Denver is one of nearly 500 local chapters in the U.S. that belong to the larger PFLAG National organization, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. By meeting people where they are and collaborating with others, PFLAG Denver realizes its vision through support for families, allies, and people who are LGBTQ, education for ourselves and others about the unique issues and challenges facing peo ple who are LGBTQ, and advocacy in our communities to change attitudes and create policies and laws that achieve full equality for people who are LGBTQ. PFLAG Denver en visions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. PFLAGDenver.org.

Project Angel Heart

Project Angel Heart was founded in 1991 to address a ma jor challenge for Coloradans who are ill: getting the nutri tion they need to get stronger, heal, and remain at home. Many are too sick to get to the grocery store or unable to cook for themselves and others find they have to choose whether to buy food or medication to make ends meet. That’s why Project Angel Heart prepares and delivers medically tailored meals to people living with severe ill nesses. Each week, their professional chefs and registered dietitians prepare thousands of delicious meals, from scratch, and tailor them to meet the medical and dietary needs of those who are ill. ProjectAngelHeart.org.

Transgender Center of the Rockies

The Transgender Center of the Rockies provides holistic gender-affirming services to support transgender, non binary, and gender-expansive individuals in Colorado. Their goal is to empower people to live their most authen tic lives, and they provide social-emotional support and substance use treatment for the Colorado trans commu nity with clinical groups, individual counseling, peer-led support groups, PrEP case management, and commu nity events. The Trangender Center of the Rockies also provide programs for queer and transgender teens and young adults at the NXT Queer Youth program.

TransgenderCenteroftheRockies.org.

Our Reigning Supreme Queen

Willow Pill

by Denny Patterson

After what seemed like a never-ending season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Willow Pill (she/they) emerged victorious and claimed the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.”

“It was such a shock,” they admit. “I didn’t really know what to think when RuPaul said my name, and it’s taken months to settle in and for me to realize that I won Drag Race. It’s been a slow burn and not something that sud denly clicked, but it’s pretty insane.”

Originally from the Mile High City, our reigning cham pion became an instant favorite on Season 14 thanks to their quirky aesthetic, wicked sense of humor, and ability to constantly surprise the judges and audiences watch ing from home. Willow is proud to stand out for all the right and wrong reasons.

Additionally, she is also representing people who face lifelong illnesses and proving that a chronic condition does not have to limit you. Willow suffers from a rare but life-threatening disease called cystinosis, which impacts several parts of the body, especially the kidneys.

In the middle of touring and basking in the fame and glo ry, Willow took some time out of her busy schedule to chat with OFM.

Let me begin by asking, what do you hope to achieve during your reign as “America’s Next Drag Super star?”

For a long time, I was like, oh, I want to do this project, that project, and all these crazy things, but I think I want to achieve some peace and joy during my reign. Unlike a lot of the other winners, I don't have a lot of the energy re serves that some of them do. I just want to have some fun doing productions and take things slow, so that I can re ally put myself into these performances and enjoy them. I think for a while, I've been in a place where I haven't enjoyed drag as much as I used to because I'm so tired, and I want to be in a place where drag feels like it used to when I was younger. I’m going to take my time, have fun, and spread some joy across the world.

Your finale performance of "I Hate People" was iconic and will always be remembered. How did that song come about?

For your final number, they wanted each of us to do something that had to do with our brand and our time on the show. We thought about maybe doing something along the lines of fun, trippy Willow Pill, but I thought, the thing that was most true to me the whole season was to always bring out surprise. So, why not go totally left field and bring out another surprise in the end? We thought about what’s going to be on brand for me but going to be shocking and add a new level to my persona. Then we thought, why don’t we just do something as cra zy as “I Hate People?” Rather than having a number that celebrated me, I wanted to do a number spreading a little bit of hate.

How would you say Willow Pill is constantly evolv ing as a drag artist?

I’m actually trying to find my next evolution and step right now. I think on Drag Race, I mostly showed the dreamy, trippy side of Willow, which was topical at the moment for me. Now, I'm trying to find one that's based in a lot of queerness and almost a renaissance of finding out who I am and what I stand for. I mean, I just achieved my life's biggest dream. I just became “America's Next Drag Superstar,” and now I'm like, what do I do now? I kind of want to start going back, not back to the basics because nothing about me is basic (laughs), but back to exploring a little bit more of my soul. I don't know what that means yet, but I'm very, very excited to find out.

A lot of viewers, and even some of your fellow competitors, didn't see you as a threat at first. You were more of an underdog. Do you feel like you were being underestimated? Yes, I was definitely being underestimated, but also, I would have private conversations with the girls, and I would say the majority of them thought I was going to win. I think that was a feeling a lot of us had in the back of our minds, but I became an early dark horse in the competition, someone that was initially underestimated, but people were talking pretty quickly being like, “This girl might change the track.” So, I think I was being underestimated, but I don’t think any of the girls were really oblivious to what was going on. I think some people thought, oh, is she really going to be able to surprise us again each time? I always knew that I was.

Do you have a challenge that was your absolute favorite? My favorite challenge was the 60’s girl group challenge. That was right up my alley. We got to write and record our own lyrics, choreograph, and it was a group project. I love group projects. I think drag is most fun when you're doing it with other people. As much as I love being a solo star, there's just something about collaborating in drag that makes it more fun.

Now that two out of three Denver queens have won Drag Race, what kind of message do you hope that sends? Whenever there’s a queen that’s not from LA or New York, I'm always rooting for them because I love the drag that’s in cities like Denver. If anyone knows me from Denver, they know that I started out doing little competitions and my show called Pillbox, which was mad, crazy, fun drag, and it's just great to see queens up there who like to break the mold a little bit and play with people's expectations. I think Yvie and I both did that well, and Nina did that fantastically the first time around. So, I hope it sends a message to not underestimate the people that come from the underbelly of the scene.

Stay up-to-date and connect with Willow by following her on Twitter, and Instagram @willowpillqueen, or visit her official website, willowpill.com.

Q:

Queer Girl

by Eleni Stephanides

This year will be the first time I'm not spending Christmas with my parents. I didn’t want to recreate Happiest Season, where Kristin Stewart’s character gets introduced to her partner’s family as a friend—So I told the folks about my girlfriend. They did not respond well. This has led me to choose to spend Christmas with my girlfriend’s family instead.

I’m not sure I have a question. I mainly wanted to say that it sucks, and it makes me sad, and I wish I could change their minds. But it doesn’t feel like there’s much I can do or say.

A:

I’m really sorry to hear this. Sadly, this is a situation that still far too many LGBTQ in dividuals throughout the world find themselves in—even in liberal en claves like the Bay Area or Denver. Too many queer friends I’ve met through the years have shared less-than-idyllic coming out to family stories.

One’s mother cried inconsolably. An other’s, while out to lunch with her, tried to set her up with their male wait er immediately after she’d disclosed her orientation to her. Still another’s parents simply refused to ever speak about it with him.

Beyond these more overt examples, parental rejection can (and often does) occur in subtler ways. As lesbian au thor Sarah Schulman wrote, “Many gay people will say that their families are ‘fine.’ But when you ask for details, this means, basically, that the gay person has not been completely excluded from family events. Or that their partner, if they have one, is allowed in the house. Very few experience their personhood to be actively understood as equal to the heterosexual family members.”

When a parent doesn’t accept you, it can feel devastating. It creates cogni tive dissonance and the need to hide, compartmentalize, and tamp down the full range of who you are.

Familial support is in large part what allowed me to proudly own my gay identity, navigate the queer scene so

freely at a relatively young age, and to date and live openly—especially back when gayness wasn’t as accepted or normalized. Without it, I have no doubt it would’ve been far more difficult.

Matthew Weissman, a clinical psycholo gist in Washington, D.C. who works pre dominately with gay teens and adults, has reported that most of his patients struggle with some form of internalized homophobia and that the root cause is typically the home environment.

I’ve tried to understand the mindsets of unsupportive or conflicted parents. I’ve wondered, even, whether their own un resolved issues lie at the heart of their difficulty. Schulman believes this was the case for her mother, whose unac knowledged traumas led her to “fear difference, (and) fear the disapproval of the dominant culture, which kept her from being able to love her lesbian daughter.”

I also think of examples of parents who took some time to come around, but eventually did. After initial ambiv alence, basketball player Layshia Clar endon’s dad grew more accepting over time, and the two are now very close.

My friend Derick’s dad was ultra conser vative and refused to accept his orien tation at first. When Derick married his love a couple of years ago, though, his dad walked him down the aisle.

“Growth does not happen overnight. It’s a process. So if anyone is experiencing a

rough time coming out, just know there is hope, and do not give up on your loved ones. Time takes time, ” was how he put it.

I’d like to give parents the benefit of the doubt. They're not evil, or even neces sarily homophobic, for their inability to jump on board right away. Still, that doesn’t take away from the pain that results from their ingrained beliefs and ensuing behaviors.

Reader, I hope for your parents to at some point reach a place of acceptance. I’d like to hope that one day, they’ll al low their love to overpower the fear that I strongly feel lies at the heart of their disapproval. And I hope the same for families of LGBTQ individuals across the world—wherever they are in their journey or process of acceptance.

At the same time, I understand that this might be wishful thinking. The world is changing, but slowly and in fits and starts. Some minds are still set in stone and will remain that way.

Be good to yourself this holiday season, and I’m sending a big hug to anyone in a similar boat as you. Know that as much as it might hurt, you’re nowhere near alone in this experience.

It’s perhaps in moments like these when chosen queer family—bound by bonds thicker than blood—become all the more important and nourishing.

You can follow Eleni on IG @eleni_steph_writer.

Queer Holiday Gift Guide

From naughty cannabis sweet treats to nice and necessary home accessories, feast your eyes on the 2022 OFM Holiday Gift Guide! Read on for all the stuff to fill your stockings.

For us, the Pax Plus checks all the box es. Elevate your smoking experience with this product, and give yourself a great smoking experience. You can use it to smoke flower and concentrate, so it’s easy to switch between the two! This beefy-yet-portable vaporizer is sleek and stylish and a go-to sesh accessory.

* Staff Pick Olio Live Rosin Carts (Soap)

Olio does a great job with carts, and we especially loved the Soap rosin cartridge. It hits like taking a small but manageable dab and fits perfectly into your pocket on the go. Plus, it’s a classic cart that won’t clog easily and works with almost any bat tery (though you should snag aan Olio bat tery, they are super cute!

Select X Bites

Pax Plus Select might be best known for their line of concentrates, but they do edibles too, and they do them well. The X bites are small, kick in fast, bring a nice high to the table, and come in unique flavor. When it comes to your daily dose, what more could you ask for?

* Staff Pick

The Clear Concentrates - Mini TWAX Pre-rolls

TWAX minis are the perfect small flavorful enhancements to your day or night. These infused pre-rolls pack a punch and are rolled with dyefree papers for a smooth burn. They contain .5 grams of full flower that is carefully paired with AAA Grade distillate and plant-derived terpenes for a juicy enticing grape flavor good for nighttime chilling.

Six minis per tin, ideal for when you’re on the go, with a total of 3 grams of premium infused flower. Recommended for experienced consumers! Infrequent or light consumers, start with a small hit, and go slow.

This product is for the stoners with style. These blazy papers and cones are not only aesthet ically pleasing, but are slow burning, vegan, and GMO-Free leaving no grungy after tastes. Blazy Susan always hooks you up with the cutest and easiest ways to get high.

Blazy Susan Purple Papers and Cones

Dad Grass CBD Gummies & Dog Treats

expanded their line, adding CDB Gummies to the menu. The Dad Grass Gummies Trio features sophisticated and delicious flavors including Blackberry Ginger, Hibiscus Lime, and Midnight Berry. The CDB Pumpkin flavored dog treats smell good enough for a human to enjoy and contains or ganic, healthy ingredi ents for your pooch.

Cartridge

Leiffa has a lot of options for everyone, from the experienced cannabis user to the not-so-savvy to the, “Hurry up and take the hit, Mary, it’s my turn to toke up.” Red Runtz is the perfect flavor for any level of cannabis user. These car tridges are packed with flavor and are great for those on the go. Red Runtz tastes like grape Runtz candy, but the flavor isn’t overwhelming. On a very stressful day, this was perfect to help calm me down. I look forward to going back to Leiffa to get my next cartridge!

Session Goods Bong, Hand HeldPipe, and One-Hitter

Sessions goods spoiled us with a little bit of everything from their smoking acces sory line. The Handheld Pipe comes in a sleek protective sleeve for on the go pur poses and to keep ash out of your bags. For a solo sesh, they provided a pock et-sized one-hitter with a silicone tab to protect your fingers from get ting burnt or ashy. This bong is modern and chic! It has an incredibly classy look, and the attachments make cleaning easy and mess-free. These will be your new favorite pieces!

These chocolate bars are more like a high-end dessert than an edible. They taste delightful, so take a small square to start, and then more if you want, but beware the 10 mg pieces—They add up fast, and it’s easy to eat a

Cheeba Chews THCV Charged Chocolate Taffy Energy Chews

These taffy cheeba chews are a little bit different than the usual. While they’re still chewy edible goodies, they come in a 5-mg 20-pack that also give you an energy boost when you bite into them. They combine THC and THCV for a blend that will help with metabolism-boosting, working out, and being productive.

This live resin pen is small, disposable, and easy to take anywhere, but it hits just like a pricey cart and battery. I was seriously impressed with the quality of both the pen and the product in side it, and I was puffing away all day. Sano Gar dens is a brand I’m very happy to have gotten familiar with!

Incredibles Lemon Lime Boost

Need a quick boost? These lowTHC treats are just the thing for after a workout or before busting out some work on the computer. If you want a stronger high, simply snack on a handful. They taste so good you’ll want to keep sneaking

* Staff Pick Leiffa Solventless Live Rosin

* Staff Pick Sano Gardens Disposable Live Rosin Vape

Dad Grass

Terrascend Valhalla Brown Butter and Sea Salt DarkChocolate

* Staff Pick Native Roots ONYX Label Flower

One of Colorado’s staples, Native Roots have been delivering us qual ity cannabis for years now, and their new Onyx Label line is super tasty and lives up to its name. We tried Zkittlez and Jungle Cake, and both are low-THC, mild, and sooth ing blends that are perfect to relax with at the end of the day. We can’t say enough good things about this special line of flower!

O.pen 10-Year 2.0 Battery and Cartridge

The original vape pen is celebrating 10 years of goodness right here in Colora do with their signature 10-year anniver sary pen and cart! The battery features the words “What a Long, Strange Trip,” which will make any Deadhead's day, and the cart packs the quality hits we’ve come to expect from the legacy brand.

* Staff Pick Olio Live Edibles

If you can’t get enough of Olio concen trate products, but also love edibles, you’re in luck! The brand now makes ed ibles, and just like their other products, they are tasty and also pack a punch. These natural, fruity gummies are a must for any cannabis fan. They come in flavors like strawberry/blueberry and watermelon/green apple, and we highly recommend the strawberry/blueberry;

+PlusCBD Reserve Collection

If you need CBD to help heal af ter a workout or sleep through the night, we are thoroughly happy with +Plus CBD’s pre mium line of products through their reserve collection. Featur ing flavors like Sour Watermel on and Dark Chocolate Mint, these are some of the tastiest offerings you’ll come across on the CBD market, and the results are more than satisfactory.

Alchemy Natural Gummies

If you’re looking for the perfect gum my to help you sleep, keep you calm, or help you tackle your to-do list, all while maintaining a nice, sustaining high, look no further than Alchemy Naturals. With flavors like pomegran ate blueberry and ginger mango and additives like macha and CBN, these will check all your boxes.

* Staff Pick Gud Tymz 10 mg Infused Jello Shots

Gud Tymz is a unique brand that stands out in the cannabis space be cause of what they offer: jello shots! That’s right—These infused jello shots will bring you back to your party days, but they taste much better, and the high is smooth and manageable. They even offer coffee shots for those who prefer a little pep in their step!

Artists Infused Pre-rolls

Escape Artists take pride in what they do and put care, love, and special ingredients in all their ointments and tinctures, and they are no different when it comes to their prerolls. These tasty infused joints are just the thing after a long day on your feet or a long night at the club.

Wyld Sours

Wyld already makes delicious gummies, and they completely blew us away with their sour line. These tasty gummies pack the same punch we’ve come to ex pect from their product line, but with an added sour kick. Any fan of gummies and tasty, all-natural fruit edibles will love these!

Escape

* Staff Pick

Supergalactic Brand’s Live Resin Flower Powder

Looking for a no-calorie way to infuse your favorite beverage? You need to give Flower Powder by Super galactic Brands a try. Just toss some of the flavorless powder into your water or drink, and boom, infused! The high is just as pleasant as eating a piece of canna bis chocolate or a gummy.

California Corner

If the impeccable packaging’s gor geous neon, yellow-and-pink de sign wasn’t enough, these fruit chews, made with the Legend OG strain, are some of the tastiest ed ibles I’ve tried recently. They are individually packaged—100mg total with 10 single-serving, 10mg pieces—along with a look and flavor very reminiscent of a Star burst candy. Be careful; these are definitely tart, but as a lover of all things sour, I’m obsessed.

Jetty never fails to deliver with its unrefined live resin cartridges. Not only do they boast a sleek wooden tip and a smooth pull every time, but the flavor was incredible until the end, offering some sweetness with a hint of citrus and pine. The sativa strain had me energetic, though, as a typical indica/hybrid user, I didn’t notice any lingering anxiety or antsiness. My only com plaint is that it wasn’t a full gram!

Yoga and weed have never been a better combo! These gum mies, much like the Cheeba Chews En ergy Taffy, com bine THC and THCV for a lowhigh gummy that feels great to pop before you exercise. A must for your yoga bag in the new year!

As someone who is often “ballin’ on a budget,” pre-rolls are definitely up my alley. Compared to many I’ve smoked, this infused treat not only burned slowly and smoothly (no canoeing here!), but the flavor was impeccable. Sometimes, concen trate-infused pre-rolls can be hard to take in, but I found myself hard ly noticing the extra kick until my brain and body began to register it. Super potent and super tasty!

Come through, flavor! This 100mg edible offering, once again with 10 individual 10mg servings, was so delicious, I had to stop myself from over-indulging. The gummies are infused with the strain Sunshine OG, a sativa-dominant hybrid that had me chilling as soon as they hit, though I also felt alert and like I could take on a creative project or a little stroll around town.

Coda Green Apple Uplifts

Kiva Lost Farm x Jetty Cannabis-Infused Sour Berry Fruit Chews

Kiva Lost Farm x Jetty Cannabis-Infused

Jetty Legend OG x Buddies Rainbow Venom Live Resin Pre-roll

Jetty Sunshine OG 500mg Cartridge

Stocking Stuffers

* Staff Pick

Crystal Joys Handmade with Love" Coasters

To Write Love On Her Arms

This brand is legendary for the work they do with suicide and self-harm prevention, and their products are always insanely cute! Their shirts and stickers carry positive messages that make you want to keep going, and by wearing them, you’ll send others the same message and support a good cause, so get some mer ch today!

I’ve never seen a set of coasters that I thought were so beautiful I wasn’t sure I wanted to use them to hold a beverage, until now. These handmade coast ers by Crystal Joys are the perfect gift for the holiday season. Each coaster is beautifully crafted to stand out in the best way possi ble. Check out Crystal Joy’s website, and pick which set you’d like. They have five differ ent amazing designs to choose from. Crystal Joys is known for their stunning and unique selection, and I can definitely see why! Check them out!! ALL their products are authentic semi-precious natural stones and minerals.

Tomboy X Rainbow Pride Set

Carta Coffee is some of the richest, most flavorful coffee beans, and they’re based all the way in Hawaii! Their wonderful coffee is so delicious and mineral-rich, and that’s thanks to the weather, tradition, and not to mention family, behind the brand. The flavor is bold and lends itself to many differ ent preparations. This coffee is so good that you don't even need creamer. If you hurry, for the gift-getting sea son, they have a pro 22), to apply upon checkout on their website until the end of December! This coffee is amazing!

We’re loving this gender-inclu sive and size-inclusive brand TomboyX. From the range of styles and prints to the way it fits on my body, it’s exactly what I was looking for. This set is adorable, comfortable, and especially affirming. I find myself choosing this set imme diately after laundry day, so do yourself a favor and check out this brand!

The Meat Stick

The meat stick may have a hilarious name, but it does a great job check ing the temp of your meat. Whether you’re an experienced chef looking to get that perfect braise on a steak, or a newbie cook checking to make sure your chicken is safe to eat, you can’t go wrong!

2(X)IST Stretch 5-pack Jock

In the queer community, being proud of one’s AS Sets isn’t uncommon. It is rather difficult to not want to show off your tush. Beside the traps cupping your cheeks perfectly, the vibrant colors also attract your attention. 2(X)IST has a five-pack that represents the rainbow pretty well, even though it is missing a couple of the colors. The five-pack is perfect for those who are having trouble picking which color they love more. The color I felt stood out the best to me were the pink pair. These jocks were so comfy I almost forgot I was wearing a jock, unlike with some.

2(X)IST Topo Camo Navy Blazer (Trunk)

I never really thought camo-printed under wear were my cup of tea, but this pair looks beautiful and sleek. I really loved the pouch and how much more proud I was to walk around the apartment with out pants. This pair of trunks were slight ly sheer and helped me feel a bit risque and also sexy! These are definitely a pair you should own!

Blundstone Rainbow Boot

Blundstone is really showing its pride with the rainbow collection. The little pop of rainbow on the side of the boot sends a cute, casual, queer message, and the durable, black boot in classic

2(X)IST Burgandy Sliq (Low-Rise)Trunk

This pair of underwear has to be one of the sexiest pairs I’ve ever worn. They cupped every place they should and did so in a manor that made my confi dence level go up. 2(X)IST is a very popular brand in the queer community, so I already knew they’d be comfy. This wonderful pair was made with a tiny rub ber line around the inside of the underwear band. These lines definitely helped keep the underwear where they should stay.

Blundstone Lace-Up Gore

Blundstone is already a really cool company—Australian, eth ical, and rocking styles that can be worn to the board room or ballroom and then up the side of a mountain, perfect for Colo rado! I got mine in red, and I’ve already gotten so many compli ments on their unique design. And with the quality they put into their shoes, I’m excited to wear them for years to come. If you’re in need of a good pair of boots—and who isn’t—don’t sleep on Blundstone.

Wildgrain Box

It’s that time of the year when we crave soups and pasta and breads more than ever! Wildgrain is the PERFECT addition to any holiday meal. Don’t waste time defrosting, and just get to the cooking! It’s so easy to prepare—freezer to table in 25 minutes! They support small bakeries, use clean ingre dients, and even ship their prod uct in eco-friendly boxes. A small but mighty team in Boston cares about getting you the best products straight to your door. The pasta is delightful, and my favorite is defi nitely their croissants. They’re light and flaky, and I was left wanting more after I finished just one. You can reschedule, skip, or even can cel anytime. They put so much hard work into their products, so they know you'll love your order every

Horoscopes

December 2022

by Alanna L.P.

Welcome to Alanna L.P.’s Uplifting Horoscopes. These are very general readings that will resonate with many but not all of you. That’s OK! Take away what makes sense, and leave what doesn’t behind. If you want a deeper understanding of what to expect this month, read your sun sign, your rising sign, and your moon sign.

You can find what these are by going to cafeastrology.com to get a free birth chart reading.

Aries

Trying something fun and different brings new opportunities to you this Solstice season, dear Aries. It’s time to develop new skills in order to reach your full potential. If you’re not afraid to shake stagnation, you’ll get what you’re after in 2023.

Mantra: An open mind opens doors.

Taurus

The first part of the month may be slow, but in a good way, Dear Taurus. The downtime will be good for you because it will give you the chance to go within and figure out what you really want. Things will pick up around the Solstice, so get that rest in when you can! You’ll have so much fun heading into a very happy 2023.

Mantra: I’m ready to take a big leap.

Gemini

If you’re trying to get stable after an upset, you’re doing great, dear Gemini. Working on your finances is empowering. Intimacy feels even better coming from a place of confidence.

Mantra: I am worth it.

Cancer

Who you spend time with is a good reflection of who you are, dear Cancer. Look around you, and if you feel supported, you are in good company. If not, you may need to make some new friends. Developing a spiritual practice may help you find the solace you’re looking for if you feel something is missing in your life.

Mantra: It takes two to tango.

Leo

Developing new routines leads to new-found wellness, dear Leo. New routines can help you stay balanced as you jump into the fun and adventure that’s waiting for you this Solstice season! One thing is for sure, there are worse things that could happen than entering 2023 being spoiled rotten.

Mantra: I am loved.

Virgo

Love will be fun and free-flowing this month, dear Virgo. The only problem you’re going to have is people may be fighting over who gets to spend time with you! The year wraps up with fun, family, and friends. The more love you give, the more love you’ll receive going into 2023.

Mantra: Life is good.

Libra

You’ll find the most joy making your home a comfortable place for loved ones to spend the holidays with you, dear Libra. If you feel you are ready for the love and also the responsibility that comes with getting a new pet, now is the time to add a new member to the family or look into fostering.

Mantra: “Peaceful homes are happy homes.” –unknown.

Scorpio

You’re a busy bee this month, Scorpio! You may feel so good that you may overbook your schedule, so make sure you don’t burn yourself out before the Solstice season gets in full swing. But if you pace yourself, you’ll coast into a delightful, bright, and shiny new year in mind, body and spirit.

Mantra: Life is full of pleasant surprises.

Sagittarius

Happy birthday, my dear December Sagittarius readers! We love your enthusiastic positivity! If you’re looking for something to do, you won’t need to make elaborate plans. Spending quality time with those you love will be what brings you the most joy heading into 2023.

Mantra: I am thankful for my loved ones.

Capricorn

Happy birthday, my dear December Capricorns! We love your witty ways! Big problems are now resolving themselves. It’s time to focus on maximizing joy now that the pressure is lifting. Reflect, dream, recharge, and sail right knowing that your perfect vision for 2023 is already yours.

Mantra: I can do anything.

Aquarius

Keep getting rid of all that psychic garbage you’ve been hoarding, dearest Aquarius! You can’t change the past, but you can change the future. So instead of holding onto the past, focus on what makes you the happiest. If you do this, the healing you seek will be yours in 2023.

Mantra: Joy and gratitude are the greatest healers.

Pisces

Your social circle is filled with people ready to lift you up, so get out and enjoy those holiday gatherings this Solstice season. You are such a delight to talk to that you’ll find unexpected opportunities wherever you turn. Take advantage of the buzz in the air to make new, beneficial connections going into 2023.

Mantra: I am grateful for love and support.

Stock Images

By Alex Burnel

Santa's North Pole

Slid Down My Chimney

I’ve never been to one of these holiday parties before, but I’ve heard stories. I was told to come dressed up as an elf, but looking around the party, there don’t seem to be too many dressed up. I’ve noticed a hand ful of elves and eight people dressed as reindeer with very little clothing. I also noticed someone dressed as Santa. He looked amazing. I’ve never been into Santa before, but this Santa was dif ferent. This Santa was a leather daddy Santa. I’ve never wanted to be on San ta’s Naughty List more than I did right now.

The reindeer and elves were gathering around one of the rooms. I noticed an other elf lock eyes with me and motion for me to follow them. I walked over, and I asked where everyone was going. They just placed a finger over my lips and said, “Shhhhh.”

I glanced down and saw the letter “L” on their cuffs. L grabbed my hand and whispered, “Let’s go.”

They pulled me into the room, and the door shut behind us.

The lighting was dim, but there was Santa. Mr. Leather Daddy Santa was standing at the foot of a bed. Mrs. Clause was standing next to him and wearing very little. Mrs. C had just enough candy cane-striped fabric to cover her nipples. She had white chains connecting her almost-nonex istent top to her skintight, black leath er thong. Santa was now only wearing black patent-leather boots and his can dy cane-striped harness with nothing covering his crotch, and he certainly wasn’t shy.

Santa started to stroke his cock and said, “I’m glad you came.”

He whispered something into Mrs. C’s ear, and she walked over to me. He pointed to the bed and said, “Please.”

Mr. and Mrs. C were now standing at the foot of my bed with the reindeers standing behind me and the elves standing behind them. I could now see that the elves all had a letter on each of their cuffs. It took me a mo ment, but with the way the elves were positioned, their letters spelled, “hap py holidays.”

Santa asked me if I’ve been naughty or if I’ve been nice, and as I was about to answer, he told me to make sure I think twice. As he spoke, I couldn’t stop staring at Santa’s North Pole, which happened to be down south. His cock was already dripping, and he started to pinch his nipples. He asked me If I wanted to leave, and said that now would be the time if I wanted to go. I answered no, this is where I want to be.

Santa started to call out to the rein deer one by one. Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! Now, Comet! Now Cupid! Now, Don ner and Blitzen! Circle our new elf, and claim your spot. Dash stood by my head, and Dance and Prance each stood on one side of my chest. The other five reindeer stood between my legs. They all placed on candy canestriped condoms and passed around the lube.

Dasher started to fuck my face, and Dancer and Prancer began to tease my nipples. Vix, Com, and Cupe, Don, and even Blitz took their turns. I’ve never had so many at once destroy ing my hole. It felt so amazing, I kept telling them not to stop. Santa said, “You heard him, boys.”

The ones dressed as elves were now fully naked, and I could see all their breasts. Mistletoe was placed just be low all their waists. H,A, and P, P, and Y were eating out H, O, and L, while I and D, A, Y were taking turns making out with Mrs. Claus, and S was eating her out.

All eight of the guys dressed as rein deer fished by cumming onto my chest. My hole was now twitching and dripping with lube from all eight cocks. I was working to get control of my breathing as the North Pole made its way towards me. Santa started tapping his cock against my hole. He covered his pole and thrusted quickly down my chimney.

Santa told Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer to finish on my chest. It sud denly became a game of which one would be last.

The Self was now thrusting a vibra tor into Mrs. Claus, and the head of it was painted red and looked like a nose.

I could feel Santa’s massive cock throbbing inside my hole. I started moaning louder and louder, and he thrusted harder and harder. I was now covered in sweat from both of us. Santa yelled, “Oh Holy Night” and shook as he finally came. He col lapsed onto me, but his body was still shaking. Leather Daddy slowly stood up and started to jerk my already hard cock off. As much as I wasn’t ready to cum, I couldn’t hold back. My eyes rolled back, and my skin started to tremble. Santa said,” Cum for me,” and I did just that.

He leaned into my ear and whispered, “And to all a good night.”

OFM

BAR TAB | Colorado Nightlife

BLUSH

& BLU

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

BOYZTOWN

117 Broadway St. Denver (303) 722-7373 boyztowndenver.com

CHARLIE DWELLINGTON’S

1103 N. 1st St. Grand Junction (970) 241-4010 charliedwellingtons.com

CHARLIE’S NIGHTCLUB

900 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 839-8890 charliesdenver.com

DENVER SWEET

776 N. Lincoln St. Denver (720) 598-5648 denversweet.com

ICONS

3 E. Bijou St. Colorado Springs (719) 300-7863 Instagram- @icons_colorado

LI’L DEVILS

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

LIPSTICK DISCOTEQUE

5660 W. Colfax Ave. Denver (720) 669-3470 Facebook- @lipstickdiscoteque

MILLERS

& ROSSI

3452 Walnut St. Denver (720) 257-5342 millersandrossi.com

R&R LOUNGE

4958 E. Colfax Ave. Denver (303) 320-9337 Facebook- @randrdenver

TIGHT END BAR

1501 E. Colfax Ave. (303) 861-9103 tightendbar.com

TRACKS

3500 Walnut St. Denver (303) 836-7326 tracksdenver.com

WILD CORGI PUB

1223 E. 13th Ave. Denver (303) 832-7636 wildcorgipub.com

EL POTRERO

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

Facebook- @elpotreroclub

HAMBURGER MARY’S

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

TRADE

475 Santa Fe Dr. Denver (720) 627-5905 Facebook- @tradedenver

THE TRIANGLE BAR

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

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

#VYBE

X BAR 1027 N. Broadway St. Denver (720) 573-8886 303vybe.com