November 2022 :: The Identity Issue

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If there’s one thing we’ve learned from 2020, 2021, and hell, also 2022, our best-laid plans don’t always come to fruition. When I was initially planning this issue, I was hoping to see it go in a more tech, science, STEM, direction.

But while that is still a great idea for a theme, life happened, and we got something a little different instead.

As we are moving closer to election season, an exciting announcement came from the queer Colorado camp: out, Colorado representative Leslie Herod is running for Denver mayor! I wanted to squeeze her in this issue along with the other amazing content we had planned; it felt like a missed opportunity not to include her, even though she didn’t really fit the theme. Luckily, she fit in awesomely alongside amazing local DJ Buddy Bravo and some of the amazing celebs we also snagged for this issue.

So, all that is to say, please enjoy this issue full of amazing, vibrant queer identities. It may not be exactly what we planned, but is it ever? In our case, it’s often not, but our community is vibrant and growing, and the unplanned often turns out even better than the planned.

-Addison Herron-Wheeler

Colorado Elections 2022: Who’s Who

by Ray Manzari

United States Senate

Joe O’Dea (R)

Republican Joe O’Dea is one of the few in his party to sup port Roe v. Wade as it was originally written. However, O’Dea is against “elective late-term abortion, and taxpayer funding for abortion” according to his website. Other is sues important to O’Dea include curbing the national debt and inflation and a strong support for law enforcement and first responders.

“Here at home, we are losing our cities to homelessness and crime. The political elite refuse to stand with the police and first responders. Denver is a disaster—It’s a true trage dy. And if we don’t get serious about protecting our streets and our people, our suburbs will be overrun by crime and homelessness too,” reads a quote from O’Dea’s campaign website.

Michael Bennet (D)

Bennet’s voting history reflects what one would expect of a modern democratic party member, with support for af fordable healthcare and efforts to thwart the effects of cli mate change. He is also against the trans military ban and has condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe V. Wade.

“Today, a radical majority of the Supreme Court demol ished 50 years of legal precedent. This activist ruling strips women of their individual liberty to make intensely per sonal decisions about their bodies and futures and eviscer ates their Constitutionally protected rights to freedom and equality,” Bennet says in a public statement.

Colorado Attorney General

John Kellner (R)

Kellner is touted as a candidate who will be tough on crime, including drug use and car thefts. He made clear during a debate in August that though he opposes abortion and agrees with the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, he would defend Colorado state laws, including abortion protections. Kellner also said during that same debate that although law enforcement officers make mis takes, he supports them.

“Colorado’s law enforcement put their lives on the line to protect us every day, and they deserve to know we support them. We should be funding and supporting the best pos sible training for our police rather than demoralizing and delegitimizing them,” reads Kellner’s website.

Phil Weiser (D)

Weiser, the democratic incumbent, vehemently defends Col orado’s abortion laws, reflecting on his time training under the late Ruth Bader Ginsberg as pivotal to his commitment to reproductive healthcare access. To address the issue of police brutality and excessive force, Weiser has suggested “emotion al intelligence and ethics” training for Colorado law enforce ment. Other issues important to the current attorney general include gun violence, hate crimes, and fentanyl overdoses.

“Overdose deaths have risen nearly every year for the last quarter century. This is a devastating trend driven by a num ber of dynamics. One crucial contributor to this crisis is the irresponsible actions of pharmaceutical companies that put profits over patients—companies that we have held account able for their illegal conduct,” Weiser says of Colorado’s opioid epidemic.

Colorado Governor

Heidi Ganahl (R)

Ganahl has focused her efforts on four different issues: family, crime, cost of living, and environment. She opposed abortions except for in extreme cases such as incest, rape, and when the health of either the mother or child is in danger. She also opposed Biden’s student loan forgiveness and believes hard working Coloradans should not incur the debt of others. Ga nahl is in favor of Colorado public schools’ use of School Re source Officers and/or enhanced security measures, as well as the criminalization of possession of fentanyl in any amount.

“We can stop rampant homelessness by ending public drug use, prosecuting criminal behavior, using outcome-based funding models, and cleaning up our streets and parks. Let’s address addiction with compassion for all involved, including more access to care but with consequences for criminal be havior,” her campaign website states.

Jared Polis (D)

Current Colorado Governor Jared Polis aims to bring down the cost of living for Coloradans through free, universal pre school and caps on life saving medications such as insulin. Polis plans to continue to fight crime by investing $166 mil lion to support local law enforcement and expand treatment services, while also giving law enforcement officers the nec essary tools to pursue vehicle thieves by creating additional penalties for stealing catalytic converters and cracking down on the secondary market. In April of 2022, Polis codified Colo radans’ right to abortion access with the Reproductive Health Equity Act.

“Colorado stands resolute. Birth control, abortion, and repro ductive health care are legal here, and people have the free dom to make decisions about their own bodies,” Polis Tweeted earlier this year.

by Ray Manzari

White Supremacy in Colorado:

Both Past and Present

This September, the names of hundreds of U.S. law enforcement officers, elected officials, and military members were leaked, as membership rolls for the farright extremist group “Oath Keepers” became public. The anti-government, white supremacist group has been accused of playing a key role in the January 6 in surrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) identified more than 370 people it believes are both members of the Oath Keeps and currently work in law enforcement. Another 100 people on the membership list are active members of the military, and more than 80 people on the list were either running or serving as elected officials. The ADL identified 14 law enforcement offi cers, two elected officials, and seven military members with Colorado addresses.

The membership list included not only active members but anyone who had at one point paid membership dues or signed up for membership within the group.

“Even for those who claimed to have left the organization when it began to employ more aggressive tactics in 2014, it is important to remember that the Oath Keepers have espoused extremism since their founding, and this fact was not enough to deter these individuals from signing up,” the ADL report reads.

The Oath Keepers were founded in 2009 by Stewart Rhodes and are a loosely organized, far-right group fueled by con spiracy theories and white supremacy. It asks its members to defend the U.S. Constitution “against all enemies foreign and domestic,” thus the name Oath Keeper.

Former Oath Keepers spokesman Jason Van Tatenhove raised concerns about the group’s threat to American democracy during his testimony regarding the January 6 insurrection.

“We need to quit mincing words and just talk about truths,” Tatenhove says, “and what it was going to be was an armed revolution.”

Recent FBI findings report that Colorado hate crimes have reached their highest level in over 30 years, and while this rise follows a national trend, Colorado saw an increase that far out paced the rest of the country. According to the Southern Law Center’s Hate Map, Colorado is home to more than 18 hate groups, 10 of which are either antisemitic or white nationalist.

Persistent myths about Colorado and the Midwest being a “naturally” white region, or lacking the history of violence and slavery of that in the South, encourages white Midwesterners to see themselves as free from racism.

In reality, the lack of racial diversity is often a result of the histor ic maintenance of white spaces. One such practice used through out much of the Midwest was “sundown towns,” in which Black Americans were allowed to provide labor throughout the day but would be expected to leave after sundown. Those who didn’t would face violent assault at the hands of white Americans. Col orado once had at least 11 sundown towns, including Colorado Springs and Longmont.

In the early 1920s, members of Colorado’s Ku Klux Klan (KKK) held political and bureaucratic offices, including congressional seats and judgeships, as well as Denver’s Mayor’s office and the Governor’s mansion. By 1925, more than 35,000 Colorado men belonged to the notorious white supremacist organization, and Colorado’s Klan trailed only Indiana’s in terms of the extent of its political influence.

In the book Hooded Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Colorado, au thor Robert Alan Goldberg describes how Colorado’s Klan used wedge-issue campaigns focused on high crime rates from Prohibition to turn fear and anxiety into membership, just as hate groups today use voter fraud conspiracy theories and an ti-LGBTQ sentiments to recruit members on the basis of fear.

“What was said at the KKK rallies in the 1920s is almost wordfor-word what is being said today by the alt-right,” says William Wei, a University of Colorado Boulder history professor.

Understanding how the KKK rose to power in Denver, and the group’s continued legacy, is pivotal to combating white suprem acist groups today. Though the presence of the KKK is on the de cline in Colorado, other groups are popping up to fill the void, and their political reach should be as alarming to community members as that of the Klan. Only when we confront the violent history of racism in our own communities can we truly be armed to fight those same troubling sentiments still present today.

Stock Image

by Kerry Shatzer

Queer Word Search

The Science of the Gut Microbiome in HIV

by Zachari Breeding, MS, RDN

Thehuman body contains over 100 tril lion microbes with over 500 different species, most of which are located with in the intestine (gut), namely the small intestine, colon, and stomach. We commonly consider these microbes to be beneficial probiotics, but not all of them are—There is a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria that maintains a microbial ecosystem within the body. The role of these bac teria is multifaceted—influencing our metabo lism, absorption of nutrients, immune strength and support, and overall health. Since the bal ance of bacteria is pertinent to the absorption of nutrients and food, an imbalance (more “bad” bacteria than good) can cause a variety of con cerns, including many obvious gastrointesti nal-related issues such as bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

One of the most common complications of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is chronic di arrhea related to the increased occurrence of “bad” bacteria, known as enteric pathogens, in side the gut. In folks with HIV who face this is sue, the virus causes immune suppression that allows these pathogens to proliferate in the gut. Not only that, the gastrointestinal tract is usually one of the biggest sites for HIV infection. Even in those who are considered undetectable, the treatments may cause diarrhea unrelated to any gut bacteria issues. Though the risk of bacterial imbalance in the gut decreases with treatment, the treatment alone may cause chronic diarrhea.

Either way, chronic diarrhea can cause a range of issues, from reduced quality of life to depression and unintentional weight loss of lean body mass, which may impact immune health. In this case,

the role of probiotics in the HIV population becomes pertinent. Not only can probiotics help regulate the bal ance of bacteria within the gut, research has shown an immune benefit in a variety of people—those living with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and HIV. To be clear, probiotic supplementation is not a catch-all treatment, but one piece of the complex treatment regimen needed to sup port the entire person, not just the condition.

For those with detectable HIV, the active virus can cause gut inflammation which flattens the tiny finger-like bris tles inside our intestines (known as villi) and results in rapid movement of nutrients and food through the gut.

Treatments for those with undetectable HIV may cause diarrhea in a variety of ways, the most common of which include pulling more fluid into the gut and impacting the lining of the GI system which controls motility. The fast er food moves through, the greater the risk of diarrhea, and fewer nutrients are absorbed. Chronic diarrhea also depletes the body of electrolytes and hydration, which can cause damage to the kidneys. In this case, probiot ics can protect the gut barrier, improving its function, as well as increase production of proteins known to com bat gut inflammation and regulate motility.

It’s important to note that all people are different, so gen eralized recommendations are not exactly a guarantee for anyone. Furthermore, foods containing probiotics do not have sufficient varieties or quantities of beneficial bacteria to make these results a reality. Simply put, one cannot eat enough yogurt or drink enough kombucha for the probiotics in them to be impactful.

Choose a probiotic supplement that has at least 10-12 in dividual strains of beneficial bacteria and has probiotic numbers in the billions or trillions. Pair this supplement with fiber-rich foods, such as quinoa, oats, fruits, vegeta bles, and beans. The fiber found in these foods, and many more plant-based foods, serves as prebiotics to feed the probiotics and allow them to proliferate in the gut.

As research continues, our understanding of the roles gut health plays in those living with HIV (whether detect able or undetectable) continues to expand. Conducting accurate and reliable nutrition science is difficult, since it’s difficult to control the diet of the study subjects, but the data is accumulating gradually. As we learn more, we will continue to uncover the seemingly endless poten tials of prebiotics, probiotics, and optimal gut health.

Photo by Andrew Foord

Serving Authentic Butch Dyke Realness: In Conversation with Lea DeLaria

by Denny Patterson

Holding the distinction of being the first openly gay comic on television in America, Lea DeLaria has made a career out of walking the line between being hysterically funny and politically astute. Not only has she put butch lesbians on the map, but she has made countless queer people laugh along the way.

DeLaria’s multi-faceted career as a comedian, actor, and jazz musician has spanned across decades, but she re ceived overnight stardom with her three-time SAG Award winning role as Carrie “Big Boo” Black in Netflix’s hit series

Orange is the New Black. There is no doubt that she has a gift of making her characters lovable and memorable.

Recently, DeLaria closed POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive on Broadway and can currently be seen as Queenie in Hulu’s Reprisal and Molly Yarnchopper in Netflix’s animated se ries Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. She is also featured in the film Potato Dreams of America, which has received rave reviews while on the festival circuit.

OFM caught up with the LGBTQ icon to talk more about her projects and having pride in always being her authentic self.

Lea, can you begin by telling us more about your film Potato Dreams of America? I heard it’s been received very well.

Yeah, it’s winning audience polls, even at international film festivals. It’s a quirky, fun little film based on the director’s life, Wes Hurley, and how he emigrated from Russia to America. His mother helped him do that when she was quite certain he was gay, and he would most likely die if he went into the military. They would kill him because that’s how queer people were treated in Russia in the early 90s. She is a fantastic mother and wants her son to be safe.

I play his grandmother in Russia, and I had a buttload of fun playing this role. Her entire life was nothing but negativity, blatantly saying antisemitic shit without even realizing there’s anything wrong with it, and how the world is doomed. Everybody’s doomed. Everything that could possibly go wrong will go wrong with this woman, but she was such a fun character. She loves her grandson very much, and it shows.

You began your career doing comedy, and you were the first openly gay com ic to appear on television in America. How significant is that to you? That's a matter of major pride for me. I've never been in the closet, and at that time, the only other person who could say that was Harvey Fierstein. He knows that, and I know that, and everybody else who was in the closet became famous before coming out. I was queer on American television in 1993, and that was three or four years before Ellen came out on her show. I always remained true to who I am and the things I had to talk about.

Even when I did The Arsenio Hall Show, I came out on stage, and the first line I said was, “Good evening. My name is Lea DeLaria; it’s the 1990s; it’s hip to be queer, and I’m a big dyke.” That’s how it started. I was always the bad-girl lesbi an of comedy. Like, I was always the girl that would fuck your wife or daughter. I was always the one making fisting jokes. I just had a different aesthetic in the way that I treated comedy, and I pull no

punches. I’m in-your-face, loud, brazen, and brash.

When The Arsenio Hall Show reached out to me, I was very pleasantly surprised, but I also felt the weight of the world on my shoulders because I was the first. At the time, Arsenio was the number-one late-night talk show in America. It was watched by 20 million people, and it was live to tape, as they say. We taped at five, and it went out that night. Honestly, I kept thinking, what if I bombed? That would put gay comedy back 500 years, and no one’s going to hire another queer comic.

Luckily, I didn’t bomb, and I killed. What we didn’t expect was the lawyers from Fox saying we couldn’t air my set be cause I used the words “dyke,” “fag,” and “queer.” It was counted that I said those words at least 37 times (laughs). The law yers said we can’t use those words, and it was Arsenio who went to bat for me. He was like, "If she wants to call herself a dyke, who are we to say she can't?" He fought the Fox lawyers, and it aired and killed.

Orange Is the New Black was the first time we truly saw a butch lesbian portrayed in an authentic light, and it was also such a massive milestone for queer representation. How do you view the show's legacy, and what did you take away from your time playing Big Boo?

I don’t know if you know this, but that was another part that was written for me. When I auditioned for Orange, I orig inally auditioned for two different parts. One was a prisoner, and the other was a guard. They were like, "I’m sorry, but we just don’t have a part for you." I remem ber screaming in my manager’s office, being like, “I’m sorry, they’re doing a tele vision show that takes place in a wom en’s prison, and there isn’t a part for me? Fuck this; I quit show business!”

At the time, I was living in London and New York, so I packed up all my shit from my New York apartment and moved ev erything to London. Like, fuck this. I’m out. Then when I got off the plane, I had,

like, 1,000 messages from my manager going, “OK, you had your little hissy fit, and they said they were going to write a part for you. Well, they did.” So, they wrote Big Boo for me, and she wasn’t supposed to last past the fourth epi sode of the first season.

Boo was such a favorite in the writers’ room and among the directors and creators, so they kept her going. Then every episode from that time forward was storylines, and then they made me a regular. I was a person that if I saw a group of teenage boys walking down the street, I would cross the street just to avoid conflict. There’s only so much I’ll put up with, but now, teenage boys are running up to me from wherever they are being like, “Oh my God, can I get a picture with you?” They’re so excited.

I live in a Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn; I live in Bushwick, and there’s a barber shop up the street that’s 100 percent Puerto Rican, and I’ll go there to get my hair done, and they’re all so excited whenever I come in. To me, that’s a major fucking change. It’s the one step we hadn’t taken as a commu nity—winning the hearts and minds.

I mean, we’ve done it with certain things, but it’s very shuffle-along kind of stuff. With Boo, she wasn’t expected to change or be different.

So many people say that she’s their favorite character. They wrote great dynamic comedy to her, but they also wrote realness, especially in her back story. Every butch has sort of a shared history, and they really hit every point. When I read the episode, I called Lau ren Morelli. She wrote it, as well as al most every memorable line Boo said. I was like, “Did you read my diary?”

She hit every point that butch dykes go (through), and it truly changed the face of butches. You see us in a lot of different things now.

Stay up-to-date and connect with DeLaria by following her on Instagram @realleadelaria, or visit her official website, leadelaria.com.

Photos by Julius Garrido

Buddy Bravo

is Giving Back to the Community One DJ Set at a Time

by Rachel Galstad

Local visual artist and DJ Bud dy Bravo is giving back to the community one DJ set at a time. Buddy is a queer, multifaceted music producer who draws inspi ration from fashion, vintage clothing, and queer culture. With a heart for music and Denver, he is focused on gathering queers together to party while also funneling funds from his events back into resources for under privileged and marginalized commu nities.

Buddy felt deeply connected with music from a young age but had no idea what to do with it or how it could blossom into such a fulfilling career. He caught up with OFM to share his backstory, what's current, and his dreams and aspirations for his career.

How did you choose your stage name, Buddy Bravo?

I've used it since I was a kid before, I ever thought about my career. One of my sisters actually gave me the name when I was very young. So it's the only name I've used my whole life. In fact, I didn't know my real name until I was in kindergarten.

How did you get into DJing and producing?

Production wise, I made my very first mixes on cassettes, cutting up pieces from songs and radio clips, movie quotes, etc., just, like, messing around as a kid and making edits and mixes. The first thing I did that was anything close to DJing was when I was in middle school, I very loosely DJed friends' parties. Then when I was a freshman in high school, I DJed a few of our high school dances. That’s when I really started paying attention to cu rating music, and it was all starting to make sense.

I kept producing remixes, writing music, playing piano, and at the same time, curating playlists and DJing col lege events on campus. In 2017, I was asked to organize an afterparty for a fashion show that I was involved in, and of course I said yes. But then I realized very quickly I would have to learn a bit about new, digital DJing using laptops and decks because in 2003, 2004 when I was really starting,

it was all CDs. I’d burn CDs, make custom edits, and have two separate boom boxes that I would plug into big speakers. That was very different then now, where you are working with digital files, mp3s and beat-matching.

I set out to learn how DJing had evolved. That’s how I started this most current leg of my career as a DJ. I was Djing on week ends and doing my design job during the week. Then during the pandemic, I ended up getting laid off from my regular job. And somehow it was really a beautiful blessing, because my DJing just took off naturally, and it just honestly hasn’t slowed down. The pandemic opened up my schedule and free time, and with this time, I produced two albums during the lockdown. One is an original album that’s entirely original remixes, music, beats. That was my first EP; it’s called Starpulse Twentyone. And then I made a Selena remix tribute album called La Rosa Eterna, which is available on my website as a physical CD. So, it kind of all fell into place with music production, design, and live performance, and I think it really is my calling. This is what I’m sup posed to be doing–sharing music and cre ating music with people.

Who are some of your music inspira tions?

Being a biracial and mixed race per son—I'm Mexican and Italian, so Selena is a really big influence for me, just looking at her career, talent, gifts, and how she ex pressed herself. Selena is also a huge influ ence for me musically. Another songwriter and performer I love is Mariah Carey; she's a really big influence for me. Girl Talk is a DJ that I studied a lot and learned a lot from his process and how he makes mu sic. Same as me, he had a different career that eventually led to music, so he influ ences me and inspires me a lot. Bjork is also a really big influence for me, and how she approaches the bridge between classi cal music and electronic music. And then there are a ton of really good creative DJs locally in town that I just love.

How would you describe your genre of music?

In my head, I like to call my genre of music runway synth. That's what it is. It's music for the runway. I play a lot of diva house funk. I play a lot of my own music when I'm DJing, but it always just sounds like it's made for the runway with a lot of sass and attitude.

What are some goals you wish to ac complish in your career?

I definitely want to make music for major fashion shows for designers. That's a big goal of mine. I would also love to play some of the iconic Denver venues. I don't care if I headline; I don't care if I'm an opener; I just want to play some of these venues.

I grew up in Colorado. I've lived in Den ver for 10 years, but when I turned 18 and could drive, I was driving up here for shows all the time. I grew up in a lot of these iconic venues, and I would just love to play as many of them as I can. Another goal of mine is to be able to pay my parents back for all of the years of supporting me and helping me grow throughout my life.

Where can someone see Buddy Bravo spin in Denver?

I post my schedule on my Instagram and all my social media. I am at X Bar several times a month, brunch often at The Triangle, and I’m at Băo Brew house pretty often as well. I also throw various events and dance parties around town. Instagram is the best way to find me!

How does playing music mostly for queer audiences influence what you play, and how much variation in musical tastes do you notice in dif ferent queer spaces?

I focus a lot on highlighting queer art ists and queer producers, not exclu sively, but that is something I really focus on. I try to bring music to people that they've never heard of, but really focusing on queer artists, indepen dent artists, and local artists that ar en't going to be on the radio.

I find that the queer spaces and au diences are very open-minded. If you love music, you just naturally end up being open-minded because music is a very fluid thing, especially when you're expressing yourself as a queer person. You're just going through all these different emotions and feelings.

How does being a queer DJ influence what you play and your craft?

I really try to play for the message in the lyrics. As a queer person, I'm play ing music that makes me feel confi dent and happy and makes me feel

understood, and I hope that carries through. I think being queer, I try to represent everybody because we need to support each other. And I feel it's an honor that I have a plat form, so that's how I try to use it.

As for being a visual artist, tell me a little more about that and your background in design. I studied art at The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where I learned about Illustration and de sign. I had a career for 10 years as a graphic designer in marketing and advertising. I've drawn and sketched my whole life. When I was a kid, all I asked for was art sup plies, and still, that's all I want now. It is a really good way for me to ex press and explore my ideas. It also is a way that I support myself. I sell artwork and merchandise, I design clothes and posters, and I do a lot of my own headshots. I create my own videos, promotional materials, and album covers. A lot of people say my style looks musical, flowing, and free. So it definitely is connected to my music for sure.

Anything else you’d like to share? I throw a queer dance party in town called Drama Club, and we throw the dance party at Mercury Cafe. We've been doing it since 2018. We feature different DJs, performers, and hosts. The Mercury provides good food, dessert, a full bar, and mocktails. It's a really great event that I love throwing and that I'm re ally really proud of.

We don't do it in a bar space; Mer cury Cafe is more of a restaurant, and that's really important for me to support the sober community. Sober people still want to have a social life and a nightlife. A lot of queer spaces end up being spon sored by alcohol companies. I try to be mindful of my sober friends and believe we need more safe, so ber-friendly spaces.

A big portion of my tips that I get are donat ed to local charities. One of them is Feeding Denver’s Hungry, which is ran by a queer man, Jim Sharper, since 2013. They focus on help ing people that need assistance with food and shelter. I also donate to CASA Denver, which helps people that have been victimized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). getting back into society–They provide hotels, transportation, legal help, etc.

A big part of my job as a queer person in the scene is also supporting other organizations. So taking the money I get from, like, partying, and throwing events, and having fun, and play ing music for people, I funnel that back into the community, and that’s a huge privilege and will always be a priority for me. I challenge others to find ways to give back to the community you belong to.

Keep up with Buddy Bravo on Instagram @djbuddybravo

Representative Leslie Herod (HD-8), who was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ, Black representative in the General Assembly, is running for mayor of Denver.

Since taking office, she has passed over 150 bills addressing criminal justice reform, mental health, addiction, youth homelessness, busi ness and the arts, and civil rights protections. Her legislative agenda underscores her commitment to improving the lives of all Colora dans, especially those caught in the cycle of poverty or mired in the criminal justice system. Her positions have made her a champion to many on the left, making her a top candidate for mayor.

According to an interview with Denverite, Herod began considering a run for mayor in the last few years, and the pandemic crystallized for her the impact local communities have on implementing policies, and what can happen when things don’t get moving on a local level.

“That excitement about Denver is starting to wane a bit,” she says. “I think we know that we have to deal with our homelessness crisis head on. We have to deal with making sure our communities are safe. And, of course, we have to ensure that Denver is actually affordable for everybody.”

Herod joins Kelly Brough and Debbie Ortega as the most accom plished candidates to announce a run for mayor so far.

Leslie Herod

by Denny Patterson

Photos by Julius Garrido

by Ingomu

ASK A COACH

Welcome to Ask a Coach, where Ingomu coaches answer your questions about life, work, wellness, or matters of the soul. Share your question with us at coaches@ingomu.com, and we’ll answer them here.

I'm going home for Thanksgiving, and I am not sure how to respond or navigate the questions my family will have about my new identity.

- Oaklyn B.

First, realize—truly realize—and ac cept that you may not change view points, beliefs, or attitudes. You hope and want to, yet going into conversa tions realizing you may not helps set your expectations. Avoid public pro nouncements. Find private times to initiate sensitive conversations. Start with one or two people who may be your greatest supporters and reveal your truths. Positive responses will feed your confidence for approach ing closer family members. Use "I" statements—"I have something I'd like or need to share with you and ask that you try staying open to me while I do so." Afterward, ask, "What are you thinking or feeling?" Listen, and temper your reactions. Accept initial comments. Keep in mind you've introduced something new that peo ple need to process. Have a friend or confidant you can call or visit if the situation derails. These actions help me have difficult conversations pro fessionally and personally. I wish the best to you.

- Coach Sylvia Henderson, MBA

Family conversations offer us an oppor tunity for incredible growth through

awareness, acceptance, appreciation, and insights. While the family dynam ics of change can be challenging, awk ward, and sometimes raucous and painful, remember, this is your family, the cradle of unconditional love.

Ultimately, everything works out one way or another if you approach it with honesty, integrity, confidence, and positivism. Having a named intention and a desired outcome will give you an energetic advantage, providing a safe place for your emotions to go, helping you to respond instead of re acting.

Be yourself, and do more listening than talking or explaining. Be pre pared for their perspectives, view points, and awkward attempts at understanding something they have never experienced or don’t under stand. Most will be statements and not questions; validate these with a nod of the head. If they do not include a question, simply acknowledge their point of view, perhaps with a sincere “Thanks for sharing” when they are done. You do not have to defend or justify yourself, for this is who you are. Before responding to something that riles you up, ask yourself if what you are about to say or do serves a higher purpose. Choose love, and lead by example.

- Coach Steve Reinhart

My two best friends started dating, and I feel left out. What should I do? - Jaylah S. This is understandable. Feeling left out is natural. Be honest and vulnerable with your friends, and let them know. You could say something like, ”I am re ally happy for you, but I must admit, I am feeling a little left out because I want to date someone, too.” Sometimes jeal ousy can pop up as well. Feeling left out and a little jealous is normal and human when friends are dating someone and you are not, but want to be. They are your friends and care about you, just as you care about them. It is important to be authentic with your feelings, rath er than avoiding them. It will prevent discomfort and awkwardness between you. If you express yourself in this way, you can prevent experiencing an “ele phant in the room.” You can then have a great time with your friends. Besides, it is also good practice for you when you are dating someone. Vulnerability is hard and is very connecting and beau tiful too. Give it a try.

- Coach Suzanne Muller

Here at Ingomu, we uplift humankind by making a positive difference in the lives of many. Via the Ingomu App, we provide holistic and equitable coaching in the areas of life, work, wellness, and soul to our subscribers. Coaching for everyone because everyone matters. Learn more at OFM.Ingomu.com.

Queer Girl Q&A

Q: I dislike online dating. Technology has proliferated the possibilities to the point that we now have more options than ever—So it feels like it should be easier.

And yet, the women I feel sparks with always seem to end up hurting me, whereas the ones who seem wonderful on paper—steady, kind, and reliable—I feel nothing more than platonic kinship with. How can I expand my type? I want to feel euphorically attracted to partners who are healthy for me.

A: I’ve been in your situation. Dating in my 20s often felt like marching through a battlefield, somewhere within which a gold mine lay hidden. Some are lucky to find it. Others keep getting hit in the face with the shrapnel of ghosters, bread-crumbers, false hopes, and trick candle relationships. The gold seems to repeatedly elude them.

Like you, I was once also attracted to unavailables. Women I dat ed were hot and cold—dialed in and present one day, checked out and distant the next. A starkly noticeable contrast existed between the two states, lacking in any sort of gray. The common thread of ambivalence and emotional inconsistency tied many of these experiences loosely together.

I’ve also been on the other end of what you described, with my own defenses at times leading me to pass up seemingly healthy partners.

To feel a strong and immediate attraction to the people who don’t agitate our nervous systems… Wouldn’t we all love that? It would spare so much pain. It would make dating way less messy and confusing.

One belief I used to wholeheartedly subscribe to was, “If buzzy chemistry’s not there right from the start, it won’t magically show up later.” Swipe culture, I believe, encourages this blackand-white mentality. It’s one that in recent years, I’ve begun to question.

The author Alain de Botton once penned a note of encourage ment for passive tourists to adopt more of an “active traveler” approach: “We overlook certain places because nothing has ever prompted us to conceive of them as being worthy of appreci ation,” he writes. “Our relationship to olive trees might be im proved if we directed our attention towards the silver in their

by Eleni Stephanides

leaves or the structure of their branches. New associa tions might be created through my reawakened atten tion.”

You might consider applying a similar lens to dating. To behave less like bystanders acted upon by ingrained preferences and instinctual patterns, we can direct our focus onto qualities we might have previously over looked or unconsciously downplayed the importance of.

Attraction can shift or grow depending on so many vari ables, including the stories we’re telling ourselves about the person in front of us—which may or may not be ac curate.

You can follow Eleni on IG @eleni_steph_writer.

by Julie Byrne-Smith

Reminisce on Your Teen Punk Years with ‘Glory Guitars’

If, as a teenager, you ever stole cigarettes or liquor from your parents, if you ever ditched class, or if you just wish you had, Gogo Ger maine’s new book, Glory Guitars, Memoir of a `90s Teenage Punk Rock Grrrl, is a memoir you’re going to relate to a lot. Denver-based author Gogo Germaine weaves a debaucherous tale of teen mayhem that explores the light and dark sides of her own youth, all set to a soundtrack of classic punk songs. We sat down with Germaine to talk about this amazing new book.

What made you want to write this book?

It was right before the pandemic; it felt like the world was just starting to get really terrible. And on top of that, just in my personal life, I just felt re ally burdened with responsibility, just the amount of work that you have to have to survive just to pay rent, especially in a creative field. I’m a writer, and I have two kids, and at the time they were younger. And I was just fantasizing about the feeling of ditch ing class and running through the junior high field and that liberation.

I definitely grew up as a punk teenager, too, and I was reading it and saying, like, “I just do not have these colorful stories.” But I recognize all the music, at least. So, going into that dark stuff, if you are willing to talk about it, how was that to explore? The Adam Acid chapter must have been hard to write.

Writing about my own sexual assault, that was the part that I was originally going to keep out of the memoir. That’s just your brain playing tricks on you. I had just put this cover on it like “Nope, not going to write about it.” That’s like ugly and dirty. And then it’s like, no, that’s what writing is about, is exactly those things. The hardest part was the memory thing. I had actually blacked out a lot of it just because of trauma. I do remember the actual incident itself, but a lot of things surrounding it, like I think I put it in the book that I didn’t remember what the court case was like. So yeah, it’s such a writerly thing, like, “I’m frustrated as a writer I missed that scene.”

Photos by Glenn Ross

You were saying there were some parts of it you were thinking of keeping out of the book. Was The Flames chapter, where you were involved with an older man in a band, one of those? Yes. It’s really intimidating to write about oth er people, especially older men. So there’s the Flames chapter, and then there’s the bath room graffiti beaux chapter where I was like, OK, I’m writing about real people, and I’m writing things that could potentially get them in trouble. And I was like, what if they read it? So all of the names are obscured so you don’t real ly know who it is, but people have tried to guess.

I am so curious; I know I’m not going to get it out of you, but I’m so curious.

(Laughs) But with the bathroom graf fiti beaux chapter, it’s really interesting to me because the guy who was actually the bathroom graffiti beaux, he actually got in touch with me and was like, “I heard you’ve got this memoir about all this time we were together,” and he was like, “Can I read it?” And he read it, and he loved it.

Oh wow. Which was shocking. And he was like, “You handled this perfectly.” And he then admit ted to the bad parts, too. And that was really, really a cool, healing thing for me.

I could go on all day because I really love this book, but I’ll just wrap up with, what was your favorite part of writing it? It’s really profound for me because, writing this book and everything I’ve been doing sur rounding Glory Guitars is kind of an expres sion and an embrace of my shadow self. These are all of the things that society has taught me to push away, to hide. These are the things that I’ve been punished for, being my authentic self. So being able to celebrate that in a joyful way (is very important). It’s still a very indie book at this stage, but (the fact that) some people really connect to that is really rewarding.

Gogo Germaine will be hosting a book launch and riot grrrl party at the Mutiny Information Café in Denver on November 19.

Horoscopes

November 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

Deepening in a partnership will bring financial changes for the better, dear Aries. It may feel uncomfortable talking about money, but it will help you develop a strategy that will work out best for everyone in the end.

Mantra: It’s time to start planning for the future.

Taurus

Time to make up your mind about someone, dear Taurus, because nothing stays the same. You’ll grow in love and become stronger by accepting this newfound stability. So stay home, shack up, and cuddle up. Whether you’re single or partnered, being a homebody will be good for the soul and the bank account!

Mantra: Abundance flows to me when I accept stability.

Gemini

This isn’t a multifront war, dear Gemini, it’s a war within. Stop fighting procrastination, and commit to a daily routine. If you learn to stop fighting yourself, it will be a big game changer for you.

Mantra: “It’s no surprise to me I am my own worst enemy” – Lit “My Own Worst Enemy”

Cancer

You’re being called to put time into what matters to you this month, dear Cancer. Feel what you want like it’s already yours, and you may find yourself waking up in that reality.

Mantra: I am manifesting my dreams into reality.

Leo

If you’ve been laying low, by the middle of the month it will be time to step out with a new perspective, dear Leo. You may find that you prefer quality, not quantity, after your short hermitage and that is OK. As long as you’re happy with yourself, that’s all that matters.

Mantra: I’m the most important person in my life.

Virgo

If work is stressing you out, it’s time for a staycation. Turning down the volume can help you decide if you’re ready for a job or career change. Having intimate conversations with loved ones at home can help you gain clarity.

Mantra: “Home is where the heart is.” – Gaius Plinius Secundus

Libra

You can be free and be successful, dear Libra. Finding a good work/play balance can help you get in touch with your passions. Do you like to sing?

Dance? Workout? Embrace making happiness a habit by doing something every day that brings you joy.

Mantra: Happiness is a habit.

Scorpio

Happy birthday, all my November Scorpios! We love getting deep with you. This month is all about you so think BIG. You could find yourself following your passions right into the arms of a lover (birthday sex, anyone?). This person may not be “the one” but it doesn’t hurt to have a little fun.

Mantra: “You make loving fun.” – “You Make Loving Fun” Fleetwood Mac

Sagittarius

Happy birthday, my dear November Sagittarius readers! We love how you always help us see the big picture through fun and laughter. This month you’re being called to look at how far you’ve come over the past 10 years. Compassionately and safely exploring sexual desires could help reveal hidden parts of your psyche. If you find yourself struggling with past traumas, please don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

Mantra: I’m leaving behind the past I’ve outgrown.

Capricorn

Your workaholic habits are catching up with you this month, dear Capricorn. Rest and take care of yourself. Pick one thing to focus on instead of trying to do everything all at once. People are going to love the finished product if you give it the time it deserves.

Mantra: “What is once well done is done forever.” – Henry David Thoreau

Aquarius

Your reputation may be on the line this month, dear Aquarius. It’s time to step back, take a look in the mirror, and consider if there may be some truth in what everyone is saying. If you approach self-improvement with a sense of humor, you’ll discover how to be compassionate with parts of yourself that frustrate you. Please seek professional help if you are struggling to make tough changes on your own.

Mantra: I want to change.

Pisces

Travel could broaden your horizons in your career and your romantic life. The gifts you receive through contact with many different kinds of people could put you in new leadership positions. You may have to change your daily routine but you will find great opportunity awaits if you embrace this change.

Mantra: The world is my oyster.

Stock Images

The Longest Yard

By Alex Burnel Between My Legs

I’m so glad I’m the T.A. this semester. I really love this university, and I definitely picked a good one to go to because their science program is one of the best in the country. But even though I love helping Mr. Henderson with his class I hate that I’m left cleaning the classroom after ev ery time we do an experiment. Great, some components got onto the window, and I guess I do windows.

As I started to wipe the window, I no ticed that the university has a new head coach of the football team. He looks a little young to be a head coach. Maybe they picked him because all he could do was throw a ball really well, but I wonder if he could spell quarterback. He can’t even seem to keep his shirt on after practice. After every practice, he sticks around and runs around the field a handful of times. I must say, he has such a beautiful body. You can to tally tell he works out a lot, and his abs look like they could be the visual aid to Newton’s third law. “In the third law, when two objects interact, they apply forces to each other of equal magni tude and opposite direction.” The cur vature of each pair of abs seems to be applying force to each other and their surroundings.

Suddenly he was gone, and I’m not sure where he went. How long was I looking out the window just now? I could tell he made my player stand at attention. I slid my hand down my pants to give my player a massage after practice. That coach was so sexy. I may not know much about sports, but I know I’d love to be in a huddle and not wear any thing with him anytime.

I heard a slight cough and quickly turned around and pulled my hand out of my pants. There he was, the

head coach, standing in the classroom doorway. He was now wearing a tank, but it seemed to be drenched in sweat, and he had a small towel around his neck. I’m not sure how it was possible, but he’s even more beautiful up close. I wondered why he didn’t say anything; then I could tell he was staring at the erection I forgot I had. I quickly walked up to the closest workstation to hide the cause of my embarrassment.

I couldn’t believe that just happened. I glanced down and noticed Mr. Head Coach was packing a massive goal post between his legs. I realized I was staring again… I introduced myself and he informed me he was Mr. Rob erts, the university’s new head coach, but he gathered I knew that part, as he motioned towards the window. I told Mr. Roberts that I was Mr. Henderson’s T.A. this semester, since it was my last year, and he told me he was glad to hear I wasn’t a freshman.

He locked the door behind him and walked over to me. He looked out the window for just a moment and said I definitely had a great view from here. He placed his hand over my crotch and said based on my current erection, I clearly enjoyed the view. My heart rate began increasing heavily.

He asked if I wanted him to stop, and all I could muster up was a shaky “No.” He pulled my hand and placed it over his crotch. It was now bulging so much he was leaking through his shorts—It was so hot to know I could turn him on so much. He unzipped my pants and pulled them down, along with my un derwear, with fierce urgency.

He walked me backward a couple of steps, whipped me around, and lightly

nudged me to bend over, causing me to prop my hands onto the wall. He got onto his knees and started slid ing his tongue into my hole. Being rimmed by Mr. Roberts was so exhil arating my eyes were almost rolling back. He started using his fingers and totally knew his way around there. It felt like he was writing down a chemical equation or a new, in tense version of a Hail Mary play.

He stood up and yanked off his shorts and jock. He lifted me up and set me down on one of the ta bles, and I was thankful it was one I cleaned. Mr. Roberts placed my legs over his shoulders and pulled me closer to the edge. He leaned down and made out with me. Kissing him felt like the kisses you dream about from movies, the kind of kiss you feel even after you’re done kissing.

He spit a bunch into his hand and spread it over his cock and into my hole to help lube it up. He then got a bit more spit into my hole as he started to work it with his fingers. The more he worked it, the more he’d slowly add another finger. Even though I was experiencing the kind of pleasure I couldn’t remember ever having before I hoped he wasn’t planning on using all his fingers. He got up to three fingers and started to tease my hole with the head of his cock.

He pulled his tank over his head but not all the way off, and I could now see up-close how amazing his body was. He helped me pull my shirt off and looked slightly pleasantly sur prised. I asked him, "What?" and he said, “It’s a shame you keep your body hidden underneath that shirt.”

He told me he loved the shape I was in and really loved how hairy I was. He started thrusting harder, and my head flung back as I moaned “Mr. Roberts!” so loud that the freshman could’ve heard me across the quad. To help me not be too loud, he started kissing me as he kept thrusting.

Sweat was completely covering both of our bodies, and he told me he was getting close. As soon as he said that, I told him so was I! I never even touched my cock, but it was as hard as a rock. I was about to start stroking, and I paused as I shouted “OH MY GOD... I’m cumming!” As I said that he thrusted harder and faster and said he was cumming too. I could feel him release inside me with every shake and with every orgasmic shake I was still having, he could feel me tighten around his cock.

He smirked and told me, “Thank you for the extra work out.” I laughed and said I was surprised he’d be into me, and he gave me a confused look as he was catching his breath and asked me why. “Well, you're the head coach of a football team, and I’m a bit of a nerd and focus on science.” He let out a loud laugh and pulled me close and kissed me. He looked me in the eyes and said he didn’t major in football; it was actually science on a football scholarship. Damn, I didn’t think he could get hotter. I was wrong.

Stock Image

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

TUE: Solve That Puzzle 7p-9p w/$5 House Margs

WED: Music Bingo 7p-9p w/$4 U Call It At The Bar

THU: Karaoke 9p-1a w/BOGO well & drafts to 7p

SUN: Beer Bust 4p-8p & Showbears 7p-10p

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

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

TRADE

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

THE TRIANGLE BAR

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

WILD CORGI PUB

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

wildcorgipub.com

X BAR

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

#VYBE

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