FYI
2008 PlanetOut Travel Awards
  • Canada, best country
  • Buenos Aires, international city
  • New York City, domestic city
  • Provincetown, domestic gay resort town
  • Royal Palms, Fort Lauderdale, gay resort
  • Zoom Vacations, small tour operator
  • Atlantis, large tour operator
  • Celebrity and  Norwegian, cruise lines
  • Virgin America/Atlantic, best airline



22% of high-ranking military officers support eliminating "don't ask, don't tell" as a means of increasing troop recruitment

58% of high-ranking military officers support lowering education standards as a means of increasing troop recruitment

Under DADT two people every day are dropped from the military for being gay.

However, increasing numbers of high-ranking military vets are pushing for a repeal of DADT. Read more here.

Center for a New American Security, a non-partisan, national security think tank in Washington DC
Announcements
Monday, May 12
Colorado ManREACH
will host three gatherings in 2008: June, July and September. For more information email info@manreach.org or call Richard Rivers at 719-271-5865 or Charles Fletcher at 303-960-9323
"Get Your Heart On"
Want to add your own announcement for an anniversary, marriage, union, birthday, congratulations, or remembrance?

Quotables
There are about 1 million LGBT vets in the United States and 65,000 gay, lesbian, and bi troops on active duty at any given time.

— lesbian veteran and GLAAD award winner Zsa Zsa Gershick citing the 2004 study from the non-partisan Washington DC thinktank Urban Institute (using 2000 census figures), author of Gay Old Girls and Secret Service: Untold Stories of Lesbians in the Military
Savage Love
I'm 16 and gay. I recently got into an argument with my parents over whether HIV is spread by saliva, or if you can be infected during oral sex...

—Good Gay Boy



For me and my muscle-bound bondage boy, Dan, a large part of the turn-on would evaporate if somebody were "within earshot at all times," per your advice last week... Dumb! When I leave my boy roped up and go to a movie, knowing that he's working fiercely, angrily, and uselessly to get free while I'm gone, well... I'd hate to be denied that pleasure because some moron left her husband tied and gagged for a whole damn day. I leave my helpless goldfish home alone. Why not my tied-up plaything? Can't an exception be made for those of us who actually have a brain?

—Mr. Roper


Dan Savage's response
Links ‘n’ Stuff
Google's GLBT News
Fort Collins Weather Forecast
Movies at Fandango & MovieFone
press at ColoradoConfidential.com
GLAAD's What's LGBT on TV
Queery.com's TV Gay Guide Pick
Google Mail and Maps
Life.com's Sudoku
movies at youtube.com
fun from CaféPress.com
search amazon.com
explore 10percent.com
visit 10percentGIRL.com
+ FortPride to your IE Favorites
FortPride your IE home page
Appreciation and credit
   for news to The Advocate, 365gay.com, NPR.org, CNN.com, CBS News.com, Coloradoan.com, People.com, Time.com, ACLU.org, USA Today.com, FakeGayNews.com, Topix.net and uk.gay.com; and
   for history to glbtq.com and WikipediA and the Yahoo groups at --gayhistory and Pridelets; and
   for movies we mostly thank the posters at youtube.com
Videos
the "gay moralist" Dr. John Corvino
out, partnered, philsopher, moralist, gay-rights advocate, professor of philosophy at Wayne State University, on the road with lecture series


submit a comment more videos email FortPride
News
  

Federal Court Rules For Gay Students In Button Case : (Ponce De Leon, Florida) After a two-day trial in which a Florida high school principal testified that he believed clothing, buttons or stickers featuring rainbows would make students automatically picture gay people having sex, a federal judge today ruled that the school violated the First Amendment rights of students.
LGBT Rating System For Hospitals : (New York City) Just over half of 88 hospitals got top marks under a new rating system created by two national gay-rights organizations which hope the standards will result in more compassionate treatment of gay and lesbian patients.
Two-Thirds Of Canadian LGBT Students Feel Unsafe At School : (Toronto, Ontario) The first national study of LGBT students in Canada has produced shocking results in a country that prides itself on diversity.
Prosecution: Jail House Confession In Gay Producer Murder : (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) One of two men accused of killing gay porn producer Bryan Kocis in 2006 confessed to fellow inmates in jail according to papers filed by the prosecution.
Anti-Gay Writing Gets University Official Fired : (Toledo, Ohio) The University of Toledo has fired a senior administrator who penned a column for a local publication attacking LGBT civil rights.
Lesbian Settles Bias Suit With NYC Restaurant : (New York City) A lawsuit by a lesbian who was ejected from a New York City restaurant following last year's LGBT pride march when a bouncer thought she was too masculine to use the women's rest room has settled her lawsuit against the business.
Crafter Of Federal DOMA Launches Libertarian Presidential Bid : (Washington) Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr launched a Libertarian Party presidential bid Monday, saying voters are hungry for an alternative to the status quo who would dramatically cut the federal government.
Clinton Wins Large But Symbolic Victory In W.Va. : (Charleston, West Virginia) Hillary Rodham Clinton coasted to a large, but largely symbolic victory in working-class West Virginia on Tuesday, handing Barack Obama one of his worst defeats of the campaign but scarcely slowing his march toward the Democratic presidential nomination.
from Amazon, 10percent.com & CaféPress
more fun stuff

Fort Collins Pride
Women's Ts

Querelle Zyklus
by Jurgen Draeger. 23x33" print, from the film (available on DVD) adapted from French author Jean Genet's novel, staring the handsome, bi, thief, sailor boy prostitue and serial killer Querelle played by likely-bi Brad Davis

Celebrate Diversity Colorado
sweats, Ts, bags, hats, bumper stickers and great coffee cups!

FC - Celebrate Diversity
Sweatshirts, Ts, shorts, caps, mugs and more

Pride Flag Magnet
4x2" and browse more magnets

Cute from Behind
inside: "Don't turn around; it's another birthday!" from the gay card selection at 10percent.com
more fun stuff
glbtq videos
Local Events    Wednesday   May 14, 2008
FortPride congratulates CSU's
Lavender Graduates
Emily Elizabeth Atherton
Amanda Borin
Gabriel Case
Deb DeCovis
Claire Fleming
Katrina Gillette
Dani Long
Meredith macKinnon
Michael Marceau
Stephanie McMahon
Michelle Meacham
Mandy M. Rasmussen
Kelsey Ray
Camden Yehle
TOMORROW will be the last weekly print version of the Rocky Mountain Chronicle, Fort Collins' only independent newspaper.   The FortPride staff feels it's been a privilege for our wee, pseudo-liberal community to have enjoyed their work.   We thank the RMChronicle, its staff, and its insightful editor Sadie Moore for their fresh thoughts and outside-the-box commentaries.
GLBTSS new David Bohnett CyberCenter opens this week
4:00pm-5:00pm Way_Out_West glbtq & allies youth group (13-17) meets every Wednesday at the Link, 1816 Central Avenue, Cheyenne
5:00pm-12:00am Choice_City_Shots "Poker is Back!"
Editorials & Opinions
History
New York, 1997: State Senator Joseph L. Bruno announces his plans to abolish rent protections for lesbians, gays and unmarried couples, thus allowing the evictions of domestic partners, caregivers, or any non-traditionally married partners if the primary tenant on a lease agreement dies.
Washington, DC, 1981: Ronald Reagan cancels the White House subscription to The Advocate.
Canada, 1976: A "clean up" of Montreal begins in preparation for August's Summer Olympics, with the systemic ongoing harassment and/or closing of the city's bathhouses and gay bars. Among the raids permanent casualties are the Club Baths' Montreal branch.
Washington DC, 1974: In the US Congress, New York Democratic Representatives Bella Abzug and Edward Koch introduce the first bill proposing to broaden the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include protection against discrimination based on "sexual orientation, sex or marital status."
New York City, 1970: Gay Liberation Front activists ZAP a special session of the American Psychiatric Association dealing with "sex problems." The activists protest an Australian doctor's paper on the use of electroshock aversion therapy to "treat" homosexuality.
Germany, 1897: The Scientific Humanitarian Committee is founded in Berlin by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld (born this same day in 1868) to organize opposition to legal and social oppression of homosexuals in Germany and to fight for the repeal of Article 175 of the Imperial Penal Code which criminalizes "coitus-like" acts between men. It is the first of several pre-Nazi gay liberation organizations in Berlin.
etc.
Younger Gays Want Long-Term Relationships & Kids
Penn State and NYU published their urban study in the Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling. More than 90% of young lesbians and more than 80% of gay males expect to be partnered in a monogamous relationship after age 30. Two thirds of females and more than half of males expressed likelihood that they would raise children in the future; of these, 58% of males and 54% of females expect to be raising their own biological children. The mainstreaming of lesbian/gay youth will significantly impact culture and politics.


Denver PFLAG has worked to compile this list of GLBT-friendly congregations
If you have any additions or thoughts, please contact Chuck Willis at chuckwillis@comcast.net. Our thanks to him for this enormous effort.


for HS graduating seniors


Be aware of a new Larimer County service for businesses and organizations that provides inservices on techniques to let your clients know you are culturally competent in GLBT issues
For example, it is distressing to realize that thousands of gay people live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities without any staff or other residents knowing critical parts of their lives. These elders are deprived the opportunity to be themselves and to tell their story. They miss out on true inclusion in their own community because they have to be guearded about what they say. As a result, staff and residents never get to truly know them. Finally, they are deprived the life review process necessary for a good death.

Contact: Tina Barker, Larimer County Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 498-6803 or email tbarker@larimer.org


the Sylvia Rivera Law Project
"SRLP works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence."
    The project is named for civil rights pioneer Sylvia Rivera, veteran of the 1969 Stonewall uprising and a tireless advocate for all those who have been marginalized as the "gay rights" movement has mainstreamed.
Be an ally...
  • As in Boston, NYC, SF and DC, work to push the homeless shelters to place residents according to gender identity and safety rather than birth gender.
  • To prevent harrassment and foster safety, establish gender-neutral bathrooms where you work, shop, go to school, eat or get services.
  • support inclusion of trans health coverage in the benefits package at your job, school, or state Medicaid program.


The Human Rights Campaign offers its Buying for Equality 2008
[pdf download]. It's a guide to companies, products and services that support glbt equality, a way to vote with your business and purchasing practices.

RainbowShoppingNetwork.com also has gay-friendly and gay-owned recommendations as well as discounts and money-saving coupons. Ten percent of the site's revenue goes to GLBT non-profit organizations, currently donating to national PFLAG.


Employment Non-Discrimination Act
≡≡  13 states have ENDAs that protect sexual orientation as well as gender expression

≡≡  7 states have ENDAs that protect sexual orientation but not gender expression

≡≡  30 states have no laws to protect GLBT workers


Meet Betsy Markey
who is likely running alone in 2008 against Marilyn Musgrave to represent our 4th Congressional District.  Betsy has 174 days left to garner your respect and engage your support.  Visit MarkeyForCongress.com, and check her Wikipedia entry.


There are an estimated 65,000 lesbian and gay servicemembers currently in the U.S. military.
Gays serve openly in the mililary in 23 of the 26 NATO countries. The United States, Turkey and Portugal are the exceptions.

10,870 gay military personnel have been discharged under the “don't ask, don't tell” policy since it was enacted in 1993.


Human Rights Campaign publishes its 6th Annual Corporate Equality Index showing significant improvement in employers' treatment of glbt employees, consumers and investors.


Violence and Suicide
A new study from the Univ of CA at Davis reports that Nearly four in 10 gay men and about one in eight lesbians and bisexuals in the United States have been the target of violence or a property crime because of their sexual orientation.   Survey respondents had an average age of 39. Most had attended some college. Two thirds were white, 16% black and 13% Hispanic. Data collection for the study was supported by a grant from the Gill Foundation.

The FBI announced that hate crimes against gays make up 16% of total documented hate crimes in the United States in 2006, up from 14% in 2005.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reported last year that 47 percent of gay and lesbian teenagers have seriously considered suicide and that 36 percent have attempted it.   The National Institute for Mental Health notes that this number may be low, because some teenagers who commit suicide may not be out to their families or friends.


Transfusion complication risks from Poudre Valley Hospital data
allergic reaction 1:100
bacterial contamination 1:38,000
Hepatitis B 1:137,000
Malaria 1:250,000
Hepatitis C 1:250,000
HIV 1:1,900,000


"Transgender" & "Transsexual" — from ABC News 20/20 in April 2007


Gay & Lesbian Medical Association — "GLMA"


Human Rights Campaign resources
GLBT Census
World United States Colorado
Pop. 6,667,659,145 Pop. 304,083,683 Pop. 5,026,746
GLBT 333,382,957 GLBT 15,204,184 GLBT 251,337
Note that there are more GLBT persons in the World
than there are residents in the United States.


Population statistics are based on U.S. Census Bureau clocks
for the U.S. and the World.

Colorado estimates are from the Colorado Health Info Dataset.

GLBT estimates use the conservative 5% portion of adults
who self-identify as gay or lesbian. Updated hourly.
Weather