The right to what?

It's funny because my passion for my work is about equality and fairness, so in a lot of ways that is what I am fighting for. Queer rights. Equal rights. And yet ... love isn't a right. It's rarely equal. And it's almost never fair. We don't have the right to love someone or be loved. We have (hopefully) the opportunity. My partner and I went and saw 500 Days of Summer. My friend is a movie reviewer and he rarely gives movies an "A" so I felt compelled. The story is a familiar one, what happens when you are more into someone than they are into you? It happens in love, in friendship, in business ... and it almost always stinks. But we keep trying and reaching, even when it doesn't quite work out the way we hoped. Primarily because fair is over-rated when it means we will miss out on something amazing.

I truly believe love is a gift we give ourselves (I know, sappy). The chance to become something more by reaching out beyond the confines of our own reality and experiences. The motivation to care more about other people's experiences and needs than our own. So I am fighting for our right to be equally involved in loving relationships --- whether they are equal or fair -- and have our gifts honored, whatever the gender of the person with whom we share them.

Volunteer for Boulder Pride's Block Party!

One man's view of Health Insurance.

David Sedaris - Bend Over and Say "Ah"


Found at: http://www.americablog.com/2009/08/bend-over-and-say-ah.html

Sometimes you are just balancing things best you can!

Got health?

Yesterday marked the official beginning of our Healthy Living Initiative with our first Day of Wellness. Put together by our fabulous Program Director, Ta'Shia Asanti, it was a gathering of community to share gifts of health and bring community awareness to the importance of health in our lives.

Upcoming events include Adventures in Wilderness, local community hikes, with the next one scheduled for August 25th and a Gatekeeper Sweat Lodge on October 17. For more information on our wellness programs, email Ta'Shia.

Matthew Shepard Act passes - thank your senators

Please make this call. My experience is that most of the time people who step up and take risks for our community do _not_ hear thank you. For those of you who live outside of Colorado, you can find your senator's phone number at : http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please pass this on to anyone you know who might care or be effected. Be aware that things like a Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal, immigration rights, or marriage even, could be more easily passed if our supporters see that we are organized and support our supporters.

Colorado Senators are: 

Sen. Mark Udall (202) 224-5941 and 

Sen. Michael F. Bennet (202) 224-5852, both of whom voted yes to pass the Matthew Shepard Act.

BACKGROUND ON THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT:

The Matthew Shepard Act will strengthen existing federal hate crime laws in three ways:

1) Expand the law to authorize the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute certain bias-motivated crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Current law only includes race, color, religion or national origin.

2) Eliminate a serious limitation on federal involvment under existing law which requires that a victim of a bias-motivated crime was attacked because he/she was engaged in a specified federally-protected activity such as voting, serving on a jury or attending school.

3) Add "gender" and "gender identity" to the Hate Crimes Statistics Act

Boulder Pride Says Goodbye to Jeanne!

Boulder Pride is sad to say goodbye to office manager and Pride Czar, Jeannie!  Jeannie will be missed by many as she moves forward to pursue her professional dreams and aspirations.  Please stop by the B-Side Restaurant and Bar in Boulder on July 21, 2009 at 5pm for an old fashioned roast.  Great food, fun people and good music.  Don't miss it!