Speak out
For many in our LGBT community, The Center is home.This year, 38,206 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied visitors came to our space and found hope, encouragement, love and support. All of our programs are made possible through generous support from our Colorado community; individual donors, volunteers, grantors, sponsors, and community partners like Out Front.
Growing up, I was not spared from being bombarded with advertising directed at young women. Products such as cosmetics – eyeliner, mascara and foundation – garments designed to enhance your breasts and diminish your waistline, crippling high heels, cancer causing hair removal products, are everywhere.
Many years ago, as a young adult, I thought I was alone with my experience of being a transsexual.
I called the Salt Lake City gay crisis line when I thought there was no other place to go: It was within the gay community that I found support – an experience that has been true for many other transgender people of my generation. I welcomed our inclusion in the LGBTQ movement. Even though our issues come from different orientations, we’ve had enough in common to be in solidarity with one another.
Our season, ‘Many Voices, One Song,’ will consist of three concerts. The holiday concert, ‘Sing We Merry, Gentlemen,’ will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 20.
Back in 2010, I decided to run for a citywide seat on the Denver City Council, with more than 30,000 voters electing me to office. My volunteers and I sent mail to more than 70,000 households (sorry, trees!), and spoke to thousands of voters i
in August 2011, I announced my full support for same-sex marriage. At the time, I was only the 19th U.S. senator to do so – not many more than the 14 senators who had voted against DOMA when it passed 15 years earlier.
LGBT Americans have had one of the most prosperous four years in recent memory. I thank and credit President Obama for that.
To those who know me, it will come as no surprise that I will vote for Gov. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in the Nov. 6 general election. Since 1972, I have consistently voted for the Republican candidate for president, although the remainder of my ballot is almost always split to support whom I consider to be the best candidate.
Vote! It’s vital in every election if our republic is to function as it was intended. But do more – join me by giving cash and/or time. Don’t simply sit back and leave your civil rights up to others. I am one who truly believes in action, not reflection. Much comes from simply showing up.
Fourteen years ago this week, his father, brother and I were at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins with our first-born son, Matthew Shepard. He was 21, and dying. Just days before, he had been just like millions of American college students whose names are not known to the world – getting the hang of his new classes, adapting to a new campus, making friends.
