Listening Studio
By Ken Young
Listening StudioMay 05, 2019
James Roy
Episode Tracks
The following tracks can be heard as part of the live broadcast of this interview.
1) Abigail - You Set Me Free
2) James Roy - Rise Above
3) Debbie Holiday - Dive
4) Enigma - Gravity Of Love
5) Hillary Duff - Come Clean (Chris Cox Flood Mix)
Jude
In 2015, the Birth Certificate Modernization Act, was the first transgender-specific legislation to be introduced in Colorado. After a long 5 year fight the bill finally passed and the country’s first openly gay elected governor, Governor Jared Polis, signed the bill into law just before Pride Month on May 31st of last year. The bill was amended with name "Jude's Law" and Colorado is now one of the first states in the country to have nonbinary gender options and self-attestation for gender on documents including birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and state identification cards.
Known as the namesake of Colorado House Bill 19-1039 "Jude’s Law", Jude was honored with the 2020 Spirit of Matthew Award at the
Matthew Shepard Foundation gala on October 10, 2020.
Special thanks to Jude's mom for coordinating our conversation with Jude!
Jake Walker
Listen to Jake on 98.9 Magic FM
Follow Jake on Facebook
One Year Anniversary of the Listening Studio
Sage Singers
The Sage Singers are providing a safe and loving place for elders to maintain their dignity, health and involvement in the community. I would hope that many of the younger generation would join me in agreeing that we should do all we can to help our queer elders and ensure that their piece of our LGBT history is a story that is told for generations to come.
As the heroes of our LGBTQIA+ community age, we have an obligation to preserve their legacy. Groups like The Sage Singers are providing a safe and loving place for elders to maintain their dignity, health and involvement in the community. I would hope that many of the younger generation would join me in agreeing that we should do all we can to help our queer elders and ensure that their piece of our LGBT history is a story that is told for generations to come.
It’s the month of giving and this would perfect opportunity to donate a couple of dollars to support the Sage Singers. They are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and donations are fully tax-deductible. Click here to visit their donation page.
Special Thanks Tom Biddle, Kevin Crowe, Judith Nelson, Holly Hares, Sam Gomez, Donald Johnson, my wonderful husband Eric for his help with this episode, and all of the wonderful members of the Sage Singers for sharing their sacred space with us.
Micah Porter
Anthony & David
They’ve been dubbed the “Gay Mayors” of Denver and one of Denver’s “Power Couples”, both well known in the Denver community by their drag persona’s, Lushus La’Rell and the “triple nippled” Nucula Waste.
Anthony was Empress 40 of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire. Anthony also bares the title Miss Gay Pride of All Colorado 2019.
Both were involved in the Colorado Gay Rodeo. David was named 2002 Mr. Colorado Gay Rodeo and 2003 Mr. International Gay Rodeo.
Anthony and David will be honored with the Dennis Dougherty Award at the Matthew Shepard Foundation Bear to Make a Difference fundraising gala, coming up on October 26th.
National Coming Out Day
Today is National Coming Out Day... an annual LGBTQ awareness day that started in the United States in 1988, the original idea was grounded on the most basic form of activism being coming out to family, friends and colleagues, and living life as an openly LGBT person. The concept is that homophobia thrives in an atmosphere of silence and ignorance, and that once people know that they have loved ones who are LGBTQ+, they are far less likely to maintain homophobic or oppressive views.
If you are listening to this podcast and you are considering coming out, please know that there are people out there who have been through what you are going through now. There are so many resources out there in the LGBTQ community that can help you. You DO have the support of others in the LGBT community.
If you are an LGBTQ youth and you are also looking for someone to talk to, there are also many resources out there that provide help. The Trevor Project has an LGBTQ Handbook for Young People. I’m going to post a link on our website where you can download this handbook. If you are an LGBTQ youth who is thinking about suicide and you are in need of immediate support, please call the TrevorLifeline at 866-488-7386 or you can use TrevorChat on the Trevor Project website - thetrevorproject.org.
Dustin Sch Long
One night while I was working on podcast production, I saw a live video popup on Facebook of Dustin laying in a hospital bed. I started watching him explain his diagnosis with ovarian cancer. Since that live video, I’ve seen the community come together to support Dustin on his road to recovery. I made it a point to track down Dustin and talk about his journey. We finally caught up recently at Pride and Swagger to talk about his recent experience with ovarian cancer, upcoming events and his mission to bring awareness to others in the transgender community on the importance of health and wellness.
Check out Dustin's upcoming show Just Duet - Dueling Variety Show, every third Sunday, starting September 22.
Onyx Steele
Onyx Steele on Facebook
Special thanks to Mile High Hamburger Mary's family for sharing their space for our interview.
Parasol Patrol
CHEER Colorado
Each year, CHEER Colorado picks a primary beneficiary. The group's volunteers nominate and select local charities devoted to LGBTQ causes, health and wellness, inclusion and diversity. This year, they are raising money for Rainbow Alley, a safe and brave space supporting LGBTQ youth and their allies ages 11 to 21.
Special thanks to Lindsay Miller and Kyle Johnson for their time, and The Center on Colfax for lending us space for our interview.
Find out more about CHEER Colorado and how you can get involved:
www.facebook.com/CHEERColorado/
www.cheercolorado.org
Urban Peak
Urban Peak Ignites the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined, fulfilled lives. Urban Peak is the only non-profit organization in Denver that provides a full convergence of services for youth ages 15 through 24 experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
Mike Orr and Bryan Fleming's Denver Pride Kick-off Party has raised over 45,000 for Urban Peak over the past 3 years... they hope to raise that number to 75,000 with this week's event.
Find out more about about how you can help: www.urbanpeak.org/
Jessica L'Whor
On this episode of Listening Studio Colorado, I caught up with Jess at Mile High Hamburger Mary's to chat about her work in the community. We also talked about the most recent We Are Family - Dustin Schlong Community Fundraiser.
Jim Scharper | Feeding Denver's Hungry
Mark Young
Everyone's story is different and not everyone experiences positive life changes when they are coming out. Some don't have a choice, some are outed by others. Some LGBT youth are rejected by their family and no place else to go.
If you need help, there are resources available... you can call, chat or text with someone now at thetrevorproject.org.
Follow Mark Young's adventure on Instagram: instagram.com/itsmarkyoung/
Emma Shinn | Celebrating Trans Voices
Special thanks to The Center on Colfax for their generosity and allowing us to use their space for this interview.
Music (Licensed by SoundStripe.com): Firefly - Aaron Sprinkle
Justin Lewis | Denver Element
Special thanks to Justin and all the staff at Denver Element at Mile High Behavioral Healthcare.
Denver Element
Denver Element on Facebook
Denver Element on Twitter
Music Licensed by SoundStripe.com
John White | The Center on Colfax
Special thanks to John and all the staff and volunteers the The Center on Colfax!
Dixie Krystals on Facebook
Music Licensed by SoundStripe.com
Morgan Taylor
Music (Licensed by SoundStripe.com)
Corky Blankenship
Many thanks to Corky Blankenship for his time, generosity and opening his home to our crew. Also many thanks to Nick Young for his assistance with this episode.
Music Licensed by SoundStripe.com)