Today, we have cause for celebration,  a federal appeals in California declared Prop. 8, California's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, putting the bitterly contested, voter-approved law on track for likely consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.  The court said "Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California". 

This is a landmark moment in our journey to full equality.  Let's gather together as a community to celebrate this victory.   Joins us at Shine, 2027 13th Street in Boulder, TODAY starting at 5:30.  

Let us use this opportunity to celebrate as a chance to strengthen the bonds of our communities and as fuel to recharge our batteries as this victory is only one of many, many more to be had on our quest for equality. 

If you've been considering getting more involved now is the time, the tides are turning and your smile, your story, your presence and your willingness to be unabashedly you, are some of the best tools to bring about non-violent change.  Consider going to Colorado Lobby day on February 27 (details below) and get to know your legislators and hear first hand about legislation that impacts our communities here, at home in Colorado.  

Out Boulder can also use your support,  consider making a donation of time, money or other necessary goods to the organization and support the work that we do to cultivate equality, respect and well-being for the people of Boulder County.  Feel free to contact us if you are not certain of what our work is and this is keeping you from being involved.  We need you and would love to have you involved.

Dear Friends,

I am happy to write the introduction to this week's eNewsletter to share with you about my recent experience at Creating Change, an annual conference held by The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force recently held in Baltimore, MD.

This year's conference was the largest ever with an estimated 2000 people in attendance.  The goal of the conference is to connect the people and organizations actively engaged in the movement for equal rights for people regardless of Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity.  We shared ideas, successes and inspiration along with best practices, resource networks and of course  took some time for fun and made a friend or two (or twenty nine, GO CU BUFFS!).

I learned a lot, and I encourage you to listen to the state of the movement address by Rea Carey, Director of The Task Force, by clicking here.  I can almost guarantee you will learn a thing or two from her.   If you want to learn more about some of the workshops I attended, send me an email and we can schedule a chat at the Pride House.

What I truly want to share with you now is my deepened and renewed sense of pride and appreciation for you, the community that supports Out Boulder.    Upon completion of the conference someone asked me what my favorite thing about the conference was.  My response was something along the lines of, "My favorite thing about the conference is that it showed me how our little organization back in Boulder, Colorado is actually one of the most progressive,  and, unknowingly,  on the leading edge of this movement."

So, once again thank you for your time, your money, your effort, and your unwavering desire to cultivate an era where an individual's difference is no longer an excuse for discrimination.

In solidarity,

Mauricio Shoup

This position requires a person who is highly dependable. You will assist the Office Manager in office duties at the Pridehouse, such as preparing mailings, adding emails to mailing lists, answering phones, greeting drop-ins, special projects such as compiling resource guide, running errands, covering office hours if Office Manager is unavailable, keeping pridehouse clean and organized, assist Executive Director and Program Director with administrative tasks.

Hours: Ideally available during a portion of one of the regular office hour times, MTF: 9a-1pm, W: 12noon-4pm. Office Assistant could additionally hold extra office hours outside of those times.

Total hours per week: Depending on the availability of the volunteer, 2 - 10 hours/week.

If interested, please contact Jen Spolnik at jspolnik@outboulder.org. 

To accommodate the growing number of families with gender variant children, Karen Adams, founder and leader of TYES (Transgender Youth Education and Support) and current TYES families have accepted the invitation of the PFLAG Boulder Board to become a satellite support group in partnership with PFLAG.  On the second Tuesday evening each month at the First United Methodist Church Boulder, TYES will offer their second monthly support group meetings for adults and teens.  Besides mutual support, the group will occasionally join with, and even provide, a PFLAG program.  Besides offering support to families dealing with issues related to gender variance, TYES members will enlighten the rest of the PFLAG membership.  PFLAG programs at 7:00 p.m. on second Tuesdays in the FUMC parlor are open to the public.

 I was working on "Save the Date" announcements for two major LGBTQ-related happenings scheduled for a single weekend in March. Both are sponsored by major institutions in the state, and one is co-hosted by the governor. This is astonishing when you think about where we came from and how recently our journey began.

And then consider the nature of these events:

• The 6th annual  TRANSformingGender Symposium, March 9-11, a chance for everyday folks to learn about transgender, gender queer, and other issues around gender identity and gender expression. Transgender identities weren't even named a couple of decades ago. Heck, the concept is still not understood by many folks (including many LGB folks). But here's a 3-day program devoted to this edgy topic.
• The  Statewide Convening on LGBT Youth on March 10 will provide information and tools for folks all around the state who work with young people to help them understand the unique needs of LGBTQ youth. This amounts to a consciousness-raising and educational event for youth workers across Colorado to learn specifically about LGBTQ youth in a positive and affirming framework. This is the one co-hosted by Governor Hickenlooper.