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TOMORROW: Colorado Dems Hold Racial Justice Reform Town Hall @ 6:00PM! |
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Join us TOMORROW (Thursday, June 3) for the next edition of our Colorado Conversations virtual town hall series! Last time, we focused on our state of health care.
This Thursday, we will be joined by community members and elected officials to focus on racial justice reform! Click here or the button to sign up: |
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Happy Pride! |
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Happy Pride, Colorado! We've come a long way since 1992 when we were known as "the Hate State" because we passed the awful Amendment 2 that stripped LGBTQ Coloradans of their civil rights.
If you're too young to remember, check out this article in Westword that commemorated the 25th anniversary of that horrible time. |
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In Their Words: PRIDE |
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We asked some leaders in the community what Pride means to them, and why the fight for LGBTQ equality is even more important than before! Here's what they had to say: |
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Jarrod Munger, Chair of the Stonewall Democrats of Colorado
"Pride is about being yourself without fear. Pridefests around the world allow LGBTQIA+ persons a place to come together without fear. It's a place to learn that you are not alone and that there is a whole world of people who accept you for being you and to socialize with other persons who aren't part of your everyday like. Integration is how we fight ignorance and how we've expanded the rainbow to include all persons.
"We still have a lot of work to do here in Colorado and nationally to ensure LGBTQIA+ equality in employment, healthcare, housing, education, and food security." |
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State Representative Brianna Titone (HD27):
"Pride to me means being unapologetically yourself. It's a time where people come together in numbers to shake off the shame that has been placed on the LGBTQ community for years.
"We need to expand healthcare and mental wellness for the LGBTQ community. This is especially true for trans people. We need knowledgeable and experienced providers who have an understanding of LGBTQ issues and nuances so that they can help their patients get the best care possible." |
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Hashim Coates, Vice Chair, African Diaspora Initiative for the Colorado Dems:
"My first pride was in 1996, and while I was so nervous to attend because I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, that nervousness did not match my excitement. Ever since that first Pride celebration, I've always looked forward to Pride, because it is the moment, place, or event where people like me can be who we were truly were born to be. This Pride month, while I am truly excited to celebrate with the community, we must never forget to continue the fight against injustice everywhere, in every marginalized community.
"The fight for true LGBTQ equality must be an intersectional fight -- one where we combat racism and white supremacy and fight the objectification of Black men, while also celebrating all the hard-fought victories we have won together." |
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State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis
"We passed 3 important protections for LGBTQ folks already this General Assembly. We have passed bills to protect LGBTQ youth in Foster families, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression, and prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ veterans. I am very proud to be a part of all of those efforts." |
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Jeremy VanHooser, Vice Chair of Outreach, Colorado Democratic Party
"Pride is about celebrating your authentic self without apologies. Celebrating Pride as a community, we connect with people who have a similar experience of discovering and accepting our identities.
"There is so much work to be done to achieve equality for the LGBTQ community. To name a few more training on LGBTQ identities for healthcare professionals, better access to mental health services, and addressing the racism in the LGBTQ community. We often don’t want to look at how we uphold oppressive systems, but if we want equity, we must look at the issues of class, race, and gender as they intersect with the LGBTQ community." |
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The American Rescue Plan How is it helping folks? |
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Summit County, towns discuss emergency declaration as affordable housing shortage intensifies Vail Daily
But the bigger boon will come from $3.8 billion in federal stimulus money coming to Colorado as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. McCluskie said the state is planning to set aside between $400 million and $500 million to invest in housing initiatives throughout the state.
There’s no set plan for how exactly that money will be spent — those details would likely be finalized in the next legislative session — but McCluskie said that amount of money represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the long-term housing conversation in Colorado.
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Remember -- Colorado Republicans like Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck, and Doug Lamborn all voted 'No' to helping struggling Colorado families.
Meanwhile, all of Colorado's Democratic members of the Congressional delegation voted 'Yes'!
But how else does the American Rescue Plan specifically help Coloradans, you ask? Click the link to find out! |
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BILLS TO WATCH IN #COLEG |
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Protect Personal Data Privacy (SB21-190) Dem Sponsors: Rep. Monica Duran and Sen. Robert Rodriguez
Prescription Insulin Pricing And Access (HB21-1307) Dem Sponsors: Rep. Dylan Roberts and Sen. Kerry Donovan
From the Colorado Senate Dems: |
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Opportunities with the Colorado Dems |
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Help Fight Another Republican Sham Recall! |
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Colorado Republicans are at it again. Remember in 2019 when Colorado Republicans launched a series of sham recalls because they can't win elections fair and square? Well, they're at it again, and this time they're targeting Democratic members of the Westminster City Council. Specifically, they're targeting Councilman Jon Voelz (pictured above).
How Can You Help? Go to the Defend Westminster page and chip in to help with the recall defense efforts to stop this attempt to undo the will of the voters in its tracks! |
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CANDIDATE BOOT CAMP! Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27 |
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The Colorado Democratic Party will be hosting its second session of its brand new Candidate Boot Camp series for registered Democrats! It will be held on Saturday, June 26, and Sunday, June 27, and it will be focused on bringing candidates, potential candidates, campaign workers, and activists together to learn everything one would need to know to run for office!
Who Should Attend? If you're a candidate, a campaign manager, a campaign staffer, a campaign volunteer, a precinct organizer, a county party officer, an active Democrat in your community, or a Democrat who has thought about running for office before, this training is for you!
What Will You Be Learning? From fundraising to field, from messaging to managing a candidate, from time management to campaign timelines, this training will prepare anyone seeking office or seeking to help elect Democrats at any level to take on any race in any corner of the state!
Sounds Awesome! How do I join? Click here or the button below to sign up, and show up! |
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Initiative and County Party News! |
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Support for Democratic School Board Candidates |
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As an initiative, Democratic Education Initiative of the Colorado Democratic Party (CoDEI) has played a leadership role in the examination and discussion of important education policy issues for twenty years! We also serve as a resource for candidates running for education positions or on education issues.
The CoDEI is asking all county party chairs and members of the State Central Committee to help us identify Democrats who are running for school boards this year. The CoDEI is happy to advise, coach, and support these candidates. The sooner we know who is running – or who is thinking of running – the sooner we can be of assistance. Additionally, each odd-numbered year, the CoDEI holds an event in late August to give Democratic candidates for school boards around the state an opportunity to speak to fellow Democrats.
Please email us at [email protected] with names and contact information of any Democrat you know is a candidate or is contemplating becoming one for their local school board. |
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Sign up to join the Colorado Democratic Education Initiative and the Dems with Disabilities Initiative for this important discussion on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30PM! Click here to sign up! |
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The Stonewall Democrats of Colorado will hold their next meeting on June 17th at 6:30PM.
If you would like to get notifications about meetings, join Stonewall!
Upcoming Pride Events Pride Luncheon Hosted by Rep. Joe Neguse & the Stonewall Democrats of Colorado |
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Date– June 9th Time– 12:00 to 1:00pm MT
Host Congressman Joe Neguse
Co-host / MC Stonewall Democrats of Colorado Chair Jarrod Munger
Panelists Congressman David Cicilline State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis State Rep. Leslie Herod State Rep. Brianna Titone Mayor Jamie Harkins Mayor Pro Tem Guyleen Castriotta |
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Denver PrideFest 2021
Date– June 26-27 Location– Virtual & In-Person Events
The 2021 Coors Light Virtual Denver Pride Parade will be virtual this year so check out the website above for more information and tickets. |
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Join the Garfield County Dems for: "Harvest the Vote"! |
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How Democrats Can Win Again in Rural America, With Activist & Author Jane Kleeb
Tickets available here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/harvestvote
Jane Kleeb is a leader who truly understands the need for Democrats to listen and engage with people in rural communities.
In 2010, she founded the grassroots group Bold Nebraska, leading an unlikely alliance of farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, and Native Americans in an effort to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline. She currently serves as Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and a board member of Our Revolution.
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Join the Park County Dems on June 19! |
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Join the Park County Dems on Saturday, June 19 for Bailey Day! The Park County Dems will have a booth at the festival until 4:00PM, and welcome all Dems to come and visit! |
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CD4 Dems BBQ! Saturday, June 26 |
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#DemsDeliver |
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Colorado Could Become Second State In The U.S. To Cap The Price Of Insulin For All Diabetics CBS Denver
The Colorado Attorney General says 40% of Coloradans who are on insulin are now rationing the drug. The price of the life-saving medication has more than doubled in recent years.
“It’s shocking to think that this happening in Colorado in 2021, right now,” says Rep. Dylan Roberts, who passed a bill two years ago that capped the price of insulin for those on the state exchange.
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Biden decries ‘horrific’ Tulsa massacre in emotional speech The AP
An emotional President Joe Biden marked the 100th anniversary of the massacre that destroyed a thriving Black community in Tulsa, declaring Tuesday that he had “come to fill the silence” about one of the nation’s darkest — and long suppressed — moments of racial violence.
“Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous, they cannot be buried, no matter how hard people try,” Biden said. “Only with truth can come healing.”
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Reports: Ken Salazar is Biden's pick for US ambassador to Mexico Colorado Politics
Colorado's Ken Salazar will soon have another feather to add to his trademark cowboy hat: according to reports, the Biden administration plans to nominate the former interior secretary and U.S. senator as its next ambassador to Mexico.
Mexico City daily La Jornada reported Thursday that Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources confirmed that Salazar's long-suspected nomination was imminent.
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Civilian Conservation Corps shaped Colorado. Joe Neguse and Joe Biden think it’s time for a reboot. The Denver Post
On a recent Monday night in Morrison, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse walked through a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp where, 80 years ago, impoverished young men from across the country came to escape dire unemployment and build Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
“It worked before and it can work again,” the Democrat from Lafayette said of the New Deal-era program, which he and President Joe Biden would like to revive — albeit on a smaller scale and focused on combating climate change.
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Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette Addresses COVID Vaccine Misinformation In Hearing CBS Denver
Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette is addressing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. She hosted a hearing and talked about gaining trust.
Hesitancy is an obstacle to getting people vaccinated across the nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study calling it a “major barrier” to reaching herd immunity.
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Perlmutter introduces bill to study effects of school shooter drills Golden Transcript
Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D) is part of a bipartisan effort to fund a study of the mental health effects of active shooter drills on K-12 students.
Perlmutter, along with two other house members, has introduced a bill that would authorize $1 million for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to examine the possible mental health effects of active shooter drills, lockdown drills, and other firearm violence prevention activities in schools on school staff and students.
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Colorado Democrat says he's tired of GOP playing games on Capitol riot Politico
Rep. Jason Crow said Sunday that he was tired of "playing whack-a-mole" with Republicans on the Hill. In discussing the Senate's rejection of a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, the Colorado Democrat said he was frustrated by Republicans moving the goal posts whenever Democrats made concessions.
"I'm sick of playing the game of whack-a-mole with GOP members in Congress. Every time we address one of their concerns, another one pops up," Crow said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
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Senator's on-air interview features carpooling colleague waving from back seat The Hill
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo) crashed his colleague Sen. Michael Bennet's (D-Colo.) interview on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Friday as the pair carpooled to the airport after voting for a commission to probe the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
As host Chuck Todd introduced Bennet to address whether he would vote to get rid of the filibuster, the senator interrupted him with a disclosure that he was not alone. "Chuck, I'm not by myself because this is a carpool," Bennet said while pointing to the back seat of the vehicle. "John Hickenlooper is back there."
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Colorado AG sues student loan company Grand Junction Sentinel
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania company that has the sole contract to handle the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
That program, created by Congress in 2007, is designed to encourage recent college graduates who have large student debt to take jobs in the nonprofit or government sectors.
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The Denver Post
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak challenged Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to a beer bet Sunday, wagering that the Vegas Golden Knights will defeat the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
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GOP Watch |
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BREAKING: Ganahl Front Group Sues Over Denver All-Star Game Colorado Pols
More relevant to our purposes though we haven’t seen it mentioned yet, the so-called “Job Creators Network” has counted University of Colorado Regent and expected 2022 Republican candidate for something Heidi Ganahl among one of its principals for as far back as we can find records.
Ganahl was at one point reportedly the executive chair of the board of Job Creators Network, and co-chaired the JNC’s “National Women’s Coalition” with GOP ex-presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. Ganahl’s association with this group goes back at least as far as 2015.
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The Funnies! |
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Share the Dispatch |
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