{"id":16522,"date":"2023-07-07T01:55:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T07:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=16522"},"modified":"2023-06-30T09:58:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T15:58:22","slug":"heroines-and-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=16522","title":{"rendered":"HEROINES&#8230;AND HEROES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Marla and I joined our daughter Lisa, son-in-law Ray, and granddaughter at Denver&#8217;s Pride Parade celebration<\/strong> <strong>last Sunday. Thousands turned 14 blocks of East Colfax Avenue and the Civic Center into a kaleidoscopic rainbow extravaganza. We were very motivated to be part of Pride this year in light of many GOP majority conservative states blatant attacks against the LBGTQ+ community.<\/strong> <strong>At least 417 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of the year \u2014 a new record, according to\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights?impact=\" target=\"_blank\">American Civil Liberties Union data<\/a>\u00a0as of April 3. That\u2019s already more than twice the number of such bills introduced all of last year.<\/strong> <strong>Marla and I are 110% in support of justice and fairness now more than ever!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2_result-5.jpg?resize=900%2C600\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2_result-5.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2_result-5.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2_result-5.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>We were very pleased to see all the brave and forward thinking organizations supporting the Pride March. Project Angel Heart is a charity Marla and I have supported for years. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3_result-5.jpg?resize=900%2C675\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3_result-5.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3_result-5.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3_result-5.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Conservative politicians and Red-State governors like Florida&#8217;s DeSantis and Texas governor Abbott are aggressively pushing hate-filled measures to attack the LBGTQ+ community. Education and health care-related bills, in particular, are flooding in at unprecedented levels. Along with a renewed push to\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/02\/11\/politics\/gender-affirming-care-bans-transgender-rights\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">ban access to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth<\/a>, there has been a heavy focus on\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/03\/18\/politics\/lgbtq-school-discussions\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">regulating curriculum in public schools<\/a>, including discussions around gender identity and sexuality.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3A_result-1.jpg?resize=900%2C675\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3A_result-1.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3A_result-1.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3A_result-1.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>I&#8217;ve never met a person with more passion, spirit and energy to support equality and justice than Marla!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3B_result.jpg?resize=525%2C700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3B_result.jpg?w=525&amp;ssl=1 525w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/3B_result.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Our beautiful Logan!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"David Bowie \u2013 Heroes (Live Berlin 2002)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yTzcaEpvQec?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>David Bowie&#8217;s song <em>&#8220;Heroes&#8221; <\/em>resonates to me more now than ever!<\/strong> <strong><em>&#8220;We can be heroes (and heroines).We can beat them forever and ever!&#8221;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/4_result-5.jpg?resize=900%2C675\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/4_result-5.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/4_result-5.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/4_result-5.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>The far-right has fixed their myopic sights on gender-affirming care. It seems the overwhelming views of the medical community and science never enter in their discussion.<\/strong> <strong>The American Medical Association recently strengthened its policy protecting access to gender-affirming care. The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates recently passed the Endocrine Society&#8217;s resolution to protect access to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">evidence-based<\/span> gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/5_result-6.jpg?resize=900%2C675\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/5_result-6.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/5_result-6.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/5_result-6.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>A time to spread your wings!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/6_result-6.jpg?resize=900%2C675\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/6_result-6.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/6_result-6.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/6_result-6.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>Very proud to see organizations and corporations take a brave stand! Coors Light was the main sponsor. Thank you to the Denver Art Museum, United Airlines, Chase Bank, AARP, Verizon, Nissan, and Walmart, to name a few!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/7_result-6.jpg?resize=525%2C700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/7_result-6.jpg?w=525&amp;ssl=1 525w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/7_result-6.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>We couldn&#8217;t agree more!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/8_result-5.jpg?resize=900%2C600\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/8_result-5.jpg?w=900&amp;ssl=1 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/8_result-5.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/8_result-5.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>The main stage<\/strong> <strong>at the Civic Center as people pour in<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Photos: <\/strong>Dick Gentry, Lisa Decker, and Kevin Beatty for Civic center shot. Not to be used without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Marla and I joined our daughter Lisa, son-in-law Ray, and granddaughter at Denver&#8217;s Pride Parade celebration last Sunday. Thousands turned 14 blocks of East Colfax Avenue and the Civic Center into a kaleidoscopic rainbow extravaganza. We were very motivated to be part of Pride this year in light of many GOP majority conservative states blatant attacks against the LBGTQ+ community. At least 417 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of the year \u2014 a new record, according to\u00a0American Civil Liberties Union data\u00a0as of April 3. That\u2019s already more than twice the number of such bills introduced all of last year. Marla and I are 110% in support of justice and fairness now more than ever! We were very pleased to see all the brave and forward thinking organizations supporting the Pride March. Project Angel Heart is a charity Marla and I have supported for years. Conservative politicians and Red-State governors like Florida&#8217;s DeSantis and Texas governor Abbott are aggressively pushing hate-filled measures to attack the LBGTQ+ community. Education and health care-related bills, in particular, are flooding in at unprecedented levels. Along with a renewed push to\u00a0ban access to gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, there has been a heavy focus on\u00a0regulating curriculum in public schools, including discussions around gender identity and sexuality. I&#8217;ve never met a person with more passion, spirit and energy to support equality and justice than Marla! Our beautiful Logan! David Bowie&#8217;s song &#8220;Heroes&#8221; resonates to me more now than ever! &#8220;We can be heroes (and heroines).We can beat them forever and ever!&#8221; The far-right has fixed their myopic sights on gender-affirming care. It seems the overwhelming views of the medical community and science never enter in their discussion. The American Medical Association recently strengthened its policy protecting access to gender-affirming care. The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates recently passed the Endocrine Society&#8217;s resolution to protect access to evidence-based gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. A time to spread your wings! Very proud to see organizations and corporations take a brave stand! Coors Light was the main sponsor. Thank you to the Denver Art Museum, United Airlines, Chase Bank, AARP, Verizon, Nissan, and Walmart, to name a few! We couldn&#8217;t agree more! The main stage at the Civic Center as people pour in. Photos: Dick Gentry, Lisa Decker, and Kevin Beatty for Civic center shot. Not to be used without permission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[286,590,592,591],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrations","category-denver","category-diversity","category-pride"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gentryconnects.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1_result-1.jpg?fit=525%2C700&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16522","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16522"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16543,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16522\/revisions\/16543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}