SGN February 9, 2024 - Section 2 by sgn.org

ISSUE 3 VOLUME 52 F R I D AY FEBRUARY 9, 2024 SE AT T L E & T HE PACIF IC NOR T H W E S T ’S L GB T Q I A + NE W S & EN T ER TA INMEN T SOURCE SINCE 19 74

BACKLASH ON QUEER BAR RAIDS LCB drops indecency citations, changes course

by Teddy MacQuarrie SGN Contributing Writer Copies of a letter printed on red, white, and green paper plastered the entire front of the Cuff Complex on February 2. The letter was a memo issued by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) announcing the agency’s decision to suspend both enforcement of the lewd-conduct rule and its participation in the Seattle Police Department’s Joint Enforcement Team (JET), following what community members call “raids” conducted the weekend before.

SEE RAIDS PAGE 5

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CUFF

How to help people in the Pacific Northwest Black LGBTQ+ heroes experiencing who shaped history houselessness PHOTO BY JAE C. HONG / AP

by Ian Crowley SGN Contributing Writer As spring approaches, there is usually a sigh of relief from many, as it means they have officially braved the winter. Warmth and sunshine will be here soon enough, meaning one can forget about the cold of the previous season.

For many in the city though, this promise of a warmer spring is not enough to get them through the chilly, wet conditions of a late Pacific Northwest winter. People who are unhoused need shelter, supplies, and volunteers, among other things, to help them stay warm and survive the season.

SEE HOW TO HELP PAGE 6

BAYARD RUSTIN – PHOTO BY EDDIE ADAMS / AP

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer February is Black History Month, a time to recognize the histories too often left out of textbooks and classes. Black people have shaped every aspect of history from antiquity to the present, and continue

to lead modern world-changing movements. They have also been the leaders and change-makers throughout LGBTQ+ history. This month, the SGN is recognizing and celebrating some of the biggest names in LGBTQ+ Black history.

SEE BLACK HISTORY PAGE 9

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Coronation ’78 SEATTLE GAY NEWS VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 FEBRUARY 17, 1978 by John Johnson On Saturday evening February 11, more than 1,500 people (both gay and straights) gathered at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall to witness Seattle’s Seventh Annual Coronation Ball. Originally scheduled for the Seattle Center Arena, the Ball was moved to the Exhibition Hall partly because of the demand for table seating and partly because of a scheduling conflict with the Virginia Slims Tennis Tournament. […] Don and Bublz promised some surprises for this year’s Coronation, which were soon evident in that the entrance of the candidates was one of the first events scheduled for the evening. Despite a few minor complications, the entrances, as always, were very entertaining. Especially noteworthy were the entrances of Emperor candidate Larry and Emperor candidate Lee. Larry’s steering committee entered in complete medieval court costumes, while Larry entered on a live horse, which was very impressive but caused some concern in the audience, especially on the part of those seated next to the runway. Lee’s entrance featured lighted chandeliers and a Viennese ball scene with dancers in formal dress and hoop skirts. Following the candidates’ entrances, Don and Bublz issued the traditional proclamations, the most noteworthy being the change of the title of the Seattle Court from “The Imperial Court of Seattle and the Olympic Empire” to “The Seattle Court of the Olympias and Rainiers.” Following the official proclamations were the award presentations. They were as follows: Man of the Year — Mr. Chuck Tokley; Woman of the Year — Ms. Ren Miller; Emperor’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Community — Mr. Charlie Brydon. Lambda Awards went to Mr. Jim Oslund (Emperor VI of San Francisco), Mr. Harold Strong (Emperor II of Portland), and Paula (twelfth Miss Seattle). The Dorian Group Award went to Don and Bublz for outstanding service to the community. The Queen City Business Guild

Presidential Award (one of the most coveted awards in the city) went to Mr. Jim Tully, managing editor of the Seattle Gay News. Following the awards ceremony was the second surprise of the evening: the announcement and coronation of Olympia VII [Starlett], and Rainier IV [Lee]. Normally, the Coronation ceremony is not held until the end of the ball, which in some instances has been as late as 3 a.m. the following morning […] After a dance break, the new Emperor and Empress and the outgoing Emperor and Empress returned to the stage to receive and greet representatives from all courts in attendance, including those of: Seattle and surrounding baronies, Anchorage, Calgary, Edmonton, Reno, San Francisco, San Fernando, Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Vancouver [WA], Vancouver [BC], Denver, Eugene, and Spokane. Another surprise event of the evening was the appearance of newly elected mayor Charles Royer and Mrs. Royer. Mayor Royer received standing ovations for many of his comments, which included: “I understand that your contribution to my campaign was meaningful: I do not intend to fall back from where we are now. This

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year, more than any other, it was important that you became politically active.” Mayor Royer proved that he felt comfortable with the audience when he made such comments as: “That was one hell of an entrance,” referring to Bublz’s second entrance to the throne […] In addition, the co-chairpersons of The Dorian Group were summoned to the throne and presented with a check for over $1,200 […] for the Dorian Legislative Fund. One dollar of each ticket sold was pledged to The Dorian Group Fund by Don and Bublz to help continue the fight for equal rights. Of the people who attended the ball, nearly all were wildly enthusiastic about the entire evening, which can only be attributed to the hard work and careful planning put forth by those individuals involved and to the magnificent leadership of Their Most Imperial Majesties — Olympia VI [Bublz] and Rainier III [Don]. Thank you from all of Seattle for a job well done. This article was edited for length. To view the original article in full, visit https://issuu .com /sgn .org/docs/sgn_ february_17_1978.

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Attempted raid — Cops bust two at Tubs SEATTLE GAY NEWS VOLUME 5, ISSUE 16 SEPTEMBER 1, 1978 by Robert Mayerson For customers of the Zodiac Social Club, last Tuesday was an ordinary lowprice night at Seattle’s newest Gay bathhouse. But the staff of the private club was involved in an uncomfortable confrontation with Seattle police that they feel is part of the chronic election-time harassment of Gay people. At about 10 p.m. last Tuesday, two SPD officers appeared at the door of the Zodiac and requested admission. One of the officers, T. Moffat, is a woman. Jim Barnett, co-owner of the men-only establishment, refused to let the police officers in. “This is a private club,” said Barnett. “We’re not open to the public. We have the same legal sanctity as a private home. We stood by that… Our primary concern is the protection of our 3,000 members.” According to Barnett, Officer Moffat had tried to enter the Zodiac before. On July 31, he said, two beat cops saw an open doorway and wanted to know what was inside. “We refused them admittance. One was female … They called their sergeant; the sergeant said we were within our rights.” This time Barnett did not get off so easily. The officers threatened Barnett with arrest, he said, if he did not let them into the Zodiac. “I said I’d gladly step outside and be arrested,” he went on. “Then they had me in the car for a half an hour or so while they got reinforcements. … One officer kept urging the other to kick down the door. They arrested me and frisked me. With 10 other men around, [Officer Moffat] frisked me. I was mortally embarrassed.” Barnett said the officers held him handcuffed in the police car for another 45 minutes before they finally let him go. When he was released, he and employee Jonathan Black were issued citations for having “refused to allow a public officer to inspect the books and/or premises. According to Assistant City Attorney Sue Sampson, the ordinance under which citations were issued to Barnett and Black is part of the city’s licensing code. It states that “it is unlawful for any person to refuse admission to a licensing officer, while acting within the scope of his employment, to any place of business or entertainment licensed under any ordinance of the City of Seattle or to any place where licensed persons are employed. …” Because the Zodiac is a private club and not a public bathhouse, it does not have to be licensed by the city. “I don’t see how the licensing code would obviously apply,” said

Sampson. And, she pointed out, “generally, administrative inspection is conducted during reasonable business hours.” Last Tuesday’s incident took place between 10 p.m. and midnight. “We’re standing our ground,” said Barnett. “[The police] never gained admittance. … Our position is that it’s not up to us. It’s up to the courts and our legal staff. We were involved in the federal grand jury and the pay-offs from way back. We’re not going to get rattled.” The Zodiac owners have filed a complaint with the police department’s internal

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“We’re standing our ground… We’re not going to get rattled.” investigation section. Barnett and his partner, Jake Heimbigner, have expressed their willingness to undergo a police inspection during routine office hours. “I told them to come on down,” said Heimbigner. “My office is open ’til 4:00.” The owners will still not allow a female officer into the Zodiac, they said. “There could be legal problems if a customer showering turned around and saw a woman officer staring at him.” Jake Heimbigner feels that harassment of Gay people just before the elections is a

time-honored custom. And he believes last Tuesday’s incident represents just that kind of harassment. “this is normal election politics,” he said. “The police are mad at the mayor, and we’re a fair target every time the wind blows. … Every time there is an election, they chase queers and whores.” Seattle Police Department spokesman Lee Libby had no comment about the incident at the Zodiac, and said he had heard nothing about it. The mayor’s liaison to the Gay community, Hugh Spitzer, didn’t have any comment either. “I’ll have to ask the chief [of police],” he said. Officer Moffat was not available for comment. To view the original article, visit https://issuu .com /sgn .org/docs/sgn_ september_1_1978.

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RAIDS

Shortly after midnight on January 27, ten JET task force members entered Queer/Bar CONTINUED FROM COVER and the Cuff wielding flashlights, according to owner Joey Burgess, causing some During these enforcement outings, officers patrons to leave the venue in fright. with the JET and LCB cited bar owners and According to The Stranger, JET also patrons with “lewd conduct” after finding raided two other Queer venues, Neighcustomers at the Cuff in jockstraps and a bar- bours Nightclub and The Lumberyard, on tender with an exposed nipple. Though these the same night. citations have been dropped, Queer commuThe following evening, two JET memnity leaders and bar owners have called on bers entered the Seattle Eagle at around the LCB to revise the statutes that led to the 11:30 p.m., where they found patrons wearenforcement, and have expressed deep mis- ing jockstraps, whom they reportedly photrust of the officials behind these exercises. tographed for use as evidence. In an Instagram post, the Cuff featured In the immediate aftermath, the LCB “With eight to ten people showing up at Nico Swenson, Miss Texas 1988, accused photographs of its newly decorated store- held two public meetings: a routine caucus front with the caption, “We have power that was not open to public comment and a a given time, it’s difficult for us not to take the LCB of deflecting responsibility to the when we come together to fight back. We full board meeting that was. In both, LCB that into consideration. It probably felt like legislature and of intending to cause fear in have power when we come together to cele- Chair David Postman attempted to clarify a raid. And I’m hearing from the commu- “people of nightlife.” brate. We have papered the front of the Cuff the legal standing of these exercises. Call- nity that it felt like a raid.” Dan Savage of Index Media told the LCB LCB changes course with the LCB’s letter as a reminder of these ing them “site visits,” he said, “these were The letter the LCB issued on February 1, things… and as a reminder to any ‘enforce- not raids” but “two separate instances of to stop calling the enforcement exercises which the Cuff plastered all over its storement’ before they enter our community standard enforcement action,” and that “site visits.” “These were raids,” he said. “If everyone at front, says, “Since LCB’s participation last space that hole patrol badges have expired.” “there is no crackdown [on Gay bars].” Out LCB board member Jim Vollendroff a bar leaves when you show up — ten of you week with the City of Seattle Joint Enforce“These were raids” said to The Stranger that “by definition, in uniform and with flashlights — they’re ment Team (JET) on Capitol Hill and additional enforcement work Saturday at some The enforcement actions, conducted over these were not raids, but I do want to point not experiencing that as a social call.” Savage added that if the photos of Gay historically gay venues in the greater Seatthe January 26 weekend, sparked outrage out the power differential between us and men entered the public record, then they tle area, the agency has become acutely in Seattle’s Queer community and drew our licensees.” could meet the legal definition of revenge aware of the fear and alarm it raised within national attention. porn in Washington State. the LGBTQ+ community.” It continues, “At Wednesday’s Board Rulemaking responsibilities meeting and in many private conversations, In these meetings, Postman suggested we heard strong objections to our actions. that the responsibility for revising these The community expressed concerns that rules lies with the legislature, implying that LGBTQ+ venues are being targeted and the LCB’s hands were tied. that the LCB did not understand the trouPostman’s comments ignore the distinc- bling history of such enforcement or the tion between the Washington Administra- value of these clubs as a safe place for peotive Code (WAC) and the Revised Code of ple who often face discrimination, threats, Washington (RCW). The RCW is the body and violence.” of statutes and laws passed by the legislaThe letter also indicated the LCB’s intenture. The WAC is the body of regulatory tion to suspend both enforcement of the rules set, enforced, and amended by state lewd-conduct rule and its collaboration agencies in carrying out their functions. with JET. The lewd-conduct laws cited by the LCW Burgess told The Stranger, “The relief and JET following the weekend’s actions that I have — that I no longer have to strip (WAC-314-11-050) are from the latter, away Queer culture and honestly people’s meaning that the LCB has the full power right to be themselves on behalf of an and authority to review and revise these agency that’s threatening our liquor license rules without legislative action. — is probably one of the most gratifying Kevin Kauer, owner of Massive on things in my career, period. Capitol Hill, spoke at one meeting and “I feel like a ton of bricks are off me, and demanded, “You have the authority to that heading into this weekend, people can change the lewd-contact WACs. Why are feel safe and good about themselves.” you telling us that you can’t?”

“These were raids… If everyone at a bar leaves when you show up — ten of you in uniform and with flashlights — they’re not experiencing that as a social call.”

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PHOTO BY JAE C. HONG / AP

HOW TO HELP

actively contributing to these causes and being involved in what’s happening in your community.

This article should serve as a beginner’s guide to using your economic privilege to help these people, whom the city (and state) often ignores and harms. This is a reminder that we keep each other safe.

Pressuring lawmakers Another essential component of combatting this issue is to contact lawmakers and policymakers and let them know the needs of the community, through advocating and campaigning for increased affordable housing, more shelters and food pantries, giving community-led programs the resources they need to make the biggest difference, etc. When these demands are not met, it is important that the people let those in charge know that they are not representing the needs

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Care packages One way to help people experiencing houselessness is to create care packages ready to pass to someone. These are a great way to directly give necessities to those you come across in need. Popular items in such a care package could include essentials like food/snacks, medical and personal care supplies (such as bandages, feminine products, condoms, toothbrush/paste, etc.), and warm clothing, blankets, tarps, or tents. Being prepared with these items guarantees you have something of use for a person in need.

of the community. This can be done by call- those in need, which has dire consequences. ing them, or by protesting these realities in In King County, the number of deaths of the street. Showing up with your body/voice/ people living without shelter increases every dollars to support these movements is one of year, with a record-breaking 415 last year, the best ways to get change made. according to the county’s medical examiner’s office. If everyone met their discomA better future fort with action and routinely contributed All these actions directly support people to our ever-growing aid networks, it would experiencing houselessness, who daily face drastically improve the ability of mutual a world of cruelty and neglect. Many who aid organizations to help those in need and are not might find it uncomfortable and sad make a material difference in the lives of our to think about these realities, and worse, unhoused neighbors. some hold contempt toward those vying for survival on the streets of Seattle. Visit Salish Sea Mutual Aid at https:// This turning away magnifies the effects of www.instagram.com/salish_sea_mutual_ poor funding for community resources for aid)

Donations In addition to having items ready to give to someone in person when needed, another great way to help is to donate to organizations that directly house, protect, and feed those populations. Donating shelfstable food to pantries and shelters is essential to those operations staying successful in their mission. Gift cards are another good thing to donate, allowing the recipient to buy a wide spectrum of products and necessities. In addition to food and products, donating warm clothes and blankets is also paramount to keeping a shelter successful. Follow Salish Sea Mutual Aid on Instagram and click the link in the bio (then click Mutual Aid Seattle), which is chockfull of amazing food pantries, shelters, and mutual aid organizations to donate to. Beyond donations Giving your time can be just as valuable to these projects as giving money. Whether a shelter, food pantry, or mutual aid organization, they all are run entirely by people volunteering their time for the cause. Contacting these organizations through proper channels and asking what you could do to serve them is the best way to start

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NATIONAL NEWS

BAYARD RUSTIN – PHOTO COURTESY OF AP

BLACK HISTORY CONTINUED FROM COVER

AUDRE LORD – PHOTO BY ROBERT ALEXANDER

JAMES BALDWIN – PHOTO BY ALBERT WARREN

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Bayard Rustin Bayard Rustin was an influential advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. He helped organize the first proposed March on Washington in 1941, the Freedom Rides, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Rustin taught King about nonviolent resistance. In the 1980s, he became a public activist for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS research. He advocated for socialism and was vocal about workers’ rights. Rustin expanded his career globally too, serving on humanitarian missions to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Haiti. He believed that the cause of freedom could not be left at America’s borders. “You have to join every other movement for the freedom of people,” Rustin said in an interview with Joseph Beam in 1986. He worked to help BIPOC people abroad until he died in 1987. In 2013, President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. Because of his sexuality, Rustin often stayed behind the scenes of major civil rights events. He is sometimes excluded from Black history lessons and is less wellknown than other activists because of his identity as a Gay man. Rustin was a known pacifist and believed in the power of protest. He once wrote, “When an individual is protesting society’s refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him.” Audre Lorde Lorde was a “Black, Lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, poet” who used her talents as a writer and speaker to challenge all forms of injustice. She believed there was no hierarchy of oppressions, and was a pioneer in the theory of intersectionality. Her melodic and powerful spoken word skills are some of the best of all time. Her writing explored her experiences as a Black woman, a Queer person, and someone with a disability, as she grew up legally blind, as well as the topics of love, motherhood, loneliness, and injustice. Lorde wrote her first poem at the age of 12. It was originally rejected by her school’s literary magazine, so she sent it to Seventeen, where it was picked up. In the 1970s, she established Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, a publishing firm for BIPOC women, who were often excluded from the field. In the 1980s, she expanded her activism, advo-

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cating for Black women in South Africa and Cuba. Lorde’s early poetry reflects the civil rights, feminism, and antiwar movements she was a part of. “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house,” she famously said. In 1968, she published her first volume of poems, The First Cities. Her second collection, Cables to Rage, was the first to address her identity as a Lesbian. Her later work, including the New York Head Shop and Museum, explored her experiences with the civil rights movement and how that intersected with her repressed childhood. As her career took off, Lorde began experimenting with prose writing. In the 1980s, she wrote The Cancer Journals and Sister Outsider, explorations of her struggles with illness and her desires for the future. Lorde believed in the theory of difference, that the binary between male and female is too simplistic, and that female identities are built on subdivisions. Lorde often called white feminism out for its exclusion of women of color, arguing that race and civil rights are inherently feminist issues, and those who ignore it do a disservice to the movement. James Baldwin Baldwin changed the world with his words. He started his career in Paris, where his writing, published in Left Bank anthologies, explored the differences between Black Americans and Black Parisians and the violence against the LGBTQ+ community in the US, which Baldwin believed was a side effect of the country’s adolescence. Baldwin also wrote several pieces against protest literature, which he believed enabled white racism toward Black Americans through restructured self-hatred. In 1953, Baldwin published his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, a semiautobiographical work focusing on his early adulthood. In 1955, he published his first collection of essays, Notes to a Native Son. His third book, Giovanni’s Room, was highly controversial due to the explicit homosexual depictions in the 1956 publication. His career accelerated along with the American civil rights movement. He was haunted by the brutal murder of Emmitt Till and was ultimately moved to write Blues for Mister Charlie. In the 1960s, Baldwin returned to New York, where he continued to write novels exploring the intersections of Black, Gay, and Bisexual identities. His work would eventually inspire the movies If Beale Street Could Talk and I Am Not Your Negro.

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NATIONAL NEWS Washington judge rules Trump can remain on primary ballot

PHOTO BY MARY ALTAFFER / AP

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer A judge in Thurston County dismissed a recent attempt by Washington voters to have former president Donald Trump removed from the state’s primary ballot in March. On Thursday, January 18, Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson ruled that the Washington secretary of state was within his rights to include Trump on the GOP ticket for the upcoming primary. The proponents of the suit argued that including Trump on the ballot violates the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.” Wilson’s ruling came just days after another Washington judge in Kitsap County refused to issue a ruling on the case, arguing that it should be taken up in Olympia. The case was first brought forward in Kitsap County by a group of petitioners, though they were heavily outnumbered in the courtroom by Trump’s supporters. “If we are not a nation that adheres to the Constitution, then we have nothing to stand on,” petitioner Franky Ithaka said at the January 18 ruling. “And the Constitution is clear in plain text, that if you engage in an insurrection, you cannot be president, you cannot run for president, you cannot hold public office again.” Judge Wilson disagreed. “The Secretary of State acted consistent with his duties,” Wilson said in her ruling. “An order directing the secretary of state to take different action, an order from this court, is simply not supported by the statutes and not supported by the affidavit of the electors.” The secretary of state is responsible for drafting the primary ballots in Washington. Currently, the office is held by a Democrat, Steve Hobbs. Wilson elaborated in her ruling that Washington’s laws do not require voting officials to “extensively fact check” candidates and that it was not up to the state to

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determine whether Trump’s candidacy violates the 14th Amendment. This ruling means Washington will allow Republicans to vote for Trump in the primary, a surprise to some, after some blue states ruled otherwise. In Maine and Colorado, judges ruled that Trump was ineligible, though several pro-Trump groups are appealing those rulings. Judge Wilson also noted that Colorado has different state election laws, which

allowed it to bar Trump from the ballot. The former president is now challenging Colorado’s decision in the US Supreme Court. Before Washington, Oregon and California also faced similar challenges. Judges in those states determined that Trump could remain on the ballot. Republicans across the state celebrated the ruling. “Some people will say this is about Trump. We say it’s about the demo-

cratic process and a win for democracy today,” Jim Walsh, chair of the Washington Republican Party said in a statement. Despite attempts to keep Trump off the ballot, he continues to lead in early GOP primaries and caucuses. He won a significant victory in the first caucus in Iowa, leading Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to drop out of the race. Washington’s primary election will be on March 12.

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NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS National news highlights in Republican-led statehouses. Those measures are part of a wave of laws recently passed in conservative states, which has led the Human Rights Campaign to declare a state of emergency for Queer Americans. As written, the bill would have amended the civil rights law’s definition of disability, a protected status, to exclude gender dysphoria or any another diagnosis related to a gender identity disorder.

by Teddy MacQuarrie SGN Contributing Writer Florida criminalizes changing gender on driver’s licenses Florida officials last week told driver’s license offices to stop allowing residents to change their gender designation on state IDs. A letter sent out by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said it was rescinding a rule issued in May 2022 allowing people to alter their driver’s licenses when they transition. The letter threatens legal consequences for those who seek a change in their gender on driver’s licenses. In response, on February 2, every Democratic member of the Florida congressional delegation signed onto a letter by US Rep. Maxwell Frost that called for the Biden administration to invoke the 2005 Real ID Act to support Transgender people by declaring the rule’s revocation out of compliance. Capitol Police close Gay sex case, find “no evidence” of a crime The US Capitol Police have found no evidence of a crime in the case of a Senate staffer who allegedly taped himself having sex with another man in a congressional hearing room, and they have closed their investigation. The video of two men having sex in a hearing room in the Hart Senate Office Building was posted online in December. The staffer, identified previously as

STATE REP. JEFF SHIPLEY, R-FAIRFIELD, SPEAKS AT A HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING WEDNESDAY AT THE STATEHOUSE IN DES MOINES – PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEIBERGALL / AP

Aidan Maese-Czeropski, worked for US Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland. He has been dismissed from his position. The Capitol Police released this statement Thursday, “After consulting with federal and local prosecutors, as well as doing a comprehensive investigation and review of possible charges, it was determined that — despite a likely violation of Congressional policy — there is currently no evidence that a crime was committed.”

Iowa lawmakers reject bill restricting Transgender rights Iowa lawmakers on Wednesday declined to advance a bill that would have stripped gender identity from the state’s civil rights law, a proposal that opponents said could have subjected Queer Iowans to discrimination in education, housing, and public spaces. They also suggested that removing such existing protections from a state’s anti-discrimination law would have stood out in an already-historic period of anti-Trans laws

Utah Gov. signs anti-Trans bathroom bill Utah’s contentious Transgender bathroom ban was officially signed into law by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox on January 30, just days after state lawmakers pushed the legislation through. HB 257 changes the state’s legal definitions of “female” and “male,” defining the terms based solely by one’s reproductive organs. It defines a “women’s bathroom” and “men’s bathroom” as spaces exclusively designated for females and males, respectively. Requiring Trans students to use a “privacy plan” created with their school, the bill includes also criminal penalties for people who use “changing rooms” that do not align with their biological sex in government-owned-and-run buildings, which include public schools, courthouses, libraries, recreation centers, airports, and some sporting arenas. It also criminalizes using restrooms “if the actor intentionally or knowingly remains unlawfully.”

International news highlights by Teddy MacQuarrie SGN Contributing Writer UK: Brianna Ghey’s killers sentenced to life in prison Two teenagers convicted of the February 11, 2023, killing of Trans teen Brianna Ghey have been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Manchester. While initially not named by the court, the judge in the case allowed media to publish the identities of Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both 15 at the time of the crime, who lured Ghey into a park, where they carried out the brutal attack, leaving her with 28 stab wounds and a broken wrist and ribs. Ghey was discovered unconscious by passing dog walkers and died minutes later at the scene. During sentencing, Ester Ghey, Brianna’s mother, said in her victim-impact statement that Jenkinson and Ratcliffe will always “pose a danger to society,” adding, “I would never want them to have the opportunity to carry out their sadistic fantasies on another child.” Russia: First arrests for rainbow-colored items under new anti-Queer law The first publicly known cases have emerged of Russian authorities penalizing people under a court ruling that outlawed Queer activism as extremism, Russian media and rights groups have reported. At least three people who displayed rainbowcolored items received jail time or fines. A Supreme Court ruling in November banned what the government called the Queer “movement” operating in Russia, labeling it an extremist organization. Because of this, Queer rights advocates have warned that those displaying rainbow-colored flags or other items might be targeted by the authorities.

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The cases that have emerged include the arrest and fining of Saratov-based artist Inna Mosina over Instagram photos featuring rainbow flags, and Anastasia Yershova in the town of Nizhny Novgorod, who was ordered to spend five days in jail for wearing rainbow earrings in public. Congressman demands anti-Queer group disclose its role in Uganda In a letter released January 28, US Rep. Mark Pocan, chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, demanded to know if the right-wing group known as the Fellowship

Foundation (“the Family”) supports Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act. The law, passed last year, provides for a sentence of life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and the death penalty in certain circumstances, while also requiring that citizens report anyone they suspect has violated the law. Pocan wrote in his letter, “Since the passage of [Uganda’s] first Anti-Homosexuality Act a decade ago, there have been numerous reports linking both bills, their authors, and the larger movement to further criminalize LGBTQI+ people in

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Uganda to the Fellowship Foundation/the Family, and its associates.” Among other demands, Pocan called for the Family’s president, Katherin Crane, to provide information on the foundation’s communications with Ugandan officials regarding the Anti-Homosexuality Act, whether the Family supports or opposes the law, and, if it opposes the measure, if it will publicly announce its opposition to it and other bills that criminalize LGBTQ+ people, especially those that impose the death penalty.

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OP-ED

Embracing a life beyond work A guide to prioritizing your well-being

by Isabel Mata SGN Staff Writer Ask Izzy is an advice column about relationships, mental health, and sexuality. Written by Isabel Mata — a Seattle-based lifestyle writer, podcast host, and mental health advocate — Ask Izzy offers tangible expert advice so all readers can have stronger relationships, better sex, and healthier mindsets. Submit your question today by scanning the QR code below.

I was on the phone this past week with a dear friend who was contemplating changing her field of employment. Working in tech, she was tired of being burnt out for a cause she didn’t believe in and was over being taken advantage of by the top-down corporate landscape that only profits the already wealthy. In discussing what she wanted to do next, she told me her dream is to find a job that is simply a job, meaning a way to pay her bills and fund her personal adventures. She no longer wanted her identity to be tied to the business she works for. Just like my friend, in the fast-paced world we live in, it’s easy to find ourselves caught up in the relentless pursuit of success and financial gain. Luckily, the winds of change are blowing and a new generation is boldly redefining the meaning of a fulfilling life. Gen Z — a generation I am proud to be a part of — having witnessed the struggles of previous generations, is embracing a paradigm shift: choosing to “work to live” rather than “live to work.” If you, like my friend, are feeling the urge to reprioritize your life away from the constant grind and on to a path to find meaning and stability, here’s a guide to kick-start that transformative journey. Reflect on your values Begin by reflecting on what truly matters to you. What are your core values, passions, and aspirations, outside of work? Consider the activities and hobbies that bring you joy and fulfillment. This introspective process will serve as a compass for the changes you want to make. Set boundaries Establishing clear boundaries between your professional and personal life is crucial. Define specific working hours, and once those are over, allow yourself to fully disconnect. This will not only prevent burnout but also create space for activities that nurture your well-being. Reevaluate your relationship with materialism Society often emphasizes material success as a measure of one’s worth. Challenge this notion and reassess your relationship with material possessions by focusing on experiences and meaningful connections rather than the accumulation of things. This shift in mindset can alleviate the pressure to constantly strive for financial success.

If you are feeling the urge to reprioritize your life away from the constant grind and on to a path to find meaning and stability, here’s a guide to kick-start that transformative journey. need to make to meet your needs, explore alternative paths that align with your values, even if they come with a smaller paycheck. Creating a budget that prioritizes your well-being over unnecessary expenses can also be a crucial step in achieving financial freedom.

Financial consciousness While financial stability is important, consider reassessing your definition of success. If you know how much money you

Invest in learning and growth Redirect your energy toward personal development and learning experiences. This doesn’t necessarily mean pursuing a traditional education; it could involve exploring hobbies, joining clubs, or engaging in activities that stimulate your mind

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PHOTO BY ENERGEPIC.COM

it’s meditation, yoga, or simply taking time for a quiet walk, these moments of reflection can help you stay grounded and connected to your true self in the age of social media and constant comparisons. Remember, the journey to reprioritizing your life is a gradual process. Be patient with yourself and celebrate the small victories along the way. By consciously choosing to “work to live,” you’re not just creating a more balanced life for yourself but also contributing to a cultural shift that values well-being over relentless work.

and creativity. The idea is that embracing a continuous learning mindset leads to a more enriching life. Build a support system Surround yourself with like-minded people who share your values and aspirations. A strong support system can provide encouragement, guidance, and a sense of community as you navigate the challenges of reprioritizing your life. Practice mindfulness and self-care Integrate mindfulness practices and selfcare routines into your daily life. Whether

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Fight for freedom and Bisexual mayhem in En Garde! video game

by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Few aesthetics are as timeless — and ahistorical — as pirates in popular culture, and the archetype of the swashbuckling hero lives right next door. Following in the footsteps of media like Our Flag Means Death and potentially Pirates of the Caribbean (since many cite the latter as a Queer awakening), indie video game En Garde! also throws in a touch of unexpected historical accuracy by making its protagonist Bisexual. At its core, En Garde! is a short and sweet spectacle fighter that puts stylish tricks from fight-scene choreography in the hands of players. Kicking tables, throwing

buckets, and swinging from flagpoles is not only possible but basically required. If you’re familiar with spectacle fighters, these elements could take some getting used to. In series like Assassin’s Creed and Batman: Arkham, combat is about maintaining momentum, usually in the form of long combos with counterattacks and dodges mixed in. They reward the player for staying in the thick of it. But this game doesn’t want you to fight fair. When you’re surrounded, it’s usually better to go the way of Captain Jack Sparrow and disengage, leading your foes into a position where you can face them one by one, or disrupt them in some other way. Because unlike the aforementioned games,

the goons won’t politely wait until you’re done butchering one of their compatriots with a finisher. They’ll rush to intervene with unblockable attacks, unless you somehow stop them. As a novice to the genre myself, I still felt a bit silly running around each arena just to find another pile of barrels or stash of chili powder, but I attribute that partly to being spoiled for choice. The sheer breadth of options for approaching each fight could feel overwhelming, and with the game’s story mode only lasting about three hours, it’s practically begging for multiple playthroughs. Completionists might appreciate the “challenges” present for each chapter,

IMAGES COURTESY OF FIREPLACE GAMES

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which prompt the player to defeat enemies in specific ways, like setting their pants on fire or hitting them with a cannon’s recoil. A dedicated “arena mode” unlocks after the second chapter as well, and there are a range of difficulty options. As for the game’s story, it takes after the classic Zorro. The heroine, Adalia de Volador, is a fencing freedom fighter determined to foil the plans of the comically oppressive Count-Duke, who has outlawed everything from stacking barrels to “watching the watchmen.” Along these comical lines, the game’s tone and art direction align perfectly. Far from the dour shades habitually applied to any period before the 1900s, the color palette of En Garde! is vibrant and bold, and its brand of violence is, in many ways, more tame than a Saturday morning cartoon’s. There is no blood, no brutal skewering or dismemberment, or even outright death. The foes you defeat will keep talking long after they’re down, bemoaning their loss or just wondering what’s for lunch. All that goofiness could have gotten old if overplayed, but the game’s writing is selfaware enough to avoid overstaying its welcome. And that’s great, because the little writing that’s there has some progressive stuff going on. Most notably, the character of Adalia was inspired by the real 17th-century opera singer Julie d’Aubigny, who was infamous for dressing in men’s clothing, participating in sword duels, romancing both men and women, and other acts of Bisexual-flavored mayhem. On top of that, Adalia’s love interest is a woman of color, and while most of the game’s run-of-the-mill goons are mustachioed men, a few in their roster are depicted as women — a small thing, for sure, but still uncommon. Players who expect more content from a game with En Garde!’s $20 price tag might want to wishlist it and wait for a sale, but if they’re likely to sink a few more hours into perfecting each chapter or maxing out the arena challenges, it might be worth picking up at full price. It’s a lighthearted romp with excellent production quality and an inclusive cast. En Garde! is available on Steam. To follow and support its developers, Fireplace Games, visit https://fireplacegames.com.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Museum month spotlights the best of local culture and entertainment

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer As February rolls around, some of Seattle’s best cultural institutions are preparing to celebrate Museum Month. From February 1 to the 29th, several of them, including the Seattle Art Museum, Woodland Park Zoo, and the Seattle Aquarium, are offering 50% discounts on admission to anyone who stays in a participating downtown hotel. “Museum Month is just a great [opportunity] for Seattle to showcase its cultural attractions in what is sort of a slower time of year for tourism, in general,” said Randy Cote, chief marketing officer for Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, which has participated since the first year, when Museum Month was only a weeklong special. “When folks think of visiting Seattle, or spending time out and about in Seattle,” Cote continued, “they usually think of sunshine and hitting the lake and all those sorts of things. But we have so much to offer year-round, including things indoors, like our museums and cultural attractions.” “One of the cool things about Museum Month is that, for me, it’s not an ‘either-or’ opportunity, it’s a ‘yes, and’ opportunity,” he added. “…If you stay in a downtown hotel, whether you’re a staycationer or visitor, you get 50% off of these …attractions and museums. Most people [visit several] of them. We think we’re a great complement to the other cultural attractions and museums.”

that legacy lives on today, and you see it across the different galleries and artist studios …across Seattle.” While many visitors to Chihuly come to celebrate the fact that Seattle has become the North American epicenter for glassblowing, just as many newcomers enter the doors every day. Since opening in 2012, Chihuly Glass and Gardens has welcomed over one million guests, many of whom come to enjoy the beautiful artwork and photo opportunities. “It’s so immersive. We encourage people to take pictures — you can use your flash. It’s not what people are used to in an art setting,” Cote said. The biggest attractions at Chihuly this month are the “Winter Brilliance” lights and display exhibit and the new bar, which celebrated its first anniversary on February 7. The exhibit is a beautiful collection of ice-like glass crystals set up to appear like a winter

A glass-blowing epicenter Art connoisseurs can take advantage of the discount by visiting the Seattle Art Museum and the Museum of Glass, then finishing off with a trip to Chihuly to pay homage to the man who cemented Seattle as a glass-blower paradise. “There’s more working glass artists and glass studios in Seattle than anywhere else in the country, and Dale Chihuly is a part of why that is,” Cote explained. “He was such a groundbreaking figure in the studio glass world that …the Pilchuck Glass School, his studio in Seattle, became this destination for glass artists around the country, and

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wonderland. This special show is only open between December 1 and February 29. Visitors can also enjoy daily demonstrations in Chihuly’s community hot shop, where every day, local artists demonstrate how to create glasswork in real time. Cote suggests viewing the demonstrations on a chilly day, as the steam that comes off the glass in the winter adds to the mystery of the craft. All the artwork created in the hot shop is available at the Space Needle gift shop next door, with proceeds going toward local art scholarships. Best time of year to save While museums, like Chihuly Garden and Glass, are great fun in the summer, visiting in February provides locals with a 50% discount and the chance to avoid longer lines and bigger crowds. “On face value, Seattle Museum Month is about traveling to Seattle and staying in

a hotel to get half-off to all these museums and cultural attractions, but it is [also] the best time of year to get a deal at a downtown hotel if you’re a local,” Cote said. “If anyone is considering having that little staycation moment, they can get a really good deal on a hotel downtown during February. Wake up and stroll through the market and make a whole day of it! Go see a few museums. There’s bigger institutions like Chihuly Garden and Glass and SAM, but go to the website and check out these smaller spots. There’s also a lot of free museums and galleries that participate, so you can go from 50%-off tickets to … some cool [free] places.” Seattle has so much to offer, and Museum Month provides the perfect excuse to go downtown and explore the hidden gems in our backyard.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS

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FILM Exhausting Argylle doesn’t land on its feet

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer ARGYLLE Theaters Argylle is exhausting. There is plenty of terrific stuff, including a charmingly bubbly performance by star Bryce Dallas Howard that’s reminiscent —or maybe a crafty amalgamation — of what Kathleen Turner brought to the screen in 1984’s Romancing the Stone or Deborah Kerr achieved in 1950’s King Solomon’s Mines. There’s also an unsurprising and effortlessly amiable turn from Sam Rockwell. If someone made an adult-oriented, 90-minute rom-com with the pair, I’d be first in line to give it a look. But at nearly 140 minutes, this actionmystery-thriller-comedy hybrid doesn’t know when to quit. The film showcases all of director Matthew Vaughn’s best and worst tendencies, with a truly great scene immediately followed by two or three more that frequently ran the gamut from unnecessarily pointless to adolescently puerile to outright unredeemable. I was offended and enthralled in almost equal measure, and if

not for the fact that the final 30 minutes left me cold, I’d almost recommend watching this catastrophically outlandish adventure, if only because the experience is so bewilderingly — and at times agonizingly — unique. Like some sort of adolescent remix of ideas covered by any number of authors (but most notably James Thurber, Philip K. Dick, Richard Condon, and Robert Ludlum), screenwriter Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, Pan) delivers a convoluted story involving a popular writer of espionage fiction and perky cat-lover Elly Conway (Howard) who suddenly finds herself living out one of her own adventures. She’s delivered four books revolving around an unstoppable secret agent named “Argylle,” and all of them have been massive hits. Problems arise when Elly is on the doorstep of delivering her eagerly anticipated fifth entry in the series. But before she can finish the final chapters, a bevy of actual spies show up on a train, trying to kidnap her. She’s saved by Aidan Wilde (Rockwell), and in between fists, bullets, some shattered glass, and even a bona fide explosion, he explains to Elly why her life is inexplicably in danger: her Agent Argylle

stories really happened. Vaughn leans into the same sort of visual aesthetic he utilized for his Kingsman trilogy, only this time he blurs fantasy and reality several steps past that. The reason is that Elly has trouble differentiating between the dream world of her fictional characters (portrayed by the likes of John Cena, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose. Richard E. Grant, and Henry Cavill as Agent Argylle himself) and the suddenly chaotic real ones led by Rockwell, Bryan Cranston (as the power-mad Director Ritter, head of a rogue intelligence agency), Samuel L. Jackson (as the retired former head of the CIA), and a sublime Catherine O’Hara (as Ruth, Elly’s cheerfully domineering mother). It’s a solid idea, and Vaughn does get some decent mileage out of playing with it. The first large-scale action sequence has Rockwell and Cavill continually switching places, as every time Elly blinks, she imagines her suave, classically attractive fictional hero throwing the punches the foul-mouthed, comically unkempt Aidan is actually trading with a never-ending cadre of lethal adversaries. A few visual glitches notwithstanding, the entire set piece is mar-

ARGYLLE – PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

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velously shot by cinematographer George Richmond (Free Guy) and edited by the team of Tom Harrison-Read (Tomb Raider) and Lee Smith (Dunkirk), and the film’s talented stunt team is deserving of applause. But Vaughn doesn’t know when to quit. His cartoonish presentations and rapid cuts between Elly and Aidan on the run, Agent Argylle’s imaginary domain, Director Ritter’s secret lair (which is more reminiscent of Austin Powers than James Bond), and a tranquil, picturesque French winery gave me whiplash. The noticeably CG-heavy sets and locations are garish, like something out of a PlayStation or Xbox video game (and not a recent one). There is a repetitiveness to the action that’s sadly obnoxious. And don’t get me started on the running gags involving Elly’s adorable cat Alphie, who spends most of the narrative being carted around in a designer, pet-friendly backpack. Then there are the “twists” and “turns.” Without giving any hints, Vaughn and Fuchs take far too long to finally spill beans about their biggest mystery, and by the time they do, I’d long since figured it out, so their revelation hit with a resounding thud. Worse, once the truth is revealed, this gives Vaughn license to play to his baser instincts, reveling in acts of cruelty and violence that feel like sensationalism for its own sake, a trait that also afflicted Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The King’s Man (and in my opinion made both borderline unwatchable). There are a pair of insane sequences inside Director Ritter’s headquarters — one with multicolored gas bombs and another involving MacGyvered ice skates and a floor covered in crude oil — that come tantalizingly close to being as fun as they are obviously meant to be. But much like everything else in this picture, Vaughn lets them run on far too long. Each goes from being goofily amusing to annoyingly tiresome, and that’s too bad. If only because Howard is just so goshdarn wonderful as the film’s plucky protagonist, I really do want to cut Argylle some slack. But so much of it is far too bludgeoning. By the time the climax rolls around, there’s so little differentiation between Elly’s imaginative literary domain and the supposedly “real” life-or-death one that my emotional investment in anyone’s survival — including hers — was practically nil. Not the best way to spend two-plus hours of my evening.

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FILM Amusing Lisa Frankenstein a jolt of electrical bliss

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer LISA FRANKENSTEIN Theaters I have a suspicion that Lisa Frankenstein will end up being one of 2024’s most rewatchable releases. It has plenty of issues, and goodness knows director Zelda Williams and Academy Award–winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno) do not end up fully exploring several intriguing plot strands. But the film is so goshdarn adorable that I honestly don’t care. I laughed throughout, and even with all the goofily dismembered mayhem, there was an innate sweetness that captured my heart and refused to let it go. After the brutal axe-murder of her mother a year prior, 17-year-old high school senior Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) is navigating a new school alongside her perpetually optimistic cheerleader stepsister Taffy (Liza Soberano). The former’s secret spot to escape from the world is a ramshackle 19th-century “bachelor” cemetery located in a dense forest on the outskirts of town. One stormy night — after accidentally ingesting hallucinogens at a party and barely avoiding sexual assault — Lisa stumbles to her favorite gravesite and mumbles a wish to be with the attractive young man (based on his tombstone’s statue) buried in the earth below. The next night, a zombified male (Cole Sprouse) bursts out of his coffin and wants nothing more than to befriend Lisa. While she helps him with a few missing body parts (an ear here, a hand there), he assists her in breaking out of her timid shell. And if a few people end up dead along the way? That’s okay. They likely deserved it. If what follows is more George Romero than Mary Shelley, that’s fine by me. Set in 1989, this film is a melding of My Boyfriend’s Back and Encino Man, with a vaguely Tim Burton-esque shimmer and

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a decidedly feminist bent. It’s hard not to imagine that Cody sat at her writing desk with a massive grin on her face as she dreamt this nonsense up. Newton was born to play a character like Lisa, and her devious sprightliness is marvelous. But it might be Soberano who makes the most lasting impression. She’s a scene-stealing sensation worth keeping an eye on. Williams sets the right anarchic tone, but the filmmaker’s pacing is slightly haphazard. The opening third is delightful, filled with colorfully imaginative visuals, goopy practical makeup effects, and several hearty laughs. Williams also does a nice job of setting the foundation for Lisa and Taffy’s sisterly friendship. The next third doesn’t work quite as well. While Newton and Sprouse are a solid

team, the elements outlining their relationship and emotional reliance on one another are too vaguely executed. The same goes for Lisa’s She’s All That-style transformation from geeky wallflower to gothic siren. It’s somewhat similar to what Newton did in Freaky, and it’s a testament to the actor’s skill that she manages to make these moments feel remotely fresh. Even then, there’s still an aura of overfamiliarity that’s difficult to avoid, and maybe that’s why Williams quickly rushes through these scenes to get to the final act. Everything gets back on track during the rambunctious last section. None of it makes a lick of sense — not that it needs to — and I’m certain some won’t be nearly as fond of where Cody takes things as I was. But it is here where the connection between Lisa

and her undead friend fully comes alive, and while there are laughs, even amid all the loopy absurdity, I really appreciated the emotional authenticity Williams and the cast brought to the climax. As well as 2009’s Jennifer’s Body has aged, it’s admittedly difficult not to have expected Cody’s return to the satirical horror-comedy subgenre to have had sharper teeth. But Lisa Frankenstein is more of a warmhearted lark than a pointed social commentary. Thankfully, Newton’s star continues to rise, and there were moments that had me chuckling so hard, I almost choked on my popcorn. Yet it’s the unexpected heart at the center of it all that won me over, and that specific shock to my system was a jolt of electrical bliss that sent me out of the theater buzzing.

LISA FRANKENSTEIN – PHOTOS COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES

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BOOKS Andrew Joseph White receives Stonewall Honor for “truly disgusting” new novel

IMAGE COURTESY OF PEACHTREE TEEN

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer Author Andrew Joseph White was astounded by the success of his debut indie novel, Hell Followed with Us, when it came out in 2022. “I was under the impression that I wouldn’t get above cult classic — maybe if I was lucky — and then it hit the New York Times bestseller list, and it hit the indie list, and it stayed there,” he said. The dark horror fantasy helped to cement White as one of the most highly anticipated new writers of the 2020s. However, his success came at a price. “I was startled when it came time to write book two, because I had a lot of pressure,” White admitted. “On top of that, I had been working on [Hell Followed with Us] for four years before it was released, so I had a lot of time to sit on the characters and the world and what I was trying to say… [For] The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, I had maybe half of that. I had to jump right into it. I didn’t have time to build everything slowly. I had to figure everything out as I was writing and editing it.” For nearly two years, White wrote and rewrote his sophomore novel. Even in the late stages of copyediting, he was still solving world-building issues and reconstructing the novel’s ending. “I legitimately hated The Spirit Bares Its Teeth until it landed in my hands as an advance reader copy,” White said. “It went through seven drafts. It didn’t feel right. Even after I fixed everything, it still felt incoherent, because I had fixed everything in bits and pieces, and I couldn’t remember what I had removed. I couldn’t remember what was still there. So the first time I got the advance reader copy, and I read it through, I was like, ‘Oh, I did okay.’” Shortly after The Spirit Bares Its Teeth hit shelves and early reviews showed he had another hit on his hands, for days, White ignored calls from a librarian interested in the book. “I have a noted tendency to ignore publishing industry calls, because I don’t like talking on the phone. I hate the phone. It’s an autism thing,” White said. Finally, when he returned the call, White got the news of a lifetime. “It’s the American Library Association being like, ‘Hey, you won the Stonewall Honor — congrats,’” White said with a laugh. “They put the book forward and were gunning for it, because it talks about the intersection of transness and disability, especially in a historical context — a ‘we’ve always been here’ sort of thing. It was awesome to hear,

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ANDREW JOSEPH WHITE – PHOTO COURTESY OF PEACHTREE TEEN

and I’m so glad I called them back, because I almost didn’t!” Disconnection The intersections between Queer and Trans identities and disability have set White’s work apart from other novels targeted toward older teenagers. “I didn’t know that I was Trans until I was 19,” he said. “I had extremely vicious gender dysphoria starting at the age of about 11 or 12. I didn’t know what it was. All I knew was that something was wrong.” White also did not know he was autistic until he received a diagnosis in his twenties, explaining the lifelong disconnect he’d felt from peers. “If you’re disconnected from yourself and you’re disconnected from others, what does that leave you? The only place I saw that struggle reflected anywhere was monsters, because they are rejected [by] society and very often have a tenuous relationship with themselves,” he added. So White was drawn to the world of the dark: gory video games, horror movies, and books that he can only describe as “truly disgusting,” such as Pig, a favorite he keeps on his writing desk at all times. Horror novels were where a young White felt free, before he had words to describe the disconnect he felt from his own body. “When I was younger, I didn’t like YA horror, because it wasn’t disgusting enough. If I didn’t feel physically ill, it didn’t do anything for me,” he said. Now, when White sits down to write a book, he thinks about what his 16-year-old

“If you’re disconnected from yourself and you’re disconnected from others, what does that leave you? The only place I saw that struggle reflected anywhere was monsters, because they are rejected [by] society and very often have a tenuous relationship with themselves.” self needed. He doesn’t coddle readers and writes horror for fans truly interested in being disgusted. Writing the books he wanted as a kid means writing books that not all adults will approve of. “The stuff I wanted to read as a teenager wasn’t the stuff adults usually want their teenagers to be reading, so I was a little stressed about that. But when the book sold, I was honestly blown away by the fact that my publisher, Peach Tree Teen, didn’t try to rein me in. They let me get away with anything.” Fans of Hell Followed with Us will be equally delighted and horrified by the lengths White’s latest novel goes to to

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express feelings of existing as a monster in your own body. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth allows readers to feel their anger and encourages them to find the power in it. “Anger is what changes things. Anger is a secondary emotion to fear, upset, sadness, and injustice. You can move mountains with rage. That’s what it’s there for,” White said. The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is available now. White’s upcoming third novel, Compound Fracture, will hit shelves in late 2024.

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