The Betty Pages Aug 2014 by Betty Desire

About our Contributors...

The Betty Pages - August 2014 Betty’s Corner

By Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

In The Mix

Interview w/ Satpal Sidhu

By Bridget Adams By: Stephanie Kountouros

Worthy Entertainment

By: Grady Barstad

Community Event

A Bibliography of Gay Film

Village Books Aug. Events

The Emperor

By Lyle Pearson

By Kevin Walder

PeaceHealth, & Anti-Gay Politicions By Riley Sweeney Our Complacency Has Led Us Down... By John Phillip

The Comics!

The Meaning of Life

By Marcy

Subscribe to the Betty Pages! Moving or living out of the Bellingham/Mt Vernon area? This doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the Betty Pages! Subscriptions are now available. That’s right The Betty Pages delivered to your door! deli For just $30 a year you get them delivered each and every month right to you or to a friend. (Gift Idea!) Interested? Email us at subscribetothebettypages@gmail.com with your name and contact information

Miss Betty Desire has been entertaining anyone who would listen in Bellingham for nearly 10 years, and is proprietor of The Betty Pages, the monthly publication that you are reading at this very moment. It is her hope that your perusal of the Betty Pages will enrich your life one chuckle at a time. Writer Bridget Adams currently resides in Washington State but that is always subject to change. Lucky enough to be a full-time, if poor, writer, she is most likely somewhere in front of her computer with a cup of coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Queer Film Historian Lyle Pearson has published in Film Quarterly Sight and Sound, International Film Guide, Filmfare, Youth Times, and Manshots. With a BA from Pacific Lutheran College (1959) and a MA from San Francisco State College (1968), he has also taught film at Western Washington University.

Naomi graduated Whatcom Community College with an Associates in Visual Communications -Graphic Design but prefers more hands on tinkering such as wire craft & random projects (of which she always has many still to finish).

Staff Photographer John Phillip after 40+ years of television

production engineering work John has settled down in Bellingham to semi retirement and is now revised his love of photography. His education touched on Theology, pre-med, law enforcement, fire protection engineering and film production. John likes to keep broad horizons. “Don’t Dream It, Be It”

Betty’s Corner Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

Supreme Court has muddied the waters of freedom from corporate tyranny with their decision to allow Corporations to decide based on the owners religious beliefs, whether they will pay for reproductive health care. It is now very conceivable that your boss can decide what birth control if any you will be able to use, or whether you can get a gender reassignment surgery. Those on the other side of this argument say if a person wants to use birth control that is objectionable to their boss they can buy it privately. If you are a person of means that argument might have some merit. Most workers I know simply cannot afford to go outside the company health plan for medical services of any kind. Besides if I may say if I am doing my job well what business is it of my employer what I do medically? Medical coverage has been considered part of a workers compensation for a job well done. What the worker does with that “compensation” is none of the employers business. I have always believed that when you went into business serving the public in the public square you check your “doctrine” at the door and treated everyone equally. Be aware that allowing corporations religious freedom may come back to haunt us all. There are many civil rights laws that could be ignored by a boss based on convenient religious belief.

Wow! Just when I get used to summer August hits hard! I had a wonderful time at the 15th Annual Bellingham Pride Festival. I am so proud of our community. Not too many cities our size can boast of a celebration like ours. The diversity of the citizens of the ‘ham continue to amaze me. My granddaughter Taylor got the honor of being one of the banner carriers for the Bellingham Roller Betties in the parade this year. They grow up so fast. The booths at Bellingham Pride were as varied as the members of our community. Churches that welcome gay participation were represented right along other spiritual organizations. Gay and Lesbian people are found in every social and economic sub group imaginable. We literally are everywhere! There are Gay liberals, Gay conservatives, there are Gay people who support every side of every social debate. We may not agree on everything but we come together as one to celebrate the march to equality for all. That march for full equality continues every day and must never stop moving ahead until every marginalized member of society can breath a sigh of relief knowing that they are safe. Free to be who they are without worry of persecution from those in the majority. That day will come, but we are not there yet. Every person of any persuasion must feel that their grievances will be heard and justly acted on. Respect for the right to live free tampered by the rule of law. Our

In The Mix Bridget Adams

Betty Desire

Other customers who aren’t trying to ignore you, but are as happy to be there as you are. For more information, check out the store’s website: http://www.saintharridan.com/ or, for details about the popup in Portland itself, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1476964905848512/ And be sure to pass the word along. Stores like this can’t stay in business if we don’t keep them open (the recent loss of the amazing Tomboy Tailors is a harsh reminder of that). Plus, if you can’t make it, you can always order online through their main site, as well. Go into this holiday season looking as sharp as you feel. Finally. Travel safely, enjoy the trip and the shopping. And, until next month, Poppets, take care of you.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Are you ready for a road trip, Poppets? And not a crazy Bridget road trip like head to New Orleans or Boston, either. Just a road trip to Portland – yes, Oregon, not Maine. Here’s why – Somewhere along the line, the accepted stereotype for butch lesbians and transmen meant having zero fashion sense. A uniform of blue jeans and a t-shirt for every day, and black pants and white shirt for dressy occasions. Anyone who isn’t femme is supposed to be happy with this selection. Maybe it’s more of a chicken or egg situation. Are those the uniforms we live in because we like them, or because it’s the only thing available to us? Because let’s be honest – suits, pants, and dress shirts cut for cis-women’s bodies don’t always fit. When they do fit, they aren’t always the look we’re going for. And trying to get a men’s tailor or retail shop to tailor a man’s suit to our body can be an exercise in frustration, at best, and often ends in humiliation, at worst. What’s a masculine ciswoman, transman, or androgynous woman to do? Road trip! Back in 2008, the founder of Saint Harridan was able to marry her partner, when California granted marriage equality, but she could find nothing to wear. She finally had a suit made for her, but only after throwing up her hands in frustration at the options available to her. Doing so made her realize that she could not possibly be the only person in this situation – so she opened Saint Harridan, clothing options for women, transmen, and anyone else who challenges the gender binary, and wants more than jeans or black pants! So where does Portland come in? The 2014 Saint Harridan Popup Tour has started and, next month, they’re in Portland. September 26-28, just down the road, you can find suits that are cut to fit you – not just your body, but your person. People who are not only okay with your presence, but are expecting you. Customer service that isn’t just trained to put up with you, but cater to you.

Enjoy the hot August nights fall is on it’s way!

Interview with Satpal Sidhu - WA State Rep Candidate By: Stephanie Kountouros

Stephanie is a poly-queer femme who has been a Bellingham LGBTQ activist since 1996. She currently serves as LGBTQ liaison with the Community Advisory Board for the Bellingham Police Department, and hopes to improve relations between the BPD and our community. Satpal Sidhu is one of four candidates running for Washington State Representative in the 42nd Legislative District, which covers most of Whatcom County. The August 5 primary will select the two candidates with the highest number of votes, regardless of ideology or political party. All four candidates were invited to interview for the Betty Pages. Only Sidhu arranged an interview by press time. Sidhu’s bio states that he “is a small businessman, former green energy entrepreneur, and a former dean at Bellingham Technical College. He’s been a resident of Lynden for the past 28 years and has served on a variety of boards and committees, including the Whatcom Community College Foundation, the Bellingham Police Chief Diversity Committee, and the Citizens Advisory Council of St. Joseph’s Hospital. “ Sidhu met with me the day after walking in the Bellingham Pride Parade for this interview.

enjoy the freedoms allowed in the Constitution, and we should not distinguish or separate people. Let’s turn to Washington State issues. How could WA do a better job supporting its LGBTQ residents? I think the basic premise is that we should provide and extend the same liberties and same rights should be given to all equally. That’s what I believe in. Let’s talk about some legislative issues that came up last year. Should florists, bakers, be able to refuse to serve gay and lesbian customers? What I say is personal freedoms. And when they take this stance of personal freedom, then it becomes very difficult. Because if a business person personally prefers something, how do you stop their personal freedoms to give somebody else’s personal freedom? How would you weigh in? I would say… I would still say the personal freedom is very important and we should not take personal freedoms away. What if that was a Black couple instead of a gay couple? Any couple. I’m a Sikh and I’m a little different, and I’ve felt in some places that there was some discrimination or something and you work with that. That’s been my experience—that I’ve been able to work with everything. So it’s okay if a baker doesn’t want to serve Sikhs? Yeah. That’s their perspective and they claim their freedom. But it’s a prejudice hidden under a freedom argument so that’s very difficult to distinguish. You might know that LGBTQ people and particularly LGBTQ youth are at much greater risk for homelessness. Would you have sided with collecting county fees for homeless shelters and programs? Not being a legislator and not being close to these things… these are very specific questions and how I would vote is hard because I would need a lot more information to make that decision. When you boil it down to one question there is a whole lot of information… I’m a very analytical person. Like to study things, study the facts, separate the emotions from the facts and then work on the facts. Ok. In general, are you for or against increasing taxes for homeless shelters and services? We should have equality of services. If services are offered to people, they should be offered to everybody. Well, other people don’t need homeless services if they’re not homeless. Well there are special cases, like disabled people. Whatever our basic premise of governance is, we should follow and work with that.

Is your basic premise that we should increase funding for homeless people? Yes. I think that is the thing. But we should be very careful with that. We don’t want to promote homelessness-How does increasing shelters promote homelessness? No. No. It’s not that it does that, but it makes people see this as, “I’m being taken care of.” There’s an internal drive in everybody. We don’t want to kill that drive in the sense that, ok, if you don’t want to do anything, we are still there. Those shelters and things are there as an event in their life so that they can move from there to selfsufficiency. It should not be the end-point. Conversion therapy is the attempt to make someone “not gay.” Would you be for or against banning the practice for minors so that parents couldn’t force their children into this therapy and force them to “convert?” Again, there are parent’s rights, if their child is a minor. The parents have the first rights about their kids, how do we trample on that? Making a law is easy but how we actually implement and see it in practice is actually a difficult thing. But I don’t think anything has been proven medically that shows that (this therapy) works. So this is an issue about protecting parents’ rights vs. protecting young people who are lesbian and gay from discrimination— Yeah. So see? That’s where the rub comes in. So it’s their freedom against their freedom, right? At a certain age, parents are in a better position, right? After a certain age, I think kids are at a better position. Now how you put it in a law… In a similar issue there have been several attempts to enact a parental consent law in Washington, where a minor could not have an abortion without their parents’ consent. Couldn’t you make the same argument that this is about parents’ rights? Yeah, yeah! I think we have got to hear from both sides. I don’t know. Until all these facts are debated then I’ll make up my mind. But these are the considerations I’ll have: the parents, the children, the situation and how do we deal with that. What do you want voters, particularly LGBTQ voters, to know about you? They should know that I am a fair person. I’m well-educated not by school but welleducated about the issues, about different societies and how we should deal with them. And I believe in people’s rights. What would you like to say directly to the readers of the Betty Pages? Please support me because you will find a better voice in me than in my opponents. I am willing to sit down with people. You give me a good argument and not just blind belief? I will walk across the aisle to talk to you. I will talk to anybody.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Pop Quiz—What does LGBTQ stand for? Lesbians..and gays… LGB? LGBT… Q I know—queers, and transvestites, and B is… help me out. It was the first expansion of the term from lesbians and gays…when some people said “well I am neither or both…” Oh! Bisexuals of course! That’s right. Tell me about your life experience with LGBTQ people, both personally and professionally. When I was a dean at Bellingham Technical College, I dealt with a lot of different students with different sexual orientations, and I worked very well with them, their issues, things like that. What are your biggest concerns about Washington State right now? I think it’s the education and I think secondly it’s the jobs. We need to get more manufacturing or family wage jobs rather than service jobs like McDonalds. We need to increase wages. You’re one of four candidates, what sets you apart? I think I’m very unique in the experience I have and the community I have served for twenty-five years. I have served on twelve or more committees—board-level assignments in which I was making decisions that affect our community. I feel that I myself am the only candidate who has that kind of wide variety of experience. The other part is my qualifications and education and my travel. I have traveled all over the world. I have traveled extensively in the United States. I

have a grasp of the issues. I am an engineer. I am analytical. I don’t go after emotions I go after the facts. Those are the things I think set me apart. How does traveling all over the world make you a good legislator for our state? Because, my goodness, you see what other countries are doing, and especially in the last twenty-five years… people really comment that America is losing its way on progress, because they keep talking about the soft issues and things which are really putting us behind other countries! In education, in our progress, in our business and we still are the biggest innovators but we are not manufacturers and people know that. Internationally, oh it opens your mind so much once you go and meet with totally different perspectives of people and how you can learn good things from them. I would like to talk a bit about the Sikh religion and community in Whatcom County. Some of our readers may not know much about your culture. Are you a Sikh? Are you part of the Sikh community? Yes, I am. What is the Sikh cultural and religious perspective on homosexuality? Well I think that the perspective has been… quiet. And I think they need that leap to understand and I think the Sikh community back in India and the Sikh community in the USA is changing, but mostly perspective has been, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Is that true for the local community as well? I would say pretty much—but it’s opening up, with the younger generations especially. What about gay marriage? Transgender rights? Again, same answer. It’s still not an accepted practice. Would a lesbian couple be welcome at the Sikh temple? The Sikh temple is such a thing that we welcome everybody. Muslims can come, Christians can come, Hindus can come, anybody can come. I don’t think that they would prefer display of that character or something, but as a temple attendee, there is no restriction. What steps could the Sikh and LGBTQ communities take to reach out and have a better understanding of each other’s issues? This is a much bigger question for Sikh Community elders worldwide and Sikh populace at large to consider. However Sikhs are generally very peaceful and tolerant people. Tell me what you know about LGBTQ people and services in Whatcom County? Very little. I will admit that I haven’t followed very closely, but it doesn’t bother me that much. Services, I think that the services which are provided under the law (are good) and I have been supporting that we should all be equal. All citizens should be able to

Get it where you want it! The Betty Pages is available on-line at www.issuu.com/thebettypages and in print at these fine local establishments. *Indicates our advertisers!

300 W. CHAMPION STREET, DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM

Summer hours: Monday thru Friday 11am to 2am Saturday 3pm to 2am Sunday 5pm to 2am A Large selection of Micro Brews & Hard Alcohol Delicious Lunch & Dinner Menu Happy Hour 4pm - 6pm daily Sundays$3 Wells 5pm- Close Mond Mondays3 Tacos for $3.50 $5 PBR Industry Night Tuesdays9-Midnight $3 Tuesdays! PBR Pitchers, Micro Pints, Wells & Fry Baskets only $3 each Wednesdays6pm - 10pm Burger, Fries, and a Pint of PBR only $6 Thursdays 9 - Midnight $3 Rolling Rock Pitchers

Bellingham Allied Arts Alternative Library The Archives Arlysis Avalon Music The Bagelry Bayou on the Bay Bellingham Alternative Library Bellingham Bar & Grill Bellingham Flat Bread Bakery Bellingham Flea Market Bellingham Public Library Bellingham Public Market Bellingham Technical School *The Black Drop Boundary Bay Brandywine Kitchen Cabin Tavern The Cabin Cap Hansen’s *Casa Que Pasa Chameleon Ink Tattoo The Copper Hog Daisy Café El Agave. Evergreen AIDS Foundation Everyday Music Fairhaven Lndry & Clners Fairhaven Mt Bakery

Fiama Burger *Film is Truth *Four Twenty NW The Gathering Glow *Grand Ave Ale House *Great Northern Books *Horseshoe Café Hot Topic Koi Café La Vie en Rose Lettered Streets Coffeehouse Lover’s Makeshift Mallard Ice Cream *McKays Tap House *Mod Sox Mt Baker Theater Mt. Bakery Nelson’s Market *Northern Cross Dwntn *Northern Cross Samish *Old World Deli Pel’Meni The Pickford Pita Pit Rocket Donuts Royal Rudy’s Pizza *Rumor’s Cabaret Sean Humphery House. The Shakedown

*The Slo Pitch Spts Grill Stella’s. *The Stone Moon Studio Galactica The Temple Bar The Teriyaki Bar Tony’s Coffee House *The Top Shelf Unknown Skate Shop Up’n’Up Village Books Waterfront Tavern Whatcom CoOp Dwntwn Whatcom Com. College Wild Buffalo WWU Viking Union Bldg Mt. Vernon 1st Street Cabaret & Speakeasy Draft Picks Lincoln Theatre Resroti Skagit Co-Op Skagit Com. College Tattered Page Bookstore Tri Dee Burlington Hands On Clay Everett Bar Mix

Worthy Entertainment By: Grady Barstad

Hey yall,, I got the privilege to bring you some entertainment news..... my name is Grady and I am Hamster. Born and raised in the Pacific North West, been involved in the Bellingham music scene for the past ten years, throwing shows, and dancing my ass off! My goal is to inform ya’ll where and when to get your shake on...... hope you dig it.

Someone Cares! Free Community Meal 2nd Sundays, 2 - 4 p.m. First Christian Church 495 East Bakerview Road Bellingham, WA 98226 bhamfcc@comcast.net bhamfcc.org 360.734.6820

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Hey Yall! Welcome to worthy entertainment! There’s so much going on this summer I don’t even know where to start.... I know- lets do some shameless promotion for my project WorthyFest! Don’t worry I’ll share all sorts of tasty tidbits about a lot of other fun things because its festival season, but this is that much fun! WorthyFest , Aug 1-3, is a celebration and collaboration of Bellingham based music and arts that has been happening for the masses, that encompasses the beauty of the pacific north west, we all go out to the bars and see one or two local bands or DJs that we like. The dream of WorthyFest has been to bring all the artists together to play for their fans and hang out, and after to be a part of the crowd and dance with their friends to bands they like, to bring all the artists together and just be... not just stars on the stage but to just be. We have been doing this successfully for the past 6 years and are looking forward to this year: especially due to the fact that we got a very special place at the base of Mt Baker that we put a lot of work into. With the Help of Peter (owner of Chair 9), we have an amazing camping venue that is getting community praise for the restoration. K, lets get to the brass taxes, Worthy Finale is a 2 day, three stage extravaganza of lights, lazers and OOOOOHHHH ya- the best of the best of Bellingham’s artists. This year our headliners consist of Snug Harbor, Staxx Brothers, Rise N Shine Band, The High Council ( to bring some Grateful Dead influence on Jerry Garcia’s B-day Aug 1st) WillDAbeast live, DJ Flave, Bryce Tea, and Vaughn Kreestoe to name a few. Camping and parking is free, And Bettie will be serving delicious coffee, meat sticks and biscuits with groovy gravy! Lets not forget about some of the other projects that I make sure to mark on my calendar... the weekend after WorthyFest is Summer Meltdown which is 5 days of well..... I’ll just describe it as 5 days of dancing and debauchery... that’s why I call it my Christmas! Park, put away your phone, your keys, and dance with 5000 friends. Its that good! Lets not forget about hemp fest in Seattle the weekend after. Lets represent Washington and show them that this state is going to change the USA by ending prohibition on pot, bringing music, arts, and the masses to support the cause! Also in early September lookout for the Circus guild’s special event the SHABANG! And Acorn Productions theWONK! Thanx for being Worthy!

y t i n u m ! m t o n C Eve

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

TAKE THE TUNNEL TO 1,000 CONVENIENT PARKING SPACES AT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE!

THE BEACH BOYS Performing Their Hits:

TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST

“I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “California Girls” and More!

SUN AUG 31 ST Tickets Starting At $74 .50

8TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW Fun for All Ages, Great Food & Beverages and More!

SUN AUG 31 ST Free Admission

RUMBLE AT THE REEF XX Live Professional Boxing

SAT SEPT 6 TH Tickets Starting At $29 .50

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fantasy Football Draft Party • AUG 10 TH Holiday Gift Expo • NOV 30 TH

BUY TICKETS

SilverReefCasino.com

•

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

9 w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

Bellinghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest access point Open Now Largest selection north of Seattle for oils and vape cartridges FREE vape pen for new patients

Edibles, Topicals, Tinctures, Capsules

Daily specials every day

Accessories by Rated R Glass

Open 11-8 daily 360-671-0111 2119 Lincoln St www.topshelf-collective.com

The Stone Moon Physical Elements For Your Spiritual Journey

off 15% tire en your ase h r pu c his t h t i w !! ☺ n o p cou

Ritual Supplies Tarot Cards Candles Pendulums Crystals Incense Statuary Altar Decorations

Prayer Flags Oils Amulets Journals/Planners Almanacs Books Singing Bowls Jewelry

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

1304 Cornwall Avenue Bellingham WA 98225 - 360.393.4390 www.thestonemoon.com - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr Shop Hours: Mon - Sat from around 11am – about 5:30pm *Tarot Readings: Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat from 11- 6pm *Palm Readings: Fridays & 2nd/4th Saturdays from 1- 4pm *Psychic Readings: 1st/3rd Saturdays from 1- 4pm

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Some Oscars - A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF QUEER Film Lyle Pearson

Continued on Page 15 w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

My father hated the Oscars. Vain, he thought, the rich and pretty congratulating each other. Yet in 1954, when host Donald O’Connor toward the end of the show quipped, “I’m pooped,” dad found it undignified. TIME magazine once gibed that the Oscars had the same entertainment value as JACKPOT BOWLING. Myself, when I taught cinema at Western Washington University in 1981, told my students that the ceremonies often fall “between three stools” – they weren’t good television, good theater, or good film, because they tried to be all three. Do we really need fifteen-second film clips to judge a performance, particularly if the host is funny? Or do you want more clips? Bob Hope, who wasn’t Jewish (although many of his writers were), perhaps because he was so powerful that the Hollywood establishment didn’t dare ask him not to, hosted the Oscars eighteen times, referring to them as them often as “‘Passover’ at our house.” The first time he hosted, in 1939, Hattie McDaniel had to sit at a separate table because she was Afro-American, even though she won the first black Oscar, for her role as Mammy in GONE WITH THE WIND. Judy Garland, winning a Juvenile Oscar for Dorothy Gale in THE WIZARD OF OZ, warbled, “SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW.” Bette Davis claims she first called the Oscars the Oscars. I don’t know who first called the Oscars “The Gay Superbowl,” but in the last few decades, gay Oscar parties have become common. I attended several of them, until this year, when I had to get up before 7:00 AM to watch them live in Bangalore, India. Ellen DeGeneres, in her first stint as an Oscar host, in 1979, tongue-in-cheeked, “If it wasn’t for the Jews, the blacks and the gays, there wouldn’t be an Oscars.” Neil Patrick Harris hosted in 2010, singing “No One Wants To Do It Alone” and Oscar co-host James Franco appeared in 2011 in drag. While Colin Firth didn’t win as George Falconer, i.e. Christopher Isherwood, in gay Tom Ford’s A SINGLE MAN (2009), he did win as King George VI in Tom Hopper’s THE KING’S SPEECH the year Harris hosted. Is there a pattern here? Let’s find out. Charles Laughton, whose scabrously queer proclivities have been claimed by Scotty Bowers in FULL SERVICE (2012),11 was nominated as Best Actor three times, but won only his first time out, for Alexander Korda’s THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY THE EIGHTH (1933) – despite his sadistic Captain Bligh in Frank Lloyd’s in MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1933) and sardonic defense attorney Sir Wilfrid Robarts in Billy Wilder’s WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (1957). Leslie Halliwell’s FILM AND VIDEO GUIDE (1999) claims Laughton was also originally cast as Micawber in George Cukor’s DAVID COPPERFIELD (1934), but dropped out as “he looked as though he were about to molest” young David (Freddie Bartholomew).22 W.C. Fields, who was straight, and never received a nomination, played Micawber. Gay Cukor (Bowers claims he hooked him up with Steve Reeves, and that Cukor gave bit parts to many of his tricks), nominated five times, finally won Best Director for MY FAIR LADY (1964). He had a reputation, not just for his parties, but as a “woman’s director,” twelve of his lead actresses being nominated, against nine actors. However, three of the men, James Stewart (qv), Ronald Colman and Rex Harrison, actually won, versus only two women, Ingrid Bergman and Judy Holliday. Katherine Hepburn, nominated twice for Cukor films, and twelve altogether, winning thrice, is claimed to be gay not only by Bower, but by William J. Mann in KATE: THE WOMAN WHO WAS HEPBURN33 -- she may have been Spencer Tracy’s beard. Spence himself was nominated nine times, winning for Victor Fleming’s CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS (1937) and Norman Taurog’s BOYS TOWN (1938). Gore Vidal, in POINT TO POINT NAVIGATION: A MEMOIR 1964 TO 2006 (2007),44 claims Cukor was fired from GONE WITH THE WIND by Clark Gable because Gable had once tricked with Cukor; Mann in WISECRACKER: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WILLIAM HAINES (1998)55 tells a slightly different story, involving Haines (qv) as Gable’s top and Cukor as an intimate of Haines. Producer David O. Selznick’s MEMO FROM DAVID O. SELZNICK (2000)66 tells an entirely different story, not in the least salacious. Not only Gable, but Claudette Colbert, a friend of Marlene Dietrich, won Oscars for Frank Capra’s IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934) as the romantic pair Peter Warne and ‘Ellie’ Andrews. Ginger Rogers (see below) won as Sam Woods’ KITTY FOYLE (1940). The bisexual Marlon Brando won his first Oscar as Terry Malloy in Elia Kazan’s ON

THE WATERFRONT (1954). Rather than accepting his second, for Francis Ford Coppola’s THE GODFATHER (1973), Marlon sent Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather to reject it. Bisexual Angelina Jolie won Best Supporting Actress as mental patient Lisa Rowe in James Mangold’s GIRL, INTERRUPTED (1999). She also got to kiss Winona Ryder, as the book’s author, Susanna Kaysen. Burt Lancaster lost as the real Robert Stroud in John Frankenheimer’s BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (1962). At the time, Lancaster claimed that Stroud, a convicted killer who became an ornithologist, might have been released from prison by then if it wasn’t for his homosexuality. Pauline Kael claims Lancaster “doesn’t have much expressive range,”77 but if he had been allowed to play Stroud as gay, Burt might have won. Just as Robert Ryan might have won as the fictional Montgomery in Edward Dmytryk’s CROSSFIRE (1947) if Montgomery’s homophobia had not been replaced by the censor with anti-Semitism. Ryan received four other nominations, but none for his possibly homophobic John Claggart in Peter Ustinov’s BILLY BUDD (1962, qv). William Hurt finally won as a gay man in Hector Babenco’s KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (1985), a film also nominated for Best Director, Adapted Screenplay and Picture. Gay icon Barbara Streisand won for her first film, as Fanny Brice, in William Wyler’s FUNNY GIRL (1968), and has been nominated as an actress once more, for Sydney Pollack’s THE WAY WE WERE (1973). Her second attempt at direction, THE PRINCE OF TIDES (1991) received seven nominations, and she has shared two nominations for best song, winning for “Evergreen” from Frank Pierson’s A STAR IS BORN (1976). Elton John and Tim Rice (Rice gets only a 39-percent rating on the website “Gay or Stright.com’s” ‘gay-o-meter) won for their song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff’s THE LION KING (1994). There is an entire book on the Disney Company’s queer subtext, Sean Griffith’s TINKER BELLES AND EVIL QUEENS (2000).88 Cher won as fictional Loretta Castorini in Norman Jewison’s MOONSTRUCK (1987). Former Bellinghamster Hillary Swank won as the real trans man Brandon Teena in Kimberly Price’s BOYS DON’T CRY (1999). Nicole Kidman won as the probably lesbian Virginia Woolf in Stephan Daldry’s THE HOURS (2002). Charlize Theron won as lesbian serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Patty Jenkin’s MONSTER (2003). Rob Epstein’s THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1984), the 1984 Oscar winner for Best Documentary, helped Sean Penn to win an Oscar in Gus Van Sant’s MILK (2009) as the same Harvey Milk. Epstein acknowledges the help of the documentary in his eight-Oscar nominated MILK, which won also for Original Screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, being nominated also for Score, Costumes, Direction and Picture. Ang Lee won as Best Director and shared the award with Diana Ossana for Best Adapted Screenplay for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005). Gustavo Santaolalla won for its Score, but it lost in five other categories, for its two stars (Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal), Supporting Actress, Cinematography and Picture. Some Academy conservatives, it is claimed, refused to vote for a “gay” picture. This was also the year that Jon Stewart said that the singer Bjork couldn’t be at the Oscars, because when she was trying on her dress, Dick Cheney shot her. Johnathon Demme’s PHILADELPHIA (1993) won Tom Hanks an Oscar as Andrew Beckett, i.e. the real AIDS victim Geoffrey Bowers, as well as Bruce Springstein for Best Song, “Streets of Philadelphia.” Jean-Marc Vallée’s THE DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB (2013) also won two, for Michael McConaughey as the real Ron Woodroof, making up for his terrible performance as a stripper in Steven Soderbergh’s MAGIC MIKE (2012); and Jared Leto, reversing the spoiler alert of Neil Jordan’s THE CRYING GAME (1992), as the fictional trans woman Rayon; it was nominated for four more, Original Screenplay by Craig Borton and Melisa Wallack, Picture, Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling. The late Phillip Seymour Hoffman won as Truman Capote in Bennet Miller’s CAPOTE (2005). CAPOTE was also nominated for Best Screenplay, Actress and Director. Toby Jones was not nominated for playing the same gay CAPOTE in Douglas McGrath’s INFAMOUS (2006); in fact, it gained no nominations, despite casting Sandra Bullock as Harper Lee, Peter Bogdanovich as Bennett Cerf, Isabella Rossellini as Marella Agnelli , Sigourney Weaver as ‘Babe’ Paley and Daniel Craig as Perry Smith, one of the IN COLD BLOOD killers, who Truman may have loved. (In

412 South 1st St.

Hours: Mon-Thurs. 10-8 Fri 10-6 Sat 8-6 Sun 11-5

Mt Vernon, WA

Phone: 360.399.7045 Or You can book online at www.hairandbodymechanix.com LIKE us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hairbodymechanix

McKay's '4* TapHouse /<+ ;9/) <+8? .;89*'?! w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

5)'2 8:/9:9 '4* +2:/) ;9/) /4* ;9 54:

++89 54 '6... 58+ 53/4- 554! 5<+8 ++89 :5 ).559+ ,853! 5::2+* ++89 '4* #/4+ 5 5

/@@' â&#x20AC;˘ ;(9 â&#x20AC;˘ #/4-9 â&#x20AC;˘ 358+

McKay's TapHouse

'9: '62+ :8++: â&#x20AC;˘ +22/4-.'3 â&#x20AC;˘ -

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Queer Film Bibliography continued Richard Brooks’ film of IN COLD BLOOD (1967) the Capote character, played by Paul Stewart, is simply called The Reporter.) And, the Academy Awards Ceremony since 2012 has been produced by the gay team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, producers also of Rob Marshall’s CHICAGO (2002), winner of Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Art Direction, Costume Design, Editing and Sound Recording and receiver of seven other nominations; and of Adam Shankman’s remake of John Waters’ HAIRSPRAY (2007), a hit that received no nominations. So is there a pattern? Yes. Just as homosexuals have become more visible in American society, so too such roles have won Oscars. Hollywood, by Ellen’s assessment, may be one-third gay. Vincente Minnelli, nominated twice as a director, won for GIGI (1958). No longer, as from 1934 to 1964, is homosexuality forbidden on the American screen. No longer is it only hinted at by second bananas like Franklin Pangborn, Grady Sutton and, occasionally, Marjorie Main. In Hal Roach’s TURNABOUT (1940), Main could only get away with, “I sleep in pajamas. So what?” But in life, she admitted to two lesbian affairs: her biographer surmises they were with Spring Byington (nominated for Capra’s 1938 YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU) and Ginger Rogers.99 Mann also indicts Hattie McDaniel,1010 with Marlene Dietrich. (Marlene wasn’t racist.) The Oscars lead to progress through social visibility. You had to look and listen quickly for those things between 1934 and 1964. In that year the code was revised and Carol Browne as Mercy Croft got a peek at Susannah York’s naked breasts as ‘Childe’ McNaught in Robert Aldrich’s THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE. So, no dad, I don’t hate the Oscars. Blacks and whites can now sit beside each other , and blacks have won many Oscars. Ellen in 2014 has finally solved the three-stools problem by entering the audience to order them pizzas and for that selfie -- she broke through the fourth wall. No matter what her problems with her wife Portia De Rossi, as a lesbian in the audience midst, she made the Oscars even more democratic than they had become.

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

1 Bowers, Scotty with Lionel Friedberg. FULL SERVICE: MY ADVENTURES IN HOLLYWOOD AND THE SECRET SEX LIVES OF THE STARS. Grove Press, New York, 2012. Scotty Bowers was also interviewed on CBS SUNDAY MORNING June 10, 2012, but not about Laughton. The interview is available on the site CBS SUNDAY MORNING. Bowers, working at a gas station, claims he was first picked up by Walter Pidgeon (two nominations, but no wins) and then pimped and whored in Hollywood for over thirty years. 2 Halliwell, Leslie. HALIWELL’S FILM AND VIDEO GUIDE. Ed. John Walker. New York and Great Britain, Harper Collins, 1999. 3 Mann, William J. KATE: THE WOMAN WHO WAS HEPBURN. New York, Henry Holt and Company, 2006. 4 Vidal, Gore. POINT TO POINT NAVIGATION: A MEMOIR 1964 TO 2006. New York, Random House, 2006. 5 Mann, William J. WISECRACKER: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF WILLIAM HAINES. New York, Viking, 1998. 6 DAVID O. SELZNICK: THE CREATION OF “GONE WITH THE WIND” AND OTHER MOTION PICTURE CLASSICS, AS REVEALED IN THE PRODUCER’S PRIVATE LETTERS, TELEGRAMS, MEMORANDUMS, AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL REMARKS. Selected and ed. by Rudy Behlmer. New York, Random House, 2000 7 Kael, Pauline. 5001 NIGHTS AT THE MOVIES: A GUIDE A TO Z. New York, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982. 8 Griffin, Sean. TINKER BELLES AND EVIL QUEENS: THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY FROM THE INSIDE. New York, New York University Press, 2000. 9 Vogel, Michelle. MARJORIE MAIN: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HOLLYWOOD’S “MA KETTLE.” Jefferson NC, McFarland, 2006. 10 Mann, William J. BEHIND THE SCREEN: HOW GAYS AND LESBIANS SHAPED HOLLYWOOD 1910—1969. New York, Viking, 2001. .

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

Village Books Events August 2014 Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and take place in the Readings Gallery at Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Bellingham, WA, 98225 Please check our website for further details or questions and to see if authors attend the event. - www.villagebooks.com For questions regarding events please contact our Events Coordinator, Christina Claassen at 360.733.1599 or events@villagebooks.com Changes, additions, and cancellations do occur.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

Thurs., July 31-Sun., Aug. 17th Mark Twain in Fairhaven: A Musical Tall Tale Local playwright and historian Joseph Lenz wrote “musical tall tale” Mark Twain in Fairhaven. For three weekends in August, the Firehouse Performing Arts Center will host the play, which is loosely based on Twain’s visit to Fairhaven in 1895. Tickets are $12, $8 for students and seniors & are available at Village Books and at Brown Paper Tickets.

Sat., Aug. 2, 10:30-11am Story Time with Claire Join Village Books bookseller Claire for our story time the first Saturday of each month from 10:30-11am in the Kids’ Section. We welcome all ages! Sat., Aug. 2, 4pm Jeffrey Cook, Dawn of Steam: First Light with Hannibal Rex—Steampunk fiction Jeffrey Cook lives in Maple Valley, Washington, with his wife and three large dogs. He’s contributed to gaming books for Seattle’s Deep7 press, but this is his first novel. Sun., Aug. 3, 11:30am-1pm Socrates Café The Socratic Dialogue is a search for truth by questioning, probing, defining terms and clarifying meanings of important, complex questions. The group meets the first and third Sunday from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the Readings Gallery.

Sun., Aug. 3, 3:15-5:15pm VB Writes…Nonfiction & Memoir Writing Group We have eclectic tastes but tend to focus primarily on the memoir. The group critiques aloud and also writes notes on the print out. This group meets on the mezzanine level near the poetry section, on the first and third Sunday of each month, from 3:15-5:15pm. Mon., Aug. 4, 7pm VB Reads...General Literature Book Group

Join Cindi and discuss books from a variety of genres at 7 pm, the first Monday of each month. Thurs., Aug. 7, 5:30-7pm VB Writes…Poetry Writing Group

Are you a writer in search of a writing group? This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the first and third Thursday of each month from 5:30-7pm Sat., Aug. 9, 5:30-7:30pm Village Books’ Lego® Contest for Kids Enter a contest at Village Books inspired by The Lego® Movie, and taking place prior to the Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema’s showing of the film. Make an original Lego® design and enter the contest to share your creativity with others. Entrants will have the chance to win a Ninjago Lego Book®. Kids can enter two age categories: 4-9 year-olds or 10-15 year-olds. Pre-registration required by Friday, August 8th, 4pm. Register at the main counter of Village Books, or call the store at 360-671-2626.

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Sun., Aug. 10, 2-3pm

VB Reads...Motherhood by the Book The book group meets on the second Sunday of every month at 2pm Tues., Aug. 12, 6-8pm VB Writes…Spec Fiction/Sci Fi Writing Group

We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm on the mezzanine level, near the poetry section and Book Fare Café. Wed., Aug. 13, 1pm VB Reads...Afternoon Book Chat Join Sittrea in the Readings Gallery on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for an open book chat, at 1pm. Thurs., Aug. 14, 1-2pm Fun with The Never Girls of Pixie Hollow—Ages 7-12 This event is for fans of the popular Disney series by Kiki Thorpe. Featured books will be 15% off for participants, today only! Thurs., Aug. 14, 6-8pm VB Writes… Fiction Writing Group

This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6-8pm. Thurs., Aug. 14, 7pm Stacie Zinn Roberts - How to Live Your Passion and Fulfill Your Dreams A new self-help book by a Pacific Northwest author Stacie Zinn Roberts, offers step-by-step instructions to help readers gain clarity and define their life’s purpose. Sat., Aug. 16, 10:30-11:30am Duck and Goose Party for Pre-K through 6 years old Join Claire as we celebrate the latest Duck and Goose story, Duck and Goose Go to the Beach. Featured books will be 20% off for participants, today only!

Sat., Aug. 16, noon-1pm Movie showing & on screen discussion at the Pickford Film Center’s Limelight Cinema On-screen author talk & interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nomad: From Islam to America Tickets are $6 and are available through the Pickford Film Center. Sat., Aug. 16, 4pm Malcolm Brooks - Painted Horses Fiction Sun., Aug. 17, 11:30am-1pm Socrates Café

The group meets the first and third Sunday from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the Readings Gallery. Sun., Aug. 17, 1:30-3pm VB Reads...Afternoon Book Chat Encore Did you miss an Afternoon Book Chat meeting? Can’t attend the Afternoon Book Chat during the week? We will meet on the Sunday following our regular 2nd Wednesday Afternoon Book Chats. Same book, new discussion, 2nd chance. Come join Sittrea in the Readings Gallery from 1:30-3pm for an OPEN Book Chat. Sun., Aug. 17, 3:15-5:15pm VB Writes…Nonfiction & Memoir Writing Group We have eclectic tastes but tend to focus primarily on the memoir. The group critiques aloud and also writes notes on the print out. This group meets on the mezzanine level near the poetry section, on the first and third Sunday of each month, from 3:15-5:15pm. Mon., Aug. 18, 7pm VB Reads…Speculative Fiction Come discuss thought-provoking speculative fiction in a group that welcomes diversity. This group meets the third Monday of every month at 7pm in the writing corner on the mezzanine level.

Village Books Events August 2014 Mon., Aug. 18, 7pm Spencer Reece, The Road to Emmausâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Poetry With Kathleen Flenniken and Jeremy Voigt Tues., Aug. 19, 7pm Yvonne Higgins Leach with musical guest Burke Mulvany Another Autumnâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Poetry Wed., Aug. 20, noon-1:30pm VB Reads...Engaged Citizens Book Group

Join Mary Dumas on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from noon to 1:30. Wed., Aug. 20, 7pm Chelsea Cain One Kickâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Fiction

Thurs., Aug. 21, 5:30-7pm VB Writesâ&#x20AC;ŚPoetry Writing Group

Are you a writer in search of a writing group? This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the first and third Thursday of each month from 5:30-7pm. Mon., Aug. 25, 7pm Open Mic with Laurel Leigh

Open Mic with Laurel Leigh Bring your poems and tales about making resolutions, or any creative work in progress. Open mic is usually held the last Monday of each month at 7pm in the Readings Gallery. Sign up at our main counter on the first floor or call (360) 671-2626.

lage Books and BrownPaperTickets. com. Receive one FREE ticket w/ each preÂ-event, in-store purchase of Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good. You must be seated by 6:45pm as the show begins promptly at 7pm.

Tues., Aug. 26, 6-8pm VB Writesâ&#x20AC;ŚSpec Fiction/Sci Fi Writing Group

We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm on the mezzanine level, near the poetry section and Book Fare CafĂŠ. Wed., Aug. 27,Â doors at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College Chuckanut Radio HourÂ with special guest Kathleen Flinn,Â Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good: A Memoir of Food & Love from an American Midwest Family, and musical guest Julianne Thoma The Radio Hour airs every Saturday evening at 6pm and Sunday at 9pm on SPARK RADIO, KMRE 102.3FM. Tickets for the Chuckanut Radio Hour are $5 and are available at Vil-

Thurs., Aug. 28, 6-8pm VB Writesâ&#x20AC;Ś Fiction Writing Group

This group is open to newcomers and drop-ins and meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6-8pm.

McKay's '4* TapHouse 5)'2 8:/9:9 '4* +2:/) ;9/) /4* ;9 54:

If Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Reading This...

++89 54 '6... 58+ 53/4- 554! 5<+8 ++89 :5 ).559+ ,853! 5::2+* ++89 '4* #/4+ 5 5

/@@' â&#x20AC;˘ ;(9 â&#x20AC;˘ #/4-9 â&#x20AC;˘ 358+

then so are your customers. E-mail advertiseinthebettypages@gmail.com for more information on advertising.

McKay's TapHouse

'9: '62+ :8++: â&#x20AC;˘ +22/4-.'3 â&#x20AC;˘ -

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

/<+ ;9/) <+8? .;89*'?!

The Emperor Kevin Walder

The Emperor is a very powerful masculine influence on the subject. Since the Major Arcana cards tend to give us a lot of insight into the question at hand they tend to set the tone for a reading and may even indicate that the question the querent consciously decided upon is not the real question at all. In explaining the meaning of The Emperor I compare him to the Kings in the deck. All of them are fatherly figures carrying a masculine energy which is forceful and direct, but what distinguishes the Emperor from the Kings is that Kings bow to The Emperor. Kings may be called upon at anytime to defend their realm and their position, but The Emperor is above that and is able to concentrate his energy and attention on the wellbeing of his subjects. Like The Empress, The Emperor is very serious of his role as nurturing parent and benefactor. Taking the more masculine, assertive role in teaching his children how best to carry forward his careful teaching. So while being very connected to the future success of his subjects and descendants he will at times be very forceful in enforcing the rules he holds dear. When considering how The Emperor manifests in our own lives we must appreciate that each of us male or female have the capacity to act in the role. Whenever we are called upon to be decisive and firm in a course of action which

is supportive of those dear to us we are playing the role of The Emperor. As we progress through life we find that less and less do we have that older role model to emulate and we find others looking to us for guidance which means that there may be times when we are reluctantly placed in the position of being The Emperor in our own lives. The Emperor being the ultimate father figure in the deck will tend to represent an older male, either father or grandfather, or perhaps a mentor who has influenced the situation at hand. As with most human relationships there are negative and positive aspects to The Emperor. While his nurturing and careful supervision may provide comfort and solace it can also become confining and restrictive if allowed to become absolute. When I see The Emperor appear in a reading I have to take a moment to determine if he is coming through as the ultimate benefactor or is he playing the role of tyrant in this current situation. Most of the time he is somewhere in the center and some of his actions are questioned, but his overall intent is appreciated. I usually read The Emperor as a positive influence on the situation. A very supportive masculine energy which can help to support us when things aren’t going well. The infinite caring and supportive nature of The Emperor come through for us when we need it most. It is most important to remember that while The Emperor is there to support us he is not there to relieve us of our own responsibilities. How have you felt supported by a strong male influence in your life? Does this supportive and assertive energy come from someone close to you or from within yourself? Do you find yourself remembering the advice of a mentor and appreciating it in a new way?

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

Kevin Walder is a Tarot Consultant and Instructor. Please visit his website for more information: http://www.kevinwalder.com

PeaceHealth, and Anti-Gay Politicians Riley Sweeney

Hello readers of the Bette Pages, today you get a sampler pack of political news from around your town, starting with our hospital. Recently, the Bellingham City Council decided that PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s was not, in fact, a church and deserved to pay business and operations taxes just like every other non-profit in town. Mayor Kelli Linville strongly objected and pushed to veto the measure which will add an estimated 1.2 million dollars to the city’s budget. She was unable to get the votes for a veto so had to settle for the symbolic gesture of not signing the ordinance (meaning it still goes into effect but without her blessing). This comes on the heels of a contentious battle between the nurses union and the management of PeaceHealth as they negotiated their latest contract. PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s is one of the largest employers in Whatcom County and in 2012, made more than $39 million profit from its Bellingham location. The tax exemption that they long enjoyed as a religious organization, where they paid zero tax, came to an end thanks to City Council action. PeaceHealth has also drawn significant controversy for their potential merger with an even more conservative catholic company last year that eventually fell through, in part due to the massive public opposition to the merger and concerns over religious influences on medical decisions. Speaking of religious influences, those of you living in North Bellingham have an opportunity to really stick it to a religious bigot. Luanne Van Werven is running for State Representative for the seat vacated by local gold-coin hoarding, black helicopter speculating Representative Jason Overstreet. Van Werven, former chair of the Whatcom Republicans and Rick Santorum supporter, has spent the last decade lobbying the state legislature against marriage equality. She donated over $2,000 in the last couple of years to fight marriage equality. She regularly drives down to Olympia to lobby against reproductive choice and believes that FDR prolonged the Great Depression by giving people jobs, which I only mention because it is so bizarre it needs to be shared. So stick it to religious bigots this year and vote for Satpal Sidhu for state representative. He’s a former Dean at Bellingham Technical College, owns the Spice Hut on the Guide-Meridian and most importantly, not a bigot.

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

Our complacency has led us down . . . John Phillip

Our complacency has led us down a slipper slope and I see no way out of the mire. Protests and Boycotts will not stop this, It may be time for revolution!

1 misogyny (the world’s oldest prejudice, the prejudice against women and girls) 2dystopian (a world that is in some important way undesirable or frightening)

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

With corporations firmly in control of the electoral process, and the federal judiciary packed with right-wing judges, two of the three branches of government are in hostile hands and the third does not seem to care any more. We the people are fighting for our lives against corporate greed and a Christian right wing misogyny1. We are at the mercy of a conservative political party which is out of control and is in control of our country. June 30, 2014 will go down in history as a day when two truly horrendous Supreme Court decisions were handed down. Both cases will have lasting and devastating impacts on Americans but the right wing is not solely to blame for the damage done, we the people are to blame because of our complacency! In Harris v. Quinn the justices ruled that states cannot compel in-home domestic care workers to pay dues for collective bargaining efforts. Workers in Illinois, Missouri, California, Washington, Vermont and Massachusetts will be affected. Most of these workers are women of color with some of the lowest wages in the nation. Collective bargaining is precisely what they need. The decision harkens back to a time when domestic work was originally exempted from Social Security and thereby excluded millions of black people. As if the union dues ruling wasn’t bad enough, on that same day the court ruled that corporations with a majority of stock owned by five people or less can claim to hold the same religious beliefs that individuals can. In Sebelius vs. Hobby Lobby Stores, the court ruled that employers can ignore the Affordable Care Act contraceptive care mandate if they feel that doing so imposes an undue burden on the employers religious belief. In the 2010 Citizens United campaign contributions case, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have free speech and therefore “personhood” rights. The very concept is not only absurd on its face but is also irreconcilable with the rights of living, breathing human beings. It also doesn’t appear to bring with it any of the obligations that real persons are bound to respect. If that were the case, the jails would be full of mortgage defrauders, oil company polluters and the like. Corporations are clearly inconsistent in their desire to be treated like the rest of us. Reaction to the Hobby Lobby case has been rightly denounced by all but the dead ender right wing fringe. The impact is huge with approximately 52% of American workers employed by companies fitting the Hobby Lobby criteria of personhood. Not only have they lost their right to contraception coverage but to other protections which anyone may claim infringe on religious belief. Misogyny is evident as well, with the religious right clearly making good on their desire to force women to make more babies. These are serious issues indeed but they don’t speak to the breadth of the problem. In this dystopian2 world of late stage capitalism, corporations have ever increasing rights and human beings have fewer and fewer. Americans are fighting for their lives against corporate greed, white supremacy and misogyny because we are at the mercy of a conservative Christian political party which controls this country. The Republicans are true believers in retrograde politics which will undo any and all protections against big corporations, law enforcement and the state itself. Democrats may appear less evil in the beliefs they claim to have but they obviously have no interest in fighting the good fight. They want to be part of the permanent government and that means pleading for corpo-

rate money and endlessly finding ways to compromise the interests of voters. Regardless of their true feelings, their unwillingness to fight the power makes them of little use. While Democrats talk a good game it is the Republicans that go for the jugular. The Hobby Lobby decision came about because Democrats never considered true health care reform which would have separated insurance coverage from employment. Instead they colluded with big pharmaceutical and insurance companies to keep the profit motive in health care. This market driven system is responsible for all of this country’s health coverage ills but Obama and the rest of the Democratic Party made it clear that a single payer system was never on the agenda. We the people are trapped between a rock and hard place. We have no one in any of the much vaunted branches of government who asserts our human and civil rights. Quite the opposite, Republicans openly campaign against anything that protects minorities and working people, Democrats talk out of both sides of their mouths. They say they want to increase the federal minimum wage, but in 2009 and 2010 they had a president in the White House, majorities in Congress and the power to do what they wanted. Apparently they didn’t want to raise the minimum wage very badly because they did nothing of the sort. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the decisions in both the Harris and Hobby Lobby cases. He and chief justice Roberts are now the villains du jour for Democrats. Unfortunately Democrats in the Senate weren’t interested in keeping them off of the court when they had the opportunity to do so. Senators Barack Obama and John Kerry sat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Alito and Roberts were well known members of the right wing Federalist Society but Democrats passed up the opportunity to grill them on their associations. Obama and Kerry could have filibustered these two nominees but instead went along to get along and lobbed softball questions. The rest is history.

The Meaning of Life Marcymark

What is the meaning of life? What is the point of being here? Surviving long enough to make it to the coming weekend to party more? To make more money then the Jones’? To go on that vacation cruise that lasts a year? To finally retire? Or buy that Ferrari? How about traveling the world? The meaning of life. To be the best of something. To achieve a goal. to accomplish a mission. To fulfill a prophet. To fall in love. There are so many possibilities to the answer to this question.

Each person may have different perspectives: Plato: To obtain the highest form of knowledge Aristotle: Everything is done with a goal and that goal is good Danny Kaye: Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it Gandhi: To contribute to other peoples happiness The Bible: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil Buddha: All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become Jame Dean: Dream as if you’ll live forever, live as if you’ll die today Winston Churchill: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give Jim Carrey: I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer Hans Christian Anderson: Just living is not enough- one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower C. JoyBell C: I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things that you want to buy and meet all the people that you want to meet and learn all the things that you desire to learn and if you do all these things but are not madly in love: you have still not begun to live. So many good quotes. So many possibilities to the answer. Marcy: To be all that you can be that is good, to feel tranquility and peace within yourself, To live your life in a positive forward motion, To love every one, and most important, to be loved. Juneau (5 years old): To be a daddy Amy (My girl): To learn that all the things you worry about don’t matter. To embrace your individuality and love yourself completely, which then will allow you to love someone else completely. I believe this question is not the same for every one. Each of us must have there own meaning,purpose,goal. The meaning of life is what each and every one of us want to make of our life. The question should really be restated as: What is the meanDaren X Eris ing of YOUR life?: Your life is what you make of it. I say make it meaningful. Stop pondering on what I’m excited to go to your life could be and go out and make it what it can be. Stop thinking about it and the new Pot shops! do it. For so many years I spent time thinking about wearing a dress and for so many years I did........ In a closet. Until one day I decided to come out of the closet and go out in the world. Maybe the meaning of my life is to help people realize you don’t need to be afraid to take that frightful step forward. I wish you all the best. Love Marcy

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

The Comics!

I’m not sure what the big deal is, We’ve always been able to find Plenty of weedi

Yeah, but now it’ll be available in pretty little packagesi Shannon Devine 2014 • www.psychedeliccircumstances.com

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

GLBT Organizations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties -ISCEE The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire is affiliated with the International Court System and has been actively raising money for charity for over 30 years by sponsoring drag shows and pageants. The group is open to all regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, seeking to provide social activities and community service opportunities for gays, lesbians, and their friends and allies in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan Counties. -Leather, Levi & Bear Social Monthly gathering of men who like Leather, Kink, and Unabashed Masculinity. Second Saturday of the month, Rumors Cabaret, 7:30 to 10:30. Info 360.380.6409 -www.theslowlane.com This website includes a gay resource guide for Bellingham located at www.theslowlane.com/guide.html.

-Triskeli Guild The Triskeli Guild is Bellingham’s BDSM group that promotes community and education for safe, sane and consensual play. They encourage participation by all sexual preferences, race and age 18 and up people. www.triskeli. org-Queries—triskeli@triskeli.org -Sean Humphrey House A housing unit for people who need assistance living with HIV/AIDS in Bellingham. For more information call 360-733-9357

-Whatcom County PFLAG Whatcom County Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meets the 2ND Thursday of each month, 7pm at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. For more information and events visit www.whatcompflag.com

-Washington Gender Alliance A support and educational organization for anyone dealing with issues of gender identity or expression, and the people in our lives. We have weekly Open Support meetings in Bellingham and Everett. For more information, please write to us at info@ WashingtonGenderAlliance.com or call 360-445-2411, or visit our web site at www.WashingtonGenderAlliance.com.

-WCC’s Queer Straight Alliance is committed to supporting the GLBT community by promoting awareness of queer issues and entertaining and educating students and staff of WCC. We can be reached at wccqsa@gmail.com.

-PFLAG of Skagit County Support meetings for Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and GLBT individuals are held at Central United Methodist Church, 1013 Polte Rd, Sedro-Woolley on the second Monday of every month at 7 PM. For directions and information all 360-856-4676 and for additional information and events check online at www.pflagskagit.org. -Cascade Rainbow Community Cntr is a community of LBGQT people that enjoy each other’s company. We gather every Friday @ 6:30 PM for community, sharing of food, conversation, ideas, and current events. Each Friday is either game or movie night. The group has a lending library, Pride participation, and educational support. We are located at The Center for Spiritual Living @ 1508 N 18th St., Mount Vernon, WA. For information call (360) 840-8499 and for additional information checkout and subscribe to our Facebook Page. -Whatcom County KINK is a group to help organize events, munches, help if you have items to sell, or just a way for people to get to know each other. Meetings are the 1st Tuesday of the month at Rumor’s Cabaret. Happy Spankings!

-Bellingham Bi/Pan Potluck We are a monthly gathering of pansexual and bisexual people, partners, family and friends on second Thursdays from 6:30-8:30pm at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on the corner of E. Bakerview and Deemer Roads. Bring food or drink to share. For more information email gregory.lindon. smith@gmail.com. -WWU LGBTA The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance at Western Washington University is a student organization which supports lesbians, gays, bisexuals, people who identify as transgender, and their allies; in the various stages of their coming out process, in the creation and affirmation of positive self identities, and in the promotion and defense of their human and civil rights. The LGBTA is located on Western’s Campus in Viking Union 515 and is open from the first day of Fall quarter until the last day of Spring quarter. For information call 360-650-6120.

-Mount Baker Planned Parenthood Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood proudly demonstrates its commitment to the LGBTQ community in all of our educational and service areas, by partnering with LGBTQ service organizations and through sponsorship and participation in Bellingham Pride. Our goal is to ensure that every individual has the information, services, and freedom to make healthy, responsible decisions about sex, sexuality, and parenthood. We offer comprehensive reproductive care, affordable STD testing and treatment and annual exams. Sliding scale available. Make an appointment on-line! http://www. mbpp.org Bellingham Clinic: (360)734-9095 Mount Vernon Clinic: (360)848-1744

Support Education Healing Advocacy counseling Safety planning Legal assistance Support groups Trainings and Workshops 24-hour helpline: 360.715.1563/877.715.1563 Talk to us in-person: 1407 Commercial St. Bellingham, WA

The Betty Pages Copyright Notice While The Betty Pages and/or its contributors generally reserve all rights and privileges of copyright, several parts of this publication are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. For more information and permissions, contact The Betty Pages at thebettypages@gmail.com or send a letter to The Betty Pages, c/o Desire Enterprises, PO Box 2724, Bellingham, Washington, 98227-2724, USA.

w w w. t h e b e t t y p a g e s . c o m

w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

-4th Corner Poly Polyamory is the practice or acceptance of having more than one loving, honest relationship at a time. We’re a friendly, welcoming group for people involved in or curious about polyamorous relationships. Our group consists of and welcomes diverse sexual and gender identities . This is a family, kid-friendly get-together for sharing experiences and desires—not a dating or swing scene. we meet every 4th Thursday evening at alternating locations. For more information: http://groups. y a h o o. c o m / g ro u p / 4 t h c o r n e r p o l y

-Evergreen AIDS Foundation Evergreen AIDS Foundation provides support services for people living with HIV and AIDS who reside in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. Bellingham: 115 Unity St. 360-671-0703, Everett: 2709 Wetmore Ave. 425-740-3000

Throw Back

MONDAY Karaoke

4 Jim Beam $ 2.75 Micros $

TUESDAY

9-11 $ 1 Wells 2.25 $

PBR

11-CL

Pitchers

1 HighLife

WEDNESDAY

1.25 PBR Pints $ 3.75 FireBall $

2 wells 9 - 11

DJ Postal

THURSDAY 80’s & 90’s $

1 Wells $ 2.25 Rainier 11-1 $ 2 Wells

9-11

Pitchers

FRIDAY

9-12 3 Long Island $

Short-wave &

Postal

SATURDAY DJ Mike

Tolleson