SGN March 6, 2015 - Section 1

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Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 10 Volume 43

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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

SCOTUS to hear oral Capitol Hill hate crimes arguments on same-sex forum draws capacity marriage April 28 crowd by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The Supreme Court of the United States announced Thursday that 2-1/2 hours of oral arguments on whether states can ban same-sex marriage will be heard April 28. If the court rules in favor of the LGBTQ community, it will be a historic and momentous occasion. In addition, audio transcripts of the argument will be released later that day, most likely by 2 p.m.; rarely does the court release audio of oral arguments until the end of each week they are held. Briefs from same-sex couples challenging the bans in four Midwest states were filed last week. Friend-of-the-court briefs supporting them have been arriving this week in advance of a Friday deadline. By the end of the day Friday, scores of briefs supporting Gay marriage are almost certain to be piled high at the court. On Friday, a “people’s brief ” with more than 200,000 signatures will be filed by the Human Rights Campaign. The first signature was that of Edie Windsor, who won the 2013 case striking down a key section of the

SCOTUS – d35brb9zkkbdsd.cloudfront.net

federal Defense of Marriage Act. Attorneys representing Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee have several more weeks before their briefs defending the bans are due. Following that, the couples challenging those bans will have one more chance to file reply briefs in early April. The case is coming to the high court because the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, whose jurisdiction oversees the four states, became the only federal appeals court to uphold bans against same-sex marriage in November. Until its 2-1 ruling, the Supreme Court justices had let other rulings striking down state bans from Virginia to Utah stand, denying those states’ petitions seeking the high court’s intervention.

City Council member Kshama Sawant hosts Capitol Hill hate crimes forum – photo by Anna Erickson

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A standing room only crowd of 175 people gathered at All Pilgrims Church on Broadway for a March 3 forum on hate crimes sponsored by Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant and several LGBT organizations. “Hate violence is nothing new on Capitol Hill,” kickoff speaker Danni Askini of Gender Justice League said, “and this forum is

not a response to any particular crime.” Instead, Askini promised, the forum would begin a community conversation on hate crimes targeting LGBTQ residents on Capitol Hill and try to identify solutions. The idea for the community forum originated with Gender Justice League, Askini explained, and was organized with the aid of Sawant and her staff. In her introductory remarks, Sawant told the multi-racial, multi-gendered crowd “It’s so gratifying for me to look at all your faces. Some are familiar, some I’ve never seen before. “As an activist,” she continued, “it’s very gratifying to see people you’ve never seen before. “As an immigrant woman and a person of color, I know personally what it means to have hate directed at me.” After Sawant, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray spoke briefly, remembering past community organizing campaigns – around AIDS, hate crimes, marriage equality – started “in this very room.” “These conversations are difficult,” Mursee forum page 11

Tlingit and Haida Tribal What’s love got to do with it? Council OKs same-sex Alabama Supreme Court orders marriage halt to same-sex marriages by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

All love is equal? Not in Alabama! – photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

In the ruling, the court granted an emergency petition by two anti-Gay groups, the Alabama Policy Institute and Alabama Citizens Action Program, who sought to Defying federal courts, the Alabama halt same-sex marriages that had begun afSupreme Court ordered a halt to same-sex marriages on March 3. see alabama page 5

Under the new rules, at least one of a same-sex couple must be enrolled in the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian In a unanimous vote on February 27, the Tribes of Alaska to qualify for a tribal marExecutive Council of the Tlingit and Haida riage. T h e Tribes of Alaska old rules allowed adopted a new bill tribal courts to that allows samemarry oppositesex couples to sex tribe memmarry under tribbers, but it was not al law. The Couna regular practice. cil announced the The council’s new policy in a March policy is expected 2 statement. to encourage its “ We a re courts to perpleased to expand form same-and our Tribal Court opposite-sex marto meet the needs riages. Divorces of our tribal citiare also included zens,” said Tribal in the new law. Court Chief Justice Debra O’Gara T h e in the statement. ”Our court Tlingit and Haida logo – council said its action adds can now be utilized by tribal lh3.googleusercontent.com to a growing list of tribes citizens for the happy occasion amending or adopting rules of marriage without discrimination and regardless of gender.” see Tlingit page 3


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