Celebrating 45 Years! Issue 21 Volume 47
FRIDAY May 24, 2019 FREE!
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A conversation with pop/jazz performer Spencer Day SEC 2 PG 1
“The Official Rupaul’s Drag Race: Season 11 Tour” in Seattle June 3 SEC 2 PG 1
Seattle Gay News S E AT T L E ’ S L G B T Q N E W S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T W E E K LY
Taiwan becomes first HISTORIC: US House country in Asia to legalize of Representatives passes same-sex marriage the Equality Act
Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP / Getty Images
TAIPEI, Taiwan – On May 17, 2019, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB), in a historic vote, the parliament of Taiwan voted to legalize same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Asia to do so. This landmark step follows a ruling by
Image courtesy of HRC
the Constitutional Court of Taiwan back in 2017, which ruled that legislation preventing partners of the same sex to marry was unconstitutional and violated LGBTIQ people’s right to equality.
see TAIWAN page 11
HUD rolls back protections for Trans homeless
WASHINGTON, DC (May 17, 2019) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, hailed the historic passage of the Equality Act by the US House of Representatives, the first time a chamber
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced it will reverse Obama-era protections for Transgender people who are experiencing homelessness.
see EQUALITY ACT page 5
Anti-LGBT, anti-choice judge heads for Senate confirmation
Another horrible Trump nominee
Photo by Daniel Sorabji / AFP / Getty Images
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
of Congress has approved a comprehensive LGBTQ civil rights bill. The crucially important, bipartisan legislation will finally provide clear, comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people across
The policy change would create a “religious exemption” for shelters receiving federal funds, allowing them to turn away Trans people. The Obama administration required shelters that receive HUD funding to place
see HUD page 6
Howard Nielson – Photo courtesy of C-SPAN
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In a party-line vote, US Senate Republicans voted to go forward with a confirmation vote for Howard Nielson, nominated by Donald Trump to the US District Court in Utah.
He is the latest in a series of horrible judicial nominees Trump has sent to the Senate for confirmation. Fifteen LGBT activist organizations – including Lambda Legal, the Community of LGBT Centers, and the National Centers
see NIELSON page 12