SGN June 12, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

Issue 24 Volume 48

FRIDAY June 12, 2020 FREE!

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IN MEMORY OF GEORGE BAKAN

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

GEORGE BAKAN 1941-2020

“The frame was taken on Sept. 29th, 2011, at the DADT Repeal party at Lobby Bar. I'd hopped onto the bar for an angle of the jubilant crowd in the room, only to realize the happiness on George's face said it all.”

– Photo by Nate Gowdy

“Together for Pride”

Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ organizations join forces to present three-day virtual Pride event promises to be a weekend of solidarity, June 26-28

Image courtesy of Seattle Pride

Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is going virtual with three days (June 26-28) of speakers, performances and activities courtesy of Gender Justice League, PrideFest, and Seattle Pride.

The three organizations, producers of Seattle’s largest Pride Month events – including Seattle Pride Parade, PrideFest

on Capitol Hill and at Seattle Center, Trans Pride and Seattle Pride in the Park – have joined forces to bring together elements from their respective events, plus new interactive offerings, in a virtual format at www.

TogetherForPride.org.

see TOGETHER page 20

Tribute to George Bakan Civil rights leader and Seattle Gay News publisher George Bakan dies

George Bakan on The Legacy Project – Image courtesy of The Legacy Project

by Sara Toce The Seattle Lesbian Civil rights leader and Seattle Gay News (SGN) publisher George Bakan was found dead at his desk on Sunday evening, June 7, 2020. He was 78 years old.

A pioneer in the LGBTQ+, HIV and AIDS communities, Bakan was beloved by many who were influenced by his natural wit and personality. In the latter part of his life, Bakan devoted the majority of his time advocating for marriage equality, afford-

see GEORGE BAKAN page 5

2 Seattle Gay News

June 12, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 3

Seattle Gay News F O U N D E D 1974 MEMBER

2018

1707 23rd Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 324-4297 sgn2@sgn.org sgn.org

OBITUARY

Deadlines Classifieds | Thursday at Noon Calendar | Tuesday at 6pm Display Ads Space Reservation | Monday at 5pm Ad Copy (non-camera ready) | Tuesday at 5pm Ad Copy (camera-ready) | Wednesday at 5pm Letters to the Editor | Tuesday at 5pm Obituaries | Call the SGN office All others | Tuesday at 5pm

Editor in Chief George Bakan Copy Editor Rick McKinnon (since Dec 2013) Advertising George Bakan • Maggie Bloodstone MK Scott National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Staff Writers Mike Andrew • Sara Michelle Fetters Miryam Gordon • Albert Rodriguez Contributing Writers Rev. Barbara Allen • Ron Anders Madelyn Arnold • Alice Bloch Maggie Bloodstone • Beau Burriola Sharon Cumberland • Jessica Davis Tina Gianoulis • Anthony Greer Milton W. Hamlin • Nevin Jefferson Richard Kennedy • Shaun Knittel Liz Meyer • Jason A. Miller Jesse Monteagudo David Nguyen aka Teriyaki Temple Rod Parke • Don Paulson Jerry Peerson • Tim Peter • Jessica Price Scott Rice • Leslie Robinson MK Scott • Mark Segal • Gaysha Starr Sarah Toce • Paul Torres • Janice Van Cleve Ed Walsh • James Whitely Scott Wittet • Rex Wockner Cartoonist Ken Campbell Calendar Editor Rick McKinnon Classifieds Rick McKinnon Photographers Nate Gowdy • Joseph P. Herron MK Scott • James Whitely Production Mike Pham Website Designer Barry Thorsness / Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2018. Frogs and Ink, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reprints by permission.

Publication of names, photographs, or likeness of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business.

Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper.

Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication.

We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write.

And please play safe.

It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your ad. Credit will be given for the balance owed.

No exceptions.

In Loving Memory Of Steve Foiles • Scott Roger Alpert Cookie Andrews-Hunt James Leland Moore Randy Peters • Lee Richeson Shaun Shelton • Jim Tully James Arnold

4 Seattle Gay News

Remembering Seattle Gay News publisher George Bakan

by Justin Carder Capitol Hill Seattle George Bakan, Capitol Hill resident and publisher of the Seattle Gay News from the days when the AIDS crisis dominated its pages through marriage equality and 2020’s pandemic-postponed Pride, has died.

The 78-year-old reportedly passed away working at his desk on the paper he helmed since 1983 in a lifetime he also filled with fighting for civil rights, community activism, journalistic enthusiasm, and love of a good argument.

The Seattle Lesbian reported his death Tuesday: A pioneer in the LGBTQ+, HIV and AIDS communities, Bakan was beloved by many who were influenced by his natural wit and personality. In the latter part of his life, Bakan devoted the majority of his time advocating for marriage equality, affordable LGBTQ+ senior housing and telling the stories of our time. He was the editor-inchief of the SGN for nearly four decades.

According to a biography Bakan provided when he ran to lead the Capitol Hill Community Council in 2014, Rudolph George Bakan was born in Seattle, “raised in rural Bellevue and in the 1960s he moved with his family to Eastern Washington” – George returned to Seattle in the early 1980s to become a gay activist. Some of the highlights of his almost 30-years of gay community activism are organizing the Seattle AIDS Action Committee in 1983, which later became Mobilization Against AIDS. During the early days of the AIDS epidemic George and the Seattle AIDS Action Committee organized an annual candle light vigil at SCCC at Pine and Broadway on Capitol Hill. During his early days as an activist he co-chaired the 1984 Freedom Day Committee, now known as Seattle Out and Proud. George was the regional co-chair for the 1987 and 1993 National Marches on Washington, DC. During both organizing efforts Bakan led the Northwest sponsored push for bi and transsexual inclusion at the national

June 12, 2020

George Bakan – Photo by Alex Garland

events. He was on the Hands Off Washington (HOW) Executive Committee and was for a time Vice Chair for Hands Off Washington. HOW worked statewide on LGBT political issues from 1992 to 1996.

“Thought of retirement does not suit George,” the bio – that Bakan very well may have written – read. “The LGBT veteran activist continues his daily oversight at the SGN and looks towards future projects, including health issues for old gay guys and setting up training and leadership workshops for young LGBT activists and a tree planting project in Seattle parks to honor people who’ve died of AIDS.” In 2013, Bakan was recognized with a night in his honor at Neighbours to mark his “lifetime and continued achievements of leadership and community Service.”

The last time Bakan figured prominently in one of our stories was in 2017 as we covered work to plan affordable LGBTQfriendly senior housing on Capitol Hill: George Bakan, editor-in-chief of the Seattle Gay News, had plenty of commentary throughout the night and mentioned his dealings with living in non-seniororiented spaces. He’s fallen twice but was

lucky to come out unscathed.

“We must build to avoid [falls],” Bakan said. “There is a true scale of injuries as you get older.”

He also said some living spaces don’t allow visitors without notification. Bakan knew a man with cancer who couldn’t see his boyfriend because it was required he sign up for visitation two days ahead of time.

That project is now moving forward on Broadway with plans for an eight-story affordable housing project focused on LGBTQ+ elders between Pike and Pine.

Over the years, CHS talked with Bakan on a regular basis. As a publisher, he was intrigued and excited by the growth of a news website in his home neighborhood.

As a critic, he kept CHS on its toes. And as a commenter, well, he liked to stir things up – a few of our chats were about comments that were removed from the site. We always were able to sort things out and CHS articles continued to occasionally appear in print in the SGN. “Your friendship is more important than posting,” Bakan wrote.

Thanks for reading, GB.

Celebrating 46 Years!

GSBA Facebook tribute to George Bakan Losing George Bakan leaves a huge hole in our LGBTQ community. George, publisher of the Seattle Gay News, was a friend, GSBA Member, and fierce longtime LGBTQ activist.

George began his career with SGN in the early 1980’s, when LGBTQ Seattleites depended on each week’s edition of the Seattle Gay News to not only tie them to their community, but to stay informed about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. George printed every scrap of news on research, prevention, and resources to help fight the disease. As the death toll mounted, George filled the pages with the names of our community members who were lost, and published obituaries for free.

He helped see our community through some of its darkest days, and continued to fight for LGBTQ equality for decades, also leaving his mark on the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and marriage equality movements.

George was a powerhouse. He was never afraid to speak truth to power. He was blunt, and told you how it was – whether you wanted to hear it or not. He was known for his ongoing calls to every LGBTQ nonprofit, and GSBA was right up there receiving our daily one or more George Bakan calls, to hold us accountable, go on about community news, challenge us on what we didn’t do or should do, and other times – just for conversation.

As we approach our 40th anniversary next year, we find it amazing that we can look back on every year throughout our history as an organization – and George was there. He never missed an event. He loved the GSBA Public Policy Task Force, was proud of our community having an LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and cared deeply about the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund.

After the last EQUALUX – TASTE of GSBA in November, we picked up the phone to hear George say it was “one of the most powerful events” he’d ever attended,

GEORGE BAKAN continued from cover

able LGBTQ+ senior housing and telling the stories of our time. He was the editorin-chief of the SGN for nearly four decades.

On the subject of affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors, George told Seattle

George Bakan – Photo courtesy of GSBA

and he went as far as to contact the Mayor’s Office and have the day declared as “EQUALUX Day in Seattle.” Of course, the Mayor’s Office was also familiar with George’s call and understood that life

would be easier if they did what he asked.

That was George, opinionated, irreverent, knowledgeable, incorrigible, and loved.

His activist mold was one of a kind and his legacy within Seattle’s LGBTQ history is

indelible. We were so lucky to call him a member and friend.

Weekly on October 31, 2018, “Many of the senior people we are talking about are people who had full-blown AIDS, but didn’t die. They need some very special attention to make sure that they’re properly…getting all of their medical needs in this era, in the last phase of their lives.”

In a video for The Legacy Project, Bakan did what he so often did best: he

shared a few history lessons about gay culture in Seattle – https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4Gu8QOdtOr0 In a Seattle Times interview published on March 7, 2019, Bakan reflected on the early days when AIDS began ravaging Seattle. “We knew we weren’t going to be spared. When you know a disaster is brewing, you do something about it.”

He did something unpopular at the time, the interview stated: he began running page after page to memorialize the dead with free obituaries.

“I felt it was time to open the door and publicly give people with AIDS an identity,” Bakan said at the time. [https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/moreabout-the-amp-aids-memorial-pathway/]

Bakan was instrumental in mobilizing the Approve Referendum 74 movement in 2012 to achieve marriage equality in Washington state. Whether attending events on the front lines or publishing accounts for the masses, Bakan provided a powerful voice to the Seattle LGBTQ+ community.

ability to be present in every action in the past few years. But when he was able, he was there, if at least watching from the side.

SGN Seattle Gay News

This is the publisher of the Seattle Gay News for the last 37 years, George Bakan.

You may even have seen him at some point- he was hard to miss- and you may have thought whose grandpa was this, or appreciated the fact this old hippie was still in the thick of things.

But even if you didn't, he saw you.

You may not know his name, but he passed just last Sunday, 6/7, peacefully in his sleep at the age of 78. I have worked at the SGN for 16 years, and he was not just my boss, but one of my best friends and a profound inspiration.

Please go to his Facebook page to get an idea of who he was and what he meant to everyone who knew him. Think of him when you start to feel exhausted and think nothing you can do will make a difference.

I am posting this because I want you all to know who he was because one thing that made him happy and optimistic for the future in his last days was the fact that you are all out here fighting.

Because above all else, George was a fighter, not only a major presence in the Seattle LGBTQ community for over 40 years, but a fierce and tireless He fought through advocate for racial the Seattle Gay justice, women's rights, News, through immigrants' rights, the influencing local homeless, labor unions, politics and seniors, healthcare, politicians, and and pretty much every battle against ignorance, though the sheer force of his physical bigotry, and hatred that could be fought. presence.

I hope with all my heart that you will all live to his age or older and still be every bit as passionate, dedicated, and loving.

Everything he did was out of love for our community, our city, and humanity in general. And he let everyone know exactly where he stood- and loudly.

His activism against AIDS in the 80s informed his resolve and his determination for the latter part of his life, even when he himself began to lose the

We here at the Seattle Gay News are behind you 100%, and we are more determined than ever to keep up the good fight and preserve George's legacy.

Because he really would not expect any less.

NEVER GIVE UP! FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, AND SOUL AND KEEP PEOPLE LIKE GEORGE AND EVERYONE WHO CAME BEFORE HIM WITH YOU EVERY MOMENT!

FIGHT FOR YOUR LIVES! FIGHT FOR THE WORLD!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Sara Toce’s remarks on Facebook (6-9-20): George Bakan. I really have no words, but I am going to try. I wrote Shaun’s obituary for George and the SGN after his untimely passing...it was too close to me as a journalist, but I did my best to do his life and legacy justice as he would have done for me. Now, George has passed - and as much as I want to write something profound in dedication of his memory, I think I’m still in shock.

George was always quick with a quip or history lesson - even when I was in the middle of deadline mode and really had no time to pick up the phone. “Call me” and then he’d put his number. A few days later I’d eventually call. I’d try texting first – nothing. Then I’d try messaging on Facebook.

The response? “Call me” and then he’d put his number. When I eventually picked the phone up and stopped staring at my computer, we’d talk for 45 minutes about whatever was on his mind.

George was always supportive of my creation and production of The Seattle Lesbian. He always wanted us to collaborate and work together as a team – and we did.

In between his musings and my questions, he’d ask me about Sophia and Stephanie.

Always happy with a chuckle and some offcolor remark about something. I will sure miss his humor and heart.

June 12, 2020

Rest in Power, George. We’ll miss you. – GSBA

Following are the links to The Legacy Project’s 5 videos with George Bakan: https://youtu.be/RBJsbZYIsEc https://youtu.be/4Gu8QOdtOr0 https://youtu.be/METh2XigrEE https://youtu.be/_7sSrnpXhbM https://youtu.be/Uid1yRg-77E THE LEGACY PROJECT Written & Directed By: Shaun Knittel Produced By: Shaun Knittel & Dru Dinero About The Legacy Project The Legacy Project was started in 2013

by Shaun Knittel. Its aim: to capture the history of the LGBTQ community in the Pacific Northwest of the US. Through extensive interviews with LGBTQ policy makers and cultural leaders, Shaun captured stories from the early days of the movement, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the ultimate milestone of Marriage Equality in the US. Shaun Knittel was a Navy veteran, journalist and LGBTQ community activist.

Helping lead the push in 2012 for Marriage Equality in Seattle, WA through a grassroots campaign, Shaun’s work was recognized by those who had been leading the movement since the early days.

Shaun Knittel passed away in December of 2019. Being a close friend to Shaun and producer of The Legacy Project, Dru Dinero has started this channel to bring the project to life. This channel is in remembrance of Shaun and his journalistic work in the LGBTQ community that he loved so much.

Seattle Gay News 5

IN MEMORY OF GEORGE BAKAN

Shaun Knittel’s The Legacy Project features interviews with SGN Editor-in-Chief/Publisher George Bakan

Shaun Knittel and George Bakan – Photo courtesy of Shaun Knittel

by Dru Dinero Special to the SGN I first met Shaun Knittel when I was 8 years old. One of my older brother’s best friends, Shaun had recently come out of the closet at 16. Shaun was young, Gay, and – since coming out – homeless. My

parents, although Evangelical Christians, welcomed Shaun into our home, when my older brother, Alex, asked if Shaun could stay with us for a while.

Shaun was a very intriguing and intrigued young man. I would always see him reading something, deeply concentrated into whatever he had in his hands.

I used to sneak into my brother’s room, where Shaun slept on the floor, to use my brother’s super-computer at the time.

Always a bit reserved myself, I would only greet Shaun and play games on my brother’s computer – never striking up any conversation. Being the biggest Elvis Presley fan I’ve ever met, Shaun was one day read-

George Bakan on The Legacy Project – Image courtesy of The Legacy Project

6 Seattle Gay News

June 12, 2020

ing a coffee table-style book of The King himself. The flashy pictures of this man intrigued me and I asked him about what he was reading. That began one of the most ed-ucative, inspiring and fun friendships I will ever have.

Shaun taught me about Elvis. But he didn’t stop there. We began having long conversations about life and the world.

Already at 16, Shaun’s mind was expanded way beyond his age, his struggles and the Eastside of Las Vegas where we grew up. At some point, Shaun got an apartment with some roommates and got a job at Glamour Shots inside of the Boulevard Mall. He got Alex a job at the same location and although I didn’t see Shaun as much, I would hear the crazy, funny stories of Shaun, Alex and their friends causing mayhem as only a group of teenagers who grew up in Las Vegas could.

At some point, Shaun decided to join the U.S. Navy to do PR work for the government and I didn’t see him for approximately 10 years. Shaun would, of course, write us; his stories about living in Japan, being shipped off to the Middle East after 9/11, living in Italy and getting to see a number of countries in the double digits fascinated me. Shaun was a great writer. Throughout this time, Shaun and I would speak over MySpace and eventually Facebook. He mentored me through my adolescence and early teenage years by reminding me of the importance of educa-tion, self-esteem, and would push me to achieve my goals and to dream big; a constant theme amongst his friends.

When I was 17, Shaun returned to Las Vegas after finishing his duty. We celebrated Shaun’s homecoming, admiring his stories of service for our country. At this time, one thing was for certain, Shaun’s solidified world view and his experiences during wartime had flipped a switch inside of him. Shaun served under Don’t Ask,

Celebrating 46 Years!

Owner of Seattle Gay News, George Bakan, dies at 78

by Astro Pittman Seattle Collegian On Sunday, June 7th, Seattle Gay News publisher and editor-in-chief George Bakan was found dead at his work desk. He was 78 years old. George was a much-beloved trailblazer, activist and leader in the LGBTQ+ community, spearheading many of the LGBTQ+ social movements we take for granted today.

George was active in the HIV and AIDS communities, organized dozens of PRIDE events, advocated for LGBTQ+ senior housing in Seattle, petitioned at the national level for marriage equality, helped end “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT), worked tirelessly to get Washington LGBTQ+ politicians elected, and made it his mission to post page upon page of free obituaries for those who died from AIDS in his Seattle Gay News publication’s obit section, a decision that was not very popular at the time. He also served with several LGBTQ-focused nonprofits as either a founding member or Board Chair, including being regional co-chair for the 1987 and 1993 National Marches on Washington, DC. George believed in being a voice for the people and was seen by many as a beacon of hope and a champion of civil rights and social justice for the LGBTQ+ community.

Along with Marsha Botzer of Ingersoll Gender Center and others, George helped to get the Transgender and Bisexual communities recognized and represented under the Queer umbrella. Without him, the LGBTQ+ acronym would just be Lesbian and Gay. Called “hard-headed and soft-hearted” by his close friends, George was fearless in his opinions and his willingness to speak them out loud, no matter how controversial. He was also a mischievous rascal and one helluva storyteller. George was wellknown for regaling folks with his personal accounts of Seattle Queer history. If it happened, he was probably there and could tell you everything you wanted to know about the players. A friend, Justice McCartney, said of George’s passing that our community had “lost one of the pillars that has held it up for as long as I have been alive…. He knew everyone and knew how to get things done in this community. Our community was stronger with him in it. He stood for what was right. He stood for the underdog.

He will be missed.”

George leaves behind a profound legacy of Queer journalism and activism that will continue on in his memory. Founded in 1976, Seattle Gay News was owned and operated by George for almost 40 years and is the #1 and third-oldest LGBTQ+

newspaper in the United States. George has received an outpouring of love on his Facebook page, and will be sorely missed by the community he worked so tirelessly to support. It is fitting that he died peacefully at his desk, doing what he loved.

Don’t Tell (DADT) and although he was able to navigate the system, Shaun having to go back in the closet lit a fire under him to want to live his most authentic self again.

He told us he could’ve renewed his contract with the U.S. Navy, stay living in Naples, Italy and have a fairly perfect life for all intents and purposes, but he was tired of “telling the military story”. Shaun had a yearning to “report on Gay issues and tell the Gay story”, as he would often say.

After a few months of catching up with his old friends and partying, Shaun left Las Vegas to begin his civilian career as a journalist writing for the Seattle Gay News.

He had never even visited Seattle before.

Keeping up with his tradition of writing his friends, Shaun would tell us about this new world he’d discovered in Seattle, WA. Shaun hit the ground running, involving himself in issues and circles he cared about.

For his 30th birthday a few of us decided to join him in Seattle for a celebration. It was here that I met the legendary Gaysha Starr, one of Shaun’s best friends in Seattle.

Gaysha fascinated me – actually all of the queens that performed at Shaun’s birthday party fascinated me. Being a young filmmaker, I told Shaun I would love to make a documentary on some of the drag queens he knew. Always encouraging, Shaun told me he would help me out.

I moved to Seattle, WA in August of 2011. Upon getting to Seattle, however, it wasn’t just drag queens that fascinated me, but the political movement Shaun was getting involved in for Marriage Equality. Shaun would lament that there wasn’t enough grassroots excitement for what he deemed as the ultimate fight for LGBTQ

rights. He recruited me and a group of his friends to start Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea), a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising awareness of LGBTQ issues in Seattle. Our first goal, help Washington state introduce Marriage Equality through the ballot box. Through Shaun’s leadership, we rallied, produced con-tent and events to help bring awareness at the grassroots level – and we won.

This was just the beginning of Shaun’s leadership and community activism.

Through his efforts, SOSea set up free selfdefense classes, a safety shuttle to get partygoers on Capitol Hill home safe, worked with SPD to help bring crime on the Hill down, helped get the rainbow crosswalks painted around the Hill and other countless acts of community building and activism.

Shaun did all of this because of his love for community; wanting to build a safer world for not just himself but his husband, YeeShin, along with all of their friends.

In 2013, immediately after the win for Marriage Equality, Shaun brought up the idea of making a documentary on LGBTQ history and the movement in Seattle. Using his contacts of policy makers and cultural leaders around the Hill, we began filming extensive interviews for content on what would eventually be called The Legacy Project.

A few years into the project, I had to head back to Las Vegas to look after my aging parents. Looking for a new breadth of life, Shaun and Yee-Shin also moved to Las Vegas. Both Shaun and Yee-Shin took up jobs educating mentally disabled individuals with Yee-Shin teaching in a wood shop and Shaun helping the individuals publish a quarterly magazine. Unfortunately, Shaun’s

Sending condolences

George Bakan – Photo by Nate Gowdy

Visit us online www.sgn.org

George’s daughter Angela Cragin and Sherry Harris are organizing a virtual memorial service for him, with details to follow soon.

POCAAN is saddened to learn about the loss our community has suffered. We hope to move through this difficult time together as one. We along with many others celebrate the life that George Bakan lived, remembering the good times we’ve shared as a community. We will never for-

get George’s support and generosity given POCAAN throughout the years.

health began to have complications and Shaun passed away in December of 2019, just shy of the new decade.

I miss my good friend, mentor, and chosen brother. Through his mischievous style Shaun had the ability to make you laugh until you were in tears and your stomach hurt. He also had the ability to bring you to his level of problem solving and look at the world with a sobering and methodical view. I’ve often thought of how comforting it would be to have Shaun around during these uncertain times; just to hear his viewpoint and rely on his leadership.

Shaun would’ve turned 40 on March 25th, 2020. In remembrance of Shaun, I’ve decided to bring The Legacy Project to life.

I know that Shaun’s main purpose in filming these interviews was to bring LGBTQ youth, as he once was, a sense of pride in their own history. This is a culmination of everything Shaun stood for and his work, which he held dear.

Interviews for The Legacy Project can now be found on YouTube. We filmed quite a bit, having in mind that we would make a feature out of them. In the spirit of the times,

I’ve decided to release the interviews wholly.

Shaun and I believed the entirety of these interviews should be seen and were having a hard time deciding what to cut out and what to leave in for a feature. Due to the number of them, I will be releasing interviews as fast as I can edit them in a digestible format.

Please look up The Legacy Project on YouTube and subscribe to the channel for notifications about new interviews.

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 7

Sincerely, Steven Sawyer, ED POCAAN Staff

Here are the links to 5 interview videos with George: https://youtu.be/RBJsbZYIsEc https://youtu.be/4Gu8QOdtOr0 https://youtu.be/METh2XigrEE https://youtu.be/_7sSrnpXhbM https://youtu.be/Uid1yRg-77E

GSBA & CHBA respond to police violence SEATTLE (June 8, 2020) – To Mayor Durkan, members of the Seattle City Council, City Attorney Holmes, and Chief Best, As the small business voice of Capitol Hill and the LGBTQ community, we write in solidarity with other community voices to express our deep concern that the events of the last weeks have put at risk the health and safety of the community.

The murder of countless black and brown people at the hands of the police must stop. We stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and other community voices here in Seattle on the need to address racism in all its forms.

As the small business voice of Capitol Hill and the LGBTQ community, we believe Capitol Hill should be a safe place for residents, for small business owners, and for individuals to peacefully protest.

The management by City Hall and the actions we have observed by the Seattle Police Department have created an environment that is hostile to free speech and the rights of the public to express themselves through peaceful protest.

The GSBA is Washington’s LGBTQ and allied chamber of commerce, founded on Capitol Hill in 1981 and representing 1,400 small businesses in Washington, including hundreds in Seattle. The GSBA has a long history of fighting for economic empowerment and social justice. The Capitol Hill Business Alliance is a program of the GSBA and is the business voice for the neighborhood. Many of our members have been risking their health and safety to support the protests against police violence because standing with their communities is what they do. In the middle of a pandemic and unprecedented economic crisis, they have seen it as their duty to open their doors and provide food, water, medical supplies, restrooms, and other needed amenities. And in return, many in the community feel betrayed and unsafe due to the reaction by the Seattle Police Department.

Photo by Renee Raketty

Watching the epicenter of the confrontation between protesters and police this weekend take place on the rainbow cross-

Whim W’Him postpones June 4 “Dance and Tell” event Dear friends & supporters, In this time of national trauma, when racial injustices have been made so clear, it feels wrong for us to move ahead with this event. This is not the moment to focus on Whim W’Him. This is a moment for mourning, reflection and meaningful action.

The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Breonna Taylor and countless other Black lives at the hands of violent racist perpetrators has demonstrated the horrific racism upon which this country was built. We mourn the loss of these Black lives, and are outraged by their deaths. It has taken Whim W’Him far too long to proclaim the truth: White silence – our silence – is violence.

Black Lives Matter and we must stand in solidarity with the Black community.

We must recognize that Whim W’Him needs to do more, much more, to fight racism in every institution in this country, including our own. We recognize that words matter, but not as much as actions.

We must look inward to recognize, reflect, resource and repair harm we have caused through our silence and our privilege.

We must interrogate our practices and set meaningful goals forward. We must build relationships and trust. We must hold ourselves accountable, and when we fall short, we must listen. We must do the work.

We recognize that we have been slow in

8 Seattle Gay News

responding. We have made mistakes and will make more along the way, but fear of getting it wrong cannot be an excuse for inaction when Black people are fearing for their lives every day. In this moment we are donating to Black-led community funds, contacting our elected representatives, participating in Black-led protests, and researching education programs and organizations to support our individual and collective anti-racist learning and practices. But that is not enough. We must answer the question “What now?” [https:// medium.com/@aikobethea/an-open-letterto-corporate-america-philanthropy-academia-etc-what-now-8b2d3a310f22?mc_ cid=b15172b6a3&mc_eid=5d1590fe86] and take tangible steps to develop and live into policies and practices that begin to move us forward on our journey toward antiracism and anti-oppression. Building and enacting that plan is our responsibility and our work starts now.

In solidarity and action, Olivier Wevers, Artistic Director & Founder Keri Kellerman, Executive Director Ila Nazarco, Board President Whim W’Him Seattle Contemporary Dance

June 12, 2020

walks in the center of our LGBTQ community’s historic neighborhood on the start of Pride was particularly painful. The origins of Pride for the LGBTQ community are rooted in protests against police brutality, whether at the Stonewall Inn, Compton’s Cafeteria, or the extortion and harassment of early LGBTQ spaces in Pioneer Square for most of the twentieth century. LGBTQ people of color have been at the center of these movements from the beginning.

From our perspective, there is no way to separate the fight for LGBTQ rights from the fights for the rights of black, brown, and indigenous people.

The GSBA has long supported community-based efforts to reform the Seattle Police Department. What the events of the last week have made clear is that the institution needs deep and meaningful changes to its systems, policies, and culture. We ask that you act quickly and decisively to deescalate the tensions on Capitol Hill and across Seattle so that we can again feel safe on Capitol Hill and protesters can exercise their first amendment rights. The City must make every effort necessary to reach consensus with the community to eliminate biased policing, and we ask that you listen closely to the voices of our communities.

We join with many others who have come before us advocating the following actions as a start to remedy these harms and the significant loss of goodwill and trust between the community, its local leaders, and its police department: • Cease all actions against peaceful protesters, including physical attacks, arrests, prosecution, and incarceration.

• Prohibit the use of any gas, flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets, and other violent methods against protesters.

• End forcing downtown protests up into Capitol Hill, allow protesters to peaceably walk and gather on streets and sidewalks as they choose, especially during these times when there is minimal obstruction of traffic or other activities.

• Prohibit any obstruction of badge numbers by officers, for any reason.

• Have an experienced incident commander who is visible throughout the demonstrations, speaking with and regularly updating community, businesses, the media, and all those watching who are trying to get accurate, timely, and consistent information.

• Ensure that SPOG and SPMA contracts live up to the promises made to the community that reforms recommended by the Community Police Commission in 2014 and in the 2017 accountability reform law will be fully enacted.

• Follow through on all other requirements from the 2017 law that did not need to await contractual changes and on any other recommendations for reform from years of civilian oversight working in collaboration with community that are still not implemented.

• Begin serious efforts to demilitarize the SPD (equipment, training, and behavior) and redirect SPD funding where a law enforcement approach is not serving our communities, reinvesting in other approaches, and in addressing other longstanding disparities in services.

The damage done to Capitol Hill, its residents, and its small businesses – as well as the loss of trust and mutual respect between police and the communities they serve – will take a lot of work to restore.

We are outraged, frustrated, and disappointed, and we need you to hear our voice and those of the protesters. While our expectations are high, we will help hold City Hall and the Seattle Police Department accountable. The GSBA will continue to work for equality and the dismantling of structural racism working with community partners to make our city safe and allow our communities to thrive.

Sincerely, Louise Chernin, President & CEO Courtesy of the GSBA

Celebrating 46 Years!

Police abandon SPD’s East Precinct in wake of Black Lives Matter backlash

Trump claims “domestic terrorists” seize Seattle, threatens action against “ugly anarchists”

by Renee Raketty SGN Staff Writer The standoff between the Seattle Police Department and Black Lives Matter protesters entered a new phase on Monday.

The Seattle Police Department abandoned it’s East Precinct in an effort to de-escalate rising tensions with protesters who have sought to curb police abuses in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police. Local protesters have rallied around the East Precinct as a symbolic victory and stepping-off point for organizing around racial, social and economic injustice.

“I don’t want to celebrate until we have that real change that we are looking for,” said Raz Simone, a rapper and local activist. “I’m just being mindful and staying focused.”

“We need to start thinking about solutions and other ways to build on other systems because we are talking about defunding the police department. We are probably going to go after education next. So, we need to make sure that what we have as a substitute...is going to do what we need it to do... We need to focus on what actually needs to be done.”

The protesters have since claimed a six-block area near the East Precinct as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ).

Photo by Lincoln Rose

The area had been a flashpoint between police and protesters for several days, culminating in the longest and most aggressive police action undertaken by the SPD. Just after midnight on the morning of Monday,

ACLU sues Seattle for “unnecessary violence” by police

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit on June 9, charging that the City of Seattle police (SPD) violated the constitutional rights of demonstrators by allowing police officers to deploy “unnecessary violence” in controlling and suppressing crowds.

The plaintiffs include Black Lives Matter activists, unaffiliated protesters, and a journalist.

The suit says that the City deprived protesters and others of their constitutional rights by using chemical agents such as tear gas and pepper spray, as well as projectiles such as flash-bang grenades and blast balls, against First Amendment–protected demonstrations sparked by the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The lawsuit also charges the City with depriving protesters of their Fourth Amendment rights by subjecting them to excessive force.

“On an almost nightly basis, the SPD has indiscriminately used excessive force against protesters, legal observers, journalists, and medical personnel,” the lawsuit says. “For example, the SPD has repeatedly sprayed crowds of protesters with tear gas and other chemical irritants – including… just days after the city pledged a 30-day moratorium on the use of tear gas.”

The ACLU’s lawsuit names the City as the defendant, but it specifically calls out Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best as responsible for authorizing the police actions.

In a comment on the suit, a Durkan spokesperson described it merely as “another step by the community to hold the city accountable.”

The ACLU was joined by lawyers with the Seattle firm Perkins Coie and Seattle University School of Law representing Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County, four protesters, one would-be protester, and a journalist with The Stranger newspaper.

The lawsuit asks for a temporary injunction and a permanent court order forbidding Seattle from continuing “using lesslethal weapons to control and suppress demonstrations,” along with an admission that the city has committed constitutional violations.

Named plaintiffs in the lawsuit include: • Abie Ekenezar, a veteran with disabilities attacked with chemical agents twice during the demonstrations, • Sharon Sakamoto, a retiree who says she was deterred from protesting because of health concerns over weapons like tear gas, • Muraco Kyashna-tochá, a protester who struggled to see after being exposed to police tear gas and pepper spray at a Capitol Hill demonstration she described as nonviolent, and • Nathalie Graham, a writer for The Stranger.

According to court filings, “During her time serving in the military, Ms. Ekenezar participated in tear-gas drills. She believes that the chemical agent the SPD used on her and other protesters on May 30 was tear gas. The tear gas stung Ms. Ekenezar’s eyes and triggered her asthma.”

Deeply committed to civil rights and racial justice because she survived incarceration as a child during World War II, Sakamoto, who is Japanese-American, “was frightened away from joining the protests because of the SPD’s use of violence,” the lawsuit says.

“Ms. Kyashna-tochá did not hear the officers issue any verbal warnings,” the lawsuit charges.

The lawsuit says that Graham had to stop covering demonstrations on May 30 and June 2 because she was having trouble seeing and breathing after tear gas and flash-bang grenades were deployed.

“There is a new element of trepidation, anxiety, and fear to my experience of being a journalist,” Graham is quoted as saying in the lawsuit.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 8th, the police unleashed a volley of crowd control devices such as flash bangs, pepper spray and tear gas, which led to minor injuries among protesters.

The Seattle Office of Police Accountability announced that they were investigating the SPD actions. Likewise, the ACLU and other groups have filed for a restraining order against the SPD to halt the use of “excessive force.” U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones will hear oral arguments on Friday, June 12th. The legal documents claim that “the SPD has indiscriminately used excessive force against protesters” on an “almost nightly basis” against legal observers, journalists and medical personnel.

Reverend Beth Chronister, a minister with the University Unitarian Church, says she has sided with the protesters. She has lived in Seattle for four years and has never seen a situation escalate so quickly or violently; not even in the Midwest where she has roots. “There has been legitimate anger, grief and demands here but they have been gathering peacefully to demand change and to demand accountability,” said Chronister.

“That is being met with this use of force that has been unnecessary and uncalled for by the police. The use of tear gas, curfew and arrests I have been seeing the police escalate this during the protests and not creating a safe space to listen to the demands.”

“The protection of Black people and Black lives is God’s vision for life. Every person has inherent worth and dignity. The system of racism and the system of racist police deny that truth by taking the lives of black people with impunity.”

The SPD has countered that items had been thrown at officers and their actions were justified to maintain public safety.

Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette said that they are looking to dialogue with the protesters “on a way to move forward” to reopen the East Precinct. They say the closure of the precinct has reduced response times and their ability to continue criminal investigations. According to Nollette, people within CHAZ have also been asking for identification and seeking donations from area businesses. She added that if anyone “feels threatened or intimidated” by the protesters that they should report it to 9-1-1.

A walk through the CHAZ on Wednesday showed an incredibly organized effort.

A “No Cop Co-Op” dispensed food, while sidewalk booths featured masks, hand sanitizer, and even faith providers offering blessings to anyone assembled. Artistic efforts were on display everywhere, including on the walls of East Precinct, where one mural read: “Unity, Diversity, Freedom.” A small group was also busy painting “Black Lives Matter” onto Pine Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues. Not since the “invasion” of

Fort Lawton by Native Americans in 1970 have minorities and their allies sought to claim land to address systemic injustices that robbed people of color of equal opportunities, civil rights and led to health and economic inequalities – among other social ills.

“This is a work in progress,” said Jerry Knight, who celebrated outside the East Precinct on Monday. ”This is a victory as long as we really focus on the foundation of racism and its history.”

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant says she too was the victim of police action during the police assault on Monday morning. She suggested turning the East Precinct into a community center for restorative justice while speaking at a rally inside Seattle City Hall on Tuesday.

She has also introduced a bill to ban chokeholds by members of law enforcement – the likely cause of Floyd’s death.

“The thing about winning victories is that you need to build on it. We need to engage in a massive and peaceful escalation of our movement,” Sawant told the crowd on Capitol Hill during a celebratory gathering on Monday. “To be honest, to win it, we will need to build an even bigger and more powerful movement than we have to date.”

“We have to remember that what built the movement is not the people who are in power that may look like you or me but it is the people that have shown – through their actions – that they are in solidarity with ordinary people and marginalized communities.”

Nikkita Oliver, a former mayoral candidate and local activist, took to the mic on Monday to say that the movement was not about personalities or who “does or doesn’t show up to the barricade” but a diffuse movement “organizing under a set of the same demands, values and principles.”

“We are unifying,” said Oliver, “We have people that are rivals in the same space talking about one aligned vision, one aligned struggle against the white supremacist system. That’s powerful.”

Meanwhile, President Trump took to twitter on Wednesday to threaten the future of CHAZ and the activists that created it. In a tweet to Governor Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, he wrote: “Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will.

This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped [sic] IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!” The President followed that up with another tweet 38 minutes later in which he added that “[d]omestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle.”

More protests are planned for Friday.

The Seattle Public Schools plans to approve a resolution that would end its partnership with the SPD for one year during its school board meeting on June 24th.

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 9

Photo by Renee Raketty

10 Seattle Gay News

June 12, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

Photo by Renee Raketty

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 11

IN MEMORY OF GEORGE BAKAN

George Bakan at the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation – Photos courtesy of Curt Pavola

George Bakan over the years – Photos by Nate Gowdy

We will present a special tribute section in our June 26 Pride issue, print and online.

Thanks to our fabulous community from everyone here at the SGN from the bottom of our hearts!

12 Seattle Gay News

June 12, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 13

with DESCOVY for PrEP® DESCOVY for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a once-daily prescription medicine for adults and adolescents at risk of HIV. It helps lower the chances of getting HIV through sex.

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DESCOVY® is the smallest pill approved for PrEP. Actual size: 13mm x 6mm

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DESCOVY FOR PrEP, the DESCOVY FOR PrEP Logo, the DESCOVY Blue Pill Design, DESCOVY, the DESCOVY Logo, STEP UP. PrEP UP., ADVANCING ACCESS, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. ©2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. DVYC0244 02/20

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(206) 659-0159 carmelostacos@gmail.com

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Cantwell joins Booker, Harris, and Congressional Black Caucus to introduce comprehensive law enforcement reform legislation WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2020) – US Sen Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today joined Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), as well as Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D, CA-37) and House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D, NY-10), to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The comprehensive legislation will hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement, and attempt to build trust between law enforcement agencies and communities.

Last week, Cantwell spoke on the Senate floor about the need for new federal legislation to protect civil rights and implement important police reforms.

“Americans are telling us we need better laws on the books, and I believe we need to act. It is time that we not just speak out about injustice; it’s time that we pass new federal laws to protect the civil liberties of United States citizens and protect them from these injustices,” Cantwell said.

Specifically, the Justice in Policing Act of 2020:

• Prohibits federal, state, and local law enforcement from racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling, and mandates training on racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling for all law enforcement; • Bans chokeholds, carotid holds, and noknock warrants at the federal level and limits the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement; • Mandates the use of dashboard cameras and body cameras for federal offices and requires state and local law enforcement to use existing federal funds to ensure the use of police body cameras; • Establishes a National Police Misconduct Registry to prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave on agency from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability; • Amends federal criminal statute from “willfulness” to a “recklessness” standard to successfully identify and prosecute police misconduct; • Reforms qualified immunity so that individuals are not barred from recovering dam-

ages when police violate their constitutional rights; • Establishes public safety innovation grants for community-based organizations to create local commissions and task forces to help communities to reimagine and develop concrete, just, and equitable public safety approaches; • Creates law enforcement development and training programs to develop best practices and requires the creation of law enforcement accreditation standard recommendations based on President Obama’s task force on 21st century policing; • Requires state and local law enforcement agencies to report use of force data, disaggregated by race, sex, disability, religion, and age; • Improves the use of pattern and practice investigations at the federal level by granting the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division subpoena power and creates a grant program for state attorneys general to develop authority to conduct independent investigations into problematic police departments;

• Establishes a Department of Justice task force to coordinate the investigation, prosecution, and enforcement efforts of federal, state, and local governments in cases related to law enforcement misconduct; and • Contains the full text of the “Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act,” which makes lynching a federal hate crime.

Cantwell also cosponsored S. 1938, the Police Training and Independent Review Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to improve police training and encourage independent, impartial investigations into law enforcement officials’ use of deadly force.

A section-by-section summary of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is available [at https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/download/justice-in-policing-section-by-section].

Video of Sen. Cantwell’s floor speech from last week is available [at https://bit. ly/2MZTd8F].

Courtesy of Sen. Maria Cantwell

Sen. Murray announces support for Justice in Policing Act, calls for continued work to stop racial injustice WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2020) – Today, US Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement in support of Senate and House Democrats’ newlyintroduced Justice in Policing Act: “As people have continued taking to the streets peacefully demanding the equal and just treatment of Black people in this country, I’ve been horrified by the violence I’ve seen carried out in the name of public safety.

I’ve been talking to people all over Washington state about how we begin working to address our country’s legacy of racism and anti-Blackness, and I know the path toward solutions and healing cannot be paved by the same violence that got us here.

“This violence echoes the police brutality that unjustly ended George Floyd’s life, and is yet another distressing example of how Black lives for so long in this country have not mattered. I believe strongly that George Floyd mattered, as do the named

and unnamed countless Black people and other people of color whose lives have also been lost to police violence as well as our nation’s deep-seated racism. That’s why I am proud to join Sens. Harris and Booker, as well as the Congressional Black Caucus and other leaders in the House, in introducing the Justice in Policing Act today, which is a meaningful first step Congress can take on the federal level to reform and better track policing, as well as ensure citizens can seek justice and law enforcement officers are held accountable for misconduct. Every elected official who’s seen the news in the last two weeks – Democrat or Republican – should be able to get behind this bill and send it to the President’s desk without delay.

“It is beyond time for all of us, especially elected leaders like me, to listen.

Going forward, I want those fighting for justice across the country to know that I am clear that the conversation does not stop

here – far from it. This is only the beginning of the action we must take in Congress, and as a nation, to reset our moral compass and address the racism at the roots of our laws and policies, our systems and institutions, and our communities, and I am committed to the work ahead.”

The Justice in Policing Act is new legislation released today from Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Corey Booker (D-NJ), that Sen. Murray is a cosponsor of, which would begin to address police brutality with a number of reforms, including creating a national use of force standard and encouraging independent investigations into police misconduct.

Last week, Sen. Murray also cosponsored the Police Training and Independent Review Act, which would incentivize training for law enforcement officials on fair and impartial policing, as well as best practices for working with members of the commu-

nity who are disabled, and encourage independent, impartial investigations into law enforcement officials’ use of deadly force.

On Friday, May 29, Sen. Murray issued a statement calling for federal investigations into the recent killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery – all unarmed Black people – and on June 4, Sen. Murray called for an independent investigation into the killing of Manuel Ellis, an unarmed Black man killed by police in Tacoma. In addition to the Justice in Policing Act, Sen. Murray is exploring what additional options may be possible at the federal level to help address the challenge of police brutality, as well as the country’s underlying racial issues.

Courtesy of Sen. Patty Murray

Anti-Transgender exclusion removed from Colorado Group Health Plan DENVER, CO (June 10, 2020) – Niamh Anderson took all the necessary steps in preparation for their gender-confirming procedure last July, including securing prior insurance authorization for a surgery doctors had said was medically necessary to treat their gender dysphoria. So Anderson, a paramedic then employed with of the Town of Limon, was stunned to learn that the town’s health insurance plan administrator denied several claims for the procedure because of a blanket exclusion that effectively precludes any gender-affirming health care. Without coverage for the procedure, Anderson was facing medical bills exceeding $40,000.

After trying to navigate through insurance appeals on their own, Anderson, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, reached out to Lambda Legal’s Help Desk for assistance. Lambda Legal lawyers filed charges of discrimination on Anderson’s behalf with the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) against the Town of Limon, the Colorado Employer Benefit Trust (CEBT),

and health plan administrators, alleging violations of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, as well as housing and public accommodations.

Shortly after receiving notice of the charges, the Board of Trustees of the CEBT took prompt action to resolve the matter. As part of an agreement with Anderson, CEBT reprocessed and paid all of Anderson’s previously rejected claims; removed the categorical transgender health care exclusion from the plan; included an express statement that medically necessary gender-confirming procedures are covered for all plan participants; and, provided notice on their website of the policy change to all plan participants.

“When it comes right down to it, doing the right thing for transgender and nonbinary employees is really not that hard,” said Avatara Smith-Carrington, Tyson Garner Memorial Law Fellow at Lambda Legal.

“Far too many health insurance policies across the country still include unlaw-

18 Seattle Gay News

June 12, 2020

ful anti-transgender exclusions. And even when the discriminatory exclusion is called to the attention of the insurer, many prefer a protracted legal battle rather than simply correcting the problem. We commend the CEBT for removing a barrier to adequate health care for all transgender and nonbinary plan participants and encourage other keepers of the public trust to be similarly clear-sighted.”

“This is such a relief,” Anderson said.

“I was pretty devastated when I learned that my insurance claims had been rejected, because I was really careful to get all the necessary pre-approvals before having the procedure. So, it was great the folks at the CEBT quickly took steps to remove the exclusion and make things right.”

According to its website, the Colorado Employer Benefit Trust is a multiple employer trust for public institutions providing employee benefits. Created in 1980, the CEBT has grown to approximately 33,000 members and more than 350 participating groups, including municipalities,

school districts, and other governmental entities across Colorado.

The case is In re Anderson. Further information about the amendments to the CEBT EPO Medical Plan and CEBT PPO and High Deductible Medical Plan are available on the CEBT website.

Avatara Smith-Carrington, Carl Charles, and Paul D. Castillo worked on the case for Lambda Legal, joined by Mari Newman and Liana Orshan of Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP in Denver, Colorado.

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and policy work. www. lambdalegal.org Courtesy of Lambda Legal

Celebrating 46 Years!

Alicia Garza, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Kamala Harris join Lesbians Who Tech & Allies at Pride Summit WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2020) – We are at a pivotal point in our nation’s history. The time for justice and change is now. We must continue to fight against the oppressive police and political systems that endanger and devalue Black lives.

Like generations of activist movements before this, we’ve seen how refusing to sit on the sidelines – protesting in the streets, calling representatives, donating to advocacy groups, speaking out – matters and moves us toward concrete change. Yesterday, for example, Minneapolis City Council announced its intention to dismantle the metro’s police, and several cities across the country are considering the same.

The Black Lives Matter movement, which ignited in 2013, has been critical to this moment.

On June 24, you’re invited to join Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and principal of the Black Futures Lab, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren for a discussion on the future of the movement and the upcoming presidential election. Later in the week, our founder Leanne Pittsford will also interview Sen. Kamala Harris, covering police reform and how we can create systemic change.

Lesbians Who Tech & Allies’ first-ever Pride Summit is a free, virtual event where our community can organize and connect on these issues and more.

Will you join us on June 22-26?

RSVP [at https://lesbianswhotech.org/ virtualpridesummit/#rsvp].

(Not IRL) Pride Summit speakers: • Angelica Ross, founder & CEO, TransTech & Actress • Kara Swisher, co-founder & editor-atLarge, Recode; producer & host, Recode Decode & Pivot podcasts; contributor, The NY Times, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC • Rose Marcario, CEO, Patagonia • Elizabeth Warren, US Senator • Kamala Harris, US Senator • Stacey Abrams, founder, Fair Fight Action, Fair Count, the Southern Economic Advancement Project • Megan Rapinoe, USWNT • Alicia Garza, principal, Black Futures Lab; co-founder, Black Lives Matter • Arlan Hamilton, founder & managing Partner, Backstage Capital • Beth Ford, CEO, Land O’Lakes • Valerie Jarrett, businesswoman & senior advisor to President Barack Obama • Jen Wong, COO, Reddit • Sharice Davids, US Representative, Kansas • Ilene Chaiken, television writer & producer • Glennon Doyle, author & founder, Together Rising • Quinn Wilson, creative director, Lizzo • Kate Moennig, actress, “The L Word” • Leisha Hailey, actress, “The L Word” • Jennifer Beals, actress, “The L Word” • Megan Smith, 3rd US CTO & CEO, shift7 • Moj Mahdara, CEO & founder, Beautycon • Tina Tchen, CEO, Time’s Up; former chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama • Shamina Singh, president, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth; executive vice president, sustainability, Mastercard • Stephanie Beatriz, actress, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” • Stephenie Landry, VP of Amazon Prime Now, AmazonFresh & Restaurants • LaFawn Davis, VP of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Indeed • Leilani Farol, SVP of Cybersecurity & Global Information Security, Bank of America • Caitlin Kalinowski, Head of Hardware, Oculus VR • Cindy Finkelman, CIO, FactSet Research Systems • Lisa Sullivan-Cross, Head of Growth Marketing, Pinterest • Cameron Esposito, Comedian • Irma Olguin Jr., co-founder & CEO, Bitwise Industries

• Jana Rich, CEO & founder, Rich Talent Group • Amy Errett, CEO & founder, Madison Reed • Andrea Barrica, CEO & founder, O.school • Jimena Almendares, former VP of Global Expansion, Intuit • Monique Woodard, early-stage investor & founder, Something New • Nichole Mustard, chief revenue officer & co-founder, Credit Karma • Roz Francuz-Harris, Director of Talent Acquisition, WarnerMedia • Shantell Martin, visual artist

Visit us online www.sgn.org

• Stephanie Tan, CISO, Marcus by Goldman Sachs • Vivienne Ming, co-founder & executive chair, Socos Labs • Kelly Bush Novak, CEO & founder, ID PR • Madame Gandhi, activist & musician • Ingrid Abel, community manager, Capital One • Jacqueline Guichelaar, Group CIO, Cisco • + more to come!

This five-day summit will be filled with badass talks, mentoring, networking and hanging out, workshops, health and well-

ness classes, and all things YOU. Everything is free to our LGBTQ community and allies. If you have any questions, email us at squad@lesbianswhotech.org.

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 19

Lesbians Who Tech & Allies is a global community of over 50,000 LGBTQ women (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer) and gender-nonconforming people in tech.

Lesbians Who Tech & Allies promotes the visibility, leadership, and education of our community.

Courtesy of Lesbians Who Tech

PRIDE

World leaders and royalty among lineup for online Global Pride event

(May 30, 2020) – A worldwide LGBTQIA+ Pride event has announced the first wave of speakers and acts appearing at the online event on June 27, expected to attract up to 300 million viewers.

They include Carlos Alvarado Quesada, president of Costa Rica (which this week legalized equal marriage), Prime Ministers Erna Solberg of Norway and Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India. All were approached by Pride organizations in their own country.

More leaders will announce their participation in the coming weeks.

Names from the world of entertainment, including international musicians and bands, and performers from the LGBTQIA+ community will be announced throughout June.

Global Pride was launched by national and international Pride networks after hundreds of Pride events were cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. Organizers are planning a 24-hour stream of content created by Prides globally, together with speeches from world leaders, activists, and human rights defenders, reflecting the organizers’ statement that “Pride events might be cancelled but the spirit of Pride will live on.”

Organizers estimate that there are more than 1,500 Prides globally, and all are invited to be a part of the virtual event.

Kristine Garina, president of the European Pride Organisers Association, said, “Every Pride organizer in the world can tell you a story of someone whose life changed when they visited Pride, and so with so many Prides being cancelled or postponed, as organizers, we felt we had a responsibility

to come together and deliver Pride online.

We’re tremendously excited for the potential for Global Pride to bring people together in the biggest Pride there has ever been.”

Julian Sanjivan, co-president of InterPride, said, “By taking Pride online, not only are we making sure that LGBTQIA+ people everywhere can still experience the joy and community of Pride but we also for the first time are enabling people to take part in Pride wherever they are. This means that people who aren’t out, or who are living in socially conservative countries, can take part. The support of these incredible world leaders and performers will mean so much to marginalized LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.”

The show will be live-streamed on the Global Pride website [globalpride2020. org], on YouTube, and on other platforms to be announced, and will be free to view.

continued from cover For each of the three days, one organization is taking the lead in developing engaging program content – Gender Justice League (Trans Pride) will curate Friday, 5-10 p.m.; PrideFest, Saturday, noon-midnight; and Seattle Pride, Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Each day will offer a full schedule of program tracks, and featured sessions within each. As additional programming is added, daily hours may be extended.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the three organizations noted, “As producers of Seattle’s largest LGBTQIA+ Pride events, our organizations have made the collective decision to shift our annual large-group gatherings in June to a three-day event to remember. We are also working together to plan an in-person Pride event to be held later this year once it’s determined safer to resume community festivals.”

“We thank the hundreds of event sponsors, community partners, vendors and event participants for their continued support as our efforts now shift to creating a different kind of Pride – but one which continues to honor diversity and bring us together when we need it most,” the groups added.

The virtual programming schedule is currently in development, but early plans include:

Day #2: Saturday, June 27th – programmed by PrideFest (producer of PrideFest on Capitol Hill and at Seattle Center)

20 Seattle Gay News

see GLOBAL PRIDE page 22 The Power of Youth Activism: An Interview with Student Activists from Kennedy Catholic High School The Impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQIA+ Communities presented by Katie Hultquist, OutRight International Drag Shows performed by Seattle’s favorite Drag Queens & Kings, including Dolly Madison and Glitterous.

Immigrant & Refugee Community Rights & Social Media Organizing presented by Monserrat Padilla Prison Abolition Letter Writing Workshop for building relationships with LGBTQIA+ incarcerated people presented

by Black and Pink Vashon Island’s LGBTQIA+ History: An Interview with Historian Bruce Haulman Online Book Discussion focused on Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and the representation of LGBTQIA+ youth in literature Seattle Pride Karaoke

TOGETHER

Day #1: Friday, June 26th – programmed by Gender Justice League (producer of Trans Pride) Gender Justice League will kick-off a robust three days of festivities with Trans Pride’s Friday Stage Show featuring a variety of local and national talent, workshops addressing a wide range of topics appealing to all ages, as well as youth activities and a series of trans-themed short films – in partnership with Three Dollar Bill Cinema and media partner 107.7 The End. Program sessions currently planned include storytelling and spoken word exploring the trials and joys of living in a queer disabled body presented by Gina Stella dell’Assunta; presentations by actress, writer, trans activist and motivational speaker Blossom Brown and black/ trans/queer poet, author and educator J Mase III; and a showing of The Most Dangerous Year, a 2018 feature documentary film about parents fighting for their transgender children’s rights. Trans Pride programming also includes a vital resource fair and online space to meet and collaborate with others from across the Northwest on social, racial and economic justice; accessibility for all, advocacy and activism.

Michelle Meow, executive producer of Global Pride, said, “Pride started as a grassroots coming-together to liberate our people.

It’s remarkable that we’re doing exactly that during this pandemic. Our entire production team are volunteers who are members of our community that have a passion to ensure our visibility during this challenging time.

This has never been done before, and we’re excited about the authentic materials we’re collecting that represent our global community. While production will be a challenge, we’re incredibly grateful to the support of everyone, from the small Pride organization you’ve never heard of before to the big global tech companies.”

Two months ago, when Global Pride was launched, organizers expected viewers

Image courtesy of Seattle Pride

For the second day of Seattle Virtual Pride, PrideFest will be doing a 12-hour live-cast including a family hour, queer youth Pride hour, a “preparing for Pride” hour, six hours of PrideFest mainstage programming, including hosts, artists, community features, and non-profit profiles, followed by a three- hour dance party from Uniting Souls. Headliners including Mary Lambert (from Macklemore’s “Same Love” and her Billboard charting single “Secrets”) and local treasures like the BeautyBoiz, a Latinx showcase led by Ruth Soto, dance troupe Whim W’Him, drag queens, drag kings, old legends, and upand-coming musical stars. Everything seen on the PrideFest main stage, can be seen on the virtual PrideFest main stage, hosted

by Aleksa Manila and PrideFest Executive Director Egan Orion, and presented by Delta Air Lines.

Day #3: Sunday, June 28th – programmed by Seattle Pride (producer of Seattle Pride Parade & Seattle Pride in the Park) Seattle Pride’s programming will culminate the three days with four program tracks supporting its “Many Faces, One Pride” focus – Speakers, Activities & Activism, Performance and Q&A/Interactive. The programming will be a mix of live and recorded 20- and 40-minute sessions –

June 12, 2020

as well as brief intermissions between each session and a mid-day lunch break during which attendees will be encouraged to order food from a queer-owned business.

The organizers of Seattle Pride wish to acknowledge and stand in solidarity with other regional LGBTQIA+ organizations to condemn the senseless murder of George Floyd, standing together against racism in all forms. The LGBTQIA+ community knows firsthand the feeling of marginalization, and the importance of compassion and standing together – especially in this time of need. As with other impactful movements, the LGBTQIA+ movement also began with a protest. Much of Seattle Pride’s programming will be centered on matters of activism and centering black and brown voices.

In addition to the program sessions, Sunday will also feature a Nonprofit Virtual Exhibition Hall and Vendor Virtual Village – in which online attendees will be able to visit a wide variety of vendor “booths” in a virtual version of Seattle Pride in the Park (formerly known as the Volunteer Park Pride Festival).

Currently, the following sessions have been confirmed with more to be announced soon:

The jam-packed day of LGBTQIA+ fun also includes virtual performances by the musical acts originally slated for Seattle Pride in the Park. Headlining the musical performances will be Washington artist and radical indigenous queer feminist, Black Belt Eagle Scout. Other fan favorites will include CarLarans, Chong the Nomad, Fly Moon Royalty, Latinrose, Sera Cahoone, and Stephanie Anne Johnson & The Hidogs. The musical performances will be hosted by KEXP’s Marco Collins and popular Seattle drag queens Donnatella Howe and Betty Wetter.

Later that evening attendees are invited to relive the pageantry of Seattle Pride Parades with a special retrospective of past parade highlights on-air and online at 11:30pm. hosted by Seattle Pride’s Official TV Partner KIRO 7. Seattle Pride’s other media partners include iheartradio stations, KNKX and MOViN 92.5.

Seattle Pride’s day is made possible with support from presenting partners Alaska Airlines and T-Mobile, platinum partner Salesforce, among many other community partners.

The three organizations dedicate this month to not only the LGBTQIA+ community, but to the black, brown and indigenous communities which deserve a full measure of solidarity, action and love as part of the continued fight for freedom and human dignity.

For more information and the latest updates to the list of featured speakers, performers and more, visit www.TogetherForPride.org. Also be sure to follow Gender Justice League, PrideFest and Seattle Pride on social media for ongoing updates and other information.

Courtesy of Together For Pride

Celebrating 46 Years!

“Rock For Pride” unites the LGBTQIA+ community A virtual love letter to the community, from the community – now online

Images courtesy of Jack Mozie

by Jack Mozie Special to the SGN “Rock For Pride 2020 – At Home Edition,” a free broadcast dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community bringing you messages of love from community leaders, nonprofits, drag performers, musicians, and more, has gone online.

The artists featured in the broadcast include: Jack Mozie, Sarah Toce, Aleksa Manila, Gaysha Starr, Atasha Manila, LatinRose, La Gorda, Queen Andrew, Garlic Man, Lorenzo, Fast Nasties, Jon Noble, The Duchess, Niyah Marie Gonzales and Amora Dior Black.

“Rock For Pride” is a collaborative effort by non-profits, community groups,

and artists in Washington and Oregon States, organized by Jack Mozie.

Supporting non-profits and community groups include: PFLAG Washington State Council, Seattle YMCA, The Seattle Lesbian, Seattle Women’s Pride, Entre Hermanos, Pride Asia, Somos Seattle, STIRY, and Northwest Queer Chorus.

As part of his commitment to the better-

Entre Hermanos announces its new executive director, Dr. Digna Saad

Dr. Digna Saad – Photo courtesy of Entre Hermanos

SEATTLE (May 29, 2020) – Dr. Digna Saad is a strategist, a learner, and a leader.

She is a seasoned organizational development consultant who has led and co-created multiyear strategic plans and assessments for a myriad of organizations in private and public sectors. She also brings strong

executive skills, having held leadership positions in Fortune 100 companies (e.g., IBM), academia, Boston Public Schools, and the Schott Foundation. She is masterful at bridging the gap between ideas and results. She believes in inspiring and honoring the uniqueness that each individual brings to the workplace.

She holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in business administration from Boston University, and a master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a first-generation immigrant and is fluent in four languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English) and has a working knowledge of Arabic.

The Entre Hermanos Board of Directors is excited about the skills and experience that Dr. Saad brings to the LGBTQ+ Latino community of Seattle and surrounding areas. We are confident that this is the

ment of the LGBTQIA+ community, Jack Mozie is making “Rock For Pride” a free broadcast available on several platforms, including: YouTube, Mixer, Twitch, Facebook and Periscope.

Please go to www.jackmozie.com/rockforpride to watch “Rock For Pride 2020 – At Home Edition” online.

beginning of a new chapter of growth and community impact for the agency and are committed to the leadership of Dr. Saad on this journey.

Dr. Saad will officially become the executive director on June 1, 2020, and will be onboarding until July 1 with our outgoing interim executive director, Mark Buckley. On behalf of the Entre Hermanos board and staff, we’d like to thank Mark for his tireless service to our community in his 14-month tenure with the organization.

In the coming weeks, we will be announcing opportunities for our community and supporters to meet with Dr. Saad.

We thank our community partners for their support during our executive director search.

Courtesy of Entre Hermanos

Seattle Public Library named 2020 Library of the Year SEATTLE (June 3, 2020) – The Seattle Public Library has been awarded the prestigious 2020 Library of the Year by Gale/ Library Journal. The library is featured on the cover of Library Journal’s June 2020 issue, which is available in print and online, and will be honored during a live webcast at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3. The Library also receives a cash award of $10,000.

The Library of the Year Award was established in 1992 to celebrate the library system that most profoundly demonstrates service to the community, creativity, and innovation in its community programs and leadership in developing services that can be emulated by other libraries.

“This incredible honor goes to all the staff at the Seattle Public Library,” said Executive Director and Chief Librarian

Marcellus Turner. “This is well-deserved recognition of their commitment to involving community voices in programs, reducing barriers to access, and actively pursuing key partnerships. It’s our staff that has been leading the way.”

Turner said the award recognizes the library’s work to reach underserved communities, including low-income children, the insecurely housed, and immigrants and refugees. “It also acknowledges the leadership from our volunteer Library Board and the wonderful support from our Library partners – rhe Seattle Public Library Foundation and Friends of the Seattle Public Library, as well as our public,” Turner said. He noted the recent support by Seattle voters for a library levy, which removed fines for overdue materials

Visit us online www.sgn.org

and included funding for a social worker to help support at-risk youth.

Seattle is known for being a city of readers. The Seattle Public Library circulated over 12.5 million books and materials and [had] over 17 million visits last year.

In addition, over 275,000 people attended more than 9,000 free educational and cultural programs.

The library has been innovative in reenvisioning traditional library programs, including bookmobile services and a summer reading program for children, to serve more low-income and underserved populations. It developed partnerships with Seattle’s Somali community to offer needed computer classes and publish two Somali children’s books.

“The Seattle Public Library consis-

tently wowed the judges with its thorough, concrete methodology for making sure the library walks the walk on equity and the way the library team brought that toolset to the field as a whole,” said Meredith Schwartz, editor-in-chief of Library Journal. “Personally, I’m particularly impressed with how Turner and his team acknowledged, apologized for, and moved forward from their mistakes in deeper conversation with the affected communities.

It’s impossible for anyone to always get this work right the first time, so a willingness to learn and not get defensive is crucial.”

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 21

Courtesy of the Seattle Public Library

USA Network and SYFY partner with GLAAD to celebrate National Pride Month this June

Image courtesy of USA / SYFY

NEW YORK (May 27, 2020) – In celebration of National Pride Month this June, USA Network and SYFY are partnering with the leading nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy organization GLAAD for a multiplatform campaign spotlighting positive representation all month long. Between the two networks, this campaign will feature Pridethemed marathons, custom short-form videos, fan testimonials, PSAs, all-new podcast episodes, and a variety of fresh editorial.

Throughout the month, GLAAD will support USA and SYFY’s multiplatform Pride campaign via their social handles, across digital platforms, and with PSAs featuring resource and donation links.

Additionally, on USA, linear marathons will be wrapped with custom content featuring BD Wong. The networks will also partner with GLAAD on a variety of virtual talent-driven events and social initiatives to be announced shortly.

“During a time when many Pride events have been cancelled, SYFY and USA are offering viewers a place to celebrate and feel celebrated with specialty content in honor of National Pride Month,” shared Chris McCumber, president of USA and SYFY. “We are so grateful for GLAAD’s partnership and advocacy toward positive

representation, and look forward to joining together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community throughout June.”

“SYFY and USA each have long histories of sharing LGBTQ stories that entertain, enlighten, and inspire and this Pride month will bring empowering content and series to fans all over,” said GLAAD Chief Communications Officer Rich Ferraro. “During a Pride month when many LGBTQ community members will not be able to gather in person, LGBTQ visibility matters more than ever, and SYFY and USA’s content will help to ensure the spirit of Pride still shines bright.”

GLOBAL PRIDE

• Global Pride 2020 is organized by the European Pride Organisers Association, InterPride, OLA Orgullo Latinoamerica, CSD Deutschland, Svenska Pride, the UK Pride Organisers Network, and representatives of Prides in regions where no network yet exists. The Global Pride team includes representatives of Prides in Canada, the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Latvia, Bulgaria, Spain, Greece, South Africa, and Australia.

• A team of more than 100 volunteers from across the world are giving up their time to organize and deliver Global Pride.

All are experienced Pride organizers.

• A daily updated list of cancelled and postponed Pride events can be viewed at www.epoa.eu/coronavirus.

continued from page 22

to be watching from home. But with lockdown lifting in some countries, they expect some people to be able to watch in groups of friends, and hope that bars and venues in some cities may show the event on big screens. They’re encouraging all viewers to follow the social-distancing and other guidelines from their governments.

Throughout June, daily announcements will build up the excitement as the Global Pride team drop the names of major artists and other contributors who will be appearing on June 27.

• Global Pride can be viewed online via www.globalpride2020.org on Saturday 27 June.

22 Seattle Gay News

SYFY Presented by SYFY FANGRRLS – the network’s hub for female and nonbinary voices – SYFY’s Pride campaign will revamp the brand from “It’s a Fan Thing” to “It’s a Pride Thing” throughout June, including the following: MARATHONS, ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING & BINGE-ABLE CONTENT This June, SYFY offers marathons, stunts and endless access to queer-friendly programming across linear and VOD, including:

Courtesy of Target Cue

June 12, 2020

• WYNONNA EARP “#WayHaught Wednesdays” Marathons (Wed., 6/3 from 6 to 9am, Wed., 6/10 from 6:30 to 9:30am, Wed., 6/17 from 6:30 to 9:30am, Wed., 6/24 from 6 to 10am on SYFY) – Marathons of SYFY’s cult favorite series WYNONNA EARP featuring episodes from Seasons 1 and 2 centered on the show’s beloved couple Waverly Earp (Dominique ProvostChalkley) and Nicole Haught (Katherine Barrell); will include all-new custom content highlighting the passionate “Earpers” fanbase discussing how the show has impacted their lives.

• XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS Pride Marathons (Thurs., 6/4 from 6:30 to 11:30am, Thurs., 6/11 from 6am to 12pm, Thurs., 6/18 from 6:30am to 12:30pm, Thurs., 6/25 from 6:30 to 11:30am on SYFY) – Marathons of the legendary adventure series XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, which has become an iconic show among the LGBTQ+ community, will include allnew custom content featuring stars Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor discussing representation as well as spotlighting fans who have been influenced by the series.

• VAGRANT QUEEN Season Finale (Thursday, 6/4 at 11/10c on SYFY) – Based on the comic book series from Vault Comics, VAGRANT QUEEN was created by an all-female team of writers and directors, and will air its season 1 finale in National Pride Month.

• Binge-able Content (Available on SYFY.com and NBCU’s OneApp) – All June, SYFY will stream fan-favorites including: KILLJOYS, VAGRANT QUEEN, VAN HELSING, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, and the SYFY WIRE acquisition LOOKING FOR LEIA SYFY LOGO & CUSTOM CONTENT Throughout National Pride Month, SYFY is transforming its logo and creating custom on-air content celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, including: • Pride-Themed Logo – Celebratory SYFY logos that will be presented across platforms throughout the month • Brand Anthem Video – Overarching brand spot featuring fans discussing the importance of representation and inclusivity

• “Pride Burst” Factoids – Fueled by SYFY FANGRRLS’ Pride editorial, these quick bites will contain interesting facts about genre and LGBTQ+ representation.

• Strong Female Pride Interstitials – In support of the SYFY FANGRRLS podcast of the same name, these short-form testimonials will spotlight LGBTQ+ creators discussing the impact genre characters have had on them and their community • Fan-Made Pride Spots – Fan-made Pride vignettes made in partnership with content creation platform Tongal SYFY FANGRRLS EDITORIAL & PODCAST SYFY FANGRRLS’ website will become a hub for fresh Pride-centric content all month long, including: • “Strong Female Characters: Uncoded” Podcast – Throughout National Pride Month, SYFY FANGRRLS will air special renditions of this podcast, profiling LGBTQ+ creators and fans as they discuss which genre characters and storylines impacted them most as a queer person • Get Rec’d – SYFY FANGRRLS’ special recommendation lists of books, comics and movies from notable genre influencers centered around LGBTQ+ creators, characters or stories • Grrl Talk – A weekly editorial feature that will spotlight notable queer “Nerdgrrls” and hear what she has been inspired by in the genre world • Reboot, Remake it Gay You Cowards, Ruin – A pointed twist to everyone’s favorite “Reboot, Remake or Ruin” game, this column will feature FANGRRL contributors discussing popular film and TV series that should or should not be recreated from a LGBTQ+ lens.

• Frak, Marry, Kill – A sci-fi-rendition of the party favorite, each week three LGBTQ+ FANGRRLS writers will debate queer characters from different genre properties.

• Deep Cuts – Weekly in-depth discussion hosted by FANGRRLS’ film buffs focusing on niche or unknown horror films that were queer made or led, and are typically not on people’s radar • Star Signs – A special Pride edition of the monthly article where FANGRRLS’ very own astrological “enthusiasts” specu-

Celebrating 46 Years!

late what the stars have in store for fanfavorite LGBTQ+ genre characters • Thirstday – Every Thursday a FANGRRLS LGBTQ+ writer will write an appreciation post about a different LGBTQ+ character or genre person, celebrating their status as a gay icon/crush.

• A Deep Dive into the History Slash Fiction – This subgenre of fan fiction has played an important role in LGBTQ+ pop culture since the ’70s. FANGRRLS looks back at its roots, how the birth of the internet created a safe space for queer expression, and how it’s grown as a medium in the last five decades.

• History of Gay Comix – FANGRRLS will look back at the groundbreaking Gay Comix anthology, which is one of the most notable underground gay comic anthology series.

• Pride-ography – Mini biographical pieces celebrating the original LGBTQ+ creators in comics that helped pave the way for creators, stories, and characters within their community from the underground scene into the mainstream USA NETWORK This National Pride Month, USA will celebrate with specially curated marathons and custom wraps throughout June, including the following: MARATHONS & ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING USA will be offering LGBTQ+ themed linear stunts, including: • LAW & ORDER: SVU “Stand Up with Pride” Marathon Hosted by BD Wong (Sunday, 6/7 from 9am to 11pm on USA) – The specially curated marathon of the fan-favorite crime drama featuring impactful LGBTQ+ storylines, hosted by BD Wong, will include custom wraps and resource pages from GLAAD throughout.

• MODERN FAMILY Marathons (All month long on USA) – Jam-packed marathons of the fan-favorite family comedy series that broke down barriers for LGBTQ+ representation. Themes include “Love Is Love,” “Here Come the Grooms,” “My Two Dads,” and more, and will feature resource pages from GLAAD throughout.

Images courtesy of Michelle Faye/Wynonna Earp Productions, Inc./Syfy; Virginia Sherwood © NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

• TALK STOOP Pride Week Interviews (Pride-themed interviews will run Monday, 6/1 to Friday, 6/5 throughout the day from 11am to 3pm on USA; will also be available on YouTube all month long) – TALK STOOP will be celebrating National Pride Month by airing Pride-themed short-form interviews hosted by Nessa Diab throughout the first week of June. These interviews will include Carson Kressley, Gigi Gorgeous, Wanda Sykes, Natalie Morales, Cynthia Germanotta, Jonathan Adler, and Simon Doonan, and will focus on advocating for equality and celebrating members of the LGBTQ+ community.

USA CUSTOM LOGO The network will feature custom logos and PSAs throughout the month, including: Pride Network Logo – A custom Pride logo that will be presented across platforms throughout the month

SYFY is a global, multiplatform media brand that gives science fiction fans of all kinds a universe to call home. Celebrating the genre in all its forms, SYFY superserves passionate fans with original science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and superhero programming; live event coverage; and imaginative digital and social content. The brand is powered by SYFY WIRE (www.syfy.com), the premier portal for breaking genre news, insight, and commentary. SYFY is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

USA Network has been a #1 cable entertainment network for 14 years and is home to the most compelling television properties in the industry. Serving a broad, passionate fanbase, USA’s diverse

slate includes popular award-winning dramas; unfiltered family comedies; buzzy unscripted, weekly live WWE programming; and a portfolio of sought-after acquired series and movies. USA is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies.

NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, visit www. glaad.org.

Courtesy of CIVIC

GAMES

Rocketman

Across 1 O’Neal of The Bad News Bears 6 Bend over 10 Direction from Stephen Pyles 14 In concert 15 Bedrock pet 16 Cosmetics businessman Laszlo 17 Start of the response to “Be yourself” in Rocketman 20 Wilde, for example 21 Treat, as seawater 22 Edvard Grieg’s land (abbr.)

23 Canine from Kansas 24 Gore Vidal, ___ Edgar Box 27 More of the response 33 With 39-Across, Corydon author 35 Kirsten of Spider-Man 36 “A drop of golden sun” 37 Iditarod terminus 38 Director Gus Van ___ 39 See 33-Across 40 More of the response 42 More of the response 45 Plea made on one’s knees 47 Acapulco article 48 Blows it 49 Mustangs of the NCAA 50 Meas. for Dr. Kildare 53 End of the response 57 Big sticks 58 Have top billing 59 Robert of HIV research 60 With respect to 61 Continent of Cho’s parents 62 Moon in Return of the Jedi 63 Bombed, on Broadway 64 Mary-land athlete?

65 Odometer button

Down 1 Dances like Hines 2 Where to find Moby Dick 3 Tugboat sound 4 Remove, as a nametag 5 Hollywood district 6 Gets the bottom line 7 Civil uprising 8 Anderson Cooper’s network 9 Wieners 10 Best buy for WNBA tickets 11 Michael Buble’s “___ Little Tenderness” 12 Part of ILGA (abbr.)

13 What an athletic supporter might do?

18 Land of Sinead O’Connor 19 Itty-bitty, to Baudelaire 23 First extra inning 24 Network of Wedding Wars 25 “If I’d only ___!”

26 “Thou shalt not ___ adultery” 28 Childcare writer LeShan 29 Like the Seven Dwarfs 30 Diva’s performance 31 My fair one, on Broadway 32 Color for Easter eggs 34 Went back to homophobia 38 Eyes, in a gay bar 39 Family docs 41 On the spot 43 Salt’s saint 44 Like a chicken to a chicken hawk 46 Fly over the equator 49 Jock’s Johnson support 50 Causes of sneezes 51 Amanda Seyfried flick of 2009 52 Stallion’s sound 53 Collette of The Hours

Visit us online www.sgn.org

54 Fairy-tale monster 55 Grizzly’s hideaway 56 Social activist Addams 57 Top

June 12, 2020

(Answer key on Page 24)

Seattle Gay News 23

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24 Seattle Gay News

June 12, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

Allyship - an organization of LGBTQ individuals fighting for economic and social justice. www.LGBTQAllyship. org, allyship@yahoo.com, (206) 279-8169.

American Veterans for Equal Rights - www.aver.us Another Gay Social Club! - www.meetup.com/Another[https://nwfilmforum.org/films/ Gay-Social-Club/ pr0n-4-freakz-2020/] Bellingham/Whatcom County - www.theslowlane. com/guide.html BiNet Seattle is a mixed gender, social group for Bisexuals, their partners & other Bi-friendly folks - www. binetseattle.org.

Bremerton/Kitsap County - www.outwestsound.org Capitol Hill Alano Club - www.chacseattle.org Cascade Rainbow Community Center (Mount Vernon) - (360) 840-8499 and on Facebook.

Central Washington University GALA Hotline: (509) 963-1994.

Channel Q 103.3 FM - LGBTQ+ Talk Radio Network News and information, pop culture and music. radio.com COLAGE unites people with LGBTQ parents and caregivers into a network of peers and supports them Northwest Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf - www. as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, nwrad.org self-confident, and just leaders in our collective comOlympia/Thurston County - www.RainbowCenterOly. munities - www.colage.org org DIFFA/Northwest (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). (206) 763-8885; www.diffanorthwest. Out & Equal Workplace Advocates/Seattle Regional Affiliate supports the work of LGBT employees and the org growing number of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: Crisis making a difference within local companies, including Clinic, (206) 461-3222 (24 hour line); King County Alaska Airlines, Amazon.com, Amgen, AT&T, Bank of Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) - 24-hour America, Deloitte, Macy’s, Microsoft, Russell Investcrisis line for information, support, & medical & legal ments, Safeco Insurance, Starbucks Coffee, Xerox. assistance: 1-888-99-VOICE; Northwest Network - www.outandequal.org/affiliates/seattle support & advocacy for Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse & Dating Violence, (206) 568-7777 Out & Proud Grays Harbor Coalition - http://outand(voice), 517-9670 (tty), www.nwnetwork.org; Pierce proudgh.org County Domestic Violence Helpline: Teresa, (253) PARENTHOOD: Families Like Ours provides a gate798-4166; Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual way for LGBT families interested in adoption & provides Minorities - offers on-going support groups for men: a network of safe placement agencies, training, support 323-1768; Seattle Police Dept Domestic Violence & resources: (206) 441-7602, www.familieslikeours. org; Unit, (206) 684-0330; State Wide Domestic Violence Family Works offers support, information & activities for Hot Line, 1-800-562-6025. In an emergency call 911. LGBT families: (206) 694-6727, www.familyworksseattle. org; Gay Fathers’ Association of Seattle offers supReport domestic violence and sexual assault.

Equal Rights Washington - (206) 324-2570; www. port groups & social activities: www.gfas. org; Proud & Loud Families - Northwest, www.meetup.com/proudequalrightswashington.org and-loud-families-northwest, plfnorthwest@aol.com; Everett/Snohomish Cty - www.gaysnohomish.org Queer Parent Networking Dinners: (206) 568-7777, Freely Speaking Toastmasters - www.freelyspeak- qpnd@nwnetwork.org, www.nwnetwork.org; Rainbow ing.org Families of Puget Sound: www.rainbowfamiliesps.org Gay City promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities PFLAG is the national organization for parents, by providing health services, connecting people to re- families, allies, and LGBTQ people united for equality sources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City with chapters in Seattle, Bellevue/Eastside, the Puget Health Project’s Wellness Center provides anonymous Sound region and across Washington state. PFLAG & confidential HIV/STD testing. 517 E Pike St. More Seattle: (206) 325-7724, info@pflagseattle.org, and info or to schedule an appointment, (206) 860-6969. www.pflagseattle.org; PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside: (425) www.gaycity.org 483-6642, info@bellevue-pflag.org, http://community.

Gay & Lesbian National Hotline (GLNH): 1-888-THE- pflag.org/PFLAGBellevue; PFLAG Pacific Northwest: GLNH (1-888-843-4564). Non-profit, peer-counseling, www.pnwpflag.org; PFLAG Washington State Council: information & local resources telephone hotline for GLBT www.pflagwsc.org. people across the country.

Peer Seattle (formerly Seattle Area Support Groups) Generations Aging With Pride empowers elder LG- is a non-profit organization that builds community and BTQ adults to live with pride and dignity by promoting, cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing emotional connecting, and developing innovative programs and support and personal development services to those afservices that enhance belonging and support, eliminate fected by HIV/AIDS, the Queer communities, and those discrimination, and honor the lives of older members of who love them. Our work is done in a spirit of safety, trust, our community - (206) 393-3400; info@gapseattle.org; inclusiveness, and celebration of individual differences.

(206) 322-2437; www.peerseattle.org gapseattle.org GLSEN/WA - Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Net- PEOPLE OF COLOR: AARTH (African American work - (206) 330-2099; www.glsenwa.org Reach & Teach Health Ministry), (206) 850-2070, Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) - (206) www.aarth.org; Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Network Program at API Chaya, (206) 467-9976; Center for 363-9188; www.thegsba.org HIV/AIDS Program, Seattle/King County Dept of Pub- MultiCultural Health, (206) 461-6910, www.multilic Health, provides confidential/anonymous information culturalhealth.org; Entre Hermanos, GLBT Latinos/as, about & testing for HIV/AIDS. (206) 205-7837. For a (206) 322-7700, www.entrehermanos.org; Ile LaiLai, comprehensive list of HIV/AIDS service organizations (206) 781-3565, iya@ilelailai.org; Men of All Colors see the GSBA Guide or visit www.thegsba.org or call & Cultures Together (MACCT), (206) 923-8313, macctseattle@yahoo.com, www.macctsea.org; NorthLifelong AIDS Alliance, (206) 328-8979. west Two Spirit Society, https://www.facebook.com/ Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & the Olympic & groups/nw2spiritsociety/, Nubian Pride Productions, Rainier Empire - www.facebook.com/ISCSORE; www. nubianpride@gmail.com; People of Color Against imperialcourtofseattle.com AIDS Network (POCAAN) offers rapid HIV testing, Lambert House - (206) 322-2515; www.lamberthouse. M-F, 10am-5pm, (206) 322-7061, www.pocaan.org and org on Facebook; QBASS - Queer Black Alliance of the LGBT Library - 517 E Pike St. Open Mon-Fri 2-8pm; South Sound, (253) 256-1846, weareqbass@gmail.

Sat 2-5pm. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction for com; Sistah 2 Sistah, LBT women of African descent, the LGBT community and allies can be borrowed free (206) 322-7061, (206) 255-8951; Somos Seattle, somosseattle.org; Trikone-Northwest, GLBT South of charge.

LGBT MS Connection - (425) 785-8593; lgbtmscon- Asians, (425) 985-4376, www.trikonenw.org; Two-Spirit nections@comcast.net. Support group for LGBT per- Honor Project, 1-866-685-0164; U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle, sons with MS and their partners and their caregivers. www.utopiaseattlewa.org; VietQ Greater Seattle, vietSponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. qorganization@gmail.com Lifelong AIDS Alliance - (206) 328-8979, www.lifelon- Pierce County AIDS Foundation - (253) 383-2565; www.piercecountyaids.org gaids alliance.org Pride Foundation - (206) 323-3318; www.pridefoundaLion’s Main Art Collective - www.lionsmain.org tion. org MEN: Gay City: (206) 860-6969, www.gaycity.org; Knights of Mantra: (206) 329-0886, www.jetchapter- Pride Lives - www.facebook.com/PrideLives/ kofm.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & Pride Radio 93.3 HD2 over, www.maturefriends.org; Northwest Bears: www. Project NEON is a program of Seattle Counseling nwbears.com; The Olympians: www.TheOlympians. Service providing FREE information & services to Gay net; POZSeattle: www.pozseattle.com; Q-Squared: & Bi men to reduce health risks associated with methamwww.qsquared.org; Rain City Jacks: www.raincityjacks. phetamine use. (206) 323-1768. www.crystalneon.org org; Seattle Gay Couples: www. seattlegaycouples.org; Public Health-Seattle & King County Online ComSeattle Men in Leather: www.seattlemeninleather. org; prehensive Health Information for Sexual Minorities: Seattle Prime Timers: Gay & Bi men 40 & over, www. www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/ seattle primetimers.org; Tacoma Older LGBT: www. glbt.aspx tacomaolderlgbt.org. (See also listings under Bisexual, Q Law: The GLBT Bar Association of WA - (206) Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)

682-6711; www.q-law.org MUSIC: Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; Rainbow City Band: 1-866-841-9139 ext 2126; Q Law GLBT Legal Clinic - (206) 235-7235. rainbowcityband@onebox.com; www.rainbowcity band. Queer Geek! - queergeekseattle.org com; Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Rainbow Center - Resource Center for Tacoma/Pierce Chorus: (206) 388-1408, (206) 323-0750. www.seat- County LGBTIQA community. Through education, adtlechoruses.org. vocacy and celebration, the Rainbow Center expands Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project resources, and safe space for the LGBTQIA community.

- gayhistnw@aol.com

Sponsors Tacoma Pride Festival. (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org SEAMEC interviews, researches & rates candidates for public office on issues of concern to the LGBT community. www.voteseamec.org Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG) i- SEE LISTING for Peer Seattle.

Seattle Bisexual Women’s Network - BiSeattle.wixsite. com/SBWN and on Facebook.

Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities is a community mental health service for GLBT persons & their families providing comprehensive mental health services on a sliding scale. (206) 323-1768.

Seattle LGBTQ Commission - (206) 684-4503. www/ seattle.gov/lgbtq Seattle Out & Proud - (206) 322-9561; www.seattlepride.org Seattle Police Department Sexual Minorities Community Advisory Council: kim.bogucki@seattle.gov Seattle PrideFest - www.seattlepridefest.org Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - (202) 328-3244; www.sldn.org Sex Workers Outreach Project - https://seattle. swopusa.org Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan - (206) 860-3666; www.theabbey.org Snohomish Health District HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential/anonymous HIV counseling & testing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, until 7pm Tuesdays.

(425) 339-5298.

South Sound Q Calendar - LGBTQ events in Tacoma, Olympia & Sound Puget Sound area; www.SouthSoundQCal.com Spokane/Inland Northwest - www.outspokane.com; www.stonewallnews.net SPORTS & RECREATION: Bent Car Guys: www. bentcarguys.org; Border Riders Motorcycle Club: www.borderriders.com; Bottom Dwellers Scuba Club: www.bottomdwellers.org; Capitol Hill Cyclers: join their Facebook group or email capitolhillcycling@ groups.facebook.com or jordan.l.simonson@gmail.com; Cascade Flag Football: www.cascadeflagfootball.org; Cascade Flyers: www.cascadeflyers.org; Emerald City Mudhen Rugby: www.mudhenrugby.com; Emerald City Softball Association: www.emeraldcitysoftball. org, www.eteamz.com/womensecsa; Ethyl Forever Car Club: ethylforever@hotmail.com; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Olympic Yacht Club: www.oycnw.org; OutVentures: outdoor education & recreation activities, www.outventures.org; Pacific Northwest Gay Rodeo Association: www.pacificnwgra.org; Puddletown Squares: www.puddletownsquares.org; Rain City Soccer: www.raincitysoccer.org; Rain Country Dance Association: a country-western dance organization catering to the LGBTQ community but open to all, www.raincountrydance.org; Sea Dawgs: LGBT ice hockey - SkateSeaDawgs@gmail.com and on Facebook; Seattle Frontrunners: www.seattlefrontrunners.org; Seattle Gay Basketball Association: www. seattlegaybasketballassociation.com; Seattle Orca Swim Team: www.orcaswimteam.org; Seattle Otters Water Polo: www.otterpolo.com; Seattle Quake Rugby: www.quakerugby.com; Seattle Tennis Alliance: www. seattletennisalliance.org; Seattle Unified Bowling Association (SUBA): magee98106@aol.com, www. teamseattle.org/bowling.htm, www.theprideleague. com, Century 21 League; Seattle Volleyball Club: www.seattlevolleyballclub.com; Ski Buddies: www. skibuddies.org; Team Seattle Gay Sports Network is an umbrella organization for a wide range of local GLBT sports activities, (206) 367-4064, www.teamseattle.org (see website for comprehensive list of sports clubs); Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek: recreational camping for GLBT folks. Must be 21; ID required. trc@ camptrc.org, www.camptrc.org, 1122 E Pike St #1069, Seattle 98122-3934.

Strength Over Speed - www.strengthoverspeed.org Tacoma/Pierce County - Rainbow Center, 2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, a resource center for the LGBTIQA community of Pierce County, (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org Three Dollar Bill Cinema - TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival; Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival; Outdoor Cinema at Cal Anderson Park. www. threedollarbillcinema.org TRANSGENDER: Emerald City Social Club: (425) 827-9494; Gender Alliance of the South Sound: www.

SouthSoundGender.com; Gender Diversity: www. genderdiversity.org; Gender Justice League: www.genderjusticeleague.org; Gender Odyssey: www.genderodyssey.com; Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born

Support Group: (206) 322-7700; Ingersoll Gender Center: (206) 329-6651, www.ingersollcenter.org; Lion’s Main Art Collective: www.lionsmain.org; The New BoyZ Club: www.olympiaftmgroup.webs.com; Olympia Trans Discussion Group: www.facebook.com/pages/ Olympia-Trans-Discussion-Group/262449878114; [trans] ACTION: Trans* & Gender Non-Conforming Sex Workers’ Support Group - a safe, peer-led space. mail@utopiaseattle.org; TRANSform Washington: transformwashington.com; Trans Resource & Referral Guide: kctransguide.org; Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network: Funding the collective liberation of Trans women of color – https://m.facebook.com/ TWOCSolidarityNW/; Washington Gender Alliance: (360) 445-2411, www.washington genderalliance.com WOMEN: Aging Ballard Lesbian Exchange (A.B.L.E.): We are Lesbians 60 years (generally) and up, living (mostly) in the north half of Seattle. The purpose of the group is to connect, socialize and support each other. ruthemilyvogel@gmail.com; Aging Lesbians in South Seattle (ALISS) - Lesbian Group at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center. This is a gathering primarily for Lesbians but all are welcome to attend. Kate, (206) 722-0317; www.sessc.org; BABES: support groups for HIV+ women. (206) 720-5566, 1-888-292-1912; Coming Out Women Support Group of Tacoma: www. comingoutwomen.org; Festival of the Babes: www. festivalofthebabes.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Puget Sound Old Lesbian Organizing for Change: http:// psoloc.org, (253) 777-3357; Older Lesbians Organizing for Change/WA State Chapter: gloria@oloc.org, mary@oloc.org, www.oloc.org; Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives: www.pnwlesbianarchives.org; RainshadowWomen: RainshadowWomen@aol. com; Seattle Bisexual Women’s Network: BiSeattle. wixsite.com/SBWN; Seattle Girls of Leather: www. sgol.org; Tacoma Lesbian Concern (TLC): www.tacomalesbianconcern.org; Tacoma Older LGBT: www. tacomaolderlgbt.org; Women of West Seattle (WOWS): a fun, member-driven social group for Lesbians, http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofwestseattle; YWCA Women’s Health Outreach: providing low or no-cost mammograms for income eligible 40+ LBTQ individuals. Follow us at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot.com, twitter.com/ingridWHO or email lbthealth@ywcaworks. org, (206) 461-4493. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)

YOUTH: B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group): Youth Eastside Services offers many programs for GLBT youth, including B-GLAD, (425) 747-4937; Coyote Central: www.coyotecentral.org; Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; GLSEN/Washington State (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) & Washington State GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network: GLSEN works to create safe schools for LGBT students. WA GSA Network supports youth-led GSA’s to fight harassment & homophobia in Washington state schools. (206) 330-2099; www.glsenwa. org; www.wagsa.org. GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): a support group & HIV/STD prevention program for GLBTQ youth, 14-20, in Everett, (425) 263-2908, www. globeyouth.org; It Gets Better Project: www.itgetsbetter.org; Lambert House: an activities & resource center for LGBT youth, 14-22, 1818 15th Ave @ E Denny Way, with additional support groups organized in smaller towns throughout King County, (206) 322-2515, www. lamberthouse.org; Lifelong HEYO (Health Education Youth Outreach): for LGBTQ youth, ages 16-24: (206) 957-1665; www.llaa.org/HEYO; www.MatthewsPlace. com; The Mockingbird Society: (206) 323-KIDS (5437), www.mockingbirdsociety.org; New Horizons: social services and shelter for homeless youth, 2708 3rd Ave (in Belltown), (206) 374-0866, http://namin.org; Oasis Youth Center: for GLBTQ youth, ages 14-25, in Tacoma, (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter. org; OKAY! LGBTQ+ Outreach for Kent Area Youth: (253) 859-0699 ext 3034. OKAY! is an open support group for youth ages 13-19 who identify as LGBTQ+. A program of Kent Youth & Family Services; OUT There Adventures: www.outthereadventures.org; Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)/ Puget Sound: (206) 325-7724, www.seattle-pflag.org; Pizza Klatch: weekly lunchtime support groups for LGBTQ youth in Thurston County, www.pizzaklatch. org; Prism: for LGBTQ youth, 14-21, in Puyallup Cherise.Alexander@ multicare.org; www.facebook. com/PuyallupPrism; Proud Out Wonderful (POW!): for LGBTQ youth, 13-21, in South King County, (206) 326-9112, www.facebook.com/proudoutwonderful; Q Youth Resources: in Kitsap County - (360) 698-3335; www.kchaf.org; Roots Young Adult Shelter: 1415 NE 43rd St., (206) 632-1635; www.rootsinfo.org; Safe Schools Coalition: www.safeschoolscoalition.org; (206) 451-SAFE, (206) 451-7233 (non-emergency), 1-877-SAFE-SAFE (1-877-723-3723) (crisis line); Seattle Young People’s Project (Queer Youth Resource Board): (206) 860-9606, www.sypp.org; Street Youth Ministries (SYM): (206) 524-7301 ext 111; www. streetyouthministries.org; Teen Link: (206) 461-4922, 1-888-431-TEEN; The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor; www.thetrevorproject.org; True Colors - Connecting LGBTQ Teens: in Shoreline, (206) 362-7282 x 8018, lbagley@chs-nw.org; The Vera Project: fuels personal & community transformation through collaborative youthdriven engagement in music and art. (206) 956-8372; theveraproject.org; Vista Youth Center: for LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth, ages 14-21, in Kennewick, (509) 396-5198, www.vistayouthcenter.org; YouthCare/ Isis Program (Transitional Living Home for LGBTQ Young Adults, 18-22): (206) 522-8412; YouthCare/ Orion Center Young Adult Shelter: 1828 Yale Ave @ Stewart St. (206) 622-5555; Youth in Focus: (206) 723-1479; www.youthinfocus.org; Youth Suicide Prevention Program (OUTLoud-GLBTQ): (206) 297-5922, ext 116, 1-800-273-TALK, www.yspp.org

June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 25

community resources

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Happy Pride!

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Bring your partner/spouse, friends, family, children; we have room for everybody!

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7706 25th Ave NW in Ballard Call Ann at 206-784-0883 for more information

HAPPY PRIDE 2020

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June 12, 2020

Seattle Gay News 27