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Lambda Legal sues New York Jayapal leads five colleagues State over policy prohibiting in pressing the birth certificate corrections Trump administration on reports of Iranian Americans for Transgender minors being held at border

Original photo courtesy of NY State Dept. of Health

NEW YORK (January 7, 2020) – Today Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit challenging New York State’s policy categorically prohibiting transgender minors from correcting the sex designation on their birth certificates, a critically important document for transgender people seeking to navigate through life with accurate govern-

ment documents.

The minor challenging the policy – identified anonymously by his initials M.H.W. – is a 14-year-old transgender boy born in Ithaca, New York, currently residing in Houston, Texas.

see LAMBDA LEGAL page 12

Bomb threat to Catholic school over same-sex marriage announcements

California woman charged

Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School – Photo courtesy of Google

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A California woman has been charged with threatening to bomb, burn, and kill people at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, a Catholic all-girls high school in Washington, DC.

Sonia Tabizada pleaded not guilty on January 3 to federal charges of obstructing religious exercise by threat, and transmitting bomb threats in interstate commerce, according to court records.

Tabizada has been in custody since her

see BOMB THREAT page 11

U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal – Photo by Elaine Thompson / AP

WASHINGTON, DC (January 7, 2020) – US Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), vice chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today led five colleagues in writing to the Trump administration to demand

more information on reports that as many as 200 Iranian Americans were targeted for secondary screening and held for up to 12 hours at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington, over the weekend of January 4, 2020.

see JAYAPAL page 11

Puget Sound Jewish leaders, state, and local officials call for action to address the troubling rise in antisemitism

Photo by Sean Gallup / Getty Images

SEATTLE (January 6, 2020) – Over 60 Puget Sound–area Jewish leaders and state and local officials are calling for unity and action to address the troubling rise in antisemitism both in Washington state and across the country. The group signed a letter resolving to unite against the troubling rise in antisemitism and urging all people

to stand together and speak out to turn back the spreading tide of hatred. A copy of the letter is available [at https://www.jewishinseattle.org/community-services/advocacy/ antisemitism/how-do-we-react-in-the-faceof-hate/].

see ANTISEMITISM page 5

2 Seattle Gay News

January 10, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

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Seattle Gay News 3

King County Library System honored with two Library Journal awards ISSAQUAH, WA (January 7, 2020) – The King County Library System (KCLS) received two year-end awards from Library Journal (LJ): a Five-Star Library rating from the LJ Index of Public Library Services and a New Landmark Libraries Award for the Tukwila Library.

“KCLS is pleased to be named a FiveStar Library for overall service excellence,” said Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum.

“And we are equally proud that the beautifully designed Tukwila Library, which serves as an important community anchor, has been recognized as a Landmark Library.”

Five-Star Library In its 12th annual review of US public libraries, KCLS is one of five libraries in its category to receive five stars from the LJ Index of Public Library Services. Out of the 6,333 public libraries that LJ reviewed for the 2019 Index, KCLS was one of 261 to earn the Star Library title. These ratings reflect overall excellence across six categories, based on per-capita statistics: both electronic and physical material circulation; library visits; program attendance; public Internet computer use; and Wi-Fi sessions.

New Landmark Libraries Award KCLS was named one of six New Landmark Libraries (NLL), out of more than 35 submissions from across North America last year. Launched in 2011, the NLL award celebrates public library design that can “meet today’s challenges and create tomorrow’s opportunities.” According to LJ,

“We were inspired by the city of Tukwila’s rich cultural diversity, and set out to create a welcoming space that both services and celebrates it,” said Ryan Bussard, design principal with Perkins+Will, the project’s architect.

To date, the Tukwila Library has received a total of six design awards: • Library Journal’s New Landmark Libraries Award (2019) • American Institute of Architects (AIA) Washington Council Civic Design Award (2019) • American Institute of Architects (AIA) Washington Council Citation Award (2019) • Washington State Department of Commerce Smart Communities Award (2019) • Finalist for Sustainable Seattle’s Sustainability Leadership Award (2018) • City of Tukwila’s Best of Tukwila Award (2017)

Photo courtesy of Tukwila Library

each of the 2019 NLL libraries celebrate diversity and bring communities together to share, learn, create, and explore, and feature creative, artistic, inclusive, and sustainable designs that are the result of extensive economic and cultural partnerships.

In 2010, KCLS formalized a partnership with the City of Tukwila to help establish the Tukwila Village, a multicultural and multigenerational neighborhood center.

Designed to reflect the needs of the community, the Tukwila Library was built to serve as a local hub, where residents could find flexible spaces for tutoring and studying, and opportunities to attend live music

and art performances, author readings, classes, and lectures.

The new 10,000 square-foot, $8.9 million library opened in April 2017 and incorporates innovative and sustainable features that require minimal maintenance over time. Stunning artwork was also integrated into the design, [including] a mural by artist Kelly Staton and patterned walls that represent maps of the world for visitors to reflect on their journey to the region. Outside, a colorful steel-blade sculpture by Seattle artist John Fleming, titled “Multiplicity,” stands as a 30-foot tall beacon, welcoming residents inside.

Founded in 1942, the King County Library System (KCLS) is one of the busiest public library systems in the country. Serving the communities of King County (outside the City of Seattle), KCLS currently has 50 libraries and more than 700,000 cardholders. In 2011, KCLS was named Library of the Year by Gale/Library Journal. In 2018, residents checked out more than 4.8 million digital e-books and audiobooks through Rakuten OverDrive, making KCLS the #1 digital circulating library in the US and #3 in the world.

Courtesy of KCLS

Mixed Race Seattle conference brings artists, activists, and youth together SEATTLE (January 7, 2020) – Join the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) for the Mixed Race Seattle conference, a transformative day of storytelling, art, and creative expression meant to grow community among multiracial teens, young adults, and their families. This event is free and open for all to attend (RSVP is required, as the building has a maximum capacity of 300 people).

Attorney, poet, and former Seattle mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver, one of the featured performers of Mixed Race Seattle, says her awareness of race and social justice began early, in seeing how differently her Black father and stepfather were treated compared to her white mother.

“As a Black, queer, Mixed woman, it took me a while to find my community,” said Oliver, who will perform a spokenword poetry piece about her identity at the conference. “This conference is about helping other young Mixed people define their own stories and identities. Youth will get to hear from people they can look up to and connect with like-minded people their own age.”

The event will include a keynote address

by Alissa Paris, co-founder of the MidWest Mixed conference, which works to expand understanding of race and identity through courageous conversations, arts engagement, educational outreach, and a biennial conference. Other featured performers and speakers include Michael O’Neal Jr. (“Majinn”), who performs this February in Dani Tirell’s Black Bois at the Moore Theatre; internationally acclaimed flautist Leanna Keith, who recently presented a

collaborative piece on her own mixed identity at On the Boards; and Tracy Rector, a Native American/mixed-race filmmaker, curator, community organizer, and City of Seattle arts commissioner. With an emphasis on supporting youth, groups, including the UW Mixed Student Union, will provide resources during the day.

While the schedule is still being finalized, morning activities include a youthled workshop for teens and college-age students and a panel discussion featuring Mixed Race young adults, and [the conference] will conclude with a panel discussion of multiracial artists. Artistic performances will be interspersed throughout the day.

The Seattle JACL is the flagship chapter of one of the nations’ oldest Asian American civil rights organization. The vision to “promote a world that honors diversity by respecting values of fairness, equality and social justice,” is rooted in its belief that in America, race still presents one of the biggest challenges to justice for all people, and in particular, for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. T h e Seattle JACL presents this event through a 2020 Legacy Grant from JACL National, a smART Ventures Grant from Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and a special partnership with Sharon H. Chang, author of Raising Mixed Race and Hapa Tales and Other Lies.

Mixed Race is the fastest growing racial identity among youth today, a growth we expect to see highlighted even more prominently in the 2020 census. Yet resources, recognition, and support for young multiracial people and their families is still lagging

way behind, says author and activist Sharon H. Chang, one of the event’s co-presenters.

“Mixed-race children are the least likely to see themselves represented in children’s books, there is only one college in the US that offers a minor in mixed-race studies, and no colleges offer a major,” Chang said. “Multiracial youth repeatedly say they feel unheard, unseen as whole people, and pressured to ‘choose sides.’ If we truly care about supporting the next generation, our ability as a society to honor the diverse experiences of mixed-race people needs to develop exponentially.”

Event details Saturday, March 28, 2020 Blaine Memorial Methodist Church: 3001 24th Ave S, Seattle The public is welcome to attend the entire day or drop in for specific events (check the event Facebook page as the speakers and the schedule are confirmed).

Light breakfast, snacks, and water will be provided. Parking is available in the lot in front of the building. The site is ADAaccessible, and the event is barrier-free: if you require specific accommodations, including translation and ASL services, please inform event organizers at least two weeks in advance at the RSVP form [http:// bit.ly/36DrzX1].

Building disclaimer: The Seattle JACL is presenting this conference in a church, specifically because Blaine Methodist is allowing the nonprofit to use its space for free. Rather than spending limited grant funds on a facility rental,

the JACL is using funds to maximize how much it can pay its BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and other People of Color) speakers and performers. The JACL acknowledges that a church building may be an uncomfortable or even painful space for some, particularly for Indigenous people, who have experienced genocide and cultural destruction in the name of Christianity. The Mixed Race Seattle conference is a nonreligious, antiracist event, held as an act of liberation and decolonization. Prior to the conference, one of our event organizers, Audrey, and her father Matt Remle (Hunkpapa Lakota and Paiute) will be offering a Lakota prayer and “smudging” the church down to cleanse the space.

The Japanese American Citizens League, the nation’s second-oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, was founded in the 1920s to address issues of discrimination targeted specifically at persons of Japanese ancestry residing in the United States. The Seattle Chapter JACL has been unafraid to tackle difficult and often controversial issues related to the wartime experiences of our community and other civil rights issues. While the JACL’s founding mission was focused on protecting the civil rights of Americans of Japanese ancestry, today we are committed to protecting the rights of all segments of the Asian Pacific American community.

Courtesy of the Seattle JACL

Visit us online at www.sgn.org 4 Seattle Gay News

January 10, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

Participants holding a sign at the rally. Thousands of New Yorkers of all backgrounds joined community leaders and city and statewide elected officials in Foley Square at the “No Hate. No Fear.” solidarity march in unity against the rise of antisemitism. – Photo by Erik McGregor / LightRocket via Getty Images

ANTISEMITISM continued from cover

The recent horrific attack at a rabbi’s home in Monsey, NY, is just the latest in a series of troubling violent attacks against the Jewish community across the US. Earlier in December, three people died at a kosher supermarket in Jersey City, NJ, as a result of antisemitic violence. Synagogues and other community organizations in Washington state have also been targeted with antisemitic rhetoric and vandalism in the past year. Washington has the fourth highest number of hate crimes nationwide, according to FBI data.

“While antisemitism is always present, the recent increase is bringing back echoes of some of the worst moments in Jewish history. We must hear more than words of compassion. Our local, state, and federal leaders must actively combat the rise of hate groups wherever they gather and whomever they target. Inaction is acceptance of what must be clearly condemned,”

said Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO of Jewish Family Service of Seattle.

“As the letter declares, we must redouble our education and advocacy within the Jewish community and ally with communities experiencing similar threats in the current climate. We must show up for each other, now, and act together, now, to ensure our security and protect our freedoms,” said Miri Cypers, regional director of the AntiDefamation League, Pacific Northwest.

“The growing antisemitic attacks are horrifying and deeply troubling. As long as I am governor, I will continue working to make Washington a place where people of all faiths are safe, protected, and honored,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “All of us must continue to push back against hatred and fear, and we stand with the Jewish community.”

“Across our country, we’re continuing to see horrific, antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community. No one should be afraid to celebrate, attend a service, or thrive in our country because of their religious identity.

There is no place for this kind of hate in America. We must continue to speak out

against hate-based violence and protect the rights and dignities of our communities,” said Jenny A. Durkan, mayor of Seattle.

Over 60 Jewish community leaders and elected officials in Washington State signed the letter in a matter of hours. The letter was written collaboratively by: • Miri Cypers, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, Pacific Northwest • Dee Simon, Baral Family executive director of the Holocaust Center for Humanity • Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO of Jewish Family Service • Nancy B. Greer, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle • Rabbi Daniel A. Weiner, Temple De Hirsch Sinai “That so many leaders from across our community and so many of our elected leaders signed the letter so quickly is a heartening show of solidarity and a shared determination to fight antisemitism and intolerance,” Nancy Greer said.

The letter to the community included

a list of resources for education and action that individuals and communities can take to meet the challenge of combating antisemitism. The list can be found [at https:// www.jewishinseattle.org/community-services/advocacy/antisemitism/how-do-wereact-in-the-face-of-hate/#resources].

“Today, the universal values that are the foundation of America’s democracy are under threat. Antisemitism and bigotry of all types do not just threaten the targets of hate but threaten people of all backgrounds and faiths. There is no room for indifference and no security in passivity. We must overcome the complacency of bystanding with the courage of upstanding,” Rabbi Weiner said.

“Take action. Raise your voice. In this new year, we must work together to turn back the darkness of hatred and turn up the light of justice.” Dee Simon said.

Courtesy of the ADL

RELIGION

Notorious anti-Gay monk excommunicated Accused Pope of heresy

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A notoriously anti-Gay monk has been excommunicated from the Catholic Church after accusing Pope Francis of being a “great heretic.”

Damon Jonah Kelly was booted from the church by his superior, the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, after he wrote a scathing blog post attacking the Pope for “behaving in an ambiguous fashion towards homosexuals.”

According to The Scottish Sun, Kelly was asked to take down the post. When he refused, he was excommunicated. That means he may no longer participate in the sacraments of the church or act in any official capacity.

Kelly called the punishment “extraordinary,” adding that “pedophile priests who’ve been put in prison have never been excommunicated.”

“We had enough of the bishops’

silence,” Kelly said. “A church that accepts homosexual relations, accepts abortions, is not Christ’s church.”

Kelly was referring to recent papal statements indicating that LGBT people, women who have had abortions, and civilly divorced Catholics may be eligible for church sacraments.

Kelly has a long history of anti-LGBTQ actions.

In 2014, he papered his town with leaflets declaring that AIDS was “God’s punishment” for homosexuality, that transgender people should be exorcised, and that gay people are “like vampires.” He pleaded guilty to a hate crime harassment charge after distributing the leaflets.

Last year, Kelly was sentenced to 250 hours of community service after sending anti-Gay hate mail to a pro-LGBTQ minister, telling the priest to “hang himself” if he wasn’t going to “repent of his evil.”

Kelly has described himself as a “criminal for Christ.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

A church source told The Scottish Sun, “If you are launching attacks on people, saying they have no authority, that you take no direction from them, then you are more or less walking away.

“When you get to that stage, you can’t be too surprised you’re expelled.”

Three more excommunications Only days after Kelly was excommunicated, three religious hermits living in the Scottish island of Orkney were also thrown out of the Catholic Church. They had also called the Pope a “heretic” and said evil was “destroying” the church.

The group published their comments in an online declaration.

They also came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, and a spokesman for the bishop said they were warned that their post would lead to excommunication.

The group – two men who describe themselves as a priest and a monk, and a

laywoman – live on the island of Westray, where they run a controversial blog in which they outline their objections to the church’s stance on issues, including homosexuality.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles explained that “in April the group wrote to Bishop McGee to say they intended to withdraw their ‘obedience from Pope Francis and sever communion with the Holy See.’ “The bishop advised them that their actions would incur automatic excommunication and urged them to reconsider and made several offers of dialogue, all of which were refused.

“As a result, the penalty of excommunication now applies.”

In 2015 they were thrown out of a church house in Northamptonshire, England, for bringing that diocese into disrepute. At the beginning of last year, one of the group was convicted of sending homophobic abuse to an Episcopal clergyman.

January 10, 2020

Seattle Gay News 5

University Book Store celebrates 120th Anniversary on January 10, 2020 Hello! I’m writing today to let you know that we here at University Book Store are celebrating our 120th anniversary on January 10, 2020! We’re planning a year-long celebration to honor our long and rich history and to start the process of envisioning our future. We’re so proud of our legacy and excited to share in the prospects for a new era of the University District, just now on the cusp of growth and revitalization. With the immanent opening of a new Link light rail station across the street from our flagship location, The Book Store will soon be the “front door” to the University of Washington. An apt notion, as University Book Store was founded by UW students on campus – in a cloakroom! – in 1900. One hundred and twenty years later, University Book Store, Inc. is an independent college retailer with five locations around the Puget Sound.

The Book Store remains a vital resource to the UW community and an asset to Seattle’s local community, as well.

You Are Our Legacy University Book Store’s mission is to nurture the life of the mind through our products, services, and experiences. You may or may not know that, in addition to course materials and school supplies, the Book Store offers Husky insignia apparel and accessories; new and used books; art and office supplies; gifts; fashion apparel; technology products; cosmetics; and fresh coffee and treats in the U District location!

Plus, we have a bustling author events and lecture series that produces hundreds of events and book signings per year, including former presidents and political figures; New York Times bestselling authors; local artists and writers; UW professors; and YouTube celebrities.

You Are Our Future We take great pride in continuing our founders’ original intention to improve the local community and take an active interest in ensuring students’ academic success.

We’re so excited to shape the next 120 years of University Book Store, and we hope you are, too. Stay tuned for special anniversary events throughout the year, as well as opportunities to engage in conversation with our current customers and customers-

to-be about the future of bookstores, and especially the future of our bookstore.

We welcome your interest, your efforts, and your support in telling our story.

Contact Us! Please get in touch with us by contacting us at https://www.ubookstore.com/ contact-us and/or by signing up for our 120 campaign e-newsletters here: ubookstore. com/120th-anniversary

Keep An Eye Out We have lots of info and plenty of historical photographs to share, employees and customers to talk to, and more! Follow us on social to stay up-to-date: • Facebook: @ubookstoreseattle • Instagram: @ubookstoreseattle • Twitter: @ubookstoresea Courtesy of University Book Store

Photos courtesy of University Book Store

6 Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 46 Years!

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Seattle Gay News 7

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Celebrating 46 Years!

BOMB THREAT continued from cover

arrest and faces a January 21 detention review hearing before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols in DC. According to court documents, a nun and a school administrator received threats to bomb the school and kill nuns only two days after the school announced plans to

include information about same-sex weddings in its alumnae magazine.

The elite private girls’ school is owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Church but decided that it would begin including news of former students’ samesex unions in its alumnae magazine.

The decision was announced on May 13, 2019, and on May 15 threats began.

“We reached this decision as a school and Monastery leadership after much

prayerful consideration and thoughtful dialogue,” the school said in an open letter to the community.

Prosecutors say Tabizada left a message early the morning of May 15 saying that “sinners” have to “be separate,” that the school should remove Gay people from the magazine, and that she would burn and bomb the church.

A minute later, prosecutors say, she called back.

“I’m gonna fucking blow up the school and call it a mission from God,” she is charged with saying.

Tabizada is not a graduate of the school, a school representative said. A judge ordered her held in jail until court proceedings begin.

Negah Hekmati, left, looks on as U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, addresses a news conference about Hekmati's ordeal during an hours-long delay returning to the U.S. from Canada with her family days earlier, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, in Seattle. – Photo by Elaine Thompson / AP

JAYAPAL

continued from cover In their letter to acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf, acting US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Mark Morgan, and Blaine Sector Port Director Kenneth L. Williams, Jayapal and her colleagues requested the administration produce any “directives, orders, guidance, instructions, musters, whether verbal or in writing, or other documents and communications” issued to CBP officers, port directors, or Blaine Sector employees “regarding the screening of individuals of Iranian heritage,” or “any other changes in screening procedures in response to the death of Qasem Soleimani” by January 21, 2020.

In addition to Jayapal, today’s letter was signed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security Chairwoman Kathleen Rice (D-NY).

“We write to express our alarm about US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reportedly holding large numbers of people of Iranian heritage in secondary inspection for up to 12 hours over the weekend of Jan-

uary 4–5, 2020, at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington,” wrote the lawmakers.

In their letter, Jayapal and her colleagues also questioned CBP’s public explanations that attributed long waits to high traffic during late hours and lower staffing levels, writing that these statements “do not explain why impacted persons were overwhelmingly of Iranian heritage, nor

Visit us online www.sgn.org

why pre-cleared US citizen travelers would have been placed in secondary inspection and delayed for five hours,” or “why individuals appear to have been detained throughout the day on January 4, beginning as early as 8:00 a.m.”

Yesterday, Jayapal held a press conference where she called into question CBP’s response, stood in solidarity with Negah Hekmati, one of the people impacted at

the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington, as she shared her story.

The full text of the letter is [at http://jayapal.house.gov/wp-content / u p l o a d s / 2 0 2 0 / 01 / C B P_ I r a n _ L e t ter_01072019.pdf].

Courtesy of Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Photo by Elaine Thompson / AP

January 10, 2020

Seattle Gay News 11

Unanimous vote makes Fort Thomas 17th KY city with LGBTQ fairness ordinance

FORT THOMAS, KY (January 7, 2020) – With a unanimous vote of 5-0 by the city council tonight, the Campbell County town of Fort Thomas, population 16,263, became the 17th city in the commonwealth and fifth in Northern Kentucky to approve a fairness ordinance prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

“This is a proud moment for our city,” shared Fort Thomas City Councilperson Ken Bowman, who introduced the measure. “What’s right is right. We may have been a little slow, but we got there.”

The seventeen Kentucky cities with local Fairness Ordinances cover more than a quarter of the state’s population: Louisville (1999), Lexington (1999), Covington (2003), Vicco (2013), Frankfort (2013), Morehead (2013), Danville (2014), Midway (2015), Paducah (2018), Maysville (2018), Henderson (2019), Dayton (2019), Georgetown (2019), Versailles (2019), Bellevue (2019), Highland Heights (2019), and Fort Thomas (2020).

2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of a statewide Fairness Law, which has only received two informational hearings in the Kentucky General Assembly and never a vote. Last year, nearly a quarter of state lawmakers co-sponsored the measure in the Senate and House. A Statewide Fairness Rally in support of LGBTQ rights will be held Wednesday, February 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda.

Founded in 1991, the Fairness Campaign is Kentucky’s broad-based community effort dedicated to equal rights for lesbian gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Its primary goal is comprehensive civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to dismantle systemic racism.

Courtesy of the Fairness Campaign

HRC supports nondiscrimination protections in Michigan

Image courtesy of the Fairness Campaign

WASHINGTON, DC (January 7, 2020) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, responded to the announcement of a ballot initiative signature-collection effort that seeks to add sexual orientation and gender identity to Michigan’s existing nondiscrimination law.

“LGBTQ people deserve to feel safe and protected under the law – in Michigan and in every state,” said Amritha Venkataraman, Michigan state director for the Human Rights Campaign. “This is why the HRC has long supported efforts in the leg-

islature to update the state’s nondiscrimination laws to include LGBTQ Michiganders, so that all of our friends, family members, and neighbors can live and work in a state that supports us and respects our existence.”

Michigan is one of 30 states that do not have comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that include both sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. Right now, LGBTQ Michiganders have the ability to file nondiscrimination cases on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. However, the

proposed update would codify protections under state law.

The HRC supports legislation sponsored by State Sen. Jeremy Moss and State Reps. Jon Hoadley and Tim Sneller that would make this update to the state’s existing nondiscrimination law.

Discrimination is a real and persistent problem for LGBTQ Americans. HRC polling has found that nearly two-thirds of self-identified LGBTQ Americans report experiencing discrimination. Currently, 50% of LGBTQ Americans live in the 30 states that still lack statewide legal nondiscrimination protections, leaving their

residents and visitors at risk of being fired, denied housing, or refused service because of who they are or whom they love.

LAMBDA LEGAL

“We are afraid that as a result of New York’s policy, our son will be exposed to extra scrutiny, humiliation, or harassment whenever he has to present his inaccurate and inconsistent birth certificate, such as when he applies for his driver’s license.

No person should be forced to identify in a manner inconsistent with who they are,” said M.H.W’s father, Michael Sicinski.

The state’s policy is contrary to that of several other states and jurisdictions that allow transgender minors to correct their birth certificates, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington, and even New York City.

“By prohibiting transgender minors from correcting their birth certificates, the State of New York is depriving them of an essential government identity document,” said Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, senior attorney at Lambda Legal. “Studies show that having inaccurate identification documents exposes transgender people to discrimination, harassment, and violence. Moreover, transgender minors suffer from higher levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide rates when they don’t have a supportive environment. By barring transgender youth from having accurate birth certificates, New York is limiting their opportunity to thrive and grow up knowing they are respected as who they are.”

Background M.H.W. is a boy and has identified as such for years. In consultation with his parents and health care providers, he has undertaken clinically appropriate genderaffirming care in order to bring his body into alignment with his gender identity.

In October 2019, a district court in Texas issued an order to allowing him to change his name to his current, more traditionally associated male name, and M.H.W.’s gender is male. The Texas district court further ordered that M.H.W.’s corrected name and his sex as male be reflected on documents reflecting his identifying information, including licenses, certificates, or other official documents. M.H.W then obtained a corrected US passport and had his name and sex corrected in his social security records. However, as M.H.W.’s parents prepared to correct his New York State birth certificate, they were informed that the state did not permit such corrections for minors, thereby forcing M.H.W. to carry incongruent identity documents and exposing him to potential harassment and discrimination.

Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit today in the US District Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of M.H.W., by and through his parents Jennifer Wingard and Michael Sicinski. The court decision, if favorable, could bring forward a policy change statewide.

In addition to today’s lawsuit, Lambda Legal is currently suing the two remaining states in the country – Ohio and Tennessee – to categorically prohibit all transgender people from correcting their birth certificates. Prior to that, Lambda Legal successfully challenged discriminatory birth certificate policies in Puerto Rico, Idaho, and Kansas.

According to the 2015 US Transgender Survey, almost one-third of transgender people who showed an identity document with a name or gender marker that conflicted with their perceived gender were harassed, denied benefits or services, discriminated against, or assaulted. Transgender people also are disproportionately targeted for hate crimes.

Handling the case on behalf of Lambda Legal are Senior Attorney Omar GonzalezPagan and Staff Attorney Carl Charles.

continued from cover

“I am a boy. It’s frustrating to see New York State deny me the opportunity to correct my birth certificate, which I need for so many important facets of my life. My birth certificate incorrectly says I’m female, but that’s not who I am, and I need the state to correct that error and respect my identity,” said M.H.W., who identifies as a boy and uses he/him pronouns. “I’m a teenager in high school living in Texas. Having an inaccurate birth certificate can cause the disclosure of my transgender status when I enroll in college classes or when I get my driver’s license, and expose me to possible harm.”

“As parents, we only want what is best for our son. Our son is a boy, but New York State refuses to recognize him as such.” said M.H.W’s mother, Jennifer Wingard.

“We have been able to update our son’s other identity documents, such as his passport and Social Security records. So we were shocked when the only remaining roadblock came from New York State.”

In 2014, New York began permitting people 18 years of age or older to correct the sex designation on their birth certificates without the need for surgery, but the state categorically prohibits minors from correcting the sex designation on their birth certificates.

12 Seattle Gay News

January 10, 2020

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.

The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

Courtesy of the HRC

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 public policy work.

Courtesy of Lamda Legal

Celebrating 46 Years!

Seattle wellness: Exercise to ease chronic anxiety this year SEATTLE (January 7, 2020) – A new year offers the potential for new opportunities and experiences. For those who struggle with general and consistent anxiety, however, the prospect of the new year and the expectations that come with it can be tricky to maneuver.

It’s with this in mind that Seattle physical therapist Erik Norwood reminds us that one of the most natural and effective ways to ease anxiety symptoms any time of year is through regular exercise.

“Going for a walk, taking a bike ride, hitting the gym, or signing up for an exercise class... they all can be powerfully effective tools for easing anxiety and its effects on your life and health,” said Norwood, owner of Renew Physical Therapy in Seattle.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), an estimated one in five adults and one in three teens experience chronic anxiety disorder each year. This disorder is defined as anxiety that’s persistent, excessive, and routinely triggered by situations that aren’t actually threats.

Though it’s a psychological condition, Norwood says anxiety can take a toll on one’s physical health.

“High stress and anxiety have been linked to higher blood pressure and a greater risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Norwood. “Also, those who have high levels of anxiety tend to be more sedentary and avoid challenging situations, which can also have long-term health consequences.”

So, how does exercise help ease anxiety? Norwood points out four ways this happens: • Your brain chemistry changes. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals,

can actually help you strengthen your ability to weather high-stress situations.

“On its own, exercise may not completely solve your anxiety issues,” Norwood said, pointing out that those suffering from chronic anxiety should discuss options with their personal physician.

“When possible, though, studies show that regular exercise should be part of any natural, long-term treatment for anxiety.”

And, if you struggle to stick with a consistent exercise regimen, Norwood offers a few tips.

“Don’t just join a gym. Find an activity or activities you enjoy […] Recruit a friend or friends for some social support, and set a SMART goal. This acronym describes a goal that’s specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based.”

Also, visit a physical therapist (PT) if pain, discomfort, weaknesses, or chronic conditions are keeping you from exercising safely and consistently. Following an initial assessment, a PT can develop a personalized exercise program that best aligns with your individual circumstances and goals.

Photo courtesy of Renew Physical Therapy

like dopamine and endorphins in the brain, which contribute toward making you feel calmer and happier.

• General tension diminishes. Whether working out, competing, playing, or dancing, moving your body reduces general muscle tension in the body, decreasing your general feeling of anxiety.

• You get distracted. Exercising can have

a distracting effect, diverting your mind from the things about which you are or have been anxious. It’s also been shown that exercising outdoors, in nature, can calm your mind.

• You give your brain a boost. Several studies have shown that regular exercise can maintain, and even improve, cognitive function in the brain. That means exercise

The mission of Renew Physical Therapy is to provide the Seattle community with individualized and consistent one-onone care that empowers clients to achieve optimal health. The physical therapy team focuses on treating injuries with manual therapy techniques, individual exercise prescription, and patient education, helping guide people back to their prior levels of function while preventing further injuries. Visit renew-physicaltherapy.com for more information.

Courtesy of Renew Physical Therapy

Major regional conference on diabetes education coming to Bellevue February 8

Image courtesy of TCOYD

Visit us online www.sgn.org

BELLEVUE (January 1, 2020) – Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) is hosting an educational conference and interactive health fair in Bellevue, Saturday, February 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for people living with diabetes, their loved ones, and medical professionals seeking to further their education. Held regionally for 25 years, this engaging and entertaining conference brings a host of experiences to encourage people with diabetes to take a more active role in their health through education, motivation, empowerment and most importantly...humor!

Led by the nation’s experts in diabetes care and management, each conference offers an individualized Type 1 Track and Type 2 Track with fun activities and cuttingedge information on the latest diabetesrelated technology, medications, exercise, and practical dietary advice. Medical professionals attending can also obtain Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits.

This conference is open to the public and advanced reservations are recommended.

WHAT: TCOYD Conference and Health Fair – A Life-Changing Conference Experience WHERE: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue, WA 98004 WHEN: Saturday, February 8, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHO: Type 1s, Type 2s, family members and other caretakers, medical professionals and those who care. Speakers include TCOYD founder Dr. Steven Edelman (endocrinologist with type 1 diabetes) and more award-winning diabetes specialists

EXTRAS: Free health screenings, oneon-one consultations, cooking demos, fitness classes, interactive exhibits, lunch, and snacks are included.

The fee to attend is $25 for early registration and $20 when two or more register together. Want to attend but can’t afford the registration fee? Contact our office at (800) 998-2693 and ask about the Registration Assistance Program.

Whether a conference attendee is a person with diabetes, a loved one, or a professional in the field, all are invited. Expert specialists focus on a team approach to encourage a sense of togetherness and empowerment.

“We know people learn best when they’re having fun,” said TCOYD founder and director, Dr. Steve Edelman. “Humor is our best way to educate and inspire people with diabetes to take a more active role in their health.”

January 10, 2020

Seattle Gay News 13

Guided by the belief that every person with diabetes has the right to live a healthy, happy and productive life, Taking Control Of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) educates and motivates people with diabetes to take a more active role in their condition and provides innovative and integrative continuing diabetes education to medical professionals caring for people with diabetes. Taking Control Of Your Diabetes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable educational organization.

Courtesy of TCOYD

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If you have any questions, please ask your librarian or contact us at 206-324-4297 sgn2@sgn.org

14 Seattle Gay News

January 10, 2020

Celebrating 46 Years!

MoSS Alley MotorS, Inc. SpecialiStS in VolVo, Honda, toyota and Subaru

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Seattle, Wa 98122 (206).325--.3992 www.mossalley.com Seattle’s most progressive auto shop!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

January 10, 2020

Seattle Gay News 15