Celebrating 44 Years! Issue 15 Volume 46
Seattle comic book fan and gay author Bill Schelly
Emotionally austere Pete a heartbreaking inspiration
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Lesbian mom has parental April defeat of Anchorage rights to nonbiological anti-Trangender Prop. 1 “Overwhelmed with joy” says Lillian child, Mississippi Lennon, Anchorage activist Supreme Court says
Chris Strickland (l) with attorney Beth Littrell – Photo by Rogelio V. Solis / AP
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled on April 5 that a Lesbian has parental rights
to the nonbiological child of her former marriage. The decision gives same-sex couples the same rights as opposite-sex parents.
see MISSISSIPPI page 13
by Tim Peter SGN Contributing Writer On April 3, voters in Anchorage, Alaska, overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of
53.7 per cent to 47.3 per cent, an attempt by the religious right to prevent Transgender people from using the restrooms and locker
see ANCHORAGE page 6
Interview with King Co. Transgender citizens flee Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht Kyrgyzstan for Russia
Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht – Photo courtesy of Unite Seattle
by Miryam Gordon SGN Staff Writer Our new Sheriff seems to be part of Team Social Justice. Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht has been on the job since her swearing in on January 2nd, 2018, and her
priorities and focus for her department are beginning to take shape. She spoke to SGN recently about her 33-year career in King County law enforcement and her plans now that she has been elected to the highest law enforcement position in King County.
see SHERIFF page 4
Members of Russia’s LGBT community wave rainbow flags at a May Day rally. – Photo courtesy of BBC / Getty
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Imagine being so afraid and so oppressed as a Trans person in your own country that you would flee to Russia for refuge.
That’s exactly the fate of Trans people in Kyrgyzstan, according to BBC reporter Katie Arnold. In 2014, Kyrgyzstan – a former Soviet
see KYRGYZSTAN page 13