SGN June 16, 2017 - Pre-Pride - Section 1

2017 PRIDE events calendar

Celebrating 43 Years!

Issue 24 Volume 45

FRIDAY June 16, 2017 FREE!

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Seattle Gay News

Ed Murray accuser drops lawsuit

Mayor considering write-in campaign

Mayor Ed Murray – Photo by Elaine Thompson

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Delvonn Heckard, the man who accused Seattle Mayor Ed Murray of paying him for sex when he was underage, has dropped his

lawsuit against Murray.

Heckard’s attorney, Lincoln Beauregard, filed a motion to withdraw the complaint on June 13, and it was granted by a

see MURRAY page 6

Ireland chooses Gay prime minister

Leo Varadkar waves to a crowd after being elected prime minister – Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Leo Varadkar became the first out Gay prime minister of Ireland – or Taoiseach – on June 14, after the Dail, Ireland’s parliament voted to confirm him.

Varadkar is also the first Irish leader of immigrant background. His father was born in Mumbai, India, and moved to Eng-

land, where he married the Taoiseach’s Irish mother.

Varadkar was elected leader of the governing Fine Gael party on June 2. Afterward, the party submitted his name to become Taoiseach – and Mr. Varadkar’s nomination was approved in a vote by the Dáil Éireann (lower house of Parliament).

see VARADKAR page 15

Germany grants visas to Gay Chechen refugees

Campaigners hold a protest concerning LGBT rights in Chechnya, outside the Russian Embassy in Central London on June 2, 2017 - Photo by Will Oliver / EPA

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Germany is granting visas to Gay refuges from Chechnya, officials confirmed on June 8.

According to the Associated Press, the first Gay Chechen refugee arrived in Germany on June 6. Three others have met with German embassy staff in Moscow,

see REFUGEES page 15

Bigots claim $50K donation for anti-Trans initiative

Gender Neutral Restroom – Photo by Toby Talbot / AP

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The organizers of a campaign to reverse 11 years of civil rights legislation and deprive Transgender people of their right to use gender-appropriate restrooms say they have received a new donation of $50,000.

The ironically titled Just Want Privacy campaign has not revealed who gave them

the money, and the donation has not yet showed up on the group’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) webpage.

The Just Want Privacy group tried but failed to get a similar initiative on the ballot last year. This year they have until July 7 to turn in petitions with 259,622 signatures in order to get I-1552 on the November ballot.

see BIGOTS page 12

What is TRUVADA for PrEP? TRUVADA for PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a prescription medicine that is used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1. To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to prevent getting HIV. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION |What is the most important information I should

know about TRUVADA for PrEP?

Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP: u You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-negative. u Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.

While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: u You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1. u You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months.

• If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. u To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners.

• Do not miss any doses of TRUVADA. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. u If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects: u Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV and stop taking TRUVADA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.

|Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?

Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: u Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time. u Also take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection. |What are the other possible side effects of

TRUVADA for PrEP?

Serious side effects of TRUVADA may also include: u Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your kidneys before and during treatment with TRUVADA. If you develop kidney problems, your healthcare provider may tell you to stop taking TRUVADA. u Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. u Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. u Bone problems, including bone pain, softening, or thinning, which may lead to fractures. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your bones.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP are stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away. |What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking

TRUVADA for PrEP?

u All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare

provider if you have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis. u If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if TRUVADA can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking TRUVADA for PrEP, talk to your healthcare provider to decide if you should keep taking TRUVADA. u If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can be passed to the baby in breast milk. u All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-thecounter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. TRUVADA may interact with other medicines. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. u If you take certain other medicines with TRUVADA, your healthcare provider may need to check you more often or change your dose. These medicines include certain medicines to treat hepatitis C (HCV) infection.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Important Facts about TRUVADA for PrEP including important warnings on the following page.

TVDC0095_D_10x15-675_SeattleGayNews_p2.indd 1-2

2 Seattle Gay News

June 16, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Have you heard about

TRUVADA for PrEP™ ?

The once-daily prescription medicine that can help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 when used with safer sex practices.

• TRUVADA for PrEP is only for adults who are at high risk of getting HIV through sex.

• You must be HIV-negative before you start taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Ask your doctor about your risk of getting HIV-1 infection and if TRUVADA for PrEP may be right for you.

visit start.truvada.com

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 16, 2017

6/5/17 2:53 PM

Seattle Gay News 3

IMPORTANT FACTS

This is only a brief summary of important information about taking TRUVADA for PrEPTM (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. This does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

(tru-VAH-dah) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUVADA FOR PrEP

Before starting TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must be HIV-1 negative. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1. Do not take TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include flu-like symptoms, tiredness, fever, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting TRUVADA for PrEP. While taking TRUVADA for PrEP: • You must continue to use safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.

• You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you were exposed to HIV-1 or have a flu-like illness while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. • If you do become HIV-1 positive, you need more medicine than TRUVADA alone to treat HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat over time.

• See the “How To Further Reduce Your Risk” section for more information.

TRUVADA may cause serious side effects, including: • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. TRUVADA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking TRUVADA. Do not stop taking TRUVADA without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

TRUVADA can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “Most Important Information About TRUVADA for PrEP” section.

• New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

• Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

• Bone problems.

Common side effects in people taking TRUVADA for PrEP include stomach-area (abdomen) pain, headache, and decreased weight.

These are not all the possible side effects of TRUVADA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking TRUVADA for PrEP. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with TRUVADA for PrEP.

ABOUT TRUVADA FOR PrEP TRUVADA for PrEP is a prescription medicine used together with safer sex practices to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 through sex. This use is only for HIV-negative adults who are at high risk of getting HIV-1.

• To help determine your risk of getting HIV-1, talk openly with your healthcare provider about your sexual health.

Do NOT take TRUVADA for PrEP if you: • Already have HIV-1 infection or if you do not know your HIV-1 status.

• Take certain medicines to treat hepatitis B infection.

HOW TO TAKE TRUVADA FOR PrEP • Take 1 tablet once a day, every day, not just when you think you have been exposed to HIV-1.

• Do not miss any doses. Missing doses may increase your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

• Use TRUVADA for PrEP together with condoms and safer sex practices.

• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months. You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.

BEFORE TAKING TRUVADA FOR PrEP Tell your healthcare provider if you: • Have or have had any kidney, bone, or liver problems, including hepatitis.

• Have any other medical conditions.

• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

• Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. If you become HIV-positive, HIV can pass to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: • Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

• Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with TRUVADA for PrEP.

HOW TO FURTHER REDUCE YOUR RISK • Know your HIV status and the HIV status of your partners.

• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections make it easier for HIV to infect you.

• Get information and support to help reduce risky sexual behavior, such as having fewer sex partners.

• Do not share needles or personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them.

GET MORE INFORMATION • This is only a brief summary of important information about TRUVADA for PrEP. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more, including how to prevent HIV infection.

• Go to start.truvada.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5 • If you need help paying for your medicine, visit start.truvada.com for program information.

TRUVADA, the TRUVADA Logo, TRUVADA FOR PREP, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

Version date: April 2017 © 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. TVDC0095 05/17

3 4 TVDC0095_D_10x15-675_SeattleGayNews_p2.indd Seattle Gay News

June 16, 2017

2:53 PM Celebrating 43 6/5/17 Years!

Vaporizing Stonewall

by Mark Segal Philadelphia Gay News I’m writing about an issue that sheds new light on a subject we all think we know: Stonewall. Earlier this week, my husband Jason, who teaches creative writing at Boston University, handed me an anthology of the best science-fiction stories of 2016. The book, edited by John Joseph Adams, has a story by Sam J. Miller titled “The Heat of Us: Notes Towards an Oral History.” It’s literally a science-fiction account of Stonewall.

For any of us who were there, especially those of us who were members of Gay Liberation Front, which was built from the ashes of Stonewall, it’s a personal story. After reading it, I sent the info of the story to our GLF email chain to get the reaction of my brothers and sisters who went through that time period.

The story takes a look at Stonewall from the eyes of fictitious people involved: police, eyewitnesses, participants, etc. However, the characters in the story perpetuate two of the myths about Stonewall that are dead wrong. Even though this is fiction, since this is a personal story for me, those myths are hard to overlook.

It starts with the idea that the riot happened due to Judy Garland’s death. That is an insult to each and every LGBT person, then and now. It trivializes the riot and our actions, especially those of the street kids and trans people. Those in the club that night were mostly young, and Garland wasn’t a part of our generation. We danced to Diana Ross, The Fifth Dimension, Barbra Streisand and even The Beatles. I can’t recall “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” ever being played at any time.

It was 1969, the height of the counter cultural ’60s. People our age were, as they say today, disruptive. What actually set off Stonewall was the police and the way they treated us. Very simply, that act forced out our anger and oppression of 200 years. Or,

to put it personally, those police represented the hate we had endured: the rejection, the bullying, the beatings and the isolation each of us felt. It is an insult to that pain to even utter that a diva set us off. It belittles those involved.

I guess you see how strongly I feel about this issue.

There is one minor character in the story, who does say that the riot had nothing to do with Judy Garland, but that perspective is only a few lines long.

In the story, the riot is the scene of science-fiction phenomena like collective pyrokinesis and multiphonics. My favorite line was when a character talks about all the people who got vaporized, and the smell of charred bodies as you entered the remains of the bar. The writer embellishes the scope of the riot and the damage. At this point, it amused me, and I wrote our GLF email chain.

Most of them have come to terms with Stonewall. It’s personal for us, but that exchange helped me finally write, “OK, I’m literally sorry I brought up the vaporizing of Stonewall.” Hey, I thought it would amuse everyone.

There’s one point I’ve used over and over the last couple of years and for me it’s a ma-

jor point. I wrote it in my email and always say it in my recollections: “From the ashes of Stonewall came GLF, the most important LGBT organization that has EVER existed.”

“First, as a group, we decided to define ourselves rather than allowing society to do so, and second, we created community where there was none before,” I continued.

“We did it all in the open, we blew the closet door wide open and embraced all in our community.

“So take great pride and know that you were in a very special organization with some incredible people. Stonewall is bigger than all of us, and our views are all different due to age and other factors. Whether you were in Stonewall before, during or after, it was GLF that took that spark and ran with it. And no matter how the story changes, no matter what is written to explain what happened or to explore the issues we were facing, the fact remains that we changed the world, and we changed it as a community.”

Enough said.

Mark Segal is the nation’s most-awardwinning commentator in LGBT media. His recently published memoir, And Then I Danced, is available on Amazon Barnes & Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

Pro-gay rights demonstrators at the time of the famous Stonewall riots – Photo by Leonard Fink

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 16, 2017

Seattle Gay News 5

Gender Justice League brings remarkable speakers to Trans Pride Seattle 2017 – Friday, June 23

(l to r) Ari Morales and Daniela Vazquez of Almas Cantivas, Jennicet, and Andrea Jenkins

The annual celebration of the Seattlearea Transgender community, Trans* Pride Seattle will be taking place on Capitol Hill on Friday, June 23 in and around Cal Anderson Park. The assembly and line-up to march will begin at 5pm on Nagle Pl. The march will step off at 6pm sharp from Broadway E & E John St, and travel east to 12th Ave, south on 12th Ave to E Olive St, and west to Cal Anderson Park, arriving at approximately 6:30pm. The Trans* Pride Seattle celebration will begin at 7pm.

Ari Morales and Daniela Vazquez, the

founders of the Mexico City based trans activist organization, Almas Cautivas, will be speaking at Trans Pride. Almas Cautivas creates programs that improve prison conditions and reduce recidivism for incarcerated LGBTQIA populations in Mexico. Ari and Daniela are incredible leaders of their community.

Bay Area trans activist Jennicet gained national attention when she interrupted President Obama during a White House Pride reception to ask him to help trans immigrants in immigration detention. Jennicet channeled that high profile event into

recognition of her organization Familia: TQLM and the momentous struggle that documented and undocumented LGBTQ immigrants face.

At any given moment the incomparable Andrea Jenkins is an outspoken social justice advocate, a poet, current board member for Trans United Fund, and an oral historian who spearheads the Transgender Oral History Project, an archival project which has collected over 400 hours of trans histories thus far.

Today, she’s doing all of that plus utiliz-

ing her 25 years of public service leadership to run a historical campaign for Minneapolis City Council on a comprehensive equity platform. Saying we are excited is an understatement!

Gender Justice League is dedicated to building solidarity and inspiring community collaboration – locally, nationally, and globally. We hope you can join Gender Justice League, Andrea, Jennicet, Ari and Daniela for what will surely be the most radical and inspirational Trans Pride Seattle has ever seen!

Trans* Pride Seattle is proud to curate a diverse and powerful group of speakers and performers from around the United States. A few speakers from select local organizations will also be taking the stage to discuss their work and the services and opportunities they offer. In addition, there will be an information and resource fair with a wide variety of community groups and organizations doing outreach. There will also be food trucks and our beloved community out in full force!

Organized by Gender Justice League in association with local organizations who support the Seattle-area Trans* and gender nonconforming community. More information at www.transprideseattle.org.

Courtesy of Gender Justice League

Court upholds I-124 – Victory for hotel workers

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A King County Superior Court ruled on June 9 that I-124 – the Seattle initiative that protects hotel workers from sexual harassment and other unsafe working conditions – is constitutional.

Judge John Erlick affirmed the initiative in its entirety and dismissed the claims of hotel industry attorneys.

In his decision, Erlick wrote that “the Initiative and Ordinance do not violate the federal or Washington State Constitutions, are not inconsistent with or preempted by existing law, and that plaintiffs Associations [sic] lack the requisite standing for a facial constitutional challenge.”

The initiative, titled “the Seattle Hotel

MURRAY

continued from cover King County Superior Court. Beauregard filed the suit on Heckard’s behalf in April.

Murray, who always denied Heckard’s allegations, dropped his run for re-election last month. At a June 14 press conference, Murray said he’d been “vindicated” by withdrawal of the lawsuit and did not rule out running for re-election as a write-in candidate.

Heckard’s suit was dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning he can still file additional complaints against Murray, and Beauregard said his client would definitely refile his suit after he completes his drug rehab program next year. Beauregard also said his client would stand a better chance after Murray leaves office.

In his June 14 press statement, Murray called Beauregard a “publicity-hungry lawyer with special connections to certain members of the press” and repeated his charge

6 Seattle Gay News

Employee Health and Safety Initiative,” was passed overwhelmingly with a 77% yes vote in the November 8, 2016, election.

I-124 contains new rights and protections for hotel workers, including panic buttons, workload limits for housekeepers, expanded access to affordable family health insurance, and job security.

Shortly after it passed, the Seattle Hotel Association, Washington Hospitality Association, and American Hotel and Lodging Association filed suit to block the law.

The City of Seattle, Seattle Protects Women, and UNITE HERE Local 8 – the union that represents hotel and restaurant workers in the Pacific Northwest – also went to court to uphold the new ordinance.

“In going after I-124, the hotel industry showed a clear disrespect and disregard for

both hotel workers and Seattle voters,” said UNITE HERE Local 8 President Erik Van Rossum.

“We are very pleased but not surprised that the court has sided with all of us in Seattle who know that protecting hotel housekeepers from harassment and injury is both legal and necessary.”

“We needed this initiative,” said Yan Deng, a lobby attendant and former housekeeper at a Seattle hotel. “I am so happy that it will continue to be in place and that the hotels will have no excuse now not to follow the law.”

A majority of Seattle hotel workers are immigrants and people of color, and over 80% of hotel housekeepers are women.

One of the controversial parts of the initiative is the provision requiring hotels to

bar patrons who sexually harass hotel staff.

Industry attorneys claimed that rule violated their guests’ privacy and due process rights.

In his ruling, Erlick said the hotel groups lacked standing to sue over that provision. That challenge would be “more properly brought” by a guest actually barred, rather than by hotel groups before the fact, the judge said.

The judge added that issues relating to accused guests and their rights may be addressed by rules the City draws up to implement I-124.

Brian Crawford, vice president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, said the plaintiffs will consider next steps, such as an appeal.

that the lawsuit was politically motivated.

Murray did not name the “members of the press” he referenced in his remarks, but the Seattle Times chose to cover Heckard’s allegations – as well as similar charges made by other men who said Murray had sex with them when they were teenagers – after passing on the story in 2008 when the charges against Murray first surfaced.

“You were not successful,” Murray said, apparently addressing Beauregard. “I will continue to be mayor of this city.” Murray promised that his political work would continue.

“This lawsuit was a painful experience,” Murray said.

“It was a painful experience for victims of abuse, sexual abuse. It was a painful experience for the vulnerable people who seemed to have been exploited by an attorney with a publicity agenda. It was a painful experience for people in the LGBT community who were subjected to the most despicable stereotype of who gay men are.”

Both Murray and his husband, Michael

Shiosaki, told reporters they were angry over the charges and the apparent end to Murray’s political career.

Murray’s attorney, Malaika Eaton, was even more explicit in condemning Beauregard. The timing of his motion to withdraw the suit “raises questions, given that it occurred only one day before Plaintiff was required to provide answers to questions under oath that we believe would have, along with the objective and undisputed medical evidence, shown his accusations against Mayor Murray to be false,” she said in an email.

“That aside, we are pleased that the case is now dismissed. The excuses Plaintiff has made for this dismissal are just that, excuses, and were rejected by the Court when the Court denied Plaintiff’s motion to move the case out of Seattle,” she added.

Beauregard filed a motion to change judges and move the suit to another jurisdiction in May, but it was rejected by the court. Beauregard was subsequently fined $5,000 for his flamboyant conduct of the

case.

Former US Attorney and current candidate to succeed Murray as mayor, Jenny Durkin, said in a statement that she wished Murray and Shiosaki “a time of healing now that this cloud has been lifted and the lawsuit against the mayor has been withdrawn.”

“Ed Murray has been, and continues to be, a strong and progressive civic leader,” Durkan continued. “He has been a strong mayor and has led Seattle with a just and equitable vision. I look forward to continue working with him in the months and years to come.”

Another potential successor, former state Rep. Jessyn Farrell said she was “shocked to hear the news this morning, and my heart goes out to Mayor Murray, Michael, their families and friends for the pain of the past several weeks. As a city, we must reject the politics of personal destruction. Our voters—and our elected leaders— deserve better.”

June 16, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 16, 2017

Seattle Gay News 7

WE WILL REMEMBER ORLANDO – JUNE 12, 2016 One year ago, on Sunday, June 12, we woke up to a heart-wrenching tragedy.

Let us take a special moment to remember the members of our community who lost their lives.

Stanley Almodovar III – Amanda L. Alvear – Oscar A. Aracena Montero – Rodolfo Ayala Ayala – Antonio Davon Brown – Darryl Roman Burt II – Angel Candelario-Padro – Juan Chavez Martinez – Luis Daniel Conde – Cory James Connell – Tevin Eugene Crosby – Deonka Deidra Drayton – Simón Adrian Carrillo Fernández – Leroy Valentin Fernandez – Mercedez Marisol Flores – Peter Ommy Gonzalez Cruz – Juan Ramon Guerrero – Paul Terrell Henry – Frank Hernandez – Miguel Angel Honorato – Javier Jorge Reyes – Jason Benjamin Josaphat – Eddie Jamoldroy Justice – Anthony Luis – Laureano Disla – Christopher Andrew Leinonen – Alejandro Barrios Martinez – Brenda Marquez McCool – Gilberto R. Silva Menendez – Kimberly Jean Morris – Akyra Monet Murray – Luis Omar Ocasio Capo – Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez – Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera – Joel Rayon Paniagua – Jean Carlos Mendez Perez – Enrique L. Rios, Jr. – Jean Carlos Nieves Rodríguez – Xavier Emmanuel Serrano-Rosado – Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz – Yilmary Rodríguez Solivan – Edward Sotomayor Jr. – Shane Evan Tomlinson – Martin Benitez Torres – Jonathan A. Camuy Vega – Juan Pablo Rivera Velázquez – Luis Sergio Vielma – Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velázquez – Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon – Jerald Arthur Wright

8 Seattle Gay News

June 16, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Let us also remember that we got through that day, and the weeks and months since, because we held one another close. We took care of one another, as we always have We will never stop working so that everyone in our families and our communities feels safe, accepted, supported, and loved.

With heartfelt gratitude for each of you, Kris Hermanns & the Pride Foundation Staff Additional resource: Remembering those lost – http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/12/481785763/ heres-what-we-know-about-the-orlando-shooting-victims Courtesy of the Pride Foundation

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 16, 2017

OR L A NDO

Let us acknowledge the ways in which this tragedy is present every day – for the families of victims, for the survivors, and for everyone in our community who continues to face violence and hate because of who they are, or who they love.

Seattle Gay News 9

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10 Seattle Gay News

June 16, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Gay congressman introduces LGBT PRIDE Act Measure would improve data collection on violent crimes, suicides

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York introduced the LGBT PRIDE Act on June 13, one year and one day after the massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub.

The bill is seeks to improve data collection on the sexual orientation and gender identity of victims of violent crimes and suicides.

“Pulse wasn’t an isolated occurrence,” Maloney observed.

“Anti-LGBTQ violence is way too common – it happens when a transwoman of color is gunned down in the street, it happens when a young gay person is bullied into depression or takes his own life.

“We have to get more information on where this violence is happening and we have to be more aggressive about doing something to stop it – and this bill is a necessary first step.”

Maloney is New York’s first out Gay member of Congress and is co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. His district includes the northern suburbs of New York City, as well as Newburgh, Beacon, and Poughkeepsie.

PRIDE in the title of the bill stands for Provide a Requirement to Improve Data Collection Efforts. The legislation would provide $25 million to improve the National Violent Death Reporting System currently operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC’s system did not record any

David Cicilline, Sean Patrick Maloney, Carolyn B. Maloney and 2 others – Photo courtesy Sean Patrick Maloney via Twitter

of the 49 Pulse killings as anti-LGBT murders, even though the shooting took place at an LGBT nightclub and most of the victims were LGBT. In a June 13 statement, HRC said it supported the bill.

“The LGBTQ community, particularly transgender women of color, continue to face an epidemic of violence,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy.

“In order to help understand the full

scope of this violence, it is critically important we ensure victims’ sexual orientation and gender identity are included as part of the information gathered in the National Violent Death Reporting System.”

The Trevor Project also supports the measure, saying it would play a “critical role” in understanding and preventing youth suicide.

“Currently no one is able to answer the question of how many LGBTQ individuals

die by suicide every year,” said Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of the Trevor Project.

“This is a monumental gap in our knowledge of suicide and keeps us from most effectively targeting prevention and intervention efforts. It’s time to finally acknowledge the importance of LGBTQ lives and get the data to help save those lives.”

Klan crashes Equality March in Alabama

White nationalists in Ku Klux Klan robes and other regalia protested an LGBTQ pride march in Florence on Sunday – Photo by Connor Sheets

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer While in most places the June 11 Equality Marches and other Pride month events went on without incident, in Florence, Alabama, the Ku Klux Klan crashed the party, leaving attendees “shocked and then embarrassed,” in the words of a local LGBT rights activist.

“It was just crazy,” Benjamin Newbern,

executive director of Equality Shoals, told the AL.com website.

“This was a huge day for the LGBTQ community, with the fact that nothing like this had happened before, with members of the LGBTQ community marching in the streets here.

“Hate has always been here, but it reared its ugly head yesterday to show that it’s still around.”

Florence is a town of some 39,000 resi-

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dents in northwest Alabama, and it’s the location of the University of North Alabama.

The June 11 march was the town’s first-ever LGBT event.

According to Newbern, 200 people marched and another 100 attended. So did 10 Klansmen in robes and other “regalia.”

Police arrived as well and kept the two sides separate, so there were no violent incidents reported.

Some participants in the march said

June 16, 2017

they were annoyed that Facebook posts by the Florence Police Department made no distinction between them and the Klan.

“Two sides, opposing views. Peaceful rally. Our duty and honor to provide security and ensure the safety of both groups,” said one of the department’s Facebook posts.

Will Cross, a member of the Equality Shoals board of directors, expressed surprise that the department would make such statements.

“That’s very odd, because that group to me is based on hatred and is like a terrorist group to me,” Cross said. “I don’t think there should be an equivalence there, because we paid and got permits and hired police officers, and they just kind of showed up trying to scare people.”

Both Cross and Newbern said that the police had been helpful in preventing confrontations between Pride marchers and Klansmen.

Pride organizers said the main point of the event was to show that LGBT people and their allies were able to march peacefully and join together in solidarity and celebration.

“Honestly, I’m really impressed that as many people showed up as did, especially in our small town, where it’s typically really conservative. I was also really impressed that there were tons of families and small children there with signs saying things like ‘I support my Gay child,’” Cross said.

“We just wanted to have a sister march to the national marches happening all across the nation.”

Seattle Gay News 11

UK election leaves LGBT rights at risk Jeremy Corbyn warns PM not to trade rights for power

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The rights of the United Kingdom’s LGBT community may be reduced to a political bargaining chip as Prime Minister Theresa May desperately tries to assemble a parliamentary majority that will allow her to remain in power.

May led her Conservative Party into early elections, hoping to take advantage of internal conflicts in the opposition Labor Party to increase her slim majority in the parliament. Instead, the election turned into a disaster for her government.

May’s Tories lost 13 seats, including four of May’s cabinet ministers, and their parliamentary majority, while Labor gained 30.

To continue in government, May had to cut a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland, an anti-choice, anti-LGBT, creationist party popular with Northern Ireland’s Protestant extremists.

The DUP has blocked all attempts to introduce marriage equality in Northern Ireland – making it the only part of the UK that still lacks marriage equality – and favors a so-called “conscience clause” that would protect those who discriminate against LGBT people because of religion.

While no “deal” between the DUP and the Tories has been announced yet, May dropped a hint of things to come by appointing David Lidington as her new Chancellor and Justice Secretary.

Lidington has been an opponent of LGBTI rights since the 1990s and voted in favor of repealing the UK’s Human Rights Act. Lidington also voted against the introduction of civil partnerships in England and Wales in 2004, and voted twice against the introduction of same-sex marriage in 2013. In 2003 he voted to maintain the notorious Section 28, “the ban on the promotion of homosexuality in schools” originally passed by Margaret Thatcher.

As Chancellor, Lidington will oversee British courts, although he has no known legal experience or background and is not a lawyer.

Warning from Labor Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, meanwhile, warned that a coalition between the Conservatives and the DUP could have a negative impact on LGBT rights. The prime minister, he said, must not abandon LGBT rights in favor of “clinging to power” by aligning with the DUP. “LGBT rights are human rights,” Corbyn told Britain’s Pink News. “They must not be sold out by Theresa May and the Conservatives as they try to cling to power with the DUP.” Corbyn’s Labour Party said in its electoral manifesto that a Labour government would amend the UK’s Equality Act to bolster protections for Transgender people, and bring hate crime protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in line with those protecting race.

Labour also pledged anti-bullying training for all teachers and LGBT-inclusive sex education guidelines for British schools.

Corbyn also said he would make HIVpreventing PrEP drugs available through the National Health Service (NHS), Britain’s single-payer medical system. PrEP is not currently part of the NHS’s schedule of approved drugs.

If May failed to assemble a majority coalition, Labour was ready to go through another nationwide campaign, Corbyn added.

“We have a program, we have support, and we are ready to fight another election campaign as soon as may be,” said.

Dissent within the Conservative Party May was also hit with dissenting views from other Conservatives. Former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, for example, called May a “dead woman walking” following the disastrous election results.

The Tories can either strike a deal with DUP, despite the Irish party’s reactionary views on social issues like LGBT rights and abortion laws, or give up power, he said.

“I reject all of those views personally,” Osborne added, “but the Tory party doesn’t have a choice in order to get a majority.”

Ruth Davidson, the Conservative Party boss in Scotland and an out Lesbian, told BBC News that she’d demanded a specific commitment to LGBT rights from May. “I was fairly straightforward with her [Theresa May], and I told her that there were a number of things that count to me

Theresa May – Photo courtesy of The Independent

more than the party,” Davidson said.

“One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights. I asked for a categoric assurance that if any deal or scoping deal was done with the DUP, there would be absolutely no rescission of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK, in Great Britain, and that we would use any influence that we had to advance LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland.

“It’s an issue very close to my heart and one that I wanted categoric assurances from the Prime Minister on, and I received [them].”

Davidson did not explain what explicit assurances she’d gotten from the prime minister, or whether the appointment of Lidington contradicted May’s guarantees.

Brit Pride organizers apologize to Trans community for segregated “Trans only” area Pride festival organizers in the British resort town of Blackpool have apologized to the local Trans community for setting up a segregated “Trans only” area.

A seaside resort some 27 miles north of Liverpool, Blackpool hosts an annual weekend Pride event that features a march, drag shows, and live music. The town is often called Britain’s “gay capital of the north,” with Brighton being the “gay capital of the south.” Blackpool has had a Pride celebration since 2006.

This year, among the stalls for nonprofit organizations and vendors, was an area marked off by signs that read “Trans area only. Under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.” The area contained stalls for Trans groups, but no food or beverage vendors, and no alcohol was allowed.

Many Pride attendees complained about

the segregation of Trans people and the suggestion that younger people were not safe in a Trans-only area.

Shaun Pickup, chairperson of Blackpool Pride Festival, said organizers were “deeply saddened” by the complaints and offered “sincere apologies for any offence which has been concerned.”

“The trans area was created in response to requests from the community to provide a safe space for them during the festival,” Pickup explained.

“Both Blackpool Pride Festival and our partners at Horizon are fully supportive and stand in solidarity with the trans community at all times. The provision of this space was an attempt to respect their wishes. We were in no way were seeking to segregate members of any community, as our ethos as an organization is about bringing people together.”

Horizon is a magazine for Gay men that co-sponsors the Blackpool Pride Festival.

“The sign in question was produced for a previous festival where there were agerelated licensing restrictions in the area of the building [in] which the trans area was situated and should not have been displayed this year,” Pickup continued.

“As soon as the festival’s organizing committee were made aware of the complaints regarding the sign, it was removed and will not be used at any future Blackpool Pride Festival event.

“As part of our planning for next year’s event, we are reaching out to the trans community and their advocates to find out how they would like to see the festival provide a safe and inclusive space for them to come together without feeling segregated.

“We hope this unfortunate incident does not take the shine off what has been an otherwise successful weekend celebrating the community to which we all belong.”

The anti-Trans Just Want Privacy group is currently paying signature gatherers in an effort to qualify for the ballot, and they said the new influx of cash would help them in a last-minute push.

“This is a big deal, folks,” wrote campaign chair Joseph Backholm in a Facebook post announcing the donation. “While we had originally planned to pay for 100K signatures, we are hopeful now that we will

be able to pay for 150K signatures.”

Apart from the $50,000 donation, Backholm’s group has collected only $156,000, with the largest known donation being $25,000 from Cedar Park Assembly of God Church.

On the other side, Washington Won’t Discriminate reported donations totaling $283,000, including $50,000 from the ACLU of Washington and $25,000 from

Microsoft.

In addition, Amazon, Google, and a number of other corporations have gone on record against I-1552. The Washington State Labor Council will take up requests to add organized labor’s voice to the opposition at its convention in July.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Trans only signage at Blackpool – Photo courtesy Kate Hutchinson via Twitter

BIGOTS

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VARADKAR continued from cover

He was confirmed by a vote of 57-50, with 45 abstentions. Fine Gael heads a minority government with 57 votes, backed up by the second-largest party, Fianna Fail, which abstained in the vote on Taoiseach.

As soon as he took office, Varadkar named Simon Covey, his rival in the Fine Gael leadership election, as deputy leader.

He was “delighted” to do so, Varadkar said.

“Simon and I will work together to guide the participation by Fine Gael in the Government, and reform and modernize the Fine Gael Party in the years ahead,” Varadkar promised.

REFUGEES continued from cover

and a fourth man’s visa application is under review, according to the New York Times.

A German foreign ministry spokesperson told the Times that, in the case of one refugee, “a visa was issued and the person was able to come to Germany on June 6.”

“We are glad we are able to help in particularly difficult cases,” the spokesperson added.

Germany provides visas on “urgent humanitarian grounds” for people who can demonstrate they’re in serious danger, the

In the Fine Gael leadership election, Varadkar beat Covey with 60% of the votes. He easily won the support of the party’s parliamentary delegation but trailed Covey among rank-and-file party members.

In a speech after being confirmed as Taoiseach, Varadkar noted Ireland’s progress on LGBT issues, with Gay sex legalized in 1993 and full marriage equality passed by popular vote in 2015.

“If my election has shown anything, it is that prejudice has no hold in this Republic,” he said. He added that his father would be proud that his son could be “judged by his actions, not his origins or identity.”

Varadkar’s election to the country’s political leadership was hailed by LGBT rights groups.

“It is a historic day for the LGBT+

community, and indeed for all of Ireland as we welcome the country’s first openly Gay Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar,” Moninne Griffith, executive director of BeLonG To Youth Services, said.

“This is a huge step forward for Ireland, and we applaud the fact that this political race focused on policy and the issues, and not sexual orientation.

“As Ireland’s national LGBT+ youth service, we are delighted that the new leader of Fine Gael is a Gay man, and now a role model for the youth who use our services across the country.

“There is no doubt there has been a huge change in Ireland since the Marriage Equality Referendum. But we have to be realistic and remember that there are many thousands of LGBT+ young people who

continue to face harassment and bullying because of their sexual orientation, gender identification, and gender expression.

“There has been a 100% increase in the number of young people accessing our services since the referendum. Each week, we have 150 young people coming through the doors in our Dublin services and hundreds more accessing support through our national network of LGBT+ youth groups.

“We are committed to continuing to represent LGBT+ young people and their families and we look forward to working with the presumptive Taoiseach on improving their lives and well-being.”

The only other out Gay national leader currently serving is Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxembourg.

AP says.

At a May meeting, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to help protect Gay rights in Chechnya. Russian officials have promised to investigate reports of a pogrom against Gay men in Chechnya but have denied the truth of the reports.

According to the Russian opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta, about 100 Gay Chechens have been arrested by Chechen authorities and are being held in several concentration camps in the North Caucasus country.

At least four men have reportedly died under torture, and Chechen officials are said to be urging families of Gay men to

kill them in order to spare the Chechen government the trouble.

Chechnya is an internally self-governing republic within the Russian Federation.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov is an ally of Putin.

While the United States has not issued visas to Chechen refugees, European countries are beginning to open their borders to men fleeing persecution there.

In May, Lithuania’s foreign minister announced that his government had granted visas to two Chechens who “suffered persecution because of their sexual orientation.”

Joël Deumier, president of the French LGBT rights group SOS Homophobie, said a Chechen refugee had arrived in France.

Officials with ILGA-Europe, an international LGBT organization, said that several other European countries had also entered into discussions to admit Gay refugees on grounds of persecution, but the group declined to name the countries so as not to put the refugees at risk.

“The crisis is ongoing, so we have been working on asylum, on getting people out beyond the borders of Russia, since staying in Russia is not a safe alternative,” Daina Rudusa, an ILGA-Europe official, said.

“Some people have already made it out, but many remain in safe houses throughout Russia, applying for visas and trying to escape.”

FDA approves generic Truvada

PrEP by 80%. Generic versions of Truvada sold overseas have a price tag as low as $70 a year, he told the site.

“This is an exciting day,” Warren told Medscape. “We’ve seen momentum for PrEP programs and policies. Having a lower-cost alternative will only increase that momentum.”

He added that he expects other pharma-

ceutical companies to launch generic versions of Truvada as well.

However, the date when the generic drug will be available to consumers is not yet certain. Teva did not immediately respond to a request for information, and Gilead issued a statement to Poz magazine asserting that the generic version can’t be marketed right away because it still holds patents on Truvada’s components.

Tim Horn of Treatment Action Group told Poz, “Approval of a generic product doesn’t necessarily mean that product launch is imminent. … It’s not uncommon in patent settlement agreements for generics to negotiate language permitting full approvals months and years in advance of the settlement license date. Regardless, now is the time to start thinking seriously about the advantages as well as the drawbacks of generic products to prevent and treat HIV.” Activists said they hoped that Teva will offer patient assistance programs for the generic drug, as Gilead does with Truvada.

“Gilead’s patient and copay assistance programs have become central pillars in patient access,” veteran activist Peter Staley told Poz. “They must maintain these programs, and Teva must establish equivalent or better assistance programs for their generic version.”

June 16, 2017

Seattle Gay News 15

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of Truvada.

In a June 9 announcement, the federal agency said the Teva pharmaceutical company could sell its new emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil application. Truvada is a brand name owned by Gilead, which has marketed the drug since 2004.

Truvada is now one of the standard treatments for HIV-1 infection and is also prescribed in a PrEP application to prevent HIV infection. It has been found to be 98% effective as a PrEP drug.

According to the QuintilesIMS Institute’s 2017 Medicine Use and Spending in the U.S. report, Truvada had $3.1 billion in sales in 2016, ranking 17th among the top 20 medicines in the United States. The drug has seen more than $2 billion in sales since 2012, with the highest sales coming in 2016.

Generic drugs are usually cheaper than brand-name ones, so a generic Truvada could be a great benefit to a both HIV-positive people and HIV-negative people at risk for HIV infection.

According to Medscape, the price of Gilead’s Truvada is about $1,500 per

Bottles of antiretroviral drug Truvada are displayed at a pharmacy in California – Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

month, or $18,000 per year, for the one-pilldaily dose prescribed for PrEP, with insurers and patient assistance programs covering much of the cost.

The price of the generic version hasn’t been announced, but Mitchell Warren, executive director of the HIV prevention organization AVAC, told Medscape that a generic drug will likely reduce the cost of

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