SGN May 29, 2015 - Section 2

Seattle Gay News

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Issue 22, Volume 43, May 29, 2015

Three Dollar Bill Cinema & Northwest Film Forum present Queer Vision 20/20

SGN Exclusive Interview :

Mark Christopher – 54: The Director’s Cut

saries of Northwest Film Forum and Three Dollar Bill Cinema! Each film has been handpicked by a well-known local personality in the LGBTQ community. All shows will be held at Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave.) with Happy Hours at 7 p.m., followed by screenings at 8 p.m.

Tickets at the door: $11 general / $8 youth & senior / $6 members.

THE FILMS: June 4 Different From the Others Presented & scored

by Jess Wamre (Richard Oswald, 1919, Germany, 50 min) Live accompaniment!

Courtesy of Three Dollar Bill Cinema

Join us during four Thursdays in June to celebrate Queer cinema throughout the 20th century, in honor of the 20th anniver-

Robert Bergin, Erik Gratton, and Todd Jefferson Moore – photo by John Ulman

As we begin June, theatrical offerings that open this month have little in common. That’s great, since no two experiences will be alike! A couple of events are shorts fests, which proliferate as the weather gets warmer, making our attention spans that much shorter. Remember, if you don’t like one short, wait a few minutes and there will be another!

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer 54: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT SIFF EGYPTIAN THEATRE May 29 @ 7pm

Film critics, snobs and know-it-all cineastes are more than likely familiar with the saga of writer/director Mark Christopher and his 1998 opus 54. A drama inspired by the titular New York nightclub, loosely mixing fact and fiction as it told the story of the rise and fall of a teenage bartender who came of age in the venue just

see queer vision page 9

June theater 2015 coming up!

by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer

Mark Christopher – www.berlinale.de

Sandbox One-Act Play Festival or SOAPfest, June 3-7, at West of Lenin.

Three interesting plays by three veteran local theater artists: Las Cruces, by Vincent Delaney, transports us to the New Mexico desert, not far from casinos and the spaceport, where Sheridan is camped out, hiding in a gutted trailer. Chosen Less, by Phillip Lienau, reveals a chance meeting on the street where two men learn the hard way that leaving is not the same as escap-

Visit us online www.sgn.org

see coming up! page 5

see 54 page 7

Sasquatch 2015: A mix of beautiful landscapes, gracious sounds, and delicious eye-candy

Sasquatch – photo by Nate Gowdy

by Dru Dinero SGN Contributing Writer

I woke up on Friday, May 22, on a mission. Having been hit with a number of obstacles both personal and professional recently, I needed a breather – bad. Over the next four days, I would join tens of thousands of gorgeous fellow music aficionados at a setting that makes you feel as if you are living in a painting with an

March May 29, 13, 2015

around-the-clock live soundtrack of some of today’s finest and most innovative musical creations. The 2015 Sasquatch music festival brought names like Modest Mouse, Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, and Robert Plant out this year to The Gorge Amphitheatre, which is generously blessed with spectacular sunsets on the horizon of the Columbia River. The mix of beautiful landscapes, gracious sounds, and delicious see sasquatch page 10

Seattle Gay News 1

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May 29, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News 3

Bette Midler is in a class by herself She is that fabulous all-around entertainer we could watch and listen to for hours. Her films are like visual comfort food; they give us a much needed cry, they make us laugh every time, we sing along to them, and as fixtures of our personal movie collections, we’ve Bette Midler – WBR guaranteed their upgrade from VHS to DVD to Blu-Ray.

by Albert Rodriguez Her music is timeless. High school SGN A&E Writer choirs still harmonize to “The Rose,” while karaoke queens continue doing their meanBETTE MIDLER est versions of “Wind Beneath My Wings” KEY ARENA at Gay bars around the globe (I remember June 1 someone killing it at a Tokyo bar once).

She’s an excellent pop standards vocalShe can sing, she can act, she’s won ist; her 2003 album Bette Midler Sings Grammys, she’s won Emmys, she’s a twice the Rosemary Clooney Songbook, proBest Actress-Oscar nominee, she does mov- duced by Barry Manilow, featured wonies and TV and Broadway, and she brilliant- derful arrangements of “Tenderly,” “This ly segues from belting out an emotional bal- Ole House,” and “Mambo Italiano,” and lad to telling a filthy joke. She is an original. her personal twist on TLC’s “Waterfalls,” If you don’t like Bette Midler, you’re off 2014’s It’s the Girls, was surprisingly either straight or pretending to be straight. a knockout. But my personal Bette Midler

jams are, and might always be, “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today,” the Randy Newmanpenned track from Beaches, and her moving rendition of Judy Gold’s “From a Distance.”

I could listen to them – and I have – over and over and over again.

Other people know Midler’s biography and catalog of work much better than I do, and some have seen her multiple times compared to my just once, though I really do cherish this woman: there’s no one like her out there. Plus, she dines with the Queen of England...well, Adele, when in London.

Midler’s 22-city tour will touch down in Seattle on Monday, June 1 at Key Arena. The performance will include material from her lengthy career and It’s the Girls!

There will be singing, of course, and probably crowd interaction, a little bit of dancing, and jokes usually catered to each audience (think: Starbucks, or Bill Gates), and quite possibly a mermaid pushed across the stage in a wheelchair (or something along those lines). Just don’t expect any duets with Ariana Grande; I’m not sure these two have patched things up. Anyway, the concert will be incredibly fun and memorable, making for a great date night or belated Mother’s Day treat, or a terrific gift for an upcoming grad.

For tickets to see the Divine Miss M, go to livenation.com.

Rob Thomas interview happening in late June

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer

What’s not to love about Rob Thomas?

He’s sexy, talented, and a longtime supporter of the LGBT community. Just last week, the Matchbox 20 frontman posted his reaction to Ireland’s historic same-sex marriage vote on Twitter, saying “Congrats to my friends in Ireland for being the first country in the world to enshrine marriage equality into their constitution!” With #1 albums and singles under his belt, plus two Grammy wins, Thomas is a successful solo artist as well and is set to release his third recording, The Great Unknown, this summer. He’s promoting the CD with a full tour that includes a Seattle date on June 29 at the Paramount Theatre. I participated in a conference call with Thomas, in which he spoke with several journalists from around the country by phone; I only got to ask him a couple of questions, but overall there was a lot of good information shared about the tour, album, and his career. Look for the interview in our special Pride issue, on June 26. For tickets to see Rob Thomas in person, priced between $45 and $65, visit livenation.com.

Summer Nights = Summer Concerts.

From the Chateau Ste. Winery to Woodland Park Zoo to the streets on Capitol Hill, tis’ the season for outdoor live music. Among the shows to see out in the open this summer are “Concerts at the Mural,” taking place under the Space Needle at the Mural Amphitheatre. Co-sponsored by KEXP, which relocated to Seattle Center recently, the indie rock-themed series kicks off August 7 with Other Lives, The Shivas, and Tangerine, then continues with Natasha Kmeto, Shaprece, and Manatee Commune on August 14. The final two shows feature The Coup, Pillar Point, and a third act TBA on August 21, and Country Lips, Evening Bell, and a mystery headliner on August 28. All shows are free and seating is on a first-come basis; guests are welcome to bring blankets, folding chairs, and their own food or snacks, but no large coolers/ice chests, alcohol, or

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Rob Thomas – Scoop Marketing

pets will be allowed. For more information, here’s another chance to see them live. The go to KEXP.org or seattlecenter.com.

Utah-based act is returning to the Emerald City for a June 6 performance at The ShowTurn that “fantasy” into reality and see box Market, continuing to promote 2014’s Mariah Carey in person, when she performs Pop Psychology album, which produced the 20 shows between now and next year in hit single “Sleeping with a Friend.” But the Las Vegas. The pop diva has already an- group is more widely known for a pair of its nounced residency dates at The Colosseum previous chart toppers, “Animal” and “Evat Caesars Palace for July 2015 and Febru- erybody Talks;” a new single has just been ary/March 2016, where her live production released, titled “Songs I Can’t Listen To.” “Mariah #1 to Infinity” will showcase some Neon Trees’ current tour finds them playing of the biggest hits of her catalog, such as intimate shows at smaller venues, and it fea“Vision of Love,” “Emotions,” “Hero,” “We tures an extra little band member – drumBelong Together,” “Honey,” “Dreamlover,” mer Elaine Bradley is preggers! I sat down “Someday,” “Heartbreaker,” “Always Be with lead singer Tyler Glenn at BumberMy Baby,” and “Fantasy.” The show fea- shoot, hours before the band appeared on tures a six-piece band, three backup vocal- the Fisher Green Stage, and we spoke about ists, two DJs, and ten dancers. In total, 18 the process of him coming out and fond songs are included in the concert. Dates for memories of Seattle that he’s collected over “Mariah #1 to Infinity” are July (2015): 8, the years. For tickets to catch Neon Trees at 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 25, and 26, February The Showbox, log onto axs.com; and to read (2016): 2, 5, 6, 10, 13, 14, 17, 20, and 21, and the interview with Glenn, go to sgn.org and March (2016): 23 and 24. For tickets, infor- click on the September 26, 2014 archive. mation, and room rates, plus special packages, go to caesarspalace.com.

Finally, look for a review of the Bette Midler concert in next week’s issue. JesIf you missed Neon Tree’s fun, bouncy sica Price is covering the superstar’s show at set at last year’s Bumbershoot Festival, Key Arena on June 1.

Celebrating 41 Years!

From U2 to Hoozier to Colin Farrell, celebrities joyfully react to Irish Gay marriage passage

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer When Irish nationals cast their vote on May 22 to allow same sex marriage, the world was paying close attention. And when it appeared the measure would be approved, thus making the Republic of Ireland the first country on the planet to legalize it by a majority, the celebration spread from the streets of Dublin to the Hollywood Hills to a concert stage in Arizona, and everywhere in between.

Among those proudly acknowledging the historical feat was super group U2, who adjusted the lyrics to one of its signature hits during a performance in Phoenix. “They could not take your gay pride,” sang frontman Bono after a brief speech in the middle of the song “Pride (In the Name of Love).”

“We have peace in Ireland today, and – in fact on this very day – we have true equality in Ireland,” said the rock star in his trademark sunglasses. “Millions turned up to vote yesterday to say love is the highest law in the land – love.” The crowd roared in response.

Grammy-nominated artist Hozier, headed to Bumbershoot this summer, has been an avid supporter of LGBT rights since bursting onto the scene with his critically acclaimed single “Take Me to Church.” The 25 year-old singer-songwriter flew from London to his home county of Wicklow to vote in Thursday’s election, and afterwards posted his reaction on Twitter stating, “The pure joy of it. I’m so proud of Ireland today... We can all take pride in making history. Only sorry I can’t be there to celebrate!” he Tweeted.

Colin Farrell, soon starring in the sophomore season of “True Detective,” praised his homeland with an emotional statement.

“Today Ireland has opened up her heart in a way that the whole world will feel,” Farrell said to entertainment website E! On-

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ing. Why Do We Keep Broken Things, by Carl Sander, where five inhabitants of Seattle collide in a kinetic collage of civics, sex, and estranged friendship amidst Occupy Seattle. http://soapfest.org Never the Sinner, LungFish Productions, June 4-20, at TPS 4.

John Logan’s play about the infamous wealthy Nathan Leopold, Jr. and Richard Loeb, who in 1924 killed a 14- year-old boy for the thrill of it, has the most Gay content of the month. Their homosexual relationship and their guilty plea riveted the city of Chicago in the Trial of the Century. Clarence Darrow fought for their lives and won.

The play has won accolades for its incisive dialogue. http://neverthesinner.brownpapertickets. com Epic Proportions, Phoenix Theatre, June 5-28.

Set in the 1930s, two brothers, Benny and Phil, go to the Arizona desert to be film extras in the huge Biblical epic Exeunt Omnes. Things move very quickly in this riotous comedy and before you know it, Phil is directing the movie, and Benny is starring in it and they both fall in love with Louise, the assistant director. There are gladiator battles, the Ten Plagues and a cast of thousands portrayed by four other actors. http://phoenixtheatreedmonds.org/

U2 – Interscope

line. “How we have changed our fortune in 24 hours, how we have lit the way, how we have guaranteed a brighter and more loving future for all who call this beautiful land home. Bravo citizens of Ireland.”

Farrell’s brother Eamon is openly Gay and wed his husband in Canada; in November the actor penned a letter in the Sunday World asking his fellow countrymen and women to vote yes on the amendment.

Miley Cyrus, who launched an organization recently to benefit LGBT homeless youth, also chimed in with a simple threeword message to her social media followers, “Fuck yeah Ireland!”

Award-winning singer Sam Smith, scheduled to perform at The Gorge in a few months, reacted to the news with “So happy Ireland has passed the law to get married there. Still genuinely shocks me thou, that this is only just happening!!”

Emmy winner Sarah Silverman enthusiastically posted, “Republic of IRELAND leads the world in social progress by legalizing marriage for all. #LoveWins (shouldn’t it always?).” While another comedian, Seth McFarlane, had this to say, “Congratulations to Ireland for legalizing same-sex marriage on a national level! Come on U.S., let’s catch up to the future.”

Taphouse, Copious Love Productions, at Ballard Underground, June 5-20.

Locally written by Kiki Penoyer, Taphouse examines the idea of “home” and the ways in which things can be a comfort for and a crutch for others, and is a modern adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters. Set in a dive watering hole in Bellingham, everyone has a reason to get up and leave, but they consistently find themselves unable to do so – but this year will be different, they swear. http://clptaphouse.bpt.me/

http://lgtheater.org/2015/05/quickies- sic of the Carpenters, locally devised. It’s volume-16/ the age before the Internet where the only way we were exposed to celebrities was eiSlaughterhouse Five, Book-It Rep- ther with rabbit ears on our new color televiertory Theatre, June 9-July 3, Armory sions or on the radio mom and dad finally Theatre. gave us to listen to music in our own rooms!

Out of the very real horrors he expe- Will Margaret become a “Superstar”? Will rienced as a World War II POW in Dres- she end up on “Top of the World”? Only den, Kurt Vonnegut crafted the powerful time will tell for this diversely cast musical Slaughterhouse Five. Protagonist Billy Pil- going up on “Rainy Days and Mondays”! grim has come unstuck in time and travels http://seattlestageright.org/productions/ between the war in Germany, Illium, New are-you-there-god-its-me-karen-carpenter York, and the alien planet Tralfalmadore.

This fractured tale of the personal fallout Noises Off, SecondStory Repertory, of war is laden with Vonnegut’s signature June 12-28. black humor and imagination. Adapted and Widely considered the funniest farce directed by Josh Aaseng. ever written, Noises Off reveals the hilarihttp://book-it.org/silver-jubilee-season/ ous backstage happenings during rehearsals slaughterhouse-five/ and performances of a British play dubbed Nothing’s On. Michael Frayn’s comedy is a Dirty, Washington Ensemble Theatre triumph of slamming doors, falling trousers and ACT Theatre at ACT, June 10-29. and even flying sardines, and it remains a Matt Barnes, an investment banker who crowd pleaser more than 30 years after its struggles to stomach his job, is struck by 1982 debut. http://www.secondstoa business idea that will net him millions ryrep.org/mainstage/season16/noises.html while helping those in need. So why does everyone think this venture is even more 1776, Seattle Musical Theatre and vile than the last? Dirty explores whether Twelfth Night Productions and Reboot there’s any place for philanthropy in this Theatre Company, June 25-28. cut-throat, capitalist country.

For the first time, an all-female 1776, http://acttheatre.org/Tickets/OnStage/ a musical celebrating the founding of the Dirty#About United States of America with what is widely considered one of the most intelligent Are You There God, It’s Me Karen librettos in musical history. See Thomas Carpenter, STAGEright, at Hugo House, Jefferson, James Adams, and more famous June 12-27. men, only… not.

An unexpected mashup inspired by the http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ classic coming-of-age book Are You There event/1347831 God? It’s me, Margaret and the 1970s mu-

Threesome, ACT Theatre, June 5-28.

In a world premiere co-production with Portland Center Stage, award-winning local playwright Yussef El Guindi (Steinberg Award 2013 for Pilgrims Musa and Sheri in the New World) presents a new play that weaves issues ripped from world headlines into an intimate and personal story. Leila and Rashid, Egyptian Americans with ties to Cairo, attempt to solve their relationship issues by inviting a relative stranger into their bedroom to engage in a threesome.

Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theater has announced that this production will travel to Manhattan with the same cast, directly after it closes here! www.acttheatre.org Quickies 16, Live Girls! Theater, June 6-20, at Annex Theatre.

The 16th year of presenting eight brand new short plays by some of the most innovative female voices in theater. It is an always entertaining evening, with choreographed interludes and a repertory company of actors for the event.

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May 29, 2015

And, perhaps the funniest reaction to Ireland’s Gay marriage vote was from film/ stage actor Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids), who hails from the only constituency where the measure failed, Roscommon, who said via social media, “I was awarded the freedom of Roscommon. Martin McAleese has the same honour. In protest to [the] county’s No vote, we’re French-kissing right now.”

Many more celebrities, including Ian McKellen, Saoirse Ronan, Josh Groban, Graham Norton, Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres, Thandie Newton, Ronan Keating, and Academy Award winner Russell Crowe posted their reactions online.

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Cabaret a solid B with some fine performances

The cast of Cabaret. Cabaret Production photo. – © 2015 Mark Kitaoka. Property of Village Theatre

by Miryam Gordon SGN A&E Writer CABARET VILLAGE THEATRE Issaquah: Through July 3 Everett: July 10-August 2 Village Theatre is mounting a classic musical, Cabaret, by Joe Masteroff, and the music writing team of Kander and Ebb. You probably know a good many of the songs, though perhaps not the context, unless you’ve seen the movie from 1972 starring Liza Minnelli. Songs include:

“Willkommen,” “Don’t Tell Mama,” and “Cabaret.”

The story focuses on a pre-war Berlin, where the Nazi Party is beginning to gain power, yet clubs with Gay performers and employees were still flourishing openly, and Jews were being harassed, yet their businesses not completely destroyed.

Cliff Bradshaw (Brian Earp), an American writer, visits Berlin and gets drawn in to one such club, the Kit Kat, where he meets British performer Sally Bowles (Billie Wildrick).

Sally is an unrepentant flirt, moving in with and out from different men in the span

of a week. She gloms onto Cliff, who finds himself falling in love with her. Her history gives away the ending, and he is destined not to succeed with her.

The cabaret and its inhabitants, and the roomers in the nearby residence, become engulfed in the growing threat of violence.

A subplot with the rooming house owner, Fraulein Schneider (Anne Allgood) who falls in love with the Jewish fruit vendor (Peter Crook) shows the growing anti-Semitism, as well. Their marriage is doomed by the disapproval of the Nazis.

So, this is not a “feel good” musical, in terms of upbeat storytelling. However, those songs are amazing and iconic at this point.

The production is helmed by Brian Yorkey, back from NYC to his long-time theater home, at least for a few months. The visuals of the production are solid and the casting is also solid. Matthew Smucker’s set design, including starting from a decrepit-looking long-unused space, back to the glory days of the cabaret, is a fun transition to watch.

Just about the best aspect of the production is the small, but vigorous band that plays all the music and occasionally appears on stage being pushed forward and backward on a moving platform. Led by music director Tim Symons, the players include flugelhorn and accordion in their repertoire. They have all the oompah-pah they need!

A major character is a mysterious master of ceremonies (Jason Collins) who is

supposed to represent the decadence of the age, and the cabaret performers, the Kit Kat club dancers, contribute more of that atmosphere. In this production, though, there is a basic lack of tension. Everyone does what he or she should, but it’s not with pizzazz or snap or crackle.

Alex Jaeger’s costume design for the dancers is completely devoid of sex-appeal.

In fact, they are covered from head to toe!

The choreography by Kathryn van Meter is generally as expected, but I’ve seen other shows from her where the dancing is amazing and clearly an important draw. Here, not quite so much.

The leads, especially Wildrick and Allgood, are terrific. Both of them are in great voice, and both bring out all the emotions of their characters. Earp takes an almost thrown away character and makes him matter. I just wish he had more opportunity to sing, since he has a wonderful voice.

While hoping for an exciting production, as Village is often capable of, this one gets written down as a solid B effort. If you’ve never seen it on stage, you’ll enjoy a lot of aspects, but you’ll never get titillated, which is kind of too bad.

For more information, go to www.villagetheatre.org or call 425-392-2202.

Discuss your opinions with sgncritic@ gmail.com or go to www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters.

More articles can be found at miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com.

Gage Academy of Art announces 25 Jams –

a summer series of FREE Public Pop-Up Drawing Jams in Seattle parks and public spaces to celebrate its 25-year anniversary Gage Academy of Art is excited to announce the launch of 25 Jams, a collection of pop-up, interactive drawing jams taking place this summer in locations throughout Seattle in partnership with local organizations in honor of the Gage 25th Anniversary. 25 Jams is a summer spin-off of the annual Drawing Jam, held each December, where Gage opens its studios to the public to experience the special thrill of drawing from the live model. For 15 years now, the Gage Drawing Jam has and continues to offer free art supplies, studio access and professional models, still-life set ups and self-portrait stations for drawing parties, enhanced with live music, local food trucks and activities for the whole family, attracting artists of all ages and skill-levels to celebrate drawing in a creative, lively atmosphere.

“We decided that the best way to celebrate such an auspicious occasion as our 25th Anniversary would be to literally ‘paint the town,’ and bring the Gage studio experience out to audiences throughout Seattle,” says Gage Executive Director Sheila Hughes. “The goal is just getting people to step away from their screens and their desks for a little while, put a piece of charcoal in their hands and engage in the simple act of drawing something from observation.”

The season of 25 Jams kicked off Memorial Day weekend at the 44th annual Northwest Folklife Festival and continues throughout the summer. Gage will partner with local organizations to create different events throughout the city at some of Seattle’s favorite summer festivals, stunning local vistas, parks and museums. All are welcome to participate and all materials are provided free of charge. Each event will

be different and unique to the location, and participants will be drawing everything from landscapes and maritime vistas at The Center for Wooden Boats to sketching the distinct architecture of the Frank Gehry building at Experience Music Project.

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Please find the complete schedule for 25 Jams below: JUNE Thurs., June 4 – Occidental Park, noon3pm.

Thurs., June 4 – MOHAI, Free First Thursday, 5:30-8pm.

Sat., June 13 – Pike Place Market Senior Center, 1-3pm.

Sun., June 14 – Westlake Plaza Family Fun Days, 11am-2pm.

Sat., June 20 – Pike Place Market Senior Center, 1-3pm.

Sun., June 21 – Westlake Plaza Family Fun Days, 11am-2pm.

Sat., June 27 – EMP Anniversary Event, Architectural Draw, noon-3pm.

JULY Sat., July 9 – Volunteer Park, 4-6pm.

Fri., July 10 – Occidental Park, noon2pm.

Fri., July 10 – Freeway Park, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, 6-8pm.

Sat., July 11 – Pike Place Market Senior Center, 1-3pm.

Sun., July 12 – Experience Music Project, Myth & Magic Faire, noon-4pm.

Fri., July 31 – Freeway Park, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, 6-8pm.

AUGUST Thurs., Aug 6 – MOHAI, Free First Thursday, 5:30-8pm.

Photo by Andrei Kozlov

Fri., Aug 7 – Victor Steinbrueck Park, 11am-2pm.

Sat., Aug 8 – Fisherman’s Terminal, Under the Portico, noon-3pm.

Sat., Aug 8 – Volunteer Park, 4-6pm.

Sun., Aug 16 – Center for Wooden Boats, noon-3pm.

Wed., Aug 19 – Victor Steinbrueck Park, 11am-2pm.

SEPTEMBER Sat.-Mon., Sept 5-7 – Bumbershoot, noon-6pm.

Sat., Sept 12 – Volunteer Park, noon2p.m.

DECEMBER Sat, Dec 6 – Drawing Jam, Gage Academy of Art, ALL DAY.

For more information, please visit Gage Academy of Art online: http://www. gageacademy.org ABOUT GAGE ACADEMY OF ART Celebrating 25 years as a national center for classical training in the foundation principles of drawing, painting and sculpture, Gage Academy of Art, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, features fine-art programs yearround that engage and inspire emerging and established artists of all ages and abilities through rigorous study and practice in the Realist tradition. For more information, connect with Gage on Facebook and Twitter, or visit GageAcademy.org.

Courtesy of Gage Academy of Art

Celebrating 41 Years!

54

continued from cover about as everything was on the verge of falling apart, the movie was buzzed to be something special, a potential Oscar-frontrunner with a revolutionary performance from Austin Powers and Wayne’s World comedian Mike Myers.

And none of it came to pass. The Miramax release was the victim of over 40 minutes of reshoots and re-edits, Harvey Weinstein, producing alongside his brother Bob, insisting Christopher make a number of changes before the film’s late August release. Instead of a hard-edged morality tale of youth in revolt, the story was shifted to become more of a standard, soapy love triangle, the studio insisting starlet Neve Campbell – currently hot thanks to her role in the Scream films – become a much larger presence in the proceedings than the filmmaker had initially intended.

For 17 years Christopher fought to have his original version restored. Considering the film, while a massive critical and commercial failure, had somehow managed to amass a rather large cult, largely LGBT following, he always knew the possibility for this to happen was there, even if the passage of time callously and coldly worked against him. But when Disney finally parted with Miramax and a new regime free from both the Mouse House and the Weinstein brothers yoke took control, Christopher took it as a sign his day had finally come, calculating that they’d grant him back access to 54 allowing him to set things back to how they should have been once upon a time.

The new film is a revelation. Campbell’s soap opera ingénue Julie Black is an ethereal background character as she always should have been, while the real love triangle ends up concerning star struck New Jersey teen Shane O’Shea (Ryan Phillippe) and Studio 54 newlyweds Greg Randazzo (Breckin Meyer) and his fiery wife Anita (Salma Hayek). Club owner Steve Rubell (Myers, in an electrifying performance) is an even more ferocious yet pitiable presence, while the grounded tragic realism central to O’Shea’s rise and fall feels far more authentic and much less melodramatic than it did in the original release version.

All-in-all, it’s a completely different motion picture, and one definitely worth seeing.

54: The Director’s Cut makes its Seattle premier tonight at 7 p.m. at Capitol Hill’s SIFF Egyptian Theatre during a star-studded gala screening as part of this year’s Seattle International Film Festival. It will be followed up by a Studio 54-themed party at the Neptune Theatre in the University District, writer/director Mark Christopher, along with a secretive list of celebrities, scheduled to attend. I had the opportunity to speak briefly with the filmmaker via phone before his Seattle arrival. Here are some of the highlights from that conversation.

Sara Michelle Fetters: So, starting off, I should admit, while I’ve watched 54 a number times, mostly thanks to friends who are for some reason or another obsessed with it, personally I’m not that big a fan, having many of the issues with the film you’d probably suspect I would. I think it’s interesting, but not successful. A missed opportunity, if you will.

Mark Christopher: [laughing] At least your honest about it. You’d be surprised how many aren’t.

Sara Michelle Fetters: What I’m trying to say is, I’ve now watched the director’s cut of this film twice, mostly because I was so shocked just how much I liked it after getting done with it the first time

around. I mean, and I’m not just saying this to be nice, it’s really, really good, borderline great. The differences between these two versions is night and day.

Mark Christopher: Excellent. That’s terrific. As you’ve seen the old cut so many times, then you’re one of those who can really spot all the differences, then. Thank you, so much.

Sara Michelle Fetters: I can’t be the only one saying this to you, though. I’d imagine my reaction isn’t unique.

Mark Christopher: People have been really complimentary, that is true. There have been some pretty big words being passed around that I will not repeat but all of them have made me feel terrific, that I made the right choice continuing to fight for this film and my original vision for it.

I’m honestly quite thrilled with the reception.

writer/director who will have this happen.

I just happen to be the luckiest writer/director in the world in that I finally have been given the opportunity to have my version of my movie out there. That’s my favorite part of the story, no question.

Sara Michelle Fetters: Why keep fighting?

Mark Christopher: Honestly, it was exactly how you opened our conversation that allowed this to happen. Critical reception notwithstanding, the cut of the film that came out has so many passionate fans and they’ve really kept [54] alive. It touched them and they’ve been very vocal about that.

For my part, I knew there was still a very strong movie there waiting to be shown. A movie with a good, clear story, great performances and solid themes, a movie that would be much truer to that world. I don’t

54: The Director’s Cut – www.miramax.com

Sara Michelle Fetters: I don’t want to focus on the past, and I know the story is fairly well known at this point, but I’d be remiss if we didn’t chat for a minute or two about what happened back in 1998.

What was that like when you submitted your completed cut of the film only to have Harvey Weinstein come back and say he wanted you to completely reprocess and rethink it, that he wanted you to change its very core to something you’d never initially intended?

Mark Christopher: Well, it didn’t happen quite that fast. It was sort of a process.

The story is out there already, like you say, and for those that don’t know about it the whole long tale is easy to find if you want to go through the effort of doing so. But, to keep it short and sweet, it was obviously a pretty painful experience. But, then, I’m not the first writer/director to have this sort of thing happen. I’m certainly not the last

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know. I was raised on a farm and I was always told to finish the job. This, to me, was worth fighting for, if not just to finish the job but for the fans who have kept the film alive for the past 17 years.

Sara Michelle Fetters: How difficult was it to bring this cut of the film back together?

Mark Christopher: In many ways it was much more difficult to make this cut than it was to compose the original version.

The original release, I was a first time filmmaker working for a studio trying to handle a large cast of principals, including a few bona fide movie stars, as well as hundreds of extras trying to recreate a time and place that didn’t exist anymore. I mean, we built the actual nightclub up in Toronto. A more or less full-scale replica. Handling all of that was easier than putting my cut of the film back together.

You see, when we reshot, all of the ex-

May 29, 2015

cised footage was taken away by the studio, potentially to be destroyed. We had to go back and physically find all that original material. After my wonderful producer Jonathan King got the go-ahead from Miramax then it was up to [us] to do all of that investigating to see if those original pieces of film still existed. We actually found a number of the edited footage in a warehouse in shrink-wrap marked to be destroyed and if we hadn’t gotten to it when we had that’s what would have happened. I knew then that putting together this director’s cut of the film was truly meant to be.

Even then, though, we couldn’t find all of the material. Years earlier we’d cobbled together on VHS what we called the “bootleg cut” of the film, and you’ll notice in the film there are a few grainy, underground shots that aren’t up to the same quality as the rest of the picture. They were found on video, mostly because I’m a packrat and I’d saved a lot of this stuff just in case this day might come, and we were able to insert these bits after some reprocessing into the finished film. It’s literally underground footage, and we sort of had to pick and choose which scenes this material would work best in. You’ll notice in the seedier, darker sequences this stuff fits in quite nicely, I think.

But it’s a completely different movie.

It’s almost a full half different. There were over 30 minutes of reshoots and all of that had to be pulled out so about 44 minutes of original material could be put back in. It gives you almost a full half a film of new material. I mean, one of the reasons you hear so much now about Ryan Phillippe’s performance is because I was able to build it back to what I’d originally envisioned that character to be.

Sara Michelle Fetters: I’m glad you bring that up because, it seems to me, at least, that the two people who should be calling you up and cheering your every move are Ryan Phillippe and Breckin Meyer.

Mark Christopher: Thank you! I’m so glad people are finally getting a chance to see just how terrific they were, how great their performances are. They came to the director’s cut premier and there was a wonderful Q&A afterwards that they both were so pleased to participate in. I’m so happy for Breckin, in particular, because his character really is the heart of the movie, and when it was recut that was completely changed, all of that stuff involving his character was lost. So now he’s put back and is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

Ryan, too. He was 17 when we made this film, and his character is so richly complex, dark, the journey he goes on a hedonistic descent he maybe doesn’t recover from. I don’t think that’s the case in the theatrical cut. It’s just so wonderful to have both his character and Breckin’s back like I originally wanted them to be. It makes me happy, and I think it makes them happy, too.

Sara Michelle Fetters: It really does becomes this almost Conrad-like Heart of Darkness tale that isn’t there in the original version.

Mark Christopher: Yeah. Exactly.

This is a dark tale in the end, which I guess makes the film a little ahead of its time in a way. I have this very flawed lead character who is an opportunist and isn’t particularly likeable. I have a lot of fellow very flawed characters surrounding him, urging him further and further into the darkness.

And, for a big 1990s release, this just wasn’t something that was done.

Now, thanks to television, this seems to be changing. It’s virtually a requirement for a television drama these days that your lead is a flawed, complex character battling with see 54 page 16

Seattle Gay News 7

Charismatic Rock cooks up disaster in San Andreas

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in San Andreas – eclipsemagazine.com

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer SAN ANDREAS Now playing The template for every disaster film ever made hasn’t changed much over the decades. From Clark Gable in 1936’s San Francisco, to Gene Hackman in 1972’s The Poseidon Adventure, to John Cusack in 2009’s 2012, the basic plot and situations the various characters find themselves in are remarkably similar. All deal with personal strife of one form or another (typically familial), everything made inconsequential thanks to a massive cataclysmic event that puts them and all they hold dearest in the world in mortal jeopardy. Some live, some die, all are tested in ways they by

all accounts never thought possible, images of mass destruction filling the screen every step of the way.

San Andreas, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a Los Angeles fire department rescue helicopter pilot, Ray, with a soon-to-be ex-wife, Emma (Carla Gugino), and a college-bound daughter, Blake (Alexandra Daddario), all still reeling from a death in the family a handful of years prior, follows this age-old template to the letter. A member of a crackerjack team who have been saving people since their days serving together in Afghanistan, Ray puts all that on hold when a massive earthquake rocks the San Andreas fault sending California into chaos. Traveling from L.A. to San Francisco, he races against time saving as many as he can while trying to keep the members of his family alive, devastation,

calamity, horror, heartbreak and heroism happening along the way.

Carlton Cuse, known for working on shows like “Lost” and “Bates Motel,” takes a story by Andre Fabrizio (Vice) and Jeremy Passmore (Red Dawn) and cobbles together a relatively serviceable screenplay out of it. He keeps things simple, small even, focusing entirely upon Ray’s journey to rescues Emma and then Blake, only leaving him to focus on the daughter as she, along with a pair of Brit brothers, Ben (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) and Ollie (Art Parkinson), traverse the streets of San Francisco trying to survive until daddy can pull them all to safety. Sure, there’s a subplot involving Cal Tech scientist Lawrence (Paul Giamatti) and television journalist Serena (Archie Panjabi) trying to get the word out that the “Big One” is coming, but it’s only there for seasoning, the real emphasis all on the fractured family doing what they can to be reunited.

In this way San Andreas ends up having a massive leg up on many of its contemporaries like the Roland Emmerich doublebill of 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow.

By keeping things small, intimate even, Cuse ups the emotional ante by leaps and bounds over many of the more recent entries in the genre. Better, it keeps things from spilling into silly, overwrought and absurd ultra-cheap SyFy Channel terrain; and while this is still nothing more than a glorified B-movie, it’s still rather more compelling than it honestly has any right to be.

Director Brad Peyton, who worked with Johnson on Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, ably handles the carnage, rarely dwelling on things in a way that could be

construed as heartless, yet also not skimping on all the visual pyrotechnics and razzle-dazzle epics like this thrive on. He also doesn’t allow the film to wear out its welcome, the running time under two hours; and while the outcome is never in doubt, getting there isn’t nearly the chore it easily could have been had things been drawn out any further.

This is still a disaster movie, though, so expecting subtlety is like showing up at the Tillamook facility in Oregon and anticipating being offered something other than cheese. One bad thing leads to the next, portents of doom not heeded almost assuredly indicating gruesome, horrifying death. Even so, I’m not sure why you go so far out of your way to showcase in minute detail how crackerjack a unit Ray and his team are if you’re not going to do a darn thing with the any of them when things spiral out of control. Additionally, it’s not necessary to make Emma’s current beau, architect Daniel Riddick (Ioan Gruffudd), the absolute worst person in all of San Francisco, the audience’s empathy and affinity unlikely to ever have gone his direction had he just been presented with more of an even keel.

Thankfully, Johnson dominates with charisma oozing from every sweaty, overgrown muscle, while Gugino has terrific chemistry with her co-star. San Andreas doesn’t reinvent the disaster wheel, doesn’t even try, but that doesn’t make it any less successful, at least from the standpoint from which this particular genre is concerned; whether or not that’s enough to warrant buying a ticket I leave completely up to you.

Aloha true to its characters, indifferent to its plot

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer ALOHA Now playing Military contractor Brian Gilcrist (Bradley Cooper) is lucky to be alive, let alone thankful to still be employed by his billionaire boss Carson Welch (Bill Murray). He was literally blown up while working a deal in Afghanistan, trafficking in the grey areas for self-serving reasons the powers that be weren’t as clueless about as he thought. But, now that he’s recovered, they’re giving him a second chance, sending him to complete a straight-forward deal with local Hawaiian elders revolving around the U.S. Space Program in Honolulu, the place where his career in the armed forces began and the site of his greatest personal and professional triumphs.

But, not only is Brian saddled with a fast-talking, fiercely determined military liaison in Capt. Allison Ng (Emma Stone), he’s also back face-to-face with the former love of his life, Tracy Woodside (Rachel McAdams), a woman he walked out on almost 13 years prior for a variety of reasons, most of them selfish. She’s now married to another Air Force pilot, John (John Krasinski), but it’s clear to everyone, including the pair’s children Grace (Danielle Rose Russell) and Mitchell (Jaeden Lieberher), that there’s still something simmering between the two, an unspoken bond filled with regret and remorse that has both wondering what might have been.

There is an actual plot as far as writer/ director Cameron Crowe’s melancholic romance Aloha is concerned, something to do with Carson Welch’s intentions to take control of the corporate push into outer space and the sanctity of a sky devoid of weapons, but in all honesty caring about any of that is difficult. It’s hard not to get the feeling that the man behind modern classics like Almost Famous, Say Anything and Jerry Maguire doesn’t care about any of it, in-

8 Seattle Gay News

different to the central motifs he himself scripted for his main characters to navigate.

None of it matters particularly much, a climactic sequence involving a hacked satellite, a rocket launch, and ancient treaties the wealthy figure they can circumvent for no other reason than they can, treated with as much import as a cartoon chicken attempting to cross a dusty road with a broken wing while hopping on one leg.

As bad news goes, that’s pretty heinous, and there’s little I can come up with to give Crowe a pass for any of his apathy to his film’s main diminuendos. At the same time, it’s hard not to walk out of Aloha with a smile, the other stuff lurking inside the narrative, the way the characters interact, how they communicate, the subtle, delicate little human truths they discover along the way, much of that isn’t just terrific, it’s shockingly close to sublime. While believability is an issue, make no mistake on that front, connecting with the principals and what it is they are all dealing with to varying degrees somehow never is. More than that, the filmmaker stages a dilly of a final sequence, the last images haunting in their emotional clarity and power to amaze.

Crowe has always had a knack for staging long sequences of dialogue between individuals and groups that, in lesser hands, would border on being intolerable but in his hands is natural, authentic and achingly pure. That talent is on display in spades with Aloha, Cooper having a number of sensational scenes with both Stone and McAdams that are wonderful. Many of them have that whip-smart give and take reminiscent of the filmmaker’s idol Billy Wilder, each crackling with an old Hollywood electricity that’s utterly sublime. They enliven the material, give it a reason to exist, and even if the twists and turns they’re attempting to sell dip into melodramatic sentimentality they still manage to keep things so emotionally pure the overall effect is undeniably persuasive.

If anything, it’s what is unsaid that ultimately gives the final feature its heft and

May 29, 2015

Emma Stone and Bradely Cooper in Aloha – Sony Pictures

oomph. Heck, one entire subplot involving Krasinski (who has never been better) revolves entirely around his character’s inability to talk about himself and what it is he’s going through, leading to a glorious bit between he and Cooper that’s acted entirely with body and facial movements.

Crowe subtitles the moment, but as great and as humorous as his words are they’re also unnecessary, both actors delivering everything we need to know with stupendous, almost tender grace.

But none of that left me prepared for the last scene. There’s a twist lurking inside the movie, one that isn’t that much of a surprise as all the clues are there from the first second the two female characters most associated with it meet up with Brian after he lands in Honolulu. None of them talk about it, none of them give verbal hints as to what is going on and why, yet all of it is there, readily apparent, making the last dance and embrace between two people a dazzlingly

magnetic grace note that ripped my heart clean in two and sent me out of the theater with a smile.

All of which makes Aloha even more of an enigma and a head-scratcher. It’s easy to see what Crowe wanted to talk about, it’s obvious the moments that are nearest and dearest to his heart (an early foray to see real life Hawaiian activist, personality and overall legend Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele is sensational). But that central story? The stuff dealing with aeronautics, NASA, space travel and weaponized satellites? It’s a waste of time, and why the filmmaker went with that as his primary focus I’ll never understand. Yet, thanks to the affecting purity of the relationships and the beauty of those last images the film is far from a failure, and I can’t help but think I’ll be pondering and mulling over moments and beats central to it for an awfully long time to come.

Celebrating 41 Years!

New Poltergeist a blandly mediocre remake

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer POLTERGEIST Now playing Eric (Sam Rockwell) and Amy Bowen (Rosemarie DeWitt) are forced by the economic downturn to move their family to a new home on the outskirts of town. Both their eldest daughter Kendra (Saxon Sharbino) and middle son Griffin (Kyle Catlett) aren’t exactly thrilled by this turn of events, while youngest Madison (Kennedi Clements) is more than willing to give the new place a fair shot. She’s even made a few new acquaintances, the six-year-old talking to voices coming out of the closet and on the television that apparently only she can hear.

These are no imaginary friends. Something strange is happening in the Bowen’s new house, and it soon becomes frighteningly apparent it isn’t of the physical world.

Unearthly events are afflicting the family, putting all their lives, especially Madison’s, in mortal danger. It’s up to a celebrated paranormal researcher, famed television personality and psychic Carrigan Burke (Jared Harris), to set things right, he and his team of University academics going to do whatever they can to right a horrible wrong and save the Bowen family before it’s too late.

Not that this will come as a shock to just about anyone, there’s no real reason for a new Poltergeist to exist. That said, if you’re going to do it, if you’re going to go to the trouble of remaking the still-scary-as-hell 1982 original directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, then by golly just do it. Make the material your own.

Take the ideas and then run with them in a fresh, hopefully inspired new direction. Do something that is unexpected and doesn’t

feel as if you’re just going through the motions. In short, make a movie that stands on its own outside of the original and doesn’t just traffic in one’s nostalgia and affinity for it, in doing so hopefully crafting a modern day variation worth getting excited about.

That, however, isn’t what director Gil Kenan (Monster House) and screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) end up doing. While the film is competently made, while a few individual scenes and moments in and of themselves generate tension and suspense, on the whole this new Poltergeist does not exist outside of the 1982 original. It is beholden to it in ways that are both stupid and annoying, turning into a greatest hits highlight reel as it attempts to reimagine signature moments in a contemporary way. Even when it does make a notable change the switch is so blatantly telegraphed that when it takes place the shock value is amazingly low, diluting any chance for an emotional reaction on the part of the viewer in the process.

Even attempts to bring things into the 21st century feel forced and, most bizarrely, false, having Eric being a victim of the economic downturn leading to discussions as to who needs to head back into the workforce first that feel shoehorned in for the sake of giving Rockwell and DeWitt something to do before everything goes batty.

Character development is kept at an absolute minimum, the Bowens never becoming a fully formed family unit in the same way their counterparts the Freelings did back in ’82. Kenan and Lindsay-Abaire seem content in the knowledge viewers are already going to be up to speed as to what is happening and why, as such they don’t show any motivation to do more than necessary to bring their new protagonists to life.

If I’m being overly harsh in all honesty I don’t particularly mean to be. While my ap-

queer vision

June 11 Now, Voyager Presented by Mark Mitchell (Irving Rapper, 1942, United States, 35mm, 117 min)

continued from cover

Touring cinemas through the 1920s, Different From the Others contained one of the earliest depictions of homosexuality on film, and the first to take a stand for Gay rights. Conrad Veidt (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) stars as a closeted violinist, living in a world where each potential lover is a potential blackmailer. His stirring performance provides a haunting portrait of the suffering inherent to a repressive society.

In a time where openness means ruin, he is ostracized and condemned, even subjected to “reorientation therapy.”

Though ultimately tragic, courageous voices in the film speak out against discrimination and promote acceptance in tones far ahead of their time. These voices were silenced when the film was destroyed by the Nazis during their rise to power, however a single copy survived, and the film endures as a testament to sufferings of the past.

“A distressing reminder that sometimes things change a lot, but they also often change only a little.” – Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You “This film celebrates the brief opening of that door, before it slammed shut for another fifty years.” – Jan Christopher Horak, UCLA

“Queer icon Bette Davis sparkles in this Warner Brothers weeper about transformation and forbidden love. Davis’ frumpy Aunt Charlotte has a wee nervous collapse (and a unibrow) due to her mother’s constant nagging and belittling. Luckily, hearty psychologist Claude Rains is visiting their Boston Back Bay mansion. He fixes her up at his woodsy retreat (weaving as therapy!) for WASPS so she further avoids aforementioned mother hag by setting out on a South American cruise. Conveniently, Aunt Charlotte has lost a magical 20 pounds, plucked her brows and borrowed a friend’s wicked elegant Orry Kelly wardrobe. Miss Davis gives it to us hard on the gangplank in one of golden age Hollywood’s greatest reveals. Later, she gives it more gently, one assumes, to the new forbidden love of her life, the unhappily but permanently married Paul Henreid. He has a daughter with a unibrow. Things get complicated. A classic must see. I cry every time. ‘Don’t let’s ask for the moon, Jerry.

We have the stars.’” –Mark Mitchell

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Poltergeist – pixshark.com

preciation and affinity for Hooper’s original knows no bounds (it’s the only film that, as a kid, scared me so much I had to sleep in my parent’s room for three nights after watching it) that doesn’t mean I wasn’t prepared to give this new version a fair shake.

I love Kenan’s Monster House, feel it is one of the more underappreciate animated efforts of the past decade. As for LindsayAbaire, he’s one of the more literate and accomplished writers working today, Rabbit Hole reason enough to give him the benefit of the doubt for the remainder of his career.

More, it isn’t like the pair do not offer up some terrific bits. The initial assault on the Bowen children is superbly staged, not the least of which is the sequence of events that takes Madison inside the closet in a way that couldn’t be any more different, yet still equally chilling, than what led little Carol Anne in there 33 years ago. I also love that Lindsay-Abaire and Kenan don’t

June 18 Black Lizard Presented by Ro Yoon (Fukasaku Kinji, 1968, Japan, 86 min) “How does one describe Fukasaku Kinji’s rare 1968 film Black Lizard? What happens when Mishima Yukio, the Bisexual writer who was nominated three times for the Nobel Prize for Literature and descendant of a shogun, adapts a play based on a 1934 novel by Edogawa Rampo (bilingual pun for Edgar Allan Poe) into a stylish detective film noir about Black Lizard, a criminal genius who handpicks the most beautiful boys and girls to be abducted, murdered and immortalized as statues? Did I mention that Black Lizard is portrayed

by Mishima’s lover, Maruyama Akihiro, Japan’s celebrated female impersonator?

You won’t believe it until you see this truly bizarre film that belongs in the canon of Queer cinema.” –Ro Yoon

jettison the teenage child to the sidelines as Spielberg and Hooper did, keeping Kendra around as an integral and important part of the proceedings as she would be if any of this were real.

But there just isn’t any reason for this new incarnation of Poltergeist to exist.

All it does is run in circles trying to hit all the highpoints of the original, reproducing them in ways that feel tired and obvious. Even a foray into the world on the other side of the paranormal spectrum is a waste of time, the whole sequence nothing more than a video game first-person shooter excursion that makes blandly practical what should be left unsettlingly to the imagination. Not so much bad as it is vapidly mediocre, this competently made yet unremarkable remake is a waste of effort and time that should never have been put into production in the first place.

June 25 Born in Flames Presented by C. Davida Ingram (Lizzie Borden, 1983, United States, 80 min) A shocking and powerful work of radical cinema, Lizzie Borden’s feminist scifi treatise imagines a post-revolutionary world where women battle for their rights through the microphones of pirate radio.

Produced in 1983 and set ten years in the future, the film mixes documentary footage with a sci-fi setting to tell the story of two feminist groups running separate radio shows, while a nefarious FBI agent chases down the Women’s Army. When their underground stations are destroyed, the women band together on a mission to take over mainstream media. Prescient depictions of issues around race, police brutality, violence against women, and media saturation still resonate today. The cast is dotted with Civil Rights activists, a basketball player and bodybuilder, a singer, plus, Kathryn Bigelow takes her first and only acting turn, as an intern at a socialist newspaper. Born in Flames won a special jury prize when it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Courtesy of Three Dollar Bill Cinema

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News 9

sasquatch continued from cover

eye-candy from all over the world makes Sasquatch an event that I would selfishly rather keep top-secret, but must share with the world as it is truly life-altering. I’m not exaggerating. Hearing my partner in crime, SGN photographer Nate Gowdy, talk about his experience last year, on how attending Sasquatch 2014 got him out of a personal and professional rut, and what I can say from my own experience, is testament that attending Sasquatch is a must-do if you are living in the Pacific Northwest.

Nate picked me up from my place at around 10 a.m. on Friday after planning to be on the I-90 East around 8:30 a.m. While we were packing Nate’s ‘97 Toyota Corolla to the brim with camping gear, Nate says he’d been running late because he had just gotten his car back from a shop in Ballard.

I commented on how they must’ve done a good job because I saw his anti-freeze leaking. “They really topped off his fluids,” I thought to myself. Nate, with a worried face, asked me if I was joking, so as soon as we got to his place, we opened his car’s hood to find that the radiator was stiffly pissing anti-freeze fluid out from it’s side.

For those of you who don’t know, cars are not supposed to do that. To make a long story short, we finally hit the road around 2 p.m. with a new radiator. While we were really glad to finally be on the road, I was a bit disappointed to be missing the first act on the main stage, Seattle native Ayron Jones and The Way. I first got to know a

mark long beard at Diesel Seattle, the bear bar on Capitol Hill, on a Saturday night.

His highly energetic set including songs like “Actin Crazy,” “Baby Blue,” a rendition of Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend,” and the hit-single “Easy Rider,” Mr. Wonderful brought the authentically urban sound of Queens to the rural Gorge. At one point showering the audience with marijuana bags because he believed people weren’t smoking enough, Action Bronson came back for an encore after going to “grab his chicken out of his car.” Action Bronson is a true entertainer and gives the feeling of being a really sweet and nice guy that won’t hesitate to clothesline someone off their feet if they get out of line. I guess that’s why along with “Mr. Wonderful,” they also call him “Bam Bam Baklava.”

On Saturday, Nate and I got to know our camping neighbors who were a blessing to have as neighbors. Turner and Carol are a cute, young couple from San Francisco who drove all the way to The Gorge for Sasquatch. Over the weekend we shared food, drinks and stories of our lives. Although our backgrounds couldn’t be more different, the love of music and art brought us together to have deep, playful, and introspective conversations. It goes to show the great job that Sasquatch does to bring people together who would, otherwise, probably never meet. Interactions with people like Turner and Carol really give hope for our future. Whereas differences such as culture, whether LGBTQ or straight and being a minority or a part of the majority, were once used to divide, lines are blurred these

Sasquatch – photo by Nate Gowdy

little bit about them from a good friend of mine, Capitol Hill’s beloved Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, as she was in one of their music videos. They are a rock band that is a love child between Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix mixed with hip-hop conscious lyrics, and their sound restores faith in the heart, soul, and flesh of live instruments in an age when the turning of knobs with one hand in the air is the boring expectancy of live shows.

I give this description of Ayron Jones and The Way as an intro to a later part of the Sasquatch experience. An experience that shows you what is behind the curtain, the staircase between the plane where music gods become regular men and women.

After driving, stopping at rest stops, being stuck in traffic, me singing “Savages” from Disney’s Pocahontas and looking out on the grand and lush landscapes along I-90, we finally arrived at the festival around 6 p.m. After Nate and I settled into our campsite, the first order of business was to catch Action Bronson live in the flesh.

Action Bronson, also known as Mr. Wonderful, is an Albanian-Jewish rapper from Queens. A former sous-chef in New York kitchens, Action Bronson must be weighing in at over 250 pounds of pure charm and wouldn’t look out of place with his trade-

days and instead of division, we get honest inquiry and excited appreciation.

Cameron Esposito, a comedian whose stand-up comedy is riddled with jokes about dealing with Neanderthal-straight men as a Lesbian began a bit flat at the El Chupacabra Tent that Saturday afternoon. Perhaps for me that was because I’m a straight guy living in a Queer Mecca in 2015, so jokes about how dumb my kind can be is a bit tired. But I also get that I am not the majority in that sense, so it could be that I am just out of touch of backwoods straight culture. Truth be told, if I wasn’t up to speed with Lesbian fashion, I’d probably hit on Cameron, as she is very pretty, so there’s that. To say that all of her comedy is flat, however, would be unfair. Esposito definitely had us going with her observation of the absurdity of being a Lesbian and still having to deal with a monthly period. The recounting of chunks of her body being cast out of her body by… well, her body, was enough to get the crowd, myself included, laughing out loud.

Los Angeles’ classic hip-hop group Dilated Peoples delivered a bouncy set to a sea full of Hip-hop fans, both old and new, on the Bigfoot stage. While only the diehard fans knew most of Dilated Peoples’

10

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News

Jenny Lewis – photo by Nate Gowdy

classic songs, the majority sang along with the Kanye West-featuring hit called “This Way.” The warm temperature, mixed with it being the first day that most festival attendees got to enjoy a full day of music, created a vibrant energy in the air that set the tone for the rest of the day.

After this, Nate and I made our way to the main stage to catch Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs. Having never heard of this band before, I began to take in the scenery a bit more while they were playing. Their smooth American rock proved to be a great soundtrack to look off into the sunset’s golden hour while taking in the sights of beautiful men and women frolicking about the grassy areas of the amphitheatre. All races, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, and anything that can serve as a dividing factor between interpersonal interactions or inner inhibitions apparently ceasing to exist. Nate pointed out to me how many American flags crowned the heads of young people looking to show some feeling of nationalistic pride, which I must say I haven’t seen for a while. Funny enough, Nate was talking about me being in that group, since I was wearing a starspangled bandana. I went on to tell Nate that I believe my generation was greatly affected with 9/11 and the economic crash of 2008, so we decided to test out the process of government that had been taught to us since an early age. So after my generation turned 18, our first vote went on to elect America’s first black president. Since then, we’ve gotten Healthcare, marriage equality, marijuana legalization, and capped Osama Bin Laden for good measure. So needless to say, we feel pretty proud of ourselves as Americans. Looking out into the crowd, it was a beautiful sight to see how modern hippie Americana has, otherwise, stiff beauty queen personalities flowing as much as their bohemian garments. Anyway, that’s what Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs had me thinking about. Fitting, I

reckon.

After this, Nate and I made our way to the main stage to catch Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs. Having never heard them before, I began to take in the scenery a bit more during their set. Their smooth American rock proved to be a great soundtrack to look off into the sunset’s golden hour while taking in the sights of beautiful men and women frolicking about the grassy areas of the amphitheatre. All races, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages and anything that can serve as a dividing factor between interpersonal interactions or inner inhibitions apparently seizing to exist. Nate pointed out to me how many American flags crowned the heads of young people looking to show some feeling of nationalistic pride, which I must say I haven’t seen for a while. Funny enough, Nate was talking about me being in that group, since I had a Star-Spangled bandana on. I went on to tell Nate that I believe my generation was greatly affected by 9/11 and the economic crash of 2008, so we decided to test out the process of government that had been taught to us since an early age. So after my generation turned 18, our first vote went on to elect America’s first black president. Since then, we’ve gotten healthcare reform, marriage equality, marijuana legalization, and capped Osama Bin Laden, for good measure. So needless to say, we feel pretty proud of ourselves as Americans. Looking out into the crowd, it was a beautiful sight to see how the men and women of modern hippie-Americana culture (who would otherwise be stiff beauty queens) are letting their hair down and their personalities and thoughts flow - just as much as the bohemian garments they wear to Sasquatch do in the wind. Anyway, that’s what Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs had me thinking about. Fitting, I reckon. see sasquatch page 16

Sasquatch – photo by Nate Gowdy

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News 11

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Seattle Gay News

May 29, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

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Seattle Gay News 13

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Seattle Gay News

May 29, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News 15

54

not gone out as a big, massive wide release.

And that wasn’t what Miramax wanted.

They wanted a big A-train production, a 1,800 theater release, so that’s why you ended up with the studio cut.

Sara Michelle Fetters: Why do people not give Mike Myers more credit as an actor?

Mark Christopher: They certainly do for this movie, I’m happy to say. We had a wonderful time working on this. It was Mike’s reps who came to us. We were out pitching Steve Rubell to everyone and we and Miramax were having a hard time agreeing on an actor, and fortunately Mike showed up and wanted the part. He loved the script. He loved the character. We worked every day for three weeks to get him right, to build that character. It was funny, Mike told me that first day that I’d be shocked by how badly he’d start but to believe him when he said he would be there for me in the end. That the performance would be all we wanted it to be. He was so right. I really think he nailed it.

Sara Michelle Fetters: I know we don’t like to engage in hypotheticals but I do have to wonder what might have happened had this cut of the film been released. Would Myers have gotten that buzzed about Supporting Actor Oscar nomination that year?

Could he have pushed James Coburn, Geoffrey Rush, Billy Bob Thornton, Ed Harris or Robert Duvall out of the race?

Mark Christopher: I was told by the head of the New York Film Critics Circle

that they were going to nominate Mike that year, this critic had seen my original cut and he and some of his fellow members were buzzing in a big way. When the studio cut of the film was released they pulled the nomination. So, do I think it would have been possible? Certainly. But, as you say, we don’t want to engage in hypotheticals and so we’ll never actually know.

Sara Michelle Fetters: How does this film play today? In the almost two decades since its original release a lot of the conversations have significantly changed. Sex. Gender. Gay marriage. Sexuality. Do you feel like you contributed to that conversation with the original cut and are adding to it now in any way with this director’s cut?

Mark Christopher: For sure I think my short films did. All of my films have played in Seattle, by the way. Every one. I’m very grateful for that. My very first film, The Dead Boys Club, actually won a Golden Space Needle award.

But, back to your question. With 54, I find it interesting that the film really is crossing over in ways that I originally hoped it would. Mainstream audiences find something in it as do LGBT audiences. I love going to both mainstream and LGBT festivals and gauging the reactions. I mean, my main character is brazenly, unapologetically bisexual, and you don’t see a lot of characters like that in either so-called cinema or queer cinema. I think, in those terms, the reactions, how the film adds to those conversations, I find that interesting

as well.

Sara Michelle Fetters: And the film is frankly sexual. It never apologizes for any of its characters sexual situations.

Mark Christopher: Correct. No apologies. Not for any of it. There’s that lurking shadow of what is to come in the ‘80s but there’s still no judgment in regards to anyone’s behavior as it pertains to sex, drugs and all the rest. That was very important to me.

Sara Michelle Fetters: I’m not sure how to ask this without sounding rude, but, I mean, it’s been 17 years. Are you ever going to make another feature? You’ve kind of become the Terrence Malick of new queer cinema.

Mark Christopher: [laughs] I’ve never thought of it like that. That’s a good one.

Let’s just say it’s in the works. I’m looking for the right script as we speak.

I do have a couple of television deals I’m excited about. But, I’ve got to tell you, it’s been such a fantastic, singular experience putting together this director’s cut that I am very excited to make another feature. I do need to find the right script as I’d love to do one that I didn’t write. But, we’ll see. Hopefully it will happen sooner than later and, if not, maybe I’ll have to lock myself in a bunker and just write a script for a feature myself.

But, one thing’s for sure, I don’t give up.

It’s going to happen.

Chromeo took the main stage at 7:15 p.m. to a massive crowd looking to get their dance on. Going through their hit list such as “Tenderoni,” “Old 45’s,” and “Jealous (I Ain’t With It),” Chromeo fans were under Dave 1 and P-Thugg’s spell. Performing with their signature keyboards that are attached to a pair of glowing-mannequin lady legs in red heels, Chromeo’s Dave 1 was clearly a heartthrob for Carol, our camping neighbor. Perhaps not surprisingly, her boyfriend Turner resembled Dave 1 quite a bit.

Finishing our day, Nate was hell-bent on seeing the Austin, Texas, band Spoon.

About thirty seconds into the first song I heard, Spoon devoured my attention.

Spoon’s front man Britt Daniel is one hell of a showman. The passion bursts in movement and vocals make it seem as if you are watching a young Rolling Stones in action.

They definitely made a fan out of me.

I’d like to revisit the beginning of the article where I missed Ayron Jones and The Way’s set. Saturday evening I actually met Ayron while hanging out with a security person near our campsite. We struck up conversation, I told him I’d wanted to catch his set, we shared some legal Washington bud and talked about dreams and how to accomplish those dreams. Ayron was thrilled to have “put on” for the city of Seattle and talked about how smashing a guitar on the main stage at Sasquatch was something he’d always wanted to do. He told me he was walking around, riding high, taking in the sights, proud and excited of what he’d done. I congratulated him, he thanked me for my hospitality and off he went to find more adventure. As a diehard music fan, I can’t help appreciate the wonderful opportunity Sasquatch provides for fans to mix and mingle with artists, as well as the opportunity of playing for massive audiences that up-and-coming artists get from Sasquatch.

When Sunday rolled around, Nate was excited to show me St. Vincent. Told me he’d marry Anne Clark, the lead singer.

Upon laying eyes on Annie, as I now call

her, I knew why he would say that. Annie is a lunatic-Barbie doll. Her oh so unique style would be incomplete without her guitar. There seems to be too much perfectedcreativity in everything Annie does. It’s almost unfair, to be quite honest. Annie has mastered her sexy robot dance moves, her guitar skills are impeccable, and she sings like a true rock ‘n’ roll seductress. Listen to the self-titled album and you will be as hooked as I am.

Being a sucker for ’60s and ’70s culture, Lana Del Rey is one of my favorite singers out today. I’ve seen Lana Del Rey at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which was one hell of a venue to see her in and now I’ve seen her at the Gorge. Truth be told, I prefer Lana in California. Unfortunately, the wind blew up pretty heavy at the Gorge around the time of Lana’s set and had her dark hair and dust from the desert blowing into the singer’s mouth. At least that’s what it seemed like. The Brooklyn princess still looked like a jewelry box ballerina amidst her two, slanted skyscrapers as her backdrop, but the true Lana Del Rey experience was a bit altered by the rough environment.

I’m kind of ashamed, but I have to admit I didn’t listen to Led Zeppelin as much as I should have growing up. “Stairway to Heaven” undeniably made it into my boom box as a teenager, but even after I’d discovered The Rolling Stones and The Beatles while not doing too many drugs during my teenage years, the Led Zeppelin sound was drowned out for me as high-babble. Well, here I am after being in Seattle a few years and having learned a few things about life and I and Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters speak the same language.

Robert Plant, the former Led Zeppelin lead singer, is a legend at work. His shamanistic vocal loops along with the dynamic band compositions sound like true musical wisdom is being shared. Incredible.

On Monday, I had two very clear objectives. I had to watch two of hip-hop’s premiere acts, ScHoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar. ScHoolboy Q’s music is heavily influenced by his life story of being a Hoover Crip in South Central Los Angeles, all the while he was raising a sweet little girl. His

album Oxymoron is one of the genre’s most exciting recent releases. Q is an energetically dynamic rapper and as a performer he definitely has a “good guy” personality, at one point thanking the fans for believing in him, feeding him, and giving his daughter the opportunity to go to a good school. While Q’s story is unfortunately all too common in South Central LA, songs like “Man of the Year,” “Collard Greens,” and “Gangsta” made a connection with the audience like none other. ScHoolboy had original fans and new ones jumping and dancing to the new age sounds of gangsta rap.

“King” Kendrick Lamar took the Sasquatch main stage Monday night and delivered his first performance since releasing his revolutionary hip-hop album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Kendrick’s debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” tells the story of an average kid from Compton caught up in the social and all-too-real bloody crossfire between Bloods and Crips in Los Angeles.

Kendrick came out wearing a Canadian Tuxedo accompanied by a full band to the most massive crowd of the weekend. At one point, security had to get people to move back because people were crushing the front-rowers. Kendrick, also known as K. Dot, which was his underground moniker, made it an effort to make his performance more of a party than a show. His interactions with the audience were honest and heartfelt, calling the audience “like family” at one point. Kendrick’s story is one that’s very relatable to me – a young man trying to overcome his violent and criminal environment and poor socio-economic background, and finally realizing the true potential that exists for a young man and dealing with the social-PTSD of such a thing.

While I’ve definitely never lost friends to gang warfare, the environment that I grew up in on Las Vegas’ East Side was dog-eatdog in many ways. Much like Kendrick, I did my best to stay away from things that I thought could get me into permanent trouble and watched the consequences of those who took a different road. Songs like “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “Money Trees” and “Back-

seat Freestyle” reminded me of being 17 years old and having a chip on my shoulder with my clique running around Las Vegas’ underage parties in my black ’99 Nissan Sentra with chrome 20-inch rims bumping my stereo with heavy bass and treble. Ah, the good ol’ days!

Kendrick proved himself a World Classperformer at The Gorge while commanding his band and leading the crowd into an emotional roller-coaster with songs such as “Sing About Me” and “Real.” Bringing it back to a party, Kendrick brought two audience members, Luis and Payton, up on stage to perform “m.A.A.d. city” with him. Only performing “Alright” from his latest album, many fans wanting to hear singles such as “King Kunta” and “The Blacker The Berry” from the superb “To Pimp A Butterfly” were left disappointed.

The new album is dark and sees Kendrick looking inward and realizing how his upbringing has affected the beginnings of his adult life as he goes mainstream. With the vibe of Sasquatch being the way it is, I must say that upon processing it all, I think Kendrick made a smart move. “To Pimp A Butterfly” is a very adult and emotional album and going from party mode to dark soul-searching mode wasn’t probably a good way to end the festival. Either way, Kendrick had a suburban teenager walking with his friends saying, “You know I don’t usually curse, but tonight has been fucking epic!” Little does that suburban teenager know that that’s what many kids who were listening to hip hop – when it was viewed as something only dumb, hood-rat people listened to in the ’90s – felt when names like 2pac, Biggie, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg ruled our boom boxes. Long live the beauty of hip hop. Go back and really listen to the greats, learn about and treat the culture with respect and you won’t be disappointed. I promise.

This being my second year of Sasquatch, I’m left feeling musical withdrawals once more. I will most certainly be back next year, as it is now a necessity for me. I don’t know how people live without it, to be honest.

16

May 29, 2015

continued from page 7 crippling emotional demons. It’s par for the course. I guess I should say thank you to television. [laughs] Sara Michelle Fetters: It hurts me in some ways to think that this director’s cut of the film was considered controversial or ahead of its time. That my generation, the ones who were the target audience in the 1990s for this film, wouldn’t want to watch a film with such complex themes, a film that lays out its ideas about sexuality and gender with such unadulterated clarity.

Mark Christopher: I agree with you.

It was the studio’s decision, though. They didn’t see it that way. I’m not sure I’ll ever fully understand why that was.

Sara Michelle Fetters: Do you think, maybe, in some ways, at least, your film was maybe a precursor to the Magic Mikes of the world, that it was an influence on modern LGBT and queer cinema?

Mark Christopher: I love Magic Mike.

That movie is just terrific, isn’t it? But I see what you’re saying. And it does cover a lot of the same ground that my film does.

Granted, I’m not Steven Soderbergh. My guess is that he gets plenty of freedom to deliver the cut he wants to.

But, if this cut had come out when it did it would have had to have been handled very differently than it was, very carefully, especially for the late 1990s. It would have had to have been platformed very slowly,

sasquatch

continued from page 10

Seattle Gay News

Celebrating 41 Years!

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CLUB Z - (men) 1117 Pike near Boren - 622-9958 HOT HOUSE SPA & SAUNA - (women) SW corner of Pike & 11th (stairs behind Wildrose) - 568-3240 STEAM WORKS - (men) 1520 Summit - 388-4818

RESTAURANTS & BARS

88 KEYS - 315 2nd Ave. S. - 839-1300 BALTIC ROOM - 1207 Pine St. - 625-4444 THE BOTTLENECK LOUNGE 2328 E. Madison St. - 323-1098

C.C. ATTLE’S BAR & GRILLE 1701 E. Olive Way - 726-0565 THE CANTERBURY - 534 15th Ave. E. - 322-3130 CHANGES IN WALLINGFORD 2103 N. 45th - 545-8363 THE CRESCENT - 1413 E. Olive Way - 720-8188 THE CUFF COMPLEX 1533 13th Ave. - 323-1525 DIESEL BAR - 1413 14th Ave. - 322-1080 DOUBLE HEADER - 407 2nd Ave. S. - 464-9918 GLO’S - 1621 E. Olive Way - 324-2577 HOT MAMA’S PIZZA - 700 E Pine St. -322-6444 JAZZ ALLEY - 2033 6th Ave. E. - 441-9729 JULIA’S - 300 Broadway Ave. E. - 860-1818 KREMWERK - 1809 Minor Ave. #10 - 682-2935 MAE’S CAFE 6412 Phinney Ave. N. - 782-1222 MADISON PUB - 1315 E. Madison - 325-6537

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May 29, 2015

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CASTLE SUPERSTORE 6015 Tacoma Mall Blvd. - (253) 471-0391 CLUB SILVERSTONE 739½ St. Helens Ave. - (253) 404-0273 THE FANTASY SHOP 2301 6th Ave. - (253) 272-6640 LOVER’S 7002 Tacoma Mall Blvd., #F - (253) 475-2271 THE MIX - 635 St. Helens Ave. - (253) 383-4327 RAINBOW CENTER 2215 Pacific Ave. - (253) 383-2318 SHAKABRAH JAVA CAFE 2618 6th Ave. - (253) 572-2787 TANDEM FOR GEAR, CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES 3019 6th Ave, Ste. B - (253) 301-3026

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Seattle Gay News 17

Meetings Events Activities

FOR A CALENDAR LISTING: Send details to: SGN, Attn: Community Calendar, 1605 12th Ave, Ste 31, Seattle, WA 98122. SGN phone: 324-4297. Fax: 3227188. E-mail: sgn2@sgn.org. INCLUDE: Date, time, location, contact phone # for publication (if possible), brief description of event & sponsoring organization.

DEADLINE: Tuesday 5pm.

ACCESSIBILITY: Is your event accessible to LGBTQ people with disabilities? See Jean’s List webpage www. scn.org/activism/calendar/disabilities.html for Marla Nonken’s disabilities accommodations lists.

NOTE: Phone numbers accompanying listings are within area code (206) & locations of meetings/ events are in Seattle unless otherwise noted.

community calendar

SATURDAY - May 30

Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 9am. Greenlake (outside Evans Pool). Every Saturday. GLBT running & walking club sponsors weekly runs, monthly potlucks, track & field activity, annual Run With Pride. 448-8518. www.seattlefrontrunners.org.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 6pm-12 midnight. Call for location & details. Every Saturday. (253) 671-2838. www.oasisyouth center.org.

(Also meets Thursdays & Fridays 4-10pm.)

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 6pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Saturday. Games also on Tuesdays & Thursdays. $4 fee includes coffee & snacks.

For more information visit www.rainbowbridgeclub.org or email rainbowbridgeclub@gmail.com Musical Experiences - All Bach Program. 7:30pm.

Green Lake United Methodist Church, 6415 1st Ave NE. Pianist Fred Kronacher with Cellist Jennifer Culp, 7 years cellist with the Kronos Quartet. Tickets: $22 adults; $17 seniors; $12 students 18 & under. 206-368-9247; www. musicalexperiences.org.

Roll Over Beethoven! (5/30 & 5/31). Sat 7:30pm, Sun 3pm. University Christian Church, 4731 15th Ave NE. Featuring Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy” with Piano Soloist Ingrid Verhulsdonk. FREE but donations gladly accepted. www.marketstreetsingers.org Seattle Pride Comedy Series Vol 3 (5/28-5/30). Thurs 7:30pm, Fri 7:30pm & 10:30PM, Sat 7:30pm & 10:30pm.

Parlor Live Comedy Club, 1522 6th Ave. Features Bridget Everett with special guest Erin Foley. General admission $25, VIP $30. www.parlorlive.com Turnback Boyz (5/29-5/31). Fri/Sat: 7:30pm; Sun: 2pm. Calamus Auditorium at Gay City, 517 E Pike St. Turnback Boyz, an inter-dimensional, intergalactic Queer boyband, brings their Origins tour to Gay City Arts. Tickets: $18-general admission; $12-students & seniors. www.gaycity.org/arts.

Whim W’him “X-Posed” (5/29-5/31). Fri & Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm. Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, 201 Mercer St. Three contemporary dance premieres featuring choreography from Kate Wallich, Manuel Vignoulle & East Shore Unitarian Church. 10am-Sunday Service.

Olivier Wevers. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, 12700 SE 32nd St, Bellevue. An open & affirming con$15 students. www.brownpapertickets.com gregation. (425) 747-3780.

Gay Men’s Bowling in Everett. 10am. Evergreen SUNDAY - May 31 Lanes, 5111 Claremont Way, Everett. Every Sunday.

For information on GLBT-friendly religious/spiritual Spectators welcome. Join us for lunch afterwards! organizations in the Greater Seattle area, call or Sponsored by the Snohomish County Gay Men’s Task email Rick at the SGN office: 206-324-4297; sgn2@ Force. For info email John at johndmarsh@mac.com sgn.org.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church. 10am-Worship. 911 Center for Spiritual Living. Services 8:25, 9:45, Stewart St. A downtown faith community centered in 11:30am. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we justice. An open & affirming congregation. 682-3620. hope to see you soon! Info 527-8801 ext 203, www. All Pilgrims Christian Church. 10:30am-Worship. cslseattle.org 500 Broadway E. Come as you are. All are welcome.

Ravenna United Methodist Church. 5751 33rd Ave A congregation of the Disciples of Christ & the United NE. 8:30am “Seattle’s most dangerous Sunday school;” Church of Christ. 322-0487, www.allpilgrims.org 9:45am worship. A reconciling congregation, fully inclu- Living Water Fellowship. 10:30am-Worship. 7204 NE sive and affirming of LGBTQ persons. 525-7988.

175th St, Kenmore. All GLBT welcome. Pastor Susan Wallingford United Methodist Church. 8:30am & George. 963-0807. www.livingwaterwa. com 11am-Worship (10am during summer). 2115 N 42nd St. Seattle Sunday Bowling. 10:30am. West Seattle Bowl, A progressive congregation. In 1984 Wallingford UMC 4505 39th Ave SW (at SW Oregon St). Open bowl every became the 9th reconciling Methodist church in the U.S. Sunday for the GLBT community & friends. You don’t 547-6945 (office); 285-5077 (George). have to worry about how you bowl! $6.50 + $2 shoe Seattle Unity Church. 9am & 11am-Sunday Services. rental. (425) 785-4725.

200 8th Ave N. “Come join our Gay & Lesbian-friendly, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation. spiritual family at Seattle Unity Church. Our mission is to 10:30am. 7141 California Ave SW. 935-0418, office@ bring love, miracles & spiritual awakening into everyday wsuu.org, www.wsuu.org life!” 622-8475; www.seattleunity.org.

Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church University Congregational United Church of Christ. Seattle. 11am-Worship. Chapel at University Temple All ages education 9am, Worship 10am. 4515 16th Ave United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd St. MCC is a NE. UCUCC is an open & affirming congregation. 524- progressive Christ-centered faith community committed 2322; www.universityucc.org. to providing a nurturing environment for individual & Seattle Soto Zen. 9:15am-Zazen Instruction, 9:30am- community growth thru Jesus Christ while celebrating Zazen. 101 Nickerson St, Lower Level. Follow the tradi- unity in diversity. MCC is Seattle’s oldest Gay-friendly tional forms of the Soto school of Zen in a spirit of warmth church. 325-2421, www.mccseattle.org. & inclusion. Anyone interested in meditation, whether Meditation for GBT Men. 11am-1pm. Cal Anderson new or experienced in Zen practice or other traditions, House, 400 Broadway. Suitable for beginning & expeis welcome. 323-1659, www.seattlesotozen.org rienced meditators. Sponsored by Dharma Buddies.

Tacoma First United Methodist Church. 9:30am- Contact Forrest Rode, 920-6117, Mike Chin (509) Worship, 11am-Adult Education. 423 Martin Luther King 990-0007, or Doug Allison, doug.l.allison@gmail.com.

Way, Tacoma. This reconciling congregation welcomes www.dharmabuddies.org. (Women may wish to contact with warm hands, warm hearts & open minds GLBT our sister meditation group at www.LotusSisters.org.) persons seeking a spiritual home. (253) 627-0129, www. St Paul’s United Church of Christ. 11am-Worship. fumctacoma.org 6512 12th Ave NW. An “open & affirming” congregation.

Central Lutheran Church. 10am-Worship. 1710 11th “We celebrate our diversity in religious background, Ave (just north of E Pine St). An open & affirming church, sexual orientation, race, age & abilities.” 783-6733; www. which in Lutheran churches is called “Reconciled in stpauluccseattle.com.

Christ.” “We seek to share God’s love with all people Seattle Pride Raise the Flag Ceremony. 11am. Seattle regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation.” City Hall Plaza, 600 4th Ave. Features Seattle Mayor Ed All are welcome. 322-7500.

Murray & Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu. www.seattle.gov/civilrights

18

Seattle Gay News

May 29, 2015

May 30 thru June 7 with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction & help others recover from sexual addiction or dependency. Seattle SAA helpline 237-8828, SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org The D-Factor Season 6. 6:30pm. Julia’s On Broadway, 300 Broadway E. Every Sunday thru June 27. The Northwest’s best Drag talent show with guest Drag judges. All levels of Drag are eligible to compete. Winner will receive a prize package worth $500. www.lefauxshow.com Pride League Bowling. 6:30pm. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW. Every Sunday (except during the summer). Regular league bowling. Jeff, 932-3731.

Integrity/Puget Sound. 7pm-Worship & Fellowship. St. Mark’s Cathedral, Thomson Chapel, 1245 10th Ave E. Integrity is an international ministry of Gay & Lesbian Episcopalians, their friends & families, dedicated to education, support & service within the Church & the GLBT community. (425) 226-2746.

Noche Latina - Latino Night. 10pm. Neighbours, 1509 Broadway. Every Sunday.

MONDAY - June 1

SOBER - On Meds. 1-2pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Monday. 12-step group open to anyone in recovery & living on a medicine regimen. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Strength Over Speed. 2-3:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For information visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Healing Words. 6:30-8pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Monday. Drop-in group open to all who are healing from trauma, addiction, or just the challenges of life in general. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org.

Pozitively Me! 6:30-8pm. Gay City Health Project, 517 E. Pike St. Every Monday. A group and conversation about HIV for Gay & Bi men newly diagnosed and for Gay & Bi men facing the challenges of living with HIV longterm. www.gaycity.org.

Freely Speaking Toastmasters. 7pm. FredLind Manor, 1802 17th Ave. Every Monday (except holidays & the last Mondays in August & December). Seattle’s only LGBT speaking club. www.FreelySpeaking.org Orca Swim Team Workout. 7-8:15pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing at 5pm.)

Trans Youth Group. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. A chance for youth to talk with others about their experiences & concerns related to identifying as Transgender. www.lamberthouse.org Lambert House Art Night. 7:30-9:30pm. 1818 15th Ave. Every Monday. Bring your ideas & let’s have some fun.

322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org Unity Gay Men’s AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New Holy Covenant International Christian Community Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St. Tacoma. Every Monday.

Church. 12pm. 4525 19th Ave NE. Outreach to the (253) 474-8897.

LGBT community. holycovenantccc@gmail.com Washington Gender Alliance Support Group MeetJust for Today. 12-1:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. ing in Shoreline. 7:30pm. Center for Human Services, Every Sunday. Drop-in 12-step (Narcotics Anonymous) 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline. Meets every Monday. For group open to anyone in recovery. 322-2437; www. information email info@washingtongender alliance.com sasgcc.org Les Be Honest. 8-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Paths to Recovery Al-Anon Family Group. 12-1:30pm. Monday. Open women only AA group. 322-2437; www.

Seattle University Student Center, 901 12th Ave, Room sasgcc.org.

122. Every Sunday. LGBTQ supported. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of TUESDAY - June 2 alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe Simply Positive. 2:30-4pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes Every Tuesday. Drop-in support & social group for can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number anyone HIV/AIDS positive. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Artful Expression. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org Rain City Soccer Club - Ripple Effect. Every Sunday Every Tuesday. This is an ongoing art group to visualize afternoon. Location varies. Ripple Effect soccer team the journey thru creative expression. 322-2437; www. plays a weekly recreational scrimmage game for Gay sasgcc.org guys in Seattle. Perfect for guys looking for more relaxed Gay Men’s Task Force of Snohomish County in Evplay, who are just getting back into soccer, just learning erett. 6-8pm. Snohomish Health District, 3020 Rucker the game and/or want to supplement their competitive Ave Ste 309A, Everett. Meets 1st Tuesday each month. play with a recreational team. To sign up visit www. Open to all Gay & Bisexual men in Snohomish County.

“We will be discussing issues concerning the local Gay raincitysoccer.org Grace Gospel Chapel. 2pm-Worship. Gift of Grace community & value your opinion, voice, comments, sugLutheran Church, 2102 N 40th St. Oldest independent gestions & attendance. Come join us as we build comchurch ministering primarily to the Gay & Lesbian com- munity in Snohomish County.” David, (425) 339-5238. munity. An exciting fellowship ... a place to believe, a LGBTQ Questioning & Allied Youth Drop-in Group in Renton. 6-8pm. Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS), place to belong. 784-8495.

Turnback Boyz (5/29-5/31). Fri/Sat: 7:30pm; Sun: 1025 S 3rd St, Renton. Meets every Tuesday. Confi2pm. Calamus Auditorium at Gay City, 517 E Pike dential. Snacks provided. Bring friends or come alone St. Turnback Boyz, an inter-dimensional, intergalactic - anyone 12-18 is welcome. Questions? Call Sarah HarQueer boyband, brings their Origins tour to Gay City din, 425-271-5600 ext 155, or email sarahh@rays.org Arts. Tickets: $18-general admission; $12-students & Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) for Gay seniors. www.gaycity.org/arts.

Orca Swim Team Workout. Sun: 5-6:15pm; Mon/Weds/ & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For informaFri: 7:30-8:45pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic tion visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. Every Sun, Mon, Wed www.sasgcc.org & Fri. Pre-registration required. Orca Swim Team Diverse Harmony. 6:30-9pm. Seattle First Baptist workouts are for both competitive & recreational swim- Church, 1111 Harvard Ave. Every Tuesday. Diverse Harmony is the nation’s first Gay/Straight Alliance Youth mers. www.orcaswimteam.org Whim W’him “X-Posed” (5/29-5/31). Fri & Sat 8pm, Chorus. Youths ages 13-22 are welcome regardless of Sun 5pm. Cornish Playhouse, Seattle Center, 201 Mer- sexual orientation. www.diverseharmony.org cer St. Three contemporary dance premieres featuring Queer Young Females Group - For Female-Identified choreography from Kate Wallich, Manuel Vignoulle & Youth, Ages 22 & Under. 6:30-7:30pm. Lambert House, Olivier Wevers. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, 1818 15th Ave. Every Tuesday. Topics range from family issues to school happenings to like/lust/love relation$15 students. www.brownpapertickets.com Shame to Grace Sunday SAA. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 ships. All Queer females welcome. Come discuss how 17th Ave E. Every Sunday. SAA is a fellowship of men smart. strong Queer women live their lives. 322-2515, & women who share their experience, strength & hope www. lamberthouse.org

Celebrating 41 Years!

Tuesday Night Sex Addicts Anonymous (GLBTQI).

7-8:30pm. All Pilgrims Christian Church, 500 Broadway E (enter at 509 10th Ave E; buzz in, Dickson room). Every Tuesday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women whose primary purpose is to stop addictive sexual behavior & help others recover from sexual addiction. Seattle SAA helpline 237-8828. SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

Over 40’s Group - For Lesbian Women 40 & Older.

7-8:30pm. University Congregational Church, 4515 16th Ave NE, Pilgrim Room. Every Tuesday. Open group for Lesbian women, 40 & older, in every stage of coming out or being out. Lots of social activities in addition to Tuesday meetings. 545-3521.

Rain City Jacks. 1st & 3rd Tuesday each month at 7pm; 4th Sunday each month at1pm. West Queen Anne/ Interbay. Location & membership details provided upon request. RCJ is a traditional jack-off club. Friendly, sexpositive, non-profit and private. Membership required.

Adult men only. Enroll at the door. www.raincityjacks. org, email info@raincityjacks.org or call 1-888-809-5035.

Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 7pm. Bus-accessible Central Area location. Every Tuesday. (See Saturday listing at 6pm.)

Different Drummers. 7:15-8:30pm. Every Tuesday.

Hand drumming classes for Gay men. It’s easy, it’s fun & anyone can do it! Learn traditional African & AfroCaribbean rhythms & basic hand drumming techniques.

Experience connection, community & spirituality. Drums are provided. For info & location call Dennis at 363-4500 or www.outdrum.com What About Me? 7:30-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Tuesday. Drop-in social, support & discussion group for Gay & Bi men of all ages. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Here & Now Gay & Lesbian AA Meeting in Tacoma.

7:30pm. Christ Episcopal Church, 310 N “K” St, Tacoma.

Every Tuesday.

Spiritual Empowerment. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. A group for all LGBT & friends of any spiritual belief to explore how spiritual practice can enrich their life. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Bellingham. 7:30-9pm. St James Presbyterian Church, 910 14th St., Bellingham. Every Tuesday. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com. (See Wednesday listing at 7:30pm for details.)

Seattle Otters Water Polo Team. 8-9:30pm. Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave E (at E Cherry St). Every Tuesday & Thursday. GLBT & GLBT-friendly co-ed water polo team is open to all who want to play. Beginners & experienced players welcome. Check our website for up to the minute details, or call the Otter Hotline 414-8797. www.otterpolo.com.

Seattle Poetry Slam. Doors 8pm, Show 8:30pm. Rebar, 1114 Howell St. Every Tuesday. A spoken word poetry event that features a weekly open mic, feature poet, and slam (poetry competition). Come out and express yourself. LGBTQ- & QTPOC-friendly; all genders welcome. $5. 21+. seattlepoetryslam.org

community calendar

FRIDAY - June 5

WEDNESDAY - June 3

Mature Friends Morning Exercise/Health & Fitness Get-Together. 10am. Ballard Odd Fellows Hall Bldg, 1706 NW Market St. Every Wednesday. An hour of health-related activities, followed by a walk around Greenlake & lunch at a local restaurant. www.mature friends.org True Colors: Connecting LGBTQ Teens in Shoreline.

4-5pm. Every Wednesday. Discussing your important issues, building a supportive community. For information, location & to REGISTER call Lindsay Bagley 362-7282 x 8018 or email lbagley@chs-nw.org GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): A Support Group & HIV/STD Prevention for Youth (14-20) in Everett. 6-8pm. CCA Building, 3331 Broadway - Bottom Floor, Everett. Every Wednesday.

Sponsored by PFLAG Everett chapter. David/Brenda, (425) 263-2908. globeleaders@hotmail.com The Rowing Team Peer Recovery Group. 6-7:30pm.

All Pilgrims Church, 500 Broadway E. Meets every Wednesday. This peer recovery group provides a safe & supportive faith community to share your recovery journey with, God answers our prayers & sends us a boat.

Sometimes rowing furiously for yourself & sometimes for others. All are welcome.

Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Wednesday. Discuss the best LGBT novels with other book-lovers in a safe, comfortable conversation. http://faculty.washington.edu/swittet/ sglbookclub/ SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Southeast Seattle Lesbian Evening Group. 6pm.

Southeast Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S Holly St. Meets the 1st Wednesday of every month. RSVP to Kate Hawkins 722-0317. www.sessc.org. FREE. Lotus Sisters Meditation & Dharma Discussion North. 6:15-8pm. Ravenna Bryant neighborhood. Meets every Wednesday. Call 525-7295 for location. www.

LotusSisters.org.

Center for Spiritual Living. 6:30pm-Meditation, 7pmService. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we hope to see you soon! Info 527-8801 ext 203, www. cslseattle.org Seattle Frontrunners Fun Run. 6:30pm. Volunteer Park (in front of Black Sun across for museum). Every Wednesday. (See Saturday at 9am.)

HIV/AIDS Support Group. 7-8:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Wednesday. Please arrive by 7:00pm.

FREE peer-facilitated emotional support group for HIV+ men who are newly diagnosed or newly dealing. 3222437; www.sasgcc.org Ingersoll All-Trans Drop-In Support Group. 7-9pm.

Seattle Counseling Services, 1216 Pine St, Suite 300.

All Transgender, Gender Variant, Gender Queer, Gender Questioning, allies, family & friends are welcome. This is

Buddhism & Recovery. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Thursday. A meditation/recovery group.

322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Emerald City Social Club. 7:30pm. Call for details & location - phone staffed most Tuesday evenings or leave message. Meets 1st Thursday each month. ECSC is a confidential crossdressing social & support organization for Transvestite & Transsexual individuals, primarily MTF, which offers confidential membership, private monthly meetings, frequent events on the town, & help in coming out. (425) 827-9494.

Gay Fathers Association of Seattle. 7:30-9pm. Group Health, 201 16th Ave E, Central Bldg, Lower Atrium.

Every Thursday. Support meetings for Gay fathers & Gay men who are currently or previously married. Safe, anonymous, non-judgmental environment of caring fathers & friends. You are not alone. For information, community events & “questioning” visit www.gfas.org or our message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/ gayfathersseattle Gay Male Sexuality & Relationships. 7:30-9pm.

SASG, 303 17th Ave. E. Every Thursday. A discussion group that is strictly focused on sexual topics and relationship issues related to being a Gay male. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Queer Vision 20/20 Film Screening: “Different From the Others” (1919, Germany). Happy Hour 7pm, Film 8pm. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. One of the earliest depictions of homosexuality on film & the first to take a stand for Gay rights. Stars Conrad Veidt (The Cabinet of Dr Caligari) as a closeted violinist living in a world where each potential lover is a potential blackmailer. Tickets: $11 general admission, $8 youth & seniors, $8 members.

Seattle Otters Water Polo Team. 8-9:30pm. Medgar Evers Pool, 500 23rd Ave E (at E Cherry St). Every Tuesday & Thursday. (See Tuesday listing at 8pm.)

a drop in group to get & give support, social interaction & information for the whole Gender community. www. ingersollcenter.org PFLAG/Renton Monthly Meeting. 7pm. St Luke’s Episcopal Church, 99 Wells Ave S, Renton. Meets 1st Wednesday each month. PFLAG/Renton: 425-2354139. PFLAG/Puget Sound: 325-7724. www.seattlepflag.org.

Seattle Movie Bears Movie Night. Check website for details. Every Wednesday night. Gay & Bi men enjoy a movie at a local theater with opportunity to socialize before & after movies. More info: http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/seattlemoviebears; or e-mail: seattlemoviebearssubscribe@yahoogroups.com Mature Friends Weekly Bridge Group. 7:30pm. Call for location. Every Wednesday. All levels welcome. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www.maturefriends.org Orca Swim Team Workout. 7:30-8:45pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing at 5pm.)

Washington Gender Alliance Open Support Meeting in Everett. 7:30-9pm. Everett United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave, Everett. Every Wednesday.

Trained peer facilitators lead a structured support meeting helping people deal with issues of gender identity & expression. All adults are welcomed, including those who are questioning, allies, or identify as FTM, MTF, Transgender, Queer, or Intersex, among others. (360) 445-2411; www.washingtongenderalliance.com.

Pride Skate Seattle. 9-11pm. Southgate Roller Rink, 9646 17th Ave SW. First Wednesday of every month. $7 admission includes skate rental. Must be 18+. After-party at Company, 9608 16th Ave SW, with drink specials & karaoke. www.southgaterollerrink.com

60). Facilitator: Fai, 722-0729, faiscranes@yahoo.com.

Metro route 7. Wheelchair accessible.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Thursday. (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org (Also Fridays 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.)

Q Hour. 4:30-5:30pm. Orion Center, 1828 Yale Ave. 1st & 3rd Thursday of every month. A group for LGBTQ youth 13-21 & their allies. Sponsored by Youthcare.

FREE. 622-5555 x 212.

First Thursday Art Walk in Downtown Seattle/Pioneer Square. 5-9pm. Art galleries in Downtown Seattle/Pioneer Square host opening night receptions. Seattle Art Museum is free today.

Seattle Human Rights Commission. 6-8pm. Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave. Meets 1st Thursday each month.

SHRC is made up of 15 citizen representatives who advise the Mayor, the City Council, & all City of Seattle Depts in matters regarding human rights. The commission advocates for justice & equal opportunity & collaborates with & educates the public & private sectors about how to prevent & eliminate discrimination city-wide.

Meetings open to the public. 684-4540.

Shifting Gears. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Every Thursday. Drop-in support group (non 12-step) for anyone of any orientation or gender who desires recovery from drugs or alcohol. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group). 6:30-8pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. Sponsored by Youth Eastside Services, which offers many programs for GLBT youth.

(425) 747-4937.

Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation - Contemplative Service. 6:30pm. 7141 California Ave SW. 935-0418, office@wsuu.org, www.wsuu.org THURSDAY - June 4 Boys’ Group - For Male-Identified Youth, Ages 14Alcoholics Anonymous “Safe & Sober Group.” 22. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every 12noon-1pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. Open meeting of Thursday. Youth take the opportunity to talk about issues AA. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org. that relate to their everyday lives, with the facilitation of a BABES Women’s Support Group/Lunch Meeting. male volunteer. 322-2515 ext 16. www.lamberthouse.org 12 noon-2pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. The Rainbow Duplicate Bridge. 7pm. Bus-accessible BABES Network is a peer led agency; a sisterhood of Central Area location. Every Thursday. (See Saturday women facing HIV together. 720-5566 or 888-292-1912; listing at 6pm.) www.babesnetwork.org.

Seattle Prime Timers Coffee Reunion. 7pm. StarAging Lesbians in South Seattle (ALISS). 12:30- bucks, 1600 E. Olive Way. Meets 1st Thursday each 2:30pm. South East Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S month. Metro 8, 43. NO HOST. www.seattleprimetimHolly St. A discussion, support & political group for all ers.org Lesbians. In addition we often have social activities. We have lunch at the center at 11:30am ($3 for 60+, $6 under

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 29, 2015

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Friday.

(253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org (Also Thursdays 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.)

Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 303 17th Ave E. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12-step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Columbia City Beatwalk. 7-10pm. Columbia City Gallery, 4864 Rainier Ave S. 1st Friday each month, May thru September. Columbia City retailers, restaurants & cafes combine the love of good music with good books, fine dining & provocative art. An evening of folk, reggae, R & B, ethnic music & more. Admission to all venues: $5. www.columbiacitybeatwalk.org.

First Fridays in Yakima. 7-9pm. 223 N 1st St, Yakima.

Meets 1st & 3rd Fridays. Social, support, education & advocacy group for the Yakima area GLBTQ community & their allies. All are welcomed & invited. (509) 576-0276. www.gayakima.com/1stfridays.html Lambert House Queer Movie Night. 7-9:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every Friday. Lambert House is a nationally-recognized activities & resource center for GLBT & questioning youth, ages 14-22. 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org Rain Country Dance Night. 7-11pm, lessons at 7:15pm.

The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave. An evening of country-western dancing for the LGBTQ community. FREE. www.raincountrydance.org.

Destiny Gay AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St, Tacoma. Every Friday.

(253) 474-8897.

Orca Swim Team Workout. 7:30-8:45pm. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing at 5pm.)

LGBT Friday Night Al-Anon Family Group. 7:45pm.

Seattle Counseling Service, Rainbow Room, 1216 Pine St at Melrose Ave. Every Friday. The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org

SATURDAY - June 6

(See previous Saturday for ongoing activities.)

Northwest Bears Potluck and Meet & Greet Beer Bust. 6pm. The Cuff, 1533 13th Ave at E. Pine St. Meets 1st Saturday each month. Northwest Bears is a Gay men’s social and service organization providing a focal point within the Gay community for Bears and Bear admirers. www.nwbears.com.

SUNDAY - June 7

(See previous Sunday for ongoing activities.)

Border Riders Motorcycle Club First Sunday Ride.

Contact Border Riders for details and rendezvous point.

Meets 1st Sunday most months. BRMC provides a social & educational fraternity for individuals interested in recreational motorcycle touring. www.borderriders.com PFLAG/Kittitas County. 4-5:30pm. First United Methodist Church, 3rd & Ruby Sts, Ellensburg. Meets the first Sunday of every month. For information, (509) 925-7937.

St Aelred’s Independent Catholic Church in Olympia.

5pm. Olympia Unitarian Church, 2200 East End St NW, Olympia. Meets 1st & 3rd Sundays each month. Worship for the GLBT community & friends in the Roman Catholic, Anglican & other liturgical faiths tradition. Fr. Bob Withrow, (360) 664-5449.

Seattle Jazz Vespers. 6-8pm. Seattle First Baptist Church, Seneca St & Harvard Ave. 1st Sunday of every month (October-June). The historic Gothic sanctuary of Seattle First Baptist Church is offered to the best jazz

Seattle Gay News 19

groups in the city to perform 100 minutes of their own popular music. FREE. For info 325-6051, www.seattlefirstbaptist.org/sjv

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

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

American Veterans for Equal Rights - www.aver.us Bellingham/Whatcom County - www.theslowlane. com/guide.html BiNet Seattle is a mixed gender, social group for Bisexuals, their partners & other Bi-friendly folks - www. binetseattle.org.

Bremerton/Kitsap County - www.outwestsound.org Capitol Hill Alano Club - www.chacseattle.org Central Washington University GALA Hotline: (509) 963-1994.

DIFFA/Seattle (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). 763-8885; www.diffaseattle.org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: Crisis Clinic, 461-3222 (24 hour line); King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) - 24-hour crisis line for information, support, & medical & legal assistance: 1-888-99-VOICE; Northwest Network - support & advocacy for Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian & Gay Survivors of Abuse & Dating Violence, 568-7777 (voice), 517-9670 (tty), www.nwnetwork.org; Pierce County Domestic Violence Helpline: Teresa, (253) 798-4166; Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities - offers on-going support groups for men: 323-1768; Seattle Police Dept Domestic Violence Unit, 684-0330; State Wide Domestic Violence Hot Line, 1-800-562-6025.

In an emergency call 911. Report domestic violence and sexual assault.

Equal Rights Washington - 324-2570; www.equal rightswashington.org Everett/Snohomish Cty - www.gaysnohomish.org Freely Speaking Toastmasters - www.freel yspeaking.org Gay City organizes events & activities for Gay & Bi men & offers anonymous & confidential HIV/STD testing at the Center for LGBT Health, 517 E Pike St. More info or to schedule an appointment, 860-6969. www.gaycity.org Gay & Lesbian National Hotline (GLNH): 1-888-THEGLNH (1-888-843-4564). Non-profit, peer-counseling, information & local resources telephone hotline for GLBT people across the country.

GLSEN/WA - Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network - 330-2099; www.glsenwa.org Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) - 3639188; www.thegsba.org HIV/AIDS Program, Seattle/King County Dept of Public Health, provides confidential/anonymous information about & testing for HIV/AIDS. 205-7837. For a comprehensive list of HIV/AIDS service organizations see the GSBA Guide or visit www.thegsba.org or call Lifelong AIDS Alliance, 328-8979.

Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & the Olympic & Rainier Empire - www.facebook.com/ISCSORE; www. imperialcourtofseattle.com Lambert House - 322-2515; www.lamberthouse.org LGBT Library - 517 E Pike St. Open Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction for the LGBT community and allies can be borrowed free of charge.

LGBT MS Connection - 250-5002; LGBTMS Connection@gmail.com. Support group for LGBT persons with MS and their partners and their caregivers.

Lifelong AIDS Alliance - 328-8979, www.lifelongaids alliance.org MEN: Gay City: 860-6969, www.gaycity.org; Knights of Mantra: 329-0886, www.jetchapterkofm.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.mature friends.org; Northwest Bears: www.nwbears.com; The Olympians: www.TheOlympians.net; POZSeattle: www.pozseattle.org; Q-Squared: www.qsquared.org; Rain City Jacks: 888-809-5035, www.raincityjacks. org; Seattle Gay Couples: www. seattlegaycouples. org; Seattle Men in Leather: www.seattlemeninleather. org; Seattle Prime Timers: Gay & Bi men 40 & over, www.seattle primetimers.org.

MUSIC: Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony.org; Rainbow City Band: 1-866-841-9139 ext 2126; rainbowcityband@onebox.com; www.rainbowcity band.com; Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus: 388-1408, 323-0750. www.flyinghouse. org.

Northwest Lesbian & Gay History Museum Project - gayhistnw@aol.com Northwest Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf - www. nwrad.org Olympia/Thurston County: www.RainbowCenterOly. org Out & Equal Workplace Advocates/Seattle Regional Affiliate supports the work of LGBT employees and the growing number of ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) making a difference within local companies. www.outandequal.org/affiliates/seattle PARENTHOOD: Families Like Ours provides a network of safe placement agencies, training, support & resources: 441-7602, www.familieslikeours. org; Family Works offers support, information & activities for LGBT families: 694-6727, www.familyworksseattle. org; Gay Fathers’ Association of Seattle offers support groups & social activities: www.gfas. org; Proud & Loud Families - Northwest, www.meetup.com/proud-andloud-families-northwest, plfnorthwest@aol.com; Queer Parent Networking Dinners: 568-7777, info@nwnet work.org; Rainbow Families of Puget Sound: www. rainbowfamiliesps.org PFLAG is the national organization for parents, families, allies, and LGBTQ people united for equality with

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chapters in Seattle, Bellevue/Eastside, the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. PFLAG Seattle: 206-325-7724, info@pflagseattle.org, and www.pflag seattle.org; PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside: 425-4836642, info@bellevue-pflag.org, http://community.pflag. org/PFLAGBellevue; PFLAG Pacific Northwest: www.pnwpflag.org; PFLAG Washington state: www. pflagwsc.org.

PEOPLE OF COLOR: Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Network Program at API Chaya, 467-9976; Center for MultiCultural Health, 461-6910, www.multiculturalhealth.org; Entre Hermanos, GLBT Latinos/as, 322-7700, www.entrehermanos.org; Ile LaiLai, 7813565, iya@ilelailai.org; Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT), 923-8313, macctseattle@yahoo. com, www.macctsea.org; Nubian Pride Productions, nubianpride@gmail.com; People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) offers rapid HIV testing, M-F, 10am-5pm, 322-7061, www.pocaan.org and on Facebook; Seattle Two Spirit, SeattleTwoSpirit@ hotmail.com; Sistah 2 Sistah, LBT women of African descent, 322-7061, 255-8951; Sistah Sinema, www. sistahsinema.com, info@sistahsinema.com; TrikoneNorthwest, GLBT South Asians, (425) 985-4376, www. trikonenw.org; Two-Spirit Honor Project, 1-866-6850164; U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle.

Pride Foundation - 323-3318; www.pridefoundation. org Project NEON is a program of Seattle Counseling Service providing FREE information & services to Gay & Bi men to reduce health risks associated with methamphetamine use. 323-1768. www.crystalneon.org Public Health-Seattle & King County Online Comprehensive Health Information for Sexual Minorities: www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/ glbt.aspx Q Law: The GLBT Bar Association of WA - 682-6711; www.q-law.org Q Law GLBT Legal Clinic - 235-7235.

Resource & Referral Line can connect you to LGBTfriendly resources throughout Puget Sound and beyond.

Call 323-LGBT Mon-Fri 2-8pm; Sat 2-5pm. At other times leave voice mail and your call will be returned. Or visit www.gaycity.org to view list of resources online or through Facebook.

Safe Schools Coalition - www.safeschoolscoalition. org; 451-SAFE (451-7233).

SEAMEC interviews, researches & rates candidates for public office on issues of concern to the LGBT community. 905-9941, www.seamec.org

May 29, 2015

Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG) is a non-profit organization that builds community and cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing emotional support and personal development services to those affected by HIV/AIDS, the Queer communities, and those who love them. 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities - 684-4503.

Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities is a community mental health service for GLBT persons & their families. 323-1768.

Seattle Out & Proud - 206-322-9561; www.seattle pride.org Seattle Police Department Sexual Minorities Community Advisory Council: kim.bogucki@seattle.gov Seattle PrideFest - www.seattlepridefest.org Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - (202) 328-3244; www.sldn.org SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network - www.shift recovery.org Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan - 860-3666; www.theabbey.org Snohomish Health District HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential/anonymous HIV counseling & testing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, until 7pm Tuesdays.

(425) 339-5298.

Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea) - www.facebook. com/socialoutreachseattle South Sound Q Calendar - LGBTQ events in Tacoma, Olympia & Sound Puget Sound area; www.South SoundQCal.com SPORTS & RECREATION: Bent Car Guys: www. bentcarguys.org; Border Riders Motorcycle Club: www.borderriders.com; Bottom Dwellers Scuba Club: www.bottomdwellers.org; Capitol Hill Cyclers: join their Facebook group or email capitolhillcycling@ groups.facebook.com or jordan.l.simonson@gmail.com; Cascade Flyers: www.cascadeflyers.org; Different Spokes Bicycling Club: www.differentspokes.org; Emerald City Mudhen Rugby: www.mudhenrugby. com; Emerald City Softball Association: www.emerald citysoftball.org, www.eteamz.com/womensecsa; Ethyl Forever Car Club: ethylforever@hotmail.com; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Olympic Yacht Club: www.oycnw.org; OutVentures: outdoor education & recreation activities, www.outventures.org; Pacific Northwest Gay Rodeo Association: www.pacificnwgra.org; Puddletown Squares: www.puddletownsquares.org; Rain City Soccer: www.raincitysoccer.org; Rain Country Dance Association: a country-western

dance organization catering to the LGBTQ community but open to all, www.raincountrydance.org; Sea Dawgs: LGBT ice hockey - SkateSeaDawgs@gmail.com and on Facebook; Seattle Frontrunners: www.seattlefront runners.org; Seattle Gay Basketball Association: www. seattlegaybasketballassociation.com; Seattle Orca Swim Team: www.orcaswimteam.org; Seattle Otters Water Polo: www.otterpolo.com; Seattle Quake Rugby: www.quakerugby.com; Seattle Tennis Alliance: www. seattletennisalliance.org; Seattle Unified Bowling Association (SUBA): magee98106@aol.com, www. teamseattle.org/bowling.htm, www.theprideleague. com, Century 21 League; Seattle Volleyball Club: www.seattlevolleyballclub.com; Ski Buddies: www. skibuddies. org; Team Seattle Gay Sports Network is an umbrella organization for a wide range of local GLBT sports activities, 367-4064, www.teamseattle.org (see website for comprehensive list of sports clubs); Triangle Recreation Camp at Bender Creek: recreational camping for GLBT folks. Must be 21; ID required. trc@camptrc.org, www. camptrc.org, 1122 E Pike St #1069, Seattle 98122-3934.

Strength Over Speed - www.strengthoverspeed.org Tacoma/Pierce County - Rainbow Center, 2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, a resource center for the LGBTIQA community of Pierce County, (253) 383-2318, www. rainbowcntr.org TRANSGENDER: Emerald City Social Club: (425) 827-9494; Gender Alliance of the South Sound: www.

SouthSoundGender.com; Gender Justice League: www.genderjusticeleague.org; Gender Odyssey: www.genderodyssey.com; Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born Support Group: 322-7700; Ingersoll Gender Center: 329-6651, www.ingersollcenter. org; The New BoyZ Club: www.olympiaftmgroup. webs.com; Olympia Trans Discussion Group: www. facebook.com/pages/Olympia-Trans-DiscussionGroup/262449878114; Washington Gender Alliance: (360) 445-2411, www.washington genderalliance.com WOMEN: BABES: support groups for HIV+ women.

720-5566, 1-888-292-1912; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Lesbians Over 40: 7220729; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Older Lesbians Organizing for Change/WA State Chapter: gloria@oloc.org, mary@oloc.org, www.oloc.org; Pacific Northwest Lesbian Archives: www.pnwlesbianarchives.org; RainshadowWomen: RainshadowWomen@aol.com; Seattle Girls of Leather: www.sgol.org; Tacoma Lesbian Concern (TLC): www.tacomalesbianconcern.org; WOWS: a fun, member-driven social group for Lesbians, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofwest seattle; YWCA Women’s Health Outreach: providing low or no-cost mammograms for income eligible 40+ LBTQ individuals. Follow us at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot. com, twitter.com/ingridWHO or email lbthealth@ywcaworks.org, 461-4493.

YOUTH: B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Questioning Adolescent Drop-In Group): Youth Eastside Services offers many programs for GLBT youth, including B-GLAD, (425) 747-4937; Diverse Harmony: www.diverseharmony. org; GLSEN/Washington State (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) & Washington State GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Network: GLSEN works to create safe schools for LGBT students.

WA GSA Network supports youth-led GSA’s to fight harassment & homophobia in Washington state schools.

330-2099; www.glsenwa. org; www.wagsa.org. GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): a support group & HIV/STD prevention program for GLBTQ youth, 14-20, in Everett, (425) 263-2908, www. globeyouth.org; Health Education Youth Outreach: for LGBTQ youth, ages 16-24 - Jessica Hatlo, 206957-1665, jessicah@llaa.org; It Gets Better Project: www.itgetsbetter.org; Lambert House: an activities & resource center for LGBT youth, 14-22, in Seattle, 3222515, www.lamberthouse.org; www.MatthewsPlace. com; Oasis Youth Center: for GLBTQ youth, ages 14-25, in Tacoma, (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcen ter.org; Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)/Puget Sound: 325-7724, www.seattle-pflag. org; Pizza Klatch: weekly lunchtime support groups for LGBTQ youth in Thurston County, www.pizzaklatch.org; Prism: for LGBTQ youth, 14-21, in Puyallup - Cherise.

Alexander@ multicare.org; www.facebook.com/PuyallupPrism; Proud Out Wonderful (POW!): for LGBTQ youth, 13-21, in South King County, 206-326-9112, www. facebook.com/proudoutwonderful; Q Youth Resources: in Kitsap County - 360-698-3335; www.kchaf.org; Queer Youth Space: 206-495-9963; www.queeryouth space. org; Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS): LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth drop-in group, ages 12-18 Sarah Hardin, 425-271-5600, ext 155; sarahh@rays.org; Safe Schools Coalition: www.safeschoolscoalition.org; 451-SAFE (451-7233) (non-emergency), 1-877-SAFESAFE (1-877-723-3723) (crisis line); Seattle Young People’s Project (Queer Youth Resource Board): 860-9606, www.sypp.org; Teen Link: 461-4922, 1-888431-TEEN; The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor; www. thetrevorproject.org; True Colors - Connecting LGBTQ Teens: in Shoreline, 362-7282 x 8018, lbagley@chs-nw. org; Vista Youth Center: for LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth, ages 14-21, in Kennewick, 509-396-5198, www.vistayouthcenter.org; YouthCare/Orion Center: 622-5555; YouthCare/Isis Program (Transitional Living Home for LGBTQ Young Adults, 18-22): 5228412; Youth Suicide Prevention Program (OUTLoudGLBTQ): 297-5922, ext 116, 1-800-273-TALK, www. yspp.org

Celebrating 41 Years!

EXCEPTIONAL BODYWORK Given by highly trained LMP. I specialize in injury treatment, acute, chronic, and repetitive stress motion. I have a studio on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Insurance accepted.

Matt Shafer, LMP, 206-235-7766.

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10 housemates

14 HELP WANTED

10 housemates

14 help wanted

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11 for rent

11 FOR RENT

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HOUSING FOR SALE

37 BODYWORK

37 bodywork

HOME SERVICES

_______________________________ HOUSECLEANING – CENTRAL SEATTLE. Done by visual artist with an eye for detail. References.

Reliable. Experienced. Licensed.

Grego Rachko. 206-719-3769.

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20

20 health & health & well being

real estate REAL ESTATE

_______________________________ ENERGY/BODYWORK Therapeutic massage. 29 years experience. Relaxation, major/ minor injuries, chronic muscle pain. Small Queen Anne home office/studio. Massage table or massage chair. Convenient parking. (I’m a Gay-friendly straight male graphic artist, web author.)

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19 19 home services

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First session 50% off = $45/1.5 hours (travel extra). By appointment only. References available.

Chris Pringer, Reiki Master, 206286-0899. If you get a voice message mentioning “extension #,” please hang up and call back again. Brochure, testimonials, etc. via chalicebridge.com/BMIBrochure.html. 44/21 _______________________________

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_______________________________ AMAZING BODYWORK! Deep tissue, erotic bodywork by handsome, hairy-chested, hung therapist. Reasonable rates. Photos, phone number and reviews at website: www.amazingbodywork. com. Robert. 25/6 ________________________________ DADDY BEAR I’m known for my magic touch for the best bodywork. Please contact me between 12 noon and 9pm.

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_______________________________ DADDY WILL SPANK He also uses baby oil.

Rob, 206-324-2617. 20/3 _______________________________ RAIN CITY JACKS Seattle’s own JO Club, RCJ hosts three group jack-off events every month. Hot, friendly, safe fun!

Adult men only. 888-809-5035. info@raincityjacks.org; www. raincityjacks.org. 31/12 _______________________________ FREE & ANONYMOUS HIV & STD COUNSELING/TESTING Walk-In or by Appt GAY CITY HEALTH PROJECT 517 E. Pike St. MON-FRI: 3pm-8pm SAT: 12:30pm-5pm More Info & to Schedule Appt 206-860-6969 _______________________________ SEATTLE PRIME TIMERS A social organization for Gay and Bisexual Men over 40 and their admirers. www.seattleprimetimers.org; info@seattleprimetimers. org SGN/ _______________________________

Rain City Jacks celebrates ten years of group masturbation

by Paul Rosenberg Founder & Manager Rain City Jacks

I could say I was surprised that we’re still hosting group jack-off events ten years later, but I’m not. I’m just really glad!

In the spring of 2005, I began hosting small, private JO parties. I’d discovered group JO in Chicago back in 1990 where I was a member of the Chicago Jacks. I loved that club – so friendly, positive and convivial – and the fact that it was as safe as group sex gets was just a happy bonus. It was uncompromisingly sex-focused, but also really social; just easy and relaxed. Yes, the focus was very much on penis über alles, but the words I most strongly associate with it are “friendly,” “human” and “authentic.” Yes, “incredibly hot” comes up, too.

I felt accepted without reservation from the very first moment I stepped into the Jacks. All that social weirdness of cruising was simply absent. It was genuinely fraternal, a horny band of brothers embracing this simple, primordial love of cock. Much of its power I think came from a sense of simply giving up all shame about masturbation and doing it openly… plus getting to share it with other men, of course. It was and continues to be astoundingly freeing and affirming. It’s very different from the kind of play I’ve encountered in bathhouses and back rooms over the years.

I only went to Chicago Jacks for one year – sadly, the club dissolved in 1994 – but it left a lasting impression on me. I only stopped going because I met and fell in love with the man who would later become my husband.

We were monogamous for our first ten years together but, like a lot of couples, there came a time when we both wanted to open things up. We were both clear that our relationship was something neither of us wanted to sacrifice – we loved each other as much as we ever did – but there was a strong mutual desire to explore the wilds.

I had zero interest in a new boyfriend or replacing my husband. What I wanted was that warm, fraternal connection I’d felt at Chicago Jacks years before. Seattle had nothing like that. I searched, believe me!

I did find a Yahoo group that seemed like it might be what I was looking for. “Seattle Jackers” met in hotel rooms a couple of times a month. It seemed promising so I

checked them out.

I went to a few gatherings, met some nice guys, stroked a lot of cock and got off myself, but the hotel-room setting was weird. It lent an air of surreptitiousness and shame to the parties. Not quite what I was seeking but I gave it a chance.

Hotel rooms are really limited and limiting. The whole convoluted process of distributing room numbers, sneaking past concierges, knocking quietly on doors and being assessed through the narrow door opening before being allowed in felt both overly complicated and sneaky. I know a lot of guys get off on taboo and the danger of being caught. I definitely did not want to have issues with the people in adjoining rooms much less the SPD. I think others shared my concern because we were a conspicuously quiet cadre of masturbators.

As I got to know the organizer better, I learned that he wanted to allow cocksucking in his group. That’s when I decided Seattle Jackers wasn’t right for me. I have long loved a wide variety of man sex, particularly cocksucking, but this was group sex and something about the JO-only rule created a very specific energy, that fraternal feeling. I knew that oral would raise the risk of STIs significantly and I really didn’t want to bring any nasty surprises home to my husband, even if cocksucking is lower-risk for HIV. I’m grateful to Seattle Jackers for setting the example because they gave me a starting place. I knew now what was easy to organize (hotel room gatherings), how to network (online groups) and I had a vision for what I wanted from my year with Chi-

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Photo by Uncladmen for Rain City Jacks

cago Jacks. I also had a better idea of what I didn’t want and that included anything that implied that mutual JO is wrong in any way, or shameful or dangerous or something to hide. I wanted a club that reflected how I felt about mutual masturbation, that it’s a natural and powerful way to connect men with each other, something I believe we are evolved to do but culturally conditioned to avoid.

After a good talk with my mate, securing his blessing, I started pulling it all together, first with preliminary (and very temporary) hotel meetings while I searched for a more permanent venue.

I also started to chat with the men I’d met at the Jackers and found a lot of interest in a traditional JO club and they volunteered to help. Some of those men are still helping me run the club today.

On June 7, 2005, Rain City Jacks had our first official event in an artist’s studio in Eastlake. We met there several times a month for four and a half years and in 2010, relocated to our current home at the Center for Sex Positive Culture. We’ve hosted over 300 events with between 40 and 100 guys at every event, over 10,000 men from all over the world from ages 19 to 84 and we plan to keep going. We’re now the most active JO club on the West Coast.

It’s astoundingly simple: We offer a safe place big enough for a crowd and we provide everything a guy needs to just walk in, get naked and jerk it with as many guys as he likes for up to three hours. There’s no alcohol or drugs, no concern about STIs or serostatus, no attitude about body types, ethnicities, age or even sexual orientation. We

just get together and share the most prevalent form of sexual expression known to our species: male masturbation.

For men who absolutely need penetration to feel satisfied, there are plenty of other options. We’re a unique community of sex-positive, cock-loving guys who connect easily despite all kinds of other differences.

It’s an intense commonality of maleness that the members genuinely value. There’s a real sense of membership there. I know that there are several options in Seattle for guys to meet up and have sex, but I’m not sure many guys would consider themselves “members” of those clubs. There really is something qualitatively different about group JO and I love seeing how newcomers find their comfort level, quickly abandon their nervousness, join in and return again and again.

On June 2, 2015, we’ll be celebrating our tenth anniversary. It’s our 315th event and it’s our tradition to waive all event fees for this annual event. First-timers will still pay dues to activate club membership (just $5 for 30 days) but nobody will pay the event fee. All current members get in free. It’s always our biggest event of the year and I’m expecting this year’s anniversary to break our standing record of 108 attendees. Brand new members should show up at 6:30 to get signed up. I’m visibly excited to launch our second decade with one enormous group masturbation party.

For more information about Rain City Jacks, visit raincityjacks.org or email the club at info@raincityjacks.org.

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News 21

Thirsty Girl & Daniel Nardicio present the Seattle Boylesque Festival June 11 and 12

Luminous Pariah – WittyPixel

With over 40 male performers from Japan, NYC , Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Canada and more, this year’s two day fleshfestival promises to be the sexiest weekend of 2015.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 11 with its Teaser Party, hosted by Seattle’s own Ernie Von Schmaltz at the legendary Re-bar! The party will feature over a dozen local and national performers and is sure to titillate. Performers include Al Lykya (Seattle), Ron Dez Vous (LA), Beau Creep (Canada), Bobby Barnaby (SF), Man Johnson (Seattle), Jesus La Pinga (Seattle), Matt Knife (NYC), Billy Scream (Seattle), Mike Monaco (MASS), Bolt Action (Seattle), Mustang Monroe (CO), Tre’ Da Marc (Minneapolis), Willie Strokem (Seattle), Willy LaQueue (Chicago) and more!

Re-bar, 1104 Howell St., doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advance; $20 at the door. www.boylesquefestival.com.

On Friday June 12, the festival moves

to The Triple Door with two shows hosted

by Drag Race favorite BenDeLaCreme.

This stellar line up features international, national and local superstars including: Mr. Gorgeous (NYC), Waxie Moon (Seattle), Lou Henry Hoover (Seattle), Tito Bonito (LA), Russell Bruner (Portland), Eddie Van Glam (Seattle), Mod Carousel (Seattle), Serge Violland (France), The Luminous Pariah (Seattle), Jonny Porkpie (NYC), Trojan Original (Seattle), Paris Original (Seattle), Gilbert De Moccos (Japan), Isaiah Esquire & Johnny Nuriel (Portland) and more!

The Triple Door, 216 Union St., two shows: doors 5:30 p.m. & 10 p.m., shows 7 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 general admission, $40 VIP. www.boylesquefestival. com Courtesy of Thirsty Girl and Daniel Nardicio

Gilbert de moccos – photo by Karnov

“Equal parts strip tease, circus act, and comedy routine, the nascent sibling of burlesque is finally turning heads” – Details Magazine Jen Gapay of Thirsty Girl Productions,

voted #1 most influential/non-performing women in burlesque, (21st Century Burlesque) and Daniel Nardicio, NYC’s “Best Gay Party Promoter” (Village Voice), join forces for The Seattle Boylesque Festival, June 11 and 12.

Paris Peacock

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Seattle Gay News

May 29, 2015

Waxie Moon – photo by Eli Schmidt

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 29, 2015

Seattle Gay News 23

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Seattle Gay News

May 29, 2015

Celebrating 41 Years!