SGN August 11, 2017 - Section 2

Seattle Gay News

Issue 32, Volume 45, August 11, 2017

Arts & Entertainment

The edge of glory: Lady Gaga’s return to the Tacoma Dome

Lady Gaga – Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

by Jessica Price SGN A&E Writer LADY GAGA “JOANNE WORLD TOUR” TACOMA DOME August 5 Lady Gaga has been called many things since she commandeered a worldwide stage with 2008’s runaway hit The Fame, but “predictable” will never be one of them.

She does as she pleases with laser-like focus; it’s just that what she wants is often a little of everything all at once. Gaga kicked off the first US leg of her Joanne World Tour at the Tacoma Dome Saturday night and proved that at 31, she’s still growing and experimenting as an artist even as she maintains her perpetually weird edge.

Though her last few albums have been somewhat disjointed, each contains mo-

see LADY GAGA page 4

Seattle Opera presents powerful new production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly

Alexey Dolgov (Pinkerton) and Lianna Haroutounian (Cio-Cio-San) – Photo by Jacob Lucas

by Sharon Cumberland SGN A&E Writer SEATTLE OPERA MADAME BUTTERFLY

BY GIACOMO PUCCINI MARION OLIVER MCCAW HALL August 5 (Opening night cast also performs 8/13 & 8/18) If you’ve never seen Madame Butterfly, now’s your chance – and you should take

it. Seattle Opera’s powerful new production of Puccini’s tragic opera is a perfect coming-together of creative elements that bring musical and visual magic to the story of a young geisha sold in false “marriage” to an American naval officer. You may have seen one of its ever-popular spin-offs – “Miss Saigon,” “M. Butterfly” or one of the half-dozen film adaptations – but the most perfect telling of this heartrending story is Puccini’s opera. What began as a short

see BUTTERFLY page 5

Deftly nuanced Landline Paying it forward: Step’s Coach G on changing a heartfelt treasure one life at a time

Abby Quinn, Edie Falco, and Jenny Slate in Landline – Photo courtesy of Amazon Studios

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer LANDLINE Now playing With her relationship to fiancé Ben (Jay Duplass) sliding into something of a rut, and with her college beau Nate (Finn Wittrock) unexpectedly re-entering the picture, New Yorker Dana (Jenny Slate) is trying to figure out the best way to put the pieces of her life together in a way that makes even a modicum of sense. Not that her teenage sister Ali (Abby Quinn) is doing much better.

She’s constantly sneaking away to parties

to experiment, discovering in the process following in her older sibling’s footsteps isn’t all it is cracked up to be.

Then there are the pair’s parents, Alan (John Turturro) and Pat (Edie Falco), the two of them floating around the edges of a marriage that’s lost much of its spark.

That still doesn’t make it any easier on Ali when she discovers dear old dad is having an affair, information she feels compelled to reveal to Dana. Soon the two are in cahoots to figure out what is going on, never imagining for a second that what they’ll discover will lead to a transformation for

see LANDLINE page 7

Gari “Coach G” McIntyre inspires in Step – Photo by Daryl Barker/KPCC

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer After taking the Sundance Film Festival by storm back in January, the rousing, lifeaffirming documentary Step finally goes into general release. The film chronicles a year in the life of the Lethal Ladies of the BLSYW (Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women) Step Team, the team’s senior members going to be the first students to graduate from their all-girls Baltimore school. Not only are they all looking

for a winning season, their collective story also unfolds with the knowledge that their school’s goal is for every member of this graduating class to be accepted into college. More, their inner city tale also takes place in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death at the hands of the police just one year prior, the explosive aftermath of those events and what it has meant for their community casting a shadow they’re all still standing in whether they realize it or not.

see COACH page 12

2 Seattle Gay News

August 11, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Aaron Carter comes out; Glen Campbell exits with a rich legacy of music

Campbell was special because he was so gifted. Glen is one of the greatest voices that ever was, and he was one of the greatest musicians.” Despite having Alzheimer’s for the last six years of his life, he performed marvelously at the Paramount Theatre, not just singing beautifully, but playing guitar like a maestro. He was also interactive with the audience, who came to see him as part of a nationwide farewell tour in 2012. I was so honored to have seen him live.

Glen Campbell – Photo courtesy of UME

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer It’s been an eventful year, thus far, for Aaron Carter. The former teen heartthrob’s father died in May and just a few weeks ago he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. But the 29 year-old made bigger news when he surprised his fan base this past week with an emotional letter posted to his Twitter account, in which he came out as Bisexual. “There’s something I’d like to say that I feel is important for myself and my identity that has been weighing on my chest for nearly half of my life,” the pop singer wrote. “This doesn’t bring me shame, just a weight and burden I have held onto for a long time that I would like lifted off me. I grew up in this entertainment industry at a very young age and when I was around 13 years old I started to find boys and girls attractive. There were years that went by that I thought about, but it wasn’t until I was 17 years old, after a few relationships with girls, I had an experience with a male that I had an attraction to who I also worked with and grew up with.” The letter goes on, but that was the focal point of it, Carter opening up to fans about his sexuality that he kept hidden, or hadn’t identified with, for many years. Aaron Carter is the younger

brother of Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, in case you didn’t know (but you probably did).

There are some artists who have no connection with the LGBT community, they just happen to make great music. And as a music fan, besides being a music writer, I’ve always loved good songs from a variety of genres. Five years ago, I finally got the opportunity to see Glen Campbell perform live at the Paramount Theatre here in Seattle; he was definitely on my bucket list. Though he’s known to most people for his signature hit “Rhinestone Cowboy,” his catalog spanning six decades featured an outstanding collection of country and western favorites, including “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Gentle On My Mind,” “Wichita Lineman,” “True Grit,” “All I Have to Do is Dream,” “Southern Nights,” “Any Which Way You Can” (from the Clint Eastwood film of the same name) and “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” which earned Campbell a Grammy Award and an Oscar nomination, used in the bio-documentary I’ll Be Me. Many musicians, from country to pop to rock, paid tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter who died on August 8, including John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, Alice Cooper and Dolly Parton, who said in a statement “Glen

Macklemore is going on tour this fall, but don’t get excited because the Seattle rapper isn’t playing a hometown show, yet.

The “Thrift Shop” star will soon release his solo album Gemini with a North American tour to support it, kicking off October 6 in Portland and hitting such cities as San Francisco, Tempe, Dallas, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Boston along the way. In total, the tour includes 19 dates, though the Emerald City is not on the list. But that doesn’t mean he won’t do a show here; I’m guessing he’ll perform for hometown fans around the holidays. Stay glued.

Here are a few new shows to announce: Keyshia Cole on September 6 at The Showbox SoDo, Gavin DeGraw on October 12 at The Showbox Market, Randy Newman on October 12 at Edmonds Center for the Arts, Hauschka on November 3 at Benaroya Hall (Nordstrom Recital Hall), Yanni on November 3 at Benaroya Hall (Taper Auditorium), Gin Blossoms on November 11 at Snoqualmie Casino and Jonny Lang on November 28 at The Neptune.

Finally, don’t forget that KEXP and Seattle Center will deliver free live music just below the Space Needle this month.

Concerts at the Mural continues with a performance on August 11 featuring Telekinesis, SISTERS and Hayley Heynderickx, followed by Thunderpussy, The Courtneys and a “surprise guest” on August 18 and The Maldives, Industrial Revelation and Emma Lee Toyoda on August 25. All shows are free of charge and start at 5:30pm at the Mural Amphitheatre, across from The Armory. Guests are welcome to bring their own dinner; however, there will be food and beverages available for purchase there.

If you love showtunes, you can belt them out at “Act Tue” every Tuesday at Capitol Cider

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer “ACT TUE: MUSICAL THEATRE SING-ALONG” CAPITOL HILL CIDER Every Tuesday Listen up, showtunes queens. The place to be, if you know your Wicked numbers from your Hairspray songs, or if you just love listening to them, is Capitol Cider on Tuesday nights for “Act Tue: Musical Theatre Sing-Along.” It happens in the downstairs space, called The Ballast Bar – just follow the sound of people jubilantly singing along to “Defying Gravity,” “Suddenly Seymour” and “Turn It Off,” to name a few.

Formerly “MUMO: Musical Monday at 500 East,” the showtunes-themed gathering organized by Keith McDaniel and Trey Williamson spent a year on hiatus, when that space was no longer available and the young theater enthusiasts searched for a spot to relaunch the very LGBT-friendly event. Finally, it found a new home at Capitol Cider, situated on East Pike Street between Broadway and Harvard (right around

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the corner from Neighbours), thanks to owner Julie Tall, who enthusiastically welcomed Act Tue to her popular restaurantbar.

It was a packed house last Tuesday night for a preview of Act Tue in its new space – it officially debuts on August 15 – as guests crammed a long counter from one end to another with nearly every table and chair occupied as well. Similar to karaoke, videos (with subtitles, sometimes) are displayed on a large projection screen positioned on the small stage. All you do is join the sing along from where you’re sitting or standing, if you happen to know the words.

That’s it.

The tricky thing is that of the 600 showtunes McDaniel and Williamson have catalogued, not all of them are from Broadway musicals; some are from original films (i.e. Enchanted) and others are from TV shows, like “Glee,” and a few numbers are live versions plucked directly from Tony Awards ceremony performances. It’s a fun mishmash of music, and the chorus of Gay men sitting behind me happened to know every tune – yes, every single of one of them – plus, they could easily recite spoken

dialogue from each musical or film on top of that. I found it impressive that more than half the room knew the words to “Alexander Hamilton” from Hamilton, which has yet to land in Seattle.

Aside from the entertainment, Capitol Cider offers a great selection of food and drinks, including more than 200 ciders on draught and in containers, making it the largest independent cider bar in the nation.

With everything on the menu being glutenfree, you can feel a little better about diving into such pub-style choices as Fish and Chips, Braised Pork Shoulder, Marinated Skirt Steak and the Half Pound Burger Frites, which I happily devoured along with sides of Marinated Beets and Burrata (with heirloom tomatoes, basil, olive oil and sorghum flatbread).

If you don’t fancy showtunes, other themed evenings at Capitol Cider – all with free entry – include live music, a literary night and “Drink and Draw,” where you drink and well, draw, a person or something on stage, similar to an art sketch class.

You’ll also find two vintage shuffleboard sets downstairs, as well. For more information, go to www.capitolcider.com.

August 11, 2017

Seattle Gay News 3

MUSIC

LADY GAGA continued from cover

ments of greatness. Similarly, the Joanne tour stirred up moments of intimacy and flashes of, well, flash; the rest was a bit underwhelming but entertaining nonetheless.

It is Lady Gaga, after all, and her couture costumes alone (everything from bedazzled western wear to fringed leather to a blood red Norma Kamali sleeping bag coat with a 10-foot train) are worth showing up for. But it’s her voice that truly makes her a star.

The show consisted of seven short segments peppered with high-octane choreography and quick changes, beginning with “Diamond Heart” and “A-Yo” from Joanne followed by “Poker Face” and “Perfect Illusion.” Orb-like bridges and platforms raised and lowered to form catwalks stretching to the middle of the floor. Lukewarm tracks like “John Wayne” mixed with gems like “Scheisse” and “Alejandro.”

The Dome’s muddy sound is an obstacle for any artist, but during the third segment the performance gained momentum with “Just Dance,” “Love Game,” and “Telephone”; peaking in the next segment with “Applause” and a heartfelt, piano-based “Come to Mama” (“If anyone in the room still doesn’t support LGBT rights all over the world...come to mama,” she said by way of an introduction). “Edge of Glory” from Born This Way took on a more serious treatment, also at the piano. Gaga confessed that at 31 she thought she knew a thing or two about love, but realized she knew nothing after the loss of a terminally ill friend who married one month before she died.

Touching briefly on this experience it was clear that Gaga has known some humility and growth in recent years. “Edge of Glo-

ry” was probably the most perfect moment of the evening. “Born This Way,” “Bloody Mary” (complete with the aforementioned killer puffer coat-dress), “Dancin’ In Circles” and “Paparazzi” lifted the mood back up again.

Visually, the Joanne tour doesn’t pack the same aesthetic punch as previous excursions such as The Monster Ball and Born This Way Ball. The shifting pod-like shapes suspended from the ceiling with projections of daisies and neon shapes vaguely suggest an ’80s theme (also the uncomplicated aesthetic of Gaga’s website and tour posters at the moment), but the ’80s weren’t exactly a wonder of strong design so much as unbridled quirkiness. The larger than life video segments were on point during costume changes – but the Tacoma Dome’s two stage-side video screens were somewhat dim, capturing tantalizing up close glimpses of Gaga but also revealing an abysmal delay between the audio and visual feeds.

The final two acts wrapped up with “Angel Down,” “Joanne,” “Bad Romance” and current hit “The Cure,” topped with a gorgeous encore of “Million Reasons,” just the lady at her piano yet again.

It’s been an action-packed year for Lady Gaga. She recently wrapped up her first major acting role (in the forthcoming remake of A Star Is Born, opposite Bradley Cooper) and has stated that it took time to come down from immersing herself in that character, only to film festival scenes at Coachella, where she also performed. Immediately thereafter she plunged into tour design and rehearsals. No one in their right mind would question Gaga’s stamina or drive, but perhaps to channel her creativity to optimum effect the lady should learn to slow herself down. She is capable of some truly amazing moments. Harnessing them all will undoubtedly be a lifelong pursuit.

Lady Gaga – Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation

Pop singer Aaron Carter comes out as bisexual; plans to relaunch career at gay venues

Aaron Carter – Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Pop star Aaron Carter on Twitter over the weekend that he was coming out as bisexual.

On Saturday, August 5, the singer took to social media to say that he was attracted to both males and females, “This doesn’t bring me shame, just a weight and burden I have held onto for a long time that I would like lifted off of me,” he began.

“I grew up in this entertainment industry at a very young age and when I was around 13 years old I started to find boys and girls attractive,” he continued.

“There were years that went by that I thought about it, but it wasn’t until I was 17-years old, after a few relationships with girls, I had an experience with a male that I

4 Seattle Gay News

had an attraction to who I also worked with and grew up with,” said Carter, without giving the name of the other male entertainer he admits to having an intimate relationship with.

He ended the tweet with a quote from out gay icon and 1980s pop star Boy George, “I never felt as though I didn’t belong, I just acted as though I did.”

Carter says he has been shocked at how supportive people have been. However, while some praised him for coming out, one person in particular did not – his longtime girlfriend Madison Parker – whom he (as little as two weeks ago) had plans to wed.

According to Carter, his now ex-girlfriend was unable to understand how he could be sexually attracted to both men and women.

August 11, 2017

Carter explained, “I had discussed it with my ex-girlfriend, and she didn’t really understand it and she didn’t want [to]. And that was it. So we left it mutual and parted ways.”

Carter isn’t taking the breakup badly however, saying, “I’m a single guy again, recently came out as bisexual, so that’s who I am. And I’m just taking it one minute, and one day, and one comment at a time.”

“All I can say is that I’m really looking forward to the future right now, and whether I choose to be with a man or a woman is my decision, and no one else’s,” Carter concludes.

Aaron Carter’s career began in the late 1990s, but really took off when he established himself as a star among pre-teen and teenage audiences during the early 2000s.

In many ways, Carter grew up in front of the glaring eye of the public. Carter first performed for audiences at age seven and released his self-titled debut album in 1997.

He is the younger brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

His second album Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) (2000) sold three million copies in the United States, and Carter began making guest appearances on Nickelodeon and touring with the Backstreet Boys shortly after the record’s release.

Carter’s next album, Oh Aaron, also went platinum, and the musician released his most recent studio album, Another Earthquake! in 2002, followed by his 2003 Most Requested Hits collection.

Taking a break from recording music (or at least releasing new music) Carter has since appeared on “Dancing with the Stars,” the Broadway musical Seussical, the off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks, and made several one-off performances.

Up until his announcement about his sexuality over the weekend, Carter has, unfortunately, in his later years been associated more with drugs than music. By entertainment standards he was often considered a joke by fellow artists and many of his fans had turned on him. In 2013, Carter filed a bankruptcy petition to shed more than $3.5 million in debt he owed in back taxes to the government.

On February 21, 2008, Carter was arrested in Kimble County, Texas, when he was pulled over for speeding, and authorities found less than 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana in his car.

Carter was arrested again in July of this year, in Georgia, on suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana charges according to law enforcement.

However, Aaron Carter is proving to be the comeback kid of 2017. Not only is he receiving support from fans and entertainers alike, but he seems to be fully embracing his new “out” status. He recently announced that he will perform several shows in gay bars/clubs. The first is scheduled for Thursday at the infamous LGBT-restaurant chain Hamburger Mary’s in his hometown of Brandon, Florida.

Carter released a new EP titled LøVë earlier this year, including standout tracks “Sooner or Later” and “Fool’s Gold,” both of which charted on the Spotify Viral 50 at No. 4 and No. 6 respectively.

Carter is not the first music star to come out as bisexual or gay in 2017 and he will undoubtedly not be the last. Also coming out as bisexual this week, Rapper Lil Peep, who’s been heralded as the “future of emo.”

He came out as he announced a fall tour in support of his debut album, Come Over When You’re Sober.

Celebrating 43 Years!

A sublime Madame Butterfly at Seattle Opera

by Alice Bloch SGN A&E Writer SEATTLE OPERA MADAME BUTTERFLY MARION OLIVER MCCAW HALL August 6 (First Sunday matinee) (Same cast on August 12, 16 & 19) When I learned that the first offering of Seattle Opera’s 2017-18 season would be Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, I sighed inwardly, for this opera is a true warhorse, performed widely and guaranteed to draw large audiences. Who needs another Butterfly, I wondered. As it turns out, I definitely needed this particular Butterfly! This brilliant production is by far the most satisfying – esthetically, emotionally, intellectually, and politically – I have ever attended.

Director Kate Cherry treats the principal character of Cio-Cio-San with complete respect and goes to great lengths to ameliorate the problematic ignorance of Puccini and his librettists about Japanese culture.

(Sharon Cumberland’s review of the Opening Night performance, also appearing in this week’s paper, goes into more detail.)

Conversely, the production makes no attempt to airbrush the despicable character of Lieutenant Pinkerton; his arrogance, cruelty, and cowardice stand out in stark relief, making him a personification of late nineteenth-century Western imperialism.

In her U.S. debut, soprano Yasko Sato gave a superb performance as Cio-Cio-San. She sang sublimely and acted to perfection,

BUTTERFLY continued from cover

story by John Luther Long in 1898 was adapted into a hit play by David Belasco in 1900, and took lasting form in 1906 when Puccini’s brilliant librettists, Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, stripped the story of its Japanese clichés and fake dialect, and focused on the emotional subtext that the music expresses so well.

Cio-Cio-San, the 15-year-old Madame Butterfly, believes that her marriage to Lieutenant Pinkerton is binding but, as the audience well knows, Pinkerton considers her a temporary playmate. He leaves without a second thought when called back to America, making false promises to return.

Giacosa and Illica’s masterful use of dramatic irony – where the audience knows more than the protagonist – propels the tragedy forward as Cio-Cio-San’s optimism sets her up for a terrible fall. In her

inhabiting this unusually challenging role to an extent I’ve never witnessed before.

Her gestures and movements, the placement of her hands and feet, her style of expressing emotion, all had a rare authenticity that made her performance extraordinarily moving.

As Pinkerton, tenor Dominick Chenes got off to a rough start, with sharp notes and shrill tones in the first half of Act 1, but he improved, and his voice blended well with Sato’s during the love duet at the end of that act.

Mezzo-soprano Renee Rapier was excellent as Cio-Cio-San’s loyal servant Suzuki, and baritone Weston Hurt, a Seattle Opera favorite, sang and acted with authority and subtlety. As Goro the matchmaker, tenor Rodell Rosel, who made a memorable company debut last season in The Magic Flute, once again injected vitality into a relatively small role.

Carlo Montanaro conducted expertly, with exquisite attention to dramatic pacing and to the lush textures of Puccini’s score.

The orchestra has never sounded better, nor has the chorus.

Kudos to production designer Christina Smith and lighting designer Matt Scott for an exceptionally beautiful and effective visual presentation of the opera. Originally designed for New Zealand Opera under the directorship of Aidan Lang (now general director of Seattle Opera), Smith’s set and costumes are gorgeous and appropriate. The landscape backdrop is a lovely two-dimensional painting, as would be most famous aria, “Un bel di,” Madame Butterfly anticipates the joy of Pinkerton’s return, seeing his ship appear on the horizon, seeing her husband approach the house, returning to take her and their love child back to America. Though Pinkerton returns after three years, he brings his American wife who expects to adopt Ciocio-San’s child. When Butterfly’s illusions finally collapse in the face of reality, she commits suicide.

As grim as this story is, the musical motifs flow and tumble like currents of air in a Van Gogh painting – tortured and beautiful – giving you simultaneous layers of joy and anxiety. On opening night the star role of Butterfly was sung with charming naivety, soaring passion, and perfect pitch by Lianna Haroutounian, who made her Seattle Opera debut to enthusiastic – nay, wild – applause. The opening night audience also had the unusual treat of hearing two leading men in the role of Lieutenant Pinkerton since debutant Alexey Dolgov, in the Saturday cast, withdrew after Act I with a cold,

Lianna Haroutounian (Cio-Cio-San), Weston Hurt (Sharpless) and Renée Rapier (Suzuki) – Photo by Philip Newton

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Yasko Sato (Cio-Cio-San) and Renée Rapier (Suzuki) – Photo by Jacob Lucas

typical in traditional Japanese theater. The house, shaped like a lantern and defined by semi-transparent sliding screens, appears at times open and inviting, at other times closed and confining. During the love duet, a hundred or so lanterns are lowered into the darkness, with sparkly stars falling all around them; the effect is pure magic.

Scott’s lighting transforms the mood and

ratchets up the dramatic tension until at the tragic end of the opera, the entire stage is flooded with red light.

This production is likely to sell out, so try to get a ticket immediately, and prepare yourself for a musical and theatrical experience you’ll never forget. This production demands of the opera-goer an open heart, an engaged mind, and a lot of tissues.

while Sunday cast Dominick Chenes made an early debut by singing Pinkerton in the second act. Both, to my ears, were highly effective singing actors, and the two different men – Dolgov: wiry and sly, Chenes: soft and sorrowful – created the impression of a heartless Pinkerton who is magically transformed by remorse.

Aidan Lang, in his third year as General Director, continues to bring new talent to Seattle with no fewer than six debutantes in this production – not the least of whom are the Stage Director Kate Cherry and the Production Designer Christina Smith.

What a pleasure to see women in these key creative roles. The set consisted of Madame Butterfly’s house – simple shoji screens that slide silently into different configurations as the drama spreads out or sinks inward, arranged under a decorative cube that hangs like a crown or a cage over the action.

The lighting by designer Matt Scott, also making his debut, enhanced the nuances of feeling that flowed through the orchestra.

One of the most striking aspects of this production is the choice by directors and designers not to change the natural appearances of singers into some concept of Japanese-ness. As Gabrielle Nomura Gainor says in her excellent program article, “For years my community has been speaking out regarding issues of yellowface, cultural appropriation, and minority representation… [and consequently]…Seattle Opera’s Madame Butterfly will not attempt to change a given singer’s race through wigs or makeup.” While this takes a little getting used to for the audience, since Japanese characters in several cases look decidedly Caucasian, it quickly came to feel correct because the gestures and costumes were used to convey cultural differences essential to the plot. In these sensitive times, when many of us in the traditionally dominant culture are learning to recognize the relationship between injustice, colonial history, white privilege, and racial/cultural appropriation, it’s befitting that institutions like Seattle Opera should lead the way in discussing and taking action on these issues. Indeed, Seattle Opera is setting an example for the nation on how to use an art form to address issues that need affective expression in addition to political expression.

For instance, Seattle Opera’s Education and Community Engagement program is bringing chamber operas to new audiences by addressing important contemporary issues. Last year’s “As One” by Laura Kaminsky was a tremendously moving depiction of lived experience for gender transitioning people – far more effective in explaining the needs and problems of that community than any journalism or political discussion. “The Combat: A Muslim/ Christian Love Story in Time of War” used early music and poetry to address one of the most difficult problems of cultural conflict in our time. And this September the issues raised in Madame Butterfly – racial profiling, western privilege, colonialism – are addressed in a more contemporary chamber opera, “An American Dream” by Jack Perla, about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII (September 7-17, 2017 at Washington Hall). Just as Puccini and his audiences were trying to learn, through the arts, about Japanese and American culture in the decades after Matthew Perry’s “Opening of Japan” in 1853, so Seattle Opera in its willingness to “tackle contemporary issues in our community” is using the arts to add dimensions to our understanding that only the power of music, drama, and singing can achieve.

Setting politics aside, however, Madame Butterfly is one of the best stories about love, betrayal, and remorse ever made into an opera. Puccini and his librettists were Italian – America and Japan were equally exotic to them. We tend to forget that this is an opera that shows our country as a strange place with weird customs and cultural assumptions. We see an arrogant young man swagger into a strange country and throw money around to fulfill his pleasures. In Act I Pinkerton sings “Everywhere in the world/the roving Yankee/takes his pleasure and his profit/indifferent to all risks…” In Madame Butterfly we can see ourselves through the eyes of Italian librettists and composer. We can ask ourselves, while wringing our hands over Madame Butterfly’s misguided optimism, have we changed very much? Are we making progress?

Seattle Opera’s Madame Butterfly is at McCaw Hall through August 19.

August 11, 2017

Seattle Gay News 5

Impromptu inspiration

Talking Landline with Gillian Robespierre, Abby Quinn and an interview-crashing Jenny Slate

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer The New York set divorce-related comedy Landline revolving around two sisters and their complicated, constantly evolving relationship is the follow-up film for writer/ director Gillian Robespierre, co-writer Elisabeth Holm and actress Jenny Slate after their outstanding first feature Obvious Child set the critical world ablaze back in 2014. While not as complex or as consistently magnificent, this sophomore effort is still a fresh, funny and deeply personal little familial frolic, one overflowing in authentic truth and emotional ebullience that had me grinning ear-to-ear by the time it reached its warm-hearted conclusion. It’s a movie that feels as if it were conceived from the very instant you start watching it, and in some ways this isn’t all that far from the truth. “[Landline] sort of hit us, Elizabeth and I, while we were touring around with Obvious Child,” explains Robespierre. “Spending time in hotel rooms, away from our normal lives. Just sort of talking about what we wanted to do next, but then derailing, and talking about our lives again. We’re both New York City kids, born and raised and a couple of years apart. We didn’t know

the 25-day Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and I was sitting in a suite at the Pan Pacific Hotel with Robespierre and one of her film’s primary stars, newcomer Abby Quinn, discussing Landline. What proceeded was one of the craziest, most interesting and just plain fun interviews I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of, the 25-30 minutes we spent together filled with its fair share of impossible to anticipate surprise.

The movie concerns itself with a pair of Manhattan sisters, Dana (Slate) and Ali (Quinn), the latter of whom iscovers her father Alan (John Turturro) is having an affair right underneath their mother Pat’s (Edie Falco) nose. What follows is a relationship comedy where the two young women manage to discover they have more in common than they knew, while the familial bond finds itself strengthened by unexpected strife. It’s that rare film where divorce isn’t the end but is instead a brand new beginning, and while the plot of the film is hardly as radical as Robespierre and Slate’s Obvious Child, a romantic comedy revolving around abortion, that does not make this sophomore outing any less marvelous as far as intelligently multifaceted entertainment is concerned.

“It always excites us to share a story

tioned because I was like, this is never, ever going to go anywhere. But I was just obsessed with it when I read it! It was just so good. I think the first thing that hit me was the character of Ali; we’re pretty different.

She’s really outspoken and free to say whatever she feels. I sometimes filter things and she doesn’t have a filter, doesn’t care what people think. So, the first couple of times I auditioned I was just really into that, focusing on that. It got me really excited to portray something so different from who I am.

Then, also, I had just seen Obvious Child a couple of weeks before getting the audition.

It was amazing.”

“I think I followed all of you guys on Instagram, or something right after that,” she says turning towards Robespierre with a hesitant laugh. “I just felt like, you were the coolest people ever.”

“So yeah, I don’t know,” Quinn’s remarks turning back my way. “I was so excited about everything. The script was just really well written. Even if there wasn’t a part for me, I would still have read it and loved it.”

“I think we originally auditioned Abby for a tree,” adds the director while giving her young star a gentle poke in the shoulder, a giant grin plastered in the center of her face. “Honestly, though, Abby is terrific.

Abby Quinn, Gillian Robespierre, and Jenny Slate at SIFF's screening of Landline – Photo by Beth Crook

each other growing up, of course; I’m a lot older than Liz. What we did have [are] parents who divorced when we were in our teenage years. These similar experiences where our families, while they were shifting, they didn’t necessarily shift to make it worse. We actually became closer with our siblings, we each have brothers, my brother is five years older than me, and for the first time ever in our relationship we became friends.”

“We maybe even smoked a little pot together,” she adds with a crooked smile and a knowing laugh. “But [my brother and I] bonded over our parent’s divorce. And my mom became somebody who I grew closer to and our relationship shifted. I was no longer just the child that she was feeding; we were actually talking as close friends.

And I was a teenager, so it wasn’t like she was treating me as an adult; I was a child. I was on the verge of adulthood. Our families grew closer from the experience instead of it tearing us apart, even though we were configured in a different way and not under one roof. I think maybe that happens more often than we share. I think so. Those were loud whispers, and they were whispers Elizabeth and I seemed to share.”

We were entering the home stretch of

that doesn’t feel super developed in our culture and in our narratives on our screen,” explains Robespierre. “I feel like it’s also really nice to tell stories about women and for women. I’m going to take Lifetime televisions’ tagline, because those are my favorite stories to read. And I think that I like making art for us and not for them. I’m not trying to divide genders here, but I do feel like the stories that I gravitate towards are stories about women.”

As for Quinn, as a young actress just starting out, even after attending a raucous and energetic premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it’s understandable she still feels moderately amazed to be in the same room as her director and talking about a motion picture where she costars alongside someone like Jenny Slate.

But the young actress knew from the moment she read the script she wanted to be a part of this production, and as such was determined to do whatever she needed to hopefully impress Robespierre and potentially secure the role.

“Well, I definitely didn’t try to think too much about it, auditioning,” she attempts to explain with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“Like, everything excited me about it [the script], I was almost too into it, but I tried to stop thinking about it all as soon as I audi-

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August 11, 2017

At this point, I can’t even imagine having made the movie without her.”

It’s at this point where the interview went a little sideways. In a positive way, mind you, but off the rails a tiny bit all the same.

As Quinn and I were discussing her first days on the set – “It was nerve-wracking,” she unashamedly proclaims, “I couldn’t believe I was standing there with John and Edie” – Robespierre was busy texting on her phone, trying hard to finish what she was doing as quickly and as quietly as she could without interrupting our conversation.

“In a way it was more nerve wracking just talking to them,” continues the actress while the director continues to type away. “Being there with them as people, in-between takes and all of that, because like I had to talk to them like we’re all in a room together, before we filmed, and I kept thinking, that’s John Turturro and Edie Falco! But then as soon as we started shooting, I got back into character again. That was less nerve-wracking, actually acting with them.

“But they’re both incredible so it didn’t feel like I had to force anything. It just felt really natural. But yeah, being in their presence as people was more nerve-wracking

than actually doing a scene with them.”

“I’m so sorry,” interjects Robespierre.

“Jenny wanted to know where we were.

She’s a little lost.”

The film’s main star, Jenny Slate wasn’t scheduled to arrive until closer to the film’s SIFF screening later in the day, her schedule sadly not allowing for her to do very many interviews with Seattle press. My assumption was that she must have just arrived at the airport and was texting Robespierre to figure out where she needed to go.

I could not have been more wrong. Not that I knew that, especially considering I was deep in the process of maximizing my limited time with the director and her actress, doing what I could to keep our interview as focused and on topic as was possible.

“Well, I think it started with our own experiences,” said Robespierre after I turned the conversation back towards her and Holm’s delicately elaborate script. “As I had already mentioned, we’re New Yorkers. New York City was sort of our backyard, our playground. I think that once we figured out that we wanted to write about these two sisters and the relationship of them growing closer together. Yet in real life we have brothers, so we suddenly realized that maybe we were a little bit writing about our relationship as two friends. But we only can say that now after, you know, being away from the project. But I do think all stories start with your own experiences…”

“Hello?” says someone exuberantly as they enter the room, interrupting the director mid-sentence, my mouth hitting the floor in astonishment as Jenny Slate comes marching into the room. But my shock is nothing compared to that on the part of the actress, Slate stopping dead in her tracks as we all turn our necks to see her suddenly appearing as if out of nowhere. “I’m so sorry,” she says in honest sincerity. “I had no idea.” “...and hopefully grow,” finishes Robespierre as she tries to contain her own happily amused startled laughter.

“So, can I get involved in this?” asks Slate with a wry smile. “Can I come and sit, too?”

“You can if they don’t mind,” I respond off-the-cuff, still trying to contain my own completely unprofessional and flabbergasted state of mind.

“Jenny’s late,” states Robespierre with a grin.

“Sorry that I interrupted you,” states the actress as she plops on the couch right between her director and co-star nonchalantly. “Keep talking. I’m not even here. I’ll be quiet.”

“No,” Robespierre responds with friendly needling, “You’re here. And you’re never quiet.” She adds that last jab as Slate feigns embarrassment, the director jumping into finishing her previous thought as if she was never interrupted in the first place. “I was just saying that all stories start with the personal and then hopefully become less of a journal entry and more of, you know, a story as they progress. Your imagination can take off. Anything is possible.

“Jenny was always going to play Dana.

It’s really nice to be able to start working with actors as soon as possible. On Indie films, you don’t get that. You don’t get rehearsal time. You don’t get any time to sort of create and collaborate with these characters. That’s why casting is so important.

Cast the right people, there’s very little work to be done with them. You just give them the role and see what they do with it.

I think that’s my job as director, to really make sure the right actors are filling the right roles.”

“You’re the director?” Slate interjects sardonically. “And here I thought you were just being bossy.”

“See?” responds Robespierre, giving me

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Jay Duplass photobombs Gillian Robespierre, Jenny Slate, Edie Falco, and Abby Quinn – Photo by Jay Clendenin / LA Times

a sprightly smirk. “She’s never quiet.”

Hoping that would indeed be the case, I ask the star what it meant to her knowing that, not only was the part of Dana written with her specifically in mind, but also that her Obvious Child director wanted to closely collaborate in order that they could figure out who this particular character was together. What was that like? Was there any added pressure?

“I think it’s a great privilege,” answers Slate. “It’s not necessary to do that as an actress. Sometimes I like to sort of just really be obedient to someone else’s totally different thought system and creation. Sometimes I really like to work with more of a partnership. Gillian and I know each other really well, which also means that we trust each other in exploring new territories that might be kind of vulnerable. Maybe they’re so new that we don’t know how to speak about them yet. It’s almost like, through her direction, I do a performance that, for me, feels like a sharpening of my own language. So it’s a privilege. It really is a treasure trove.”

As far as partnerships were concerned, there was also the one between the two actresses. “It sort of just clicked in,” states Quinn with a bit of a nonchalant shrug of the shoulders. “I can’t really explain how it happened.”

“Yeah,” adds Slate, “I wish we had a good answer for that question. Something like we went camping and bonded over a campfire next to a lake. Something like

that.”

“I think we had a rehearsal and then we kind of just jumped into it,” Quinn responds. “But it did develop over time. I think it was like, I don’t know, as time went on we became more comfortable, the nuances were just clearer. But the first day, there was something there, definitely.

Something clicked.”

“They’re smart,” proclaims Robespierre. “Thoughtful individuals. And when you have two actors who are like that they can come together and create a bond because there already is one. They’re lovely humans, but also smart, talented actors.”

“We also have, I think, a lovely common connection,” continues Slate. “One of the things I noticed about Abby that I like in myself is that she’s very curious. She’s very gentle. I feel like Abby always seemed to me to be steadier than I am. I’m a chatterbox, and as the one who’s older, sometimes that can almost be embarrassing. To be such a chatterbox in front of such a selfpossessed young woman, I feel like it was a wonderful combination. We were both excited to be there.”

“And that put me at ease,” answers Quinn. “When I first meet people, I don’t know, I’m quiet, that’s just how I am. So Jenny was being Jenny, it put me at ease. I was like okay, someone else is talking, so I can be me and just be okay with that.”

Obvious Child was a massive critical hit, garnering a number of awards and nominations including a couple of Film

LANDLINE

It’s a little slight, and nothing here digs nearly as deeply as the abortion-fueled mechanics at the heart of Obvious Child, that movie throwing romantic comedy conventions on their ear as Slate delivered one of the finest performances of this second decade of the 21st century. But the emotions are pure, their authenticity never in doubt at any point, scene after scene crackling with a jovial majesty that kept a smile plastered right at the center of my face. Robespierre also finds another wondrous talent in Quinn, the youngster so luminous as Ali she practically sets the screen afire with her fervently intricate take on a character who easily could have been a ham-fisted melodramatic cliché coupled with an overly simplistic afterthought.

What might be most refreshing is the story’s refusal to judge any of the characters for their shortcomings, no matter how obnoxious, obvious or even odious some of them might be. Robespierre and Holm allow everyone to make their fair share of mistakes, understand that missteps happen and everyone happens to stub their toe while stumbling over a waterfall of their own cascading tears from time to time. But the ability to learn from those mistakes, that knack to pick one’s self up after a fall and continue forward again as if nothing of consequence has happened, those are innately human traits to be celebrated, Dana and Ali discovering that for themselves

continued from cover

their entire family that might not be nearly as disastrous or as tragic as any of them understandably feared it might be.

If writer/director Gillian Robespierre’s comedy-drama Landline isn’t the instant masterwork her 2014 debut Obvious Child proved to be, that does not make it any less wondrously entertaining. Reuniting once again with both her previous film’s star Slate and its co-writer Elisabeth Holm, the filmmaker continues to prove she’s a singular talent unafraid to make pieces of pop entertainment that are more complex and nuanced than they initially appear to be.

Set in 1995, this film’s greatest triumph is that it has the gall to put forth a thesis that divorce, even just the threat of it, isn’t always a catastrophe. In some cases, a marriage’s end can actually bring a family closer together, and while the travails afflicting the characters here are certainly nothing to belittle or scoff at, the courage in Robespierre and Holm’s script is still undeniable.

The way they bring Dana and Ali together, the delicate evolution of Pat as she realizes what is happening, the manner in which Alan finds he’s becoming both a better parent and a healthier man after lies are forced to become heartbreaking truth, it hits home in a manner that is surprisingly affecting.

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Independent Spirit Awards, Best First Feature and Best Female Lead. For Slate and Robespierre, while they did their best not to acknowledge the pressure of joining forces once again for a follow-up, it’s also not like they didn’t know it was there all the same. “Yes, you know the pressure is there, but you try to turn that noise off as much as possible when you’re on the next project and just move forward and try not to look back,” explains the actress. “I don’t know how to operate otherwise. If I was always living in the past movie or relationship or anything that happened prior to the moment you’re in currently, I don’t know how you could possibly get out of it.”

“It’s hard,” continues the director. “I feel the same way. I do acknowledge the pressure. It’s hard as someone who is interested in throwing themselves into the future, throwing themselves into the spaces to feel like you come with a fanfare of work that is done because you just want to feel that further inertia of creating something fresh, something original and new.

“I feel a lot of pressure to entertain and keep my body of work in a place of consistent output. I feel like if you become too concerned with it, the pressure, then you actually slow yourself down and you limit yourself. You can’t do your job. It’s kind of like you have to acknowledge the thought and then let it be there but not really synthesize the pressure into something potentially negative. It could end up being like a shitty poison pill you have to take every day. You

don’t want that.”

It’s at this moment we get the signal we have to wrap things up, all three ladies letting out a collective sigh, Slate apologizing once again for eating into my time with her sudden appearance in the middle of our interview. “Yeah,” laughs Robespierre.

“It’s all your fault. I’m sure Sara’s crushed you’ve ruined her interview.”

We all know this isn’t the case at all. If anything, Slate’s impromptu appearance has made our chat all the more invigorating and unique. More, considering how exciting this whole interview has proven to be, I’m genuinely interested to learn what each of these women hope audiences are talking about after they get the chance to give Landline a look.

“These guys,” says Robespierre, pointing and smiling at her two stars, “the relationship that blossoms in the edit and then the chemistry these two sisters have, it’s exactly what you said earlier, it feels like you were in a room with these siblings. That you had a similar experience growing up and it all feels like something you can connect to. I’d love it if we get that kind of reaction from audiences.”

“I agree with that,” responds Slate. “But I also think that our film, the way I feel at least, is that it shows through this pretty natural story that humans suffer when they’re not given the chance to make all of the choices that they want to make. When they feel that their options are limited they react in a way that reveals how deeply they feel trapped. There are three women in this story, there are men, too, but there’s a mother and two daughters, all of whom are faced with being penned into a certain identity.

They’re being cornered into a certain identity. Whether it’s Edie saying, ‘When was the last time anybody in this house looked at me?’ Or Dana saying, ‘I’m flailing. I don’t even know if I’m allowed to ask the questions I want to ask.’ Or Ali saying, ‘I’m living in a family of hypocrites,’ and having to choose if she wants to have a boyfriend and watch the same shit unfold, or try to go out there on her own and see what happens.

I think it is a movie about choice and how important that is.”

“Yeah,” says Quinn. “That’s all so beautiful and true. But it’s also kind of what Gillian was saying at the beginning. The movie is just a different way of looking at family.

And at relationships. That it’s not always black and white. And that we become, I mean the whole family, I guess, we come together in the end. We start off as kind of like strangers and then use this heartbreaking thing to come together. I want people to notice and feel the sadness but then also walk away with a good feeling, too. That would be great.”

Finn Wittrock complicates life for Jenny Slate in Landline – Photo courtesy of Sundance

while at the same time strengthening their sisterly bond past the point it could ever be destroyed in the future.

As things catapult to their conclusion, Robespierre manages to steer things towards the point where any tears that might fall on the part of the viewer are justifiably achieved. This remains, start to finish, a story of two sisters, and while their family strife might be the reason they’re back to-

gether, the catharsis they’re able to manufacture is achieved purely through their own tenacity and dogged refusal to bow to societal convention. Landline gets what makes people tick, doesn’t shy from reveling in the good, bad and ugly as well as all the gradations hiding in the various grey areas. It’s very good, and as such ends up being a movie I can’t help but hope finds its audience.

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Al Gore and his climate change PowerPoint return in An Inconvenient Sequel

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER Now playing Al Gore returns with his Climate Change PowerPoint presentation in An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, this new documentary picking up where the Earth currently sits in its global environmental crisis ten years after its predecessor An Inconvenient Truth won two Academy Awards (Best Documentary Feature, Best Original Song). This time, the former VicePresident of the United States takes things outside the classroom, hitting the streets of Miami, heading out to melting Arctic ice fields, making friends with Republicans in Texas and assisting the U.S. delegation during the Paris Climate Conference in December of 2015. Through it all his message remains the same: the planet we call home is in crisis, and if we keep acting ineffectually about the only thing we’ll be doing is slitting our collective throats.

Science is science; I’d love it if we could all agree about that. As such, Climate Change is real. It’s happening. Every day.

In every corner of the world. Storms are getting worse. Arctic ice sheets are collapsing into the oceans at an alarming rate. Extreme temperature fluctuations are occurring in every city in every country on the planet. All of this is true and it isn’t changing anytime soon, the economic powers that be too beholden to their current bottom line than they are in helping ensure Earth’s future generations have a livable, breathable world they’ll be able to call home.

Be that as it may, and as much as I love

Al Gore in a scene from An Inconvenient Sequel – Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute

and adore An Inconvenient Truth, I’m not entirely certain this follow-up is anywhere near as successful as that first film was.

Gore’s message still resonates, but for every powerful moment or example of incontestable scientific fact there’s also one where the point of all this gets diluted as it focuses on the former politician-turned-activist and not the story he is eager to tell. There are times where directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk’s film becomes something more akin to hagiographic fawning than it does a journalistic exercise in putting politicians and corporate power brokers on notice. It feels like it wants to transform Gore into

a modern day environmental superhero, the sequences shot during the Paris Climate Conference particularly annoying for a number of reasons having nothing to do with the historic significance of the accord signed by 158 countries in the final days of 2015.

But when the movie works it does so magnificently, especially when it calls back to the more controversial aspects of its predecessor and shows in no uncertain terms just how quickly some of those dire predictions are coming to pass. Watching Gore take no joy in being proven right when he made that claim that the 9/11 Monument

could find itself drowning in flood water due in large part to global oceanic rise is like a punch in the gut, while watching him wade through waters cascading over his knees on the streets of Miami Beach due to the same affliction is equally unsettling.

There’s also a bravura moment of hope and compromise late in the picture as the 2000 Democratic Presidential candidate heads to the single most Republican town and county in all of Texas and discovers common ground exists between him and the politicians pulling the strings. It’s a lovely sequence, and just thinking about it again now helps me believe moments like this are still achievable as long as we all, Republican and Democrat alike, put feelings of distrust aside and choose instead to work towards a mutually beneficial common goal.

What else is there to say? As positive as much of what is said here might be, the fact is we know where the film has to end, our current President doing more in the past six months to damage the environment and stifle the fight against Climate Change (including pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement in June of this year) than anyone in recent memory. But the central argument remains strong, Gore, Cohen and Shenk going all out to give their thesis additional weight and even more impactful meaning as they lay out the current situation piece by piece. I just wish the movie spent more time focusing on that then it does deifying the former Vice-President, because if it could have eased up a little on that front it’s likely I’d proclaim An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power essential.

As it is, I still feel watching it is edifying and valuable, just not so much so to warrant anything more than a matinee ticket.

Misbegotten Dark Tower adaptation a forgettable misfire

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer THE DARK TOWER Now playing Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) is having visions. He’s having nightmares of teenage children in pain. Of oddly misshapen adults hiding their rodent-like features behind clumsily stitched together human skins. Of a man, a fearsome man, a loathsome man, a Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey) with terrifying powers over life and death whose minions grovel at his feet. Jake also dreams of a different man, a Gunslinger going by the name Roland Deschain (Id-

ris Elba), a powerful warrior who appears to fight for the forces of light and goodness against those who would see darkness and evil reign supreme.

Most of all, Jake sees a spire rising like a needle pointing to Heaven, a Dark Tower, a massive structure at the center of what appears to be the Universe itself, the Man in Black apparently intent to see it crumble while Roland and his ilk do all they can to ensure this cataclysmic event does not come to pass. Now, roaming the streets of New York City, this teenage boy discovers he is the key in a battle between good and evil that has been raging for centuries.

Traveling across dimensions, he must find the Gunslinger, because only with their

Even Idris Elba can't save The Dark Tower – Photo courtesy of Ilze Kitshoff

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August 11, 2017

combined abilities can the Dark Tower be saved and the Man in Black be destroyed.

Fans of Stephen King’s seven-volume The Dark Tower series have been waiting for some time for a movie adaptation, the story of the ongoing battle between Roland and the Man in Black a hybrid of Western, Fantasy and Horror storytelling that is as imaginative as it is unique. But these stories have proven to be a tough nut to crack, Apollo 13 and Willow hit-maker Ron Howard the primary driving force spearheading multiple attempts to see a film made. With his plans to have a movie precursor launch into a “Game of Thrones” type Cable television series potentially on hold (although accounts there are somewhat contradictory), the filmmaker tasked talented Danish filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair) with the handling of the first half of that equation. Sadly, the result of all this anguish and effort appears to have gone for naught, this initial foray into King’s supernatural world hardly worth the wait.

Featuring a script written by Arcel, Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), Jeff Pinker (The 5th Wave) and Anders Thomas Jensen (The Salvation), this movie feels as if all involved were responsible for crafting a handful of ten minutes scenes that they’d all figure out how to combine into a cohesive narrative whole at a later date. They throw varying plot strands at a wall hoping they will stick together, each of them potentially interesting in and of themselves but when connected together prove to be a stupefying nonsensical mishmash of frustratingly conflicted ideas that are never fully realized. Not so much a disaster as a waste of inherently intriguing potential, this take on The Dark Tower isn’t going to win over

a lot in the way of fans, and as such I can’t help but think we’re not going to be seeing further battles between Roland and the Man in Black anytime soon.

It all admittedly looks terrific. The movie is gorgeously shot by Rasmus Videbæk (The Shooter) and magnificently realized by production designers Christopher Glass (The Jungle Book) and Oliver Scholl (Suicide Squad). More importantly, Arcel shows a knack for crafting action sequences, a couple of set pieces overflowing in a palpable sense of energy and excitement that’s invigorating. The director has also cast his two main roles perfectly, McConaughey having a grand time personifying evil incarnate as he slinks his way through the varying worlds the Man in Black is attempting to destroy. Elba is even better as the weary Roland, his Gunslinger a revenge-seeking knight who slowly finds his faith in his mission restored once he crosses paths with Jake.

But there’s no point to any of this, and instead of playing like a tale sprung from the mind of one of horror’s most revered and respected authors, most of it comes across more like a turgid, unfocused rehash of The NeverEnding Story than it does anything else. But instead of a young New Yorker battling the Nothing to save the mystical land of Fantasia, here the only nothing at play is the total lack of anything substantive. There’s no cohesion, no rationale why one event that transpires leads to the one directly following it. It’s a big, monstrous waste of time, energy, resources and talent, The Dark Tower a forgettable misfire that does injustice to King’s source material and sadly belongs in the bargain bin collecting dust.

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Dynamic Step a lively celebration of achievement

Tayla Solomon and the Lethal Ladies Step Team of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women – Photo by Daryl Barker/KPCC

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer STEP Now playing “Step is life.”

So says one of the central figures early on in director Amanda Lipitz’s remarkable, life-affirming documentary Step. For the teenagers of the Lethal Ladies of BLSYW (Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women) Step Team, these aren’t just random words. These are powerful shouts to the heavens announcing who these youngsters are. They are proud pronouncements that they will not bend or break, that they won’t allow outside forces, no matter how hateful, difficult or outside of their control they might be, to stop them from achieving their goals.

The film chronicles a year in the life

COACH

continued from cover Directed by veteran Broadway producer Amanda Lipitz, the film is a mesmerizing adventure filled with ups, downs, in-betweens, insights, fights, failures and success. It chronicles the long road these girls go on to go from being individuals to being teammates, their collective struggles a magnificently intimate sojourn into life in all its delicately unsettling yet beautifully distinctive minutia. In many ways it is a female-driven Hoop Dreams, these magnificent Lethal Ladies delivering life lessons the likes of which will cause even the hardest heart to soar into the stratosphere thanks in large part to this story’s stirring, universally empowering splendor.

While the focus is on the members of the team, most notably three seniors, Blessin Giraldo, Tayla Solomon and Cori Grainger, each with their own goals and dreams, but all determined to see their entire team meet with success, Lipitz also makes time to spotlight a number of the adults helping these Lethal Ladies graduate from school, get into college and achieve victory as a Step team. One of the most important members of that group is the team’s new coach Gari “Coach G” McIntyre. I had the privilege to sit down with Coach G while she and other members of the Step family were in town for the Seattle International Film Festival this past June. Here are some of the highlights from our all too brief conversation.

Sara Michelle Fetters: When did you

12 Seattle Gay News

for the Lethal Ladies, focusing most of its attentions on the senior members of the team, all of whom will be the first graduates to come out of the Baltimore Leadership School, an institution founded with the goal of ensuring that every single graduate gets into college. For these girls, while that is also on their checklist, they also have designs of seeing their team perform as it never has before. They want to win championships, most notably a prestigious competition held each year at Bowie State featuring the region’s best Step teams, and they’re hoping with a new coach to lead them they’ll bring home a first place trophy.

A female-driven Hoop Dreams transpiring in the immediate aftermath of the Freddie Gray tragedy that rocked Baltimore to its core, Lipitz’s movie is a treasure trove of emotion, rolling through a thunderous cavalcade of situations and moments ranging from the difficult to watch to the know that this film was happening and what were your initial thoughts?

Gari “Coach G” McIntyre: First of all, I was hired as a Step coach, so [the school] needed a Step coach regardless if the documentary was happening or not. I was scouted and hired to be a Step coach [but they] did tell me about the documentary. They were very transparent about the fact that it was happening and there would be some filming, but I didn’t know to what extent. Step would be happening regardless, so I was told, do your job, do you and creatively be yourself. They just wanted a great Step coach.

When I first met Amanda, I can’t even describe in words that first interaction. I don’t know much about Broadway. The most I know is like The Lion King and The Color Purple and Hamilton. Like the bigger Broadway plays. She comes in and she’s so full of life and so full of everything, and she had a big connection with the girls. I’m just like, “Girl, back off.” [laughs] She was just so in your face and passionate about her project. I was like, I’m just here to be the Step coach.

I never knew how important Step would be in the film, how involved Step would be in this project. When I took the job I took it as a Step coach and as a woman who, regardless if the cameras are rolling, this was what I was doing and this was how I would do it. The fact that we did have a lot of cameras, I think I went above and beyond to be a raw me which I now regret after looking at the footage. The girls when the cameras would come, would be in the bathroom doing their makeup and other stuff. I’d be like, “What are you doing? You’re going to run

August 11, 2017

triumphantly euphoric in seemingly the blink of an eye. It never shies away from the darkness trying to pull each girl down into the muck and mire. At same time, the film focuses on the many adult voices attempting to lend their support and guidance, most notably the team’s coach Gari “Coach G” McIntyre and the school’s collegiate advisor Paula Dofat, both of whom are driven to go above and beyond to see these youngsters excel in life, not just in Step competitions.

But the true focus remains on the girls themselves, which is exactly as it should be. With 19 members, Lipitz understandably has to centralize her spotlight. While a number of the girls do get a moment for their personal lives and situations to come to life, there are three primary members of the team whose stories end up being focused upon in the most minute detail, founding members Blessin Giraldo, Cori

Grainger and Tayla Solomon, each of them facing their own unique set of circumstances which could affect whether or not they end up getting into college. Blessin’s home life is an adventure all its own. Cori, whose mother had her when she was only 16, is the school’s valedictorian with dreams of attending John Hopkins University, that $50,000 per year tuition understandably giving her pause. Tayla is going to get into college, and she’s going to enjoy her senior year, doing her best to stay on the right path even with her well-meaning, if unintentionally smothering mother Maisha Graves spending potentially too much time trying to keep her daughter on the straight and narrow.

It’s sensational stuff, Lipitz keeping things intimate and insightful without ever feeling like she’s prying. There is an observational naturalism to her documentary that allows for this decidedly human drama to sparkle with inspirational vitality, and no matter how dark or unsettling things can sometimes become the heart beating at the center of things remains pure and strong throughout. We watch these Lethal Ladies grow to become a true team, and even with their differences, even when outside events threaten to rip them all apart, each finds a way to overcome these obstacles, learning that to become a true unit working together as one each soul must support the other no matter what the situation might be.

No movie has lifted up my soul this year as much as this one has. No movie has had me crying tears of pure joy in quite the volume this one has. What these Lethal Ladies achieve, what they go through, what they allow us as viewers to experience right there alongside them, the heartbreak and the sorrow, the ecstasy and the bliss, every facet of the emotional spectrum right there on display, all of it is magical. For these young women, Step is life, but it is also something to strive for, to believe in and to use as a means to make the leap into the unknown, hopefully to even greater achievements. For the viewer, Step is a wonder, and for the life of me I now can’t imagine a world where this documentary does not exist.

Gari McIntyre, Blessin Giraldo, Tayla Solomon, and Cori Grainger – Photo by Sam Nixon

Celebrating 43 Years!

The Lethal Ladies huddle up in scene from Step – Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

an extra lap for being late.” I maybe should have been with them. Who knows? [laughs] Sara Michelle Fetters: See? That’s what makes you a good coach. You were focused on the bigger picture, and not the movie picture.

Coach G: Absolutely. I never worked for Amanda. I was never compensated by Amanda. And that’s how it should have been. I gave her a lot of pushback because I was like, you’re not going to tell me what we’re going to do. She would come up with suggestions and I’m like, I’ll consider it, but I’m running this show boo. I gave her a lot of pushback creatively on what Step was and what this Step team is to me. But that was my job. I took a lot of pride in it whether the cameras were there or not. I was going to be doing that. It’s what God called me to do, and I had a mission to reach one girl. Just one girl. Make a difference in one girl’s life. Now, all these months later, I suddenly have 19 daughters.

Sara Michelle Fetters: I got the feeling you would be a coach that anybody would be lucky to have. Who is Coach G? What inspires Coach G? What makes Coach G want to be that person you’re describing?

Coach G: What inspires me is my family, the coaches that came before me, the coaches that are better than me, more talented than me and who choreography-wise I can’t even touch. That’s what inspires me.

My coaches who taught me to Step and invested in me. My coach Miss A. My coach Mr. Simms. I was on a Step team in middle school and I identify with each of the girls I coach, and that inspires me. The fact I could see myself in all 19 of these girls in some way. Blessin in not having food.

Cori not having lights. Tayla having to push back about dealing with boys and her mom saying, “Don’t mess with boys. They have cooties.” I can relate to them on levels that touched me. Thank God for my struggles and what I’ve been through. My family. My boyfriend. My grandmother. She is instrumental in who I am today at giving back, of sowing the seed of paying it forward.

Sara Michelle Fetters: There are a couple scenes in the movie where you do start talking about yourself and your past.

Whether it’s to Blessin or when you’re talking to the camera a couple times, I think it’s very noticeable that you get emotional having these conversations. Is it hard for you to have these conversations? Or is it difficult because you know what your story is and what you had to go through to become this person you are now? That you’re seeing the best for these kids and you don’t want them to have to deal with the things you did?

Coach G: Yes. That’s exactly it. I want them to learn from every single mistake that I’ve ever made in my life. Like I said, I dropped out multiple times in college, withdrew from classes, spent all my refund check money. I’ve made so many mistakes and people were not transparent. My men-

tors were not transparent about the mistakes that they made. I was not transparent about what it was I was doing.

I just want to protect my students from all the evils of the world. I want to protect them from making every single F-up I ever did in life, and I want them to be great. I see the best Tayla. I see the best Blessin. I see the best Cori. But when I see them doing stupid things, I call them out because it just wouldn’t be me if I didn’t. I’m very transparent now. I’m very upfront. If you serve me BS I’m not going to have it.

Sara Michelle Fetters: From an athletic standpoint, when you have those girls on that wall, that is the best and the worst moment. It’s the best moment because I’m just sitting there in the theatre thinking of all those days playing sports in high school and college where I had to either sit on a wall like that or do something similar.

It’s the worst of moments because you’ve been forced to teach them a lesson and get them all back on the right track. Sitting on the wall, it’s not just about getting people in shape, it’s about teaching them a lesson as kids growing into becoming adults. It’s about making them teammates.

Coach G: In that moment it was about both. At the time I was working three jobs.

I had just come in from my second job. I had worked two 8-hour shifts and I came in and it was kind of like, this kids is wearing Uggs, this one is late, this other one is on her phone. What do you guys think I’m here for? To twiddle my thumbs? Absolutely not.

From an athletic standpoint, those guys needed to know what it’s like to suffer as a team. Absolutely. You need to know what it’s like to go through something rough as a team. I had one girl crying in tears, which they did not put in the film. I mean literally boo-hooing. She couldn’t stand it. She was like, “I can’t do it.” I was like, “Maybe you can’t, but she can, and so can she, so you guys got to figure it out. You need to figure it out together.” And they did. They found a way to stay on the wall as a unit. As a team.

The life lesson was to appreciate those who spend time and sow their seeds into you, because you have to pay that forward.

Had they not had that time on the wall, the reward of their later victories wouldn’t have been so sweet because these are things you do as a team. What was the main thing that Blessin was saying to me when I first got hired? “We don’t do things like a team. We don’t look like a team. We’re not really giving that team effort.” I’m like, “I can whip y’all into shape, but y’all got to act like y’all want it.” What was a slap in the face to me constantly was they kept saying they wanted to be a team, but all of the tactics that I was giving them in a nice way, they weren’t getting. You ain’t getting it the right way, then I’m going to give it to you the rough way. You’re going to sit on the wall.

Sara Michelle Fetters: I think the other key is you were able to figure out that

Visit us online www.sgn.org

each girl’s personal life was also affecting things. I think one of the great things about athletics is we all come from different places. We all have different things going on in our lives that nobody else is knowing about.

But once you come together in a group, you have to figure out a way to use that as fuel to help you become a team. How difficult was it to get these girls to believe that? How did it feel when you saw them get there?

Coach G: They were very conscious of all of these things. Individually they were like, we want to be a team. We want to look good. For the life of the team, though, they just could not say what was holding them back. Blessin would never admit until the very end that she needed to be around the

tools that I’ve given you. I didn’t have to slap you 10,000 times. Maybe 9,000, but I didn’t have to slap you 10,000 times to remind you that you all are a team. They were starting to let their hair down and feel each other out, feel each other’s vibes and be together. The big reward was to have them look to me and say, “I get it. We are a team.

We are together, and when we get together it’s like butter.”

Sara Michelle Fetters: You can never predict what’s going to happen from this point forward, but how proud are you of these young women? And what do you hope for all of them moving forward?

Coach G: As a team, not the girls who are specifically highlighted, but as a team they want to Step and continue to perform.

A few of them want to do show business. I think that those are things that are going to shine out.

For Cori, one of the specific things to me is to see her transition from a big fish in a small pond to a big fish in a large pond, because everyone is Valedictorian at her school, everyone is Top of the Class, so to see her excel in that environment? I’m just so proud. To hear her call me and say, I got an A in this class, or I got an A on this test, it’s amazing.

Tayla wants to do Urban Planning and she wants to, in essence, do what I’m doing but on a bigger level. She wants to build recreation centers and those things. That’s amazing. That’s paying it forward.

Blessin wants to go into show business, and I have such great hopes for her.

For me, looking back, to see them still being a team, it fills my soul. We were just together two weeks ago for MTV, performing for Michelle Obama, and it was like the last time we were together was at Sundance.

That was four months ago. To see everyone get together and not miss a beat, that is so rewarding to me, because that’s what I instilled in them.

Sara Michelle Fetters: For general audiences, what do you hope they take away from the movie? What do you hope they learn?

Documentary director Amanda Lipitz talks with Cori Grainger – Photo by William Gray

team to feel better. She acts tough for a good amount of the season, and Amanda made it pretty, but you know what? She really acted out. And there was Cori going through the things that she was going through. Tayla and what she had to deal with. Then the girls who aren’t highlighted whose parents were getting divorces, who also didn’t have food. When I said someone didn’t have a refrigerator in the film, that was a fact. One girl on the team did not have a refrigerator. So those were the challenges, and they had to overcome those individually and together in order to become a team.

The sweet thing was having them sitting on that wall learning how to work together, giving them the track suits, and then winning Bowie State. That’s where the trust came in. You have now an undefeated season. You won every competition you’ve been to because you have used the

Coach G: I hope that they’ll talk to me about hope, because [Step] is a movie in a time where hope is needed, where women coming together and making a difference as they always have is so important. I hope that people are talking about education and expanding education, putting more money and time into schools. I hope that mentors or coaches or people who never thought about being mentors or coaches are having conversation to get involved with someone, because if you reach only one person, there’s no telling how many lives may change or be impacted. Most importantly, I hope that when people see this movie, they realize that everyone has a mother, because that’s what this movie is about: Mothers and families. About women changing the world as we always have.

August 11, 2017

Seattle Gay News 13

Volunteer Park

• BACON MANSION

E. PROSPECT ST.

E. WARD ST. E. ALOHA ST.

12TH AVE. E.

E. ROY ST.

16TH AVE. E.

15TH AVE. E.

13TH AVE. E.

• B&B ON BROADWAY E. ROY ST. • UNDER U 4 MEN

E. VALLEY ST. 14TH AVE. E.

11TH AVE. E.

FEDERAL AVE. E.

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BROADWAY AVE. E.

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MALDEN AVE. E.

BROADWAY E.

• THE CANTERBURY E. REPUBLICAN ST. E. HARRISON ST.

E. THOMAS ST.

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10TH AVE. E. Cal Anderson Park

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11TH AVE.

E. HOWELL ST.

• CLUB Z BATHS

• THE STRANGER

NAGLE PL.

BROADWAY

HARVARD AVE. E.

Seattle Central Community College

• LINDAʼS • BILLʼS OFF BROADWAY

C.C. ATTLEʼS• BOYLSTON AVE.

• GLOʼS BELMONT AVE.

• LAMBERT HOUSE

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P

E. DENNY WAY

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• BALTIC ROOM

• HOT MAMAʼS PIZZA • TOYS IN BABELAND

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SUMMIT AVE.

• REBAR

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• SIMPLY FRAMES & MINER GALLERY

STUDIO 229 • NYX/PANACHE • LAUGHING BUDDHA TATTOO •

BELLEVUE AVE.

• SEATTLE COUNSELING SERVICE FOR SEXUAL MINORITIES MELROSE AVE.

• JULIAʼS

DENNY WAY

E. OLIVE ST. GLSEN ONYX LEATHER • SEAMEC

• STOUT • PURR

UNICORN• • POST OPTIONS •WILDROSE • HOT HOUSE

BATHS

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 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 MADISON PUB - 1315 E. Madison - 325-6537 NEIGHBOURS - 1509 Broadway - 324-5358 OUT WEST - 5401California Ave. SW THE PINE BOX - 1600 Melrose Ave - 588-0375 POCO WINE ROOM 1408 E. Pine St. - 322-9463 POKE BAR - 1542 12th Ave - 402-5178 PONY - 1221 E. Madison St. - 324-2854 PURR - 1518 11th Ave. - 325-3112 R PLACE - 619 E. Pine - 322-8828 RE-BAR - 1114 Howell at Boren - 233-9873 ROOT TABLE 2213 NW Market St. - 420-3214 SEATTLE EAGLE - 314 E. Pike - 621-7591 SHORTY’S 2222 2nd Ave - 441-5449 STOUT -1530 11th Ave - 397-3825 TOULOUSE PETIT 601 Queen Anne Ave N - 432-9069 UNICORN - 1118 E Pike - 325-6492

CASTLE SUPERSTORE #17 1017 E. Pike St - 204-0126 DOGHOUSE LEATHERS 1312 E. Pike St. - 257-0231 EMERSON SALON - 909 E. Pike St. - 323-7437 HASHTAG - 3540 Stone Way N - 946-8157 NEW YORK EXCHANGE 225 Broadway E. - 726-3300 ONYX LEATHER - 1605 12th Ave. #8 - 328-1965 OZ - 3831 Stone Way N - 251-0630 PANACHE 225 Broadway E. - 726-3300 RUCKUS 1465 E Republican St. - 257-4805 THE FANTASY SHOP 9630 16th Ave. SW - 762-3299 TABOO ADULT VIDEO 9813 16th Ave SW - 767-4855 TOYS IN BABELAND - 707 E. Pike St. - 328-2914 UNDER U 4 MEN 709 Broadway Ave. E. - 324-6446 UNCLE IKE’S 2310 E Union St - 1-800-GET-DRUGS 501 15th Ave E - 1-800-GET-DRUGS 9822 15th Ave SW - 1-800-GET-DRUGS WILD AT HEART 1111 NW Leary Way - 782-5538

BELLINGHAM

LOVER’S 193 Telegraph Road - (360) 752-1862 RUMORS CABARET 1119 Railroad - (306) 671-1849

DES MOINES

ADULT AIRPORT VIDEO 2 21635 Pacific Hwy S - 878-7780

EVERETT

ADULT AIRPORT VIDEO 11732 Airport Road - (425) 290-7555 LOVER’S - 112 SE Everett - (425) 353-3607 LOVER’S - 3402 Broadway - (425) 252-8754

E. PINE ST.

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ISO

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• DOGHOUSE LEATHERS

E. PIKE ST. • CHOP SUEY • MADISON PUB • DIESEL BAR • PONY

WILDROSE - 1021 E. Pike - 324-9210 ZIPPY’S GIANT BURGERS 5633 Airport Way S - 466-5954 9614 14th Ave SW - 763-1347

RETAIL SHOPS

• THE GASLIGHT INN

• POCO WINE ROOM

• THE CUFF COMPLEX • POKE BAR

E. UNION ST.

SEATTLE

• RUCKUS

E. UNION ST.

LA CONNER

THE HERON INN & WATERGRASS DAY SPA 117 Maple Ave. - (877) 883-8899 - info@theheron.com

OLYMPIA

DARBY’S CAFE 211 5th Ave. S.E. - (360) 357-6229 LOVER’S 3959 Martin Way E. Suite D - (360) 456-7300 JAKES - 311 4th Ave. E. - (360) 956-3247

PORT ANGELES MAPLE ROSE INN 112 Reservoir Rd - (800) 570-2007

SPOKANE

ANDY’S 1401 W. 1st Ave. - (509) 747 - 0304 STRAY NIGHTCLUB 415 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 624 - 4450 NYNE BAR AND BISTRO 232 W. Sprague Ave. - (509) 474 -1621

TACOMA

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

TRI-CITIES

CLUB OUT & ABOUT 327 W. Lewis St., Pasco - (509) 543-3796

TUKWILA

LOVER’S 530 Southcenter Blvd. - (206) 248-5085

KENT

LOVER’S 25801 104th Ave. S.E. - (253) 852-1720 THE FANTASY SHOP 604 Central Ave. S. - (253) 850-8428 NASHVILLE’S SPORTS BAR (Drag Shows) 114 - Railroad Ave. N. - (253) 852 - 0909

14 Seattle Gay News

August 11, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

community calendar

Meetings Events Activities

TO GET A CALENDAR LISTING: To have your meeting or event considered for the Community Calendar, please mail, fax, or drop off details to: SGN, Attn: Community Calendar, 1707 23rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98122.

SGN phone: (206) 324-4297. 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 visible or hidden disabilities? See Jean’s List webpage www.scn.org/activism/calendar/disabilities. html for Marla Nonken’s disabilities accommodations lists.

NOTE: 10-digit dialing has come to the Seattle area.

The (206) area code must now be used to dial local calls. Location of meetings/events is in Seattle unless otherwise noted.

SATURDAY - August 12

A Gathering of Men in Edmonds. 8:15-11:30am.

Edmonds UUC, 8109 224th St SW, Edmonds. Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Men gather monthly for drumming, singing, storytelling & sharing of life experience. We create a safe, confidential & sacred space in which a man can speak his truth from the heart, to heal & empower himself. We are fiercely non-political, non-sectarian & non-judgmental. All men are welcome. www.agatheringofmen.org 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. (206) 4488518. www.seattlefrontrunners.org.

Crystal Meth Anonymous. 10:30am. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Mon @ 6:30pm, Thurs @ 6:30pm, Sun @ 6:30pm. More info: crystalmeth.org.

Mature Friends Annual Potluck Picnic. 12 noon.

Woodland Park Shelter #6, N 59th St & Aurora Ave N / off Green Lake Way N. More info & details: www. maturefriends.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.oasisyouthcenter.org.

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

Georgetown Art Attack. 6-9pm. 2nd Saturday each month. Reflects the industrial-strength character of the neighborhood. For information stop into Georgetown Records at Airport Way S & S Vale or visit www.georgetownneighborhood.com Ballard’s Second Saturday Artwalk. 7-10pm. Pick up maps at participating shops & galleries located in the Ballard business district (Ballard Ave NW & NW Market St area). Meets 2nd Saturday each month. Enjoy an evening of art as local galleries & businesses showcase artists from Ballard & beyond. (206) 784-9705.

Seattle Center Movies at the Mural - “Hidden Figures.” Arrive early for best seating; screening begins at dusk. Seating is first-come, first-served. Spread out a blanket on the Mural Amphitheatre lawn, bring along a picnic or purchase dinner at the Seattle Center Armory.

Low back chairs, blankets and bean bags are recommended. Large bags, large coolers/ice chests, umbrellas and video and audio recorders are not allowed. Please leave pets at home.

SUNDAY - August 13

Center for Spiritual Living. Services 8:25, 9:45, 11:30am. 5801 Sand Point Way NE. Blessings & we hope to see you soon! Info (206) 527-8801 ext 203, www.cslseattle.org Ravenna United Methodist Church. 5751 33rd Ave NE. 8:30am “Seattle’s most dangerous Sunday school;” 9:45am worship. A reconciling congregation, fully inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ persons. (206) 525-7988.

Seattle Unity Church. 9am & 11am-Sunday Services.

200 8th Ave N. “Come join our Gay & Lesbian-friendly, spiritual family at Seattle Unity Church. Our mission is to bring love, miracles & spiritual awakening into everyday life!” (206) 622-8475; www.seattleunity.org.

Seattle Soto Zen. 9:15am-Zazen Instruction, 9:30amZazen. 101 Nickerson St, Lower Level. Follow the traditional forms of the Soto school of Zen in a spirit of warmth & inclusion. Anyone interested in meditation, whether new or experienced in Zen practice or other traditions, is welcome. (206) 323-1659, www.seattlesotozen.org Gay Men’s Bowling in Everett. 9:30am. Glacier Lanes, 9630 Evergreen Way, Everett. Every Sunday. Spectators welcome. Join us for lunch afterwards! Sponsored by the Snohomish County Gay Men’s Task Force. For info email John at johndmarsh@mac.com; www.gaysnohomish.org [***NOTE: Location UPDATED 7-28-17] Tacoma First United Methodist Church. 9:30amWorship, 11am-Adult Education. 423 Martin Luther King Way, Tacoma. This reconciling congregation welcomes with warm hands, warm hearts & open minds GLBT persons seeking a spiritual home. (253) 627-0129, www. fumctacoma.org Central Lutheran Church. 10am-Worship. 1710 11th Ave (just north of E Pine St). An open & affirming church, which in Lutheran churches is called “Reconciled in Christ.” “We seek to share God’s love with all people regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation.”

All are welcome. (206) 322-7500.

October 3 thru October 11 “We celebrate our inherent dignity with pride in liturgy, mutual support, work for justice, & social activities.”

Gender-inclusive & relationship affirming liturgies & prayer services. All welcome. (206) 325-7314.

14th Annual Leo Party - benefitting Seattle Counseling Service and the Imperial Court of Seattle. 6pm.

Neighbours Nightclub, 1509 Broadway (entrance in alley). An evening of fine drag entertainment. Featuring headliners Chad Michael, Evah Destruction, Aleksa Manila, Gaysha Starr, Ladie Chablie and more! Advance tickets: $14 general; $38 VIP + taxes and fees through LeoFoundation.us or Strangertickets.com. At the door: $25 general; $50 VIP. Shame to Grace Sunday SAA. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Sunday. SAA is a fellowship of men & women who share their experience, strength & hope with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction & help others recover from sexual addiction or dependency. Seattle SAA helpline (206) 237-8828, SAA International Service Organization 1-800-477-8191.

SASG (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Crystal Meth Anonymous. 6:30pm. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Mon @ 6:30pm, Thurs @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 10:30am. More info: crystalmeth.org.

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 - August 14

East Shore Unitarian Church. 10am-Sunday Service.

12700 SE 32nd St, Bellevue. An open & affirming congregation. (425) 747-3780.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church. 10am-Worship. 911 Stewart St. A downtown faith community centered in justice. An open & affirming congregation. (206) 682-3620.

Unity Church of Kent. 10am. 218 State Ave S, Kent.

A welcoming congregation open to people of all races, religions, creeds & lifestyles. Join us any Sunday for an inspirational message, joyful fellowship & a fresh spiritual outlook. (253) 854-9747.

University Congregational United Church of Christ.

All ages education 9am, Worship 10am. 4515 16th Ave NE. UCUCC is an open & affirming congregation. (206) 524-2322; www.universityucc.org.

Wallingford United Methodist Church. 10am-Worship.

2115 N 42nd St. A progressive congregation. In 1984 Wallingford UMC became the 9th reconciling Methodist church in the U.S. (206) 547-6945 (office); (206) 2855077 (George).

All Pilgrims Christian Church. 10:30am-Worship.

500 Broadway E. Come as you are. All are welcome.

A congregation of the Disciples of Christ & the United Church of Christ. (206) 322-0487, www.allpilgrims.org Seattle Sunday Bowling. 10:30am. West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th Ave SW (at SW Oregon St). Open bowl every Sunday for the GLBT community & friends. You don’t have to worry about how you bowl! $6.50 + $3 shoe rental. (425) 785-4729.

Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

10:30am. 7141 California Ave SW. (206) 935-0418, office@wsuu.org, www.wsuu.org Lotus Sisters Guided Meditation. 11am-1:30pm.

SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets 2nd Sunday each month. Senior students lead the meditation, provide dharma talks or reflections & lead discussion.

(206) 329-5908; www.LotusSisters.org; www.sasgcc.org (Meets in 2nd floor meeting room; no elevator.)

Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church Seattle. 11am-Worship. Chapel at University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd St. MCC is a progressive Christ-centered faith community committed to providing a nurturing environment for individual & community growth thru Jesus Christ while celebrating unity in diversity. MCC is Seattle’s oldest Gay-friendly church. (206) 325-2421, www.mccseattle.org.

Meditation for GBT Men. 11am-1pm. Cal Anderson House, 400 Broadway. Suitable for beginning & experienced meditators. Sponsored by Dharma Buddies.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

SOBER - On Meds. 1-2pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Monday. 12-step group open to anyone in recovery & living on a medicine regimen. (206) 3222437; www.sasgcc.org Strength Over Speed. 2-3:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. 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 (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Crystal Meth Anonymous. 6:30pm. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Thurs @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 10:30am, Sun @ 6:30pm. More info: crystalmeth.org.

Freely Speaking Toastmasters. 7pm. Seattle Unity Church, 200 8th Ave N. Every Monday (except holidays & the last Mondays in August & December). Seattle’s only LGBT speaking club. www.FreelySpeaking.or Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing.)

Trans Youth Group. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 Contact Forrest Rode, (206) 920-6117, Mike Chin (509) 15th Ave. Every Monday. A chance for youth to talk 990-0007, or Doug Allison, doug.l.allison@gmail.com. with others about their experiences & concerns related www.dharmabuddies.org. (Women may wish to contact to identifying as Transgender. www.lamberthouse.org our sister meditation group at www.LotusSisters.org.) Lambert House Art Night. 7:30-9:30pm. 1818 15th Ave. 4th Annual Queer Pride on Whidbey. Downtown Lang- Every Monday. Bring your ideas & let’s have some fun. ley. 11am-4pm. Parade at 2pm. www.qpowhidbey.com (206) 322-2515, www.lamberthouse.org St Paul’s United Church of Christ. 11am-Worship. Unity Gay Men’s AA Group in Tacoma. 7:30pm. New 6512 12th Ave NW. An “open & affirming” congregation. Heart MCC, 759 S 45th St. Tacoma. Every Monday.

“We celebrate our diversity in religious background, (253) 474-8897. sexual orientation, race, age & abilities.” (206) 783-6733; Washington Gender Alliance Support Group Meetwww.stpauluccseattle.com. ing in Shoreline. 7:30pm. Center for Human Services, St Paul’s Episcopal Church. 11:15am (also 7:30am, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline. Meets every Monday. For 9am, 5pm). We are an accepting, progressive, Anglo- information email info@washingtongender alliance.com Catholic parish, renewing its people for their Christian Queers, Crackpots & Fallen Women AA. 8-9pm. lives in today’s world through worship, spiritual formation, SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Monday. Open engagement in the arts, and acts of compassion. www. women only AA group. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org. stpaulseattle.com TUESDAY - August 15 Holy Covenant International Christian Community Church. 12pm. 4525 19th Ave NE. Outreach to the LGBTQ Questioning & Allied Youth Drop-in Group in LGBT community. holycovenantccc@gmail.com Renton. 6-8pm. Renton Area Youth Services (RAYS), Just for Today. 12-1:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, 1025 S 3rd St, Renton. Meets every Tuesday. ConfiSuite 201. Every Sunday. Drop-in 12-step (Narcotics dential. Snacks provided. Bring friends or come alone Anonymous) group open to anyone in recovery. (206) - anyone 12-18 is welcome. Questions? Call Sarah Har322-2437; www.sasgcc.org din, (425) 271-5600 ext 155, or email sarahh@rays.org Paths to Recovery Al-Anon Family Group. 12-1:30pm. Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave Seattle University Student Center, 901 12th Ave, Room E, Suite 201. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12 step) 122. Every Sunday. LGBTQ supported. The Al-Anon for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth. For Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives & friends of information visit www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG alcoholics who share their experience, strength & hope (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org in order to solve their common problems. We believe Diverse Harmony. 6:30-9pm. Seattle First Baptist alcoholism is a family illness & that changed attitudes Church, 1111 Harvard Ave. Every Tuesday. Diverse can aid recovery. Greater Seattle AIS 24-hour number Harmony is the nation’s first Gay/Straight Alliance Youth (206) 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org Chorus. Youths ages 13-22 are welcome regardless of Orca Swim Team Workout. Sun: Afternoon; Mon/Weds/ sexual orientation. www.diverseharmony.org Fri: Evenings. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Cen- Queer Young Females Group - For Female-Identified ter, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. Every Sun, Mon, Wed & Fri. Youth, Ages 22 & Under. 6:30-7:30pm. Lambert House, Pre-registration required. Orca Swim Team workouts 1818 15th Ave. Every Tuesday. Topics range from family are for both competitive & recreational swimmers. www. issues to school happenings to like/lust/love relationorcaswimteam.org ships. All Queer females welcome. Come discuss how Rain City Soccer Club - Kickabout. Sunday afternoon smart. strong Queer women live their lives. (206) 322usually at 3pm. Location varies. Join us for Seattle’s 2515, www. lamberthouse.org mostly-weekly mostly-LGBTQ pickup soccer game. We Seattle Tennis Alliance Summer Social Doubles. play an organized, 2-hour scrimmage on nice fieldturf 6:30-8:30pm. Lower Woodland Tennis Courts, 5773 W surface. Sometimes there is a brief training/practice ses- Green Lake Way N. Every Tuesday & Thursday Junesion before we play. Usually there is a “one-beer” after August. seattletennisalliance.org the scrimmage. To sign up visit www.raincitysoccer.org “The Other Town” - World Premiere. 7pm. West of Dignity/Seattle. 6pm-Prayer Service. Ravenna United Lenin, 203 N 36th St. In “The Other Town” playwright Methodist Church, 5751 33rd Ave NE. Meets 2nd Sun- Tre Calhoun creates a world where a man can swap day each month. Dignity/Seattle is the local chapter of places with his 20-year-old self, but how much truth the nationwide organization of GLBT Roman Catholics. can he take? As he fights off the feeling that his wife’s

August 11, 2017

Seattle Gay News 15

been cheating on him for years, Declan gets caught between past and present - and between the half black/ half white ethnicity he’s been trying to ignore. Tickets: $10 - ten free tickets available on a first come/first serve basis for any patron one hour before the show. www. parleyproductions.com 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 (206) 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. (206) 545-3521.

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 (206) 363-4500 or www.outdrum.com What About Me? 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Tuesday. Drop-in social, support & discussion group for Gay & Bi men of all ages. (206) 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, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. A group for all LGBT & friends of any spiritual belief to explore how spiritual practice can enrich their life. (206) 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 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

SATURDAY - August 19

WEDNESDAY - August 16

Mature Friends Walk Around Greenlake. 11am. Meet up at 10:50am with a group of older men gathered at the north end of the parking lot that is next to the boathouse along the southwest side of Greenlake. Every Wednesday. Walk around Greenlake followed by lunch at a local restaurant. www.maturefriends.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 (206) 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 Seattle Gay Book Club. 6pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E (upstairs). Meets every Wednesday. This month’s title is Crazy for Vincent by Herve Guibert.

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.

Lotus Sisters Meditation & Dharma Discussion North. 6:15-8pm. Ravenna Bryant neighborhood. Meets every Wednesday. Call (206) 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 (206) 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.)

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 a drop in group to get & give support, social interaction & information for the whole Gender community. No fee, donations welcome. www.ingersollcenter.org Mature Friends Weekly Bridge Group. 7pm. Wallingford Community Senior Center, lower level of Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnywide Ave N. Every Wednesday. All levels welcome. MF is a social organization for Gay men & women, 40 years & over. www. maturefriends.org Orca Swim Team Workout. Evening. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing.)

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

16 Seattle Gay News

Facebook for complete details. (360) 840-8499.

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. (206) 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. Evening. Seattle University, Connolly Athletic Center, 14th Ave & E Cherry St. (See Sunday listing.)

LGBT Friday Night Al-Anon Family Group. 8pm.

SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201 - in the O’Neill Room.

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 (206) 625-0000; www.seattle-al-anon.org Three Dollar Bill Cinema Summer Movies in Cal Anderson Park - “But I’m A Cheerleader.” Screening at sunset. Amphitheatre off 11th Ave & E Olive St. FREE outdoor movie with pre-show entertainment. www. threedollarbillcinema.org. (Also “Juno” 8/25.)

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.

Thursday. Youth take the opportunity to talk about issues that relate to their everyday lives, with the facilitation of a male volunteer. (206) 322-2515 ext 16. www. lamberthouse.org Buddhism & Recovery. 7:30-9pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. A meditation/recovery group. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org THURSDAY - August 17 Gay Fathers Association of Seattle. 7:30-9pm. Group Alcoholics Anonymous “Safe & Sober Group.” Health, 201 16th Ave E, Central Bldg, Lower Atrium.

12noon-1pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Open Every Thursday. Support meetings for Gay fathers & meeting of AA. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org.

Gay men who are currently or previously married. Safe, BABES Women’s Support Group/Lunch Meeting. anonymous, non-judgmental environment of caring 12 noon-2pm. Call for location. Every Thursday. The fathers & friends. You are not alone. For information, BABES Network is a peer led agency; a sisterhood of community events & “questioning” visit www.gfas.org or women facing HIV together. (206) 720-5566 or 888-292- our message board at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/ gayfathersseattle 1912; www.babesnetwork.org.

Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, Gay Male Sexuality & Relationships. 7:30-9pm.

Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages SASG, 115 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Every Thursday. A 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Thurs- discussion group that is strictly focused on sexual topday. (253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org (Also ics and relationship issues related to being a Gay male.

(206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Fridays 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.)

Last Thurs - Everett-Snohomish County Friendship FRIDAY - August 18 Dinner for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. 6pm. Grace UMC (formerly Firs United Methodist). Meets last Thurs- AA Ageless in Recovery. 12noon-1pm. SASG, 115 day most months. FREE. Everyone welcome. Spon- 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets every Friday. A drop in sored by the Evergreen AIDS Foundation & SNOCO Gay AA group for older & wiser people 55+. www.sasgcc.org Men’s Task Force. For information call (425) 252-7751. Re-Parenting Ourselves. 12noon-1pm. SASG, 115 Shifting Gears. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave E, 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets every Friday. A peer Suite 201. Every Thursday. Drop-in support group (non support group for adult children of any addiction. www.

12-step) for anyone of any orientation or gender who sasgcc.org desires recovery from drugs or alcohol. (206) 322-2437; SLAA Road to Recovery. 12noon-1:30pm. SASG, 115 www.sasgcc.org 15th Ave E, Suite 201. Meets every Friday. Ongoing B-GLAD (Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Trans & Question- 12 step group for sex & love addicts. www.sasgcc.org ing Adolescent Drop-In Group). 6:30-8pm. Call for Oasis Youth Center in Tacoma - For Gay, Lesbian, location. Every Thursday. Sponsored by Youth Eastside Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Youth, Ages Services, which offers many programs for GLBT youth. 14-25. 4-10pm. Call for location & details. Every Friday.

(425) 747-4937.

(253) 671-2838, www.oasisyouthcenter.org (Also ThursCrystal Meth Anonymous. 6:30pm. Capitol Hill Pres- days 4-10pm & Saturdays 6pm-12 midnight.) byterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. Also meets Mon Strength Over Speed. 6-7:30pm. SASG, 115 15th Ave @ 6:30pm, Sat @ 10:30am, Sun @ 6:30pm. More info: E, Suite 201. FREE drop-in support group (not a 12crystalmeth.org. step) for Gay & Bi men who desire recovery from meth.

Seattle Tennis Alliance Summer Social Doubles. www.strengthoverspeed.org. SASG (206) 322-2437; 6:30-8:30pm. Lower Woodland Tennis Courts, 5773 W www.sasgcc.org Green Lake Way N. Every Tuesday & Thursday June- Cascades Rainbow Community Center - in Mount August. seattletennisalliance.org Vernon. 6:30-10:30pm. 1508 N 18th St, Mount Vernon.

Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation - Every Friday. Weekly social get-togethers including Contemplative Service. 6:30pm. 7141 California Ave potlucks and movie nights for LGBTQAI folks in Skagit SW. (206) 935-0418, office@wsuu.org, www.wsuu.org County and beyond. The Center has the largest LGBoys’ Group - For Male-Identified Youth, Ages 14- BTQAI library in Skagit County with an online catalog of 22. 7-8:30pm. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave. Every their collection. Visit www.cascaderainbow.org and on

August 11, 2017

(See previous Saturday for ongoing activities.)

The Reunion Project Seattle. 9am-5pm. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N. The Reunion Project Seattle is a gathering of people who are long-term survivors of HIV & AIDS. The project is a community forum for individuals to come and share their stories, strength and resilience as we continue our lives.

The event is free. Food will be served. And there will be structured, themed groups led by community members as well as plenty of pleasant spots to gather and chat.

This is a day to share and listen to the experience of others. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-reunionproject-seattle-tickets-35178297234 Seattle Prime Timers Annual Potluck Picnic. 3pm6pm. Woodland Park Shelter #5, N 59th St & Aurora Ave N / off Green Lake Way N. Grill items including hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, veggie dogs AND buns along with condiments and cold drinks will be provided. You bring the sides. RSVP REQUIRED

by Thursday 8/17 and state quantity of meat or veggie burgers/dogs you desire. Non-members are asked to donate $10 to cover expenses. RSVP to Gregry Loomis, 206-789-6778.

Seattle Center Movies at the Mural - “Clue.” Arrive early for best seating; screening begins at dusk. Seating is first-come, first-served. Spread out a blanket on the Mural Amphitheatre lawn, bring along a picnic or purchase dinner at the Seattle Center Armory. Low back chairs, blankets and bean bags are recommended.

Large bags, large coolers/ice chests, umbrellas and video and audio recorders are not allowed. Please leave pets at home.

SUNDAY - August 20

(See previous Sunday for ongoing activities.)

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

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

American Veterans for Equal Rights - www.aver.us Another Gay Social Club! - www.meetup.com/AnotherGay-Social-Club/ 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 Central Washington University GALA Hotline: (509) 963-1994.

DIFFA/Northwest (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). (206) 763-8885; www.diffanorthwest. org DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT: Crisis Clinic, (206) 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, (206) 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, (206) 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 - (206) 324-2570; www. equalrightswashington.org Everett/Snohomish Cty - www.gaysnohomish.org Freely Speaking Toastmasters - www.freelyspeaking.org Gay City promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City Health Project’s Wellness Center provides anonymous & confidential HIV/STD testing. 517 E Pike St. More info or to schedule an appointment, (206) 860-6969. www.gaycity.org

Celebrating 43 Years!

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 - (206) 330-2099; www.glsenwa.org Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) - (206) 363-9188; www.thegsba.org HIV/AIDS Program, Seattle/King County Dept of Public Health, provides confidential/anonymous information about & testing for HIV/AIDS. (206) 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, (206) 328-8979.

Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & the Olympic & Rainier Empire - www.facebook.com/ISCSORE; www. imperialcourtofseattle.com Lambert House - (206) 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 - (206) 250-5002; LGBTMSConnection@gmail.com. Support group for LGBT persons with MS and their partners and their caregivers. Sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Lifelong AIDS Alliance - (206) 328-8979, www.lifelongaids alliance.org MEN: Gay City: (206) 860-6969, www.gaycity.org; Knights of Mantra: (206) 329-0886, www.jetchapterkofm.com; Mature Friends: Gay men & women 40 & over, www.maturefriends.org; Northwest Bears: www. nwbears.com; The Olympians: www.TheOlympians. net; POZSeattle: www.pozseattle.org; Q-Squared: www.qsquared.org; Rain City Jacks: 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. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)

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: (206) 388-1408, (206) 323-0750. www.seattlechoruses.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, including Alaska Airlines, Amazon.com, Amgen, AT&T, Bank of America, Deloitte, Macy’s, Microsoft, Russell Investments, Safeco Insurance, Starbucks Coffee, Xerox. www.outandequal.org/affiliates/seattle PARENTHOOD: Families Like Ours provides a gateway for LGBT families interested in adoption & provides a network of safe placement agencies, training, support & resources: (206) 441-7602, www.familieslikeours. org; Family Works offers support, information & activities for LGBT families: (206) 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/proudand-loud-families-northwest, plfnorthwest@aol.com; Queer Parent Networking Dinners: (206) 568-7777, qpnd@nwnetwork.org, www.nwnetwork.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 chapters in Seattle, Bellevue/Eastside, the Puget Sound region and across Washington state. PFLAG Seattle: (206) 325-7724, info@pflagseattle.org, and www.pflagseattle.org; PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside: (425) 483-6642, info@bellevue-pflag.org, http://community. pflag.org/PFLAGBellevue; PFLAG Pacific Northwest: www.pnwpflag.org; PFLAG Washington State: www. pflagwsc.org.

PEOPLE OF COLOR: AARTH (African American Reach & Teach Health Ministry), (206) 850-2070, www.aarth.org; Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Network Program at API Chaya, (206) 467-9976; Center for MultiCultural Health, (206) 461-6910, www.multiculturalhealth.org; Entre Hermanos, GLBT Latinos/as, (206) 322-7700, www.entrehermanos.org; Ile LaiLai, (206) 781-3565, iya@ilelailai.org; Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT), (206) 923-8313, macctseattle@yahoo.com, www.macctsea.org; Northwest Two Spirit Society, https://www.facebook.com/ groups/nw2spiritsociety/, Nubian Pride Productions, nubianpride@gmail.com; People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN) offers rapid HIV testing, M-F, 10am-5pm, (206) 322-7061, www.pocaan.org and on Facebook; Sistah 2 Sistah, LBT women of African descent, (206) 322-7061, (206) 255-8951; Sistah Sinema, www.sistahsinema.com, info@sistahsinema. com; Trikone-Northwest, GLBT South Asians, (425) 985-4376, www.trikonenw.org; Two-Spirit Honor Project, 1-866-685-0164; U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle.

Pierce County AIDS Foundation - (253) 383-2565; www.piercecountyaids.org Pride Foundation - (206) 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. (206) 323-1768. www.crystalneon.org

community calendar

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 - (206) 682-6711; www.q-law.org Q Law GLBT Legal Clinic - (206) 235-7235.

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

Call (206) 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; (206) 451-SAFE; (206) 451-7233.

SEAMEC interviews, researches & rates candidates for public office on issues of concern to the LGBT community. www.voteseamec.org Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG) 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. Our work is done in a spirit of safety, trust, inclusiveness, and celebration of individual differences. (206) 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities is a community mental health service for GLBT persons & their families providing comprehensive mental health services on a sliding scale. (206) 323-1768.

Seattle LGBTQ Commission - (206) 684-4503.

Seattle Out & Proud - (206) 322-9561; www.seattlepride.org Seattle Police Department Sexual Minorities Community Advisory Council: kim.bogucki@seattle.gov Seattle PrideFest - www.seattlepridefest.org Seattle Treatment Education Project (STEP) E-zine is an electronic resource distributed to people affected

by HIV/AIDS, case managers, front line workers & other health professionals. Now a part of Lifelong AIDS Alliance, (206) 328-8979, www.thebody.com/step/ steppage.html Servicemembers Legal Defense Network - (202) 328-3244; www.sldn.org Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan - (206) 860-3666; www.theabbey.org Snohomish Health District HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential/anonymous HIV counseling & testing 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, until 7pm Tuesdays.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

(425) 339-5298.

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

Strength Over Speed - www.strengthoverspeed.org Tacoma/Pierce County - Rainbow Center, 2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, a resource center for the LGBTIQA community of Pierce County, (253) 383-2318, www.

August 11, 2017

rainbowcntr.org TRANSGENDER: Emerald City Social Club: (425) 827-9494; Gender Alliance of the South Sound: www.SouthSoundGender.com; Gender Diversity: www.genderdiversity.org; Gender Justice League: www.genderjusticeleague.org; Gender Odyssey: www.genderodyssey.com; Hermanos Trans Latino & Foreign-Born Support Group: (206) 322-7700; Ingersoll Gender Center: (206) 329-6651, www. ingersollcenter.org; 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: ALISS - Aging Lesbians in South Seattle - Lesbian Group at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center. This is a gathering primarily for Lesbians but all are welcome to attend. Kate, (206) 722-0317; www.sessc. org; BABES: support groups for HIV+ women. (206) 720-5566, 1-888-292-1912; Festival of the Babes: www.festivalofthebabes.com; Lesbians Over 40: (206) 722-0729; 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 Bisexual Women’s Network: BiSeattle.wixsite. com/SBWN; Seattle Girls of Leather: www.sgol.org; Tacoma Lesbian Concern (TLC): www.tacomalesbianconcern.org; Women of West Seattle (WOWS): a fun, member-driven social group for Lesbians, http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/womenofwestseattle; YWCA Women’s Health Outreach: providing low or no-cost mammograms for income eligible 40+ LBTQ individuals. Follow us at http://lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot.com, twitter.com/ingridWHO or email lbthealth@ywcaworks. org, (206) 461-4493. (See also listings under Bisexual, Parenthood, People of Color, Transgender.)

Yakima: First Fridays - (509) 576-0276. www.gayakima.com/1stfridays.html 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. (206) 330-2099; www.glsenwa. org; www.wagsa.org. GLOBE (GLBTQ Loving Ourselves, Becoming Empowered): a support group & HIV/ STD prevention program for GLBTQ youth, 14-20, in Everett, (425) 263-2908, www.globeyouth.org; It Gets Better Project: www.itgetsbetter.org; Lambert House: an activities & resource center for LGBT youth, 14-22, in Seattle, 1818 15th Ave @ E Denny Way; (206) 3222515, www.lamberthouse.org; Lifelong HEYO (Health Education Youth Outreach): for LGBTQ youth, ages 16-24: (206) 957-1665; www.llaa.org/HEYO; www.

MatthewsPlace.com; The Mockingbird Society: (206) 323-KIDS (5437), www.mockingbirdsociety.org; 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: (206) 325-7724, www. seattle-pflag.org; Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets (PSKS) Drop-In Center & Young Adult Shelter: 1609 19th Ave @ E Pine St., (206) 726-8500; www.psks.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; 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; Roots Young Adult Shelter: 1415 NE 43rd St., (206) 632-1635; www.rootsinfo.org; Safe Schools Coalition: www.safeschoolscoalition.org; (206) 451-SAFE, (206) 451-7233 (non-emergency), 1-877-SAFE-SAFE (1-877-723-3723) (crisis line); Seattle Young People’s Project (Queer Youth Resource Board): (206) 860-9606, www.sypp.org; Street Youth Ministries (SYM): (206) 524-7301 ext 111; www. streetyouthministries.org; Teen Link: (206) 461-4922, 1-888-431-TEEN; The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-Trevor; www.thetrevorproject.org; True Colors - Connecting LGBTQ Teens: in Shoreline, (206) 362-7282 x 8018, lbagley@chs-nw.org; Vista Youth Center: for LGBTQ, questioning and allied youth, ages 14-21, in Kennewick, (509) 396-5198, www.vistayouthcenter.org; YouthCare/ Isis Program (Transitional Living Home for LGBTQ Young Adults, 18-22): (206) 522-8412; YouthCare/ Orion Center Young Adult Shelter: 1828 Yale Ave @ Stewart St. (206) 622-5555; Youth in Focus: (206) 723-1479; www.youthinfocus.org; Youth Suicide Prevention Program (OUTLoud-GLBTQ): (206) 297-5922, ext 116, 1-800-273-TALK, www.yspp.org

Seattle Gay News 17

22 [FOR SALE] 36 [ESCORTS]

PART-TIME INTERIM OUTREACH COORDINATOR

10 [HOUSEMATES] 11 [FOR RENT]

Generations Aging with Pride is a non-profit organization whose mission is to: empower older LGBTQ adults to live with pride and dignity by promoting, connecting and developing innovative programs, services and trainings that enhance belonging and support, eliminate discrimination, and honor the lives of older members of our community. We currently have an opening for a part-time Interim Outreach Coordinator. This position is exempt, with no paid benefits.

The Outreach Coordinator will be responsible for supporting Generations Aging with Pride’s priorities through the end of the calendar year 2017. Responsibilities include: program coordination; outreach and marketing of organization; supporting Board of Directors; maintaining fiscal records and providing monthly reporting/invoices; and engaging with community partners to move the goals of the organization forward.

Candidate must be able to pass a background check.

This position reports to Generations Aging with Pride Board of Directors. Salary is negotiable depending on experience. If interested email cover letter and resume or cv to info@gapseattle.org. Full job description also available at info@gapseattle.org. 32/1

12 [HOUSING WANTED] 13 [HOUSING FOR SALE]

14 [HELP WANTED] HIV OUTREACH SPECIALIST

The Seattle HIV Vaccine Trials Unit is seeking someone to join our community outreach team to recruit participants for our HIV prevention research. Most of the recruitment will occur in local venues that may include street locations, community events, community-based organizations, bars, dance clubs, and sex clubs. The position is able to accommodate a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends on an "as needed basis."

For more information, please visit www.fredhutch.org/ job/9233 or contact jhuszar@fredhutch.org 33/3

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19 [SERVICES] HOME IMPROVEMENT

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SILVERHAWK SERVICES General Contractor SILVES*835KH Licensed Bonded & Insured I do pool painting, interior/exterior painting, remodeling, fire damage, water damage. 31/3 David - 206-465-6639

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37 [BODYWORK] EROTICALLY CHARGED nude full body rubdown from playful top, stimulating the senses. Get seduced. Incalls in Renton area. Scott, 206-355-4469. 34/3

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20 [HEALTH & WELL-BEING] 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.) First session 50% off = $45/1.5 hours (travel extra). By appointment only. References available. Chris Pringer, Reiki Master, 206-286-0899. If you get a voice message mentioning “extension #,” please hang up and call back again.

Brochure, testimonials, etc. via chalicebridge.com/ BMI-Brochure.html. 44/21

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GREAT MASSAGE

Given by highly-trained, clean-cut, handsome guy.

I have two private studios, one on CapHill, and one just north of the UW. Call/text Matt, 206-235-7766. In/ out calls. 40/12

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38 [MEN]

RAIN CITY JACKS

RCJ is Seattle’s private club hosting hundreds of group jack-off events since 2005. Hot, friendly, and genuine male bonding for men 18+ only. Email or visit our web site for information. info@raincityjacks.org; www. raincityjacks.org. 34/12

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21 [LICENSED MASSAGE - NON-SEXUAL] 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, 206-2357766. 40/12

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Seattle Prime Timers

Annual Picnic 2017

Saturday August 19th Woodland Park, Shelter #5 3 PM ‑ 6 PM

We’ll have:

• Grill Items & Buns • Condiments • Cold Drinks • Hamburgers • Hot Dogs • Veggie Burgers • Veggie Dogs

Please bring side dish, dessert, or fruit to share!

Directions

I-5 North/Southbound: Take the NE 50th St exit. Turn left if on I‑5 Northbound; right if on I‑5 Southbound.

Shelters 4-6: (N 59th St & Aurora N) Continue on NE 50th St westbound. Turn right on Stone Way N. Stone Way will turn into Green Lake Way N when you make the right turn. Move into the left lane and turn left onto Green Lake Way N, which is at the Green Lake Pitch and Putt Golf Course. Make a left into the first parking lot; turn right to go up the hill. Shelters 5 and 6 are on the righthand side at the top of the hill.

18 Seattle Gay News

August 11, 2017

RSVP by Thursday August 17!

(206) 789-6778 or gregryloomis@msn.com

Let us know about guests; please send regrets as well.

State how many meat or veggie burgers/hot dogs you’d like.

Non‑members are asked to donate $10 to cover expenses. www.seattleprimetimers.org

Celebrating 43 Years!

SHOP WHERE THE INDUSTRY SHOPS!

Joints

BY Viva

and Sitka

ALL GECKO AND WILDFIRE

Applejack blue dream blueberry skunk

OUNCES

elephant lemon thai kush

AS LOW AS

maui wowie

OFF SALE!

og kush and more!

Strains vary by location • menu prices reflect discount

THE Z CLUB

Mattresses so organic you might be tempted to eat them.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

® @ CLUB Z BATHS

Transform your sleep experience with a bed handcrafted from all natural and all organic materials. Made in right here in Seattle.

August 11, 2017

Seattle Gay News 19