SGN May 26, 2023

ISSUE 21

C E L E B R AT I N G

VOLUME 51

49 YEARS

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DESANTIS CONTINUES WAR ON LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer On Wednesday, May 17, Florida Gov. Ron DeStantis signed into law the latest wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which place further limitations on access to gender-affirming care, restrict classroom discussions of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ topics, and criminalize people who use the “wrong” bathroom.

The Human Rights Campaign condemned him “for signing a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills designed to scale back on the freedoms of LGBTQ+ people and other vulnerable communities.”

see DESANTIS page 17

Photo by Marco Bello / Reuters

Monroe church and drag queen tag team bingo for charity Crystyl Jewylbox – Photo by Lauren Vasatka

by Benny Loy SGN Contributing Writer On Saturday evening, May 20, Monroe United Methodist Church held its first Rainbow Bingo night, an LGBTQIA+-friendly evening with a Seattle drag queen as the host. Church member Missy Maxson coordinated the event and recruited the help of drag queen Crystyl Jewylbox. The bash was promoted on Facebook and quickly sold out.

After walking through the side door and down some steps, we parted a rainbow

curtain, revealing the church’s common area. Colorful garlands were strung around the support beams and along the ceiling.

Pride-themed decorations were spread across tables, and attendees collected their food from the kitchen window in the back; on the menu were spaghetti and sweet rainbow-colored desserts prepared by church members.

Maxson took a microphone and spoke about why she decided to organize this

see MONROE page 5

Snohomish to hold first Pride Fest Photo courtesy of Historic Downtown Snohomish

by Cameron Martinez SGN Intern Snohomish will hold its first Pride festivities on June 3. The downtown happening will include a parade, kids’ fair, wine walk, Queer cabaret, circus performance, rainbow party, and karaoke event.

“I think the biggest thing I’m excited about is the parade on First Street,” said Soren Stone, a board member of the Historic Downtown Snohomish Association who oversees the overall planning and

safety measures. “First Street is right where everybody comes in and joins the shops and restaurants and things like that.

“It’s kind of a big deal, because we had Proud Boys come to our town with their assault rifles and all of that during the Black Lives Matter protests. So it feels sort of like a big deal to be walking right down First Street where that happened just two years ago, and to be loud and proud, representing LGBTQ folks in our community.”

see SNOHOMISH page 5

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Publisher Angela Cragin Editor-in-Chief A.V. Eichenbaum Copy Editor SGN Staff • Richard Isaac Advertising Maggie Bloodstone, Advertising Manager National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Staff Writers Lindsey Anderson • Mike Andrew Sara Michelle Fetters • Daniel Lindsley Isabel Mata Contributing Writers Alice Bloch • Maggie Bloodstone Sharon Cumberland • Jack Hilovsky Benny Loy • John McDonald Georgia Skerritt Social Media Team Lindsey Anderson • A.V. Eichenbaum Photographers Lauren Vasatka • SGN Staff Comics Otts Bolisay Production Mike Pham SGN is published by Angela Cragin. © 2023. All Rights Reserved. Reprints by permission.

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Local News

SPD African-American Advisory Council meets with city official candidates

by Benny Loy SGN Contributing Writer On May 18, the African American Community Advisory Council to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) held a meeting at Garfield Community Center to allow the public to meet candidates running for Seattle City Council and Port of Seattle commissioner positions.

The candidates present were Tanya Woo, running for City Council from District 2, Pete Hanning from District 6, Bob Kettle from District 7, and Jesse Tam, running for Port of Seattle Commissioner, as well as a representative for Joy Hollingsworth, who is aiming to be the District 3 City Council member. They each spoke about their respective backgrounds and priorities, gave their thoughts on the concerns brought up by attendees, and answered questions directly.

Woo’s priorities include affordable housing, the homelessness crisis, safety, and access to transportation. Hanning’s priorities are homelessness, safety for neighborhoods and small businesses, affordable housing, upgrading aging infrastructure, economic vitality, and maintaining civility. Kettle wants improvements to public safety, homelessness, and the local economy. Tam’s priorities are transparency, utilizing his business experience, support of union workers, and protecting the environment. Hollingsworth is campaigning on safety, affordable housing, investing in underrepresented small business owners, access to transportation, and investment in community enrichment programs, such as neighborhood gardens.

The current Fentanyl crisis was brought up, and the SPD officers in attendance agreed that the rise in crime is not being helped by the proliferation of the drug.

Mother Walden spoke on the dangers to young people who want to experiment but, unbeknownst to them, are being given laced substances that substantially increase the likelihood of addiction and overdose.

Another person referenced the recent passing of a drug possession law here in Washington and asked whether criminalizing possession will benefit the community.

Woo and Hanning expressed how the city needs to invest in addiction specialists and care. Woo spoke about how there needs to be more support for “community-based policing alternatives” through which people experiencing addiction can be connected to resources and services. (The new law, enforceable as of July 1, includes the option for those charged to be part of a substance use disorder treatment program in exchange for the state dismissing the charge.)

An attendee asked the candidates whether they support the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system that was canceled last year amid concerns over its efficacy. Kettle stated that he was in favor of the system, and Woo said she would “need more information” before answering.

The ShotSpotter system has been adopted in many other states, such as California and New York, with much controversy. It is designed to recognize gunshots and to alert the police, but those opposed to it say that it does not make their communities safer. Critics argue that when the system falsely reports a gunshot, the police will rush into a peaceful neighborhood, expecting a potentially deadly conflict.

Rev. Harriett Walden

Tanya Woo

The officers said they had just finished a call about a shooting in the area. A 19-yearold had been the victim of a shooting in the Garfield High School parking lot. The victim, who was not a student, suffered a bullet wound to the leg but was in stable condition.

One officer said that “gun violence is the big issue right now” and that short-staffing

Policing and gun violence This was also an opportunity to discuss policing and police accountability. Three officers in full uniform were in attendance.

After everyone was seated in a circle and introductions were given, the chair of the advisory board, Victoria Beach, prompted the officers to explain why they came to the meeting in their on-duty uniforms.

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Pete Hanning

Jesse Tam

in the SPD puts everyone “on a dangerous bridge” with the shootings across the city, adding that “to lower the standards to get more hires is a terrible idea” and that the SPD is committed to helping repair trust by ensuring they maintain strict hiring practices.

Among the attendees were recruits currently enrolled in Before the Badge (BTB),

Photos by Lauren Vasatka

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Bob Kettle

Victoria Beach and Sgt. Clark Chase

a first-of-its-kind program currently only practiced by the SPD, though other departments around the country are considering adopting it. The training program aims to teach recruits a “comprehensive understanding of the people they will eventually swear to serve and protect. Because of BTB, recruits will first build relationships with the people of Seattle — before they receive their badges.”

Concerning the current Seattle City Council, an officer stated that “for the past four years, it feels like there has been no dialogue” between it and the SPD. The shooting about two and half hours before the meeting and only a block away weighed on the attendees’ minds. Rev. Harriett Walden of Mothers for Police Accountability spoke on the matter, saying, “The silence is deafening when children are losing their lives” to gun violence and the SPD. The focus shifted to the City Council, and Rev. Walden, who goes by Mother Walden, said that she believes that “the City Council let the city down” and that the community has yet to be genuinely heard.

After the discussion with the candidates, the meeting came to a close with an announcement by Mother Walden about the next Mothers of Police Accountability meeting on May 31 at 6 p.m. at the South Seattle Liberty Bank. The next African American Community Advisory Council meeting has yet to be announced.

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Photos by Lauren Vasatka

MONROE

continued from cover event: “One, to have fun. Two, to raise money for our free pantry for the food insecure. And three, to show support for the LBGTQ+ community!” She ended her speech with, “The other side can be loud, but I can be loud too.”

Maxson stated that she “felt called” after seeing the rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. She believes that the teaching “love thy neighbor” should always be one of the top priorities of believers, and having a fully affirming church is a part of that.

She described how, during the pandemic, the church explored ways to better serve its community, which was facing many challenges because of the global crisis.

“It was a free library,” said Maxson, speaking about the little building neighboring the church. Church members realized that the space could be better utilized and so converted the property into a free pantry.

They raised money and stocked the shelves for the homeless and local families facing food insecurity. The church partnered with

Take the Next Step, a Snohomish County nonprofit, to provide community members with resources and support.

The mic was then passed to Crystyl Jewylbox, who wore a voluminous blond wig and a black dress adorned with crystals. Crystyl started the event with a game of “two truths and one lie.” She asked the audience if they thought the statements that she is an avid fly fisher, has been married to a woman for 11 years, and identifies as Gay were true. Hands were flung into the air for each statement, as many were unsure which was the truth. The lie was that she identifies as Gay; she said that she is Genderfluid and “heteroflexible.”

She explained that being a drag queen is her way of expressing her hyperfemininity. When asked how long she has been performing, she stated that she started three years ago, right before the pandemic. “I was one of the pandemic queens,” she said, explaining how she initially taught herself the art form virtually. She also spoke about how happy she was to host this event, saying that right now is a “pivotal time” to work on raising LGBTQIA+ acceptance.

Once the audience finished eating, num-

bers began to be called out, which could be by Crystyl and is adored by many — partictracked on a screen along a wall. According ularly by their Auntie D — waved Crystyl’s to Maxson, most of the bingo players were fan as they performed their walk. Finn’s love not active members of the church, and one for the art form was inspiring table’s participants even traveled there from Auntie D said, “Finn is a one in a million Snohomish. It was interesting to see the kid. They embrace the big, bold, beautiful variation in ages in the room, from elders experience of drag culture as their own. As to young adults to teens and children. Some an auntie (chosen family, not a blood relawore Pride-themed fashion, and some chil- tive), I think it has something to do with dren were adorned with rainbow face paint. self-love and expression. Drag is one of The players daubed their bingo sheets, those cultures that promote that above all and the competitiveness was palpable. One else, and that really appeals to younger woman exclaimed, “One more!” Another kids. Especially those who love dancing, person, in response, said, “No way!” A num- singing, and being bold, like Finn.” ber of the children yelled in unison after As bingo came to a close, Crystyl pereach number, “I have it!” Several themed formed a song and accepted tips from the gift baskets were up for grabs as prizes, and attendees. She gave all the tips to the panthe supply was running out fast. try, and Maxson said that without counting, At the halfway point, Crystyl paused the they had raised over $800 for the cause. game to hold a runway walk competition for Monroe United Methodist Church found the kids. One after the other, they strutted a way to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ commuacross the room to show off their walks and nity and feed neighbors facing food insecuposes. The prize was the title of “Best Run- rity. The next Rainbow Bingo has yet to be way Walker in Monroe,” and the winner was confirmed, but we hope it’s soon. decided through cheering. The children’s walks were fierce, but one little drag superIf you’d like to see Crystyl Jewylbox fan stood out. Four-year-old Finn, whose perform, you can find her at Julia’s on drag name is “Ice Cream,” visibly starstruck Broadway at its weekend Drag Brunch.

SNOHOMISH continued from cover

Stone emphasized that despite the negative media about the Queer community lately, he has, for the most part, only heard positivity surrounding the festivities.

“We have 27 sponsors, including many local businesses that are thrilled to support inclusivity in our town,” he said. “In addition, both the city and the police department have been nothing but supportive in ensuring this event is as safe and smooth as possible.

“On both social media and at the farmers market, where we’ve had a booth, we’ve had countless people tell us how grateful are that this event is happening. Parents of Queer and Trans kids tell us how this will positively impact their kids, and older community members have expressed how personally meaningful this is to them, because they never thought they’d see the day that they could openly celebrate in their town. Our LGBTQIA+ and allied community members, kids, and parents are thrilled this …is happening, and we hope that message is clear.”

While most people in Snohomish are excited, there are still a few who are less than thrilled that Pride has made its way to the city, mainly because of the false narrative that the Queer community is trying to convert youth and show blatant nudity.

“Nudity is illegal in our town,” Stone said in rebuttal. “We don’t have any special permission for naked people to be present, so it’s a family-friendly event. We have the Girl Scouts showing up, we have tons of youth groups and churches — I think there’s something like five churches that will be marching in the parade. We also have eight security officers and four police officers that will be present on the parade route… in addition to a ton of volunteers, The Historic Downtown Snohomish to make sure that everybody’s doing the Association also has plans in place in case correct thing. So I’m not concerned about of a protest or a threat to safety. anything that would be not child friendly.”

“Freedom of speech is protected,” Stone

Image courtesy of Snohomish Pride

“Older community members have expressed how personally meaningful this is to them, because they never thought they’d see the day that they could openly celebrate in their town.”

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said. “But we are very clear on what is legal and what is not. For example, we have the right of way to the parade route. So no protesters or anyone like that can step into the

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[street]. That would actually be illegal, and they would be arrested. So, we are very clear on that. Also, if there’s any, any blocking of the sidewalks or anything like that, that would also be unsafe. We want to have volunteers, security officers, and police officers on the lookout for things like that that would be unsafe.”

A full list of the Snohomish Pride events can be found at https://www. historicd own towns n oh o m ish. org/ snohomishpride. The Historic Downtown Snohomish Association is still looking for people to play music. Anyone interested in volunteering to do so can either email s n oh o m ishpridepa ra dem a n ager@ gmail.com or text 425-610-6269; applications are also at https://www. historicdowntownsnohomish.org.

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Arts & Entertainment

Heartfelt Monstrous Regiment will put a smile on your face

The evil Prince Heinrich (Rowan Gallagher, center) is captured by members of the Monstrous Regiment (Jacq Babb, Ali Kidder-Mostrom, Steven Sterne) in Monstrous Regiment – Photo by James Murphy, Trainman Photography

by A.V. Eichenbaum SGN Editor-in-Chief In a country at war on a world balanced precariously atop four elephants resting on a spacefaring turtle, a small group of misfit soldiers battle impossible odds, institutional incompetence, and irrational gender stereotypes. And one of them’s a troll.

If this sounds like a good time, you’re in luck. Monstrous Regiment has what you crave.

The delightful production, adapted by playwright Christopher Hainsworth from the beloved Terry Pratchett novel, made its West Coast premiere as Latitude Theatre’s stage debut on May 18.

Director Christopher Kidder-Mostrom addressed the crowd before curtain, mistyeyed, to outline the journey of the show.

“I hope that I do [the script] justice,” he said, “and I hope you enjoy it.” And it was indeed very enjoyable.

It’s been far too long since I’ve seen a show where it’s clear that the cast is having a good time, but the joy of theater is not lost in Latitude’s inaugural production. From scene one, Lola Rei Fukushima sets the tone with their dynamic, expressive portrayal of crafty barmaid turned battalion leader Polly Perks, and not a minute of the performance feels like a slog.

Was Monstrous Regiment’s opening night the most polished in the world? No. Some actors slipped up on their lines, the lighting cues in the first scene didn’t happen right away, and Lofty — played with enthusiasm by Annabel Klein — occasionally upstaged her castmates by lighting small fires at inopportune times. But there were several moments that genuinely shined, plus a fabulously dressed vampire with a caffeine addiction, so the show’s a must-see in my book.

Importantly, it’s funny. Pratchett’s particular brand of absurd, whimsical satire can be difficult to land, as it’s often peppered with pitch-black tragicomedy. The tone can switch at any moment. This cast, however, pulled off the punchlines with aplomb. Ali Kidder-Mostrom’s Igor had the audience in stitches. Every moment with the show-stealing Lt. Blouse (Jonathan Swindle) was enter-

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taining, but an early scene where he tells the untrained 10th Regiment that they are going directly to the front lines to die gloriously stands out. Swindle delivers the lines with jovial confidence reminiscent of Monty Python’s best and most chaotic work.

The antiwar message is clear throughout, but it doesn’t feel like the audience is being beaten over the head with moral platitudes.

If you’re going to tell the truth, you might as well make ’em laugh, and the entire cast does a splendid job balancing harsh realities with wild humor.

If you are a staunch defender of the gender binary, this show isn’t for you. Stay home and think about your choices. If you are someone who gets easily offended or has trouble with subtext, you may find moments that strike you as vaguely problematic or dated. Reactionaries should rest assured, however, that this is an intentional, integral part of the script.

With that said, for gender-diverse theatergoers out there like myself, sometimes the discussion around gender and gender inclusion in Monstrous Regiment, while wellmeaning, may feel like it misses the mark.

This is largely due to Hainsworth’s adaptation and the original material and not the efforts of the cast, many of whom are Nonbinary or gender-nonconforming.

It should be noted that Hainsworth also leaves out large sections of Vietnam War “flashsides,” wherein Maladict the vampire experiences war memories from our universe as opposed to their own, which is likely for the best. (Maladict, played by Jacq Babb, is Coffee Queer representation at its finest. Chef’s kiss. No notes.)

Lovers of adventure will thrill at the beautifully done fight sequences throughout. The sword work is almost as fantastic as the costumes. (Note that Latitude Theatre also hosts monthly “Monday Night

Fights” at the Seattle Center for folks who want to learn a thing or two about stage fighting.)

Leave your pretentions at the door, dear reader. There’s no place for them here.

Latitude’s Monstrous Regiment is art lovingly constructed and executed, and if you can’t find joy in that, take the stick out of your ass.

Everyone should be keeping their eye on Latitude Theatre to see what it does next.

It is a very welcome addition to Seattle’s theater scene, a breath of fresh air. And if this show is any indicator, its next will delight and surprise at every turn.

Monstrous Regiment is showing through June 4 at Taproot Theater’s Isaac Studio Theater in Greenwood. More information and tickets can be found at https://www. latitudetheatre.org.

Polly (Lola Rei Fukushima, center) holds her own sparring against Corporal Strappi (David Elwyn, r), under the watchful eye of Sergeant Jackrum (Steven Sterne, l) in Monstrous Regiment – Photo by James Murphy, Trainman Photography

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C E L E B R AT I N G 4 9 Y E A R S!

Dungeons and Drag Queens going strong a year later

by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Since speaking with the SGN in January last year, comedian Paul Curry and musician Carson Grubb have brought their live fantasy adventure show Dungeons and Drag Queens past the halls of the late Jai Thai, and soon it may carry them and certain Seattle queens beyond the borders of Washington state as well.

Dungeons and Drag Queens is what it sounds like: a live session of the popular tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, with drag queens playing the main cast of heroes. Grubb plays piano and electric violin to fit the situation, and as the dungeon master, Curry plays the side characters and adjudicates the rules — though he’s hardly the one in charge.

“We get the beautiful, rebellious, sassy attitude of the drag queen putting the dungeon master in his place, while simultaneously hitting this deep role-play,” Curry said over Zoom. Because of that balance, it seems like the show has been successful in hitting “both angles,” attracting fans of both drag and Dungeons & Dragons alike.

Curry and Grubb decided to expand the project after a big turnout in March last year.

“I think we realized it could be something bigger when we sold out Hale’s Ales a year ago,” Curry said. “If this can sell 300 tickets, this can probably do anything. And then we had a meeting, me and Carson, where we went over our dream plan: best-case scenario, what are we doing in one year?”

Their answer to that was that they’d be touring the West Coast, performing in Portland and various cities in California. New York City is also on their list.

The essential formula hasn’t changed much, but the show has been far from stagnant. One of the biggest differences between now and a year ago, Curry said, is the production value. There are much fancier visuals on the stage, to aid the audience in following important narrative context, like transitions from one location to another.

Curry credited a new member of the production team, Banji Oyewule, for having a big part in those improvements. “He’s

really great to work with,” Curry said. “He has a lot of insight and chops when it comes to producing.”

Audience participation has also been dialed up a notch. In every scene, the audience is assigned a role of their own, like a rabble of peasants, an assortment of woodland creatures, or an army of the queen’s soldiers.

Some of the cast members have also taken improv classes at Bandit Theater, just to brush up on those skills and be prepared for

whatever a fantasy land might throw at them.

“We really wanna invest a lot of time and resources into making sure the queens have all the tools they need to enjoy the adventure,” Curry said.

Speaking of queens, according to Curry, the regulars are somewhat “geographic.”

The Tacoma cast includes Tina Shay Monet, Jinkx Monsoon, and Solana Solstice. Tina Shay Monet and Issa Man are part of the Seattle cast.

You can follow Dungeons and Drag Queens to keep up with future tours, showings, and other events on Instagram and TikTok @dndqlive, and book tickets for shows at dndq.live.

Photos courtesy of Paul Curry

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“They’re already so good at improv,” Curry said of the queens. “When we did the first class, they didn’t know any of the Bandit-specific lingo and rules and stuff like that, but they’re so innately in tune with how to make the vibe funny, and flow.”

Despite the pressures of the pandemic to digitize everything, Dungeons and Drag Queens has been true to the roots of the tabletop gaming genre and a largely inperson affair. Part of the show’s next steps, however, will be into the digital realm, to help it reach a wider audience.

“One place that we really think we can improve on, and that we’re really focusing on, is just getting footage edited and posted online,” Curry said. “That’s a big kind of bottleneck for us. And so we’re always in the market for a video editor.”

Bottleneck or not, word has gotten out enough that Dungeons and Drag Queens has garnered recognition from a popular tabletop role-playing show hosted by actor and writer Brennan Lee Mulligan of CollegeHumor fame.

Curry recalled, “Dimension 20 hit us up and they were like, ‘Hey, we’re having some drag queens on for a special... and we’re thinking of calling it Dungeons and Drag Queens. Is that okay with you?’ And we were like, ‘Yeah, that’s cool.’”

“My hope is that we can form this new genre,” Curry said.

Playing Dungeons & Dragons can mean “pulling out this element of childhood play that has long been repressed by adulthood and reawakening that,” Curry said. “And I think it’s perfect for the Queer community, because at the end of the day, D&D and these tabletop role-playing games are about being who you are, being who you want to be, and assuming an identity that is the most fun for you.”

For the audience, Curry had this to say: “I know how ridiculous the world is and how ridiculous it is to just spend two hours sitting, watching something. So thank you.... I’m so indebted to our audience that I just hope I can make their day a little bit better by coming to our show.”

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Film

Bailey and McCarthy shine, but new Little Mermaid lacks the magic of its classic animated predecessor

Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid – Photo courtesy of Disney

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer THE LITTLE MERMAID Theaters The Little Mermaid is a decided step up from other recent Disney animation-to-live action(ish) remakes like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast. For one thing, the film is a stellar showcase for youngster Halle Bailey. She’s tremendous as Ariel, the youngest daughter of the all-powerful King Tritan (Javier Bardem) who longs to leave her home under the sea and explore the human world. For another, Melissa McCarthy’s dynamic, scene-stealing performance as the evil witch Ursula is everything a fan could hope for and more; the comedic superstar is so perfectly cast, it’s impossible to imagine any other actor in the role.

On the other hand, at a whopping 135 minutes, this reimagining of the 1989 animated classic is almost an hour longer than its predecessor. It adds unnecessary details, elongates scenes, adds a few anemic new musical numbers, and features an abysmally staged dance sequence in an outdoor marketplace that’s shockingly horrible. The cinematography by veteran Dion Beebe (Gemini Man) waffles between fantastic and mundane from one scene to the next, while the visual effects are equal parts eyepopping and eye-rolling, a frustrating turn of events to say the least.

Thankfully, the stuff that’s great is legitimately superb. Bailey is a born superstar.

She makes Ariel entirely her own. She sings with a passionate urgency that’s rapturous, delivering composer Alan Menken and the late, great lyricist Howard Ashman’s magnificent anthem “Part of Your World” in a way that makes it almost feel brand-new. Bailey also has divine chemistry with Jonah HauerKing’s two-legged object of the mermaid’s affection, Prince Eric, generating an electrifying warmth that makes their blossoming romance something blissfully special.

As for McCarthy, she more than delivers as Ursula. If anything — considering how much pointless material has been added to this remake — I honestly wish writer David Magee (Mary Poppins Returns) and director Rob Marshall (Into the Woods) had

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included more of the evil Sea Witch and excised any of the songs written specifically for this updated version (with lyrics written by Lin-Manuel Miranda). McCarthy is over the top, but in full service to the material. She’s raucously vile, taking such extreme pleasure in her monstrous villainy that watching her work her black magic is nothing less than a constant joy.

I just wish the stuff that falls flat didn’t do so with such a colossally upsetting thud.

While some of the underwater bits do look stunning, in a post-Avatar: The Way of Water world, something that looks this cartoonishly unnatural and washed out simply will not cut it. Marshall, seemingly in an admirable pursuit to not restage memorable sequences from the original shot-for-shot, still makes some absurd framing choices, most notably during the climactic aria during the reprise of “Part of Your World,” after Ariel has saved Eric

from drowning and watches him from afar, nestled behind a jagged seaside rock.

Then there are the effects themselves, mostly as they pertain to the crab Sebastian (voiced by Daveed Diggs), the flounder Flounder (Jacob Tremblay), and the seagull Scuttle (Awkwafina). Like with The Lion King, the pursuit of photorealism with these digitally created animals robs them of any opportunity to emote. While the talented vocal cast gives it their best shot, all of their performances are aggravatingly unnatural. The deadness in each character’s eyes sent constant shivers down my spine, and in large part because of this, signature musical numbers like “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl” (don’t get me started on the new lyrics for that one) left me cold.

The tale may not be as old as time, but it’s still the same comforting reimagining of author Hans Christian Andersen’s surpris-

ingly dark source material. Even though her father forbids it, the young mermaid wants to experience the wonders of the human world and makes a pact with the Sea Witch so she can freely walk upon dry land. She has three days to get a dashing prince to give her a kiss of true love, otherwise her soul is forfeit, and she must get him to do it without the use of her voice. Music, chaos, and hijinks involving singing and talking animals ensue.

For the poor, unfortunate souls hoping this The Little Mermaid will either equal or surpass the animated version, disappointment will be their unhappy bedfellow. But younger audiences will likely enjoy themselves quite a bit, and I can almost guarantee they’re going to fall euphorically in love (and deservedly so) with Bailey’s Ariel.

They’ll want to be a part of her world, and maybe that’s all that matters.

Melissa McCarthy in The Little Mermaid – Photo courtesy of Disney

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Film

Unforgettables: Cinematic milestones with Sara Michelle Dave: Celebrating 30 years of doing all the right things for all the right reasons

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer When someone asks me to name the best film directed by Ivan Reitman, I immediately respond with 1993’s political comedy Dave. Not Ghostbusters. Not Stripes. Not Meatballs. Not Twins or Kindergarten Cop. None of those. Hands down, it is this whipsmart satire with the doppelgänger, Alexandre Dumas–inspired hijinks, and if I felt that way walking out of the theater 30 years ago this month, that has only intensified in the here and now.

Maybe it had something to do with the exhilaration of finally being old enough to vote a few precious months prior; the knowledge that I played a small part in ushering Bill Clinton into the White House and kicking George Bush to the curb still brought a giant smile to my face. Maybe it was because, while taking an Introduction to Film course at the University of Washington, my professor prioritized the timely comedic works of filmmakers like Preston Sturges, Billy Wilder, and Jacques Tati, and I could see echoes of all three in writer Gary Ross’ inspired screenplay.

Honestly, though, I think it was because Dave touched a nerve. I’ve always been drawn to stories of transformation (considering my struggles with gender identity, that’s not surprising), and films like 1982’s Victor/Victoria, 1985’s Legend, 1988’s Big, and the 1937 version of The Prince and Pauper were on constant rotation at my house, courtesy of bootlegged VHS tapes recorded off of HBO, Showtime, and other various cable TV channels.

Reitman and Ross’ film is a Capraesque story of Dave Kovic (Kevin Kline), who runs a small Washington, DC, employment agency — and also happens to be the mirror image of current US President Bill Mitchell (also Kline). He’s tasked by Chief of Staff Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) to impersonate the president after a fundraiser at a swanky downtown hotel. But when Mitchell has a stroke while in flagrante with a woman who is most assuredly not First Lady Ellen Mitchell (Sigourney Weaver), Alexander sees an opportunity to clandestinely seize power.

Suddenly Dave is the new president of the United States, and even if the chief of staff is technically pulling the strings, that does not mean the good-natured everyman doesn’t spy a chance to make a difference. With a little help from his best friend, accountant Murray Blum (Charles Grodin), the faux politician begins to shake up the establishment by following through on initiatives that could substantially improve American lives.

He even balances the budget, a move that catches Ellen’s eye and makes her wonder if this man living with her in the White House is actually her husband or instead some sort of Invasion of the Body Snatchers–style clone, only one who selflessly thinks more of others than himself.

Ross’ scenario is a Count of Monte Cristo riff crossed with Sullivan’s Travels and To Be or Not to Be. While not exactly a barbed political satire, that does not mean the film pulls its punches. Democrats? Republicans?

Political pundits? Journalists? No one gets off unscathed. There is a refreshing honesty to how Ross observes and analyzes the political process, and as cheeky and silly as events may often be, that does not make what the writer is saying any less incisive.

But Reitman makes it all fun. Like Capra, Wilder, and Sturges before him, the director utilizes this outlandish story of a charming nobody in an unbelievably surreal situation to empower the viewer into believing that change is possible and doing what’s best for everyone is always the best course of action, no matter the cost. His comedy is light on its feet yet still makes an enchantingly memorable impression. No matter

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Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline in Dave – Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

how broad the joke or ludicrous the situation, Reitman brings it back down to earth with such grace, with such masterful simplicity that, much like Ellen does, becoming enamored with Dave Kovic isn’t just easy, it’s an outright certainty.

Kline won a much-deserved Academy Award for his spellbinding work in A Fish Called Wanda, but I’d love to make a case that he was equally deserving of being recognized here. Granted, that year’s nominees were across-the-board heavy hitters (Tom Hanks for Philadelphia, Liam Neeson for Schindler’s List, Laurence Fishburne for What’s Love Got to Do with It, Daniel Day-Lewis for In the Name of the Father, and Anthony Hopkins for The Remains of the Day), so it’s understandable he didn’t make the cut.

Still, his performance is a master class of dramatic and comedic dexterity. Kline mixes a plethora of varying emotional states effortlessly, while also showcasing the type of inspired physical dexterity he brought to more crazily high-energy efforts like The

Pirates of Penzance, I Love You to Death, and the aforementioned A Fish Called Wanda.

He’s like Cary Grant, Errol Flynn (whom he would later go on to portray in 2013’s The Last of Robin Hood), and Gene Kelly all rolled into one, and everything Kline does in Dave is nothing short of perfect.

Weaver is excellent as always. A scene in which she attempts to convince curious onlookers she’s not really the First Lady but instead a “Tomorrow”-singing, vaudevillestyle impersonator is as hysterical as it is endearing. Langella oozes tyrannical menace, while Kevin Dunn, Ving Rhames, and Ben Kingsley all add unforgettable support.

But it is Grodin who steals the show, and his scenes with Kline as the two discuss the budget over knockwurst and hot mustard are beyond compare.

Politics has become a zero-sum game, and it’s undeniably made the world a scary place. As a Trans woman, there are US states I can no longer visit, and there are moments when I shake my head and silently cry, wondering how it is we’ve gotten to this

perilously critical point. I think it’s fear that holds us back, a heartbreaking inability to see beyond our own wants, needs, and desires that allows resentment, acrimony, discrimination, and other equally odious sentiments to fester and grow like an uncontrollable virus.

Dave is an aspirational reminder of the good that humans can do when they set their own needs aside and make the choice to think bigger. Miracles often require the smallest allotment of courage, and Reitman’s film goes out of its way to remind us all of exactly that. Kindness is a choice.

Change is possible. Love should always be universal. Happiness is an inalienable right.

And simply being a good person is frequently the greatest marvel of them all.

Also, once I caught a fish this big…

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Dave is available on Blu-ray and DVD, and to purchase digitally in HD on multiple platforms. It is also streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max).

Kevin Kline in Dave – Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

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C E L E B R AT I N G 4 9 Y E A R S!

Books

Bronwyn Fischer’s debut novel an ode to Queer adult coming-of-age

Bronwyn Fischer – Photo by Kevin Workman

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer College is a time when young people experience adulthood for the first time.

It is a period of uncertainty, growth, and mistakes. Coming of age in the halls of university inspired Canadian writer Bronwyn Fischer to write her debut novel, The Adult.

Finding herself on the page When Fischer first started attending the University of Toronto, she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Looking for a class that could reignite a spark in her, she decided to try creative writing.

“I felt weird in university. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to drop out or continue with it,” she explained. “I cooked for a little while, and then I was looking through a course list, and I came upon creative writing courses at the school, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that was something I liked doing.

That was something I was into.’”

Fischer had enjoyed writing, but she never saw it as a career opportunity. “I’ve always written a little bit, …poems and whatever. Going into university, I didn’t think about writing. I thought, ‘Well, it was a childhood pastime,’” she admitted.

“For the creative writing courses, you had to apply by writing something creative, so I did. That reminded me of how much I liked doing it, and it helped me focus on school and gave me a purpose in doing it again.”

Fischer continued with creative writing all through college. In her final year, she took a novel-writing class, which changed her whole perspective on developing a career in writing.

“That made me feel like this is what I want to try and do and see how it goes,” she recalled.

Image courtesy of Random House Canada

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An “important and fraught period” In her novel-writing class, Fisher started drafting the story that would eventually become The Adult. “The first time I had the idea for the novel was in that …course,” she said. “It was much different then, but that was the first time I had considered the

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dynamic of the Nora and Natalie characters and their relationship.”

Years after graduating, Fischer returned to Nora and Natalie. Inspired by many of her experiences as a young adult in college, she just started writing. “I don’t do a lot of planning when I write, so it’s quite step-bystep. I will write it until it ends. When I had the initial idea, it wasn’t fully planned out.

It kind of just came to me,” she said.

Writing about college students coming of age gave Fischer the space to dissect the ways she had changed throughout her undergraduate experience and reflect on some of the struggles she faced along the way.

“It’s such an important and fraught period,” she recalled. “When I was that age, there was so much tension in trying to understand what you should do and how you should be, and the right way of doing it all is such an overwhelming question.”

She added little bits of personalized information into the story, like setting it at her alma mater and including many locations she enjoyed there.

“If you’ve had that feeling of— or if you’re currently experiencing becoming a new adult… maybe it can give you a sense of solidarity,” she said. “Sometimes having a work articulate [how] you feel about something can feel cathartic or make you feel less lonely. Hopefully, it can do that.

It’s a tough period to live through.”

Learning while doing Fischer was able to write the book due to several grants she was awarded by the Canadian Arts Council, which provides funding to help creatives begin their careers.

“I was lucky: I got a grant from the Canada Arts Council for a while, and that let me write more than I was,” she said. “…

There’s pretty good funding in Ontario, Canada, for artists that are working.”

Writing The Adult was a learning process for Fischer, who had never applied for public grants or gone through the publication process before.

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C E L E B R AT I N G 4 9 Y E A R S!

Books

You can’t go wrong with Raw Dog

Image courtesy of Forge

by Terri Schlichenmeyer Special to the SGN RAW DOG: THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT HOT DOGS JAMIE LOFTUS © 2023 Forge $26.99 320 pages Wieners, sausages, frankfurters: you probably grew up on that staple of summer picnics, loaded with relish and mustard.

You’ve eaten countless hot dogs in your lifetime, at home, in a stadium, at a gas station, at camp, at a fair, or streetside. But where will you find the best in America?

FISCHER

continued from page 13 “That’s also a whole other world I didn’t know about. Trying to get funding for different projects and having the time to write, as well as the money to continue to live, is an interesting dilemma,” she explained.

She picked up odd jobs while writing, but the grants enabled Fischer to focus on her novel and the daunting process of seeking publication.

“When I was writing, I didn’t know much about publishing. I didn’t consider everything involved with the process, but it’s very involved,” she added. “It’s a long process, and so many people are a part of it.”

Eventually, Algonquin Books of Cha-

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Jamie Loftus – Photo by Andrew Max Levy

In 2021, in the middle of a pandemic, author and comedian Jamie Loftus set off from New Mexico with a dog, a cat, a boyfriend, and a tiny budget in order to find out.

We like to think of it as a quintessential American food, she says, but the “hot dog is not American at all.” A tube of “meaty scraps in meaty casing” is actually an ancient thing from several cultures. We’ve just made it our own, in many ways across the country and through the decades.

The first tastes on Loftus’s journey was a “Sonoran hot dog” topped with bacon and beans, and one with vegetables and pasta rings in Albuquerque. Then we learn how hot dogs are made — though maybe you really don’t want to know.

A Coney dog in Tulsa was served on a wet bun. In Georgia, Loftus ate one boiled with beans and another “with strings.” She had a red hot in Florida, a “second-best” in Virginia and a papaya dog in New York. She was at a hot dog–eating contest on Coney Island, ate a “garbage plate” in Rochester, consumed a Chicago dog in the Windy City, had dairy with one in Wisconsin, and scarfed down others in three different stadiums.

And the very best, tastiest hot dog is...?

Says Loftus, “Everybody knows that.”

So what’ll you get in Raw Dog? A little of this, a lot of that, mustard and pickles, some profanity, couple of laughs, some learning, and a road trip, that’s what.

Let’s go back to the profanity: Loftus is quick to ladle plenty of that, just so you know. But also know that it complements a series of bad hotel rooms and intestinal issues, a dying relationship, and worry about her father, about all of which Loftus is appealingly, honestly forthcoming.

If you’ve ever taken a road trip on a dime, you’ll understand everything, including the desperation of wondering if this was really such a good idea after all.

Add in great descriptions of authentic hot dog counters, sprinkle on the history of the food and America itself, spoon on second thoughts, and Raw Dog is a funny story about a trip you’ll be glad someone else took.

pel Hill picked the book up and published it. Because she was publishing in Canada, Fischer did not face any issues writing a book with overt LGBTQ+ themes. Canadian publishers often encourage such books.

enough time has passed since her initial writing of the book that now she has forgotten how challenging the process was.

“Writing The Adult was immersive, and I feel I have amnesia about the writing process. Now I’m romanticizing it,” she said with a laugh. “I think when you’re trying to find a new idea, you’re trying to find a way of proving the new idea is right. My only experience is writing the last book, so when what I’m writing now doesn’t feel the same, I get nervous. I’m trying to get comfortable having a lot of looseness and exploration right now.”

While she cannot specify her projects, she knows that whatever she does next will be authentically Queer. She’s also branching away from some of the themes explored in The Adult.

“What I’m writing right now is not a coming-of-age story, so I imagine I’ll move on from [that]. Right now, that’s not what I’m thinking about,” she said.

What Fischer is thinking about is fantasy.

“I love reading fantasy books,” she said.

“I just devoured Robin Hobb’s first trilogy.

Fantasy is dangerous. I will abandon all of my responsibilities and just read these huge books. I’m scared, because she’s written 16 books, and I’m reading these 600-page books so quickly. I’m nervous about how much my life will be taken over by her.”

For anyone looking to have their life consumed by a gripping novel, The Adult is available this week.

Queer love, built in Writing a Queer story felt natural for Fischer, who never once considered The Adult a heterosexual story. “For me, it would have felt more of a choice for it not to be [LGBTQ],” she said. “Maybe Queer is my default, because it wasn’t something that entered my mind when I thought of writing coming-of-age. It was Queer coming-of-age. When I thought of love, it was Queer love. It was built in.”

Fischer is working on some projects now, but nothing is fleshed out. She joked that

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Op-Ed

The gift of song through the years with SMC

by Jack Hilovsky SGN Contributing Writer It all began in the Seattle Opera House on a warm summer night in June 1997. My housemate Stephe and I attended a concert of the Seattle Men’s Chorus called “We Are Family,” a tribute to the music of the 1970s.

I’m unsure if I’d ever seen the chorus perform in such a grand space until that evening. I was used to seeing the group sing a song or two following the Pride Parade, which at that time marched down Broadway and ended with a festival in Volunteer Park.

But that night something clicked for me.

A decade earlier, during a counseling session in which I grappled with coming out, my therapist (also named Jack) suggested I join the chorus. I was in my early twenties at the time and couldn’t imagine associating with such a large, Gay-identified club.

They all seemed so much older than I was.

What if they hit on me? Isn’t that what older Gay men did? They tried to seduce younger guys and get them into their clutches. I was full of all sorts of ideas and fears!

Ten years later, at We Are Family, I’d finally made peace with my sexuality.

By the second half of the concert, Stephe and I were on our feet with more than three thousand other concertgoers, singing along to the soulful rhythms of Karen Carpenter, boogeying to the beat of the Bee Gees and Donna Summer, and delighting in the ballads and glam rock of Elton John. The joy and exhilaration of communing and crooning with that happy crowd stretched into my summer and finally convinced me I needed to reconsider my earlier hesitation.

The following year, when the chorus announced its new season would start at the newly opened Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, I decided to audition. At the time, the revered artistic director Dennis Coleman helmed the organization. I think he asked me to sing a verse of “My Country ’Tis of Thee” or “America the Beautiful” or some patriotic ditty, but

SMC Baritone Brothers Hairspray concert, June 2013 – Photo courtesy of Jack Hilovsky

I can’t be sure. I must have passed muster, because before I knew it, I was attending rehearsals that fall for my first holiday show with SMC. When I began, the chorus numbered about 125 men. We’ve since doubled in size. We rehearsed in two churches in downtown Seattle before moving to Seattle First Baptist Church during the pandemic. Twenty years ago, a companion sister organization, the Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC), came into existence, a welcome addition to our chorus family. In 2016, Dennis Coleman stepped down from as artistic director role, and the marvelous Paul Caldwell inherited the baton.

This year I celebrate my 25th year singing with the chorus. I remain an upper baritone, though I’ve often wondered if I might aspire to become a lower tenor (maybe not). I marvel at the societal changes that have occurred over the time I’ve sung with SMC, such as the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy being replaced by open acceptance of Gays in the military; the domestic partner protections passed by the Washington state legislature replaced by marriage equality throughout all 50 states; and the devastating losses of Matthew Shepard, Tyler Clementi, and so many other

youths at the hands of violence and bullying replaced with antibullying laws.

American society has shown a greater acceptance of its Gay citizens, but there is still much work to be done worldwide, because laws alone cannot change hearts.

And sadly, there will always be backsliding.

Attacks on Transgender youth and adults are rampant in many states. Women are again fighting long-won battles on reproductive health care. And Queer youth are being denied access to books that might help them understand their heart’s desires, much less the ability to discuss those in a supportive classroom where a teacher isn’t forbidden to even acknowledge there are Gay kids.

I have rediscovered the joy and value of the chorus the past couple of months, as we’ve rehearsed our latest concert, to be performed at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle on June 9 and 10. In commemoration of its centennial, the Walt Disney Company commissioned “Disney PRIDE in Concert,” a celebration of LGBTQ life, love, family, and perseverance. Along with music from iconic films like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins, there are also songs from modern Disney classics like

Coco and Frozen, plus tunes from the Disney Parks songbook.

As I commit or recommit these hopefilled and compassionate songs to memory, I’m reminded of how we all search for a place to call home, sometimes beyond where we grew up. Someplace out there that will accept us and love us for who we are, where we don’t need to convince, prod, or please. Disney recognizes we live in a small world, that we are interconnected, and that someday we will learn to live with one another and let live.

Music changes hearts. I am grateful for the family I’ve found with my adopted SMC brothers (and SWC sisters) and look forward to another 25 years of musical delight and showmanship.

For tickets to SMC’s “Disney PRIDE in Concert” on June 9 and 10, visit https://bit. ly/42PhseF Jack Hilovsky is an author, actor, and blogger who has made his home in Seattle since 1986. His first book, RJ, Farrah and Me: A Young Man’s Gay Odyssey from the Inside Out, was published in June 2022.

It can be found at Elliott Bay Book Co., Madison Books, Nook & Cranny, University Bookstore, Pegasus Book Exchange, and Third Place Books (Seward Park).

Drug and alcohol addiction are destroying lives in veteran communities

by Veronica Raussin Special to the SGN Too many veterans lose their lives to drug and alcohol addiction, whether because of health problems, suicide, or overdose. Veterans often battle these problems in silence and do not necessarily seek help.

While on Memorial Day we take the time to honor the memory of the men and women who lost their lives fighting in the nation’s wars, we must never lose sight of those veterans who made it home and need our help.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 3.9 million veterans have a substance use disorder or mental illness. There are over 550,000 veterans in Washington, most of whom served in wartime.

Additionally, substance use disorders significantly increase suicidality among veterans aged 18 and older. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are also common among veterans aged 18–49, but often these issues get overlooked, and many veterans are struggling in silence.

Various causative factors lead to drug and alcohol use among veterans. Many struggle to adjust to civilian life, and they may experience financial hardships or difficulty finding employment or accessing benefits.

Others are dealing with mental and emotional problems, possibly compounded by physical injuries and chronic pain.

Untreated, these can impact every aspect of a veteran’s life, all leading to using drugs or alcohol to cope with their physical or emotional pain.

Veterans also face barriers when accessing treatment and support. This can include the costs involved, health insurance gaps, or the stigma regarding addiction. There

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Photo by RDNE Stock Project / Pexels

are often problems with inadequate funding and limited access to treatment for vets in rural areas.

Support and treatment “Early intervention saves lives, but many families struggle to know where to begin or how to intervene,” said Michael Leach of Addicted.org.

Outside of the usual services provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs

and the VA facility locator, other support options include the following: The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides information on benefits, services, and programs Helpful hotlines, such as the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, and the Lifeline for Vets at 1-888-777-4443 SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), which has a treatment facility locator through which one can search for specific treatment options for veterans Family support is also critical. It’s okay to have these difficult conversations and speak to loved ones openly and honestly about their drug or alcohol use. Family can also intervene and help them find treatment.

The key is to be patient and show compassion for what they are going through, and to reassure them that everything is treatable.

When communities and families come together to help veterans, amazing things can happen. It’s never too late to offer a helping hand.

Veronica Raussin is a community outreach coordinator for Addicted. org. She is passionate about spreading awareness of the risks and dangers of alcohol and drug use.

C E L E B R AT I N G 4 9 Y E A R S!

National News

DESANTIS

continued from cover Education DeSantis signed several key bills that will target educators at every level in Florida in both public and private institutions.

HB 1069, dubbed by many the “Don’t Say Gay Expansion Bill,” prohibits mention of gender identity or sexuality in any pre-K through eighth-grade classrooms. The new law also calls for the removal of “certain classroom materials” within a specified period. This has already led to purging in public school libraries throughout Florida.

The law also takes on the highly controversial topic of pronouns. It prohibits employees and students from providing, being asked to provide, and being required to use certain titles and pronouns. It states that “it shall be the policy of every public K-12 educational institution that is provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of Florida that a person’s sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex.”

According to the HRC, this law now forces staff and students to “deadname and misgender” all Trans and Nonbinary people in their school, as a subsection of the law says that employees of K-12 institutions “may not provide to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.”

This new law also revises all materials used in schools for sex education.

It updates the legal definition of “sex” to focus solely on reproduction and not to include LGBTQ+ topics. Furthermore, Florida schools do not mandate sex education; many only teach comprehensive health education, and students may opt out of instruction on reproductive health.

DeSantis also signed SB 266, which requires the state’s board of education to approve courses in all Florida higher education institutions, including private colleges and universities. The board is composed of members appointed by the governor.

Moreover, the Florida Educational Equality Act (Statute 1000.05) applies to higher education as well. It states that “the board shall include in its review a directive to each constituent university regarding its programs for any curriculum that violates S. 1000.05 or that is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privi-

Photo by Octavio Jones / Reuters

lege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.”

This allows the board to remove majors and minors in critical race theory, ethnic studies, and women’s and gender studies and prohibits spending on university programs that encourage ideas and theories grounded in those practices.

Healthcare DeSantis also signed SB 254, also known as “the Extreme Gender Affirming Care Ban,” into law on Wednesday.

This now makes it a felony for doctors to provide, prescribe, solicit, or even attempt to aid in gender-affirming care for anyone under 18. Any doctor accused of contributing to the transition of a minor will have their license immediately suspended before trial. It also prohibits Medicaid from covering gender-affirming care for Trans adults in Florida.

The law states that gender-affirming care, or even the “risk” of gender-affirming care, is reason enough for the courts to receive

temporary jurisdiction over a child present in the state if “the child has been subjected to or is threatened with being subjected to sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures.” It defines such procedures as including hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers.

It also allows Florida family courts to apply exceptional jurisdiction to minors who reside in another state so long as a parent with partial custody resides in Florida.

It also prohibits parents in family court disputes from removing a child from Florida to receive gender-affirming care.

DeSantis also signed into law SB 1580, which allows healthcare professionals and insurance providers to refuse care “based on conscience-based objections.” The law defines these as any religious, moral, or ethical beliefs one might hold, thus allowing providers to refuse care to Transgender people, Queer people, or anyone seeking an abortion.

Under this law, providers have immunity from liability over any “negative consequences that may result from their denial to provide care.” The law is broad, so, as a

Photo by Octavio Jones / Reuters

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result, it can apply not only to doctors and nurses but also to medical transport services, clinical lab personnel, and nursing homes.

This law will also extend whistle-blower protections to healthcare workers and providers who “disclose certain information relating to the reporting of certain violations.” This means that doctors or medical personnel who spread misinformation cannot be punished by their medical boards.

It also allows healthcare providers to discriminate in hiring practices.

“The potential public health and private sector consequences of such a bill are wideranging and detrimental,” said Kara Gross, the legislative director and senior policy counsel of the ACLU in a statement. “SB 1580 is akin to a state-sanctioned license to discriminate in the provision of any healthcare service. It is quite frankly shocking in its breadth and vagueness and government overreach into the private sector and regulated businesses. Medical standards —- not ethical, moral, or religious beliefs — should guide medical treatment and healthcare services.”

Bathrooms Not wanting to be outdone by Kansas and Arkansas, DeSantis signed one of the strictest bathroom bills into law. HB 1521 classifies using the “wrong” bathroom as criminal trespassing, which can lead to up to one year in jail. The law applies not only to bathrooms but also to changing rooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, correctional facilities, and domestic violence shelters.

This law also bans gender-inclusive restrooms in schools, public shelters, healthcare facilities, and jails. The law goes so far as to define “female” as “a person belonging, at birth, to the biological sex which has the specific reproductive role of producing eggs,” and “male” as “a person belonging, at birth, to the biological sex which has the specific reproductive role of producing sperm.”

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ+ political watchdog group in the country, has tracked 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures this year. Over 220 of those target Trans people specifically. This far surpasses 2022, which had previously held the record for most anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced, at 315, with 29 passing into law.

Despite the new laws in Florida, the latest data from the Public Religion Research Institute shows that 80% of the state’s citizens support nondiscrimination protections, and 66% oppose refusal of care on religious grounds.

On Wednesday DeSantis officially announced he will be running for president in 2024 on Twitter Spaces.

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National/International News National news highlights

Photo courtesy of Abprallen

by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Business booming for Trans designer ousted by Target drama Brick-and-mortar retail giant Target Corp. pulled some of this year’s annual Pride collection from its stores in Southern and otherwise conservative locations, over concerns for the safety of both customers and staff. But one of the collection’s Trans designers, Erik Carnell, said demand for his products has risen so much that he had to put orders from his Etsy store on hold.

“Your support during this extremely difficult time means more than I can express,” Carnell wrote in a post on the Etsy page.

Supporters of the drag community protest against Florida's anti-drag laws – Photo by Octavio Jones / Reuters

Then on his Instagram account, Carnell wrote, “I hope that none of Target’s retail employees are the victims of further threats and that none of them come to any harm.”

Carnell’s brand Abprallen had three items in the Pride collection: a slogan sweater with the words “Cure Transphobia Not Trans People,” a tote bag saying “Too Queer for Here,” and a fanny pack saying “We Belong Everywhere.”

The Etsy store also carries pins that say “Satan Respects Pronouns” and “Trans Healthcare Now.” These led to accusations on social media that Carnell was “Satan-loving,” which he didn’t deny.

“I am, believe it or not, a Satanist,” Carnell said on Instagram.

Spirit of defiance burns hot for Florida Pride Even as they beef up security and limit minors’ access to events, organizers of Pride in Florida are rallying against the state’s string of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

“The most important message of this year’s Pride is that we all show unity and family and togetherness,” said Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride organizer Jeff Sterling.

Former Democratic state representative Carlos Guillermo Smith of Equality Florida said, “We are telling people not to run, not to hide. That’s what the bigots want.”

One smaller Pride event outside Orlando was canceled after drag perform-

ers backed out, citing fears over new state laws, but St. Pete Pride will continue, according to head board member Tiffany Freisberg.

“The new laws have a very real ripple effect of fear on our communities,” she said. “But that’s why events like ours are more important than ever.

Gay Days CEO Joseph Clark of Orlando echoed a similar sentiment.

“When people come to Pride events, that unity and coming together creates a layer of security for our community, and it shows that we’re here and we’re not going anywhere,” he said.

International news highlights

by A.V. Eichenbaum SGN Editor-in-Chief Slovakia to vote on banning legal recognition of Trans people In what is being called by EU activists a “modern-day Jewish star,” Slovakia’s parliament is set to vote to allow Trans citizens to change their gender on documents only after taking a genetic test to prove their gender has been “wrongly identified.” Trans people would be able to change their given names under the new law, but it is unclear whether they would be allowed to change their surnames as well, which have gender-identifying suffixes in the Slovak language.

Hungary passed a similar law in 2020.

“They could be identified in documents, for example, by employers. That is of course completely unacceptable,” Martin Macko, the executive director of Slovak LGBTI civil rights group Iniciativa Inakost, told Reuters. He believes the liberal president of Slovakia, Zuzana Čaputová, will veto the law — effectively stalling another vote until the country’s election in September — or, if the law is passed, that the Constitutional Court will invalidate it.

“We have the advantage over Hungary that we still have an independent constitutional court,” he said.

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Photo courtesy of President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová

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