SGN June 2, 2023 by sgn.org

ISSUE 2 2

C E L E B R AT I N G

VOLUME 51

49 YEARS

F R I D AY

JUNE 2, 2023

PRINT S E AT T L E ’ S L G B T Q I A + N E W S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T W E E K LY S I N C E 19 74

SPOKANE PASTOR CALLS FOR MURDER OF PRO-TRANS PARENTS

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer A video of a Spokane religious leader encouraging the violent killing of parents who support Transgender children has gone viral after it was posted on April 23. Jason Graber, one of the pastors of Sure Foundation Baptist Church was filmed passionately telling his congregation that parents of Trans kids “need to be convicted in trial and immediately shot in the back of the head, and then we can string them up above a bridge so the public can see the consequences of that kind of wickedness.”

see SPOKANE page 5

An image from the church's website – Photo courtesy of Sure Foundation Baptist Church Spokane

So that’s how you wear a condom

WWU club holds 8th annual condom fashion show

Interview with Kendall Gender ahead of Tacoma Pride’s Block Party Photo courtesy of the artist

Photo by Cameron Martinez

by Cameron Martinez SGN Intern Have you ever wondered if there was a use for your expired condoms? Western Washington University’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action has a solution: turning them into outfits and holding a fashion show to promote safe sex. On the night of May 24, the club held its eighth annual condom extravaganza in

WWU’s Viking Union in front of a sizable and excited audience. “[The purpose] is to promote destigmatizing talking about safe sex with your partner and just speaking about it in general,” said PPGA’s Celia Hester. “It’s supposed to encourage student creativity, and how fashion is such a wonderful form of self-expression, and combining that with empowering our sexuality.”

see CONDOM page 5

by LA Kendall LaBree Special to the SGN Pride doesn’t end in June in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, the Gritty City to the south has been growing its Pride activities for years, usually during the second weekend in July. One of the most anticipated parties of the Tacoma Pride season is the official Tacoma Pride Block Party at The Mix. Over the last decade, it has grown from a simple street

festival into a major sold-out event. This year’s lineup is positively sickening in all the best ways! Among the heavy-hitting performers in this year’s festivities is Kendall Gender, a major player from Canada’s Drag Race franchise. She was a competitor on season 2 of that country’s Drag Race (2021) and was quickly invited back to compete in Drag Race: Canada vs. the World (2022).

see KENDALL page 8

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JUNE 2, 2023

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

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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 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. Publication of names, photographs, or likeness of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business. Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper. SGN welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication. We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write. And please play safe. It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your ad. Credit will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.

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In this Issue

LOCAL NEWS 4 SEATTLE PRIDE SPOTLIGHT 6 A&E 8 FILM 13 BOOKS 15 OP-ED 17 NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS 18 JUNE 2, 2023

SGN

Local News

Starbucks workers’ ad dropped from Pride Guide Seattle Pride apologizes to Starbucks workers by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer This year’s official Pride Guide will not carry an ad from Starbucks Workers United (SBWU), the union that represents the coffee giant’s employees, even though the union submitted ad copy by the deadline. The ad featured artwork inspired by the Starbucks signature siren logo, and said, in part, “Starbucks: You can’t say you’re proqueer and be anti-union! It’s time to stop union busting.” In addition to SBWU, 23 other labor and community organizations signed on to the ad. According to an email thread obtained by the SGN, Encore Media, the ad agency working for Seattle Pride, declined the ad after sending it to Seattle Pride for “review.” In the email thread, Encore Media admitted that “review” of ads is not standard procedure. “My concern is that Starbucks is one of their sponsors,” a representative of Encore said in email to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the parent union of SBWU. “It is Seattle Pride’s publication, and I sell the ad space on their behalf. I do not want to jeopardize our relationship in any way, so I flagged the ad for their approval.” Starbucks is a platinum-level sponsor of Seattle Pride, meaning that they have given the Pride organizers at least $150,000. On May 9, Encore notified the SEIU and SBWU that “Seattle Pride has opted to not run your ad.” No explanation was offered. According to Seattle Pride, however, it did not opt to drop the ad, “and the assertion hurts us to our core,” interim Executive Director Noah Wagoner told the SGN in an email. “The ad itself wasn’t declined, but rather when our publisher brought the ad to our attention, we were in the process of reviewing the final print layout in which all pages were accounted for — so there was simply no space remaining for a full-page ad,” Wagoner explained. “In addition to the ad in question, we similarly had two other potential advertisers [for whom] we were unable to provide an ad due to space availability… “There was an unfortunate series of miscommunication[s] between us and our publisher, and between our publisher and SEIU, which led to the incorrect assumption that the ad was declined due to its content.” A version of the ad will run in the SGN’s Pride Guide. Support for the cause Wagoner also expressed support for SBWU’s organizing efforts. “We want to be clear that as an LGBTQIA+-led-and-focused organization, Seattle Pride has no qualms with the content of their ad, which advocates for Starbucks workers to organize and form unions; in fact we have always staunchly supported efforts to ensure equity and inclusion in the workplace,” he wrote. “We regret the miscommunication, and we are taking steps to correct our communications processes with our publisher moving forward. In the meantime, we have offered SEIU the opportunity to march in our parade [by] waiving their registration [fee], to insert their ad in the digital edition of our magazine at no cost to them, and to meet with them to better understand their position and learn how Seattle Pride can add our voice to this vital movement. Sadly, they have not responded. “We sincerely hope that they will accept our apology for this honest mistake, and that they take us up on our offers to support their cause.” SBWU’s union campaign has been remarkably successful, with more than 300 stores in the US currently represented.

SGN

Photo by Brendan McDermid / Reuters

“We sincerely hope that they will accept our apology for this honest mistake, and that they take us up on our offers to support their cause.”

Image courtesy of SBWU

Even more locations have filed for union elections with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency that oversees federal labor laws. The union has accused Starbucks of multiple violations of these labor laws, including intimidation and retaliation against union activists, and failing to bargain for contracts with the union in good faith. The artist Arthur Pratt, the artist who made the ad, told the SGN that he had been the target of retaliation by the company. Pratt, a Trans man living in Portland, was fired from his Starbucks job in November 2022; the union says this was for his union activism. He recently completed an NLRB hearing on his complaint of retaliatory firing — which is illegal — and is waiting to see if he’ll get his job back. Speaking about his drawing of the signature siren, Pratt said, “I intentionally drew her not happy. Because she’s feeling rage. Rage and grief. And that’s the rage and grief I feel about Starbucks treating [its] workers like this.

JUNE 2, 2023

“In my store, workers are denied raises, they’re denied credit card tips, they’re denied access to training. Oh, we talk about it, but management doesn’t deliver. “They make you stretch beyond your limits and beyond your job description. Then when they want you gone, you’re gone.” Pratt went on to describe numerous safety violations at his Portland Starbucks store, from flooding during the rainy season to burns suffered by baristas while heating food. Ironically, when Pratt first drew a Queerthemed siren, she was a hit with Starbucks management. “The siren has a history,” he recalled. “In 2020, I drew a siren with rainbow hair and the tagline ‘All Together Now.’ That was the company tagline for Pride. “My manager used it in our store, and then it got passed around to other stores, and eventually printed up for use all over the country. They even published it on Starbucks’ Instagram.” “It’s a very emotionally manipulative company,” Pratt added. “They say we’re all in this together, but we’re not. They even put an empty chair out at board meetings to represent the ‘partners’ [Starbucks’ word for its workers].” Asked if workers ever tried to go sit in the empty chair, Pratt laughed. “Yeah. They wouldn’t even let us in the building.” Community support Every one of the 23 organizations that participated in the original ad have reaf-

firmed their support for it and SBWU. Dustin Lambro, first openly Gay president of MLK Labor, representing some 150 unions and 100,000 workers in King County, noted that “the fights for workers’ rights and LGBTQIA+ rights are intrinsically linked; Queer people are present in workplaces across all industries and experience compounding oppression as workers. Too often we are used for our labor, and businesses that employ us profit off of our identities as trendy. “And yet when we rise up to be seen, heard, and respected like the humans that we are, we are met with retaliation, illegal terminations, and other union-busting scare tactics. “Starbucks heralds [itself] as a progressive employer,” Lambro continued, “but unionized Starbucks workers have faced intimidation and a scorched-earth unionbusting campaign that cuts hours, which can cut workers’ access to healthcare, including gender-affirming care for Trans workers. We’ve also seen that Starbucks management in some stores have been taking down Pride flags. And yet, Starbucks is throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars into sponsoring Pride events here in Seattle and across the nation. “Here in King County, we are proud to be part of the labor movement where workers and LGBTQIA+ people are empowered to challenge those who are seeking to exploit, silence, and harm us.”

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CONDOM

continued from cover Planned Parenthood Generation Action, a nationwide club with chapters on more than 350 campuses, encourages young activists to stand up for reproductive freedom in their community. Like most other things the club does, the fashion show was funded by Bellingham’s Planned Parenthood, which allowed the event to be free and lucrative prizes to be given away to winners: first place won $200, second place $150, third place $100, and the audience choice winner a $75 gift card to Worn Again Thrift, a thrift store in downtown Bellingham. Pokiness and slayness The show’s theme was “Glitz and Glam: 2010s Icons.” “I [chose the theme],” Hester said, “because I think there’s a lot of iconic pop stars, like Britney Spears, Ke$ha, and Lady Gaga, who are also all about empowering themselves and embracing their sexuality.” The student designers were allowed to create any type of outfit they wanted, as long as condoms were the most prominent part. The club provided mostly standard male condoms, but it also gave away a few dental dams. “We had designers and models [meet] … after people had signed up, and that’s when we gave everybody a few [large] packs of condoms,” Hester said. “And then we had additional condoms for people who needed more.” “[It] probably took 30 hours all said and done,” said dress designer and audience choice winner Olivia. “I spent a lot of time designing the dress. I’ve never made a dress before, so this is really exciting. It’s probably about 650 condom wrappers sewn together and maybe, like, over 150 condoms glued together.” Besides the fact that the outfits could not be worn outside the venue without being met with stares, they were also uncomfortable. Models indicated that the pokiness of the condoms was not the most practical. The show’s first half was dedicated to the student models strutting their dried-out expired stuff down the catwalk to a roaring crowd. At the end of the runway, the judges sat with their scoresheets and the coveted condom crown.

Photos by Cameron Martinez

“We’ve got this fashion show card that we’re encouraged to follow,” said one judge, Natalie Mote. “[We’re judging on the] material they use, ‘slayness,’ theme, [and] creativity, and then [giving] the overall score. So, we’re really going to be looking at… how well the model is feeling. Are they feeling good? Are they feeling covered? Are they working it?” And the models definitely worked it. Each had their own signature poses, and some even revealed a few props and surprises. One went as far as to reveal that the bottom portion of their dress was removable.

At halftime, audience members were high school and teach me sex ed. So, I got to brought up to the stage to taste-test con- learn about Gay sex in high school, and not doms in order to win a gift bag from Wink many people can say that.” Wink, a sex shop located in downtown Later, the winners of the show were Bellingham. announced, and the organizers of the event The condom licking was then followed were praised for their efforts. by drag performances by Mimi Cünt and “I think it was a wonderful event,” Alecia Lily, also known as Gare Bruun. Hester said. “It was really lovely to see “[I feel] sweaty and slimy,” Bruun said how much of the community was brought after performing in the halftime show. “I’m together. I mean, there were nearly 200 just kidding. I feel great. I’m glad to perform seats filled. There were the …drag perat a condom show. I think sex ed is such an formers and the people who donated gifts. important topic. …I was lucky enough actu- I was very appreciative of the Bellingham ally to have Planned Parenthood come to my and Western [communities] for that.”

SPOKANE

continued from cover Graber acknowledged in his sermon that his anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs are radical, even for those in Spokane’s religious community. “I want you to go ahead and find me another preacher in Spokane to preach the message where they said that these child molesters, that these child butchers, that these f*****s, all these LGBTQ people, people that desire strange flesh, that they should all be put to death in a public execution by the government,” he said. Protected speech The video was removed from YouTube and Twitter after it gained national attenA screenshot of Graber in a recent broadcast on the church’s Facebook tion and sparked safety concerns from sev– Photo courtesy of Sure Foundation Baptist Church Spokane eral antidiscrimination groups in Spokane. The Spokane Police Department received complaints about Graber’s sermon, identifying it as hate speech. In a statement to the Spokesman-Review, police spokeswoman Julie Humphreys clarified that they are taking no criminal action against Graber. “We had a number of citizens reach out to us and [bring] it to our attention,” she said. “At this point, we don’t see any evidence of a criminal violation. It appears that speech is protected under the Constitution.” The Spokane Police Department has chosen not to classify the incident as a hate People of faith condemn Graber tian practice, and we strongly recommend crime because Graber did not name any The Faith Leaders and Leaders of Con- that Jason Graber, as a Christian, repent for individuals in his rant. science of Eastern Washington and North his words of terrorism, hate, and violence “If they named somebody, then that crosses Idaho (FLLC), a pan-religious organization and return to a humble walk with his God.” over to a true threat to somebody,” Humphrey dedicated to fighting racism, condemned added. “It’s shocking to everybody, because Graber’s words in a statement. They said, An official “hate group” the words are so hateful, but it doesn’t mean “We denounce those who call for the terrorWhile many Christians, both online and they’re necessarily criminal words.” izing and killing of any human being in the in Spokane, have called out Graber’s words The Southern Poverty Law Center has name of faith.” as hateful and dangerous, they are reflecissued warnings about SFBC and classified They also called on Graber to repent to tive of the beliefs at the core of Sure Founall three of its locations as hate groups. God for his words. “Repentance is a Chris- dation Baptist Church.

“We strongly recommend that Jason Graber, as a Christian, repent for his words of terrorism, hate, and violence.”

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JUNE 2, 2023

Graber is not the first SFBC preacher to condemn the LGBTQ+ community or encourage violence against it. Following the Club Q shooting, a video of Vancouverbased SFBC Pastor Aaron Thompson went viral after he said he “didn’t care” about the victims of the shooting and that he believed it was a “good thing,” because he hates LGBTQ+ people. The organization, which affiliates itself with the New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movement, has made several public statements condemning what it believes to be sodomy. “We believe that sodomy (homosexuality) is a sin and an abomination before God which God punishes with the death penalty,” the church said in an official statement. “No sodomite (homosexual) will be allowed to attend or join Sure Foundation Baptist Church.” A quick change SFBC has not issued any public statements directly addressing Graber or his sermon, but it removed him from his position as pastor of the Spokane chapter following the video’s release. Danil Kutsar is replacing him, a decision the church said was already in the works before Graber’s threats. “This was a planned event and only happened during a media frenzy by providence,” it said. “Danil stands by the preaching of the church and will continue to be a light unto Spokane.” Many of Graber’s past sermons remain on the church’s website. The SGN reached out to the church for comment on the story, to which it responded, “What is SGN? I’m not familiar.” After learning that the paper is affiliated with the LGBTQ+ community, another response came: “Yeah, I’m not interested.”

SGN

Seattle Pride Spotlight

Comedians clap back against transphobes in 2nd annual Black Trans Comedy Showcase by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer Get ready to laugh because, on June 10, the Black Trans Comedy Showcase is returning to Seattle! Produced by the Lavender Rights Project, it’s one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers of the year and features talent from across the country. The idea for a Black, all-Trans comedy showcase in Seattle came up after comedian Dave Chapelle sold out Climate Pledge Arena shortly after making controversial comments about the Trans community. “This event started as the LRP’s response to some of the transphobia that’s happening all the time, but there was a specific incident with some folks who were doing comedy and saying some transphobic things and agreeing with some transphobic people,” said Angel Patterson, development associate for the Lavender Rights Project. “It was LRP’s opportunity and idea to center Black Trans joy and highlight Black Trans comedians and community,” they continued. “We took that opportunity to say, ‘Hey, we’re back, we’re Black, we’re funnier, and we’re going to have Black Trans comedians.’ We are using that as our way of protesting everything he was saying.” A stellar lineup The 2022 event was a huge success. It featured comedians Mitch Mitchel, Chocolate the Entertainer, and Mx. Dahlia Bell. This year the lineup is just as impressive, including Chicago-based K.J. Whitehead and Spokane-based Beyonce Black St. James. Reality TV star Ts Madison will host the evening. Patterson and Lavender Rights Project Development Director Randy Ford hope that the evening will offer Black Trans people a fun night and a reprieve from the constant attacks they face. “We wanted this Pride season [not] to focus …on the violence that happens or the anti-Trans legislations but to show we’re resilient,” Ford said. “We wanted this Pride season to not be another vigil or campaign,” she continued. “We must center joy because we’re not just our trauma, we’re not just the violence that happens to us, and we’re not the cause of this, so why would we center it in the first place? We wanted this to be about joy, laughter, community, and clap-backs! I’m all about a good clap-back. This is a good way to clap back at all of that.” “You know, a lot of our joy comes from comedy. It comes from roasting. It’s very centered on blackness, this comedy show,” Ford added. The evening will be fun and laughterfilled, but it is also a way for the Lavender Rights Project to connect with the community it serves and encourage allies to donate. “This night is highlighting how we’re disrupting systems of oppression to stop the violence against Black Trans women and femmes and ultimately liberate us all,” Patterson said. “Come and expect to laugh. I’ve previewed the comedy. I’ve had a little sneak peek — it’s hilarious!” Audience members can participate in raffle drawings throughout the evening, as well. The LRP will be raffling off prizes, including two pairs of Alaska Airline tickets to anywhere, tickets to Seahawks Gameday, tickets to see Jinx Monsoon in Seattle, and a free session at Marconi Chiropractic & Wellness. Security is a main priority of the Lavender Rights Project, and corners will not be cut when ensuring that comedians and audience members feel safe. The LRP has partnered with the Blaq Elephant Party, which will provide armed security at the door and check bags before anyone enters the venue. It will also provide security

SGN

Photos courtesy of Lavender Rights Project

guards to accompany the comedians at the show and to and from the airport. Uncensored The show will also be inclusive for all audience members. “We always tell our comedians we want you to be yourselves. We’re not going to censor. We’re not going to use low-hanging fruit for comedy, though,” Ford said. “We’re not going to be fatphobic. We’re not going to be xenophobic. We’re not going to be antisemitic. We’re not going to be ableist. We can be funny without having to do the same things people do to us.” The LRP will also provide two ASL interpreters during the event. While none of the “isms” or “phobias” are welcome, Ford warns that the comedians are not censored. “No, they’re going to be cussing, they’re going to be taking it there, and yeah, people can have those conversations with their kids if they choose to bring them,” she said. “I am an artist. Anything I do is familyfriendly, because families need to see the realities that we live in. When you try to censor and dial down the actual experi-

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“We must center joy because we’re not just our trauma, we’re not just the violence that happens to us, and we’re not the cause of this, so why would we center it in the first place?” ences of Trans people, you’re not doing your families justice. You’re miseducating them, misleading them about what’s happening, and having them think it’s just Pride in the Park every day for us.” The focus on the Black Trans experience is intentional and vital to preserving all marginalized communities, according to Ford. “It is very important to center Black Trans liberation, Black Trans joy, Black Trans autonomy, because Black genderdiverse communities, especially Black Trans women and femmes, are the most marginal-

ized in our society, and the world,” she said. “None of our efforts around this fundraiser, none of our efforts around our programs, none of our efforts around this community are going to matter if we’re not prioritizing Black Trans women and femmes and Black gender-diverse communities,” she added, “because everyone’s liberation will be felt as an after-effect. “Once we uplift [Black Trans women and femmes], all of that will just ripple like a cute little tidal wave of liberation for everyone.”

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How to show support Uplifting the Black Trans community comes in many forms, but the easiest way to contribute to liberation is through donation, according to Patterson. “We know folks get activated during Pride season,” they explained, “but we like to use this night to get [them] to understand our mission and understand why it’s important not to just do those one-time donations. “A one-time donation is great for Pride. You’re an ally, but we want to see you continue and stand up for Black Trans folks, Black Trans women and femmes, and show that you’re about our liberation. “Once you liberate Black Trans women and femmes, then you liberate us all, and that’s the goal we’re working toward: our liberation and ending violence against Black women and femmes.” Organizations like the Lavender Rights Project see support during Pride month, but once the rainbow decorations go away, so does a lot of the funding. “Year-round support [is needed], not just [in] June,” Ford said. “It’s cute, it’s fun, it’s amazing, yes, but do you even realize that Pride is possible because of a Black Trans woman? If you’re not centering Black Trans women during Pride, you’re doing a disservice to the founding mother.” “A monthly recurring donation is one of the best ways [to support the LRP]. It doesn’t have to be a large donation, but anything within the means of folks,” she added. “Really, put your money where your mouth is, put your heart where your mouth is.” The organization is also looking for all kinds of volunteers. Volunteering is also a great way to contribute to the LRP. “Our outreach coordinator, Farren, is in charge of training our volunteers and getting them competent on how to talk to Black Trans folks and about LRP when they’re on the street,” she continued. Other ways to boost the organization’s footprint include “word of mouth, sharing our Instagram and our Twitter, subscribing to our newsletter, [and] educating yourself on policy advocacy,” Ford said. “Because that’s also one of the biggest things with our programs. Our programs won’t mean anything if there’s no policy behind it.” Allyship can also be as simple as standing up against comments made by transphobes like Dave Chappelle. “Whenever you hear about this anti-Trans legislation, don’t just turn your head, actually say something,” Ford added. “Advocate for us when we’re not in the room. If you want to include us in your plans, include us from the beginning and not just at the tail end to show face. “Being intentional with how you approach Black Trans people is the biggest way you can help, whether it’s monetary, whether you’re volunteering and donating your time, or redistributing the wealth that is stacked in Seattle. “We’re also going to be hiring…for some positions,” Ford said. “If you’re interested in fundraising, come holla at us.” For anyone interested in getting involved with the Lavender Rights Project, donating, or volunteering, Ford and Patterson suggest reaching out via the website or Instagram. Next steps for Lavender Rights Currently, the LRP is working on a new housing initiative to help BIPOC Trans people get equitable access to housing in Seattle. “We are going to create BIPOC and gender-diverse-specific housing, and it’s almost here. We’re excited,” Ford said. “We’re also excited about the advocacy behind it. We need more of these spaces. Our gender-based violence prevention team is doing amazing legal and advocacy work. We’re creating public service announcements and a video project that will be coming out, which will be another creative way to share a story about what it’s like to be Black and Trans in Washington.” However, she added, “[Our] housing initiative won’t mean anything if there aren’t housing protections included on the legislative level for Black Trans people.” The LRP is also looking at mobilizing beyond Washington. “We’re very excited to be doing some national advocacy work, national policy work, and branching out

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(top, l-r) TS Madison, KJ Whitehead, Beyonce Black St. James, and Mx Dahlia Belle – Photos courtesy of Lavender Rights Project

“We know folks get activated during Pride season, but we like to use this night to get [them] to understand our mission and understand why it’s important not to just do those one-time donations.” from the Pacific Northwest,” Ford said. “We’re finding more and more organizations similar to our mission and vision and doing similar programming. We’re all on the same wavelength. We’re ready to not feel as isolated as we are. That’s the next step, to connect and get that web nice and strong.” Why are you laughing? If you’re looking for a little more joy and a lot of laughter, tickets are still available for the Black Trans Comedy Showcase. “I want everyone in the room to feel joy, but I also want folks to be activated,” Patterson said. “I want [them] to walk away really feeling like, ‘I was so inspired by everything that happened tonight that I feel I can better assert myself in this movement [for] Black

Trans liberation,’ and …empowered to donate, to volunteer, and to walk away feeling ready to share what they learned about our mission with other [people] and be an ally for Black Trans liberation.” Ford also hopes the night provides an opportunity for reflection. “I hope people laugh. I also hope people think about why they’re laughing,” they said. “Not every laugh comes from joy. Sometimes people laugh when they’re nervous. Why are you nervous? What about these amazing people is funny? Yes, you’re coming to a comedy show, but comedy is a way to tell stories — to bring light to some of these things we have a hard time talking about.” “I hope people have conversations after and think about what role they can play,”

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Ford said. “No role is too big or too small to contribute to Black Trans liberation. Everyone can do their part. It can’t be the Black Trans community that saves us. We did not cause this, so we don’t have the answers. Everyone else does.” The Black Trans Comedy Showcase on June 10 will serve as one of the LRP’s Pride kickoff events. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the show will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are available now at https://https://bit.ly/ transcomedy23. Black Trans comedians interested in participating in next year’s comedy showcase can reach out to Angel Patterson at Angel@lavrights.org.

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Arts & Entertainment

KENDALL

continued from cover We had a chance to chop it up with Kendall Gender in advance of her appearance at the block party. LA Kendall LaBree: We are so excited to have you on the bill for the official Tacoma Pride Block Party this year! Have you ever been to Tacoma? Kendall Gender: Yay! I’m excited too! I actually have never been to Tacoma, personally or for drag. So I’m ready to turn it out. LAKL: We bet, and we can’t wait! How did Kendall Gender come to be? KG: I feel like drag and femininity always lived within me, even at a very young age. I was always the kid wearing my mom’s big sun hats. So, in my early twenties, I basically went to a drag show and was so drawn to the characterization and idea of expression. It felt like such a safe space to just be yourself. So I just dove in head-first and never looked back. LAKL: And look where it has landed you! Were you so excited to be selected for Canada’s Drag Race? KG: Of course! Drag Race is like the Olympics of drag, so it’s like the ultimate recognition of your art form. LAKL: You did an All Stars pretty quickly after your season. Was that expected, or were you surprised to be asked back so quickly? KG: I was actually shocked to be asked back so quickly, but honestly, life is about taking risks! Even though the all-stars experience didn’t go exactly how I wanted, it’s just made me want to work even harder in my life and my career. When you’re on the show, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, but after the show, you start to see it in

Kendall Gender – Photo by The Drag Series

LAKL: I love that for you! What would you say are the biggest differences between the US and Canada Drag Race franchises? KG: I can’t fully speak to the behind-thescenes aspects of the US franchise, but I know that on CDR it honestly is like one big family — everyone in front and behind the camera really have become laced up into each other’s lives. I think for me one of the most pleasant surprises was seeing how involved Brooke is with the contestants post show. She is always checking in on me, and even now will slide into my DMs and be like, “Girl, I like your makeup like that, do it more.” She’s like the momma bear to all of us. LAKL: That’s so special. We all need those types in our lives that provide support by projecting positive energy. Especially when you are putting yourself out there like you do. Who is your biggest inspiration? KG: Beyoncé, duh! LAKL: Okay, fair enough. She’s very inspirational! What can the folks in Tacoma expect when Kendall Gender hits the stage on July 8? KG: I guess you’ll have to come and find out! *wink sound* There you have it, folks! If you have not purchased tickets to the official Tacoma Pride Block Party, you better get on it. This event sold out last year, and with a DJ set from Monét X Change, performances by co-headliners Kendall Gender and Jayla Rose (Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls), and a slew of performances and DJ sets by some of the Pacific Northwest’s best, it’s bound to be one for the record books!

a totally different light. The show is meant me for a picture. That was a huge shift from to be a game, full of ups and downs, twists being incognito to a nice Queer celeb, haha. and turns — but ultimately the intention is LAKL: How has life changed since to create visibility for Queer people, and at your Drag Race experience? its core it is full of love. KG: Everything has completely changed. LAKL: Name one thing you are most All my wildest dreams have come true, surprised about in regard to being on from performing all around the world to the show. seeing myself in a cross-Canada ad camTickets to the Tacoma Pride Block Party KG: I think my biggest shift was being paign in drugstores. Little Ken would be on July 8 are available at https://www.therecognized out of drag. Like in the super- smiling so big seeing all the stuff I have mixtacoma.com/pride-block-party-2023. market, people will run up to me and ask gotten to accomplish.

Slightly Furry Brewing brings bold cider to Seattle by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Since hitting the cider scene in 2020, the Queer-owned Slightly Furry Beverage Company has had a wildly successful start. Whether at events for furries, the general public, or industry professionals, the company’s boldly flavored ciders have sold so fast that the staff have had to hustle to keep up with demand. Currently, Slightly Furry has a core team of three people, who asked to go by their fandom names. Martini makes up the fox half of the logo, and has a family history in the bar and restaurant industry. He and Spork, the rabbit half, came up with the idea for a cidery over drinks on a back porch. While they’re hardly the first openly furry company to operate in the greater Seattle area, they are one of few, and certainly one of the most brazen about it. Each of their cider flavors has its own anthropomorphic mascot; the cherry has a deer with classy clothes and a lute, and the ginger features the notoriously long-legged maned wolf. That wasn’t part of their initial plan, though. “It was always meant to be subtle,” Martini said. “It was never meant to be really out in your face. We just wanted it to look and feel like any other sort of edgier company.” That decision would have put them in line with businesses like the Vulpine Taproom in Lake Forest Park, which is furry-friendly but keeps its anthropomorphic marketing fairly agnostic. With the help of Compy, the company’s third member and director of product, Martini and Spork first went with the name “Slightly Fuzzy,” a reference to the fuzzy feeling one gets after a few drinks. Plans changed when they were hit with a trademark dispute over the use of the word “fuzzy.” Rather than spending valuable cider-making time in court and risking further lawsuits, they rebranded.

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Photo courtesy of Slightly Furry

“Let’s just lean into furry,” Martini said of the decision. “Just put it right on the tin and just be openly Queer and obnoxious. It’s too late now to be subtle, so let’s just go for it.” Now they attend events in their “fursuits,” which are essentially elaborate, customized cartoon animal costumes. With Martini being a self-proclaimed “lettering nerd,” they settled on an edgy, graffiti style for their visuals, and hired the likewise Queer-owned Fly Media Productions to further develop the company’s brand. “We were being really rather deliberate and specific about only working with either Queer, furry, or BIPOC firms,” Martini said. Good problems At this point, readers who know about the fraught history of public opinion about furry fandom might be concerned about the company’s marketing strategy. Nobody is more aware of that tension than furries themselves, and in response to how they’ve been panned in the past, some have grown accustomed to keeping their spaces to themselves and “masking” in public (pun not intended). It’s possible, however, that leaning into

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the “furry thing” is part of the key to Slightly Furry’s success. It makes the team stand out wherever they go, and the cider industry has been uniquely accepting of their apparent quirks. “Fursuits are a fun trick, because you’ll go to these [events] and it’ll be Schilling, Two Towns, us, and somebody else — but ‘us’ is a six-foot purple hyena standing there,” Compy said. “So everybody’s like, ‘Oh, I wanna go over there.’” “I never in my life would’ve thought I’m gonna be wearing my mask... sitting there with my movable jaw, talking to people,” Spork said of the events. “I forget I’m wearing it as I’m shaking hands and exchanging cards and talking about the product. Business mode kicks in.” The cider industry in Seattle especially, the trio agreed, is more of a “cider family.” Its members are eager to share tips, welcome newcomers, and help each other. That could be why they have been happy to shake paws with these “animal people” (as Schilling staff members have called them). “We haven’t had to edit ourselves that much,” Martini said.

Shattering records It also helps, of course, that the quality of Slightly Furry’s product seems to speak for itself. During a launch event, it shattered sales records at the Vulpine Taproom, with one of the ciders being the first drink to “kill the keg” the day it was tapped. “Fast-forward to now: we had a dude who came out here from Nebraska,” Spork said. “And he’s like, ‘Hey, can I get a pallet?’” They couldn’t legally give the man a full pallet of cider at once, “so instead, he went to three of our accounts, including Vulpine Taproom, and cleaned them out,” Martini said. “He bought a case at each place... He was prepared to spend $500 just to buy our cider. “We’re actively trying to slow down our sales, because we’re selling too fast.” Production should pick up soon, however; the team said they’re on the verge of landing a lease agreement for a dedicated cidery and taproom, which would give them the space and the business they need to expand. “But we don’t want it to just be furries,” Spork said of the taproom’s patrons. “It’s furry, Queer, everything. And we want it to be inviting for non-furries.” “In our taproom, that’s what we wanna always have: a place you can go and be yourself,” Martini said. “And then for others who are curious about it, they can go and see, like, we’re not that weird, we’re not that scary. We’re actually really fun and cool if you hang out with us.” The trio said they’ll be launching a crowdfunding campaign to get the community involved with the taproom itself. Donors would get to name some of the equipment, design “fursonas” for it, and participate in other ways. You can learn more about Slightly Furry Brewing at https://slightlyfurry.com. Follow it on Twitter @slightlyfurry and Instagram @slightly_ furry for updates on upcoming locations and new products.

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Film

Upsettingly funny You Hurt My Feelings finds truth in telling lies

Tobias Menzies and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings – Photo courtesy of A24

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer YOU HURT MY FEELINGS Theater Nicole Holofcener returns with the upsettingly funny You Hurt My Feelings, and while the talented filmmaker’s latest may not rank alongside her best motion pictures, like Walking and Talking, Lovely & Amazing, or Please Give, that still makes this incisive observational effort likely one of the better comedies I’ll see in all of 2023. It features ace performances from its talented ensemble — including a spellbinding turn from lead Julia Louis-Dreyfus that’s nothing short of extraordinary — and moments of emotional explosiveness I did not see coming. New York novelist and literary professor Beth (Louis-Dreyfus) is happily married to

psychiatrist Don (Tobias Menzies). She frequently shows up at the neighborhood pot shop her son Eliot (Owen Teague) manages to passive-aggressively pester him about the status of the play he’s protectively been working on since graduating from college. Beth and her sardonic interior decorator sister Sarah (Michaela Watkins) also diligently share random afternoon lunches with crotchety Georgia (Jeannie Berlin), using these random visits to also fish for seldomly worn clothing items they can donate to a local church’s homeless outreach program. After spending an afternoon wandering around New York, Beth and Sarah decide to surprise the latter’s husband Mark (Arian Moayed), an out-of-work actor, while he’s obsessively shopping for socks with Don. Before they are spotted, the sisters overhear the two men discussing Beth’s new book, her first fictional effort, which she’s having

trouble getting published. Turns out, Don hates it but is too afraid to reveal his sentiments to his wife, so he’s been holding this secret close to the vest in the hope of not hurting her feelings. It’s a simple enough premise, but Holofcener gets massive mileage out of it all the same. These characters and their troubles may not amount to much, but this does not make their issues any less universal. There is a relatable eloquence to these events, with the filmmaker emphasizing how people can communicate with one another with the best of intentions and love in their hearts — yet still cause unimaginable agony with the potential to destroy any semblance of trust. The line between the truth and a lie slowly vanishes into nothingness; it could be argued it never actually existed in the first place. You Hurt My Feelings lives up to its title. This is cringe comedy in the best of ways.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings – Photo courtesy of A24

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I became increasingly anxious as I watched the film, my heart rate accelerating to the point I was nearly out of breath during critical junctures. The moment in which Eliot bares his soul to his parents — as he reveals hard truths every kid has thought but few have ever said aloud — shook me senseless. Another scene, in which Beth and Don realize how poorly they’ve remained intimately connected over the years while discussing anniversary gifts, is hysterically heartbreaking, while a quiet moment between Sarah and Mark — when the latter is at his most nakedly vulnerable — brought tears to my eyes. But there is catharsis and understanding to be found in this suffering. It’s not as if everyone is going to suddenly live their life spouting only truth and being bluntly honest with their loved ones, and that’s as it should be. But what is learned is that white lies, no matter how well-intentioned, can still hurt like the dickens; that concealing truths, no matter how painful, can unintentionally leave lasting scars; and that telling someone what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear isn’t necessarily a good thing. Sometimes, breaking up and going in separate directions is for the best, while sticking it out to the bitter end can make long-festering wounds worse, not better. Everyone’s acting is great, and even the bit players who wander in and out of Don’s office (a broad mixture of familiar faces, including Amber Tamblyn, David Cross, and Zach Cherry) slip into their various idiosyncratic shells with eloquent sincerity. But it is LouisDreyfus who makes all of this work as well as it does, her performance a free-flowing acrobatic high-wire act that only grows in passion and power as the film moves toward its sublimely intoxicating conclusion. Holofcener isn’t shattering previously unexplored myths or drawing conclusions that filmmakers going back to the silent era haven’t already explored numerous times over. But she still brings a heartfelt eloquence to this journey that is refreshingly authentic. These characters ring true, and even when the dialogue gets overly theatrical and the humor treads perilously close to echoing a 1990s sitcom, there’s still something bracingly natural about it. I have a sneaky suspicion I’m going to be pondering the myriad ins and outs of You Hurt My Feelings for quite some time.

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Film

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse an instant classic

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Theaters In 1980 I remember standing in line for something like six hours to see The Empire Strikes Back with my parents on opening day. My little mind was blown by the film. The attack on Hoth. The escape through the asteroid belt. The introduction of Yoda. Han Solo is frozen in carbonite. The Cloud City battle between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker — it was all glorious. Like everyone else, the most memorable moment of them all was the revelation of Luke’s parentage. Was Vader telling the truth? Was it a ruse? Would Han be saved? Was the rebellion doomed to failure? All of these questions and more remained unanswered in one of the great cinematic cliffhangers of all time, and audiences did not care. Instead, they cheered. Loudly. Throughout at least the first third of the end credits. And it was all deserved. What does this have to do with SpiderMan: Across the Spider-Verse? I sat in a theater and experienced the exact same reaction from a packed audience as I did back in 1980, and it was equally warranted. These are the only two times I can recall a crowd showering this type of enthusiastic reaction on a sequel with a blatant cliffhanger that left so many unresolved questions. Not Back to the Future Part II. Not The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Not The Matrix Reloaded. Not The Bourne Supremacy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1, or even Avengers: Infinity War. With a cliffhanger, no matter how strong the film is, no matter how beloved, this reaction does not happen. It’s an anomaly. Roughly a year after the events of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 15-yearold web-slinger Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) misses his fellow multiverse spider friends, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) most of all. Imagine Miles’ surprise then when — not long after a battle with a freaky cow-print villain with random teleportation

abilities calling himself “The Spot” (Jason Schwartzman), and only minutes after his loving parents Rio Morales (Luna Lauren Velez) and freshly promoted Brooklyn police captain Jefferson Davis (Brian Tyree Henry) have grounded him for being impolite — Gwen pops out of his ceiling right when he needs to see her the most. So much more happens from there. The Spot isn’t the second-tier villain he appears to be. Back in her universe, Gwen is dealing with some pretty serious parental issues with her father, George Stacy (Shea Whigham). Most importantly, Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), aka Spider-Man 2099, has created a spider-force made up of spider-heroes from across the multiverse. Their goal? To protect all universes from extinction events, the root cause of which can be traced back to the radioactive spider that gave Miles his powers. I’m going to leave things there. Screenwriters Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Dave Callaham have simply outdone themselves, and directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson — along with their gifted team of animators — do a stupendous job of giving it life. This is a smart, literate, and emotionally intimate story, one overflowing with complex themes

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Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse – Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

and multifaceted characterizations that are so vibrantly alive and genuine that they practically leap off the screen. It’s alive in ways that every comic book adaptation strives to achieve and so few frustratingly do. The strength of this sequel is that, while this second chapter still revolves around Miles and makes sure his story is at the center, the filmmakers do an equally incredible job of evolving Gwen’s character at the same time. Their tales are inevitably on a collision course, each teen learning valuable lessons from the other that they take with them back to their respective universes. What’s astounding is that these dueling narratives do not cannibalize one another. Gwen’s journey is hard-hitting yet inspiring, her sadness mixed with an interior resolve that compels her to strive to be her best self. As for Miles, his journey continually evolves, the constant worry that he’ll never be his universe’s one, true Spider-Man constantly gnawing at the far reaches of his consciousness. Yet he, too, is determined to do all he can to serve and protect, discovering new ways to do so with each criminal he apprehends and every powerful supervillain he battles. It’s not all teen angst, psychological exploration, and personal self-discovery. This is still an eye-popping action epic, one over-

flowing with Spider-people both new and old — the return of Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), now with a pint-sized, wall-crawling bundle of effervescent joy named Mayday, is cause for celebration — and all of them get to do something extraordinary. There’s a stunning chase sequence through the streets and skies of Spider-Man 2099’s technologically advanced hometown that’s beyond belief, while Miles’ first encounter with The Spot is marvelously inventive. I am not kidding about the cliffhanger. There are tons of unanswered questions and fates left dangling precipitously between life and death. It shouldn’t work. It should be infuriating. But the creative team does a slam-bang job of allowing Miles and Gwen to face off against their interior demons and discover truths about themselves they’d never taken the time to learn before now. Because of this, that there is no actual ending shockingly does not matter. The audience clapped and cheered, they hooted and they hollered, and they were entirely in the right for doing so. Much like The Empire Strikes Back, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is an instant classic. It opens up a universe of unexplored possibilities, and I cannot wait to see how the filmmakers will spin their webs.

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Books

Lauren Shippen explores mental health and queerness with superpowered Bright Sessions trilogy

Lauren Shippen – Photo by Rachel Bennett

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer

Image courtesy of Tor Teen

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Over the last decade, the rise of podcasts has led to a revolution in storytelling. Fans can now consume intricate, thought-provoking, fantastical stories without reading anything more than a title. The podcast revolution first put author Lauren Shippen on the map. “I am an audio-forward writer. Audio is where I got started. It’s where I do most of my work,” Shippen said. In 2015 she released the first season of her critically acclaimed science fiction podcast, The Bright Sessions. The first season features Caleb Michaels, a teenage boy with the supernatural power to connect with others’ feelings. His empathy leads him to develop affection for a classmate, and the romance provides the arc of his journey. The series became a hit and led Shippen to produce, write, and direct several other podcasts, but there was always something in her original story she wanted to explore further. “The format of The Bright Sessions podcast is only therapy sessions, so we’re only hearing things from Caleb’s perspective as he’s relaying them to his therapist,” Shippen said. But she wanted to explore the romance from other perspectives, like that of Caleb’s love interest, Adam. “I started to write for my edification, and as an exercise,” she said. “I wrote some scenes from Adam’s perspective, as a YA format, and it just sat at my computer for a little bit and collected dust.” Eventually, Shippen found a literary agent who was curious about a Bright Sessions–inspired novel. “I was, like, ‘Actually, I might have something. I don’t know if YA is what you were thinking, but I have this.’ I ended up coming up with two other books that follow different characters in the podcast,” Shippen said. The second book in the series serves as a prequel to the podcast and explores the background of the main antagonist, and the third novel extends beyond the final episode.

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The final installment of the Bright Sessions trilogy is out now. Each book builds off the Bright Sessions universe but can also stand on its own and does not need to be read in order. “If you want to start with a light romance, start with The Infinite Noise, the first book in the trilogy. If you want to start with something angsty, start with the second book,” Shippen said. Telling the story in a new way “The advantage that books gave me in telling the story — and why I wanted to [extend] my storytelling in this universe, with books — is because I can get a lot more granular [with] characters and their inner thoughts and feelings and really zero in [on] …on one character’s journey or perspective,” she said. “In the podcast, it’s a little more interwoven stories of a bunch of different cast and characters.” As for the books, she said, “It started because I wanted to tell the love story of Caleb and Adam. After all, all of their moments, their first date, their first kiss, [are] not happening in a therapy room. We missed all that as the audience, and I missed writing that as a writer.” Not only did writing the novel help Shippen explore her characters in new ways, but it also allowed her to amend some early mistakes. “For book structure — and just the fact that by the time I started writing the book, I had become a better writer, who understood my story better — I made some little changes here and there. It’s not an exact one-to-one translation,” she said. Hitting close to home Shippen found inspiration to create this therapy environment from her own experiences dealing with her mental health and queerness, which in turn helped Shippen find the courage to seek out a therapist and explore her sexuality in more depth. “The thing that got me into therapy was writing The Bright Sessions, which was

see SHIPPEN page 16

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Books

It’s an excellent day for a Big Gay Wedding by Terri Schlichenmeyer Special to the SGN BIG GAY WEDDING BYRON LANE © 2023 Holt $26.99 336 pages Chrissy Durang, a “farmer mom” and owner of the Polite Society Ranch near New Orleans, checked two things off a list in her notebook: the school bus filled with noisy children had arrived for their tour of the ranch; and Barnett should be arriving later. Thirty-four-year-old Barnett was the light in Chrissy’s world. He was her son, her only child, the near-exact image of his late father. She was excited for his homecoming; surely, Barnett was flying from California to tell her he was ready to take over the ranch now, take care of the animals, take care of her. Instead, not long after he arrived, Barnett dropped a bombshell about “the big thing” that they had never discussed: he was engaged. To be married. To another man. And he wanted to do it there, in Mader, at the Polite Society Ranch. Chrissy could think of a million things she didn’t like about Barnett’s intended, Ezra, and they all went into her notebook. Hair a mess. Controlling. Butt-kisser. Dream-killer. And yet, Barnett loved Ezra. It’d been a long time since Chrissy had seen her son this happy. She talked to her priest about the situation, but he disappointed her in a terrible way. On the other hand, it was clear that her father-in-law, Paw-Paw, was supportive of Barnett and Ezra, which was no surprise; Barnett was always Paw-Paw’s favorite. Chrissy didn’t have many friends in her small town, but she was absolutely sure of three things: nobody would approve of any sort of Gay nuptials, Ezra’s family was downright weird, and everybody in Mader would blame her for what was about to happen.

Image courtesy of Holt

Photo courtesy of Byron Lane

At face value, the story inside Big Gay Wedding seems awfully familiar: homophobic mom, Gay son, wedding, “Kumbaya” moment, the end. Keep thinking that, though, and you’ll miss one truly wonderful novel. From the paraprosdokian sentences to the “Misfit Toys” cast of characters, author Byron Lane takes readers from a deep dive into a box of tissues to a good snorting belly laugh,

often in the same paragraph. So many unexpected, delightful things occur in this story, in fact, that you may become disappointed when something conventional happens. Which it does, often enough. Gay bashing, protesters, haters, misunderstanding, it’s-a-phase thinking — all the bad old tropes show up in this story, alas. Still, readers will be happy to know that

they’re dealt with properly, just as you’d expect from a prissy mother, an alcoholic society matron, two men wildly in love, a light-fingered grandfather, and a dying sheep named Elaine. Summer is always a time for weddings, and it’s a great time to enjoy this sweet, funny, excellent novel. Simply, Big Gay Wedding rocks.

other. Their shared atypical abilities connect them as a found family, which a lot of Queer people experience.”

interesting to admit, because I had made my characters do it before I did it,” she said with a laugh. “I wrote it when I knew I was Bisexual, and I had come out to people in my life, [but] not everybody in my life. I hadn’t started …dating, and I was making the transition from ‘I’m an ally, and that’s why I care about these issues so much,’ to ‘I’m an ally, and it hits much closer to home than I had initially thought.’” The character Sam, whom Shippen voiced in the original podcast, served as a stand-in for herself. Through Sam, she processed her history of panic attacks and her bisexuality. Adding a supernatural element also gave Shippen room to play with metaphors when exploring different sides of mental health. “I prefer to write what I think of as speculative fiction,” Shippen said. “The Bright Sessions books are light-touch sci-fi. People have these special abilities, but it’s not hard sci-fi. It’s not even a superpower story; it’s just an element of these people’s existence.” Giving her character abilities, like time travel, super empathy, or mind-reading, opened the door for Shippen to ponder how real people might interact in unreal situations. “I like using the extraordinary, supernatural, and paranormal to explore mundane problems,” she said. “How do you get along with your sibling who can read your mind? Is that a metaphor for mental health, queerness, or relationship problems? It’s so fun for me, as a writer, to explore all the problems we have in our real lives through the lens that is unreal.”

Rich with metaphors In Caleb’s story, hyperempathy worked as a stand-in for queerness. “I started to think about other metaphors. [I wanted to play with tropes and clichés.] That’s where Caleb came in… Caleb is the classic high school jock. [I gave] him the power of empathy [to see] what that would do [to] somebody struggling with toxic masculinity and their sexuality.” While Caleb’s romance in the novel is with another boy, the supernatural metaphor adds another, deeper layer of queerness for readers to uncover. “Caleb never defines his sexuality, but I think of him as a Demisexual, somebody who is attracted based on emotional attachment,” Shippen said. “I think that, again, for him, there’s real isolation in the fact that he can feel other people’s feelings, which is a bit of an oxymoron, because he is so connected with other people [and] he’s feeling their feelings all the time.” Isolation is a theme Shippen explored throughout the podcast and the three follow-up novels. “It’s a sense of loneliness that comes with struggling with your mental health or your sexuality,” she said as she recalled her own battles with both. Even though Shippen grew up in an accepting family, she still worried about coming out. “It’s still a bit of an adjustment to discover a part of yourself and then realize, ‘Oh, this thing I thought I knew about myself is not true. Now this other thing has opened up, and how do I explain that to people in my life, even though I know they’re accepting?’” she explained. “Also experiencing some biphobia within the larger Queer community, which unfortunately happens. “Using superpowers creates different types of isolation for characters, and as the story goes on, they start to meet each

Next up Now that she’s completed the Bright Sessions trilogy, Shippen is ready to work on something new. “I spent the last many years working as a professional podcast writer and producer, which is incredible, but I also feel like after going and going on for many years, I’ve lost sight of my process, so I want to get back into making my own thing again,” she said. “Sometime this summer I’m going to be very low-key releasing a podcast that is all me.” She is excited to release the all-new DIY podcast sometime this July or August. Until then, Shippen is also working on her next novel. “I’ve been working forever on a Queer cowboy romance, an enemiesto-lovers romance,” she said. “Initially, it started as a podcast. Then I thought it really would be better as a novel.” The cowboy novel does not have a release date yet, but she’s been working on it since 2018. “It has tragedy in it, it is rivals-to-enemies to best friends-to-lovers, and it has a happy ending,” she said. “I’m a huge fan of Westerns,” she added. “One thing that irritates me about classic Westerns is the fact that the Wild West was an incredibly Queer place, both in sexuality and gender. It was populated by people of color — it wasn’t this straight, white-man fantasy. The real Wild West had tons of Trans people, people of color, and different types of relationships. I want to tell stories that reflect that history, because I think that’s much more interesting than what classic Westerns show.”

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It always had to be Queer The Bright Sessions was always rooted in queerness. Shippen knew Caleb would have a romance with another boy, eventually figured out Sam would be Bisexual, and always intended for Chloe to be Asexual. She believes writing Queer characters provides more fodder for plots. “I tend to lean on characters being Pansexual, Bisexual, or Demisexual, because if their options are potentially anybody, then that’s fun for me.” Some critics have accused her of trying to create liberal propaganda, but her intention has always been to write about spaces where people can feel seen and understood. “I’ve gotten the message [like], ‘…You’re pushing your liberal Gay agenda into this story!’ It’s like, well, then, don’t listen to it, don’t read it,” she said. “I don’t have some agenda or message. Simply, the thing I wanted to achieve in these works is the feeling that I’m not alone. This feeling that I’m reaching out a hand to people, because I’m lonely and I’m writing these stories about isolation, and I hope a hand reaches back.” The takeaway she hopes readers and listeners feel when they engage with The Bright Sessions is that a community is out there and ready to welcome them. “I hope people walk away with the feeling that they’re not alone and even if they haven’t found their community yet and they haven’t found a sense of belonging yet, there is a space for them. The world wants them to exist.”

Fans can listen to The Bright Sessions on Spotify, Apple Music, or iTunes. The books are called The Infinite Noise, A Neon Darkness, and Some Faraway Place.

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

Op-Ed

Finding balance: Navigating relationships and personal boundaries

by Isabel Mata SGN Staff Writer Ask Izzy is a biweekly advice column about relationships, mental health, and sexuality. Written by Isabel Mata — a Seattle-based lifestyle writer, podcast host, and mental health advocate — Ask Izzy offers tangible expert advice so all readers can have stronger relationships, better sex, and healthier mindsets.

Dear Izzy, My roommate is 32 and quit his job as a budtender without having any backup job. I got him working very part-time with a friend that owns a window-washing company, so he can make rent, which is less than $800. It’s been over six months now, and he still hasn’t found a full-time job. He doesn’t put in the effort to get on food stamps either. So the problem is that I buy all the food and make it. He won’t do any dishes or clean anything in the house. I have to ask multiple times, and he still won’t. I’m not sure what he does with his day, but my fiancé and I, who work full-time, have to do all the chores. It’s like I’m mom and he’s a teenage boy that expects people to just take care of him. I don’t want to be mean, because he has depression issues, but he spends money he doesn’t have and doesn’t take care of the things he needs to. What should I do? — Resentful in Renton Dear Resentful, This sounds like quite the conundrum. Not only is someone you know clearly struggling, but it is starting to impact you and your own interpersonal relationships. A few questions: How long have you known this person? How long have you been living together? Why did he quit his job? Did you have a conversation before moving in about splitting the tasks and responsibilities? It sounds like this person has never had to take care of himself, and unfortunately as his roommate, it is falling onto you. While it’s important to be empathic, I am sorry to say that your roommate is taking advantage of you. You mentioned that your roommate has depression. Has he ever seen a therapist or psychiatrist? Does he realize how bad his self-care has gotten? If not, talk to him about it. This reminds me of a situation I was in last year. I had a friend who also had severe mental health concerns (depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety), and it got to the point where I was being impacted by her inability to take care of herself. And as someone with my own mental illness, this then affected my well-being. So, finally, after months of letting her lash out at me and then come running back apologizing, I decided that enough was enough. I set a boundary that if she did not get professional help, then I could no longer be her friend and be there for her. While harsh, it was the wake-up call she needed to get her shit together.

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Now, six months later, my friend is doing better than ever, and she is back in my life, albeit with boundaries in place to protect myself. I knew she wasn’t a bad person and didn’t mean to hurt me, but if I had kept letting her walk all over me, then I would have resented her and the friendship would have inevitably fallen apart. I know your situation is a little different, but if you really care about your roommate, then you need to stop enabling this behavior. If this relationship is merely a roommate dynamic and you aren’t close friends, then I would stop cooking, cleaning, and doing other chores for him until he starts to contribute. It was really nice of you to find him a part-time job so he can continue to pay the rent, which I know impacts you, but if I were in your shoes, I would honestly start looking for another place to live or ask your roommate to find another place. You can of course try and give him an ultimatum like I did, but if he has a track record of this type of behavior, then I am not sure it will do any good. You have a good heart and are coming from the right place, but you need to save

yourself before the whole ship sinks. Once you have established some stricter boundaries that protect you and your fiancé, I would also take some time to look inward and see if there are other relationships in your life that have played out similarly. Do you identify with the term “peoplepleaser”? A people-pleaser is someone who puts others’ needs ahead of their own and, according to VeryWellMind, “can also have trouble advocating for themselves, which can lead to a harmful pattern of self-sacrifice or self-neglect.” Does this resonate with you? People-pleasing is a hard thing to overcome, but as someone who has unlearned a lot of this same behavior, I know it is possible. Here are a few things you can practice if you want to unlearn any people-pleasing behavior that you may have taken on over the years: Set clear boundaries: This might be hard at first, but you need to make it known that you have limits, and they are not to be crossed. One helpful tip from VeryWellMind is to “start by saying no to smaller requests, try expressing your opinion about something small, or ask for something that you need.”

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Set priorities for yourself: The number one thing I tell people is that taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for those you love. This means your priority first and foremost should be taking care of your own well-being by practicing daily self-care. Once you’ve done that, you can decide where you want your energy to go. Since you are engaged to be married (mazel tov, BTW!), I think it’s clear that your fiancé needs to be your second priority. Keep going down the list, and every time you get a request from someone else, ask yourself where this falls on your priority list. And stick to it! I believe that you will make the decision that is right for you and your future, and do so in a way that is empathetic, kind, and compassionate. Stay strong, friend. Resources: Cherry, K. (2023, March 21). “How to Stop People-Pleasing.” Very Well Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind. c o m / h ow- t o - s t o p - b e i n g- a - p e o p l e pleaser-5184412

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National/International News National news highlights

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at a Gay Pride parade in West Hollywood – Photo by Richard Vogel / AP

by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Alabama defines men, women by “design” Over the last week Alabama’s state legislature has made moves against Trans people, first by trying to define what a woman or man is, and more recently by expanding its ban on Trans athletes to college sports teams. On Wednesday last week, the state’s House Health Committee approved the “What is a Woman Act” to be sent to the House floor. It would define “female” and “woman” as an “individual whose biological reproductive system is designed to produce ova” and a male and a man as an “individual whose biological reproductive system is designed to fertilize the ova of a female.”

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Susan Dubose, implied that the bill was a response to activists trying to “separate sex from biology.” Carmarian D. Anderson-Harvey, director of the Alabama state branch of the Human Rights Campaign, called the bill “the LGBTQ+ Erasure Act” and said that it “aims to strip away dozens of legal protections and rights for LGBTQ+ Alabamians.” “LGBTQ+ people have spent decades fighting to be equal members of society, but this bill is a slap in the face to all of the progress we’ve made,” Anderson-Harvey said. Anderson-Harvey also condemned the expansion of the ban on Trans people in school sports: “In just two years, [Dubose] and extremist lawmakers in Alabama have passed four anti-LGBTQ+ bills. From dictating what bathrooms we can use to blatantly ignoring the actual

problems in women’s sports, these politicians are making Alabama an increasingly hostile place for Transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.” Baseball players pitch fit over Gay nuns Los Angeles Dodgers player Clayton Kershaw has said he disagrees with his team’s decision to reinvite the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to its annual Pride Night, after the satirical LGBTQ+ group’s appearance was initially canceled in response to criticism from conservatives like Marco Rubio. “This has nothing to do with the LGBTQ community or Pride or anything like that,” Kershaw said in a players-only meeting in the clubhouse before a game. “This is simply a group that was making fun of religion. That I don’t agree with.”

On its website, the Sisters denied they were anti-Catholic, saying that they use “humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency, and guilt that chain the human spirit.” Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams defended Catholics worldwide in a Twitter post: “To invite and honor a group that makes a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion, and the religion of over four million people in Los Angeles County alone, undermines the values of respect and inclusivity that should be upheld by any organization.” Seven players opted out of wearing rainbow-colored jerseys on their teams’ Pride nights during the recent NHL season. The Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Minnesota Wild decided not to wear rainbow warmup jerseys, despite doing so in previous seasons.

International news highlights by A.V. Eichenbaum SGN Editor-in-Chief Uganda passes world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, causes international backlash Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed anti-LGBTQ legislation into law on May 29 that includes the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and for “serial offenders.” The law also includes a 20-year sentence for promoting homosexuality. Countries across the world have responded, including legislators on both sides of the aisle in the United States. “This Uganda law is horrific & wrong,” tweeted Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. President Biden has threatened to cut American aid to Uganda. “The enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is a tragic violation of universal human rights,” Biden said in a White House statement, which also calls the act a “shameful… development in an alarming trend of human rights abuses and corruption in Uganda.”

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The UN Human Rights Office said that it is “appalled.” In a joint statement, the UN AIDS program, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Global Fund said they were “deeply concerned” about the law’s impact. Other political leaders stated their support for the Anti-Homosexuality Act and President Museveni. “Kenya is following you in this endeavor to save humanity,” tweeted George Kaluma, a Kenyan parliament member who submitted anti-Queer legislation earlier this year. “It’s not genetic. It’s not hormonal. It is a psychological disorientation where somebody, because of some experience, hates the people you should love and loves the people you should not allow,” said Museveni of homosexuality during an address after the signing. “If you try to recruit people into a disorientation, then we go for you. We punish you,” he added.

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Photo by Rebecca Vassie / AP

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

Happy Pride!

Episode 64: Monica Domena Ash nerds out with Monica Domena about Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, and their upcoming actual play podcast. Website: https://www.savethed8pod.com/

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JUNE 2, 2023

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