SGN July 14, 2023 by sgn.org

ISSUE 28

C E L E B R AT I N G

VOLUME 51

49 YEARS

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EMISSION-FREE FERRIES BY 2040 BUTTIGIEG IN WASHINGTON

by Nate Gowdy Special to the SGN US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the Mukilteo ferry terminal and Port Orchard’s Waterfront Park as part of his nationwide “Investing in America” tour, discussing advancements in the state’s ferry system and infrastructure fueled by federal funding.

see BUTTIGIEG page 4

Photo by Nate Gowdy

Cowboys, cops, and cabaret

Tacoma Pride Festival: A resounding success

Can Can’s Crimson and Clover Photo by Nate Watters

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer Pride Month may be over, but Can Can Culinary Cabaret is still celebrating with a Queer new show and matching menu.

Photo by Benny Loy

The popular Pike Place burlesque theater often adds nods to Queer culture through quips, costumes, and side characters. However, the theater’s latest production gives even more.

see CAN CAN page 9

by Benny Loy SGN Acting Editor Attendees approaching Tacoma’s Pride Festival last Saturday saw balloon archways marking sectioned-off roads for the event, which spanned from Dorky’s Arcade to

Fireman’s Park; five streets and the park’s length were lined with booths. At a stage at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and South Eighth Street, the host enthusiastically announced to the crowd which performers

see TACOMA page 7

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SGN

Local News

BUTTIGIEG

continued from cover Joined by state and congressional leaders, including Gov. Jay Inslee, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantrell, and US Reps. Rick Larsen and Derek Kilmer, Buttigieg stressed the importance of investing in transformative projects nationwide, aligning with President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. During his second visit to Washington state since October 2022, Buttigieg highlighted its commitment to achieving an emission-free fleet by 2040, with a particular focus on electrifying its renowned ferry system. Last year, the system received a significant boost from a $38 million federal grant for boat maintenance and renovations, doubling the federal support for Washington State Ferries, the country’s largest and the world’s second-largest ferry system. A key aspect of this effort involves replacing diesel engines with batteries, reducing the ferry system’s reliance on 19 million gallons of diesel fuel consumed annually. This transition aligns with Washington’s sustainability goals and carbon footprint reduction. The Mukilteo ferry terminal, the state’s newest and environmentally conscious facility, features innovative elements, such as a rainwater-capturing roof, operable windows that eliminate the need for air conditioning, and cement barriers that protect against rising seawaters. Its design Photos by Nate Gowdy pays tribute to the tribes who historically inhabited the land and signed the Point offering hope for the restoration of vital water in Port Orchard and the relocation of Elliott Treaty nearly 170 years ago. fishing runs and the preservation of cul- the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe to higher During the visit, Tulalip Tribes Board of tural heritage. ground to mitigate climate change impacts Directors Chair Teri Gobin emphasized the The discussion also covered other fed- on them. Funds are also dedicated to contribes’ shift from traditional salmon fish- erally funded projects in Washington structing recreational trails and addressing ing to supplemental activities like crabbing. state. Approximately $130 million is being critical coastal infrastructure needs. Electrifying the ferry system represents a allocated to support initiatives such as the Buttigieg, the first openly Gay person in crucial step in combating climate change, replacement of a storm-damaged break- his role, emphasized the significance of work-

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force training and development in the transportation sector, including programs supported by the Low or No Emission Vehicle Program. The federal funding aims to bolster coastal resilience, stimulate economic development, and enhance transportation infrastructure across Washington state.

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Local News

Tacoma Pride Block Party at The Mix does it again!

by L.A. Kendall LaBree Special to the SGN Is Pride ever really over? Our collective answer is NO! Pride exists 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Or at least it should. However, the celebrations of Pride do tend to cascade across the Pacific Northwest region throughout the summer months in particular, creating a string of various styles of performance, dance, celebration, and community to enjoy. This past weekend, Tacoma was up at bat. …and wow, did our friends down at The Mix TURN. IT. OUT. In collaboration with longtime partners at Kendall’s DJ & Event, the official Tacoma Pride Block Party at The Mix has grown with each passing year. This year’s power-packed headliner lineup included the incomparable Monét X Change (from RuPaul’s Drag Race), the effervescent Kendall Gender (RPDR Canada), and a stellar pop-up performance from Jayla Rose (Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls). As if all of that was not hot enough, resident queens and local superstars Anita Spritzer and Macy Marcs curated not one but two amazing drag shows, featuring some of the region’s top talent. The soundtrack throughout the day was provided by DJs Toya B and Tony Burns, who kept that crowd rocking through a multigenre adventure. It was quite an incredible show from the moment the stage opened until the bittersweet finale, when months of hard work come to an end. The party itself was full of interactive elements to keep attendees engaged: special slushies, Jell-O shots, food trucks, and even an ice cream truck! The love was definitely felt among the packed crowd on that block on St. Helens Street. From the bar staff to security, to the curation of the talent, everything was purposely planned to create the safest of spaces for our beautiful community to come together, let their hair down, enjoy and thrive in the legacy of Pride. Until next year, enjoy a few shots captured from the party!

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Photos courtesy of The Mix

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

TACOMA

continued from cover were next. Meanwhile, three ASL interpreters signed along to the announcements and lyrics. The weather was mild initially, but as the day progressed, the sun grew brighter, and the lines for shaved ice and lemonade grew longer. At a volunteer booth, I was introduced to one of the organizers, Rainbow Center’s financial coordinator, Faith Brown, who graciously showed me around and shared how proud she was of the event. She said Rainbow Center has seven staff members and a new executive director, who started in March. It was clear that Rainbow Center had worked very hard to organize and run Tacoma Pride. Brown found Quincy Tyson, the new executive director, who was more than happy to relate how excited he was about the success of Tacoma Pride. “This is the biggest pride we’ve had,” he said, adding that they were expecting “up to twenty thousand people” throughout the festival and that he was touched to see that “everybody is engaged.” Tyson added that one of the changes this year was “cutting the beer garden to make more room for vendors,” and now there were around 160 booths taking part. He made sure to include that this was Protesters and hugs only possible with the volunteers and the If you attend any Pride events, you will support from the city. The chance to “pull see at least one protester claiming that our together the community” for this event community is bound for brimstone. They made him smile as he scanned the crowd. often use their interpretation of their reli“The more community you invite in, the gion to call LGBTQIA+ people sinners. more we can make an awesome experiThankfully, this is not the view of every ence,” he said. believer. Several booths representing Rainbow Center is a resource center and local affirming and accepting churches community educator serving the community handed out hand-fans and hugs. Two profor over twenty years. Its mission statement testers were mainly ignored as they aimsays, “Through education, advocacy, and cel- lessly marched with their banner. A few ebration, Rainbow Center expands resources attendees took this as an opportunity to and safe space for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, spread joy by countering their message Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Two- with humor and art. Spirit, and allied community.” The organiOne attendee dressed as Jesus marched zation also hosts groups that it affectionately in front of them, holding a sign stating, refers to as “the Queer Power Nation.” These “Jesus had two dads.” Two musicians cut include the Pierce County AIDS Founda- into the proselytizing by playing their ukution’s free HIV testing on Thursdays, the lele and violin for the crowd. Another perGender Diversity Family Support Group, the son wearing very little approached with a Tacoma Tmen, Puget Sound Queer Families, sign saying, “You know what kids should and an LGBTQ book club. not be exposed to? Hatred.”

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Photos by Benny Loy

Other booths included organizations such as Minority Vets, Dads M.O.V.E., Oasis Youth Center, and Pride Counseling NW. The park was reserved for makers, including those selling custom rubber stamps, cute candles, and gorgeous flowers (from Fifi’s Flower Market). At Fifi’s booth, drag queen Athena Kiss sported a giant, handmade flower headdress, stating that she had “just finished it last night.” She handed out flyers for an upcoming drag show and a flower arrangement class in September at the Fife Community Center. Spotting two Satanists offering hugs, I approached to take them up on their offer. They said they were from Olympia and visiting to share love, water, and sunscreen. Asked whether they were there to represent a Satanist church, one answered, “We’re independent, but we offer ritual services.” On Instagram, they go by Hexcommunicated and offer to perform weddings, funerals, unbaptisms, and custom rituals.

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As I waded through the crowd, I realized that there were many people in wheelchairs making their way to each booth. Not only was the event accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing, who rely on ASL interpretation, but the flat, paved roads provided an environment that was inclusive of people with physical disabilities as well. Whether one was using a walker because of aging joints or a child in an electric wheelchair, all could enjoy the festivities without environmental impediments. On the stage, the performers sang about their Queer experiences and attendees danced. One singer told the crowd, “I’m from Montreal, Canada. I flew here yesterday, woke up, and then saw all this, and thought, ‘Oh, thank God I’m Gay’!” Rainbow Center, the volunteers, and the city created an incredible Pride Festival, attended by locals and many Queer people from nearby cities (and apparently not so near too), making it a resounding success.

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Local News

Capitol Hill Pride protests Supreme Court ruling

by Cameron Martinez SGN Intern The colors of the rainbow flag shone in the sunlight and songs by Queen played while a few Capitol Hill Pride participants marched through the streets in protest of the recent Supreme Court ruling, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which allows certain businesses the right to refuse service to Queer people. “We kind of consider it pretty much a step back,” said Charlette LeFevre, the board director of CHP, regarding the case. “We do stand with Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Nobody should be discriminated against for who they are. And we consider it disturbing and a sliding back. So, we’re here just …to take a stand and demonstrate.” “A lot of legislation and things are not as colorful …as a flag-waving parade or anything like that, but it’s so important,” she continued. “Politics is how we live our lives… These are the representatives that we elect [to make] legislation that guides and creates a path of equality. We underestimate how important it is, I think, to vote and to look at our democratic process and not just strive for equality, to actually protect it.” The march, which consisted of six people, two banners, and two rainbow flags, was called the Seattle Rainbow Forward March, because, they said, CHP refuses to slide backward. While the size of the event was small, they still were able to make their voices heard as they walked from Seattle Central College to the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct and then to The AMP: AIDS Memorial Pathway before making their way back to SCC. “This is fucking sad,” said Sirregis, who was tasked with holding the megaphone, to a café full of people who did not join the march. “Sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad, sad. This is the problem, and this is how they got in there, and I’m calling you out.”

According to LeFevre, the SPD had told her that they would escort the march through the streets to help with safety for the marchers, but they did not. In fact, when an SPD car did go behind the march in what was assumed to be an escort, the vehicle ended up driving away and parking in front of the SPD East Precinct instead. Some security might have been helpful to the group, since there were a few instances of onlookers making homophobic comments, with one driver even going as far as to drive quite close and fast by the marchers while he screamed obscenities.

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SGN

Photos by Cameron Martinez

This, however, was not surprising to LeFevre, who had prepared for the event by supplying herself and CHP board member Philip Lipson with bright yellow safety vests, so they would be more easily seen by oncoming traffic. On top of protesting the recent SCOTUS ruling, they also had plans to air their grievances with he SPD directly in front of their precinct. “SPD, you’re full of poo,” LeFevre said. “January 6th, shame on you. You still have four police officers in your ranks [who were present at the attack on the Capitol] …

You’ve got a lot of work to do.” This comment was in connection to the six SPD officers who were present at the insurrection; only two of them were fired from their positions. This is only part of the battle by CHP for equal rights. “We’re not going to go back in the closet,” said Super Liv Morgan (aka Asukaa Jaxx), a write-in candidate for Seattle City Council District 3. “We’re not going to take a step backward.”

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

Arts & Entertainment

CAN CAN

continued from cover Gay cowboys Crimson and Clover is a goofy love story about Crimson (Jasmine Jean Sim), a sharpshooting bandit always armed with her secret weapons (her double D’s), and Clover (Tori Gresham), a khaki-clad, nononsense police officer. It’s a classic tale of cops and robbers with a special twist, as Crimson and Clover are both women. “Honestly, it was incredible [doing a Queer love story],” Sim said. “You’re nervous because you want to make sure there’s room for making fun references that our Lesbian and Queer audiences would connect to, while also ensuring we had the depth to it. “I certainly felt very honored to bring it to life. Both Tori and I are Gay or Queer women, so it’s really fun to make sure that we’re telling that story honestly and that it connects to people in our audience.” Not only does Crimson and Clover try something different by centering an explicitly Queer couple, but it also gives the performers space to show off their acting chops and dabble in comedy. All six cast members take turns hitting the punchlines throughout the fun-filled evening. The production also deviates from Can Photos by Nate Watters Can’s usual structure. Host Jonathan Betchtel, who has become known for his goofy, naive with their performances. Sim, in particu- before the outfits came off, thanks in part as these fluffy pastries are topped with a persona on stage, takes a back seat and lets lar, wowed fans with the powerful display to Mintrone, who designed the wardrobe sweet glaze and rainbow sprinkles. Gresham shine in her starring role. of her range in the final number, a cover of for the show. The cowboy theme was a barAs if the performance and food aren’t Gresham’s portrayal of Officer Clo- “I Will Always Love You.” rel of fun and seemed to hit the mark. Can reason enough to check out the latest Can ver demonstrates she’s far more than just The dances, of course, are always a Can has confirmed: cowboys are the hot Can production, the theater has also partanother pretty face. She cracks fans up with highlight of the Can Can experience. While new thing for summer 2023. nered with the Pride Foundation through her physical humor and easily slides into Crimson and Clover does tend to lean the end of July. A portion of all Pride-related the “loveable goofball” role often reserved heavily into the story, dialogue, and musiSummer treats! menu items will go directly to the foundafor men. Of course, half the fun of Can Can tion, which helps empower and advocate for cal numbers, it still has room for incredible dance sequences that utilize handmade Culinary Cabaret is the cuisine. The venue Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community. Mind-blowing performances props. Perhaps the most stunning is a cac- has updated its menu for summer, with The only complaint from guests leavFor anyone who has previously attended tus dance, wherein Shadou Mintrone and even more delicious options fresh from ing the venue was that the show wasn’t long a Can Can show, the newest one is worth Travis Guerin don sparkly, neon-fringe Pike Place Market. Classic favorites like enough. Fans couldn’t get enough shirtless checking out. While everyone who graces cowboy outfits and move like two psyche- the croissant beignets and gnocchi mac ‘n’ cowboys, desert dances, and Queer reprethe stage is a skilled dancer, Crimson and delic succulents in the wind. cheese are still available, but special new sentation. Crimson and Clover is a mustClover also proved they can all sing. Even While most burlesque fans can’t wait for options have been added, such as Pride see, but viewers, beware: Crimson and Cloperformers like Sim, who usually belts the performers to shed their clothes, those beignets and chocolate s’mores. The former ver may just steal your hearts. out a tune or two, blew the crowd away in attendance couldn’t help but stare even offer a take on the classic Can Can treat,

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SGN

Arts & Entertainment

The Ultimatum: Queer Love is the chaos we need

The Ultimatum: Queer Love – Image courtesy of Netflix

by Cameron Martinez SGN Intern If you’re anything like me, you love reality television but think it’s seriously lacking in Queer representation. This is especially true for my go-to reality streaming service, Netflix. That’s why I was thrilled when The Ultimatum: Queer Love appeared in my “recommended” section. Don’t get me wrong, Netflix has featured Queer people in its reality dating shows, but only to add drama. For example, on Perfect Match, when Francesca and Abbey were put together, everyone made a big deal about it because they are both women. The Ultimatum: Queer Love, however, solely focuses on Queer people, and it’s exactly what I’ve been wanting from Netflix for years. Before I get into the juicy details, I’d like to acknowledge that I am a month late to this. When Netflix changed its policy to one household per account, I was locked out of the app, but thankfully I finally have access again.

to get to seeing my identity represented. Shows like The Ultimatum: Queer Love are paving the way for a new form of representation, and knowing it will only get better from here makes me feel ecstatic. Like any other reality dating series, The Ultimatum: Queer Love doesn’t stray from showing all the worst fights and dramatic moments. As someone who tries to avoid this kind of conflict in my personal life, this gives me the perfect dose of drama from afar to watch. The editing of the episodes made it easy for me to decipher who I should and shouldn’t root for. There was something freeing about screaming at the TV when Vanessa and Mildred were saying shady things. I was also fully rooting for Xander and Yoly before it came out in the reunion that Yoly was being deceptive toward Mal. I know I’m not a perfect person, but seeing

these people fight like high schoolers made me feel a lot more intelligent and understanding than I actually am. Issues with the series The biggest I had with the show was the fact that Mildred was allowed to be a part of the reunion after she had been charged with domestic violence after throwing things at her then-partner, Tiff. Mildred then went on to gaslight Tiff during the reunion, and Netflix did nothing to stop any of it. It made me feel uncomfortable to know that Netflix is okay with allowing any of it to take place on its platform. Another issue is the fact that gender is never fully acknowledged. What I mean by that is there are a few people on the cast that use they/them pronouns, but it’s never talked about. While the description on Netflix doesn’t explicitly state that everyone

identifies as a woman, there are still people on the show who refer to all the participants as women. It seemed to me that some participants were unaware that it wasn’t technically a Lesbian season. Final thoughts I’m not a psychology expert nor have I seen the full extent of the relationships in the show, but based on what I’ve seen, it seems like everyone needs therapy or some help with their mental wellness. I also don’t think any of the relationships, at least from my perspective, seemed healthy. I hope all these people get the help they need. All in all, The Ultimatum: Queer Love quenched my need for drama, which is all I really wanted, so to thank you, Netflix, but also please try to be a bit less toxic.

The set-up The show follows five couples (women and nonbinary people) who have reached a crossroads in their relationships. Each has a partner who wants to get married and a one who is unsure about marriage. Upon arrival, each participant chooses someone to have a “trial marriage” with, whom they will live with for three weeks. After that, the participants return to their original partner and live a three-week trial marriage with them. Then the participants choose to either get engaged to the partner they came in with or the partner they from the first trial marriage, or leave single. Pretty interesting, right? Well, if you have not watched the show but are interested, I suggest you stop reading here and come back when you’re done, because there will be spoilers ahead, as well as a lot of names that will seem confusing. Why it’s great Before this season of the series came out, I would get excited about the smallest Queer reference in a Netflix reality program, because it was the closest I was going

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Yoly and Xander on The Ultimatum: Queer Love – Photo courtesy of Netflix

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Arts & Entertainment

You’re the hero at Sandbox VR by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer One of the world’s leading virtual reality entertainment companies has finally arrived in the Emerald City. Sandbox VR is a stunning new take on the video game experience, wherein groups of up to six players are whisked from the small location in downtown Seattle to visually stunning destinations right out of a fantasy. The catch? They never leave the small gray room they enter at the beginning of the experience. On arrival at Sandbox VR, participants are asked to check in using iPads, either confirming their reservation or creating a new one if there’s a walk-in opening. (Sandbox recommends that anyone interested in its VR experience reserve a time slot, as walk-in availability varies.) Currently, the company has seven gaming options, which vary from the Unbound Fighting League, where players can battle each other as robots, to Deadwood Valley, where they team up to survive a zombie apocalypse. The newest experience, Seekers of the Shard, takes participants to a fantasy world where they battle dragons, goblins, and skeletons that have come to life. State-of-the-art technology Once players have confirmed their reservation, they are fitted with motion-sensing technology that tracks all their arm and leg movements. Sandbox VR also provides color-coded wrist and leg bands before play can begin. Participants then make an account with Sandbox, which includes a quick headshot. Before gamers can go to the VR room, they must select their avatar. In Seekers of the Shard, this selection is vital, as each character has unique abilities and weapons. Once chosen, an avatar cannot be selected by someone else. Seekers of the Shard has six avatar options: two fire sword-people (one masculine and one feminine), two archers, and two ax-wielding ice sorcerers. The game’s characters do fall along a gender binary as far as costume and appearance, but masculine and feminine characters have the same capacities and abilities. Once each player has an avatar, they are taken to an all-gray room, which appears small until attendees place the VR headsets over their eyes. The headsets are like a magical transportation device. In the blink of an eye, the gray room disappears, replaced by cyberspace. The starting location for Seekers of the Shard appears to be a vast fantasy realm existing in all directions. With such breathtaking graphics, it can be easy to forget you’re just in a game — and a small room. However, there are boundaries on the physical floor and in virtual reality to help keep players from running into walls. Once inside the game, the headsets and microphones allow the gamers to communicate with each other. They can see their group members only as their avatars. Thanks to the wrist and ankle bands, the avatars appear to match the stature of the actual players controlling them. Before the game begins, Sandbox walks gamers through a quick tutorial that explains how to use their various in-game powers and weapons. Props are distributed as stand-ins for swords, axes, and bows.

Image courtesy of Sandbox VR

out as our badass alter egos was entertaining. When the game pauses, characters can still walk around, dance, and interact with each other. Things do get tricky, however, when headsets are removed. Attendants are the only ones allowed to secure and remove them. As they worked to repair the broken ones, everyone else watched the malfunctioning avatars stretch, slide, and be suspended in mid-air. Ultimately, the tricky headsets could not be fixed, so my group moved to a second room. Whereas many other businesses may have kicked us out once our time was up, the manager at Sandbox VR made sure our group got the chance to finish a game. “After the technical difficulties, the experience was quite fun,” said Melissa Diaz. “We would go again!” Once we got started, the game was a whirlwind. Endorphins kicked in thanks to the hyperrealistic experience. The headsets make it look and sound like players are now in the fantasy realm of the shard, and giant fans and vibrating vests also provide added physical sensations of existing in a virtual reality. Following the experience, my group was all smiles and felt a sense of accom-

Still working out the bugs Because Seekers of the Shard is the company’s newest attraction, it has some bugs to work through. While playing, my group of five was required to restart every few minutes due to malfunctioning headsets. Dedicated attendants worked overtime to resolve the issue and get us back in the game as quickly as possible. While my group did spend several minutes in cyberspace limbo waiting for finicky technology to be righted, even just hanging

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plishment. There’s nothing like the bond that comes from defeating the evil shard together! The game ends with players on an endorphin high, but they don’t just kick you out. Those lucky enough to win Seekers of the Shard, for example, are rewarded with a quick guitar-band music video. After attendees remove the gear, they go to a final screening room. There they watch a video of themselves playing and view their stats. The fun ending video had everyone laughing, especially the final scene. Before leaving, Sandbox VR also offered our group the chance to return for a free session to make up for the technical difficulties we encountered, a kind gesture that more than made up for the minor snafus. Fun for almost everyone Sandbox VR is one of the most realistic such experiences on the market. Because the technology has such accurate body tracking, encountering motion sickness or dizziness while playing the game is unlikely. However, in visual sequences where the characters are on top of a moving ship or floating plank of wood, dizziness may still be encountered.

Different games provide different levels of gore, cartoon violence, and scares. Seekers of the Shard was a great middle option, with minimal blood and jump scares. It’s a great experience for families or groups of friends looking for a fun alternative to regular games or movies. Gamers of all ages are welcome, but those under 18 must have a parent fill out a waiver before engaging in the game. Sandbox also has a minimum height requirement of four feet and warns that patrons who cannot support about 20 lbs. of gear for an hour should not participate. Pregnant women and people with heart conditions are also warned not to participate. Sandbox VR is a surreal experience. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered what it might be like to visit their favorite video game. With so many options, there’s a game for every group — though gamers take heed: moms are surprisingly good at VR. Sandbox VR is located at 526 Westlake Ave. N. in Seattle, and online at https:// sandboxvr.com/seattle. Each game costs $50-55 per person.

Seekers of the Shard – Image courtesy of Sandbox VR

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Film

Triumphant Every Body a joyous celebration, edifying call to action

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer EVERY BODY Theaters Joy. That’s what I felt while watching Every Body. Joy. I can’t say that was something I expected going into the theater. Director Julie Cohen (RBG) examines the intersex community in her latest documentary, and with the current political atmosphere around gender identity being what it is, I feared I was about to watch something more dour (and dire) than euphoric. I think this is understandable, and it would have made sense if the filmmaker had chosen to walk down an angry path in order to try and call the audience’s attention to several serious societal issues. But Cohen shows that you can ring alarm bells while still having fun and that you can celebrate life while still pointing out political and medical ills doing incredible damage. There is an effervescence to this showcase of identity and self-acceptance that’s sublime. Because of that, this journalistic exercise documenting unimaginable cruelty is an exhilarating tale of community and friendship that becomes so marvelously life-affirming that watching it is as edifying as it is triumphant. Cohen’s documentary is centered on three intersex advocates: Sean Saifa Wall, Alicia Roth Weigel, and River Gallo. Each has a unique story, even if their hardships are somewhat similar. What’s fascinating is that the director refuses to put any of the trio under a microscope. They are not the ones being examined. They are not the ones being forced to account for their actions, as if their very existence is some sort of crime against nature. Instead, they are celebrated. They have been forced by society to go down a traumatic rabbit hole, only to emerge stronger, feistier, and most of all happier as they now proudly live their lives as their authentic selves. They stand up for others like them, as

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Every Body – Photos courtesy of Focus Features

well as take to task doctors and clueless politicians who would rather they just fade into the background, keep quiet, and not throw an all-too-obvious monkey wrench into their erroneous concepts of gender ideology. Not that there isn’t pain. Weigel speaks bluntly about her gonadectomy (the removal of her internal testes) and equates what was done to her to forced castration. Wall reads aloud from his infant medical records, in which doctors lied to his parents about his gender by claiming he was female even though he didn’t have a uterus and had other male sexual characteristics. Gallo, an actor and artist finding their creative voice, has moments of naked candor that left me floored. Cohen also interweaves an examination of medical treatment of intersex people — from infancy through adulthood — that is frequently angering. The level of cruelty is

multiple steps beyond ghastly, creating a culture of “shame and stigma” that’s understandably difficult to overcome. Cohen puts her journalist skills to good use throughout these portions of her film, asking tough questions and pulling zero punches in her quest to find answers and hold the more conservative elements of the medical establishment accountable for their actions. This is an old-fashioned approach to documentary filmmaking. This is a talking-heads piece, and even though Cohen achieves a palpable sense of intimacy with her subjects, from a cinematic standpoint, things can come across as somewhat staid and formalist from time to time. Still, this sparseness does allow the focus to stay directly on Wall, Weigel, and Gallo, and that’s exactly as it should be. This trio has every reason to be angry.

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They have the right to want to attack, to hit back at a society that has wronged them and their community in ways that go so far beyond heinous that there’s not the right word to describe it. But the audience are not voyeurs looking at the intersex community as if they were freak show attractions at a third-rate backwoods carnival. That is not who they are, and that is not the message Cohen wants viewers to take home with them. Her film emanates a joy that makes me love Every Body. It is a celebration. It is a triumphantly happy yell into the void that signifies that a new day can and will dawn if people are willing to open their hearts, listen intently, and treat the world around them with kindness and empathy instead of fear and paranoia. Here’s hoping that’s exactly what is going to happen.

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Film

Adrenaline-filled Dead Reckoning Part One a mixed bag of Mission: Impossible tricks

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE Theaters Tom Cruise’s energetic pursuit to save the theatrical experience as we know it continues with Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, the seventh installment in a long-running series in which breathlessly eye-popping stunt work comes first and coherent storytelling is typically something of a minor afterthought. Other than the final act of 2006’s Mission: Impossible III, that latter element has never been too much of an issue, as the charismatic strength of each talented ensemble and the sheer mind-blowing chutzpah of the action scenes have been more than enough to smooth over any rough edges. Director and co-writer Christopher McQuarrie returns for his fourth stint behind the camera, but having crafted a borderline action masterpiece with 2018’s Fallout, things do not work out quite as spectacularly this time around. Granted, that still makes this first half of an Impossible Mission Force (IMF) double-bill of derring-do and unbelievable escapades more entertaining than pretty much every other major Hollywood studio summertime spectacular not named Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. There are moments of adrenaline-filled brilliance here, and that’s no small thing. The seams to all of this madness are starting to show, however. Ever since John Woo took up the reigns with 2000’s Mission: Impossible II, this series has been known for engineering its death-defying set pieces first and then attempting to cobble together a plot connecting them. McQuarrie and Cruise have made something of an art out of this, so it can’t help but be disappointing that they’ve dropped the ball — at least somewhat — here. Part of that can be blamed on the pandemic. Thanks to COVID, this production had so many starts and stops, it’s almost a wonder it came out as well as it did. But there are additional storytelling missteps that have precious little to do with shutdowns and delays. Certain favorite characters are wasted. Returning faces from previous installments have precious little to do other than to wickedly sneer and offer up a bit of crowd-pleasing fan service.

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But the biggest issue is that, even with an intriguing central idea involving an out-ofcontrol artificial intelligence and the global pursuit by a suitably nasty cabal of villains to gain control of it, this ends up being one of the sillier, and frankly dumber, chapters in the ongoing adventures of IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise). There’s way too much exposition leading to several dead moments in the 163-minute sequel’s running time. For the first time in any Mission: Impossible, I found myself slightly bored, mostly during the film’s rather ponderous midsection. I don’t want to talk too much about what happens, since, as unsurprising as the majority of the twists and turns may be, McQuarrie and company do still make a valiant attempt to play things fairly close to the vest to try and keep the audience sitting near the edge of their seat. The short version is that IMF taskmaster Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) has returned to duty and tasked Ethan to recover the two halves of a Russian key that will unlock unimaginable power for the government agency that holds it. Various baddies led by the bloodthirsty Gabriel (Esai Morales) do everything they can to keep this from happening, and the assassin and his crew are seemingly two steps ahead of Ethan and his operatives, no matter how unpredictable their plan of action may be. Returnees include IMF agents Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), rogue former British intel-

ligence spy Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), and mercurial international arms dealer The White Widow (Vanessa Kirby). Newcomers include Gabriel’s ferocious partner in mayhem Paris (Pom Klementieff), US intelligence operatives Briggs (Shea Whigham) and Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), Director of National Intelligence Denlinger (Cary Elwes), and beguilingly clever international thief Grace (Hayley Atwell). After two films where her character meticulously evolved to the point she became an essential staple of the series (as well as Ethan’s equal), Ferguson’s Ilsa is done dirty in awhy that is, but her character deserves better. Ilsa becomes the one thing she never was in either Rogue Nation or Fallout: a stereotype. Ferguson remains as great as ever, and she’s certainly not phoning anything in. But dang, did her arc make me angry. Thankfully the same can not be said for Atwell’s Grace. Similarities to Mission: Impossible II’s Nyah Hall notwithstanding, it’s safe to say I loved this character. Grace is a freewheeling sparkplug of creativity and enthusiasm, and it’s clear Atwell is having a grand time bringing her to life. She and Cruise have sensational chemistry, and every time they’re together, the film crackles with electricity. Yet this franchise’s calling card remains the action, and while nothing in this installment is equal to Cruise’s scaling of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol or the helicopter craziness of Fallout, this doesn’t

make the stunts any less stunning. It’s one masterfully executed set piece after another, everything building to a 40-or-so-minute stretch aboard a runaway train that has to be seen to be believed. All of it is incredible, every second so gosh darn thrilling, I almost forgot about how often the plot was coming perilously close to driving me up a wall. There is a good chance that all of my misgivings and frustration will evaporate into the wind like they never existed when Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two hits theaters in the next year or so (the sequel has a June 28, 2024, release date scheduled, but I would expect that to get pushed out due to production delays caused by the current WGA strike). McQuarrie’s master plan is still something of a mystery, and how he ties these two halves together into a single whole does have my curiosity piqued. Still, taken on its own, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is absolutely a mixed bag of tricks. The high points are stratospheric, but the low ones are frequently head-scratching. I was disappointed and elated in almost equal measure, and if not for that dazzling climax, I think my opinion would have significantly tilted toward the negative side of the Mission: Impossible coin. But that’s not the case. Ethan Hunt hasn’t stopped running, yet, and even with all my misgivings, I’ll still be first in line to see where his heroic sprint to the finish ultimately ends.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One – Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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

Books

Drink Books offers a unique reading experience for Seattle oenophiles

Photo courtesy of Drink Books

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer Nothing goes with a good book like an elegant wine. At least that is the theory behind Drink Books, the innovative wine and book pairing shop in Phinney Ridge. “The way I talk about wines that I love is very similar to the way I talk about the books that I love,” explained Drink Books owner and operator Kim Kent. “Thinking about atmosphere and tone and how a book and a wine are both a living object... You can’t quite enter them the same way twice.” Before opening Drink Books, Kent had a thirst for literature. She pursued a master’s in creative writing and worked at restaurants throughout her graduate program, through which she also developed a palate for natural wine. She finally decided to merge the worlds of fine wine and classic literature by starting a small book club, which provided a space for Kent to discuss the connections between the two. “I hosted [it] out of Molly’s Bottle Shop in Sunset Hill,” Kent said. “I started that in October of 2019… to bring those two creative energies together and then really enjoyed it…

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“I have a lot of folks who have done it since the beginning…, and it’s become a consistent group …who come in on the second Sunday of every month to discuss the books and the wine. [It’s] been great to see people form friendships, hang out, come back, and …have a larger conversation, too.” Opening her own store As more and more people reached out to Kent to join, she realized she would soon need to expand. “I had the opportunity to open the brickand-mortar in November [2021],” she said, “and that has been fun, because it also brings in my hospitality and hosting.” Now, Kent can showcase wine and book pairings, host community events, and continue the book club out of her own space. “Something I’m most proud about with Drink Books is that it’s become a little community space where people can come and hang out and have fun and talk about books,” Kent said. “We still do the book club out of here, but even folks who don’t participate in that come in.” While other stores may carry more titles than Drink Books, the shelves’ contents are expertly chosen. “All the books on the

shelves I’ve read,” Kent explained. “The idea is that the entire store is a staff recommendation. The wine, too. I’ve tasted them all, and I have an employee who’s working her way through the books and the wines, too, and has her favorites. It’s been fun to see how that changes. Right now, I’m the main curator.” Because she’s enjoyed every title in the store, Kent can connect with the people who come through the space. “If someone is like, ‘Oh I love that,’ I can get into it, or someone else in the shop who is browsing around will have read it. It’s been a sweet, nerdy community, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.” Shelves of books for whites and reds Each book in the store is paired with a fine wine to accompany it. Kent feels that the language of the books she reads describes a wine she has encountered. “It generally is a book first, and then I let the book tell me what wine might pair well with it or mostly what wine you want to drink while reading it,” Kent explained. “Though I’ve had a couple that have happened the other way, where I’m like, ‘Oh, this wine is making me want this type of book,’ but [it’s] generally book first.” The books are categorized in the store

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based on the beverages they pair best with. “For the most part, I organize by wine,” Kent explained. “That’s the main shelf — it goes white to red, and I mix in the books as suggested. We have another wall of featured reads that are ever-changing. Right now, I have a bunch of chilled reds and books to pair with them.” “We have some books that have been classics …since we opened,” Kent added, “both because I love them and because people keep gravitating toward them, so we keep carrying them.” Some of the most popular titles at Drink Books include Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dreamhouse and Elif Batuman’s The Idiot. The stories Kent carries are ones that will make readers ponder and reflect. Many have a distinct aftertaste that will linger long after the final page has turned. Kent believes that books, like wines, can go with the seasons. Right now, she’s into broody rosés and dark reds. “With that, I’ve been into reading books within books or books about books,” she explained. “That’s been the start of the summer obsession.”

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Books

Leg: A candid memoir of resilience by Terri Schlichenmeyer Special to the SGN LEG: THE STORY OF A LIMB AND THE BOY WHO GREW FROM IT GREG MARSHALL © 2023 Abrams Press $26.00 304 pages From the moment he was born, Greg Marshall was endowed with two things: a right leg with “tight tendons” that twisted his foot on that side, and certain oversized intimate body parts that his mother was just too eager to mention. The latter was an eye-rolling embarrassment. The former was never really a big deal to Marshall. Other than wearing out a lot of sneakers, he walked with a limp, so what? He was never bullied much about it, though his siblings teased him in a way that siblings will. He never let it stop him from playing tennis or exploring his Salt Lake City neighborhood. He traveled, appeared in local theater, ran for president of his class, and had an otherwise normal childhood. Still, his leg was something people noticed. He hoped that no one would notice he was Gay too, but they must have, since nobody seemed surprised when he came out as a teen. By then, Marshall’s mother had been fighting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for years with surgeries and various chemotherapies that left her wrung out and scarred. She was in the midst of another battle when Marshall’s father was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that affected his muscles and progressed quickly. As the elder Marshall slipped away — the timing of which he decided himself — the family rallied around him, teasing, deflecting, and grieving. Marshall was in his twenties when that happened, and it highlighted his shaky, barely controlled penchant for hypochondria that he’d had for some time. He worried about his “tight tendons” and cerebral palsy, a diagnosis he’d recently discovered. He fretted about

Greg Marshall – Photo courtesy of the author

getting AIDS. Most of all, he wondered if he’d ever find someone to love him... Hoo-boy, Leg, Marshall’s memoir, is the kind of book that makes you hyperventilate. On many — very many — pages, there’s boisterous, Saturday-morning-cartoon-like, going-in-five-different-directions chaos that might be sibling-based, or parental, deeply personal, humorous, relational, or sexual. And on that note, hoo-boy, there are some wildly messy and explicit pages here. Marshall writes candidly about his sex life: doors wide open, sometimes literally. Ah, but he also writes about the kind of love that’s wrapped in a scrap of fleece and handled carefully, the kind that feels like it might blow away if you’re not careful. That’s a delicate thing in the midst of a madcap tale of a limb and the Gay man attached to it, and it’s sneaky, too: you’ll be looking every which way at Marshall’s life and boom! Tears. Give yourself some time with this book, and breathe deep. Most readers will find it chaotic but thoroughly enjoyable for beach read, airport, or a staycation. Don’t skip Leg or you’ll kick yourself.

Image courtesy of Abrams

LGBTQ+ books People looking for silly beach reads won’t find them at Drink Books. “People often ask for romance. It’s not a genre I have a lot of in the traditional way,” Kent said. “I think Thirst for Salt by Madeline Lucus has elements of a traditional romance but is also very drippy with nostalgia in the best way. It’s a book about longing even more than romance, and that’s been a fun summer read.” Despite the specific selection offered at the store, Kent carries many LGBTQ+ books. “That’s important to me. It’s also something I’m interested in reading,” she said. “I have quite a lot of LGBTQ authors and subject matter.” For the SGN’s Summer Book Club readers, Kent recommends My Autobiography of Carson McCullers. “I just reread this book, so it’s been on top of my mind. …I’ve been into this faux biography. It’s very tender. It’s about this young writer who is in grad school and stumbles across Carson McCullers’ archives. This young person is a writer, and she’s reading all these letters that she wrote, and she’s like, ‘Oh, this author was Queer, and it’s not in her narrative.’” The book parallels the experiences of author Jenn Shapland with Carson McCullers while also exploring Queerness and chronic illness. “It’s a quiet and forceful read. It’s a good summer one, because it’s very spacious. It’s the kind of book you could read all afternoon at the park or take your time with it,” Kent said.

Closing soon, then pop-up events Readers interested in exploring Drink Books should stop by the store sooner than later. The brick-and-mortar location will not only close at the end of the summer, but the building is set to be demolished. “The space has always been slated for demolition” Kent explained. “The time for the physical space is coming to a close, but I think it’s been a cool opportunity to develop different events and things. And the club will continue, as well as the events and possibly another shop down the road.” Kent hopes to find another location for Drink Books to call home, but in the meantime, she will return to small pop-ups and maintain the digital bookstore she started before the current physical location. Luckily for her, pop-ups are something Kent is used to hosting. Since opening the brickand-mortar store, she has hosted several and organized community events for local readers. “We’ve been doing a quarterly story-time series that’s just a great book-and-wine party,” she said. “At some point, I read a short story on the theme. Last winter, I started doing a pastry pop-up in the morning with Sophie Bay Biscuits, which is rad... The final evolution is doing pop-ups outside the shop, so I’ve been doing a ‘date your book’ event at St. Bread and [am] hoping to do more of those there and elsewhere.” Those interested in joining the Drink Books Book Cru should wait until September, once the store has adjusted to a new platform. For anyone interested in exploring the gorgeous physical space Drink Books inhabits, the store at 5817 Phinney Ave. N will remain open Wednesday through Sunday for the rest of the summer. The website is https:// drink-books.com.

Photo courtesy of Drink Books

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

Fashion

Dive in: Swimwear for summer and beyond

Black Grillo

by Mikey Rox Special to the SGN Swimwear isn’t just for summer anymore. Suit up all year ’round — in the hot tub, in some hot springs, or on a hot poolside date — in these every-occasion bottoms that are screamin’ for a splash. Black Grillo Swim Briefs You don’t need to book a flight to Rio to embrace the region’s signature sunga-style swim briefs — compassionately designed to be breathable up front and form-fitting in the back Brazil-based Black Grillo has you (barely) covered with its selection of mini and classic cuts in solid, floral, geometric, and metallic colorways to keep your thighs out while the sky’s out. $30–35, Shop. BlackGrillo.com Saxx “Bite Me” Oh Buoys According to the New York Post, “Women are debating whether the ubiquitous fish in men’s profile pics on dating apps symbolize a catch — or toxic bass-culinity.” Ask Queer men and it’s unanimous: reel us in, daddies. Do your own luring in Saxx’s Bite Me lined trunks, featuring a quick-dry shell in a gumball shade, a full elastic waist, and the brand’s signature BallPark Pouch to keep your boys cool, confident, and just a lil’ slippery when wet. $70, SaxxUnderwear.com Fair Harbor Blue Paisley Bungalows As an on-trend print, paisley comes and goes — but the timing is perfect for the Persian pattern to make a comeback during summer 2023, thanks to Fair Harbor’s stonewashed, sun-faded offering, which look just as stylish shirtless as they do dressed-up in demure denim button-downs or plain pique polos. $68, FairHarborClothing.com

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SAXX

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Fair Harbor

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Fashion

Infamous

Patrick T Cooper

SWIM

continued from page 19 Infamous Swim Amalfi Board Shorts Swishy-wristed sun bums will wanna squeeze them lemons when they catch a glimpse of your beach bod in Infamous Swim’s Hank board shorts in its tart-alizing Amalfi print, which invites pinches and puckers. $79, InfamousSwim.com Patrick T Cooper Be Cools Pop art meets la playa in Patrick T Cooper’s mesh-lined, extra-light Be Cool trunks that are bursting with enough color and Cubist-collage influence to make Picasso proud. $50, PatrickTCooper.com Speedo Melbourne Escape Brief Surf’s up in Speedo’s Melbourne Escape Brief — featuring an external drawstring for a secure fit and CREORA HighClo chlorine-resistant fabric with Endurabrite for long-lasting color — equally suited for dips and dives by the docks or Down Under. $45, US.Speedo.com Kenny Flowers Club Cartagenas Caribbean senses meet Colombian expressions on the Club Cartagena mid-length swim trunks by Kenny Flowers, a solid vibe for poppin’ bottles in the cabana or breakin’ hearts on the beach. $50, KennyFlowers.com

Speedo

Kenny Flowers

Chubbies

Orttu

Chubbies Apex Swimmers Your thighs and round guys stay tight and taut in Chubbies’ Apex Swimmers, thanks to the built-in, anti-chafe mesh boxer-brief liner, available in a pastel-predator print and 13 other wild styles in 4-, 5.5-, and 7-inch lengths. $80, ChubbiesShorts.com Orttu Julien Shorts A quality vacay cover-up can’t be discounted, especially if you’re splashing in your Speedo before hitting the casino, and Orttu’s Julien shorts in a hibiscus-and-palm print are relaxed and playful even when your chips (and inhibitions) and down. $145, Orttu.com Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Instagram @mikeyroxtravels.

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

National News

Nonprofit Publicly Private raises Pansexual awareness

Photo courtesy of Publicly Private

by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Pansexual Visibility Day was on May 24, but for Publicly Private founder and executive director Kollyn Conrad, Pan awareness is a concern year-round. The nonprofit just hit its one-year milestone serving the wider LGBTQ+ community, offering supplies, support, and empowerment in safe, discreet, and widely accessible ways. Publicly Private currently runs three online-only programs. “Explore” is a hub for information around culture, community, and health. “Venture” is a sexual health resource center, where one can order prophylactics, testing kits, and baseline PrEP services. “Strengthen” organizes group therapy sessions. With only a glance at the nonprofit’s website, one might be surprised to find out that it serves the LGBTQ+ community. Its grayscale color scheme and minimalist design could pass for a storefront for bespoke

athletic wear, or a generic life coaching program. That’s the point, though. Most Seattleites wouldn’t bat an eye if a rainbow package arrived on their neighbor’s doorstep, but Publicly Private’s brand is built to fly under the radar in more hostile places. “Our larger long-term goal is to continue to expand across the South to those rural places where you don’t have an LGBTQ+ center, and you don’t have a landmark building that provides such resources for you,” Conrad said. “So we’re going to be that landmark space online.” Signal boosts Serving LGBTQ people is the nonprofit’s goal, but unfortunately, the medical profession has some catching up to do. “There’s a lot of lack in education surrounding identities, and …the resources they need,” Conrad said. “If you walk into a clinic, you have Gay and Lesbian defined, but [as a] Pansexual, your encounters are completely different.”

“In order for me to fully test with our Venture resource program, I have to order two separate kits,” Conrad said, as an example. “Because I require a different set of tools in order to make sure that my sexual well-being is at its best.” Conrad knows firsthand how hard it can be to find resources in a place where not being straight, let alone Pansexual, isn’t socially acceptable. He grew up Queer in the South, describing his sexuality as “open love.” “It was a softer term for me to come into as a young male still figuring it out,” he said. “It’s really, really nice to see that there’s a word for [Pansexual] now, because I remember growing up, and it was not a presented option.” Over the last eight years, there have been some signal boosts. Conrad noted how Miley Cyrus came out as Pan in 2016, and how Janelle Monaé did in 2018, declaring herself a “free-ass motherfucker” in an interview with the Rolling Stone.

Publicly Private founder and executive director Kollyn Conrad – Courtesy photo

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Wikipedia defines pansexuality as “sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction towards people of all genders, or regardless of their sex or gender identity.” “And that’s what embodies Pansexuality,” Conrad said. “You don’t fall into the binary of all of it. And it’s so beautiful. You just see relationships and connections as they are. You’re not looking at the physical form, in a sense.” He explained that Panromantic, meanwhile, “is kind of along those lines of a Demisexual, where they need more of a connection with somebody before it proceeds further within the relationship. But it all falls under the Bi+ community.” Labels for research, support, and funding Conrad qualified the need for Pan awareness with the idea that labels aren’t a monolith, and that sexuality is fluid and complex. “While we do need to define it, in a sense, for science and scientific studies, and so that we can try to group these people and create support for them, we don’t always put a label on them,” he said. “That was one of the hardest things that I found out when I started Publicly Private, is that in order to get funding, we have to almost in a sense make people label themselves.” Funders for LGBTQ Issues, an organization that promotes philanthropy benefiting the Queer community, released a report last month showing that “for every $100 awarded by US foundations in 2021, only 28 cents specifically supported LGBTQ communities and issues.” It also found that the Mountain and Midwest regions of the country were chronically underfunded compared to the rest, and although total funding in the country as a whole had increased by 61%, “the rising tide has not lifted all boats.” Over 81% of LGBTQ+ grant dollars that year were allocated to LGBTQ+ organizations in general, leaving about 19% for the most vulnerable groups. Bisexual people, which can include Pansexual people, were allocated less than 1%. Asexual people got zero. “We’re still in that fight, like I said, to represent visibility for everyone,” Conrad said. “I think that’s what we really try to stand by, is whether you identify with some of the LGBT community, or you are standing alone in your identification, we are here to support you, because we consider the Queer community one.”

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National/International News National news highlights by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Montana businesses fight for drag storytime A Trans woman, an indie bookstore, and a teacher have teamed up in Montana to challenge a new state law that bans people dressed in drag from reading to children in public schools and libraries. By specifically banning drag kings and queens without mention of sexual elements, the law is a national first. On the constitutional grounds of free speech rights and equal protection, the plaintiffs seek to have the law temporarily blocked. They also seek damages for Adria Jawort, whose talk on LGBTQ+ history at the Butte-Silver Bow Public Library was canceled by officials, who cited the new legislation. Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell, who sponsored the bill, said that “keeping hypersexualized events out of taxpayerfunded schools and libraries” is not a violation of the First Amendment. Montana Book Co. co-owner Chelsia Rice says she and her spouse joined the plaintiffs “to make sure everyone who this law affects is supported and defended by those that have the wherewithal and fortitude to do it.” Other plaintiffs include a fitness studio, an independent theater that receives state money and shows PG-13 and R-rated films, and other businesses, organizations, and community centers that host all-ages drag events.

Adrian Jawort of Billings, Montana – Photo by Thom Bridge / Independent Record / AP

Court reinstates Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for minors The US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled on Saturday last weekend that a Tennessee law banning doctors from providing gender-affirming care to Trans minors can go into effect immediately. The panel of three judges voted 2-1 that the

plaintiffs were unlikely to prevail on their claims that the law is unconstitutional. “Life-tenured federal judges should be wary of removing a vexing and novel topic of medical debate from the ebbs and flows of democracy by construing a largely unamendable federal constitution to occupy the field,” wrote Judge Jeffrey Sutton.

Sutton also wrote that “these initial views, we must acknowledge, are just that: initial. We may be wrong.” Meanwhile medical associations have argued that gender-affirming care can be lifesaving, and other federal judges have found that similar bans violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

International news highlights by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Mayhem at Georgian Pride festival An LGBT festival in the country of Georgia was swarmed last weekend by hundreds of anti-LGBT protesters who looted the bar, vandalized the stage, and set fires at the event. One official said that the peaceful participants of the festival were safely evacuated, while police on the scene struggled to hold back what the country’s media estimated was about 5,000 counterprotesters. “The protesters managed to find... ways to enter the area of the event, but we were able to evacuate the Pride participants and organizers,” said Deputy Chief Interior Minister Alexander Darakhveldze. “Nobody was harmed during the incident, and the police are now taking measures to stabilize the situation.” The event organizers said the police could have done more to prevent the disruption. “The police did not block the access road to the festival site in order to prevent an aggressive group. The police did not use proportional force against the attackers.” Some involved went so far as to accuse the police of collusion. “I definitely think this [disruption] was a preplanned, coordinated action between the government and the radical groups,” said Mariam Kvaratskhelia. “We think this operation was planned in order to sabotage the [European Union] candidacy of Georgia.” Trans woman sues Japanese ministry Japan’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday this week that the Economy and Trade Ministry’s restrictions on a Trans woman’s use of restrooms at her workplace were illegal and “extremely inappropriate,” after the employee was forced to either use the men’s room or the women’s restrooms two or more floors away.

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Police detain an opponent of Gay Rights in Tbilisi, Georgia – Photo by Zurab Tsertsvadze / AP

The plaintiff, a ministry official in her fifties, said after her victory that “all people should have the right to live their lives in a society based on their own sexual identities. The significance of that should not be reduced to the usage of toilets or public baths.” “Even if awareness is lacking among

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the public, the administrative branch must promote understanding and prohibit discrimination,” said the plaintiff’s lawyer, Toshimasa Yamashita. “The government must now deal with the workplace environment more appropriately to protect the rights of minorities.” Japan remains the only member of the

Group of Seven industrialized nationals where same-sex marriage isn’t legal. Still, just last month, its parliament did advance a lukewarm law to promote awareness of sexual minorities without providing them legal rights, and a court in Fukuoka ruled that the lack of legal protections for LGBTQ+ people is unconstitutional.

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Episode 69: Kate Mageau Lindsey interviews counselor and author Kate Mageau on her book and domestic violence in the Queer community.

NEW EPISODES WEEKLY! FIND RADIO SGN WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS! In The District Court of the State of Washington for the county of King John Evans, Petitioner vs. No. 22CIV01224KCX Vitaly Kurlykov, Respondent The state of Washington to Vitaly Kurlykov: You are hereby summoned to appear on the 26th day of July, 2023, at 1:15p.m., and respond to the petition. If you fail to respond, a protection order will be issued against you pursuant to the provisions of chapter 7.105 RCW, for a minimum of one year from the date you are required to appear. A temporary protection order has been issued against you, restraining you from the following: (having any contact with Petitioner or coming within 250 feet of Petitioner residence or place of employment). A copy of the petition, notice of hearing, and temporary protection order has been filed with the clerk of this court. Petitioner John Evans

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