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VOLUME 51
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MS. REBECCA BLACK WAS HERE A backstage chat at Capitol Hill Block Party by Kylin Brown SGN Contributing Writer On Friday, July 21, on the Vera Stage at the Capitol Hill Block Party, Rebecca Black proved herself a star reborn. In the decade since her 13-year-old-self crash landed in internet virality with the release of “Friday,” she has reconnected with her love of performance, and she demonstrated her authentic talent to Seattle’s favorite block party as part of her headline Let Her Burn tour.
see BLACK page 10
Photo courtesy of Kylin Brown
Lack of policy failing Duvall artists
Pride art removed after threats
Patti Hearn connects and amplifies as Seattle Pride’s new executive director
Photo courtesy of Axton Burton
by Kali Herbst Minino SGN Intern Axton Burton was commissioned to create a colorful Pride wall made of carefully tied ribbons on the fence outside of the Valley Mail shipping business in Duvall over a year ago, and up until recently, it had remained largely untouched. The highly visible art piece near the entrance and exit
Patti Hearn – Courtesy photo
of the city was taken down by the city on July 21 due to complaints and threats the city received — threats that had legal ground to stand on. The potential for a new and permanent Pride art installation has been aired, but for now the individually tied ribbons are sitting somewhere in city hall with an unclear future.
see DUVALL page 4
by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Seattle Pride — the organization behind Pride in the Park, the Seattle Pride Parade, and Seattle Pride Magazine — welcomed Patti Hearn as its new executive director last month, just as the team was closing out the last of June’s carryover festivities.
Hearn is a Queer woman and community builder with a substantial background in education. She has lived in Seattle for 29 years, meaning that her 30th anniversary with the city will also be Seattle Pride’s 50th — a big task for someone just starting at the nonprofit, but also one for which she seems well prepared.
see HEARN page 5
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continued from cover Fence a battleground of symbols When Burton was initially commissioned by Carol Kufeldt, owner of the Valley Mail, they say they completed about 10% of the work in six hours. Bringing ribbon and some extra sets of hands, volunteers helped finish the piece. After a while, it needed to be refreshed, and Burton put out a call for volunteers. Around the same time, the city started receiving emails about the fence. “A small group of people in the city got upset, and started — we didn’t find this out until later — harassing the city and threatening them,” Kufeldt said. In the following weeks a slew of new flags appeared on the fence, and no one is really sure who put them up. First, American flags were stuffed on the top of it, and Kufeldt let them be. “I was like, ‘Okay, it’s not quite the original design, but the fourth of July is coming up,’” Kufeldt said. “The flag and the Pride flag should be together because we’re all American.” Then a POW MIA flag showed up, and Kufeldt initially let it stay up but eventually took it down to make space on the fence for another organization. A Gadsden flag (the “don’t tread on me” flag) appeared shortly after, followed by an Appeal to Heaven flag with the words “an appeal to heaven” written across it and an image of a pine tree — lately a flag associated with Christian nationalism and the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Art in legal limbo Duvall doesn’t have any policy about banners, so the fence — owned by the city — and whatever is on it are completely unregulated, meaning anyone can legally put what they want on it. Amy Ockerlander, Mayor of Duvall, says the city originally planned to have a policy discussion about sign codes in October. The mix of employees who felt unsafe at work and the increasingly stronger signals on the fence forced the city to move that date to Aug. 15 and take everything off the fence. “We wanted to have a calm dialogue so that all members of the community could come and have a rational conversation, and I really feel that with those that continue to put increasingly exclusionary flags and symbols up on the fence, that the opportunity was taken away from the entire community,” Ockerlander said. Burton says they received notice about the August meeting about a ban on nonpermanent banners that was expected to pass, and the notice warned that the piece might need to be taken down in a month and a half. They say after about two or three days of hearing from the city, they received another follow up email saying they would need to make a decision about the piece as soon as possible. Burton was given three options: to take the art piece down themselves, to have it taken down by the city, or to have it given to them or to City Hall. Burton says they spent five hours looking into alternative options alongside community members, and they came up with more than 10. Some ideas included putting an “under construction” sign in place of the art piece to give a visual cue to the community, or for the city council to plan an emergency meeting. By the time Burton got home to write it all out in an email, the offers had been rescinded and they were notified the art piece would be coming down in the early hours of the next morning. “Unfortunately, because my partner works at night and he had the car at that point, I didn’t get a chance to go and do what I personally needed, which was to see it one last time and say thank you,” Burton said. “It prevented me from honoring and saying goodbye to my 15-hour creation. It was a painful tease to offer me my art piece.” They also expressed frustration about not receiving information about the threats
City hopes future policy will protect LGBTQ art Ockerlander expressed sadness about the piece going down, saying that she and many others in the community loved driving by the fence every day. “It’s kind of feeling like what’s going The city is currently working with Bur- to issue a Pride proclamation. on nationally is filtering down to the local “I’m happy with what they’re planning level in ways that we haven’t seen in a long, ton to create a more permanent art installalong time, which is quite sad and disap- tion, Burton says. Ockerlander says the city to do. It’s going to be very visible, very out got caught off guard by not having rules in the open,” Kufeldt said. pointing,” Ockerlander said. Burton says they’d like to see an apology and procedures in place for art, so the city Local artists skeptical of city efforts from the city, including an acknowledge- administrator is working on an art policy. Other community members have doubts, “We would like to identify a place and ment that the installation’s removal has impacted the Queer community’s relation- policy so we can have a permanent instal- however. Elizabeth Hill, a local artist who lation supporting the LGBTQ members moved to Duvall over 30 years ago for the ship with the city. “Wouldn’t it be nice, as a Trans person, to of our community. I don’t know how long arts community, says she doesn’t know how the new piece is going to turn out just rip down art or change a policy to stop it will take to get that policy done and being threatened? I really wish that they had through a council process, but that is most given her experiences with the city for past projects. some empathy around that,” Burton said. “I definitely the intent.” Kufeldt is pleased with the city’s efforts, want them to be transparent about the steps and the mayor has been the first in Duvall they are taking with permanent local art.” see DUVALL page 4
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Pride ribbon wall art piece at Valley Mail in Duvall before and after being taken down – Photo courtesy of Axton Burton
sooner, and that the police had been involved in taking down the piece. “It was irritatingly painful to learn that [police] officers were involved in the removal. I had only learned that after. I believe they had paid the individuals extra because it was at four in the morning, which is four or five hours earlier than individuals are supposed to be on the clock,” Burton said.
“It’s kind of feeling like what’s going on nationally is filtering down to the local level in ways that we haven’t seen in a long, long time, which is quite sad and disappointing.”
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continued from cover In 1998, Hearn was part of the group that founded Lake Washington Girls Middle School, the first all-girls middle school in the Pacific Northwest. She called her time there “a really amazing journey for everyone.” “As I was able to help the organization mature, as organizations do, I learned a lot,” Hearn said. “I learned a lot about finance, and organizational leadership, and capital campaigns, and fundraising, and all the things that are very much the purview of an executive director.” She took those skills to another head of school role in 2020, and later to her own education consultancy. That’s when the pandemic, as it did for many, gave her time to think more deeply about her next steps. An executive director “wasn’t really what I necessarily intended to grow into when I started as a teacher and educator,” Hearn said. But “as a member of the Queer community, I was thinking about places that I could have the most impact,” she said. “And I was really pretty narrow in looking for roles . . . I pretty much knew it was going to be in a Queer organization or a youth organization, because those are the things that really matter to me.” It also turned out that the mission of a school, as Hearn saw it, and that of Seattle Pride had a lot in common. “A school really is a social justice-oriented organization,” Hearn said. “You’re thinking about who’s farthest from justice, and what the barriers are that can be removed to help them move toward justice and really get what they need.” On a more technical level, Hearn was already well versed in guiding an organization, from the individuals up to the grander scheme of things, asking, “Where’s the organization going and what does it need? And what are the strategic initiatives that need to be in place to help it grow and sustain into the future?” Hearn said she saw the opening at Seattle Pride and knew right away that it was “obvious that I needed to apply for it.” From there, it seems the right choice only became clearer.
looking for.” “I’ve had a great couple of weeks getting to know board members, and getting to know some of the staff,” she said. “And it’s been a really positive experience.” “Seeing their enthusiasm, their excitement, their clear love for the organization and its mission — and then also having the aligned experience in the other room with the board — was exactly what I needed to be like, ‘Yeah, that’s where I want to be.’” When Hearn spoke over Zoom, it was only her tenth day at Seattle Pride. But given how she sees herself as a leader, it’s no wonder that the people working were the tipping point in her decision to join them. “I think I see myself mostly as a connector and an amplifier,” she said. “I mean, one of the things we have to notice: this is a big organization . . . I think it is our prize responsibility, and my responsibility as executive director, to make sure that I can always look for the opportunities to amplify voices, particularly BIPOC voices, in the Queer community.” Hearn also mentioned that Seattle Pride could do a lot to help the Queer communities of neighboring towns as they navigate the rockier terrain of Washington state’s red counties. The organization offers grants and sponsorships that could factor heavily in that pursuit. On that note, Hearn also emphasized Patti Hearn – Courtesy photo that Seattle Pride is active year-round — not just in planning festivities for June, or the quarterly Seattle Pride Magazine, but also in education programming, community building, and advocacy efforts. And on a more personal level, Hearn has her own fond memories of Seattle’s Pride festivities. “I remember that day of getting ready and going to my first parade in Seattle,” she said. “I was so excited. I could tell you what I wore.” She had originally planned to live in San Francisco, but when she arrived in Seattle from New Jersey in May 1994, “the weather was perfect. The street festivals were happening. The Seattle International Film Festival was showing Go Fish, which “As I met the board members and the Hearn said. “My first call with a board is a Lesbian movie. And I walked into the hiring team, every person that I talked to member — totally great. I felt completely theater. It was the most Lesbians I’d ever through the process led me a step closer to like I understood where the organiza- seen in one place. And then I never left.” thinking this was really the right match,” tion was, what it wanted to do, what it was
“I think it is our prize responsibility, and my responsibility as executive director, to make sure that I can always look for the opportunities to amplify voices, particularly BIPOC voices, in the Queer community.”
“The city finds itself in situations where it has challenges, let’s say something needs to be done with the art or a performance space, but they don’t coordinate with the art community in the way we used to work together on things,” Hill said. Hill listed multiple instances of art being taken down or disappearing without being given to the arts community in Duvall. A granite bench engraved by a local stone carver was damaged and thrown away rather than repaired, a monument by a park needed to be maintained but disappeared after being promised to the arts community, and a mural that needed to be replaced was removed, Hill says. Duvall is somewhat of a news desert, so SGN was not able to find information to confirm those instances. Hill also mentioned a 20-year long project to create a cultural and performing arts center in Duvall. A website about the center, whose last update was in January 2022, recounts the process. In 1995, the owner of a 30-acre property with an old barn was required by the city to use some of that property and the barn for a performing arts center. “Subsequently the City then formed an Arts Commission to advise the City on how to move forward with the idea of creating a performing arts center and other ideas that would support the arts in Duvall, which at that time was a thriving arts community,” the website reads. The Duvall Foundation for the Arts received the deed for the property in 2019,
“As the development pressure has come on and frankly, so many new residents, it’s much more like, if you’re in the city limits you have a voice, but if you’re outside of the city limits you can’t be on commissions, can’t run for council, can’t be the mayor,” Hill said. “A lot of folks feel like if you’re not in city limits you don’t have a voice.” The city is growing at the same time that the city government is understaffed. Ockerlander says that staff members were cut during the 2008 recession and beyond. When she took office in 2017, there were fewer staff members than after the layoffs in 2008, but the city had grown over 40%. She did not have a city administrator for years, nor did she have the staff for a lot of day-to-day work. The only reason Duvall hasn’t had a Pride celebration, she says, is because of staffing. Photo courtesy of Axton Burton Understaffing contributed to the Pride Burgeoning city, but COVID-19 hit immediately after, and wall being taken down, too. Historically, shrinking city hall staff DFA eventually received a notification Ockerlander says, public art installed in the Gentrification in a fast-growing city also city has had to go through the city’s cultural requiring they remove the barn along with a tent, funded by 4Culture, that had been creates challenges, specifically city council commission. That commission has been members rotating out quickly, Hill says. intended to help preserve the barn. defunct for a couple of years due to a lack of “The council, because it’s such a big staff. Along with it, a public art policy has not “Unfortunately, the City of Duvall wanted to see the commercial development influx of people, they don’t know the his- been put in place, which is what is lacking for of the property along Hwy 203 around the tory of the town and they vote on stuff that a new permanent piece to be installed. Thayer barn sooner than what DFA had makes permanent changes to things that we Both Ockerlander and Burton encourreally highly value without a conversation,” age community members to attend the city hoped for,” the website reads. The city’s vision, Hill says, was to Hill said. council meeting on August 15 at 7 p.m. in Living outside of Duvall compounds city hall. install big pieces of the old barn in a new the challenges. Hill says that when the facility. “What would be really helpful. I know “They thought we could just take the town was smaller and had less pressure for many, many people in our community barn wood apart and have little individual development, she felt that the city looked are showing up to the council meeting on boards and that would be equivalent to at the community as people who shopped August 15th, but I think that sending emails what we were trying to do,” Hill said. “It’s there, went there, came to restaurants, vol- to the council expressing public support for heart-breaking as an artist to spend thirty unteered, did public art, and so on. She says a public art policy, expressing support for years being part of an arts community and a lot of artists live in unincorporated King making sure we are a welcoming space for County outside Duvall. have these things basically taken away.” the LGBTQ community,” Ockerlander said.
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Drag queen Flamy Grant tops iTunes Christian charts after Twitter feud by Teddy MacQuarrie SGN Staff Writer In late July, an escalated Twitter feud between two Christian musicians led to a drag queen topping the iTunes Christian charts. The debacle started with a snarky comment by Sean Feucht, a conservative Christian musician and failed GOP congressional candidate, who tweeted his disapproval of a collaboration between Derek Webb, frontman for contemporary Christian band Caedmon’s Call, and drag queen Flamy Grant. In true culture war fashion, Feuchte referred to the collaboration as a sign that “these are truly the last days,” and as one thing led to another, backlash against Feuchte’s tweet caused Grant to surge in streams and downloads. The collaboration, the single “Good Day” from Grant’s 2022 album Bible Belt Baby, is an upbeat declaration of an unbreakable spirit in the face of rejection. In the middle of this Twitter tiff and its opportune outcome for Grant, the experiences of Queer people in evangelical Christianity have found a unique if unlikely voice: a campy, gospel-singing, gospelpreaching drag queen. Grant’s Vision Flamy Grant is the stage name of San Diego-based Matthew Blake, a former worship leader raised in Appalachia. Blake created Flamy Grant during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of keeping his own sanity. But as she recounts to Paste Magazine, when her pastor asked her to give a sermon in drag, the TikTok videos she made to practice went viral, racking up nearly a million views. In an article with Newsweek, Grant explains her religious background. “The evangelical faith I was raised in is, sadly, founded entirely on fear and buried in shame.
Flamy Grant – Photo courtesy of the artist
I believe in the power of love to cast out fear.” She speaks of loving Christian music as a kid, saying in a tweet that this surge is having “such a massive impact for hurting, closeted kids in churches. I know because I was one.” Blake has run the Heathen Podcast since 2017, since well before he created Flamy Grant, and on its website, Flamy describes herself as “an apostate, a heretic, [and] a heathen — and I’ve never felt more whole.” Her return to Christian music as Flamy Grant comes in the wake of what she calls a process of “deconstructing” faith – undertaking critical analysis of its roots. In Paste, Blake explains, “I have a lot of personal spiritual practices, but it’s really hard to identify with the Christian church in America right now.” His goal in his music is to help “kids to see that there’s options for them. That they are not alone.” Grant’s Music Flamy Grant’s style in her 2022 album Bible Belt Baby draws heavily on such influences as folk, Americana, and gospel. Her lyrics unfold couplet by couplet over lilting
guitar, evoking in some tracks the tranquility of Alison Krauss and Sarah Jarosz, and in others the bold effusiveness of Winona Judd and CeCe Winans. Her lyrics at times present as ham-fisted, and her sound derivative, but, understood as a blend of sincerity and camp, she makes an undeniable impact. If Bible Belt Baby contains a throughline, it’s Grant’s affirmation that shame does not have the last word as Queer people seek home. Home is a perennial theme in the musical traditions to which she pays homage, and she uses her experience as a Gay Christian to frame home as both a crisis and a promise. Her drag utilizes nostalgia, not in the usual sense of evoking times gone by, but as a corrective to a demographic shaped deeply by being denied a past of their own. Home is both the wound of the past and a hope for the future. Grant’s music encompasses several themes well known by Queer people who fight for their existence in Christian spaces. Her opening track, “What Did You Drag Me Into?,” recounts growing up Queer in
a Christian household, at one point discovered in youthful drag and seen as “something shocking and obscene,” at another point playing the Virgin Mary in drag at a church nativity pageant while a big gospel chorus flies overhead. She sings the praises of the Bible’s strong women in “Esther, Ruth, and Rahab”: “in those pages you’ll find badass rebel warriors and queens, / Prophetesses, witches, whores, and wives all causing scenes,” and she wrestles with the dark night of the soul in “Holy Ground:” “What silence must it take / To soothe so deep an ache? / I would let the water take me down / If I were not afraid to drown.” Grant places herself in a musical tradition rife with expressions that make ready fodder for drag, as exemplified by Trixie Mattel’s Two Birds and the aesthetics of Dolly Parton. She meets her own namesake head-on with a cover of Amy Grant’s 1997 crossover hit “Takes a Little Time,” spinning it with a soothing American Midwest idiom sure to elicit feelings of home to those who grew up amid floral upholstery and wood paneled living rooms. Grant’s significance Neither Grant’s style nor her experiences are universal. Bible Belt Baby is not for everyone, instead playing to a specific, even if widespread, cultural experience. Yet the wider cultural relevance of the moment that thrust Grant into the limelight affects us all. Her music, her style, and her art, when understood in the culture war context, make her a notable phenomenon. Her art is more than nostalgia, more than camp, and even more than drag. Her art is medicine. And for far-right culture warriors who decry her message as a sign of “the last days,” one can only hope that they are right, and that the days of shame, fear, and hate are coming to an end.
The magic of West End Girls by Nemesis SGN Contributing Writer If you’re looking for a night of stellar drag entertainment and Queer magic, look no further than West Seattle’s Skylark Cafe, home of the monthly all ages show West End Girls. The show, celebrating its sixth year at the café, was created to deliver quality drag to West Seattle locals, but it’s worth the trip from elsewhere in the city. The magic happens the fourth Saturday of every month. When I walked into a packed house on a recent Saturday, the energy in the venue was galvanizing. Usually hosted by the legendary Cookie Couture, that night’s festivities were hosted by the haunting and mystical Old Witch. The space has a large stage with a great eighties rock aesthetic. The show runs from 8 to 10 p.m. and is complemented by Skylark Cafe’s extensive food and drink menu. The staff was incredibly supportive and helped make the whole evening possible. Performers Vivienne Paradisco, Londyn Bradshaw, Betty Wetter, Sid Seedy, Hot Pink Shade, Fraya Love, and Dean the Vampire King, along with Old Witch, captivated the audience with high energy numbers and sickening custom mixes. Costume reveals, tight choreography, incredible camp, and audience engagement kept the house full throughout the evening. It’s important to note that this show is immensely inclusive. Drag queens, kings, and performers of all backgrounds are all welcome and invited to grace the West End Girls stage. Sid and Dean are both drag kings. Kings are a staple in the realm of
Queer nightlife and are often overlooked and under-booked. Fraya is a Trans woman of color. Trans women are the foundation of the LGBTQIA+ community and are a large part of the reason we have the rights
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stage kitten, Dean the Vampire King, Fraya Love, Sid Seedy, Vivienne Paradisco, Old Witch, Hot Pink Shade, Londyn Bradshaw – Courtesy photo
we have today. In a world where politics is turning back the clock, it is more important now than ever to support local drag, in all its shapes and forms.
West End Girls plays the last Saturday of every month at the Skylark Cafe, 3803 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106.
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Alt band Big Thief’s TikTok beef over “Vampire Empire” song they played, described at the time as an “unreleased song,” was similar to the version they ended up releasing. However, in the released version a flute that featured in the live performance was removed, and a few lyrics were omitted. The first of these omitted lyrics was in the chorus, where the unreleased version had the lyric “I am empty til she fills / alive until she kills / in her vampire empire I am the fish and she’s my gills / falling.” The released version says instead, “I am empty til she fills / alive until she kills / in her vampire empire I am / falling.” Another lyric was changed from “I walked into your dagger for the last time in a row,” to “I walked into your dagger for the last time,” simply omitting a few words. Though the changes may seem innocuous — a flute and some lyrics — a significant number of fans felt the band had ruined the unreleased song.
by Ian Crowley SGN Contributing Writer “VAMPIRE EMPIRE” BIG THIEF On all music platforms Big Thief releases anticipated single Brooklyn-based band Big Thief released a new single on July 19, marking their first release since 2022’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. The album was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammys, and its track “Certainty” was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance. The band has kept busy touring for the past year, performing all over the world and making guest appearances on late-night talk shows. The new track, an emotional rocker called “Vampire Empire,” highlights the intricacies of a toxic relationship. Adrianne Lenker, Big Thief’s frontwoman, is openly Queer, a fact often on display in her lyrics. Those lyrics are chillingly personal, letting the listener in on the emotional beats of whatever relationship she is writing about, whether that be a relationship to a person, a community, or the universe. The new song is no different in this regard, gut wrenching in its portrayal of the realities of a deteriorating romantic partnership. Lyrics like “you spin me all around and ask me not to spin” portray a relationship where control over one’s partner has become expected. The song underscores this point further in the third verse, with the line “I walked into your dagger for the last time.” Sonically, the song is a groovy and thumping composition. The electric guitars stay chugging and lowkey during the verses, while a colorful bass and grounding drums follow
the groove with a careful and human imperfection. Accompanying this are electric guitar flourishes that build into the choruses, which then flood the song with heaviness. This deluge contrasts with the song’s earlier restraint, especially when paired with Lenker’s vocal delivery, which builds to heightened moments of screaming — the song’s emotional catharsis. The dynamic composition connects the quieter, more somber parts with the loud, emotional, and bombastic parts. And I would be remiss not to mention the fun percussion
employed during the chorus, which sounds like well-tuned pots and pans! Song debuted early Though the song was released just two weeks ago, it has been teased on tour multiple times. Its debut for fans that hadn’t seen the band on tour was around five months ago, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The performance went viral on social media, quickly making it one of the band’s most popular songs. The version of the song
Room for both versions Both versions of “Vampire Empire” feature stunning composition and commendable performances, and overall they aren’t too different. In the opinion of this writer, the flute is sorely missed, but the lyric omissions make the vocals flow more smoothly. That being said, if you’re not listening for the slight changes, you could stream both versions back to back and not notice a single difference. The next Big Thief output would likely benefit from being fully completed before release, just to avoid another debacle. All the band needs for that is a little certainty (pun unfortunately intended). Big Thief is currently touring in the United States, with a show in Redmond, Washington, on August 5. You can find the single “Vampire Empire / Born For Loving You” on all music platforms, with the latter of the two songs set to release in September.
Big Thief – Photos by Alexa Viscius
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Fan reception on TikTok On TikTok, reaction to the song’s changes has gone more viral than the song itself. TikTok displays close to two thousand videos using “Vampire Empire” as a sound; in most if not all of them, fans discuss their reaction to the changed lyrics. Some claim the changes ruin the flow of the words, while others claim they actually alter the meaning of the song. Though this isn’t the first time a band has come under fire from fans for changing a beloved unreleased song with its official version, this does seem to be one of the most high-profile examples of a backlash against a song’s release. One fan posted a video of herself singing the original lyrics in protest. Another claimed to have gotten some of the original lyrics tattooed on their body, only to find that those lyrics hadn’t made the final cut. Some even took issue with Big Thief for releasing a changed version, claiming it was “disrespectful to fans.” Not every reaction was negative; other fans took the opportunity to say they preferred the changes, or to make fun of people for caring so much about a minor difference. Given the nature of TikTok as an engagement-driven app, the platform may have allowed people to be more exposed to the unreleased version. When a TikTok goes viral, its sound is heard by millions of people. Additionally, if a user shows interest in a sound on the app, the algorithm will likely show them more videos using that sound. By the time “Vampire Empire” was officially released, months after its debut, a lot of fans had heard the unreleased version dozens and dozens of times, solidifying it as the definitive version. This phenomenon is becoming more common on TikTok, as teasing a track on the platform for months before a release is a good way to drum up excitement. While it leaves the door open for fans involvement, they may feel attached to songs before they’re finished. From the fans’ perspective, the attachment makes sense. If you listen to a song over and over again and suddenly a key component is no longer there, something just feels wrong. Imagine if the cowbell were removed from “Don’t Fear the Reaper” — not the same song.
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BLACK
continued from cover Now 26 years old, Queer, and boasting a debut album, Black brought a horde of excited and curious Capitol Hill Block Party listeners up to speed with a setlist primarily focused on tracks from Let Her Burn, such as “Misery Loves Company,” with its ultra-catchy chorus integrating hyperpop — a new Rebecca Black trademark –– and “Sick To My Stomach,” a light yet angsty pop anthem for anyone still caught up on their ex-long-term, long-distance, low-commitment girlfriend. To catch up with the artist, we arranged to meet in her green room for an SGN exclusive interview following her performance. Overcoming the haters When Black first entered the music scene, she became the target of criticism and internet harassment for the simple lyrics and highly autotuned production on “Friday” — yet the teen had had little involvement in the song’s construction. In pursuit of her ambition Black had decided to enter the industry by releasing a music video in 2011. She and her mother approached a music composition and production company because it was more accessible than a record label, and the company promised her a song. After procrastinating on its deliverable until late one tired and fateful Friday night, the company wrote “Friday.” Having experienced the internet’s mostly hateful reaction to her single, Black Rebecca Black’s Queer identity left the industry with stage fright and broshaped her music ken confidence, which she says she spent Black didn’t get to this point overnight. years overcoming. Taking the stage at the Capitol Hill Block “That process was quite long,” said Black. Through the years, Black says she felt an Party, today’s Rebecca Black demonstrated a cool comfort as she leaned into her past “instinctive” need to come back to music. fame and, to the delight of listeners, per- “I grew up as a kid that was drawn to theformed her 2021 “Friday” remix, a Queered, ater, drawn to performing, drawn to danc- “Coming out as Queer was a huge moment her EP Rebecca Black Was Here while also hyperpop take on the hit featuring Big Free- ing, to singing. That was where I found my for me in how I make choices for myself,” writing singles that wouldn’t be released independence and my creativity,” she said. she said. “It was one of the first moments until it was time for an album. dia, Dorian Electra, and 3OH3! In the song “Destroy Me,” Black also “I guess that feeling just never went away.” where I think I trusted my own instinct over The long Gay road to Let Her Burn To get back to her passions, Black began anyone else.” takes time to acknowledge the feeling of On a personal level, coming out helped “I was dying to fucking put out an negative public perception, but she does it sar- to reconnect with those parts of herself castically: “God, am I just a loser? / Bet that’s that she had been in touch with as a kid. her break away from the ideology that she album for years. Obviously I wanted to what they always say.” Climaxing with a “I think that we do have these instincts as was taught initially: not taking leadership show that part of myself and give myself breakbeat drum drop, the song calls haters to kids, as far as what drives us, what brings and not trusting her own instincts. “Grow- hopefully some legitimacy,” she said, attention: “Go ahead destroy me, destroy me.” us joy, what brings us the purpose that ing up as a kid in the industry, for a long “but I just wasn’t ready yet. As much as time you are taught to do anything but that. I needed to trust myself, I also finally met The song’s beat verges on glitchcore rock, we’re looking for.” A major catalyst for reconnecting with You’re taught that you’re new and naive and the right people.” reminiscent of 100 Gecs’ electronic drama, She described not only former agents deepening the message that she does not care. her musical side, she told me, was coming don’t know anything.” In the process of coming out, Black had and producers berating and belittling her “When I’m onstage now, I feel like out of the closet, which launched her into the writing process for her EP and album. so much renewed creativity that she wrote for speaking her mind, but even women I have nothing to lose,” Black said. joining in and encouraging her to stay small. By that time, Black had been told how to behave and what to sing about for too long. “As I started writing the music and the music got Gayer, I just knew that that was what I needed to do,” she said. “I was holding myself back and holding my audience back in a way that I knew we could connect.” Songs like “Look At You,” a yearning, almost indie-pop ballad showcasing Black’s true vocal range, proved impactful to the audience at the Capitol Hill Block Party. Some were moved to dance, and some used their phone flashlights as if they were slowly waving lighters above their heads. In her green room behind the Vera Stage, Black said, laughing, “It’s no coincidence that my audience –– and I check with them most nights — they’re Gay!” While connecting with her audience, she continues to dig deep with her music into her own self-expression. Coined “one of Queer pop’s It Girls” by OUT Magazine, today’s Rebecca Black is empowered, attuned with her inner child’s intuition, and has found a community that doesn’t berate her or police her actions. “Trying to navigate this as I’ve been growing up has allowed for a lot of pivotal and cliche moments,” she said. “The process was long, but nurturing.” Stream or download Let Her Burn, an album that demonstrates Black’s impressive songwriting skills and vocal capacity. Let your mind be changed about this artist if it hasn’t been already.
“When I’m onstage now, I feel like I have nothing to lose.”
Let Her Burn is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and YouTube Music.
Photos courtesy of Kylin Brown
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Arts & Entertainment
Youth theater presents Queer storyline The Prom in Marysville
Photos by Cameron Martinez
There’s no business like show business for the Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts in Marysville. The organization, which holds several theater-based events and classes throughout the year, is currently getting ready for the Summer Stars teen theater program’s showing of The Prom, which premiers Friday, August 4. The Prom, a musical that has since been turned into a Netflix film, tells the story of a Lesbian who wants to take her longtime girlfriend to prom but is prevented by the PTA and other students. Meanwhile, Broadway stars try to insert themselves in the situation to gain positive publicity. Scott B. Randall, the founder of Red Curtain and the show’s director, says he wanted to choose The Prom “because of the Queer storyline, and it’s also a very entertaining show. I think we have a responsibility [to tell Queer stories]. Washington is more or less a safe place to be a Queer person. So therefore, I think that the onus rests on us to use that and to use that voice and to use our security to help hopefully spread out through the rest
of the country through examples. I just want to see kids that can continue being themselves and not have to worry about that fear of being in the closet and what it’s going to be like to come out,” said Randall. This inclusive sentiment rings true for the organization’s mission as well. Red Curtain’s website states that it is “committed to increasing accessibility and appreciation of the visual and performing arts for students, artists, technicians, audiences and patrons in the Snohomish County area through education, productions, and exhibits.” Ella Byerly, musical director of The Prom and former summer star at Red Curtain, emphasized the importance of theater as a mirror of current events. “Because while it may be happening in the real world, some people don’t take the time to read the news or do anything. But people do take the time to go see movies or go, like, see shows. And so I think it’s really important to represent that. So that way it reaches an even broader audience and helps that go further beyond just what’s in the news and what’s being spread,” said Byerly. The Summer Stars program is an annual immersive theater experience for local teens
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by Cameron Martinez SGN Intern
SGN
aged 15 through 19. The key to the success of the shows, according to Randall, is rehearsing intensely before premiering the musical theater production to the public. “We wanted to create a program that challenges students to move beyond what they’re learning in their high school programs,” Randall said. “We take on more difficult scripts . . . things that kind of get them more prepared for professional or semiprofessional or collegiate theater, whatever their goals might be to move forward.” This method has ensured that people who start out as performers at Red Curtain keep coming back. In addition to Byerly, stage manager Jackson Zimmerman and choreographer Sami Burton are also former summer stars now working on the show. “I got into this theater my freshman year of high school back in 2018, ’19, when we did a production of Cabaret,” Byerly said. “Then I continued to do [a show] called Something Rotten here and then a production of 9 to 5. And then I’ve just kind of worked doing volunteer stuff here at Red Curtain. I just really love the show, so I asked Scott if I could interview to be a part of this production.”
Getting involved with Red Curtain Foundation Although The Prom in the foundation’s limelight for the summer, Red Curtain offers classes and shows for people of all ages, all year round. During the month of August, Red Curtain’s offerings include courses in biomechanics training as well as a Shakespearean course with a side of beer from local breweries. “We love bringing in new people in our space, whether it’s artists or technicians or audience members or whatever it is,” Randall said. “We love growing our community and that’s how we do it; by getting new faces in here.” To get involved with Red Curtain Foundation, visit its website at https:// redcurtainfoundation.org and sign up for the newsletter to see what the organization is doing next. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
C E L E B R AT I N G 4 9 Y E A R S!
Film
Unforgettables: Cinematic milestones with Sara Michelle The Devil Rides Out: Christopher Lee battles the Angel of Death and other supernatural adversaries by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer Hammer Films and director Terence Fisher made names for themselves with 1958’s Horror of Dracula. This spawned a run of horror successes that spanned two decades and made instant genre icons out of stars Christopher Lee (as the immortal vampire Dracula) and Peter Cushing (as his mercurial adversary, Doctor Van Helsing). From there, the pair appeared in eight more motion pictures together, including a handful of Dracula sequels, superb Frankenstein and Mummy remakes, horror-comedies, and full-on creature-features. But the first Hammer production I saw only included the first half of that dynamic Lee-Cushing combo: 1968’s smashing supernatural occult thriller The Devil Rides Out. Based on the novel by Dennis Wheatley and with a magnificent screenplay by Richard Matheson, this unsettling tale of possession, satanic rights, and hypnotic manipulations made an indelible impression on me as a wide-eyed youngster. To this day, there are scenes that send giddy chills hurtling up and down my spine every time I think about them. Lee, in one of his few heroic turns, is Nicholas, Duc de Richleau. It is 1929, and the erudite academic is supposed to be reuniting with two of his companions from the Great War, the agreeably gruff Rex Van Ryn (Leon Greene) and his young protégé, the son of a late friend, Simon Aron (Patrick Mower). But when Simon is a no-show, Nicholas and Rex decide to pay him an announced visit and inadvertently discover he’s become involved in pagan rituals led by the captivatingly powerful Mocata (Charles Gray). Things get increasingly sinister from there, and it’s easy to see how Fisher’s film — sadly one of his last — has influenced everything from Rosemary’s Baby to The Exorcist to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to even Satanic Panic over the past half-century. Heck, Lee considered The Devil Rides Out to be the best of his Hammer efforts, and I’m not about to disagree with him. That we never got a whole series of Duc de Richleau mysteries starring the actor (for context, he appeared as Dracula ten times over an 18-year period, seven of those for Hammer) is a gosh darn shame. What makes this shocker timeless is how straightforward and minimalistic Fisher presents things, even the more sensationalistic sequences. It’s as if he’s treating the mate-
rial more like a ticking-clock procedural than a grotesque descent into terror. This gives Mocata’s relaxed villainy an extra dose of oomph. He’s so calm and so persuasively resolute in his beliefs that it’s easy to grasp how Simon could so easily slip under the madman’s spell, and Gray portrays him with a forthright elegance that’s bloodcurdling in its easygoing subtlety. The core of the film revolves around a battle of wills between Nicholas and Mocata, and even though the two barely share the screen, it’s clear this conflict between good and evil lies entirely upon
their dueling shoulders. The latter wants to get his hands on Simon, of course, but he’s even more interested in a young woman who catches Rex’s eye, a beguiling psychic named Tanith (Niké Arrighi). Nicholas puts his formidable intellect and steadfast faith to the test to protect them all from Mocata’s devilish powers of destruction. My mom was — still is — a big Lee fan. It’s safe to say that The Lord of the Rings is her favorite book of all time, and I think she was more excited that the actor portrayed Saruman in Peter Jackson’s Oscarwinning trilogy than anything else.
The Devil Rides Out – Photos couurtesy of Hammer Films
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So imagine my eight-year-old shock when I brought home The Devil Rides Out from the library to discover she’d never seen it? Talk about glorious. But even better was watching it with her. I remember sitting on the couch, and as much as I was squirming during scenes where Mocata calls upon a variety of evil entities to attack Nicholas and his companions — including a menacing giant tarantula and even the Angel of Death — I think I took more joy in seeing her do the exact same. We got to share all of this together, and considering how loopily nonsensical the ending was, that mom was so willing to sit there with me as I tried to unpack it and did her best to explain the time-bending madness is a wondrous moment I’ll never forget. She was so happy that Lee played the good guy. Like everyone else, my mother was used to the actor being typecast as the bad guy. She was actually angry that she’d never even heard of the film, certain that it would have instantly become one of her favorites had she had the opportunity to see it during its original release. Mom said Nicholas reminded her of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, only instead of solving murders, Lee’s Duc de Richleau was a detective of the occult, and that’s about the best description of the character I can think of. It’s memories like this that make The Devil Rides Out essential. Yes, even with its unfinished special effects (the studio notoriously ran out of money near the end of the shoot), Fisher’s film is undeniably scary and overflows in striking images of terror. But it’s thinking back to my adolescent self, sitting in the living room with my mother encountering all of its twists and turns together, that fills my heart with joy. As shared cinematic experiences go, this is one of the best I’ve ever had, and if that’s not the definition of an “unforgettable,” I don’t know what else would fit the bill.
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Film
Imaginative Mutant Mayhem delightfully brings the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to life
by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM Theaters I’ve relayed this story before, but the first piece of hate mail I ever received was way back in 1991 for a piece on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze that I’d penned for the Spokesman-Review. The hate mail was written by a kindergartener and hand-delivered to me by my sister. It called me a bad name but was so unbelievably cute that, three-plus decades later, it still brings a smile to my face. I bring this story up for a reason. In the spirit of being perfectly honest, I’ve never liked a single motion picture based on creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman’s source material. Have I been impressed by some of the visuals, creature effects (especially those Jim Henson Creature Shop suits from the 1990 film), and vocal performances? Certainly. By individual moments of action, humor, and even sometimes an amiable mixture of both? Absolutely. But entire features? Start to finish? Nope. Never. Not, that is, until now. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a heck of a lot of fun. Leave it to director Jeff Rowe, co-director and writer of The Mitchells vs the Machines, co-director Kyler Spears, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and a cadre of talented animators, writers, and various other creatives to make Laird and Eastman’s classic characters come alive as they never have before in a theatrical setting. This latest adventure featuring Leonardo (voiced by Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), Donatello (Micah Abbey), and Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) is a freewheeling, inventive, funny, and beautifully animated adrenaline rush. I liked it a lot. This is yet another origin story, so anyone who has read the graphic novel, watched any of the animated series adaptations, or stood in line for the 1991 or 2014 introductory ventures knows much of this already. Anyhow, a big scientific experiment goes haywire, covering four baby turtles and a sewer rat in a mysteriously glowing green ooze. All of them mutate into animal-humanoid hybrids, and the rat — Splinter (Jackie Chan) — raises the turtles as if they were his own sons, teaching them martial arts, family values, and undying love for all things pizza. Rowe’s take on the material does mix things up somewhat. Instead of battling
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against Shredder and the Foot Clan, here the intrepid heroes in the half shell are up against a fellow mutant, the gargantuan Superfly (Ice Cube) and his gang of like-minded hybrids of various species. April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri) isn’t an already established television news journalist but is instead a teenage wannabe with regurgitation issues whenever she’s on camera. The human baddies are led by nasty government scientist Cynthia Utrom (Maya Rudolph), and she’d like nothing better than to get her hands on the four turtle brothers and milk their very life essence right out of them. What’s great is how the filmmakers balance a zany impertinence with genuine coming-of-age emotional complexities. Not only are the relationships between the brothers authentic, but so are their interactions with their overprotective father Splinter and their budding friendship with the determined — if still resolutely good-natured — O’Neil. Early on, John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is referenced, and that’s for good reason
as Rowe and company are resolute in their pursuit to balance comedy and drama with irreverent creativity. The action is where things come up moderately short. It all looks great, the colors leap off the screen and there is an exhilarating fluidity to the character movements, but that does not mean the majority of the big set pieces generate an equal volume of excitement. Unlike the aforementioned The Mitchells vs the Machines or this summer’s hit Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the staging and visual language of the action sequences leave something to be desired. It’s all too familiar, and other than a lovely, unrestrained bit of nonsense in a New York chop shop that’s like an animated second cousin to John Woo’s Hard Boiled mixed with classic Looney Tunes shorts, there’s frustratingly not a lot to talk about, and this includes the kaiju happy climax. We’re talking about a story whose martial arts protagonists are mired in subpar action and yet the overall movie remains
hugely enjoyable — that says a great deal about how strong every other creative element of this production proves to be. Even with so many writers, the script is tight, agreeably empathetic, and surprisingly more intelligent than anticipated. The animation is continually eye-popping. The whole thing moves like a shot out of a cannon, Rowe maintaining a breakneck pace without sacrificing coherence or character development. Look, if Mutant Mayhem is what we can expect for these iconic characters going forward, then I’m all for it. For the first time ever, I understand why both my siblings randomly shout, “Turtle power!” for no apparent reason and constantly give me dirty looks for my overall disdain for these characters, their world, and every one of their cinematic outings up until now. I finally get it, and after 30 years of indifference, I’m as pleasantly shocked by this turn of events as anyone.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem – Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures
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Books
Collins Books boasts collection of rare and antique works by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer A house full of books is a dream for any bibliophile, but for Bill Wolfe, owner of Collins Books, it’s reality. “We have US history and art in this room, natural history is in the kitchen, we have an Asia room, an Africa and Europe room,” Wolfe explained as he walked through the house he has converted into a quaint bookstore in North Seattle. “Downstairs more are the general categories. We had a map at one point, but things change so often because we get floods of inventories in,” he explained. Steeped in history Collins Books was around long before Wolfe and his wife took over the business in 2018. “The shop goes back to 1969, so people on the West Coast think of us when they think about anthropology or archaeology in particular,” Wolfe explained. While the store specializes in nonfiction books, they still have a vast section of novels, particularly science fiction, found in the basement of the converted house. Lewis Collins, a friend of Wolfe’s, was the store’s original owner. Collins specialized in sophisticated rare books and built his collection, and legacy, on ornate, used hard-cover books often donated by intellectuals and educational institutions. Donations are still one of the main ways Collins Books acquires its many rare titles. “We get a lot of calls from retiring or downsizing professors in the area. In the last five years, we’ve gobbled up the inventories of the equivalent of six or seven shops,” Wolfe said. “The real game-changer a couple of years ago was that we helped the Friends of the Library get back up to speed after COVID wiped them out. They had to leave their warehouse space,” Wolfe continued. The Friends of the Seattle Public Library is a nonprofit that helps provide books for teachers, educational centers, and children in need. After losing their warehouse space, the Friends needed a location to store donations. “About a year into COVID, we agreed to partner and turn the donations on so we could be their sales infrastructure. That was a real game changer,” Wolfe said. Now, Collins Books takes in hundreds of donations to help the Friends. In return, they shelve any rare or old books that may be sellable for their store. Continuing the legacy of Lewis Collins is personal for Wolfe. The two were good friends long before they became business partners. “He had planned to pass the shop down to our family for several years. I knew him for several years before I started working with him too. When he passed away, it was just time to go, fingers crossed,” Wolfe said. The shop used to be on Capitol Hill, but Wolfe and Collins decided to move it north. “We moved up here from Capitol Hill, where the shop was for the longest time, with Lewis,” Wolfe said. “He had dreamt of having the store [near] my wife’s home daycare, and then us just living on the same property, so we finally found a place that would work.” Hard to find but worth the look While Collins Books may not look like a typical bookstore on the outside, it is just as warm and inviting as any other used bookstore in the city. “We’re off the beaten path, and it’s tough to find. This isn’t the most walkable area, but our dedicated, loyal customers know where to find us,” Wolfe said. The store also has an online catalog. Buyers interested in the unique titles Wolfe carries in-store can browse through a digital version of the shop and order books to be delivered. Although most of Collins Books’ sales are online today, the experience of walking through the physical store is worth the drive. Books with aged and yellowing pages line the walls from floor to ceiling.
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Anything along those lines is something I would aggressively pursue when someone says they have that.” One title Wolfe is particularly fond of is Stonewall’s Legacy: A Poetry Anthology, which he recommends for SGN’s summer book club series. “They were published a few years ago, but it’s a new copy. That’s sold pretty well for us, and I think the importance of that movement is not going away. It is threatened every day, in certain places more than others,” he added. The most fascinating item in Collins Books isn’t even a book — it’s an antique globe of Mars. The store currently has two available in gorgeous condition. The globes, like the books, set the tone for Collins Books — rare and beautiful. Maintaining the rare book trade in Seattle is vital to Wolfe, just as it was to Collins when he first opened the store. Photos by Lindsey Anderson
Old globes sit stacked above a lifetime of reading materials. Walking into Collins Books feels akin to stepping into a beloved professor’s office or into a story your grandparents once told. The store is a literary museum. Browsers can pick up and flip the pages of antique atlases, classic poetry, and hundreds of textbooks. For anyone looking for decorative books, Collins is a place worth checking out. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of rooms, but there is order to the chaos. Books are categorized by subject and whole rooms are dedicated to regions. Despite the organization of subjects, getting lost is the best way to find the perfect book at Collins. Stumbling into the unexpected is part of the fun. The scope of the rare and antique literature collection sets the store apart from others in the region. “A lot of this stuff you can’t find online,” Wolfe explained. “A lot of things have been digitized, and you can find a copy on Google books, or you can get a print-on-demand copy, but a lot of these are not online. When you’re dealing with tribal histories or local histories, like a lot of this stuff here, I doubt you’ll be able to find that content anywhere else.” One of a kind For many readers, digital copies of books aren’t the same as the physical experience of turning the page. Wolfe believes the experience is heightened at Collins because his books cannot be found on the pages of the web. “You’ve got to find that book. You’ve got to have it in your hands to feel the importance of the subject matter,
the tactile experience of holding it in your hands. Beyond that, when you’re talking about something rare, it’s a commodity. It’s interesting to hold something that not many people have held before. It can be interesting, rare, but not terribly desirable, and we think those things should survive too.” While Collins does hold space for the “not terribly desirable” books of the past, the store also sees sales spike as topics trend. “A current event that influenced our sales somewhat are books on Mars exploration, given the uptick in these billionaires that are trying to get there first,” Wolfe said with a laugh. “Certainly through the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement has probably helped everybody sell their African American history and literature.” Collins has lots of options for social justice and civil rights texts — these are the subjects that fascinate Wolfe the most. “My particular interest is in human rights, civil rights, and oppressed peoples of the world. Anything we see along those lines that I don’t want to take home for myself that ends up here tends to be my favorite kind of work,” he said. Collins also has a robust LGBTQ+ section. “We were so grateful to be able to build one because they’re harder to find in the way that we do things around here, focused on the scarce, but a couple of years ago, Gay City came in and they donated almost all of their books to the Friends of the Library. We were able to go through all of them and put this great collection together that has sold really well over the years,” he said. “We still have a fair amount left, but we’re always looking for more.
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Supporting small bookstores “The rare book trade in Seattle is suffering, and there’s really only one other shop in western Washington that has the sort of breadth of a collection as we do,” Wolfe said. “Certainly, there’s a lot of shops that have nice old rare books, but the specialty in it, those shops really aren’t around anymore. We feel like we’re holding the torch, wanting these books to live on. It’s not just about the contemporary vampire novels people like. We believe in these stories. We like books that other people don’t have, that’s maybe the simplest way to put it.” Supporting small independent bookstores is critical to helping shops like Collins Books stay in business, especially as big chains and online sellers like Amazon threaten their livelihood. “Bookstores don’t just begin and end at Half Price Books and Elliott Bay. Those are important too, but if you have the wherewithal and the curiosity, there’s great stuff all over Seattle. Sometimes you need to know where and how to look. Whether it’s us or someone else, go beyond ‘I get all my books from Half Price Books’ or these big box stores,” Wolfe said. “Look at local directories and find your independent shops in your neighborhood and support them. It’s very hard to survive. It’s a labor of love. I’ll do it until I die, but we need support to get the word out that there are more shops.” A trip out to Collins Books is like stepping into a time machine. The discoveries are well worth the journey, and the experience of holding a unique, hundred-year-old book in your hand is truly indescribable.
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Sports
World Cup: US struggles, New Zealand falls, Colombia shocks the world by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer The Women’s World Cup continues with all the Queer drama, shocking upsets, and satisfying goals a fan could ask for. This week, 16 teams progress out of bracket play. The top two in each group will continue into the knock-out round. Packing their bags Despite a win against Norway and despite being one of the host countries, New Zealand is officially out of the tournament. In their second game of group play, the home team lost in a surprising upset to the Philippines. Their final match, against Switzerland, ended in a 0-0 tie. If New Zealand had won, they could have advanced to the bracket. While the team is devastated to leave the tournament so early, many players can be proud of their performances. New Zealand’s MVP, Hannah Wilkinson, left nothing behind on the pitch. Scoring the only goal for her country, Wilkinson played her heart out. She had eight shots on goal in the country’s three games. The Canadian national team is also headed back home after being eliminated in their final game, against Australia. Australia, the other home team, obliterated Canada with a 4-0 victory. Canada’s early victory over the Republic of Ireland left fans hopeful that the country could make it to the next round. However, a tie with Nigeria left them scrambling to play defense against their group’s powerhouse Australia. Ultimately, Canada could not defend against Australia’s Hayley Raso, who scored two goals in the match. Canada put up a decent fight against both Australia and Nigeria. Though fans are sad to see them leave, they are incredibly proud of the games they played. One of Canada’s hardest-working players was O.L. Reign midfielder Quinn. Throughout three games, the midfielder ran almost 20 miles in total! They are also the first Non-Binary athlete to compete in a World Cup. Following Canada’s loss, Brazil lost to France in a shocking upset and is now out of the tournament. Many fans anticipated that Brazil would put up a stronger fight. Few could have predicted the team, led by world-famous soccer star Marta, wouldn’t even progress past the group stage. Their final match was a well-fought battle. However, France secured their victory with a second goal in the 83rd minute. The US struggles through to sweet 16 Fans were on the edge of their seats watching the United States play against the Netherlands on Wednesday, July 26. Going into the game, both squads had a victory under their belts, with the US demolishing Vietnam 3-0 and the Netherlands squeezing out a 1-0 victory over Portugal. The USNetherlands match was especially exciting for soccer fans as it was a rematch from the last World Cup final, where the US won 2-0. The Netherlands had spent the last five years preparing for this very rematch. In the 17th minute, midfielder Jill Roord, dubbed Netherlands’ most eligible Queer bachelor, scored in a hasty breakaway. For the rest of the half, the US attempted futile shots on goal. Despite maintaining possession for most of the game, the USWNT could not find the back of the net. Early in the second half, the US women’s frustration was palpable. Netherlands midfielder Danielle Van de Donk collided with US team captain Lindsey Horan, jabbing the latter in the gut. Horan went down and was attended to after the play finished. While she did not exit the field, she rose slowly and lingered at the line while medics examined her. A moment later, Horan was back on her
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Manuela Vanegas celebrates a late, late goal as Colombia retake the lead in a dramatic finale in Sydney – Photo by Rick Rycroft / AP
feet, limping into the action. The referees called a corner kick. As the US was setting up for the play, Van de Donk spat some choice words towards Horan. The two engaged in a verbal altercation that led the ref to stop the game and sort out the disagreement. As it turns out, anger, tension, and a jolt to the stomach is just what Horan needed — the powerhouse midfielder scored on the corner kick, leading many to conclude that a goal is the best way to shut the haters up. After the game, Van de Donk and Horan made amends, posting pictures of themselves smiling and hugging. Horan also took a moment to poke fun at Van de Donk, who had to don a swimming cap for concussion prevention after a collision with US player Rose Lavelle. The US-Netherlands game ended in a 1-1 tie, putting the USWNT only slightly above the Dutch team in their group. Things took a turn for the worse on Tuesday morning when the US hit the pitch for their final group match against Portugal. To stay at the top, the US would have to beat Portugal by at least one goal, matching the Netherlands’ performance in their first game. Die-hard American fans stayed awake to watch the game, which aired at midnight PST. Many fans noted the match was not worth the loss of sleep. Portugal outplayed the US, maintaining possession for 56% of the game. The US had more shots on goal but missed the net 17 times. Players could not seem to connect passes or form coherent plays. At one point, the camera panned to the crowd where
players from the winning 1999 USWNT, including the legendary Mia Hamm, looked on with pursed lips. In the final minutes, US coach Vlatko Andonovski changed the on-field formation to a defensive strategy. His strategy worked, and the game ended in a 0-0 tie, progressing the US forward to play another game. However, the tense match was not without many setbacks. As anxieties rose, both squads got sloppy with fouls. Midfielder Rose Lavelle earned a second yellow card, putting her out of play for the next match against Sweden. Newcomer to the USWNT Naomi Girma earned the title “Woman of the Match” for her numerous sweeping saves on defense. Her team would likely be on a flight back home had she not held up the back line. However, many sports analysts note the real MVP of the game was Portugal’s keeper, Inês Pereira, who had six saves in the game. Teams to watch out for While many American fans have felt discouraged by watching the US struggle in their early round-robin games, their competition only proves how far women’s soccer has come in the last 24 years. In 1999, the US “dream team” seemed decades ahead of their rivals, even in European countries where women’s soccer had been popular for years. As the sport continues to flourish and women across the globe are encouraged to pursue sports, the US is no longer the only powerhouse to watch out for. The Netherlands is the United States’ fiercest competitor in this year’s tournament.
Megan Rapinoe consoles Portugal's Jessica Silva following the draw, which knocked Portugal out of the competition – Photo by Rafaela Pontes / AP
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Itching for revenge, this group is tougher, faster, and more cunning than they were five years ago when they last made it to the finals. The Netherlands have made three appearances in the Cup final but have never taken home the hardware. With stellar wins against Portugal and Vietnam (they beat the latter 7-0), they have set themselves up as the team to watch. One of the most exciting upsets to come out of group play this year was Japan’s victory over Spain in Group C. Spain was poised as the group’s top team, beating Costa Rica 3-0 and Zambia 5-0. However, while all eyes were on them, Japan was coming up from behind. Japan also beat Zambia 5-0 and got two goals over Costa Rica, putting them just below Spain on the leaderboard. By all means it should have been a close game, and experts predicted Spain to take the lead. However, halfway through the first half, Japan already had two goals. Before the half-time whistle, Japanese superstar Hinata Miyazawa scored her second goal and Japan’s third. The final score was a whopping 4-0, with Mina Tanaka scoring in the 82nd minute. Both Spain and Japan move on. Another squad to keep an eye on is Colombia. Because Germany has won the Women’s World Cup twice, many predicted they would exit their group rounds as the top seed. However, they were toppled on Sunday, July 30, when Colombia beat them. Colombia’s Linda Caicedo started the second half with an early goal, putting the team ahead by one point. In the final minute before overtime play Germany’s Alexandra Popp scored a tying point. The match looked like it would close out in a 1-1 tie when, out of nowhere, Colombia’s Manuela Vanegas scored a last-minute point. Both teams will progress, with Colombia coming out on top. The heat will begin this week in the first rounds of the sweet sixteen. On Friday, August 4, Switzerland will play Spain. On Saturday, August 5, the Netherlands will play Italy, and Japan will play Norway. On Sunday, August 6, the US will play Sweden. Monday will see England play Nigeria and Australia play Denmark. The US will have to pull together, especially after losing Lavelle, if they want to progress further in the tournament. They are poised to make history. Victory could put them on the path to becoming the first team (men or women) to win three consecutive cups. Failure could make this team the first to exit the tournament before the semifinals.
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National/International News National news highlights by Kali Herbst Minino SGN Intern Michigan bans conversion therapy for minors Conversion therapy, a scientifically discredited and dangerous practice that attempts to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity, has been banned in Michigan for minors. The legislation was signed July 26 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Michigan is the 22nd state to place a ban on conversion therapy — there are 28 that have yet to do so. Protecting LGBTQ+ rights seems to have become a focus of Michigan’s government since Democrats became the majority in its house and senate. Whitmer is mother to an LGBTQ+ community member, and she also signed a 2021 executive directive that stopped the state from using federal funds for conversion therapy on minors. This March, legislators codified LGBTQ+ protections in the state’s civil rights act, which makes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity illegal. According to the Trevor Project, 45% of LGBTQ+ youth in Michigan have seriously considered suicide in the past year and 15% reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy. How many Intersex people are there in the US? There is generally little data about the number of US residents who are Intersex, which means that lawmakers pass legislation without the same kind of information
they have for other demographic groups. Advocacy groups mostly agree that 1.7% of US residents, or 5.6 million people, are born Intersex. The estimate comes from a review in the American Journal of Human Biology and is based on medical literature published between 1955 and 1998. It’s hard to come to an exact number, however, because some Intersex people might not know they are Intersex until puberty or later — particularly when treating infertility or undergoing other medical procedures. People who were born with Intersex traits may have had surgery in infancy — without their knowledge or consent — in an attempt to make their bodies conform to supposed male or female norms. Erika Lorshbough, executive director of InterACT, an advocacy group for children with Intersex traits, says some people will never know that they’re Intersex. “There are plenty of folks with variations in sex characteristics who don’t identify as Intersex, and these issues impact them equally. It’s all about consent and autonomy,” Lorshbough said. Hospitals are not required to track how many infants are born with Intersex traits, Lorshbough says, and government agencies that usually collect demographic information haven’t put out a nationwide survey. The lack of data leads to legislation that doesn’t consider Intersex folks. One Kansas law defines a person’s sex as either male or female, ignoring Intersex people (and Non-Binary people) entirely. New legislation on gender-affirming care can also cause confusion surrounding liability for medical practitioners.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at the SelectUSA Investment Summit – Photo by Alex Brandon / AP
International news highlights by Kali Herbst Minino SGN Intern Japanese music artist Shinjiro Atae comes out as Gay Shinjiro Atae, a Japanese pop star, came out as Gay at a fan event in Tokyo on July 26. The announcement was met with support, as fans cheered, applauded, and called out, “Hang in there!” Atae is currently based in Los Angeles, where he is pursuing a solo career after being part of the group AAA for 15 years. He posted on Instagram saying he was worried coming out as Gay might cause him to be shunned or lose his career. “It is better, both for me and for the people I care about, including my fans, to accept who I truly am and tell you so,” Atae said. “I hope people who are struggling with the same feeling will find courage and know they are not alone.” The announcement accompanies an increase in awareness for LGBTQ+ people in Japan. LGBTQ+ activists in Japan have been trying to get an anti-discrimination law passed, but in June the parliament settled for a law that promotes awareness for LGBTQ+ people without providing additional protections. Few public figures have come out in Japan. Ai Haruna was the first to win Thailand’s Miss International Queen, a beauty pageant for Trans women. Taiga Ishikawa, a lawmaker, is Japan’s first openly Gay parliamentarian. LGBTQ+ activist Sosuke Matuoka was at the event, and says he teared up listening to Atae’s announcement. “If I heard his message when I was younger and struggling with my sexuality, it would have given me a big hope,” Matuoka said.
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Shijiro Atae – Photo courtesy of Yomiuri Shimbun / AP
German activist warns about hate crime rise At Christopher Street Day, a Pride event in Berlin, Anastasia Biefang raised concerns about a rise in homophobic and anti-Trans violence. She is the first openly Trans person to serve as a commander in the German military, and she compared
the recent anti-Queer sentiments to rhetoric used by Nazis. “I hear narratives that I thought we had overcome since 1945,” Biefang said. According to Interior Ministry data, recorded hate crimes against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans people have risen by 15.5% since last year.
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One of Biefang’s concerns is opposition to LGBTQ+ rights from far-right parties. A recent poll by the weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag verifies her worries. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has received criticism for disparaging LGBTQ+ rights, was supported by 22% of poll respondents, a new record.
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Trans Catholic confesses conflict between identity and faith, Pope Francis responds
Pope Francis – Photo courtesy of CNS / Vatican Media
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer “God loves us as we are,” Pope Francis told a young Trans person on a July 25 podcast. The pope appeared on a Vatican-sponsored podcast aimed at young Catholics ahead of a planned trip to a Catholic youth festival in Portugal. One of the young people, identified only as Giona, told the pope they felt “torn by the dichotomy between faith and transgender identity.” Francis replied that “the Lord always walks with us . . . Even if we are sinners, he draws near to help us. The Lord loves us as we are, this is God’s crazy love.” Although the pontiff did not elaborate on the theological implications of his remarks, this latest statement seems to be a softening of his prior views on Transgender people. In a 2015 encyclical – a document intended to provide guidance for the church – the pope was critical of modern gender theory. “The acceptance of our bodies as God’s gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home,” the pope wrote, “whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.” The official teaching of the Catholic Church which, as pope, Francis must uphold, does not recognize gender affirmation. Instead, the Church says that gender affirming medical treatments are sinful because they seek to alter “God’s plan” for the individual. Similarly, Francis has called on Catholic churches to welcome Gay and Lesbian parishioners while still maintaining that sex outside of a lifelong one-man, onewoman marriage is sinful. According to Francis, however, not all sins are equally bad, and “sins of the flesh” are not as bad as other kinds of sins.
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In 2021, commenting on a French bishop who resigned when it was alleged that he was in a romantic relationship with a woman, Francis said “Sins of the flesh are not the most serious.” According to Reuters, the pope listed pride and hatred as the worst sins. The pope’s history on LGBT issues As archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis – then known as Jorge Bergoglio – opposed Argentinian legislation to legalize samesex marriages. At the same time, however, he supported the idea of civil unions for same-sex couples, something other prominent Catholic bishops condemned. In an impromptu press conference shortly after his election to the papacy
in 2013, Francis said, “The key is for the church to welcome, not exclude, and show mercy, not condemnation.” “If a person is Gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?” he continued. “The problem is not having this orientation. We must be brothers.” The pope’s off the cuff remarks scandalized many conservative church officials, as did a 2015 letter blessing a Gay couple. Immediately after the letter was publicized, the Vatican issued a disclaimer saying that the pope’s letter was in no way “meant to endorse behaviors and teachings unfit to the Gospel.” In a 2020 documentary film, the pope reiterated his support for same-sex civil
unions — but not marriage. In the film, Francis says, “Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family . . . They’re children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it.” He voiced support for same-sex civil union laws again in September 2021, saying, “If they want to spend their lives together, a homosexual couple, nations have the possibility civilly to support them, to give them safety with regards to inheritance and health.” In February 2023, Pope Francis said that criminalization of same-sex acts in many countries in Africa and Asia is wrong, a sin, and an injustice.
A World Youth Day pilgrim waves a Progress Pride Flag in Lisbon, Portugal – Photo by Ana Brigida Stringer / AP
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Episode 72: Nemesis Are you a black cat or a golden retriever? How does birth order and gender affect childhood? Benny and Lindsey dive into relationship dynamics and sibling rivalry this week, and take another shot at DeSantis (in Minecraft?) regarding a bizarre campaign ad. Benny chats with bearded drag queen and SGN writer Nemesis about drag role models, inspiration, and the satanic panic around Pokémon.
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