SGN June 24, 2016 - Pride - Section 3

Seattle Gay News

Issue 25, Volume 44, June 24, 2016

Portland Pride – sinclarstoryline.com

Portland Pride – sinclarstoryline.com

Portland Pride – pressherald.com

Portland Pride – opb.com

Portland Pride – staticflickr.com

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2 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 3

Join Macy’s as we Celebrate Family + Friends + Love + Life + Equality + Respect We are proud to join the parade across America in honor of National Pride Month.

We think it’s really something to celebrate.

Plus, join us in our continued support of The Trevor Project!

The Trevor Project provides life-saving crisis intervention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

F O R M O R E D E T A I L S visit

50797_N6050422A.indd 1

4 Seattle Gay News

MACYS.COM/CELEBRATE

4/4/16 11:13 AM

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

SGN Compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Trans* Pride Annual celebration of the Seattle-area Transgender community.

Trans* Pride Seattle will be taking place on Capitol Hill on Friday, June 24th, 2016 in and around Cal Anderson Park. The assembly and line-up to march will begin at 5pm.

The march will step off at 6pm sharp and arrive at Cal Anderson Park at 6:30pm. The Trans* Pride Seattle celebration will begin at 7pm. (NOTE: Due to changes in how Broadway is used in regards to street closures with the advent of light rail in the neighborhood, there is a strong indication that Broadway and the Seattle Central College Plaza will not be available for use as a place to gather prior to the march. Please keep an eye on the Trans* Pride website for updates in 2016.)

Trans* Pride Seattle is proud to curate a diverse and powerful group of speakers and performers from around the United States. A few speakers from select local organizations will also be taking the stage to discuss their work and the services and opportunities they offer. In addition, there will be an information and resource fair with a wide variety

of community groups and organizations doing outreach. There will also be food trucks and our beloved community out in full force! Organized by Gender Justice League in association with local organizations who support the Seattle-area Trans* and gender non-conforming community. Details at www.transprideseattle.org.

concert highlighting the iconic moments of the Choruses’ influence on the Seattle landscape. There will be special appearances by famous and familiar faces. Expect sidesplitting surprises, a smashing collection of greatest hits, and a look ahead to a thrilling future. The evening will be highlighted by a powerful 400-voice tribute to a legend who built the world’s largest LGBT choral organiFRIDAY, JUNE 24 zation.

Seattle Storm Pride Kickoff Tickets to McCaw Hall Seattle Game vs. Connecticut Sun performances are $25-$78 and avail7pm at Seattle Center’s Key Arena able at http://www.seattlechoruses.

(1st Ave. N. & Harrison St.). Tickets at org or over the phone at (206) 388www.wnba.com/storm/tickets/ 1400.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Seattle Dyke March OutDancing [FUNDRAISER] 8-11pm at Century Ballroom (915 E. Pine St.). Cost $10.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 (also Saturday, June 25) Seattle Men’s Chorus – “ENCORE!” 8pm at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St.) Past, present, and future collide as both Choruses join on stage to honor their incomparable artistic director and leader, Dennis Coleman.

Seattle celebrates the end of an era with an emotional and uplifting

Visit us online www.sgn.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Dignity/Seattle 26th Annual Pride Pancake Breakfast 9am-12 noon at Central Lutheran Church Social Hall (1710 11th Avenue) across from Cal Anderson Park. Complementing the menu for this annual pancake breakfast are scrambled eggs, sausage, watermelon, coffee, tea, and orange juice.

Proceeds from the event are used to benefit the good works of many charitable organizations, which in past years have included Bailey-Boushay House, Rosehedge/Multifaith Works, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Pride ASIA, CareTeams at Samaritan CenFRIDAY, JUNE 24 ter, and others. Breakfast is $7 per White Party Seattle person. Raffle tickets will be avail9pm-3am at Baltic Room (1207 able @ $1.50 each or 5 for $5. WinPine St.) $25 – www.whitepartyseat- ners need not be present to win. tle.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Capitol Hill Pride Festival March Highline Pride Weekend: Cake- & Rally oke (vegan cake and karaoke); The Celebrate Pride in Seattle’s GayPink Party at Neighbours with Jordin borhood at this annual street fair Sparks performing LIVE! and hosts – six blocks on Broadway E. from E. Aleksa Manila & Gaysha Starr; Purr John St. to E. Roy St, Saturday: 10amPride 2016 with DJ Blacklow ($5); 11pm; Sunday: 10am-7pm. “Never The Darq Soul of Pride at Re-bar @ Forget” 1969 Stonewall civic march 10pm ($10); Sun Liquor Alaska Air- from Seattle Central College (1701 lines Pride Party drawings; Wildrose Broadway) to Main Stage at BroadPride 2016 Booty Shakin’ Dance way & E. Harrison St. steps off at 10 Contest CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 5

SGN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

a.m. Theme for 2016: “Wizard of Capitol Hill Pride @ Sound Transit Oz” – Because there is no place like Station/Denny Way (noon-9pm) home! Get your wicked on! Live lowww.seattlepridefest.org cal music, food, and more than 100 booths featuring nonprofits, artists, SATURDAY, JUNE 25 and commercial vendors. www.capiFamily Pride – “To Equality and tolhillpridefestival.info.

Beyond” Family Pride @ Cal Anderson Park SATURDAY, JUNE 25 (noon-4pm) Rainbow City Band’s Purple Paswww.seattlepridefest.org sion Swing Band 11am performance at Capitol SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Hill Pride Festival’s main stage. (See 18th Annual Rainbow Health Fair above.) Also, visit their booth on 12 noon-4 p.m. at All Pilgrims Broadway to learn about the Rain- Church (500 Broadway E. at E. Rebow City Band’s upcoming march- publican St.) ing band and concert season and Join us at the 18th Annual Rainabout joining Rainbow City Band’s bow Health Fair, an event co-hostensembles. Also listen to their string ed by YWCA Women’s Health Outquartet at their booth. www.rain- reach & Gay City during Seattle bowcityband.com.

Pride! Free health services for Trans, Lesbian, Bi, and Queer women, as SATURDAY, JUNE 25 well as Trans people of all genders.

Seattle Makers Market – Pride Come by and find: Bottled Water * Edition Free Massage & Acupuncture * HIV/ 11am-4pm at Zoe Events (1318 E Hep C Testing * Cholesterol / GluUnion St.) Come support local art- cose Testing * Trans Knowledgeable ists and makers! Prints, paintings, Doctors * Orca Lift * Healthcare Enpersonal care items, leather goods, rollment * A Chance to Win Prizes * jewelry, and much more! Seattle- And More! Free mammograms for MakersMarket.com.. uninsured people 40+. Insurance welcome. Guarantee your spot and SATURDAY, JUNE 25 make an appointment now by calling Capitol Hill Pride – “To Equality 206-461-4493. For more information and Beyond” and volunteer opportunities: email

alyssa@gaycity.org. Visit us at ywca- sfc.com. works.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Queer Youth Pride – “To Equality Purr Pride 2016 Block Party and Beyond” (12pm-2am) DJ Freddy King of Queer Youth Pride @ Cal AnderPants, DJ Skiddle, featuring LA DJs son Park (4-7pm) The Perry Twins ($25); Sun Liquor www.seattlepridefest.org Alaska Airlines Pride Party drawings; Wildrose Pride 2016 15,000 Sq Ft SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Beer Garden 22nd annual Seattle Dyke March The 2016 Seattle Dyke March SATURDAY, JUNE 25 is on Saturday, June 25. Rally from Seattle Pride 2016 Interfaith Cel- 5-7 p.m. at the Seattle Central Colebration Service – “Prayers for the lege Plaza at Broadway and E. Pine Future” St. The March steps off at 7 p.m. to 2pm at All Pilgrims Christian go around Capitol Hill and end in Church (500 Broadway E.). Every Cal Anderson Park with a rocking year during LGBTQ Pride, people of after-party. This year the Dykes on many different faiths come together Bikes will lead the March for the first to celebrate diversity. This year we time ever. will have speakers from Christian, Since 1994, every year on Pride Jewish, Sufi, Buddhist, New Thought weekend the Dyke March has gathand Pagan traditions. We will also ered thousands of supporters at the be blessed by the SpiritVision Mass corner of Broadway and Pine, fightChoir! You are welcome just as you ing for the visibility, inclusion, and are! FREE admission. For more infor- survival of queer women in Seattle mation, call 206-325-2421. and around the world. The voices of the LGBTQ community and Pride SATURDAY, JUNE 25 weekend events have always been Sounders FC Pride Day – Seattle overwhelmingly male, and so we reSounders FC vs. New York City FC serve our stage to shine a spotlight on the experiences, pleasures, activ2pm at CenturyLink Field (800 ism, and identities of queer women Occidental Ave. S.) – www.sounderCONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Rainbow City

g

Performing Arts

make music. make friends. make a difference.

Rainbow City Performing Arts, founded in 1998, is a nonprofit organization providing opportunities for LGBT musicians and their allies to share their musical talents through public performance.

See us at Pride!

• Sat 6/25 11 AM - Purple Passion Swing Band at Capitol Hill Pride Festival • Sun 6/26 11 AM - Marching Band in Seattle Pride Parade

Meet us at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival!

• Sat 6/25 1 PM - Stop by our booth on Broadway. Learn about our upcoming concert season and about joining our ensembles. Listen to our string quartet!

More upcoming appearances • Mon 7/4 Edmonds Fourth • Sun 7/10 Bellingham Pride

• Sat 7/16 Vashon Island • Sun 7/31 Vancouver BC Pride

• Sat Nov 19 7 PM - Concert Band at Broadway Performance Hall

See us. Hear us. Join us.

More information and concert tickets at rainbowcityband.com

6 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

We want most what you want most.

seattlefertility.com Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 7

THU 6/23 /// 10pm DAPPER DOWN presents

RE-BAR PRIDE KICKOFF

Featuring Trinitron, Fred Eddison, and Mixx America and Drag King Spikey Van Dykey /// $10

FRI 6/24 /// 10pm SOUL FI VS DARQNESS:

The Darq Soul of Pride

Featuring Skyshaker, Toya B, Howin 1000, Nome Goldie, and Reverend Dollars /// $10 SAT 6/25 /// 10pm

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8 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

Drag: it’s not just for humans anymore!

Doggie Drag at Broadway Pride Festival Seattle Humane Society Bring your dog and join Seattle Humane at this year’s Doggie Drag Contest on Saturday, June 25, at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival. Registration is from 10 a.m. until noon with a $5 suggested donation and the contest begins at noon on the main stage. All proceeds benefit Seattle Humane’s Pet Project, which provides free veterinary care, pet food, and volunteer support to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS or cancer.

“This is a fantastic service – for people like me, it puts our minds at ease, because we don’t have the exorbitant funds for vet

fees,” says Russell, Pet Project client since 1995.

Want to help people like Russell and his senior dog Delores, but don’t have a costume for your pet? No problem! Costumes are available for donations at the Seattle Humane booth.

Drag Queens Donna Tella Howe, Kara Sutra, and other local divas will be judging your furry friends in the following categories: Best in Show, Best Wizard of Oz theme, Drag Queens’ Favorite, Crowd Favorite, and Owner-Dog Look-Alike! Prizes were donat-

ed by Jet City Animal Clinic.

In addition, the MaxMobile, Seattle Humane’s mobile adoption unit, will be onsite full of adoptable dogs and cats ready for onthe-spot adoptions.

Seattle Humane will also be at the Seattle Pride Parade and PrideFest on Sunday, with our bright yellow MaxMobile and lots of cuddly pets available for adoption. Look for us, with Pride!

Founded in 1897, Seattle Humane proudly promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need. We provide

adoption services seven days a week, plus pet workshops and training, a pet food bank, a low-fee spay/neuter surgery program, humane teen club, a visiting pets program, and more. Seattle Humane is located in Bellevue at 13212 S.E. Eastgate Way. For directions and more information, visit www.seattlehumane.org or call (425) 641-0080.

Courtesy of Seattle Humane

Seattle Trans* Pride March – Celebration and Rally Friday June 24, 6:30pm Cal Anderson Park Seattle Trans* Pride is thrilled to announce the vibrant and exciting line-up for this year’s event that will take place on Friday, June 24 starting at 6:30pm at Cal Anderson Park (at E. Olive St. between 11th Avenue and Nagle Place – north of E. Pine St.).

The Seattle Trans* Pride March will precede the event with assembly along Nagle Place to Broadway & E. John St. starting at 5pm. The march will step off at 6pm and travel from Broadway & E. John St. to 12th Avenue & E . John St., turning south of 12th

Avenue to E. Olive St., and west on E. Olive We also have an incredible line-up of St. to Cal Anderson Park. performers and musicians: •Night Crush's own DJ Riff-Raff We are honored to have some of the <---Their SoundCloud is my soundtrack this strongest voices in the Trans Community week! speaking: • Claire Michelle, whose new album • Marci Owens, Trans Youth Activist "Out of the Shadows" comes out Thursday from Garfield High School (you can download her new song for free!)

• Kris Hayashi, Executive Director of • Co-founder of U.T.O.P.I.A Seattle, SaTransgender Law Center moan costume designer and choreographer • Gabriel Foster, Executive Director of Tiare Chanel has a special performance in store.

Trans Justice Funding Project • And finally, "Seattle's Première

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 24, 2016

TransFabulous, FemTastic, Dragluesqing, Sass-Mouthing Negro" The Lady B will bring down the house.

It hasn't happened yet, but with this lineup it's already turning out to be the best Trans Pride in our history. Please check out our website for additional info: www. transprideseattle.org Courtesy of Seattle Trans* Pride

Seattle Gay News 9

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June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

Jesse Wineberry, candidate in the 9th Congressional District

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Jesse Wineberry is the veteran of seven runs for public office: five wins running for the state legislature between 1984 and 1994, and two lost races, for the US Senate in 1994 and Seattle City Council in 1995.

In his political career he unseated two long-term incumbents, Bill Burns in the 43rd Legislative District and John O’Brien in the 37th.

As a state rep, Wineberry became the first African-American elected to a leadership post in the House, and he used his position to sponsor groundbreaking hate crimes legislation recognizing sexual orientation as a protected class in 1993.

Now, after 20 years as a successful broadcast producer, he’s back in politics, running against yet another incumbent, Adam Smith in the 9th Congressional District.

“As some people of color get older,” Wineberry told SGN, “and they realize they have more time behind them than ahead of them, they see injustice and they want to correct it, not leave it as unfinished business.”

One thing Wineberry wants to correct is the fact that the 9th District was created after the 2010 census as a majority-minority district with the intention of promoting diversity in Washington’s congressional delegation, yet it has never been represented by a person of color.

The Washington State African American PAC, one of the community organizations that helped draw the lines of the district to

include a majority of non-white voters, encouraged Wineberry to run for Congress to correct that omission.

The problem with incumbent Adam Smith, Wineberry charges, is not that he’s white, but that he just isn’t representing his district.

“If he really wanted to represent the voters in the district, they’d have given him a chance,” Wineberry says.

“But you know what? In 2013 Adam missed 17% of the votes – this is from the Congressional Record. The next year he missed 33%, and the next year 59%. This year you know how many votes he missed?

More than 95%.

“We put in all this effort to get a majority-minority district and this is what we get in return. We’re not going to take it anymore.

People want someone who will represent the purposes they envisioned for the district.”

The 9th District suffers from a 10% unemployment rate, almost twice the statewide average, Wineberry notes, and more than 41% of Seattle’s African-Americans live below the federal poverty line.

As a state legislator, Wineberry sponsored a number of measures to help raise up poorer residents – the 1989 Workplace Child Care Act, the Link Deposit loan program to help minority-owned businesses, and the 1994 Youthbuild Initiative, which offered union apprenticeships for young first-time offenders who wanted to turn their lives around.

The 9th District’s congressman could be fighting for similar federal measures, he says,

even if Democrats remain a minority party in the US House.

“I’ve been in the minority all my life,” Wineberry tells SGN. “People like Adam have been in the majority all their lives. They find themselves in the minority and they just see the deck stacked against them. They say ‘Oh, we can’t make change until we get a majority.’

“I don’t waste time counting numbers, I try to make my numbers count.

“Cal was the only openly Gay legislator.

He was definitely in the minority,” Wineberry continued, referring to his friend and seatmate, the late Cal Anderson (1948–1995).

“He could have been in the majority – he could have been in the closet and then he’d be another white man from a progressive district in Seattle. Me, I walk in there and it’s obvious who I am. But Cal had the courage to be out and put himself in the minority.

“He was the first Gay man elected to House leadership, the first to chair a committee, the first to be elected to the Senate. He made his numbers count.

“I don’t consider being in the minority an impediment to success. The life of being in an ethnic minority prepares one for struggle.”

Wineberry sees this as a metaphor of sorts for the present political crisis.

“People of color, new Americans, LGBT, women – the reason we’re all under attack is because the other side no longer sees us being held back by being minorities – and the proof of that is the election of Barack Obama.

We have made our numbers count,” he says.

While Wineberry clearly relishes campaigning, he admits he was “reluctant and resistant” to get into the 9th District race. It was a two-hour conversation with Smith, arranged by a mutual friend, that changed his mind, Wineberry says.

“I asked a few questions that I thought would be opportunities for him to indicate he wanted to represent the people of the district,” Wineberry recalls, “then I could go back and tell people, ‘OK, this is what he’s done and this is what he plans to do.’”

Wineberry then asked Smith about his record, he says.

“I asked ‘How many bills did you prime-sponsor to benefit the district?’ None. “‘None? Then how many bills have you passed in general?’ None.”

“Legislation is not a measure of being a legislator,” Wineberry says Smith told him.

“Then I told him, ‘I thought if I could go back and tell people what you’d done, they’d say, OK, let’s give him a chance,’ but Adam, you’re not showing up for work.”

“Then you know what he said?” Wineberry asks. “If you think you can do a better job, run.”

“And that’s when I decided to run,” Wineberry says. “And I’m worried that this may be the last chance we have to make good on the promise of a majority-minority district.

“In four years there’ll be another census and redistricting,” he notes. “They’ll say, ‘You had a majority-minority district for 10 years and you haven’t done anything with it. Why should we continue it?’ and then it will revert to just another congressional district.”

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 11

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Homeless youth Off the streets Preparing for life

Timeless grooves by DJ ZOZ. Portion of the evening’s proceeds to benefit Lambert House and YouthCare.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

LGBTQ Youth Center

SGN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

and dyke-identified people across the gender spectrum. The Seattle Dyke March is not a parade; it is a solidarity demonstration in support of dyke voices and experiences, and focuses on our community’s wants, needs, and demands. www.seattledykemarch.com/ SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Gayzer Laser Light Show After a popular debut in 2015, the Pacific Science Center & Three Dollar Bill Cinema are bringing back the Gayzer Laser Light Show to the Pacific Science Center Laser Dome at Seattle Center!

Start your Saturday night right on June 25 at 6pm, or chill out after Sunday’s Pride festivities at 6pm. It’s a collection of hit songs by LGBT artists and icons with a stunning visual display. Fun for all ages!

Tickets available at (800) 6648775 or https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org SATURDAY, JUNE 25 HEYO’s Gender*Fierce Youth Variety Show and GLSEN Washington’s Youth Pride Dance 7pm-12 midnight at All Pilgrim’s Church, Stuart Hall (500 Broadway E. at E. Republican St. FREE Youth Pride Event!

This year HEYO’s Gender*Fierce youth variety show and GLSEN Washington’s Youth Pride Dance are coming together! Come join us the Saturday of Pride weekend and watch the awesome talents of our LGBTQ+/allied youth community at Gender*Fierce, and stay to celebrate with us at the Youth Pride Dance! Doors open at 7pm and the performances start at 7:30pm. The dance party begins at 9:30pm and the event will conclude at midnight!

The event is free and open to the public. Hosted by DonnaTella Howe and Angela Visalia. Food and re-

freshments will be provided.

Advance registration is strongly encouraged as capacity is limited. To register, click the ticket link – https://www.facebook.com/ events/1196133247065400/ and fill out the online form.

Gender*Fierce is for all ages; Youth Pride Dance is exclusively for youth. The event is free of charge, open to the public, and drug and alcohol free. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Come celebrate the gender and sexuality spectrum for a night of fun and affirming Queer community love!

Want to perform at HEYO’s Gender*Fierce? Check the box on our registration page and fill out the application! The show features the whole gender and sexuality spectrum. Priority will be given to performers & performance pieces that showcase the diversity of this spectrum.

Questions? Email: HEYO at: heyo@lifelong.org or GLSEN Washington at: mail@glsenwa.org SATURDAY, JUNE 25) (also Friday, June 24) Seattle Men’s Chorus – “ENCORE!” 8pm at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St.) Past, present, and future collide as both Choruses join on stage to honor their incomparable artistic director and leader, Dennis Coleman.

Seattle celebrates the end of an era with an emotional and uplifting concert highlighting the iconic moments of the Choruses’ influence on the Seattle landscape. There will be special appearances by famous and familiar faces. Expect sidesplitting surprises, a smashing collection of greatest hits, and a look ahead to a thrilling future. The evening will be highlighted by a powerful 400-voice

tribute to a legend who built the world’s largest LGBT choral organization.

Tickets to McCaw Hall Seattle performances are $25-$78 and available at http://www.seattlechoruses. org or over the phone at (206) 3881400.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 Highline Pride Weekend: Gygax, Substratum, Hexengeist, Trannysaurus Rox; “Pride Powermix” at Neighbours with Deborah Cox performing LIVE! and host Gaysha Starr; Purr Pride 2016 Block Party (12pm-2am) DJ Freddy King of Pants, DJ Skiddle, featuring LA DJs The Perry Twins ($25); Night Crush presents Hella Queer at Re-bar @ 10pm ($10); Sun Liquor Alaska Airlines Pride Party drawings; Wildrose Pride 2016 15,000 Sq Ft Beer Garden SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Pride Parade Brunch at Trace (W Hotel, 1112 4th Ave.) 7am-2pm (brunch); 9am-11am (“Mimosas with Mama” musical performance from PrideFest Host Mama Tits) Tickets: SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Seattle Pride Parade Starting at 11 a.m., the parade kicks off at 4th Avenue & Union St., and will proceed north down 4th Avenue to Denny Way and Seattle Center. It will last approximately two and a half hours and will be held rain or shine. www.seattlepride.org/pride-parade/

parties, and over 130,000 attendees. www.seattlepridefest.org/ SUNDAY, JUNE 26 The Cuff Pride Street Party with Marsha Wash, Abigail, Beth Sacks, JES, DJ Tommy K and your hosts Alaska Thunderfuck and Disco Vinnie (doors at noon)($25); Purr Pride Party (no cover); Sun Liquor Alaska Airlines Pride Party drawings; Wildrose Pride 2016 15,000 Sq Ft Beer Garden – B-Ball with Seattle Storm Players SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Gayzer Laser Light Show After a popular debut in 2015, the Pacific Science Center & Three Dollar Bill Cinema are bringing back the Gayzer Laser Light Show to the Pacific Science Center Laser Dome at Seattle Center!

Start your Saturday night right on June 25 at 6pm, or chill out after Sunday’s Pride festivities at 6pm. It’s a collection of hit songs by LGBT artists and icons with a stunning visual display. Fun for all ages!

Tickets available at (800) 6648775 or https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org SUNDAY, JUNE 26 The Cuff Pride Street Party with Marsha Wash, Abigail, Beth Sacks, JES, DJ Tommy K and your hosts Alaska Thunderfuck and Disco Vinnie (doors at noon)($25); Purr Pride Party (no cover); Re-bar’s FLAMMABLE – Pride Edition @ 10pm ($10); Wildrose Pride 2016 15,000 Sq Ft Beer Garden – B-Ball with Seattle Storm Players

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Seattle PrideFest – “To Equality THURSDAY, JUNE 30 and Beyond” Queer Fan Nights!

Seattle PrideFest 2016 will be 8pm at Northwest Film Forum more bedazzling than ever. Four (1511 12th Ave.) with pre-show hapstages, events over four days, dozCONTINUED ON PAGE 24 ens of artists, men’s and women’s

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• Monthly and part-time memberships available • Discounts on monthly parking and Gold's Gym • 2 blocks from the light rail station

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12 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

VAJOYNA Love it. Celebrate it.

Keep it healthy.

Planned Parenthood is proud to support the health of Washington’s LGBTQ community. From STD testing to wellness exams, schedule an appointment online.

Now offering PrEP at our 19 western Washington locations!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 13

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14 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

Celebrating TransPride! aclu-wa.org/standup

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June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 15

16 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

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June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 17

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18 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

Celebrate Pride in the City of Destiny July 8th - 16th / 2016

Visit www.tacomapride.org for tickets, events, and more!

Tacoma Pride Festival is a program of the Rainbow center

Kickoff! Flag Raising & Pride Awards

Presented by State Farm Insurance / at the Pantages Theater Lobby / 901 Broadway / Fri July 8 / 4:30 pm - 6 pm /  ASL Interpreted / free

Broadway Center presents Todrick Hall

at the Pantages Theater / 901 Broadway / Fri July 8 / 7:30 pM / ticketed event

Rainbow Center’s Out in the Park

on Pacific Avenue between S 7th st & S 9th st / Sat July 9 / noon pm - 5 pm /  ASL Interpreted / $5 suggested donation

The Mix’s Pride Block Party

at The Mix / St. Helens between S 6th & S 7th / Sat July 9 / 5 pm - 2 am / 21+ only / $10 cover or $35 VIP

Immanuel Presbyterian Church Presents Crossing the Threshold... Again!

An Evening of Live Storytelling at Immanuel Presbyterian Church / 901 N J St / sun July 10 / 7 pm - 9 pm / FREE

Tacoma Pride Film Series: Viva

at the grand cinema / 606 S Fawcett Avenue / Tue July 12 / 1:45 pm & 6:45 pm / ticketed event / discussion following film

Tacoma Pride Film Series: The First Girl I Loved

at the grand cinema / 606 S Fawcett Avenue / Wed July 13 / 1:45 pm & 6:45 pm / ticketed event

Queer Filmmakers Meet-Up

at the grand cinema / 606 S Fawcett Avenue / Wed July 13 / following 6:45 screening of “The first girl I loved”

Big Hat Brunch Benefiting Oasis Youth Center

Presented by BECU / at Oasis Youth Center / 2215 Pacific Avenue / Sat July 16 / 11 am - 1 pm / ticketed event

Producing Partners

TPF is a Green Event

Tacoma PRide FEstival / www.tacomapride.org / facebook.com/tacomapridefestival / @tacomapridefest / @tacomapridefestival Rainbow Center / www.rainbowcntr.org / 253.383.2318 / 2215 Pacific Ave. Tacoma WA 98402

Visit us online www.sgn.org

designed for tacoma pride festival 2016 by henry waymack design

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 19

Defying stereotypes: Seattle folk singer Claire Michelle on life, music and not giving in to fear

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer

Sitting down with Seattle singer-songwriter Claire Michelle one is immediately struck by her cheery lack of artifice. The 23-year-old musician is exactly who she appears to be, no more, and certainly no less, exuding a quiet, subtly enchanting confidence that’s moderately surprising. “I’ve never really been influenced by my parent’s generation of music,” she admits candidly. “There was just never anyone they were listening to that I responded to. I guess, in a way, that allowed me to forge my own path.”

A main stage performer during tonight’s Trans Pride event at Cal Anderson Park, I met up with the young singer earlier in the week at Pacific Place to talk about her music, her blossoming career and whatever else might be on her mind, other musicians that helped influence her Folk-Pop-Rock style just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. “Growing up, I never really found another artist that I liked, someone who spoke to me, but then my piano teacher told me that they thought I might like Coldplay,” Michelle muses. “I basically listened to them for like three years straight before I found other musicians and artists who I responded to.”

“I heard The Tallest Man on Earth and, I think, he might have been the person that made me realize that songwriting could happen for me. That I could write songs that meant something to me personally. The stuff he was writing about was just so personal to him and I responded to that. From there, I found another artist that I really, really admire, The Milk Carton Kids, and it was the same thing. Their music just felt so personal. Those were the two, though, that really helped me feel that, helped spur that songwriting instinct.”

“Not that I can say my songwriting is re-

ally influenced by anyone else,” she says with a merry, almost embarrassed chuckle. “My situation is a little bit unique, I think, after all.

But, long story short, I was in college and my roommate at the time, who was a songwriter, actually started pushing me to write my own songs. After I brought one to him, he then told me to go out and perform it at a local open mic event. So I did. And I got good feedback. So I just kept writing and performing. And here we are now.”

All of which was positive, but none of which led Michelle to think what she was doing in her spare time had the potential to lead to a career. But somewhere along the way the worm turned “I realized what I was writing wasn’t terrible,” she says without artifice. “I think, as an artist, there is that moment where you realize what you’re creating has value.

Where you realize that you can actually do this. That was an eye-opening moment.”

Not that it’s always been easy. “I get into ruts,” admits Michelle. “I know that happens to every artist, but those blocks can be pretty trying. I learned a trick, though. I went to Reddit and entered into some collaborations with some of the posters where I wrote the music to some of their poetry. Kind of meshed their words and my compositions together.”

“That actually opened up a whole slew of doors. I would take ideas from these poems and find myself inspired to write songs inspired by them that were based on my own experiences. I get into a rut or a get blocked, I find these other artists. What are they writing about? What are they singing about? I realize that I’ve had similar experiences and suddenly the ideas just start to flow.”

A student at Central Michigan University, Michelle made the decision to leave school and pursue her artistic passions, which go far beyond music and extend into the realm

of photography and marketing, making the long trek to Seattle in October of 2014. Two months after arriving, she got word her father had passed away, and this forced the musician to take a long, hard look at her life. “That pushed me to get my emotions out,” she says, “and, obviously, the only way I know how to do that is through music. One of the things I realized was, when I was starting to transition, I felt like I was willing to give music up. My dad’s death, it pushed me to write again. I went and played an open mic with a friend and, once again, I had that realization that I could do this, that I didn’t need to be afraid of being who I am while also performing my music.”

“Granted, I moved to Seattle to be me.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been fearful. One of the things I kept telling myself while I was driving here was that I was starting new. I told myself I could be anyone that I wanted. So, it is interesting that the fear, that I didn’t want to be seen as a novelty, did stick with me. But I’ve always been one who is willing to jump off the cliff. I push my fears aside and hope that it works. I guess that moment, going out to that open mic and performing as a Trans woman right after my father had died, was maybe the first time I did just that in such a big way. I mean, the things I do now are sometimes scary, but I don’t think I have anything that compares to stepping up on that stage right at that moment.”

“Maybe making the decision to drive cross-country to Seattle,” she says with a laugh. “That was a pretty big decision. Without knowing anybody or knowing what would happen? That’s pretty big, too.”

I ask Michelle about stereotypes, about whether she worries if she’ll fall into them or if others, both inside and outside of the Transgender community, judge her based on their perceptions of them. “I don’t worry about

stereotypes,” she states unequivocally. “I was walking down the street today coming back from a coffee shop that I tend to frequent, and I felt more like a guy than I did a girl. But, then there are the other days where I feel very much Trans. And, of course, there are those other days where I feel very much feminine, just a regular girl out for a walk. I guess I don’t feel stereotyped, or that I have to live up to some stereotype, because I’m living how I want to.

That’s all. That’s what matters.”

“I guess my goal with my music is to give people who are outside of the realm, who are maybe even outside of any LGBTQ issues, whatever that means, and have them relate to something inside of it. Hopefully, there is something inside of my music that clicks for them, something that gets them to think that this Trans person is singing about something they have experienced. I hate to say it this way but I honestly haven’t found a better way to say it, but I want to help Trans-identified people become a normal part of society. Free of those stereotypes. You’re normal. I’m normal.

They’re normal. We’re not zoo animals. I feel like, through art, you can do a lot to erase those perceptions, and do hope my music can be a catalyst for that sort of change whether listeners are Gay, straight, Transgender or whatever, that people will hopefully appreciate the art without even knowing the person who is behind it.”

Claire Michelle’s latest EP “Out of the Shadows” is available for purchase online at the artist’s website www.clairemichellemusic. com. She’ll be having an album release party and performance at the Skylark at 3803 Delridge Way SW on July 2 at 9pm.

SGN INTERVIEW: Trina Banks, Pride Foundation scholarship recipient

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer “Write about Gwen Hall,” Trina Banks says emphatically, “write about Milton Farquhar, write about Michael Davidson, write about Cookie Hunt.”

SGN is writing about Banks because she is the 2016 recipient of the Pride Foundation’s Gwen Hall and Lois Peterson Scholarship.

The scholarship was established by Sojourner Truth Ministries in 2014 to help LGBT and allied students, especially people of color, and especially those focusing on HIV/AIDS ministries.

“That scholarship event was so beautiful,” Banks continued. “I’m indebted to the Pride Foundation, but I’m also indebted to all the activists on whose shoulders we stand. I’m older.

I know the lives. I know the costs.”

While Banks gives credit to her former partner, the late Rev. Gwen Hall, and others who launched HIV/AIDS activism in Seattle, she also was there almost from the beginning.

Born in New Orleans, she moved to Seattle after a stint in the Navy, and started the University of Washington in 1986.

“I was born and raised Baptist,” she recalls.

“The church and community were one and the same then. I came out at 17 when I graduated from high school, and I moved away.”

Arriving in Seattle, Banks met African-American LGBT activists.

20 Seattle Gay News

“I met Gwen Hall and I met Milton Farquhar, who was worried that African-Americans with HIV/AIDS were falling through the cracks in hospitals and hospices,” Banks says.

“Gwen decided ‘let’s get everyone together for soup and salad’ – we had it in a church hall – and then she wanted to bring people upstairs for the service, but the church was not having it.

“That’s when Gwen decided to form her own church. Of course, she’d had no intention of forming a church, but that became Sojourner Truth.

“There was Gwen and there was me,” Banks remembers with a smile, “till other people started coming to church.”

Banks says that in those early days, “Gwen was the activist, I was the scientist who was along for the ride.”

“I remember the D.C. march [for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation] in 1993,” Banks continues. “Here I was sitting in the offices of congressmen and thinking, ‘What was I doing here?’

“I remember Michael Davidson jumping on tables to give speeches about AIDS. That was not me. For people like me, we have revelations.”

Banks credits her decision to go to divinity school to just such a revelation.

“I had no plans to go to school, to tell you the truth. I just wanted to apply for a better job at the School of Dentistry, where I worked.

“But I missed the deadline I had set for my-

June 24, 2016

self. I felt so defeated. And I realized I was full of fear. The next day I pulled myself together and finished the application.

“The day after that I found the brochures at a bus stop” – brochures describing Seattle University’s divinity school – “and everything fell into place. They were even all fanned out like I was supposed to read them.

“You know, in the Southern Baptist tradition pastors and ministers are all men. But I felt called to apply. If it were not for those supernatural things that occurred I would not be at Seattle U.” Later, Banks found herself struggling to pay tuition and looking for options. She credits the Pride Foundation with providing her an opportunity to continue in her calling.

“I saw that one of their scholarships was named after Gwen, and they invited people to apply. You know, when I was with Gwen, we’d read scholarship applications. It never occurred to me that I could apply.

“I was modest. I led from the sidelines.

Now I’m coming out to the center and leading, not from the sidelines anymore.”

Banks is completing a Master of Divinity program at Seattle University. Her goal is to be ordained as clergy and to be credentialed as a chaplain with the United Church of Christ (UCC), even though Seattle University is a Jesuit university.

“The Seattle University program is ecumenical,” she explains. “We even have

non-Christian students. We just had a Muslim student graduate, and we have a Jewish student.

“Now, some don’t want to hear me say I’m a Lesbian. Part of the classwork is, we have introductions. You say who you are and where you came from.

“We have to learn how to be in class with each other. You come into contact with many different people, and you challenge even your own beliefs.

“Engagement changes things. When we don’t change ourselves, nothing ever changes.

You have to know who you’re dealing with.

You have to collaborate. I wish the whole world could be that kind of engagement.”

Banks currently works with at-risk youth, as well as her longstanding commitment to the HIV/AIDS ministry begun by Hall.

“The social justice piece came out of need,” she says. “When you see people suffering, you have to do something. And the work isn’t done.

LGBT kids are still being kicked out of their homes; they’re still struggling with issues of identity.

“Sometimes I think about the AIDS quilt.

All the people who were persecuted. The work is not done. Oh my goodness, the work is not done!

“Some things I just can’t do, but people need encouragement to do what we’re meant to do. You have to remind people to do what they’re meant to do.”

Celebrating 41 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 21

22 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

Martha Wash to headline Cuff’s Street Party!

An exclusive interview with the legendary Weather Girls disco queen

Martha Wash – Courtesy of MK Scott

by MK Scott Special to the SGN There is more to Martha Wash than being one-half of the Weather Girls and their big 1982 hit, “It’s Raining Men.” Martha is a disco queen who embraces her Gay fans and is currently on a national tour, hitting Seattle for the Cuff Pride Street Party this Sunday. I recently had a chance to chat with Ms. Wash over the phone.

MK Scott: Welcome, Martha. We are excited that Seattle Pride will be one of your Pride stops this Sunday at the Cuff Street Party. What does Pride mean to you?

Martha Wash: Pride means to me everybody coming out and having a real good time, being who they want to be, accepting everybody else and accepting who they are without condemnation or reservation, or having ill will toward anybody else. It’s just people coming together, really, just coming together having a good time and celebrating who they are with likeminded people.

MK: Okay. And you are known for your song “It’s Raining Men.” Did you know at the time that it would be a Gay anthem?

Wash: Uh, not at the time, no. [Co-writer] Paul Jabara asked Izora [Armstead] and myself to record that song, and we were like, you got to be kidding. And he said, no, I really need you to record this. I know it’s going to be a hit. And we went in and recorded it and him and the record company made it a hit. And there you go.

MK: I read that Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand had passed on the song. Okay.

Thank God they did, because you’re better for it, because it was a huge hit for you.

Wash: Yep, absolutely. Absolutely. They passed on it because they were friends with Paul [Shaffer, the song’s other co-writer]. And from what he told me, because I can only go by what he said, he asked them to do it and they all turned it down. So the rest is history.

And we’ve moved on 30 years later.

MK: Your better half, Izora, in the Weath-

er Girls – did you guys remain close all those years before she died?

Wash: Well, she was living in Germany.

She had been living in Germany well over 10 years. So she was doing her thing there. And I was doing mine here. I would see her maybe every 10 years or so, she would come to the states, and I think the last time I spoke to her and talked to her was maybe two or three years before she passed.

MK: Okay. Now let’s talk about the video of “It’s Raining Men.” Do you have any stories related to the making of the video?

Wash: God, it’s been so long ago. We went into this – it looked like an abandoned building – and did the video and wound up with, oh, what do you call them? Fleas. Fleas, yeah, so the mattress that we had to land on when we looked like when we were falling from the sky.

That kind of stuff. It was a campy video and I think everybody realizes that, you know, but it was just during those times that, you know, the camp was out there and running amok.

MK: And then also was the bed, was it spinning on its own? Or was that just part of the camerawork?

Wash: No, I think it was run on a dome, from what I can remember.

MK: Oh, okay. You remember taking the ride on it?

Wash: I think so, yeah. Yeah. Like I said that has been so long ago and I have, I thought, it’s a song, and it’s one of those songs that’s a classic now, and a song that I continue to sing.

I have moved past that into a whole lot of other stuff as far as music is concerned, you know.

MK: Now at the Cuff party this weekend, will you be singing other songs besides “It’s Raining Men?” Wash: Yeah, from our last CD, Something Good, and some of the favorites of the people who have been slammed over the decades, I’d say. Yeah, kind of the greatest-hits thing.

MK: Now who would be your dream duet partner?

Wash: Aretha Franklin.

MK: Oh, how fabulous. I also heard that you are part of another group called The

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Women of Disco?

Wash: It’s called The First Ladies of Disco. It’s a group of ladies. Initially we started out with myself, Linda Clifford, and Evelyn “Champagne” King. And we decided to go into the studio and record a single called “Show Some Love.” The First Ladies of Disco, the name itself, is taken from a book authored by James Arena, who goes back and interviews 32 women who were around in the disco era and asked them to talk about their lives during their time up until the present.

And so it did very well on the book chart. And we just decided to take some of those women from the book and put together a group called The First Ladies of Disco. There are interchangeable people, but when we first started out, again, it was Linda and Evelyn. So the first single, “Show Some Love,” did very, very well, Top Ten on the Billboard dance charts.

And it was put out on my label, which is called Purple Rose Records, and it was produced by Zach Adam, who produced my album Something Good.

And so now I’m getting ready, in fact, today is the release date for the Richie Family.

If people were around then certainly they remember the Ritchie Family, a top-selling female group. Their hits were “Brazil” and “The Best Disco in Town” and “Paradise.” So we decided to go back and ask them if they’d like to be a part of this kind of umbrella and put some music out on my label. So their single, which is called “Ice,” is released today. And people can find it on CD Baby, and in the coming weeks on iTunes and the other services. So I’m busy trying to get more ladies, some who people can remember, some who people don’t know who they are, but we’re trying to bring established acts that were around during that time, kind of bring them back to the forefront of the music business today. A lot of them are still performing and still touring, but they haven’t necessarily put out new music. So that’s what we’re doing now. We’re inviting them to be a part of this thing – a kind of a resurgence, I’d say – what people might call heritage artists, you know, and I think it’s a really, really great thing. The First Ladies of Disco was very much well-received. And so that’s what we’re doing right now, which is fun.

MK: Wow, that is going to be fabulous. So there will be some interchanging people, like I would assume that you would probably also try to get Thelma Houston there?

Wash: Yeah. Yeah. I got a show with the ladies after, no, just before I come into Seattle I’ll be in Oklahoma City. And it will be Evelyn and Ms. Anita Ward. So we’ll be doing

The First Ladies of Disco show with Ms. Anita Ward. So yeah, we’re looking forward to going out and doing the live show with these ladies and letting people see that we’re still around, we’re still relevant, you know. And they can get a hell of a show.

MK: Oh, speaking of the show, you are going to have a wonderful time at the Cuff party. It is like one of the most biggest and the most notorious street parties in all of Seattle Pride. A nice group of people. A lot of mixed people, but very cool.

Wash: Yeah, yeah. Right. I’ve dealt with them before. I’m sure it’ll be great and people are going to have a good time, that’s the main thing. You know, everybody having good energy and wants to have a good time and that’s it.

MK: One burning question for you. Who would be your perfect man?

Wash: Oh, gosh. The perfect man would be someone [laughs] who would be perfect for me. And I would say six feet tall, as far as the looks are concerned, six feet tall, light on the muscular side, a person who has a good heart. Believes in God. Would do anything for me, even in my craziness, and still love me, you know? I think really, you know, and the financial thing we can work on, you know?

We can work on that. We can come to some kind of agreement on that. But I think really just a well-rounded guy who likes people, who would help people as well, you know, and it’s very, very open minded.

MK: A Black man? Or a white man? Does it matter?

Wash: Well, I usually go with the Black guy, but sometimes the pools can be kind of sparse, sometimes you have to dip into the other pools. But for the most part I would go with a Black guy, but I can’t say that I wouldn’t necessarily try another ethnicity.

MK: Thank you. Well, it’s been a joy chatting with you.

Wash: I appreciate it. And I really thank all the fans who have been around and stuck with me over the years and stuff. It’s nice when you have the fans who have been around all these many years. You get new fans as they grow up and come into adulthood and things like that. Look, I’m glad to still be around as well.

The Cuff Pride Street Party takes place at the Cuff Complex, 1533 13th Ave., beginning at noon on Sunday, June 26. For more information, visit www.cuffcomplex.com. Check out the full interview on MK’s podcast show, It’s Fab (http://itsfab.podomatic.com/).

June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 23

SGN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

py hour at 7pm in the theatre lobby. com/ECBlackPride Eurovision Night: Iconic song perforSponsored by the Center for Mulmances – hosted by Richard & Kevin. tiCultural Health.

Tickets: $11 generals; $8 student/se nior; $6 NWFF and Three Dollar Bill OUT-OF-TOWN (IN JULY) Cinema members.

FRIDAY, JULY 1FRIDAY, JULY 1 SUNDAY, JULY 10 SUNDAY, JULY 3 Victoria, BC Pride Emerald City Softball AssociaA week of events and activities tion – 2016 Emerald City Classic culminating in the annual Pride Pawww.emeraldcitysof tball.org rade and Festival on Sunday, July (See details under TOURNAMENT 10. www.victoriapridesociety. menu) org SATURDAY, JULY 2 Tacoma Pride Festival: Celebrate MONDAY, JULY 4 Pride in the City of Destiny: July Seattle Tennis Alliance - 2016 Se- 8-July 16 – http://tacomapride.org/ attle Classic www.seattletennisalliance.org SATURDAY, JULY 9 (See details under EVENTS menu.)

Out in the Park – Tacoma’s annual LGBTQA Pride Celebration SATURDAY, JULY 30 Noon-5 p.m., Broadway between Emerald City Black Pride – ECBP 9th and 11th streets. Tacoma’s OffiParty cial PRIDE celebration takes place as 7pm-2am at Northwest African an outdoor street festival in downAmerican Museum (2300 S. Massa- town Tacoma at the Pierce Tranchusetts St.) sit Park. Out in the Park is a family Dance party celebration and so- friendly festival that includes street cial with food trucks and museum side vendor booths and live perforviewing. facebook.com/ECBlack- mances by musical groups, drag Pride acts, dignitaries and speakers on Sponsored by the Center for Mul- the Main Stage. A secondary stage tiCultural Health. features performances for both the young and the young at heart. www.

SUNDAY, JULY 31 rainbowcntr.org.

Emerald City Black Pride – Family Reunion BBQ SATURDAY, JULY 9 1-6pm at Alvin Larkins Park (1504 Bellingham Pride Family Picnic 34th Ave. @ E. Pike St.) Facebook.

Come enjoy a picnic at noon in

24 Seattle Gay News

June 24, 2016

Bloedel Donovan Park (2214 Elec- org/events.shtml tric Ave.) with the entire Bellingham Pride family (that includes you!).

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Donations gratefully accepted to Kitsap Pride – “Solidarity cover the cost of food. www.bham- Through Pride” pride.org/events.shtml Kitsap Pride’s annual celebration, noon to 5 p.m., at Evergreen SATURDAY, JULY 9 Park (1500 Park Ave.) in downtown Bellingham Annual ISCEE Pride Bremerton. w w w.kit sappride.

Drag Show (21+) org.

Doors 6:30 p.m. Show at 7:30 p.m.

Rumors Cabaret (1119 Railroad Ave.) SUNDAY, JULY 31 $5 cover.

Vancouver (B.C.) Pride Parade & Annual Rumor’s Pride Celebra- Festival tion to follow. www.bhampride.org/ Parade begins at noon in Vanevents.shtml couver’s downtown/West End at Robson and Thurlow streets and SATURDAY, JULY 9 proceeds via Denman to festival site Bellingham Rumors Pride Cele- at Sunset Beach. Sponsored by Vanbration (21+) couver Pride Society. www.vancou10 p.m.-2 a.m. (close), Rumors verpride.ca.

Cabaret (1119 Railroad Ave.), cover. www.bhampride.org/events.shtml FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 SUNDAY, JULY 10 Queer Pride on Whidbey 2016 Bellingham Pride Parade (QPOW!) Noon. Starts at Ohio & Cornwall, FRIDAY: All ages Open Mic and travels along Cornwall Ave., ends at Poetry Slam; SATURDAY: 2nd AnDepot Market Square (1100 Railroad nual Queer Conference; Saturday Ave.). More info at http://www. Night Soiree (18+); SUNDAY: 3rd bhampride.org/events.shtml Annual Queer Pride Parade and downtown Langley Booth Fair. www.

SUNDAY, JULY 10 queerparade.com; Facebook.com/ Bellingham Pride Festival queerpridewhidbey Sponsored in Until 4:00 p.m., Depot Market part by Whidbey PFLAG. Square (1100 Railroad Ave.).

Features various vendors, children’s activities, appearances by local and state dignitaries. Come join the fun! w w w.b h a m p r i d e.

Celebrating 41 Years!

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June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 25

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June 24, 2016

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Celebrating 41 Years!

Teaming with Pride – Sounders captain Brad Evans discusses Pride Day at CenturyLink Field - and his personal support for the LGBT community

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer Happy Pride from the Seattle Sounders FC! On behalf of the MLS (Major League Soccer) squad, team captain Brad Evans spoke with Seattle Gay News by phone to deliver this message and talk about his own support for all things LGBT. The Sounders will celebrate the club's second annual Pride Day on June 25, when they host New York City FC for a nationally televised match at CenturyLink Field.

Mayor Ed Murray will be given a Golden Scarf during pre-match ceremonies and Pride flags will be handed out to the first 50,000 fans upon entering the gates. For the second consecutive year, Evans, a former roommate of openly Gay, Los Angeles Galaxy player Robbie Rogers, will sport a rainbow-colored armband. Single-match tickets for the Seattle vs. NYC contest, with a 2 p.m. start time, are available at SoundersFC.com.

From a hotel room in Hoboken, New Jersey, last weekend, hours before Seattle faced the New York Red Bulls, I chatted one-on-one with Evans, who proved to be as professional and friendly off the field as on. Here's what Brad Evans of the Seattle Sounders FC had to say.

Albert Rodriguez: What happens during Seattle Sounders Pride Day? Brad Evans: We all know that Seattle is a very inclusive city, especially when it comes to Pride Week or Pride Day. I think our fans are very, very receptive to everyone alike and we've had a great reception to our Pride Day and that all starts with the march to the match.

The colors come out - usually it's Rave Green, but everything kind of becomes a rainbow effect and it's pretty awesome. Last year, I got to wear a special rainbow armband as my captain's armband, which I put on my Instagram as a giveaway and one lucky fan got to snag that, which was pretty cool. We try to make it all about the fans on that day and we obviously spread a lot of awareness as well, letting people know that not only are we a soccer team, but we are also advocates for the LGBT community.

Rodriguez: So the team takes it seriously.

Evans: The team takes it very seriously and that starts with our majority owner, Adrian Hanauer. He's from Seattle, and like I said Seattle is a community of inclusiveness and he wants to spread that into the workplace and especially into his team. And it starts from the top down, and when it comes from the top down it becomes very easy to be involved and even if it didn't come from the top down, I

would have been involved no matter what - but it gets other guys rallied around the topic.

Understandably, guys from different cultures, different countries will have questions of why we are doing this, why are we wearing this armband, and then you pull guys aside and say, "These are the reasons, XYZ. These are my beliefs, you don't have to believe in them, but at the end of the day we're all rallying around one cause today and we're a team."

And nobody likes to be on the outside of the picture looking in.

Rodriguez: What was your introduction to Gay culture? Did you have friends in high school or college who were Gay, or family members, or did your parents expose you to it growing up?

Evans: That's a good question. I don't remember anyone in high school, or grade school, who really stuck out to me. I don't remember anybody individually sticking out to me either, a friend or a friend of a friend, or a family member. I think I just come from a family and upbringing that didn't discriminate against anybody and didn't really care if someone was different, or if somebody came from a different background, or if someone happened to be Gay. My first experience with somebody really close was Robbie Rogers. We were roommates, in Columbus and we also played on the national team, so we had known each other since we were 18. But at the time, when we were living together I still had no idea, so maybe my blinders were on, I guess, or I suppose it didn't matter. Nothing ever stuck out, or I just didn't care. And then when he came out, I was like "Oh wow, really?!"

Rodriguez: Was Robbie out when you guys were roommates?

Evans: No, no, he wasn't. That was one of the toughest parts, speaking with him afterwards and reading his book as well, knowing that those were really tough times for him, and I would have never known it was a tough time for him. Looking back on that time, those were some of my fondest memories. It was just him and I living together, and I was with my now-wife, but she was living in California and finishing school, so it was just Robbie and I and we spent tons of time together, cooking, basketball, tennis, training, whatever it was, and obviously our shared love for soccer, and that's all we pretty much talked about was soccer. I don't think he was really confiding in anybody at that time. I think he was trying to figure out the best possible way for him to move forward. It was a very difficult time for him and seeing how he handled that and how we ended up winning the MLS Cup that year

Captain’s Armband – Photo by Dan Poss

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says a lot about his perseverance. And even if he did come out at the time, I wouldn't have cared - it wouldn't have changed anything about our friendship.

Rodriguez: Do you and your wife have any Gay friends here in Seattle whom you hang out with?

Evans: Yeah, I would say so. I'm friends with Megan Rapinoe and Sera [Cahoone]. To us, it just doesn't matter. If we happen to make friends with a Gay couple or Lesbian couple, then all the more better.

Rodriguez: A week ago, the world woke up to the tragedy that happened in Orlando.

Did that affect you or the team at all?

Evans: That absolutely affected me for multiple reasons. When I got into the car that morning, Chad [Marshall] hadn't heard about the news yet and I said, "Did you hear about the shooting today? Fifty dead [as initially reported], 53 wounded," and he was like, "You gotta be kidding me. What is wrong with people?" I cannot comprehend it - I was not raised in a churchgoing family, I wasn't raised to believe in something so strongly that would make me think I'm a martyr or that I'm doing something for the greater good. Sometimes I think people do things that way and it's shocking to me. Just understanding that something like that could happen so close to home. We could be eating at a restaurant in Kirkland and something months or years ago could set someone off in our community and it could be the end of our days. It's ridiculous and it's obviously deeply saddening. The only thing we can do is support those around us and know that there are people who maybe aren't Gay or Transgender, but support you 100 percent.

We can do it online, we can do it by armbands, we can do it any way possible to show our support, especially on the field if we're nationally televised, we can wear shoelaces, we can wear armbands, we can post something on the Internet to get our point across, and at some point that's kind of all we can do.

Rodriguez: What is it about Seattle that you really like?

Evans: When I think of Seattle, what I love is downtown. I don't live downtown - I live in Kirkland - but I love the water, I love the green, I love the community and the people. My wife and I don't have a kid, we have a dog and literally everywhere is dog-friendly - I love that.

I love being close to mountains and forests. I love my team, I love the Sounders. And one other thing I like about Seattle, kind of similar to New York with the five boroughs, is that you find little cities within a big city, a lot of different cultures from Capitol Hill to Ballard

to Queen Anne to Belltown. They have their own vibes. Here on the Eastside, it's a bit more family-oriented and a bit more suburban, but when you get into downtown Seattle you get pockets of phenomenal restaurants and coffee shops.

Rodriguez: When you come into Seattle, what are your favorite places or go-to spots to eat and have coffee?

Evans: My #1 restaurant I tell people to go to, that's kind of a hidden gem, is called Matt's in the Market. It's at Pike Place Market, overlooking the sign. It has phenomenal local food.

You can get everything you need right there at Pike Place. So, you can walk around and do your thing and then you're able to jump up into Matt's and have a great view of the Pike Place Market sign while you're having great mixed drinks and great local food. Favorite coffee shop would have to be - it's probably three or four of them in Seattle - but the French Bakery makes the meanest cappuccinos. They're just perfect, with the right amount of foam.

Rodriguez: I know that you're a dog lover.

Tell us about your dog.

Evans: My dog is named Coto. He's 6 1/2 years old, golden retriever. He's our “son.”

He'll probably be our only son ever, so we spoil him rotten. He goes everywhere with us; he's our definite sidekick. He's become a little bit of a celebrity in Seattle, especially on the Eastside in Kirkland. He's got his routine down: if we go on a walk he knows exactly what shops will give him treats; he'll take us in there and he'll get his treat, then go to the next place and get his treat; everyone knows him by name. Sometimes if we go to this dog park in Marymoor - this is how famous he is - he will be noticed before somebody will notice me.

People know him by face and it's pretty awesome. I love that people love him. He's a pure, good-hearted dog and he's done wonders for my wife and me.

Rodriguez: Gay Pride is happening this weekend in Seattle. Do you have anything you'd like to say to everyone celebrating Pride?

Evans: I would say #1 to not be afraid to participate. I think with recent events, we've seen the solidarity around it and the last thing we need to do is be afraid of what could potentially happen. We can't be shelved, we can't be sheltered, and I know it's scary, it's a difficult time, but the last thing we can do is let somebody else dictate our future. So, in saying that, come out in droves; we'll be there on the 25th, so I can't wait to see everybody there. I think it's going to be an awesome day and an awesome week leading up to the game. Just know that we love you guys!

Player Walk-Out – Photo by Josh Weisberg

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Seattle Gay News 27

DAVID OSTRONIC: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Get ready to swing with Dave at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival

turned to the other side, Sinatra specifically with heartache songs. It came full circle with the romantic side and the heartbroken side. It had a lot more meaning.

As an artist it made me understand how important it is to put what you feel into a song and hopefully get other people to feel that connection. You want people to fall in love, but you also want people to fall out of love.

by Paul Torres SGN A&E Writer Last Friday evening, David Ostronic was at the Sorrento Hotel putting on his Dave O’ Show, a jazz performance with friends, but he needed a drummer at the last minute. He put the call out on Facebook. Within 10 minutes, Dave and his friends had a drummer and the show was saved. The Seattle music community came together and proved itself to be something David truly admires about this community: supportive, giving, and of course tremendously talented.

Dave is a native of Omaha, but came to Seattle from Texas. While growing up, he attended an all-boys school. Often, he was teased and called a faggot, despite being straight. His tormentors were probably jealous of his talent and likeable, open personality. It’s these traits, which maybe contrasted with his native city, that certainly make him shine here in Seattle. SGN sat down with Dave in advance of his June 25 performance at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival (details below).

David Ostronic

Born in the wrong era?

Growing up with the older kind of stuff, I thought I should have been a World War II era pilot. I watched a movie called Midnight in Paris. I love that movie. After I watched that, I was, “All right, I’m exactly where I need to be. I can do what I want to do here and then mix it up!” Having something classic but then modernizing it to make it something new. Not just doing the same standards, but writing new music that has that feel but also appeals to different styles of music today, like electronic, hip-hop, and pop music … write music that everyone can relate to. That’s kind of where my music is going.

time period. When I was a little kid I would watch a lot of old movies. AMC was my favorite channel. I would dress up. I had suits and all sorts of stuff by the time I was 14.

I was listening to a lot of swing music - I A move to the Great Northwest like the way that everybody dressed, I like The artistic appeal of Seattle I moved here almost two years ago … the style, I like the cars … the chivalry, the When I moved here, I knew I didn’t need I moved from Texas, but I am from Oma- manners, just everything about it. to. I was very comfortable where I was at. I ha. Born and raised in Omaha, then I was had a house, I had a steady job, I had famiin Texas for eight years. I didn’t know anyDave reminisces about his romantic in- ly and friends. My dance studio was there. I body. My brother lives here. fluences and heartbreak knew there was a lot of opportunity in SeatI saw a lot of dancing and I heard a lot tle.

How do you like it so far? of the music. As I got older, I heard about It’s great. The mountains, the water, the a particular style of music I really liked a Invitation to dance dancing, the music. It’s a really cool scene. lot. I mentioned (to someone) that I love this I’ve always liked dancing. I got into a It’s a good spot. song and this song and this song. They said, little trouble and knew I had to change my “You know those were all sung by the same lifestyle. I went to a studio. I was tired of goDave’s show style of music person,” and I said, “Who is he?” They said ing out partying. So I went into the studio I do a lot of standards, old covers like Frank Sinatra. I was like, oh my gosh who is – it was the Arthur Murray studio – and said Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, and mod- Frank Sinatra? I was like 18 or 19 and that this looks cool and this is what I want to do. ern stuff like Frank Sinatra. I also do Top is when I really started identifying with that I gave myself into very capable hands. And 40, like Justin Bieber last night, plus origi- style. That whole machismo kind of thing, so far it’s the thing I do the best. It’s one of nal music. The idea is to get musicians and the cigarettes, the booze. those things where I was blessed and it was dancing community into the same room.

I listened to a lot of really happy music, needed in my life. Something that was very the romance. I’m a very romantic person. challenging in my life turned into the greatHow Dave got hooked on jazz When I was a little kid, I identified with the est passions and joys in life. When you go I’ve always been interested in old things. movies because I like hopeless romantic through bad times in your life you have to I always thought I was born in the wrong things. Eventually I got my heart broke and be patient, faithful, and trust that things are

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June 24, 2016

going to be okay. It might put you in a spot you never imagined you’d be in and it turns out exactly where you need to be. You never know.

Dave talks about Pride (Capitol Hill Pride Festival founder and organizer Charlette LeFevre visited Dave’s bank seeking musicians.)

I work at the bank (Wells Fargo on Broadway) and she came in and was looking for musicians. There is a really strong LGBTQ presence there. The more I’m in that environment – you know I came from Omaha and Texas – I’m starting to see what an important movement it really is. It’s about supporting an event that’s about freedom of expression and being able to do and love who you want to love … being able to express what we feel is huge. Recently with everything happening (the Orlando tragedy) it’s even more important to see the support and the fire that gets into people makes it even more a real thing.

I’m really excited to be a part of it because I’m in the community and want to and I can support what’s going on to bring the music there. I want to appeal to the audience. ***** Dave is excited and a bit nervous about performing at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival with his Dave O’ Show: Hot Jazz & Swingin’ Steps on Saturday, June 25, from 8 to 9 p.m., on the main stage. He will be joined by drummer Paul Miranda, Court Crawford on bass, and guest jazz singer Phinehas Nyang’Oro, among others. (More info: www.capitolhillpridefestival.info).

His positive attitude is absolutely alluring. A favorite quote of Dave’s is from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” You will feel the love, the romance, with the Dave O’ Show. As he told me, “Become what you are.” During Pride, what else can we be?

Celebrating 41 Years!

LIFE AFTER METH: A personal path to recovery

by David Fawcett PhD, LCSW Special to the SGN We have much to celebrate during this pride month, but we also have a pressing problem that threatens our LGBT communities and which needs discussion: methamphetamine. The drug, also known as tina or crystal, is back with a vengeance and, because of higher purity, it is more dangerous and addictive than ever before.

Meth has long been used to instill feelings of confidence and strength, from soldiers in World War II to individuals seeking to bolster their self-esteem. Chronic meth use often brings personal devastation and a host of physical consequences, but we now have a much better understanding of the drug and how to treat it. The impact of meth and a comprehensive guide to treatment are described in my book Lust, Men, and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex and Recovery, which draws from over a decade of patient sessions and personal research. I will share some key points of the book here.

Gay men have discovered meth’s ability to heighten sexual desire resulting in high-risk behavior often accompanied by elevated rates of HIV, hepatitis, and other sexually-transmitted infections. Meth flushes dopamine out of neurons while

blocking receptors, resulting in a flood of euphoric feelings that instantly eliminate self-doubt, sadness, and unworthiness.

But with chronic use, meth also literally destroys the dopamine transport system, creating long-term brain impairment that requires up to 18 months to heal. While the brain “rewires” the dopamine transport system, a person can totally abstain from the drug, but continue to experience muddled thinking, hopeless moods and, consequently, frequent relapses.

Meth throws the body into “fight or flight” mode, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, energy, and sensory acuity. Psychologically, it increases confidence and sex drive while decreasing boredom and timidity. Over time meth users experience tremors, dry mouth, weight loss, sinus infections and skin problems, as well as confusion, insomnia, depression, irritability, paranoia, and even full-blown psychosis. Even worse, when consistently used to enhance sex, meth commandeers sexual desire and ultimately results in arousal being only achieved by using the drug, a condition that persists well into abstinence.

Users quickly spiral downward while partners, friends, and families distance David Fawcett PhD – Courtesy of David Fawcett themselves due to erratic behavior. Narcotics Anonymous and Crystal Meth Anonymous provide a safe harbor for those seeking help, although the physical requires a gradual process of eliminating and sexual effects of meth create a diffi- compulsive use of sex or pornography, cult recovery marked by frequent relaps- coupled with the development of a healthy es. This dynamic has resulted in the erro- sense of self. These become the foundaneous belief that meth recovery is impos- tion for both healthy sex and intimacy. sible. This is false. People recover from This process for reclaiming health sexumethamphetamine, but it is a long process ality in sobriety is fully explained in my that requires support groups combined book Lust, Men, and Meth. with in-depth psychological reflection The return of meth has created serious that may require professional assistance. havoc in the lives of many Americans. BeWhen used for sex, methamphetamine cause of its unique characteristics, meth quickly fuses with sexual desire, resulting treatment and recovery require special in high-risk behavior indistinguishable knowledge and sensitivity, but with a from sex and porn addiction. Sex-drug greater understanding, we can assist meth episodes usually last several days and users along the path of recovery. As thoutypically involve sexual contact with a sands of men and women know, there is number of individuals as well as the use of indeed life after meth. meth and other drugs such as GHB (gamma-Hydroxibutyric acid). These long drug David Fawcett PhD, LCSW is a psyruns are followed by days dominated by chotherapist and sex therapist in Fort extreme depression and hopelessness Lauderdale. He is the author of Lust, (“Suicide Tuesdays) resulting from the de- Men, and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to pletion of dopamine.

Sex and Recovery and is a highly-acBecause of the long period of brain re- claimed trainer on addictions, mental covery, meth users may not achieve full health, and co-occurring HIV and mental benefit from traditional inpatient pro- health. For more information, visit www. grams. Although the drug doesn’t have the david-fawcett.com acute physical detox of opioids, meth users experience tremors, temperature flucLGBTQ resources in Seattle include: tuations, and persistent low mood. Meth Crystal Meth Anonymous (www.cryshas other unique properties, as well. Meth talmeth.org) meets at Capitol Hill Presusers become highly sensitive to visual byterian Church, 1729 Harvard Ave. on images, which can trigger drug cravings. Saturday @ 10:30am, Sun @ 6:30pm, Inadvertently seeing images of meth or a Mon @ 6:30pm, Thurs @ 6:30pm; Projsyringe, or simply walking into a CMA ect NEON (www.projectNEON.org) a meeting and seeing other users, can be program of Seattle Counseling Service – extremely triggering. Once abstinent from call Aleks for a FREE assessment, 206the drug a person may experience mental 323-1768 Ext 123; Strength Over Speed fog, triggers and cravings, indecision, and (www.strengthoverspeed.org) meets at the distressing experience of an emotional SASG, 115 15th Ave. E., Suite 201 on roller coaster. These will subside, but that Monday @ 2-3:30pm, Tues @ 6-7:30pm, process takes time, patience, and support. Fri @ 6-7:30pm.

Recovery from meth’s damage to sexual functioning is more complicated; it

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June 24, 2016

Seattle Gay News 29

What’s new in Oz? Capitol Hill Pride Festival features a fresh take on the Emerald City

by MK Scott Special to the SGN Oz Anew, a brand-new production of America's favorite classic story, is brought to you by award-winning N.Y.C. director and writer Michael Gershowitz and based on the original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the backstories of the characters that Dorothy and Toto are introduced to.

Oz is not a happy fairy tale – politics and intrigue are rampant as power struggles between opposing forces divides the land and its people. It is here that a young orphan girl from Kansas first enters the story as a helpless traveler and later becomes Oz’s greatest heroine. Lifted from the pages of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, the history of the land and its strange inhabitants are presented by Page2Stage Entertainment. With a lush, exciting, and oft-times intoxicating score, this world premiere of Oz Anew should not be missed by any Oz fan or book reader. Come see a free preview this weekend at Capitol Hill Pride! Recently, I had a chance to chat with Gershowitz.

MK Scott: Michael, What's new on the Oz front?

Michael Gershowitz: What's new are a bunch of new shows, and events going on along with the reopening of a very old theme park in North Carolina called the Land of Oz. Right now in N.Y.C. there has been a show off-Broadway, The Woodsman [now closed], which is helping my company pave the way to bring the original story to life and to the people. Wicked brought back Oz interest, and The Woodsman will tell audiences that it’s OK to spend money on a musical or play that is based solely on the source material and that MGM is not the

30 Seattle Gay News

be-all or end-all of the Oz world. There are after all 14 Oz books written by Baum and it is a real-life place, not a dream of Dorothy's.

Our new Oz musical operetta will show audiences that, and we hope people will go back to reading the book and the books in the series.

MK: So, this weekend at Capitol Hill Pride, we will see a shortened, highlighted version?

Gershowitz: Yes, we will show the people of Seattle what the show and music are like and what they feel like, and what the designs are like. We will be showing you from Dorothy's parents’ funeral all the way to the meeting of the Cowardly Lion.

MK: Tell us about your cast.

Gershowitz: Our cast consists of a small, talented bunch of actors and actresses and a very cute and clever terrier named Hildago. Our Dorothy Gale is played by Weijing Zhou, a student at the University of Washington studying theater and voice, who is a fresh face and talented singer for the part. Emily Robinson, a beautiful singer and great local actress, is playing Emily Blue and both the good witch of the North and the evil witch of the East. RY Glasscock is a local singer playing Henry Blue and Old Crow along with playing the Cowardly Lion, with Benjamin Cournoyer as the Munchkin mayor and Gale Lawyer, along with the “heartless” Nick Chopper (with Tyler Scowcroft as his human counterpart), and as the “brainless” Scarecrow we have Rico Lastrapes, fresh out of Florida and working for Disney parks and different theaters around the world – he will be a great actor and singer for N.Y. and N.Y.C. Rounding out the cast is Hildago, our cute Yorkie and Chihuahua mix for Toto. We also have Bruno Bito as part of the ensemble.

MK: I hear you are heading to New York

June 24, 2016

in the fall?

Gershowitz: Yes, we have a booked run at the Cunneen-Hackett Theatre in my home town of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., bringing the show that I have been working on since I was in middle school. It will be great to bring a finished or semi-finished show to where it started as small scenes in school and in my backyard. I will be adding friends and extended family to the mix helping me with this wonderful show in Poughkeepsie from Sept. 31 to Oct. 2, and then we move into an Off Broadway house in Manhattan for October or November.

MK: How can our readers help?

Gershowitz: Your readers can help us get to N.Y. and Off Broadway by checking out the GoFundMe page and donate. Their donations will help us and also help a local charity in Seattle, Lambert House. We need to raise $60,000 to pull this off, and 10 percent of that money will help the LGBT youth house stay open where it is located. If you help us, you will receive gifts and be listed in all advertising and in all programs and playbills and such. We have a great team including Ron McCain, a

Marvel and DC comic artist. Come and see the preview, and stop by the booth and get your Oz character signed by Ron himself.

Oz Anew will play the mainstage (near QFC) at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival on Saturday, June 25, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. To keep track of Oz Anew, check out their website at http://wwozanewmusical.webs.com/.

Celebrating 41 Years!

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June 24, 2016

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