SGN January 1, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 01 Volume 38

FRIDAY January 1, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

Celebrating 37 Years!

TOUR DE LIFE p. 4

HOMO HIP-HOP p. 25

a single man p. 32

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

SGN exclusive interview A decade of progress toward

Outgoing Mayor Greg Nickels

LGBT equality in America

As 2009 draws to a close, so does the decade. While Gay rights advocates may remember 2009 for its political setbacks and frustrations, the Gay rights movement made remarkable progress in civil rights in the past decade. In retrospect, there is a lot that could be said for progress. According to a new report, the last 10 years have been a period of dramatic gains in equality for LGBT people in America.

The study, “A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights,” showed significant advances, including a sharp increase in the number of LGBT Americans protected by nondiscrimination and family recognition legislation at the state level.

The report is a joint project of the LGBT Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr., Fund. The full report is available at www.lgbtmap. org.

“The remarkable achievements towards LGBT equality tends to be obscured by day-to-day struggles, and overall progress often goes unnoticed nationally,” said Linda Bush, executive director of LGBT MAP. “By looking broadly at the

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Jennifer Richard

mayor’s attention.

“You want to know the untold story of the last eight years?” Nickels asks. “I started as mayor in a recession and I’m ending in a recession. But we’re in a much better place now than when I started.”

“In 2000, when I came in, we had 100,000 people out of work. Unemployment was as bad locally as it is now, although in 2000 it was just Seattle that was hit as hard as we were, not the whole country,” he Outgoing Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels explains.

by Mike Andrew “So we prepared for the next reSGN Staff Writer cession – this one – and that’s why we didn’t have to make the deep Mike McGinn will be sworn in cuts that the county and state did. as Mayor of Seattle on January 4. We put away a $30 million rainy SGN recently spoke with outgo- day fund for just that purpose.” ing mayor Greg Nickels about his eight years in office, and the issues see nickels page 19 he believes will occupy the new

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

last decade, this report gives a ity, we understand that making much fuller perspective on where meaningful change requires time. we are today – and how far we’ve But these facts make it clear that come in just 10 years.”

“From over 50 years of supporting causes that help advance equalsee decade page 19

SGN exclusive interview First same-sex Out Lesbian – Houston’s marriage in Mayor-Elect Annise Parker Latin America Annise Parker, Lesbian, Democrat, and “really good pistol shot,” will be sworn in as mayor of Houston on January 4. She will become the first openly Lesbian mayor of Houston, and the first Lesbian mayor of a top-10 US city.

Parker spoke with SGN on December 29. She talked about her campaign for mayor, her plans for her city, and LGBT politics in Texas and nationally.

The facts about her marksmanship came out when she was asked about personal details that might surprise her new national audience.

“I’m a native Texan,” she said. “I spent all my life in Houston. I’m a gun owner. And I’m a really good pistol shot.”

“I’m not interested in hunting,” she explained. “I don’t kill animals. I just like shooting.”

Houston Mayor-Elect Annise Parker

Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

zblume

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Jose Maria di Bello (l) and Alex Freyre are the first same-sex couple to be married in Latin America

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

province of Tierra del Fuego.

Jose Maria di Bello and Alex Freyre were married in a civil cerOn December 28, Latin Amer- emony witnessed by provincial ica’s first same-sex marriage was and federal Argentine officials and celebrated – not in Mexico City, crowds of supporters and wellwhich last week approved marriage equality for same-sex cousee latin america page 8 see PARKER page 20 ples, but in the remote Argentine

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Seattle Gay News

January 1, 2010

Celebrating 36 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

January 1, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

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2010

Deadlines Classifieds - Thursday at noon Calendar - Tuesday 6pm Display Ads: Space Reservation - Monday 5pm Ad copy (non-camera ready) - Tues. 5pm Ad copy (camera ready) - Wed. 5pm Letters to the Editor - Tuesday 5pm Obituaries - Call the sgn office All others - Tuesday 5pm

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Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner

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Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business.

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Tour de Life:

The year I became Jewish

by Beau Burriola SGN European Correspondent “YOU SAD SACKS OF MUD AREN’T SOLDIERS YET!” Drill Sergeant Anderson boomed at the 700 recruits standing in front of him. “MANY OF YOU WON’T BE, BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO WEAK! MANY OF YOU WILL GO CRYING HOME TO YOUR MOMMIES! I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THOSE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SURVIVE THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS AND WILL HAVE THE HONOR OF BECOMING REAL SOLDIERS, YOU ARE MINE! I OWN YOU. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OWNS YOU!” I was standing in line with all of the other rankless and terrified hopefuls just starting basic training. We had already been at Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri, for three exhausting weeks before even officially starting basic training, just learning how to take care of uniforms, clean (walls, floors, shoes, ceilings … even dirt) and make a bed. We were anxious to finish and we hadn’t even started.

It was Day One on a cold January morning and we were lined up in front of our bags, arranged into squads and platoons, and shaking in our boots. One by one, the drill sergeants went down the line asking each of us what our religion was so they would know which services we would attend and what to put on our dog tags. One by one, as a name was barked, a soldier would step forward and respond (in our company, almost unanimously with some evangelical Christian denomination), the drill sergeant would scribble something on his clipboard, and then the soldiers would step back into line.

When he got closer to me, I had no clue what I was going to say. I was still angry

In Loving Memory Of Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold

4

Seattle Gay News

January 1, 2010

me out right away. “You’re not Jewish, are you?”

Knowing I had just a few seconds, I quickly and quietly tried to explain how I ended up here. I begged him not to rat me out, and just as our Rabbi headed back to us, he gave me a smile and told me just to follow along with what he did.

So I did. Looking perfectly normal, I stumbled through a singing of the “Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah,” two other sing-along sort of hymns, a talk and response section, and then a bit of listening. Most of the Hebrew was wasted on me, so instead I just drifted and imagined what painful hell I was missing in this cozy, safe little synagogue.

After the first service, the second was much easier. After the third, I knew most of the services and was even given a yarmulke and little prayer shawl with Hebrew writing in gold along one side. Here I was, an imposter to the world, hiding as much from the heavens as from the hells on earth. Nobody but Kline knew I wasn’t Jewish, and since that first week we were instantly friends.

At the end of training, I continued to go to a local synagogue on my base for about a year, just happy to be part of something that was for me a secular connection to a people and culture I was never born into. I was an imposter who celebrated Christmas and Easter with trees and eggs, but who needed and badly wanted a place to hide from my own lost faith. Judaism was an emergency shelter for a lost Gay man looking for a place to hide. Nobody ever ratted me out, and when I felt I was ready to leave hiding, I did.

Twelve years later – just a few days ago – I got another e-mail from an old Army buddy we called Byrd who I shared a bay with back in the days. “Happy Channauka and Happy New Year,” it started, “to the only red-headed Jew I ever knew.”

These years, celebrating any religious holiday is only a passing thought. I am not Christian or Jewish, but I still have my prayer shawl and my dog tags. Religion for me now is so much more about culture. The culture of the buildings, the shawls, the rituals, even the language – it’s just beautiful for its own sake. My faith has changed over the years and I’m more likely to pour a glass of champagne if I celebrate anything at all, but after this long journey to where I am today, it is fitting to me that when people ever remember my faith, if it ever comes up in their minds, they won’t remember the hateful rhetoric of the anti-Gay church I grew up in one tiny bit. I’ll take being a red-headed Jew over that any day.

about having been kicked out of the house by my super-religious father because I was Gay, and I had no desire to join the throngs of worshipers in Sunday services. But also, I didn’t want to join the unfortunate atheists who had to clean while everyone else was at Sunday services. So, in just a couple of seconds, I made my decision.

Drill Sergeant Anderson, as terrifyingly tall and scary as a praying mantis, finally got to me, stood just a few inches from my face, and shouted “BURRIOLA!” as if I were a hundred feet away. Dutifully, I stepped forward, replied with “Jewish, DRILL SERGEANT!” and waited for him to finish scribbling before I stepped back into line.

It seemed like a decent compromise – and there was the added bonus of having a Jewish military funeral that would surprise the hell out of my super-religious father if I ever had to have one – but I had no idea what I had just done.

When the first Saturday arrived, I was surprised when, while the rest of the platoon was getting ready for morning physical training, Drill Sergeant called my name in morning platoon and instructed me to instead go to another building on base. A soldier in training doesn’t ask questions, so I went without having a clue what to expect – until I got to the base synagogue and realized, for the first time in my life, that Jewish people have services on Saturday. Delighted to be free of the Saturday hell the Christians had to go through, I stepped into the building, where four other soldiers and a Rabbi Sergeant were waiting.

It hadn’t occurred to me up until this point that I might actually have to pretend to be Jewish. I thought that the chances there would be any more Jewish people on this base would be so small I would probably be sent off to pray for a while on my own, but here we had four soldiers and a Rabbi, and when I stepped in, they were all looking at me.

The Rabbi, a kindly looking lady with dark hair and round spectacles, gathered us all together and asked us to introduce ourselves. We went down the line, each giving our name and place of birth. When she got to me, she looked down at my nametag and back up to me, pausing after I said my name. She looked at me for a long, painful “The cloak is precious to its wearer.” pause before continuing down the line.

–Jewish Proverb When the Rabbi left the room for a moment to get prayer books, the guy next to Beau Burriola is a Brussels-based writer me, a guy named Kline who didn’t get so more interested in yoga than kowtowing. much as a glance from the Rabbi, called www.beaubrent.com

Celebrating 36 Years!

On December 28, over 100 people gathered at Café Metropolitain for the ABC (Anything But Clothes) Party, a birthday party for James Knapp and a benefit for the Lambert House. The party raised $360 for Lambert House and lasted well into the night, long after all the scheduled events were over. Master of ceremonies Lady Chablis led patrons in a round of “Happy Birthday to You” for Knapp, who decided to turn his birthday into a fundraiser.

Quyen Luu, the owner of Café Metropolitain and vice president of the Board of Directors for Lambert House, offered the VIP room to Knapp for his birthday.

“I was … honored by the proposal, but not having enough immediate friends to have a party, I immediately thought of doing a benefit for a homo-health organization for my birthday instead,” Knapp told SGN. “When [Luu] heard of my plan, he gave me the whole place to do my party.”

Aleksa Manila in furs ... and nothing else!

Knapp, who is new to

James Whitely

Anything But Clothes fundraiser a fashionable success

by James Whitely SGN Contributing Writer

James Whitely

Birthday boy James Knapp

Seattle, asked Luu which local charity his party should fundraise for – The Lambert House seemed a given. “The strength of support networks I had in the past changed the direction of my life and I could have been one of those kids for financial reasons,” Knapp told SGN. Lady Chablis led the costume contest.

From diving gear to Christmas trees and even high-end shopping bags, all the costumes were original at least, and sexy at best. The contest, raffle and silent auction all featured prizes donated by local business like Babeland, Seattle Gay News, and Purr.

ABC was a success in every regard. At its core, it was really all the patrons that made it such a great gathering. However, the giant penis piñata, appearances by local drag stars like Aleksa Manila, and tons of photo ops (thanks to Kevin Kauer of NARK magazine and SGN) made it even more complete.

Café Metropolitain, as always, served as an incredible community space, and owner Luu, as always, held an awesome fundraiser.

“I feel it was a great success and couldn’t have done it without the wonderful support of this great community,” said Knapp.

The Task Force outlines Gay City Re-Gift Project 2010 fight for equality turns tacky gifts into vital funds

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey has announced the organization’s outline for LGBT equality battles in 2010. The Task Force is one of the nations largest LGBT advocacy organizations and has been in operation since 1973.

“It’s been quite a year,” Carey said. “2009 has been full of ups and downs for the LGBT movement. While we finally passed comprehensive hate crimes legislation and made some significant progress on employment nondiscrimination, we also suffered some heartbreaking defeats when it came to marriage equality.”

Carey says Task Force officials have set up a 2010 “Fight Back” fund, which is accepting donations to help ensure victories in the coming year. She said the tax-deductible year-end gift would go towards the Task Force’s effort to train, mobilize, and activate members, hold leaders accountable, and take on legislative battles and win them.

Carey says the organization hopes to raise $100,000 at year’s end, but said, “With the stakes as high as they are in the coming year, we must aim high.”

According to the Task Force, here’s how they will put your donation to work in 2010: Train, mobilize, and activate: Starting with our annual Creating Change conference, the Task Force does more than any other national organization to train LGBT activists and leaders. With your help, we can continue to build a powerful movement

of people who will use their new skills and networks on the ground, state by state, to change hearts and minds.

Hold our leaders accountable: A lot has been said about the fact that we have a friendly administration in the White House.

And while we’re glad we may have an ally, we can’t sit back and wait for change – not when so much is at stake. Your donation means that when it’s time to act, we can and will use every resource we have to mobilize the grassroots, go door to door in cities and towns across the nation, and knock on doors on Capitol Hill to make sure our elected officials are also working for LGBT equality.

Take on legislative battles and win: We know that passing employment nondiscrimination legislation, ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” or getting the U.S. Census Bureau to finally count LGBT individuals and families won’t solve all our problems.

But these critical pieces of legislation that impact the lives and well-being of individuals, families and communities will likely be decided in 2010.

“We simply can no longer afford to be outspent and outmaneuvered by hate-filled extremists and we’re going to need everyone – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, straight – to help change the tide next year,” said Carey. “The rights and liberties of hundreds of thousands of LGBT people and families are at stake.”

For more information about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, or to make a donation to the 2010 “Fight Back” fund, visit the organization online at www. thetaskforce.org.

“With the stakes as high as they are in the coming year, we must aim high.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

by James Whitely SGN Contributing Writer

You’re going to keep that? No? Then give it to The Gay City Re-Gift Project. The Project is part of an ongoing media drive that raises funds for Gay City and their programs.

Books, DVDs and CDs are at the core of the program, but they also accept games, toys, electronics, housewares and collectables.

Gay City’s media drive started earlier this year with a springcleaning angle. The program, conceived of and managed by Alan Goldwasser, has been a complete success for Gay City Health Project.

“I took the idea to Gay City,” said Goldwasser, who’s been selling online for the better part of a decade and works primarily with Amazon.com.

“I wanted to do something that was really self-contained and wouldn’t take staff time and resources,” Goldwasser told SGN. “Gay City really needed something that was a revenue stream.”

“It was a slow start, but events are very labor-intensive. [The media drive] is easy for them and hasn’t taken staff and resources,” said Goldwasser. This time around, the regifting project drew responses right away.

The re-gifting program will be going for another two months or so, but the media

January 1, 2010

drive is ongoing, which means you can donate any time of the year. Any new or used items in original packaging are accepted.

Drop sites include the Gay City administrative offices during the day and the Wellness Center during the evening., both located at 511 E. Pike St. Gift pickup can also be arranged.

“If you have some questions about the value of what you’re donating … you’d be surprised,” Goldwasser told SGN. Even the most inconsequential gift might have an impact on the health of the community around you.

For questions, or to organize a pick-up, contact Alan Goldwasser at mediadrive@ gaycity.org or call (206) 579-8110.

Seattle Gay News

5

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

UK rugby legend comes out United Kingdom rugby legend Gareth Thomas, 35, came out December 18 in an interview with the Daily Mail.

The move was particularly noteworthy because Thomas is not retired. He still plays for the Cardiff Blues.

“I was like a ticking bomb,” he told the Mail. “I thought I could suppress it, keep it locked away in some dark corner of myself, but I couldn’t. It was who I was and I just couldn’t ignore it anymore. ... It’s been really tough for me hiding who I really am, but I don’t want it to be like that for the next young person who wants to play rugby, or some frightened young kid.”

Thomas said he didn’t come out publicly earlier “because I knew I would never be accepted as a Gay man and still achieve what I wanted to achieve in the game.”

He married his high-school sweetheart, Jemma, in 2002 but the couple split in 2006 because of his Gayness.

Thomas said he had been so depressed and despondent over living a double life that he repeatedly contemplated suicide.

“I used to go to the cliffs overlooking the beach near our cottage in St. Brides Major and just think about jumping off and ending it all,” he said.

Thomas told the Mail he doesn’t know of any other professional Gay rugby players, but “statistically, I can’t be the only one.”

The full, lengthy article is worth the read.

See tinyurl.com/garethout.

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer adoption for Gay couples.

The group Panteras Rosa accused the government of “cowardice” and called the bill “second-class marriage.”

games in Copenhagen saw “a positive financial result,” following the financial disaster of the first games staged in Montreal in 2006.

The Outgames were born after the Gay Games organization had a falling-out with its local organizers in Montreal, who responded by launching the duplicate international games.

GLISA said its regional “continental” Outgames in Calgary, Canada, in 2007 and Melbourne, Australia, in 2008 also ended up in the black. Additional continental Out-

anuses shut, then feeding them laxatives.

Iraqi Gays say they also face “honor killings” by homophobic parents and brothers who believe “unmanly” behavior shames the family or tribe.

“Hundreds of men may have died,” according to HRW, though the precise figure is “almost impossible” to determine.

Consensual adult Gay sex is not illegal under Iraqi law but the militias have claimed to be enforcing Islamic religious law.

George Herringshaw

Iran Iran has the death penalty for sodomy and has used it, although in nearly all the cases that have been publicized, the teens and men who were hanged were accused of additional crimes as well, such as homosexual rape.

In a 2008 interview, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied that people are executed solely for having Gay sex.

“Homosexuals are not even known who they are to be hanged,” he told the Democracy Now! radio program. “So, we don’t have executions of homosexuals. Of course, we consider it an abhorrent act, but it is not punished through capital punishment.”

A year earlier, speaking in New York City, Ahmadinejad had claimed that “we in Iran don’t have homo-play (hamjensbaz] like you have in your country.”

“In our country, there is no such thing,” he said. “In Iran ... absolutely such a thing does not exist as a phenomenon. I don’t know who told you otherwise.”

“Hamjensbaz” – “same-gender play/ player” – is a derogatory term for people U.K. rugby legend Gareth Thomas who chase after those of the same sex in Other Gay groups praised the measure, games will take place in Vancouver, Canada, pursuit of sexual pleasure. A newer word, “hamjensgara” – “same-gender-oriented” – with one leading organization calling it and Wellington, New Zealand, in 2011. refers to Gay folks. “historic.”

Iraq PEI finally fixes laws In Iraq, according to Human Rights 3rd World Outgames related to Watch, militias are torturing and murdering go to Antwerp in 2013 Portugal to have same-sex marriage The third World Outgames, the Olympics- men suspected of engaging in Gay sex or of same-sex marriage soon The Canadian province of Prince Edward style extravaganza that competes with the not being manly enough, and the authorities Portugal’s Socialist government has for- Gay Games, will be staged in Antwerp, Bel- have done nothing to stop the killing.

Island has finally fixed 29 laws that have mally presented its legislation to legalize gium, in 2013, the Gay and Lesbian InternaThe organization has documented a cam- needed modifying since same-sex marriage same-sex marriage, and Gay weddings like- tional Sport Association announced in late paign of extrajudicial executions, kidnap- became legal nationwide in 2006. ly will start in April.

Several of the statutes referred to married pings and torture that began in early 2009 in December.

Parliament will vote on the bill Jan. 8. A GLISA’s Tatjana Eggeling said the city the Baghdad district of Sadr City, a strong- couples only in opposite-sex terminology. majority of MPs belong to the government and province of Antwerp and the Flem- hold of Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army miOfficials said the delay created a backparty or other parties that support same-sex ish government “have taken partnership in litia, then spread to other locations. log of paperwork in some areas, including marriage, so there is no question the bill will the project and will provide both financial The killers invade homes and grab people changing the birth certificates of children pass. and in-kind support now and in the years to on the street. Victims are interrogated for who have two moms or two dads.

Some Gay activists have criticized the bill come.” names of others before being murdered. Torbecause it specifically excludes access to With assistance from Bill Kelley GLISA said 2009’s second World Out- ture practices include supergluing victim’s

Lambda Legal blasts Obama benefits refusal

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer Lambda Legal has lashed out at the Obama administration for refusing to give spousal benefits to a Lesbian federal courts employee despite a judge’s order that it must do so.

The administration cast aside a ruling by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that staff lawyer Karen Golinski is entitled to spousal health benefits.

“We are once again surprised and shocked that the Obama administration is rejecting another chance to do the right and legal thing, disregarding both the order, and the substantive analysis, of the chief judge of the 9th Circuit about what federal law and the 9th Circuit’s employment rules require in this case,” said Lambda’s marriage project director, Jennifer Pizer.

Kozinski, a Reagan appointee, concluded that the 9th Circuit must not discriminate against Golinski with respect to the healthinsurance benefits portion of her compensation, and that the separation-of-powers doctrine of the U.S. Constitution authorizes the court to take appropriate steps to treat its workers fairly, and prevents employees of the executive branch from interfering with the functioning of the judicial branch in such circumstances.

“Employees of the [Office of Personnel Management] and the [Department of Justice] do not have superior authority to 6

Seattle Gay News

interpret federal law than federal judges,” Lambda said. “Lambda Legal also finds it troubling and very disappointing that the Obama administration has chosen to express its views of these legal questions through Friday-afternoon press statements stating that it will not comply with Judge Kozinski’s direct orders, rather than by presenting its legal reasoning to Judge Kozinski in this proceeding so that we can respond on Ms. Golinski’s behalf in the dulyestablished administrative forum in which Ms. Golinski is required to present her discrimination claim.”

“OPM has never disputed that this administrative forum is the appropriate venue for this discrimination claim, and yet has refused to participate and present its views, and now, again, refuses to respect both Judge Kozinski’s duly-issued order and his direct and clear legal analysis,” the preeminent Gay-rights legal group fumed.

“This is not the approach to issues of LGBT equality we had anticipated and deserve from the Obama administration.”

In making its determination to deny the benefits, the Office of Personnel Management decided that Kozinski was not, in this instance, acting as a federal judge but rather as an “administrative official” resolving an

employee dispute.

As such, OPM said, his order is not legally binding and, in issuing it, he did not have the powers granted a federal judge by the U.S. Constitution.

Lambda’s Pizer said OPM’s determination is nonsense and that the only capacity in which Kozinski can act is as a federal judge.

On December 22, Kozinski raised the stakes in his escalating war with the administration, issuing an order that declared OPM had waived its right to appeal his original order by failing to properly respond to it on time.

He said that failure makes the original November 19 order “final and preclusive on all issues decided therein as to [OPM] and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts” including its “jurisdiction over governmental entities such as OPM.” The original order now will be reviewed by the 9th Circuit Judicial Council in an appeal limited only to issues presented by Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Golinski’s insurer, which had been told by OPM not to comply with the order but did respond in the matter in a correct and timely fashion.

“This is not the approach to issues of LGBT equality we had anticipated and deserve from the Obama administration.”

January 1, 2010

“BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED” “My spouse Amy and I are bitterly disappointed by the government’s actions,” Golinski said December 22. “I followed the court’s required procedures. There are now two orders from Chief Judge Kozinski stating that I have suffered discrimination and that the remedy is that my spouse should be

added to my family insurance plan. ... Amy and I enter the new year still with unrelenting stress and anxiety because her health insurance coverage is inadequate and costly.”

The Friday afternoon OPM press release and Lambda’s responses marked the latest skirmish between the Obama administration and Gay leaders, who increasingly feel the president has failed to keep his major campaign promises to the LGBT community and even has actively worked to harm the community in several instances.

Besides the Golinski matter, other examples of administration mischief include the Department of Justice’s filing of a homophobic brief in a federal marriage case, Obama’s inviting anti-Gay mega-pastor Rick Warren to pray at the inauguration, and Obama’s refusal to suspend enforcement of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” even though he could do so with the stroke of a pen and even though polls show wide public support for ending the military’s ban on openly Gay members.

In October, Obama assured attendees at a Human Rights Campaign dinner that good things come to those who wait.

“While progress may be taking longer than you’d like as a result of all that we face – and that’s the truth – do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach,” he said. “My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against Gays and Lesbians, whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.”

Maybe 9th Circuit attorney Karen Golinski can use those words to pay her spouse’s health-insurance premiums.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Celebrating 36 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

SAFE SCHOOLS COALITION LGBT SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-scholarships.html

February – A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. All GLBTQ folks in the community are welcome to participate in this free book club. The reading list is chosen and the discussion facilitated by Nick DiMartino, GAY CITY HEALTH PROJECT published novelist and playwright, currently OFFERING “OUT TO QUIT” a book reviewer for ShelfAwareness.com, SMOKING CESSATION and a 30-year employee of University Book WORKSHOP Store. For more info, email nickdimartin@ On Tuesday, January 5, Gay City Health earthlink.net or call 206-322-2437.

Project offers a FREE six-week smoking cessation workshop series for Gay and Bi“HEARTSTRONG FORUM” sexual men who want to: 1) make a plan and WITH MARC ADAMS stick to it, 2) learn skills to handle stress and AT MILLER COMMUNITY CENTER health, and 3) get support from other Gay On Sunday, January 10, from 2-5 p.m., and Bi men who are also “out to quit.” For Marc Adams will host a “HeartStrong Fomore info and to register, contact Lark at rum” at Miller Community Center, 330 19th 206-388-1710 or email lark@gaycity.org.

Ave. E. Growing up the son of a fundamentalist 5TH AVENUE THEATRE Baptist minister is tough enough. Growing HOSTS SPOTLIGHT NIGHT up Gay in an environment where your parFOR SOUTH PACIFIC AND ents, teachers and peers deem evangelical LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL Christians like Jerry Falwell as left wing libThe 5th Avenue’s enormously popular erals is an entirely different experience.

Spotlight Night series, a FREE event (reserMarc Adams grew up in such a home. In vations required) that continues to attract re- an effort to save his own life, he decided at cord crowds, continues on Tuesday, January age 16 to rebel against his parents and attend 5, at the 5th Avenue Theatre with a look at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University where he two of their upcoming shows, South Pacific thought he could find a way to change his and Legally Blonde: The Musical. behavior from homosexual to heterosexual.

Hosted by The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Ex- His experience there changed his life and ecutive Producer and Artistic Director Da- jump-started his journey to self-acceptance vid Armstrong, the program features three and personal freedom. of the most important people of the AmeriMarc Adams is the author of nine books, can Theatre: songwriter Laurence O’Keefe, including The Preacher’s Son and Do’s & Tony Award-winning producer Hal Luftig Don’ts of Dealing with the Religious Right. and Seattle’s own Tony Award-winning di- He is a widely respected authority on subrector, Bartlett Sher. jects ranging from fundamentalism, the reThe evening begins with a conversation ligious right, Gay civil rights as well as his with Legally Blonde songwriter Laurence ground breaking work with his own nonO’Keefe and producer Hal Luftig, who give profit, HeartStrong. HeartStrong is a social us the inside story of creating this hit Broad- justice organization providing hope and way musical based on the popular film. help to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and TransO’Keefe will play and sing excerpts from gender students who are persecuted in relihis musicals (including the cult favorite Bat gious educational institutions.

Boy) and Luftig will share experiences of Marc Adams’ presentation covers an oftenhis 20-year career as the producer of Broad- dark side of life. He bridges the serious and way hits such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, dark discussion with humor and all-encomMovin’ Out, the current revival of West Side passing human compassion. People from all Story and the upcoming Catch Me If You walks of life who have heard Marc Adams Can, which had its world premiere at The speak find themselves enlightened, uplifted 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle last summer. and inspired.

The evening’s “second act” looks at the Tony-sweeping revival of Rodgers & HamSUNDAY DISCUSSION SERIES merstein’s South Pacific, which brought AT REVOLUTION BOOKS spectacular new life to a musical that hadn’t Revolution Books, 89 S. Washington St., been revived on Broadway since its original will host a 3-part Sunday discussion series, production in 1949. Join Bartlett Sher – the January 10, 17 & 24, from 3-5 p.m., on a outbound Artistic Director of Seattle’s Inti- new talk by Bob Avakian, Chairman of the man Theatre and Resident Director of Lin- Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, coln Center Theatre – as he discusses how titled: “Unresolved Contradictions, Driving he and his team made a classic come alive Forces for Revolution,” available to read at for a new generation. www.revcom.us.

The evening concludes with a look at the Topics are: January 10, Part I: “Once More career of South Pacific’s creators, Richard on the Coming Civil War… and RepolarizaRodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, who rev- tion for Revolution;” January 17, Part II: olutionized the American Musical by cre- “(Some Observations on) The International ating what they called “the musical play.” Movement;” January 24, Part III: “The New The 5th Avenue’s David Armstrong will tell Synthesis and the Woman Question: The the story of this legendary team, from their Emancipation of Women and the Commuearly shows with other collaborators to their nist Revolution – Further Leaps and Radical historic partnership, their timeless shows Ruptures.” and their enduring effect on the musical theater, with musical performances by some SOUTHEND LGBTQ POTLUCK of Seattle’s finest singers, including Patti On Sunday, January 10, from 4-7 p.m., Cohenour, Jessica Skerrit and Eric Ankrim meet other Southend Seattle LGBTQ performing selections from Oklahoma!, folks for a community potluck and to help Carousel, Flower Drum Song, Cinderella, plan fun programs for the over 40 LGBTQ The King and I and The Sound of Music. crowd. Bring your favorite dish to share.

Spotlight Night begins at 7 p.m., on Tues- FREE. Southeast Seattle Senior Center, day, January 5. The event if FREE, but at- 4655 S. Holly St. For more information, tendees must reserve their tickets. They can contact Ruth at 206-722-0317 or email rudo so over the phone by calling 206-625- the@seniorservices.org.

1900 or toll-free 1-888-5TH-4TIX, in person at the box office, 1308 5th Avenue, or NORTHWEST NETWORK online at www.5thavenue.org.

PRESENTS WINTER RELATIONSHIP SKILLS CLASS SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN On Wednesday evenings, January 13-FebBOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE ruary 17, The Northwest Network presents The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club a six-week course exploring the skills we meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dun- need to build the relationships we want. shee House, 303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas Topics include: identifying cultural norms St. The following titles will be discussed: and personal values, accountability, naming January – The Immoralist by Andre Gide; and setting boundaries, strengthening sup-

Visit us online www.sgn.org

port networks and more! The class is open to LGBTQ people and their friends and loved ones and is open to all regardless of relationship status or history. Registration requested by Wednesday, January 6. Suggested donation is $90; however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds – scholarships and trades are available. The class is wheelchair accessible and ASL interpreters can be provided with pre-registration by Wednesday, December 30. For more information, accessibility questions or to register, contact Deann at 206-568-7777 or deann@ nwnetwork.org. www.nwnetwork.org.

tion, but he will surely enchant the reader who values a new expression of new feeling and experience in our very new times.”

Q-Squared Book Group is open to men who are interested in Gay literature and always welcomes new members. For more information, visit www.qsquared.org.

GAY BINGO RETURNS JANUARY 16 TO BENEFIT LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s long running Gay Bingo season returns on Saturday, January 16 with Boot Camp Gay Bingo at CIVIL RIGHTS LEGEND a NEW VENUE – Fremont Studios, 155 JOHN LEWIS TO KEYNOTE N. 35th St. – doors at 6 p.m., game starts KING COUNTY’S 23RD ANNUAL promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. Due to Washington State Liquor Control regulaDR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. tions, all guests must be 21 years of age or CELEBRATION older. Visit the NEW Lifelong AIDS Alliance AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE On Thursday, January 14, from noon to 1 Gay Bingo website at www.gaybingoseattle. p.m., King County will celebrate their 23rd com for more info and to buy your tickets. annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., celebraGAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE (GSA) tion at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St. SEVENTH ANNUAL The event is FREE and open to the public.

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew On Monday, January 18, from 8 a.m. to his dream of a country where all people are judged by the “content of their character” is 2 p.m., GLSEN Washington State/Washa journey that requires the participation of ington GSA Network invites all educators, all Americans, if we are to reach that desti- students, advisors and interested adults nation. King County and its employees once to the Seventh Annual Washington State again invite everyone to help them honor the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Leadership memory of Dr. King and celebrate his vision Summit, presented by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) of what America can be.

“We are honored to be joined at this year’s Washington State. The event will be held event by a legend of the Civil Rights era at the Kirkland Teen Union Building, 348 and a participant with Dr. King in shatter- Kirkland Ave., Kirkland.

“You are a vital part of the LGBTQA ing America’s racial barriers. Congressman John Lewis was a “Freedom Rider,” a key- community! Educate yourself on new and note speaker at the historic 1963 March on interesting ideas that can help you work Washington, and a survivor of the “Bloody with your school, community, or those you Sunday” attack of peaceful protesters come in contact with. GLSEN provides curmarching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge riculum ideas, sensitivity trainings, and rein Selma, Alabama in March, 1965. Con- sources for all educators, students, advisors gressman Lewis is scheduled to deliver this and interested adults.

“Learn about opportunities for your GSA, year’s keynote address.

Former King County Executive Ron Sims hear new ideas and meet other students in will be honored at this year’s event. The GSA’s across Washington State. Clock Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of hours available for certified educators!”

Cost is $15, which includes lunch with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will receive the 2010 Humanitarian Award. advance registration. (If students can’t pay The celebration will also recognize young the full amount, they can pay what they can people from throughout King County whose at the door.) For more information, contact essays have been selected to receive the joe@glsenwa.org or call 206-330-2099 or 877-220-4213. To register, visit www.

2010 Essay Award.

Music at this year’s ceremony will be per- brownpapertickets.com/event/89894 or formed by Dr. Quinton Morris, accompa- www.glsenwa.org. To help underwrite this event, donations can be sent to GLSEN WA, nied by Kevin Kauki.

1605 12th Ave., Ste 35, Seattle, WA 98102.

KING COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., DAY WELCOMES DONNA BRAZILE CELEBRATION IN SEATTLE TO ANNUAL REV. DR. MARTIN On Monday, January 18, the Martin LuLUTHER KING, JR. LUNCHEON On Friday, January 15,from 11:30 a.m. to ther King, Jr., Celebration Committee hosts 1:15 p.m., Donna Brazile, contributor and the annual region-wide Martin Luther King, political commentator on CNN’s Inside Jr., Day Celebration in Seattle with workPolitics and American Morning, will be the shops, rally and march. This year’s theme keynote speaker at the King County Bar As- is “Justice Now! Healthcare, Housing, Jobs sociation’s Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Lu- & Education.” The day’s event will begin ther King, Jr. Luncheon at Sheraton Seattle at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave. E., Hotel, 1400 6th Ave. at Pike St. Ms. Brazile with workshops, including several geared is an author, adjunct professor, Vice Chair of toward youth, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. The Voter Registration and Participation at the rally with speakers, poetry and music folDemocratic National Committee, and the lows at 11 a.m. At noon, the march steps off first African-American woman to manage a from Garfield to the Jackson Federal Buildpresidential campaign. Tickets are $50 gen- ing, 2nd Ave. & Marion St., in downtown eral admission; $25 students and law clerks. Seattle, for a brief outdoor rally. The day’s For more information, visit www.kcba.org. events are FREE and a collection will be taken to cover the cost of the event.

“Seattle has one of the largest annual MarIMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE’S tin Luther King, Jr., Day Celebrations in the JC/LADY GRAYTOP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND U.S. We honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther www.imperialcourtofseattle.com. Appli- King, Jr., for his work toward racial equality cations must be postmarked by January and toward economic justice for all people, for his commitment to non-violence, and for 15, 2010. his stand against war and militarism.” www.

MLKseattle.org.

Q-SQUARED BOOK GROUP TO DISCUSS “RE-ENVISION THE DREAM” – IN A SHALLOW GRAVE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. On Saturday, January 16, at 1 p.m., at HOLIDAY CELEBRATION the Capitol Hill Branch Library, 425 HarAT SEATTLE CENTER vard Ave. E., the Q-Squared Book Group Monday, January 18, from noon to 5 p.m., will discuss the novel In a Shallow Grave

by James Purdy. Publisher’s Weekly called the Seattle Center’s Center House. This the book, “A marvelous tour-de-force. A year’s celebration takes on a youth focus novel that engages as it entertains, draws the with the presentation of the MLK Youth reader in as it draws something out of him. Peace Awards, the MLK Seattle Youth In other words, a very impressive book.” Violence Prevention Awards and a full afTennessee Williams had this praise for the ternoon of activities in honor of Dr. Martin author: “Purdy may shock and offend some Luther King, Jr. For a complete schedule of partisans of the well-trodden paths in fic- events, visit www.seattlecenter.com.

January 1, 2010

Seattle Gay News

7

African couple arrested First openly Gay U.S. for Gay marriage marshal confirmed

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

“We cannot afford to continue discriminating [against] homosexuals. This Gay marriage has shown that homosexuality is among us and we cannot continue to pretend. We need to adjust to accommodate this group of human beings,”

8

Seattle Gay News

January 1, 2010

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

the District of Minnesota.”

Lubinski has risen through the Minneapolis police ranks since joining the force in Minneapolis, Minnesota Assistant Police 1987. She has served as the Assistant Police Chief Sharon Lubinski has become the first Chief for Minneapolis since 2006, and was a finalist for police openly Gay U.S. chief in 2004. Earmarshal. Minnesota lier, Lubinski served Democratic Senaas a patrol officer, tor Amy Klobuchar, lieutenant, precinct who recommended commander and Lubinski to Presideputy chief with dent Obama for the the Minneapolis position, announced Police Department. her confirmation by From 1978 to 1986, the U.S. Senate on she served as a depDecember 28. uty with the Dane Already one of County Sheriff’s Ofthe nation’s highfice in Wisconsin. est-ranked female “Sharon Lubinski law-enforcement ofwill be an excellent ficers, Lubinski now U.S. marshal. It was becomes the state’s a pleasure to recfirst female U.S. ommend her to the marshal and one of president, and I was only two women in honored to vote for the nation currently her,” said Klobuserving in the post. char. “Her mix of Lubinski was forexperience managmally nominated for Sharon Lubinski ing a large, urban the post in October police department

by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate in a whirlwind and working in a rural sheriff’s office makes of pre-holiday legislative activity last week. her uniquely qualified for this position. I “Assistant Chief Lubinski has dedicated know she will make Minnesota proud as she her career to the noble cause of protecting serves in this role.”

U.S. marshals play a critical role in the her fellow Americans,” President Obama told the Senate. “She has displayed excep- federal justice system. Marshals oversee tional courage in the pursuit of justice, and federal courthouse security, protect witI am honored to nominate her today to con- nesses, transport prisoners, and catch fedtinue her selfless work as a U.S. marshal for eral fugitives. file photo

On December 26, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were married in a traditional ceremony in the African nation of Malawi.

Two days later, they were arrested by police and hauled off to jail.

“We arrested them last night at their home and charged them with gross public indecency because the practice is against the law,” said Dave Chingwalu, a spokesperson for the Malawi police, on Tuesday.

Malawi law punishes sexual acts between consenting adults of the same gender with prison sentences of up to 14 years. Samesex marriage was specifically banned on July 30, when Malawi’s National Assembly amended the nation’s constitution to forbid it.

As SGN goes to press, a team of five private lawyers is reportedly working to free the couple.

Speaking on BBC’s Network Africa TV news, police spokesperson Chingwalu noted that the couple violated Malawi law.

“Homosexually is not accepted according to laws of Malawi,” he said. “The law is not outdated, it is in the penal code. Section 156 forbids two male doing homosexuality.”

Chingwalu said the pair was being held in separate cells to prevent them having their honeymoon in custody.

“They slept in separate cells because they have been suspected of committing homosexuality activities, which is illegal. We thought of keeping them in different cells.”

“We met at church where we both pray and we have been together for the last five months. ... I have never been interested in a woman,” Monjeza told The Nation newspaper.

Their wedding was conducted according to local tradition, with Chimbalanga dressed as the bride, and Monjeza as the groom.

Chimbalanga is reportedly still wearing his wedding dress in jail.

BBC reporter Raphael Tenthani said the pair “were still relaxing at Blantyre police station with Tiwonge the bride still wearing the engagement dress he wore during the engagement. They may have to spend more days behind bars for the judiciary in Malawi

is on Charismas recess, and the couple can only have their day in court on Monday next week [January 4].”

Human rights activist Undule Mwakasungura told BBC Network Africa that Malawi should deepen the debate on homosexuality and same-sex marriages.

“We cannot afford to continue discriminating [against] homosexuals. This Gay marriage has shown that homosexuality is among us and we cannot continue to pretend. We need to adjust to accommodate this group of human beings,” Mwakasungura said.

“But also these are lessons for us to deepen the debate of legalizing homosexuality in view that efforts to fight HIV and AIDS cannot be achieved without recognizing the rights of groups such as the Gay citizens,” he added.

Human rights lawyer Crispin Sibande told BBC Focus on Africa on Tuesday evening “In a democratic era like what we believe in, if you are arresting people based on their sexual orientation are you doing injustice to the fundamental human rights of these individuals?”

Malawi is perhaps best known in this country as the nation where pop icon Madonna adopted two children. It is a multiparty democracy of about 15 million people, one of the world’s most densely populated countries, and also one of the poorest.

About 80% of Malawi’s people identify as Christian. Roman Catholics and Presbyterians make up the largest denominations.

Although Gay sex is illegal in Malawi, Gay identity is not. The Malawi Gay Rights Movement – known locally as “Magrim” – claims 3,890 members.

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika met with Magrim members in September 2008. A Magrim spokesperson later reported that the president “wished us well.”

In Africa, 38 out of 53 countries have criminalized consensual Gay sex. In Nigeria, Mauritania, and Sudan homosexuality carries the death penalty.

On the other hand, South Africa’s constitution specifically forbids discrimination against its LGBT citizens. South Africa legalized same-sex marriage on December 1, 2006.

latin america continued from cover

wishers.

“As a couple, we dreamed of marrying for a long time,” Freyre told Telam news agency.

“My knees didn’t stop shaking,” Di Bello said. “We are the first Gay couple in Latin America to marry.”

“We’re extremely excited and happy about what this means for all Gays and Lesbians in Argentina,” he continued.

Di Bello, 41, an executive at the Argentine Red Cross, met Freyre, 39, executive director of the Buenos Aires AIDS Foundation, at an HIV awareness conference. Both are HIV-positive.

Residents of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, the couple had hoped to marry there on World AIDS Day, December 1.

While same-sex marriage has not previously been legal in Argentina, the couple fought for and won an order from a Buenos Aires court allowing them to marry.

On November 10 Buenos Aires judge Gabriela Seijas ordered city officials to grant the couple a marriage license if they applied for one.

“The law should treat each person with equal respect in relation to each person’s singularities without the need to understand or regulate them,” she said in her ruling.

Since the Argentine constitution does not specify the sex of couples who may marry, Seijas ruled that provincial and local officials had authority to issue licenses to samesex couples.

Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri said that his government would not appeal the decision, but on November 30 a second judge filed an injunction halting the marriage until the issue could be considered further.

The Roman Catholic Church in Argentina had criticized Judge Seijas’ decision to let the couple marry and urged authorities to reconsider.

Although the Argentine federal government could not directly intervene, Argentina’s National Institute Against Xenophobia and Racism (INADI) helped find a friendly

jurisdiction where the couple could have their wedding.

INADI President Claudio Morgado was even a witness at the ceremony, which he called “historic.”

“The first same-sex marriage in Latin America and the Caribbean finally took place,” he said. “This has been possible thanks to a long fight for our rights.”

“This is the purpose of INADI, to safeguard the rights of citizens who do not fully enjoy these rights,” Morgado told Telam news agency.

Tierra del Fuego Governor Fabiana Rios said in a statement that Gay marriage “is an important advance in human rights and social inclusion and we are very happy that this has happened in our state.”

Di Bello said city authorities in Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego’s capital – initially declined to authorize the marriage until the couple received backing from Gov. Rios.

“We filed an administrative appeal to the government of Tierra del Fuego, which finally authorized the wedding,” he explained.

“We weren’t going to give up until we got married,” Freyre added.

Fabiana Rios is currently the only woman provincial governor in Argentina, and the first woman governor of Tierra del Fuego, a sparsely populated province at the extreme southern tip of South America.

She is a member of the center-left ARI party, the Afirmación para una República de Iguales (Support for a Republic of Equals).

ARI promotes a liberal social agenda, including non-discrimination against sexual minorities.

Argentina became the first Latin American country to allow same-sex civil unions in 2002. Uruguay also allows same-sex civil unions, as do some states of Mexico and Brazil.

Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador have same-sex civil union bills pending at the national level.

A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage was introduced in Argentina’s Congress in October but it has stalled without a vote. To date, Mexico City is the only jurisdiction in Latin America that permits samesex marriage.

Celebrating 36 Years!

Thanks for a helluva ride!

The final edition of Lipstick and Lust

by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid SGN A&E Writer

Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid

again. And hope things are great for ya, honey, I really do. I miss that Seattle, the one Is it any wonder the stars are all sparkly where The Vogue was downtown, and my tonight, like little diamond earrings, and tarot business was nearly paying my rent. the sky (which is the color of the Fabulous I miss all the loves lost and look forward Daughter’s eyes) is clear as glass? And that to more wild times at The Wet Spot with my the movie I watched before coming to my honey bunny and slave, who I’m planning fave home away from home – The Online to spend the rest of my life with, doing outCafe at 14th and Pine rageous scenes both – was one I reviewed in public and at The back in the day when Digs (which make I was pretty much my neighbors hate the only reviewer at me even more).

SGN? Good times, So, what current good times – and a stuff has this one few horrid ones, my been up to, now that babies, like the one a whole new year is time a certain wicked about to kick off and someone locked me this one is ready to in our shared office step off the mounin the middle of one tain (like that tarot of several dust-ups card “The Fool”)? over the 22 years I’ve Well, my baby and worked at SGN. I got I spent a lovely out after shooting Christmas Eve with him a “muthafucka, that one’s family exI will kill your ass” changing gifts, then Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid look, and we left the went back to The door open after that. But I’m glad to report Digs and had our own personal exchange. that most of the times I spent working for You should’ve seen the sweet little kimono the paper, which I now leave for other pur- this one gave that one, and seen “zee” in suits, were much better than that moment. zee’s hot red panties, too! Hotcha, and then Thumbing through the coffee-table book some! There was much moaning and writhmy honey bunny and life partner got me for ing as things heated up in the bedroom after Christmas which chronicles Playboy Play- our gift exchange, particularly after we both mates over the years, I have to say being a drooled over the Playmates for a time. sort of Transgender Hugh Hefner wasn’t the This one also traveled to the Fabulous worst thing I could have spent time on. And, Daughter’s for Christmas and got even more yes, I know some of you stiffer-spined folks gifts that this one loves (though my faves think that comparison makes me kin to any are still that book of Playmates and the detwo-headed demon monkeys out there, but liciously warm scarf this one got from life c’est la vie. I like me some hot women, no partner’s mom). What’s not to like about not matter the size, the hair color, or how much only having a stocking full of yummy things or little clothes they’re wearing. to wear (I’m wearing the tasty lip gloss from So, what can I say on this momentous oc- Sally’s Beauty right now, and loving how casion as I sit here and feel my body start to kissable I look), but more folks to give me relax after the mega workout I put it through gifts, thanks to my life partner’s sibs, mom to keep ahead of my holiday treat frenzies? and aunts? Oh baby, life is sooo good it Well, I have to say it’s been fun, and I give oughta be a banquet, and it is. many shout-outs to my fans, and I’ll always I also picked up some of that heavenmiss the folks who passed through my life ly Buxom Lash and Caudalie Moisture on the way to the “other side,” especially all Masque at Sephora (always and forever my of “the Michaels,” and my sponsor, a won- fave place to get makeovers beside Nordderful Gay men I met when I first joined strom) and love them both. And hey, as my SGN. These folks were without equal, and choice for “best new beauty find” this year, I some of the best people I’ve ever known vote for Blackbird’s beauty counter (located on this planet. And thanks to the publicists inside Blackbird at 5410 22nd Avenue NW (especially a certain very busty lass who my in Ballard). True, one of the sales guys is partner and I ogled and wanted to bed – to- pretty clueless when it comes to customer gether if we’d had our druthers), who let me service for customers of, shall we say, an see some fun films over time. Hope we’ll older generation (this one, honeys, was not stay in touch, so this one doesn’t strain an al- pleased being dissed that way, but bought ready strained budget just to see some flicks stuff anyway!), but the dreaded guy there is that’ll make me laugh, cry and go “awww.” so far my fave salesperson outside of SepIn the over five years I’ve written this col- hora and Nordstrom. The collection of Saint umn, I’ve interviewed some very special and Sinner lipsticks and glosses (this one women, helped (I’d like to think) some of bought Sinner/Wine and loves it to death) is you get clearer about how sexuality is more worth the sketchy service at this little bouthan what the media tells us it is, and come tique, believe me. Let’s hope they improve all the way out of not one, but three stuffy on customer relations and remember “old closets. And I met the love of my life, not folks” know a thing or two, too, and have once, but twice, and even forgive the one cash to spend. who couldn’t stick around, being that he I also picked up some eau de toilette from gave his life to the U.S. Army before he the Dyptyque line, Eau L’ente and Tam Dao met me and it destroyed our relationship.

My current life partner is proof the second time’s often a charm, and proof that there’s life after a really crappy Christmas Eve (last year’s awful snowy one), and no matter the age, one can really have a “normal” life and be happy – normal for us, anyway.

Oh, and to a certain female City Councilperson: Although we had some edgy moments, I wish you only the best, as I do to the co-worker (being quite the diva when this one first joined SGN in 1987) who said the dance community would never take to me, so I should just let her cover dance in Seattle and back off. “Ha!” I say, and “ha!”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

in the men’s line (more unisex, actually, so everyone can find something wonderful to wear and be fabulous in from this line).

The boxes are cute, too. I love how clean and uncluttered these scents smell, unlike that awful fruity/flowery Paris Hilton and Britney Spears crap that I think is designed for those under the age of true knowledge – say, around 15. True dat, I did like La Paris’ Just Me and will wear it again someday, but I like the new DKNY men’s fragrance much more, thank you very much. Try it and you’ll see why for yourself. Elegant, classy and not too overly flowery – all things I like.

Finally, if you haven’t visited Metro on an ever-changing Broadway, then you must get in there and pick up one of the line of pearlescent shimmer powders by NYX. Good for eyelashes, cheeks, and so much more.

Wherever you want to sparkle, put some of this one yourself.

So, my personal best and worst experiences, moments, whatever in the last 22 years (including this year, particularly)? Meeting the Japanese director of In the Mood For Love about 10 years ago during a SIFF interview, and finding out through his translator (and the look in his eyes) that he was flirting with me. Meeting the late Cal Anderson, and having him ask my advice on how to be more accessible to his constituents (keep in mind I was “the new kid on the block” back then, in 1990). Falling for my first soldier after a night at The Wet Spot turned into so much more. Losing him to war fatigue bites, but hey, better to have loved and all that, eh?

Being there at the right moment to see former vice president Al Gore give a speech at Oddfellows (when it was still just The Oddfellows Building), me in a poshy, hastily bought long evening gown. Creating a stir with a sister wild woman (who’s left town, not to return – miss you forever, Andrea) at a SIFF gala almost 20 years ago when we arrived hand in hand, her wearing an outfit I can only call “risque” at best.

Worst moments? Things declining to screaming fights after I brought my thensoldier love to “meet the family” at SGN one Saturday afternoon. Losing my first Gay male friend to AIDS. Watching stores like The Cramp and restaurants like Andy’s Diner give way to what’s uglifying Broadway now. I miss those go-go folk that used to dance in The Cramp’s window every time I walked down that street, which ain’t much these days. Getting tear-gassed during the WTO, riots and nearly getting shot in the face by a battle-fatigued police officer, younger than my daughter, as I ran for home

January 1, 2010

after all hell had broken loose downtown.

Getting bronchitis three times over the next two years because of the permanent damage from the tear gas and never having the city apologize to me or anyone else – still waiting for that one. Having another bout of bronchitis during Norweson one year, so I could only lay in my hotel room, hacking my lungs out, listening to my lame-assed then-boyfriend tease me about coming over (he never did, of course). Getting the swine flu this past year. Ick, ick, ick!

Still, babies, it’s been one helluva ride, and I’ll always love all of you who kept reading my serial stories, and those folks who waved a banner of praise for me, even as certain “haters” tried to knock me at every turn. To all the lovely ladies who giggled and then let me photograph them and give them their 15 minutes of fame, mwah, mwah, mwah!

And to gorgeous ladies Angela Russell, Monique Ming Laven and Rebecca Stevenson, I’ll keep imagining fun, naughty things about you and pillows. But seriously, more power to each of you, and keep that lamp of truth held high. To the family of the deputy who died, my heart goes out to you. Know he crossed over peacefully. Also, viva to all of the others we have lost this year, including the great Michael Jackson and talented Les Paul.

What am I going to do now that I’m leaving SGN? More helping those spirits, either to cross over peacefully, or make their way back home to those they love. That and write horror, fall deeper in love (if that’s possible) with my honey bunny/life partner, and have more adventures of the erotic and laugh-myass-off kind.

So, that’s it, my dahlings, and here’s a big, honking hug and kiss for all of you out there and know that Lipstick and Lust, (like yours truly) isn’t going away, just going through some transition toward a better, brighter, more cleared-out space. Look for some more adventures via Bloggerspot.com in the future, and check out future writings in The Seattle Sinner and St. Louis Sinner and someday at Dark Discoveries Magazine (we hope). Stay warm, love life, love each other, be kind to the planet we live on, defend animal rights, mount campaigns to keep Sarah Palin out of office in 2012, and to bring Gay marriage out of the closet and into a legal future. And smile at your bus driver, especially if she’s black, ‘cause she needs the love, trust me on that one, and sistuhs, remember not all of us are the scum of the earth, eh? Peace out, mwah, buhbye, and stay tuned for a rebirth in the future.

Seattle Gay News

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GLAAD

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer “My parents, my family and my friends all love me and accept me for who I am, and even if the public are upset by this, I know the love of those people who mean the most to me will never change. I’m not going on a crusade, but I’m proud of who I am. I feel I have achieved everything I could ever possibly have hoped to achieve out of rugby, and I did it being Gay. I want to send a positive message to other Gay people that they can do it, too.”

–UK rugby legend Gareth Thomas in a December 18 coming-out interview with the Daily Mail. Thomas plays for the Cardiff Blues.

–Incoming California Assembly Speaker John Pérez to the Los Angeles Times, December 21.

“We will not gag ourselves when it comes to Gay porn stars, Manhunt profiles, sex clubs, three-way relationships, poppers, or all the other dirty little secrets of Gay culture that the khaki-clad HRC clones are afraid ‘the straights’ will find out about and use against us to continue depriving us of our civil rights. Until they can deal with those things, they will only be tolerating us, not accepting us, so it’s better to just get it out in the open now.”

–Gawker.com, December 22, after the site was criticized for an item it published about a CNN iReport piece done by Gay porn actor Collin O’Neal. See tinyurl.com/gawk“It’s been really tough for me hiding who prn1 and tinyurl.com/gawkprn2.

I really am, but I don’t want it to be like that for the next young person who wants to play “Holiday Airline Madness! Flight to NY rugby, or some frightened young kid.” cancelled, mad dash to find seats in full –UK rugby legend Gareth Thomas in a planes. Feel like I’m on the Amazing Race.

December 18 coming-out interview with In the bad way.” the Daily Mail.

–Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) in a December 20 tweet. “[When I was closeted] I used to go to the cliffs overlooking the beach near our cot“Happy Harlem Holidays!! Finally artage in St. Brides Major and just think about rived (layover in Vegas – won $9.50 in jumping off and ending it all.” slots!), got us a tree, about to trim. Yeah, –UK rugby legend Gareth Thomas in a that kinda trim.”

December 18 coming-out interview with –Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris in a Dethe Daily Mail. cember 21 tweet.

“This means there’s one less barrier for people. When I grew up, there were only a handful of Latino state elected officials and there weren’t any openly Gay ones. So I never thought I would be in office.”

Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris

“I’m not Gay. I grew up singing and danc- Will Schuester, to Elle, December 18. ing, so people have been calling me Gay “I have not supported that.”

“Tree trimmed. Balls hung. Good times. since fifth grade. I’ve heard everything you could possibly hear about it. But I do love –Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty when Lookie: http://yfrog.com/3gnmybj” –Gay actor Neil Patrick Harris in a De- Gay people, so I’m not going to act like I asked by Newsweek about “medical benefits was insulted or angry about it.” for same-sex couples,” December 21. cember 21 tweet.

–Glee star Matthew Morrison, who plays

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that they can use against me. Which doesn’t make much sense, I can’t imagine how I can possibly be more insulting or rude there than I am on this here website thingy. I try, I really try. And why are all these nobodies big-haired women? Seriously, fuck all of you hags.”

–Popular Gay blogger Joe. My. God. (Joe Jervis), December 18.

“The phrase ‘mission accomplished’ has gotten a bad rap in recent years, but in this case, it certainly applies. When we set out to establish Lambda Rising in 1974, it was intended as a demonstration of the demand for Gay and Lesbian literature. We thought if we could show that there was a demand for our literature, that bookstores could be profitable selling it, we could encourage the writing and publishing of GLBT books, and sooner or later other bookstores would put those books on their own shelves and there would be less need for a specifically Gay and Lesbian bookstore. Today 35 years later, nearly every general bookstore carries GLBT books, often featuring them in special sections. The other part of our mission was to make good GLBT books and information available to anyone anywhere at a time when such items were very hard

to find. Today, people almost anywhere can access GLBT information on the internet.”

–Deacon Maccubbin, founder and coowner of the D.C. and Delaware Gay bookstores Lambda Rising, announcing on the stores’ website that they would be closing at the end of 2009.

“We face two major challenges in 2010.

We must simultaneously combat right-wing groups working against us, while pushing for faster and more meaningful change from Congress and the White House. And it’s not going to be easy. From the outrageous lies used to end marriage equality in Maine and California, to the turncoats in the New York Senate who rejected marriage equality, 2009 showed us that we can’t expect change to come to us. To put our 2010 game plan into action immediately, we must grow our ranks by 2,010 new members this month.

Join HRC right now, and be a part of this movement. If you join as a new member with a gift of $35 or more, we’ll send you this water bottle (pictured) as our way of saying thanks.”

–The Human Rights Campaign, December 21.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Popular gay blogger Joe Jervis wishes “wingnut lackeys” would stop trying to “friend” him on Facebook.

“In 1993 I voted for a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodation, housing and employment. That was 16 years ago. We overbaked that statute, for a couple of reasons.

If I had to do it over again I would have changed some things. That statute is not worded the way it should be. I said I regretted the vote later because it included things like cross-dressing, and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren’t based on sexual orientation, just a preference for the way they dressed and behaved.

So it was overly broad. So if you are a thirdgrade teacher and you are a man and you show up on Monday as Mr. Johnson and you show up on Tuesday as Mrs. Johnson, that is a little confusing to the kids. So I don’t like that.”

–Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Newsweek, December 21.

“She [Sarah Palin] is easily as qualified [to be president] as Barack Obama. I would argue she’s more qualified in terms of leadership, experience, management and supervision – actually running something. She was a mayor, head of an energy commission and governor.”

–Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Newsweek, December 21.

“A dozen or so times this week, wingnut lackeys have attempted to friend me on Facebook, thinking that I won’t just look at their friend list and see their connections to Tony Perkins, Harry Bishop, Matt Barber, etc. Dumbasses. Even though my Facebook page has tons of strangers on it, it’s very rare that I get a request from somebody who doesn’t have at least ten or twenty mutual ‘friends’ with me. I guess they’re trying to catch me saying something on Facebook

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by Richard Labonte SGN Contributing Writer Sordid Truths: Selling My Innocence For a Taste of Stardom

by Aiden Shaw (Alyson Books, $15.95) Can a book about compulsive sex for pay and unceasing drugged-out nights and days be charming? Yes it can. Shaw is a 21-year-old college dropout with “massive boy meat” – in the panted words of his firstever trick, a porcine mincer with overbearing airs – as this memoir of his pre-porn film fame opens. It closes with Shaw stripping while acclaimed porn director Chi Chi Larue snaps Polaroid pics of his hard body and that massive member – which is where an earlier memoir, My Undoing, picks up.

Between these scenes, the one-time hustler relates with good humor, engaging self-reflection and disarming niceness – no matter how unattractive his clients are, he’s always an amiable object of desire – about a near-decade of turning tricks in London’s finer hotels and sleazier sex clubs, with a few boyfriends along the way. There’s no doubt that in the minds of some, what Shaw was doing in his 20s can certainly be classified as sordid. But the author’s truth-telling about desire, lust and even love, with such clarity, is a gift for readers to celebrate.

Tranby Quirke is a self-described “invisible woman.” To her colleagues, she’s a model of temperance and rectitude. But she holds two secrets close. It’s 1909 in London, and she’s a suffragette, not given to marching for rights or chaining herself to fences, but quietly supporting the vote for women. And she’s a Lesbian, though Queen Victoria has decreed no such beings exist. Her life is placid but lonely – until she locks eyes with 19-year-old student Lysette McDonald, who comes to her, tremulously, for advice on how to handle the daily physical and sexual abuse of her hard-fisted husband, who wants a child she cannot conceive. Ridley’s focus in this unsentimental but gracious love story is on the burgeoning relationship between student and teacher, but their forbidden romance acquires historical resonance through the depiction of Tranby’s friendship with her mentor, a fierce older woman on her deathbed who gave a lifetime to fighting for women’s rights.

Lynnee Breedlove’s One Freak Show

by Lynn Breedlove (Manic D Press, $14.95) Which washroom to use? How might a woman pee like a man? To transition or not to transition? And what exactly does LGBTIQQ stand for? These and other not-quiteuniversal questions (though, in Breedlove’s world, they ought to be) are considered with The Remarkable Journey comic prowess in this uninhibited hybrid of Tranby Quirke of stand-up comedy and thoughtful essays

by Elizabeth Ridley about issues transgender and otherwise.

(Bold Strokes, $16.95) Much of the collection is based on BreedIn her 30s, a spinster, quietly lecturing love’s performance tour, One Freak Show, young women about “Domestic Health with bits from Confessions of a Poser; some and Hygiene” at a fussy school for girls, spoken-word chapters don’t translate with

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Footnotes BOOKS TO WATCH OUT FOR: Meredith Baxter, the Mom on the TV sitcom Family Ties who recently came out at 62, is writing a memoir for Broadway Books about coming late to Lesbianism, her acting years, her two decades of sobriety, her battle with breast cancer, her several marriages and what it’s like to be a Queer grandmother... DEACON MCCUBBIN, who with his husband Jim Bennett founded Washington’s Lambda Rising Bookstore 35 years ago (and the Lambda Literary Awards 22 years ago), plans to start work on a bookselling and gay activism memoir now that his last two stores, in D.C. and in Rehoboth Beach, have closed... BOOKSTORES TO WATCH OUT FOR: The Toronto Women’s Bookstore, founded as a collective in 1973 and still run as a non-profit, is attempting to raise $40,000 by the end of January to stay open. One of just three feminist bookstores left in Canada, its staff recently tweeted, “Wonder if we’re the only bookstore in existence to sell fewer than five copies of Twilight?” Lagging sales and the economic downturn have already forced the store to trim its cultural and political programming, said spokesperson Robyn Bourgeois. “It really hit us in the last couple of months that we are not going to be able to pay our bills.”... COMMON LANGUAGE Bookstore, Ann Arbor’s LGBT shop for books and Pride merchandise since 1991, is also holding on by a thread, according to owners Keith Orr and Martin Contreras, who subsidize the Queer book sales with profits from another business, a local bar.

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by Darwin Porter (Blood Moon Productions, $26.95) Gay-run Blood Moon continues its series of meaty queer-interest movie star and entertainer biographies by Porter (Paul Newman, Merv Griffin and Marlon Brando among them) with this impeccably researched, tabloid-tinged plunge into the life of McQueen. The James Dean-like actor, who died of cancer at age 50, was undeniably and enthusiastically heterosexual, counting most of his leading ladies, as well as three wives, among his many boudoir conquests. But Porter more than makes a solid case for a potent gay connection, including McQueen’s enduring friendship – and sometimes nonsexual shared beds and dick-measuring circle jerks – with comrades Casey Perkins and Darron McDonald, both of whom died of AIDS; his early Manhattan years hustling rich homosexuals for money while also being a “gentleman for rent” by the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Lana Turner; and his days as a Marine, when “grab-ass” in the showers was an accepted way of life. As with his previous bios, Porter integrates his subject’s queer bent – even the late Newman’s – with a titillating panache that is refreshingly on the measured side of lurid.

gauche as to ask if you are a man or a woman. No, we ask, “Which pronoun do you prefer?” “Why, thanks for asking. Shim and herm.” Then use it in a sentence. “Is shim going on a hot date with that babe? Shim better bring herm’s rubber dick.”

–from Lynnee Breedlove’s One Freak Show

Richard Labonte has been reading, editing, selling, and writing about Queer literature since the mid-‘70s. He can be reached Featured Excerpt Queers. We love each other. And we ask in care of this publication or at Bookbetter questions. We would never be so Marks@qsyndicate.com.

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their implied energy onto the printed page.

But Breedlove’s essays on hiking with his father, and on the lives (and late-in-life marriage) of Lesbian pioneers Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, are perfect in pitch and emotional in content. As for those questions: any bathroom you want; with something called a Freelax (more poetically, in French, a pisse debout); about transitioning, (FTM) one reason against is “crying,” one reason for is “same job, better pay.” As for LGBT ... etc.? It’s a Queer theory exegesis as witty and smart as the rest of this sweetly defiant collection.

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nickels

continued from cover

How would Nickels suggest the new city administration use the funds?

“I guess I’d urge them not to take on an irrational exuberance and spend it all,” he chuckles.

“I think there are three overarching issues going forward,” Nickels says.

“Transportation – we’ve made progress on this, but we need to get the viaduct down and the replacement done. Affordable housing – we have an attractive city, people want to live here, so how do we accommodate them? And education – this is the most educated city in America, but confidence in our public schools is not where it needs to be.”

Transportation was one of the central issues in this year’s mayoral race, and arguably the issue that brought Nickels down.

He was closely identified with the tunnel option to replace the Alaskan Way viaduct, and the eventual winner, McGinn, was its most vocal opponent.

At Nickels’ recommendation, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously on October 19 to go ahead with tunnel construction.

Some observers saw this move as a preemptive strike designed to prevent McGinn from derailing the project should he win the election.

Nickels denies that was his intention.

“I saw it as a way of ending the debate.

Getting something done,” he says. “Quarts, if not gallons, of political blood have already been spilled on this – much of it my own.”

Seattle politics often seem more inclined to prolonging debate, rather than ending it, but Nickels says he has no regrets about his support for the tunnel.

“No regrets, oh no, no, no. Any time you make a decision, somebody will be unhappy,” he says.

Nickels hopes that the tunnel is now a done deal. “[McGinn] said that with the City Council supporting a deep bore tunnel, he’d accept their decision,” he told SGN. “I expect him to honor that, and see that it’s done well, that it’s on schedule and on budget.”

Asked about Sen. Ed Murray’s often-quoted opinion that 520 replacement is the real challenge for Seattle, Nickels disagrees.

“I look at the fact the viaduct is 100% incity – on our front porch, really. So I think that’s more urgent,” he says. “Also I didn’t

think we could resolve 520 three years ago [when negotiations to replace the viaduct began]. The legislature was screwing Seattle. We had to get back on the same page and rebuild trust.”

Nickels, who chaired Sound Transit’s Board, thinks that his accomplishments in establishing a light rail line have been overshadowed by the controversy over the viaduct replacement.

“Look what we’ve accomplished,” he says. “The first line of Sound Transit is up and running. We extended it to the airport before the end of my term, as I said we would. We cleared land for the Capitol Hill station.”

“On housing, it’s a supply problem,” Nickels continues. “We encouraged new investment. So there is a healthier market for buyers. Right now buyers can write their own terms – the problem is the buyers are out of work.”

“One thing we have done,” Nickels says, “is to reduce parking requirements for developments in the central city, so it’s market-driven and not an artificial requirement imposed by the city.”

“You know, you increase the cost of new housing units by $50,000 if you require additional parking units,” he explains. “If you give buyers an option not to have parking, they can purchase more affordable units.”

Nickels has earned a reputation as a solid ally of Seattle’s LGBT community. In July this year, Nickels hosted a round table with local LGBT leaders to address community concerns. At that meeting, he made specific commitments for city funding and other support. Many have been fulfilled, but some are still pending.

Asked how the city will follow up now that he will no longer be in office, Nickels replied, “I have to punt that to the new mayor. It’s his decision now and his staff that will have to follow through.”

“For the LGBT community, I think we’ve made great strides in my eight years,” Nickels continued. “On marriage, obviously I couldn’t authorize marriages, but we did recognize marriages done in other jurisdictions for benefits.”

“And R-71,” he continues. “I’m proud to live in a state where R-71 passed. You know, this city carried the state for R-71. And that’s not new. That’s something Seattle has done for 35 years.”

Nickels laughs when asked about speculation that he will run for mayor again in four years.

“Well you never say never,” he replies.

“Politics is part of my life. And I like local politics, especially in a place I love.”

“I’ve had the best job I can imagine,” he concludes, “but I have to tell you, now that I’m within sight of the end, it’s a lot less stressful.”

decade

continued from cover equal rights for Gay people are advancing at an exceptional rate,” said Ira Hirschfield, president of the Haas, Jr. Fund. “Gay people and their families deserve equal rights and an equal opportunity to participate in their communities and the institutions that bring Americans together. We are committed to supporting work that brings our country closer to that goal.”

The following is a list of key measures provided by the report.

KEY MEASURES BENEFITTING LGBT COMMUNITY Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation: The number of states outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation increased 83%, from 12 to 22, between 2000 and 2009. The percentage of the U.S. population living in states banning discrimination based on sexual orientation soared from 24.5% to 44.1%, an 80% increase. Today, 134 million Americans are now living in states where discrimination based on sexual orientation has been outlawed, an increase of 65 million over the decade. Fortune 500 companies that protect workers based on sexual orientation grew from 51% to 88%.

Discrimination Based on Gender Identity: There was a remarkable increase in states outlawing discrimination based on gender identity and expression, which rose from just one state in the year 2000 to 14 states, representing nearly 30% of the population in 2009. The percentage of Fortune 500 companies that protect workers based on gender identity jumped even more, from just 0.6% to 35%.

Relationship Recognition: In 2000, no state extended freedom to marry to samesex couples; one state gave broad recognition to same-sex relationships and one offered limited recognition. Now, five states extend marriage to same-sex couples, six offer broad recognition, and seven offer more limited recognition. Overall, the number of Americans living in a state that offers some

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protections to same-sex couples nearly tripled, from 12.7% to 37.2%.

Protection from Violence: The 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is the first federal law to specifically protect LGBT people.

LGBT Elected Officials: The number of openly LGBT elected officials in America rose 73% between 2000 and 2009, from 257 to 445.

Public Opinion: The percentage of the public supporting the right of openly Gay and Lesbian people to serve in the military grew from 62% to 75%. Support for marriage equality has grown from 35% in 2000 to 39% today; there has been an even larger increase in support for relationship recognition that involves many of the rights of marriage, from 45% to 57%.

Safer Schools: In 2000, only one state had a safe school law that specifically cited sexual orientation and gender identity/expression for protection; by 2009, that number rose to 13 states. The number of GayStraight Alliance clubs in high schools grew from 700 to 4,700.

MIXED OR NEGATIVE RESULTS Marriage Opposition: In 2000, five states blocked marriage equality through a statewide vote; today, 31 have done so, including 29 states amending their constitution to prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages.

Homophobia in Schools: The percentage of LGBT students reporting hearing homophobic remarks in school remained above 99%, and LGBT students who reported experiencing harassment in school edged up slightly, 83.2% to 86.2%.

HIV/AIDS: New HIV infections among adolescent and adult men who have sex with men grew 10% in the decade, from 28,000 to 30,800 per year, as did the percentage of new HIV infections overall that occurred among men who have sex with men, which rose from 51% to 53%.

Military Service Ban: In spite of a spike in public support for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the U.S. military continued to discharge hundreds of Gay and Lesbian servicemembers, with the cumulative number of discharges under the 1993 policy nearly doubling during the past decade.

LGBT MAP is a think tank founded in 2006 that produces and disseminates research aimed at helping speed advancement of equality for LGBT people.

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is a private family foundation created in 1953 which has awarded more than $364 million in grants to support fundamental rights and opportunities for all people. It has invested nearly $42 million in promoting equal rights and opportunities for Gays and Lesbians since 2002.

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Seattle Gay News 19

PARKER

continued from cover Parker was elected mayor in a run-off election on December 12 winning with about 54% of the vote. The campaign – at least in its later stages – was marked by antiGay attacks sponsored by right-wing and fundamentalist groups.

“Actually the campaign as a whole was very civil. It went negative at the end, in the run-off,” she told SGN. “We have a few noted homophobes here in Houston, and they came out of the woodwork,” she said. “The mayor’s position is so high profile, we knew there would be backlash.”

Asked if the personal attacks ever made her regret her decision to get into politics, she shot back, “No, no, no regrets, no second thoughts. I’ve been excited to go to work every day for the last 12 years.”

Prior to the run for mayor, Parker was a Houston City Council member (1997-2003), and city controller – the number-two official in the city – from 2003 to the present. Her campaign stressed her experience in city administration in spite of the controversy generated by her sexual orientation.

“I ran as the most qualified candidate in the race. And I am,” she said flatly. ”Being out and Gay was always part of my public persona. Other people might have made that an issue. We didn’t even have to think about it.”

Both Parker and her run-off opponent, former City Attorney Gene Locke, are Democrats, as were three of the five candidates in the general election on November 3. Houston’s City Council is also dominated

by Democrats.

Parker believes Democrats can be competitive even in Texas.

“Houston is a ‘blue’ island in a ‘red’ sea.

But so are Austin, Dallas, San Antonio – all four of our largest cities,” Parker told SGN. “People might have preconceived ideas about Texas, but it’s not at all like people might think.…”

“The thing about Texas,” she continues, “even in the suburbs and rural areas – the suburbs are the most conservative – in the rural areas they’re pretty practical. They want to know what you’re gonna do and how you’re gonna do it.”

Parker says this pragmatic attitude gives LGBT candidates an opportunity to talk to voters outside their natural constituencies.

“You know, in Texas we have a saying: It’s all about you, it’s not about who your people were.”

Houston is a sprawling multi-cultural city.

Of its 2.2 million people, 42% are Latino – “from every country in Latin America,” Parker notes – 28% are African American – “including many African immigrants,” says Parker – seven percent are Asian American, and the balance are white.

“It’s a challenge to run, and it’s a challenge to govern,” Parker says. “The best thing about Houston is that it’s a businessoriented entrepreneurial city. It’s a global

city, an international city, a city that’s always on the move, the fourth-largest city in the country.”

While Houston is certainly a much different city than Seattle, when Parker ticks off the top priorities of her new administration, she sounds just like Mike McGinn or Joe Mallahan. On the night of her election, she told the Houston Chronicle her first priorities “will be improving transportation, balancing the city’s budget, and selecting a new police chief.”

“Cities pretty much have a standard set of issues and challenges,” Parker says. “The worldwide recession – no one can escape that.”

“Every city in the country is hurting,” she continues. “You have to spend less than you take in. Right now, we’re not. We’re spending more than we take in and so we’re dipping into our savings. So as mayor I’ll have to say no to a lot of things. I think I can do that without impacting personnel levels.

That’s the important thing.”

Parker is optimistic about Houston’s ability to weather the recession.

“We budgeted carefully. We’re probably better off than any other city in the country,” she says. “We’re still growing. There was no housing bubble in Houston, so there hasn’t been a collapse.”

“And we’re tied in internationally rather than nationally,” she adds. “We depend more on the world economy.”

A successful run as mayor of a major city like Houston might be seen as a springboard to higher office. Parker’s immediate predecessor, Bill White, is now a Democratic candidate for governor of Texas. Nevertheless, Parkers denies any further political ambitions.

“No, I really have no larger aspirations,” she tells SGN. “I love local government. I think it’s the most important. It’s the closest to people’s lives.”

“I’m an old jock,” she continues. “I leave

it all on the field. If I have any political capital, I’m gonna spend it, I’m not gonna store it up for some other campaign.”

Parker is also reluctant to embrace her newfound role as a national celebrity.

“Clearly I’m a national figure. I’ve been a role model for my community for a long time,” she says. “I’ve run for office six times. I’ve led statewide organizations. I accept the role. That said, I don’t intend to be a spokesperson.”

“Marriage, for example. You know we have a state marriage amendment here,” she continues. “So that’s not something I’m gonna throw myself into.”

Texas passed its constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman in November 2005. The amendment, known as Proposition 2, passed with a 75% affirmative vote and it is not considered likely to be repealed in the foreseeable future.

“Now, I have adopted children, and I do plan to be a champion for adoptions,” Parker says. “Not just LGBT adoptions. Children have a right to have a family.”

Asked about the controversial police raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth this past June, Parker replies, “[The Houston] community’s relations with our police are really pretty good. We haven’t had that kind of incident for a long time. Usually they’re provoked by some low-level guy with an attitude.”

“We’ve had diversity training for two decades now,” she explains. “In fact I taught at the Police Academy. We have openly Gay officers. We have a Transgender officer – a lieutenant, I think – who actually made the transition while on the force.”

Parker says she hopes to name a new police chief “from within the Department,” but one “who understands that we can’t keep doing things in the same way.”

“We need to take apart old and outmoded ways of thinking,” she insists.

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