SGN January 7, 2011 - Section 1

Issue 01 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

POPE vs. SPAIN p. 8

EQUALITY UTAH p. 13

ELTON JOHN p. 21

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY January 7, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

see mullen page 16

see navy page 18

file photo

The purpose of the memorandum, which directs the Joint Staff and informs the Joint Force, is to relay Mullen’s priorities for the force-wide strategic objectives for 2011.

Mullen reminded troops that the

The Navy permanently removed Captain Owen Honors, a senior officer in command of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, on January 4 because of raunchy comedy videos he made and showed to the crew several years ago when he was the ship’s executive officer.

The videos, which include antiGay slurs and sexual innuendo, showed extremely poor judgment

by Capt. Honors, said the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces, Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr. “While Capt. Honors’ performance as commanding officer of USS Enterprise has been without incident, his profound lack of good judgment and professionalism while previously serving as executive officer on Enterprise calls into question his character and completely undermines his credibility to continue to serve effectively in command,” Harvey said in a statement read to reporters in Norfolk on January 4.

Admiral Mike Mullen

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, released his guidance for 2011, outlining – among other things – the implementation of open service by Gays and Lesbians.

Seattle hosts first-ever West Coast LGBT Tourism Summit

Ninth Circuit issues orders in Prop 8 case file photo

nate gowdy

GSBA Executive Director Louise Chernin welcomes out-of-town guests and GSBA members to the first-ever West Coast LGBT Tourism Summit on January 6.

Captain Owen Honors

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Seattle will host LGBT Chambers of Commerce, convention and visitor bureaus, travel planners and chamber businesses at the first West Coast LGBT Tourism Summit from January 6-8 at the Seattle Renaissance Hotel.

According to Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) officials, President of Horizon Airlines Glenn Johnson will deliver the keynote speech, and experts from leading market research, public relations, and social media firms such as Nyhus Communications, Community Marketing, Inc., and Pink Banana Media will host sessions on developing a successful inbound tourism initiative.

The 2011 West Coast LGBT Tourism Summit will focus on providing tools for attendees to attract LGBT tourism to their city, according to a GSBA press release.

“By following GSBA’s lead of forming partnerships with private and public organizations, local travel organizations can bolster the LGBT tourism industry in their area,” said the GSBA in a written

official Photo

Admiral Mullen Navy captain canned after adds DADT repeal raunchy video surfaces to 2011 guidance

U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals building in San Francisco

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

gally appeal federal District Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that Prop 8 violates the 14th Amendment to The Ninth Circuit Court of Ap- the U.S. constitution. peals panel hearing California’s Prop 8 passed in November Prop 8 case issued two orders on 2008, reversing a California SuJanuary 4 addressing the controversial issue of standing. see prop 8 page 17 “Standing” means who can lesee tourism page 17

proud to Be Different

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SGN Seattle Gay News

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Seattle Gay News

January 7, 2011

Celebrating 37 Years!

GOODBYE, BUZZ

ration pneumonia.

Needless to say, I’ve been going through a gamut of emotion lately. Sadness, anger, fear, confusion. I question whether I should have done something differently, or if that would have actually changed anything.

Those close to me have told me that I had already tried to help him and there wasn’t anything else I could have done. I’m sad that he had to die this way, in pain and likely alone.

I don’t know if his partner was with him at the hospice or not. I’d like to believe he was, but I have my doubts. And yet, given what I know about my father’s life with a difficult childhood and lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder, I’m not entirely surprised that this is how things panned out.

What I do know is that he loved to write, and he loved having his letters published in the SGN. I have a file folder full of poems, letters, and clippings that he would send to me. And I know that as lonely as he felt, he was cared about by many people in the Gay community. I felt it was important to write this letter and let those people whose lives he touched know that, while he is gone, his spirit lives on through his words. Thank you for caring about him and giving him an outlet that was so meaningful.

I miss you, Dad.

(Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen

I just found out a few days ago that my father, Calvin “Buzz Flowers” Callaway, passed away earlier this month (7/8/193712/6/2010). He was a complicated man and although in private he could be an angry and even abusive person at times, he also had a kind, sensitive heart and would literally give you the shirt off his back. The circumstances regarding his death are still a mystery to me. We became estranged last spring when I had tried to improve his living situation due to his failing health. He refused any help and after a social worker got involved and thought everything was okay, I opted not to stay in contact rather than be party to what was happening between him and his partner.

The last time I spoke to him was in June.

On Wednesday morning, I received two things in the mail. One was a manila envelope from his partner that contained a copy of his death certificate along with some information about my being the beneficiary for his teacher’s retirement account. The other was a certified letter that contained a new copy of his will that specifically stated that I was to get nothing from his estate.

This was how I learned that he had died. No phone call. No note. Nothing but the empty aftermath. The death certificate stated that he had fallen and broken some ribs a few weeks before his death, and this led to aspi-

New Jersey Governor Christie signs “AntiBullying Bill of Rights”

Anthony Callaway

Pride Foundation to award more than $400,000 in scholarship money New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Pride Foundation, in partnership with the GSBA Scholarship Fund, announced on January 4 they will award more than $400,000 in the coming months to LGBTQ and straight allied students either from or studying in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The scholarship program is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

“Providing scholarships for people that believe in LGBTQ equality is critical for ensuring our community’s long-term success by supporting existing leaders and nurturing future ones,” said Anthony Papini, scholarship program director at Pride Foundation.

“There’s been a lot of talk about how ‘it gets better’ for LGBTQ youth. The Pride Foundation and GSBA scholarship program is one way of fulfilling the promise of ‘it gets better’ by enabling students to fulfill their potential.”

However, according to Pride Foundation officials, grants are not only for LGBTQ youth. Straight allies who have demonstrated leadership in LGBTQ issues are welcome to apply as well as students of all ages. In 2010, the youngest scholarship recipient

was 17 years of age, and the oldest was 54.

Last year, $342,000 was awarded to 110 students – a 29% increase over 2009. Since 1993, more than $2 million in scholarships to support education and leadership development has been awarded.

Pride Foundation would like to encourage you to share this excellent opportunity for students of any age or sexual orientation from or studying in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington who are pursuing any post-secondary education. There are 50 different types of scholarships with awards up to $10,000 – but only one simple webbased application to complete. Applications must be submitted by January 31 at 5 p.m.

PST. The online application, guidelines, and additional details for the 2011 scholarship cycle are available at www.PrideFoundation.org.

Pride Foundation supports the LGBTQ community in the Pacific Northwest by providing grants and scholarships to LGBTQrelated projects and individuals. Donorsupported Pride Foundation is the largest LGBTQ community foundation of its kind having granted more than $18 million in grants and scholarships since 1985.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill on January 5 that advocates say gives New Jersey the toughest anti-bullying law in the nation.

Christie signed the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights into law, according to a press release from Garden State Equality, the state’s largest Gay rights organization, which advocated for the bill. The new law is intended to eliminate loopholes in the state’s first anti-bullying law, passed in 2002, which encouraged school districts to set up anti-bullying programs but did not mandate it.

The new bill of rights will require training for most public school teachers, administrators, and other employees on how to spot bullying, and mandate that all districts form a “school safety team” to review complaints. School districts would be graded by the state on their efforts to combat the problem.

According to Matt Friedman from the New Jersey Statehouse Bureau, administrators who do not investigate reported in-

cidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school.

The bill sailed through the Assembly and Senate in November 2010. It passed 73-1, with five abstentions, in the Assembly. It passed the Senate 30-0. “[Christie] signed it, and we’re overjoyed,” said state Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s prime sponsors.

State Senator Diane Allen (RBurlington), also a prime sponsor, said while the law won’t end bullying, school employees will know how to better deal with it.

“While we cannot change human nature, we can change how government and school officials respond to unacceptable behavior,” she said.

The bill, in the works for almost a year, gained publicity and momentum after the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, whose roommate streamed a romantic encounter between him and another man over the internet.

“While we cannot change human nature, we can change how government and school officials respond to unacceptable behavior.”

January 7, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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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

Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers Nick Ardizzone, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2011, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.

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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Santa’s elves demand end to discriminatory policy

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer In case you don’t read The North Pole Gazette, here’s a reprint of an important story that just ran in that fine newspaper.

It’s always quiet at Santa’s Workshop in the first half of January. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are in Hawaii, and the elves are sleeping.

But not one elf. Smizzle, the lead choochoo train builder, kept his eyes open long enough to call for an end to “Shut Up, Make Toys” (SUMT), Santa’s long-standing policy on Gay and Lesbian employees.

Under the policy, Santa can’t ask if an elf is Gay, elves can’t say they’re Gay, and jolliness shall reign. SUMT has been in place since 1854, when Santa and a committee of homosexual elves hammered out the com-

promise over cocoa and sugar cookies.

“I didn’t like it then, and I don’t like it now,” Smizzle said, as he sat in the elf cafeteria. “I refuse to hide who I am anymore.

It’s unnatural. And it makes me so cranky I hardly ever whistle while I work.”

Smizzle emphasized that, in his view, this is an issue of fundamental fairness. “I do the same high-quality work as everyone else.

I work dawn to dusk like everyone else. I wear the same curly felt shoes as everyone else.

“I just happen to be Gay. And that’s not something I should have to hide,” said the elf between yawns.

He added, “Bottom line, I’ve had it up to my jingle bells with this discriminatory SUMT.” Smizzle admitted his call to end SUMT was inspired by the decision of the United States of America to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t

Tell” (DADT), its well-known policy concerning Gays and Lesbians in the military.

“Look, if they can finally stop discriminating, then surely we can,” said Smizzle.

“I mean, that’s a country where a quarter of the people think their president was born in another country. We’re behind them? It’s mortifying.”

A survey has never been conducted, so it’s hard to know how other elves feel about Shut Up, Make Toys. But a veteran dollmaker, Duzzle, struggled out of his deep sleep to express the view that SUMT should stay.

Duzzle said, “If I know the person handing me doll clothes is Gay, it might cause me to lose my focus. I might put a dirndl on a GI Joe, and then where would we be?”

Smizzle said he’s talked with some of the reindeer, and they’re supportive. “Really, all they care about is reindeer games,” he said.

Reached by phone at his vacation condo on Maui, Santa said he would deal with SUMT when he got home, “and not a moment before. You’ve already made me miss my stand-up paddling lesson.”

Mrs. Claus sent a subsequent e-mail, explaining that SUMT was established in a different era, that the world has changed, and she personally believes the policy should be abandoned. But protocol must be observed, she insisted, and any talks between concerned parties must take place over coffee and fruitcake.

If SUMT remains in place, Smizzle said he’ll leave Santa’s Workshop. “It’s the last thing I want to do. This has been the only world I’ve ever known. I love my work, and being part of something big. But I gotta be me.”

Then Smizzle fell asleep on the table, the elf’s pointy ears almost touching his tea and gingerbread.

Leslie Robinson actually likes some forms of fruitcake. E-mail her at lesarobinson@ gmail.com, and visit her blog at www.generalgayety.com.

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 7, 2011

Celebrating 37 Years!

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer New Mexico Attorney General Gary King has issued an opinion stating that same-sex marriages concluded in another state could be recognized under New Mexico law.

King announced his opinion on January 4.

“A comprehensive legal analysis by my office concludes that valid same-sex marriages in other states would likely be valid in New Mexico,” he said.

“While we cannot predict how a New Mexico court would rule on this issue, after review of the law in this area, it is our opinion that a same-sex marriage that is valid under the laws of the country or state where it was consummated would likewise be found valid in New Mexico,” King wrote in his opinion.

While 40 states forbid recognition of same-sex marriages, King says that New Mexico’s law does “not explicitly address the recognition of same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions,” according to the release announcing the opinion.

The attorney general’s opinion also addresses the impact of federal law.

“The federal [Defense of Marriage Act] authorizes states to prohibit the recognition of out-of-state, same-sex marriages. While many states have enacted such a prohibition, New Mexico has not,” King’s opinion says.

The opinion notes that Maryland’s attorney general recently spoke to the same issue and concluded, “Maryland would likely rec-

ognize an out-of-state, same-sex marriage despite a state law that precludes same-sex marriage.”

King’s opinion notes that five states plus Washington, D.C., currently recognize same sex marriages as legal, which “increases the likelihood that New Mexico residents of the same sex who married while traveling or who move to New Mexico after marrying in a jurisdiction that allows same-sex marriages will seek to have their marriages recognized in this state.”

Currently only New York, Rhode Island, and Maryland do not perform same-sex marriages, but do recognize them if they are valid in other jurisdictions.

King issued his opinion at the request of New Mexico State Rep. Al Park (D-Albuquerque).

A law recognizing marriages in other states has been on New Mexico books for decades, Park told the Santa Fe New Mexican. But, he said, “Some [same-sex couples] trying to utilize it have not been successful.”

“I predict this [opinion] will generally fire up opponents,” Park concluded. “My guess is that you’ll see opponents trying to pass a Defense of Marriage Act in the next session.”

Associated Press reported that Sen. William Sharer (R-Farmington) will introduce a constitutional amendment during the upcoming legislative session to define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman.

U.S. passport applications now reflect all families

office of the New Mexico Attorney General

New Mexico can recognize out-of-state Gay marriages, attorney general says

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King

file photo

signed it online at change.org.

“Success!” reported Dana. “On December 22, the State Department announced it will be making this change, and the application will be revised to say ‘Parent’ and ‘Parent.’”

Dana said the Family Equality Council (FEC), which has led the charge for the passport change, deserves recognition and thanks for their work in making the change a reality.

The State Department has additionally changed the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) – a document confirming that a child born overseas to a U.S. citizen acquired U.S. citizenship at birth – to say “Parent” and “Parent.” The CRBA still states, however, “The following items pertain to the biological parents.” For families with one biological and one non-biological parent, this continues to present a problem.

Emily Hecht-McGowan, director of Public Policy and Community Engagement for FEC, explained that the CRBA is controlled

by U.S. immigration regulations and confers citizenship through biology, in order to protect children born out of wedlock to U.S.

citizens abroad. She says this is one of many issues regarding children born abroad to U.S. same-sex parents that FEC is continuing to address in Washington.

“The State Department has been in the forefront of instituting LGBT-inclusive policies, and has here shown its support once again. No, it was not really arduous to cross out a word and put in a new one – but for our children who watched us do it, it was yet another reminder that our families are often marginalized,” wrote Dana. “Allowing for the possibility of different types of families on a form like this also reminds people that we exist and that our presence is recognized by the State Department – and on the single most important piece of identification a U.S. citizen may have.”

Dana reminds people, “For those of you who are still dealing with ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ on school, camp, medical, and other forms, you may just want to pop over to the State Department site to print out an official U.S. Passport Application and show others how it’s done.”

The new application will not be available until February 1, however.

Hot Dana Rudolph

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

ties presented by the “Father’s Name” and “Mother’s Name” blanks on the application.

Dana started a petition asking for the State In July 2010, Dana Rudolph wrote of her Department to revise the passport to say experience getting a new passport for her “Parent” and “Parent” – making it more inson – who has two moms – and the difficul- clusive of all families – and over 900 people

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INTERNATIONAL indymedia.org

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

The Homosexual Integration and Liberation Movement President Rolando Jiménez

Chilean court to rule on same-sex marriage Following a referral from the Santiago Court of Appeals, Chile’s Constitutional Court will take up a same-sex marriage case this week.

The court will consider a protection demand from MOVILH, the Homosexual Integration and Liberation Movement, and three same-sex couples who want the nation’s opposite-sex definition of marriage struck down on constitutional grounds.

The plaintiffs also seek to negate a law that blocks recognition of same-sex marriages entered into abroad.

MOVILH President Rolando Jiménez called the case a historic before-and-after moment for Chile’s LGBT movement.

All three plaintiff couples seek to marry in Chile. In addition, one couple seeks recognition of their legal Canadian marriage, and another seeks recognition of their legal Argentine marriage. The couples attempted to marry in Chile but were turned away by civil registry officials.

The lawsuit claims that Chile’s ban on same-sex marriage and its refusal to recognize foreign same-sex marriages infringe a constitutional promise that all people “are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and a constitutional guarantee of “equal protection of the law in the exercise of rights,” among other violations.

Should the Constitutional Court rule against same-sex marriage, activists plan to appeal to the Supreme Court and, if neces-

sary, the Inter-American Commission on tian and only 34 percent had no religion.

Human Rights.

The Gay humanist group Pink Triangle Trust “warmly welcomed” the findings.

Irish civil-partnership law “The country has become much less relicomes into force gious and more secular in its outlook,” said Ireland’s new same-sex civil-partnership PTT Secretary George Broadhead. “Neverlaw took effect January 1. theless, the powers that be, including poliCouples can unite before a registrar after ticians and the media – especially the BBC giving three months’ notice of their inten- – choose to ignore the findings and continue tion to tie the knot. to give special privileges to the churches Civil partners receive marriage rights and and other religious institutions as if they had obligations in matters such as taxes, pen- overwhelming support.” sions, property, tenancy, inheritance, alimoThe Guardian newspaper editorialized: ny, immigration, and social benefits.

“This Christmas, for perhaps the first time To end a partnership, a couple will go be- ever, Britain is a majority non-religious fore a court and prove they’ve not lived to- nation. Most of us have probably seen this gether for two of the last three years. moment coming, but it is a substantial event The law also recognizes foreign same-sex nonetheless.” unions and provides some rights for unregistered couples who have lived together for Russian top judge disses at least five years.

Euro court ruling on Gays Justice Minister Dermot Ahern called the The chairman of Russia’s Constitutional law “one of the most important pieces of Court, Valery Zorkin, said December 23 that civil rights legislation to be enacted since the recent European Court of Human Rights independence.” decision that struck down Moscow City “Persons in committed Gay relationships Hall’s annual bans of Gay pride disrespectwho wish to share duties and responsibilities ed Russian sensitivities, especially those of now have the choice to register their part- predominantly Islamic republics within the nership and become part of a legal regime Russian Federation. that fully protects them in the course of that Zorkin accused the Euro court judges of partnership and, if necessary, on its termina- sitting in a “glass building and throwing tion,” he said. “The new law recognizes and stones.” supports diversity.”

In a group of cases brought by Moscow An informational booklet on the registra- Pride founder Nikolai Alekseev, the court tion process is available at www.groireland. determined that Moscow’s pride bans violatie. ed guarantees of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental FreeUK to expunge doms in the areas of freedom of assembly Gay sex “crimes” and association, right to an effective remedy The United Kingdom is preparing legisla- and prohibition of discrimination. tion to expunge the “crimes” of adult men Russia was ordered to pay Alekseev who were prosecuted for having consensual 12,000 euros ($15,930) in damages and sex with adult men in earlier eras.

17,510 ($23,245) euros in costs and expensThe slate will be wiped clean for men es. whose partners were at least 16 years old.

The ruling has not yet come into force, At present, such “crimes” must be dis- but will be finalized before next summer’s closed when applying for certain jobs or sixth attempted Moscow pride parade. It is volunteer positions. unknown if the city will accede to the deciEngland and Wales decriminalized Gay sion. sex in 1967 for people over age 21, lowered the age to 18 in 1994 and lowered it to 16 – Malta fights the age that applies to heterosexual sex – in Trans marriage 2000.

Malta’s attorney general is appealing a rulScotland and Northern Ireland decriminal- ing that Transgender woman Joanne Cassar ized Gay sex in the early 1980s. The subse- must be allowed to marry her boyfriend. quent age reductions applied to all four UK The constitutional arm of the First Hall of political entities. the Civil Court had ruled that European Law and European Court of Human Rights deciBrits quit God sions establish the right of post-operative The latest British Social Attitudes survey transgender people to enter into an oppositefrom the National Centre for Social Re- sex marriage as a member of their new sex. search has found that 51 percent of responCassar is no longer engaged but will condents have no religion and 42 percent say tinue to pursue the case. they are Christian.

Just 25 years ago, 63 percent were ChrisWith assistance from Bill Kelley file photo

“Don’t out Gays,” Uganda judge tells tabloid

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

story exposed them to potential attacks from vigilantes, Onyango said.

Plaintiffs were awarded 1.5 million UganA Ugandan judge has ordered the tabloid Rolling Stone to stop publishing the names da shillings (about 650 dollars or 500 euros) and Rolling Stone was ordered to pay all leand photos of men it claims are Gay. According to John Francis Onyango, attor- gal fees they had incurred.

“We think that the compensation is on the ney for three Ugandan Gay rights activists, High Court Judge Vincent Musoke-Kibuuke low side, but the principles here are very important,” Onyango said. issued his order January 3.

The request for the injunction was filed by “The judge granted a permanent injunction against (the anti-Gay tabloid) Rolling three activists from a Gay rights group, SexStone from publishing these names,” On- ual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). Pictures of the three, along with their hometowns, yango told AFP reporters.

“But the ruling went beyond these appli- were published in a previous issue of Rollcants and extended to all media,” he added. ing Stone.

In its articles, Rolling Stone outed more The judge ruled that publishing the identities of people believed to be Gay violated than 20 people its editor believed were Gay. It claimed it had the names and photos of Ugandans’ constitutional right to privacy.

Uganda’s Rolling Stone – which has no hundreds of Gay Ugandans.

A lawyer for Rolling Stone argued that the connection to the U.S. music magazine of the same name – has published several ar- three petitioners had voluntarily identified ticles naming individuals it identified as Gay themselves as Gay rights leaders in other or Lesbian. In some cases, the individuals’ media and therefore the tabloid could not be addresses and phone numbers were also punished for restating their identities.

The editor, Giles Muhame, said he found published.

Judge Musoke-Kibuuke also ruled that the some of the other photos on a Gay dating plaintiffs’ lives were threatened since the website.

6

Seattle Gay News

January 7, 2011

Uganda’s Rolling Stone newspaper

Judge Musoke-Kibuuke dismissed the argument, saying that the broader danger of outing Gays in a tangibly homophobic country was the paramount issue. He noted that one story explicitly incited violence, carrying a headline that said “Hang Them.”

In a previous hearing, the judge suggested that Uganda’s law against homosexuality, defined as “carnal knowledge against the order of nature,” should be re-examined.

Currently, Ugandans convicted of having same-sex relations face 14 years in prison.

Last year, supporters of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni introduced legislation to increase penalties to life in prison – or death for “serial offenders.”

The “kill-the-Gays” bill has been tied up in a committee of Uganda’s parliament since it was introduced, and no date has been set for parliament to consider it.

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

DAVID WOJNAROWICZ’S CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO, A FIRE IN MY BELLY, SHOWING IN SEATTLE David Wojnarowicz’s controversial video, A Fire in My Belly, that was part of a show of Gay and Lesbian related art at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery recently, until it was removed from the exhibition in response to a deluge of unfavorable calls and emails from the Catholic League and its partisans, is being shown with other less controversial works by Wojnarowicz at the Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave. S., and at the Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave. NE & NE 41st St., through February 13. The Seattle Art Museum, First Ave. & Union St., presents other works by Wojnarowicz through January 30. A public discussion about Wojnarowicz and his work will be held at the Henry Art Gallery on Sunday, January 9, at 2 p.m.

THE ELITE HOSTS FREE ASL LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS Have you ever wanted to learn basic American Sign Language? If so, you can get some beginning ASL instruction at the Elite (1520 E. Olive Way). The FREE lessons will be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the loft.

SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dunshee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). All GLBTQ folks in the community are welcome to participate in this FREE book club.

The book for January is Hindoo Holiday, also by J.R. Ackerley – his true-life travel adventure about the few months he was hired as the private secretary to an eccentric Maharajah in a little principality of India who has a penchant for beautiful boys. It’s a novel by a Gay author with Gay content – but not about Gay love or Gay sex. Think about your Gay friends – Gay people exist most of the time OUTSIDE of the bedroom, and what happens otherwise is often just hinted at – well, that’s the kind of Gay writing this is. It’s a Gay man’s perceptions of a Maharajah who obsesses over handsome lower-caste youths. Ackerley’s acerbic wit demolishes several haughty British ladies also visiting the Palace, and the bits of dialogue scattered throughout are often hilarious. It’s travel writing at its best – an utterly personal plunge into a colorful world very different from our own.

For more information, e-mail nickdimartin@earthlink.net or contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

at the Crescent Lounge (1413 Olive Way).

Several guests will be wearing costumes, in addition to all the dazzlingly dressed performers.

We will gather in our fabulous costumes at 5 p.m. All who wish may do karaoke until the drag show starts at 6 p.m. After the drag queens (etc.) perform, there will be more karaoke until 1 a.m.

There is no cover, but donations will be collected for the Imperial Court of Seattle and Lifelong AIDS Alliance. If you have anything to donate to the raffle (e.g., massage, cleaning, photography, etc., services), please bring it. New drag queen and drag king performers are welcome.

XOXO. H.H. Harmony Victoria Dior D., Queen of the Seas 2010-2011.

DUNSHEE HOUSE WELCOMES NEW LGBTQ VETERANS GROUP On Sunday, January 9, at 6 p.m., Dunshee House, 303 17th Ave. E. (at E. Thomas St.), will host a grand kickoff event for a new LGBTQ Veterans Group. Dunshee House invites all members of the community to join them as they celebrate and welcome home the LGBTQ veterans in our community.

THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION On Tuesday, January 11 from 6:30-10 p.m.. at Town Hall (1119 8th Ave.), the official North American launch of The Economics of Happiness, a one-hour documentary about the worldwide movement for economic localization, will take place. The film features acclaimed environmentalists, scholars, and authors. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with co-director Helena Norberg-Hodge, authors David Korten and John de Graaf, and Yes! Magazine Publisher Fran Korten. Other panelists to be announced. FREE; $15 suggested donation.

For more information, visit www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org.

POZ SEATTLE’S JANUARY 2011 PORN EXCHANGE On Wednesday, January 12 from 6-8 p.m. at The Cuff (13th and E. Pine St.), POZSeattle is pleased to present its first monthly POZ Social of 2011. Meet in the downstairs bar for food, socializing, to catch up with old friends, to make new ones, and a whole lot of fun.

In keeping with our New Years tradition, we are hosting a “Clean Out Your Drawer Because You Got New Porn For Christmas Porn Exchange.” To participate in the Porn Exchange, simply bring in any magazines, books, DVDs and yes, even VHS tapes you want to swap and trade, preferably clean and free of any stickiness and not too many pictures cut out.

This event is free as always (except for the cost of beverages from the bar), but donations are gladly accepted, and is for all HIVpositive men and their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, or color.

POZSeattle is a social organization run for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive guys that is committed to planning and promoting fun, social activities. For questions or more information about this event, to plan your own social event, or to be added to our event promotions e-mail list, e-mail info@ pozseattle.org; www.pozseattle.org.

NORDIC LIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL From Friday, January 7 through Sunday, January 9 at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St.), the Nordic Heritage Museum will hold its second annual Nordic Lights Film Festival.

This cutting-edge cinematic festival offers an immersion into the world of hot Nordic films during the chilly winter film season, focusing on contemporary, award-winning films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, presented at SIFF Cinema. Admission is $7 for Nordic Heritage Museum members and SIFF members; $10 for the general public. Tickets are available through the SIFF Cinema Box Office at www.siff.net or (206) 464-5830.

For more information, a complete schedPUBLIC CELEBRATION OF ule of films, and information on purchasing MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR tickets, visit www.siff.net or www.nordicOn Thursday, January 13 at noon at the museum.org 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Ave.), King County and its employees invite the public QUEEN OF THE SEAS to join the celebration honoring the life of PRINCESS PARTY the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his AT THE CRESCENT TAVERN vision of an America of opportunity for all.

On Saturday, January 8, come be whisked Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones will be the keynote away to a fabulous wonderland of princess- speaker at this special event. Backed by her ness at the Queen of the Seas Princess Party, research, Dr. Jones uses powerful allegories

Visit us online www.sgn.org

to promote discussion and understanding of the difficult topic of the impact of race on our national health and wellbeing. She is a passionate advocate for equity and justice in our society and appears in the video Unnatural Causes, a documentary exploring the racial and socioeconomic disparities in health and wellness.

Young people from throughout King County have been selected to receive the 2011 Essay Award on the celebration theme, “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

The youth awards will be presented at the celebration.

The celebration will also include interpretations of this year’s theme by local performance poets and musicians coordinated by the multi-talented spoken word performer and producer Storme Webber.

For more information, please contact Bailey de Iongh at the Office of Civil Rights, 206-296-7652.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR’S BEYOND VIETNAM SPEECH On Saturday, January 15 at 1 p.m. at the Seattle Center/Center House Pavilion (305 Harrison St.), the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas (CD Forum) and the Seattle Center present a staged reading of Martin Luther King, Jr’s landmark speech, Beyond Vietnam. The reading will feature actors Rachael Ferguson, Charles Norris, Paul Rosenthal and Adillia Scott. Music by the Sound of the Northwest. Directed by Timeca Briggs.

This controversial speech, delivered at New York’s Riverside Church on April 4, 1967, outlined King’s opposition to the Vietnam War. During the speech, King called the United States government “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today” and he offered a five-point plan for stopping the war urging “a radical revolution of values” that emphasized social justice rather than economic materialism.

Response to the speech was largely negative, and the New York Times stated that it “diminished [King’s] usefulness to his cause, to his country, and to his people.”

Similarly, the NAACP accused King of linking two disparate issues – the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Close to the end of the speech, King would add, “We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.

In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late.”

The Beyond Vietnam speech was made exactly one year before King’s assassination. The reading will weave together excerpts of this timely speech with songs from the Civil Rights Movement.

This event is free and open to the public. www.seattlecenter.com.

BAILEY-BOUSHAY HOUSE CHEFS’ DINNER On Sunday, January 16, join supporters of Bailey-Boushay House for an hors d’oeuvres reception and silent wine auction at 5 p.m. ($75) and private dinner ($300, which includes the reception and auction) at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way. Dine to make a difference at the 19th annual Chefs’ Dinner to benefit BaileyBoushay House. Guests will enjoy the best that area chefs have to offer. 206-583-6514; www.virginiamason.org/chefs GLSEN/WA HOSTS GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE REGIONAL CONFERENCE On Monday, January 17, registration from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., conference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at University Prep (8000 25th Ave. NE.), the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Washington state chapter will hold its annual Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Regional Conference.

Educate yourself on new and interesting ideas that can help you work with your school, community, or those you come in contact with. GLSEN provides curriculum ideas, sensitivity trainings, and resources for all educators, students, advisors and interested adults.

Regional conferences serve to help GSA groups network with each other, gain information, plan group activities, set goals, and

January 7, 2011

encourage participation in activities that further our goal of safer school environments for all students.

Student programs include introduction to PFLAG, coming out to your friends and family, Youth Suicide Prevention Program, GSA rights, making your school a “safe place,” Trans 101, viewing of Bullied and discussion, GSA networking, dating and relationships, and self-defense.

Cost $5, $15 with lunch. For more information, e-mail mail@glsenwa.org or visit www.glsenwa.org.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WORKSHOPS, RALLY, AND MARCH On Monday, January 17, the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee presents the 29th annual region-wide Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration at Garfield High School (400 23rd Ave.). Workshops from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., rally at 11 a.m., and march at noon. Make plans to join us as we plan another successful event honoring Dr. King’s life and legacy! All are welcome.

Seattle has one of the largest annual Martin Luther King Day Celebrations in the U.S. We honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for his work toward racial equality and economic justice for all people, for his commitment to nonviolence, and for his stand against war and militarism.

For more information, visit www.mlkseattle.org.

GSBA BUSINESS LUNCHEON On Wednesday, January 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the GSBA will hold their Business Luncheon at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront (2100 Alaskan Way). New Seattle Police Chief John Diaz and Assistant Chief Dick Reed will attend and answer questions about public safety, hate crimes, and budget cuts. Come prepared for an interactive and lively discussion. Tickets $39, $34 for members and students.

For more information, visit www.thegsba. org or call 206-363-9188.

SEATTLE LESBIAN AND GAY CHILD CARE TASK FORCE FAMILY CONNECTION NIGHT On Thursday, January 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the Shoreline Conference Center (18560 1st Ave. NE.), the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Child Care Task Force will host their Family Connection Night event. The film That’s a Family will screen, followed by group discussion. A community resource table will feature a variety of information. Pizza and limited childcare for children ages 3-6 is provided. Space is limited.

Attendees must RSVP to Sue Ferguson at (425) 891-3159 or suefmail@yahoo.com.

KNIGHTS OF MANTRA BEGGARS’ FEAST – SOMETHING MEDIEVAL On Saturday, January 22 at 6 p.m., the Jet Chapter of the Knights of Mantra will hold their 2011 Beggars’ Feast – Something Medieval at Russian Hall (704 19th Ave. E.).

Price includes five-course meal and dessert.

Games, stocks, spanking stools, great food, entertainment, and special surprises. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. (Advance tickets available from Knights of Mantra members.)

GAY CITY SPONSORS WRITING WORKSHOP On Mondays from January 24 through March 7 at Gay City Health Project (511 E. Pike St.), Gay City Arts presents Smudgy Notebook, the Gay City Writing Workshop Series. For this winter session, Gay City will focus on basic writing techniques such as point of view, setting, character development, allegory/fable/metaphor, poetry and short story form/structure, and others. The goal is to foster an understanding of writing on a literary level. Each week we will have an informal discussion concerning a specific writing technique or tool, and focus our attention on developing and/or honing our skills in that area. This Queer-friendly course is open to women, Trans-folk, and men, and is designed to accommodate beginners and more advanced writers.

For more info, please contact Kevin at (206) 850-1575 or Susan at (206) 388-1707 or susan@gaycity.org.

Seattle Gay News

7

Pope vs. Spain

Political slugfest highlights Gay rights atonementparish

celebrated by Archbishop Antonio Rouco Varela, chair of the Spanish Bishop’s Conference. Varela was assisted by a crowd of clerics including five other archbishops, 22 bishops, and more than 300 priests.

He subsequently denied to reporters that he was participating in a “political demonstration.”

People’s Party organizers expected 500,000 people at the rally, but police estimates put the turnout at less than 250,000.

Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and is the capital of the autonomous region of Cataluña. The Catalan language is distinct from the Castilian Spanish spoken in most of the country.

Barcelona’s Mayor Jordi Hereu i Boher represents the Socialist Party of Cataluña, which is affiliated with the Prime Minister Zapatero’s Spanish Socialist Workers Party.

Zapatero has been prime minister since April 2004. He introduced and passed Spain’s marriage equality and abortion laws.

While 73% of Spaniards still identify as Roman Catholics according to the Spanish Center of Sociological Research, most do not attend church regularly. Some 22% of Spaniards say they have no religion.

The Church’s close identification with the fascist Franco dictatorship (1936-1975) helped to discredit the Catholic hierarchy in the eyes of many Spaniards.

Barcelona was also a stronghold of Spanish anarchism and socialism during the Civil War period of the 1930s.

Gaudi (1852-1926) was a revolutionary architect and designer, but he was also a right-wing Catalan nationalist and a devout Roman Catholic.

Gay newspaper boxes vandalized in Vancouver, B.C.

courtesy xtra!

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Spanish city of Barcelona announced on December 30 that it will erect a monument to LGBT people who have been victims of persecution.

The monument will be unveiled next month, according to Barcelona’s city government.

It will be done in pink stone and will be triangular in shape.

Barcelona City Hall said the monument would include the inscription: “In memory of the Gays, Lesbians, and Transsexual people who have suffered persecution and repression throughout history. Barcelona 2011.”

The location of the LGBT monument has not yet been revealed, but a city government spokesperson confirmed to AFP reporters that the large square directly in front of Antoni Gaudi’s iconic Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) church “is one location that has been proposed.”

If the monument is placed in front of Sagrada Familia, it will have more than just artistic significance.

When Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain

last November, he consecrated Sagrada Familia as a basilica – a church with special status for Roman Catholics – and used the occasion to preach a sermon attacking Spain’s liberal social policies.

During his sermon, the pope noted that the church of the Sagrada Familia was dedicated to the Holy Family consisting of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

He said that families are built on the “indissoluble love of a man and a woman” which should be protected by law, and provided with financial and social benefits by governments.

He also denounced reproductive choice, saying “the life of children [must] be defended as sacred and inviolable from the moment of their conception.”

The pope’s sermon was heckled by LGBT protesters, who staged a kiss-in in the square in front of Sagrada Familia – the possible future site of the LGBT monument – as he spoke.

Spain’s Socialist government legalized same-sex marriage in July 2005, and abortion in July last year.

A 2008 study found that 66% of Spaniards approve of marriage equality. In the first three years after the new marriage law was passed, over 12,000 Gay and Lesbian marriages were celebrated.

The right-wing People’s Party, the main opposition to Prime Minister Jorge Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s Socialist government, has promised to repeal marriage equality if they come to power.

On January 2, the Pope appeared via live satellite feed at a People’s Party “family values” rally in Madrid.

He said that a family was “founded on the marriage between a man and a woman” and that this “is of paramount importance for the present and the future of humanity.”

The rally also featured a Catholic Mass

If the monument is placed in front of Sagrada Familia, it will have more than just artistic significance.

8

Seattle Gay News

January 7, 2011

Fourteen newspaper boxes for the Canadian Gay newspaper Xtra! were vandalized in Vancouver, B.C., between December 25 and 29, 2010.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Police in Vancouver, B.C., are investigating the possibility of hate-motivated vandalism following damage to distribution boxes for the Canadian Gay newspaper Xtra!

A senior manager for the newspaper said the vandalism would cost the free publication about $3,000. Xtra! boxes were targeted in Ottawa in 2006 at a cost of more than $10,000.

When Gareth Kirkby, senior manager for the Gay and Lesbian publication, first noticed an Xtra! newspaper box had been vandalized, he chalked it up to nothing more than an isolated incident. But when Kirkby learned several more of the paper’s boxes had been smashed, he realized it was a pattern.

In all, 14 of Xtra!’s newspaper boxes were damaged. According to police, none of the street stands for other publications were vandalized – leading authorities to believe the crime was fuelled by hate.

“To me, it’s very clear it’s aimed at the Gay community,” said Kirkby. “If there was a Gay person in front of the culprit, we fear what would happen to that Gay person.”

Gay bashings in Vancouver made headlines several times last year. In fact, Canadian officials released a report in June 2010 naming Vancouver one of the country’s hatecrime capitols. Statistic Canada said police investigated 34 crimes based on a victim’s sexual orientation in 2008.

Kirkby says Vancouver has made tremendous progress over the past 20 years when it comes to respecting the Gay community, but it “still has a little distance to go.”

“It’s frustrating and it’s disappointing,” said Ken Coolen, president of the Vancouver Pride Society.

Coolen called the actions “cowardly.”

Police say they are hoping surveillance video will provide some clues. The newspaper boxes were primarily damaged in the city’s downtown core between December 25 and 29, 2010. In most of the cases, the glass door was smashed.

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

January 7, 2011

Seattle Gay News

9

10 Seattle Gay News

January 7, 2011

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

January 7, 2011

Seattle Gay News 11

12 Seattle Gay News

January 7, 2011

Celebrating 37 Years!

We love Obama the most, new poll says courtesy KUED

Equality Utah named as one of 2010’s Gay Rights Heroes

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

President Barack Obama

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer An October 2010 poll newly released by the Huffington Post shows that President Obama’s standing with the LGBT community was much higher than with the country at large, even before DADT was repealed.

The survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, interviewed 1,077 selfidentified members of the LGBT community nation-wide. Half were interviewed by phone and the other half online.

Sixty-four percent said they approved or strongly approved of the way President Obama was handling his job.

Forty-six percent said they thought the country was heading in the “right direction’ while 49% said the “wrong direction.”

This contrasts with polls of all likely voters regardless of sexual orientation. Only 30% of all likely voters said the country was going in the right direction, with 62% saying it was headed in the wrong direction.

The polling was done in October, before the November election and well before DADT was repealed.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner often does internal polling for Democratic candidates.

The survey on the president’s standing was not made public at the time it was taken.

Huffington Post got the results from an individual identified only as a “high-ranking LGBT operative” on condition that the full survey would not be published.

According to the Huffington Post, the “operative” cited the poll “as evidence that the Gay community was not disaffected with

the president prior to November’s midterm elections and that they would not lose patience with Obama even if he fails to persuade Congress to move major agenda items in the years ahead.”

“The research is very current and my guess is, if anything, the numbers will be better now that DADT was repealed, not worse,” the operative said.

The poll may help refute the idea that the president’s popularity with the LGBT community remains on thin ice despite DADT repeal.

Some activists who had been highly critical of President Obama now acknowledge that repeal of DADT was a major victory for the administration.

“I was one of the administration’s toughest critics and thought they should have moved more quickly,” said Equality Matters President Richard Socarides.

“I think now, the only thing anyone cares about is that it is done. And I think President Obama’s strategy paid off and he deserves a lot of credit. So I think people in the Gayrights community feel very positive towards him and there is no other way about it.”

According to Huffington Post, Socarides was not the source who gave them the poll.

Civil rights issues were not the only ones affecting the president’s standing with the LGBT community, however.

Only 5% of the Greenberg Quinlan Rosner survey’s respondents described LGBT rights as the most important issue facing the country today.

Fifty-eight percent cited the economy as their top concern.

The poll may help refute the idea that the president’s popularity with the LGBT community remains on thin ice despite DADT repeal.

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Change.org, an online activism platform for social change that raises awareness about important causes and connects people to opportunities for powerful action, named Equality Utah as one of 2010’s Gay Rights Heroes.

“When 2010 started, Equality Utah put forward a bold statement: In 12 months’ time, they would work like hell to make sure that 10 Utah cities/towns/municipalities enacted non-discrimination ordinances that included protections on the basis of sexual orientation,” wrote Change.org editor Michael Jones. “Sure enough, they put their money where their mouth was and got it done.”

Equality Utah works to secure equal rights and protections for LGBT Utahns and their families. Toward this mission, Equality Utah drafts legislation and coordinates efforts to ensure its passage; lobbies legislators and other elected officials; builds coalitions, educates, empowers, and energizes individuals and organizations to actively participate in the political process.

Equality Utah’s policy areas include bias crimes, HIV/AIDS and healthcare, marriage/partner recognition, nondiscrimina-

tion, parenting and family, racial and economic justice, Transgender and youth issues.

In December 2010, Grand County became the 10th Utah area to enact an inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. “And Equality Utah’s work isn’t done yet,” said Jones.

“Together with other LGBT activists in the state, they have their eyes on Ogden, hoping that the city will become the 11th in the state to enact sweeping anti-discrimination protections.”

Equality Utah was just one in a long list put together by Change.org’s editor, who wrote, “From historic victories in Congress to bold individual acts for equality, 2010 was quite the year to remember.”

Jones then recognized Constance McMillen, Dan Savage and the folks at the “It Gets Better” Project, Wendy Walsh and Tammy Aaberg, Kelly Glossip, all the players in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” debate, Frank Martin Gill, Azwan Ismail, GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders), and Ted Olson, David Boies, and the American Foundation for Equal Rights for their work.

“Of course, this just a quick snapshot of some of the major forces for LGBT equality in 2010. … This list could go on,” concluded Jones.

January 7, 2011

Seattle Gay News 13

The beautiful game heads to anti-Gay Qatar

by Dan Woog SGN Contributing Writer When the World Cup kicks off in Qatar in 2022, there will be no alcohol.

There will also be few Gay people in the stands, watching the most popular sports event on the planet.

FIFA – soccer’s world governing body – stunned the world late last year with the announcement that the quadrennial tournament heads for the first time to the Middle East. It was a coup for Sepp Blatter. FIFA’s president already helped steer the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, a first for the continent.

The same day he announced Qatar for 2022, he said that Russia would host the 2018 event. That too was a first. Some observers thought Blatter, who wields great influence over the politicized voting for host nations, was angling for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But Blatter’s statement a few days later torpedoed any hope for such an award. Instead, it set off a human rights firestorm that reached from Qatar to FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to England and the U.S. – anywhere on the globe where soccer is played.

In other words, everywhere.

Immediately following Blatter’s announcement about Qatar, questions arose.

How can games be played in heat that reaches 125 degrees? What will happen when hard-drinking fans arrive in a country where public consumption of alcohol is forbidden?

And how can LGBT fans travel to a nation where homosexuality is strictly forbidden?

Asked at a news conference if he foresaw any cultural problems, the 74-year-old Blatter replied, “I’d say they [Gay fans] should refrain from any sexual activities.”

His tone was jocular. He then turned seri-

ous, saying simply he was sure there would be no problems.

A FIFA spokesman said there would be no further comment.

Howls of indignation arose from Gay and straight organizations – both sports-minded and not.

Former NBA basketball star John Amaechi – raised in England, the birthplace of soccer – was among the first to respond.

He said, “It’s absurd. It’s not about people having sex in public and being sanctioned for it; it’s the fact that Qatar was one of 79 countries to sanction executing Gays at the United Nations.

“FIFA has endorsed the marginalization of LGBT people around the world. Anything less than a full reversal of his position is unacceptable. … If sport cannot serve to change society, even temporarily during the duration of an event like the World Cup that invites the world to participate, then it is little more than grown men chasing a ball and we should treat it as such.”

Amaechi did not limit his criticism to Blatter. Referring to giggling by reporters when the Gay question was asked, the basketball player said, “It is the most childish response I could imagine. This does make it harder for footballers that are Gay, but let’s not limit this. This story is big enough, his influence is big enough, to impact young people in school, people in workplaces, anybody who is perceived to be Gay or is Gay.” Blatter’s comments, Amaechi said, underscore that “the seat of power, straight white men” are “very, very clearly uncomfortable with this issue and certainly not interested in taking it seriously.”

Kick It Out, an organization combating racism in soccer, spoke out against Blatter’s remarks too. Chairman Herman Ouseley said, “It was all frivolity and laughter, but it’s a serious business. People’s existence he

has ridiculed.

“We can’t have that from the top of the world-governing body. You’ve got to show leadership because you’ve got to influence the standards of behavior required and then you’ve got to enforce it when there’s a failure.”

Juriv Lavrikovs, communications director at the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, said simply, “This is not a joke.

This is a matter of life and death to people.”

Qatar enforces its anti-sodomy laws strictly. An American serving a six-month sentence for homosexuality also received 90 lashes.

Gay Football Supporters Network Chair Chris Basiurski noted, “Many LGBT people live in countries where they would face execution or imprisonment if discovered. These people deserve our help, our respect and our support.”

“They, like the rest of us, do not deserve

to be laughed at. … Mr. Blatter is naïve to think that by taking the beautiful game to Qatar, it will bring an end to discrimination in the Middle East.

“He says that football is ‘everything for everyone,’ but he has not yet explained just how FIFA is going to ensure that LGBT football players and supporters will be welcome in Qatar.”

Blatter later condemned discrimination “against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right or whatever.” He did not mention anti-Gay discrimination specifically.

The powerful chairman still has his job.

And the World Cup is still headed to Qatar.

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, Gay activist, and author of the “Jocks” series of books on Gay male athletes. Visit his website at www.danwoog. com. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutField@qsyndicate.com.

Florida governor celebrates inauguration with prayer and bigotry

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Florida’s new governor, Rick Scott, attended a prayer breakfast and was then sworn into office on January 4.

He then went to his office and issued a series of executive orders which he hoped would set the tone for his administration of the state.

With one order, Scott seized control of all state action in Florida by mandating that no state agency issue any new rules or spend any money without his explicit approval.

Another order, EO 11-04, limits state nondiscrimination policies only to the categories of race, gender, creed, color, and national origin.

Scott removed the categories of “handicap” and “martial status” from the state policy.

Those two categories are protected by Florida’s Civil Rights Act, and many advo-

cacy groups have been working to add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the language as well, according to the South Florida Gay News.

“Pregnancy,” added to the list of protected categories by a Florida state court decision, was also excised by Scott.

“Governor Scott did not even include all of the classifications listed in the Florida Civil Rights Act – let alone sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Palm Beach Human Rights Council President Rand Hoch.

Scott was the Tea Party candidate in the race for Florida governor, narrowly defeating Democrat Alex Sink. He is anti-Gay and anti-choice.

He was also CEO of the world’s largest for-profit healthcare company, Columbia/ HCA. Scott resigned in 1997 in a billing fraud scandal. His company was forced to pay the federal government $600 million after admitting to 14 felonies.

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14 Seattle Gay News

January 7, 2011

Celebrating 37 Years!

Trend lines and battle lines Arizona Gay teen

by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer

threatens lawsuit over bullying courtesy Caleb Laieski

The trend lines point toward full LGBT equality.

This was surprisingly evident last week on the FOX News Channel show Red Eye, which lampooned leading anti-Gay organizations for vowing to skip this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) because a Gay conservative group was invited. The show’s host ruthlessly mocked The Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and jokingly claimed that Peter LaBarbera’s Americans for Truth About Homosexuality held shirtless meetings.

If you need further evidence the world is rapidly changing, consider what is happening in Utah. The New York Times reports the number of high schools that had active GayStraight Alliances increased in the past year from 9 to 32, including one in St. George, a conservative town in southern Utah.

Advances can also be witnessed at the federal level with the signing of a hate crime law in 2009 and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2010.

On the international front, there is rapid progress including Ireland’s new same-sex civil-partnership law that was enacted January 1. Barcelona, another Catholic bastion, is erecting a monument with an inscription that will read, “In memory of the Gays, Lesbians, and Transsexual people who have suffered persecution and repression throughout history.”

LGBT equality in Europe has been greatly accelerated by the erosion of traditional religious beliefs. The latest British Social Attitudes survey from the National Centre for Social Research has found that 51 percent of respondents have no religion, and 42 percent say they are Christian. Just 25 years ago, 63 percent were Christian and only 34 percent had no religion.

Even the Catholic stronghold of Poland is becoming more secular. While the New York Times reports that 95 percent of Poles identify themselves as Catholic, only 41 percent attend Sunday Mass regularly. In the cases of Spain, Ireland and Poland, the Catholic Church’s pedophile scandal and its meddling in politics has alienated much of these populations.

Such changes in religious orthodoxy are mirrored in the United States. A 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that more than 16 percent of American adults say they are not part of any organized faith, which makes the unaffiliated the country’s fourth largest “religious group.” While progressive faiths play a key role in supporting LGBT rights, it cannot be denied that the more secular a nation becomes, the more likely it will support equal-

ity.

Unfortunately, such obvious trend lines will not stop the battle lines from being drawn by those who are ferociously resisting change.

On the national stage, all four candidates campaigning to replace current Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele stated their staunch opposition to marriage equality. To keep his job, Steele has veered right and told the National Organization for Marriage that he would support the Federal Marriage Amendment if the courts decide that prohibiting same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

The fight for the RNC chairmanship is indicative of what to expect from the newly empowered Republican Party. Now that the GOP has taken over the House of Representatives, the capital is essentially a dead zone for at least two years.

The LGBT movement should allocate resources to assist state organizations until the dire situation in Washington improves. State groups will certainly need assistance as antiGay activists work to roll back recent gains.

For example, in New Hampshire the GOP takeover of the House and Senate have put the state’s 2009 marriage equality law in jeopardy. Anti-Gay bills have already been put forward and all that stands in their way is Democratic Gov. John Lynch – provided the Republicans do not scrounge up vetoproof majorities.

LGBT advocates should highlight that virtually nothing changed in New Hampshire after the marriage law was updated to be more inclusive. The gloom-and-doom scenarios painted by anti-Gay advocates never came to pass, proving that same-sex marriage is no threat. So, for the legislature to take up this issue during a recession is nothing more than grandstanding at the expense of fixing the economy.

As LGBT people become more accepted by mainstream society, the rhetoric of hate groups becomes more incendiary. For instance, on his radio show this week, The American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer said that homosexuality is “an abomination in the nostrils of God.” On the international front, gains in Europe are tempered by a near continent-wide psychosis in Africa. The most vivid example of anti-Gay hysteria is in Uganda, where the notorious “Kill the Gays” bill is under consideration in parliament.

To be Gay in 2011 is to confront a complex and confusing world while traversing an incoherent patchwork of attitudes and laws.

The positive trend lines will continue to improve, even as the ugly battle lines harden.

There is little choice but to soldier on and assist in the scrappy process of consigning anti-Gay activists to their ignominious place in history.

Caleb Laieski

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Caleb Laieski, the 15-year-old Gay activist who made headlines last year when he claimed bullying and death threats at his Arizona high school were ignored by teachers, has put Arizona schools on the spot: If you continue to ignore anti-Gay bullying and harassment, Laieski promises, I will file a lawsuit.

According to The Arizona Republic, the Phoenix-area teen e-mailed a letter to more than 5,000 school administrators and elected officials in early December 2010.

“The letters warn school officials that they must institute policies specifically prohibiting Gay harassment by students, teachers and administrators,” reports the Republic.

“Schools that fail to stop bullying will encounter ‘legal ramifications.’”

Caleb says he came out when he was in the eighth grade. The teen now attends Willow Canyon High School in Surprise, Arizona. At age 13, Caleb founded his own Gay advocacy group, Gays and Lesbians United Against Discrimination (GLUAD)

and has been working to make sure other kids around the country do not encounter anti-Gay bullying. After enduring bullying himself (Caleb reports being called “fucking faggot”), the Gay teen successfully prompted the Dysart Unified School District to revise its handbook to include language that prohibits bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Caleb says his goal is to not have to sue anybody. Instead, “This is more not to threaten a lawsuit but to put resources out there. But if they don’t want to cooperate, there are going to be consequences.”

So far, the Republic reports that the letter campaign has generated responses from only a handful of officials, most of whom have not expressed plans to take further steps.

According to the Advocate, the Arizona School Boards Association – whose handbook recommends policies and language to many districts – plans to release policy advisories this month, but a spokeswoman would not say whether anti-Gay bullying was included among the revisions.

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January 7, 2011

Seattle Gay News 15

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Christine O’Donnell will be jealous.

Romania’s witches announced on January 5 that they will curse the country’s political leaders. The witches are protesting a new labor law that recognizes them as professionals, but also requires them to pay taxes.

According to BBC News, some witches plan to toss poisonous mandrake roots into the Danube River.

Meanwhile, the witch queen Bratara Buzea is devising a particularly powerful spell involving cat turds and a dead dog.

Buzea, who served a prison sentence for witchcraft in 1977 under the Ceausescu regime, warned that her curses always worked.

“We do harm to those who harm us,” she

said. “They want to take the country out of this crisis using us? They should get us out of the crisis because they brought us into it.”

Alisia, one of a dozen witches planning to hurl mandrake plants to bring “evil” on Romania’s president and government, said her income was so small, the idea of taxing it was “foolish.”

According to AP News Agency, payments to witches and astrologers are usually made in cash and are relatively small – up to 30 Romanian lei or $9 per consultation.

Romanian lawmakers reportedly imposed an across-the-board income tax of 16% plus health and pension payments.

The previous labor code did not recognize occupations such as witch, astrologer, fortuneteller, and embalmer, and therefore they were not subject to taxation.

Vadim Ghirda/AP

Romanian witches curse officials who taxed them

Romanian Bratara Buzea, 63, was imprisoned for witchcraft under Nicolae Ceausescu’s repressive regime.

Now witches and other previously unrecognized specialists have been classified as self-employed, as part of the cash-strapped government’s push to collect more revenue and crack down on tax evasion.

Some witches welcomed official recognition of their profession, however.

“It means that our magic gifts are recognized and I can open my own practice,” Mihaela Minca told AP. “The lawmakers don’t look at themselves, at how much they make, their tricks,” Minca added. “They steal and they come to us asking us to put spells on their enemies.”

mullen

plement the new law that repeals DADT. I commit to making sure the process is wellled, maintains our combat readiness, and upholds our high standards.”

Mullen concluded that it is the diversity of the U.S. armed forces that makes them a strong fighting force. “Indeed, strength of character is the heart of our armed forces,” he said. “It is a strength that comes from the remarkable diversity of the citizens we protect and those that serve. An all-volunteer service should reflect the society it protects.

We will continue to value the diversity and inclusivity of our armed forces.”

Mullen’s words come at a particularly strategic time, when anti-DADT repeal foes predict a mass exodus of troops from the service – or troops who choose to not reenlist – because Gays and Lesbians will be allowed to serve out in the open. Mullen and Secretary Gates have both publicly backed repeal and say that its implementation will not be a difficult one.

The U.S. military’s top commander ended the memorandum by thanking troops for their superb performance during a critical time in our nation’s history. “Your sustained and unwavering investment of intellect, time, and energy has enabled me to provide my very best advice to the president and secretary of defense,” he said.

continued from cover

world is watching as the U.S. military is involved in a two-front war and implementing social change within the ranks. “As we advance these priorities, our professionalism must remain beyond reproach. The American people, and their political leadership, closely scrutinize our conduct, and rightly so,” warned Mullen. “Respect for them – and for our oath – demands that we continue to remain an apolitical instrument of the state.”

Mullen told troops that means being “apolitical in our acts and in our words, whether outside the wardroom, on the flightline, within the barracks, or in the halls of the Pentagon.”

He said that more than nine years of close-quarters combat have changed many aspects of what the military does, but it “must not change who or what we are as a professional, disciplined force.”

Speaking directly to troops about DADT, Mullen advised, “I look forward to working with Secretary Gates and the Service Chiefs to prepare and certify the joint force to im-

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January 7, 2011

Celebrating 37 Years!

prop 8

continued from cover preme Court decision that legalized samesex marriage. Walker struck down the measure in August 2010 – saying that the 14th Amendment required equal treatment of same-sex and opposite sex couples – but stayed the ruling pending appeal.

Then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and State Attorney General Jerry Brown both agreed that Prop 8 is unconstitutional and declined to appeal. Brown is now governor and the state’s new attorney general, Kamala Harris, also says she will not appeal.

The supporters of Prop 8 did file an appeal, however, as did California’s Imperial County.

Ted Olson and David Boies, the attorneys who sued to get Prop 8 overturned, argued that only California’s governor and attorney general had standing to appeal, since only they were legal representatives of the citizens of California, and only they were charged with enforcing Prop 8’s ban on same-sex marriages.

If the Ninth Circuit decides they are right, then Walker’s ruling will stand and samesex marriage will once again be legal in California.

On the other hand, if the Ninth Circuit decides that parties other than state officials do have standing to appeal, they must then go on to decide the underlying constitutional question: Does the 14th Amendment mandate equal marriage rights for same-sex couples?

In their January 4 ruling, the three Ninth Circuit Court judges who are hearing the case provided a partial answer.

In one document, they dismissed Imperial County’s appeal for lack of standing.

“We affirm the denial of the intervention motion [by Judge Walker] … and correspondingly we dismiss the [Imperial County] appeal on the merits for lack of standing,” the Ninth Circuit panel said.

This result was widely expected because of the weak presentation Imperial County officials made to the court.

In another order also issued on January 4, the panel of judges referred to California’s Supreme Court the crucial issue of whether Prop 8’s original backers have standing to appeal.

Saying that issue turned on a question of state law, the federal judges specifically asked California’s high court to determine whether “the official proponents of an initiative measure possess either a particularized interest in the initiative’s validity or the authority to assert the State’s interest in the initiative’s validity, which would enable them to defend the constitutionality of the initiative upon its adoption or appeal a judgment invalidating the initiative, when the public officials charged with that duty refuse to do so.”

The federal judges also acknowledged

that the California Supreme Court might have a totally different take on the legal issues involved.

“We understand that the [California Supreme] Court may reformulate our question, and we agree to accept and follow the Court’s decision,” they wrote in their ruling.

According to the Ninth Circuit Court judges, this issue – an issue of state rather then federal law – would ultimately determine whether Prop 8 backers will be allowed to argue their case in the federal courts.

“If California does grant the official proponents of an initiative the authority to represent the State’s interest in defending a voter-approved initiative when public officials have declined to do so or to appeal a judgment invalidating the initiative, then Proponents would also have standing to appeal on behalf of the State,” the federal panel said.

If the California Supreme Court does find that Prop 8 backers may appeal, then the Ninth Circuit will decide their appeal on its merits. If it determines that Prop 8 backers lack standing, then the federal court will dismiss the appeal on procedural grounds as they did with Imperial County’s appeal.

Judge Walker believed that Prop 8’s proponents do not have standing to appeal. At least one of the Ninth Circuit panel – Judge Reinhardt – argued in court that the backers have “a strong argument to the contrary.”

Ultimately California’s Supreme Court must decide what state law says.

According to Lambda Legal, California law is ambiguous on this point.

“State law is unclear on those important points,” Lambda Legal said in a statement issued in the wake of the Ninth Circuit’s rulings, “and that’s problematic for our entire state. In California, so much lawmaking is done these days by popular vote at the ballot box. The public needs to know what processes exist for testing measures enacted by voters at the ballot box.”

Lambda Legal’s statement also noted that “state law up to this point has never authorized political activists to usurp the role of the state’s chief executive and top lawyer.”

The California Supreme Court is not obligated to respond to the Ninth Circuit Court’s request for a ruling, and even if they wish to rule on this issue, they are not required to

meet any timeline.

The Ninth Circuit’s rulings may mean that a final decision in the Prop 8 will be delayed many months.

tourism

continued from cover

statement. “Sessions at the summit include a city by city status report delivered by each participating chamber or region, information on how to develop a local LGBT visitors’ guide, utilize technology, and how to market and brand a city or region. Event sponsors include Alaska Airlines, Boeing, USBank, and the Seattle Renaissance Hotel.”

GSBA’s travel portal, Travel Gay Seattle, allows travelers to book their plane or train tickets and hotel stay, as well as find restaurants, shopping, and unique neighborhoods. By developing similar initiatives on the West Coast, tourism professionals hope to create a regional community for LGBT travelers.

“LGBT Tourism is an essential component of the West Coast economy. Some of the top Gay and Lesbian popular destinations in the world are located in western North America drawing hundreds of thousands of LGBT travelers from around the world every year,” said David Paisley of Community Market-

ing, Inc. “In addition, LGBT events such as Pride are often the biggest public events in their communities, and attract participants from far and wide.”

To launch Travel Gay Seattle, GSBA partnered with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, a company with a reputation for flexibility and outstanding service, as well as an established reputation for LGBT-friendly travel.

Additional support came from the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development and Sound Transit, a regional network of commuter rail, light rail, express buses, and local transit resources. Corporate sponsors include Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Amtrak, and American Airlines.

“LGBTQ Tourism is estimated to be an $84 billion industry, and Seattle is poised to attract a significant portion of that revenue,” said Jerome Bader, GSBA director of marketing and external relations. “Seattle has the second largest percentage of openly LGBTQ citizens in the United States, scenic beauty that cannot be matched, restaurants, a wine industry that is unparalleled, and metropolitan communities that are open and welcoming to all. Currently Seattle is ranked number nine in the top 20 LGBTQ tourism destinations. I want to be in the top five!”

The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) has been Seattle’s LGBT allied business and professional chamber of commerce since 1981. GSBA is the largest business chamber of its kind in the United States. For more information about GSBA, visit www.thegsba.org.

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January 7, 2011

Seattle Gay News 17

According to the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot – the newspaper that broke the story – Capt. continued from cover Honors appears in one scene with two female Navy sailors who are standing in a Honors has been reassigned to an admin- shower stall aboard the aircraft carrier, preistrative role. tending to wash each other. They joke that they should get six minutes under the water instead of the mandated three.

In other skits, sailors parade in drag, use anti-Gay slurs, and simulate masturbation and a rectal exam. Another scene implies that an officer is having sex in his stateroom with a donkey.

All the skits are a part of a series of short movies produced aboard the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier in 2006 and 2007 and broadcast to nearly 6,000 sailors and Marines.

Over the weekend, the Navy at first downplayed the videos as humorous skits, then called them unacceptable and said they were being investigated.

The video’s existence was not news to Navy brass. The Navy said its leadership

navy

had put a stop to videos with “inappropriate content” on the Enterprise about four years ago.

Some sailors who served with Honors aboard the Enterprise had stepped forward to defend their captain, saying the skits provided a much-needed morale boost during long deployments at sea.

The posts – mostly on the social networking site Facebook – say Honors is a man who genuinely cares about his sailors during six-month tours of duty in the Middle East at the height of the Iraq War. Maintaining morale is typically part of the executive officer’s job.

One of the sailors jumping to Honors’ defense is Eric Prenger, a Gay man. Prenger, a former petty officer who came out after leaving the Navy, says he was “absolutely not” offended by the videos.

“Myself, nor the other Gay crew members that I knew of at the time, were ever offended by those videos,” said Prenger. “In my

time aboard that ship, I never got the feeling he was against Gays at all.”

Prenger said that although it may be shocking that someone of such a high rank participated and masterminded such videos, “For people to think he’s a homophobe or a Gay-basher who didn’t even know him or weren’t even there to serve under him is pretty frustrating.”

Prenger has nothing but praise for his former executive officer, saying, “He was a great man to serve under, and this is an unfortunate circumstance, and if I can do my part to help him in any way, I would be more than happy to do so.”

The military – the Navy in particular – has undergone a cultural shift in recent decades away from the ill-mannered, frat-boy behavior that was exposed by the Tailhook scandal in 1991. The service is now working to accommodate Gays in its ranks. Also, the Navy is opening its all-male submarine force to women this year.

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Seattle Gay News 19