SGN January 28, 2011 - Section 1

Page 1

Issue 04 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

FRIDAY January 28, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

COLT BANKRUPT p. 8 HUD PROTECTS p. 15 RUPAUL’S DRAG race p. 21

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

AP Photo/John Froschauer

school on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender expression or identity), veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physically disability. The bill directed OSPI to create regulations that will assist the agency staff to properly carry out Washington State Superintendent of this new authority. Public Instruction Randy Dorn Equal Rights by Shaun Knittel Washington (ERW), the state’s SGN Associate Editor largest LGBT advocacy organization, American Civil Liberties Last year, Washington state en- Union (ACLU) of Washington, acted House Bill 3026 – a first-of- along with the Safe Schools Coaliits-kind law that gives the State tion and Legal Voice say that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) authority to combat discrimination in public see erw page 17

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Ugandan Gay rights activist David Kato was murdered on January 26. “He used to say that he was the first ‘out’ Gay Ugandan,” his friend, blogger GayUganda, remembered. According to a statement issued by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), the country’s main LGBT organization, “David was brutally beaten to death in his home today, 26 January 2011, around 2 p.m.” SMUG executive director Frank Mugisha told reporters for BBC’s Network Africa that “[Kato] was killed by someone who came in his house with a hammer, meaning anyone else could be the next target.” According to BBC News, police confirmed the death and said they are investigating the circumstances. Kato was a plaintiff in the lawsee uganda page 15

callmekuchu.com

ERW takes on OSPI Ugandan Gay activist policies to combat murdered in cold blood school house biases

Slain Ugandan Gay rights activist David Kato

GSBA’s Young Professionals The high cost with Pride mixer celebrates of DADT discharges two-year anniversary by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

nate gowdy

Vice President of the Greater Seattle Business Association’s board Rachael Brister, former Young Professionals with Pride organizer Cole Harrington, and Tidbit Bistro co-owners John van Deinse and Nicola Longo pose for a photo at the YPP gathering Tuesday, January 25, hosted this month by Tidbit Bistro at Broadway and E. Union. The featured GSBA organization of the night was Gay City Health Project.

The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) has cause to celebrate this year. Founded in 1981, the GSBA will celebrate their 30-year anniversary in the Seattle community. The organization’s programs range from LGBT business referrals to social mixers where networking is key. On January 25, however, it was the organization’s younger constituency that were celebrated as the GSBA’s Young Professionals with Pride (YPP) mixer celebrated two years of friendship, community, and business opportunity. “The GSBA has a commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders, which is why we sponsor a Scholarship Fund for LGBT and allied students. Our monthly Young Professionals with Pride Mixers provide a portal for LGBTA young professionals to connect with the LGBT business community,” said Louise Chernin, GSBA

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

The Pentagon spent nearly $200 million from 2004 to 2009 to discharge 3,664 members of the military under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) ban on Gays serving openly in the armed forces, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO put the per-person price tag per discharge at $52,800 during the six fiscal years – 2004 to 2009. The Army enforced the ban see YPP page 18 much more than any other branch

of service, sending 1,774 soldiers home for being Gay or Lesbian. The Navy kicked out 913 sailors. The Air Force discharged 540 airmen and the Marines separated 437 Marines. In addition, the GAO found that 1,458 of those discharged held critical jobs such as linguists and intelligence officers. Here’s a breakdown of the report: • Honorable discharge: 57% • Uncharacterized discharge: 28% see dadt page 18


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