SGN February 5, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 06 Volume 38

FRIDAY February 5, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

Celebrating 37 Years!

out to quit p. 4 BEAU BURRIOLA p. 18 Elton JOHN/BILLY JOEL p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

ADMIRAL MULLEN: Gays in the military – “the right thing to do”

Pope to Brits: Equality is a sin!

Brits to Pope: Mind your own business!

file photo

The U.S. military’s top uniformed officer, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen, said the armed services should lift the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) ban on openly Gay persons because “it’s the right thing to do.”

“I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces men and women to lie about who they are,” Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 2. “For me, personally, it comes down to integrity.”

Mullen spoke after Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the highestranking civilian leadership for the armed services (with the exception of President Obama, who acts as commander-in-chief), announced that the Pentagon will conduct a Pope Benedict XVI yearlong study of steps that would

by Mike Andrew ing in parliament is sinful. be needed to lift its “Don’t Ask, In remarks to 35 Roman Catho- Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibSGN Staff Writer lic bishops visiting Rome from its Gay and Lesbians from serving Pope Benedict XVI touched England and Wales, the pope said openly in the U.S. armed forces. off an international controversy that Britain’s Equality Bill would when he declared to visiting British Catholic prelates on February 1 see pope page 20 see dadt page 16 that LGBT rights legislation pend-

file photo

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen

shaun knittel

for the Radical Minds Retreat. The idea behind the retreat was to get all the LGBT activists together who were sick of delays, compromises and excuses and brainstorm ideas about the next step for LGBT civil rights and to figure out how to get more movement within the movement. Some who joined the session have been activists for many years and some were new to the movement. Joining the cadre of forward-thinking Gays was Stuart Wilber.

Stuart is a short, senior Gay man who’s promised himself that he will make a difference while he can. Stuart smiles a lot and is a great listener. He speaks softly, yet pointedly, and has a lot to say. He is the perfect companion for coffee or to accompany you to a show.

In other words, he’s an all-around okay kind of guy. What you may not know about Stuart is that he is full of fire and energy. If your conversation strays from theater and travel to politics, he lights up and Stuart Wilber begins to regale you with knowlby Shaun Knittel activists from around the country edge, experience and facts – he converged on the historic HighSGN Staff Writer lander Research and Educational see wilber page 18 In January, a group of 45 LGBT Center near Knoxville, Tennessee

Martin Jacobsen

Seattle activist Stuart Wilber Obama’s 2011 budget How does the LGBT community fare? joins Radical Minds Retreat

U.S. Capitol

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

will no doubt be debated for weeks in Congress, and perhaps for longer than that in the media. The key President Obama’s 2011 budget, provisions that affect the LGBT released by the White House on community can already be identiFebruary 1, is already controver- fied, however. sial.

The likely effect of the $3.83 trillion budget on the U.S. economy see budget page 8

proud to Be Different

We are conveniently located on-site at Lifelong AIDS Alliance below the Thrift Store.

Call us at 206.568.2486

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Seattle Gay News

February 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

February 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

1605 12th Ave., Ste. 31 Seattle, WA 98122

Phone: (206) 324-4297 Fax: (206) 322-7188

MEMBER

e-mail: sgn2@sgn.org internet: www.sgn.org

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

Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Tom Flint (retired) Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel Miryam Gordon, James Whitely, Tim Peter

Contributing Writers

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, James Whitely National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by JT&A, Inc. © 2010, JT&A, 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.

Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper.

Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication.

We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write.

And please play safe.

It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.

Going through “The Program” – Week 5

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer Three cigarettes a day. I’m pleasantly surprised I’ve been able to get this far. I have not lapsed in my tapering plan once – it hasn’t been easy, but it has also not been as difficult as I was anticipating. I’m beginning to see myself as a nonsmoker. In the past week, I have become much less reliant on cigarettes, and I am getting a grasp on what my life will be like after cigarettes.

The group size has been getting progressively smaller over the weeks. I gather that some of the group members who are no longer attending have quit, while others have either given up or have been unable to continue coming to the meetings. Whether by attrition or by completion, it’s not my place to judge, but only to wonder which is foreshadowing my own fate in my journey of quitting my tobacco use.

This week’s meeting was all about stress and was led largely by Dan instead of Lark, another coordinator of Out to Quit. We talked at great length about what stress is physiologically, how our smoking habits relate to stress, and ways of dealing with stress other than smoking.

We learned that stress related smoking is a “paired association” and a learned behavior.

As smokers, we build the image that smoking is a stress reliever so firm in our minds that they actually become stress relievers for us, at least emotionally.

One particularly noteworthy thing that Dan pointed out was that cigarettes not only create more stress in our lives, but lead to the same health problems that stress-related illnesses do. High blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease are a result of both, and as a smoker, I’m essentially doubling my chances of these afflictions later in life. Still, many of us – myself included

– smoke to relieve stress.

Amazing, isn’t it? Emotionally, cigarettes can actually do what we want them to, despite what they actually do physically.

The plain fact that I’ve actually been able to get this far isn’t all that’s surprised me, though. In the process of tapering, I’ve learned new things about my smoking habit, and I have prepared to change my plan accordingly.

The one primary problem that I’ve run into is this: All throughout the week, my last cigarette has generally been falling at around 7 p.m. each day. This leaves me with no chance to smoke before bed. I didn’t even realize until I didn’t have the option to smoke this week how important that last reflective daily cigarette really is.

I asked Lark, Dan and Ryan about this, because it has already become a serious problem. I’ve had trouble sleeping each and every night this week. Now, I get insomnia more often than I’d like to admit, and the two things could be unrelated, but I frankly don’t think so. According to the three of them, what’s needed is another ritual, another habit, another way to clear my mind and reflect on the substance of my day.

Tonight I’ll try simply going up to the rooftop of my apartment, clearing my head and taking in the fresh air. It’s basically the same thing I’ve always done, just without the cigarette. It worked just fine before I began smoking two years ago, so here’s hoping that it will work fine now.

I’ve tried to quit smoking twice before this. The first time was only for a week a few months after I started smoking. The second time, this past summer, was just as I began working for the SGN, and I quit for three weeks. However, this is the first time that I feel like I’m actually going to leave cigarettes behind altogether, because I want to, because I can, and because I just don’t need them anymore.

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

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Seattle Gay News

February 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY FOR EMPEROR FROM HARRIE P. ALTMAN, IMPERIAL PRINCE XXXII To the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle, Board of Directors and to the City of Seattle, It’s time again for us as individuals to offer our time, blood, sweat and tears for the betterment of the Court of Seattle and our community.

My name is Harrie P. Altman. I was made aware several years ago that there really was a Gay Court System, and my first Coronation was when Larry and Cleve stepped down at Jack McGovern’s. Since then, I have been involved with both the Imperial Court of Seattle and the United Ebony Council of

Washington. I joined The UEC during the seventh reign of Kurt and Carla. During the reign of 10, I ran for the title of King 11 and won and five years later did it again for King 16. After that I served as General Treasurer of the UEC for four years and Ball treasurer for three years and later I served as the UEC Board President. Through the years, I have helped with many coronations and functions. I have always enjoyed and been proud to serve when called upon. Several years later, I got this hair-brained idea that I’m going for the title of Prince XXXII of the Imperial Court of Seattle and I won. Thank you.

I served as Imperial Prince XXXII of Seattle between April 2006 and April 2007.

With my Princess, we had a good year. And now, after waiting a few years more, I figured that it’s my time to run for Emperor. If

elected, I will do my very best to work with our Court here in Seattle for the betterment of the community at large. Remember, ladies and gentlemen, the Emperor is only as good as the Court that’s behind him.

What would I like to do, you ask? First off, I will not make any promises, as most of the time they are hard to keep. But with the help from the community, I will get other organizations involved with us by holding various events. We all should be able to work together for a common goal and enjoyment. Sure, there is a lot of work involved in achieving this, but the rewards, as an organization and as representatives of the Seattle Gay community, will be worth the effort.

I will be proud to represent the Court of Seattle as Emperor 36. For the most part, I want to be a stay-at-home kind of Emperor, and by that I mean going up and down the 1-5 corridor as well as other parts of our state. And, yes, I’ll try to attend other events outside of the state of Washington. During the past several years, I have represented the Court as a member and a past IP, I traveled as far south as Eugene, Oregon, north to

Bellingham and the city of Spokane.

I have enjoyed being a part of the Imperial Court of Seattle these past years and look forward to representing this organization as your next Emperor #36 and for the community at large.

Respectfully, Harrie (Lee) Altman THANK YOU FROM KNIGHTS OF MANTRA James Whitely, Thank you so very much for the wonderful article on our Beggars Feast last weekend. We appreciate your hard work and the kind words.

Thank you and the staff at the SGN for all you do. Our community is better because of the work all of you do.

Sincerely, Thaddeus Jackson President, Jet Chapter Knights of Mantra

Controversial political Hawaii postpones civil compromise in Utah unions, Lambda will sue

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Utah state legislators concluded what may prove to be a history-making deal on February 1, with Democrats promising not to bring up new LGBT rights bills till 2011, and Republicans dropping their efforts to roll back anti-discrimination ordinances in Salt Lake City.

While Equality Utah applauded the compromise, many LGBT activists questioned whether the deal was necessary.

Republican State Senator Howard Stephenson and openly Lesbian Democratic State Representative Christine Johnson emerged as brokers of the deal. The two are sponsoring a bill to study LGBT employment and housing discrimination and report back to the legislature at the end of this year.

“There is a common desire to ensure that Utah is not the battleground for the nation on these kinds of issues,” Stephenson said.

“We simply refuse to be that battleground.

We hope to set a standard of civility and cooperation and respect that hopefully will be copied in other states.”

“It’s important now that we let [Salt Lake City’s anti-discrimination ordinance] work and see how it works,” Stephenson continued. “Then we can return next year with data and science and, hopefully, with greater civility than we’ve ever experienced between our communities.”

Johnson said she believed the tactic would move LGBT rights forward. LGBT rights bills in Utah have repeatedly been shot down by the Republican-controlled legislature because of fears it could lead to legalizing same-sex marriage, despite a constitutional amendment banning it.

“This in no way means that opposing sides are abandoning their respective legislative goals,” Johnson cautioned. “This is anything but giving up.”

“It is a priority to keep those [Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County] protections in place,” she explained. “The LGBT community has lost nothing with this compromise, but has gained an opportunity to make progress on an issue which matters very much to us.”

Republicans agreed to drop five bills that would have weakened or repealed the Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County anti-dis-

crimination ordinances passed last year.

Democrats dropped three bills – one for a state-wide anti-discrimination law, one allowing same-sex couples to adopt children, and one to allow same-sex partners to collect wrongful death benefits.

State Senator Ben McAdams, the sponsor of the wrongful death bill, said the decision to accept the deal was difficult for Democrats.

“That is not an easy pill for us,” McAdams said.

“It’s my hope that we will shift from a discussion of things we disagree about to a discussion of things that we agree on.”

If successful, the compromise strategy could set the stage for statewide anti-discrimination laws with approval from the powerful LDS (Mormon) Church and bipartisan support in the legislature.

Salt Lake City’s anti-discrimination ordinance passed unanimously after the LDS Church announced its support for it.

“The church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage,” Michael Otterson, LDS Director of Public Affairs, said at the time.

Two-thirds of Utah voters support expanding Salt Lake City’s anti-discrimination protections statewide, according to a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll.

Equality Utah Executive Director Brandie Balken said her group supports the deal worked out by legislators.

“We’ll have good data and a much better chance of passing meaningful legislation [in 2011],” she said. “While I personally would very much wish for things to move more quickly, I respect this process.”

Other LGBT community activists were not as enthusiastic, however.

“I understand that there is a political process,” said Utah Pride Center Director Valerie Larabee. “It just seems to me that protecting LGBT people is the right thing to do, and waiting another year is disappointing.”

Martha Amundsen, a Salt Lake City Lesbian and an employment attorney, also questioned the strategy.

“The choice has been made to roll over rather than go down swinging,” she said.

“Make the anti-Gay legislators have their feelings be known and draw them into the spotlight. This just gives them another year to hide.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Hawaii House of Representatives indefinitely postponed action on the state’s civil unions bill, effectively killing it for this year.

The action came on an unrecorded voice vote on January 29.

On February 2, Lambda Legal and ACLU Hawaii announced that they are planning legal action against the state.

“Enough is enough.

Infinite patience in the face of discrimination is irresponsible,” said Jennifer C. Pizer, Marriage Project Director for Lambda Legal. “Our clients suffer every day from unfair taxes and denial of basic legal protections that every family in Hawaii needs.”

Pizer said that Lambda Legal would base its argument on the equal protection provisions of Hawaii’s constitution.

“Although same-sex couples can’t hope today for the full equality of marriage, Hawaii’s constitution still guarantees equal rights and responsibilities to everyone, Gay and heterosexual alike,” she said. “Because the Legislature has ducked its responsibility multiple sessions in a row, we have no choice now but to bring our clients’ legal claims to court.”

Lambda Legal will be lead counsel in the case. ACLU Hawaii will be co-counsel and the law firm of Alston, Hunt, Floyd & Ing will serve as cooperating attorneys.

The Hawaii bill would have extended all state rights and obligations of marriage to both same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried couples.

The bill says, in part, “A party to a civil union shall be included in any definition or use of the terms ‘spouse,’ ‘family,’ ‘immediate family,’ ‘dependent,’ ‘next of kin’ and other terms that denote the spousal relationship, as those terms are used throughout the law.”

A civil unions bill passed the Hawaii House last year by a vote of 33-17. An amended version passed the Hawaii Senate 18-7 on January 22, but the differences between the two versions meant that the House had to vote on it a second time.

State House leaders said they had a narrow majority of representatives willing to vote Yes, but in the end they decided not to vote this year.

Reports said legislators may have been reluctant to deal with the issue in an election year.

The House could reverse itself and take

February 5, 2010

up the measure later in this session, but twothirds of the members would have to agree to do so.

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle had not taken a position on the bill, but the Senate vote was large enough to be veto-proof.

The House needs 34 votes to override a veto. Last year 33 legislators voted Yes on the measure, but one member who reportedly favors the bill was absent, so House leaders could conceivably get enough votes to override a veto.

Civil union supporters in the crowded House gallery on January 29 shouted, “Shame on you!” while anti-Gay activists cheered.

“It’s an election year, and they’re more concerned about keeping their seats than doing what’s right,” said one Gay activist, wearing a rainbow lei in support of civil unions.

Hawaii’s constitution was amended in 1998 to allow the legislature to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples, which it did.

This means same-sex couples cannot sue for full equality through marriage.

Although civil unions are not marriages, they would still provide a full range of protections under state law to same-sex couples, including relief from state taxation of employer-provided health insurance for family members, clear child support and alimony obligations, and protection of the family home against nursing home costs, among other protections.

“Civil unions offer essential protections but they are old news these days,” said Lois Perrin, legal director of ACLU Hawaii. “It’s shameful that Hawaii again validates discrimination – another blot on our history of diversity and fair treatment of all people.

Once again, lawmakers’ continued failure to support what’s fair and right will leave many constituent families vulnerable under the current reciprocal beneficiary laws.”

Seattle Gay News

5

NEWS

Federal Prop 8 trial pauses The trial in the federal case against Proposition 8 paused January 27 after the final witness testified at U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

Judge Vaughn Walker plans to review the evidence, then call the attorneys back for closing arguments, likely in March.

Gay lawyers, activists and others who followed the trial predicted, nearly unanimously, that Gays won the case in a landslide.

“What stands out the most after having seen all the witnesses on both sides is how overwhelmingly one-sided the evidence in this case turned out to be,” said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who covered the trial for the Pam’s House Blend blog.

“The plaintiffs, represented by some of the most skilled attorneys in the country, laid out a well-crafted, meticulous case, backed by the testimony of half a dozen of the most respected historians, psychologists, economists, and political scientists who study marriage, sexual orientation, and child development.” Minter said. “Using the Prop 8 proponents’ own outrageous and inflammatory words, ads, and e-mails, the plaintiffs powerfully demonstrated that Prop 8 was a direct product of hostility, fear-mongering, and demonization of Lesbians and Gay men.

And through the deeply moving testimony of the plaintiffs and other members of our community, they proved beyond question that denying same-sex couples the right to

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer marry causes great harm to LGBT people and their children.”

The lawyers defending Prop 8, on the other hand, failed miserably, Minter and many others said.

“Stacked up against this mountain of facts, scholarship, and science, the Prop 8 proponents – though represented by fine attorneys – were not able to come forward with a case of their own,” Minter said. “Before trial, they dropped nearly every witness they had planned to present and relied entirely on two poorly qualified, ill-prepared expert witnesses, neither of whom was able to establish that banning same-sex couples from getting married has any rational or legitimate purpose relating to procreation, child rearing, tradition, or any of the other justifications that have been offered in the past in support of anti-Gay discrimination.”

The Gay side is represented by famous lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies, who argued that Prop 8 violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law.

To buttress their case, they attempted to demonstrate a number of things that intersect with precise legal considerations or constructs: that there’s no coherent reason for the government to ban same-sex marriage, that Prop 8 passed primarily because California voters are prejudiced, that Gays and Lesbians need government help to fight the discrimination and persecution that con-

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

Mayor Luzhkov lashes out at Gays again Homophobic Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov is at it again.

“For several years, Moscow has experienced unprecedented pressure to conduct a Gay pride parade, which cannot be called anything but a Satanic act,” he said during a

Doc Searls

NATIONAL

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer public appearance January 25.

“We have banned such parades and will ban them in the future as well,” the mayor continued. “Everyone must accept this not as a theorem but as an axiom.”

“It is high time to crack down with all the power and justice of the law rather than messing around with talk of human rights,”

Attorney David Boies

tinue to harm them, that being Gay is usually not a choice and sexual orientation is usually immutable, that Gay couples’ children fare as well as straight couples’ children, and that so-called traditional marriage has undergone transformations throughout history.

Passed by voters in November 2008, Prop 8 amended the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage just four and onehalf months after the state Supreme Court legalized it.

Olson and Boies’ lawsuit is ultimately aimed at the U.S. Supreme Court, where it could end up as soon as a year from now, after a stop at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If successful, the lawsuit could bring

about the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, which would be the mother of all Gay rights victories.

If unsuccessful, the lawsuit could have the effect of stopping the movement for samesex marriage, which now is legal in five states, dead in its tracks for possibly a generation.

The lawsuit is without doubt a high-stakes gamble, so much so that the Gay rights legal establishment opposed it and was, as a result, blocked by Olson and Boies from later jumping on the bandwagon once it became clear the case was going to happen and was going to be a very big deal.

Luzhkov said. “We need a social whip or something like that.”

Luzhkov has banned Gay pride events in each of the past four years and has sent riot police to violently arrest small groups of activists who ignored the bans.

Moscow Pride organizers have sued over the bans in a series of cases that have been merged into one at the European Court of Human Rights. On January 19, the court approved a request from the Russian government to postpone the deadline for its response in the matter until February 20.

Moscow’s fifth pride events will take place in late May, and another march will be attempted on May 29.

It is unlikely there will be a Euro Court ruling before that time.

Now known as the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA is composed of some 670 organizations from 110 nations. It was founded in 1978.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent a message to the delegates, saying “the fight against intolerance and discrimination, and the consequent efforts to respect human nature, including sexual orientation, have guided our government since its first mandate.”

He also expressed support for the government’s 3rd National Human Rights Plan, which favors a national civil-union law.

Delegates heard that 11 nations in the region still criminalize Gay sex – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Gay activists from eight of those nations were in attendance.

A number of “pre-conferences” dealt with matters such as HIV, homophobia in schools, Lesbian and Bisexual women’s issues, Transgender issues, youth issues, racism, health matters, art and culture, the media, and the United Nations.

The opening ceremonies of the main event were attended by several public officials, including Paul Vannuchi, Lula’s secretary for human rights.

Conference support came from the United Nations, the Pan American Health Organization, the Global Fund for Women, the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the Paraná state government, the Curitiba city government, and Brazilian governmental secretariats concerned with women, human rights and racial equality.

Mariela Castro accuses Cuban government of discrimination Mariela Castro, Cuban President Raúl Castro’s daughter, said January 19 that the Communist Party discriminates against Gay people by unofficially denying them party membership.

She said she will send a complaint over the “absurd” practice to her uncle, party head Fidel Castro.

Mariela Castro heads Cenesex, Cuba’s National Sex Education Center. She has a long history of advocating for LGBT people.

Latin American, Caribbean LGBTs gather in Brazil Some 400 LGBT leaders from 35 countries attended the fifth Latin America and Caribbean regional ILGA conference January 26-31 in Curitiba, Brazil.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Manila Gay bar raided Manila police raided the Gay bar Men’s Court Club on January 22 and arrested some 20 people, including 14 strippers, five comedians, two waiters and a cashier, the Manila Bulletin reported.

Police said the club lacked certain permits and was offering lewd shows.

Officers acted after being given a clandestine video recording by a TV news crew that secretly visited the club earlier the same evening.

The recording reportedly showed nude performances and Gay sex acts.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

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Seattle Gay News

February 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

CALL FOR ARTISTS – SOUND TRANSIT ON BROADWAY An open call for professional artists.

Sound Transit needs someone to act as the lead artist in overseeing projects that will be created by a variety of artists for the construction wall surrounding the light rail construction site on Capitol Hill. Make the fence surrounding a block of the Broadway neighborhood active, interesting and relevant! $10,000 budget, duration 2010-2014.

Deadline for entry is Monday, February 8.

Work begins February 2010. See application website for details on eligibility and how to apply. www.soundtransit.org/Projects-andPlans/Projects-By-Service/STart-PublicArt-Program/Call-for-Artists/Capitol-HillConstruction-Wall-Lead-Artist.xml.

Gras beads included!

This event is FREE (except for the cost of beverages), and is for all HIV-Positive men and their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, or color. (If you or your group or organization would like to sponsor one of POZSeattle’s monthly socials by donation, by providing a meal or both, please contact POZSeattle at the email below.)

POZSeattle hosts a monthly GaymeNight at Dunshee House, 303 17th Ave., on the third Friday of each month, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. – next GaymeNight is Friday, February 19. Bring your favorite board game or card deck, or join one of the many games already in progress.

POZSeattle is a social organization run for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive guys that is committed to planning and promoting fun, FREE RÉSUMÉ AND social activities. For questions or more inJOB SEARCH WORKSHOPS formation, to plan your own social event, or South Seattle Community College’s to be added to our event promotions email WorkSource Center is partnering with the list, email info@pozseattle.org or visit us on Seattle Public Library to offer résumé and the web at www.pozseattle.org. job search workshops at the downtown Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Room SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN 4 on Level 4. The one-hour workshops are BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE conveniently scheduled on weekdays and The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club Saturdays. No registration is required, but meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dunseating may be limited. For more informa- shee House, 303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas tion, contact the Seattle Public Library at St. The club is pleased to announce the fol206-386-4636, www.spl.org, or South Se- lowing titles to be discussed in their ongoing attle Community College WorkSource at reading and discussion series: February – A 206-764-5304, www.southseattle.edu.

Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. All GLBTQ folks in the community are welSEATTLE OTTERS come to participate in this free book club.

14TH INTERNATIONAL The reading list is chosen and the discussion OPEN WATER POLO TOURNEY facilitated by Nick DiMartino, published The tourney will be held February 5-7 at novelist and playwright, currently a book the Weyerhauser King County Aquatic Cen- reviewer for ShelfAwareness.com, and a 30ter, 650 SW Campus Dr., Federal Way. For year employee of University Book Store. complete information, visit www.otterpolo. For more information, email nickdimartin@ com/tourney/ earthlink.net or contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

SEATTLE CENTER FESTAL’S “TET FESTIVAL” GAY CITY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS USHERS IN YEAR OF THE TIGER FOR RESOURCE The region’s Vietnamese community & REFERRAL LINE comes together at Festal’s “Tet Festival” on AND LGBT LIBRARY Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February Gay City Health Project’s newest program 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., to usher in the Year of the needs your help! They have taken charge of Tiger at the Seattle Center’s Center House. the 323-LGBT community resource line and The annual Vietnamese Lunar New Year need your help to make it successful! Some celebration, Vietnam’s most popular holi- duties include answering phones, connectday, welcomes the return of spring and chas- ing people to resources, updating material es out evil spirits with the traditional roaring for their records, checking out books and lion dance and the crackle of firecrackers. reshelving. If you are interested, please conThe 2010 Tet Festival showcases Viet- tact Susan at 206-388-1707 or email her at nam’s rich and colorful heritage and fea- susan@gaycity.org. tures professional performers as well as talented local artists, plus workshops, cooking IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE demonstrations and a “Regions of Vietnam” PRESENTS CORONATION 2010 – Fashion Show. For a full event schedule, “THE PRESIDENT’S BALL: visit www.tetinseattle.org.

A STAR-SPANGLED AFFAIR” The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle BOWL-A-THON presents Coronation 2010 – “The PresiTO BENEFIT dent’s Ball: A Star-Spangled Affair” on SatYOUTH SUICIDE urday, February 13. The gala affair, which PREVENTION PROGRAM includes a complete dinner, will be held at On Monday, February 8, from 6-9 p.m., the Seattle Renaissance Hotel, 515 Madison the Youth Suicide Prevention Program (spe- St., starting at 5 p.m. Tickets for the Coronacifically the OUTLoud Program focusing tion Ball are $55. on GLBTQ youth) is hosting a fundraising As a prelude to Coronation, on Thursday, bowl-a-thon, silent auction and raffle at The February 11, the Court presents the Denver/ Garage, 1134 Broadway, between E. Union Salt Lake Show, 7 p.m., at Neighbours, 1509 and E. Madison Sts., to benefit the OUT- Broadway, entrance in alley off E. Pike St., Loud Program that works to reduce the high with fine drag entertainment performed by rates of suicide, self harm, and depression visiting dignitaries from the Imperial Courts among GLBTQ youth. Your $30 entry in- of Denver and Salt Lake City, in town for cludes unlimited free bowling. To register Coronation. for the event, visit www.yspp.org/about_ On Friday, February 12, the Court presyspp/whats_new.htm. ents the Out of Town Show, 7 p.m., at Neighbours, with fine drag entertainment POZ SEATTLE HOSTS performed by visiting dignitaries from Im“MARDI GRAS DE CARNIVALE” perial Courts in the Northwest region outMONTHLY SOCIAL side of Seattle.

On Wednesday, February 10, from 6-9 A Victory Brunch celebrating Seattle’s p.m., POZSeattle hosts their monthly 2nd new reigning monarchs will be held on SunWednesday social at The Cuff Complex, day, February 14, at 10:30 a.m., at the Se1533 13th Ave. at E. Pine St. This month’s attle Renaissance Hotel. theme is “Mardi Gras de Carnivale.” Meet For more information, visit www.imperiin the downstairs bar for light snacks, so- alcourtofseattle.com. cializing, catching up with old friends, making new ones, and a whole lot of fun – Mardi

Visit us online www.sgn.org

IGLHRC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARY ALAN JOHNSON TO DISCUSS THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR LGBT RIGHTS AT THE UW LAW SCHOOL On Friday, February 12, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., the UW Center for Human Rights, Outlaws, UW Law School Center for Human Rights and Justice, International Law Society, Q-Law Foundation, and the William H. Gates Public Service Law Program presents a FREE panel discussion “The Global Movement for LGBT Rights: IGLHRC’s Approach,” featuring Cary Alan Johnson, executive director of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC). Johnson will speak about his experience as an author and activist with more than twenty years of experience in the LGBT movement and in African social and economic development. He will also discuss the efforts of IGLHRC in the current fight for LGBT Human Rights. The event will be held at the UW School of Law, Room 138, located on the UW main campus, near 15th Ave. NE & NE 43rd St. SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, ABBEY OF ST. JOAN, HOST KISS OFF! AT RPLACE & MARDI GRAS EVENTS AT THE CUFF On Friday, February 12, from 9 p.m. to close, join the Sisters for a “Kiss Off!” at R-Place, 619 E. Pine St. The evening will be a ‘60s love-in gone modern-dance-party rolled in glitter, with raffle prizes, candygrams, kissing booth, midnight kiss-in and more. The event will include/follow RPlace’s Friday night production of Lashes Cabaret. $7 cover after 9 p.m. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Sister’s Play Fair! safer sex outreach program and Gay City Health Project.

On Saturday, February 13, from 9 p.m. to close, join the Sisters for a “Mardi Gras Debaucherade” at The Cuff Complex, 1533 13th Ave. at E. Pine St. This will be a dance party resplendent with beads and flesh. Wear your masks and feathers, but leave most of your clothes at home.

The party continues at The Cuff on Tuesday, February 16, from 8 p.m. to close, with the “Mardi Gras Masquerade.” Enjoy costume contest with cash prize, raffle prizes, souvenir beads, drink specials, photos with the Sisters and models from DV8 casting.

Proceeds from the Mardi Gras events will benefit the Foundation for Sex Positive Culture and the Sisters’ Play Fair! Project. www.theabbey.org.

SEATTLE SINGS FOR HAITI AT NORTHWEST MAHLER FESTIVAL On Saturday, February 13, at 7:30 p.m., the Northwest Mahler Festival, in collaboration with the Seattle Musicians’ Haiti Benefit Project, will host a gala concert featuring a performance of Brahm’s “Ein Deutsches Requiem” conducted by George Shangrow.

Local area choirs including the Cascadian Chorale and The Seattle Chamber Singers will be featured. The performance will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave E. Cash and check donations will be collected at the concert. All proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Orphans Haiti Relief Initiative. http://seattlsingsforhaiti.org.

“LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES” VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER & AUCTION TO BENEFIT ROSEHEDGE HOUSE On Sunday, February 14, starting at 6 p.m., enjoy a hosted champagne and hors d’oeuvres reception, gourmet dinner and silent auction at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St. Then dance cheekto-cheek to the sultry jazz of Greta Matassa.

Tickets start at $150 per person with additional special seating and overnight package options available. Proceeds benefit Rosehedge House’s program providing housing, meals and in-home care for vulnerable people with HIV/AIDS. All proceeds from this event go directly to client services. www. rosehedgehouse.org; 206-365-6806.

February 5, 2010

GSBA BUSINESS & HUMANITARIAN AWARDS BANQUET On Wednesday, February 17, at 5:30 p.m., the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), Seattle’s LGBT and Allied Chamber of Commerce, hosts their 29th annual GSBA Business & Humanitarian Awards Banquet – “GSBA: The Place to Be, To Connect and To Give” – at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, 721 Pine St. “We are thrilled to honor some outstanding recipients: leaders who have left their indelible mark in business, social advocacy and philanthropy. We also welcome keynote speaker and business pioneer Judy Dlugacz, founder of Olivia Music and Olivia Cruises, with MC Gary Tucker, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and special remarks by US Senator Maria Cantwell.”

Tickets: $130-GSBA members; $145-nonmembers; $75-students. To register and for more information, call 206-363-9188 or visit www.thegsba.org.

CALLING ALL QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH: QUEER YOUTH SPACE IN SEATTLE – HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN! On Saturday, February 20, from 3-6 p.m, come imagine and shape Queer Youth Space in Seattle at the “Queer Youth Mutiny” meeting at Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, Room BE1110. Bring your voice, your politics, and your perspective and help create a space or spaces for Queer youth, led by youth. www. queeryouthspace.com.

GAY BINGO TO BENEFIT LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s long-running Gay Bingo season continues on Saturday, February 20 with “Racy and Lacy Bingo” at Fremont Studios, 155 N. 35th St. – doors at 6 p.m., game starts promptly at 7 p.m. The season continues on March 20 with “When in Rome Gay Bingo,” April 17 is “Biker Babe Gay Bingo,” May 22 is “Blue Hair Gay Bingo,” and June 19 is “Beach Blanket Gay Bingo.” Tickets are $25 and a full bar will be available. Due to Washington State Liquor Control regulations, all guests must be 21 years of age or older.

Visit www.gaybingoseattle.com for more information and to buy your tickets. Or contact Gay Bingo at 206-323-0069 or gaybingo@llaa.org NUBIAN PRIDE PAGEANT On Saturday, February 20, Nubian Pride Productions, a newly formed GLBT organization, presents the Nubian Pride Pageant, an ALL-AGES event, door at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center, 3515 S. Alaska St. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/91388. The event will be hosted by Regine Dynasty with a grand prize of $800. A 21+ after party will be held starting around 9 p.m. For more information, email nubianpride@gmail.com.

“DON’T BOX ME IN: DIVERSITY IN GENDER & SEXUALITY” – THE 2010 PACIFIC NW RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK GATHERING On Sunday, February 21, from 1:15 p.m.8 p.m., the Pacific Northwest Reconciling Ministries Network will host their annual gathering at the Puyallup United Methodist Church, 1919 W. Pioneer Ave., Puyallup, WA. In past years PNW-RMN has held workshops that dealt with people who are Gay, Lesbian or Transgender. These were important moments to learn more about the people who are family members, friends and neighbors. At this year’s gathering you can learn more about sex and gender as it applies to those who may consider themselves Bisexual, “gender fluid” or Intersex. If you have been curious about these issues, here is a place to ask your questions about gender, sexuality and how the wide diversity of gender and sexuality are encompassed within a Christian community. Bring yourselves, your loved ones and your questions. http://2010-pnwrmn-gathering.notlong. com.

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7

sincerely hope the outrageous, draconian anti-Gay legislation Uganda is considering will be scuttled, and the three American evangelical Christians who helped fan the prejudice that led to the legislation, when asked to speak on “the Gay agenda” in the future, will instead scuttle far, far away.

Unctuous: Oily; excessively flattering.

Any bar, Gay or straight, has its unctuous characters laying on the suaveness, and mama was right when she told you to avoid

The words of our LGBT world

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer

The Word Warriors website, a project of Wayne State University, aims to retrieve expressive English words from obscurity.

Hoping to re-inject some colorful words into conversation and writing, Word Warriors released its 2010 list of neglected but useful words.

I’m willing to help the word worriers. But will these 15 words fit comfortably with my subject matter?

Let’s find out. First I give the word, then the definition, and then a sentence using the word.

Antediluvian: Very old, old-fashioned; antiquated. Ageism among Gay men means that any guy who remembers Gerald Ford is antediluvian.

Bamboozle: To fool or cheat. Could it be that former Sen. Larry Craig actually believes he bamboozled people into thinking he’s straight with his “wide stance” claim?

Bloviate: To speak at length in a pompous or boastful manner. I bet if he were asked to speak on Gay rights, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov would happily bloviate on how he’s manfully prevented Pride parades and how a Gay gulag sounds good to him.

Charlatan: Fraud. Over the years, charlatans in the ex-Gay movement have made such fanciful claims about turning Gays into straights that it’s easy to think of them as the spiritual heirs of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

Concupiscence: Strong sexual desire. The Rev. Ted Haggard’s concupiscence for a man led him into the arms of an escort, the teeth of a scandal and the gallbladder of fib-

budget

continued from cover The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) itself has been very conscious of addressing LGBT issues in its introduction to the budget posted on the White House website. In fact, they devote an entire fact sheet to “Expanding Opportunities for the LGBT Community.”

More money for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division The president’s budget includes an 11% increase in funding for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, significantly more that the average 6.9% increase in the budget for all “federal judicial and other litigative activities.”

“This investment will help the Division handle implementation of a historic new hate crimes law, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act,” the OMB fact sheet says.

Should ENDA pass this session of Congress, the DOJ Civil Rights Division will have major responsibility for enforcement,

bing.

Festoon: To adorn or decorate. The winner of the holiday drag queen pageant had festooned herself with fake snow and lit candles.

Galoshes: Waterproof shoes or boots. If raincoat is another word for condom, what is galoshes another word for?

Indefatigable: Tireless; endlessly persistent. It seems like those who oppose Gay rights never run out of gas, but fortunately, we’re indefatigable, too.

Insouciance: The quality of being carefree; a lack of concern. The Gay activist hoped to drift into insouciance during her vacation in Provincetown, but deep down she knew she was too uptight to pull that off.

Mendacity: Lying. I learned the word mendacity from watching the movie version of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This doesn’t tell you anything about the word, but I thought I’d mention it.

Mercurial: Fickle; erratic. Because President Obama hasn’t moved forcefully on key Gay issues like he promised, some view him as mercurial, while others even judge him guilty of mendacity.

Numinous: Awe-inspiring; profoundly moving. Word Warriors says the word doesn’t refer to the supernatural, but my dictionary says it suggests the divine. I’m not getting involved.

Quixotic: Excessively romantic; visionary but unrealistic. Not long ago, if someone had said Gays would be getting married in this country in 2010, he would’ve been viewed as decidedly quixotic and possibly nuts.

Scuttle: To sink figuratively; to scurry. I as will the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The EEOC is an independent federal agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. It investigates discrimination complaints and is empowered to file discrimination suits against employers on behalf of alleged victims and to adjudicate claims of discrimination brought against federal agencies.

In the new budget, the EEOC is slated for a 4.9% increase in funding, from the current $370 million to $390 million for 2011.

Federal Employee Domestic Partner Benefits.

The Obama administration supports the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, which provides the same benefits to same-sex domestic partners of federal employees as those provided to married spouses.

These benefits include health insurance, survivor annuities, compensation for workrelated injuries, travel and relocation benefits, life insurance, and vision and dental benefits.

Funding for compensation of federal employees will increase by 6.2% to pay for the additional benefits.

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them.

It looks to me like these neglected words do blend with my LGBT material. I’ll be on the lookout for next year’s list. If I don’t look for it, that will prove me mercurial and an example of mendacity. Which means I’ll have to put on my galoshes and scuttle away.

Leslie Robinson remembers Gerald Ford.

E-mail her at LesARobinson@gmail.com.

Watertown Coffee hosts Queer social, a tremendous success

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer

Folks came from all over Seattle for the chance to meet and greet other Queer people Watertown Coffee outside of a bar setting. Watertown offered Queer Mixer a variety of board games and video games, January 28 as well as ping pong and dancing, and WaWatertown Coffee On January 28, about 60 people gathered tertown’s full bar was available to the older at Watertown Coffee (550 12th Ave.) for the participants.

“I felt very good about this mixer – I felt Watertown Coffee Queer Mixer. The mixer was an event open to all ages. Events like like people truly mixed,” said Hackett. this are uncommon on Capitol Hill, as most “I know I met some new folks, and got to LGBTQ spaces are limited to those 21 years know some people I had only met in passing old and older, and this particular mixer was previously.

“The owners [of Watertown] are Gay/ even more uncommon in its tremendous Queer or Queer-friendly, and are all super success.

“My inspiration for creating this event happy to have me organize an event there. was fueled by frustration over the lack of Watertown Coffee is also perfect for this Queer social space where people truly come event, since it’s a coffee shop and restaurant, to meet new people,” said Marisa Hackett, it is all ages with the option of drinks, it has a UW student at the School of Social Work many activities and a large open space for socializing,” Hackett told SGN. and creator of the mixer.

Hackett plans to hold more monthly mix“The bar scene for Queer folks is often frustrating to me because I feel like the same ers at Watertown. For more information people show up and stare at each other from about upcoming mixers, check out Wateracross the room in separate friend groups, or town Coffee on Facebook. heavy drinking is involved and the main pur- “This one was a lot of fun, and I really pose is to hook up. I wanted a space where enjoyed both the event and organizing the folks could come to be casually social, meet event. I hope to continue it into the future new people, and not feel pressured to drink,” and add new elements as well,” said Hackett.

Hackett told SGN. HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care, and Prevention.

While funding allocated for “disease control” will be reduced 1.8% overall, funding specifically allocated to HIV/AIDS programs will increase in the 2011 budget.

“The budget expands access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities consistent with the president’s pledge to develop a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that will focus on reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes, and reducing HIV-related health disparities,” the OMB says.

The proposed budget includes specific appropriations for new HIV prevention programs and, unlike Bush-era budgets, these do not focus on abstinence-only programs.

It also includes money for focused HIV testing “among high-risk groups, including Gay and Bisexual men, African Americans, and Hispanics.” It also provides federal money for HIV/AIDS medical services within these high-risk groups.

The new budget increases funding for the Ryan White program to support care and treatment for an additional 10,000 lowincome people living with HIV/AIDS who are unable to afford health care and related support services.

The National Institutes of Health, the federal agency responsible for biomedical research, is also slated for a 3.2% budget increase.

National AIDS Awareness Campaign The president’s budget continues the fiveyear, $45 million dollar “Act Against AIDS” campaign, which launched in April 2009.

The campaign will be driven by the Centers for Disease Control with the goal of reducing HIV incidence in the United States.

Targeting the African-American community, CDC has developed partnerships with 14 African-American civic organizations

that will integrate HIV prevention into each of their existing outreach programs.

CDC will also partner with the Kaiser Family Foundation and national media venues to place ads supporting the “Act Against AIDS” campaign.

A Fair and Accurate 2010 Census For the first time in the country’s history, the Census Bureau will be releasing counts of same-sex marriages reported on the relationship question from the decennial census short-form.

Under this new policy, in 2011 the Census Bureau will make available to researchers and the public the unedited data on samesex marriages. Following that, the Census Bureau will release a special report on what the unedited data reveals about measuring same-sex marriages.

The new budget provides $1.3 billion to the Census Bureau to process, tabulate, and release 2010 Census data, analyze census data, and improve and update data collection methods.

The Downside Not everything in the budget will benefit the LGBT community, however.

Medicaid grants to states – which help pay for medical treatment for low-income individuals and families – will be hit hard.

Medicaid currently provides the largest portion of federal money spent on health care for people living with HIV/AIDS. More than half of people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. are estimated to receive Medicaid payments.

The new budget reduces federal grants to the states, which administer the Medicaid program, by 11.2%. Funding for 2011 will be cut from $293 billion to $260 billion, which will complicate the task of legislators in revenue-challenged states like Washington.

Celebrating 37 Years!

GLAD beats IRS – Yes, sex reassignment is deductible

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery are legitimate medical treatments, qualify as “medical care” under the Internal Revenue Code, and are tax deductible, the US Tax Court ruled on February 2.

The court’s decision in O’Donnabhain v.

Commissioner of Internal Revenue wrote a happy ending to a nine-year legal battle waged by Rhiannon O’Donnabhain with the assistance of GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders).

Born biologically male, O’Donnabhain began having conflicted feelings about her gender identity as early as age 8. She told the court she “lived in anguish” as a male, struggling with the sense that she was, in fact, female.

After decades of suffering, she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder (GID) in 1996, at age 52, and undertook a course of medically prescribed treatments that included her 2001 sex reassignment surgery.

She claimed the cost of her treatment as a deductible medical expense on her federal income tax return. The Internal Revenue Service denied her claim, saying the surgery was “cosmetic.”

O’Donnabhain paid approximately $25,000 out-of-pocket for her medical care, including therapy, hormone treatment, and surgery. The amount of the deduction she sought from the IRS was about $5,000.

With GLAD’s assistance she appealed the IRS decision, eventually suing them on the grounds that sex reassignment is a recognized and necessary medical procedure and should be tax deductible.

In its ruling, the Tax Court agreed completely with O’Donnabhain.

“The evidence amply supports the conclusions that petitioner suffered from severe GID, that GID is a well-recognized and serious mental disorder, and that hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery are considered appropriate and effective treatments for GID by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals who are knowledgeable concerning the condition,” the court said in its ruling.

“I’m overjoyed – not only for me, but for other Transgender people,” O’Donnabhain said after the court announced its decision.

“We deserve respect, equal treatment for our medical care, and fair treatment by our government.”

“This decision treats Rhiannon O’Donnabhain the way she deserves to be treated – like any hard-working American taxpayer with medical expenses,” said GLAD Senior Staff Attorney Karen Loewy.

“From the start, this has been a no-brainer,” Loewy continued. “Every mainstream medical authority from the American Psychiatric Association to the National Institutes of Health recognize the legitimacy of providing medical care for Transgender people. Dismissing these medical expenses as illegitimate and not deductible was discrimination, pure and simple.”

“In this landmark ruling, the Tax Court affirmed the consensus position of the medical establishment that transition-related medical care is essential for many Transgender people,” explained Jennifer Levi, Director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project.

Loewy, Levi, and GLAD Senior Staff Attorney Bennett Klein, represented O’Donnabhain along with the Boston law firm of Sullivan & Worcester, which acted as cooperating tax counsel in the case.

Gay Super Bowl ad rejected by CBS

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer On January 7, millions of Americans and viewers from around the world will get together to watch the Super Bowl. But thanks to CBS, the big game’s U.S. broadcaster, football fans won’t see men kissing each other. CBS rejected a 30-second ad for ManCrunch.com, a Toronto-based dating website for Gay men who are not open about their sexuality.

The so-called “man-kiss ad,” which is thoroughly tongue-in-cheek, features two guys – one wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey and the other a Minnesota Vikings jersey – sitting on a couch enjoying a football game on television. But when their hands meet over a bowl of chips, they become entangled in a kiss.

“After reviewing the ad – which is entirely commercial in nature – our Standards and Practices department decided not to accept this particular spot,” CBS told ManCrunch. com in a written statement. “As always, we are open to working with the client on alternative submissions.”

A spokesperson for the website says the site has only been up and running for about a month, and it would help their business to reach the Super Bowl’s predominantly male audience. “Ninety million men watch the Super Bowl,” a ManCrunch.com official said.

However, some have questioned whether the start-up could have afforded the $2 million to $3 million a 30-second Super Bowl spot would cost, and have even suggested that ManCrunch.com submitted an ad it knew would be rejected in order to drum up publicity.

ManCrunch.com countered the accusation this week, saying the business submitted to a credit check to prove it could afford to pur-

chase the ad space. A rep for ManCrunch. com claims the company has the money and even offered to pay cash upfront for the commercial. CBS says the network has no record of such an offer.

Still, the site has indeed benefited from the online firestorm. According to web traffic stats posted on Alexa.com, the number of global internet users who visit the site has spiked from 0.0006% earlier this month to 0.0013% on Sunday.

Working in a tough advertising climate, CBS said they have a new policy on advocacy ads after news emerged that it had agreed to show an anti-abortion ad starring college football star Tim Tebow.

Tebow, a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the University of Florida, will appear in a 30-second spot for conservative Christian group Focus on the Family alongside his mother, Pam. While working as a missionary in the Philippines in 1985, Pam contracted dysentery while pregnant with Tim and was advised by a doctor to have an abortion because the prescription medication could harm the fetus. She refused.

Critics such as the Women’s Media Center, the National Organizations for Women and the Feminist Majority, have all called on CBS to pull the ad, but the network has refused.

“CBS has a problem when they do something like this [nixing the ManCrunch.com ad], at the same time as they allow an antiGay group like Focus on the Family to place ads during the Super Bowl,” said Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “This network should come clean to the public about what’s going on because this seems to be a homophobic double standard.”

CBS is not offering further comment in response to GLAAD’s statement.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

On behalf of the Jet Chapter Knights of Mantra, formerly known as Knights of Malta, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude and thanks to the following groups and individuals for helping to make Beggar’s Feast—A Renaissance Knight such an enjoyable success.

Please allow us to thank the following selfless people for all their help and support.

Our MC’s Latrina Bidet & Barry Burns outstanding as always. Thanks for helping keep things moving so smoothly.

The WenChes & MenChes: Sahara Dior Dee- head wench, Michelle Carman from the Crescent, Jackie Scott, Quake Rugby Members (Jerry, Tim, Jason, Aryk and of course Tru (loving your face), Sisters of the Mother House of Washington, Sisters Cialis de Lellis and Angela Merici, Donna Somersault, and Mark Dubois. Your serving skills are very much appreciated.

OuR GRAnd InquIsITORs: Will Trainer, Doug Gonzalez and Don Brown we appreciate your skills in keep all those seats warm.

OuR MOsT hOnORed GuesTs: NW Bears, Seattle Men in LeatherPresident Toby, Sisters of the Mother House of Washington—Mother Theresa Nervina, all the members of the Imperial Sovereign Courts of Bellingham Snohomish County & Seattle, Our northern chapter, Dogwood Knights of Malta, Vancouver BC, Canada, Steve, Secretary & boy Shane.

Your presence helped to make our evening so much more enjoyable.

We only hope that you enjoyed the evening as much as we did hosting.

Most of all Thank you to all the members of the community that were in attendance for you generous donations and time spent with us. We always appreciate all who attend, participate or donate to our events.

PeRFORMeRs: Arnie Norem, Morai St. Charles, Bruce Butler, Harry Altman, Tru Holliwell, Fenomenon Bond, ShadowBear and the beautiful Countess Charlotta. What can we say about such diverse and over the top outstanding performances. Thank you for your time and talent.

Now to thank all the Members that gave of their time, talents and skills to pull off this excellent event: KITChen: Fugi, your courses were marvelous, Eugene, thanks for the great dessert, Lisa and Keith your help truly helped make the kitchen work seamlessly.

KITChen helP: Charles Wilson and Cheri we also appreciate all your help in the kitchen that allowed things to flow so smoothly.

FlOOR WARden: Bryan, don’t know how you manage to keep things flowing smoothly out of such an ambitious and busy schedule, but you ROCK! dOOR PeRsOns: Joe Kool & Groupie: Rod Fender, your guardianship at the door was stellar. sCRIPT: Hurricane Bill, you certainly can sell those script tickets, thanks for stepping up to help out.

BAR: Charlie & Vicki, what a great crew and thanks for all the light beverages sPOT: Douge & Groupie: Michael Lessard, thanks for lighting the entertainment and festivities.

WIne sTeWARds: Rich & Victor, next time take it easy on me with that wine! Outstanding job guys. sOund: The real Chuck Wilson, your expertise with the music and sound was spectacular as always.

GAMes MAsTeR: Gary Sixsmith, again you managed to not only entertain the crowd but the participants had more fun than expected.

Faboolus!

To my Vice-President and host for the evening, Alex Knight, thank you for all your hard work in coordinating this event and the superb turnout.

Great job as always.

Alas, I would be amiss if I didn’t thank James Whitely and the staff at the Seattle Gay News for the great write up, last week on our Beggars Feast 2010 and their willingness to always support our community.

We hope to see all of you again at some of our other upcoming events, be sure to check out website for info www.jetchapterkofm.com.

Sincerely, Thad President Jet Chapter Knights of Mantra

February 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 37 Years!

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12 Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 37 Years!

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February 5, 2010

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Seattle Gay News 15

dadt

continued from cover DADT BY THE NUMBERS President Obama has tasked Pentagon officials to implement a new policy on Gays and Lesbians serving openly in the U.S. military.

“This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies Gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are,” Obama said on January 27 during his State of the Union address. “It’s the right thing to do.”

The DADT Gay military ban requires the Defense Department to separate from the armed services any members who engage in or attempt to engage in homosexual acts; state they are homosexual or Bisexual; or marry or attempt to marry a person of the same biological sex.

According to figures released on February 1, the U.S. military discharged 428 members last year under the law, down from 619 the year before and the lowest level since the Pentagon started tracking figures in 1997.

The dismissals included 259 men and 160 women. The peak occurred in 2001, when 1,227 members were discharged, according to Defense Department figures.

As many as 66,000 Gay men and women may be serving in the U.S. military, about

fundamental change in personnel policy would take a full year because it demands a thorough examination of all the issues, such as the cost of implementing a new policy, benefits for Gay spouses, potential hate crimes, and even logistical questions such as the possible need to renovate barracks to separate straight and Gay troops. Although the service chiefs aren’t taking the issue of separate showers and housing seriously, a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not permitted to speak on the matter said it would be discussed in order “to officially rule it out.”

The yearlong study could pave the way for the biggest social change to the military since the 1948 executive order for the racial integration of units.

According to Gates, the senior-level study will be lead by Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson and General Carter Ham, the Army’s top commander in Europe. The study would recommend the best way to lift the ban, starting from the premise that the goal will take time to accomplish, but that it can be done without harming the capabilities or cohesion of military units. Gates said he wants the study to “minimize disruption and polarization within the ranks,” without disturbing troops deployed on front lines.

The one-year (or longer) timeline is not STUDYING DADT Gates has said he fully supports the presi- surprising; previously, Gates has said the dent’s decision to repeal DADT. Still, he transition from the existing law should be says that reviewing how to implement a done gradually and “very, very carefully.”

“The president has been clear about where he wants to go and what he thinks needs to be done,” Gates told the Army War College in April 2009. “But I think that he is approaching this in a deliberate and cautious manner, so that if we do go down that road, we do it right and we do it in a way that mitigates any downsides [or] problems that might be associated with it.”

Fortunately for Gates, he does not have to go down the road to a DADT repeal alone.

The top service chief, Mullen, is in solidarity with the defense secretary and President Obama.

2.2% of all personnel, including 13,000 on active duty, according to the Williams Institute study released last month.

The study said that lifting restrictions may attract as many as 36,700 men and women to active duty service and 12,000 more to the guard and reserve. The military – the largest U.S. employer – spends about $22,000 to $43,000 to replace someone discharged under the policy.

Since DADT was enacted in 1993, multiple research studies have demonstrated that a repeal of the law would be beneficial to the U.S. military.

Internationally, policies like DADT continue their move toward extinction. In the years since the U.S. military instituted the ban, many nations have expanded their military service to include LGBT servicemembers, and in some cases have extended benefits to their partners. Among those nations are Israel and the United Kingdom, two coalition allies of the U.S. military, whose militaries are among the most active and effective on the planet. Not only do LGBT soldiers face combat situations, but their partners and loved ones are cared for just like family members of heterosexual soldiers.

On February 1, Mullen met with other members of the Joint Chiefs to discuss Obama’s plan to repeal DADT. The closeddoor meeting was considered exceptionally sensitive because the chiefs – each of whom heads a military service – are said to be concerned that changing the policy would be too disruptive to military forces. Still, Mullen made his intentions of carrying out his commander-in-chief’s orders evident at the February 2 committee hearing by saying he will work towards reversing the failed DADT policy.

Mullen’s expression of his personal view drew criticism from Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, who said the admiral might be exerting “command influence” to motivate subordinates to reflect his opinion rather than their own.

Mullen rejected that view, saying, “This is not about ‘command influence,’ but leadership, and I take that very seriously.”

Speaking to the same committee, Gates said, “The question before us is not whether the military makes this decision, but how we best prepare for it. We received our orders from the commander-in-chief, and we are moving out accordingly.”

“The ultimate decision rests with you, the Congress,” Gates said. He urged lawmakers to help ensure that politics have “little influence” on the process.

Gates said that if Congress votes to repeal the current law, it would take at least one year to roll out a new policy.

SUPPORT FOR DADT REPEAL The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization that works with those affected by the DADT policy, has praised Obama’s call for repeal.

“We very much need a sense of urgency to get this done in 2010,” Servicemembers Legal Defense Network officials said. “We call on the president to repeal the archaic 1993 law in his defense budget currently being drafted, that is probably the best-moving bill where DADT can be killed this year. … The

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American public, including conservatives, is overwhelmingly with the commander-inchief on this one.”

In a message to Pentagon leadership, retired General John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it’s time to repeal the policy. “As a nation built on the principle of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military,” he said.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat who supports repealing the policy, sent out his letter to the Pentagon brass this week.

“DADT contradicts the military honor code requiring those in uniform to tell the truth,” said Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, an Arabic language expert whose discharge is currently pending under DADT. “By asking America’s servicemembers to lie, DADT forces soldiers like me to break military code at the most fundamental level. The people in my unit do not have a problem serving alongside me, and it’s time for our leaders to catch up. Don’t wait. Don’t delay.

We need a full repeal of DADT now.”

Representative Pat Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat who is pushing legislation to repeal the policy, said he was “very encouraged” by Mullen’s February 2 statement.

“The fighters that I served with in Baghdad cared whether or not you could get the job done; could you fire your M-4 or could you knock down the door,” Murphy said in an interview before Mullen testified. “They couldn’t care less if you had a boyfriend or girlfriend back home.”

Murphy, who in the interview described himself as a “straight, practicing Catholic,” served in Iraq with the U. S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division before winning his House seat in 2006.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has joined the fray by calling for the U.S. military to abandon the policy.

“The U.S. should repeal DADT and allow capable men and women to serve without regard to sexual orientation,” noted APA President Alan F. Schatzberg, MD. The APA Board of Trustees has voted to urge abandonment of the policy.

“As I understand the political situation, this is the first time that a sitting member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is actually coming out in favor of reversal,” said Jack Drescher, MD, distinguished fellow of the APA and a past chair (2000-2006) of the APA’s Committee on LGBT issues. “This is a good thing. This is consistent with policies that we believe do not serve the mental health of our fighting forces by forcing those to hide the truth of who they are.”

Drescher noted that the APA has opposed discrimination in the U.S. armed services since 1990, when the first position statement came out.

said that a DADT repeal “would be a mistake.”

“This successful policy has been in effect for over 15 years, and it is well understood and predominantly supported by our military at all levels,” McCain said.

“We have the best-trained, best-equipped and most professional force in the history of our country, and the men and women in uniform are performing heroically in two wars. At a time when our armed forces are fighting and sacrificing on the battlefield, now is not the time to abandon policy.”

At the February 2 committee hearing, McCain said, “We should not be seeking to overturn the policy at this moment.

It would present yet another challenge to our military at a time of stress and strain.”

He held aloft what he said was a letter opposing the change signed by more than 1,000 former generals and other officers.

At least one member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – General James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps – has expressed reservations in the past about repealing the law.

“Our Marines are currently engaged in two fights, and our focus should not be drawn away from those priorities,” he said.

First Lieutenant, adding, “we’re ready for the change, and few people support DADT anymore.”

A U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel said, “Americans demand and deserve the best military in the world, and yet for far too long the military has been hamstrung, rendered less effective by this policy. Resources have been wasted, valuable personnel distracted or lost, and missions not accomplished in a timely manner.

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“Everyone knows that we [Lesbian, Gay and Bi soldiers] exist and work side by side with our counterparts,” said a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant.

“Very few have an issue with it, and most agree that we might as well lift the ban.”

“This policy has damaged many honorable Americans who have served their country well,” said a U.S. Navy Ensign. “They – we – deserve better.”

A U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander said, “I think the chiefs … would rather punt this down the road. In the six commands that I have served at, including my own, I have never witnessed nor heard of any harassment of Gay personnel or degradation to morale. Many ‘Coasties’ are aware of my status, or at least suspect. I think it is absurd to believe that Gays and Lesbians are not serving honorably throughout the military, with no widespread reports of degradation to morale.”

“I have a group of straight friends who all know about my sexual orientation and do not make second judgments about my performance as a soldier,” said a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant. “My coming out to them made our friendship stronger than ever

“By asking America’s servicemembers to lie, DADT forces soldiers like me to break military code at the most fundamental level,” said Lt. Dan Choi.

GAY ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS RESPOND TO DADT PROPOSAL In the wake of Secretary Gates’ February 2 proposal to study the DADT policy and ways to implement its repeal, Gay and Lesbian active duty officers are hopeful – but impatient.

The following quotes are exclusive to SGN from the Service Academy Gay and Lesbian Association, a group of more than 400 Gay and Lesbian service academy graduates. All are active duty officers whose names cannot be revealed due to possible retribution for breaking the DADT policy. However, the officers agreed to provide their rank and service branch for the purpose of this article.

“Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen set the tone for a professional response to the repeal of DADT across the military,” said a U.S. Army First Lieutenant. “As a soldier and an officer, I applaud the gentlemen for filling an overdue void in leadership on OPPOSITION ON THE HORIZON this particular issue of discrimination in the Some Congressional opposition is already armed services.” clear. Senator John McCain, an Arizona Re“I wish the chiefs could see the Army publican and former Navy pilot, recently from the lowest levels,” said a U.S. Army

before. DADT is a policy that contributes to discrimination, lies, and dishonesty among servicemembers. Our armed forces are prepared to move forward as one and continue to defend our freedoms.”

“When I’m on a search and rescue case in the middle of a stormy night, I don’t ask for the gender, race, religion or orientation of the folks on the sinking fishing boat or who are struggling to stay conscious in sub-freezing water temps. … I don’t ask if they’ve paid their taxes, have a college degree, or whether they are even a citizen of this country. … My crew and I are launched into the darkness to help them because that is what I have been trained to do,” explained a U.S. Coast Guard First Lieutenant. “When I look behind me at the individual being hoisted into the cabin of the helicopter, I don’t see their personal attributes. I see someone who was in peril that I managed to save from severe injury, if not death. This effort, this mission – to save lives – doesn’t discriminate. Why should the Coast Guard be bound by a flawed policy that dictates who is suitable to perform such a noble mission based solely on their orientation?”

A message from the front lines: An anonymous member of the U.S. Army serving in Iraq at a remote Forward Operating Base said, “I am glad the commanderin-chief recognizes the need to change the law which is inhibiting our unit from being 100% effective. I, along with other Gay servicemembers in the unit, am constantly worried that at any minute I will be outed and thus removed from fighting this war.

We are an effective fighting unit. Most of the middle-level, noncommissioned officers and below know who we are, and think it’s time for the top brass to realize they can trust units to move beyond DADT and truly become ‘Army Strong!’”

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Seattle Gay News 17

Tour de Life: The tempo of anger

by Beau Burriola SGN European Correspondent

Tick … tick … tick … tick ….

The second hand of the kitchen clock ticked loudly in unison with my heartbeat.

Each second was swelling more and more with the raw anger of every word we were both holding back now, biting our lips, not speaking.

He sat to my right, staring off at some memory just far enough away from me. I sat to his left, staring off at some memory just far enough away to keep him out of my sight. In our anger, we sat there quietly, the most critical seconds passing by.

“You always complain about the little things!” I screamed at him earlier, frustrated that we were becoming one of those couples who don’t have a legitimate disagreement, but insist on arguing about everything. Tiny.

Little. Fucking. Things. That don’t matter! I always thought we were too mature for the low-minded squabbles of couples with no communication skills or education. Surely, I always thought, we were mature and intelligent enough to be able to handle a tiny bit of conflict resolution! Yet here we are at the same spot we’ve found ourselves in for months, completely exhausted with arguing and now offering our final tit-for-tat punishment of total silence.

I listened hard to the sounds outside my beating head, and somewhere far off, a Belgian ambulance went screaming down the road and sent its urgency bouncing off all the old stone buildings, ricocheting smaller and smaller until it hit my ear in echoes.

“The little things are what show you the big things!” he screamed back at me, frustrated that I couldn’t see how little actions can paint a whole picture of a person, how doing one thing can pain a whole picture.

When I don’t roll over for a goodnight kiss or when I go away from the house for three hours without a word, these little things mean more and more. Surely, he thought, our relationship was mature enough to know how to handle a little communication.

Surely we were able to paint a better whole picture. Yet there we were.

We were beyond the rage, beyond the explosions, even beyond the tears, and now we

sat, drained. We had thrown almost everything in our arsenal besides the biggest and most horrible weapons – the nuclear options – and if we ever had thought of using them, we were just too tired now.

Somewhere overhead, the crescendo of an arriving plane met the decrescendo of a parting plane, and surely both of us imagined ourselves in happier times when we traveled the world together, all those years together. Now we were living in the same house, same country, same everything – and we were never further apart.

It sucks. You like to think that because you are 30, you have learned how to handle this type of arguing by now. You like to think you’ve got some control over how it will all come out, that you will find better control of yourself and not go for the little buttons that are easy to push. You like to think that this is the kind of problem other people have, but it isn’t, really; it’s everyone’s problem. It’s the masochistic conundrum of living together.

It’s the growing pains you live through, or don’t, but which always one day come.

Exhausted in our mutual silence, we lay floating on our anger, lost in argument and counter-argument, beyond the worst of today’s battles, marking our casualties and hardening our hearts to the wounds of another damn day with too much damn reality.

With all the galaxies of our resolve crashing and exploding inside, the little details of the world outside continued in perfect rhythm with one another – the echo on the street, the roaring of the planes, the heartbeat in my head, the ticking of the clock – each pounding second marking another critical passing moment that we’ll eventually make it through, or not.

Tick … tick … tick … tick….

Obama says targeting Gays and Lesbians “unconscionable”

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Speaking to the National Prayer Breakfast on February , President Barack Obama strongly condemned anti-Gay laws both here and abroad.

“We may disagree about Gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target Gays and Lesbians for who they are, whether it is here in the United States or … more extremely, in odious laws that are being proposed more recently in Uganda,” Obama said.

A bill pending in Uganda’s parliament proposes the death penalty for “repeat offender” Gays, and for HIV-positive people who have sex. It also raises the penalty for even one homosexual act from 14 years in prison to a life sentence, and it specifies prison terms for those who fail to inform on Gay relatives or neighbors.

The U.S. State Department has warned Uganda’s government not to enact the law, and reportedly secured an agreement that it would not come to a vote.

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have previously condemned

wilber

continued from cover

becomes an activist from 0 to 60 in two seconds. It’s impressive. It’s real. It’s refreshing.

“Bottom line,” he told me, “LGBT inequality is not fair. For the most part, the American people are fair. Our quest for civil rights is about equality and justice.”

“My advice to you is get married: If you Nobody gives you power, he says, and find a good wife, you’ll be happy; if not, nobody will give you your rights; “You’ve you’ll become a philosopher.” got to go get them.” And go and get them he – Socrates fully intends to, which is why he ended up in the company of like-minded Gay activBeau Burriola is a 30-year-old writer who ists in Tennessee. invites anyone to just send him the answer While at Highlander, the center credited already (and will delete any Rilke-esque for training Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Lugarbage about living the questions). beau- ther King, Jr. in strategies for nonviolent brent@gmail.com disobedience, Stuart and company went deep into discussion. They covered everything, from the role of nonviolent direct action in the broader context of the Gay civil rights movement to strategies to build a forward-thinking grassroots movement for LGBTQ rights and for all those who strug-

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gle for justice and dignity in their lives. In addition, Stuart said the group discussed a call to action that would inspire, mobilize and ignite friends, family and allies to enlist for equality. They also talked about campaigns and direct actions to bring more visibility and urgency to instances of inequality, and the resources needed to create successful and strategic actions.

“The retreat was a think-tank for activists,” Stuart said. “Invites were sent to specific people in an attempt to involve a cross-section of our communities. Make no mistake; this was a very diverse group of people that was not exclusive to any one organization. We started the exercises and workshops with very motivated people and left Highlander even more motivated.”

This was the most diverse group of people Stuart says he’s ever seen assembled “anywhere at any one time.”

Stuart received his invite through his networking skills – his partner John will tell you that you can often find Stuart at his computer, typing and e-mailing the hours away.

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the measure in speeches on the occasion of World AIDS Day. The venue Obama picked to reiterate his criticism has special significance because the National Prayer Breakfast is organized

by The Fellowship Foundation, a conservative evangelical Christian organization more widely known as “The Family” or “The C Street Group.”

The Family includes a number of powerful right-wing politicians, and maintains close contact with international political leaders, including Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni is reportedly a Family member.

The international outcry against the proposed law led even Family members to condemn it.

Museveni has distanced himself from the bill, saying it did not represent the views of his government.

The bill’s prime sponsor David Bahati, told a Ugandan newspaper he now opposes the death penalty and will “amend some clauses” of the legislation. Bahati is also reported to be a Family member.

The Ugandan cabinet has set up a committee to review the measure.

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fornia, among other things, Stuart became energized. He watched the work of Join the Impact – an LGBT advocacy group calling on the community to become involved at a grassroots level – as they mobilized marches and rallies in cities throughout the country to demand marriage equality. Discovering the endless bounds of the internet, where one can send out thousands of e-mails a day (as opposed to writing and mailing letters), Stuart found he has a talent when it comes to “getting the word out.”

Many of the retreat’s attendees felt the same way about issues facing our community as he did. Collectively, many in the group felt that the LGBT movement was stalled and “needed a jumpstart.”

So what does that mean? For a lot of LGBT people – myself included – I’ve felt that within the last year, we’ve become energized as a movement, and what’s more, we’ve become a global movement versus a national movement. Stuart would agree – but not fully.

“The National Equality March [last year’s LGBT March on Washington] was a start,” he concedes, “and we’ve seen some action.

But not enough.”

For Stuart, the large national LGBT organizations – which he calls “Gay, Inc.” – have been slow and have cautioned us to be too patient. “The same issues I marched for in Washington in 1993, we still had to march for in 2009. That’s not progress,” he said.

Now, Stuart says that President Obama is talking the good talk, “but we see examples that are comparable to the Clinton administration.” He points out that the Obama administration has defended the Defense of Marriage Act, and “after a year we’ve seen all talk and no action.”

“Even if ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ goes into committee and the Employment Non Discrimination Act goes back to committee, I feel we need to keep the pressure on, because without noise nothing is going to happen but a few crumbs and some nice words,” he surmised.

The Highlander retreat participants walked away with an understanding, according to Stuart, that the LGBT civil rights movement is no longer simply a Queer movement. “It can’t be,” he explained, “because we are too small a group. As long as the rights of the minority are voted on by the majority, we will always lose.”

Stuart stressed the importance of having others from the majority join the call for equality.

“I knew going into this that much of the focus would be on civil disobedience – non-

violent disobedience in the Ghandian fashion,” he admitted. “At first there was a lot of anger and fragility amongst the participants.

It was essential that we got to know each other to break down the walls of our socioeconomic status. Once we got past melting the ice, we moved on to radical inclusivity.”

Stuart says we have to talk about our struggles as a civil rights movement. To Stuart, it is paramount that Gays reach out to other communities and educate them on LGBT issues. “By focusing on common causes, we can get groups of people to join us,” he said. “But they have to be involved from the beginning. We should not look for ‘token activists’; we are looking for real people who aren’t afraid of action.”

The suit-and-tie crowd will often shy away from anything with the connotations of radicalism. There are often misunderstandings on both sides of the argument that one side could exist without the other. The LGBT civil rights movement needs lobbyists just as much as it needs marchers in the street and grassroots workers who are ready to roll up their sleeves and hand out flyers and register voters.

“Putting your energy into aggression is a non-winning situation. We have to carefully craft our movement away from property destruction and violence,” Stuart cautioned.

“Going out and breaking windows and getting arrested does not help the movement, it harms it.”

Having said that, Stuart says he is a big fan of action and civil disobedience. The time for LGBT people to wait for scraps and crumbs is over, he said.

“Youth is going to carry this movement,” Stuart said. He pointed out that throughout contemporary history, the age of most revolutionaries range from the late teens to middle 20s. “They have the passion and the discourse with the establishment. They are going to keep our movement alive.”

According to Stuart, we are seeing a generational shift. “Today, kids in high school can’t understand why they are not entitled to equal rights, and they aren’t afraid to speak their minds,” he said. “The youth were the thrust of the National Equality March. People who were under 30 years old swelled the numbers.”

When the media caught wind of the Radical Minds Retreat, the organization’s officials found themselves defending the gathering against rumors and accusations of a “secret meeting” – accusations that Stuart, along with event organizers Robin McGehee and Kip Williams, said couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I discovered that there were critical blogs and questioning Facebook postings, some of which accused the organizers of setting themselves up as leaders of the LGBT movement and variously characterizing the event as secret, elitist and/or divisive. It was none of these,” Stuart told me.

“It was no secret. I was never told not to talk or write about it before I arrived or during the time we gathered. I was asked only to respect the privacy of the participants by not posting photos or names of those whose positions may be compromised by employers. We were asked not to discuss some direct actions because it would compromise their effectiveness.”

It was not elitist, he said; the room was filled with a cross-section of Queer folks and straight allies. “The Radical Minds Retreat created an army of messengers, each of us is eager to share what we learned, and each of us is here to recruit you to take the next step with us,” said Stuart.

“Our community has not seen a coordinated grassroots movement agitating and demanding changes since the days of ACT UP and the AIDS crisis. In the last 15-20 years, the movement has shifted to a political focus, and has been run by Beltway insider with very little space for grassroots participation,” McGehee and Williams said in a statement preceding the retreat. “That dynamic is shifting, and last October 200,000 people marched on Washington to demand full equality. People everywhere have demonstrated their yearning to be more than observers. We are once again declaring our-

selves a civil rights movement, and we will no longer accept excuses and delays. We are ready to take back our power.”

McGehee and Williams said the spirit of the Highlander retreat was to nurture and jumpstart a grassroots movement, open to everyone, using nonviolent action to demand full legal and social equality. “We had one thing on our agenda: discuss ways to build a national network of activists to demand full equality now,” they said in a statement after the Highlander retreat.

Stuart says the Radical Minds Retreat was a starting point. In fact, as this article goes to press, he is in Dallas with the same organizers attending an NGLTF (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) workshop called “Creating Change.” There is movement, and according to Stuart, the community had better get used to it. His intention is to keep going until equality is realized.

“We wish every voice could have been present at the Highlander Center,” McGehee and Williams said. “But that was neither a beginning nor an end to the conversation.”

If you want to be involved or have something to share, McGehee and Williams say they are ready and willing to hear from you.

You can e-mail the duo at kip@neworganizing.com.

“We have to look for our rights as guaranteed by the constitution,” Stuart said to me with great certainty as our discussion was winding down. “I’ve discovered that one person really can make a difference, and a small group of committed people can effect change. It’s time we get to work.”

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Seattle Gay News 19

GSBA hosts Young Professionals with Pride anniversary mixer

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer

On January 26, the Greater Seattle Business Association Young Professionals with Pride (YPP) celebrated their one-year anniversary at the Rosebud Restaurant and Bar (719 E. Pike St.) on Capitol Hill. About 35 young professionals showed up to mix, mingle and sip complimentary wine while they networked for more business contacts.

“Young Professionals with Pride is a division of the GSBA trying to encourage young

professionals to be better networkers,” said Alix Mendonca, chair of YPP and a business account executive for Clearwire.

YPP is a program that is “dedicated to providing Seattle’s LGBT and ally young professionals with unique and valuable opportunities to enhance personal and professional development through social, educational, and philanthropic activities.”

The idea behind YPP came from GSBA Director of Marketing Jerome Bader and GSBA Office and Events Coordinator Cole Harrington. Harrington, who was a member of the Greater San Diego Business Association, pointed out during his initial job interview with Bader that “there wasn’t any kind of networking for this demographic.” Bader agreed.

YPP has been running strong for one year The group does a wealth of volunteer work. According to Leanne Plancic, a financial consultant for financial consultant firm AXA Advisors, YPP has recently done volunteer work for Chicken Soup Brigade and the Dunshee House.

“It’s a way for people to get a better feel for what GSBA is outside of the Guide,” Harrington told SGN. “It’s not snobby, it’s not cheeky; it’s great.”

YPP’s next mixer will be held on February 23 at Meza Latin Fare (1515 14th Ave.). For more information, visit www.thegsba.org.

pope

continued from cover “impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.”

He then added, “In some respects, it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed.”

In Roman Catholic theology, “natural law” means the Church traditions and Biblical texts on which Roman Catholic dogma is based. “Violation of the natural law” would be a sin in Catholic theology.

The Equality Bill would require equal treatment in employment as well as private and public services, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, age, or disability. The bill is intended to codify and update existing British civil rights laws, and to bring them in line with European Union Equal Treatment Directives.

It goes beyond ENDA and other similar civil rights legislation in the US, in that it aims at wage equality and allows for preferences and quotas in public contracts.

Ironically, in view of the pope’s remarks, the measure also repeals the Act of Settlement of 1701, which forbids Roman Catholics from inheriting the British throne.

The measure was introduced in April 2009

by Labor Party Deputy Leader and noted feminist Harriet Harmon, fulfilling a Labor Party campaign pledge.

The pope’s remarks on Monday came with an announcement that he would visit Britain in September.

While British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has wanted a papal visit and insisted Benedict would receive a “warm welcome,” others were not so pleased.

Labor MEP (Member of the European Parliament) Stephen Hughes issued a statement shortly after the pope’s remarks became public.

“As a Catholic, I am appalled by the attitude of the pope. Religious leaders should be trying to eradicate inequality, not perpetuate it,” Hughes said.

“Inequality is at the root of many social problems. Instead of criticizing the UK’s plans to improve its legislation, the pope

should ensure that existing EU legislation is properly applied in the Vatican,” his statement continued.

“This outburst signals that Benedict is likely to make highly partisan political criticisms during his visit to the UK in September,” said noted Gay activist Peter Tatchell.

“Most British people will not welcome a meddlesome pontiff who opposes our equality laws.”

“They will especially resent the fact that the UK government is asking taxpayers to cough up around £20 million to finance his visit. This money would be far better spent on schools and hospitals,” Tatchell added.

Dr. Evan Harris, Liberal Democratic Party spokesman, said, “Britain’s equality laws protect both Catholics and Gay people from unfair discrimination, and in employment we are governed by exactly the same rules as Catholic Italy.”

National Secular Society president Terry Sanderson said, “We have a petition online where people can make clear their opposition to the state funding of this visit. If the Catholic Church wishes its leader to come here, it should pay for the visit itself.”

The NSS has promised to lead a protest campaign against the visit, including LGBT groups, victims of clerical abuse, feminists, family planning organizations and pro-abortion groups among others.

While the Labor Party has a majority in Britain’s parliament, and the Equality Bill enjoys support even from opposition members like the Liberal Democrats, passage is by no means certain.

Last week the House of Lords – the upper chamber of parliament – voted down three separate Labor attempts to advance the bill.

Under British law, the Lords are able to delay passage of legislation, but not to kill it – unlike the US Senate.

British religious leaders – both Roman Catholic and Anglican – have expressed concerns that the Equality Bill would force them to hire LGBT staff or even ordain LGBT priests.

“Religious people can be reassured that there is nothing in the Equality Bill which imposes Gay priests on religions, but it does protect the general workforce from prejudiced employers,” the Liberal Democratic Party’s Harris said.

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22 Seattle Gay News

February 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

THE RECIPIENTS FOR THE 2009 GSBA B U S I N E S S & H U M A N I TA R I A N AWA R D S A R E . . .

Business of the Year

Business Leader of the Year

WAVE LINK MUSIC BRIAN DALE

ROGER NYHUS

New Business of the Year

Corporate Citizen of the Year

POPPY JERRY TRAUNFELD

GLENN JOHNSON ALASKA AIRLINES

Community Leadership of the Year

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JOYFUL FREEMAN AMERICAN FRIENDS

JAMIE PEDERSEN W A S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I V E

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Special Remarks Maria Cantwell U.S. Senator

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February 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News 23