SGN February 25, 2011 - Section 1

Page 1

Issue 08 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

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

BULLYING PANEL p. 5

ED MURRAY p. 8

BOBBY McFERRIN p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Photo by Meryl Schenker Photography www.merylschenker.com

President Barack Obama has ordered the Justice Department to stop defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), according to a statement issued by Attorney General Eric Holder on February 23. “The president has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny,” Holder said. According to Holder, President Obama believes that Section 3 of DOMA “fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional.” “Given that conclusion, the president has instructed the [Justice Department] not to defend the statute” in two pending cases, Holder Kim Bogucki said. by Shaun Knittel “I fully concur with the presiand 500 civilians. But there is only one Detective dent’s determination,” Holder SGN Associate Editor Kim Bogucki, and we are lucky to added. DOMA passed in 1996, with a The Seattle Police Department have her. large majority in both Houses of employs approximately 1,250 see bogucki page 20 Congress. sworn law enforcement officers

WDC Pix

SPD detective Kim President Obama says Bogucki protects DOMA unconstitutional Seattle with pride

President Barack Obama

Section 3 is the piece of the law that defines marriage in terms of opposite-sex couples. “[T]he word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a

wife,” it says. President Obama has said in the past that he wants DOMA to be repealed, but until now he has also asked the Justice Department to defend the law in court. see doma page 18

Lifelong AIDS Alliance Transgender community “left behind” by DADT repeal hosts Greg Louganis A Transgender veteran shares her views on the future

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Michelle Marie McKay, 59, can at long last live comfortably. In 2008, she became the woman she always knew she truly was. Much more than a Transgender member of society, the Williamsburg, VA, citizen is an activist with Equality

Virginia, a founder of the Coalition for Transgender Rights in Virginia, a facilitator with the Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth, and a board member of the Virginia Anti Violence Program. In other words, when it comes to the woes of the Trans community, Michelle is somewhat of an expert. There is another title McKay

SECRET SAILOR, 1970 “I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1970, just two weeks after graduating high school,” recalled Michelle. “I did this because of Vietnam, and I had a fear of being drafted into the Army. I felt I see transgender page 20

at breakfast benefit

munity event that provides an opportunity for donors, corporations, and political leaders to join together and make a charitable difference in the lives of those affected by and living with HIV and AIDS. Lifelong officials say the mission of the alliance is to prevent the spread of HIV and to provide practical support services and advocate for those whose lives are affected by the disOlympic swimmer Greg Louganis ease. The well-attendby Shaun Knittel ed breakfast was emceed by EmSGN Associate Editor my-winning anchor Jean Enersen. A longtime supporter and advocate The Lifelong AIDS Alliance for Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Enheld “Making a Difference: The ersen has served as co-chair of the 2nd Annual Benefit Breakfast” Seattle AIDS Walk & 5K Run. February 24 at The Red Lion Hotel The event was free to attend, but (1415 Fifth Ave.) from 7:30-9 a.m. The breakfast benefit is a comsee lifelong page 21 nate gowdy

photos courtesy Michelle Marie McKay

Michelle Marie McKay in 1970 (l) and today

lays claim to: veteran. I met Michelle on OutMilitary. com, a social network site for LGBT servicemembers and their supporters. It was her profile picture that made me stop and read her stats: a photo split down the middle, one side an official U.S. Navy photo of a young man, the other side an older woman with blonde hair and a similar smile. The man on the left is who she used to be, and the woman on the right is who she is now. After a brief exchange, I felt compelled to tell her story in the pages of the Seattle Gay News. With the debate raging over Transgender equality within the ranks of the U.S. military, I think Michelle – a “she” who never really felt like a “he,” even when enlisted in the service – has a very interesting and unique perspective on an argument that has only just begun.


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