SGN March 1, 2013 - Section 1

Celebrating 40 Years!

Issue 09 Volume 41

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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

HRC endorses Ed Murray for mayor National group rarely gets involved in local politics

In a surprise move, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced on February 28 that it was endorsing Washington state Sen. Ed Murray for mayor of Seattle.

tory of changing politics, not just here [in Washington] but nationally. We thought it was important to acknowledge that work.”

“It’s boots on the ground, volunteers,” Kaushik said, explaining the significance of HRC support.

Kaushik added that once Murray

HRC was effusive in its praise for Murray.

“State Senator Ed Murray has changed the national landscape for LGBT equality by demonstrating exceptional dedication over his more than 15 years in public office in fighting for equality for all

Daniel Hanks / Social Outreach Seattle

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

“Ed as an individual is so unique. He has such a long history of changing politics, not just here [in Washington] but nationally. We thought it was important to acknowledge that work.”

“This is a good day for us,” Murray campaign consultant Sandeep Kaushik told SGN by phone. “This is a really big deal!”

HRC, which typically does not get involved in local races, has 1.5 million members nationally and some 65,000 in Washington state.

“Ed as an individual is so unique,” Lacey All, a member of HRC’s national board of directors, told SGN. “He has such a long his-

is legally able to begin fundraising again – which he is prohibited from doing while the legislature is in session – it may be a financial base as well.

“I suspect that as we get into springtime, many of our members will want to get involved,” All said. “The best is still ahead!”

Washingtonians,” HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement.

“He has shown unwavering commitment to taking on – and winning – the tough fights that are paramount to our community, including successfully building bipartisan support for Washington state’s historic marriage equality

‘DEDICATION’ CITED In its endorsement statement,

see murray page 4

Senator Ed Murray (r) with longtime partner Michael Shiosaki

Justice Dept. files historic brief Republicans sign Federal government defends LGBT civil rights for the first time ever

In the first comprehensive defense of LGBT civil rights ever put forward by the U.S. government, the Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in Windsor v. USA, the DOMA case now before the Supreme Court, on February 25.

In the 67-page document, which cites 60 judicial precedents and 30

additional professional references, DOJ – which is technically representing the defendant in the case, the U.S. government – explained why the plaintiff, Edie Windsor, should win.

Windsor, an 83-year-old widow, says the IRS unconstitutionally charged her $363,053 in inheritance taxes solely because she was married to another woman, rather see justice dept. page 14 than to a man.

Weddings By the Sea

on to support marriage equality Amicus brief in anti-Prop 8 case draws 75 GOP endorsers

Nate Gowdy, Jen DeLeo / seattle gay news

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

BIAS ‘PERVASIVE’ In its brief, DOJ agreed with Windsor that DOMA is unconstitutional, but it went far beyond the facts of the Windsor case to argue that LGBT people are targets of pervasive discrimination, affecting every area of their lives, and that laws limiting LGBT rights deserve the same level of judicial scrutiny as those affecting race or religion.

All levels of government and private entities have a history of discrimination against LGBT people, the DOJ said, and not just in marriage rights. LGBT people in the U.S. suffer discrimination in employment, immigration, hate crimes, child custody, law enforcement, and voter referenda.

The DOJ also acknowledged that the vast majority of LGBTrelated state voter initiatives either repealed anti-discrimination laws or added laws denying the right to marry. “[G]iven its breadth and depth, the undisputed 20th-century discrimination has lasted long enough,” DOJ concluded.

The LGBT community in the U.S. also shares a characteristic of relative political powerlessness with communities of color, the DOJ brief concluded. In 1996,

Former Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman organized the brief.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In a development that caught many observers by surprise, 75 prominent Republicans have filed an amicus brief supporting marriage equality in Hollingsworth v.

Perry, the case in which the U.S.

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Supreme Court will decide on the constitutionality of California’s anti-equality Prop 8. “[We] start from the premise – recognized by this Court on at least 14 occasions – that marriage is both a fundamental right prosee republicans page 14

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op-ed

Is everything just swell in Virginia?

State lawmaker says anti-LGBT bias is all in our heads

by D’Anne Witkowski SGN Contributing Writer Discrimination against Lesbians and Gays is but a figment of some overactive

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FEAR AND LOATHING Gilbert continued, “There was not a single example of anyone that felt that except that abstract fear that we’ve heard testified here today. I heard the gentlewoman today say that the Virginia Commonwealth … is this oppressive and intolerant environment.

I dare say that’s probably not true.”

Yeah, you tell ’em, Gilbert. Abstract fear is for losers. And you, being a white and presumably straight male, definitely know what it feels like to be oppressed and have every authority to brush aside the concerns

By Gilbert’s logic, if a town has never had an ax murder, then no law against ax-murdering is needed.

Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel, James Whitely

town somewhere that has never had, say, an ax murder, then ax murdering is totally legal where you live. After all, making a law against ax murdering would be silly if you couldn’t get anyone with an ax in his or her

nated-against they were.

imaginations in Virginia, so there’s no need for silly laws against it.

So goes the thinking of Virginia Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, who recently made sure a bill to protect LGBT state workers died in committee without ever getting a vote in the House, despite the bill’s bipartisan support in the state Senate.

Gilbert, a Republican (shocking, I know), claimed that those in favor of banning discrimination hadn’t proved there was a problem with discrimination in the first place.

Never mind that in Virginia it is perfectly legal to fire an employee, public or private, simply because he or she is Gay (which is true for a good number of other states, too – check your local laws). That isn’t good enough for Gilbert.

“Among all the people who spoke [at the subcommittee hearing], there was not a single example of one that was discriminated against in public employment,” Gilbert complained. “I challenged those in the room to bring forth an example. I was told the following year that there would be a line out the door of people with examples of having been discriminated against in public employment.”

head to testify at your subcommittee hearing. “[W]e’ve heard from many people about this specter of oppression that really doesn’t exist because, again we have not a single example of anyone who has been discriminated against for this reason,” Gilbert said.

See? It doesn’t even exist! Because if it did every LGBT person who lives in a state that has no laws protecting LGBT people against discrimination would definitely go testify in public about how LGBT-discrimi-

of people who go to work every day knowing that they have no legal recourse should some homophobe want to terminate them all because the state that they live in doesn’t even value them enough to enact laws to protect them against such bullshit.

It is worth noting that this is the same guy who said that abortion was a “lifestyle convenience” because he is definitely a gentleman and a scholar. I wonder if he has some equally compelling thoughts about racism.

NO HARM, NO FOUL What? No line out the door of sad sacks who got sacked for what they do in the sack? Then, clearly, no anti-discrimination bill is needed. And anyway, don’t those Gays know how laws work? Things can only be made illegal after they happen. So if, for example, you live in a quaint small

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March 1, 2013

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Local news

file photo

Marriage equality coming to Oregon?

Organizers say state initiative is on track for November 2014

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Basic Rights Oregon, the state’s leading LGBT rights group, says it is on track in its campaign to put a marriage equality initiative on the ballot in November 2014.

The group announced its plans February 15 and has already made substantial progress, according to Jeana Frazzini, BRO’s executive director.

“We filed the paperwork for the committee, and we collected our sponsor signatures within days,” she told SGN by phone. “We got signers from 29 of our 36 counties, representing 97% of [Oregon’s] population.”

Oregon state law requires groups that intend to petition for a ballot measure to file 1,000 “sponsor” signatures before they can circulate petitions to the general public.

With that now out of the way, Frazzini says, the next step is for the state attorney general to approve the draft ballot language. After that, petitions can go out for public signatures.

“We’re in the beginning stages now,” Frazzini told SGN. “We expect to have the qualifying petitions out in mid- to late-summer this year.”

Washington did, Frazzini explained, because in 2004 Oregon voters passed a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples.

“There was no way around a public vote,” she said. “The legislature was not an option.”

In the intervening nine years, public opinion has swung to the side of equality, she added. “The most recent PPP poll, from December last year, showed 54% for equality.”

Frazzini says her organization is not taking anything for granted, however.

“There is opposition. It won’t be a slam dunk. We watched Washington and we anticipate the same kind of thing. We’ll probably need 10,000 volunteers and millions of dollars.”

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED Running the initiative in 2014 may be risky because it is a non-presidential election year when turnout is lower, and voters who do go to the polls tend to be older and more conservative. Frazzini also notes that Oregon has a blue-red division much like Washington’s. Nevertheless, she remains optimistic.

“There are some similarities [between Washington and Oregon] in terms of geoPUBLIC VOTE UNAVOIDABLE graphical differences, but we have a long Basic Rights Oregon had to mount an history of organizing statewide,” she says. initiative campaign rather than introduce “The Ashland City Council has gone on rea marriage bill in the state legislature as cord supporting marriage equality. And the

Ferguson backs equality in Supreme Court cases WA attorney general joins briefs against DOMA, Prop 8

Basic Rights Oregon’s executive director Jeana Frazzini

file photo

mayor of Bend.”

Asked what SGN readers could do to help, Frazzini said, “First, contact everyone they know in Oregon.”

She continued, “A lot of [Washingtonians] live right across the river. Many folks go

back and forth all the time. We were proud we helped Washington. We were honored.

“We’ve talked about equality for so many years, now we have an opportunity to make this true across the Northwest.”

in these briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting marriage equality for couples in Washington and across the country.”

The Perry brief was filed February 28. It is signed by 13 states, including Washington, and the District of Columbia. The brief in Windsor will be filed March 1 and will be joined by 15 states – again including Washington – plus D.C. The Windsor brief supports the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by denying federal benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married under the laws of their state.

“This is fundamentally unfair, and we must stand up for the rights of the people of our state. Washington will have its voice heard in this critical debate.”

The states that joined the Perry brief include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

The attorney general of California filed a separate brief in Perry supporting equal marriage rights, because the case originates in California.

The states that joined the Windsor brief include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear the Prop 8 case on March 26 and the DOMA case the next day.

CITES IMPACT ON STATE “This case has a direct impact on Washington families. Couples who are legally married in our state may find themselves in this exact situation – being denied important federal benefits,” Ferguson said.

murray

continued from cover legislation in 2012 and then playing a major leadership role in the successful effort to approve Referendum 74, which upheld that law.

“It is rare for us to get involved in a local Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson race, but we know Ed Murray as a national leader on LGBT issues, and that is why we

by Mike Andrew endorse him with great enthusiasm.” the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Washington has a clear interest in sup- Griffin added that Murray’s leadership exSGN Staff Writer porting marriage equality and in ensuring tended far beyond the arena of civil rights.

Washington state’s new attorney gen- the federal government respects marriages “Senator Murray is a champion for Seeral, Bob Ferguson, has signed on to briefs that are valid under Washington law,” Fer- attle and time and again has demonstrated supporting marriage equality in both USA guson said in a statement released February his leadership skills in making progress on difficult issues like improving education, v. Windsor, the DOMA case, and Holling- 28.

“I am proud that Washington played an ac- strengthening environmental protections, sworth v. Perry, the case challenging California’s Prop 8. Both cases are now before tive role in developing the strong arguments funding critical transit and transportation

improvements, and writing budgets in tough economic times that still protect the poor and vulnerable,” Griffin said.

MURRAY PRAISES HRC For his part, Murray said he was “honored” to get HRC’s endorsement.

“I know first-hand from our recent R-74 marriage equality victory how active and engaged HRC members are, and I believe their support will make a huge difference in powering my campaign to victory in August and November,” he said.

In addition to HRC, the LGBT Victory Fund and ERW have endorsed Murray’s campaign. The only other local race HRC has gotten involved in this year is Lesbian Christine Quinn’s campaign for mayor of New York City.

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March 1, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Brace yourself

What will the looming ‘sequester’ do to Washington state?

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor According to the White House, unless Congress acts by March 1, a series of automatic cuts – called the sequester – will take effect that threaten hundreds of thousands of middle-class jobs while cutting vital services for children, seniors, people with

• Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start services would be eliminated for approximately 1,000 children in Washington, reducing access to critical early education.

• Protections for clean air and clean water: Washington would lose about $3,301,000 in environmental funding to ensure clean water and air quality, as well as prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste.

“By not asking the wealthy to pay a little more, Republicans are forcing our children, seniors, troops, military families, and the entire middle class to bear the burden of deficit reduction.” mental illnesses, and our men and women in uniform.

“There is no question that we need to cut the deficit, but the President believes it should be done in a balanced way that protects investments that the middle class relies on,” said White House officials in a February 28 press release. “Already, the President has worked with Congress to reduce the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion, but there’s more to do.”

The document went on: “The President has put forward a balanced plan to not only avoid the harmful effects of the sequester but also to reduce the deficit by more than $4 trillion in total. The President’s plan meets Republicans more than halfway and includes twice as many spending cuts as it does tax revenue from the wealthy.”

“By not asking the wealthy to pay a little more,” said the White House, “Republicans are forcing our children, seniors, troops, military families, and the entire middle class to bear the burden of deficit reduction.”

“The President is determined to cut spending and reduce the deficit in a balanced way, but he won’t stick the middle class with the bill,” said officials. “The President is willing to compromise, but on behalf of the middle class he cannot accept a deal that undercuts their economic security.

“Our economy is continuing to strengthen but we cannot afford a self-inflicted wound from Washington. Republicans should compromise and meet the President in the middle,” concludes the press release. “We cannot simply cut our way to prosperity, and if Republicans continue to insist on an unreasonable, cuts-only approach, Washington risks paying the price.”

WASHINGTON IMPACTS If sequestration takes effect as expected today, some examples of the impacts on Washington this year alone are: • Teachers and schools: Washington will lose approximately $11,606,000 in funding for primary and secondary education, putting around 160 teacher and aide jobs at risk.

• In addition, about 11,000 fewer students would be served and approximately 50 fewer schools would receive funding.

• Education for children with disabilities: Washington will lose approximately $11,251,000 in funds for about 140 teachers, aides, and staff who help children with disabilities.

• Work-study jobs: Around 440 fewer low-income students in Washington would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college, and around 180 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college.

In addition, Washington could lose another $924,000 in grants for fish and wildlife protection.

• Military readiness: In Washington, approximately 29,000 civilian Department of Defense employees would be furloughed, reducing gross pay by around $173.4 million in total.

• Army: Base operation funding would be cut by about $124 million in Washington.

• Air Force: Funding for Air Force operations in Washington would be cut by about $3 million.

• Navy: Cancel aircraft depot maintenance at Whidbey Island and a demolition project in Bremerton.

• Law enforcement and public safety: Washington will lose about $271,000 in Justice Assistance Grants that support law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

• Job-search assistance: Washington will lose about $661,000 in funding for jobsearch assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 24,510 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.

• Child care: Up to 800 disadvantaged and vulnerable children could lose access to child care, which is also essential for working parents to hold down a job.

• Vaccines for children: In Washington around 2,850 fewer children will receive vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, influenza, and Hepatitis B due to reduced funding for vaccinations of about $195,000.

• Public health: Washington will lose about $642,000 in funds to help upgrade the state’s ability to respond to public health threats including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events.

• In addition, Washington will lose about $1,740,000 in grants to help prevent and treat substance abuse, resulting in around 3,800 fewer admissions to substance-abuse programs. And the Washington State Department of Health will lose about $174,000 resulting in around 4,300 fewer HIV tests.

• STOP Violence Against Women Program: Washington could lose up to $143,000 in funds that provide services to victims of domestic violence, resulting in up to 500 fewer victims being served.

• Nutrition assistance for seniors: Washington would lose approximately $1,053,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors.

For more information, visit www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sequester-factsheets/Washington.pdf.

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national news

courtesy illinois observer

Illinois marriage fight goes on Equality bill clears committee but may lack votes in House

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

lobbied members to approve the state’s civil unions law in 2010.

A bill to allow same-sex couples to marry in Illinois narrowly passed a state House committee on February 26, but it is unclear if the measure has enough votes to pass on the floor.

REVOLVING DOOR Of the 61 House members who approved civil unions in 2010, just 36 remain in office. That leaves supporters needing to round up at least 24 more Yes votes.

“I think we’re being very careful to be respectful of protecting religious freedom and also treating all Illinoisans equally under the eyes of the law.”

The committee vote was 6-5, with one Democrat joining Republicans in opposing the bill. The defection of Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson Sr. illustrates the key problem for marriage equality advocates: While Democrats outnumber Republicans in the body 71 to 47, not all of them support equality for Illinois Gay and Lesbian couples.

Equality supporter Gov. Pat Quinn admitted to reporters that the bill probably lacks the 60 votes needed to pass.

“There’s still persuasion to do in the House,” Quinn said at an event on February 21. The governor added that he plans to contact members of the House individually seeking their support, just as he did when he

According to the Quad-City Times newspaper, many of the newer House members are opposed to marriage equality. Not all are, however. Freshman Rep. Mike Smiddy, a Democrat, said he will co-sponsor the bill when it comes to the House floor for debate.

“I believe it’s a civil rights issue that is paramount to getting fair treatment to samesex partners,” Smiddy said.

GAY LAWMAKER OPTIMISTIC Rep. Greg Harris of Chicago, one of four openly Gay lawmakers who co-sponsored the proposal, said he is confident the measure will be approved.

“I think it will do very well, because I

Illinois Rep. Greg Harris

think we’re being very careful to be respectful of protecting religious freedom and also treating all Illinoisans equally under the eyes of the law,” Harris said.

“This is an issue where people have strong feelings, so we need to educate people about both sides. We respect all religions in this bill, but we also respect all families in this bill. As soon as we explain those things, people will realize it’s a good vote.”

A fellow Democrat, Rep. Sue Scherer, said she thinks legalizing same-sex mar-

courtesy think progress

Transgender girl barred from girls’ restroom

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor When it comes to members of the Transgender community and restroom facilities, society at large just doesn’t seem to get it.

And although things are improving as more and more people are educated about the topic, the bitter reality is there are still those who don’t think Trans people have the right to use the restroom of the gender with which they identify. More often than not, the Trans person under attack is an adult. But Seattle Gay News has learned of a story where a six-year-old Transgender girl has been discriminated against by school officials – and her parents are fighting back.

The Denver Post reports that first-grader Coy Mathis has attended Eagleside Elementary School in Fountain, Colorado, since December 2011. Parents Kathryn and Jeremy Mathis say they recently decided to home-school their daughter after school officials decided Coy could no longer use the girls’ restroom as she had been doing. Instead, she would have to use either the boys’ restroom, the staff restroom, or the one in the school nurse’s office.

Coy Mathis

riage is premature, however.

“We’ve had civil unions, and it hasn’t even been two years,” Scherer said.

“The purpose of the civil union was to give people in this situation the rights they felt they deserved. I think that needs to have time to go through the system before we go further.”

Neither Quinn nor Harris indicated when the measure would be brought to the House floor for debate.

CREATING A DIVIDE “They’re creating a giant divide and that’s a huge loss for the school because they have a really good opportunity for their students,” Kathryn told Fox-TV station KDVR. “They’re using it as a way to discriminate instead.”

Coy’s parents are now filing a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, according to the Post.

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 officials say the school’s leadership has done nothing illegal.

Attorney W. Kelly Dude, who represents Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, says there are no Colorado cases thus far that require public schools to permit Transgender students to use restrooms of the gender with which they identify.

‘FUTURE IMPACT’ WEIGHED Dude added that in ruling that Coy wouldn’t be allowed to use the girls’ restroom, the school “took into account not only Coy but other students in the building, their parents, and the future impact a boy with male genitals using a girls’ bathroom would have as Coy grew older,” according to the Post report.

“However, I’m certain you can appreciate that as Coy grows older and his male genitals develop along with the rest of his body, at least some parents and students are likely to become uncomfortable with his continued use of the girls’ restroom,” Dude said.

Kathryn says that Coy made her family aware of her struggles as soon as she was able to talk.

“She just kept crying and said she was scared that she was going to grow up and have a beard and a hairy chest and everybody would know she was born a boy,” said her mother.

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House Republicans give in on VAWA LGBT-inclusive Violence Against Women Act passes

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) on February 28. The final version of the bill passed by the House includes protections for Lesbians and Trans women in same-sex relationships, as well as additional protection for Native women assaulted on reservations.

Both provisions had been opposed by Republican House leaders, who held up approval of VAWA for more than 500 days after the original law expired in 2011.

Speaker John Boehner first brought up a Republican-sponsored version for debate, but it was voted down 166-257. The House then voted 286-138 to pass the Senate version, with 87 Republicans joining all 199 Democrats to provide majority support.

‘FEMINIST SLUSH FUND’?

When the bill passed in the Senate two weeks ago, leading anti-Gay spokesman Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council denounced it as a “feminist slush fund that extends special rights to people based on their sexual behavior.”

The bill now goes to President Obama, who has promised to sign it into law.

VAWA provides federal assistance to

health care providers and law enforcement agencies that prosecute domestic violence.

The law was first passed in 1994, with thenSen. Joe Biden as the prime sponsor, but because it involves federal funding it needs to be reauthorized periodically.

Washington’s Sen. Patty Murray was one of the leaders in the effort to reauthorize the Act and a severe critic of House Republicans who prevented an up-or-down vote on the measure for a year and a half.

“This is a long-delayed, hard-won, and badly needed victory for millions of women, especially those who were told that they weren’t worthy of VAWA’s protections,” Murray said in a statement issued shortly after the bill finally passed.

“It means that finally, after over 16 months of struggle, tribal women, the LGBT community, immigrants, and women on college campuses will have the tools and resources this lifesaving bill provides.”

THANKS REPUBLICANS In her statement, Murray thanked “moderate Republican voices in the House who stood up to their leadership to demand a vote on the Senate bill.”

She also acknowledged the “countless women [who] had the courage to come forward and tell painful stories about why this bill was so vital to them.

Senator Patty Murray

“By stepping out of the shadows, they reinforced that they were more than statistics, and they forced those who stood in opposition to this bill to face up to the reality that who a person loves, where they live, or their immigration status should never determine whether they are protected from violence,” Murray said.

Murray singled out Tulalip Tribe Vice Chair Deborah Parker for special thanks.

“Deborah has been by my side time and again in this effort and repeatedly told her deeply personal story of the violence and abuse women face on tribal lands to illustrate a tremendous unmet need,” the senator said.

Time for a new name?

‘GSD’ should replace ‘LGBT,’ say London therapists

ple who didn’t feel able to go to mainstream counseling organizations and also wouldn’t necessarily be welcome at LGBT counselThe alphabet soup of an acronym that de- ing organizations,” including asexual peoscribes the LGBT community – also known ple and those in otherwise nontraditional as the LGBTQ community, or sometimes relationships, such as “swingers.”

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

“Now we’re allowing more of a spectrum ... people need wider language, people need better language to have that conversation ... We exist at this time in a different way of thinking collectively and inclusively.” even the LGBTQIA community – can get a little frustrating at times. But for the most part, mainstream society has come to accept LGBT. A London-based advocacy group, however, believes that LGBT should one day become GSD. Pink Therapy director Dominic Davies and fellow therapist Pamela Gawler-Wright suggest GSD, or “Gender and Sexual Diversities,” as a more inclusive community term in a new video posted on the group’s Facebook page.

In the clip, Davies noted that the term LGBT still excluded “a whole batch of peo-

“Now we’re allowing more of a spectrum ... people need wider language, people need better language to have that conversation ...

We exist at this time in a different way of thinking collectively and inclusively,” added Gawler-Wright.

Officials on the group’s Facebook page echoed those sentiments. “The point we’re trying to make is not that our community shouldn’t be called LGBT, it’s that actually our community is so much bigger than simply LGBT,” they noted.

What do you think? Should we change LGBT to GSD? Respond on our Facebook page or write us at sgn2@sgn.org.

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March 1, 2013

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file photo

Gay mayoral candidate found dead in Mississippi

A suspect is in custody after the alleged killing of an openly Gay, African-American mayoral candidate in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

The body of 34-year-old Marco McMillian was found near the Mississippi River in Coahoma County early Wednesday, a day after an SUV belonging to him was involved in a crash outside of town. McMillian was not in the vehicle at the time, and police launched a search when he could not be reached by phone. The driver was airlifted to a hospital and is expected to survive.

McMillian was one of the first openly Gay candidates for public office in Mississippi, according to the Victory Fund. He had recently moved back to his hometown of Clarksdale from Memphis, Tennessee, with the aim of becoming mayor. Clarksdale is a mostly agricultural city of about 18,000 with high rates of crime and poverty.

Twenty-two-year-old Lawrence Reed of Clarksdale was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder. He had not been formally charged as SGN went to press. The case remains under investigation.

young boy could indeed come true, and he could one day become an elementary school teacher.

“Everything is starting to fall into place,” Jaime said. “Getting my work permit and Social Security card and other documents LEGISLATION NEEDED was like getting a whole load lifted off my There is widespread agreement that the shoulders. I feel freer because of DACA and DACA program is only a temporary fix and I am no longer scared of the police or of bethat creating a direct pathway to citizenship ing treated like a criminal.” for Dreamers is one of the key elements of comprehensive immigration reform. The NOWHERE ELSE IS HOME framework for reform recently announced Alejandra Estrada hasn’t known any other

by President Obama as well as the one put home than the United States. She was just forward by the bipartisan “Gang of 8” in the three months old in 1989 when her mother U.S. Senate specifically included Dreamers. brought her and her sister across the U.S.On February 5, House Majority Leader Mexico border. She excelled in school, Eric Cantor, a Republican who helped sink and after high school graduation she began the federal DREAM Act in 2010, also en- cleaning houses with her mother, with the dorsed citizenship for Dreamers. two recently starting a small house-cleaning Jaime Diaz, who also received a grant business in Las Vegas. through the fund, recently got the news he Alejandra, who also received a grant had hoped for – he was granted a work per- through the fund, submitted her DACA apmit under DACA. It was at that moment plication and is hopeful it is approved so she that he realized the dreams he’s had since can achieve her dreams of attending college UNITING COMMUNITIES One of the recipients of aid from the fund, his parents brought him to this country as a and majoring in early childhood education.

“A change of status could really change everything,” said Alejandra, adding that her immigration status has limited her ability not only to excel professionally, but to grow. “Even though I have been here since I was a baby, there’s still this feeling that I don’t belong. Becoming a citizen and getting everything squared away will be an incredible relief.”

Marco McMillian

Special fund helps undocumented LGBTs get work permits

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Nearly 200 LGBT undocumented young people have either received or are in the process of receiving two-year work permits and reprieves from the threat of deportation, thanks to a fund made possible by more than three dozen LGBT organizations.

Late last summer, President Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to enable people who came to the United States as children – com-

Jose Mendoza, recently received his work permit. Jose’s dream is to become a nurse and he is now taking classes that will allow him to apply to a nursing program. “Getting this kind of support and help means so much, and it’s great to see the Gay community stepping in and saying that what I am doing is important,” he said.

Marco Quiroga, who wants to be a surgeon, said he is “thrilled” to have the support of the LGBT Dreamers Fund so that he could submit his DACA application. “Immigrant and LGBT issues have always been

courtesy somos georgia

Living the DREAM

POLICE: NOT HATE CRIME McMillian’s opponents in the mayor’s race included Chuck Espy, a state representative, and Bill Luckett, an attorney who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2011. Both men are Democrats, as was McMillian. No motive for the slaying has been established, but police say they do not believe the killing was politically motivated or a hate crime.

In a public statement issued Wednesday, McMillian’s campaign spokesman, Jarod Keith, said, “We remember Marco as a bold and passionate public servant, whose faith informed every aspect of his life. Tragically, that life has been cut short.”

“I’m so grateful that so many organizations have stepped up to help LGBT Dreamers. The cost has hindered thousands of Dreamers to be lifted from the shadow of deportation.” monly known as “Dreamers” in reference to the DREAM Act, a proposed immigration reform bill – to apply for work permits and relief from deportation.

In response, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, and the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund launched the “LGBT Dreamers Fund” at the Liberty Hill Foundation to help LGBT Dreamers pay the $465 in fees required to apply for relief under the DACA program. The $465 poses a steep hurdle for most Dreamers because neither they nor their parents are able to obtain lawful employment due to their undocumented status.

“These young people are part of the LGBT community and we knew we had to find a way to give them a hand,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, one of the fund’s co-founders. “We are thrilled that so many LGBT organizations across the nation stepped forward.”

“I’m so grateful that so many organizations have stepped up to help LGBT Dreamers,” said GetEQUAL National Field Director Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez. “The cost has hindered thousands of Dreamers to be lifted from the shadow of deportation.”

To date, more than $100,000 has been raised and 160 LGBT Dreamers have received financial assistance. At least another 40 will get help from the fund.

8

Seattle Gay News

separate in my mind, and it is wonderful to see these two communities come together to work on a common cause,” he said. “Receiving these funds creates a sense of community with other Gay immigrants who are in my situation.”

“In spite of having to deal with the stresses of being both undocumented and LGBT, these young people have persevered and emerged as leaders of the national reform movement,” said L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean, another fund cofounder. “All of us are so pleased to be able to show our support and gratitude to them.”

March 1, 2013

SEATTLE GROUPS CONTRIBUTE Current contributors to the LGBT Dreamers Fund include Aaron Belkin, executive director of the Palm Center; The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada; Freedom to Marry; Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD); GSA Network; and many more.

In Seattle, Gay City Health Project and Pride Foundation contributed to the fund.

You can learn about other fund recipients at www.LGBTDreamersStories.com.

LGBT Dreamers who would like assistance from the LGBT Dreamers fund may apply at www.LibertyHill.org/LGBTDreamersFund.

Celebrating 40 Years!

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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file photo

Do angels want to wear Benedict’s red shoes?

Retiring pope will keep the white gown but not the crimson loafers, Vatican says

sphere of deepening crisis, Benedict occupied his time working out the details of what he would wear and what he would be called in retirement.

Oh, the humanity!

Benedict himself made the basic deciAfter Benedict XVI leaves office, he will continue to wear his white cassock, but he sions, Lombardi said, after consulting unwill no longer wear his trademark red shoes, named advisors.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

While John Paul II favored simple vestments, Benedict liked to dress in the lace, velvet, and brocades of pre-Vatican II Catholicism. the Vatican announced on February 26. He also will give back his papal ring and crucifix, and he will not wear a white elbowlength cape as he now does.

However, he will keep his papal name and not revert to being Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. He will still be addressed as “Your Holiness” and will be referred to as “Pontifex Emeritus” (“Emeritus Pope”).

According to Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, as the conclave to elect his successor prepares to convene in an atmo-

Until the official announcement on February 26, Vatican officials had suggested that Benedict would probably wear a black cassock like any other Roman Catholic cleric and would use his given name, possibly with his former title.

A FONDNESS FOR FRILLS Lombardi said he did not know why Benedict decided as he did, but unlike his predecessor, John Paul II, Benedict has always shown a liking for frilly things.

The Pope’s shoes

Where John Paul favored simple, relatively unadorned vestments, even for Papal Masses, Benedict liked to dress in the lace, velvet, and brocades of pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Benedict even revived the ermine-trimmed red cap (camauro) and matching cape (mozzetta) favored by Renaissance-era Popes.

John Paul carried a simple, modernist crucifix cast in silver. Benedict favored baroque, jewel-encrusted gold ones.

The red shoes were Benedict’s one concession to modern life. They were regular

northwest news

R PLACE PRESENTS RUPAUL DRAG RACE MARCH DRAGNESS This month, R Place (619 E. Pine St), brings four RuPaul Drag Race alumni to Seattle for four weekends of March Dragness. The schedule: Latrice Royale, March 1 & 2; Shangela, March 7, 8 & 9; Detox Icunt March 15 & 16; Lineysha Sparx, March 28, 29 & 30. 206-322-8828; www. rplaceseattle.com.

SEATTLE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL MARCH 2-10 www.seattlejewishfilmfestival.org

Tickets: $10 general, with student/senior/ member discounts. 206-267-5380; www. nwfilmforum.org. NOTE: Director Kyle Henry will be in attendance on Monday, March 4.

2013 AIDS ACTION & AWARENESS DAY From health care reform to the state budget and funding for HIV/AIDS care and prevention services, there is so much at stake this legislative session. On Tuesday, March 5, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., join hundreds of advocates and activists from around the state for a day of advocacy trainings and in-person meetings with your legislators in Olympia. No experience needed. Advocacy training provided. Need a ride? Buses will be available (at no cost) from around the state. Stand up for health care access and HIV funding. To register, visit www.whacan.org or call 206-957-1750. Sponsored by the Washington HIV/AIDS Community Advocacy Network and Lifelong AIDS Alliance.

NUBIAN PRIDE KING & QUEEN PAGEANT – “AN EVENING WITH THE STARS” On Sunday, March 3, at 7 p.m., the 4th Annual Nubian Pride King & Queen Pageant, “An Evening with the Stars,” will be held at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway, entrance in alley off E. Pike St., between Broadway and Harvard). With special guest Latrice Royale, from RuPaul’s LGBTQ YOUTH BASKETBALL Drag Race, and Seattle’s own Soul Sista’ JoMeets weekly on Tuesdays, from 6:30 sephine Howell. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at the International Disat the door. www.brownpapertickets.com/ trict/Chinatown Community Center (719 event/315102.

8th Ave. S.), Seattle Parks and Recreation hosts this FREE LGBTQ Youth basketball FOURPLAY program for LGBTQ Youth, Queer Youth AT NORTHWEST FILM FORUM of Color, allies and friends, ages 14-19. For On Monday and Tuesday, March 4 and more information, contact Randy Wiger at 5, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., at Northwest Film 206-883-6110 phone/text or email randy.

Forum (1515 12th Ave.), Three Dollar Bill wiger@seattle.gov.

Cinema and the Foundation for Sex Positive Culture presents Fourplay – four sexSEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN tales set in four American cities. In Skokie, BOOK CLUB – a closeted woman’s crush on her minister’s HEAVEN’S COAST wife erupts during a weekend of dog sitting.

The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club In Austin, a young couple discovers a kinky meets every Wednesday from 6-7:15 p.m., way to keep their relationship alive. In at Seattle Area Support Groups Community Tampa, a man with an extremely small pe- Center (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). nis finds his nirvana in a public restroom. In In March, the club is reading Heaven’s San Francisco, a cross-dressing sex-worker Coast by Mark Doty. Book club facilitator faces a challenging assignment with a quad- Nick DiMartino notes: riplegic man, arranged by the client’s wife.

“Books about the AIDS crisis in America www.fourplayfilm.com. are going out of print. I’m sorry to tell you

Visit us online www.sgn.org

leather loafers, not the red velvet slippers popes wore prior to John XXIII. Now Benedict will wear brown shoes, custom-made for him in Mexico.

As he grew older and his strength declined, Benedict had to be wheeled down the aisle of St Peter’s on a cart, because he was unable to walk under the weight of his heavily decorated papal vestments.

Now he will apparently be able to stroll down the halls of his retirement residence, the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, with ease.

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

that, but it’s true. Our history is fading away behind us. For most of my life, I’ve avoided reading the wrenching accounts of Gay men losing their lovers to AIDS. I’ve decided that time has to end, and my ostrich attitude toward the suffering of Gay people before me is over.

“Besides being a vital part of our history and identity, there’s a universal truth at work that may be unpleasant to think about but irrevocably true: there is no love between living beings that doesn’t end in goodbye. That said, knowing how to say goodbye is one of the vital human skills of compassion, and now that we’ve read Paul Monette’s Borrowed Time [the club’s book selection for February], I want to progress to a similar but quite different account of loving and loss in March, Mark Doty’s Heaven’s Coast.

“Let’s see what Mark Doty has to teach us about loving.”

According to Nick, this book is officially listed as out-of-print. However, Nick has three copies on order. Email him if you want one or check out the libraries and used bookstores.

All GLBTQ folks are welcome to participate in this FREE book club. For more information visit http://faculty.washington. edu/swittet/SGLBookClub/.

LATINO THEATRE PROJECTS Latino Theatre Projects presents Women of Sand/Mujeres de Arena by noted Mexican playwright and dramaturge Humberto Robles, Thursday-Saturday evenings, March 7-16 at 8 p.m., at Southside Commons (3818 S. Edmunds St.) The play is a theatrical documentary about the on-going kidnapping, rape, and murder of women in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is estimated that over 1,500 women have been murdered or “disappeared” since 1993 in this border city. The play is a powerful and emotional statement about the situation.

This production is being presented in recognition of International Women’s Day, March 8. $15 suggestion donation. To reserve seats, email Robert@latinotheatreprojects.org Limited seating. No advance ticket sales.

March 1, 2013

RISE N’ SHINE – THE BIG BAILOUT On Wednesday, March 6, from 4-9 p.m., at The Grill on Broadway (314 Broadway E.), help Rise n’ Shine raise money to send children affected by HIV/AIDS to summer camp. Grab your team of four and come on down to the Rise n’ Shine jail and their sheriff will sentence you to an hour of jail time.

Call friends and family to raise your bail and send a kid to camp. If jail is not your thing, you can support camp with cash. Donate at www.risenshine.org. For more information, contact Rick at 206-628-8949, ext. 216.

PUDDLETOWN SQUARES – RAIN FESTIVAL 2013: “CROSS OVER THE RAINBOW” On Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10, Puddletown Squares hosts their annual fly-in at Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave.) bringing LGBT square dancers from around the U.S. and Canada to Seattle for a weekend of square dancing and festivities.

Schedule: Friday, March 8, from 6 p.m.10 p.m.; Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m.10:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 10, from 9:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Cost: $95; $50 for new mainstream graduates as of March 8. www.puddletownsquares.org ANNUAL SKAGIT HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL On Saturday, March 9, at 1 p.m., at Skagit Valley College, Knutzen Cardinal Center, Multipurpose Room, 2405 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, WA, the Pride Foundation is proud to sponsor lunch, the film Faces and Facets of TransGender Experience, and a panel – with Marsha and Aiden Aizumi, mom and son authors of Two Spirits: One Heart; Attorney Roberta Zenker, who just wrote TransMontana; Barbara Yaple of Washington Gender Alliance; and Eleanor Hubbard, editor of the resource book, Trans-Kin. For more information, contact Kathy Reim at 360-856-4676 or email her at Kreim@earthlink.net.

Seattle Gay News 13

Celebrating the SAGE Generation

by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer SAGE – Senior Action in a Gay Environment – was founded in New York City in 1978 to improve the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender older adults. According to its national mission statement (posted at www.sageusa.org), “SAGE has pioneered programs and services for the aging LGBT community, provided technical assistance and training to expand opportunities for LGBT older people across the country, and provided a national voice on LGBT aging issues.” SAGE focuses on advocacy at both local and national levels, as well as activities, groups, and programs that encourage LGBT older adults to stay connected with each other and with the community.

Led by Executive Director Michael Adams, SAGE – now officially Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Elders – works with LGBT elder adults and aging service providers to address and overcome the challenges of discrimination in elder adult service settings.

In my neck of the woods, SAGE of South Florida was founded in 1994 by seniors who had been active in SAGE chapters in New York City and elsewhere. Unlike the na-

justice dept. continued from cover

only three states restricted marriage to opposite-sex couples, yet today, 39 states have such restrictions. Most states have no law protecting LGBT people from employment discrimination, DOJ pointed out, and Congress has never passed an equivalent federal law.

DOJ: IT’S NOT A CHOICE The Justice Department also affirmed that sexual orientation is a fundamental part of human identity, and being at liberty to express it is an integral part of human freedom.

Sexual orientation is also an immutable characteristic, like race or gender, DOJ said, and should be protected by legal provisions similar to those that prohibit racial or sex discrimination. The brief cites the scientific consensus that for most people, sexual orientation is not a matter of choice, and that forcing people to change their orientation is futile at best and potentially harmful at worst.

In this context, DOJ pointed out, the Supreme Court has already rejected false distinctions between “status” and “conduct.”

A tax on wearing yarmulkes, for example, would ultimately be an unconstitutionally discriminatory tax on observant Jews, regardless of the claims of the legislators who passed it. Similarly, laws that discourage people from consummating same-sex attractions are, in reality, laws against LGBT people.

Having laid this groundwork, the Justice Department then goes on to address the central question: “Do laws that seem to discriminate against LGBT people serve a compelling government interest?” And they answer unequivocally, “No, they do not.”

“Like gender, race, or religion, sexual orientation bears no inherent relation to a person’s ability to participate in or contribute to society,” the Justice Department says.

tional organization, SAGE of South Florida kept its original name and its focus is social rather than political. According to its mission statement, “SAGE of South Florida is a nonprofit organization for Senior Action in a Gay Environment to enrich the lives of the [LGBT] senior community through membership inclusive of age, gender, race, nationality, and religion. We believe this can be accomplished by sponsoring social alternatives. To provide personal interaction, offering educational opportunities to deal with the special needs of aging, and promoting contact with the isolated and homebound persons of our community.” Though SAGE’s demographics range far and wide, most of its members are of retirement age.

(Still in my fifties, I am one of the South Florida chapter’s youngest members.)

A BUSY CALENDAR SAGE of South Florida’s social events and programs provide its members with a wide range of activities. They include monthly dinners, a monthly “Lunch & Learn,” a monthly SAGE Women’s Lunch at the Golden Corral in Tamarac, a weekly Men’s Drop-In at the Pride Center at Equality Park, a single men’s group, a SAGE Book Club at Stonewall National Museum DOMA SERVES NO PURPOSE The DOJ brief then goes on to say that not only does the federal government have no compelling interest in defending heterosexuality, traditional morality, or traditional opposite-sex marriage but that even if it did, DOMA does not serve any of those purposes.

The government does have an interest in promoting “procreation and child-rearing,” DOJ concedes, but DOMA does nothing to promote procreation and has no relationship whatsoever to potential offspring.

The DOJ brief then cites the consensus of experts that “children raised by Gay and Lesbian parents are as likely to be as welladjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents.”

The brief also asserts that while there is no valid government interest in promoting mixed-gender parenting over same-gender parenting, DOMA does not promote responsible mixed-gender parenting, nor does it prevent irresponsible same-gender parenting. In fact, DOJ concludes, DOMA actually undermines same-gender parenting, thus hindering instead of advancing child welfare.

Consequently, the DOJ brief says, no state or federal agency can lawfully refuse to recognize a lawful state marriage – same-sex or opposite-sex – because that would violate the Fifth Amendment principle of equal protection.

republicans continued from cover

tected by our Constitution and a venerable institution that confers countless benefits, both to those who marry and to society at large,” the brief states.

“It is precisely because marriage is so important in producing and protecting strong and stable family structures that [we] do not agree that the government can rationally

and Archives, a SAGE Computer Club, a SAGE on the Border/Alternatives in Boca Raton, an annual sea cruise, and a series of quickly sold-out theater parties. Many of the SAGE events are held on weekdays, which is convenient for retirees but not for those of us who still have day jobs. Even so, SAGE has something for everyone.

I recently attended SAGE’s Milestone Luncheon, held at the Pride Center at Equality Park. More than 100 SAGE members and guests joined to honor the birthdays of SAGE’s most senior members – those who have reached the age of 90, 85, 80, or 75. The Milestone Luncheon was a festive affair, with an invocation by Rabbi Noah Kitty of Congregation Etz Chaim and a special performance by the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Dr. Gary Keating (now back at the helm

of the chorus he founded over 26 years ago).

The Luncheon was catered by Chef Giacomo Dresseno of Primavera Restaurant, a SAGE favorite. And, of course, there was birthday cake. Most importantly, SAGE’s Milestone Luncheon gave us the opportunity to connect with friends we had not seen since the last SAGE event.

The LGBT community, like society as a whole, is youth-oriented. Groups like SAGE, Prime Timers, and A Celebration of Friends (among others) provide needed services and opportunities to a growing segment of our population. I joined SAGE over a year ago, after accepting the fact that I was not getting any younger and that I needed a social group that reflected this. Though SAGE is not the sum total of my social life, I enjoy many of its activities as well as the women and men who make them possible.

promote the goal of strengthening families by denying civil marriage to same-sex couples.”

The brief, filed on February 25, was written by Seth Waxman, former solicitor general in President Bill Clinton’s administration, and Reginald Brown, who served in the White House Counsel’s Office under George W. Bush, and it is signed by the cream-of-the-crop of mainstream Republicans.

Among the signers are two current members of the House of Representatives – Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Richard Hanna (R-NY). Former Massachusetts governors Jane Swift and Bill Weld, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman signed, as did a slew of former Republican officials, staffers, and campaign consultants. Another signer was Meg Whitman, who had supported Prop 8 during her unsuccessful run for governor of California.

ing to persuade someone like that, you can’t persuade them from the perspective of Gay rights advocacy.”

COULD BE INFLUENTIAL Most legal experts say that amicus briefs generally do not change the minds of Supreme Court Justices, but this one may be different. Legal analysts said the brief had the potential to sway conservative justices both for the prominent names attached to it as well as for its legal arguments.

According to a New York Times summary of the brief, the Republicans cite some very conservative legal precedents, including Citizens United, in which the Supreme Court overturned federal campaign financing laws, and a D.C. Second Amendment case striking down a local ordinance against handguns.

SCOTUSBlog publisher Tom Goldstein said the filing “has the potential to break through and make a real difference.”

“The person who is going to decide this case, if it’s going to be close,” Goldstein added, “is going to be a conservative justice who respects traditional marriage but nonetheless is sympathetic to the claims that this is just another form of hatred. If you’re try-

‘CONSISTENT’ WITH VALUES “We are trying to say to the court that we are judicial and political conservatives, and it is consistent with our values and philosophy for you to overturn Proposition 8,” said former RNC chair Ken Mehlman. Once the creator of the Bush-era anti-Gay Republican strategy, Mehlman came out as Gay several years ago, and is now on the board of AFER, which brought the suit challenging Prop 8.

Mehlman reportedly spent months in quiet conversations with fellow Republicans to gather signatures for the brief.

One of the signers, former member of Congress Deborah Pryce, said that her views on marriage had changed.

“Like a lot of the country, my views have evolved on this from the first day I set foot in Congress. I think it’s just the right thing, and I think it’s on solid legal footing, too,” she said.

“The die is cast on this issue when you look at the percentage of younger voters who support Gay marriage,” said signer Steve Schmidt, who was a senior adviser to John McCain’s 2008 Republican presidential campaign. “As Dick Cheney said years ago, ‘Freedom means freedom for everybody.’”

Cheney, the former vice president, was not on the list of signers. Also missing were former First Lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

A CHANGING CONSENSUS Last month, National Journal’s Political Insiders survey found that nearly half of Republicans think their party should avoid the same-sex marriage debate altogether. Nearly three out of 10 said they support same-sex marriage, while only 11% are opposed.

“That’s a big departure from 2009,” National Journal observed, “when half of the Republican insiders said the party should oppose Gay marriage.”

Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.

Go 1605 12th Avenue at Pine, Seattle (In liquor store parking garage.) Seattle Storm!

206-838-6027 or 206-898-4306 14 Seattle Gay News

March 1, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Above and Beyond

by Ed Sikov SGN Contributing Writer My brother-in-law introduced me to a new liqueur last week – well, new to me, anyway. It’s an Italian aperitif called Aperol, and it’s quite delicious. Think Campari, but with less alcohol. According to Wikipedia, Aperol’s flavors include bitter orange, rhubarb, gentian, and cinchona.

What’s that you say? You’ve never even heard of either gentian or cinchona? Well, my dears! Step out of ignorance and into the

teaspoons and back again to be a huge pain in the ass. We aren’t all human conversion calculators! So in my version I use standard kitchen equipment: a measuring cup and a teaspoon.

I’m certain you’re all wondering what “il sorpasso” means in English. Translated without regard to the way any of us actually talk, it means “that which is surpassing.” In consultation with my multilingual pal Steve, who lives in Rome when he’s not living in Paris (don’t you just hate him already?), I’ve come up with a looser, more

I’m certain you’re all wondering what “il sorpasso” means in English.

Translated without regard to the way any of us actually talk, it means “that which is surpassing.” light of knowledge! (Truth alert: I had never heard of them either, and had to look them up on – where else? – Wikipedia.) Gentian is derived from the root of a flowering Alpine herb, and cinchona is an Andean plant that serves as a source of quinine.

My aforementioned brother-in-law, Paul, used Aperol as one ingredient in a delicious cocktail named Il Sorpasso. He’d found the recipe in the New York Times. Perhaps needless to say, I was confident I could improve on the formula, so I’ve been experimenting with proportions in an effort to make the cocktail less sugary. I’ve come up with a more balanced drink – to my taste, at least.

But for history’s sake, I’ve included the original recipe as well. In short, I eliminated the extra sugar but kept the original honey. I also dislike club soda because it has an unnecessary touch of saltiness, so I use sparkling water instead – and less of it. Finally, I find recipes that lurch from ounces to

fluid (if you will) translation: “Above and Beyond.” This cocktail is certainly that. It’s got the booziness of bourbon, the bitter orange of Aperol, a whiff of herbs, and a faint kiss of honey. It’s a winner.

Il Sorpasso (original recipe) 1 oz. Aperol 1 oz. bourbon 3/4 tsp. honey 1 tsp. lemon juice 1/4 tsp. sugar 2 oz. club soda Combine everything but the club soda in a cocktail shaker and shake. Pour over ice, then add the club soda and an orange slice to garnish.

The Above and Beyond (my adaptation) 1/4 cup Aperol 1/4 cup bourbon

3/4 tsp. honey 1 tsp. lemon juice sparkling water (just enough to provide fizz) In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all the ingredients except the sparkling water and shake. Strain and pour over ice, then add the sparkling water and – if you’re

fond of pieces of fruit batting your face every time you sip – an orange slice for garnish.

Ed Sikov is the author of The Boys’ and Girls’ Little Book of Alcohol, an e-book novel with recipes based on his Cocktail Chatter column.

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Seattle Gay News 15

health and medicine None of us is immune to life

by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer None of us will ever be immune to the myriad of painful events that are part of life. We will all experience sadness related to death, fear during illness, uncertainty, the heartache of ended relationships or rejection, violence, or changes in job status.

We will all lose someone or something very valuable to us. Sometimes these events come and hit us out of the blue while other times we have put things into motion earlier on and we are now experiencing the consequences. Regardless, life events create fear, sadness, anger, and depression, and all of these impact the other arenas of our lives.

These reactions are very normal.

Late last fall and into early winter, I found myself in this very situation. A very dear long-time friend died after a brief cancer diagnosis and then, just weeks later, someone else I knew well died suddenly and unexpectedly. In addition, I had just lost another dear friend a year before. I found myself trying to cope and, in hindsight, I did it well sometimes and very poorly at other times.

There were days over the holiday season when I could barely get out of bed. I was sad and withdrawn, and I could only get the basics done. It was during this time that I began to think about life, events, and how we cope.

By nature, we are pain-aversive. We don’t like physical pain and we strenuously avoid psychological or emotional pain. There are many ways in which we dodge emotional

suffering – substance use or abuse, denial, withdrawing from responsibilities, sleeping too much, or staying too busy. We get angry with people around us and sometimes fight more, or we become complacent and unusually passive. For many of us, our outlook can become dark with feelings of hopelessness and, sometimes, misguided guilt. We wonder how we will get through.

NO EASY ANSWERS What are healthy ways of coping? The first thing to remember is that there is no perfect way of dealing with life’s hardships.

We’ll all do it a bit differently and there will be times when we don’t engage in the healthiest strategies. Generally, however, we know we are coping well if we can tell at some point that we are feeling better – that our level of functioning is improving and we are not engaging in behaviors that further complicate our lives.

In order to manage life’s events and our emotions, there are a couple of skills we have to utilize. The first skill is that of insight. We must be able to pause and look at ourselves and make an assessment of what is going on for us. We have to be able to evaluate whether the way in which we are reacting is helping us or hurting us. If we can’t get insight, we have to ask people who are close to us and, as hard as it may be, accept their feedback. It is only with insight that we will be able to get to a place where we feel better.

Second, in painful situations, we need to willingly exercise patience. For example, in

the case of a dear family member’s serious illness or death, there are times when there is simply nothing we can do, and we have to sit in our emotions. This isn’t the same as denial. Denial means we are minimizing or not acknowledging what is going on. Patience means we realize we are at a stage in the process where there is really nothing to be done, and we ready ourselves to do something when it becomes time to take action.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP How we define ourselves during these life events is important as well. Too many people not only dislike what is happening, they also begin to dislike themselves. For example, some people are affected by significant illness. Their treatment impacts their ability to work. Some people lose their jobs and then begin to feel badly about themselves by identifying themselves as “losers” or some such adjective. They have passed from being unhappy with their situation to being unhappy with themselves.

This is a core piece of depression. We can be sad or angry, scared or frustrated, about our circumstances. We have to avoid labeling ourselves negatively because of what is happening to us. Bad things do happen to good people!

Finally, we have to reconcile. Reconciliation is a way of finding peace. This is an individual process but generally we know we

have reconciled when we can look at what has happened and know that the reactions we are having no longer negatively impact our lives. Please note the hair I’m splitting here – I didn’t say we no longer have feelings! I stated that our reactions no longer negatively impact our lives. For example, with the death of my friend, my sadness lead to me functioning at a very low level – just going to work, then going home. I was barely socializing and I was letting many of the things I enjoy slip away. Am I still sad today? Yes! However, I am doing more and feeling better. I miss my dear friend and think of him every day, but I have accepted that he is gone. I don’t deny my sadness and I am getting back to living my life the way I want to live it.

Make no mistake that at any age and at any time, whether we are rich or poor, regardless of any status we identify ourselves with, life will happen and at times it will challenge us greatly! It’s unavoidable. Ultimately, how you get through it will be up to you.

Michael Raitt, M.A., L.M.H.C., is a therapist whose column appears bimonthly in SGN. If you would like to comment on this column, ask a question you’d like him to write about, or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast.net.

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The new ‘gender gap’?

Study finds Gay couples less healthy than hetero couples

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Gay and Lesbian couples living together report poorer health than straight married couples, a new study has found.

Researchers have long observed that married couples enjoy better health than people who are single, divorced, or separated. The new report, published in the Journal of

GAY MARRIAGE NOT STUDIED It is important that researchers did not study the impact of legalizing same-sex marriage. Still, Liu said it is plausible that if Gay unions were sanctioned by law, it could improve health by reducing stress and discrimination and providing health benefits enjoyed by married couples.

“If marriage can promote health, it is reasonable for us to expect that if same-

“If marriage can promote health, it is reasonable for us to expect that if samesex couples had the advantage of legalized marriage, their health may be boosted.”

Health and Social Behavior, speculates that legalizing same-sex marriage could reduce this disparity.

In fact, when Dr. Hui Liu, an assistant professor of sociology at Michigan State University, studied the health of Gay and straight couples, Liu found marriage made a difference.

“When we controlled for socioeconomic status, the odds of reporting poor or fair health were about 61 percent higher for same-sex cohabiting men than for men in heterosexual marriage, and the odds of reporting poor to fair health were about 46 percent higher for same-sex cohabiting women than for women in heterosexual marriages,” Liu said.

sex couples had the advantage of legalized marriage, their health may be boosted,” Liu added in an interview.

The researchers compared the health of 1,659 Gay couples living together and a similar number of married heterosexuals.

They pooled data from 1997 to 2009 National Health Interview Surveys in which people across the country were asked to rate their overall health as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor.

BLACK WOMEN FARED WORST Among the study’s findings was that African-American women living together as a couple were the most disadvantaged, reporting worse health than other unmarried Black women.

Liu and her co-authors – Corinne Rec-

zek, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Cincinnati, and Dustin Brown, a post-graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin – suggest that the discrimination and stress that Gay couples experience could contribute to their poorer health.

“Legalizing same-sex marriage could also provide other advantages often associated with heterosexual marriage – such as partner health insurance benefits and the ability to file joint tax returns – that may directly or indirectly influence the health of individuals in same-sex unions,” Liu added.

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The OutField All that (Trans) Jazz Youth soccer shows how to address gender identity in sports

by Dan Woog SGN Contributing Writer Born male, Jazz began to identify as a girl at a young age. Thanks to supportive parents, she was well-adjusted and happy – except for one thing. For more than two years, the Florida Youth Soccer Association prohibited her from competing as a female player.

Her birth certificate said she was a boy.

Her passport called her a boy. FYSA would not budge.

Jazz and her parents took their case up through various administrative levels.

When it got to the U.S. Soccer Federation, the board of directors almost unanimously agreed to let her play as a girl.

Then, U.S. Soccer set about devising a

formal policy to cover future Transgender players, too.

It sounds like a straightforward case of a clear-thinking, objective board making a decision based both on 21st-century realities, and what’s right for athletes who have not had a voice or advocates in the past.

And it is. But U.S. Soccer’s decision is very rare. In fact, it may be the only national sports governing body with a blanket policy covering Transgender athletes.

BLAZING A TRAIL Shortly after voting to allow Jazz – then 11 years old – to play as a female, U.S. Jazz Soccer appointed a committee to study the broader issue of Transgender soccer play- ganization and a noted Colorado nephroloers. The committee chair, Dr. S. Robert gist. He and the committee pored through an Contiguglia, is a past president of the or- enormous amount of literature and scientific data.

They studied what other sports bodies were doing about Trans issues, finding that most were doing nothing. The U.S. Olympic Committee, for example, has no Trans policy whatsoever. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), meanwhile, has what Contiguglia calls “draconian” rules.

Then Contiguglia brought three outside experts to an all-day meeting in Chicago.

Led by Helen Carroll, sports project director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the trio helped the U.S. Soccer committee understand the broad spectrum of sexuality.

It was not difficult. “By the time we got in the room, they were already pretty well versed on everything,” Carroll says.

‘SELF-DETERMINATION’ The result was a draft of a policy that, Contiguglia says, can be boiled down to a few simple words: “We don’t discriminate.

We accept who you say you are, so long as you follow the rules.”

The policy lists a variety of ways for players to identify themselves. Those include government documents like passports, and notes from doctors.

If there is a challenge to a player’s gender identity, it is heard immediately by a U.S. Soccer-appointed committee. There are no intermediate steps involving club, state, or regional levels.

“It’s a self-determination policy,” Contiguglia says. “The bottom line is, we want

all athletes to be able to play.”

The policy does not apply to national team members. As a member of both the IOC and FIFA – soccer’s international governing body – U.S. Soccer must abide by their rules.

IOC policy says that an athlete must have undergone surgery to compete as a different gender. “The trend in the U.S. is toward chemical transition,” Contiguglia notes.

STILL TO BE RATIFIED After U.S. Soccer passed its policy, with only a few concerns raised by youth representatives, it was posted on the organization’s website. The next step is formal ratification by the national council at its upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Contiguglia expects little opposition.

“As a physician, having had Transgender patients, this was all pretty clear to me,” he says.

“There were some misperceptions that someone born a male would have an unfair competitive advantage playing against girls. But that’s not true.”

As the coach of an under-13 boys team, Contiguglia says, he regularly sees girls the same age who are “six inches taller than our guys.”

EDUCATION NEXT STEP An important part of U.S. Soccer’s policy is educating its members about Transgender issues. “We haven’t taken that step yet,” Contiguglia notes. “That comes next.”

“U.S. Soccer did this the right way,” Carroll says. “They set up a task force and are going through the legislative process.

“They’re the first large sports organization to put a policy into place that includes all recreational athletes, in every state. I hope this is a model for all other organizations, and that when they look at it, they’ll see how well it works.”

Soccer’s national governing body was not looking to be a leader in Transgender sports, Contiguglia says. But when the issue arose, thanks to Jazz, the organization responded.

So far, no other groups have asked U.S. Soccer’s advice on the subject. “This is not the only thing we do,” Contiguglia explains.

“But I think it’s important we’ve done it.

And we’re happy to share what we know with anyone who asks.”

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, and Gay activist. His latest book is We Kick Balls: True Stories from the Youth Soccer Wars. He can be reached at OutField@qsyndicate.com.

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