SGN March 18, 2011 - Section 1

Celebrating 38 Years!

Issue 11 Volume 39

FRIDAY March 18, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

saudi soccer p. 15

JAMES GRUBER p. 18

TSUNAMI BENEFIT p. 27

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Asian Pacific Islander Council Patty Murray co-sponsoring teams with community to DOMA repeal bill fundraise for Japan relief

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Japan Rising March 26 Neighbours Nightclub In response to the recent earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan late last week, the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Council of Seattle, along with Seattle Gay News and Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway) are combining resources to raise money and awareness through Japan Rising, a cabaret show fundraiser where 100% of the proceeds will benefiting the Rainbow World Fund.

On March 26, API Council will present the show, and an open donation at the door gets you into the cabaret, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

“After watching the horrific images of what is happening in Japan and other affected areas, our organization decided to come together and put on a fundraising event,”

reuters

file photo

for Marriage Act, which would repeal the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) is the prime sponsor of the senate version of the bill, which was introduced on March 16. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is prime sponsor of the House version.

“I am proud to stand with Senator Feinstein and others as we fight to end this 14-year-old policy and make sure all married couples are treated equally in the eyes of the federal government,” Murray said in a statement. “I strongly supWashington State Senator Patty Murray ported President Obama’s

by Mike Andrew decision to stop defending DOMA in court. And now it’s time that we SGN Staff Writer take another step forward and fully Washington’s senior U.S. Sena- repeal this law.” tor, Patty Murray, is one of 20 original co-sponsors of the Respect see doma page 21

A woman learns that her mother was successfully rescued from a building in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

President of the API Council Gay- ey through the door cover, auction, sha Starr told SGN. “Since we are and raffle prizes, and the entertainprimarily a drag organization, we ers donating their tips.” have the ability to bring many peoAccording to API officials, after ple from different communities as see japan page 20 a captive audience, and raise mon-

Seth Walsh, 13, killed himself after Gay-based bullying.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On March 14, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced a comprehensive bill that tackles school bullying by providing California schools with specific tools

to address and prevent the pervasive problem in order to create a safe school environment for all students.

AB 9, also known as “Seth’s Law,” would ensure that every school in California implements updated anti-harassment and

anti-discrimination policies and programs that include actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, as well as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, disability, and religion. It would also empower students and parents to know what their rights are, and how to advocate for them.

AB 9 is named “Seth’s Law” in memory of Seth Walsh, a 13 yearold Gay student from Tehachapi, California, who took his own life in September 2010 after facing years of relentless anti-Gay harassment at school that school officials effectively ignored.

“Seth was a wonderful, loving child, and I loved him for who he was,” said his mother, Wendy Walsh. “I can’t bring my son back.

But schools can make a difference today by taking bullying seriously when students and parents tell them about it. It’s time for change.

We have to create better schools for everyone.”

According to a National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) statement, schools often do not have the tools or knowledge to adequately protect LGBT students and others from bullying, which remains a serious issue across California and

Courtesy the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan

courtesy columbus dispatch

Proposed California law will SGN UPDATE – make schools safer for students Sister Glo talks syphilis spirochetes

Sister Glo Euro N’Wei

by Sister Glo Euro N’Wei Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan

of the cases are among Gay and Bi guys. A little more than half of those are among HIV-positive guys, and a little less than half are among HIV-negative guys. I don’t Spirochetes are still dancing want to be alarmist, but I am, like their way through our community all of us Sisters, concerned for the health and wellness of our commu– syphilis spirochetes, that is.

My good friends over at Public nity.

Health tell me that rates of early syphilis are going up again – a big see law page 20 jump in the last year – and 90% see syphilis page 21

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Rev. Barbara allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner

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Nick Ardizzone, Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works seattle gay news is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2011, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.

Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business.

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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

LGBT groups condemn DC anti-Muslim hearings

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

“Muslim Radicalization” hearings – heard testimony from supposed experts that reinforced these prejudices. In the years that On March 11, the National Center for followed, thousands of LGBT civil service Lesbian Rights, Equality California, Na- employees were harassed, terrorized, or tional Center for Transgender Equality, fired from their jobs.

“LGBT people know all too well what it Transgender Law Center, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, and Lambda Legal means to be singled out, scapegoated, and joined together to express outrage over U.S. persecuted simply because of who they Representative Peter King’s ongoing “Mus- are,” said Geoff Kors, executive director lim Radicalization” hearings – the first of for Equality California. “The targeting of which was held this week – in the House of Muslim Americans is deplorable. It has no place in society and is un-American, unRepresentatives.

The groups join Americans from many democratic, and unjust. We stand in strong diverse backgrounds to condemn the scape- solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisgoating of Muslim people, said the NCLR ters and condemn the marginalization of any in a statement. As Floyd Mori from the Jap- individuals or groups based on age, religion, anese American Citizens League said, “We creed, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orifeel very strongly that it does point back to entation, gender, and gender identity or exthe time when just because we were of Japa- pression.”

Transgender Law Center Executive Direcnese ancestry, people looked upon us with hate and terror.”

The internment of Japanese Americans – one of our nation’s most shameful episodes – resulted from a similar attempt to cast an entire group of citizens as “un-American” and deny them their civil rights. As groups representing LGBT people of all faiths, races, national origins, and backgrounds, the organizations condemn these hearings and urge elected representatives to stand fast against anyone who would exclude any group from the American family.

“Representative King’s hearings only fuel the fires of unjust hatred and discrimination that Muslim, Arab, and Middle Eastern Americans of all sexual orientations and gender identities already face on a daily basis,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell.

“As members of the LGBT community, which continues to fight for our equality and justice, we stand in solidarity with the growing chorus of voices condemning these shameful hearings and calling for an end to the politics of irrationality and fear.”

LGBT Americans are no strangers to this type of scapegoating. In the 1950s, Joe McCarthy targeted LGBT people and sought to portray them as dangerous and un-American. In a report titled “Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in the U.S. Government,” a group of United States Senators concluded that “homosexuals and other sex perverts are not proper persons to be employed in government” because “they are generally unsuitable, and they constitute security risks.” Those hearings – like the

March 18, 2011

tor Masen Davis said, “As minorities within the U.S. who are greatly underrepresented in government, our struggles for equality are all connected. All LGBT people, of all races and religions, must step forward to join other fair-minded people in creating a world where discrimination against Muslim, Arab, and Middle Eastern Americans is no longer acceptable, in which we transcend ignorance and bigotry. As advocates who use the legal system to make positive change, it is deeply concerning and distressing to see government hearings twisted for such an unjust purpose.”

Added Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart, “Every American, regardless of ethnicity, religious belief, or sexual orientation, should be asking, ‘Where does this lead?’ We’ve all been down this road before, most notably during World War II and the Cold War, with tragic consequences for tens of thousands of American citizens.

Singling any group out as a whole because of a suspected lack of loyalty on the part of a few of its members is wrong; doing it when the internment of Japanese Americans and the spectacle of the McCarthy witch trials are still within living memory is simply repugnant.”

Philip Pelino, Jr. 1936-2011 Born into an abusive family, he was adopted by the household of Philip Pelino, Sr. He graduated from high school on Long Island. Later, he took a Law Degree at Columbia. Being a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, he converted from a John Bircher Republican to flaming liberal. Settling in Washington, D.C., he was a realtor. He contracted HIV and became an activist at the National AIDS Network.

He relocated to Seattle in 1994. He took disability and served on the King County HIV/AIDS Council as a key player. His love was painting.

Bailey Boushay House saved his life twice. He died of a series of bouts of pneumonia related to HIV/AIDS. He is survived by adopted sister Joyce Spino of the New York City vicinity and his many friends and relatives.

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

March 18, 2011

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March 18, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

March 18, 2011

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March 18, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

SEATTLE BUDDHIST CHURCH TO HOLD SERVICES FOR QUAKE/TSUNAMI VICTIMS On Friday, March 18, The Seattle Buddhist Church (1427 S. Main St.) will hold the first in a series of memorial services for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., the public is invited to ring the temple bell in memory of the earthquake and tsunami victims. Temple bells were once rung repeatedly in rural Japan to warn townspeople of tsunamis.

The church’s sanctuary will also be open between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. for those who want to pray or offer incense. At 6 p.m., the church will hold a seventh-day memorial, which expresses the disaster victims’ spiritual oneness with Buddha. Every Friday for seven weeks afterward, there will be a memorial service at the temple at 5:30 p.m. to reflect the traditional Buddhist mourning period.

“DINA MARTINA: LIVE AT RE-BAR PLACE” On Fridays and Saturdays, March 18 through April 30, at 8 p.m., at Re-bar (1114 Howell St.), join the talent-stuffed Dina Martina and ultra-gifted accompanist Chris Jeffries for their semi-awaited return to Rebar for a Spring show that’s oozing with razzle-dazzle – minus the dazzle! Dina Martina’s shows are brimming with unwittingly hilarious songs, point-free stories, astoundingly funny videos, bizarre audience gifts, costumes on their deathbeds and, as The Village Voice says, “comedy that’ll make you piss your pants!” Tickets are $20 and available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/143300 and at the door. NOTE: There are two Sunday matinees on Sundays, April 17 and 24, at 2 p.m.

WASHINGTON STATE LEATHER PRIDE WEEK MARCH 18-27 www.wsmlo.org SEATTLE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL THROUGH MARCH 20 Now in it’s 16th year, the annual American Jewish Committee’s Seattle Jewish Film Festival is a 10-day international cinematic exploration and celebration of Jewish life, culture, identity and history that strives to build bridges of mutual understanding between diverse groups in our Puget Sound region. AJC-SJFF uses film to both entertain and educate the Jewish and general communities about the complex issues facing the Jewish people and world community alike, while challenging conventional perspectives. This year’s thematic programming is “Building Bridges” of mutual understanding through cinema, dialogue, interfaith dialogue and cultural crossings in community and globally. The new “AJC Bridge Series” features four vibrant films and speakers, panelists and chances for audiences to build bridges in dialogue. www.seattlejewishfilmfestival.org.

SEATTLE COMMUNITY GATHERING AT KOBE BELL On Saturday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Kobe Bell at Seattle Center, a community gathering will be held to remember the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. www.jcccw.org.

SEATTLE RAINBOW CONTRA DANCE On Saturdays, 3/19, 4/2, 4/16, 5/7, 5/21, 6/4, 6/18, no dance 7/2, resumes 7/16, at Ballard Odd Fellows Hall (1706 NW Market St.), join LGBTQ folks and friends (and all who want to dance) for this fun, easy-tolearn, easy-to-dance, gender-neutral contra dance, with live calling and live bluegrass music. No experience or partner necessary.

All dances taught. Free lesson at 7 p.m.

Dance from 7:30-10 p.m. Cost is $8.

Organizers suggest bringing water to drink. A bin for non-perishable food dona-

DADDY’S LEATHER TAG SALE On Wednesday, March 23, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave. at E. Pine St.), Seattle Men in Leather hosts Daddy’s Leather Tag Sale, your chance to pick up some kink gear, leather-themed T-shirts and porn cheap, with proceeds to benefit the Leather Archives & Museum.

tions is available at the hall. Please come CENTRAL DISTRICT FORUM fragrance free in consideration of those with FOR ARTS + IDEAS allergies. Bring a dry shirt to change into if PRESENTS U PEOPLE you sweat a lot. No drunkenness, rude or On Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m., at abusive behavior will be tolerated. http://seattledance.org/contra/rainbow; Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave.), CD Forum presents U People, an incidenYouTube: Seattle Rainbow Contra Dance. tal documentary that brings you behind the scenes of a not-so-typical music video SEATTLE MEN IN LEATHER shoot. Recently winning the Jury Award at PRESENTS “WAX A BEAR” – A BENEFIT FOR LAMBERT HOUSE the IMAGE+NATION LGBT Film Festival On Saturday, March 19, at 9 p.m., at in Canada and making its national debut on The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave., at E. LOGO in 2010, U People was made from Pine St.), join Seattle Leather Daddy and the downtime footage of an entire cast and Daddy’s Boy 2011 with hostess Sylvia crew of 30 Lesbian and straight women, and O’Stayformore, for “Wax a Bear,” a ben- Trans folks of color. The first rockumentary efit for Lambert House. www.seattlemenin- of its kind, U People presents a cast and crew of 30 Gay, straight and trans people leather.org; www.lamberthouse.org. of color and a behind-the-scenes look at a not so typical music video shoot. The Make HE’S MY GIRL a Move music video was the first depiction AT SEATTLE of women of color across differing lines of JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL On Sunday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m., at sexuality and gender expression. One house, SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall (321 Mer- two days, thirty women and trans people of cer St.), the Seattle Jewish Film Festival color bridged their differences in the crepresents He’s My Girl / La Folle Histoire ation of this video. U People highlights inD’Amour De Simon Eskenazy. Clarinetist timate stories of struggle and triumph over Simon Eskenazy has so much going on that prejudice, mother-daughter relationships, he can’t finish his Klezmer record. His ail- and civil rights.

The mission of the documentary is to dising, hypochondriac mother wants to move in with him and his ex-wife Rosalie and their mantle the blanket categorization and ignoson suddenly resurfaces after 10 years. He rance inherent in the phrase “you people” to daydreams about conducting a great love af- describe members of the LGBT community, fair with his current partner, Raphael, while by displaying unique individuals in possesa caring, young arab transvestite dazzles sion of their personal power and self-deterhim. Based on the director’s own life, first mination. It upholds the vision that camaseen in the 1998 film Man is Woman, He’s raderie and sisterhood are vibrant and susMy Girl is a wry, intelligent “rom-com” taining, though not always easily attained among straight and Gay women and gender about lost souls finding love. non-conformists in the African diaspora.

The images the camera caught will introKOLENU PRESENTS duce a hilarious, candid and very human LGBTQ PURIM PARTY On Sunday, March 20, at 7 p.m., at The voice into the discussion of gender, race and Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.), join Kolenu sexuality within the black community.

A post-film discussion follows, moderfor their third annual Gay ‘Ol Purim Party!

Purim is often viewed as the Jewish coming ated by Ralina Joseph, Assistant Professor, out story, so to honor Esterh’s “coming out” Department of Communications at the Unias a Jew Kolenu is throwing the biggest LG- versity of Washington. Dr. Joseph is broadly BTQ Purim Party that Seattle has ever seen! interested in contemporary representations DJ Evalish will be on site mixing music, of race, gender, and sexuality in the United and the evening will feature a ton of live States and recently completed her manuentertainment including incredible Queen script, Transcending Blackness: Reading Ester burlesque by Ms. Indog blue as well Mixed-Race African American Representaas the hilarious drag queen Lili Armani tions in the New Millenium. Tickets are $5 who was recently crowned La Femme mag- and may be purchased in advance at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/155512. nifique 2010.

There will also be plenty of pink hamanTHREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA’S taschen, drinks and dancing! $5 cover with 4TH ANNUAL DINNER & AUCTION 7 p.m. doors and 8:30 p.m. performances.

On Friday, March 25, at 6 p.m. (doors Don’t forget that Purim is a holiday to dress up on, so come in costume because at 5:30 p.m.), at Sodo Park (3200 1st Ave. Kolenu is giving out some fabulous prizes! S.), join Three Dollar Bill Cinema for RSVP requested by emailing kolenu.se- “Velvet Goldmine,” their 4th annual dinattle@gmail.com or visiting the Kolenu’s ner and auction. Enjoy silent and live auctions, appetizers, sit down dinner, hosted Facebook page. wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and some cinematic surprises! All proceeds from the EQUAL RIGHTS WASHINGTON auction will help further Three Dollar Bill EQUALITY DAY IN OLYMPIA On Tuesday, March 22, join Equality Cinema’s mission to enrich, strengthen, and Washington in lobbying our state legislature connect diverse communities by supporting in Olympia on LGBT equality, HIV/AIDS and exhibiting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and awareness and other issues of importance. Transgender film. Tickets: $125-regular; Equality Day 2011 will include a morning $100-members. www.threedollarbillcinorientation and training session, noontime ema.org rally on the steps of the Capitol, and meetSEATTLE UNITED ings with legislators in the afternoon. For SOCCER LEAGUE more information and to register, call 206On Friday, March 25, the Seattle United 324-2570 or visit www.equalrightswashingSoccer League hosts their kick-off league ton.org. lottery and draft from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at 88 Keys, 315 2nd Ave. S. On Saturday, GSBA HOSTS March 26, the leagues hosts their kick-off YOUNG PROFESSIONALS jamboree from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Genesee WITH PRIDE On Tuesday, March 22, from 5:30-7:30 Soccer Complex (4316 S. Genessee St., p.m., at City Catering (509 Dexter Ave. east of Rainier Ave. S.). League play begins N.), the GSBA hosts a social/networking on Saturday, April 2. www.seattleunitedsl. mixer for LGBT and allied professionals, com.

21-39 years of age. Cost is $10-members, WASHINGTON STATE $15-non-members, $10-students (21+).

MR. & MS. LEATHER CONTEST Register online at www.thegsba.org or by On Saturday, March 26, door at 6 p.m., calling 206-363-9188. contest at 7 p.m., at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave. at E. Pine St.), join members of Seattle’s and the statewide Leather

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March 18, 2011

community for the Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Contest – $10 donation at the door.

Contestants will be judged based on their private Interview with the judges, Social Interactions at the free and open-to-the-public Meet & Greet on Friday, March 25, 8:30-10 p.m., at Doghouse Leathers (1312 E. Pine St.) and throughout the next day. Contestants will also be judged on their Cruise-Bar Wear, a Pop Question, Physique (Mr. Only), Fantasy (Ms. Only), Leather Image, and a 2-minute Speech at the contest.

Winners will represent the Washington State Leather Community in the coming year, working to promote safer sex and breast cancer awareness and to unify the community. Winners will also organize two community fundraisers.

The Victory Brunch and Leather Emerald Awards presentation will be held on Sunday, March 27, at 11:30 a.m., at The Cuff Complex. Brunch at 11:30 a.m., awards presentation at noon.

The National Leather Emerald Award goes to a person or organization who has either assisted the Seattle leather community in the past or has provided positive leadership to the Leather community in general.

The Washington Leather Emerald Award goes to a person or group who has had a positive impact on behalf of the Washington State Leather Community. This award is Leather community specific. The Community Service Award goes to a person or group who has given both heart and soul to the greater Washington State Leather Community or the general Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, BDSM community.

The Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Contest is sponsored by the Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization. For more information, visit www.wsmlo.org.

SEATTLE PRIDE IDOL On Sundays, March 27 to June 19, doors at 6 p.m., competition at 7 p.m., at Neighbours (1509 Broadway. entrance in alley off E. Pike St. between Broadway and Harvard), join Seattle Out and Proud (SO&P) for Seattle’s Pride Idol talent competition to see who will represent Seattle Out & Proud on the Pride Idol Float in the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26. For complee details, visit www.seattlepride.com.

“SAFE FROM BULLIES – SAVING LIVES” A COMMUNITY TRAINING ON BULLYING AND NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES On Wednesday, March 30, from 4-6 p.m., at the 2100 Building (2100 24th Ave. S.), join Heather Carter, OUTLoud Project Manager, Youth Suicide Prevention Program, for an open, community-wide training on bullying and bias-based harassment and the links these experiences have to long-term, negative mental health outcomes. Youth suicide intervention will also be discussed as these two issues are linked as well.

The desired outcomes for this training are: Be able to define bullying and bias based harassment (as it pertains to LGBTQ youth) and who’s involved in the behaviors.

Identify the relationship between bullying and bias-based harassment and negative mental health outcomes such as depression and thoughts of suicide.

Identify negative emotions associated with these experiences – for the bully, the target, and the bystander Understand the risks and experiences that LGBTQ youth face.

Recognize protective factors against bullying and bias-based harassment.

Recognize the warning signs for suicide.

Demonstrate the suicide intervention strategies of showing you care, asking the question and getting help.

Understand what schools, families, and community partners can do to prevent and intervene in bullying incidents.

Identify resources for help at school and in the community.

This training is open to everyone and is specifically geared toward: school staff, community organizations, and families. The fee for this training is $25. To register, contact Heather Carter at 206-297-5922 ext 116 or heather@yspp.org.

Seattle Gay News

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INTERNATIONAL courtesy neovitruvian

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

of private life and ordered payment of damages in the amount of 40,000 euros, which Lithuania paid.

The Civil Code currently allows for gender-reassignment surgery but the nation lacks necessary laws setting forth the conditions and procedures for surgery.

The Lithuanian Gay League denounced the parliamentary proposal.

Euro Parliament blasts Iran on Gays The European Parliament on March 10 adopted a resolution urging Iran to “stop discriminating against people on the basis of their sexual orientation” and denouncing “the inhumane and medieval practice of sentencing people to death for alleged offences pertaining to choice of partners or sexual practices.”

The parliament also welcomed “steps taken by several Member States to provide shelter to those Iranian human rights defenders, dissidents, journalists, students, women,

children and artists who are persecuted for their religious beliefs, opinions, sexual orientation, or other aspects of the exercise of their human rights.”

Iran has the death penalty for consensual homosexual sex. While no such executions have been documented in recent years, it is widely believed they may have occurred.

Executions are known to have taken place in recent years following convictions in cases of alleged nonconsensual sex between males.

British Gay magazine launches Thai edition The well-known British Gay magazine Attitude launched a Thai-language edition in Thailand on March 9. According to local correspondent Douglas Sanders, it was full of fancy ads, including from Jean Paul Gaultier, Diesel, Puma, Giorgio Armani, Davidoff, and Playboy eyewear.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NATIONAL Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Italian PM: Gay unions will be kept at lower level Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said February 26, “As long as we are in power, traditional marriage and Gay unions will never be on the same level.”

The national LGBT group Arcigay denounced the remark as “another ruthless use of homosexuals and Transsexuals’ lives and feelings with the sole objective of restoring the alliance with the Catholic electorate, disgusted by months of sexual scandals.”

“The prime minister should look around and tell us which countries are treating LGBT people like he does,” said the group’s president, Paolo Patanè. “Maybe he will find out that this does not happen anywhere in the civilized world.”

Euro Court rules against Russia in HIV case The European Court of Human Rights ruled March 10 that Russia violated the European Convention on Human Rights when it denied a residence permit to a man from Uzbekistan because he is HIV-positive.

The man is married to a Russian woman and they have a child together.

The ruling created European legal precedent in two ways: It recognized HIV-positive people as a distinct group whose fundamental rights are protected from discrimination, and it elevated HIV-positive people to the status of a “vulnerable group with a history of prejudice and stigmatization.”

Restrictions on the rights of vulnerable groups face the highest level of court scrutiny and are presumed to be illegal from the get-go.

The court said, “The mere presence of an HIV-positive individual in a country is not in itself a threat to public health.”

Russia was found to have violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns right to family life, and Article 14, which bans discrimination.

Last October, the Euro Court ruled against Russia in the matter of Moscow’s ongoing bans of Gay pride events.

The court found that the nation violated guarantees of the European Convention in the areas of freedom of assembly and association, right to an effective remedy and prohibition of discrimination.

Sexual-orientation statement to be delivered at U.N. A joint statement recognizing human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity will be delivered at the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 21. The deadline for countries to sign onto it is March 18.

At present, 58 nations have endorsed the statement. Gay activists who are involved in U.N. affairs are urging colleagues around the world to lobby their national governments to sign up.

Among the nations being targeted are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine.

The statement will be read out by the U.N.’s ambassador from Colombia.

Euro Parliament warns Turkey, Montenegro on Gay equality Adopting resolutions on Turkey’s and Montenegro’s progress toward joining the European Union, the European Parliament on March 9 told both nations they will have to do better on LGBT equality if they want to be part of the EU. Turkey must “ensure that equality, regardless of sex ... or sexual orientation, is guaranteed by the law and effectively enforced,” the parliament said.

Ongoing problems include forced closures of LGBT organizations, the army’s classification of homosexuality as a psychosexual illness, murders of Transgender people, and the withdrawal of sexual orientation from a draft anti-discrimination law, the parliament said.

While Montenegro does ban anti-LGBT discrimination in employment and public services, the Euro Parliament said that discrimination persists “including on the part of state authorities.”

The co-president of the parliament’s LGBT Intergroup, Ulrike Lunacek, said: “We demand that Ferhat Dinosa, minister for human minority rights, defend LGBT people’s human rights instead of displaying intolerance and insensitivity to these issues.

This is the only way forward for Montenegro’s accession process.”

Lithuanian MPs want to ban gender-reassignment surgery Conservative members of Lithuania’s Parliament have proposed banning genderreassignment surgery via the Civil Code.

They said the move would protect the nation “from any preconditions which create grounds for the appearance of claims against Lithuania at the European Court of Human Rights.”

Lithuania lost an ECHR case in 2007 concerning a Transsexual’s right to genderreassignment surgery. The court said the nation violated the individual’s right to respect

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March 18, 2011

NEWS

N.Y. governor to push for same-sex marriage this year The new national group Equality Matters met with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on March 10 and reported that he’s eager to legalize same-sex marriage this year.

“While our specific discussion today is private, what’s clear from our meeting with Gov. Cuomo is that he wants to get this done this year, as soon as possible, and that he is prepared to use his considerable power and influence to make it happen,” said E.M. President Richard Socarides.

“What’s not clear,” Socarides added, “is how we get to the magic number of 32 in the Senate.”

Equality Matters describes itself as a new campaign for full LGBT equality that utilizes strategic communications, research, training and media monitoring to strengthen efforts for full LGBT rights and to correct anti-Gay misinformation.

Same-sex marriage is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C. In addition, same-sex marriages from anywhere in the world are recognized as marriages in Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and California (if the marriage took place before Proposition 8 passed) even though those states do not let same-sex couples marry.

D.C. sees doubling in marriage-license applications Marriage-license applications in Washington, D.C., jumped from 3,100 in 12 months to 6,600 in 12 months in the year since same-sex marriage was legalized.

Though the district does not keep tallies of straight versus Gay licenses, the number of applications per year usually varies very little, strongly suggesting that all of the increase since March 2010 can be attributed to Gay people.

San Diego mayoral race has three Gay/Lesbian candidates The June 2012 election for mayor of San Diego, America’s eighth-largest city, could have three openly Gay/Lesbian candidates.

Republican District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio already have filed papers, and Democratic state Sen. Christine Kehoe is widely expected to file shortly.

Kehoe, as the only Democrat in the group, probably would garner the most support from the city’s LGBT activists.

Dumanis took immediate fire from local Democratic Gay leaders as she announced her candidacy March 10, with the predominantly Gay San Diego Democratic Club accusing her of being more loyal to the GOP than to her fellow LGBTs. The club said that in last year’s statewide elections, Dumanis supported Republican

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer candidates for governor and attorney general who vowed to reverse the state’s policy of refusing to defend Proposition 8 in court.

Those candidates lost, and Gov. Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris have continued the nondefense policy. Six days later, the SDDC corrected its statement, saying that Dumanis had remained neutral in the attorney general race.

“Although I consider Bonnie a friend and believe she has been an effective judge and district attorney, there are significant policy issues where progressives disagree with her,” said SDDC President Doug Case. “Her loyalty appears to rest more with the Republican Party than the LGBT community as witnessed by some of her endorsements.”

Prop 8, passed by voters in November 2008, amended the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage. It was later struck down as unconstitutional by a federal judge in San Francisco. That decision is now on appeal at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

School to let Gays meet The board of trustees of Flour Bluff Independent School District in Corpus Christi, Texas, granted permission March 8 for students to form a campus Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club after the American Civil Liberties Union intervened on behalf of Nikki Peet, a student who had been denied permission to start the club.

According to the ACLU, the school had threatened to prevent all extracurricular groups from meeting rather than allow the GSA to form.

“It shouldn’t have taken this long and this much struggle to start a club whose purpose is to make our school a safer space for all students,” said Peet. “We can’t wait for the first meeting.”

California Legislature may demand military stop fining Gays California state Sen. Christine Kehoe introduced a resolution sponsored by Equality California on March 9 calling on President Barack Obama, Congress, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stop fining LGB servicemembers who were discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Said EQCA: “Although DADT has been found to be unconstitutional as a violation of the First and Fifth Amendments, and the U.S. Congress passed a repeal that was signed by the president, the military continues to demand that our brave soldiers who were unfairly discharged by this outrageous policy pay for their education because they were discharged.”

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors called the demands for repayment, which have topped $75,000 in some cases, “beyond offensive.”

With assistance from Bill Kelley

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Seattle Gay News 13

Tina Gianoulis wrote a great article announcing an event that took place in Seattle on March 8 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. I attended and decided to write a letter to the editor about the great experience it was.

Seeing her article published, as well as your inclusion of other Lesbian- and dykerelated stories in a mostly Gay-men-focused

newspaper, gave me a positive feeling.

I’ve realized throughout the years, how the paper has welcomed and acknowledged those of us who tend to be more political in the grassroots movements. However, it would be even more awesome if there were more out-of-the-box writing about us and other nonmainstream LGBTQ people.

Thank you for all of your hard work.

Marla S. Nonken

Queer-centric writing class at Hugo House

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Local writer Katie McClendon will teach the Queer-centric writing class “Beyond Coming Out” at Richard Hugo House (1634 11th Ave.) April 5-May 10 from 7-9 p.m.

“The LGBTQ community is filled with a variety of experiences and identities that run along a spectrum. Now that Gay and Lesbian literature is an established genre, there is an opportunity to tell stories that go beyond coming out or falling in love for the first time,” reads the class description. “This class will explore what it means to write from an LGBTQ perspective, how to write stories that focus a lens on the specific and current experiences of LGTBQ individuals, and how to go beyond the same old stories and clichés presented in the media.”

McClendon is a published poet and fiction writer and a graduate of the Bent Institute.

“I’m a fiction fanatic,” she said, “and an extensive reader.”

“The goal of this class is to help writers identify what makes writing Queer and how to expand the voices and content of our stories to shine a light on Queer experience,” McClendon told Seattle Gay News. “This is the first-ever class at the Hugo House targeted at a specific population, and I would

love, love, love to show them that there is a need and a desire for classes like this. How can you help? Register! Tell your friends to register! Spread the word!”

McClendon says we are at a time in society, politically speaking, where “we are starting to talk more about what happens in Queer lives. I think it is important for Queer folks to write about their experiences.”

She told SGN that the class will deal specifically with how to write fictional stories from a Queer perspective. “We are going to look at major historical events and insert Queer characters,” said McClendon. “We will do the same thing with fairytales and commonly known stories with straight characters and rewrite them.”

Take a look at the class description and contact Sara Brickman at sarabrickman@ hugohouse.org to sign up.

Richard Hugo House is a center for the literary arts that supports writers of all ages and backgrounds and promotes the creation of new writing. Hugo House nurtures writers and readers and brings innovative writing classes to people from every background. Starting in 2006, Huge House began a new initiative to promote new writing across all their programs and to devote one program, the Hugo Literary Series, solely to new commissioned work.

House committee OKs amendment to discourage aid to anti-Gay countries

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer On March 15, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee passed an amendment proposed by Barney Frank (D-Mass.) that would discourage U.S. foreign aid to countries that persecute their LGBT residents.

“The Committee urges Treasury to advocate that governments receiving assistance from the multilateral development institutions do not engage in gross violations of human rights, for example, the denial of freedom of religion, including the right to choose one’s own religion, and physical persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” the amendment says.

According to Frank, his amendment passed with nearly unanimous support.

Frank chaired the committee from 2006 through 2010, while Democrats controlled the House. He is now ranking member of the committee.

In his presentation to his colleagues, Frank cited Uganda, a beneficiary of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program, as an example of a country that openly abuses its LGBT citizens.

“The United States has a fairly influential voice in the development area,” Frank said. “And we should not be supportive of providing multilateral bank development funds going to the governments of countries which engage in the physical persecution

of people because of their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

How the amendment will fare if it comes to a vote before the full House is unclear.

Many Republicans oppose foreign aid on principle, and others want to reduce what they view as unnecessary federal spending during a severe recession.

On the other hand, many Republicans are unsympathetic to LGBT rights. Republican politicians associated with The Family, a secretive conservative Christian group, have adopted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni as their protégé.

The U.S. provides foreign aid both directly and through contributions to international development funds.

Of the top 10 recipients of U.S. foreign aid, same-sex relations are legal only in Israel, South Africa, and Colombia.

In Afghanistan and Nigeria Gay people may be executed, and in Pakistan they may be sentenced to life in prison.

Most countries eligible for aid under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Program, like Uganda, have dismal records on LGBT rights.

Sudan and Mauritania, for example, prescribe the death penalty for same-sex relations.

The government of Kenya has been accused of deliberately failing to protect LGBT residents during riots that broke out in the resort town of Mtwapa last year.

14 Seattle Gay News

March 18, 2011

manian soccer last year after he was disciplined for a confrontation with a teammate.

Abdul Ghani plays for Al Nasr club.

A second Al Hilal player, Christian Wilhelmsson of Sweden, received a formal warning for making a “provocative remark” against another Al Nasr player, Ahmed Abbas.

Al Hilal played Al Nasr in a Saudi Crown Prince Cup semifinal match on March 10.

Saudi newspapers were outraged by Radoi’s remarks attacking a popular native sports star. Many described them as “racist.”

Same-sex relations are illegal in Saudi Arabia, and are often punished severely.

Typically Gay men would be whipped and sent to prison, but in some cases they have been executed by Saudi authorities.

In September 2010 a Saudi diplomat stationed in Los Angeles asked for asylum in the U.S. because his sexual orientation was discovered by colleagues.

In 2005 the Saudi government conducted a sweep of Gay men.

Over 100 men arrested at a birthday party were sentenced to flogging and prison terms in April 2005. In May an additional 92 men were arrested, whipped, and sent to prison.

In November that same year, five men disappeared after being arrested at what authorities described as “a beauty contest for Gay men.”

In 2000, the Saudis executed five Yemeni immigrant workers for being Gay, and sent nine native Saudi Gay men to prison. file photo

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Saudis fine soccer star over anti-”Gay” remark

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Mirel Radoi

Romanian soccer star Mirel Radoi was fined by the Saudi soccer association’s disciplinary committee on March 14, after he accused another soccer star of being Gay. In a TV interview broadcast in Europe, Radoi suggested that native Saudi soccer star Hussein Abdul Ghani might be Gay. “I don’t know why he keeps following me and annoying me during the matches,” Radoi said. “He touches me like a girl …

I don’t know why. … Perhaps he does not like women, but men.”

Radoi has played for Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal club since 2009. He retired from Ro-

Dem. Republic of Congo considers anti-Gay law

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The new session of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Assembly, which convenes this month, will take up a bill criminalizing same-sex relations for the first time in the country’s history.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the country formerly known as Zaire.

The Sexual Practices Against Nature Bill was introduced in its Assembly last year.

Section 2 of the bill lumps same-sex relations together with bestiality as “sexual practices against nature.”

The bill also apparently criminalizes Gay porn, sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention materials, and any activities that promote LGBT rights.

Section 174h3 of the Bill, provides that “all publications, posters, pamphlets, [or] films highlighting or likely to arouse or encourage sexual practices against nature are forbidden within the territory of the DRC.” It goes on to say that “all associations that promote or defend sexual relations against nature are forbidden within the territory of the DRC.” According to section 174h1 of the proposed law, violations would be punished by three to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Congolese francs – about $55.25.

This is a huge fine in a country where the World Bank estimates yearly household consumption at only $57.

Unlike Uganda, where anti-Gay legislation dates back to the country’s colonial past, the DRC has never had laws against same-sex relations. The country was formerly a Belgian colony. Belgium decrimi-

nalized same-sex relations in 1794.

Also unlike Uganda, 50% of the DRC’s population is Roman Catholic. All other Christian denominations account for 46% of the population.

The DRC’s President Joseph Kabila is an Anglican, a small minority in his country.

Uganda’s Christians are about evenly divided between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, with other Christian denominations making up only seven percent of the population.

Jean Bedel Kaniki, President of Groupe Hirondelles Bukavu, an LGBT rights organization in the DRC said when the bill was introduced last November that his organization would begin to organize to defeat the bill.

“Hirondelles” is French for “swallows,” a slang word for “Gay.” Kaniki said that several LGBT organizations had already set up a joint working group in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC. “We are trying to mobilize the diplomats and also to have people in parliament who can intervene in our favor to the president of the parliament,” he added.

According to Kaniki, DRC groups have the support of more experienced LGBTI organizations in neighboring countries – Horizon Community Association (HOCA) from Rwanda, Mouvement Pour Les Libertis Individuells (MOLI) and Humure from Burundi, as well as other LGBT organizations from Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.

In an open letter sent to human rights organizations and activists, Congolese LGBT groups denounced the proposed bill as a gross human rights violation that goes against all international treaties ratified by the DRC.

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Seattle Gay News 15

The history of the Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization malixe

Washington State Mr. Leather 2010 Herrmeister-D and Washington State Ms. Leather 2010 boi Di

Courtesy of Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization The Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization (WSMLO) will observe the 19th annual Washington State Leather Pride Week March 18-27, and hold the Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Contest on March 26. (Schedule at www.wsmlo.org.)

Washington state has long been a leader in the national leather community, as the history of the community contributions and the people’s activism has shown.

Twenty-five years ago in 1983, five men gathered and challenged each other for the first competition. That competition was sponsored and held at the J & L Saloon (or, as it was fondly called, “Judy’s Lounge”).

At that time, the contest was for the title of Washington State Leatherman, and the

winner went on to compete in the Pacific Northwest Mr. Leather Contest along with titleholders from Oregon and British Columbia, who would then go onto the International Mr. Leather Competition in Chicago.

That night, Mark Sauer was named the first Washington State Leatherman.

The next year, again at the J & L Saloon, several men competed for the title, and Doug Connell was crowned champion.

Doug, an active member of the Knights of Malta organization, then went on to represent the Washington State Leatherman title at the Pacific Northwest Leather Competition, where he won. Doug became the first Washington State Leatherman to compete at the International Mr. Leather Competition in Chicago. Doug went everywhere and managed to bring more recognition to the Seattle leather community.

In 1985, the title name was changed to Washington State Mr. Leather. That year, Richard Heinigh received the title. Richard continued his winning ways at the international level by being named first runner-up at the 1985 International Mr. Leather Contest. Richard’s continued hard work for both the local and international leather communities was saluted by the International Mr. Leather organization, which named their International Mr. Leather Travel Fund after him.

The following year, Steve Maidof was named Washington State Mr. Leather and competed at the International Mr. Leather contest. Following the international competition, Steve gathered a small group of local leather folk in his living room with the idea of staging a “Living in Leather” conference that San Francisco and New York leather communities said couldn’t be done. Thus, the National Leather Association was born here in Seattle, with Steve as the founding “daddy” and president.

In 1988, the first non-Seattleite won the competition as Tacoma’s Tom Coker was named Washington State Mr. Leather.

In 1989, Vik Stump, a local women’s leather leader, sponsored the first Washington State Ms. Leather. The competition was held at Club S. Lauren Burch became the first Washington State Ms. Leather that year.

In 1990 Howard Martin was named Washington State Mr. Leather and that year went on to win the national title of “Mr. NLA”.

In 1991, Wes Randall was named Washington State Mr. Leather and was featured in a photo spread in Drummer Magazine, including the cover.

1992-’93 was a pivotal year for the Washington State Mr. Leather organization, when Washington State Mr. Leather 1991, Wes Randall and 1992 Washington State Mr. Leather, Ron Clouse, approached local community leader Scott Rodriguez to reform the organization. Under Scott’s leadership and presidency, WSMLO became a federally recognized non-profit organization.

The newly formed organization expanded its activities within the Seattle community beyond just producing the leather contest by organizing and producing the annual Seattle Pride Festival and a non-profit softball tournament called the Emerald Cup. Additionally, Scott believed that the goal of the orga-

nization should be to recognize both people and organizations in the Seattle Community, so under Scott’s tutelage, WSMLO founded the National Leather Emerald Award, the Leather Emerald Awards, and the Community Service Award.

Also that year, thanks to the hard work of Wes Randall, Ron Clouse, and Northwest Drummer Todd Airhart, the first Washington State Leather Pride Week was born.

WSMLO eventually oversaw the weeklong activities, which celebrate the leather community in the state of Washington.

The year 2000 was both a happy time and a sad time for the organization. In the beginning of the year 2000, Generic Leather Productions sold the Washington State Ms. Washington Title to the Washington State Mr. Leather Organization, finally bringingf both titles under the same parent organization. But on a sad note, in late November, WSMLO President Scott Rodriguez died suddenly of a late-diagnosed cancer of the brain.

In 2001, the Scott Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship Fund was founded to honor his commitment to the community and his hard work. Administered by the Pride Foundation, today it is the largest applied-for scholarship fund that the Pride Foundation has, with six scholarships given out yearly. Additionally, the administration office at the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago, was donated in his honor.

Also in the year 2001, Michael Chappell, a resident of Spokane, became the first eastside person in the state to hold the title of Washington State Mr. Leather.

In 2006, both Washington State Mr. Leather 2005 Rusty Jones and Washington State Ms. Leather 2005 Shelley Denton went on to compete at the American Brotherhood Weekend, and brought home the national titles of American Leatherman and American Leatherwoman.

In 2008, Hobbit Smith, Washington State Ms. Leather 1995, returned to the community and vied for International Ms. Leather 2008, and brought back that title to Seattle.

Many of the other past titleholders, board members, and hard-working volunteers of WSMLO have all, in their own way, contributed to the success that is WSMLO today.

The Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization continues to produce the annual contest, and remains committed to its nonprofit roots, raising thousand of dollars each year to support a variety of other nonprofit organizations and their worthy causes.

The 2011 Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Contest will be held March 26 at the Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.) – doors at 6 p.m., contest at 7 p.m.

“Everybody in the class contributed, and I think I was able to get everyone’s taste buds excited. I think that I learned a little bit about everyone in there, as well,” Chan said.

“I really enjoyed the facilitator. I thought she knew her stuff and really liked her teaching style,” Roth said.

Roth added that this is the first of several free community workshops geared toward people in recovery. Gay City collaborated with SHIFT and the Bastyr Queer Health Club to make this event happen. The next event that Gay City and SHIFT – as well as other organizations – will be collaborating on will be called “Divine: Self-Reflection Taught Through Nature.”

“It’s going to involve visiting ourselves and our spirit through the eyes of nature,” Roth said. This event will be held at Volunteer Park and involve exploration, meditation, and a lot of interaction within the workshop’s participants.

GCHP will continue to host wellness events with SHIFT throughout the rest of the duration of the four-year grant that SHIFT received back in October 2007 in order to help members of the LGBTQ community who struggle with drug, alcohol, and addiction issues.

For more information on future events in the “Inspire Well” series, visit www.gaycity. org.

Gay City’s “Sensational Food and the Senses” explores umami

by Anthony Greer SGN Contributing Writer The Gay City Health Project hosted the first of several “Inspire Well” workshops on March 12, where Bastyr University senior Bonnie Chan lead a group of participants in an exploration of the enigmas behind our taste buds and cravings.

During the workshop, Chan explained what the different types of tastes were.

These include sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami. She also revealed what part of our tongues they tend to affect. When licking a lemon, for example, the taste will linger on the sides of one’s tongue toward the back, whereas sweeter foods leave an aftertaste towards the tip of the tongue. Salty foods will leave their mark on the front sides of the tongue, while bitter foods linger toward the back.

Umami, the mysterious fifth taste, is a Japanese term meaning a pleasant, savory taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides, which occur naturally in many foods including meat, fish,

vegetables, and dairy products. The taste of umami is subtle and tends to blend with other tastes and round out flavors, making them more delicious.

Chan also revealed that foods can hold certain weights. For example, fat-free milk feels lighter on the tongue than whole milk, but whole milk also leaves behind more flavor.

“There’s this saying that we always walk around with our head disconnected from our body,” Chan said, “I think that taste is a way to reconnect people to that mind and body connection, because we have to eat once a day. I think it’s one of the easiest and most accessible ways to connect the mind and the body.”

Robert Roth, a marketing manager at GCHP as well as a participant in the workshop, said that it was “a way to get in touch with what we put into our bodies as far as nourishment goes.”

Both Roth and Chan agreed that the first event, “Sensational Food and the Senses,” went very well.

16 Seattle Gay News

March 18, 2011

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Anti-Gay pastor meddles in Moldova anti-discrimination bill Mark M. Murray

Scott Lively

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Anti-Gay US pastor Scott Lively – one of the driving forces behind Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill – is now interfering in Moldova, hoping to kill a proposed bill that would protect Gay and Lesbian Moldovans.

The legislation, introduced last month, would outlaw discrimination against anyone on the basis of religion, nationality, ethnic origin, language, religion, color, sex,

age, disability, sexual orientation, political opinion, or social status.

It was proposed as part of Moldova’s effort to gain an association agreement with the European Union. Members and associates of the EU must conform to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Moldova is a former Soviet Republic now bordered by Romania and the Ukraine. It became independent when the USSR collapsed in 1991.

Human Rights Watch LGBT Program Acting Director Boris Dittrich says the proposed legislation in Moldova is similar to discrimination protections adopted in other parts of Eastern Europe like Albania, Macedonia, and Croatia.

Dijtrich noted that the former communist countries “didn’t have antidiscrimination legislation, so it’s very good that they include sexual orientation and hopefully also gender identity. So, it’s not a wild law, no. This is to protect people against discrimination.”

Conservative Christian leaders saw the proposed legislation as a threat to their moral authority, however.

Lively was invited to Moldova in January by two right-wing Christian groups – Pro Familia and Moldova Crestina.

“He came there with a story like what he told in Uganda, that if this antidiscrimination law would be accepted, the society would be homosexualized and the homosexuals would take over and it would be very dangerous,” Dittrich said.

Lively himself confirmed that he fears the anti-discrimination law would lead to LGBT domination of Moldova.

“I’ve been dealing with these laws all over the world and I recognize – as I said there in the lectures I gave and the media interviews that I gave – an antidiscrimination law based on sexual orientation is the seed that contains the entire tree of the homosexual political agenda with all of its poisonous fruit,” Lively told RFE/RL Moldovan news service, “and that, if you allow an antidiscrimination policy to go into effect, it essentially puts the power of the law and the government into the hands of Gay activists and makes people who disapprove of homosexuality criminals.”

Lively’s Moldovan allies repeated his argument almost word-for-word.

“The antidiscrimination bill is only a seed.

Once it is planted in a country, it turns into a whole tree that bears poisoned fruit,” Pro Familia Vice President Vitalie Marian told RFE/RL. Marian added that Lively “explicitly told

us that this bill is just the beginning, and later homosexuals will be given rights, starting with the right to hold public demonstrations.”

Since Lively’s visit, the Pro Familia group has created an online “black list” of Moldovan public figures who support Gay rights.

The list includes several parliament members and the head of state television.

People who appear on the list can have their names removed only by submitting a written statement opposing the antidiscrimination bill.

The measure has been passed by two parliamentary committees, but is now stalled.

Members of parliament from the opposition Communist Party have declared in the wake of Lively’s visit that they will not support the bill as long as it includes protections based on sexual orientation.

The Moldovan Communist Party opposes association with the EU, and some observers believe that it is using the controversial issue of sexual orientation to scuttle the government coalition’s efforts to move closer to Europe.

In addition to his association with the “Kill the Gays” bill author David Bahati, Lively is also the founder of the Christianfascist organization Watchmen on the Walls, based in Riga, Latvia.

The Watchmen have been involved in many incidents of anti-Gay violence in Latvia and other countries. They are listed as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“An antidiscrimination law based on sexual orientation is the seed that contains the entire tree of the homosexual political agenda with all of its poisonous fruit.”

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Seattle Gay News 17

by Jim Van Buskirk Courtesy of The Bay Area Reporter James “John” Finley Gruber Jr., the last surviving original member of the Mattachine Society, one of the earliest homophile organizations in the United States, died peacefully in his home in Santa Clara on February 27. He was 82.

Mr. Gruber lived quietly in suburban Santa Clara for a number of years, his deteriorating health keeping him increasingly close to home. His dear friend Nicholas Pisca was at his side when he died.

Mr. Gruber was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 21, 1928. A boy scout at 13, Mr. Gruber described himself as a “typical teenager” who enjoyed relations with both men and women, and considered himself Bisexual. His unpublished manuscript, The Deviant: an Illustrated Autobiography, chronicles his life across the 20th century year by year, including references to movies, books, songs, newspaper clippings, and images of current events, movie stars, and family photographs. His father was a vaudeville performer and music instructor who, in his search for work, moved the family to Los Angeles in 1936. Mr. Gruber frequently lamented the confining nature of the household dominated by his forceful mother and three significantly older sisters. Instantly enthralled with the glamour that Hollywood

offered, the good-looking young man took acting, music, and dancing lessons.

In 1946, at the age of 18, Mr. Gruber enlisted in the U.S. Marines where, in close physical proximity to men for the first time, he, as he put it, “went bananas in the sex department.” He enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers, even as he continued to have affairs with women, and was honorably discharged in 1949.

On the G.I. Bill, Gruber majored in English literature at Occidental College and in 1950 met Christopher Isherwood, who was to become a close friend and role model.

“Chris was the man I aspired to be,” Mr. Gruber once said.

Isherwood introduced Mr. Gruber to W.H. Auden, who was impressed that Mr. Gruber had read his work. Isherwood also introduced Mr. Gruber to his landlady, Evelyn Hooker, a therapist and professor of psychiatry at UCLA. Hooker’s pioneering research on Gay men contributed to a change in the attitudes of the psychological community towards homosexuality, leading to the American Psychiatric Association’s 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from its handbook of disorders, and an increased acceptance by society at large.

Isherwood, working for various Hollywood studios, introduced Mr. Gruber into the heady world of Hollywood, for example inviting him to be his date on opening

courtesy Bay Area Reporter

James “John” Finley Gruber, last member of Mattachine Society, dies

night of the play I am a Camera, based on School, de Anza College, and other schools, his novel The Berlin Stories. He met Jayne interrupted by a short stint at Memorex. “I Mansfield, who “made me tingle in the loved teaching. I fell in love with every kid swimsuit area,” and remembered “watching I ever met.”

He flew to L.A. frequently to see old Marilyn Monroe on a movie set one summer day reading War and Peace hidden behind a friends, while simultaneously establishing a new life in the Bay Area. In 1972 he sold propped-up comic book.”

In April 1951, primarily as a social adven- a Victorian in San Francisco, to buy a fixerupper in Palo Alto, ture, Mr. Gruber and eventually purhis boyfriend Konchasing a suburban rad “Steve” Stevens house with a former became the last new student. He enjoyed members of the Matclose friendships tachine Society. Mr. with a number of Gruber later relived men, considering the atmosphere of them his surrogate the meetings, “All brothers or sons. of us had known a Identifying himwhole lifetime of self as “an unmarnot talking, or reried alcoholic Bipression. Just the sexual teacher,” he freedom to open up met Beth Erickson, … really, that’s what who became a lifeit was all about. We long friend, evenhad found a sense of tually encouraging belonging, of camahim to attend his raderie, of openness first Alcoholics in an atmosphere of Anonymous meettension and distrust. ing in 1976. Newly … Such a great deal sober, he “set out to of it was a social clibecome a successmate. A family feelful novelist like my ing came out of it, a mentor.” nonsexual emphasis.

On November … It was a brandJames “John” Finley Gruber, Jr. 12, 1998, the Socinew idea.”

Mr. Gruber embraced his “newly chosen ety for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in family,” even if he did not fully endorse its Los Angeles bestowed Mr. Gruber a Public Service Award as a “pioneer and barrier communist underpinnings.

Mr. Gruber often recounted how the sole breaker” in organizing the Gay and Lesbian extant image of the Mattachine founding community. In 2000, Mr. Gruber participatmembers came to be. At a Christmas party, ed in a panel discussion at the San Francisco Mr. Gruber, clandestinely holding a camera, Public Library “Harry Hay and the Foundnonchalantly walked across the room and ing of the Mattachine Society: a 50th Annimidway surreptitiously snapped the photo. versary Celebration,” and in 2006 donated Harry Hay heard the click and became in- his personal papers to the James C. Hormel censed, because the meetings were very co- Gay and Lesbian Center at the San Francisvert and it was extremely dangerous to iden- co Public Library.

“I will always remember John fondly, as tify members. Mr. Gruber reassured him that there was no film in the camera. The famous the self-described gargoyle on the cathedral photograph features Stevens, Dale Jenning, of the Mattachine, no pushover. He was a Hay, Rudi Gernreich, Bob Hull, Chuck sweet and generous man,” said Gay historian Stuart Timmons, who had interviewed Rowland, Stan Witt, and Paul Bernard.

Mr. Gruber worked at KECA radio, cre- Mr. Gruber for the seminal books The Trouated a motorcycle club called the Satyrs, and ble with Harry Hay and Gay LA. Mr. Gruber appears in the 2001 documendated both men and women. He eventually became disillusioned with his life. “I can’t tary Hope Along the Wind: the Life of Harry talk to Harry Hay anymore,” Mr. Gruber Hay directed by Eric Slade, who commenttold Isherwood. “Harry doesn’t have con- ed, “He was a wonderful man, I so enjoyed versations. He delivers lectures while I sit knowing him. I talked to him just a month or so ago. His famous Mattachine Society and listen.”

Repeated trips to San Francisco in the late Christmas tree photo was just used in a 1950s motivated Mr. Gruber to say goodbye book on Gay liberation. I sent him a copy of to Los Angeles, and in 1960 he moved to the book and we talked about it. I’d hoped Palo Alto, renaming himself John. “It was to see him on my upcoming visit. Truly the the most effective way I could find to escape end of an era.”

A memorial service will be held from mom’s ceaseless calling for ‘Jimmy!’ inside noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at the my head.”

He continued to pursue his career as a Santa Clara American Legion, 2120 Walsh teacher at Foothill College and San Francis- Avenue in Santa Clara. Following the serco State University, teaching and/or tutor- vice there will be a celebration of Mr. Gruing at Cubberly High School, Milpitas High ber’s life and a potluck-style meal.

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March 18, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

AIDS Healthcare Foundation skeptical of drug Truvada

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is running full-page ads warning that the drug Truvada may not be effective for HIV prevention.

The ads took the form of an open letter to Gilead Sciences, the makers of Truvada.

Last November, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that Truvada – which was being used as an anti-retroviral drug to treat existing HIV infections – might also be effective at blocking transmission of HIV. When the study was announced, it sparked hopes that Truvada might be an effective PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) drug, meaning that using the drug before actual exposure to the virus would help prevent infection.

Not so fast, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said.

“AHF supports continued research on HIV prevention, but opposes quick fixes that run the risk of contributing to the spread of HIV and drug-resistant viruses,” the group said in its open letter.

Noting that the November study showed only a 44% effectiveness rate in blocking new HIV infections, AHF concluded that “Such modest results are insufficient to support FDA approval of Truvada as an HIV prevention tool for Gay men.”

The AHF also challenged the applicability of the study.

“Real-world information is lacking,” AHF said. “The 44% who received a benefit from Truvada were intensively counseled monthly and tested frequently for sexual infections. This is in no way representative of the real world.”

Relying on Truvada might actually increase health risks for individuals and the wider community, AHF warned.

“How likely are uninfected men to take pills every day for the rest of their lives to prevent a possible HIV infection?” AHF asked. “The consequences of patients who take Truvada haphazardly are that they will become infected, develop drug resistance, and spread drug-resistant virus to others.”

“Condoms work,” AHF added. “Prevention using Truvada has not been shown to be as effective as condom use.”

AHF worried that men using Truvada or other PrEP drugs might become lax in using condoms.

“It is logical to assume that if patients are taking a drug that they believe will prevent them from becoming HIV-positive, they will be more lax in their use of condoms,” the foundation said. “There may be men who are currently using condoms 100% of the time who will stop using them because of a false sense of protection from taking PrEP.” Reacting to AHF’s statement, Jeff Berry, editor of Positively Aware, called for more study of Truvada’s possible benefits.

“For those populations who may be at higher risk,” he said, “or who may not have the luxury of having all of the tools at their disposal (for example, men or women whose partners are unwilling or unable to use a condom or other form of protection), if they could use a microbicide gel or even

a pill to lessen their risk, why would we not want that?

“Oral PrEP (if proven safe and effective), vaginal and rectal microbicides, condoms, risk-reduction and adherence counseling, treatment as prevention – all of these and other methods must be allowed to be fully explored and studied.”

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation describes itself as “a global organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 100,000 people in 22 countries. It is the nation’s largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care.”

Positively Aware is the online journal of the Test Positive Aware Network, a group that offers peer counseling, support programs and services, and advocacy to HIVpositive people.

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March 18, 2011

Seattle Gay News 19

law

continued from cover

the rest of the nation. Students, parents, and school employees often don’t know what the rules are, or what to do if bullying occurs.

“As a former teacher, I know how im-

portant it is for our students to feel safe at school. Each day throughout California, LGBT youth experience harassment. I am proud to introduce this bill in honor of Seth Walsh, which will give schools the necessary tools to prevent any young person from being bullied, harassed, or worse because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,” said Ammiano.

The bill is co-sponsored by a coalition of organizations advancing LGBT equality and justice, including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, the ACLU’s California Affiliates, and GayStraight Alliance Network.

“No child should fear going to school, and yet that is the daily reality for thousands of California students who face relentless harassment and bullying,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell. “It’s our responsibility to make sure schools are taking active steps to address this problem and using the tools that we know will work to create true change. It is not enough to punish students who bully.

We must create a school-wide culture of inclusion and respect for difference.”

Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors said, “Every day in California, many students go to school fearful of another day of harassment and intimidation with no hope of a better tomorrow. Seth’s Law will give all students the tools to seek the help they need to keep them safe and make sure that educators combat bullying in our schools.”

“Public schools have tremendous power

and responsibility to protect students from bullying and harassment,” said Elizabeth Gill, staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union. “Better school procedures and policies to prevent and address bullying will make a safer environment for students who are suffering, and can even save lives.”

In a recent national survey, nine out of 10 LGBT students reported being harassed at school. The problem persists in California as well, with LGBT students reporting significant harassment. The California Safe Schools Coalition reported in 2010 that 42% of California students who identify as LGB and 62% who identify as Transgender reported being harassed at least once based on gender non-conformity.

What’s more, young people often face bullying and harassment based on what their peers perceive to be their sexual orientation, regardless of whether they identify as being LGBT. According to the most recent California Healthy Kids Survey, 12% of seventh graders and 10% of ninth graders reported being harassed based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

The consequences of bullying and harassment can include falling grades, depression, and risk of suicide. LGBT youth are three times more likely to seriously consider suicide than heterosexual youth.

“Bullying can have serious and tragic consequences, particularly for students who are LGBT,” said Carolyn Laub, executive director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network. “We must take proactive steps to ensure that California’s schools are safe for every student. Seth’s Law will help schools protect students, and prevent and respond to bullying before a tragedy occurs.”

Under Seth’s Law, every school district in California would: • Create strong and clear anti-harassment policies and programs, if they don’t have them already.

• Have a system in place to ensure that all reports of harassment are taken seriously, addressed quickly, and that parents and students understand the process of making these complaints.

• Explain the harmful impact of bullying and discrimination to students and staff.

• Provide ongoing professional development for teachers, school counselors, and administrators about identifying and stopping harassment and discrimination, and creating a school-wide culture of inclusion and respect for difference.

japan

continued from cover researching different charities, the organization chose to raise money for Rainbow World Fund, a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is headquartered in San Francisco, California. RWF is an allvolunteer international humanitarian service agency based in the LGBT and allied communities. Their mission is to promote

LGBT philanthropy in the area of global humanitarian relief.

RWF currently support projects focusing on global HIV/AIDS, water development, landmine eradication, hunger, education, orphan care, and disaster relief in Africa, Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and the United States. They also work to raise awareness of the charitable contributions of the LGBT community and to establish connections with non-LGBT communities. RWF has many direct ties with Japan through their annual World Tree of Hope, project which is a collaboration between RWF and members of the Japanese American community.

“The recent natural disaster in Japan greatly affects the greater API community in Seattle at so many levels,” Aleksa Manila, co-hostess of the event and community activist, said. “The psychological and emotional effect on family members and relatives, whether immigrants or those who have a cultural relationship to Japan and/ or Asia, can be relative to the direct effect on citizens living in Japan. Seattle has a long and rich history with Japan. Notably, in 1974, Kobe Park in the International District of Seattle, was named in honor of Seattle’s sister city, Kobe, Japan. The trees and a four-ton, 200-year-old Yukimidoro stone lantern at the park were gifts from the people of Kobe. It is only natural for the API Community of Seattle to respond and support Japan in any way possible, whether it is a personal, familial, cultural, or community response.”

Fundraising and community service is nothing new to the Asian Pacific Islander Council. The API International Council was established in 2001 and was founded on the principles of raising cultural awareness, promoting tolerance, and fostering community service through educational outreach and fundraising efforts. More than a decade later, they are proud to say they are still working to fulfill those ideals.

Teriyaki Temple, co-founder of the API Council, recalls, “Many members of the council have made significant impacts with their efforts in leadership roles spearheading awareness, fundraising, and relief efforts for countless causes, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, domestic violence, equal rights initiatives, mental health and substance abuse education, and most recently addressing the bullying and suicide epidemic affecting our youth.”

“The individuals in the API organization have been deeply moved by the images and stories of loss and suffering affecting the Japanese people, and they feel compelled to contribute in our own unique way,” she continued. “As they have done in the past for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and natural disasters like the Sumatra tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, they are coming together with others who want to take action and spread hope to those less fortunate.”

To make a raffle or auction donation or to get more information on Japan Rising, please contact Gaysha Starr at gaysha@

Legal Services www.sgn.org www.sgn.org 20 Seattle Gay News

March 18, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

gayshastarr.com. For more information on the Rainbow World Fund or to make a direct donation to them, you can visit them online at www.rainbowfund.org/donate or mail a check to Rainbow World Fund, 4111 18th Street, Suite 5, San Francisco, CA 94114.

doma

continued from cover

Along with Feinstein, Sens., Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) will be leading the effort to pass the bill in the senate.

Leahy is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have jurisdiction over the bill.

No Republican senators have signed on as co-sponsors, and it remains unclear how Democrats will get the 60 votes needed to bring the measure to a vote.

On the House side, the prospects are even more doubtful, since Republicans now have control of that body.

If the Respect for Marriage Act does pass, the federal government would then recognize same-sex marriages concluded in jurisdictions where they are legal in all matters governed by federal law.

In addition, the measure would allow same-sex couples married in one jurisdic-

tion to continue to receive the federal benefits of marriage even if they move to a state that does not allow same-sex marriage.

Same-sex couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships are not covered under the legislation, however.

Nadler originally introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in 2009, when Democrats controlled the House, but it did not advance to the House floor for debate.

No companion senate bill was introduced at that time.

Among the 91 co-sponsors of Nadler’s 2009 bill were openly Lesbian and Gay Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Jared Polis (D-Colo.), but Barney Frank (DMass.) was publicly skeptical of the effort because he believed DOMA could be eliminated more quickly through court action.

Frank is a co-sponsor of the 2011 bill, as is the newest openly Gay member of Congress, David Cicilline (D-R.I.).

Murray originally voted for DOMA when it was introduced in 1996, as did most Democratic senators. Feinstein was one of only 14 senators who voted against it.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder revealed on February 23 that President Obama had concluded DOMA is unconstitutional, and had instructed him to stop defending the law in court.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) later announced that he would intervene to defend DOMA when it is challenged in court.

A recent Pew Research Center poll found

that 57% of Democrats and 51% of indepen- around, get screened at least every three dents support same-sex marriage, but only months. And if it turns out you’ve got syphi23% of Republicans do. lis, follow what the doc says about treatment, and make sure to get re-checked in a month or so. Don’t forget to talk to the guy(s) you’ve been having sex with so they can get screened, too. It’s a good idea to not continued from cover have sex until you’ve finished whatever treatment you’re given.

Some guys who got syphilis met their It never hurts for all of us to be reminded playmates at the baths, some through the of the details, right? So, here it goes.… internet, and some at other locations, so Syphilis is a bacterial infection with sev- wherever you’re playing, it’s important to eral stages. First comes a painless sore at the remember a few things: Talk to each other contact spot (mouth, cock, ass, vagina), but before you get deep into it. Share your testyou may not notice it. You might also ex- ing history, your results, what turns you on perience flu-like symptoms. If not treated, and gets you off, all those things that will the sore could go away on its own, but the make for a much more exciting and pleasursyphilis bacteria don’t go away with it. A able experience. About one in seven guys few months later, you could get a body rash, who have syphilis got it from oral sex, so if maybe on your palms or the soles of your that’s what you’re into, don’t brush or floss feet – this is the second stage. If untreated, right before giving head. And if you’ve got the rash may disappear, but again, the bac- bleeding gums, cold sores, or other sores in teria don’t. And if it’s left untreated, the in- your mouth, don’t give head. You’ve heard fection moves on to the third stage and can this old one before: use condoms, correctly cause problems such as blindness, deafness, and consistently. And like mom always said, or brain, nerve, or heart problems. wash your hands!

Notice that repeating “if” statement?

Most of us report mostly safer sex practicMuch better to get treated with the right an- es, and HIV rates aren’t going up, so we’re tibiotics and spare yourself the trouble of the doing something right! As for those dancing second or third stages, right? Right! spirochetes, remember, syphilis can cause You can get tested for syphilis, HIV, and long-term problems if it isn’t treated, but other pesky STDs at Public Health’s STD you can get tested for it, and it can be cured Clinic, Gay City, the baths, or at your doc- with the right treatment. So have fun, play tor’s office. If you’re out there playing fair, and wash your hands!

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Celebrating 38 Years!

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