SGN March 18, 2011 - Section 1

Page 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

proud to Be Different

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

Call us at 206.568.2486


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