SGN April 19, 2013 - Section 1

Issue 16 Volume 41

Celebrating 40 Years!

Section 3

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY April 19, 2013 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & newsstands

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Tragedy, up close and personal Seattle-area runners witnessed the Boston Marathon explosion John Tlumacki / Boston Globe / AP

played out in our cities.

Monday’s senseless violence shows us that, sadly, “this sort of “This sort of thing doesn’t re- thing” really does happen here. ally happen here,” you tell your- And on Monday, “here” just hapself as the news comes across your pened to be downtown Boston. iPhone screen.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

“All of the sudden there were just tons and tons of people running away from where we just were, so we joined in, and just started running.”

Some mornings you wake up to a nightmare. A nightmare is exactly what Americans – Bostonians, in particular – woke up to on April 15.

In just 15 seconds, two bombs placed near the finish line of the Boston Marathon exploded, killing three people including an eight-year-old boy and injuring more than 180 others. For those of us watching, it was a sickening reminder of past events that have

WON’T BE DETERRED Seattle boasts some of the healthiest and athletic residents in the nation. This is an outdoorsman’s kind of place. There’s hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and, of course, running.

The LGBTQ community in Seattle is no exception. In fact, when the bombs were detonated on see boston page 7

Bill Iffrig of Lake Stevens (bottom right) is knocked to the ground by the first explosion

The anti-Gay florist saga continues

Initiative will promote equality throughout the Western Hemisphere

ACLU files discrimination suit on behalf of Gay couple

Secretary of State John Kerry

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The U.S. State Department announced on April 12 that it is initiating a regional program to protect LGBT rights in the Western Hemisphere.

“Secretary of State John Kerry has committed to advancing the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals as a central part of our human rights engagement,” the State Department said in a statement posted on its website.

“Taking into account the Secretary’s commitment as well as the Presidential Memorandum issued December 6, 2011, that directs all federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs has developed a regional strategy that strives to eliminate violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

aclu

paul j. richards / ap photo

State Dept. announces LGBT rights program

Robert Ingersoll (l) and Curt Freed

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

On April 18, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of a gay couple in Kennewick, Washington, against a florist they allege discriminated against them because of their sexual orientation.

The suit says that the refusal of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland to sell flowers to the couple violates the Washington law against dissee state dept. page 6 crimination.

Curt Freed, a faculty member at Columbia Basin College, and Robert Ingersoll, a manager at Goodwill, have been a couple for almost nine years. They are engaged and are planning a wedding for September 2013. According to ACLU Washington, having purchased goods from Arlene’s Flowers on many occasions, Ingersoll approached the florist on March 1 to arrange for flowers for the see florist page 5

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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Loose Keyes

Obama’s arch-nemesis tries to Gay-bash his way back into relevancy

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ed, calculating, leftist, Communist, totalitarians is to destroy the family and to establish the notion that once you have seized power there is no limit whatsoever to what you can do,” Keyes said.

He’s right, of course.

Gay rights are really just a gateway drug.

Once Gays are considered equal human beings under the law, the real agenda is going to be uncovered and by then it will be too late to stop us (insert evil laughter here).

Keyes continues, because apparently he has no filter, “If you want to tolerate abuses then those abuses can be imposed upon the people. Once you establish that, the abuses are then not going to be confined to egregious outrages like this – those abuses are going to be committed against the whole society and they will in the end include the murder of the masses as has occurred in all Communist regimes that existed. That includes as well the expropriation of all property because if you don’t respect the primordial God-endowed belongings that are associated with family life, then why on earth would you be constrained to respect any other form of human property claim?”

Ah, the slippery-slope argument. If Gay marriage is legal, well, then anything goes!

M-I photo

Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers Mike Andrew, Miryam Gordon, Anthony Greer, Shaun Knittel, Albert Rodriguez, James Whitely Contributing Writers

Alan Keyes

by D’Anne Witkowski SGN Contributing Writer You know how sometimes you haven’t heard from somebody in a while and you just kind of assume that they’ve crawled under a rock and disappeared from public life?

Well, someone’s gone and unearthed Alan Keyes, former presidential candidate and current nutcase, and put a microphone in front of him, because apparently this world just doesn’t have enough crazy in it already.

And Keyes doesn’t disappoint.

In an interview with conservative radio host Stan Solomon, Keyes made clear that legalizing marriage for Gays and Lesbians would inevitably lead to the destruction of civilization, in a very literal way.

I should mention that Keyes has a daughter who identifies as Gay, although he identifies her as not existing. Not exactly Father of the Year material.

GAY RIGHTS: OPPRESSIVE? Keyes claims that “homosexual rights … return us to the dark ages of human oppression.

“The aim is not compassion for homosexuals, respect for homosexuals and all of this – the aim in the mind of these hardhead-

Visit us online www.sgn.org

I think the proper response to Keyes claim here is “No duh, and obviously.” I mean who doesn’t believe that marriage equality will lead to a Communist regime, “the murder of the masses,” and the abandonment of private-property laws? Oh, wait, nobody who is sane.

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATES And who is to blame for all of this promised upheaval? Why, Satan, of course.

“We need to keep in mind that the Devil is not playing – he’s deadly serious about the destruction of America’s character, spiritual nature and the foundations of that way of life,” Keyes warned.

In other words, Satan is hell-bent on the destruction of all mankind with the help of his loyal minions, the Gays.

But how do we do it? Why, via TeeVee, of course.

“All of that is being destroyed and a key vehicle for doing that is what you might call the popular culture of entertainment: music, television shows, movies,” Keyes claims.

“I’ve noticed for instance that every form of entertainment now is being programmed to promote the acceptance of homosexuality – every form of it.”

In other words, Keyes sees homosexuality everywhere he looks and he can’t stop obsessing over it. But somehow, Gays are the ones with the problem.

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Hungry for a better world?

Dine out on April 25 to benefit Lifelong AIDS Alliance

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer On Thursday, April 25, Lifelong Aids Alliance will hold its 20th annual “Dining Out for Life” fundraiser. More than 120 Seattle restaurants will be participating this year, including dozens on Capitol Hill. Last year, Dining Out for Life raised more than $200,000 for Lifelong’s many projects that support people living with HIV/AIDS. Here’s how it works: When you dine at any of the participating restaurants on April 25, the restaurant will donate a portion of your bill to Lifelong. That’s all there is to it!

Most restaurants are donating 30% of each check.

“Dining Out for Life is the perfect excuse to grab dinner with friends and family, plan on lunch with colleagues, or simply grab a coffee on your way to work,” Lifelong officials said.

BE AN AMBASSADOR! Lifelong is also looking for “Restaurant Ambassadors.” These volunteers are assigned to a particular restaurant, which they promote to their friends, family, and coworkers in an effort to maximize that res-

taurant’s patronage on April 25. On the day of the event, Ambassadors will welcome guests at the restaurant, answer any questions, and collect additional donations.

“It’s a very big deal that we’re celebrating 20 years. I think that it really speaks to how supportive Seattle is to Lifelong and those living with HIV,” said Kelly Bray, Lifelong’s communications manager. “It’s really embraced here… it’s a really significant event for us.”

ABOUT LIFELONG Lifelong AIDS Alliance empowers people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions to lead healthier lives.

One of its most recognizable programs, the Chicken Soup Brigade, provides food (including pet food for those with animal companions) to King County residents living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions. In 2011, Chicken Soup Brigade filled 38,049 grocery bags and served 157,675 meals.

Dine out and fight HIV/AIDS on April 25.

For more information or to volunteer, visit www.llaa.org. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.diningoutforlife.com/ seattle/restaurants.

Beyond ‘allyship’

The White Privilege Conference teaches the real meaning of solidarity

by Zachary Pullin Special to the SGN Each week at my office, we spend Monday or Tuesday morning in reflection before we start our staff meeting. One person brings in an article or a question that we all explore. It’s our way of growing as people and a community. Now, I’ve been known to bring in stories or prompts that invite meaningful dialogue. But, then again, I’ve been known to play a song when someone has accidentally quoted a song lyric.

Just last week, my executive director said, “Let’s keep that on our radar!” Whereupon I immediately played “Radar” by Britney Spears. But I digress.

This week, Stacy brought to our attention a concept she wrestled with during our attendance at the White Privilege Conference in Seattle last weekend. The title of the con-

ference is a bit prickly. It sounds more stark than it is, but it’s meant to. You’ll ask questions about it. And I’ll get to tell you that the conference is, in fact, an anti-racism and anti-oppression conference meant to encourage tough dialogue around the roots of racism and oppression. It’s an intense weekend but it equips people – more than 2,200 of them this year – with skills to recognize, confront, and dismantle racism in our communities.

WITH US OR FOR US? Stacy led us in a conversation that was instigated by the movie The English Patient and how the main character struggles with an important decision: Leave his dying lover to get help, or be present with her as she slowly dies. It’s a beautiful story, but the most compelling part is found in the analysis – namely, the concept of being with or

for. Now, the English Patient chose to find help for his lover – a three-day journey from their secluded location. Whereas, he could have chosen to stay by her side and be with her as she lay dying from her injuries after a horrific plane crash – and sit with the emotions and struggle of mortality. But he leaves for help, and she dies alone while he’s away.

What this anecdote and concurrent dialogue was meant to evoke was an analysis of how we are in community with one another. And, especially in intersectional justice work, how we can go beyond allyship and be in real solidarity. This weekend, the White Privilege Conference, affirmed my fundamental belief in intersectional justice as a model for equality. As a Chippewa Cree tribal member from the Rocky Boy reservation in Montana, my identity as a person of color is inextricably linked with my other identities as a Gay, cisgendered, middleclass man.

By and large, when individuals are trying to be in solidarity with other oppressed communities they tend to be for them. They do not fully enter the understanding and into the visceral experience of the oppression.

An example of someone being for me as a Gay person of color is merely going to the White Privilege Conference. Meeting new people, hearing stories, learning concepts, enjoying hotel food, and returning home doing nothing further. People who do this are for me. They are for us. They are for antioppression work. But they don’t move from educating their own community to engaging in solidarity with us against racism and oppression. The character from The English Patient was absolutely for his lover. He believed running for help – being for her – was what she most needed. Sometimes, what is required is being with someone through the struggle to better grasp the experience.

A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE An example of someone being with me is hearing my stories about oppression and deciding to speak out on my behalf. During the White Privilege Conference, each evening we had a People of Color (POC) caucus where we could be in community and talk about our experience. On the first day, I stood up – loud and proud – and said I’m a Gay Native American, and I hope we talk about LGBTQ people as people of color. By

the third day, the elephant in the room was a homophobic incident as part of a keynote speaker’s presentation. Duke, a straight POC, stood in front of the group and said, “As a straight man, I can’t sit here anymore without people mentioning the blatant homophobia we witnessed yesterday. We must speak out against it and proclaim our affirmation of our LGBTQ POC individuals!”

This moment – the precisely poignant moment – was an example of someone with the Queer community.

See, as a straight, male POC, Duke has a certain level of privilege. He can navigate the world a bit more easily than Gay POCs. He chose to “spend” some of that privilege to address homophobia. For the first time, I wasn’t the Queer person of color in the room raising my hand when I saw homophobia. That to me is someone with us because he heard our struggle and understood a bit more about our experience. He tuned his ear to the homophobia embedded within the coded language we all use. And he chose to say something about it and to literally risk standing with us. I asked him afterward why he felt compelled to speak out, and he said, “As a person of color, I pray every day that a white person will choose to speak out against racism because I’m tired of always bringing it up. So, when I had an opportunity to speak out against homophobia, I knew it was my chance to do what I expected of white people in regards to racism.”

As a Gay, Native male, I’ve got to be better at speaking out against racism, and homophobia – but it would be nice if straight, white people would do some of that work.

As a young man with a younger sister, I am a hypocrite because I don’t do enough to speak out against sexism. Or Transphobia.

Or ageism. Or sizeism. Or xenophobia. I want to be with all of our communities. And, that starts with educating myself and speaking up (and out) for others. If you want to challenge yourself and imagine more than marriage, join us at our April 30th INTERSECTIONS event as we discuss body diversity and its intersection with LGBTQ justice. We’ll explore sizeism and body image, and feature an incredible photo exhibit!

The location is yet to be determined – watch SOSea’s website and Facebook page for details.

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 4

Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Making change and looking fabulous

Fashion show raises money and awareness for local nonprofit SOSea

by Daniel Hanks SGN Contributing Writer The “From Door to Cubicle” (FDTC) fashion show fundraiser for local LGBTQ social justice nonprofit Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea) took place April 18 at Retrofit Home (1103 E. Pike Street). It featured designer and stylist Mr. Tan Tran, and auctioned a limited-edition FDTC jacket valued at $750.

The MC and hostess for the event was Victor Loo, aka Victoria Victor, who works in the community as director of recovery services for Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), co-media outreach director for Pride ASIA, and arts program director for SOSea. FDTC originally sponsored Tan’s designs for an editorial shoot where Victoria was one of the models. After seeing Tan’s approachable, beautiful, and unique designs, Victoria said “We began talking about promoting his label more extensively,” adding, “Retrofit, the main sponsor for this fashion show, fully embraces his design wholeheartedly, and agreed to host this first fashion show in their artistic and modern store.”

Victoria told SGN, “SOSea was a natural choice for the beneficiary, as Tan and I both have tremendous respect for the work that

SOSea does.”

Tan said, “SOSea has been doing great things for the LGBTQ community. Victoria introduced me to Social Outreach Seattle and noticed the organization has been doing great things for the LGBTQ community.”

Since its official inception in October 2012, SOSea has, through the hard work of volunteers, produced, hosted, and sponsored community events like the recent Marriage Equality USA rally on March 27 to show solidarity and support for the repeal of DOMA. “Its accomplishments since its inception are beyond amazing,” said Victoria.

Tan said, “I’ve been a part of a few community-minded shows, but only as part of a collective. I’m honored and very excited to be featured as the main designer for this fundraiser.”

Tan is moving full steam ahead with his second collection, which he describes as “fuller, with more looks, complete and cohesive.” He hopes to launch it between July and September in time for upcoming fashion weeks.

The FDTC fashion show also featured local recording artist and SOSea LGBTQ Liaison Jack Mozie, who is set to release his second album, Iron Fist, April 24. tri-city herald

Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington

Washington’s anti-bias law (RCW 49.60.030) prohibits discrimination because continued from cover of sexual orientation, reports the ACLU. It bars businesses from refusing to sell goods, event. However, he was told that the busi- merchandise, or services to any person beness would not sell the couple flowers be- cause of their sexual orientation. The courts have found that businesses open to the gencause of the owner’s religious beliefs.

florist

eral public may not violate anti-discrimiRepresenting Ingersoll and Freed for the nation laws, even on the basis of sincerely ACLU are cooperating attorneys Michael held religious beliefs.

Scott, Amit Ranade, and Jake Ewart of Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson, P.S.; ACLU‘A DISTURBING REMINDER’ WA legal director Sarah Dunne; and ACLU “The refusal to sell flowers to the couple LGBT Rights Project attorney Elizabeth is a disturbing reminder of the unequal Gill. treatment that Gay men and women have “We are saddened that we were denied experienced over the years,” said ACLU service by Arlene’s Flowers after doing of Washington legal director Sarah Dunne. business with them and valuing their ser“When a business serves the general public, vices for so many years,” said Freed and the business owner’s religious beliefs may Ingersoll in a statement. “We respect othnot be used to justify discrimination.” ers’ religious values, but being discrimiFiled in Benton County Superior Court, nated against was hurtful and illegal. This the lawsuit is seeking a court order barring business has broken the law, and should be the florist from discriminating against cus- held accountable. We appreciate the support tomers on the basis of sexual orientation, from people across the globe, and look forplus damages for the violation of the cou- ward to having this issue resolved.” ple’s rights.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM’S LIMITS Richland florist Barronelle Stutzman’s claim of violation of her First Amendment right to free exercise of religion (“State sues anti-Gay florist,” SGN, April 12) is a losing legal argument. Who says? None other than right-wing Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Writing for a unanimous Court, including right-wing Chief Justice William Rehnquist, in Oregon v.

Smith (1990), Scalia wrote, “We have never held that an individual’s beliefs excuse him from compliance with an otherwise valid law prohibiting conduct that the State is free to regulate. ... [T]he record of more than a century of our free-exercise jurisprudence contradicts that proposition. ... [T]he right of free exercise does not relieve an individual of the obligation to comply with a valid and neutral law of general applicability on the ground that the law proscribes (or prescribes) conduct that his religion prescribes (or proscribes).”

In other words, the “tail” doesn’t get to wag the “dog.” It wasn’t the intent of the

drafters of the First Amendment to allow individuals to flout public policy in the name of religious freedom. To the contrary, such would constitute license or even tyranny of religion, for individuals to do so.

The above-cited Supreme Court decision is also why plaintiffs in Stormans v. Selecky, the Washington state pharmacist’s lawsuit challenging the requirement to stock and sell Plan B (the “morning-after pill”), will lose before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. It’s also why the Roman Catholic Church will lose their lawsuits against the U.S. government over the federal requirement that all employers must cover abortion and contraception in their respective health insurance policies for their employees.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is to be commended for pursuing his lawsuit to make a public example of Ms. Stutzman. Nobody is above the law, based upon religion.

Steven L. Kendall Seattle

Rich Full-Bodied Cafes Savory Homestyle Soups & Sandwiches Visit us online www.sgn.org

April 19, 2013

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Get yourself tested!

Planned Parenthood offers free STD testing next week

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The fifth annual Get Yourself Tested (GYT) campaign is rolling across the Northwest during April (National STD Awareness Month) with online and on-theground initiatives aimed at getting young people tested.

GYT is a national campaign designed to promote sexual health and address the high rates of STDs among those under 25.

During the month of April, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest has been promoting the testing and treatment of STDs in support of GYT. In addition, PPGNW will offer two free days of testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea next week at its health centers in Western Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. Planned Parenthood health centers offer affordable STD testing throughout the year, and they welcome patients of every background.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY “Getting tested is simply a basic part of staying healthy and taking control of your sex life. Many STDs cause no symptoms, so the only way to know your status for sure is to get tested,” said Dr. Kara Cadwallader, senior medical director at PPGNW. “We know that when not treated, STDs can increase the risk of infertility and cervical cancer – but that virtually all STDs, including HIV, are treatable and many are curable.

The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can get treated.”

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that sexually transmitted infections are on the rise in the United States, especially among young people. There are now about 20 million new infections in the United States each year, half among the under-25 age group – even though they represent only 25 percent of the sexually experienced population.

Last year, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest provided more than 66,000 chlamydia and gonorrhea tests.

“Getting tested is easier than ever before,” said Dr. Cadwallader. “And, once you know your status, you can take action to stay healthy and protect yourself against future STDs. We want everyone – men, women, and young people – to lead the healthiest lives possible.”

GET TESTED FOR FREE The free days of testing at PPGNW Health Centers will be Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23. Appointments will be accepted or clients can walk in to be tested. To make an appointment, call 1-800230-PLAN (7526) or log on at www.ppgnw. org/appt for the center nearest you.

The award-winning GYT campaign focuses on getting sexually active Americans under age 25 to embrace STD testing as part of a healthy, productive life. Launched in 2009 by a partnership between MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the CDC, it is supported by a broad range of organizations, state and local health departments, colleges and universities, and other community groups and nonprofits. GYT public-service messages air throughout the year on MTV’s various channels, with cross-promotions involving health centers and community organizations. Extensive information resources, including a dedicated website (www.GYTnow.org), provide information about common STDs, talking tips, and a zip-code locator to find local testing locations.

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest (PPGNW) is the region’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate, believing that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. PPGNW operates 28 health centers in Alaska, Idaho, and Western Washington, providing medical services and sexuality education for thousands of women, men, and teenagers each year. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, PPGNW relies heavily on support from donors to help sustain responsible reproduction.

state dept.

matic turnaround.”

continued from cover

‘YOU HAVE AN ALLY’ The program builds on policy initiatives taken up under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In an historic speech to the United Nations Human Rights Council in December 2011, in Geneva, Clinton highlighted America’s interest in LGBT rights.

“To LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this,” she declared. “You have an ally in the United States of America, and you have millions of friends among the American people.”

Clinton also launched a $3 million fund for advocacy and support services in countries where LGBT people might be at risk for human rights violations.

“There have been results already,” said Daniel Baer, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. “We’re pleased with the progress we’ve made.”

The Obama administration also reversed longstanding State Department policy by extending benefits and services to the partners of Gay and Lesbian employees.

“I think the State Department has resolved its conscience about Gay employees,” said James Hormel, an openly Gay philanthropist, activist, and former U.S. ambassador to Luxemburg. “They’ve done a very dra-

6

Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

EXPANDED OUTREACH According to the State Department, its latest initiative will “expand public outreach and awareness of LGBT issues, create and leverage existing partnerships and programs, collaborate with multilateral partners, and engage directly with host country governments.”

In addition to working directly with other governments in the Western Hemisphere, the department said the U.S. will also engage the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Unit on the Rights of LGBTI Persons, of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The State Department also said it would participate in regular consultations with the diplomatic community in Washington, D.C., about ways to improve respect for the human rights of LGBT persons in the region.

Although U.S. diplomatic personnel already maintain regular contacts with LGBT organizations and activists in other countries, the State Department said it would work with Western Hemisphere media outlets and would also facilitate “LGBT roundtables and Web chats with civil society, academia, representatives from U.S. embassies, partner countries, and multilateral organizations.”

Celebrating 40 Years!

SPORTS

ap photo

‘I’ve always been open’ The WNBA’s top draft pick discloses she is Lesbian

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Lately the world of professional sports has been buzzing over who among their ranks might be Gay or Lesbian. From the National Football League to the National Basketball Association, players and coaches have spoken out in favor of, and against, the possibility of openly LGBT players in their

it’s OK to be who they are. Diggins and Delle Donne both chimed in and said that they support openly Gay players.

“In our sport, we’re fine with it,” Delle Donne said. “We’re all friends, and I want everybody to be who they are. You shouldn’t have to lie; that’s not fair. Hopefully the men can one day adopt that same attitude that we have.”

“We like her [Griner] because she’s her-

“We like her because she’s herself. We don’t care. It has nothing to do with basketball or how you play the game. I think that people need to realize that.” ranks. Some of the speculation has verged on the truly hysterical.

On April 18, however, a real conversation on the subject finally took place in the mainstream media. College basketball star Brittney Griner openly discussed her sexuality with Maggie Gray of Sports Illustrated.

‘WE’RE FINE WITH IT’ Alongside her fellow top-three Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft picks, Skylar Diggins and Elena Delle Donne, Griner said she’s always been open about who she is.

“It wasn’t too difficult,” she said. “I wouldn’t say I was hiding or anything like that. I’ve always been open about who I am and my sexuality.”

Griner said she wants youth to know that

boston

continued from cover Monday, members of a local LGBTQ walking and runners group, Seattle Frontrunners, were competing in the Boston Marathon.

On April 15, Seattle Frontrunners’ Board of Directors released a statement from a member identified as Jon N., reporting, “Andrew W. and myself have accounted for the Seattle FR who were running Boston.

To set off an explosion at an event where people have worked so hard to get to and is a very upbeat event is very, very upsetting.

I have experienced shock and anger that someone would do this. It will not, however, deter me from running Boston next year and in fact makes me want to run it more.

“The races of those who ran this year need to be celebrated as they worked very hard to get there and their results show it. Brian Punty had a PR [personal record] and ran a 2:53, Phil Brennan ran 3:06, Dan Laster had perfect splits and ran 3:15, Travis Westphal ran his first Boston in 3:24, and the ‘surprise’ was Ruben, who was a charity runner for PFLAG. It was his first marathon, which he finished in 3:33, having negative splits to boot, which is almost unheard of for a first marathon.

Our condolences for those who have died, wishes for a full recovery for those who were injured, and fast justice for those who committed this horrible act.”

EYEWITNESS REPORTS An estimated 23,000 runners took part in the Boston Marathon. Among them were more than 500 registered from Washington state.

Everett resident Rob Ralph and his wife, Larissa, were a block or two from the first

self,” said Diggins. “We don’t care. It has nothing to do with basketball or how you play the game. I think that people need to realize that.”

NBA OWNER INTERESTED The owner of the Dallas Mavericks, billionaire Mark Cuban, said earlier this month that he would be willing to draft Griner to his NBA team, making her the premier league’s first female player.

But that won’t likely happen anytime soon, as Griner has signed with the Phoenix Mercury. Delle Donne, the second draft pick, is headed to the Chicago Sky, and Diggins, chosen third, will be joining the Tulsa Brittney Griner in action Shock.

“Stop taking Brittney out of our game Donne said. “So it does upset me a little bit.

Delle Donne told the glossy sports magazine she wishes people would stop compar- and putting her in the men’s game. She’s Respect women’s basketball for what it is.” ing women’s basketball to men’s basketball. ours and she’s changing our game,” Delle bomb that went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. In fact, Larissa, who was running her first Boston Marathon, had just crossed that line about a half-hour before the first explosion.

Ralph says he was standing near the site of one of the bombs with some friends while they waited for their wives to finish running.

“It was a deep blast, like nothing I’ve ever heard before,” he says. “I could feel the ground shake under my feet.”

Ralph said, “I still can’t imagine how anyone could do this.”

Arlington school principle Faye Britt was running her fifth Boston Marathon when she saw people covered with blood and “obviously in shock.”

A Lake Stevens man, 78-year-old Bill Iffrig, was almost to the finish of his third Boston Marathon when the explosion went off. He has a scraped knee from the fall, but otherwise is fine physically. Iffrig has been all over the news due to video footage released of the blast shows a runner, wearing an orange t-shirt and black shorts, being knocked to the ground. That was Iffrig.

Jason Campbell, of Seattle, was near the finish line when the blasts went off.

“All of the sudden there were just tons and tons of people running away from where we just were,” he says. “So we joined in, and just started running.”

Tacoma artist Mandy Wilson told MyNorthwest.com that she wasn’t planning on watching any of the race, but thought since she was in Boston for the day she should walk a couple of blocks to the finish line, not far from where she was staying with friends.

“I was there at the finish taking in the view, when BANG! Out of nowhere I heard that sound and it seemed like about 20 seconds later there was a second explosion. It

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knocked me off my feet. Immediately there she says. What was supposed to be one of was blood everywhere,” Wilson says. the crowning achievements of her life will now only be remembered for something awA SHATTERED DREAM ful instead.

It had always been a dream of Trish Ke“It’s hard because I can’t get rid of that aton, a Seattle runner who had less than a visual of those bombs going off,” she said. mile to finish the Boston Marathon, to run “Now it’s just this bomb explosion.” the race. And on the morning of April 15, she could see her dreams coming true.

‘SUSPECTS’ IDENTIFIED Suddenly, everything changed.

The FBI has released footage of two men “[The blast] was so loud my first thought who they say are suspects in the bombing, actually was that it was a cannon,” Keaton which left three people dead and injured said of the first explosion that went off sev- about 180. eral hundred yards ahead in an interview FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard with KIRO radio’s Andrew Walsh.

DesLauriers said the FBI identified one inA bomb was the farthest thing from her dividual at first, but after reviewing video mind. and other evidence they determined that an“Just as I’m reacting and processing that, other individual was also implicated. the second one went off, which was much According to the FBI, one video shows a closer to me. And not only the smoke came man wearing a white baseball cap dropping up, but also I saw flames,” said Keaton. off a bag in front of the restaurant that was Suddenly, she says, the runners stopped, the site of the second explosion. people began to panic and police officers The FBI has asked for the public’s help rushed to the scene. identifying the two men.

Keaton said a crowd was running toward The images are from surveillance cameras them from the finish line and the blast sites. along the marathon route. They show two A young man who had been close to the young men wearing baseball caps (one cap explosion ran past her. She described the is black, one white) and black winter coats. scene as horrifying.

Both of them are carrying backpacks. In the “I have never seen anything like this,” she video, the man wearing a white cap is seen said. “This poor boy, his clothes were blown walking closely behind the man wearing a off him, practically. And he was covered black cap. The video and related still photos with blood from head to toe.” can be seen at www.fbi.gov.

Just as Keaton put her arm around the Officials have posted this appeal for help: young man to comfort him, a medic quickly “If you have any information that could be rushed over to help. of assistance, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI Keaton learned that several friends also (prompt #3). No detail is too small.” running had already finished or were beThe FBI said that no member of the pubhind her. The runners and tens of thousands lic should try to apprehend the suspects beof spectators walked solemnly together out cause they are assumed to be “armed and of the city center and across Boston area extremely dangerous.” bridges.

Keaton’s dream has been ruined forever,

April 19, 2013

Seattle Gay News

7

The OutField

Let’s GO!

LGBT athletes’ support group fields an all-star team ary of 2008 by seven LGBT athletes to discuss the special issues and challenges they faced.

With help from ex-NBA player John A team finds success only through teamwork. That’s as true off the playing field as on it.

Jay Hayes has earned plenty of success on the volleyball court. A former football, basketball, and baseball player in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, he found his favorite sport in high school: volleyball. At New York University he was a threeyear varsity captain. He set three school records – and he came out as Gay. That announcement followed several years of soulsearching. At his small Catholic high school, being out and an athlete did not seem “attainable,” Hayes says.

NYU would be different, he thought. “There, it’s almost expected you’ll be Gay,” he laughs.

But even at NYU, he found that wasn’t true in sports.

The “typical conversations” in locker rooms and on bus rides made coming out as a varsity athlete seem daunting. “People who play sports are a little different,” he notes. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but a lot of guys on my team weren’t friends with Gay people.”

Amaechi , former University of Massachusetts coach and professor Pat Griffin, sports FINDING COMMUNITY Hayes came out to his teammates and photographer Jeff Sheng and media activist coaches at the end of sophomore season. Ted Rybka, they set out to find others like He was immediately embraced – and that themselves. They soon changed their name to GO! Athletes – and quickly became a helped him embrace a new cause.

“I didn’t know any other Gay athletes,” he force for what they call “High Five Objecrecalls. “I thought being out was rare. Over tives” in the LGBT sports world: visibility, time, I realized it wasn’t. But there needed education, support, advocacy, and leaderto be a place where we could share our sto- ship.

“It’s an amazing network,” Hayes says. ries and resources.”

He helped found a group, at first simply “It’s the first national way in which LGBT called “Our Group.” It was formed in Janu- student-athletes can be out, and change

by Dan Woog SGN Contributing Writer

8

Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

or enhance the culture of athletic depart- “Gay athlete” is no longer an oxymoron.

Every “Winning Wednesday,” memments.” bers post personal stories on their website (http://goathletes.org). The group’s visibilRAISING VISIBILITY The GO! Athletes team looks like a bunch ity was enhanced earlier this month when of Gay all-stars. Executive Director Anna Rutgers men’s basketball coach Mike Rice Aagenes captained the University of Penn- was fired for using homophobic slurs during sylvania track and cross country teams, practices. On a variety of social media platholds three school records, and graduated forms, GO! Athletes released a strong statement emphasizing the importance of swift, Phi Beta Kappa in 2010.

Jenelle DeVits played Division I basket- strong punishment. ball at the University of New Hampshire.

FORGING ALLIANCES Brian Goldthorpe swam at Denison UniGO! Athletes has helped jump-start the versity and was one of the most decorated athletes in school history. Swimmer Sean growth of Gay-straight student-athlete Smith won multiple Big East titles for Rut- groups on colleges across the country. The gers University. George Washington Uni- network’s advice, covering such topics as how to get coaches and administrators on board, has been integral to this growing collegiate movement.

The network has also helped organize and provide speakers for panels and discussion groups on college campuses.

Hayes acknowledges that GO! Athletes has been very “East and West Coast-oriented.” Members also come primarily from the top tier of colleges. “We’re trying to expand to the rest of the country, and to other schools,” he says. “Right now, we’re being led by out athletes who are willing to bring our network to their colleges. There are Gay athletes at every school, but they’re not all open. As we grow, we’d like to go to other campuses and help athletes be out.”

GO! Athletes have spoken at high school events, but no high school student-athlete has yet joined the network. “They have less freedom than versity’s Kye Allums was the first person to college athletes,” Hayes acknowledges. openly compete as transgender on a DiviBut as long as GO! Athletes gets its mession I women’s basketball team. Becca Lun- sage out – with videos, on its website, and dquist won an NCAA rowing championship through social media – Hayes is happy. And at the University of California at Berkeley. a lot happier than he was in the years before Other members of the network have earned he knew he could be both Gay and a college honors in other sports. varsity volleyball star.

The GO! Athletes network organizes monthly conference calls. Members talk Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, socabout what’s happening at their schools, cer coach, and Gay activist. His latest book ask questions, share advice, and offer sup- is We Kick Balls: True Stories From the port on effective strategies. After each call, Youth Soccer Wars. He can be reached at they organize events to spread the word that OutField@qsyndicate.com.

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April 19, 2013

Seattle Gay News

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Seattle Gay News 11

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12 Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

northwest news

NORTHWEST BEARS – SPRING THAW XIX APRIL 18-21 www.springthaw.org

FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY – PUBLIC FORUM ON IMMIGRATION On Friday, April 19, doors at 6:30 p.m., forum at 7 p.m., at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), FSP hosts a public forum on immigration reform entitled “Amnesty, Equality & Workers Rights: The real immigration reform we need!” featuring a panel of labor and community organizers who will take a critical look at the impact of new federal immigration proposals. Speakers include union organizer Pedro Olguin, Chicana feminist and Arizona native Christina Lopez, and Lois Danks, coordinator of Stop The Checkpoints from the Olympic Peninsula. A $3 donation is requested ($1 for students). Snack plates available for $6. For more information or to reserve childcare, please call 206-722-2453 or email FSPseattle@mindspring.com. A Spanish translator will be present. Wheelchair accessible.

CAPITOL HILL TALENT SHOW On Fridays, April 19-May 24, at 9 p.m.

(May 31 Grand Finale at 8 p.m.), The Grill on Broadway (314 Broadway E.) invites aspiring musicians, drag and burlesque performers as well as a gaggle of variety performers featuring talents ranging from Sword Swallowers to stand-up comedians to compete in their Capitol Hill Talent Show. Contestants are judged by audience response. Hosted by Miss Robbie Turner.

For more info and to register to compete, visit www.TheGrillonBroadway.com.

EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION On Saturday, April 20, games will be played from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at North SeaTac Park (13735 24th Ave. S., SeaTac).

On Sunday, April 21, games will be played from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at North SeaTac Park and Moshier Park (430 S. 156th Pl., Burien).

www.emeraldcitysoftball.org

OUT FOR SUSTAINABILITY – EARTH GAY SEATTLE On Saturday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m.noon (first shift) and noon-2:30 p.m. (second shift), Out for Sustainability returns to the Cheshiahud Loop Trail (2734 Westlake Ave. N.) along Lake Union to celebrate Earth Day with habitat and trail restoration.

O4S volunteers will be working toward the completion of a public water access to the northwest corner of the lake, and neighboring trail beautification and restoration including weeding, mulching, protecting tree systems from invasive species, and planting native species. O4S and partners will provide materials, direction, water, snacks, and a few inspiring speakers and musicians to spark the day. You come with suncreen, dirtappropriate attire, re-useable water bottles, and enthusiasm. For more details and advance registration, visit www.out4s.org MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE – SPARKS OF GLORY CONCERT: “ANOTHER SUNRISE” On Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m., at Seattle Art Museum, Plestcheef Auditorium (1st Ave. & University St.), Music of Remembrance presents Jake Heggie’s Another Sunrise, a musical drama that tells the extraordinary story of Krystyna Zywulska. With her mother, Krystyna walked out of the Warsaw ghetto in broad daylight. As a member of the Polish resistance, she counterfeited identity cards and other documents. Captured by the Gestapo in 1943 and sent to AuschwitzBirkenau, she wrote satiric poems that became camp anthems of resistance.

This concert will also feature the stunning Duo of Erwin Schulhoff, an iconoclastic innovator whose politics and avant-garde musical ideas were shaped by his disillusionment after World War I. Shulhoff died in a concentration camp.

FREE admission. www.musicofremembrance.org

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compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

SISTAH SINEMA – “BUMMING CIGARETTES” On Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m., at Roy Street Coffee & Tea (Broadway E. & E. Roy St.), Sistah Sinema presents “Bumming Cigarettes.” Tickets: $10 at the door.

Sistah Sinema is an intimate event of less than 50 womyn showcasing Queer women of color cinema. Each showing is followed by a moderated discussion where attendees will be able to connect to each other and, occasionally, the filmmaker.

Sistah Sinema was created to showcase the nuances of Queer womyn of color culture. It is hoped that the movies will serve as a vehicle to foster honest dialogue on struggles and opportunities unique to Queer womyn of color. While discussion will focus on Queer womyn of color, all members of the Queer community are invited to attend.

SOROMUNDI LESBIAN CHORUS OF EUGENE, SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS, & DIVERSE HARMONY – “BE THE CHANGE” CONCERT On Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m., at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave.), Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene brings their “Be The Change” concert benefitting LGBTQ youth to Seattle. Joining them in concert will be the Seattle Women’s Chorus and Diverse Harmony LGBTQ youth chorus. Soromundi is committed to the ideal that the dialogue of song between youth and the choir can create connections, increase community education, and build community support for diversity. Soromundi is dedicated to creating harmony of spirit among all people in order to bridge our differences and celebrate that which unites us, striving to “Be The Change” that will make things better for ourselves, our children, and generations to come. This concert benefits Diverse Harmony. Tickets: $15-general admission, $10-students/seniors.

SEATTLE OUT & PROUD – PRIDE IDOL On Sunday, April 21, doors at 6:30 p.m. with community karaoke, contest at 8 p.m., at Neighbours (1509 Broadway), join Seattle Out & Proud and your host Mama Tits for Seattle’s Pride Idol competition. Each week talented local amateur singers will compete to become Seattle Out & Proud’s 2013 Pride Idol. Registration is first come, first served – maximum 10 contestants per week. $20 registration fee; prizes to be determined. The contest will be held Sundays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28, May 5 and 12, June 2 (Wild Card) and June 9 (Final). Seattle Out & Proud organizes Seattle’s annual Pride Parade in downtown Seattle. Winner will perform at the Parade Pre-Show and on the Pride Idol Float on Sunday, June 30. Visit www.seattlepride.org for complete details and a directory of karaoke songs to choose from or bring your own music. www.seattlepride.org

edu/swittet/SGLBookClub/.

LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE – DINING OUT FOR LIFE APRIL 25 www.lifelongaidsalliance.org NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR TALENTED YOUTH (NFFTY) APRIL 25-28 NFFTY is the largest youth film festival in the world. Out of nearly 700 entries worldwide, programmers selected 215 films representing 30 U.S. states and 20 countries, all from the future generation of talented directors ages 22 and under. Opening Night will be held at the Cinerama (2100 4th Ave.) and the main festival will be held at the SIFF Uptown (511 Queen Anne Ave. N.).

Now in its seventh year, NFFTY has continued to grow year-after-year. Festival audiences are continuously exposed to insights of today’s youth.

“The films of NFFTY 2013 represent the voice of this generation. But they also show us how closely connected and similar the youth of the world really are. Despite cultural and geographic differences, we see similarities in the stories these young filmmakers tell,” said NFFTY artistic director Jesse Harris. www.nffty.org “YOU ARE LOVED!” – A BIG GAY CABARET On Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27, door at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m., at Meander’s Kitchen (9635 16th Ave. SW), Meander’s Kitchen and Miss Cherry Tart present “You Are Loved! – A Big Gay Cabaret” Burlesque! Comedy! Drag! Music! Featuring: Chocolate Saucy, Tiger Bombshell, Miss Kitty Baby, Olivia LaGarce, Jeffery Robert, James Bound, Randy Andy, Sarey Savy, Lily Divine, Adra Boo, Al Lykya, and more! With special guest: Mary Lambert.

Tickets: $15 advance, $20 at the door. Must be 21+. Proceeds benefit Queer Rock Camp and Camp Ten Trees. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/367445.

WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM – FLORABUNDANCE SPRING PLANT SALE On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, April 28, from 10 a.m.3 p.m. at the Washington Park Arboretum, Graham Visitors Center (2300 Arboretum Dr. E.), more than 35 specialty nurseries and vendors will be selling choice, locally grown plants, including herbs, vegetables, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

FREE. A member pre-sale and party event will be held on Friday, April 26 from 5-7:30 p.m. Enjoy local wine and appetizers from the acclaimed Skillet Street Food and first pick of the plants. Tickets: $40. For tickets and membership, call 206-325-4510. www. arboretumfoundation.org

SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB – THE GALLERY The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday from 6-7:15 p.m., at Seattle Area Support Groups Community Center (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.).

In April, the club is reading The Gallery

by John Horne Burns.

One of the first novels to describe the psychological reality of the Second World War and achieve fame was John Horne Burns’ The Gallery, written when he was thirty and published a year after he was discharged in 1947. Burns died six years later of alcoholism. Though he left behind two other failed novels and an unfinished fourth, The Gallery, is still in print 66 year later and still highly regarded. Taking place in Naples after the war, with a cast including both Americans and Italians, both straight and Gay, it’s an interconnected story sequence linked by the Galleria Umberto, a meeting place for Gay hustlers.

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

YOUTH IN FOCUS – “DOUBLE EXPOSURE 2013” On Saturday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m., at Seattle Design Center (5701 Sixth Ave. S.), Youth in Focus presents “Doubleexposure 2013,” their annual fundraising dinner and auction in support of their nationally recognized youth program to empower urban youth, through photography, to experience their world in new ways and to make positive choices for their lives. Tickets: $100. www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/306745. www.youthinfocus.org.

April 19, 2013

Seattle Gay News 13

OUT OF THE SILENCE is a calligraphic art exhibit bringing issues of bullying and hate crimes against LGBTQ youth to light. The exhibit celebrates diversity, love and understanding. After an incredible run in Olympia, the exhibit has moved to Seattle. The exhibit is currently on display at William H. Gates Hall, UW Law School, just south of the main entrance to the UW Campus (17th Ave. NE & NE 45th St.). The exhibit runs April 9-May 31, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. www.pizzaklatch.org/events/

international news

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

concern worldwide

Irish government panel supports marriage equality

both passionate and thoughtful, both heartfelt and rigorous,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore welcomed the result, saying he had always believed “that our laws reflect the past, not the future” on this issue.

“It’s not the role of the State to pass judgment on who a person falls in love with, or who they want to spend their life with,” he said.

Ireland’s Constitutional Convention has voted overwhelmingly in favor of extending marriage rights to same-sex couples.

The Irish Times reported on April 15 that 79% of the convention’s members voted to recommend that the constitution be amended to allow for same-sex marriage, with only 19% opposed. The remaining mem‘A MAJOR MILESTONE’ bers abstained.

The Convention also voted in favor of The Convention, convened last year to consider amendments to Ireland’s consti- recommending that the State pass laws “intution, consists of one-third politicians and corporating changed arrangements in regard to the parentage, guardianship, and the uptwo-thirds members of the public. bringing of children.”

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said he ‘SHALL’ VS. ‘MAY’ On the question of what form the con- welcomed the support expressed for “the stitutional change should take, 78% of the reform and modernization” of such laws. members voted for a directive amendment “Essential work has been undertaken on the stating, “The State shall enact laws pro- preparation of a new Family Relationships viding for same-sex marriage.” Seventeen and Children’s Bill to address these issues percent opted for a weaker statement: “The in relation to children, and details of the bill State may enact laws providing for same- will be published in the coming months,” he said. sex marriage.”

In a joint statement on April 15, advocaSupporters of the proposal cheered, and some wept when the result was announced. cy groups Marriage Equality, the Gay and LGBT rights advocates hailed the decision Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), and the as a landmark on the road toward equality Irish Council for Civil Liberties welcomed for same-sex couples and urged the Irish the outcome as “an historic step.”

“It is a major milestone on the remarkable government to call a referendum on the isjourney to full constitutional protection for sue.

The government has pledged to hold a de- Lesbian and Gay people and families in Irebate in Parliament and set out its response land,” said GLEN director Brian Sheehan.

“It builds on the extraordinary progress within four months.

Convention chairman Tom Arnold we have achieved over the last 20 years, and thanked the participants for conducting the clearly demonstrates that Ireland is ready to proceedings in a fair and transparent man- take the next step to complete that remarkner. “This weekend’s discussions have been able journey.”

Convention chairman Tom Arnold

BISHOPS NOT PLEASED Predictably, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference deplored the outcome, expressing hope that a public referendum would preserve the nation’s current marriage laws.

“While the result of the Constitutional Convention is disappointing, only the people of Ireland can amend the constitution,” the Catholic Communications Office said in a statement.

“The Catholic Church will continue to

promote and seek protection for the uniqueness of marriage between a woman and a man, the nature of which best serves children and our society.”

The same-sex marriage discussion had attracted considerable public interest, with more than 1,000 submissions received by the Convention. The vote followed a weekend of discussion on the issue, where members heard from legal experts as well as supporters and opponents of the proposal. file photo

Getting tough with Guyana State Dept. pushes recalcitrant country on LGBT rights

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

“It requires courage in standing up for the dignity of all fellow citizens and persuading others to do the same,” he said. “And that is what is now required in the National Assembly and among all parties.”

He added that “beyond legislative progress, it is vital to recognize that the lives of our Gay brothers and sisters are shaped not only by laws, but also by the way they are treated and accepted every day.”

Hardt promised that the U.S. Embassy in Guyana would continue to support LGBT human rights defenders and civil society groups.

In a test drive of the U.S. State Department’s newly announced program to promote LGBT rights in the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. ambassador in Guyana has warned his hosts that they must take action to decriminalize same-sex relations.

Speaking to journalists in the capital of Guyana on April 17, U.S. Ambassador Brent Hardt said that Guyana’s government took a positive step last year with a “National Consultation” on LGBT issues, but he noted that “conversation and dialogue must lead to action and specifically to legisU.N. PROMPTED DIALOGUE lation that replaces antiquated colonial laws The ambassador’s remarks came one year with modern, national laws that advance the almost to the day after Guyana’s governrights of all Guyanese people.” ment agreed to consider repealing its antiGay laws.

‘BUGGERY’ STILL OUTLAWED On April 20, 2012, Guyana said it was A former British colony, Guyana is the opening what it called a National Consullast country in South America that crimi- tation on possible revisions of anti-LGBT nalizes same-sex acts, applying very severe laws and abolition of the death penalty. The anti-Gay British colonial codes. “Gross in- initiative came in response to pressure from decency” between men can bring two years the United Nations. in prison, “attempted buggery” brings 10 The U.N. Human Rights Council recomyears, and “buggery” – the colonial-era term mended that Guyana repeal all laws that disfor anal sex – brings a life sentence, even if criminate based on sexual orientation and it was consensual. gender identity, including laws that crimiHardt challenged Guyanese politicians to nalize consensual sex between adults. show courage on the issue.

“Government has no line or position on

14 Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt

the Gay rights issue,” Guyanese presidential adviser Gail Teixeira told the Associated Press at the time. “We will hold the consultations, and if the recommendation is to change the laws, then that will be taken into consideration.”

As part of the consultation, town-hall style meetings were held in several parts of the country. To date, no results or recommendations have been announced, and no legislation on LGBT rights issues has been formally proposed.

Celebrating 40 Years!

New pope pledges ‘reform’ at Vatican But his choice of advisors does not augur well for change

Casa Rosada

Trochez was murdered. His killers remain at large.

Rodriguez has stated that politicians who publicly support abortion automatically excommunicate themselves, because they have “done serious harm to the communion of faith of the Church.”

In a May 2002 interview with the ItalianCatholic publication 30Giorni, Rodriguez claimed that Jews influenced the media to run stories about sexual abuse by Catholic priests, to divert attention from the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The one American cardinal on the com-

convicted in 2011 of “sexually abusing minors.” During his time as cardinal, Errazuriz refused to meet with victims of abuse by clergymen.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx is reportedly a hardliner on questions of church discipline, and once suspended a priest in his diocese for inviting Protestants to a church service.

Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya brokered the departure of African dictator Mobutu Sese Seko from Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 1997, working with anti-Gay Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, who sent troops to

Although O’Malley claims to have a “zero tolerance policy” for abuse of children, SNAP charges that he settled 101 abuse claims with cash payouts, to prevent victims of priests in his diocese from going public with their charges. mission, Patrick O’Malley of Boston, reportedly impressed Italians with his “sweet” disposition during the conclave that elected Francis, but as an administrator, O’Malley has been anything but sweet.

Although O’Malley claims to have a “zero tolerance policy” for abuse of children, SNAP (the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) charges that he settled 101 abuse claims with cash payouts, to prevent victims of priests in his diocese Pope Francis from going public with their charges.

by Mike Andrew O’Malley has also intervened in domesthe cardinals whose names he announced on SGN Staff Writer April 13 do not inspire confidence that there tic politics, charging that the Democratic Party has been hostile to the church and will be significant reform. other “pro-life” groups, and opining that the In what has been described as “the first support of Catholic voters for Democratic clear indication that he plans major changes A ROGUES’ GALLERY in the administration of Vatican affairs,” Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, candidates “borders on scandal.”

Pope Francis has appointed a commission who will “coordinate” the commission, for WAIT, THERE’S MORE of eight cardinals to advise him on a reform example, has been accused of complicity in Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa of the Roman Curia, the bureaucracy that the 2009 coup that overthrew the democratihelps him administer the church. cally elected government of Manuel Zelaya has been implicated in covering up child While the pope may intend to make some in Honduras. In the aftermath of the coup, abuse by priests under his authority, in parchanges to the notoriously obstinate Curia, Gay activist and Zelaya supporter Walter ticular Fr. Fernando Karadima, who was

help oust Mobutu.

Cardinal George Pell, while openly critical of Pope Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia, has also been outspoken in opposition to the use of condoms, even if they are used only to prevent STDs and not for contraception. AIDS is a “great spiritual and health crisis,” Pell said, but “Condoms are encouraging promiscuity. They are encouraging irresponsibility.”

Pell has the distinction of being cleared by independent investigators of charges that he personally abused a teenaged boy at a Catholic youth camp.

While Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, the head of the Curia, was not named to the “reform” commission, Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, who administers Vatican City under Bertone, is a member.

The remaining cardinal, Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, has been identified as a theological “moderate,” as that term is defined within Catholic circles.

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April 19, 2013

Seattle Gay News 15

health and medicine The dark side of the Web

How to lessen the danger of online hookups

by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer For the record, what I’m about to discuss is directed to the LGBTQ community, yet it can happen to anyone! This is not a scenario that is exclusive to our community by any stretch!

In my day (and for the record, I’m not that old), men and women in our community made connection in public venues such as bars, because the Internet didn’t exist.

These public venues created a level of safety because there were lots of eyes – friends watching friends. Now with the convenience of online resources, more and more people are connecting through websites and phone apps. Although the Web is very expedient, there is a shadow side to using this

A PREDATOR’S BEST FRIEND Secrecy and anonymity are the qualities that criminals depend upon to avoid being caught. It works because the shame and guilt that drives the secrecy is strongly reinforced when someone becomes a victim of a crime. They feel more ashamed and then withdraw and never share or report the crime. As a result, the perpetrator can continue to victimize others.

Why is this important? There are a couple of reasons – the motivations and the aftermath.

If you are motivated to live part of your life in secrecy and anonymity, the reasons for this are worth looking at. Addressing why you need to compartmentalize part of your life can give you understanding and options to do things differently. As a result,

resource to make connection and hookups – secrecy and anonymity. It is in the shadows that predators lurk, and serious crimes are being perpetrated against more men and women than we know about.

Secrecy and anonymity are characteristics that are usually born out of shame. Some individuals need to keep their activities of online connections a secret from those in their lives because they are embarrassed about what they are doing. Some are having affairs, some are partying/playing, some are not out of the closet, and some are just attracted to the adrenaline rush and fantasy that comes with this type of scenario. The more you do it, the greater the odds are that you may make changes that ultimately save you may experience robbery, physical/sexu- you from a traumatic experience. al assault, death threats, or worse.

A lot of people will think about addressing their motivations yet do nothing, because nothing bad has happened – they haven’t yet been the victim of an assault or robbery. However, if they do become a victim, they will want to look at things differently.

stress.” This is a heightened state of agitation, vigilance, and overall stress.

The victim of a crime, depending on many variables, may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Signs of PTSD are flat affect, denial, hypervigilance, recurring nightmares, and/or intense reactions to reminders of the event.

People who have suffered in these contexts may also become more depressed and/ or anxious. They often judge themselves and withdraw more because of the shame and embarrassment.

You cannot self-diagnose any of these. If you’ve been the victim of a crime, you need help dealing with the myriad of emotions that result. Call your doctor and get a therapist. Talk to a trusted friend. Please consider calling the police as well! Without police

It is in the shadows that predators lurk, and serious crimes are being perpetrated against more men and women than we know about.

DON’T BE ASHAMED Being the victim of a crime in this context is very traumatic. It is traumatic because it is often violent and unexpected. It is also traumatic because there is shame around the context of what happened. For example, if you are simply walking down the street and get punched and robbed, you are likely to call the police and then reach out to friends and/or family by telling them what happened. They are likely to give you support by consoling you and checking in on you.

But if you are beaten and robbed after you hooked up via the Internet, chances are you will suffer this humiliation alone. Most would not call a friend/family member for support and too many never call the police because they don’t want to admit the context. Shame and embarrassment are powerful. I have been the victim of a violent assault that today would be considered a hate crime. I know how painful and fearful it is to talk to people and how much damage is done when you isolate due to shame.

VICTIMIZATION’S TOLL Experiencing an assault of any kind can lead to some things to watch for. Initially, you may experience what is called “acute

and prosecutors involved, it is almost certain that a criminal will continue to victimize others. As well, sometimes your courage to step out and report a crime can motivate others to do the same.

Doing nothing actually makes one feel worse. We know that doing something will help us cope with a traumatic incident.

PROTECT YOURSELF If you are going to hook up anonymously over the Internet, I’d have you consider a couple of things. First, I’m not naïve enough to think that anyone can accurately vet a stranger online. However, we must try our best. Ask lots of questions. If you know others on the various sites, ask if anyone knows of the individual you are chatting with. Most importantly, find someone who you can talk to openly and let them know what you are doing and who you are meeting or having over. Let the person you are hooking up with know that you’ve been in contact with friends. Criminals do not want to operate in the realm of recognition!

There are never any guarantees. However, there is risk-reduction. Figure out what you need to do to reduce the risk of becoming the victim of a violent crime. If you have been victimized, please get help!

Michael Raitt, M.A., L.M.H.C., is a therapist who writes a bimonthly column 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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www.sgn.org 16 Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Should Seattle’s Gay men be worried about meningitis?

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer How worried should we be about meningitis? The short answer is “not very.” A longer and more complete answer is also a little more complicated.

Certainly media coverage of the recent meningitis outbreak in New York City, and an even more recent death in West Hollywood, have focused the community’s attention on what had been a relatively obscure disease, and for many Gay men, it has called to mind the early stages of the AIDS epidemic.

However, meningitis progresses in a much different way than HIV, and fears of a new meningitis epidemic may be overblown.

DEFINING THE PROBLEM Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the human brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. While we use the single name “meningitis” to describe this condition, it has several possible causes.

One common type is viral meningitis, which can be caused by several strains of virus, including HIV. A fungal infection, cryptococcal meningitis, is closely associated with HIV/AIDS, and is, in fact, the immediate cause of 20% to 25% of AIDS-related deaths in Africa.

Bacterial meningitis, caused by Neisseria meningitides bacteria, can be much more dangerous, and this is the type of meningitis found in both the New York City and West Hollywood cases.

Symptoms commonly include severe headache, stiffness or rigidity of the neck, high fever, mental confusion, sensitivity to light, and sometimes a distinctive skin rash.

There may be inflammation of the brain itself or its blood vessels, and the infection may lead to sepsis.

While the disease can be fatal, meningitis patients respond very well to antibiotics, especially if they are administered soon after infection, and there are standard vaccines that can prevent the disease.

A RARE DISEASE According to Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, chief of the Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization Section at Public Health Seattle-King County, cases of bacterial meningitis are very well-documented, but also very rare.

men might commonly encounter Neisseria, Duchin said.

“It’s transmitted through saliva,” Duchin told SGN, “so if you’re in a bar, and it’s noisy, and you’re trying to have a conversation, you speak loudly, you might accidently spit on someone, or if you’re singing, especially if there’s an ‘outbreak situation’ like there is in New York City.”

Close day-to-day contact, not necessarily sexual, can also be a factor. For example, college students who are going to live in dorms are often urged to get meningitis vaccinations, because sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or even living in close quarters, may spread the Neisseria bacteria.

“Viral meningitis is less severe and it’s not reportable [to public health officials],” Duchin told SGN, “but bacterial meningitis, which spreads from person to person, is reportable. That’s required in almost every state – so we have very complete reporting.

“In King County we’ve had only one case this year, and that was a child. In 2012 we had four cases total, two of them adults, and in 2011 we had eight cases.

“Even in New York City, where we’re talking about an ‘outbreak,’” Duchin conNOT LIKE HIV tinued, “it’s only 22 cases since 2010, and One of the reasons this has become a naonly three cases this year.” tional news story is that so many people

“The lesson we learned 30 years ago in the early days of HIV and AIDS is that people were not alerted to what was going on and a lot of infections occurred that didn’t need to occur.”

While individual cases are well-documented, it can be very difficult to trace a chain of infection, Duchin noted.

“The bacteria are out there all the time,” he said. “Most of the time, it’s what we call ‘sporadic’ cases, and we never have an explanation.

“When outbreaks occur, sometimes you can trace a connection. There might be some sub-population that’s at higher risk. In the New York City outbreak, there’s one specific strain of Neisseria that’s involved in all the cases, so you can say there’s an association. There’s a group of individuals who are at higher risk because they’re in the same social circle or they share common behaviors.”

HOW DO GAY MEN GET IT? Neisseria meningitides lives in human mucus and saliva, and is transmitted through those media. Since it does not live in semen, pre-come, fecal matter, or other human secretions that might be exchanged during sex, it is not considered an STD (although saliva can be exchanged during sex through kissing).

According to the New York City Public Health Department, the city’s outbreak resulted from “sexual encounters between men who meet through websites or smartphone apps, or at bars or parties …”

There are also other situations where Gay

remember the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when the disease swept almost unchecked through the community.

“The lesson we learned 30 years ago in the early days of HIV and AIDS is that people were not alerted to what was going on and a lot of infections occurred that didn’t need to occur,” said openly HIV-positive West Hollywood City Council member John Duran, at a recent press conference.

“So even with an isolated case here, we need to sound the alarms, especially given the cases in New York.”

However, bacterial meningococcal infection does not progress in the same way as HIV. One of the problems with HIV infections has always been that an individual could become infected but not be symptomatic for a very long time. All during that period, he could be unknowingly infecting others – one person could infect three, those three would infect nine, those nine would infect 81, and so on, with the number of infections increasing geometrically, before anyone was even aware they had contracted the disease.

With bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, the disease progresses very rapidly.

According to Duchin, “someone could show symptoms within two to four days [after infection], a week to 10 days at the outside.”

In the West Hollywood case of Brett Shaad, for example, he experienced symp-

toms on a Monday, was diagnosed on Wednesday, and was brain-dead by Friday.

The two other reported West Hollywood fatalities occurred in December last year, within a few of days of each other: an unidentified San Diego State University student died on December 10, and Rjay Spoon died on December 18. It is possible that the two December fatalities were related, although no evidence suggests they were, but it is not possible that they were related in any way to Shaad’s death.

In short, because Neisseria meningitides is aggressive, develops rapidly, and is often fatal, it is also self-limiting and does not have the potential to give rise to chains of infections in the way that HIV does.

ARE HIV+ MEN AT RISK? According to Duchin, “it’s possible” that HIV-positive men might be at somewhat greater risk for meningitis infections because of their compromised immune systems.

“People with AIDS would certainly be at risk,” Duchin added, “but the overall risk would still be very low. We’re talking about a couple of cases per 100,000.”

Even with the increased risk, “antibiotics are very effective in treating the disease,” Duchin said, “and they would reduce the risk” for HIV-positive individuals.

IS VACCINATION NEEDED? New York City’s Department of Public Health has now recommended meningitis vaccinations for all Gay men regardless of HIV status in the city’s five boroughs.

In West Hollywood, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is offering free vaccinations at several locations. On the first day, AHF served more than a thousand patients.

On the other hand, Duchin insists, “There is absolutely no reason for Gay men in King County to get vaccinated.

“People in New York City in an at-risk group need to be concerned, but the vast majority of Gay men, no. If you plan to travel to New York, and you plan to engage in the same behaviors, then you might think about [getting vaccinated] but ordinarily, no.

“It’s not good medical practice to recommend unnecessary procedures,” he continued. “[Vaccination] is not routinely recommended. You have to have a reason for it.

For example, we recommend it for adolescents, or for lab workers who might be exposed to certain bacteria or viruses …

“Public Health wouldn’t be doing vaccinations at this time. People might be able to get [the vaccine] from a private doctor.”

Duchin urged anyone who exhibited any of the common symptoms of meningitis to seek immediate medical attention.

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April 19, 2013

Seattle Gay News 17

The Caipirinha

by Ed Sikov SGN Contributing Writer “Portuguese is easy,” Chipper explained.

“All you do is speak Spanish through your nose.”

Hilarity ensued. “That’s so bogus,” Craig managed to get out through heaves of laughter. The other boys – Dan, Paolo and me – were too convulsed to say anything.

“No, really!” Chipper insisted, and he proceeded to demonstrate: “¡Buenos dias!” he cried while holding his nostrils shut. It was certainly adenoidal, but Portuguese it wasn’t.

“I happen to know a bit of Portuguese,” Paolo announced, “and that’s not the way you say ‘good day’ in Portuguese. It’s ‘bom dia.’”

“That’s what I said!” Chipper protested to

no success. “¡Comeme!” he snarled, once again pinching his nostrils and sending the rest of us into spastic fits of amusement.

We were enjoying this especially inane discussion on the Saturday evening of a lovely spring weekend at Fire Island Pines.

We’d all gotten together to open the beach house and launch another glorious season of hot sand, hot men, and – as far as Chipper was concerned – hot air. The particular topic suggested itself because I’d stopped at the amazingly well-stocked Pines Liquor Store and picked up a bottle of cachaça, the Brazilian firewater distilled from sugarcane.

In Rio they practically give it away, it’s so cheap. The Pines Liquor Store charged a bit more, but it was worth it.

Cachaça is very, very strong. Drinking it neat would be asking for trouble – big-time trouble. It really must be mixed with some-

thing else to be palatable. Thus the Brazilian national cocktail, the caipirinha. (It’s pronounced KYE-pa-REEN-ya.)

To make a round of great caipirinhas, you need a lot of very juicy limes. This can be a problem in most of the United States and Canada, because in all but the warmest locations, limes are shipped to stores on the basis of their appearance, not their taste.

How many times have you grabbed what looks like a perfectly ripe lime and sliced it open only to find desiccated, lifeless pulp?

For this reason, I recommend that you augment your fresh limes with bottled lime juice. You’ll get whatever fresh flavor your limes will yield – and the rind is actually full of flavor and aroma – but you won’t be dependent on the quality of the fruit inside.

Another peculiarity of the caipirinha is the fact that it’s better when the sugar you add doesn’t dissolve entirely, thereby giving the cocktail a slight crunch. Usually I recommend using superfine sugar when mixing drinks. (And to really milk the experience for all it’s worth, you have to say “superfine” the way the guy says “Super Fly” in the theme song from that great blaxploi-

tation film from 1972.) But superfine sugar dissolves completely, and you don’t want that in your classic caipirinha. There should be a granular quality in each sip, if for no other reason than to remind you that you’re drinking sugarcane liquor. Here’s the classic caipirinha recipe, modified to increase the lime juice by way of a bottle: The Caipirinha 1 lime 1 ½ tsp. sugar 1 tsp. lime juice 3 Tbsp. cachaça Slice the lime into quarters, and place the quarters pulp-side-up in a wide glass. Add the sugar and lime juice, the mash the lime quarters down with a pestle or similar muddler. Add the cachaça and crushed ice and stir. Do not remove the lime pieces from the drink – this cocktail should have a rustic quality.

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

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18 Seattle Gay News

April 19, 2013

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April 19, 2013

Seattle Gay News 19