SGN May 6, 2011 - Section 1

Issue 18 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

FRIDAY May 6, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

syphIlis p. 5

OUTGAMES p. 9

deportation vaCATED p. 20

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Transgender woman Seattle’s LGBT Commission assaulted on C. Hill challenges city policy of

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

see transgender page 19

Trans health care exclusion

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

seattle.gov

Kira Crowley just moved to Seattle from Phoenix. She was in town less than a week when she was assaulted on Capitol Hill.

“I was just walking down the street, carrying my bag,” she told SGN, “when this man comes up and says, ‘Faggot, faggot, there’s a faggot, we should kill people like you.’

“I just smiled at him since I was still wearing the wig,” Crowley said, indicating her blond wig.

“Then he punched me.”

“There was no reason. We didn’t interact. There was no contact beforehand,” she adds. “He might have been drunk or he might have been crazy. He was mumbling things.”

Crowley says she did not seek medical attention, but her left

cheek is sore and puffy where she was hit, “and my left ear doesn’t hear very well.”

The incident happened on May 3 at Bellevue Ave. and Pine St., at about 1:30 p.m.

Crowley says she then flagged down a passing police car. Her impression of Seattle police was “very favorable,” she says.

“I was so impressed,” she told SGN. “They actually understood all the terms and stuff. I was like ‘Wow!’” According to the police report, the suspect then attempted to flee on a Metro bus, but was caught by police, questioned at the scene, and subsequently released.

Police say the suspect “appeared intoxicated and disoriented.”

He told the officer he first kissed

The Seattle LGBT Commission – which advises the mayor, City Council, and several departments about sexual minority issues as well as recommending policies and legislation – will meet with Council Member Bruce Harrell on May 12 to address an issue that Commission members believe needs to be resolved.

In a March 23 letter to Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee chair Harrell (given to the Seattle Gay News by the commission), LGBT Commission members said, “On behalf of the LGBT Commission, Commission for People with Disabilities, Human Rights Commission, Women’s Commission, and the Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board, we are writing to inform you about current Transgender exclusions in see commission page 20

Seattle City Council Member Bruce Harrell

LGBT organizations to Obama: FOX Houston asks, Stop deporting LGBT spouses! “Is TV Too Gay?” courtesy towleroad

yiftah elazar

of other LGBT organizations – including Stop the Deportations, All Out, Courage Campaign, Garden State Equality, Immigration Equality Action Fund, Marriage Equality USA, Out4Immigration, Princeton Equality Project, and Queer Rising – to make clear that these deportations of LGBT spouses must stop immediately.

On May 5, a rally outside the Newark Federal Courthouse took place as Josh Vandiver of Colorado and Henry Velandia of Venezuela face deportation hearings before the court.

“Despite legally marrying in Connecticut in August 2010, Vandiver (a Ph.D. student at Princeton University) and Velandia (a salsa dancer, instructor, and founder of a Princeton-based dance studio) are facing a nightmare scenario: being ripped apart from one another at the hands of the U.S. government,” said GetEQUAL officials in a May 5 statement. “Due to DOMA, the federal government doesn’t recJosh Vandiver and Henry Velandia ognize same-sex marriages, which

by Shaun Knittel tion hearings under the stark real- discriminates against same-sex SGN Associate Editor ity of the Defense of Marriage Act couples. As a result, Josh cannot sponsor Henry for a green card un(DOMA).

On May 6, LGBT organizations In the shadow of the Statue of like all straight married couples in from across the country are set Liberty in New York, GetEQUAL to rally behind a Gay bi-national officials issued a statement saycouple who are facing deporta- ing they are working with a host see deporting page 20

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On April 26, KRIV-26, the FOX affiliate in Houston, Texas, gave voice to one of the country’s most vocal anti-Gay activists during a debate on its news program entitled, “Is TV Too Gay?” The focus was that night’s episode of the hugely popular show Glee, which featured a theme of self-acceptance and celebration of diversity inspired by the Lady Gaga hit song “Born This Way.”

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), was all over KRIV-26 faster than you could say “homophobic prick.”

According to GLAAD officials, the debate began on the wrong foot by even suggesting that television programs with positive portrayals of Gay characters could negatively impact teens. As the show progressed, said Barrios, it only got see fox page 20

courtesy Philanthro Seattle

file photo

Seattle’s Jim McDermott Philanthro in Seattle issues statement on boldly unites Osama bin Laden death non-profit groups

Philanthro

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Congressman Jim McDermott

the entire intelligence community for their tireless efforts related to Osama bin Laden.

Unfortunately, President Bush took us off course from this important mission with his misguided invasion of Iraq, a war that is still ongoing after nine years and has tragically resulted in the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and Iraqis. President Obama rightly recognized that our focus should be elsewhere if we were to capture bin Laden, “I want to commend President Obama, and he executed the mission to achieve the our brave men and women in uniform, and goal.”

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) released the following statement May 2 regarding the announcement of Osama bin Laden’s death in pakistan at the hands of U.S. froces. Bin Laden was the mastermind of the Al Qaeda attacks carried out on September 11, 2001, and one of the primary justifications used by President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq:

Contrasting LGBT print media and websites

by Mark Segal Courtesy of the Philadelphia Gay News

reading right now.

That might come as a surprise to those who think that websites are where all the traffic is. This is not, by any means, a negaThe king of LGBT media is your local tive statement on LGBT blogs. They are LGBT publication. Just like the one you’re fun, informative, and some provide a good 2

Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

and they in turn educate us on the services that are generally unseen or unknown to the general public,” Justin told Seattle Gay News. “Secondly, we host a mixer or event specifically designed to educate our friends, families, and the public with the information we learned in hopes of sparking passion for their cause. And third, we celebrate the nonprofit with a party/fundraiser where we excite people about getting more involved and giving back to the community.”

The third step, said Justin, is “where we make our largest financial contribution, after months of physical and emotional support.”

Seattle local Justin Mueller, 25, is a busy man. Justin is one of the those guys who’s always got something going on, only instead of filling all of his free time with self-serving endeavors, he can often be found raising money for local non-profits and working to create change wherever he sees injustice. In short, Justin is a great steward of the image that Gay men lend a hand to the community whenever they can.

When Justin found Philanthro, he found a perfect fit.

What the group does is quite remarkable.

WHY I BECAME INVOLVED Philanthro (www.philanthroproduction.

On the surface, Justin Mueller has got it org) in Seattle follows a three-step approach together, but that hasn’t always been so. He to partnering with other non-profits. They told Seattle Gay News that the life he lives partner with three groups a year for three now is far from who he used to be. months each.

“First, we volunteer with the organization, see philanthro page 18 service.

But here are the facts, and this is where reality hits the road: Most of the blogs, like local LGBT newspapers, were started with a purpose – some political, some fun, and some to further a viewpoint. But few were started with actual journalists or writing professionals, and still fewer with media business savvy.

They operate with very little expenses and very few employees. You would think that with low overhead and few salaries to pay, they’d make enough money to survive and thrive. But many of them keep their material fresh with volunteers or by pumping the comments section.

The real problem is that, with little staff and volunteers, what they generate for the most part are the same stories being run by most other websites. They might have a different angle, but it’s still the same story. The other problem is lack of sales to allow them the time to develop in a changing business environment. It’s not easy to have a business plan when your platform is constantly changing.

But you cannot underestimate the impact of a lack of professional standards, which can lead to legal problems. This is not only a problem for websites: It was also a contributing factor in the demise of Window Media, the former parent company of Washington Blade and HX magazine.

The publication you are reading now, along with Bay Area Reporter in San Francisco, OutFront Colorado, Dallas Voice, Georgia Voice, L.A.’s Frontiers, and a few others, all have something in common.

We’ve been around long enough that our communities know and trust us and know

what to expect from a professional publication. We are also a vibrant part of the community, something hard to become in a virtual world. All those publications mentioned have more than 10 full-time employees each, which adds to the local economy.

Some of us have more full-time employees than the national blogs combined. Many of them are seasoned veterans. Additionally, local publications not only have a dedicated readership in print, they also have those materials on the web. Therefore, savvy advertisers know they can get the best of both worlds by advertising with their local publications, and that is what they continue to do.

And national advertisers are learning that local Gay publications and their respective websites bring buyers to their doors.

This column comes as news breaks of the demise of Queerty (one of my favorite sites) and talk that two other sites of national renown are considering closing their portals.

That continued evolution also has print attempting to find its niche on the web. The New York Times is trying one way while The Wall Street Journal tries another. Web media, LGBT or mainstream, is now the most competitive media there is, since literally thousands of sites are created each day.

Here’s a detail that few seem to realize: It’s a competitive world out there, and the most competitive business environment is not print, but the web. There is no competition for local LGBT print media from the web.

The web competes with itself.

Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. He can be reached at mark@ epgn.com.

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News

3

Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

1605 12th Ave., Ste. 31 Seattle, WA 98122

Phone: (206) 324-4297 Fax: (206) 322-7188

MEMBER

e-mail: sgn2@sgn.org internet: www.sgn.org

2011

Deadlines

Classifieds - Thursday at noon Calendar - Tuesday 6pm Display Ads: Space Reservation - Monday 5pm Ad copy (non-camera ready) - Tues. 5pm Ad copy (camera ready) - Wed. 5pm Letters to the Editor - Tuesday 5pm Obituaries - Call the sgN office All others - Tuesday 5pm

Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel, Miryam Gordon, Tim Peter Contributing Writers

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

Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers

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.

Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper.

Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication.

We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write.

And please play safe.

It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.

LGBT activists join May 1 march for immigrant rights

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A contingent of local LGBT activists joined thousands of others in the annual May 1 immigrant rights march as it made its way from St Mary’s Church in the Central District to Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.

The LGBT contingent was organized by Allyship, a volunteer-led multi-issue social justice organization that has been working with immigrant advocacy groups since 2008.

This was their third organized LGBT contingent in the May 1 march. Like previous contingents, it was identified by distinctive pink armbands.

“This was our largest turnout to date, and the largest contingent of LGBTQ and immigrant rights organizations endorsing this contingent,” said Allyship activist Debbie Carlsen.

“There were about 30 people who joined us throughout the march and we handed out an additional 20 armbands to LGBTQ individuals who were marching in other contingents.”

Other LGBT organizations joining Allyship were Dyke Community Activists, Equal Rights Washington, Entre Hermanos, Ingersoll Center, Pride At Work, Seattle Gay News, Seattle NOW, the Sisters of Perpetual

Indulgence, and Trikone NW. As in previous years, the May 1 march was organized by El Comite Pro-Reforma Migratoria Justicia Social, OneAmerica, and the May 1st Coalition.

Estimates of the number of marchers ranged from 2,000 to 7,000.

“I’ve given up trying to count people,” said El Comite organizer Juan Jose Bocanegra, who proclaimed the day “beautiful!”

The post-march rally was graced by a surprise appearance by Ohio congressman and former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, who was in town to address local labor and community organizations.

“We didn’t really expect him,” Bocanegra chuckled, “but we made a place for him on the speakers’ list.”

Carlsen told SGN that Allyship organizes an LGBT contingent for May 1 because “The LGBTQ community is very diverse and our issues go beyond marriage equality. LGBTQ individuals are affected by the economy, health care access, immigration policies, the rising cost of post-secondary education, and many other issues.”

These issues are made even more critical because of the economic crisis, Carlsen believes.

“LGBTQ people and immigrants share the unfortunate reality of being scapegoated in hard economic times,” she said. “That scapegoating might look different but when

LGBTQ people stand in solidarity with another marginalized community, we as marginalized communities are less vulnerable to political attacks.”

Carlsen added that “many LGBTQ individuals are immigrants, and Allyship fights for true social change that addresses all the parts of people’s lives and/or lived realities.”

Carlsen also shared the personal stories of some of the individuals who participated in the Allyship contingent.

For example, a Gay white man who marched “in solidarity” with immigrants because “he used to live in Arizona and witnessed the draconian laws passed to regulate immigrants. He sympathized with immigrants as a group of marginalized people because there were also laws passed in Arizona against LGBTQ people.”

Another Gay white man was “a teacher in a local school and mostly had immigrants as his students. He came out in solidarity to support his students and their families.”

A mixed race Mexican and Native American Lesbian “came out because she is directly affected by the backlash of antiimmigrant sentiment and believes this is a LGBTQ issue.”

As the march reached downtown, it made a wide loop to pass by the Hilton Hotel, where it was joined by a contingent from UNITE HERE Local 8, the hotel and restaurant workers’ union.

UNITE HERE, which represents large concentrations of both LGBT workers and immigrants, will be renegotiating all its Seattle-area hotel contracts this summer.

“UNITE HERE appreciated that the march was re-routed,” said union organizer Jasmine Marwaha. “It really energized our members.”

In 2007, the union scored major breakthroughs in its contract with the Westin Hotel.

The Westin contract was the first hotel contract in the country to explicitly protect Transgender workers. At the same time, UNITE HERE also won important protections for workers whose immigration status was challenged by employers.

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

4

Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Syphilis: Back by unpopular demand

by Dr. Joanne Stekler Special to the SGN Joanne Stekler, M.D., MPH, is Deputy Director of Community Services for the HIV/ STD Program at Public Health – Seattle & King County. She is also an internal medicine and infectious disease physician at Harborview Medical Center, and assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Washington.

This is the fifth in a series of articles focusing on HIV and other STD prevention and care topics for Gay/Bisexual men and Transgender individuals in Seattle and King County.

and promote testing and treatment. Gay City, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, and other community organizations in Seattle are also working to get the word out.

In case you didn’t know, syphilis is a bacteria that causes several stages of disease.

At first, you get a painless sore. The sore could be in your mouth, on your penis, or on your butt. The sore will go away on its own, but the syphilis won’t. After a few weeks or months, you could get a rash on the palms of your hands, on the soles of your feet, or on other parts of your body. This also could go away on its own.

But if syphilis still isn’t treated, it can cause more problems. You could become blind or deaf. In the last stage, people can have brain, nerve, or heart problems.

People have even died from syphilis – people like Al Capone, Tolstoy, and Scott Joplin, to name a few. If you have HIV, syphilis may progress more quickly through these stages. The good news is that there’s an easy blood test for syphilis, and antibiotics make it easy to cure.

This sounds simple. So why doesn’t everyone get treated when they have symptoms?

Well, both the sore and the rash go away on their own. When things get better, we stop thinking about them, right? Also, syphilis can be hard to recognize because the

In 2010, there were 289 cases of syphilis in King County.

Why am I talkThat’s the highest ing about syphilis again? Because, number of syphilis cases like it says in our ad in this week’s SGN, in decades, and it isn’t “Your penis isn’t the only thing that’s on the slowing down. rise.”

In 2010, there were 289 cases of syphilis in King County. That’s the highest number of syphilis cases in decades, and it isn’t slowing down. In the first three months of 2011, we’ve seen nearly twice the number of cases compared to the same time last year. It’s mostly in Gay and Bi men, and over half are guys who are HIV-positive.

In response to this, Public Health is launching an education campaign to call attention to what’s going on, help guys recognize the signs and symptoms of syphilis,

Karger, last man standing

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer If you haven’t heard of Fred Karger, you have an awful lot of company.

Karger is a retired political consultant from California. He’s also a Gay activist, and he’s running for the presidency. As a Republican.

Clearly this is a fellow who fancies adventure.

Does he stand more than a Popsicle’s chance in hell? Yes, actually.

Karger, the first openly Gay Republican presidential candidate, could win his party’s nomination under certain circumstances.

Every other candidate has to drop out.

It could happen. The acknowledged candidates, the possible candidates, and the waiting-till-later-to-make-a-grand-entrance candidates could all find themselves out of the campaign for one reason or another.

Newt Gingrich, for instance, who converted to Catholicism in 2009, might decide he’d rather run for pope.

Don’t scoff. As a serial adulterer who trumpeted family values, he’s got a leg up on finessing hypocrisy, which comes in

symptoms aren’t specific. That means other diseases can cause the same symptoms. Until we do some tests, sometimes it’s hard for doctors to know whether the symptoms are caused by syphilis or by herpes or by primary HIV infection or by something else.

(Check out ru2hot.org if you want to learn more about the symptoms that happen in the first few weeks after someone gets infected with HIV.) Finally, it’s sometimes surprising to learn that we’re at risk for an STD when we think we’re doing everything right. For example, some Gay and Bi guys have only oral sex to decrease their chances of getting HIV and other STDs. But syphilis is spread easily through oral sex.

So if you have any of the symptoms – especially an open painless sore or a spotted rash – get tested for syphilis. Today.

Even with no symptoms, sexually active Gay and Bi men should get tested for STDs at least once a year. You should get tested every three months if you use meth or poppers, if you had unprotected anal sex in the last year with a partner who was a different HIV status than you, if you had more than 10 sex partners (for any kind of sex) in the last year, or if you’ve had Chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis recently.

What else can you do to help stop this syphilis epidemic? Talk to your friends and partners about syphilis and other STDs. If you blog, tweet, or use Facebook, post about syphilis. Check out the campaign website at www.SyphilisRising.com. Check your own body for sores and rashes. Make looking for sores and rashes on your partners part of foreplay. And if you find something, don’t have sex until you (or they) get tested and treated.

Syphilis. Easy to get, easy to cure.

If you’re a guy who has sex with other guys, you can get tested for syphilis and HIV at Public Health’s STD Clinic, at Gay City, or at your doctor’s office. For hours and locations, call 206-296-4649 or go to www.kingcounty.gov/health/std.

Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, is described as nice and oh-so bland.

It isn’t hard for me to imagine him disappearing from the race. He might still be in it, but we just won’t be able to see him.

In March, Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana proposed Republicans call a truce on social issues. Daniels holds socially conservative views, but believes the budget is too pressing to get sidetracked.

Speaking of tracks, social conservatives will see that he gets tied to them.

Lately Mike Huckabee has been feuding with fellow FOX host Glenn Beck. This prompts me to picture a campaign-busting scenario where Huckabee tells a reporter, “I still don’t believe in evolution, but I’m convinced Glenn Beck was sired by monkeys.”

Jon Huntsman has resigned his position as President Obama’s ambassador to China.

The fact that he worked for Obama means GOP primary voters would sooner choose Pee Wee Herman.

Donald Trump’s nomination-flirtation will end when it’s uncovered that he was born in Haiti.

Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, John Thune, Rudy Giuliani, John Bolton – for a variety of reasons, they all could drop out or be booted out of the Republican campaign.

Fred Karger might be the last man standing, in which case the nomination will be his. The Republican forces will be led into battle by an openly Gay man who five years ago campaigned to save the Boom Boom Room, a historic Gay club in Laguna Beach.

Diehard Republicans won’t find this part of his resume inspiring. But if he’s all they have, they’ll learn to live with it.

handy in Rome from time to time.

One of the Republican frontrunners, Mitt Romney, could similarly decide he’d prefer to head up his Mormon church. But I think it more likely he’ll leave the presidential field after he and Texas Gov. Rick Perry get in a shouting match over who has better hair.

Tea partiers already harbor reservations about former mega-lobbyist and Washington power broker Haley Barbour, currently the governor of Mississippi.

In February, Barbour flew to Washington in a luxury jet paid for by Mississippi taxpayers to deliver a speech on the need to cut costs.

When he takes that jet to a Tea Party rally, he’ll be pelted with Lipton and lose all fondness for caffeinated tea, and all fondness for caffeinated campaigning.

Jeb Bush has denied he’ll run in 2012. I think he will run, and then inexplicably start speaking like his brother. After saying in a debate something like, “I believe the American people are embettered for our alien rights, and other nations should immolate Leslie Robinson loves saying “Boom us,” he’ll check into a speech facility.

Boom Room.” Email her at lesarobinson@ Sarah Palin could meet a wolf that shoots gmail.com, and check out her blog at www. back. generalgayety.com.

Karger is a retired political consultant from California. He’s also a Gay activist, and he’s running for the presidency. As a Republican.

Moutin Reunion Quartet May 2

Combining Straightahead and a sort of Neo-Fusion Jazz

Jeff Hamilton Trio May 3-4

One of the Most Celebrated Drummers in Modern Jazz

Keiko Matsui May 5-8

Japanese Pianist and Icon of Contemporary Jazz

Joe Louis Walker with Opener: Lloyd Jones May 9-10

Grammy and WC Handy Award Winning Blues Guitarist.

Denise Donatelli with the Geoffrey Keezer Trio May 11-12

2010 Grammy Nominated Jazz Improv Singer joined by Grammy Nominated Pianist and Composer

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall May 13-15

Touring in Support of their First Studio CD I Feel You

Ann Hampton Callaway May 17-18

Jazzy Pop Diva and Platinum Award Winning Songwriter.

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 Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News

5

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer Peter Tatchell Foundation

Conflicting reports on OK to hold Moscow Pride Several recent reports from Moscow said that officials had greenlighted this year’s May 28 Gay pride parade, which would have marked the first time in its six years of existence that the parade wasn’t officially banned.

But on April 27, City Hall said those reports were incorrect and that organizers’ application is still being studied.

Pride co-organizer Nikolai Alekseev said it would not be surprising if the initial reports had been floated to gauge public opinion.

On April 11, Moscow Pride got a final ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that previous years’ pride bans by the city’s Peter Tatchell (center) and other same-sex marriage activists ex-mayor were illegal. The presented a giant wedding card for Prince William and Kate ECHR determined that the Middleton outside the gates of Buckingham Palace. bans placed Russia in violation of the European Convention on Human Liechtenstein to hold Rights in the areas of freedom of assembly voter referendum and association, right to an effective remedy on partnership law The same-sex registered-partnership law and prohibition of discrimination.

Pride organizers now are asking the Comthat passed Liechtenstein’s Parliament in March will be subjected to a voter referen- mittee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to help make sure the ECHR ruling is impledum in June.

Anti-Gay forces turned in enough signa- mented.

“After this court decision ... the Council tures on April 21 to mandate a vote, Gay acof Europe must stand firm on our side,” said tivists reported.

The tiny nation, located between Switzer- pride co-organizer Nikolai Baev. “We feel lonely.” land and Austria, has about 18,500 voters.

In previous years, when Gays tried to hold The Liechtenstein Lesbian and Gay organization, FLay, says it needs financial sup- pride events despite the city bans, the gathport to mount a campaign to save the law, erings were attacked by anti-Gay hooligans, which is scheduled to come into force in picketed by religious protesters, and broken up by riot police.

September.

In related news, a recent poll commisSame-sex couples registered under the law would have the same rights as mar- sioned by Moscow Pride and GayRussia. ried people except in areas such as second- ru found that 56 percent of Muscovites have parent adoption, artificial insemination and heard about the attempts to stage a pride parade in the city over the past six years. surrogacy.

Nationally, 33 percent of Russians have For more information or to donate, see www.flay.li. To translate the site, paste the heard of the pride efforts.

Young people, people with more educaURL into translate.google.com. tion, and people who live in midsize cities were more likely to have heard about MosGay activists rally cow Pride. for royal wedding The Public Opinion Foundation poll, conSame-sex marriage activists presented a giant wedding card for Prince William and ducted April 20-24, quizzed a representative Kate Middleton outside the gates of Buck- sample of 1,500 Russians from more than 100 cities in 44 regions of the nation. The ingham Palace on April 25.

The card congratulated the royal couple margin of error is 3.6 percent.

Alekseev said it was “amazing” that so on their wedding, which took place four days later, and urged them to support legal- many people had heard of the efforts of “a ization of same-sex marriage. The United small group of people like us without fundKingdom currently offers same-sex couples ing and without any institutional support.” civil partnerships that carry the same rights Group targets as marriage. “sissy boot camps” The card said: “We wish you a happy life International LGBT activist group All Out together. You can get married, Gay people can’t. We are banned by law. We ask you to has launched a campaign to convince Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to ban support marriage equality.”

Organizer Peter Tatchell said the action what the group called “sissy boot camps.”

According to activist groups, 66 teenwas well-received.

“Everyone outside the palace expressed age male students whom teachers deemed support for marriage equality. We didn’t get effeminate recently were sent to a statea single negative reaction,” he said. “We are government-sponsored camp in the state of urging the royal couple to find a way, within Terengganu to unlearn such behavior and official protocol, to indicate their support not end up Gay. All Out said Malaysian activists will defor marriage equality.”

Tatchell is involved in a case before the liver a petition to Razak at the 18th AssoEuropean Court of Human Rights that seeks ciation of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, to overturn Britain’s ban on same-sex mar- which takes place May 7-8 in Jakarta, Indoriage and its ban on opposite-sex civil part- nesia. The group is collecting signatures at nerships. The case, sponsored by the Equal allout.org/en/petition/malaysia.

Sodomy and unnatural carnal intercourse Love campaign, was filed by four Gay and are illegal in Malaysia. four straight couples.

Poland to stop blocking foreign same-sex marriages Poland will change a form that Poles must obtain before getting married abroad so that it no longer asks the name of the future spouse, the nation’s Campaign Against Homophobia said April 27.

The group said some registry offices had refused to issue the required form when both future spouses appeared to be of the same sex. The form also is needed if a Pole wants to enter a civil union in another nation.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NATIONAL

NEWS

Proponents seek to erase Prop 8 strikedown because judge did not disclose same-sex relationship On April 25, the proponents of California’s Proposition 8 asked the federal District Court in San Francisco to nullify last year’s decision that struck down Prop 8 because now-retired Judge Vaughn Walker did not disclose at the time that he was in a samesex relationship.

“Given that Chief Judge Walker was in a committed, long-term, same-sex relationship throughout this case (and for many years before the case commenced), it is clear that his ‘impartiality might reasonably [have been] questioned’ from the outset,” the Prop 8 proponents wrote in their motion to vacate judgment.

Walker had an obligation either to recuse himself from the case, the filing says, or to disclose the relationship so that the parties in the case could have decided whether to request his recusal. Walker’s having done neither, the filing says, violated a requirement that judges “avoid even the appearance of partiality.”

The motion also says that Walker should have revealed whether he had any interest in marrying his partner. If he did, then “Walker plainly had an ‘interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding,’” the filing says.

“Such a clear and direct stake in the outcome” would have made recusal “mandatory,” the document says.

Since Walker did not disavow any interest in getting married, the motion says, “it must be presumed that he has an interest in marrying his partner and therefore was in fact the ‘judge in his own case.’”

“In light of Chief Judge Walker’s undeniable violation of [U.S. Code] Section 455(a) and his presumed violation of Section 455(b)(4), the only responsible and just course is to vacate the judgment entered in this case,” the motion says.

Gay rights lawyers derided the motion.

“This is a desperate and ill-advised move that underscores their inability to defend Prop 8 on the merits,” said Shannon Minter, legal director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “This is not likely to win them any points with the courts, who understandably do not appreciate having the integrity of judges called into question based on such outrageous grounds.”

Lambda Legal compared the move to a last-ditch play at the end of a football game.

“Proponents of Proposition 8 certainly are getting desperate,” said Legal Director Jon Davidson. “This reeks of a Hail Mary attempt to assail Judge Walker’s character because they are unable to rebut the extremely well-reasoned ruling he issued last year.”

Davidson added: “To say that Judge Walker should have disclosed his 10-year relationship with another man or that it made him unfit to rule on Proposition 8 is like saying that a married heterosexual judge deciding an issue in a divorce proceeding has to disclose if he or she is having marital problems and might someday be affected by legal rulings in the case. Or that any judge who professes any religious faith is unable to rule on any question of religious liberty or, at a minimum, must disclose what his faith teaches. Much like a suggestion that a female judge could not preside over a case involving sexual harassment or an

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer African American judge could not preside over a case involving race discrimination, Proposition 8’s supporters improperly are suggesting that a judge will rule in favor of any litigant with whom he shares a personal characteristic.”

The American Foundation for Equal Rights, which is sponsoring the federal Prop 8 case, called the motion absurd.

“This motion is yet another in a string of desperate and absurd motions by Prop 8 Proponents who refuse to accept the fact that the freedom to marry is a constitutional right,” said AFER Board President Chad Griffin. “They’re attacking the judge because they disagree with his decision.”

Voter-passed Prop 8 amended the California Constitution in 2008 to re-ban same-sex marriage, which had been legal in the state for almost five months. When Walker struck down Prop 8 as unconstitutional in August 2010, the defendants, including California’s governor and attorney general, did not appeal the ruling. (The current officeholders have not done so either.) As a result, the ballot measure’s proponents appealed the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case is currently paused because the 9th Circuit is unsure if ballot-measure proponents have a legal right to defend a state ballot measure in federal court.

The 9th Circuit has asked the California Supreme Court for its opinion on that question, and the California Supreme Court is not expected to answer until the end of the year.

The hearing on the motion to vacate is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 13 in San Francisco before Walker’s successor, James Ware, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

At the same hearing, Ware will deal with dueling requests that the 13 days of video of the Prop 8 trial be either confiscated from Walker and the Gay side’s attorneys or released to the public.

No same-sex marriage for RI this year The push to legalize same-sex marriage in Rhode Island this year is over because of a lack of support in the Senate, openly Gay House Speaker Gordon Fox said April 27.

Fox said he would try to pass a civil-union law instead.

Lobby group Marriage Equality Rhode Island expressed “staunch opposition” to that plan.

“The General Assembly will essentially be legalizing a two-class system that subjects thousands of Rhode Island same-sex couples to discrimination,” said MERI board chair Martha Holt. “We are extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the state House and we would urge Speaker Fox to rethink sponsoring legislation that would create a second class of citizens.”

Freedom to Marry’s national campaign director, Marc Solomon, called Fox’s move “a serious miscalculation.”

“With support for the freedom to marry topping 60 percent – higher than in any other state in the country – and with a strongly supportive governor, the Rhode Island House should send a marriage bill – and nothing less – to the Senate now,” Solomon said.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

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 6

Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE www.seattlepride.org

ALL I EVER WANTED TO BENEFIT LAMBERT HOUSE On Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8, (Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.) at Theatre Puget Sound, Theater 4, on the 4th floor of the Center House at Seattle Center, Fearless Theatre Company presents All I Ever Wanted, a new play by Seattle playwright Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest, which addresses sexual orientation in a family and centers on an 18-year-old boy and his relationships with his family and closest friend.

25% of proceeds from this well-written, well-directed and well-acted play will benefit Lambert House, Seattle’s LGBTQ youth center. Tickets are $20-general and $15-under 25. For more information, visit www.allieverwantedproject.com.

“GET ENGAGED” – EQUAL RIGHTS WASHINGTON GALA On Saturday, May 7, reception and silent auction at 5:30 p.m., dinner and live auction at 7:30 p.m., at W Hotel, 1112 Fourth Ave., join ERW boardmembers, staff and friends, with special guest Tom Rocco and auctioneer Laura Michalek, for the 5th annual Equal Rights Washington Gala. Tickets: $190. www. equalrightswashington.org.

SWING FEVER 2011 On Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel (corner of 6th and Madison), join the Rainbow City Band for an evening of fine dining, musical entertainment, silent and live auctions, and swing dancing at Swing Fever 2011. Featuring the Purple Passion Swing Band and a no-host bar. This event is a fundraiser for the future of community band music in Seattle.

Tickets: $100 at www.brownpapertickets. com.

LEA DELARIA On Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Triple Door (216 Union St.), Lea DeLaria will perform. Called “every inch and ounce a star” by The New York Times, DeLaria has performed stand-up comedy for over 25 years and is an extremely prominent figure in the world of Lesbian comedy. She will be singing with a band at her Seattle appearance.

For tickets, call (206) 838-4333.

STOP THE WAR ON WORKERS: LABOR ACTIVISTS TALK STRATEGY On Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), the Freedom Socialist Party hosts a panel of unionists who will explore what’s next for the labor movement following the massive demonstrations in the Midwest and a week of labor-led protests in Olympia. Speakers are Victor Hildalgo, a medical translator who helped found the new union Interpreters United; Steve Hoffman, a shop steward and delegate to M.L. King County Labor Council; Jasmine Marwaha, a community organizer with UNITE HERE Local 8; and Nikki Miller, a unionist who helped plan the April Days of Action in Olympia. Door donation $3. A special dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for a $9 donation. Proceeds will benefit the Freedom Socialist newspaper.

For more information, call 206-722-2453 or FSPseattle@mindspring.com. Wheelchair accessible.

PITCH A PIE FUNDRAISER FOR THE LADY GRAYTOP SCHOLARSHIP FUND On Saturday, May 7, 9 p.m.-midnight, at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.), toss cream pies and buy raffle tickets to raise money for the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle’s Lady Graytop Scholarship Fund. Enjoy drink specials, plus!!! once the Court’s goal of $2,000 is achieved, Washington State Mr. Leather Toby Noon will make his drag debut with a special performance. www.imperialcourtofseattle.com.

POZ SEATTLE HOSTS 12TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION On Wednesday, May 12, from 6-8 p.m., at The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. & E. Pine St.), join POZSeattle in celebrating their 12th anniversary as a “face-to-face” social networking group for HIV-positive men and their friends. Meet in the downstairs bar for socializing to catch-up with old friends, to make new ones, and a whole lot of fun. A special catered fare will be provided with all the extras. A $5 suggested donation is requested for this special event, but no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Beverages provided by The Cuff at regular prices. This event is for all HIV-positive men and their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, or color. For more information or to be added to the POZSeattle event promotions email list, contact info@pozseattle or visit www.pozseattle.org.

SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dunshee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). All GLBTQ folks in the community are welcome to participate in this FREE book club.

The book for May is JUST KIDS, a portrait of her friendship with controversial Gay photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. It is a quick, compelling read about a friendship between two artistic geniuses.

For more information, email nickdimartin@earthlink.net or contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

TRANSLATIONS: SEATTLE TRANSGENDER FILM FESTIVAL MAY 12-15 Three Dollar Bill Cinema presents “Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival.” This groundbreaking festival is one of only a very few Transgender film festivals in the world. The eleven programs and films that make up this year’s slate tell unique and fascinating stories that are poignant, witty, tragic, comic and inspirational.

The Chaz Bono documentary, Becoming Chaz, will be shown on Friday, May 13 (Opening Night), at the AMC Pacific Place (600 Pine St.) at 7 p.m., with a reception following at the Sixth Avenue Inn (2000 6th Ave.). Chaz Bono grew up right before our eyes as Sonny and Cher’s adorable goldenhaired daughter, Chastity, but in a body he felt wasn’t his own. Becoming Chaz takes us on Chaz’s remarkable and brave journey of transformation as he undertakes gender reassignment. Intimate and nakedly honest, the film reveals the humanity and courage it takes for Chaz to embrace his true self all the while putting a face on an intensely misunderstood issue.

On Thursday, May 12, at Seattle University (12th & Marion St.), Hunthausen Hall, Room 110, at 7 p.m., the festival presents a FREE screening of Sold: Examining the T in TV Advertising. On Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, the festival presents 9 additional films at Northwest Film Forum, (1515 12th Ave.).

Festival pass is $50, $10 advance/$11 at the door for Opening Night (May 13) (includes post-screening reception), $8 advance/$9 at the door for single tickets, $6 advance/$7 at the door for Three Dollar Bill Cinema members, $5 for youth (21 and under) and seniors (65 and over) available at the door only, ID required.

For complete schedule, a synopsis of films and advance tickets, visit www.threedollarbillcinema.org.

On Saturday, May 14, doors at 5:30 p.m., at Fremont Studios (155 N 35th St.), join the Seattle Men’s Chorus and the Seattle Women’s Chorus for a gala dinner, dance and auction fundraiser. Enjoy a gourmet, seated dinner, live entertainment by Chorus members and guests, silent and live auction items, and then dance the night away. Tickets: $195-patron, $250-benefactor. 206-3881400; www.flyinghouse.org.

CLOSET BALL 2011 – “RELEASE YOUR INNER DIVA” On Saturday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m., at R Place (Boylston Ave. & E. Pine St.), join the Imperial Court of Seattle for Closet Ball 2011. The rules are simple: 1) you haven’t done drag before (except on Halloween), 2) you have a “Drag Mother” to perform the transformation (the Court can help find someone for you, if needed), 3) you have one hour to be transformed (all make-up, hair, etc. must be applied at the event), 4) contestants will be judged on transformation, presentation, and poise. The winner will be crowned 2011 Closet Ball Queen and the winning Drag Mother will be crowned Mother of the Year. $5 donation at the door – contestants and Drag Mothers FREE. www. imperialcourtofseattle.org.

FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY PRESENTS SALT OF THE EARTH On Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m., at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), FSP will screen Salt of the Earth, an award-winning 1954 film exploring a fierce strike by Mexican-American miners in which women played a leading role. During the McCarthy era, the film was banned because of its daring pro-labor, pro-civil rights content. Door SONGS FOR JAPAN donation $3-$5. Nacho plates and desserts BENEFIT CONCERT available for a $4 donation. For more inOn Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the formation, 206-722-2453 or FSPseattle@ mindspring.com. Wheelchair accessible. Seattle Unity Church (200 8th Ave. N.), top Proceeds to benefit the Freedom Socialist Seattle area artists join together to present a special benefit concert honoring the people newspaper. and music of Japan. The ongoing catastrophe in Japan prompted Susan to initiate a GAY CITY UNIVERSITY On Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at series of benefit concerts to raise funds to be Antioch University Seattle (2326 6th Ave.), sent directly to the people of Sendai, the epihead back to school this spring for another center of the earthquake and tsunami. The fabulous edition of GCU. Now in it’s 16th evening will include many of Japan’s bestyear, this fantastic day of fun and learning loved traditional songs. The songs have a for Gay, Bi and Trans men offers a variety bittersweet quality and carry the core values of classes and workshops. Cost is just $20, of the Japanese culture, love of the land, naincluding lunch. For more information and ture, and of family. In addition, there will be some musical surprises born of the unique to register, visit www.gaycity.org. collaboration from all these fine musicians, whose lives and hearts have all been touched 2ND ANNUAL JUGRZ by the generosity and graciousness of the WOMEN’S MOTORCYCLE Japanese people and have a desire to help.

CONFERENCE For more information, contact Susan OsOn May 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Camp Long (5200 35th Ave SW), Just Us Girl RiderZ born at SusanOsborn@SusanOsborn.com hosts a conference for women bikers who or Nancy Rumbel at Nancy@NancyRumwish to hone their wrenching skills, or to bel.com. perhaps break into their own mechanic work SYTTENDE GAY 2011 for the first time. In this venue, women will On Wednesday, May 17, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., at feel invited to share and learn amongst fellow women riders from the Northwest and The BalMar (5449 Ballard Ave. NW, at NW beyond. This event will cover topics from Market St.), Kwanchai presents Syttende basic repair to custom building. There will Gay 2011, an event celebrating Nordic culbe opportunities to learn hands on. The use ture and diversity on Norway’s Constitution of tools and equipment and shop safety will Day (Syttende Mai). Enjoy the Norwegian be emphasized. Given these tools, partici- Constitution Day Parade at 6 p.m. $7 VIP pants will gain the confidence and indepen- pass (21+ with ID) includes exclusive acdence to work on their own motorcycles. cess to upper VIP level with panoramic The conference also provides an extensive view of the parade. 10% off Nordic-inspired and growing network of fellow women rid- food and cocktails. Music by DJ RXMX. ers who have either done their own work Proceeds from pass and raffle sales to Youth or are also just learning for the first time. Suicide Prevention Program. www.kwanjugrzwmc@gmail.com, www.jugrz.com, chai.net; www.YSPP.org.

786-5660.

DIFFA SEATTLE PRESENTS GLAM 6 SEATTLE CHEESE FESTIVAL WITH SPECIAL GUEST On Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and THOM FILICIA Sunday, May 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., cheeseOn Thursday, May 19, 6-9 p.m., at Mamakers from around the world will showcase their finest cheeses to thousands of sins (220 2nd Ave. S.), Design Industries attendees on the cobblestone street at Pike Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) Seattle Place Market (1st Ave. and Pike St.). Sam- presents Glam 6, a celebration of high-style ple Northwest and international wines and design, furnishings, fashion and fabulous Pike Brewing Company beers at the wine jewels, with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and and beer garden. Enjoy chef and mozzarella- wine bar, luxury silent auction of fashion acmaking demos and a number of seminars on cessories, home décor items, hotel and dincheeses. Cost is FREE for cheese sampling, ing packages, DJ Wendell, and special guest $10 for wine and beer garden (5 pours), $40 TV celebrity and House & Garden top 100 for seminars. For more information, visit designer, Thom Filicia, a DIFFA national trustee. Tickets: $40 general admission; $75 www.seattlecheesefestival.com.

VIP welcome and pre-party (5 p.m.) with special guest, Thom Filicia. Tickets: www.

“BLACK TIE & TALES” – diffa.org/seattle. Information: 206-763SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS & 8885. Proceeds benefit local AIDS service SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS’ and education providers. Please RSVP by DINNER, DANCE & AUCTION Friday, May 13.

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 Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News

7

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On May 3, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Equality California, and Lambda Legal filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the California Supreme Court arguing that the proponents of Proposition 8 have no power to override the decision of elected state officials about whether to appeal a federal court decision that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

According to a joint press release on May 4, the brief explains that initiative proponents are unelected and have no right to act as representatives of the state. It also explains that regardless of how the California Supreme Court rules, the supporters of Prop 8 have no standing to pursue an appeal in federal court because they are not harmed by allowing same-sex couples to marry and because their interests were limited to having the measure put to a vote.

“California law does not permit the unelected proponents of a constitutional initiative to step into the state’s shoes when elected officials appropriately decide not to appeal a decision striking down an unconstitutional measure,” said Equality California Interim Executive Director Jim Carroll.

“We are hopeful that the appeal will soon be dismissed, restoring marriage equality as soon as possible, and that same-sex couples and their families will once again be able to enjoy equality and dignity under the law.”

NCLR legal director Shannon Minter

courtesy of the sacremento bee

National LGBT legal groups challenge Prop 8 in California Supreme Court

explained, “Under the California Constitution, the state attorney general must decide whether to appeal a federal court holding that a state law is unconstitutional, based on her conclusions about whether an appeal would be in the state’s interest. Nothing in California law gives unelected initiative sponsors the power to make that decision on behalf of the entire state.”

“There is nothing in California’s Constitution or statutes that provides proponents of initiatives any rights to defend those measures if they pass and are later challenged in court,” said Jon Davidson, legal director of Lambda Legal. “At best, initiative proponents are like legislators who sponsor a bill, whom courts have repeatedly said are not entitled to appear in cases to defend the constitutionality of laws they drafted. To allow the proponents of Proposition 8 to represent the state would usurp the role of the attorney general, who is sworn to uphold the rights of all Californians, not just the 20 percent of state residents who voted in favor of the initiative.”

U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional in August 2010, and the sponsors of Prop 8 sought to appeal that judgment to the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On January 4, 2011, the Ninth Circuit asked the California Supreme Court for guidance on whether the sponsors of Prop 8 have legal standing to pursue the U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that Prop 8 was unconstitutional in August 2010. appeal under California law. The California Caldwell Leslie & Proctor, PC, and the Law court said it would consider the question on held as early as this September.

Equality California is represented by Offices of David C. Codell. an expedited basis with oral arguments to be courtesy of the Smithsonian

Smithsonian marks 30th anniversary of HIV/AIDS

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

seum’s Science in American Life exhibition, which focuses on the connections between science, culture, and society in American The Smithsonian’s National Museum of history.

The display will feature photographs, American History announced on May 4 that it will mark the 30th anniversary of the magazine covers, and other graphics; equipemergence of the HIV and AIDS epidemic ment that Dr. Jay Levy used to isolate the viwith a three-part display and website begin- rus in his lab at the University of California, San Francisco; a copy of the surgeon genning June 3.

HIV and AIDS Thirty Years Ago will look eral’s 1986 report presenting the governSmithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. at the public health, scientific, and political ment’s position; samples of the drugs AZT responses in the early phase (1981-87) of and Retrovir; and public health information The website is americanhistory.si.edu/ mystery, the public health crisis, and the popamphlets from AIDS service organiza- hivaids. the global pandemic, said officials. litical debates created by the epidemic and The showcase will be located in the mu- tions.

In the display Archiving the History of why these events gripped America 30 years an Epidemic: HIV and AIDS, 1985-2009, ago.” the museum’s Archives Center will show Previously, the museum has investigated how society and individuals were affected the history of medicine and science through by the epidemic through a selection of ar- the 100th anniversaries of the X-ray and chival materials from its collections. These the National Institutes of Health, the 50th include posters for the 1993 movie Phila- anniversary of the polio vaccine, the 40th delphia with Tom Hanks and Denzel Wash- anniversary of the birth-control pill, and ington and the 1989 film Longtime Com- the 10th anniversary of the Americans with panion; brochures, photographs, and other Disabilities Act. popular culture materials; and quotes from Related displays will mark the 25th and oral histories of people affected by the epi- 40th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots demic. in New York City, generally associated with According to officials, the museum will the beginnings of the Gay rights movement also display a panel from the AIDS Memo- in the U.S., and the 10th anniversary of the rial Quilt of the Names Project Foundation AIDS Memorial Quilt. The museum’s colhonoring Roger Lyon, who died of com- lections of some 3 million objects includes plications from AIDS in 1984 shortly after a selection of Gay civil rights activist Frank testifying before Congress to appeal for Kameny’s protest signs and materials relatfunding to combat the growing epidemic. ing to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” The quilt will be on view in the first-floor policy.

Artifacts Wall.

The National Museum of American His“The early years of the HIV and AIDS tory preserves American heritage in the arepidemic was a time in our history that af- eas of social, political, cultural, scientific, fected all Americans,” said Brent D. Glass, and military history. Visitor information is the director of the museum. “This display available at americanhistory.si.edu or by will help visitors understand the scientific calling (202) 633-1000.

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 8

Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

OutGames 2011 coming to Vancouver, B.C. in July

by Anthony Greer SGN Contributing Writer The OutGames are coming to Vancouver, B.C., from July 25-31, and with an expected crowd of several thousand athletes, fans, and allies and a closing ceremony on the same weekend as Pride, it’s sure to be a week worth celebrating.

The OutGames will comprise three major components: the sports themselves, an LGBT conference, and a celebration of LGBT culture and contributions.

Greg Larocque, the currently president of GLISA (Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association) North America, explained what each of these components would entail.

Currently there are 16 different sports that will be played all over Vancouver and its nearby suburbs Whistler, Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, and Richmond, and will attract a diverse range of athletes, from those looking for fun and recreational events to those in serious competition. There will be mountain, marine, and land sports including softball, soccer, swimming, track, tennis, and even a Texas hold ‘em poker tournament.

Team Seattle, being in close proximity to Vancouver, hopes to have a large turnout.

Larocque also hopes to have a large turnout of youth and seniors. “Those are two demographics of great interest,” he said.

One of the reasons for this is because of what will be discussed at the LGBT conference aspect of the OutGames. Bullying/cyberbullying, hate crime legislation, Transgender issues, safe sex, alienation and isolation, and sexuality will all be prime topics.

GLISA was formed out of the Montreal 2006 Gay Games VII after the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) withdrew sanction of Montreal over a dispute of the size of the event. Shortly thereafter, Vancouver put their bid in for the 2011 OutGames and have been planning this week ever since.

“From my perspective, the Gay Games are about sports and celebrations, and there is very little discussion about human rights.

We [believe] that the human rights discussion is important because some LGBT people don’t enjoy the same human rights as others, even within the U.S. In many states you can’t marry, adopt, have job protection, or spousal benefits. It’s important to have that discussion,” Larocque commented.

Larocque is also chair of the Human Rights Conference component of the OutGames.

For women, the OutGames will provide a week-long activity center called “Womenzone,” where women will be loud and proud while meeting locals, sampling from fine dining establishments, hosting book tours, and enjoying celebrations exclusively for women and their friends and allies.

Womenzone is just one of the many celebrations that will take place during the week.

“The celebration program is very, very busy. It’s not just entertainment. There’s going to be film, drama, book readings, and a Miss GLISA North America Pageant,” Larocque said.

Larocque explained that the celebration program is meant “to celebrate who you are and let the mainstream know that we make huge contributions to our community in our art, our poetry, our film … it helps people to understand the full range of our contributions.”

“We want people to see who we are. Even in Vancouver, there are still some prejudices around Gay and Lesbian people,” Larocque said. “This is an event for our community which includes anyone else who would like to participate.”

In addition to the sports, conference, and celebration components, there are three keynote speakers scheduled during the OutGames ceremonies: Blake Skjellerup, an Olympic short track speed skater; Steve Glassman, a chairperson of the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission; and Sara Davis Buechner, a professor and concert pianist.

With so much going on, GLISA North America has been busy making accommodations for everyone who will attend. That number, for the moment, is only speculation.

“In 2007, Calgary, we had about 750 to

800 people. We’re asking to at least to double or triple that in Vancouver,” Larocque said. “When [GLISA] Asia Pacific had their first OutGames in Melbourne in 2007, that had 1,000 people. In Wellington, which just concluded this month, there were about 1,800 there.”

The fact that the OutGames overlaps with Vancouver Pride will likely increase attendance.

“We want people to come out and celebrate and join the community in whatever it’s doing. I think it’s gonna be an awesome event.

I hope that many people from Seattle will come, but our event isn’t intended to compete or overshadow any others,” Larocque said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for people to come and have a wonderful week in a wonderful city.”

In preparation for the 2015 OutGames, GLISA North America will be in Colorado this weekend, where Denver has begun their bid process.

For more information on the Vancouver 2011 OutGames including a full list of sports, conferences, celebrations, hotel accommodations, and price ranges, please visit www.vancouver2011outgames.com.

Brazil Supreme Court approves civil unions In a 10-0 vote with one abstention, Brazil’s Supreme Court approved civil unions between same-sex couples. While the May 5 ruling did not legalize same-sex marriage, it awarded civil unions all the rights and responsibilities previously given only to married couples.

“This is a historic moment for all Brazilians, not just homosexuals,” said Marcelo Cerqueira of the Gay rights group Grupo Gay da Bahia. “This judgment will change everything for us in society – and for the better. Gays, Lesbians, and Transsexuals will be recognized as being more human.”

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

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News

9

10 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 11

12 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 13

14 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 15

Uganda Lesbian activist wins human rights award

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Lesbian activist murdered in South Africa Courtesy ABC News

Noxolo Nogwaza

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Noxolo Nogwaza, a 24-year-old Lesbian, was found dead in an alley in Kwa-Thema township, about 50 miles east of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Easter Sunday morning, April 24.

Witnesses said her face was so badly beaten she was unrecognizable. Her body had

been stabbed many times with broken glass shards, and there was evidence she had been raped.

A beer bottle, a large rock, and used condoms were found on and near her body.

Nogwaza was an out Lesbian and a member of the Ekurhuleni Pride Organizing Committee (EPOC), the main LGBT organization in Kwa-Thema.

EPOC, along with the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) said that the attack on Nogwaza appeared to be a so-called “cor-

courtesy of the international service for human rights

Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, founder and executive director of the LGBT rights organization Freedom and Roam Uganda, has been given the 2011 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.

The Geneva-based Martin Ennals Foundation announced the award, which comes with a grant of 20,000 Swiss francs ($23,240), on May 3.

Named after British human rights activist Martin Ennals (1927-1991), the award was created in 1993 and is given annually to someone who has demonstrated “an exceptional record of combating human rights violations by courageous means and is in need of protection.”

Awards are made by an international jury of 10 human rights organizations: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First, International Federation for Human Rights, World Organisation Against Torture, Front Line, International Commission of Jurists, Germany Diakonie, International Service for Human Rights, and HURIDOCS. Jury chair Hans Thoolen said that Nabagesera was “an exceptional woman of a rare courage, fighting under death threat for human dignity and the rights of homosexuals and marginalized people in Africa.”

He added that by recognizing Nabagesera as the laureate for 2011, the jury hoped to

emphasize its strong opposition to discrimination against individuals based on gender or sexual orientation.

Nabagesera has appeared often on radio in Uganda to argue against homophobia and has frequently been physically attacked for her broadcasts, the jury citation said.

In 2007 she was harassed at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, and on many occasions afterward she has been heckled, threatened, and even attacked.

Since then she has had to move from house to house, afraid to stay long in the same place.

Her name appeared on a hit list of Gay Ugandans published by the Ugandan tabloid Rolling Stone in October 2010.

The following January, her friend and colleague David Kato, whose name also appeared on the list, was beaten to death in his home.

According to its website, Freedom and Roam Uganda “was established in 2003 by a group of fully fledged Lesbians who were constantly harassed, insulted, and discriminated against by a misinformed society and who were touched by the plight of their sisters and brothers of the same sexual orientation.”

Its mission is to “lobby and press for the recognition of same sex relationships, especially Lesbians in Uganda and thereby attain full equal rights and freedom in all aspects of life.”

Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera

Same-sex relations are illegal in Uganda and may carry penalties of up to 14 years in prison. The notorious “kill the Gays” bill, which would allow Ugandan officials to execute “serial offenders,” is still pending in Uganda’s parliament.

U.N., U.S., and European officials have criticized Uganda, and other African coun-

tries for their laws against same-sex relations, which contravene the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Uganda has also been under fire from the UN for brutally crushing recent cost-of-living protests, resulting in the deaths of eight people, and for arresting and beating opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

rective rape,” an increasingly common crime in which men rape Lesbians to “turn them straight” or “cure” them of their sexual orientation.

Other members of EPOC have also reported harassment and attacks.

Victor Mukasa, coordinator of the Human Rights Defenders Project at CAL, said, “I am so disturbed by this horrific action.

It is the responsibility of the South African government to protect all its citizens. Hate crimes against LGBT people in this country are on the rise, and the government should come out openly against these actions.

“Protection of individuals who are vulnerable because of their sexual orientation and/ or gender identity is something provided for in the Constitution of South Africa and should be put in practice. As a regional advocacy organization, CAL will work with EPOC and others to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.”

Nogwaza’s death came three years after that of another activist, international women’s soccer star Eudy Simelane, also in Kwa-Thema.

Both victims were out as Lesbians in their community, both were apparently tortured and sexually assaulted before being killed, and the bodies of both were dumped in public places.

In 2010, a Gay man in the same township was attacked by eight men, who reportedly tried to rape him.

Local LGBT activists told The Guardian newspaper that 31 Lesbians have been murdered because of their sexuality in the past decade and more than 10 Lesbians a week are raped or gang raped in Cape Town alone.

Ntsupe, chairperson of EPOC, said, “It is very clear that these rapists are on a mission. We will not rest until justice prevails.

Eudy’s case was not recognized as a hate crime against a Lesbian and the same is not done in the cases of many other people who have been raped and/or murdered on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in South Africa.

“EPOC is determined to get to the bottom of the Noxolo case and push for justice. It

was definitely a hate crime.”

The US-based watchdog group Human Rights Watch agreed, and noted that similar crimes continue unchecked in South Africa’s townships.

Dipika Nath, a researcher in the group’s LGBT rights program, said that “Nogwaza’s death is the latest in a long series of sadistic crimes against Lesbians, Gay men, and Transgender people in South Africa. The vicious nature of the assault is a potent reminder that these attacks are premeditated, planned, and often committed with impunity.”

“Like sexual assaults of women in general, rapes and other violence against Lesbians and gender non-conforming people have reached epidemic proportions in South Africa,” Nath added. “If the South African government is committed to protecting the rights of all people equally, leaders must address the specific motives targeting the LGBT community in these crimes.”

BBC News reported that more than 2,000 people attended Nogwaza’s funeral.

One group sang that they would use razor blades to castrate the suspects if the police did not arrest them, The New Age newspaper reported. Some carried posters that read: “Love me or hate me, I will continue to be a Lesbian,” and “Raping me won’t change me.”

Sexual orientation and gender identity are protected by South Africa’s constitution, and same-sex marriages are legal there.

In March the South African government agreed to set up a national working group to investigate “corrective rape” in response to an online petition sponsored by Change. org with 170,000 signatures from 163 countries.

“The South African government and the justice system is failing these victims of corrective rape by letting the perpetrators out on ridiculously low bail, and taking literally years to bring the court cases to a conclusion,” the petition said. “In the meantime the victims have to live with seeing their rapists every day, being taunted and threatened by them, as are those who help the victims.”

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 16 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Donald Trump hasn’t learned a thing

Right wing hates King & Spalding law firm

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Donald Trump is known for many things.

Besides his massive fortune and his role in the reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice, he is perhaps best-known for his iconic hair.

But it’s becoming increasingly clear that the heyday of The Don has passed, as he’s recently dedicated himself to giving news writers a bizarre new story to cover each week.

This week, he gave LGBT publications around the globe a gem of an example of just how strange his politics have become when he came out against marriage equality – based on his experience with golf putters – in an interview with The New York Times.

Here’s what Trump said: “[Marriage equality] is like in golf. A lot of people – I don’t want this to sound trivial – but a lot of people are switching to these really long putters, very unattractive. It’s weird. You see these great players with these really long putters, because they can’t sink three-footers anymore. And I hate it. I am a traditionalist. I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be Gay, but I’m a traditionalist.”

What does that even mean? These “Trumpisms” have got to stop.

OK, let’s just be honest here. We all realize that what Trump said, and continues to say, is ridiculous. So why do we care? Because (God help us all) the man is a possible

candidate for the Republican nomination for president. Just when you thought the GOP couldn’t get any more out of touch, here comes Trump in all his combover glory.

But President Obama does not seem bothered in the least. Trump ended last week getting straight-up owned at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner by the comic stylings of both President Obama and Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers.

You might think that after the birth certificate fiasco, Trump would take a new tack and start acting like a serious, well-behaved candidate with less diarrhea of the mouth.

Not so much.

The most bizarre part of this is that, for a so-called traditionalist, he’s certainly been married more times than most traditionalists would like. As website Wonk Room’s Zack Ford put it (using Trump-friendly golf terms): “Trump can only see things in the world as attractive or unattractive, and he has no time for anything he finds ‘very unattractive.’ Just ask the many girls he objectifies and humiliates when they enter the Miss USA pageant. His taste is a minefield of sexism bunkers and LGBT sand traps that have little to do with improving others people’s lives. Trump’s campaign hasn’t even teed off yet, but he’s already shanking his approach.”

The 2012 campaign is months away. It is anybody’s guess what Trump will have said by then.

AP Photo/Steve Helber

file photo

Donald Trump

one of my legal clients will be put in the embarrassing and difficult situation like the client you walked away from, the House of Representatives,” Cuccinelli said in a letter to King & Spalding’s D.C. office.

He added “Virginia seeks firms of commitment, courage, strength, and toughness, and unfortunately, what the world has learned of King & Spalding is that your firm utterly lacks such qualities.”

Cuccinelli sent a copy of his letter to The Washington Examiner, a newspaper started by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz as a conservative competitor for the Washington Post.

On May 2, the National Rifle Association also fired King & Spalding as outside counsel for the organization.

In a letter to King & Spalding chairman Robert Hays, NRA general counsel David Lehman said the firm’s deVirginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli cision not to defend DOMA

by Mike Andrew was “indefensible.”

SGN Staff Writer “We are writing to notify you of our decision to terminate our legal services agreeKing & Spalding, the law firm that with- ment with King & Spalding, effective imdrew from its contract to defend DOMA in mediately, due to the firm’s decision to bow federal courts with the U.S. House of Rep- to political pressure and abandon a client resentatives, is under fire from right-wing in the midst of a legal representation. Spepolitical operatives for its decision. cifically, our decision is motivated by your The firm – which has a good record of pro- withdrawal as counsel for the Bipartisan viding fair and equal treatment for its own Legal Advisory Group of the U.S. House LGBT employees – announced on April 25 of Representatives in defense of Section III that it would not defend DOMA in court. of the Defense of Marriage Act,” the NRA House Speaker John Boehner decided to said. hire attorneys to defend DOMA in pending Also on May 2, the anti-Gay Concerned court cases after U.S. Attorney General Eric Women for America announced that they Holder revealed that President Obama had were awarding King & Spalding an “award” instructed the Justice Department not to do specially created for the occasion – the so. “‘Cave’-man Award.”

Immediately after King & Spalding’s anSaying that King & Spalding “crumbled nouncement, right-wingers began to termi- under the pressure from homosexual activnate their business relationships with the ists” CWA called the firm decision not to firm. defend DOMA “an unprofessional act of The first one was Virginia Attorney Gen- cowardice.” eral Ken Cuccinelli, who ended his office’s While the firm did not comment on these relationship with King & Spalding on April new developments, Hays, said previously 30. that “I determined that the process used for “King & Spalding’s willingness to drop a vetting this engagement [to defend DOMA] client, the U.S. House of Representatives, was inadequate.” in connection with the lawsuit challenging The law firm was reportedly pressured the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was by LGBT activists and by some of its own such an obsequious act of weakness that I clients – including Coca Cola – to drop the feel compelled to end your legal association DOMA case. with Virginia so that there is no chance that

Specialized Services www.sgn.org Major Credit Cards Accepted

(206) 784-0313 www.happyhauler.com

www.sgn.org Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 17

courtesy philanthro

ney, but I hope others will want to collaborate with us.”

It’s not a question of caring, he says; all people care about their community to some degree. “The question is, how can we continue to eliminate barriers that prevent people from becoming more active? Our communities are on a path that’s leading into a troubled future where our environment, our economy, and our health are slowly deteriorating. It’s hard to recognize that change because it’s so slow and humans are simply incapable of thinking about these things.

Who can even remember what they had for breakfast? The sooner there is sustained action toward a better community, then the more we can redeem for others in the future, including our children,” he said.

John Taing, 28, also co-president of Philanthro, told Seattle Gay News that he hopes that the organization “reaches the entire young professional community and starts a movement for more community-oriented living in the greater Seattle area.”

“I feel that people must collaborate with their communities to solve human and social problems, but more importantly to develop a sense of unity amongst all of humanity,” he said.

Community involvement, fair treatment, and positive communication seem to be a common thread that binds the young profesJustin Mueller (center) at Philanthro’s “Illuminate” at the Hard Rock Café sionals who make up the group. he needed a hand-up, and so he “must do the “At the end of the day, our strength as a same to pay it forward.” society should be judged by how we treat ALL-INCLUSIVE GROUP continued from page 2 “I came across Philanthro while networkThe young men and women who make up the most marginalized people in our coming for my work as a loan officer. I was in- Philanthro are representative of a generation munity,” Noha Mahgoub, 28, non-profit trigued at the thought that this was a brand- that strives to be all-inclusive. education coordinator for Philanthro, told “I have been through a lot in my life, from new organization in Seattle and consisted “We are all so different, but love each Seattle Gay News. “We are all connected.” unhealthy living situations, extreme pover- of nothing but young people my age with other regardless,” said Justin. “Whether ty, and struggling with my identity,” he said. a passion for service and volunteerism,” he Asian, Arab, Gay, or straight, we have it all A RECORD OF SUCCESS “I swore that when I was fully on my feet recalled. “I took the opportunity to volun- in Philanthro, and it serves to prove that litThe organization may be new (it began in and at least semi-stable, that I would make teer with Philanthro at their first project, in erally no matter who you are or where you November 2010) and the members may be sure to give back to my community.” partnership with the YMCA.” come from, you can make a difference – and young, but they’ve already got a long list of He maintains that others helped him when “I fell in love,” he said. “Ever since then, I have a blast while doing it!” successful community outreach events. have devoted a great deal of time to helping The group began by volunteering at the Other members of Philanthro agree. the marketing team spread the word about Co-president Kevin Wong, 26, says that Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) Philanthro and what we do. I am also sur- the group represents diversity. “My person- by helping with facility upkeep. They spent prised every time I reach out to the group to al goal for the organization is to represent a four hours with the staff, helping the sechelp me with a project. They always come different way of approaching charitable giv- ond-largest RMHC in Washington. In all, 23 through.” ing. It’s about embracing divergent thinking volunteers were present.

For example, Philanthro members showed and trying new models. It’s a scary ambiTheir work continued as they volunteered support at his last birthday celebration to tion, but it’s a necessary risk worth taking at the downtown Seattle YMCA, helping benefit Lifelong AIDS Alliance. In addition, in a world where rules are changing. We’re with various projects including designa team of them helped landscape with Earth working toward crafting different experi- ing thank-you cards for donations, designGay, and many of them volunteered to help ences that will resonate with young profes- ing materials for their internal foster youth Justin work on the Youth Pride Dance for sionals and promote greater activity in their leadership conference, baking cookies, and GLSEN. own network. It’s going to be a long jour- updating content on the website. For that

philanthro

Religion & Spirituality Rev. David Strong Pastor

SOJOURNER TRUTH MINISTRIES Sunday Worship 11:00am P.O. Box 19734 Seattle, WA 98109 Phone: 206.621.8960

Come worship with us!

2524 16th Ave. South A209 Seattle, Washington 98144 Phone 206-478-6718 www.sojournertruthministries.org

A Church for All God’s People – since 1972 www.mccseattle.org Sunday Worship 11:00 am 1415 NE 43rd St. on U-District (206) 325-2421

18 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

event, over 40 volunteers lent a hand.

Philanthro prides itself on not repeating the same formula over and over. They help out when and where they can, such as at an educational event at the Balmar in Ballard.

Nearly 100 guests raised over $500 from inkind donations.

Last week, Philanthro threw a very successful party, “Illuminate,” at the Hard Rock Café. Nearly 300 guests came, raising over $5,000 for the YMCA foster youth program.

“The ‘bright future’ theme was possible thanks to sponsors providing black lights, balloons, and glow sticks, making everything come together in an amazingly colorful way,” said Justin. “VIP guests were given swag bags filled with coupons to Buca di Beppo, free haircuts at Seven Salon, and gift cards to Sweet Iron Waffle and Candies.

Prize giveaways included chocolate box packages, free whitenings, Massage Envy gift cards, and a Julep Salon gift card.”

Their Puget Sound Blood Center donations are ongoing – over 100 lives saved so far, with three lives saved for every pint of blood collected. Their goal is to donate over 120 pints by the end of the year.

“We are new in Seattle and would love any support, whether it be marketing/media connections, financial support (they are a registered 501c3), physical support as a volunteer or member, and any other support possible,” said Justin. “We are also always looking for deserving non-profits to partner with, and we are actually accepting ideas for

our next partnership to start in June. We are meeting on May 15 to present to each other our ideas and decide as a group.”

transgender continued from cover

Crowley, then punched her.

Police Department spokesperson Renee Witt confirmed that the assault was being handled as a bias crime.

Witt told SGN that Seattle police receive extensive training on how to deal with the city’s diverse communities.

“They get basic training at the Washington State Criminal Justice Center, then they get four to six weeks of advanced training once they come to us,” Witt said.

“We go into all the malicious harassment definitions, we have people from the respective communities in, and our liaison, Kim Bogucki, meets with them.”

A graduate of Arizona State University, where she studied international business and marketing, Crowley was born and raised in Phoenix.

She had been staying at This Is HOW – a transitional home for Trans people – when she decided to relocate.

“People told me that Seattle would be the best fit for me,” she explained.

In spite of the assault, she is happy she made the move.

“Seattle is a lot cooler,” she says.

Video asks, “Haven’t they waited long enough?”

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor While it may be true that patience is a virtue, in the case of New York residents Richard Adrian Dorr, 83, and John Mace, 91, both time and patience may be running out.

The Gay couple, who have been together for an astonishing 61 years, still cannot get married.

On May 3, Freedom to Marry released a video, Richard and John – Haven’t They Waited Long Enough?, which tells the story of their decades-long relationship and how, after all these years, the two men are still waiting for the freedom to marry.

“Richard and John are the quintessential New York couple. They met at Julliard [School of Music] and have spent most of their lives together here,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry. “They are still obviously so deeply in love after 61 years, yet after all those years of commitment, being there for one another through the ups and down of life, they are

still denied the one thing they want most: the freedom to marry in New York. It is time to change that. After 61 years together, haven’t they waited long enough?”

The two men met at Julliard in 1948 and have been a couple since 1950. Both are voice teachers who live and work in Manhattan. Over the years, they have taught students including Bette Midler, Vanessa Redgrave, and the late Natasha Richardson.

“We’ve thought about doing something up in Massachusetts or Connecticut, but we’ve always been New Yorkers … everything has been New York,” says Dorr in the video.

“We’re New Yorkers, and after 61 years of togetherness, we feel we have a right to be married in New York.”

The video is part of an aggressive online advertising campaign aimed at garnering support for the freedom for same-sex couples to marry in New York.

The video, available on the Freedom to Marry website (freedomtomarry.org), was produced and directed by Sako Brockmann of Sideways8Media.

Health and Counseling Services www.sgn.org

First Time Patients get a Free Gram!!

SPECIALTIES LGBT Issues Couples Counseling Depression Anger Management Domestic Violence Grief and Loss HIV/AIDS

Gary Sarozek, MA, LMHC 1370 Stewart Street (Across from REI) Seattle WA, 98109

• Convenient, We Come To You • Professional, Discreet Delivery • Easy To Join, Application On Line • Order On Line Or By Phone • Highest Quality Medicine • Reasonable Donation, Free Delivery • Deliveries Usually Within 1 Hour • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee • Serving Patients In King County

206-619-4187 gsarozek@comcast.net www.garysarozek.com

Que Areste, N.D. Naturopathic Family Physician

206.328.2926 drque@speakeasy.net 1605 12th Avenue, Suite 16 • Seattle, WA 98122

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 19

Attorney general vacates deportation of same-sex partner

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In a stunning move, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder vacated deportation orders against Paul Wilson Dorman, the legal same-sex partner of a U.S. citizen.

Holder’s decision was announced May 5.

As SGN goes to press, the name of Dorman’s partner and the details of their relationship remain unknown, except for the fact that they apparently reside in New Jersey.

However, Holder’s statement makes it clear that the attorney general is deliberately setting aside Section 3 of DOMA, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

“Pursuant to my authority set forth in 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1(h)(1)(i), I order that the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (‘Board’) in this case applying Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (‘DOMA’), 1 U.S.C. § 7, be vacated, and that this matter be referred to me for review,” Holder writes.

DOMA prevents federal authorities – including immigration officers – from according the same deference to legally married or partnered same-sex couples as they would to opposite-sex spouses.

According to a UCLA law school study, there are at least 35,000 bi-national samesex couples in the U.S. Nearly half of them – 46% – are raising children.

On February 23, Holder announced that President Obama had concluded that DOMA Section 3 was unconstitutional, and the Justice Department would no longer defend it in court.

On March 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would hold deportation cases involving same-sex couples “in abeyance,” but by March 30 the agency was saying that such cases would proceed as usual.

In his May 5 order, Holder explicitly instructs the Board of Immigration Appeals “to make such findings as may be necessary to determine whether and how the constitutionality of DOMA is presented in this case, including, but not limited to:

“1) whether respondent’s same-sex partnership or civil union qualifies him to be considered a ‘spouse’ under New Jersey law; “2) whether, absent the requirements of DOMA, respondent’s same-sex partnership or civil union would qualify him to be considered a ‘spouse’ under the Immigration and Nationality Act; “3) what, if any, impact the timing of respondent’s civil union should have on his request for that discretionary relief; and “4) whether, if he had a ‘qualifying relative,’ the respondent would be able to satisfy the exceptional and unusual hardship requirement for cancellation of removal.”

Attorney Lavi Soloway, a co-founder of Immigration Equality, told Metro Weekly in an email, “This development could be a sign that the Obama administration is looking for a way to protect Gay and Lesbian bi-national couples who are currently barred from the regular marriage-based immigration process by the Defense of Marriage Act.” Immigration Equality’s communications director, Steve Ralls, added, “This seems to be a step in the right direction. I have little doubt that the recent, significant Congressional pressure on DOJ, led by Senator Kerry and Congresswoman Lofgren, played a key role in Holder’s decision.”

Another couple – Josh Vandiver of Colorado and Henry Velandia of Venezuela – are scheduled for a deportation hearing on May 6. They were married in Connecticut where same-sex marriages are legal.

Soloway, their attorney, previously received a notice from the chief counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that deportation proceedings against Velandia would go forward because “the attorney general released a statement in which he indicated that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) ‘will continue to be enforced by the Executive Branch.”

As SGN goes to press, it remains to be seen what effect, if any, Holder’s May 5 order will have on Vandiver and Velandia’s case.

deporting continued from cover

Legal Services

the same situation. A loving, legally married couple are now at risk of being torn apart with Henry’s potential deportation looming.”

Josh and Henry became tireless advocates for LGBT bi-national couples in the United States, all the while fighting to stay together and save their own marriage. Last fall they launched the “Stop the Deportations” campaign to raise awareness of the cruel impact that DOMA has on married same-sex couples and to challenge DOMA in immigration court proceedings.

“I never intended nor wanted to be an activist. I have to do what is necessary to save our marriage and to keep the man I love in this country,” said Josh, reflecting on their seven-month campaign. “Henry could be ripped away from me, but that doesn’t have to happen. The Obama administration can immediately stop the deportations of spouses of Gay and Lesbian Americans.

This would ensure that Henry and I aren’t torn apart.”

Their predicament – which they share with tens of thousands of other LGBT couples – was thrust in to the spotlight again in March, after the Obama administration declared it would no longer defend DOMA in the courts. Despite hopes that this would mean the federal government would cease deporting LGBT spouses, the administration continues to enforce DOMA as it tears families apart, despite President Obama’s continued assurances that his administration is only prioritizing criminal deportations.

“These men are going through what no couple in America should have to go through: choosing between love and country,” said Robin McGehee, director of GetEQUAL. “Henry and Josh are a loving couple. America is better than this, and I urge President Obama and Secretary Napolitano to act now. Save this relationship and stop deporting our families.”

commission continued from cover

all health care plans offered to City of Seattle employees. We urge the City to remove these exclusions, and to provide coverage of gender-affirming surgical, hormonal, psychological, and medical care for its valued Transgender employees.”

According to page 47 of the Benefit Plan prepared on behalf of the City of Seattle for its City Preventative Plan, all insurance plans currently offered to employees of the City of Seattle contain extensive exclusions regarding medical care for Transgender individuals.

“These exclusions have devastating effects on Transgender employees,” said LGBT Commission members to Harrell.

“The exclusions promote negative messaging and discrimination, and they prevent employees from accessing care that could increase their safety, comfort, and work performance.”

Specifically, on page 47 of the Benefit Plan, the policy reads that Transgender persons would not be covered for: “Sex change: Any treatment, drug, service, or supply related to changing sex or sexual characteristics, including surgical procedures to alter the appearance or function of the body; hormones and hormone therapy; prosthetic devices; and medical or psychological counseling.”

According to LGBT Commission members, an exclusion this broad has devastating health outcomes. City of Seattle employees denied coverage through their insurance plans due to their Transgender status could develop debilitating secondary medical conditions, have substantially higher risk for suicide, and experience increased psychological distress. Typically with exclusions this broad, once an insurance company is aware of an individual’s Transgender status, they will exclude other basic medical and psychological care that it erroneously assumes is related to being Transgender.

“Many of the Transgender individuals we know describe this as common practice and affirm that it has happened to them,” said

www.sgn.org

20 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

the Commission. “They describe that once the term ‘Transgender’ is in the chart, mental health, steroids, or procedures are universally denied. This experience is unfair, especially as non-Transgender patients do not have to prove medical necessity for any number of health care services. This exclusion should be removed.”

to include these benefits without experiencing skyrocketing utilization, and that there is no need to separately rate and price the Transgender benefit,” LGBT Commission members told Councilmember Harrell. “The City of Seattle can negotiate with health insurance providers for a plan that treats the benefit for Transgender procedures the same as all other medical procedures and does not require an additional premium or [at most] a very minimal increase.”

The city of Berkeley, California, is currently wrestling with whether or not to remove these exclusions. Berkeley proposes to set aside $20,000 in a pool on a firstcome, first-served basis since they cannot add it to their current benefit package.

Sadly, much of the local discussion of this issue illustrates the lack of understanding that these services are medically necessary and not frivolous, said the Commission. “In a city as liberal as Berkeley, we are reminded of the need to educate the general community about Transgender issues.”

According to the LGBT Commission, the coverage is a medical necessity.

“There is a great deal of misinformation about Transgender identities and genderaffirmative medical care,” pointed out the Commission. “First and foremost, Transgender medical treatment is not cosmetic. It is necessary medical treatment. Psychological care, hormonal treatments, and surgical procedures are all medically necessary for Transgender-identified individuals.”

This fact of medical necessity is no longer open to debate – the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, and the World Professional Association of Transgender Professionals all clearly outline medically necessary treatment for Transgender individuals.

PRECEDENTS AND COST EFFECTIVENESS The Seattle LGBT Commission did their homework on this. When commission members like Tiffany Nelson, who is also an employee at Group Health, learned of the injustice, they set out to change the way the City of Seattle does business with its Transgender employees. But first, she said, they needed proof that this change has worked in other places.

Nationally, San Francisco leads the way and serves as an example of the impact on costs and utilization of adding Transgender benefits. In 2001, the city set out to provide inclusion of these benefits for their 100,000 people covered (employees, retirees, and dependents).

San Francisco anticipated 35 members would file claims of approximately $50,000 each. For four years (2001-2004), $1.70 in additional premiums were added in anticipation of high utilization and high cost coverage of these additional benefits. During this time, the city collected $4.3 million and only paid out $156,000 on seven claims.

This allowed the city to negotiate lower rates for the subsequent years; after 2006, the benefit was no longer a “rider” (a separately added benefit) but part of a complete package. During the period of 2001-2006, the city increased premiums for Transgender coverage totaling $5.6 million, but only paid out $386,417 in claims.

“It is a common misperception that adding ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE Transgender coverage will result in employCOVERAGE FOR ALL ees’ rushing to schedule expensive proceThe LGBT Commission maintains that dures – San Francisco’s experience demonstrates that a large city can plan and budget what they are asking for is simply that the

City of Seattle provides accessible and inclusive coverage for all of its employees.

According to the Commission, a sound insurance plan should remove all Transgender-specific insurance plan exclusions, add important Transgender-specific language (“Transgender Medical Treatment: The plans cover charges for Transgender medical treatment including all medically necessary office visits, laboratory tests, prescription drugs, hormone treatments, and transitional surgeries. The plans cover these charges the same as covered medical expenses for any other sickness”), and cover all medically necessary procedures and surgeries.

The city of Seattle has the opportunity to lead the way for the state of Washington on this important issue, they say. “The current climate of marginalization and exclusion will only change if the City requires inclusivity from their plans and carriers and then urges other organizations and vendors to do the same. Transgender benefits are not costprohibitive, and planned inclusion is simply the right thing to do.”

Seattle Gay News is committed to its continual coverage of this issue and will update our readers on the outcome of the scheduled meeting between Harrell and the LGBT Commission.

FOX

continued from cover worse.

The GLAAD president pointed out that: • Instead of inviting experts on young adult development or youth themselves, the show framed questions as “Gay” versus “anti-Gay.” • Guest Bryan Fischer from the American Family Association the opportunity to make horribly offensive comparisons about Gay and Lesbian families, and called Glee “pro-

Real Estate & Home Services

paganda.”

• FOX host Damali Keith compared the Gay characters on Glee to “product placement” by soda companies in movies, where “everyone in the theater is thirsty for that particular brand.”

“Bryan Fischer is an extremist with no qualifications to offer the discussion apart from his bigotry,” GLAAD officials wrote in a May 3 statement to the media. “This is a man whose disdain for diversity is evident in his track record of making statements such as calling Muslim student associations ‘parasites’ and a ‘toxic cancer.’”

GLAAD said FOX Houston “gave Fischer a platform to broadcast his anti-Gay rhetoric in the nation’s fourth-largest city and the 10th-largest media market.”

Officials for the watchdog group say host Keith didn’t challenge Fischer, but instead contributed her own uninformed anti-Gay commentary.

After receiving complaints about the program, GLAAD officials contacted the station to demand an apology. “Broadcasting anti-Gay speech is dangerously irresponsible, and the station must be held accountable,” they said. “In conversations with GLAAD, a representative of the station implied that an apology was in order and should be expected.”

However, no apology has been issued. In fact, in an abrupt reversal, representatives of the station now maintain that they stand behind the show’s content.

In all reality, the KRIV-26 representatives’ decision to not issue an apology is all the more disturbing given the positive and affirming messages and stance against bullying that were part of the theme of the episode of Glee being discussed.

Currently, equality groups are advocating for the passage of a comprehensive anti-bullying bill in the Texas legislature. The bill has already passed the State Senate 29-2.

So what does Lady Gaga, the pop star and fierce advocate for LGBT equality whom the episode was based on, think about the episode?

“I really loved Glee’s ‘Born This Way’ episode,” tweeted Gaga. “I admire the show for being brave + fighting for such modern social messaging. Never back down.”

Major Credit Cards Accepted

(206) 784-0313 www.happyhauler.com

Professional Customized Home Cleaning!

Choice is Good.

The Right Choice Is Important.

Call Diversity Cleaners.

gArY D. tOrgErsON CO.

Building Restoration Specialists expert residential painting and carpentry

Diversity Cleaners Jonathan Bell-Owner Phone: 206-330-8528

www.diversitycleaners.com

Bonded

D#602 244 664

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Comprehensive professional services essential to long term home preservation and renovation.

Visit our web site for extensive displays of our services and expertise, including correction of peeling and blistering problems.

Phone: 206-781-0999 / www.torgersonCompany.com #GARYDTC134CJ

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 21

Kal Klass DDS

A very personable dentist!

1001 Broadway #314 Broadway and Madison Seattle, Wa 98112

206-324-3800 www.drklass.com

22 Seattle Gay News

May 6, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 6, 2011

Seattle Gay News 23