Issue 19 Volume 39
Celebrating 38 Years!
ACTIVIST MURDERED p. 16
QUEER $$$ p. 17
doric wilson p. 18
Seattle Gay News
FRIDAY May 13, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Seattle City Council moves forward to provide Trans health care equality
On May 11, Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee, sent a letter to the Health Care Committee to encourage them to consider removing the exclusion of coverage for the city’s Tr a n s g e n d e r employees. Seattle Gay News was provided a copy of the letter by Harrell’s office. In the letter, Harrell clearly outlines his support, and the support of Councilmembers Sally Clark and Tom Rasmussen, for the Health Care Committee (HC2) to “consider removing such exclusions as discussions, negotiations, and policy considerations are made relative to
the finalization of the benefits contained in our current four medical plans.” “As we all know, the health coverage offered to City employees is critically important,” wrote Harrell. “As we continue to contain our costs of health coverage, we believe it is equally important to consider the values, purpose, and actions contemplated by our city’s commitment to social justice and fairness to all employees.” He said it has long been recognized in our city that individuals who identify as part of the Transgender community are respected and productive employees. “We believe that our support for all employees should not be based on whether an individual has iden-
all photos courtesy seattle.gov
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
“I applaud the Commission for bringing this issue to the forefront.”
(l to r) Seattle Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen, Sally Clark, and Bruce Harrell
tified themselves as a member of the Transgender community. Our actions as a city, including the negotiation of benefits in health coverage packages, should recognize this important commitment,” said Harrell.
“It is one of the City Council’s goals to pass laws and implement policies that protect the rights, legal benefits, and privileges of all people, irrespective of gender identity and expression,” he said. “This commitment extends it-
self to full access to employment, housing, and education, as well as health care.” In addition, Harrell said the City Council has made it clear that it see trans health page 20
Equal Rights Washington Navy changes gala is a resounding success course on same-
sex marriage
shaUn knittel
make laws “that affect our community more fair.” “The outpouring of support and participation by so many – from sponsors and contributors to LGBT community and political leaders – truly reflects how far we’ve come as an organization, both within the LGBT community and the eyes of the public at large,” said Thomas Pitchford, ERW development and outreach director. “This is the fifth anniversary for this event, and for that reason is a milestone in its own right, but beyond that, the event also reached new heights in so many ways – from dollars raised to such extensive involvement from peer organizations and community leaders – this goes beyond the usual time milestone in terms of its significance.” This legislative session, ERW worked on the passage of three major LGBT civil rights bills. “While the out-of-state marriage Chief of Navy Chaplains recognition bill is very straightforRear Admiral Mark Tidd ward, the anti-bullying bill and the Executive director for Equal Rights Washington Josh Friedes Uniform Parentage Act will take by Mike Andrew by Shaun Knittel biggest event ever, bringing in a great deal of work to make sure SGN Staff Writer SGN Associate Editor over $130,000 from a sold-out, they are implemented correctly,” On May 11, Chief of Navy 300-person crowd at the W Hotel said Josh Friedes, executive director for ERW. “The legislature is Chaplains Rear Admiral Mark Equal Rights Washington in downtown Seattle. Tidd announced that any consider(ERW) announced this week that ERW officials say the commuation of Navy chaplains performtheir Fifth Annual Gala Dinner nity can rest assured that the do& Auction on May 7 was their nation dollars are put to work to see erw page 20 ing same-sex marriages would be
proud to Be Different
We are conveniently located on-site at Lifelong AIDS Alliance below the Thrift Store.
suspended “until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and inter-Departmental coordination.” The May 11 announcement reversed a previous memo from Tidd suggesting that Navy chaplains could marry same-sex couples if the Navy personnel in question were stationed in states that allowed same-sex marriage. Tidd wrote on April 13 that repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” required revision of the Navy’s policies and training manual for its chaplains, specifically as they related to same-sex marriage. According to Tidd’s April memo, he submitted the question to the Navy’s legal department and “legal counsel has concluded that generally speaking base facility use is sexual orientasee navy page 21
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