Issue 21 Volume 40
Celebrating 39 Years!
RED DRESS/$16K p. 6
PRIEST SENTENCED p. 8
ROCKER STUNS p. 34
Seattle Gay News
FRIDAY May 25, 2012 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & newsstands
SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
NAACP endorses NGLTF’s Rea Carey marriage equality SGN exclusive interview
courtesy national gay and lesbian task force
Executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Rea Carey
first year in office, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was still law, and marriage equality was still being reThe last time I spoke with Rea ferred to as “Gay marriage.” So Carey, executive director or the much has changed since our last National Gay and Lesbian Task conversation – most of it good. Force, was in late 2009. President Obama had yet to complete his see carey page 19 by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
‘A long time coming,’ Seattle NAACP president says by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer On May 19, the NAACP – the country’s oldest and largest civil rights organization – endorsed marriage equality in a strongly worded resolution that passed the group’s board by an overwhelming 62-2 vote. “We make this statement today because it is the legacy and responsibility of the NAACP to speak up on the civil rights issue of our times,” said NAACP President Ben Jealous during a press conference after the vote. “We are both proud of our history and challenged by it – challenged to never allow threats to equality for all people under the law to go uncontested.” Jealous also took the opportunity to explain the significance of see NAACP page 20
GSBA Scholar Marilyn Paleso’o
by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer
The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) and the Pride Foundation both presented their annual scholarship awards last weekend. Both organizations have been dedicated to empowering and financially backing the next generation of LGBTQ and allied leaders for two decades. “With 500 guests in the room on Friday night, you could hear a pin drop as our students stood up to share their stories of hopes, dreams, challenges, and accomplishments. If you meet the GSBA scholars, you will have no doubt that this is a group of students capable and ready to take on the complex issues of their time,” Louise Chernin, president and CEO of the GSBA, told SGN. “For us in the GSBA, we are so proud to be able to play a small part in making sure LGBTQA students have the support of their community, both financially and emotionally. It is an investment that will benefit us all.” “Pride Foundation’s Scholarship Program represents what is
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james whitely / seattle gay news
Pride Foundation, GSBA Honoring award LGBT scholarships Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk Street is officially unveiled in San Diego
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
This was a big week for the late Gay icon Harvey Milk. On May 22, millions of people around the world celebrated Milk’s birthday. He would have been 82 this year. The Harvey Milk Foundation also celebrated the third annual Harvey Milk Day, marked with see scholarships page 20 events around the globe com-
memorating the legacy left by America’s first elected openly Gay official. In San Diego, new street signs were unveiled Tuesday transforming Blaine Avenue, a two-block roadway in the city’s Hillcrest neighborhood, into Harvey Milk Street. City officials believe the street, see milk page 21