SGN June 8, 2012 - Section 1

Issue 23 Volume 40

Celebrating 39 Years!

SGN ’s 2012 PRIDE EVENTS CALENDAR p. 10

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Appeals court reaffirms strikedown of Prop 8

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has turned down a request from supporters of California’s Proposition 8 to revisit their prior ruling that the measure is unconstitutional.

The June 5 decision leaves in place a February decision by a three-judge panel of the court, but allows Prop 8 supporters 90 days

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prop 8, passed by California voters in 2008, reversed a California Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriages and reinstated a ban on such marriages in the state.

Federal district judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the ballot measure was unconstitutional in Au-

Opponents of same-sex marriage on Wednesday submitted more than 240,000 signatures, about twice as many as needed, to qualify Referendum 74 for the ballot in November.

Protect Marriage Washington had until Wednesday to gather at least 120,577 signatures to force a public vote on Washington’s marriage equality law, passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The legislation was to have taken effect June 7, but now remains on hold until the election.

The state Elections Division will test the validity of the signatures.

According to David Ammons, a spokesman for the Secretary of State’s office, R-74 could be officially certified for the November ballot by the middle of next week.

“By all reasonable expectations,

see prop 8 page 20

see R 74 page 20

Elaine Thompson / associated press

Christa Lohman

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

240,000 signatures – R-74 on to Nov. ballot

Opponents of marriage equality stack boxes of signed Referendum 74 petitions at the Secretary of State’s office in Olympia.

Mormons build bridges Say it again: DOMA is unconstitutional at Utah Pride March Brek Joost

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

courtesy all movie

A federal district judge in New York has ruled that DOMA is unconstitutional because there is no “rational basis” to deprive Gay and Lesbian couples of the rights enjoyed by opposite-sex married couples.

Judge Barbara Jones ruled on June 6 that Edie Windsor had been deprived of her constitutional right to equal protection because she was forced to pay estate taxes after the death of her wife, Thea Spyer. Married opposite-sex couples are able to inherit propThea Spyer (l) and Edie Windsor in 2007 erty from their spouses nal basis test, irrespective of the without paying estate taxes.

In her opinion, Jones wrote that context, the court must consider “at a minimum this court ‘must whether the government’s asserted insist on knowing the relation be- interests are legitimate. Pursuant tween the classification adopted to those established principles, and and the object to be attained.’ mindful of the Supreme Court’s The search for the link between jurisprudential cues, the court classification and objective gives finds that DOMA’s section 3 does substance to the equal protection not pass constitutional muster.”

Section 3 of the Defense of Maranalysis.

“Additionally, as has always been required under the ratiosee doma page 17

Mormons showed their support for the LGBT community by marching in this year’s Utah Pride parade in Salt Lake City.

by Annalisa Millo Special to the SGN The Utah Pride Festival has seen more than 20,000 attendees each year for the past few years, and 2012 was no exception.

Our parade this year boasted Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter for the 2008

film Milk, as grand marshal. There were close to 120 floats, up from last year’s roughly 90.

It’s no secret that Salt Lake City, Utah, is the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), also known as the Mormon Church. The incendiary 2010 documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition revealed that

the church was a significant backer of the campaign to repeal samesex marriage in California.

Needless to say, this caused a good amount of turmoil and tension in our community, LDS and non-LDS, Queer and straight alike. see utah page 17

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Green River CC offers gender-neutral bathrooms

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer This week, Green River Community College (GRCC), in Auburn, Washington, has designated many of its restrooms as “gender-neutral.”

Although GRCC hasn’t received any reports of students being harassed or feeling unwelcome in bathrooms, school officials say they made the change in an effort to be “proactive instead of reactive.”

“We did it for a number of reasons – we did it to provide a service, we did it to start a conversation,” Dani Chang, GRCC’s student services director, told SGN. “It’s opened the door to having the simple conversation about accessibility and service for all students and creating a safe space for all students.”

The student-led initiative took effect Monday, June 4, and ends today (June 8), but many hope that the experiment will lead to a permanent change.

We’ve had some naysayers who don’t understand why,” said Chang, “But it’s given us the opportunity to have those conversations.”

Although anyone can use the genderneutral restrooms, which are large multistall facilities meant to serve many students at a time, school officials think they’ve left plenty of restrooms available that are desig“Students have a choice,” said Chang. nated for only one gender.

Sixty-five stalls were designated as gen- “Either gendered or gender-neutral.”

Fliers were placed throughout the GRCC der-neutral, leaving 111 for men only and campus early this week explaining the 91 for women only.

In Loving Memory Of

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June 8, 2012

change to the student body and the restrooms designated gender-neutral had their Men/Women signs covered up. Additionally, information explaining the change in several languages was made available to international students.

“People who do not conform to the gender binary, such as Transgender people, often face legal issues, harassment, and even violence if they are perceived by others to be using the ‘wrong’ restroom,” said GRCC in a statement.

Still, not everyone was pleased.

“I’d probably leave just because there is that danger of a man and a woman in a bathroom alone, especially since there aren’t one-seater [rooms]. They’re open bathrooms with, like, four stalls, and, you know, anything could happen,” said one student, Rachel. “It just makes me nervous.”

Rachel also said she is upset because the move was approved by school administrators without asking for opinions from the entire student body.

GRCC, established in 1965, is about 30 miles south of Seattle. For more information on their gender-neutral bathroom trial, visit www.greenriver.edu and click on “events calendar.”

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Only a month after launching a crackdown on U.S. nuns, the Vatican has condemned a book on sexual ethics by noted Catholic theologian Sister Margaret Farley.

Farley’s 2005 book Just Love reveals a “defective understanding of the objective nature of natural moral law” and is “in direct contradiction with Catholic teaching in the field of sexual morality,” the Vatican said.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the agency responsible for enforcing Catholic dogma, sent an official notification of its findings to Farley’s superiors in the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas on May 21. The Vatican published the document online on June 4.

The notification was signed by CDF head Cardinal William Levada and approved by Pope Benedict XVI, who had previously headed the CDF as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

In addition to condemning several of Farley’s conclusions in the book, the Vatican banned Just Love from use in any Catholic teaching institution.

In a statement also released June 4, Farley said she had hoped to propose a framework for sexual ethics that “uses a criteria of justice” in evaluating sexual relations.

“The fact that Christians (and others) have achieved new knowledge and deeper understanding of human embodiment and sexuality seems to require that we at least examine the possibility of development in sexual ethics,” she said.

Sister Farley has received 11 honorary degrees over her lifetime, and is a past presi-

dent of the Society of Christian Ethics and the Catholic Theological Society of America.

The CDF did not write a point-by-point critique of Farley’s book, but it did indicate its objections to several of her conclusions.

For example, Farley writes that masturbation “usually does not raise any moral questions at all.”

She goes on, “It is surely the case that many women … have found great good in self-pleasuring – perhaps especially in the discovery of their own possibilities for pleasure – something many had not experienced or even known about in their ordinary sexual relations with husbands or lovers.

“In this way, it could be said that masturbation actually serves relationships rather than hindering them.”

In response the CDF noted dryly, “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.”

Farley departs even more from the Vatican line when she discusses legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

“Legislation for nondiscrimination against homosexuals, but also for domestic partnerships, civil unions, and Gay marriage, can also be important in transforming the hatred, rejection, and stigmatization of Gays and Lesbians that is still being reinforced by teachings of ‘unnatural’ sex, disordered desire, and dangerous love,” she writes.

“Presently one of the most urgent issues before the U.S. public is marriage for samesex partners – that is, the granting of social recognition and legal standing to unions between Lesbians and Gays comparable to

Gay man takes first place in San Diego mayoral primary

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer An openly Gay conservative Republican, Carl DeMaio, captured first place in San Diego’s mayoral primary election June 5.

DeMaio and the second-place finisher, progressive Democrat Bob Filner (currently a U.S. congressman), will advance to the November 6 runoff election.

With 97% of the vote counted, DeMaio had 32%, Filner had 30%, independent Nathan Fletcher had 24%, and openly Lesbian Republican Bonnie Dumanis (San Diego County’s district attorney) had 13%.

DeMaio and Filner both support samesex marriage, but DeMaio has said that as mayor he would focus on economic issues, not LGBT activism.

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and the second-largest in

Sister Margaret Farley

unions between heterosexuals.”

That passage made the Vatican almost apoplectic.

“Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered,” the CDF writes.

“They are contrary to the natural law.

They close the sexual act to the gift of life.

They do not proceed from a genuine affec-

tive and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.”

In her June 4 response, Farley says she was trying to explore some new topics in sexual ethics, and never intended to write a textbook on Catholic dogma.

“I can only clarify that the book was not intended to be an expression of current official Catholic teaching,” she wrote, “nor was it aimed specifically against this teaching. It is of a different genre altogether.”

California.

The mayoral primary election is nonpartisan, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election regardless of their party affiliation. (If one candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, he or she is elected without a runoff.)

DeMaio’s campaign has reported donations from anti-Gay activists, including at least two who helped fund the campaign for Proposition 8, which re-banned same-sex marriage in California.

Current Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders, who could not run again because of term limits, has been an outspoken supporter of same-sex marriage and testified in the federal case that struck down Prop 8 as unconstitutional. His daughter Lisa is openly Lesbian and married to a woman.

The ruling that struck down Prop 8 was af-

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Vatican bans nun’s book on sexual ethics

Carl DeMaio

firmed by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 5 (see story, front page) and now is set for appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Some court-watchers believe the Supremes may decline to review the 9th Circuit’s decision, which was narrowly struc-

tured to apply only to the situation in California – the only state ever to give same-sex couples the right to marry and then take that right away.

If the Supreme Court does not take the case, Prop 8 will be dead and same-sex marriage will resume in California this fall.

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UW helps med students gain LGBT cultural competency

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer For the past three months, UW TEST, an outreach HIV testing program, has been conducting free tests at Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center (SASG, formerly Dunshee House) on Capitol Hill.

The program is run by University of Washington medical students in collaboration with SASG and King County Public Health.

In addition to receiving the necessary training to conduct HIV tests, UW TEST offers UW medical students a chance to become culturally competent by working directly with Seattle’s LGBT community.

“We are all very excited about this collaboration,” said Olivia Lucero, president of UW TEST and a second-year med student at UW. The goal of UW TEST is twofold. First, it aims to offer free HIV testing and counseling to the Seattle community and, second, to help first- and second-year medical students gain valuable experience interacting and consulting with patients, particularly LGBT patients.

After the three-month pilot period of testing, UW TEST, SASG, and King County Public Health met to discuss the successes and challenges of the project.

“Our intent was originally driven by a needs assessment we conducted on site at SASG, surveying clients on whether or not they needed access to testing and whether or not they would actually get tested at SASG,” Derek Blechinger, director of clinical services for UW TEST and a secondyear medical student at UW, told SGN. It was based on the results of the needs assessment that UW TEST was able to have a weekly presence at SASG for the past three months.

“It’s been a long, slow warm-up to actually connect with folks who attend meetings at SASG, but it’s starting to pick up,” said Blechinger. “Our plans are to continue to find ways to connect with the community at SASG and better provide access to HIV testing for folks who haven’t had a test in the past year, and especially for those who may find themselves needing a test more frequently than annually.”

Jake Ketchum, program manager at SASG, said this collaboration is something he’s been looking forward to for a long time.

told SGN. Currently, UW TEST has eight trained student HIV outreach testers, two of whom have received additional training by shadowing at the STD clinic and are now serving as HIV testing supervisors. It also has two student HIV epidemiologists, who are responsible for the anonymous data collected

by UW TEST. Additionally, the whole program is run by UW students.

“Thus far, this experience has had incredible value for students,” Blechinger continued. “At our recent meeting with Public Health, one of our student testers recounted her experiences getting trained in HIV testing and counseling, her time shadowing at the STD clinic, and the HIV tests she’s both observed and conducted herself. One of the things she said that struck me the most is how important the skill sets she’s learning are going to be to her as a future physician – the ability to candidly and non-judgmentally discuss sex and sexual health with patients, answer difficult questions about HIV, work with people who are working on their sobriety, and being with folks during what can be an incredibly transformative and difficult time.”

As the pilot period comes to a close, UW TEST seems to have been a success in many regards. According to Blechinger, plans to work with Gay City Health Project in addition to SASG are now in the works as well.

Additionally, as the UW medical program is very highly regarded and very selective, it’s quite possible that as UW TEST picks up and expands, other universities may begin similar programs.

In reference to the female student mentioned earlier, Blechinger highlighted the success of the program to SGN. “She is a great example of what we are trying to do with UW TEST – to not only provide excellent, free rapid HIV testing services to the SASG community but also train future physicians in how to better incorporate sexual, chemical, and mentalhealth counseling into their future practices as physicians. I’d like to think we are slowly making an army of lean, mean, HIV-savvy, and LGBT-friendly physician machines!

And for every future physician we train through UW TEST, they will carry their skills forward and impact tens of thousands of lives in their careers. It’s an incredible feeling.”

“It’s crucial that we have the programs to help those who are suffering with HIV/ AIDS,” Ketchum told the University of Washington’s student paper, The Daily, as the program was beginning. “But it also seemed necessary to offer testing just to increase awareness and also in a place where those who get bad news can find help.”

What makes UW TEST unique, however, is that it’s really the first program of its kind, giving the next generation of doctors a chance, while still in grad school, to work directly with LGBT people.

“Often, doctors don’t have [this kind] of dialogue with people from the LGBT community prior to coming out of school,” Joshua Wallace, executive director of SASG, told SGN. “We are hoping to give med students practical experience in talking with people before and after the test,” said Blechinger.

“There’s already some groundwork laid for med students. They know how to take patient histories, for example, but hands-on conversation is something we’re hoping to provide.

“LGBT health is at the forefront of our attention in UW TEST and at the UW School of Medicine. Sexual and gender minorities experience numerous health disparities beyond HIV and STDs. Issues like mental health, addiction, youth homelessness, suicide, eating disorders, obesity, smoking, some cancers, and other health problems impact our community at greater rates due to various things such as stigma and minority stress. In some ways, medicine contributes to these disparities due to negative social attitudes, lack of appropriate physician education, and inadequate cultural competency and LGBT-specific curriculum. We have a duty to LGBT patients to foster the required attitudes, comfort, and knowledge in all future physicians to better serve what has historically been an underserved, stigmatized community.

“The past couple of years have seen a growing tide of support from the American Academy of Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, the Institute of Medicine, and even the White House to better train physicians to serve LGBT patients.

Teaching future physicians to be not only comfortable with LGBT patients but excited to have them is vital to improving the health of our LGBT communities,” Blechinger

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Maryland marriage law goes to Nov. repeal vote

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Minnesota shifts against marriage ban, new poll says

maryland Reporter

Opponents of Maryland’s newly passed marriage equality law say they have more than twice the number of petition signatures needed to put the issue on the November ballot.

Under Maryland law, the Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading the drive to force a November referendum on Maryland’s marriage equality law, has until June 30 to submit 55,736 valid voter signatures to have the law submitted to a public vote on November 6.

At least one-third of those signatures – 18,579 – were to be turned in on May 31, but the MMA appears to have collected many more signatures than are necessary to get on the ballot.

Polling indicates that a majority of Maryland voters support equal marriage rights for Gay and Lesbian couples, and an analysis of MMA’s financial backing indicates that most of its support comes from outside the state.

A PPP poll released May 24 showed that 57% of likely voters would vote to uphold the law allowing same-sex marriage, while 37% would not.

The latest numbers reflect a 12-point shift in public opinion from an identical survey in early March. Both polls were commis-

sioned by Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

Analysis by Baltimore’s WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team, an NBC affiliate, shows that 65% of the anti-equality campaign’s money cane from out of state, while only 35% came from Maryland residents.

Like a political campaign, sponsors of a petition drive are required to report where their money comes from, I-Team reporter David Collins said.

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) contributed $73,000 to the petition drive, the I-Team discovered. The Maryland Marriage Alliance donated $36,575, and the Maryland Catholic Conference put $4,293.45 into the campaign war chest.

Both sides say public opinion is on their side.

“The collection of those signatures does not reflect the growing momentum among Maryland voters,” said the Rev. MacArthur Flournoy, a spokesperson for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

“People’s opinions are evolving as there’s a larger community discussion of this,” said openly Lesbian State Delegate Heather R. Mizeur. “When people see an issue in the news and talk about it at their kitchen tables, they are better able to wrestle with the issue at hand.”

“People that were on the fence are no longer on the fence. They’re engaged,” Derek

Same-sex marriage opponents protest outside the State House in Annapolis.

Fibonacci Blue

McCoy, with the Maryland Marriage Alliance, replied.

Both sides are actively courting Maryland’s African-American community – nearly 30% of the state’s population – but the latest PPP poll shows that pro-equality forces have the edge.

“Our PPP poll last week showed 57% would vote to uphold the law, with 37% vot-

ing against, if the election were held today,” said pro-equality campaign director Josh Levin.

“A surge in support among AfricanAmerican voters (to 55%) in the wake of endorsements by President Obama and the NAACP are key factors in that change.”

NAACP president Ben Jealous lives in Baltimore.

“Independents coming a lot closer to Democrats than Republicans on Gay rights is becoming something of a constant in our polling,” said Public Policy Polling when it released the new numbers.

“The GOP seriously risks antagonizing voters in the middle if it continues to pursue a far right social agenda.”

Minnesota voters show the same massive generational gap on marriage equality that appears in other states, pollsters noted.

Voters over 45 support the proposed amendment by a 50%-42% spread. But those under 45 oppose it by an even greater 60%-34% margin.

Same-sex marriage is already illegal under Minnesota law, and one of the arguments against the proposed amendment is that it is unnecessary, even if voters do not approve of same-sex marriage. But the PPP poll found a majority of Minnesota voters actually saying same-sex marriage should be legal.

Forty-seven percent of voters thought same-sex marriage should be legal and 42%

said it should be illegal, the poll said – a split that almost mirrors the numbers on the amendment.

Seventy-five percent of Minnesota voters said they support some form of legal recognition for Gay couples, against only 21% who think there should be none.

Even 55% of Republicans agreed with some kind of relationship recognition.

The poll also found that Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who has spoken out against the amendment, maintains a solid 49%-36% approval rating.

Meanwhile, the Republicans who control the state legislature have just a 21% approval rating, with 61% of voters disapproving of them. That includes a 12%-66% spread with independents.

Democrats are strongly positioned to make major gains in legislative seats this fall, PPP said, because they now lead the generic ballot 48% to 36% – thanks in large part to a 13-point advantage with independents.

Record number of anti-Gay murders reported in 2011 Same-sex marriage supporter outside the Minnesota Senate chamber

public opinion in Minnesota shifting away from a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

A new PPP poll released June 5 shows The latest poll shows only 43% of voters supporting the amendment, with 49% opposed. A similar poll done in February found the public in support of the amendment by a 48%-44% margin.

The shift can be attributed largely to a change of heart among self-described independent voters. In February they supported the amendment by a ten-point spread, 50% to 40%. Now they oppose it by 17 points, 54% to 37%.

Republicans continue to favor the antiGay amendment, 74% to 21%, while Democrats continue to oppose it by a similar margin, 71% to 22%.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported this week that more murders motivated by anti-Gay bias occurred last year than in any year since the national advocacy organization began collecting data in 1998.

In 2011, 30 fatally violent hate crimes were committed against LGBT victims – 3 more than the previous year’s total.

The coalition collects its data through 41 member programs across the country, which receive calls and reports of anti-LGBT hate crimes in local communities.

People of color made up a majority of the victims – 87% – and 40% of the victims were Transgender women.

Hate-related violence disproportionately

affected young people aged 18–30, who were more than twice as likely to experience it than those over 30, the report found.

But while the murder rate rose, there was a 16% decrease in overall incidents of haterelated violence – a trend the coalition says could suggest a decrease in reporting rather than a decrease in actual crime.

“I think that hate violence against these communities has been going on for a very long time and the reports that we’re seeing may not even be a reflection on the true pervasiveness of the violence,” said Chai Jindasurat, one of the authors of the report. “I think we’re really just getting the tip of the iceberg here.”

Only a little over half of the survivors reported their attacks to the police, Jindasurat added.

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Seattle Gay News

June 8, 2012

Celebrating 39 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

2012 PRIDE EVENTS CALENDAR See the SGN’s Pride Events Calendar starting on page 10 for a comprehensive listing of Pride Events in the Seattle area, around Washington state, and information on Portland and Vancouver, BC Pride celebrations.

the museum is open until 8 p.m., with free admission form 5-8 p.m. Admission: $10-adults, $8-students, military, seniors 65+, $25 family rate (2 adults and up to four children under 18), children 5 & under free.

The museum is accessible from Seattle by Sound Transit bus routes #594 and $586.

BORN THIS WAY KAFE FOR URBAN QUEER TEENS AT CAL ANDERSON PARK On Fridays, 5-9 p.m., at Cal Anderson Shelterhouse (1635 11th Ave., one block north of E. Pine St.), Seattle Parks & Recreation hosts Born This Way Kafe, a welcoming place where LGBTQ youth, friends and allies (ages 13-19) can gather, be themselves, and have fun. Meets every Friday. For more information and to help make it happen, contact Randy at Seattle Parks, 206-883-6110 txt/phone, email randy.wiger@seattle.gov or Google “SeattleParksCOD.”

SEATTLE CENTER FESTAL – PAGDIRIWANG PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL On Saturday, June 9, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, June 10, from noon-5 p.m., at Seattle Center’s Center House and the Mural Amphitheatre, the Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington presents their annual Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival. Explore and experience the cultural roots and contemporary influences of the Philippines through live performances, arts, hands-on activities, martial arts, foods, games, and a lively marketplace. This year’s festival showcases the culture’s advancements in technology, while looking back in time with a re-creation of Philippine participation at the 1962 Fair. The Philippine Government Pavilion won first prize in exhibits in 1962.

The world famous Bayanihan Dance Company that performed at the World’s Fair will have a come-back performance at Pagdiriwang. Artifacts from the three regions of the Philippines from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be displayed and the Philippine Department of Tourism will showcase the wonders and tourist attractions of the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry will highlight the latest technology on electronics, energy and IT. www.fchsw-pagdiriwang.org.

DIVERSE HARMONY – “HUMAN NATURE” On Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9, at 7:30 p.m., at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (104 17th Ave. S.), Diverse Harmony, Seattle’s LGBT Youth Chorus, celebrates their 10th anniversary and the beautiful surroundings of the Pacific Northwest with a concert dedicated to nature and the many experiences that we all have with our surroundings. “Human Nature” celebrates the awe and inspiring elements that allow us to interpret our own emotional experiences. “From your own ‘Corner of the Sky,’ we hope you can see past the ‘Fire and Rain’ and enjoy our ‘Moments in the Woods.’ Tickets: $12-advance, $15-at the door. FREE for youth ages 22 and younger. www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/247045; www.diverseharmony.org.

“FAUX REAL” AT RE-BAR On Friday, June 8, door at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., Re-bar (1114 Howell St.) presents “Faux Real” with Monique Jekinson (aka Fauxnique). Tickets: $15-advance, $20 at the door. 21+ with ID. www.brownpapertickets.com.

CAPITOL HILL GARAGE SALE The third annual Capitol Hill Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, June 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Capitol Hill residents are invited to clean out their closets and turn their rummage into someone else’s treasure. You can add your sale information or register for a community lot spot at capitolhillgaragesale.com.

TACOMA ART MUSEUM – “HIDE/SEEK: DIFFERENCE AND DESIRE IN AMERICAN PORTRAITURE” THROUGH JUNE 10 The Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) presents the groundbreaking exhibit, “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,” that debuted at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in 2010 and is the first major exhibition to address the question of how gender identity and sexual orientation have shaped the creation of modern American portraiture.

“Hide/Seek” offers an unprecedented survey of nearly 150 years of American art and includes more than 100 works by masters, including Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keefe, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and more.

The exhibit was co-curated by noted Gay historian, Jonathan Katz, and Smithsonian curator, David Ward. For more information on the exhibit and special events, call 253272-4258 or visit www.tacomaartmuseum. org.

The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday). On the third Thursday of each month,

CALL FOR ART – “PORTRAITS OF PRIDE 2012” JUNE 23-JULY 22 What does our creative community look like? How do you see yourself when you close your eyes? From June 23-July 22, Gay City (517 E. Pike St., at Belmont) hosts “Portraits of Pride 2012” and you are invited to be a part of it.

Whether you prefer to express yourself in photographic detail or to abstract your personality in visual form, this show will bring together the many faces of the LGBTQ community in celebration of LGBTQ Pride!

Pacific Northwest LGBTQ artists (18 years of age and older) are invited to submit self-portraits to be included in this upcoming exhibit. All forms of art are welcome.

If you are interested in participating in the show, please send the following items as attachments to codyblomberg@gmail.com: Bio or artist statement, including phone number, email and mailing address; 1 to 3 jpeg images of the work to be included in the exhibition, with title and dimensions; if the work is not yet complete, please send images of past work and a timeline for completion.

Deadline for emailed application is Sunday, June 10. Deadline for art delivery is Wednesday, June 20.

If a work is purchased during the show, Gay City requests a 30% commission donation in support of their Project BuildOUT. Gay City will host a “Portraits of Pride 2012” Artists’ Reception as part of their larger Project BuildOUT Open(ing) House Brunch on Saturday, June 23, from 11 a.m.2 p.m.

Gay City is in the midst of Project BuildOUT, creating a new 8,500 sq ft home to be occupied this coming June. This new space will embody the growth that Gay City has experienced in recent years, growth that is also reflected in their newly revised mission to “promote wellness in LGBT communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts and building community.” Gay City’s new space will include a 750 sq ft multi-purpose performance space that will provide an organizing center for LGBT artists and Queer Arts in Seattle. “Portraits of Pride 2012” will be the first installation in the new arts space.”

GET ENGAGED! TO DEFEND MARRIAGE EQUALITY On Saturday, June 9, at 6 p.m., at the Washington State Trade & Convention Center (800 Convention Place), Washington United for Marriage and Equal Rights Washington host a gala fundraising dinner GSBA EQUALITY BOUQUET to galvanize support for the Approve Ref. 74 BUSINESS LUNCHEON campaign. Tickets: $174-individual; $1740 On Wednesday, June 13, from 11 a.m.table. www.washingtonunitedformarriage.

1:30 p.m., st Sheraton Seattle Hotel (1400 org.

6th Ave., Grand D), the GSBA (Greater Seattle Business Association), Seattle’s LGBT “BEYOND THE THRESHOLD” – and allies Chamber of Commerce hosts their SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL quarterly business luncheon, with featured DANCE FESTIVAL speaker Gary Gates, distinguished scholar JUNE 1-10 from the Williams Institute. The Williams www.seattleidf.org Institute reports that marriage equality could bring $88 million to our state in just SISTAH SINEMA the first three years. That’s quite an impact!

CELEBRATES Also at the luncheon, 17 GSBA businessTHE LIFE AND WORK es – accountants, lawyers, event planners, OF AUDRE LORDE Sistah Sinema presents a two-part series caterers, officiates, etc. – all ready to help honoring and celebrating the life and work you get married when the time comes – will of Audre Lorde with the screening of Lita- be “showboating” themselves, before the ny for Survial: The Life and Work of Audre luncheon begins. With special appearances Lorde on Saturday, June 9, and Audre Lorde by representatives from Seattle’s Conven– The Berlin Years 1984 to 1992 on Satur- tion and Visitors Bureau, Washington Unitday, July 7. Doors at 8 p.m., shows at 9 p.m., ed for Marriage, and Seattle Out and Proud.

Cost for the luncheon is $34-members, at Chao Bistro (1200 E. Pike St.). Tickets: $10 advance (recommended) and $15 at the $39-nonmembers, $34-students. RSVP to door (if available). www.sistahsinema.com. 206-363-9188; www.thegsba.org PRIDE IDOL 2012 GRAND FINALE On Sunday, June 10, doors at 6 p.m. (with open community karaoke), contest at 8 p.m., at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), join Seattle Out & Proud and the incomparable Gaysha Starr and 10 talented contestants for the Pride Idol 2012 Grand Finale. This grand karaoke contest finale will feature the winners of the first 8 weeks of competition plus the winner and first runner up from last week’s Wild Card competition, which featured the first runners up of the first 8 weeks of competition, The grand prize for the Pride Idol 2012 Grand Finale is $1000. The show will include a special performance by last year’s Pride Idol, Victor Cruz. www.seattlepride.org/pride-idol. FREE admission.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

POZ SEATTLE SUMMER GRILLIN’ PRIDE SOCIAL On Wednesday, June 13, from 6-8 p.m., at The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. & E. Pine St.), join POZSeattle on the back patio for some Summer Grillin’, socializing, to catch-up with old friends, to make new ones, and a whole lot of fun. Please bring your appetite for burgers, chicken breasts, beef hot dogs, Boca burgers, chips, salads and desserts with all the fixin’s!

This event is offered at no cost (no one turned away for lack of funds), but to help defray costs, a $2 donation is requested and you can always give more! Beverages are at cost from the bar. This event is for all HIVPositive men and their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, or color.

POZSeattle is a social organization run

June 8, 2012

for and by Seattle-area HIV-Positive men. www.pozseattle.org.

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

June selection is The Swimming-Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst, his first novel, not so experimental, just smart and sexy and the one that propelled him to fame. The Swimming-Pool Library is hot enough to keep your attention if you decide to read it in the park in the sun, with Hollinghurst’s trademark gorgeous British prose. Enjoy meeting Will Beckwith and all the lads at the Corinthian Club.

All GLBTQ folks are welcome to participate in this free book club. For more information email nickdimartin@earthlink.net, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/swittet/ SGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at 206322-2437; www.sasgcc.org. For discount on cost of books, email Nick.

DIVAS TAKE THE HILL PRIDE KICK-OFF PARTY On Thursday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. social; 8:30 p.m. show, at Velocity Dance Center (1621 12th Ave.), join Team Diva and raise funds to defend marriage equality. Enjoy local libations, tasty treats and a fabulous drag and variety show to raise money to defend marriage equality. Tickets: $10-advance, $15 at the door. $5 drinks, $5 raffle tickets for local goodies. www.divastakethehill. com ROMEO & JULIET Arts on the Waterfront presents Romeo & Juliet on June 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 30, and July 1 at 7 p.m., at 1300 Alaskan Way. The event is totally FREE for all. All donations and proceeds from this event will go to The Trevor Project. www.artsonthewaterfront. com.

FREMONT FAIR & SOLSTICE PARADE JUNE 16-17 The annual Fremont Fair (Fremont Ave. N. & N. 34th St.) will be held on Saturday, June 16, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday, June 17, 11 a.m.-7 p. with the Solstice Parade stepping off on Saturday at noon. www.fremontfair.org SEATTLE EROTIC ART FESTIVAL JUNE 16-17 & 22-24 The 10th annual Seattle Erotic Art Festival will be held over two weekends this year 6/16, 10 a.m.-2 a.m., 6/17, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 6/18, 11 a.m.-2 a.m., 6/23 11 a.m.-2 a.m., 6/24 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Fremont Studios (155 N. 35th St.) Tickets: $10 at the door for day/ evening passes. For complete ticketing options, including workshops and weekend passes, and more information on the festival, visit www.seattlerotic.org.

GENDER ODYSSEY 2012 CONFERENCE ART SHOW CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – GENDER ODYSSEY 2012 CONFERENCE ART SHOW The Gender Odyssey conference art show is seeking works of art for their summer conference art show. Last year’s art exhibit included drawings, mixed media painting, photography, wood carving, textiles and video by artists from around the U.S. The conference and art show will be held August 2-5.

Gender Odyssey, held at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center (800 Pike St.), is an international conference focused on the needs and interests of Transgender and gender non-conforming people. Packed with thought-provoking workshops, discussion groups, social events and entertainment, this one-of-a-kind annual gathering attracts people from all over the world for an uplifting weekend of skill sharing and community.

For more information about the conference, the art show, and for an online art show submission form, visit www.genderodyssey.org. Deadline for art show submission is Saturday, June 30.

Seattle Gay News

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PRIDE EVENTS

CALENDAR

PORTRAITURE EXHIBIT @ TAM Now showing at Tacoma Art Museum through June 10, Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture is the first major exhibit to address how gender identity and sexual orientation have shaped the creation of modern American portraiture.

The exhibit includes more than 100 works spanning nearly 150 years. Tacoma Art Museum is located at 1701 Pacific Ave., and is open Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Information at www.tacomaartmuseum.org.

SPOKANE PRIDE On Saturday, June 9, Spokane celebrates Pride with the theme “Stand Up! Speak Out! Spark Change!” The parade steps off at noon on Wall Street at Main Street downtown and is followed by the Rainbow Festival at Gondola Meadows in the southwest corner of Riverfront Park. Details at www.

Domine Trix of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and actress Kitty Kitty Bang Bang will choose 2012’s Idol from among all the winners of this spring’s series of Pride Idol singing contests. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the contest starts at 8. The Grand Finale winner receives a $1,000 cash prize and will perform aboard the SO&P float in this year’s Pride Parade, June 24.

ARTISTS’ CALL: PORTRAITS OF PRIDE Sunday, June 10, is the deadline to apply for inclusion in the Portraits of Pride 2012 art exhibit. What does our creative community look like? How do you see yourself when you close your eyes? Portraits of

Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), featuring performances by Ruby Rouge, Luscious LadyPop, Max Pride, Violet deVille, and more, with MC Toby Noon. Tickets are $20 ($15 with donation of a bath towel).

PORTLAND PRIDE FESTIVAL AND PARADE From Friday, June 15, to Sunday, June 17, Portland is Pride Central in the Northwest. This year’s parade begins at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, June 17, at Park Avenue and Burnside Street downtown. Marchers will proceed through historic Old Town/Chinatown to the Willamette River and then head down to Waterfront Park, where the threeday Pride Festival takes place. Mainstage performers include RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sharon Needles, plus Colton Ford, Kim English, Bobby Jo Valentine, DJs Tony Moran and Nina Sky, and the Portland Lesbian and Gay Men’s Choruses. Details at http://pridenw.org.

SEATTLE EROTIC ART FESTIVAL From Saturday, June 16, to Sunday, June 24, Fremont Studios (155 N. 35th St.) hosts the 10th annual Seattle Erotic Art Festival.

This year’s event includes many Pride and LGBTQ-focused offerings, including performances by Tigger! and Waxie Moon; Queer Pride: Best of the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival; a Pride Party; HomoPhoto Art: A 60-Year rEvolution, celebrating the history of Gay erotic art; and a series of Pride Art Tours hosted by local LGBTQ artists and collectors. Festival organizers say about half of each year’s attendees identify as LGBTQ. More information at www.seattleerotic.org.

DIVERSE HARMONY: HUMAN NATURE On Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9, celebrate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with Diverse Harmony, a Seattle-area Gay/straight ally youth vocal ensemble celebrating its 10th year. “Human Nature” takes place at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center (104 17th Ave. S.) beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at http://www. brownpapertickets.com/event/247045 and at the door. (Free for ages 21 and under.)

SEATTLE PRIDE PICNIC On Saturday, June 16, come out and declare with pride, “We Are Family” at SO&P’s annual Pride Picnic, catered by Spud.com. A buffet featuring hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, fresh fruit, salads, and beverages will be offered for just $1 per person from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Volunteer Park (14th Ave. E. and E. Galer St.).

Information at SO&P’s website, www.seattlepride.org/official-events.html.

GET ENGAGED FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY! On Saturday, June 9, Washington United for Marriage and Equal Rights Washington invite you to “Get Engaged” to defend marriage equality. The sixth annual gala fundraiser takes place at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center (800 Pike St.), starting at 6 p.m., and benefits the Approve Referendum 74 campaign. Tickets are outspokane.com. $174, or $1,740 to reserve a table for 10. Email nicole@washingtonunited.org for resRAINBOW CITY BAND ervations. For more information, visit www.

FUNDRAISER washingtonunitedformarriage.org/gala.

On Sunday, June 10, it’s Gay Paris at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel (515 Madison St.), and you’re invited! This year’s benefit for the RCB includes a brunch with cocktails, a sidewalk art auction, live music, and other entertainment. The Rainbow City Band steps out for its 15th season this summer, performing in the Seattle, Bellingham, and Vancouver, B.C., Pride parades as well as numerous street fairs and holiday celebrations. Tickets: $65. Information and tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/239544. (Ticket sales have ended.)

SOUTH PARK PRIDE PICNIC On Sunday, June 10, come to the 2nd annual South Park Neighborhood Gay Pride Picnic. This free event takes place at Duwamish Waterway Park (7900 10th Ave. S.), from 1 to 4 p.m. and features food, music, family-friendly fun, and a kids’ art table. All are welcome.

CAPITAL CITY PRIDE On Saturday and Sunday, June 9-10, celebrate community and defend equality at Olympia’s annual pride event. Capital City Pride takes place in Sylvester Park (Capitol Way S. and Legion Way S.W.) with entertainment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Featured performers PRIDE IDOL GRAND FINALE include Brian Kent, Kim Archer, and Saul On Sunday, June 10, be an eyewitness Tannenbaum. The parade steps off Sunday to history at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 at noon. For more information visit www. Broadway), when this year’s Pride Idol is capitalcitypride.net. crowned. Judges Shaun Knittel of SGN,

SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS PREVIEW PERFORMANCE On Saturday, June 16, the Seattle Men’s Chorus presents a Friends and Family Preview, at which audiences can see and hear the chorus fine-tune its songs and staging for its Pride weekend show (June 22-23, see below). The preview will be held at the IKEA Performing Arts Center in Renton (400 S. 2nd St.) starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are Pride 2012 is an opportunity to introduce just $10 and can be purchased at the box ofyourself to the world through your choice fice or by calling (206) 388-1400. of artistic medium. To apply, send your bio or artist statement (including phone number, e-mail, and mailing address) along with one to three images (jpeg format) of your work, giving title and dimensions of each, to codyblomberg@gmail.com. Applicants must be 18 or older. The deadline for art delivery is Wednesday, June 20. If a work is purchased during the show, Gay City requests a 30% commission donation to benefit Project BuildOUT. The exhibit will run from June 23 to July 22 (see below).

RUN AND WALK WITH PRIDE On Sunday, June 17, Seattle FrontRunners holds its annual Run and Walk With Pride fundraiser. This year’s event benefits the It Gets Better Project and takes place at Seward Park (5895 Lake Washington Blvd.

S.) beginning at 10 a.m. There is an entry fee of $25 for adults, $15 for youth/students.

Participants choose between a 10k run, a 4k run, and a 4k walk, and can register individually or as a team. All finishers will be eligible for fabulous raffle prizes! Register or donate online at http://www.active.com/ ‘UNICORNS VS. UNIFORMS’ running/seattle-wa/run-and-walk-withPRIDE LAUNCH PARTY On Thursday, June 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., pride-2012. Registration closes June 15. the Producers Collective presents “Pride Launch Party: Unicorns vs. Uniforms” at see pride calendar page 16 POZ SEATTLE PRIDE SOCIAL On Wednesday, June 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., join POZ Seattle at The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. and E. Pine St.) for their annual Pride Social. Meet on the back patio for BBQ, socializing, catching up with old friends, making new ones, and a whole lot of fun. This event is free (except for the cost of beverages) and is for all HIV-Positive men and their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, or color. Information at www.pozseattle.org.

 Broadway 

Farmers Market 10 Seattle Gay News

June 8, 2012

Broadway & E. Pine at Seattle Central Community College Sundays, 11am - 3pm, April 22 - Dec 23.

Celebrating 39 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 8, 2012

Seattle Gay News 11

MoSS Alley MotorS, Inc. SpecialiStS in VolVo, Honda, toyota and Subaru

932 12th ave.

Seattle, Wa 98122 (206).325--.3992 www.mossalley.com Seattle’s most progressive auto shop!

Visit SGN.org for all things pride this summer.

SGN Seattle Gay News

e t o v o t RegisteR

www.myvote.wa.gov

12 Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 39 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

June 8, 2012

Seattle Gay News 13

14 Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 39 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

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Seattle Gay News 15

pride calendar continued from page 10

Foundation supporters will sit together in the North End Zone Hawks Nest and Section 214. Tickets may still be available at www.pridefoundation.org/events/event/ seatte-wa-sounder-fc-pride-foundationnight/. Proceeds benefit the work of the Pride Foundation throughout the Northwest.

QUEER TEEN ENSEMBLE THEATRE This year’s QTET performance runs from Thursday, June 21, to Monday, June 25, curtain 7:30 p.m. QTET is a unique program giving voice and artistry to LGBTQ youth in the Seattle area, produced with the support of Washington Ensemble Theatre. The group performs at the Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave. E. Details of this year’s show had not been announced at press time. Information will be posted to http://qtet.org as it becomes available.

SOUNDERS FC PRIDE FOUNDATION NIGHT On Wednesday, June 20, the Seattle Sounders celebrate Pride Foundation Night at CenturyLink Field, as they take on Sporting Kansas City beginning at 7 p.m. Last year’s event featured the premiere of the “It Gets Better” campaign video made by the Sounders in partnership with the Seattle Storm, Mariners, and Seahawks. Pride

On Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, the Seattle Men’s Chorus presents “Sing Out!” – a concert of songs chosen by SMC subscribers and ticket buyers in an online vote. The program also features a “Chorus Idol” talent show, featuring the winners of several Seattle-area singing competitions. Curtain time both evenings is 8 p.m.

PRIDE SHABBAT On Friday, June 22, join the Seattle Jewish community for Pride Shabbat 2012!

This annual event is open to the entire community and is a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning Jews, friends, allies, and families. It takes at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St.). Tickets place at Temple De Hirsch Sinai (1511 E. at https://tickets.flyinghouse.org/public/ or Pike St.), starting with pre-service appetiz- (206) 388-1400. ers at 5:30 p.m. A light dinner and desserts will be served after the service. This event EMERALD CITY is ASL-interpreted. For more information, MCC CELEBRATES 40 YEARS e-mail joshf@hilleluw.org.

On Friday, June 22, help Emerald City MCC Seattle celebrate 40 years of minSING OUT! istry to the LGBT Christian community.

WITH SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS An anniversary banquet will be held at University Congregational Church (4515 16th Ave. N.E.) beginning at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30). Metropolitan Community Church founder Elder Troy Perry will speak and greet attendees afterward. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/251887 or at MCC Seattle, 1415 N.E. 43rd St.

GLSEN YOUTH PRIDE DANCE On Friday, June 22, LGBT and allied youth age 20 and under are invited to celebrate Pride at GLSEN Washington’s annual Youth Pride Dance at Yesler Community Center (917 E. Yesler Way) from 8 to 11 p.m. with Guest DJ Alex! Tickets are $5 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/253313, or $10 at the door. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ events/370981499628630/.

SEATTLE STORM PRIDE FOUNDATION NIGHT On Friday, June 22, the WNBA Seattle Storm take on the San Antonio Silver Stars at Key Arena, with special Section 125 tickets available to benefit the Pride Foundation. For information and tickets, go to www.pridefoundation.org or call (206) 323-3318. Volunteer opportunities are also available. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

efit Gay City Health Project, and tickets are available at www.gaycity.org/pride/ or at Moe Bar. PRIDE WEEK BREAKFAST On Saturday, June 23, Dignity/Seattle (an LGBT-positive Catholic organization) hosts its 24th annual Pride Week Breakfast from

8 a.m. to noon at Central Lutheran Church (1710 11th Ave.). Proceeds benefit Rosehedge/Multifaith Works, Bailey-Boushay House, and Dignity/Seattle’s Convention Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit www.dignityseattle.org, or call (206) 659-5519. Dignity/Seattle will march with the Catholics for Marriage Equality contingent in the June 24 Pride Parade.

CAPITOL HILL PRIDE FESTIVAL On Saturday, June 23, celebrate Pride in Seattle’s premier Gayborhood at the 4th annual Capitol Hill Pride Festival on Broadway (between E. John St. and E. Roy St.) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., featuring food, live music, and other entertainment on three stages, with performers including Marcel, Bryn King, Devolution Aries, and Bomo Cho. Returning this year is the popular Doggie Drag Costume Contest from noon to 1 p.m., benefiting the Seattle Humane Society’s Pet Project, which helps people with AIDS care for their pets. The event website is http://www.seattlechatclub.org/CapitolHillPrideFestival.html.

PORTRAITS OF PRIDE EXHIBIT From Saturday, June 23, to Sunday, July 22, Gay City hosts Portraits of Pride 2012, an art show that brings together the many faces of the LGBTQ community in celebration of local pride. The exhibit opens with an artists’ reception June 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gay City (517 E. Pike St.). A portion of each purchase will benefit Gay City’s Project BuildOUT. PRIDE ASIA On Saturday, June 23, join host Aleksa Manila for the first annual Pride ASIA, a celebration of the Seattle area’s LGBT Asian community, at Hing Hay Park in Seattle’s International District, from noon to 6 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore, this event features music, theater, and other entertainment celebrating Asian/Pacific Islander diversity and culture. For more information visit http:// groups.google.com/group/PrideASIA.

INTERFAITH WORSHIP SERVICE On Saturday, June 23, all are welcome to attend the annual Pride Interfaith Community Worship Service at All Pilgrims Church (500 Broadway E.), beginning at 1 p.m.

Giving this year’s sermon will be the Rev. Elder Troy Perry, founder of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community ‘HEY TRANNY, IT’S TRANNY!’ Churches (MCC). Founded in 1968, MCC On Friday, June 22, Nark magazine pres- is the first denomination created specifically ents its 3rd annual Pride weekend show at to minister to LGBT Christians who were Neumos (916 E. Pine St.), beginning at 8 rejected by other churches. p.m. Hosted by Ben DeLaCreme, the evening’s featured performers include RuPaul’s RAINBOW HEALTH FAIR Drag Race winner Sharon Needles, SSION, On Saturday, June 23, YMCA Women’s Hi Fashion, and JD Samson. Proceeds ben- Health Outreach presents its 14th annual

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Celebrating 39 Years!

Rainbow Health Fair at Seattle Central Community College (1701 Broadway), from 1 to 5 p.m. Free health tests and services will be offered, including acupuncture, massage, energy healing, Zumba, HIV testing, cholesterol checks, naturopathic consultation, and mental health education. In addition, mammogram and pap tests will be offered at no charge to women 40 and over with limited income. To schedule a mammogram and Pap test, call Marilyn Calbert at (206) 461-4489.

Pass for $40 that gets you VIP room access VANCOUVER (WA) plus backstage access to the DJ Stage during SATURDAY IN THE PARK Sunday’s PrideFest. The promoter is donatSaturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ing 20% of all sales/cover charges to Wash- is Vancouver, Washington’s 18th annual ington United for Marriage. For tickets, vis- LGBT Pride event, Saturday in the Park. it http://seattlepridefest.org/red/index.html. This year’s theme is “Gateway to Equality,” celebrating the passage of Washington’s 2012 SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE: marriage equality law. The family-friendTHE MANY FACES OF PRIDE ly event takes place at Esther Short Park On Sunday, June 24, there’s just no other downtown and features music and cultural place to be than downtown Seattle for the performances, community groups, games, city’s annual Pride Parade, produced by Se- and other activities for all ages. The day will attle Out & Proud. This year’s parade theme begin with “Lyle’s Miles,” a 5K run/walk is “The Many Faces of Pride,” celebrating fundraiser for the Cascade AIDS Project. the vast diversity of the Seattle area’s Les- Details at www.gayvancouverwa.org. bian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and allied community. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at 4th Avenue and Union Street and proceeds north along 4th Avenue to Denny Way. Information is available at SO&P’s website, www.seattlepride.org/pride-pa- continued from cover rade.html. riage Act defines marriage for federal purposes as solely between a man and a woman.

In a statement released by her ACLU attorneys, Windsor said, “Thea and I shared our lives together for 44 years, and I miss her each and every day. It’s thrilling to have a court finally recognize how unfair it is for the government to have treated us as though we were strangers.”

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the lead sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act to repeal DOMA, issued a statement celebrating the decision.

“I congratulate Edie for this first offering of justice after she has had to endure so much injustice,” he said.

“Both the Constitution and basic common sense tell us that no reasonable law would deny Edie and Thea Spyer, her late fiancée of decades, the very same federal protections and responsibilities that every other committed American couple is afforded.”

SEATTLE PRIDEFEST 2012 In a swipe at the so-called Bipartisan LeOn Sunday, June 24, don’t miss the biggest and best LGBTQ party in the North- gal Advisory Group set up by House Speakwest! This year’s Seattle PrideFest features er John Boehner to defend DOMA in court, more than 100 music acts (including head- and its attorney Paul Clement, Nadler addliners Cazwell, Debby Holiday, DJ Phil B, ed, “I am again gratified that Paul Clement Peppermint, and Vockah Redu & The Cru), and Speaker Boehner’s BLAG have been along with hundreds of community groups unable to defend a law that is so thoroughly and vendors. Seattle PrideFest takes place indefensible.”

Windsor’s case was one of two cited by at Seattle Center from noon to 8 p.m., immediately following the Pride Parade. As U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in his always, admission is free! For more details, February 23, 2011, letter to Boehner explaining the administration’s conclusion visit www.seattlepridefest.org. that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional.

With Wednesday’s ruling, Jones becomes HONORING AUDRE LORD On Saturday, July 7, Sistah Sinema pres- the latest of several federal trial-court judgents two films celebrating the legacy of es to find that Section 3 of DOMA violates African-American Lesbian author and ac- the equal protection clause.

In July 2010, U.S. District Judge Joseph tivist Audre Lord. Litany of Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lord starts at 9 p.m., Tauro first struck down DOMA in Gill v. followed by Audre Lord: The Berlin Years, OPM, a decision that was sustained last 1984 to 1992. Both films screen at Chao week by the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White Bistro (1200 E. Pike St.). Tickets are $10 in advance at www.sistahsinema.com ($15 at reached a similar conclusion in February of this year, in Golinski v. OPM. door, if available).

On May 24, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled that Section 3 of DOMA and BELLINGHAM PRIDE From Wednesday, July 11, to Sunday, July a provision of tax law unconstitutionally 15, B Proud hosts a series of Pride events limit same-sex couples and domestic partin Bellingham, including film screenings, ners from participating in the long-term care parties, dances, a drag show, and more. The plan offered by the California Public Emparade begins at noon on July 15 at Belling- ployees Retirement System.

In addition, a federal bankruptcy judge in ham High School, ending at Depot Market Square. A Pride Festival will be held the California found DOMA unconstitutional same day until 5 p.m. at Bellingham Farm- because it barred married same-sex couples ers Market. More information at www. from filing joint bankruptcy petitions, a decision that resulted in the federal governbhampride.org. ment no longer contesting such petitions.

It is not known if BLAG will appeal TACOMA PRIDE FESTIVAL From Friday, July 13, to Saturday, July Jones’ ruling to the 2nd Circuit Court of Ap21, celebrate nine whole days of Pride in peals.

Tacoma. The highlight is the annual Out in the Park event, Saturday, July 14, from noon to 6 p.m. on Broadway in the city’s historic continued from cover downtown theater district. Other events include three days of LGBT films at the Grand In an area where a religious majority Cinema and a staged reading of Lanford dominates a secular minority, the general Wilson’s Fifth of July at the Broadway Cen- consensus is that our counter-culture here, ter for the Performing Arts. Details are still particularly our Queer community, firmly being finalized. For more information visit stands its ground. Many from out of town www.rainbowctr.org. agree that Utah’s Queer community seems

DOMA

SEATTLE DYKE MARCH On Saturday, June 23, the 2012 Seattle Dyke March kicks off with a rally from 5 to 7 p.m. at Seattle Central Community College Plaza (Broadway and E. Pine St.). The march begins at 7 p.m. and makes a loop around Capitol Hill. More information at www.seattledykemarch.com or www.facebook.com/SeattleDykeMarch.

SING OUT! WITH SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS On Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, the Seattle Men’s Chorus presents “Sing Out!” – a concert of songs chosen by SMC subscribers and ticket buyers in an online vote. The program also features a “Chorus Idol” talent show, featuring the winners of several Seattle-area singing competitions. Curtain time both evenings is 8 p.m. at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St.). Tickets at https://tickets.flyinghouse.org/public/ or (206) 388-1400.

THE CHOCOLATE REVOLUTION On Saturday, June 23, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Nubian Pride Productions presents “The Chocolate Revolution” at Highline Bar (210 Broadway E.). Come celebrate Seattle Pride with DJ T-Bone and some of the area’s best entertainers of color. $10 suggested donation. Open to all people of color and those who love us, 21 and over.

‘RED’ MEN’S PARTY AT NEUMOS On Saturday, June 23, join DJs Brian Gorr of Seattle and Phil B of SF for Red, the annual men’s Pride Festival party at Neumos (925 E. Pike St.) from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Presale tickets are $25, or buy a VIP Pass for $45 that gets you VIP room access plus a backstage meet-and-greet with Phil B at the DJ Stage during Sunday’s PrideFest. The promoter is donating 20% of all sales/cover charges to Washington United for Marriage.

For tickets, visit http://seattlepridefest.org/ red/index.html.

‘RED’ WOMEN’S PARTY AT THE BALTIC ROOM On Saturday, June 23, join DJs Tina T, Roy G. Biv, and Mr. Charming for Red, the annual women’s Pride Festival party at the Baltic Room (1207 Pine St.) from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Pre-sale tickets are $20, or buy a VIP

Visit us online www.sgn.org

KITSAP PRIDE IN BREMERTON On Sunday, July 22, Kitsap Pride holds its annual celebration at Evergreen Park in downtown Bremerton beginning at noon.

This year’s theme is “Pride Links Us Together.” Details are still being finalized and will be posted at www.kitsappride.org.

VANCOUVER (BC) PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL This year’s Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival is scheduled for Sunday, August 5.

Watch for more information in future issues of SGN, or visit www.vancouverpride.ca.

generally more outspoken than most – and considering the demographics, can you blame us?

The Utah Pride Festival has been breaking records for the past few years regarding attendance and float entries, but this year we saw an entirely new element.

Mormons Building Bridges is a group of more than 300 LDS people who skipped church to attend our Pride Festival as a display of tolerance, love, and support. The group caused a wave of emotion as they marched in the parade on June 3.

Many members of our community were deeply touched, as the majority of us were raised in the Mormon faith and are still close to LDS family members and friends, myself included. The split between religious beliefs and lifestyle choices divides our city, but in the past few years I’ve observed major leaps toward tolerance and support on both sides.

I was able to snag a couple of comments from Mormons Building Bridges organizer Kendall Wilcox moments before they began marching in the parade.

SGN: What’s your main objective here?

Wilcox: Just to spread the message of love, and that Mormons do love LGBT people.

SGN: How do you think the reception for this will be in this kind of social climate?

Wilcox: So far, it’s been amazing. So many people have come up and said “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

SGN: So you’ve received a lot of support all around?

Wilcox: Yes, exactly!

Since Sunday, I’ve heard countless stories of Queer people overcome with emotion to the point of tears as they stood with pride and honor and watched Mormons Building Bridges stride along the downtown Salt Lake City streets in their Sunday best during the Pride Parade. They carried signs that read “God Is Love,” “Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself,” and “Jesus Said Love Everyone.”

This demonstration was a major step toward understanding and tolerance from all facets of the Utah community, helping to repair decades-old emotional scars and friction among us. We hope to see more of this and look forward to a more inclusive, dynamic, and open-minded community.

To the organizers and participants of Mormons Building Bridges, it is your example that will help pave the way for inclusion around the country. Thank you for your courage in supporting your Queer family members, friends, and neighbors. We cannot thank you enough.

Annalisa Millo is a writer and columnist for QSaltLake, Utah’s Gay and Lesbian news and entertainment magazine.

utah

June 8, 2012

Seattle Gay News 17

AFRICANS REACT TO OBAMA’S MARRIAGE ENDORSEMENT The Voice of America, a U.S. government media outlet, reports that President Barack Obama’s public support for same-sex marriage has sparked criticism in sub-Saharan Africa, where Gay men and women continue to face discrimination, violence, and jail time in many countries because of their sexual orientation.

The president’s immense popularity on the continent is taking a hit, even in his father’s native Kenya, says Nairobi resident Vincent Ondera.

“President Obama, I just can’t imagine that he supports Gay marriage. Why do I say so? In fact, I’m very much bitter with him, the president of the USA supporting Gay marriage? Lesbian? No, it can’t happen,” Ondera said.

Many Africans, like Kenyan pastor Nelson Otieno, cite religion as the source of disdain for Gay marriage.

“I would say to our beloved president of America to rethink about the statement that he made and know very well that it is against our religion. We, as Christians, we cannot support Gays at all costs,” said Otieno.

In Senegal, which is 95% Muslim, angry mobs have dug up the corpses of suspected homosexuals from Muslim cemeteries, dragged them through the streets, and deposited them at their families’ doorsteps.

Many Senegalese reject homosexuality as being imported from the West. Indeed, pressure from the United States, the United Nations, and other international powers to protect Gay rights has only further entrenched homophobia among

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

NEWS

bbc

INTERNATIONAL

by Scott Wittet SGN Contributing Writer many in Africa. Threats to withdraw foreign aid have been met with defiance.

Amie Weeks, a mother of four in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, says Gay marriage is out of the question.

“Very, very wrong. We are not in favor of it at all. So if they want to withdraw their support, let them. God will make a way for us because God would never be in favor of such a thing,” she said.

Still, Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage has sparked joy and hope among homosexual men and women in Africa.

Seydou Djamil Ba is one of a handful of openly Gay men in Senegal, where homosexual acts are punishable by five years in jail. Violence and death threats have forced him to flee abroad twice in the past five years.

Ba says he wishes people in Africa, particularly in Senegal, could understand that homosexuality is not the end of the world. He says Gays are people with the same rights as everyone else, and that Obama has set an example that he hopes other world leaders will follow.

For now, however, Ba said he would settle for the right to live his life in peace and without fear.

FORMER TELETUBBY INSISTS ‘TINKY WINKY’ NOT GAY An actress who portrayed one of the Teletubbies says the children’s program did not contain any pro-Gay undertones.

The show endured long-running controversy over suggestions it was promoting homosexuality to children, particularly through the character of Tinky Winky.

Nikky Smedley, who played Laa-Laa

Tinky Winky (l) and Jerry Falwell

from 1997 to 2002, said: “When the show was explained to me, I thought it was a work of genius.

“I thought, it will be massive. It came from a place of love and engagement for young children.”

But regarding questions over Tinky Winky’s sexuality, she told the Birmingham Mail, “I think it’s embarrassing for the people who said it.

“What kind of person can take obvious innocence and turn it into something else? We were hardly sexual beings.”

In 1999, the late U.S. fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell prompted a worldwide debate over Tinky Winky, claiming that the character could be Gay because he was purple and had a triangle on top of his head.

In 2007, Polish politician Ewa Sowinska said she would ask psychologists to investigate whether the purse-carrying character was Gay and promoted homosexuality to children. Her office later dropped the issue.

THAI TRANS ACTIVIST WINS PROVINCIAL ELECTION Model, actress, singer, and activist Yollada “Nok” Suanyot has won election as the top financial officer in Thailand’s Nan province, becoming the highest-ranking Transgender politician in the nation.

The Advocate reports that Suanyot won election running as an independent against a candidate from the nation’s ruling Pheu Thai party.

A former beauty pageant winner, Suanyot was a member of the band Venus Flytrap, a Spice Girls-like act made up of Transgender women. She also does commercial voiceovers and runs a jewelry business and a home-shopping TV channel.

“We barely have any rights at all at this point,” she told a Global Post interviewer shortly before the election. “Our genitalia is not recognized as female [even after surgery] so, if we’re jailed, we’re put in prison with the men. We can’t get proper health insurance. We can’t get married. We have problems traveling outside the country and trouble dealing with banks and government offices.”

Her gender identity, however, did not figure prominently in the campaign, she said.

“As far as I can see, the people of Nan are believers in human rights,” she told the Global Post. “They examine my ability to develop the province more than my gender.”

INDIA MAN WINS COURT BATTLE FOR SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY A 21-year-old man from Assam state in northeastern India has won the right to the operation he wanted, after a bitter public battle with his family.

As reported in the Times of India, Bidhan Baruah sued in the Bombay High Court seeking permission for a sex-change operation after his father threatened legal action against the doctor who agreed to the procedure. The court ruled that Baruah is an adult and can decide for himself.

In the process of his legal fight, Baruah inspired others to share their thoughts about sex-change operations.

According to psychiatrist Yusuf Matcheswala, who evaluated Baruah’s psychological readiness for the surgery, “Sex change was a taboo subject that was rarely discussed, but it is now being talked about openly.”

Psychiatrist Harish Shetty noticed that “in the last three years, the number coming to

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discuss gender identity disorder (GID) has gone up.”

Dr. Anil Tibrewala, one of the handful of plastic surgeons in Mumbai who perform gender reassignment surgeries, added, “In the last few days, I have spoken to four persons from different corners of India seeking the operation. But when I told them that I only operate on two to three patients in a month, they chose to fly to Thailand where doctors do two to three surgeries a day.” The surgery also is less expensive in Thailand.

It is this potential rush that worries activists like Ashok Row Kavi of the Humsafar Trust, an LGBT-rights NGO. “The main problem for the Transgender community in India is the lack of a social support system,” he said. If their families are not supportive of their decision to undergo the surgery, they have only one refuge: the hijra [transvestite] community, and “it’s not a simple issue.”

Furthermore, there is no standard protocol for the surgeries or follow-up. “Any person undergoing gender reassignment surgery should undergo two years of intense psychological therapy along with their family.

But this is rarely done in India,” said Dr. Matcheswala.

Kavi concurs: “In Tamil Nadu, a letter from a hijra guru saying that the person has been staying with them makes them eligible for such a surgery.”

Worse, there are stories of botched treatment and surgeries. Kavi noted, “We have a Transgender who lost a kidney after having too much hormonal therapy. Another person wasn’t operated on properly and has a leaking urethra that forces her to wear an adult diaper all the time.”

PAKISTAN PROVINCE CREATES JOB QUOTAS FOR ‘EUNUCHS’ Khyber Province in northern Pakistan is allocating two percent of government jobs to Transgendered persons, or “eunuchs,” as they are called in that country.

A provincial minister, in a recent media interview, confirmed the quota, which will apply to all provincial government hires.

The quota is linked to low literacy rates, with only 30 percent of Trans people in the province being literate.

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Gay Star News reports that the Vietnamsearch for “ilga map.” ese Institute for Studies of Society, Economy, and Environment and Save the Children ST. PETERSBURG JUDGE International released the joint study on OVERTURNS GAY EVENT BAN A judge in St. Petersburg, Russia, has May 31. The research shows that parental ruled that bans on LGBT events, issued by objections to their children’s gender expresofficials under the city’s so-called “Gay pro- sion and sexual identity are the main factors driving children from home. They then lead paganda” legislation, are unlawful.

The Smolninsky district court decided hazard-filled lives, with irregular meals and this week that municipal authorities lack the sleeping places, constant harassment and competence to determine whether the events threats of violence, and, for many, risk of amount to “propaganda” before they take infection with HIV and other STDs. Respondents said they also face discrimiplace.

The ruling also questioned the officials’ nation from neighbors and strangers, and right to cancel events, saying they only had have no chance of gaining employment. authority to suggest alternative times and Some reported psychological abuse leading to suicide attempts, drug abuse, and selfplaces for rallies.

The two planned events were for the Day mutilation.

Bisexual adolescent Tran Lan Anh (a of Silence on March 7 and the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia pseudonym) told Viet Nam News that she moves from place to place with five other on May 17.

Lesbians on a daily basis, with no money for a permanent residence. They find it difTHUGS ATTACK HEAD OF ficult just to eat.

UKRAINE GAY RIGHTS GROUP Lan Anh says she was beaten and verbally With three violent thugs kicking and jumping on him, Svyatoslav Sheremet lay abused daily by her parents because of her forlornly on the ground. He was attacked identify. She left home at the age of 13.

“When I applied for manual jobs, embecause he is the head of the Gay Forum of ployers refused to hire me and used impoUkraine.

The assault came following Sheremet’s lite words, reasoning that because I am not announcement to the media that the Kiev a ‘normal’ person, I will steal their money,” Pride parade had been cancelled due to safe- she said.

Lan Anh now works in the sex trade. ty concerns.

In response, the Vietnamese Centre for The attackers ran off when they realized that reporters were documenting the assault. Studies and Applied Science for Gender, As reported by the U.K. Daily Mail, the Family, Women, and Adolescents plans to parade, which had attracted about 150 Gay provide training and jobs for LGBT street men and Lesbians, was to begin from a se- children and adolescents in beauty services cret location and had a huge police presence. and fashion.

But hundreds of neo-Nazis and other REACTIONS MIXED TO MALAWI’S right-wing extremists turned up and began PLAN TO REPEAL ANTI-GAY LAW attacking the marchers. At least two people As reported previously in SGN, Malawi were hospitalized.

One of the organizers of the event, Taras, President Joyce Banda has announced her said he was disappointed but added, “Our intention to repeal a number of laws that goal was to promote dialogue in society, have made Malawi a pariah state, from its ban on homosexuality to a law that allows [and] that’s succeeded.”

The attacks are particularly worrying as cabinet ministers to shut down newspapers.

Ukraine will jointly host the 2012 UEFA The Christian Science Monitor notes that European Football Championship with the planned repeals come at a time when Poland this summer, meaning tens of thou- Malawi, an impoverished state of 14 milsands of football fans from across Europe lion – half of whom live on less than a dollar a day – is seeking to reestablish links with will descend on the country.

Western donor nations that were severed STUDY REVEALS LIVES OF LGBT during the tempestuous final years of the STREET CHILDREN IN VIETNAM late Malawian President Bingu wa MuthAccording to a new study, most LGBT arika.

Malawi’s international donors welcomed children and adolescents living on the street in Ho Chi Minh City are in the sex trade and the announcement.

Speaking last Thursday during Norway’s have little power to protect themselves from

Constitutional Day in Lilongwe, Norway’s ambassador to Malawi, Asbjorn Eidhammer, said that all governments bear a responsibility to protect people who are different from the majority, both from prosecution and from persecution.

But the repeal of the bans on homosexuality and same-sex marriage is a deeply unpopular move for many Malawians.

Some of the strongest views come from Malawi’s powerful evangelical community.

Billy Mayaya of Church and Society, a social and development group, says President Banda should consult with citizens before making such a drastic change in Malawian law.

The opposition People’s Transformation Party stated that decriminalizing homosexuality would be a “grave mistake” and urged “Members of Parliament, faith leaders, Christians, and Muslims to resist any intention directly or indirectly to legalize same-sex marriages.”

In the northern city of Mzuzu, Mtende Chirwa said Malawians should not simply accept the policies favored by foreign donors.

“Where are we heading as a nation?” he asked. “We are a God-fearing nation and anything contrary to that is un-Malawian. We should have the courage to tell the donors that some of these human rights are not part of our culture and society.”

But one university student in the southern city of Zomba, who did not want to be named, noted that Malawi has to be realistic about its own dependence on foreign funds, and must recognize that democracy requires elements of compromise.

“Malawians will have to live with this,” the student said. “We are a poor country and therefore donors will continue to dictate to us what to do. Economically we cannot stand on our own.”

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prop 8

continued from cover gust 2010. After several months of litigation over who had standing to defend Prop 8 in court since state officials declined to do so, a panel of three Ninth Circuit judges heard the case and ruled in February of this year that Prop 8 violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Prop 8 supporters then requested an en banc hearing – one with a larger panel of judges – which the Ninth Circuit refused in their June 5 ruling.

“The petition for rehearing en banc is DENIED,” the Ninth Circuit said in a brief statement.

“The mandate is stayed for ninety days pending the filing of a petition for writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court. If such a petition is filed, the stay shall continue until final disposition by the Supreme Court.”

A writ of certiorari is a document issued by the Supreme Court saying it will hear the

appeal. The high court is not obligated to hear appeals, and in fact it hears only about one percent of the cases appealed to it each year.

Some legal observers believe the Supremes will decline to hear the Prop 8 case, even if they do take other marriage-related cases such as Gill v. OPM, which challenges the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Gill was decided by the First Circuit Court of Appeals on May 31, when it ruled that DOMA’s definition of marriage as solely between a man and a woman is unconstitutional.

Typically, the Supreme Court will agree to take cases that involve broad legal principles, or those in which different federal courts have issued conflicting opinions.

In the Prop 8 case, however, the Ninth Circuit issued a very narrow ruling, which would have no application outside California, even if it does have an enormous impact on the future of same-sex couples in that state.

Ninth Circuit Court Judge Stephen Rein-

hardt, who wrote the opinion in the February decision, did not say that same-sex couples have an equal right to marry under the Constitution. Instead, he said that once Gay and Lesbian couples had been allowed to marry, however briefly, by a California Supreme Court decision, it was discriminatory to take that right away from them while allowing straight couples to continue to marry.

Significantly, Reinhardt’s opinion quotes heavily from a 1996 opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Supreme Court’s crucial swing vote.

In Romer v. Evans, Kennedy wrote that a Colorado initiative to reverse local LGBT rights ordinances was unconstitutional because it took away rights from Gays and Lesbians alone, and from no one else.

Reinhardt’s opinion repeatedly cites Kennedy’s opinion. “Prop. 8 singles out samesex couples for unequal treatment by taking away from them alone the right to marry,” Reinhardt wrote, in one of many Romer citations.

Four of the Supreme Court’s nine justices must agree to hear an appeal for it to be considered, but a majority – five justices – is necessary for a decision.

The Supreme Court’s four most conservative justices – Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito – could vote to hear the case, but they would need Kennedy to vote with them to reverse the Ninth Circuit and save Prop 8. It was for this reason, many suspect, that Reinhardt relied almost exclusively on Kennedy’s reasoning in Romer.

“Today’s refusal by the Ninth Circuit to grant further review is a testament to the meticulous and well-reasoned opinion originally issued by the Court,” the National Center for Lesbian Rights said in a statement.

“While the supporters of Proposition 8 will now seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court, there is no doubt that they are on the wrong side of history. Excluding same-sex couples from the right to marry runs counter to our highest ideals of equality and fairness.”

The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the organization that supplied legal counsel for the challenge to Prop 8, said it believed the Supreme Court would ultimately uphold the Ninth Circuit if it does decide to hear the case.

“Today’s order is yet another federal court victory for loving, committed Gay and Lesbian couples in California and around the

nation,” said AFER co-founder Chad Griffin.

“The final chapter of the Proposition 8 case has now begun. Should the United States Supreme Court decide to review the Ninth Circuit’s decision in our case, I am confident that the Justices will stand on the side of fairness and equality.”

In a statement celebrating the Ninth Circuit’s decision, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) acknowledged the role of AFER’s lead attorneys, Republican Ted Olson and Democrat David Boies.

“For over three years, the plaintiffs, the American Foundation for Equal Rights, and attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies have shown tremendous fortitude and perseverance in their fight for marriage equality,” the HRC statement said.

“With today’s announcement, we are one step closer to ensuring that Gay and Lesbian Californians – and, one day, our entire community nationwide – are able to join the institution of marriage and have their love and commitment respected equally.”

r 74

continued from cover it will be on the ballot,” he said.

Even before the marriage bill was signed in February, political observers had expected it to be challenged at the ballot box in November.

“For us, there’s no news here,” said Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage, the coalition of organizations, church congregations, unions, and business associations working together to secure civil marriage for loving, committed Gay and Lesbian couples. “We always knew our opponents would qualify for the ballot, and we know they paid hired canvassers to boost their count. They can spin it however they want, but they clearly wouldn’t have paid out-of-pocket if they thought they could do it on their own.”

According to Silk, whatever the final certified number is, it doesn’t matter.

“This campaign is up and running and we know by independent poll numbers released last week that the overwhelming majority of Washingtonians do not want to overturn this law of fundamental fairness for all families,” he continued. “That’s why we’ll continue to build on the broad and diverse campaign we’ve created.”

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Celebrating 39 Years!

gized by the families who know that only marriage fully protects their children, by the parents who want all of their children to be able to marry the person they love, and by loving Gay and Lesbian couples who simply want to make that lifetime commitment to one another, said Silk.

“Those are the values of the vast majority of people in this state, and that’s why we believe we’ll ultimately win in November.”

Marc Solomon, national campaign director of Freedom to Marry said, “During the week in which loving and committed samesex couples in Washington were preparing to share in the joy of the first marriage ceremonies in the state, anti-Gay advocates have decided instead to submit signatures forcing them to put a hold on their happiness and fend off a referendum on whether or not they can get married.”

Washington is part of Freedom to Marry’s Win More States Fund, which plans to raise and spend at least $3 million in crucial marriage campaigns in 2012. These funds contribute to grassroots organizing, television and radio spots, new media programs, and public education.

“We know that Washingtonians believe in

freedom and fairness, and a majority want to see all people share in the joy and responsibilities of marriage,” said Solomon.

As an active partner in Washington United for Marriage, Freedom to Marry will work tirelessly to ensure that voters hear the stories, and learn about the lives of, loving and committed same-sex couples from Washington, he said.

“We are confident Washington voters will conclude that a vote to take away their freedom to marry is out of sync with the Golden Rule values that all Washingtonians hold.”

But the outcome is far from certain, even in a state as politically liberal and Democratic-leaning as Washington. In every state where the question of same-sex marriage has been put directly to voters so far, it has been rejected.

The Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for Marriage, which has successfully campaigned against marriage equality in other states, has joined the repeal push in Washington state.

Joseph Backholm, chairman of Preserve Marriage Washington, said in a statement that the response to his group’s petition drive was “incredible throughout every cor-

ner of the state.”

“Support for [qualifying] Referendum 74 was strong from the beginning, and has grown as the signature drive has advanced,” he said.

“Thirty-two states have voted on this issue. No states have voted to redefine marriage. People think this country is divided down the middle on this issue, and that’s simply not true,” Christopher Plante, spokesman for Preserve Marriage Washington, told the Los Angeles Times.

“The fact of the matter is, if you look at what Americans have done, from the deepest blue states like Maine, California, and Wisconsin to the Bible Belt, when they’ve had a chance to define marriage as one-man, one-woman, that’s what they’ve done.”

The fight to keep Washington State’s marriage equality law is expected to be a multimillion-dollar campaign. Marriage equality supporters appear to have a big money advantage so far. Washington United for Marriage has raised over $700,000, according to the website for the state Public Disclosure Commission. Opponents of marriage equality have raised just $113,000.

Washingtonians who support marriage

equality will have to vote Yes to Approve Referendum 74 in order to keep the law.

Washington is likely to join three other states with a same-sex marriage question on the ballot in this presidential election year, with the opposition in each of those states backed by the National Organization for Marriage.

In Maryland, opponents of same-sex marriage have turned in more than enough signatures to allow voters to decide whether to retain or reject marriage equality legislation passed by lawmakers there.

In Maine, Gay-rights advocates are asking the same voters who repealed a same-sex marriage law in that state in 2009 to restore it.

And in Minnesota, voters will consider whether to amend their state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

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Seattle Gay News 23