Issue 24 Volume 39
FRIDAY June 17, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
Celebrating 38 Years!
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
DOMA is unconstitutional, says U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Pride flag will fly – community elated by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
file photo
AP Photo/Mark Duncan
married couple, Gene Douglas Balas and Carlos A. Morales. Judge Thomas B. Donovan found that DOMA violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. His ruling was signed by 19 of the 23 other bankruptcy judges in the Central District, in an unprecedented show of unanimity. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner – who U.S. House Speaker John Boehner has hired an atby Mike Andrew torney to defend DOMA on behalf of the House – said on June 16 that SGN Staff Writer he would not challenge the BankThe U.S. Bankruptcy Court for ruptcy Court’s ruling. Balas and Morales were legally the Central District of California, based in Los Angeles, released an married in California on August opinion on June 13 finding Section 20, 2008, and remain legally married because the passage of Prop 8 3 of DOMA unconstitutional. Their ruling came in a bankruptcy filing brought by a same-sex see doma page 24
Our flag, part II
We often use the word “community” to describe what we have as LGBT people. You can lean on me and I will lean on you – we’ll hold each other up. Short of some dramatic squabbles here and there, we really do take care of each other. One of the things we’ve gotten really good at (be it out of a sense of equality or simple necessity) is organizing. Make no mistake, a Gay community scorned is a community that can, and will, fight back. We make signs, boycott, march, petition, and social-network our way to victory time and again. Such is the case with the Pride flag that once proudly flew high above the city on the top of the iconic Space Needle. We did it, everyone. The flag will fly again. I say “we” because there really isn’t any one person who can claim that this victory is theirs and theirs see Pride Flag page 26
Fifth annual PrideFest Westboro Pig Church plans picket at Pride Picnic asks community to Michael S. Williamson
Rev. Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Seattle, we’re a sinful lot. Because of that, we are the unlucky recipients of a Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) picketing, where the controversial members of the moronic group will condemn us for our wicked ways. Why won’t these idiots just go away already? The hate group has zeroed in on two events that, they say, are especially immoral: The Seattle SlutWalk, a protest against sexual assault, and the Seattle Pride Picnic at Volunteer Park. For those of you not in the know (and on this one, ignorance really is bliss), the Topeka, Kansas-based church, headed by Fred Phelps, is known for demonstrating against homosexuality and picketing funerals of servicemembers, always with grossly inflammatory signs. Seattle Out & Proud, the organization that produces the annual Pride Picnic, issued a statement regarding the scheduled picketing of their event. “The WBC is scheduled to protest for 30 minutes, from 10:50 to 11:20 a.m., on June
“Live Proud”
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
The fifth year of PrideFest promises to exceed all expectations. One Degree Events officials – the producers of PrideFest, the biggest LGBT party in the Northwest – say this will be the best year yet. PrideFest 2011 will feature three stages, four days of events, a family and kids’ area with a Ferris wheel, dozens of artists, men’s and women’s parties, and hundred of vendors. This year’s theme is “Live Proud,” and that is exactly what the thousands of Pride revelers intend to do. The festival is June 26 from noon to 8 p.m., immediately following the Seattle Out & Proudproduced Seattle Pride Parade. Join One Degree Events for the fifth annual PrideFEAST on June 23 at participating Seattle restausee westboro page 27 rants. Once again, the dining bene-
fit to raise money for LGBT health and wellness non-profits Gay City and Seattle Counseling Service returns, and it’s always sure to be a good time. Most importantly, you get to choose the eating locale that best suits you and your dinner guests’ needs. Up to 20% of your bill goes to the beneficiaries that provide essential services to the community. Visit www.pridefeast. org for more details. “We at One Degree do this as a great way to support the community and to contribute to a true sense of Pride,” officials said. “Pride in our mental and physical health and taking pride in a community that helps those who need help the most.” Calling all Armistead Maupin fans! The author himself will conduct a reading from his work at the see pridefest page 24