SGN September 9, 2011 - Section 1

Issue 36 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

FRIDAY September 9, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

murderer arrESTED p. 5 BLOOD BAN LIFTED p. 8 wandA sykes p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

This weekend, Americans will observe the 10-year anniversary of the four coordinated suicide attacks against targets in New York City and Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001 – more commonly known as 9/11.

So much has happened since 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger jets on that clear September morning, intentionally crashing two planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, collapsing them within two hours.

So many lives were changed forever when, on that same morning, hijackers crashed a third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

On November 16, 2010, the city of Seattle and its neighborhood business district partners launched the Only in Seattle marketing campaign, a visually lush celebration of the many locally owned “hidden gem” retail shops and restaurants in Seattle’s unique neighborhoods.

The Only in Seattle Initiative was made possible by an approximately $1 million grant made available through a partnership of the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) and Impact Capital.

Inspired by the “buy local” movement, OED worked with local business owners and neighborhood leaders to develop a campaign that would inspire people to

see 9/11 page 9

see website page 18

Joe Mabel

ultrad.com.br

America City’s “Only in Seattle” remembers site omits LGBT from 9/11 Capitol Hill promotion

Tower of All Pilgrims Church on Capitol Hill

Tammy Baldwin announces Iran hangs three bold run for U.S. Senate seat men for “sodomy” courtesy unicorn booty

United States Congress

If elected, she would become the first open Lesbian to serve in the Senate.

Baldwin took the unusual step of announcing her candidacy with a video released simultaneously in all of Wisconsin’s media markets.

“I’m running for the U.S. Senate to stand up for you,” she says in the video.

“I will put people back to work building our roads, bridges, and schools, by helping small business and entrepreneurs secure the capital they need to grow and expand to put other people back to work.”

The next day, Baldwin took part in a national conference call with 15 representatives of major LGBT media, including SGN. The call was organized by the Victory Fund, which is supporting Baldwin’s campaign.

“It’s an exciting day for the Victory Fund and an even more exciting day for Tammy,” Victory Fund President Chuck Wolfe said in his introduction.

“The Victory Fund endorsed Tammy in her first legislative race in 1992. She’s never lost a race, Representative Tammy Baldwin and we’re confident she’ll continby Mike Andrew announced on September 6 that ue that streak through 2012.”

SGN Staff Writer she is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) Democrat Herb Kohl. see baldwin page 20

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The government of Iran hanged three men on September 4 for the crime of having Gay sex. Three others were executed at the same time for other crimes.

Reports of the executions were originally published by the Iranian

proud to Be Different

We are conveniently located on-site at Lifelong AIDS Alliance below the Thrift Store.

exile group, Iran Human Rights, on September 5.

They were confirmed the next day when the official ISNA (Iranian Student News Agency) ran a Farsi language story on the hangings.

The story was not reported on see hangings page 21

Call us at 206.568.2486

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Seattle Gay News

September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

September 9, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

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2011

Deadlines

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

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

Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner

Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers

Nick Ardizzone, Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2011, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.

Homophobia is so Gay

by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer This week, we learned that virulently antiGay Puerto Rican Senator Roberto Arango (R) was on a diet. Like any straight man wanting to show off his sculpted new body, he posted pictures of his anus on the Gay men’s cruising software Grindr. Last week, a homophobic Indiana lawmaker, State Rep. Phillip Hinkle (R), answered a Craigslist ad for an $80 male prostitute looking for a “sugar daddy.” After he was exposed by the escort, Hinkle said that he isn’t Gay and declared, “I don’t know what was going through my mind.” And, of course, we all know about Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) who sought sex in a Minneapolis airport men’s room by tapping his foot.

These tawdry tales of deception and deceit are tailor-made for the tabloids. They provide vindication for the LGBT community and punish villains who deserve their fate.

However, it is time to look beyond the headlines and have the psychiatric community examine the heads of closet cases that inflict enormous damage on their own people.

These disgusting betrayals are much greater than hypocrisy. They represent full-fledged pathology that has devastating consequences for the LGBT community.

To protect their “dirty” secret, these scoundrels are inciting persecution and passing discriminatory laws that lead to many forms of suicide: career, social, financial, emotional, spiritual, and actual. Gay couples with

Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business.

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

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

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

And please play safe.

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

limited rights must pay higher taxes and hire expensive lawyers to draw up contracts.

These couples must also endure the emotionally devastating prospect of not having hospital visitation rights when emergencies strike. Careers are irreversibly harmed when homosexuals hit glass ceilings or are fired in states that offer no legal protections. And we lose young people every day who hear homophobic rhetoric coming from closeted politicians or those influenced by them.

Enough is enough.

Society needs to stop being squeamish and treating these vulgar events as personal tragedies or sordid anomalies. Such phenomenon are neither episodic nor mere coincidence, but part of a pervasive pattern that strongly suggests that the most rabid homophobes are usually Gay. Indeed, solid research backs up this hypothesis: In 1986, a University of Georgia study by Dr. Henry Adams proved that men who are most outspokenly anti-Gay were the ones most likely to be turned on by Gay porn.

Given the research and empirical evidence, activist and sex columnist Dan Savage is on the money when he asks: “Have we reached a tipping point yet? Shouldn’t homophobic politicians and anti-Gay bullies be presumed to be Gay until they get caught up in a straight sex scandal?”

My opinion is not mere speculation, but comes from my own behavior while living in the closet. During my freshman year in high school, I confronted a fellow student in my debate class with an anti-Gay epithet.

He looked me in the eyes and presciently replied, “Those who call other people fags are usually the real homosexuals.”

A similar situation happened in Puerto Rico when Sen. Arango once Gay-baited a political opponent and even used a rubber duck to convey that this man was Gay. (Apparently, the word for duck is an anti-Gay slur in Puerto Rico.) The difference was that I was 13 and trying to grapple with my sexual orientation, while Arango never grew up and progressed to passing anti-Gay laws.

The teenage homophobia that I employed took two distinct forms. The first was deflecting suspicion by laughing at anti-Gay jokes. The second was actually telling the jokes to gauge my social group’s reaction, hoping I could find someone who was also a closeted homosexual. The ideal situation for such individuals is to find fellow closet cases who create safe conditions to maintain the heterosexual façade while enjoying the sexual benefits of someone who is open and honest about their sexual orientation.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that the majority of people with anti-Gay attitudes are actually Gay. Most hostility still comes from heterosexuals brought up in families where religion-based bigotry is preached.

But, I strongly believe that those who are most visibly animated and unusually motivated by homosexuality probably have a strong desire to enter that arena. If every anti-Gay activist and politician came out today it would not end opposition to LGBT equality, but it would take the heart out of this insidious movement.

We have to stop laughing (not completely) at these sex scandals and start learning more about the psychological dynamics that drive closet cases into conservative politics and anti-Gay activism. It is an underdeveloped field of study that deserves scholarly attention from the top research institutions and universities in America.

In Loving Memory Of

Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold

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Seattle Gay News

September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Capitol Hill bar owners who are fighting the dance tax might want to contact the Seattle legislative delegation, which would include House Speaker Frank Chopp, Rep. Jamie Pederson, and Senator Ed Murray and ask them to lobby Governor Gregoire to issue an executive order that would order the Washington Department of Revenue to cease and desist from interpreting WAC 458-20-183 as requiring a 9.5% sales tax on dancing. Further, the governor could include a provision prohibiting the DOR from collecting back taxes on the dance tax. Attorney Mark Kimble of MDK Law Associates, President of Seattle Nightlife and Music Associates Pete Hanning, and affected bar owners should also talk with Seattle legislators about introduction of remedial legislation, in the 2012 Legislature. Both of the above suggestions are quicker and cheaper than litigation that would take at least three years to get a Washington Supreme Court decision.

Steven L. Kendall THE BLAME GAME

Louis Chen (l) is seen during his arraignment in King County Superior Court on Monday, August 29, 2011.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The State of Washington’s Department of Health Medical Quality Assurance Commission has suspended the medical license of Louis C. Chen, a former King County physician criminally charged with murder.

The September 1 decision means Chen, 39, cannot practice medicine in Washington.

He may request a hearing to challenge the Washington medical commission’s charges and license suspension.

On August 16, Chen was criminally charged with two counts of aggravated firstdegree murder in King County. According

to documents filed in King County Superior Court, Chen is accused of killing his domestic partner, Eric Cooper, 29, and their young toddler son.

Last Monday, Chen pleaded not guilty in a Seattle courtroom to aggravated murder charges. He is currently being held without bail in the King County Jail.

The Medical Quality Assurance Commission protects and promotes public health, safety, and welfare in Washington by regulating competency and quality of physicians and physician assistants. The commission develops rules, policies, and procedures to promote high-quality health care to state residents.

Arrest in murder of Iowa teen Marcellus Andrews kcrg.com

I find it amazing how quickly politicians, the media, and the public are so quick to blame the country’s woes on one person, that one most recently being President Obama. If I remember my American history correctly, we have three branches of government: the presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court. Every two years the people have an opportunity to vote those they wish to represent them in the Congress. The economic crisis facing this country has been in the making for decades. It is silly of those who point the finger at President Obama.

The reason we have three branches of government is to have a system of checks and balances. My question to you is where has Congress been during the past three decades? A major responsibility of Congress is to conduct oversight. Where was the oversight when Greenspan kept interest rates too low for years leading to the current housing and debt crisis? Where was Congress when President Bush started two wars both without the explicit consent of Congress? Why did Congress allow both wars to be fought on borrowed monies, thus putting the burden on future generations to pay for? I could write a book about just how inept Congress has been in its failure to look out for the best interest of the people.

But then there is the media, which is no longer doing its job, which was to keep the public informed with factual information and to question the motives of those who control and therefore run the country that includes politicians and the powerful who control them. Instead, the media was complicit in passing on the lies and falsehoods which got us into the war in Iraq and is partly responsible for the housing crisis by its glowing stories in regards to how good owning a home is, and its failure to question the rapid rise in housing prices. Instead, its line was, “If you don’t buy now, you will never be able to buy.”

And last there is the public, which for the past three decades has allowed its attention to be drawn away from bread and butter issues to be focus instead on social issues like abortion, Gay rights, civil rights, etc.

To the above I might add religious institutions which have failed to concentrate on those things all religions should be working for, and that is to protect the poor and disadvantaged from being taken by the rich and powerful. Also, not to judge, for not one is above sin.

George Whitaker

This is in reference to the article in SGN, “Suquamish Tribe votes for same-sex marriage.”

It is interesting to note that same-sex marriage existed presumably for centuries on the two American continents among many of the native peoples, at least until the coming of European colonizers.

Not only the European-descended missionaries, but fur traders, explorers, and government agents were totally shocked when they first encountered this fact, as their blindly biased and hysterically denunciatory writings attest!

Tribes are “nations” and had many different languages and customs, so what is or was true of one tribe or nation was not necessarily true of others. Besides that, many tribes found it wiser to not explain all their “strange” customs to the disapproving missionaries, who had government backing to stamp out such “outlandish,” “immoral,” “non-Christian,” and “uncivilized” habits.

Many tribal people, and for good reason, also distrusted visiting anthropologists and “scholars,” and wouldn’t tell them the whole truth. In some cases, therefore, the “truth” about same-sex marriage traditions may have been permanently suppressed and entirely lost, or those truths may still exist in the memories of a few elders who are even now not certain if they should reveal to the descendants of prejudiced invaders what they do know.

The missionaries and government agents, combined, did an extremely good and thorough job of shaming many of the native peoples, and likewise did their damnedest to completely erase culture, customs, and language, succeeding in turning many against the ways of their ancestors, or purposely forgetting or denying that such “abominations” could ever have existed.

It is impossible, as well as probably factually wrong, to state that all the different native tribal traditions recognized same-sex marriage. However, enough original material has been preserved that it is proved an undeniable fact that many, many tribes did have such a traditional, many-generational institution as same-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage is not new on this North American continent!

Such a marriage could be between two (biological) men or two (biological) women.

(Traditional cultural gender roles of “husbands” and “wives” were generally kept.

Same-sex marriage, like everything else, evolves!) Children were adopted and raised in such accepted and, often, especially respected and admired, families. In many cases, individuals in such same-sex marriages were considered the most outstandingly important and gifted tribal members.

There is much much more that could be said about this original Native American custom of same-sex marriage – much much more! – but that would make this letter awfully long! Looking this up can be a fascinating study!

I don’t know if the Suquamish and Coquille tribes, specifically, had same-sex marriages before the coming of Europeans, or if any anthropological studies have been made, or if early “informants” would have told researchers the truth, even if they still remembered it!

But the Suquamish and Coquille tribes ought to know that not only are they facilitating the birth of a beautiful new day of justice and equality for all, but they are also affirming an ancient and honorable solidly grounded ancestral tradition of the native peoples in America!

Barbara Tomlinson

komo news

SUQUAMISH TRIBE MARRIAGE FOLLOWS A LONG TRADITION

AGAINST DANCE TAX? SPEAK OUT!

Doctor accused of murder has license suspended

Paris Akeem Anding

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Waterloo, Iowa, police reported on September 8 that they have made an arrest in the death of Marcellus Andrews.

The Waterloo Police Department said it had arrested 19-year-old Paris Akeem Anding, a resident of Waterloo.

Anding was booked into Black Hawk County Jail on a charge of murder in the second degree. No bail was set.

Anding was also booked on an outstanding aggravated assault warrant that was not related to the killing of Andrews.

Andrews, 19, was beaten to death during a brawl on August 19. According to eyewitnesses, his killers called him a “faggot” and other anti-Gay slurs both before and during the attack.

Nakita Wright, a friend of Andrews and an eyewitness to the killing, said that at least one of the assailants kicked Andrews in the face after he had been beaten to the ground.

According to Waterloo police, the incident resulted from prior friction between Andrews’ friends, who he was visiting on the night of his death, and Andrews’ killers. Andrews himself was not party to the feud, police said.

In a previous interview, police chief Dan Trelka told SGN that his department had interviewed “everyone who was present” at the scene, but accounts of the incident “differed widely.”

No further details have been released as SGN goes to press. Police say they will not elaborate on the latest developments because the investigation is still ongoing.

Rich Full-Bodied Cafes Savory Homestyle Soups & Sandwiches Visit us online www.sgn.org

September 9, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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GLSEN awards announced

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

chazbono.net

livan (head of publicity for DreamWorks Studios).

This year, GLSEN will offer five awards GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight to recognize efforts to ensure schools are Education Network, announced September safe for all students, regardless of sexual 7 that they will honor Chaz Bono, Michele orientation or gender identity/expression: and Rob Reiner, Wells Fargo, Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts, and the 2011 Hero Award: Student Advocate of the Year at its seventh Chaz Bono annual Respect Awards – Los Angeles, held Chaz Bono is an LGBT rights advocate, on October 21 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. author, speaker, and the only child of famed The annual Respect Awards showcase the entertainers Sonny and Cher. Chaz has conwork of corporations, individuals, students, tributed as a writer-at-large to The Advoand educators who have made a significant cate and in 1996 became the Human Rights difference in the areas of diversity, inclu- Campaign’s National Coming Out Day sion, and the safe schools movement, and spokesperson. He also served as entertainwho serve as exemplary role models. This ment media director for the Gay & Lesbian year’s Respect Awards – Los Angeles will Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), take place on the last day of GLSEN’s Ally and has spoken at dozens of universities and Week, held in schools across the country to LGBT events. An acclaimed author, Chaz identify, support, and celebrate allies. has written three books including Transi“GLSEN is thrilled to honor these amaz- tion, his groundbreaking and candid acing supporters, advocates, and partners count of a 40-year struggle to match his genwho have helped propel our vision to make der identity with his physical body and his schools safe and affirming for all students, transformation from female to male. He reregardless of sexual orientation or gender cently shared his life and experiences in the identity/expression,” GLSEN Executive three-time Emmy-nominated documentary Director Eliza Byard said. “We are proud Becoming Chaz. Chaz recently signed on to to recognize Chaz Bono, Michele and Rob compete with 11 other celebrities in the 13th Reiner, Wells Fargo, Phoenix Suns President season of ABC’s hit show Dancing with the and CEO Rick Welts, and our 2011 Student Stars. He is very excited to compete athletiAdvocate of the Year for the significant con- cally and continue to create awareness and tributions they have made toward creating impact change for the LGBT community. a world where every child learns to respect Chaz currently lives in Los Angeles with his and accept all people.” fiancée, Jennifer Elia.

The event is co-chaired by Linda Bell Blue (executive producer of Entertainment Lifetime Achievement Chaz Bono Tonight), Dave Karger (senior writer of EnAward: for Equal Rights, the sole sponsor of the fed- 2011, Rick became the first professional tertainment Weekly), Michael Lombardo Michele and Rob Reiner (president of programming at HBO), David Michele and Rob Reiner are founding eral court challenge of California’s Proposi- sports executive to come out publicly, and Phoenix (interior designer), and Chip Sul- board members of the American Foundation tion 8, Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Michele, has since stated that he wants to be a mentor an accomplished photographer, producer, to LGBT people who harbor doubts about and children’s advocate, co-founded Par- a sports career, whether on the court or in ents’ Action for Children (formerly the I Am the front office. Among many achievements Your Child Foundation) and produced the over a 40-year career in the sports world, primetime ABC special “I Am Your Child.” Rick is credited with the creation of the Rob, an actor and director, has been a leader NBA All-Star Weekend concept in 1984, in elevating the issue of pre-kindergarten and was named “Marketer of the Year” in education and other services for children. 1998 by Brandweek magazine for his role in Rob, who presented a Respect Award to creating and launching the WNBA. Welts’ ABC’s Modern Family at last year’s event, Suns provided critical support to GLSEN’s won an Emmy Award for his role in All in award-winning “Think Before You Speak” the Family and has numerous film credits Ad Council campaign. Suns players Grant including When Harry Met Sally. In 2008, Hill and Jared Dudley starred in a PSA deRob and Michele teamed up with political signed to reduce teens’ use of anti-LGBT strategist Chad Griffin to form the Ameri- language. can Foundation for Equal Rights, working to protect and advance equal rights for Gay Student Advocate and Lesbian couples across the country. of the Year: TBD After a nationwide search, GLSEN will Commitment to Diversity present the 2011 Student Advocate of the & Inclusion Award: Year. This award recognizes a student who Wells Fargo has advanced LGBT equality in their school Wells Fargo has a long history of support- or community, working to ensure that all ing the LGBT community, serving LGBT students are safe and free of bullying, namecustomers, and creating an inclusive work- calling, and harassment. This year’s search place environment for nearly 280,000 team will focus on the students nationwide particmembers. The company scored a perfect ipating in GLSEN’s chapter-led Jump-Start 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Student Leadership Program and other local Corporate Equality Index for eight consecu- GLSEN student leadership initiatives. tive years and is currently ranked No. 2 on DiversityInc’s Top 10 Companies for LGBT About GLSEN employees. Wells Fargo provided crucial GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight support for the launch of GLSEN’s Safe Education Network, is the leading national Space Campaign to place a GLSEN Safe education organization focused on ensuring Space Kit educator resource in every middle safe schools for all students. Established in and high school in the country. Wells Fargo 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which also has committed significant support for every child learns to respect and accept all each year of the three-year campaign, which people, regardless of sexual orientation or launched last year and will provide educa- gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks tors with tools to be visibly supportive allies to develop school climates where differto LGBT students. ence is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and Inspiration Award: diverse community. For information on Rick Welts GLSEN’s research, educational resources, As president and chief executive officer public policy advocacy, student organizing of the Phoenix Suns, Rick Welts supervises programs, and educator training initiatives, Phoenix Suns President and CEO Rick Welts all the team’s business operations. In May visit www.glsen.org.

Michael Chow, The Arizona/Associated Press

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Seattle Gay News

September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

SEATTLE VOLLEYBALL CLUB – EMERALD CITY CAT FIGHT TOURNAMENT SEPT 9-11 Seattle Volleyball Club hosts the Emerald City Cat Fight tournament featuring fierce and friendly competition amongst LGBT volleyball teams from around the Northwest. Team registration will be held on Friday, September 9, from 7-10 p.m., at R Place (619 E. Pine St.). The tournament spikes off on Saturday, September 10, from 8am-6pm, at Garfield High School Gymnasium (400 23rd Ave.) and Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry St.). Saturday evening, players will gather at Purr (1518 11th Ave.) for the “Seed Party” to allow players from competing teams to meet one another off the court. On Sunday, the tournament continues from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Rainier Community Center (4600 38th Ave. S.) and Garfield High School Gymnasium (400 23rd Ave.) from 8am-6pm.

classism and racism. The Seattle LGBTQ community has been on the convergence of creativity and social justice for the last 20 years with productions such as “Fallen Women Follies” and Kaleidoscope Cabaret (a people of color production), Push: a Magazine of Queer Feminist Subversions - featuring LGBTQ writers, photographers and visual artists, Voices Rising (people of color and LGBTQ artists), Bend-It (art by youth, Bent (a Queer Writers Institute), and troupes like the Bamboo Clan, Milky Way, The Von Foxies and the Queen Bees.

Be part of this long Queer artist tradition.

Create a workshop, perform in the show, and attend the conference. Workshop presenters will be given first priority for performing in the shows.

For more information or to get a workshop application, please go to theproducerscollective.weebly.com.

SEATTLE VOLLEYBALL CLUB SKILLS CLINIC AND FALL LEAGUE KICK-OFF On Tuesday, September 13, at 7 p.m., at Garfield Community Center (2323 E. Cherry St.), Seattle Volleyball Club hosts a pre-season skills clinic to teach the fundamentals of volleyball and allow players to compete in scrimmages. The skills clinic also will help league officials determine what division a player should be playing in.

The SVC fall league begins Tuesday, September 20 and Wednesday, September 21, with Division 3 meeting on Tuesdays from 7-10 p.m. at Yesler Community Center (917 E. Yesler Way), Division 4 meeting on Tues“QUEER IT YOURSELF: days from 7-10 p.m. at Garfield Community BE IT, DO IT, MAKE IT” – Center (2323 E. Cherry St.), and Divisions WORKSHOP PROPOSALS 1 and 2 meeting on Wednesdays from 7-10 BEING SOUGHT p.m. at Rainier Community Center (4600 The Producer’s Collective is seeking 38th Ave. S.) For more information, visit workshop and performance proposals for www.seattlevolleyballclub.com. the upcoming “Queer It Yourself: Be It, Do It, Make It” day-long conference to be held COUNTRY DOCTOR on Saturday, October 8, at Seattle UniverCOMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS sity’s Pigott Auditorium. The conference FIRST ANNUAL seeks to provide a space for Queers and soEAT OUT ON CAPITOL HILL cial justice artists to talk, collaborate, skill On Wednesday, September 14, all day, eat share and intellectualize about art and cre- and drink at a number of fine eating estabativity. Two celebratory shows will be held lishments on Capitol Hill and a percentage that evening at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Seattle of your purchase will benefit Country DocUniversity’s Wyckoff Auditorium. Dead- tor Community Health Centers (Country line for workshop proposals is Monday, Doctor Community Clinic and Carolyn September 12. Workshops will be 1-1/2 Downs Family Medical Center). hours in length. Compensation for workParticipating restaurants are: Barrio, Bimshop presentations is free admission to the bo’s Cantina, Cafe Presse, Caffe Vita, Cha day-long conference.

Cha Lounge, Coastal Kitchen, Dinette, EltThe Producer’s Collective is a Queer-led ana Bagel Cafe, Fuel, High 5 Pies, Julia’s on production company dedicated to building Broadway, La Bete, La Cocina, Molly Moon a Queer artist community that values social Ice Cream, Monsoon, Oddfellows Cafe, justice that fosters art in the LGBTQ com- Olympia Pizza, Pete’s Coffee Capitol Hill, munity, and challenges oppression while Piecora’s Pizza , Poco Wine Room, Poppy, still being joyful and entertaining. The col- Poquitos, Quinn’s Pub, Ristorante Machialective is an ambitious group of four, all art- velli, Smith, Tango, The Copper Vine, The ists raising the bar on art, community, cre- Tin Table, Volunteer Park Cafe. ativity, politics and fun.

For the most up-to-date list of participants, Examples of the kinds of workshops they visit www.countrydoctor.org/eatout2011. are looking for: “Intellectualizing” – The Politics of Queer “BACK-TO-SCHOOL” POZ SOCIAL Performance, The Politics of Performing On Wednesday, September 14, from 6-8 Gender, What Does Social Justice Art Look p.m., at The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. & E. Like? What Is An Artist Community? Get Pine St.), POZSeattle is pleased to present Inspired: How Queer Artists Are Pushing their last outside BBQ for the 2011 Summer the Envelope, Is Everyone an Artist? How Season. Meet on the back patio for BBQ, to Embrace Your Artist Self, Body Positive socializing, to catch-up with old friends, in the Burlesque World, The Politics of Pay- to make new ones, and a whole lot of fun. ment as an Artist; Racism in Queer Artist Burgers (with or without cheese), chicken Community; How to be an Ally to Margin- breast, kosher hot dogs, salads, chips, cookalized Artists. ies, Boca vegetarian burgers, and all the “Art and Skill Sharing” – Drag Kinging fixin’s will be served.

101, Burlesque 101, Learning How to Sing, The event is free (except for cost of beverLearning How to Make a Video, Video Edit- ages from the bar) and is for all HIV-Posiing, Want to Be a Spoken Word Artist? Want tive men and their friends, regardless of age, to Be a Good MC? How to Create a Group shape, size or color.

Number, How to Start a Troupe, How to POZSeattle is a social organization run Produce a Show, Improv, Acting 101, for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive guys Sketch Comedy, Scriptwriting, Self-Care as that is committed to planning and promotan Artist and Longevity/Sustainability as an ing fun, social activities. For questions or Artist, How to Do Publicity. more information about this event, to plan Seattle has a long history of Queer artists your own social event, or to be added to the who push boundaries around gender, sexu- POZSeattle event promotions email list, ality, politics, sex, sexism, sizism, ablism, email info@pozseattle.org or visit them at IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE – KING & QUEEN OF HEARTS PAGEANT On Saturday, September 10, door at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., at Neighbours Underground (1509 Broadway), join King of Hearts 33 Patrick Lucey and Queen of Hearts 33 Jackie Scott and the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle at the annual King & Queen of Hearts Pageant for an evening of fine drag entertainment and the selection of the Court’s new King and Queen of Hearts. $7 suggested donation at the door. www.imperialcourtofseattle.com

Visit us online www.sgn.org

www.pozseattle.org.

SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB – MOFFIE The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Seattle Area Support Groups Community Center (formerly Dunshee House) (303 17th Ave. E. & E. Thomas St.). In September, the group will read the brand new South African novel, Moffie, by Andre Carl van der Merwe, about a frightened Gay white boy conscripted in the South African army. The story is set in South Africa about 20 years ago, and takes place during the Angola Bush War. The author will be getting in touch with the club toward the end of September for a conversation about the book and to answer any questions.

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.

Latin American foods. For complete details, visit www.seattlefiestaspatrias.com.

SEATTLE LEATHER DADDY & DADDY’S BOY 2011 WINTER COAT SALE On Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18, from noon-4 p.m., at R Place (619 E. Pine St.) join Seattle Leather Daddy and Daddy’s boy 2011 for a winter coat sale of unclaimed coats collected from local bars’ coat checks. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Chicken Soup Brigade, Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s food program. Stop by for a great deal on a winter coat!

GRACE GOSPEL CHAPEL REUNION, CONCERT & PASTOR APPRECIATION NIGHT On Saturday, September 17, join Grace Gospel Chapel (2052 NW 64th St.) as they welcome back former pastors who have served the church in the past 30 years to celebrate over 30 years of Grace in Seattle. Reunite with old friends, make new friends and tell your pastor what they mean to you! Hospitality hour with light fare, refreshments “SEATTLE STAND DOWN” and dessert starts at 5 p.m. Concert with OFFERING A HAND UP TO nationally touring contemporary Christian HOMELESS AND artist Shawn Aaron Thomas debuting his AT-RISK VETERANS On Thursday, September 15, from 9 new album “Covered and Created” starts at a.m.-3 p.m., at Seattle Central Community 7 p.m. For more information, call 206-784College’s Mitchell Activity Center (1718 8495 or visit www.gracegospelwa.org.

Broadway), more than 500 homeless and IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE – at-risk veterans and their families will be ofWHITE TOWEL PARTY fered a “hand up” with a variety of services On Saturday, September 17, from 9 p.m. provided by more than 50 organizations and agencies at the first large-scale “Seattle to closing, at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Stand Down” event. Lunch for attending Ave. at E. Pine St.), join the Imperial Soverveterans and their families is being donated eign Court of Seattle and the Olympic and

by Seattle Elks Lodge #92. Free parking will Rainier Empire for a fundraising party (unbe available in the Harvard Garage (Harvard dergarments required) to benefit the Youth Ave. & E. Pine St.). “Seattle Stand Down” Suicide Prevention Program. www.imperiwill provide services such as medical and alcourtofseattle.com legal aid, employment services, housing reSEVEN DEADLY SINS – sources, alcohol/drug counseling referrals, “WRATH” plus haircuts, showers, personal hygiene On Saturday, September 17, from 9 p.m.items and food. “’Seattle Stand Down’ gives us a great 4 a.m., at Neumos (925 E. Pike St.), Seven opportunity to come together and thank Deadly Sins presents “Wrath” (“You Have our veterans,” said Sam Barrett, director of a Date with the Devil”) with DJs George ‘Seattle Stand Down.’ Barrett, who served Roussos from Sydney and Ted Eiel from three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, Chicago. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 at door, is the former president of Seattle Central’s $30 limited VIP – advance and VIP tickStudent Veterans Association. “Providing ets available at The Lobby Bar, Doghouse these resources can help our veterans and Leathers, TwoKnightsEvent.com, Etix.com their families achieve what we are all look- and Moe Bar. ing for – respect, security, gainful employSERVICEMEMBERS UNITED ment, a home, a warm bed, a meal, and the “COUNTDOWN TO feeling that others care about them. Veterans REPEAL PARTY” do not want a hand out; they did not receive TO CELEBRATE THE END OF them during service, and they do not want “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL” them now. However, some veterans do need On Monday, September 19, from 9 p.m.a ‘hand up,’ and this is what we hope to pro1 a.m., at The Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.), vide on September 15.”

For more information, call 206-934-5417 join Servicemembers United and local servicemembers, vets and supporters for a New or visit www.seattlestanddown.com.

Year’s-style celebration of the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES – MR. & MISS GAY A 1950’S LESBIAN PULP ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PIN-UP SHOW PAGEANT SEPT. 15-OCT. 9 On Saturday, September 24, door at 5:30 The Seattle premiere of The Beebo Brinker Chronicles debuts at Re-Bar (1114 Howell p.m., pageant at 7 p.m., Neighbours NightSt. at Boren Ave.) on Thursday, September club (1509 Broadway) hosts the Mr. & Miss 15, at 7:30 p.m., and runs Thursdays-Sun- Gay Asian/Pacific Islander Pageant with days at 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, October competition categories in National Cos9. The award-winning play is based on the tume, Swimsuit, Talent, Formal Wear and iconic pulp fiction written by Ann Bannon Q&A with $250 cash prize to both Mr. & that titilated and changed a generation. Ann Miss API 2011. Tickets: $15-advance; $18 Bannon will be in attendance to celebrate at the door. www.brownpapertickets.com/ her birthday on opening night. Tickets: event/196920. For contestant sign-up, proThursday/Sunday - $18 advance/$22 at gram advertising or sponsorship informadoor; Friday/Saturday - $20 advance/$25 tion, email gaysha@gayshastarr.com or at door – 800-838-3006; www.brownpap- teriyakitemple@aol.com. Partial proceeds ertickets.com/event/184155 – with a pay- to benefit the Youth Suicide Prevention Prowhat-you-will preview on Wednesday, gram.

September 14, at 7:30 p.m.

THE SEATTLE AIDS MEMORIAL: “30 YEARS OF SORROW, SEATTLE CENTER FESTAL – COMFORT & HOPE” – SEATTLE FIESTAS PATRIAS A MULTI-FAITH OBSERVANCE On Saturday, September 17, from noonIN READINGS, 11 p.m., and Sunday, September 18, from SONG AND CANDLELIGHT noon-5 p.m., at Seattle Center’s Center On Saturday, September 24, at 7 p.m., at House, Fisher Pavilion and Seattle Center Pavilion, be transported to a celebration of St. Mark’s Cathedral (1245 10th Ave. E.), Mexican independence and independence join the Seattle Choral Company and Seattle in other Latin American countries. Seattle area religious communities for this multiFiestas Patrias showcases Latin American faith service observing 30 years of sorrow, art, music and culture. In addition, enjoy comfort and hope in the face of AIDS. www. the flavors of traditional and contemporary saintmarks.org.

September 9, 2011

Seattle Gay News

7

9th Circuit Court says that Arizona can’t cancel D.P. benefits

AP Photo/Matt York

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on September 6 that Arizona may not cancel health insurance benefits for domestic partners of state workers.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and her Republican allies in the state legislature inserted a provision in the state budget limiting insurance coverage for the families of state employees.

Partners of unmarried employees – samesex or opposite sex – were specifically excluded.

The court, however, ruled unanimously that this was not legal.

While it agreed with the state’s attorneys that Arizona is not obligated to provide health insurance for its workers or their families, the panel said that if it does so it may not discriminate against particular groups.

“But when a state chooses to provide such benefits,” Judge Mary Schroeder wrote for the court, “it may not do so in an arbitrary or

discriminatory manner that adversely affects particular groups that may be unpopular.”

She noted there is no other way for Gay or Lesbian workers to get those benefits in Arizona, because the state constitution has been amended to prohibit same-sex marriage.

The judges also rejected the state’s arguments that the statute limiting who can be a “dependent” promotes marriage, “since such partners are ineligible to marry” in Arizona.

Attorneys for the state argued they were being forced to give new constitutional rights to Gays and Lesbians, but Judge Schroeder said that is not the case.

“Rather, it is consistent with longstanding equal protection jurisprudence holding that some objectives, such as a bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group, are not legitimate state interests,” she wrote.

The case came to the 9th Circuit as a result of a long process of revision of Arizona law.

Arizona provides various benefits to the dependents of its state and university employees. Until 2008, however, that did not include the domestic partners of its unmarried workers.

That year, at the direction of then-Governor Janet Napolitano, the Department of Administration rewrote its rules to define who is a “dependent” of a state employee.

For the first time, the definition included someone living with the employee for at least a year and expected to continue living with that person. There was no reference to the gender of the partner in the revised rules.

The rules also require a showing of financial interdependence, and an affidavit by the

employee affirming that there is a domestic partnership.

In 2009, Napolitano left the governor’s office to become secretary of homeland security in the Obama administration. Brewer then became governor.

That allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to put a provision into the budget limiting who is entitled to dependent coverage, specifically excluding all partners of unmarried employees.

Lambda Legal then filed suit on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian employees and their partners.

The September 6 ruling does not end efforts by the governor and lawmakers to curtail the benefits. Instead, it simply requires the state to continue providing coverage until there is a full trial on the unconstitutionality of excluding same-sex domestic partners.

“Today’s decision means Arizona’s Lesbian and Gay state employees will not suddenly find themselves without vital family health coverage,” said Tara Borelli, a Lambda Legal attorney who argued the case before the court.

HRC president Joe Solmonese also celebrated the court’s ruling.

“Governor Brewer’s decision to take health care and insurance benefits away from state employees in same-sex relationships has been recognized for what it is: unconstitutional,” he said in a statement. “During a time of economic difficulty for many Arizonans, it makes no sense for the state to make our families less secure and deny health care to our partners.”

Brewer, however, charged that the court was motivated by a political agenda.

“It seems apparent that the court’s real motivation here is for the legalization of Gay marriage,” said Brewer press aide Matthew Benson. “The governor stands with the majority of Arizonans who overwhelmingly in 2008 defined marriage as between one man and one woman.”

had sex with men.”

“With that change, the criteria for Gay men falls in line with other specific groups that are ‘deferred’ from giving blood for 12 months since the time of a sexual encounter that is considered to carry heightened infection risks. That group includes those who have had sex with anyone who has injected themselves with drugs, those who have slept with a prostitute, or those who have slept with a man who has slept with another man,” NHS Blood and Transplant said.

“NHS Blood and Transplant’s priority as a blood service is to provide a safe and sufficient supply of blood for patients,” Dr. Lorna Williamson, the medical and research direct of NHS Blood and Transplant, said in a statement. “We welcome this review and its conclusions. It gives us an opportunity to broaden our donor acceptance on the basis of the latest scientific evidence. It is essential that our donor selection rules are based on good evidence to maintain their credibility with donors, and this change gives us an

updated policy that is proportionate to the current risk.”

According to Williamson, the SaBTO review concluded that the safety of the blood supply would not be affected by the change, and patients should be reassured that receiving transfusions the blood supply is as safe as it reasonably can be and among the safest in the world.

There has been no documented transmission of a blood-borne virus in the U.K. since 2005, with no HIV transmission since 2002.

NHS Blood and Transplant acknowledged on their website that there is frustration that people are treated as groups when it comes to blood donation, but that it is necessary for safety to treat groups that may have larger risks of infections in blood with special care.

“The Blood Services are therefore required to follow deferral rules that estimate the statistical risk of certain groups based on behavior,” they said. “We are sorry for any inadvertent offense this may cause.”

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Gay men who have not had sex with another man in 12 months will be allowed to donate blood in parts of the U.K. for the first time since a ban was put in place in the 1980s in response to the spread of AIDS, the U.K. Department of Health announced September 8.

The move comes as global perspectives are beginning to change and countries are re-examining their rules for blood donation. England, Scotland, and Wales will join Australia, Sweden, and Japan in requiring a one-year gap between sexual intercourse between two men before they are eligible to give blood. South African has introduced a six-month gap between sexual intercourse between two males and their donation of blood. The United States examined lifting the ban on Gay men donating blood in 2010, but the ban was upheld by a federal committee.

The U.K. is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Blood banks in England, Scotland, and Wales said they will allow Gay men to begin giving blood if they qualify under new rules beginning on November 7. Northern Ireland is expected to announce a decision on whether they too will lift the ban soon.

“Currently, men who have ever had oral or anal sex with another man, even if a condom was used, are permanently excluded from blood donation in the U.K.,” U.K. National Health Services Blood and Transplant said on their website.

The change means that in future only men who have had anal or oral sex with another man in the past 12 months, with or without a condom, will be asked not to donate blood.

“Men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than 12 months ago will be able to donate, subject to meeting the other donor selection criteria,” U.K. National Health Services Blood and Transplant officials said.

According to CNN, the decision follows a review of the ban by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues, and Organs (SaBTO) who studied the latest details on relevant sexual contact in relation to the safety of donating blood and completed a full review of overall blood donor selection criteria that is related to sexual behavior. The committee looked at the risk of infection being transmitted in blood as well as improvements in testing donated blood for diseases before reaching their conclusion to change the guidelines.

The U.K. Department of Health said the review found “evidence no longer supported the permanent exclusion of men who have

Waldszenen

Parts of U.K. to lift ban on Gay men donating blood

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Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 38 Years!

9/11

continued from cover And, still, 10 years later, so many questions remain unanswered about United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth plane (intended for a Washington, D.C., target) that crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to take control of the airplane.

Nearly 3,000 people died, U.S. citizens and foreigners alike, civilians and military personnel, rescue workers and office workers, heterosexual and LGBT. Our “differences” – be they of religion, race, or sexual orientation – didn’t seem to matter to the American people because, on that day, all peace-loving people of the world seemed to declare in solidarity, “Today, we are all American.”

Bravery was the action of the day. Bystanders turned into heroes as they administered first aid, helped pull bodies from the rubble, and fed and cheered the days-long rescue efforts of the emergency first responders.

America is strong. She is a nation that wears a coat of many colors. She is not so easily shaken. Although the destruction caused serious damage to the economy (although not nearly as much as al-Qaeda predicted) and the loss of life and illusion of American invincibility were evident, the Pentagon was repaired within a year and the cleanup of the World Trade Center site – known as ground zero – was completed in May of 2002.

We shall never forget. How could we?

One War on Terror later, as troops remain in Iraq and Afghanistan, and after the May 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden, the price of American blood, image, and influence has changed again and again. While we’ve made it 10 long, hard years without a single major terrorist attack, we still, collectively as a nation, get nervous whenever a plane drops off the radar for even a second, spend hours in airport security lines, and allow our privacy to be violated in hopes that we will never again suffer again the tears that Lady Liberty cried that raucous September morning.

A NATION OF MEMORIALS So now, as the battle-bandaged U.S. approaches the Sunday milestone, we look toward memorializing our heroes.

In 2008, the Pentagon Memorial opened adjacent to the building.

In November 2009, ground was broken for a memorial for-

mally dedicated to the victims of United Airlines Flight 93. A serene walkway overlooks the seasonal blooms and leads to a granite wall inscribed with the names of all who were aboard the ill-fated jetliner.

It took 10 years, but the National Park Service’s Flight 93 National Memorial in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, will be unveiled this weekend during events that are expected to draw 10,000 people, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

And finally, ground zero will officially be replaced on Sunday, when the National September 11 Memorial & Museum will be opened.

The memorial consists of a forest of trees with two square pools in the center, where the Twin Towers once stood.

Adjacent to the memorial rises the 1,776foot One World Trade Center site, estimated for completion by 2013. Upon completion, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the United States and the tallest all-office building in the world.

ham’s story of heroism was portrayed in the Hollywood film United 93. According to his mother, who spoke to him by cell phone after the plane was hijacked, Bingham was part of a small group of passengers believed to have attempted to wrest control of the plane from the hijackers. Authorities credit them for stopping the jetliner from hitting its intended target, believed to be the Capitol or White House.

Among the openly Gay people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center was New York Fire Department Catholic chaplain Father Mychal Judge.

Judge was killed while ministering to a fallen firefighter at ground zero. He was designated as “Victim 0001,” recognized as the first official victim of the attacks. Other victims perished before him, including aircrew, passengers, and occupants of the towers, but Judge was the first certified fatality as his was the first body to be recovered and brought to the coroner.

Judge’s helmet was presented to the pope, and Judge was chosen Grand Marshal of the 2002 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

There is also an initiative to elevate Judge to Catholic sainthood. In 2002, the U.S. Congress passed the Mychal Judge Police and Fire Chaplains Public Safety Officers’ Benefit Act into law. This was the first time the federal government ever extended equal benefits to same-sex couples, allowing the domestic partners of public safety officers killed in the line of duty to collect their federal death benefits.

Another of the victims was American Airlines pilot David Charlebois, who was Gay and an active member of the National Gay Pilots Association. Charlebois was serving as first officer, or co-pilot, onboard American Airlines Flight 77 when terrorists hijacked the Boeing 757 jetliner and crashed it into the Pentagon. A special memorial Mass and service were held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. In attendance were Mayor Anthony Williams and a sea of blue representing the American Airline pilots and

Human life is one to cherish, and death does not discriminate.

LGBT HEROES OF 9/11 So, here we are, standing tall, 10 years later. Shaken but not wrecked. But how does history look upon its LGBT heroes of 9/11?

Quite well, actually. While it may be true that the loss of LGBT life – including first responders – may not have been in the mainstream media’s focus, and was generally absent from political speeches regarding 9/11, we, as a community, have done an outstanding job of remembering those heroes we lost on what was undoubtedly one of the worst mornings in our nation’s history.

Many Gay men and women perished or lost loved ones as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

If we consider those not yet out, it becomes impossible to calculate the exact number of LGBT victims. Those who were out have become the subject of much admiration.

Mark Bingham, a Gay public relations executive and rugby player from San Francisco, is perhaps the bestknown LGBT death at the hands of the 9/11 terrorists. Bingham was one of the passengers on Flight 93, which crashed into the countryside in Pennsylvania.

B i n g -

flight attendants, whom he highly respected and loved.

A Gay couple, Ronald Gamboa and Dan Brandhorst, his partner of 13 years, who were traveling with their 3-year-old adopted son, David, were killed when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the second tower. Brandhorst and Gamboa were founding members of the Pop Luck Club, an L.A. organization for Gay men interested in adopting children.

And the list goes on and on. From flight attendants to World Trade Center employees, these LGBT heroes will be forever linked to ground zero and the day that changed America forever. They didn’t seek to help and protect only Gays when disaster struck.

They risked their lives for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, because a human life is one to cherish, and death does not discriminate. It was a time where differences did not matter, and all of our causes seemed simplistic as we watched thousands of lives be taken for granted.

Gays around the world will mourn on September 11 of each year – not just for the LGBT persons who lost their lives, but for all. And yet we do this, as we have for the past 10 years, without full rights as U.S. citizens. Unable to marry, easy to fire, and cast aside as a minority on the fringe of mainstream society – although we are, and always have been, an active, daily member of this society. We are America. While it may be true that there does not exist a Gay Ellis Island we all must pass through to get our Gay Green Card, the truth remains that we are here, and we are a part of the fabric that makes up the United States of America. No one can take that away – not the federal government and their discriminatory anti-Gay laws, and not the terrorists of al Qaeda.

Francis S. Coppola, a Gay New York City detective whose partner, a firefighter named Eddie, died in the attacks, summed up the feelings many LGBT people have had about 9/11: “I have never been more proud of being an American or a New Yorker, but at the same time it has made me sad. The greatest country in the world, and yet we are treated like second-class citizens. … The great love of my life died doing what he did best and what he loved to do: helping others,” Coppola told the media in regard to the current fight for the LGBT community to achieve equal rights on a federal level. “I have never been an activist or ever wanted to be one; however, it is time we stand up and be counted and demand equality – nothing more or nothing less.”

courtesy USA today

Twin fountains that occupy the footprints of the former twin towers make up part of the National 9/11 Memorial.

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Seattle Gay News

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10 Seattle Gay News

September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

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Celebrating 38 Years!

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September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

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September 9, 2011

Seattle Gay News 15

Iraqi LGBT still targets of violence, U.N. report says

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) says that attacks on Iraq’s LGBT community continued in 2010.

The report cited 2,953 violent deaths in Iraq in 2010. It attributed most of these to insurgent and terrorist groups.

Women, children, and minority groups –

including the LGBT community – suffered disproportionately, the report said.

There has been improvement in some areas of human rights, the report says, but many challenges remain and some areas were actually worse off in 2010 than in previous war-torn years.

“Particularly women’s rights levels and standards have gone down. They suffer from widespread violence, especially from domestic violence,” Rupert Colville, the

spokesperson for OHCHR, told Inter Press Service.

“There is little legislation to prevent this from occurring and the criminal code in Iraq almost encourages these crimes. There needs to be laws in the region against domestic violence,” Colville said.

Specific legal protections for sexual orientation and gender identity are also needed, the report says, but they too run afoul of the Iraqi criminal code and Iraqi religious beliefs.

“UNAMI continued to receive reports during 2010 of attacks against individuals based on their perceived or actual sexual orientation. The topic of homosexuality is largely taboo in Iraq and seen as incompatible with the country’s culture and religion,” the report says.

According to U.N. officials, Iraq expressly rejected calls to protect its LGBT communities and to investigate anti-LGBT hate crimes during the February 2010 Universal Periodic Review by the U.N. Human Rights Council.

“Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community usually keep their sexual orientation secret and live in constant fear of discrimination, rejection by family members, social ostracism, and violence,” the U.N. report noted.

“Police and courts regularly take into account the alleged homosexuality of the victim as a mitigating factor in relation to crimes committed against persons on account of their perceived or real sexual orientation.”

The U.N. report also quoted testimony from Iraqi Gay rights advocate Ali Hili concerning a police raid on a safe house sheltering Transgender Iraqis in the city of Karbala.

“The six people arrested reportedly included three men, one woman, and two Transgender people. Two days later, one of

the men turned up in hospital with a throat wound claiming he had been tortured.

UNAMI has not been able to ascertain the whereabouts of the other five individuals.”

“UNAMI continued to follow the cases of 10 men who were persecuted in Baghdad because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation. As previously reported, the men had suffered extreme forms of violence and abuse at the hands of members of the Mahdi Army, police officers, religious leaders, and local criminal gangs, which had forced them to flee to a neighboring country in May 2009 from where they hoped to seek protection in third countries.”

The Mahdi Army is the militia group associated with Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

It has been accused of murdering and torturing Gay Iraqis, as has the rival Shia militia Badr Brigades.

Unredacted cables from the American Embassy in Baghdad published by Wikileaks also provide additional new evidence of violence against LGBT people in Iraq, although they cover an earlier period than this report.

In a 2009 cable signed “Hill” a comment documented that many LGBT Iraqis are fleeing the country.

“It is clear that LGBT persons in Iraq have nowhere to turn. Hunted by religious extremists, ignored by the police, and unable to ask their families for help, many have sought to resettle outside of the country.

While reports of violence have subsided for the time being, LGBT individuals still face daily persecution. Due to the sensitive nature of the issue, and the unwillingness of GOI [Government Of Iraq] officials to address the topic, it is unlikely that the situation will improve any time soon. Embassy is therefore working closely with UNAMI, UNHCR, and various NGOs to help these people escape from an untenable position,” the cable read.

U.S. State Department reaffirms opposition to “Kill the Gays” bill

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Vince Crawley

ernment.

“We too are concerned about the passage Gay blogger Michael Petrelis revealed of any legislation in Uganda (or anywhere on September 5 that he had received a new else in Sub-Saharan Africa) that would statement from Assistant Secretary of State criminalize or punish homosexual activities for African Affairs Johnnie Carson reaffirm- between consenting adults,” Carson wrote.

“We believe that Gay and Lesbian citizens ing US government opposition to Uganda’s should enjoy the same rights and individual “Kill the Gays” bill.

The measure, first proposed in 2009, spec- freedoms as other citizens. The Department ifies life in prison for anyone participating of State has spoken out clearly and repeatin same-sex relations, and the death penalty edly against this type of discriminatory legislation in Uganda, and we will continue to for “repeat offenders.”

While it was not passed in the 2009 or do so.

“In this regard, I have spoken to the most 2010 sessions of Uganda’s parliament, it is reportedly scheduled for new hearings this senior officials in the Ugandan government about this issue, and stand ready to add my month.

It was drafted and sponsored by Ugandan voice as required in the future. Our ambasprotégés of the secretive right-wing Chris- sador and embassy in Kampala will contian group The Family, based in Washing- tinue to monitor any anti-Gay and Lesbian legislation and we will speak out forcefully ton, D.C. In his letter to Petrelis, Carson makes to prevent its passage.”

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson President Obama has called the measure clear that passage of the proposed legisla“We at Gays Without Borders feel our action would be unacceptable to the U.S. gov- “odious,” and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has repeatedly condemned it.

In his introduction to Carson’s letter, Pe- tivism that produced this U.S. State Departtrelis noted that he received a very quick re- ment affirmation for Gay citizens of Uganda ply from the State Department. is one piece of a larger global network of “On behalf of the Gays Without Borders non-governmental organizations, philanactivist group, I wish to acknowledge with thropic foundations, LGBT and HIV/AIDS $ much gratitude and pleasure that it took groups, grassroots activists, and diplomats less than 24 hours to receive this substan- working to advance respect for the human any size pizza tive reply from Assistant Secretary Johnnie rights of Gay and HIV positive Ugandans,” Carson, whose portfolio for the U.S. State Petrelis wrote.

700 East Pine St., Seattle Department is African Affairs.”

“Like many others, we remain very worHOMEMADE Petrelis added that the network of activists ried about the September 7 parliamentary HAND TOSSED who mobilized to oppose the measure when hearing and will be monitoring the situation first introduced would jump back into closely, and we stand ready to again activate FREE DELIVERY • 206-322-6444 itthewas Not valid for delivery. fray if it is revived later this month. on Ugandan matters.”

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Celebrating 38 Years!

Tragic connection between LGBT homeless youth and religious homophobia

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

til open-minded Christians demand that their leaders stop promoting homophobia.”

Siciliano said that about 30 to 40 percent of the kids coming to the center are LGBT, and “they didn’t know where to go.”

“They were just stranded out on the streets at night, and they would largely survive through prostitution because they had no other way of getting any kind of money or resources. … A very great number of them became infected with HIV, and many of them were murdered on the streets,” he said.

One of the kids that Siciliano knew was Ali Forney, the center’s namesake.

Forney was murdered on the streets of New York.

According to statistics, a Gay youth is eight times more likely to experience homelessness than a straight youth. “The reason for that is so many families cannot accept having a Gay kid,” he said. “A certain percentage of youth are homeless because

Francisco Olvera

The September/October issue of the evangelical social justice magazine Sojourners features an ad raising awareness of the tragedy of LGBT youth homelessness, and the role that religious homophobia plays in creating it (studies show that religious parents are three times as likely as their nonreligious counterparts to throw LGBT children onto the streets). The Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization serving homeless LGBT youth, and GLAAD produced the ad. As part of an online series on youth homelessness, Sojourners followed up on the ad by interviewing Ali Forney Center Executive Director Carl Siciliano.

The Ali Forney Center (AFC) was started in June 2002 in response to the lack of safe shelter for LGBT youth in New York City. The Center is committed to providing these young people with safe, dignified, nurturing environments where their needs can be met, and where they can begin to put their lives back together. AFC is dedicated to promoting awareness of the plight of homeless LGBT youth in the United States with the goal of generating responses on local and national levels from government funders, foundations, and the LGBT community.

“It is critically important to address the ways in which religion drives thousands of families to reject their LGBT youth.

This rejection has created an exodus of thousands of teens from their homes into homelessness, and their lives are then put into great peril,” Siciliano told Sojourners.

“I am grateful that Sojourners has given me the opportunity to speak to an evangelical Christian audience about the terrible suffering caused by family rejection of LGBT youth. The disproportionate suffering of LGBT youth in our society will not end un-

decision to throw them into the streets.

“When I hear the kids talk about why they are on the street and why their parents couldn’t accept them, there is just a huge thread of where they were seen as sinners and shameful abominations and things like that. And it really tears me up inside, because I have such strong experience of the gospels as being about love, about compassion, about forgiveness, about having an awareness of yourself as a sinner, and not judging others,” he said. “I don’t understand how this terrible cruelty to children could be perpetrated in the name of Christ. There are tens of thousands of teenagers on the streets of our country who have been put out, have been turned away, and have been beaten and brutalized just for being honest about who they are.”

People are aware that promoting the rejection of Gay people inevitably makes parents less able to accept their children.

“What is the moral culpability here?” he asked.

“What is the moral culpability of religious leaders who are also creating Ali Forney Center Executive Director Carl Siciliano an environment where parents drive their chil“When I worked with dren into destitution?”

Whatever the three mentions of the evils homeless adults, I felt like I had worked more with of homosexuality are in the Bible, in the people who felt defeated hundreds of pages, there is a thousand-fold and had given up. It’s not more about love, about the image of God as so much like that with these a loving parent who would never turn his kids,” he said. “Having said back on his children, who would always that, one difference between forgive, who would always accept, he said. working with the Gay kids “There is so much more about our call to and the straight kids is that love and care for those who are destitute and the Gay kids have been poor, to protect children, to protect widows more brutalized and have and orphans and the elderly.”

“It seems like such a perversion of the been more subject to violence, and they are strug- gospel message to have people, in the name gling more with despair and of Christ, turn their backs on their children and put them out on the street,” Siciliano suicide.”

Siciliano said a study on concluded. homeless youth in New York City found about 63% of the LGBT kids admitted to having attempted or considered suicide.

“Their challenges are cut out for them. And some people would say, ‘Why is the Ali Forney Center just for LGBT kids?’ I really find that having a program that is designed to overcome that specific trauma is very effective in kind of helping them heal and rebuild their lives,” said Siciliano.

Siciliano, who considers himself Christian, said there is no doubt that religion plays a role in many of these kids’ parents’ families just say, ‘I’m not going to have a Gay kid in my house. Get out.’ Other youth are homeless because they are subject to so much violence in their home for being Gay that they flee for their own safety. Also, a number of youth are psychologically traumatized.”

Siciliano has worked with homeless people – youth and adults – for decades.

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joe mabel

discover and explore new neighborhoods and businesses that make up Seattle’s diverse retail community. The initial campaign featured locally owned businesses in five Seattle neighborhoods: Ballard, Columbia City, Georgetown, Rainier Valley, and West Seattle.

Recently, Only in Seattle developed a website, www.onlyinseattle.org. Visitors to the site are encouraged to click on one of many neighborhoods that, according to the site, will “connect you to a collection of Seattle treasures – independently owned and operated retail stores and restaurants – and to the authentic, historic, and diverse neighborhoods in which they thrive.”

These neighborhoods include Ballard, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Chinatown/ID, Columbia City, Georgetown, Phinney-Greenwood, Queen Anne, Rainier Valley, South Lake Union, the University District, and West Seattle. All great neighborhoods, each a network of streets lined with the businesses and pedestrians that make up the Emerald

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joe mabel

The fountain at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill

City.

But there was just one problem.

When Seattle Gay News began to read the description assigned to each neighborhood, we were appalled to discover that the LGBT community was left out of each and every one of them – even Capitol Hill, the center of LGBT history, business, and culture in Seattle.

Needless to say, we made some calls. At first, no one would acknowledge there was a problem. Around every twist and turn, we got the tired old excuse, “LGBT people live and shop everywhere.”

While that may be true, no one could deny that the Hill is still our home. Broadway and the Pike/Pine corridor are where nearly all of our LGBT nonprofit offices are housed, dozens of Gay owned and operated businesses thrive, and a majority of group meetings take place. Gay City, Pride Foundation, GSBA, and more are all located on the Hill.

Our office is here, the office of the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle is here, Seattle Out & Proud is here – the list goes on and on.

In short, the Hill is not straight-washed, and we still have visibility. Beyond that, the LGBT community spends millions of dollars

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September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

a year on the Hill. So yes, SGN felt it necessary for the website to change its description of Capitol Hill from what it was – “In a city full of distinct neighborhoods, Capitol Hill still reigns as queen. Overflowing with hipsters and creatives of every shape and size, Capitol Hill has personality to spare. Part old money, part counterculture, this quirky metropolis – in all its funky come-as-youare glory – is uniquely Seattle” – to something that reflected the true nature of Capitol Hill and includes the LGBT community that proudly calls it home.

Well, friends, SGN is happy to report that the Office of Economic Development agreed.

“We appreciate you raising the issue that the LGBT community was not directly referenced in the website copy about the neighborhood.

Your inquiry generated some healthy dialogue. We are modifying the website copy to recognize the deep cultural center of the LGBT community on Capitol Hill,” Steve Johnson, OED director, told SGN. He said the partners who originally worked together to develop the Only in Seattle initiative include himself and Mark Dyce, principal at 206inc, the marketing agency that has assisted OED in developing the campaign, and Michael Wells, executive director of the Capitol Hill Chamber of

Commerce.

“Many members of the team that worked on this campaign happen to be Gay, and like many others in the LGBT community, we live, shop, work, and own businesses in all neighborhoods of the city,” said Johnson. “A few even live on Capitol Hill themselves.”

So what went wrong? Why the LGBT snub? Well, according to the Only in Seattle

According to the group, sexual orientation, race, and religion were never factors when choosing the neighborhoods or businesses that are a part of the Only in Seattle campaign. It was “not the way we have chosen to describe or categorize the Only in Seattle neighborhoods featured in the campaign,” said the marketing team.

That’s a little hard to swallow when all

marketing campaign team, “Capitol Hill is a very diverse and unique neighborhood.

Rather than single out any one group, the Capitol Hill Chamber, 206inc, and the Office of Economic Development made a conscious decision to focus on the breadth and diversity of many aspects of Capitol Hill.

This campaign is about supporting the small, independent businesses that make Seattle unique and contribute to our neighborhood’s economic growth.”

one has to do is click on any of the other neighborhoods to see that this statement is simply not true. The site consistently mentions the cultural flavors of other various neighborhoods.

One example would be the International District, which they refer to as Chinatown: “Chinatown offers the city an international playground meant to be explored and discovered. Rich with the heritage of its inhabitants, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Viet-

namese live and work together, celebrating each other’s food, festivals, and traditions.”

Another example could be the description of Ballard, which they describe as “like visiting a village in Europe” and mention the Nordic Heritage Museum; Columbia City, where they say you will find “symbols of the country’s most diverse zip code all around you”; or Rainier Valley, which they call the “hub of Seattle’s international culture.”

That seems pretty descriptive to us. In the same way that all of those cultures and landmarks add to the makeup of their respective neighborhoods, so, too, does the LGBT culture of Capitol Hill.

“The mission of the Only in Seattle marketing campaign is to inspire Seattleites and visitors to explore new neighborhoods and shop at the many unique local businesses located throughout Seattle,” said group officials. “The process for selecting featured businesses in each neighborhood is to work together with neighborhood chambers who suggest businesses that they think are representative of their neighborhood – businesses that are unique, independently owned ‘hidden gems.’ 206inc then reviews the suggestions and makes a final pick of businesses that fit well with the overall missee Website page 20

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September 9, 2011

Seattle Gay News 19

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sion of the campaign. We look for businesses that appeal broadly, both in the neighborhood, and also across the city.”

According to Johnson, “We hoped to highlight businesses in Capitol Hill that varied geographically (everything from Broadway to 15th) and included an even mix of retail and food service. As part of our selection process, we did not ask any questions about owners’ ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or other personal information. That being said, some of the businesses chosen happened to be LGBT and some were not. Sugar Pill, one of the current profiled members, is owned and operated by Karyn Schwartz, an active Lesbian in the community.”

But to be fair, that was not our beef, and in the end, Only in Seattle officials could see that what we were saying was just. SGN’s intention was not to have every LGBTowned and operated business listed on the site. Our issue was the absence of the Gay community in the description applied to the Hill.

The OED says it will be changing the wording within the next few days, and we applaud them for that action. In no way are we saying they are an office of bigots – as Johnson said, many on the team are members of the community. What we are saying

is we shouldn’t try to pretend that LGBT visibility and influence on the Hill is unimportant. In the end, the oversight will be corrected, and that is a good thing.

Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) officials also asked for the change.

“I am not sure why the LGBT identity, cultural, and historical significance of Capitol Hill was not reflected in the city’s promotion of our important neighborhood,” Louise Chernin, executive director for GSBA, told SGN. “What is most puzzling about this omission is that the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development has supported and is a partner of GSBA’s LGBT Tourism Initiative, Travel Gay Seattle, Where Out Is In. Not mentioning Capitol Hill as a nationally recognized LGBT tourist destination is a missed opportunity – not just for the LGBT community, but for the businesses on the hill that enjoy the economic benefits of our tourists.”

“Capitol Hill is home to many GSBA member businesses, nonprofits, and residents who have given their heart and soul to this neighborhood,” continued Chernin.

“Showcasing the LGBT identity of the Hill is a great asset to the city of Seattle and one that should be proudly showcased on Only In Seattle.”

“What we can all feel good about after this discussion is that awareness was raised, relationships strengthened, and most importantly, positive changes will be made, enhancing the value of Only in Seattle,” she said.

As for the Only in Seattle team, they told

SGN, “We are excited to continue to highlight unique and wonderful businesses in neighborhoods throughout Seattle and look forward to building upon the OnlyInSeattle. org website.”

The Office of Economic Development promotes a healthy business environment for neighborhood business districts and business organizations, and works to help grow and strengthen the business community in Seattle neighborhoods. The Only in Seattle campaign is one of numerous OEDfunded projects and activities that improve business districts.

baldwin

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“I appreciate the Victory Fund and all the people in the LGBT community who encouraged me to run,” Baldwin said on the conference call.

She took the unorthodox route of announcing her candidacy with a video, rather than a tour of the state, because she felt she could reach more voters that way, she explained.

“I’m very well known in the House district I represent, but I still have to introduce myself to voters in the rest of the state,” she said.

Besides Baldwin, only former Republican Congressman Mark Neumann has declared for the Senate seat. Former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson is considered almost certain to enter the race.

On the Democratic side, Baldwin may face opposition in the primary from Congressman Ron Kind and former Congressman Steve Kagen. Polling shows Baldwin ahead of both her possible Democratic opponents but trailing both possible Republicans.

In response to a question about her standing in statewide polls, Baldwin said that polling at this early stage of the race only indicates name recognition.

“I am recognized by 52 to 55% of the voters,” she said. “Once people hear that

there’s a candidate named Tammy Baldwin, and she’s a fighter for the middle class, the numbers will change.”

“That’s why we did the announcement the way we did,” she added.

Asked if she thought she would face a primary challenge, she replied, “I have no idea, but I’m prepared for any eventuality.”

Baldwin admitted that she faces “a very tough campaign.”

“Wisconsin is a deeply and evenly divided state,” she said. “You’ve seen us go back and forth. You’ve seen Wisconsin come alive in the past few months in opposition to a group of state leaders who are not listening to the concerns of the people. But I think voters are going to hear me out and come to know that I am going to be a fighter.”

Baldwin’s congressional district in Madison is arguably the most liberal in the state, and she has always been identified as one of the most liberal members of Congress. Her potential challenger Mark Neumann has labeled her “too liberal for the state.”

Asked how her candidacy would play statewide, in a state she acknowledges is deeply divided ideologically, Baldwin said she is optimistic.

In the time she has spent speaking with voters, she said, she has heard “again and again just how disgusted they are” with both the Republican-dominated Wisconsin state government and the federal government.

“It’s clear to all of us that the middle class is getting completely slammed both in this economic environment and in this political environment,” Baldwin said, returning to the theme that she is a fighter for the middle class.

Baldwin noted she voted against the 2002 Iraq war resolution and against the 1999 repeal of the Glass-Steagall financial regulation law. Many observers say the repeal of Glass-Steagall led to the financial crisis of 2008.

“People will also recognize that I have a lifetime commitment to equality for all,” Baldwin continued. “And I think they’ll learn that I’m not afraid to stand up to big and powerful interests.”

“I think we as the LGBT community can really understand the concerns we feel when we think our leaders aren’t taking our genuine challenges and struggles to heart,” she added.

Asked whether being an out Lesbian might be an issue in the campaign, Baldwin said she thinks Wisconsin voters will value her honesty about her sexual orientation.

“I have always – since the beginning – in my adult life been out and honest about my sexual orientation, and I think that voters appreciate the values of honestly and expect integrity in their elected officials,” Baldwin said.

“The race is not about me,” Baldwin added. “It’s about the voters – the problems facing everyday working people.”

“It will be about the middle-class, the threats that they’re facing right now, the struggles that families are experiencing and which candidate for U.S. Senate is going to

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20 Seattle Gay News

September 9, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

be the best fighter for them,” Baldwin said.

“As I campaign statewide, I think what counts is that I’m a leader who gets it.”

“The challenge,” she continued, “is that in a contested campaign – a hotly, hotly, hotly contested campaign – some people will try to introduce me to voters before I can introduce myself. And they won’t be as complimentary as Chuck [Wolfe].”

Baldwin said that if she were confronted with anti-Gay attacks from her opponents, she would confront them head-on, however.

“To the extent that I’m faced with it in my campaign, I plan on responding very directly,” she said. “The campaign for equal rights is unfolding across the country, but to the extent that it is raised in the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin, I am certainly not going to turn the other way.”

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ISNA’s English language website, but the Farsi version was reviewed by human rights activist Soheila Vahdati, who confirmed to LGBT Asylum News that the Iran Human Rights report was accurate.

Vahdati works with Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO).

The executions took place in the Iranian city of Ahwaz, near the Iraqi border.

According to the ISNA report, the three were convicted of “forbidden acts against religion,” in violation of Articles 108 and 110 of Iran’s penal code. The news report added that they were also guilty of kidnapping and theft.

According to Iran Human Rights, Article 108 defines sodomy as “sexual intercourse

between men.” Article 110 specifies that “punishment for sodomy is killing; the sharia judge decides how to carry out the killing.”

Vahdati said the kidnapping and theft charges were unsubstantiated.

“From the text of the original news it is clear that the main ‘crime’ was sodomy and that they had been involved in kidnapping, etc., too,” she said. “[But] no article of the Penal Code has been quoted for kidnapping. That is, chances are they would not be considered people deserving to be killed if they were not involved in [a] same-sex relationship.

“The main reason for killing the three people is obviously sodomy, though [the report says] they had committed other illegitimate activities like kidnapping and theft associated with harassment – but there is no explanation of the details of kidnapping and theft, which if it was true, must have made a lot of noise in town and there would have been a hint about it too.”

The men were identified only as MT, TT, and MCh. No age was given for any of them.

According to ISNA, the three others executed in Ahvaz were AH, convicted of selling heroin, and JN and ASh, convicted of rape and robbery.

Vahdati said that few details were given about their alleged crimes.

Noted Iranian human rights attorney Mohammed Mostafaei – now in exile in Norway – wrote an open letter to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad protesting the executions.

“Were the cases approved by the Supreme Court and given a hearing as well as permission for execution?” he asked. “Were the three represented by lawyers, and what are their names?”

“Three men under the pretext of being ‘Gay’ and committing sodomy were sentenced to death and executed,” Mustafaei continued.

“Mr. President, you have blood on your

hands.”

Iran Human Rights spokesperson Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam noted that Iranian authorities rarely admit to killing people only for being Gay. ”Yesterday’s executions for sodomy might be among the rare cases were the Iranian authorities admit to having executed men convicted of homosexual acts,” he said.

“Iranian authorities normally present such cases as rape,” he added, “but rape as not been mentioned in this case.”

Amiry-Moghaddam warned that a new wave of executions could materialize in Iran in the coming weeks.

“After a short break in the executions due to the Holy month of Ramadan, we have received reports about many scheduled executions in the coming days and weeks in Iran,” he said.

“Many of the scheduled executions are planned to be carried out publicly.”

According to AFP news agency, the latest hangings bring the number of executions reported in Iran so far this year to 180, based on media and official reports.

Iranian media reported 179 hangings last year but international human rights groups say the actual number was much higher, ranking Iran second only to China in the number of people it executed in 2010.

Iran has recently authorized a number of executions of Gay men, or ones thought to be Gay. In January, an Iranian court handed down a stoning sentence against two teenagers in the city of Piranshahr, in Iranian Kurdistan.

It was not clear whether they were charged with rape or sodomy.

Also in January, the official Iranian judiciary website reported that three men were hanged for allegedly raping a teenage boy.

In February, Amnesty International issued an action alert involving a teenage boy sentenced to death for sodomy in the city of Shiraz.

In a report released last December, “We

are a Buried Generation: Discrimination and Violence Against Sexual Minorities in Iran,” Human Rights Watch said that trials on moral charges in Iran are usually held in secret, making it difficult to determine what proportion of those charged and executed for same-sex conduct are Gay and whether the alleged offense was consensual.

Because of this lack of transparency, Human Rights Watch said that “it cannot be ruled out that Iran is sentencing sexual minorities who engage in consensual same-sex relations to death under the guise that they have committed forcible sodomy or rape.”

The Human Rights Watch report also documents serious abuses, including dueprocess violations, that occurred during the prosecution of sexual minorities charged with crimes.

Those charged with engaging in consensual same-sex offenses stand little chance of getting a fair trial, the report says.

“Judges ignore penal code evidentiary guidelines in sodomy cases and often rely instead on confessions extracted through physical torture and extreme psychological pressure. Both Iranian and international law consider such evidence inadmissible.”

The Iranian government maintains that “most of these individuals have been charged for forcible sodomy or rape.”

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