Celebrating 40 Years!
Issue 37 Volume 41
FRIDAY September 13, 2013 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & newsstands
Intimate
Balagan Theatre’s Les Misérables Sec 2 Page 1
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
PA judge: No same-sex marriage licenses Status of couples who already received them remains uncertain Matt Rourke
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A Pennsylvania judge ruled on September 12 that Montgomery County may not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. “Unless and until either the Gen-
in July after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of DOMA. Hanes maintained that his oath of office, which includes a promise to uphold the U.S. Constitution, required him to issue licenses to any couple that requested one.
“Unless and until either the General Assembly repeals or suspends the Marriage Law provisions or a court of competent jurisdiction orders that the law is not to be obeyed or enforced, the Marriage Law in its entirety is to be obeyed and enforced by all commonwealth public officials.”
Charlene Kurland (l) and Ellen Toplin show their new marriage license at a Montgomery County office despite a state law banning such unions, in Norristown, Pennsylvania
eral Assembly repeals or suspends LACKS AUTHORITY the Marriage Law provisions or However, Pellegrini said that a court of competent jurisdiction orders that the law is not to Hanes does not have the authority be obeyed or enforced, the Mar- to decide if the state law barring riage Law in its entirety is to be same-sex marriage was constituobeyed and enforced by all com- tional or not. “In this case a clerk of courts monwealth public officials,” Judge Dan Pellegrini wrote in his ruling. has not been given the discretion Montgomery County Registrar to decide that a law ... he or she is D. Bruce Hanes began issuing licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples see pennsylvania page 20
A regal send-off for Mama José Hawaii on the brink
Beloved Gay icon, pioneer, and legend is laid to rest in style Governor initiates special session
to pass marriage equality bill
Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle
Pallbearers walk with the casket at Grace Cathedral during the funeral for José Julio Sarria.
by Aleksa Manila Special to the SGN On September 6, José Julio Sarria – “Mama José” as fondly referred to by her courtiers – was laid to rest next to her beloved, Joshua Norton, Emperor I of the United States and Protector of Mexico, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma, near San Francisco. Her tombstone is inscribed, “United we stand; divided, they will catch us one by one.”
QUICK QUEERSTORY Mama José was also known as Her Majesty Absolute Empress I of San Francisco and was the founder of the International Court System, one of the largest LGBTQ organizations spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Tavern Guild, one of the early homophile organizations she founded, wanted to name her Queen of San Francisco at the 1964 Beaux Arts Ball, but she proclaimed, “I’m already a queen!” Thus she
became the first Empress – José I, The Widow Norton – a reference to San Francisco’s celebrated and colorful citizen, Joshua Norton, in the 1800s. Mama José was equally illustrious herself if not more. And indeed she was more. Seattle is home to one of the first Courts in the ICS – the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle and The Olympic and Rainier Empire, which sponsors the Gay Sesee Mama José page 20
Andrew Wertheheimer
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Hawaii’s governor, Neil Abercrombie, said on September 9 that he will call his state’s legislature into special session to act on a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The session will begin October 28. If legislators move quickly and efficiently, Abercrombie said, they could pass a bill in four or five days. According to state Attorney General David Louie, Hawaii could begin issuing licenses and conducting wedding ceremonies as early as November 18. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie The bill is the culmination of 20 years of discussion, AbThe bill contains a generous reliercrombie told reporters during a gious exemption, in hopes of neunews conference at the Hawaii tralizing – or at least minimizing – State Capitol Building in Hono- objections from faith institutions. lulu. “Every variation on a view with DOMA PROMPTS RULING regard to the issue of marriage and Abercrombie said he wanted to equitable treatment for those en- call a special session, rather than gaged in marriage has been aired, allow legislators to consider the ishas been analyzed, has been dis- sue in their next regular session in cussed,” Abercrombie said. “No 2014, in part because of implicaone has been left out or has been tions on taxes for this year. marginalized in the process to this see hawaii page 8 point.”