SGN September 23, 2011 - Section 1

Issue 38 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

PIKE ST. ASSAULT p. 6 UK EQUAL MARRIAGE p. 16 CHELY WRIGHT p. 25

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY September 23, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

file photo

The White House

Courtesy of the White House

is finally and formally repealed.

As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to President Barack Obama issued lie about who they are in order to the following statement on Tues- serve the country they love. As of day, September 20, 2011. today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills Today, the discriminatory law see DADT page 21 known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

The issue of LGBTQ teen suicide is a complex one. The victims are as young as 13 years old and, recently in a few Seattle-area cases, young adults. Programs are in place such as the Trevor Project, a national suicide hotline for teens in need. Video projects, like the Gay-Straight Alliance’s “Make it Better” and the “It Gets Better” campaign, have flooded YouTube, earning national attention as top members of government (including President Obama), sports teams, and celebrities contributed messages of hope.

Yet, somehow, it is not getting better for many LGBTQ students and those perceived to be LGBTQ. Although national awareness surrounding the subject has increased, teens and young adults are still taking their own lives.

Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, of Buffalo, N.Y., killed himself over the weekend after posting an online farewell. Jamey had been picked see outloud page 20

courtesy daily mail

Obama issues OUTLoud fights against high statement on repeal of LGBT teen suicide rates “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Jamey Rodemeyer, 14, of Buffalo, N.Y., took his own life after being tormented at school by other students for being Gay.

AP

President Obama to deliver keynote ACLU goes to court address at HRC National Dinner for equal military

President Barack Obama

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, announced September 21, that U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver the keynote address at the organization’s 15th annual National

Dinner, to be held October 1 in Washington, D.C. “We are honored to share this night with President Obama, who has a tremendous record of accomplishment for LGBT people,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “On the heels of the end to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ we look forward to celebrat-

ing our victories and redoubling our efforts for the fights that remain ahead.”

The event, which is expected to draw nearly 3,000 attendees, will be at the Washington Convention Center.

President Obama previously addressed the dinner in 2009. He is the second sitting president to attend such an event – Bill Clinton was the first.

In 2009 Obama told National Dinner attendees, “I’ve called on Congress to repeal the so-called DOMA,” and “I will end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ That is my commitment to you.”

Two years later, DOMA is still a federal law, but DADT was officially repealed September 20, allowing openly Gay military service in the U.S. armed forces.

“My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against Gays and Lesbians – whether in the office or on the battlefield,” Obama said at the 2009 dinner. “You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as rela-

separation pay

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

The ACLU appeared in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on September 22 challenging a Defense Department policy that pays service members who have been honorably discharged for being Gay only half of what they would otherwise get.

The separation pay policy is not part of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” statute, and can be changed without congressional approval, the ACLU says.

The lead plaintiff in Collins v.

United States is Richard Collins, a decorated former staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, but the case is a class action in which the ACLU see HRC page 21 seeks redress for all discharged

proud to Be Different

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

service members in a similar situation.

Collins served in the Air Force for nine years until he was discharged from service under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Collins’ superiors learned that he is Gay when two civilian coworkers observed him exchange a kiss with his civilian boyfriend and then reported him.

As a result, Collins received an honorable discharge from the Air Force but then discovered after the discharge had been completed that his separation pay had been cut in half on the grounds of “homosexuality.”

Congress has legislated that individuals who serve in the armed see ACLU page 21

Call us at 206.568.2486

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Seattle Gay News

September 23, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

10th AnnuAl Dungeness CrAb & seAfooD festivAl “home of the Dungeness Crab” october 8-9, Port Angeles, free Admission! www.crabfestival.org Visit us online www.sgn.org

September 23, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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Matchmaker, find me a find (or don’t!)

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer Yente would plotz.

The matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof would have a coronary over the kind of matchmaking being practiced these days.

And by a rabbi, no less. The shmendrik.

For his part, Rabbi Arele Harel doesn’t need criticism from fictional characters, as he’s receiving plenty from real people who are angry over his efforts to match Orthodox Jewish Gay men with Orthodox Lesbians.

On the face of it, pairing a zebra and a wombat might stand a better chance of success.

Harel, who lives in a Jewish West Bank settlement, told The Associated Press he fixes up Gays and Lesbians so they can have children, a commandment of Jewish law.

“The main aspiration here is parenthood,” he said. “It allows them to become parents in a way that is permitted by religious Jewish law and prevents a conflict between their religious world and their sexual world.”

Um, the conflict between the two will still

be there, as surely as I don’t intend to marry a wombat.

But I get what he means. He’s helping people live by the letter of the law. Even as the spirit of the law and their individual spirits won’t fare so well.

Harel believes some Gays shift their orientation through therapy. He said his approach is for those whose orientation won’t budge, but who want to remain observant.

Six years ago he started matching Gay men and women, recognizing a “deep distress” among those “facing a dead-end road.”

Instead of finding a new road, 24 Gays and Lesbians chose to tread the straight and narrow one – Harel said he’s wed 12 couples, some of whom produced children. Perhaps with assistance from Falcon Studios and Angelina Jolie movies.

Adultery is a no-no under Jewish law. In Harel’s view, when two married straight people mess around they’re guilty of adultery, because the two are sexually compatible. In a Gay-Lesbian marriage, as long as both persons know the other is dating, it’s not adultery.

Seems like Harel has found a loophole big enough to force a huppah through.

He maintains that once kids come, the Gays learn to love each other. “Their love is based on parenthood. Parenthood is the glue, and it’s strong.”

A number of Israelis are critical of Harel’s unorthodox approach to Orthodox Gays.

Most Orthodox Jews view the homosexual as slightly more appealing than the arsonist.

Orthodox rabbis say Harel should be pushing Gays to change their orientation.

On the other side, a liberal religious Gay group charged Harel with trying to “erase” Gays from the Orthodox community.

Harel’s position is a precarious one. Kind of like – didn’t you know I was going to say this? – a fiddler on the roof.

A group for Gay Orthodox Jews called Kamoha independently fielded many phone requests for Gay-meets-Lesbian matchmaking, so Kamoha has joined with Harel to offer the service.

Kamoha’s website reads, “In this project, all of the cards are open, and without the lies, half-truths, and ‘mistakes,’ because both participants know very well the nature of the prospective spouse’s orientation.”

Do they ever. They can spend many a happy evening swapping coming-out stories.

Or non-coming-out stories.

You know, now that I really think about it, Yente was nothing if not pragmatic as a matchmaker, so maybe, if she were living in Israel today, she wouldn’t be appalled at these Gay pairings. She might even be getting in on the act. A successful match fetches about $400 from both groom and bride.

Whoever performs the unlikely matching, the endeavor brings to mind lyrics sung

by Tzeitel in Fiddler as she wryly imitates Yente: I promise you’ll be happy. And even if you’re not, There’s more to life than that. Don’t ask me what!

Leslie Robinson can’t get Bea Arthur’s Yente out of her head. Email Leslie at lesarobinson@gmail.com, and check out more LGBT humor at www.generalgayety.com.

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

4

Seattle Gay News

September 23, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Nearly 70 years after kicking out Melvin Dwork for being Gay, the U.S. Navy is changing his discharge from “undesirable” to “honorable,” marking what is believed to be the first time the Pentagon has taken such a step on behalf of a World War II veteran since the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).

The Navy notified Dwork, 89, a former corpsman, last month that he will now be eligible for the benefits he had long been denied, including medical care and a military burial.

Dwork spent decades fighting to remove the blot on his record.

“I resented that word ‘undesirable,’” Dwork, who was discharged in 1944, at the height of the war, and is now a successful

interior designer in New York, told the Associated Press. “That word really stuck in my craw. To me it was a terrible insult. It had to be righted. It’s really worse than ‘dishonorable.’ I think it was the worst word they could have used.”

Victory, however, came with a heartbreaking truth. Dwork learned last year, when the Navy finally released his records, that his name had been given to military officials by his boyfriend at the time.

Dwork said he does not blame his former boyfriend; he said the young man was pressured into giving up names as part of a “witch hunt.”

“It was confusing to me that anything like that could happen,” Dwork said. “I wasn’t ashamed of what I was or what I am. It was just a sad period. I didn’t know frankly at that point it would affect the rest of my life.”

Brian Scott Fairbrother 1960-2011

Seattle lost some of its most brilliant color and magical glamour when Brian Fairbrother transitioned on September 8, 2011.

Known to many as the mayor of Broadway (or, as he preferred, the raja of Broadway), Brian was a fixture at Espresso Vivace, the local coffee spot and roasteria owned by David Schomer and Geneva Sullivan. For over 20 years, Brian’s presence made the mornings hum for the Vivace family as their general manager, and thousands of loyal customers and friends looked forward to their daily dose of Brian, who delivered the perfect cup with the appropriate side of sympathy, bon mot, or snark, accompanied by the music of his distinctive laugh.

Brian knew how to tell a joke and could turn anything into a story or performance.

His version of his entrance to the world was “I came in kicking and screaming ‘WRONG HEMISPHERE! WRONG HEMISPHERE!’” The son of a bellydancer, Brian inherited his mother Harriet’s natural rhythm, incorporating heart and connection into all aspects of his life: working, spiritual, dance, and his innate sense of language.

Brian was also known for his love of bright textiles and saris. “More is more, and less is heresy,” was one of his many idioms.

Around 1983 and after his move from Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Brian joined the local circle of the Radical Faeries. It was here that he found a spirituality and

AP

Navy clears Gay WWII vet’s record

wholeness among a common community. While honoring the passing of the seasons, he found holiness in the environment, and his soul found freedom from linear roles and absolute restrictions. “I am a child of bright morning,” he often said, both for the poetry, but also stating his full intent to begin every day, even the difficult ones, with an open, uncluttered conscience.

In the mid-1980s, Brian performed as a bellydancer, both by delivering “bellygrams” and by working with a local troupe, Karavans. Flamenco dance, which suited Brian’s tall, elegant physique, also became a passion.

Brian’s enthusiasm for India led him to explore Orissi dance, first at Evergreen State College under Dr. Ratna Roy, and later during an extensive stay in India. Other travels to Europe, Mexico, Canada and a return adventure to India, fed his perpetual hunger for learning and exchanging knowledge.

Words were Brian’s freely traded currency. He studied both foreign language and foreign men, and not necessarily in any particular order. He learned American Sign Language at Seattle Central Community College, and later became fluent in Spanish, and was a longtime member of a Spanish language book club. Studies in Italian and French later followed, and regardless of language, Brian always strove to use exactly the right word or expression.

On August 30, 2011, a perfect evening for a bike ride, Brian suffered a fall in a bike accident, which caused severe and irreparable trauma to his brain. Friends were at his side 24/7, in hopes of a recovery. According to his wishes, his family of choice let him go peacefully when it became clear there was no other option. He has left behind a community that misses his vibrance, wisdom, laughter, his affection for the color orange, and his affinity for extremes of Oscar Wildean absurdity.

As Brian would say, “Well, sweetie, there it is.”

A celebration of Brian’s life is planned for October 1, 2011, from 2-4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Cathedral on Capitol Hill (1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle, WA, 98102). Memorial gifts may be made to Gay City or to Lambert House.

Melvin Dwork

The decision to amend his discharge papers was made by the Board for Corrections of Naval Records in Washington in its August 17 proceedings. The board noted that the Navy has undergone a “radical departure” from the outright ban on Gays that was in place in 1944. The board pointed out Dwork’s “exemplary period of active duty” and said that changing the terms of his discharge was done “in the interest of justice.”

Due to his early departure from military service, Dwork was not allowed to draw GI benefits to continue his studies as a young man and was denied medical care in his later years. He said he needs a hearing aid that he cannot afford.

Over the years, he filed countless requests with the Navy, traveled to Washington, lobbied lawmakers, and hired a law firm to help.

The Board for Corrections of Naval Records said it would reinstate Dwork’s benefits retroactively, but exactly what that means – whether, for example, the Navy will write him a check for the benefits he missed out on over a lifetime – is unclear.

“I think that with the end of DADT there is a growing realization within the military that not only Gays be allowed to serve openly now but this was probably the wrong policy all along,” said Aaron Belkin, an expert on Gays in the U.S. military at the University of California, Los Angeles. “This illustrates, at least in the case of one person, that the military is trying to set things right.”

About 100,000 troops were discharged between World War II and 1993 for being Gay and lost their benefits as a result, Belkin said. Under the more relaxed DADT policy, which allowed LGB persons to serve as long as they kept their sexual orientation to themselves, nearly 14,000 troops were forced out, but most were given honorable discharges that allowed them to draw benefits.

The official repeal of DADT took effect Tuesday.

Congress voted last year to repeal the law and dozens of Gay veterans who were given undesirable, dishonorable, or less-than-honorable discharges before 1993 stepped forward, seeking to have the blemish removed from their records.

KEEP SEATTLE CENTER CLEAN

FURTHER EDUCATION IN TRIBAL SAME-SEX MARRIAGES

Hey, brothers and sisters! Yes, say it loud, Gay, and proud! Yes, I am loud, Gay, and proud!

A marvelous eight hours of techno dancing and colored joy had bodies gyrating, bumping, and grinding under blue skies. I am proud.

However, if the Hempfest people can do it, so can we. Let’s plan a nice surprise for our Seattle Center’s staff next year.

Like Hempfest, leave it as clean as before the festival began. I was embarrassed by the litter left. A few of us tried for an hour to pick up afterward. Come on, now. If you owned a house, would you trash your yard?

Many did properly place refuse where it belonged. Many did not.

It is our Seattle Center facility. If enough of us would respect the facility and volunteer to bring trash bags and maybe a picker, how pleasant of a surprise for Seattle Center staff!

There is more to LGBTQI pride than the festive extravaganza of color, dance, and celebration.

I will be back and do a little bit of a huge task. Let’s do it larger, better, and clean next year.

I was glad to inform your readers of the fact that “Suquamish Tribe Marriage Follows Long Tradition.” [SGN, Letters to the Editor, September 9, 2011.] Thanks for publishing it!

If you or your readers want to learn more, you can look up the word “berdache” on Wikipedia or wherever. This is considered a Gay-insulting word by more “aware” LGBT people. It originally came from Middle Eastern languages via French; its original meaning was something like “male prostitute”! This shows that the explorers and Jesuit priests who first encountered “men acting in the role of wives to other men” had no other frame of reference to even conceive of such a thing!

The word, divorced from its linguistic origins, is still found in earlier anthropological literature, but is less used recently. But tribes in their original languages have retained perfectly proper words for these same-sex marriage phenomena! Solidarity.

Barbara Tomlinson

Boe Oddisey

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

September 23, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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ap

Sen. Kerry introduces LGBT fair housing bill Sen. Patty Murray signs on as cosponsor

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced legislation on September 22 to prohibit antiLGBT discrimination in housing and credit.

Washington Senator Patty Murray is one of the seven original co-sponsors.

The Housing Opportunities Made Real – or HOME – Act would amend the 1968 Fair Housing Act to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Fair Housing Act was a landmark civil rights bill pushed through Congress by then-president Lyndon Johnson. It banned discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin.

The HOME Act would also amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination in lending. The measure also bans credit discrimination because of source of income and marital status.

The Kerry bill would strengthen protection for disabled people and LGBT parents with custody of a child.

Finally, it would give the Attorney General pre-litigation investigative power to enforce the law.

Besides Murray, the original co-sponsors are Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Chris Coons of Delaware, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Dan Inouye of Hawaii.

A companion bill will be introduced in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.).

“It’s hard to believe that in 2011, any lawabiding, tax-paying American who can pay the rent can’t live somewhere just because of who they are,” Kerry said in a statement.

“Housing discrimination against LGBT Americans is wrong, but today in most states there isn’t a thing you can do about it. This legislation would end discrimination that continues to hurt people.”

According to Kerry’s office, organizations endorsing the bill include the Family Equality Council, Human Rights Campaign, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund.

“Today, federal civil rights laws do not protect all people, and leave the door open for unscrupulous and bigoted people to deny housing choice to people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or marital status,” the groups wrote in an endorsement letter, along with organizations including the National Council of La Raza, NAACP, and ACLU. LGBT people in Washington state are protected by state law from discrimination in housing and credit, but the HOME Act would add federal protections and enable the Justice Department to intervene in individual cases.

The HOME Act expands on previous administrative decisions by the Obama admin-

Senator John Kerry

istration.

In January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced new regulations to bar discrimination against LGBT people by owners of housing units financed or insured by HUD. HUD also prohibited lenders from using gender identity or sexual orientation as eli-

gibility criteria for federally backed mortgages.

In addition, the regulations clarified that “eligible families” under numerous HUD programs include LGBT families.

In May, Kerry introduced legislation to combat homelessness among LGBT youth.

Murray also co-sponsored that bill.

Man charged with hate crime in Pike Street assault

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer On September 21, King County prosecutors filed charges of malicious harassment and assault against a Seattle man who is accused of punching another man while yelling anti-Gay slurs.

According to the police investigation filed

by Detective Moore, Raven Lang Brealan punched Michael Mackay, threatened him with a knife, and struck him in the face with a street sign.

The alleged assault took place at 12:32 a.m. on September 17 at 1013 E. Pike Street.

Charging documents filed by King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg say that Brealan acted “maliciously and intentionally and because of his perception of the gender and sexual orientation of Michael Mackay.”

According to Moore’s report, Mackay and another man, identified as “McNeill,” were walking down Pike Street when Brealan started yelling anti-Gay slurs.

“McNeill told [Brealan] he is on Capitol Hill and to stop with the anti-homosexual sentiments,” the report says.

Then, the report continues, Brealan punched Mackay. Mackay called 911 for help, and attempted to follow Brealan.

Trinity Episcopal Church 6

Seattle Gay News

Brealan then threatened him with a knife and threw a no-parking sign at him, hitting him in the face.

Mackay was treated by medics at the scene, and declined to be taken to a hospital.

woman was a man.”

Moore’s report does not indicate why Brealan would have mistaken Mackay for a woman. It never says, for example, that Mackay presented as a woman, and in both the police report and the prosecutor’s charg-

Up to this point, the story sounds like one of many similar hate crimes. After Brealan was arrested and tried to explain himself to police, the story takes an interesting turn, however.

According to Moore’s report, “The suspect told the officer he struck the victim because when he was flirting with the victim earlier in the evening he found out the victim had a penis. According to the suspect he was very upset to find out the person he thought was a

ing documents, Mackay is referred to with masculine pronouns – “he, his, him.”

Nor does Moore’s report indicate where or under what circumstances Brealan was “flirting” with Mackay.

The original police report by arresting officer Matthew J. Blackburn sheds no additional light on the situation. According to Blackburn, Brealan was almost incoherent at the scene of his arrest.

“He repeatedly told me he was not ‘a fag-

got,’” Blackburn writes in his report.

“He told me that homosexuals ‘put dicks in butts,’ and told me that he didn’t do that.

[Brealan] became so upset, spitting and yelling homosexual slurs, that I was unable to learn what happened at the listed location.”

The police report does not state whether Brealan’s perception was impaired by alcohol or other substances, but he was not charged with any alcohol- or drug-related offenses. The prosecutor’s charging documents do note that he has prior convictions for a “liquor violation” and driving under the influence.

Police spokesperson Lt. Renee Witt declined to comment on the details of the case when contacted

by SGN. “It’s been referred to the bias crimes coordinator and it’s still under investigation,” Witt said. “I can’t comment on the identity of the victim, because that’s not our policy.”

Asked why Brealan would have mistaken Mackay for a woman, Witt replied, “That’s part of the larger investigation, and that’s why I can’t say anything more on that.”

Brealan is being held in King County Jail pending arraignment on October 5.

The prosecutor’s charging documents ask that Brealan be held without bail because he has a “lengthy criminal history which is multi-county in nature,” including convictions for theft, taking a motor vehicle, robbery, escape, assault, and burglary, besides the alcohol-related charges.

Join us October 9 for the 12th annual Matthew Shepard Memorial Sermon with the Rev. Dr. Derek Penwell.

An Open and Affirming Congregation - Come join us! Sundays 8:00 and 10:30 - Wednesdays & Thursdays 5:30 Eighth Avenue & James Street, Seattle www.trinityseattle.org September 23, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

BORN THIS WAY KAFÉ FOR URBAN QUEER TEENS AT CAL ANDERSON PARK On Fridays, from 5-9 p.m., at Cal Anderson Shelterhouse (1635 11th Ave., one block north of E. Pine St.), Seattle Parks & Recreation hosts the Born This Way Kafé, a welcoming place where LGBTQ youth, friends and allies (ages 13-19) can gather, be themselves, and have fun. Meets every Friday. For more information and to help make this happen, contact Randy at Seattle Parks, 206-883-6110 (txt/phone), email randy.wiger@seattle.gov or Google “SeattleParksCOD.” LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE – 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEATTLE AIDS WALK & 5K RUN On Saturday, September 24, join Lifelong AIDS Alliance and community members from all walks of life for the 25th Anniversary Seattle AIDS Walk & 5K Run. The event will be held at Volunteer Park (14th Ave. E. & E. Prospect St.) with day-of registration, donation drop-off and T-shirt pickup from 9-9:30 a.m. The stage program will take place from 9:30-10 a.m. The run begins promptly at 10 a.m., followed by walkers at 10:05 a.m. The after party at the park will be held from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. A post-walk after party will be held from 6-10 p.m. at Grim’s (1512 11th Ave.). Buy a drink with Absolut San Francisco vodka and a portion of the proceeds will go to Lifelong AIDS Alliance. For complete information on how you can participate as a walker, runner, donor or volunteer, visit www.SeattleAIDSWalk.org or call 206-328-8979.

SEATTLE PAINT OUT – 2011 TO CLEAN AND PAINT OUT GRAFFITI ON CAPITOL HILL On Saturday, September 24, join your Capitol Hill neighbors to clean and paint out graffiti on Capitol Hill. Your volunteer efforts will have a significant impact on removing tags, stickers and litter. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at Fire Station #25 (1300 E. Pine St.). Light refreshments will be served. The orientation will begin shortly after to discuss areas of impact and map zones. Wear comfortable clothes so that paint splatters won’t matter. www.paintout. org.

MR. & MISS GAY ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PAGEANT On Saturday, September 24, door at 5:30 p.m., pageant at 7 p.m., Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway) hosts the Mr. & Miss Gay Asian/Pacific Islander Pageant with competition categories in National Costume, Swimsuit, Talent, Formal Wear and Q&A with $250 cash prize to both Mr. & Miss API 2011. Tickets: $15-advance; $18 at the door. www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/196920. For contestant sign-up, program advertising or sponsorship info, email gaysha@gayshastarr.com or teriyakitemple@aol.com. Partial proceeds to benefit the Youth Suicide Prevention Program.

“RAISE THE ROOF” HOUSEPARTY On Saturday, September 24, at 7 p.m., join Freedom Socialist Party members and friends for a “Raise the Roof” house party at 900 Hiawatha Pl. S. to celebrate social justice. Take a night off from jobless times and austerity measures to celebrate the persistent and unshakeable efforts to keep the social justice movement alive. Enjoy music, amiable conversation and good food. A Mexican feast will be served for an $8.50 donation.

For more information, call 206-722-2453 or email FSPseattle@mindspring.com.

THE SEATTLE AIDS MEMORIAL: “30 YEARS OF SORROW, COMFORT & HOPE” – A MULTI-FAITH OBSERVANCE IN READINGS, SONG AND CANDLELIGHT

break-up. The event is FREE. Sponsored by QLaw Foundation, Legal Voice, the Access to Justice Institute at Seattle University School of Law, ACLU of Washington and Equal Rights Washington, with support from the Pride Foundation.

A podcast of the event will be available at www.q-law.org/educationcommittee.

On Saturday, September 24, at 7 p.m., at LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE St. Mark’s Cathedral (1245 10th Ave. E.), AT SEATTLE MARINERS join the Seattle Choral Company and Seattle On Wednesday, September 28, at 7:10 area religious communities for this multifaith service observing 30 years of sorrow, p.m., join Lifelong AIDS Alliance for a Secomfort and hope in the face of AIDS. www. attle Mariners ballgame. Special discounted seating has been reserved and is available saintmarks.org. for purchase online only. Tickets are $12 View Reserved (normally $20) and $4 from BINGO NIGHT & DRAG SHOW each ticket will benefit Lifelong AIDS AlliAT AMORE INFUSED On Saturday, September 24, 8 p.m. door, 9 ance. Deadline for ticket purchase is Tuesp.m. bingo and show, at Amore Infused (522 day, September 27, at noon. To order, visit Wall St.), join Taylor Couture, the current http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ticketreigning Miss Gay Washington 2011-2012, ing/special_group.jsp?group=llaa. for an evening of bingo and drag show enSEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN tertainment. Tonight is the kick-off of this BOOK CLUB – MOFFIE monthly event. Starting next month, this The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club event will be held the 3rd Saturday of each month. $10 cover. A portion of all proceeds meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Seattle will go to charity. Tonight’s proceeds will go Area Support Groups Community Center to the Imperial Sovereign Courts of Tacoma (formerly Dunshee House) (303 17th Ave. and Seattle. 206-770-0606; www.tastofa- E. & E. Thomas St.). In September, the group will read the brand new South Afrimore.com. can novel, Moffie, by Andre Carl van der Merwe, about a frightened Gay white boy ARBORETUM FOUNDATION conscripted in the South African army. The FALL ABUNDANCE story is set in South Africa about 20 years PLANT SALE On Sunday, September 25, from 10 a.m.- ago, and takes place during the Angola Bush 2 p.m., at the Pat Calvert Greenhouse and War. The author will be getting in touch with Plant Donations Nursery, located next to the the club toward the end of September for a Graham Visitor’s Center (2300 Arboretum conversation about the book and to answer Dr. E.), you’ll find a fabulous selection of any questions.

All GLBTQ folks are welcome to particiyour favorite trees, shrubs, and perennials, plus many unusual species and varieties – pate in this free book club. For more inforall at great prices. Proceeds benefit the Ar- mation, email nickdimartin@earthlink.net, boretum Foundation. www.arboretumfoun- visit http://faculty.washington.edu/swittet/ SGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at 206dation.org.

322-2437.

MPOWERMENT IN TACOMA EVERETT-SNOHOMISH COUNTY Mpowerment In Tacoma is a new HIV FRIENDSHIP DINNER prevention program from the Pierce County FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS AIDS Foundation for Gay and Bisexual men The Everett-Snohomish County Friendaged 25 and older. The MPowerment In Tacoma program is an adaptation of a Center ship Dinner for persons living with HIV and for Disease Controls evidence based model AIDS will be held on Thursday, Septemwhich has effectively worked to reduce ber 29, at 6 p.m., at Spirit of Grace United rates of unprotected sex among young Gay Methodist Church (formerly First United and Bi men. This model is being structured Methodist) (3530 Colby Ave., Everett). The to focus on older Gay and Bi men in Pierce dinner will now be held the last Thursday of County with the support of the University of each month. This is a new venue and a new California San Francisco’s Center for AIDS day of the month. A support group meets at 5 p.m. The event is free and everyone is welPrevention Studies.

The mission of Mpowerment in Tacoma is come. For more info, call 425-252-7751. to create a community of Gay and Bisexual “SEATTLE’S VERY OWN men aged 25 and older who actively particiQUEER’S ANATOMY pate in the empowerment of themselves and SOCIAL MIXER” each other. This is achieved through educatOn Thursday, September 29, from 7-9 ing men in how to practice safer sex messaging, enabling them to become increasingly p.m., at The Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.), the sex positive, and also encouraging them to Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Allydiffuse awareness of the program to their ship present “Seattle’s Very Own Queer’s friends, all while providing a fun and uplift- Anatomy Social Mixer.” Come out in your ing social focus. The success of the program best hospital garb for the Best Queer’s Anatrequires volunteer participation by Gay and omy Costume Contest. Nurses! Doctors!

Bi men ages 25 and older to help establish Patients! Insurance Claims Specialist! And a core group of members who will develop Others! Enjoy Queer medicine trivia, raffle and implement ongoing educational and fun prizes, and entertainment by the Sisters of workshops, large events, outreach activities, Perpetual Indulgence. For more information, email allyship@yahoo.com. and publicity campaigns.

Mpowerment in Tacoma will have it’s Q CENTER & GBLTC first workshop on Tuesday, September 27, HOST ANNUAL LUNCHEON at 6 p.m., at Pierce County AIDS FoundaAT UW tion (3520 S. Pine St., Tacoma, WA 98405).

On Friday, September 30, from 11:30 For more information, contact Mpowerment in Tacoma Coordinator, Lorenzo, at a.m.-1 p.m., at Walker Ames Room, Kane 253-722-0706 or email lcervantes@pierce- Hall (on Red Square), University of Washington, the UW’s Q Center and GBLT Comcountyaids.org. mission host a welcoming event for new and current UW LGBT students, faculty, staff, LGBT PARENTS AND THE LAW On Tuesday, September 27, from 6:30- administrators and allies to kick off the new 8:30 p.m., at Seattle University School of school year. www.uwqcenter.wordpress.com.

Law (901 12th Ave. at E. Columbia St.), in “ENGENDER BENDER” Sullivan Hall, Room C-6, learn more about AT Q CAFE the legal rights of LGBT parents in WashOn Friday, September 30, at Q Cafe (3223 ington state. Legal experts will explain the rapidly changing laws affecting LGBT par- 15th Ave. W.), quiet presents quiet Speaks, ents in Washington and will be available to an arts and literary showcase. The theme is: “enGender Bender: Exploring our social answer your questions.

Topics include: Starting and growing your blueprints.” Art exhibit 7-8 p.m., spoken family – including adoption, surrogacy, word 8-10 p.m. $5 cover. assisted reproduction and domestic partnerships; establising and protecting your parental rights, before and after a child is born; legal options for LGBT parents after a

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September 23, 2011

MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE SPARKS OF GLORY – “FROM THE MONKEY MOUNTAINS” On Saturday, October 1, at 2 p.m., at Seattle Art Museum, Plestcheeff Auditorium (1st Ave. & University St.), Music of Remembrance presents a FREE 90-minute chamber music concert-with-commentary.

MOR Artistic Director Mina Miller discusses the Seattle Art Museum’s exhibit “Our National Game” - exploring Jackie Robinson’s “athletic resistence” as a counterpoint to the artistic resistance to the Holocaust that MOR’s music commemorates. Audiences will hear music from Pavel Haas, one of Janáček’s most talented students, who wrote his String Quartet No. 2 (“From the Monkey Mountains”) as a kind of musical postcard from a favorite vacation spot. Hear the true story of teenage boys imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp in their own words in this song cycle version of Lori Laitman’s Vedem - based on the poetry the boys wrote for their secret magazine. Guest vocalists: Angela Niederloh, a Portland Opera mezzo soprano, Seattle tenor Ross Hauck. www. musicofremembrance.org.

SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS – “TRUE COUNTRY” WITH CHELY WRIGHT OCTOBER 1 & 2 On Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, at 2 p.m., at Benaroya Hall (3rd Ave. & Union St.), the Seattle Women’s Chorus celebrates the uniquely American phenomenon that is country music, with a special focus on female country music legends like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Marty McBride, Dixie Chicks, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and Anne Murray.

Add to this illustrious line-up of standout performers, SWC’s special guest artist, singer-songwriter Chely Wright. Wish Me Away, a new documentary film about Wright’s courageous decision to come out as a Lesbian within the conservative world of country music recently (and remarkably) won “Best Documentary” at the Nashville Film Festival. Backed by the rich harmonies of Seattle Women’s Chorus, Chely Wright will share her unforgettable story and her unmistakable musical talent.

“True Country” will be hosted by the semi-popular mother-daughter country duo Euomi and Wynotta Spudd (The Spudds) bringing their songs and down-home dysfunction to SWC’s stage. The Spudds are the creation of outrageous Seattle kamikaze comedy duo, Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt (Dos Fallopia).

Tickets: $20-$65 in advance at 206-3881400 or www.flyinghouse.org and at the door.

PRIDE SKATE SEATTLE AT SOUTHGATE ROLLER RINK On Wednesday, October 5, from 8:30-11 p.m., at the Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th Ave. SW), come get your skates on at this new LGBT skating party that will be held the first Wednesday of each month. Admission is $8, which includes skate rental.

The party continues afterwards at Company bar (9608 16th Ave. SW) with drink specials and karaoke! www.southgaterollerrink. com.

“QUEER IT YOURSELF: BE IT, DO IT, MAKE IT” On Saturday, October 8, from 10 a.m.5 p.m., registration at 9:30 a.m., at Seattle University, Pigott Building, Rooms 202, 203 & 204 (12th Ave. & E. Marion St.), attend a day-long conference for Queer artists in the Northwest. Cost is $10, but no one turned away for lack of funds. SU students, staff and faculty get in free.

To celebrate the conference, organizers will present a Queer artist showcase, with shows at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Wyckoff Auditorium on the Seattle University campus. Cost is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Advance tickets for the conference and the showcase available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200477.

This event is presented by The Producers’ Collective, www.theproducerscollective. weebly.com.

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7

Alaska judge OKs tax breaks for same-sex couples

AP Photo/Mark Thiessen

(l to r) Julie Schmidt, Gayle Schuh , and Jeffrey Mittman with the American Civil Liberties Union speak at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska on August 3, 2010.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Same-sex couples in Alaska are entitled to the same tax exemptions as opposite-sex married couples, a judge ruled September 16.

Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner wrote in his decision that the state’s marriage requirement violates the equal protection clause in the Alaska state constitution.

Same-sex couples must get the same senior-citizen and disabled-veteran exemp-

tions from state property taxes as married couples, Pfiffner ruled.

The case was filed by the ACLU of Alaska and the national ACLU on behalf of three couples from Anchorage who were denied tax breaks they would have been entitled to if they were married.

Alaska tax law allows seniors over age 65 and disabled veterans to exclude the first $150,000 of assessed value from their property tax liability.

Married couples get the exemption whether the home is owned by the husband, the

wife, or both of then jointly.

In 1998, Alaska voters approved an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman, thus preventing same-sex couples from marrying.

Pfiffner said the marriage amendment only addresses the definition of marriage and does not, as the state contended, mention the associated benefits of marriage.

He agreed with the ACLU that a state statute excluding same-sex couples from “being entitled to the benefits of marriage” does not

alter the constitutional right to equal protection.

Pfiffner’s ruling means that while samesex couples are disqualified from marriage, they are not disqualified from the same rights as opposite-sex married couples.

Pfiffner said the state did not distinguish this case from a 2005 Alaska Supreme Court ruling on discrimination based on sexual orientation. In that case, also brought by the Alaska ACLU, the court said the samesex domestic partners of state and municipal employees could not be denied benefits given to married spouses.

Alaska’s Assistant Attorney General Rachel Witty told CBS News that the state is reviewing the 34-page decision and assessing its options.

All the plaintiff couples were in committed relationships but were treated by the law as roommates rather than families, according to the Alaska ACLU. ACLU spokesperson Jeffrey Mittman said that one couple, Julie Schmidt and Gayle Schuh, had been together 34 years.

In his ruling Pfiffner noted that Schmidt, 67, and Schuh, 62, co-owned a home in Eagle River since 2006. Schmidt qualified for the exemption but was unable to exempt the full amount because the law deemed her the occupant of only half the house.

“Gayle and I moved, built a home and a life here because we love what Alaska has to offer,” Schmidt said in the ACLU announcement. “It hurt that the state that we value so much treated us like strangers. It is gratifying to finally have our relationship recognized.”

Two other plaintiffs – Julie Vollick, a permanently disabled military veteran, and her former same-sex domestic partner, Susan Bernard – had a similar experience.

Vollick co-owned a home with Bernard from 2004 until 2010. If Vollick and Bernard had been married, Vollick would have received a $528 greater tax benefit from the exemption, the judge said.

The couple has since separated.

The other plaintiffs were Fred Traber, 62, and Laurence Snyder, 69, a same-sex couple who share a condominium in Anchorage.

Snyder qualified for the tax exemption, but the home is in Traber’s name and Snyder was unable to claim any part of the tax exemption.

Social Security ends “Gender No-Match” letters White House “welcomes this move”

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed on September 15 that it has ended the practice of matching gender markers in its Social Security Number Verification System (SSNVS).

The new policy will result in the immediate end to so-called “no-match” letters – notifications that alert employers when the gender marker on an employee’s W-2 does not match Social Security records.

Asked about the decision, White House

updated its policy.”

“Alerting employers about differences in someone’s gender threatened people’s jobs and did not accomplish what this verification system was designed for,” Keisling added.

“There was absolutely no reason for it and it was extremely dangerous for transgender people, who still face significant disrespect, discrimination, and violence in the workplace.”

photos.com

spokesman Shin Inouye told Metro Weekly, “The White House welcomes this move by the Social Security Administration.”

“Transgender workers sometimes have different gender markers in employer records than what the Social Security Administration (SSA) has in their database,” the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) explains on its website. “When this occurs, those Transgender employees can be the focus of no-match letters from SSA.” The SSA compares information in its database to information supplied by employers to make sure that employees are working lawfully, are paying social security benefits, and are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.

For a Trans employee, getting a nomatch letter may result in having to provide “proof” of their gender. In the most extreme circumstances, a no-match letter may result in an employee being terminated.

A Freedom of Information Act request from the NCTE showed that 711,488 gender no-match letters were sent in 2010 alone.

NCTE executive director Mara Keisling said in a media release, “Ending this practice, which has endangered Transgender people and our jobs, has been a priority for NCTE and we are pleased that the SSA has

Human Rights Campaign spokesman Paul Guequierre congratulated NCTE in a statement HRC released on September 16.

“Ending the gender verification process is a meaningful step toward respecting the basic rights and dignity of transgender employees in the workplace, and we congratulate NCTE for their successful efforts with the Social Security Administration,” Guequierre said.

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Gamers map structure of protease

including talking with providers about medications and safer sex,” Hightow-Weidman said.

Researchers also said that steps to control alcohol abuse among young men who have sex with men could help to increase their ac-

cess to anti-retroviral drugs.

Alcohol use is associated with low antiretroviral therapy use, the study showed, which the authors suggest may be due to the fact that doctors are less likely to prescribe antiretrovirals to patients who abuse alcohol.

courtesy game informer

discoveries – one algorithmic, the other a brand-new protein – which it intends to publish in the near future.

“It’s the power of citizen science,” said Firas Khatib, a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of UW biochemistry professor David Baker.

Baker’s laboratory developed Foldit about three years ago, believing that they could tap some of the brain power that puzzle-loving humans pour into computer games.

“We wanted to see if human intuition could succeed where automated methods had failed,” Khatib explained. “The ingenuity of game players is a formidable force

that, if properly directed, can be used to solve a wide range of scientific problems.”

Foldit co-creator Seth Cooper added, “People have spatial reasoning skills, something computers are not yet good at. Games provide a framework for bringing together the strengths of computers and humans.

“The results show that gaming, science, and computation can be combined to make advances that were not possible before.”

For the protease problem, Foldit players started with scientists’ rough-draft ideas of the shape of protease based on a retrovirus that causes AIDS in monkeys.

During three weeks of play, Foldit players generated more than one million structure predictions.

The solution, reached by the winning team in only 10 days, was nearly perfect, researchers said. It gave Baker and his colleagues all the information they needed to nail down the structure almost to the last atom.

“Competitive social interaction is a very strong driving force,” Baker said.

Humans have an advantage, Khatib said, because of their intuitive ability to see the potential for a delayed payoff from moves that seem like backward steps.

“Human players can see that you may have to go down this road, not doing well for a long time, but those steps are necessary if you want to get to a more correct solution.

Even the best computers and computer algorithms aren’t very good at that.”

The scientists offered co-authorship to players who supplied the winning answers but all declined, asking only for recognition for their teams – Contenders Group and Void Crushers Group.

“It is a team thing. Everybody contributes,” said a player from the Contenders Group, who asked to be identified only by her Foldit username, “mimi.”

Baker and his colleagues are posing even more difficult challenges to gamers – among them, identifying the structures of compounds that could serve important medical needs, such as inhibiting flu viruses.

Protease was accurately modeled using the online game Foldit

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Fans of the online game Foldit have successfully modeled protease, an enzyme that retroviruses like HIV need to reproduce.

A report published by the University of Washington says the discovery “provides new insights for the design of antiretroviral drugs.”

The journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology published the finding on September 18.

Mapping the structure of protease is a key step toward developing new anti-viral med-

ication therapies, but it eluded biochemists for more than a decade.

The enzyme was accurately mapped by Foldit players in less than three weeks, and opens the door to development of new antiretroviral drugs.

Foldit makes use of players’ 3D puzzlesolving abilities and competitive nature to solve problems that computers alone have been unable to do.

The game was launched in 2008 as a collaboration between the University of Washington’s computer science and biochemistry departments.

The university says it has two additional

HIV-positive men of color not using meds, study says

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Only a small proportion of HIV-positive young Gay men of color are using anti-retroviral drugs, a new study says. Some have never even been prescribed such drugs.

These startling results come from a study done at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and reported in the journal The Body.

The study is based on 155 subjects “enrolled in an outreach, linkage, and retention study funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.”

Researchers found that almost half of the HIV-positive African-American and Latino young men in the study with CD4 counts less than or equal to 350 were not taking meds or were not prescribed meds by their health-care providers.

A full 80% of those with CD4 counts greater than or equal to 350 were not taking meds or were not prescribed them.

CD4 cells – or “T-cells” – are the kind of white blood cells that fight infection. A CD4 count is used to indicate how advanced an HIV infection has become, and can help to assess the patient’s state of health.

Prescription of anti-retroviral drugs – and adherence to the medication schedule once they are prescribed – are important because, as the study points out, the drugs have prov-

en to be effective in controlling HIV infections.

“Of those youth who were started on ART [anti-retroviral therapy],” the study abstract reports, “the majority (74%) did achieve undetectable viral loads (<400 copies).”

“This indicates to me that when provided with tools to improve adherence and when in a care setting in which these young men feel safe and respected, they can remain adherent to their [medication] and achieve [viral load] suppression,” lead researcher Lisa Hightow-Weidman told The AIDS Beacon magazine.

The study abstract adds that HIV infections among the population studied – young men of color – is increasing, and calls for increased attention to providing meds and support services necessary to improve adherence.

“Given the continued increase in cases of HIV infection among racial/ethnic minority [young men who have sex with men], efforts to increase both the provision of ART and support services that encourage adherence in this population are warranted,” it says.

In particular, the study abstract notes that “Poor retention in clinical care has been associated with higher mortality, an increase in HIV RNA, and decreased CD4 cell count.” “[Men who have sex with men], particularly young men, need to be educated and empowered to take control of their health,

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10 Seattle Gay News

September 23, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

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12 Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 38 Years!

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Mumbai police raid Gay party, arrest 133 courtesy IBN Live

Mumbai police raiding a Gay party on September 19.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Police in Versova, India, near Mumbai, raided a Gay party on September 19, arresting 133 people on charges of “indecent behavior.”

Police also arrested the two party organizers for not having liquor permits, and the DJ was arrested for not having a business license.

Among those arrested on the indecent behavior charge was Transgender Bollywood star Bobby Darling.

“I just went to the party as a celebrity guest on a professional level and charged for it. I was not aware it was a Gay party. I did not see any form of indecent behavior,” Darling told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

“I doubt the police would have taken such action had it not been a Gay party,” she added.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition that governs Britain will introduce marriage equality by 2015, a government minister promised.

Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone, a Lib Dem, announced the plan on September 17.

“While on my travels as a champion for women’s rights, I am and will be a champion for Gay rights, too,” Featherstone said.

“Britain must not get complacent. We are a world leader for Gay rights, but there is still more that we must do.”

According to the Tory-Lib Dem plan, a “consultation” on marriage equality will begin in March 2012. A change in the law will follow the consultation.

Government sources said ministers are determined to enact the change before the next election.

Under the plan, same-sex couples will be able to have full marriages in registry offices, just as opposite-sex couples can.

But they will still be barred from getting married in churches and other religious buildings – even though some denominations want to offer the services.

Currently same-sex couples are allowed to enter civil partnerships, which offer most of the legal protections of marriage, but the description “marriage” is not used.

“Civil partnerships were a welcome first step,” Featherstone said, “but this party rejects prejudice and discrimination in all its forms.

“And I believe that to deny one group of people the same opportunities offered to another is not only discrimination, but is not fair.”

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office made it clear he took a strong personal interest in the move, and had insisted that prog-

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Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the British LGBT group Stonewall, welcomed the announcement, but added that the government’s proposal does not go far enough.

“This change will make a difference to a number of Gay people who are concerned at the differing status of civil partnerships and marriage,” Summerskill said.

“But it will not apply to churches and it seems unfair as a matter of religious freedom that if some denominations – such as the Quakers – wish to celebrate samesex marriages, they should be barred from doing so.”

The government announcement is likely to unsettle some of Cameron’s Tory allies who recall his election pledge to make the new coalition government Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone the most family-friendly in British history. ress be speeded up.

Former Tory Cabinet Minister Lord NorThe governing Tory-Lib Dem coalition has promised consultations on marriage man Tebbit expressed concerns about the equality on at least two occasions, but the Government’s enthusiasm for marriage lack of progress has forced Cameron to in- equality.

“I would have thought there were other tervene.

“He was very keen to press ahead on this,” priorities at a time like this,” Tebbit said. a source at 10 Downing Street told reporters. “There can be no such thing as Gay mar“This is something that the prime minister riage. Marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.” has taken a strong personal interest in.”

Lynne Featherstone

Marriage equality in U.K. by 2015, government says

The police said they conducted the raid after they received a phone call around 1 a.m., complaining about loud music being played at a local resort bungalow.

A police team then raided the bungalow, which is often used for film shootings, and took the partygoers, organizers, and DJ to a nearby police station.

“The team found that those at the party were behaving in an indecent manner as defined under the Bombay Police Act so

they were detained and asked to pay a fine of 1,200 rupees [$24.97] each,” said deputy Police Commissioner Pratap Dighavkar.

Darling was questioned by police and released.

Asked if she had paid the fine, she replied, “Someone paid the fine on my behalf. I went to the police station where my statement was recorded and then I left.”

The high-profile raid was controversial in the celebrity community that frequents Versova, a beach resort suburb of Mumbai.

Filmmaker Onir said the incident was an embarrassment.

“It’s a joke that Gay people dancing are called immodest, while heterosexual couples at parties is fine,” he told Hindustan Times reporters. “The cops have every right to stop a party if it exceeds the noise level, but to harass people because of their sexuality is a shame.”

Model-turned-actor Dipannita Sharma agreed, saying, “It makes sense if there is drug abuse or some illegal activities. But I don’t understand why the police targeted a party just because the revelers are Gay.” Gay activist and DJ Ma Faiza, who just returned from Berlin, said she was shocked.

“Even though Germany and India are at the same economic level, I feel like I’ve come back to the 1930s when I hear about such news in India.”

Same-sex relations were illegal in India until 2009, when the Indian Supreme Court struck down Section 377 of the country’s penal code, outlawing “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.”

According to Human Rights Watch, India’s LGBT community is still targeted by police harassment.

The Versova raid is not the first instance of what The Times of India calls “moral policing.”

In July, the Malad police raided a lounge and booked and fined at least 31 teens dancing there for what they called “indecent behavior.”

The outraged teens stuck back at police with a “Stop Moral Policing” page on Facebook.

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Mainstream Christians must stand up to the religious Right

by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer In August, fundamentalist preacher Dr. Michael Brown organized a regimen of red shirted Bible-thumpers to infiltrate Charlotte’s Gay pride event. Hundreds of zealots confronted and harassed festival attendees with their arrogant slogan, “God Has a Better Way.” The hatred and religious bigotry was appalling, but not surprising. What truly bothers me, however, was the lack of mainstream Christians standing up and speaking out against such fanatical behavior.

Virtually every time I write about the religious Right I’m reminded by the faithful that “not all Christians are like that.”

Of course, this is true, and some of the most dedicated activists I have worked with are people of faith. Last week, in fact, I teamed up with Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church to host a week of educational seminars designed to counter an “ex-Gay” conference in Houston.

Still, the number of mainstream Christians fighting the hate campaigns of the religious Right is disappointing. With thousands of churches, millions of members and a vested interest in fighting back against religious extremism, they have consistently underachieved and failed to reach their potential.

What would it look like if mainstream churches fought back against the religious Right?

Picture 200 of Dr. Brown’s “Red Shirts” smugly descending on innocent families at Charlotte Pride. Out of nowhere, 500 mainstream, mostly heterosexual Christians appear and surround the theocratic thugs with blue shirts that read: “God’s Better Way – Love & Acceptance.”

These despicable bullies would likely have no idea how to react in such a situation where Christians were calling them “unchristian.” Instead of the expected rush of self-righteous glory, I could see these folks slinking off, dazed and ashamed.

Of course, this is just a pipe dream. I’ve

organized or attended dozens of protests over the past decade. Time and again, I’m disillusioned by the lack of support from liberal and mainstream Christian organizations. It seems they are either afraid to offend their most conservative members or they are mired in passivity that allows extremists to define their faith.

This lack of coherent opposition has led to a dire situation where religious-Right-backed presidential candidates are vying to eliminate or reduce social safety nets, persecute immigrants, undermine working people, shred the middle class, turn the poor into destitute beggars, and roll back minority rights.

This reluctance to stand up and speak out has created a hazardous vacuum where only the shrill and unreasonable voices of fundamentalism are heard. Instead of the dialogue that many progressives of faith claim to desire, this perceived weakness creates a lopsided right wing monologue, which is having a deleterious effect on our nation and the world.

It is time to stand up, speak out, and give voice to our values. If not now, when? Are we going to wait until it is too late and we have lost our country?

Here are four recent examples of the Religious Right flexing its political muscle: Texas Gov. Rick Perry held a stadium prayer rally in Houston that preceded his announcing his candidacy for president of the United States. The event was hosted by the American Family Association, a Southern Poverty Law Center-certified hate group.

Included among the speakers were many radical clerics from the theocratic New Apostolic Reformation. Also known as the Seven Mountains Movement, this group of extremists wants to turn America into a fundamentalist Christian nation. Their aim is to take over the following seven spheres of society that they refer to as mountains: Religion, Media, Government, Family, Education, Business, Arts & Entertainment.

The American Family Association is organizing “pastor policy” briefings in presi-

“This reluctance to stand up and speak out has created a hazardous vacuum where only the shrill and unreasonable voices of fundamentalism are heard.”

file photo

dential battlegrounds. In these events, candidates prostrate themselves at the feet of conservative pastors in Iowa and elsewhere, pledging to enact their agenda if elected.

Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed is making a comeback with a new organization he founded, the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “Our goal is to build a file of 29 million conservative voters,” Reed told the New York Times. “We’ll email them, we’ll call them, we’ll knock on their doors and, if necessary, we’ll drive them to the polls.”

Extreme right-wing organizations have been recruiting candidates in the GOP primaries to sign pledges that lock them into inflexible positions, even at the expense of the nation.

It is critical that people realize that these zealots have a radically different vision of this country than most Americans. If their power keeps increasing, they will be able to drastically reshape this country. There would be a tremendous loss of freedom, liberty, and justice, while bigotry, intolerance,

and religious conformity would become the law of the land.

If the religious Right can organize and mobilize to stand up for its beliefs in such a robust manner, why can’t the religious Left?

We desperately need to answer this question before Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin defile America – and permanently define Christianity.

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Seattle Gay News 17

by Dan Woog SGN Contributing Writer There are three keys to documentary filmmaking: a good subject, a good story line, and good luck.

Scott Bloom found all three.

His goal in making Out for the Long Run – a movie about Gay high school athletes – was to go beyond “the regular coming out stories.” Bloom, a former closeted wrestler who had been terrified of being outed, ostracized, or beaten up, knew there were “extraordinary individuals” out there. He wanted to highlight their accomplishments, and provide hope to LGBT people of all ages, everywhere.

The first problem was finding those young athletes. The second was convincing them – and their parents – to be filmed for a documentary.

He asked organizations like GLSEN and PFLAG for help. But although he’d produced one film on Metropolitan Community Church founder Rev. Troy Perry, and another on the “oldest Gay organization in the world” (a motorcycle club), he admits he was “an unknown quantity.”

The project stalled. Then Bloom saw a Facebook page for Gay athletes. With permission from creator Lucas Goodman, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology rower, Bloom asked for volunteers.

He got a dozen or two responses. But some of their parents objected. Blurring faces or filming in shadows would undercut the idea of openness. Plus, Bloom hoped to include the parents’ stories too. In the end he

settled on four athletes, with a cross-section of experiences.

When he began shooting, some of Bloom’s old fears resurfaced. “I worried all over again about being ‘thrown out of the locker room,’” he says. “But everyone was very gentle to me.”

He learned that today’s Gay youth “have fewer hang-ups than my generation did.

They define sexuality more fluidly. That’s refreshing. It gives me hope. I was definitely not as self-aware at that age.”

Bloom’s lucky break came when he found Austin Snyder. The track star was entering his senior year at California’s Berkeley High School. (The other three athletes were already in college.) He had a great, supportive family. He was smart, popular, and embraced by his teammates.

Snyder’s story would provide a counterpoint to Brenner Green, a Connecticut College runner whose father had a hard time accepting his son’s sexuality, and who stopped being invited to team dinners after coming out in high school; Goodman, who had difficulty coming out to teammates; and Liz Davenport, a soccer player from Maine whose love for sports was undermined by the bullying she endured. (She ended up “probably the most heroic,” Bloom says, “after struggling and maturing the most.”)

Snyder, a very articulate teenager, lives through what is in many ways a typical high school year. He desperately hopes to get into Brown University – but an injury causes both physical and emotional stress. The usually self-confident runner wonders if he is being punished for his sexuality.

It’s not easy being a senior – especially when you’re Gay. “I’m a big romantic,” Snyder says. “High school is all about the guys getting the girls. Running helps take away the hurt of not having someone.”

Then Snyder gets the news: He’s into Brown. He goes from “the lowest low to the highest high.” In a scene repeated in homes across the country, he is giddy with excitement.

But as graduation approaches, Snyder says, “All my friends are happy and dating.

I want that!”

He creates a Facebook group for crosscountry and track athletes heading to Brown.

courtesy q syndicate

Austin Snyder’s long run

He joins another group for all admitted students where, he says, “all the Gay men have found each other.”

Suddenly, Snyder finds someone special: a swimmer from North Carolina. Online they flirt, then talk seriously for weeks. Then, in a plot twist that would sound unbelievable in a real movie – except it’s true – Snyder qualifies for a national race. In North Carolina.

Bloom films their meeting. It’s a truly sweet scene. Later, his new boyfriend gives him a tender pre-race kiss.

The final scene also seems right out of a teen flick. Snyder delivers a graduation speech at Berkeley High. He talks about diversity and change, and urges his classmates: “Use your open-minded spirit.”

Snyder’s coach says, “Austin’s story gives hope for what can be.”

His father adds simply, “I’m extremely

proud of Austin.”

Out for the Long Run is a powerful film.

“I never expected a sports film to make people cry,” Bloom says. “But people tell me it makes them remember the fears and emotions they buried years earlier.”

And, echoing Snyder’s coach, it generates hope in unlikely places. Five rural school districts in Louisiana have bought copies for each middle and high school. The counseling director will use it as a teaching tool.

Which means its lessons will be remembered by students – Gay and straight – for a long, long run.

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, Gay activist, and author of the Jocks series of books on Gay male athletes.

Visit his website at www.danwoog.com. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutField@qsyndicate.com.

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September 23, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

White House advisor praises DADT repeal

by Valerie B. Jarrett Courtesy of the White House Office of Communications As of September 20, 2011, the discriminatory law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) ceased to exist. No longer will patriotic Gay and Lesbian Americans need to hide who they are in order to serve the country they love.

While this is an important step in our ongoing effort to form a more perfect union, it is also, in some ways, an unremarkable step. Gays and Lesbians have served in our armed services from the time of the American Revolution. But they have served in silence; worse still, some have been forced out for nothing more than their sexual orientation.

We know that, to use an old adage, you don’t need to be straight to shoot straight.

While there will never be a full accounting of the patriotism demonstrated by Gay and Lesbian Americans in service to their nation, we know that they have served with honor and valor. When President Obama signed the DADT Repeal Act into law, he told a story about an act of heroism during

the Battle of the Bulge.

A regiment in the 80th Division of Patton’s Third Army came under fire. During the combat, a private named Lloyd Corwin fell down into a ravine. He could have died there. But one friend, a soldier named Andy Lee, came back and scaled down the icy slope, risking his own life to bring Private Corwin to safety.

Lloyd always credited his friend with saving his life. Four decades after the war, the two friends reunited, and it was only then that Lloyd learned that Andy was Gay. Lloyd hadn’t known, and more importantly, he didn’t care. Andy’s sexual orientation had no impact on his valor and sacrifice.

That’s a refrain we heard time and time again in preparing to repeal DADT – that our military is ready for the open service of our Gay and Lesbian servicemembers. That, simply put, sexual orientation is not a factor.

Now that DADT is gone, Gay and Lesbian servicemembers will continue to serve, albeit with one important difference: They can be open about who they are. This change will only serve to strengthen our military. As many of our nation’s top military officials have stated, unit cohesion, recruitment, re-

tention and military effectiveness will not be harmed or undermined.

Indeed, because patriotic Americans who happen to be Gay or Lesbian will no longer have to conceal who they are, our military, and our nation, will be better off.

We would not be here today were it not for the leadership of President Obama, current and former members of Congress, ordinary Americans, and those who wear or have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Services. On behalf of the president, I also want to thank the leadership at the Defense Department. From conducting a comprehensive review of the issues associated with repeal to offering a support plan for implementation to training our forces to make them ready for this change to rewriting masses of regulations to comply with the new law, the Pentagon has taken all necessary steps with full speed and proficiency.

As with any change, there will be apprehension from some. But I am certain that we will look back and wonder why it was ever

a source of controversy in the first place.

The president has every confidence in the professionalism and patriotism of our service members. Just as they have adapted and grown stronger with other changes, we know they will do so again.

There is no doubt that our service members will continue to serve with integrity and honor, and approach each task and mission with the professionalism that we expect of them. Be they soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, or coast guardsmen, they remain members of the finest military of the world. It is that military that has fought to preserve the freedoms that define America. And now, with the repeal of DADT, we have furthered those American principles of fairness and equality.

“While there will never be a full accounting of the patriotism demonstrated by Gay and Lesbian Americans in service to their nation, we know that they have served with honor and valor.”

Valerie B. Jarrett is a senior advisor to President Barack Obama. She is also the chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls and she oversees the Offices of Public Engagement, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Urban Affairs.

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September 23, 2011

Seattle Gay News 19

are being spent on national programs (The Trevor Project, “It Gets Better” donations), continued from cover little to none is being spent in our own backyard. The local community has already seen on for the past 12 months by cyberbul- a number of young Gay men who’ve ended lies who made derogatory comments with their lives prematurely.

Gay references on his Formspring account “What we have learned, I believe, is that – a website that allows anonymous posts. there is a connection between bullying expeFriends reported the bullying to guidance riences and risk for suicide and depression,” counselors. But everyone, including his Heather told Seattle Gay News. “We’ve also mother, thought he had grown stronger – af- learned that this issue touches just about ter all, the boy had made his very own “It all of us in one way or another. It can also Gets Better” video in which he offered his bring together parts of the community that peers words of encouragement and hope. wouldn’t necessarily come together oth“Jamey’s suicide is a tragic reminder of erwise – all in the name of supporting the the vulnerability of Gay teens,” said Mal- youth we care for.” colm Lazin, founder and executive director Still, said Heather, “we need to do more of the Equality Forum, which focuses on – as a community, as a state, and as a counLGBTQ civil rights and education. try.”

“They are bullied and marginalized,” he National statistics show suicide as the said. “While some may say that Jamey took third-largest cause of death among teens. his life, it is unrelenting homophobia that Suicide among LGBT teens is a serious murdered him.” problem. It is estimated that 30% to 40% His death coincides with a national sum- of LGBT teens will attempt suicide at least mit on September 21-22 sponsored by the once – and many of them will succeed.

U.S. Department of Education in WashingOUTLoud is the state’s only LGBTQ-foton, D.C., in an effort to stem the toll of bul- cused organization battling youth suicide. lying on children.

“LGBTQ teen suicide is not new. We are experiencing a time when the media is covOUTLoud in Washington ering the issue, so when people hear about In Washington state, Heather Carter is it on the news or read it in the newspaper hard at work trying to reach LGBTQ teens they think it’s a new issue or that it’s a new before they take the route Jamey decided to epidemic,” said Heather. take. She runs the OUTLoud Program for “The upside is it’s getting people talking. the state’s Youth Suicide Prevention Pro- The downside is the fear that young people gram. The work is admirable, yet grossly struggling with their sexual orientation and/ underfunded. While millions of dollars or gender identity or who are being bullied

outloud

(or both) will think that suicide is a natural part of being LGBTQ-identified, and that is not true.”

“There is a risk involved, but that’s not from the identity,” she said. “That’s from rejection, homophobia, and Transphobia, lack of connection to community and school, and family issues (and more), but not from their LGBTQ identity in and of itself.”

Every two years, a survey is conducted in many of our public schools. It focuses on many different issues, such as smoking, drinking, bullying, suicide, depression, etc.

The latest, “The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey for 2010,” offers some compelling results.

Heather told SGN she “compared answers to three different questions in each set for grades 8 and 12 to compare middle school and high school.”

In the first set of slides, respondents answered: • Whether or not they had been bullied, • Whether or not they had been depressed, and • Whether or not they had attempted suicide.

“Based on respondents’ answers, we can see that bullying has a direct connection to risk for depression and suicide,” said Heather. “I’m not saying bullying causes suicide, but it is a factor. It is what we call a ‘risk factor’ for both depression and suicide. We can also say there is a correlation between bullying experiences and risk for suicide and depression.”

In the second set of slides, respondents answered the following questions: • Whether or not they had been harassed based on real or perceived sexual orientation, • Whether or not they had been depressed, and • Whether or not they had attempted suicide.

“First of all, we know based on population statistics that the majority of respondents to the question about harassment are not

LGBTQ-identified; they are straight,” said Heather. “So, what does the data tell us? It tells us that no matter how a youth identifies harassment based on sexual orientation, that the name-calling, such as “fag” and “fairy,” and rumors about being Gay have a negative impact on the targets. It increases their risk for depression and suicide.”

Based on her data, Heather said, “you’ll see that the risk for suicide is much higher amongst those who were targets of anti-LGBTQ harassment than general bullying.”

Percentages of respondents who reported a suicide attempt were 11.8% and 12.8% for 8th and 12th graders, respectively, who were bullied, compared to 19.8% and 21.1% who were harassed based on real or perceived sexual orientation – a much higher rate than the state average of 10% reported suicides.

“So, we can conclude, based on this data – which isn’t perfect because it’s anonymous and is dependent on respondents’ understanding of what the issues are – that bullying has a negative impact, and that this particular type of bullying … has an even greater negative impact on the targets,” said Heather.

Heather told SGN that “suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst all youth in our state.” Still, OUTLoud is operating on fumes. There is so much more work for Heather and OUTLoud to do, but they need funds to complete it.

“OUTLoud is the only such program in Washington state (and one of only a handful in the nation) that focuses in on LGBTQ youth in particular,” she said. “Why does that matter? Because LGBTQ youth are at a high risk and there are very clear, specific things we all can do about that. OUTLoud educates people about what those things are and empowers people who work with youth to be a part of positive change in the those youths’ lives.”

“Honestly, I do this work because I don’t want another youth to struggle with depression or suicide because of who they are and their experiences,” she continued. “I know

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20 Seattle Gay News

September 23, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

what it’s like to be a teen struggling with depression and truly not wanting to be me.

I want the youth today who feel that way to know I want them to be them – just that, nothing more. I want them to know I care and so do many others.”

OUTLoud’s focus area is ages 10-24.

“Most of our work is with the adults who work with the youth, so much of the approach is the same, but when working with youth directly, our peer-to-peer program is the way to go,” said Heather. “Youth listen to their peers way before they listen to some random adult who comes in to talk about suicide. The hardest population to reach would be the 18-24 year olds who aren’t in college. We’re still working on how best to reach them.”

OUTLoud’s peer-to-peer training consists of Heather and a youth-facilitated presentation, usually for a GSA. “We also provide a presentation on LGBTQ youth suicide for adults – staff in schools, organizations, and family members – and our newest presentation focuses on bullying and bias-based harassment as it pertains to LGBTQ youth, and the links those experiences have with negative mental health outcomes – including risk for depression and suicide,” she said. “We increase participants’ knowledge of the issues (data and research findings), we strengthen their skills for prevention and intervention (recognizing the signs of depression and warning signs for suicide and how to approach a youth you’re concerned about for intervention), and then we change attitudes about suicide and LGBTQ identity (cultural competency and knowledge about suicide as a preventable phenomenon). We also format our trainings to meet participants’ needs.”

You’ll Never Walk Alone On October 22, Seattle Gay News will join with local talent to produce the second annual You’ll Never Walk Alone: A Benefit for OUTLoud at Neighbours Seattle (1509 Broadway) at 8 p.m. The event is open to all ages.

“These community events over the past year have been amazing to me and to OUTLoud!” said Heather. “They’re so important because they let people know we’re doing this work, they let people know that something can be done. We aren’t depending on others to do it; we’re doing it! Most importantly, it lets today’s LGBTQ youth know that we recognize the struggles that they may be going through and we care about them and their lives and that they matter!”

members. The sums they seek are small to the military, but make a huge difference when readjusting to civilian life.”

“After nine years of honorable service, it’s not fair that I should be deprived of the same benefits given to other dedicated service members who are adjusting to civilian life,” said Collins prior to the hearing.

“I hope that the Defense Department will adjust its policy and show some justice to anyone who has been discharged from the military under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”

“Mr. Collins’ case is a perfect example of how discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unfair and unconstitutional,” said Laura Ives, a staff attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico.

“Mr. Collins’ sexual orientation did not prevent him from serving his country ably and honorably. The least the government can do is provide him with the same separation pay it provides other honorably discharged service members.”

The ACLU and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network first contacted the Defense Department in November 2009 to request that the separation-pay policy be revised to eliminate discrimination against Gay and Lesbian servicemembers.

The department refused to do so, however.

Because of this refusal, the national continued from cover ACLU and the ACLU of New Mexico filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. Court of forces for at least six years and are dis- Federal Claims.

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims is a fedcharged honorably should get separation eral court assigned to hear monetary claims pay.

An internal Defense Department decision against the U.S. government. cuts that separation pay in half for any service member who is discharged for “homosexuality” even if that person has been discharged honorably.

Collins and the ACLU contend that policy continued from cover is discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional.

The government filed a motion to dismiss tionships between a man and a woman. You the lawsuit, but it did not defend the separa- will see a nation that’s valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect tion pay policy as constitutional.

Instead, the government argued that even union – a union in which Gay Americans are if the policy is unconstitutional, the court an important part. I am committed to these cannot award Gay and Lesbian service goals. And my administration will continue fighting to achieve them.” members any judicial relief.

“The government is too embarrassed to As President Obama enters an elecdefend the constitutionality of its policy in tion year, there is no doubt that he is lookopen court, so it is inventing new reasons to ing toward minority groups for votes – the deny these service members justice,” said LGBT community included. Still, the fact Joshua Block, staff attorney for the ACLU that the president recognizes the importance of speaking at the National Dinner is LGBT Project, who argued the case.

“These veterans served their country hon- a good sign. In the years since he first took orably and deserve the full recognition and office, the LGBT equality movement has benefits that are afforded to other service advanced. But there are still some battles Last year’s event earned OUTLoud over $5,000. This year, organizers are hoping to double that effort. OUTLoud costs Youth Suicide Prevention Program $5,000 a month to operate – roughly $60,000 a year. It is the hope of SGN that the community can rally and fund OUTLoud for the year to come.

“YSPP is always looking for volunteers and donations. We’re a small organization and OUTLoud specifically could really use some dollars to continue running and to expand beyond King County as much as possible,” concluded Heather. “I would also say to be nice, because you never know what the person is going through who you might just have made fun of or put down, or made a joke about. It’s easy to smile and say hi and it costs nothing, but it may make all the difference in the world to the person on the other side of that smile or that hello.”

For more information about the Youth Suicide Prevention Program and OUTLoud, or to make a donation, visit www.yspp.org.

For help, go to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 800-273-TALK. Also call the Trevor Project Lifeline at 866-488-7386.

ACLU

HRC

to fight (DOMA, a Trans-inclusive ENDA, etc.) and we, as a community, would be hard-pressed to further our rights with Michele Bachmann or Mitt Romney in office.

Last month, Solmonese announced that he would not renew his contract in March 2012. For some, this is good news. HRC, under Solmonese’s leadership, was criticized for having an extremely cozy relationship with the Obama White House – often being criticized as too reluctant to “make waves” with the administration and for giving Obama a free pass on LGBT issues. Grassroots equality activists have complained about HRC for years, saying that their lobbying efforts and the millions of dollars spent on them have been a waste.

Whether you love it or hate it, the truth remains: HRC does have influence, as evidenced by the president’s upcoming keynote speech at the 2011 HRC National Dinner.

dadt

continued from cover and combat experience of so many Gay and Lesbian service members. And today, as commander in chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.

I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.

For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including Gays and Lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.

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Celebrating 38 Years!

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