SGN October 4, 2013 - Section 1

Issue 40 Volume 41

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Celebrating 40 Years!

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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Murray offers agenda for ‘21st-century Seattle’ Mayoral challenger says he’ll unite diverse communities toward common goals nate gowdy / seattle gay news

Seattle mayoral candidate Ed Murray and husband Michael Shiosaki

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Calling Seattle “a city of visionaries,” state senator and mayoral candidate Ed Murray laid out his vision of a “vibrant, dynamic, 21st-century” Seattle under a Murray administration, at a public

observed, and the crowd of Murray supporters reflected the diversity of the Columbia City neighborhood. Sikh and Somali cab drivers stood next to firefighters, police officers, and union staffers, as well as such current and former political heavyweights as Tim Burgess and Tina Podlodowski.

“When our sense of togetherness fractures and some among us do not see themselves reflected in visions of Seattle’s prosperous future, our dropout rates increase, threats to our safety begin to wear at our quality of life, and even our roads and bridges begin to fall apart.” event held at Columbia City The‘SENSE OF ater on October 3.

TOGETHERNESS’ Murray was introduced at the Early on in his speech, Murray event by Pramila Jayapal, former executive director of the immi- repeated one of his central themes – that incumbent Mayor Mike Mcgrant rights group OneAmerica.

“This is one of the most diverse see murray page 5 ZIP codes in the country,” Jayapal

Christie appeals NJ court New federal rules force change at ExxonMobil ruling on marriage Oil giant will now offer spousal Lambda Legal vows fight; marriages could begin Oct. 31

city university of New York

express times

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

benefits to same-sex partners

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has appealed a court decision ordering the state to marry Gay and Lesbian couples. In response, Lambda Legal said it would enter the case to prevent Christie from blocking the court order.

Acting New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman filed the appeal on behalf of the Christie administration on September 30, with letters to the trial judge and the state’s Supreme Court asking for a stay, or postponement, of the decision pending further hearings.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson ruled on September 28 that the state’s civil union law unconstitutionally deprives same-sex couples of federal benefits that are available only to married couples under the terms of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down DOMA. “The ineligibility of same-sex couples for federal benefits is currently harming same-sex couples

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

ExxonMobil, long considered one of the most anti-Gay corporations, announced on September 27 that it would now extend benefits to same-sex spouses.

Before the announcement, the see new jersey page 9 company had recognized same-

sex marriages in some 30 countries around the world where it operates and where same-sex unions are legal, but it had refused to recognize same-sex marriages even in U.S. states that allow them.

Exxon had long asserted that because its employee benefits are see exxon page 19

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Seattle Gay News

October 4, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Weddings By the Sea

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www.oceanshoresweddings.com 206-403-8170 Let us make your wedding day as fun as a day at the beach.

October 4, 2013

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Local news Civil rights, community leaders affirm their support of Murray In response to false and divisive statements made at a press conference earlier this week by surrogates of Mayor McGinn, a group of Seattle civil rights and community leaders issued the following statement regarding mayoral candidate Ed Murray’s commitment to racial and economic equality for all people.

We are longtime leaders and advocates in the struggle to achieve racial and economic equality who have always fought together to advance racial and economic justice. We reject the attempts to use the Mayor’s race as a platform to divide us. Each of us is supporting Ed Murray for Mayor because of principled and positive interactions with him over the years for working people, people of color and minority communities. We simply would not support a candidate who does not have a strong commitment to racial justice.

We are deeply concerned by false statements made recently by the Mayor’s campaign that imply that Senator Murray has not supported issues for communities of color. We support him precisely because he has a consistent and strong voice for equal rights and justice in our state and he has

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

Seattle Gay News

profit organizations that serve communities of color in Seattle; • Championing a bill for marriage equality, which benefited many people of color as well; and • Earning one of the top scores on the Racial Justice Scorecard (put out by Washington CAN and sponsored by a number of other racial and economic justice organizations) for multiple legislative sessions.

Our city faces serious challenges. It’s time to stop dividing our communities through attack and divide politics. The Mayor is one person, but we are a community – all working toward the best possible future with justice for all.

We are supporting Ed Murray for Mayor because we know that he will bring his compassion, skills and attention to addressing core racial and economic justice issues that we care about, such as supporting immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs and communities, tackling the opportunity gap for kids of color, increasing the minimum wage for workers who deserve better, and building a united, diverse, and affordable Seattle.

That’s what this race should be about and we look forward to a civil, fact-based conversation about that future we all are working to create. [signed] Rep. Eric Pettigrew City Councilmember Bruce Harrell Former King County Executive Ron Sims Former City Councilmember Martha Choe Former City Councilmember David Della Former Rep. Dawn Mason The Rev. Dr. Robert Jeffrey Grace Huang Pramila Jayapal Robert L. Jeffrey Jr. James Kelly Patricia Carrasco Lally Fé Lopez Lee Newgent Carlos Padilla David Rolf Joan Yoshitomi

In Loving Memory Of

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spent his career of fighting for ALL people.

His record speaks for itself, including: • Publicly and consistently opposing I-200, the anti-affirmative action initiative; • Co-sponsoring legislation, along with African-American and API leaders, to protect affirmative action in the wake of the passage of I-200; • Sponsoring landmark anti-bullying laws to protect youth from discrimination; • Prime-sponsoring the Washington State DREAM Act, to support undocumented students; • Ensuring funding for the New Americans Citizenship Program for naturalizing eligible immigrants; for medical interpreters; and for refusing to exclude people for health benefits based on their immigration status; • Doubling the State Housing Trust Fund and securing the first state funding for farmworker housing in Eastern Washington; • Ensuring funding for critical human services, including domestic violence; • As transportation and capital budget chair, standing up for minority and womenowned businesses and contractors and fighting for funding for capital projects of non-

October 4, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Seattle nightlife heavyweights endorse Murray Club owners credit mayoral challenger with ending the ‘dance tax’ joe mabel

The Crocodile Cafe in Seattle

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer At an October 2 event at the Crocodile, a Belltown music venue, 18 leaders of Seattle’s music and nightclub community endorsed Washington State Sen. Ed Murray for mayor of Seattle.

Seattle’s music and nightlife industry generates $2.6 billion in annual sales and millions of dollars in tax revenues while employing some 22,000 people. Murray’s campaign described the endorsements as “a major boost.”

The group, which includes owners of some of the city’s most popular venues, said Murray’s successful effort during this year’s legislative session to eliminate the so-called “dance tax” shows that Murray can deliver

murray

continued from cover Ginn lacks the ability or the will to bring all of the city’s diverse interests together for a common goal.

“We are better off together, rather than playing the politics of division,” Murray said, referring obliquely to his opponent.

In his speech, Murray returned again and again to the central themes of his campaign: his working class roots, his career fighting for progressive causes in the state legislature, and his commitment to coalition politics, what he called a “sense of togetherness.”

“When our sense of togetherness fractures and some among us do not see themselves reflected in visions of Seattle’s prosperous future,” Murray warned, “our dropout rates increase, threats to our safety begin to wear at our quality of life, and even our roads and bridges – the physical manifestation of the togetherness of a city – begin to fall apart.”

In another slap at his opponent, Murray added that “it shouldn’t just be what City Hall is working towards, but how City Hall is doing its work.”

“Finger-pointing and scapegoating may get you sound bites, but they don’t help you accomplish a purpose,” he added, to applause from the crowd.

CHANGE AT SPD PROMISED Most of the speech addressed the three key issues of Murray’s campaign: public safety, public transit, and education.

concrete results on issues of importance to the nightlife community.

The tax, which required venues that offer the “opportunity to dance” to charge sales tax on their cover charges, was enacted in the 1970s and repealed last June. Critics said it was discriminatory, inconsistently applied, and counterproductive. With Murray’s support, the tax was repealed by a 43-5 vote in the Senate, and by a 66-25 vote in the House.

A ‘MORE EFFECTIVE’ CHOICE Incumbent Mayor Mike McGinn received major support from the music and nightclub industry in his first bid for public office four years ago, but his initiative to extend nightclub hours fell flat in the face of opposition Murray promised a public safety policy based on “equal protection and accountability.”

“We can’t allow public safety to have different meanings in different communities and different neighborhoods,” he said.

Toward that end, Murray said he would “select a new chief of police that has an unwavering commitment to reform – a track record of implementing cultural change and ensuring accountability.”

FIGHTING DOMESTIC ABUSE Murray also promised action to curb domestic violence by restoring the City’s Office of Domestic Violence, lost in a previous budget cut.

“The mayor may say crime is down,” Murray stated, “but when the rate of domestic violence is up 60%, crime is not down!”

On transportation, Murray called for a “Move Seattle” strategy to “integrate all the modes of transportation. Seattle doesn’t have to be a city of cars vs. bikes.”

While acknowledging that the City does not manage the Seattle School District, he also said he wanted to take Seattle from being “an educated city, to an education city.”

“I want to be able,” Murray said, “after four years as mayor, to go to the Ethiopian or the Somali communities, where there are terrible graduation rates, and say, ‘Now your kids are graduating and going on to college, and they’re going to have jobs in this city!’”

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STEINBRUECK IN AUDIENCE A surprise attendee was former mayoral

from the state Liquor Control Board.

The group at the Crocodile said they believed Murray would be more effective in the mayor’s office.

“We are a very fortunate city to have two mayoral candidates with progressive values who understand and appreciate the cultural and economic value of the music and nightlife community, but after careful analysis we all agree that Ed Murray will be the more effective mayor,” said Steven Severin, coowner of Neumos, Moe Bar, and Barboza.

Murray’s emphasis on public safety, transit, and basic city services also resonated with the club owners.

“Our community faces many challenges as Seattle grows into a 24-hour city. We are concerned about issues around public safe-

ty, transportation, housing for artists, tourism, the waterfront redevelopment, social justice, and equity, alongside the fundamentals of running the city, including such basic things as sidewalk and street repairs,” said Jessie Summa-Kusiak, founder of the West Seattle venue Skylark.

“Many of these issues require leadership in the broader region and at the state level, as well as top-notch experienced people running the city and its departments. Ed Murray has demonstrated he is best candidate to deliver in that context, and as such we believe he is the clear choice to be Seattle’s next mayor.”

“Ed’s commitment to progressive values, fair and predictable regulation, and his ability to bring together broad bipartisan coalitions around complex issues, from transportation to marriage equality, demonstrates why we believe he is the best person to help Seattle’s music and nightlife community continue to be sustainable and grow as Seattle grows,” added David Meinert, owner of the 5 Point Café, Lost Lake Café, and Big Mario’s, and former owner of the Capitol Hill Block Party.

Besides Severin, Summa-Kusiak, and Meinert, endorsers included Crocodile owner Marcus Charles; Dan Cowan, owner of the Tractor Tavern; Susan Silver, of Silver Management; Mike Meckling, co-owner of Neumos, Barboza, Moe Bar, and Spitfire; Chase Jarvis, artist and founder/chair of creativeLIVE; Jeff Steichen, owner of Batch 206 Distillery; Pete Hanning, owner of the Red Door; Shelley Brothers, owner of the Wildrose; Travis Rosenthal, owner of Rumba and Tango; Anthony Frazier, owner of Trinity Nightclub; Jed Smithson, owner of Nectar Lounge; Curtis Bigelow, owner of the Lobby Bar; James Weimann and Deming Maclise, owners of Bastille, Poquitos, and Von Trapp’s; and Dana Sims, owner of El Corazon.

Murray said he was “truly honored by the endorsement of so many friends and allies in the music community.”

“I am committed to strengthening Seattle’s already vibrant nightlife community,” he added. “I appreciate that the music community has been a strong and positive force in advancing Seattle’s shared progressive values. As mayor, I will work to increase the city’s investment in music, nightlife, arts and culture.”

candidate Peter Steinbrueck, who ran third gence.” in the field of nine primary candidates.

“I want to be sure I feel good about enSteinbrueck told SGN he had not decided dorsing whoever I do finally endorse,” he if he would endorse Murray for mayor, but said. was attending the event “to do my due dili-

OBAMACARE: AN OPEN LETTER Dear Sen. [Rand] Paul and Rep. [David] Reichert: We have known for decades that the U.S. health care system leaves tens of millions of Americans uninsured. At the same time Canada and most if not all European countries have systems in place that provide care to all their citizens at half the cost of care in this country and with much better outcomes.

There have been times since World War II when the Republicans have had complete control of the government, such as under President Reagan and more recently President Bush. My question is, why didn’t your party come up with solutions that would provide care to everyone and not bankrupt them or the country?

Even now your party does not have a plan which would ensure every American gets care that is affordable. It seems the only game your party is good at is starting unfunded wars, which the country ends up losing, leaving countries such as Iraq in worse shape than they were before we attacked

October 4, 2013

them.

You express concern about the debt limit being raised, when your party is a little more guilty in regard to the huge debt the country has incurred due to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and tax breaks for the wealthy who could well afford to pay more taxes, since many of them have enough money to buy multimillion-dollar houses only to tear them down to build even more expensive houses.

At the same time it is the least fortunate of Americans who have and continue to make sacrifices to fight wars and sustain military presence in over 144 countries and provide billions of dollars in aid to rich countries like Israel.

I have been waiting for answers for decades as to why America cares so little for its own disadvantaged citizens, and why it took so long for former slaves and Gays as well as other culture groups to be given full access to all America has to offer.

Looking forward to answers.

George Whitaker Bellevue

Seattle Gay News

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file photo

Liias enters race for State Senate Openly Gay pol says he’ll ‘stand up to the Tea Party’

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Marko Liias, a Democratic state representative who represents the 21st District, announced this week that he is running for the Washington State Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Paull Shin.

“Over the last year, we have seen the Senate change hands from a Democratic majority to a Republican-led coalition,” Liias said in his announcement. “Too often, partisanship and gridlock have prevented important action on the issues that matter to middleclass families across our state. I am running to change that.”

In the House over the last six years, Liias built a strong record of results on education, transportation, and environmental issues.

“It is time to send a strong progressive voice to the Senate, to stand up to the Tea Party and ensure that the voices of everyday people are heard too,” he said.

“I am so proud to have the support of my friend and mentor, Sen. Paull Shin,” he continued. “He has been a tireless advocate for families in our community, and while he will be missed as he retires, I am honored at the opportunity to carry on his legacy of service.”

MIDDLE-CLASS ADVOCATE Liias, who is openly Gay, is running on the slogan, “A voice for the middle class.”

He grew up in a middle-class family, where he says he learned that “if you work hard and play by the rules – in America – anything is possible.”

“My dad is a carpenter; my mom was a

school lunch lady. They taught my sister and I the importance of hard work to get ahead,” said Liias.

Marko Liias was the first person in his family to graduate from college, which allowed him to help start a small family business. But when the housing market collapsed, that business was forced to close its doors.

“That is why I am so committed to making sure other small businesses have the resources and support to succeed,” he said.

‘NEW GENERATION’ As a city council member and state representative, Liias says he’s been a consistent, determined voice for middle-class families just like the one he grew up in.

“I am proud of my record of results on education, transportation, and protecting our beautiful environment,” said Liias. “I will be a strong, progressive, and effective voice for our community in the State Senate.”

“I am proud to represent a new generation of Democrats, and a new generation of political leaders – socially progressive, supportive of small business, and unafraid to stand up to special interests.”

Rep. Liias posted on his website the following issues as a main focus: Strong Public Schools Marko believes in the life-changing power of a good education, because he experienced it firsthand. As the first in his family to go to college, Marko believes in quality public schools that prepare students for college and careers. He has been a consistent leader on the need to reduce class sizes to

in our transportation system, to ensure that our tax dollars are used wisely.

When WSDOT constructed a free museum dedicated to the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Marko took action to make sure that our transportation dollars are spent on projects, not on museums. Marko has also been a champion for transportation choices, creating a system with safe options to walk, bike, ride the bus, and drive a car. He knows that creating a safe route for kids to walk to school is just as important as a new highway interchange for commuters and freight.

Protecting Our Environment After six years in the State House, Marko has a 100% voting record of protecting our natural environment. Like anyone that was born and raised Representative Marko Liias here, Marko understands improve educational outcomes for all stu- that our clean air and water are the most dents. He created a bipartisan coalition to important legacy we can leave to the next pass two tough anti-bullying laws to protect generation. That’s why Marko took a lead kids at school. Marko stood up to members role in closing our state’s last coal-fired of his own party and opposed double-digit power plant. It’s why he supports real actuition increases at our state universities, tion to tackle climate change, to ensure that because he knows how important college af- the Evergreen State remains green. He has fordability is to families in our community. also worked to preserve our wild and scenic places, from Japanese Gulch in Mukilteo to Effective Transportation Solutions the Cascades.

For the last five years, Marko has been a transportation leader in the State House, The 21st Legislative District includes as Vice Chair of the House Transportation Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, and parts Committee. He has secured funding for im- of Everett. For more information about the portant local projects like the Mukilteo Fer- Marko Liias for State Senate campaign, visry Terminal and Community Transit. He has it his website at www.markoforsenate.com. also been a consistent advocate of reforms

national news

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The county official who was ordered by a Pennsylvania court to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples has appealed the ruling to his state’s Supreme Court.

D. Bruce Hanes, Montgomery County Register of Wills, began issuing marriage licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples in July, soon after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down DOMA. On September 12, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ordered Hanes to cease and desist, because state law forbids same-sex marriages.

Hanes appealed the ruling on October 1.

In his filing, Hanes says there are “legal and factual errors” in the order issued by Commonwealth Court President Dan Pellegrini. Among the issues is Hanes’ contention that the Pennsylvania Department of Health lacked standing to challenge his authority to issue licenses.

Hanes is asking the state’s highest court to determine whether “the issuance of marriage licenses is a discretionary, not ministerial, act, where the department suffered no harm, let alone any particularized harm from Hanes’ act of issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.”

As register of wills, Hanes says, he “acts as a court of inferior jurisdiction in his role of issuing marriage licenses, a unique, discretionary function of the register of wills,

nbc

PA county official appeals no-marriage decision

acting as the clerk of the Orphan’s Court, that is not akin to the ministerial functions of Prothonotaries and other Clerks of Court.”

In other words, Hanes says he has the authority to issue marriage licenses to any couple he thinks should have one, and he is not limited by the directives of a higher authority.

SPURRED BY DOMA RULING In July, when he began issuing the controversial same-sex marriage licenses, Hanes said he was motivated by the U.S. Supreme Court decision on DOMA, and by his reading of the Pennsylvania constitution.

Citing equal protection clauses in Article 1 of the state constitution, Hanes said, “Those are provisions of the Pennsylvania Constitution which I think are diametrically opposed to the marriage law.”

“Now, what am I to do?” Hanes asked. “I took an oath [to uphold the constitution].”

“As we all know, when a law conflicts with the constitution, the constitution wins,” he added.

On the other hand, the state’s Department of Health, acting on behalf of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, said Hanes was obligated to follow state law rather than his own interpretation of the constitution.

“Compliance with Pennsylvania law by its public officials is a mandatory obligation,” the Health Department’s suit said.

Montgomery County Register of Wills, D. Bruce Hanes

“Ours is a government of laws, not one of public officials exercising their will as they believe the law should be or will be.”

The trial court ultimately agreed with the Health Department. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, said she would decline to defend

the state’s law barring same-sex marriages.

Before being ordered to stop, Hanes issued 174 marriage licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples throughout Pennsylvania.

Many have since used those licenses to get married, but the legal status of those unions remains in question.

Rich Full-Bodied Cafes Savory Homestyle Soups & Sandwiches 6

Seattle Gay News

October 4, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

Lambda Legal files marriage suit in West Virginia

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit on October 1, seeking to overturn West Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriages.

The plaintiffs in the suit are two Lesbian couples, the child of one of the couples, and a Gay couple.

“Those are the litigants that need the protections of marriage. Families, couples, they’re the ones that need those protections,” said Casey Willits, executive director of Fairness West Virginia, which is supporting the Lambda Legal lawsuit.

Lori Wolfe / The Herald-Dispatch

Jane Fenton (l), Nancy Michael, and their son, Drew,

‘SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS’ “West Virginia is home for us. Our family is here, our jobs are here, and our community here is a great support for us,” said Nancy Michael, a lifelong West Virginian.

“Jane and I have been together for 16 years.

We live and work together, and we are raising our son, Drew, together. We have done everything we can to protect and take responsibility for our family, but we worry all the time that it isn’t enough. We need the protection that marriage affords.”

Nancy Michael and Jane Fenton have

been together 16 years and their son, Drew, is 6.

The other plaintiffs, Casie McGee and Sarah Adkins, have been together more than three years, and Justin Murdock and William Glavaris have been together more than two years.

The lawsuit claims that state law unfairly discriminates against same-sex couples and their children and, by doing so, makes them “second-class citizens” because they are not allowed the benefits that come with legal marriage.

MAJORITY STILL OPPOSED A recent poll from Public Policy Polling found that 70% of West Virginians oppose same-sex marriage. But according to Willits, the poll also showed there is support for legal protections for same-sex couples.

“All those partner recognitions, all those protections that are denied, those are things that West Virginians actually support when they know the harms that are caused,” he said on a news talk show.

“We think the support for recognizing these relationships, and giving them those protections, is only going to grow,” he added.

Lyn Hughes photography

Two Virginia marriage suits get boost Lesbian couple enlists legal team who defeated Prop 8

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

invited to join the case by attorneys for the plaintiffs.

“Given what was said in DOMA [decision] and given the record we made in California and given what we’re going to establish in Virginia, we’re going to be able to persuade a majority of the court that this is the right thing,” Olsen said confidently.

Two separate lawsuits seeking marriage equality in Virginia got boosts September 30.

AFER (American Foundation for Equal Rights) attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, the lawyers who successfully argued STATE BAN CHALLENGED the Prop 8 case before the U.S. Supreme In a separate case, the ACLU and Lambda Court, joined one case involving a Lesbian couple who were legally married in Legal asked for summary judgment that Virginia’s ban on Gay and Lesbian marriagCalifornia.

“Same-sex couples are in loving, committed relationships in every region of our nation and should be treated the same way, whether they live in Maine or Virginia.”

Carol Schall and Mary Townley are married and have a 15-year-old daughter, but their marriage is not recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Their complaint asks that their home state recognize their marriage, and quotes extensively from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s majority opinion striking down DOMA. Their lawsuit compares the Virginia ban with Kennedy’s finding that “DOMA instructs all federal officials, and indeed all persons with whom same-sex couples interact, including their own children, that their marriage is less worthy than the marriages of others.”

Like DOMA, they say in their court filing, Virginia law “places same-sex couples in an untenable position” and “humiliates” the children raised by such couples.

According to Olson, he and Boies were

es is unconstitutional.

“The papers we filed today [September 30] ask the court to get to the heart of the matter,” said Greg Nevins, supervising senior staff attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office, based in Atlanta.

“Barring same-sex couples from marriage is clearly unconstitutional. We do not want a country divided by unfairness and discrimination. Same-sex couples are in loving, committed relationships in every region of our nation and should be treated the same way, whether they live in Maine or Virginia.”

“Virginians denied the freedom to marry have no meaningful legislative path to gain the same protections for their families as other loving and committed couples,” said Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia.

“That’s why we’ve had to ask the federal

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Attorneys Ted Olson (l) and David Boies

court to overturn Virginia’s sweeping bans on recognizing same-sex relationships. We shouldn’t have to go to federal court to get Virginia to do what’s right.”

The ACLU-Lambda Legal case involves two Lesbian couples, each with a child.

Joanne Harris and Jessica Duff have been together since 2006 and have a four-yearold son. Christy Berghoff and Victoria Kidd have been together since 2003 and have a 10-month-old daughter.

October 4, 2013

Plaintiffs argue that through Virginia’s constitutional and statutory bans on samesex marriage, and state officials’ enforcement of them, the Commonwealth and its officials send a purposeful message that they view Lesbians, Gay men, and their children as second-class citizens who are undeserving of the legal protections, respect, and support that opposite-sex couples and their families are able to enjoy through marriage.

Seattle Gay News

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of an HIV-positive Gay man for failing to disclose his HIV status to a sexual partner, even though condoms were used during their encounter and his partner did not contract HIV. In its October 2 ruling, the court said Nick Rhoades was properly convicted of criminally transmitting HIV, a class B felony.

Rhoades hooked up online in February 2008. He did not discuss his HIV status with his partner, had unprotected oral sex but did not ejaculate, and then put on a condom before having anal sex. The partner subsequently discovered that Rhoades is HIVpositive and complained to police.

Rhoades was charged under Iowa’s strict HIV transmission law, even though the partner later tested negative for HIV. At trial, he pleaded guilty on the advice of his attorney and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The severity of the sentence sparked a public outcry and the judge reconsidered, freeing Rhoades after he had served roughly 18 months. Rhoades is currently on probation, but he is required to register for life as a sex offender.

Lambda Legal represented Rhoades in his appeal of the conviction. Its lawyers argued that Rhoades would not have pleaded guilty if his original lawyer had advised him that

des moines register

Iowa court upholds conviction under HIV transmission law

the charge required proof that he intentionally exposed a partner to his bodily fluids in a manner that could transmit HIV. “We’re extremely disappointed that the Iowa Court of Appeals is allowing Mr. Rhoades’s conviction to stand, because it was based on a misinterpretation of the plain language of the statute,” said Christopher Clark, senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal.

“Someone who engages in safe sex, as Nick did, does not have the intent required to support a conviction under Iowa’s law concerning the criminal transmission of HIV. Lambda Legal will assist Nick in evaluating his current options, which include a request that the Iowa Supreme Court hear this case.”

ORAL SEX NOT HIGH-RISK A coalition of advocates for HIV patients, including the HIV Law Project, supported Rhoades in an amicus brief, saying that unprotected oral sex poses an extremely low risk of transmission and that there were no documented cases of such transmission without ejaculation.

Nevertheless, all three Appeals Court judges hearing the case ruled that since oral transmission of HIV is theoretically possible, the conviction should stand.

Clark, the Lambda Legal attorney, said he was disappointed in the ruling.

“They embrace the idea that you can put

Step in, speak up!

Nick Rhoades

people in jail for behavior that represents absolutely no risk to people. That is a travesty,” he said. “We’re left with a situation we’re still puzzling over: What is the infectious bodily fluid that is the basis of this conviction? There isn’t [any].”

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller’s office defended Rhoades’ prosecution and supported the Appeals Court ruling. But spokesman Geoff Greenwood noted that

Miller’s office worked with lawmakers last year during an unsuccessful attempt to update the HIV transmission statute “to reflect a growing body of research about HIV transmission” and would continue those efforts.

The Iowa Court of Appeals hears appeals cases referred to it by the state’s Supreme Court, and its decisions are final unless the Supreme Court itself elects to hear a case.

With more attention focused on student safety and mental health support, programs like these training simulations can help improve school and campus climate, reducing risk and improving outcomes for LGBTQ students and staff.

safety.”

The online simulations were built using Kognito Interactive’s proprietary “Human Interaction Game Engine” which is based on research in neuroscience, virtual humans, social cognition, and adult learning theory. The simulations are available 24/7 online. They can be purchased for individual use, and by institutional buyers such as colleges, state agencies, schools, and school districts, at www.kognito.com/prestore.

“By providing users with practice speaking with virtual students, the ‘Step In, Speak Up!’ and ‘LGBTQ on Campus’ trainings build the skills and confidence individuals need to engage in similar conversations in real life,” said Kognito’s co-founder and CEO, Ron Goldman. “Engaging in these very challenging conversations is at the core of truly overcoming stigma and supporting LGBTQ youth.”

New anti-bullying trainings tap educators to support LGBTQ youth

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor As schools focus on bullying prevention in October (National Bullying Prevention Month), The Trevor Project, Campus Pride, and Kognito Interactive have launched two new online training simulations for protecting LGBTQ youth. These important trainings for secondary and higher education staff and students build skills to support atrisk youth in the years when peer pressure, harassment, and bullying can have the most devastating results.

To view live demos of these trainings go to www.kognito.com/lgbtq or www.kognito.com/stepin.

“The ‘Step In, Speak Up!’ and the ‘LGBTQ on Campus’ trainings allow The Trevor Project to expand our reach exponentially, helping more people build the skills they need to create safe schools,” said Abbe Land, executive director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “By making schools and campuses safer for LGBTQ students, we can help improve safety for all students.”

WIDE-RANGING EFFECTS Studies show a student’s environment and sense of safety at school and on campus impact academics, absenteeism, and psychological well-being. Strikingly, 63.5% of LGBTQ youth in middle school and high school have felt unsafe because of their sexual orientation, and 43.9% because of their gender expression.

College students and faculty who identify as LGBTQ not only express significantly higher rates of harassment than their straight peers, but also are more likely to fear for their physical safety based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

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A PROACTIVE APPROACH “College campuses must address LGBTQ concerns in a proactive manner, exercising responsibility for academic success of at-risk populations like LGBTQ youth,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride. “The new ‘LGBTQ on Campus’ programs are dynamic tools that make it easy for colleges and universities to educate their students, faculty, and staff in an accessible, effective, and comprehensive manner. They will support the work that Campus Pride does every day to provide resources to improve campus climate and

CLUTCH THEATRE - REAL THEATRE, BIG CHANGE - COMING 2014 8

Seattle Gay News

October 4, 2013

Celebrating 40 Years!

First-ever AIDS Cure Day scheduled

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The AIDS Policy Project has declared this Saturday, October 5, to be the first annual AIDS Cure Day. According to officials, the past few years have seen major breakthroughs in the search for a cure for AIDS, with 19 people identified as either cured or “in remission” at major medical meetings such as the July, 2013,

wealthy governments, but the funding for it varies according to political will.

“People with access to AIDS treatment in developing countries may not have it tomorrow. And people living with AIDS need to take an expensive pill every day for the rest of their lives or they’ll die,” said AIDS Policy Project member Jose Demarco.

The United States spends $25 billion each year on domestic and foreign AIDS programs, according to the Kaiser Family

The past few years have seen major breakthroughs in the search for a cure for AIDS, with 19 people identified as either cured or “in remission” at major medical meetings.

Foundation. It currently spends $56.4 million on AIDS cure research, mostly at the National Institutes of Health. “We need treatment to keep people alive, but a cure is a sustainable way to end the AIDS epidemic,” said Demarco.

Says Kate Krauss, executive director of the AIDS Policy Project, “We want to teach people what we know so far in the search for a cure for AIDS. We’ve made gigantic progress, but we need the resources and political will to reach this goal. It’s ironic that AIDS Cure Day will take place when the National Institutes of Health will still likely be shut down. They are the biggest funder of AIDS cure research in the world. The NIH has a red warning box on their home page (www. nih.gov) explaining that they have been shut down because the government has been HALF GET TREATMENT Currently, 34 million people are living closed down.” with HIV/AIDS worldwide, with only half FUNDING LEVELS DROPPING of those who need treatment able to acBecause the science has had breakcess it, according to the policy organization HealthGAP. Treatment is paid for by throughs just in the past few years, private International AIDS Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

“In remission” is a term used when a treatment has allowed a patient’s immune system to keep the virus at bay without medication.

The AIDS Policy Project has asked people living with AIDS and their allies to hold small, informal teach-ins on AIDS cure research and activism on or around October 5.

Several dozen events will take place across the U.S. and in a number of developing countries, including Burma, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

The goal of the event is to increase public awareness and support for the effort to find a cure for AIDS.

new jersey continued from cover

in New Jersey in a wide range of contexts,” Judge Jacobson wrote in her ruling.

“Same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in order to obtain equal protection of the law under the New Jersey Constitution.”

DEADLINE IMPOSED Jacobson ordered the state of New Jersey to begin same-sex marriages in one month – on October 31.

Immediately after Hoffman announced he would seek to stay the court ruling allowing Gay and Lesbian couples to marry, Lambda Legal said it would fight the state’s appeal.

“We’ll fight the state’s efforts to stay this decision,” Lambda Deputy Legal Director Hayley Gorenberg said in a statement.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure same-sex couples can begin making plans to marry starting on the date set by the court – October 21. We will file our opposition on Friday [October 4] and we’ll be making the case that we are likely to win, and any delay in allowing same-sex couples to marry is too great a hardship to allow a stay.”

CIVIL UNIONS NOT ENOUGH New Jersey is no stranger to court cases involving the rights of same-sex couples. In 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the case of Lewis v. Harris that Gay and Lesbian couples were entitled to the same rights and benefits as oppositesex spouses.

In that case, the court stopped short of saying same-sex couples had a fundamen-

funding is also lagging behind, officials say.

“The science has made great progress in just the past few years – so many foundations aren’t yet aware of it. Philanthropists could be pivotal in actually curing AIDS,” said Krauss. Of the $80 million spent on AIDS cure research worldwide, less than $2 million comes from philanthropic sources.

“This is the moment to step up and participate if you’ve ever cared about ending the AIDS crisis,” she added.

Avram Finkelstein, a well-known artist who did work for activists in the 1980s (including the AIDS group ACT UP), has contributed art to the project, which can be downloaded here: http://www.mediafire. com/folder/e9v9a7y2wvx9v/AIDS_Cure_ Day_Poster%2C_Graphics Information on the AIDS Policy Project and AIDS Cure Day can be found at www. aidspolicyproject.org.

tal right to marry, and in an unusual step the justices instructed the state legislature to define how to confer equal protection. The result was the state’s civil union law.

Jacobson explicitly referred to the 2006 decision in her ruling that civil unions did not, in fact, afford equal protection to samesex couples.

“Under these circumstances, the current inequality visited upon same-sex civil union couples offends the New Jersey Constitution, creates an incomplete set of rights that Lewis sought to prevent, and is not compatible with ‘a reasonable conception of basic human dignity,’” she wrote, quoting from the decision.

MAYOR READY TO WED Meanwhile, the mayor of a small New Jersey town just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia promised to officiate at the state’s first same-sex wedding.

Mayor David DelVecchio of Lambertville, the 2012 New Jersey Mayor of the Year, said he would perform New Jersey’s first same-sex marriage if Gov. Christie’s appeal is unsuccessful.

“This is just a continuation of the first civil union,” DelVecchio said in an interview.

“If a stay is not granted on the 21st, we’re going to move forward with this.”

Several couples have already expressed interest in being married, he added.

Even if Christie’s appeal is successful, New Jersey may soon see Gay and Lesbian marriages. Democratic legislative leaders said they believe they can get the votes to override Christie’s 2012 veto of a marriage equality bill. They have until January 2013 to do so.

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October 4, 2013

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northwest news

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE – SPARKS OF GLORY: “VOICES OF THE HEART” On Saturday, October 5, at 2 p.m., at Seattle Art Museum, Pletscheeff Auditorium (1st Ave. & University St.), Music of Remembrance presents a free community concert featuring works by Laszlo Weiner, Marc Lavry, Erwin Schulhoff and Osvaldo Golijob. MOR’s Artistic Director Mina Miller introduces the concert with commentary that links the music with the museum’s current exhibit “In a Silent Way,” a deeplymoving reflection on African-American identities and histories. Miller examines how music, as well, can express struggles

between continuity and assimilation during On Wednesday, October 9, from 6-8 times of conflict and persecution. www.mu- p.m., at The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. & sicofremembrance.org.

E. Pine St.), POZSeattle presents their first of two monthly POZ Socials. For today’s MISS U.T.O.P.I.A. SEATTLE event bring your lucky trolls, four-leaf cloPAGEANT – vers, good luck hats, shirts, socks, etc.... and “A POLYNESIAN ODYSSEY” get ready to play some exciting bingo. PrizOn Saturday, October 5, doors at 6 p.m., es awarded for each game. show at 7 p.m., at Highline Performing Meet in the downstairs bar for some light Arts Center (401 S. 152nd St., Burien), the fare of tasty edibles, socializing, to catch-up United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alli- with old friends, to make new ones, and a ance (Seattle) presents the 4th annual Miss whole lot of fun.

U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle beauty pageant, SeThis event is offered at no cost – except attle’s most anticipated pageant of the year. for beverages at cost from The Cuff’s hotSail away and feel the magic of Polynesia as test bartenders. No one will be turned away reigning Miss U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle Marion for lack of funds, but to help with overhead Malena presents “A Polynesian Odyssey.” costs, a $3 voluntary donation for bingo Hosts Lady of Polynesia Tiare Fidow and cards will be requested – you can always Songbird of the Islands Chase Silva will give more! open the evening with a theatrical tribute to This event is for all HIV-Positive men and Polynesian culture. The pageant will feature their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, contestants competing in extravagant Island or color.

Fantasy costumes, tropical swimsuits, exPOZSeattle is a social organization run citing talents, glamourous evening gowns, for and by Seattle-area HIV-Positive guys closing with an on-stage contestant Q&A. that is committed to planning and promotThe evening will also include show-stop- ing fun, social activities. ping performances from some of Seattle’s finest drag showgirl entertainers. Tickets: SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN $10 advance; $20 at the door. http://missuBOOK CLUB – topiasea.bpt.me; www.brownpapertickets.

ROUGH MUSIC com/event/446855; www.facebook.com/ The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club utopiaseattle meets every Wednesday from 6-7:15 p.m., at Seattle Area Support Groups Community SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS – Center (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.).

“HALLOWS IN THE CATHEDRAL” In October, the club will discuss Rough FRIENDS & FAMILY Music by British author Patrick Gale. (NoPREVIEW PERFORMANCE vember will be The Two Hotel Francforts, a On Saturday, October 5, at 8 p.m., at new novel by David Leavitt.)

Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center (400 All GLBTQ folks are welcome to parS. Second St., Renton), the Seattle Women’s ticipate in this FREE book club. For more Chorus gives a preview performance of information, visit http://faculty.washington. their upcoming “Hallows in the Cathedral” edu/swittet/SGLBookClub/. concert featuring creepy classics and modern day monster mashes.

Q-LAW FALLTACULAR Friends and Family is a series of preview On Thursday, October 10, from 5:30performances where audiences can peek 8 p.m., at Seattle City Hall (600 4th Ave.), “behind the scenes” to see how the chorus join Q-Law Foundation, the GLBT Bar prepares a show for the main stage. Audi- Association of Washington, at their annual ences will see/hear the Chorus fine-tune FallTacular fundraiser, to support and celsongs and staging for the upcoming show, ebrate their charitable activities, including and have a unique opportunity to engage public interest law grants, the GLBT neighwith artistic director Dennis Coleman, as borhood legal clinic, and public education well as members of the Chorus, in an after- events benefiting the GLBT community. show audience discussion.

Tickets: $40, which includes heavy hors Tickets: ~$10 at 206-388-1400 and at the d’oeuvres and a drink tickets, an evening of door. www.flyinghouse.org entertainment, and good company. www.qlaw.org NORTHWEST NETWORK – “ROAD TRIP!” DIFFA/SEATTLE – FOOD TRUCK BRUNCH “GLAM: TABLESCAPES” On Sunday, October 6, from 11 a.m.-1 WINE + DINE + DESIGN p.m., at Repair Revolution in SODO (2437 On Thursday, October 10, at 6 p.m., at 6th Ave. S.), join Northwest Network in cel- Masins Fine Furnishings & Interior Design ebrating their work “on the road!” Through (10708 Main St., Bellevue), Design Induswebinars, traveling technical assistance, in- tries Foundation Fighting AIDS/Seattle ternational visitors and our local advocacy, presents “Glam: Tablescapes,” an extravawe’re extending our reach locally, region- gant celebration of wine, entertaining and ally and nationally. Please join us for a day design at Masins in Bellevue. This unique of celebrating the road trip! Truck food, tail- event takes inspiration from DIFFA’s nagate coffee and much, much more! Featur- tional “Dining by Design” event in New ing Marination Station. $50 advance; $65 York and showcases extraordinary tablesat the door. Mark you calendars and join us capes created by designers and stylists to for our annual community party! 206-568- represent exclusive wine dinners by top lo7777; www.nwnetwork.org. cal chefs and restaurants. Bid on decadent DIFFA/Seattle wine dinners donated by MEN IN DANCE – MASTER CLASS some of Seattle’s top restaurants. (See full On Sunday, October 6, from 1 p.m.- page ad in this week’s SGN for complete 4 p.m., at the University of Washington details.) Tickets: $45-general; $75 VIP Dance Studios, Men in Dance presents a GLAM). www.diffaseattle.org. dance workshop for boys and men (boys ages 8-18, and men of any range of dance GAY CITY ARTS – experience). The boys will work with one “FLAWED/DIGITAL WEAVINGS” teacher, while the men work with another

BY SYNVIA WHITNEY for an hour. Then for the second hour, they From October 10 through November will swap teachers for another dance ex- 11, Gay City Arts (517 E. Pike St.) presents perience. For the last hour, the groups will “FLAWED/digital weavings” by Syniva come together to put into practice the tools Whitney. learned in each session and create a group “FLAWED” started with taking digital performance. images of moles, wrinkles and aberrations Cost is $25. (Group rate is $5 off for of the internal and external bodies of the groups of 5 or more.) $10 to observe. artist and friends and family. Then woFor more information, visit www.menin- ven by hand along with disposable party dance.org. ribbons, cheap holiday tinsel, industrial plastics, VHS tape, soft cottons, wire and POZ SEATTLE – wool. Relationships develop between the MONTHLY SOCIAL #1: microscopic and the macroscopic, the con“HUMP-DAY BINGO WITH CARL” structive and destructive, the party and the

16 Seattle Gay News

October 4, 2013

LGBT LIBRARY BOOK SALE OCTOBER 4-6 On Friday, October 4, 12 noon-8 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, October 5 & 6, 12 noon-6 p.m., the Michael C. Weidemann LGBT Library at Gay City (517 E. Pike St.) will hold a special book sale of duplicates from their collection with proceeds directly benefiting their library. www.gaycity.org.

SEATTLE HOME SHOW OCTOBER 4-6 www.seattlehomeshow.com

THEATRE 22 – “5TH OF JULY” OCTOBER 4-26 On Friday, October 4, at 8 p.m., at West of Lenin (203 N 34th St.), Theatre 22 launches their inaugural season with openly-Gay playwright Lanford Wilson’s celebrated play, “5th of July.”

At a sprawling farmhouse in rural Missouri, Ken, a legless Vietnam veteran and his lover, Jed, welcome a disparate group of colorful old friends and family for an impromptu reunion. As they reminisce, revealing lost dreams and buried resentments; they expose the shattered hopes of their college days at Berkeley and the unhealed trauma of the Vietnam War. At once poignant and marvelously funny, “5th of July” is a compassionate portrait of a generation that is trying to transcend the disillusionment of the seventies, learn what can be salvaged from the past, and find the courage to begin anew. The play is sharp and funny and, in the final essence, deeply revealing of lost hopes and dreams and of the bitterness that must be fought back, if one is to perceive the good that life can offer.

Performances: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. (Pay-what-you-can industry night performance on Tuesday, October 22, at 8 p.m.) Tickets: $20-general; $12-student/military/senior (62+). www. brownpapertickets.com/event/395944; www.theatre22.org ARTS CRUSH OCTOBER 1-31 www.artscrush.org.

“THE ENGENDERING PROJECT” On Friday/Saturday, October 4 and 5, at 8 p.m., at Velocity Dance Center (1621 12th Ave.), Joan Laage presents “The Engendering Project: Casting Shadows.” Directed by Joan Laage (Kogut Butoh), “The Engendering Project” emerged out of investigating how gender fluidity and transformation have continued to shape the artist’s work over the past two decades. Joan’s collaborators are Kaoru Okumura (video and photography) and an electric string trio directed by Jackie An with Doris Bartha and Emily Price. Tickets: $12/$15. www. brownpapertickets.com/event/459485.

On Sunday, October 6, from 5-6:30 p.m., at Velocity Dance Center (1621 12th Ave.), join director/performer Joan Laage (Kogut Butoh), her project collaborators Kaoru Okumura and Jackie An, and invited guests Michelle Miller and Douglas Ridings for “The Engendering Project: Ever Betweening,” a roundtable discussion hosted by Velocity’s Tonya Lockyer focused on gender fluidity and transformation in the creative arts. Cost: donation. www.daipanbutoh.com

day after. These pieces tell stories, threaten health, and define identities. They are part of a whole, and yet can be exploded by their role in a person’s body: a mark that invokes a sexual power, a scar that is a reminder of a violent past, or a cluster of interior cells that slowly takes over, a presence as hard to imagine as the far reaches of the universe....

“FLAWED” is presented in conjunction with Gay City Arts, through which Gay City collaborates with local LGBT artists to galvanize an audience for Queer arts, foster the development of LGBT artists, and facilitate artistic excellence across a wide range of disciplines, including theater, music, dance, film, spoken word, literary and visual arts. www.gaycity.org.

On Thursday, October 10, from 6-9 p.m., a special opening reception will be held at Gay City during the second Thursday Blitz Capitol Hill Art Walk.

SEATTLE LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL OCTOBER 10-20 www.threedollarbillcinema.org SEATTLE SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL OCTOBER 10-13 www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org LESBIAN COMEDIAN ERIN FOLEY: “LOWER THE BAR COMEDY TOUR” On Friday, October 11, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Lesbian actress, comedian, and writer Erin Foley brings her “Lower the Bar Comedy Tour” to the Theatre Off Jackson (409 7th Ave. S.) with special guests Susan Jones, Abbey Drake, and Cory Michaelis.

Tickets: $20 & $30 VIP. For more details, visit www.theatreoffjackson.org. 18+.

PEOPLE’S MEMORIAL END-OF-LIFE PLANNING WORKSHOP On Saturday, October 12, from 1:304:30 p.m., at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave.), People’s Memorial hosts a special program for the LGBTQ community to help you get your affairs in order. This free workshop will include presentations on legal, financial, and final arrangement planning. Learn how to make sure your wishes are carried out at the end of your life. RSVP to 206-325-0489 or info@ peoplesmemorial.org. www.peoplesmemorial.org; www.funeralinformation.org.

OUT FOR SUSTAINABILITY – FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! On Sunday, October 13, from 4-7 p.m., at Impact HUB Seattle (220 Second Ave. S.), OUT for Sustainability invites you to celebrate their five-year anniversary.

OUT4S is thrilled to announce Marsha Botzer as their 2013 honoree, celebrating her work as a social sustainability advocate and a champion of a broader sense of LGBTQ rights, identity and community. Enjoy seasonal hors d’oeuvres, sip local wine and beer, and support the organization with a fabulous local auction. “Join us in celebrating our impact so far, and dream with us as we share our next five years based on the vision of a thriving and inclusive human and natural world for all. Tickets: $45 & $75. www.out4s.org SKI BUDDIES – SEASON-OPENING POTLUCK On Sunday, October 13, from 6-8 p.m., at The Summit on Pike (420 E. Pike St.), enjoy great food, mingle with members and new friends and hear trip coordinators present the 2013-14 Ski Buddies season lineup. Trip sign-ups for the new season will continue with the most popular likely to fill quickly, so please come prepared to reserve your spots! Alcohol is BYOB; soft drinks will be provided. Park FREE in the attached garage – enter on Summet Ave. side of the building. www.skibuddies.org

Celebrating 40 Years!

health and medicine

Report: Single-tablet regimen offers multiple benefits

Better viral suppression, improved adherence, reduced hospitalization cited

by Liz Highleyman Special to the SGN Antiretroviral treatment that requires only a single tablet taken once daily were associated with better viral suppression, higher adherence to regimen, and lower likelihood

in European and U.S. treatment guidelines.

The other available one-pill regimens, Eviplera (rilpivirine/tenofovir/emtricitabine) and Stribild (elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir/emtricitabine), were approved more recently in the U.S. (August 2011 and August 2012, respectively). All are marketed

Patients on single-tablet regimens had better adherence compared to those on multipletablet regimens and had reduced risk of hospitalizations, fewer hospitalizations, and longer time to hospitalization. of hospitalization, researchers reported at the 53rd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) last month in Denver.

Modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens are much better tolerated and more convenient than early combinations that sometimes required handfuls of pills to be taken multiple times a day. It is well known that taking ART as directed most of the time leads to better viral suppression, and studies generally find that lower pill burden is associated with better adherence. But it is less clear whether taking one instead of two pills at a time, or taking them once or twice daily, has a significant effect on treatment adherence and outcomes.

Scott Sutton and colleagues from the Dorn Veterans Administration Medical Center and the University of South Carolina compared viral suppression, medication adherence, and hospitalization among U.S. veterans taking single-tablet or multipletablet ART regimens.

WIDE-RANGING STUDY This retrospective observational analysis used computerized medical and pharmacy records from 15,602 patients who received HIV medications through the Veterans Administration health care system between January 2006 and July 2012. Almost all were men, nearly half were Black, more than 40% were white, and the average age was 52 years. About two-thirds were diagnosed with mental health conditions and 40% with drug or alcohol use disorders.

Participants were categorized in the single-tablet regimen group if they had ever received a one-pill-once-daily regimen at any time during the study period (6191 participants, 40%); others were put in the multiple-tablet regimen group (9411 patients, 60%). Follow-up lasted at least two months without any switches after starting a new regimen.

At baseline, people in the single-tablet and multiple-tablet groups had similar CD4 cell counts. However, participants prescribed a single-tablet regimen were less likely to have undetectable viral load at baseline (42% vs. 46%) and were more likely to be treatment-naïve, i.e., not previously having used HIV drugs (28% vs. 13%).

Almost everyone in the single-tablet regimen group used Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine), a recommended regimen

“These clinical outcomes could potentially

by Gilead Sciences, which provided support decrease total health care costs in HIV pafor the study. tients.”

This suggestion is supported by other SINGLE PILL EFFECTIVE studies of U.S. Medicaid participants and Treatment response rates were high over- commercially insured individuals, which all in both groups, but people taking a sin- similarly found that people taking singlegle-tablet regimen were significantly more likely than those on multiple-tablet regimens to achieve undetectable viral load during follow-up (64% vs. 60%, respectively).

A significantly greater proportion of people in the single-tablet group achieved at least 95% adherence (75% vs. 56%) and at least 80% adherence (90% vs. 78%), as determined by pharmacy claims data (medication possession ratio).

People taking a single-tablet regimen were significantly less likely to have been hospitalized during follow-up compared with multiple-tablet recipients (27% vs.

31%). They also took longer to be hospitalized and had fewer hospital stays (2.2 vs.

2.7, respectively).

In a multivariate analysis controlling for other factors, people taking single-tablet regimen were twice as likely to be at least 95% adherent to treatment, were 31% less likely to be hospitalized, and had 45% fewer hospitalizations.

“Patients on [single-tablet regimens] had better adherence compared to those on [multiple-tablet regimens]” and had “reduced risk of hospitalizations, fewer hospitalizations, and longer time to hospitalization,” the investigators concluded.

tablet regimens had fewer hospitalizations than those taking multiple pills. Another benefit in the U.S. is that single-tablet regimens require only one prescription co-pay.

Produced in collaboration with www. hivandhepatitis.com.

SOME CAVEATS After the presentation, session moderator Pablo Tebas and others suggested that the results may be affected by “channeling bias.” This could include preferentially prescribing boosted protease inhibitors for people with higher baseline viral load or those judged less likely to be adherent, as these drugs are generally more “forgiving” of missed doses. Another example would be patients with pre-existing kidney disease – a group more likely to be hospitalized – not being put on tenofovir, which is included in all available single-tablet regimens.

“Health care providers and payers may see a benefit in improved medication-taking behavior with ART using a single tablet compared to multiple tablets based on fewer hospital visits and other improvements in clinical outcomes,” the researchers suggested in a press release issued by ICAAC.

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October 4, 2013

Seattle Gay News 17

Kiki with D Last call for alcohol

by D Smith SGN Contributing Writer Dear D, I’ve been in a two-plus-year relationship that when good, is really good. When it’s bad, it just is awful. The reason why is Alcohol. He drinks WHILE driving, drinks excessively, regularly, and is starting to miss work. He is an alcoholic who sees how everything else has damaged his life and our relationship but never sees how his al-

support him and I have finally reached that fully depleted state. I love him and would like to see him get well. I do realize that his decisions and life are not anything that is in my control. How do I release myself from the guilt-riddled tantrums that he’s put on me? Right now, like most people would, I say, “I never want another relationship ever again,” as this one has drained me. How do I brush off the guilt he tried to attach to me while absolving himself of any responsibility? – Drained From a Drunk

some kindness, “Hey, it’s clear we want different things. I want us both to be happy.

Let’s stop discussing this and do what we need to do to move on.”

Once he’s out of your hair, you can consider how you want to move on with your life. Maybe therapy/ life coaching or both – or maybe without the tantrums, you’ll have the peace you need. Because the reality is you seem to understand what happened here and why this isn’t your fault. You know that you did what you could and that he’s not going to change. You’ll feel less drained after you’ve had some time on your own. Take the time to rejuvenate yourself.

Once you get him out of your living space, you can start the healing process.

Like, within days, not weeks. The problem is that the breakup is taking too long. You can’t move on while continuing on this yoyo roller-coaster ride. Time to get off the ride and start taking control of your life and living. This doesn’t mean you don’t love him, it just means that your relationship is over. It’s like a sinking ship and you have to save yourself.

Hope this helps. Remember always be true to you and always encourage yourself.

–D

to continue schooling in California, despite all of the fantastic schools in New England.

I told myself, “If he can’t move to the East Coast for me, why should I move to the West Coast for him?” And that was that.

After him, it took me a long time to get out there again – over two years. But finally last winter I started dating again. I had two very short relationships (1-2 months) with guys who ended things with me. And then I met my current guy at the beginning of the summer. I had no intention of getting involved with him because I knew what his marital status was, but there was so much attraction and interest on both of our parts, and we both caved in. There is SO much wrong with this, starting with the fact that he is married. I know that the likelihood of this working out for us is one in a million, and I know that the likelihood of a lot of hurt is very high – for me, for him, and for the third party in this. I’d happily hear opinions on this, preferably free of judgment. I’m judging myself pretty harshly already. But this is not why I’m writing.

I am writing because I’m seeing a pattern here: terminal relationships. I seem to keep putting myself into situations where there is a low chance of long-term success. What is my problem? – Trying to Figure Things Out

and how did I get here.

In 10 years I’ve only had two, now three, boyfriends, and I seem to keep picking men with whom the relationship is terminal. My first serious boyfriend was while I was in college and was way too old for me ... like twice my age. It was also sort of a long-distance situation where he lived a few hours away by car. Ultimately it failed for a couple reasons. First and foremost, I came to my senses on the age difference. It was too big and it meant we were in very different phases of life. Secondly, I was a young adult, still figuring out who I was and what I wanted to do, and still changing a lot. He was not really evolving the way I was, and I evolved right out of the relationship. We were like two ships sailing in different directions.

My second serious relationship was a few years later, while I was in graduate school, with a wonderful guy, totally age-appropriate for me. But when we started dating, we lived a plane flight away from each other.

We were together for about two and a half years – I felt like I was totally in love with him, and I was convinced for a while that I would marry him. The long-distance was really tough, and for a while I assumed that at some point we’d decide where we both wanted to live together. When I finished school, I wanted to move back to the East Coast, where my family was. But he decided

or experimenting. It makes sense that you dated those men until it was time to break up, but your current situation is different.

Based on how you framed this letter, I assume that this guy is 100 percent married, not out of the house and/or waiting on his divorce papers. I understand that there’s attraction on both sides, but that doesn’t justify the behavior. My guess is that you feel entitled to pursue this man because you believe that your relationship history hasn’t been that great. I must tell you that you are not entitled to anything. And I don’t see a pattern here, because really, all relationships have a low chance of long-term success. You went into your second relationship hoping for marriage. You weren’t looking for “terminal.” Your love life was very acceptable up until this point.

Accept that there’s no pattern and then deal with your present. You’ve extracted yourself from undesirable situations before.

Please do that again. I believe you may find it safer for you because he is married, but is this what you really want? My mother used to say, “Remember, the way you get a man is the way you will lose him.”

You know this relationship is not right for you and the situation you are in is only temporary. You have to ask yourself, “If he is unfaithful to her, can he ever truly be faithful to me?” You never know what his wife is feeling, how or what their situation is, which just makes you the other woman.

In a relationship, you only get out of it what you put into it, and at this point his love is divided between you and his wife. Neither of you are getting all of him – simply parts.

Does that seem fair to you? Is this the type of relationship you want?

Take some time to figure out what it is you want in life. Time to weigh out the pros and cons to decide what will make you happy and what is right. This can wear on your conscience and tear your soul apart. Live right by you, and do not just what your heart commands but by your conscience too. Sounds like it’s time to do some soul-searching.

Hope this helps. Remember, always be true to you and always encourage yourself. – D

Time to get off the ride and start taking control of your life and living. This doesn’t mean Dear D, you don’t love him, it just means that your I’m finding myself in a situation I NEVER Dear Trying, thought I would be in: I’m dating a married only one problem relationship here, relationship is over. It’s like a sinking ship man. But my question is not about how to andI seethat’s the one you’re in right now. The deal with it or how to get out of it. My ques- other relationships sound about right. You and you have to save yourself. tion is really about why I am in this situation were young and in school, long-distance, coholism negatively affects his life and this relationship. Classic, I know. I tried to offer what I could in terms of support – counseling, AA, not drinking myself, learning about the disease, and not bringing anything tempting home, only to find out that, in the end, I didn’t do enough in his eyes.

It’s become a black-and-white situation at this point, meaning I say “black” and he says “white.” Fast forward to my having had enough of a mean drunk who is capable of saying such nasty things. I’ve ended things – or, rather, I am in the long, arduous process of trying to end this relationship.

What’s your best advice in dealing with the fallout resulting from ending a relationship with an alcoholic, dealing with the guilt that they put upon the departing partner for not wanting to work it out anymore? He’s threatened to leave so many times because he “is who he is” and likes to drink. I finally just said, “OK, pack your stuff and go.”

I can in good conscience say that there was not one thing more I could offer or do to

Dear Drained, I really appreciate your courage and willingness to seek advice in such a personal matter. Thank you for your strength.

I believe you when you say, “I can in good conscience say that there was not one thing more I could offer or do to support him,” but I have to ask you: Do you know that?

Do you believe that? Are you sure you want out?

The best way to deal with this situation is to finish the breakup. I understand why it’s a long and arduous process, but ... how long and arduous? You’ve decided that you’re not compatible. I’m quite sure he isn’t happy either. Is there a deadline for his moveout? Is the place yours, or could you leave to expedite the process? It’s time to say, with

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exxon

continued from cover governed by federal laws, and DOMA forbade recognition of same-sex marriages, it did not have to offer anything to Gay and Lesbian spouses.

However, new U.S. Labor Department guidelines issued on September 18 said unequivocally that married same-sex spouses have the right to participate in employee benefit plans even if they live in states that do not recognize their marriage.

The new guidelines open the way for Gay and Lesbian spouses in companies like ExxonMobil to enjoy the same federal rights as other married couples when it comes to pensions, 401(k)s, health plans, and similar benefits.

The Labor Department administers employee benefits packages that fall under the scope of ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), and that includes most of the country’s largest privatesector employers. Except for a few specific exceptions, ERISA supersedes state laws.

TURNING TIDE Exxon said in a statement that the changes reflected new federal policy.

“We have made no change in the definition of eligibility for our U.S. benefit plans,” the company said. “Spousal eligibility in our U.S. benefit plans has been and continues to be governed by the federal definition of marriage and spouse.”

Exxon added that it would recognize “all legal marriages.”

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who has used his control over his state’s retirement fund investments to try to force change at Exxon, welcomed the company’s new policy.

“Today’s announcement by ExxonMobil shows the tide is continuing to turn in corporate America,” he said in a statement.

“This is a very positive step for the LGBT community and a vindication of years of efforts by shareholders and activists across the country.”

New York’s retirement fund owns 13.5 million Exxon shares valued at about $1.2 billion.

Other LGBT rights activists also praised Exxon’s decision.

“After years of stubbornly refusing, we commend Exxon for joining the majority of the Fortune 500 business leaders that already treat Gay and Lesbian married couples equally under employee benefit plans,” Tico Almeida, founder and president of Freedom to Work, said in a statement.

INCOMPLETE VICTORY While Exxon is complying with new federal rules on spousal benefits, it still does not have nondiscrimination policies protecting sexual orientation and gender identity. In May shareholders voted down a resolution introduced by DiNapoli requiring LGBTinclusive nondiscrimination policies. It was the 14th year in a row the company refused to adopt such policies.

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Seattle Gay News 19

The life and death of a Gay pioneer Bob Basker fought Anita Bryant and founded Mattachine Midwest

by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer October is LGBT History Month – a month when we honor the achievements of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender icons. In recognition of this occasion, I propose to look back at some of the people who influenced my life, both personally and politically. One of those was Bob Basker, founder of Mattachine Midwest and the

Dade County Coalition for Human Rights, who died in April 2001 at age 82.

I met Bob in 1975, when I was 22 and he was president of the Alliance for Individual Rights (AIR), one of Miami’s first Gay rights organizations. A year later, AIR was one of 11 groups that formed the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays. Bob was then 57, the same age as my father, though there the similarity ended. Unlike my staunchly conservative dad, Bob was an old lefty who played a vital role in virtually every political movement in the U.S.A. from the ’30s to the ’90s. As a student of history, and as a fledgling activist, I learned much from his vast knowledge, experience, and commitment to the causes that he held dear. Bob became my friend and my mentor, and it was because of him that I got involved with the Dade County Coalition for Human Rights. To a great extent, my political vision was shaped by my friendship with Bob. In many ways, Robert Sloane Basker’s life was a microcosm of the American Gay experience during the 20th century. Bob was born Solomon Basker in East Harlem on September 30, 1918. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he changed his name to Robert. Though he had been actively Gay since his teens, Bob married and had children, like so many Gay men of his generation. As “Bob Sloane,” he was the founding president of Mattachine Midwest, an early homophile group out of Chicago (1965). Later he moved to Miami and then to Cuba, where he made a living teaching English at the John Reed School of Languages. Back in Miami, Bob helped found that city’s Gay Activist Alliance (1971) and Alliance for Individual Rights (1973).

ENTERING THE FRAY Shortly after I met Bob, he helped start the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays, later the Dade County Coalition for Human Rights. As he remembered in an interview with Keith Vacha in the anthology Quiet Fire, “I declined the chair but was prevailed upon to stay as Convenor, and eventually gained the title of Coordinator. At this time I was getting deeply into debt since all this politicking had become full-time with no pay. Eventually they started to pay me $100 a week, then changed it to $300 a week when they changed my title to Executive Director.”

“Our coalition screened candidates, sent out questionnaires, made endorsements, and passed out 90,000 endorsement leaflets at bars and baths. When the smoke had cleared, 75 percent of our endorsed candidates had won. At the same time we lobbied before the Dade Fair Housing and Employment Appeals Board, the mayor, and the county commissioners to amend the discrimination ordinance to add the words ‘affectional and sexual preference’ to the existing categories that couldn’t be discriminated against. The Dade Commission voted unanimously in favor on the first reading, but six weeks later, on the second reading, there was a furor. Anita Bryant was part of the furor, along with Phyllis Schlafly.

A lot of right-wing people came into town

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with their Bibles and filled the hearing room before eight o’clock in the morning. I tried to hold the line, and we lost several votes, but we still won, five to three. That’s when Anita Bryant held the press conference and started the movement she called ‘Save Our Children.’ Eventually she gained so much support that the anti-discrimination law was repealed.”

As if our anti-Gay enemies were not enough, Bob and the DCCHR also had to deal with a Lesbian and Gay community that was mostly closeted and apathetic.

They also had to face the fact that the Coalition was not organized to wage a political campaign. The group tried to clean house in April 1977, when it imported a team of professionals led by Ethan Geto, then Special Assistant to Bronx Borough President Robert Abrams. Bob himself was lost in the shuffle, kicked upstairs to a newly created and mostly ceremonial post of Community Liaison. “A sophisticated New York firm came down and sold us a bill of goods – that Geto had to have total control,“ Bob complained. Whether Geto et al. actually made things worse is debatable, though I doubt the DCCHR could have done anything to prevent the voters from repealing the ordinance on June 7, 1977. As I recall, Bob took the defeat hard, and yearned for a change of venue.

move to the West Coast did not end his activist career, however. He got involved with the Alice B. Toklas, Harvey Milk, and Stonewall Gay Democratic Clubs and helped found Alexander Hamilton Post #448 of the American Legion (1983). Nor did Bob’s honors end with his change of address. He was eventually inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for his Mattachine work and was honored as a “male ally” by the San Francisco Chapter of the National Organization for Women.

The last time I saw Bob was in 1998, when he returned to South Florida to appear at the Stonewall Library and Archive’s annual Heritage of Pride history project.

Though 80 years old and in bad health, Bob’s wit and wisdom were as sharp as ever, and he educated and entertained his audience with his recollections and anecdotes. For me personally, Bob’s return to South Florida allowed me to get together, after many years’ separation, with an old and valued friend. Though our reunion was too short, we managed to share some good memories and exchange views on the everchanging scene. Though I never saw Bob again, I spoke to him the following year when I called to interview him for an article that I was writing about Florida’s pioneer activist Richard Inman, whom Bob knew.

Here again, in spite of his declining health, Bob was helpful and kind.

MOVING ON FROM MIAMI By the time of Bob’s death, he was largely In 1978, soon after the Dade County di- forgotten by the community he did so much saster, Bob moved to San Francisco. His for. Fortunately, he was given his due in

books published after his death by historians Vern L. Bullough (Before Stonewall), Fred Fejes (Gay Rights and Moral Panic), and James T. Sears (Rebels, Rubyfruit, and Rhinestones). Those of us who knew Bob personally will always remember a dedicated man who was the soul of kindness but

who did not take sass from anyone (myself included), and who sometimes made mistakes but whose commitment to the cause never wavered. His life and work inspires us to continue the good fight, even after his death. In a sense, we are all Bob Basker’s disciples.

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