SGN October 14, 2011 - Section 1

Issue 41 Volume 39

Celebrating 38 Years!

NO CA REFERENDUM p. 6 HUD PLEDGES p. 7 history: von steuben p. 17

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY October 14, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

West Seattle hate Youth suicide prevention funds crime victims turn on WA state’s chopping block hate into help

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

courtesy kcpq

Lyle Evans (l) and Chris Ilovar

to them, they paid it forward to LGBT youth, turning a story of hate into help.

Late last month, vandals Lyle Evans and Chris Ilovar, a Gay couple living in West Se- smashed glass and slashed tires of attle who were the victims of a the couple’s cars outside their West hate crime, have refused to let the attack keep them down. In see hate crime page 20 fact, when generosity was offered

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Each week in Washington state, an average of two young people die by suicide and another 17 suicide attempts result in hospitalization. And yet, according to Vicki Wagner, executive director for Washington state’s Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP), our state government is proposing to cut off all funding to the organization.

“Over the years, Washington state has gradually decreased YSPP funding from an original $500,000 a year to only $116,000,” said Wagner. “In spite of this reduction, YSPP has continued to provide critical youth suicide prevention efforts statewide. But now, our state government is proposing cutting our funding to zero.”

If you are outraged by this news, you are not alone. To think that funding would be cut to a statewide organization dedicated to see funding page 20

Groundbreaking Gay rights Vet sues feds for pioneer Frank Kameny dies equal benefits, AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny has died at the age of 86.

Appropriately, he died on National Coming Out Day, Tuesday, October 11.

Kameny’s life story is a long list of firsts – first federal civil rights suit based on sexual orientation, first Gay rights organization in the

nation’s capital, first public Gay and Lesbian protests, first openly Gay Congressional candidate, first White House briefing on LGBT issues.

Kameny’s extraordinary life started out in a perfectly ordinary way.

He was born in New York City to Jewish immigrant parents, served in the U.S. Army in World War II, went to Queens College, and then

challenges DOMA

evan mcglinn/new york times

Frank Kameny

earned a Ph.D. in astronomy at Harvard.

After graduating in 1956, he taught astronomy at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., until he was hired by the U.S. Army Map Service in 1957.

It was then that his relatively normal life took an unexpected turn.

One night, while cruising Lafayette Park across the street from the White House, Kameny was arrested. When news of the arrest became public, he was fired from his job by the federal Civil Service Commission.

In January 1958, the Civil Service Commission permanently barred him from future federal employment.

As odd as it now seems, in the wake of the McCarthy period, Gay men were seen not only as immoral, but also as security risks, and therefore not suitable for federal jobs.

Rather than quietly moving to a new town and discreetly looking for another job, like most Gay men of his generation might have done, Kameny appealed the firing.

Navy veteran Carmen Cardona

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

A Lesbian navy veteran has filed suit against the Department of Veterans Affairs, saying she was wrongly denied extra disability benefits because of DOMA. Carmen Cardona, a former sailor living in Norwich, Connecticut, has been receiving disability benefits for service-related injuries.

Now 45, she served in the Navy see kameny page 21

proud to Be Different

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

for 18 years, 12 on active duty and six in the reserves.

She received an honorable discharge in 2000 at the rank of petty officer second class, and went to work as a correctional officer for the State of Connecticut.

Same-sex marriage is legal in Connecticut, and last year Cardona married her partner. She then see doma page 21

Call us at 206.568.2486

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Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

October 14, 2011

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Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel

George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel, Miryam Gordon, Anthony Greer Contributing Writers

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

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

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And please play safe.

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

Lambda says Janice Langbehn to receive Presidential Citizens Medal

On October 12, the White House announced that former Lambda Legal client Janice Langbehn will be one of 13 recipients of the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor.

“We’re proud that Janice will receive the Presidential Citizens Medal from the White House in recognition of her tireless advocacy beginning in a Florida hospital more than three years ago,” said Kevin Cathcart, executive director for Lambda Legal. “Because Janice boldly told her story, President Obama heard about her and issued the directive last year that led to the new federal rules that will Janice Langbehn in 1986 protect same-sex couby Shaun Knittel ples and their families across the country.”

SGN Associate Editor In June 2008, Lambda Legal filed suit against Jackson Memorial Hospital on behalf of Langbehn. She and her partner of 18 courtesy Family4equality

Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers

years, Lisa Pond, were about to depart from Miami on a family cruise with their three children when Pond suddenly collapsed.

Langbehn and her children were kept apart from Pond by hospital staff for eight hours as Pond slipped into a coma and later died.

Although a federal district court rejected Lambda Legal’s lawsuit, ruling that no law required the hospital to allow her and their three children to see her partner, Lambda Legal and Langbehn continued to work with other LGBT organizations and officials at Jackson Memorial Hospital to change hospital policies on visitation and respecting the wishes of same-sex couples and their families.

In April 2010, President Obama issued a presidential memo directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to address hospital visitation and other healthcare issues affecting LGBT families. President Obama then called Langbehn from Air Force One to tell her about the memo and express his sympathy for how she and her family were treated by the hospital.

Langbehn will receive the award, along with 12 other recipients, on October 20.

“It is such an amazing honor to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal and it is serendipitous that I got the news today, what would have been the 20th anniversary of my holy union with Lisa,” said Langbehn.

“Now that the country has rules in place to make sure that no family ever has to experience the nightmare that my family has gone through, this award is the first step in making sure that LGBT families are not treated as second-class citizens.”

For background on Langbehn v. Jackson Memorial Hospital, go to www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/langbehn-v-jacksonmemorial.html.

In Loving Memory Of

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

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Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

nate gowdy/seattle gay news

Members of the LGBT community came together to raise money for Seattle Counseling Service at the annual ICON – A Celebration of Drag, Art and Life on October 9, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Downtown Seattle, Washington. This year’s celebration marked the seventh year Aleksa Manila (pictured) has put on the event. Seattle Counseling Service has offered a variety of mental and chemical dependency help to the LGBT community since 1969. Joining Aleksa onstage was a star-studded lineup of Jennifer Wagner, Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse with Victor Janusz, Jinkx Monsoon with Richard Andriessen, (TRIBE) Gene Osias, Archie Orbino and Wilmer Galindo, Diamond St. James, Isaac Scott, Ryan Stone, Gaysha Starr, Nina Manial Maxwell with Tanya and Kalika Manila, Miss Indigo Blue, Jackson Brown, and Luscious Ladypop with Lola La Bang, Amber Flame, and Ruby Roque.

Group Health, Goodwill, Seattle Gay News, and AleksaManila.com sponsored the event.

Jared Polis (D-Colo.) becomes first Gay parent in Congress

courtesy jared polis

Caspian Julius

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On September 30, Rep. Jared Polis (DColo.) became the proud father of a newborn baby, making him the first openly Gay parent in the U.S. Congress.

On Friday, Polis and his partner, Marlon Reis, sent out an announcement about the arrival of their son, Caspian Julius, who weighed eight pounds, 12 ounces.

“Baby and parents are doing well, baby has learned to cry already! No gifts please, just nice thoughts for Caspian, humankind, the planet, and the universe!” read the announcement.

Polis and Reis have declined to comment on whether it was a surrogate pregnancy or an adoption.

The National Stonewall Democrats and the entire Stonewall Democrats family said

they would “like to send Jared, Marlon, and Caspian our warmest wishes and hopes for a healthy and prosperous future.”

“We are so thrilled for the congressman and his partner,” said Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the Family Equality Council, an organization that advocates for LGBT families. “Little Caspian Julius is so lucky to have two wonderful and loving dads. On behalf of America’s growing number of LGBT parents, we want to send the family our warmest wishes.”

According to the Family Equality Council, there are about 1 million LGBT parents raising about 2 million children.

Polis is a co-sponsor of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would “ban discrimination in adoption or foster care placement based on the sexual orientation, marital status, or gender identity of the potential parent, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child,” according to a press release from the office of Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), who introduced the bill.

MEDIA PLAYS DUMB WITH OCCUPY WALL STREET MOTIVES

are created to serve the people not the other way around. They want a return to decisions being made based on fact and not religious dogma and the emotional whims of those with the most power.

I hope the media starts to get the picture.

If not I would be happy to sit down and paint a picture for them.

I find it a joke that the media had no problem identifying what it is the Tea Party wants but in all the stories I have seen regarding the protests with Wall Street and the bankers as targets the media is playing stupid as to what it is the protestors want. This is the same game many expressed regarding Gay rights.

The message is simple they want the criminals who created the financial mess we are in held accountable. They want politicians to make decisions based on what is good for all Americans and not just those with the deepest pockets. They want economic justice and for those who have been victimized by Wall Street and bankers to be made whole. They want an end to trillions of dollars going to wage wars while cutting critical needs at home go unaddressed. They want an end to injustices taking place here at home. They want to see a return to a government putting people before corporations and an end to treating corporations as if they were human. Corporations like government

George Whitaker

Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.

Go 1605 12th Avenue at Pine, Seattle (In liquor store parking garage.) Seattle Storm!

206-838-6027 or 206-898-4306 Visit us online www.sgn.org

October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer On October 11, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a Lambda Legal petition for a writ of certiorari in the case of Oren Adar and Mickey Ray Smith v. Darlene Smith.

Adar and Smith are a same-sex couple now living in New York, where they adopted their son.

Darlene Smith is the registrar and director of the Office of Vital Records and Statistics in the Department of Health and Hospitals of Louisiana, where the adopted child was born. She has refused to recognize the adoption and issue a corrected birth certificate listing both fathers as the boy’s parents.

By refusing to issue a writ of certiorari, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, and therefore let a prior judgment against Adar and Smith stand. The justices announced their decision without comment.

Adar and Smith adopted their son in 2006 in New York, where a judge issued an adoption decree.

The couple than applied for a new birth certificate for their child, in part so that Smith could add his son to his health insurance policy.

The Louisiana registrar’s office refused to issue a birth certificate with both fathers’ names because that state does not recognize adoption by unmarried parents.

Lambda Legal filed suit on behalf of Adar and Smith in October 2007, saying that the registrar was violating the Full Faith and Credit and Equal Protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

According to Lambda Legal, the Consti-

file photo

Supremes deny Lambda Legal appeal in Louisiana adoption case

tution says that judgments issued by a court in one state are legally binding in other states. Also, no state may not disadvantage some children over others simply because the child’s parents are unmarried.

The Louisiana attorney general advised the registrar that she did not have to honor an adoption from another state that would not have been granted under Louisiana law had the couple lived and adopted there.

In 2008, U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey ruled against the registrar and ordered her to issue a new birth certificate identifying both Oren Adar and Mickey Smith as the boy’s parents, saying her continued failure to do so violated the U.S. Constitution.

In 2010, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed and unanimously affirmed the judgment.

The Louisiana attorney general then requested a rehearing by the full Court of Appeals, and a sharply divided court issued a decision this spring overturning the prior decisions.

In July Lambda Legal asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case, arguing that the 5th Circuit’s ruling ignores nearly 100 United States Supreme Court years of well-established Supreme Court law and conflicts with other federal circuits “This decision leaves adopted children Faith and Credit clause might include the across the country. and their parents vulnerable in their interac- portability of same-sex marriage. In other “By denying this writ, the Supreme Court tions with officials from other states. words, if a same-sex couple is married in is leaving untouched a dangerous 5th Cir- “More particularly, this decision leaves a state where that is legal, are other states cuit Court of Appeals ruling that carves out a child without an accurate birth certificate required to treat them as legally married or an exception to the Full Faith and Credit listing both his parents,” Upton added. “This may states treat them as an unmarried couClause of the U.S. Constitution and to the issue now moves into the legislative arena. ple? uniformly recognized respect for judgments We need to push for a change in Louisiana The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear that states have come to rely upon,” said state policy in order to stabilize and stan- the adoption case leaves the 5th Circuit’s Kenneth D. Upton, supervising senior staff dardize respect for parent-child relation- decision in place, but does not necessarily attorney in Lambda Legal’s South Central ships for all adoptive children.” establish a nationwide precedent that would Regional Office in Dallas.

Future legal issues that turn on the Full govern future Full Faith and Credit cases.

California’s FAIR Education Act safe

Bigots’ signature drive fails - no ballot in 2012

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer California’s FAIR Education Act will not go up for a vote in 2012.

Anti-LGBT organizers admitted on October 11 that they had failed to get enough signatures on a petition to refer the law to California voters.

The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act requires California schools to integrate age-appropriate and factual information about LGBT people, people with disabilities, and people of color into existing social science curricula.

The law was passed in July and signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown.

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Seattle Gay News

A coalition of right-wing and religious organizations calling itself Stop SB 48 then announced it would circulate a petition to refer the measure to California voters, much like Referendum 71 in Washington state.

The petition effort was controversial from the start and only became more so when Stop SB 48 members were caught lying about the provisions of the bill, stating that the law exposes children to child molesters or that the repeal attempt was a bill opposing child molesters.

Since it is illegal in California to lie in order to collect signatures on a petition, the Courage Campaign filed a formal complaint with the California attorney general and several municipal authorities.

“Today’s victory shows that their lies cannot stand up to our truth,” said Roland Palencia, Equality California executive director and interim executive committee cochair of the coalition to protect the FAIR Education Act. “But we know that opponents of equality won’t stop here. We remain vigilant, not only to make sure that people know the facts about the FAIR Education Act, but also to continue preparing for new attacks on the FAIR Education Act at the ballot box, in the legislature, and in courts of law.”

“Now it’s time to focus on implementing the FAIR Education Act and demonstrate to the public that our opponents’ lies are noth-

October 14, 2011

The Stop SB 48 petition campaign failed to gather enough signatures

ing more than smear tactics designed to censor the historical contributions of LGBT people, people with disabilities, and people of color from social studies classes,” said Laura Valdez, interim executive director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network and co-chair of the interim executive committee of the

coalition to protect the FAIR Education Act. “Already, we are working with school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community groups to ensure the fair and accurate portrayal of historically marginalized groups in schools, and we will continue to work to educate the public.”

Celebrating 38 Years!

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In an October 13 posting on the White House blog, a high official in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) pledged his agency to combat anti-LGBT discrimination in housing.

Kenneth J. Carroll, director of the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP), cited an NGLTF study released earlier this year to demonstrate the dimensions of the problem faced by LGBT, and especially gender-nonconforming people, in securing fair housing.

“In a recent survey of 6,450 Transgender and gender non-conforming persons,” Carroll said, “19% reported having been refused a house or an apartment because of gender identity, and 19% reported having been homeless because of gender identity.”

“Findings of a 2007 Michigan study indicate that same-sex couples face bias and discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation when trying to access rental housing,” Carroll added.

Carroll went on to explain six ongoing HUD projects to address anti-LGBT discrimination in housing.

First, HUD leveraged some $3.5 billion in federal funding to make owners of housing units comply with state and local laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Where state and local laws do not apply, HUD ruled that the federal Fair Housing Act prohibition against sex discrimination gives it authority to investigate complaints from LGBT persons alleging housing discrimination because of non-conformity with gender stereotypes.

According to Carroll, HUD accepted and proceeded with enforcement efforts on 114 such complaints in 2010, about three times more than in the prior two years.

HUD made additional rules changes to ensure equal LGBT access, including clarification that a “family,” which is the term used to define persons eligible for HUD-funded programs, includes persons regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status.

Carroll said that HUD expects to publish the final version of this rule by the end of 2011.

HUD has launched a webpage that includes resources for LGBT victims of hous-

courtesy HUD

HUD pledges more help to end anti-LGBT discrimination in housing

An ad used as part of an anti-LGBT discrimination campaign from HUD

ing discrimination.

HUD also initiated the first nationwide study of LGBT housing discrimination that will provide national data on the nature and extent of housing discrimination against same-sex couples.

To reach out to communities that typically face housing discrimination, HUD designed and implemented “Live Free,” a national media campaign to raise awareness about housing discrimination.

The program includes digital videos, podcasts, Facebook postings, and print ads targeted to specific populations, including the LGBT community.

GLAAD and allies speak out against anti-LGBT bullying on Spirit Day

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s LGBT media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, announced on October 13 an initial list of participants in Spirit Day as well as the launch of its “Amplify Your Voice!” public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring celebrity talent and young people speaking out against anti-LGBT bullying.

The PSAs urge viewers to take a stand against anti-LGBT bullying and direct viewers to GLAAD.org for resource kits offering best practices to parents, teachers, and students. The free kits feature resources from the American Federation of Teachers, GLSEN, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and The Trevor Project, among others.

Celebrity participants in GLAAD’s “Amplify Your Voice!” campaign – a project developed with the American Federation of Teachers – include Chaz Bono, Kristin Chenoweth, Vinny Guadagnino, Rashida Jones, Dustin Lance Black, Sandra Lee, Mario Lopez, Shaquille O’Neal, Amy Poehler, Naya Rivera, Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, Ariel Winter, and the cast of ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars.

The campaign also features the personal stories of young people from New York’s LGBT Community Center (the Center). The Center’s Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Program is open to LGBT and questioning people between the ages of 13 and 22, and provides them with community support to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming, and drug-free environment.

Videos and resource kits are available at

Visit us online www.sgn.org

www.glaad.org/amplifyyourvoice.

GLAAD also announced initial participants who will join millions of Americans by wearing purple on October 20, to take a stand against anti-LGBT bullying and show support for LGBT youth on Spirit Day. GLAAD is working with organizations including GLSEN, GSA Network, and the Trevor Project as part of National Bullying Prevention Month to inspire individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals, and celebrities to wear purple.

Hosts from the CNBC, CNN, E!, The Dr. Drew Show, MSNBC, and The View will be wearing purple on-air. MTV will be turning the on-air logo purple along with their Facebook, Twitter, MTV.com and MTV Act logos.

Companies including American Airlines,

October 14, 2011

According to HUD data, housing discrimination complaints from LGBT individuals has increased significantly after the Live Free program was introduced.

From July 1, 2010, to February 28, 2011, HUD said, LGBT individuals filed 47 complaints of housing discrimination alleging gender discrimination with HUD. During the same period prior to Live Free, HUD received only three such complaints “More needs to be done to address LGBT housing discrimination in the United States,” Carroll concluded. “If you have ideas on what else HUD can do, send us an email at LGBTfairhousing@hud.gov.”

AT&T, B|W|R Public Relations, Comcast, Facebook, Goldman Sachs, McGraw-Hill, NBCUniversal, Verizon, Yahoo! and Yahoo!

Pride, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will participate in 2011. Participating companies will be distributing information to employees about wearing purple.

Some have also pledged to turn their logos purple for the day.

The Sundance Channel employees will participate and the Sundance Channel social media logos will turn to purple on Spirit Day. LOGO will air a Spirit Day purple ribbon on the channel to drive viewers to NewNowNext.com to increase awareness against bullying. Additionally, their Twitter (@LogoTV) and Facebook photos will “go purple,” and pictures of staff, fans, and talent will be posted to Tumblr throughout the day.

Here Media will turn logos on Advocate. com, Out.com, and SheWired purple for the day.

Spirit Day coincides with GLSEN’s “Ally Week” (October 17-21), a week for students to organize events that serve to identify, support and celebrate Allies against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment in America’s schools and communities. GLSEN has partnered with GLAAD to promote Spirit Day as an event for students to participate in during “Ally Week.” For more information about “Ally Week” visit www.allyweek. org.

Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a way to show support for LGBT youth and remember those lives lost to suicide. Millions of teachers, workplaces, media personalities, and students wore purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag.

“From Hollywood to corporate America, it’s clear that an overwhelming number of Americans today support LGBT youth and believe that no one should be bullied for being who they are,” said GLAAD Acting President Mike Thompson. “On Spirit Day and with our new ‘Amplify Your Voice!’ campaign, some of the greatest Hollywood, news, and sports voices will be brought into America’s living rooms, reminding millions that no matter who you are, you have the power to make a difference.”

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Anna Grodzka has become the first openly Transgender person elected to Poland’s parliament.

Her election was announced on the Transgender Europe (TGEU) website on October 10.

Grodzka is president of Trans-Fuzja, the Polish TGEU affiliate. She was elected representing the Palikot Movement, a new political party that stunned Polish politicians by coming in third in Polish national elections on October 9.

Party leader Janusz Palikot is straight, but is a strong supporter of LGBT rights, as well as marijuana legalization.

In addition to Godzka, the party also elected Poland’s first openly Gay legislator, Robert Biedron.

“This is an incredible step forward for Poland,” TGEU Working Group coordinator Wiktor Dynarski said in a statement.

“We were aware of the fact that Anna’s decision to actually become a candidate would bring a lot more discussion on Transgender issues into Polish politics, but we have never even dreamt of achieving such an incredible success!”

According to the TGEU, Trans Poles face a number of issues that have already been resolved for their counterparts in other European countries. Poland entered the European Union in 2004, but its social legislation still lags behind many European countries, especially where minority rights are concerned.

“Many Trans and intersex individuals in the country feel unsafe and unheard,” the TGEU said in its statement.

“An important improvement would be a law regulating the recognition of change of name and gender. Currently, this is only ruled by case law. No law or official decree exists leaving transgender individuals in a state of legal uncertainty.”

European Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has identified Poland as one of the E.U. member states that has not yet fulfilled its obligation under the European Convention on Human Rights to provide for legal gender recognition.

Hammerberg also criticized the Polish government for not providing “quick, transparent, and accessible” legal mechanisms as recommended by the E.U. Committee of Ministers.

“Poland has ignored the rights of its Transgender citizens for too long. It is high time to finally discuss introduction of a gender recognition law. We are optimistic that Grodzka’s success will motivate more countries in the Central-Eastern European region to take notice of the existence of Transgender and intersex persons and their rights,” TGEU co-chair Richard Köhler said.

Poland’s governing Civic Platform party won the largest bloc of seats in the October 9 election, but fewer than in the previous election. Civic Platform is a center-right party, which officially opposes same-sex Anna Grodzka marriage, reproductive choice, and decrimiform’s conservative views on social issues. Parliament, and they may hold the balance nalization of recreational drugs.

Three progressive parties, including the of power since no party has an absolute maThe second-place party, Law and Justice, is a harder right party that shares Civic Plat- Palikot Movement, also elected members to jority in Parliament.

In the wake of DADT repeal, a historic, first-ever conference sponsored by activeduty LGBT military members is scheduled to take place this weekend in Las Vegas.

The OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit will welcome more than 200 currently serving LGBT and straight military members, veterans, spouses/partners, and allies to join workshops and meetings. Topics include leadership, family, faith, unique challenges faced by servicewomen, and lessons on open service from military allies, all with the objective of strengthening the U.S. military.

“Diversity is rightly viewed by the military as a force multiplier,” said Air Force 1st Lt. Josh Seefried, OutServe co-director.

courtesy servicemembers united

Historic military summit welcomes LGBT and straight military members

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Profimedia

Trans woman elected to Polish parliament

“All of us in the armed forces share the same mission, and by taking advantage of our unique differences and points of view, we become stronger.”

According to OutServe officials, the conference will provide an international forum on creating an environment of respect in the military with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity, and provide the LGBT military community a venue for building professional networks, sharing best practices, and formulating strategies that help build a stronger military community.

In addition to a number of active-duty attendees, Gay former military officers Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, Navy Cmdr. Zoe Dunning, Air Force Maj. Mike Almy, and Army Capt. Jonathan Hopkins will speak about leadership while being “out.” Naval Academy grad and founder of the Military Acceptance Project Kristen Kavanaugh will join an active-duty military psychologist to provide resources for Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach is one of several openly Gay servicemembers scheduled to speak service members and their partners who are at this year’s OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit. separated by deployment, or who need support for other issues. Chaplains from the Fo- of every individual through that environ- Force, PRIDE Institute, and Coverity.

OutServe is an association of actively rum on the Military Chaplaincy will speak ment of respect.”

Summit sponsors include the Human serving LGBT military personnel that about pluralism and professionalism in the chaplaincy, and former Marine Capt. Anu Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal launched in 2010. With more than 4,000 Bhagwati of Service Women’s Action Net- Defense Network, the Central Intelligence members and 40-plus chapters worldwide, work will present information on the special Agency, Amazon, Courage Campaign, it is one of the largest LGBT employee reAmerican Veterans for Equal Rights, Out & source groups in the world. OutServe works concerns of military women.

“This is very much a series of working Equal, Log Cabin Republicans, Stonewall to support a professional network of LGBT sessions,” said Hopkins, a decorated veteran Democrats, Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas military personnel and create an environof Iraq and Afghanistan. “DADT is done; Convention and Visitors Authority, Wells ment of respect in the military with regard to now let’s get to work on getting the most out Fargo, the National Gay & Lesbian Task sexual orientation and gender identity.

Rich Full-Bodied Cafes Savory Homestyle Soups & Sandwiches 8

Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

NORTHWEST

WOMEN’S FUNDING ALLIANCE – “AMPLIFY! RAISE THE VOLUME. UP THE IMPACT” compiled by Rick McKinnon A FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST SGN Staff Writer On Thursday, October 20, registration and coffee from 7-7:30 a.m., program and breakBORN THIS WAY KAFE fast from 7:30-8:30 a.m., at Benaroya Hall “LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!” – FOR URBAN QUEER TEENS (3rd Ave. and University St.) join the WomTHE 2011 LESBIAN & GAY BAND AT CAL ANDERSON PARK en’s Funding Alliance for their third annual ASSOCIATION CONCERT On Fridays, 5-9 p.m., at Cal Anderson fundraising breakfast. There is no ticket fee AT MCCAW HALL Shelterhouse (1635 11th Ave., one block On Sunday, October 16, at 3 p.m., at Mc- to attend the event. Guests will be encournorth of E. Pine St.), Seattle Parks & Rec- Caw Hall (321 Mercer St.) Seattle’s Rain- aged to make a meaningful contribution durreation hosts Born This Way Kafe, a wel- bow City Band hosts the 2011 Lesbian & ing the program. www.wfalliance.org. coming place where LGBTQ youth, friends Gay Band Association Concert, “Lights, and allies (ages 13-19) can gather, be them- Camera, Action!” featuring music from the RADICAL WOMEN – selves, and have fun. Meets every Friday. cinema – from silent film to contemporary “BECOMING THE LEADERS For more information and to help make it blockbusters, from quiet romance to thrilling WE’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR” happen, contact Randy at Seattle Parks, 206- adventures – performed by a 200 member On Thursday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m., at 883-6110 txt/phone, email randy.wiger@se- symphonic band comprised of LGBT and New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), attle.gov or google “SeattleParksCOD.” allied musicians from around the country. Radical Women hosts “Becoming the LeadTickets: $25-$45. Rainbow City Band is of- ers We’ve Been Searching For,” an exploTHREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA – fering SGN readers a 25% discount through ration of the socialist feminist concept of SEATTLE Ticketmaster. Go to www.LGBA2011.org, feminist, grassroots leadership. Discuss the LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL click on BUY TICKETS and you’ll be taken pressures that can discourage women from OCTOBER 14-23 to the Ticketmaster website. Enter the pro- becoming confident leaders as well as the www.threedollarbillcinema.org motional code RCBLCA under “enter offer conditions that propel some to step forward. code/password” on the Ticketmaster order Participate in a skills-building session. DinEARSHOT JAZZ FESTIVAL ner, with vegetarian option, will be available form to receive the discount.

OCT. 14-NOV. 6 at 6:30 p.m. for an $8 donation. For more inwww.earshot.org formation, rides or childcare, call 206-722RADICAL WOMEN – 6057 or email RWSeattle@mindspring.

WEEKLY FEMINIST MOUNTAINS TO SOUND com. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair acREADING CIRCLE GREENWAY TRUST Radical Women hosts a weekly roundta- cessible.

FALL TREE PLANTING ble discussion of Frederick Engels’ classic The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust work, Origin of the Family, Private Prop“BURLYCON” – will be hosting a series of native tree and erty and the State, on the persistent problem THE BURLESQUE CONVENTION shrub plantings starting Saturday, October of women’s inequality and how it can be OCTOBER 20-23 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and continuing week- overcome. The reading circle meets Monwww.burlycon.org ends into December. Volunteers are invited day through December 12,, 7:30-9:30 p.m., to help with the project at Seattle and King at 3314 Wallingford Ave. N. #4, Seattle. $2 HEINEKEN CITYARTS FEST2011 County locations throughout the greenway. suggested donation per session. Everyone OCTOBER 20-22 The kick-off on Saturday, October 15, at welcome. For more information, call 206www.CityArtsFest.com Lake Sammamish State Park, will feature 722-6057 or email RWseattle@mindspring. food, music and booths plus plenty of trees com.

ROSEHEDGE/ to plant. You can sign-up for a full day or MULTIFAITH WORKS – half-day of tree planting. For more informaCARETEAM TRAINING GSBA BUSINESS LUNCHEON – tion and to sign-up, visit www.mtsgreenRosehedge/Multifaith Work is seeking “PROTECTING LGBTQ YOUTH” way.org and look under the VOLUNTEER On Wednesday, October 19, from 11:30 volunteers for their CareTeam programs. menu for Tree Planting. a.m-1:30 p.m., at Hilton Seattle Hotel The next CareTeam Training will be held (1301 Sixth Ave.), join GSBA members and on Saturday, October 22. For more informaSEATTLE CENTER FESTAL – friends for the GSBA’s monthly business tion, contact Cherie Schumacher, Volunteer TURKFEST luncheon. LGBTQ youth are especially at Program Director, 206-787-8412 or cheOCTOBER 15-16 risk for being the targets of bullying in our rie@rosehedge.org. Rosehedge/Multifaith Noon-7pm, at Seattle Center’s Center schools and, therefore, are at an increased Works serves vulnerable men and women House. www.turkfest.org. risk for depression and suicide. Guest living with HIV/AIDS by providing housspeakers Heather Carter (Youth Suicide ing, compassionate health care and supportCOMMUNITY ALLIANCE Prevention Program), Beth Reis (Public ive services that enhance the quality of their FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE – Health Seattle & King County and the Safe lives. In addition, they unite communities 10 YEAR CELEBRATION! Schools Coalition), and Marko Liias (State of compassionate care with people living in On Saturday, October 15, from 7-11 p.m., Representative, 21st District, and sponsor isolation and loneliness. at Historic Washington Hall (152 14th Ave., of anti-bullying legislation) will be disjust north of E. Yesler St.), Community Al- cussing ways to work together to minimize NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST liance for Global Justice (CAGJ) celebrates distress for LGBTQ youth and ensure that TO STOP POLICE BRUTALITY 10 years of local organizing for justice in the our schools are a safe place where ALL can On Saturday, October 22, at 2 p.m., at global economy. Join CAGJ as they cele- learn and thrive. Tickets: $34-GSBA mem- Westlake Plaza (4th Ave. & Pine St.), join brate 10 years of accomplishments and take bers, $39-nonmembers, $34-students. To the National Day of Protest to Stop Police stock of broader social movement victories register, call 206-363-9188 or go to www. Brutality. Wear black in memory of people and get psyched for the next 10 years. Share thegsba.org. murdered by law enforcement. Organized your favorite activist stories, enjoy tamales, by the October 22 Coalition to Stop Police rice and beans, horchata and spirits, hear Brutality, Repression and the CriminalizaSEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN from CAGJ’s founding director, Jeremy tion of a Generation. 206-264-5527; octBOOK CLUB – THE LADIES Simer, and dance the night away. With speThe Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club 22seattle@hotmail.com, october22.org. cial musical guests: Seattle Fandango Proj- meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Seattle ect and Gravity Kings. $5-$20 sliding scale Area Support Groups Community Center SEATTLE CENTER FESTAL – donation. Catering by El Rodeo: A Taste of (formerly Dunshee House) (303 17th Ave. CROATIAFEST El Salvador.

OCTOBER 23 E. & E. Thomas St.). Women members have Noon-8pm, at Seattle Center’s Exhibition been requesting a book about women, so FALL MAPLE VIEWING the October selection is an elegant novel Hall. www.croatiafest.org.

WITH BUTOH EVENT based on the very real, non-fiction, love of AT JAPANESE GARDEN IN THE LIFE TV – two women in the 1770s. Doris Grumbach’s On Sunday, October 16, from 11-3pm, The Ladies is her telling of the true story of 20TH ANNIVERSARY the Washington Park Arboretum presents Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby who SEASON PREMIERE a special Fall Maple Viewing Event at the became known as the Ladies of Llangollen, On Sunday, October 23, at midnight, on Seattle Japanese Garden (just north of the two Irish women who defied convention KCTS-TV, Channel 9, In The Life marks Arboretum’s south entrance, Lake Washing- way before their time, eloped and lived as a twenty years on public television celebratton Blvd. E. & E. Madison St.). From noon- married couple to be visited by the celebri- ing and documenting the faces, voices and 1 p.m., five roving rogue ronin (Japanese ties of the day. stories of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and samurai) butoh performers will be moving All GLBTQ folks are welcome to partici- Transgender community. This season prethrough the garden. Admission: $6-general, pate in this FREE book club. For more in- mier opens with analysis of New York’s $4 seniors/students. formation, email nickdimartin@earthlink. vote for marriage equality and closes with net, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/ a look back at twenty years of covering the swittet/SGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at culture wars.

206-322-2437.

NEWS

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY ARTS EVENTS Festivals and events color the character of Seattle’s neighborhoods. Community groups presenting a neighborhood arts or cultural event in 2012 can apply for funding through the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs’ Neighborhood & Community Arts program.

The funding program helps Seattle’s neighborhood art councils and communitybased groups produce annual festivals and events that enhance the visibility of neighborhoods, promote cultural participation, celebrate diversity and build community through arts and culture.

Neighborhood arts councils and community-based groups may seek support for a recurring festival or event that has been in existence for at least one year, has a significant arts and cultural component, is open to the public and takes place in Seattle. Applicants are not required to have 501(c)(3) taxexempt status.

Funded organizations each receive $1,200 to support direct project expenses, including artist fees, marketing and promotional fees, venue and equipment rentals or other production-related expenses. Funds may not be used for fundraising or organizational administrative expenses. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 26. Link to the online application at www.seattle.gov/arts.

LAMBERT HOUSE – “NIGHTMARE ON CAPITOL HILL” ALL AGES HALLOWEEN PARTY On Friday, October 28, from 7 p.m.-1 a.m., at 500 Broadway E., Lambert House presents “Nightmare on Capitol Hill,” an all-ages dance party with raffles and a drag show. YOU are invited to come dance till 1 a.m., enjoy a wonderful drag show hosted

by Jaiden Nicole Palace and win some raffle prizes. There will be a juice bar serving refreshments throughout the evening. DJ Tony Tee will be spinning all night long, playing all your favorites non-stop, including top 40, pop, techno and dance. Dress to impress and bring a date! ALL proceeds from the event (sales, tips, donations/cover) will go to benefit Lambert House, Seattle’s center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and questioning youth that empowers youth through the development of leadership, social, and life skills. Suggested donation is $5. www.lamberthouse.org.

“THE GLEE PARTY” WITH KATE CLINTON – A BENEFIT FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS On Friday, October 28, at 8 p.m., at Benaroya Hall, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall (3rd Ave. & Union St.), join Lesbian comedian Kate Clinton for her 2011 Glee Party Tour, a celebration of her 30-year career. This will be a rolling Restore-toSanity rally. Join the Glee Party! Problems are solved in less than an hour. Break into flash mobs of song and dance for no apparent reason. Kate preaches way beyond the choir. She is the original Nostra Dame. Get some PTSG: Post-Traumatic Stress Glee. If the whole world is going down, we might as well be gleeful and Gay. 206-215-4747; www.benaroyahall.org.

“BUMP! HEAVEN + HELL” HALLOWEEN PARTY TO BENEFIT GAY CITY HEALTH PROJECT, SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS, SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS On Friday, October 28, from 9 p.m.-2 a.m., at the Showbox at the Market (1426 1st Ave.), join Gay City, SMC and SWC for a very hot Halloween party, featuring live entertainment, a $1,000 prize costume contest, and three DJs. Dress to impress! Tickets: $40 and up. Group rates available. For more information and advance tickets, visit www.gaycity.org/bump.

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October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News

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10 Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

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October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News 11

12 Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

OctOber is Gay HistOry MOntH! Read the SGN throughout October for the best in Gay history!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News 13

14 Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

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October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News 15

October is Gay History Month Katharine Lee Bates: Author of America the Beautiful

by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns Special to the SGN Courtesy of the National Gay History Project

file photo

Katharine Lee Bates was born on August 12, 1859, on Cape Cod in Falmouth, Mass., to William and Cornelia Frances Lee Bates.

Known as Katie early on, things would not be easy from the start. Her father, a pastor of the First Congregational Church, was too sick to officiate or attend her baptism and died just six days afterward. This prompted her mother to take on odd jobs to support her four children. Bates’ brothers even went to work to support the family.

Bates’ interest in writing started at an early in life. By age 6, she started keeping a diary, her first being a tiny red leather notebook with the notation “DIARY 1866” in gold. At age 9, one entry stated, “I like women better than men,” and “Sewing is always expected of girls. Why not boys?

Bates’ family valued education. Her mother graduated from Mount Holyoke Female Seminary and her grandfather had been president of Middlebury College. She, too, would be well educated.

Just before Bates turned 12, the family moved to Graniteville, Mass., just outside Boston, where she would attend Wellesley High School, graduating in 1874. Bates would also graduate from the more advanced Newton High School two years later.

That same year, in 1878, at age 17, Bates began her long-time association with Wellesley College, entering along with 43 other girls. She would be president of her class, the second to graduate from Wellesley. At the time, it was a bold move, as women were considered not bright enough to tackle to rigors of academic life. But to Bates, it was what she craved.

Bates gained a superb education at Wellesley and became grounded in her studies. Her poetry writing began to flourish with her first poem, Sleep, published in The Atlantic Monthly during her undergraduate years there.

After receiving her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1880, Bates began her career as a teacher, with a stint at nearby Natick High School and then Dana Hall preparatory school. Her big break came in 1885, when she was invited back to Wellesley College to join the English department. Thus began her 40-year legacy at her old alma mater.

During her time at Wellesley, Bates became a prolific author of travel books, volumes of poetry, and children’s books.

Today she is credited with popularizing the notion that Santa Claus had a wife in the book Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh

work as men?

During her Wellesley years, Bates took trips abroad for sabbaticals and summers off. But it would be her cross-country train trip to Colorado Springs in 1893 – she’d been asked to teach a summer session at Colorado College – that would spark the start of her work on her best-known poem, America the Beautiful.

The trip over would be a long one with picturesque views through her train coach Ride. Before then, Bishop St. Nicholas was window. unmarried and later was transformed into a Passing through Massachusetts and then secular Santa Claus in the 1820s. to New York, there was a brief stop at one On the cover of an early version of the of the continent’s most famous attractions,

Katharine Lee Bates in 1893

book, Santa hands two children an apple on snow-swept landscape in full color. It was published by D. Lothrop Company.

Written as a long poem in 1889, it depicts Mrs. Claus as wanting to accompany Santa on his Christmas Eve trip to deliver his toys to all the girls and boys – not as a stay-athome wife. Instead, Santa’s wife takes a feminist stance, demanding credit for her hard work in making Christmas possible including cooking to make Santa plump.

Goody Santa Claus, meaning Mrs. Claus, states her case thus: Santa, must I tease in vain, dear? Let me go and hold the reindeer, While you clamber down the chimneys.

Don’t look savage as a Turk!

Why should you have all the glory of the joyous Christmas story, And poor little Goody Santa Claus have nothing but the work?

Like her creator Bates, this Mrs. Claus would stand up for herself and beg the same question: Why can’t women do the same

16 Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Niagara Falls. Then it was off to Chicago where Bates would have a weekend stopover at the family home of Katharine Coman, professor of economics and history at Wellesley. The two had met in 1887, and would live together for more than a quarter of a century in what was then known as a “Boston marriage.”

While in Chicago, they toured what Bates in her diary called “The Fair” – the World’s Columbian Exposition, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the New World. The view of what was described as the “White City” impressed Bates.

From Chicago, on July 3, 1893, both Katharines boarded a train bound for their summer classes in Colorado, passing fields of wheat as they traveled west through Kansas and on to Colorado Springs. They would together view the Rocky Mountains for the first time.

At Colorado College for three weeks, the two instructors had time to tour the area during their free time. It was on Saturday, July 22, 1893, that Bates experienced her most

exciting excursion. A group of instructors were invited to travel to the top of the mountain that loomed over their town below. At 14,110 feet above sea level, Pike’s Peak, while not the tallest in the Rocky Mountain range, commanded the best view for miles around.

The group went by horse-drawn wagon, which included the sign “Pike’s Peak or Bust!” Bates described the experience thus, “One day some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pike’s Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there, with the sea-like expanse.”

Inspired by the majestic view, Bates wrote some verses in her notebook – the start of what would later be known as America the Beautiful.

It would not be until Bates’ return to Wellesley College that she would polish up her verses from Colorado. Her first version of the poem America the Beautiful appeared in The Congregationalist on July 4, 1895.

While many tunes, including “Auld Lang Syne,” were matched to the poem’s words and meter, the one that stuck was “Materna,” written by American organist and composer Samuel Ward in 1882. Ward never knew of the union of his tune and Bates’ poem: He never met Bates and died in 1903. Known as “the other national anthem,” Bates’ ode has touched so many lives “from sea to shining sea.”

Both Bates and Coman had successful careers at Wellesley College. After graduating as a student, Bates later chaired the English department, and Coman chaired the economics department and was dean of the college. Their relationship grew over the years until they soon considered themselves bound as one. Their friendships included other female couples at the college, known as “Wellesley marriages.”

While today less well-known than her partner, Coman was ahead of her time as the first woman institutional economist, writing books and articles on the topic.

Coman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1912. After surgery, Bates helped care for her, even installing an elevator in their home to aid her partner in getting to her office on the third floor of their custom-built house just outside the college.

Coman died on January 11, 1915, at age 57. Bates expressed her grief to a friend saying, “So much of me died with Coman that I’m sometimes not quite sure whether I’m alive or not.”

Bates also wrote of their relationship in a volume of poetry published in 1922 entitled Yellow Clover, A Book of Remembrance.

The poem took its name from the little yellow flowers each had pressed into the letters they wrote to each other when apart.

Bates continued at Wellesley until 1925.

During her final years, she continued to write and review the works of others. She died on March 28, 1929, upon which the flag at Tower Court at Wellesley was flown at half-staff. The local newspaper The Townsman printed her obituary written by a Mr. Bradford: “The death of Katharine Lee Bates means the passing away of one of the most notable citizens of Wellesley, one of the most important figures connected with Wellesley College, and much more than that, a considerable author and creative influence in the whole of American life.”

Judd Proctor and Brian Burns host The Rainbow Minute, a community radio show devoted to LGBT history and culture founded in 2006. Proctor is a retired elementary school teacher and staunch gay activist.

Burns is an author and horticulturalist. The couple resides in Richmond, Virginia.

Celebrating 38 Years!

Friedrich von Steuben: Father of the U.S. military

been informed that that is the reason why M. de Steuben was obliged to leave Hechingen and that the clergy of your country intend to prosecute him by law as soon as he may establish himself anywhere.”

Deane, along with Franklin, acted quickly before the clergy could deport or imprison von Steuben and plotted to send him to the colonies to serve with Washington. Von Steuben was given an advance for passage to America and began as a volunteer, without pay.

Once he’d arrived in Valley Forge, Wash-

tive to the first Continental Congress and friend of Franklin. Deane is best known for recruiting the Marquis de Lafayette. He also There are few historians today who would had a side job as a spy for the colonies. Bedispute that Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von sides being intelligent themselves, Franklin Steuben was Gay. To appreciate the contributions von Steuben (1730-94) made to the American Revolution, consider this: Before his arrival at Valley Forge in 1778, the Revolutionary Army had lost several battles to Great Britain and, without him, the United States of America might still be the British colonies.

Before Valley Forge, the Revolutionary Army was a loosely organized, rag-tag band of men with little military training.

The military fumbled through the beginning of the war for independence lacking training and organization. Gen. George Washington and the Continental Congress knew that without help from additional seasoned military experts, the colonies would clearly lose. Since Washington himself was the best the colonies had, they looked to Europe for someone who could train the troops. To that end, Washington wrote the colonies’ representative in Paris, Benjamin Franklin, to see what he could come up with. Franklin, a renowned inventor, was treated as a celebrity in the French court. This would be pivotal in achieving his two major objectives in France: winning financial support for the revolution and finding military leaders who could bring a semblance of order to the Revolutionary Army.

Franklin learned of a “brilliant” Prussian military genius, Lt. Gen. Baron Frederich von Steuben. Von Steuben had a string of successes (some self-embellished) with the Prussian army. There was one problem.

He’d been asked to depart because of his “affections for members of his own sex.”

This became urgent in 1777 when he literally escaped imprisonment in what is now Germany and traveled to Paris. In Paris, “Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus, Baron von Steuben,” Franklin was interviewing candidates to asoil on canvas, by the American artist Ralph Earl. sist Washington back in the colonies when he discovered von Steuben. ington was concerned about von Steuben’s During the interview process, Franklin and Deane knew how to spot intelligence. It inability to speak English so he appointed discovered von Steuben’s reputation for would have been impossible for either to not two of his officers who spoke French to having “affections” with males and the is- know about the reputation of von Steuben. work as his translators. One of those officers sue became pressing as members of the Franklin, working with Deane, decided was Alexander Hamilton and the other his French clergy demanded the French court, von Steuben’s “affections” were less im- close friend John Laurens. Within months, as in other countries, take action against this portant than what he, Washington, and the von Steuben gained Washington’s confisodomite. They had decided to make their colonies needed to win the war with Eng- dence and began to transform the colonial effort a crusade and run him out of France. land. Deane learned of von Steuben’s in- army.

Franklin had a choice here, and he decided discretions – and that the French clergy was Washington and Franklin’s trust in von von Steuben’s expertise was more important investigating – from a letter to the Prince Steuben was rewarded. He whipped the to the colonies than his sexuality. of Hechingen, his former employer, which rag-tag army of the colonies into a profesAt the same time, another colonial repre- read in part: sional fighting force, able to take on the sentative was in France with the explicit job “It has come to me from different sources most powerful superpower of the time, Engof recruiting experienced military personnel that M. de Steuben is accused of having tak- land. Some of his accomplishments include from Europe to train the Continental Army. en familiarities with young boys which the instituting a “model company” for training, He was Silas Deane, a former representa- laws forbid and punish severely. I have even establishing sanitary standards and organiby Mark Segal Special to the SGN

Courtesy of Yale University

zation for the camp, and training soldiers in drills and tactics such as bayonet fighting and musket loading. According to the New York Public Library (detailed in The Papers of von Steuben), the following is a list of his achievements and timeline: • February 1778: Arrives at Valley Forge to serve under Washington, having informed Congress of his desire for paid service after an initial volunteer trial period, with which request Washington concurs.

• March 1778: Begins tenure as inspector general, drilling troops according to established European military precepts.

• 1778-79: Writes “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States,” which becomes a fundamental guide for the Continental Army and remains in active use through the War of 1812, being published in more than 70 editions.

• 1780-81: Senior military officer in charge of troop and supply mobilization in Virginia.

• 1781: Replaced by Marquis de Lafayette as commander in Virginia.

• 1781-83: Continues to serve as Washington’s inspector general, and is active in improving discipline and streamlining administration in the army.

• Spring 1783: Assists in formulating plans for the postwar American military.

Washington rewarded von Steuben with a house at Valley Forge (still in existence and open for visits) which he shared with his aide-de-camps Capt. William North and Gen. Benjamin Walker. Walker lived with him through the remainder of his life, and von Steuben, who neither married nor denied any allegations of homosexuality, left his estate to North and Walker. His last will and testament, which includes the line “extraordinarily intense emotional relationship,” has been described as a love letter to Walker.

The nation that von Steuben help found has memorialized him with numerous statues, including those at Lafayette Square near the White House and at Valley Forge and Utica, N.Y. (where he is buried). German Americans celebrate his birthday each year on September 17, hosting parades in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

If George Washington was the father of the nation, then von Steuben, a Gay man, was the father of the United States military.

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October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News 17

Brits warned about drug-resistant gonorrhea Courtesy CDC

Britain’s Health Protection Agency has warned doctors that the antibiotic usually used to treat gonorrhea is no longer effective because the bacterial infection is now largely resistant to it.

Prof. Cathy Ison, a gonorrhea expert at HPA, says that unless new treatments are found, gonorrhea may be incurable in the future.

“Our lab tests have shown a dramatic reduction in the sensitivity of the drug we were using as the main treatment for gonorrhea. This presents the very real threat of untreatable gonorrhea in the future,” Ison said.

“We were so worried by the results we were seeing that we recommended that guidelines on the treatment of gonorrhea be revised in May this year, to recommend a more effective drug.

“But this won’t solve the problem, as history tells us that resistance to this therapy will develop too. In the absence of any new

nation and other symptoms, but can develop into chronic infections that can lead to infertility, joint damage, and serious infections in babies born to infected mothers.

People with gonorrhea are also at higher risk of getting HIV. Experience has shown that once a resistant strain of gonorrhea appears, it steadily displaces those that can be killed with antibiotics.

This happened in the 1970s and 1980s with penicillin and tetracycline and more recently with a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones, such as Cipro.

The ominous thing about H041 is that it is highly resistant to the newest drugs, cefixime and ceftriaxone.

Friends as family

Photomicrograph of gonococcal urethritis

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

ability to adapt itself and has gained resistance, or reduced susceptibility, to a growing list of antibiotics – first penicillin itself, then tetracyclines, ciprofloxacin, and now cefixime.

“This highlights the importance of practicing safe sex,” Ison added, “as, if new antibiotic treatments can’t be found, this will be only way of controlling this infection in the future.”

The new drug-resistant strain of gonorrhea, H041, was first identified in July, by Swedish researchers working in Japan.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 700,000 Americans contract gonorrhea each year.

The infection initially causes painful uri-

alternative treatments for when this happens, we will face a situation where gonorrhea cannot be cured.”

For now, the HPA advised doctors to stop using the usual antibiotic treatment cefixime and instead use two more powerful antibiotics. One is available as a pill and the other as an injection.

The World Health Organization recommends that a first-line antibiotic should be changed when treatment failure in patients reaches 5%.

But for cefixime the change is being made pre-emptively, the HPA says, because of the alarming increase in resistance to the medication.

Tests on samples taken from patients and grown in the laboratory showed reduced susceptibility to cefixime in nearly 20% of cases in 2010, compared with just 10% of cases in 2009.

As recently as 2005, no gonorrhea bacteria with reduced susceptibility to cefixime could be found in the U.K. The bacterium that causes the infection – Neisseria gonorrhoeae – has an unusual

by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer Sometimes we forget our strengths as individuals and as a community until we are placed in a life circumstance that challenges us to reflect upon our situation and values.

Yet, again, I was reminded of this as I just spent the last six months with another dear friend as he finished the final stages of his life. I was reminded on a daily basis that family is crucial. However, for far too many in our community, our friends become our family as a result of unfortunate circumstances. This is both wonderful and painful.

The frustrating truth is that still today too many in the LGBTQ community don’t have blood relations to rely on any more because their families have cast them out in anger over irrational fears, distorted values, and hatred. Although it still happens today, I am hopeful that it is happening less. Regardless of my hopes, for those it happens to, it is very painful and leaves them in situations where they seek out emotional ties that were supposed to exist with their family.

Also, let us not forget an older generation

who lost their biological families many years ago because, in previous decades, coming out of the closet and living as an openly Gay woman or man was far less common and far more problematic. It was out of this context that the community began to develop values and skills that created friends as family.

This was certainly reinforced through the early years of the AIDS epidemic. We found ourselves in family roles for the friends we loved because their families were gone.

Family bonds are very important. We are biologically wired to make loving connections beginning before birth and families are the social construct that supports this. This biological drive compels us to recreate relationships when the primary relationships we have are distressed or have ended.

There are some important components of these close relationships. The first is openness. We connect more with those we feel we can be ourselves around and who accept us as we are. Beyond acceptance, a big piece of this is trust! When we are open, we begin to trust that the other who loves us won’t intentionally hurt us or reject us.

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October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Trust develops when someone is reliable.

Reliability is another quality that forms a good, healthy bond between people. When someone is there for you consistently, you trust more. When you trust more, you become closer.

Reciprocity is another key ingredient to the bonds that make friends family. Reciprocity means that if you’ve been giving, you get something back – not because you deserve it or you want something. Rather, you get something back because the other recognizes what you bring to their life and they want to express their appreciation, values, and bond through their actions towards you. They want to do for you, as they can, in a way that represents what you’ve done for them.

Reciprocity and reliability, ideally, show up on a day-to-day basis in one form or another. They are surely there in time of need and crisis. You know there is a bond when someone is there with you through a rough spot! When you’ve got reciprocity and reliability, you have trust! This interplay makes a loving bond and this is how friends become family.

Take a moment to reflect upon the kind of friend you are and how you value and appreciate the close friends that you have.

Honestly assess how reliability, reciprocity, and openness influence the strength of the bonds that you have.

I know that our culture pushes the belief that blood is thicker than water. For some in our community, this isn’t a true statement.

However, never forget that our strength lies in those we make connections with, and the quality of those connections determine the strength and longevity of the bond. This is how friends become family.

Michael Raitt, M.A., LMHC, is a therapist and a contributing writer to SGN. He writes a bi-monthly column. If you would like to comment on this column or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast.net.

Dr. J

Is HIV awareness enough?

by Dr. Joanne Stekler Special to the SGN Joanne Stekler, M.D, MPH, is deputy director of community services for the HIV/ STD Program at Public Health – Seattle & King County. She is also an internal medicine and infectious disease physician at Harborview Medical Center, and assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Washington.

This article is part of a series focusing on HIV and other STD prevention and care topics for Gay/Bisexual men and Transgender individuals in Seattle and King County.

This Saturday, October 15, is the ninth annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. It’s one of several days throughout the year that are meant to get people thinking and talking about HIV and AIDS. In Seattle, just like the rest of the country, HIV is having a big impact in communities of color. Latinos make up 6% of the population locally but about twice that proportion – 13% – of people newly diagnosed with HIV. Gay and Bi men make up most of these new infections, and the greatest number is in guys in their 20s and 30s.

Why is this?

Well, I can’t tell you for certain, but I can tell you why it isn’t. It isn’t because Latino

guys are taking more risks than non-Latino guys. It isn’t because lots of Latino men are secretly having sex with other men. And it isn’t because there are differences in HIV testing rates among Latinos compared to other groups.

Maybe Latino guys have more partners whose HIV status they don’t know. Maybe they don’t talk about HIV status as much, or in the same way. Maybe it’s because Latinos have less access to prevention and other healthcare services, or maybe it’s just because they’re often playing with each other in a smaller “sandbox.” If Latinos are mostly having sex with other Latinos, it’s easier for HIV and other infections to spread to more guys in the group. In a larger sandbox, you may be less likely to play with someone who is HIV-positive and so less likely to get infected.

For National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, Public Health and Entre Hermanos, a Seattle Latino LGBT organization, made a short video called Todos Juntos: Campaña Latina para la Prueba del VIH (All Together: The Latino HIV Testing Campaign). You can find the video at entrehermanos.org. In it, Seattle Latinos and Latinas of all ages and orientations talk about how they’re being responsible and taking care of themselves, their partner(s), and their communities.

Now I know that “responsibility” can be a loaded word that brings up images of conse-

quences and blame. But feeling responsible can lead us to care and then to take action.

Self-care in particular is important, and most of us don’t do it nearly enough.

In terms of HIV, self-care means knowing your HIV status. It means seeing your doctor if you’re HIV-positive. It means using condoms with partners if you’re not in a monogamous relationship.

Caring for others means asking your friends if they’ve been tested lately. And if they haven’t, it may mean offering them support and going with them for their test.

Caring for your community means being out of the closet, if you can be. It means standing up for equality and equity whenever possible. It means that HIV impacts you, whether you and your partner(s) are HIV-negative or HIV-positive. HIV impacts all of us.

You may be a strong guy who thinks you don’t ever need to see a doctor. You may think you don’t have the time or money to get a test. You may not want to get a test in a place where you’re afraid people may know you. Confusion and stigma still exist around this disease. Add language barriers, lack of insurance, and immigration issues, and HIV becomes even harder to talk about.

But there are lots of locations to get tested in Seattle, and testing is free or inexpensive at many places.

If you’re Gay or Bi and sexually active, you should get tested for HIV/STDs at least once a year. If you’re a Latino guy who has sex with other guys, HIV testing is now being offered at Entre Hermanos on Mondays from 1 to 5 p.m. and at Consejo the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. You can always get tested at Public Health’s STD Clinic, at Gay City, at the baths, or at your doctor’s office. For hours and locations, call 206-296-4649 or go to www.kingcounty.gov/health/hiv.

It’s not enough to be aware.

Cuídate. Take care of yourself. Take care of your partner(s). Take care of your community.

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October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News 19

Seattle Red Dress Party rescheduled

the year for many.

However, red dress lovers will have to wait a little longer this year as the Seattle Red Dress Party Steering Committee has rescheduled the event.

“As you know, the fourth annual Seattle Red Dress Party was scheduled for November 5. After some serious thought about timing and the Seattle Red Dress Party Steering Committee’s desire to put on the absolutely best event possible, we’ve decided to push the date until February 18, 2012,” Seattle Red Dress officials announced. “There are many reasons for the change of date, but the main one is that we want to bring Seattle something they haven’t seen before, and continue to add more entertainment and benefits for our guests, beneficiaries, and sponsors.”

Seattle Red Dress Party officials said they will be launching a new splash page on the Seattle Red Dress Party website at www. seattlereddressparty.org and will update the Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Red-Dress-Party/234084189941383) in the coming days.

Ticket sales are scheduled to launch on December 1, 2011 – World AIDS Day.

hate crime

The vandals’ message was not received well by anyone in the neighborhood, which houses more than one Gay couple. According to the men, the incident brought the neighborhood closer together.

But the story doesn’t end there. Seattle Gay News has learned just how much of a class act Lyle and Chris are. After being contacted by a local church whose members offered to pay for the damage done to their vehicles, the men accepted the money under one condition: it would be donated to Washington state’s Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

“It is a pleasure to be able to help with the cost of repairs to your vehicles,” wrote Troy Jones, lead pastor of the New Life Church in Renton, in a letter to Chris and Lyle. “As stated in our prior phone call, we are truly sorry for the treatment you received by very misguided ‘Christians.’ Their behavior does not represent Christians or the Jesus we believe in. We believe that you and all people deserve the highest respect.”

Pastor Jones said the New Life Church hoped “this [money fund] would, in a small way, help the healing process of the offense you have experienced. We pray God’s best for you both.”

Lyle and Chris were inspired by the act of generosity, and Chris wrote a $500 check to GLSEN. “Chris and his partner wanted to donate the money to educating youth on how to be supportive of the LGBT community,” said Ashlee Norris, GLSEN Washington member.

In addition, Chris’ employer, LexisNexis, has agreed to match the donation through their LexisNexis Cares program, bringing Lyle and Chris’ donation to $1,000.

GLSEN Washington says it will put the donation to good use, fulfilling the couple’s wish to educate youth about the LGBT community.

Party is the one night out of the year when continued from cover everyone – and I do mean everyone – comes together and dons red dresses to raise money Everyone loves the Seattle Red Dress for HIV/AIDS organizations. Hairy legs ‘n’ Party – it’s just plain fun. The Red Dress all, bad drag and sneakers, it is the party of Seattle home. The vandals left a letter laced with profanity demanding that the men “Get the fuck out of” the neighborhood and that the Bible says God forbids men committing indecent acts with each other.

The note was signed “KKK.” The vandalism and threats were typical of the ignorance – complete with misspellings and nonsensical statements – that accompany anything penned by a bigot.

Although Lyle and Chris are not the first, and sadly won’t be the last, Gay couple who have caught the brunt of homophobia and hate, it is the way they immediately reacted that caught the attention of not only the continued from cover Seattle LGBT community, but the greater community as well. The men bought and immediately displayed a rainbow Pride flag and an American flag, proclaiming, “Take saving the lives of youth seems unbelievthat, haters.” able. But the threat is real, even though we know that more than one in every 10 Washington state high school students reported having attempted suicide, nearly one in four (20%-25%) have seriously considered it, over 30% of LGBTQ youth report at least one suicide attempt within the last year, over 50% of Transgender youth will have had at least one suicide attempt by their 20th birthday, and youth suicides outnumber youth homicides.

Those are chilling statistics. YSPP and OUTLoud, the LGBT component of the organization (the only one in the state), are on the front lines of the youth suicide prevention battle, which the CDC recently called an epidemic.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

funding

Legal Services

20 Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Celebrating 38 Years!

Wagner is asking Washingtonians to contact Governor Christine Gregoire and state legislators to save YSPP’s funding. “Ask them to help save young lives in your community and not cut funding for suicide prevention,” she said.

The message is clear. YSPP and OUTLoud save lives. To send Gov. Gregoire a message, go to www.governor.wa.gov/contact/. To find out who your state legislator is, go to the same site and click “Contact Your State Legislator.”

“If we lose these funds, then youth, parents, teachers, counselors, and others around the state will not get the education and training they need to prevent young people from dying by suicide,” said Wagner.

The deaths are preventable, said Wagner, but YSPP cannot do this important and vital work for free. “Eighty percent of youths who die by suicide just want their pain to end,” said Wagner. “Let the governor and state legislators know that because of YSPP, youth, parents, educators, peers, counselors, and others in the community know the warning signs, know what to say and what to do when a young person is at risk of dying by suicide.”

A high school student (who will remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the subject) who received YSPP’s suicide prevention materials said, “It opened my eyes to suicide and depression so I can use it in my life.”

Over the past year, Seattle Gay News, has been heavily involved in raising money for YSPP. The LGBT community has a responsibility to protect our youth from suicide.

OUTLoud and YSPP are the professionals making the biggest impact. Please tell the state not to cut funding for suicide prevention so that more young people who just want their pain to stop do not die by suicide.

If you are suicidal and are in need of immediate help, call 1-800-273-TALK or 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (LGBT).

doma

continued from cover applied for increased benefits because she is married.

The Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Hartford rejected her application, citing DOMA, which defines a spouse as “a person of the opposite sex.”

“I was in disbelief when I was rejected,” Cardona told The New York Times. “I served

my country for so many years.”

Cardona’s attorneys, from the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School, filed notice of her intention to appeal the department’s decision on October 13.

The suit will be heard by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, a special federal court in Washington that handles disputes over veterans’ benefits.

Cardona’s lawyers say they will argue that the government’s definition violates her Fifth Amendment right to due process. The legal team says it will also challenge the constitutionality of DOMA. Michael Allen, a professor of constitutional and veterans law at Stetson University College of Law in Florida, called the case part of a “cultural legal shift” in which the expansion of same-sex marriage to more states and the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” have opened the door to challenges against federal rules on marriage.

“These challenges are bubbling up all over the place,” Professor Allen told The New York Times. “With the recognition of same-sex marriage in New York, a big state, you’ll see this more frequently.”

LGBT activists say they also expect lawsuits challenging the federal definition of marriage to be filed by active-duty troops in same-sex marriages who have been denied benefits granted to opposite-sex married couples, like military health care, housing, and commissary rights for spouses.

In February, President Obama directed the Department of Justice to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act against lawsuits challenging its constitutionality.

Cases before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims are generally argued by lawyers from the Department of Veterans Affairs, however, not the Justice Department, and some veterans lawyers said it is possible the department might try to chart a different legal course.

“If an appeal is filed, V.A. lawyers will analyze the legal arguments made by the appellant and respond appropriately in its briefs,” said V.A. spokesperson Josh Taylor.

Even if the V.A. chooses not to defend the laws against Ms. Cardona’s challenge, it is also possible that lawyers hired by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), would defend DOMA in this case.

And even if no government lawyer defends the laws, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims could still rule against Cardona. The court consists mainly of judges – most of them former military officers – appointed by President George W. Bush.

If Cardona loses her appeal, she can take her case to Circuit Court of Appeals and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.

“I just want to put it out to the public for people like me,” Cardona said. “We worked hard for our country, we should be able to receive the same benefits as heterosexuals.”

kameny

continued from cover After losing twice in lower federal courts, he took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which turned down his petition for a hearing.

Kameny then became one of the founders of the D.C. Mattachine Society.

Founded in 1950 by Gay Communist and later Radical Faerie Harry Hay, the Mattachine Society originally was organized along the secretive lines of the Communist Party “cell,” but Kameny introduced an aggressive new tone to the organization.

In 1963, Kameny launched a campaign to repeal D.C.’s sodomy laws. He personally drafted the repeal bill that finally passed in 1993.

That same year, D.C.’s Mattachine Society was the target of a Congressional investigation initiated by Rep. John Dowdy (D-Tex.), who challenged the group’s right to solicit funds. Ironically, Dowdy was later forced to resign from Congress after he was indicted for bribery.

On April 17, 1965, Kameny began the first public protests by Gays and Lesbians with a picket line at the White House.

With support from the New York Mattachine Society and the Lesbian organization Daughters of Bilitis, the Mattachine Society of D.C. expanded the picketing to the Pentagon, the U.S. Civil Service Commission, and Philadelphia’s Independence Hall.

These protests were repeated every year, becoming known as the Annual Reminder for Gay Rights.

In 2007, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History featured Kameny’s picket signs in the Smithsonian exhibit “Treasures of American History.”

In 1971, Kameny became the first openly Gay candidate for Congress when he ran in the District of Columbia’s first election for a non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives.

Following that election, Kameny and his campaign organization created the Gay and

Lesbian Alliance of Washington D.C., an organization that continues to lobby the federal government for LGBT rights.

In 1968, playing off Stokely Carmichael’s “Black Is Beautiful,” Kameny created the signature slogan “Gay Is Good.”

On March 26, 1977, Kameny and a dozen other members of what was then the National Gay Rights Task Force, now the NGLTF, briefed President Jimmy Carter’s Public Liaison Midge Costanza on LGBT issues. This was the first time that LGBT rights were officially discussed at the White House.

Kameny was also appointed as the first openly Gay member of the District of Columbia’s Human Rights Commission.

Eventually, Kameny came to be honored by the federal government that spurred his activist career by firing him in the ’50s.

On June 29, 2009, John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, formally apologized to Kameny on behalf of the United States government. Berry, who is openly Gay, presented Kameny with the Theodore Roosevelt Award, the department’s most prestigious honor.

At a luncheon on December 10, 2010, in the Caucus room of the Cannon House Office Building, Kameny was honored with the 2010 Cornelius R. “Neil” Alexander Humanitarian Award.

Kameny was given a front row seat at the gathering where President Obama signed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Act of 2010.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) recalled the central fact of Kameny’s long life: that he was a fighter.

“The death of Frank Kameny is a very sad day for those who believe that all people in this country should be treated fairly,” Frank said.

“No one in our history had a longer record of commitment to and leadership of the fight for civil rights for all. When he was himself the victim of discrimination decades ago, unlike almost every other victim of the homophobia that then pervaded the country, Frank Kameny fought back.

“His courageous, creative assault on bigotry is one of the rocks on which the movement for LGBT rights is founded, and the successes we have had in recent times owe a great deal to him.”

“All of us who are continuing the fight will remain indebted to him, inspired by him, and regretful that we will no longer have the benefit of his advice, his encouragement, and perhaps most importantly, his impatience.”

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proud to Be Different

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22 Seattle Gay News

October 14, 2011

Call us at 206.568.2486

Celebrating 38 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

October 14, 2011

Seattle Gay News 23