SGN December 7, 2012 - Section 1

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SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Washington State Sen. Ed Murray (D-43) announced December 6 the formation of an exploratory committee to look into the possibility of being elected Seattle’s next mayor. If Murray decides to go for it, he would challenge the current mayor, Mike McGinn, in 2013 – presuming McGinn runs for reelection, as he has strongly hinted he will do.

Seattle Gay News officially endorsed the Ed Murray for Mayor campaign December 6.

At a news conference on Capitol Hill, Murray told a crowd of cheering supporters he is running not to make history by becoming the first Gay mayor of Seattle. Instead, he insisted, he is running to “get things accomplished.”

“I’m not going to sit here and tease people. I’m not going to play that game. It’s my intention to run,” he told reporters.

Last week Seattle City Coun-

cilmember Tim Burgess threw his hat into the ring, becoming the first high-profile candidate to announce he will run for mayor.

Murray, whose been rumored as a possible mayoral candidate for years, has represented Washington’s 43rd Legislative District,

According to the Seattle Times, he started his career as an aide to Seattle City Councilmember Martha Choe, served as chair of both the state House Transportation Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and has earned a reputation for working across the aisle.

He and his longtime partner, Michael Shiosaki, live on Capitol Hill, Seattle’s cultural and historical LGBT neighborhood.

Before formally becoming a candidate, Murray told supporters, he would have to corral more support in Seattle and lead the Senate Democratic caucus through the next legislative session. As a state senator, he faces some constraints in campaigning.

State law freezes fundraising for state lawmakers 30 days before the legislative session starts, and the ban lasts until they conclude business. What that means for Murray is that he can reach out during the

Daniel Hanks / Social Outreach Seattle

SGN endorses State Senator Ed Murray’s 2013 campaign for Mayor

“I’m not going to sit here and tease people. I’m not going to play that game. It’s my intention to run.” based in Seattle, since 1995 – serving first in the House and now in the Senate.

MARRIAGE RIGHTS CHAMPION He’s got some definite pluses going in: He’s easily the most experienced politician yet to consider the 2013 Seattle mayor’s race, and he will surely get a boost from the recent voter approval of same-sex marriage – a cause he has championed ever since he entered politics, and which has given him national stature as a civil-rights leader.

see murray page 4

Senator Ed Murray (l) with longtime partner Michael Shiosaki at the press conference held to announce the formation of an exploratory committee to become Mayor of Seattle.

Let the weddings commence! Still no deal at Boeing Talks on same-sex spousal fied Referendum 74 on Wednes- benefits suspended until 2013 day, surrounded by the marriage

County issues first same-sex marriage licenses after election victory BETTINA HANSEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES / POOL PHOTO

Jane Abbott Lighty (l) and her partner of 35 years, Pete-e Petersen embrace with the first same-sex marriage license.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On December 6, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed the first same-sex marriage license in Washington state – for Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen at the King County Re-

corder’s Office in Seattle. The office opened at 12:01 a.m. to begin issuing marriage licenses to samesex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November’s election.

Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certi-

Weddings By the Sea

equality bill’s supporters. The law doesn’t require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and it doesn’t subject churches to penalties if they don’t marry Gay or Lesbian couples.

‘OUR LAST STEP’ “This is a very important and historic day in the great state of Washington. For many years now, we’ve said, ‘One more step. One more step.’ This is our last step,” Gregoire said. “To the couples that are here today that will finally be treated with the equality they’ve deserved for many years, congratulations to each of you.”

Washington becomes the only state west of the Mississippi River offering licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples – and the first state to begin same-sex marriages as the result of a statewide vote.

Two by two, dozens of couples obtained their marriage licenses.

Regarding the midnight opening, King County Executive Dow Constantine said, “People who have been waiting all these years to have their rights recognized should not have to wait one minute longer.”

In Seattle, the mood was festive.

Volunteers distributed every-

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Contract negotiations between Boeing and SPEEA, the union that represents 23,000 Boeing engineers and technical workers, were suspended December 5 without agreement on pension survivor benefits for spouses of the compasee marriage page 15 ny’s Gay and Lesbian employees.

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

George H. Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), said talks would not resume until January.

“At the request of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, negotiations between The Boeing Company and the Society of Professional Engineering Emsee boeing page 10

2

Weddings By the Sea

Seattle Gay News

December 7, 2012

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

Celebrating 39 Years!

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

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

op-ed

Our best year yet?

Why 2012 should take its place next to 1969 in LGBT history

by Abby Dees SGN Contributing Writer Fights and fabulousness make history; polite protests and policy shifts rarely do.

As an example, I don’t think I’ve seen more than two pictures from the 1969 Stonewall riots, but my mind is filled with images of those amazing ’60s drag queens using handbags like weapons and kicking out the back

After 28 straight defeats for marriage equality since 1998, we won four marriage referenda in one shot, three of which were ballot measures legalizing same-sex marriage.

Classifleds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers

Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel, James Whitely 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. © 2012, 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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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

giving it its due: Obama “evolved” on same-sex marriage.

Right: overdue, whatever. But then he went on to become the first president elected on a platform of full LGBT equality. That didn’t happen in 2008, and it couldn’t have. For the last 12 years, LGBT rights have been used as a wedge issue to get out the conservative vote. Notice how little of that there was this time around, though there were

of a police van with stiletto heels. Stonewall is so burned into my consciousness as The Beginning that it hardly matters that I don’t really know what it looked like.

Did you also know that four years earlier there was an organized Gay rights protest in front of the White House? In 1965, brave members of the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis put on suits (the men) and dresses (the women), carried signs, and politely picketed one Saturday afternoon.

This was no small thing, considering that homosexuality was still listed as a mental disorder. Still, it looked more like a bunch of accountants protesting tax code changes.

I’ve seen a lot of pictures from that day, and I might even argue that 1965 is Year One of the modern LGBT rights movement, not 1969. Yet that protest has become not much more than an interesting footnote in our collective historical memory compared to the sheer brass of Stonewall.

I have a feeling 2012 might go down like 1965. There’s hardly any photographic evidence this year of a critical mass of Queers pushing down the fences and stopping traffic, and I don’t remember a word being said about LGBT rights in the Presidential debates (though admittedly I did nod off a few times). You could even say 2012 was boring, which would be a shame, because I believe that historians will one day look back and declare 2012 a great civil rights turning point.

marriage initiatives in swing states – oh, and Obama won all the states that put marriage on the ballot.

We didn’t have a Prop 8. We didn’t even have a loss. After 28 straight defeats for marriage equality at the state level by popular vote since 1998, we won four marriage referenda in one shot, three of which were ballot measures legalizing same-sex marriage. We’d never been able to vote down a marriage ban and suddenly people are all for it in places as un-swishy as Maine.

Emboldened by the passage of North Carolina’s draconian Amendment One in May, the National Organization for Marriage decided to bet the house on what they thought was overwhelming opposition to marriage equality among racial minorities. Then NOM lost. November 6 exit polls show that both African-American and Latino voters support marriage equality by a large margin. (Can we finally put that myth to rest, everyone?)

Tammy Baldwin, from Wisconsin, became the first openly Gay member of the U.S. Senate, and she was just one of the 152 openly LGBT candidates up for election.

Seventy-seven percent of them won in such notoriously pink bastions as North Dakota and West Virginia. Stacie Laughton of New Hampshire became the first openly Trans person elected to state office, and selfdescribed pansexual Mary Gonzales of El Paso became a Texas state representative.

This year also set the stage for what could be our biggest legal victory yet: Three different circuit courts (the 1st, 2nd, and 9th) ruled for marriage equality. The odds favor at least one of these cases making it to the Supreme Court next year, which has implications for LGBT rights far beyond marriage. While the Court could rule against us, good money says it won’t, especially if it chooses to hear the DOMA cases instead of the Prop 8 case. Either way, the outcome will send us out in the streets, in celebration or fury. And just watch – that will be the day we remember.

BIG STUFF HAPPENED Let’s not say goodbye to 2012 without

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Local news

ACLF: Building better community leaders

courtesy m.c. atalig

those cultures, and how to consolidate that rights and those results favoring full equalwithin my own identity. ity. We saw emerging alliances between racial justice and LGBT organizations on a KNOW AND BE YOURSELF range of issues. I can only imagine the powAt our first community leaders’ retreat, er wielded from partnerships at the place we were asked to take a self-inventory: Who where racial justice and LGBT rights meet. are you? Where do you come from? How do For the first time ever, I have the ability you want to change and grow? And I’ve dis- to let go of who I thought I should be in orcovered this year has been all about push- der to be who I really am. I’ve experienced ing my boundaries and challenging myself the power of vulnerability in leadership and to a more authentic way of living and lead- letting myself be seen – “vulnerably seen.” ing. Whether it was in my personal life in ACLF’s Community Leaders Program alreaching out to a community I feared could lowed my fellow API participants and me to reject me if they knew I was Gay, being vul- create a safe space to share individual pronerable in leadership, or fighting for equal cesses, journeys, and challenges with one rights and same-sex marriage here in Wash- another, creating an environment that was ington, I wanted to be a part of a program authentic and conducive for individual and that would propel me to step into a role as a collective growth. leader with transparency, honesty, and vulWith the New Year approaching on the nerability. heels of major political and civil rights vicFor me, 2012 was a time of firsts and tories, I have one question: Do you want to forward movement. For the first time ever, become a better leader? voters said yes to marriage equality here in Washington state. Though civil rights For more information on ACLF and the should not be up for popular vote, we wit- Community Leaders Program, visit http:// nessed broad coalitions mobilizing for equal aclfnorthwest.org.

Daniel Hanks / Social Outreach Seattle

M.C. Atalig

by M.C. Atalig Special to the SGN Recently I attended the 13th Community Leaders Program (CLP) graduation for the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF). Truth be told, I’m one of 12 graduates of this year’s CLP. The program teaches participants about the significant contributions of Asian/Pa-

and community project – which involved partnering with Washington Asian Pacific Islander (WAPI) Community Services to reopen a safe space for youth in the International District – but it was also an evening of community celebration of API leaders dedicated to social justice and giving back to the community.

My journey with the CLP began six months ago, after having lived in the Se-

With the New Year approaching on the heels of major political and civil rights victories, I have one question: Do you want to become a better leader? cific Islanders and other minorities in the Northwest and the United States. It’s an intensive curriculum that provides training and mentorship to adults with an interest in leadership and the potential to step into a leadership role.

This year’s graduation dinner, held November 17 at South Seattle Community College, was not only a celebration of completing our leadership program curriculum

attle area for a little over a year and having spent much of my life not feeling a deep connection to either of my parents’ cultures. My father is of Chamorro decent and my mother is German. I grew up in a rural town of 3,500 in the Midwest. To add to the mix, I’m Lesbian. So I guess you could say I struggled for some time with understanding the cultures of both my parents, how being Gay might affect my ability to connect with

Senator Ed Murray

murray

continued from cover next few months to neighborhood groups as well as business and civic leaders to gauge support, but he cannot raise money.

“Do I think a good number of people will come and help and support? Yes, but man, I cannot take it for granted,” Murray said. “[Tim] Burgess is a solid council member.

[Mike] McGinn is the last person I would write off. This is the guy who defeated an incumbent mayor. I have some work to do before I can have a full campaign for mayor.”

PLEDGES POLICE REFORM Murray has an extensive agenda if he runs

for election and wins. His top priority is reforming the city’s police department.

“We need to support our police officers but we also need to move this police department forward beyond these problems,” he said referring to the U.S. Department of Justice’s oversight of the Seattle Police Department.

“We’ve got great cops, but we have a problem at the top in terms of leadership.

This is not a functional department, and the issue of leadership rests entirely – unlike any other part of city government – with the mayor. I’d like to get a handle on that.”

For more information about the campaign, or to make a donation, go to the Ed Murray for Mayor official website, www. edmurrayforseattle.org.

Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.

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

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Seattle Gay News

December 7, 2012

Celebrating 39 Years!

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December 7, 2012

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Holiday Calendar

ARTS/CRAFTS/GIFTS

The Arboretum Foundation presents “Gifts and Greens Galore” annual holiday sale, Dec. 7 (noon-5 p.m.) and Dec. 8 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.). A unique selection of highquality fresh-cut greens will be featured along with handcrafted gifts from local artisans. Demonstrations and craft workshops will be given by Debra Prinzing, Alexandra Hedin, and Sue Mariotti (of Etsy’s Terrarium Shop). Washington Park Arboretum Visitors Center, 2300 Arboretum Dr. E., Seattle, (206) 325-4510, www.arboretumfoundation.org.

“Hanukkah Under the Stars,” a community celebration, Dec. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights at one of the largest Hanukkah celebrations in the Seattle area. Featuring the kids’ band Recess Monkey, plus The Sababas, PJ Library, arts and crafts, and community candle lighting.

Free with donation of personal items to Jewish Family Services (e.g., toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, soap). Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island. Details at www.sjcc.org.

Ham for the Holidays: Ham-ageddon! featuring Dos Fallopia, through Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; 3 p.m. Sat.-Sun. (plus 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 23). The apocalypse is just around the corner, so Dos Fallopia (Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt) celebrate with some classic moments from past years’ shows, with some new tunes and sketches.

Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave. S. Details at www.heylisa.com. Tickets at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/277489.

FAMILY FUN Gingerbread Village, the 20th annual benefit for the Northwest Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, through Jan. 1. Seattle’s top architectural firms team up with Sheraton Seattle’s culinary staff to design, bake, and build elaborate gingerbread displays and other holiday creations reflecting this year’s theme. The display is free and open to the public (donation suggested). Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 6th Ave., Seattle. More information at http://gingerbreadvillage.myevent.com/3/ events.htm.

Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition, Dec. 7, 5-8:30 p.m., at Westlake Center. A benefit for the Pike Market Senior Center and Food Bank.

Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit as dozens of caroling teams sing their hearts out on downtown Seattle street corners in and around Westlake Center. The top teams then compete in a sing-off on the Figgy Main Stage. To form your own caroling team or for more information, contact Zoe Freeman at zoe.freeman@speakeasy.net.

Green Lake Pathway of Lights returns for its 36th year Dec. 8, 5-8 p.m. (rain or shine). A free event sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Green Lake Community Center Advisory Council featuring local musicians performing at four sites along the 2.8-mile path around the lake. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lights and candles to add to the ambiance. Hot drinks and treats will be served. Details on the event’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GreenLakePathwayofLights.

Northwest Chamber Chorus presents “Sing Heigh Ho!” Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. Ring in the holidays with song and poetry by William Shakespeare, Christina Rossetti, Sara Teasdale, William Blake, and others, including a new 10-part Magnificat by Christine Donkin. Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle.

Details at www.northwestchamberchorus. org.

The Seattle Symphony celebrates the holidays with a full month of festive performances, including Holiday Pops, Dec. 7-9; Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 14-16; and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Dec. 28-31.

A special one-night performance of Don Tiki’s Hot Lava Holiday Show, Dec. 17, brings Hawaii’s top musicians to Seattle for a night of island rhythms and festive tiki lounge music. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. Details at www.seattlesymphony.org.

Seattle Center WinterFest, Six weeks of free entertainment running through Jan. 6, including the timeless Winter Train and Village, WinterFest Ice Rink, Ice Sculpting (Saturdays through Dec. 29, noon-2 p.m., outside Fisher Pavilion), WinterFest Student Showcase (through Jan. 6, various times, Armory), Bailadores de Bronce (Dec. 15, 12:30 p.m., Armory), Garfield H.S. Jazz Band (Dec. 23, 1 p.m., Armory), The Dickens Carolers (Dec. 29, 12:30 p.m., Armory), Eastside Modern Jazz Orchestra (Dec. 30, 12:30 p.m., Armory), and a New Year’s Eve celebration with the Rhythm Nation (Dec. 31, 8:15-11:45 p.m., Armory). Details on these and other events at www.seattlecenter. com/winterfest/.

Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, a Northwest tradition since 1949, through Dec. 23. The Argosy Christmas Ship (accompanied by festive Parade Boats) sails to various Puget Sound waterfront communities for choir performances broadcast by a state-of-the-art speaker system. Various options are available for those who wish to sail and/or dine onboard. Visit www.argosycruises.com for information.

Seattle Choral Company presents “A Cathedral Christmas 2012,” Dec. 7 & 8, 8 p.m., featuring a joyous collection of late medieval carols taken from the 1582 Swedish collection Piae Cantiones and arranged

by Dale Warland, Stephen Paulus, Jackson Berkey, and Kirke Mechem. St. Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle. Details at www.seattlechoralcompany.org.

Breath of Aire Choir performs a free holiday concert in the Bastyr University Chapel, Dec. 7, 7-9 p.m. Holiday and seasonal favorites appealing to families of all faiths and backgrounds, sung by a 100-voice community choir. Bastyr University, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore.

Seattle Pro Musica presents a Family Holiday Concert, Dec. 8, 3-4 p.m. Featuring traditional carols, an audience sing-along, and young choral singers from area schools.

Suitable for all ages. Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle. Details at www.seattlepromusica.org.

Choral Sounds Northwest presents “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 9, 2 p.m. A Burien holiday tradition featuring an unforgettable rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St., Burien. Details at www.nwassociatedarts.org.

New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Space Needle, Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m. Start 2013 off with a bang as the Space Needle displays the world’s tallest structure-launched fireworks show with more than 2,000 pyrotechnic events. The base of the Needle will host the West Coast version of Times Square, where more than 50,000 people gather each year to watch the fireworks shoot across the midnight sky. Special events are planned at the SkyCity restaurant and on the Needle’s observation deck. Details at www.spaceneedle.com.

LGBT/CABARET Dina Martina Christmas Show, a Seattle tradition featuring the First Lady of Entertainment, through Dec. 31. Famed N.Y. critic Michael Musto called Dina “the most original drag performer working in America today.” Martina comes armed with truly legendary songs, stories, costumes, and audience gifts, giving you one of the most festive, invigorating, and ingeniously funny evenings you’ve ever had. Bloody Mary/ Mimosa Weekend Matinees 2 p.m. Dec. 15, 16, 22, and 23; 8 p.m. nightly Dec. 7-9, 1317, 19-24, 26-31. Re-Bar, 1114 Howell St., Seattle. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets. com/event/271829.

Homo for the Holidays, an annual all-star holiday cabaret featuring BenDeLaCreme, Kitten LaRue, the Cherdonna and Lou show, Jinkx Monsoon, Major Scales, Fuchsia FoXXX, Faggedy Randy, and many more, Dec. 14-15 & 21-24, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. nightly. The Stranger calls Homo for the Holidays “the premiere event of the true Gay yuletide season!” West Hall, Oddfellows Building, 915 E. Pine St., Seattle.

Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/290222.

MUSIC Seattle Men’s Chorus presents “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” through Dec. 22. “Seattle’s Other Holiday Tradition” heats things up with their unique blend of song, dance, and campy comedy, taking you on an exotic journey with festive songs from south of the border, Hawaii, and other tropical locales.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 16, 20; 8 p.m. Dec. 21; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 22. Also performing in Tacoma at Pantages Theater, 8 p.m. Dec. 13, and in Everett at Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m.

Dec. 15. Details at www.flyinghouse.org.

Seattle Pro Musica presents “Weihnachten, German Christmas,” Dec. 8 & 15.

Experience the joyous sounds of traditional German choral Christmas music, including works by Bruckner, Mendelssohn, Biebl, and Distler. The evening also includes an atmospheric candlelight processional. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Bastyr University Chapel, 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore. (Pre-concert lecture begins an hour before each performance.) Info at www.seattlepromusica.org.

Bellevue Chamber Chorus presents “Joy to the World!” Dec. 9-16. An international celebration of song featuring a new work for children by Eric Whitaker, “Goodnight, Moon.” 3 p.m. Dec. 9, Prospect Congregational Church, 1919 E. Prospect St., Seattle; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Bothell United Methodist Church, 18515 92nd Ave. N.E., Bothell; 3 p.m. Dec. 16, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 8398 N.E. 12th St., Medina.

Details at www.bellevuechamberchorus. net.

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Seattle Gay News

December 7, 2012

Celebrating 39 Years!

ACT Theatre presents its annual production of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic tale of hope and redemption, adapted

by Gregory A. Falls, through Dec. 30. Allen Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle. Details at www.acttheatre.org.

ArtsWest presents The Winter Wonderettes, a “new ’60s Christmas musical,” through Dec. 30. Take a nostalgic trip through the late ’50s-early ’60s musical style when the Marvelous Wonderettes are asked to entertain at the holiday party for Harper’s Hardware. Curtain 7:30 p.m. nightly (5 p.m. Dec. 24), plus weekend matinees at 3 p.m. Dec. 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30. ArtsWest Playhouse, 4711 California Ave. S.W., Seattle. Details at www.artswest. org.

perience working as an Elf in Macy’s Santaland. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever depicts what happens when the infamous Herdman clan takes over the annual church pageant and challenges everyone’s traditional notions of Christmas. Details at www. seattlepublictheater.org.

Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play presented by Twelfth Night Productions, Dec. 7-16, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 3 p.m. Sun. A “live” 1940s-style broadcast based on the holiday movie of the same name about a man who calls himself Kriss Kringle and is hired at Macy’s but ends up in court after claiming to be the real Santa.

Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th Ave. S.W., Seattle.

Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/293698.

Stone Soup Theatre presents A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Dec. 7-24. Celebrate the magic of Dylan Thomas’ childhood Christmas in a play adapted from his poem and featuring both youth and adult performers. 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; special matinees at 12:30 and 4 p.m. Dec. 23 and 24. Details at www.stonesouptheatre.

Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant, org. presented by Book-It Repertory Theatre, through Dec. 23. John Irving’s quirky and Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Nutmemorable boy returns to wreak havoc on cracker, Dec. 7-29, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. plus the annual Christ Church Christmas Pag- weekend matinees. Praised by the New York eant in this poignant, rambunctious, and hi- Times as “original and exciting,” this marlarious play. Center Theatre at the Armory, velously imagined production created by Seattle Center. Details at www.book-it.org. PNB founding artistic director Kent Stowell and author/illustrator Maurice Sendak, feaSeattle Public Theater presents Santa- tures more than 200 dancers, gigantic movland Diaries by David Sedaris and The Best ing sets, a snowfall, and Tchaikovsky’s beChristmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robin- loved score performed by the PNB Orchesson, both through Dec. 24. For those who tra. McCaw Hall, Seattle Center. Details at like a little spice with their Christmas sugar, www.pnb.org.

Santaland Diaries chronicles one man’s exELF ­– The Musical, the story of Buddy, a boy raised by elves at the North Pole who sets off to the big city in search of his father and finds an alarming lack of Christmas spirit. Through Dec. 31, 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Ave., Seattle. Details at www.5thavenue.org.

Early Music Guild presents “Wassail!

Wassail!” featuring the Baltimore Consort, Dec. 14, 8-10 p.m. Music for the Yuletide season played on traditional instruments such as the lute, cittern, viol, crumhorn, recorder, and rebec. The Consort offers old carols and dance tunes from the British Isles, Germany, France, Spain, and the New World. (Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m.) Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle. Details at www. earlymusicguild.org.

KISS-FM Jingle Ball, featuring Calvin Harris, Cher Lloyd, Owl City, 3OH!3, Alex Clare, Afrojack, and Ed Sheeran, Dec. 16, 4 p.m., WaMu Theater, Seattle. Details at www.kissfmseattle.com, tickets at www. ticketmaster.com.

The Irish Tenors (Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns, and Ronan Tynan) present their annual Christmas gala performance with full orchestra Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., a benefit for the Ballard NW Senior Center and the Magical Strings presents “Celtic Yule- Senior Center of West Seattle. Benaroya tide,” a fabulous gala of Irish music, dance, Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. Details at storytelling, juggling, and songs of the sea- www.seattlesymphony.org. son, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle. Also appearing in various THEATER AND DANCE locations throughout the Puget Sound area Nov. 30-Dec. 17. See www.magicalstrings.

A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol, com for full schedule. presented by Unexpected Productions, through Dec. 30. An improvised take on Medieval Women’s Choir presents Charles Dickens’ classic, shaped by audi“Nowell Sing We,” a program of Medieval ence input. Market Theater, 1428 Post AlEnglish carols, Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Be trans- ley, Seattle. Details at www.unexpectedproported by the mellifluous harmonies of ductions.org. compositions by John Dunstable and Lionel Power. St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave., Scrooge: The Musical, presented by Seattle. Details at http://medievalwomen- Seattle Musical Theatre, through Dec. 9. schoir.org.

Based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the musical follows grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge A Christmas Choral Concert: Sing through his revealing night of ghostly visits Love! Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of from his late business partner and the SpirCarols,” chant, baroque choral anthems, its of Christmases Past, Present, and Future. and carols with the audience are all part of Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays a free concert with the 50-voice Seattle First at 2 p.m. Info at http://seattlemusicaltheatre.

Baptist Sanctuary Choir, youth singers, and org. instruments, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 16, 1 p.m. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Taproot Theatre presents Sherlock Harvard Ave., Seattle. Details at www.se- Holmes and the Case of the Christmas attlefirstbaptist.org.

Carol by John Longenbaugh, through Dec. 29. It’s Christmas Eve, 1894, and Sherlock Orchestra Seattle and the Seattle Holmes resurfaces after being presumed Chamber Singers present a Winter Cel- dead for three years. Only he’s changed, ebration, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. A holiday concert and not for the better. Three unexpected featuring Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four callers arrive, uncovering clues from the Seasons, plus works by Beethoven, Bach, detective’s past, present, and future. Can and others. First Free Methodist Church, they save Holmes and his world from a dire 3200 3rd Ave. W., Seattle. Details at http:// end? A mystery full of Christmas spirits the osscs.org. whole family will enjoy. 204 N. 85th St., Seattle. Details at http://taproottheatre.org.

Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.

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

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December 7, 2012

Seattle Gay News

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8

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Seattle Gay News

December 7, 2012

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Celebrating 39 Years!

Taking pride in service The director of Seattle PrideFest describes his experience building houses in Haiti

by Egan Orion Special to the SGN When the images of the January 10, 2010, earthquake near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, were broadcast, I watched in horror at the massive destruction and ensuing suffering. Like many of you, I responded with a contribution to the Red Cross, but in time Haiti faded from my memory. Occasionally, I’d

The campaign to approve same-sex marriage likewise seemed a daunting task, but I personally thought it was possible, so PrideFest gave all we could to help the campaign, and along with hundreds of other organizations, we made that happen as well.

So when I arrived in Haiti, I’d seen challenging problems and been part of solving them, yet as we drove through the slums of Port-au-Prince, the challenge of creat-

around the globe, we began to build. Yes, it was just a drop of water in an ocean of need, but it took an army of us working eight or more hours a day for six days to build 100 houses for families in desperate need of safe housing.

They were nothing fancy, these houses: a single-story, 14-by-14-foot structure (about 200 square feet) with two internal walls to form a small bedroom, a solid roof secured with hurricane straps and clips and insulated from the intense Haitian sun (even if we weren’t so insulated during the build), and a community well and latrine. No running water. No electricity. As many as six or seven people would live in each tiny house, but for those with inadequate or unsafe housing, these tiny cottages represented safety, ownership, and the future. When you’ve Courtesy Egan Orion

Egan Orion (far left) and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers on-site in Haiti

EYE-OPENING CONTRAST It was fitting that we should head to Haiti on Thanksgiving weekend. Here at home, we were surrounded by food, family, and friends, and had a safe roof over our heads to accommodate the abundance. When we landed in Haiti and made the two-hour trip to our camp and build site in Léogâne (the epicenter of the earthquake), what I saw that afternoon was the polar opposite of the bounty I’d experienced at my family’s Thanksgiving table. Extreme poverty.

Suffering. Slums that went on for miles. A complete lack of sanitation. I knew now why I’d come to Haiti, but for the first time I wondered if the 100 homes we’d build during our weeklong work project would do any good at all. The problem was so big, the suffering so great. How would my contribution be any more than a drop of water in an ocean of need?

I’m used to a more manageable problemsolution equation. In 2007, when it looked like the Pride Festival wouldn’t happen at all, I felt that the community needed the annual celebration so much that I stepped in to make it happen. It was a nearly insurmountable task to do in just six weeks, but with the help of others, I made it happen. Over the years, we’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars for community nonprofits – including $13,000 for Washington United for Marriage – and we’ve grown the event to be one of the largest Pride festivals in the country.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? There is much work to do here at home, in our own neighborhoods and within our own community. And there are many places like Haiti around the world – some nearby, others oceans away. As we look forward to our newly won marriage rights in Washington state, some of you may be asking, “What next?”

For me, that answer is to look out into the world, to see where there is suffering, inequality, and injustice, and to seek out the Sonias and Maries of the world. For you, the need may be closer to home – your “Haiti” may just as easily be down the road as on the other side of the world. Know that service takes sacrifice. It takes time to make things better; it takes money to fund important projects. But I know from my volunteer work in Haiti that my time and money were nothing compared to what I could do, or what we could do as a community if we came together to serve our communities and the world.

I went to Haiti looking to do some good in the world, and I found Sonia and Marie.

Now I pass my intention to do good onto

ing a festival from scratch in six weeks or helping to pass same-sex marriage seemed easy compared to what was unfolding before my eyes. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and 80% of its 10 million citizens live in severe poverty. The 2010 earthquake made this worse, and Hurricane Sandy wiped out two-thirds of the country’s crops, leading to food riots and a lot of empty bellies. I could see the result of decades of dictatorship and crushing poverty from my cushy seat in an air-conditioned bus. Corrugated roofs as far as the eye could see marked the breadth of the slums, sideby-side with lean-tos offering little protection from the elements and certainly no protection from the next earthquake. Rivers that wound their way from the mountains to the coast converged in Port-au-Prince and were joined by a plethora of garbage, sewage, goats, cows, chickens, and a mass of humanity. People bathed in tainted puddles as the dark grey plumes of burning garbage rose from the earth, spoiling the air and staining the sky. Earthquakes, cholera, poverty, hurricanes – would the people of Haiti ever get a break?

GETTING TO WORK Those first few hours in Haiti turned my earnestness into helplessness, and yet we had work to do. That’s why we’d come to Haiti. We arrived at our camp, surrounded by barbed wire and secured by armed guards, and settled in to our new home. We slept on cots in big tents, ate simple meals in a big mess hall, dodged tarantulas and mosquitoes, met new friends, took our antimalaria medication, and began adjusting to the heat and humidity of Haiti. The next day, we were transported in buses (again, under armed guard) to our build site a halfhour away. There, a hundred enthusiastic, soon-to-be homeowners greeted us, and a hundred concrete foundations and stacks of construction supplies awaited us. We were put into teams of eight to ten people, and alongside President and Mrs. Carter, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and others from

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Courtesy Egan Orion

see a news story about the slow rebuilding effort there, or about the difficulty NGOs were facing in getting things done, or on the continued suffering – but I, like you, felt helpless to do anything more.

That is, until earlier this year, when I chanced upon an application for Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project in Haiti. I applied, was selected as one of the 600 volunteers, raised the requisite $5,000 for the trip, and on Thanksgiving night made my way to Atlanta to join the other volunteers before taking a charter flight to Port-auPrince that Saturday.

than some of the men on our team. All week, they worked alongside us to help build the houses they’d be living in. As the structures took shape you could see the dreams they had for their families – once hopeless and dire – beginning to take shape as well. When they hugged us each morning, you could tell it was with genuine love and gratitude.

Haitians are accustomed to being promised things they never receive, but this promise was materializing before their very eyes.

Even as I knew that my contribution was nearly invisible against the vast black sky of hopelessness in Haiti, I could see that for these two women, my help was everything.

That alone was enough for me. I’d actually done some real good, and I felt it.

Egan Orion

been living in a lean-to covered by a tarp, the Habitat houses probably look like minimansions.

For the applicants of our team’s two houses – two strong Haitian women named Sonia and Marie – it would be the first time they would live in a house they could call their own and be safe from earthquakes and hurricanes. Sonia was younger than me, and already a grandmother. Marie, younger still, hammered with more vigor

December 7, 2012

them, and onto you. In this season of goodwill, consider giving your time to something bigger than yourself. Our fight for equality and justice goes beyond what we want for our own community to the great big world beyond. Now that we can say “I do,” we should start thinking about what “we do” as a community. Because others pitched in to help, our community is now filled with more promise than ever. It’s time for us to start paying that promise forward.

Seattle Gay News

9

Not your average Dear Abby Project NEON peer educators take it to the streets

is an HIV-prevention community-level intervention program for Gay, Bisexual, and Trans men affected by crystal methamphetamine. In addition to the work done by the peers, the program includes individualized counseling, group support, community outreach and engagement, and social marketing interventions.

HELPING WITHOUT JUDGING The program is rooted in the principle of harm reduction. “NEON … respects that some may choose to continue to actively use… [It] continues to empower those af-

“As a peer, I’ve found that with about 90% of the folks I’ve worked with, I’ve helped them change certain behaviors to make them use more safely,” Roné said.

Outreach work is completed offsite, at the convenience of peers’ contacts. In 2011, peers distributed 154,503 new needles and 75,700 individual risk reduction supplies in King County.

“I like to give back to the community.

When I was first using, I wish I had all the information that I do now,” said Morales, adding that he now “can help others use more safely.”

“I feel good being out there to help people use more safely – to prevent overdose and abscesses, and to talk with them about safer sex. They can then take the information and share it with others.”

by Morgan Jade Special to the SGN “A lot of people harm themselves when using … they get stuck doing unsafe behaviors, and sometimes it takes something tragic to make them start using more safely,” says Roné, who has volunteered as a Project NEON peer educator for over 10 years.

What keeps him jazzed about NEON? “I feel good being out there to help people use more safely – to prevent overdose and abscesses, and to talk with them about safer sex. They can then take the information and

share it with others,” he said.

In addition to becoming a role model, Roné has successfully practiced harm reduction and lowered his own use. “People look to me as a ‘Dear Abby’ figure … people can tell me anything. I don’t judge … and I’m extremely open,” he said. “Being a peer, I want to be a better person. It’s given me confidence and made me feel important by helping people.”

Roné is one of ten NEON peer educators.

NEON is an acronym for Needle Exchange and Sex Education Outreach Network. An arm of Seattle Counseling Service, NEON

fected by substance use via harm reduction with the hope that the person will recognize healthier choices when they are ready,” said Aleks Martin, NEON’s program coordinator.

Several local challenges serve as a guide for the work of the NEON program. “NEON … addresses a uniquely impacted high-risk population in King County. Of about 12,000 people living with HIV in Washington state, about 8,000 are in King County. Moreover, Gay and Bisexual men engaged in risky behavior such as injection drug use are greatly impacted,” said Martin. In addition, individuals who use meth are “often disenfranchised from the mainstream and experience ridicule and discrimination. NEON provides these communities a safe space for support – a family,” he added.

Danny Morales, a six-year peer educator, echoed these statements. “There’s a stigma behind how people perceive meth users,” he said. “The drug has negative feelings attached to it, and you’re automatically looked down upon for using.”

These challenges are faced head-on by the peers, who make up the core of the program.

The peer group, which includes individuals in both active use and recovery, conducts one-for-one needle exchange, distributes safer-sex and injection supplies, and provides referrals to services in the community.

boeing

continued from cover ployees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001, are being suspended until after the first of the year,” FMCS said in a statement.

“Both sides agreed to this mediator request.

In the interim, the FMCS will be in discussion with the parties to schedule resumption of negotiations.”

STRIKE SANCTION APPROVED On the same day that FMCS announced suspension of the talks, the Martin Luther King County Labor Council (MLKCLC) voted to give SPEEA strike sanction in the event negotiations break down.

Boeing set off a firestorm on November 21 when it informed SPEEA negotiators that it would not offer same-sex spouses the same pension survivor benefits given to opposite-sex spouses – despite the passage of Referendum 74, which granted equal legal standing to same-sex marriages in Washington. Survivor benefits allow retired Boeing employees to provide financial support for their spouses even after they have died.

SPEEA member Kenneth Aphibal immediately posted a petition on Change.org calling on the company “to honor the people of Washington State by extending survivor benefits to employees of same-sex married couples at Contract Negotiations and show equality for all Boeing employees.” The petition now has nearly 5,000 signatures.

SPEEA charges that Boeing wants to eliminate all defined-benefit pensions, beginning with new hires, and eventually terminate its pension program altogether. In addition to pensions, outstanding issues in

10 Seattle Gay News

December 7, 2012

ONGOING SUPPORT Peer educators also gather weekly to check in about outreach, eat a healthy dinner, and receive a stipend. During these meetings, guest speakers are brought in from a diversity of organizations in King County. “Peers are exposed to a wealth of information from HIV 101 to CPR, selfcare to self-defense, vein care to nutrition,” Martin said. The weekly meetings serve to enhance and supplement peers’ existing knowledge about use and harm reduction.

“NEON offers free, compassionate, nonjudgmental services in a shame-free safe space at Seattle Counseling Service primarily, and outreach locations through its Peer Education group,” said Martin.

“NEON helped me become a part of society again, and live again. It also lets me help others be part of society. I am not alone,” said Morales.

NEON welcomes individuals interested in becoming peer educators. For more information about NEON and the peer educator program, or other inquiries, contact Aleks at amartin@seattlecounseling.org.

Morgan Jade is the Health Educator with Project NEON. Morgan can be reached at Morganj@seattlecounseling.org or (206) 323-1768. the talks include wages, medical insurance, family leave, and the company’s use of outside contractors.

To date, SPEEA has emphasized it is “doing everything possible to avoid the need for a work stoppage,” but barring some movement in the negotiations it may be impossible to avert a strike.

GROWING TENSION SPEEA members told SGN that the mood is “like 2000,” when union members walked out for 40 days. Feelings against the company are so high that union leaders had to send out a letter on December 1 asking members to ignore calls for a wildcat strike, according to SPEEA executive director Ray Goforth.

A wildcat strike is one without official sanction, and is not protected by law. Once a central labor council sanctions a strike, strikers are protected against retaliation by the employer. The strike sanction granted by the MLKCLC allows SPEEA to ask its members to authorize a strike, and if they do, to stop work.

SPEEA and Boeing have been in negotiations since April. On October 1, more than 95% of SPEEA members voted to reject a new contract offer from the company. The existing contract expired later that month, but the two sides agreed to a temporary extension that expired November 25.

Boeing negotiators walked out of talks November 29 as SPEEA was presenting a pension proposal. Talks reconvened with a federal mediator on December 4.

SPEEA has filed several unfair labor practice complaints charging Boeing with illegally withholding cost data necessary to the negotiations, and with surveillance and harassment of union members.

Celebrating 39 Years!

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December 7, 2012

Seattle Gay News 11

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Celebrating 39 Years!

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Celebrating 39 Years!

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

‘Ex-Gay’ battle continues Dueling judges in California ‘conversion therapy’ cases speech,” he wrote in his decision.

Mueller, on the other hand, said California’s legislature and governor had sufficient grounds to enact the law, given that a number of mental health groups, including the American Psychological Association, have discredited conversion therapy.

“The court need not engage in an exercise of legislative mind reading to find the California Legislature and the state’s Governor could have had a legitimate reason for enacting SB 1172,’’ Mueller wrote.

Mueller was appointed to the federal bench by President Obama in 2010.

While Shubb found that the law violates the free speech rights of the three plaintiffs in the case before him, he issued an injunction preventing the law from being enforced only against those three individuals, pending a trial on the merits of their case.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Two federal judges have handed down contradictory rulings on the constitutionality of California’s new law prohibiting licensed therapists from trying to change the sexual orientation of LGBT minors.

U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb ruled on December 3 that the law violates the First Amendment free speech rights of therapists who wish to practice so-called “conversion” or “reparative” therapy.

But in a separate case the next day, U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller ruled that the California legislature had reasonable cause to ban the controversial practice.

Shubb, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, said that the legislature’s action prohibiting the therapy was THREE MAY PRACTICE based on “questionable and scientifically The legal result of the two federal court incomplete studies,” and therefore it did not cases now seems to be that the three depass rational basis review. fendants in the case decided by Shubb may practice the therapy, but no one else in CaliFREE SPEECH INVOKED The ban also interferes with therapists’ fornia may do so.

California State Sen. Ted Lieu, who sponrights of free speech, Shubb ruled.

“Even if SB 1172 is characterized as pri- sored the law, said on December 4 that it marily aimed at regulating conduct, it also may be applied to therapists statewide – exextends to forms of [conversion therapy] cept for the three defendants in the case dethat utilize speech and, at a minimum, regu- cided by Judge Shubb – at the beginning of lates conduct that has an incidental effect on 2013.

Bye bye, Jim DeMint

California State Senator Ted Lieu (l) and David Pickup, a licensed marriage and family therapist, address lawmakers in favor and opposition, respectively, of a bill to ban a controversial form of psychotherapy aimed at making Gay people straight.

gage skidmore

“On behalf of the untold number of children who can expect to be spared the psychological abuse imposed by reparative therapy, I’m thrilled that today’s ruling by Judge Mueller will continue to protect our children from serious harm,” Lieu said in a statement.

Anthony Duk, Donald Welch, and Aaron Bitzer, the three defendants in Shubb’s case, were represented by the Pacific Justice Institute, a traditionalist Christian legal group.

PJI president Brad Dacus was a vocal supporter of California’s Prop 8.

The defendants in the case decided by Mueller were represented by Liberty Counsel, another right-wing Christian legal group.

Liberty Counsel chair Mathew Staver said he planned to appeal Mueller’s ruling and seek an emergency injunction to block implementation of the law until its constitutionality is determined.

“I’m really stunned by [Mueller’s] decision,” Staver told Associated Press. “I think Judge Shubb’s decision was really on the money.”

spoke “as a dad with my heart and I did not answer as a Senate candidate. I apologize for making the remark because it distracted from the debate.”

As a Representative in 1999, DeMint voted to bar same-sex couples from adopting children in the District of Columbia.

The organization is widely credited – or blamed – for providing the ideological underpinnings of the Reagan administration, and Reagan’s attorney general, Ed Meese, still serves as a foundation fellow.

DeMint, who is reportedly one of the poorest U.S. senators, will be well-compensated for his efforts. His predecessor at Heritage got a base salary of $477,097. The annual salary for a senator is a mere $174,000.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, will appoint a successor who will serve until 2014, when the remaining two years of DeMint’s term will be filled in a special election.

REAGAN’S BRAIN The Heritage Foundation may be the perfect place for a man of DeMint’s peculiar talents. Founded in 1973 with funding from anti-Gay beer tycoon Joseph Coors, it is now a recipient of money from the Koch brothers and other ultra-conservative businessmen.

marriage

‘NEVER IN MY LIFETIME’ In 2007 Teresa Guajardo and Tina Roose became state-registered domestic partners.

Now they are really going to get married, legally married, they told Seattle Gay News.

“Never in my lifetime,” Roose said, “did I think I’d ever be able to marry the woman I love.”

Tina’s brother Paul, a musician, even wrote them a song, titled “Never in My Lifetime.”

The two women will finally tie the knot December 15 in the Washington State Capitol Rotunda in Olympia. To share their joy and celebration in an inclusive and accessible way, they have invited other couples to join them. So far, more than 20 couples from at least five counties plan to marry with them, mostly in separate ceremonies.

A few couples will share a marriage ceremony with other couples. In addition, hundreds of community members will attend to

witness and celebrate this historic event.

According to the Associated Press, “hundreds of people (many of whom had waited all night and had lined up hours earlier) snaked around the downtown Seattle building on a chilly December night.”

“We knew it was going to happen, but it’s still surreal,” said Amanda Dollente, who along with her partner, Kelly Middleton, began standing in line at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

There are nearly 10,000 domestic partnership registrations with the secretary of state’s office. Most same-sex domestic partnerships that aren’t ended as of June 30, 2014, automatically become marriages, unless one of the partners is 62 or older.

Washington has a three-day waiting period, so the first same-sex marriages can’t be performed in the state until Sunday. Several local clergy have volunteered to perform marriages at three locations on Sunday.

They are also planning to perform weddings later in the week, particularly on Wednesday, which carries the notable date of 12-1212.

Washington is the seventh state to recognize same-sex marriages. Maine will follow on December 29 and Maryland on January 1 as the result of votes in those states on similar ballot measures. The other six states (by order of adoption) are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. Washington, D.C., and the Native American nations of Coquille and Suquamish also allow Gays and Lesbians to marry.

December 7, 2012

Seattle Gay News 15

continued from cover thing from roses and coffee to fruit. Champagne was poured. Various groups of men and women serenaded the waiting line, one to the tune of “Going to the Chapel.”

“We waited a long time. We’ve been together 35 years, never thinking we’d get a legal marriage. Now I feel so joyous I can hardly stand it,” said Petersen, 85, who with her partner, Lighty, 77, were the first to get a license.

Senator Jim DeMint

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Ultra-right anti-Gay Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) announced on December 6 that he will resign from the U.S. Senate in January to become president of the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing Washington, D.C., think tank.

DeMint was elected to the Senate in 2004 after three terms in the House of Representatives, and was re-elected in the Republican sweep of 2010.

As a legislator, DeMint leaves no mark at all. He was best known for feuding with his own party’s leadership, and devoted very little time to sponsoring actual legislation.

Nevertheless, in slightly more than one term in office he managed to earn a flat Zero rating from HRC for his fierce opposition to

LGBT rights. Always an equal-opportunity bigot, DeMint also got a 7% rating from the NAACP and 7% from the ACLU. ‘COSTLY AND DESTRUCTIVE’ As a senator, DeMint consistently supported constitutional amendments barring same-sex marriage.

“In America,” he once said, “people should have a right to live with whomever they want, but redefining marriage to promote behavior that is deemed costly and destructive is not the proper role of government.”

In his 2004 Senate campaign, DeMint said that Gays, Lesbians, and unmarried women should not be allowed to teach in public schools.

When challenged by his opponent for that stand, DeMint excused himself by saying he

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northwest news

SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS – “BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE” The Seattle Men’s Chorus holiday concert, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” a South-ofthe-Border Holiday Romp, plays on Sundays, 12/9 and 12/16, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, 12/20 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, 12/21, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, 12/22 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. , at Benaroya Hall (3rd Ave. & Union St.) Joining the chorus for the entire concert run will be guest artist Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse! Concerts will also be held in Tacoma on Thursday, 12/13, at 8 p.m., at Pantages Theater (901 Broadway, Tacoma), and on Saturday, 12/15, at 8 p.m., at Everett Civic Auditorium (2415 Colby Ave., Everett).

Tickets: 206-388-1400; www.flyinghouse. org.

INGERSOLL GENDER CENTER – “SNOWBALL 2012: RISE!” On Saturday, December 8, from 7-11 p.m., at Seattle City Hall (600 4th Ave.), Ingersoll Gender Center presents “Snowball 2012: Rise!” with special guest Kit Yan, slam poet, and hosted by Seattle City Council President Sally Clark. Friends, fun, food, with Best of Seattle Soups buffet. $20 at the door or www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/295919. www.ingersollcenter.org/ snowball.

SISTAH SINEMA – THE JOURNEY On Saturday, December 8, door at 7 p.m., movie at 7:30 p.m., discussion at 9 p.m., at Roy Street Coffee & Tea (Broadway E. & E. Roy St.), Sistah Sinema presents The Journey, a movie about Lesbian relationships in India involving young women expected to DINA MARTINA marry according to family customs. $10 at CHRISTMAS SHOW Returning to Re-bar (1114 Howell St.) the door. Sistah Sinema is Queer women of through December 31 with an ALL-NEW color cinema. SistahSinema.webs.com. holiday show: the First Lady of EntertainGAY CITY ARTS – ment, the most surreal and hilarious chanSPEAK NOW! SCENES OF LOVE teuse you’ll ever find: Dina Martina! AcOn Saturday, December 8, from 7:30companied on the ivories by Chris Jeffries and armed with truly legendary songs, 9 p.m., at Gay City Arts (517 E. Pike St.), stories, costumes and audience gifts, Dina three directors will put their actors through Martina will give you one of the most fes- the paces in queered scenes from Edward tive, invigorating and ingeniously funny Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, evenings you’ve ever had! See why she’s a Steven Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music,” favorite of John Waters, Matt Stone, Marga- and more. Scenes of Love is presented by ret Cho, Jennifer Coolidge, Graham Norton Gay City Arts, a part of the Speak Now! Or and many, many more. Evening perfor- Forever Hold Your Peace exhibition. www. mances 12/6-9, 12/13-17, 12/19-24, 12/26- gaycity.org/arts.

31 at 8 p.m.; Bloody Mary/Mimosa weekSOCIAL OUTREACH SEATTLE – end matinees: 12/15-16, 12/22-23 at 2 p.m.

“HOLIDAYS WITH ISIS” BENEFIT Tickets: $20-advance, $25 at the door. www.

On Saturday, December 8, door at 7 p.m., brownpapertickets/com/event/271829. show 8-10pm, at The Grill on Broadway (314 Broadway E.), Social Outreach SeNORTHWEST NETWORK – attle (SOSea) presents the “Holidays for WE (HEART) GAY LOVE Northwest Network hosts their final event Isis” show with hosts Miss Gay Tacoma in celebration of marriage equality, a Com- 2012-2013 Heather Hysteric, Mr. Gay munity Drop-In Q&A (12/7, 6-9 p.m. & Washington 2012-2013 Commissioner Ju12/8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at Kaladi Brothers, lian Surreal Beaute Foxx, and Miss Gay Seattle 2012-2013 Don-natella Howe to raise 517 E. Pike St.). www.nwnetwork.org. awareness and money for LGBT homeless youth. Youth Care/Isis House is a residenBISHOP GENE ROBINSON – tial home serving LGBT homeless youth. $8 “STRAIGHT TALK suggested donation.

ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE” On Friday, December 7, from 7:30-9 p.m., SEATTLE CITY HALL – at Town Hall (8th Ave. & Seneca St.). Now FREE WEDDING CEREMONIES that Washington voters have approved marOn Sunday, December 9, Seattle City Hall riage equality, Bishop Gene Robinson (the first openly Gay person to become a bishop (600 4th Ave.) will be hosting free wedding in the historic tradition of Christiandom) ceremonies in the grand lobby for same-sex will not so much be “making the case” for couples who have received marriage licensmarriage equality as joining in the celebra- es on Thursday, December 6, and who have tion. Tickets ($5) and more information at RSVP’d for the ceremony. [NOTE: The www.townhallseattle.org, 888-377-4510 maximum number of people have signed up and at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the free wedding ceremonies, but all are for his previously scheduled and cancelled welcome to come celebrate the occasion.] speaking engagement of October 29 will be Seattle City Hall will be opened to welcome those who would like to get married in the honored. grand lobby that day, along with their family and friends. Local judges have volunSEATTLE MEN IN LEATHER – teered to officiate the weddings, and artists PICTURES WITH SANTA On Friday, December 7, and Saturday, are working to create beautiful displays in December 8, from 8 p.m.-12 midnight, at front of which couples can take their vows.

The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. & E. Pine SEATTLE FIRST BAPTIST St.), Seattle Men in Leather hosts “Pictures CHURCH OFFERING FREE With Santa.” Get your picture taken with GROUP CHURCH WEDDING hot and hunky Santas and Mrs. Claus with On Sunday, December 9, at 2 p.m., SeNaughty Elves and other guests both nights.

Photos are $5 each, benefits SML’s desig- attle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard nated charitable organization. Merry Xmas! Ave., at E. Seneca St.), is hosting a FREE group church wedding to celebrate the first Ho, ho, ho! day for same-sex couples to legally marry.

Want a church wedding, choir and all, free FREE MAMMOGRAM & of charge, on the first day that same-sex PAP TEST SCREENING On Saturday, December 8, from 9 a.m.- marriage is legal? Couples wishing to be 3 p.m., YWCA Women’s Health Outreach married in the beautiful, historic sanctuary and Swedish Hospital’s mobile mammo- that day must do two things: 1) obtain your gram coach will be conducting a no-cost marriage license on December 6, which is mammogram and Pap test screening at the the soonest that’s possible for same-sex Wildrose (1021 E. Pike St.). You are eligible couples (and not later, because there is a if you are 40 or over, have limited income, three-day waiting period) and then 2) conare uninsured or underinsured, have not had tact the church to reserve your spot (no a mammogram in two years or more, are couple with a license will be turned away). high risk, or new to the Breast Cervical and Call 206-325-6051 or email front_office@ Colon Health program. Make your appoint- seattlefirstbaptist.org to register your parment today by calling Ingrid Berkhout at ticipation, or just show up to cheer on the newlyweds! As a church that has married (206) 461-4493.

ALL couples since 1979, including samesex couples, Seattle First Baptist Church joyously welcomes loving partners to join 16 Seattle Gay News

December 7, 2012

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

in the ceremony.

THE JESUS INJECTION – BOOK LAUNCH & READING WITH AUTHOR ERIC ANDREWS-KATZ On Sunday, December 9, doors at 4 p.m., book launch from 5-7 p.m., at Vermillion Gallery and Bar (1508 11th Ave.), join author, Eric Andrews-Katz, for a book launch read-ing and Q&A session. “Murderous statues, demented drag queens, political bombings, ex-Gay ministries, espionage and romance & all in a day’s work for Agent Buck 98. But the gloves are off when he comes up against The Jesus Injection.”

Purchase your copy at www.BoldStrokesBooks.com or at your favorite bookstore. www.EricAndrewsKatz.com.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE HOSTS “LOVE WINS” – WEDDING RECEPTION FOR ALL On Sunday, December 9, from 6-10 p.m., at the Paramount Theatre (9th Ave. & Pine St.), come celebrate this momentous and historic occasion – marriage for all! – immediately following same-sex marriages at City Hall. Enjoy champagne, desserts, live entertainment. FREE and open to the public.

SKI BUDDIES – DECEMBER POTLUCK On Sunday, December 6, at 6 p.m., at OutWest Bar (5401 California Ave. SW) join GLBTQ peeps for a fun night and find out how you can join Ski Buddies out on the slopes. Come to the potluck (bring a dish to share) or visit www.skibuddies.org to find out about the club’s planned trips.

KOLENU – LIGHT THE NIGHT: A GLBTQ HANUKKAH On Tuesday, December 11, from 6-8 p.m., at The Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.), enjoy tasty latkes, colorful dreidels, music and a beautiful candle lighting symbolizing both the miracle of Hanukkah and the idea that great leadership and community action will prevail against oppression. FREE and open to the community. Allies, friends and family welcome. 21+.

(two kinds: vegetarian and meat), cornbread and holiday desserts, socializing, and a whole lot of fun. This event is FREE (except for the cost of beverages), and is for all HIVPositive men and their friends, regardless of age, shape, size, or color.

The Holiday Social features an optional White Elephant Holiday Gift Exchange. If you’d like to participate, bring a fun, funny, or naughty wrapped gift for “Santa Poz” to deliver, and you will get one in exchange.

It’s a lot of fun to participate.

POZ Seattle runs mainly on donations and a few grants. The organization is always happy to accept donations. Your support helps keep the organization financially healthy.

POZ Seattle is a social organization run for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive guys that is committed to planning and promoting fun, social activities. For questions or more information about this event, to plan your own social event, or to be added to the POZ Seattle event promotions email list, email info@pozeattle.org or visit POZ Seattle at www.pozseattle.org.

SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB – CHANGES (IN A LITTLE GAY BAR) The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday from 6-7:15 p.m., at Seattle Area Support Groups Community Center (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.).

In December, the club will discuss Changes (In a Little Gay Bar), a new novel by book club organizer Nick DiMartino – 24 linked stories taking place in Seattle’s historic Wallingford neighborhood Gay bar.

It’s about a middle-aged Gay guy with zero self-confidence who is badgered by his best friend and shrink into making a habit out of walking to his little neighborhood Gay bar. It has dozens of non-sterotypical, realistic Gay characters. It’s funny, sad, scary, honesst, and hopefully surprising.

All GLBTQ folks are welcome to participate in this FREE book club. For more information email nickdimartin@earthlink. net, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/ swittet/SGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at 206-322-2437; www.sasgcc.org. For discount on cost of books, email Nick.

EQUAL RIGHTS WASHINGTON – TOASTING EQUALITY BREAKFAST On Wednesday, December 12, registration at 7 a.m., breakfast and program at 7:30 a.m., at Seattle Westin (5th Ave. & Stewart St.), come celebrate our community’s historic win of Marriage Equality at ERW’s Fourth Annual Toasting Equality Breakfast. Join keynote speaker, Governor-elect Jay Inslee, and a host of LGBT community leaders for a panel discussion moderated

by City of Seattle Council President Sally Clark. Tickets: $60 per person or $500 for table of ten in advance available until 12/10 ($75 per person walk-up day of the event) at www.equalrightswashington.org or 206324-2570.

THREE DOLLAR BILL CINENA – AN EVENING WITH AUNTIE MAME On Thursday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m., at AMC Pacific Place Cinema (600 Pine St., 4th Fl.), celebrate the season with Three Dollar Bill Cinema and “Auntie Mame,” the beloved 1958 film starring the incomparable Rosalind Russell. Always armed with a colorful dress and an acerbic quip, the flamboyant, vibrant Mame Dennis (Russell) is an unconventional socialite from the Roaring ‘20s. When her young orphan nephew comes to live in her madcap party pad, Mame takes him under her wings for an adventure in living life to its fullest. Tickets: $12.50 general; $10.50 Three Dollar Bill Cinema member (limit two per member).

Gaiety, classic film, and sharp humor ... in the words of Auntie Mame: “What could be GSBA HOLIDAY LUNCHEON On Wednesday, December 14, from 11:30 more wholesome and natural?” www.threea.m.-1:30 p.m., at Four Seasons Hotel (99 dollarbillcinema.org.

Union St.), raise a glass and take a midCENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING – day break with your GSBA colleagues and THE BIG GAY WEDDING friends at the Annual GSBA Holiday LunOn Saturday, December 15, at 2 p.m., cheon and Annual Meeting. It’s the time of year when long-term colleagues and friends at Center for Spiritual Living (5801 Sand catch-up and new business connections get Point Way NE), be one of 100 same-sex started. It’s also GSBA’s time of the year to couples that will take their sacred vows for thank their outgoing Board members for free (love offerings gratefully accepted) in their leadership and meet their new 2013 a beautiful mass marriage ceremony at SeGSBA Board members. Guest speaker will attle’s original progressive, “spiritual not be Gordon Prouty, publisher, Puget Sound religious” church for the past 91 years. RegBusiness Journal. Event cost: $34 mem- ister at SpiritualLiving.org to be included in bers, $39 nonmembers, $34 students. RSVP the group of 100 couples. Only registered couples will be able to participate. Get your at 206-363-9188; www.thegsba.org. marriage license the next day! Don’t worry about the music, the ceremony, the complePOZ SEATTLE – ANNUAL tion of legal documents. All will be handled HOLIDAY CHILI FEED SOCIAL POZ Seattle is pleased to present its An- by the creative wedding team that will make nual Holiday Chili Feed Social on Wednes- this event memorable, significant and saday, December 12, from 6-8 p.m., at The cred.

Cuff (13th Ave. & E. Pine St.). Meet at the 206-527-8801; www.SpiritualLiving.org. downstairs bar for drinks, homemade chili

Celebrating 39 Years!

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December 7, 2012

Seattle Gay News 17

Archbishop Tutu to Uganda: Drop ‘Kill the Gays’ bill

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu has called on the government of Uganda to drop the controversial “Kill the Gays” bill pending in that country’s parliament.

“I am opposed to discrimination, that is unfair discrimination, and would that I could persuade legislators in Uganda to drop their draft legislation, because I think it is totally unjust,” Tutu said December 4 at an All Africa Conference of Churches meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

Tutu, who was the first black Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa, and a leader in the anti-apartheid struggle, told church leaders they should stand by minorities and not preach that Gays and Lesbians are sinful.

“My brothers and sisters, you stood with people who were oppressed because of their skin color. If you are going to be true to the Lord you worship, you are also going to be there for the people who are being oppressed for something they can do nothing about – their sexual orientation,” Tutu said.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

IT’S NOT A CHOICE Tutu added that people do not choose their sexual orientation, and would be “crazy” to choose to be Gay “when you expose yourself to so much hatred, even to the extent of being killed.”

The day before Tutu’s remarks, U.S. Department officials corrected previous reports that the bill – which provides for the death penalty for “serial offender” Gays – had passed out of its parliamentary committee.

State Department spokesperson Nicole Thompson said December 3 that the legislation had yet to pass in committee.

“As with all domestic legislation, it’s up to the Ugandan Parliament to determine whether or not to move forward with a bill,” Thompson said. “The bill is currently in committee and has not yet reached the full parliament for consideration.”

A different State Department spokesper-

silive

international news

son, Victoria Nuland, told reporters in a December 3 press briefing that “a version of the bill has now passed the committee in Uganda.”

Thompson said Nuland might have misspoken when making those comments.

DEATH PENALTY REMOVED? The State Department would not comment on reports that the death penalty had been removed from the measure, formally titled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. According to the Washington Blade, a U.S. embassy source in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, told them the committee lacks the authority to remove the death penalty provision.

The State Department also declined to comment on when the measure might come before the full parliament. LGBT rights advocates say the Ugandan parliament will adjourn on December 14.

Thompson reiterated the U.S. government’s condemnation of the proposed legislation.

“The United States shares the concerns of several members of Uganda’s civil society and the Ugandan government’s own human rights commission, which determined the Anti-Homosexuality Bill violates both Uganda’s constitution and its obligations under international law,” she said.

“Beyond that, we have serious concerns about the negative impact of the bill on public health interests in Uganda, including our concerns that it would undercut Uganda’s ability to fight HIV/AIDS infection and the spread of HIV/AIDS. “We just note that as President Obama said in reference to the same anti-homosexuality bill in his comments during the National Prayer Breakfast, it is unconscionable to target Gays and Lesbians for who they are.”

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December 7, 2012

www.sgn.org Celebrating 39 Years!

Libyan militia kidnaps, beats Gay men

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

ENFORCING SHARIA Ahmad told the Times that a Nawasi patrol broke into a birthday party, discovered the partygoers were Gay, and then abducted them.

“We think they were on a routine patrol when they heard the music,” Ahmad told the Times reporter. “They were sitting outside for nearly half an hour. Then they saw one of the guys wearing a wig and a dress so [they] thought it was girls having a party with boys [which would be a violation of Sharia law].

“When they came inside, everyone panicked and the man pulled off his dress and wig. They wanted to know where the girls were, so they beat them until one of them admitted he was Gay and that’s when they were taken away.”

After the men were taken away, photos of them appeared on the Nawasi Brigade’s Facebook page, showing them facing a wall with their hands over their heads. Arabic text accompanying the images was translated as “flog them hard,” “ride them like camels,” and “let’s see the bullets fly.”

facebook

A powerful Islamist militia in Tripoli, Libya, reportedly kidnapped a dozen Gay men on November 22, beat them, and only let them go after a week in detention.

The U.S. State Department said it was concerned about the incident, and had raised the issue of militia groups with the Libyan government.

According to a witness interviewed by the Times of London, the kidnapped men were taken away from a party in a private house by the Nawasi Brigade, said to be the largest militia group in Tripoli.

The witness, identified only as “Ahmad,” said he had been kidnapped and beaten by Nawasi fighters on a previous occasion.

An early report, published by Gay Star News on November 25, said the men might be executed, but subsequent statements by the Nawasi Brigade said they would not kill the men. According to Pink News, the men were released a week after the incident, with their heads shaved and bruises on their backs and legs.

CLAIMS DRUGS FOUND A Nawasi Brigade spokesman said the men were not captured because of their sexual orientation.

“These guys are not straight, but that’s not the main reason we arrested them,” he said.

“The main thing was the big noise they were making to the neighbors, as well as the large amounts of alcohol and hashish we found.”

Ahmad said these types of abductions and beatings were common, and he himself had false teeth because his own were knocked out during an arrest by the Nawasi last August.

Ahmad’s companion, Anass, said that two weeks earlier he had been taken away for two days by the Nawasi Brigade. He was released relatively quickly, he said, because the brother of the man he was arrested with was a member of the militia.

The Nawasi group claims to be operating with the approval of Libya’s Interior Ministry.

State Department spokesperson Noel Clay told SGN that the U.S. government is “deeply concerned about reports that LGBT individuals in Libya are being beaten, harassed, and targeted for arrest by local militias.

“These acts of intolerance have no place One of the Libyan men who was arrested and beaten by a Libyan militia in democratic societies,” Clay added. “As a matter of international law, human rights apthe protection of human rights for all citiply to all persons, including Lesbian, Gay, as “Khaleed” told Gay Star News.

“The situation for LGBT people after the zens,” he continued.

Bisexual, and Transgender individuals.” revolution generally improved – people can “We urge the [Libyan] government to meet each other more easily than under the investigate incidents of abuse, and to hold WORSE THAN GADDAFI? Ahmed told the Times that the situation for [Gaddafi] regime, although of course we perpetrators accountable.”

Gay Libyans is worse now than it was under still have to be very discreet and careful.

“Many of us fear that some of the militias, dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

“Back then, the authorities were afraid which are extreme Islamists who are very that if they took us, we would say which of- well armed and financed, will focus on the LGBT community and hunt us down.” ficials were Gay,” he said.

“At the end of this year we are planning POLICE INEFFECTIVE to go to Egypt,” Ahmad and his companions “The police [are] largely absent or powersaid. “But the place all of us really want to go is Holland. There, we can be finally be less so Libyan civil society has a real problem – the militias often take the law onto who we are.”

Other LGBT Libyans said their situation their own hands,” Khaleed continued.

Clay said the State Department has “reguis better after the fall of Gaddafi, but that milarly raised the issue of militias with the litias remain a problem.

“We never had any Gay nightclubs in Libyan government.”

“Libyan leaders have made clear that they Libya, so it is not uncommon for Libyans – straight, Bisexual, and Gay men to party in understand the need for the government to a private space, drink, dance, have fun, and consolidate control over the militias to ensometimes even have sex,” a man identified sure a peaceful transition to democracy and

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Seattle Gay News 19

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Transgenderism no longer a ‘disorder’ in new APA manual

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Being Transgender will no longer be listed as a mental “disorder” in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

In an announcement on December 4, the APA said it will replace the term “gender identity disorder” with “gender dysphoria” in the new edition of its manual, which will be published in May 2013.

The revisions are the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of the diagnostic guide commonly referred to as the DSM – a standard text for psychiatrists in the U.S. and other countries.

The change comes after years of lobbying

by Transgender activists to remove the suggestion that Trans people are “disordered” or “mentally ill.” The new term, “gender dysphoria,” is defined as “a marked incon-

gruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender.”

“All psychiatric diagnoses occur within a cultural context,” said Jack Drescher, a New York psychiatrist and member of the APA subcommittee charged with revising the manual. “We know there is a whole community of people out there who are not seeking medical attention and live between the two binary categories. We wanted to send the message that the therapist’s job isn’t to pathologize.”

The new approach to Transgender people is reminiscent of the historic change in how the APA defined Gays and Lesbians. In 1973, the APA affirmed that “homosexuality per se is not a mental disorder” and rejected the stigma of mental illness that the medical and mental health professions had previously placed on sexual minorities.

As a result of its new approach to Gays and Lesbians, the APA says, it “then issued

a position statement supporting civil rights protection for Gay people in employment, housing, public accommodation, and licensing, and the repeal of all sodomy laws.”

Activists hope that the APA will now speak out in support of the Transgender community’s rights as they have in support of Gay and Lesbian rights.

gery and other medical procedures.

LEGAL EFFECT UNCERTAIN Since at least the 1980s, a growing number of insurance carriers authorize access to hormones or surgery for patients who decide to physically transition to a new gender, on the basis of the APA’s “gender identity disorder” diagnosis. Eliminating it DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD? from the diagnostic manual might make it The legal implications of the change may more difficult for Trans people to qualify for be profound. On one hand, a diagnosis of treatment. mental disorder may be used against Trans “Let’s say someone born a woman walks people. On the other hand, it can also pro- into my surgical office and says, ‘I would vide Trans people with legal protections un- like my breasts removed.’ What’s the diagder the Americans with Disabilities Act and nosis?” Dr. Drescher said. “The procedure other legislation. is a mastectomy, but if there is no diagnosis, In an ongoing child custody case in Utah, it is cosmetic surgery and your insurance for example, a Trans woman is at risk of won’t pay for it.” losing her parental rights because she was In other cases, however, insurance plans diagnosed with “gender identity disorder.” have excluded transition-related expanses, Her former spouse’s lawyer argued that she often under the excuse of “pre-existing suffered from a “severe, chronic mental ill- conditions.” President Obama’s Affordable ness that might be harmful to the child.” Care Act will prevent insurers from excludThis is only one of several similar cases in ing pre-existing conditions beginning in which Trans parents have been, or are, at 2014, but it is not clear what might happen risk of being separated from their children. if Trans people are no longer defined as havHowever, a diagnosis of “gender identity ing a “condition.” disorder” has sometimes helped Trans people combat discrimination because of their gender identity or expression.

“Having a diagnosis is extremely useful in legal advocacy,” National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal Director Shannon Minter said. “We rely on it even in employment discrimination cases to explain to courts that a person is not just making some superficial choice ... that this is a very deepseated condition recognized by the medical community.”

In other situations, a formal diagnosis of “gender identity disorder” can justify insurance coverage for gender reassignment sur-

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Seattle Gay News 21

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Seattle Gay News 23