SGN February 19, 2016 - Section 1

Celebrating 42 Years!

Issue 8 Volume 44

SEC 2 PG 1

Review and Interview

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY February 19, 2016 FREE!

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Notorious bigot launches anti-Trans campaign

Joseph Backholm was mastermind of R-74

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Newly appointed and historic University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce to receive GSBA Award on Tuesday, February 23

Joseph Backholm – Photo by Sarah Weiser/The Herald University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce – www.washington.edu

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Transgender community are threatening to launch an initiative campaign to block Trans by Victor Hawthorne people from using restrooms appropriate to SGN Contributing Writer Having failed to pass SB 6443, the so- their gender identity. called “bathroom bill,” enemies of the state’s see joseph backholm page 5

Seattle Coronation 2016: A Return to the Paramount

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Emperor and Empress at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in downtown Seattle. The sold out event, Coronation 2016: “A Return to The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle the Paramount: A Presidents Ball in Black and the Olympic and Rainier Empire cel- and White Deco” had all of the typical fanebrated their 45th coronation on Saturday, fare and pomp and circumstance one has February 13, with the crowning of a new see coronation page 6

see ana mari cauce page 8

Shoe companies kick anti-Gay spewers to the curb

by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer

Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle’s 45th Coronation – Photo by Shaun Knittel

Ana Mari Cauce became the University of Washington’s 33rd president last October in what was a historic decision made by the

Two major athletic sportswear brands took action this week in response to antiGay comments directed to the LGBT community.

First, it was Adidas. The German-based company posted a pre-Valentine’s Day photo on its official Instagram page, which could also be seen on Twitter and Facebook, showing the bottom half of two women’s bodies in sporting gear with the caption “The love you take is equal to the love you make.”

Nearly 300,000 followers “liked” the photo, some of whom expressed their sup-

port of Adidas’ message by offering positive comments and feedback. Others, however, were not so happy.

“Shame on you,” wrote @Americanhero123. “I’m going to Nike now.” Angry face and thumbs down emojis were placed at the end. Even harsher was a comment left by @ azemann, “WTF ADIDAS???? THIS DAY IS FOR BOY AND GIRL, WHEN THEY ARE COUPLE. NOT FOR LESBIANS, STUPID ADIDAS.” Undeterred, the sports apparel giant, mostly known for its line of shoes sold all over the world, replied swiftly to @Americanhero123 with two emojis, a hand waving goodbye and a kiss. To @azemann, ADIDAS see shoe companies page 6

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February 19, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

“COME FUND THEM” community fundraiser to be held at CC Attle’s Saturday, February 20

An Open Letter to the Community:

For those that are unaware, Marcus Dollarhide’s husband, Jeffery Pryor, had a major stroke on January 15th and has a very long road to recovery ahead off him. On Monday, February 1st, Marcus ended up in the ER with chest pain and had to have a stent implanted to return normal blood flow to his heart. They are both doing very well, with Jeffrey showing improvement every day and Marcus already back to work. But the financial burdens these events have placed on them are huge! Please come together with us, and

help support them with any amount you are able.

THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING 18 YEARS TOGETHER IN MARCH! LET’S HELP MAKE IT A MEMORABLE ONE....

“COME FUND THEM” will be held at CC Attle’s (1701 E. Olive Way) on Saturday, February 20, from 8pm-midnight.

If you are unable to attend, but still wish to donate, please go to this link and donate through their Go Fund Me account. https:// www.gofundme.com/funds4jeffrey Thanks, Toby Noon Washington State Mr. Leather, 2008 CC Attle’s Seattle

Challenging Mark Segal’s view on Creating Change protest Editor: The opinion piece by Mark Segal (modestly denominated as “the nation’s mostaward-winning commentator in LGBT media”) is highly distorted [and] needs to be challenged. [“Calling out insensitive, antiSemitic protest”, Seattle Gay News, 2/12/16.]

His argument seems to be that since the Palestinians don’t afford gay rights, it is OK (moral? merely tolerable?) that they be occupied and oppressed. By Segal’s logic, it is alright that Putin has occupied the Crimea and eastern Ukraine, since the Ukraine doesn’t allow gay marriage, etc. Or that Tibet continues to be occupied as well, since the foolish Tibetans don’t celebrate samesex snogging.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Gay rights are not the sum total of human civil rights. When there were no gay rights in Mississippi, Americans (gay and straight) still fought and died for the right of all that State’s citizens to vote.

As it has recently been put, “Palestinians need hope, freedom and human rights. The way to these is by ending the occupation.” according to the chair of the European Parliament (EP’s) Delegation for relations with Palestine. It expressed alarm at the deteriorating situation on the ground, calling for an immediate stop to Israeli expansion of settlements, and demolitions. “Israeli occupation policies are a direct threat to the two-state solution.

The expansion of settlements, demolitions, forcible transfers and evictions must stop

immediately,” Delegation Chair Martina Anderson said.

Whether or not gays can screw. (We, of course, need to deal with that problem, which exists in many – too many, countries as well.)

And by the way, as one Jew to another (I mean Segal), Israel’s government is a government like any other. Criticism of its illegal and unwise and immoral policies is no more anti-Israeli (and certainly not anti-Semitic) than Bernie Sanders’ criticism of U.S. government policies makes the Vermont Senator anti-American.

February 19, 2016

Seattle Gay News 3

Phil Bereano Seattle

Our Transgender community deserves better

Seattle City Councilmember Lorena González – electlenoragonzalez.com

by M. Lorena González Seattle City Councilmember Special to the SGN Three weeks ago, the Seattle City Council was presented with an opportunity to speak up against an overt attempt by our Washington State Senate to legislate transphobia. As a civil rights attorney who built a 10-year legal career upholding anti-discrimination laws, I proudly signed a letter urging our Seattle senators and representatives to oppose Senate Bill 6443.

Through that bill Republican Senators purported to force all Washingtonians to use the bathroom that “matches” their birth genitalia to be enforced through the unbelievably egregious step of requiring a DNA test prior to bathroom entry. Not only was this bill (and five others like it) absurd it was hateful. It was also a reminder that the struggle for equity – to be distinguished from equality – is not over. And thanks to leaders within the LGBTQ community we saw a groundswell of action to organize and oppose these insidious pieces of anti-trans*

legislation. I was proud to stand in solidarity with those activists and play a small roll in echoing their call for justice rather than hate.

Simply put, I signed on to this letter because sometimes we legislate to protect and empower all of our residents and sometimes we use the power that is imbued upon us by our title to advocate. Let’s be clear: Seattle will not tolerate hate, oppression or the attempt to devalue or ostracize any member of our community for any reason.

As the chair of the Seattle City Council’s Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans committee, it is my priority to make every Seattle resident feel safe and respected in their city and the proposed discriminatory bathroom bill flew in the face of that basic principle.

While there is a great deal of work to be done in our city on many issues, we must remain vigilant of attempts to legislate transgender discrimination laws while also proactively legislating against the same. The public testimony opposing SB 6443 put a finer point on why we must remain vigilant. We heard arguments that transgender people by their mere existence are a threat to the safety of “normal” men, women and children. The irony is that this way of thinking, which characterizes transgender people as “dangerous,” is the reason why we see a disproportionately high rate of violence

and assaults against transgender people, especially among transgender people of color.

Transgender people are not the safety risk, they are more often victims and it is our duty as elected officials to protect this underrepresented community with the same vigor that we protect any other protected class.

The good news is that SB 6443 was defeated but, let’s not be fooled, this work to achieve equity for our transgender friends, brothers, sisters, wives and husbands continues. In 28 states, a person can be fired for being gay. In 31 states, a person can be fired for being transgender. Layer on top of gender identity the intersectionality of race and every quality of life and access to justice issue worsens.

As a former civil rights attorney, I can tell you for certain that the forces of oppression never rest. This is why I call on every member of our community to join me in standing with Seattle’s transgender community. Let Seattle’s unity for action be a model to the state, nation and world.

M. Lorena González is one of two citywide-elected Seattle City Councilmembers.

She chairs the Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans Committee.

Councilmember González can be reached at lorena.gonzalez@seattle.gov or 206-6848802.

Help shape Seattle Public Library services around Seattle culture and history on Tuesday, February 23 Help shape Seattle history and culture services at The Seattle Public Library by joining a Community Conversation with City Librarian Marcellus Turner from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 4, Washington Mutual Foundation Meeting Room 1.

This conversation is co-sponsored with the Association of King County Historical Organizations (AKCHO).

“Our Library system has a special responsibility to preserve and build collections, programs and services that reflect our city’s unique history and culture,” Turner said. “I’m looking forward to discussing some of our exciting new projects and hearing what resources and programs are most important to our patrons.”

Turner also will provide an update on expanded services made possible by the Library levy, approved by Seattle voters in 2012.

The program is part of a series of community discussions (http://www.spl.org/ about-thelibrary/ community-conversations) Turner is having on five service priorities that are guiding the future of the Library. The series kicked off in October 2015 with a conversation about youth and early learning.

Future conversations will be devoted to his other three priorities – technology and access, community engagement and re-imagined spaces.

The Library has a wide range of material about Seattle culture and history, much of it in the Seattle Room at the Central Library.

“The Library is a treasure trove of Seattle history – from high school yearbooks and oral histories to thousands of historic photographs that chart the course of our region,” Turner said.

He noted that technological advances have made it possible to provide online access to rare and historical items like the Pike Place Market Collection.

Turner said an advisory group of experts in the community working with staff developed guiding principles, which included a commitment to make the collections available in evolving formats and to preserve and protect the collections for posterity.

“With the framework in place, it’s important that I hear from patrons directly about the historical materials and programs they cherish most to ensure we are planning appropriately for future generations,” Turner said.

The Library’s Special Collections Manager Jodee Fenton also will share information about exciting new projects underway,

4 Seattle Gay News

February 19, 2016

Seattle Public Library at 1000 4th Avenue – brucemaudesign.com

including the upcoming arrival of Shakespeare’s First Folio (https://www.spl.org/ library-collection/first-folio).

AKCHO, which represents museums and heritage and historical societies in King County, believes the Library is critical to the cultural vitality of the region.

“The Seattle Public Library’s community conversation is an important opportunity for the public to have a say on services and collections focused on local history,” said Alice Winship, AKCHO president. “We are

very interested in how the Library partners with cultural organizations.”

Everyone is welcome at the meeting.

Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, call the Library at 206386-4636 or Ask a Librarian (http://www. spl.org/using-the-library/get-help/ask-alibrarian).

Courtesy of Seattle Public Library

Celebrating 41 Years!

Detectives investigating Capitol Hill assault as possible bias crime

Seattle detectives are investigating a possible bias crime on Capitol Hill – q13fox.com

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Compared to this time last year, Capi-

tol Hill has seen a decrease in reported bias crimes for the LGBTQ community. But that does not mean that these crimes don’t still occur and go unreported; or they receive

less attention from media because there isn’t an uptick in the number of crimes to report; like this incident where a man was assaulted early Wednesday, February 17, on Capitol Hill, which detectives are investigating as a possible hate crime.

According to the SPD Blotter, police were called to 10th Avenue and E. Union Street around 2:15 a.m. after a bystander reported seeing a man being pulled from an SUV and assaulted by a second man.

At the scene, officers learned the 26-year-old victim had been at a bar earlier in the evening, where he and his friends had met a group of five men.

The victim eventually parted ways with his friends and left the bar. Later, the victim’s friends left the bar with the group of men and joined them in their SUV so they could head to a party.

According to police, as the SUV drove through Capitol Hill, the three women spotted their friend, the victim, and asked the men to pick him up.

When the victim climbed into the SUV, the group of men began yelling for him to get out of the vehicle and used homophobic slurs.

One of the men in the SUV then reportedly tried to push the victim out of the vehicle while it was in motion. One suspect also put the victim in a headlock and punched him.

At that point the victim’s friends pushed their way out of the SUV and the group of men sped away.

After receiving a 911 call from a witness, officers searched the neighborhood for the suspects and the SUV, but were unable to find them.

The victim received treatment for scrapes and bruising at an area hospital following the incident.

SPD’s Bias Crimes detectives are investigating the case and are asking anyone with information to call (206) 684-5550.

23rd Avenue businesses to City Hall: Mitigation funds now!

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On Tuesday, Transgender 23rd Avenue business owner Sara Mae, 701 Coffee (701 23rd Avenue @ E. Cherry St.), and several other minority-owned small business owners brought their grievances to City Hall.

During the February 16 Council Briefing, Sara Mae, who has led the charge calling upon the City to provide mitigation funds for small businesses negatively impacted by the 23rd Avenue construction over the past months, said that she and her family face homelessness if something doesn’t change soon.

Sara Mae is referring to the road construction project spanning Montlake, Capitol Hill, and the Central District that will transform 23rd Avenue and 23rd Avenue E. The new configuration will have a center left-turn lane and will improve the pedestrian and sidewalk experience. The new layout will allow buses to pull completely out of the traffic lane at stops. That project is a lot of construction in its own right, but in ad-

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SB 6443 would have repealed a recent ruling by the Washington State Human Rights Commission (HRC) that Transgender individuals can use public restrooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The measure would also have barred the Human Rights Commission from making any future rules about restrooms or locker rooms.

The measure failed in a 25-24 Senate vote on February 10, but right-wing forces refused to take no for an answer.

An organization calling itself “Just Want Privacy” says it is gathering resources to wage a statewide initiative to repeal the HRC rules.

dition, crews are also replacing a 100-yearold water main between E. Madison and E. Union Streets. The overhauled street will be a long-term benefit for the area, the planned phases of the construction where work is currently focused on 23rd Avenue has extended into a longer than expected period of challenged access and closed intersections.

Basically, says Sara Mae, the construction has closed the small businesses along 23rd Avenue between E. Union St. and S. Jackson St. down.

Sara Mae has put pressure on elected officials to do more to help. After weeks of posting about the problems on social media, the City responded with a Mayor-directed plan for more assistance. The Office of Economic Development says it will provide a $102,000 grant to the Central Area Collaborative to bolster marketing for the area and business support – but not direct mitigation payments to area businesses.

Marketing is not the problem, say business owners. People know about these businesses (many of them have been in busi-

ness on 23rd Avenue for years) but without parking, easy access in or out of their business parking lots, or in some cases (such as 701 Coffee) potential customers find it hard to even get in the door at all because of construction.

Additionally, the Mayor-directed plan calls for SDOT to reorder its construction schedule to reopen 23rd Avenue between S. Jackson and E. Yesler in March, one to two months earlier than currently planned.

But that is not enough says Sara Mae and others, such as Justin Gerardy of Standard Brewing, Nop Zay of Mamas Cafe, and Saad Ali of 99 Cent Plus. The small business owners feel that they have been left out of mitigation funds that other business owners in other City of Seattle neighborhoods have gotten – but not one business in the Central District has received mitigation funds.

Fifteen waterfront businesses were offered a portion of $15 million to close during the reconstruction of the seawall. But SDOT says that was an exception because the project required all access to the businesses to be removed. Sarah Mae is quick to point out

that this is simply semantics because, as it stands, customers can’t access the businesses on 23rd Avenue either.

During the February 16 meeting between the council and the business owners, Kate Joncas of the Mayor’s office, said the City’s law department considered the possibility of mitigation funds for 23rd Avenue businesses but had decided the impacts would not be as severe as on the waterfront and then suggested the City Council schedule a briefing with the law department to get further clarification on how that decision was made.

But it didn’t look as though Council members were in need of clarification. A majority were already convinced that direct cash assistance or loans should be made available.

“The businesses have a right, but they have no remedy. The remedy is mitigation,” said Council member Debora Juarez.

The meeting ended with Council president Bruce Harrell saying the February 16 briefing would be the start of sorting out the issue in future committee sessions.

“We’ll file an initiative as soon as we raise $100,000 and identify 1,000 volunteers to collect signatures,” the group says on its website.

Just Want Privacy head Joseph Backholm will be familiar to SGN readers as the man who personally filed Referendum 74 to repeal marriage equality in 2012 and led the effort to get the anti-Gay measure on the ballot.

After filing the referendum, Backholm initiated the back-room negotiations among feuding anti-Gay groups that eventually resulted in forming Preserve Marriage Washington, with himself as statewide chairman.

Backholm is also executive director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington, the local affiliate of Focus on the Family, an anti-Gay hate group founded by James

Dobson.

Trans rights activists responded to his latest initiative with anger and determination to beat the attack.

“We have given our opposition the facts, the science, and the laws that support fair treatment for Transgender people. We have introduced them to ourselves, our families, and our loving allies. We have time and again shown there is nothing to fear from Transgender people. And still there is talk of an initiative?” Ingersoll Gender Center founder Marsha Botzer said.

“This would be initiative as an act of aggression, a call to the worst imaginings, fearful fantasies, and willful misunderstandings. And all this heaped upon a frightened and vulnerable Transgender population. What politics, what faith, what group would support this destruction of

neighbors?”

Gender Justice League executive director Danni Askini noted, “Our opponents registered this website on December 30,” well before SB 6443 was even filed, “demonstrating that this has been a coordinated campaign against Transgender people.”

Askini added, “We believe we have strong public support and are in a powerful position to fight back any attempt to repeal the rights of Transgender people in Washington state.”

Other groups already on record supporting Washington’s Transgender community are Equal Rights Washington, the Washington State Labor Council, the Martin Luther King County Labor Council, and the SAFE Alliance, a coalition of 130 LGBT and human rights organizations.

February 19, 2016

Seattle Gay News 5

Visit us online www.sgn.org

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come to expect of a Court function. There was big hair, beaded dresses, a cross section of generations young and old, and timehonored traditions. However, Coronation 2016 would see some heartfelt surprises and moments of inspiration that made the evening one for the books.

With a replica of the Paramount Theatre sign (lights and all) as a backdrop, the Court of Seattle College of Monarchs crowned Olympia XLV DonnaTella Howe and Rainier XLII Mark Surreal, Regent Emperor.

“The I-5 corridor is about to see hard work and evolution,” DonnaTella Howe told her supporters on Facebook following her crowning as Empress. “My continued work with the court is because I believe in it. I believe in those that came before me and those I stand beside today and those that I hope will join us if and when they are ready.”

“Some might say that the Court System is obsolete and I don’t see it that way,” continued DonnaTella Howe. “We do have many more freedoms in life that have changed the landscape, but that doesn’t mean that the work the Court does is any less important.”

“I’m embarking on a year that I feel and know is meant to be now,” concluded DonnaTella Howe. “I will be working for Seattle, for Washington, for our LGBT communities.

Working with other organizations and groups and worlds will collide in the most brilliant and amazing ways. I really hope to see many of you during this year and to work together, because that’s what makes a community.”

“As I sit here still trying to soak all this in, I am honored to be here once again,” Mark Surreal, Regent Emperor said to his supporters on Facebook. “If you would have told me that I would be in this position 5 years ago, heck a year ago, I would have laughed at you. As most of you know I crowned DonnaTella Howe almost 5 years ago as a Miss Gay Seattle. I watched her grow into this amazing leader, and now I am so very honored and proud to walk alongside her as my Empress.”

“The out pouring of love and support is a breath of fresh air,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with our young court members and guiding them along their journey. It’s going to be a yearlong party with a lot of work thrown in. Let’s get this party started!”

The Court of Seattle is in its fifth decade of community service to the greater Puget Sound area. The Court’s roots go back to 1968 but it wasn’t until 1970 when Seattle’s first coronation took place at the Olympic Hotel, in the Olympic Bowl Ballroom. In 1974, Seattle’s fourth coronation was held at the Eagle’s Hippodrome Ballroom. The

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fired back with “No, this day is for LOVE. Happy Valentine’s Day.” followed by a kiss emoji.

An even bigger story this week involved Nike. When boxing champ Manny Pacquiao remarked in an interview that Gay people “are worse than animals,” the Beaverton, Oregon headquartered corporation

6 Seattle Gay News

College of Monarchs was formed and the “Lampshade,” the state crown, made its grand entrance and is still one of the most recognizable court artifacts in the International Court System. It was at that coronation that Lance Knight was elected the first Rainier and Dominique St. Laurent became Olympia IV. This year Olympia I Scotty and partner King Father John Frangello celebrated 45 years with the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle as founders and 50 years together as lovers.

“The first Coronation was held in the Olympic Bowl of the Olympic Hotel. I was one of 22 contestants that night,” Olympia I Scotty explained to attendees at Coronation 2016. “The stars aligned that night and I came out the winner. I was the most shocked and surprised person in the ballroom. Still am.”

“The highlight of my reign was my first trek to mecca, San Francisco,” continued Scotty. “But before I even got out of town my luggage was stolen! When I arrived and the girls in San Francisco heard of my misfortune, they offered dresses, furs, and wigs all at my free disposal. San Francisco treated this farm girl like an Empress!”

has stood by me through thick and thin, the good, the bad and the really ugly. Living with a Drag Queen / Empress takes the patience of Job and then some.”

Following Olympia I Scotty’s wonderful history lesson and performance at Coronation 2016, Olympia IV Dominique St. Laurent (1975-1976), accompanied by the everpopular Olympia VI Bublz LaRue (19771978), took the stage to honor the 40th Anniversary of Olympia V, The Lady Graytop (1976-1977). Dominique, wheelchair bound and recovering from a recent heart attack and loss of vision, and Bublz regaled the audience with stories of their friend and one of the Court of Seattle’s pioneering drag queens, The Lady Graytop.

The Lady Graytop is one-half of the The J.C./Lady Graytop Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 1977, by the Court of Seattle as a permanent memorial to Emperor J.C. and Empress Lady Graytop, vibrant members of the LGBT Community. The Lady Graytop was murdered and a suspect was never named or arrested in connection to the murder – which has remained unsolved to this day.

Since its inception, The Court of Seattle has awarded over $60,000 in various schol-

Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle’s 45th Coronation – Photo by Shaun Knittel

“The first reign was a success and I have stayed active throughout 44 reigns now,” said Scotty. “I plan on staying active until, well, you know. ‘Dead’ sounds so final, so I’ll just say . . . when I’ve moved on.”

Turning the focus to the future of The Court of Seattle, and acknowledging the inner turmoil experienced by the International Court System as of late, Scotty said, “My hope for the future of the court system is that there will be a stop to the airing of our dirty laundry and a return to dealing directly with the person or entity with whom you have issues. It’s so simple. Because if we don’t start setting a better example for the youth and new membership . . . then we have no future.”

“Besides money raised and the good deeds done, I feel the most wonderful gift we give ourselves are the friendships me make,” Olympia I Scotty concluded. “Old or new, cherish them. I am very lucky to have friends dating back to the beginning of the court system. I have a special shout out to my partner of 50 years, John Frangello, who

arships to deserving students through The J.C./Lady Graytop Memorial Scholarship Fund and the recipients of this year’s scholarships were announced and those present were introduced to the crowd near the beginning of the evening.

Following their recollections of The Lady Graytop, Bublz and Dominique St. Laurent performed. In a moment that can only be described as triumphant, Olympia IV Dominique St. Laurent accidentally knocked her wig off her head but continued to perform with a boldness that seemed to transcend age, illness, or any other mortal thing until coming to the end of her number and a raucous applause from a standing ovation. It was a tremendously powerful moment and one that I don’t think anyone in attendance will soon forget.

Also celebrating anniversaries at Coronation 2016 were Rainier VII Gary Scott and Olympia XI Alice (35 Year), Rainier XII Michael Orias and Olympia XVI Sofonda Peters (30 Year), Empress Emeritus Charity (30 Year), Rainier XVII Steph Patrick

released him from its sponsorship contract, not only for his comments, but also his opposition to same-sex marriage by referencing the Bible.

“We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” the company said in a released statement. “Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.”

It wasn’t just Nike that disapproved of the Filipino star’s hateful comments, fellow athletes Floyd Meriweather and Magic Johnson sounded off just hours later.

“I applaud Nike for terminating Manny Pacquiao’s contract after his derogatory statements that gay people are worse than animals,” posted Johnson on Twitter. He also declared that he wouldn’t be watching any of Pacquiao’s future boxing matches.

For the record, both Adidas and Nike

February 19, 2016

and Olympia XXI Valerie Doll (25 Year), Rainier XXII Tim and Olympia XXVI Coco Vaughn (20 Year), and Rainier XXXII Larry Stewart Ryan and Olympia XXXV Aleksa Manila (10 Year).

Olympia XXVI Coco Vaughn, known for dresses that shine bright as the sun when the spotlight comes into contact with the beaded gowns she wears, did not disappoint. She looked as stunning as ever during her performance honoring her 20th anniversary of being crowned Empress of Seattle and the Olympic and Rainier Empire.

The performance of the night, however, was delivered by Seattle drag legend Olympia XXXV Aleksa Manila. Dressed in all red, with a layered costume (complete with cape and razor sharp red painted fingernails) that she stripped away until all that was left was her futuristic braided and beaded hair art and flesh-colored, red beaded bikini bod. Flanking her on stage, with a mix of ribbon and contemporary dancing were backup dancers Grant Cabebe and Justin Williams. The performance was high energy, theatrical and simply was the most thought out and well executed of the evening.

In attendance at Coronation were members of the International Court System from around the Western region, including San Francisco, Denver, Reno, Salt Lake City, Portland, Salem, Eugene, Vancouver BC and Surrey BC, Alberta CANADA, and Alaska, as well as members of the Washington state Imperial Courts of Bellingham, Everett/Snohomish County, Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, and Vancouver. In addition there were members of the International Court System from Buffalo, New York and New York City and others.

At Coronation 2016 the Court of Seattle seemed to reaffirm that they are as relevant as ever. In a world where the LGBTQ community is changing and changing fast, the International Court System has held onto its mission, traditions and pageantry to emerge as a staple in our community – locally and throughout the country – as a bastion of our history. And they are okay with that. And we should be, too.

The Imperial Court of Seattle presents pageants and showcases throughout the year. Coming up next will be the Imperial Prince and Princess Ball – watch for details. Also, keep an eye out for the King and Queen of Hearts Pageant, the Closet Ball, the King and Queen of the Seas Pageant, The Emperors’ Turn About and other events.

For more information, visit the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle and the Olympic and Rainier Empire at www.imperialcourtofseattle.com and on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/ISCSORE. For more information about the International Court System, visit http://www.impcourt.org.

are longtime supporters of equal rights and the LGBT community. In 2015, the former introduced a trio of Pride-themed designed shoes to celebrate Gay pride around the globe. Similarly, Nike rolled out an entire line of clothes – tee-shirts, caps, shoes – last year, as well, called #BETRUE that celebrates the passion and pursuit of sport by all athletes.

Celebrating 41 Years!

Space Needle settles with union activist it fired illegally – Promises not to do it again

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A union activist illegally fired by the Space Needle was vindicated when the Seattle landmark settled an unlawful termination complaint he filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Fernando Jimenez had worked for the Space Needle for seven years when he was fired last March. The company fired him because of his participation in UNITE HERE Local 8, the union that represents Space Needle employees, he charged.

In the settlement of his complaint, announced February 16, the Space Needle agreed to pay Jimenez $24,000, plus back pay due to a second worker affected by Jimenez’s case.

The Space Needle will also be required to post a notice informing workers of their union rights and commit to refrain from discrimination against union supporters.

The required posting states, in part: “WE WILL NOT discharge our employees because of their support for, or activities

on behalf of, the Union.”

“I feel like I was treated unfairly, and I’m glad to see them being held accountable,” Jimenez said in a statement.

“I know my co-workers will continue to stand up for what’s right at the Needle and hope that other workers who’ve been discriminated against for supporting the union will also be made whole.”

Jimenez’s complaint was only one of more than a dozen unfair labor practice charges filed against the Space Needle since the company unilaterally ended its union contract with Local 8 in May 2012.

In January 2015, the NLRB concluded that the Space Needle had previously retaliated against two SkyCity restaurant workers and union activists, by refusing to recall Tracy McCauley and Julia Dube to work after a routine seasonal layoff. The Space Needle has appealed that ruling to the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and McCauley and Dube still await reinstatement and back pay.

“The Space Needle’s been trying to bust our union for years,” said shop steward and

Space Needle settles with union activist – Photo by Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times

restaurant server Lou Christensen. “Fernando’s victory shows that we are stronger than ever and that the Needle is realizing this is a fight they can’t win.”

UNITE HERE Local 8 represents nearly 5,000 hospitality and food service workers in Washington and Oregon, including SkyCity restaurant employees, banquet serv-

ers, elevator operators, greeters, and other workers at the Space Needle.

In 2007, Local 8 won the first hotel contract in the country to explicitly protect Transgender workers, at Seattle’s Westin Hotel. Trans-inclusive contract language is now standard in Local 8’s collective bargaining agreements.

Groups challenge right-wing Freedom Foundation in complaint to AG Video shows Freedom Foundation plotting to elect Republican candidates

Freedom Foundation CEO Tom McCabe – Photo by Greg Gilbert/The Seattle Times

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A broad coalition of LGBT, human rights, and labor groups are challenging the tax-exempt status of the right-wing Freedom Foundation in a complaint to Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed February 16.

Pride At Work, an LGBT labor organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO, has signed the complaint, along with the North-

west Accountability Project, NARAL ProChoice Washington, Progressive Majority Washington, the American Federation of Teachers Washington, the Washington State Council of Firefighters, Teamsters Local 117, and the Washington State Labor Council.

The complaint to Ferguson follows discovery of a videotape by the Northwest Accountability Project documenting statements by Freedom Foundation operatives that they are actively trying to help Republi-

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can candidates.

The video was shot at a fundraiser for Republican state Rep. Lynda Wilson and shows Freedom Foundation CEO Tom McCabe and foundation staffer Scott Roberts explaining the right-wing group’s strategy.

They want to attack labor unions with so-called right-to-work laws and other tactics, so unions will be unable to fund Democratic candidates, the two say. Working to elect Republicans and defeat Democrats would be a clear violation of IRS and Washington state rules for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations.

“Why are we focused on the labor unions?” McCabe asks in the video. “They are by far the largest contributors to the Democratic Party.”

Later in the video, McCabe endorses the idea of keeping the Washington legislature under Republican control and even encourages donors in the room to contribute to specific races.

Scott explains that the Freedom Foundation attacks unions in order to force them to spend money defending their right to organize workers.

“Every dollar [unions] spend defending their idea is every dollar they don’t have to spend against our good candidates,” he says.

The video is available at the Northwest Accountability Project website, nwaccount-

abilityproject.com.

The February 16 complaint is the second filed against the Freedom Foundation. Last year, a 24-page complaint from a dozen organizations demanded that the IRS revoke the group’s tax-exempt status for “flagrantly” disregarding federal laws banning intervention in political campaigns.

“The Freedom Foundation is blatantly ignoring the state and federal rules that prohibit tax-exempt organizations from engaging in partisan political activity – and as a result, they’re getting tax breaks while taxpayers are footing the bill for their conservative attacks,” said Andrew Biviano, founding board member of the Northwest Accountability Project.

“It’s outrageous that the Freedom Foundation is engaging in partisan attacks on the middle class, the environment, and the values that we hold here in the Pacific Northwest, while hiding behind a bogus 501(c)(3) tax exemption.”

Revoking the group’s tax-exempt status could have a huge financial impact on the organization. It would mean that Freedom Foundation donors could no longer deduct contributions from their federal taxes, it would restrict contributions from charitable foundations such as the Murdock Trust, and the organization could be liable for additional B&O and other state taxes.

February 19, 2016

Seattle Gay News 7

“Queer”: Word du jour?

by Mark Segal Philadelphia Gay News There seems to be yet another controversy in our community this week. The issue du jour is over HuffPost changing its dedicated LGBT site’s name from “GayVoices” to “QueerVoices.” While there are strong opinions on both sides of this issue, when I heard about it, it brought a smile to my face.

Since the beginning of my activism back in 1969, I’ve witnessed our community’s attempts to unite over a word or term to define ourselves. There was “homosexual,”

ana mari cauce continued from cover

University of Washington Board of Regents.

Historic – Yes, historic, because Ana Mari Cauce became the first woman, the first Latina, and the first openly Gay person to hold the position.

Next Tuesday, after serving four months as president of the University of Washington, Ana Mari will be receiving the Greater Seattle Business Association’s 2015 Special Recognition: Voice for Social Justice Award.

“Being the first Latina woman and the first lesbian woman in her position – we know those journeys aren’t easy,” said Louise Chernin, the GSBA’s President and CEO. “But as she’s been on that journey she has stayed true to herself, and we hear from students, staff, and faculty how respected she is and how supportive she is to everyone. All of us in the GSBA are incredibly excited to honor someone we so admire and respect.”

Cauce will be recognized at the GSBA’s 35th Annual Business and Humanitarian Awards Dinner on February 23 at Seattle’s Waterfront Marriott Hotel.

The Greater Seattle area’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce has given out annual awards for the past 34 years in categories including New Business, Corporate Leader, and Nonprofit of the Year. This year however, Ana Mari is in a special category of her own. “There are years when someone defies all categories and simply needs to be recognized as an important voice for social justice, and this year President Cauce is that special person,” says Chernin.

I had the honor of briefly speaking to Ana Mari about all of the recent and exciting events taking place in her life, including her journey getting to this point, and the future she envisions as president of the University of Washington.

Before her long career at the university, Cauce spent most of her life on the East Coast.

Born in Cuba, where her father was the minister of education, Cauce fled with her

8 Seattle Gay News

“homophile,” “gay,” “gay and lesbian” and most recently, and most accepted, “LGBT.” So what about queer?

HuffPost’s reasoning? “We, like many others before us, have chosen to reclaim ‘queer.’ ‘Queer’ functions as an umbrella term that includes not only the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people of ‘LGBT,’ but also those whose identities fall in between, outside of or stretch beyond those categories, including genderqueer people, intersex people, asexual people, pansexual people, polyamorous people and those questioning their sexuality or gender, to name just a few.”

First, on reclaiming the word. I say, good luck with that. We saw how great that worked for the black community when some tried to reclaim the “n” word. While the word “queer” is popular with young LGBT activists, many in our community detest that word. Reclaiming a derogatory

word is not a new trend. Some of us used to use the word “faggot.” The first suggested title for my memoir was “Pinko Jew Faggot.”

We ruled it out for the same reasons “queer” would have been; it’s just a word du jour.

It’s popular with only one segment of our community, and that segment is overwhelmingly activist-driven. Most in our community do not consider themselves activists and still feel hurt when they hear that word. Are we trying to teach our own community, or are we trying to fight for equality? Are we trying to hurt the seniors in our community who suffered harassment by the use of that word and give them another barrier to overcome?

Maybe we should attempt to solve some of the hardcore issues in our community rather than spending time debating semantics.

While all individuals have the right to identify with whatever term or image they

wish for themselves, and that should be respected, the word-reclaiming, like that in the black community, will eventually be passé.

So if you spend any capital or time on this, you’re ignoring issues such as homelessness, poverty, employment discrimination, housing to protect our seniors and anti-trans violence. Those are issues I’d rather fight to solve, not a word – and especially not one that some of the most endangered people in our community see as another barrier.

family during the revolution at the age of three. She grew up in Miami, where both of her parents took jobs in shoe factories, hoping to one-day return to Cuba.

Fortunately for Cauce, both of her parents placed a very high value on the power of education, setting her life on a track few would have expected given her humble beginnings. Ana Mari attended the University of Miami, earning degrees in English and psychology in 1977, and later attended Yale University where she earned her Ph.D. in psychology, with a concentration in child clinical and community psychology.

Cauce first arrived at the University of Washington in 1986 as an associate professor teaching psychology and American ethnic studies. She recalls that she really didn’t think that she would stay at the UW for long but says that she “fell in love with the university, the Seattle area, the state, the natural beauty. I fell in love with everything.”

Cauce has since held numerous leadership positions at the UW, including Director of the UW Honors Program, Chair of American Ethnic Studies, Chair of Psychology, Executive Vice Provost, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

to point out some of these challenges and how the UW plans to address them.

“The UW has worked hard to address rising tuition costs and has been one of the few schools that has been successful at lowering them.”

Last year, when the state legislature cut four-year college tuition by 15 to 20 percent in its 2015-17 budget, Cauce praised the legislature for reversing “the long-term trend of shifting the burden of paying for college from the state to students and their families.”

At the time of our interview, in fact, Cauce was returning from a trip to Olympia, where she was busy building relationships, building trust, and listening to lawmakers’ concerns in order to make tuition more affordable for students.

Cauce is not in support of. She explained very thoroughly that the current system in place, in which elected faculty make decisions concerning all faculty at the university, has worked for many years.

“It is a transparent system that has worked for many years and there is no need to change it,” she explained. “It would be dangerous to replace a functioning system for one that is not transparent and has never been tried before.”

As someone who has risen through the ranks at the university, in fact being the first president to come through the ranks, Ana Mari Cauce knows a thing or two about the UW, and she is confident that any issues related to faculty hours and working conditions can be addressed by the system already in place.

Ana Mari explained to me that her biggest challenge and focus will be to expand the “Husky experience” for every student.

An experience that is robust and includes opportunities for students to become more involved in leadership, studies abroad, service work, and working with the university and faculty more closely.

Cauce also explained that a major challenge will be to enhance an environment that facilitates interdisciplinary studies in some of the most pressing issues facing our world. “These are exciting times where we are very close to breakthroughs in cancer research and clean energy and the challenge will be how do we further that mission and make the research translate into a meaningful change in the world.”

Another of her focuses will be addressing the issues affecting Washington state and the Seattle area community. Cauce has already publicly stated that the university will be “completely in line with the new minimum wage ordinance to affect the city, including student workers.”

“This was a decision that was made because it is the right thing to do,” explained Cauce.

Another controversial issue facing Cauce is the faculty unification drive, which

There will no doubt be many challenges and opportunities awaiting Cauce in her future as University of Washington president, but given her unparalleled dedication to the university, her many years of experience in teaching and leadership, and her passion as an advocate and spokesperson, she is not only a historic trailblazer but the most qualified person to lead the UW into the future.

The Board of Regents chair Bill Ayer couldn’t agree more, saying “Our rigorous presidential search process has validated that Ana Mari is exactly the right person to take us to the next level in our long-term quest to become the best public research university in the world. She has the full confidence and enthusiastic support of the Board.”

As I listened to Ana Mari Cauce speaking about her life and the future of the UW under her leadership, I couldn’t help but be in awe of what an amazing woman she is.

Every word she spoke was carefully chosen and every sentence demonstrated her knowledge and dedication to her work. She is truly an amazing person that will lead the University of Washington to new and exciting heights.

When asked about her teaching experience, Cauce recalled that she doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t teaching. “I remember teaching my stuffed animals as a little girl, I just loved it.”

Cauce has now been teaching for 30 years at the university and now that she’s president, she doesn’t seem to be changing that any time soon. She remains active in the classroom and currently maintains an active research program, focusing on adolescent development, with a special emphasis on at-risk youth.

Cauce has also received numerous awards for her scholarship, teaching, and activism, including the University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award.

With increasing tuition rates and rising student populations, there are many challenges facing Cauce at the UW. I asked her

February 19, 2016

Mark Segal is the nation’s most-awardwinning commentator in LGBT media. His best selling memoir And Then I Danced, Traveling The Road To LGBT Equality is available on Amazon.com and at you favorite bookseller.

Courtesy of the Philadelpia Gay News

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February 19, 2016

Celebrating 41 Years!

Openly Gay Republican Pablo Monroy seeks state House seat

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Bonney Lake Republican Pablo Monroy, an openly Gay and small Tacoma business owner, announced February 1 that he is challenging Rep. Chris Hurst in a 2016 race that could help decide the balance of power in the House that Democrats control by a narrow 50-48 margin.

Hurst is an Enumclaw Democrat, who voted against marriage equality in 2012, states his party preference as “Independent Democrat.” That could be attributed to a need to distance himself from the Democratic Party in the Republican-leaning, suburban-to-rural 31st District of east Pierce and southeast King counties. At any rate, Hurst has not been too good a friend to LGBTQ Washingtonians. Monroy, on the other hand, has been.

Monroy, 27, was born in Othello, Washington where he lived with his family until high school, and the family moved to Pasco, Washington. He would graduate from Pasco High School in 2006. While attending classes throughout the four years at Pasco High, a young man caught his eye. The handsome, well-dressed boy was named Derrick and although he says the two wouldn’t officially meet on the dance floor at Seattle Gay bar, R Place, until a few years after they both graduated – Derrick is now married to Pablo.

Aside from being a Gay man, which Monroy readily admits does inform political decisions that he might make, he is also Mexican American, a practicing Catholic, a veteran of the Iraq War and Global War on Terrorism, as well as a small business owner. And he also just so happens to be – Republican.

Monroy insists that Republican is not a dirty word. He doesn’t believe that conservative values, small government, and family values mean what some people claim that they do. Monroy maintains that he is Gay and Republican and, given the intersections of race and religion and military service and more, he can speak to a lot of issues that some Republicans can’t. He readily admits that diversity is something the party is in need of. Which is why, he says, he has decided to run.

Monroy enlisted in the Navy in 2006, just after graduating high school. Only six months after enlisting he was ordered to serve on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in Bremerton, Washington. He was later deployed to the Arabian Gulf to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom during the war on terror where he earned a number of medals including some that recognize the war on terror and others for good conduct. And, unlike certain Republican politicians that had to resign their seat amidst accusations of a falsely beefed up awards resume, Monroy’s service records are intact, up to date, and reflect his achievements while he was in.

By most standards Monroy was a very good sailor. He told Seattle Gay News he enlisted as a Religious Petty Officer, which is a job in the U.S. Navy that would translate

Bonney Lake Republican Pablo Monroy – Photo by Florangela Davila via nwpr.org

into the civilian world as an executive administrator to the Chaplain (Priest, Rabbi, Preacher, etc.), event planner and promoter (setup and teardown of Church services and ceremonies), body guard (to protect the Chaplain in a war zone), and work center supervisor (he was the leading Petty Officer for the ship’s Chaplain). Monroy rose through the ranks pretty fast. In just three years he went from E-1 to E-5 (Seaman to Petty Officer 2nd Class) before receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy in June of 2010, just one day before the annual LGBTQ Pride celebration.

Military service gives you a unique perspective on crisis management, on the job training, and how to develop the thick skin that is needed to perform under pressure. You are battle tested again and again and regularly accomplish goals with other service members in your unit that seemed impossible. Monroy liked the camaraderie of the military and wanted to continue his service to the country but in a different capacity. While he was serving in the Navy it was under the watchful and bigoted eye of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which barred open service of Gays and Lesbians. It was tough on him, as it was for so many LGBTQ veterans of that time in U.S. military history where more than 14,000 people lost their benefits and careers after being kicked out for having been accused or found guilty of violating the policy. Derrick was now his boyfriend and the two young men were in love, but nobody could know.

In this case, it is important to note that Monroy knows what it is like to be oppressed and judged by race or ethnicity, because his skin is brown and he is Mexican.

Additionally, he remembers very vividly the hurt of being asked to defend the nation during a time of war, but being forced to lie or lose his livelihood if he ever disclosed his relationship with the man he loved. But, due to the actions of many activists and lobbyists sympathetic to the cause, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed in December 2010 and Monroy enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard as an openly Gay man. He currently holds the rank of Ser-

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geant in a Calvary Army National Guard unit and Derrick, who was upgraded from “boyfriend” to “husband” when the two men were legally married in Washington state, was the 2015 recipient of Washington Army National Guard Volunteer of the Year because he organized meals for the troops as they shipped off to training and provided support for his husband’s unit through other programs and projects. In fact, Monroy proudly says that his husband impressed the other guys in his unit so much that he didn’t know Derrick had been nominated for an award; his fellow soldiers nominated him on their own and Derrick and Pablo found out about it together.

Another thing that has changed, because of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Derrick now accompanies Pablo to the annual Military Ball events for the Washington Army National Guard, which is something he couldn’t when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was still the law of the land and Monroy Pablo was a sailor.

They do most things together and their bond is strong. Monroy admits that they have their regular disagreements like any married couple, but that after six years together as a couple, and nearly three of those legally married, he has learned more about himself and how to treat people you truly care for more than ever before.

After studying business at Highline Community College and later attending the University of Washington, Monroy went into business for himself. He is now the founder and part owner of the Odd Otter Brewing Company in Tacoma, where he creates not only craft beers, but also jobs in Pierce County. Derrick is there to help every step of the way. Both men work full time jobs aside from owning the brewery – Pablo works 40 hours as a sales and merchandiser for Pepsi and is a member of the Teamsters Union 3131 and Derek works in real-estate.

Their small business is a success. Odd Otter Brewing Company has won several awards such as Veteran’s Business of the Year, several brewing event awards around the state, and the KING 5 Best Brew Pub 2015 – beating the likes of Elysian and Pyr-

February 19, 2016

amid breweries, despite only having been in business for one year. Their secret, says Monroy, is hard work and “fun.”

As a small business owner and job creator, Monroy says he has seen first-hand the negative effects of a Democrat-run government. If elected as the 31st District State Representative Monroy says he will fight to ensure that Republican values are heard, and that the issues that matter to them the most will have strong representation in Olympia. Monroy is not bashing Democrats in Olympia just for the sake of political fodder he says. “If you look at the issues that we face in our state right now you will not see job growth, our schools are terrible, the roads are bad, and so much more. The Democratic majority has been in charge in Olympia for decades so that kind of tells you who is at fault.”

However, Monroy admits that partisan politics is not something he is interested in as his voting conscience. He will follow what he believes is best for the people in his district and what he believes is right in his heart. Case in point – Referendum 74 for marriage equality campaign in 2012. While many Republicans voted against the measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, Pablo worked directly with the mainstream campaign to represent not only Gay veterans, but also Gay Latinos who were calling for the popular vote to affirm marriage equality at the ballot box.

Granted, this might cause some friction within the Republican Party one could argue. But Monroy says that when he introduces himself to Republican lawmakers in Olympia, they encourage him to run and support him through mentoring.

In addition, Monroy is a Bonney Lake Park Commissioner, and serves on the executive board for Pierce County Veterans Advisory Council.

“Veterans face a high rate of unemployment, medical issues, and the loss of their sense of pride,” Monroy told SGN. “Any way that I can help veterans, I will do it.”

Monroy says he understands that some people will have questions to ask because being a Gay, Mexican, Veteran, small business owner running for elected seat can be polarizing. He invites you to reach out to his campaign at www.electpapblomonroy.org.

“House representative should be of the people,” he told SGN. “Firefighters, soldiers in the guard, people starting businesses, families, LGBTQ people, etc. are a part of our society and communities. And they deserve to be heard at the Capitol.”

If you want to contribute to the Elect Pablo Monroy Campaign you can do so by going to www.electpablomonroy.org/donate. Monroy says he’s already raised a few thousand dollars but obviously, will need quite a bit more in his war chest if he is to be successful in his attempt to be elected.

His personal goal is to have 17,000 donation contributions by the time the election rolls around this November. Seattle Gay News will keep you updated on the campaign for the 31st State Representative Seat and other statewide campaigns as they progress in this important election year.

Seattle Gay News 13

Panasonic to recognize same-sex marriages

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Japanese electronics giant Panasonic will recognize its employees’ same-sex mar-

riages starting in April this year.

According to Mainichi Shinbun newspaper, Panasonic employees will be able to enroll their spouses in the company’s benefits programs and take leave for family weddings and funerals.

The company is also rewriting its employee manual to include new rules against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Panasonic employs 250,000 people worldwide. Other international corporations – IBM, for example – also recognize same-sex spouses in Japan.

The company is grappling with how to define “marriage” and “spouse.” Same-sex marriage is not prohibited by Japanese law, but only a few jurisdictions will conduct same-sex marriages.

The Japanese government is opposed to Gay and Lesbian marriages and has taken steps to prevent municipalities from allowing them.

In March 2015 the Shibuya ward of Tokyo – a fashion, shopping, and nightlife district – began performing same-sex marriages, and in response the government es-

tablished a “Special Committee to Protect Family Ties.” The committee then started drafting legal objections to same-sex marriage.

However, Japan’s Ministry of Justice determined that “because there is no legislation to prohibit allowing same-sex marriages, it cannot be said that there is a legal problem” with going ahead with them.

In July 2015, Tokyo’s Setagaya ward announced that it would also marry Gay and Lesbian couples, and in November 2015 the city of Takarazuka followed suit.

As early as June 2011, Kyoto’s Shunkō-in Zen temple announced that it would perform same-sex marriage ceremonies as part of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

Japan has no civil rights laws protecting its LGBT residents against discrimination, however.

LGBT voters still up for grabs:

Say they’d vote for Hillary, but think Bernie is better on LGBT issues

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A new poll by Community Marketing & Insights shows that LGBT voters are still up for grabs in the upcoming presidential election.

If the election were held today, they told pollsters, 48% would vote for Hillary Clinton and 41% would vote for her rival Bernie Sanders.

But when asked which candidate would be “the most supportive of LGBT civil rights,” respondents picked Sanders over Clinton by 31% to 25%. Some 37% said the two were equally committed to LGBT rights.

A whopping 98% said that “supporting LGBT civil rights” was “very important” or “somewhat important” to them when voting for a president.

Community Marketing & Insights usually surveys the LGBT community for cor-

LGBT voters still undecided in the upcoming presidential election – Niyazz via Getty Images

porations that want to target marketing and investments. For this survey, they interviewed 563 LGBT registered voters in 46 states.

Donald Trump ran a very distant third to Clinton and Sanders in the poll, with 2% of respondents saying they would vote for

him.

When asked which of the Republican presidential candidates would be the most supportive of LGBT civil rights, 73% answered “none.”

Six percent selected John Kasich, 4% picked Donald Trump, and the remaining

candidates received 2% or less.

“What is striking in this research is how little support the current group of Republican candidates have among the LGBT community in the 2016 presidential elections,” said David Paisley, senior research director at Community Marketing & Insights.

“Unless something changes, the party may largely forfeit about 5% of adults in the United States to the Democrats, which can cause important swings in tight elections.

“Republicans perhaps could connect with LGBTs on issue like the economy, taxation, and the influence of government in private lives, but instead have chosen policies not supportive of LGBT Americans.”

According the Real Clear Politics average of major polls, Clinton leads Sanders nationally by 13.7 points, so Sanders seems to be doing better among LGBT voters than he is among voters generally.

Marriage equality is settled law, Kasich says

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Distancing himself from his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, Ohio Gov. John Kasich has admitted that same-sex marriage is settled law and said he would not try to reverse the Supreme Court’s Obergefell ruling.

Kasich made the remarks at a February 16 campaign stop at Michigan State University, in response to a question from a Gay student.

The student introduced himself as a “staunch Democrat – always have been, always will be.”

“Well that’s a good open mind,” Kasich replied. “You don’t know that.”

The student then identified himself as Gay and told Kasich he “faces discrimination daily and weekly.” What did Kasich think of same-sex marriage and LGBT protections under the law, he asked.

“If I see discrimination in anything, like I said earlier, I’m willing to do what I can,” Kasich replied.

“Whether it’s executive order or legislation, that’s fine with me. As for marriage

14 Seattle Gay News

equality – let me be clear I’m for traditional marriage, but I’ve been to my first gay wedding. A friend of mine is gay and got married. I went home and said to my wife, ‘We’ve been invited to Steve’s wedding and you know,’ I said, ‘this is going to be unusual for us.’ She said, ‘Well I’m going. Are you going?’ And I went. And I had a great time.

And there was great champagne.”

“I don’t think that’s enough for you to say you’ve been to a gay wedding,” the student replied.

“Well, we’re not changing any laws,” Kasich told him. “We’re not changing. We’re not going to allow discrimination on this.”

“So the Supreme Court upheld marriage equality,” the student noted. “Does that mean you would go out of your way to protect that right?”

“Look, we’re not changing any laws,” Kasich answered. “The court has spoken.

That’s the end of it.”

Kasich stands almost alone among Republican presidential candidates in acknowledging that marriage equality is now the law of the land.

Rival Marco Rubio recently announced the creation of a so-called “Marriage and

February 19, 2016

Ohio Governor John Kasich – Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters

Family Advisory Board” to come up with ways to overturn Obergefell.

During a February 13 GOP debate, Rubio also promised that if elected he would see to it that only opposite-sex marriages would be legal in the United States.

Donald Trump has said he would ap-

point Supreme Court justices who would reverse the high court’s ruling on marriage, and Ted Cruz has said that marriage law should be left up to states.

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We hate everybody, Trump voters say

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer South Carolina Trump voters would not only ban Muslims from entering the United States, but many also want to ban LGBT folks, according to a poll released February 16. In fact, they don’t like any minority group very much.

The poll of 897 likely Republican voters and 525 likely voters on the Democratic side was conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) on February 14 and 15.

By a huge 80–9% margin, Trump supporters agree with his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Sixty-two percent of Trump voters want the government to set up a national database to track Muslims, and fully one-third of Trump supporters (33%) say that the religion of Islam should be banned altogether.

Almost one-third of Trump voters (31%) say that LGBT people should also be banned from coming into the United States.

Only 17% of other Republican voters would go that far.

About the same number (32%) of Trump voters still think that interning Japanese-Americans in concentration camps during World War II was a good idea. Thirty-three percent disagree, and 35% say they have no opinion one way or the other.

Significantly for a state that only removed the Confederate flag from its capitol

Trump supporters believe in banning Muslims and LGBT folks from the U.S. – businessinsider.com

building last year, 70% think the flag should still be flying, while only 20% agree with it being taken down.

In fact 38% of Trump voters say they wish the South had won the Civil War versus only 24% who are glad the North won and 38% who aren’t sure.

Overall just 36% of Republican primary voters in the state are glad the North emerged victorious as opposed to 30% who

wish the South had won, but Trump is the only candidate a plurality of whose supporters actually wish the slave owners had won.

“The race is still pretty fluid in South Carolina,” PPP says in its poll analysis.

Twenty-nine percent of voters say they might change their minds between the time of the poll and the February 27 election day.

Trump supporters are the most commit-

ted, with 77% of them saying they will definitely vote for him. Slightly fewer (76%) say they are firm for Ted Cruz, as do 62% for Marco Rubio.

Among voters who say their minds are completely made up, Trump gets 40% of the total Republican vote to 20% for Cruz and 16% for Rubio.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders by 55% to 34%, PPP found.

Clinton and Sanders are tied with white voters at 46%, but among African-Americans, Clinton continues to have a substantial advantage over Sanders, at 63% support to only 23% for Sanders.

Clinton is very popular among black voters, with a 59-point favorability advantage, while feelings about Sanders continue to be mixed. He comes in at 39% positive to 33% negative.

South Carolina’s open primary system may work to Sanders’ advantage, however.

Clinton is up 31 points with registered Democrats (60% to 29%), but Sanders cuts into her advantage thanks to a 28-point lead (55% to 27%) with independents planning to vote in the Democratic primary.

Sanders is ahead slightly with men (45% to 43%) and younger voters (44% to 42%), but he may be swamped by Clinton’s 64– 25% advantage with South Carolina women and 70–20% margin with seniors.

New porn industry safety concerns: Actor gets HIV on set

New industry concerns involving porn actors have arisen recently – en.wikipedia.org

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Testing alone is not enough to prevent HIV infections among people working in the porn industry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a

16 Seattle Gay News

February 12 report.

The federal agency came to that conclusion after studying the case of a Gay porn actor who likely infected a co-worker despite having tested negative for HIV within the previous two weeks.

Identified only as Patient A, the 25-year-

February 19, 2016

old actor presented symptoms of “rash, fever, and sore throat suggestive of acute retroviral syndrome” when examined by doctors at his local health department.

He had been tested for HIV two weeks earlier and had been diagnosed as HIVnegative.

Between the time of his negative test result and the diagnosis of acute HIV infection, “two different production companies directed patient A to have condomless sex with a total of 12 male performers,” the CDC found.

“Patient A also provided contact information for five male non–work-related sexual partners during the month before and after his symptom onset. Patient A had additional partners during this time period for which no locating information was provided,” the CDC continued.

Patient A transmitted HIV to at least one of his co-workers on the set and one of his sexual partners off the set, the CDC concluded.

According to its report, “the performer, having tested negative by nucleic acid amplification test within the preceding 14 days, and unaware of his very recent HIV infection, infected another performer and a non–work-related partner.”

In 2012, Los Angeles County – then the center of U.S. porn production – passed Measure B, requiring the use of condoms in porn films as a safety measure to protect porn actors. Porn industry spokespeople said at the time that regular testing of their actors was sufficient to protect them from HIV infection, a statement the CDC now disputes.

“Persons at high risk for HIV infection should receive periodic HIV and STI testing,” the CDC said in its report on the case. “However, as demonstrated here and previously among heterosexual adult film performers, testing alone is not sufficient to prevent occupational HIV transmission.”

“The high prevalence of STIs within this network of sexual partners, including performers, emphasizes the importance of consistent condom use,” the CDC concluded.

“In addition to complying with regulatory requirements under OSHA standards, the adult film industry should consider the implementation of combination HIV prevention strategies, including biomedical (HIV testing, treatment, and PrEP) and behavioral (consistent and correct use of condoms) interventions.”

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