Issue 15 Volume 37
Celebrating 36 Years!
FRIDAY April 10, 2009 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
spring in Iowa p. 4
ask michael p. 15
Beyoncé p. 21
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Seattle Center pushed lawsuit Right-wing trio against Seattle Out and Proud planning anti-Gay
ballot measure
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A Seattle Center official gave the go-ahead for City Attorney Tom Carr to file suit against Seattle Out and Proud, according to new information made available to SGN. Seattle Center Productions Director John Merner worked with SOAP to organize the financially disastrous 2006 Pride Festival at the Center, and subsequently OK’d the City’s suit to collect the debt remaining from the event. “After the debt was turned over to the law department, as decision points came up along the way, they
referred to me,” Merner told SGN. “The law department informed me they didn’t feel they could collect. At that point the options would be to negotiate a new payment plan, or to file suit. I told them to go ahead and file suit.” SGN had previously reported that Seattle Center did not instruct the City Attorney to sue, based on incorrect information provided by Seattle Center’s communications director, Deborah Daoust. Daoust e-mailed SGN on Tuesday, April 4, to modify her previous statements. “The situation was just a case of poor internal communications on Seattle Center’s part,”
she wrote. “I’ve learned since talking with you last week that Seattle Center did, in fact, give the go ahead to the City Attorney’s Office to file the lawsuit against Seattle Out and Proud,” Daoust’s e-mail explained. “I was unaware, as were folks with whom I spoke, that the e-mail exchange had taken place. I learned about it after I received the exchange from the City’s Attorney’s office following the publication of your story.” Asked if he was surprised by the see soap page 5
As the 2009 domestic partnership legislation moves toward final passage in the state legislature, a trio of right-wing political operatives has announced they are already planning a referendum to repeal it. Characterized by supporters as an “everything but marriage” bill, the domestic partnership expansion passed the state Senate on March 10, by a margin of 30 to 18. On the House side, the bill was reported out of the Ways and Means Committee on Saturday, April 4. It is now in the Rules Committee, and is due to be reported out for a vote by the full House early next week. With 57 House members signed on as sponsors, it is expected to pass easily and to be signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire.
Meanwhile the Washington Values Alliance (WAVA) has begun what WAVA President Larry Stickney calls “conversations” on a ballot measure to repeal it. The WAVA brings together three stalwarts of the state’s right wing – Stickney, Bruce Craswell, and Stephen Pidgeon. The trio wants to repeal domestic partnership benefits before they can be used as a basis for marsee ballot page 14
Mayor Nickels applauds VICTORY WEEK as Vermont, Vermont marriage decision seattle.gov
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels issued this statement April 7 regarding the Vermont legislature’s action to allow Gay marriage: “I am encouraged that the elected leadership in Vermont has taken this step forward toward marriage equality for same-sex couples. The City of Seattle has long supported the right of all people to marry, including my 2004 executive order that the city grant legal recognition to same-sex couples that have been married elsewhere. Today’s vote is a great achievement for equality and I hope the Vermont legislature’s action will inspire other states to follow suit.”
Iowa OK marriage equality by Lisa Keen Keen News Service The Vermont House voted 100 to 49 Tuesday, April 7 to override a veto of the equal marriage rights bill, following the Senate’s 23-5 override vote Tuesday morning. The overrides make Vermont the fourth state where same-sex couples will be able to obtain marriage licenses the same as straight couples –following Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa. All the drama around the votes – and there was plenty – took place in the House. The Senate, which had passed the bill last week with a 26-4 vote, was expected to easily override Republican Governor Jim Douglas’ veto, and it did. Meanwhile, the Burlington Free Press was reporting its headcount showed the tally appeared to be one vote shy of 100 needed – if all 150 legislators are present – to override the veto. Various members spoke during discussion of the veto vote, most of the opposing the equal marriage rights bill. The roll call began, with each legislator calling out his or her “Yes” or “No” vote
as their names were called. For the reach the magic mark of 100. first few minutes, the tallies were At 11:03, the Speaker of the tit for tat. Then, about mid-way House, his voice cracking, anthrough the vote, the pro-override nounced the vote: 100 for, 49 votes began to pile up. The only see vermont/iowa page 5 question was whether they would