SGN Apr 30, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 18 Volume 38

Celebrating 37 Years!

FRIDAY April 30, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

Lesbian to lead seiu p. 9

Gay tacoma p. 18

PRIDE IDOL p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Mississippi high school cuts Wrestling star calls LGBT rights a Lesbian student from yearbook “pressing issue” Danielle Hokeika

Hudson Taylor

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

“straight ally.”

In the world of athletics – from junior and high school sports Hudson Taylor, a 23-year-old teams through college and the University of Maryland wrestling professionals – homophobia is star and academic All American, is commonplace. No one could arthe kind of person the LGBT community is referring to when we say see wrestling page 19

ap photo

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

When Mississippi high school senior Ceara Sturgis opened her yearbook on April 23, she could not find her photo. The ugly truth: Wesson Attendance Center school officials had purposefully not included her photo – in which Sturgis is wearing a tuxedo – and had not mentioned her name at all.

“They didn’t even put her name in it,” Sturgis’ mother, Veronica Rodriguez, said. Last fall, Sturgis and her mother, with the help of the ACLU, fought to have the senior’s photo included in the yearbook after school officials first rejected the photo.

“I was so furious when she told me about it,” said Rodriguez.

“Ceara started crying, and I told her to suck it up. Is that not pathetic for them to do that? Yet again, they have crapped on her and made her feel alienated.”

According to the Jackson Free Press, “The ACLU wrote an October letter demanding officials use see mississippi page 16

Ceara Sturgis shown in a proof of her desired yearbook photo

bennettforhouse.com

Bryce Bennett

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Closing arguments set for federal Prop 8 trial Openly Gay Bryce Bennett runs for Montana office

by Scott Rice SGN Contributing Writer

Bryce Bennett is not your average 25-year-old. He’s a buttoneddown politician with an agenda and well-honed talking points.

He’s also an openly Gay man running for the Montana State House of Representatives. Yes, his district, Montana House District 92, is comprised mostly of one of the most liberal areas of Montana (north Missoula’s Rattlesnake Canyon), but it’s still Montana and the district does extend north into the rural and more conservative areas of Seeley Lake and Condon.

If elected this November, Bennett would be the third openly Queer person in the Montana State Legislature joining Congresswoman Diane Sands (D-Missoula) and Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker State Senator Christine Kaufmann

by Shaun Knittel fornia, will hear closing arguments (D-Helena). in the case that challenges the conI met Bennett at Liquid Planet, a SGN Staff Writer stitutionality of California’s Gay trendy coffee joint in the heart of On Wednesday, June 16 – 156 marriage ban. downtown Missoula. He walked The American Foundation for in wearing khaki pants and a blue days after the start of the federal Proposition 8 trial – Chief Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. District see bennett page 20 Court, Northern District of Calisee prop 8 page 20

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Deadlines Classifieds - Thursday at noon Calendar - Tuesday 6pm Display Ads: Space Reservation - Monday 5pm Ad copy (non-camera ready) - Tues. 5pm Ad copy (camera ready) - Wed. 5pm Letters to the Editor - Tuesday 5pm Obituaries - Call the SGN office All others - Tuesday 5pm

Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Tom Flint (retired) Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel Miryam Gordon, James Whitely, Tim Peter Contributing Writers Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers Nick Ardizzone, 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 JT&A, Inc. © 2010, JT&A, 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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We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write.

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

Getting married

by Jennifer Vanasco SGN Contributing Writer Jenny and I are getting married.

The problem is where.

Oh, not where we’re having the wedding.

That’s easy. Our wedding will be held in the church we attend, a 100-yearold Lutheran Church on the Upper West Side of New York, with well-worn wooden pews and slightly peeling paint.

Our church welcomes all and marries all (as does the Lutheran denomination now) which is probably why it’s so vibrant, with children scratching out drawings during the sermons and straight and Gay couples of all races mingling during the social hour.

Our minister, when we asked her to officiate at our wedding, was thrilled. “Oh!” she said, clapping her hands. “I’ve been wanting to marry a Gay couple! This is great news!”

So our wedding will be in a church.

But our marriage is a different story.

New York State recognizes Gay marriages performed in other states and countries where they are legal – so once we are married somewhere, anywhere, we will be considered married at home.

We had been hoping that New York would

And then we imagined waving around a marriage certificate in Icelandic should we ever have to prove that we are married, say, in Arkansas, and shuddered.

There are other choices: Spain. New Hampshire. Massachusetts. Iowa. Each have their draws and drawbacks.

Straight couples do not have this issue.

They do not have to figure out the logistics of both a wedding and a marriage. They don’t have to decide both who will see them walk down the aisle and who will see them officially tie the knot. They do not have one outfit for the minister and one for the judge who signs the papers.

But we do.

In the end, we’ll probably do the easy thing: Connecticut. It’s right over the border on the MetroNorth. We don’t know who of our friends and family will be able to make it – we’re already asking them to fly in from all over the country during the week instead of a weekend and asking them to tack on an extra day seems wrong.

But what is really wrong, of course, is that we should need to perform an extra step at all.

We can’t just walk down the aisle. We also have to drive, ride or fly across state lines.

But we will do it, because at the end of the day, beautiful as it will be, we don’t just want a wedding. We want to be married.

go all the way and legalize marriages performed here, as well. And that looked likely for a while. There was strong support in the state legislature and the governor put his support behind the bill.

And then came last June, when the legislature careened into a circus, the governor lost all credibility and – well, suffice to say that it’s doubtful our minister would be able to say “By the power of the state of New York I now pronounce you spouses for life” even if we waited until next year. Or 2012. Or 2013.

So we can’t get married officially in New York.

We could get married in Washington, D.C., where Jenny’s father is a judge. That would be perfect, except that he has yet to accept that Jenny is a Lesbian.

And for a time we thought about Iceland.

Iceland will likely get marriage equality this June and Jenny has always wanted to go Jennifer Vanasco is an award-winning, there. It’s a small country. For a few days we syndicated columnist. E-mail her at Jenthrilled each other by imagining jetting off nifer.Vanasco@gmail.com; Follow her at to Iceland after our wedding to get officially Twitter.com/JenniferVanasco. married by their Lesbian prime minister.

“Why not?” we thought. “Why shouldn’t she officiate?” It’s a small country. It would be good publicity, at least to the well-traveled Gay set.

Straight couples do not ... have to figure out the logistics of both a wedding and a marriage. They don’t have to decide both who will see them walk down the aisle and who will see them officially tie the knot.

But we do.

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

4

Seattle Gay News

April 30, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

james whitely

Broadway Grill server Danielle Bryant and Lifelong AIDS Alliance volunteer Leslie Hardin do their part for Dining Out For Life, a national fundraiser to benefit local HIV/AIDS charities.

Thirty percent of your restaurant bill on April 29 was donated directly to our local charity, Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Lifelong AIDS Alliance had volunteers at a variety of restaurants throughout the city. Over 150 restaurants of all types participated in the annual charity, now in its 17th year.

“I won’t enforce the immigration law,” says Arizona sheriff file photo

“I think the law is divisive,” he said. “It’s stupid, and it’s racist. It’s a national embarrassment.”

If he were Hispanic, “I would feel angry and humiliated,” Dupnik said.

Dupnik said the law was fueled by “an incredible amount of hostility, anger and cynicism.”

“I don’t like what’s going on in this country,” he added.

President Obama has called the new law “polarizing,” and hinted the federal Justice Department may raise legal objections to it.

Dupnik began his law enforcement career in 1958 with the Tucson Police Department.

He told reporters he is a long-time observer of the border and said the state does not need to get involved in immigration enforcement because federal law already requires the Border Patrol to do that.

Dupnik also said the law puts his deputies in a double bind. They may be subject to federal civil rights suits if they do enforce the law, and “they can sue you if you don’t enforce the law.”

He said neither the jail nor the Pima County Attorney’s Office has the capacity to handle an influx of arrestees whose only crime is being in Arizona without proper documentation.

Dupnik said his deputies will not look for excuses to stop people who may be in Arizona illegally simply because they commit minor offenses like traffic infractions.

When deputies do make a stop, Dupnik said, “We will look at the totality of the circumstances. The Border Patrol will take

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The sheriff of Pima County, Arizona will not enforce his state’s controversial new immigration law.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik told reporters on April 28 that the law could not be enforced, and he would not even try to do so.

“We’ve been asked to support this law. We don’t need it and I won’t do it,” he said.

SB 1070, widely known as the “show me your papers” law, requires Arizona law enforcement officers to stop anyone they suspect of being an undocumented immigrant and demand proof they are in Arizona legally.

Opponents of the law have argued that it mandates racial profiling, and Dupnik agrees.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

them if in fact they are illegal.”

Dupnik said his officers will continue to jail any undocumented immigrants suspected of other crimes. About 200 of the Pima County jail’s daily population is comprised of undocumented immigrants charged with

felonies such as murder, he said.

Pima County includes the city of Tucson, where most of its population of 844,000 is concentrated. Approximately 70% of the county’s people are white, and nearly 30% are Latino.

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cause they are too trusting and, in time, are used and abused physically and emotionally.

Even advance warnings do not ward off the sexual predators always out there ready to find a new person for their destructiveness, without a care who they may annihilate.

Friends may suggest ideas to repel these people, but some are fastidious about their conquests, never caring what may happen in the future to these people.

One form of advice has always helped: “Remember to not forget you are not a piece of meat for anyone’s sandwich.”

Thank you very much for donating ad space for the 2010 Langston Hughes African American Film Festival.

Zola Mumford, curator NOT A PIECE OF MEAT In the Gay world, too often there are situations that require intelligence, sensitivity, and a certain degree of awareness only learned through misfortune and bad relationships.

An older man once told me that too many Gay people become victimized simply be-

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INTERNATIONAL compressport.com

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

Daniel Kowalski

Australian former Olympic swimmer comes out Australian former Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski came out in an article he wrote for the Melbourne newspaper The Age on April 18.

“Being a Gay man with a foot half in and out of the closet is tough; the games it plays with your mind – and more importantly, your heart – are hard to put into words,” he wrote. “I finally accepted my sexuality at the end of 2006 following a huge anxiety attack at work. After what were literally years of torment, denial and very, very dark times, I couldn’t live a lie to myself any more. You often read that when people came out they had felt depressed or had suicidal tendencies. I, like them, experienced all of the extremes, but mostly it was the loneliness that was the hardest part of being Gay – and still

is.”

“Despite the dark, fearful and lonely times, being able to write this fills me with a sense of freedom, pride and relief,” he said at the article’s end. “There truly is a genuine sense that everything will be OK. I wrestled for a long, long time wondering whether being Gay made me a bad person, but I can no longer fight who I am and that, simply put, is just me.”

Kowalski won a gold medal in the 4x200meter freestyle relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle, a bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle and a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle.

To read the full coming-out article, visit tinyurl.com/dankowal.

Euro Commission criticized on Gay couple rights The European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights criticized the European Commission on April 21 for failing “to mention the mutual recognition of same-sex unions across [European Union] borders as a priority for its 2010-2014 Stockholm Programme.”

The Stockholm Programme lays out the commission’s policies for EU citizens in the areas of justice, freedom and security until the year 2014.

In a resolution last November, the European Parliament declared that the Stockholm Programme must “ensure freedom of movement for EU citizens and their families, including both registered partnerships and marriages, [and] avoid all kinds of discrimination on any ground, including sexual orientation.”

Key commissioners apparently supported the proposal but then later changed their minds.

“During their January hearings, Commissioners [Cecilia] Malmström and [Viviane] Reding [who are in charge of the Stockholm Programme] committed themselves to full equality for European citizens, including on grounds of gender and sexual orientation – indeed, Viviane Reding explicitly said that same-sex couples must retain the same rights when moving across the EU,” said Ulrike Lunacek, co-president of the LGBT Intergroup. “It seems they are now shying away from these dossiers because they are controversial for some national governments. It would be unacceptable that LGBT families be, again, asked to wait for equal rights.”

Intergroup Co-President Michael Cashman added: “Commissioners Reding and Malmström must ... begin the process of ensuring that all citizens, including LGBT families, enjoy genuine freedom of movement across the EU. This is fundamental.”

Journalists arrested in case of Indian professor Two TV journalists have been arrested on charges of privacy violations in the case of the professor at Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, India, who was taped having Gay sex in his own bedroom.

The late Dr. Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras was suspended as a result of the incident and later resigned. He then was found dead in his bed on April 7, apparently poisoned, shortly after a court had ordered that he be reinstated to his job.

Police and media have said Siras took his own life but some Gay activists have questioned that assumption, pointing out that Siras had been cheerful and upbeat after receiving a great deal of support in his ordeal and after winning the court case.

“The whole process had been a sort of rebirth for him, from the utter disgrace of the exposure and early newspaper reports, then the support he got from the Gay and Lesbian community, and even from people within AMU,” one Gay activist said, speaking privately. “It just seems so completely unlikely that he would commit suicide when things were going his way.”

The AMU Teachers Association and LGBT activist groups have demanded that officials conduct a high-level examination of the circumstances of Siras’ death.

Italian court rejects same-sex marriage Italy’s Constitutional Court refused to legalize same-sex marriage April 14.

The court had been asked to rule on the issue by lower courts in Venice and Trent, where Gay couples had sought equal marriage rights at city halls.

The Constitutional Court’s formal opinion is not ready but news reports said the justices believe same-sex marriage is a matter that should be dealt with by legislators, not courts.

Gays protest Turkish minister’s homophobic remarks Gay activists disrupted a human-rights conference in Ankara, Turkey, on April 15, demanding that the government’s minister for families and children, Aliye Kavaf, apologize for having called homosexuality a “disease.”

Kavaf recently told a newspaper: “I believe homosexuality is a biological disorder, a disease. It needs to be treated.”

Gay groups also recently staged a public protest in Istanbul over the outburst.

Morocco gets a Gay magazine Morocco has its first gay magazine: Mithly, which means “Gay” in Arabic. It is being published by the LGBT rights group Kif Kif. The editorial team works from Madrid because Gay sex is illegal in Morocco. Violators can be imprisoned for up to three years.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NEWS

Gay anti-Gay senator wins “Pink Brick” San Francisco’s LGBT Pride Committee has given its annual “Pink Brick Award” to a Gay person for the first time: California state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield.

Ashburn was outed in March after he was arrested for drunk driving as he reportedly drove away from a Gay bar.

It quickly emerged that Ashburn, who has an almost perfect anti-Gay voting record, frequented Gay bars in the state capital.

A few days later, he officially came out in an interview on a Bakersfield radio station. But, in that interview, Ashburn said he would continue to vote anti-Gay because that’s how his constituents want him to vote.

“My votes reflect the wishes of the people

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer in my district,” he said. “And I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people there in the district, my constituents, and so as each of these individual [pro-Gay] measures came before the Legislature, I cast ‘no’ votes – usually ‘no’ votes – because the measures were almost always about acknowledging rights or assigning identification to homosexual persons. ... I felt my duty, and I still feel this way, is to represent my constituents.”

That rubbed San Francisco Pride organizers the wrong way.

“This is the very first time in Pink Brick Award history that an out Gay person is the recipient,” said Pride Executive Director Amy André. “By selecting Sen. Roy Ashburn, the LGBT community is sending a strong message to the world that LGBT people – especially those with the political power and privilege to further LGBT rights – have a responsibility to work toward liberation for all.”

The Pride board president, Mikayla Connell, said the organization hopes Ashburn “realizes that it’s never too late for him – or anyone else – to choose liberation and justice over shame, fear and silence.”

Past Pink Bricks have gone to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, Sen. Diane Feinstein, George W. Bush, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carrie Prejean.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

6

Seattle Gay News

associated press

NATIONAL

April 30, 2010

California State Senator Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

QUEER YOUTH SPACE SEEKING COMMERCIAL LANDLORD ON CAPITOL HILL Queer Youth Space is looking for a friendly commercial landlord on Capitol Hill by Monday, May 3rd. In order to demonstrate to the City of Seattle that their project is feasible, they need an agreement with a landlord that states that should the grant be funded, the landlord would be interested in letting them move in and create their new home in December 2010. The space must be on Capitol Hill and must be ADA accessible. Other terms are flexible and they are not looking to sign a lease yet, just to start negotiations.

Do you know any commercial landlords with open spaces? Know anyone that might want to agree to work towards a lease or sublease for their first year? If so, please contact info@queeryouthspace.com with any leads.

ANOTHER GAY MIXER & GAYME NIGHT AT CAFÉ METROPOLITAIN On Friday, April 30, from 7-10 p.m., or later, Another Gay Social Club and Café Metropolitain present “Another Gay Mixer & Gayme Night” at Café Metropolitain, 1701 E. Olive Way, in the Game Room and Red Room (with possible overflow). Great prices on food and appetizers. Games include pool, foosball, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Twister – or bring your own. If you have a Wii, Rock Band or Guitar Hero, there are large flatscreen TVs available. Don’t just “go clubbing” again, do something funerific and geeky! www.meetup.com/AnotherGay-Social-Club/calendar/13162176.

SEATTLE BAMBOO FESTIVAL On Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Bamboo Society presents the Seattle Bamboo Festival at the Donald Graham Visitors Center, Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr. E., featuring bamboo plants, poles, products, seminars, arts and crafts, a rare plant gallery, and local bamboo experts.

HISTORIC SEATTLE CELEBRATES RESTORATION OF WASHINGTON HALL Historic Seattle has recently completed restoration of Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave. – one block north of E. Yesler at E. Fir St. Washington Hall was built in 1908 and has hosted noteable civic leaders and performing artists and was also home to On the Boards during its 100 year history. In celebration of the restoration, Historic Seattle will host an evening of celebration and live performances on Saturday, May 1, from 5 p.m.-midnight. On Sunday, May 2, Historic Seattle will host a Community Open House at Washington Hall from 1-4 p.m.

Both events are FREE; donations will be welcome. For more information, visit www. historicseattle.org or call 206-622-6952.

RAINBOW CITY BAND – “SWING FEVER 2010: PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ” On Saturday, May 1, at 6 p.m., join Rainbow City Band at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St., for their 6th annual gala fundraising dinner, musical entertainment, silent and live auction, and swing dancing to the RCB’s Purple Passion Swing Band. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased CLOSING THIS WEEKEND – in advance at www.rainbowcityband.com.

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES Rainbow City Band is a non-audition AT STONE SOUP THEATRE community band consisting of Gay, LesStone Soup Theatre presents an accom- bian, Bisexual, Transgender and straight plished production of the 10th anniversary members from all around the Puget Sound edition of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Mono- area. logues featuring five new monologues.

Performances run Thursday-Saturday at 8 SISTERS OF PERPETUAL p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through May 2.

INDULGENCE (They’ve had to cancel the last two weeks GAY MAY DAY of their original extension.) General admisLINGERIE SOIREE – sion is $16-$20 and $13 for those under 30.

A BENEFIT FOR Advance tickets can be purchased at www.

SEATTLE COUNSELING brownpapertickets.com/event/99179 or by On Saturday, May 1, at 8 p.m., join Lady calling 800-838-3006 or 206-633-1883. No Chablis at R Place, 619 E. Pine St., for a speone under 10 will be admitted. Stone Soup cial Lashes Show with a lingerie theme and Theatre is located at 4035 Stone Way N. special appearances by the Sisters of Perpetwww.stonesouptheatre.org. ual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan and Aleksa Manila. Lingerie contest, prizes awarded MAY 1ST for best lingerie outfits, drink specials and INT’L WORKERS DAY dancing after the show. All proceeds benefit MARCH AND RALLY Seattle Counseling Service and their work FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM to stop intimate partner violence. www.seOn Saturday, May 1st, join labor union attlecounseling.org. members and social justice activists for a march and rally in support of immigration PRIDE IDOL CONTEST reform. Gather at Judkin’s Park playfield AT R-PLACE behind St. Mary’s Church, 611 20th Ave. S. Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP), producers at 11:30 a.m., rally begins at 12 noon, march of the annual Seattle Pride Parade, in assosteps off at 12:30 p.m. ciation with Esurance, presents Pride Idol NOTE: Allyship is organizing a Queer 2010, Seattle’s talent search contest to find contingent for the march. The Allyship con- the best vocalists in the area. The contest tingent will gather at 11:30 a.m. at 2021 S. will be held at R-Place, 619 E. Pine St., door Weller St. near Judkins Park. at 7 p.m., contest at 8 p.m. The Pride Idol contest runs every Sunday, May 2 through SEATTLE EROTIC June 20. Winners will be awarded cash and ART FESTIVAL additional prizes and get to ride on the ofThe 8th annual Seattle Erotic Art Festival ficial Seattle Pride Idol float in the Seattle will be held Friday, April 30, through Sun- Pride Parade on Sunday, June 27. For more day, May 2, at the Seattle Center Exhibition information, visit www.seattlepride.org, call Hall, 299 Mercer St. www.SeattleErotic. the Pride office at 206-322-9561 or email org. info@seattlepride.org.

MCC SEATTLE GARAGE SALE On Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., MCC Seattle hosts their annual Pride garage sale at 5019 2nd Ave. NW. If you have used furniture and/or household items to donate to the sale, contact Pastor Ray Neal at 206-325-2421 or email revray@comcast.net to arrange for pick-up. www.MCCSeattle.org.

EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION’S SPRING SEASON Visit www.emeraldcitysoftball.org for information about the Emerald City Softball Association’s Open League for Gay and non-Gay men and women.

Visit www.eteamz.com/womensecsa for information about the Emerald City Softball Association’s Women’s League for Gay and

Visit us online www.sgn.org

single performance of either group, see ticket information above; for both shows $35-advance general admission; $40 at the SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL – door; $50-premium table seating (limited ASIAN-PACIFIC ISLANDER availability). (Also 5/22.)

HERITAGE MONTH 206-388-1400, www.captainsmartypants.

CELEBRATION On Sunday, May 2, from noon-5 p.m., org, www.sensibleshoes.org. celebrate Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage SAFE SCHOOLS COALITION Month with spectacular lion dances, youth ORIENTATION TRAINING drill teams, martial arts, taiko drums and On Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., incredible artists from around the state, in the Safe Schools Coalition will be hostCenter House. www.seattlecenter.com. ing an Orientation Training for folks who want to get more involved with the work IN THE LIFE TV – of the Coalition. This training will provide “IT’S ABOUT TIME” On Sunday, May 2, at midnight, KCTS- an overview of the structure, ideology, and TV, Channel 9, broadcasts In the Life TV’s services of the Coalition and provide an May episode, “It’s About Time.” In this re- opportunity to build community amongst peat episode, the program explores what it Coalition members, leaders, and folks hopmeans to grow old as a Gay person in Amer- ing to get newly involved. For more inforica – how a generation once at the frontlines mation and to register, contact briana@ of establishing the modern LGBT move- safeschoolscoalition.org. The training will ment finds, in what should be their golden be held at a Seattle location. www.safeyears, new challenges to living life openly schoolscoalition.org.

Gay. The episode highlights the leaders “A SALUTE TO spearheading a national effort to protect the DEFIANT PUBLIC WORKERS” rights of LGBT senior citizens and care for On Saturday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m., the our elders.

KBTC-TV, Channel 28, will broadcast the Freedom Socialist Party presents “A Salute show early Wednesday morning, May 5 at to Defiant Public Workers” at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S. A panel of pub1 a.m.

The program can also be viewed online lic employees will speak from their experithroughout the month of May at www.in- ences fighting to preserve social services, education and the environment in times of thelifetv.org. privatization and government budget crises. $3 door donation requested. A special BlueGSBA PRIME TIME EAST On Tuesday, May 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Plate Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for a join Eastside GSBA members and friends $9 donation. For more information: 206for the GSBA’s monthly Prime Time East 722-2453 or FSPseattle@mindspring.com. networking social at the Grand Cru Wine Wheelchair accessible.

Bar, 1020 108th Ave. NE, Suite 100, BelGAY CITY PRESENTS levue. This complimentary event meets the SERIAL MOM first Tuesday of each month. Sponsored by On Sunday, May 9, at 2 p.m., Gay City the Greater Seattle Business Association, Seattle’s LGBT and Allies Chamber of and Three Dollar Bill Cinema present John Water’s cult comedy classic, Serial Mom, a Commerce. hilarious skewering of suburban life, true crime tales, and “family values.” Come SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE dressed to compete in Gay City’s “Dare to The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club Wear White” fashion show, plus other fun meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dun- chances to win fabulous prizes. The event shee House, 303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas will be held at Central Cinema, 1411 21st St. The club is pleased to announce the fol- Ave. Tickets: $15 general admission; $12 for lowing title to be discussed in their ongoing members of Three Dollar Bill Cinema. (inreading and discussion series: May – The cludes complimentary mimosa). www.gaySatyricon by Petronius (translated by Wil- city.org; www.threedollarbillcinema.org. liam Arrowsmith), a comic satire of Ancient Rome which follows two Gay young MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE men chasing the boy of their dreams and SPRING CONCERT – on which Federico Fellini based one of the VEDEM, AN ORATORIO greatest films of his career. All GLBTQ On Monday, May 10, at 8 p.m., Music of folks in the community are welcome to par- Remembrance (MOR) presents the world ticipate in this free book club. More info: premiere of VEDEM, an Oratorio, by Lori email nickdimartin@earthlink.net or con- Laitman, commissioned by MOR to comtact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437. memorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, STRENGTHENING Benaroya Hall, 3rd & Union.

LESBIAN RELATIONSHIPS VEDEM tells the inspiring true story of a On Wednesday, May 5, from 6:30-8:30 group of boys imprisoned in a concentration p.m., at Jewish Family Services, 1601 16th camp during the Holocaust. As an act of arAve., Dr. G. Dorsey Green will lead a dis- tistic defiance, they published a weekly uncussion and exploration of ways to keep derground magazine, titled VEDEM (Czech Lesbian relationships strong and healthy. for “In the Lead”). Six of their poems are Successful Lesbian relationships, like all the basis for the oratorio’s arias, woven into rewarding relationships, require good com- librettist David Mason’s elegiac libretto munication and the ability to manage dif- detailing the deportation to Terezin and the ferences, disappointments and playfulness. tragic aftermath. (Four of the six remaining At the same time, female gender roles, ho- “boys” – now in their 80s – are traveling to mophobia, and expectations about intimacy Seattle for the event.) and sex impact Lesbian relationships in Also on the program are Pavel Haas’ unique ways. Examine these topics and oth- “String Quartet no. 3” from 1938 and Geers during a warm and inviting discussion, rard Schwarz’ 2005 “In Memoriam.” A followed by socializing and desserts. pre-concert “Meet the Composer” event Whether you are single, partnered, or will be held at 7:15 p.m. when John Sharify committed, this workshop will help you ex- interviews Lori Laitman and David Mason. plore how you can build a healthier, stronger Tickets are $36. 206-365-7770; www.musirelationship with a woman you love. Facili- cofremembrance.org. tated by Dr. G. Dorsey Green, Lesbian psychologist and co-author of Lesbian Couples: LAMBERT HOUSE DINNER A Guide to Creating Healthy Relationships. & CABARET SHOW BENEFIT AT JULIA’S ON BROADWAY CAPTAIN SMARTYPANTS On Wednesday, May 12, doors at 7:30 & SENSIBLE SHOES – p.m., join host Mark “Mom” Finley and SPRING CONCERTS Lambert House staff, volunteers and supOn Friday, May 7, at 8 p.m., Captain porters for a dinner banquet and cabaret Smartypants presents their spring concert at show by six special guest performers at Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave. Tickets: $20-ad- Julia’s on Broadway, Broadway E. & E. vance general admission, $25-at the door, Thomas St. Tickets ($30) and event info $35-premium table seating (limited avail- available at www.brownpapertickets.com/ ability). (Also 5/21.) event/106804. Proceeds to benefit Lambert On Saturday, May 8, Sensible Shoes per- House, Greater Seattle’s Community Center forms at Town Hall at 7 p.m., followed by for GLBTQ Youth, Ages 11-22. www.lamCaptain Smartypants at 9 p.m. Tickets: for berthouse.org. non-Gay women only.

April 30, 2010

Seattle Gay News

7

Meet Kevin Keller

Archie Comics introduces Gay character courtesy archie Comics

Return of the Washington Blade

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Kevin Keller is Archie Comics’ new Gay character

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

South Park murder suspect will not face death penalty seattle police department

Archie Comics announced April 22 that Riverdale High will be accepting enrollment of its first openly Gay student this September.

Kevin Keller will debut in No. 202 of Veronica Comics in a full-issue story, “Isn’t it Bromantic?”

So, why do we care? Gay comics or Gay characters in comic books are not new; that trail was blazed years ago (to say nothing of the homoerotic appeal of most mainstream comics, anyway). The simple truth: numbers and exposure. The Archie Comics line of comic books is one the most successful, longest-running brands in the history of the comic book industry. Archie Comics has sold 1.5 billion comics, and the books are published in a dozen different languages before being distributed all over the world.

In short, the comic has spawned characters whose popularity has spilled over into other media and who have become part of popular culture – and now Kevin joins that group.

In the initial storyline of Kevin’s Septem-

ber debut, Veronica is foiled when her womanly charm has no effect on Kevin, who has more in common with Jughead.

“Everyone seems to know where Kevin is coming from except Veronica,” says Victor Gorelick, editor in chief of Archie Comics.

“They don’t tell Veronica – they let her stew in it for a while.”

Kevin’s debut is part of Archie Comics’ larger efforts to update the characters’ world.

“The introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. Archie’s hometown of Riverdale has always been a safe world for everyone. It just makes sense to have an openly Gay character in Archie Comic books,” Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater said in announcing the news.

According to Archie Comics officials, none of the creative talent working on the Kevin storyline is Gay. As for whether any other Riverdale students will be Gay, Archie Comics officials say traditional Riverdale characters “won’t be coming out.”

The Washington Blade, the country’s oldest LGBT newspaper, will return to the newsstands April 30, its new publishers say.

Founded in 1969 as a one-sheet newsletter called the Gay Blade, the paper evolved into an award-winning newspaper and website with a national and international readership.

The Blade disappeared in November 2009 when its parent company, Window Media LLC, and that company’s major investor, Avalon Equity Fund, filed for bankruptcy.

Since then, former Blade staff members have produced a new publication under the name DC Agenda.

DC Agenda is owned by Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia Inc, representing former Blade publisher Lynne Brown, editor Kevin Naff, sales executive Brian Pitts and other former Blade employees.

Brown Naff Pitts acquired all the assets of the former Blade, including rights to the name, from a federal bankruptcy court in Atlanta. The deal also included the newspaper’s entire 40-year archive.

Naff and Brown said the decision to return

Isaiah Kalebu

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Isaiah Kalebu, the 24-year-old man accused of torturing and raping two women, and slaying one of them, in their South Park home on July 19, 2009, will not face the death penalty.

On April 28, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced that his office will not seek the death penalty for Kalebu due to the man’s history of mental illness.

Kalebu currently faces charges of aggravated first-degree murder, attempted firstdegree murder, two counts of first-degree rape, and first-degree burglary for the rape and murder of Teresa Butz, 39, and the at8

Seattle Gay News

April 30, 2010

to the Washington Blade name followed a survey of readers, which showed a solid majority in favor of restoring the Blade name.

“There are benefits to the brand recognition of a publication that was highly trusted and respected for 40 years,” said Brown, who worked at the Blade for 23 years.

“The power, effectiveness and strength of the Washington Blade came from the spirit and intensity of those who wrote the stories and worked with the local community,” she said. “We now have the opportunity to both restore and refresh a powerful, venerable news gathering institution and to make the treasure trove of our vibrant Gay rights and liberation movement history accessible. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

“For more than 40 years, the Washington Blade’s commitment to excellence in journalism made it a weekly ‘must read’ for the LGBTQ community locally and even worldwide,” Naff said. “This is the tradition we have tried to emulate with DC Agenda.

We are thrilled that the Washington Blade is once again owned locally.”

Naff added that Brown Naff Pitts is working to restore online access to the paper’s archives as soon as possible.

tack on her partner, 37, last summer.

Kalebu is accused of climbing through an open window at the victims’ South Park home while the women were sleeping. According to prosecutors, he raped, tortured, and stabbed the women during a 90-minute attack that left the city of Seattle horrified.

Butz had fought back and jumped out a window – allowing her lover to escape – and later died from injuries she sustained during the attack. Butz, who has been hailed as a hero within the LGBT community for fighting back, is credited for saving her lover’s life.

Last July, when Satterberg announced the criminal charges, he called the attack “a nightmare … all too real” and said the attack was random.

After his arrest, the public learned of Kalebu’s history of mental illness. Last year, he had been diagnosed as bipolar.

Satterberg says he considered a number of factors before deciding whether to pursue the death penalty. “A jury would be justified in finding that Kalebu should not be executed because of his documented history of mental illness,” Satterberg said in an April 28 news release. “While we do not believe that the history of his mental illness rises to the level of a defense to the criminal charges, we do find that it meets one or more of the statutory criteria set forth in the law that constitutes a ‘mitigating factor’ for purposes of the capital-punishment statute.”

Though the death penalty is no longer being considered, Kalebu still faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted. Kalebu is also a suspect in the deaths of his aunt, Rachel Kalebu, 62, and her tenant John Jones, 57, in a July 9 fire at the aunt’s University Place home. Charges have not been filed in that case.

Celebrating 37 Years!

Lesbian to lead Service Employees International Union

“build on our past successes, strengthen our political work, and expand our efforts in national political campaigns.”

“Anyone who leads this union will be a political leader,” Rolf concluded.

Cook agreed.

“This is not a repudiation of what Andy has been doing,” she told SGN. “[Henry] will challenge us to do both [politics and organizing] and do both better, with even more passion.”

“The most powerful Lesbian in the country” courtesy SEIU

Mary Kay Henry

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Mary Kay Henry, out Lesbian and an executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), will almost certainly be elected president of the powerful union on May 8.

She will succeed retiring president Andy Stern, beating out current SEIU secretarytreasurer Anna Burger, who was Stern’s hand-picked choice to succeed him.

Burger announced she was dropping out of the race to succeed Stern on April 28.

There are no other candidates for the post.

Seattle-area labor leaders who have worked with Henry describe her in glowing terms.

“I’ve worked with her for the better part of 19 years,” said David Rolf, president of SEIU 775 and one of SEIU’s international vice presidents, “and I couldn’t be more thrilled. She’s an inspiring leader.”

“She’s an inspiration – a great leader and an amazing organizer,” agreed Kim Cook, president of SEIU 925. “I’ve worked with her for 25 years, through a lot of organizing.”

“It’s so exciting she’s a woman – and a Lesbian,” Cook added. “I guess she’ll be the most powerful Lesbian in the country.”

Henry began her SEIU career in 1979 and rose to become the union’s chief healthcare strategist. She was elected to the International Executive Board in 1996.

She has served as an executive vice president of SEIU since June 2004.

Henry is also a founding member of the SEIU Lavender Caucus, the union’s LGBT member organization.

A lightning campaign for leadership Her lightning campaign for leadership of the union was dramatic and surprising.

Stern announced his retirement and his support for Burger in an April 13 e-mail to SEIU leaders. Burger was a longtime associate and personal friend of Stern.

Henry emerged as a dark horse candidate when four other executive vice presidents of the union began circulating a statement of support for her.

The tipping point in the contest for leadership of SEIU came on April 23, when both

candidates made presentations to the executive board of the union’s largest local, 1199 United Healthcare Workers East. SEIU 1199 represents 300,000 workers – about 15% of SEIU’s total membership.

In spite of a strong pitch for Burger by the local’s former president and current SEIU Executive Vice President Dennis Rivera, the board endorsed Henry by an overwhelming margin.

She reportedly won over the local’s midlevel leaders after its current president, George Gresham, indicated he would remain neutral.

The next day, two other big locals, one in New York and another in California, met and endorsed Henry.

Henry’s own local is based in California, and she already had the support of most West Coast SEIU leaders. Winning significant East Coast support gave her a virtual lock on the SEIU presidency.

“I’m so proud of SEIU not to do the expected,” Cook told SGN, “not to just assume the succession.”

SEIU will remain a political powerhouse SEIU is one of the country’s largest labor unions, with some 2.2 million members.

Under Stern’s leadership it also became a political powerhouse, investing money and staff time in national Democratic political campaigns.

The investment paid off for Stern, who has been a frequent guest at the Obama White House.

SEIU’s Washington State Council was a key supporter of Gov. Christine Gregoire, and a major contributor to the Approve Referendum 71 campaign.

Media observers have asserted that Henry plans to scale back SEIU’s political profile and refocus the union on organizing workers, but both Rolf and Cook say this is not true.

“There are some ‘factoids’ out there that are a little odd,” Rolf said. “I don’t know where people get some of this stuff – especially Ben Smith [of Politico.com].”

Rolf told SGN that Henry had sent an email to SEIU leaders to “address misconceptions” about her plans for the union’s political work.

According to Rolf, Henry committed to

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co-president, John Wilhelm.

When Raynor was overwhelmingly voted out of his union office in April 2009, Stern tried to split off some UNITE HERE locals to create a new SEIU-affiliated union for him.

The resulting war between SEIU and UNITE HERE ate up substantial financial, legal, and staff resources on both sides, and turned most labor leaders against Stern.

Ultimately 27 national union presidents signed a solidarity pledge backing UNITE Peace in HERE against SEIU. Twenty-nine Central the labor movement Labor Councils passed resolutions against Stern was a controversial figure in the SEIU raiding UNITE HERE locals. Even U.S. labor movement. In 2005, he led SEIU the other Change To Win unions would not and five other unions out of the AFL-CIO to support Stern. form the Change To Win labor federation.

UNITE HERE left Change To Win and reStern also became embroiled in conflicts affiliated with the AFL-CIO in September with UNITE HERE, the California Nurs- 2009. es Association, and the National United Both Rolf and Cook agree that Henry will Healthcare Workers (NUHW), formerly an try to bring a measure of cooperation to SEIU local.

SEIU’s relations with other labor organizaHenry will take the helm at SEIU with a tions. mandate to repair her union’s relations with “We need to settle with UNITE HERE so the rest of the labor movement. we can all get on with our work,” Rolf said.

The statement circulated on her behalf by “It would surprise me if we go back into four of the union’s executive vice presidents the AFL-CIO,” he added, “but everyone said flatly that “it’s time to restore our rela- wants better cooperation.” tionships with the rest of the union move“We need to heal the wounds,” Cook said. ment and our progressive allies.”

“We couldn’t do that with the present leadHenry’s election may be good news for ership. It means outreach, and a new sort of SEIU, for Democrats, and for other labor thinking.” leaders.

UNITE HERE has accused Raynor of It is probably very bad news for Bruce stealing tens of millions of dollars from Raynor, former co-president of UNITE union funds. His Workers United union is HERE, the hospitality and food service affiliated with SEIU and remains heavily union. dependant on SEIU support.

Stern’s personal friendship with Raynor It remains to be seen what resources SEIU led him to involve SEIU in a long and nasty will be prepared to commit to Raynor under fight between Raynor and his UNITE HERE Henry’s leadership.

GetEQUAL announces another protest at White House

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer On April 29, GetEQUAL, Queer Rising and Talk About Equality – all Gay equality advocacy organizations – announced that on May 2, at noon, discharged and active duty Gay servicemembers will protest at Lafayette Park in front of the White House.

According to GetEQUAL, the LGBT veterans are “demanding that Obama shows leadership and immediately repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ [DADT] as promised.”

The Gay military ban, known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” requires the Defense Department to separate from the armed services members who engage in or attempt to engage in homosexual acts, state they are homosexual or Bisexual, or marry or attempt to marry a person of the same biological sex. Nearly 14,000 otherwise qualified men and women have been discharged from the military under DADT, and many thousands more have chosen to not re-enlist because of the policy. Enforcing and implementing the policy has cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

“On May 2, we will gather outside the White House to demand that President Obama immediately include DADT repeal language in his Defense Authorization transmittals to Congress to ensure repeal of the ban this year,” GetEQUAL officials wrote in a press release.

Speakers at the protest include Lt. Dan Choi, Capt. Jim Pietrangelo II, Lt. Robin

April 30, 2010

Chaurasiya, Cpl. Evelyn Thomas, Spc. Jarrod Chlapowski, Maj. Mike Almy, Capt.

Tanya Domi, Cpl. Brett Edward Stout, Sgt. Brian Fricke, and Sgt. Justin Elzie.

On April 20, Lt. Dan Choi and five others – Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, Petty Officer Larry Whitt, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen, Cadet Maria Boyd and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas – handcuffed themselves to the White House gates to demand that President Obama keep his promise to repeal DADT this year.

The action comes one month after Choi and Pietrangelo were arrested for a similar DADT protest at the White House in which they handcuffed themselves to the gates as hundreds of protesters looked on.

In his January State of the Union address, Obama promised to repeal DADT this year.

Since that time, a series of statements from the administration have suggested that the president is no longer committed to repeal this year.

Leaders in Congress – including Barney Frank and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi – have called on the president to clarify his commitment and show leadership.

“The president remains AWOL,” GetEQUAL proclaimed. “With the possibility of losses in the House and Senate for Democrats this fall, waiting for a review of DADT may very likely delay repeal for years. The LGBT community and allied communities will continue to put pressure on the president and members of Congress to follow through with their pledge to repeal DADT this year.”

Seattle Gay News

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April 30, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

“...then they came for me.”

10th annual May 1 March and Rally We are all workers!

Immigration Reform Now!

Saturday, May 1, 2010 International Workers Day Rally 12:00PM, March 12:30PM Gathering at Judkin’s Playfield (behind St. Mary’s Church - 611 20th Avenue South)

For More Information Call (206) 324-6044 Courtesy of Seattle Gay News

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April 30, 2010

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Celebrating 37 Years!

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April 30, 2010

Seattle Gay News 15

Bolivian President not homophobic, spokesperson says

file photo

Morales, is homophobic in the wake of controversial remarks by Morales in which he seemed to say that eating chicken made men Gay. The Bolivian government statement came in an April 26 letter to the LGBT Federation of Spain saying the government wished to “ratify” the Bolivian constitution’s ban on discrimination against its LGBT citizens.

Announcing that the Morales administration had sent the letter, a Bolivian spokesperson added, “It has never crossed the president’s mind, from any point of view, to attack the rights of homosexuals.”

The formal statement of goodwill towards Bolivia’s LGBT community became necessary after remarks Morales made to an environmental conference in Tiquipaya, Bolivia.

Speaking against the use of growth hormones and other food additives, Morales said, “The chicken we eat is full of feminine hormones. That’s why, when men eat those chickens, they have deviations in their beings as men.”

The remarks were reported by the Spanish news agency EFE, and then spread worldwide via blogs, Twitter, and YouTube.

An openly Gay member of the Spanish parliament, Pedro Zerolo, then led a contingent of LGBT leaders to the Bolivian Embassy in Madrid with a letter demanding an apology from Morales.

Morales spokesperson Iván Canelas said that the Bolivian government’s letter had been sent as a response to Zerolo’s “personal protest.”

On his Twitter account, Zerolo wrote, “Protests give results. It seems that the president, Evo Morales, has sent us a message in which he ‘ratifies’ his respect to sexual Bolivian President Evo Morales identity....”

Beside Zerolo, 38 LGBT organizations The Bolivian government took the un- which make up The TLGB Collective of Bousual step of denying that its president, Evo livia also sent a letter expressing their disappointment at Morales’ statements. They said they were shocked that such a statement came from a president who they thought was friendly to their cause.

Morales was a strong supporter of a February 2009 amendment to the Bolivian constitution banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Claiming to be the first Bolivian president of purely indigenous descent, Morales has also spoken out against European industrial farming methods, including the use of hormones and pesticides.

EFE reported that in the same speech to the Tiquipaya environmental conference,

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Morales also claimed that chicken and beef treated with hormones were the cause for the premature development of breasts in some girls and premature hair-loss in men.

He added that Coca Cola is so full of chemicals that Bolivian plumbers who ran out of drain-cleaning solvents turned to Coca Cola as an alternative.

Morales was elected president in December 2005 and re-elected in 2009 with a 63% majority. Previously he was general secretary of the coca farmers’ union, and as president he has resisted demands by the US government to ban coca farming.

Morales leads the Movement for Socialism and he maintains close relations with other Latin American leftist leaders, including Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Cuba’s Castro brothers.

mississipi

continued from cover Sturgis’ submitted photo in the yearbook, but Copiah County School District officials refused. Rodriguez said she expected the yearbook to at least contain a reference to her daughter on the senior page.”

Sturgis, a popular and academically accomplished student, has attended Wesson Attendance Center for 12 years. “It’s like she’s nobody there,” continued Rodriguez.

“They mentioned none of her accolades, even though she’s one of the smartest students there, with wonderful grades. They’ve got kids in the book that have even been busted for drugs. There’s even a picture of one of the seniors who dropped out of school.”

The Copiah County School District maintains that its decision not to run the photo is based on federal legal precedent.

The ACLU has not confirmed if it plans any legal action on the school’s decision.

Rodriguez said she expected the district to attempt to downplay her daughter’s presence, but not attempt to erase it entirely.

She said the officials’ position runs counter to the more accepting opinions of Sturgis’ classmates.

“She basically grew up here, but she feels so isolated. And it’s not the students.

The students love and accept her,” Rodriguez said. “The kids even nominated her for prom queen, but she ducked out, knowing that the officials would never let her be prom queen.”

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April 30, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Bad fences make for bad neighbors

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer Fences.

Poet Robert Frost, playwright August Wilson, and novelist Mark Twain got literary mileage out of fences. Now instead of writing about a fence, Chris Trumbull has written on a fence. He didn’t create literature; he created graffiti.

Or it would be graffiti if he’d written on someone else’s fence. Trumbull wrote on his own fence, so it’s protected speech. Ugly, but protected.

On the outside of his fence, Trumbull, of Casper, Wyo., spray-painted “Leviticus 20:13, To be Gay = death.” I support free speech. But as a home beautification project, his sign bites.

“I put it up because society is not looking at the truth,” Trumbull told the Casper StarTribune. “They’re not my words, they’re the Lord’s.”

Actually, that Leviticus passage reads, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Trumbull shorthanded the passage. He edited God. The Wyomingite said he’s generally disappointed in society, and no specific event induced him to paint his sign.

“I’m not doing it to be spiteful. Gay people are bashing themselves,” said Trumbull.

“My fence seems like the proper setting [to express an opinion].”

Neo-Nazis vandalize local activist office

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The national conversation about rightwing extremism got very real and very local on the morning of April 25, when apparent neo-Nazis vandalized the offices of Washington Community Action Network (WCAN).

According to the Seattle Police report, WCAN workers left the building at about 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, and returned at 10:00 a.m. the next day to find their front window broken and two WCAN vehicles vandalized.

The tires of one car had been slashed. Insulating foam had been sprayed into the exhaust pipe of a van. Both vehicles had been spray painted with the words “RAHOWA 88.”

“RAHOWA” is neo-Nazi shorthand for “racial holy war,” and 88 stands for HH – H being the eighth letter of the alphabet – or “Heil Hitler.”

Police officers responding to WCAN’s complaint found a “steel ball projectile” at the scene, apparently the cause of the broken window, and “glass shards scattered around the room….”

WCAN describes itself as “the state’s largest grassroots community organization,” with more than 35,000 members.

WCAN is perhaps best known for their recent work for healthcare reform. Marcelas Owens, the 11-year-old who stood next to President Obama as he signed the healthcare bill, is a WCAN member and spokesperson.

The group is also helping to organize the May 1 immigrant rights march and rally.

Pro-immigrant and pro-healthcare signs are prominently displayed in their office windows.

WCAN Executive Director Will Pittz told SGN he could not be sure which issue drove the vandalism.

“It’s really hard to know what it’s related to,” Pittz said. “We’ve been in the news a lot recently.”

According to the police report, WCAN has been the target of “harassing phone calls and hate e-mail in the past.”

Pittz confirmed, “Yes, we’ve gotten negative calls. Some pretty hostile stuff, but nothing that really threatened violence.”

Pittz said the incident would not deter WCAN from carrying on its organizing work.

“We’re going to take safety precautions

Why stop with the fence? He could paint a message on his roof, warning planes and ducks not to be Gay. Trumbull’s property sits on the route between Roosevelt High School and the Boys & Girls Club. Over 100 students walk by it every day, getting an education of sorts.

The city asked Trumbull to remove the sign, but he refused. More than that Casper cannot do, said the city code enforcement supervisor. Freedom of speech means Trumbull is free to be rude, obnoxious, holierthan-thou, incendiary, and a thorn in the side of the Wyoming tourism department.

While Trumbull’s fence raises questions about protected speech, a different issue stands out to me: What is it with Wyoming and fences?

The stories I read about the Trumbull case didn’t mention Matthew Shepard, but he leaped to my mind anyway. Wyoming. A fence. Loathing of Gays. If I hadn’t made that connection, I’d worry that my synapses have walked off the job.

They have, Wyomingites might reply.

Trumbull didn’t kill anybody. He just made his fence into Martha Stewart’s worst nightmare.

True. But Trumbull has undeniably contributed to a poisonous atmosphere for Gays. In Wyoming. Using a fence.

Who can forget that ranch fence Shepard was tied to after being savagely beaten and left to die in 1998 on the outskirts of Lara-

mie? It’s no longer there, by the way.

Many wish Trumbull’s sign was no longer there, perhaps hoping a modern-day Tom Sawyer would find a way to give it a good whitewashing.

According to Towleroad, something similar happened. A person or persons changed the words to “Religion = War.” The message was then changed back, presumably by Trumbull. It’s the Great Graffiti War. Trumbull is obstinate and Casper’s city officials say their hands are tied. So unless Trumbull’s opposition plans to perform a drive-by editing every night, it’s up to the community to handle this in a positive manner.

Marty Wood, safe schools coordinator for the Natrona County School District, said teachers could make something out of Trumbull’s creation. “I’d use it as a big learning piece about free speech and constitutional rights,” he said. “We live in a free country, so how do you handle disputes and differences of opinion?”

If the students learn that lesson, maybe a future Matthew Shepard will be avoided.

Chris Trumbull will have accidentally paved the way to understanding. I hope he can live with the shame.

so that all our staff and all our members are absolutely safe, but this is not going to stop us from working on all the social, racial, and economic justice issues we work on,” Pittz insisted.

Seattle Police Department spokesperson Mark Jamieson confirmed that SPD is actively investigating the case, but he declined to say that the perpetrators are, in fact, neoNazis.

“I’d want to be cautious as far as making that leap,” he told SGN. “That’s not anything we have said.”

“There was graffiti on a couple of cars that were registered to that address. It did have RAHOWA 88, and we are investigating,” he continued. “But just because somebody posts graffiti doesn’t mean somebody subscribes to that ideology.”

Asked if SPD had a different theory of who the perpetrators might be, Jamieson replied simply “We don’t know yet.”

Robby Stern, vice-president of the WCAN

Board of Directors and president of the Puget Sound Alliance of Retired Americans, praised the police response in a statement issued after the incident.

“We want to thank the Seattle Police Department, who were quick to respond, are taking this hate crime seriously, and are doing everything in their power to ensure public safety and law and order,” he said.

Other progressive organizations rallied to WCAN’s support as news of the vandalism made the rounds. To date, some 50 labor, community, and progressive religious organizations have signed statements of support.

“At times like this it is incumbent that we come together to show that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Washington state. Equal Rights Washington applauds the work done by WCAN in support of immigrant rights and humane immigration reform,” said Joshua Friedes, executive director of ERW.

Leslie Robinson’s fence has deteriorated into toothpicks. E-mail her at lesarobinson@gmail.com, and read more columns at www.generalgayety.com.

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April 30, 2010

Seattle Gay News 17

GSBA cruise mixer a seaworthy success

LGBTQ survey reveals a diverse population james Whitely

GSBA Prime Time Mixer

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer GSBA Prime Time Mixer April 21 Pier 55 On Wednesday, April 21, about 200 members of the GSBA gathered down by the waterfront to sail the Sound for the GSBA Prime Time Mixer. The purpose of the mixer was to welcome this year’s new members of the GSBA. “It could not have been a better evening,” said April Thanos, program director for the GSBA. Attendees were give custom bingo cards with GSBA member’s names on them instead of numbers. To win, one had to mill around the boat to find each person on their card and complete it. Before one could get anyone to sign off on their card, one had to ask them about their business, how long they’ve been in the GSBA, etc.

Various members of the GSBA board spoke during the cruise, and prizes were given out to bingo winners. Music was provided by DJ DaMarr Easton and Wave Link Music, this year’s GSBA Business of the Year.

Donors for the bingo prizes included 5th Avenue Theatre, the Seattle Men’s Chorus, Barrio, Argosy Cruises, and many more.

This year, 210 new members joined the GSBA. The GSBA will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its scholarship fund on May 21 with a celebratory dinner at the Hyatt in downtown Seattle. Visit www. thegsba.org to register.

The GSBA envisions a vibrant global economy strengthened through the full participation of diverse local communities and strives to combine business development, leadership, and social action to expand economic opportunities for the LGBT community and those who support equality for all.

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer The Rainbow Center of Tacoma, an LGBT community space in Tacoma, Washington, conducted a survey of LGBTQ people in the greater Pierce County area from March 1, 2010 to April 10, 2010. The survey was conducted under the direction of Paula Frederick, PhD., a sociologist with expertise in the fields of sex, gender, and sexual orientation. The Initial Summary of Results were released on April 20, and served as a window to a population in which very little comprehensive data exists.

The primarily online survey questionnaire was developed over several months and involved research on existing LGBTQ surveys to help formulate questions. The idea behind the survey was to provide a needs assessment for the Tacoma Rainbow Center in regards to programming and funding, to gain greater knowledge of the LGBTQ population in the area, to provide a working blueprint for other LGBTQ organizations and communities around the country, and to gather data on LGBTQ people in their localities, according to Frederick’s report.

The survey consisted of 70 questions, some basic demographical questions – i.e., sex, race, age, income, etc. – and questions about sexual orientation, gender identity, LGBTQ discrimination, and interest in politics.

The survey results do not necessarily constitute a representative sample of the Pierce County LGBTQ population in the statistical sense, because “the overall parameters of the LGBTQ population are not known,” according to the report.

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“One of the major findings to emerge from the survey results is simply how diverse the LGBTQ population is,” the report read.

“Such diversity is shown in terms of all kinds of variables, including income, age, LGBTQ status, education, household composition, among others – and this will go a long way to challenging stereotypes held about who comprises the LGBTQ population.”

SUMMARY OF RESULTS The survey found that participants were comprised of a broad range of ages, the most common by only a small margin being 18-25 (24%). The education level reflected these results showing that 25% had at least a high school diploma or GED, and 29% had at least a bachelor’s degree.

Participant’s biological sex appeared fairly even between males and females: 47.6% female, 51.7% male, and .6% Intersex.

The results from the sexual orientation category yielded that 34% of those surveyed indentified as samesex-oriented males, 32% as same-sex-oriented females, 16% both-sex-oriented females, 11% as both-sex-oriented males, and 7% other.

While 13.94% of participants considered themselves to be Transgendered, 7.74% indicated that their current sex is different from what they were assigned at birth.

Race/ethnicity was the single variable in the survey’s results that did not reflect broad distribution, as 77.77% of those surveyed identified as Caucasian. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2008, 79.8% of Pierce Country residents consider themselves white.

Household composition results showed that 50.69% of those surveyed lived with their partner or spouse, 27.89% lived with roommates, and 10.2% lived with their parents.

Participants who have children (as a parent or as a legal guardian) accounted for 26.5% of those surveyed, and 12.24% of those who have children live with them full time. The most common age bracket for those with children was 46-55 (30.5%).

As far as voting was concerned, 86.8% said they were registered to vote in Washington state, 7.4% said they were not, and 5.9% said they were not eligible due to age or another variable.

An impressive 83.44% of those surveyed said they were out to their family, while

One of the major findings to emerge from the survey results is simply how diverse the LGBTQ population is. Such diversity is shown in terms of all kinds of variables, including income, age, LGBTQ status, education, household composition, among others.

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56.92% said they were out to their primary care physician. In a school environment, 64.29% said they were “generally open,” 15.94% said they were “somewhat open,” and 19.78% said they were “not at all open” about their sexuality.

In a work environment, 53.88% reported they were “generally open,” 17.29% said they were “somewhat open,” and 13.28% said they were “not at all open.”

More participants reported they had experienced some kind of discrimination in Tacoma than in Pierce County overall, with 30.68% reporting being discriminated against in the Tacoma area, versus 14.74% reporting discrimination outside of Tacoma but within Pierce County.

Results showed that most discrimination occurred in the workplace. Reports of experiencing harassment and/or violence were given by over one-third of the participants.

The survey reported 10.09% of those surveyed experienced unfair treatment or discrimination by police (it is important to note that the survey does not specify Pierce County police), 17.11% reported discrimination or unfair treatment in the health care sector, and 37.91% reported actual harassment and/or violence.

Only 25.18% said they feel “very safe” on Tacoma streets, 45.56% said they feel “somewhat safe,” 19.18% said they feel “neither safe nor unsafe,” 9.11% said they feel “somewhat unsafe,” and 0.96% said they feel “very unsafe.”

“Counting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population is a tough nut to crack,” said Aimee Welch, executive director of the Tacoma Rainbow Center. “Research counting the largest number of people within this population has been the work done on the U.S. Census by Gary Gates, who used the ‘unmarried partner’ category on the census to count same-sex couples residing together. But this count leaves out LGBTQ people who do not fit that profile, including singles, couples not residing together, and many Bisexuals and Transgender Individuals.”

“The Rainbow Center Community Survey is the only survey to have attempted and succeeded to count the diverse elements of the Pierce County LGBTQ population,” said Welch.

wrestling continued from cover

gue that few sports are Gay-tolerant. We all heard it in gym class; when one teammate wanted to downgrade another, he would almost always use the word “fag.” So when athletes like Taylor, a straight boy who wore a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sticker on his headgear in competition, come out against homophobia and bigotry in sports, we should take notice.

“The rights of LGBT persons are important to me for so many reasons,” Hudson, a wrestler ranked in the top three in the coun-

try for the 197-pound NCAA wrestling weight class, told SGN. “Equal rights for the Gay community are important to me as an American, as a member of a larger society, as a person brought up with a strong social ethic and sense of moral responsibility, and as a regular person in a loving open relationship with my life partner.”

Hudson is engaged to be married to Lia Alexandra Mandaglio. Hudson proposed to Mandaglio after the two saw the movie Milk. According to Hudson, the story meant a lot to the couple. That night, he presented her with a signed edition of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s book, Why We Can’t Wait. She accepted, and the two plan to wed in September of next year.

Hudson said the book was fitting for the engagement because both he and Mandaglio are “very progressive and very outspoken in LGBT and feminist issues. The book symbolized how we felt and how we would act.”

“I love the United States. I honor this country and respect its ideals, institutions, and laws. And, because of that profound respect, I question our legal system when I feel that it is acting unjustly,” he told SGN. “This country is strong and inspiring because it develops; it acknowledges its errors and it rectifies them. I believe that our integrity as a people, as a country, demands that we acknowledge the equality of LGBT persons and afford them the same legal protections that we afford the heterosexual and nonTransgender community. Furthermore, as a member of our larger society, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for our country’s history. When there is an injustice, I have to try my best to rectify it. LGBT equal rights are morally and legally sound. I cannot think of one argument against LGBT equality that does not include undertones of spiteful prejudice. That kind of tenor will never be a part of my life or my narrative as a member of society.”

“As a man who wants to enter the institution of marriage and raise a family, I cannot imagine how I would feel if my country disrespected me so much as to prohibit me from legitimizing my romantic love with a consenting adult and parental relationship with my child through bigoted marriage and adoption laws,” he continued. “Family, sex, and romance are fundamental parts of the human experience. The discourse and institutional labels and categories we assign to those parts of our lives can affect the quality of those experiences. LGBT equality should be at the forefront of all American’s minds – Gay, straight, young, old, religious, or not. This is not a ‘special interest’; this is an American interest and a moral interest.”

Obviously Hudson has felt some pushback from teammates, or other students in general, for wearing the HRC sticker during competition and being an outspoken advocate for Gay rights. Still, the athlete has emerged unscathed and motivated to con-

tinue to fight for equality for all Americans.

“I chose to wear the HRC logo on my headgear because I felt that the symbol was a fairly well-known image of LGBT equality,” Taylor told SGN. “I wanted my peers to notice the equality symbol and immediately understand the LGBT equal rights movement’s message of freedom and fairness.”

“I encountered some opposition from teammates regarding my LGBT advocacy and feminism – especially the decision to choose a new last name with my fiancée,” Taylor explained. “I think that my candor

focus on the positive, stay true to myself, and move forward with the support of those who love me.”

Taylor told SGN that because of his proLGBT equality views, he has been accused of being Gay. “The accusations are pretty rare, because I have a very active and present fiancée in my life,” he explained. “The accusations don’t bother me at all. The only thing that bothers me is that some people think that Gay rights advocacy exists only among the Gay community, and thus any LGBT activist you meet must be Gay.” Taylor says he worries that “these illogical accusations actually reflect a silence and inaction among heterosexual community regarding LGBT rights.”

Taylor promises that his LGBT activist energy will not dissipate upon graduation.

Not only does he plan to continue his work with HRC, he has bigger plans in mind – which still include his love of wrestling.

“I have been blessed with opportunities to publicly support LGBT equal rights,” Taylor told SGN. “I will continue to be an adamant supporter of equality in my private life and I will pursue any and all opportunities to continue advocating in the public domain.”

Taylor says he hopes to stay as active and as educated as possible. “I also plan to attend law school in the fall of 2011,” he said. “I’m hoping to focus on legislation and public policy and potentially pursue a career in politics. I plan to remain active in the wrestling community as a coach and perhaps an international athlete, especially with the Olympics and other international competitions approaching.”

This country is strong and inspiring because it develops; it acknowledges its errors and it rectifies them. I believe that our integrity as a people, as a country, demands that we acknowledge the equality of LGBT persons. makes some peers feel uncomfortable. Perhaps they worry that my stances could reflect on them in an undesirable way.”

Taylor says he has also encountered opposition off the mat. “For example,” he said, “a family member warned my mother that I could be jeopardizing my professional career by taking a public stance on Gay rights.”

“I am stunned when I see people go to great lengths to preserve bigotry against the LGBT community,” Taylor continued.

“While I try to understand these individuals’ viewpoints and create a healthy dialogue with them, I also don’t dwell on that negativity. I’ve received so much support and encouragement from teammates, family, friends, and the public. This positive feedback completely overcomes any unconstructive or disapproving feedback. I

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Seattle Gay News 19

prop 8

continued from cover Equal Rights brought together attorneys Theodore Olson and David Boies – who most notably faced off in Bush v. Gore – to lead the challenge to Prop 8. In Perry v.

Schwarzenegger, Olson and Boies represent Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, as well as Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, two same-sex couples who want to get married but cannot because of Prop 8.

Before hearing final arguments in the case, Judge Walker must still rule on an expected motion by the defendants – a coalition of right-wing social groups – to strike e-mails

and campaign memos written by Prop 8 supporters that were already introduced as evidence in the trial, as well as the testimony of conservative San Francisco Minister Dr. William Tam. Tam, who helped Prop 8 qualify for the 2008 ballot, testified that allowing same-sex couples to marry would “cause children to become homosexual.”

Judge Walker set a deadline for the defense to file its motions to strike the evidence by May 7.

“The scheduling of final arguments is an important step forward in this historic trial, but it is far from an end point in our nation’s centuries-long war against bigotry and discriminations,” said Rick Jacobs, chair of the 700,000-member Courage Campaign, the California organization credited in leading the fight to overturn Prop 8. “Today’s events further underscore the fact that the opponents of equality will stop at nothing to exclude the American public from these proceedings and to suppress evidence that exposes the lies and hollow arguments being used to deprive law-abiding Americans of equal treatment under the law.”

Ultimately, he said, “The promise of full equality for all Americans will remain unfulfilled until the American people are able to hear all the evidence.”

At trial, Olson and Boies attempted to demonstrate the unconstitutionality of Prop 8 through the presentation of 17 witnesses and revealing cross-examination of the defendant-interveners’ witnesses. Olson and Boies argued that Prop 8 does irreparable harm to Americans, that marriage has

shed discriminatory restrictions over time, that Gay men and Lesbians are entitled to the full protection of the 14th Amendment, and that there is no good reason for Prop 8’s denial of fundamental civil rights.

In addition, the lawyers say that Prop 8 violates the Due Process Clause by depriving Americans of fundamental rights, violates the Equal Protections Clause of the 14th Amendment, singles out Gays and Lesbians for a disfavored legal status – thereby creating a category of “second-class citizens” – discriminates on the basis of gender, and discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.

bennett

continued from cover

oxford shirt with a nametag pinned just above the pocket. He carried himself with a calm assurance that seemed slightly at odds with his boyish face. But don’t let Bennett’s age or his boyish good looks fool you; this young man means business.

Scott Rice: So, Bryce, who are you?

Bryce Bennett: I’m a fifth-generation Montanan. I was a key organizer here in Missoula. For all of my adult life I’ve been working on every progressive cause under the sun, from renewable energy to civil rights to keeping cyanide out of our rivers. … And now I’m taking that passion to a run for the House of Representatives here in Montana.

Rice: Has your family always been involved in politics, or are you the first?

Bennett: Well, first of all, most of my family are hardcore Republicans.

Rice: That makes for fun Thanksgiving dinners.

Bennett: I know, it’s charming. And the

rest of them are just apathetic. I think [the family] has had a city councilman here or there, but that’s about as far as it goes. I’m definitely … I wouldn’t say the black sheep, but I’m different than everyone else.

Rice: You’re a young guy. How old are you?

Bennett: I’m 25.

Rice: So, you must have known from an early age that politics are a passion for you.

Bennett: I started figuring it out in the 2000 election when I was in high school. It really got me interested, and I was becoming more and more of an Al Gore supporter.

Rice: You say you became more and more of a Gore supporter. Did you have to “come out” to your family as a Gore supporter?

Bennett: [Laughs.] My immediate family – lucky for me – falls into the more apathetic category. But both my parents voted for George Bush in 2000, and by 2004 I had them both turned around and they voted for John Kerry. They’ve both become a lot more moderate. My mother is a now a left-wing liberal, which I think is pretty funny.

Rice: That’s amazing. [Laughs.] It’s interesting that you’re only 25. Aren’t you supposed to be out being promiscuous and making life-threatening mistakes?

Bennett: Every now and then I’m like, “Hey man, you’ve got to be this politician,” and you have to think about what people think about your actions – not that I’m out there doing anything illicit. It’s a weird juxtaposition because a lot of my friends are … a little more carefree and they’re able to do things a little more easily without thinking about the consequences. It’s always in the back of my mind … and in the front a lot of times, too.

Rice: I understand. Considering all the crap I did in my 20s, there’s no way I’m ever running for office. [Laughs.] One thing I don’t think most people realize is that Montana has a record of electing progressive candidates. Right now, your governor and both senators are Democrats, and they

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elected the first woman ever to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, right?

Bennett: Jeannette Rankin. We’re very proud of her in Montana.

Rice: Were you at the seven-hour meeting the other night for the [Missoula] city ordinance that protects residents from housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity?

Bennett: I work for an organization called Forward Montana, and we are some of the people who were working actively to put that together. That was an amazing evening.

From seeing the rally beforehand with, in my mind, at least a thousand people rallying to say, “We support this,” and the people converging on the courthouse … [there were] just so many more people in our city saying we support anti-discrimination as opposed to the small minority saying we’re going to stand up for discrimination. It was really heartwarming to see Missoula stand up for its citizens, for those in need.

Rice: Why do you think the ordinance passed?

Bennett: I think, at a very basic level, Missoulians did a good job in electing good people to the city council, people who have strong progressive values and understand that people who are constantly being discriminated against need these protections.

On top of that, I think the community came together in a large way to support [the ordinance] and say that this is something we stand for.

Rice: Missoula, over the past eight or nine years, has a checkered past when it comes to the LGBT community dealing with the sheriff’s office, the police department, and the county attorney’s office. Do you think this ordinance is a reaction to that, or is it simply a community saying, “These are our values”?

Bennett: If you say just that word in any other area of the state, there’s definitely a connotation that comes with it.

Rice: Values?

Bennett: Yeah, solid progressive values.

That makes us a very special part of Montana and it’s one of the reasons I love living here. But, it was really a perfect storm that came around this ordinance that the sheriff and the county attorney, where in the past they may have been apprehensive around these issues, stepped up and they were ready to help this time around. I don’t know the specific details of what brought this all together, but I think the page has turned in Missoula and we’re ready to stand up together.

Rice: You are a founding member of Forward Montana. What does Forward Montana do?

Bennett: Forward Montana works to train, mobilize, and elect the next generation of progressive leaders. We work with young people across the state on issues like LGBT equality and renewable energy to move our state forward and get young peo-

ple involved in the political process.

Rice: What’s the biggest misconception about Montana? As a fifth-generation Montanan, here’s your chance to speak.

Bennett: I don’t know if I could pick just one misconception. When you travel outside the state, people go, “Oh, do you ride horses to school?” and all this sort of stuff.

But I think that people have a misconception that Montana is this backwoods, redneck, super-super-conservative state, and while there are pockets of that, Montana for a long time has been a very progressive state. Like you said, we had the first woman in Congress, we were one of the first states to give women the right to vote … we’re one of the few states to pass [medical marijuana]. There are so many different progressive things, because we’re a live-and-letlive kind of place, that our state has gotten behind, and I think that people have kind of brushed over these ideas with cowboys and backwoods.

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