Celebrating 37 Years!
Issue 34 Volume 38
FRIDAY August 20, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
RUGBY V. SISTERS p. 10 URBAN REST STOP p. 17
MARGARET CHO p. 25
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Washington election update
9th Circuit Court of Appeals stays California same-sex marriages
file photos
Incumbent Democratic Senator Patty Murray (l) and Republican challenger Dino Rossi
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
results will not be certified by the Secretary of State till September 1, the outcome of the election is While all the ballots in Washing- pretty clear. ton state’s primary election have not been counted yet, and the final see election page 19
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on August 16 blocked any same-sex marriages from taking place in California while proponents of the state’s marriage ban appeal the August 4 district-court ruling that found Proposition 8 in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The appeals court said it will hear the case the week of December 6, and it set up an expedited briefing schedule for the case’s attorneys. The court also ordered the proponents of the ban to prove that they have “standing” to appeal the decision made by District Judge Vaughn Walker. The actual defendants in the case, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown, have refused to defend Prop 8, and the Court of Appeals’ order seemed sympathetic to the idea that proponents of the ban, as “defendant-intervenors,” are not properly situated to appeal Walker’s ruling. If they are not, that could end the case, and same-sex marriage would
SGN Exclusive Interview Candidate Laurie Jinkins
Activist, attorney, and out Lesbian Laurie Jinkins ran first in a field of five candidates in Tacoma’s 27th Legislative District House race, and will go on to the general election in November. She spoke with SGN about the election and her plans if she goes to Olympia. “I’m happy – overjoyed – excited,” she said about her first-place finish. “I was a little tired yesterday, but I talked to my campaign manager today and we’re both like, ‘Go, go, go!’” Under Washington’s top-two primary rules, the first- and second-place candidates go on to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Jinkins is likely to face off against fellow Democrat Jake Fey, who holds a slim lead over third-place candidate Ken Nichols. Fey sits on Tacoma’s City Council. “Jake is a good City Council member,” Jinkins said, responding to a question about how the two Democrats differ. “The main difference is the disee jinkins page 18
Tom Rastrelli (r) and Bruce Mayhalo await news along with other Gay couples on whether a federal judge would stay his ruling on Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban.
again be legal in California under The defendant-intervenors are the Walker’s original ruling, though a same people who put Prop 8 on the decision on standing could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. see marriages page 21
Pro-Gay marriage protesters escorted from San Diego county building
sandy huffaker
courtesy laurie jinkins
Laurie Jinkins
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Adam Lau/AP
by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer
Five races you should care about
On August 19, the day hundreds of California same-sex couples planned to obtain their long-awaited marriage licenses, a crowd of about 50 people gathered at the San Diego county clerk’s office to protest a federal judge’s stay of a federal ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Shouting “We shall not be moved! No equality, no business as usual!” three people were taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies, and an additional six people were removed later. A deputy said they were detained for blocking access to a county office.
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