SGN Dec 10, 2010 - Section 1

Celebrating 37 Years!

Issue 50 Volume 38

FRIDAY December 10, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

PROP 8 CASE p. 5 TRANS SOLDIERS p. 8 infection monoLOGUEs p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

courtesy queerty.com

but did not remedy the situation. Now in college, Dickerson says he suffers from PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) and still avoids malls and other public places where he fears he might encounter his high school tormentors.

Speaking at a December 7 press conference called by the ACLU to announce the suit, Dickerson compared his school experience to “a prison sentence.”

Soft-spoken but intense, Dickerson said he suffered daily insults and was frequently physically harassed, both for his race and because of the perception that he was Gay. The bullying began when he entered middle school in 2003 and continued till he graduated from high school in 2009.

Because of the constant bullying, Dickerson says, he experi-

Russell Dickerson III

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The ACLU of Washington has filed suit in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma on behalf of a young man who says he was relentlessly bullied throughout middle school and high school.

Russell Dickerson III, 19 years old, says the Aberdeen School District knew he was being harassed

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

The Senate turned down the attempt to move to final debate and vote on a defense bill that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). The vote was 57-40 – three short of the 60 votes needed.

Senator Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, called a key procedural vote on repeal of DADT despite having failed to reach agreement with Republicans to proceed.

“There is simply no evidence and no justification – legal, military or otherwise – for keeping this policy in place,” Reid said on the Senate floor, emphasizing that “it would be unconscionable to leave here without it passing.”

Leading up to the Senate showdown, Reid had been locked in negotiations with Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican who supports the repeal. It had been expected that she would vote against the repeal, but she ul-

see bullying page 20

see DADT page 19

ERW raises a glass at Toasting Equality 2010 Equal Rights Washington (ERW) hosted LGBT community leaders and supporters at the Downtown Seattle Hilton on December 9 for their second annual “Toasting Equality” breakfast. The event, attended by politicians, various non-profit executive directors, activists, and community volunteers, proved to be an exciting breakfast and conversation with state and national leaders as they announced the launch of an education campaign to achieve marriage equality in Washington state.

Toasting Equality 2010 was a twofold event. First, the community breakfast served as a champagne toast for Laurie Jinkins, who made history by becoming Washington state’s first out Lesbian elected to the Washington State Legislature. Laurie is a tireless advocate for healthcare, education and civil rights. She will represent the 27th legislative district, Tacoma.

Secondly, the program featured a panel of guest speakers, including State Senator Ed Murray, longtime

Senator Harry Reid

SGN Exclusive Interview

Newly elected Rep. Laurie Jinkins shaun knittel

shaun Knittel

Executive Director of Equal Rights Washington Josh Friedes

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

file photo

Teen sues Aberdeen Defense bill with DADT school district repeal falls short in Senate over bullying

Representative Laurie Jinkins speaks at ERW’s Toasting Equality Breakfast on December 9.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Newly elected state Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-27) was the featured guest at ERW’s Toasting Equality Breakfast December 9.

Recently she spoke with SGN about her election as the legislature’s first open Lesbian member, and her take on the problems facsee toast page 20 ing a state in economic crisis.

Jinkins also told stories about Wulf, her 10-year-old son, campaign advisor, and author of the Top Ten Reasons to Support My Mom. “He was quite a good advisor,” Jinkins says.

“I’ve been told by other elected officials that the biggest problem is see Jinkins page 20

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Seattle Gay News

December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

December 10, 2010

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Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

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2010

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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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Winging their way to Gayness

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer Scientists in Florida have discovered that when male white ibises eat too much mercury, they turn Gay. Don’t blame an overbearing ibis mother.

Blame the metal.

Suspicious that mercury had led to lower breeding levels among the wading birds, researchers fed groups of ibises varying levels of mercury over three years. The results shocked the stuffing out of the scientists.

The higher the mercury dose, the more likely a bird was to sing show tunes.

These new Friends of Dorothy “pretty much did everything except lay eggs,” said study leader Peter Frederick to The Miami Herald. “They built nests, they copulated, they sat in the nests together.”

They went to a Lesbian flamingo therapist when no egg appeared.

Male ibises with any mercury intake were more reticent to perform ritual courtship displays, causing numbers of female ibises to cry together over Cosmopolitans.

In the high-mercury birds, reproduction plunged 35 percent. Complaints from wannabe grandparents soared 65 percent.

The mercury levels in the experiment mirrored those found in the birds’ natural wetland habitats. Frederick, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Florida, told Nature. com “the implication is that this is probably happening in wild bird populations.”

Which means the wilderness is getting wilder.

Not a good thing, in this case. These beautiful, long-billed birds are being poisoned into Gayness. In wild populations of ibis with no mercury exposure, same-sex pairings don’t occur.

Well, it probably happens once in a while, when the tequila is plentiful and the birds are Bi-curious, but not as a rule.

We should go with what nature intended.

Let’s keep the ibises straight and the people Gay! In south Florida, mercury leeched into the Everglades for years, mainly from the burning of municipal and medical waste. Frederick said, “Most mercury sources are local

rather than global – local enough that we can do something about it, such as installing scrubbers on smokestacks. Ecosystems respond very quickly to regulatory action when it comes to mercury.”

But how will the birds respond? If their diet is cleaned up, will they revert to being straight? If they need a little help, then by George, we might’ve found an actual use for ex-Gay groups. Ex-Gay leaders can take ibises under their wing and lead them back to heterosexuality. The success rate can only be higher than it is with people.

Speaking of people, Frederick frets that “people will read this and immediately jump to the conclusion that humans eating mercury are going to be Gay. I want to be very explicit that this study has nothing to say about that.”

Doubtless some parents have nonetheless purged their larder of tuna fish, tossed the thermometer, and made a date at the dentist’s to convert all of Junior’s mercury fillings.

And if they hadn’t already banned from the house the music of Freddie Mercury, they have now.

Frederick also said that what’s true for ibises isn’t necessarily true for other species, even other bird species. So jump to no conclusions about a couple of male green herons that adore each other’s company.

Make no assumptions about the two roseate spoonbills with a passion for pomegranate martinis.

The turtles that hide during mating season are simply shy. And the alligators that agree they’d make lovely boots are just metrosexual.

I visited south Florida this past year, and I watched ibises. I admit to my shame that I didn’t notice any Gay goings-on. This is probably because I can’t tell males from females.

I needed obvious indicators of homosexuality. Now, had two canoodling birds sported Prada shoes, I would’ve caught on.

Leslie Robinson should learn to tell male from female. E-mail her at lesarobinson@ gmail.com, and check out her blog at www. generalgayety.com.

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

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Seattle Gay News

December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Judges hint at Prop 8 case twists and turns Eric Risberg

It is unclear if the court will grant the Prop 8 proponents or Imperial County standing to allow the appeal to move forward.

The judges seemed unimpressed by Imperial County’s desire to be let into the case.

Among other things, they seemed annoyed that the deputy county clerk, rather than the actual clerk, is pursuing the move.

As to whether the people who put Prop 8 on the ballot should be allowed to step into the shoes of the state government and defend a piece of the state constitution that the state itself refuses to defend, the judges hinted that they might bounce that question off of the California Supreme Court to see how it feels about the idea.

If the 9th Circuit does that, it could delay appellate rulings on both the standing issue and the merits of Judge Walker’s decision.

On the merits, Olson told the judges that California has unconstitutionally “taken a class of citizens and put them in a separate category.”

California gives samesex couples all the rights and obligations of marriage under a domestic-partnership law, but prohibits Gay couples from marrying.

Under another law, Gay couples who go get married somewhere else also receive all the California rights of marriage but are prohibited from calling their marriage a marriage in California. Yet other Gay couples, who got married in California or somewhere else before Prop 8 passed, are considered to be married in California and are permitted to use the word. It’s very messy.

All of this is discriminatory, Olson said.

It harms Gay Californians. There is no legal rational basis for it. It cannot be “justified,” he said.

“California has built a fence around its Gay and Lesbian citizens and around the institution of marriage,” Olson told the judges.

“That is a violation of the equal-protection clause and it’s a violation of the due-process clause.”

Attorney Charles Cooper for the Prop 8 proponents told the judges that his case in defense of Prop 8 centers on “procreation.”

In Cooper’s view, it is rational for the state to limit marriage to men and women because the reason marriage exists in the first place is because sex between men and women

produces children. The state, he suggested, has a unique interest in human unions that are procreative.

At the end of the day, court-watchers were talking about three things that piqued their curiosity during the oral arguments: • Will the case be delayed so the 9th Circuit panel can sound out the California Supreme Court on the question of whether people who put initiatives on the ballot should be able to defend those initiatives when they are struck down by courts? Regardless of whether the judges seek advice from the California Supreme Court, the case cannot proceed if the 9th Circuit decides that neither the Prop 8 proponents nor Imperial County has legal standing to appeal. If they do not, Walker’s ruling striking down Prop 8 would come back into force.

• In hearing the appeal of Walker’s ruling, will the 9th Circuit rely solely on Walker’s expansive trial record, which seems to demolish most of the myths, lies, arguments, and opinions that historically have been used to oppress Gay and Lesbian people? Or will the 9th Circuit look at additional sources of information and seek out other “facts”? The court hinted that it may review more than just the District Court’s findings.

• And has the 9th Circuit perhaps hinted that it plans to uphold Walker’s decision but in a way that would limit the case’s impact to California, the only state that ever let Gays get married and then later took that right away from them? The court spent a fair amount of time discussing a 1996 case from Colorado in which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a state constitutional amendment that deprived Gay people of anti-discrimination protections that Colorado governments previously had extended to them.

A “narrow” ruling against Prop 8 by the 9th Circuit could bring same-sex marriage back to California but possibly thwart Olson, Boies, and the American Foundation for Equal Rights’ desire to take before the U.S. Supreme Court the proposition that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to get married in all states.

“California has built a fence around its Gay and Lesbian citizens and around the institution of marriage,” Olson told the judges. “That is a violation of the equal-protection clause and it’s a violation of the due-process clause.”

Attorney Ted Olson defends the ruling that struck down Proposition 8 in arguments before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer The effort to undo California’s Proposition 8 inched forward December 6 when a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals entertained nearly three hours of oral arguments from the attorneys in the case.

In an ornate courtroom on the third floor of San Francisco’s historic James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse, amid murals, stained glass, and statues dating to 1905, the attorneys replayed some of their main arguments and the judges offered hints of where the case might go.

The Gay side’s lawyers, who include famed attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, sought to defend U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling from August that

Prop 8 violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection and due process.

They also argued that the parties who brought the appeal to the 9th Circuit – the activists who created Prop 8 and the deputy county clerk of Southern California’s dusty Imperial County – have no legal “standing” to have mounted this appeal of Walker’s ruling.

Those parties are trying to defend Prop 8 because all the public officials who were sued in the case – including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General (and Gov.-elect) Jerry Brown – have refused to defend the voter-passed state constitutional amendment that re-banned same-sex marriage in November 2008 after it had been legal for nearly five months and after 18,000 same-sex couples had married.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Jeff Brown 1953-2010

Seattle has lost a community leader and philanthropist.

Native Seattlite Jeff Brown died suddenly in his home on Queen Anne December 1, 2010. He was a former board member of the GSBA and co-owner of Sternola-Brown Interiors. He was active

in many causes in the Seattle area such as Providence O’ Christmas Trees, Providence Mount Saint Vincent Foundation, The Seattle Men’s Chorus, and the GSBA Scholarship Fund, giving of both his time and money. He believed giving back to the community was everyone’s duty in life. He had a helping hand for anyone who needed it. He was loved by many, and was a fixture on the Seattle social scene. His smile and laughter will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Jeff had a wonderful gift of music, often playing piano at charitable events.

He was born November 24, 1953, and is survived by his partner of 14 years, Philip Sternola, sister Leslie Brown, and brothers Drake and Roger Brown. A service will be held December 11, 2010, at Providence Mount Saint Vincent at 1:30 p.m. in the Chapel.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

December 10, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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INTERNATIONAL David Hartfiel

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

The African nation’s Penal Code Article 319.3 punishes “unnatural” sexual acts with five years in prison.

“While the law ostensibly criminalizes conduct, not character, it is in fact used as a tool for targeting certain ‘types’ of individuals,” HRW said.

The report explores “the manipulation of public sentiment by some Senegalese political and religious leaders who have been instrumental in creating a climate of virulent homophobia,” the group said. “It also

documents the prominent, one-sided, and at times hate-mongering coverage by many Senegalese media outlets.”

The report, “Fear for Life: Violence Against Gay Men and Men Perceived as Gay in Senegal,” includes interviews with dozens of people who have faced threats and violence at the hands of police and others. It is online at http://www.hrw.org/node/94451.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NATIONAL

rex wockner

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

Activist Justus Eisfeld

EU report: Europe is inconsistent on LGBT rights There is an uneven landscape in protection of LGBT rights in Europe, the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) said November 30 in a comprehensive report to the European Parliament.

“In some EU member states, legislation and practice is increasing the protection of LGBT people, while in others the rights of LGBT persons are being restricted or neglected,” said ILGA-Europe, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, in an analysis of the FRA report on homophobia, Transphobia and anti-LGBT discrimination.

The report was produced in response to the Parliament’s request for an in-depth examination of the situation of LGBT people, after anti-Gay laws were proposed or passed in some EU nations.

ILGA-Europe said the document also “clearly highlights the hardship that Transgender people still face in changing their legal gender, which often includes forced sterilization and compulsory divorce.”

“Additionally, the real-life test requirement oftentimes leads Transgender people into unemployment and social marginalization,” the group said.

The FRA called on EU nations to “abolish divorce and genital surgery as preconditions to the rectification of the recorded sex or alteration of name on official documents.”

“LGBT people in some EU member states still suffer from violations of their basic fundamental rights to safety, peaceful assembly and are restricted in their ability to move freely across the EU,” said ILGA-Europe Executive Director Evelyne Paradis. “Some member states are single-handedly blocking the adoption of a new anti-discrimination directive which would level up the protections available to various communities, including LGBT people, from discrimination in the areas of EU competence highlighted by the FRA report.”

The co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, Michael Cashman, added: “The Fundamental Rights Agency provided the Parliament with an invaluable tool to assess the legal situation of LGBT people throughout the EU. This report shows the EU might be the world’s most advanced region in terms of legal protection for LGBT people, but also that much more needs to be done for genuine equality.”

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights is mandated to provide evidence-based advice to decision makers in the EU. The evidence aims at informing EU and national policymakers about fundamental-rights 6

Seattle Gay News

challenges on the ground and at contextualizing debates on fundamental-rights issues.

See www.fra.europa.eu.

Member nations of the European Union are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Currently seeking to join the EU are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Iceland, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey.

Malta OKs Trans marriage Malta’s Constitutional Court OK’d Transgender marriages November 29, reported Transgender Europe.

In a case brought by Joanne Cassar, the court ruled she now is free to marry her boyfriend.

The decision, which overturned earlier Maltese rulings, cites a 2002 European Court of Human Rights case that established Transsexuals’ rights to respect for their private and family life and right to marry.

Dutch Transgenders will get new diplomas Transgender people in the Netherlands have won the right to receive new school diplomas that reflect their correct name and gender.

The change resulted from a legal action against the University of Amsterdam by transgender activist Justus Eisfeld of Global Action for Trans Equality.

The Dutch Equal Opportunities Commission ruled that the university had engaged in illegal indirect sex discrimination against Eisfeld, who had been fighting with the school since 2004.

Education Minister Marja van Bijsterveldt responded to the ruling November 30 by instructing all educational institutions to adhere to it.

“I am very happy not only about my own diploma, but especially about the possibilities for all Trans people to change their diplomas in the Netherlands,” Eisfeld said.

“Hopefully the illegality of trans discrimination in all EU [European Union] member states will receive more attention. Knowledge is a first step towards a change of practice.”

HRW: Senegal Gay ban promotes violence Senegal’s law criminalizing adult Gay sex contributes to anti-Gay abuse by police and the public, Human Rights Watch said in a 95-page report issued November 30.

December 10, 2010

Freedom to Marry Executive Director Evan Wolfson

Illinois passes civil-union law The Illinois Legislature passed a civilunion bill December 1 and Gov. Pat Quinn said he will sign it into law.

Gay or straight couples will be able to enter into a civil union starting in July. The unions will carry the same state-level rights as marriage.

The vote in the Senate was 32-24. The vote in the House of Representatives was 61-52. “[These days], legislator after legislator talks about ‘my Gay daughter,’ ‘my Gay brother,’” Equality Illinois Director of Public Policy Rick Garcia told Windy City Times. “The most politically powerful thing Gay people can do is to come out to family and friends. ... Illinoisans are middle-of-theroad, very steadfast folks, so I think [this bill’s passage] bodes well for our community across the country.”

Freedom to Marry Executive Director Evan Wolfson welcomed the new law as a “step,” but said “civil union is no substitute” for marriage.

“States that have created civil union as a means of both giving and withholding – providing legal protections while withholding the freedom to marry and all its meaning – have found that civil union falls far short of marriage with all its tangible and intangible significance in our lives,” Wolfson said.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley sounded a similar note December 2, saying: “Eventually marriage will take place. It has to be. ... We have to move faster.”

Same-sex marriage is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C. In addition, New York and Maryland recognize samesex marriages that take place elsewhere in the nation or world.

Civil-union or domestic-partnership laws that grant all state-level rights of marriage are in place in California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. Laws that grant same-sex couples some of the rights of marriage are in place in Colorado, Hawaii, and Maine.

California is a further case unto itself.

Same-sex marriage was legal from June to November 2008, when voters amended the state constitution via Proposition 8 to put a stop to it. The couples who married then are still legally married, as are other samesex couples who live in California and got

married anywhere in the world before Prop 8 passed. Gay couples who married somewhere else after Prop 8 passed, or who marry elsewhere in the future, receive every state-level right and obligation of marriage in California except for the legal right to call their marriage a “marriage” when they are in California. They are not recognized under the state’s domestic partnership law, but rather are married couples who are denied use of the word “marriage.”

Elton John to sing against Prop 8 Elton John will perform a private concert in Beverly Hills, California, on January 19 to raise money for the ongoing federal lawsuit against Proposition 8, the voter-passed constitutional amendment that re-banned same-sex marriage in California.

The concert, to benefit the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which hired the Gay side’s superstar attorneys, Ted Olson and David Boies, will take place at the Green Acres estate of billionaire political fundraiser Ron Burkle.

“We are deeply honored to have the support of Sir Elton John,” said AFER Board President Chad Griffin. “The American Foundation for Equal Rights stands for the enduring principle that all Americans are created equal, and believes that ending state-sanctioned discrimination is a critical step we must take toward ending the hate crimes and suicides that continue to claim the lives of young Americans.”

John has not always been a supporter of same-sex marriage. On November 12, 2008, eight days after voters passed Prop 8, he told USA Today: “What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word ‘marriage.’ ... I don’t want to be married. I’m very happy with a civil partnership. If Gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership. ... Heterosexual people get married.

We can have civil partnerships.”

Prop 8 was struck down as unconstitutional at the federal district court level. The ruling is currently on appeal at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard oral arguments on December 6.

For concert ticket information, e-mail events@afer.org.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

AN EVENING IN DECEMBER WITH ARNALDO! On December 10, 11, 12, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Julia’s on Broadway (300 Broadway Ave. E.), join Arnaldo! drag chanteuse, Victor Janusz on piano and Troy Kendrick on bass for a An Evening in December, a holiday cabaret. Tickets $15 advance, $20 at the door (two drink minimum).

For dinner reservations, call (206) 3340513. For tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

CRIS WILLIAMSON & FRIENDS HOLIDAY CONCERT WITH SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS On Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11 at 8 p.m. at Seattle Unity Church (200 8th Ave. N.), come to the Cris Williamson & Friends Holiday Concert, with special guest the Seattle Women’s Chorus. Cris Williamson sets the stage aglow with holiday spirit in an evening of gorgeous music. Seattle Women’s Chorus and other friends join Cris in presenting original gems and plenty of seasonal good cheer. A portion of the proceeds benefit ChorusCares.

Tickets at (800)-838-3006 or www. brownpapertickets.com. For information, visit choruscares.com.

music and more! To donate fresh cut greens for the sale, visit the Arboretum Foundation website for details.

For more information, call 206-325-4510 or visit www.arboretumfoundation.org.

RAINBOW CITY BAND PRESENTS “JOY! A BLISSFUL HOLIDAY CONCERT” On Sunday, December 12 at 3 p.m. at the Edmonds Center for the Arts (410 4th Ave. N., Edmonds), join the Rainbow City Band for a holiday celebration the whole family will enjoy, as they lift spirits and make merry with the classics from your childhood and new music sure to delight. There’ll be something for everyone as they fill ECA with such timeless works as Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival,” and energize the hall with the contemporary sounds of Mannheim Steamroller. At the heart of the holiday concert will be a brand-new piece for the band sure to make your heart sing, “Today’s the Gift,” a celebration of the life and work of Rosa Parks. Tickets $10-$25.

For more information, visit www.ec4arts. org.

THE ELITE HOSTS FREE ASL LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS SEATTLE MEN IN LEATHER’S Have you ever wanted to learn basic PICTURES WITH SANTA American Sign Language? If so, you can get TO BENEFIT LAMBERT HOUSE some beginning ASL instruction at the Elite On Friday, December 10 and Saturday, (1520 E. Olive Way). The FREE lessons will December 11 from 8 p.m. to midnight at be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the loft.

The Cuff (1533 13th Ave.), Get your picture taken with Santa Jay (on 12/10) or Santa SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN Billy (on 12/11). $5 per photo. Presented by BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE Seattle Men in Leather. Benefits Lambert The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club House. meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dunshee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas HOMOS ON ICE St.). All GLBTQ folks in the community are On Friday, December 10 at 11 p.m. at welcome to participate in this FREE book Re-bar (1114 Howell St.), warm up your club. The book for December is My Father cold wintery evening with heart-scalding and Myself by J.R. Ackerley, the British performances from some hot Queers! Get author who worked with Graham Greene, out from under your covers, show off your E.M. Forster, W.H. Auden, and others. The best leopard-print Snuggie, and get your hot memoir is about Ackerley as a Gay adult toddy on for Homos On Ice! Get ready for trying to understand the mystery of his sexuanother Gay-tastic, Lesbionic, Trannyrific ally secretive father. And that’s not the only Queer variety show with drag, burlesque, family mystery the book penetrates, with music, circus arts, and more! With Tamara harrowing scenes in the trenches of World the Trapeze Lady, Lili Delight, Romanteek, War One as well as a glimpse of the world Last of the RedHot Mamas, Lily Divine, that came before the Great War. Ackerley is Dahlia Ste Cyr, Lucious LadyPop and Rent- fascinated by the trickiness of memory, as en, Pidgeon Von Tramp, and more! This is he tries to solve the riddles of his own past. a partial fundraiser for ChunkyDunks, an The book is a mystery with all that entails of emerging Seattle group that sponsors body- clues and surprises, but it’s also a true family positive swims. ChunkyDunks organizes memoir, a tribute to a fascinating and comintentional space where the natural diversity plex man, the Banana King. Through the of human bodies is respected and creates a fog of remembering, Ackerley struggles to safer and fun environment to test the waters put together answers for the mysteries that of your own empowerment to swim, lounge have haunted his life. His honest, elegant, and splash. Open to all genders, ethnicities, educated literary voice is a joy to savor. For ages, sexualities, sizes, abilities and classes. more information, e-mail nickdimartin@ Tickets $5 at the door. earthlink.net or contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY: AN EVENING 4 QUEER YOUTH GSBA HOLIDAY LUNCHEON OF COLOR AND ANNUAL MEETING On Saturday, December 11 from 8 p.m.

On Wednesday, December 15 from 11:30 to 11 p.m. at the Yesler Community Cen- a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel ter (917 E. Yesler Way), join Celebrating (515 Madison St.), join the GSBA’s Holiday Our Diversity: An Evening 4 Queer Youth Luncheon and Annual Meeting. Celebrate of Color. Friends and allies welcome, ages the year’s end and raise a glass with your 15-19. Free. Food and fun will be provided. GSBA colleagues, thank outgoing board Open mic, drag and fashion runway, perfor- members, and welcome the 2011 Board of mance by THEESatisfaction, DJs. Directors. Tickets $37 for non-members, For more information, look up Seat- $32 members and students. tleParksCOD on Facebook.

For more information, visit www.thegsba. org.

ARBORETUM GIFTS AND GREENS GALORE SALE 2011 FIREFIGHTERS CALENDAR On Saturday, December 11 and SunSALE AND PARTY AT PURR day, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Thursday, December 16 at 8 p.m. at at Washington Park Arboretum’s Graham Purr Cocktail Lounge (1518 11th Ave.), Visitors Center (2300 Arboretum Drive burn down the house with the firefighters of E.), join the Arboretum Foundation’s Gifts the 2011 Firefighters calendar. Proceeds of & Greens Galore Sale. Along with a great calendar sales go to benefit the Washington selection of fresh-cut greens, wreaths and State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundaswags, the Arboretum Gift Shop will be of- tion. Featuring Effen vodka drink specials. fering an expanded selection of gifts, plus gift wrapping, seasonal refreshments, live

Visit us online www.sgn.org

NOMINATE AN ICON FOR GLBT HISTORY MONTH Equality Forum is accepting nominations for GLBT History Month 2011 Icons. Submit your nomination(s) to nominations@ equalityforum.com by Friday, December 17, 2010. The nominee needs to be a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender person, living or deceased, who has distinguished him or herself in their field of endeavor, is a national hero, or has made a significant contribution to GLBT civil rights. For examples of past Icons, visit the archives at glbtHistoryMonth.com for the list of 155 Icons from 2006-2010. GLBT History Month co-chairs, Professor Katherine Sender, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, and Professor Kenji Yoshino, New York University School of Law, review all nominations and recommend 31 Icons to the Equality Forum Board of Directors. The 31 Icons for GLBT History Month 2011 will be announced at the International Equality Dinner at the National Constitution Center on Saturday, April 30th at Equality Forum 2011. “Around the globe, GLBT History Month has been embraced in high schools, colleges, social networking sites, workplaces, and by community organizations. For middle schoolers to senior citizens, GLBT History Month features roles models, teaches our history, provides narratives and inspires our movement. Shape GLBT History Month 2011 by nominating an Icon.”

SEATTLE YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROJECT BOWL-A-THON FUNDRAISER On Saturday, December 18 from noon6 p.m. at Imperial Lanes (2101 22nd Ave. S.), join the annual fundraising Bowl-AThon for SYPP. Bowl-A-Thon is a youthorganized grassroots fundraising event that brings together hundreds of youth, allies, and community members dedicated to supporting youth activism in Seattle. This year’s Bowl-A-Thon theme is Town-Folk Tales, Beyond the Lanes, a celebration of fairy tales, myths, and legends from across all times and cultures. There will be food, prizes, free T-shirts, and a rich parade of costumes and stories brought to life. Each team will dress up in fun and creative costumes. Sign up as a team captain today.

For more information, call 206-8609606.

MACCT HOLIDAY POTLUCK SOCIAL On Saturday, December 18 at 6 p.m. in Seattle, Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT) will be hosting their December Holiday Potluck Social. Please contact us at 206-923-8313 or macctseattle@ yahoo.com for additional location information/directions.

MACCT is a Gay/Bisexual, multi-racial, multi-cultural organization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein racial and cultural barriers can be overcome and the goal of human equality realized.

SEATTLE EROTIC ART FESTIVAL CALL FOR ART SUBMISSIONS The Seattle Erotic Art Festival announces the Call for Art for its ninth annual event to be held May 20-22, 2011. Submissions will be accepted from January 1-31, 2011.

All artists age 18 and older are encouraged to submit up to five works of erotic art of any medium. Sculptors, multimedia artists and painters are particularly encouraged to apply. Submissions can be made online at SeattleErotic.org throughout January.

The Festival stands by its mission to support a vibrant creative community, supporting living artists with low submission fees and commission rates. Selected art will be showcased throughout the three-day event to thousands of patrons. Most importantly, the Festival sells far more art than any other erotic art festival. Artists may also choose to submit to the Festival Store, which has a later submission deadline (to be determined).

Artists do not need to attend the Festival in order to participate.

FoundationScholar.org. This year, $500,000 is available in scholarships to support education and leadership development for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer students of any age; students who have an LGBT parent; and students who are straight allies and are committed to civil rights for the LGBTQ community. Since 1990, more than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded. Pride Foundation and the GSBA Scholarship Fund would like to encourage you to share this excellent opportunity for students of any age or sexual orientation from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington who are pursuing any postsecondary education (including community college, public or private colleges and universities, trade apprenticeships, or certificate programs)! There are 50 different types of scholarships with awards up to $10,000, but only one web-based application to complete!

Applications can be completed online at www.PrideFoundationScholar.org and are due by 5:00 p.m. PST on Friday, January 31, 2011.

For information on other LGBT scholarship programs, visit the Safe Schools Coalition’s scholarship resource list at www.safeschoolscoalition.org/youth.

CARING AND AGING WITH PRIDE Are you a LGBT adult 50 years of age or older? Or can you pass this information on to someone who is? We need your help with a groundbreaking project: Caring and Aging with Pride, a partnership between Senior Services and The Institute for Multigenerational Health at the University of Washington. Our goal is to understand the aging and health needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender adults 50 years of age and older in our community for generations to come.

You are eligible for a raffle drawing awarding a $500 Visa gift certificate to three randomly selected individuals. Visit http://bit. ly/SnrSvcs to enter the raffle and request a questionnaire. You are eligible for the raffle regardless of whether you complete a questionnaire or not. Please keep in mind your participation in the project is completely voluntary.

If you have any questions about the project, please contact us at 1-800-558-8703 or visit our website at CaringAndAging.org.

Voice your needs!

LGBT LIBRARY NOW OPEN The LGBT Library houses a wide range of fiction and non-fiction works of interest to those in the LGBT community and its allies. The Library is located at Gay City’s offices, 511 E. Pike St., on the ground floor behind Kaladi Brothers Coffee (just follow the signs). Library hours are Mon-Fri, 2-8 p.m., and Saturday, 2-5 p.m. Items may be borrowed free of charge; however, ID is required. For your convenience, a drop box for returning borrowed items is available next to the front door when the library is closed.

LGBT RESOURCE & REFERRAL LINE The Resource & Referral Line can connect you to LGBT-friendly resources throughout Puget Sound and beyond. Coming out and just learning what is out there? Visiting and want to know about nightlife options? Interested in drug or alcohol counseling? For these or any other LGBT issues, call 206323-LGBT. Phone line hours are Mon-Fri, 2-8 p.m., and Saturday, 2-5 p.m. Leave a voice message at all other times and your call will be returned. Alternatively, you can view our resource lists at www.gaycity.org under the resources menu.

GAY CITY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR LGBT LIBRARY AND RESOURCE & REFERRAL LINE Gay City Health Project’s newest program needs your help! They have taken charge of the 323-LGBT community resource line and need your help to make it successful! Some duties include answering phones, connecting people to resources, updating material for their records, checking out books and PRIDE FOUNDATION/ reshelving. If you are interested, please conGSBA SCHOLARSHIP tact Susan at 206-388-1707 or email her at APPLICATIONS Pride Foundation/GSBA Scholarship Ap- susan@gaycity.org. plications are now available at www.Pride-

December 10, 2010

Seattle Gay News

7

Canadian military drafts dress code for Trans soldiers

Did we dance at the White House?

Lawrence Jackson

courtesy Canadian national Defence

First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses laugh as a young visitor tastes her decorated cookie during a holiday craft demonstration with the children of military personnel in the State Dining Room of the White House, December 1, 2010.

Sample from Canadian Forces Dress Instructions

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer While the U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation allowing LGBT soldiers to serve openly, the Canadian military is drafting a Trans-inclusive dress code for its troops.

The Canadian Department of National Defense already pays for the sex reassignments of Canadian troops. Canadian Forces spokespeople say that one or two service people transition every year.

While a written policy document on Transsexuals is new, the Canadian Forces have been dealing with the issue for over a decade, paying for the first sex reassignment of a service member in 1998.

The DND believes that soldiers marginalized because of their sexuality or gender identity are at risk for psychological problems.

Now the military has added a supplementary chapter to their administration manual that clears up any ambiguities about Transsexual military dress.

Soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel who change their sex or sexual identity have a right to privacy and respect, but they must conform to the dress code of their “target”

gender, says the new supplementary chapter of Canada’s military administration manual.

The National Defense Department drew up the report in response to questions from administrative staff, Canadian Forces spokesperson Rana Sioufi told Canada’s National Post newspaper.

“The CF is unique in that it must recruit, house, clothe, train, and deploy its members,” she said. “This requires clear direction and standardized instructions to deal with individuals who may not fall into the generally accepted gender categories.”

Critics say the regulations are out of touch with the military’s immediate needs during wartime, while LGBT activists hailed the new instructions.

Cherie MacLeod, executive director of PFLAG Canada, said she has helped a number of Canadian Forces members undergoing sex reassignment.

“This is an important step towards recognizing a community that has always struggled for equal rights and basic human protection,” Ms. MacLeod said.

“When government becomes more inclusive, over time, society will follow.”

“The CF is unique in that it must recruit, house, clothe, train, and deploy its members.”

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December 10, 2010

by Mark Seagal Courtesy of the Philadelphia Gay News When the White House invited me to one of its holiday receptions and dinners, my first reaction was that I’ve already had enough face-time with the president and to let someone else go. The staff here at PGN persuaded me otherwise. They were right.

All my meetings with the president have been community-business or politically related. This was a White House party. And there’s this list that I keep of things I’d like to do in my lifetime, and one of them is dancing ... with my boyfriend at the White House, so I began to wonder if that would finally come off the list.

A White House party is what you’d expect: Elegant, glamorous, famous people walking about and ready to chat. But what is really impressive is that you actually get to use the building as it was intended – as a house. There are no rope lines and, with the exception of the private residence, you have the freedom to walk about the building. You actually get your food and sit on the furniture, stand by the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington and sip a cocktail. You can go to the library and take a few books out to read. Or just do what most people do: Take pictures of yourself with the White House Christmas tree, or one of hundreds of famous points in the building. There are Marines scattered around the building, ready to help take that photo of you and your spouse under the Presidential Seal or in the East Room, Red Room, Blue Room, or anywhere else.

As for food and drink, it was in abundance.

The main entrées were filet mignon or salmon, but the main course did not match up to the desserts. The centerpiece of the dessert table was a white-chocolate White House, with two cut-in rooms with actual working chandeliers and the First Family’s dog sitting on the lawn. Very impressive. That, of course, was not to eat, but the White House bakery did not disappoint. Several kinds of pies, cakes, pastries, chocolates, and cookies were available, including a cookie in the shape of the family dog, Bo. Of course, a party is not all food and drink; it’s also pleasant conversation. Or,

in the White House, it’s political conversation. Of the many chats I had Tuesday night, two stood out. One was with an old friend I hadn’t seen or talked with since he took his job as special assistant to the president, David Axelrod. David in the past had managed several Philadelphia campaigns and, on occasion, we’d have lunch at Famous Fourth Street Deli. He and I talked about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – now, the rules of this event are that the comments of the administration are off the record, but my comments are not – and I gave him a friendly reminder that the president had promised to end the ban by the end of his first term.

Next up was by far my favorite conversation of the night, and I don’t think he’ll mind that I’m writing about it. I went over to introduce myself to press secretary Robert Gibbs. I introduced myself, “Mark Segal, Philadelphia Gay News.” A big smile came to his face and he said, “You’re the guy who kicked our butt for 18 months.” We laughed and I said, “It was only four months and then, as I recall, we worked together.” The rest of the conversation, I think, falls under the “off-the-record” category, but the subject matter was about LGBT media. I really like this guy.

Last up was getting your picture taken with the president and first lady. And of course the pic, when we receive it in, say, six months or so, will be very animated since I never lose an opportunity when I have the president’s ear to mention LGBT issues or projects – and that was my only disappointment of the evening. The president and first lady were gracious, but they had been through a very busy and difficult political week. I was disappointed not with them, but with myself for giving them another item to think about. There are always better times.

But the president was oh-so-polite.

And yes, Jason and I did dance at the party.

There’s even a video of it on my Facebook page. Cross that off my list.

Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media, having recently received the 2010 Columnist of the Year Award from Suburban Newspapers of America. He can be reached at mark@epgn.com.

Celebrating 37 Years!

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual teens in the U.S. are about 40% more likely than their straight peers to be punished by schools, police, and the courts, according to a Yale University study published in the journal Pediatrics on December 6.

Girls are especially at risk for unequal treatment, the study said.

The study documents substantial disparities between LGBT and straight teens in school expulsions, arrests, convictions, and police stops.

The differences in punishment are not explainable by differences in misconduct, the study says.

“The most striking difference was for Lesbian and Bisexual girls, and they were two to three times as likely as girls with similar behavior to be punished,” said Kathryn Himmelstein, lead author of the study.

The research is described as the first national look at sexual orientation and teen punishment.

The punishable behaviors included in the study range from lying to parents, drinking, shoplifting, and vandalism, to more serious offenses such as burglary, drug sales, and assault.

Himmelstein began the study after spending time working in the juvenile justice system during a leave of absence from college.

She noticed a disproportionate number of Gay and Lesbian teens in juvenile court but she found no studies in scientific literature indicating whether Gay teens were more likely to be involved in criminal activity.

As a result, she designed her own study for her senior thesis at Yale University.

Himmelstein used data from more than 15,000 middle school and high school students who were followed into early adulthood as part of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

The interviews used for the study started in 1994-95 and continued until 2001-02, but researchers said they expect the findings would be similar today because the institutions involved have not dramatically changed.

Of the 15,170 study participants, 13% of the boys and 17% of the girls said they were attracted to someone of the same sex, while 5% of boys and 6% of girls said they had a same-sex romantic relationship, the study found.

An additional 14% of girls and 6% of boys defined themselves as other than 100% heterosexual.

Regardless of their sexual orientation, 76% of the participants said they had committed minor offenses such as running away, shoplifting, or getting drunk.

Thirty percent reported moderate wrongdoing such as selling drugs and burglary, and 41% said they had engaged in violent behavior such as fighting, using a weapon, or threatening someone with one.

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual teens were only slightly more likely to report minor and moderate non-violent misbehavior, like running away, lying to parents, or shoplifting, compared to their straight peers.

These teens were less likely to engage in serious crimes and violence than their straight peers.

The results showed that, for similar misconduct, Gay adolescents were roughly 1.25 to 3 times more likely to be sanctioned than straight teens.

In addition, teens who said they had experienced feelings of same-sex attraction were more likely to have been expelled from school than teens who had not.

The sexual-orientation disparity was greatest for girls.

Girls who identified themselves as Lesbian or Bisexual experienced 50% more police stops and reported more than twice as many juvenile arrests and convictions as other teen girls in similar trouble, the study said.

The punishments can be damaging, Himmelstein said. Teens expelled from school have higher dropout rates, and involvement in the criminal justice system can affect a range of opportunities, including housing eligibility and college financial aid.

Why the punishment gap exists is not clear, researchers said.

Himmelstein suggested that Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual teens who got in trouble didn’t get the same breaks as other teens – lesser charges for self-defense, for example.

On the other hand, she said, it could be that girls in particular were punished more often because of discomfort with or bias against girls who did not conform to stereotypes of femininity.

“It’s definitely troubling to see such a disparity,” Himmelstein said.

“It may very well be not intentional,” she said. “I think most people who work with youth want to do the best they can for young people and treat them fairly, but our findings show that’s not happening.”

The study’s data set was not large enough to allow for cross-tab analysis by race, but Himmelstein and other researchers said that was an important area for further study.

City of Atlanta settles in Eagle Case AZ_map

Gay teens more likely to be punished, Yale University says

The Atlanta Eagle

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer More than a year after the events in question, 19 patrons of the Atlanta Eagle, an Atlanta Gay bar, were awarded a settlement by a federal judge in response to the raid conducted by the Atlanta Police Department in September of 2009.

The raid happened on September 10, 2009, during the Eagle’s “Underwear Night” promotion.

“We have to let everyone know the truth about what happened, so we can make sure we all have equal rights,” said Richard Ramey, co-owner of the Eagle, after the initial charges were filed against the Atlanta Police Department (APD).

“We were having our underwear party, and at approximately 11 p.m. or so, the police came in,” Ramey told SGN in an interview just after the incident.

Ramey estimated that 30 SWAT officers were present from the APD’s Red Dog Unit, a drug unit which, according to their website, “provides aggressive police presence in areas that have a high incidence of street drug sales, use, and drug-related crimes.”

In November 2009, Lambda Legal and co-counsel filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Atlanta, the Atlanta Police Department chief of police, and 48 APD of-

ficers on behalf of the 19 patrons who were present during the September 10 raid.

“They were here for about two and a half hours,” said Ramey. The clients of Lambda Legal claimed that they were forced to lay in spilled beer and broken glass. No search warrant was served and no charges were filed against any of the patrons. However, eight staff members were arrested and charged for not having the proper permit to work in an “adult entertainment facility” – which, according to Ramey, the Atlanta Eagle does not qualify as.

According to Lambda’s initial press release, the lawsuit challenged the APD officers’ actions, claiming violations of the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions and Georgia state law.

The actual amount of the settlement is yet to be specified because the Atlanta city council must approve the settlement.

In addition to the monetary settlement, the city of Atlanta will “oversee reforms within the police department” – a victory for the plaintiffs, based on their stated goal when the suit was initially filed.

“It’s unfortunate we need a federal judge to make our police department follow the law,” said the plaintiff’s attorney Dan Grossman. “Since [police] don’t think they did something wrong, they’re going to do it again.”

Grocery workers ratify new contract

Threat of strike averted Courtesy of Pride At Work

Seattle-area grocery workers ratified a new contract this month, ending the threat of a grocery strike during the holidays.

UFCW 21, representing most grocery store workers, and UFCW 81, representing meat cutters, ratified the contract with a 95% Yes vote in a series of meetings between December 1 and December 3.

Teamsters 38, which represents some grocery workers in the Everett area, also ratified the new contract with a 95% Yes vote on December 1.

The tentative agreement with the big three grocery chains – Safeway, Kroger (which owns QFC and Fred Meyers), and Super-

sion. Employer proposals to cut wages for some categories of workers were defeated.

UFCW credited community support for much of their success.

“The grocery store workers’ many months of negotiations were bolstered by strong support from dozens of labor unions and community organizations across the region,” UFCW 21 communications director Tom Geiger said in a statement.

“Additionally, the daily show of support Valu (which owns Albertsons) – was negoti- by customers as the potential for a looming ated just before Thanksgiving. strike approached was an important factor Workers had been working under tempo- for workers.” rary contract extensions since March.

UFCW 21 is the largest private-sector union in the state with 36,000 members, of whom some 20,000 work in the retail grocery industry.

UFCW offers its members domestic partner benefits equal to those available to married spouses.

The union also put significant resources into the Approve Referendum 71 campaign.

Union spokespeople say their members are satisfied with the final contract. In particular, the union successfully defended its healthcare plan and its defined benefits pen-

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December 10, 2010

Seattle Gay News

9

The Seattle Gay News would like to gratefully acknowledge all of our generous partners for their help in raising funds this holiday season for the Youth Suicide Prevention Program

10 Seattle Gay News

December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Tree of Life During the month of December, many of your favorite Capitol hill bars and restaurants will join together to help prevent teen suicide.

Please take a moment and join the Seattle Gay News and this establishment to donate to the Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Washington state in our efforts to stop these tragic events.

Take action and become part of the “Tree of Life” today.

Take Action Tree of Life / Stop Teen Suicide Program is proudly sponsored by:

SGN Seattle Gay News

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December 10, 2010

Seattle Gay News 11

12 Seattle Gay News

December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

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Seattle Gay News 13

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December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

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December 10, 2010

Seattle Gay News 15

16 Seattle Gay News

December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Addressing religionbased bigotry

by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer In the 1980s, Mitchell Gold moved with his business partner Bob Williams from New York City to rural North Carolina to start a furniture company. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams became incredibly successful and Gold turned his efforts to philanthropy and Gay activism.

The move to the south made it abundantly clear that the main obstacle to LGBT equality was resistance by people of faith. Bible verses were routinely cherry picked and used like clubs to cause a significant amount of damage – particularly to youth, who were most vulnerable to anti-Gay rhetoric.

For years, Gold was involved with various LGBT organizations, but found them squeamish about tackling what he calls “religion-based bigotry.” The reluctance stemmed from a fear of being perceived as anti-religious, or of getting bogged down in circular arguments that relied on competing Bible verses.

Gold was also frustrated by these organizations’ reluctance to flat-out say, “homosexuality isn’t a choice.” These LGBT groups did not want to make this case, because they felt that people should have equal rights regardless of whether it was a choice or not.

Of course, this is true on a philosophical level, but Gold explains that this line of thinking does not consider political reality.

He points to the hard facts: “If a person believes sexual orientation is a choice, they are 70% more likely to be against LGBT equal rights. If a person believes sexual orientation is part of how you are created, they are 70% more likely to be in favor of LGBT equal rights.”

In an effort to get to the heart of the problem by forthrightly addressing religionbased bigotry, Gold launched “Faith in America” in 2005. This month, his group released a comprehensive report, “Addressing Religious Arguments to Achieve LGBT Equality.” The strategy memorandum boldly confronts religious arguments head on and offers solutions.

The most important recommendation is to let people of faith understand the enormous

used in the past to justify attitudes and laws prefer that women remain in the kitchen. that are recognized today as morally wrong But, as I stated earlier, you can’t win over and unjust – such as discrimination against everyone. women, people of color, and religious miThe focus on historical narrative makes norities.” sense and such reasoning may (or may not) I happen to agree with Faith in America work in converting bigots into allies. There and have long used this argument. The is no doubt, however, that such commonweakness comes in that many people em- sense appeals make people think and plants brace their bigotry and see it as a lifestyle. seeds for future enlightenment. harm they are causing. The report highlights A sizable portion of the population wants to Faith in America should be applauded for statistics, showing that “Gay youth who wave the confederate flag, bash immigrants, addressing a really difficult issue in an intelexperience family rejection are eight times hate the fact we have a black president, and ligent and thoughtful manner. more likely to attempt suicide and six times more likely to report high levels of depression.”

Based on numerous advertising campaigns, focus groups, polling, and face-toface contact, Gold recommends asking our adversaries, “Can the immense harm caused to Gay and Lesbian individuals exist comfortably with the principles of your faith?”

The biggest obstacle to this tactic is that most fundamentalists and evangelicals are deluded into thinking their persecution is helpful, because it will keep the targeted by Mike Andrew homosexual out of Hell. Gold’s answer is SGN Staff Writer Cal/OSHA spokesperson Deborah Gold to vividly explain to such individuals the said her agency issued citations to the studio trauma and mental scars left by their intolCal/OHSA – the Occupational Safety and because their employees had unprotected erant preaching. Gold’s book, Crisis: 40 Health Administration for California – has sex as part of their work, not because some Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and fined a bareback porn studio $21,470 for scenes may have involved HIV-positive acReligious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up workplace safety violations. tors.

Gay in America, is a strong and convincing California Department of Industrial Rela“Anybody may be infected, therefore you testament to such personal appeals. tions spokesperson Krisann Chasarik told have to treat everybody’s blood and other Of course, there are many people whom LA radio station XBIZ that investigation of potential infectious materials [such as sethese stories will not reach as they are too Treasure Island Media began last November men] as though it can be infectious,” Gold entrenched in fundamentalism or derive in response to complaints about working said. great satisfaction in bullying or causing pain conditions at the porn studio.

Treasure Island Media recently signed to LGBT people. Such scripture-toting saA five-month investigation ensued and re- HIV-positive actor James Roscoe and has dists can be found working at most anti-Gay sulted in three citations being issued. been promoting scenes between Roscoe and organizations. But the idea is that you don’t Each of the two most serious violations other HIV-positive performers. have to win over everyone – just a majority drew $9,000 fines.

In October, two other studios temporarin order to achieve equal rights. With polls According to Cal/OSHA’s report, “Trea- ily halted production when one of their acshowing more evangelical youth sympathet- sure Island Media had failed to write or oth- tors tested positive for HIV at an L.A. STD ic to Gay and Lesbian equality, this trend is erwise establish, implement and maintain clinic. At that time, Cal/OSHA said it would already happening. an effective [STD] exposure control plan. consider requiring the use of condoms in Past efforts to counter religious extrem- … Employees were exposed to semen and porn films. ism have revolved around reinterpreting other potentially infectious materials, due to Treasure Island Media’s general manager scriptural passages to show how they are work activities during filming and set clean- Matt Mason told XBIZ that his company has actually not anti-Gay. I believe this is im- ing.” cooperated with the Cal/OSHA investigaportant because it demonstrates how variThe second serious citation said, “Treasure tion and administrative process. ous religions take the scriptures out of their Island Media does not observe universal “We have appealed the citations and parhistorical context and mangle the Biblical precautions during the production of their ticipated in the informal conference process stories to fit their agenda. The downside of films. They have not instituted engineering and expect to take the matter to a hearing this practice is that arguing with opponents and work practices controls to eliminate or in 2011 with an administrative law judge,” often devolves into dead end conversations minimize contact with blood and semen, in- Mason said. of competing verses. cluding, but not limited to, the use of barrier Previous complaints about unsafe labor Faith in America advises against this tac- protection such as condoms.” practices in California’s porn industry have tic and says: “Instead of telling people that Cal/OSHA’s report also expressed concern targeted talent agencies that recruit porn actheir interpretation is wrong, you can remind that the studio did not communicate poten- tors without warning them about health risks them that other religious texts have been tial health hazards to its employees. associated with unprotected sex.

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Seattle Gay News 17

The athletic buddy system courtesy q syndicate

Gay hockey players to know about the team – and, by extension, to realize that they were not alone.

Witman’s e-mail and phone number were on the internet. Young athletes were encouraged to call him for information and help – and they did.

For many reasons, Gay athletes may have a harder time coming out than other youths.

It can take longer, too. A 23-yearold player from Minnesota called.

He was so closeted, Witman recalls, “he couldn’t even say the word ‘Gay.’” Witman recounted his own story – he did not come out until he was 28 – and put the young man in touch with G-Force’s goalie, who was not fully out.

The Minnesotan responded soon: “Thank you. You changed my life!”

Now, G-Force is institutionalizing its support program. They call it the Athletic Buddy System (ABS). Anyone wanting help in coming out to teammates, coaches, family or friends – or just needing someone to talk to – can contact glenn@gforcehockey.com or call 303-808-1116. They’ll be paired with a G-Force player, of whom there are many.

“Nearly everyone on the team wants to help,” Witman notes.

One of those helpers is Ben Gardent. He got involved because he had not come out until age 24 – in part because he had no Gay athletes as role models. His message: “No matter how difficult things may be now, they get a whole lot better when you’re older.”

Adam Mills looks forward to speaking with young Gay athletes – but he says he may have to wait a while. Coming out where he lives – Nashville – is not easy. “I will tell people my journey and the rollercoaster ride

Glenn Witman

by Dan Woog SGN Contributing Writer This fall’s epidemic of Gay youth suicides shocked and saddened millions of Americans. Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” video project provided hope to young people struggling with their sexual orientation; LGBT men and women told inspiring stories of their own lives, while leaders, including President Obama, added their own voices of support.

The broad-based effort heartened Glenn Witman. But he also smiled in recognition: He was already leading a similar project, admittedly on a much smaller scale.

Witman is the founder, president and captain of the G-Force Hockey Club. A Denver-based non-profit organization, GForce plays some mean hockey – and does a lot more. Demonstrating competitiveness, teamwork, pride and courage on the ice, they break down negative stereotypes about Gay athletes.

From the start, G-Force wanted young,

of my athletic career,” Mills says.

“Dealing with the uneasy feeling of being Gay and on a sports team can be overwhelming. It can affect an athlete’s performance, as well as academics. Having someone who understands what an athlete goes through can be the difference between life and death.”

ABS is not G-Force’s only project. The team is also working on another effort aimed at young athletes. Called an “athletic safety and respect policy,” it’s an agreement between G-Force and a university or sports organization. The latter agrees to support only those activities that are “constructive, educational, inspirational, and that contribute to the intellectual and personal development of students.”

The policy includes sanctions for violations. These include probation and suspension of athletes and coaches – even cancellations of games.

G-Force will provide diversity training before the season to programs wishing to implement such a policy.

One such session was held in October at the University of Toronto. The goal was to create a dialogue between out athletes and other players, students, coaches and support staff.

Panelists Andrew Goldstein (a G-Force player better known for his All-American lacrosse achievements at Dartmouth College), David Farber (University of Pennsylvania), and Blake Anderson (Central Hockey League) shared personal stories.

“Some of the main points were that ev-

eryone has a different experience, but the general language in a locker room is a big problem in sports,” Goldstein says. “Upon coming out we found that our coaches were sometimes big allies who wanted to be mentors/educators and do the right thing to protect their athletes and create a supportive environment.”

Goldstein also notes that “in general, we should give our teammates more credit to change. Although they may denigrate Gays in the locker room, they don’t generally mean harm by it. Once they’re more aware that their words hurt a teammate, they can change dramatically.”

Though Goldstein felt the audience reaction in Toronto was very positive, he knows that “these sessions tend to attract those with similar views. We need to make sure the message reaches all types of people, including those who never consider Gays in sports an issue or a reality.”

G-Force’s next step, he says, is to speak in high schools and to youth programs, reaching younger closeted athletes and their straight teammates and coaches. Then, perhaps, a program like ABS would no longer be needed.

For more information, visit www.gforcehockey.com.

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, Gay activist, and author of the “Jocks” series of books on Gay male athletes. Visit his website at www.danwoog. com. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutField@qsyndicate.com.

Gay partner of trooper killed on duty sues for survivors’ benefit

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The Gay partner of a Missouri trooper killed in an accident sued December 2 for the survivors’ benefit denied him because the men’s 15-year relationship was not legally recognized by the state.

Last Christmas, Cpl. Dennis Engelhard, 49, of the Missouri Highway Patrol was investigating an accident on Interstate 44 when he was hit by a vehicle and killed.

According to Missouri law, spouses of Highway Patrol members and Department of Transportation workers killed on duty are entitled to an annuity of 50% of the employee’s salary.

Engelhard’s partner, Kelly Glossip, was denied the benefit (despite being named as beneficiary on other assets) because the men were not married and – even if they had been – Missouri would not have recognized their marriage.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued on Glossip’s behalf in Cole County Court, seeking to obtain the survivors’ benefit for Glossip and others who would find themselves in the same situation in the future.

Glossip said Engelhard never hid the fact that he was Gay from other troopers. But after the accident, Engelhard’s obituary described him as “single” and made no mention of Glossip or his teenage son from a previous marriage – even through Engelhard considered the boy his stepson.

“Dennis gave his life protecting the people of Missouri, yet the state treats his family as legal strangers,” Glossip said. “This is a disservice to his memory.”

The Missouri Department of Transportation and Patrol Employees’ Retirement System said in a statement that it was following the requirements of state law in denying the benefits.

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December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

separate from the defense bill – to repeal the policy. continued from cover “Sixty – and I think maybe more than 60 – members of the United States Senate have made clear that they support the repeal of timately backed the effort.

DADT and while that is the case, and it is Still, Collins said she was “perplexed and the case, we are not going to give up,” Liefrustrated” by Reid’s decision to call a vote berman said.

Thursday afternoon.

He said he and Collins were “disappoint“I am extremely disappointed that the ed that the vote occurred this afternoon” and Senate majority leader walked away from had not been delayed by Reid until a later negotiations in which we were engaged and date. which were going well,” Collins said at a Today’s vote marked the second time press conference after the vote. “There this year that lawmakers in the upper was a clear path forward for chamber have acted on the concompletion.” troversial issue.

“I am extremely However, Sen. Lisa On September 21, Murkowski (R-Ala.) Senate Republicans, disappointed that the – who had originally led by Sen. John said she would vote McCain (R-Ariz.), Senate majority leader for repeal – voted shot down the bill. no. Other moder- walked away from negotiations Democrats needed ate Republican votes to adin which we were engaged and 60 senators, including vance the bill over Olympia Snowe which were going well,” Collins a GOP filibuster, (R-ME) and Scott but only secured said at a press conference 56 votes. However, Brown (R-Mass.) also voted no, along after the vote. “There was a one of the no votes with a majority of was from Reid, who Senate Republicans. clear path forward for only took that vote in a Democratic Sen. Joe procedural move to allow completion.”

Manchin of West Virginia him to bring up the measure also voted against repeal. again at a later date.

Republicans had earlier indicated that Last week, the Pentagon unveiled a study without an agreement about the number of that found two-thirds of troops thought reamendments and the timing of the debate, pealing DADT would have little impact on they would vote against moving forward to their unit’s ability to fight. vote on the legislation.

Still, the service’s top uniformed leaders Advocates of repealing the policy criti- cautioned about overturning the policy too cized the vote, saying the effort to allow soon.

Gays to serve openly in the military had In congressional testimony last week, fallen victim to political squabbles in the three of the four service chiefs said they Congress. would oppose lifting the ban during war“Today, leaders of both parties let down time because of resistance among combat the U.S. military and the American people,” troops. said Joe Solmonese, president of Human While most troops signaled they didn’t Rights Campaign. “Instead of doing what care if Gays served openly, nearly 60% of is right, ‘the world’s greatest deliberative the Marine Corps and Army soldiers in combody’ devolved into shameful schoolyard bat arms units predicted problems would spats that put petty partisan politics above arise. the needs of our women and men in uniThe rejection was a defeat for President form.”

Barack Obama, who campaigned promisSolmonese vowed that “this fight is too ing to overturn the law and later called it one important to give up despite this setback, of his top legislative priorities for the year. and we will continue fighting in this lame Obama issued the following statement: duck session. It’s not over.”

“I am extremely disappointed that yet Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from another filibuster has prevented the SenConnecticut who caucuses with Democrats, ate from moving forward with the National said after the vote that he and Collins will Defense Authorization Act. Despite having now introduce free-standing legislation – the bipartisan support of a clear majority of

dadt

senators, a minority of senators are standing in the way of the funding upon which our troops, veterans and military families depend. This annual bill has been enacted each of the past 48 years, and our armed forces deserve nothing less this year.

“A minority of senators were willing to block this important legislation largely because they oppose the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” As commander in chief, I have pledged to repeal this discriminatory law, a step supported by the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and informed by a comprehensive study that shows overwhelming majorities of our

armed forces are prepared to serve with Americans who are openly Gay or Lesbian.

A great majority of the American people agree. This law weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness, integrity, and equality.

“I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Armed Services Committee Chairman Levin, and Senators Lieberman and Collins for all the work they have done on this bill. While today’s vote was disappointing, it must not be the end of our efforts. I urge the Senate to revisit these important issues during the lame duck session.”

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Seattle Gay News 19

toast

continued from cover leader in the LGBT civil rights movement and chair of the powerful Senate Ways and Means Committee; Marty Rouse, national field director of the Human Rights Campaign; and Josh Friedes, current executive director of ERW, who served as the campaign manager for the successful 2009 Ap-

prove 71 campaign.

Dr. Shilpen Patel, ERW education fund board co-chair, welcomed attendees as they settled into the hour-long talk about how community leaders intend to write the next chapter in LGBT civil rights history.

LGBT Seattle icon Anne Levinson led the audience in a cheerful and rousing toast to Laurie Jenkins (State Rep Elect, 27th District).

With ERW’s internal polling on marriage equality for the first time showing voters evenly divided, and many other voters undecided, the organization announced an important public education campaign to build a marriage equality majority. According to Friedes, with an equality-minded governor and Legislature and increasingly supportive public, it’s time for us to move forward.

Both Friedes and Murray did not rule out the possibility that, eventually, the community may propose a proactive initiative by going directly to voters and bypassing the legislature. The conversation was embryonic, as nothing was cemented as what would, in fact, be the strategy moving forward.

The polling information provided by the attendees showed supportive numbers for same-sex marriage in Washington state. According to ERW’s internal Washington Poll 2010, 42% say Gay and Lesbian couples should have the same legal right to marry as straight couples; 24% say Gay and Lesbian couples should have the same legal rights as straight couples but it should not be called marriage; 14% said there should be domestic partnerships that give Gay and Lesbian

couples only some of the benefits and protections or marriage; and 20% said there should be no legal recognition of Gay and Lesbian couples. According to the Allison Peters Poll 2010, 46% say “yes” to marriage equality; 46% said “no” to same-sex marriage; and 8% were undecided.

Friedes and Sen. Murray discussed the launch of an up to 18-month education campaign about same-sex marriage in Washington state. Friedes clarified that it remains to be seen if marriage equality would be realized through legislation or a judicial victory.

Either way, he said, the important thing is that LGBT persons engage their friends, family, and co-workers in meaningful discussion around the topic. ERW is not going to focus on converting marriage equality detractors, he said. Instead, the education campaign will focus on supporters.

jinkins

continued from cover you never again hear a sincere compliment.

But he’s very blunt. He’ll say ‘Mom, you did really good,’ or ‘Mom, you didn’t think of this.’”

Jinkins recounts a story about November 3, the day after the election.

For the first time in months, she slept in.

By the time she got up, Wulf was dressed and ready to go to school.

“Later in the afternoon, he called me,” Jinkins recalls. “He said ‘We were planning a party for you, but we wanted to wait to see if you won.’”

Jinkins drove to Wulf’s school for her victory party.

“It was very interesting engaging with 4th graders,” she says.

“They were interested in all the things you’d expect people to be interested in. Education, environmental issues – which they conceptualized as recycling – or as saving trees. Even in the 4th grade.”

“Then we got into a conversation about consequences,” Jinkins continues. “I said, ‘Some people are in the business of cutting down trees, which you don’t like, but that produces money that goes to education, which is something you like.’”

Jinkins says they also had a “lengthy conversation” on the candy and soda tax.

“The same kinds of conversations will happen in the legislature,” Jinkins adds.

“It’s really tough. There’s a growing realization of how bad the budget really is.”

Asked what she would do to cope with the state’s budget crisis – now made worse by the defeat of a state income tax and the victory of Tim Eyman’s latest anti-tax scheme – Jinkins is blunt.

“I’m a fan of setting really clear priorities,” she says.

“The problem is, for the things we really have to fund – education, health – we’ve already spent a huge portion of the state’s revenue.”

“We’ll run out of money long before we run out of priorities,” she warns.

Jinkins also warns against what she calls “cherry picking” – cobbling together funding schemes for one or two projects – instead of using “objective tools” to craft a sustainable budget.

“If we set up an analytical structure to evaluate budget items, that allows us to have a conversation with voters on revenue generation,” she says. “That’s a good conversation to have with voters.”

Jinkins believes her background as deputy director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will help her evaluate state funding priorities.

“To tell the truth, nothing is off the table,” she says. “I have a public health background. In public health, we don’t do anything unless there’s very strong evidence that it works.”

While Jinkins believes there are “always opportunities for marriage,” she says the legislature “has to deal with the budget before filing hundreds of policy bills.”

“The last session got way too far before there was a serious discussion of the budget,” she says.

Jinkins tells SGN she is learning about her new legislative colleagues and their districts.

“There are 56 members of the [Democratic] caucus – 57 if Dawn Morrell (D-25) wins her seat – and they’re all fairly individualistic,” she says.

Morrell trails anti-Gay Republican Hans Zeiger by 47 votes and is in the midst of a recount.

“I’ve worked on a lot of issues,” Jinkins says. “My activism has really been issuesbased, much more so than party-based. I think I’ll be able to work across the aisle on problems where we have a shared interest.”

bullying

continued from cover enced extreme isolation and despair, and continues to fear new people and unfamiliar situations. He was diagnosed with PTSD at the age of 14.

He managed to graduate high school because “I don’t give up,” he says, and now takes online courses at a technical college.

“It’s disheartening to hear stories almost daily about harassment and bullying,” he told reporters. “I’m hopeful a local story can help bring about change.”

According to the complaint filed by the ACLU, Dickerson was called “stupid nigger,” “dickass,” “dog,” “asshole,” “bitchface,” “shithead,” dumbfucker,” “fuckass,” “nigger,” “nappy ho,” “Rusty Dickskinner,” “faggot,” “Gay,” “Shake-n-Bake,” and “fatass heifer.”

Dickerson says that other students at Miller Junior High School threw food at him, stole his school supplies, tripped him, and spit on his lunch tray.

Legal Services www.sgn.org www.sgn.org 20 Seattle Gay News

December 10, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

In April 2004, the ACLU complaint says, three students pushed Dickerson to the floor in a school hallway and smashed a raw egg on his head.

The harassment continued when Dickerson attended Aberdeen High School.

In spring 2007, students at the high school created a website to mock him, where they posted racist and anti-Gay comments.

Dickerson says he became the target of even more harassment after he complained about the website to school authorities.

He was also subjected to groping and other kinds of sexual harassment because of his perceived sexual orientation.

The complaint also says that the Aberdeen School District allowed a group of students calling themselves the “Hick Boys” to display Confederate flags on school property.

The superintendent of the Aberdeen School District knew about Dickerson’s situation, “but was deliberately indifferent to it and took no steps reasonably calculated to

put an end to it,” the ACLU complaint says.

In 2005, the assistant principal of Aberdeen High School discouraged Dickerson from reporting bullying against him, the complaint continues.

The ACLU became involved in the case in 2007, at the invitation of Dickerson’s father, after his interventions with the school district failed to halt the abuse of his son.

The ACLU suit asks for an as yet unspecified amount of money to cover Dickerson’s college education and counseling for his PTSD. Speaking at the December 7 press conference, ACLU-Washington executive director Kathleen Taylor said her organization was seeking redress for Dickerson, but also hoped to “urge educators to take responsibility and take action” against bullying.

She added that the ACLU saw lawsuits as “the last resort, not the first resort,” but their nearly three years of negotiation with the Aberdeen School District had not yielded

satisfactory results for Dickerson.

Asked if she felt the school district was acting in good faith, she replied, “It’s often very hard to figure that out.”

Dickerson’s father, Russell Dickerson, Jr, said he was “not angry – but I’m frustrated.”

“I gave them my son, my biggest asset, my biggest investment, I turned him over to the school district to give quality care and they failed,” the elder Dickerson said.

Asked if he considered home schooling his son, Dickerson frowned.

“I shouldn’t have to pull my son out of school because of harassment,” he said.

“Every parent should be concerned when the school district has no accountability and students are allowed to dictate the culture of a school district.”

Also on December 7, Aberdeen School District Superintendent Thomas Opstad issued a statement on the case claiming that “the District worked diligently and collab-

oratively with the Dickerson family to investigate and address Russell’s complaints about his treatment.”

Opstad goes on to say that “students who engaged in harassment were appropriately disciplined.”

Asked by SGN to provide details about the scope and results of their investigation, school district spokesperson Dee Anne Shaw did not have an immediate comment.

“The superintendent is out of the office,” she said in an e-mail. “I will make sure he knows about your questions when he returns.”

Opstad told SGN on December 9, “Since it’s now in the court system, it’s no longer in my purview to comment on this.”

Commenting on the school district’s statement, ACLU communications director Doug Honig told SGN that “we’re not alleging they did nothing, just that what they did was ineffective in stopping the harassment.

It was too little, too late.”

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