SGN Jul 23, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 30 Volume 38

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Celebrating 37 Years!

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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Argentina’s President Fernández

Supreme Court candidate signs Gay marriage bill Stan Rumbaugh

by Bob Witeck Special to the SGN

Eduardo Di Baia

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

In his nearly six years on the court, Johnson has acquired a reputation for being anti-Gay, anti-Native, anti-labor, and pro-big business.

Rumbaugh is – by all accounts – none of those things, and he is sharply critical of his opponent’s conservative record.

Yet Rumbaugh is, himself, embroiled in a labor dispute with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the union that represents faculty at Bates Technical College in Tacoma, where Rumbaugh is Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Stan Rumbaugh And therein lies the

by Mike Andrew dilemma for progressive voters.

SGN Staff Writer In an exclusive interview, SGN talked with Rumbaugh about his Everyone wants to like Stan campaign, his views on LGBT Rumbaugh, but not everyone can. rights, and his difficulties with orRumbaugh is running for a seat ganized labor. on the Washington Supreme Court against incumbent justice James Johnson. see rumbaugh page 20

By good luck and rare timing, I am in Buenos Aires today, July 21, with thousands of jubilant Argentine citizens and a number of American and international LGBT friends and colleagues – and by chance, I was able to attend and to witness the historic signing of Argentina’s Gay marriage bill at the Casa Rosada.

Afterwards, with immense serendipity, I was included with a handful of others led by Pablo DeLuca and Gustavo Noguera, with the Argentine LGBT Chamber, along with Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as well as New York-based journalists Mike Luongo and Mark Chesnut, to stop

by President Cristina Fernández’s office after the ceremony for what turned out to be nearly a half-hour personal conversation with her and a few of her staff. see argentina page 19

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernández waves to the crowd after signing the same-sex marriage bill at the government house in Buenos Aires.

file photo

Mississippi school pays damages GetEQUAL stops to Constance McMillen traffic on Vegas

Constance McMillen

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

Months after Itawamba, Mississippi teen Constance McMillen suffered humiliation and harassment from the Itawamba County School District, officials agreed to have a judgment entered against them in the case where McMillen sued her school for canceling the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend.

The July 20 agreement ends a precedent-setting lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU) on behalf of the 18-year-old student, McMillen, an open Lesbian, after school officials executed a cruel plan to put on a “decoy” prom for her while the rest of her classmates were at a private prom 30 miles away.

“I’m so glad this is all over. I won’t ever get my prom back, but it’s worth it if it changes things at my school,” said McMillen, who was harassed so badly by students blaming her for the prom cancellation that she had to transfer to another high school to finish her senior year. “I hope this means that, in the future, students at my school will be treated fairly. I know there

Strip, 8 arrested

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

Members of direct-action group GetEQUAL halted traffic on the Las Vegas Strip at the New YorkNew York hotel’s Statue of Liberty July 20 to protest U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s perceived inaction on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination see Mississippi page 21 Act.

proud to Be Different

We are conveniently located on-site at Lifelong AIDS Alliance below the Thrift Store.

Police were slow to arrive on the scene, leaving eight southbound lanes of the thoroughfare blocked for some 20 minutes.

Activists accomplished the feat by stretching a large banner across the street. It said: “Reid: No one can do more? GetEQUAL.org.”

Eight people were arrested, insee vegas page 21

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July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 23, 2010

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

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence raise $21,000 for charity james whitely

Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Tom Flint (retired) Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel Miryam Gordon, James Whitely, Tim Peter Contributing Writers Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers Nick Ardizzone, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel, James Whitely National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by JT&A, Inc. © 2010, JT&A, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.

Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business.

Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper.

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Peggy Platt (l) receiving a sainthood from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer The local chapter of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan, celebrated the 14th anniversary of their founding on Saturday, July 17 at The Lobby Bar

(916 E. Pike St.) on Capitol Hill. As is the Abbey’s tradition, the Sisters gave out more than $21,000 to local non-profits from their 2009 grant fund.

The casual cocktail celebration, “Burnt Offerings,” was also the launch of their 2010-2011 fundraising effort.

The $21,060 was the most that the Abbey of St. Joan has ever given away in a single year.

“Yes, this year we are awarding the most money in grants in our history here in Seattle,” Sister Stella Standing told SGN just before the anniversary celebration. “For me, I know it makes me extremely proud to live and work with such an amazingly generous community without whom these grants would not be possible.”

Recipients of grants included Camp Ten Trees, Quake Rugby Football Club, Rosehedge, The Seattle Police Foundation, SHIFT, and many others. In all, 16 local non-profits received grant money.

Local longtime activist/comedian Peggy Platt was sainted by the Sisters, and she performed three miracles: walking on water, creating fire with her hands, and being in two places at once.

Eight Sisters who had become fully professed Sisters in the Abbey within the past year also took their public vows.

For the past several years, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan, have been giving out grants annually to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in Washington state. The organizations who have qualified for grants in the past have all been supportive of the LGBT community, providing services for every type of need from HIV/AIDS services, STD prevention, substance abuse prevention and treatment within the LGBT community, LGBT veterans, LGBT youth, LGBT rights, and many more.

“Since our grant program was started, we’ve given away thousands and thousands of dollars to help support our community,” says Sister Dawnna Creation, grants chairnun.

For more information on the Sisters, visit www.theabbey.org.

In Loving Memory Of Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold

4

Seattle Gay News

July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

SUSPECT CLASSIFICATION GOES AGAINST COURT LAW

Steven L. Kendall

Sequins meet sponges at drag queen carwash Waxie Moon

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

shaun knittel

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Last Saturday afternoon, drivers got the chance to have their cars washed at the most fabulous carwash in town: The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & The Olympic and Rainier Empire’s “Hair and Heels” drag queen car wash at C.C. Attle’s.

No truck was too big and no car was too dirty as the Court of Seattle members rolled up their skirts and got to work hand-washing vehicles for a suggested $10 donation to benefit the Court’s Seattle Scholarship Fund.

When all was said and done, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., reigning Emperor Rainier XXXVI Harrie Lee, reigning Prince Duane David, Princess Sahara Dior D, King of Hearts Patrick Duey, Queen of Hearts Jackie Scott, Miss Gay Seattle GLAMAZONIA, Mr. Gay Seattle Michael McQueen, and past empresses Olympia XVI Sofonda Peters, Olympia XXVIII Gaysha Starr, Olympia XXX LaTrina Bidet, Olympia XXXV Aleksa Manila, Olympia XXXVII Nina Maxwell, and past emperors Rainier XXXIV Bruce Butler, Rainier XXXV Eric Bonesteel, past Queen of the Seas Tootsie LaFleur, Tony Onorati, and Imperial Princess XXVI Precious Cargo washed an estimated 50 cars and one bicycle to raise $651 for the Court of Seattle Scholarship fund.

“A few people drove by and although they didn’t have the time to get their car washed, they gave us a cash donation,” Precious

Cargo, the events coordinator, told SGN. “I want to thank each and every one from the Court and the LGBT community that participated in the event. The weather was perfect and we had lots of fun.”

The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle & The Olympic and Rainier Empire is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit social/charitable organization whose purpose is to provide funds and services to other non-profits with the LGBT community of Seattle and King County, Washington. The funds are raised throughout the year at various fundraisers and donations from individual and corporate sponsors. The Court of Seattle annually provides educational scholarships to deserving high school or post high school undergraduates who reside in the state of Washington.

“We believe that by encouraging the pursuit of post high school educational goals we are helping tomorrow’s individuals develop their potential and thus further enhance our community,” the Court states on their website, www.imperialcourtofseattle.com. “The long-range purpose of these scholarships is to enhance self-esteem, recognize diversity, support personal development and acknowledge and support sensitivity and acceptance of human rights. For this reason, preference will be given to self-identified Gay and Lesbian students.”

The Court of Seattle’s General Membership Meeting is held the second Wednesday of each month at Neighbours Nightclub (Underground). Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and are open to the public.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Statistics show that 9% of high school students identify as LGBT. The Washington Ensemble Theatre works to create an avenue for these teens to express their stories and have a voice in their community.

Before the film was shown, Waxie Moon took the stage to thank everyone involved with the film and QTET. “To me, the LGBT youth of QTET are so brave,” he said to the audience. “To be a teenager and to have the courage to stand up and identify as LGBT at such a young age is amazing. Thank you for being so brave.”

“This program would not exist without Marc Kenison [Waxie Moon],” said Jessica Hatlo, coartistic director of QTET. “He has performed in one of our productions, he marches with us as Waxie Moon in the Pride Parade downtown. This year, he and Wes Hurley have worked really hard to get people in the room to support what we’re doing. They both have a lot of respect for what QTET does and it means a lot that they work hard to ensure that it grows.”

“Seattle is a pretty unique climate for Queer activism. It’s hard to say whether it’s more or less OK for kids to be out in high school in one city versus another. I think there is a sense of liberalism and privilege in Seattle that makes it a less turbulent environment for young people who are figuring out who they are in their gender and sexuality,” she told SGN. “QTET provides a place that not only empowers kids to live their truth but has them share it, expound on it, let it inform and be informed by their peers. It gives a sense of visibility to stories that are completely marginalized by the mainstream. It’s a nonjudgmental and safe place for kids to declare loudly who they are, what their questions are, who they want to be, and what they want from life.”

The fundraiser was a success, with the organizations raising over $1,700. “That money will go towards taking QTET into middle schools and high schools to meet with theater groups and Gay Straight Student Alliances to do workshops and presentations and grow the amount of students QTET reaches this year,” Hatlo told SGN. “Ideally, the summer portion of QTET – which is how it’s existed exclusively before now – will be a culmination of the work that we do throughout the year in schools.”

The Washington Ensemble Theatre is committed to the creation of relevant, immediate, and bold theatrical events through collaborative artistic leadership and decision-making. The Ensemble empowers artists to have a daring voice in the creative process and in the global community. Visit The Ensemble online at www.washingtonensemble.org. file photo

I read with interest Mr. Phil Bereano’s letter of July 9. Mr. Bereano is mistaken in characterizing religion as a “suspect class.”

Religion is a form of fundamental right, which requires the government, federal, state, or local, to prove compelling reasons why such a fundamental [right] should be denied or abridged.

As to Mr. Bereano’s assertion there’s insufficient scientific evidence to prove sexual orientation is biological, I would disagree.

If one considers the totality of scientific research into human sexuality, there emerges a link between human sexuality and biology. The California Supreme Court seemed

to think so. When they declared a state constitutional right to same-sex marriage, they held sexual orientation was a suspect class, requiring strict scrutiny. True, their ruling was based on the California Constitution, however the Federal District Court judge, considering the Prop. 8 case, can cite their reasoning as precedence.

The problem with Mr. Bereano’s argument [that] mere historical evidence of discrimination should be sufficient justification for suspect classification is it goes against extensive U.S. Supreme Court case law.

The federal judge isn’t going to buck past precedent, and it really isn’t necessary.

Local filmmaker teams with Waxie Moon for QTET fundraiser

On July 17, local filmmaker Wes Hurley and Seattle Boylesque legend Waxie Moon donated their documentary film, Waxie Moon, for a special screening to benefit the Washington Ensemble Theatre’s Queer Teen Ensemble Theatre (QTET) program.

The event, held inside the Broadway Performance Hall, included a reception, silent auction, and screening of the film. All auction sales and donations directly benefited QTET. The award-winning film garnered rave reviews and has become somewhat of a cult classic. Waxie Moon is one of Seattle’s most recognizable entertainers. Director Wes Hurley shows Waxie Moon taking the world of neo-burlesque by storm in the hilarious and through-provoking portrait of Waxie’s unlikely journey. The film featured footage of Waxie’s fearless live performance, as well as interviews with a colorful assortment of international burlesque stars, theater artists, and fans.

Waxie Moon asked SGN to attend the benefit to help call attention to QTET and the work the theatre company does.

QTET is a unique program giving voice and artistry to LGBT youth in the Seattle area. Produced by the Washington Ensemble Theatre and led by co-artistic director Jessica Hatlo, it is a citywide summer theater workshop that provides a creative outlet for Queer teens and their friends to express who they are and where they come from.

QTET uses the Ensemble model for creating new works. The teens collaboratively develop pieces based on their own experiences exploring identity, love, and Queerness. During the creative process, the Ensemble members conduct workshops with the teens till their performances at the end of the intensive. The group that completes the program walks in the Pride Parade.

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by the Moscow City Court on July 2. It previously had been rejected by the Tverskoi District Court.

Pride leader Nikolai Alekseev said the group will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

The group had wanted Luzhkov to apologize for using the slur and pay 1 kopeck in damages (about three-hundredths of a cent).

The mayor made the remark on television in June 2009 while vowing that he would never authorize a Gay parade in the city.

“Public morality does not accept those faggots,” Luzhkov reportedly said. “Other people will simply kill them.”

Luzhkov has banned the pride parade for five years and has sent riot police to aggressively arrest small groups of activists who have defied the bans.

He also has called Gay pride parades “satanic” and, reportedly, “weapons of mass destruction.”

LGBT people managed to stage two small, brief pride marches in Moscow this year despite another ban.

For the main event, organizers misled hundreds of riot police and undercover officers to a fake location.

“The march was relatively short, around five minutes, but we managed to fool the police and the anti-pride protesters,” Alekseev said.

British Gay activist Peter Tatchell, who joined the march, said: “Pride organizers fed the police a steady stream of false informaActivist Nikolai Alekseev at Europride in Warsaw, July 17, 2010 tion, via blogs and websites, concerning the prevent their citizens from entering a same- location of the parade. They suggested that sex union abroad,” the group said. “Polish it would take place outside the E.U. [Euauthorities have illegally banned LGBT ropean Union] Commission’s offices. As a human rights campaigners from marching result, the police put the whole area in total publicly.” lockdown.”

by Rex Wockner The late Polish President Lech Kaczynski, Earlier in the day, another group of some SGN Contributing Writer as then-mayor of Warsaw, banned Gay pride 25 activists staged an unannounced Gay First Europride in 2005, leading to a 2007 ruling against the march for 10 minutes on a downtown pedesin Eastern Europe Black said police charged into the group nation by the European Court of Human trian street. It ended when police blocked Europride, which has roamed from coun- from which the explosives emerged and re- Rights. their path and the marchers ran away. try to country since 1992, was staged in strained and beat the counterprotesters.

Next year’s Europride will be in Rome.

Moscow Pride organizers have sued over Eastern Europe for the first time this year, Other participants praised the event’s poLuzhkov’s bans in a series of cases that have culminating with the July 17 parade through licing, said they did not feel threatened, and Court OKs Moscow mayor’s been merged at the European Court of Huthe streets of Warsaw. calling Gays “faggots” hailed the parade’s arrival behind the former man Rights. A ruling is expected within Around 8,000 people took part in the Iron Curtain.

A libel suit filed by Moscow Pride against months. march despite temperatures near 40 C “It’s incredibly positive that this pan-Eu- Mayor Yuri Luzhkov over his having called (above 100 F). Some previous Europrides in ropean event is now taking place in a former Gays “faggots” (“gomiki”) was dismissed With assistance from Bill Kelley Western Europe have attracted up to 1 mil- Communist country,” said Ulrike Lunacek, lion celebrants. co-president of the European Parliament’s The Warsaw parade’s main demand was Intergroup on LGBT Rights. “Not only that Poland pass a civil-partnership law for does it constitute a very important signal for same-sex couples.

Eastern Europe that mentalities do slowly Around 2,000 police officers protected the change, but it also shows how membership marchers from more than 200 anti-Gay pro- of the European Union can facilitate this testers, who threw bottles of water, rocks, change.” eggs, and Bibles at the parade, participants Moscow Pride founder Nikolai Alekseev would be appropriate in Britain in said. At least eight counterdemonstrators said: “The police did an incredible job. ...

2010, 2011, for there to be the abilwere arrested for throwing things, damag- We felt very safe at all times, even when we ity for civil marriage for straight ing flags or, in at least one case, assaulting left the parade at the end.” people and Gay people equally. a cop.

Other events included ILGA-Europe’s “That’s different, of course, from “The protesters were numerous and in- “LGBT Family Exhibition – Different Famfaith ceremonies which are matters credibly violent,” said American Gay ac- ilies, Same Love” at the National Library for the faith communities. … They tivist and Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance from July 8 to 18 and an LGBT film festival, have to decide what recognition to Black, in an e-mail to California Gay leader “Celluloid Ars Homo Erotica.” give.

Rick Jacobs. “The worst was when a mob The EP Intergroup said that although Po“The state ought to give equalthrew two large, homemade percussion- land joined the EU in 2004, it “still fails to ity. We’re halfway there. I think we style bombs over the police line and onto provide LGBT people with adequate leought to be able to get there in this our float. When the second exploded, pieces gal protection or address omnipresent hoparliament.” of it struck both [my boyfriend] Frank and mophobia.”

Currently British same-sex couI and left me deaf in one ear for about an “Polish authorities also refuse to recogples qualify for civil partnerships, hour.” nize same-sex unions registered abroad, and with almost the same legal rights as marriage, including partnership ceremonies in willing churches, but without the name and symbolic status of marriage.

Prime Minister David Cameron said during the election campaign Simon Hughes that he would consider same-sex marriage.

by Mike Andrew Nick Herbert – openly Gay minister SGN Staff Writer for police reform and justice and member of Cameron’s Conservative party – told Simon Hughes, deputy leader of Britain’s PinkNews.co.uk “Well as you know, what Liberal Democrat party, says that parliament David Cameron and [Chancellor of the Exwill pass a marriage equality law before the chequer] George Osborne said just before next parliamentary election. the election was that Gay marriage is someThe Lib Dems, as they are known in Brit- thing that we should look at, in time. ain, are the junior partner in the coalition “It’s not something we’ve got immediate government led by Conservative Prime plans to change, but we recognize that there Minister David Cameron. Lib Dem leader are views that say that the name is imporNick Clegg, now deputy prime minister, was tant.” the only party leader to come out unequivoHughes said the decision on same-sex cally in favor of same-sex marriages during marriage should be a “free vote” – in other Britain’s recent election campaign. words, not subject to party discipline – so Lib Dem deputy leader Hughes is openly that each member of parliament could vote Bisexual and identifies as Christian. his or her own conscience on the issue.

Speaking in a video interview, he said, “It

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Brits will pass marriage equality, party leader says Keith Edkins

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Seattle Gay News

July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

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compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

GAY CITY LGBT LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP DRIVE Through July 31, the Gay City LGBT Library (511 E. Pike St.) is having a membership drive. ID required to sign up for membership to check out up to five books for a month. The library has over 2,000 books in all topics and genres. The Gay City LGBT Library is a member-generated organization and needs you to become a member in order to grow and become a success and staple in the LGBT community.

For more information, call (206) 8606969 or visit www.gaycity.org.

– in advance through www.brownpapertickets.com; 1-800-838-3006; www.strawshop. org.

SEATTLE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION HOLDS OPEN MODEL EXHIBIT The Seattle Architecture Foundation (1121 First Ave.) presents their annual open model exhibit, Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., through July 31. Admission is free.

“The design profession has suffered greatly this past year with layoffs, budget cuts and projects put on hold indefinitely. We believe these achieved ideas, projects and dreams deserve to see the light of day.

“This year’s model exhibit, ‘HOPE,’ is dedicated to all the un-built work waiting for its debut. We may not be able to fix the economy, but we can collectively celebrate what will someday become a part of our built world.”

For more information, visit seattlearchitecture.org.

OUTRATE ONLINE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Through July 31, Outrate Online is accepting entries for its fourth Short Film Festival. Entry is free. The festival is a great opportunity for up-and-coming Queer filmmakers to get their work out there. Films selected as finalists screen for the entire two months of the festival. All previous Outrate Online Short Film Festivals have welcomed at least a quarter of a million unique visitors during the run – this is great exposure to a “STAYING ALIVE 2010” – worldwide public. The films are viewed and A FUNDRAISING BENEFIT appraised by a judging panel made up of inFOR CAPITOL HILL ALANO CLUB dustry professionals.

On Sunday, July 25, at 8 p.m. at Café MetFor more information, visit http://outrate. ropolitain (1701 E. Olive Way), join Miz net.

Ginger Snapz, Cherry Pop Tart, Il Nocturnal, Ashley Nicole, Prince William, GayBELLEVUE ARTSFAIR sha Starr, Mark “Mom” Finley and many From Friday, July 23 to Sunday, July 25 more for the “Staying Alive 2010” Capitol (Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Hill Alano Club (CHAC) benefit. For many Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.) at the Bellevue years, CHAC has continued to provide clean Arts Museum (510 Bellevue Way N.E.) and and sober space for people in recovery. EvBellevue Square, the Bellevue Arts Muse- ery day of the week, CHAC provides safe um artsfair will once again turn downtown space for the LGBTQ and ally communities Bellevue into a hub for arts and crafts lovers for meetings and social events. and shoppers.

Safe and sober space is an integral comThe BAM artsfair features 325 select art- ponent of recovery, especially for the LGists from across the nation. One hundred BTQA communities. Faced not only with artists will be exhibiting for the first time. the stigma of addiction and recovery, LGAll artists have been chosen by a jury of art BTQ members are often hit with issues of professionals to ensure the continued qual- discrimination, Transphobia and homophoity and stature of BAM artsfair. bia, to name a few.

Bellevue Arts Museum is committed to CHAC ensures this safe and sober space providing free access to the arts. A wide exists for our communities. However, due range of free educational and community to extraordinary expenses for maintenance programs are held in conjunction with BAM and repairs on the rented space last year artsfair, including kidsfair, artist demon- alone, and along with diminished meetings strations and – new this year – the Sound and membership income, CHAC is seeking & Movement Stage. Live music and free emergency help. admission to the Museum’s galleries make Philanthropist and local business owner BAM artsfair a true family event that is not Quyen Luu of Café Metropolitain with the to be missed.

Seattle Gay News and Aleksa Manila are For more information, visit www.belle- hosting a variety show to raise funds. All vuearts.org/fair. performers are welcome! Auction and raffle items are welcome! Please contact Aleksa MEN OF ALL COLORS directly at aleksa@alekasamanila.com if AND CULTURES TOGETHER interested. The “Red Room” will be the desPOTLUCK BBQ ignated “sober space” to honor and respect On Saturday, July 24 at noon at Lincoln people in recovery.

Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), Men of All To make a donation now or to learn more Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT) will about “Staying Alive 2010,” CHAC’s fundbe hosting their Annual July Potluck BBQ. raising effort, please go to www.capitolhilMACCT is a Gay/Bisexual multi-racial, lalan oclub.org. multi-cultural organization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein AMERICANS WITH racial and cultural barriers can be overcome DISABILITIES ACT & the goal of human equality realized.

20TH ANNIVERSARY For additional location information or On Monday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 directions, please call (206) 923-8313 or e- p.m. at Woodland Park Zoo’s North Meadmail macctseattle@yahoo.com. ow (5500 Phinney Ave. N.), celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with STRAWBERRY THEATRE Disabilities Act. Featured will be a proclaWORKSHOP PRESENTS mation from the governor’s office and the THE LARAMIE PROJECT Seattle mayor’s office, Seattle City CounThe Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman cilmember Nick Licata and other speakers, explores the reaction to the murder of Mat- entertainment (comedian Al Foxx and a sethew Shepard – a Gay student who was tor- lection of local musicians with disabilities), tured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming and over 30 booths with disability resource in 1998. The play draws on hundreds of in- information. terviews conducted by the theatre company Three awards will be presented at the cele(Tectonic Theater Project) with inhabitants bration: The White Ribbon Award to a busiof the town, company members’ own jour- ness or individual that has increased comnal entries, and published news reports. munity access for people with disabilities, Performances will run through August the Steve Johnston award to an outstanding 7 at 8:30 p.m. at the Erickson Theatre Off- member of the media who has positively imBroadway (1524 Harvard Ave., between E. pacted the lives of people with disabilities, Pine and E. Pike Sts.) Tickets: $30-general; and the Robert A. Blumenthal Scholarship $100-group of 4; $15 half-price Thursdays to a high school senior or college freshman.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Students apply for the scholarship by sub- Socialist Discussion Series.

For information, call 206-722-2453 or mitting an essay on the impact of the ADA on their life. Free tickets are available by visit www.socialism.com/seattle. contacting events@disabilitypride.org or EVERETT-SNOHOMISH COUNTY 206-545-7055. Tickets gain access to the FRIENDSHIP DINNER AND event and to the zoo.

HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP For more information, visit www.disabiliOn Friday, July 30 at 6 p.m. at the Saint typride.org.

Paul United Methodist Church (2005 Colby Ave., Everett), the Everett-Snohomish CREATIVE CROSSROADS County Friendship Dinner and Support COMMITTEE MEETING On Monday, July 26, from 5:30-7 p.m. Group for Persons Living with HIV and and Saturday, July 31 from 10:30 a.m.-noon AIDS will meet. Support group meets at 5 at Century Ballroom, East Hall (Oddfel- p.m. All are invited and everyone is wellows Building, 915 E. Pine St.), the Creative come. Dinners are held the last Friday of Crossroads Committee is engaging with each month. Donations accepted.

For more information, call (425) 252Sound Transit and the Capitol Hill Champions to build a network of partners, tools 7751. and ideas to ensure that development of the THANK GLAAD IT’S FRIDAY Broadway Station Area will support the On Friday, July 30, from 7-9 p.m. at The proud tradition of progressive creativity on Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.), GLAAD presCapitol Hill.

The coming light rail station on Broadway ents their national networking event series and the development around it will create for young LGBT professionals and straight a community crossroads – the first face of allies. A second event will be held Friday, Capitol Hill to greet many commuters and August 20, from 7-9 p.m. at PURR (1518 visitors, and a nexus of social, economic 11th Ave.). TGIF 2010 Seattle Series passes and cultural activity for the neighborhood. are $35 and $50 and grant access to both Decisions being made today will impact the events, which including two hours of hosted neighborhood for decades. The time to give Absolut Vodka cocktails, chances to win input is now, before new development be- sponsored prizes, a one-year membership to GLAAD, and opportunities to talk with gins at the Station Area.

The Creative Crossroads project, funded GLADD staff and supporters.

For more information, visit www.glaad. by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and led by 4Culture, Allied Arts and org/2010/tgifseattle1. the Cascade Land Conservancy, is gathering THREE DOLLAR BILL recommendations from an expert commitOUTDOOR CINEMA PRESENTS tee and networking within the community at “BLONDE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN” large. The committee will use this feedback SUMMER OUTDOOR MOVIES to develop tools and ideas to help focus and On Friday, July 30, Three Dollar Bill Cinfacilitate future community action. The ema presents The Legend of Billie Jean – the event is free.

RSVP at http://creativecrossroads.event- second of four fun and FREE movies shown brite.com. For more information, contact at Cal Anderson Park, 11th Ave. & E. Olive Julia Levitt at (206) 292-5907 x129 or e- St., this summer, under the stars!

Desperately Seeking Susan will be shown mail julial@cascadeland.org. on Friday, August 13, Candleshoe will be shown on Friday, August 27.

SINFUL SISTER CINEMA All screenings start at dusk – around On Monday, July 26 from 7-9 p.m. at Central Cinema (21st and E. Union), the Sisters 9:15-9:30 p.m. To make your movie going of Perpetual Indulgence, the Abbey of St. experience complete, concessions will be Joan presents Sinful Sister Cinema, an in- sold at the screenings.

For more information and to see trailers teractive dinner and movie night featuring the sexploitation classic Sex Madness. Tick- for the “Blonde But Not Forgotten” movie ets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. The series, visit www.threedollarbillcinema.org. event is a fundraiser for Queer Youth Space Three Dollar Bill Cinema sponsors the annual Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in (www.queeryouthspace.com).

October.

THE ELITE HOSTS HEIDI DURHAM FREE ASL LESSONS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR BEGINNERS On Saturday, July 31 at 1 p.m. at 1903 NE Have you ever wanted to learn basic American Sign Language? If so, you can 82nd St., there will be a public birthday celget some beginning ASL instruction at the ebration for Heidi Durham. She was one of Elite (1520 E. Olive Way). The FREE les- the first electrical tradeswomen at Seattle sons will be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in City Light and lifelong fighter for workers and the disabled. BBQ picnic lunch, $9 the loft. donation (vegan options available). Rain or shine. A benefit for Radical Women.

SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN For more information, call (206) 722BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE 6057 or visit RWSeattle@mindspring.com.

DISCUSSES THE POETRY OF WALT WHITMAN IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club PRESENTS meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at DunKING & QUEEN OF THE SEAS shee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas PAGEANT St.). In July, the club will discuss the poetry On Saturday, July 31 at 7 p.m. at Neighof Walt Whitman. All GLBTQ folks in the community are welcome to participate in bours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), the Imthis FREE book club. The book for August perial Sovereign Court of Seattle will hold is Mark Doty’s Dog Years. Our thrilling Au- their King & Queen of the Seas Pageant: A gust selection, which may very well turn out Pirate Wedding. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., $7 to be your favorite book of the year, is – get donation. www.imperialcourtofseattle.com. this! – also written by another American SEATTLE SHAKESPEARE CO. Gay poet! But if your reaction is anything PRESENTS FREE like mine, unlike my own blankness reading SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK Whitman, you’ll be roaring with laughter Through August 1, Seattle Shakespeare and red-eyed from crying throughout this little torpedo to the heart. For more informa- Co. and Wooden O perform Shakespeare’s tion, email nickdimartin@earthlink.net or Much Ado About Nothing and Othello in Seattle and King County parks. All perforcontact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437. mances are free.

Othello will be performed at Seattle CenFREEDOM SOCIALIST ter on Sunday, August 1 at 6 p.m. Much Ado DISCUSSION SERIES: About Nothing will be performed at Seattle THE LOGIC OF MARXISM On Wednesdays through September 15 Center on Sunday, August 1 at 2 p.m. For at the Old Firehouse (402 15th Ave. E.), a complete schedule of performances, visit The Logic of Marxism, by socialist scholar www.seattleshakespeare.org.

George Novack, will be discussed. This BOYZ IN THE WOODS book provides an accessible introduction to LABOR DAY WEEKEND CAMP Marx’s dialectical materialism and contrasts www.Qcamp.org it with other political philosophies. Free.

Drop-ins welcome. Sponsored by Freedom

July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News

7

by Barry Thorsness SGN African Correspondent The week started off for us, much like usual: We were off to meet some people and no idea where we are going or where we were going to end up. We had arranged with Elton to take us on one of the taxis to meet Molife (a writer for Exit LGBT newspaper) in Sandton. He had studied up the route and was ready to go when we found out that Sharon (whose house we were staying in) had asked a friend, Sean, to come and pick us up and take us to our meeting and around to meet some other friends.

Sean was right out of Absolutely Fabulous – he was Patsy reincarnated in Joburg.

He had been a nightclub owner and now was involved in a number of jewelry stores.

Need I say more?

Joburg nightspots include upscale clubs, sex clubs, nude clubs, and the shebeens in the townships. Our first stop was to meet Molife and have lunch at the well-known shopping center in Sandton. Molife was from Zimbabwe and has been living in Joburg for a number of years. We chatted about LGBT life in the city and the fact that nightlife (and we agreed it seemed worldwide) had been dying over the last six years. Seems the internet and iPhone apps to link up are really cutting in to nightclub life, even in Africa. This phenomena has not stopped Joburg from having many different nightspots, ranging from the more upscale white bars such as Babylon (where we were last week) to the mostly black Factory, a notoriously wellknown sex bar (a la the Mineshaft in N.Y. in the ‘80s for you older readers), to nude bars where you check your clothes as you come in, and my main interest, the GLBT

(ox tail stew) and – as it seems is the S.A. way – we drank incredible amounts of fine S.A. red wine.

We talked about the “old” days when Johann worked for SABC (South African Broadcasting Corp) and how the president’s wife might call up a producer to force the company to include their daughter in a show. We talked about their choice in cars – if you don’t want to get carjacked in Joburg, don’t drive a BWM or Mercedes.

Their cars were a new Peugeot hardtop/convertible and a very fine new Citroen Saloon, both very nice and both very not available in

America.

On Saturday, thanks to our host and wonderful friend Sharon, we were off to Soweto in the back of the “bakkie” (“bucky,” or pickup truck) filled with blankets and pillows to keep comfortable and try to keep warm. Our first stop was to pick up Molife (whose friend it

“shebeen” in the townships.

Johann (not the one from yesterday) arrived to pick us up at 6 p.m. and take us to their home for drinks while we waited for his partner Albert to get home from work. We had heard about their “home,” and when we arrived, it was everything everyone had said – and more. It was grand, full of antique furniture and incredible art. Every room a showcase of “opulent living.” Johann collects cars and seems to have quite a collection. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to enjoy it while we are here.

This is South Africa, and it is winter. It gets down to freezing at night and usually up to around 15 degrees C (62 degrees F) during the day. The houses, even this one, had no heating. We sat next to the portable space heater, with our jackets on.

We went out to dinner in the Sandton shopping area and experienced S.A. fare such as boerewors (sausages) and potjiekos 8

Seattle Gay News

all photos barry Thorsness

Our third week in Johannesburg

in, which was gasoline bombed twice (seems by the government at the time), the house they spent years in under house arrest, and yes, where Nelson Mandela lived when he was arrested in 1962 by authorities, helped by the CIA, when George Bush was its chief. The State of Michigan apologized – George Bush has never apologized.

A shebeen is a small bar where the locals come to drink and party. In the case of Wandie’s, it’s a tourist and local destination for food, entertainment, and drinks. M Squared is a home garage, outfitted with chairs, tables, a bar, and a bigscreen TV. Some shebeens may or may not be legal.

We arrived without incident at M Squared.

It was still early (around 9) and Molife went in to check what was happening. There were about 10 patrons and we all walked in and ordered a beer. Although we must have looked totally out of place, nobody really paid us much attention and we sat and stood chatting with each other, enjoying our beers. (A beer cost around 11 Rand, or about $1.25.)

Thank goodness I have to write this column, so the voice started saying, “Come on, Barry, go chat with the locals!” It was like a mantra. I started my second beer and worked up my courage to walk over to another table where a couple of guys had made eye contact with me and seemed willing to chat.

The guys in the shebeen seemed to be having a great time, especially if you compared it to any other Gay bar in the world. Most people were laughing, dancing with each other and even a combination of dancing and singing.

I walked over and the guys greeted me with the customary handshake and “thumbclick” which I have yet to master, and we started to chat, laugh, and dance.

I bought them a couple of beers (Louis came running over as, I guess, our friends told him this was a stupid thing to do). I thanked them and said how amazing it was to be in the township drinking beer in a Gay shebeen. (This statement, I found out later, was perhaps stupid, too, but the response was interesting.)

Every guy at the table told me the shebeen was not Gay, and not one of them was Gay, either. They had no problem that I – a Gay “Moffie” or “Mlungu” (white person, and perhaps one of the only whites to have ever been to the shebeen) – was standing, dancing and drinking with them. This only confirmed what I had been led to believe last week: Gay black men in Joburg stay in the closet, even when meeting the Moffie tourist. And these were some of the most friendly, outgoing, and interesting people anywhere.

The shebeen continued to get busier as I continued to table hop, dance, and drink until Sharon signaled me it was time to go home.

We all climbed into the “bakkie” and drove to where we let Simphiwe and Linda off so they could walk home. It was all hugs and an end to an incredible night and week.

world (Soweto’s population is over 1 million), and we are waiting for our friends and having an ice cream from McDonald’s. The place was packed with welldressed Sowetans out shopping in the mall that makes anything in Seattle look a little quaint.

We park the bakkie and walk up the hill in Soweto.

We watch as the brand-new black Jaguar got washed in the driveway. We have to move over to let the new Aston Martin drive by as we walk up the hill towards where Nelson Mandela used to live. Over to our right, I could see the shantytown and some of the most extreme poverty I had ever seen. It felt weird – I felt a little anger. I asked Linda how he felt seeing the Aston Martin drive up the hill. He looked at me, a great big smile on his face, and basically said, now things have changed, we too can be successful. The car represented change and hope to him.

Simphiwe and Linda take us for a walk up Vilakazi Street in Soweto, past the current home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (for the record, one of my most admired people, and a true icon for LGBT equality in the world) and then farther up the hill to the home of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. This was the home they lived

was who owned the shebeen) and then off to the shopping center in Soweto to meet two of Sharon’s employees who lived in the township and were going to take us around.

Hard to believe – here we are, possibly in one of the most dangerous cities in the

In the week to come We are planning our trip to Botswana on Friday, chatting with GLBT activists in the capitol city Gaberone, and figuring out how we get to one of the world’s phenomena, the delta in northern Botswana, by bus.

We love to hear from you.

Questions and comments are all welcomed on our blog at http:// bthorsness.wordpress.com.

The blog contains every week’s column, in case you missed one in the SGN.

July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

IGLHRC recognized by U.N.

ed by the standards for consultative status under Resolution 1996/31 and to adopt E/2010/L.19, so that the IGLHRC can join the U.N.’s vibrant community of civil society organizations, as it so richly deserves,” she said.

In the end, the U.S. lined up with Canada, Australia, Japan and 19 other countries, most of them European or Latin American, to support IGLHRC’s application.

Russia, China, and Venezuela joined eight predominantly Muslim countries – including U.S. allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan – and two African countries with large Muslim minorities to oppose IGLHRC. After the vote, Pres. Obama issued a statement applauding the U.N. action.

“I welcome this important step forward for human rights, as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) will take its rightful seat at the table of the United Nations. The U.N. was founded on the premise that only through mutual respect, diversity, and dialogue can the international community effectively pursue justice and equality. Today, with the more full inclusion of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the United Nations is closer to the ideals on which it was founded, and to values of inclusion and equality to which the United States is deeply committed,” the president’s statement said.

For IGLHRC, the July 19 victory capped a three-year battle for recognition.

IGLHRC – which advocates against antiGay laws and state-sanctioned violence – first applied for “consultative status” in 2007, hoping to get formal recognition from the U.N. and a greater voice in U.N. debates.

The group’s application languished in the Non-Governmental Organization Commit-

tee for three years until it was pushed by the Obama administration.

The NGO Committee – which has been notoriously hostile to LGBT rights groups – voted in June to “take no action” on IGLHRC’s application.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice then submitted a resolution directly to the Economic and Social Council, bypassing the NGO Committee. The U.S. strategy was ultimately successful.

“This victory is particularly significant,” an IGLHRC statement said, “coming as it does after a prolonged three-year application process in the sub-committee that makes initial recommendations on status. Despite full compliance with all procedures IGLHRC faced deferrals, homophobic questioning, and procedural roadblocks in the ECOSOC NGO Committee.”

IGLHRC went on to say that the U.N.’s decision “signals a recognition of the important role of a diverse and active civil society at the U.N. In support of progress on IGLHRC’s application, a group of over 200 NGOs from 59 countries endorsed a letter to all UN Member States, demanding fair and non-discriminatory treatment and supporting IGLHRC’s goal of amplifying LGBT voices in the international arena.”

The last LGBT group to get consultative status – Brazil’s Associacao Brasileira de Lesbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Travestis e Transexuais (ABGLT) – was approved in 2009.

“We celebrate this decision,” ABGLT President Toni Reis said in a statement. “It is crucial that LGBT NGOs have the opportunity to participate in the U.N. human rights debate - though in future, organizations should receive full and fair reviews before the NGO Committee itself.”

gender history, Nikki granted a 16-minute video interview to a local TV station. In the emotional interview, she revealed that her sex reassignment surgery took place after she married Thomas.

“I had the operation two months after our marriage, and my husband was fully aware, and the birth defect that I had essentially was not a problem to my husband,” she said.

“He was proud to be my husband as much as I was proud to be his wife.”

Pressed by the reporter about whether she was born male, Nikki answered “I do not and have not ever considered myself in that way, but I understand that some people are explaining it like that. And what I’d like to say is that essentially I had a disorder much like anyone else who was born with a birth defect of any kind – no arm, six toes, no vision, OK? There was an anatomical birth defect that was underdeveloped beyond the age of 2 years old.”

Nikki concluded the interview pledging to fight her in-laws’ effort to deny her death benefits, because she says that’s what her late husband would have wanted.

“I’m deeply, deeply devastated by the loss of my husband,” she said. “I have not even had the opportunity to grieve, and I’m having to deal with this awful, awful situation.

I love you, my sweet husband, may you rest in peace.”

Texas state law is complicated when issues of gender identification and marriage intersect.

Earlier this year, a Lesbian couple was

legally married in Texas because one of the couple was born male, and later had sex reassignment surgery.

According to a Texas appeals court ruling in Littleton v. Prange, the sex specified on an individual’s birth certificate is determinative.

In that 1999 case, a Texas appeals court refused to recognize a marriage between a man and a male-to-female Transsexual because her birth certificate identified her as male.

In 2009, however, the Texas state legislature changed the state’s family code to permit an applicant for a marriage license to use a court order to nullify the sex specified on the birth certificate.

The new law also allows a driver’s license to serve as proof of identity and age.

I welcome this important step forward for human rights, as the (IGLHRC) will take its rightful seat at the table of the United Nations.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In spite of a bizarre alliance of U.S. Republicans and Islamic fundamentalists, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission was accredited by the United Nations on July 19.

In a 23-13 vote, with 13 abstentions, the U.N. Economic and Social Council granted “consultative status” to the U.S.-based IGLHRC. The move was strongly supported by the Obama administration, and strongly op-

posed by two Republican Congressmen – Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.).

The week before the U.N. vote, Smith and Franks took the unusual step of writing to the member countries of the Economic and Social Council, urging them to reject IGLHRC’s application.

U.S. Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, U.S. deputy representative to the U.N., spoke to the Council on July 19, urging them to vote for the IGLHRC. “The United States urges you to be guid-

Trans widow may lose everything in Texas lawsuit

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A Transgender widow may lose her home, bank accounts, and her late husband’s death benefits if a lawsuit filed in Wharton County, Texas, is successful.

Nikki Araguz was the wife of Thomas Araguz III, a captain in the Wharton County Volunteer Fire Department. He died July 3 fighting a fire at a county historical site.

Since he was a fire captain killed in the line of duty, his death benefits will be substantial.

Thomas Araguz had been married to Heather Delgado and had two children with her before they divorced in 2008. He married Nikki Araguz later that year.

Nikki owned Wharton County Living magazine. She ran – unsuccessfully – for mayor of Wharton while married to Thomas.

Those are the only facts all sides in the dispute agree on.

Nikki is now being sued by Thomas’s mother and ex-wife, who seek to exclude her from the couple’s property and her late husband’s death benefits.

According to Chad Ellis, attorney for Thomas’s mother, Simona Longoria, Thomas separated from Nikki about two months before his death, after learning that she had been born male.

“He was distraught. It was extremely dif-

ficult and embarrassing for Tommy,” Ellis said.

He added that Thomas died without leaving a will.

According to Ellis’s version of events, Thomas learned during a custody dispute with his ex-wife last spring that Nikki was allegedly born as Justin Graham Purdue.

Ellis said he was unsure when Nikki may have undergone a sex reassignment surgery, but the lawsuit claims she changed her name to Nikki Paige Purdue in 1996.

The lawsuit, which will begin July 23 in Wharton County District Court, depends on 1999 state case law prohibiting same-sex marriage and stating that a person’s gender always remains the same as it was at birth.

“We are not blazing new legal ground here,” Ellis said.

Nikki has been ordered by the Texas court not to remove any property from her home, withdraw funds from any bank account, or receive any death benefits.

Nikki Araguz has insisted that her husband knew everything about her personal life when they married in August 2008. She also said the couple had not separated prior to her husband’s death.

“We had a completely honest marriage, a 100-percent loving, honest marriage,” she said. ”I am grieving the loss of my husband and best friend.”

After initially declining to discuss her

“We had a completely honest marriage, a 100-percent loving, honest marriage,“ she said. “I am grieving the loss of my husband and best friend.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News

9

A unique weekend for Gay, Bi and Trans men to play in the wilderness and meet new people.

10 Seattle Gay News

July 23, 2010

Labor Day Weekend, Sept 3 - 6

www.QCamp.org Celebrating 37 Years!

SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN MONDAY THRU SATURDAY

206-362-9500 Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News 11

A unique weekend for Gay, Bi and Trans men to play in the wilderness and meet new people.

12 Seattle Gay News

July 23, 2010

Labor Day Weekend, Sept 3 - 6

www.QCamp.org Celebrating 37 Years!

L

G

B

T

Resources & Referrals

206.323.LGBT / www.gaycity.org Whether you are looking for resources for yourself or your friends and family, Gay City is here to help get you connected with LGBT organizations and services!

SEATTLE GAY AND LESBIAN BOOK CLUB photo by Jacob Monderen

Check out our website or give us a call, and we’ll do our best to get you the information you need.

Phone hours are Mon-Fri, 2-8pm and Sat, 2-5pm.

A Program of Gay City Health Project 511 E Pike St / Seattle, WA / 98122

Wednesdays at 6 DUNSHEE HOUSE 303 17th Avenue East

nickdimartin@earthlink.net

Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News 13

14 Seattle Gay News

July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

vs ®

August 14, 6pm CAl Anderson pArk

Benefit for CApitol Hill AlAno CluB sAve tHe dAte, you won’t wAnt to miss tHis. Visit us online www.sgn.org

July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News 15

Congratulations to Team Gay City for STP Bicycle Classic

again next month to stay in shape for next year’s STP. This is the third year that Gay City Health Project has put together a team, consisting of volunteers and supporters, for the STP. According to Jabin, after last week’s ride, Team Gay City has now raised more than $35,000 in pledges since their first ride in 2008.

Gay City Health Project is a multiculCourtesy Gay City

New gel may cut women’s HIV infections in half

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer Last weekend, on July 17 and 18, 11 riders made the trek from Seattle to Portland as part of Team Gay City in the STP (Seattle to Portland) Bicycle Classic. Team Gay City rode more than 200 miles in two days and raised over $13,000 in pledges for the programs and services of Gay City Health Project.

Gay City would like to give thanks to the riders, support crew, and everyone who sponsored the team with a donation.

The STP is an annual one- and two-day bicycle ride from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon. The STP is considered one of

the 10 biggest recreational bicycle rides in the country and is the largest multi-day ride in the Pacific Northwest. Ten thousand riders participated.

“Just over one-third of this year’s Team Gay City are doing the STP for their first time this year – myself included,” said Peter Jabin, deputy director of Gay City Health Project, before the ride.

“It was grueling and extremely rewarding.

I almost can’t believe I did the whole thing, I’d never ridden that length before,” Jabin told SGN. “It was quite an amazing bonding experience with the team members,” he added.

The team will begin their training regimen

tural Gay men’s health organization and the leading provider of HIV and STD testing in King County. Their mission is to promote Gay and Bisexual men’s health and prevent HIV transmission by building community, fostering communication and nurturing selfesteem.

For more information on Gay City Health Project visit www.gaycity.org.

A new microbicidal gel may cut HIV infections among women by more than 50%, according to a study published July 19 in the journal Science.

The gel containing Viread, the commercial name for tenofovir, was the first successful “pre-exposure prophylaxis” product after 20 years of research and six previous failures.

The study included 889 women in the South African coastal city of Durban and a remote rural village. Half the women used the tenofovir gel and half used a placebo gel.

Among the 445 women who applied the tenofovir gel before and after sex, there were 39% fewer HIV infections overall than among those who used the placebo.

There were 54% fewer infections among those who used the gel more than 80% of the time and a 28% reduction among those who used it least.

Women who used the gel also got an added benefit: protection from genital herpes, or HSV-2 – a disease that increases susceptibility to HIV infection.

Women who used the gel had a 51% reduction in new herpes infections, according to Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), which coordinated the study.

“Boy, have we been doing the happy dance,” Dr. Karim said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci of the U.S. National Institutes of Health said, “It’s the first time we’ve ever seen any microbicide give a positive result that you could say was statistically significant.”

“It’s a game-changing trial,” said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the New York-based AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition. “At last, here is now proof of concept that we can use a microbicide against HIV. It’s a transformative moment in prevention science.”

In sub-Saharan Africa 60% of HIV infections occur among women, who often feel they are not able to resist the demands of

their partners for unprotected sex.

A reliable and easy-to-apply medication that women could use on their own might significantly reduce rates of new infection.

“We are giving hope to women,” said Michel Sidibe, the executive director of the World Health Organization’s UNAIDS program. “For the first time, we have seen results for a woman-initiated and controlled HIV prevention option.”

The gel could “help us break the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic,” he said.

The gel was developed by Conrad, a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia. Conrad is funded by the US and South African governments. The gel’s active ingredient was obtained under a royalty-free license from Gilead, the world’s biggest maker of AIDS medicines.

Researchers are also testing Viread and Gilead’s Truvada as a means of blocking the virus in Gay men and I.V. drug users.

A product could be ready as early as 2013 if the results are confirmed by a second study, known as “Voice,” that is now enrolling participants, Warren said.

Gilead will not participate in marketing the product in developing nations, said its Chairman Howard Jaffe. It is still “an open question” as to whether the company markets it in the U.S. and Europe, he said.

“We’re not in the business of doing vaginal or rectal gels,” Jaffe said. “I’ve always believed that it’s easier to pop a pill than it is to apply a gel.”

Gilead’s top three drugs, which all rely on Viread as a key ingredient, are given to 85% of newly diagnosed AIDS patients in the U.S. Gels could be made more marketable by emphasizing their ability to increase sexual pleasure, Karim said in a conference call with reporters.

“The future is going to involve making this gel something that is part of the sex act – that enhances sex, even,” said Karim.

Karim said the gel in the trial “is a simple cylindrical white plastic tube. There is no color, no design, nothing. Even Coke would have gone bankrupt if they took this approach in marketing their product.”

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July 23, 2010

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Celebrating 37 Years!

AIDS 2010 Conference opens with protests, fears, and new plans AFP

Demonstrators march in Vienna’s streets ahead of the International AIDS conference

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

“irresponsible to the point of criminal negligence.”

Montaner denounced politicians for failThe AIDS 2010 Conference opened July ing to deliver on their promises, saying that 19 in Vienna with very little self-congratu- only a third of the 15 million people who lation and a lot of self-examination. need life-saving AIDS drugs currently get Some 20,000 international AIDS activ- them. ists, scientists, and people living with HIV/ “Today we have treatments that work, we AIDS gathered in the Messe Wien conven- have shown that this can be done. ... What tion center in downtown Vienna. we need now is the political will to go the ACT UP Paris protesters carrying “Bro- extra mile to deliver on universal access,” he ken Promises Kill” signs disrupted a pre- said. “We have a serious problem with the conference working meeting with a die-in. political leadership globally and we have to Speakers at the opening session of the fix it.” conference echoed some of ACT UP’s conU.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon cerns. said progress in the worldwide fight against “We are at a pivotal moment in the global AIDS could be jeopardized if governments response to AIDS and there is both a moral trimmed budgets. and a public health imperative that we con“Some governments are cutting back on tinue in the right direction, especially as their response to AIDS. This should be a HIV treatment guidelines are expanded to cause for great concern to us all,” he told the reach people earlier in the course of their conference via videolink from New York. disease and our understanding that providMichel Kazatchkine, head of the Global ing antiretroviral treatment also prevents Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Manew transmissions continues to grow,” laria said it needed up to $20 billion in the said Dr. Julio Montaner. “Increased finan- next three years to sustain progress. cial commitments must be matched with a “I am hugely afraid. I am very concerned. drive for the most efficient use of available Because of the [global financial] crisis ... beresources.” cause of the competing priorities,” he told Montaner is the AIDS 2010 chair, presi- reporters at the Vienna conference. dent of the International AIDS Society “I hear of many governments cutting of(IAS), and director of the B.C. Centre for ficial development aid, but I hear other govExcellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, ernments saying that despite cuts in other Canada. areas, foreign assistance will remain – and He went on to say that some govern- I also hear other governments with good ments with high HIV infection rates were news. It is very up and down,” he said.

The Global Fund supports some 2.5 million people on treatment, provides treatment for almost 800,000 HIV-positive women to prevent vertical transmission, and estimates it has saved 4.9 million lives.

As Kazatchkine spoke, hundreds of protesters marched through the conference center demanding that rich nations deliver on their promise that all people in need of AIDS drugs should get them.

“The replenishment [of the Global Fund] is the moment at which we will know whether or not world leaders intend to fulfill the promise they made to universal access,” said Dr. Brigitte Schmied, AIDS 2010 local co-chair and president of the Austrian AIDS Society.

“The rich scientific findings and on-theground experiences presented at AIDS 2010 should be all the evidence that leaders of all nations need to fully commit to doing their part,” she added.

The next Global Fund replenishment meeting will be October 5 in New York, and will cover funding for the years 2011 to 2013.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton also addressed the conference, calling on AIDS organizations to try to do more with less funding.

“I think in too many countries too much money goes to pay for too many people to go to too many meetings, get on too many airplanes,” Clinton said, adding that too much is spent on studies and reports that sit on shelves.

“Keep in mind that every dollar we waste today puts a life at risk,” he said.

“It is easy to rail at a government and say why doesn’t the government give us more money if they’re giving somebody else money,” Clinton continued. “But the government gets its money in most of these countries from taxpayers who have lower incomes today than they did two years ago.”

In order to have the “moral standing” to ask for more funding, organizations should make governments believe that “we’re doing our job faster, better and cheaper,” Clinton concluded.

Many AIDS 2010 delegates arrived in Vienna a week early to begin work.

Over 300 young people attended the fourday Youth Pre-Conference to network and gain skills in research, advocacy and communications.

The BE HEARD! Pre-Conference organized by the Global Forum on Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSMGF) attracted over 500 participants. At the meeting, public health leaders called for an end to the human rights abuses against MSM that contribute to HIV vulnerability.

Other pre-meetings focused on strengthening health systems, eradicating HIV reservoirs and children’s issues, including the latest models of family-centered care and services for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Microsoft founder Bill Gates also addressed a plenary session of the conference.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

homeless, but I’ve been exposed to individuals living in extreme poverty my entire life,” he told SGN. “I’m fascinated by wealth and its distribution and think it is a huge injustice to have so many individuals that do not have their basic human needs met.”

“I got involved not because this is the solution to a problem, but because it will directly help a person in need,” he continued.

“Helping just seems like the right thing to do.”

Nichols is asking for help with this project by accepting donations so he can finish buying what is needed for the studio.

“It only takes opening a newspaper or turning on the TV to know that times are tough for most Americans, myself included,” he said. “Your donation will be spent on bedding, dishes, cooking utensils, linens, shower curtains, and basic bathroom furnishings. These are items we take for granted but that help provide the warmth and functionality of our home.”

For more information on Canady House, visit their website at www.canadyhouse.org.

For instructions on how to donate, e-mail Nichols at jnichols1890@gmail.com.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Amelia Canady, Nick’s widow, and she let me know that Nick always felt as if he received more than he gave every time he was of service,” Nichols said. “I am learning this to be true for myself and hope you will share this feeling with my by making a small donation.”

Canady House pledges to help homeless In August, Canady House, a new living facility for homeless people in Seattle, will open its doors. Canady House will serve those living with mental illness, physical disabilities, and recovering from addiction.

The facility will have 83 studio apartments to help provide individuals with hope, shelter, and much more.

A local openly Gay man, Jonathan Nichols, has taken on the project to furnish a studio apartment for a resident.

“My involvement with sponsoring a studio at Canady House was sparked when it was introduced at church one Sunday,” Nichols told SGN. “I attend St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Nick Canady, who the house is named after, was a member of the church and longtime advocate for ending homelessness.”

Canady was an advocate for social justice and worked to help end the city’s homeless problem. Nichols says he has taken on the project to help Canady’s legacy live on and to aid in the fight to end homelessness.

“I can’t pinpoint an exact time when I realized I was passionate about helping the

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July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News 17

Montana same-sex couples sue state for legal protections

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer On July 22, seven committed same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the state of Montana for failing to provide legal protections to same-sex couples and their families in violation of the Montana Constitution’s right of privacy, dignity, and the pursuit of life’s basic necessities and its guarantees of equal protection and due process.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the organization representing the couples, the goal of the lawsuit is to ensure that same-sex couples are able to protect their families with the same kind of legal protections that opposite-sex couples are offered through marriage.

Because there is a constitutional amendment in Montana barring Gay marriage, the seven same-sex couples in the lawsuit are seeking the protection of state-recognized domestic partnerships, similar to those in place in Washington state.

“Mary Anne and I are part of a family unit, bonded by love and mutual respect and a desire to share in a close relationship that benefits not only us, as partners, but our wider family and the entire community,” said Jan Donaldson, a Helena, Montana nurse, of her 27-year relationship with her partner, pediatric neurologist Mary Anne Guggenheim.

“We depend on one another in all aspects of our life together. We want to be able to do

that with grace and dignity and to feel secure that our relationship will be respected.

We want our relationship to be recognized for what it clearly is – a loving commitment of responsibility worthy of security and protection by the state.”

According to the ACLU, Montana law automatically grants married heterosexual couples safeguards upon which they can depend in times of need. But under Montana law, it is possible for same-sex couples to be barred from visiting their partners in the hospital and to be left out of conversations about emergency medical care.

In addition, Montana inheritance laws refuse to recognize same-sex couples, and can leave surviving partners with nothing if the partners die without valid wills. Today’s lawsuit seeks a mechanism such as domestic partnership laws adopted by several other states to provide similar protections for committed same-sex couples.

“It’s unfair for same-sex couples who have made commitments and formed families to be treated by the state like legal strangers,” said Betsy Griffing, legal director for the ACLU Montana. “LGBT Montanans are valuable and productive members of society who should be treated fairly if their partner is in the hospital or dies without a will.”

Kellie Gibson of Laurel, Montana, who is raising two children with her partner Denise Boettcher, said, “Denise has stood with me

through 56 brain surgeries and over 300 spinal taps, yet to Montana we’re nothing more than strangers. Knowing we have legal protections for our family sure would make it easier on both of us the next time I have a medical crisis.”

Plaintiffs in the case Donaldson and Guggenheim v. State of Montana are Mary

Anne Guggenheim and Jan Donaldson of Helena, Stacey Haugland and Mary Leslie of Bozeman, Mike Long and Rich Parker of Bozeman, MJ Williams and Nancy Owens of Basin, Rick Wagner and Gary Stallings of Butte, Denise Boettcher and Kellie Gibson of Laurel, and Casey Charles and David Wilson of Missoula.

Emerald City Softball’s Cinderella story

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer The final game of the Emerald City Softball Association (ECSA) World Series Second Berth Tournament was very wellplayed. The two D Division teams, The Seattle Stealth and Xtreme, were competing for a chance to advance to the Softball World Series.

The score was 2 to 5 after the first inning.

Xtreme scored three runs to Stealth’s zero in the second inning. No one scored in the third inning, Stealth scored one to Xtreme’s three runs in the fourth inning, and both teams scored two runs in the fifth. This made the score Stealth 5 to Xtreme 13. The Stealth bats roared and scored a whopping 12 runs in the top of the sixth, making the score 17 to 13. All Stealth needed to do was hold Xtreme to less than four runs.

Xtreme followed by scoring three runs.

It was 17 to 16 with only one out. Then, an Xtreme batter hit a grounder and got on base. The next batter up hit the ball to second base, making the second out, and then threw to the first baseman just in the nick of time for a double play. The Seattle Stealth had won!

Now, on any other day, that game may have gone unnoticed; but the Seattle Stealth had just finished the 2010 season by losing 14 games in a row, with their final stats reading four wins to 14 losses. At the end of each season, the ECSA sends two teams from each division to the Softball World Series to play teams from all across the country. The first-place team in the division automatically gets to go, while the other teams are determined at the Second Berth Tournament.

The dramatic win, coupled with the losing season, makes for one heck of a Cinderella story. The Seattle Stealth earned its way to the 2010 Gay Softball World Series in Columbus, Ohio on August 16!

“It was really awesome the way it went down,” Seattle Stealth coach Denny Krantz told SGN. “The win was very emotional.

Some of the players were crying. It was very unexpected.”

According to Krantz, the Seattle Stealth is “an older team.” Krantz says he’s the youngest, at 29, and the oldest player is 58. He says that despite the team’s losing record, “We had it in us all season, I don’t think the

record depicts how good a team we are.”

“I am very excited about playing in Columbus with this team,” Seattle Stealth player Pam Sager told SGN. “Our coach Denny Krantz stuck to his excellent teaching techniques and philosophies to make us believers, even though it took us a while. I have seen improvement from so many players thanks to him. Go Stealth!”

Mike Olarte, a member of the Seattle Stealth, said after coming off a losing season he wasn’t expecting much out of the tournament. “Sitting in the dugout during that last inning when were we were so far behind, the team was still pretty relaxed, stoked, and cheering. We just pulled it all together because we had nothing to lose,” he said. “The best part was after we had won. Seeing fans coming from the bleachers crying and congratulating us. It really choked me up and I had to stop myself from crying. Experiences like this are few, and I’m really glad to have it with such a great bunch of people.”

“As scorekeeper for the Seattle Storm, I must say this the best game I’ve ever seen,” Gina Cari told SGN. Unfortunately, every Cinderella story has a chariot that turns into a pumpkin at midnight – for the Seattle Stealth, that pumpkin comes in the form of a cash shortage. Unlike many teams, Seattle Stealth is not sponsored by a local company or bar, and therefore must pass the hat to cover at least some of the cost of the trip. It will cost an estimated $800-$1,000 per player – of which there are 16 – to make it to Columbus and the World Series.

Seattle Stealth is asking for your support so they can “bring home the big Gay pennant.”

The Stealth will be selling Jell-O shots at the Eagle and Elite every Saturday night through August 7. In addition, the team will also sell Jell-O shots at Purr on July 31.

Not into Jell-O shots? That’s OK; The Stealth has put together a bowling fundraiser at Roxbury Lanes on August 7 from 3-6 p.m. Registration starts at 2:30 p.m. and it costs $15 for three hours of bowling.

The Softball World Series is the biggest LGBT sporting event in the nation. This year, an expected 5,000 athletes and supporters will descend on Columbus for the event.

“The team is going as underdogs,” said Krantz, “but we have the potential of doing

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July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

The rich heritage of the Capitol Hill Alano Club

by Marcia F., CHAC Archivist Special to the SGN The Seattle Gay community has a rich heritage of participation in 12-step recovery programs, particularly in Alcoholics Anonymous. This heritage can be traced to the early 1970s and parallels that of the Gay Rights movement, which began with the Stonewall uprising in New York in 1969.

“When I started in office in 1973, there were no Gay meetings listed in the Seattle directory [of A.A. meeting schedules],” according to Al W., who served as secretary of the Greater Seattle Intergroup Office from 1973-1983. “Prior to 1973, there were not many openly Gay alcoholics in the program. At that time, I received a call from a man who convinced me of the need to inform people of Gay meetings by designating them as such in the meeting schedule.”

“I sensed that some of the hardliners would scream ‘special interest’; but A.A., since its early days, has had exclusive meetings, such as men’s and women’s meetings,” he said.

The third tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous states: “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

“So I wrote to the GSO [General Service Office] in New York to request guidance,” he continued. “They sent me some sample directories, such as one from Washington, D.C., that designated Gay meetings. Although the idea met with resistance from some of the old-timers, our Intergroup Board supported the designation. Once it was implemented, Gay meetings in Seattle mushroomed.”

Laura B., whose sobriety dates to 1980, recalled: “The groups did experience some controversy about the meeting designation.

However, the Seattle Intergroup Board was fully supportive of this measure as a courtesy, so that Gay recovering alcoholics would know where to find our meetings.”

Today, the Greater Seattle Intergroup Association Meeting Schedule lists more than 50 Gay A.A. meetings per week at various locations. The meeting schedule of the Capitol Hill Alano Club lists 65 weekly meetings that encompass other 12-step recovery programs in addition to A.A. and Al-Anon.

All are open to anyone in recovery.

“A handful of Gay alcoholics in 1974 approached the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, 16th Ave. E. and E. John St., to request renting a space for an A.A. meeting,” explained Tom W., who became sober in 1976. “That meeting was the ‘Live and Let Live’ group, the first openly Gay A.A. meeting in Seattle. In those days, only three or four people attended. But those few people started that meeting out of their need to be

crease membership, and to implement various fundraising activities in order to carry on indefinitely in its mission: “To provide a safe, secure, private environment for its members to meet throughout the day and evening hours to extend fellowship beyond group meetings. It is funded by individual A.A. groups through the payment of weekly themselves and to be comfortable in a safe rent and is guided by the 12 Traditions of environment among other Gays. We were Alcoholics Anonymous.” very close back then; we socialized a lot between meetings, and we shared a sense of humor.

The “Live and Let Live” group continues continued from cover to meet at 8 p.m. on Fridays at the Capitol Hill Alano Club, 1900 E. Madison.

“I wanted a sense of community,” said With my near-extinct knowledge of SpanMatt H., who has accumulated 34 years of ish, I was sadly reduced to witnessing this continuous sobriety. “It was important for historic private moment as though I was me to find out how to be a sober Gay man watching a foreign language film without with a sense of integrity. I didn’t feel that English subtitles. But like some immensely I could learn how to accomplish this in beautiful art films, there are times when straight meetings.” words are somewhat powerless because “I felt that our emerging sexuality as Gay feelings and emotions are so expressive and people had a lot to do with our drinking. We dominant. needed a safe setting in which we could be In her office, after her official act was a part of a fellowship of similar people. For complete, she was captivating, dramatic, this reason, I identify with the concept of ebullient, intense, and embracing – still ‘Gay A.A.’ I’ve heard the term referred to touched by the poignancy of the signing as ‘the Ellis Island for Gay people,’ because ceremony itself. After she signed the legthis is where Gay people were introduced to A.A.,” he said.

Laura B. remembers the meetings in the basement of the church, which also served as the worship place for the Metropolitan Community Church. “The church basement had no heat or adequate light, and regardless of the time or year, was very cold and dark.”

“However, as word got out, our meetings grew, and it became apparent that we needed more space. In 1981, we formed a steering committee to investigate the options of relocating and to plan fundraising strategies toward that end.”

“One day, as I was walking on Capitol Hill,” she recalls, “I noticed a ‘For Rent’ sign on the big yellow house at 15th and Denny. [It is now blue, and houses a nonprofit agency for Gay youth.] I took this information back to the committee, called the landlord, and arranged to see the house. On our scheduled meeting day, as I sat on the back steps waiting for the landlord, someone else arrived with the same intention. I explained that I had seen the house first. He yielded, and I got it.”

“During this process,” she related, “we decided that we wanted a safe, permanent place in which to serve the needs of the growing Gay recovering community. So in 1982, the Capitol Hill Alano Club [CHAC] was formed as a private, nonprofit, charitable corporation with a nine-member board of directors.”

The Club, comprised of a significant number of members having long-term sobriety, is crossing yet another milestone.

While it celebrates its 28th anniversary in August, it also faces the possibility of permanent closure. The board of directors has been working tirelessly to write grants, in-

argentina

islation in the public space downstairs, we witnessed hundreds of the attendees inside the room, and outside as well, begin to press forward to touch her, hug her, hand her flowers, seek photos with her in a throbbing human crush that probably mirrors the passionate nature of Argentinian public life most of us merely know from history or films. It was a scene of such emotion that as a lifelong resident of Washington, D.C., I cannot imagine any such event resembling this scene taking place in the White House or in many executive mansions – simply because of the risk of physical harm alone to the president or others in the pushing, pressing and jubilant crowd on the floor.

Making this evening even more unreal was seeing the painting of Juan Peron on the wall behind President Cristina and over her right shoulder, to see Evita’s likeness in oil on the wall to her left, and Che Guevara’s image on the wall to her right.

What little I know of Buenos Aires I have learned here in the first 36 hours, and if nothing else, these are among the most passionate people on earth. And tonight, they have every single reason to be.

For full video of this historic signing, visit http://anibalfernandez.com.ar/te-lo-digoyo/302-matrimoniogay.html.

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July 23, 2010

Seattle Gay News 19

rumbaugh continued from cover

First run for office This is Rumbaugh’s first run for public office. He tells SGN he sees the campaign as an extension of his commitment to public service.

“Look at my public service – go down the list – I’ve been on the Tacoma Housing Authority board, Bates College, Planned Parenthood,” Rumbaugh says. “I’ve played an active role in the community because it’s important. And I enjoy doing that.”

“I thought I could expand the scope of my legal purview to cutting edge problems,” he says of his decision to run for Supreme Court justice, “to merge public service and expanding in my chosen profession.”

Rumbaugh is a partner in the law firm of Rumbaugh, Rideout, Barnett and Adkins.

According to his campaign website, his firm’s motto is “working lawyers for working people,” and this is a theme Rumbaugh returns to again and again in his conversation with SGN. “I’ve practiced law for 31 years,” Rumbaugh says. “I’ve handled thousands of cases for individuals and small businesses. I think I have a duty – my first duty – to serve the people, to see they get the services and the protections of individual rights and liberties.”

In contrast, incumbent justice James Johnson has often sided with right-wing causes and big business, a fact Rumbaugh

is quick to point out.

“Jim Johnson has represented Tim Eyman, he’s represented the BIAW [Building Industry Association of Washington], he worked with Slade Gorton to undermine Native sovereignty,” he says.

“And [Johnson] didn’t stop representing them, even on the bench,” Rumbaigh continues. “In 17 cases, he voted with the BIAW 16 times.”

After a pause, Rumbaugh sighs. “You know, when you’re a lawyer you can represent anyone you want – but who you choose tells something about you.”

LGBT rights Rumbaugh’s campaign website features a page devoted to LGBT issues, most of it criticism of Johnson’s opinion in the Andersen v. King County marriage equality case.

In Andersen, the state Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that there is no constitutional right to marriage for same-sex couples. Johnson joined the majority, and wrote a concurring opinion in the case.

Asked if he foresaw marriage equality litigation coming to the court in the future, Rumbaugh replied, “It’s possible. I don’t believe DOMA is a dead issue as far as Washington courts go.”

“You see what happened in Massachusetts,” he elaborated. “A federal district court ruled DOMA unconstitutional. Now it will run up the line [to the U.S. Supreme Court]. If the Supreme Court reviews it, we may end up with other pieces of litigation in some states.”

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While Rumbaugh declined to expand on the constitutional rights of same-sex couples, he did offer some hints to SGN readers.

“If you look at the cases my firm has had at the Supreme Court – Vasquez v. Hawthorne, for example – maybe you can draw your own conclusions.”

Rumbaugh’s law partner, Terry Barnett, was lead counsel in Vasquez, in which the state Supreme Court ultimately ruled that same-sex partners are entitled to inherit community property, reversing an appeals court decision.

“The client [Frank Vasquez] had mental handicaps,” Rumbaugh recalls. “There was no will. He came into my office and said ‘Help me.’ My first thought was ‘Why come here?’ but when I looked into the [Appeals Court] decision I came to the conclusion it was just flat-ass wrong.”

Rumbaugh has been endorsed by Equal Rights Washington and QLAW, the LGBT bar association.

Trouble with the teachers union Ironically in view of his stated commitment to public service, Rumbaugh’s service as chair of the Bates College Board put him in the middle of a labor dispute that may cost him the endorsement of the powerful Washington State Labor Council (WSLC).

AFT – which represents faculty at the school – charges that Rumbaugh unilaterally voided their collective bargaining agreement, dismissing teachers under cover of an arcane Washington law.

Rumbaugh tells SGN he was merely trying to cope with the school’s budget crisis.

“We [Bates Technical College] absorbed three rounds of cuts,” he says. “We lost millions of dollars in operating budget. We were able to make it up through attrition, so there were no RIFs – not among the AFT, or the WEA, or the Operating Engineers.”

RIFs – “reductions in force” – mean losses of jobs, something labor unions will typically fight to avoid.

According to Rumbaugh, the latest round of funding cuts left Bates’ budget $600,000 short, making staff reductions inevitable.

Karen Patjens, president of AFT local 4184, which represents Bates faculty, tells SGN she offered to bargain cost-cutting measures in order to save her members’ jobs, as the union had done in the past.

“All schools have been hit by mandated cutbacks,” she said. “The first year we lost five positions. The second year we bargained givebacks – pay and furlough days. We went to the Board in March and offered to negotiate more givebacks.”

Asked by SGN to confirm that AFT had made an affirmative offer to bargain with Bates management, Patjens shot back, “Absolutely!”

Instead of bargaining with the union, Rumbaugh invoked the state’s seldom-used Financial Emergency Statute, effectively voiding the union’s collective bargaining agreement, and dismissed teachers.

“In order to book any savings at all, we had to give notice by the end of April, first of May,” he explains.

According to AFT Washington political organizer Richard Burton, Bates was the

only one of 34 colleges in the state to declare a financial emergency.

“The rest worked out some other solution to their budget problems,” Burton says.

Patjens charges that Rumbaugh’s failure to deal with the union has exacerbated tensions with school employees.

“We had no intention to end up in this kind of public battle,” she says. “There were several times when this could have been resolved. All we needed was good faith bargaining. But at each step he didn’t do it.”

According to Patjens, Rumbaugh has not even made an effort to communicate with her.

“He has not called me at all,” she says.

“I’ve never had a legitimate conversation with him. I tried to speak with him after the last Board meeting. He cut me off and he walked away.”

Rumbaugh tells SGN that he agrees he could have handled labor relations at Bates better than he did, but he remains unapologetic.

“Could the process have been better?

Sure. Could we improve in the future? I’ll try to make it happen,” he says.

“I know the AFT is unhappy. They have attacked me personally. That’s how they do.

The WEA [Washington Education Association, an independent teacher’s union] has endorsed me. It’s just a question of whose ox is getting gored.”

“It would make things better….”

Rumbaugh’s problems with the AFT may cost him a key endorsement when the WSLC convention meets in August. However, Rumbaugh does have the endorsement of the huge SIEU healthcare local 775NW. “We’ve met with Stan,” SEIU 775 Vice President Adam Glickman tells SGN. “He’s a very sensible, common sense lawyer with a history of advocating for working families. He’s just what you want in a judge, a much better alternative.”

James Johnson, Rumbaugh’s opponent, wrote the majority opinion in SEIU Healthcare 775NW v. Gregoire in which the state Supreme Court deprived members of the SEIU local of $87 million in wages and benefits. “[Johnson] is the most right-wing, antiunion judge,” Glickman continues. “He’s tied to Tim Eyman, to the BIAW, to the tobacco industry. He takes money from the tobacco industry and then he rules to overturn anti-smoking laws.”

Unlike the AFT, SEIU is not affiliated with the WSLC or the AFL-CIO. SEIU 775NW represents some 40,000 members statewide, so its endorsement is significant.

In spite of their issues with Rumbaugh, even AFT members say that under other circumstances, they would prefer him to Johnson.

“I’d love for him to get the [WSLC] endorsement,” Patjens told SGN. “I just don’t want him to get it while we’re in the middle of a labor dispute that he is responsible for.”

AFT Washington’s Richard Burton told SGN he hoped Rumbaugh would take the initiative to phone Patjens before the August WSLC convention.

“It wouldn’t make everything OK,” Burton said, “but it would make things better.”

www.sgn.org 20 Seattle Gay News

July 23, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

courtesy Rex Wockner

GetEqual protestors in Las Vegas

vegaS

continued from cover cluding GetEQUAL co-chair Robin McGehee and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” activist Lt. Dan Choi, along with Dan Fotou, Natasha Dillon, Meg Sneed, Lee Walters, Paul Roark, and Jimmy Gruender.

“ENDA is a piece of legislation that the Democratic leadership in Congress has promised the LGBT community that it would schedule a vote on this legislative

session in Congress,” GetEQUAL said.

“However, the bill has yet to be voted on – and, to date, no vote has been scheduled.”

A second group of GetEQUAL members unfurled a banner on the huge elevated walkway that crosses the Strip from the MGM Grand to New York-New York. It said: “Reid: Pass ENDA Now! GetEQUAL. org.”

“Our community has literally watched decades go by with campaign promise after campaign promise from congressional leaders about the passage of ENDA,” McGehee said. “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s own

press aide told the community at the end of May: ‘The Senate has no plans for taking up ENDA. It would be very helpful for people to encourage the Senate to outline a plan for considering the bill.’ GetEQUAL’s members and supporters agreed.”

The group’s managing director, Heather Cronk, added: “The time to pass ENDA is now. No more delays, no more excuses and no more broken promises. People need these federal protections, especially the hundreds of thousands of LGBT workers living in dozens of states where it is still legal to fire someone solely for being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender.”

Only 21 states prohibit firing people for being Gay and only 12 states prohibit firing people for being Transgender.

mississippi continued from cover

are students and teachers who want to start a Gay-straight alliance club, and they should be able to do that without being treated like I was by the school.”

According to court documents, Itawamba school officials agree to implement a policy banning discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity – the first policy to do so at a public school in the state of Mississippi.

The school also agreed to pay McMillen

$35,000 in damages and pay for her attorneys’ fees.

“Constance went through a great deal of harassment and humiliation simply for standing up for her rights, and she should be proud of what she has accomplished,” said Christine P. Sun, senior counselor with the ACLU LGBT project. “Thanks to her bravery, we now not only have a federal court precedent that can be used to protect the rights of students all over the country to bring the date they want to their proms, but we also have the first school anti-discrimination policy of its kind in Mississippi.”

In addition to the July 20 ruling, an earlier ruling in March by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi said that school officials violated McMillen’s First Amendment rights when it canceled the high school prom rather than let McMillen attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

“We’re pleased that the school district agreed to be held liable for violating Constance’s rights. Now Constance can move on with her life and Itawamba school officials can show the world that they have learned a lesson about equal treatment for all students,” said Kristy L. Bennet, co-counsel on McMillen’s case. “This has been about much more than just the prom all along – it’s about all of our young people deserving to be treated fairly by the schools we trust to take care of them.”

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