SGN Jun 25, 2010 - Section 4

Issue 26, Volume 38, June 25, 2010

Seattle Gay News

Section 4

photos courtesy Jamie Pedersen, shaun knittel, sisters of perpetual indulgence

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Pride Edition 2010

Pride Edition 2010

June 25, 2010

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This June we can celebrate knowing that domestic partners in every county across the state enjoy the same benefits as married couples at the state level. As of today, this

file photo

file photo

State Senator Ed Murray

has provided over 7,500 families with nu- have come – with anti-discrimination legmerous critical civil rights. So, as we march islation and domestic partnership enacted. down 4th Avenue Now I ask for your this year, let us do so support as I seek to with the confidence take our voice to the and pride in how far King County Counwe have come. But, cil where I’ll be the let us also be mindfirst openly LGBT ful of how far we Councilmember! have yet to go. In the Happy Pride, today past few years, our and always! movement has made State Senator momentous strides, Joe McDermott but until full equality is realized for Happy Pride! Our all of Washington’s community has a lot families, there is to be proud of this still work to be done. year. Last NovemThis is a month of ber, Washington becelebration! Happy came the first state Pride! in history in which State Senator the voters approved Ed Murray protections for same-sex couples Thank you for the and their families State Senator honor of bringing by passing ReferenJoe McDermott our community’s dum 71. Over 7,500 concerns to the State Legislature for the last couples and their families all over the state decade. I am incredibly proud of how far we benefit directly from that law. I am proud to

courtesy Jamie Pedersen

SNAPSHOTS: LGBT elected leaders discuss Pride in their own words

State Representative 43rd District Jamie Pedersen (top right) and family

have played a role in that success as chair of the House Judiciary Committee and prime sponsor of the House bill. We have a lot of work left to do to secure marriage equality, equal parenting rights for Gay and Lesbian couples, protection for Transgender people, and safe schools for LGBT kids. Working together, I am confident that we will make all of that happen.

State Representative 43rd District Jamie Pedersen file photo

State Representative 33rd District Dave Upthegrove

Welcome to Pride 2010! I’m proud to represent many of the richly diverse communities in South King County, and this year we have much to celebrate. Washington state is a leader in LGBT rights, passing landmark anti-discrimination and domestic partnership legislation in the last few years. And I am proud that Washington voters have affirmed that fairness and equality for all families is a value shared by the majority in our great state. None of these accomplishments file photo

State Representative 21st District Marko Liias

would be possible, however, without brave acts from LGBT citizens and their families who have talked with friends, colleagues and neighbors about the value of equal rights. We still have work to do, but for now, 4

Seattle Gay News

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Pride Edition 2010

we should celebrate our accomplishments and the diversity of our communities.

State Representative 33rd District Dave Upthegrove file photo

went through a tech frenzy (Y2K), there was a Democrat in the White House, and we didn’t think much about the possibility of getting married, Madonna released an album (Music), and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was in effect. This year we’re in a tech frenzy (iPad), there’s a Democrat in the White House, we think a lot about getting married, but still can’t in Washington, Madonna will release an album this fall, and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is on the way out (although we still can’t serve). Some things change, some things stay the same. One thing that doesn’t

change is the commitment by community advocates of all stripes in Seattle and all over Washington to equality and community. We fight for each other as evidenced by the many strong LGBT political organizations and activists. We care about each other as evidenced by our strong array of service agencies. Check out the Pride parade – then get involved in your community wherever that might be. And … don’t forget to vote!

Seattle City Councilmember Sally J. Clark

Happy Pride! As a member and supporter of the LGBT community, I understand the importance of diversity and respect, and I’m proud to find these values hard at work at the Port of Seattle. Portwide Pride, our own LGBT group, is a long-time participant at Pride, and we all look forward to this year’s celebration. The Port of Seattle believes it is important to be inclusive of all communities in order to provide economic opportunity for everyone in the Puget Sound region.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Rob Holland

Seattle City Councilmember Sally J. Clark

Historians tell us that the word “Pride” comes from words meaning valiant and brave. Having Pride means standing up for yourself and your rights, even in the face of hate and intolerance. In Washington, our pride has secured the right to keep our jobs and our homes, and it has brought us the right to start a family and care for our loved ones. Someday soon, our Pride will mean the right to marriage and full equality. It is an honor to stand with my colleagues in the file photo

Port of Seattle Commissioner Rob Holland

legislature as we fight for hope and equality for every Washington family. Enjoy these few days of Pride, because after the parade and party are over – we have work to do!

State Representative 21st District Marko Liias As you enjoy Pride month, take a moment to think about where we’ve been and where we want to be. Ten years ago we

Pride Edition 2010

June 25, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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Camp Ten Trees Youth Camp

Camp Ten Trees creates a loving and engaging youth camp environment for LGBTQ communities and their allies. Camp Ten Trees currently offers two yearly residential summer camp sessions, held in the beautiful Pacific Northwest just a few hours from Seattle. One session is a week for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their allies aged 13 to 17. The other session is for children and youth of LGBTQ and/or non- traditional families aged 8 to 17. Additionally, the organization offers year-round programming to complement the summer camp sessions. These activities and events are aimed at introducing new folks to the organization and its summer camp sessions as well as keeping past and current campers, families, and volunteers connected in community.

Since the first Camp Ten Trees summer camp session in 2001, we have been committed to developing a camp environment that honors creativity, individual choice, and community living. Our summer camp sessions and year-round activities are for youth connected to LGBTQ communities and provide opportunities for each camper to

strengthen inner courage, make new friends, and develop leadership skills through traditional camp programming. Over the past two years, Camp Ten Trees has gained its own 501(c)3 non-profit status, more fully applied the Commitment to Social Justice in which our programming is rooted, and increased the organization’s capacity to sustain youth leadership. This August, Camp Ten Trees will hold our 10th anniversary summer camp sessions.

We are thrilled to mark our first decade of making space for children and youth of LGBTQ communities to build skills, find community, and have fun!

Camp Ten Trees invites folks from our local communities to learn more about what we’re doing at www. camptentrees.org. If you’d like to be a part of the organization in any way, we’d love to hear from you.

We are thrilled to mark our first decade of making space for children and youth of LGBTQ communities to build skills, find community, and have fun!

Airen Lydick Program Director info@camptentrees.org 206-288-9568 Camp Ten Trees (mailing address) 1122 E Pike ST, #1488 Seattle, WA 98122

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Pride Edition 2010

Pride Edition 2010

June 25, 2010

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Drag kings: Showtime Genderfuck at its finest

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ittel

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something memorable that has the capacity to impact someone in ways you could never have anticipated.”

For drag king BJ Hunter, he says he does drag “for the bond you get with your fellow performers.”

“I love it when I pick the perfect song and have the crowd sing along or dance along,” he told SGN. “I love when I walk off stage and the audience hoots and hollers, because you helped them have fun. I also love the curiosity of the newcomers.”

I have to admit, before moving to Seattle over a year ago, I was a “newcomer” to the drag king community. Since then, I’ve seen a ton of drag king performances. I enjoy the creativity. From the costuming to the concept behind each performance, the kings are guaranteed to entertain even the most skeptical audience member.

It is not uncommon to hear drag queens talk about how they became addicted to the art after the first time they appeared onstage. For the kings, that sentiment holds true.

“When I was coming out, I went to a Gay bar on my 21st birthday,” Justin Cider told SGN. “That night, there happened to be a drag queen show.

I fell in love and began performing the next weekend – at the time I was the only king at the club. Even through the re-questioning time where I attempted to go straight, got married to a man and had three kids, I still performed as a drag king. Now, back in the Gay scene raising three kids, drag is one of my preferred ‘mommy night’ activities. All three of my kids have seen me and a lot of other kings and queens perform.

It has become a major part of our family.”

Justin says he believes that “making it fun helps people to understand more of who we are without making them uncomfortable.”

In talking with a good number of Pacific Northwest drag kings, one theme came up time and time again: Performing has changed their lives in ways they couldn’t have imagined.

“When I began it started out as a way for me to try to overcome my shyness,” Dominick De La Cruz told SGN. “Being onstage has helped me come out of my shell and become more confident with the things I do outside of drag. Now, when I perform, it’s about entertaining the crowd, making people smile and putting on a good show.”

Mr. Collin Banger agrees, “Doing drag has changed me into the person I am today.

When I started performing in 2008, it was a way to start anew and gain community service and involvement for eventually going to school. Now, I love performing! Meeting new people and making new friends is the best part.” shaun kn

lifelong friends due to this industry and have learned many things about myself. Now that my gender is in place through hormones and sexual reassignment surgery, drag is my vehicle of entertaining others by pushing my own creativity.”

Mikey has represented the drag king comfrom Bellingham to Eugene to Spokane.

by Shaun Knittel However, a majority of their bookings are munity around the country, performing in SGN Staff Writer Florida, New York, Minnesota, and Coloin Tacoma. rado, to name a few.

Like their drag queen counterparts, drag There’s no doubting that Washington state has an active and vibrant drag king com- kings say they are ready and willing to permunity. Throughout my tenure at the Seat- form when asked – tle Gay News, I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing hundreds of LGBT community shows.

From burlesque to cabaret (and everything in between), I’ve seen it. Having said that, I must tell you that the drag kings of the Pacific Northwest have managed to get themselves onto show bill after show bill.

On the surface, the theme is simple, really – walk in the door as a woman and walk onto the stage as a man. Of course, that’s just the surface. In reality, members of the drag king circuit told me that, yes, it’s all about entertainment, but for many drag kings, it is also about community.

“Our goal is not only to entertain, but to support all aspects of out LGBTQ community,” The Royal Knights, Kings of Heart told SGN. “We are a cast and crew of dedicated performers. We take pride in donating our time to as many charity events as we can, and providing our community with safe, fun, and entertaining shows wherever and whenever possible. Most mmunity rag king co Seattle’s d importantly, The Royal Knights are For a family. We depend on each other in kings like Randy Andy, the thrill our time of need, enjoy each others’ raise money for comes from the opportunity to create unique company, work together, and love and charity – and represent the greater LGBT performances. “I do drag for the sheer genlaugh together.” derfucking joy and entertainment of it all,” Chances are, you’ve seen The Royal community at all times.

“I am a drag king because I enjoy enter- he told SGN. “Plus, I’m pretty darn clever Knights; since May 2006, they’ve performed all over the Pacific Northwest – taining my community! I love being able to and I like to share my stuff with an audiput this talent to use for benefits and raising ence.”

Lukas Kane couldn’t agree more. “Bemoney for amazing causes,” Ceasar Hart, a drag king who performs in Olympia, Kent, ing able to take a song that people love and and Seattle, told SGN. “I could go on and on make an impression on them with my perabout what it means to be a drag king, but formance so that they think of me the next mainly its for everyone to have some fun time they hear it is a great feeling,” he told and get their mind off of the reality of life SGN. “Drag has also been instrumental to me as a means to express myself during diffor a while.”

Some kings, like Mikey Lykesit, have car- ficult periods of my own life. Performing ried important drag titles. Last year, Mikey has allowed me to confront issues about my was named Mr. Gay Seattle. “When I started own identity and help me to become more doing drag 12 years ago, it was an outlet for comfortable in my own skin.”

In addition, Lukas says drag is a great my gender – a chance to try on many faces as a man, to produce an illusion,” he told way for people to be directly involved in the SGN. “Through the years, drag has become Queer community. “Whether it’s by keepmuch more than that to me. I have made ing a long-standing tradition [drag kings] alive by gender-bending, helping to bring awareness to certain causes important to the LGBT community, or raising money through benefit shows, drag has a huge impact on all of us.”

“Music is universal,” he said. “When you combine potent lyrics with performances that strike a chord with someone, you create

Pride Edition 2010

Pride Edition 2010

June 25, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan: ” The magical day” by Sister VixXxen

Sister Mish: Sure? What are we wearing? an unsuspecting Castro Street and nude Sister Vish: I got cheerleader uniforms or beach, followed by numerous appearances nun’s habits. Whattaya think? in the city. Fueled by a combination of an Setting: Easter Sunday, 1979, San Franawareness of potential good that could be cisco.

The history of the Sisters of Perpetual accomplished by *ring ring* Indulgence is, at the time of this writing, such a bold stateSister Missionary Position: Hello? now passing into legend. Many are aware ment, a fountain Sister Vicious Power Hungry Bitch: I’m of the magical day in 1979 when three Gay of creativity and bored. Y’wanna go terrorize the Castro in men dressed in nun’s habits they procured perseverance and drag? from a convent in Iowa, descended upon the open arms of a community in need of a lighthearted approach to what had been, to date, such a punitive form of spirituality, this organization has morphed and evolved into one of the fastestgrowing orders of nuns in the world.

What is it that is drawing not only Gay men, but Lesbians, straight men and women, Transsexuals, indeed, the entire rainbow of identities to the Sisterhood? Perhaps it is the desire to push the boundaries of what is socially acceptable, thereby making even the fringes of society feel welcome. When it comes down to it, everyone just wants to feel loved and appreciated. We have an innate desire to belong to something bigger than ourselves.

When we don’t “fit in” to the predetermined

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societal norms, we feel cut off – abandoned.

We begin to harbor jealousy and resentment.

It is then that the Sisters are able to do some of their best work. If just by her lending an unbiased, unjudgmental ear, giving a hug, or even just sitting quietly with the person, that Sister is fulfilling her reason for being.

Perhaps the draw is the desire to make people smile. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence use their makeup and habits, both formal and festive, as somewhat of a means of distraction. One thing I have experienced through my 14 consecutive years with the Sisters is that no matter how down, sad, or brokenhearted someone is, a smile can always be solicited by dangling something sparkly in front of them. It helps if laughter is factored into the equation. Once you get people to smile, something in them changes. Hopefully, by virtue of distraction, their pain is distanced.

Little by little, with some conversation and witty banter, a mood is changed from negative to positive. Even if it is only for a moment, it is still a step in the right direction, and before you know it, that person leaves the interaction uplifted and maybe even a little more determined that they can be more than they imagine they could be. You can never possibly know the full extent and power of your words and actions.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of Saint Joan formed in July of 1996,

Pride Edition 2010

and from their inception, there was already tremendous diversity. Yes, Gay men were a major factor, but there also were straight women, a Transsexual, and even a straight man. The constant among them was a desire to sow good in their community, despite their varied and checkered backgrounds. In the 14 years that have followed, many members have come and gone. Some have had their paths diverge from ours, some have gone on to the great unknown and beyond.

I like to believe that everyone who has been touched so intimately by the Sisters can’t help but take some of the principles they learned while in the Sisterhood and apply them to their daily interactions – be it in the physical or ethereal plane – thereby helping to make our existence as a conscious, intelligent species better. Sister Vicious said it best when she uttered the words: “Once a nun, always a nun. There is no escaping.”

The Abbey of Saint Joan has seen many things in its incarnation. But the one thing that is true, at least from my perspective, is the basic goodness and dignity of humanity. Yes, some of us have been hurt or have hurt others fairly severely on our journeys.

But ultimately, each person only desires what they desire because they believe it will make them feel better. When you choose to peer through the goggles of love and compassion, you begin to understand this on many different levels. It is in those moments that I bless each person I interact with, and wish success for them as I would for myself.

If this is not some form of genuine spirituality, then I can’t envision what it would look like.

L G B

T

Resources & Referrals

206.323.LGBT / www.gaycity.org

Phone hours are M-F, 2-8pm and Sat, 2-5pm. Leave a voicemail anytime and your call will be returned.

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

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Seattle PFLAG PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender Persons) promotes the health and wellbeing of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support to cope with an adverse society; education to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy to end discrimination and secure equal civil rights.

PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Keeping families together is the mission of PFLAG. Our family values stress education, understanding, acceptance, and support, but most of all love, thereby empowering our children – straight and Gay – to lead happy and productive lives.

Seattle PFLAG consists of: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, children, spouses, friends and allies, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered persons.

In the last year, Seattle PFLAG has hosted over 12 support meetings and has offered educational information at a myriad of community events, schools and organizations throughout the Puget Sound Area. In addition, Seattle PFLAG also kick-started its “PFLAG Presents” lecture series with the intent of engaging the public in thoughtful conversation and renewed community connections. We look forward to continuing this important work in the next year and beyond.

Pride Edition 2010

To learn more about Seattle PFLAG, click online to www.seattle-pflag.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seattlepflag Benjamin Vogt Seattle PFLAG Vice President events@seattle-pflag.org 206-412-1199 S e a t t l e PFLAG Chapter is thrilled to be celebrating the pride and love we feel for our LGBT selves and our LGBT loved ones. PRIDE in Seattle is especially important for us to remind all that PFLAG is open to all folks – straight allies, family members, friends, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people. Our support meetings are open to all who want a safe place to talk and ask questions and get other perspectives on how we can “come out” – at work, within a family, to ourselves, in our own way and on our own timetable. Meetings are free, confidential and fun. (We also supply free Kleenex if they are needed.) Go to our website at www.seattle-pflag.org to find out where and when there are meetings for you. Come by our PRIDE Festival booth for a free hug and some information you might need.

Barbara Clark-Elliott, President Seattle PFLAG Chapter 1122 E. Pike, PMB 620 Seattle, WA 98122 206-325-7724 Helpline www.seattle-pflag.org

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Gay City Health Project Celebrating 15 years of building a healthy Gay community

Where were you in 1995? O.J. Simpson commitment to building a vital, healthy and the Oklahoma City bombing; founding community for Gay, Bi, and Trans men. of the WTO, Yahoo and eBay; debut of the Have a great Pride!

DVD; cell phones were a novelty and the internet was still in its infancy.

Fred Swanson 1995 also saw FDA approval of the first Executive Director protease inhibitor, an event that would radically transform the AIDS epidemic and allow Gay communities to begin to rebuild from the devastation and trauma caused by AIDS. It’s no accident that it was at this moment, 15 years ago, that Gay City Health Project was created with the vision of building a healthy Gay community – no small task given the context. Over the last 15 years, Gay City has worked hard to promote the health of Gay, Bi and Trans men through award-winning media campaigns, cuttingedge community forums, innovative programs like Gay City University, QueerCore, the Over 40s Project, Speed Sex & Sanity, Gay City TV, Queerituality, and the opening of the Gay City Wellness Center which has since served over 12,000 men, providing peer-based HIV/STD testing, hepatitis vaccinations, and wellness counseling services.

Then as now, the vast majority of these programs and services are provided at no cost.

Since 1995, hundreds of organizations throughout the world have developed programs based on the Gay City model, making Gay City part of a larger movement of holistic approaches to Gay men’s health.

As Gay City has matured, we have become a place where the larger LGBT community looks for support, as well. Increasingly, Gay City provides programs that serve the entire LGBT community – programs like Out to Quit, addressing LGBT tobacco-related health disparities; SHIFT Peer Recovery Network, supporting LGBT folks in recovery; and, most recently, the Seattle LGBT Resource & Referral Line and the Gay City LGBT Library.

The world has changed radically for Gay, Bi, and Trans men since 1995, both in Seattle and nationally. Gay City is proud to have played a significant part in this transformation, and we’re excited about what’s possible in the next 15 years. You can make a tax-deductible gift in support of our work by visiting www.gaycity.org.

Thank you for your support and for your

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all photos by shaun knittel

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CAPITOL HILL LANDMARK! Distinctive Volunteer Park contemporary offers unique and dramatic spaces for entertaining and showcasing your art. Light-filled, with 20 ft ceilings and interesting angles, this gallery-like home is an art collector’s dream. Designed to be a showplace, it lends itself well to both lavish galas and intimate candlelit dinners. Romantic master bedroom enjoys its own fireplace, full bath and walk-in closet. Third floor has had incarnations as family room, office, workout space or 4th bedroom and opens onto a king-sized deck for fair weather fun.

3 BR/3 baths, 2-car garage.

$1,125,000 MLS # 32629

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206-963-3877

RE/MAX Metro Realty

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