Issue 26 Volume 37
Celebrating 36 Years!
FRIDAY June 26, 2009
pride events p. 5
jEWISH FEDERATION p. 4
pride idol p. 29
Seattle Gay News
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SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
2009 Pride Parade Three’s company and Grand Marshals Eric and Jamie Pedersen expecting triplets by Liz Meyer SGN Contributing Writer
At this point, Rep. Jamie Pedersen no longer courts voters; he (pro) creates them. Just next month, the 43rd Legislative District Representative’s family will literally double in size. Jamie and Eric Pedersen, along with their son, Trygve, will soon be joined by triplets. And if that weren’t amazing enough, here’s the clincher: all three of the babies are boys. Years down the road, the Pedersens, if they’re so inclined, could actually field their own start(l to r) Eric, Jamie and Trygve Pedersen ing lineup against the Globetrotnormal family. That is, as tempting whole ‘Octomom’ thing,” says Jaters. However, for all of the story’s as it may be, do not call Jamie and mie, “even though Eric and I both sensationalism, the Pedersens in- Eric “Quadradads.” see pedersen page 24 “Particularly in the wake of the sist that they just want to raise a
Tomorrow’s GLBT activists Why the Gay movement is in good hands
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer These are exciting times. These are progressive times. These times belong to us all, but our future as a community rests in the hands of the unlikeliest of heroes: LGBTQ people 30 years and younger – tomorrow’s Gays.
I recently spoke with seven LGBTQ young adults from the greater Seattle area. From a questioning teenager to a well-adjusted college student, the environment they grew up in, when and how they came out, and where their Pride rests are but a small piece of the pie for these Queers. They are energized. They are beating the drum
of equality now. They don’t want a slice of the pie they want the whole damn thing. Rest assured, the Gay movement is in good hands. GROWING UP GAY AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY Meet the video game and MTV generation. They don’t write letters because they can’t remember a time without e-mail or text messaging. Chances are their family did not sit down to a nice meal together every night – that’s assuming, of course, the parents are still married. They are latchkey kids who microwave their dinner and download music and porn while referencing Wikipedia for homework assignments. All of that is what’s on the surface. All of that is what we think we might know about the postCold War babies. But look a little deeper and what you may find will put a smile on your face. These kids are fearless. 21-year-old Jordan Petersen looks upon his youth with fondness. He said the hardest part of growing up Gay was coming to
SGN Exclusive Interview:
Cleve Jones calls for 2009 Nat'l March by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer
When Cleve Jones talks, the community listens. Now, the human rights activist, author and lecturer is asking for the LGBT community to not only listen, but to march and to protest with him October 11 in Washington D.C. I spoke with Cleve this week in a telephone interview from New York. He told me about the National March on Washington for Equality, which he believes our community has every right to demand. “We do not want a long list of demands read one by one. We have one demand and one demand only: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states,” Cleve told me. Putting an end to speculation, Cleve said the National Equality March this October is a go. Cleve’s application for a permit to hold the see gay youth page 19 march was approved by the Na-
Greg Hernandez
Henry Waymack
Kat Miller
courtesy jamie pedersen
nick ardizzone
a.m. from the corner of Union St. and 4th Ave. near Westlake Park. The parade will last approximately two and a half hours; however, it should only take about an hour from the start to reach Seattle Center. The Parade announcers’ booth will be located at West Lake Park. Parade organizers Seattle Out and Proud (SOAP) are asking that all those attending the Grand Marshal, SGN Publisher George Bakan Parade watch from the sidewalk, for their own by Shaun Knittel safety, but also because the streets SGN Staff Writer need to keep open so the Parade can keep moving. The 2009 Seattle Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, will start at 11 see marshal page 22
Cleve Jones
tional Parks Service, and so far he said he’s been getting nothing but complete cooperation from all the authorities – the D.C. police, the mayor, and the Parks Service. Cleve said almost anyone in the country could attend for well under $700. see cleve jones page 21