SGN May 15, 2009 - Section 1

Issue 20 Volume 37

Celebrating 36 Years!

GLSEN AWARds p. 13

Outrage p. 21

City council p. 16 & 17

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY May 15, 2009 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Wanda Sykes draws cheers, The Matthew Shepard paradox jeers at White House

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer The latest foot-in-mouth case out of Washington D.C. was diagnosed last month when, during House debate over a bill to expand the definition of hate crimes to include violence motivated by sexual orientation, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) claimed Matthew Shepard’s death was a “hoax.” She said the 1998 death of Shepard wasn’t a hate crime and shouldn’t be used to justify a hate crimes bill.

Boo! Hiss! Step away from the podium, madam speaker from North Carolina.

The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act passed the House after a 249175 vote last Tuesday. The bill now heads to the Senate. If signed into law, the act would provide local police and sheriff’s departments with federal resources to combat violence.

Minutes after the bill passed, the news world was abuzz with mur-

buzzphoto

How one U.S. Representative opened hate's old wounds

murs of “Rep. Foxx said what?”

Foxx was blogged, Twittered, and – every politician’s worst nightmare when they fuck up – YouTubed. With a double-click of a mouse, there was Foxx, in all her misinformed glory, babbling on about how what happened to Shepard has been used over and over again as an excuse for passing hate crimes bills. The worst part?

Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard, looked on from the House gallery during the debate, and was forced to hear a politician call her son’s brutal murder a “hoax” and an “unfortunate incident.” She heard Foxx say that her son was not killed because he was Gay. “The young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery,” Foxx said.

One day later, due to public outrage and behest, the congresswoman issued a statement saying she made a poor choice of words and said the killers deserved their punishment. Foxx said her comments didn’t convey what she meant to see shepard page 14

Wanda Sykes

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Wanda Sykes pulls no punches.

The crass comedian is known for saying exactly what is on her mind.

Still, the Obama administration asked Sykes to speak during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night at the Washington Hilton. Sykes was the first openly Gay comedian to be asked to do so.

Wanda Sykes has been called “one of the funniest stand-up comics” by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s 25 funniest people in America. Sykes’ career runs the spectrum; she’s been involved with movies, HBO comedy specials, and traveled extensively as an outspoken jokester. No one is safe once Sykes gets started.

During her recent national tour, Sykes covered such topics as Gay marriage, health care, politics, the pressures of being a woman, and the perks of getting older. Sykes came out as a Lesbian earlier this year.

Being asked to speak at the dinner was both “exciting and scary,” see SYKES page 18

Discharged Lt. Dan Choi Decline to Sign tackles "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" succeeding file photo

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer The United States Military Academy, better known as West Point, is renowned as the world’s premier leadership development institution. Each year, approximately 1,000 cadets join the “Long Gray Line” as they graduate and are commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

They become part of an exclusive group whose members have gone on to become famous war heroes, astute chief executive officers and noted politicians. Cadets develop ethically by adhering to the Cadet Honor Code, which states, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.”

Will not lie. That’s the part of the code that stood out to Army Lt. Dan Choi, as he appeared on the MSNBC Rachel Maddow show March 20 to discuss “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Choi shocked the audience, the host, and most notably the Army when he identified himself as a Gay servicemember. see dadt page 6

beyond wildest expectations

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Lt. Dan Choi

Only a week into the “Decline to Sign” Referendum 71 campaign, “our numbers are going crazy,” says Equal Rights Washington Advocacy Director Josh Friedes.

“We’re exceeding our wildest expectations!”

“In the first 72 hours of the campaign, 7500 people took the pledge not to sign [Referendum 71 petitions],” Friedes enthused. “Now, at the end of the first week, we have 15,000 pledges.”

Referendum 71 was filed by a right-wing coalition on May 4. It challenges SB 5688, the Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill passed by the state legislature in April.

Gov. Christine Gregoire announced she will sign SB 5688

into law on Monday, May 18. The signing ceremony will be held in Seattle, at the Montlake Community Center, 1618 E Calhoun Street, at 10:30 a.m.

Opponents of domestic partnership rights will then have until July 25 to gather 120,577 signatures in order to qualify Referendum 71 for the November ballot. If the measure does make it on to the ballot, supporters of domestic partnership rights will have to vote YES to approve SB 5688.

Three organizations – ERW, Join The Impact, and FUSE – launched the Decline to Sign campaign last week. They hope to prevent Referendum 71 from even coming up for a vote by persuading voters not to sign petitions essential to place it on the November ballot. see decline page 18

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Seattle Gay News

May 15, 2009

Celebrating 36 Years!

Chicken Soup Brigade still working and caring

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer One year ago, Robin Langdale told Lifelong AIDS Alliance (LLAA) executives he no longer required the Chicken Soup Brigade’s (CSB) service. The organization feeds hundreds each week with bags of groceries, fresh meals and soup. These meals are an important part of maintaining the health of people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses. Langdale, HIV positive for 23 years, utilized the service when he felt he needed it, and terminated it when he felt he did not.

“The economy is hitting everyone hard,” Langdale wrote in an e-mail to LLAA executives last month. “I stopped using the grocery and meal service because I had been given generous amounts of food and since I no longer needed it I did not want to be taking from someone who really needed it. Well, I need it now and I am told by my case manager there is a waiting list, which we proceeded to put me on.”

Langdale said he was emotionally devastated and hurt. “I have never felt so rejected and turned away by my own community,” he said.

Langdale is not alone. He shares a list with 228 clients currently not receiving CSB assistance. The average wait time is 12 weeks.

Unfortunately, said Director of Chicken Soup Brigade Nutrition Services Patrick Schultz, there is little they can do because the need for assistance has outgrown donations.

People are living longer with HIV/AIDS, Schultz told SGN. “That is a great thing, but it’s changed the role of CSB from a shortterm need to a long-term program.” People need us indefinitely, he said.

“We contacted Mr. Langdale and spoke with him at length,” Schultz told SGN. “His decision to stop using our service a year ago so that others may benefit is admirable.

We’re sorry for his present difficult situation and we hear that he feels hurt and disappointed.”

Additionally, the pool of clients CSB feed continues to grow. According to LLAA Director of Marketing and Events Asia Rau, CSB is currently serving more people than at any time in its 25-year history. Thousands benefit from the food program every month.

“To cut costs and maintain quality services – and feed more people – during these tough economic times, LLAA eliminated

positions, limited our hours of operation, and conducted program specific cost-cutting measures such as eliminating expensive menu items from our prepared meal program,” Rau told SGN. “At some point we would love to bring back the pot roast and mashed potatoes, but for now were are concerned with feeding as many people as possible.”

“Our hope is that we can move clients through the waitlist and onto food services as quickly as possible,” Schultz said. “As space on the program becomes available, please know that we quickly make resources available to those in greatest need on the list.”

Even though federal funding for food services to people with HIV/AIDS in King County shrank by 20% in the past year, CSB is bracing for an anticipated 50% reduction in stating funding next month. That puts CSB in a bind, say officials, as the organization relies heavily on donations from the community in their effort to sustain the program.

“We continuously reach out to donors, event attendees and the public to explain what CSB does for clients,” said Rau. “We just completed Dining Out for Life April 30, which will greatly benefit CSB as well as LLAA as a whole.”

Still, its not enough, said Schultz. “I don’t want to say we need more from the community [Capitol Hill] because they are already so supportive – be we can always use a little more.”

The public can help by donating directly

to CSB, officials said. “You can help by participating in Care to Shop through our grocery store partners as a volunteer or shopper, set up a food drive at your work, school, or church,” said Rau. The Chicken Soup Brigade’s range of responsibility is all-encompassing. The organization not only feeds; they inform. CSB provides nutrition support for people in need throughout a four-county area that includes King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap. Depending on clients’ eligibility, CSB officials told SGN, clients receive a bag of frozen, prepared meals once per week, and/or a bag of groceries. Schultz said the clients who are mobile can pick up their food at one of several pickup centers. Housebound clients receive delivery.

If you get down to everything that CSB does, it quickly becomes clear just how much the organization is in need of volunteers and donations. On a weekly basis, CSB provides over 1,000 bags of groceries, distribute 4,500 meals through a pick-up center and the home delivery program – plus, it takes 80 volunteers to deliver groceries and meals to CSB homebound clients.

“We don’t want to have a waiting list,” said Rau. “But this is to make sure our limited resources go to those who are most in need, therefore we have a list, which we prioritize according to the sickest and poorest people first.”

CSB and LLAA have many opportunities to volunteer or donate. For more information you can visit their website at www.LLAA. org.

Operation Shine begins in Seattle The battle to save LGBT homeless youth gets underway May 22

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Four activists, Chloe Noble, Nicole Tomlin, Jill Hardman and Matt Rouse, are walking across America for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) homeless youth Saturday, May 23. The walk, which begins in Seattle, will cover 6,000 miles to raise awareness about Queer homeless youth in America. Their entire walk will be homeless, which will give them a unique opportunity to film homeless youth all over the United States. The four walkers will be on foot six to nine hours a day, or 15 to 20 miles completed with 50-pound backpacks.

They estimate Pride Walk 2009 to take six to nine months to complete.

The numbers are hard to contemplate.

The sheer volume is stupefying. As many as 1.3 million homeless youth sleep outdoors at night and, according to Noble, over 400,000 of those youth are LGBT kids – that puts their numbers at 40% within the group. A reason, says Noble, why LGBT Civil Rights are inseparable from the epidemic of homeless youth in America is because Queer youth make up nearly half of their population.

“There is a movement happening, and we’re calling it Operation Shine,” Noble told SGN in an exclusive interview. “Now is the time for us to stand with those who would bring families together, not tear them apart. Now is the time for us to feel the impact that senseless discrimination is having on children all over this country.”

Operation Shine will take place in each city the walk takes them. In Seattle, Shine is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, May 22 at West Lake Center Park – one day before the walk across the country begins. Chloe describes each Shine as a sit-in where homeless youth and their supporters can meet. Art will be

created at each Shine and brought to all locations on their itinerary.

Noble invites everyone to next Friday’s Shine. She said it’s time for people to understand that this impact directly affects all LGBT people.

“When one of us is assaulted or dehumanized, all of us are assaulted or dehumanized,” she told SGN. “When a portion of our society lacks the compassion and integrity to allow all citizens even their most basic human rights, the impact is intensely polarizing and inhumane.”

This is why the battle is dividing our country in two and driving children into the streets, she said. According to statistics, these LGBT youth go on to be homeless where they are more at risk than their heterosexual peers for physical abuse, sexual exploitation, chemical or alcohol dependency, discrimination and death.

After they set out on foot May 23 from Seattle, their journey will take them to San Francisco, then east to Boston, Mass. New York, and then Washington D.C. From there they will move southwest to New Orleans, La. and end their journey in Austin, Tex. Chloe said, “To put it simply, we are walking because we believe that our youth should not have to live on the streets, sleeping in the cold, wondering how they are going to get their own needs met.”

Throughout April, Chloe and volunteers filmed homeless youth in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Pride Walk 2009 is based. The rate of Queer homeless in Utah is higher than the national average. Their stories will be the first to go on the website (pridewalk2009.org), with the youth from other cities to follow.

“What we will show you will appall and astonish you,” Chloe said. “You will be moved to tears and sometimes even rolling with laughter. You’ll fall in love with this

Visit us online www.sgn.org

unseen nation and long to reach out to them in every way you can.”

She said this underground society of children is not often seen or understood by those outside it. They are the children of the urban jungle – something she hopes to change with Pride Walk 2009 and each Operation Shine as they take place around the country.

“We are ready to tell their stories of personal defeat and of triumph. Collectively, their story is one of great courage and surprising wisdom,” Chloe said to SGN. “They have much to teach us.”

The bottom line, she said, is that these youth belong in a home. They need assistance now, and they need it without exception.

May 15, 2009

Seattle Gay News

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How low can they go?

by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer It was unusually satisfying to watch beauty contestant turned Bible-thumper Carrie Prejean crash and burn. In the bat of an eyelash, she went from Christian role model to wannabe underwear model after racy pictures of her surfaced. “They were quite inappropriate and certainly not photos befitting a beauty queen,” Alicia Jacobs, a Miss USA judge, told NBC’s Today Show.

The verb “strip” is the one most associated with Prejean’s name these days. She stripped her clothes, may be stripped of her Miss California crown, and was certainly stripped of her moral authority as a spokesperson for marriage. In her brief stint as America’s scold, she forgot to memorize one Bible passage: “Judge not lest thou be judged.”

What’s amazing is that the circus-like antics of Prejean are the rule, not the exception, for today’s anti-Gay activists. There has clearly been a brain drain among our opponents – with the conservative intelligentsia largely running from GLBT issues. Filling the vacuum are the vacuous, with little to offer other than comedic relief.

For example, Joe the Plumber plunged into culture wars with his usual thoughtful advice: “I personally still think it’s wrong ... you know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do – what man and woman are for. I’ve had some friends that are ac-

www.sgn.org

tually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children.”

Joe the Plumber looked like Einstein compared to Maine Rep. Bernard Ayotte (R).

During a state House debate on marriage equality (passed 89-58), Ayotte said that he couldn’t support the legislation because it would provide legal protections to people whom he said suffered from hormonal imbalances.

“By all indications, homosexuality in human beings seems to be generated by imbalances in the human body,” Ayotte said.

“As legislators, it is important that we do not base our statutes on genetic aberrations.

“Even by the low standards set by anti-Gay activists, this level of ignorance was shocking, yet indicative of how far the quality of our opponents has fallen.

Joining the chorus of anti-Gay clowns was former Washington, DC mayor Marion Barry, best remembered for smoking crack and allowing the city’s rats to grow as large as cats.

A longtime Gay rights supporter, he was the lone city councilman to vote against a bill, passed 12-1, to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the District.

“All hell is going to break lose,” Barry predicted. “We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this.” Columnist Leonard Pitts summarized Barry’s political cowardice when he said the former mayor “punked out.”

Sharing the anti-Gay spotlight was caustic talk show host Michael Savage and the Kansas preacher noted for picketing military funerals with “God Hates Fags” signs, Fred Phelps and his wife, Shirley. They were banned from visiting England and publicly scorned for their bigoted views. While I do not agree with their banishment (neither do

civil liberties groups), it does force social conservatives into the PR nightmare of having to turn Savage and Phelps into “creep celebres.”

Even the “mainstream” anti-Gay activists seem to have come unhinged. In stating his opposition to federal hate crime legislation, James Dobson appeared in a video where he falsely claimed that the inclusion of “sexual orientation” opened the door to, “Bisexuality, exhibitionism, fetishism, incest, necrophilia, pedophilia, prostitution, sexual masochism, voyeurism, bestiality.” Dobson added for effect, “I have to ask, ‘have we all gone completely mad?’”

Oddly enough, Dobson lives in Colorado, one of 12 states that have a hate crime law offering protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There are also 31 states that offer such protection based solely on sexual orientation. In these 43 states, can Dobson point to a problem with hate crime laws being applied to necrophilia or bestiality? If not, his bizarre and paranoid ranting says more about his overactive imagination, than it does about the reality of such laws.

Of course, for the sake of sheer amusement, we can’t leave out the absurdity of Bristol Palin hawking abstinence. With baby in tow and embittered ex-boyfriend on her tail, she is the poster girl for the social conservative mantra “do as I say, not as I do.”

Let me reiterate, so you can fully appreciate and savor the situation. The new faces of social conservatism are: Carrie Prejean, Joe the Plumber, Marion Barry, Bernard Ayotte, Michael Savage, Fred Phelps and Bristol Palin.

With such luminaries, it should be no surprise that the GLBT community has had a string of incredible victories. Somewhere in the process of passing the torch to the next generation, anti-Gay activists have stumbled and are in danger of burning down the homophobic house. © 2009 Wayne Besen. All rights reserved.

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

May 15, 2009

Celebrating 36 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

AFSC SPEAKER’S BUREAU LOOKING FOR QUEER YOUTH The American Friends Service Committee’s speaker’s bureau, Out Spoken, is looking for Queer youth to interview about their life experiences and hopes for the future to expand and enrich their panel presentations.

Participants will receive a gift card and much appreciation for helping out. Contact LT at ltan@AFSC.org for more information and to set up an interview.

PROM RESOURCES FOR LGBT STUDENTS http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/ youth/39462res20090424.html LAMBERT HOUSE SEEKING VOLUNTEER GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lambert House, Seattle’s LGBTQ youth center, is currently seeking a volunteer graphic designer. This position requires experience working in graphic design at a professional level. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Katie@ lamberthouse.org or call 206-322-2515 ext *814.

PROP 8 DAY-OF-DECISION ACTION AT WESTLAKE CENTER The day the California Supreme Court rules on Proposition 8, cities throughout the country will gather in celebration or protest of their decision. If the court overturns Prop 8 we will celebrate our growing equality. If the court upholds Prop 8, it will deny LGBTQ people their right to marry in California and we will protest. Either way, we will take the national movement forward by working together for equality right here in Washington State. The action will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the day the decision is announced. Similar actions are being planned around the country. www.dayofdecision. org; www.dayofdecision.wetpaint.com.

GSBA HOSTS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DINNER On Friday, May 15, the Greater Seattle Business Association, Greater Seattle’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, will host their annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., at The Westin Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave. $85-members, $95-non members, $50-students, walk-ins are $10 more at the door if seating is available.

“Bring your Kleenex as we cheer on our scholarship recipients. We expect to be giving out 26 scholarships to future leaders of our community. Your generosity has made this possible and it is a great place to celebrate philanthropy. Consider sponsoring a student and/or their family to attend – buy a table and have a student sit with you and share their story and vision.”

Register online at www.thegsba.org or call 206-363-9188.

“See what’s behind the curtain. We all have public and private personas. We’re all circus freaks on the inside. Diverse Harmony’s latest production, Freak Show celebrates the bizarre and the sublime, the outrageous and exasperating, the distasteful and haunting, for pennies per peek. This production features songs hand-picked from various sources such as Broadway and popular music, as well as original compositions by our performers, to tell the story of a troupe of “freaks” in a traveling side show. These “freaks” perform their garish acts, but also give you a behind the scenes look at what makes them tick emotionally – a sort of peek behind the curtain.” Admission is $10.

Ages 22 and under complimentary.

Q-SQUARED BOOK GROUP On Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m., at the Capitol Hill Branch Library, 425 Harvard Ave. E., the Q-Squared Book Group will discuss the book, Hero, by Perry Moore. Booklist’s review said, “Moore’s casting of a Gay teen hero in a high-concept fantasy marks a significant expansion of GLBTQ literature into genres that reflect teens’ diverse reading interests; given the mainstream popularity of comics-inspired tales, the average, ordinary Gay teen superhero who comes out and saves the world will raise cheers from within the GLBTQ community and beyond.”

Q-Squared Book Group is open to men who are interested in Gay literature and always welcomes new members. For more information, visit www.qsquared.org.

EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION SPRING LEAGUE UNDERWAY The Open Division Spring League is underway every Sunday through June 21 (except Memorial Day weekend) at the North SeaTac Park, S. 128th St. & 20th Ave. S., SeaTac, WA (C Division Teams) and Celebration Park, 11th Pl. S. & S. 324th St. (1111 S. 324th St.), Federal Way (A, B & D Division Teams). (Check website for possible rainout announcements and Saturday rainout day schedules.) Both fields are accessible by public transit. For further information, including teams, league sponsors and schedule of play, visit www.emeraldcitysoftball.org.

SAFE SCHOOLS COALITION PRESENTS “STRAIGHTLACED” FILM PREMIERE On Sunday, May 17, from 2-5 p.m., at AMC Pacific Place, 600 Pine St., join the Safe Schools Coalition for a film premiere screening of Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up, followed by a panel discussion and reception at Il Fornaio, in the Pacific Place atrium. “Straightlaced takes a powerful and intimate look at how popular pressures around gender and sexuality are shaping the lives of American teens. The film proudly showcases the diverse and unscripted voices of more than 50 youth from a wide range of high schools across the country who speak with breathtaking honesty, insight, and humor about gender roles and the struggle to be who they really are.”

Tickets: General – $8 advance, $10 at the door; Students/Seniors – $4 advance, $5 at the door. http://groundspark.org/upcomingscreenings; www.safeschoolscoalition.org.

SYTTENDE MAI WEEKEND HAPPY HOUR FUNDRAISER On Friday, May 15, from 5-8pm, join the Kwanchai/Jonathan Mathews Design Group for a happy hour fundraiser at the Nordic Heritage Museum, 3014 NW 67th St. to kick off the Syttende Mai, Norwegian Constitution Day weekend celebration. Proceeds benefit the Nordic Heritage Museum.

SYTTENDE MAI WEEKEND For more information and to RSVP, visit “SYTTENDE GAY” CELEBRATION www.kwanchai.net or contact Christina at On Sunday, May 17, from 3-6:30 p.m., 206-262-1022 or Christina@kwanchai.net. celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day in (See related event on Sunday, May 17.)

Ballard with Scandigayvians and friends at The BalMar, 5449 Ballard Ave. NW and DIVERSE HARMONY watch the Ballard Syttende Mai parade PRESENTS FREAK SHOW with a turnout of over 15,000. $10 VIP pass SPRING CONCERT On Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May includes exclusive access to patio and up16, at 8 p.m., at Seattle First Baptist Church, stairs, 10% off inspired food and cocktails.

1111 Harvard Ave., Diverse Harmony, the $2 of each $10 VIP pass will be donated to nation’s first Gay/straight alliance youth the Nordic Heritage Museum. For more inchorus, presents Freak Show, a musical the- formation and to RSVP, visit www.kwanchai.net or call Christina at 206-262-1022. atre experience.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

(See related event on Friday, May 15.)

SEATTLE SNAP PRESENTS MIZZ GAY CHEERLEADER CHEER-OFF CONTEST On Sunday, May 17, from 6-9:30 p.m., at Kaladi Brothers Coffee, 511 E. Pike St., join Seattle SNAP (Sober Now and Proud) for their first season Sponsor Night! Come out and support the Emerald City Softball Association’s first and only Recovery softball team. The event will feature a drag cheer-off contest, so prepare your best outfits and most exciting cheers! $5 suggested donation.

NW TWO-SPIRIT SOCIETY SOCIAL On Monday, May 18, from 6-8 p.m., at the Lifelong AIDS Alliance Seneca Conference Room, 1002 E. Seneca St. (entrance off lower parking lot), Two-Spirit people and allies are invited to a NW Two-Spirit Society social. “We are looking to re-establish a group that will meet the needs of our community, but also provide outreach to the greater Native community. To make this happen, we ask you to please bring your ideas, thoughts, hopes and effort to make this group successful again. This will be a potluck so if you are able to bring food/drink, great. If not, come anyway. We want you!” For more information, contact Phoenix at SeattleTwoSpirit@ hotmail.com.

GAY CITY HOSTS CHATROOM: COMRADES On Monday, May 18, starting at 7:30 p.m., Gay City hosts their monthly drop-in discussion group, at the Gay City offices, 511 E. Pike St. This month’s topic is: “Comrades.”

“What can you figure out about a guy from the company he keeps? What is camaraderie? How and where do you meet folks to cultivate new friendships? Bring your motley crew of friends (str8 to Queer, bois to girls) and celebrate your love for one another at this lively discussion.” For more information, call 206-860-6969 or visit www. gaycity.org.

HIV VACCINE AWARENESS DAY www.bethegeneration.org COMMUNITY FORUM WITH NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE Come out to hear from Darlene Nipper, Deputy Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) on Thursday, May 21, at 7:15 p.m., at POCAAN, 1609 19th Ave. (at E. Madison St.).

FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY HOSTS 4TH FRIDAY FORUM: “STRIKE! WHEN UNIONS HELD THE REINS IN SEATTLE” Time for a labor resurgence! Organizers from a cross-section of unions facing layoffs and take-backs during this economic crisis will share their perspectives and strategies for re-igniting the labor movement at a public forum on Friday, May 22, 7:30 p.m. at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S. Panelists include Salvador Castillo, a shop steward at the University of Washington, Mike Jung of Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity (OWLS) and OPEIU Local 8, Emily Lynch, a member of the United Auto Workers representing graduate students at the UW, and Doreen McGrath, a Martin Luther King County Labor Council delegate from IFPTE Local 17 and City Light employee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Door donation is $3.00. Snack plates served for a $6.00 donation (sliding scale and work exchanges available for the unemployed). Sponsored

by Freedom Socialist Party. Wheelchair accessible. For information or childcare call 206-722-2453 or FSPseattle@mindspring. com.

CAMP TEN TREES 2009 DINNER & AUCTION COMING UP IN MAY “All Around The Campfire,” Camp Ten Trees 2009 dinner and auction benefit will be held on Saturday, May 23, starting at 6 p.m., at the South Lake Union Armory, Naval Reserve Building, Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N. Tickets are $65. For more information and tickets, visit www.camptentrees.org or call 206-288-9568.

May 15, 2009

ENTRE HERMANOS’ LATINO PAGEANT On Saturday, May 23, join Entre Hermanos for their annual Latino Pageant. The event will be held at Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave., starting at 6 p.m. with dinner and a nohost bar.

This annual pageant is the signature event for Entre Hermanos, which brings the Latino LGBT community (and friends) together in a wonderful celebration. The pageant culminates with the selection of the King, Queen, and Lesbian Queen, who then go on to represent the organization during the year, for which their main priority is to create visibility and a positive image for Entre Hermanos.

The pageant brings youth and adults together to socialize, meet new people, and find a space where sexual diversity is our greatest value. We also recognize those people and institutions that have worked on behalf of our community.

The spirit of the Latino pageant is to provide a framework for celebration, recognition of our true diversity and acceptance; upon which our work as an organization revolves. We attempt to recognize the talent and exuberance of Latino culture, our desire to succeed, and take our place in the spectrum of cultures living in this community.

For ticket information, call 322-7700 or stop by the Entre Hermanos office at 1505 Broadway (next to Tully’s). www.entrehermanos.org.

KCTS BROADCASTS IN THE LIFE TV On Sunday, May 24, at midnight, In The Life TV will be broadcast on KCTS-TV, Channel 9. “In the May episode we investigate the AIDS epidemic in communities of color, learn how two organizations are addressing the particular needs of their communities, and meet a filmmaker inspired by an artist and activist.” This episode can also be viewed online at your convenience at www.inthelifetv.org.

NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLDS SIXTH ANNUAL BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, “OUT FOR BUSINESS,” IN SEATTLE MAY 28-30 The NGLCC will hold their sixth annual Business & Leadership Conference, “Out for Business,” May 28-30, at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel. The three-day event includes a series of business symposia, keynote speakers, panel discussions and special events designed to educate and connect attendees. Various tracks of programming are designed to meet the interests and needs of LGBT business owners and entrepreneurs, allied companies and NGLCC affiliate chambers from around the country. The Out for Business Conference also connects local and national LGBT businesses with NGLCC’s corporate partners for contracting opportunities. For a complete list visit www. nglcc.org/corporate/partners. For complete information and to register for the conference, visit www.nglcc.org/Seattle2009.

GLSEN/WA PRESENTS 5TH ANNUAL GSA AWARDS On Friday, June 5, join GLSEN/WA (the Washington state chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) for their 5th Annual GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance) Awards at The Bush School, 3400 E. Harrison St. The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a reception; the awards ceremony follows at 7 p.m. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, good conversation, live entertainment, silent auction and an inspiring and heart-warming awards ceremony. Celebrate the courageous youth and allies who seek to end anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in Washington’s K-12 schools. These kids are doing incredible work in our state to support each other, raise consciousness and fight bigotry in their schools! Tickets are $25-general; $10-students and can be purchased in advance at 1-800-838-3006 or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/58138. Business casual dress suggested. For more information and to support the work of GLSEN/ WA, visit www.glsenwa.org, email mail@ glsenwa.org or call 206-330-2099.

Seattle Gay News

5

NATIONAL

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer file photo

HRC President Joe Solmonese says Gay marriage is on the march.

Maine legalizes same-sex marriage; N.H. marriage bill on governor’s desk Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage May 6.

The measure passed 89-57 in the House of Representatives and 21-13 in the Senate.

The law will take effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends in June.

Anti-Gay activists could disrupt the process if they collect 55,000 signatures during the same time frame to force a voter referendum on the law.

That would stop the law from coming into force until voters had their say in the November 2009 or June 2010 election.

In his signing statement, Baldacci said: “In the past, I opposed Gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions. I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to

DADT

continued from cover On April 23, Choi received his discharge notice. The paperwork’s message was clear: “This is to inform you that sufficient basis exists to initiate action for withdrawal of Federal Recognition in the Army National Guard for moral or professional dereliction. … Specifically, you admitted publicly that you are homosexual which constitutes homosexual conduct in violation of AR 60020, paragraph 4 – 19a(3). Your actions negatively affected the good order and discipline of the New York Army National Guard.”

Choi was enraged. He could understand the attack on him – after all, admitting you are a homosexual is breaking the rules – but there was another accusation that made the

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Seattle Gay News

civil marriage. Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person’s civil rights or be discriminated against.’”

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese commented: “The march towards marriage equality for all loving, committed couples continues across this country. It’s becoming increasingly clear that legislators across the nation understand that it’s simply the right thing to do.”

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said: “It’s an exciting moment, and one that affirms the national momentum building for marriage equality. ... People nationwide recognize that the fundamental protection specifically provided through the institution of marriage is what is necessary to achieve genuine fairness.”

Also on May 6, New Hampshire’s Legislature completed passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and sent it to Gov. John Lynch.

Lynch, a Democrat, told reporters: “I have a responsibility as governor to do what I think is best for the people of New Hampshire. I will continue to talk with the Legislature and with the people of New Hampshire about that bill. ... We have been flooded with calls. People can’t even get through.

The phone lines are basically jammed. [But] I’m not going to be guided by the numbers of calls that come into the office. That will not have an impact on my decision.”

Same-sex marriage also is legal in Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts, becomes legal in Vermont in September, and was legal for five months last year in California until voters amended the constitution to put a stop to it. A ruling in a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the amendment will be

infantry platoon leader, Iraq War veteran, linguist and West Point graduate sick to his stomach: he was accused of affecting the cohesion of his unit by stating he was Gay. A well-trained leader of soldiers, Choi was not about to take this lying down. He returned to the Rachel Maddow show last week with a clear message for President Obama, the Army, and the estimated 65,000 LGBT servicemembers.

“I intend to fight [the discharge] tooth and nail,” Choi said to Maddow and MSNBC viewers. “I believe ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is wrong, and what we really need to be encouraging soldiers to do is to don’t lie, don’t hide, don’t discriminate, and don’t weaken the military.”

With discharge papers in hand, Choi is not alone.

GAY SOLDIERS STILL BEING DISCHARGED “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is the current U.S Military policy on homosexuals serving in the armed forces. The policy states you can serve as long as you are not open about your sexuality, or act on it, for that matter. Since the policy was put into place in 1993, nearly 13,000 men and women have been separated from the military. Basically, the government fires servicemembers for being Gay or Lesbian at a rate of at least one, often two, every day.

Aubrey Sarvis is executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), an organization that provides pro bono, confidential legal services to more than 9,000 clients who were kicked out of the military by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“Gay and Lesbian soldiers continue to get fired on this president’s watch,” said Sarvis.

SLDN has set out to hold President Obama to his campaign promise of overturning the policy, she said.

On the 2008 campaign trail, Obama said, “America is ready to get rid of ‘Don’t Ask,

May 15, 2009

issued by the California Supreme Court by ruling that denying Gay couples access to June 3. Gay couples also can marry in Bel- the institution was unconstitutional. gium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Same-sex marriage also is legal in ConSouth Africa, Spain and Sweden. necticut and Massachusetts, becomes legal in Maine and Vermont in September, and M*A*S*H actor comes out was legal for five months last year in CaliActor David Ogden Stiers, who played fornia until voters amended the constitution Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III in to put a stop to it. A ruling in a lawsuit over the ‘70s TV series M*A*S*H, came out of the constitutionality of the amendment will the closet back in March with the website be issued by the California Supreme Court Gossip-Boy.com but other media failed to by June 3. The New Hampshire Legislature notice until now. also has passed a same-sex marriage bill.

Stiers, 66, said his main motivation for Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, is mulling breaking down the door was his desire to whether to sign it. find a partner.

Gay couples also can marry in Belgium, “There have been questions over the Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South years and I now feel a tad more comfort- Africa, Spain and Sweden. able in discussing my personal life,” he said. “[M]any of my fears were in modern times D.C. Council recognizes self-invented. ... I just continued using them Gay marriages as an excuse long after the call for conservafrom elsewhere tive private lives passed.”

The city council of Washington, D.C., “I wish to spend my life’s twilight being voted 12-1 May 5 to recognize same-sex just who I am,” he said. “I could claim noble marriages performed in states and nations reasons as coming out in order to move Gay that allow them. rights forward, but I must admit it is for far Councilmember Marion Barry, the city’s more selfish reasons. Now is the time I wish former mayor, cast the only vote against the to find someone and I do not desire to force bill, claiming it reflected the views of his any potential partner to live a life of extreme black constituents. discretion with me.”

“All hell is going to break loose,” Barry And what kind of boyfriend is he looking told reporters. “We may have a civil war. for?

The black community is just adamant “Someone both mature and youthful. Who against this. What you’ve got to understand has a good sense of who they are and where is 98 percent of my constituents are black they are heading. They need to appreciate and we don’t have but a handful of openly the finer things in life, as over the years I’ve Gay residents. Secondly, at least 70 perdeveloped certain tastes. The more lusty side cent of those who express themselves to me of me seeks a man with developed arms, as about this are opposed to anything dealing that has always appealed to me.” with this issue. The ministers think it is a sin and I have to be sensitive to that.”

Lesbian Missouri senator Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the legislamarries in Iowa tion, which sent it to the U.S. Congress Openly Lesbian Missouri state Sen. Jo- where laws passed by the D.C. Council can lie Justus, D-Kansas City, and her partner, be overridden, though that is considered an Shonda Garrison, got married in Iowa City, unlikely outcome in this instance.

Iowa, May 1 along with 16 other Missouri New York state also recognizes same-sex Gay couples who took a bus from St. Louis. marriages that take place in U.S. states and “I thought about it long and hard before foreign countries that permit them. making the decision to go ahead,” Justus told The Kansas City Star. “You never can With assistance from Bill Kelley tell what political fallout there will be.”

Same-sex marriage became legal in Iowa on April 27 following a state Supreme Court

Don’t Tell.’ That work should’ve started a long time ago. It will start when I take office.” All that is required is leadership, Obama said.

The president is drawing fire from an increasingly annoyed LGBT public because during his first 100 days, he never addressed the issue publicly. Gay activists and advocate organizations like SLDN are saying he can – and should – reinstate Lt. Choi.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, couldn’t agree more.

Sestak followed Choi’s second Maddow interview and did not mince words about the current policy in place regarding Gays in the military.

“Congress, with the president, needs to act upon this,” he said. “I have appreciated that the president is rightly focused on economic security now with this budget, but I believe this summer or early this fall that we need to correct this.”

GAY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FIGHTS DADT KnightsOut.org, an organization of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender U.S. Military Academy Alumni and their supporters was the real reason why Choi was on the Maddow show in the first place.

Choi is a founding member of the organization, whose mission is to advocate for the rights of LGBT soldiers to openly serve their country, prepare West Point graduates and cadets to lead in a military where LGBT soldiers are allowed to serve openly, and be role models and leaders for LGBT soldiers living under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” by speaking out when they must be silent.

All KnightsOut.org members are West Point graduates or a supporter of their mission.

“I commanded two companies when I was in the Army, I know that order and discipline are maintained by leaders who fairly enforce high standards of conduct,” Chair of Knights Out Becky Kanis told SGN. “There

is no need for separate rules governing the conduct of straight and Gay soldiers. The existing rules barring fraternization and harassment are more than sufficient for all soldiers, regardless of their sexual orientation.”

When talking with Choi or Kanis, it quickly becomes clear they still fall back on their West Point training when making decisions – something their former professors and mentors should be proud of. Speaking out in the manner that Choi did took bravery, a quality you’d think the Army looks for in a leader.

“At West Point graduation, we swore to do the right thing,” said Choi. Referencing the Code of Conduct once more, he said, “Telling LGBT servicemembers to lie about who they are is immoral.”

Kanis agrees with Choi. The training the two former Army leaders received at the U.S. Military Academy prepared them to do the right thing, to follow orders, but only if they were lawful and not immoral. They believe, as many do, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is immoral.

“At West Point, we were taught to balance two objectives that sometimes seem at odds with one another: accomplish the mission and take care of your soldiers,” Kanis told SGN. “In this case, our commander-in-chief can easily tackle both,” Kanis points out.

“Allowing LGBT soldiers, like Lt. Choi, to serve openly without having to hide or lie about anything will further enhance the national security of the United States and create a command climate within the military that is respectful of the service and contributions of all soldiers.”

SLDN and KnightOut.org both launched campaigns this month asking supporters to call the White House switchboard to remind President Obama to make good on his campaign promise. Mr. President, the time has come to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Celebrating 36 Years!

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

Lesbian named British national poet laureate Queen Elizabeth II named openly Lesbian Carol Ann Duffy as Britain’s national poet laureate on May 1. She is also the first woman to hold the post.

The job includes writing poems for royal weddings, funerals and other official occasions, but Duffy said she will do so only when inspiration comes her way.

The appointment lasts 10 years.

Duffy, 53, is very popular in the United Kingdom and her work is taught in schools.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown called her “a truly brilliant modern poet who has stretched our imaginations by putting the whole range of human experiences into lines that capture the emotions perfectly.”

St. Petersburg activists stage “silent flash mob” About 70 GLBT activists staged a “silent flash mob” on Nevsky Prospekt, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 25.

Members of the group Coming Out and the Russian LGBT Network taped their mouths shut to mark the International Day of Silence and walked the city’s main street handing out leaflets and “silent cards.”

About 4,000 pieces of literature were distributed during the 90-minute action.

“The reaction of passersby was extremely positive: so many of them were seeing our large groups, they come up themselves and took leaflets,” the organizers said in an English-language statement. “On the way back the participants of the flashmob virtually see hardly single leaflets thrown out, which is the evidence of the fact that citizens read them and considered interesting for themselves.”

The organizers said the successful action demonstrated that “the LGBT community of Petersburg is interested not only in entertainments, but also in human rights events.”

Jon Voss/QX

Same-sex marriages begin in Sweden Sweden’s new law allowing Gay couples to marry took effect May 1.

“It means that our love is worth the same as everybody else’s,” said Alf Karlsson, who, in one of the first ceremonies, married Johan Lundqvist at Stockholm City Hall.

Both men are local politicians in Uppsala north of Stockholm. Green Party co-leader Maria Wetterstrand officiated the wedding.

The newspaper Dagens Nyheter quoted the couple as saying jointly: “We met on the internet nine years ago. And now we are here. It has taken a few years, but finally! It is a very big and exciting day; it is wonderful that society finally accepts our relationship as a marriage.”

Sweden has had a registered partnership law since 1995 that granted same-sex couples the rights and obligations of marriage.

Gay couples also can marry in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and the U.S. states of Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and, starting in September, Maine and Vermont.

Åsa Andersson (r) and Alexandra Ejnerstam were one of the first couples to marry when Sweden's law allowing same-sex marriage came into force May 1. "Nygifta" means "Newlyweds."

Serbia to protect GLBT people.

“We reiterate our call to the authorities to condemn and investigate all attacks against human rights defenders, including LGBT activists, as well as develop a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including against sexual minorities,” the assembly wrote.

“LGBT activists often experience harassment, intimidation, threats and violence.

Although the authorities have always condemned violence against LGBT persons, it is believed that the law enforcement agencies and the courts are reluctant to deal with these cases and only a few perpetrators of attacks have actually been brought to justice and punished.”

Spanish Gay man jailed under Franco regime compensated A Spanish Gay man who spent 94 days in prison during the Franco era for allegedly posing a danger to society has become the first such victim to be compensated by the government.

Antoni Ruiz received 4,000 euros (US$5,360) courtesy of the Tax and Economy Ministry’s Committee for Compensation to Ex-Social Prisoners.

Francisco Franco, a fascist dictator who was head of state from 1947 until his death Gays march in Kirov, Russia in 1975, jailed homosexuals in large numA group of GLBT people marched in bers under laws that considered them delinKirov, Russia, May 3 to protest discrimina- quents, vagrants and dangers to society. tion in the workplace.

Organizers said it was “the first action of British Muslims think LGBTs in Kirov.” They carried flags and Gay sex is immoral banners and chanted, “Love is not a crime” A new Gallup poll of Muslims in the Unitand “Homophobia is fascism.” ed Kingdom, Germany and France found The march ended when riot police arrived that not one of 1,001 Muslims questioned and the participants scattered. Some march- in the UK thinks Gay sex is morally accepters blended in among other pedestrians and able. some were detained by police, then later reBy contrast, 35 percent of Muslims living leased. in France had no problem with the morality Kirov has a population of about 458,000 of homosexual acts. and is about 550 miles (917 km) east of British Muslims also were found to have Moscow. more conservative opinions than Muslims in France and Germany regarding sex outCOE calls on Serbia to side of marriage, pornography, abortion and protect GLBT people suicide.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in late April strongly urged With assistance from Bill Kelley

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Seattle Gay News

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V8, and for thousands less than an RL. Just for practicality, living in the Northwest, I do wish there was an optional all-wheel-drive version. I’ve read some complaints that the ride is a bit stiff in the Genesis, but after spending a week in it, a too-stiff ride wasn’t even something that came up on radar.

The same great design esthetics of the exterior follows into the cabin. Hyundai again takes the “best-of” approach in their design philosophy and gives you a functional, roomy interior with high-end luxury appointments. Although, for a high-end car, I don’t get it why Hyundai made a tilt/ telescopic steering wheel as an option – that seems a bit odd. Also, I like the spacious trunk, but I don’t get why the rear seats don’t fold down, but I also always seem to be hauling oversized stuff around, so that’s my pet peeve.

Okay, for an MSRP of $36,000, what do you get?

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 comes packed with a host of standard features, and a pricey luxury package. Here’s a look at some of my favorites:

2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8

by J.T. Hills SGN Contributing Writer

• Rear seat doesn’t fold down • Available all-wheel-drive would be nice

Top • High-end look and feel • Powerful 3.8-liter V6 • Spacious interior

The Genesis is Hyundai’s all-new flagship rear-wheel-drive entry-level luxury sports sedan. Offered in two versions, the Genesis 3.8 is powered by a 290-hp 3.8 liter V-6 with an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission, and the Genesis 4.6, which is powered by a 4.6-liter 375-hp V8 engine and ZF six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai describes the Genesis as delivering the interior luxury of top European luxury sedans, world-class dynamics and the latest high-tech features at the price of entry-level premium brand vehicles. The Genesis moves the Hyundai brand up-market from its roots as a manufacturer of inexpensive, practical vehicles.

After spending a week with the 2009 Hyundai 3.8, I’ve assimilated, corrugated, encapsulated, conjugated, and insinuated my own observations, and here they are:

Bottom • Some fit and finish details are a bit cheesy

Wow, that’s a really pretty car.

So, what is it?

For most, your car tends to be one of the most expensive purchases you make in a lifetime. Call it the narcissist in me, but if I’m writing out a big check for something each month for five years, I want an ego stroke. Traditionally when you think Hyundai, you think practical, inexpensive, great warranty, and value. Big, fast, luxury, and status aren’t words that necessary come to mind with the Hyundai brand. What the Japanese manufactures did in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Korean manufacturer Hyundai is doing now: breaking molds and changing consumer impressions.

For one, the styling of the Genesis is beautifully done. Hyundai for years has sold a lot of product by making them stylistically very similar to top-selling cars and SUVs. That really hasn’t changed with the Genesis, but instead of buying something that kind of looks like a Corolla or an Accord, the Genesis has styling influences that make it kind of look like an Infiniti or Lexus or Acura. If you’re going to go copy a car, you might as well go out and copy the best cars in the industry. Unlike the Genesis’ premium-brand competition, you can purchase more car, more horsepower, and more luxury options for thousands of dollars less.

Out on the road, the Genesis’ 3.8-liter V-6 is really a lot of fun to drive. The engine is an impressive 290 hp. It has more than competent handling and performance and, unlike Acura, Hyundai has an available 4.6-liter

Technical Features • 290 hp 3.8-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine • Aisin six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC shift function • ABS w/ electronic brake force distribution and brake assist • Electronic stability control w/ traction control • 17” alloy wheels Safety Features • Driver and front passenger dual stage airbags • Driver and front passenger side airbags • Side curtain airbags • Tire pressure monitoring system • Fog lamps Interior Features • Leather seating surfaces with heated front seats • Multi-adjustable front seats • Proximity entry w/ push-button start • Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls • AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system • Bluetooth connectivity Optional Features • Premium Plus package includes: 18” alloy wheels, 14-speaker premium sur round sound system with six-disc indash CD changer, leather-wrapped door and dash, power sunroof, tilt/ telescopic steering wheel, integrated memory system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto-defogging windshield ($3,000)

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Seattle Gay News 11

Nunya Business auction raises money to fight "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" sisters of perpetual indulgence

Two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and a model during the Nunya Business auction at C.C. Attle's Saturday.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence held a two-part auction on May 9 raising over $1,000 for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) aiding their fight to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The event, coined Nunya Business, is a play on words – as in “It’s none of your business if I’m Gay” when entering the armed services. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were decked out in their normal garb with a military twist for the occasion.

The auctions were held at C.C. Attle’s on Capitol Hill from 5 - 7 p.m. Attendees of the public auction paid money for the clothes off a military-themed model’s back – literally. The Sisters even auctioned off the model’s socks, eventually stripping the model of their unmentionables behind the veil of a Sister’s headdress. During the highly enter-

taining public auction participants had the opportunity to outbid each other at a silent auction. The pool table was turned into an auction display garnished with real articles of military dress. People bid on coveralls, combat boots, and a Desert Storm teddy bear, to name but a few items.

All proceeds were donated to the Single Service Defense Network, a non-profit, legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” according to the organizations website. SLDN provides free and confidential legal services to all those impacted by the current “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Among attendees Saturday night were former servicemembers, some of whom were ousted out of active military service due to their sexuality and the implementation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

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12 Seattle Gay News

May 15, 2009

Celebrating 36 Years!

GLSEN and NSSP send bullying message to Congress

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer A federal anti-bullying bill, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, was introduced to Congress last Tuesday. California Rep. Linda Sanchez, joined by lead cosponsors Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, introduced the bill along with 40 other bipartisan cosponsors.

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, joined with NSSP, the National Safe Schools Partnership, in supporting the bill. GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. NSSP is an informal coalition of leading national education, health, civil rights, law enforcement, youth development and other organizations committed to ensuring that America’s schools are safe for all children.

The bill requires schools that receive Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding to implement a comprehensive anti-bullying policy that enumerates categories often targeted by bullies, including race, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and others. The bill also requires states to include bullying and harassment data in their statewide needs assessments reporting.

“Students cannot learn and teachers cannot teach when they feel unsafe at school,”

GLSEN Washington State Executive Director Robert Raketty told SGN. “If we effectively make bullying and harassment a priority in K-12 instruction, we will find an increase in school attendance, GPAs and graduation rates. As important, we will see students with a higher sense of self-esteem and a decrease in youth suicides.”

Raketty said he regularly hears from students who have experienced bullying and harassment at school. “These students report being depressed, isolated and, occasionally, suicidal,” Raketty informed SGN. “With the introduction of text messaging and e-mail, it doesn’t end with the ring of the school bell,” he said.

Currently, federal law provides important support to promote school safety. However, the law does not comprehensively and expressly focus on issues of bullying or harassment – something GLSEN and NSSP would like to see change.

“Bullying is a serious public health crisis that affects countless young people every day in America’s schools, “said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard. “The recent suicides by two young boys who experienced constant bullying at school are a tragic reminder that more needs to be done to address the problem.”

The two boys Byard is talking about shocked many across the nation because the boys were very young. The media picked up on both cases calling them “bullycides.”

Politic i.Q.

l

Undermining the religious right

by Diane Silver SGN Contributing Writer The ghost of Jerry Falwell must be howling as his successors absorb one body blow after another. The movement pioneered by the late cofounder of the Moral Majority isn’t near collapse, but the religious right has been wounded by recent GLBT victories.

The pummeling began with wins for marriage equality in Vermont and Iowa, and more importantly, with the ho-hum response those victories drew from voters.

Continued progress on same-sex marriage in other New England states compounded the pain.

The increasing possibility that the Matthew Shephard Hate Crimes Act will finally become law has also hurt. The bill easily won House approval. If the Senate passes it, President Barack Obama has promised to sign the bill. While any GLBT-positive proposal faces an uncertain future in the Senate, the act counts several key swing senators as co-sponsors, including Maine’s GOP senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snow, and Republican turncoat Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Penn.

What makes these blows so damaging is that they either weaken or demolish some of the arguments the religious right has long relied on.

The first is the idea that GLBT Americans can’t be treated equally because they never have been in the past. Such a thing is simply unthinkable, the right has long argued. As our victories increase, though, the unthinkable not only becomes easy to imagine, it becomes downright boring. Witness the response to the first same-sex marriages in Iowa: We saw long lines of happy couples, and a meek handful of protestors.

The religious right has also used intimidation to push politicians to vote against their GLBT constituents. Defy us, the heirs of Falwell bluster, and we’ll destroy you at the ballot box. Every GLBT victory, though, highlights the decreasing power of the religious right. The collapse of their patron

saint, the Republican Party, hasn’t helped.

This doesn’t mean the far right can’t defeat pro-GLBT lawmakers, particularly in some states and certain legislative and Congressional districts. It does mean that a proGLBT vote is no longer an automatic ticket to electoral defeat. Every time politicians vote for equality and aren’t struck dead by the religious right, their next vote for fairness is a little easier, and the vote after that easier still.

The most significant injury, though, may have been taken by the idea that equality is an attack on religious freedom. The right has long rallied its supporters – and millions of fence-sitting moderates – by claiming that every pro-GLBT law is designed to imprison pastors and close churches. Those claims, along with the idea that equality undermines the heterosexual family, helped propel Proposition 8 to victory in California, for example.

But these arguments are getting harder to make because many recent pro-GLBT measures exempt churches. These include the bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Vermont and the Matthew Shephard Act. If that act becomes law and adds sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to the exiting federal hate crimes statute, the anti-Gay movement may face its greatest challenge. The religious right has long argued that the Matthew Shepard Act will turn anti-Gay rhetoric into a hate crime. If the bill passes, they claim, conservative ministers would be tossed into jail for speaking against homosexuality. Even Jesus, if he were alive today, would be a wanted man.

Leaving aside the absurd idea that Jesus would twist his message of compassion into sermons of damnation for peaceful, loving people, what will the religious right do if the Matthew Shepard Act becomes law and not a single minister is jailed? How much credibility will its leaders have, especially with moderates, if their doomsday predictions never come true?

In my last column, I wrote that the recent marriage victories meant little, especially politically. I stand by much of what I put in

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Carl Walker-Hoover of Springfield, Massachusetts took his own life April 6. The 11-year-old hanged himself after enduring daily taunts of being Gay, despite his mother’s weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This year’s GLSEN National Day of Silence was held in his honor April 17 – the same day Carl would’ve turned 12.

Jaheem Herrara of DeKalb County, Georgia took his own life April 16. Herrara, also 11-years-old hanged himself as well. Again, the boy took his own life due to daily taunts and bullying that went unchecked by local school officials.

Although both boys were taunted for being Gay, neither youth identified as being homosexual.

According to a 2007 GLSEN report, LGBT students face even higher levels of victimization. In fact, the GLSEN report says 9 out of 10 LGBT students say they have been harassed in the past year. Additionally, 60.8% said they felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.

GLSEN found that students at schools with a comprehensive anti-bullying policy similar to the one required by the Safe Schools Improvement Act reported harassment at a significantly reduced rate.

The schools that Jaheem and Carl attended had no such policy in place.

Locally, GLSEN Washington State provides training to school staff, educators and administrators in schools across Washington

State. Raketty said the organization provides training for students on how to start a GayStraight Alliance and how to help it grow.

The work, he says, has taken them from Port Angeles to Spokane and Bellingham to Vancouver, Washington.

“This bill will go a long way toward laying a foundation of support for students across the country by calling for the kind of policies that matter,” said Byard. “We urge Congress to pass this crucially important bill for the well being of America’s youth.”

Racketty believes the anti-bullying bill has the teeth necessary to hold school districts and administrators accountable – something the current laws do not demand.

The problem of school-based bullying and harassment continues to be the rule and not the exception in Washington State schools, he said.

“It may be cliché, but its true – human potential is a terrible thing to waste,” Racketty said from GLSEN’s Seattle office. “We have college scholarships for LGBT students once they graduate from high school. Too often, intelligent and creative LGBT youth don’t even graduate high school due to persistent harassment and bullying.”

For others, such as in the case of young Carl Walker-Hoover and Jaheem Herrara, the story has a far more tragic ending – “bullycide.”

that column: GLBT Americans remain politically flabby; we continue to face steep obstacles in winning the hearts and minds of reluctant voters.

But I have a confession: I plead guilty to falling prey to cynicism. My heart has been broken so many times by politicians and voters that it’s hard for me to accept that a victory can actually be a good thing. I keep waiting for the backlash and the “inevitable” final defeat.

We do face challenges. The heirs of Falwell aren’t going to disappear, but I’m finally getting it that something wonderful is happening.

The victories in Iowa and Vermont haven’t triggered a backlash, according to

polls taken in April. The most pessimistic survey, conducted by Quinnipiac University, showed virtually no change in support for same-sex marriage. CBS News/New York Times and ABC News/Washington Post polls showed increasing support. The ABC poll even showed a 20-point jump in just five years in support for same-sex marriage among conservatives.

Falwell must be rolling over in his grave.

Diane Silver is a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, whose work has appeared in The Progressive, Salon.com, Ms, and other national publications. She can be reached care of this publication or at PoliticalIQ@qsyndicate.com.

GLSEN’s Fifth Gay-Straight Alliance Awards It’s that time of year again when we roll out the red carpet for the courageous young people and their allies who are working to end anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in Washington’s K-12 schools.

The event will be held at the prestigious Bush School in the Madison Valley neighborhood of Seattle and is sponsored by the Gay, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Washington State.

This premier youth event features an auction (including two round-trip tickets from Alaska Air/Horizon Air, dinner for four at the Space Needle, two tickets to Seattle Men’s Chorus, and lots more!), live entertainment and hors d’oeuvres! Local celebrities, politicians and special guests will be in attendance.

Tickets are now on sale for the Fifth Annual Gay-Straight Alliance Awards and Reception. The event will be held Friday June 5 from 6-9 p.m. at the Bush School at 3400 E Harrison Street, Seattle.

It’s only $10 for students and teachers; $20 for seniors/low-income; and $25 for other guests.

For tickets, call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/58138.

are being accepted in one of eight categories: Community Involvement Organization Award Community Person of the Year Award Most Inspirational GSA Award Most Inspirational GSA Member Award GSA Leader of the Year Award Advisor of the Year Award.

GSA of the year Award Outstanding Educator of the Year Award Go to www.glsenwa.org/pdfs/2008_ awards.pdf to download the nomination form today!

Nominations are due by 5 PM on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 (disregard the date on the form, we are extending the deadline). Please email the nomination forms to joe@glsenwa.org, fax it to 206-329-1185, or mail it to our office: 1605 12th Ave, Suite 35, Seattle, WA 98122.

May 15, 2009

Seattle Gay News 13

Auction Donations Silent and live auction items are now being accepted. A donation of products and services is a great way to contribute to our upcoming event. Better yet, it’s a tax deduction!

It easy to get an item(s) to donate. Look for items around your house; ask your employer; and solicit the businesses you alAward Nominations You worked hard, now it is your turn to be ready patronize.

All donations must be received at our ofrecognized for your efforts.

Likewise, if you know of someone who fice by Monday, June 1st. went above and beyond or tried their hardCourtesy of GLSEN Washington State est to make your GSA the best it can be, then nominate them for an award. Nominations

shepard

continued from cover say. A spokesperson for Foxx said the representative especially regrets upsetting Shepard’s family.

Judy Shepard did not accept the apology. “It’s apologizing for semantics but not her sentiment, her insensitivity or her ignorance,” she said. “Everyone knew Matthew’s murder was a hate crime, but it couldn’t be prosecuted as a hate crime. We couldn’t call it a hate crime. Getting this bill passed in the House brings Gay rights up to the level of equality.”

So what happened?

Why was the Republican congresswoman so misinformed?

The answers are as complex as they are simple.

The attack and outcome What we know to be fact – what is not disputed by either side of the debate – is that Matthew Shepard, an openly Gay 21-yearold University of Wyoming student, met Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney in a bar October 7, 1998. Shortly after midnight, McKinney and Henderson offered

Matthew a ride in their car. Early that morning, Matthew was robbed, pistol whipped, tortured, tied to a fence in a remote, rural area in Laramie, Wyoming, and left to die.

McKinney and Henderson found Matthew’s address and intended to rob his home. Still tied to the fence, Matthew was discovered nearly 24 hours later by bicyclist Aaron Kreifels, who at first thought Shepard was a scarecrow. At the time of the discovery Shepard was still alive, but in a coma. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. Matthew never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead at 12:53 a.m. October 12, 1998.

Shortly thereafter, police arrested McKinney and Henderson, finding a bloody gun as well as the victim’s shoes and wallet in their truck. Henderson pleaded guilty on April 5, 1999, and agreed to testify against McKinney to avoid the death penalty. McKinney was found guilty of felony murder.

In court both men used varying rationales to defend their actions. They attempted to use a “Gay panic defense,” arguing that they were driven to temporary insanity by alleged sexual advances by Matthew. The prosecutor for the case charged that McKinney and Henderson pretended to be Gay in order to

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gain Matthew’s trust to rob him. mentaries, television movies, and most noIn the end, McKinney and Henderson re- tably in a play called The Laramie Project, ceived two consecutive life sentences. which has become one of the most produced theater pieces in America. Although mostly Why we need to hate hate accurate, there is still an air of added drama For those of us in the LGBT community, for entertainment value, which make the the hate-motivated crime sparked a national play an easy target for those who wish to outcry. It became one of those, “Where were question the content. you when you heard?” moments. I rememWhere Rep. Foxx ultimately went wrong ber it clearly. I was 18 years old. I mean, when looking for facts was the same place here was this guy nearly the same age as me many others have as well: ABC’s 2004 – we could’ve been friends had we gone to 20/20 report billed as exploring “New Dethe same high school. Now he is dead be- tails Emerging in the Matthew Shepard cause he was Gay. He didn’t die of other Murder.” The problem with the newsmagathings that plague young adults. It wasn’t a zine’s report was that no new facts were indrunk driving accident. He didn’t commit troduced. The information relied largely on suicide because he was Gay. He didn’t suf- personal interviews – most of which came fer an overdose from drug use. No, it wasn’t from people who said one thing under oath any of that at all – he was brutally beaten to during the trial but then changed their witdeath. I felt sick. Fear gave way to anger. ness account when interviewed by 20/20. In But there was a silver lining; what McKin- a nutshell, what you see are a bunch of peoney and Henderson did was so despicable ple, including both McKinney and Henderthat it brought the need for hate crime laws son, changing their minds about what hapto expand protection for LGBT persons into pened that night in Wyoming 10 years ago. the public consciousness.

Foxx was right about one thing: the murNow we enter the grey area surrounding der was never labeled a hate crime. But what happened October 7, 1998 in rural there is a reason: the congresswoman never Wyoming. bothered to find out why. It had nothing to Matthew’s story has been told in docu- do with robbery. McKinney and Henderson were not charged with a hate crime because there is no Wyoming criminal statute provided for such a charge. Under current United States federal law and Wyoming state law, crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation are not prosecutable as hate crimes.

In the years following Matthew’s death, his mother has become a well-known advocate for LGBT rights, particularly concerning issues relating to Gay youth. She is the prime force behind the Matthew Shepard Foundation, dedicated to promoting tolerance and diversity, lobbying for hate-crime legislation, and assuring Matthew’s legacy will be a positive one.

That is why, Rep. Foxx, the hate crimes bill is named after Matthew.

The motive hoax Over the years, there’ve been those who set out to prove Matthew Shepard was a bad boy who would still be alive if he hadn’t been involved in the local drug scene or possibly made sexual advances towards McKinney and Henderson.

In the 20/20 report Rep. Foxx found to be so factual, McKinney said drugs and intent to rob Matthew are why this happened. He said he had a terrible methamphetamine addiction, and when he and Henderson saw

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Celebrating 36 Years!

Matthew at the bar that night, he was well dressed and looked like an easy target. After leaving the bar, the three of them got in the front seat of the pickup truck, with Henderson taking the wheel. McKinney told police that at some point Matthew reached over and grabbed his leg so in response McKinney hit him with the pistol, which he says he was “about to pull it on him anyway.” McKinney asked for, and got, Matthew’s wallet (containing just $30), but continued to beat him.

McKinney says he instructed Henderson to drive the truck to a secluded spot on the outskirts of Laramie so they could have time to get away. That’s when they found the wooden buck fence that Matthew would be tied to. Henderson said that McKinney just kept beating Matthew over and over – all of this after the robbery had taken place.

Henderson claims to have made several attempts to stop McKinney from hitting Matthew; in retaliation, McKinney allegedly hit Henderson in the face with the gun. Henderson said he retreated to the truck as McKinney continued to beat Matthew. McKinney said those last blows he dealt Matthew at the fence were the fatal blows.

So where does hate fit into all of this? Everywhere.

If McKinney and Henderson did not do this because Matthew was Gay, then why did they use the “Gay panic defense?”

What enrages so many of us in the LGBT community is the rationale behind such an ignorant defense. What is unfathomable to me is how someone could even stoop to the level of saying, “A Gay man made a sexual advance towards me, and because I was high, or had a bad childhood, or was a robber, or whatever, I went temporarily insane and beat him to death.” So every time I go to a straight bar and a woman tells me I have nice eyes, that somehow gives me the right to temporarily go crazy, rob her, beat the shit out of her, and all should be forgiven because, after all, I am Gay and I just can’t handle someone hetero coming onto me. How despicable.

A robbery gone wrong is when you do not get any money. In this case, McKinney and Henderson got the money – all of the beating, except for the first blows dealt to Matthew inside cab of the truck, happened after the wallet was handed over. All of it – the driving to find a rural location, tying Matthew to the fence, and the continued beating – happened after the money was handed over.

Matthew Shepard begged for his life.

The beating, which left him in a coma until his death, was so bad, so gruesome, the only areas on Matthew’s face that were not covered in blood were those where his tears had washed the blood stains away. There were a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. He suffered a fracture from the back of his head to the front of his rights ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body’s ability to regulate heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs. Does any of that sound like a robbery to you?

In court, Chasity Pasley and Kristen Price, the then-girlfriends of the accused pair, testified under oath that Henderson and McKinney plotted beforehand to rob a Gay man. Pasley and Price also said their boyfriends were not on meth the night the murder took place. Price was later charged with felony accessory after-the-fact to firstdegree murder. She later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor interference with police officers. Both McKinney and Henderson tried to have their girlfriends create an alibi for them.

So much came out after Matthew was murdered. People within McKinney’s inner drug circle came forward to say McKinney was Bisexual. Price, McKinney’s former girlfriend, said that she believed he was Bisexual as well – an accusation McKinney denies. It became public knowledge that Matthew was HIV-positive. Some of Matthew’s classmates came forward to say he was promiscuous. People told stories of drug parties in limousines. Still, Matthew’s mother fails to see how any of this adds up to why her son was murdered for any other reason than hate.

“I’m just not buying into that. There were a lot of things going on that night [October 7, 1998], and hate was one of them, and they murdered my son ultimately,” she

said. “Anything else we find out just doesn’t change that fact.”

Perhaps it was retired Police Chief of Laramie, Dave O’Malley, who said it best.

“My feelings have been that initial contact was probably motivated by robbery because they needed money. What they got was $30 and a pair of shoes,” said O’Malley. “Then something changed, and changed profoundly. But we will never know, because Matt’s dead and I don’t trust what McKinney and Henderson said.”

A drug motive does not necessarily disqualify the anti-Gay motive, he said.

Both Judy Shepard and Dave O’Malley criticized the 20/20 report.

“I really don’t think McKinney was in a methamphetamine-induced rage when this happened,” O’Malley said. “I feel comfortable in my own heart that they did what they did to Matt because they had hatred towards him for being Gay.” And so, Rep. Foxx – who led the fight against passing the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act – succeeded in one area: showing LGBT persons the depths some will go to in order to deny our community equality.

We’ve all been guilty of saying the wrong thing or using a “poor choice of words.” But I expect more out of legislators, and I don’t think I’m alone in saying that. At the very least I expect them to be on the side of justice and equality, not rallying against a law that seeks to prevent or deter hate crimes.

There was no hoax in Laramie, Wyoming 10 years ago – just ask the citizens of Laramie who are still trying to heal the damage dealt to them by the horrific murder of Matthew Shepard. There was no hoax that left Judy Shepard without her son.

But there was a hoax April 29 in Washington D.C.: Rep. Virginia Foxx pretending to know what the hell she was talking about.

May 15, 2009

Seattle Gay News 15

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SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw file photo

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer If her opponent David Bloom is running as a critic of current city policy, City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw is proud of her relationships with local political leadership.

“Jan [Drago] asked me a year ago if I would run,” she told SGN. “And when I had conversations with [State House Speaker] Frank Chopp about the waterfront, he encouraged me to run.”

Bagshaw is a candidate for the City Council seat Jan Drago is vacating, Position 4.

Her opponents are David Bloom, a longtime social justice activist who was also interviewed for this week’s SGN, and Highland Park activist Dorsol Plants. Bagshaw was chief of the Civil Division for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office under the late Norm Maleng. In that position she led a staff of 60 lawyers, providing legal advice to County Executive Ron Sims, Sheriff Sue Rahr, King County Council members,

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“I’ve known the mayor for years,” she says. “After all, I was his attorney when he was on the County Council.”

Bagshaw believes her relationships with city officials will give her an advantage if she is elected. She speaks particularly warmly of her friends City Council member Tim Burgess and Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis.

“I look forward to working with them.

They’re good people with good hearts. Tim Burgess early-endorsed me. We’ll make a hot team,” she says.

Bagshaw proudly notes that her husband Brad was lead attorney in the initial court

arguments in the Andersen v Sims marriage equality case. “Do you know him?” she asks. “He’s a good person to know.…”

While Bagshaw served two terms on the Lake Forest Park City Council 20 years ago, this is her first run for office in Seattle. She is no stranger to city issues, however. As chair of the Allied Arts Waterfront for All Committee, she worked on the often contentious plans for development of Seattle’s waterfront.

“What we were after was not simply a beautiful waterfront,” she told SGN. “We want a first-class development, with green space. A waterfront that will enhance the environment and be an economic driver. And

we have to ask how we’ll move people and goods. My objective is to work on all three pieces in tandem. I have faith we can do it.”

“Ultimately, we probably need some kind of Waterfront Authority to pull all the pieces together,” she says. “But the time is not right yet.”

Apart from the future of the waterfront, “People are worried about jobs, economic growth, transportation, public safety,” Bagshaw says. “But I also sense optimism out there. I’m a good listener. I like to make connections between issues that matter to people.”

Bagshaw is particularly concerned about the level of homelessness in Seattle. As a King County attorney, she worked with Church Council Executive Director Sandy Brown to develop temporary housing for the city’s poor.

“Affordable housing on Broadway….”

Bagshaw muses. “Well, there’s no silver bullet. We can try to preserve the housing we have. We absolutely have to pass the housing levy.”

“The issue is, who’s going to put forth the money?” she continues. “Who’s going to invest? I think public/private partnerships could be helpful.”

Asked about City Council member Tom Rasmussen’s initiative to preserve existing buildings in the Pike-Pine corridor, Bagshaw says, “Well, we should preserve them if there’s good a reason they should be preserved. My favorite example is the First Methodist Church downtown. Now it’s contributing to the city.”

The church was sold by its congregation in 2007 and has been redeveloped as a concert venue.

“It’s complicated,” Bagshaw cautions.

“Do we want to support neighborhood business development? That means people are around 24/7. Some people in the neighborhood will feel it’s an invasion.”

Bagshaw is not enthusiastic about a new city jail, but doesn’t know if the city can do without one. “We need to try every alternative to incarceration we can think of,” she says. “Day reporting, home detention, community service. But we’ll still need to do something with violent offenders.”

Asked how she would envision Seattle at the end of her term on the City Council, if she were elected, Bagshaw says, “I’d like to see the economy improved, clean technology, jobs. I’d like to see a transportation system that’s working – the tunnel built, 520 built, Sound Transit built. I’d like to see the community safe.”

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Celebrating 36 Years!

SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW City Council candidate David Bloom Seattle City Council candidate David Bloom’s list of endorsers reads like a who’s who of Seattle’s progressive community.

“I’ve been working for over 30 years on human rights and social justice issues,” Bloom told SGN in an exclusive interview.

“When I decided to run, people told me I should sit down and think of 200 or 250 people I could ask for support. I came up with 600.”

Bloom is running for Position 4 on Seattle’s City Council, the seat now held by Jan Drago, who is not seeking reelection.

Attorney Sally Bagshaw, who was also interviewed for this week’s SGN, and Highland Park activist Dorsol Plants are the other candidates running for the open seat.

This is Bloom’s first run for public office, and he didn’t make the decision lightly.

“People approached me to run in 2007,” he told SGN, “but it was really too late to mount an effective campaign. This time I talked to a lot of people. I meditated about it. I’m a person who senses stuff, and I trust my gut. All the answers kept coming up yes.”

Bloom is a minister and a long-time activist with experience in the public arena.

Nevertheless, he finds running for office a challenge. “What’s challenging is talking about myself and my background,” he says.

“It’s more egocentric than the work I’ve done for most of my career.”

Bloom has been deputy director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, and a founder of the Downtown Emergency Service Center, Common Ground, and the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness. When the State Convention and Trade Center was developed, Bloom led efforts to preserve affordable housing in the adjoining neighborhoods. He currently serves on the boards of Real Change and the Seattle Displacement Coalition.

Bloom sees his run for office as a continuation of social activism. “There are very troubling issues still unresolved,” he says, ticking off the issues that concern him. “Affordable housing. Living-wage jobs. Transportation. We see too often that government is not responsive to the needs of ordinary people – working people.”

Bloom, who led the campaign for Seattle’s first housing levy in 1986, has ambitious plans for affordable housing development. “We need 5000 new units,” he says, “priced at 60% of median and below.”

“I believe in growing responsibly,” Bloom continues, “with no loss of existing affordable housing. We have to insist on one-to-one replacement, to make sure people are not displaced.”

“I’ve made a strong commitment to preserving neighborhoods,” Bloom says. “The city council and the mayor think no amount of money is too much to spend on Mercer Street. They’re choosing big-ticket programs over neighborhoods.”

Shaking his head, Bloom says, “The city council has been reluctant to place limits on private developers. I fear we’re losing the heart and soul of the city. There was a time when working people could live downtown.

But now Seattle is one of the least familyfriendly cities.”

Bloom sees plenty of opportunity for public investment in neighborhood infrastructure. “Main arterials are literally falling apart. Thirty-three bridges are seriously in need of repairs, according to the DOT. Some north-end neighborhoods still have no sidewalks.”

Bloom also supports a comprehensive living wage ordinance. “Wages have not kept up with the cost of housing,” he says. “That’s why there’s homelessness.

We should be looking at wages, housing, healthcare all together.”

“How do you provide a level of support for working people?” Bloom asks. “100 other cities have living wage ordinances.

We should study their experiences.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

file photo

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Bloom opposes construction of a new city jail. “No. No. Absolutely not!” Bloom exclaims when asked about it. “It’s another unnecessary expense. When I hear that, I just scratch my head. You’re crying because you have no money, yet you want to spend money on a jail….”

While Bloom seems to be headed for conflict with Mayor Greg Nickels, he speaks almost fondly of their long-standing, if complex, political relationship.

“Oh gosh, I’ve known Greg a long time, ever since he was a staffer for Norm Rice,” Bloom recalls. “A bunch of us supported him in 2001 when he ran against Mark Sidran. I’d begin with that relationship, and give him the benefit of the doubt. I don’t slam doors in people’s faces. I believe in dialog. In my faith tradition we talk about reconciliation and mediation. I will take a good faith attitude toward the mayor.”

“It’s not healthy to be in constant conflict, but it’s not healthy to be always in unity, either,” he adds with a grin.

Asked how he’d like to leave Seattle at the end of his service on the City Council, if he were elected, Bloom says, “A community at peace with itself, where people can find work, housing, and healthcare, where they can move about safely, where we take care of our infrastructure. I want people of all classes, all races, all sexual orientations to feel they have a home here.”

www.sgn.org City Council candidate David Bloom

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An unnecessary campaign DECLINE against Gay partners

continued from cover

Courtesy of The Seattle Times

equality in business and legal affairs, the same rights married couples enjoy.

Petition supporters note Washington lawmakers gradually expanded the state’s domestic-partnership law over three legislative session, adding benefits once reserved for married people.

The incremental approach scares detractors but is a smart way to change the rules slowly as societal opinions evolve. Polls shows younger voters favor Gay marriage.

Slowly but surely, an attitudinal shift is taking place in New England and other places. Gay marriage in Washington will happen.

For now, Gay and Lesbian couples still will not be allowed to marry, nor would the state be allowed to discriminate or deny basic rights to same-sex couples.

Conservative groups are not united on this campaign. Some that have supported anti-Gay legislation in the past are uncomfortable with a measure of this nature in such a dour economy.

They have it right. It is never a good time to wage an unnecessary cultural war, but this is a spectacularly bad time to fire up this old flame. Citizens have more important things to worry about.

Decline to sign Referendum 71, a referendum seeking to overturn legislation awaiting the governor’s signature that offers “everything but marriage” to Gay and Lesbian domestic partners. We don’t need another rendition of the culture wars.

PETITION alert: Voters racing to and from the grocery store should steer clear of the newest petition drive, an ill-advised effort to overturn the state’s recently passed “everything but marriage” law.

A coalition of conservative groups filed Referendum 71, seeking a November vote to undo legislation that extends state-given benefits of marriage to Gay and Lesbian couples – almost everything but the name.

This is an unnecessary campaign at a lousy time. Don’t sign. Don’t put our state through another rendition of the culture wars.

Washington voters have much to manage: Many residents are out of work; others worry they will lose their jobs. Thousands of people have difficulty making ends meet.

No one needs a campaign to stomp on legislation that doesn’t hurt anyone. The bill in question tidies language in numerous statutes and legislation to give regis© The Seattle Times Company, May 11, tered Gay and Lesbian domestic partners 2009. Reprinted with permission.

The campaign launched last Thursday with e-mail blasts to the organizations’ email lists, asking recipients to pledge not to sign Referendum 71 petitions.

“We had a fantastic response,” said Join The Impact organizer Joe Mirabella, “especially in the first hours of the campaign.

We were getting 100 new members every hour.”

According to the ERW’s Friedes, FUSE has the largest e-mail list in the state, with over 100,000 addresses. FUSE is a progressive political organization affiliated with MoveOn.org.

“Having FUSE participate gives us the opportunity to speak to people in the labor movement, the environmental movement, and others who we don’t typically reach with LGBT lists,” Friedes told SGN. Mirabella, whose Join The Impact organization was instrumental in organizing the huge post-Prop 8 demonstration in November 2008, also created a Facebook page, which now has over 5000 friends. “It’s continuing to grow,” he told says. “205 people signed up since this morning.”

Besides ERW, Join The Impact, and FUSE, the HRC and National Center for Lesbian Rights have also sent e-mails to their lists. The GSBA, NGLTF, and Legal Voice (formerly the Northwest Women’s Law Center) have joined the campaign and

are preparing e-mail blasts as SGN goes to press.

“We’re also talking to the choice community, Planned Parenthood for example,” Friedes said. “We hope they will endorse the campaign very soon.”

“Before the Memorial Day weekend, we will also have Decline to Sign petitions and flyers that people can take with them to picnics and other events,” Friedes promised.

Besides the initial publicity value of such a visible campaign, organizers point to the long-term political benefits. “We’re developing a really profound communications capability,” says Mirabella. “Gay, straight, religious, not religious, we’re talking to a whole range of voters.”

Friedes agrees. “It’s exceptionally exciting to see all the new growth,” he says. “It’s not just existing members of ERW. There’s been enormous, rapid growth in all our data bases.”

“It’s quite possible that this threat will make us stronger,” Friedes continued, “that it will enable us to build an even bigger, stronger coalition and achieve marriage equality earlier than we might have otherwise.”

The Montlake Community Center, 1618 E Calhoun Street, is accessible via Exit 168B off I-5. For more information, visit seattle. gov.

SYKES

continued from cover Sykes said.

Sykes did what was expected of a comedian of her caliber: a shock and awe routine in which conservative Republican talk show host Rush Limbaugh drew most of the fire. At one point she accused Limbaugh of treason, compared him to Osama Bin Laden and wished his kidneys would fail – all in retaliation for Limbaugh’s commenting that he hoped the Obama administration would fail.

Sykes looked at Obama and said, “You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th [9/11] hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight.”

“Too much?” she asked.

Obama smiled at the joke, even as some in the audience showed their displeasure with a unified groan.

Sykes was referencing Rush Limbaugh’s public battle with an addiction to painkillers in early 2002.

Sykes continued to pile it on. Her whole routine was basically split down the middle, drawing both cheers and jeers.

Immediately after the Correspondents’ Dinner, conservatives screamed that Sykes had crossed the line when she talked about Limbaugh’s health.

Monday, the White House Press Secretary

issued a statement saying that although President Obama smiled, perhaps nervously at the time, there was nothing funny about 9/11.

Of course, liberals could be found scratching their head saying, “Really?” Watching the footage of Sykes’ performance, the audience – including the president – clearly found her routine to be funny. Even during the controversial Limbaugh moments, a lot more laughs could be heard over any groans.

Wanda Sykes is a shock comedian. What did the conservatives in the audience think, that Sykes would put on a “nice” routine?

It’s laughable to think that she would abandon what made her famous and what got her invited to speak at the dinner in the first place: her talent for crossing the line with the audience laughing along. Rush Limbaugh has said far more offensive things over the years on his nationally syndicated radio show. I’m sure his enormous ego will be able to take the insults.

In the LGBT community, let’s not let Sykes’ off-color jokes overshadow the fact that the president of the United States had someone from our community speak at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, four short months after a homosexual bishop from New Hampshire led the benediction at his inauguration. Let’s hope the trend continues.

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