SGN May 28, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 22 Volume 38

Celebrating 37 Years!

PRIDE EVENTS p. 5

MALAWI UPDATE p. 16

SIFF LGBT FILMS p. 31

Seattle Gay News

FRIDAY May 28, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Historic day for LGBT rights

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer

On May 27, the House and the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to begin the process to eventually strike down the military’s ban on openly Gay service.

On what has become known as a historic day for LGBT equality, Thursday afternoon saw the Senate Armed Services Committee vote 16 to 12 to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), and the House followed suit on Thursday night with a vote of 234 to 194.

In both cases, the initiative to end the ban was attached to a $760 billion defense spending bill.

The measure wouldn’t lift the ban immediately. Instead, it would wait until the Pentagon finishes an internal study later this year – and even then, the prohibition would disappear only after senior Pentagon leadership certified that it wouldn’t affect military readiness.

“The vote in the Senate Committee and on the House floor to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ constitutes one of the most impor-

see shepard page 19

see DADT page 20

file photo

Now synonymous with Gay rights, Matthew Shepard’s tragic murder has forever changed the way people view hate crimes – so much so that last year, over a decade later, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a bill to expand federal hatecrimes laws to protect people attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender.

Long before the terrible hate crime that took his life and made him a household name in the arena of Gay rights, Matthew was simply Judy Shepard’s son. In her New York Times bestseller, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed, Judy speaks for the first time, in

Judy Shepard

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Judy Shepard Book Signing June 1 at 7 PM Seattle First Baptist Church Twelve years ago, Judy Shepard’s son Matthew was brutally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming.

Gay activists arrested in Zimbabwe, tortured in prison

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer LGBT activists Ellen Chademana and Ignatius Muhambi were arrested by police in the African country of Zimbabwe on May 21.

The next time they were seen in public, at a court hearing on May 26, both were limping.

Dzimbabwe Chimbga, defense attorney with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Civil Rights, charged that government agents had tortured his clients in prison.

The two were released on bail and admitted to a Harare hospital for medical exams on May 27.

Chimbga said his clients were weary and in pain.

see zimbabwe page 20

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi – staunch supporter and master strategist of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” vote in the House

Millions celebrate Harvey Milk Day

Lacy Atkins

cam west media works

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe

Muhambi was beaten on his kneecaps with empty bottles to get him to reveal the names of other members of the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), Chimbga said. He added that Chademana was forced to do squats.

Chademana is the administrator of GALZ, and Muhambi is an accountant for the group.

Attorney David Hofisi, also with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Civil Rights, said he was not allowed to see the two GALZ staff members in jail over the weekend.

“We asked the police to release them to us so we can come with them to court on Wednesday, but they have denied that,” Hofisi said.

In addition to general concerns about the safety of the pair, Chademana is diabetic and there are concerns for her health.

Concerns increased when it came to light that the search warrant for the May 20 raid was signed

by Police Chief Superintendent Peter Magwenzi.

According to LGBT Asylum News, Magwenzi has been implicated in “disappearances” of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s political opponents, il-

alex wong

Judy Shepard and The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed in House, 234 to 194 Meaning of Matthew

Team Sprinkles competes in the Great Tricycle Race, part of the Harvey Milk Day festivities in the Castro.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer On May 22, millions of Americans celebrated the life of the first openly Gay man elected to office: Harvey Milk.

May 22 also marked the first Harvey Milk Day officially recognized in California. Last October, 32 years after Milk’s death, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill designating Harvey Milk Day as May

proud to Be Different

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

22 all over the Golden State. The bill did not make Harvey Milk Day a holiday, but it does encourage schools to remember Milk’s life and accomplishments.

The date was chosen to honor Milk because May 22 was his birthday. He would have been 80 this year.

Milk was shot and killed by former San Francisco, California see milk page 20

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Seattle Gay News

May 28, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 28, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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2010

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

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

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

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

Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication.

We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write.

And please play safe.

It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.

A well-earned comeuppance

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer Since entering Congress in 1994, Indiana Republican Mark Souder focused on changing America’s moral direction.

Now we know whose moral direction got changed.

The eight-term congressman, a pillar of family values, recently resigned his seat, saying that he had “sinned against God, my wife, and my family by having a mutual relationship with a part-time member of my staff.”

Why did he bother to say she’s part-time?

Does that make it only a part-time sin?

Souder’s paramour, Tracy Meadows Jackson, is also married. The affair started after she joined Souder’s district staff in 2004.

Jackson hosted audio and video productions that featured the congressman discussing conservative concerns.

A video in which Souder sounds off about a 2008 House hearing on abstinence education became a YouTube hit following his confession. The congressman and his mis-

tress made a pro-abstinence video. If I’d made that up, you wouldn’t have bought it.

In the past, noted The Wall Street Journal, Souder has said that he’s “most defined by the fact that I’m an evangelical Christian.”

As a staunch social conservative, Souder made George W. Bush look like a hippie.

In a 2004 PBS interview, Souder said, “I believe people can have a propensity to alcoholism. I believe they can have a propensity to look at pornography on [the] internet.

I believe they can have a propensity to be homosexual. But I believe that it’s wrong and it’s controllable.”

I believe I’m glad he’s gone.

Two weeks before his fall from grace, Souder won his primary race. In a campaign radio ad, he trumpeted his efforts to prevent Hoosier schools from being forced to employ “transvestite teachers.”

Fanning the family-values fires in Fort Wayne. Phooey.

In committee, Souder led the opposition against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of 2007, declaring, “In

their quest to grant special rights to homosexuals, Democrats are trampling on the religious freedoms of all Americans.”

Souder said he has Gay friends – and a masochistic bunch they must be – but because of the clarity of the Bible on homosexuality, “there just isn’t much room to compromise.”

So where in the Bible does it say thou shalt diddle thy part-time staffer?

With such hard-line views and votes, the self-described “ultra-conservative” has taken an ultra fall.

“I think the people who get treated the worst are the ones who preach the most, are the most pious. Nobody loves a hypocrite,” said Rutgers University political science professor Ross Baker to the Associated Press.

Said Baker, “There are some people who have kind of a malicious delight at a downfall like that.”

Guilty.

Okay, I might not be delighted but I certainly am pleased by Mark Souder’s collapse. The reason is simple: He made it his life’s work to keep me and mine secondclass or lower. He thumped that Bible and his breast and insisted he walked with God while others of us walked with Bozo.

Apparently LGBT people aren’t the only ones fed up with politicians like Souder.

“There is a growing intolerance for hypocritical behavior,” political expert Andrew Downs told The Indianapolis Star. “If you want to run as a pro-family candidate, don’t have an affair.”

Six months ago Souder and Jackson were caught in a parked car in a nature preserve, the former congressman told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. “Subconsciously, was I wanting to get caught? Or was God so frustrated with me he said, ‘I’ve had it.

You’re so stupid here I’m going to, in effect, out you.’”

God “outed” the adamantly anti-Gay congressman. God has a wicked sense of humor.

Leslie Robinson lives in Seattle. E-mail her at lesarobinson@gmail.com, and read other columns at www.generalgayety.com.

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

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Seattle Gay News

May 28, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Sisters accepting PRIDE EVENTS 2010 grant applications CALENDAR

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer It’s almost that time of year again, when the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are ready to give away all the grant money they’ve spent the entire year raising.

For the past several years, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan have been giving out grants annually to nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations in Washington

state. The organizations who have qualified for grants in the past have all been supportive of the LGBT community, providing services for every type of need from HIV/AIDS services, STD prevention, LGBT veterans, LGBT youth, LGBT rights, and more.

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

According to Sister Karma Za Betch, last year, the Abbey of St. Joan gave away over $16,000.

This year, they are projecting they’ll give away over $20,000.

To apply to receive funds, visit the Abbey’s website at www. theabbey.org. Follow the “Sisters Charity Grant Fund” link in the lower right corner, and voila! You can download and print the application or fill it out online.

All applications for the 2010 Charity Granting Cycle must be submitted to the Sisters no later than 5p.m. on June 30, so don’t get so caught up in Pride that you forget!

The grant money will be distributed at the Sister’s celebratory anniversary party on July 17, time and location TBA. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are an order of 21st-century nuns dedicated to the promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt. They work to raise money for AIDS charities, fight for Queer rights and visibility, do safer-sex outreach, and strive diligently to never take themselves so seriously that they forget to have fun. The Sisters welcome all races, creeds, genders, and sexual orientations.

DADT rally at Westlake Park has labor speaker

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer

On May 22, about 50 people gathered in Westlake Plaza in downtown Seattle for a short rally about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The rally, organized by Seattle OUTProtest served, essentially, to increase awareness and visibility of the issues and demanded “equality on the job – in the military and at home.”

Speakers told the crowd why passing ENDA and repealing the military’s DADT policy must happen now.

Speakers included executive secretary and treasurer of the King County Labor Council Dave Freiboth; Julz Carey, a retired Coast Guard veteran and vice president of the American Veterans for Equal Rights; Ela Barton, a Navy veteran; slam poet Breanna Anderson; Ryan Blackhawke of Ingersoll Gender Center; and Mike Dedrick, a Vietnam veteran and longtime local Veterans for Peace activist.

RADICAL WOMEN SCREENS LATINO BEGINNINGS On Thursday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave S.), Radical Women will screen a special Pride 2010 SOAP PRIDE IDOL Every Sunday from now until June 20, showing of Latino Beginnings. This moving join Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP) at the documentary follows three young Latina/o 2010 Pride Idol competition at R Place (619 Queers as they confront and overcome barE. Pine St.). Doors open at 7 p.m., shows riers to acceptance in their communities. start at 8 p.m. This year, Pride Idol offers Profiled are: Jesse, an openly Gay college all of the undiscovered talent in the LGBT student in New Mexico; Marisol, an ex-solcommunity an opportunity to shine in com- dier worried about coming out to her mother petition for cash and fabulous prizes! The in Los Angeles; and Gustavo, a performer in Wildcard Round will be held on June 13 the Miami drag scene. The 45-minute film, and the Finals will be held on June 20. Win- released in 2005, explores a number of isners will ride in the official Pride Idol Float sues associated with being Gay, being Latino, and being unashamed of being different. in the Seattle Pride® Parade.

For more information, visit idol.seattle- Add your views and experiences in discussion! A $2 donation is requested for movie. pride.org.

Supper, with vegan option, is served at 6:30 p.m. for a $7.50 donation.

SECOND ANNUAL For more information, visit www.radicalQUEER TV SHOW women.org/seattle.html.

WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE ‘80s GLITTORUS! A FUNDRAISER FOR On Thursday, June 10 at 9 p.m. at Julia’s LAMBERT HOUSE on Broadway (300 Broadway E.), Diva le On Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June Deviant will host The Second Annual Queer TV Show: We Are All Children of the ‘80s. 19 at 8 p.m., Glittorus! will be staged at Be prepared to see the most entertaining, The Rendezvous/Jewel Box Theatre (2322 campiest, ridiculously ‘80s show of the year, 2nd Avenue). Experience two amazing featuring performances by Team Gina, Ta- nights of a spectacular mix of burlesque, mara the Trapeze Lady, Aleksa Manila, Pid- boylesque, cabaret, comedy, and bellydancgeon Von Tramp, Ms. Luscious Ladypop, ing, all to benefit Lambert House. This a Vivian Rose, Randy Andy, Renten, Jayla D. variety show not to be missed, and a cause Foxx, Miss Cherry Tart, David Coppa Feel, not to be ignored. Tickets are $15 and are Johnny Crash, Mai Li, Marina Wiesenbach, available at www.brownpapertickets.com/ Marita Isabel, Sebastian Velour, Mr. D., and event/112038. www.lamberthouse.org. hostess Diva le Deviant. Presented by the BAT N’ ROUGE Producer’s Collective. Tickets are $12 in THE DYKES VS DRAG QUEENS advance, prices increase at the door.

On Saturday, June 19, from 5-8 p.m. at For tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.

Bobby Morris Playfield in Cal Anderson com.

Park (11th Ave. and E. Howell St.), The Capitol Hill Alano Club presents The Dykes UNCORKED GAY WINE TASTING vs Drag Queens at Bat N’ Rouge’s pride AND LAUNCH PARTY kickoff game. Bat N’ Rouge is a fundraisFOR GAY CITY VOLUME 3 On Friday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m., join ing event to benefit Capitol Hill Alano Club, hosts Roy Schaefer and Randy Shields on which has an ongoing mission of drug and alcohol recovery. CHAC is a nonprofit orthe Garden Terrace at Continental Place ganization now in its 27th year of service in (2125 First Ave., 5th floor) for Uncorked, the Seattle LGBT community.

For more information, visit www.chacsethe 5th annual Gay City wine tasting extravaganza, featuring the wines of Winebow. attle.org.

This year highlights the wines of Italy, acLANGSTON HUGHES companied by fine comestibles. This event PERFORMING ARTS CENTER’S also marks the debut of Gay City Volume 3: PEOPLE IN PARKS: Re-Pulped. Enjoy selections from the third CAL ANDERSON collection of fiction, poetry, comic art, and On Sunday, June 20, at 2 p.m. in Cal Anphotography, and meet some of the writers and artists. Tickets are $35 in advance and derson Park (11th Ave. and E. Howell St.), near the water feature at the north end, the $40 at the door.

For more information, visit www.gaycity. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center and Power of Place Youth will present a org. short performance highlighting the life of Cal Anderson. Washington’s first openly RUN AND WALK WITH PRIDE On Sunday, June 13, at 10 a.m. at Seward Gay legislator, Anderson was a decorated Park (5895 Lake Washington Blvd. S), the Vietnam veteran who worked for inclusion, Seattle Frontrunners will host Run and fairness, and participation in the democratic Walk With Pride. With over 300 members, process until his death from AIDS in 1995.

Seattle Frontrunners is one of the largest The event is free and open to the public.

For information about the Cal Anderson running & walking clubs in the northwest, event, e-mail randy.wiger@seattle.gov. For and welcome all abilities.

To register or donate, visit www.seattle- more information about Seattle Parks and Recreation, visit www.seattle.gov/parks. frontrunners.org/register.

compiled by Rick McKinnon and Nick Ardizzone

The rally heavily criticized the Obama administration for it inactivity in addressing Gay rights issues.

President Obama said last January during his first State of the Union Address that he would “work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies Gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.”

Freiboth spoke about how LGBT issues were relevant to the labor movement and how important it was for labor to raise their voices about these issues.

The rally coincided with actions around the country in honor of the birthday of Harvey Milk, former San Francisco supervisor and the first openly Gay man elected to public office.

Seattle OUTProtest is a grassroots coalition of LGBTQ community organizations and activists. Seattle OUTprotest uses grassSEATTLE OUT AND PROUD’S roots efforts to mobilize the community and SEATTLE PRIDE FAMILY PICNIC encourage the involvement of a new generaOn Sunday, June 13, the Seattle Pride tion of activists. For more information, e- Family Picnic will be held from 11 a.m. mail seattleoutprotest@yahoo.com. to 4 p.m. at Volunteer Park (14th Ave. E. and E. Prospect St.) at the amphitheater lawn. Sponsored by Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP), producers of the annual Seattle Pride® Parade, the picnic welcomes the LGBT community and allied families.

Enjoy live entertainment and a $1 buffet catered by Whole Foods and Popchips. In addition to an Esurance photo booth, kids between 7 and 11 years old will enjoy a soap box car installation. Proceeds will be donated to Food LifeLine.

For more information about the Seattle Pride® Parade or the Family Picnic, visit www.seattlepride.org.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

May 28, 2010

see Pride events page 17

Seattle Gay News

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INTERNATIONAL Coming Out

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

More than 150 people staged a “Rainbow Flashmob” in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 16 in conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

LGBTs stage IDAHO flashmob in St. Petersburg More than 150 people from the LGBT group Coming Out staged a “Rainbow Flashmob” in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 16 in conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

They distributed pamphlets and released multicolored balloons “symbolizing their dream of a world free of hate and homophobia,” organizers said.

Far-right groups had threatened to attack the event, but the confrontation did not materialize.

“By coming to the event, people demonstrate that they will not be bullied,” said Coming Out spokesman Igor Kochetkov.

“Each time, the LGBT community of St. Petersburg becomes more and more selfconfident in showing itself.”

IDAHO flashmobs took place in dozens of other cities in Russia and elsewhere.

Gays march in Brussels and Havana More than 30,000 people marched in Brussels May 15 for Gay pride. They demanded equality for LGBT people throughout Europe. Belgium takes over the rotating European Union presidency in July.

In Havana, hundreds of LGBT people marched in the Vedado nightlife district May 15 in advance of the May 17 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

They were led by President Raúl Castro’s daughter Mariela, who heads CENESEX, the National Sex Education Center.

Other Cuban IDAHO events included workshops on LGBT issues and a huge, officially sanctioned outdoor drag show May

17 in the city of Santa Clara, 160 miles (258 km) east of Havana.

Aussies rally for marriage equality Gays and Lesbians staged large rallies in Australia’s cities May 15 demanding federal legalization of same-sex marriage.

The rallies coincided with the May 17 worldwide International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

British Gay actor Sir Ian McKellen addressed more than 1,000 ralliers in Melbourne.

“A non-discrimination law establishing the right for Gay people to be married would cost the Australian government nothing financially and would gain for you worldwide respect [and] would change lives enormously,” McKellen said.

Marchers arrested at Minsk pride fined $6 each Seven people who were arrested when police violently broke up the first Gay pride parade in Minsk, Belarus, on May 15 were released two days later after paying a fine of 17,500 rubles ($5.83) each for taking part in an unsanctioned public action.

The detained activists included St. Petersburg Pride organizers Aleksandr Sheremetyev and Dmitri Milkov.

City authorities had banned the parade, citing a national law that prohibits public events within 200 meters of subway stations and pedestrian tunnels.

When 40 people marched anyway, police attacked them and beat them.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NEWS

courtesy Rector Jonathan

NATIONAL

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

Episcopal Church consecrates another Gay bishop Although the 2003 consecration of openly Gay and partnered New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson still threatens to implode the worldwide Anglican Communion, the U.S. Episcopal Church consecrated a second openly Gay and partnered bishop on May 15.

The Diocese of Los Angeles elevated the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool to the position of suffragan bishop in a ceremony at the Long Beach Arena that was disrupted by two anti-Gay protesters.

“The world’s transformed only if we turn to each and every one of our brothers and sisters and see the face of Christ superimposed on them,” said co-consecrator Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles.

There are about 70,000 Episcopalians in the six-county Diocese of Los Angeles.

Court legalized Gay marriage starting April 27, 2009 – but only 815 of the marriages involved couples from Iowa.

The other 1,205 same-sex marriages were between people who traveled to the state to tie the knot, including 199 couples from Illinois, 158 from Missouri, 111 from Nebraska, 109 from Minnesota and 67 from Kansas.

The figures, released by the Iowa Department of Public Health on May 18, are complete through March 31.

In addition, among the 19,904 couples who married in Iowa during the period in question, there are 1,015 couples whose sex was not recorded in official records.

More Lesbians than Gay men got married – 1,292 couples vs. 728.

The largest number of Gay marriages occurred in the counties that are home to Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa City, and Council Bluffs.

Same-sex marriage is legal in Belgium, Sixty percent of Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, PortuIowa Gay marriages gal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Mexico between non-Iowans City, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, There have been 2,020 same-sex mar- New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, riages in Iowa since the state Supreme D.C. The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool became the second openly Gay and partnered bishop in the Episcopal Church on May 15.

Gay activists arrested at U.S. senator’s Chicago office Thirteen Gay activists were arrested at a sit-in at the Chicago office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin on May 20.

The ad hoc group claimed Durbin has failed to affirm “his commitment to a Transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act.” Instead, Durbin, who is an ENDA cosponsor, e-mailed the activists a “form letter” saying he supports prohibition of “employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” they said.

A version of ENDA that bans job discrimination based only on sexual orientation might pass Congress more easily than one that bans both sexual-orientation and gender-identity discrimination.

But, unlike in some previous years, all key LGBT activists – as well as Congress’ Gay 6

Seattle Gay News

May 28, 2010

members – now oppose the notion of upping the bill’s chances of success by aiming for Gay protections first and then attempting Transgender protections later.

“We have to be here to fight for those who are forced to remain invisible and deny who they are just to make a living,” said Lindsey Dietzler, who was among those arrested.

The protesters were cited and released.

On their website, titled “Chicago Harvey Milk Week of Action,” the activists said: “Although we’re very glad our senator has co-sponsored the bill, we have seen him do precious little else to support it. As the majority whip of the Senate, the second-highest-ranking democrat in the Senate, we need Senator Durbin to stand before the media and his colleagues and forcefully advocate for this bill’s immediate passage.”

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE COMING UP ON MAY 30 Registration is underway for the 2010 Seattle Pride Parade and March. The theme this year is “Over the Rainbow – Be Seen, Be Heard, Be There.” The event will be held on Sunday, June 27, starting at 11 a.m. on 4th Ave. between Union St. and Denny Way. For complete details, visit www.seattlepride.org. Deadline for registration is Sunday, May 30.

GAY GAMES VIII COLOGNE 2010 SEEKING VOLUNTEERS The Cologne Gay Games, July 31-August 7, is seeking volunteers to help with the presentation of the games. Visit the “Take Part” page at www.games-cologne.com for complete details.

DIVERSE HARMONY PRESENTS BEST FRIENDS FOREVER On Friday, May 28, and Saturday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m., Diverse Harmony will perform their new musical, Best Friends Forever, at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave.). Best Friends Forever, written by chorus member Kat Miller, is Diverse Harmony’s first-ever original musical. Be a part of Seattle’s version of Glee with this special event. Tickets: $15, www.diverseharmony. org/tickets.php. Under 22 years old, FREE. Diverse Harmony is a musically creative social connection in the greater Seattle area designed to nurture friendships, promote musical abilities, and provide a safe place where youth can be accepted for who they are.. www.diverseharmony.org.

IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN COURT OF TACOMA FRIENDS AND FAMILY SHOW On Friday, May 28, the Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma will hold a Friends and Family Appreciation Show at 9 p.m. in the Poodle Dog Pup Room (1522 54th Ave. E., Fife, WA). Doors at 8 p.m., tickets $10.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/courtoftacoma.

KNIGHTS OF MANTRA CAMPOUT 2010 From Friday, May 28, to Monday, May 31, Knights of Mantra will hold their Campout 2010: New Moon at Miller River at the Miller River Campground. The weekend includes campsite, run pin, T-shirts, breakfasts, brunch, lunch, and dinners, beverages, showers, fun, games, and more. Tickets are $125.

For more information, visit www.jetchapterkofm.com.

QUEER YOUTH SPACE HOSTS PINK PROM On Saturday, May 29, from 7-10 p.m., come to the Pink Prom at Halle’s Loft (500 E. Pike St.). Queer youth and allies everywhere are invited to this year’s Pink Prom, hosted by Queer Youth Space, the youthled organization committed to empowering Queer youth everywhere. Come over for a night of fabulous fun, great music, dancing, and friends. No date? No worries! Just bring your beautiful self on over and we’ll promise you the night of your life. There’s no cost and no dress code, so dress as casually or as formally as you want!

For more information, visit www.facebook. com/event.php?eid=107883869230601.

IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN COURT OF TACOMA “CHAOS UNDER THE BIG TOP” On Saturday, May 29, the Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma, Diamond Empire of the Cascades, will hold their “Chaos Under and Big Top” – Mr., Miss, & Ms. Gay Tacoma 2010 event at 7 p.m. in the Poodle Dog Pup Room (1522 54th Ave. E., Fife, WA).

Doors at 6 p.m. Tickets $20.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/courtoftacoma.

VOICES RISING FEATURING MIMI WATU AND AVERY YOUNG On Saturday, May 29, at 8 p.m. at Southside Commons (3518 S. Edmunds St.), Voices Rising will hold their next show. The performance will feature Mami Watu and Avery Young, Storme Webber, Chad GollerSojourner, Malkia Cyril, and Mikeya Jackson Harper. Voices Rising is an ongoing series of performances by LGBTQ performers of color. Founded in 2005 by artist Storme Webber, Voices Rising has emerged as the leading showcase for Queer performers of color. Tickets are sliding scale, $10-$25.

For more information, visit voicesrisingseattle.org.

GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY On Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m., a dedication will be held at the Garden of Remembrance at Benaroya Hall (200 University St.) to our state’s fallen servicemen and servicewomen. This brief ceremony will include a presentation of wreaths and a reading of the 18 names of Washington state servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since Memorial Day 2009. Their names will be engraved on the granite walls of the Garden before the ceremony. The Garden of Remembrance is a memorial to the more than 8,000 Washington state citizens who have given their lives in the service of the country since 1941.

JAI THAI FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK On Wednesday, June 2, from 6-9 p.m., the Social and Human Services Dept. of Seattle Central will host a fundraising benefit for St. Mary’s Food Bank at Jai Thai (235 Broadway E.). There will be a silent auction, DJ, dancing, live entertainment, and more. A portion of food bills will be donated to charity. There will also be a collection of cloth baby diapers and other child care items.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS PARTY: For more information, call (206) 322“VANITY” On Saturday, May 29, from 9 p.m.-2 5781. a.m. at Neumos (925 E. Pike St.), come SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN party with DJ Craig Gaibler at Two Knights BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE Events’ VANITY party, featuring a special The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club appearance by international recording artist Ultra Naté. Tickets $12 in advance at meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at DunThe Lobby and the Seattle Eagle, $15 at the shee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit St.). The club is pleased to announce the following title to be discussed in their ongoing Gay City.

Tickets also available at www.ticketswest. reading and discussion series: June – Maurice by E. M. Forster, an intense book about com. an ordinary college guy. Forster wanted to write a novel in which Gayness actuSYLVIA O’STAYFORMORE’S ally made a man better, and to tell a story in FINAL MAGNUM SHOW On Saturday, May 29, Sylvia which the Gay hero didn’t end up swinging O’Stayformore will present her final Mag- at the end of a rope. Though some critics at num night at Rebar (1114 Howell Street) at first dismissed the work as “minor Forster,” 10:30 p.m. Sylvia will round up the top male Wendy Moffat now calls the work “his one burlesque performers in Seattle for the final honest novel.” All GLBTQ folks in the cominstallment, including Otter-Pop, Disgrace munity are welcome to participate in this Jones, James and Peter, Emper Roarf Abu- free book club. The reading list is chosen lous, Jaques ‘n’ Awe, and Sin. The Portland and the discussion facilitated by Nick DiPorn Stars will also be there, as will DJs Martino, published novelist and playwright, currently a book reviewer for ShelfAwareStormy and Jimmie Jamma. Tickets: $8.

For more information, visit www.stayfor- ness.com, and a 30-year employee of University Book Store. For more information, more.com. email nickdimartin@earthlink.net or contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION’S THIRD ANNUAL SPRING SEASON FORBIDDEN FASHION SHOW Visit www.emeraldcitysoftball.org for inOn Friday, June 4, at 9:30 p.m. in the formation about the Emerald City Softball Association’s Open League for Gay and Spanish Ballroom at the Fairmont Olympic non-Gay men and women. Sundays through Hotel (411 University St.), join Eduardo Khawam and Project Runway’s Nick VerreJune 20.

Visit www.eteamz.com/womensecsa for os for the third annual Forbidden Fashion information about the Emerald City Soft- Show, featuring the hottest international ball Association’s Women’s League for Gay and national men’s underwear and swimand non-Gay women only. Sundays through wear brands, women’s swimwear, lingerie, and accessories. Dress to impress. Cocktail June 20. reception begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets $35, priority seating $50, celebrity circle $50 at IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN www.brownpapertickets.com.

COURT OF TACOMA VICTORY BRUNCH SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: On Sunday, May 30, the Imperial SoverPAGDIRIWANG eign Court of Tacoma will hold their Victory PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL Brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Poodle On Saturday, June 5, from 10:30 a.m. to Dog Pup Room (1522 54th Ave. E., Fife, 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 6, from 10:30 WA).

For more information, visit www.mys- a.m. to 5 p.m., celebrate Philippine independence at the Center House (305 Harrison pace.com/courtoftacoma.

St.) at Seattle Center. Pagdiriwang commemorates the end of Spanish rule in 1898 PRIDE IDOL CONTEST and highlights the beauty of the country and AT R-PLACE Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP), producers its people with pageantry, dance, music, of the annual Seattle Pride Parade, in asso- food, children’s activities, drill teams, rock ciation with Esurance, presents Pride Idol bands, Filipino literature, exhibits, and mar2010, Seattle’s talent search contest to find tial arts. The festival includes actor-singer the best vocalists in the area. The Pride Idol Ronald Bregendahl, local bands and singers contest runs every Sunday through June 20. in a musical jam, a dance extravaganza, FiliThe contest will be held at R-Place (619 E. pino variety show, ethnic fashion show, and Pine St.), door at 7 p.m., contest at 8 p.m. a literary-musical contest.

For more information, visit www.seattleWinners will be awarded cash and additional prizes and get to ride on the official center.com.

Seattle Pride Idol float in the Seattle Pride ENTRE HERMANOS’ Parade on Sunday, June 27. For more inforLATINO PAGEANT 2010 mation, visit www.seattlepride.org, call the On Saturday, June 5, Entre Hermanos will Pride office at 206-322-9561 or email info@ host their 2010 Latino Pageant at 6 p.m. at seattlepride.org.

Seattle University’s Campion Ballroom (914 E. Jefferson St.). This annual pageant is

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May 28, 2010

the signature event of Entre Hermanos and brings together the Latino LGBT community and friends in a wonderful celebration.

The pageant culminates with the selection of Mr. Gay Latino, Miss Gay Latina, and Mr. Lesbian Latina, who then go on to represent and create visibility and a positive image of Entre Hermanos. The pageant brings adults together to socialize, meet new people, and find a space where sexual diversity is valued. There will be dinner and a no-host bar.

General tickets are $30, with special tickets $35 and preferred tickets $50. www.brownpapertickets.com/99957.

For more information, call (206) 3227700 visit www.entrehermanos.org.

FORBIDDEN FASHION SHOW AFTERPARTY On Saturday, June 5, from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., join the models and talent behind the June 4 Forbidden Fashion Show for an exclusive afterparty at the Little Red Studio (400 Dexter Ave. N.) featuring drinks, dancing, and hot entertainment. Special appearance by Project Runway’s Nick Verreos.

MCC SEATTLE BECOMES EMERALD CITY MCC SEATTLE – NEW WORSHIP TIME IN JUNE, NEW LOCATION IN JULY Metropolitan Community Church Seattle has renamed their church the Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church Seattle and starting Sunday, June 6 will be holding worship services at 11 a.m. The church will continue meeting in the Chapel of Temple de Hirsch Sinai (1441 16th Ave.) throughout the month of June, except there will be no service on Sunday, June 27, as the church will be participating in the Seattle Pride Parade that day. The church encourages attendance at the Interfaith Pride worship service on Saturday, June 26, at 2 p.m., at All Pilgrims Church (500 Broadway E.). On Sunday, July 4, the church will relocate to the Chapel of University Temple United Methodist Church (1415 N.E. 43rd St.), Sunday worship services at 11 a.m.

SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY On Sunday, June 6, at 11 a.m., the Seattle Japanese Garden will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Washington Park Arboretum (1075 Lake Washington Blvd.). The formal celebrations are open to members of the public, who will receive complementary admittance to the garden to enjoy its beauty and displays of history, culture, and traditional entertainment from noon until 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.seattle. gov/parks.

MEMORIES OF LENNY

BY MARTIN CHARNIN FREE AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE On Monday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m., Seattle Theatre Group and Showtunes presents West Side Story Stories – Memories of Lenny by Martin Charnin (one of the original West Side Story Jets) at the Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St.). The FREE event includes Martin Charnin’s personal reminiscences of Leonard Bernstein, and features a neverbefore-heard reading of a 1987 conversation recorded at the Dramatist Guild in New York between Bernstein, Sondheim, Lawrence, and Robbins, with Seattle actors portraying the four giants. Bernstein songs performed by a Showtunes cast member will round out the event.

For more information, visit www.seattlecelebratesbernstein.org.

GAY SKATE PARTY AT BELLEVUE SKATE KING NEW MONTHLY DATE On Wednesday, June 9, from 7-10 p.m., enjoy an evening of roller-skating at Bellevue Skate King (2301 140th Ave. NE, Bellevue) at this monthly (2nd Wednesdays) LGBTQ community social event for friends and family. Cost is $10 at the door; $7 under 18 (a portion of proceeds benefit Dunshee House). Regular skate rentals: FREE. Inline skate rentals: $4 or bring your own skates.

For more information and directions, call 425-458-4707. www.GaySkateSeattle.com; info@gayskateseattle.com.

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GetEQUAL co-founder Kip Williams arrested at Obama event rex wockner

Kip Williams

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer GetEQUAL co-founder Kip Williams was arrested for shouting at President Barack Obama in San Francisco on May 25.

Obama was speaking at a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer at the Fairmont Hotel.

Williams said he yelled at Obama because the latest plans for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal are inadequate.

“The solution now being discussed to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is an empty half measure and, even if passed, it will allow discharges of Lesbian and Gay service members to continue indefinitely,” Williams said in an interview. “[The current plan] has shifted responsibility off of Congress’ back and onto the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” he said. “This bill is Congress saying: ‘When-

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), an anti-bullying bill, in the U.S. Senate on May 20.

The measure would prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Under provisions of the bill, public schools that permit bullying and other discrimination could lose federal funding or be sued by victims.

There are currently 22 co-sponsors, including both of Washington’s senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. All are Democrats.

Franken’s bill is the Senate companion to legislation introduced by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) on the House side in January.

Polis’ bill now has more than 100 House co-sponsors, including Washington Reps.

Jim McDermott (D-7) and Jay Inslee (D-1).

Franken says he and others are still working on how the law would actually define discrimination against Gay and Lesbian

8

Seattle Gay News

students. He says people will know it when they see it, however.

“I think that once we raise awareness about this and have a law, that it’ll bring down the incidence of this and make life a lot better for these kids,” said Franken.

More than 86% of LGBT students report harassment at school because of their sexual orientation, and 60.8% feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, according to a 2007 National School Climate Survey commissioned by GLSEN. The harassment clearly affects students’ ability to learn. Almost a third of LGBT students (32.7%) missed at least one day of school in the past month because they felt unsafe – five times higher than a national sample of all students.

Existing federal civil rights laws expressly forbid discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. They do not include sexual orientation or gender identity, however.

While 30 states have anti-bullying laws, only nine have laws expressly forbidding bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Another four prohibit bullying based on sexual orientation only.

As a result, LGBT students and their parents have had little or no legal recourse for discrimination or harassment.

“It’s time that we extend the protections of our nations’ civil right laws to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender students across the country,” Franken said. “No student should be subjected to the ridicule and physical violence that LGBT students so often experience in school. It’s time we demanded equal treatment for all of our children under the law.”

SNDA is endorsed by more than 25 LGBT, education, civil rights, medical, and social

May 28, 2010

enough for those servicemembers – some who stood handcuffed with us and faced arrest beside us at the White House – living under the shadow of this outdated, immoral law,” she said. “Together, our collective voice has moved the White House from a place of absence to involvement. However, we didn’t invest ourselves to this cause, nor spend nights under arrest in a jail cell for a compromise. President Obama, we won’t stop until you stop the immoral firing of our brothers and sisters in the military so that their integrity is restored, their jobs are secured and their families are recognized.”

Leading Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell activist Lt. Dan Choi, who has been arrested twice recently for handcuffing himself to the White House fence, also is dissatisfied with the latest plans.

“My question still remains, and I’ve yet to find anyone who signed off on yesterday’s compromise able to give me a direct answer to, ‘When exactly will the discharges stop?’” Choi said May 25. “Until the president signs the papers that fully and immediately end the firing of patriotic Gay and Lesbian service members, then there is no cause for celebration and no reason to trumpet ‘mission accomplished’ for a job not yet done.”

“We’ve heard a lot of talk about how this compromise can work politically, but on the day this passes Congress, no one has been able to explain how this will have any impact at all on those of us serving in uniform,” Choi said. “Unfortunately, we have been handed an imperfect, 11th hour compromise.”

In a May 25 analysis piece, Advocate reporter Kerry Eleveld, who is covering the developments closely, seemed to affirm the activists’ concerns. She said the “compromise” plan facing congressional votes this week would not end DADT until “some indefinite point in the future.”

DADT would continue until a Department of Defense study is completed in December and until Gates, Obama and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen “certify that repeal can proceed,” Eleveld said.

Jeff McEvoy

Al Franken introduces Senate anti-bullying bill

ever you all decide you’re ready to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, we’re cool with it.

You don’t have to check in with us again.’”

“It is a repeal of the law,” Williams said, “but the policy and practice [of DADT] doesn’t have to be phased out until [Defense Secretary] Robert Gates decides he’s ready to do it. There’s nothing binding, there’s no timeline, and it will not end the discharge of Lesbian and Gay service members now.”

Williams said he believes the plan unfolded the way it has because Gates is “the real holdup … the only real opposition.”

Williams was cited for disturbing the peace and then released.

“It was the first time I’ve done something like that by myself,” he said. “I was close enough to see Obama’s face. I worked so hard on his campaign and I still believe in him and I support him and I wish I didn’t have to have that exchange with him and I saw the anger on his face when I started speaking, but I’m angry too, and I can’t be silent.”

Obama responded to the disruption.

“It’s good to see you again,” the president said to Williams. “I have to say, you know, I saw this guy down in L.A. at a Barbara Boxer event about a month and a half ago and I would – two points I want to make: Number one, he should – I hate to say this – but he really should, like, buy a ticket to – if he wants to demonstrate – buy a ticket to a guy who doesn’t support his point of view, and then you can yell as much as you want there. The other point is, maybe he didn’t read the newspapers because we are working with Congress as we speak to roll back Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I actually think he does read the newspapers because he wasn’t as – his heart didn’t seem in it. He said, ‘Do it [repeal DADT] faster.’ It’s like, c’mon, man, I’m dealing, I’m dealing with Congress here. It takes a little bit of time.”

In a press statement earlier in the day, GetEQUAL co-founder Robin McGehee set the stage for Williams’ heckling.

“After a year and a half of mostly inaction, the White House has offered our community a compromise that is movement forward on repeal, but unfortunately not nearly

Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.)

justice organizations including GLSEN, American Civil Liberties Union, American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, Interface Alliance, NAACP, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Council of La Raza, and School Social Work Association of America.

Franken was elected by a very narrow margin – only 312 votes – in November 2008, and was not sworn in until July 2009 after several recounts and court hearings.

He serves on the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Indian Affairs Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging.

Celebrating 37 Years!

ENDA still on track, SU Triangle Club drag show a big success D.C. staffers say

ENDA – the Employment Non-Discrimination Act – is still on track, Congressional staffers say, and could come up for a vote in June or July.

Moving “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” repeal ahead of ENDA on the legislative schedule does not imply that ENDA is in trouble, they add.

ENDA would add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights laws covering the workplace.

Drew Hammill, spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.), told SGN that the speaker had intended to bring ENDA to a vote first, but altered her plans to take advantage of the upcoming vote on the Defense Department Authorization for 2011.

“The speaker has had several meetings with the national LGBT groups – I won’t identify who exactly was at the table – and the consensus was to do ENDA first,” Hammill said. “But there was movement on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the Defense Authorization is the logical place to put it.”

The “movement” Hammill identified was the compromise language worked out by Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Karl Levin (D-Mich.) and the White House that would allow DADT repeal to pass now, but not be implemented until a Defense Department study is completed in December.

Rep. Barney Frank’s office agreed.

“DADT is going first because it is attached to the Defense Authorization bill, which moves forward at a pace for reasons totally unconnected to DADT,” Frank staffer Harry Gural said in an e-mail to SGN. Gural added that ENDA would come up for a vote in the House in “June or July.”

According to Hammill, the earliest that ENDA will come up is “The second week

in June. It won’t be before that because we won’t be in session.”

Congress will adjourn for its Memorial Day break after voting on the Defense Authorization, and will reconvene June 4.

According to Hammill, “it hasn’t yet been determined” if the House or the Senate will act first on ENDA. Some LGBT activists have publicly worried that DADT was moved ahead of ENDA because Democratic leaders in Congress fear they still lack the votes to pass ENDA. Speaker Pelosi reportedly ordered a whip count – a formal process of counting probable Yes and No votes – last month, but no results have been released.

“It has been whipped,” Hammill confirmed. “We don’t make the count public for obvious reasons.”

Ed Shelleby, spokesperson for Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) chuckled when asked about the ENDA vote count.

“How close is the vote? That’s the $64,000 question!” he exclaimed. “I know the speaker believes she has strong support for it.”

“We have a firm count, but we don’t share it. … As far as ENDA votes, we are close but not there yet,” Gural told SGN. Gural repeated Frank’s call for LGBT activists to call their Congressional representatives frequently to move as many votes as possible to the Yes column.

Seattle Congressman McDermott is a cosponsor of ENDA and a long-time advocate for equal rights for the LGBT community.

SGN asked Shelleby what Seattle voters should do, since McDermott is already committed to a Yes vote on ENDA. “Call your brother in Oklahoma. Call your college friend in Maine. Call your friends and family outside of Seattle,” Shelleby replied. “Tell them ‘We need for you to be an advocate where you are.’”

james whitely

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Some LGBT activists have publicly worried that DADT was moved ahead of ENDA because Democratic leaders in Congress fear they still lack the votes to pass ENDA.

NOM must obey disclosure laws, Maine judge says

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A federal judge in Maine ruled on May 23 that the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) must comply with state financial disclosure laws.

U.S. Magistrate John Rich III ordered NOM to turn over fundraising documents from its successful campaign to overturn Maine’s marriage equality law to the state’s Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

NOM contributed between $1.6 million and $1.9 million to the Yes on Question 1 campaign last year. The Ethics Commission decided last October to investigate NOM after it was accused of concealing the names of many donors.

Question 1 asked Maine voters “Do you want to reject the new law that lets samesex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?”

In the November election, 52.8% said “Yes, repeal marriage equality,” and 47.2% said “No.” A record 60% of registered voters participated in the off-year election.

The marriage equality bill was passed 2015 by the Maine Senate in April 2009, and 89-58 by the House in May 2009. It was enacted by the Senate and signed into law by

Maine Governor John Baldacci on May 6.

Maine became the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage, and the first to do so on the initiative of its legislature, without a court order.

The law was to take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session, but the day after it was signed by Gov. Baldacci, a group calling itself Stand for Marriage Maine launched a “people’s veto” campaign to put the measure on the ballot.

Stand for Marriage Maine was ultimately successful in getting the measure on the ballot and persuading Maine voters to reject marriage equality.

According to documents published in October 2009, NOM provided 63% of the funding for Stand for Marriage Maine, or $1.6 million out of total cash contributions of about $2.6 million. Claims in the present federal court case indicate NOM’s final total might be as much as $1.9 million.

An additional 20%, or $550,000, was provided by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, Maine. Focus on the Family contributed about $100,000.

At issue in the federal court case is disclosure of the names of people who contributed to NOM, and whose cash contributions were then funneled to Stand for Marriage Maine.

To date, NOM has not cooperated with demands to release this information.

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“Julieta” struts her stuff for the crowd

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer Seattle University’s Triangle Club’s Fourth Annual Drag Show May 26 Campion Ballroom Seattle University’s Triangle Club held its fourth Annual Drag Show on May 26 in the Campion Ballroom of Seattle University, drawing a crowd of nearly 300 people. The show featured performances from members of the Triangle Club as well as well-known queens Sylvia O’Stayformore, Gaysha Starr, and Regina Starr. Although the event was free, donations were collected and a substantial amount of money was raised for the Triangle Club.

The event was extremely impressive in its professionalism and success for being put on by a college student group.

The highlight of the evening was a “drag makeover” of sorts where three boys and three girls were chosen from the audience and were transformed into queens and kings in a matter of minutes by Triangle Club members.

Sylvia O’Stayformore lent her talents as host, and brought Tor Middlewood along with her to share a few songs from their current show Cocktails with Sylvia and Tor, which runs every Thursday at the Orient Express Restaurant and Lounge (2963 4th Ave. S.).

The raffle, which benefited Triangle Club, offered prizes donated by Lifelong AIDS

May 28, 2010

Alliance and local restaurants Julia’s and Martins off Madison.

The Triangle Club is dedicated to creating and maintaining events, discussions, etc. throughout the year which focus on LGBTQA (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning and Allies) issues and allow other LGBTQA students to socialize and meet with their own peers, staff, and faculty members.

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Celebrating 37 Years!

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International furor over harsh Malawi sentence

Claire Ngozo/IPS

balanga remains, for the present, in Chichiri prison, where the two had been held without bail since their arrest.

“The decision by the Malawian authorities to split up jailed lovers, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, is a cruel, malicious and vindictive attempt to cause the couple psychological distress and heartache,” Tatchell said in a statement issued May 26.

“Steven has been transferred this week to Zomba prison, separating him from his partner, Tiwonge,” Tatchell’s statement continued.

“Previously, the couple were jailed together in Chichiri prison, where Tiwonge remains. Although held in separate cells, in Chichiri they were able to see each other briefly from time to time.

“Now they will have no contact at all. This move will be particularly hard for Steven. Of the two, he is more vulnerable and stressed.

Tiwonge, in contrast, is robust and resilient.

“I fear that this separation may have an adverse impact on Steven’s mental and physical well-being. He was seriously ill for a month and is still not fully well. His isolation from Tiwonge is likely to be a severe blow to his morale. It could cause his health to relapse.”

Chimbalanga was born biologically male, but has always identified as a woman. She met Monjeza at the church both attend, where she is a recognized member of the woman’s group.

Monjeza and Chimbalanga married December 28 last year, and were arrested the Chimbalanga (l) and Monjeza have been convicted under colonial-era laws against next day for “gross indecency” and “unnatuhomosexuality that are in direct conflict with the constitution. ral acts,” crimes which carry a maximum 14

by Mike Andrew year sentence under Malawi’s colonial-era SGN Staff Writer years hard labor, according to British human law against homosexuality.

The couple was convicted May 18 and rights activist Peter Tatchell.

Steven Monjeza and his Transgender Tatchell, who has remained in contact with given the maximum sentence May 20. partner Tiwonge Chimbalanga have been the couple since their arrest last December, separated by prison authorities in Malawi, said that Monjeza had been transferred to SEVERE SENTENCE PROTESTED where they are now serving sentences of 14 the notorious Zomba prison, while Chim- The severity of the sentence surprised many observers, both inside and outside Malawi. Given the poor conditions in Malawian prisons and the lack of appropriate medical care afforded to prisoners, 14 years’ hard labor may amount to a death sentence.

“Anecdotal reports suggest that most Malawians think the 14-year jail sentence is too harsh. Even many people who disagree with homosexuality seem to believe it is excessive and disproportionate. Some armed robbers, child sex abusers, rapists, and killers get lighter sentences,” Peter Tatchell said.

“This is a travesty of justice and it’s a shame to the history of justice in this country,” Samuel Magombo – identified only as

a “resident of Blantyre,” Malawi’s capital – told reporters as the couple were led away from the sentencing hearing.

“They have used a colonial kind of legislation to ban these innocent people … when people give the argument that we are born to make children why do we not arrest the Catholic priests. Do they make children when they are in their celibate life?” Magombo continued.

“Malawi being a signatory to so many international human rights instruments has an obligation to protect all people, including minority rights. And it seems we are facing a challenge and we don’t recognize these minority rights, so this is a challenge that we as a nation have to see how we can do the proper thing,” said Malawian human rights activist Undule Mwakasungula.

INTERNATIONAL REACTION Both the White House and the U.S. State Department strongly condemned the trial and the harsh punishment dealt out to the couple.

“The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi. We urge Malawi and all countries to stop using sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for arrest, detention, or execution,” the White House statement said.

“The United States is appalled by the conviction and sentencing of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza to 14 years in jail with hard labor. … The conviction and sentencing are a significant step backward for the Government of Malawi’s human rights record. Malawi must abide by its human rights obligations,” said Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley in a May 20 statement.

“We view the criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity and sentencing to 14 years’ hard labor as a deeply troubling violation of human rights. Decriminalization of homosexuality is integral to the continued protection of universal human rights in Malawi. It is also crucial to the urgent need to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS – a fight in which the United States is closely allied with the Malawian people.

“We remain disturbed by harassment, persecution, and exclusion based on sexual orientation or gender identity wherever it occurs. The State Department will continue

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Celebrating 37 Years!

to stand against any efforts to marginalize, criminalize, and penalize members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community worldwide. We urge Malawi and all countries with similar laws to take the necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular arrests, detentions, or executions.”

On May 21, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay issued a statement condemning the trial and sentence as “blatantly discriminatory.”

“Laws that criminalize people on the basis of their sexual orientation are by their nature discriminatory, and as such are in apparent violation of a number of key international treaties and instruments,” Pillay said. “It sets an alarming precedent for the treatment of homosexuals in the region.”

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that he would travel to Malawi on May 29, and take up the issue directly with President Bingu wa Mutharika.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Noel Clay told SGN that the State Department has also spoken directly with Malawi’s government.

“We talk about these issues all the time,” Clay said, “and not only with Malawi. I wouldn’t be able to tell you at what level, whether it’s with the head of state [Mutharika] or not.”

APPEAL Lawyers for the couple have said they will appeal the court’s ruling. Efforts to get Monjeza and Chimbalanga out of prison pending appeal have been unsuccessful, however.

“Lawyers for Steven and Tiwonge say their appeal may be heard around the end of June. They suggest that Steven might be returned to Chichiri prison once the appeal process begins, which could be in about four weeks or so,” Tatchell said.

“The couple’s lawyers are optimistic that on appeal to the higher courts the 14-year sentence will be reduced or annulled.

“I hope they are right but I am skeptical, given that the High Court refused to give Steven and Tiwonge bail and refused to rule that their prosecution was unconstitutional.

My fear is that the appeal court may reduce the jail term but not revoke it,” Tatchell concluded.

Tatchell has called on supporters of Monjeza and Chimbalanga to write to them in prison and to donate to their defense fund, since they have no assets of their own.

According to Tatchell, letters can be addressed to: Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, Prisoners, Chichiri Prison, P.O. Box 30117, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi.

Donations can be sent to OutRage!, Tatchell’s organization in Britain: OutRage!, P.O. Box 17816, London SW14 8WT. Enclose a note giving your name and address and stating that your donation is for the Malawi Defense campaign.

pride events continued from page 5

QUEER TEEN ENSEMBLE THEATRE On the evenings of June 24, 25, and 26, Washington Ensemble Theatre presents Queer Teen Ensemble, led by co-artistic director Jessica Hatlo. The performances will be the end result of the Ensemble’s model for ensemble-generated new works, where students collaboratively produce a piece of theatre based on their own experiences surrounding identity, love, and Queerness. The month-long intensive began with directed free-writing that was eventually shared with the group and was later used to generate something new. This phase continued until there was a sense of cohesion, and texts were then molded into a working script.

Watch for more details regarding performance time and ticket price or visit www. washingtonensemble.org.

FEED YOUR PRIDE AT PRIDEFEAST On Thursday, June 24, at participating sary season.

For details and ticket information, visit restaurants, join One Degree Events in celebrating the third annual PrideFeast benefit. www.flyinghouse.org/smc/gabg or call the Get your Pride weekend started early by box office at (206) 388-1400. helping to raise funds for LGBT health and BEND-IT EXTRAVAGANZA wellness nonprofits.

SHOWCASES QUEER ARTISTS For details and a list of participating resFrom Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27, taurants, visit www.pridefeast.org. the Queer activist collective Bend-It will showcase local Queer artists at the Bend-It PRIDE SHABBAT AT Extravaganza. Visit BendItBandits.org to TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI On Friday, June 25, Temple De Hirsch get involved.

As part of the 8th annual event, Queer zinSinai (1511 E. Pike St.) will hold its Pride Shabbat. Pre-service appetizers will be at 7 esters will be given a table where they can p.m., and the service will begin at 7:30 p.m. pass out their zines for free. Everyone who This is shaping up to be one of the most suc- contributes will receive free photocopies for work sent in by the June 11 deadline. cessful Pride Shabbats yet.

For more information, contact Quinn at quinnwyatt@gmail.com or visit benditbanSEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS AND SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS dits.org or www.myspace.com/bend_it PRESENT GLITTER AND BE GAY DIGNITY/SEATTLE HOLDS 22ND On Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26 PRIDE PANCAKE BREAKFAST at 8 p.m., Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle On Saturday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to Women’s Chorus join forces for the first time ever in an extravaganza called Glitter noon, Dignity/Seattle will hold its 22nd and Be Gay at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer annual Pride Pancake Breakfast at Central St.). The concert is a tribute to two great Lutheran Church Social Hall (1710 11th American composers: Leonard Bernstein, a Ave.). $7 donation. Proceeds go to Multiprodigy renowned for his energy and talents faith Works, Bailey-Boushay House, and as both a confuctor and composer, and Ste- Dignity/Seattle. Raffle prizes will be drawn. phen Sondheim, the undisputed master of A recycling dropoff will be provided for cell the modern Broadway musical. The concert phones and empty ink cartridges. Dignity/ will feature music from Bernstein and Sond- Seattle has been a faith community of Gay, heim’s collaborations, as well as their individual careers. Expect to be transported to musical heaven when artistic director Dennis Coleman pulls out all the stops and more than 400 voices take the stage to perform music from such Broadway classics as West Side Story, Sunday in the Park with George, Wonderful Town, Sweeney Todd, Candide, and A Little Night Music. Glitter and Be Gay is destined to be a show to remember for decades to come, and the perfect ending to the Seattle Men’s Chorus’ 30th anniver-

Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Catholics and their families and friends in Seattle since 1973.

For more information, visit www.dignityseattle.org.

CAPITOL HILL PRIDE FESTIVAL 2010 On Saturday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the second annual Capitol Hill Pride Festival will be held on Broadway, between E. John and E. Roy Sts. This is a free, all-ages festival celebrating diversity and community pride. The festival is open to everyone – LGBT or straight – from any background.

The five-block festival will feature four public stages, a Kids’ Zone, Faerie Circle stage, and over 200 booths and vendors. Attractions include live entertainment, music, singing, face/body painting, and a Doggie Drag Costume Contest.

For the festival’s second year, attendance is expected to be 7,000-10,000.

For a full list of entertainment, performers, vendors, and participants, visit capitolhillpridefestival.net.

INTERFAITH PRIDE WORSHIP SERVICE On Saturday, June 26, at 2 p.m., an Interfaith Pride worship service will be held at see pride events page 18

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Seattle Gay News 17

pride events continued from page 17

All Pilgrims Church (500 Broadway E.).

Presentations will be made by members of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities, with more faiths being added.

For more information, visit www.mccseattle.org.

SEATTLE DYKE MARCH AND RALLY On Saturday, June 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Seattle Central Community College Plaza (Broadway Ave. E. and E. Pine St.), join the Seattle Dyke March Rally: “Connecting to the International Community – Dyke, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, and Queer.” Performers confirmed to date: Emcee Lamar Van Dyke, singer Alicia Healy, Spokane’s Giant Ass Drum Corps, Seattle’s Queer Tango Dancers, 7 Star Women’s Kung Fu, and more. At 7 p.m., the Seattle Dyke March steps off to circle Capitol Hill. T-shirts are now available for $15. If you order now, there is a $5 charge for delivery. E-mail marcy@seattledykemarch.com for details.

For more information, visit www.seattledykemarch.com.

SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE On Sunday, June 27, at 11 a.m., the Seattle Pride Parade will begin at Westlake Park (400 Pine St.) and travel down 4th Ave. to Denny Way and the Seattle PrideFest 2010 at the Seattle Center.

Remember when Dorothy opens the door to Oz? Her whole world transforms from black and white to vibrant color. That’s kind of like the Seattle Pride Parade. This year, the Emerald City goes “Over The Rainbow – Be Seen, Be Heard, Be There” and over the top to support our LGBT community.

Expect a dazzling spectacle of floats, out-

landish costumes and dancing in the streets.

The Parade, produced by Seattle Out and Proud, is an exuberant, high-energy celebration of diversity, community and unity. The Parade also celebrates the passage of Referendum 71, upholding Washington state’s “everything-but-marriage” domestic partnership legislation. Visit www.seattlepride. org for more information.

SEATTLE PRIDEFEST 2010 On Sunday, June 27, the Pride parade will end at Seattle Center, and PrideFest 2010 will begin. Tens of thousands of revelers pack the Seattle Center to dance, drink, eat, shop, and party. Every year the event gets bigger (both in attendees, caliber of performers, and size of event footprint), and every year this event gets better. Please join us in 2010 as we take up more of the Seattle Center grounds with more vendors, bigger stages, and better entertainment than ever before! This year’s headlining star is singer Kimberley Locke, and comic Julie Goldman will join the festivities at the largest LGBTQ gathering in the Pacific Northwest.

New events are still being scheduled.

For more information, visit seattlepridefest.org or e-mail info@seattlepridefest.org.

• PRIDE AROUND WASHINGTON STATE FOURTH ANNUAL LEWIS COUNTY PRIDE On Friday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Centralia College Campus (600 Centralia College Boulevard, Centralia, WA) will host the fourth annual Lewis County Pride. There will be plenty of entertainment, including a bull riding machine, bouncy house, kiddy games, drag king and queen performances, $1 spaghetti, and a raffle, as well as crownings for Mr. and Ms. Gay Lewis County.

For more information, visit events.myspace.com/Event/1276282/Lewis-CountyPride.

OUTSPOKANE On Saturday, June 12, from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Wall Street (between Spokane Falls Blvd. and Main St.) in Spokane, WA, Spokane will hold their Pride festival, OutSpokane. 2010 brings many changes to Spokane’s Annual Pride Parade & Rainbow Festival. This year’s theme is “Pride in Our Community.” Use this theme to guide your Pride parade expression in float design, signs, and parade dress! Let’s have

lots of color and fabulousness! Be OUT and from Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Canada.

PROUD! For more information, visit www.midcoFor more information, visit www.outspo- lumbiapride.com. kane.com.

KITSAP PRIDE 2010 OLYMPIA PRIDE FESTIVAL Planning is underway for the Kitsap Pride CAPITAL CITY PRIDE 2010 celebration, to be held on Saturday, July 17 Olympia’s Capital City Pride 2010 will in Bremerton’s Evergreen Park (1500 Park run from Saturday, June 12, to Sunday, June Ave.). This year’s theme is “One World, One 13, when it culminates in a noon parade Heart, One Pride,” and is the international through downtown Olympia. The Olympia theme adopted by Interpride. Vendor appliPride Festival promises “More pride. More cations are available and have been coming to love.” The festivities begin at 11 a.m. on in steadily. Volunteers are being recruited to Saturday at Sylvester Park (at the corner of help plan and more will be needed the day Capitol Way S. and Legion Way S.E.), with of the event. music, food, film screenings, and an 8 p.m.

For more information, visit www.kitsapmasquerade ball. Sunday’s parade starts at pride.org. the State Capitol steps, then travels northbound on Capital Way to 5th Avenue, then • PORTLAND AND winds back toward Sylvester Park via WashBRITISH COLUMBIA ington St. For a full schedule of events and times, PORTLAND PRIDE 2010 visit capitalcitypride.net.

On Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20, Pride Northwest will hold Portland Pride BELLINGHAM PRIDE 2010. The parade steps off on Sunday at B PROUD 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Burnside St. and From Wednesday, July 7, to Sunday, July NW 13th Ave. The theme of this year’s fes11, Bellingham will hold the B Proud Pride tivities is “Power to the People!” festival in Bellingham, WA. Bellingham For a full list of entertainers, vendors, and Pride began 10 years ago under the direc- details, visit www.pridenw.org. tion of Whatcom PFLAG, as an event with roughly a half-dozen tables in Fairhaven VICTORIA, BC PRIDE 2010 Park on a Sunday afternoon in June. It has From Sunday, June 27 to Sunday, July 4, been in its current location of Depot Market Victoria, BC will hold Victoria Pride 2010.

Square (Home of the Bellingham Farm- A festival and parade will be held on July 4 ers Market) for four years, and this will be at MacDonald Park in James Bay. the third year in which the festival has had For more information, visit www.victoria parade. While most pride festivals tend apridesociety.org. to take place in June (National Gay & Lesbian Month), we recognize that we can ofVANCOUVER, BC PRIDE 2010 fer a festival during July when Bellingham On Sunday, August 1, Vancouver, BC weather is nicer and no other prides are gen- will begin its Pride 2010 festivities. Spanerally taking place. This is our 10th Anni- ning 20 blocks and attracting an audience versary of pride and we strive to be a festival of over 600,000 in 2009, the Pride Parade is everyone can be proud of. We offer events Vancouver’s premier celebration of culture that cater to all aspects of our LGBTQQI2A and diversity. The Vancouver Pride Society community. We look forward to a fantastic adopted a three-year theme of “Educate, pride this year.

Liberate, Celebrate,” focusing on one of the If you have any questions, comments, three elements each year. In 2010, we focus concerns or would like to help, sponsor or on Liberate, and what it means to be free. be a vendor, visit www.bhampride.org.

In parts of the world and even in our own country, Pride is still a movement to liberMID-COLUMBIA PRIDE 2010 ate. Pride is a vehicle to educate, liberate On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July and celebrate and every summer, that’s what 16-18, Mid-Columbia Pride 2010 will be we do here in Vancouver. held at Memorial Park (1520 W. Shoshone) For more information, visit www.vancouin Pasco, WA. This year’s theme is “Cirque verpride.ca. du Q.” The event expects 2,500+ visitors throughout weekend, with 55% coming from the Tri-Cities area and other attendees

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rds struggled to navigate the legal system and ever-present media coverage as Matcontinued from cover thew’s murderers – Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson – were put on trial.

“The trial was tough,” Judy told SGN. book form, about her loss. Throughout the book, Judy shares memories of Matthew, “There were, and still are, people who don’t their lives as a typical American family, and want to admit that that could happen to a the pivotal event in a small college town that young man. It is hard for them to stomach that my son was killed because he was Gay. changed everything.

Judy told SGN that she wrote the book be- I do still run into some of those people today. But if you read the trial transcripts and cause “ I wanted people to meet my Matt.”

“Writing this book has been a difficult, yet the confessions, the proof is there. It makes rewarding project,” Judy said. “I worked people uncomfortable so they look for other with friends and family to remember things reasons as to why this happened. For some people, it is easier for them to try to in the right order, which was tough. change history to make it comSo much happened so quickly. fortable where they live.

In short, I realized that 12 We made the The truth is there is such years later there still exist decision, as a family, to a thing as pure evil in misconceptions about this world – no matter my son and the events take the window of opportunity where you live.” leading up to his Initially, Judy death. I wrote the to make a difference. We saw says she was going book to set people that we had access to the national to write a book straight.”

The Meaning platform and the support of millions that included reprints of the many of Matthew follows the Shepard of people, so we decided to create the thousands of letters and e-mails family in the days immediately after Matthew Shepard Foundation to fight that the Shepard family received the crime, when against social injustice, create during Matthew’s Judy and her husdiversity awareness, educate, hospital stay, immeband traveled to see diately following his their incapacitated son and promote equality for death, and throughout – kept alive by life-supthe murder trial. port machines – and how LGBT people.

“We received about 10,000 they learned of the horrible cards and letters from individucrime that had befallen him. Judy describes how the family was forced to deal als around the world,” Judy told SGN. “We with the terrible news that Matthew would got letters from anyone you could imagine, not survive, and how her family, along with from all walks of life – even politicians. We friends, banded together to face the media would get a sympathy card and they would just write and write until the card was full, frenzy – unsure of the public’s reaction.

“The decision to do something really and then they would write some more on came soon to our family,” Judy told SGN. notebook paper. It was almost as if people “We made the decision, as a family, to take just had to vent. The larger percentage of the window of opportunity [because Mat- content was not Gay related, but love rethew’s story was so widely covered by the lated. People were outraged that something press] to make a difference. We saw that we like this could happen.”

Judy says that while Matthew was fighting had access to the national platform and the support of millions of people, so we decided for his life at the Poudre Valley Hospital in to create the Matthew Shepard Foundation Fort Collins, Colorado, the hospital received to fight against social injustice, create diver- over 100,000 e-mails voicing concern. “Out sity awareness, educate, and promote equal- of all those communications,” she said, “maybe 1% or less were negative.” ity for LGBT people.”

The Meaning of Matthew is not just an “NOT A GAY OR STRAIGHT ISSUE, account of Matthew’s murder. Throughout this powerful account, Judy also looks back BUT A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE” Judy credits the success of the play and at Matthew’s childhood, his early years with eventual movie The Laramie Project, as his family in a small town, and the famwell as working with Parents, Families, and ily’s move abroad to Saudi Arabia, includFriends of Lesbians and Gays; the Gay, Les- ing Matthew’s tenure at a Swiss boarding bian and Straight Education Network; and school. She chronicles Matthew’s talents the Human Rights Campaign for pushing and struggles, his preternatural empathy and the issue of hate crimes to the forefront on kindness, and how she had an inkling about the national media and political platform. her son being Gay long before anyone else.

“He was about 8 years old when I began “People began to realize that this was not a Gay or straight issue, but a civil rights is- to wonder if he were Gay,” she told SGN. “I think I knew he was Gay even before he did. sue,” she said.

After the shock and grief following Mat- There was never a question of acceptance; thew’s death and the overwhelming rallying we all loved him, but I knew this was going of a county shamed by the horrific crime of to be something challenging in his life. This two men, Judy tells readers how the Shepa- was during the 1980s when the AIDS pan-

shepard

demic was scaring everyone beyond logic.”

The Meaning of Matthew is an incredibly moving book that makes sure that Matthew’s life and legacy continues to be as important to millions of young homosexuals and their families in this country today as it was 10 years ago. Throughout the book, Judy confides to readers how she handled the crippling loss of her child in the public eye and specifically how she learned to distinguish between her son the person and her son the symbol, why she became a Gay rights activist, and the challenges and rewards of raising a Gay child in America today.

THE FIGHT FOR GAY RIGHTS Since her son’s death, Judy Shepard has become a beloved face of Gay rights in the U.S. “What we [Matthew Shepard Foundation] do right now is educate and raise awareness,” she said. “It is important that we engage not just the Gay community, but the allied communities as well. Bullying is a giant problem right now; we are trying to find out ways to address it. The Matthew Shepard Foundation is part of the movement to raise awareness about being civil.”

One of Judy’s greatest achievements happened late last year when she watched President Obama sign the Matthew Shepard Act into law. “It was amazing,” she recalled. “I wasn’t sure it was going to happen because, you know, we’d been close before, during the dark years of the Bush presidency. But Obama signed the bill, and that’s a great thing. It is amazing to have legislation at a federal level that protects the LGBT community. We know it won’t prevent, but it will stem the tide of all hate crimes. Most importantly, it is a building block for other legislation for the Gay community such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,

and to do away with the federal Defense of Marriage Act and ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”

“As far as DADT is concerned, my gut is telling me that we do not give enough credit to the young men and women who are serving,” Judy told SGN. “This issue is generational. The young generation doesn’t care who is Gay in the military. My generation, and older, were indoctrinated into fear of the Gay community. Ignorance, unfortunately, is still rampant.”

“I just want people to understand that the LGBT community are beings – they are just different for who they love, and at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter,” she said.

“I would hope that a lot of parents read this book,” Judy told SGN. “As a parent, I know that your life can change in a heartbeat. To reject your child because of sexual orientation is terrible and such a waste. You could lose your child at any moment, so make sure you love them every day for who they truly are.”

Judy Shepard will be available for a book signing and questions and answers event on June 1, at 7 p.m. at the Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Avenue). The event is sponsored by Elliot Bay Book Co. “I am a classic introvert, so these book signings are challenging for me,” she admits. “But I love meeting with people to hear their stories. I don’t do a reading because I couldn’t possibly pick just one part to read. However, I do answer questions from the audience. I specifically like seeing LGBT youth and parents of Gay kids at the events. They are encouraging to me and proof that things are changing.”

For more information about the Matthew Shepard Foundation visit the organization online at www.matthewshepard.org. For information and resources geared towards LGBT teens, visit www.matthewsplace. com.

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Seattle Gay News 19

dadt

continued from cover tant advances in our fight against prejudice based on sexual orientation,” said Rep. Barney Frank, one of the amendment’s biggest supporters. “A very few years from now, it will be clear that the fears expressed by our opponents’ arguments were totally without foundation.”

President Obama, who pledged to end DADT in 2010, said, “I have long advocated that we repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and I am pleased that both the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee took important bipartisan steps toward repeal tonight. Key to successful repeal will be the ongoing Defense Department review, and as such I am grateful that the amendments offered by Representative Patrick Murphy and Senators Joseph Lieberman and Carl Levin that passed today will

ensure that the Department of Defense can complete that comprehensive review that will allow our military and their families the opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process. Our military is made up of the best and bravest men and women in our nation, and my greatest honor is leading them as commander in chief. This legislation will help make our Armed Forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing Gay and Lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity.”

“After years of fighting to end this law, these two votes are a thrilling step forward – not just for Lesbian and Gay servicemembers, but for each and every American that believes in equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The importance of this vote cannot be overstated – this is the beginning of the end. The stars are aligning to finally restore honor and integrity to those who serve our country so selflessly.”

Vice Chair of the House LGBT Caucus Rep. Anthony Weiner said, “Today’s vote is a major step toward the eventual dismantling of the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. For the sake of our security, it is imperative that our military be equipped with the most talented, willing, and capable men and women that this country has to offer – regardless of their sexual orientation.”

The Gay military ban known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” requires the Defense Department to separate from the armed services members who engage in or attempt to engage in homosexual acts, state they are ho-

mosexual or Bisexual, or marry or attempt to marry a person of the same biological sex. Nearly 14,000 otherwise qualified men and women have been discharged from the military under DADT, and many thousands more have chosen to not re-enlist because of the policy. Enforcing and implementing the policy has cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

On May 25, President Obama signed on to a DADT compromise between lawmakers and the Defense Department that is likely to clear the way for repeal of the 17-yearold ban. Under the compromise, worked out in a series of meetings May 24 at the White House and on Capitol Hill, lawmakers will proceed to repeal the Clinton-era policy.

In a letter to lawmakers pushing for repeal, the White House wrote that “such an approach recognizes the critical need to allow our military and their families the full opportunity to inform and shape the implementation process through a thorough understanding of their concerns, insights and suggestions.”

Following the president’s announcement of a DADT compromise between lawmakers and the White House, Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave lukewarm support.

Gates “continues to believe that, ideally, the DOD review should be completed before there is any legislation” changing the law, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.

Gates “can accept the language in the proposed amendment,” Morrell added.

Gay rights advocates hailed the White House decision as a dramatic breakthrough that would eventually dismantle the policy once and for all.

Both Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, certify that a DADT repeal won’t hurt the military’s ability to fight.

During debate on the House floor on May 26, Rep. Jared Polis, an openly Gay Democrat from Colorado, said most Americans “recognize that on the battlefield, it doesn’t matter if a soldier is Lesbian, Gay, or straight. What matters is they get the job done for our country.”

“We need to get this done, and we need to get it done now,” said Rep. Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat who served in the Iraq war and who is chief sponsor of the amendment.

As the fight moves to the full Senate (sometime this summer), final victory is no sure thing. Still, the historic May 27 House and Senate Armed Services Committee votes brought openly Gay service one step closer to becoming a reality.

www.sgn.org

milk

continued from cover City Supervisor Dan White on November 27, 1977 at City Hall. Milk, who was 48 at the time, was elected to the city’s Board of Supervisors a year before. During his 11 months in office and before, Milk was credited with advancing many issues in the LGBT community, including low-income housing and civil rights. Milk was instrumental in defeating California’s Proposition 6, which would have prohibited Gays and Lesbians from teaching at public schools.

Mayor George Moscone was also shot and killed by White that day.

Geoffrey Kors, the executive director for Equality California, said, “The creation of the first official day of recognition for any openly Gay person in the history of this country has really touched people, many of whom have been closeted in life or faced rejection or government discrimination which continues to this day.”

Stuart Milk, 49, says his uncle would be thrilled by the various tributes, but his hope is that his uncle’s day will be more about uniting all marginalized minorities than merely about LGBT rights.

“It’s still a hard concept for people to get,” said Stuart. “This isn’t about having a Harvey Milk curriculum in every school. It’s an opportunity to talk about what discrimination means and why it’s important for everyone to feel included.”

Harvey Milk’s life was the subject of a 2008 Academy Award-winning film Milk, starring Sean Penn.

zimbabwe

continued from cover legal detentions, and torture of prisoners.

“The initial charges are that they were found in possession of pornographic material,” attorney Chimbga told Associated Press on May 25.

“Now the police want to add a charge of insulting the president [Robert Mugabe],” he added. “They are saying during the raid they found a poster which said things which are not good about the president.”

Chimbga continued, “We haven’t seen the said pornographic material or the poster.

We are going to the high court to seek their release through an urgent chamber application.”

Zimbabwean police told Associated Press reporters that they had found a letter undermining President Mugabe during the raid.

GALZ activists had posted it on their wall.

The letter was reportedly from former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Brown congratulated GALZ on their work for LGBT rights, and criticized Pres. Mugabe for being anti-Gay. At the May 27 bail hearing, it appeared

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May 28, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

that the charge of insulting or undermining Zimbabwe’s president would be withdrawn.

Only charges under Zimbabwe’s Censorship and Entertainment Control Act were presented at the hearing.

GALZ told foreign reporters that the raid on their office is part of growing pressure in Zimbabwe against LGBT rights.

“About a month ago, two foreign student interns were stopped at the airport trying to leave Zimbabwe and interrogated and detained. All of the GALZ material they had in their possession was confiscated.”

GALZ activists said they feared that other arrests will follow.

“We understand that it is currently unsafe for GALZ employees and volunteers who are outside of Zimbabwe at various meetings, including an OSISA [Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa] meeting in Johannesburg, to return to Zimbabwe as there is a concern that they will be arrested at the airport.”

Mugabe has frequently indulged in inflammatory anti-Gay rhetoric.

“Three days ago,” Mugabe said during recent debates on a new national constitution, “I heard that some people want us to discuss the issue of Gays in the new constitution. How do we even begin to talk about it? Those who engage in homosexual behavior are just crazy. It’s just madness. Insanity.

We can’t do it or the dead will turn in their graves.”

“If you are doing that [Gay sex], you are destroying nationhood,” he said on another occasion.

Mugabe has also described homosexuality as an “alien practice that is being exported into our country.”

“In Britain and the United States,” he added, “I saw an archbishop blessing a Gay wedding. ... I want to see how they will procreate. If they manage, then I will admit that I don’t know.”

Mugabe opponent and current Prime Min-

ister Morgan Tsvangirai does not support LGBT rights either, however.

Speaking after Mugabe at a joint event, Tsvangirai said, “The president has spoken on the issue of Gay rights, men who breathe to other men’s ears. Never, I don’t accept that culture. Why do you look for other men when women make up 52% of the population? Men are few.”

Homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe, as it is in most African countries, but arrests for homosexuality are reportedly very rare.

Arrests for challenging the authority of Pres. Mugabe are quite common, however.

Mugabe, now 86, has been in power since Ian Smith’s white minority regime collapsed in 1980.

In 1982, Mugabe drove his political rival Joshua Nkomo out of the country, and remained the unchallenged leader of the country until 2000.

In that year, Mugabe encouraged unemployed veterans of his anti-colonialist gue-

rilla movement to seize farms owned by white settlers.

Land redistribution was followed by hyperinflation so severe that Mugabe’s government was forced to suspend the national currency. South African rand and U.S. dollars are now the currency of exchange in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe’s opponents charged that ill-considered land reform projects had destroyed the national economy. Mugabe replied that the country’s financial problems were the result of international sanctions imposed by the U.S., the EU, and Australia.

In 2008 Mugabe’s party lost national parliamentary elections in a campaign marred by widespread use of police to intimidate the president’s political opponents.

Since the 2008 election, Mugabe retained the post of president by coming to a powersharing arrangement with MDC opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is now prime minister.

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