SGN Nov 19, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 47 Volume 38

Celebrating 37 Years!

FRIDAY November 19, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

PATTY MURRAY LETTER p. 5

ASK MICHAEL p. 18

burlesque p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Capitol hill pickpocket Reid promises DADT vote: victim teams with cops lame duck Senate session to bust the bad guys

JT Hooker

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The constant reports of pickpockets, muggings, and violence in the early morning hours on Capitol Hill reached a fever pitch this year. It is commonplace to read headlines on neighborhood blogs or in Seattle-area newspapers that tell the tale of a Gayborhood in the

see pickpocket page 20

file photo

courtesy JT Hooker

grip of a crime wave.

Well, this reporter is happy to present you with a story of a victim who refused to let his assailants get away with a crime. The following is a firsthand account from JT Hooker, 32, a local Queer artist and curator who went undercover to help the cops catch two criminals who had it coming.

On November 11, JT left a local Gay bar on E. Madison St. in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Like so many nights before, JT walked down 14th Ave. to get home.

At 6’5” and 225 lbs., JT doesn’t exactly fit the profile of someone that would-be thieves would approach.

“I’ve never felt unsafe at all in Seattle,” JT told Seattle Gay News.

“I moved here from New York City. Seattle seems like a very clean, friendly, and safe city.”

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and top White House officials announced this week that the Democratic majority leader is committed to bringing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal to a vote as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the end of the year.

According to a joint statement from the Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and the Center for American Progress – all present at a November 17 stakeholder meeting for repeal – White House officials told the groups that Reid and Obama stand committed to moving forward on repeal by bringing the vote to the floor in the lameduck session after the Thanksgiving recess.

White House officials present at the meeting included deputy chief of staff Jim Messina and director of legislative affairs Phil Schiliro, see DADT page 20

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

Assault near Tribe men’s club GSBA gala dinner investigated as bias crime and auction raises record $345,000 William Creswell

did not require hospitalization.

The assault took place in front of Tribe (formerly Basic Plumbing), at 1505 10th Avenue.

“I guess it was 3:00 am,” Hamm told SGN. “I was standing by my car in front of Tribe, waiting for a friend to come out, and I see this man – clearly intoxicated – peeing on the front door.”

“So I said, ‘Hey, that’s a business. You’re peeing on the front door of a business,’” Hamm continued. “And he said ‘Oh,’ and he went over and peed on the dumpster next to it.”

Things went downhill from there, Hamm says.

“Then I said, ‘You could at least have shown me your cock.’”

“I guess I shouldn’t have said that,” Hamm added. “But you know … I just said it.”

Hamm says the man turned to his friends who were standing by a hot dog stand at the corner of 10th and Pike and said something to them in Spanish.

“So he comes back with three other guys, and a girl who kinda Tribe stood at the side,” Hamm continued.

“And then he said, ‘Wanna see

by Mike Andrew man in the heart of Capitol Hill is being investigated as a bias crime.

SGN Staff Writer The victim, Dustin Hamm of SeAn October 30 assault on a Gay attle, was injured in the assault, but see assault page 19

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

silent and live auction, a sit-down dinner with celebrity chefs Tamara Murphy (formerly of Brasa The Greater Seattle Business and soon with Terra Plata), Jason Association (GSBA), the nation’s Stratton of Cascina Spinasse, and largest LGBT Chamber of Com- Poppy’s Jerry Traunfeld. The 5th merce, announced that their annu- Avenue Theatre performed music al TASTE of GSBA benefit dinner from Guys and Dolls. and auction brought in a record“As professionals, business breaking donation total. Accord- leaders, and members of the Seing to GSBA officials, the No- attle community, we recognize the vember 13 event raised more than value of an investment in the next $345,000 to support scholarships generation of leaders,” said Louise for LGBT and allied students.

Chernin, GSBA executive director.

More than 600 business and non- “GSBA is committed to helping toprofits leaders and elected officials day’s students become tomorrow’s attended the TASTE of GSBA leaders. The TASTE of GSBA has gala, held at the Seattle Sheraton always been our signature fundHotel’s Metropolitan Ballroom.

TASTE showcased member restaurants and caterers, featured a see GSBA page 21

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Seattle Gay News

November 19, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Tree of Life During the month of December, many of your favorite Capitol hill bars and restaurants will join together to help prevent teen suicide.

Please take a moment and join the Seattle Gay News and this establishment to donate to the Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Washington state in our efforts to stop these tragic events.

Take action and become part of the “Tree of Life” today.

Take Action Tree of Life / Stop Teen Suicide Program is proudly sponsored by:

SGN Seattle Gay News

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 19, 2010

Seattle Gay News

3

Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

1605 12th Ave., Ste. 31 Seattle, WA 98122

Phone: (206) 324-4297 Fax: (206) 322-7188

MEMBER

e-mail: sgn2@sgn.org internet: www.sgn.org

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 Shaun Knittel

World Bank smart to de-fund PFOX

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.

Greg Quinlan

by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer In August, two key members of the “exGay” organization PFOX spoke at the “Truth Academy.” The conference was hosted by the paradoxically named Americans For Truth About Homosexuality, whose founder Peter LaBarbera’s website is listed as an official “hate site” by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

At the Truth Academy, PFOX Board President Greg Quinlan raised eyebrows with an offensive speech explaining how he allegedly went from Gay to straight, and found support from an Assemblies of God Church that accepted him because he supposedly

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

was not effeminate.

“I wasn’t your flaming faggot, you know,” Quinlan told the chuckling crowd. “I can say that because I’ve been there and done that – you know, the ones whose wrists are so limp that when the wind blows they slap themselves in the face. I wasn’t one of them.”

At the same conference, Arthur Abba Goldberg, the convicted Wall Street thief who runs PFOX’s speaker’s bureau, demonstrated PFOX’s unscientific use of stereotypes.

“By the way, did you notice that a lot of Gays who remain in the Gay lifestyle also do a lot of bodybuilding?” asked Abba Goldberg. “They will be in the gym a lot trying to build up their pecs … because they have these body image issues and don’t feel they are masculine enough.”

Clearly, Virginia-based PFOX is a dangerous organization that traffics in ugly slurs and crass stereotypes. The group has not one iota of science to back up its anti-Gay rhetoric, so it turns to quacks for guidance, such as its former board President Richard Cohen.

Cohen runs the sham group known as the International Healing Foundation, which specializes in bizarre “ex-Gay” therapies, such as a banging a pillow with a tennis racquet while yelling a parent’s name. In 2009, Cohen sent his protégé, Caleb Lee Brundidge (who claims to raise the dead), to Uganda. The result of his visit was the introduction of the deadly and draconian AntiHomosexuality Bill. Incidentally, Cohen was permanently expelled from the American Counseling Association on March 23, 2002 for multiple ethics violations.

With no credibility, PFOX tries to legitimize its homophobia by slyly gaining endorsements from mainstream institutions – usually through chicanery, such as disguising what the organization truly stands for.

For example, earlier this year, PFOX pretended the District of Columbia government endorsed it, after its Executive Director Regina Griggs received a Certificate of Appreciation. Upon learning that PFOX had received the perfunctory piece of paper and plastered its website with it, the mayor’s offile photo

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,

November 19, 2010

fice took back the “honor.”

“A staff level error was made when the request for the certificate in question was fulfilled. We apologize for the error as it runs contrary to the Mayor’s vision of a more open and inclusive city,” the mayor’s office wrote to PFOX. (I tried posting a picture of PFOX activist Regina Griggs. Unfortunately, it is impossible to find a photograph of her. She may be the only executive director in the United States of America without a face picture. What is she hiding, and why is she so ashamed to publicly identify herself?)

The latest victim of PFOX’s hapless and pathetic quest for legitimacy is the World Bank, which foolishly approved this organization of reprobates as an official charity.

They got the illustrious listing after a small number of anti-Gay staff members at the World Bank had recommended PFOX for this year’s Community Connections Campaign. World Bank matching funds were to be given to the chosen charities. Depending on the level of employee participation, the bank’s matching funds are either 50 percent or 100 percent of the employee donations.

My organization Truth Wins Out and Change.org launched an online petition to drop PFOX from the list of charities. Members of the World Bank staff also made a persuasive case against using taxpayer funds to assist PFOX. Funding this organization would make a mockery of the group’s commitment to diversity and undermine its efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. Armed with new information, the World Bank decided to take another look at PFOX and elected to change their guidelines. According to the new rules, “bank-matching funds will be provided to those organizations that have, through prior participation, established a track record of support with staff. Organizations that have come on the list this year will not be offered matching funds in this year’s campaign, though the Bank will match any contribution that has been made to this latter group prior to today (November 15, 2010). The Bank will review the new organizations after one year, to see if they have the staff and community support to warrant a match in the FY12 campaign.”

The World Bank should have simply dumped PFOX from the campaign. Unfortunately, PFOX’s self-serving and underhanded quest to grandstand cost 25 respected organizations the opportunity to receive matching funds. But at least this interim measure keeps this hate group away from taxpayer funds.

PFOX can bank on the fact that the more people know about the bizarre therapy it endorses, the unprofessional counselors in which it associates, and the slimy way it distorts science and sniffs out publicity – the less support it will receive.

Celebrating 37 Years!

Thank You, SGN Thanks to the SGN for the generous support of BUMP once again this year. Thanks in part to the SGN’s support, it was our best

showing in years in terms of attendance, fun, and dollars raised (nearly $40,000)!

Peter Jabin, Gay City

Patty Murray letter calls for repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to be brought before Senate I believe that now is the time for Congress to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the military by repealing the statute underlying “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

It was a huge step forward when the Senate Committee on Armed Services included a repeal provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.

Now I urge you to ensure that this provision remains in the bill as it is brought before the full Senate for consideration.

As you know, thousands of servicemembers have been separated from the military, including many with critical military skills, under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. I have heard the stories of some of the thousands of patriotic servicemembers whose valuable military talents have been lost to our military. These men and women volunteered to serve their country in a dangerous time, and their exclusion from the ranks of the Armed Forces represents a glaring injustice as well as a limitation on our military effectiveness.

As a cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010, I support a responsible path towards repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” On May 27, 2010, the Armed Services Committee adopted a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal amendment to S. 3454, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This amendment reflects a compromise agreement that would repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” statute – but it would do so 60 days after the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that repeal “is consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention

courtesy eli zupnick

Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain:

Letter from Nevada’s largest union suggests Reid get DADT done

The Honorable Harry Reid, As you know, the culinary workers in Nevada, along with the members of UNITE HERE across the country, were delighted that you won another term. We were pleased to join in that winning effort. You have always been our friend, and we yours. We’re in this for the long haul, to make America a just and fair nation that offers equal opportunity for everyone, just as it did for you and for so many of our members.

I write now to thank you for your courageous leadership on two issues very close to the heart of our Union and its members: the Dream Act and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. UNITE HERE sees full equality for immigrants and LGBT people not only as matters of economic justice, but as fundamental in affirming the basic dignity and respect of all Americans. We cannot be a first-class country with secondclass rights for some Americans.

UNITE HERE has long stood with the

LGBT community. We were among the first unions in the country to call for the passage of full federal civil rights for LGBT people. Many of our members and their families are affected by discriminatory laws such as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell that cast LGBT people as second-class citizens and weaken the nation. Senator, we want you to know that we support you and the president in lifting the ban on DADT in the lame duck session. We cannot afford to wait when so many lives are at stake. We thank you for your support of this and full equality of LGBT people.

We know it will not be an easy battle, but be assured of UNITE HERE’s unwavering support of your leadership in this important fight, both here in Nevada and across the country.

We were among the first unions in the country to call for the passage of full federal civil rights for LGBT people.

Correction

Sincerely, D. Taylor, Secretary-Treasurer, Culinary Workers Union, Local 226

In my article, Hair: The history of the first Broadway rules forever.” rock musical (publish date: Friday, NovemNo flag was burned on stage during the ber 5, 2010, vol. 38 issue 45), a mistake was production of the show. The script calls for made. What was printed: “Its [the musical] the burning of a draft card, but no flag. blatant handling of sexuality and burning Eric Andrews-Katz the American flag on stage would break SGN Contributing Writer

Senator Patty Murray

of the Armed Forces.” It also ensures that the views of servicemembers and their families on how repeal should be implemented are understood and considered. I believe this represents a sound legislative approach that would protect the civil rights of American servicemembers while minimizing any potential disruption to military personnel policies.

Thank you for your continuing work on behalf of U.S. national security and the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.

I look forward to working with you in the days ahead to pass a comprehensive defense authorization bill during this Congress that addresses the most pressing of defense policy concerns – the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Sincerely, Senator Patty Murray

Jeff Parsons 1962-2010 Jeffrey Ray Parsons, the “voice of reason” to so many in Seattle, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, while dealing with the effects of multiple illnesses.

An informal celebration of his life will be held on Friday, November 26 at 5 p.m. in Ballard. Bring a story – there are many out there – and share in the memory of this wonderful man.

For more details, please contact Rick at (206) 779-0926.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 19, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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INTERNATIONAL Andrés Duque

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer which also seeks to open up the civilpartnership law to straight couples.

“We see the Equal Love campaign as a historic quest for justice – morally equivalent to the campaigns to overturn the bans on interracial marriage in apartheid South Africa and the Deep South of the USA,” said coordinator Peter Tatchell. “The ban on same-sex civil marriage and on opposite-sex civil partnerships is a form of sexual apartheid – one law for Gay couples and another law for heterosexual partners. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Same-sex marriage is legal in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Mexico City, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C.

LGBT issues included in EU accession reports LGBT issues figure prominently in the European Commission’s November 9 progress reports on the Colombia Diversa Director Marcela Sánchez hoped-for addition to the European Union of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombian high court Croatia, Iceland, Kosovo, Macedonia, Monrefuses to rule on tenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. same-sex marriage The report on Croatia notes that LGBT Colombia’s Constitutional Court refused to rule in a same-sex marriage case Novem- people face threats and attacks that are inber 11, saying the plaintiffs’ legal arguments adequately investigated by the authorities. were not good enough to warrant a hearing Macedonia’s report points out that the nation’s laws do not provide adequate nondisfrom the court.

The petitioners had sought to strike lan- crimination protections.

Turkey violates the human rights of, in guage from the Civil Code that defines marriage as a contract between a man and particular, Transgender people, its report said. Albania and Montenegro ban anti-Gay a woman.

But, in a 5-4 vote, the court said, “The discrimination but need to do more to precharges of violation of the rights to equal- vent actual discriminatory incidents, their ity, to free development of the personality reports said.

“We welcome the way in which the huand to not receive cruel or degrading treatment, alleged by the plaintiffs, were not suf- man rights of LGBT people are raised in this year’s progress reports and encourage the ficiently argued.”

The court added that since the case was commission to continue asserting the prindismissed on technical grounds, it may be ciples of nondiscrimination and equality in accession negotiations with the countries,” refiled at any time.

In a statement, the LGBT association Co- said Lilit Poghosyan, senior programs and lombia Diversa said it had been hoping for policy officer for ILGA-Europe, the Euroa decision on the merits of the case and may pean Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Associafile a new lawsuit.

“The nation lost a unique opportunity to tion.

It is a requirement of EU membership that achieve a true concept of equality in access to human rights among all Colombian a nation have legal protections against antipeople, be they same-sex or heterosexual Gay discrimination. couples,” said the group’s director, Marcela Tasmania to see Sánchez. same-sex marriage bill The Tasmanian Greens party said NovemLesbian couple denied marriage license in London ber 7 that it will introduce a bill in the AusA Lesbian couple who tried to get a mar- tralian state’s Parliament to legalize sameriage license were turned away at the Green- sex marriage.

“If we are fair dinkum about removing diswich registry office in southeast London on crimination, we should give all Tasmanians November 2.

Sharon Ferguson and Franka Strietzel access to the fundamental institutions of our were told that only opposite-sex couples can society, including marriage,” said Greens marry, even though the United Kingdom’s Leader Nick McKim. “If [Australian Prime civil-partnership law lets same-sex couples Minister] Julia Gillard won’t move on the enter into a union that grants rights and obli- issue, we will bring our cognate package of bills on for debate early next year.” gations identical to those of marriage.

“There is no such thing as ‘mostly equal,’” Ferguson and Strietzel plan to sue the government for violations of the Human he added.

The Australian slang, “fair dinkum” Rights Act’s rights to marriage, to respect for family life and to protection from dis- means “genuine,” in this instance. crimination.

Muslims protest for They will be joined by three other samesexual rights in 12 nations sex couples who plan to seek marriage liMembers of the Coalition for Sexual and censes and by four heterosexual couples who want to enter into one of the nation’s Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies staged simultaneous actions in 12 nations NoGay-only civil partnerships.

“No matter how good civil partnerships vember 9 under the theme “One Day One are with regard to the legal protections and Struggle.”

Hundreds of members of 40 organizations rights they provide, they are still a separate system that was put together to stop Gay and held panels, workshops, film screenings, Lesbian people from being able to marry,” theater performances, photo exhibits and said Ferguson. “Like most people in this press conferences in Bangladesh, Egypt, world, we were brought up to believe that Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, one day we’d fall in love and get married. Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Sudan, This is what we want to do and our sexual Tunisia, and Turkey “to assert that sexual and reproductive rights are universal human orientation should not be an impediment.”

The challenges to both laws are part of a rights based on the inherent freedom, dignew activist campaign called Equal Love, nity, and equality of all human beings.”

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Seattle Gay News

November 19, 2010

“Rising conservatism fueled by militarism, increasing inequalities, the politicization of religion, and Islamophobia have strengthened patriarchal and extremist religious ideologies that use sexuality as a tool of oppression,” organizers said. “This has manifested itself in various forms over the last year, be it the revocation of the permit for the regional Asia Conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Association by the police in Indonesia, or the harassment of conference participants by radical Islamic groups, or political pressure on a women’s group promoting women’s rights in Islam in Malaysia, or women like Sakineh Ashtiani being sentenced to death by stoning in Iran, or killings of hundreds of women and transsexuals in Turkey under the pretext of honor.”

CSBR is a solidarity network of progressive organizations and academic institutions in the Middle East, North Africa, and South and Southeast Asia working to promote sexual and bodily rights as human rights in Muslim societies. For more information, see www.wwhr.org/csbr.php.

U.S. defends its human rights record to U.N. More than 30 U.S. officials, including senior officials from 11 federal departments and agencies, defended the country’s human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva November 5.

At the U.N.’s “Universal Periodic Review” session for the United States, the government submitted a report that said, among other things: “In each era of our history there tends to be a group whose experience of discrimination illustrates the continuing debate among citizens about how we can build fair societies. In this era, one such group is LGBT Americans.”

The U.S. officials told the U.N. that President Barack Obama is committed to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and to banning workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NATIONAL

NEWS

Gays sue feds over marriage again The New England legal group Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders filed a multiplaintiff lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act on November 9.

In Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management, GLAD represents five married same-sex couples and a widower, who live in Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The 11 plaintiffs all have been denied federal rights and protections solely because they are married to a person of the same sex.

The suit, filed in federal District Court in Connecticut, addresses DOMA’s nonrecognition of marriages in connection with federal employee and retiree benefits programs, Social Security benefits, survivor benefits under federal pension laws, work leave to care for a spouse under the Family and Medical Leave Act, and state retiree health insurance benefits that are controlled by federal tax law.

Additional plaintiffs who pay excess federal income tax because they cannot file their federal returns as married couples will join the suit once the IRS officially rejects their requests for refunds.

“Every day that DOMA stands, it arbitrarily divides married couples into two categories,” said GLAD Legal Director Gary Buseck.

Also on November 9, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the feds in New York over DOMA. The group represents 81-year-old Edie Windsor, who had to pay $350,000 in additional estate taxes because the federal government treated her as single, even though she was married to Thea Spyer and their marriage was recognized by the state of New York. “[T]he federal government ... taxed Thea’s estate as though we were strangers rather than spouses,” Windsor said. “[It’s] a tax on being Gay.” “These cases provide further evidence that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is not simply an abstract insult to the dignity of same-sex couples and their families – although it is indeed a deeply offensive law,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

“DOMA causes real harm to people like Joanne Pedersen, Ann Meitzen, and Edie Windsor, denying them economic security, health coverage and other critical federal rights and benefits that other married couples take for granted.”

The section of DOMA that prevents the federal government from recognizing states’ same-sex marriages already was struck down as unconstitutional earlier this year in two cases from Massachusetts, but the Obama administration has appealed the

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer rulings.

The section, which the federal District Court in Boston found unconstitutional in three ways, states: “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”

The language overrides any state’s determination that a couple is married and says that they are not married for purposes of all federal laws and programs, even though the federal government otherwise has always deferred to state determinations of marital status.

The Boston court said DOMA violates the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by treating married Gay couples differently from married straight couples without any rational basis for doing so. It also found that DOMA violates the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by intruding in areas of exclusive state authority, and violates the Spending Clause in Article 1 of the Constitution by forcing Massachusetts to discriminate against its married Gay citizens in order to receive certain types of federal funding.

President Barack Obama does not support same-sex marriage, although he did in 1996 when he was campaigning for an Illinois Senate seat. But in a recent White House meeting with five progressive bloggers, the president suggested he might be getting ready to change his mind again.

“I do not intend to make big news sitting here with the five of you, as wonderful as you guys are,” Obama said at the October 27 meeting. “But I’ll say this. ... I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to samesex marriage primarily because of my understandings of the traditional definitions of marriage. But I also think you’re right that attitudes evolve, including mine. And I think that it is an issue that I wrestle with and think about because I have a whole host of friends who are in Gay partnerships. I have staff members who are in committed, monogamous relationships, who are raising children, who are wonderful parents, and I care about them deeply. And so while I’m not prepared to reverse myself here, sitting in the Roosevelt Room at 3:30 in the afternoon, I think it’s fair to say that it’s something that I think a lot about. That’s probably the best you’ll do out of me today. ...

The one thing I will say today is I think it’s pretty clear where the trendlines are going ... the arc of history.”

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

NORDIC HERITAGE MUSEUM’S CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL On Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the Nordic Heritage Museum (3014 NW 67th St.), will hold its annual Yulefest. This popular Nordic Christmas celebration offers hundreds of handcrafted gifts, a jubilee of Scandinavian musical performances, and traditional Nordic cuisine and beverages that will inspire holiday cheer. Santa will also be visiting the Museum for Yulefest.

Suggested donation is $3 for adults (plus a suggested donation of a non-perishable food item for the Ballard Food Bank), $1 for children under 12, and kids under 5 are admitted free. Limited parking is available for a suggested donation of $2.

For more information, visit www.nordicmuseum.org or phone (206) 789-5707.

MAACT CHILI POTLUCK SOCIAL On Saturday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Seattle, Men of All Colors & Cultures Together (MACCT) will be hosting a chili potluck social. MACCT is a Gay/Bisexual multi-racial, multi-cultural organization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein racial and cultural barriers can be overcome, and the goal of human equality be realized.

Call (206) 923-8313 or e-mail macctseattle@yahoo.com for location information.

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL On Saturday, November 20 at 7 p.m. at Cal Anderson Park (11th Ave. & E. Olive St), the Q Center will be joining the greater Seattle community in holding a candlelight vigil in honor of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. This will be a space to show love and respect for those murdered due to anti-Transgender hatred. If you would like to bring a poem, song, prayer, or loving words, you are more than welcome and encouraged to do so. This event is open to the public. Also, if you would like to go to the vigil with a group, people will be meeting in the lobby of Schmitz Hall at 6 p.m.. At 6:30, those who gathered will leave for the vigil together via bus.

For more information, visit http://depts. washington.edu/qcenter/.

THE BEAT GOES ON: MR. & MISS GAY SEATTLE PAGEANT On Saturday, November 20 at 7 p.m. at Club SUR (2910 1st Ave. S.), The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle, Olympic and Rainier Empire presents The Beat Goes On: 2010/2011 Mr. & Miss Gay Seattle Pageant.

Featuring Miss Gat Seattle XLV GLAMAZONIA and Mr. Gay Seattle XXXIV Michael McQueen. Tickets $15, $10 with donation of a new, unwrapped toy to Rise ‘n’ Shine.

PANEL DISCUSSION FOR TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE On Sunday, November 21 at 4 p.m. at Antioch University, Room 200 A&B (6th and Battery), The Ingersoll Gender Center, Pride at Work, and Equal Rights Washington are proud to be able to invite you to a free event at Antioch University. Please join us for a panel discussion featuring Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, and moderated

by Marsha Botzer. This event corresponds with other weekend events planned to commemorate the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR).

IN THE LIFE PRESENTS GEN SILENT On Sunday, November 21 at midnight on KCTS Seattle, channel 9, In the Life presents Gen Silent, a moving documentary about the very seniors whose generation organized the LGBT community into a movement, but

now face so much fear and discrimination that they’re driven back into isolation; featuring the story of KrysAnne Hembrough, a Transwoman struggling to find acceptance and community in the midst of battling a terminal illness. The film’s director, Stu Maddux, speaks about the power of change.

For more information, visit www.kcts. org.

p.m. at The Cuff Complex. On Sunday, November 28, at 11 a.m., join SML members and contest winners for a Victory Brunch celebration at Rosebud Restaurant, 719 E. Pike St. For more information, including contestant applications, visit www.seattlemeninleather.org.

AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT From Monday, November 29 to Sunday, December 5 at the Queen Anne Columbarium (520 W. Raye St.), blocks from the internationally celebrated AIDS Memorial Quilt, which commemorates the lives of people lost to AIDS, will be on view. During the opening ceremony, teams of volunteers from Butterworth Arthur A. Wright Chapel will unfold the Quilt. The display is free and REQUIEM AT THE BRIDGE open to the public. An official American IN HONOR AND PROTECTION treasure, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is our OF GLBT YOUTH On Monday, November 22 at 7 p.m. at most powerful tool to educate about AIDS Richard Hugo House (1634 11th Ave.), and the largest ongoing community arts Chad Goller-Sojourner, Okanomode’ Soul- project in the world.

Childe, and Greg Bee will perform Requiem SEATTLE POETS READ AT at the Bridge: In Honor and Protection of “LANDSCAPE AND MEMORY” GLBT Youth. “Three of us will perform poFOR DAY WITH(OUT) ART etry about our experiences coming out and On Wednesday, December 1 at 7 p.m. at living as Gay men (the good, the bad, and the silly),” write the three spoken-work per- Life Enrichment Bookstore (5023 Rainier formers. “The show will be filmed and the Avenue South in Columbia City), in rememfilm made available to educators (free if brance of World AIDS Day, two of Seattle’s we raise enough money) who want to talk poet populists, Jourdan Imani Keith and to students about GLBT issues. While we Tara Hardy, revive the tradition of a Day believe strongly that this conversation must With(out) Art by reading from their memhappen among and between the bullies and oirs, Coyote Autumn and Must Have Tasted the bullied, none of the three of us believe Salt.

Hedgebrook alum Jourdan Keith received that this epidemic of suicides is exclusively a gay issue or a male issue or an anything- a 2010 City Artist award for her memoir, other-than-all-of-us issue. We’re starting Coyote Autumn, which takes you where “Yellowstone blinks her eyes and the scene here because it’s what we know.

Money collected will go to production of changes.” Keith’s journey as a black woman the show. Every dollar beyond what it takes loving women and Wyoming is the tale of to produce the show will be donated to the three women’s lives thrust into the howling recovery of failed relationships and comical Safe Schools Coalition.

For more information, visit www.greg- moments including 8,000 miles of Greyhound bus travel from Philadelphia with a beeonline.com. human-sized bag of popcorn.

Seattle Grand Slam Champion Tara Hardy SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE will read from Must Have Tasted Salt. She The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club writes, “I never thought I’d willingly put meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dun- myself inches from the eyes that feasted shee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas upon me as a child (while holding the hands St.). All GLBTQ folks in the community are that did), so my father could, through his welcome to participate in this FREE book glaucoma, get a decent look at his daughter. club. The book for November is Stuck Rub- I never thought I’d come out of hiding. And ber Baby by Howard Cruse. This Gay graph- if I did, it certainly would not be to take the ic novel classic is about a closeted Gay boy man who raped me yellow roses.” coming out during the Civil Rights MoveROCK THE HOUSE: ment in the South. For more information, eFIRST ANNUAL mail nickdimartin@earthlink.net or contact WORLD AIDS DAY BENEFIT Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

On Wednesday, December 1 at 7 p.m.

THANKSGIVING FEAST TRIBUTE at Hard Rock Café (116 Pike St.), support the work of the Dunshee House and Seattle TO NATIVE AMERICANS On Thursday, November 25, from 3-5 AIDS Support Group by partying at Rock p.m. at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier the House: The First Annual World AIDS Ave. S.), enjoy a home-cooked roast turkey Day Benefit for Dunshee House with Purty dinner accompanied by new world foods Mouth, Lushy featuring Lynval Golding in a Thanksgiving feast tribute to Native of the Specials, and DJ Hefe. Emcee SisAmericans. Doors open at 2 p.m. Relax af- ter VixXxen will keep the crowd energized ter dinner with games and good conversa- while her fellow Sisters of Perpetual Indultion. Dinner donation $12; children $6.50 gence keep everyone in line. Raffle prizes (sliding scale or work exchanges available include a trip from Alaska Airlines, nights in for low-income people). Sponsored by the some of the finest hotels in Seattle, and gift baskets from sponsors.

Freedom Socialist Party.

Tickets are $15 presale or $20 at the door.

For information, call 206-722-2453 or email FSPseattle@mindspring.com. Wheel- For more information, visit http://www. hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/events.aspx chair accessible. ?LocationID=500&MIBenumID=3.

NORTHWEST LEATHER SIR INGERSOLL GENDER CENTER AND LADY LINDA HOST PRESENTS KATE BORNSTEIN THIRD ANNUAL SPANKSGIVING & SNOWBALL 2010 On Thursday, November 25, from 9 p.m.

For decades, Kate Bornstein has been to midnight, join Northwest Leather Sir, Darian, and Lady Linda, for the third annual a thinker, an author, playwright, speaker, Spanksgiving celebration at The Cuff Com- performer, raconteur and all around gender plex, 1533 13th Ave., at E. Pine St. Proceeds agent provocateur who has been challenwill benefit the Capitol Hill Alano Club and ing ideas about gender inside and outside Generic Leather Productions of Washing- the LGBT community. She has been instrumental in re-defining, shaping, crafting and ton. warping the ideas and words that are used to discuss gender and how we present it SEATTLE LEATHER DADDY personally. The concepts of gender fluid& DADDY’S BOY CONTEST Seattle Men in Leather present the Seattle ity were radical and dangerous back in the Leather Daddy and Daddy’s Boy Contest on early 90s when Kate surged onto the scene Saturday, November 27, at 7 p.m., at The with her seminal book Gender Outlaw: On Cuff Complex, 1533 13th Ave., at E. Pine Men, Women and the Rest of Us. Since then, she has continued to develop, expand and St. $5.00 cover.

On Friday, November 26, join SML mem- exploit her ideas in her books My Gender bers and contestants for a pre-contest Meet Workbook, Hello Cruel World, recently re& Greet social (no cover) from 7 p.m. to 10 leased Gender Outlaws: The Next Genera-

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 19, 2010

tion, and in her speaking and performance art.

As we approach the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, Kate is still pushing buttons, for fun and for effect. For those who cling to rigid or essentialist ideas about gender and its performance, Kate Bornstein is still dangerous.

On Saturday, December 4, from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., join Ingersoll Gender Center and special guest Kate Bornstein, at the Mt. Baker Community Club, 2811 Mt. Rainier Dr. S., for Snowball 2010: “Double Diamond” Community Holiday Celebration.

The most dangerous ski runs on the mountain are labeled Double Diamond. Only the most daring, the most courageous point their skis and board down these slopes. This isn’t for everyone but the thrill and the reward are unparelleled. We think it is the perfect metaphor for the spirit of personal and collective challenge we embrace.

Snowball 2010: “Double Diamond” features special guest, the always provocative and dangerous Kate Bornstein, and our own, the international sensation, DJ Michelle Love. Come for good food and friends. Stay for entertainment, excitement, schmooze and dancing to the beats of DJ Michelle Love. Annual awards ceremony. Tickets: $25 in advance; $35 at the door. www. brownpapertickets.com/event/136601.

On Sunday, December 5, from 7 pm to 9:30 p.m., Kate Bornstein will give a public reading of her work at the Museum of History & Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/136013 and at the door.

Additional events with Kate Bornstein include a booksigning at Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., on Sunday, December 5, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Bornstein will also be presenting a workshop for atrisk youth and a workshop at Toys in Babeland.

For complete information visit http://ingersollcenter.org.

2010 AIDS & STIGMA CONFERENCE – PEOPLE OF COLOR: HIV/AIDS STIGMA & ACCESS TO CARE On Thursday, December 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Tukwila Community Center (12424 42nd Ave. S., Tukwila), the 2010 AIDS & Stigma Conference presents People of Color: HIV/AIDS Stigma and Access to Care. Examine the role HIV/AIDS-related stigma plays in HIV testing behavior, the disclosure of positive serostatus, and entry into HIV/AIDS care for people of color. Examine the impact HIV/AIDS-related stigma has on people of color. Explore possible strategies to reduce health disparities among people of color across their life span. Sponsored by AARTH, African Americans Reach and Teach Health. Registration fee $35.

To register, visit https://catalysttools. washington.edu/webq/survey/aarth/114073 PRIDE FOUNDATION/ GSBA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS Pride Foundation/GSBA Scholarship Applications are now available at www.

PrideFoundationScholar.org. This year, $500,000 is available in scholarships to support education and leadership development for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Queer students of any age; students who have an LGBT parent; and students who are straight allies and are committed to civil rights for the LGBTQ community, who are living in Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, and who are pursuing any post-secondary education (including community college, public or private colleges and universities, trade apprenticeships, or certificate programs)! There are 50 different types of scholarships with awards up to $10,000, but only one web-based application to complete!

Applications can be completed online at www.PrideFoundationScholar.org and are due by 5:00 p.m. PST on Friday, January 31, 2011.

For information on other LGBT scholarship programs, visit the Safe Schools Coalition’s scholarship resource list at www.safeschoolscoalition.org/youth.

Seattle Gay News

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by Barry Thorsness SGN African Correspondent

It was Monday morning, and Louis and I were up at 6. The sun had been up for about an hour, and the locals down by the beach were very noisy (as usual). We packed up quite quickly, met Jack just before 7 to say our goodbyes, and were off.

Our plan was to reach Mbeya in Tanzania in one day. Mbeya is where we would meet the train which travels from Zambia to Dar Es Salaam – the TAZARA line. There are only two trains a week going in each direction. We needed to be on the Wednesday train to reach Dar Es Salaam by Thursday afternoon.

We walked out of Big Blue Star and down the road where all the chapas (vans) waited to pick up passengers. We were quickly approached, asked where we were going, and helped into a nearly full chapa.

We found ourselves sitting in the front seats next to the driver, which made Louis very happy. We traveled to Mzuzu, where we found a larger bus to take us to the border town of Karonga.

I am more aware of the danger of traveling in the chapas than ever before, as often I would think of Augustine (the orphaned student we are sponsoring to go to school) and how both his parents were killed in a crash seven years ago.

I felt as though our visit to Malawi was complete, but in my mind I was looking forward to a return visit when we would be heading back to Joburg from Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar. Our plan was to travel back through Malawi, stay a couple of days in Nkhata Bay and make sure everything was working for Augustine. I wanted to visit Liwonde National Park in southern Malawi to canoe through the hippos and crocs and see rhinos and elephants. There is also a bus from Blantyre direct to Joburg, via Mozambique and Zimbabwe. You leave about 8 a.m. and arrive (I am quite sure exhausted) in Joburg late the next afternoon.

I was also hoping to meet with the LGBT activists in Blantyre. I had been in contact a number of times shortly after the release of Steven and his partner from prison. Now there was no contact either by phone or by e-mail. I wondered if something had gone wrong and the government had shut them

8

Seattle Gay News

all photos by Barry Thorsness

Barry’s continuing adventures in Africa

down.

Off we went in the chapa, chugging up the big hills on our way to Mzuzu. I had made the trip three times in the last week as we worked on getting Augustine admitted to school. The scenery is quite beautiful and the landscape and vegetation of the low-rising mountains most inviting. As we traveled, the chapa seemed to negotiate each hill slower and slower. Finally we pulled over and I watched everyone jump out of the chapa and start to run up the highway with their belongings. Louis and I got out of the chapa and walked around to the back. Our bags were alone on the dirt behind the van.

I suddenly felt great anger. I had just paid the chapa driver the fare to Mzuzu (something Jack never did, until he was at his destination) and everyone including the driver and the ticket taker had disappeared. There were some locals sitting around a road that branched off from the highway and some others waiting for transportation to go the other direction. A couple of the men came

The men were most sincere and assured us they could help us get help as the driver reappeared with a sparkplug wrench and some sparkplugs. He apologized and said he would get us a ride in one of the chapas running up the highway. Everything was full,

over to chat and to see if they could help. I explained that we had just been abandoned – the chapa had seemingly died, and we wanted our fare back.

including the chapas, the pickups, the transport trucks, and the gravel trucks. About 90 minutes later, the driver had gotten the chapa to fire up with the new spark plugs and

November 19, 2010

we were again on our way, in the emptiest chapa I had ever seen.

We arrived in Mzuzu, where the buses congregate. Louis was focused on coffee and something to eat. After getting a couple of snacks from the local vendors, we found a bus going to Karonga. About an hour later, we were on our way in a large AXA bus, reasonably comfortable and glad to be moving. As we traveled north, the scenery continued to get even more stunning.

It was a combination of mountains and large valleys with a very green tropical feeling. I kept wondering why travel documentaries keep repeating the same Serengeti and Kilimanjaro stuff when there is so much other wonderful scenery to be experienced.

We arrived in Karonga about 3:30 – a little later than we had planned – and got ready to get off the bus and get other transportation to the border. I had chatted with a woman behind us who was on her way to Mbeya for the funeral of her sister. She asked where we were going. I explained, and she told us the bus went all the way to the border. This obviously made us happy, and it was one less thing we had to work on to get to our destination. We did arrive at the border, but the last part of the ride seemed to take forever.

It was now around 5, and the border only stays open until 6. We cleared our exit from Malawi. There were few people there and the immigration officers – true to Malawi demeanor – were very friendly and talkative. I was glad I had chatted with the officers as I did not know then that in one hour, I would be back to get my exit visa from my American passport canceled, and a new one stamped into my Canadian passport.

Visas are always a big hassle in Africa.

Many countries want them paid in American dollars. Sometimes it seems you pay more than you feel the official rate is. Often visas (so true of Mozambique) can be different prices at different border crossings. I thought I had done my homework and even chatted with some Americans who had come to Nkhata Bay from Tanzania. I believed the visa for an American was $50 and I had exchanged money with A.J. for this purpose.

We gave the Tanzanian official our U.S. passports. He looked at me and told me it will be $200 for both of us. I objected and told him that it must be a mistake. Visas for U.S. citizens were now $50. He got out a book from 2007 to show me the $100 charge. I asked how much for a Canadian.

He said $50.

I proceeded to get out my “virgin” Canadian passport. I had got my Canadian passport about six weeks before we left Seattle only because I was so pissed off at the Blaine crossing at how U.S. customs had treated me on my weekly drive to Seattle. I thought, “No more U.S. citizenship; I will travel as a Canadian.”

Well, my anger did not change me for long. For those of you (and I suspect most) who are reading this, I prefer to travel with

Celebrating 37 Years!

hiking up the highway about 6:30 am looking for the location of the buses. It was about a 1.5 k walk and we found a chapa which was going to Mbeya. Jack had told us the ride was about an hour. It turned out to be a little more than two. We arrived at the bus center in Mbeya, Tanzania.

We took a train and arrived in Dar Es Salaam about 9:30 in the morning. Dar was not quite what I had expected; it is a large city and sort of mishmash of African, modern, rundown, poor, rich, and new, with construction cranes everywhere.

We spent some time traveling around Dar in the next couple of days using its system of vans. On Sunday night, we went off

to DDC Kariakoo Club, a music club with a live band. The music was great, and dancing with some Australian friends we met and the locals was fun. Again, it was typically “African.” Men would often dance alone, with women and very often with another man. It did not take all that long before a local man came over to ask me to dance. We danced individually and as groups. We certainly could learn something about dance clubs from our African friends!

Tomorrow we are going to take the boat to Zanzibar, one of the highlights of our visit to Africa. Looking forward to telling you all about it.

The closure of SCAN TV

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer my U.S. passport. It is a question of who might support me best if I encounter a big problem in my travels. I have great faith in my Congressman Jay Inslee and the U.S. government to help me get out of a bind. I have little or no faith in my M.P. in Vancouver, and have no belief that the Canadian government in Ottawa would do anything to help.

Anyway, the Tanzanian official looked at my “blank” (no stamps) Canadian passport and asked where my exit visa was for Malawi. I showed him the exit visa in my U.S. passport. He told me that this would not work. I needed the exit visa in my Canadian passport. He told me to walk all the way back into Malawi to immigration and get it stamped.

It all felt very strange to me. Now I would have an entry visa for Malawi in my U.S. passport, but no exit stamp. I would now have a Malawi exit stamp in my Canadian passport, but no corresponding entry visa. I asked him if this would cause me problems in the future and his answer was to make sure I had both passports.

I walked all the way across the bridge and into Malawi. The officers remembered me and were quite happy to oblige, canceling the exit visa in my U.S. passport and stamping my Canadian one. Then I walked

back across the bridge, the currency changers all hounding me, and back into Tanzania. I still had one more problem: I only had $112 U.S. and needed $150. I explained this to the immigration officer. I had about $100 worth of South African Rand with me, but they refused it. The immigration officer then got out his cell phone and called a money exchanger (of dubious distinction). He arrived quickly and I was ushered into an empty back office to do any kind of money transaction so I could come up with the $150. It was dark by this time and the border was shutting down. I decided that although I wasn’t getting scammed by this guy (the rate of exchange was very poor) it was in my best interest to exchange my Malawi Kwacha for Tanzanian Schillings and have some money for the trip tonight and perhaps a place to stay. I was glad I did.

We walked out of Tanzanian immigration and found that there were no more buses for the night. The taxi drivers were more than happy to drive us to Mbeya for $150 U.S. We declined their offer and found a room in a nearby hotel for the night (cost about $6).

It was actually quite clean, but no running water. I was very happy with our “good fortune.” Louis was not happy, and he let me know it.

The next morning we were up and gone,

Visit us online www.sgn.org

As it stands right now, SCAN (Seattle Community Access Network) TV will cease operations on December 31, 2010. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn cut the funding for SCAN in his 2011 budget, released September 27. Viewers, producers, and free speech and media activists aren’t taking the closure sitting down. For them, if public access is eliminated, free speech is threatened.

“It doesn’t seem that there is a single champion in the city council or the mayor’s office that is rooting for public television,” said Liz Latham, a SCAN producer.

With his new budget, the mayor eliminated all funding for Seattle’s only public access television station. The initial budget was then approved by the Seattle City Council on November 12, and the general public has only until November 22 to contact the mayor and city council before the budget is finalized.

“I was very dismayed and appalled,” said Dian Ferguson, executive director of SCAN TV during a SCAN press conference. “I am outraged about this and I hope that the public is as outraged as I am.”

“The decision was made effectively behind closed doors,” said Gilbert Wardian, a producer at SCAN who produces his own health and wellness show.

Many producers at the November 16 press conference were outraged, saying that the closure of SCAN would be a hindrance to Seattle’s right to free speech.

“There is no other place for the general public to practice their freedom of speech skills – and don’t doubt that those skills are needed to practice freedom of speech in 2010,” said Marlee Walker, producer of Blues To Do, a blues music program on SCAN. One producer quoted Peter Finch from his role as Howard Beale in the Oscar-winning 1976 film Network.

“All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. … So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’”

Public access channels come from Section 611 of the Communications Act of 1934, part of Roosevelt’s New Deal. The act was amended to include public access with the telecommunications act of 1996. It is a dedicated channel space on cable systems specifically for “use by the general public” According to Section 611(e): “A cable operator shall not exercise any editorial control over any public, educational, or governmental use of channel capacity provided pursuant to this section, except a cable operator may refuse to transmit any public access program or portion of a public access program which contains obscenity, indecency, or nudity.”

What this means is that public access television is virtually the only channel on TV where anyone can say whatever they want, without censorship and without corporate/ advertising bias – even PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) operates with corporate sponsorship, and thus must keep a bias to maintain funding.

“There are certain subjects and certain people that they [the mainstream media]

November 19, 2010

just won’t cover,” said Ed Mays, a producer with SCAN TV. Underground and viral activism films such as Zeitgeist, the signature film of the Zeitgeist Project activist group, and Loose Change, a 9/11 “truth” film, can only find television syndication on public access. Legitimacy aside, these ideas would never be seen by someone who doesn’t have internet access, which according to the International Telecommunication Union, is still roughly 25% of all Americans.

Wardian says SCAN is at its pinnacle right now and makes a point to remind people that the internet has not yet replaced television.

“People watch SCAN,” said Wardian.

“People watch TV.” SCAN is also the only television station in Seattle to air Democracy Now, an immensely popular nationally aired political show.

Additionally, since community producers create the majority of content for SCAN, it is representative of a variety of perspectives and communities.

“Many programs are in languages not available on mainstream television networks. SCAN ensures the presence of diverse cultural groups and ideas traditionally unheard, marginalized, or under-represented in the media. Mainstream and commercial media too often fails to tell the stories of diverse cultural groups. When the stories of these groups are told by mainstream and commercial media, they are often told incorrectly and/or with bias. SCAN allows people to tell their own stories without filters, allowing the storyteller to be an agent of change that can foster dialogue and break down barriers. In this era of media consolidation, it is important that a medium be available for the independent voice,” said SCAN in a press release.

SCAN is the only channel to show Seattle’s PRIDE Parade in its entirety on Adventure TV, a show on SCAN produced by TJ Williamson.

SCAN is on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a total of 8,760 hours a year. Programming ranges from entertainment, music, the arts, education, self-help, health, politics, community issues, religion, spirituality, sports, and youth-oriented programs.

SCAN is asking the public to use their voices and right to free speech by asking the city council and the mayor’s office to reinstate funding for SCAN at the level of $650,000 annually – but remember, you must do this by November 22.

Additionally, the website savescan.com will soon launch, along with a Twitter/Facebook awareness campaign.

“We’re the 13th largest city in the United States, and I think we need a public access station,” said Latham.

Walker paraphrased Voltaire’s famous quote: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

She then went on to say, “Freedom of the press meant newspapers in his day. Now television reaches the most Americans of any medium. Look for proof during each election, when candidates and their allies spend most of their money on television commercials trying to influence our democracy. If the people do not have their own voice in television, free from corporate or government influence … then they truly have no free press.”

Seattle Gay News

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10 Seattle Gay News

November 19, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

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Seattle Gay News 11

12 Seattle Gay News

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Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

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Seattle Gay News 13

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Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

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Seattle Gay News 15

James Whitely

Café Metropolitain says Tea Party and GOProud goodbye – for now to GOP: No movement on Gay issues

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Cafe Metropolitain owner Quyen Luu (center) with Sisters from The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Abbey of St Joan and the Sisters of the Mother House

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer

Senator Ed Murray to chair fiscal policy Ways and Means committee

SHIFTgiving an annual celebration for people in recovery

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer SHIFTgiving November 25 Dunshee House SHIFT, an LGBT peer recovery network, is hosting their fourth annual and likely final SHIFTgiving on November 25.

“SHIFTgiving is an annual celebration that we hold for LGBTQ people in recovery,” said Robert Roth, a community organizer with SHIFT and marketing manager for Gay City Health Project. “The idea is that we can give them a safe place for them to celebrate the holiday.”

Since the event is designed for LGBT folks in recovery for drug or alcohol abuse, SHIFTgiving is, like all SHIFT events, drug and alcohol free. It aims to provide a place for LGBTQ people in recovery and their friends to celebrate together and foster community.

“We’re pretty excited about this year’s

SHIFTgiving. … Food was donated from Whole Foods and Metropolitan Market,” Roth told SGN. SHIFT was put together with a four-year grant to Gay City Health Project, the grant ends September 2011, which is why this will likely be the last SHIFTgiving.

SHIFT strives to sponsor many social events for the LGBTQ community in recovery.

“We have monthly sober social events and community forums,” said Roth, “and a ‘Gayme night’ at the Dunshee House on the third Friday of every month.”

SHIFTgiving runs from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dunshee House (303 17th Ave. E.).

Thanksgiving dinner will be served at 3 p.m. SHIFTgiving is a free event, but all are required to RSVP via Facebook, by calling (206) 388-1713 or emailing shift@gaycity. org.

Visit www.gaycity.org for more information on SHIFTgiving.

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November 19, 2010

tice (D-11) who has announced that she will run for the leadership position of president pro tempore.

The president pro tem presides over the senate when the lieutenant governor is absent.

The previous president pro tem, Sen. Rosa Franklin (D-29), retired this year.

Murray had been chair of the senate Democratic Caucus, the number two spot in the Democratic party leadership.

He will be replaced in that position by Sen. Karen Fraser (D-22).

Sen. Lisa Brown (D-3) was reelected as the senate’s Democratic majority leader.

“I’m humbled to be considered for the role of Ways and Means chair,” Murray said.

“I don’t come with any illusions about the challenges facing our state budget. But I believe my experience working across the aisle to write a budget well prepares me for the significant task ahead.”

Murray noted that he chaired the House Capital Budget Committee for three years during a period when Democrats and Republicans were evenly split and forced to share power “I developed a strong relationship with my Republican counterpart,” Murray said, “and together we produced an inclusive, bipartisan process and sound, bipartisan budget.”

He added that he hoped to reprise the performance.

“It’s only through this kind of collaboration and bipartisan participation that we’ll be able to tackle our major budget problem.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to get the job done,” Murray said.

file photo

On November 13, after five years, Café Metropolitain, a Gay bar on Capitol Hill unlike any other, had its closing-night party.

There were hugs and kisses, but tears were few and far between as loyal patrons, longtime bar staff, and owner Quyen Luu looked optimistically to the future.

“It’s a venue that was unique. It offered a space for everyone from all ages and all lifestyles,” said Luu, who’s been busy all week packing up the bar’s belongings.

Café Metropolitain was a place where you could walk in at virtually any night of the week and see Sisters, goths, punks, hipsters, straight folks, and LGBTQ people from every spectrum of the community all together; drinking, laughing, or enjoying a drag or music show.

“It was a place that when you walked in, you just felt like you fit in, without the attitude. It was a place that had different rooms that offered a different feel for different moods, and it was a place that housed a variety of special occasions in people’s lives – from birthdays to weddings to community events to just kicking back and having your own space and your own home,” said Luu. “I feel pretty disappointed about how the situation happened,” Luu said. He was unexpectedly told that he had to vacate the

space he was renting on the corner of Boylston and E. Olive Way. However, Luu says he sees opportunity in what’s happened.

He now has the chance to “find a better place that gives me the opportunity to take Café Metropolitain to a higher level of service … better than what it is today.”

Specifically, noise was Luu’s biggest issue at the space. Although Luu is deservedly proud of the quality of the shows and bands he’s showcased over the years, because his space was under a condo/apartment building, he had to keep the speakers down and the crowds small. Luu felt that this was restrictive on his creativity as a bar owner and event organizer.

Along with packing up the bar, Luu is assisting his bar staff of about 10 in finding other jobs for the time being, and says that when Café Met reopens its doors, they’ll all have a place there.

Luu hopes that he can lock down a new location on Capitol Hill – preferably on Broadway – sometime next year. He’s currently still looking for his ideal space, but hasn’t found it yet.

In the meantime, Luu still has a few things planned.

“Due to the fact that I can’t have fundraisers at Café Met, I’ll continue to do them at other places like Purr and Neighbours,” Luu told SGN.

The Tea Party helped to return the Republicans to legislative power in the House and narrow the Democratic majority in the Senate. Now the Tea Party – along with Gay conservative group GOProud – is asking the GOP to keep in mind who their friends were in the last election and what it is they want from their elected lawmakers.

The Tea Party Patriots and the New American Patriots joined with GOProud to send Republican leaders a clear message: Focus where voters want you to: on a smaller, less intrusive government.

“On behalf of limited-government conservatives everywhere, we write to urge you and your colleagues in Washington to put forward a legislative agenda in the next Congress that reflects the principles of the Tea Party movement,” a letter from GOProud and Tea Party leaders to John Boehner and Mitch McConnell urged. “This election was not a mandate for the Republican Party, nor was it a mandate to act on any social issue.”

Boehner is expected to replace Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the house, and McConnell will lead the Senate minority.

At least 17 Tea Party and conservative signatories had put their name on the letter, including Ohio-based national Tea Party Patriots leader Ralph King.

“When they were out in Boston Harbor, they weren’t arguing about who was Gay and who was having an abortion,” King told

Politico. “Am I going to be the best man at a same-sex marriage wedding? That’s not something I necessarily believe in. I look at myself as pretty socially conservative.

But that’s not what we push through the Tea Party Patriots.”

GOProud chair Christopher Barron said, “For almost two years now, the Tea Party has been laser-focused on the size of government. No one has been talking about social issues – not even the socially conservative candidates who won Tea Party support.”

In other words, the Tea Party and GOProud are claiming that they aren’t interested in talking about Gay rights – or any other social issues, for that matter – and are just focused on the economy and the size of government.

But Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, claims that isn’t so. She says that GOP candidates – including some Tea Party-backed hopefuls – had turned to rhetorical Gaybashing to garner votes.

“Playing the scapegoat card is a nasty tactic they employ to pander to their hardcore base in order to gin up votes and burnish their anti-LGBT or ‘family values’ credentials,” Carey said. “Most Americans are concerned about bread-and-butter issues like jobs and the economy. And every day, more and more people join the vast number of Americans who support equality. Still, some of these candidates are only concerned with political expediency, and to them that means beating up on others.”

Senator Ed Murray

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer When Sen. Ed Murray (D-43) returns to Olympia in January, he will chair the senate’s powerful Ways and Means Committee.

Ways and Means is the state senate’s primary fiscal committee with responsibility for developing operating and capital budgets and setting tax and pension policy.

In other words, all state business that has anything to do with money will go through Murray’s committee.

He will also be a key player as the state tries to navigate a budget crisis made more severe by the failure of the state income tax initiative and the passage of I-1053, limiting the power of the legislature to raise taxes.

As chair of Ways and Means, Murray will manage a staff of 16 full-time employees.

Murray is replacing Sen. Margarita Pren-

Celebrating 37 Years!

Lame duck session may be lame, insiders say file photo

United States Capitol

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Remember ENDA? The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would protect LGBT workers by banning discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

According to Politico.com, outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a conference call on November 11 that she plans to schedule a vote on ENDA before the lame duck session of Congress ends in December.

This is the second report this month that Pelosi wants to schedule a vote on the measure.

Congressional staffers speaking on background said previously that her comments should not be taken as a firm commitment to schedule an ENDA vote, however.

Pelosi supports ENDA, they said, and hopes she can get it passed before Republicans assume control of the House in January, but she is working on many critical bills

including unemployment extensions and middle class tax relief.

If Pelosi does bring ENDA to a vote, it may be the best chance it will have for passage until new congressional elections in 2012.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) recently told reporters that he saw “zero chance” of any LGBT-friendly legislation passing once Republicans take control of the House in January.

ENDA currently has 196 cosponsors in the House, with 218 votes needed for passage.

Even if Pelosi can round up an additional 24 votes to pass the bill, its prospects on the Senate side are bleak.

Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott – an ENDA cosponsor – said that the senate is the main obstacle to passing pro-Gay legislation.

“The outlook for legislative action before year’s end on a number of bills that would positively affect the LGBT community looks grim,” he said in a statement sent to SGN.

“The House of Representatives has sent hundreds of bills to the Senate that became dead on arrival. The Senate’s outdated rules have made passing important legislation nearly impossible without an overwhelming majority.”

Forty-four senators are ENDA cosponsors – including Washington Democrats Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell – but Senate rules require 60 senators to agree to bring a measure to the floor for debate.

The prospects are not much brighter for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal.

The House voted 239-194 to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell when it passed the Defense Department Authorization in March.

In the Senate, repeal is also attached to Defense Authorization, but Republican senators blocked an attempt to bring the bill to the floor in September, and Republican John McCain has pledged to filibuster it if it comes up again.

DADT repeal was attached to the Authorization bill – considered a “must pass” measure because it authorizes funding for the U.S. military for 2011 – to make it more likely to pass.

Senate Armed Services Committee chair Carl Levin (D-Mich.) fueled speculation that DADT repeal might be stripped from the Authorization bill and sent to the floor as a stand-alone measure, reducing its chances for passage.

“I’m trying to pass a 900-page bill,” Levin told reporters. “[DADT repeal] is two pages out of a 900-page bill.”

Levin’s office told SGN that no decision had been made to separate DADT repeal from the Authorization bill, however.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (DNev.) said on November 17 that he would schedule a vote on the Authorization bill – with DADT repeal still attached – after Thanksgiving.

According to the Washington Post, Reid

may get the 60 votes necessary to bring the bill to the floor if he agrees to allow Republicans an opportunity for “a sustained floor debate” on the measure, including the opportunity to offer amendments.

In September, moderate Republican Susan Collins (R-ME) said she voted against allowing debate on the Authorization bill because Reid wanted to limit Republican amendments to the measure.

Reid spokesperson Regan Lachapelle told SGN that the majority leader is negotiating with all sides to try to bring DADT repeal to a vote.

“Senator Reid is continuing to discuss this with his caucus and the Republicans and hopes that we can consider the legislation in the coming weeks,” Lachapelle said.

On November 18, Sen. Patty Murray (DWash.), one of the cosponsors of the Authorization bill, wrote to Sens. Levin and McCain, urging the Armed Services Committee to keep DADT repeal in the bill.

“I have heard the stories of some of the thousands of patriotic servicemembers whose valuable military talents have been lost to our military [because of DADT],” Murray wrote.

“These men and women volunteered to serve their country in a dangerous time, and their exclusion from the ranks of the Armed Forces represents a glaring injustice as well as a limitation on our military effectiveness.”

She went on to say that the repeal language attached to the Authorization bill “represents a sound legislative approach that would protect the civil rights of American servicemembers while minimizing any potential disruption to military personnel policies.”

Murray was recently reelected secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference, the number four position in the Democratic Party leadership.

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Seattle Gay News 17

to see and experience ourselves differently.

We have to start thinking about ourselves differently, which will affect how we feel about ourselves.

In conjunction with thinking and feeling differently about ourselves, we have to engage in life in ways that reflect how we feel about ourselves. If we are drinking/drugging/sexing too much because deep down we feel bad about ourselves, we need to get help and get healthy through new friendships, therapy, or 12-step. We need to connect with peers (Gay and straight) and establish healthy relationships where our burgeoning healthy self-image is reinforced.

If you have been negatively impacted by a history of religious hatred, work with someone who will help you deal with those I’m in my office, I have the image of a thera- issues so you can develop a healthy image pist. When I’m with my family, I see myself of yourself and, if it is appropriate for you, as brother and uncle. When I volunteer in the re-engage in a religious/spiritual communicommunity, I have the image of an involved ty and practice. Still, despite what has hapcommunity member. I behave somewhat pened in too many religious organizations, differently in each of these areas. The con- GLBTQ men and women still want, and text that we are in – work, family, friends – influences which image is presented. Sometimes these images overlap, which makes it hard to differentiate one image from another.

Sometimes the images are very distinct and how one shows up (acts) in one context may be very different than in another context.

It is this process that underpins the workings of internalized homophobia. In certain areas of their lives, some individuals by Shaun Knittel are high-functioning and seem very happy SGN Associate Editor – they are indentifying with an image. Out of sight of friends, family, and work, these Along the train tracks in one of Phnom individuals are very unhappy because of be- Penh’s ubiquitous slums, roughly 100 new ing GLBTQ and act accordingly by abusing residents in search of asylum and communidrugs or sex or themselves. They hate them- ty, have trickled in over the last several years selves and the “Gay lifestyle.” These indi- and lead lives in deplorable desperation. Alviduals keep secret lives and become horri- most all of them are homosexual men. This place, Beuong Kak 2, has become a home: fied at the idea that they will be found out.

Fighting this battle is equally important Cambodia’s first Gay town. because how one feels about being GLBTQ But unlike the Castro in San Francisco or will influence how they act and how healthy Seattle’s Capitol Hill, this isn’t a place for Gays to celebrate sexuality and love; inthe community is.

How do we combat internalized ho- stead, it’s emerged as a place for mere surmophobia? Remember what it is: self-hatred vival. Most Beuong Kak 2 residents only that has been created by years of external sleep during the day, perform acts of prostinegative messages. First, there comes a time tution, and dress as women.

The traditional neighbors were baffled – when we realize that we are no longer defined by others. We are in complete control and sometimes frightened – by the swelling of how we see ourselves and the value we number of openly Gay Khmer joining the give to ourselves as GLBTQ. We may need village.

“We’re scared that more [homosexuals] help in doing that, but it is entirely possible will keep coming here and make more terrible activities back there,” said Srey Oun, 48.

“Everyone is scared like me. Khmer culture isn’t changing, but the people are.”

According to longtime heterosexual residents, newcomers arrive every month. Since 2004, the number of “out” homosexuals in

Homophobia: A battle on two fronts

by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer We are all too aware of the battle being waged against us by others who hate the GLBTQ community – certain religious, community, and political leaders who vilify us in many ways. Their disdain for us generates a secondary battle. This is a battle that grows within us. It is the battle we have internally about being GLBTQ. We call it “internalized homophobia” and it is selfloathing for being a GLBTQ person. It is much more common than you think, and very destructive to individuals and our community.

I have not met one GLBTQ individual who says they hate themselves for being what they are just because they hate it. Every one of them says they hate being GLBTQ because they’ve been told by family, church, or some other segment of society that it is despicable, perverted, and horrible. These messages run so deep that eventually people feel intrinsically bad and un-loveable. They can no longer separate their own feelings from the messages they’ve been receiving; it seems like one and the same thing. These feelings can seem inescapable. After years of these messages, too many GLBTQ men and women suffer from depression, anxiety, double lives, addictions, hurtful behaviors, and – tragically – sometimes suicide. This constant din of self-hatred can become so familiar that individuals are no longer even aware of it. Yet it shows up in their lives by the way they are acting and living.

Every one of us has images of ourselves (and usually more than one image). When

benefit greatly from, a spiritual/religious practice and community. Done with respect and acceptance, these communities can contribute greatly to reinforcing and supporting a healthy, positive self-image of GLBTQ individuals.

In my opinion, addressing the internalized homophobia has to be an ongoing priority in creating healthy individuals and a healthy community. How we see ourselves is a cornerstone for how we show up in the world. Self-perception directly effects hope and hope creates strength and where there are strong individuals, there is a strong community.

Michael Raitt, MA LMHC, is a therapist and a contributing writer to the SGN. He writes a bi-monthly column in the SGN. If you would like to comment on this column, ask a question you’d like him to write about, or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast. net.

Gays seek refuge in Cambodia slum Phnom Penh has exploded around 900 to approximately 10,000 today, according to nongovernmental organizations that track the city’s Gay community. Other provinces have seen such staggering growth among their Gay communities as well, census records show.

Last month, Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized Cambodia’s reputation as a destination for sex tourism. Soon after, police closed brothels and karaoke bars across the capitol, where many Transgender people worked and lived. As a result, many headed to the slums of Beuong Kak 2.

“If we’re not with each other, we’re scared everyone will look down on us or beat us,” said Kong Chan Rattna, 24, who lives with eight fellow Transgender folks. “Together, we can have happiness – we can go anywhere. Nothing’s a problem.”

Cambodia’s definition of homosexuality and gender challenges Western notions.

In Cambodia, there is a third gender – frequently called “lady boys” – that falls somewhere between male and female. By all appearances and mannerisms they’re female and identify as such, and although they were born male, most haven’t undergone any sexchange operations.

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18 Seattle Gay News

November 19, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Democrat leads close California Attorney General race – she won’t appeal Prop 8 ruling

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

appeal, the stay will eventually be lifted, Prop 8 will be set aside, and same-sex couples will once again be able to marry legally Democrat Kamala Harris leads Repub- in California. lican Steve Cooley in the race for ProtectMarriage.com, the group California Attorney General. that ran the successful camAs SGN goes to press, paign to pass Prop 8, wants Harris leads by 30,730 to appeal Walker’s decivotes and is widening sion. her lead over Cooley Their problem is as counting continthat they may lack ues. legal standing to The winner will do so because replace current they do not repattorney general resent California Jerry Brown, voters and are who was elected not charged with Governor. enforcing the Which one state’s marriage wins the race laws. might also deterC a l i f o r n i a ’s mine the fate of governor Arnold California’s Prop Schwarzenegger 8, which banned and attorney general same-sex marriage in Jerry Brown do have the state. standing to appeal, but U.S. District Court both have said they will Judge Vaughan Walker not. found Prop 8 unconstitutional In January, Brown will replace on August 4. The Ninth Circuit Court Schwarzenegger as governor. of appeals has stayed his decision pending Either Harris or Cooley will replace him appeal. as attorney general. Harris has promised Unless Walker’s decision is reversed on she will not appeal Walker’s Prop 8 ruling.

Unless Walker’s decision is reversed on appeal, the stay will eventually be lifted, Prop 8 will be set aside, and samesex couples will once again be able to marry legally in California.

Cooley has said he will appeal.

If the current trend continues and Harris wins the election, there may be no appeal in the Prop 8 case and Walker’s decision will stand.

California law requires county voting officials to finish their counts by November 30 and furnish the totals to the Secretary of State’s office by December 3.

Cooley led the count on election night, and actually declared himself the winner, but Harris pulled ahead the next day.

On November 5, Cooley regained the lead, but Harris pulled ahead again on November 12.

Harris carried the San Francisco Bay Area and the northern California coast counties where Democrats usually do well. She also carried Cooley’s base in Los Angeles County, largely on the strength of a large turnout of Latino voters.

All votes that remain to be counted are from damaged ballots or provisional ballots given to voters who went to the wrong polling place or claimed they never received their vote-by-mail ballots.

Democrats have accused Cooley’s campaign of intimidating election officials and trying to suppress legal provisional ballots.

assault

much is going to come of the investigation,” Hamm said. “She told me, ‘Look, Dustin, you shouldn’t have asked to see his cock.

Those are fighting words.’”

Seattle police spokesperson Mark Jamieson confirmed that the assault is being investigated as a bias crime, but declined to comment on whether the detective’s “fighting words” statement was appropriate.

“I won’t comment on any conversation between the victim and the detective,” Jamieson told SGN. “It is being investigated as a bias crime. It was turned over to a detective and she is the bias crimes coordinator,” he added.

Seattle police designate one of their detectives as “bias crimes coordinator” to track bias crime investigations.

continued from cover my cock now, faggot?’ And then he punched me.”

Hamm says he was shocked more than hurt. After the first blow, “his friends started going at me,” he said.

“No one was around. Absolutely no one was around, so I went into Tribe – into the front area – but they followed me in.”

Although Hamm is friends with Tribe employees, they did not recognize him as he and his attackers burst through the door.

“They thought maybe it was a bunch of straight guys fighting. Finally they buzzed me in and I was able to escape. It’s all caught on [Tribe’s surveillance] tape,” Hamm said.

Hamm was then able to call police. He says it took police about 15 minutes to respond to his call, but “the dispatcher stayed on the line until they arrived.”

Hamm told SGN that he was impressed by the officer who responded to the scene.

“He was so kind and nice,” Hamm says.

“He told me he has a sister who is a Lesbian.”

He is not so pleased with the detective who is handling the investigation.

“She called me a week later and said not

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Seattle Gay News 19

pickpocket continued from cover

But unlike his usual walks home, things went from bad to worse for JT as he passed in front of a building next to the church on 14th between E. Pike and E. Pine. Since he was familiar with the building – as JT says, “My friends and I frequently notice people sleeping in the building entryway” – he knew something was about to go down when a man who appeared “drunk, high, and strung out” approached him.

“My pace quickened,” said JT. The man asked him for a cigarette and then for money. When JT told the man that he didn’t have either, another man approached him from his broadside and began “erratically asking for money.”

“I felt a quick brush against my ass and the second man took off running,” recalled JT. “I immediately noticed that my wallet was missing and I tried to chase after the man, but he was gone.”

JT then called his partner, 36, and the Seattle Police Department (SPD). “The police appeared as though they honestly wanted to help me out and were genuinely concerned about my safety,” said JT. “Unfortunately, I had between $300-$400 in my wallet since I planned a weekend trip to the Olympics and didn’t want to worry about finding an ATM,” he said.

Hours later, the situation went from a run-

of-the-mill pickpocketing incident to attempted extortion.

“I received an unlisted phone call from a women claiming to be wheelchair-bound,” explained JT. “The woman told me she had some of my cards and wanted to arrange for me to meet her son. She specifically mentioned that she did not have a wallet or my cash.”

The phone calls did not stop there. JT says he received a number of other calls from a woman who claimed to be the first caller’s caretaker. Each call was short, he said, lasting “maybe less than 30 second each.” Like the pickpockets from the night before, JT maintains that both women sounded extremely intoxicated or strung out.

“I knew I had to try working with the woman to have any chance of getting my stuff back, so my conversations with her remained calm and cordial,” he said. “The woman wanted to know that they would be compensated for returning my stolen cards.

We agreed for me to meet her son near the scene of the pickpocket.”

The woman called again to change the meeting location to the Dick’s on Broadway, said JT. “She also wanted to know how much they would be compensated for returning my cards – and we agreed on $200.”

JT, with his partner in tow, immediately went to Dick’s.

“I asked my partner to stay back and keep watch over the situation,” said JT. “I did not contact the police at this point because I was afraid of not getting back my stolen credit and insurance cards.”

JT says he quickly changed his mind and realized this was probably not the smartest decision. “The Seattle Police Department are extremely competent men and women, and their professionalism and involvement was superior during this entire ordeal.”

While at Dick’s, JT received a phone call from the woman asking if he was at the meeting point yet. She then advised him that her son was on his way to collect the cash and hand over the cards.

Minutes later, an older, disheveled-looking man (not one of the two men who had pickpocketed him earlier) showed up. JT says he immediately recognized the old man as one of the men who sleep in the doorway of the building where the crime took place.

JT’s partner recognized the man, as well.

“The man pulled a plastic bag from under his jacket and I immediately noticed my cards were in there,” said JT. “I told the man to wait at Dick’s while I went to get cash from the ATM around the corner.”

As soon as JT turned the corner, he called 911 and asked for police to come to Dick’s.

While he was explaining the situation to the 911 operator, a second man walked up to the older man, and JT’s partner overheard him say, “Make sure he doesn’t get away.

Make sure you get his money.”

The older man then approached JT, who was still on the phone with the police. The operator asked for a description of the man, and JT responded, “Oh my God, mom! Is Dad OK?” so the operator would know the situation was urgent and the man would think he needed to stay on the phone.

Within minutes, four cop cars showed up.

“I took several steps back from the man and pointed at him for the police,” said JT. The man’s accomplice ran across the street and boarded a city bus. JT’s partner alerted the officers and they gave chase, eventually stopping the bus and arresting the man.

But the story doesn’t end there.

In a bizarre twist of events, the victim turned crime-stopper now says that he’s begun to receive threatening phone calls and has actually seen the two pickpocketers sitting on the stairwell of the building where the crime happened. In addition, the oncecooperative Seattle Police Department has now all but ignored JT’s request for a follow-up investigation.

“I received quite a few threatening phone calls in which the caller says, ‘We have your address and know where you live,’” said JT. The two men who stole from me are still at the exact same spot. Instead of taking down the information to add to the police report, I was told to visit the East Precinct at 12th and Pine. At the precinct, the officer on duty seemed unconcerned when my partner and I tried providing details. We were told that no investigator has been assigned. To date, I have not heard back from the police at all.”

JT says he has no idea whether or not the cops have tried tracing the unlisted calls, perhaps originating from “where my wallet and cash likely were.”

When asked to describe his opinion of the Seattle Police Department concerning the

situation, JT replied, “The short answer is that the SPD risk their own lives every day to make all our lives safer. … The long, rambling answer? I think we have it mighty nice in Seattle, and my limited personal experience with the SPD showed me that some of them care, and others seem like they might not. I believe the SPD is severely underfunded and over-worked. If I were a cop, my number-one concern would be making sure my own ass and my colleagues’ asses don’t get capped. The severe economic and homeless problems in Seattle are sad and there are severe systemic issues that are causing people to resort to extreme measures.”

For now, JT says that the threatening phone calls have stopped. “I have a heightened concern for my safety … but I’m going to be smarter, especially later at night,” he said. “I’m not going to walk down 14th between Pike and Pine for a while.”

JT promotes and performs at various Queer community and allied causes around Seattle. For more information about JT Hooker, go to http://cbabc.com/hooker.

dadt

continued from cover

special assistant to the president for legislative affairs Chris Kang, and deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Brian Bond. Reid was not present at the meeting.

Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (who opposes a repeal of the Gay ban), said he had asked Reid to take up the bill after the Pentagon issues its report on December 1.

This time around, Reid says he will not include the DREAM act – a measure that would provide undocumented students brought to the U.S. as minors with a path to citizenship through higher education or military service – as a stand-alone bill rather than as an amendment to the defense bill.

Republicans mounted a successful filibuster, led by Senator John McCain, against debating the NDAA in September. Republicans were upset with Reid, saying that they were not given a fair shake at adding their own amendments once NDAA reached the Senate floor for debate.

Some Democratic senators are now urging a more open amendment process for this vote.

The fate of DADT still hangs in limbo in the judiciary system as the Supreme Court on November 12 allowed the policy to remain in place while a federal appeals court considers the issue.

Although President Barack Obama has pledged to push lawmakers to repeal the law in the lame-duck session before a new Congress is sworn in, administration lawyers have defended DADT in court, ultimately

Legal Services www.sgn.org www.sgn.org 20 Seattle Gay News

November 19, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

angering LGBT equality organizations who criticize the president for not signing an executive order to do away with the discriminatory policy.

One such group, GetEQUAL, says they have no plans on letting up on the pressure they are applying to the White House and Congress to repeal DADT. On November 15 Gay rights activists – including nine veterans, Catholic priests, and other advocates -- briefly handcuffed themselves to the White House’s north gate.

All demonstrators were arrested after shouting they were “proud to serve” and vowing, “We will not disappear.”

“Today, we have sent a loud and clear message to the U.S. Senate and President Obama that we expect them to make good on their promises to end this inhumane law this year, during the lame-duck session of Congress,” GetEQUAL co-founder and director Robin McGehee said in a statement.

She was among those arrested.

GSBA

continued from cover raising event showcasing member restaurants and caterers, providing a stage for business-supporting philanthropy and raising funds to support the education of LGBT and allied students.”

GSBA officials confirmed that notable donations included a matching donation from President and CEO of Horizon Air Glenn Johnson and Michael Melancon. The donation from Johnson and Melancon will establish an endowment through the GSBA Scholarship Fund with the goal of supporting an annual scholarship for a UW student in perpetuity.

Donors John Wong and Greg Combs pledged an additional $10,000 to benefit students. Wong serves on the GSBA Board of Directors and is a former president of GSBA.

“Investing in future LGBT and allied leaders is an investment in all our futures,” said Wong and Combs in a joint statement.

Signed photographs by world-renowned artists Annie Lebovitz and Robert Mapplethorpe were available in the live auction at TASTE. The two photographers alone raised more than $15,000 for GSBA’s Scholarship Program.

The GSBA Scholarship Program is available to students of any age who are Gay, questioning, come from Gay families, or are allied straight students committed to working for civil rights in the LGBT community.

The GSBA Scholarship Fund started in 1990 in response to Lesbian and Gay students finding themselves in great financial need with no other means of support. Because of their sexual orientation, these students were often discriminated against in school, may have lost family support, and experienced bullying by their peers. As a marginalized group, these students may not

have received financial aid from more traditional sources.

From that insight, teachers Mary Ann Bailey and Linda Bakken, who are also GSBA members, founded the GSBA Scholarship Fund, the first scholarship fund created by a business chamber in the United States.

To date, the GSBA Scholarship Fund has awarded over 350 scholarships totaling more than $1 million to Washington state undergraduate students. Awards range from $3,000 to $10,000 and provide significant support to students who often have little support from other sources. In addition to financial support, acceptance and encouragement from business and professional leaders, the GSBA provides strong positive role models for LGBTQ and allied youth.

Students interested in learning more about GSBA’s Scholarship Fund can visit http:// thegsbascholarship.org/facts.php for program history, eligibility requirements, and for application information.

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