SGN Nov 5, 2010 - Section 1

Issue 45 Volume 38

Celebrating 37 Years!

FRIDAY November 5, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

AFRICA p. 8

IOWA JUDGES OUSTED p. 9

HAIR p. 25

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

this week, with one local business stepping forward to say that although their credit system was compromised, the problem has been addressed and no other fraud can be conducted.

Matthew Walsh, one of the partners behind the popular Capitol Hill eatery Broadway Grill, confirmed on November 4 that the Grill was not only a point of interest in the Secret Service investigation, but the restaurant was also a victim

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The ongoing investigation by the Seattle Police Department and a Secret Service task force to catch the individual or individuals behind a wave of fraudulent credit and bank card charges continued

of fraud.

According to Walsh, the Grill’s bank and credit accounts were breached, and the same criminals who were committing bank/credit card fraud on their unsuspecting customers also tried to swoop in see fraud page 20

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Washington voters seem to be bucking the national trend and retaining most Democratic incumbents.

“The enthusiasm gap evaporated in Washington state,” said Dwight Pelz, chairman of the Washington State Democratic Party. “Democrats got energized in the waning days of the election and got out to vote.”

As SGN goes to press, Sen. Patty Murray has won a fourth term, Rep. Rick Larsen leads his Republican challenger, and the Democrats seem likely to retain control of the state legislature.

Murray rode an unusually high turnout in King County to a hard fought victory over Republican challenger Dino Rossi.

Rossi called Murray to concede Thursday evening.

“We are winning tonight,” Murray told cheering supporters at her election night party, “and we are going to win even bigger to-

McDermott heads to King County Council

AP

Capitol Hill credit ELECTION UPDATES: fraud investigation Patty Murray wins, Rick Larsen leads, Dems still control legislature continues

Senator Patty Murray speaks at an election night party for Democrats in Seattle.

morrow. We are going to win this Because of the state’s mail-in race.” ballot rules, valid ballots are still At press time, Murray had a lead being received, and state officials of over 51,600 votes – somewhat caution that a final count may not more than three percent of the total. see election page 18

courtesy joe mcdermott

Generation gap divides troops on Councilmember-elect to become first openly Gay member Gays in the military

Joe McDermott

by Robert Raketty SGN Contributing Writer

State Senator Joe McDermott will become the first openly Gay man to be seated on the nine-member King County Council after celebrating a win over Diana Toledo by a wide margin on Tuesday night with supporters at Georgetown’s Calamity Jane’s. McDermott had been one of four finalists to be appointed to the seat vacated by King County Executive Dow Constantine, but lost out to former Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago last January.

“I look forward to serving the entire Eight Council District and, especially, our community,” McDermott told the Seattle Gay News outside his election night victory party. “I spent most of the last year talking to constituents from across the Eight Council District. To have been met with such a strong reception among voters tonight makes me feel great.”

McDermott praised his opponent and the voters of District 8 for focusing on the issues rather see mcdermott page 20

to play a prominent role in whether soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors are worried about repealing the policy that has barred Gays from serving openly since 1993.

Generation may also influence how a change is implemented, if the courts or Congress ultimately lift the ban.

The Pentagon is set to release a comprehensive survey of military-wide views of Gays in the ranks in December after questioning 400,000 servicemembers and 150,000 relatives – an effort ordered by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to determine how to reby Shaun Knittel peal the policy without hurting the military.

SGN Associate Editor Last Thursday, the survey was If you want to know what a leaked to the press. NBC News member of the armed forces thinks reported on November 28 that the about repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t survey found most U.S. troops and Tell” (DADT), you could start by asking how old they are. see DADT page 21 Generational differences appear

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Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 5, 2010

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Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973

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2010

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Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel Miryam Gordon, James Whitely, Tim Peter

Contributing Writers

Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner

Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers Nick Ardizzone, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel, James Whitely National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by JT&A, Inc. © 2010, JT&A, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.

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

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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.

Finding your festival place

by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer I looked in my partner’s eyes. “Go on without me,” I breathed. “Leave me behind.

I don’t have the strength. Promise me you’ll keep going.”

Tenderly, she said, “Leslie, it’s just a damn movie.”

It wasn’t just one movie. It was umpteen movies. The Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival had worn me out. Anne turns into a cinema Energizer Bunny over those 10 days, hopping from theater to theater. By day seven, I was hanging on to her bunny tail.

As a result, I now know how to attack the festival more pragmatically. Here’s my advice on pacing yourself so you can get the most out of any major Gay film festival without turning into something on the cutting room floor.

The first thing you do is get hold of the festival program. Such choices! Such variety!

Such a pain to get to the early movies from work! You might consider quitting your job

eat. And drink. Comfy yet?

Now it’s time for the nitty-gritty: which movies you see. Scan the catalog and mark in a bold color the ones you really want to see. Mark in a less bold color the ones you sort of want to see. Remember, you’re aiming not to overdo and exhaust yourself, so choose judiciously.

If you plan to attend the films with someone else, forget everything I just said.

Only when you’re attending the festival alone can you choose the perfect schedule.

If you’re going with a partner or friends, compromise is required – along with the occasional game of rock, paper, scissors.

Don’t assume you and your other half are in sync on the film festival, no matter how long you’ve been together. On the festival’s second day, it unfolded that I thought we’d see three films, but Anne had figured on four. She was aghast at missing a movie; I was aghast at never seeing daylight.

If you agree on your schedule before the festival starts, you improve your chances of achieving a civilized pace – and a civilized relationship.

The bottom line is everyone’s taste and stamina differ. In one evening, Anne will happily see a Danish Lesbian documentary, Transgender shorts, and a Gay male Peruvian feature. After such an evening, I might not know where I am – or who.

Come to think of it, our different moviegoing appetites might make a good short film. Anne and I should make one … if we can agree on the pace.

– that would certainly be a form of pacing yourself. But don’t do it, or you won’t be able to pay for any of this.

That brings us to tickets. Should you buy a pass for the whole festival, or pay for movies individually? For now, figure out the rough number of movies you want to see.

Then do the math. Which route is cheaper?

If it’s reasonably close, buy the pass. You’ll be helping the festival and guaranteeing I can’t call you a tightwad.

You’ll also make things a little easier on yourself. One of the perks of the festival pass here in Seattle is the pass-holders’ line.

People in that line are admitted early. They get their choice of seats, and don’t have to worry about a film being sold-out. Anybody in that line can lay off Xanax for a week.

Since I’m trying to make the festival experience comfy, know that if you have a Leslie Robinson is now resting up for next pass to the whole shebang, you can attend all the receptions that are held after the big- year’s film festival. E-mail her at lesarobinger movies. That way, if you missed dinner son@gmail.com, and visit her blog at www. in your hurry to get to the movie, you can generalgayety.com.

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

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Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Candidate Zeiger’s homophobic remarks televised in 2006 Campaign receives funding from Focus on the Family affiliate file photo

Hans Zeiger

by Robert Raketty SGN Contributing Writer Hans Zeiger, the Republican candidate in the race for the 25th Legislative District (Position Two), can’t shake the controversy regarding his blog posts and articles which take aim at progressive organizations, women, and minority groups alike. This week, PubliCola and the Seattle Gay News uncovered additional details about the candidate that suggest the he does indeed hold strong socially conservative views.

The Puyallup native is in a tight contest with four-term incumbent Democrat State

Representative Dawn Morrell. A few hundred votes separated the two as the SGN went to press. Zeiger told this writer on Wednesday that he remained confident he would win.

“It’s very close,” he said. “Historically, the votes trend Republican in the late counts.”

On Monday, the blog PubliCola reported a Focus on the Family affiliate, The Family Policy Institute of Washington, had given aid to Zeiger’s campaign by spending $3,313 in the race. The Lynnwood-based group had previously sought to repeal domestic partnership benefits in Washington state and is

opposed to LGBT civil rights legislation.

Last September, Zeiger spoke to the SGN about his blog posts and articles he had written on the conservative media sites WorldNetDaily and Intellectual Conservative. He stated he “wouldn’t write the same thing today” and that his views had changed considerably since leaving his hometown for college. In one post he had called the Girl Scouts “radical feminists, Lesbians, and cookie peddlers.” In another, he called the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the National Education Association “terrorist organizations” that championed a “radical homosexual agenda.”

“The short answer is that it’s stuff written when I was 18 or 19. … Now I’m 25,” Zeiger explained. “Since then, I’ve gone to college. I’ve graduated. I realize the world is pretty complex; that there’s beauty and diversity in the world.”

Alex Hayes, a paid Zeiger campaign consultant and also the executive director of Mainstream Republicans, which endorsed the candidate, defended Zeiger. He told the SGN that the writings were “taken out of context” and that “blogs have a certain tone of voice – a tone that leads to hyperbole.”

Hays added that his group, Mainstream Republicans, couldn’t possibly endorse Zeiger’s views, but that attacks on the candidate were “intellectually dishonest.”

Although the bulk of the writings were made in 2003 and 2004, the SGN this week reviewed an interview originally aired on Penn & Teller’s Bullshit, on April 3, 2006, which shows the candidate making homophobic statements in 2006.

The camera recorded every word, in which Zeiger said that Gays were more likely to molest boys; same-sex families would “destroy the very foundations of our civilization”; and that the Boy Scouts had “high moral standard[s]” for banning Gays from membership.

Same-sex families: “The family is a certain way and a family includes a mother and a father. It includes children. To move beyond that model is so revolutionary that it is to pluck up and to destroy the very foundations of our civilization.”

Pedophilia: “As the homosexual movement became much more entrenched in the American culture – starting in the late ‘60s – it really became an opportunity for the pedophiles to make a mass assault on the Boy Scouts. The statistics show that homosexu-

als are far out in proportion represented in engaging in pedophilia.”

Boy Scouts: “The Boy Scouts have a right to exclude homosexuals. I think it is good that the Boy Scouts have a high moral standard.”

Zeiger was also heard saying that there have to be “restraints in a moral civil society if we are going to be able to get along with each other; if we are going to be able to live in peace.” It was not clear whether he had intended this remark to be an inclusive statement or to suggest LGBT Americans push those restraints.

The SGN contacted Zeiger on Wednesday about the 2006 interview, but the candidate politely declined to discuss it.

“I’m not going to comment on that,” he said, then referred the SGN to a blog of a high school friend whom he said had posted about a “frank breakfast conversation” the two shared in which they discussed LGBT civil rights issues. The candidate failed to provide the web link, and the blog could not be located by press time.

Zeiger’s campaign this year has taken actions to appear more mainstream, such as removing conservative KVI talk-show host DJ Kirby Wilber from among its list of endorsers, removing of Zeiger’s writings on the Intellectual Conservative website, and by referring to the American Civil Rights Union (ACRU) where Zeiger holds the post of senior fellow as a “non-profit organization that promotes the U.S. Constitution.”

The ACRU is a conservative legal organization which opposes same-sex marriage, is favorable of the Boy Scouts of America’s ban on Gays and non-theists from membership, and advocates for the removal of “activist judges.”

Zeiger told the SGN this week that he entered the 25th Legislative District race to “build up our communities” and feels that his writings, statements, and actions should not be taken as the truth about who he is today. Time will only tell whether the candidate emerges as a moderate Republican on social issues or another right-wing politician seeking to restrain hard-fought gains for LGBT Washingtonians.

To view the video of his 2006 TV interview, visit us online at www.seattlegayblog. blogspot.com.

years.

Rolling Stone, was launched in August by graduates of Kampala’s Makerere University, a favorite venue of Christian preachers – both Ugandan and American – behind the anti-Gay crusade. It has an estimated circulation of 2,000 readers.

While Rolling Stone ran into trouble with the Uganda Media Council after the “Hang Them” front page in early October, it was not due to the content, but because the pub-

lishers had failed to register with the government.

Paul Mukasa, Media Council Secretary, said that he was not aware of the court injunction, but confirmed to the Guardian that the paper had not been cleared to resume publication.

“We will take a look at this and see if action needs to be taken,” Mukasa said.

Mike Andrew, SGN Staff Writer, contributed to this article.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A Ugandan court has ordered Rolling Stone newspaper to stop publishing the names and photos of Ugandans it says are Gay. Uganda’s Rolling Stone is a weekly tabloid, and is not related to the U.S. paper of the same name.

High court judge Vincent MusokeKibuuka said the paper’s anti-Gay campaign was an “invasion of the right to privacy”.

Giles Muhame, Rolling Stone’s managing editor, said he was seeking advice from his attorneys on whether to challenge the injunction.

“We have already achieved our objective: to show the world that homosexuality is spreading like wildfire in Uganda,” he said.

According to the British Guardian newspaper, the Ugandan court acted the day after the second installment of Rolling Stone’s projected series outing Gay Ugandans.

The newest issue bore the headline “Men of Shame Part II,” and included pictures of

20 men identified by the paper as “generals” of the Gay community.

Several people named in the first article reported being assaulted or harassed. One woman had to flee her home when her neighbors pelted it with stones. Several others were said to be in hiding.

The first installment in the series was titled “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homosexuals Leak – Hang Them.”

The court ruled on a petition by the LGBT-rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda.

Frank Mugisha, chairman of the group, said his organization would seek damages from Rolling Stone if the judge ruled against the paper in the next hearing on 23 November.

“Justice has been served. This should be a reminder to the media not to incite violence against minority groups in this country,” Mugisha said.

Uganda’s government has taken a very lax approach to regulating media attacks on the country’s LGBT community.

Other tabloids, such as Red Pepper, have outed Gay people several times in recent

“We have already achieved our objective: to show the world that homosexuality is spreading like wildfire in Uganda.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

file photo

Stop outing Gays, Uganda court tells tabloid

November 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News

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INTERNATIONAL Lorenzo Herrera

NEWS

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer

local police were not on their best behavior during the march.

“It is worth mentioning that discrimination and homophobia were clearly visible from the ranks of the city’s public-security bureau since they did not heed the call made earlier to safeguard the physical integrity of the participants and traffic control for the full completion of the march,” the council said.

Intersex Awareness Day Oct. 26 was International Intersex Awareness Day – that’s the “I” in LGBTI. ILGA-Europe – the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – said the day aims “to raise awareness on intersex issues, generate greater understanding and challenge the prevailing medical pathological approach to the bodies of Intersex people.”

“Across Europe, hundreds of babies who are born Intersex, or those children who are identified as Intersex later in their lives, are being subjected to inhumane ‘corrective gender surgical operations’ in order to align

them with the binary male or female sexes,” ILGA said. “Such intrusive and unnecessary surgeries have devastating effects on Intersex people who very frequently report to be tormented mentally, sexually, physically and psychologically by such ‘treatment.’”

ILGA-Europe incorporated Intersex issues into its mandate in 2009 and is building linkages with European and international Intersex organizations.

“We are fully committed to bring the concerns of intersex people to the European institutions with a view to challenge existing human rights breaches in practices of ‘gender correction surgeries’ and the longterm physical and psychological effects that they have on Intersex people,” said executive director Evelyne Paradis. “We are very pleased with our fruitful cooperation with Organisation Intersex International’s European members and hope that together we can bring an end to the inhumane gender-correction surgeries of Intersex babies, prejudice, and discrimination Intersex people face in Europe.”

With assistance from Bill Kelley

NATIONAL

About 150 LGBT people staged a pride march and protest in Tecate, Mexico on October 24.

Lithuania may ban public promotion of homosexual relations Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, is considering legislation to criminalize “promotion of homosexual relations in public places,” says the Lithuanian Gay League.

One bill says that “a person promoting homosexual relations in public places is committing a criminal offense which is punishable with community work or a fine or imprisonment.” Another says that “the promotion of homosexual relations or financing of the promotion in public places is to be punished by a fine from 1,000 [$400] to 5,000 litas.”

“If these amendments are ultimately adopted, the Lithuanian government will have the authority to prosecute on an extremely wide variety of actions and activities,” LGL said. “These actions include, but are not limited to, campaigning on human rights issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, providing sexual health information to LGBT people, the organization of Gay film festivals, and organizing and/or attending pride events.”

Amnesty International’s European program director, Nicola Duckworth, said, “It is hard to believe that a member of the European Union should even be considering the adoption of such legislation.”

Last year, the Seimas enacted the “Law on the Protection of Minors Against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information.”

It bans information that promotes sexual relationships, “denigrates family values” or encourages a nonheterosexual concept of marriage and family in any location where such information could be accessed by a minor.

LGL said the newest move “exemplifies the continuous process of the institutionalization of homophobia in Lithuania.”

Hong Kong judge rules against Trans marriage A trial court judge in Hong Kong ruled against letting a postoperative male-to-female Transsexual get married October 5.

Judge Andrew Cheung expressed worry about the consequences of recognizing sexual-reassignment surgery for marriage purposes, saying it would have implications for preoperative Transsexuals and samesex couples, and for family, social-welfare, criminal, and immigration law.

He further expressed concern about the possibility of surgical sex-change reversals, about whether people who had sex-reassignment surgery should be required to inform a future spouse of that fact, and whether such occurrences could lead to annulments.

Cheung said that unless procreation is seen as a fundamental theme of marriage, then there’s no reason to oppose Trans6

Seattle Gay News

sexual marriage, same-sex marriage, or polygamy.

He made reference to the United Kingdom’s civil-partnership law, which grants same-sex couples all rights of marriage under a different name, and hinted that such a scheme would be preferable to allowing Transgender or same-sex marriages in Hong Kong.

Australians support free vote on Gay marriage Nearly 80 percent of Australians support letting legislators vote their consciences rather than their party’s position on samesex marriage, an October 22 poll found.

The Galaxy poll was commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

It found that 62 percent of Australians support letting same-sex couples marry and 80 percent of people between 18 and 24 support Gay marriage. “[Prime Minister] Julia Gillard and [Opposition Leader] Tony Abbott cannot ignore the majority of Australians who believe same-sex couples should be able to marry and the even greater majority who want a conscience vote on the issue,” said AME spokesman Alex Greenwich.

PFLAG’s Shelley Argent added, “If Catholic countries like Spain, Argentina and Portugal can right this wrong, then why can’t Australia?”

For more information, see freevote.org. au.

Gays march in Tecate About 150 LGBT people staged a pride march and protest in Tecate, Mexico, October 24. The city, famous for its beer, sits on the California border about 40 miles southeast of San Diego.

The march, the city’s first, went down the busiest street and ended at the central plaza.

It also was a protest against a state constitutional amendment that would ban samesex marriages in Baja California state and seemingly also ban recognition of same-sex marriages from Mexico City, where they are legal.

The amendment passed the state legislature in late September but has been stalled since then. Two days after it passed, control of the legislature switched from one political party to another, in accord with elections that had been held this past summer – and the new ruling party has delayed sending the amendment to the state’s five political subdivisions for ratification.

The new party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, is considered more Gayfriendly than the party that lost power, the National Action Party.

A statement from the Baja California State Council on Sexual Diversity suggested that

November 5, 2010

NEWS

Obama’s attitude toward same-sex marriage is evolving President Barack Obama’s attitude toward same-sex marriage is evolving, he said in an October 27 meeting with five progressive bloggers, including openly Gay Joe Sudbay from AMERICAblog.

“Joe, I do not intend to make big news sitting here with the five of you, as wonderful as you guys are,” Obama said, according to the official transcript. “But I’ll say this. ...

I have been to this point unwilling to sign on to same-sex 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.”

Obama also said he has a strategy aimed at getting the Senate to authorize repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell after the November elections. The House of Representatives already has done so, but the Senate refused earlier this year.

“I’m not going to tip my hand now, but there is a strategy,” Obama said. “I was very deliberate in working with the Pentagon so that I’ve got the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs being very clear about the need to end this policy. That is part of a strategy that I have been pursuing since I came into office. And my hope is that will culminate in getting this thing overturned before the end of the year. Now, as usual, I need 60 votes. So I think that, Joe, the folks that you need to be having a really good conversation with – and I had that conversation with them directly yesterday, but you may have more influence than I do – is making sure that all those Log Cabin Republicans who helped to finance this lawsuit [that led to DADT being struck down as unconstitutional] and who feel about this issue so passionately are working the handful of Republicans that we need to get this thing done.”

Sudbay responded, “Yes, I don’t have that relationship with them.”

“I don’t understand the logic of it,” Obama replied. “You’re financing a very successful, very effective legal strategy and yet the only real thing you need to do is make sure that we get two to five Republi-

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer can votes in the Senate. And I said directly to the Log Cabin Republican who was here yesterday, I said: ‘That can’t be that hard.

Get me those votes.’”

The president also said he doesn’t think the disillusionment that LGBT people feel with him is “justified.”

“Let me go to the larger issue, though, Joe, about disillusionment and disappointment,” he said. “I guess my attitude is that we have been as vocal, as supportive of the LGBT community as any president in history. I’ve appointed more openly Gay people to more positions in this government than any president in history. We have moved forward on a whole range of issues that were directly under my control, including, for example, hospital visitation. On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I have been as systematic and methodical in trying to move that agenda forward as I could be given my legal constraints, given that Congress had explicitly passed a law designed to tie my hands on the issue. And so, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think that the disillusionment is justified.”

“I don’t begrudge the LGBT community pushing, but the flip side of it is that this notion somehow that this administration has been a source of disappointment to the LGBT community, as opposed to a stalwart ally of the LGBT community, I think is wrong,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, teenage activist Constance McMillen, who made national news when she was banned from taking her girlfriend to the high-school prom in Fulton, Miss., doesn’t see it that way.

In an October 29 video with other LGBT youth made for GetEQUAL, McMillen says to Obama: “You promised so many things whenever you started running and you’re not coming through with these things, and people just, they don’t know what to feel like anymore, and there’s people that are taking their life. So, I think that it’s time for you to take a stand.”

Watch the full video at tinyurl.com/tttaso.

Omaha won’t protect Gays from discrimination A basic LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance failed to pass the Omaha City Council on October 26. The vote was 3-3.

The measure would have prohibited employers, labor organizations, training programs, public accommodations – such as restaurants and hotels – and city contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

The proposed ordinance included an exemption for religious organizations.

Supporters now are considering putting the measure to a public vote as an amendment to the City Charter.

With assistance from Bill Kelley

Celebrating 37 Years!

shee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). All GLBTQ folks in the community are welcome to participate in this FREE book club. The book for November will be Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse. This Gay compiled by Rick McKinnon graphic novel classic is about a closeted SGN Staff Writer Gay boy coming out during the Civil Rights Movement in the South. For more informaBENT: 10TH ANNUAL tion, e-mail nickdimartin@earthlink.net or companies.

MENTOR SHOWCASE For more information, visit www.nwdanc- contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.

On Friday, November 5 and Saturday, esyndrome.com.

November 6, Regie Cabico will headline POZSEATTLE ANNUAL the Bent Mentor Showcase, doors at 7 p.m., TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING UNIVERSITY DISTRICT show at 7:30 p.m., at the Museum of HisHOLIDAY SOCIAL JAZZ WALK tory and Industry’s McEachern Auditorium, On Wednesday, November 10 at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, November 6 from 5:30 p.m.

2700 24th Ave. E. The showcase, an annual to 4 a.m., LUCID Jazz Lounge (5241 Uni- at The Cuff (13th and Pine), POZSeattle event that has become a fixture within the versity Way NE) and J&J Music are proud is pleased to present its 2nd Annual TradiSeattle Queer arts scene, will include per- to present the 2nd Annual University Dis- tional Thanksgiving Holiday Social. Meet formances by Cabico and Bent writing stu- trict Jazz Walk 2010. Sixteen participating in the downstairs bar for a fully catered dents. venues will feature 18 of the best jazz bands traditional Thanksgiving holiday meal genCabico is described as an “out and proud Seattle has to offer. Music at the Jazz Walk erously provided by some of our wonderFilipino American Gay man who has been will cover all corners of the jazz world, in- ful volunteers and member of POZSeattle. called the Lady Gaga of spoken word poets. cluding big band, straight-ahead, swing, Turkey w/ dressing, homemade cranberry He has won several high awards at various funk, vocals, free jazz, modern jazz, Latin, sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, national slam poetry contests, has written gypsy and electronic. There is something for and holiday dessert is what’s on the menu. several plays and regularly performs stand- every music lover to appreciate, and some Come for dinner, socializing, catching up up comedy, and has twice been featured on venues will be open to all ages so families with old friends, making new ones, and a HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.” can attend the Jazz Walk as well. Partici- whole lot of fun. This event is free (except A writing workshop will be held on Sat- pants will not only be able to hear their fa- for the cost of beverages) and is for all HIVurday, November 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., vorite kind of jazz but will also be exposed positive men and their friends, regardless of at a location to be announced. The perfor- to new genres they may not be familiar with. age, shape, size, or color. mances will take place over two nights, General admission for the Jazz Walk is $10 POZSeattle is a social organization run November 5 and 6, with doors at 7 p.m. For and includes admission to all the venues, for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive guys more information, e-mail terrakitty@gmail. exclusive drink specials, a complimentary that is committed to planning and promotcom or visit www.bentwriting.com. Tickets LUCID Live Records compilation CD and ing fun, social activities. Our primary social may be purchased at http://www.brownpap- entry into a raffle for a $150 LUCID Gift event is always held on the second Wednesertickets.com/event/128828.

Card. There are a limited number of $35.00 day of each month. For questions or more tickets which include all of the above plus information about this event, to plan your STOP POLICE BRUTALITY own social event, or to be added to our event dinner at one of five participating venues.

PUBLIC FORUM For more information, please visit http:// promotions e-mail list, e-mail info@pozOn Friday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. at www.lucidseattle.com or contact J&J Music seattle.org or visit us on the web at www.

New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), at 206-250-5457. pozseattle.org. join the public forum “Stop Police Brutality in Our Community.” Civil rights attorneys MATT ALBER WITH GUEST RAIN COUNTRY DANCE Lem Howell and Val Carlson, social worker PARKER AINSWORTH HARVEST HOEDOWN Griffin Street and Native American activist On Thursday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, November 6 at 6 p.m. at the Feanette Black Bear will kick off a commu- Cuff Complex (13th Ave. and E. Pine St.), at All Pilgrims Church (500 Broadway E.), nity discussion and offer solutions to esca- Rain Country Dance Association invites you Matt Alber will play live in Seattle with lating police violence. Door donation $1-3 to attend the Harvest Hoedown. The Harvest special guest Parker Ainsworth. Alber is a and snack plates will be available for a $6 Hoedown will begin with a potluck with en- former member of the classical men’s endonation. Sponsored by the Freedom So- trée provided by Rain Country, followed by semble Chanticleer, with whom he recorded cialist Party. Wheelchair accessible. a brief annual meeting, and several hours of two Grammy Award-winning albums in San For more information, call 206-722-2453 open dancing starting at 7:30. The evening Francisco. His debut album, Hide Nothor e-mail FSPseattle@mindspring.com. is free and open to all, regardless of gender ing, is a collection of original intimate and or gender identity, sexual orientation, body orchestral snapshots spanning three years NORTHWEST BUTOH type, and skill level, and no partner is re- of work. (It also generously streams in full WAVE/AGOGO quired. Rain Country membership is not re- from his website: www.mattalber.com.)

DAIPANBUTOH Tickets $20 at the door. Seating is limited. quired to attend and enjoy the evening.

On Friday, November 5 and Saturday, For more information, visit www.allpilMore details are available at www.rainNovember 6 at 8 p.m. at Velocity Dance countrydance.org. grims.org.

Center (1621 12th Ave.), experience the Northwest Butoh WAVE / AGOGO PerforGOD, GENDER AND JUSTICE: YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE mance DAIPANbutoh collective First perEXPLORING THE CONNECTIONS ALL-AGES DANCE FUNDRAISER formance. DAIPANbutoh is a performance BETWEEN SPIRITUALITY, On Sunday, November 7 from 7-10 p.m. collective formed to bring butoh to Seattle at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), POLITICS, AND SEXUALITY audiences. Our purpose is to devote our come to the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” allOn Friday, November 12 and Saturday, energy and talents to promote this deeply ages dance benefit fundraiser for the Youth November 13 at Queen Anne United Methmoving and evocative international per- Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP). A do- odist Church (1606 5th Ave. W.), Bet Alef formance movement that has been steadily nation at the door gets you in.

Learning Institute ( BALI ) presents “God, growing in Seattle since the 1980s. Butoh is OUTLoud focuses on LGBTQ youth and Gender and Justice: Exploring the Conneca creative force that arose out of the turmoil their risk for suicide, self-harm, and depres- tions Between Spirituality, Politics, and and confusion of Post World War II Japan. sion. We do this through public education Sexuality.”

Featuring performances by Mizu Desierto, and community outreach. We also support “All of us deal, at some point or another, Danse Perdue, Kokoro, Douglas Ridings, organizations and schools (both staff and with issues of identity. As we grow and Diana Garcia-Snyder, Sharoni Stern Siegel, youth) in their process to become more sup- evolve throughout our lives we continuHaruko Nishimura, Joan Laage, MomoBu- portive of LGBTQ youth (thereby reducing ously define and redefine who we are. With toh Dance Co, and Sheri Brown. us, our society as a whole goes through the their risk).

Tickets: $15 - $35 sliding scale. No one For more information, visit www.yspp. same process. In our days, our changing sounder 16 admitted. For more information, org. ciety is confronted with the issue of greater visit daipanbutoh.com. acceptance of sexual minorities, manifesting as a struggle for equal rights. But the QLAW PRESENTS NORTHWEST DANCE SYNDROME conversation – at times violent – which is FREE LUNCHTIME CLE PRESENTS COLLIDE On Tuesday, November 9 from noon to 1 taking place nationally, is only a reflection From Friday, November 5 to Sunday, No- p.m. at K&L Gates (925 Fourth Ave., Suite of the evolution of personal and individual vember 7 at 8 p.m. at Erickson Theater Off 2900), QLaw presents a free, lunchtime CLE ways of thinking. This day we will be sharBroadway (1524 Harvard Ave.), Northwest on the essential skills required to surviving ing together, surrounded by expert teachers Dance Syndrome (NWDS) presents Collide. and thriving as a new lawyer. While the fo- of international renown, will help us make Dance artists and companies showing work, cus is on law students and new lawyers, all sense of what is taking place both in the along with NWDS, are: Gabriel Bruya, BQ- are invited. Join Grover E. Cleveland, Se- inner dimensions of self and in the outer danza, Redd Legg Dance, Anne Motl, The attle lawyer, Q-Law member, and author of world. It will support our exploration of the Post Scripts and Maya Soto/Soto Style. Af- the new book: Swimming Lessons for Baby new edge of identity, help us make friends ter seven years of creating, performing and Sharks: The Essential Guide to Thriving as with what challenges us, and bring clarity producing independent work, NWDS has a New Laywer, as he discusses his book and to what confuses us. It promises to be a day invited some all star Seattle dance artists to useful, practical advice for new lawyers. that will expand our minds and heal what dijoin them. NWDS created Collide out of the The cost is free, but registration is recom- vides us. deep need to continue connecting and inter- mended.

Join us and spend an entire Shabbat with secting with Seattle ’s diverse dance comthese gifted teachers: Jay Michaelson, RabTo register, visit www.q-law.org/events. munity. Collide provides a space for dance bi Olivier BenHaim, Joe Perez, Yael Sachs, artists to come together and share the stage.

Terri O’Fallon, PhD, and special guest Reb SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN For audiences, Collide offers a real mix of BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE Zalman Schachter-Shalomi via live video dance perspectives, a variety of styles, and a The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club conversation. broad spectrum of Seattle ’s best local dance meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dun-

NORTHWEST

NEWS

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 5, 2010

Tickets: $85 Bet Alef members, $95 non-members, senior and student discounts available. For a full schedule of events, visit http://www.betalef.org/bali. html#SCHEDULE. TASTE OF GSBA “COME FLY WITH US” On Saturday, November 13 from 5:3010:30 p.m. at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel (1400 6th Ave.), the GSBA will hold its 2010 November TASTE of GSBA, “Come Fly With Us.” GSBA flight attendants will have fabulous food from our wonderful member caterers and restaurants, a signature drink (to be decided at the Cocktail Contest) and many wonderful items to bid on – you will be dazzled. You will be able to fly away on exotic trips or to your favorite place in Puerto Vallarta, plus there will be local trips to all the wonderful places Washington has to offer. Then of course, our inflight cabin service will offer fabulous wines and dining experiences – these are not to be missed.

When you are not looking at the scenery out the window (or at the next table) we will have eye delighting art you can gaze upon and bid for. Be a part of the season’s best black tie affair – fun and dressy at the same time. You will be entertained again by The 5th Avenue Theatre with songs from Guys and Dolls, so wear your best guys (and guys) and dolls (and dolls) outfits to fit right in with the crowd.

Host a table of 10 for $1,750, or a firstclass table with priority seating and champagne for $2,250. Individual registration $175 members, $195 non-members, $100 students.

206-363-9188; www.thegsba.org/events.

BURLESQUE 202 GRADUATION RECITAL HOSTED BY WAXIE MOON On Saturday, November 13 at 9 p.m. at West Hall, Odd Fellows Building (915 E. Pine St.), come cheer the newest graduates to take their education to a higher level at Miss Indigo Blue’s Academy of Burlesque.

This graduating class features the talents of Velvet La Soie, Dahlia Ste Cyr, & Sylvester Stiffbreeze, as well as performances by 202 Alums, and the Bump & Grind Dance Class!

This show will also be the hosting debut of Miss(ter) Waxie Moon, who co-taught the class with The Shanghai Pearl!

Doors at 8:30. You can see this spectacle for the bargain price of $12 in advance, or $15 at the door! Bring confetti and flowers for your favorite students. As is our custom, we give free door prizes including tickets to the upcoming shows and classes, previously worn undergarments, and other authentic burlesque memorabilia. www.misspollywood.com.

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. Since 1990, more than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded. Pride Foundation and the GSBA Scholarship Fund would like to encourage you to share this excellent opportunity for students of any age or sexual orientation from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington who are pursuing any postsecondary 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.

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by Barry Thorsness SGN African Correspondent

(Due to the very homophobic culture of Malawi, I apologize for not using many actual names in this story. Google works just as well here, and I do not want to compromise what is happening in any way. Thanks for understanding.)

We arrived in Nkhata Bay on the shores of Lake Malawi on Sunday evening. It was Louis’ birthday and I knew that Jack had called ahead for a birthday cake. Jack had also reserved us the prime double hut overlooking the beach at Big Blue Star Backpackers. Louis and I moved in, excited, but in many ways disappointed; we had just come from Mango Drift on Likoma Island, which was one of the nicest backpackers we had experienced anywhere. We looked at each other, and Louis groaned, “This is a dump.” (It is important, though, if you don’t read much further, that out of all the backpack lodges in Nkhata Bay, Big Blue became my favorite for many reasons.)

Soon, some friends staying at Myoka Village invited us to join them on the free water tour, including snorkeling with all the colorful tropical fish in the lake (the ones you buy for your freshwater aquarium), swimming, and diving from the rocks, spending time at a beautiful beach playing local games and volleyball with the locals, and the highlight: feeding the fish eagles. Fish eagles are birds very similar to our bald eagle, but larger. We would throw small fish, threaded on a small bamboo stick, out from the boat. It wouldn’t take long for the fish eagle to spot it and dive only a few yards from the boat.

Truly awesome.

our travels and affect my life – perhaps for a very long time.

Louis and I had talked for years about helping or adopting one or two children – possibly from Africa, possibly orphans whose parents had died of AIDS. It was one of those things that you really felt you might like to do, but in reality you have no idea how to do it and you just let it slide. Now suddenly we were being smacked with the reality of it.

As a reader of our adventures, I really want you to be aware that we were cautious of being scammed. Africa is full of orphans and the poor who need your help, but this may not be true of the scammer working you.

Last week, Augustine walked with us back to Mango Drift, taking us to a shaman and the cathedral on the way. When we got to Mango Drift, we asked him to stay for a drink (Coca Cola for him, a couple of beers for us) and dinner. We learned that he was from Nkhata Bay and was on Likoma Island with his grandfather to help him fish.

I learned that he had been orphaned seven years ago when one of the minivans (like the ones we always travel in) had a crash and his parents had died. His baby sister had sur-

CAN WE TRUST AUGUSTINE? Let’s backtrack to last week. We had met Augustine on Likoma Island the week before, when we visited the family of the 1-year-old albino child Jack was helping. We were spending time chatting with the parents and I looked over and here was this incredible boy – perhaps late teens, early 20’s – looking at us, with a smile that completely enveloped you. I started a conversation with him having no idea at the time where this was going to take

all photos by Barry Thorsness

More adventures in Africa

Augustine

had a reputation of being somewhat of a comedian with the tourists.

We learned way more than we had ever expected, and also that A.J. would be willing to help coordinate any support we might like to offer Augustine. We had decided that if Augustine did arrive on the Ilala on Sunday as planned, and after spending more time with him, we would sponsor him to return to school. In retrospect, I had no idea of the Malawi bureaucracy and the people I was going to meet in the following week.

vived. In summary, he had not gone to school for two years as he had no financial support to pay for school. He was fishing with his grandfather to make a living. He earned 200 kwacha a day (150 kwacha is about $1).

Augustine fascinated me. We spent some time, just the two of us, sitting on the beach.

I questioned him with some of the most difficult questions I could think of, and was always amazed by his response. His responses always seemed to be from the heart. I asked him where he got his incredible teachings.

He said that when he was quiet, it just came to him.

All that I knew was that if I was being scammed, he was better than any scammer I had met in my life.

MEETING A.J. AND LEARNING ABOUT AUGUSTINE I had a fairly long talk with Jack about his program of helping orphans through his Joy Foundation. He suggested that I meet and chat with A.J., the owner of Butterfly Backpackers. She had come from the UK, and she, her local husband, young daughter, and her backpackers had become well-known for her community support.

It was like we were just going down an already rehearsed path. It seemed she knew Augustine very well, if he was the same Augustine. We learned that his story was true.

He once worked at Butterfly, but had been fired for just taking off (he went to a funeral for an uncle and did not notified A.J.) and

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Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

THREATENED BY CHEESE-ON-TOAST Jack, Louis, and I were having dinner when suddenly a boy named “Cheese-on-toast” (the beach boys take on names like these so tourists can easily remember them) came rapidly walking through the dining area looking for someone. Cheeseon-toast saw Jack from across the street and yelled at him, challenging him as to why he was back in town and telling him that he wasn’t welcome. We learned from Jack that when he had previously been in Nkhata Bay, Cheese-on-toast had often been drinking and was causing problems.

Jack had banned him from the Big Blue Star Backpackers and eventually Cheese-ontoast had spent some time in jail. He obviously disliked Jack immensely and did not seem to be a very well-balanced person.

As Cheese-on-toast ran around the backpackers, Jack asked him who he was looking for. He was really obstinate and challenged Jack and told him that Gay people were not welcome in Malawi and that he wanted to fight with him. He was trying to provoke Jack into hitting him when Louis, much like a big bull, stood up to defend Jack. Cheeseon-toast then labeled Louis as Gay (probably because of his navel ring) and then challenged him, too. Cheese-on-toast then went into the backpackers’ bar and, surprisingly, was served drinks. Although Jack was now in charge of the business, he was reluctant to create a larger issue and wanted the owner of the bar to call the police. The whole affair was complicated. Malawi has such draconian laws towards Gay people, Jack had no work permit, and the police, though helpful before, could certainly make things spiral into a worse situation.

I went back inside and Louis came to inform me he was moving to a different backpackers as he was nervous with Cheese-ontoast still on the premises. The next morning, we moved up to Butterfly Backpackers and told Augustine to meet us there when he could.

Celebrating 37 Years!

Obama appoints record number of open homosexuals President Barack Obama has appointed more openly LGBT individuals to government posts than any previous president, according to sources cited by The Associated Press.

Gay lobbyists estimate that Obama has granted top appointments to more than 150 LGBT persons in the two years he has served as the nation’s top official, topping the approximately 140 by former President Clinton in all eight years of his presidency.

HRC officials called the pattern “a simple affirmation of the American ideal that what matters is how you do your job and not who you are.”

Denis Dison, spokesman for the Presidential Appointments Project of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, said the administration’s appointments are friendly gestures

towards the LGBT community.

“From everything we hear from inside the administration, they wanted this to be part of their efforts at diversity,” said Dison.

The Presidential Appointments Project acts as a stepping-stone for LGBT professionals seeking federal posts “to improve our federal government’s policies and process.”

Among the appointees are the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools at the U.S. Department of Education Kevin Jennings, and Chai Feldblum, member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which oversees workplace discrimination complaints.

“We have made a record number of openly LGBT appointments, and we are confident that this number will only continue to grow,” Shin Inouye, an openly homosexual White House spokesman, told the AP.

Pro-equality Iowa judges ousted

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Three Iowa Supreme Court Justices who ruled in favor of marriage equality were among the casualties of this week’s election.

With more than 96% of the vote counted, Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit had less than the majority they needed to stay on the court.

Their last day on the court will be December 31.

Their removal marks the first time an Iowa Supreme Court justice has not been retained since retention elections for judges were first adopted in 1962.

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriages on April 3, 2009.

The three ousted justices were the first group required to stand for retention after the decision. In all, there are seven justices on the Iowa high court.

Anti-Gay activists said the campaign to remove the justices was the opening salvo in a national campaign against Gay civil rights.

Led by the Mississippi-based American Family Association, their effort was aided by groups such as Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, Georgia-based Faith & Freedom Coalition, and New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage.

The anti-Gay organizations spent more than $1 million to oust the judges, with the campaign culminating in a 20-city bus tour across Iowa urging voters to kick the judges off the bench.

Leaders of the effort said that removing the judges would set the stage for a fight over marriage equality and Gay rights in Iowa and across the country.

Iowa Family Policy Center President Chuck Hurley said the vote to remove the three justices was “God’s will.”

“God is our ultimate authority, and we think that we did God’s will by standing up to the three judges who would try to redefine God’s institution and say that marriage is anything other than one man and one woman,” Hurley said.

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council told Iowa voters that if they voted

No on retention, “You will send a message that goes around this country that Americans have had enough and we’re taking our country back and we’re starting right here in Iowa with this Supreme Court.”

Bob Vander Plaats, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate and spokesperson for the anti-Gay forces, told Radio Iowa on election night that “history’s being made.” “[T]he rest of the country is going to hear our voice,” Vander Plaats added.

Craig Robinson, a former political director of the Republican Party of Iowa, wrote on his blog that he hoped the vote would be enough to “motivate complacent legislators to finally get on board with a marriage amendment, and maybe even go around Mike Gronstal to do so.”

Gronstal, the Democratic leader in the Iowa Senate, has repeatedly promised he would never allow such an amendment to come up for a vote.

During the 2010 session, advocates for an amendment came just five votes shy of forcing a vote on marriage over Gronstal’s objections. Republican control of the Iowa House and gains in the Senate will make it even more difficult for Gronstal to hold off the measure.

In a joint statement, the justices thanked the Iowans who supported them for another term.

“Your support shows that many Iowans value fair and impartial courts,” the statement said.

“We also want to acknowledge and thank all the Iowans, from across the political spectrum and from different walks of life, who worked tirelessly over the past few months to defend Iowa’s high-caliber court system against an unprecedented attack by out-of-state special interest groups.”

Carolyn Jenison, executive director of the LGBT-rights group One Iowa, told the Des Moines Register that the “courageous justices who recognized the freedom to marry in Iowa fell victim to a perfect storm of electoral discontent and out-of-state special interest money.”

“In the months and weeks ahead, we can expect renewed attempts to overturn the freedom to marry and write discrimination into the Iowa Constitution,” Jenison continued. “It will take a concerted and collective effort on the part of pro-equality Iowans to respond to these attacks and defend our liberties. We hope you’ll join us.”

Visit us online www.sgn.org

Courtesy cnn

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

Arkansas school board member officially resigns over anti-Gay post

Clint McCance

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Clint McCance, the school district member in Arkansas who came under fire for an anti-Gay post on a social networking site, formally submitted his resignation to the school board November 1, according to the Midland School District superintendent Dean Stanley.

The board unanimously voted at a special meeting to accept McCance’s resignation, said Stanley.

The media firestorm began when McCance, then vice president of the school district in Pleasant Plains, wrote on his personal Facebook page that he wanted Gay people to commit suicide.

McCance used the terms “Queer” and “fag” repeatedly, promised to disown his

own children if they were Gay, and stated that he enjoys “that fact that [Gay people] give each other AIDS and die.”

“I’m sorry I’ve hurt people with my comments,” McCance told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on October 28. “I’m sorry I made those ignorant comments and hurt people on a broad spectrum.”

Though he disapproves of homosexuality, McCance said, “I give everyone a chance and try to love everyone.”

His Facebook rant drew criticism from education officials in his district and at the state level. The Midland School District immediately denounced the posting.

The state Department of Education had said it was “dismayed to see that a school board official would post something of this insensitive nature on a public forum like Facebook.”

Peppercorn Bistro holds South Seattle Mixer

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer

South Seattle Mixer November 8 Peppercorn Bistro & Bar Peppercorn Bistro & Bar (34029 Hoyt Rd. SW), a new Gay-owned and Gay-managed restaurant in Federal Way, is holding a private LGBT mixer on Monday, November 8, to bring together LGBT people from Seattle, Tacoma, and Federal Way. According to the mixer’s organizer, Ulises Chavez, it’s about bridging a gap. “[I’m holding the event] so we can start having more interaction between the LGBT community in Seattle and down in Federal Way and Tacoma,” Chavez, who lives south of Seattle, told SGN. Chavez, who works with both Gay People in Seattle (GPIS) and Seattle Out and Proud (SOAP), partnered with the Gaydybunch, an informal LGBT social group, to hold the event and take the first step in creating a

November 5, 2010

more tangible connection between the Gay communities in Seattle and Federal Way/ Tacoma.

“It’s turned out to be a really great partnership,” said Chavez. “We’re really combining the resources that we have and building that network and relationship.”

Peppercorn is opening their doors on their day off to host the private mixer, in order to meet the LGBT community that surrounds them.

A full bar (non-hosted) and free appetizers will be available, and Chavez is asking that everyone bring their business cards for a raffle. The mixer will run from 6-9 p.m.

“We’re really hoping to get a lot of people from Seattle,” Chavez told SGN, “because we really think this is a great way to network … and start building those friendships.”

Seattle Gay News

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10 Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

TrAnSiT

Town hAll meeTing

The 12Th Avenue STewArdShip CommiTTee enCourAgeS everyone To ATTend A Town hAll meeTing To diSCuSS TrAnSiT wiTh King CounTy CounCilmember lArry phillipS.

TueSdAy, november 9

6:30-8 p.m.

SeATTle univerSiTy CAmpion bAllroom, 914 eAST JefferSon ST. meTro iS fACing A CumulATive defiCiT of more ThAn A billion dollArS over The nexT five yeArS, And expeCTS To CuT more ThAn 600,000 hourS of buS ServiCe in reSponSe. neArly one-fifTh of All buS ServiCe mAy be eliminATed. To reSpond To ThiS CriSiS, The CounCil And exeCuTive Convened A regionAl TASK forCe of TrAnSiT STAKeholderS And experTS To exAmine The CurrenT SySTem And reCommend mAJor ChAngeS. AfTer Seven monThS of worK, The TASK forCe iS reAdy To preSenT Their findingS. ThiS Town hAll meeTing will be your ChAnCe To heAr direCTly from TASK forCe memberS on whAT They Are reCommending.

AfTer The briefing, you will hAve A ChAnCe To provide publiC TeSTimony on whAT you ThinK Should be done.

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News 11

12 Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

photos by james whitely

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News 13

14 Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

November 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News 15

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Openly Gay Irish senator David Norris will become the next president of Ireland, if opinion polls are accurate.

The election will take place in the fall of 2011.

If Norris is elected, he will be the first openly Gay Irish president. He is now the first openly Gay man to be elected to any public office in Ireland.

He was first elected to the Irish senate in 1987, representing the University of Dublin, where he is a literature professor specializing in James Joyce.

If he is elected president, he would succeed Mary McAleese, who made headlines recently when she declined to be the 2011 grand marshall of New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade because it excludes an Irish LGBT organization.

Norris’ sexual orientation is not the only unusual thing about him.

In a country that is 87% Roman Catholic, Norris is an Anglican.

He has strongly condemned both Irish republicanism and the pro-British Ulster Unionists.

Norris denounced the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising as “terrorists” when most Irish think of them as martyrs.

Nevertheless, two recent opinion polls have put him ahead of all other possible candidates.

Norris did not plan to seek the presidency, but was persuaded to run when he discov-

ered that more than 1,000 people had signed on to a Facebook campaign calling for his election.

“I’ve started very early in response to the Facebook campaign,” Norris told The Guardian newspaper.

“One of the Irish Sunday newspapers rang me up and said, ‘Do you know that nearly 1,000 people have signed on Facebook calling for you to stand for the presidency?’ It was Facebook which started all this, absolutely.

“I think it is very important to use modern technology. It helped get President Obama to win the election.”

Although Ireland once had the reputation of being the most conservative of Catholic countries, it now bans discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation. Polls indicate a majority of the Irish favor full civil marriage for same-sex couples.

Norris believes his sexuality will not be an issue even in the more conservative rural parts of Ireland.

“It’s a non-issue,” he says. “It’s a nonissue with the people of Ireland. Some may have some concerns, and I hope I am able to address them.

“I have just had a major radio interview in Dublin and the interviewer asked me about it, and people came on the programme to say ‘Will you get out of that? What does it matter! We want someone with vision ... someone who is independent.’

“The only person who said they would not vote [for] me live on air was a Gay man. He

Fear fuels hatred

by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer Hatred – not being Gay – is the sickness!

Weekly, we are still hearing about the suicides of young GLBTQ men and women who are being bullied so badly that they are choosing to die because they are feeling hopeless and unsupported. There is a new movement afoot: the “It Gets Better” project, which is reaching out and providing hope and saving lives through the stories of people who have been bullied and are now glad they made it through. The message is sound! The support for these adolescents is strong!

The hope has to be paired with addressing the core issue: the hatred that is being fueled by fear. If we don’t address these two things together, then we will still lose valuable young men and women. Fear is such a primal, powerful emotion that it usually overrides logic and hope, and it has to be faced head-on.

What is fear? Fear is an intense emotion that comes from the very primitive parts of our brains. Once fear kicks in, it takes over the higher-functioning cognitive processes that are associated with reason and logic.

People who are under the influence of fear are unable to use their reason and think clearly. We know this because of many examples of people exhibiting very extreme behaviors when they are afraid – behaviors that they do not usually exhibit.

Most of the fear and resulting hatred that certain people have towards GLBTQ men, women, and adolescents originates in igno-

rance and the perpetuation of myths about what it means to be GLBTQ. They make what we do the sickness, justifying it by saying “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” and “You have sex with men.” They attempt to reduce being GLBTQ to a sexual act, which it is not! From that, they attempt to equate Gay with sexual perversion and crimes like pedophilia. Hateful people say that there is a movement to convert other young adults into the ranks of being Gay (not possible!).

For some, the worst fear that is perpetuated is that of eternal damnation. A young Gay adolescent who gets these messages is going to experience fear about him/herself – who wants to be a pervert or burn in hell for eternity? They become afraid that there is something wrong with them. They have tremendous fear of the targeting they are experiencing and that it will never get better.

In that amount of fear, they are hopeless and ashamed and not in touch with logic, reason, or hope. Their peers and other adults also become fearful (based on the same misunderstandings and lies) and turn those fears into rage and bullying, all because they don’t understand what GLBTQ is. All because a few skilled leaders (some political and some religious) know how to tap into the fear of certain people who are easily affected by their fear and use it as a motivator.

Being GLBTQ isn’t a choice. It isn’t a sickness or perversion. It doesn’t lead to pedophilia. It is an emotional identity – an emotional orientation. Men and women who are Gay fall in love with other like-oriented men and women. Romantic love – another powerful emotion! I’m Gay because I expe-

16 Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

south dublin libraries

Gay man likely to become next president of Ireland

Openly Gay Irish Senator David Norris

rang in to say it was great that a Gay man was standing for the presidency but that I was far too left-wing for him. I respect that man because he has parked what he sees as an irrelevant issue and instead goes on to analyze what I stand for.”

Asked if he was worried about tabloids making an issue of his sexual orientation during the campaign, Norris told reporters “I have lived a decent, respectable life, and there has been no scandal.”

Apart from his sexual orientation, Norris is at odds with the Catholic hierarchy on

many social issues.

He says it is a “disgrace” that Ireland has no clear rules on stem cell research, for example. But Norris says he would be “very surprised” if the hierarchy attacked him during the campaign.

“The church has become wiser, and there have been so many difficulties for the church over the scandals,” he said, referring to the revelations of child abuse in Catholic institutions. “So I don’t think the church is likely to intervene and condemn me as an individual. Those days are gone.”

rience romantic love towards another man. I was born this way. I have zero doubt about that! Straight men experience romantic love towards straight women. Physical intimacy is an extension of romantic love and is universally accepted as such. Sex is healthy and normal in consenting adult relationships.

Being Gay cannot be reduced to the act of sex. Every sociologist, theologian, anthropologist, psychologist, doctor, and teacher knows that no individual can be reduced to any act. Human identity, actions, and emotions are complex and multi-faceted.

In my opinion, the message has to be “It gets better” and “Being GLBTQ is a healthy, normal way of being.” There has to be focus and emphasis on how the vast majority of those of us who are GLBTQ men and women are loving, law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who have friends, family, relationships, and rewarding careers. We contribute to the larger society in positive ways. This message is important for GLBTQ adolescents and their peers. These adolescents need support from their peers. Their peers need to understand the reality of what being Gay is so they can support their friends.

Any adolescent or adult who puts their fears aside temporarily and looks at the facts with logic and reason will see that the myths that fuel the fear have no basis.

Movements that support GLBTQ rights need to put pressure on individuals and organizations that condone reparative therapy approaches to “convert” GLBTQ men and women. There is nothing about this process that is right or healthy or can be supported by the principle of “do no harm.” These therapists and approaches do harm! These perspectives operate from a premise that there is something wrong with being LGBTQ. The focus of these therapies is about not acting out sexually (again, attempting to reduce being Gay to an act of sex).

Most people feel – and this was recently supported in a CNN poll – that the hatred and fear towards GLBTQ people comes from certain extreme religious individuals and their organizations. Some of these people will never come out of their fear. For others, I invite you to willingly suspend your fear and get to know me, my friends, family, and other GLBTQ people, and then make a

decision based on facts and real experiences.

See if my reality matches the myths you’ve been hearing about.

A minute number of references in religious documents are used to fuel intense fear and justify extreme hatred. Most theologians attest to the fact that every religious document is a living document. It reflects the period of time it is in while timelessly maintaining the basic principles of love, respect, acceptance, and tolerance. When more religious leaders who are stuck in their fear recognize this process and face the pathology of their hatred, they might be able to transform their fear and trigger changes in themselves and others that promote happiness and life rather than the tragic opposites.

Finally, we’ve got to help young GLBTQ men and women address their fears that fuel their self-hatred. The only way to do this is by giving them an accurate perspective about what being GLBTQ is – a full definition which includes the emotional orientation. We have to support them in the present while giving them hope for the future.

Parents, teachers, friends, and clergy of young GLBTQ men and women, you, too, have to do your own personal work about your fears and misperceptions about GLBTQ people so that you are not giving these young men and women the wrong messages about themselves and taking away their hope and desire to live. I can’t image most of you would feel good knowing you’ve directly contributed to the suicide of a young adult because you couldn’t face your own fears and tackle your own misperceptions.

When I was a teenager, I wanted to die. I thought of suicide a lot. I’m glad I didn’t.

I love being Gay. I’m loved by friends and family. I’m not sick, nor am I a pervert, and I’m not going to burn in hell! Gay isn’t the sickness; fear and hatred are!

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.

Celebrating 37 Years!

In wake of suicides, Gay Megachurch pastor actor Chris Villa tells story announces he’s Gay

Chris Villa

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer There has been an intense response from the LGBT community in the wake of the recent LGBT youth suicides. After the launch of the “It Gets Better” media campaign, more and more LGBT adults are reminiscing about their childhood years and telling their stories.

Openly Gay actor Chris Villa is one of those people. For the last two months, Villa has been touring Los Angeles high schools, appearing on radio and news interviews to share his story of how he overcame a Gay bashing that left him near death, and became an accomplished actor with such credits as CSI and The Shield.

Villa recalls that he was at a party in Tampa FL, with other high school students; most of them not from his high school.

“I went back to the car to lie down and some guys yelled out ‘Faggot!’ … I just kept walking. … The next thing I know, I’m being dragged into a van and my face is being beat.

I had lacerations on my throat from being choked. … [There were] four or five of them … they drove me to an area and dropped me off,” Villa told SGN.

photos courtesy Church in the now

Courtesy chris villa

A good Samaritan found Villa and took him to a nearby hospital.

“The next thing I knew, my mom and my brother were looking over me,” said Villa.

“That was kind of my coming out experience. It wasn’t talked about back then.”

During his six-week recovery, he contemplated suicide, but instead reached out to his family and guidance counselors for help.

“I didn’t say I got beaten up ‘cause I was Gay,” Villa told SGN, “I just said I got beaten up. … I started lifting weights so that nothing like that would ever happen to me again.”

The experience still haunted him, however, and to cope, he turned to drugs and alcohol.

“I’ve overcome a lot of my own stuff to get this far in my life,” Villa said recently. “I relive my own personal horror every time something like this [youth suicide] happens.”

Now, Villa – who is sober and in recovery for both drugs and alcohol – helps Gay youth by talking to them about how he survived.

“I’m around high school students and Gay and Transgender youth all the time … and their sexuality is really being tested right now,” said Villa.

“Life for me is good today, but I know many kids are struggling to come out. I was there. I was beaten and left for dead. I understand what [suicide victim] Tyler [Clementi] went through. I’m grateful I survived,” said Villa.

Villa was spurred to take action after his stepfather passed away. He was looking through boxes when he came across the photo that was taken of him after the beating.

“I kind of blocked it for a while. … I’m so used to seeing myself in headshots … but this was so different. A flood of tears came out of me,” Villa told SGN. From soap operas to Gatorade commercials to performing with Mariah Carey, Villa has come a long way. His experience as a youth has, in some ways, defined him, but he hasn’t let it stop him.

“I don’t think there’s enough going on in the school system; I don’t think there is enough going on with guidance counselors.

There is just not enough going on to show that kids are different,” Villa told SGN, “and that’s why I’m doing this.”

Pastor Jim Swilley (inset) and Church in the Now

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Georgia megachurch pastor Jim Swilley says he’s prepared to start over if his congregation flees because he told them he was Gay. Swilley, 52, founded Church in the Now in Rockdale County, Georgia, 25 years ago.

The twice-married father of four said he has known he was Gay since he was a little boy.

Swilley said he came out of the closet because the recent rash of Gay teen suicides motivated him to do so.

“As a father, think about your 16- or 17-year-old killing themselves. I thought somebody needed to say something,” an emotional Swilley said.

Now divorced, Swilley’s ex-wife Debye

– who says she knew he was Gay from the start of their relationship – encouraged him to come forward.

Swilley says much of his congregation has been supportive of his decision to live as an open Gay man. But some responses on Christian-based websites have been negative. “This man is sick and twisted,” wrote one commenter, while another called him “an instrument of the devil.”

Swilley has brushed aside the criticism.

“I know all the hateful stuff that’s being written about me online, whatever. To think about saving a teenager, yeah, I’ll risk my reputation for that.”

Swilley said he was going to take it one day at a time, but if there was a major exodus from his church, he promised he’d start over.

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Seattle Gay News 17

Happy birthday, Robert Mapplethorpe!

Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation

Seattle Democrat Jim McDermott is coastculture war.

The installation of The Perfect Moment in ing to an easy victory with more than 82% Cincinnati resulted in the unsuccessful pros- of the vote. ecution of the Contemporary Arts Center of In state legislative races, Democrats may Cincinnati and its director, Dennis Barrie, lose some seats in suburban swing districts but will probably keep their majorities in on obscenity charges.

The Perfect Moment exhibition also fig- both houses of the legislature. ured in similar controversies in 1989 at the Democrats have a pre-election majority of 63-35 in the House and 32-17 in the Senate.

Corcoran Art Gallery in D.C. In 1998, British authorities attempted to Since senators are elected to four-year prosecute a student at the University of Cen- terms, 25 senate seats are up for grabs this tral England on obscenity charges because year.

As of Thursday evening, Democrats will she included Mapplethorpe photos as illuslikely win 12 races and Republicans 10, with trations in an art paper.

Mapplethorpe was also criticized by some three more incumbent Democrats leading artists of color who saw his sexually explicit their opponents by very narrow margins.

Sen. Ed Murray (D-43), chair of the Senphotos of black men as exploitative.

Before his death, Mapplethorpe founded ate Democratic Caucus, said Democrats the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation to could lose three or four Senate seats. Nevermanage his estate. The foundation has con- theless, Murray said he was encouraged that tributed millions of dollars to fund HIV/ Democrats gained votes on Wednesday as counting continued in some close races.

AIDS research.

“It’s a good trend,” he said. “It continues to appear that we’re bucking the national trend.”

Even in a worst-case scenario, the new Senate will still be controlled by Democrats continued from cover 28-21.

On the House side, all 98 seats are up for election.

Democrats lead in 52 races and Republicans in 43, with three too close to call. In be available for another week.

According to King County election offi- all three, incumbent Democrats are running cials, 71% of eligible voters returned their only slightly ahead of Republican challengers. ballots, topping the predicted 68%.

All openly Gay legislators are heading toOfficials added that they expect to have counted somewhat less than three-quarters ward reelection, except for Joe McDermott, who is leaving the state Senate for a seat on of the ballots by Friday, November 5.

Murray appears to have won upwards of the King County Council.

Sen. Ed Murray (D-43) and Reps. Jamie 67% of all the King County votes.

In several other counties, she increased Pedersen (D-43) and Dave Upthegrove (Dher share of the vote as ballot counting con- 33) were unopposed.

Rep. Marko Liias (D-21) is winning a tinued – even in counties being carried by Rossi – indicating that the Democrats’ last- tough campaign against Tea Party Republican Elizabeth Scott, and Rep. Jim Moeller minute get-out-the-vote push succeeded.

The high turnout helped Murray overcome (D-49) is also leading conservative nursingmillions of dollars of outside money poured home operator Craig Riley.

All are Democrats. into the race to help Rossi.

They will now be joined in the legislature She was reportedly one of Karl Rove’s prime targets in this election cycle. One of by fellow Democrat Laurie Jinkins, who is the other Rove targets – Senate Majority winning her race in Pierce County’s 27th Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) – also pulled District.

Jinkins would be the legislature’s first out a victory. The third, Alexi Giannoulias open Lesbian member. of Illinois, was defeated.

In another race of interest to SGN readIn the 2nd Congressional District north of Seattle, incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen ers, Democratic incumbent Dawn Morrell holds on to a slim – but slowing increasing (D-25) holds a razor-thin 100-vote lead – 648-vote lead over right-wing Republican over Republican Hans Zeiger. As with other Democratic candidates, her lead is increaschallenger John Koster.

Larsen had trailed Koster most of election ing as the count continues.

Zeiger became notorious this past sumnight.

“It’s still too close to call, but we certainly mer, when HorsesAss blog revealed that he like the way the numbers are trending,” said was the author of a number of anti-Gay and anti-choice blog posts.

Brooke Davis, Larsen’s political director.

In the one contested Supreme Court race, Larsen beat Koster by almost 12,000 votes anti-Gay incumbent Richard Sanders is a in their first face-off in 2000.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Tea Par- little over 14,000 votes ahead of challenger ty Republican Jaime Herrera leads Demo- Charlie Wiggins, but Wiggins is closing the crat Denny Heck in the race to replace retir- gap as King County ballots are counted.

Open Lesbian Donna Tucker is winning ing Democrat Brian Baird.

In other Congressional races, all the in- her race for District Court Judge in northeast King County. cumbents are winning.

election

Robert Mapplethorpe “Self Portrait, 1982”

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer November 4 was the birthday of photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

He was born in 1949 in Floral Park, Queens, and died of complications of AIDS on March 9, 1989.

He lived and worked in New York City all his life.

Mapplethorpe was known for highly stylized black and white portraits and photos of nude men. The frank sexual nature of his nudes was unmistakable, and led him into controversies over public funding of art.

Mapplethorpe lived with two well-known partners at different stages in his life.

From 1967 until 1974, he lived with singer and artist Patti Smith. She later wrote about the relationship in her 2010 book Just Kids.

Mapplethorpe eventually came out as Gay, but the two remained close until his death.

In 1973, Mapplethorpe met art collector and museum curator Sam Wagstaff. The two lived together from 1974 until Wagstaff’s death from complications of AIDS in 1987.

While Mapplethorpe regarded Wagstaff as something of a mentor, he also led Wagstaff to view photography as a vital artistic medium. By the time of his death, Wagstaff had accumulated a collection of contemporary photography valued at $5 million.

Mapplethorpe’s work – especially the X Portfolio series, including bondage and fetish references – was highly controversial.

After Mapplethorpe’s death, X Portfolio was included in The Perfect Moment exhibition funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Although his work had been regularly displayed in publicly funded exhibitions, the American Family Association used this exhibition as a pretext to denounce government support for “obscene” art.

As a result, Mapplethorpe became something of a cause célèbre for both sides of the

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November 5, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Voters say, “No new taxes!”

Governor says, “Everything’s on the chopping block!”

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer While Democrats will remain in control of the state legislature, they may wish that someone else was in charge when they try to solve the state’s ongoing budget problems.

Washington state voters certainly didn’t help them on Election Day. This year, voters killed a proposal for a state income tax on individuals earning more than $200,000 or couples earning more than $400,000 per year.

I-1098 would have brought in an estimated $1.7 billion in additional revenue, according to the Washington State Budget and Policy Center. About 45% of that total would have been allocated to education, 21% for property tax relief, 19% for healthcare funding, and 15% for tax credits to businesses.

Nevertheless, voters turned it down two to one.

Voters also killed a tax on candy and soda enacted by the legislature this year. I-1107 was estimated to cost the state $352 million, and local governments $83 million over five years.

I-1107 also passed by almost two to one.

Finally, voters passed the latest Tim Eyman production – I-1053.

An attempt to revive Eyman’s I-960, which was passed by voters in 2006 and suspended by the legislature in February, the measure requires a two-thirds supermajority in both houses of the legislature to increase taxes.

Under state law, the legislature may suspend or repeal initiatives at least two years after they pass. I-960 was suspended so the legislature could vote new taxes – including the candy and soda tax – to cope with a projected $2.6 billion budget shortfall.

Although opponents argued that the measure would make it impossible for the legislature to raise revenues to balance the state budget, voters approved I-1053 by almost two to one.

A glum Gov. Chris Gregoire said on election night that voters had created a very difficult situation for state officials.

“I wish the voters had helped us out,” Gregoire said.

“Everything in on the chopping block,” she added, even Washington Basic Health and higher education.

“I don’t have a path forward, to be honest with you. I am heart wrenched over the fact that we are cutting hospice care and children’s health care and education,” said Gregoire. “We are going to have to work together in a bipartisan way if we are going to get some solutions.”

Absent the ability to raise taxes to balance the budget as she is required by law to do, Gregoire said, all state programs are in danger of cuts.

“We are currently closing a $520 million budget gap and going into the next biennium we face at least a $4.5 billion shortfall,” Gregoire said in a statement the day after the election. “The additional cuts we will have to make due to this loss of revenue will have significant consequences.

“I am committed to transforming the budget as Washington moves forward. We know we can no longer afford many of the programs and services that Washingtonians rely on. I look forward to working with elected leaders of both parties, as well as the public, on finding solutions to our budget crisis.”

Legislators echoed the governor’s concerns, but said there might be a way out of

the crisis if voters will consent to raise taxes for specific programs.

Sen. Ed Murray (D-43), chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said that voters don’t want new taxes, but he believes they still want services the state provides.

“What I worry about is we are in danger of cutting in such a way that we’ll hurt the economy of this state” by cuts to education, Murray said.

He added that he’d like to see the Legislature go back to voters next year with tax proposal initiatives to fund specific state services.

Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) told SGN that the legislature finds itself “at the point where things that are mandatory take up the whole budget – things that are mandated by the constitution or by federal requirements.”

“The math is bad,” Pedersen continued.

“There’s not much question of adjusting the budget. We’ll have to put together a proposal to put to the voters on how to avoid the worst cuts.”

“I’ve never been under the illusion that this would be an easy job,” Marko Liias (D21) told SGN. “For the legislature, there are very, very, very few options.”

“We have to govern with the values we expressed in the campaign – with compassion.

We have to make sure that the most vulnerable are cared for,” Liias added.

Pedersen agreed. He was glad Democrats retained their majority in the legislature, he told SGN – even in spite of the challenges – because, “Honestly, there is a big difference in values” between Democrats and Republicans.

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November 5, 2010

Seattle Gay News 19

fraud

continued from cover and completely wipe out the business accounts.

“I am seriously worried about the future of our business without the support of our community,” Walsh told the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, which first broke the story last week. “We have been growing by leaps and bounds since I took over in June – not only in our new menu and food quality, but also in our day to day operation. It is my hope that we have touched enough lives over the years to be able to count on our beloved customers for their support and continued patronage in this difficult time.”

Over 100 people have reported fraudulent activity within the past two weeks. Each report received by the Seattle Police Department and financial institutions in the area all contained the same theme: The victims had all been patrons of Capitol Hill/Broadway businesses. This prompted a major investigation into the subject.

The United States Secret Service is leading the investigation, with the Seattle Police Department providing assistance.

According to David A. Iacovetti, the agent heading the Seattle office of the Secret Service’s Electronic Crimes Task Force, the immediate threat to credit and bank accounts on Capitol Hill has been contained. In addition, he said that it is too early to release details of how the information was accessed.

“In the newest Seattle case, police and Secret Service investigators say they’ve identified multiple points of compromise, and the businesses involved have upgraded their anti-virus software so the fraud cannot continue,” Iacovetti told KOMO news. “The Electronic Crimes Task Force is pursuing leads on suspects, but the businesses involved are not being identified at this time.”

Both the Secret Service and Seattle Police Department say that no “skimming” device was used, nor did any employees of Capitol Hill businesses record or sell patrons’ credit card information.

“A skimming device is something that is put over a card reader that steals the information unbeknownst to the user,” said Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, a spokesperson for the Seattle Police Department, laying to rest rumors that such a device was used in the current rash of incidents on the Hill. “This type of fraud can happen at an ATM, gas station, or parking meter, but that is not what happened here.”

Investigators have yet to say how the account information was breached at Broadway Grill. Action Systems, Inc., the Grill’s point of sale (POS) service provider, discussed the likelihood of how the criminals got a hold of the important accounting data: “Since the release of Restaurant Manager v15.1 in 2006, all software designed by ASI has been certified as fully compliant with the Data Security Standards of the Payment Card Industry [PCI]. … Restaurants using Restaurant Manager v15.0 or earlier have been notified repeatedly that they must up-

grade to a more current version of the software before they will be able to operate as a PCI-compliant business,” Action Systems, Inc., told CHS Blog. “It is the restaurant’s responsibility to act on these repeated warnings.”

In addition, the POS service provider said it is important to note that there are many requirements for PCI compliance that do not relate at all to POS software – in other words, restaurants need to adhere to all PCI requirements in order to ensure the protection of sensitive consumer information.

According to Jeanie Walker, a representative for Seattle-based POS provider Dinerware, account breaches can happen from the technology side of the process, or from the restaurant’s own practices involving payment systems.

“There are 12 steps to being compliant,” Walker told CHS Blog. “Five are in the software, seven are on the restaurant side.”

She said that holes on the restaurant side can range from failing to make the Wi-Fi isolated and secure on a separate network from the point of sale system to storing credit card information incorrectly. Still, the software side can break down, too.

Tom Willis, a senior fraud analyst at Javelin Research, says the Seattle wave has the earmarks of a software hack. He told CHS Blog the fraud is “indicative of the smashand-grab-type mentality,” during which the objective is to net the largest amount of money in the quickest time frame, “and get out before you leave too many clues about who you are.”

That may be exactly what a local Seattlebased gang has done. As of yet, neither the Secret Service nor the Seattle Police Department has reported any suspects in the case.

In truth, the number of victims might easily exceed the number reported because not everyone who was contacted by their financial institution regarding fraud has filed a report with the Seattle Police Department.

“The fact that card charges are being made illegally is something we would investigate,” said Sgt. Whitcomb about the department’s involvement in the case. “This is a federal crime.”

Though the Seattle police are not the lead agency on investigating this wave, they continue to be on the front lines by collecting reports from the public. If you have found that your account was compromised, contact your financial institution and then report the fraud to the Seattle Police Department at (206) 625-5011.

“If people do nothing else, we want them to regularly check their bank statements to protect themselves from being defrauded and paying for someone else’s charges,” said Whitcomb. “Report fraud so we can get the info to the Secret Service.”

mcdermott continued from cover

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20 Seattle Gay News

November 5, 2010

than his sexual orientation. “I am proud to be the first member of our community to serve on the King County Council. I think it is noteworthy that it wasn’t an issue in the campaign; that I could run on what I feel is my experience and the values I bring to the

job,” he said. “The 8th is the kind of place where you can run a campaign on the issues, and that the fact that I am an openly Gay man is really a non-issue shows how far we have come. It is a positive statement about King County.”

Josh Friedes, executive director of Equal Rights Washington (ERW), said the election of McDermott will have important ramifications for the LGBT community and its allies. “There is nothing like being able to speak from the first-person perspective,” he said. “It just changes the dynamic, especially when someone like Joe McDermott, who has a reputation of being so popular among his colleagues and who has lived his life so openly and with such integrity, is elected.

“This is going to be an education for the King County Council which – generally speaking – is very good on LGBT civil rights already. More importantly, it is going to be a bully pulpit for Joe to be able to talk about the needs and the lives of LGBT individuals and families.”

ERW, according to Friedes, had expended great effort and money to ensure the election of pro-LGBT politicians and progressive ballot measures, but came up short due to the shifting political climate. “We appear to have very easily elected our first openly Gay man to the King County Council. All openly Gay legislators were reelected.

An out Lesbian candidate in Tacoma was elected. In that respect, it is very good for the LGBT community,” he concluded.

“However, it is not so good that a lot of our allies appear to have lost their reelection bids. That will make it much harder to pass LGBT civil rights legislation. It will make it harder to protect the AIDS/HIV budget and the services that are so important to the Gay community.

“One of the great sadnesses of mine as the executive director of Equal Rights Washington is that a lot of ballot measures that could have helped the revenue picture were either voted down or – in the case of 1053 – was approved. We have a real crisis in Washington state right now, as well as in King County. The bottom line is that unless we find a way to increase revenues, we are not going to be able to provide basic services that are essential: HIV/AIDS services and prevention, mental health services, substance abuse services, healthcare, aid to the homeless, and senior services.”

The projected deficit for King County – the difference between revenues and costs – is $60 million for 2011. Although the Council will have approved the budget by the time McDermott takes office, he will be responsible for implementing the cuts and measures needed to balance the budget. McDermott said he plans to preserve essential services but acknowledged tough decisions lay ahead.

“The county is dealing with a significant budget deficit – budget gap – and they are working on closing that now. I’ll join the council at a time when they would have just adopted that,” he said. “I’m going to work to ensure we do that as efficiently and diligently as we can while still providing the services we need to provide to the county: public safety, human services, and Metro Transit.”

Councilmember Larry Phillips told the SGN that he has confidence McDermott is prepared for the task ahead. “There is a lot of work to do, so we are anxious to have him join us. He is a veteran of local politics and state politics, so he knows what he is doing and it won’t take him long to be very productive,” he said. “I think it is going to be great having him with us. He is a very strong progressive and we welcome that at the County Council. I think it is going to make for a more productive County Council having him there helping us to get the job done.”

State Representative Dave Upthegrove, who served with McDermott in the state Legislature, agreed. “I think he will do as well as anyone could. He has worked in the state House as well as the Senate. He had been through change before,” he said.

“He’s a bright guy. I think he will do fine.

King County needs to do a lot of reforming to save money. I hope Joe can be a voice for what progressive reform looks like.”

In the 34th Legislative District, Sharon Nelson ran unopposed to take McDermott’s

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Senate seat, which includes West Seattle, Burien, and Maury and Vashon islands. Joe Fitzgibbon, a former aide to Nelson, won over Mike Heavey, a staff member to Drago on the Council. State Representative Eileen Cody retains her seat in the House.

“Things are rock solid in the 34th and we look forward to working with them and moving forward with them on a number of bills,” said Friedes. “We have Sharon Nelson, a champion of LGBT civil rights, moving up into the Senate seat. Of course, Eileen Cody will be returning as a state representative. She has always been wonderful on LGBT civil rights. Right now, it looks like Joe Fitzgibbon will be our new state rep. He is passionate about LGBT civil rights. Of course the other candidate in that race – Mike Heavey – was also wonderful on LGBT civil rights and had previously worked for the Human Rights Campaign.”

Fitzgibbon sought to assure the LGBT community on Tuesday night that a voice

for LGBT civil rights would not be lost by the election of McDermott to the Council.

“The LGBT community has a lot of good friends in Olympia and I’m excited to be a straight ally for the community,” he said.

“Losing Joe in the Senate just means that we are going to have one more great champion of LGBT civil rights in local government.”

dadt

continued from cover their families don’t care whether Gays serve openly and think DADT could be done away with.

Details on the findings were still scarce, but in conversations with troops and veterans, the idea repeatedly emerges that younger recruits – who make up a bulk of combat troops in Afghanistan and Iraq – are indif-

ferent, while older ones – including many officers – don’t want the ban lifted.

Many veterans of the current wars use terms like “archaic” and “old-school” to describe the viewpoint they see from higherranking officers and others who support the ban.

Some say that despite the ban, they knew they were serving with Gay soldiers, but the topic was simply not discussed and rarely created a problem.

The survey, according to news reports, found just a small minority of troops that object strongly to the idea of serving with Gays and said that they would quit the military if the policy changed.

Last month brought a flurry of rapid-fire changes to DADT. A Riverside, California federal judge’s ruling on October 12 briefly lifted the ban on the open service of Gays, apparently taking the White House and the military by surprise.

Two days later, the Justice Department

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appealed the ruling, with Obama repeating his position that Congress – not a judge – should change the law.

The next day, the Pentagon put a hold on discharging openly Gay troops, but then changed its mind after an October 20 decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that temporarily kept the ban in place.

Then, on November 1, the Ninth Circuit extended the life of DADT when a court panel, in a 2-1 vote, granted the U.S. government’s request for a stay of a district-court injunction that blocked the government from enforcing the policy.

The new stay will last for the duration of the government’s appeal.

President Barack Obama promised to end DADT in his 2008 campaign for the White House. Backed by a Democrat-controlled Congress, it looked like the change was in motion in February when Secretary Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it was time to let Gays serve openly. But momentum slowed, and with court battles raging and Republicans in Congress who strongly oppose repealing the law, the future of Gays in the military is uncertain at best.

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