Issue 45 Volume 37
Celebrating 36 Years!
FRIDAY November 6, 2009 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
tour de life p. 4
art wolfe p. 25
earshot jazz p. 29
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
REFERENDUM 71 APPROVED Washingtonians vote to keep equality a state value james whitely
both said that because Referendum November 3. “By forcing the ref71 made the ballot, Washingto- erendum, Protect Marriage Washnians now have a greater under- ington, the Family Policy Institute, This week, Washington voters standing of the challenges faced and the National Organization for approved ReferMarriage have endum 71, uplikely done holding a state quite a lot to adlaw that provides vance the cause important legal of full equality protections and for Lesbian and grants the same Gay families rights and responin Washington sibilities of marState.” riage to same-sex Voters across and senior regthe state, she istered domestic said, listened partners as marto the personal ried couples. stories of Gay On election and Lesbian night, Referenfamilies, and dum 71 was toutthe challenges ed as too close they face. “It to call. As SGN was profoundgoes to press, the ly wrong for Associated Press someone to try Crowds cheered as the results of Tuesday’s election came in has declared victo eliminate the tory for the Approve Referendum by Gay and Lesbian families and rights of others,” she added. 71 Campaign, making Washington the legal protections they lack. “Based on returns so far, they State the first state in the nation to “Were it not for the referendum, are sending a resounding message: support domestic partnership by the law would have just quietly we want to see all families treated popular vote. gone into effect in July,” Levinson equally under the law,” Levinson Approve Referendum 71 Cam- told a crowd of supporters gathered said. “We believe the end result of paign Manager Josh Friedes, and at the Approve Referendum 71 Campaign Chair Anne Levinson Campaign party on Capitol Hill on see r-71 page 8
shaun knittel
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer
Approve Referendum 71 Campaign Chair Anne Levinson (l) and Pete-e embrace upon hearing the election results
Hope turned to grief as news of the passing of Maine’s Question 1 was announced
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer As Washington voters were approving Referendum 71 on Tuesday, voters in Maine were passing Question 1, which repealed that state’s same-sex marriage law. With almost all votes now counted, Question 1 has passed by a margin of 52.81% to 47.19%. “Tonight, hundreds of thousands of Maine voters stood for equality, but in the end, it wasn’t enough,” said Jesse Connolly, campaign
manager for No on 1/Protect Maine Equality. “We’re in this for the long haul,” Connolly continued. “For next week, and next month, and next year – until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family, and that will always be something worth fighting for.” In contrast, PR man Frank Schubert, whose firm Schubert Flint see maine page 17
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez testified in favor of ENDA before the US Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Thursday, November 5. This was first hearing on S 1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, in the Senate this year, and the first Senate hearing the measure legislation since 2002. It was also the first time any official of any administration has testified in the Senate on ENDA, and the first congressional testimony by Perez in his current position as head of the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division – the nation’s top civil rights law enforcement official. ENDA would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability, adding to existing federal protections for “race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” Perez told the Senate Committee his department “regularly” receives complaints about sexual
baltimore sun
Andres Duque
Setback in Maine Obama administration Voters repeal marriage equality testifies in favor of ENDA
Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, head of the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division
orientation and gender identity discrimination. ”It is painfully disappointing to have to tell these working men and women that, in the United States of America in 2009, they may well be without redress because our federal employment anti-discrimination laws either exclude them or fail clearly to protect them,” he said.
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“We cannot in good conscience stand by and watch unjustifiable discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals occur in the workplace without redress,” Perez continued. “We have come too far in our struggle for ‘equal justice under see enda page 19
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