Issue 39 Volume 38
Celebrating 37 Years!
FRIDAY September 24, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
CANDIDATE FORUM p. 8 ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER p. 25
SLOTH p. 26
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Nearly one in eight urban Gay and Bi men have HIV, and almost half don’t know it. Among HIVpositive Gay and Bi men under 30, nearly two-thirds are unaware of their HIV status. Those were the astonishing conclusions of a new CDC study re-
leased September 23. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied 8,153 men who have sex with men in 21 U.S. cities participating in the 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS). NHBS monitors HIV testing, risk behaviors, and access to presee CDC page 21
On September 21, Senate Republicans blocked legislation that would have repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), the law banning Gays from serving openly in the military. The 56-43 partisan vote was a defeat for Senate Democrats and Gay rights advocates, who saw the bill as their best chance before November’s elections to overturn DADT. The Dems fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation. It also would have authorized $726 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for troops. “It is outrageous that a handful of U.S. Senators has thwarted the will of 75% of the American people by blocking the repeal of DADT,” said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), an openly Lesbian legislator. “President Obama, Defense Secretary Gates, the House of Representatives, and the court of public opinion have already determined that
Lauren Victoria Burke/WDCPIX.COM
CDC: 12% of urban DADT blocked in the Senate “It is shameful that bigotry and partisan ... politics have Gay & Bi men have subverted fairness, justice, and good government ...” HIV – 2/3 unaware
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
barring Lesbians and Gays from serving openly in the U.S. Armed Forces is not only discriminatory against this group of patriotic Americans, but it threatens our national security by depriving us of the skilled specialists we need to fight terrorism. It is shameful that
bigotry and partisan, election-year politics have subverted fairness, justice, and good government in the Senate.” Congressman Jared Polis (DColo.), an openly Gay legislator, see dadt page 20
SGN Interview Youth Suicide Prevention
34th District presents You Are Not Alone legislative candidate Joe Fitzgibbon by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
courtesy joe fitzgibbon
Joe Fitzgibbon
When state Senator Joe McDermott (D-34) decided to run for Dow Constantine’s former County Council seat, he set off a political chain reaction. Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-34) announced she would run for Mc-
far behind. Less than a week before Fitzgibbon spoke with SGN, the state’s chief economist predicted another $1.4 billion shortfall in state revenue and a $520 million budget deficit. see fitzgibbon page 20
shaun Knittel
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Dermott’s senate seat, and her legislative assistant Joe Fitzgibbon is running for Nelson’s state House seat. The 34th Legislative District includes West Seattle, Burien, White Center, and Vashon and Maury Islands. Because of Washington’s top-two primary law, Fitzgibbon is running for the seat against fellow Democrat Mike Heavey. Fitzgibbon came out of the primary some 500 votes ahead of Heavey, with two other challengers trailing
Suicide, the third-largest cause of death among teens, is a serious problem for LGBT youth. It is estimated that 30-40% of LGBT teens will attempt suicide at least once – and many of them will succeed. On September 21, the Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP) presented the premiere of You Are Not Alone, a YSPP video spotlighting the lives of three local LGBTQ youth focused on the risks for suicide, self-harm, and depression, and how to intervene with a suicidal youth. The program was held at Richard Hugo House and hosted by local drag queen Aleksa Manila. The event featured a silent auction and a $25 suggested donation, with all funds benefiting YSPP OUTloud Program, which works to reduce the rates of suicide among LGBTQ youth in Washington state. In addition to the screening, music was provided by Satellite By Night, and there was a special performance of Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone” sung by local Michael impersonator Ryan. The 11-minute You Are Not Alone followed the experiences of three different LGBTQ teens:
(l to r) Heather Carter, Senator Ed Murray, and Aleksa Manila
Blue, Megan, and Trynket. No real ipated in other ways were David, names were used so as to protect Violetta, Patrick, Ryan, Ximena, the youth from being otherwise see YSPP page 17 identified. Other youth who partic-