Issue 39 Volume 37
Celebrating 36 Years!
FRIDAY September 25, 2009 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
beau is back! p. 4
Register to vote p. 3 & 7
afl-cio p. 13
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
New HIV vaccine Fight to Approve Ref. 71 trials promising ramping up to fever pitch
Dr. Anthony Fauci
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer For the first time, an experimental vaccine, RV 144, has prevented infection with the AIDS virus. According to researchers in Bangkok, Thailand, the vaccine cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31% in the world’s largest AIDS vaccine trial of more than 16,000 volunteers in the country.
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer The campaign to approve Ref. 71, which aims at keeping Washington State’s domestic partnership law, has ramped up over the past two weeks. Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST), the Gay advocacy group leading the charge, has enlisted the help of hundreds of volunteers who seek equality for all Washington families. On November 3, voters will be asked to approve the referendum, meaning they support the extended benefits for registered same-sex domestic partnerships, or reject it, meaning they do not wish to see domestic partners in Washington receive all the rights, responsibilities, and obligations granted by or imposed by state law on married couples.
CAMPAIGN UPDATE “We are delighted by the interest coming out of volunteers,” said Josh Friedes, WAFST campaign manager. “Our phone banking efforts have really improved, with hundreds of people signing up to make calls.” Additionally, he said, union see vaccine trials page 14
Lurleen
nih.gov
Col. Jerome Kim, who helped lead the study for the U.S. Army, which sponsored it with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on September 24, “It’s the first evidence that we could have a safe and effective preventive vaccine.” “It gives me cautious optimism about the possibility of improving this result,” said the institute’s director, Dr. Anthony Fauci. “But, this is not the end of the road.” Even though the benefit is modest, a marginally helpful vaccine could have a big impact. Every day, 7,500 people worldwide are newly infected with HIV; 2 million died of AIDS in 2007, the U.N. agency UNAIDS reports. The Thailand Ministry of Public Health conducted the study, which used strains of HIV common in Thailand. It is important to note that whether such a vaccine would work against other strains in the U.S., Africa or elsewhere in the
Drew, a WAFST phone bank volunteer
groups are calling their phone lists, as are many other groups – such as the Jewish Federation, one of the 186 organizations that have endorsed the campaign since May. Friedes said the bottom line is, through a WAFST estimation, “We are at 51% approve and 44% reject. That is a razor-thin margin that we need to be very, very dis-
turbed about. We need our base to vote.” He said WAFST came to 51% by conducting a poll of “likely” voters in a 2009 off-year election. “We have a base that can really grow if we can get the people who are planning not to vote, to vote,” see r-71 page 14
GSBA lunch brings Seattle Washington, D.C. and candidates to center stage the Equality March file photo
seem to be in the minority on both Following Chernin’s introduccases. With a tion, GSBA member Mona Smith month before the PLLC, led the group in a moment march, I was in of silence for Senator Ted KenD.C. to get infornedy (D-Mass.), who passed away mation and make last month. In her speech, Smith a list of events reminded attendees of the tireless for anyone atwork Kennedy did for the nation tending. What and the Gay community. I found was alThe roughly two-hour candimost a complete date forum, moderated by retired lack of knowltalk-radio host Deborah Bryant, edge on the subwas light on campaign rhetoric ject, and what and heavy on the candidates’ overlittle information whelming support for the LGBT I could gather community. The rules were simple: was given with each candidate would give a onewhat seemed to minute opening, have one minute be apathy. to answer a GSBA approved quesAccidentally tion, and one minute to close. Brycaught in the ant said candidates had not seen middle of the any of the questions in advance Conservative Tea and that there would be no rebutBagging protest tals. Congressman Jay Inslee march on SepParticipating candidates were: tember 12, I beDow Constantine and Susan gan to wonder why I hadn’t heard Hutchison, King County Ex- by Eric Andrews-Katz any progress about the upcoming ecutive; Joe Mallahan and Mike SGN Contributing Writer March for Equality with less than a McGinn, Mayor of Seattle; Tom Did you know there was an month to go. After being offended Carr and Pete Holmes, Seattle City Attorney; Richard Conlin and Da- Equality March on Washington, D.C. going on in October? Do see march page 16 see gsba page 16 you care? If so, you unfortunately
shaun knittel
Seattle Mayoral Candidate Mike McGinn
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) hosted 16 candidates for major Puget Sound political races at the Red Lion Hotel on September 23. The GSBA Candidate Forum, an 11:30 a.m. luncheon attended by 120 members, was unique in that it brought together the candidates in one place in order to address the needs
of the Seattle-area LGBT community, business and residents. The morning began with GSBA’s Executive Director Louise Chernin thanking the candidates and GSBA members for supporting the important political meeting between the politicians and LGBT Seattle business owners. Washington State Senator Joe McDermott (D) of the 34th Legislative District was in attendance, as well as City Council member Sally Clark.
Volunteers needed we need your help. Washington Families Standing Together is hosting phone banks out of the Equal Rights Washington Office in Seattle, every Monday thru Thursday. Many shifts are available, so please consider donating your time to make a difference in the lives of thousands of families across the state. Log on to: www.approve71.org for more details.