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The Betty Pages - February 2013 Betty’s Corner

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By Betty Desire, The Betty Pages NW Photo

In The Mix

Paradise Bellingham

Beasts of Delta Airlines

By Bridget Adams

By Marcy

By Bishoo Vrischik

Captive Genders

Why should PFLAG care about health care? Why should you?

The Comics!

Bellingham Alternative Library

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About our Contributors... Miss Betty Desire has been entertaining anyone who would listen in Bellingham for nearly 10 years, and is proprietor of The Betty Pages, the monthly publication that you are reading at this very moment. It is her hope that your perusal of the Betty Pages will enrich your life one chuckle at a time. Writer Bridget Adams currently resides in Washington State but that is always subject to change. Lucky enough to be a full-time, if poor, writer, she is most likely somewhere in front of her computer with a cup of coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Queer Film Historian Bichoo Vrishchik (Scorpio Scorpion) has published in Film Quarterly Sight and Sound, International Film Guide, Filmfare, Youth Times, and Manshots. With a BA from Pacific Lutheran College (1959) and a MA from San Francisco State College (1968), he has also taught film at Western Washington University. Naomi graduated Whatcom Community College with an Associates in Visual Communications -Graphic Design but prefers more hands on tinkering such as wire craft & random projects (of which she has many still to finish). She believes that everyone has a right to pursue their happiness as long as it doesn’t harm others

Staff Photographer John Phillip, after 40+ years of television production work John has settled down in B’ham to semi retirement. He now drives late night shuttle for WWU and has revised his love of photography. His education touched on Theology, pre-med, law enforcement, fire protection engineering and film production. John likes to keep broad horizons. “Don’t Dream It, Be It”

Betty’s Corner Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

February has arrived! The shortest month of the year. Just when you think you’ve recuperated from January February is over and spring hits! Actually I enjoy February. I have my problems with Valentines Day, being single and all, but I celebrate Ground Hog Day and that makes it all bearable. This year, as in years past I host a Ground Hog Day party. I gather friends around me and we drink Ground Hog Martinis and watch Ground Hog Day the movie staring Bill Murray. I provide noise makers and every time we hear the word “groundhog” we blow the noise makers. Every time the clock in the movie changes to 6am we take a sip of our drinks. It sounds silly, and it is, but everyone tends to have a good time and after all, with all the “serious” things happening around us, most of which we are powerless to influence or change, it provides welcome frivolity to an otherwise gray damp cold time of year. Speaking of gray damp and cold let’s talk health care!

Unless you’ve been living in an alternate universe (ie Groundhog Day party at Betty’s) you will know that health care costs for providers and patients alike have been out of control for years. Our local hospital, a member of the “Peace Health Group” is seeking to merge with Catholic Health Initiatives. That in and of itself should be no big deal, a Catholic Hospital merging with a larger Catholic health consortium to help alleviate rising operating costs. Sort of a yawn in the news day, but here’s the “fly in the supposed sterile petri dish.” In failed negotiations for merger with two hospitals in Kentucky, Catholic Health Initiatives indicated that it would operate under the Ethical and Religious Directives of the Roman Catholic Conference of Bishops, (You remember those men who fought so hard against Referendum 74) and all merging hospitals would be required to conform even if they or their patients did not subscribe to Catholic beliefs. Again Catholic Hospital, Catholic Consortium, Catholic beliefs what’s the big deal?.....well here it is. Those directives prohibit or severely restrict a range of medical procedures related to reproductive health. In an article about the Kentucky experience written by Reverend Matthew Westfox some of those procedures prohibited or restricted included “abortion (even when medically necessary) family planning, emergency contraception, tubal ligation, vasectomy and stem cell research. Please read Kathy Reim’s article about this.

Betty Desire

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Lastly don’t forget the Monthly Betty Desire Show! Sunday February 24th you can join me at Rumor’s with special guests from the Jezebel Rebels and the Bellingham Alternative Library. Also if you need more of a “Betty fix” join me in Mt. Vernon at 1st street Cabaret and Speak Easy every Tuesday night starting February 19th. Until next time.....relax it is a short Month....in the words of child philosopher Taylor “just keep breathing”

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In The Mix Bridget Adams

Marcymark

If you look around in Bellingham you’ll find the entertainment is plentiful. There are a number of places in Bellingham that you can go to and have a great time. Live shows however in Bellingham are not quite as plentiful. And some of them aren’t very cheap. But the one in particular I’d like to share my experience with is the Upfront Theater. (1208 Bay St. Bellingham) Many live shows you find are sometimes costing more than one might want to spend or more than one can afford. The Upfront Theatre is one of the acceptations to this affordability with out sacrificing entertainment. Where else can you go to see a live show for only $10.00 and if that’s too much the Thursday nights show is only $7.00 and if that’s still too much the Thursday’s late show is only $4.00 The Upfront theatre has six shows per week. 2 on Thursday, 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday. And soon Sunday night they’ll have a new show and that one will only be a whopping $2.00 As many times as I’ve seen the show I always want to go back and see it again. Once I was lucky enough to see Ryan Styles himself to perform on stage. The show is completely improvised. No scripts. No Rehearsals. Just immediate reactions to sudden responses. No two shows are the same. And there are no misread lines. I have come out of the show from laughing so much my cheeks are sore. There audience participation of coming up with professions, theme props, and emotional goals to incorporate there unique shows is always an amazing feat in my mind. I have dragged along friends to accompany me to the show and they have always thanked me for bringing them out to see it. An ideal Thursday night for me would be dinner, a night watching the show at upfront theatre, and end the night dancing at Rumors. I don’t know how many of you have experienced going to the upfront theatre but if you haven’t, be prepared. It can be addicting. Have you ever wondered why after all this time living here in cold and blustery Bellingham your still here? It rains here three quarters of the year and during some of that time the water is frozen. We endure this place for what reason? Because we have to or because we want to? For those who answered they want to already have a reason for sticking around. For those who answered “have to” I’ve got some information for you. I’ve lived in California for half my life and I can tell you that paradise has little to do with just the type of weather your enduring. There are many reasons one might consider a place of paradise and yes type of weather would be one of them but don’t let our gloomy, cold, blustery weather steer you away from the hidden paradise we have here. The type of people here in Bellingham is one of the reasons I consider this place paradise. As little as it may seem our weather here is keeping the population down. Sort of. So if you’re feeling cold and tired of our freezing rainy weather here please keep in mind of all the things that make up your paradise. I wish you all hope in finding your paradise wherever that may be. Just remember paradise isn’t just a place on the map. It’s also a place in your heart. -Marcy

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February means Valentine’s Day, Poppets, which can be delightful or dreadful, depending on your outlook. For me, personally, I love it. When I was single, it was a great day to pamper myself, hang out with my friends, and eat chocolate. Now that I’m married, it’s a great day to pamper David, hang out with my best friend, and eat chocolate. I do recognize, however, that I am a bit unusual in this way. However, single or partnered, I’m about to make your Valentine’s Day more delightful and less dreadful. No love coupons. No heart-shaped chocolates or stuffed bears. Not even gas station roses. Ideas that actually work, for your partner, or yourself. For the traditionalist, it’s hard to beat flowers. Sure, they are an old standby. A little clichéd even. That doesn’t make them bad. Consider them classic. Mix it up a little bit, though. Instead of roses, buy a bouquet of several different flowers, all in the same color. Or buy a single flower for each room. Or go with flowers for their meanings. If you are buying for a partner, know these: pansies for loving thoughts; ranunculus for radiance; sunflower for adoration; and passion flower for, well, passion. If you are buying for yourself, consider these: aster for contentment; gardenia for joy; Casablanca lily for celebration; and my favorite, gerbera daisies for cheerfulness. For the person who loves to be pampered, bath products are your friends. If you already love baths, great. If not, trust me on this one. If you are building a bath for your sweetie, or putting it together for yourself, start with a nice candle. It doesn’t have to be one of the $20 deals at a boutique. It can be from the grocery store. And it doesn’t have to be fruity or flowery. They have all kinds of scents these days, from linen to pine, to cologne. Find a scent you like and pick up a couple – or three. Light the candles and run a bath. Don’t like baths? Fine. Run the shower. Either way, feel free to use up all the hot water. It’s one night. Find whatever music you, or your partner, likes and play it. Add bubbles or a moisturizing body wash and let the hot water make all your troubles go away. For the nontraditionalist, if you are partnered, agree to do the thing he or she has wanted to do, but you have resisted. Maybe it’s taking dance classes. Maybe it’s watching a chick flick or an action movie. Maybe it’s trying a new ethnic cuisine. Whatever it is, make the arrangements yourself and join in, wholeheartedly. Don’t half-ass it. Don’t complain if you aren’t having fun. Don’t let yourself not have fun. Enjoy it for and with your partner. If you are single, do the thing you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t been able to bring yourself to do. Maybe it’s change, cut, or dye your hair. Maybe it’s ask your crush out for a coffee. Maybe it’s get a tattoo. Whatever it is, February is your month. This is your day. Do it. Not for anyone else, but for you. At its core, Valentine’s Day is about love. Love is something we often lose sight of, and that’s a shame, especially given how hard we are still struggling to have our right to love be accepted. This month, let’s embrace love. If it’s love for our partners, our friends, or ourselves, it’s Valentine’s Day, Poppets, and it’s all good. Until next month, take care of you.

Paradise Bellingham

Beasts of Delta Airlines Bishoo Vrischik

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Flying back to India, I again checked the in-flight entertainment menu, and came up with a recent American film that looked interesting, Benth Zeitlin’s BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (2012). For a second choice, if I stayed awake long enough, I decided to try James Bobins’ THE MUPPETS (2011). As a storm approaches a Louisiana bayou island called the “Bathtub,” we meet the optimistic six-year old Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), her father Wink (Dwight Henry) and school children being taught by Miss Bathsheba (Gina Montana) on how to survive the storm as well as prehistoric creatures, called “Aurochs,” released from melting Arctic ice caps. Wink refuses to shelter Hushpuppy in his house and Hushpuppy sets her own on fire. Meanwhile in the Arctic, the Aurochs, frozen in an ice shelf, start drifting into the ocean. Hushpuppy and Wink, now living together, barricade their home, and Wink tries to scare off the storm by shooting at the clouds. As other residents of Bathtub, devastated by the storm, search for one another, Wink teaches Hushpuppy to catch a fish with her bare hands. Reunited, the Bathtub residents celebrate, and chant at Hushpuppy, “Beast it!,” i.e. “tear open a crab with your hands,” and she learns to do so. The environment begins to die because of the salt water brought by the storm. Trying to destroy a levee to stop the flooding, Wink sticks dynamite inside a dead alligator’s mouth, and Hushpuppy pulls the trip wire by accident, breaking the levee apart. The love-hate relationship between Wink and Hushpuppy continues until the Bathtub inhabitants are forcibly taken to a hospital. A doctor tells Wink he’s about to die, but the evacuees escape with him back to their homes. In search of her mother, Hushpuppy meets a waitress, who may be her mother, but who doesn’t remember her. Hushpuppy finally confronts the Aurochs, freed from the ice caps, seeing them as friends, or as fears that she has overcome. Back home, she says her last goodbye to Wink, listens to his last heartbeat, lights his funeral pyre, and ends in solidarity with the remaining residents of Bathtub. In keeping with the disheveled life on Bathtub, the camera (by Ben Richardson) remains handheld, or not so steady steadycamed, through all of the island scenes. But it, and the life itself, lost my interest after about twenty minutes, and that part of the film goes on for another ten minutes. Getting an audience familiar with an environment is akin to plot exposition, and I became overly accustomed to Bathtub long before the camera settled down on what appears could be a tripod, at the hospital. Zeitlen easily places his poverty-stricken, quirky characters in picturesque groups, but he has trouble getting them to move. The running away from the hospital appears awkward -- not that these are not awkward characters, but they move so awkwardly that I would think that the hospital staff would have no trouble catching them. Based on a one-act play, by Lucy Alibar, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD, despite winning over fifty awards and its Oscar nominations, doesn’t have quite enough material to sustain itself as a feature film. And the Aurochs resemble giant Muppets. Whereas, James Bobins’ THE MUPPETS (2011) is actually the Mup-

pets (if a little bit Disneyfied), with clips from earlier Muppet performances, and the best script (by Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller) of any Muppet movie to date. There is in fact enough plot to sustain three climaxes, including three inter-species romances. Walter (voiced by Peter Linz), the world’s biggest Muppet fan, is an outsider who wants to be a Muppet. His brother Gary (Jason Segal), caught between his love for brother Walter and for his girlfriend of ten years, Mary (Amy Adams), eventually sings Brit Mackenzie’s Oscar-winning (the only Oscar yet won by a Muppet film) “Man or Muppet?,” lamenting his intermediate state between Muppet and man, watching a reflection of himself in a window -- a moment that echoes all the way back to Gene Kelly’s dance with his own reflection in Charles Vidor’s 1944 COVER GIRL. And then of course there’s Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy’s romance, about as inter-species as you can get. Although the plot of THE MUPPETS is about putting on a show (what Muppet movie isn’t?) to save the Muppet Theatre, the climaxes, and the moments that resonate, are those when the characters, man, woman and Muppet question who they really are. “The Rainbow Connection” is not a Muppet signature song for nothing, nor did the film win the Dorian (Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Association) Award for best “Campy (Intentional or Not) Movie of the Year” for nothing. Can any film with guest stars Sarah Silverman, Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris be considered totally straight? And can any film with a villain named Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who wants to destroy the Muppet Theatre to drill for oil underneath, be considered conservative? Or one that sits James Carville next to a Muppet to answer phones at a telethon to save the Muppet Theatre? Previous Muppet films have never lived up to the quick, twenty-five minute long Muppet Shows. But THE MUPPETS, which outperformed all previous Muppet movies at the box-office (unadjusted for inflation), looks backward at the Muppets previous successes in its clips, and in its recreation of great Muppet moments (Walter, the would-be-Muppet, and his brother Gary, the man, ride a bicycle, just as Kermit did in the first THE MUPPET MOVIE). And one shot of Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobson), having decided to quit the Muppets again and return to her new job as the editor of the ‘plus-size’ edition of VOGUE in Paris, walking away from the camera has the thrill that the awkward movement of the Bathtub inhabitants does not. The camera, by Don Burgess, is never handheld, befitting the necessity of creating true Muppets. And, a whole new level of satire is added by The Moppets, a knock-off Muppets group playing Reno, Nevada, with a down on his luck Fozzie Bear as its ‘star’ attraction, before the real Muppets come out of retirement, and Animal out of an anger-management clinic. Here we have an entire film, with three climaxes, celebrating inter-species love, not just five minutes of Muppet knock-off Aurochs, even as Hushpuppy’s conquered fears and her friends. Walter becomes a Muppet (he was one, except in name only, all along), and THE MUPPETS stays with me longer that any of those so-called beasts of the southern wild.

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Come show your love for “the city’s most dazzling Burlesque troupe”(Seattle Weekly), The Atomic Bombshells, as they deliver a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE to Seattle, and celebrate the FIFTH ANNIVERSARY of their smash spectacular: J’ADORE! COMING THIS VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND: Revamped each year, and featuring a parade of exhilarating new and classic acts, J'ADORE! is a burlesque, drag, and dance spectacular that celebrates romance with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Recently named "Seattle's most venerable burlesque dancers" by The Stranger, The Atomic Bombshells are comprised of a cast of award-winning, title-holding, globetrotting showgirls...catch them here in Seattle while you can! Bring a friend, a fling, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's burlesque spectacular that has played to sold out crowds for the last four years and will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" With "choreography that's pristine"(Shanghai Jazz Scene) and "a sheer joy to watch"(HotelsByCity), this gorgeous annual homage to love showcases once again that "The Atomic Bombshells make stripping an ART!"(Seattle Gay News) The dashing Jasper McCann hosts with high style and charm, with help from the very first Atomic BOYshell, Lou Henry Hoover! Featuring special guest stars BENDELACREME (Homo For The Holidays, Freedom Fantasia) , and WAXIE MOON (Waxie Moon in Fallen Jewel)! February 14th, 15th and 16th Triple Door in Seattle

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Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment & the Prison Industrial Complex Jasmine Chang and Future Man writing for the Bellingham Alternative Library

Queer Tales of the Alternative Library

Edited by: Eric A. Stanley & Nat Smith

Bellingham Alternative Library 306 Flora St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Tuesday-Saturday: Noon-5:00pm www.altlib.org

Other Noteworthy New Arrivals: Nobody Passes: Rejecting the Rules of Gender and Conformity - Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore The Earthâ€™s Blanket: Traditional Teachings for Sustainable Living - Nancy J. Turner Electrical Banana: Masters of Psychedelic Art - Norman Hathaway Building Stories - Chris Ware The Hive - Charles Burns

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When we first came across Captive Genders, it was both fascinating and intimidating. Neither of us had read much about the prison industrial complex and knew nearly nothing of the abolition movement, though the ideas seemed intriguing and important to explore. In the introduction titled "Building an Abolitionist Trans and Queer Movement", the editor Eric A. Stanley begins by recounting the Stonewall Riots as an example of radical queer resistance to state violence, then criticizing the way in which the mainstream gay rights movement has morphed into a campaign for assimilation within the hetero-normative society; with the fight of gay activists now focused on advocating for the reform of oppressive institutions as opposed to their destruction. Stanley argues that legislation such as: Don't Ask Don't Tell, the battle for gay marriage rights, harsher punishment for hate crimes, etc. all reinforce militarization, marriage and the prison industrial complex. He goes on to explain why these institutions are particularly devastating for people of color, low-income communities, immigrants, people with disabilities, sex workers and other criminalized groups whom also belong to the queer community. Stanley pointedly examines different strategies the liberal gay community has taken on to tackle the issues that confront the community and points out the flaws in these solutions, instead suggesting alternative, more radical approaches to solving these problems. The existence of prisons had always seemed logical: removing harmful and violent people from our communities and locking them up for the safety of everyone else. However, as many essayists throughout Captive Genders point out, prisons don't successfully eliminate violence in our communities, and they in fact perpetuate more harm. Oftentimes, oppressed people commit crimes out of necessity, or in response to the violence imposed on them from larger institutions such as capitalism, the prison-industrial complex itself, sexism/racism, etc. Thus, people of color, queer people, people from low-income backgrounds and other minorities are disproportionately represented in prisons, which indicates that these groups are criminalized, and that prisons perpetuate institutionalized oppression. Throughout the various essays, the laws regarding registration of sex offenders as well as hate crime legislations are consistently brought under critical scrutiny and overall opposed. This was interesting to explore, since these systems are rarely questioned in our society. Multiple essayists assert that because hate crime legislations fund prisons, the police state and militarization, that these legislations therefore serve to reinforce the institutions that promote racism, classism, and anti-queer violence. In Erica R. Meiners' essay "Awful Acts and the Trouble with Normal", Meiner claims that sex offender registrations do nothing to prevent sexual assault/harassment. The essay states that these registrations instead serve to damage low-income communities of color the greatest by increasing policing and surveillance of these neighborhoods, and restricting housing and employment. Through this essay and across the other analyses the authors all come to declare the importance of prison abolition and the instatement of healthy alternatives that emphasize healing as opposed to punishment. One of the most inspiring essays was entitled "'Street Power' and the Claiming of Public Space: San Francisco's 'Vanguard' and Pre-Stonewall Queer Radicalism". Vanguard, formed in the early 60's, was the first known queer youth organization in the US. This grassroots-organized group was made up of sex workers as well as low-income and homeless teens, and they focused on promoting the issues of most marginalized people in the queer community and incorporating class/race struggles into their agenda. It was really inspiring to learn about a radical, activist queer organization made up of teens; it's always motivating to learn about kids that have taken action. Along with historical and critical essays, this book also includes a section titled "Walled Lives", featuring essays and interviews with trans people who are currently or were formerly incarcerated speaking on their experiences in prison. These personal accounts solidly confirmed the statements made by the previous essayists and integrated the theory within the perspectives of affected individuals. Our culture and media tends to dehumanize prisoners as criminals who don't deserve rights, and it is easy for all of us to subconsciously absorb these stereotypes without realizing it. Reading these essays and being exposed to the very real voices of queer people affected by the prison industrial complex has had a huge impact for both of us and brought to light the intersections in struggles for liberation. The abolitionist position is about more than ending the prison-industrial complex; it's an ideology that coincides with various other political struggles, and also comes with us into our everyday lives.

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WHY SHOULD PFLAG CARE ABOUT HEALTH CARE? WHY SHOULD YOU? This is the question Skagit PFLAG has been asked by some people in the LGBT community. Other people are puzzled by our concern about hospital mergers with religion-based private corporations. Let’s start with some data from the religious directives from Peace Health and their new partner, Catholic Health Initiatives. Catholic health care services must adopt these Directives as policy, require adherence to them within the institution as a condition for medical privileges and employment, and provide appropriate instruction regarding the Directives for administration, medical and nursing staff, and other personnel. 1. A Catholic health care institution must treat its employees respectfully and justly. This responsibility includes: equal employment opportunities for anyone qualified for the task, irrespective of a person’s race, sex, age, national origin, or disability [NOTE THE LACK OF LGBT OR GENDER IDENTITY QUALIFIERS]

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2. In compliance with federal law, a Catholic health care institution will make available to patients information about their rights, under the laws of their state, to make an advance directive for their medical treatment. The institution, however, will not honor an advance directive that is contrary to Catholic teaching. If the advance directive conflicts with Catholic teaching, an explanation should be provided as to why the directive cannot be honored. 3. Each person or the person’s surrogate should have access to medical and moral information and counseling so as to be able to form his or her conscience. The free and informed health care decision of the person or the person’s surrogate is to be followed so long as it does not contradict Catholic principles. 4. Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.

teaching on responsible parenthood and in methods of natural family planning. 7. Direct sterilization of either men or women, whether permanent or temporary, is not permitted in a Catholic health care institution. 8. Catholic health care organizations are not permitted to engage in immediate material cooperation in actions that are intrinsically immoral, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and direct sterilization. We believe these directives are contrary to the mission and values of PFLAG Skagit. This document in its entirety is available online at: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/ health-care/upload/Ethical-Religious-Directives-Catholic-HealthCare-Services-fifth-edition-2009.pdf This information comes from the LGBT Health Care page found at www.mergerwatch.org 1. New federal laws are ensuring LGBT people can visit loved ones in hospitals but there have been refusals to provide infertility services to gay patients. What is the policy now at Peace Health? What will the policy be after the merger with CHI? 2. What are the policies for Peace Health/CHI regarding insurance benefits for same sex couples? 3. What training is provided to the employees of a religion-based system in treating transgender patients and families with transgender children with respect and skill? Please note: The MergerWatch Project is interested in finding out more

[SHE MUST KEEP THE FERTILIZED OVUM IN HER BODY, EVEN IN THE CASE OF RAPE]

5. Abortion (that is, the directly intended termination of pregnancy before viability or the directly intended destruction of a viable fetus) is never permitted. Every procedure whose sole immediate effect is the termination of pregnancy before viability is an abortion, which, in its moral context, includes the interval between conception and implantation of the embryo. 6. Catholic health institutions may not promote or condone contraceptive practices but should provide, for married couples and the medical staff who counsel them, instruction both about the Church’s

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WHY SHOULD PFLAG CARE cont. about how gay men, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people are affected by care in religious health care systems. Go to their website to share those stories. Tell us. In conclusion: We have formed an ad hoc group called - People for HealthCare Freedom Mission: To bring together people in Hospital District 304 and District 1 to move our county and the region forward to protect health care services for all people based on our constitutional and legal rights. We see ourselves as one entity concerned about all issues that affect care in this area starting now and in the future. Protocols: 1. It is the purpose of the group to research and educate one another and ourselves using accurate information. Everyone is welcome to bring relevant information to the group. 2. We believe in principal that health care should not be religion-based no matter what religion is in control. We believe that people can access religion-based health care as a choice, but it should not be a monopoly.

3. We believe our efforts must cross political and geographic lines because people seek the care they need in a variety of places and irrespective of these boundaries. 4. We have legal rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Washington State Legislature and the U.S. Constitution and all citizens should be able to exercise those rights in their own communities. 5. We are an action group and we will focus on what we must do to protect our freedom in ways that are appropriate and productive. 6. We are not here to analyze the past, place blame, or be disrespectful to others or one another. We believe that there are progressive people within the religious community who also want to make their own health decisions and do not want to limit the legal rights of others.

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The Comics!

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GLBT Organizations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties ISCEE The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire is affiliated with the International Court System and has been actively raising money for charity for over 30 years by sponsoring drag shows and pageants. The group is open to all regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, seeking to provide social activities and community service opportunities for gays, lesbians, and their friends and allies in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan Counties. Leather, Levi & Bear Social Monthly gathering of men who like Leather, Kink, and Unabashed Masculinity. Second Saturday of the month, Rumors Cabaret, 7:30 to 10:30. Info 360.380.6409 www.theslowlane.com This website includes a gay resource guide for Bellingham located at www. theslowlane.com/guide.html.

Triskeli Guild The Triskeli Guild is Bellingham’s BDSM group that promotes community and education for safe, sane and consensual play. They encourage participation by all sexual preferences, race and age 18 and up people. www.triskeli.org Queries—triskeli@ triskeli.org Evergreen AIDS Foundation Evergreen AIDS Foundation provides support services for people living with

Washington Gender Alliance A support and educational organization for anyone dealing with issues of gender identity or expression, and the people in our lives. We have weekly Open Support meetings in Bellingham and Everett. For more information, please write to us at info@WashingtonGenderAlliance.com or call 360-445-2411, or visit our web site at www.WashingtonGenderAlliance.com. Sean Humphrey House A housing unit for people who need assistance living with HIV/AIDS in Bellingham. For more information call 360-733-9357 PFLAG of Skagit County Support meetings for Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and GLBT individuals are held at Central United Methodist Church, 1013 Polte Rd, Sedro-Woolley on the second Monday of every month at 7 PM. For directions and information all 360-856-4676 and for additional information and events check online at www.pflagskagit.org. Bellingham Radical Faeries Community of queerfolk interested in lifestyles celebrating queer sexuality, spirituality and sustainability of the natural world. 18+ recommended. Meets every Saturday at Noon at Trapeze in the Bellingham Market on Cornwall h t t p : / / g r o u p s . y a h o o. c o m / g r o u p / BellinghamRadicalFaeries/ Cascade Rainbow Community Cntr is a community of LBGQT people that enjoy each other’s company. We gather every Friday @ 6:30 PM for community, sharing of food, conversation, ideas, and current events. Each Friday is either game or movie night. The group has a lending library, Pride participation, and educational support. We are located at The Center for Spiritual Living @ 1508

N 18th St., Mount Vernon, WA. For information call (360) 840-8499 and for additional information checkout and subscribe to our Facebook Page. Whatcom County PFLAG Whatcom County Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meets the 2ND Thursday of each month, 7pm at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. For more information and events visit www. whatcompflag.com WCC’s Queer Straight Alliance is committed to supporting the GLBT community by promoting awareness of queer issues and entertaining and educating students and staff of WCC. We can be reached at wccqsa@gmail. com. Whatcom County KINK is a group to help organize events, munches, help if you have items to sell, or just a way for people to get to know each other. Meetings are the 1st Tuesday of the month at Rumor’s Cabaret. Happy Spankings! WWU LGBTA The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance at Western Washington University is a student organization which supports lesbians, gays, bisexuals, people who identify as transgender, and their allies; in the various stages of their coming out process, in the creation and affirmation of positive self identities, and in the promotion and defense of their human and civil rights. The LGBTA is located on Western’s Campus in Viking Union 515 and is open from the first day of Fall quarter until the last day of Spring

quarter. For information call 360-6506120. Mount Baker Planned Parenthood Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood proudly demonstrates its commitment to the LGBTQ community in all of our educational and service areas, by partnering with LGBTQ service organizations and through sponsorship and participation in Bellingham Pride. Our goal is to ensure that every individual has the information, services, and freedom to make healthy, responsible decisions about sex, sexuality, and parenthood. We offer comprehensive reproductive care, affordable STD testing and treatment and annual exams. Sliding scale available. Make an appointment on-line! http://www.mbpp.org Bellingham Clinic: (360)734-9095 Mount Vernon Clinic: (360)848-1744

Counseling Education Programs Support Groups Children’s Services Parenting Classes Crisis Intervention Shelter Referrals Info and Referrals Legal Assistance 24-hour support There is NEVER an excuse for domestic violence or sexual assault.

We’re here to help. Free, safe, and confidential. 24-Hour Support (360)715-1563 www.dvsas.org

The Betty Pages Copyright Notice While The Betty Pages and/or its contributors generally reserve all rights and privileges of copyright, several parts of this publication are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. For more information and permissions, contact The Betty Pages at thebettypages@gmail.com or send a letter to The Betty Pages, c/o Desire Enterprises, PO Box 2724, Bellingham, Washington, 98227-2724, USA.

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4th Corner Poly Polyamory is the practice or acceptance of having more than one loving, honest relationship at a time. We’re a friendly, welcoming group for people involved in or curious about polyamorous relationships. Our group consists of and welcomes diverse sexual and gender identities . This is a family, kid-friendly get-together for sharing experiences and desires—not a dating or swing scene. we meet every 4th Thursday evening at alternating locations. For more information: http://groups. yahoo.com/group/4thcornerpoly

HIV and AIDS who reside in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Snohomish counties. Bellingham: 115 Unity St. 360-671-0703, Everett: 2709 Wetmore Ave. 425-740-3000

Throw Back

MONDAY Karaoke

4 Jim Beam $ 2.75 Micros $

TUESDAY

9-11 $ 1 Wells 2.25 $

PBR

11-CL

Pitchers

1 HighLife

WEDNESDAY $

1.25 PBR Pints

3.75

Fire

Ball

2 wells 9 - 11

DJ Postal

THURSDAY 80’s & 90’s $

1 Wells $ 2.25 Rainier 11-1 $ 2 Wells

9-11

Pitchers

FRIDAY

9-12 3 Long Island $

Short-wave &

Postal

Q-BNZA

SATURDAY

Mike Tolleson 9-12 $ 5 Touch Downs