The Betty Pages July 2016 by Betty Desire

About our Contributors...

The Betty Pages - July 2016 Betty’s Corner

By Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

By Bridget Adams

In The Mix

Resiliency in the face of Tragedy

Justice

By Kevin Walder

Baking With Betty

A Bibliography of Gay Film

The Comics!

By Lyle Pearson

Happy 4th of July! GLBT Organizations (Whatcom & Skagit)

Miss Betty Desire has been entertaining anyone who would listen in Bellingham for over 20 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 Lyle Pearson has published in FILM QUARTERLY, SIGHT AND SOUND, INTERNATIONAL FILM GUIDE, FILMFARE, YOUTH TIMES, MANSHOTS, THE BETTY PAGES and ASIAN CINEMA. With a BA from Pacific Lutheran College (1959) and a MA from San Francisco State College (1968), he has taught at Western Washington University in Bellingham WA. His main interest is Indian cinema.

Staff Photographer John Phillip after 40+ years of television

production engineering work John has settled down in Bellingham to semi retirement and is now 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” Naomi graduated Whatcom Community College with an Associates in Visual Communications - Graphic Design but prefers more hands on tinkering & random projects (of which she always has many still to finish).

Stephanie Kountouros is a poly-queer femme who has been a Bellingham LGBTQ activist since 1996. She currently serves as LGBTQ liaison with the Community Advisory Board for the Bellingham Police Department, and on the Planning Committee for Bellingham Community Radio. She lives with her partner and her wife. É.F.K. O’Conghaile is a transgender organizer with particular focus on youth empowerment, transgender spaces, and homelessness issues. They are a facilitator for the Washington Gender Alliance support group in Bellingham

SparX helps Betty with - Baking with Betty

Sandy Soderberg A steward for the honor of cannabis. From activism in legislature and Farm Bureau to education in schools and public forum, Sandy speaks of common sense for the common good of the people and the plant.

Betty’s Corner

Happy Pride Bellingham! The rest of the West Coast has had their celebrations and festivities and now it is our turn! Let’s kick up our heels, break out our Sunday petticoats and celebrate like only ‘Hamsters can. You can find all the information you need to make this Bellingham Pride the best ever right here in the Betty Pages. Along with the events listed as official Pride Events, there are a few other things happening that might add a bit more pizazz to your Pride Week. One of the events you might want to take in is the 12th annual Betty Pages anniversary party. While not an official Pride event this year, the Betty Pages has always celebrated its birthday during Bellingham’s Pride week and this year is no exception. Please join me at 9pm Thursday July 7th at Rumor’s Cabaret. There will be a slide show of all the covers and “page 3 models” (Remember those oldsters?) As well as food of course! As we all know Rumor’s has the best drinks and the best prices in the whole city, so this is going to be fabulous fun.

Betty Desire, The Betty Pages

Betty Desire

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This Pride season is bitter sweet given the events in Orlando. It is my hope that we will eventually see the day when senseless violence against others will be the exception rather than the rule. I also hope that this will wake us up to the fact that our struggle for equality continues. It’s nice that we can Marry, but what good is Marriage if your landlord can kick you out on the street in 17 States if he reads your wedding announcement in the local paper? What good is Marriage if your Boss can fire you from your job when he reads that same wedding announcement? What good is Marriage when first responders in 3 states can refuse to help you based on their religious beliefs? The Employment non discrimination act has been in Congress for nearly 30 years and has yet to pass. As long as there are preachers of any stripe that preach that “Homosexuals are an abomination” we will be in a continual battle to retain the rights and freedoms we have gained, and our battle will never end. As long as there are radicalized fringe fanatics that interpret the Koran to read that gay men should be “pushed off the highest building and stoned until dead” (no, not on weed folks, and thank you Saudi Arabia) our struggle will continue. We must be vigilant. The common thread in all of this is Religion. Man’s interpretation of what whatever Deity is in charge this week. It has nothing ,I repeat nothing to do with ISIS and little to do with true Islam, true Christianity, or true (fill in the blank with any of the world’s thousands of World views . There is ample evidence that the shooter in Orlando had been a regular at Pulse, it is also reported that he was a regular on websites like

Grinder that exist only for anonymous hookups. They are the “Gay bars” of the 21st century where you leisurely browse through others who are horny and available and pick your flavor of the evening. Anyone who reached drinking age before 1990 can understand the emotional devastation and absolute exhaustion of living a double life. Ironically I can actually empathize with the shooter who in my opinion was trying to appease his god by “killing the infidels” and appease his internalized guilt over his grinder use and same sex lust by becoming a martyr. Suicide by police is not as uncommon as one might think and in my opinion, the ISIS thing was a convenient excuse. If you are a part of a Religion that condemns Homosexuality do yourself and the rest of us a favor and get the fuck out. There are plenty of other options available for you, and if you can’t find one suitable make up your own. I seriously doubt we will ever read about a follower of the Flying Spaghetti Monster pulling this kind of crap. I feel the need to apologize for using language in this article that I rarely use, but this is personal, there are 50 brothers and sisters of mine who are dead because one man couldn’t come to grips with the dichotomy between his own desires and his religion’s dictates and chose to use his interpretation of those dictates to assuage his guilt. He chose death by police instead of the much more difficult work of overcoming religious fluff. Lest we here in the US get too cocky, the Pagan philosophy of “do what you will and harm none” when in conflict with the Massachusetts Puritans spawned the Salem witch trials, so Pot stop calling the Kettle black and enter the 21st century. The waters fine!

In The Mix

Resiliency in the Face of Tragedy

Bridget Adams

We would like to close with a message specifically to young people: Hate crimes against LGBTQ people can make it hard to imagine freely and proudly being yourself. We want you to know that fear is not shameful. Fear is a natural response when your community is under attack. You are allowed to be afraid when homophobic and transphobic violence threatens your existence. During this month, the month of Pride, we urge you to prioritize your safety above all else. For decades we have celebrated the Stonewall Riots every June, honoring the trans women of color, homeless queer teens, gays, and lesbians who fought for human rights. This Pride month, as we mourn those who lost their lives in Orlando, we are reminded how important this fight still is. Northwest Youth Services will be celebrating LGBTQ Pride at several upcoming events. For youth and young adults, our Rainbow Scavenger Hunt will be taking place this Friday, June 17th, from 5 – 7pm at the Bellingham Public Library. You can also join us in marching in the Bellingham Pride Parade, or visiting our booth at the Bellingham Pride Festival on Sunday, July 10th. We support you. Our hearts are with you. Our doors are always open for you.

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Like every other LGBTQ columnist out there, I’m writing about Orlando this month. If it’s too much, I get it. I do. Skip this one, and I’ll see you again in August. I love you. For those of you still with me – I love you. Somehow, I think that’s important to say to each other right now. 49 of our brothers, sisters, and siblings were killed last month because someone hated us. We need to speak of love. Yes, anger. Yes, pain. Yes, action. I will not tell you to turn the other cheek or let it roll of your back or any of those things. But also, love. Because there are three communities that have been torn apart by one man’s hate: 1. The LGBTQ community 2. The Latinx community 3. The Muslim community Breaking it down – 1. The LGBTQ community. Obviously. We were targeted. We were hunted. We were slaughtered. It wasn’t a terror attack on a mall or sporting event where LGBTQ peoples could have been among the victims. This was a terror attack against us. 2. The Latinx community. Along those same lines, the killer researched the nightclub, its calendar, the crowd. He chose Latin night. Yes, we white members of the LGBTQ community deserve to fell attacked and threat ened. It wasn’t just a racist act. There were plenty of straight Latin clubs he could’ve targeted but didn’t. But nor can we erase the fact that it was also a racist act, perpetrated against a very specific people. 3. The Muslim community. I don’t know how many times it has to be said before the media and political pundits start repeating it, but Islam is a peaceful religion. It’s been co-opted by some hateful, hate-filled extrem ists, but Islam itself is neither. Yet part of the reason the media and the political pundits were so fast to declare it domestic terrorism was because the killer fit the convenient, saleable profile of a terrorist. And no, I don’t believe he did it for ISIS, in spite of his claims. I believe he, too, knew that radicalized Islam would lend a sick legitimacy to his actions so he didn’t have to admit just how much he hated us. Which brings us back to hate. Because he did hate. He didn’t know the 49. He didn’t care to know the 49. He only knew hate. So…I love you. I love you for exactly who you are. I’m not saying that should make everything better. In fact, I doubt it will make anything better. I still love you. Because it’s all I have. Because love beats hate. Because if one man’s hate can do this much damage, maybe one person’s love can help, even a little bit. So – I love you. Until next month, take care of you – and each other.

Northwest Youth Services is devastated in the wake of the tragedy in Orlando. As we struggle to comprehend this loss, we know that we are not alone in this struggle, and that people all across the nation are hurting too. Our hearts go out to communities in Orlando and the loved ones and survivors who are coping with unimaginable grief. In particular, we extend our love and support to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Attacks on LGBTQ communities come in many forms. Recently, they have come in the form of legislation attempting to restrict access by transgender people to public bathrooms. This weekend, they came in the form of an unprecedented, horrifying act of terrorism. All these attacks are born out of homophobia and transphobia - hate and fear directed at the LGBTQ community. We mourn everyone who lost their lives in the attack in Orlando. We also mourn the loss of so many members of the LGBTQ Latinx community, who were celebrating Latin night at Pulse on Saturday night. Like so many violent acts directed toward the LGBTQ community, young people of color were disproportionately impacted. Here at Northwest Youth Services, we have made it our mission to support LGBTQ youth in our community. Nationwide, 40% of young people experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ. Our Queer Youth Project, and all our programs, prioritize the safety and well-being of LGBTQ youth. We know that events like the shooting in Orlando leave these youth scared for their safety. We must do better for these youth. Grief can sometimes give us a desire to take action – but to feel unsure about how we can make a difference. If you feel moved to do something to prevent tragedies like this in the future, know that you are not alone. Across the nation people are mobilizing, and there are many things you can do right here in our own community that will make a difference, especially for young people. What You Can Do: Speak with a young person in your life about this tragic event. Listen to their thoughts on what happened in Orlando over the weekend and explore with them the impacts homophobia has on people’s lives. This violence affects all of us, not just those of us in LGBTQ communities. Speak out against efforts to equate homophobia with Islam. Stand up for our Muslim community members who may be facing discrimination and violence in the wake of this attack. Donate to victims of the shooting in Orlando and their families Take care of yourself. Your grief is real, and your need to process is important. Give yourself time, understand that grief comes in waves, and connect with your support network. Seek help if you are feeling overwhelmed. Learn how to support LGBTQ youth. Spreading knowledge throughout the community builds safety and understanding. We all interact with young LGBTQ people professionally, personally, or both. Contact April Hinkle-Johnson, our Queer Youth Project Coordinator, to schedule a free training. Ask about your workplace’s nondiscrimination policy. Make sure it protects people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Straight and Cisgender Allies: You can do something special to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. Take on the work of eradicating homophobia and transphobia from your communities. Listen to what LGBTQ people want, and take action to make that change happen. Tell your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning friends, children, parents, loved ones that their safety is important to you. Understand that LGBTQ communities are tired; our hearts ache from generations of victimization and violence; and many of us are afraid to come out, to be our whole selves. You can help change the climate of hate to one of love and acceptance.

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Justice

Baking With Betty I am very excited to be able to share this new column with you! Together we are going to venture into the world of “adult' baking. Many folk like myself enjoy the euphoria of Weed but don't really want to smoke it. All of the recipes listed here can be made with ingredients readily available at your local recreational weed store. Please keep in mind when using any edible the effect of the high tends to take a good 20 minutes or more. Consume accordingly, always err on the side of caution.

Celebrate Canada and the US all in one! If you live in Canada or the Pacific Northwest these are a truly decadent treat. I couldn’t find custard powder but found out online that you can substitute vanilla instant pudding and it works just fine. These treats are powerful when you substitute weed butter so if you make them consume with care.

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Nanaimo Bars

Crust: ¼ cup butter and ¼ cub weed butter softened ¼ cup white sugar 5tbs unsweetened cocoa 1 egg beaten Top 1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs 4 1oz squares of semi 1 cup flaked coconut sweet baking chocolate 1 teaspoon butter and Middle layer ¼ cup butter and ¼ cup weed butter 1 teaspoon weed butter 3tbs heavy cream 2tbs vanilla instant pudding 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

For the crust, combine the butter sugar and unsweetened cocoa in a double boiler ( I used a sauce pan with water and a metal bowl) stir until melted and smooth beat in the egg stir until thick(about 3 minuets) remove from heat and stir in the graham cracker crumbs and coconut flakes and press mixture into an ungreased 8x8 pan. For the middle layer cream together the butter,heavy cream and custard powder (instant vannila pudding) until light and fluffy ad powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Spread over the bottom layer and put in the refrigerator to chill. While the crust and second layer are chilling melt semisweet choclate and butter in the micro wave or over low heat. Spread over the chilled bars and let the chocolate set before cutting. Cut into 20 servings and enjoy! w w w. i s s u u . c o m / t h e b e t t y p a g e s

By Kevin Walder The Justice Card is a member of the Major Arcana family which means that it carries a greater weight in a reading and will often point to the real question at hand. Justice perhaps more than any other card in the deck speaks of fairness and balance without outside influence. While it is easy to stand up for ourselves and demand that we receive justice it is often much more challenging to demand that same level of justice from ourselves. The artwork for the Justice card is fairly consistent among most decks depicting Lady Justice holding the scales in one hand and the sword of justice in the other. This speaks to us of the consequences for our actions and the need to act in a fair and balanced manner in every aspect of our lives. Any injustice we allow or overlook in our world contributes to more imbalance and injustice coming back to us. This requires of us a level of involvement in our communities to assure that all are treated with the same fairness and balance we would hope to receive for ourselves. Doing nothing when injustice prevails in our environment makes us accessories to that imbalance and draws away much needed energy we could have used to restore ourselves. The Justice Card is not a call to judgement allowing us to impose our own interpretations of ethics and morals on those around us but rather a reminder that true justice and balance is a constantly evolving and maturing state. As we grow in understanding we become more aware of everyone in our community and their own needs to be dealt with in a fair and balanced manner so our concept of justice grows with us. This card could be seen as a call to compassion but it also demands that each of us bear responsibility for our actions. The energy of Justice does not give anyone a free pass but also does not pass prejudicial judgement on our fellow journeyers. Taking things a step further the energy of Justice also demands that we treat ourselves with compassion and mercy as well. Fairness and balance must be extended first to ourselves and then to those around us. When I see the Justice card appear in a reading I am led to believe that the querent is feeling a lack of fairness and balance in their relationships and personal interactions. It may also indicate that the querent is the peace maker in social situations where conflict arises. The Justice card says that old injuries and grudges need to be cleared and released. Sometimes this may mean that a toxic relationship must be ended or adjusted, but balance must be restored. Very often this card indicates a legal issue which is unresolved and needs to be settled before the querent can move forward. These may be unsettled debts or lingering issues surrounding a former partnership but they are sapping the energy of growth and need to be settled. How is the energy of the Justice card manifesting in your life right now? How do you handle issues of fairness and balance in your life? What is your favorite means of maintaining balance in your life?

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

I MISS KOOVAGAM (2) : A Bibliography of Queer Cinema By Lyle Pearson

Buses continued to roll into the parking lot, one after the other. The crowds grew ever larger. Spectators who had been there all day began to bed down in a field that had just been shorn of sugarcane. Sleeping tents appeared behind the vendors. This was going to be like one of those Ram Lilas (mythological plays) that last all night. THE HINDU’s (19/4/16) estimate was 1500 hijras, down from last year and 50,000 spectators. THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS estimated 5000 transgenders. Police presence had increased from 250 to 750 because of sexual harassment and rape of hijras at night in past years. “So tomorrow?” I asked, finishing my veg meal. “How early should I be here?” “The hijras will have thalis tied around their necks by priests,” signifying their thailkettu (temporary marriage) to Aravan (locally named Koothandavar), the warrior in the MAHABHRATA who on learning that he was about to be killed in battle, requested to know sexual relations, for the first time, for one night only. Krishna, taking the form of the beautiful Mohini, obliged Aravan and then mourned his death the following day before changing back to his original form. Simultaneously with the thailkettu, the eyes of Aravan will be opened and then the brides will dance and sing all night. The next day the idol of Aravan will be moved by cart to an area called Kalipali, where his death will be symbolically enacted by fire. The thalis will be cut and thrown on a sacred tree. Other parts of the 18-day ritual, symbolizing the 18-day Kurukshetra war, include Santhanu Saritham, Palayam, Krishnan Thuthu and Dharmar Pattabhishhekam. But I didn’t get back early enough Wednesday morning to see anything but smoke. I was too exhausted, by the logistics, the crowds, the fire, the heat and my age (78). I didn’t board a bus (for 20 rupees, i.e. 30c) back to Koovagam until 9:30 AM. By the time I got there all I could see was that smoke from the burning Aravan. But as the crowds at the Koovagam temple had considerably lessened, I turned on my GoPro and headed inside. Beyond the mini-crush I could see three priests, two of them apparently female, handing out prasad (propitiatory offerings). Prasad usually is a sweet, so when I was close enough to receive it, I stuffed some in my mouth. But it was not a sweet -- it was ashes. So the title of this essay has three meanings. One, with a comma inserted between the first two words, makes it autobiographical, not of Gayatri, Miss Koovagam 2016, but on her runner-up from Malasiya, who was so angry at not winning the title. Or it could mean that I missed the tailkettu, except for those ashes. Or it could simply mean that I miss Koovagam and would like to return next year. All three, to a degree, are true.

The Comics!

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Reaching Koovagam, I saw a field that had been turned into a bus parking lot, with perhaps ten buses from Vellupuram and other nearby towns. Special buses, perhaps one every half-hour from Vellupuram alone, ran during the Aravane Festival, the largest hijra festival not only in India, in all of Asia. Cars and motorcycles were immune to bus parking regulations and we slowly rolled past the many sellers of coconuts, bangles, yellow string ‘thalis’ (Mangal Sutras, or cord necklaces, similar to a Christian wedding ring) and other religious items. Ice cream, soft drink and other food vendors, in temporary quarters, often tents, littered both sides of the road. Suddenly, someone in our car said, “There’s Ashok.” The car stopped momentarily and I descended, planning to give Ashok a piece of my mind. “Why did you leave without me?” “But I buzzed your buzzer.” “You should have at knocked on my door. It was unlocked and the houseboy often comes in before I have a chance to answer him.” Ashok had no answer. We sat and watched the growing myriad of passersby, one-half hijras, the other half, spectators. I had never seen so many hijras before and Ashok knew some of them. He would call one by name and s/he would come over to chat and I would be introduced. One had a little pug on a leach. Many smiled at me from afar: they seemed as interested in me as I was in them. Then some questions occurred to me, to which I thought Ashok might have a profound, or at least Tamil, answer. Most if not all of hijras have been thrown out of their homes in adolescence when they began to develop gender-queer characteristics. “Hijras are always male to female transgenders or transvestites. What do you call female to male ones?” “We call that lesbianism.” That was not the profound or ethnic answer I was looking for. “Some of these hijras have very short hair and ill-fitting saris. Are they just weekend hijras?” I asked, thinking of the term from 1960s San Francisco, ‘Weekend hippies.’ “There just homosexuals.” That was no more ethnic than the first answer. “And what is your plan for the rest of the festival? Are you going back to Vellupuram for the night or staying here?” “I’m going back to Vellupuram about 9:00 PM and returning to Erode at midnight,” where he had his Sukira (Happy) licensed Community Health Counseling Centre. My ‘guide,’ a licensed sexologist and Adolescent Health Counselor, was leaving on my first evening in Koovagam! I had to decide if I would spend the night there or return with him to Vellupuram. If I did stay I would get no shooting done the second day as my battery certainly would not hold up that long. I decided to make the decision after supper. So I walked through the village Koovagam with Ashok’s photographer and GoProed vendors, dancers and hijras who were more than willing to wave at my camera and sweetly murmur, “Hello? Where are you from?” I obliged them all. The queue to get into the temple was so long it would have taken an hour so I decided to skip it, for now. When we returned Ashok was sitting on the opposite side of the road and I again sat next to him. The crowd grew, waiting for something like a parade to pass. But a parade never formed and by sunset Ashok suggested I take a look again at the temple and at the bright lights now surrounding it. I was amazed. There was a 30-foot Hanuman, the monkey god, with bright lights running up and down both sides of him. Endless rows of vendors sat behind little oil lamps illuminating their religious wares. Paths of colored bulbs streamed from trees, temporary structures were outlined in neon tubes, always with one more a short distance away. There were two circuses, one with a prancing horse, dancing boys and dancing women and two bored camels out front. Two-dimensional paintings of circus acts fronted the circus tents. Men were as interested in taking my picture as I was in GoProing hijras. I was interviewed by a student TV crew and mentioned Varma’s ODUM RAJA AADU RANI as one reason for me being there. Pilgrims surrounded small fires seeking the warmth of blessings on their hands: I also did so. Returning to Ashok, I knew I would have to follow him to Vellupuram that evening to charge my battery for I had shot so much that I knew it might go any minute. “Are you happy now?” asked that same friend. “Yes.”

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This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty one and older. Keep out of the reach of children.

transgender medical services now available locally We offer hormone treatments for transgender persons and provide people of all genders high quality, preventive care, testing, and treatment. 1.800.230.PLAN mbpp.org Bellingham Âˇ Mount Vernon Friday Harbor

GLBT Organizations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties 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 transgender services, 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 Transgender Services now available!

-Evergreen Wellness Advocates Evergreen Wellness Advocates provides support services for people living with 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

-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.

-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. -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

-PFLAG of Whatcom County Whatcom County Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays meet at the Connections Room at the downtown Food Co-op the first Sunday of the month, beginning at 5 p.m. For more information and events visit www.whatcompflag.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

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. -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 360-650-6120. -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!

-Whatcom Queer Teen Shelter We’re in Whatcom county and currently organizing community support and resource sharing, specifically for LGBT youth and generally with any trans and queer people. We are also fundraising for the future shelter, and invite all trans and queer people to get involved in the direction of our organization. Email us at wqts.general@gmail.com or wqts.youthresources@gmail.com -Gay Bellingham Wednesday Dinner Wednesday dinner gathering. Open to all, but mostly attended by gay men. Tends to be older men. Usually around 10 to 15. New people find it on the web and come meet Bellingham area folks. Rotates to different restaurant locations each week as announced in the Yahoo Group. www.gaybellingham.org/ https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ alternativebellingham/info

Group leaders If we need to update our list because a group is no longer meeting please contact us!

If you are a member of or know of another LGBT group that would like to be listed please send us an email!

-Washington Gender Alliance A support and educational organization for anyone dealing with issues of gender identity or expression, and

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-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.

MONDAY

KARAOKE

9PM-12AM

$2.75 Micros

WITH

ZACH ZINN

$4 Black Velvet

TUESDAY

TREBEL DEEP HOUSE MUSIC

9PM-12AM

$1 WELLS

FREE POOL

$2.25 PBR Pitchers

WEDNESDAY

LEVELED TODAY’S EDM

Rumors Cabaret

9PM-12AM

$3.75 FIREBALL

$1.25 PBR PINTS

HOSTED BY

11PM-12AM

AXIS EVENTS

$2 WELLS

THURSDAY

9PM-11PM THROWBACK $2.25 RANIER JUGS

80’s & 90’s

$1 WELLS 11PM-12AM

DJ ENZ

$2 WELLS

FRIDAY

DANCE PARTY

SATURDAY

9PM-12AM

LONG ISLANDS

SPECIAL EVENTS DJ MIKE TOLLESON

HOUSE/TOP 40/CLUB DANCE

CHECK ONLINE CALENDAR

9PM-12AM

SPECIALTY DRINKS