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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Ed Murray to Seattle: I ask for your support… Seattle Times to Murray: Drop out! by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Seattle Mayor Ed Murray reaffirmed his intention to seek re-election and asked voters for their support in a statement issued April 12. The same day, the conservative Seattle Times newspaper called for Murray to drop his re-election bid. Admitting that the charges of child abuse made against him in a lawsuit filed April 6 were “very painful to me and Michael,” Murray’s statement went on to say the accusations were “simply not true.” “Without offering any evidence,” Murray continued, “the accuser has described me in very specific and intimate detail, and his accusation depends on these descriptions being accurate. If this description is inaccurate, the accusation cannot be credible. Yesterday, I provided material evidence refuting the accusation. The accusation should be laid to rest.” In the lawsuit, the plaintiff, identified only as DH, alleges that he had repeated sexual encounters with Murray in exchange for money, beginning when he was only 15 years old. This would be a crime under Washington state law, which fixes the age of consent at 16.
Mayor Ed Murray reads a statement to members of the media on April 7 – Photo by Elaine Thompson / Associated Press
As proof of his charges, DH says in his court filing, he can describe Murray’s genitals, which bear an unusual mole, or “bump” on the scrotum. On April 11, however, Murray released a report from his doctor, stating categorically that his genitals had no such mole, nor
was there any evidence that one had been removed. Murray’s physician, Craig J. Pepin, examined him on April 10 and found “No dermatological lesions such as a mole, freckle, or keratosis present on the penis or scrotum. No scars or evidence of prior sur-
gery or dermatologic procedures.” “This is game-changing,” Murray’s attorney, Robert Sulkin, said after Murray made the findings public. “This is the heart of the allegations, and they’re false.” The supposed mole was “the fingerprints” that linked DH to Murray, Sulkin explained. Absent that evidence, he said, DH could not show that he’d had any relationship with the now-mayor, and his suit was baseless and should be dismissed. On April 12, Murray went even further, stating categorically he would continue running for re-election, and he asked voters to back him. “I will continue to lead this city as mayor,” he said. “I will continue to run for reelection, so that we can sustain and build upon the progress we have made in my first term advancing police reform; raising wages for thousands of Seattleites; addressing our homelessness crisis; building more affordable housing; closing racial disparities in our public schools; supporting black male achievement; battling climate change; creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods for all; standing up to the Trump Administration – and so much more. “I am proud to be your mayor and ask see MURRAY page 13
We will evacuate Mac McGregor – Chechen Gays, Russian Why him? From the wife activists say of a transgender candidate
Executive director of All Out, Matt Beard – Photo courtesy of vuelio.com
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Russian human rights activists say they will help evacuate Gays from Chechnya, where local police have reportedly murdered more than 100 Gay men.
Chechnya is a republic in the Caucasus Mountains federated with Russia. After unsuccessfully fighting to become independent of Moscow, it is now under a puppet regime led by former warlord Ramzan see CHECHEN page 17
Mac and his wife Dawn share a moment at their wedding – Photo by Mina Bast
by Dawn Celeste McGregor Special to the SGN My husband is creating a movement – helping light a fire inside of all us to prioritize basic human rights and dignity across our country. He is empowering those who
have felt like they’ve lived in the shadows. He’s shining a light on himself so that it can reflect onto them. Just as the first few people of color, women, gays, and lesbians who first ran for office affected all of us and our see WHY HIM? page 8
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Allegations against the mayor To the Editor, Oh really? Now we have Fake News against our mayor? Ed Murray and the Seattle City Council have taken the bold, brave, and principled position to declare Seattle a sanctuary city and now a mysterious charge comes out of nowhere to smear the mayor? And, of course, it is a sexual charge. They always go for a sensationalist sexual charge. Ed Murray has had a long, open, transparent and productive political career. If there was any dirt to be found, it would have surfaced by now. There are many
politicians who disagreed with Murray or who even hated him – but they did not find anything. It is only when Murray stood up to protect Seattle residents from Tweedle Dumb and his anti-immigrant, hateful, racist agenda that “somebody” was found to make a sexual charge against him. Who initiated this attack? Was it Jeff Sessions? Was it Breitbart? Was it a quiet tweet from Mar a Lago? Was it Russia Today (www.rt.com)? This is Fake News. We all have pasts but nobody’s past is dredged up and as minutely examined as a politician’s. Would this lawsuit have been filed if Murray had complied with ICE? Would this lawsuit
have been filed if Murray had donated to the Trump campaign? The Real News is the state budget, police progress, homeless crisis, transportation, Tim Eyman, and racial tension. The Real News is not sexy but it is what should command our attention. Janice Van Cleve Seattle PCO 37/1875 www.jvox.doodlekit.com
Earth Day gathering and march to demand a nuclear free world and to rededicate ourselves to peace, justice for all and deep caring for our Earth Dear George and SGN friends, I’m organizing an event Friday, April 21, in Seattle for peace, justice for All, and deep caring for our Earth, and invite your active participation. I’ve been involved with Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action – you may have seen our bus ads. Bangor Sub Base is close by with the greatest amount of nuclear weapons. Seattle will be affected by a nuclear exchange! The U.S. spends $100 billion yearly to maintain nuclear weapons and the Navy wants to spend $81 trillion over ten years for new subs, missiles, and systems of mass destruction! Imagine all the hungry who could be fed, the homeless who could be
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housed, the undereducated who could go to college, the sick who could get healthcare…. And a nuclear war would ruin our Earth! The United Nations passed Resolution L. 41 October 27, 2016 calling for negotiations beginning March 2017 to create a “legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading toward their total elimination.” Most of the world voted “for,” including North Korea and Iran! The U.S., UK, FR, Russia and Israel voted “against.” Pakistan, India and China abstained. The U.S. should lead in the abolition of nuclear weapons. Our representatives and senators should promote the Nuclear Weapons Abolition
and Economic and Energy Conversion Act, H.R. 1976. We can build a green economy, which will employ more people in good paying jobs! Please join Ground Zero on April 21 as we gather at Myrtle Edwards Park to welcome paddlers; for speakers/singers at Westlake Park around noon, and marching to the Federal Building to meet with senators staffs to demand a nuclear free world and rededicate ourselves to peace, justice for all and deep caring for our Earth!
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Donald Trump and the fall of public television by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer For much of my life, I have been a fan of public television. Unlike broadcast and cable television, which mostly exist to sell advertising and appeal to the lowest common denominator, public TV serves the public with (mostly) quality programs that educate, entertain and elevate our minds and hearts. When cable stations emerged in the 1980’s many of us thought that they would make public TV obsolete; a notion that cable quickly dispelled as it descended into a trash heap of dumb reality shows. Dolores Sukhdeo, CEO of South Florida PBS stations WPBT and WXEL (my local outlets), put it well when she wrote that “we are a storyteller, a teacher, a theater, a library, and a traveling companion. For the 14th consecutive year, we are the most trusted place for families with children, a thoughtful retreat for adults, a source of reliable, unbiased information, and a place where all of us can continue to learn and grow.” Often public TV falls short of its goals, as when it gives in to the whims of
public or private pressure groups, or when it runs thinly-disguised infomercials during its seemingly endless pledge periods. But, all in all, in spite of its faults, public TV comes through. The Donald Trump administration, though only a few months old, has made me nostalgic for the “good old days” of the last Republican administration, that of George W. Bush. Things that alarmed us back then seem quaint compared to the horrors that Trump and his minions now plan for our country. The last time I wrote about public television (2005), Bush was president and I complained about the fact that public TV, under Bush administration pressure, was cutting down on its LGBT-interest programs. Now I worry that there won’t be any public TV left for me to complain about. On March 16, 2017 Trump sent to Congress a budget proposal that, if passed by Congress, would drastically change our government’s priorities. Trump’s budget asks for a $54 billion increase in military spending and $2.6 billion to build his cherished Wall across the U.S.-Mexico border – regardless of the president’s repeated promise that
MEXICO WILL PAY FOR IT. In return for building a useless Wall and buying military hardware that we do not need, the budget drastically reduces domestic spending and eliminates 62 agencies and programs that help people here and abroad, including environmental programs, “Meals on Wheels,” the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the National Endowment for the Arts. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, established under President George W. Bush in 2003, will be abolished, leading to an op-ed from the former president defending his program. One of the casualties of Trump’s proposed budget is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a government agency which receives money from the government to fund public television. The money is no big deal, only $445.5 million a year, barely enough to fund several of Trump’s weekends at Mar-a-Lago. The rest of the public TV money comes from foundations, philanthropies, those notorious pledge periods, advertisements masquerading as “we support public television” testimonials, and “contributions from viewers like
you (thank you).” Still, CPB money is vital to many public TV stations, especially those in small towns or rural areas where few philanthropists live. Possibly Trump and his cohorts believe that their base does not watch or want public television, though here they might be mistaken. If you agree that public television – and radio – are worth protecting and supporting, you might start by sending a donation to your local public TV station, and not just during pledge periods. You might also want to take a stand and oppose Trump’s drastic and inhuman budget. Though the cause that Protect My Public Media espouses might not be as vital as those of some of the other resistance groups – and any group that opposes Trump is a resistance group, whether it knows it or not – it is still important to maintain a public service that gives so much to our communities. Visit www. protectmypublicmedia.org, get involved in their latest campaign, invite your friends and family to protect public media and tell your own public media story. Tell Congress what public television and radio mean to you and why they should be preserved.
Lawsuit challenging for-profit plasma company’s refusal of transgender donor is resolved A lawsuit challenging a plasma collection company’s refusal to allow donations by a transgender woman has been resolved, two months before the case was scheduled for trial in federal court in Seattle. The case, Kaiser v. CSL Plasma, Inc., was filed in April 2015 in Seattle by Jasmine Kaiser, a transgender woman. Ms. Kaiser alleged that CSL Plasma refused to allow her to donate plasma at its facility in Kent, Washington in June 2014 because she is transgender. She also alleged in her complaint that she was told CSL Plasma would place a “lifetime deferment” on her ability to donate and would inform other donation centers about the deferment. The lawsuit included claims against CSL Plasma for alleged violations of Washington State’s Law Against Discrimination and Consumer Protection Act. The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits places of public accommodation from discriminating based on a person’s gender identity. The case was originally filed in Washington state court, which denied CSL Plasma’s attempt to dismiss Ms. Kaiser’s lawsuit. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson submitted a friend of the court brief supporting Ms. Kaiser’s position that CSL Plasma is a place of public accommodation and is subject to the non-discrimination requirements of the Washington Law Against Discrimination. In this litigation, Ms. Kaiser argued that no federal law, rule, or other policy authorizes plasma centers to deny donors because they are transgender. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has adopted policies restricting blood or plasma donations by men who have had sex with men, the FDA has never adopted a rule or policy barring donations based on the fact that a person is transgender. After this lawsuit was filed, the FDA is-
Voice. “Washington law protects transgender people from being treated like second-class people.” “The rulings in this case should make it clear that no one can be turned away from donating blood or plasma in Washington state simply because they are transgender,” said Isaac Ruiz of Keller Rohrback. “We are grateful to Ms. Kaiser for stepping forward and refusing to accept being treated differently because she is transgender.” “We were proud to join in representing Ms. Kaiser in this case,” said Jill Gaulding of Gender Justice. “We fight discrimination against transgender people in many different states, and the federal court’s ruling in this case will help transgender people across the country.” Jasmine Kaiser – Photo courtesy of q13fox.com
sued revised guidance in December 2015 regarding blood product donation policies. The FDA’s updated guidance continues to provide no ban on donations of blood products by transgender people. The FDA’s revised guidance also specified that blood product collection centers should accept a donor’s self-identification of their gender, meaning that a transgender woman like Ms. Kaiser should be screened as a woman. Ms. Kaiser’s case was later moved to federal court. On March 2, 2017, Chief Judge Ricardo Martinez of the U.S. District Court in Seattle ruled in favor of Ms. Kaiser on key issues in the case. In particular, Judge Martinez agreed with Ms. Kaiser that federal law does not shield CSL Plasma from her claims brought under Washington state law. Judge Martinez noted in his ruling that CSL Plasma had failed to provide any guideline, regulation, or law that requires the wholesale rejection of donations from transgender people by plasma collection centers.
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The lawsuit was resolved by the parties soon after this ruling. In a briefing filed with the court, CSL Plasma acknowledged that the FDA issued revised guidance for collection facilities regarding transgender donors in December 2015, and indicated that the company has worked to follow the FDA’s guidance. Ms. Kaiser was represented in this case by David Ward of Legal Voice, a Seattlebased women’s rights organization; Isaac Ruiz, Kayti Knudson, and Gabe Verdugo of Keller Rohrback LLP; and Jill Gaulding of Gender Justice, a Minnesota-based organization devoted to addressing gender inequality. Her attorneys applaud Ms. Kaiser’s courage in bringing the lawsuit and note the significance of the court’s rulings in this case. “Judge Martinez recognized that federal law doesn’t give plasma centers a license to discriminate against transgender people,” said David Ward of Legal
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Legal Voice is a progressive feminist organization using the power of the law to make positive change for women and girls in the Northwest. Legal Voice uses groundbreaking litigation, legislative advocacy, and community education to fight gender oppression and injustice in the legal system. Gender Justice is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that seeks to eliminate gender inequality through litigation, public policy advocacy, and education programs. Founded in 2010, Gender Justice is based in the Twin Cities and serves the Upper Midwest. Keller Rohrback L.L.P., with offices in Seattle, Phoenix, New York, and Santa Barbara, serves as lead and co-lead counsel in lawsuits throughout the country and is proud to offer its expertise to clients nationwide, and our trial lawyers have obtained judgments and settlements on behalf of clients in excess of seven billion dollars. Courtesy of Legal Voice
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Rock legend Melissa Etheridge lends her powerful anthem “Giant” to the McGregor campaign Former Seattle City Commissioner Mac McGregor is one of 11 transgender candidates running for office in the U.S. in 2017. If elected, Mac would become the first transgender person to hold a seat on Seattle City Council and the first transgender person elected to office in Washington state. McGregor is a former women’s world martial arts champion and Seattle City Commissioner and LGBTQ activist running for City Council. McGregor says his desire to run for Seattle City Council is a culmination of life experiences that have given him a better understanding of the importance of advocating for the marginalized populations in Seattle’s community. “I am running for the people of Seattle. This is an at-large seat and I intend to be a voice for the people,” he says. “This is a campaign for all of us.” Melissa Etheridge has noted the importance of McGregor’s campaign and has offered her hit song “Giant” as an offering. McGregor says of Melissa Etheridge’s endorsement, “This song is the perfect theme for this groundbreaking campaign. We are so grateful for Melissa’s endorsement and can’t wait to share it with everyone.” McGregor adds, “Melissa is someone I admire, she was out and open about who she was long before there was more acceptance for gays and lesbians, and then she was very open about her battle with cancer. She did not hide through her struggle with cancer; she is a fellow warrior. I appreciate that about her and the raw heartfelt passion in her writing has always spoken to me.” “Giant” came out in 2004 when George W. Bush was in the White House and the song’s message could not be any more appropriate now with Donald J. Trump in charge of the country. The lyrics say: “You tried to make us small, you tried to make us crawl. / You tried to hold us down, you tried to hold us back. / You tried to make us wrong, you tried to make us crack. / But you did not count on the tide, you did
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continued from cover freedom, this is the next step. Mac spent life in a world opposed to the very core of his being. Having to learn how to listen to those who didn’t mesh with his very existence. He needed to see humanness in all people – it was the only way for him to survive. He thrived by building bridges, connecting communities and casting a far net aimed to unite the masses. This is precisely what we are facing as a country right now – we are divided and polarized. Every group is in its own corner fighting for their own dignity and safety. My husband brings us all together because TOGETHER we can change the world. Activists struggle, they put everything they have into changing the world. Changing hearts and minds to make the world better for EVERYONE who lives in it. This is not a paid position. This is a labor of love. Mac was called to this way of life and has answered the call time and time again. As a transgender man who lived as a lesbian in the Bible Belt of Florida for 40 years and also the child of a 16-year-old single mother with mental illness, Mac had to find ways to see the best in people. And he did, he never gave up on the fact that one person with heart and determination can
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Melissa Etheridge – Photo courtesy of fanart.tv.com
not count on me, I am a GIANT, and you will not make me crawl. “And I’m not alone, winds of change have blown / And the walls come tumbling down. / We are standing side by side, we are determined now to win. / We have come so far, and we got the stars and we are NEVER going back into the shadows again!” McGregor adds, “It feels like we have a faction of people who would love to make marginalized communities hide in the shadows right now. Out of sight, out of mind. Many want LGBTQ people, Muslim people, women, Immigrants, Native Americans, and People of Color to be silenced. I will not stand for that and I am not alone.
That is the message of this song and that is the message of my campaign.” McGregor will get to personally thank Etheridge May 7 when she plays at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. “Melissa understands the importance of a campaign like mine at this time because she has been involved in the battle for civil rights for decades,” McGregor says. “I am honored that she saw the significance of this movement for transgender rights and visibility.” McGregor’s campaign slogan, “Mac’s Got Your Back,” embodies his personal goal of empowering others, regardless of race, gender, religion, age, or sexual orientation through education and equal rights.
“I want to use my experiences, talents and skills to empower others, especially those who feel disenfranchised or marginalized,” McGregor says. “If we move transgender rights forward, we move all marginalized communities’ rights forward. Running for this seat is truly an honor and a responsibility I do not take lightly.” For more information on McGregor’s campaign and to learn more about the groundbreaking Seattle City Council candidate, please visit www. votemacmcgregor.com.
make a huge difference. This carried with him when he finally moved to the “promised land” of Seattle where he could finally be true to himself in ways that even he had never imagined. After a lifetime of discipline, practice and dedication to Karate and his dojo where he taught women and children to defend themselves through empowerment, it was time to move to Seattle and LIVE. LIVE as the person he always knew he was all along. He left everything behind because he knew that as the martial arts community eventually accepted his sexuality, it would be unlikely they would accept his social gender identity change. Mac left his dojo, his very successful martial arts career, and his home. He came to Seattle and went quickly into social transition. As Mac was free to be himself, he realized how important it was that he help other people be able to do the same. He realized that he could use his public speaking skills and dedication to empower others to change hearts and minds and to inspire people to be true to themselves. He dedicated himself to social justice and civil rights. He was appointed by the Mayor Mike McGinn to be an LGBTQ Seattle City Commissioner. This distinguished position helped open the doors to make real policy change. As an out transgender man who openly and publicly uses his own struggle to educate and eradicate hate, he accepted the
fact that people would often times despise him and that his life would, at times, be at risk. When I agreed to marry Mac, I did so understanding that risk. That even in “the promised land” there is much work to be done. He worked to pass marriage equality. He helped pass transgender protections and health care for city employees, gender neutral bathrooms, and helped create a transinclusive Seattle Police Department policy and training syllabus that is now used with every officer on the force, to name only a few of his recent accomplishments. I pay attention to the work that Mac does every day. The difficulty of meeting people in the middle to guide towards change. Putting himself in the line of fire for so many judgments. Not being able to fight for rights without someone feeling it was done wrong. I have in my life experienced discrimination for my sexuality as well as being a teen mother yet never this publicly. There are criticisms from all sides, from the people who fight against his basic human rights to people from within his very own community. People who don’t understand his heart and even people who want him killed. What I want every single one of them to understand is that Mac McGregor does everything he possibly can to create a world where all people can be true to themselves – where basic human rights and dignity are simply common sense. He fiercely advocates for all people and truly
believes that our country is only as strong as our most marginalized communities. And the really cool thing about all this beautiful ideology and his living example is that he actually does know how to make the changes that will put this plan into action. Mac sees that building bridges, not walls, is the answer. Celebrating our differences and learning from one another is of critical importance. Transforming our tolerance of hate through understanding and compassion is in his heart. This is why I chose to spend my life with this man. This is why I believe in him. This is why. For more information on Mac’s campaign www.votemacmcgregor.com
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Republicans pile on: GOP operative files ethics charges against Ed Murray Ethics Board dismisses complaint by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Just when things couldn’t have gotten worse for Seattle mayor Ed Murray, they did. On April 8, less than 48 hours after the Seattle Times broke the story accusing Murray of child abuse, former Republican operative Christopher Clifford filed ethics charges against the mayor. At issue was a small detail in the Times story. Noting that Murray had been accused of similar behavior in 2008, the newspaper reported that at that time he’d hired a lawyer, Katherine Heekin, and paid her out of
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continued from cover for your continued support.” The same day Murray released that statement, the Seattle Times editorial board issued a demand that he withdraw from the race. The charges – even if false – the Times said, could make Murray vulnerable and lead to unintended consequences. “If he runs under that cloud,” the Times wrote, “it increases the possibility of a Mayor Kshama Sawant, or some other extreme left-wing ideologue, steering this
his surplus campaign funds. That, Clifford charged, is illegal, so he filed a complaint with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). According to the PDC, there is a fiveyear statute of limitations on campaign finance complaints, so they will not investigate charges based on actions taken in 2008. The law itself is ambiguous. Elected officials are allowed to use campaign funds for a “nonreimbursed public office related expense.” That includes expenses “incurred by an elected or appointed official, or a member of his or her immediate family, solely
because of being an official,” and, had the charges proceeded to a formal investigation, Murray could have argued that he was being accused only because he was – at that time – a state legislator. In fact, Murray’s attorney responded to the current accusations in exactly that way – saying that the current allegations are “politically motivated.” Clifford himself has a litigious history. He has sued to block enforcement of the state’s Shoreline Management Act, to recall former Port Commissioner Pat Davis, and to prevent former King County Elections Director Sherill Huff from running for office.
Clifford is a self-described ally of current Pierce County Councilmember Pam Roach, best known as the pistol-packing state senator who consistently voted against LGBT rights in her 26 years in the legislature. After working as Roach’s legislative aide, Clifford then went to work for another bombastic Republican legislator, Don Benton, later chair of the Washington State GOP.
booming city wildly off course. An open field will draw better mainstream candidates who can build on Murray’s work.” Given that the Times broke the story about DH’s charges, their editorial raises the question whether it is looking for another candidate to step up and run against Murray. Reportedly, Moxie Media, a local political consulting and PR firm, has been in contact with an unnamed woman who is considering announcing her candidacy. While the firm would not reveal her name, it did say she was “credible” and “resourced.” Attorneys for DH, meanwhile, refused to back down from their charges in spite of the new evidence that DH could not de-
scribe Murray’s genitals at all. In a statement responding to Murray, one of the lawyers representing DH, Lincoln Beauregard, all but accused Murray of having contracted STIs from cavorting with under-age prostitutes. There could be many causes for bumps on Murray’s genitals, Beauregard said, and “Those medical causes could include multiple medical complications stemming from having promiscuous sex with multiple child prostitutes. Bumps, warts, and/ or moles do not always remain 30 years, depending upon the root cause.” Beauregard has asked for Murray to agree to be formally deposed on May 2, the
mayor’s birthday. DH’s lawyer has already demanded to depose Murray’s spokesperson, Jeff Reading, on April 20. Beauregard has said that DH is Gay, and that he personally is “SUPER pro gay rights,” but the principal partner in Beauregard’s law firm, Connelly Law Offices, has contributed to anti-LGBT causes. Lawyer Jack Connelly donated $25,000 to I-1515, the unsuccessful 2016 initiative that would have barred Transgender people from using restrooms that correspond with their gender identities. His wife, Angela, contributed an equal amount in her own name.
Seattle City Councilwoman Lorena González nominated for EMILY’s List’s Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 10 EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that Seattle City Councilwoman Lorena González is a 2017 nominee for their Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. Named in honor of the dedicated and courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office. The award honors a woman who demonstrates the sort of commitment to community, dedication to women and families, and determination and civility that have been the highlights of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ career, in and out of office. Previous Rising Star Award recipients include Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams in 2014, Boston City Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley in 2015, and Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran in 2016. “Lorena is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List. “Her focus on pragmatic solutions and commitment to protecting the rights of all Americans is needed now more than ever. She has been an extraordinary trailblazer in the city of Seattle and the EMILY’s List community could not be more excited to nominate her for the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award.” In 2015, Lorena made history as the first
Lorena González is nominated alongside: Teresa Benitez-Thompson, Nevada Assembly Majority Leader; Coral Evans, Mayor of Flagstaff, Arizona; Nicole Galloway, Missouri State Auditor; Helen Gym, Philadelphia City Councilwoman; Jennifer McClellan, Virginia State Senator.
Seattle Councilmember Lorena González – Photo by Bettina Hansen slash The Seattle Times
Latina elected to the Seattle City Council. She is a champion for women, immigrants, and workers. The daughter of once undocumented immigrants, Lorena earned her first paycheck at age eight and worked multiple jobs to attend college and law school. She spent a decade defending everyday people against powerful interests as a nationally
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recognized civil rights attorney. She is currently advocating for paid family leave and legal aid for undocumented immigrants. The Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award winner will be chosen with community input. Online voting can be found at https://www.emilyslist.org/ Vote for the 2017 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star.
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EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $500 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making them one of the most successful political organizations ever. Our grassroots community of over five million members helps Democratic women wage competitive campaigns – and win. We recruit and train candidates, support strong campaigns, research the issues that impact women and families, and turn out women voters. Since our founding in 1985, we have trained nearly 10,000 women to run and helped elect 116 women to the House, 23 to the Senate, 12 governors, and over 800 to state and local office. Forty percent of the candidates EMILY’s List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color – including every single Latina, African American, and Asian American Democratic congresswoman currently serving. Courtesy of EMILY’s List
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Seattle Human Rights Commission condemns Department of Homeland Security policy to allow ICE arrests in state courthouses The Seattle Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) condemns recent statements by the Department of Homeland Security (the “Department”) which supports the use of our state courthouses by immigration officials as places for the arrest of victims, witnesses, and parties to civil actions. As Washington Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst articulated, such a practice “impede[s] the fundamental mission of our courts, which is to ensure due process and access to justice for everyone, regardless of their immigration status.” California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye has voiced to the Department similar concerns, grounded in her own long judicial experience. Our courts are essential to provide not only justice but respect for the dignity of threatened persons. For example, crime victims must be able to seek relief without fear of immigration enforcement. Un-
less victims feel they can safely access the courts, crimes will go unaddressed and our community will be less safe for all. Our elected leaders have done much to address these concerns. In 2013, Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act to provide a path to legal residency for undocumented victims of a crime who assist in the investigation or prosecution of that crime. Our judiciary, law enforcement, and local leadership have also worked to ensure our courts remain sanctuary courts. The Department’s position threatens to make that impossible. Recently, Department Secretary John Kelly and Attorney General Jeff Sessions responded to Justice Cantil-Sakauye, explaining that the Department takes advantage of the state courthouses because persons inside have already passed through courthouse security screening for weapons.
This facile exploitation of our state courthouses offends basic norms of decency and federalism. It violates the King County Superior Court Policy on Immigration Enforcement in Courtrooms, which bars the execution of immigration warrants in the King County Superior Courthouses. As such, it commandeers non-consenting state court security personnel into becoming arms of the Department. Accordingly, it violates the Tenth Amendment. The Department’s position violates Article 8 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, entitling all persons to “an effective remedy” by the courts when their rights are threatened. Undocumented people cannot exercise their human right to access the courts if they risk immigration arrest for doing so. The Department’s position equally violates Article 10 of the Declaration, which entitles all persons “in
full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of [their] rights and obligations.” The state courts, bolstered by the support of Justices Fairhurst and CantilSakauye, strive to provide such fair tribunals. But their important work is hindered by the Department’s exploitative and bad faith conduct. The Commission therefore stands with Justice Fairhurst in calling upon the Department to declare state courthouses “sensitive locations” under Department Policy 10029.2 in which it will not conduct immigration enforcement actions. The Commission equally calls upon our state courts and elected officials to explore options that will ensure our undocumented neighbors can safely access justice without fear of immigration enforcement.
Anti-Gay Bush official hired by Trump White House by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A former Bush administration official involved in purging LGBT government employees has been hired by the Trump administration. During George W. Bush’s presidency, James Renne was involved in a major scandal, in which government employees were targeted for removal because of their suspected sexual orientation. Renne, then an official in the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) – a federal agency charged with protecting whistleblowers from retaliation – created the so-called “Midwest Field Office” in Detroit, and abruptly reassigned career employees there, 500 miles away from their homes in
Washington DC. Those who refused to move were fired. According to a 2013 Inspector General’s report, there was no legitimate reason for reassigning the employees. The only thing they had in common was that they were believed by their superiors to be LGBT. The report found “facts which reflect that Mr. Bloch and Mr. Renne may have been motivated in their actions by a negative personal attitude toward homosexuality and individuals whose orientation is homosexual.” Shortly after he was hired as deputy counsel, language informing employees that antidiscrimination protections extended to sexual orientation disappeared from the agency’s website. “Mr. Renne was depicted as intently
searching the OSC website with the assistance of a senior career official to identify passages which interpreted [the nondiscrimination law] as extending protection to employees on the basis of their sexual orientation,” the investigative report said. “According to this account, Mr. Renne demanded that OSC’s information technology manager remove these materials from the website immediately.” Employees began to complain of being improperly fired and to file complaints. Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Trefry, who was tasked with opening the Detroit office, told investigators that “[Renne’s boss Scott Bloch] indicated to General Trefry that there was a sizeable group of homosexuals employed by OSC, which had developed during the years prior to his taking office,
that he ‘had a license’ to get rid of homosexual employees, and that he intended to ‘ship them out.’” Eventually Renne pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of destroying evidence to thwart FBI investigators. Now Renne is back in a government job, holding a staff position in the Department of Agriculture. In fact, Renne was one of the very first political appointees of the new administration, part of the “beachhead teams,” whose role was to lay the groundwork for the new administration’s policies. Neither Renne nor the Department of Agriculture has responded to requests for comment.
Donald and Melania Trump ruin Easter by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Donald and Melania Trump have ruined Easter! That’s the conclusion of a New York Times article published April 11. According to the Times, the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll – a Washington fixture for nearly 140 years – will be much smaller this year and will lack some of the special features that have enlivened the event in the past. For example, only 20,000 people are expected to attend the event this year, down from the 37,000 who came to the final Obama-era Easter party in 2016. Only 500 people will staff the Trump event, half of the 2016 number. Only 40,000 hand-crafted wooden Easter eggs will be distributed as souvenirs this year, with 18,000 to be given away and the rest available for sale. Some 85,000 of the special eggs were handed out in 2016. Military bands will provide musical accompaniment, rather than the A-list entertainers like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande,
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Idina Menzel, and Silentó who have performed at the event in the past. And, in contrast to Obama-era Easter events, which featured a coterie of Sesame Street characters, PBS was able to provide only one costumed character this year. The reason for the scaled-back Easter party was not economy or a commitment to smaller government. It was, the Times says, simple incompetence. The Trumps – and particularly Melania, since the Easter Egg Roll is usually organized by the First Lady – just didn’t get their act together in time. “You don’t understand what a beast this thing is to plan until you go and plan your first one,” said Ellie Schafer, who organized Easter Egg Rolls for the Obamas as the director of the White House Visitors Office from 2009 to 2016. “Every administration tries to put its own stamp on it, but the stakes are high because it’s such a Washington tradition, and people just love it and have very strong feelings about it.” “It’s the single most high-profile event that takes place at the White House each
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year, and the White House and the First Lady are judged on how well they put it on,” agreed Melinda Bates, who organized eight years of Easter Egg Rolls as director of the White House Visitors Office under President Bill Clinton. “I’m really concerned for the Trump people, because they have failed to fill some really vital posts, and this thing is all hands on deck.” According to the Times, the Trumps did not even begin planning the event until last month, by which time it was too late to order hand-made eggs, ask PBS for costumed characters, and book entertainment. Wells Wood and Finishing, the company that supplies the special eggs for the event, even tried to warn the Trumps that time was running out. But Melania continues to live in New York, not at the White House, and she has not selected a staff to help her with ceremonial duties. Donald, on the other hand, was lurching from crisis to crisis with no time to devote to party-planning. Stephanie Grisham, who just started as Melania’s communications director on
April 10, originally denied that the Easter Egg Roll was being scaled back year. But by April 11 she acknowledged that attendance would be “a bit less” than in the past – because, she said, former officials told her that “the event had become so large that many children were not able to enjoy the planned activities.” “Our team has been working very hard to make this year’s event a success,” Ms. Grisham said. “I am confident that the success of this year’s Easter Egg Roll will speak for itself.” The White House Easter Egg Roll was introduced by Rutherford Hayes in 1878. Hayes, a teetotaler, and his wife, known as “Lemonade Lucy,” were eager to host family-oriented events at the White House – in contrast to his hard-drinking predecessor, Ulysses S. Grant. The event outlasted the one-term Hayes administration, growing to become a Washington tradition.
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Bernie Sanders is the most popular US senator, Mitch McConnell the least by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Bernie Sanders is the most popular US senator and Republican leader Mitch McConnell is the least, according to a new poll released April 11. The poll, conducted by the survey company Morning Consult, asked more than 85,000 registered voters to rate their own senators. Pollsters asked the questions weekly from January through March. Seventy-five percent of Sanders’ constituents approved of his performance in office, the poll found, compared to 21% who disapproved. At the other end of the scale, 44% of Kentuckians approve of McConnell’s performance, compared to 47% who disapprove. McConnell is the only senator to earn a net negative rating from his constituents, Morning Consult found. Sanders and McConnell retained their titles as most and least liked since the last time Morning Consult released poll results on US senators, in September 2016 Washington’s senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, did not make the top 10 in popularity, but nevertheless did quite well in the poll. Murray earned a 59% positive rating to 29% negative, while Cantwell came
(l) Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell – Photos courtesy of artisanpolitics.com and inman.com
out with 56% positive to 27% negative. Vermonters apparently love their senators. Number two in popularity was Sanders’ Vermont colleague, Patrick Leahy.
Leahy had a 70% approval rating, compared to 22% disapproval. Kentuckians are far happier with junior senator Rand Paul than they are with Mc-
Connell. Paul shows a 53% positive rating, compared to 35% negative. In fact, Paul’s approval rating rose five points over the last Morning Consult poll in September 2016. The good news for McConnell is that his negatives are down since the poll in September. In that survey, 51% disliked McConnell, with only 39% approving his performance. Sanders has gone in the opposite direction, with the defeat of his presidential campaign perhaps causing his constituents to view him more critically. In September 2016, Sanders’ approval stood at 87% with only 12% disapproving. Sanders is far from alone in losing support, however. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska saw the biggest drop in approval by her constituents. Her net approval plummeted 26 points, although 53% of Alaskans still approve of her job performance, compared with 40% who do not. Senate delegations from smaller states tended to be more popular among their voters, with Wyoming and Vermont leading the way in terms of net approval. North Carolina, a perennial presidential battleground state, has the least popular delegation. Thom Tillis of North Carolina holds the title for the least known senator. A whopping 30% of his constituents didn’t even know who he was.
Oklahoma lawmakers shocked by LGBT youth visit: “Cross-dressers are in the building!” by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer “There are cross-dressers in the building,” warned an Oklahoma legislative staffer on April 10. The warning email – sent to pages in the Oklahoma State House – was prompted by the visit of 70 LGBT students visiting the state capitol to lobby for HIV education funding. Staffer Karen Kipgen thought it wise to warn legislative pages that they should use restrooms normally reserved for lawmakers, to avoid possible contact with “crossdressing” visitors. “As per the Speaker’s office, pages are being allowed access to the ladies restroom across from 401, for today,” Kipgen wrote in a mass email to legislative staff and members. “Again, there are cross-dressers in the building.” Needless to say, the student lobbyists were insulted by Kipgen’s email. “We came down to the Capitol to talk
CHECHEN
continued from cover Kadyrov, an ally of Vladimir Putin. The murders of Gay men first attracted international attention April 1, when the New York Times published reports originating in the Russian dissident newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Later the watchdog group Human Rights Watch confirmed reports that Chechen police were arresting, torturing, and killing Gays in the country. Although initial reports said the killings began recently, after LGBT groups applied for permits to hold Pride marches, Gay refugees said that police attacks on Gay men have been going on for at least a year. The Chechen government runs two se-
Karen Kipgen’s email referring to the LGBT students visiting the facility – Photo courtesy of twitter.com
rectly discriminating against LGBT people had already been killed in committee, and his students were there to talk about public health issues. House Speaker Charles McCall’s office quickly disavowed the message, saying it was not approved by McCall or any of his immediate staff. “The email was not authorized by me, my staff, or my office,” McCall said in a statement. “It was sent unilaterally by a House staff member without any input or permission. I was unaware that such an email was being sent, and the remarks contained in the email are not condoned by me or the Office of the Speaker. As Speaker, all Oklahomans should feel welcome in the Oklahoma Capitol building. We are looking into this matter, and it will be taken seriously.” A spokesman for McCall said the incident is being investigated.
about laws,” said Ella Gambino, 17, a Union High School senior. “To be referred to as cross-dressers is something you say as an insult.” “Never have I felt so unsupported,” said Pickles Lee, 18, a senior at Owasso High School. “This email sort of escalated ev-
erything.” Oklahomans for Equality director Toby Jenkins, whose organization sponsored the group, said the visit had been uneventful to that point, though the group had a hard time finding legislators to talk to. Ironically, Jenkins added, most bills di-
cret prisons for Gay detainees, according to Crime Russia, a dissident publication dedicated to exposing corruption. In addition, Chechen activists say that “several internment camps” have been set up where Gay detainees are killed or tortured until they promise to leave Chechnya. Reportedly, dozens of Gay prisoners are being held in Argun, Chechnya. One detainee who was able to flee from the former military headquarters claimed Gay prisoners were forced to pay bribes to Chechen police “to be left alone.” Another former inmate has said he was beaten to force him to name other Gay men. He was also electrocuted in a “homemade electric chair,” he said. The Russian group LGBT Network said it was “ready to evacuate people” from the country.
“No national and/or religious traditions and norms can justify kidnapping or killing of a human being,” the group said in a statement. “Any references to ‘traditions’ to justify kidnappings and killings are amoral and criminal.” The Russian group has joined forces with All Out, an international human rights group, to raise money to help LGBT people escape Chechnya. “What is happening in Chechnya is outrageous. Our priority now is to help get as many people as possible to safety, before it’s too late,” said Matt Beard, executive director of All Out. “Our team is doing everything possible and impossible to achieve that. And we want Russian officials to intervene, to stop the killing, and to start proper investigations. There are no excuses for silence
when people are being kidnapped, tortured and killed,” added Svetlana Zakharova, communications manager for the Russian LGBT Network. Meanwhile, European LGBT groups held a protest rally outside Russia’s London embassy on April 12. “More government action across the EU needs to be taken immediately to stop these atrocities,” Steve Taylor, communications director for European Pride Organizers Association (EPOA), said. “We are seeing very little response to this in the mainstream media, and government action so far is poor. We must not be bystanders, and we must challenge this inhumanity.” Diplomats from the US, UK, and EU have also lodged official protests with the Russian government over the atrocities.
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