Issue 16 Volume 40
Celebrating 39 Years!
FRIDAY April 20, 2012 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
SPOKANE COUNCIL p. 5
DAY OF SILENCE p. 6
JASON MRAZ p. 25
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
courtesy freedom to marry
Seattle archbishop The obligation to make history SGN INTERVIEW – Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry to lead Vatican crackdown on nuns by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
seattle P.I.
Seattle’s Roman Catholic Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, who recently opened churches in his jurisdiction to a petition drive against marriage equality, has now been appointed by the Vatican to lead a crackdown on the largest U.S. nuns’ association. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) represents about 80% of the 57,000 nuns in the U.S. The group was founded in 1956, and has come under fire from the Catholic hierarchy for endorsing President Obama’s health care reform, including provisions on abortion and contraception. Sartain is to oversee a complete overhaul of the LCWR, which will include rewriting the group’s statutes, reviewing all its plans and programs – including approving speakers – and ensuring that the
Longtime Gay marriage activist and executive director of Freedom to Marry (FTM) Evan Wolfson came to Seattle Thursday, April 19, as the keynote speaker at the annual banquet of the Washington-based LGBT bar association QLaw. From arguing in front of the Supreme Court on Gay rights to being named one of the “100 most influential people in the world” by Time magazine in 2004, the New York-based attorney has been an “intellectual anchor” of the same-sex marriage movement, as well as one of its earliest key thinkers, along with other activists like Andrew Sullivan. “We’re thrilled to have him,” said Andrew Sachs, president of QLaw. “It’s the perfect time to Archbishop J. Bishop Sartain have someone of his stature come organization conforms to Catholic to town and address the issue of prayer and ritual. the day.” The Vatican said the overhaul would include a review of ties A LONG TIME COMING between the LCWR and NETArguably, Wolfson was thinking see nuns page 20
see wolfson page 7
Evan Wolfson
Voters rank marriage Catholics for equality last when Marriage Equality’s listing their concerns Barbara Guzzo by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
see concerns page 20
against her archbishop’s decision to support the petition drive against marriage equality. “I don’t think I’m a heretic,” she told Seattle Gay News in a recent interview. “I think I’m on the side of the gospel. I don’t think anything I’m saying goes against the principles of the Catholic faith. “I’m very clear on what the gospels say – it’s a message of love, forgiveness, understanding, inclusiveness.” Catholics for Marriage Equality was formed, Guzzo says, “because we disagree with the bishops. Barbara Guzzo We want to do all we can by Mike Andrew to see that civil marriage is a civil right for all citizens.” SGN Staff Writer “I believe the bishops have a Barbara Guzzo, one of the right to say who can get married founders of Catholics for Mar- within the church,” she is quick to riage Equality, says she is upholding the best traditions of her Catholic faith, even as she speaks out see guzzo page 20
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The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, conducted April 4-15, finds that people say the economy and jobs will be very important to their vote. A majority of respondents, 86%, said the economy is “very important” to them, leaving marriage equality at the bottom of the list. Iran and Afghanistan fared better. Gun control and foreign policy fared better. On one hand, this could be looked at as a positive thing. Voters are not seeing marriage equality as a divisive issue. On the other hand, it shows indifference – and that could be dangerous for a marriage equality campaign. What does this mean for the campaign in Washington state? Rep. Jamie Pedersen, the openly Gay Washington state legislator responsible for introducing the
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Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel
Boston Tea Party speaker: “We will not be silenced by faggots” Paul Weiskel
Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers Mike Andrew, Nick Ardizzone, Miryam Gordon, Anthony Greer, Shaun Knittel, Albert Rodriguez, James Whitely Contributing Writers
Rev. Barbara Allen, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Scott Wittet, Nevin Jefferson, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Rex Wockner
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Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business. Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper. Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication. We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write. And please play safe. It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.
An unidentified protester confronted by a Boston police officer during a demonstration April 15 in Boston.
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor During a Tea Party Tax Day protest that took place in Boston, Massachusetts, last weekend, a speaker reportedly told LGBT protesters that supporters of the conservative movement would “not be silenced by faggots.”
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The comment was allegedly made while local authorities were attempting to break up a group of people who were protesting the conservative demonstration. LGBT activists say they were protesting the event because Scott Lively, an anti-Gay activist, was being honored. Lively has been involved in the “exGay” movement and has pushed for a law that could sentence Ugandan homosexuals to death. According to news reports, a Gay rights group from the African nation has filed a suit in federal court in Massachusetts for violating international law. The lawsuit claims that in 2002 Lively worked with Ugandan religious and political leaders to create anti-Gay hysteria. Lively said that Gays would “sodomize African children and corrupt their culture.” One protester wrote to Back2StoneWall, recounting the incident, “Two of our protesters were arrested, and I moved away from the crowd to show solidarity with them and follow as they were arrested. Af-
ter that, I moved back into the crowd, and a Tea Partier knocked the wig off my head. I picked it up said to him ’Why do you think it’s OK to knock my wig off my head?’ He replied ’Oh, my hand slipped.’” “I was going to continue talking to him but then the officer in the picture approached me and said ‘OK, take your shit and get out of here,’ shoving me back,” wrote the protester. “I said to him ’Don’t shove me.’ He then said ’Don’t shove you?!’ and then choked me, for a short period of time. My comrades reacted pretty quick, taking those pictures, getting his badge number, etc. He was rough with several other people, grabbing one of my comrades’ phone out of his hand when he tried to take a picture, etc.” The Boston Globe is reporting that Boston police will review the actions of the officers at the event after receiving criticism. “We need to review the totality of the circumstances and get a sense of what occurred before and after” the incident, Boston police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
Celebrating 39 Years!
Seattle priest declines to circulate R-74 petition, gets standing ovation courtesy Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
James Cathedral, St. Joseph Church, St. Mary’s Church, St. Patrick Church, and Christ Our Hope Church. Clark said he had immediate doubts about Archbishop Sartain’s approach when he read the archbishop’s letter endorsing the Referendum 74 petition drive. “When I first read the archbishop’s letter I was troubled by the content and his intentions,” Clark wrote. “In conscience, I could not allow signatures to be gathered, to allow the faith to be politicized in this way. “What troubles me is the message this whole approach sends which I find discriminatory and insensitive. To follow through with his wishes would be hurtful, divisive, and a countersign to what we are trying to foster in this Catholic community in Wedgwood. “I deeply believe, and say this with boldness, that this approach is not in the mind of Christ.” In a remarkable post on the parish website, Clark hearkened back to the reforming Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council he convened to modernize the church. Quoting a passage from the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern
World, passed by Vatican II, Clark added, “When you hold the words of this document next to the strategy behind Referendum 74, the dissonance is obvious, jarring.” In this post, Clark denied he was taking a political stand, and defended the church’s teaching on the sacrament of marriage. “By this stance, I am not making a statement for gay marriage as some have assumed. That’s beside the point,” Clark wrote. “The Church’s understanding of the sacramental nature of marriage is an invaluable gift. I see that lived out time and again in married couples within this parish and this helps deepen my own espousal to Christ. “But,” he added, “as a Church we would do well to espouse John XXIII’s approach by looking to what unites rather than what divides at this juncture. Recently, the Church’s image has suffered immensely due to our own sins and lack of transparency. “So, the strategy being taken toward this rather complex issue is unfortunate since it is viewed by many as divisive and hurtful. Just read the e-mails sent me this past week! There are more viable ways to strengthen marriage; to foster the good of others.”
THANK YOU, MIKE ANDREW, FOR COURAGEOUS ARTICLE
hearing from Rome – and sooner rather than later. I have been out most probably longer than you’ve been here (on earth) ... lol ... I came out sometime after I got home from Vietnam, circa 1966. Anyway, I digress. Mainly just wanted to say “thanx” and send you a big hug for your courage in getting this out there. Some years ago, I had lived in San Francisco for 25 years during the wonderfultimes (before the plague). Harvey Milk was a personal friend of mine, and he definitely would have said “thank you,” so take it from him, too!
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Seattle.
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer When Father Tim Clark told his congregation at Sunday Mass that he would not allow Referendum 74 petitions to be circulated at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, they gave him a standing ovation. The Wedgwood church became the sixth in Seattle to opt out of the petition drive approved by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. “I am happy to report that Our Lady of the Lake parishioners have been overwhelmingly and, thus far, unanimously supportive of the decision I made NOT to gather signatures in support of this Referendum,” Clark said in an e-mail to the Seattle PI’s Joel Connelly.
“The standing ovation experienced during one of the Masses says less about me and much more about the health of this parish. I only wished the archbishop could have experienced the sustained applause – the ‘sensus fidelium’ – of the people. He needs to listen to this ‘voice.’ That is my prayer.” “Sensus fidelium,” or “sense of the faithful” in English, refers to the truth of church doctrines recognized – or sensed – by the collective body of church members. According to the official catechism of the Catholic Church, lay people have an equal role with the clergy in identifying true doctrines and carrying out the work of the church. Other parishes that have declined to participate in the petition drive include St.
Spokane City Council tables pro marriage equality resolution by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Following five hours of public testimony and debate on April 16, the Spokane City Council tabled a resolution supporting the state’s new marriage equality law, by a 4-3 vote. According to news reports, Councilman Mike Fagan requested the council table the issue, pointing to a council rule against passing any ordinance or resolution on a subject not directly related to local affairs or business. If forced to vote on the resolution, however, council members agree it likely would be approved by a 5-2 vote. Two marriage equality supporters, Mike Allen and Steve Salvatori, say the council shouldn’t vote on it. Salvatori said he thinks council members
aren’t likely to affect a person’s vote on marriage equality. “Not one person changed their minds by talking to me,” he said. As reported in The Spokesman-Review, Jeremiah Johnson, a North Central High School student and former member of the Chase Youth Commission, said the vote to prevent a vote was disappointing. He testified during the meeting that he loves Spokane even though he is regularly harassed for being Gay. “It is a local issue,” he said after the meeting. “It’s a big deal not feeling a sense of belonging in Spokane.” About 300 people turned out to Monday’s meeting, an overflow crowd not seen at a council meeting in years.
“It is a local issue. ... It’s a big deal not feeling a sense of belonging in Spokane.”
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Mr. Andrew, My name is Duane Fortier. I am writing to thank you for your article about Fr. Ryan & his scrotum, et al. I was elated to read this story. Many years ago, I went to Sacred Heart Grade School, in Tacoma, WA. … Through them, I was confirmed at St. James in Seattle (in 1956). I was Gay then (just didn’t know it, much less the hows and what-fors to do about it). It is sooo very refreshing to see my junior peers out there pressing forward with the news, and especially this groundbreaking move by a priest. Most probably, he will be
Duane Fortier, Concord, CA
Jason Hamilton
Jason Hart Hamilton, 37, passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. Jason was a native of Shreveport, LA, and resident of Seattle for 14 years. He was a graduate of Captain Shreve High School where he played golf and tennis. Jason worked in Seattle as a service engineer in the information technology field, working most recently for Microsoft in the Xbox Live division. Jason was preceded in death by his fa-
April 20, 2012
ther, Robert A. Hamilton, Jr.; maternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. McCarty; and paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Hamilton, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Margie Hamilton; sister, Jennifer Minner and husband, Allen; nephews, Clark and Hart Minner. The family would like to thank Jason’s “Seattle Family” for all the love and support you have given Jason over the past 14 years. We would especially like to thank Rich Bryan, Mike Harris, Christopher Huggins, and Toby Noon. The family requests that memorials be made to the Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, 1915 Grover Place, Shreveport, LA, 71105, or a charity of your choice. Jason was a true friend to many and was always trying to find where he fit in, when all along he fit in right where he was. We will all miss you, my friend. I will be putting together a memorial on Saturday April 28 and wake on Sunday April 29 for Jason Hamilton here in Seattle. Any interested parties can message me on Facebook @ Toby James Noon where I will be updating on when and where this will take place.
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The Day of Silence 2012 by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer Friday, April 20, is the annual National Day of Silence, a student-led event that brings attention to anti-LGBT harassment and bullying in schools. In middle schools, high schools, and colleges, students take a vow of silence for a day to promote visibility of anti-LGBT behavior. The idea is that the vow shows “the silencing effect” that bullying and harassment can create for LGBT students and/or those perceived to be LGBT. The event is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Despite being a national event, the Day of Silence sees participation from all over the world. Last year, the event saw participation in New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, and other countries across the globe. Recently, GLSEN Washington put on their annual Puget Sound Leadership Summit, where they showed students how to put on the Day of Silence in detail, from planning phases to the day itself. “We had schools from Garfield, Roosevelt, all the way out to Mount Si High School,” said Eric Bennett, secretary of GLSEN Washington’s board. “The students were very interested in participating this year.” In 2001, GLSEN became the official organizational sponsor for the Day of Silence.
However the event traces it roots to 1996, when students at the University of Virginia organized the first Day of Silence for an assignment on non-violent protests. More than 150 students participated, and in 1997, the organizers kept the ball rolling by making their event national. Nearly 100 colleges and participated that year. In 2009, GLSEN conducted their “National School Climate Survey.” The survey, which polled 7,261 middle school and high school students, found that nearly nine out of 10 students identifying as LGBT (84.6%) reported verbal, sexual, or physical harassment at school in the previous year, and more than 30% reported missing at least a day of school in the past month as a result of that harassment. GLSEN encourages and offers information for schools and their Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to coordinate follow-up events to the Day of Silence. Events typically include discussions, speakers and workshops. “The Day of Silence brings schools and communities together to show, in a peaceful way, the importance of anti-bullying. It shows the voice of the LGBT community in the school systems,” Bennett told SGN. According to Bennett, that silence is very loud. GLSEN is a national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN en-
visions a world in which every child learns or expression. Donations to GLSEN’s Day to respect and accept all people, regardless of Silence can be made on their website at of sexual orientation and gender identity www.glsen.org.
Support and acceptance of LGBT refugees by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor As increasing numbers of LGBT refugees flee to the United States, ORAM (the Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration) has released the first-ever guide for American LGBT and accepting communities on welcoming people fleeing persecution in their home countries. Rainbow Bridges, a 48-page guide developed in a pilot project to resettle LGBT refugees in San Francisco, offers practical step-by-step guidance on welcoming new refugees, ensuring their mental and physical well-being, and helping them find support in their new communities. It includes sample forms and a suggested code of conduct, and outlines the avenues for refugees to receive housing, employment, and federal assistance. Rainbow Bridges is available at http:// oraminternational.com/publications “There are immediate ways those of us in the U.S. can support members of our LGBT community facing persecution overseas,” said Neil Grungras, executive director of ORAM. “Uniting in support of Queer asylum seekers and refugees is a powerful way of building community and reversing homophobia.” ORAM estimates the U.S. receives about 2,000 refugees a year who are fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, representing 6% of all
refugees in America. Unlike other refugees, those who are LGBT or intersex often undergo the integration process alone, facing exclusion from the religious and immigrant communities that form the safety net for most newly arrived refugees and asylees. Rainbow Bridges will help U.S. LGBT, faith-based, and welcoming communities support these refugees as they build new lives in the United States, say ORAM officials. “LGBT refugees need a different reception for our differences and culture. If I were not Gay, I would have easily been accepted into the African-American community and offered the services I needed; instead I faced further discrimination and restricted resources,” said Buchi Miles-Tuck, a Gay asylee from Nigeria who fled after being threatened with death. “If you have support from the LGBT community, you can get off the plane and experience how to be free in your own skin.” The Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) is the only organization focused exclusively on helping vulnerable LGBT refugees worldwide find safety and rebuild their lives in welcoming communities. ORAM increases global support for refugees and asylum seekers through advocacy and education, as well as technical assistance to people and groups interested in working with refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers. Learn more at www.oraminternational.org.
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Celebrating 39 Years!
Marriage equality study suggests foes assume own marriages are stable by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor According to a new report in the Huffington Post, “Opponents of same-sex marriage worry that extending the institution’s rights to Gay people will harm heterosexual marriages. But a new study suggests that no one really believes their own relationships are at risk – only other people’s.” The study is a demonstration of the “thirdperson perception,” a common psychological bias in which people are convinced that others are much more influenced by outside sources such as media and advertising than they themselves are. “In the realm of same-sex marriage, people who strongly value authority and tradition were the most likely to demonstrate this
wolfson
continued from cover critically about Gay marriage well before anyone else was. As a graduate student at Harvard in 1983, he wrote his thesis on the subject. According to Wolfson, two things contributed to his choice to devote his thesis to the same-sex marriage: the book by historian John Boswell Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality (1980), and his own experiences in the Peace Corps just prior to his time at Harvard. Boswell’s book took an in-depth look at Western religious tradition in regards to its treatment of homosexuality, noting that the Roman Catholic Church had not condemned homosexuality entirely, and prior to the 12th century, celebrated love between men. “It showed that attitudes towards Gay people were much more favorable,” Wolfson told Seattle Gay News. “If it was better before, then it could be better again.” In the Peace Corps, he made the discovery that “who you are is not just shaped by your own personal upbringing … but your society.” For Wolfson, different language, different vocabulary, and different culture made identifying as Gay almost impossible for some of the people he worked with. “They may have had homosexual feelings,” said Wolfson. “But didn’t know what to do with them.” These experiences, combined with his own personal coming-out journey, led Wolfson to believe that the single most transformative piece of vocabulary that was changeable was marriage. “The vocabulary of love, commitment, family, connectedness, and inclusion. It’s not enough to fight to be left alone; we need to work to be let in,” Wolfson said. “I saw it as a constitutional, moral, and familial matter, and I’ve pretty much spent the rest of my life trying to put that paper in to practice,” Wolfson told SGN of his thesis. After graduating Harvard’s Law program, Wolfson worked as a New York prosecutor for many years before making the move to Lambda Legal, an LGBT civil rights litigation organization. However, during his time as a prosecutor, he worked pro-bono during his evenings for a still-young Lambda, drafting various briefs on Gay rights. Although Wolfson pursued a range of cases with Lambda, his cases with the Boy Scouts of America – where it was essentially ruled that a private organization is permitted to refuse membership to someone because of their First Amendment right to freedom of association regardless of state antidiscrimination laws – and Hawaii’s Baehr v. Miike positioned him to be one of the peo-
third-person effect,” said the report. The study idea came about during the height of the public Gay marriage debate several years ago, said study researcher Matthew Winslow, a psychologist at Eastern Kentucky University. Opponents of same-sex marriage kept citing the dangers of such unions, Winslow said. “Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, for example, said in 2005 that same-sex marriage would “undermine the traditional relationship between men and women,’” continued the report. To Winslow, it seemed unlikely that Dobson was including his own marriage in statements like this. “It just dawned on me, most of the people who were really vehemently against Gay
marriage were not likely to say they were worried about their own marriages, but they talked about how if we allowed Gay marriage it was going to be bad for society in general,” Winslow told LiveScience. Suspecting that the third-party perception might be behind this line of argument, Winslow and his colleagues surveyed 120 straight, unmarried undergraduates about their support for same-sex marriage as well as their beliefs about how the legalization of marriage between Gay individuals would affect their own relationships and the relationships of others. The students also answered questions about their political beliefs and their attitudes toward authority. The students were young, putting them in the demographic that is more supportive of same-sex marriage. Indeed, they were generally accepting, with more than half falling on the “supportive” end of the scale measuring attitudes toward Gay marriage. Nevertheless, even in this supportive group, the third-person perception reared its head. “People were not really worried about it affecting their own marriage at all,” Winslow said. “The scores on that measure were really low.” As a relatively accepting group, the stu-
dents weren’t overly concerned that Gay marriage would affect straight relationships. But importantly, they did rate the likelihood of those effects significantly higher for other people than they did for themselves. “The group most likely to see itself as impervious and others as vulnerable was composed of people with a personality trait called right-wing authoritarianism,” said the report. “People with this trait strongly value tradition and authority, and dislike people not in their own social group.” Right-wing authoritarians’ perceptions of themselves as strong and others as weak might help explain this group’s strong opposition to Gay marriage, Winslow said. But the study, published April 10 in the journal Social Psychology, also highlights that everybody judges themselves as a little bit better than the next guy. “If everyone believes that other people are more affected than they are, that’s just not logical,” said Winslow, who suggested that focusing on putting yourself in others’ shoes helps banish this bias. “If you believe you are not going to be affected by [same-sex marriage], just recognize that probably other people believe the same way, so the good news is that probably people aren’t going to be affected by it that much.”
ple at the forefront of marriage equality. In Wolfson does think that there were some state to state, there have been a number of Baehr v. Miike, where he was co-council, points where we might have been able to sustained victories. Same-sex marriage is Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruled that prohib- make same-sex marriage happen sooner. In law in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, iting same-sex marriage in the state con- the ’90s, he didn’t think the battle would last New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and stituted discrimination. To many, Baehr v. until 2012, 2015, or even 2020, but despite the District of Columbia; and according to Miike arguably launched the ongoing global all of it, he’s not giving up. Wolfson, winning more states and defendmovement for the freedom to marry. “You have to act with the urgency of the ing them is what is necessary right now. “We had gotten Americans to put ‘Gay’ opportunity to win today, but at the same “Donate the money. Turn out the voters to and ‘marriage’ into the same sentence. The time, stay persistent for as long as it takes,” win,” Wolfson told SGN. “Prop 8 showed us battle had begun,” Wolfson told SGN. said Wolfson. “The only way to make it hap- that we can’t be complacent. We can lose if In 2003, Wolfson was given time off from pen is to envision it.” we don’t get to work.” his duties at Lambda to put his energy in to Although FTM is active in all 50 states, This has been, to Wolfson, a credo of the marriage battle full-time. Thus Free- sorts, along with a quote by famed 19th/20th there are currently four other key battledom to Marry, his national campaign to win century French feminist Hubertine Auclert – grounds: Minnesota, Maine, New Jersey, same-sex marriage, was born. “If you would attain a right, first you must and New Hampshire. Wolfson says that To Wolfson, FTM was a chance to build proclaim it” – which Wolfson mentioned these states (along with Washington) create the next model for the movement. By ana- in his 2004 book, Why Marriage Matters: an opportunity to transform the landscape lyzing the strengths and weaknesses from America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right yet again. the ’90s and not grounding himself and his to Marry. The single most important thing Washingnew organization in one single methodoltonians can do according to Wolfson is “to ogy, they could pursue a strategy that would make sure we hold the freedom to marry WHERE ARE WE NOW? lead to victory. Is the opposing side is more united? More come November.” organized? According to Wolfson, no. A KNOCKDOWN, THE WASHINGTON “They started with a much bigger and DRAG-OUT FIGHT BATTLEGROUND stronger infrastructure – they abused the “My horizon has always been shorter churches, they had much bigger pots of To win in Washington, Wolfson said, “Do than others’,” Wolfson told SGN in regards money,” Wolfson told SGN. “We’ve had to not just assume that because someone is to how long it’s taken to get this far. Upon put all that together.” pro-Gay, that they understand how urgent it launching FTM, Wolfson laid out the blueAccording to Wolfson, the opposing side is to vote. It’s our job to connect the dots.” prints to win same-sex marriage nationally has many advantages that we’re “now only “[Winning will take] personal action and in five years – obviously, that didn’t happen. catching up with and beginning to over- collective action through the campaign that “At the time, most people believed me, take.” we all have an obligation to support,” said but also thought it was wildly ambitious,” “The reality is that Gay people are a very Wolfson. “We can’t assume that others will said Wolfson. small minority, and unlike other minorities, write a check or contribute to the phone He quickly recognized that grassroots or- we don’t grow up in our own community, bank. All must do their part.” ganizing must accompany legal and politi- we have to find our way to it,” Wolfson told “You have the opportunity and the oblical battles. SGN. “In the beginning, it was easy for the gation to make history,” said Wolfson, ad“It’s not enough to just have legislative right wing to mount this preemptive destruc- dressing the QLaw banquet. strength, you need to create the climate,” tive attack … but over time, as we’ve made “Freedom to Marry would not be commitWolfson told SGN. “The work of earning the the case … we’ve seen public opinion shift ting so much to the Washington campaign if freedom to marry is too important to just be in our favor. Many more non-Gay people we did not 100% believe that Washington left to lawyers.” now care deeply about this and are with can do this,” Wolfson said. “Washington “It’s easier to lend to the defense when us. … We’ve literally doubled the number should be in the lead, not have to try again there’s an attack,” said Wolfson. “But we’ve of Americans who support the freedom to a few years later. Let’s make this one stick.” paid a price for our failure to invest upfront marry. “Having lived through this victory in New and early.” When Wolfosn was co-council in Baehr v. York … it’s so sweet to have worked hard Wolfson sees this as a lesson we’ve had Miike, 26% of Americans supported same- and won something important for our famito keep learning battle after battle – our key sex marriage. Now it’s estimated 53% sup- lies, our communities,” Wolfson told SGN. downfall. “That sweetness is something I wish for evport it nationwide. “There’s no marriage without engageAlthough many fights have been lost eryone in Washington, but it takes action.” ment,” Wolfson told SGN. “Every day we don’t make the case to our neighbors and the voters is the day we miss the chance.” Wolfson will never deny the importance of conversations with neighbors, visibility, $ or volunteering for phone banks, but sees the fight for marriage, like many things, as any size pizza coming down to money. “Donating the money that will enable the 700 East Pine St., Seattle campaign to put forth the media, the televiHOMEMADE sion ads, the tools – that will help shape the HAND TOSSED campaign that our personal conversations and door knocking are a part of,” said WolfFREE DELIVERY • 206-322-6444 Not valid for delivery. son.
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer One thousand people turned out to mourn Gay activist and journalist Raymond Taavel outside the bar in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was murdered April 17. Police have charged a suspect in the killing. Andre Noel Denny was arraigned April 18 on a charge of second-degree murder. Police said Denny had been given a onehour leave from the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Burnside, Nova Scotia, but failed to return. According to CBC reports, Denny suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and has a history of violence. Constable Brian Palmeter told the National Post newspaper that police were called to a bar on Gottingen Street in Halifax at 2:39 a.m on April 17. Officers found the victim in the street, not far from the Menz & Mollyz Bar, along with a passerby who had stopped to help him. The passerby described a man he had seen running away, and officers found the suspect hiding in a nearby alley. Witnesses said Taavel and a friend had just left the bar when they got into a fight with a much larger man. Two witnesses said the attacker used homophobic slurs while beating Taavel, and one eyewitness told CBC News that he repeatedly slammed Taavel’s head into the pavement. A witness, who was identified only as James, told CBC News that he saw a large man attack two smaller men, who appeared to be friends. One victim fled and the attacker then slammed the other man’s head into the street. “He put on a good beating onto the first guy … and then he went after the other
through anger and focused on him too much. That’s how it ended up being what it is,” James said. “The big guy was just full of resentment, probably towards homosexuals. That slur was used.” Police said they were still investigating the motive. “There has been speculation online and in the community that this was a hate crime. While we cannot provide specific information about the case, as it is still under investigation, police have spoken to a number of witnesses and are considering all possibilities with respect to the motive,” Palmeter said. The news of Taavel’s murder sent shockwaves through Halifax’s LGBT community where he was well known. His friend Randell Perry told QMI Agency that Taavel had “a fierce and independent spirit” and “cared deeply about justice and equality and fairness.” “Halifax has lost a great, caring citizen. I’m going to miss him,” he said. Doug Melanson, owner of Menz and Mollyz, where Taavel spent his last night alive playing songs on the jukebox, said that people were angry about the crime. The April 18 memorial vigil had a calming effect, Taavel’s friend Laurie Murray said. “Standing in the huge crowd on Gottingen Street seemed very surreal to me. It was a sea of faces of people I knew and people I didn’t. The mood of the crowd was obviously very somber. I knew a lot of people there were feeling anger over what happened but it was clear that no one was going to let it take over. This was Raymond’s vigil and that simply was not Raymond’s way,” she
file photo
One thousand mourn victim of Halifax hate crime
Raymond Taavel
said, Mourners unfurled a 15-foot pride flag in the middle of the street and sang “Amazing Grace”. Taavel’s friends then took turns paying tribute to him. “When the pride flag was stretched across
the road, we took over the street. Traffic stopped. I remember feeling as if the world was stopping to take notice,” Murray said. “I felt nothing but love last night and was thankful to be rid of the anger that had been building inside me all day.”
Catholic bishop compares Obama to Hitler and Stalin by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation
Bishop Daniel Jenky
In what is possibly the most hysterical language used to date in the Catholic church’s fight against the Affordable Care Act, Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Illinois, compared President Obama to Hitler and Stalin. In an April 15 speech condemning the president’s “radical pro-abortion and extreme secularist agenda,” Jenky said the church was in a “war” in which no “believing Catholic may remain neutral.” “In the late 19th century,” Jenky said in his speech, “Bismarck waged his ‘Kulturkampf,’ a culture war against the Roman Catholic Church, closing down every Catholic school and hospital, convent and monastery in Imperial Germany. Clemenceau, nicknamed ‘the priest eater,’ tried the same thing in France in the first decade of the 20th century. “Hitler and Stalin, at their better moments, would just barely tolerate some churches remaining open, but would not tolerate any competition with the state in education, social services, and health care. “In clear violation of our First Amendment rights, President Obama – with his radical pro-abortion and extreme secularist agenda, now seems intent on following a similar path.” Not content to attack Obama, Jenky also went after Catholic politicians who vote for
reproductive choice, comparing them to Judas. “May God have mercy especially on the souls of those politicians who pretend to be Catholic in church, but in their public lives, rather like Judas Iscariot, betray Jesus Christ by how they vote and how they willingly cooperate with intrinsic evil,” the bishop said. In January, Jenky ordered parishes and other Catholic institutions in his jurisdiction to insert a special prayer – the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel – into the intercessions at Sunday Mass “for the freedom of the Catholic Church in America.” The St. Michael prayer was authored by Pope Leo XIII in 1886, and was once commonly said in Catholic parishes to ask for the defeat of Communism in the Soviet Union. Jenky said it was his duty as bishop to summon the local Church into “spiritual and temporal combat in defense of Catholic Christianity.” “If these regulations [requiring insurers to cover contraceptives] are put into effect, they could close down every Catholic school, hospital, and the other public ministries of our Church, which is perhaps their underlying intention,” Bishop Jenky said. “What is perfectly clear is that this is a bigoted and blanket attack on the First Amendment rights of every Catholic believer.” Jenky has been bishop of Peoria since 2002.
Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.
Go 1605 12th Avenue at Pine, Seattle (In liquor store parking garage.) Seattle Storm!
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Seattle Gay News
April 20, 2012
Celebrating 39 Years!
NORTHWEST
NEWS
compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
NORTHWEST BEARS – SPRING THAW XVIII APRIL 19-22 www.springthaw.org
OASIS YOUTH CENTER & RAINBOW CENTER PRESENT QUEER YOUTH PROM On Saturday, April 21, from 6 p.m.-12 midnight, at Pacific Lutheran University, LANGSTON HUGHES Chris Knutsen Hall (Park Ave. and 122nd AFRICAN-AMERICAN St. S., Tacoma – 3 blocks from the Parkland FILM FESTIVAL Transit Center), the Oasis Youth Center and APRIL 14-22 Tacoma’s Rainbow Center present “Queer www.langstonblackfilmfest.org Prom,” a drug and alcohol free event for LGBT and questioning youth ages 14-24. “PRODIGAL SONS” $2 suggested donation. For more inforOn Friday, April 20, at 7 p.m., Magno- mation and to volunteer, contact Chris at lia United Church of Christ (3555 W. Mc- 253-671-2838 or email oasisyouthcenter@ Graw St.), presents a screening of “Prodigal gmail.com. www.oasisyouthcenter.org. Sons.” The story follows three siblings – a Transgender woman, a Gay man, and their “TEN MORE GOOD YEARS” – adopted brother, who discovers he’s the SCREENING AND MEET & GREET grandson of Orson Welles and Rita HayAT LOBBY BAR worth – back to their Montana hometown, On Saturday, April 21, from 7-10 p.m., the where a powerful story of an entire family’s Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.) in conjunction transformation unfolds. After pulling for with Seattle Office for Civil Rights, SEqual this family through trials and tribulations, Seattle LGBTQ Employees for Equality, we learn that a poignant sense of hope will Seattle LGBT Commission, Seattle Office carry them through. FREE admission. of Arts & Cultural Affairs, and LookOut Films will host a screening and discussion “DINA MARTINA: of “Ten More Good Years,” a documentary AMPLE WATTAGE!” film featuring LGBT Elders who share inFINAL WEEKEND spiring stories of their lives and Queer HisAt Re-bar (1114 Howell St.). Fridays/ tory, which reveal governmental and social Saturdays at 8 p.m.: 4/20-4/21. Bloody inequities and injustices that LGBT elders Mary/Mimosa Matinee Sundays at 2 p.m.: face, such as: outdated tax laws, Medicaid 4/22. Tickets are $20 advance ($25 at and Medicare regulations, Social Security the door). www.brownpapertickets.com/ and inheritance laws, a lack of cultural comevent/218811. petency within social services, and the need for non-discriminatory housing. “Ten More RE-ACT THEATRE PRESENTS Good Years” corroborates these injustices CHAY YEW’S “A LANGUAGE with interviews with gerontologists, social OF THEIR OWN” service workers, lawyers from National On Fridays and Saturdays, April 20-May Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), senior 12, at 8 p.m., at Richard Hugo House (1634 strategists from the National Gay and Lesbi11th Ave.), ReAct Theatre, Seattle’s only an Task Force, and others. The documentary Multi-ethnic Philanthropic Theatre Com- also investigates the process and outcome pany, proudly presents a new staging of the of the 2005 White House Conference on newly revised edition of “A Language of Aging, an event scheduled every ten years Their Own,” the award-winning 1995 play to guide national policies on aging. The about the lives and relationships of four screening will begin at 7 p.m., with an opGay men written by Chay Yew. In every portunity to meet and engage the director in relationship, a new language is forged and a dialogue about this important issue. this early AIDS play explores the nature of desire, sexuality, race and self-definition. FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY Wonderfully simple yet beautifully com2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN plex, “A Language of Their Own,” looks On Saturday, April 21, at 7 p.m., meet at the universal aspects of love, particu- U.S. vice-presidential candidate Christina larly how the past can affect the present in Lopez at a campaign kick-off open house matters of the heart. Tickets: $15-general and fundraiser at 1903 NE 82nd St. Ms. Loadmission; $12-students/seniors/military/ pez is running as a Freedom Socialist Party disabled – with a $3 discount for advance write-in candidate with Stephen Durham of purchase through www.brownpapertickets. New York. A dedicated, longtime fighter for com/event/239555, 800-836-3006 or Elliott immigrant rights, Ms. Lopez, as president of Bay Book Company (1521 10th Ave.), 206- Seattle Radical Women, has led community 624-6600. organizing to oppose wars abroad and social service cuts to Washington state. Supporters MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE – will share stories from the campaign trail SPARKS OF GLORY: and appetizers and desserts will be served “FAR FROM MY HOME” for an $8 donation. Sponsored by the FreeOn Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m., at Se- dom Socialist 2012 Presidential Campaign. attle Art Museum Plestcheeff Auditorium For more information, call 206-722-2453 or (1st Ave. and University St.), Music of www.votesocialism.com. Remembrance presents a 90-minute program of chamber music featuring works by JONATHAN BYRD three Czech composers, Pavel Haas, Erwin Folk musicians Jonathan Byrd and Chris Schulhoff, and Gideon Klein, imprisoned Kokesh present two concerts in Seattle on in Nazi concentration camps. FREE admis- Saturday, April 21, at 8 p.m., at Empty Sea sion. www.musicofremembrance.org. Studios (6300 Phinney Ave. N.) (www. brownpapertickets.com/event/234354) and CAMP TEN TREES – “SHINE” Sunday, April 22, at 8 p.m., at Columbia DINNER & AUCTION City Theater (4916 Rainier Ave. S.) (www. On Saturday, April 21, at 6 p.m. (VIP brownpapertickets.com/event/242363). guest reception at 5 p.m.), at Herban Feast, www.jonathanbyrd.org SODO Park (3200 1st Ave. S.), join Camp Ten Trees staff and supporters for “Shine,” OUT FOR SUSTAINABILITY – Camp Ten Trees annual fundraising dinner EARTH GAY 2012 and auction. Enjoy fine dining and festiviDAY OF SERVICE ties in support of children and youth in the APRIL 22 LGBTQA community. Camp Ten Trees ofOn Sunday, April 22, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., fers summer camp sessions in the Pacific OUT for Sustainability sponsors a day of Northwest, with a week for Lesbian, Gay, environmental activism that will focus on Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, restoring the NW corner of Lake Union and allied (LGBTQA) youth, and a week along the Cheshiahud Trail that circles the for children and youth of LGBTQ and/or lake into a vibrant walking destination and non-traditional families. Cost: $55-regular; biking trail. A range of tasks for a range of $125-VIP. For more information and to reg- interests will take place throughout the day, ister, visit www.camptentrees.org. including removing invasive species like
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ivy, laying down mulch, planting wildflower seeds and native plants, trash pick-up, weeding, improving public access to water, painting signage for the trail, and assembling plant starts. There will be three 2-hour work shifts throughout the day with halfhour transition breaks between each shift. Food and refreshments will be served. The day’s schedule is as follows: 9:3010 a.m., set-up, registration and coffee/pastries; 10 a.m.-noon, Work Group 1; noon12:30 p.m., break, work group transition, and food; 12:30-2:30 p.m., Work Group 2; 2:30-3 p.m., break, work group transition, and food; 3-5 p.m., Work Group 3; 5-5:30 p.m., clean-up and food. For more info and to pre-register for this year’s LGBTQ Earth Day day of service, visit www.out4s.org. Earth Day was founded in 1970 to raise awareness about environmental issues facing our shared planet.
rosehedge.org or contact Cherie at 206-7878412 or cherie@rosehedge.org.
“FLORABUNDANCE” SPRING PLANT SALE AT ARBORETUM On Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, April 29, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Washington Park Arboretum, Graham Visitors Center (2300 Arboretum Drive E., at the north end of the Arboretum), the Arboretum Foundation sponsors “Florabundance,” the Arboretum’s annual spring plant sale featuring herbs and vegetable starts, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. This event is FREE and open to the public. In conjunction with the sale, the Foundation is hosting a member pre-sale and party on Friday, April 27, from 5-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-early-bird/$40 after April 20 and includes first pick of the plants, live music, wine and snacks. For tickets and membership, call 206-325-4510 or visit www.arboPRIDE IDOL 2012 On Sundays through June 10 (no Pride retumfoundation.org. Proceeds from this weekend event benefit Idol May 20), doors at 6 p.m. (with open community karaoke), contest at 8 p.m., at the Washington Park Arboretum. Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), “BARE: A POP OPERA” – join Seattle Out & Proud and your hostess A BENEFIT FOR Gaysha Starr for Pride Idol 2012, Seattle’s WASHINGTON UNITED annual LGBT Pride karaoke contest – FOR MARRIAGE weekly $100 cash prize; $1000 grand prize. On Saturday, April 28, and Wednesday/ For complete details and to register for the contest, visit www.seattlepride.org/pride- Thursday, May 2-3, door at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., Neighbours Nightclub (1509 idol. No cover charge to watch. Broadway) presents “Bare: A Pop Opera,” a compelling story of a group of high school SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN seniors at a Catholic boarding school facBOOK CLUB – WHY BE HAPPY ing issues of sexuality and personal idenWHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL? The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club tity. As they struggle to come to terms with meets every Wednesday, at 6 p.m., at Seattle who they are, and who the world thinks they Area Support Groups Community Center should be, they seek answers from their Church, their friends, and ultimately, from (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). April selection is Why Be Happy When within themselves. Its rich, vibrant score You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Win- draws on many styles of popular contemterson (author of Oranges Are Not the Only porary music. The show is directed by YeeFruit) and May selection will be Are You shin Huang and features a talented cast, inMy Mother? by Alison Bechdel (author of cluding SGN Associate Editor Shaun KnitFun Home) – both new memoirs by two tel. Tickets: $20 suggested donation at the great women writers. For discount on cost door to benefit Washington United for Marriage. This is an ALL-AGES show. of books, email Nick. All GLBTQ folks are welcome to particiEMERALD CITY PRIDE BINGO pate in this FREE book club. For more inTO BENEFIT formation, email nickdimartin@earthlink. CAPITOL HILL PRIDE FESTIVAL net, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/ On Sunday, April 29, from 7-9 p.m., at Juswitter/SGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at lia’s on Broadway (300 Broadway E.), en206-322-2437; www.sasgcc.org. joy an evening of bingo and drag entertainment to benefit Capitol Hill Pride Festival LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE – 2012. Must be 18+. DINING OUT FOR LIFE APRIL 26 SEATTLE FOUNDATION www.diningoutforlife.com/seattle GIVE BIG 2012 – MAY 2 www.seattlefoundation.org. BUTCH BLUM – HAMILTON/MAC & JACK’S’ TRANSLATIONS: BREW FEST THE SEATTLE TRANSGENDER On Thursday, April 26, from 5-7 p.m., FILM FESTIVAL Butch Blum (1408 5th Ave.) hosts their MAY 3-6 Hamilton/Mac & Jack’s Brew Fest. Hamwww.threedollarbillcinema.org ilton Shirts, Butch Blum’s favorite madeto-measure shirt maker, will be offering up CINCO DE MAYO Spring’s best customized men’s shirts espeFIESTA 5K OLE! AND cially for you at a 20% discount, beginning TACO TRUCK CHALLENGE Thursday the 26th through Saturday the AT VOLUNTEER PARK 28th. On Saturday, May 5, Volunteer Park (14th To celebrate they’ve invited Capelli’s – their neighborhood barber – who will Ave. & E. Prospect St.) hosts the Cinco de provide hot towel neck shaves and a quick Mayo Fiesta 5K Ole! Run/Walk and Taco restyle for the rest of your evening. BOKA Truck Challenge. Registration for the run/ restaurant will serve up tasty bites to accom- walk begins at 7:30 a.m.; the run/walk takes pany small-batch brews from Mac & Jack’s off at 9:30 a.m. The 107.7 The End beer garBrewery. To RSVP, contact promotions@ den and concert opens at 10:15 a.m. Must BUTCHBLUM.com or call 206-622- be 21+ ID required. The Taco Truck Chal5760. Everyone is welcome, but reserva- lenge begins at 11 a.m. – open to all ages. tions are limited. Please RSVP by April 24. Live music starts at 1 p.m. The event ends promptly at 9 p.m. This is a CASH ONLY event; ATM’s will be available onsite. SEATTLE GIRLS OF LEATHER “KINK NIGHT” TAKEOVER RADICAL FAERIES On Friday, April 27, from 9 p.m.-2 a.m., FILM FESTIVAL at Bar Myx (1212 California St., Everett), On Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m., at the fabuSeattle Girls of Leather will be taking over “Kink Night” at Bar Myx, a new club very lous Fred Wildlife Refuge at 127 Boylston eager to serve its kinky community. Enjoy Ave. E. (across from C.C. Attle’s), the RadiDJ, dancing and debauchery. Must be 21+. cal Faerie Short Film Festival will feature approximately 80 minutes of creative, outwww.sgol.org. rageous, moving, and colorful films about the Radical Faerie experience. (Girl! if you ROSEHEDGE/ don’t know what that means, start here: MULTIFAITH WORKS – www.radfae.org.) Cost: $8. www.brownCARETEAM TRAINING Rosehedge/Multifaith Works is sponsor- papertickets.com/event/242151. 206-200ing a CareTeam Training on Saturday, April 3020. Conveniently offered on the evening 28, for volunteers in support of people with before Goddess Ravenna Ravine: www. HIV/AIDS. For more information: www. goddessravennaravine.webstarts.com.
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INTERNATIONAL
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However, Greenwich dismissed this argument, saying, “It’s rather desperate for the ACL to claim that a submission is more reasoned and thoughtful simply based on the medium it was submitted through. “As the Senate inquiry itself has acknowledged, many of those people who sent a submission through websites like AME’s and Get Up’s included their personal stories about why marriage equality is important to them and their families. “These personal stories, some of which have already been published by the Senate inquiry, make a compelling case for reform.”
by Scott Wittet SGN Contributing Writer
the Mask” website, local media stated that Museveni told the head of the European Union delegation to Uganda, Dr. Roberto Ridolfi, that “many years ago there were four prominent homosexuals, three of them chiefs, and one who did great work for the country.” It is not clear if he was referring to the historical Buganda King (Kabaka) Daniel Mwanga, who is widely believed to have been a Gay man. He is known for having killed 22 early converts to Christianity in Buganda in 1886, accusing them of usurping his power. The executed Christians have since come to be known as the Uganda Martyrs. “Those people [the four historical homosexuals] were not killed, not discriminated against, and not persecuted,” Museveni told the E.U. officials. He added that black Africans have always kept their sexual matters confidential. “I have been married to a beautiful lady called Janet for 38 years, but I have never kissed her in public or in front of my children. Sexual matters, heterosexual or homosexual, must be confidential,” Museveni said. Museveni’s stand on Gay history echoes similar findings in a new documentary by Gay activist group the Uganda Health and Science Press Association. The film profiles Gay communities in pre-colonial African societies and will premiere in June. According to the documentary, the Buganda kingdom, one of the most powerful in the “Great Lakes” region of Eastern Africa, never persecuted or killed Gays. The Ugandan government has distanced itself from the recently re-submitted AntiHomosexuality Bill, also known as the “Kill the Gays” bill, promoted by a conservative Ugandan parliamentarian with backing from a few U.S. evangelical Christian leaders.
courtesy outsports
HIT LIST TARGETING GAYS IN LIBERIA An anti-Gay group in Liberia has reportedly issued a hit list reminiscent of the one that preceded the death of a prominent LGBT activist in Uganda last year. The Associated Press and The Advocate report that a group called the “Movement Against Gays in Liberia” is distributing a list of people suspected of being Gay. Followers have pledged to “get to them one by one.” “Having conducted a comprehensive investigation, we are convinced that the below listed individuals are Gays or supporters of the club who don’t mean well for our country,” the group wrote. “Therefore, we have agreed to go after them using all means.” Liberian legislators currently are considering a bill that would criminalize same-sex marriage. The country already bans “voluntary sodomy” with penalties of up to one year in jail. 2012 Mr. Gay World Andreas Derleth Ugandan Gay rights activist David Kato was beaten to death with a hammer in 2011 NEW RESEARCH ON WOMEN Swimwear and the “Sports Challenge.” WHO HAVE SEX WITH WOMEN A white South African man took second after he sued a newspaper for printing a list IN AFRICA AND ASIA place in the competition, France took third of Gay people. The newspaper’s list of “100 There are not many scientifically rigor- place, the U.S. fourth place, and Nether- Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos,” which was accompanied by the words “Hang ous studies focused on LGBTQ and women lands came in fifth. who have sex with women in Africa or Asia. Carlito Floro Rosadino, Jr., from the Social scientists often claim that Lesbians Philippines, took home two awards: Mr. are hard to find in those countries, and that Gay People’s Choice and Mr. Gay National there is no funding for such projects. How- Costume. Mr. Gay Photogenic went to Arever, two new reports provide opportunities gentina and Mr. Gay Outreach to the Czech to learn more about these hidden worlds. Republic. From April to August 2011, the Queer The South African venue was symbolic African Youth Networking Center (QAYN) because it included black Africans among conducted a five-month research project in the contestants for the first time since the Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria aimed at competition began in 2009. critically documenting the lived realities of women who have sex with other women. MAJORITY OF AUSSIES SAY “I DO” Volunteers conducted interviews and TO GAY MARRIAGE focus group discussions as part of the first Gay Star News reports that an Australian study ever to be designed and conducted by Parliament request for public comment on a Lesbian-led group in West Africa. legalizing Gay marriage in Australia has reEntitled “Struggling Alone: The Lived vealed “unprecedented” support for changRealities of Women Who Have Sex With ing the law. Women,” the study finds that women who Figures released on April 13 by the Aushave sex with women in West Africa remain tralian Senate Legal and Constitutional Afsome of the most marginalized, vulnerable, fairs Committee show that almost 60% of invisible members of the LGBTQ commu- Australians are in favor of allowing samenity. sex couples to marry, with 44,000 out of The Queer African Youth Networking 75,000 letters and emails in favor. Center (QAYN) is a Lesbian-led organiza“The unprecedented level of support for tion formed in 2010 to establish a wide net- this legislation reflects the fact that a majorwork of support to promote the safety and ity of Australians support marriage equality well-being of LGBT and questioning West and support is passionate,” said Alex GreenAfrican youth. The QAYN report is avail- wich, national convener for campaign group able on their website (www.qayn-center. Australian Marriage Equality. org) “The take-home message for our fedUgandan President Yoweri Museveni Another report – “ Women-Loving-Wom- eral politicians is that the Australian public en in Africa and Asia” – summarizes the wants this reform and wants it now.” stories of more than 300 participants, interGreenwich claims the figures show the Them,” made Kato the target of repeated RUSSIA DISAGREES WITH G8 viewed in 14 different languages. Papers in bill is the most popular legislation ever to death threats. His killer, who admitted to the crime and was sentenced to 30 years in ON GAY RIGHTS, THREATENS the book include “From the horse’s mouth: come before the Australian Parliament. NATIONAL ANTI-GAY LAW Township perceptions on the black butch However, the proposals face fierce op- prison, claimed that he acted in self-defense Anna Leach of Gay Star News reports that Lesbian identity” and “Stories to tell: A position from right-wing politicians and against sexual advances. Human rights groups fear that something a Russian official has announced that his Queer women’s oral history in Sri Lanka.” Christian lobbyists. country disagrees with the other G8 counYou can find that report at www.isiswomAddressing the House of Representatives similar could happen in Liberia. tries about protecting LGBT rights. The ofen.org. committee in Sydney on April 12, Dr. DaUGANDA’S PRESIDENT ADMITS ficial also said that Foreign Minister Sergei vid Phillips, national president of Family GAYS PART OF Lavrov had complained about this at the reNEW ZEALANDER WINS Voice Australia, likened Gay marriage to AFRICA’S HERITAGE cent G8 meeting in Washington, D.C. MR. GAY WORLD 2012 incest. He went on to claim that Gays can Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni According to the Moscow Times, Deputy From among 22 Gay men representing be “cured.” their respective countries in the fourth anMany of the comments were sent through has admitted that homosexuality is part of Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Rusnual Mr. Gay World competition held in websites. The Australian Christian Lobby the heritage of black African societies, but sia “cannot agree with the attempts to artiJohannesburg, South Africa, on April 8, claimed that submissions sent via online added that sexual matters were traditionally ficially isolate this category of people as an independent group, allegedly claiming Andreas (Andy) Derleth of New Zealand platforms were less “well reasoned” and private. As reported by the Gay African “Behind for special defense of their rights and intertook the 2012 crown. He also aced Mr. Gay “thoughtful.” Antony Njuguna / Reuters
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Celebrating 39 Years!
ests in the international regime of human rights.” “We consider it inappropriate when, in the name of defending members of so-called sexual minorities, in practice they undertake aggressive propaganda and impose a certain mode of behavior that may offend a significant subsection of society,” said Ryabkov.
bic, the left-wing ones simply wear a mask of kindness and politeness. But they are homophobic as well.” Anna Paola Concia, a Lesbian member of parliament, reacted to Calearo’s and Cimadoro’s statements by asking the presidents of the two chambers to intervene. Nothing has been done.
Example of the anti-Gay ad campaign for buses in London
HOMOPHOBIA GROWING IN ITALY “A Gay kiss? It’s disgusting. I am normal and I like women. A Gay marriage? For God’s sake, no!” That was the reaction of Italian Member of Parliament Massimo Calearo (a former Democrat and now an independent politician) to a question about Gay rights. According to Gay Star News reporter Daniele Guido Gessa, LGBT Italians are experiencing hard times. Italian politicians – with a few exceptions – have never been openly LGBT-friendly, but recently a new wave of homophobia has hit the media. “Sometimes I call them culattoni (Queer) and I’m proud to be normal,” said another Member of Parliament Gabriele Cimadoro, in March. As part of the Italia dei Valori Party (Italy of Values), Cimadoro is supposed to be left-wing. But, as Franco Grillini, former president of the LGBT movement ARCIGAY explains, Cimadoro was previously a Christian Democrat – hence his anti-Gay stance. Grillini told Gay Star News, “The Vatican is the real Italian cancer at the moment, they influence left-wing and right-wing parties. And our politicians are the most homophobic in Europe. “Italy now needs a law against discrimination. When I was in the national parliament, I worked for a bill like that. It was voted for in a commission, but never approved by the assembly.” Enrico Oliari, president of the LGBT right-wing association GayLib, agreed that “Catholicism is the real problem: and while right-wing politicians are openly homopho-
But while officials stay silent, Gay and Trans Italians are taking the lead in fighting for a better future. A conference on Gay marriage was held in Rome on April 12. And Bologna Pride 2012 organizer Emiliano Zaino recently affirmed, “At Pride we’ll shout against the homophobia of our politicians. While Europe is giving LGBT people rights and voice, Italy is still a medieval country, and we can only rely on the judges’ decisions [in legal challenges on LGBT rights issues].” EX-GAY BUS ADS PULLED BY LONDON MAYOR The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, intervened to prevent a Christian advertising campaign from promoting the idea that Gay people can be converted to heterosexuality. The ad was to say: “Not Gay! Post-Gay, exGay, and proud. Get over it!” Just days before the posters were due to appear on buses in the capital, Johnson ordered his transport chiefs to pull the ads booked by two conservative Anglican Christian groups. The campaign had sparked outrage among Gay activists and politicians, according to the U.K. newspaper The Guardian. The ads were funded by the Core Issues Trust of the U.K. whose leader, Mike Davidson, believes “homoerotic behaviour is sinful.” His charity funds “reparative therapy” for Gay Christians, which it claims can “develop their heterosexual potential.” Johnson, who contacted the Guardian to announce he was stopping the ads within two hours of their contents becoming public, said: “London is one of the most tolerant cities in the world and intolerant of intolerance. It is clearly offensive to suggest that being Gay is an illness that someone recovers from and I am not prepared to have that suggestion driven around London on our buses.” The campaign was an explicit attempt to hit back at the U.K. Gay rights group Stonewall, which as part of its lobbying for the extension of marriage to Gay couples is running its own bus ads saying, “Some people are Gay. Get over it.” The Christian ads used the same black, red, and white color scheme as Stonewall’s, and in a statement announcing the campaign accused Stonewall of promoting the “false idea that there is indisputable scientific evidence that people are born Gay.” Ben Summerskill, the chief executive of Stonewall, said the ex-Gay ads were “clearly homophobic” and added, “The only reason some Gay people might want to stop being Gay is because of the prejudice of the
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HUNGARIAN COURT OVERRULES POLICE AND GIVES GO-AHEAD TO BUDAPEST PRIDE A court in the Hungarian capital Budapest has overruled a police department decision not to grant a license for the city’s Gay pride march this year, according to PinkNews. The 2012 Pride March was scheduled to take place on July 7 along one of the city’s main streets. But police refused the march application, arguing it would affect traffic. Last year they made a similar decision, and last year it also was overruled by a judge. Now it seems that once again Budapest
structions have been issued to all public schools and universities to ban the entry of Gays and tomboys and to intensify their efforts to fight this phenomenon, which has been promoted by some websites.” Neither paper states who issued the instruction, but Emirates 24/7 said the students would be able to attend school only if they “stopped such practices.” Saudi Arabia operates a system of Shari’ah law and punishes homosexuality with sentences of corporal and capital punishment. In 2010, Saudi prince Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud was sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for murdering his assistant, Bandar Abdulaziz, in a luxury London hotel. The court heard the attack had a “sexual” element and that the prince had used male escorts in the past. In early 2011, Stephen Comiskey, a 36-year-old British man, was arrested and beaten in Saudi Arabia by religious police when they discovered he was Gay. Threatened with beheading, Comiskey spent six months under a media blackout uncertain whether he would face the death penalty. He says he was tricked by religious police who sent him a text message pretending to be a friend. It was later suggested that Comiskey had been targeted as revenge for the case of Prince al Saud, convicted in the U.K. the previous year. LONDON FESTIVAL LOOKING FOR GREAT GAY ART London’s annual Gay and Transgender arts festival GFEST is seeking submissions for the 2012 event, scheduled for November. Niranjan Kamatkar, artistic director of GFEST, said, “This year we want to address and question the issues and challenges that our community faces on a daily basis. We reuters
Ryabkov also suggested that an anti-“Gay propaganda” law passed recently in St. Petersburg and other regions could become national. The foreign ministers from the G8 countries – the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Italy – were in Washington mainly to discuss issues including the civil war in Syria, North Korea’s missile launch, Iran’s nuclear program, and lifting sanctions on Burma. A report from the meeting reiterated the G8’s support for Gay rights and did not mention Russia‘s disagreement. “Ministers reaffirmed that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all individuals, male and female, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender individuals. These individuals often face death, violence, harassment, and discrimination because of their sexual orientation in many countries around the world,” the report said.
people who are publishing the ad. “The promotion of this voodoo therapy is hugely irresponsible given the damage that it appears to do to some people.” Both men said the ad should not be banned, however, because they believed in freedom of speech. Attempts to “treat” or alter sexual orientation have been strongly condemned by leading medical organizations. The UK Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned that “so-called treatments of homosexuality create a setting in which prejudice and discrimination flourish” and concluded in 2010 that “There is no sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed.” The Rev. Lynda Rose, a spokesperson for the U.K. branch of Anglican Mainstream, a group that funded the ex-Gay campaign, said her organization adheres to scripture and believes that all fornication outside marriage is prohibited and that homosexuals were “not being fully the people God intended us to be.” Anglican Mainstream and other groups behind the pulled ads are reportedly instructing lawyers to sue the Mayor of London and advertising agency CSBO.
Saudi prince Saud Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud
hope to encourage artists to work together on exciting, thought-provoking, and innovative work. We want to query what happens SAUDI ARABIA: SCHOOLS in the Queer arts world.” BAN “TOMBOYS AND GAYS” GFEST is looking for submissions from PinkNews reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has banned Gays boys and artists or organizations, with a particular masculine-acting girls from its schools. A focus on collaboration across art form, age, report on the website Emirates 24/7 says and cultural backgrounds. The festival accepts submissions in three that the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has categories: film, visual art, and perforbeen called on to ensure implementation of mance. Artists must apply through the Gaywise new orders against homosexuality and girls website (gaywisefestival.org.uk) by June who adopt masculine clothes or attitudes. The newspaper quotes the Sharq Arabic- 29. language paper on the announcement: “InPride will march on.
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“Relationship” is a verb by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer How many of you have found yourselves saying, “I’m in a relationship” or “I’m working on my relationship”? Do you know the difference? These statements have very different connotations. When we hear about someone being in a relationship, it feels as though the relationship is going well. When one declares that they are working on their relationship, the meaning often construed is that there are issues and problems. The reality is, relationship isn’t a destination. Being in a relationship is about actively participating. The odds that a relationship will last
and be happier are related to the work put into the relationship. Why do relationships require constant work? One complex reason: the world is a very dynamic place. What that means is that we experience things at different times and in different ways because of all of the other stresses in our lives. You’ve all experienced this; a comment from your partner on a day when things have gone well at work doesn’t affect you as much as the same comment might when you’ve had a bad day at work. As well, we change over time. Our experiences influence who we are. In a relationship, we have to learn to adapt to each other
in the face of these factors. The biggest problem in relationships is people get stuck in patterns and they don’t do things differently. Here are some things to consider to get out of being stuck. The proviso upfront is that this isn’t always easy work to do. It takes practice and dedication. First, most counselors will teach you about “active listening.” This is a skill where we listen more effectively to another. It’s active because we intentionally engage with the other in a way that we get more understanding about what they are saying. For example, if you went to the doctor and were talking to him/her about an upcoming major surgery and his response was simply to take your medication and be at the hospital on time, you wouldn’t feel like he was really paying attention. Rather, if he sat with you and acknowledged your fear and gave reassurance, you’d likely walk away feeling like it was a better interaction. Therapists use this all the time (or they should!). You know when you feel you are being heard and when you don’t feel heard. The next is necessary for active listening to occur. People have to learn to stay calm sometimes. In relationships, partners often get defensive. How do you not get defensive? People get defensive when they feel they have to defend themselves or prove they are right. In many cases, it is hard to prove who is right. People do experience or remember things differently so arguing about who is right is endless and frustrating. When we are calm, we aren’t defending ourselves and we interact with our partner differently. This can contribute to the exchange going better than it would with defensiveness. A third important thing to do is to forgive. This is a concept that really gets people upset. There are effective ways to forgive and
ineffective ways. The most ineffective way is to hold on to your hurt or anger about something. That really isn’t forgiveness. The way I define forgiveness is that I make a choice about no longer feeling hurt or angry about something done by another. It isn’t about saying what they did was okay or minimizing what they did. It is simply about how I want to feel about it and when I want to change that. However, let’s be clear about how forgiveness works. If you’ve done something to me that is hurtful, I forgive you, and you continue to do it, that is a problem! I am completely in charge of how I feel about something. The other is completely in charge regarding how he wants to treat me. Forgiveness isn’t permission to continue to hurt another. Liven things up! Every month, each partner can participate in doing something nice and fun for the other. Plan dates, give small gifts, do something nice for the other. Remember to let the other know how and why he/she is important to you. I frequently ask couples to describe what each does for the other that shows they love them. Ask yourself the same question; what do you do that shows your partner you love him/her and what does she/he do that shows they love you? Many can’t answer that question. Know clearly what you do that shows love and make sure your partner knows that those actions are about love. Finally, sex! Don’t forget sex! Sex is healthy and it contributes to the well-being of individuals and the relationship. If sex is an issue in the relationship, it is worth figuring out how to deal with that. “Do your behaviors match the message you intend to send?” That is an important maxim. Behaviors indicate so much in a relationship and when you love someone, you have to show that you love them. You have to work at it all the time! If you are looking at it as a chore, you might want to look at that as a big indicator of something. Look forward to working on the relationship and doing things that make the relationship a place both want to be. Make “working on our relationship” a positive reflection of the relationship. Michael Raitt, MA, LMHC, is a therapist and a contributing writer to the SGN. If you would like to comment on this column, ask a question you’d like him to write about, or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast. net.
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Report: Meth users more Stem cells can kill HIV, likely to contract HIV UCLA researchers say by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor According to a new study headed by Robert Bolan, M.D., medical director of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center since 1996, crystal meth users are more likely to contract HIV than non-users. “My interests have always been driven by what the problems are that threaten our community,” Bolan told the South Florida Gay News. “For the past five to 10 years or so, I think that crystal methamphetamine use is a scourge in our community that is helping to fuel the HIV epidemic.” The study looked at more than 9,000 people. Those who admitted using meth in the preceding year were almost four times as likely to contract HIV, more than four times as likely to contract syphilis, more than twice as likely to contract gonorrhea, and almost twice as likely to contract chlamydia. They were compared with those who hadn’t used in the preceding year. Of all the diseases 60% of those newly infected had admitted to using meth in the preceding month. “Because crystal meth can increase sexual arousal while reducing inhibition and judgment,” the study read, “its use is associated with high-risk behaviors that increase the likelihood of acquiring a new STD or HIV.” “The effects of a given dose of [meth] last
for hours and this can result in so-called sex marathons where an individual can engage in continuous or repetitive sexual activities with the same or multiple individuals,” Bolan said, adding that the drug also tends to dry out mucous membranes, like the rectum, adding potential to injury. “All of these things – prolonged intercourse, multiple partners, dried mucous membranes – promote transmission of HIV and STIs. … One effect of [meth] is that it can inhibit erections, but with erectile dysfunction drugs that side effect is no longer a limiting factor.” According to the South Florida Gay News, the researchers looked at various educational resources and found that all of them are directed at meth users, or at trying to persuade people not to start. This study attacks from a different angle. “Our message is not that ’if you have sex with someone who uses [meth], you will become infected with something,’” Bolan said, adding that his study in no way suggests that having unprotected sex with a non-user is a definite shield against STIs. “Our message aims at a more real world way that Gay men appear to be looking at sexual partner choices. We just want everyone to think about this a bit differently. … My intent is to arm Gay men with real statistics that can help them make informed sexual choices.”
Human stem cells can be genetically engineered to kill HIV-infected cells in a living organism, a new UCLA study says. The study, published in the journal PLoS Pathogens on April 12, follows up on previous research providing “proof-of-principle” that stem cells can become anti-HIV immune cells. “We believe that this study lays the groundwork for the potential use of this type of an approach in combating HIV infection in infected individuals, in hopes of eradicating the virus from the body,” said lead researcher Scott Kitchen, assistant professor of medicine in the division of hematology and oncology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a member of the UCLA AIDS Institute. “We believe that this is the first step in developing a more aggressive approach in correcting the defects in the human T cell responses that allow HIV to persist in infected people,” he added. In the previous studies, scientists took CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes – the “killer” T cells that help fight infection – from an HIV-infected individual and identified the molecule known as the T cell receptor, which guides the T cell in recognizing and killing HIV-infected cells. Although T-cells are able to destroy HIVinfected cells, they do not exist in great enough quantities to clear the virus from the body, so the researchers cloned the receptor and used this to genetically engineer human blood stem cells. They then placed the engineered stem cells into human thymus tissue that had been implanted in mice, allowing them to study the reaction in a living organism. The engineered stem cells developed into a large population of mature, multi-functional HIV-specific CD8 cells that specifically targeted cells containing HIV proteins. The researchers also discovered that HIVspecific T cell receptors have to be matched to an individual in much the same way an organ is matched to a transplant patient. In the latest study, UCLA researchers engineered human blood stem cells and found
that they could create mature T cells that can attack HIV in tissues where the virus resides and replicates. As in the previous studies, they used mice that had received implanted human thymus tissue. They then tested the mice’s peripheral blood, plasma, and organs two weeks and six weeks after introducing the engineered cells. Researchers found that the number of CD4 “helper” T cells – which become depleted as a result of HIV infection – increased, while levels of HIV in the blood decreased. CD4 cells are white blood cells that are a component of the immune system, helping to fight off infections. These results indicated that the engineered cells were capable of developing and migrating to the organs to fight infection there. Human immune cells reconstituted at a lower level in the subject mice than they would in humans, researchers noted, and as a result, the mice’s immune systems were mostly, though not completely, reconstructed. Because of this, researchers said, HIV may be slower to mutate in the mice than in human hosts. One way to compensate for this difference, they said, might be to use multiple engineered T cell receptors rather than one variety only. The UCLA AIDS Institute was founded in 1992, as a multidisciplinary think tank including researchers in virology and immunology, genetics, cancer, neurology, ophthalmology, epidemiology, social sciences, public health, nursing and disease prevention.
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Seattle Gay News 19
nuns
continued from cover WORK, a Catholic social-justice lobby. Sartain will be assisted by Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, according to the Catholic News Service. Local Catholic sources speaking to SGN on condition of anonymity said that Sartain is considered a leading candidate to replace Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, who has already reached the church-mandated retirement age of 75. This new assignment is seen as grooming Sartain for advancement. A report released on April 18 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s watchdog organization once headed by the current pope when he was merely Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, contained a long list of complaints against the LCWR. The nuns’ public statements showed “a prevalence of certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith,” the Vatican charged. The Vatican report specifically condemned the LCWR for being “silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively public debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States.” “Further, issues of crucial importance to the life of Church and society, such as the Church’s Biblical view of family life and human sexuality, are not part of the LCWR agenda in a way that promotes Church
teaching,” the Vatican said. “Occasional public statements by the LCWR that disagree with or challenge positions taken by the bishops, who are the Church’s authentic teachers of faith and morals, are not compatible with its purpose,” it added. The report also said that in 1977 the LCWR took a position against reserving priesthood to men only, and that subsequent statements by the nuns on the issue were “a matter of serious concern.” “This public refusal has never been corrected,” the Vatican said. In response, the LCWR charged that it had been ambushed by the Vatican. “The presidency of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was stunned by the conclusions of the doctrinal assessment of LCWR by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,” the nuns said in a statement. “Because the leadership of LCWR has the custom of meeting annually with the staff of CDF in Rome and because the conference follows canonically approved statutes, we were taken by surprise.” Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, said that the timing of the report suggested a link between the Catholic hierarchy’s vehement opposition to Obama’s health care reforms and their decision to crack down on the nuns. “I can only infer that there was strong feeling about the health care position that we had taken,” Campbell said. “Our position on health care was application of the one faith to a political document that we
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read differently than the bishops.” Nick Cafardi, a canon lawyer and former dean of Duquesne Law School, told AFP that he has worked over the years with many nuns and that the charges in the report do not reflect his experience with them. “I don’t know any more holy people,” Cafardi said of U.S. nuns. “I see a lot more holiness in the convents than I see in the chancery.” The Seattle archdiocese was invited to comment for this story but did not respond by press time.
guzzo
continued from cover add, “but we’re talking about civil marriage. They shouldn’t impose their views on civil society.” Guzzo says that she has found many Catholics who disagree with their bishops on the issue of same-sex marriage. “People are very troubled by [the bishops’ position],” she says. “I don’t know what they will do. A lot are speaking to their pastors and that’s a very good way to start.” Guzzo believes that the six Seattle parishes that have refused to circulate Referendum 74 petitions in spite of Archbishop Sartain’s endorsement of the petition drive show the breadth of lay opposition to the archbishop’s views. And Guzzo finds this right in line with her Catholic beliefs. “In Catholic teaching we’re supposed to form our own conscience – all Catholics decide moral issues based on conscience. Vatican II taught this. Just because the bishops have said this [about marriage equality], doesn’t mean it’s the view of the church. “What I believe is important for those of us who are Catholics to remember – especially when we disagree with our church’s bishops,” she says, “is that as Catholics we believe and are taught that we are the Church. “And the good news is that we are now finally becoming an adult church, a church of adults capable of thinking for ourselves and following the primacy of our conscience, and becoming less afraid to speak out and to take action in the face of what we perceive as actions that speak against the Gospels. “So, when you ask me if I am speaking out as a Catholic, this is part of why I am doing so.” Asked if she thought public opinion could force the church’s bishops to change, Guzzo said, flatly, “No.” “The pope is very much a believer in tradition,” she explained. “The church is steeped in tradition, the pope is steeped in tradition. “The bishops are in a very hard place. They know what the pope wants. “Bishop Hunthausen kind of got nailed for speaking out,” she added, referring to liberal Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, who was disciplined and ultimately forced to retire by Pope John Paul II. Many Catholics have left the church exactly because of such heavy-handed tactics by Rome. Guzzo was asked if she ever thought she would be better off outside the church. “I ask myself that,” she admits. “I was
born and raised Catholic, I’m Catholic in my bones. My children have bowed out, but I haven’t.” Guzzo says she sees huge contradictions between the church’s generally progressive values and its vehement opposition to marriage equality. “I’m very proud of Catholic teaching on social justice – on workers’ rights, immigration, the death penalty – and those are gospel values. In that way the church is ahead of society,” she tells SGN. “On sexuality, they are so bound by the past! They’re not paying attention to how the spirit works in this time, and they have put themselves on the side of social injustice. “I was so disappointed,” she continues, “in this past legislative session. There were so many issues where [the legislature] chipped away at the safety net, which goes against gospel teachings. And the bishop was not there. He was only there to testify against marriage.” Guzzo tells SGN she is optimistic about the campaign to approve the new marriage equality law. “So much money has been poured into this from the outside – from NOM. They think, ‘well we won in so many states,’ and they want to win here. I hope we turn the tide.”
concerns continued from cover
marriage equality bill in the House, said that it is important to realize that the poll is a national snapshot, not a local one. “For most of the country, marriage equality is not an issue that is on the ballot or on people’s minds,” he told Seattle Gay News. “So I don’t think it is very surprising.” Pedersen said that although national data can be important, he is more interested to “see the data from our state.” “I agree that jobs and the economy are the most important issues for voters,” he continued. However, for the issue of marriage equality in Washington, he said, he is “hopeful that most people will feel like the legislature has settled this issue and we ought to let same-sex couples get married and move on.” Governor Chris Gregoire signed the state’s marriage equality bill into law in February. The statute is scheduled to take effect on June 6, but referendum proponents have until that day to collect the necessary 120,577 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. Josh Friedes, marriage equality director for Equal Rights Washington, said the Pew research data is more good news for the marriage equality movement. “Social issues are no longer the wedge issue they were in 2004 or 2008,” he told SGN. “Foes of marriage equality are having trouble exciting mainstream conservatives.” “That social issues like marriage equality are not what will drive conservatives to the polls or to mail in their ballots is different from the question as to whether they will vote on marriage equality when the issue is on the ballot,” he said. Friedes said history shows that there is
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“very little drop-off on marriage ballot measures.” “This means if people vote they don’t leave the marriage question blank,” he said. Echoing those sentiments, Pedersen told SGN, “State ballot measures come near the top of the ballot – after the federal offices, but before the statewide offices.” “I do not think there is a huge risk that people will just drop off before that,” he said. “In fact, I suspect that we have a lot of highly motivated folks who will be voting if Referendum 74 is on the ballot and I hope that that helps friends of equality up and down the ballot.” Friedes said that because marriage equality is “no longer such a polarizing topic, that means that we can engage conservatives and the movable middle in a conversation about the importance of marriage equality and why it is good for all families.” “We must be focused on reminding all people that marriage is about love, commitment, and mutual concern, and these are the values that same-sex couples who wish to legally marry share,” he said. “And of course we know the best way to move voters is by sharing personal stories about our families and other families we know.”
The Pew data also suggests that we will need to work hard to make sure that all voters who support marriage equality mail in their ballots, he said. “Again part of our job is to make sure that every voter who supports marriage equality knows we are counting on them to mail in their ballots and vote to Approve Referendum 74,” Friedes told SGN. “This is why Washington United for Marriage’s ‘Pledge to Approve 74’ campaign is so brilliant. It allows us to engage in conversations now about the importance of marriage equality and it allows us to identify supportive voters so we can remain in contact with them. Pledge to Approve 74 can be done online through the Washington United website and pledge cards can be obtained from the campaign. You can collect cards at your house of worship, local farmers market, or at any meeting or party you attend. And don’t forget to spread the Pledge to Approve 74 campaign via Facebook.” Washington United for Marriage is a broad statewide coalition of organizations, congregations, unions, and business associations working to keep civil marriage for Lesbian and Gay couples in Washington State in 2012.
SGN reached out to Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage, but Silk failed to respond on the issue. It is important to note that Referendum 74 has not yet been qualified for the ballot. However, opponents of marriage equality in Washington state are expected to get the number of signatures required. “Marriage will, almost certainly, be on the Washington state ballot,” Friedes said. “That reality will keep the issue on the front pages of newspapers, in blogs, and on TV news even if the issue is not front and center elsewhere.” “We should expect a robust and constant debate about marriage equality in Washington state,” he concluded. “We need to be present in this conversation at the personal and local level.” Kris Hermanns, executive director for Pride Foundation, said the Pew Research national study highlights that Americans are concerned about a number of important issues, however, “we also know that people are passionate about the issue of marriage equality.” “With the passing of marriage equality legislation in Olympia, our elected officials made it clear that supporting loving and
committed same-sex couples is a priority as it impacts the health, safety, and well-being of Washingtonians,” Hermanns told SGN. “Pride Foundation, along with all our other partners on the Washington United for Marriage campaign, is working to raise the conversation about why marriage is important. Both straight and same-sex couples want to build a life with someone – to make a commitment to take care of and be responsible for one another.” In addition, she said, “Public support for allowing same-sex couples to marry has grown significantly over the past few years, with multiple national polls showing that a majority of Americans now support marriage equality. This growing support has followed years of important public and private conversations about marriage for same-sex couples. These conversations have helped people who may have been conflicted in the past become supportive of marriage for loving, committed couples.” “As members of the LGBT community, as well as our straight allies, continue to have these conversations with family, friends, and colleagues, we will raise the issue of and grow support for marriage equality,” concluded Hermanns.
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