Celebrating 43 Years! Issue 17 Volume 45
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Seattle Transgender Film Festival
ArtsWest presents Frozen
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SEC 2 PG 1
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
United States Holocaust Ed Murray and Paul Allen announce $35 million deal Memorial Museum to support homeless families condemns Chechnya
Paul Allen – Photo courtesy of forbes.com
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and billionaire Paul Allen have announced a new initiative to help homeless families.
According to their April 26 press release, Murray and Allen envision “an innovative, permanent supportive housing and on-site services community that will serve as a resource hub for Seattle-area
US Holocaust Memorial Museum – Photo courtesy of ushmm.org
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is deeply concerned at reports of Chechen authorities targeting Gay men for arrest, torture, and, in some cases, murder. Some
see MURRAY/ALLEN page 4
reports indicate that secret detention facilities have been established exclusively for the purpose of persecuting Gay and Bisexual men. According to media reports, the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan see USHMM page 14
Mayoral update: More Trump can’t punish sanctuary cities, judge labor unions endorse Ed Murray; Macklemore says endorses Nikkita Oliver
Nikkita Oliver – Photo courtesy of king5.com
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Three additional labor unions endorsed Ed Murray’s bid to be re-elected mayor of Seattle, according to a campaign bulletin dated April 24, bringing the number of
unions backing Murray to 19. Murray’s rival, Nikkita Oliver, also picked up a headline endorsement: the rapper Macklemore. The latest unions going for Murray include the International Brotherhood of see ENDORSEMENT page 6
US District Judge William Orrick – Photo courtesy of therecorder.com
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A federal judge ruled on April 25 that the Trump administration cannot punish sanctuary cities by cutting off their funding.
US District Judge William Orrick said that the power to distribute federal money is “exclusive to Congress” and that the president may not usurp that power. Consequently, Orrick ruled, Trump’s January 25 executive order depriving sanctuary citsee SANCTUARY page 6
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April 28, 2017
Celebrating 41 Years!
Ending Anita : When ordinary people do extraordinary things by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer On April 1, 2014, Aaron Huntsman and Lee Jones, a couple of Key West bartenders, challenged the State of Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage when they applied for a marriage license at the office of the Monroe County Clerk. This led to a lawsuit, Huntsman v. Heavilin, and a decision (July 7, 2014), by Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis Garcia, striking down Florida’s anti-gay marriage ban. Though the State appealed, Huntsman and Jones (along with other couples) eventually prevailed, and the two men married on January 5, 2015. The couple’s victory proves once again that many of the victories in the struggle for LGBT rights were achieved by “ordinary” men and women who experienced injustice in their lives and did something extraordinary to correct it. Someday, a scholarly book will be written about Huntsman v. Heavilin and its impact on the rights of queer people in the United States. But this is not the time. Instead, we have Ending Anita: How Two Key West Bartenders Won Gay Marriage For Florida by Anthony Adams “for Aaron Huntsman & Lee Jones” who asked Adams to write their story. Anthony “Tony” Adams, South Florida Gay News’s other Senior Features Correspondent, spent lots of enviable time at Key West’s world-famous
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Island House, interviewing Huntsman, Jones, their friends and allies. Adams calls his book “Hot History because I bring the reader into the moments of their court case, without fabricating details (as does historical fiction). Ending Anita is an historical account written to move hearts, entertain, and celebrate humble but heroic people. It will become a great documentary that is in the works once funding is secure.” After an introductory history of Gay Florida – courtesy of Florida Atlantic University Professor Fred Fejes – and of Gay Key West, Ending Anita breaks off into biographical chapters about Huntsman, Jones, Attorney Bernadette Restivo, Judge David Audlin – who resigned from the bench after his profile was discovered in Manhunt – and friends Mark Ebenhoch, Susan Kent and MiKey Hudson, Tony Cicalese and Brian Steele. Together, this motley crew did more in a few months than wellfunded organizations like Equality Florida were able to accomplish in decades. Thanks to Adams’s talent, these folk come across as very likeable people – especially Huntsman and Jones, who are attractive in all senses of the word – the kind of people the reader would want to spend an afternoon with, sipping margaritas around the pool at the Island House. (Ending Anita also has the text of the Huntsman v. Heavilin lawsuit and a transcript of the circuit court hearing, for those who like this sort of thing.)
“I hope readers will feel as if they were with Aaron and Lee at every step of their way to justice.” Adams tells me. “Anyone can search and find court transcripts, but the real history about this case would be lost unless readers got to know the wonderful people behind the victory.” Ending Anita, in spite of its questionable title – you will have to know who Anita Bryant is to appreciate it – is an essential title for those of us who are interested in Florida LGBT history, not to mention queer Key West. Ending Anita is available on amazon.com for 15 bucks, though Adams will send you a signed copy if you donate $200 to his participation in the Smart Ride from Miami to Key West (thesmartride.org). Though Adams is the author and owner of the book’s copyrights, “I promised Aaron and Lee and Mark Ebenhoch [who dealt with the media on behalf of the couple] that I would donate all profits to their two foundations: ... the LoveIsLove Foundation to continue their work with the LGBT community and allies” and to a new foundation “to bring the Sea-To-Sea Rainbow Flag wherever folks fight for LGBT rights and to a permanent home in the Smithsonian.” (The Sea-ToSea Rainbow Flag is a 1.25 mile flag that in 2003 was unfurled along the entire length of Duval Street, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.) Like the Flag itself, Ending Anita “is purely a labor of love.”
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LGBTQ SENIORS SPOTLIGHT: Leo Egashira, Research Coordinator and Editor at the UW Indigenous Wellness Research Institute and Board Member of Generations Aging with Pride (www.GAPSeattle.org). Leo Egashira was born and raised in Seattle, and has lived nearly 5 decades of his 63 years here. He has been a lover of outdoor adventure his whole life. But an HIV diagnosis in 1992 significantly altered his perspective, calling him to live each day as fully as possible. At first, the news felt like a death sentence. “I didn’t think I’d live to see my 50th birthday or the year 2000,” Leo remembers, “so I’d better do it all now before my body gives out.” In the first year after his diagnosis, he took a “once in a lifetime” trip to Alaska with friends, spending 11 days kayaking and soaking in the scenery of the wild Alaskan coast. As anti-retroviral therapies became available and HIV became a more man-
ageable health condition, these trips have become more like a way of life for Leo. In the 25 years since, Leo has squeezed in as much travel and adventure as possible. In a couple of weeks, he’s planning a backpacking trip in southern Utah, and in August, he’ll be hiking the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, a prime viewing spot for the total solar eclipse. Along with this new perspective, Leo also began to feel the stigma that often accompanies HIV. “Most of how I view life as a member of the LGBTQ community is really flavored by my HIV status. Unlike other illnesses, people living with HIV get more animosity than sympathy,” Leo says. Like many “survivors” of HIV/AIDS, Leo
is also facing the prospect of aging with HIV, which he calls “a new medical frontier.” “No one really knows the long-term side effects of being on these anti-retroviral therapies for 30 or 40 years, and doctors don’t either.” Leo, along with his large JapaneseAmerican family, supported his grandparents and mom in nursing care at Keiro Northwest, where they were cared for in an environment that worked for them culturally, from the food to the Japanese-speaking staff. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Leo anticipates facing difficult choices. “I want to be around people who understand my culture, to be able to eat the food I like. But will places that can meet
those needs also meet my social needs as a member of the LGBTQ community? I hope so, but I don’t know.” Generations Aging with Pride is partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Lifelong Recreation 50+ unit to produce resource fairs specifically for LGBTQ seniors, which are on Saturday April 29 from 10am-3pm at the Northgate Community Center (10510 5th Ave NE) and Wednesday May 10 from 10am-3pm at the Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave E). More information is available at www.Seattle.gov/ Parks/LGBTQ or by calling Cheryl Brown in Seattle Parks at 206-615-0619.
Fat Salmon 2017 registration begins May 1 for July 15 Open Water Swim in Lake Washington Seattle’s Orca Swim Team announces that online registration opens May 1 at 6:00am Pacific Daylight Time for the 2017 Fat Salmon Open Water Swim to be held July 15 on Lake Washington. For the first time, the 3.2-mile point-to-point Fat Salmon swim from I-90 to Madison Park Beach along the western shores of Lake Washington will also be the USMS PNA 2017 NW Zone Open Water Championship. Fat Salmon 2017 race day begins promptly at 8:15am on Saturday, July 15, with five waves of swimmers departing every three minutes. The event is open to all USMS registered swimmers age 18+. Registrations can be completed online at www.fatsalmonswim.com starting May 1 until a maximum of 350 swimmers have registered, or no later than July 11, 2017 at 11:59pm PDT. Early registration fees are $70 through May, $80 from June 1 thru June 30, and $90 after July 1, 2017. Following Fat Salmon tradition, winners in all four divisions (women, men, wetsuit + non-wetsuit) will each receive a full salmon, this year courtesy of Wild Salmon Seafood Market. All registered swimmers will receive a coveted 2017 Fat Salmon commemorative t-shirt. And age group awards will be separated by age at end of the 2017 calendar year, 19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc.
MURRAY/ALLEN continued from cover
families with children who are experiencing homelessness.” Allen will put $30 million into the project, with the City of Seattle kicking in an additional $5 million in capital plus funding for operation and maintenance. “Paul Allen understands the homelessness crisis requires everyone in our community, particularly our business leaders, to help,” Murray said in a statement. “This partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation will build permanent supportive housing for vulnerable homeless families with children and help the City leverage our affordable housing funds 6-to-1. This commitment is an example of the incredible difference our philanthropic and business leaders can make in our commu-
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from I-90 to Madison Park Beach, and are seldom more than 400 yards from shore. Kayakers and motor boat volunteers accompany the swimmers along the entire well-marked 3.2-mile course. Race day participant amenities include fruit, juice, coffee, pastries, etc. Additional Fat Salmon sponsors include BlueSeventy wetsuits, Gentle Giant movers, and Pork Chop screen printing. Fat Salmon race day volunteers (kayakers, motor boaters, etc.) are encouraged to contact event organizers prior to July 11 by email to volunteers@fatsalmonswim.com.
Registration begins May 1 for the 2017 Fat Salmon Open Water Swim set for July 15 in Lake Washington. Close to 350 swimmers are expected from throughout the U.S. and internationally, assuring the 18th Fat Salmon will be one of the largest open water swim races in the Pacific Northwest.
This year marks the 18th annual Fat Salmon Open Water Swim in Lake Washington. Fat Salmon has become one of the largest open water swimming events in the Pacific Northwest, attracting swimmers from all over the country and internationally to swim a well-organized point-to-point
race in the cool clean waters of Lake Washington at the peak of summer in Seattle. Unlike typical open water swims requiring swimmers to swim out to distant buoys far offshore before returning to the finish line, Fat Salmon swimmers closely follow the shoreline of Lake Washington
nity, as I called on others to do during my State of the City speech this year. Thank you to Paul Allen, his family, and the foundation for making this incredibly generous investment to address this crisis.” A nonprofit corporation, Mercy Housing Northwest, will develop, own, and operate the multifamily complex. Other nonprofits are expected to participate also, providing services and support for children and families in the community. Mercy Housing Northwest is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. The group reportedly operates 48 properties in Washington state, including a 108-unit affordable housing project in Rainier Valley. “This remarkable partnership between Paul Allen and the City of Seattle will make lasting opportunities for families most in need,” said Bill Rumpf, president of Mercy Housing Northwest. “We are grateful for the opportunity
to create affordable apartments and a family service center where parents and children can get out of homelessness, regain resilience and dignity, and pursue economic mobility.” A location for the project has not been determined. “Our vision right now is that it’s in a location where there is access to services and public transit,” said Paul Butler, who oversees homelessness programs for the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. According to Bill Hilf, CEO of Allen’s real estate and development company, Vulcan Inc., the company initiated the project several months ago. “We should all be alarmed by the growing crisis of homelessness in our community, especially its impact on families,” Hilf said. “Addressing this crisis requires the commitment and creativity of business, government, and the human services com-
April 28, 2017
About Fat Salmon Swim and Orca Swim Team With close to 150 swimmers, the Orca Swim Team ranks as one of the largest USMS teams in the Pacific Northwest, and it is the largest primarily, but not exclusively, LGBTQ team in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1984, Orca is a member of both United States Masters Swimming (USMS) and the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA). The annual Fat Salmon open water swim was first held in Lake Washington in 1999. Members of the Orca Swim Team have competed in Fat Salmon every year since then, and have hosted and organized the event since 2015. munity. We approached the City of Seattle some months ago to get this project going because we wanted to make a significant impact toward disrupting the cycle of homelessness, and to give homeless families an opportunity to thrive.” Vulcan has been controversial in local housing circles because its $5.7 billion South Lake Union development displaced so many units of existing low-cost housing in favor of tech companies and high-end condos. Vulcan also owns a site at 23rd Avenue and Jackson Street where planned developments will displace a locally owned Red Apple grocery and several small businesses. Allen, who made his initial fortune as a co-founder of Microsoft and went on to buy the Seahawks, Sounders, and Portland Trailblazers, is said to be determined to give away most of his money before he dies.
Celebrating 41 Years!
COMMENTARY: Why does it matter? by Mac McGregor Transgender Candidate for Seattle City Council Special to the SGN Being an activist, and now one of eleven transgender people running for office around the United States this year, is a balancing act. Running in Seattle there is a great deal of support – more than in most cities in the U.S. – for a transgender candidate, and yet it is still not an easy road to travel. The supporters get that this is a movement, much like when the first women and people of color ran for office. Then there are those who are so steeped in their privilege that they ask questions like, “Why does it matter that you are transgender?” or “What does being transgender have to do with running for office?” I breathe and gently respond to these inquiries with an understanding that even though trans visibility has risen a great deal in the last couple of years, most people have still never (knowingly) met a transgender person. This is part of the disconnect. When there is an entire class of people that you have never had personal contact with you don’t have any real experience from which to draw. Another part of the disconnect is that we (trans people) challenge society’s preconceptions – the black and white of gender. The binary. We were all taught that gender was a simple matter of anatomy, right? Now the ground that you are standing is not as stable; there is variation to something you thought was a rule. This makes many people feel unsettled. I don’t hold that against them, as this construct is something that has been spoon-fed us all our lives – from churches, schools, governments, all of the people that want to control us and keep society in lockstep. With this being the message we have received since childhood, accepting a new norm will take time and patience, with peo-
Mac McGregor – Photo courtesy of votemacmcgregor.com
ple being out, and telling their stories, and gentle teaching, to create change. Bearing all of that in mind, I respond to such questions with gentleness and empathy. So why does it make a difference that I and a few other people running for office around America are transgender? It makes a difference because having diverse voices in leadership and decision-making positions is important in order to represent our diverse population. It is important because no one like me has ever had a voice at the table in my city or state. It creates change because it says to young people who may not fit into the current gender norms of society that you don’t have to hide, and you can do and be anything. It helps us all to grow, stretch, and to realize that we have much more in common than we have differences. We want mostly the same things – safety, access to healthcare, good educa-
tion, fair job opportunities and housing, and to love whom we want. It builds bridges, and reminds us that we are all human beings, and that we come in many flavors. If we can start from a place of recognizing the things we have in common that brings people’s walls down so that we can embrace our differences without feeling threatened by them. It helps us understand that our differences really should not separate us, but should and can enhance our cities, states, societies, and our lives. Some people seem to think that we have equality, and 99% of those think that transgender people are not from a marginalized community. In actuality, we have not achieved equality in the U.S. Here is a small example of that; out of the 100 people in the U.S. Senate only 21 are women, 2 are African American, 0 Native American. In Congress we have 535 members, 20% of
which are women, 48 individuals are African American, 2 are Muslim, 0 Native Americans, 7 out gay/lesbians, 0 are transgender. 92% are Christians, only 28 Jewish people, and 2 Buddhists. We need more diverse voices and perspectives in these positions all over the country. There are groups in our society that have not had the same access and opportunities as has much of the country. I am part of one of those groups. Better representation of these marginalized people will give greater voice to their experiences, and therefore, in time, lead to better understanding and change. To those of you who thought equality had arrived, *WAKE UP* – we still have a great deal of work to do. And if you are from a marginalized group, I hope this inspires you to step up and step out wherever you can. Tell your story, share your struggles, your joys, and your heartache, with love and strength. www.votemacmcgregor.com Mac Scotty McGregor, The Gender Sensei “SOSea” Social Outreach Seattle – Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Outreach Director Former City of Seattle Commissioner on the LGBT Commission SPD – LGBTQ Advisory Council “Shihan” Teacher of Teachers Personal Trainer & Life Coach Public Speaker, Activist, Author, Ordained Minister www.betruetoself.org www.votemacmcgregor.com @mckick – twitter The Gender Sensei on FB
Help make Trans Pride Seattle happen Each year more than 5,000 people come together and celebrate the Trans community’s power, resistance, and talent. Do you want to be a part of making it all happen? Trans Pride Seattle is June 23, and in the meantime, here are 4 ways you can get involved right now: 1. Join our Trans Pride Steering Committee! Do you have ideas about what could
make Trans Pride even better? Share your ideas with us! We meet weekly to discuss Trans Pride and other related project logistics. RSVP to our Facebook event, or feel free to drop in. 2. Want to be involved day-of? Donate your time and volunteer for a shift at Trans Pride Seattle. Contact allyc@genderjusticeleague.org 3. Our Classy Campaign has launched!
Consider making an individual donation, or start/join a fundraising team! Use your creativity to help us fund Trans Pride Seattle! 4. Spread the word and stay tuned for more updates! We have lots of exciting announcements in the coming weeks. Together we’re going to make this the biggest and brightest Trans Pride yet!
Elias Aubain Development and Communications Associate Gender Justice League Trans Pride Seattle www.genderjusticeleague.org
University Lutheran Church hosts centennial anniversary celebration on May 7th University Lutheran Church in Seattle culminates their year-long 100th Anniversary Celebration with a special worship service on Sunday, May 7th beginning at 9:30am. We are pleased to welcome Bishop Kirby Unti to our pulpit that day, and we anticipate raising the rafters with special music as well. All are welcome to join us for this festive service as well as the joyful reception to follow. This has been a busy year of celebration for ULC, beginning with our June 5, 2016 kick-off and the raising of our commissioned 100th Anniversary Banners. Anniversary activities have included guest preaching by former pastors, honoring those in the congregation who have been members for more than 50 years, breaking bread and sharing stories at potlucks, creating a video series highlighting the great things about our community and compiling a commemorative booklet highlighting our
first 100 years. We’re excited to see where the Spirit leads us in our next century. University Lutheran Church 1604 NE 50th St Seattle, WA 98105 206-525-7074 www.UniversityLutheranSeattle.org Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/ulcseattle/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UC1_0pgjiBZt59IxKNJpIOIQ About University Lutheran Church ULC is a progressive Christian community, committed to welcoming everyone by embracing God’s love and sharing that love with those around us. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to honor the dignity of every person and the intrinsic value of every creature, to celebrate the full humanity of every child, woman, and man, and to be
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faithful stewards of planet Earth. As a primary expression of this vocation, ULC is committed to be an Advocating Congregation, speaking to elected officials and corporations on behalf of people who are marginalized or oppressed. Using letters, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations, we strive for justice and peace for all people in our community, state, nation and the world, and for the well being of God’s creation. ULC participates as a Greening Congregation with the ELCA’s Earth Ministry. Our commitment to the care of God’s creation motivates us to be good stewards of the resources that we have been given both individually and as a faith community. To express our commitment to the full equality and acceptance of all persons, ULC is a Reconciling In Christ (RIC) Congregation. We publicly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
people. We affirm this welcome in our ULC hospitality statements by specifically declaring that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome. Our commitment to diversity also includes our worship services. Within the framework of a traditional worship service, we offer music and prayers from many cultures and styles during the course of the church year, including African, Latino, African-American spiritual, global, Taize, and others. We are here to embrace a spirit of renewal as together we continually strive to understand what it means to follow God, to build upon what others have done before us and move boldly into the future. We are called to be Christ in the world. We Choose Love.
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Ed Murray’s lawyer calls foul: Court should fine opposing lawyer for grandstanding, he says by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Robert Sulkin, the lawyer representing Seattle Mayor Ed Murray against allegations of child molesting, has had it with his opponent’s antics, he said in an April 25 court document. In the filing, Sulkin asks a state court to fine Lincoln Beauregard – the attorney representing Delvonn Heckard, Murray’s accuser – for “wrongly filing documents for an improper purpose.” Beauregard filed a lawsuit against Murray on April 6. Since then, Murray’s lawyers say, he has “filed letters addressed (but sometimes not even sent) to opposing counsel and other documents not properly filed with the Court for the sole reason of hoping that the press would discover them. In other words, he has used the Court in order to generate publicity surrounding this case.” The event that seemed to touch off Sulkin’s protest was an April 24 subpoena issued to Murray staffer Maggie Thompson. She was Murray’s campaign manager in 2013 and now works in his City Hall office. According to Beauregard, Murray and Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole engaged in a conspiracy to cover up an incident involving a “shirtless man” at Murray’s home in June 2016. Thompson was at the scene, Beauregard said, and could testify to the facts. Beauregard’s subpoena suggested – without offering any evidence – that the incident was somehow related to his client’s charges against Murray.
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Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 46, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local Union 609, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council #5. “As a true champion for labor, Ed Murray has been there for those who are building Seattle every day,” Keith Weir, business representative for IBEW 46, said in a statement. “His support for policies that are inclusive of community, and opportunities that can be provided via apprenticeships and careers in the building trades, has proven him to be an ally that IBEW Local
SANCTUARY
continued from cover ies of federal money violates the Fifth and Tenth Amendments. San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties – two California jurisdictions that sued to prevent Trump’s order from going forward – were likely to succeed on the merits of their suit when the case comes to trial in May, Orrick said. “These constitutional violations are not limited to San Francisco or Santa Clara but apply equally to all states and local jurisdictions,” Orrick continued, and he issued an injunction blocking the administration from implementing Trump’s orders.
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(l) Ed Murray’s lawyer Robert Sulkin vs. opposing lawyer Lincoln Beauregard – Photos courtesy of nwcn.com (Sulkin) and king5.com (Beauregard)
verifiably false,” Reading said in a statement accompanying the document signed by the five witnesses. “The gossipy account provided is an example of unfounded rumor being peddled as fact. It is easily disproved by numerous eyewitnesses, and by the official police record. “Opposing counsel asserts a cover-up going all the way up to the chief of police, but this outlandish claim is just part of a pattern: attack the integrity of the respected professionals who vouch for the facts when the facts do not support the case. First a medical professional at the Polyclinic, then the honorable judge assigned to the lawsuit, and now Seattle’s highly esteemed police chief. Grasping at straws, opposing counsel seems prepared to impugn just about anyone.” Reading was referring to a medical exam that disproved Heckard’s assertion that he could describe Murray’s genitals. Beauregard then demanded an examination by another doctor. Heckard’s lawyer also asked for the judge in the case to be replaced, without providing an explanation for the request. In a response to Sulkin also filed in court, Beauregard said that Sulkin has a “reputation of being nasty.” “If it was not clear enough,” Beauregard continued, “we have elected to file all relevant information, in part, hoping that it would cause you to be civil and focus on the merits. Thus far, we have been unsuccessful. You really should focus your efforts on defending Ed Murray, and not attacking our law firm.”
Murray’s spokesperson, Jeff Reading, issued a statement refuting Beauregard’s allegations soon after the subpoena was released to the Seattle Times. In Reading’s account – signed by five people who were at the scene, including Thompson – Murray was hosting a small get-together at his house after an HRC event on June 24, 2016, the Friday before the Pride Parade. Two strangers – “both wearing shirts,” the statement noted – came
to the door and asked to use Murray’s bathroom and phone. When they were denied entry, they became “slightly pushy.” They were then directed to restaurants down the street and left Murray’s property. “Out of an abundance of caution,” Reading continued, Murray called the police. “The odd allegation hinted at in the latest subpoena is completely unrelated to the lawsuit against Mayor Murray, and is also
46 is proud to endorse. We look forward to working with the mayor for the foreseeable future to continue to show the rest of the state how a clear vision for growth and opportunity can be achieved via working partnerships at all levels.” Philip E. Lindquist, Director of Governmental Affairs for IUPAT District Council 5, said his union “is proud to endorse Mayor Ed Murray for re-election. It’s great to have a mayor that will listen and have a thoughtful dialogue on the important labor issues.” “We remain proud to support Ed and appreciative of the leadership he is showing in the face of the regional and national threats to our city’s progressive nature,” said IUOE 609 business manager David Westberg. While union endorsements usually
come with money and boots-on-the-ground campaign volunteers, it would be hard to beat Macklemore for star power. “We need more people like Nikkita Oliver to run for office,” he wrote in an April 21 Facebook post. “She is a brilliant, creative, compassionate, principled, and fierce leader who lives and breathes the values of justice and equity. I’ve known Nikkita for three years, and I’ve been impressed with how she consistently inspires those around her to be engaged in making the world a better place. Personally, she challenges me to be a better, more complete artist and person.” Oliver, herself a spoken word artist and Seattle Poetry Slam Grand Champion, worked with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
on their song “White Privilege II,” released early last year. “My generation is taking on the torch of a very age-old fight for black liberation, but also, liberation for everyone,” she says on the recording. “Injustice anywhere is still injustice everywhere.” Murray has been endorsed by a number of labor unions and many elected officials, including Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and five Seattle City Councilmembers. Oliver has been endorsed by Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Gossett and the Seattle Peoples Party, which she helped to create.
Seattle has its own lawsuit pending against the Trump order, and soon after Orrick handed down his decision, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray issued a statement welcoming the ruling. “This court ruling preventing President Trump from punishing ‘sanctuary cities’ is yet another rebuke of his misguided agenda,” Murray said. “Once again, a federal judge has blocked President Trump’s dangerous overreach. While we review this ruling’s impact on our city’s lawsuit against the president’s order, we will continue to embrace all our residents, because we know Trump’s attacks on ‘sanctuary cities’ are attacks on Constitutional Cities.” Seattle-area congresswoman Pramila Jayapal also released the following state-
ment in response to the judge’s injunction. “This is another victory for democracy and inclusion,” she said on April 25. “Whether it’s his Muslim ban or threats to sanctuary cities, it seems President Trump’s attempts to institutionalize xenophobia cannot pass constitutional muster. Judge William Orrick ruled the Trump administration’s order could cause ‘immediate irreparable harm’ and legal challenges of the order are likely to succeed. As a leader in establishing Seattle’s sanctuary policies over 14 years ago, this ruling is a huge validation of our work to protect immigrant rights, public safety, and our Constitution. “The facts are that sanctuary cities are safer than non-sanctuaries because sanctuary policies allow local police to maintain trust and working relationships with immi-
grant communities. The president should learn to respect co-equal branches of government, stop overreaching, and cease pursuing policies based on odious and illinformed views of immigrants.” In one of his now-infamous tweets, Trump reacted with outrage. “See you at the Supreme Court!” he threatened. The case may, indeed, end up before the high court, but first it is likely to come to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals if Orrick is not persuaded to change his mind at the upcoming trial.
April 28, 2017
Celebrating 41 Years!
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April 28, 2017
Seattle Gay News 7
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Seattle Gay News 9
Jaxen Brown as Cher
Ceasar Hart
$121,000 raised at
Aleksa Manila’s 13th Annual ICON:
A Celebration of Drag, Art & Life! A Benefit for Seattle Counseling Service. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente with Living Care.
(l) MK Scott and George Bakan
Issac Scott as Lady Gaga
Maria Vera-Carillo
(r) SCS Executive director, Ann Mcgettigan hands mic to Aleksa Manila
Photos by John Beursken / John Beursken Photography
Waxie Moon
Fraya Love as Madonna
10 Seattle Gay News
April 28, 2017
Celebrating 41 Years!
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April 28, 2017
Seattle Gay News 11
Patty Murray and Cory Booker reintroduce bill to ban conversion therapy by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Washington Sen. Patty Murray and New Jersey’s Sen. Cory Booker have reintroduced legislation to ban so-called “conversion therapy.” Murray is the ranking member on the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the committee that would have jurisdiction over the bill. Washington’s other senator, Maria Cantwell, has signed on to the measure as a co-sponsor. The bill, titled the “Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act,” classifies conversion therapy as a fraudulent practice and empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to stop the practice. The measure states that providing conversion therapy to any person in exchange for monetary compensation, or advertising such services, is an unfair and deceptive act or practice. In addition, the bill would explicitly state that the FTC has the responsibility to enforce this provision and would provide state attorneys general the authority to enforce this provision in federal court. “On this and so many other issues impacting the LGBTQ community, the Trump administration has laid out a hateful, damaging agenda to undo hard-won progress; divide our communities; and hurt our
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Patty Murray and Cory Booker – Photos by Alex Brandon / AP (Murray) and courtesy of nativnewsonline.net (Booker)
friends, neighbors, and family members just because of who they are or who they love,” Murray said in an April 25 statement. “This is absolutely the wrong direction for our country – and I will continue to push for ways to make sure all people, regardless of who they are or who they love, are treated equally and with respect.” “We need to ban ‘conversion therapy’ plain and simple. So-called ‘conversion
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therapy’ isn’t therapy at all – it’s a tortuous, fraudulent practice that has been repeatedly condemned by medical professionals and has no place in our country,” Booker added. “By empowering the FTC to protect consumers from this kind of fraud, this bill will take an important step in ending this harmful practice for good.” A statement from Murray’s office noted that Republican Vice President Mike Pence
endorsed the Republican Party platform plank approving conversion therapy. Murray and Booker decided to reintroduce the ban “following anti-LGBTQ policies, [and] hires made by the Trump administration,” the statement added. HRC thanked the senators for their bill. “So-called ‘conversion therapy’ is nothing more than child abuse, and those who inflict it on others must be held accountable,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “HRC thanks Sens. Murray and Booker for their efforts to outlaw this dangerous and inhumane practice. Now more than ever, we must send a clear message to the LGBTQ community – and especially LGBTQ young people – that who you are is not something that needs to be fixed.” In addition to Murray, Booker, and Cantwell, the legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (DMass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (IVt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore), Brian Schatz (DHawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Kamala Harris (DCalif.), and Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.).
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LOLITA
Meet Lolita, sweet and petite 4-year-old girl looking for people who will return her love. Her adorable black and white face with her big gold eyes loves to be scratched behind her ears. Visit Seattle Humane today to meet this wonderful kitty. She is a good girl and definitely best friend material. As with all of our cats, Lolita is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. All of our cats have been tested for Feline Leukemia/FIV and go home with a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian and their very own identification tag and collar. PLUS, most cat adoptions include 30 days of pet insurance from Trupanion - a great way to start off on the right paw! National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day | April 30 If you have extra room in your home and heart, celebrate National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day at Seattle Humane. Whether you enjoy hikes in the mountains or prefer to watch TV from the couch, there’s a dog or cat who will fit your lifestyle. Enrich your life and take 50 percent off the adoption fee for any pet 1 year and up on April 30. Love is Positive | All April We are waiving all adoption fees throughout the month of April for any cat diagnosed with Feline Leukemia (FeLV). While many shelters have to euthanize these cats due to lack of resources, Seattle Humane extends life-saving efforts to include the adoption of FeLV+ cats. These felines can live happily and comfortably as fabulous companions for months to years – just like any other cat. Choose to adopt a FeLV+ cat and offer love for as long as possible.
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April 28, 2017
Celebrating 41 Years!
SAINT vs. VOICE Pramila Jayapal helps launch Saved by American Immigrants National Taskforce by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Donald Trump has VOICE, the socalled Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement, a public relations gimmick designed to promote the idea that immigrants are dangerous criminals. Now, Seattle-area congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and three House colleagues have created the Saved by American Immigrants National Taskforce (SAINT), which “will collect and share stories of documented and undocumented immigrants who have positively contributed to US society through heroic or life-saving acts.” Jayapal, along with Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Norma Torres (D-Calif.), and Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), announced the new taskforce on April 26. “SAINT will provide a direct counterperspective to VOICE, highlighting positivity rather than generating negativity,” they said in a statement. “President Trump’s latest initiative is nothing more than propaganda rooted in falsehoods meant to paint the entire immigrant community with a broad brushstroke,” Jayapal said. “In reality, without contributions made by immigrants, our nation would fail. I’m proud to join my colleagues in launching
Congresswoman Pramilla Jayapal – Photo by Mike Kane
this task force to tell stories of the positive impact immigrants have on our nation.” “Propaganda is dangerous, and that is why we should all be troubled by the new
Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office,” Polis added. “Immigrants are not a group to be feared. They are our friends, neighbors, and
– sometimes – heroes. I prefer to operate from a place of positivity, and that’s what SAINT is all about.” “This administration wants to perpetuate a stereotype that immigrants are dangerous and something to be feared, but the facts simply don’t bear that out. The vast majority of immigrants work hard, pay taxes, and contribute to our communities,” said Torres, who is also a co-chair of the New Americans Caucus. “This is why I’m joining Reps. Polis and Jayapal in launching SAINT to counter the false narrative and share the countless, untold positive stories of immigrants in this country.” “Folks in LA know – immigrants make our communities stronger,” Cárdenas said. “We see day in and day out the positive impacts they have in our community and on our economy, and it’s past time we highlight their stories. In an atmosphere of hate and mistrust, now more than ever, I’m proud to highlight the voices and actions of immigrants.” Data indicate that foreign-born Americans are far less likely than the native-born to commit crimes. According to the US Census Bureau, from 1980 through 2010 male non-citizens between the ages of 18 to 49 were one-fifth to one-half as likely to be incarcerated for a crime.
LGBT people can be “queer” but no one is “homosexual” anymore, LA Times says by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Los Angeles Times has updated its style guide to reflect modern word use and bar writers from using terms for LGBT people that are now considered offensive, or at best old-fashioned. “As our understanding of gender and sexual orientation evolves, so does language,” the newspaper explained. “The Times’ goal is to be contemporary, clear, and flexible, while maintaining consistency of style.” No one will be called “homosexual”
anymore. “Openly gay” is in disfavor as well. “Queer,” however, is now acceptable. “‘Queer’ previously was considered a term to avoid because of its history as a pejorative,” the Times said. “However, ‘queer’ has come into accepted usage among people who are not exclusively heterosexual but who don’t identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The term also is used to describe genres, such as ‘queer cinema’ or ‘queer studies.’” Under the new Times style guide, writers should identify Transgender people with the names and pronouns they themselves use, and that are consistent with the
way they present in their everyday lives. Writers should not say a Transgender man was “born a woman,” the Times says. Instead, writers are instructed to say he was “designated female at birth,” “identified as female at birth,” or “assigned female at birth.” Writers should also include such descriptions only if they are relevant to the story. Among terms that should be avoided because they are old-fashioned and possibly offensive are “hermaphrodite,” “homosexual,” “openly Gay,” “transvestite,” and “transsexual.”
Writers should use the term “LGBTQ” rather than “LGBT,” because it is considered more inclusive. The Times has also adopted the Associated Press rules for using the word “they” – understood as a singular pronoun – for those who reject binary gender constructions. Similar changes are underway in many news organizations. Last December, the organization Transform Washington briefed local reporters on appropriate language to use when writing about Trans people.
Alabama House passes discriminatory anti-LGBTQ Adoption Bill HB24 MONTGOMERY, AL – The Heart of Dixie has grown colder today. This afternoon, the Alabama House of Representatives passed HB24, deceptively named the Alabama Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act, on an 87-0 vote with 6 abstaining. The bill now heads to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk. HB24 would create a broad license to discriminate in the placement of children in state care, allowing child placement agencies and workers to discriminate with taxpayer dollars and put their religious beliefs ahead of the best interests of children. Alex Smith, Board Chair of Equality Alabama said, “The Alabama House of Representatives proved today that they
don’t have the best interest of the nearly 5,000 children in Alabama’s child placing systems in mind. This bill robs these children of a loving home and gives the state’s seal of approval to unnecessary religious exemptions that open the door to discrimination. If Governor Ivey signs this bill into law, my husband Michael and I – and so many other LGBTQ couples – could be discriminated against by child placing agencies and their employees.” Equality Federation’s Deputy Director, Fran Hutchins, said, “As someone who was in foster care and adopted in Alabama, I am dismayed to see HB 24 pass. All children deserve a loving forever home, but this bill
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stands in the way of that. Governor Ivey has an opportunity to veto this harmful bill and have a positive impact on the lives of kids who are waiting for a home.” Equality Alabama and Equality Federation now call on Governor Ivey to veto this shameful bill to send a message that discrimination of any kind is not welcome in Alabama. ABOUT EQUALITY ALABAMA Equality Alabama is a statewide organization that works to advance equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Alabamians where they live, work, learn, and play through education and advocacy.
April 28, 2017
ABOUT EQUALITY FEDERATION Equality Federation is the movement builder and strategic partner to state-based organizations advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. We believe change is possible in every community. Courtesy of the Equality Federation
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USHMM
continued from cover Kadyrov, has stated the LGBT community will be “wiped out by the beginning of Ramadan.” “The Holocaust teaches us what can happen when state-sponsored, group-targeted violence is allowed to go unchecked,” says Museum Director Sara J. Bloomfield. “The reports about the targeting of LGBT
persons in Chechnya combined with statements from Chechen officials seemingly endorsing violence are cause for great concern. Both the Chechen and Russian governments need to investigate these allegations and ensure the safety of LGBT populations within the Russian Federation.” The Nazis persecuted homosexuals as part of their so-called moral crusade to racially and culturally purify Germany. Gay men were targeted for persecution because they were viewed to be carriers
of a “contagion” that weakened society and did not contribute to the growth of the “Aryan” population. Between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 100,000 men were arrested for violating Nazi Germany’s law against homosexuality, and of these, approximately 50,000 were sentenced to prison. An estimated 5,000 to 15,000 men were sent to concentration camps on similar charges, where an unknown number of them perished.
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit ushmm.org. Courtesy of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
In China, “comrade” doesn’t mean what it used to by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Chinese Communist Party members are so reluctant to call each other “comrade” that the party’s Central Committee has issued instructions that members are to start using the term again. Their problem is that the word “comrade” no longer means “fellow Communist” as it did in the heyday of Chairman Mao and the Cultural Revolution. Now, especially for younger Chinese, it’s the equivalent of “girlfriend” – a term flippant Gay men call each other. The Chinese word for “comrade” is tóngzhì, which used to be the proper form of address for every Communist, whether male, female, young, old, rural, urban, party official, or peasant. A literal translation of the term into English would be “same intent.” It also shares the same first syllable as the word tóngxìngliàn, which means sexual relations with the same sex. Because of the similarity in sound, China’s LGBT community adopted the term, using tóngzhì to refer to another Gay person. The usage is said to have started in Hong Kong in the late 1980s as a way to mock the sexually repressed Communists. The term was adopted by hip young Chinese and subsequently spread into general popular culture. Beijing Gay rights activist and filmmaker Fan Popo told the New York Times that everyone in China now associates the word “comrade” with the LGBT community. “Even the ticket-takers on the bus – the people who you would not really expect to know the modern lingo – don’t say ‘com-
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Chinese President Xi Jinping – Photo courtesy of theglobalreality.com
rade’ anymore because they know what it means among young people,” Fan said. Since the word “comrade” has changed meanings, Chinese now use generic forms
April 28, 2017
of address like “mister” or “miss,” job titles, or terms like “sister,” “brother,” or “auntie.” According to reports, Chinese President
Xi Jinping not only wants to be called “comrade” again, he also wants to be described as Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, rather than President of China.
Celebrating 41 Years!
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April 28, 2017
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