Issue 17 Volume 39
Celebrating 38 Years!
rachel Maddow p. 16
ERW/Olympia p. 17
lea delaria p. 25
Seattle Gay News
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SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Controversy continues SGN INTERVIEW: New UW in Kennewick over president Michael Young will Gay-straight alliance support LGBT clubs, faculty
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
Muhammad Rizki
The Board of Regents of the University of Washington (UW) announced this week their unanimous decision to appoint Michael K. Young, 61, as the next president of the university. When reports came in that Young was a devout Mormon and former Bush administration official, the Seattle Gay News staff began to field phone calls and emails from community members expressing concern about his nomination – after all, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) hasn’t exactly been a strong advocate for LGBT equality, and Young is a special advisor to the top leaderKennewick High School ship of the church. Though he may by Mike Andrew resources. be the perfect solution to the uniSGN Staff Writer Their vote did not end the con- versity’s fiscal problems, at first troversy, however. Instead, new glance it may seem that Young’s The Kennewick School Board charges are being leveled by the involvement with the LDS church voted on April 21 to give a Gaystraight alliance at Kennewick High School equal access to school see young page 18 see kennewick page 20
Michael Young talks to reporters on April 27, 2011, after he was introduced as the new president of the University of Washington in Seattle.
SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Gay City’s Magic Pill forum educates about new HIV drug Election 2011: Tacoma
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor In an age of instant communication, the lines can sometimes get crossed. Reporting on complex events – such as the medical tri-
als of a new HIV/AIDS prevention pill – can get a bit tricky if not handled with care. Does the reader need an opinion piece, or just info? Should a blogger be telling someone whether or not they should take certain medications?
City Council’s Ryan Mello missioner in 2005,” he tells SGN, “and I beat an 18-year incumbent. I was also the Pierce County Referendum 71 chair.” “Campaigning’s in my blood,” he adds. In his 15 months on the City Council, Mello has built an impressive record of public service, taking on some of the most difficult committee assignments. He is currently vice chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Puyallup River Watershed Executive Task Force. Mello has also served on the Environment and Public Works Committee, the Government Performance and Finance Committee, and the Public Safety, Human Services and Education Committee. “Those are the meaty committees,” Mello says, “the heart and soul of local government – the baryanmello.com
courtesy seattle lesbian
Gay City Executive Director Fred Swanson
Remember the game Telephone, where you whisper a sentence into one person’s ear, and by the time the sentence reaches the end of the group, it comes out completely altered from its original content? Well, that same thing can and does happen with information coming from researchers and drug companies when it is reported by opinionated media outlets. With that in mind, Gay City officials decided this week that the best way for LGBT Seattleites to get information about oral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – a pill touted as helping to keep men HIV-negative – was to hold a community forum and invite a panel of experts. On April 27, Gay City, in association with HIV Vaccine Trials Unit Seattle and Seattle Gay News, presented the community forum “The Magic Pill?” at ACT Theater in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The premise of the forum was for the community to come together to learn about PrEP, a medication some have dubbed the “magic pill” for its apparent ability to help prevent HIV. Although its success
Ryan Mello
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Ryan Mello is running for his first full term on the Tacoma City Council. He was appointed to his at-large Council seat in January of 2010. This is not his first political campaign, however. “I ran citywide for Parks Comsee magic pill page 21
proud to Be Different
We are conveniently located on-site at Lifelong AIDS Alliance below the Thrift Store.
see mello page 19
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Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
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Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1973
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Classifieds - Thursday at noon Calendar - Tuesday 6pm Display Ads: Space Reservation - Monday 5pm Ad copy (non-camera ready) - Tues. 5pm Ad copy (camera ready) - Wed. 5pm Letters to the Editor - Tuesday 5pm Obituaries - Call the SGN office All others - Tuesday 5pm
Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel 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
Maryland Transgender woman brutally attacked
George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel, Miryam Gordon, Tim Peter Contributing Writers
Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner
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Nick Ardizzone, Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2011, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission. 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.
two teens in a Baltimore-area McDonald’s. The assault was filmed by a McDonald’s employee and shows two women kicking Polis and dragging her by the hair until Polis appears to have a seizure. The video first appeared on YouTube last week, and despite it being removed from the site, it quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of views as media blogs linked to the story. It is disturbing on many levels. The attack itself is hard to watch. But perhaps the most terrifying part of the situation is the fact that employees of the store stood by and watched as Polis was beaten and battered and did nothing but film the attack. The only person who stepped in was 55-year-old Vicky Thoms, who said, “I couldn’t take it anymore. I thought they were going to kill her.” Thoms was punched in the face by Polis’ attackers, as well. The manager of the store can be seen lackadaisically trying to break up the attack (with a minimum of actual intervention) by saying, “Stop it” over and over again.
Chrissy Daniels
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Any way you look at it, what happened to Chrissy Polis was a hate crime. On April 18, Polis, 23, a member of the Transgender community, was attacked by
In the wake of the violence, the firing of some of the McDonald’s employees, and the public outcry, Teonna Monae Brown, 18, was charged with first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault in the attack. Brown – who was charged with assaulting another woman in the same restaurant one year ago – was ordered held without bail on April 25 at the Baltimore County Detention Center. Brown’s alleged accomplice in the attack, a 14-year-old girl, was charged with second-degree assault for her part in the incident. Polis, who suffered a seizure as well as cuts to her face and mouth, called the attack a hate crime. So far, the Baltimore County state’s attorney has not ruled out adding other charges to the case. “We’re looking at both defendants in regards to the whole case, and we are reviewing the case for the possibility of additional charges,” said State’s Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger. There exists a public outcry for the McDonald’s employee who shot the video of the attack with his cell phone instead of intervening or calling the police to be charged with a crime. Unfortunately, said Shellenberger, Maryland law does not punish bystanders who fail to help a person being attacked. There are virtually no laws in place to protect Transgender people in Maryland. Earlier this month, delegates rejected an antidiscrimination measure that would have prevented employers, creditors, and housing providers from discriminating against Transgender people. A clause dealing with discrimination in public accommodations, which would have included places such as McDonald’s, was stripped out of the proposed law before it went to a vote. According to court documents, the brawl apparently erupted after Polis tried to use the women’s bathroom. Thoms, the woman who stepped in to help break up the incident, says she was unaware that Polis was Transgender, but added that it would not have mattered if she knew.
In Loving Memory Of
Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold
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Seattle Gay News
April 23, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
GAY PROP. 8 JUDGE A NON-ISSUE Apparently, Prop. 8 lawyers forgot Trial Law 101 and Appellate Law 101. You can only challenge, on appeal, those objections you raised at trial. Since Prop. 8 attorneys never challenged the impartiality of Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, they don’t get to do it before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court. Furthermore, the allegation he had a “direct stake” in the outcome of the trial is specious and disingenuous nonsense. Before, during, or after the Prop. 8 trial, Judge Walker and his partner could have flown to Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, or the District of Columbia and entered into a lawful same-sex marriage. Do Prop. 8 lawyers believe U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should have recused himself from the cross burning cases? Should all six Catholic justices recuse themselves from all abortion and same-sex marriage cases? Should the two female justices recuse themselves from all female civil rights cases? Should the three Jewish justices recuse themselves from civil rights and First Amendment cases involving Jewish plaintiffs? Somehow I doubt it. Steven L. Kendall WHY LGBTQ COMMUNITY SHOULD SUPPORT IMMIGRANT MARCH Why should the LGBTQ community come out as Queers, gender-Queers, and Trans-people to demonstrate our solidarity and support for immigrants in the May 1st Immigrant Rights March? Because LGBTQ are immigrants!
Because so many of us have family and friends who are immigrants. None of us want our loved ones scapegoated by our government or forced to endure discrimination on the job, at school, or in any other social institutions. Because of the rising inaccessibility of higher education for ALL students. • The Dream Act would have made it possible for undocumented students to apply for federal and state financial aid. It was killed in the U.S. Senate. • Both Washington state and the Federal government are cutting financial aid for American students. • The invisibility of LGBTQ students in colleges, universities, and high schools makes it impossible for anyone to know if they are gaining equal access to higher education. This invisibility guarantees that LGBTQ students’ needs are not being met, and makes it impossible to measure the successes or challenges of access to higher learning. • All students are having a harder time accessing higher learning which directly correlates to an individual’s ability to obtain a living wage, health care benefits, and economic security and well-being. • Marginalized students are facing a disproportionately greater number of barriers to education and a future of economic wellbeing by being denied financial aid. Because of the unjust treatment of undocumented LGBTQ immigrants in detention. If an immigrant is brought to a detention center and is Transgendered, that person is put in solitary confinement “for their own good.” The inhumanity of being put in solitary confinement has profound effects on one’s mental health and is an inadequate and unjust method for preserving the safety of a detainee.
Psychiatrist Alfred Freedman dies at 94
Led effort to de-pathologize LGBT community file photo
rights advocates and changing social values, the association’s members were deeply divided about its evaluation of the LGBT community. The APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders II classified homosexuality as a “sexual deviation” in the same class as fetishism, voyeurism, pedophilia, and exhibitionism. Freedman – who had a reputation as an advocate of community-based psychiatric and social services – was approached in 1972 by a group of young psychiatrists calling themselves the Committee of Concerned Psychiatrists. They persuaded him to run as a write-in candidate for the presidency of the association, which he described as a conservative “old boys’ club.” Much to his surprise, Freedman won the first contested election in the organization’s history by only three votes out of the 9,000 cast. Immediately on taking office, he threw his support behind a resolution, drafted by Robert Spitzer of Columbia University, saying that “by itself, homosexuality does not meet the criteria for being a psychiatric disorder.” “We will no longer insist on a label of sickness for individuals who insist that they are well and demonstrate no generalized impairment in social effectiveness,” the reso-
Dr. Alfred Freedman
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Dr. Alfred Freedman, psychiatrist and social reformer, died on Sunday, April 17, at the age of 94. Freedman was president of the American Psychiatric Association in 1973 when the group declared that homosexuality was not a mental illness. In spite of mounting pressure from LGBT
Because LGBTQ immigrants are targets of discrimination and oppressive profiling. Legislation authorizing random IDing of immigrants is equally oppressive to Transgendered and gender non-conforming individuals. If a police officer randomly stops an individual who looks like an immigrant (racial profiling) and that individual’s gender marker does not match how they present themselves currently, this could lead to police harassment or being outed at work, which could result in job termination or harassment. This is also true for the E-verify system (another piece of legislation passed by states to discriminate against immigrants). If a person who applies for a job must present paperwork and their gender marker does not match how they currently present themselves, that could result in outing themselves to their current or future employer. Again, this could result in hiring discrimination or job termination. It could also result in Trangendered and gender nonconforming individuals to be driven further underground. From the labor movement: an injury to one is an injury to all. From the Civil Rights movement: “Because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – MLK, letter from a Birmingham Jail. Because in America attacks on immigrants are directly linked to racism and this is intolerable to everyone, but white Queers and Trans-people should especially come out in solidarity against racism and the racist attacks on immigrants. March with Allyship’s LGBTQ contingent in the May 1st Immigrant Rights march at 12:30 p.m. on the corner of 20th and S. Weller Street in the Central District next to St. Mary’s Church.
Moutin Reunion Quartet May 2
Combining Straightahead and a sort of Neo-Fusion Jazz
Jeff Hamilton Trio May 3-4
One of the Most Celebrated Drummers in Modern Jazz
Keiko Matsui May 5-8
Japanese Pianist and Icon of Contemporary Jazz
Joe Louis Walker with Opener: Lloyd Jones May 9-10
Debbie Carlsen Founder and Board Member of LGBTQ Allyship and Allyship Community lution continued. On December 15, 1973, the association’s board, many of them newly elected younger psychiatrists, voted 13 to 0, with two abstentions, in favor of the resolution. Among other things, the resolution helped reassure Gay men and Lesbians seeking treatment for mental health issues that doctors would have no authorization to try to change their sexual orientation or to identify their sexual orientation as the root cause of their problems. The recently formed National Gay Task Force – now the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force – hailed the resolution as “the greatest Gay victory,” one that removed “the cornerstone of oppression for one-tenth of our population.” An equally important companion resolution condemned discrimination against Gays in such areas as housing and employment. In addition, it called on local, state, and federal lawmakers to repeal all statutes criminalizing sex between consenting adults, and urged them to pass legislation guaranteeing Gay citizens the same civil rights as other Americans. The APA resolution became a model for professional and religious organizations that took similar positions in the years to come. “I felt at the time that that decision was the most important thing we accomplished,” Freedman said in a 2007 interview. Freedman was also very concerned about the treatment of drug addiction. In 1959 in East Harlem, he established one of the earliest drug treatment programs for adults and the following year he created a similar program for adolescents. After completing his term with the APA, Freedman continued to take an interest in social issues. Most recently he spoke out against psychiatrists participating in the interrogation of detainees at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.
Grammy and WC Handy Award Winning Blues Guitarist.
Denise Donatelli with the Geoffrey Keezer Trio May 11-12
2010 Grammy Nominated Jazz Improv Singer joined by Grammy Nominated Pianist and Composer
Herb Alpert and Lani Hall May 13-15
Touring in Support of their First Studio CD I Feel You
Ann Hampton Callaway May 17-18
Jazzy Pop Diva and Platinum Award Winning Songwriter.
Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.
Go 1605 12th Avenue at Pine, Seattle (In liquor store parking garage.) Seattle Storm!
206-838-6027 or 206-898-4306 Visit us online www.sgn.org
April 23, 2011
Seattle Gay News
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INTERNATIONAL file photo
NEWS
by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer miliation, and violence faced by LGBT people and their allies.” They put posters on university bulletin boards and faxed information to government officials, university deans and media outlets on April 15. Then they taped their mouths shut and staged a flash mob the next day on the main boulevard Nevsky Prospect, distributing around 1,000 leaflets. “The reaction of most people during the campaign was positive to the extent that some passersby even joined the flash mob,” the group said. “A minor run-in with the police ended on a friendly note, with the police and the participants taking photos of each other.” There are videos at youtube. com/user/ComingOutSPb.
Activists urge Hungarian Hungarian President Pál Schmitt president to veto new constitution Groups lobby Obama Hungary’s Parliament approved a new to attend U.N. AIDS meeting Fifty global health, human rights, and re- constitution April 18 that defines marriage ligious organizations have called on Presi- as between a man and a woman, and omits dent Barack Obama to attend a United Na- sexual orientation from an anti-discriminations High-Level Meeting on AIDS in June tion provision’s list of protected traits. The Hungarian LGBT Alliance called on in New York City. At the gathering, member countries are President Pál Schmitt “not to sign the new expected to commit to new actions to com- Constitution into law, and to give a new opportunity to the Parliament to adopt a truly bat AIDS on a global scale. “Your attendance will send a bold mes- modern, European constitution ... instead of sage that the United States commitment to a political pamphlet motivated by homophothe global AIDS response remains stead- bic prejudices.” The board co-chair of the European Refast and will help to leverage high-level representation from other governments to gion of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bidevelop a real plan for the next phase of sexual, Trans, and Intersex Association, the response,” the groups said in a letter to Martin K.I. Christensen, called on European Union institutions “to interfere with what Obama. Signers included AIDS Foundation of appears to be a conscious move against Chicago, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Amer- principles of equality and nondiscriminaican Jewish World Service, American Social tion on the grounds of sexual orientation Health Association, Catholics for Choice, enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Center for Reproductive Rights, Gay Men’s Rights and the EU freedom of movement Health Crisis, Global Forum on MSM and directive.” HIV, HealthGAP, HIV Law Project, NationFijian LGBTI student group al Association of People with AIDS, Naattains university tional Minority AIDS Council, SisterLove affiliation in South Africa, Treatment Action Group, An LGBTI student group in Suva, Fiji, and many other groups. has attained official affiliation with the University of the South Pacific’s Students’ AsMontenegro government sociation at the Laucala Campus. supports pride parade The Drodrolagi Movement conducted “a Montenegro’s government is supporting the nation’s first Gay pride parade, sched- strong and sustained campaign” to achieve the registration, said its president, Kris Prasuled for May 31. Deputy Prime Minister Dusko Markovic ad. The group’s application was initially said in a meeting with activists that the rejected by the Laucala Campus Student march has “full institutional support.” In a statement posted at gov.me, the gov- Council. The group appealed, and the deciernment said, “By supporting what is to be sion was overturned by the Students’ Assothe first LGBT rally ever staged in Monte- ciation Federal Council, Prasad said. He said the University of the South Pacifnegro ... the Government demonstrates its commitment to European values of toler- ic is the premier regional academic institution serving several Pacific island nations. ance, equality, and social inclusion.” The Podgorica police chief also attended It has campuses in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kirithe meeting and, according to the statement, bati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, “said that the law enforcement authorities Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, will make every effort to ensure full safety and Vanuatu. of participants and maintain public order Colombian court gives during the rally.” Gay couples more rights Two government officials have joined the Colombia’s Constitutional Court on April parade’s steering committee “to help with the logistics for the event,” the statement 13 extended property inheritance rights to unmarried and same-sex couples by revissaid. Montenegro was part of the former Yugo- ing Civil Code articles that limited such rights to married couples. slavia. The court said its decision was not meant to alter the nation’s concept of family as the LGBT people stage union of a man and a woman for purposes of Day of Silence flash mob procreation. in St. Petersburg Around 50 people from the Russian LGBT Indian Supreme Court group Coming Out took part in a public Day defers Gay-sex case of Silence action April 16 in St. Petersburg. India’s Supreme Court was scheduled Organizers said they were protesting “against the silencing of discrimination, hu- April 19 to begin hearing multiple appeals 6
Seattle Gay News
April 23, 2011
of the Delhi High Court ruling that struck down the nation’s ban on Gay sex in July 2009, but the court deferred the matter until autumn instead. The appeals were launched by various groups and individuals. Other groups have intervened to support the decision, including filmmaker Shyam Benegal, parents with Gay children, academics and teachers, and mental health professionals. The government did not appeal the decision. In striking down the ban nationally, the High Court “read down” Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code so that it no longer applies to the activities of consenting adults. The section bans “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman, or animal” under penalty of 10 years to life
in prison. The court said the statute violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equality under the law, ban on discrimination based on sex, and promises of personal liberty and protection of life. “Section 377 IPC targets the homosexual community as a class and is motivated by an animus towards this vulnerable class of people,” the court wrote. “It has no other purpose than to criminalize conduct which fails to conform with the moral or religious views of a section of society.” Given India’s large population, the High Court’s decision decriminalized around 17 percent of all LGB people on the planet. With assistance from Bill Kelley
NATIONAL
NEWS
Obama seems to say work on Gay marriage is not finished Speaking at a Democratic National Committee event April 20 in San Francisco, President Barack Obama seemed to say that his administration’s work on Gay marriage is not finished. The president was talking about administration accomplishments and added, “And yet our work is not finished.” Someone in the audience then shouted “Gay marriage.” Obama paused, made a facial expression and hand gesture that seemed to say “for example,” and then repeated, “Our work is not finished.” Here’s the White House’s transcript: Obama: “We put two wise women on the Supreme Court, including the first Latina Supreme Court justice. [Applause.] And we rolled back ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ so that everybody can serve their country regardless of who they love. [Applause.] And then we dealt with pirates [Laughter.] and a pandemic. You forgot about that. An oil spill. We’ve been pretty busy. And yet our work is not finished. It is going –” Audience member: “Gay marriage.” Obama: “Our work is not finished. [Applause.] It is going to take – it is going to take more than a couple of years. It is going to take more than one term for us to finish everything that we need to do.” Video: tinyurl.com/wrkfin. Media seek intervention in Prop 8 case The media are seeking intervention in the Proposition 8 case to urge the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to release the 13 days of video from the U.S. District Court case in which Prop 8 was declared unconstitutional. The trial was recorded to help Judge Vaughn Walker write his decision, and attorneys also played back snippets of the trial at later points in the trial. Walker seemingly “sealed” the recording from other uses. In recent public talks about cameras in the courtroom, however, Walker, who retired from the bench in February, has played a brief clip from the video, which led to a new flareup about the recordings. A copy of the video was given to Walker on a disk drive along with his other material when he retired. The Gay side now wants the recordings made public, the other side wants them to stay sealed and for Walker and the parties to the case to turn over any copies – and now a group of media companies has asked the 9th Circuit to make the recordings public. The Los Angeles Times, McClatchy Co., CNN, In Session (Court TV), The New York Times, Fox News, NBC News, Hearst Corp., Dow Jones & Co., The Associated Press, and KQED say that the public and the media have a First Amendment right of access to court records and proceedings, and seem to suggest that the parties who want the Prop 8 recordings to remain private have failed to meet “their heavy burden to justify that sealing.” Walker’s strikedown of Prop 8, which amended the state constitution in 2008 to reban same-sex marriage, is on appeal to the 9th Circuit.
by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer The case has been delayed because the people who were sued – including California’s governor and attorney general – have no interest in defending Prop 8. As a result, the people who put Prop 8 on the ballot have intervened in the case to defend it, but it’s unclear at this time if they have legal “standing” to defend the amendment in federal court. The 9th Circuit recently asked the California Supreme Court for its opinion on the “standing” question. The California court is not expected to answer until late this year at the soonest. Maine marriage-battle leader thought ads contained hyperbole The man who led the successful 2009 campaign to effect a voter veto of Maine’s law that legalized same-sex marriage thought the campaign’s ads contained hyperbole. The law passed the Maine Legislature and was signed by the governor but was put on hold until the election. Voters then repealed it by 53 to 47 percent in November 2009. In the upcoming documentary Question One, clips of which have been released online, Marc Mutty is shown during the campaign saying: “[W]e use a lot of hyperbole, and I think that’s always dangerous. You know, we say things like ‘Teachers will be forced to.’ Well, that’s not a completely accurate statement and we all know it isn’t, you know? … Let’s look back at our ads and see what we say. And I think we use hyperbole to a point where, you know, it’s like, jeez.” Video: tinyurl.com/hyp1ad. Mutty also says: “This [campaign] has been awful. I hate it. … All we can hope for is that people heal, that I heal, that we all heal.” Video: tinyurl.com/q1trai. Hawaii protects Transgenders A bill banning employment discrimination based on gender identity cleared Hawaii’s Legislature April 19. Transgender people already were protected in the areas of housing and public accommodations. Gov. Neil Abercrombie is expected to sign the bill. Twelve other states and the District of Columbia protect Transgender people from discrimination. Ariz. governor signs anti-Gay-adoption bill Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill April 18 that requires public and private adoption agencies to give primary consideration to placement with a married man and woman unless other factors make it not in a child’s best interest. The Human Rights Campaign denounced the new law, calling it a “major defeat” for children and youth. “Child welfare experts agree that adoptive parents should be judged by their character and their ability to raise a child, not on their marital status or sexual orientation,” said HRC Family Project Director Ellen Kahn. “It’s shameful that politics trumps the needs of children.” With assistance from Bill Kelley
Celebrating 38 Years!
NORTHWEST
NEWS
compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE www.seattlepride.org
films which will screen on the GLBT Interest Night on Tuesday, May 3: 1 In A Million (5/3 at 7 p.m.) is a re-creation of the creation myth. It is the story of a Lesbian couple’s dogged pursuit of suitable sperm to start their family. The film is a fast-paced, funny action flick – a story of moms-to-be on a precarious journey in cars, ‘copters and cyberspace, relentlessly pursuing and welcoming new life. Children of God (5/3 at 7 p.m.) is set against the backdrop of a nation grappling with violent, homophobic crime and offers a scathing examination of the underlying hatred for Gays rampant in Caribbean societies. This is an uncommon portrayal of love, loneliness, tolerance, secrets and selfacceptance. Tickets are $5 for youth under 16 and seniors and $8 for adults. The All-Access Langston Pass is $50. All film details, including show times, locations and ticketing information, are available at www.langstonblackfilmfest.org or by calling 206-3261088.
GENDER ODYSSEY SHOW SEEKS ART SUBMISSIONS As part of Gender Odyssey’s 10th anniversary conference, the We Made This Road by Walking art show is an opportunity for reflection and celebration. We Made This Road by Walking references creating a path for oneself when the road to a desired destination doesn’t already exist. Our theme is not limited to Transgender topics, but contextualizes our individual and collective experiences in terms of the actions we have taken to move our lives and our community forward. The submission deadline is June 30, 2011, and the exhibition dates are August 4-7, 2011. Entry of artwork to this show is open to members of our collective transgender communities. Original 2- and 3-dimensional works and original multimedia works – subject to technical requirements – will be accepted. Display space may be limited so SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL please get your submissions in early. GenASIAN-PACIFIC ISLANDER der Odyssey 2011 does not guarantee space HERITAGE MONTH for all art submissions. On Sunday, May 1 from noon to 5:30 p.m. Please visit http://www.genderodyssey. at Seattle Center’s Center House, Seattle org/submit-art/ for further details, as well as Center Festál will hold their Asian-Pacific an entry form. Islander Heritage Month Celebration. Enjoy and experience the rich cultures of the API DINA MARTINA: communities through song, dance, music, LIVE AT RE-BAR’S PLACE art, and displays. On Fridays and Saturdays through April For more information, visit www.seattle30, at 8 p.m., at Re-bar (1114 Howell St.), center.com. join the talent-stuffed Dina Martina and ultra-gifted accompanist Chris Jeffries LGBTQ IMMIGRANT for their semi-awaited return to Re-bar for RIGHTS CONTINGENT a Spring show that’s oozing with razzleOn Sunday, May 1 at 12:30 p.m. at St. dazzle – minus the dazzle! Dina Martina’s Mary’s Church (20th and S. Weller St), join shows are brimming with unwittingly hi- LGBTQ allies and LGBTQ immigrants at larious songs, point-free stories, astound- the Washington-Arizona-Wisconsin immiingly funny videos, bizarre audience gifts, grant rights march and rally. Organized by costumes on their deathbeds and, as The Vil- El Comite and the May 1st Coalition. lage Voice says, “comedy that’ll make you For more information, email allyship@ piss your pants!” Tickets are $20 and avail- yahoo.com or call 206-279-8169 or visit lgable online at www.brownpapertickets.com/ btqallyship.org. event/143300 and at the door. NOTE: There are two Sunday matinees on Sundays, April TEN MORE GOOD YEARS 17 and 24, at 2 p.m. DOCUMENTARY SCREENING On Sunday, May 1 at 3 p.m. at the ComLADY CHABLIS munity Hall at the Phinney Neighborhood BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER Association (6532 Phinney Ave. N.), watch FOR YOUTH SUICIDE a screening of Ten More Good Years, a docPREVENTION umentary about the unique challenges facOn Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April ing Gay and Lesbian seniors. The one-hour 30 at 9:30 p.m. at R Place (619 E. Pine St.), films will be followed by a 45-minute disjoin Lady Chablis for an evening of enter- cussion. tainment to celebrate Chablis’ birthday and To RSVP or for more information, email raise money for Seattle Youth Suicide Pre- katiep@phinneycenter.org or call 206-783vention’s OUTLoud Program. 2244. THREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA PRESENTS “OUTLAW: JEAN GENET ON FILM” Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s 6th Annual Spring Film Series “Outlaw: Jean Genet on Film” ends on Saturday, April 30, at 7 p.m., at the Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave.) with the screening of groundbreaking German director Rainier Werner Fassbinder’s Querelle, which follows a muscular French sailor’s surreal sexual adventures in a seedy seaport. Tickets: $12. For more information, visit www.threedollarbillcinema. org/calendar/outlaw-genet-on-film.
SEATTLE PRIDE IDOL On Sundays through June 19, doors at 6 p.m., competition at 7 p.m., at Neighbours (1509 Broadway. entrance in alley off E. Pike St. between Broadway and Harvard), join Seattle Out and Proud (SO&P) for Seattle’s Pride Idol talent competition to see who will represent Seattle Out & Proud on the Pride Idol Float in the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26. For complete details, visit www.seattlepride.com.
THE ELITE HOSTS FREE ASL LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS LANGSTON HUGHES Have you ever wanted to learn basic AFRICAN AMERICAN American Sign Language? If so, you can get FILM FESTIVAL some beginning ASL instruction at the Elite From Saturday, April 30 to Sunday, May 8 (1520 E. Olive Way). The FREE lessons will at Central Cinema (21st and Union), the 8th be held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the loft. Annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival will be screening films in SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN Seattle. LHAAFF, co-sponsored locally by BOOK CLUB AT DUNSHEE HOUSE 4Culture and Comcast, offers a unique blend The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club of returning filmmakers whose careers have meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dungrown much in line with LHAAFF’s amaz- shee House (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas ing growth (Alrick Brown, Ava Duvernay, St.). All GLBTQ folks in the community are Charles Officer, and Joe Doughrity). welcome to participate in this FREE book Among the 22 Seattle premieres are two club.
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On Monday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall (200 University St.), Music of Remembrance presents their chamber concert, featuring two premieres: Voices from Israeli composer Betty Olivero and a new song-cycle version of Lori Laitman’s Vedem. Also featuring a Pavel Haas string quartet and Olivero’s Golem klezmer suite. SPRING PLANT SALE Tickets $36. For more information, call On Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Volunteer Park Conservatory (1400 E. (206) 365-7770 or visit www.musicofreGaler St.), the Friends of the Conservatory membrance.org. will hold their spring plant sale. The sale SONGS FOR JAPAN features plants from the Conservatory. VolBENEFIT CONCERT unteers are needed. On Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the For more information or to volunteer, call (206) 322-4112 or visit www.volunteerpark- Seattle Unity Church (200 8th Ave. N.), top Seattle area artists join together to present a conservatory.org. special benefit concert honoring the people and music of Japan. The ongoing catastroNARAL WASHINGTON phe in Japan prompted Susan to initiate a RUN FOR YOUR RIGHTS On Saturday, May 7 beginning at 10:15 series of benefit concerts to raise funds to be at Green Lake Park, NARAL Pro-Choice sent directly to the people of Sendai, the epiWashington will hold their Run for Your center of the earthquake and tsunami. The Rights! 5k Run – Walk. Registration at evening will include many of Japan’s best10:15 a.m., rally at 10:45 a.m., and step- loved traditional songs. The songs have a off at 11 a.m. Register as an individual or bittersweet quality and carry the core values start a team with your friends or coworkers. of the Japanese culture, love of the land, naParticipants can choose to walk at whatev- ture, and of family. In addition, there will be er pace they choose and can also do timed some musical surprises born of the unique runs. This event is pet and stroller friendly. collaboration from all these fine musicians, Everybody who registers online is guaran- whose lives and hearts have all been touched teed a free T-shirt. Proceeds from this fun- by the generosity and graciousness of the filled event will be used to support efforts Japanese people and have a desire to help. For more information, contact Susan Osto protect women health rights and stop the born at SusanOsborn@SusanOsborn.com Congressional War on Women. Visit www.ProChoiceWashington.org for or Nancy Rumbel at Nancy@NancyRumbel.com. more information.
The book for April is We Think the World of You by J.R. Ackerley. The book was made into a movie in the ’80s starring Alan Bates and a very young Gary Oldman. For more information, email nickdimartin@earthlink.net or contact Dunshee House at 206-322-2437.
SWING FEVER 2011 On Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel (corner of 6th and Madison), join the Rainbow City Band for an evening of fine dining, musical entertainment, silent and live auctions, and swing dancing at Swing Fever 2011. Featuring the Purple Passion Swing Band and a no-host bar. This event is a fundraiser for the future of community band music in Seattle. Tickets $100 at www.brownpapertickets. com.
KNIGHTS OF MANTRA CAMPOUT 2011 AT MILLER RIVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 27-30 Includes meals, entertainment, and hot showers. Bring your own camping gear or contact the Knights of Mantra for assistance. Cost: $95 through April 30, $110 from May 1-16, $125 from May 17-27. For more information, email kofmnews@comcast.net.
SEATTLE RAINBOW CONTRA DANCE On Saturdays, 5/7, 5/21, 6/4, 6/18, no dance 7/2, resumes 7/16, at Ballard Odd Fellows Hall (1706 NW Market St.), join LGBTQ folks and friends (and all who want to dance) for this fun, easy-to-learn, easyto-dance, gender-neutral contra dance, with live calling and live bluegrass music. No experience or partner necessary. All dances taught. Free lesson at 7 p.m. Dance from 7:30-10 p.m. Cost is $8. Organizers suggest bringing water to drink. A bin for non-perishable food donations is available at the hall. Please come fragrance free in consideration of those with allergies. Bring a dry shirt to change into if you sweat a lot. No drunkenness, rude or abusive behavior will be tolerated. http://seattledance.org/contra/rainbow; YouTube: Seattle Rainbow Contra Dance.
ALLYSHIP SEEKING VOLUNTEERS Allyship is an organization that does multi-issue organizing in the social justice community as out Queers and connects social justice issues within LGBTQ communities. For several years Allyship has been sponsoring a discussion series called “Queerly Classed,” as well as mobilizing for marches and actions, and building relationships in the labor, feminist, immigrant rights, housing and health care movements. This year Allyship will be creating campaigns around health care, workers’ rights and Queer youth and is looking for volunteers to help with campaign research, social media, and outreach. For more information, including a description of tasks and time commitment for volunteer positions of researcher, social media assistant, and outreach assistant, email ladyking6k@yahoo. com or allyship@yahoo.com.
LEA DELARIA On Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Triple Door (216 Union St.), Lea DeLaria will perform. Called “every inch and ounce a star” by The New York Times, DeLaria has performed stand-up comedy for over 25 years and is an extremely prominent figure in the world of Lesbian comedy. She will be singing with a band at her Seattle appearance. For tickets, call (206) 838-4333. MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE PRESENTS VOICES, VEDEM
LGBT LIBRARY NOW OPEN The LGBT Library houses a wide range of fiction and non-fiction works of interest to those in the LGBT community and its allies. The Library is located at Gay City’s offices, 511 E. Pike St., on the ground floor behind Kaladi Brothers Coffee (just follow the signs). Library hours are Mon-Fri, 2-8 p.m., and Saturday, 2-5 p.m. Items may be borrowed free of charge; however, ID is required. For your convenience, a drop box for returning borrowed items is available next to the front door when the library is closed.
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Seattle Gay News
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New organization supports servicemembers through repeal of DADT and beyond
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
for all former, current, and future servicemembers, launched a new website designed On April 1, the Military Acceptance Proj- to provide information, resources, and supect (MAP), a new organization which fo- port to servicemembers regarding the repeal cuses solely on the promotion of acceptance of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).
Former Marine Corps officer Kristen Kavanaugh co-founded MAP with colleagues and faculty from the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work, San Diego Academic Center. “At first, all we knew is that we wanted to support servicemembers through the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” stated Kavanaugh. “After talking with military leaders about the implementation process, it became clear that the services had no way to directly learn and address the questions and concerns of the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual servicemembers most impacted by the repeal.” The MAP team quickly held a focus group with 15 local LGB servicemembers. The team used this forum to gain a better understanding of the groups’ questions, concerns, and ideas of how best to support them before, during, and after the repeal. Their input formed the foundation of the new website and the organization’s mission. “MAP fills a unique and important space, specifically in the DADT repeal world,” Jasper Kump, co-founder and director of communications for MAP, told Seattle Gay News. “There are already several strong organizations focused on various aspects of the repeal of DADT and beyond. From lobbying and political forces to legal and family-based organizations, they have all blazed a trail for the repeal and continue to forge our way to equality for LGB servicemembers.” “In our interviews with various military leaders as well as focus groups with LGB active duty and veteran servicemembers, we quickly learned that until the repeal training and process was over, there was no safe way for these two groups to communicate without risking retaliation to the servicemembers,” Kump said. “As a result, LGB servicemembers – who the repeal affects most – had no voice and were getting generalized information that didn’t address their basic questions.”
Kump said MAP’s focus is squarely on providing information, resources, and support to servicemembers related to any form of marginalization. “This includes serving as a conduit of communication to and from marginalized servicemembers themselves and the services,” he said. “Currently, with the repeal of DADT, this means LGB service members specifically.” Kump told SGN that MAP is “very careful not to have any political or partisan agendas or affiliations.” “This allows us to remain neutral and focus on promoting the acceptance of all servicemembers,” he said. The website includes articles, training materials, and other information about the Department of Defense and each branch of the military’s implementation plans and progress. An anonymous research poll, a blog, and personal stories allow service members to actively be heard and participate. According to MAP officials, “It’s a resource designed by servicemembers, for servicemembers.” MAP officials told SGN they want visitors to walk away with simple, direct, and current information on the repeal of DADT, resources for additional support or information, opportunities to ask questions and share their stories safely and anonymously, the understanding that their service is deeply appreciated, and the knowledge that they are not alone. “We are dedicated to supporting LGB servicemembers for the long haul,” said Kump. “The formal repeal of DADT is only the beginning. Our initial research indicates that servicemembers (both LGB and non-LGB) believe it may take anywhere from three to 10 years for LGB servicemembers to serve openly and be treated equally. We are committed to working to help support and accelerate this process.” For more information about MAP, visit them online at www.militaryacceptanceproject.org. courtesy northwest press
LGBT publisher raises funds for anti-bullying comic book
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
Comics Day, an international event where comics creators attempt to produce a comNorthwest Press, a publisher of LGBT plete comic book in a single day. In Sepgraphic novels and comics, is raising funds tember of 2010, there were numerous highto produce an anti-bullying comic book for profile news reports of Gay teen suicides all youth groups and teachers. over the U.S., prompting a public outcry to The Power Within tells the story of a ju- combat LGBT teen isolation and bullying. nior high school student who imagines him- Christensen and Brill decided to tackle the self as a superhero to deal with his constant topic in their book, and by the end of the harassment at school. The project is written event, they had completed a rough version by Charles “Zan” Christensen and drawn by of the story. Mark Brill, and features bonus material by Brill continued to polish the artwork and Dan Parent (creator of Archie Comics’ first the book was completed and published in a openly Gay character, Kevin Keller), Phil limited run in March, where it sold at comic Jimenez (Wonder Woman, New X-Men), book conventions in Seattle and Chicago. In Gail Simone (Secret Six, Wonder Woman), order to mass-produce the book and provide Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Andy Man- free copies to Gay-straight alliances and gels (Gay Comics), Donna Barr (The Desert other youth groups, Christensen sought the Peach), and others. participation of some high-profile artists and According to Northwest Press, the project writers for bonus features and began a fundwas conceived in October 2010 for 24-Hour raising effort to cover printing and shipping The Power Within
costs. In six days, the project reached a third of its funding goal. The publisher is offering a variety of incentives to encourage people to fund the project, ranging from signed art prints and copies of the finished book to a ticket to join Northwest Press at the Lambda Literary Awards in May, where two of their books – Teleny and Camille and Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny – are finalists for
awards. Christenson and Brill will promote the new book and other releases at several conventions around the U.S. this month. They will appear in partnership with Prism Comics at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival in Ontario; Gaylaxicon in Atlanta, Georgia; and Fanaticon in Asheville, North Carolina. For more information about The Power Within, visit northwestpress.com.
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Seattle Gay News
April 23, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A bill introduced by Republican legislators would strip Trans people in Texas of their right to get married. Texas Sen. Tommy Williams says he has nothing against Trans people; he is just trying to clean up the 2009 state law banning same-sex marriage. “The Texas Constitution,” Williams told the Associated Press, “clearly defines marriage as between one man and one woman.” The bill introduced by Williams would prohibit county and district clerks from using a court order recognizing sex reassignment as documentation for a marriage license. If passed, the measure would effectively require state officials to recognize a 1999 state appeals court decision that said in marriage cases, gender is assigned at birth and sticks with a person throughout their life even if they have sex reassignment. In 2009, Texas became one of the last states in the country to allow Transgender people to use proof of sex reassignment to get a marriage license. “It would be terrible for Texas, now that it finally caught up with the rest of the country, to take a step back,” said Shannon Minter, an attorney for the Transgender Law and Policy Institute. Minter said most states allow marriages for people who have had sex reassignment surgery.
Some Trans rights advocates believe that the Texas proposal would not only prevent Trans people from marrying in the future, but also open up the possibility that any current marriage could be nullified. “It appears the goal is to try to enshrine a really horrifying ruling and make it law in the state of Texas,” said John Nechman, a Houston attorney whose law firm does work for the LGBT community. Texas Governor Rick Perry’s spokesman, Mark Miner, said the governor never intended to allow Transgender people to get married. The sex reassignment provision was “sneaked through” on a larger piece of legislation Perry signed two years ago regarding marriage licensing rules for county and district clerks, Miner claimed. Perry, a Republican, supports efforts to “clarify the unintended consequences” of that law, Miner added. “The governor has always believed and advocated that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Miner said. In attempting to set the national standard for opposing same-sex marriage, Texas officials have set up a nightmare of legal confusion. In April 2010, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed appeals in two divorce cases involving same-sex couples who were legally married in other states. Abbott argued that allowing same-sex couples to divorce would tacitly admit that they were, in fact, married – which is con-
DOMA defense drama
Law firm backs out under pressure, partner quits Department of Justice
that it would drop the case. King & Spalding Chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr. said in a statement through his spokesman, Les Zuke, that the decision to accept the contract to defend DOMA was a mistake. “Today the firm filed a motion to withdraw from its engagement to represent the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the House of Representatives on the constitutional issues regarding Section III of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act,” Hays’ statement said. “Last week we worked diligently through the process required for withdrawal. “In reviewing this assignment further, I determined that the process used for vetting this engagement was inadequate. Ultimately I am responsible for any mistakes that occurred and Paul Clement apologize for the challenges this may have created.” by Mike Andrew Hays did not offer reasons for the decision to withdraw, but the firm faced protests from SGN Staff Writer key clients and pickets at its Atlanta office. King & Spalding partner Paul Clement The law firm of King & Spalding – hired by House Speaker John Boehner to defend – who was to lead the DOMA defense – DOMA in court – announced on April 25 promptly resigned from the firm.
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file photo
Texas Republicans want to strip Transgender marriage rights
Texas Senator Tommy Williams
trary to the Texas constitution. In May 2010, a Trans Lesbian legally married her girlfriend in San Antonio, because her birth certificate still identified her as a male. According to the San Antonio City Clerk, a Texas appeals court ruling in Littleton v. Prange states that the sex specified on an individual’s birth certificate is determinative. In July 2010, Transgender widow Nikki Araguz was sued by her late husband’s relatives for her share of his estate.
The relatives claimed that although Araguz has had sex reassignment surgery, she was identified as male on her birth certificate, and so her marriage was never valid under Texas law. The issue is currently being litigated, with a hearing set for May 15. “This is crazy. I feel like this [bill] is a personal attack on me,” Araguz told AP. “If this bill is passed, it essentially means women like myself who have had reconstructive surgery will not be allowed to marry their heterosexual partners.”
“I resign out of the firmly held belief that a representation should not be abandoned because the client’s legal position is extremely unpopular in certain quarters,” Clement said in a statement. “Defending unpopular clients is what lawyers do. ... “I recognized from the outset that this statute implicates very sensitive issues that prompt strong views on both sides. But having undertaken the representation, I believe there is no honorable course for me but to complete it.” Clement immediately joined the firm of Bancroft PLLC, led by former U.S. Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh, who served under President George W. Bush. Bancroft PLLC will now handle the DOMA for Boehner, with Clement still leading the effort. The following day, HRC Communications Director Fred Sainz confirmed that his group had called King & Spalding clients about the firm’s involvement with the DOMA case. Sainz said his group did not ask any of the firm’s clients to drop the firm in retaliation for taking the case, as was reported in some media venues, but it had informed the firm’s clients that taking the case was out of sync with King & Spalding’s commitment to diversity, which it proudly advertises on its website. “King & Spalding’s clients are listed on its website, so we did what you would expect us to do,” Sainz told Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent. “We are an advocacy firm that is dedicated to improving the lives of Gays and Lesbians. It is incumbent on us to launch a full-throated educational campaign so firms know that these kinds of engagements will reflect on the way your clients and law school recruits think of your firm.” “We did all of this, and we’re proud to have done it,” added Sainz. While Sainz declined to say exactly which King & Spalding clients HRC contacted,
some reports indicate Coca Cola was the client that persuaded the firm to drop DOMA. LGBT rights advocates greeted King & Spalding’s decision with enthusiasm. “King & Spalding has rightly chosen to put principle above politics in dropping its involvement in the defense of this discriminatory and patently unconstitutional law. We are pleased to see the firm has decided to stand on the right side of history and remain true to its core values,” HRC said in its official statement. “Today, we learned once again that it is a bad idea to defend anti-Gay bias and discrimination in court, and fewer and fewer people are willing to do it. We welcome the news that the law firm, King & Spalding, has decided to withdraw from the engagement to represent House leadership in defending DOMA,” Lambda Legal’s Jon Davidson said. Self-identified conservative Gay blogger Andrew Sullivan had a different take on the issue, however. “To put pressure on lawyers defending clients or laws because lobby groups don’t like them is deeply illiberal,” Sullivan wrote. “Memo to the Gay rights leadership: The ends do not justify the means. … When civil rights groups bully, they lose the moral high ground.”
April 23, 2011
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10 Seattle Gay News
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Celebrating 38 Years!
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12 Seattle Gay News
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Celebrating 38 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
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14 Seattle Gay News
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Celebrating 38 Years!
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2011 Capitol Hill Pride Festival to take place June 25
Teens with LGBT parents contribute to new online magazine
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore, Seattle Gay News, and Broadway businesses are proud to announce the Capitol Hill Pride Festival 2011 on Broadway, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event is designed as a community festival celebrating pride and diversity. It will take place on the five blocks from John St. to Roy St. on Broadway in Capitol Hill. There will be three stages, live music, food, and entertainment featuring a diversity of performers – from youth groups to drag queens – and over 100 local vendors. In addition to the entertainment, there will be a doggie drag costume contest and (new this year) a Paint for Pride exhibit on Broadway, which makes the festival one of the largest art walks in Seattle. The Paint for Pride exhibit will add some color to the Pride palette. The exhibit will provide various local artists a spot within the festival’s limits to let their own personal
Rainbow Riot, a new online magazine for teens with LGBT parents, has launched at www.rainbowriot.org to serve the 9 million young people with LGBT parents in the United States. Rainbow Riot features interviews with youth who have LGBT parents, artwork and video created by youth, and fiction written by professional authors. The magazine is published by Rainbow Rumpus, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that has been publishing an award-winning online magazine for children and adults for over five years. The Riot site is linked to the Rumpus site so young readers can explore the content of both magazines. “We launched Rainbow Riot in response to feedback from the hundreds of youth who read the online magazine,” said Laura Matanah, Rainbow Rumpus’ executive director. “Teens wanted their own site, so we created a whole magazine just for older youth.”
feelings of pride be shown. Registration is $10. Also for the first time this year, restaurants will be able to serve alcohol on the street in a table setting, giving Broadway a European air. Attendance is expected to reach over 20,000 throughout the day, up from the 15,000 in attendance in 2010. More information on booths, the doggie drag contest, and Paint for Pride is posted at www.capitolhillpridefestival.net. At this time, booth spaces are still available. Applications can be mailed to Capitol Hill Pride Festival Committee, c/o Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore, P.O. Box 12213, Seattle, WA 98102. Additional application forms can be picked up and dropped off at Perfect Copy and Print on Broadway near Denny Way. For additional information, contact Charlette LeFevre or Philip Lipson at (206) by Shaun Knittel 523-6348. For more information on Paint SGN Associate Editor for Pride, call Celine LeFevre at (206) 419In an interview that has garnered much at6995. tention, out Lesbian MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow sent a clear message to closeted Gay news anchors: come out. Maddow made the comment in an interview with The Guardian of London, which was published April 25. Here is part of the exchange: “Does [Maddow] feel frustration towards an equally well-known news presenter who is widely assumed to be Gay but has never come out? For the first time, Maddow pauses: ‘I’m sure other people in the business have considered reasons why they’re doing what they’re doing, but I do think that if you’re Gay, you have a responsibility to come out,’ she says carefully.” The immediate reaction from the mainstream media and blog writers was that she was referring to CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who has never acknowledged or denied that he is Gay. Maddow responded to the internet chatter
Response to the site has been tremendous. “Ur issues r the best thing i do online,” wrote a 14-year-old reader. Another shared, “I like being able to see my artwork on the site.” April’s issue of Rainbow Riot features an interview with Avery Klein-Cloud, who was raised by two moms and discusses the process of making a documentary about her life during a period when she was searching for her birth mother and going through a “racial identity crisis.” It also includes an interview with a young adult with a Gay father who created a video project to explore what it means to “come out” as the child of one or more LGBT parents. “We’re excited for the Rainbow Riot site to bring our teen fiction to a wider audience,” said Matanah. “The site as a whole will help us achieve our vision of a world where kids and teens with LGBT parents are safe, welcomed, and powerful.” Teens and young adults are encouraged to submit photos, artwork, writing, and videos to Rainbow Riot. Contributions can be emailed to yourwork@rainbowrumpus.org.
Rachel Maddow wants Gay anchors to come out
in a blog post Monday evening, saying that she was not singling anyone out. “In that interview, I wasn’t asked about Anderson Cooper, I didn’t say anything about him, he literally was never discussed during the interview at all – even implicitly,” she wrote. “I don’t tend to be shy when I criticize – you wouldn’t have to read between the lines if that’s what I was trying to do.” She then went on to explain her “basic beliefs” about “the ethics of coming out.” In summary, Gay people – generally speaking – have a responsibility to our own community and to future generations of Gay people to come out, if and when we feel that we can. We should all get to decide for ourselves the “if and when we feel that we can” part of that, and closeted people should reasonably expect to be outed by other Gay people if (and only if) they prey on the Gay community in public. “And I also believe that coming out makes for a happier life,” she concluded, “but that’s not a matter of ethics, that’s just corny advice.”
“Does [Maddow] feel frustration towards an equally well-known news presenter who is widely assumed to be Gay but has never come out?”
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April 23, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
Equal Rights Washington’s 2011 legislative update by Josh Friedes Executive Director of Equal Rights Washington The 2011 regular legislative session ended on April 22. During the session, both the House and Senate passed all three of Equal Rights Washington’s priority bills. This marks the sixth consecutive session where significant LGBT civil rights legislation was passed. That three major bills were passed by the legislature may come as a surprise to many because there was so little mainstream media attention.
The Uniform Parentage Act Revision HB 1267 was commonly referred to as the Uniform Parentage Act and made significant changes to the existing UPA in Washington state. The UPA is the law that establishes who is a legal parent. The passage of HB 1267 represents a significant milestone in protecting the families of same-sex couples for three reasons. First, Washington’s legislature becomes the first in the country to revise its parentage act – the law that determines who a child’s legal parents are – specifically to incorporate same-sex couples. For the first time, parentage may be based not on genetics or biology, but on intent. This is a significant change in family law. Second, beyond the mere symbolism of this change, the bill provides con-
courtesy washblog.com
The Out-of-State Marriage Recognition Bill HB 1649, which provides the rights of domestic partnerships to same-sex couples with legal marriages performed in other states and countries, hardly raised an eyebrow. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Laurie Jinkins. Elected in November 2010, Jinkins is the first open Lesbian elected to the Washington State Legislature and HB 1649 was the first bill she had signed into law by the governor. At the bill’s signing, Governor Gregoire complimented Jinkins on having such an important bill be the first of her legislative career. The new law means that same-sex couples moving to or living in Washington state who have legally wed in other states will immediately have the protections of the domestic partnership law without having to register, and legally wed same-sex couples traveling in Washington, such as Canadian tourists, will also have these protections. In 2007, when the first domestic partnership law was passed, there was no support for including recognition of out-of-state marriages. The climate changed following voter approval of Referendum 71 in 2009, which upheld the third domestic partnership law and was commonly referred to as the “everything but marriage bill.” As a result of Referendum 71, providing protections to couples with legal marriages was viewed as simply a technical fix. This is a perfect example of how quickly attitudes and understandings change. While HB 1649 rolled back Washington state’s statutory DOMA law that previously prohibited recognition of out-of-state marriages, there was strong legislative support for this corrective action. In both the House and Senate, we saw legislators who had previously voted against the domestic partnership laws voting for the Jinkins bill, and we saw three freshman Republican senators and all the newly elected Democrats supporting the bill.
The Anti-Bullying Bill of 2011 HB 1163, this year’s anti-bullying bill passed both houses with large margins. Representative Marko Liias again took the lead as he did with last year’s successful anti-bullying bill. Washington state has truly emerged as a legislative leader on this issue as the legislature has time and time again passed anti-bullying bills, demonstrating both its commitment to the issue and its nuanced understanding that addressing it is not easy. Indeed, the bill passed this year requires the formation of an ongoing task force that will report back to the legislature from time to time. In doing this, the legislature created a mechanism that makes it much easier to update the law as needed. The bill also responded to the recent tragic number of highly publicized youth suicides and requires that suicide prevention be added to the health curriculum. Lastly, the law recognized that bullying extends beyond K-12 and required boards of higher education to issue a report so that the legislature can understand what is being done at public state and community universities and colleges to address bullying. The final bill passed by the legislature was the most controversial. The original bill contained a provision that would allow for compensated surrogacy in Washington state while providing strong protections for surrogates, parents, and children. This provision – which was strongly objected to by the radical right and the Catholic Church for reasons largely unrelated to LGBT families – was not included in the final bill. The proponents of the original bill have already indicated their intention to file a bill in the 2012 legislative session that will make it easier for couples to form families through surrogacy while making sure that surrogates have strong protections.
Josh Friedes
crete protections for same-sex couples and their children. By removing from the statute the terms “mother” and “father” and instead using the words “parent(s)” we eliminate both stigma, and the possibility of legal uncertainty. In Washington state, there is no longer a legal assumption that children have a mother and a father. Registration as domestic partners, or a valid legal marriage, D.P., or Civil Union, will lead to a presumption of parentage, regardless of whether there has been a second-parent adoption. Living with a child for the first two years of the child’s life and holding the child out as your own will also make you a parent without any genetic connection and without prior registration. These and other changes make it much less likely that the relationships of Gay and Lesbian people with the children they help to bring into the world will be disregarded because of the lack of a genetic connection or proper legal paperwork. Third, the passage of these changes significantly undermines the contention that different-sex marriage is privileged in the law because of its unique link to procreation, a contention heavily relied on by the majority in the Andersen case, which upheld the ban on same-sex marriage in 2006. Representative Jamie Pedersen was the prime sponsor of the UPA bill. Its passage through the Senate was continually in jeopardy and a large list of senators include to be thanked including Senator Ed Murray, Senator Craig Pridemore, Senator Kevin Ranker, Senator Sharon Nelson, and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. The bill would
not have passed without Republican support in the Senate. Republican Senators who supported the bill and deserve the thanks of the civil rights community and family advocacy community include Cheryl Pflug, Steve Litzow, Andy Hill, and Joe Fain. During the course of the session, ERW advocates sent over 20,000 emails to Washington’s elected leaders, made countless phone calls, and over 250 advocates went to Olympia on March 21 for ERW’s fifth Equality Day. ERW’s lobbyist Carey Morris provided outstanding representation and support to the bill’s sponsors and allies. There is a great deal of credit to be spread around to legislators and organizations who played a vital role in the passage of each bill. Now the legislature will meet in special session to pass a budget and ERW will work with our legislative allies and coalition partners to protect funding for AIDS/HIV and other critical services.
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Seattle Gay News 17
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could cause problems with the UW’s LGBT students and faculty. However, the truth is that Young is pretty damn progressive. He boasts an outstanding record of LGBT support, and in some cases, even advocacy. A RÉSUMÉ WORTH REVIEWING “I am really passionate about inclusion,” Young, who will transition out of his role as president of the University of Utah to the top seat at UW on July 1, told Seattle Gay News. “I believe that universities have an obligation to be a safe space for everybody. Frankly, so does society. A university must be, and always remain, a safe place where dialogue can occur in a respectful and civil manner.” Young knows a thing or two about administrating policy and ensuring that whatever university he is involved with is a safe space. Young’s résumé boasts a career that runs the spectrum of community, religious, and political service: bachelor’s degree from BYU; Mormon mission in Japan; law degree from Harvard, where he made Law Review; U.S. Supreme Court clerkship; law professor at Columbia; Mormon stake president in New York; law dean at George Washington University; U.S. ambassador for trade and environmental affairs; deputy undersecretary of state for economic and agricultural affairs; and chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Young’s mentors include the late Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist (not exactly a friend of the LGBT community),
former Secretary of State James Baker III (a campaign advisor to President George W. Bush who oversaw the Florida recount), and current World Bank President Robert Zoellick. With friends like these, you could see how some in the community would say there is cause for alarm. Professionally, however, you’d be hardpressed to find anything on Young that would suggest that he is anti-Gay when it comes to his post as president of a university – in fact, you would discover the contrary. “SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL” “During President Young’s tenure, the LGBT community of students, faculty, and staff received the greatest level of institutional support in campus history,” Octavio Villalpando, associate vice president of Equity and Diversity at the University of Utah, told SGN. “The LGBT community at the University of Utah is a large and vibrant community of students and staff.” In fact, said Villalpando, “four years ago, the campus was nationally ranked as having one of the most supportive environments for LGBT students in higher education.” “President Young’s leadership and support has been one of the most important factors behind the success of the LGBT community on the campus,” he told SGN. “My prediction is that the University of Washington’s LGBT community will find a strong ally and supporter in President Young.” Young told SGN that the inclusion and acceptance of LGBT students and staff under his watch was not achieved “by accident; it was intentional.” “Senior leadership must reflect diversity,” he said. “Dialogue on topics such as LGBT equality should start at the top and then trickle down. At University of Utah, we have Gay deans. I’ve always known it is important to make sure that not only do student groups feel safe and comfortable and empowered, but that this is reflected in the leadership, as well. If you can do that – and you should do that – then you end up with a campus that creates, for everybody, an atmosphere that is safe and welcoming for all.” Utah is a long way from Washington, and Salt Lake City politics and the influence of the LDS church are an even longer way from Seattle and its largely progressive populace. Young told SGN he aware of – and somewhat amused by – the perception that he might not be a good fit for the job based
on his religious beliefs and past political affiliation. “I think Seattle is legendary for its tolerance, and I would hope that my moving there from Utah would be tolerated as well,” he joked. “But in all honesty, 45 of my 61 years were spent outside of Utah. I spent decades in other places, from New York to Japan. I’m not exactly a bastion of the Tea Party.” “What is amusing to me is that people tend to pick out one factor or another to base their whole assumption of me on,” he continued. “I’ve been accused of being a flaming liberal and a Communist – none of which are true, of course.” “Conservative or liberal, Mormon or not, you can look at my record and you will find that, throughout my career, I’ve been able to work directly with the community of which I am a part,” said Young. “Seattle will be no different.” SOME REMAIN CAUTIOUS ABOUT SUPPORT Still, some locals remain cautious. Nick Literski, an ex-Mormon with over 25 years of experience with the LDS church, says the key word is “watchfulness.” “I think the public needs to be aware of what he does and says on the side,” Literski said. “It’s his involvement with the highest members of the Mormon church that concerns me. Some of the things he has said when giving recent speeches are concerning.” One of the speeches Literski is talking about took place earlier this month when Young was addressing the LDS International Society at Brigham Young University. “In his speech, Mr. Young ranked the idea that religion is a ‘private affair’ not entitled to special treatment in the public square as the second-most severe argument that ‘critics are using to limit religious freedom in America,’” said Literski. “Attempting to support his novel theory of religious entitlement, Mr. Young castigated the decision of Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, who wrote in his ruling to overturn California’s Proposition 8 that religious arguments could not be used as justification to deny civil rights to Gay and Lesbian citizens. Mr. Young has spoken at similarly themed conferences in the past.” Literski said that although Young has given a proclamation in support of Gay Pride and “maybe he will be professional enough
to never bring his religious views together with his duties as president of UW,” his actions should still be watched, and the LGBT community should remain cautious about throwing their support behind him. “While it may be too late to avoid this potentially disastrous appointment, the eye of fair-minded citizens should be ever-watchful to ensure that Mr. Young doesn’t bring his religiously privileged bigotry with him to the University of Washington,” he said. “WE ARE NOT GOING TO … DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYONE” Young, however, paints a very different picture of how he manages his affiliation with the Mormon church and his role as president of a university. “I want your readers to know that we are not going to, on my watch, discriminate against anyone,” Young told SGN. “We are not going to favor any religious group. In my life and in my career, I’ve argued for human rights in foreign countries where people are oppressed. I couldn’t not argue for that in my own country.” “UW,” he said, “is a wonderfully tolerant place, and that should never change.” “So, no, we won’t be opening faculty meetings with prayer,” he joked. And, to be fair, Young isn’t exactly the model Mormon that some of his detractors may point him out to be. Last year, Young got a divorce from his wife of more than 30 years. Young described the breakup as a “painful” situation to The Seattle Times. Young described the climate that surrounded him when the separation took place. “Utah is not an easy place to get divorced. … And I do sometimes think it makes it harder [in Utah] to accept a simple and true explanation. ... Is he having a psychotic breakdown? Is he Gay? Is he having an affair? Is he sleeping with sheep? Is he clinically depressed? A lot of that stuff is said. And truth of the matter is it’s just much simpler than that. It’s what happens in a marriage, and I also hope people understand, you don’t leave a 35-year marriage casually.” As for his role as an advisor to the LDS church, Young said people sometimes misunderstand what it is he is advising them about. “What I advise the church on has nothing to do with their stance on marriage equality,” he said. “I am an advisor on budget and zone issues and am happy to say that
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April 23, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
I have never been asked by the church about my views on same-sex marriage.” So where does Young stand when it comes to Gay marriage? He did not avoid the question, but confidently said, “I really have my own personal views, and they don’t affect what I do at my job. I do not speak for the Mormon church, and the church doesn’t speak for me. I have my views and I must say I cannot seem to generate the enthusiasm that some people generate to oppose marriage equality.” “Look, at the end of the day, I have a record that I am not at all unhappy with,” concluded Young. “It shows my passionate commitment to equality and tolerance. What I really believe in is that we must create equal dignity and safe space for everybody. Universities, above all other institutions, should work towards that. Educators lead not only by what they say, but by what they do.”
ernment. “I really strongly believe that if local government gets a longer leash from taxpayers it will be because they’re satisfied that the basics are well managed,” he insists. “It resonates with people. People expect those things. Then they’ll be willing to pay for social services, or mass transit. We can’t do it if we don’t do the bare bones.” While he acknowledges that national political issues like the country’s budget deficit often occupy the media’s attention, Mello insists that local government is vitally important. “City government touches people’s lives the most. I guess it’s sexier to talk about trillions of dollars … but the choices made by the city council – our energy sources, our city buses – these are the things that affect people’s daily lives,” he tells SGN. “I like being on the inside,” Mello adds. “I absolutely, absolutely believe it’s important who’s in these chairs. The values they bring to the table decide their priorities at the end of the day.” As examples, Mello cites a number of environmental policy changes he spearheaded as a council member. continued from cover In Tacoma’s transportation policy, Mello says, “We turned the funding triangle on its head. The old master plan put single-occupancy vehicles first. Now we focus funding on pedestrians, bikes, and mass transit. sic services.” “Of course we still have to fund roads, but Doing a good job of delivering basic ser- we give equal attention to bike lanes, crossvices is key to Mello’s philosophy of gov- walks, bus shelters….”
mello
Mello also speaks proudly about Tacoma’s urban forestry policy. “We now have plans to implement a 30% tree canopy by 2030. It makes the city more livable,” he says. Mello is no stranger to environmental planning. He has served on the Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board, and in 2008 and 2009 he was co-chair of Tacoma’s Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Change, which produced the city’s plan for addressing global climate change. “We want to use energy wisely,” he says, “and we want to mange growth wisely, not sprawling over farm lands and forests.” “I grew up on a cattle ranch in Hawaii,” he adds. “Where I grew up, the land paid our bills.” While Mello has yet to draw an opponent for his seat, he says he has been campaigning nonstop. Asked if he has learned anything from talking to voters, he replies, “I’ve learned it’s shocking the number of people who are hurting – and remain invisible. People who are unemployed, or under-employed. Shocking and humbling.” While economic recovery will have to be managed at the federal level, Mello says there are things that local governments can do to help their residents. “Encouraging jobs close to home – clean energy and clean technology jobs,” he says. “We can also keep utility bills low. Fortunately we have public ownership [of the
city’s power company].” “We’ve also increased the B&O threshold,” he says, referring to the Business and Occupation tax on gross business receipts. “It’s now the highest of any Puget Sound county – $250,000. B&O is a regressive tax, and keeping the threshold high helps our competitive advantage” in attracting new investments in Tacoma. Mello lives with his partner Jerry – a small-business owner – and “three dogs and two cats,” as his website says proudly. “I was really proud to chair the Pierce County Referendum 71 campaign and to serve on ERW’s Board,” he says. “I want to be sure LGBT people don’t get forgotten – and people with HIV/AIDS don’t get forgotten.”
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Seattle Gay News 19
kennewick continued from cover
respective sides in the dispute. Kennewick School Superintendent Dave Bond complained to SGN that the story was “poorly covered and misrepresented in our local media.” On the other side, Mark Lee, executive director of Kennewick’s Vista Center for LGBTQ youth and one of the leaders of the push to get approval for the GSA, charged that Bond had “threatened to shut down all school clubs” rather than allow GSA access to school bulletin boards and P.A. announcements. But “the assertion that I or the school board threatened to suspend all student clubs rather than allow GSAs to exist is pa-
tently false,” Superintendent Bond replied in an email to SGN. The facts both sides agree on are these: Kennewick schools were not in compliance with the federal Equal Access Act. Bond informed the School Board of that fact at its March meeting. The Equal Access Act was passed in 1984 to compel federally funded secondary schools – and almost all public schools receive federal funds – to provide equal access to school resources for extracurricular clubs. The law was initially pushed by religious groups who wanted students to be able to conduct Bible study programs on school property. Ironically, it has also become the basis for litigation upholding the right of students to form GSAs. According to the law, all student clubs that are not organized around the school curriculum must have equal access to school facilities, bulletin boards, and P.A. announcements. According to Bond’s March presentation, the Kennewick School Board would either have to take away all access from all student clubs, or give them all the same level of access. Bond also consulted with the principals of all the high schools in the district and reported their unanimous recommendation for an inclusive access policy to the school board’s April 21 meeting. The board then voted 3-2 to allow all clubs to post notices on school bulletin boards and make in-school P.A. announcements, pend-
ing a final revision of school district policy expected in June. Apart from these bare facts, interpretations of the principal players’ actions and motives diverge. According to Lee, Bond and at least one Mormon school board member wanted nothing to do with GSAs, and wanted to restrict bulletin board access and P.A. announcements so the Kennewick High GSA would be unsuccessful. “If you can’t announce upcoming meetings, you can’t reach people outside of a small circle,” Lee told SGN. “Then the GSA would fail.” But in his lengthy email to SGN, Bond denied opposing GSAs. “When I was a principal at Kamiakin High from 2001-2006, we had a GSA there,” Bond wrote. “We also had religious-based clubs like Youth on Fire and Fellowship of Christian Athletes operating under the Equal Access Act. … This persistent misreporting of the facts is frustrating.” For whatever reason, the Kamiakin High School GSA has not survived. According to Lee, with the school board decision now making it possible to organize a GSA at Kennewick High School, there will be five GSAs in the Tri-Cities – one in Kennewick, one in Pasco, and three in Richland. The Richland and Pasco GSAs have always had full access to school resources. While not a GSA, Lee’s Vista Center provides a place for high school students and post-high-school youth to meet, socialize, get help with schoolwork, and access counseling services.
“We’ve seen over 1,000 kids,” Lee told SGN. “There were 130 unique individuals in 2010, and maybe 40 regulars. I’d guess 20% are couch-surfing.” The Vista Center also provides a sit-down dinner every Friday night, with food usually donated by a community member. Lee says the dinners regularly draw about 18 young people. “I’m also working on getting a chaplain for the center. So many of our youth have problems because of religion. So I want to say to [religious people], ‘You guys work on this.’” Lee is also a member of the Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition. A study published in the April edition of the journal Pediatrics found that suicide attempts among Gay teens are more frequent in areas where schools lack programs supporting Gay rights. The study specifically cited GSAs as one factor in making teens feel safer. In response to questions from SGN, Bond indicates his school district has policies addressing suicide and safety concerns for LGBTQ students. “We have policies and procedures in place to reduce the kinds of situations that might cause students to consider suicide,” Bond wrote to SGN. “During the five years while I was at Kamiakin, a student and a graduate of less than a year committed suicide. Both events were tragic and impacted the students and staff immensely, and caused us to redouble our efforts to make sure students felt comfortable and welcome at school.” Noting that the Kennewick School District is revising its anti-bullying policies, Bond said the district takes a tough stand on school safety. “All of our high schools and their administrators take a tough stance – as does the district – against any harassment and bul-
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Celebrating 38 Years!
lying,” he wrote. “Every student in our district has the right to attend school and not be harassed or bullied about anything. When I was a principal, I had zero tolerance for harassment and bullying. Our current principals feel the same.” Lee, on the other hand, has his doubts. “I just heard about a student who got a five-day suspension,” he told SGN. “His dad called me. What happened was, the son asked to be excused from gym, and he told the school it was because he wanted to pay more attention to academics. Then he was called into the administration office and he said he it was because he didn’t feel safe. … So he was suspended for lying!” “Do you know,” Lee continues, “that there are grown people in our community who will only give [Vista Center] cash donations? They won’t write a check because they don’t want to be outed. “I tell them, ‘If it’s that hard for you, imagine what it feels like to a 16-year-old kid.’”
Gay City officials brought in three distinguished presenters: Jared Baeten, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor in the departments of Global Health and Medicine and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington; Jim Pickett, director of Prevention Advocacy and Gay Men’s Health at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and leader of the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates; and Michael Weinstein, co-founder and president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, to inform the audience about the threeyear Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Initiative (iPrEx) study which provided the first evidence that PrEP can help prevent HIV. Forum attendees learned that PrEP involves the use of oral or gel-based antiretrovirals (ARV) by people who are HIV negative. A recent study involved men who have sex with men and Transgendered women who have sex with men. The iPrEx study focused on participants who were assigned to take an ARV pill daily. Because ARVs are effective for treatment of HIV, the hope has been that they can work to prevent HIV infection as well. The study involved 2,499 participants from six countries in the Amercontinued from cover icas, Africa, and Asia. At the end of the study, there were 44% fewer HIV infections in participants who were assigned to take the medication every rate is somewhat dismal (44% in the latest day compared to participants in the placebo study), the pill sent the media abuzz with group. In other words, the findings suggest that daily use of an ARV tablet can help reboth praise and jeers.
magic pill
duce the risk of HIV infection among men who have sex with men and in the setting of a clinical trial that included a comprehensive risk reduction prevention package including frequent HIV testing, safe sex counseling, free condoms, and other measures for reducing HIV risk and ensuring safety. Currently, four other large-scale effectiveness studies in different at-risk populations are ongoing. Results of these studies are expected in 2012 and 2013. One such study, FEM-PrEP, was called off. FEM-PrEP studied whether HIV-negative women who are at a higher risk of being exposed to HIV can safely use a daily dose of Truvada to prevent infection. Truvada did not show effectiveness in this study. Many questions still remain about the use of ARVs for preventing HIV. The general consensus is that more information is needed before PrEP can be considered for widespread use, and more information is needed as to whether it is safe or effective in all people. In short, the so-called “magic pill” does not yet exist. At the conclusion of the April 27 panel presentation, Baeten, Pickett, and Weinstein were joined by Austin Anderson, a project coordinator for the African American Testing and Brothers Link programs at the Center for MultiCultural Health in Seattle; Darren Augenstein, Pharm.D., MBA, AAHIVE, a pharmacist whose primary expertise is in the care of individuals living with HIV/
AIDS and the co-owner of SeattleMeds Pharmacy, the only independent pharmacy in Seattle dedicated to LGBT health; Nick Literski, a local man using PrEP; and Fred Swanson, executive director for Gay City, to help facilitate answering questions from the audience. The forum was an absolute success. Gay City got it right. The panelists were extremely knowledgeable, and while they were not always in agreement with each other, they provided informative input to allow the forum’s attendees to form their own educated opinion of PrEP. When was the last time any of us has seen over 100 members of our community together in one room having an open discussion about HIV/AIDS prevention? It’s been years. Gay City officials and their volunteers were able to pull such a feat off in a seamless and welcoming manner. In addition, I applaud their choice of BDSM performance artist Tony Buff as host and drag artist Aleksa Manila as hostess. The two come from two very visible parts of our community and should be celebrated rather than pushed aside to make room for a boring suit-and-tie Gay host. The picture that Aleksa and Tony – along with the sponsors, panelists, Gay City officials, and (most importantly) the audience – painted was that of a community that is ready and willing to come together to have a real discussion about issues that directly affect our community.
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