SGN Aug 17, 2018 - Part 1

Seattle Gay News

by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer

In 2005 I wrote a column, “I Want My Gay TV,” about the state of LGBT television, with emphasis on two then-new program services: the cable network Logo and the pay-per-view service Here TV. As I wrote back then, ”before Logo and Here TV came along, People of the Rainbow had to make do with programs on mainstream networks. With Logo and Here TV, those of us who want our gay TV can have it 24/7.”

Thirteen years later, have things improved? Not so much. In spite of “Will and Grace,” network programs primarily about LGBT people remain few and far between in the Age of Trump. On the other hand, many serial dramas and comedies, on both major and cable networks, feature at least one LGBT character. One of queer TV’s current triumphs is out comedian, Kate McKinnon, formerly of Logo’s “Big Gay Sketch Show,” who now shines as one of the stars of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Two of the best LGBT-inclusive series, both on the FX channel, are produced by Ryan Murphy, the openly-gay creator of “Glee.” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,”

the second season of Murphy’s “American Crime Story,” deals with the events leading to the famed designer’s death (1997), as lived by Versace’s killer, Andrew Cunanan. “Pose,” set in 1987, is about the Black and Latinx, gay and trans* people involved in New York’s ball culture, a world that inspired Madonna’s hit “Vogue.” In the case of “Pose,” Murphy and his associates made history and won awards by employing openly trans* people of color to work as both cast and crew.

Meanwhile, the premium television network Here TV (www.heretv.com) continues to serve out community well by showcasing LGBT films and series in their original, uncensored form. Here TV has the largest LGBT library anywhere, or at least on television, with films like “Shelter,” “Little Ashes,” “Free Fall” and “The Falls” along with series like “This Gay House” and the perennial favorite “Dante’s Cove.” Though a subscription to Here TV is still available through most cable providers you can also watch the network on any device with the Here TV app.

While Here TV continues to flourish, Logo (logotv.com) has experienced a sad decline. Launched in 2005 as an all-LGBT

network, in 2012 Logo shifted its focus towards what it described as general cultural and lifestyle programming. Logo suffered a most severe loss last year when its flagship show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” moved to the more popular network VH1. Today Logo’s programming is mostly limited to reruns of gay-friendly comedies like “The Facts of Life” or “The Golden Girls.”

An exception to this sorry state of affairs is Logo’s series of LGBT documentary films, which tell the stories of queer individuals or groups who overcome incredible odds. Previous Logo documentaries dealt with the plight of LGBT immigrants and the life of celebrity makeup artist, the late Kevyn Aucoin. More recently, Logo has given us “Light in the Water,” about the West Hollywood Aquatics swim team, and “When the Beat Drops,” Jamal Sims’ study of J-Setting and Atlanta’s bucking scene. Both of these documentaries would not be shown anywhere else on television (except, perhaps, on PBS) and almost (but not quite) make me forgive Logo for wasting its time with reruns of “Laverne & Shirley” and “Bewitched.” The future of LGBT TV, as with television in general, is with Netflix (“Queer Eye”) and other over-the-top media services.

PNW BLACK PRIDE

I had a chance to chat with Steven Sawyer, POCAAN’s Executive Director, about their plans for the weekend.

MK Scott: Steven, Northwest Black Pride is this weekend. What will be some of the highlights?

Steven Sawyer: We have something for everyone! We have workshops with nationally known speakers like Darnell L. Moore, an award-winning writer and activist, and a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement. He will be leading a discussion on being Black & Gay in America.

Special guest speakers like Bobby Blake, a pornstar turned preacher, who will serve on a panel about sex positivity.

We have parties every night celebrating everything (POC) people of color and LGBTQIA+.

We have a Trans symposium moderated by a national Trans leader and advocate, Lee William, from Milwaukee, WI; Vanessa Grandberry of the Center for MultiCultural Health, who was a former employee of POCAAN and was editor of Tea Time Trans, a publication produced by POCAAN more then seven years ago; and Jeremiah Allen, director of TransForm Washington, a statewide Trans rights organization.

MK: Looks like the biggest event will be the Saturday Block Party at Othello Park (4351 S Othello St, a short walk from the Sound Transit Link Light Rail Othello Station), with special guest Bobby Lytes from “Love and Hip Hop: Miami.”

Sawyer: Yes, we have the phenomenal Bobby Lytes, the star of “Love and Hip Hop: Miami” and rapper behind the hit song “Get Ya Shine On” (and cousin of Miami rap legend Trina).

We also have other exceptional local

and national artists, like D. Dynasty aka Dominique, a Drag King performer. Flame Monroe, writer, comedian, BET personality, Diamond St. James, premier local female impersonator, Amora Dior Black, 2018 Nubian Pride Queen, winner of Seattle’s Entertainer of the Year award and one of the leading drag queens from R Place (with all the stunts), and Ladie Chablis, La Femme Magnifique International 2011 and longtime host of the R-Place drag shows.

There will be more than 20 local venders and community organizations, including health and wellness agencies. We’ll be testing for Hep C, HIV, and other health screenings. It’s guaranteed to be a great day!

MK: Tell me about the ALL WHITE AFFAIR on Saturday evening and the Emerald City Mini-Ball on Sunday.

Sawyer: Well, the ALL WHITE AFFAIR happens on Saturday, August 18, from 10pm to 1:30am.

We are asking the community to show up and show out in their finest threads, ALL WHITE.

There will be a no host bar, with signature cocktails being served and VIP ticket

holders receive their first two drinks free. We have a local DJ and we will party the night away and LEVEL UP on the dance floor. Tickets are $15 at the Seattle Airport Marriott (3201 S 176th St.)

The Return to The WIZ: Emerald City Mini-Ball is Sunday, August 19,, from 8pm to 10pm at R Place and Tickets are $10 at the door. There are over 10 different categories to walk and we have a total cash prize of $500.

It will be one of the first events of its kind in the Seattle area and we are so happy to bring a little bit of that East Coast flavor to Seattle. So come on out and strike a POSE!

House balls are traditionally some of the first opportunities to host LGBT youth and give them safe space to be authentically themselves.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: In addition to the ALL WHITE AFFAIR and the Emerald City Mini-Ball, Pacific Northwest Black Pride is also hosting the All Black Party on Friday evening, August 17, from 10pm to 1:30am, at Sodo Pop (2424 1st Ave S).]

MK: Since taking over as Executive Director of POCAAN in March 2017, what have been the highlights?

Sawyer: Oh wow, that’s a hard question to answer. My team and I have accomplished so much over the last two years. We’ve added 4 brand new programs and expanded many others to better serve the Greater Seattle community. We started an annual fundraising gala that raised $17,000 in its second year. Since then, we have hired seven new staff and are now launching the first Pacific Northwest Black Pride to further engage the community. My passion is really being in and serving my community.

MK: What are the future plans for the organization?

Sawyer: As we expand, we plan to increase our client intake by 8% in the following year and begin an STI testing program. The expansion will answer our challenges, such as space constraints. This

fall we will launch a second office in the South Seattle area (near Renton, WA) and a Trans leadership development institute. We want to make sure that POCAAN is a staple in the black and gay community of Seattle for another 30+ years.

MK: According to your bio, you had your start as a minister.

Sawyer: Yes, I’m a third generation preacher/pastor from Louisiana where my great-grandfather founded my home church. I currently serve in a national role as Auxiliary Bishop in the United Progressive Pentecostal Church Fellowship under the direction of our Presiding Bishop O. C. Allen III. It’s one of the country’s few Affiriming Pentecostal denominations. This summer, UPPC launched a national initiative entitled “Prevention from the Pulpit.” We are seeking to heal some of the wounds and break the cycle of stigma around HIV created by some religious institutions.

MK: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Sawyer: One of my greatest inspirations is Bayard Rustin. Not only was he a brilliant American leader in the Civil Rights Movement, he was an architect of the movement for nonviolence and Gay rights. He advised and provided direction to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and helped organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to strengthen King’s leadership.

Rustin promoted the philosophy of nonviolence and the practices of nonviolent resistance, which he had observed while working with Mahatma Gandhi’s movement in India, and helped teach Dr. King about nonviolence while living his life authentically.

Pacific Northwest Black Pride events continue through Sunday, August 19. Check out www.nwblackpride.org for complete details.

MK Scott is a Seattle-based arts blogger. Check out his blog at uniteseattlemag.com

“Reflecting Back… Marching Forward!”

Seattle to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington on August 28

Statewide coalition commemorates historic event with local march, renaming of

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park, support for NFL players and Initiative

1000 call to action

It has been 55 years since the 1963 March on Washington when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech. On August 28, The MLK Commemoration Committee, comprised of over 40 community leaders and organizations, will host a March & Rally connecting history with contemporary issues for Social Justice.

On Tuesday, August 28, the community is invited to the following activities:

MARCH

5:30pm at E. Union & 19th Ave. (Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Ave.) going north to E. Madison.

Up to 1,000 citizens will march along from Union Street to Mount Zion Baptist Church along 19th Ave., named for the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Berry McKinney, class-

mate, colleague and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

CHURCH BELLS

TOLL FOR CHANGE

6pm at Mount Zion Baptist Church 1634 Rev. Dr. S. McKinney Ave. (19th and E. Madison).

As 20 bells ring from Gideon Bell Tower, community members will call out educational, economic and civil rights lost by women and people of color over the 20 years since the passage of I-200. A free reception featuring a variety of ethnic dishes will follow.

THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION PROGRAM

7pm at Mount Zion Baptist Church

The 55th Anniversary of the March on

Washington is commemorated by speakers, as well as in poetry and song. John Creighton, Past President of the Seattle Port Commission will be the recipient of the 1st Annual Washington State Civil Rights Coalition, Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award for his outstanding contributions promoting social and economic equality.

Free parking is available in lots on 19th and/or 20th Aves., all handicapped-accessible.

The march, rally, and program will call attention to issues that affect African Americans and other people of color in our community:

MLK Park Name Change

Seattle City Council proclaims that MLK Jr. Park will be renamed the MLK Jr. Civil Rights Memorial Park to induct and honor deceased local, national and international civil rights leaders.

NFL Players Support

The NFL Players Association grievance over the league’s new “stand and show respect” for the National Anthem and revenue sharing program requiring 10% of each team’s revenue be deposited in an African American owned bank and 30% of all pension funds to be invested in African American owned firms.

I-1000 Call to Action

Statewide call to reverse Tim Eyman’s I-200 with I-1000: The rally will launch a statewide petition drive for 300,000 signatures to send I-1000 to the Washington State Legislature. I-1000 will restore Affirmative Action for women, veterans, minori-

ties and the disabled in employment, education and government contract opportunities which was killed 20 years ago by I-200.

Event Speakers will address the impact of the 1963 March on their organizations and current fights for social, economic, policy and political change. Speakers include Rev. James Stalling (Pastor Mt. Zion) Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Rev. Paul Benz (Faith Action Network of WA), Carmen Best (Chief Seattle Police Department), and Lynne Dodson (WA State Labor Council), Jorge Baron (Northwest Immigrant Rights Project), Hayward Evans (WA State Civil Rights Coalition), Nesby Glasgow (NFL Players Union), State Rep. Sharon Santos, Senator Bob Hasegawa, Bruce Harrell (Pres. Seattle City Council), Eddie Rye (Radio Talk Show Host/Co-Founder MLK Celebration Committee), Robert Upham (Dakota/ Salish artist) and Attorney & Former State Rep. Jesse Wineberry (Co-Chair: I-1000 Campaign for Equality)

Event Coordinators: Martin Luther King Commemoration Committee Co-Conveners, Hayward Evans and Eddie Rye Jr.

Event Sponsors: Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Mount Zion Baptist Church, WA Federation of State Employees Local 843, Faith Action Network, MLK Jr. Celebration Committee, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, 1st AME Child & Family Center, Coalition of Labor Union Women. Courtesy of the MLK Commemoration Committee

Mayor Durkan announces recipients of the 2018 Mayor’s Arts Awards

SEATTLE – Mayor Durkan has announced the recipients of the 2018 Mayor’s Arts Awards. The award honorees are Tarik Abdullah, Paula Boggs, Fulgencio Lazo, Jorge Enrique González Pacheco, and Karen P. Thomas. All five recipients have shaped Seattle’s arts and cultural landscape through their contributions to the community, education, the arts, and [racial] and social justice.

“Artists in Seattle inspire, and these artists represent the rich diversity of innovation and talent in our community,” said Mayor Durkan. “The arts are the creative soul of our city and remind us of our humanity, history, and greatest achievements.”

The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognize the people and organizations that broaden our horizons and humanize our city and our world. The winners will be honored at the Mayor’s Arts Award Ceremony on Thursday, August 30, at 4 p.m. at Seattle Center. Recipients will be presented with an original artwork by local emerging artist Tzyy Yi Amy Young.

The Mayor’s Arts Awards are presented in partnership with Bumbershoot and One Reel, and with media sponsor City Arts and event sponsor Chihuly Garden and Glass.

For more information about the Mayor’s Arts Awards, including past recipients, visit http://www.seattle.gov/arts/mayors-artsawards.

About the 2018 Mayor’s Arts Award recipients

Tarik Abdullah – Tarik Abdullah is a chef, artist, innovator, and community activist. His culinary creations honor traditions from North Africa and the Mediterranean, and [are] inspired by the tastes and flavors of his childhood. Growing up in a Muslim family and broader community where ethnic foods were the norm, his

artistry comes through not only in his food but in his everyday interactions with people; [he also shares] his passion for cooking with the younger generation by teaching weeklong summer camps called “In the Kitchen with Chef T.” Abdullah also appeared on ABC’s “The Taste,” a competitive cooking show on which he spent six episodes winning Anthony Bourdain’s favor; shortly after, “The MUNCHIES [Guide] to Washington” on VICE; and more recently, a Visit Seattle and REVOLT TV co-production called “Turning Tables,” a new primetime series that connects music with food. He is a founding member of Black & Tan Hall and a valuable member of the Hillman City Collaboratory.

Paula Boggs – Paula Boggs is a musician, public speaker, fundraiser, and philanthropist. She is also a board member of numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Boggs and the six-piece Paula Boggs Band traverse jazz, world [music], rock, and Americana. Boggs is also a public speaker, has volunteered for a presidential campaign as a national surrogate, serves on boards, and raises or gives money in support of many causes, including music education, KEXP’s New Home, veterans, and civic engagement. President Obama appointed her to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, where she served before resigning in August 2017. Her current civic and professional activities include serving on the boards of Avid Technology, Inc., the Seattle Symphony, the American Bar Association Board of Governors, and the Peabody Institute Advisory Board of Johns Hopkins University.

Fulgencio Lazo – Artist Fulgencio Lazo works predominantly with acrylics on canvas at his studios in Seattle and in his hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico. He has had more than 50 solo shows throughout the United States, Mexico, and Japan and is

represented by galleries in Oaxaca, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Valle de Bravo. In Seattle, where he has lived since 1990, he is most known for his tireless work to create programs and spaces that are inclusive and reflect diverse audiences. He has co-founded some of Seattle’s most iconic traditions in the Latino community, including Seattle’s annual Oaxacan celebration, known as Guelaguetza; International Children’s Day; and the Day of the Dead celebrations at many venues, including the Seattle Art Museum. Most recently he co-founded Studio Lazo, an organization of artists and community members creating a welcoming venue that especially showcases the creativity of Latino artists, writers, and musicians.

Jorge Enrique González Pacheco – Jorge Enrique González Pacheco is a Cuban poet and a film industry professional. He came to the US in 2003, living a couple years in Miami and then moving to Seattle in 2006. Jorge Enrique is the founder and chief programmer of the Seattle Latino Film Festival (SLFF), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. From 1995 to 2003, he worked at the well-known Cuban Film Institute in Havana as a first assistant director and a screenplay researcher. He has published five books, including the Spanish and English poetry edition Under the Light of My Blood (Bajo la luz de mi sangre). His poetry has been translated into French, English, and Portuguese. He has taught contemporary Cuban literature and Latin American cinema in universities in the United States, Spain, France, and Mexico. In Havana [in] 1996, Jorge Enrique received the Delia Carrera Poetry Prize. In San Francisco in 2015, he received a HIPGivers Award for his literary and entrepreneurial work, an award recognizing the philanthropic contributions of Hispanics. Through the SLFF, Jorge Enrique, in the 10

years of the festival, has brought an art and social platform to Seattle where the nonLatinx [community] can learn more about Latin American societies.

Karen P. Thomas – Karen P. Thomas has served as the artistic director and conductor of Seattle Pro Musica since 1987. With Seattle Pro Musica, she has produced eleven critically acclaimed commercial recordings and has received the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence and the ASCAP-Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. She regularly introduces new music, including new commissions from living composers, and makes adventurous programming decisions. Thomas has led efforts to make Pro Musica fully welcoming for LGBTQ individuals and accessible for youth and low-income residents of the greater Seattle area. As a board member of Chorus America, she has also worked to help choruses throughout the US become welcoming and safe places for trans and nonbinary singers. In addition to her conducting career, she is an internationally performed composer of choral, instrumental, and stage works. She has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, Artist Trust, and numerous others.

The Office of Arts & Culture envisions a city driven by creativity that provides the opportunity for everyone to engage in diverse arts and cultural experiences. The Office is supported by the 16-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the mayor, and the City Council. Find out more at seattle.gov/arts. Follow @SeattleArts or [visit] facebook. com/SeattleArts.

Courtesy of the Office of Arts & Culture

Sister Act

Aug 17

The Devil Wears Prada Aug 24

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Ever ything! Julie Newmar Aug 31

Hot popcorn, cold drinks, candy, and other concessions for sale on site. Limited lawn chair rentals available.

Free Dental, Vision and Medical services offered to people in need

Seattle/King County Clinic transforms KeyArena to provide compassion and care to thousands

Seattle/King County Clinic returns for a fifth year to KeyArena at Seattle Center with free dental, medical and eye care services for those who struggle to access or afford healthcare. It will be held Sept. 20 - 23, one month earlier than previous years.

The largest event of its kind in the state of Washington, Seattle/King County Clinic brings together over 100 healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofit entities, private businesses and thousands of volunteers to help underserved and vulnerable populations with a goal of helping 4,000 people over the four-day period. Over the past four years, the Clinic has cared for 11,900 patients and provided $14 million in services.

“We’re hearing from the community that people of all backgrounds and circumstances have to make choices between housing, food and healthcare,” said Seattle/ King County Clinic Director Julia Colson. “Amid the current affordability crisis in our region, the Clinic provides needed support, now more than ever.”

Statistics from previous years show that many patients who come to the Clinic do not have health insurance (49%), are unemployed (34%), and more than 60% are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. They come from all over the region, representing 262 unique zip codes and speaking 51 primary languages. Patients are parents, children, elders, veterans, immigrants, refugees, people living homeless and, in large part, wage-earners who struggle with the high cost of living.

As one patient last year stated, “We are the working poor, and the financial burden of medical care in America is prohibitive. Even for those of us working full-time with very basic health insurance, there are services I need that I can’t afford.”

Here is how Seattle/King County Clinic works:

Clinic patients receive treatment on a first-come, first-served basis.

Patients may park free of charge at two Seattle Center facilities, 1st Ave North and Mercer Street Parking Garages, on each day of the Clinic.

A giant heated tent on the roof of Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, located at the corner of 2nd Ave North and Thomas Street, serves as the ticket waiting and distribution area. Organizers distribute free admission tickets for the day beginning at 5am. Tickets are limited.

Doors to KeyArena open at 6:30am. Patients are admitted by ticket number into the Clinic.

Patients register as they enter. They do not need to show identification or proof of immigration status. Services are not limited to residents of Seattle and King County.

Inside KeyArena, all procedures and services are provided free of charge, and interpretation services are available for those who need them.

Patients cannot receive both dental and eye care in one day. They may return to the Clinic on other days for additional services.

Seattle/King County Clinic transforms the form and function of KeyArena. The licensed healthcare professionals and general support volunteers who staff it donate their time and expertise. Patients receive real, and in many instances, extensive care including dental fillings and extractions, eye examinations, physicals, behavioral healthcare and social work, prescription eyeglasses, immunizations, laboratory tests, mammograms, ultrasounds and x-rays and much more. Additional information is available at: www. seattlecenter.org/patients.

Seattle/King County Clinic is made possible through thousands of donated work hours as well as cash and in-kind contributions. Donations are accepted at:

www.seattecenter.org. Healthcare professionals and general support volunteers may sign up for a variety of work shifts through an online registration system at: www.seattlecenter.org/volunteers.

“Seattle/King County Clinic is a beacon of caring and generosity,” says Christine Lindquist, Executive Director of Washington Healthcare Access Alliance. “It provides immediate dental, vision and medical care, and connects patients to resources beyond the clinic walls. It also raises awareness about who is left out of the current healthcare system and demonstrates the good we can accomplish when we work together as diverse partners to serve others and affect change.”

Learn more about Seattle/King County Clinic at www.seattlecenter.org/skcclinic or by calling 206-684-7200.

About Clinic Partners

These are just some of the organizations that collaborate to produce Seattle/ King County Clinic and contribute needed resources and expertise:

141 Eyewear, 3M ESPE, AEG Facilities, All Home King County, America’s Dentists Care Foundation, Arcora Foundation, Auston James Photography, The Ballmer Group Philanthropy, Bellevue Dentistry, Benco Dental, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Burkhart Dental Supply, Cardinal Health, Ceres Roasting Company, Cisco Systems, City of Seattle, Coca-Cola North America, Country Doctor Community Health Centers, Dave’s Killer Bread, DCG ONE, Delivery Express, Dentsply Sirona, Dunn Lumber Co., Einstein Bros. Bagels, Essilor Vision Foundation, European Vine Selections, Field Roast, Franz Bakery, Greek Gods Yogurt, Group Health Foundation, HealthPoint, Heidelberg Engineering, Inc., Henry Schein, Inc., Hepatitis Education Project, Hollywood Lights, Hologic, HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response, InDemand Interpreting, International Community Health Services, Ivoclar Vivadent Inc., Jorgenson-Peninsula

Optical Supply, Kaiser Permanente, KaVo Kerr Group, KIND, King County 2-1-1, King County Nurses Association, KLS Martin LP, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Laney Dental, Le Panier, Levy Restaurants, Macrina Bakery, Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization, Medical Teams International, Mediterranean Inn, Microsoft, Mid-Gulf Instruments, Moccasin Lake Foundation, Navos, Neighborcare Health, The Norcliffe Foundation, Oak View Group, Optometric Physicians of Washington, Pacific Office Automation, Pagliacci Pizza, Patterson Dental, Patterson Foundation, PCC Community Markets, Peoples Injury Network NW (PINN), Philips Healthcare, Physical Therapy Association of WA, Project Access Northwest, Providence St. Joseph Health, Public Health — Seattle & King County, The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Q3 Assets | Lite Tite, Ripe Catering, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Seattle Animal Shelter, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle Center, Seattle Center Foundation, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Information Technology, SeattleKing County Dental Society, Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Public Library, Septodont, Shofu Dental Corporation, Space Needle, SPARK, Swedish Medical Center, Sysco Corporation, TheraTek USA, Uline, Ultradent Products, Inc., UW Medicine, UW School of Dentistry, UW School of Public Health, Valley Cities, Virginia Mason, VOSH Northwest, WA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, WA Academy of General Dentistry, WA Association of Naturopathic Physicians, WA Dental Hygienists’ Association, WA Healthcare Access Alliance, WA State Chiropractic Association, WA State Dental Association, WA State Dental Laboratory Association, WA State Department of Health, WA State Nurses Association, WA State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Welch Allyn, Wells Fargo

Courtesy of Seattle Center

Trans woman wins historic gubernatorial primary victory; Christine Hallquist is the Democratic nominee for VT governor

WASHINGTON, DC – Democratic primary voters in Vermont selected out transgender woman Christine Hallquist as their nominee for governor, making her the first out trans person to be the gubernatorial nominee of a major American political party. She joins three other openly LGBTQ candidates who received the Democratic nomination for governor this cycle – Kate Brown of Oregon, Jared Polis of Colorado, and Lupe Valdez of Texas – a historic number.

Hallquist bested four primary opponents with a strong campaign organization and robust ground game while running on her extensive experience as CEO of a Vermont electric utility company. Hallquist, who already made history as the first CEO of a major corporation to transition on the job, will become the first openly trans person to serve as governor of a US state and the second openly LGBTQ person ever elected governor, if she wins in November.

Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about her primary win:

“Christine’s victory is a defining moment in the movement for trans equality and is especially remarkable given how few out trans elected officials there are at any level of government. Many thought it unthinkable a viable trans gubernatorial candidate like Christine would emerge so soon. Yet Vermont voters chose Christine not because of her gender identity but because she is an open and authentic candidate with a long history of service to the state, and who speaks to the issues most important to voters.

“Christine’s business experience and progressive vision for Vermont means she’s perfectly positioned to take on Gov. Scott –whose approval numbers continue to plunge because of his inability to manage the state government and his failed attempts to hide his conservative policy positions. When voters head to the polls this November, we are confident Vermonters will make her the first openly trans governor in the nation and just the second openly LGBTQ person elected governor in American history.

sexual orientation and gender identity.

Since there is no federal law banning discrimination against the LGBT community, Obama’s executive order was one of the few federal protections for LGBT workers. The Trump administration is also working against the other major federal protection – the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruling that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act protects sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Trump directive uses the recent US Supreme Court decision in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case to carve out a huge “religious exemption” for anti-LGBT discrimination.

“Recent court decisions have addressed the broad freedoms and anti-discrimination protections that must be afforded religionexercising organizations and individuals under the United States Constitution and federal law. See, e.g., Masterpiece Cakeshop),” the document states.

“Staff are instructed to take these legal developments into account in all their relevant activities, including when providing compliance assistance, processing complaints, and enforcing the requirements of [the previous executive order],” it continued, referring to Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs staffers. These are

“Christine often attributes Vermonters’ accepting her gender identity to the hard work and bravery of LGBTQ pioneers who came before her – those at Stonewall, the Harvey Milks, and other courageous activists. Now, Christine is a pioneer deserving of that appreciation. Her authenticity, poise, and presence on the campaign trail will undoubtedly inspire more trans people to

federal employees charged with enforcing contract provisions with companies that do business with the federal government.

“Staff should bear in mind that… they cannot act in a manner that passes judgment upon or presupposes the illegitimacy of religious beliefs and practices and must proceed in a manner neutral toward and tolerant of … religious beliefs.

“They cannot condition the availability of [opportunities] upon a recipient’s willingness to surrender his [or her] religiously impelled status.

“They must respect the right of religious people and institutions… to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by the Federal Government.”

David Stacy, the HRC’s government affairs director, denounced the Trump directive.

“This is another attempt by the TrumpPence administration to implement a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people by providing unsound guidance in implementing Obama-era regulations,” Stacy said in a statement.

“The erroneous application of the Supreme Court’s narrow ruling in Masterpiece and recent Trump executive orders is meant to aggressively marginalize hardworking Americans because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

“The American people will not tolerate discrimination, and LGBTQ people will not be erased.”

pursue their dreams of a career in elected office, and that will inevitably change America and the world.”

Currently, 13 openly trans people are serving in elected office in the United States – and Victory Fund has endorsed seven this election cycle. With a win in November, Christine will be the highest-ranking openly trans elected official in the US.

Harper Jean Tobin, director of policy at the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), added, “This is an attempt to encourage businesses to take taxpayer dollars and then fire people for being transgender.

“Religious organizations have ample protections under federal law, but they are not allowed to use federal money to discriminate against people.

“The language of this directive is so broad and so vague because it is part of a long line of attempts by this administration to sow confusion and encourage any

TAMMY BALDWIN

continued from cover

“Wisconsin voters will have a stark choice come November – re-elect Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the first openly LGBTQ US senator, or elect an extremist antiLGBTQ politician who prides herself on the divisiveness that makes Congress so unpopular,” said Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Leah Vukmir built her career on opposing basic equality for LGBTQ Americans and considers designated hate groups among her closest supporters. Wisconsin voters have a proud history of electing and re-electing groundbreaking LGBTQ candidates like Sen. Baldwin, and we are confident they will reject Vukmir’s hostile agenda come November.

The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government. victoryfund.org

Fund

employer to act on their worst prejudices. No employer should be allowed to use taxpayer dollars to fire someone because of who they are.”

The NCTE also noted that the Department of Labor has erased LGBT-related FAQs from its website. The site previously said that religious contractors were not exempt from rules barring discrimination against an employee “on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin,” but it no longer does.

“Sen. Baldwin’s re-election is considered critical to building a pro-equality majority in the US Senate next year – but more importantly it is about who is on the side of average Wisconsinites. Leah Vukmir not only opposes equality for all Americans, she continues to put her corporate special interests ahead of the hardworking Wisconsin families Sen. Baldwin champions. The choice is clear for voters come November.”

The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government. victoryfund.org

Courtesy of the LGBTQ Victory Fund

Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in San Bernardino County jail gain rights

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – For years, a group of people incarcerated in a San Bernardino County jail were locked in their cells for as much as 23 hours a day. They were not permitted to participate in the jail’s job training, educational, drug rehabilitation, religious, or community re-entry programs.

The reason this group was treated far worse than the jail’s general population had nothing to do with convictions or criminal history. It was simply because they were gay, bisexual, or transgender.

[On August 15], the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California and the law firm of Kaye, McLane, Bednarski & Litt LLP sought court approval of a proposed settlement with San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon in a federal class-action lawsuit filed in 2014 on behalf of people who were housed in the so-called Alternative Lifestyle Tank of the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

The proposed settlement, which calls for significant changes in jail housing, work and educational program availability, and staff training, and the establishment of a no-tolerance policy for harassment of gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (GBTI)

people in San Bernardino County jails, was filed in US District Court in Riverside.

“Nobody should be forced to choose between their safety and equal treatment while in custody,” said ACLU SoCal Staff Attorney Brendan Hamme. “We appreciate the county’s commitment to substantially improving its policies and practices.”

The lead plaintiff in the case was Dan McKibben, a former sheriff’s deputy in Indiana who spent two months at the West Valley Detention Center in 2014 for a probation violation. Upon self-identifying as gay during the booking process, he was housed in the Alternative Lifestyle Tank, where he was kept in his cell an average of 22-anda-half hours a day. His repeated requests to participate in a work program were denied, and he witnessed other residents of the housing unit being beaten and called derogatory names by sheriff’s deputies.

Sadly, McKibben died in 2016, but the case has continued in his name. A total of about 600 people were housed in the Alternative Lifestyle Tank between 2012 and 2018. There are 15 plaintiffs in addition to McKibben named in the case, including Lynn Price, a transgender woman.

“I was stuck in my cell for all but one

or two hours a day.” Price said. “It felt so lonely and humiliating back then, seeing everyone else out and allowed to eat together, talk with each other. I’m relieved that San Bernardino has promised to create more humane conditions for people housed in the unit.”

Included in the settlement agreement are:

Expanded housing options for incarcerated gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.

The lifting of restrictions on participation in work, educational, religious, and community re-entry programs.

The establishment of a committee – to include jail facility, medical, and social work personnel – to meet regularly with incarcerated gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people to discuss housing options that work for them as individuals, plus discrimination and other issues.

Comprehensive staff training on the needs of GBTI individuals; the right of incarcerated people to be free from sexual abuse and harassment; and the rights of both those who are incarcerated and staff to be free from retaliation when reporting such incidents.

A no-tolerance policy for harassment, including a prohibition on intentional misgendering of transgender and intersex people.

A new, individualized approach to housing placements for transgender people.

Improvements to medical treatment access, safety precautions, and privacy protections for incarcerated transgender people.

Renaming the housing area at West Valley Detention Center to the GBTI Unit.

“Over the past 20-plus years of litigation against jails, it has been our experience that jail culture often undermines recognition of inmates’ humanity,”, said David S. McLane of Kaye, McLane, Bednarski & Litt. “This culture had led to a complete disregard for incarcerated people’s fundamental constitutional right to equal treatment. We are pleased that San Bernardino will now be a national example of how jails can provide equality without compromising safety.”

Read the settlement agreement here: https://www.aclusocal.org/sites/default/ files/aclu_socal_mckibben_20180815_ settlement_agreement.pdf.

Courtesy of ACLU SoCal

to reject a Gay couple wanting a wedding cake, Phillips refused to make a birthday cake for Autumn Scardina.

Scardina had asked for a cake that would be blue on the outside and pink on the inside, celebrating the fact that she had transitioned from male to female and that she had come out as a Trans person on her birthday.

According to Phillips’s attorneys at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), he turned Scardina away because the custom cake would have expressed messages about sex and gender identity that conflict with his religious beliefs.

Scardina complained to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which found that there was probable cause to believe Masterpiece Cakeshop violated a Colorado civil

rights statute by denying Scardina “equal enjoyment of a place of public accommodation.” The Commission then wrote Phillips a letter on June 28, ordering him and Scardina to enter into compulsory mediation.

Instead, Phillips turned to ADF attorneys – the same ones who handled his successful Supreme Court appeal – and sued the state’s Civil Rights Commission and Gov. John Hickenlooper, alleging they are unfairly punishing him for his religious beliefs.

“The state of Colorado is ignoring the message of the US Supreme Court by continuing to single out Jack for punishment and to exhibit hostility toward his religious beliefs,” said Kristen Waggoner, legal vice president of the ADF.

“Even though Jack serves all customers and simply declines to create custom cakes that express messages or celebrate events in violation of his deeply held beliefs, the government is intent on destroying him –

something the Supreme Court has already told it not to do. Neither Jack nor any other creative professionals should be targeted by the government for living consistently with their religious beliefs,” Waggoner continued in an August 15 press release.

ADF Senior Counsel Jim Campbell said in the same release that Phillips shouldn’t have to fear government hostility when he opens his shop for business each day.

“We’re asking the court to put a stop to that,” Campbell said. “The arbitrary basis on which the state is applying its law makes clear that its officials are targeting Jack because they despise his religious beliefs and practices.”

If the suit proceeds to the Supreme Court, as his previous case did, Phillips’s latest legal maneuver might provide an opportunity for conservatives on the high court to consolidate their religious exemption to state and local civil rights laws protecting LGBT people.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion in the 7-2 Masterpiece Cakeshop decision, stated very plainly that the ruling was intended to be narrow.

“The outcome of cases like this in other circumstances must await further elaboration in the courts, all in the context of recognizing that these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market,” Kennedy wrote.

With Kennedy being replaced on the high court by – in all probability – Brett Kavanaugh, a more consistently conservative jurist, the ADF may be poised to get a definitive decision affirming the rights of business owners to discriminate against LGBT customers if they assert religious reasons.