Celebrating 43 Years! Issue 33 Volume 45
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The joys of the Santa Fe Opera
Alexis Michelle in Seattle Aug 20 & 21 SEC 2 PG 1
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Seattle Gay News
Trump thinks neo-Nazis Martin Luther King are “fine,” but Obama-era County Labor Council legal protections have to go backs Jenny Durkan
Durkan with striking Teamsters on August 14 – Photo courtesy of Teamsters 174 Local Attorney General Jeff Sessions meets with the Justice Department – Photo by Mark Wilson
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer While the Trump administration is reeling from the President’s public endorsement of Neo-Nazis and white nationalists as “fine people,” his Justice Department is quietly reversing the verdicts on Obama-era
policies that protect civil rights, healthcare, and the environment. “Many of these changes are not just changes in policy, but they’re actually reversing the U.S. government’s official position on what statutes mean,” says David
see TRUMP page 11
Dow Constantine’s message to white supremacists, fascists, and neo-Nazis
Like so many of you, I have been following the news and aftermath of the events in Charlottesville with horror and grief. On Saturday [August 12], an act of domestic terrorism took the life of Heather Heyer, a paralegal who bravely stood up to hate, intolerance, and racism. In addition, two police officers, Pilot Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, were killed when their helicopter crashed as they worked to support law enforcement responding to the events in Charlottesville. Many others are suffering from injuries. I am thinking today of those who were lost, those who were injured, and their loved ones. Yesterday [August 13], hate and intolerance came to King County when proTrump, right-wing radicals gathered at Westlake Park under the false pretense of patriotism the very day after the deadly violence in Charlottesville. To the white supremacists, fascists, and neo-Nazis who descended on our community, I have a message to share on behalf of the people of King County: We fought a Civil War against slavery, and you lost.
We fought a World War against Nazism and fascism, and you lost. Here in King County, we stand united against the hate and violence you promote. Make no mistake, you will lose again. We value all people, regardless of who they love, where they're from, their gender identity, the religion they practice (or don't), or their racial or ethnic background. If you are of good will, and want the best for your neighbor, this is your home. You belong here. To those who will not open their hearts to love and inclusion - who can't embrace an America where all people are created equal - you can't divide us, and you can't defeat us. Our diversity and commitment to the value of every person is our strength, and we are stronger than your hate. May the events of this past weekend shine a light on the evil of bigotry, racism, and intolerance, so that America may once again reaffirm its commitment to fulfilling its promise as a beacon of hope and liberty for all. Thank you, Dow Constantine King County Executive
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Martin Luther King County Labor Council (MLKCLC) endorsed Jenny Durkan for Seattle Mayor at its August 16 delegates meeting. Durkan, an out lesbian and former US Attorney, will face businesswoman and urban planner Cary Moon in
the November general election. MLKCLC represents 150 union locals and district councils and about 150,000 workers. The group had backed Ed Murray when he looked like a sure bet to win reelection. When the scandal-plagued Murray
see LABOR page 6
Jewish Family Service speaks out about Charlottesville
Rabbi Will Berkovitz – Photo courtesy of JFS
Elie Wiesel once said, the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. The Nazis came to power in Germany because of the bystanders as much as the persecutors. Today, none of us can be bystanders. Silence is guilt. We must call on our leaders, no matter their party affiliation, to stand against bigotry and racist ideologies. We must call on them to be accountable to our nation’s highest values and our system of justice, which was created to protect the fabric of our civil society. We must call on those same leaders and demand they consistently and unequivocally denounce the rhetoric and actions of hatred and bigotry — and take the necessary steps to back up those words. President Trump finally spoke out today
[August 14] to condemn the violence in Charlottesville this weekend. His remarks denouncing the hate groups who incited this violence came only because of pressure from all sides. Just as hate groups have no place in our civil society, hateful rhetoric equally has no place. Now is a time when each of us must speak up and speak out. We must hold one another accountable and speak unmistakably against all forms of hate, with no room for interpretation. The arc of history may bend toward justice, but it does so only because of our choices as individuals and our actions as a community. Sincerely, Rabbi Will Berkovitz CEO, Jewish Family Service
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Celebrating 43 Years!
Seattle Gay News FOUNDED 1974 MEMBER
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2017
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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 Travel Editor George Bakan Copy Editor Rick McKinnon (since Dec. 2013) Advertising Department George Bakan, Maggie Bloodstone and MK Scott National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Staff Writers Mike Andrew, Sara Michelle Fetters, Miryam Gordon, Shaun Knittel, Albert Rodriguez Contributing Writers Rev. Barbara Allen, Ron Anders, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Alice Bloch, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Sharon Cumberland, Jessica Davis, Tina Gianoulis, Anthony Greer, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Richard Kennedy, Liz Meyer, Jason A. Miller, Jesse Monteagudo, David Nguyen aka Teriyaki Temple, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Jerry Peerson, Jessica Price, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, MK Scott, Gaysha Starr, Paul Torres, Janice Van Cleve, Ed Walsh, James Whitely, Scott Wittet, Rex Wockner Calendar Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Classifieds Rick McKinnon Photographers Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel, James Whitely
At 76 years of age, I have read and seen a lot about America’s denial regarding its history, its inhuman treatment of people, its failure to live up to its rhetoric regarding equality, and its hypocrisy regarding right and wrong. Those Republicans condemning the acts of violence in Charlottesville would be believable if they would acknowledge the role their party has played in regards to using race and social issues to divide the people. Donald Trump’s response was a joke, as there is a world of difference between
Democrats and Republicans/liberals and conservatives. In the past, Democrats were the party of racists, but in time, they took the lead in working to make the Constitution live up to its promise that all men are equal, and expanded that to include women, gays, and other groups that were marginalized. The Republicans, on the other hand, became the party of divide and conquer using race and religion to impose their agenda and beliefs on others. Liberals are not calling for anyone to be denied their rights as citizens, whereas it’s the conservatives who want to use government to impose their religious values on others; for example, denying services to gays or the vote for blacks. What has always bothered me is this
Conversion therapy is child torture
Production Liz McCarty Website Designer Barry Thorsness / Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2017, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission. Publication of names, photographs or likeness 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 ad. Credit will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.
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
country’s quick actions when it comes to pointing its finger at other countries regarding their treatment of their citizens while doing little to right the wrongs it has done to its own citizens of color, gays, Native Americans, women, etc. North Korea is being condemned, yet it is this country which has a history of massive enslavement, genocide, Jim Crow, killing of unarmed men of color, secret prisons, people held for decades without trial, false arrest, stealing lands from indigenous people, etc. etc. The country is very good at promoting propaganda and preventing a false image to the world and to many of its own citizens. George Whitker Bellevue
Mathew Shurka, conversion therapy survivor, now works to end it – Photo by Damon Dahlen
by Mark Segal Philadelphia Gay News To the entire LGBT community: Let’s begin as a community to state the truth without putting lipstick on a pig. Personally, it sickens me when I see someone from GLAAD or HRC on television calling conversion therapy “praying the gay away.” That is downright as truthful as a Donald
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Trump tweet, and might show how we attempt to soften our message for consumption by the mainstream. Or, it might hide something very sad: our own attempt to not accept what has been done to us as a collective community for years – and that, my friends, is torture. We use terms like hate crimes, pray away the gay… but much that has been done to “cure” LGBT is sheer torture. And yes, I’m even talking about the water torture. So once again, let’s go back in recent history to make the points and hopefully get us back on the right track, as we are literally fighting to save children’s lives. For years, going back even before there were lobotomies – oh yes, many lobotomies
August 18, 2017
were performed on LGBT people – society attempted to try and find a way to “change” us, making us holy heterosexuals. When threat of religion and criminal justice began to fail, medical science showed up with lobotomies. Then, psychiatry put its hand in with aversion therapy, which uses the Pavlovian dog-like training to force us to be heterosexual with a handful of horrific tortures. There’s the electric-shock system, some connected to genetics, water treatment – hey, they had it before President Bush – and then there were drugs of various types, some of which stopped people from breathing before an antidote was administered. They lost a few on that one, but hey, better dead than a fag. Now comes conversion therapy. But this one targets mostly children whose parents are now trying to “save” them. Almost all the types of torture I’ve listed above have been used in some of these conversion camps … and others. ABC News investigative reporter Brian Roberts did one of the best one-hour reports on this practice on “20/20.” It showed corporal punishment, imprisonment and lots more. I think you get the idea. It’s time to speak out strongly. Say it loud, say it clearly: Conversion therapy is child torture. Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. His recently published memoir, “And Then I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or at your favorite bookseller.
Seattle Gay News 3
OBITUARY
IN MEMORIAM: Brett A. Aalderink 7/23/1963 – 7/3/2017 Brett, a longtime resident of Seattle, born in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away on July 3rd. Brett had battled illness for the last few years. Ultimately he died an accidental death from a fall causing an injury to the head. Brett was an amazingly talented and creative person. He worked as a landscaper creating beautiful gardens and grounds. Some of his designs have been featured in Sunset Magazine and he had gardens in the West Seattle garden show. In addition, Brett had a talent and passion for cooking. No one ever left our house without something delicious to eat and something to take home with them. He was part of a very special family and was a great step-father to two very lucky kids. He is very much loved by those kids as well as by many other friends and family... Brett is survived by his partner Bruce Caszatt, his best friend Brad Ambroson, his
mother Heather Aalderink, brothers Rafe and Carl and four nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Ashley. There will be a memorial celebration for Brett on Sunday August 20 at 3pm at the Seattle First Baptist Church. The address is: 1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle. There is free parking in the lot behind the church. Come listen to and share a story with us about Brett. At a different location, after the service there will be a gathering (party) of friends and family for food and drinks to continue remembering and celebrating Brett’s life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Brett’s name to Country Doctor or Bailey-Boushay House. You are my best friend, my soul mate. That will never change. In answer to your question, yes sweetheart I’m picking up what you’re laying down.
Brett Aalderink and Bruce Caszatt
Thousands march in Seattle to denounce white supremacists; police attack protesters trying to counter far-right rally
Seattle police block access to the white supremacist rally at Westlake Park, eventually pepper-spraying counter-protesters – Photo by Grant Hindsley/AP
Downtown Seattle was awash with opponents of white supremacy on Sunday, August 13 as a diverse crowd of 2,000 marched in opposition to a rightwing “Patriot Prayer” rally at Westlake Park. Participation swelled dramatically as the counterprotest also became a response to the August 12 car attack on anti-racist demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia. Although police blocked the main protest from entering the park, the demonstrators’ message of solidarity reverberated through downtown. In addition, several hundred protesters managed to enter the park and shout down the rally attended by 75 Trump supporters, Proud Boys, and militaristically clad allies. The “Patriot Prayer” gathering was planned weeks earlier by Joey Gibson, of Vancouver, Washington, who claims to oppose racism, but whose events consistently draw white supremacists and neo-Nazis. He previously visited Seattle on June 10 as part of an anti-Muslim rally in Seattle that drew hundreds of counter-protesters. Many of the organizations that came
together in an ad hoc coalition to defend the Muslim community in June joined forces again for the August 13 march. Organizers and endorsers included Greater Seattle IWW General Defense Committee, Freedom Socialist Party, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Veterans for Peace Chapter 94, Seattle Solidarity Network, Radical Women, ANSWERSeattle. org, SAFE in Seattle, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Clifton Wyatt, former president of the International Association of Machinists Local A 751. The M.L. King County Labor Council encouraged unionists to attend with a note stating, “If we are not fighting racism, sexism, homophobia we are not really fighting for workers’ rights.” Speaking for an endorsing union, Washington Federation of State Employees Local 304, Steve Hoffman addressed the key role of the labor movement in opposing the far right and roused the crowd before the march began with the slogan “An injury to one is an injury to all!” Approaching the city core, marchers be-
4 Seattle Gay News
August 18, 2017
came frustrated as Seattle police repeatedly blocked their access to Westlake Park. Scores of police in riot gear, with bicycles, batons, tanks and other vehicles, blocked all intersections and alleyways leading to the park. They lobbed flash-bang grenades and pepper-sprayed protesters in unprovoked attacks on a crowd that included elders, children, and people with disabilities. In response, protesters chanted, “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” and “Cops and Klan work hand in hand!” “We need to protest to Seattle’s mayor and police chief for essentially taking the side of the racist reactionaries by teargassing locals who came to take a stand against them, while providing a military-type escort for the bigots,” said Patrick Burns, a union carpenter who was a marshal for the counter-protesters’ march. “I urge everyone to call the City Council and demand that the police be brought under control,” said Annaliza Torres of Radical Women. Torres said sixty organizations and community leaders signed onto a letter
protesting “biased policing” at the June anti-Muslim rally. She said police allowed the Proud Boys to repeatedly attack the antiracist rally, but then pepper-sprayed and arrested the people who attempted to defend themselves. “We haven’t yet had a reply to our complaint. Instead, we got intensified police harassment today,” said Torres. Su Docekal of the Freedom Socialist Party, one of the march organizers, said, “The police and the city absolutely violated our constitutional rights to protest and free speech. We know from experience with the Aryan Nations and others here in the Pacific Northwest that the way to prevent fascism from taking root is through direct, disciplined confrontation when they come out in public to recruit. Our goal is to build a broad, democratic united front able to stop them in their tracks.” Courtesy of the Freedom Socialist Party
Celebrating 43 Years!
Jenny Durkan responds to Charlottesville violence
Yesterday [August 12], I joined many voices to condemn the violent and hateful acts of white supremacists in Virginia. Their acts and their hate have no place in any corner of our country. They have been emboldened by a President who not only refuses to condemn them, but who has built an administration with the bricks of hate, resentment and division. Every day he appeals to our lesser angels. Every day he betrays the fundamental promise of America. The promise of America is that every person has the same right and same opportunity to thrive, succeed and follow their dreams. The beauty and power of this promise is unconditional. The promise is made to all. It cannot be denied because of race, gender, who a person loves or what they believe. It also cannot be denied because of age, heritage or economic status. The promise of America is a beacon that has shown across the globe. For generations, it has inspired millions to build a more perfect world. As Americans, we must be the guardians of this promise. We must fight not only to protect it, but to make it real. Condemning the racists acts of the Virginia mob is in a way too easy. It allows us to direct the focus on the most extreme, without examining more honestly the harder truths about inequality and racism – both individual and institutional - in America. We all bear responsibility for the fact that the American promise has been denied to so many. Too many children wake each day in poverty. Too many parents and grandparents struggle to end that, but cry themselves to sleep. Too many fear how they will be treated on a street, in a store or by the po-
Jenny Durkan – Photo by Grant Hindsley
lice. Too many have been denied basic dignity, or crushed by systems that perpetually deny access to the American promise. Making the promise real requires more honesty: in our hearts, our homes and our communities. It starts here. In the churches, schools, neighborhoods and homes of Seattle. We must admit and confront the undeniable inequities in our city. Racism and racial inequality in America and Seattle cannot be denied. The racial gaps in our
schools, our neighborhoods and in our economic opportunities are real. Closing these gaps, delivering on the American promise, remains the moral challenge of our time. We must – we can – come together as a city to meet this challenge. We must act. We must bend the arc of justice more firmly. That is the best answer to Charlottesville and whenever and wherever hate shows its face, as it did in Seattle today. I have the privilege of running to lead our
city. That gives me an opportunity to talk to thousands of you – to listen and learn – and to put forward ideas for how we deliver on the promise of Seattle and America. I will continue to do that over the coming weeks and months. Not everyone gets that chance, but your voices are needed in this conversation. I want to hear your thoughts and ideas. We can only solve this together.
Pramila Jayapal denounces white supremacy
demn white supremacy and domestic terrorism. Instead, he painted a picture of “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.” Let me be clear: there aren’t “many sides” here. There are simply two: right and wrong. White supremacy and racist acts of violence have no place in our country. We must
stand strong together, united, and reject hate in all its forms. Acts of violence rooted in racism have spiked since Trump's election. The hatred we saw this weekend in Charlottesville isn’t just present at white supremacist rallies. It has crept its way into all levels of our government, starting with Trump and his cabinet, who wasted no time pushing a xenophobic agenda of attacking communities of color and rolling back decades of civil rights progress. Make no mistake: white supremacists are organizing and, as a decades-long organizer for justice, I believe we need to step up our efforts to organize back. Sixteen years ago, after 9/11, I founded the organization Hate Free Zone to declare Washington State a Hate Free State and to fight for immigrant, civil and human rights. We organized tens of thousands of people across our state to enact policies and make it clear that we stand against hate and for respect for our diversity. We worked to build strong coalitions across our different issues, and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute their best selves to our communities. Through our shared work, I learned that the strongest tools we have to fight this kind of hatred are our stories, our positive vision for a hate-free America, and – most importantly – our love. That is why I know our movement of progressive values – of treating all Americans with dignity and respect, of resisting hate in all its forms – will triumph in the end. I’m calling on you to join me in doubling down on organizing to fight racism and injustice. We will not allow white nationalists to instill fear in our communities. We will continue to peacefully organize and resist to confront white supremacists who hide behind freedom of speech to promote racism, bigotry and violence. We will stand together, united against hate.
August 18, 2017
Seattle Gay News 5
Pramila Jayapal – Photo by Jason Redmond/Getty
On Friday night [August 11] in Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacists wielding tiki torches, Confederate and swastika flags and rifles gathered together at a “Unite the Right” rally. Chanting hateful slogans and performing Nazi salutes, these white supremacists are fomenting hate and violence to build their numbers. Peaceful demonstrators gathered to protest
this hate. Then, in an act of terrorism, a car sped up and plowed into the crowd, killing at least one counter-protester and injuring 19. Two police officers monitoring the clashes in Charlottesville also died when their helicopter crashed. It is an even more horrifying day when these acts take place and the President of this country refuses to acknowledge or con-
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Seattle workers continue to unite behind Jenny Durkan ILWU Local 19 solely endorse Durkan for mayor Following the endorsements of both Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council and the Professional & Technical Employees (PTE) Local 17, former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan announced the support of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 19, which represents the workforce that moves marine cargo through the Port of Seattle. “ILWU has a long history of endorsing progressive candidates, which is why we’re supporting Jenny Durkan. Through our rank and file democratic process, it was decided that many of Jenny’s positions aligned with those of our membership. ILWU will work hard to help elect Jenny as our next Mayor because she will fight for better wages and safer worker conditions for all. She will continue to cultivate the relationship between the city and the port to maintain Seattle as a first class gate-
way,” said Rich Austin, President of ILWU Local 19. “Day in, day out, our longshore workers keep the Port of Seattle a powerful economic force in Seattle,” said Durkan. “I’ve spent my career defending civil rights and workers rights, and if I have the opportunity to serve as mayor, I will never stop fighting for fair wages and to improve the lives of working people in our city.” In addition to ILWU Local 19, Durkan has the support of the Professional & Technical Employees (PTE) Local 17, Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council, Seattle Fire Fighters Local 27, the Heat and Frost Insulators and Firestop Containment Workers Local 7, Laborers 242, Ironworkers Local 86, and SEIU 775, the largest union local in the state. Courtesy of the Jenny Durkan campaign
Jenny Durkan – Photo by Neal McNamara
Jenny Durkan statement following ballot certification Following today's [August 15] ballot certification, former U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan issued the following statement: “Nikkita Oliver ran a great campaign. She brought not just her powerful voice to the discussion but brought in and amplified the voices, dreams, and pain of those who have been shut out of the opportunities and prosperity of our city. There’s no doubt that she will be a leader for our city for years to come and that the issues she focused on will define our future. During the campaign and
many forums, I learned from her, laughed with her, and admired what she was able to accomplish. I commend her as well as the other candidates who put themselves out there to make our city a better place. “For those who didn't support me, I’ll work hard to earn your support. I fundamentally believe that the next mayor has the moral challenge and deep responsibility to address inequities facing our city. I am committed to ensuring the marginalized and most vulnerable are part of the prom-
ise of Seattle. Seattle’s next mayor must be a leader who listens to all communities, brings people together, and gets things done. We have to come together to close the gaps in our city. “I’ve spent much of life challenging the status quo and making deep systemic reforms that matter in people’s lives. Equality, civil rights, criminal justice reform, police accountability - these have been the fights of my career, and if I have the opportunity to serve as mayor, I will fight every
day to put our progressive values into action. “In the upcoming weeks, I will continue to make the case to all voters about my experience to lead this city as well as my specific ideas to address the urgent challenges of inequality, affordability, homelessness, transportation, police reform, and climate change.” Courtesy of the Jenny Durkan campaign
Durkan at MLKCLC’s Mayoral Forum in June – Photo courtesy of MLKCLC
LABOR
continued from cover dropped out of the race, the Labor Council then dual-endorsed Bob Hasegawa and Jessyn Farrell. Hasegawa, now a State Senator, was president of Teamsters Local 174 and one of the architects of the WTO protests in November 1999. He ultimately came in fifth in the field of 21 mayoral candidates. Farrell, former head of the Transportation Choices coalition, quit her job as a
6 Seattle Gay News
State Representative to put all her efforts into the mayoral race. She came in fourth in the race. While the labor council backed Hasegawa and Farrell in the primary, SPOG (the police union) and the Firefighters’ union were behind Durkan from the start. SEA, which represents Seattle school teachers, dual-endorsed Farrell and Nikkita Oliver, the third-place finisher. When the motion to endorse Durkan came to the MLKCLC delegates on August 16, no one spoke in favor of Moon, and the endorsement sailed through with only a smattering of No votes.
August 18, 2017
In her speech to the delegates after receiving their support, Durkan first asked all those who voted for Hasegawa and Farrell to stand. Most of the delegates stood up. Then she asked all her voters to stand. The police and firefighter delegates stood. “That’s how we have to be,” Durkan said. “All standing together.” Union retirees at the meeting said they had fond memories of Durkan’s father, Martin – a veteran state legislator (19571975) – who was known as an ally of public sector unions. In other races, labor-endorsed Seattle City Council candidate Teresa Mosqueda
led second-place candidate Jon Grant by more than 8,000 votes, making her the odds-on favorite to win the general election for an at-large City Council seat. MLKCLC Executive Secretary Nicole Grant vowed to elect Mosqueda in November. “She is one of us,” Grant said in a speech to the delegates, “a union sister, and we will go all-out to elect her.” In Burien, all four MLKCLC-endorsed City Council candidates made it to the general election. If elected, the labor-backed candidates would flip the Council from a conservative to a progressive majority.
Celebrating 43 Years!
You’re invited to Radical Women's anniversary gala!
Bread, roses and feminist leadership
Walking the Talk for 50 Years Celebrate Women’s Rights Day and mark the golden jubilee of a multi-racial revolutionary feminist group that’s as kickass now as when formed in 1967. Hear about RW’s intersectional activism and be part of the stepped-up resistance today! *Toasts from local rabblerousers *Summer Delights Banquet
*Silent auction
*Music
*Historical video & photos
Saturday, August 26, 6:30 pm New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle On the #7 busline. Six blocks from the Columbia City light rail station.
Door donation $3–10. Dinner (with vegan option) $15. For more info: 206-722-6057 • RWseattle@mindspring.com • www.facebook.com/rwseattle Call three days in advance to arrange childcare or work exchange.
If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation to kick off Radical Women’s next 50 years! Make checks payable to Radical Women (note “50th anniversary”) and mail to address above. Or donate online at www.radicalwomen.org/Seattle
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August 18, 2017
Seattle Gay News 7
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August 18, 2017
Celebrating 43 Years!
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FESTIVITIES
LEO Party brings out drag royalty with Chad Michaels, raises over $20K for SCS LEO PARTY NEIGHBOURS NIGHTCLUB August 13
On behalf of Joe Torres, Founder of LEO Foundation – thank you! Our amazing team of volunteers and entertainers – Amora Dior Black, Atasha Manila, Clayton Coleman, Desarae Pendavis, Evah Destruction, Gaysha Starr, Isaac Scott, Jaxen Brown, Ladie Chablis, Lasaveona Hunt, Londyn Bradshaw, Luna Palacios, The Markos Sisters, Ursula Ma-
10 Seattle Gay News
jor, Truly Scrumptuous with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – with the generosity of our friends helped raise $20,000+ for Seattle Counseling Service and Imperial Sovereign Court Of Seattle. We are grateful to our gracious sponsors and donors: Muckleshoot Casino Charities, Silver Dollar Casino – SeaTac, Neighbours Seattle! With pride, Aleksa Manila LEO Foundation
August 18, 2017
Celebrating 43 Years!
Lambda Legal sues Houston to defend benefits for city employees’ same-sex spouses
Couples embrace outside the Texas Capitol on July 4 after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015 – Photo by Alexa Ura
HOUSTON – Lambda Legal and cocounsel Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP filed a federal lawsuit [on August 10] on behalf of three married couples against Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City of Houston to preserve health coverage and other benefits for the same-sex spouses of city employees. These benefits are suddenly at risk after two taxpayers convinced the Texas Supreme Court that Texas cities could defy Obergefell v. Hodges – the United States Supreme Court case that made marriage equality the law of the land – and deny married same-sex couples the rights of marriage. “Our clients are angered by the notion that in 2017 their marriages would be deemed inferior to other marriages,” said Kenneth Upton, Senior Counsel in Lambda Legal’s South Central Regional Office in Dallas. “Today we are standing up for lesbian, gay, and bisexual Houston city workers
and their same-sex spouses against those who seek to demean and diminish them.” In Freeman v. Turner and City of Houston, Lambda Legal and Morgan Lewis are representing: • Noel Freeman, an administrative coordinator with the City of Houston Public Works & Engineering Office and a 13-year employee of the City, who married his husband Brad Pritchett, in Washington, DC in 2010; • Yadira Estrada, a City of Houston police officer for 10 years who married her partner Jennifer Flores, in Maine in June 2013 after they had been together for seven years; and • Ron Reeser, a systems administrator for the City and 12-year city employee who married his husband, Vince Olivier, after they had been together for three years. The lawsuit also asks the federal District Court to prevent the City of Houston from compelling repayment of employee benefits
already provided. Freeman v. Turner is similar to a lawsuit Lambda Legal filed four years ago against Houston and then-Mayor Annise Parker in response to the original taxpayer lawsuit (Pidgeon v. Parker) that blocked Mayor Parker from extending benefits to the samesex spouses of city employees. At that time, city officials had determined that an earlier U.S. Supreme Court ruling, U.S. v. Windsor, striking down part of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), required that benefits be equally available to the legal different-sex or same-sex spouses of city employees. A Texas state district judge ruled in favor of the taxpayers, but the Texas Court of Appeals overturned that decision in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell ruling. Also after Obergefell, Lambda Legal settled and dismissed its original Freeman lawsuit.
TRUMP
continued from cover Cole, director for the ACLU. “What a statute means ought not to change from one administration to another. The law is the law.” The sheer number of changes, plus the complete reversal of Obama-era guidelines and administrative rulings suggest that Trump’s aim is not merely to shift legal policy in a more conservative direction, but literally to dismantle all the legal precedents of his predecessor. In some cases, the new administration is threatening to take its policy reversals even further through court action. For example, the Trump Justice Department, headed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, said in a court filing that federal civil rights laws do not protect gays and lesbians from workplace discrimination. This is a direct contradiction to a 2015 ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – the federal agency charged with enforcing workplace protections – that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects sexual orientation. In 2012, the EEOC also ruled that Title VII protects gender identity. Federal appeals courts have split on these issues, and the US Supreme Court may ultimately render a decision in one or more cases involving the scope of Title VII. If or when it does, the high court will make its decision with the Trump Justice
Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions – Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Department arguing for the most restrictive interpretation of federal law, whereas Obama’s Justice Department supported the most expansive reading of the laws. While EEOC commissioners do not change with every new administration, and Obama-era appointees still dominate the agency, the commission depends on support from Justice Department attorneys to uphold its rulings in court, so the prognosis for an LGBT-inclusive reading of Title VII is not good. Trump’s Justice Department has also intervened in voting rights cases to try to restrict ballot access for people of color and
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poor people. In a case originating in Ohio – which will be heard by the US Supreme Court this fall – the Obama Justice Department opposed a state law allowing people to be removed from voter rolls merely for failing to vote, and without any other inquiries or evidence. Trump’s attorneys say the Ohio law is reasonable. In a Texas case, Obama’s Justice Department opposed the state’s strict photoID requirements, and a federal judge subsequently found that the law was intended to discriminate against minorities. In February the Trump Justice Department dropped
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Undaunted, the taxpayers continued to pursue their claims and petitioned the Texas Supreme Court for review. In the fall of 2016, the Texas Supreme Court initially declined to hear the case. However, after a concerted lobbying campaign, the Court reversed itself, heard the case, and reinstated the taxpayers’ lawsuit, signaling that state courts may not necessarily be bound by federal law—a ruling that appears intended to clear the way for state courts to try to avoid Obergefell. Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. Courtesy of Lambda Legal
that claim, and last month it said the Texas law did not harm minorities at all. • On voting rights, “this is the most aggressive set of changes we’ve seen,” says Paul Smith, vice president of the Campaign Legal Center and a frequent Supreme Court litigator who specializes in defending voters’ rights. The Trump administration is not stopping there, however, but is reversing Obama-era legal policies in a number of other areas as well: • On immigration, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security ended Obama’s DAPA program in June, putting millions of undocumented immigrants with children who are US citizens at immediate risk of deportation. The Trump administration is also thinking about ending Obama’s DACA program, that has protected 800,000 immigrants who came to the US as children. • On health care, the administration may drop its appeal of a lower court decision striking down a provision of the ACA (Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare) that pays insurers to keep costs down for low-income participants. Without the reimbursements, insurance premiums could skyrocket. • On climate change, Trump administration attorneys have asked a federal appeals court to delay ruling on Obama’s landmark Clean Power Plan, which cuts greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. The administration previously put policy on hold for 18 months, and a delayed court ruling will prevent it from taking effect.
Seattle Gay News 11
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka resigned in protest from Trump’s manufacturing advisory council this week – Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
Pride At Work presidents and other labor leaders condemn Neo-Nazis and white nationalists
Pride At Work Co-Presidents Shellea Allen and Tim Schlittner & Executive Director Jerame Davis: Pride at Work stands firmly against all forms of white supremacy and terrorism in this country and around the world. What we saw on Saturday [August 12] in Charlottesville was a horrible act of bigotry and hate and a reminder that we have a lot of work to dismantle all forms of white supremacy that are still present today. We cannot achieve racial justice without economic justice. Pride at Work and our allies will never stop standing up to hate. We will confront evil wherever it exists. Our hearts are with the community of Charlottesville and the family of Heather D. Heyer who died standing up for what she believed in. The best way to honor her memory is to never stop organizing for economic, racial and social justice.
darity, are what have always overcome the most abominable prejudices. Any response must begin with our leaders, starting with President Donald Trump, acknowledging this for what it is: domestic terrorism rooted in bigotry. My heart goes out to the victims, especially the family of those who lost their lives, including a young woman named Heather Heyer and State Troopers Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates. I pray for everyone’s safety. The labor movement condemns this domestic terrorism and remains committed to eradicating the despicable causes of hatred and intolerance.
Pride At Work is an LGBTQ labor group affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten: We are angered and heartbroken by the largest open mobilization of white supremacists in the United States in decades. We grieve the murder of Heather Heyer and the injury of other peaceful protesters against racism and anti-Semitism who, numbering in the thousands, courageously exercised their First Amendment rights in Charlottesville this weekend [August 11-13]. At the same time, we are sick with the knowledge that the racist uprising they pro-
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: Yesterday [August 12] in Charlottesville, Virginia, the nation and the world witnessed the hateful views and violent actions of white supremacists and neo-Nazis. This racism and bigotry is the worst kind of evil in our world and does not represent the true values of America. The true values of our country, values like equality and soli-
12 Seattle Gay News
On August 16, Trumka resigned from Donald Trump’s manufacturing advisory council in protest against Trump’s remarks equating fascists and anti-fascist protestors.
August 18, 2017
tested is of a piece with a long history of racist ideology and terrorism that has afflicted every region of our country... We enjoin President Trump and his administration to take this opportunity to correct their course. They must reflect on their role in normalizing racism through statement and policy, and on their responsibility in creating the sense of moral license that enabled racist terrorism to manifest itself in the streets of Charlottesville and on the grounds of the University of Virginia. They must denounce white supremacy and white supremacist terrorism in the strongest terms... Most importantly, we call upon the President, state elected officials, and all those in positions with the power to do so, to enforce the law, protect Americans who justifiably fear racist violence, and investigate these events and bring the perpetrators of racist hate crimes to justice. United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams: The events in Charlottesville this weekend [August 11-13] will long serve as a reminder that time has a way of washing away the tears of the past where hate bullied many Americans, both in society and in the workplace, through intolerance. The UAW condemns the hate and intolerance of the alt-right groups that led to such violence in Charlottesville. Every woman and every man is equal in their civil
and workplace rights regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation in society and in the workplace. We cannot take our freedom for granted, and we cannot forget the lessons that history forged through the sacrifice of many brave Americans in our military, in labor and in our civil rights struggles to secure those freedoms. Communications Workers of America (CWA): Members of the Communications Workers of America reject the vile actions and rhetoric of the white supremacists who paraded their hatred and bigotry this weekend [August 11-13] in Charlottesville, Virginia. These evil actions, which President Trump couldn’t be bothered to condemn, instead offering a weak “violence on many sides” throwaway line, resulted in the tragic death of a young woman and injuries to many more. Our government’s failure to condemn these evil people emboldens them, and sets us back in our determination to realize our goal of a nation where all people are respected, all have opportunity and all are full participants in our democracy. CWA members are determined to bring about that nation, and we will continue to work with our allies to ensure that hatred, racism and bigotry have no place in our nation. We also commend the law enforcement officers who stood together to end this demonstration of hate.
Celebrating 43 Years!
Statement from the National LGBTQ Task Force on violence in Charlottesville
Candace Bond-Theriault, Senior Policy Council – Photo courtesy of National LGBTQ Task Force
The following can be attributed to Stacey Long Simmons, Esq., Director of the Advocacy and Action Department of the National LGBTQ Task Force: “The violence we are witnessing is horrifying, but is merely the latest manifestation of the growing racist, anti-immigration, anti-Semitic, sexist and anti-LGBTQ hate in our midst. The continuing escalation of hate and white nationalist sentiment we are experiencing during the Trump administration has come to this - targeted violence in the streets of Virginia led by the Klu Klux Klan and Neo-Nazi organizations. The National LGBTQ Task Force will not stand by and watch the very fabric of this nation torn apart by hate. We will stand with our immigrant, Muslim, African-American, Latino, differently-abled and all marginalized people targeted by the hate and discrimination coming from all directions, from the White House to the streets of Charlottesville.” The below statement can be attributed to Candace Bond-Theriault, the Senior Policy Counsel, Reproductive Health, Rights and
Justice and the Democracy Project Director: “As a Black queer Virginian I am a swell of emotions. I am angry. It is 2017 and a White Nationalist group in Charlottesville, Virginia had the audacity to march last night with torches, a symbol of allegiance with the KKK. I am also not shocked. I know that White Supremacy and hatred run rampant in my state. Growing up in southern Virginia, I have witnessed racism firsthand more times than I can count. But even in the face of this extreme demonstration of hatred, I believe in the wise words of Martin Luther King Jr, that “hate can’t drive out hate. Only love can do that.” In this moment we must keep each other close, hold on to each other and spread love. Today I choose the emotion of love, for myself and my fellow black queer Virginians, because love is a radical act of rebellion.” Courtesy of the National LGBTQ Task Force
HRC strongly condemns white supremacist rally and violent extremism in Charlottesville WASHINGTON, D.C. – [On August 12], the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released the following statement strongly condemning the white supremacists’ rally, violence and apparent attack on counter protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia: “Hate and bigotry must never be met with silence or half-hearted rebukes,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The horrific events unfolding in Charlottesville today are a stark reminder that the racism and white supremacy that has been allowed to fester for generations has recently been emboldened by the policies and rhetoric of politicians like Donald Trump. There are no two sides. Donald Trump’s refusal to clearly condemn white supremacists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and the ‘alt-right’ is a failure of leadership and once again prove him to be unfit to serve. All national lead-
ers, from the President and Vice President on down, must explicitly and unequivocally condemn this violent extremism.” Griffin continued, “The Human Rights Campaign offers our condolences to the family of the counter protester [later identified as Heather Heyer] who lost their life and all those injured. Today and every day, we must be outraged by this kind of prejudice and we will continue to confront this violent hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.” The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. Courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin – Photo courtesy of HRC
We stand united against racism – Lambda Legal responds to violence in Charlottesville
Lambda Legal CEO Rachel Tiven – Photo courtesy of Lambda Legal
Visit us online www.sgn.org
In response to the racist violence that shook Charlottesville Friday and Saturday [August 11 & 12], Lambda Legal CEO Rachel Tiven issued the following statement: “We were revolted by the racist violence and intimidation in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday, and stand in solidarity with the communities of color targeted by the naked display of hate and bigotry. We are moved by the courage and love of the brave people who came out to confront them and grateful to the thousands of Americans who protested white supremacy last night in cities across the nation. Our hearts go out to the families of those injured and killed. Above all, Lambda Legal is committed to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in our country. “Racist violence is as old as America. At the center of our struggle as a nation there has always been a battle between subjugation based on white supremacy and ideals of equality of justice for all. The racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and anti-Semitic views so boldly on display this weekend are a cancer on our society. “Donald Trump has encouraged and invited bigotry in many forms and has refused to condemn domestic hate crimes and terrorism when the perpetrators were
white. His inability to condemn yesterday’s murderous attack on anti-racist protestors is not surprising given the reality that the Trump Administration has become a haven for people sympathetic to or, at a minimum, apologists for the kinds of groups that brought terror to the streets of Charlottesville this weekend. “But to lay the blame for yesterday’s violence all at President Trump’s feet would be to dishonor the countless thousands of people who have for centuries fought, suffered, and died for their freedom in a nation built on the slavery of African Americans and the genocide of Native Americans. Their sacrifices are testament to the deep roots of racism. “In the battle for the soul of our nation, LGBT people stand on the side of freedom and justice for all.”
August 18, 2017
Seattle Gay News 13
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. Courtesy of Lambda Legal
TV executive sued for $1.2 million for allegedly uploading gay X-rated videos by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer According to court documents, Marc Juris, the openly gay president of WE TV, has been served a $1.2 million lawsuit from gay porn company Flava Works. Flava Works specializes in X-rated videos featuring models of color. The company claims Juris joined its site as a member, then downloaded a bunch of videos and illegally uploaded them to file sharing sites like Gay-Torrents.org and GayTorrent.ru. Now, the company wants $1.2 million from him for copyright infringement. “Marc Juris was issued a cease-anddesist over alleged sharing and was urged to settle out of court [but he] refused,” Phil Bleicher, CEO of Flava Works, says. “We have ample evidence to prove that its him – from matching emails, IP, logs and usernames – and he continued to share our copyrighted works.”
Juris has filed a countersuit under a John Doe pseudonym, claiming Flava Works blackmails its subscribers with frivolous lawsuits and threatens to “out” them as customers. The countersuit, filed Tuesday, reads: “Capitalizing on the social stigma of its own product, Flava Works has apparently discovered a lucrative side business: extorting money from former subscribers by threatening to expose them as consumers of gay porn. Even if the accusation is false, most users reluctantly pay rather than be outed in court documents as a gay porn user – especially if the victim has chosen to keep his sexual orientation private.” Flava Works denies any wrongdoing and says that the countersuit is ridiculous. “Flava Works models and staff spend countless hours producing our high quality videos and images only to have a few people steal them and distribute to these illegal file sharing websites,” said Phil Bleicher. “This will stop, one lawsuit at a time.”
Juris is counter-suing the gay porn company Flava Works – Photo by Prince Williams
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Gay dolphins observed off coast of Western Australia
Australian researchers spotted bottlenose dolphins engaging in gay behavior – Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom is widespread. We’ve all heard about the same-sex male penguin couple. But scientists say that they may have found a community of mammals where homosexuality might be the norm. One of the best-known examples of homosexuality in the animal kingdom, say scientists, is among bottlenose dolphins, with both males and females having en-
14 Seattle Gay News
counters with members of the same sex. The exact reasons for the behavior are not well understood, but social bonding is thought to be a factor. According to Newsweek, researchers in Australia are looking to solve the mystery. They recently observed big groups of dolphins engaging in what appeared to be homosexual behavior. A team from the Mandurah Dolphin Research Project in Western Australia noticed the males started spending quality time together after their mating season was over.
August 18, 2017
“These dolphins, all but three of them juveniles, organized themselves in four subgroups in which they were observed engaging in socio-sexual behavior that included mounting and genital contact between individuals,” Krista Nicholson, of Murdoch University, told the Mandurah Mail. “The subgroups joined, frequently forming a large group, and then split again in different group compositions.” Scientists have studied this group extensively, with researchers examining Bi-
sexual behavior and the population’s social setup. This is typical behavior seen in other bottlenose dolphin populations, Nicholson said, including those found in Shark Bay. “Apart from homosexual behavior, males, unlike females, in Shark Bay have also been recorded to perform synchronous displays,” she said. “In Shark Bay, where male dolphins form lifelong alliances, socio-sexual interactions between males are more common than between females or between the sexes.” Finding another relatively nearby group of dolphins engaging in similar behavior will help researchers better understand how and why it happens. Nicholson added that homosexual behavior appears to play a role in the development of social bonds between males, helping them to establish dominance and alliances. Janet Mann, who has studied dolphins at Shark Bay for decades, says another possible reason is for males to practice mating. In the book Homosexual Behaviour in Animals: An Evolutionary Perspective, she wrote: “Homosexual interactions in bottlenose dolphins...seem to serve multiple functions, although the exact fitness consequences, if any, are unknown. “Our understanding of the social structure and relationships in a larger context would suggest that male-male social-sexual interactions are significant for the development of close bonds or alliance formation, negotiating dominance relations within and between eventual alliances, and practicing courtship behaviors for adulthood.”
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