Celebrating 39 Years!
Issue 50 Volume 40
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
‘Everyone is welcome here’ Mayor McGinn opens Seattle City Hall for same-sex marriages Dozens of joyous same-sex couples pronounced their wedding vows Sunday morning, December 9, at Seattle City Hall. An SGN photography team – Nate Gowdy, Jen DeLeo, Richard Wood, and
state on December 6, and city officials were unanimous in their support for the City Hall nuptials. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s office played the role of wedding planner. His staff helped set up an efficient system that had couples and their guests line up outside City Hall and then be ushered in-
nate gowdy / seattle gay news
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
“What a wonderful thing to be able to support the commitment of these couples to each other and to herald the beginning of a new civil right.” Jimmy Gonzalez – spent the day documenting the historic occasion (see photos, Section 3). The marathon marriage session ended with 133 same-sex couples getting legally married. The individual ceremonies marked the first day of legal samesex marriage in Washington. King County had accounted for roughly half of the 841 same-sex marriage licenses issued throughout the
side to a relaxed reception room with white tablecloths and a pianist. A PERSONAL GREETING McGinn, who greeted each couple as they arrived, called it a “great day, a joyous day.” “What a wonderful thing to be able to support the commitment of these couples to each other and to see marriage page 6
Keith Bacon and Corianton Hale embrace at the end of their wedding ceremony at Seattle City Hall.
Reading the tea leaves Republicans take What will the Supreme Court do about DOMA? file photo
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
STANDING AT ISSUE She has also been asked to argue that House Republicans cannot substitute themselves for the Justice Department and therefore they lack “standing in this case.” Both issues arise from the February 2011 decision by President Obama and the U.S. Department of Justice that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Weddings By the Sea
Murray out as majority leader after two Dems switch sides senatedemocrats.wa.gov
The U.S. Supreme Court may have dropped a hint about its thinking on DOMA when, on December 11, it asked Massachusetts attorney Vicki Jackson to file briefs in U.S.A. v. Windsor. Jackson was not asked to offer arguments on the constitutionality of the law that prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages, however. Instead, she will argue that the Supreme Court cannot take up the case at all. Jackson has specifically been charged by the court to argue “that the Executive Branch’s agreement with the court below that DOMA is unconstitutional deprives this [Supreme] Court of jurisdiction to decide this case.”
control of WA Senate
Senators Tim Sheldon (l) and Rodney Tom
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Less than a month after being elected Senate majority leader by the Democratic Party caucus, Sen. Ed Murray lost the spot when two Democrats defected to the Republican side. Sen. Rodney Tom, one of the see supreme court page 8 two, will now be majority leader,
www.oceanshoresweddings.com 206-403-8170 Let us make your wedding day as fun as a day at the beach.
and Sen. Tim Sheldon, the other defector, will become president pro tempore of the Senate. Conservative Republican Andy Hill has been named chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee overseeing the state budget, another post formerly held by Murray. With Tom, Sheldon, and the see senate page 6
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Seattle Gay News
December 14, 2012
Celebrating 39 Years!
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Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business. Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper. Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication. We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write. And please play safe. It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.
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
op-ed
The ‘religious freedom’ red herring Why people of faith are not victims in the marriage equality fight by Abby Dees SGN Contributing Writer By the time you read this, you’ll probably know if the Supreme Court has decided to hear one of the three marriage equality cases knocking at its venerable doors. I’m willing to bet a hundred bucks that the Court will agree to hear one of those appeals, and in 2013 will decide this issue once and for all. If I’m right, then next year is going to be the loudest, most debated, most obnoxious – and possibly the most important – year in our history with regard to LGBT rights. The Court, like the lower courts before, will consider legal arguments on both sides. There will be careful examination of the history of equal-protection law and much serious throwing around of such legal terms of art as “heightened scrutiny,” “rational basis review,” and “legislative history.” Meanwhile, average non-lawyer Americans will play right along at home, arguing each side just as intensely, only with a whole different set of facts and rules. Right now, maybe the most oft-heard argument against marriage equality is that it will violate people’s religious freedom. If you believe the anti-marriage-equality folks, you might think that only they stand between the LGBT community and total secular chaos. But if you followed the courtroom action in any of the marriage cases, you might have noticed that the religious freedom argument doesn’t get much play in front of a judge. That’s because the lawyers all know that marriage equality will never mean that priests and rabbis will be forced to perform a marriage ceremony against their beliefs. Have you ever seen a divorcée get married in a Catholic church? How about a couple of Southern Baptists getting hitched in an Orthodox temple? Probably not. Our First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom means that the government can’t tell people what to do in their own private religious ceremonies (unless it’s really dangerous, in which case, yeah, the fire marshal
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can shut down a minister who tries to swallow a flaming spear, or whatever). This is never, ever, going to change. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE I once read a story posted by an antiLGBT group about a priest who got fined for refusing to marry a Lesbian couple, and so, scratching my head, I did a little factchecking. Turns out they omitted one tiny part of the story: it happened in Sweden. It concerns me when I have to remind people that different countries have different laws, but why let facts get in the way? This doesn’t mean that religious institutions are free to discriminate as much as they want, and then use the First Amendment like diplomatic license plates in a noparking zone. There are plenty of examples of church-run businesses or secular social services being held to the same equal pro-
December 14, 2012
tection requirements as everyone else. The critical distinction is that these are not faith or worship activities. Opponents of marriage equality intentionally fudge this fact so as to convince well-intended religious folks that we want to destroy everything they (literally) hold sacred. In practice, this could mean that if a church owns a park that’s open to the general public, it can’t discriminate against couples who want to use that park for a wedding on the basis of race, religion, or – if the park is in a place that recognizes LGBT rights – sexual orientation. But that church’s minister will never have to perform that wedding, nor will we be allowed to shove our way into a house of worship for a big ol’ Gay wedding against the minister’s wishes. I don’t buy the religious freedom argument at all, whether based in law or common respect. I’ve met some pretty radical queers in my life and none of them has ever said anything like, “In my dream wedding, we’re wearing matching Chanel suits and our priest will perform the ceremony under duress, in violation of his religious tenets.” I mean, is this romantic? We’ve got our own supportive places of worship anyway. And we, as much as anyone, understand the importance of letting people be free to make their own personal choices – without intrusion by the state, random strangers, or anyone else.
Seattle Gay News
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Local news
A toast to equality!
Gov. Chris Gregoire headlines ERW celebration breakfast nate gowdy / seattle gay news
(l to r) Lacey All, Rod Hearne, Jane Abbott Lighty, Josh Friedes, Pete-e Petersen, Laura Wulf, and Laurie Jinkins
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Before Washington United for Marriage – the mainstream campaign credited with winning marriage equality at the ballot box in Washington – was created, Equal Rights Washington (ERW) stood at the helm guiding progressive voters in the state towards a more Democratic and equal future. In fact, some would make the argument that had it not been for the years-long efforts put forth by ERW and the groups that came before it, there would be no Washington United for Marriage. On December 12, elected officials, community organizations, representatives of the business sector, and members of the greater Seattle LGBT community came together to toast equality and savor the historic win that the Gay rights movement earned on Election Day 2012. The occasion was so momentous that even outgoing Gov. Christine Gregoire couldn’t resist. At the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle that morning, she and Governor-elect Jay Inslee were the headliners.
Equal Rights Washington (ERW) is a statewide political advocacy organization for the LGBT community of Washington State. ERW has successfully advocated for the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination Law, the creation of the state domestic partnership registry, the further expansion of domestic partnership protections, and
THE TASK AHEAD Toasting Equality, now in its fourth year, is the annual breakfast that ERW holds to bring together elected officials and community members, organizations, and groups to celebrate that year’s successes and talk
“We at ERW are ecstatic that the goal of marriage equality in Washington state has been accomplished after a decade of devoting resources, staff, and time to this effort.” the passage of the Healthy Youth Act. The group works to organize the movement for equality, educate voters, and influence policy makers. “We continue to advocate for the expansion of protections available to committed gay couples and their children while working toward marriage equality,” ERW officials said. “We also work to ensure that health care providers meet the needs of an
IN LOVING MEMORY
JOSEPH R. EISENHAUER April 4, 1948 – December 15, 1999
Joe Eisenhauer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and moved with his family to Arizona at an early age. In his twenties he attended college in Arizona and later joined the Coast Guard. In later years he moved to Washington, living first in Mount Vernon and then in Seattle, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1982, at the beginning of the AIDS
aging LGBT community.”
epidemic, he joined a group to help people living with AIDS. He helped found the Seattle AIDS Support Group (SASG), which is still providing assistance to people with AIDS at Seattle Area Support Groups. “There is a destiny that makes us brothers. None goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.”
about the next year’s goals. This year, the theme was “Celebrating Marriage Equality and Looking Beyond.” “We at ERW are ecstatic that the goal of marriage equality in Washington state has been accomplished after a decade of devoting resources, staff, and time to this effort,” the organization said in an e-mail to supporters. “It is easy for our community to be tempted to rest on its laurels after such tremendous strides for equality. And yet, there is so much left to do before we can truly say ‘Mission Accomplished.’” In 2013, according to officials, ERW will continue its conversations with community leaders and elected officials about how it can address the pressing needs of LGBT Washingtonians. “ERW has many issues on its list to ensure and promote dignity, safety, and equality for all Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Washingtonians,” said officials. The to-do list includes youth at risk, Transgender rights, our aging LGBT population, immigration, employment discrimination, federal recognition of marriage equality, and HIV/AIDS. MORE SUPPORT NEEDED “In many cases in regards to equality for
members of Washington’s LGBT community, there is a state law,” said officials. “Through lobbying, Equality Days in Olympia, online petitions, e-mails and phone calls to our state lawmakers, ERW supporters and coalition partners have successfully helped pass legislation over the last 10 years that benefits the LGBT community. However, in terms of results, it is not always the letter of the law being violated, but its spirit. The necessary funding and education needed to make these laws achieve their intent have often been lacking.” ERW has been effective in achieving its legislative goals by meeting with LGBTQ community leaders and obtaining consensus about LGBT priorities and strategies. This was key to forming the framework of the vast coalition that came together to form Washington United for Marriage. “Coalition and consensus-building is consuming, painstaking and necessary work,” said ERW. “This work is often compared to herding cats, and is not readily visible to the public at large. But it remains a necessary ingredient for advancing social justice.” Donations made to ERW will, according to the group, “allow us to keep the infrastructure in place to be a community partner engaging in the conversation that will lead to our state’s next advances for LGBT equality.” THANKS TO ALL In attendance at the December 12 event were State Senate Majority Leader Ed Murray; State Representatives Jamie Pedersen and Laurie Jinkins; Washington United for Marriage Chair and HRC Board Member Lacey All; Josh Friedes of ERW; David Haack of SAGE; Marsha Botzer, founder of Ingersoll Gender Center; Marcos Martinez, executive director of Entre Hermanos; Debbie Carlsen, director of Allyship; Louise Chernin, executive director of the Greater Seattle Business Association; and Seattle Council President Sally Clark – just to name a few. At the event ERW thanked Gov. Gregoire for signing the bill that the electorate ultimately approved. Also receiving kudos were state legislators who voted for marriage equality, led by Rep. Pedersen and Sen. Murray; the staff and governing committee of Washington United for Marriage for their hard work and smart campaign to defend the freedom to marry under Referendum 74; and the broad coalition of nonprofit, labor, faith, business, students, educators, and committed individuals and donors who worked so hard and sacrificed so much to see this day happen. The organization also acknowledged its former director of marriage equality and current spokesperson, Joshua Friedes, for his vision and tenacity, and the ERW board members for their role in a long process that ultimately proved fruitful. Another former director, Rod Hearne, was in attendance as well. NEW FUND CHAIR NAMED Also at the breakfast, Monisha Harrell was announced as the 2013 chairperson of the ERW Education Fund. Harrell told the audience that there is a lot left to do and that ERW will continue to advocate for candidates and issues that work toward bringing equality to the citizens of Washington and beyond. The Education Fund’s mission is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Washington. A nonprofit, the Fund seeks to do so by facilitating and coordinating the efforts of the LGBT and allied community that are directed to research, education, and community mobilization. It is the educational sister organization to Equal Rights Washington.
Come meet Tim and Matt and join the family.
Go 1605 12th Avenue at Pine, Seattle (In liquor store parking garage.) Seattle Storm! 206-838-6027 or 206-898-4306 4
Seattle Gay News
December 14, 2012
Celebrating 39 Years!
United we dream
communities, differently-abled people, people of faith, and other groups.
TAKING IT TO D.C. United We Dream affiliates across the country plan coordinated actions the week of President Obama’s inauguration in Janudeeply with Queer undocumented youth ary to highlight the plight of their families across the country to ensure that LGBTQ families are included in inclusive legalization for families in the next Congressional session,” said Heather Cronk, managing director of GetEQUAL, a national grassroots civil rights organization fighting for the full legal equality of the LGBTQ community. “We have seen efforts before to divide the LGBTQ and the immigration communities, with no regard shown for those who have one foot in both communities and both identities. We will not tolerate efforts to foster division among Americans, or to force some Americans to choose one identity over another. We look forward to working with UWD and QUIP to ensure that American families are fully valued in this country.”
Young immigrant and Queer rights activists join forces by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Galvanized by winning a momentous victory earlier this year with the creation of the deferred action policy and having earned their place at the forefront of the debate over immigration, 600 representatives of America’s more than two million undocumented youth gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, last weekend for the United We Dream (UWD) 2012 National Congress. The congress also included a large national representation of undocumented Queer, or UndocuQueer, immigrant youth. “UndocuQueers and the immigrant youth movement have made a commitment to working together with the LGBTQ ally community to ensure that LGBTQ fami-
lies are included in the next fight for family legalization from beginning to end,” said Jorge Gutierrez, project coordinator of United We Dream’s Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project. “The immigrant youth movement has learned from past mistakes and will not leave LGBTQ families behind.” PLATFORM ADOPTED The 600 representatives at the UWD 2012 National Congress voted on an official platform, demanding protections for families and communities and pledging to fight for a roadmap to citizenship for the entire immigrant community, including LGBTQ families. These demands come in the midst of a renewed conversation on Capitol Hill around immigration issues, with both parties realizing that they need to respond to historic LGBTQ, Latino, Asian American, and immigrant voter turnout in the November election. Queer immigrant youth want to make it clear that DREAMers reject proposals like the Achieve Act, which offer even less than the DREAM Act. “United We Dream and the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project have emerged as the conscience of the immigration movement, and we’re thrilled to be working
WIDE-RANGING DEMANDS The platform voted on at the Congress includes demands for protections for families, access to higher education, and a roadmap to legal immigration status and citizenship: • Fair treatment for DREAMers and our families and communities, including a roadmap to citizenship for 11 million Americans without papers and an end to senseless deportations and abuses; • The ability to travel without fear, ensuring all immigrants have access to driver licenses and the ability to visit family in other countries; • The elimination of barriers to higher education for immigrant youth by extending to DREAMers state and federal financial aid opportunities as well as in-state tuition rates available to our peers; • An end to excessive and costly immigration enforcement policies which separate families and divide communities, such as “Secure Communities,” E-Verify, 287G, and roadside checkpoints; • Access to health care, safe and fair working conditions, and equal protection under the law for all; and • Growth and diversity of our movement for change, intensifying efforts to become more inclusive of non-Latinos, LGBTQ
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identity as a demand,” voiced Rocio Mora, a member of the San Fernando Valley Dream Team. In addition to coalescing around political demands and strategies for 2013 and beyond, UndocuQueers and undocumented young people shared their stories, connecting with new leaders and building an even
under an excessive and immoral immigration enforcement system and to tell the stories of their courageous parents who sacrificed for them and LGBTQ families that continue to be left out of the immigration reform conversation. UndocuQueers and undocumented youth will continue their role of leadership within the immigrant rights movement to build national momentum for policies and laws that protect all families and provide a roadmap to citizenship. “The fact that the inclusion of the LGBTQ community was part of the demands set forth in the United We Dream platform speaks to the great effort that those of us who identify as UndocuQueer have put towards the eradication of homophobic at-
larger community of young people working shoulder-to-shoulder to win fair treatment and expand access to higher education, legal immigration status, and protections for families.
titudes and behaviors within the immigrant rights movement. The demand comes at a crucial moment for those of us who identify as Queer. I am happy that United We Dream affiliates adopted the inclusion of my Queer
United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led network in the nation with 47 affiliates in 25 states that organize and advocate for access to higher education and legal status for all.
December 14, 2012
A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT Queer and undocumented youth and DREAMers from California, New Mexico, Washington, Florida, New York, Minnesota, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Missouri participated in the UWD 2012 National Congress.
Seattle Gay News
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Donors help fund 81 new LGBT nonprofit grants by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Pride Foundation has announced funding for 81 new nonprofit projects totaling $283,000, which further inspires equality for LGBTQ people in the Northwest. The foundation serves Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. “Complimenting a year of significant advances in the LGBTQ community, Pride Foundation grant recipients are committed to expanding understanding of LGBTQ issues, supporting the LGBTQ community with basic services, and advocating for cultural and social change,” said Pride Foundation spokesperson Philip Wong in a press release. “These grantee projects reflect the diversity of our region and community – addressing existing and emerging needs,” said Kris Hermanns, Pride Foundation’s executive director. “In funding these 81 innovative organizations and vital projects we not only make a difference today, but also create a philanthropic legacy of change that will en-
dure for generations to come.” Volunteers hailing from each of the five states in the region reviewed 236 applications, totaling $1,069,000 in requests. This year’s submissions totaled 40 more grant applications than last year. “These figures remind us all that even with our recent victories, many LGBTQ people remain vulnerable, and there are many challenges to still address that require our collective support,” added Hermanns. Since 1985, donors have helped Pride Foundation provide more than $36 million to hundreds of projects and organizations that strengthen and serve the LGBTQ and straight-ally community. As always, the projects funded this year cover a broad cross section of both existing and emerging community needs, including HIV/AIDS-related projects, Lesbian health, youth issues, elder support, Transgender issues, the arts, projects supporting communities of color, and many more. Grantees new to Pride Foundation include Montana Clinic to improve the access and qual- PFLAG Portland Black Chapter, which is TDOR, which is working in collabora- ity of health care for Transgender people in building support for Gay-Straight Alliances tion with returning grantee Blue Mountain Montana. Another returning grantee is the in predominately Black high schools. file photo
ate and pass a draconian all-cuts budget. Kastama was defeated in the Democratic primary for secretary of state and will not be returning to the Senate, but Tom and Sheldon made it clear they were considering a reprise of their previous roles in the upcoming legislative session. Although Democrats say they are continuing to talk with Tom and Sheldon in hopes of reaching some compromise, Tom told SGN that he was determined to go through with his two-Democrat, 23-Republican coalition. “Twenty-five of us signed on to the ‘Majority Coalition Caucus’ and we’re going forward with that,” he said. “It has nothing to do with individuals and personalities – it’s all about budgets. We’re trying to be more sustainable.” Tom admitted that he and Sheldon were present at the Democratic caucus meeting in November when Murray was elected leader, and did not raise any objections at the time. “There was no other alternative presented, so I sat quiet,” he explained.
Senator Ed Murray
senate
continued from cover
PAIR CHARGED WITH ‘COUP’ Washington State Democratic Party chair Senate’s 23 Republicans, the so-called “Majority Coalition Caucus” now controls 25 of Dwight Pelz was furious at the two defectors. Pointing out that his party contributed the Senate’s 49 seats. over $25,000 to Tom’s reelection campaign in 2010, Pelz accused Tom of staging a IMPACT ON MAYOR’S RACE Murray’s campaign consultant, Sandeep “coup.” “The truth here is that Sen. Tom has instiKaushik, told SGN that the Senate drama might be a “distraction” from Murray’s gated this unprecedented coup and joined campaign for mayor of Seattle, but would with Republicans to install himself as majority leader out of a desire to further his not be a serious setback. “We were not sure this would happen, but own personal ambitions,” Pelz said in a we were not very surprised,” Kaushik said. statement, “not out of what is in the best In March, Tom, Sheldon, and a third con- interests of his constituents or the public at servative Democrat, Jim Kastama, sided large. What he announced today is a prewith Republicans to take control of the Sen- scription for instability and division.”
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Seattle Gay News
December 14, 2012
Tom, on the other hand, denied Pelz’s charges. “This is not a power grab,” Tom told SGN. “We’ve gone out of our way to be fair-handed, and we’re going to stick to the fiscal issues, not any social issues. “We looked at this real hard – people want us to take a bipartisan approach.” EXPECT MORE BUDGET CUTS The issue, according to Tom, is the state’s chronic budget crisis. While Murray believes the legislature needs to look for new sources of revenue to fund state programs and meet court-mandated obligations to fund education, Tom says flatly there is “no room for new revenue streams.” Once a Republican House member before switching sides to run for the Senate in 2006, Tom told SGN he still considers himself a Democrat, but “I’m fine either way” if his latest switch ends his political career. Tom, who represents an Eastside district stretching from Medina to Redmond, voted for the state’s Marriage Equality Act. Sheldon, representing a mainly rural district on the Kitsap peninsula, was one of two Democrats who voted no. AN ‘UNSTABLE’ MAJORITY In a statement released December 10, Murray said Democrats would try to keep the Senate functioning, even as a minority party. “We recognize that any majority in the Senate will be an unstable one, and we are committed to forming a mutually agreedupon way for Republicans and Democrats to work together,” Murray said. “We don’t believe the Republicans’ takeit-or-leave-it plan offers the right way forward. We remain hopeful that Republicans will be open to negotiations to ensure the full functioning of the Senate.” Kaushik predicted that “the majority will swing back and forth, depending on the issue. Ed, as the Democratic caucus leader, will have to deal with it.” As if to highlight the instability of the new Senate majority, Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler said on December 11 that he is still Republican leader and will continue to convene his party’s caucus to discuss issues important to them. Murray, meanwhile, said his remaining 24 Democrats would have more influence as “a strong minority influencing the process as a minority” then they would have by joining the Republican power-sharing arrangement.
marriage
continued from cover herald the beginning of a new civil right,” McGinn said. “It’s a great day,” echoed McGinn’s spokesman, Aaron Pickus. “Seattle voted overwhelmingly for marriage equality. It just shows once again that everyone is welcome here. You are seeing all generations here – people fighting for equality for decades,” added Pickus. Sixteen judges from around the Puget Sound region volunteered to administer vows to couples. The average ceremony lasted 15 minutes. The newlyweds then joined family and friends to mix and mingle, enjoy refreshments, and have photos taken. The couples then descended the staircase from City Hall to Fourth Avenue to be greeted by hundreds of well-wishers and TV cameras. The mayor’s staff posted updates in a same-sex marriage blog, which ran a live feed of the events and documented the couples’ stories throughout the day. Seattle Theatre Group, the Seattle Mayor’s Office, Washington United for Marriage, Music for Marriage Equality and The Stranger hosted a wedding reception at the Paramount Theatre following the City Hall ceremonies. MOMENTUM BUILDING Many activists now hope to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, which recognizes only marriage between a man and a woman and disqualifies same-sex couples from a host of federal benefits. DOMA also allows states without marriage equality to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The U.S. Supreme Court on December 7 agreed to take up two landmark cases involving marriage equality, one concerning DOMA and the other dealing with California’s anti-equality Prop 8. A pair of national polls released last week showed a majority of Americans now support marriage equality. The support level among citizens aged 30 and under approaches 75%. In May, President Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to say same-sex couples should be able to wed. Last month, Washington, Maine, and Maryland became the first states to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. Nine states, plus the District of Columbia, now permit same-sex marriage.
Celebrating 39 Years!
national news
Violent crime continues to fall
remains a serious problem in many urban pockets with gangs, drugs, and poverty. There were 14,612 murders last year, an average of one every 36 minutes. That’s a small decline from 14,722 in 2010, but it’s a decrease of nearly 17% from a decade ago. Most victims were male and in cases where race was known, 50% were Black and 46% were white. Guns were used in two-thirds of the nation’s murders last year, as well as in 41% of robberies and 21% of aggravated assaults, the report showed. The FBI does not officially comment on the data, but criminologists point to factors for the continuing decline in overall violence, citing a more settled crack-cocaine market, an increase in incarcerations, an aging population, data-driven policing, and changes in technology that include a big increase in surveillance cameras.
FBI says murder, robbery, rape all declined in 2011
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Violent crime in the United States fell for the fifth consecutive year in 2011, with murder, rape, and robbery all going down, according to FBI statistics. Still, crime remains a serious problem in
many urban areas, bureau officials said December 10. The report, including all crimes reported to police nationwide, showed slightly more than 1.2 million violent incidents last year. Property crimes hit a nine-year low. CNN reports that compared with 2010, the new figures show violent crime down 3.8%
overall. Property crime was down 0.5%. Among violent incidents reported to police, murders were down about 0.7%, robberies dropped 4%, aggravated assaults declined 3.9%, and forcible (i.e., not merely statutory) rapes were down 2.5%. NOT ALL AREAS ARE SAFER The report warns, however, that crime
HOW LOW CAN WE GO? James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, told CNN crime has continued to decline from a peak in the 1990s but now is decreasing at a slower rate. “I call it the Limbo stick effect,” Fox said. “You can only go so low. You’re never going to get down to zero crime.” The FBI crime statistics differed from a telephone crime survey released by the Justice Department early this month. That report actually showed crime increasing last year, but attributed the change to a jump in simple assaults. Fox said many of those assaults described to interviewers were non-injury, pushingand-shoving incidents not reported to any law enforcement agencies. He also noted the increase that the Justice Department reported was from an all-time low in the crime rate the previous year, suggesting crime is entering a low level where officials hope it will stay for some time.
file photo
Quo vadis, Nevada? Judge Robert C. Jones keeps the Silver State straight by D’Anne Witkowski SGN Contributing Writer
guess means that discriminating against them when it comes to marriage equality is no big deal? “Homosexuals have not historically been denied the right to vote, the right to serve on juries, or the right to own property,” Jones writes. Because those are the only areas in which discrimination counts, I guess. Oh, and Jones says that because Gays won a couple of ballot measures in the 2012 election, “It simply cannot be seriously maintained, in light of these and other recent democratic victories, that homosexuals do not have the ability to protect themselves from discrimination through democratic processes such that extraordinary protection from majoritarian processes is appropriate.” In other words, “Grow a pair, Gays. You won a couple rounds of marriage equality poker, now get lost.”
In the uphill battle for marriage equality, Gays and Lesbians have had to stare down many a disappointing court decision where bias and homophobia masqueraded as law. Granted, marriage equality received a significant boost across the country from the November election, but just in case we were getting too comfortable with good news, Judge Robert C. Jones has come to the rescue. Jones, a federal district judge appointed by (who else?) George W. Bush, ruled late last month that Nevada keeping same-sex couples from marrying was totally cool with him. Jones found that the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws was not intended for homos and that the people of Nevada were right to “[main‘SEVERE’ CONSEQUENCES tain] statutes that reserve the institution of But, of course, Jones was just thinking civil marriage to one-man/one-woman relaabout the “family.” And by that I mean hettionships.” erosexuals, obviously. Everybody knows that same-sex couples are just roommates. GAYS: THREAT OR MENACE? His reasoning? Why, to save the human Jones writes in his ruling, “Because the famrace from destruction, of course. “The per- ily is the basic societal unit, the State could petuation of the human race depends upon have validly reasoned that the consequences traditional procreation between men and of altering the traditional definition of civil women,” Jones writes in his ruling right marriage could be severe.” Hmm … the State could have reasoned after he basically says that adoption is for such a thing, but validly? Methinks not. I’ll losers. Also, according to Jones, Gays and Les- use Massachusetts as Exhibit A: Gay folks bians do not face discrimination, which I getting hitched there have not caused the
Judge Robert C. Jones
Commonwealth to crumble. But I suspect Jones doesn’t pay much mind to the non-destructive results in liberal cesspools that allow same-sex couples to wed. He writes, “It is conceivable that a meaningful percentage of heterosexual persons would cease to value the civil institution as highly as they previously had and
hence enter into it less frequently ... because they no longer wish to be associated with the civil institution as redefined.” Got that? If Gays and Lesbians can get married, then heterosexuals will say “Fuck it” and just live in sin the rest of their lives. You really can’t argue with logic like that. Because it isn’t logic, it’s lunacy.
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national news
Chris Eaves
Equality in the Land of Lincoln
Send me a marriage bill and I’ll sign it, Illinois governor says by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is hoping the legislature will pass a pending marriage bill when it reconvenes after the first of the year. “I hope that bill goes forward,” Quinn said at a press roundtable on December 10. “It’s the House that is probably the key arena at this time, and I think we’ll see how the members look at that issue. They should study it carefully and vote their conscience.” The newly elected Illinois legislature will be sworn in January 9. The lame-duck session may consider the bill and send it to Quinn for his signature, but its prime sponsor told reporters that other pressing state business might keep legislators from taking it up. “At this point, we will call it when we have the votes there,” Democratic Rep. Greg Harris said. “We can see the trend of public opinion having shifted dramatically… but it takes time for legislators to figure that out. And there are a number of other key votes – pensions is obviously number one among them.” Harris was also a sponsor of the same-sex civil unions law passed during the lameduck session two years ago. Momentum is on the side of marriage equality, he said.
A PLURALITY FOR PROGRESS “People all around the political spectrum have thought about this issue and said there is really no good reason that we shouldn’t treat one family in Illinois differently or with less respect than we treat another,” Harris said. A PPP poll released December 6 suggested Harris is right. Forty-seven percent of Illinois voters favor marriage equality, the poll said, as opposed to 42% who oppose it. Among voters under age 45, 58% are in favor of equality, with only 37% against it. Black voters supported same-sex marriage by 60% to a mere 16% opposed, PPP said. Latinos supported Illinois marriage equality by a 70% to 23% margin. White voters lag behind people of color in supporting equality, with only 40% in favor and 51% against. Harris introduced marriage equality bills in the Illinois legislature in 2007, 2009, and 2012. When the 2009 bill failed to advance to an up-or-down floor vote, Democrats substituted a civil unions bill, which ultimately passed in 2010 and went into effect in June 2011. Quinn became governor in 2009 when Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office. He was elected to a full term in 2010 as an advocate for marriage equality. Richard Drew / Associated Press
Edith Windsor
supreme court continued from cover
is unconstitutional and could no longer be defended in court. The Republican-controlled House then stepped in, ordering its Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG)
to defend the law. Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Windsor case and Hollingsworth v. Perry, which challenges California’s Prop 8. The question of standing is relevant in both cases. For the Supreme Court to have jurisdiction in a case, there must be a real dispute with real-world consequences for one or both parties.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn
Obviously the plaintiff, Edith Windsor, will suffer real harm if her marriage to her late wife is not recognized – she will likely be out some $360,000 in inheritance taxes. Therefore, she indisputably has standing to challenge the law. But DOJ has determined that the U.S. government will suffer no harm whatsoever if DOMA is overturned. In fact, that would be the desirable outcome as far as DOJ is concerned. What harm would House Republicans suffer if Gay and Lesbian marriages were recognized under federal law? In other words, do they have standing to defend DOMA before the Supreme Court when the executive branch refuses to do so? If the court decides that it lacks jurisdiction in the case, or that the House Republicans have no standing to argue for DOMA, they do not even need to hear discussion on the merits. In that event, previous Circuit Court decisions striking down DOMA would stand, but probably could not be applied broadly to the whole country. RULING COULD BE NARROW Legal observers almost universally agree that this would be a conveniently narrow ruling for the court to make, one that might attract even some conservative justices and produce something more authoritative than a mere 5-4 decision – but that it would make for bad law. Writing on ThinkProgess.org, Center for American Progress senior analyst Ian Millhiser said that “if the justices decide they lack jurisdiction to hear the DOMA appeal, things could get ugly fast.” “Striking DOMA only in a few states would not simply deny same-sex couples their basic constitutional rights, it would also be an administrative nightmare,” Millhiser worried. Although federal agencies like the IRS,
the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Labor routinely cope with substantial differences in how individual states define marriage – in particular, common-law marriages and community property issues – Millhiser foresees even more complications if the Supreme Court declines to issue a definitive ruling on DOMA. Scott Lemieux, an assistant political science professor at the College of St. Rose, agrees with Millhiser. In an American Prospect article on DOMA, he writes, “I’m inclined to think the Court should interpret standing loosely and hear serious constitutional arguments if at all possible.” A BAD PRECEDENT? Lemieux says that “it would be a problematic precedent if [denying House Republicans standing] was interpreted as denying anyone the opportunity to defend the government’s law in court,” because it would essentially give future administrations power to cancel laws they disagreed with for ideological reasons, simply by refusing to defend them against legal challenges. Lemieux added that he thinks it likely the court will decide to rule on the merits of the DOMA case, because neither of the court’s ideological factions would be satisfied with a narrow decision based on standing alone. “With the possible exception of Chief Justice Roberts, the conservative justices who are most sympathetic to narrow standing rules are vanishingly unlikely to join any opinion that results in same-sex marriage being legalized …” he writes. “The more liberal justices who would like the result of denying standing have no reason to prefer that to ruling on the merits unless there’s no other way of getting a fifth vote.” The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral argument in the Windsor case next spring.
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Celebrating 39 Years!
Facing up to discrimination
bians in recent years. The question was not asked of the national sample. According to Gallup’s analysis, national trends on LGBT issues indicate movement toward “growing acceptance and tolerance” in recent decades. For example, Gallup notes, polling now shows a majority of Americans support legalizing same-sex by Mike Andrew marriage, whereas a majority opposed it beis four percentage points. As part of the poll, Gallup re-interviewed fore 2011. SGN Staff Writer “Given the recent trajectory of these 250 LGBT adults who had participated Most Americans believe anti-Gay bias is a in previous polling to see how their views trends, and the fact that younger Americans “very serious” or “somewhat serious” social compared with those of the general popula- are more accepting of Gay and Lesbian rights than older Americans, it would approblem, according to a new Gallup poll re- tion. pear that the public will become even more leased December 6. tolerant in the future,” Gallup said in a statement accompanying the poll results. A slim majority of the national sample, 51%, say the public will eventually agree on LGBT rights issues in the future – but nearly as many, 45%, believe these issues “will always divide Americans.”
Americans increasingly think anti-Gay bias is a ‘serious’ problem, new poll says
“Given the recent trajectory of these trends, and the fact that younger Americans are more accepting of Gay and Lesbian rights than older Americans, it would appear that the public will become even more tolerant in the future.”
As might be expected, people who identify as LGBT see the problem as more serious than Americans as a whole do. Eighty-eight percent of self-identified LGBT respondents said anti-Gay bias was a “very serious” or “somewhat serious problem,” compared with 63% of all respondents. Only 12% of LGBT respondents said the problem was “not too serious” or “not at all serious,” compared with 35% of the entire sample. The poll was conducted November 2629, three weeks after four stunning electoral victories for same-sex couples, and included 1,015 U.S. adults. Both cell phones and landlines were used, and the margin of error
FUTURE PROGRESS SEEN LGBT adults are much more optimistic than Americans as a whole about an emerging consensus, with 77% saying that Americans will agree on LGBT rights issues in the VIEWPOINTS CONVERGING While the LGBT sample found anti-Gay future, while only 21% believe the public bias even more serious than respondents as will always be divided. a whole, the two groups have very similar views on how difficult life can be for LGBT Americans. Forty percent of the LGBT respondents and 42% of all polltakers said it was “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult” to be openly Gay in their communities. Fifty-nine percent of the LGBT group and 56% of the larger sample said it was “not too difficult” or “not at all difficult.” The poll also found that 91% of LGBT by Mike Andrew adults said people in their community have SGN Staff Writer become more accepting of Gays and LesNew Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, the state’s first openly Gay legislator, introduced a bill on December 10 to put marriage equality on the ballot next year. The next day, New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney – like Gusciora, a Democrat – said he would not allow the bill to come to the floor of his chamber. New Jersey’s Democratic-controlled legislature passed a marriage equality bill in February, but Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed it. Christie said at the time he thought the measure should go on the ballot. “This [bill] is exactly what the governor wants,” Gusciora said when he announced the legislation. While at least one Republican legislator, Sen. Kip Bateman, publically endorsed Gusciora’s action, LGBT activists and their Democratic allies were largely opposed.
Is New Jersey next? Marriage equality could be on the Garden State’s 2013 ballot
CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, said the victory of marriage ballot measures this year in Maine, Maryland, and Washington does not mean that a similar referendum in New Jersey would pass. “With Chris Christie at the top of the ticket,” and with New Jersey sandwiched between the expensive New York and Philadelphia media markets, “that makes a referendum in New Jersey an entirely different ballgame,” he said. “If the assemblyman wants to do his own thing ... then God bless him, but I would imagine the leaders of the Legislature would
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When the Gallup results are sorted by party affiliation, the views of LGBT respondents correlate closely with those of Democrats. For example, 65% of Democrats in the sample think the country will reach agreement on Gay rights issues in the future, while 33% disagree. In contrast, 61% of Republicans believe the U.S. will continue to be divided on LGBT rights issues, and only 34% expect a consensus to emerge. While Democrats are more positive and Republicans less positive about the future for LGBT rights issues, Democrats believe that anti-Gay discrimination today is a more serious problem than Republicans do. Eighty-one percent of Democrats antiGay discrimination is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem, compared with 48% of Republicans. Again, Democrats’ views are similar to those of the LGBT sample, with 88% of LGBT respondents saying discrimination is a serious problem. “Because people often associate with others who share their political orientation, this networking could reinforce their tendency to believe Americans’ views about Gays and Lesbians will or will not eventually converge,” Gallup noted.
December 14, 2012
consider his efforts dead on arrival.” Democratic Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a cosponsor of the 2012 marriage equality bill, echoed Goldstein’s concerns. This year, he said, right-wingers had to fund a presidential campaign as well as U.S. Senate and House campaigns, and therefore their resources were spread thin. “Next year, there are two governors’ races and that’s it – in New Jersey and Virginia,” Lesniak said. “There will be tens of millions of dollars coming in from right-wing groups ... with all kinds of distorted messages, not only about same-sex marriage, but about homosexuality itself. It’s a very dangerous course to proceed.” OPPOSED ON PRINCIPLE Senate President Sweeney said flatly he would block the bill even if the Assembly passed it. “I have firmly stated before, and will say again now, that I do not believe you put civil rights on the ballot, period,” Sweeney said in a statement December 11. “It is the job of elected officials to ensure that everyone is provided equal protection and equal rights under the law. We should not hide from that responsibility. We should embrace it.” Sweeney said the Democratic strategy was to override Christie’s veto before the legislative session ends in January 2014. “We gave the governor an opportunity to ensure true marriage equality in this state, just as other states and nations have done. He punted by shamelessly issuing a conditional veto,” Sweeney said. “I fully plan on overriding that veto before this legislative session is done.” With only 60% of the Assembly and a similar 60% of the Senate, Democrats would have to hold firm as a voting block as well as attract some Republican votes to override Christie’s veto. On the other hand, polling from November indicates that New Jersey voters favor marriage equality by a margin of 53% to 36%. “I am the last person who believes civil rights should be on the ballot, but civil rights delayed is civil rights denied,” Gusciora said. “The timing is right. There is broader acceptance.” New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver has not said whether she will allow Gusciora’s bill to move forward.
Seattle Gay News 13
Holiday Calendar
FAMILY FUN
Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, a Northwest tradition since 1949, through Dec. 23. The Argosy Christmas Ship (accompanied by festive Parade Boats) sails to various Puget Sound waterfront communities for choir performances broadcast by a state-of-the-art speaker system. Various options are available for those who wish to sail and/or dine onboard. Visit www.argosycruises.com for information. Gingerbread Village, the 20th annual benefit for the Northwest Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, through Jan. 1. Seattle’s top architectural firms team up with Sheraton Seattle’s culinary staff to design, bake, and build elaborate gingerbread displays and other holiday creations reflecting this year’s theme. The display is free and open to the public (donation suggested). Sheraton Seattle Hotel, 1400 6th Ave., Seattle. More information at http://gingerbreadvillage.myevent.com/3/ events.htm. Seattle Center WinterFest, Six weeks of free entertainment running through Jan. 6, including the timeless Winter Train and Village, WinterFest Ice Rink, Ice Sculpting (Saturdays through Dec. 29, noon-2 p.m., outside Fisher Pavilion), WinterFest Student Showcase (through Jan. 6, various times, Armory), Bailadores de Bronce (Dec. 15, 12:30 p.m., Armory), Garfield H.S. Jazz Band (Dec. 23, 1 p.m., Armory), The Dickens Carolers (Dec. 29, 12:30 p.m., Armory), Eastside Modern Jazz Orchestra (Dec. 30, 12:30 p.m., Armory), and a New Year’s Eve celebration with the Rhythm Nation (Dec. 31, 8:15-11:45 p.m., Armory). Details on these and other events at www.seattlecenter. com/winterfest/. “Hanukkah Under the Stars,” a community celebration, Dec. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Celebrate the Festival of Lights at one of the largest Hanukkah celebrations in the Seattle area. Featuring the kids’ band Recess Monkey, plus The Sababas, PJ Library, arts and crafts, and community candle lighting. Free with donation of personal items to Jewish Family Services (e.g., toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, soap). Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island. Details at www.sjcc.org. New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Space Needle, Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m. Start 2013 off with a bang as the Space Needle displays the world’s tallest structure-launched fireworks show with more than 2,000 pyrotechnic events. The base of the Needle will host the West Coast version of Times Square, where more than 50,000 people gather each year to watch the fireworks shoot across the midnight sky. Special events are planned at the SkyCity restaurant and on the Needle’s observation deck. Details at www.spaceneedle.com.
14 Seattle Gay News
LGBT/CABARET
concert lecture begins an hour before each pageant and challenges everyone’s tradiperformance.) Info at www.seattlepromu- tional notions of Christmas. Details at www. seattlepublictheater.org. Ham for the Holidays: Ham-ageddon! sica.org. featuring Dos Fallopia, through Dec. 30, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; 3 p.m. Sat.-Sun. (plus Magical Strings presents “Celtic Yule7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 23). The apocalypse tide,” a fabulous gala of Irish music, dance, Christmas Carol by John Longenbaugh, is just around the corner, so Dos Fallopia storytelling, juggling, and songs of the sea- presented by Taproot Theatre, through (Lisa Koch and Peggy Platt) celebrate with son, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 1119 Dec. 29. It’s Christmas Eve, 1894, and some classic moments from past years’ 8th Ave., Seattle. Also appearing in various Sherlock Holmes resurfaces after being shows, with some new tunes and sketches. locations throughout the Puget Sound area presumed dead for three years. Only he’s Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave. S. De- Nov. 30-Dec. 17. See www.magicalstrings. changed, and not for the better. Three unexpected callers arrive, uncovering clues from tails at www.heylisa.com. Tickets at www. com for full schedule. the detective’s past, present, and future. Can brownpapertickets.com/event/277489. Medieval Women’s Choir presents they save Holmes and his world from a dire Dina Martina Christmas Show, a Se- “Nowell Sing We,” a program of Medieval end? A mystery full of Christmas spirits the attle tradition featuring the First Lady of En- English carols, Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Be trans- whole family will enjoy. 204 N. 85th St., tertainment, through Dec. 31. Famed N.Y. ported by the mellifluous harmonies of Seattle. Details at http://taproottheatre.org. critic Michael Musto called Dina “the most compositions by John Dunstable and Lionel A(n Improvised) Christmas Carol original drag performer working in America Power. St. James Cathedral, 804 9th Ave., today.” Martina comes armed with truly leg- Seattle. Details at http://medievalwomen- presented by Unexpected Productions, through Dec. 30. An improvised take on endary songs, stories, costumes, and audi- schoir.org. Charles Dickens’ classic, shaped by audience gifts, giving you one of the most festive, invigorating, and ingeniously funny Bellevue Chamber Chorus presents ence input. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alevenings you’ve ever had. Bloody Mary/ “Joy to the World!” Dec. 15-16. An inter- ley, Seattle. Details at www.unexpectedproMimosa Weekend Matinees 2 p.m. Dec. national celebration of song featuring a new ductions.org. 15, 16, 22, and 23; 8 p.m. nightly Dec. 14- work for children by Eric Whitaker, “GoodA Christmas Carol presented by ACT 17, 19-24, 26-31. Re-Bar, 1114 Howell St., night, Moon.” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Bothell Seattle. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets. United Methodist Church, 18515 92nd Ave. Theatre, through Dec. 30. Charles Dickcom/event/271829. N.E., Bothell; 3 p.m. Dec. 16, St. Thomas ens’ classic tale of hope and redemption, Episcopal Church, 8398 N.E. 12th St., Me- adapted by Gregory A. Falls. Allen Theatre, Homo for the Holidays, an annual all-star dina. Details at www.bellevuechambercho- 700 Union St., Seattle. Details at www.actholiday cabaret featuring BenDeLaCreme, rus.net. theatre.org. Kitten LaRue, the Cherdonna and Lou show, Jinkx Monsoon, Major Scales, FuchThe Winter Wonderettes, a “new ’60s A Christmas Choral Concert: Sing sia FoXXX, Faggedy Randy, and many Love! Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Christmas musical,” presented by Artsmore, Dec. 14-15 & 21-24, 7 p.m. and 10 Carols,” chant, baroque choral anthems, West, through Dec. 30. Take a nostalgic p.m. nightly. The Stranger calls Homo for and carols with the audience are all part of trip through the late ’50s-early ’60s musithe Holidays “the premier event of the true a free concert with the 50-voice Seattle First cal style when the Marvelous Wonderettes Gay yuletide season!” West Hall, Oddfel- Baptist Sanctuary Choir, youth singers, and are asked to entertain at the holiday party lows Building, 915 E. Pine St., Seattle. instruments, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. for Harper’s Hardware. Curtain 7:30 p.m. Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/ 16, 1 p.m. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 nightly (5 p.m. Dec. 24), plus weekend matevent/290222. Harvard Ave., Seattle. Details at www.se- inees at 3 p.m. Dec. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30, ArtsWest Playhouse, 4711 California attlefirstbaptist.org. MUSIC Ave. S.W., Seattle. Details at www.artswest. Orchestra Seattle and the Seattle org. Seattle Men’s Chorus presents “Baby, Chamber Singers present a Winter CelIt’s Cold Outside,” through Dec. 22. “Seat- ebration, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. A holiday concert ELF – The Musical, the story of Buddy, tle’s Other Holiday Tradition” heats things featuring Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four a boy raised by elves at the North Pole who up with their unique blend of song, dance, Seasons, plus works by Beethoven, Bach, sets off to the big city in search of his faand campy comedy, taking you on an exotic and others. First Free Methodist Church, ther and finds an alarming lack of Christjourney with festive songs from south of the 3200 3rd Ave. W., Seattle. Details at http:// mas spirit. Through Dec. 31, 5th Avenue border, Hawaii, and other tropical locales. osscs.org. Theatre, 1308 5th Ave., Seattle. Details at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 20; 8 p.m. Dec. 21; 2 and www.5thavenue.org. 8 p.m. Dec. 22. Also performing in Everett KISS-FM Jingle Ball, featuring Calvin at Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m. Dec. 15. Details Harris, Cher Lloyd, Owl City, 3OH!3, Alex Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio at www.flyinghouse.org. Clare, Afrojack, and Ed Sheeran, Dec. 16, Play presented by Twelfth Night Produc4 p.m., WaMu Theater, Seattle. Details at tions, Dec. 14-16, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 3 Early Music Guild presents “Wassail! www.kissfmseattle.com, tickets at www. p.m. Sun. A “live” 1940s-style broadcast Wassail!” featuring the Baltimore Consort, ticketmaster.com. based on the holiday movie of the same Dec. 14, 8-10 p.m. Music for the Yuletide name about a man who calls himself Kriss season played on traditional instruments The Irish Tenors (Finbar Wright, Antho- Kringle and is hired at Macy’s but ends up such as the lute, cittern, viol, crumhorn, ny Kearns, Ronan Tynan) present their an- in court after claiming to be the real Santa. recorder, and rebec. The Consort offers nual Christmas gala performance with full Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th Ave. S.W., Seattle. old carols and dance tunes from the British orchestra Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., a benefit for Tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/ Isles, Germany, France, Spain, and the New the Ballard N.W. Senior Center and the Se- event/293698. World. (Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m.) Town nior Center of West Seattle. Benaroya Hall, Hall, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle. Details at www. 200 University St., Seattle. Details at www. A Child’s Christmas in Wales presented earlymusicguild.org. seattlesymphony.org. by Stone Soup Theatre, Dec. 14-24. Celebrate the magic of Dylan Thomas’ childThe Seattle Symphony celebrates the THEATER AND DANCE hood Christmas in a play adapted from his holidays with a full month of festive perpoem and featuring both youth and adult formances, including Handel’s Messiah, Owen Meany’s Christmas Pageant performers. 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sat.Dec. 14-16; and Beethoven’s Ninth Sym- presented by Book-It Repertory Theatre, Sun.; special matinees at 12:30 and 4 p.m. phony, Dec. 28-31. A special one-night per- through Dec. 23. John Irving’s quirky and Dec. 23 and 24. Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 formance of Don Tiki’s Hot Lava Holiday memorable boy returns to wreak havoc on Stoneway N. Details at www.stonesouptheShow, Dec. 17, brings Hawaii’s top musi- the annual Christ Church Christmas Pag- atre.org. cians to Seattle for a night of island rhythms eant in this poignant, rambunctious, and hiand festive tiki lounge music. Benaroya larious play. Center Theatre at the Armory, Nutcracker presented by Pacific NorthHall, 200 University St., Seattle. Details at Seattle Center. Details at www.book-it.org. west Ballet, Dec. 14-29, 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. www.seattlesymphony.org. plus weekend matinees. Praised by the New Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris and York Times as “original and exciting,” this Seattle Pro Musica presents “Weih- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Bar- marvelously imagined production created nachten, German Christmas,” Dec. 15. Ex- bara Robinson presented by Seattle Public by PNB founding artistic director Kent perience the joyous sounds of traditional Theater, through Dec. 24. For those who Stowell and author/illustrator Maurice German choral Christmas music, including like a little spice with their Christmas sugar, Sendak, features more than 200 dancers, works by Bruckner, Mendelssohn, Biebl, Santaland Diaries chronicles one man’s ex- gigantic moving sets, a snowfall, and Tchaiand Distler. The evening also includes an at- perience working as an Elf in Macy’s San- kovsky’s beloved score performed by the mospheric candlelight processional. 3 p.m. taland. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever PNB Orchestra. McCaw Hall, Seattle Cenand 7:30 p.m., Bastyr University Chapel, depicts what happens when the infamous ter. Details at www.pnb.org. 14500 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore. (Pre- Herdman clan takes over the annual church
December 14, 2012
Celebrating 39 Years!
Rogers found guilty of lying to police
Lesbian who said three men attacked her in July faces possible jail term nebraska.ne.gov
spray-painted anti-Gay slurs in her home before setting it on fire. A neighbor found Rogers crawling from her home naked at around 4 a.m. Rogers, a former University of Nebraska basketball star, was charged a month after the alleged attack. Investigators found evidence in her home that they said did not support her account of what happened. Police claimed that Rogers deleted text messages she’d sent the evening of the alleged attack, and that she’d recently purchased much of the equipment that was used, including a box cutter. Investigators also found a pair of gloves that Rogers said didn’t belong to her but contained mostly her DNA – and none from a male. Additionally, shortly before the incident, Rogers allegedly posted on her Facebook page: “So maybe I am too idealistic, but I believe way deep inside me that we can make things better for everyone. I will be a catalyst. I will do what it takes. I will. Watch me.”
TIED TO POLICY DEBATE? The Rogers incident occurred shortly after Lincoln officials passed an LGBT antidiscrimination ordinance, which prompted opponents to mount a petition drive calling for it to be put to a public vote. That vote has yet to be scheduled, and the law has been put on hold in the meantime. Rogers entered a no-contest plea, although her attorney, Brett McArthur, said Rogers maintains her innocence, claiming she didn’t want a court fight or more of the publicity that her case has generated. “She has a very sensitive personality and this has been a very frightening experience on many levels,” said McArthur after Monday’s hearing. “She’s not a particularly outspoken person in the Gay community. “This has been a very traumatic event for her,” continued McArthur. “She has maintained her story, and having the focus of this investigation turned toward her has been really hard.”
Charlie Rogers
by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer The Lincoln, Nebraska, woman who claimed she was attacked by three men who carved anti-Gay slurs into her arms and stomach was found guilty December 10 of making a false police report. Rogers could
face up to a year in jail and $1,000 in fines when she is sentenced in February. Charlie Rogers, 34, told police she was attacked in her home in the early morning hours of July 22, 2012, alleging that three men in black ski masks broke into her house, tied her up, beat her, and attacked her with a sharp object. She also claimed the men
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Seattle Gay News 15
Something sinister
Left-handed and Queer: Is there a connection? at the same time as one by the University of British Columbia (Canadians seem to be fascinated with the subject) that concluded According to a 2003 study by Canadian lefties are more accident-prone and have scientists, Lesbians and Gay men are more “noticeably, and significantly shorter” life likely than others to be left-handed. Putting expectancies. together the results of 20 previous studies MUCH IN COMMON that involved more than 23,000 men and As a left-handed Gay man, I am interested women, the scientists concluded that the odds of being left-handed are 39% higher in all possible links and similarities between in Lesbians and Gays than in straights. Bro- my dexterity and my sexual orientation. ken down by gender, they found that Gay Though it is tempting to presume a common, men are 34% more likely to be left-handed prenatal origin for both left-handedness and and Lesbians are 91% more likely to be left- homosexuality, the fact remains that both conditions are not necessarily linked. There handed. “This is one more piece of evidence that are, after all, many straight “lefties” and sexual orientation is at least partly deter- many Gay “righties.” Still, Gays and lefties mined in the womb,” said Ray Blanchard, have a lot in common – if not in origins, then head of the Clinical Sexology Program in numbers, conditions, and consequences. at the Center for Addiction and Mental For one thing, it is estimated that one in ten Health in Toronto, a co-author of the study, people is left-handed – the same percentage which appeared in the July 2003 issue of of the population many of us believe is LesPsychology Bulletin. Blanchard et al. fol- bian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender. This observation isn’t new, either. In their lowed that with a 2006 study suggesting that left-handed men without older brothers 1988 book Looking at Gay and Lesbian are more likely to be Gay than non-right- Life, authors Warren J. Blumenfeld and Dihanded men who do have older brothers. As ane Raymond devoted a whole chapter, “A Blanchard and company said in the report, Discussion About Differences: The Left“The odds of homosexuality is higher for Handed Analogy,” to the topic. Blumenfeld men who have a non-right-hand preference and Raymond reminded us that lefties, like or who have older brothers relative to men LGBT people, are discriminated against just with neither of these features, but the odds for being who we are. “Though you might for men with both features are similar to the not think your friend or mother or classmate is all weird because she or he is left-handodds for men with neither.” This was not the first time that scientists ed, such tolerance has not always been the noted a connection between being Queer case,” they wrote. “In fact, for centuries, and being left-handed. In 1993, researchers left-handed people have been viewed with at McMaster University in Hamilton, On- scorn and even, at times, with fear. … [I]n tario, found that 69% of Lesbians and 45% the Middle Ages, left-handed people were of Gay men interviewed were left-handed in sometimes accused of being witches or sorcerers,” just like Gay people. The devil “at least one of 12 simple manual tasks.” Sandra Witelson, a co-author of the Mc- himself was thought to be left-handed. LanMaster study, speculated that the higher in- guage reflects prejudice – the Latin-derived cidence of left-handedness could be due to Old English words dexterous (right) and differences in brain organization resulting sinister (left) are today synonyms for good from differing hormonal levels while in the and evil, respectively. Until fairly recently, womb. Coincidentally, that study appeared parents and teachers of left-handed children by Jesse Monteagudo Special to the SGN
often would force them to write with their right hands, just as parents of Lesbian and Gay children often force them to behave heterosexually. Even today, according to Jack Fincher in Lefties, “Left-handers are one of the last surviving minorities in our society with no organization, no collective power or goals, and no real sense of common identity.” Fifty years ago, this statement could have applied to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered people. THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS In practical terms, I have probably suffered more from being left-handed than I have for being Gay. Like other lefties, I have had to deal with the complexities of being left-handed in a right-handed world, and learn to manage tools and machinery that were built for righties. According to Fincher, “the left-hander’s lot must have taken a quantum leap for the worse with the Industrial Revolution. Machine-made tools meant that he had better learn to make his maladroit [not dexterous, hence not right, as opposed to adroit, or dexterous] best of a bad arrangement.” If lefties are accidentprone, as the British Columbia study suggests, it is because we are forced to live in a mirror-image world. “In a lifetime of left-handedness, my poor body has experienced many broken bones, cuts, and other injuries resulting from that split-second’s time necessary to adapt to a world oriented to right-handed people,” wrote Jay Quinn, Gay author and lefty, in
The Mentor. In fact, according to James T. de Kay, author of The Left-Hander’s Handbook, “About the only thing that actually favors left-handers is the toll booth.” Like Gays, lefties are thought to be more creative than others. “A lot of hard evidence shows that most left-handers – because they are dominated by a different kind of brain – are a distinctly different kind of people,” wrote de Kay. “They literally think differently, … tend to translate everything into visual imagery, [and] ... are more apt to think holistically, skipping over the details. ... Which explains why so many creative people have been left-handed … [a]nd why left-handers seem almost to dominate show business.” Both Queers and lefties try to bolster our causes by listing famous Gays and lefties, as though the knowledge that Leonardo and Michelangelo were both Queer and lefty would help Sinister Dick or Lavender Jane cope with their daily lives. Yes, there is a danger in taking the leftGay analogy too far. After all, it is not against the law for a lefty to marry another lefty. But in a world that values conformity, both Queers and lefties stand out by the very nature of our differences. Just as LGBT people have come out of our respective closets, left-handed people are finally asserting ourselves, if only by demanding tools and equipment that is “left-friendly.” For myself, I am as happy and proud to be a lefty as I am to be an out Gay man, and I wouldn’t change either my dexterity or my sexuality.
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health and medicine
Beyond the ‘Gay gene’ debate
Biologists propose a new explanation for same-sex attraction
identical twins with differing sexual orientations. In addition, if Gayness were strictly genetic, it could be expected to die out over Researchers from the National Institute many generations because Gays and Lesbifor Mathematical and Biological Synthe- ans would be less likely to reproduce. sis have developed a new theory to explain why some people are Gay. STIGMA STIFLES RESEARCH In an article published December 11 in William Rice, an evolutionary biologist U.S. News and World Report, the scientists at the University of California at Santa Barput a new twist on previous thinking that bara and lead author of the new study, said Gayness is hereditary. The trait is “epigen- that biological studies of Gayness have been etic,” they said – carried not by genes, but held back by social attitudes. by markers that encode additional layers of “Most mainstream biologists have shied information. away from studying it because of the social While Gayness has long been thought stigma,” Rice said. “It’s been swept under to be in some way hereditary, scientific the rug – people are still stuck on this idea consensus was that it could not be strictly that it’s unnatural. Well, there are many genetic, because there are many pairs of examples of homosexuality in nature – it’s by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
very common.” Same-sex sexual behavior has been observed in black swans, penguins, sheep, and other animals, he added. Gayness is carried by “epi-marks” that control how certain genes are expressed, Rice believes. Usually the epi-marks are “erased” between generations, Rice said, but in the case of Gay and Lesbian individuals, they are not.
than in straight men, and conversely more testosterone in Lesbians than in straight women. ‘EASY TO TEST’ Rice notes that these markers are “highly variable” and that only the strongest epimarks will result in Gay offspring. “We’ve found a story that looks really good” for explaining Gayness, Rice said.
“Most mainstream biologists have shied away from studying (biological homosexuality) because of the social stigma.” “There is compelling evidence that epimarks contribute to both the similarity and dissimilarity of family members and can therefore feasibly contribute to the observed familial inheritance of homosexuality and its low concordance between [identical] twins,” Rice said. Rice and his team created a mathematical model that explains how Gayness is passed through epi-marks and not genes. The markers give mothers and fathers an evolutionary advantage by protecting them from producing too much or too little testosterone, but if they are not “erased” between generations – as they normally are – their offspring may be Gay. “These epi-marks protect fathers and mothers from excess or underexposure to testosterone – when they carry over to opposite-sex offspring, it can cause the masculinization of females or the feminization of males,” Rice says. His theory is that in Gay men the genetic epi-marks would result in less testosterone
“There’s more verification needed, but we point out how we can easily do epigenetic profiles genome-wide. We predict where the epi-marks occur – we just need other studies to look at it empirically. This can be tested and proven within six months. It’s easy to test. If it’s a bad idea, we can throw it away in short order.”
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Seattle Gay News 17
Cocktail Chatter
Ice? Who needs ice? How to survive a hurricane in style by Ed Sikov SGN Contributing Writer “What did you drink during the Great Blackout, Daddy?” It’s too bad I don’t have kids. If I did, they’d ask this crucial question around the age of six, when their dawning awareness of history’s imperative met their freshly awakened interest in their father’s love of a dwinkie. Maybe it’s just as well I’m childless. In any event, Hurricane Sandy is beginning to fade into the mists of the past, but your intrepid columnist is still musing about Sandy’s effect on his cocktail hour (hours, days, whatever). As you may recall, Dan and I spent the night the hurricane slammed ashore drinking Kirs Royale while fondly remembering the superb casting of the old sitcom The Mothers-in-Law, with two inimitable Gay demi-icons – Kaye Ballard and Eve Arden – playing the title roles. We could enjoy the cocktails only because we’d already opened the champagne when the lights went out, so it was properly chilled. (Needless to say, by the time we’d polished off the bottle we no longer cared that it was nearing room temperature.) The ensuing four nights and days without power would have been Hell on Earth
were it not for the fact that certain types of liquor can (and should) be consumed at 70 to 75 degrees. While others were scurrying around Manhattan buying superfluous items like batteries and bottled water, I concentrated my emergency preparations on procuring enough booze to see us through the storm and its aftermath. Although Dan makes fun of the Spam I keep on hand, the truth is that I’ve kept our apartment stocked with batteries, water, canned goods, candles, and the equally mandatory liquor ever since 9/11. Only on day two of Sandy did I realize that our ice supply had melted. Quelle horreur! Also: Duh! What doesn’t require ice? Well, Scotch and whiskey, for starters. We had more than enough on hand to keep us toasted, and toasty, after the sun went down. The apartment was a little chilly without our usual central heating, but a hefty dram of The Glenlivet warmed us up just fine. NEAT OR NOT? Some Scotch connoisseurs insist that the best way to enjoy the classic whiskey is not, in fact, neat (at room temperature without a mixer) but with a single ice cube. This is said to open the Scotch’s bouquet. They may be right, but there’s something to be said for the pleasant kick to the nose and tongue
offered by plain, unadulterated Scotch. It grabs your full attention in a way that an icecubed drink does not. It’s like smelling salts, only pleasant. For this reason, I like to serve Scotch neat in a big-bowled wine glass or brandy snifter. Try it. Pour a healthy jigger of your favorite Scotch into such a glass. Hold it between your third and fourth fingers with your palm cupping the bowl so the heat of your hand warms the contents slightly. Then, shove your nose into the glass and inhale. Ahhhhh! That’ll wake you up! Snob that I am, I prefer single malt Scotch to blends. I like the raw, individualistic character single malts present to the mouth. The Glenlivet, Aberlour, Talisker, Oban,
Longmorn, Strathisla, Redbreast – they’re all quite delicious and run the gamut from peaty to smoky. These single malts tend to be pricier than blends. The exception is Chivas Regal, the best blend insofar as easy drinkability is concerned. (There’s also the rare Royal Salute, a scrumptious blend that’s been aged for 25 years. I’ve seen it offered on the Internet for as much as $180. It’s not surprising to learn that Royal Salute is made by the bonnie folks who produce Chivas.) So next time you find yourself in the path of a hurricane, make sure you’ve stocked some Scotch. Then ye can tell yer wee bairn that – och! – ye was prepared for the blackout, an’ it dinna faze ye at all.
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Seattle Gay News 19