Celebrating 44 Years! Issue 49 Volume 46
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Seattle City Commissions call on elected officials to publicly support trans activist Danni Askini
Photo courtesy of Danni Askini
The Seattle LGBTQ Commission, Seattle Women’s Commission, Seattle Human Rights Commission, Seattle Commission for People with disAbilities, and the Seattle Immigrant & Refugee Commis-
SGN EXCLUSIVE: Two local Gay activists release statements on the death of President George H.W. Bush
President George H.W. Bush – Photo by Pam Francis / Getty
sion are highly concerned about the wellbeing of Seattle resident and prominent trans activist and human rights defender, Danielle (Danni) Askini, who had to flee
see ASKIKI page 6
by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer I must confess, I wasn’t a fan of the 41st President George H.W. Bush, but what I
do admire is that he constantly evolved. Compared to other Republican Presidents, he wasn’t all that bad. His record on AIDS wasn’t that good, but it was something.
see BUSH page 5
“Melody’s Stories: Racial disparity in HIV The Enduring Identity Project” infections, new study shows An identity ignored, a transgender woman’s suicide, inspires her cousin to speak for her – and maybe thousands of others
Young black Gay and Bi men 16 times more likely to get HIV
Melody Owens. – Photo courtesy of Bethany Grace Howe
by Bethany Grace Howe Special to the SGN “MELODY SPEAKS: BRINGING MELODY’S STORIES OF ENDURING IDENTITY TO THE WORLD” PAGLIACCI’S PIZZA (426 BROADWAY E) December 8 @ 11am-noon
When Melody Owens died of suicide on Dec. 6, 2017, her obituary was not just a record of a life ended – but of one that was all but erased. A transgender woman, the only acknowledgement of her true identity was the word “Melody” tucked in parentheses between the words “Kristopher” and “Owens.” Just one word unexplained,
see MELODY’S STORIES page 6
Photo by Henry Horenstein / Getty Images
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Young black Gay and Bi men are 16 times more likely to get HIV than white men despite reporting far fewer sex partners, a new study shows. The study by Northwestern University found that young black men who have sex
with men (MSM) and who are between 16 and 29 years old are at the greatest risk for HIV infections. This is despite reporting the lowest number of sexual partners, the new study says. Researchers said this is because of “more dense and interconnected social and sexual networks” within the black community.
see HIV STUDY page 11
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Celebrating 44 Years!
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Sisters and Imperial Court organize Winter Clothing Drive 2018 The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan, and the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle have teamed up to organize a Winter Clothing Drive to benefit youth at YouthCare’s Orion Center. Items needed: New socks, new underwear, warm coats, pants, gloves, blankets, warm hats, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soaps. Drop off locations: CC’s, Changes, Crescent, Diesel, Kaladi Bros., Madison Pub, Neighbours and R Place. CC’s also has a Giving Tree. The Sisters and the Imperial Court will host a wrap-up party on Saturday, December 22 at CC’s (1701 E Olive Way at Boylston Ave E) at 4pm. Help keep our homeless youth warm this winter!
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JESSE’S JOURNAL
Some thoughts on the elections of 2018 by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer The “blue wave” that gave the Democratic Party control of the U.S. House of Representatives hit a rock wall in the State of Florida. Bill Nelson, the state’s Democratic U.S. Senator, lost his bid for a fourth term to Rick Scott, the outgoing Republican Governor, albeit by a narrow margin. A sadder, though equally narrow, loss was handed to Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee and Democratic candidate for governor. His victorious opponent, Republican Ron Desantis, rode his victory on the coattails of President Donald Trump who, though unpopular elsewhere, is liked in red state central and north Florida. Red Republicans retained control of the State Cabinet and both branches of the State Legislature. Not even progressive Broward County could elect Emma Collum, who lost to Chip LaMarca in House District 93.
Though the elections of 2018 were rather dismal for Florida Blue, there were a few victories for state Democrats. Nikki Fried beat Republican Matt Caldwell in a race for Agriculture Commissioner that was even more of a nail bitter than the ones for Senator and Governor. Two Democratic women, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Donna Shalala flipped U.S. House Districts 26 and 27, respectively. Jennifer Webb (District 69) became the first lesbian elected to the State House of Representatives, joining openly gay Carlos Guillermo Smith (District 49) and Shevrin Jones (District 101). Several progressive amendments passed, most notably Amendment 4, which will restore voting rights to most convicted felons who served their time. Even so, Florida Democrats have a long way to go before we regain even a minor amount of power on the state level. Though Florida is almost equally divided, as evidenced by the Senator, Governor
and Agriculture Commissioner, Reds still outvote Blues, and it is uncertain that newly-emancipated felons will change this fact. “Florida has been red as a sunset for well over a decade,” journalist Buddy Nevins wrote in his blog browardbeat.com. “Although there is hope for Democrats on the horizon because of the changing demographics, Florida remains a tough nut for Ds to crack.” Even Broward County, the center of Blue State Florida, did not produce the percentage of votes that the Villages, the center of Red State Florida, gave GOP candidates. At least the people who run elections in north and central Florida manage to do so with some degree of efficiency, something that Broward’s well-meaning but incompetent Supervisor of Elections, Dr. Brenda Snipes, could never do. Meanwhile, the City of Wilton Manors, made the news – and history – by electing an all-LGBT City Commission. Justin Flippen was easily elected Mayor of the
Island City, as were Commissioner Gary Resnick, Flippen’s predecessor as Mayor, and Commissioner Paul Rolli. The three men join incumbent Commissioners Julie Carson and Tom Green. This makes Wilton Manors only the second city in the country with an all-LGBT ruling body, after Palm Springs, California. In a recent column, I called Wilton Manors my “second home,” and that of every other LGBT person in South Florida. Though I regret the election loss of veteran Scott Newton, as true an Ally as ever there was, he accomplished much and should retire with dignity. Now is the time for the Island City’s new Mayor and Commissioners to move forward, knowing well that they represent not just their LGBT constituents, but everyone who lives, works and plays in their City.
SASG announces new name, new location An open letter to the community:
We are excited to announce that in February 2019, Seattle Area Support Groups will be changing our name to Peer Seattle (www.peerseattle.org) to coincide with the move to our new location at 1520 Bellevue Ave., Suite 100 (between E. Pike and E. Pine). We envision a space where peers come together in support and personal development through the ever-evolving components of community informed programming. Our new space is designed to do just that with room to grow our staff and the addition of a dedicated events and training room to hold or host opportunities that benefit our community. Seattle Area Support Groups has experienced a significant amount of growth over the past eight years in both programming and membership thanks to the dedicated efforts of our volunteers, board of directors and staff. Our premise is simple:
LGBTQA+ identified individuals and our allies with lived experience addressing the challenges of addiction, mental health and/ or HIV understand and support one another in a way that no one else can. Together we break the bonds of isolation through community, exhibit hope for reaching our unlimited potential, build person-centered recovery, challenge the myths laid upon us by social stigma, and maintain our personal recovery by giving support back to one another. In 2018, our board of directors met with an organizational development expert to take an objective look at where we are today and where we are going in the future.
Two things became very clear during this process for the board; our name no longer reflects the range of our peer services and our current space can no longer accommodate our program growth. Support groups are still a large part of our peer programming model, but we also offer peer coaching, peer-supported employment, anonymous HIV testing, personal development training opportunities, community outreach, resource and referral services, social gatherings and so much more. The thread that weaves all these pieces together is that we are peers with shared lived experience (members, volunteers, staff and board). We owe a great deal of gratitude to our funders for their continued support of our peer model (Washington Health Care Authority – Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery, Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority, King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, King County Drug
Diversion Court, The Norcliffe Foundation, Seattle Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Community Engagement and Health, Pride Foundation and many more). We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to Board & Vellum for donating their services to design and decorate our new space, MRJ Constructors for making sure that we are able to fully build out our new space within our budget, and the O’Neill Foundation, Lawson Manufacturing and The Norcliffe Foundation for their generous contributions towards our renovation expenses. On behalf of the board of directors, thank you for your patience and support during this process. We hope that you are as excited as we are for this next chapter in our organization’s long history. With gratitude, Joshua A. Wallace Executive Director
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal announces Gautam Raghavan as Chief of Staff
Gautam Raghavan (l) with President Barak Obama in the Red Room of the White House, June 13, 2013. – Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
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[On Monday, December 3] U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) announced Gautam Raghavan as her new Chief of Staff. Raghavan currently serves as Executive Director of the Indian American Impact Project & Fund and as an advisor to the Biden Foundation. He previously served as Vice President of Policy for the Gill Foundation, the nation’s oldest funder of LGBTQ Civil Rights Advocacy. From 2011 to 2014, Raghavan served as President Barack Obama’s liaison to the LGBTQ community as well as the Asian American & Pacific Islander community, and from 2009 to 2011, as Acting White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of Defense and as Outreach Lead for the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Working Group. A first-generation immigrant, Raghavan was born in India, raised in the Seattle area, and graduated from Stanford University. “Since joining Congress, Representative Jayapal quickly established herself as a bold, unapologetic, national voice for progressive values. With so much at stake, I can think of no better place to fight for a
more just, fair, and prosperous future than at her side,” said Raghavan. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to support her leadership and work with her highly capable and passionate team.” “My goals in the 116th Congress will continue to be to stand for a bold, progressive agenda that ensures opportunity. The progressive movement has never been stronger, and I look forward to translating that into real wins for working people, women, immigrants, those living in poverty and the most marginalized,” said Rep. Jayapal. “I’m thrilled to have Gautam, a fellow Seattleite, joining our exceptional team. I know his experience and leadership will continue guiding our office as we fight for real progressive change in Washington and across our country in hopes of creating a fairer and more just country. I also want to thank Carmen Gallus Frias for her tremendous service as my Chief in my first term. She has been a true asset for me and the people of the 7th District.” Courtesy of the Office of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
Celebrating 44 Years!
BUSH
continued from cover With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, this law did help people with all disabilities including those suffering with HIV and AIDS. Last April, I reached out to James Holm, a Seattle native and former Dorian Group president and former CEO for the National AIDS Network in Washington, DC, to provide a statement on the passing of former First Lady, Barbara Bush. When asked about his historic meeting with the First Lady, Holm stated, “First Lady Bush saw me at the White House as part of her outreach when she was doing AIDS [education] work. I was CEO of the National AIDS Network at that time.” Holm continued, “Everyone knew I was gay.” “Soon after President Bush held a meeting of LGBT and AIDS activists/professionals who met to facilitate, finally, a federal response to AIDS.” Holm added, “They nearly kicked me out of the meeting. Her staff had to authorize me in person, bypassing the Secret Service, to let me into the White House.” Holm was the first AIDS agency staff member to visit the White House. This meeting helped open communication with the White House for years to come. Now, with the recent death of President Bush, I once again reached out to Holm to respond to the passing of Barbara’s husband, George Herbert Walker Bush. He told me via Facebook, “Barbara started reaching out to the HIV community. Her kissing AIDS babies in Washington, DC changed EVERYTHING. I WOUND UP MEETING HER AND George Bush ON separate OCCASIONS. George SEEMED GENUINELY INTERESTED IN HELPING. I believe she pushed him. George was a true patriot politician. He was a genuinely nice guy whose party was not up to scratch on our issues. We struggled with the Log Cabin Republicans, the LGBT Republican group based in CA. The Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (full disclosure, I was Co-chair of NGLTF) started coordinating efforts along with the gay AIDS lobby. George broke the ice. Later came significant reform. Compared to our current leadership George was a sterling example of a last of the breed of Rockefeller Republicans, who cared about people and was not afraid to be moderate. He was a better man than Reagan. Too bad he had only one term but we needed Clinton when we got him for AIDS. I found the memorials in DC very moving. He was the sine qua non of the international politician. He got us in and out of Kuwait with the largest coalition ever which he did by knowing all these leaders personally and treating them like as gentleman. George is not an unsung hero but he laid groundwork for change.”
Holm with Barbara Bush – Photo courtesy of James Holm
these rose colored glasses does a disservice to the tens of thousands of lives lost to the AIDS crisis. These too were loving fathers & friends, brothers & coworkers, dedicated & passionate & brilliant people, all whom were denied the privilege of living to 94. In the 1980s, I was a political & civil rights activist in Eugene, Oregon, and
While I was chatting with Holm via Facebook, I then noticed the posting by long term Gay activist and co-founder of the Human Rights Campaign and Victory Fund, Terry Bean, who resides in Portland. I reached out to Bean for permission to reprint his statement. Bean does share the sentiment of Bush as a true patriot, but does put some blame on him for not doing enough for AIDS. Both Holm and Bean agreed that the Clinton White House had to happen for something to get done. Bean wrote: “I’ve gone back & forth deciding whether or not to comment on the passing of President George H. W. Bush. By all accounts, he was a loving father, a remarkable friend & dedicated American. He signed the Americans with Disabilities Act & the new Clean Air Act, and in many ways was the best Republican President since Eisenhower. Especially after his time in office, he showed growth & sensitivity to many cultural issues that he had previously ignored. In general, he was an accomplished statesman, and I understand the sense of sadness & loss from those who loved & looked up to him.This said, to look upon his legacy solely through
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watched with horror as I lost two partners and over 30 close friends to the disease, all while those with the power to address the AIDS crisis CHOSE to do nothing & embrace conservative religious movements. We cannot overlook that in someone’s legacy, even in death, if accountability means anything. To expect silence &
only veneration now is to erase the horror, pain, & injustice suffered by millions of us & opens the door to it happening again. Now more than ever, we must acknowledge history’s truths. I can not be complicit in the erasure of Greg & Mike & Bill & the many other brilliant people we’ve lost too soon because of Reagan/Bush’s policies. I think back to a speech I gave on the Right to Privacy Pact in 1992, talking about the need to elect Bill Clinton: “We all have too many friends with just too few T-cells in their blood to be able to survive four more years of George Bush. This is the politics of survival.” I have two partners and many friends who might still be alive today if the Reagan & Bush administrations handled the AIDS crisis like Clinton/Gore administration (Al Gore worked tirelessly behind the scenes to fund research & coordinate the CDC & NIH), and I can not sit quietly while the reality of their deaths is written over. We need to mourn him as a loving father & friend, a patriot who served his country with honorable intent; but let’s not forget his lack of compassion against those with HIV/AIDS.” MK Scott is a Seattle-based political and arts writer. Check out his site at uniteseattlemag.com
Bean with Mike Honechick and Greg Wagner – Photo courtesy of Terry Bean
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MELODY’S STORIES continued from cover
a reminder that even in death Owens would be denied what she so craved in life: acceptance of her identity. That’s not acceptable to Jennifer Henderson, 20, a pre-law student at the University of Washington. Unlike a year ago, however, there’s something she can do about it. More, she’s hoping that her efforts can not only bring dignity to lives lost, but that maybe those efforts can help prevent transgender suicides in the first place. Henderson, working with transgender University of Oregon student Bethany Grace Howe, is the co-founder of “Melody’s Stories: The Enduring Identity Project.” A joint effort between students from the universities of Oregon and Washington, with financial support of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation, those involved see the website eventually holding the collected life stories of thousands of people’s true lives. Indeed, its creators see it as more than just a place to remember transgender people. They hope anyone hoping to memorialize someone who had their identity in life denied in death will want to contribute to the site. People who lived in the closet their whole life, or those whose identity may have been quietly acknowledged by their friends, but denied by the press or their family in death: Henderson and Howe see the site eventually becoming a repository for life stories that cross the globe and the generations. “I will never be finished grieving the loss of my cousin,” Henderson said. “But there are ways for us to support and empower indi-
ASKANI
continued from cover the U.S. due to threats against her safety. They have submitted a joint letter outlining their concerns and requesting that WA state lawmakers speak publicly in support of Ms. Askini’s safety. Specifically, the group of Five Commissions have asked Sen. Murray, Sen. Cantwell, Rep. Jayapal, and Rep. Smith to work to ensure her safety and well-being until she is granted her new U.S. passport that they believe she is entitled to. Ms. Askini is currently seeking asylum in Sweden, but risks being deported back to the United States and potentially detained in a men’s facility, as the U.S. State Department has repeatedly rejected her amended birth certificate with her correct gender as sufficient documentation to establish
Bethany Grace Howe (l) and Jennifer Henderson (Melody Owens’ cousin) co-founders of “Melody’s Stories: The Enduring Identity Project”, shortly after meeting in Bremerton, WA. In April, 2018. Here, at the Boat Shed on the edge of the Puget Sound, they began the discussion about bringing Henderson’s cousin, Melody, and her life and death from suicide as a transgender woman into the public eye.– Photo courtesy of Bethany Grace Howe
viduals like her before we lose them, and I’d like to think this is one of them.” For Howe, a researcher and doctoral candidate at the University of Oregon, working on Melody’s Stories has been a chance to take what she’s learning about transgender identity as a researcher and put it to work for the transgender community. “In the course of my research, I spend a lot of time talking to transgender youths all over the country, and one of the things I hear a lot is that they can’t imagine living a normal life. That as a transgender person
they’re never going to get to have a regular job, have a regular family, etc.,” Howe said. “There’s a reason a transgender person takes their life every eight hours in this country, and I’d argue that not seeing your identity reflected in society is a huge part of that.” “But the reality is this: transgender people do all of those regular things – we just never get to hear about them. Part of that is because the obituary page has been a place where we’re erased. It’s hard to aspire to something when you don’t see any evidence that it’s ever happened.” Indeed, it was that
citizenship. It would be unconscionable to subject her to the emotional and possible physical risk that that would entail. The mistreatment of Ms. Askini has risen to the attention of and has been investigated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Ms. Askini had her first hearing regarding her asylum application on Monday, November 19th, and needs continued public support in this matter as she waits for the outcome and potentially needs to appeal. The Five Commissions believe she is deliberately being targeted by the State Department as a visible trans activist, as someone who has been outspoken against institutions of power, and risks particular mistreatment due to her gender if she is forced to return to the U.S. at this time. The members of these Commissions urge individuals to continue to contact their elected officials and representatives of
large human rights/LGBTQ+ organizations to speak publicly in support of Ms. Askini reaching a solution that ensures her safety and well-being in this process. The Seattle City Council recently unanimously passed Resolution 31844 (proclaiming that Seattle affirms the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in the wake of increased targeting of local activists) at the request of these Commissions as part of a first step in working toward increased support for the rights of activists. Danni Askini, Maru Mora-Villalpando, and many other human rights activists have faced threats both from individuals and from this federal administration. Seattle needs to ensure that we are not complicit in making activists less safe. “Danni Askini is a champion of human rights, especially for those who are trans or are otherwise under the LGBTQ+
reality that inspired Henderson to initially reach out to Howe when they encountered each other one evening in Bremerton. Kiva Hanson, co-president of the Queer Media Association at the University of Oregon, as well as co-editor-in-chief of the site, has found just working on the project has value beyond the normal classroom assignment. “This project has given me the ability to support people in their identity, even as they move past this world,” she said. “More, the ability to create support for people of many identities still fighting for equality is rewarding, and gives a larger sense of purpose to a lot of the work I do.” The website will officially be active on Dec. 6, 2018, the one-year anniversary of Melody’s death. The site will officially debut two days later, during “Melody Speaks: Bringing Melody’s Stories of Enduring Identity to the World,” a celebration and remembrance of Melody’s life that will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 11am-noon at Pagliacci’s Pizza (426 Broadway E) in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Pizzas and soda will be served. In conjunction with the event, Howe and Henderson are hoping others will start thinking about people in their lives who have been denied their identity in death. They invite people to go to their site – www.MelodysStories.com – and submit names and information for getting people’s life stories onto the site. Though people are welcome to submit life stories they’ve written themselves, volunteer writers from both the universities of Oregon and Washington are willing to turn those completed forms, once submitted, into stories.
umbrella. Her impact on this community is enormous, but this time she needs us,” said co-chair of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, Jessi Murray. “We need to fight for her rights, her dignity, and her safety. She deserves the right to live without fear of being targeted for who she is and what community she serves.” Further information about Ms. Askini’s case can be found in this letter from the UN Human Rights Council: htt ps://spcom m repor ts.ohch r.org/ TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=24006&fbclid=IwAR2 16NSOKIh1i8oxuWBHF6OoGMXsoFGw m8rLvuv4OMfpejvw_fpLnCpDzuY Courtesy of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission
New NAFTA treaty is signed: footnote guts LGBT protections by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer On November 30, the new NAFTA trade treaty – now called the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or the USMCA – was signed by the heads of government of each country. The text included language committing all three countries to support “policies that protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex, including with regard to pregnancy, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, gender identity.” The language on LGBT rights was said to be the result of a firm stand by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada that the treaty include human rights protections. While negotiations were underway, 45 Republican members of Congress warned the Trump administration in a letter that the
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language protecting LGBT rights violated US sovereignty and threatened not to ratify the treaty if it came to Congress with the language still in place. Mere minutes after the signing ceremony, Rep. Doug Lamborn, the main author of the warning letter, complained in a new statement to the Trump administration that “a trade agreement is no place for the adoption of social policy.” The treaty language is important because treaties have equal legal status with the US Constitution as “the supreme law of the land,” and US companies could be subject to lawsuits charging them with violating LGBT rights if the treaty were ratified with LGBT protections in place. The treaty would, in effect, establish LGBT protections as part of federal law. But the final text of the agreement has
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a change in language that legal experts say will water down its reach. The new wording calls on each country to implement policies each “considers appropriate to protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex.” A footnote on the agreement says American federal hiring policies “are sufficient to fulfill the obligations” on labor rights, and “thus require no additional action” by the Trump administration. The final language may have pleased Republicans, but it was roundly criticized by Jerame Davis, executive director of Pride at Work. “Trump is promoting this deal as a boon for American workers, but in reality it’s just more of the same,” Davis wrote in an op-ed for LGBTQ Nation. “By refusing to take a much-needed step to protect LGBTQ
working people, Trump proves yet again his penchant for talking out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to the LGBTQ community. “The purpose of our trade policy should be to create better jobs, strengthen communities, lower poverty, and build a stronger economy for all of us. Employment discrimination is a barrier [to] equality of opportunity; it weakens communities, and it increases poverty.” Pride at Work is an LGBTQ labor organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO, and Davis promised that the group would continue to push for federal laws protecting LGBTQ rights. Meanwhile, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka also promised that the giant labor federation “will continue to fight to create trade deals working people deserve.”
Celebrating 44 Years!
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Celebrating 44 Years!
Global LGBTIQ voices from 36 countries heard at the United Nations
career in 2004 on MTV’s reality show “The Real World: Philadelphia,” where he became the first openly gay black man to be cast on reality TV. • OutSummit workshops will cover current events on: • The repeal of Article 377 in India, overturning the colonial-era ban on same-sex relations and the impact the decision will have in other countries • Strategies for LGBTIQ media representation • LGBTIQ people navigating religion and supported by spirituality • Workshops on: courts, business, and the United Nations OutSummit will be hosted at the City University of New York Law School and is organized in partnership with the Sorensen Center for International Peace and Justice. To attend OutSummit, buy a ticket on the OutSummit website: https://www. outsummit.org/.
Photo courtesy of OutRight Action International
NEW YORK (December 4, 2018) – OutRight Action International’s Advocacy Week brings together almost 50 LGBTIQ activists from 36 countries from every region of the world to participate in the organization’s 7th annual Advocacy Week at the United Nations (UN). From December 3 to 7, human rights defenders meet with government representatives and UN officials as they discuss the most pertinent issues in the field of international LGBTI human rights. Advocates meet face to face with dignitaries from participating country delegations throughout the week. They will also meet with representatives from UN bodies like UN Women, the LGBTI Core Group, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Jessica Stern, executive director of Outright Action International, comments on the significance of Advocacy Week, saying, “Advocacy Week is where LGBTIQ voices and lived realities are amplified and delivered
directly to the leaders and representatives who make international policy decisions. Activists from around the world have the chance to make the most of these meetings and come together with fellow advocates to strategize and learn from each other.” Commenting on the importance of this week, OutRight UN fellow and executive director of the Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) Xeenarh Mohammed says, “It is important that diverse activists are able to come together, to learn, grow, and push their interest at the international level. OutSummit provides just that, equipping activists with the tools they need to push back daily both at home and at the United Nations against false narratives, barefaced lies, and fear mongering against LGBTIQ people.” Advocacy Week culminates on December 8 with OutSummit, a one-day global conference bringing together US-based and international activists to meet and discuss critical issues affecting the global LGBTIQ
movement. This year’s conference highlights some of the world’s foremost experts and activists discussing the most cuttingedge issues impacting the global human rights movement. Among this year’s speakers are the following: • Flávia Piovesan was elected commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for a four-year mandate beginning on the January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2021. Commissioner Piovesan serves as the Rapporteur for the Rights of LGBTI Persons and is in charge of the Unit on the Rights of Older Persons. • Karamo Brown is the “culture expert” on Netflix’s reboot of “Queer Eye,” where his job is to make over the mind and hearts of the people he is helping, by guiding them to figure out the root of their issues. Karamo worked as a licensed social worker and psychotherapist for nearly a decade. The father of two began his television
HIV STUDY
at some point in their lives. This compares to one in five Hispanic men and one in 11 white men. “Black young MSM engage in fewer risk behaviors but have a much higher rate of HIV diagnosis,” senior researcher Brian Mustanski said. “Their social and sexual networks are more dense and interconnected, which
from an infectious disease standpoint makes infections transmitted more efficiently through the group. “That, coupled with the higher HIV prevalence in the population, means any sexual act has a higher chance of HIV transmission.” Researchers collected data from 1,015 men who have sex with men living in the
continued from cover There are also disparities with access to health care after an HIV diagnosis, the study found. The study warned that if the trend persists, one in two black men will get HIV
Every day around the world, LGBTIQ people’s human rights and dignity are abused in ways that shock the conscience. The stories of their struggles and their resilience are astounding, yet remain unknown – or willfully ignored – by those with the power to make change. OutRight Action International, founded in 1990 as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, works alongside LGBTIQ people in the Global South, with offices in six countries, to help identify community-focused solutions to promote policy for lasting change. It vigilantly monitors and documents human rights abuses to spur action when they occur. It trains partners to expose abuses and advocate for themselves. Headquartered in New York City, OutRight is the only global LGBTIQ-specific organization with a permanent presence at the United Nations in New York that advocates for human rights progress for LGBTIQ people. Courtesy of OutRight Action International Chicago metropolitan area. Sable Nelson, a policy analyst for National Minority AIDS Council warned that “if we don’t bridge those gaps and we don’t address the specific disparities for African-American and Latinx populations in particular, it’s going to be more difficult for us to end the epidemic any time soon.”
CDC once again completely ignores safer sex promotion in World AIDS Day message, says AHF WASHINGTON, DC (November 30, 2018) – The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today once again sharply criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after it issued a World AIDS Day message promoting HIV prevention and treatment in an email to colleagues in the community under the subject line: “HIV & AIDS in the United States Update: Dear Colleague Letter.” The 400+–word letter/update on HIV/ AIDS and prevention in the US failed to make any mention of safer sex or condom use. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be ashamed of itself for failing to take the opportunity to promote safer sex and condom use on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the first World AIDS Day,” said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Instead of promoting proven,
evidence-based interventions such as safer sex education and condom promotion, the CDC issued this mumbo-jumbo statement: ‘Saving Lives through Leadership and Partnerships.’” This is not the first time the CDC has dropped the ball and failed to promote safer sex and condom use in its HIV prevention missives and messaging. In February 2017, the CDC rolled out High-impact Prevention (HIP), its HIV prevention plan – which includes HIV testing, treatment as prevention, needle exchange, and PrEP, but NO mention of condoms. In February 2016 (timed to that year’s Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, or CROI), the CDC released a forecasting study of plans to prevent 185,000 new HIV infections by 2020 – and completely failed to mention
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condoms as a potential tool in that effort. Weinstein added: “The CDC needs to read the World AIDS Day statement from the World Health Organization’s website article ‘Why the HIV Epidemic Is Not Over’ – especially the section on prevention: ‘Condoms have been a basic but critical tool in prevention. In many communities of men who have sex with men, and sex workers, awareness-raising meant that the use of condoms became the norm. However, this messaging is not as strongly pushed now, and a new generation is growing up without being fully aware of the benefits of using condoms, and many countries have shortages. The introduction of harm-reduction programmes (including needle and syringe programmes and opioid substitution therapy) in a range of cities in the mid to late 1980s prevented and reversed explosive HIV epidemics…’
“The CDC really needs to be more careful and inclusive in its statements and policies on HIV and AIDS,” Weinstein concluded.
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The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/ or services to over one million people in 42 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit www.aidshealth. org or www.facebook.com/aidshealth, and follow @aidshealthcare on Twitter and @ aidshealthcare on Instagram. Courtesy of the AHF
Key Bank employees raise $4,400 at fashion show in support of Treehouse by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer On Thursday, November 29, over 100 people attended a fashion show benefit at Surf Incubator located in the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Seattle in support of the Seattlebased non-profit organization Treehouse. Treehouse serves more than 7,000 kids in foster care in Seattle and throughout the state by providing academic support, school supplies, funding for activities and group events, among other needs including clothes and toys. The event featured fashion by local designers and the smooth emceeing of KeyBank employee Jason Tartick, who competed on ABC’s “The Bachelorette” in the most recent season. Fashion by Jessica Garcia Studio, Endorphins, Goldie Crew and MAC Fashions were worn by some of Seattle’s top male and female runway models. The event was planned and hosted by KeyBank volunteers and raised $4,400 for Treehouse. “KeyBank and its employees have been a valued part of Treehouse’s success for the past five years as we’ve expanded beyond King County,” said Janis Avery, Treehouse’s CEO, in a press release. “We look forward to continuing this incredible partnership as we work to match the graduation rate for youth in foster care statewide by 2022.” For more information about Treehouse, visit www.treehouseforkids.org or call (206) 767-7000. Photos by Brian Matt
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AFJ to honor Roberta Kaplan with “Champion of Justice” award WASHINGTON, DC (December 3, 2018) - The Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is pleased to announce that it will honor attorney Roberta Kaplan, founding partner of Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, with a Champion of Justice award at its Champions for Justice dinner in New York on Tuesday, December 4. “Roberta Kaplan is a breath of fresh air and an inspiration to all of us in these difficult times,” said Nan Aron, president of the Alliance for Justice. “That’s why it is such a pleasure to honor her this year. Roberta’s commitment to her principles has never wavered. Her historic victory in the Windsor case is just one example of how millions of people’s lives can benefit when our legal system is used as a force for good, and her continued dedication to public interest law inspires us and encourages us every day.” “I’m so honored to be receiving this award from THE Alliance for Justice, which remains at the forefront of the struggle to build and maintain a justice system that honors the rights of all,” said Ms. Kaplan. “These have been very challenging times for our country and our democracy. Now more than ever, it’s vitally important to take a moment to reaffirm our shared commitment to a legal system devoted to our constitutional values and the rule of law. We must provide justice for everyone, including the most vulnerable members of our society. That is the work AFJ does every day.” Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan began her career clerking for Judge Mark Wolf of the District Court of Massachusetts and later for Chief Judge Judith Kaye of the New York Court of Appeals. As a clerk to Judge Kaye, she worked on the decision that affirmed the right of gay families to adopt
Edie Windsor (l) and Roberta Kaplan – Photo courtesy of Ferrodonna Features
children in New York State. She joined the Paul Weiss firm in 1992, and became a litigation partner there in 1999. After her clerkships, Ms. Kaplan remained a trailblazer in the arena of LGBTQ rights. In 2006, in Hernandez v. Robles, she argued before the New York Court of Appeals seeking to obtain the right of gay couples to marry under the New York State constitution. That case did not succeed, but a few short years later, in 2009, she agreed to represent Edith Windsor pro bono in the case that would ultimately reach the US Supreme Court as United States v. Windsor (2013). That historic decision stands as a landmark
in American jurisprudence and in the LGBTQ rights movement. After Windsor, Ms. Kaplan and her team went on to litigate three separate, though related, cases in Mississippi. In 2013, they won a case seeking marriage equality in Mississippi. Next, they sued to overturn Mississippi’s ban on adoption by gay and lesbian couples. Then, Ms. Kaplan worked with the Campaign for Southern Equality in its efforts to defeat Mississippi’s HB 1523, an anti-LGBT “religious freedom” law. In 2017, Ms. Kaplan founded her own firm, Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, which does cutting-edge commercial litigation
alongside important public interest cases. Today, while representing clients including Airbnb, Uber, Columbia University, and many others, Ms. Kaplan also represents ten plaintiffs who have invoked the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 to sue twenty-four neo-Nazi and white supremacist individuals and organizations responsible for the conspiracy to commit racially motivated violence that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. In recent weeks, the firm filed a RICO lawsuit against the Trump family in connection with their operation of an enterprise to fraudulently promote and endorse business opportunities and training programs in which thousands of Americans lost money. Ms. Kaplan is also a co-founder of the Times Up Legal Defense Fund, which helps to provide legal assistance to people who have experienced sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. She successfully represented Melanie Kohler in the defamation case brought against her by Hollywood producer Brett Ratner. She currently represents Moira Donegan, creator of the “s****y media men” list, in another “backlash” defamation case. The Alliance for Justice believes that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have their voices heard when government makes decisions that affect their lives. It is a national association of 130 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. Courtesy of the AFJ
HRC: Arizona State House Speaker Russell Bowers is unfit to serve all Arizonans PHOENIX (December 3, 2018) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released the following statement following news that anti-LGBTQ Rep. Russell “Rusty” Bowers will serve as Arizona’s Speaker of the House. “Rep. Bowers has spent his career attacking the LGBTQ community, proving that he will not serve all Arizonans as Speaker of the House,” said the HRC’s Arizona State Director Justin Unga. “Bowers believes that businesses should have a license to discriminate against
LGBTQ people, that LGBTQ people should not be protected from discrimination under state law, and that the abusive and debunked practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy’ – a form of child abuse – should be allowed to continue in Arizona. He is unfit to set the agenda for Arizona’s State House and unfit to serve the people of Arizona.” In 1992, during his first term as a state legislator, Bowers authored a proposed state amendment to prohibit municipalities from passing nondiscrimination ordinances that protect LGBTQ people. Bowers worked to undermine a bill that would
protect state employees and opposed the repeal of the state’s law banning consensual same-sex relationships. During the 2018 election cycle, the HRC prioritized investments and organizing in Arizona for more than a year, and had 18 staff on the ground in the state as part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history. Working with scores of partner organizations, the HRC also led field organizing efforts around the state to mobilize voters in support of HRCbacked pro-equality champions who will fight for LGBTQ rights and for the rights and welfare of all Arizonans – including
Kyrsten Sinema, Ann Kirkpatrick, Greg Stanton, and Tom O’Halleran. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The 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 HRC
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Greek cops charged in killing of Gay activist by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Four Greek police officers have been charged for inflicting “fatal bodily harm” on Gay activist Zak Kostopoulos on September 21. The four have been given until December 12 to prepare their defense statements, Greek newspaper Kathimerini (The Daily) said. Kostopoulos, a noted drag performer and LGBT rights activist, was brutally beaten and stomped in central Athens by two storeowners who say they thought he was trying to rob a jewelry store. When
police arrived on the scene, they too assaulted Kostopoulos, even though he was clearly injured and bleeding profusely. Although police subsequently said Kostopoulos was a drug addict and was armed with a knife when they arrived at the scene, the official autopsy showed no trace of illegal drugs in his system. A knife police said they found at the scene had no fingerprints or DNA traces that would link it to Kostopoulos. Video footage of the incident enabled investigators to identify four policemen who were accused of beating the 33-yearold man while he was lying semiconscious on the pavement prior to handcuffing him.
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The coroner determined Kostopoulos died of a heart attack after the brutal beating, Kathimerini reported. Kostopoulos’ family is seeking murder charges for all those involved in his death, including the shop owners who beat him and the police officers. They are also planning legal action against the ambulance services and the police motorcycle unit, whose members responded to the incident. Kostopoulos was born in the US but moved to Greece as a child with his parents, who were born there. He was buried in his ancestral village of Kirra, where he grew up. At the funeral, mourners celebrated his
role in the LGBT community as drag queen Zackie Oh, covering his coffins in glitter, wigs, and tiny rainbow flags. His friends remembered Kostopoulos as someone who “loved to help” others and a pioneering advocate for the acceptance of HIV-positive people in Greece. “His actual name is Zacharias, coming from the Greek word zachari, which means sugar. His name was literally sugar, and he was the sweetest person I’ve known,” his friend and journalist Christina Michalou told the British website PinkNews.
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