Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 7 Volume 43
FRIDAY February 13, 2015 FREE!
25¢ in bookstores & newsstands
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
SMC and SWC Artistic Director Dennis Coleman to retire July 2016 courtesy of Flying House Productions
Dennis Coleman
In late July of 2016, after more than three decades of dedicated and tireless service to the Seattle area LGBTQ and arts communities, Dennis Coleman, artistic director of the Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) and Seattle Women’s Chorus (SWC) will retire. He will lead the final two SMC concerts this season (March and June), as well as all five concerts in the 2015-2016 season. Dennis’ final Seattle-area concert will be the SMC Summer concert held in conjunction with Pride Week in June of 2016 (concert title and location TBA). Immediately following that performance Dennis will travel to Denver with the Choruses to conduct at the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses) Festival – an international association he helped found in 1983 that is dedicated to advancing LGBTQ choral organizations and changing our world through song. It is at this Festival where Dennis will take his final bow in front of his Choruses and the nearly 200 Gay and
Lesbian choruses that have been formed since the late 1970s. During the 2015-2016 season Flying House Productions will conduct a comprehensive national search for new artistic leadership to shepherd the choruses into a new era. A large portion of the 700+ members of SMC and SWC first learned of his planned retirement at a packed Chorus Chat meeting at the Seattle First Baptist Church on Tuesday evening February 10th. It was at that chat where Dennis spoke briefly of his plans after retirement: “I am never happier than when I’m conducting the choruses. This organization has given my life meaning, joy and fulfillment. But I feel it is time to move on and savor the days when I can wake up with nothing on my ‘to do’ list. I want some free time to explore other interests, travel, entertain friends, and age gracefully.” Later that evening, chorus members reflected. “I have been privileged to sing see Coleman page 5
Marriages begin in 23 of SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: City Council member Alabama’s 67 counties Tom Rasmussen Same-sex plaintiffs sue all state officials to get compliance with federal court order al.com
U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Gay and Lesbian couples are marrying in at least 23 of Alabama’s 67 counties after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to extend the stay on a federal judge’s ruling that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. In some of the remaining 44 counties all marriages have come to a halt, as local officials have suspended issuing marriage licens-
es altogether pending further court action. About 45% of the state’s population lives in counties where marriage equality is the rule. Alabama Chief Judge Roy Moore ordered county probate judges – the officials charged with issuing marriage licenses – not to comply with federal court orders, but same-sex couples have sued all the state’s public officials in an attempt to get federal courts to order them to perform Gay and Lesbian marriages. U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade – who issued the original ruling striking Alabama’s same-sex marriage ban – instructed Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis on February 12 that he must issue licenses to same-sex couples. Granade ruled in favor of marriage equality on January 23. Two days later she stayed her ruling until February 9 to give the state time to file an appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to extend the stay – over the protests of Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia – and marriages began on February 9. Then Moore got into the act. “Effective immediately, no probate judge of the State of Alabama nor any agent or em-
Tom Rasmussen
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen will be retiring from politics when his term expires in January, but when asked about his future plans he’s all business. Instead of talking about what he’ll do with his time off, he ticks off a list of projects he wants to accomplish before leaving office. “I still have 11 months left in my term!” Rasmussen exclaims. “I want to complete the significant work we’ve been doing on transportation. “I also have legislation to create neighborsee Alabama page 8 hood conservation districts. If neighbor-
hoods opt in – they don’t have to, but if they choose to do it – the plan will help them control development. It doesn’t prevent development, but it will guide it in a way that preserves the character of our neighborhoods that we love so much. “I also want us to think about how to preserve open space as the city becomes more dense.” These are all issues Rasmussen has left his mark on during his three terms on the City Council. Currently the chair of the City Council’s transportation committee and a leading advocate for the city’s Prop 1 transit funding measure, Rasmussen was previously chair of the parks committee and mastermind of the 2008 Prop 2 parks levy. His tenure as transportation chair has not been without controversy. In particular, the balance between busses, light rail, cars, and bikes has set mass transit activists at odds with each other and with the City Council. “Right now the work horse needs to be busses,” Rasmussen tells SGN. “I support light rail, and I think we need to build it out – to Ballard, to White Center, further out into the county. But there are challenges to that. First, it’s a regional system. It will take a long time to develop. And it’s incredibly see Rasmussen page 16
2 Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 3
Calling out ageism by Mark Segal Philadelphia Gay News Last Sunday on one of those morning news talk shows, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was asked about Hillary Clinton’s possible candidacy for president. He reAP
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
sponded: “People want to look to the future, we don’t want to go back in time.” To me, that is pure and simple ageism. Let’s get this elephant out of the room. What he’s attempting to do is say that Clinton is old, and an “older” person in office would take us back into the past, not the future. Outrageous, and I say again, ageist. And if you’re not sure what ageism is, think along the lines of racism, anti-Semitism, a simple hate or willingness to discriminate or, in this case, degrade someone who is older simply for his or her age. There’s another way this same ageist argument comes from younger politicians. The line goes, “It’s time for the older officials to make room for the next generation.” In other words, maybe they should retire to allow those of a younger generation to get that job. Would that be called job discrimination? The only thing disqualifying them from the job is age? Of course, then you’ll find those same young politicians telling senior voters that they want to hear about the issues of con-
cern to them in an attempt to get their votes. In this case, the funny thing is that Walker most likely supports ideas that would take us back to 1950 – with his anti-labor, women’s health, LGBT and immigration positions. Here’s an action point, at least for me. From today forward, I refuse to allow a public official to treat an older citizen in this fashion. If I hear it I’ll yell ageism, or if I know they’re speaking, I’ll have a picket sign ready. The hypocrisy is that such a line was never used when someone like Ronald Reagan was running. You might not like Hillary Clinton, but don’t use her age as an excuse. If you do, you offend all older people. Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarkSegalPGN or Twitter at https://twitter.com/PhilaGayNews. Courtesy of Mark Segal and Philadelphia Gay News
Religious beliefs an excuse for not following the law? Editor: Hatred, bigotry, and prejudice are not parts of any creditable religion. Yet recently we have seen example after example of civilians and religious leaders claiming their “religious beliefs” excuse them from following the law. In Washington state we have Baronelle Stutzman from Kennewick who refuses to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding because it “violates her religious beliefs” – in flagrant violation of the state’s laws against discrimination. (State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is prosecuting her under the Consumer Protection Act.) Last week the Mormon Church declared a “softening” of their bias against LGBT people so long as their operations were exempted from obey-
4 Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
ing the laws against discrimination. The Catholic Church claims exemption from all sorts of laws from discrimination to abortion to family planning to death with dignity – and they are imposing their prejudices on more and more Washington state citizens by buying up hospitals and medical centers. The insidious invasion of religions into the public domain was only made worse by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Hobby Lobby case. If this trend continues, anybody can claim a “sincerely held religious belief ” about anything and the rule of law goes out the window. In 1960, many Americans feared the election of John F. Kennedy would surrender U.S. sovereignty to the Vatican. Now it appears that anybody can set themselves up as a “pope” and declare their own “religious faith” to promote hate, to violate the law, or even to excuse their children from vaccinations! If somebody
mails an envelope full of anthrax to a school, it is considered a crime, but if somebody sends their unvaccinated child to school with measles, why is that excused by a “religious belief ”? The First Amendment of the Constitution declares that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . “. This provision has been expanded too broadly. Case in point: Today Rep. Matt Shea (R) from Spokane introduced House Bill 1968, which “accommodates the civil rights of religious objectors to mandatory payments to labor organizations.” If my “sincerely held religious belief ” prohibits me from paying tolls on the 520 bridge, do I get to ride for free? When is this nonsense going to stop?! Janice Van Cleve Seattle
Celebrating 41 Years!
courtesy of Flying House Productions
Dennis Coleman
continued from cover
Visit us online www.sgn.org
About Flying House Productions Flying House Productions (FHP) is home to two of the largest community choruses in America: Seattle Men’s Chorus, founded in 1979, which is also the largest Gay men’s chorus in the world with over 400 singing members; and Seattle Women’s Chorus, which made its premiere on stage in 2002 and has quickly grown to over 300 singers. Each Chorus currently has a small ensemble of 9 to 11 members each (SMC’s Captain Smartypants and SWC’s Sensible Shoes), which further the mission of the organization by performing throughout the Pacific
Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Peterson’s with Dennis after their marriage celebration
Our Mission: is to entertain, enlighten, unify and heal our audience and members, using the power of words and music to recognize the value of Gay and straight people and their relationships. Our Vision: A world that accepts and values its Gay and Lesbian citizens. Courtesy of Flying House Productions courtesy of Flying House Productions
under Dennis Coleman’s leadership for almost 20 years,” said Washington State Senator for the 43rd District and SMC Chorus Member Jamie Pedersen. He continued, “With his clear sense of purpose, outstanding musical talent, and love for the members, he has built the choruses into a community treasure. I will always be grateful for Dennis’ engagement in the campaign to achieve marriage equality. He helped take our message to communities across the state. He should feel very proud of his legacy of building a world that values and accepts its Gay and Lesbian citizens.” Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen are founding members of SWC and longtime SMC volunteers. Together they wrote, “Dennis’ planned retirement brings tears to our eyes. We have known this wonderful man since 1995 and had the esteemed privilege of singing under his direction of SWC for the last twelve years. Dennis has always been there for us with his outstanding musicianship, creativity, leadership, spirituality, love and humor. We consider him a musical genius and always recognize that he is admired, and respected worldwide as an expert and consummate professional. We wish him a happy and healthy retirement, but also prepare for the huge gap we will now have in our lives.” Board president and chorus member since 2009 Bob Davidson echoed, “Like many, I discovered the Seattle Men’s Chorus as a patron over 15 years ago. I was amazed at the artistry Dennis produced with a community chorus. When I joined SMC Dennis and the Chorus became a huge part of my personal life. It will be hard to imagine a rehearsal without him, but I understand his decision to retire and am happy for him. I will cherish these upcoming concerts and know that his leadership over the past 33 years has laid a solid foundation for whoever will follow. I know our Choruses will thrive as we continue to spread our vision of a world accepting of all its citizens.”
SMC Chorus Member since 2006 Danny Cords commented, “Every incredible thing you have heard about Dennis is true. He is the kind of man that can take 300 singers from different backgrounds and skill levels and make a single, beautiful, sound. Dennis’ talent is only exceeded by his kind heart and he strives to make our state and this world a better place. It is extremely difficult to imagine the chorus without him and he will be missed.” In July 2016 Dennis will have served 35 years with the Seattle Men’s Chorus; longer than any other artistic director from any Seattle-area arts organization of its size, or larger. Dennis joined the fledgling Chorus in 1981 and has been an integral part of its growth and success. In 2002 he helped form the Seattle Women’s Chorus; one of the largest and most successful women’s choruses of its kind in the nation. As the artistic director for both choruses he has worked with a long list of celebrities that include: Maya Angelou, Frederica von Stade, Judith Martin (Miss Manners), Bobby McFerrin, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Feinstein, Marni Nixon, Diane Schuur, Armistead Maupin, Lucy Lawless, Kathy Najimy, Megan Mullally, Megan Hilty, Faith
Northwest. In addition to the 700+ singing members, Flying House Productions has a base of over 50 volunteers and associate members who support both Choruses. A leading voice for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, FHP offers 30 outreach events and 19 main stage concert performances annually. Concerts, often including nationally-known guest artists along with our region’s professional talents, receive critical acclaim for their combination of high musical quality, wit, and celebration of people of all sexual orientations and identities. Over 30,000 people attend Flying House Production performances each year at Benaroya Hall, McCaw Hall, Cornish Playhouse at the Seattle Center, and Saint Mark’s Cathedral, with thousands more seeing each Chorus in other local performances throughout Washington every year. FHP cannot be considered as simply a local arts organization. In addition to the high level of performances it produces, FHP About Dennis Coleman is also a “voice for acceptance” in the comDennis has led SMC and SWC to a po- munity and across the nation. sition of artistic and administrative excellence with a combined singing memberAbout the Seattle Men’s Chorus/Seattle ship that exceeds that of the Mormon Tab- Women’s Chorus ernacle Choir. Dennis is active as a cliniFounded in 1979, the internationally recian and guest conductor throughout the nowned Seattle Men’s Chorus, along with U.S. and Canada. He served for six years on Seattle Women’s Chorus (founded in 2002), the national Board of Directors for Chorus are the largest community choruses in America and was on the founding Board of America; and the largest Gay choruses in the Directors of GALA Choruses. As a UCC world. Flying House Productions, home of church musician, Dennis has conducted Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s the choir of First Congregational Church of Chorus, ranks third among the state’s muBellevue since 1981. Dennis Coleman has sic organizations with over 400 members of commissioned and premiered choral works SMC and over 300 members of SWC. www. from many leading composers including flyinghouse.org Gian Carlo Menotti, Ned Rorem, Robert Moran, Conrad Susa, David Diamond, Robert Seeley, British composer Paul Patterson and Canadian Stephen Hatfield. “Of Rage and Remembrance,” a 15-minute work for male chorus, mezzo soprano, speakers and orchestra by composer John Corigliano, was premiered by SMC in Seattle in 1991. A recording of this work and the companion “Symphony 1,” also called “Of Rage and Remembrance,” by the National Symphony under Leonard Slatkin was awarded the 1998 Grammy for Best Classical Album. Seattle Times
Coleman
Prince, Kristin Chenowith, Ana Gastayer, Lily Tomlin and many others. Dennis has led countless Chorus tours across Washington state and a landmark Rocky Mountain Tour to the “Red States” in 2010. He has travelled the globe and conducted SMC in Germany (2014) and Australia (2003). He has commissioned a great many pieces on behalf of SMC and SWC including the expanded version of Music of Remembrance’s “For a Look or a Touch” (2011), “We Can Do It” (written by Associate Artistic Director, Eric Lane Barnes, in 2014), and “Tyler’s Suite” (co-commissioned with San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and other LGBTQ choruses, to be performed in Seattle in March 2015). Dennis has received many local awards and honors including: the GSBA Voice for Social Justice Award (2012), Grand Marshal of the Seattle Pride Parade (2007) and the Mayor’s Arts Award (2010).
1980’s Seattle Men’s Chorus with Dennis Coleman
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 5
6 Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
Celebrating 41 Years!
LGBT youth deserve fairness and equality at school
With LGBT youth twice as likely to experience verbal harassment, exclusion, and physical attack at school, Student Non-Discrimination Act reintroduced in Congress Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
been deprived of equal educational opportunities in schools in every part of our nation. Numerous social science studies demonstrate that discrimination at school has contributed to high rates of absenteeism, dropout, adverse health consequences and academic underachievement among LGBT youth. When left unchecked, such discrimination can lead to, and has led to, dangerous situations for young people. Federal statutory protections address discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and disability. Unfortunately, federal civil rights laws do not expressly protect students from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Decades of civil rights history shows that civil rights laws are effective in decreasing discrimination because they Senator Al Franken (D-MN) (left) and Jared Polis (D-CO) provide strong federal remedies targeted to WASHINGTON D.C. – On Tuesday, resentatives Polis, Ros-Lehtinen, and Scott specific vulnerable groups. February 10, the Student Non-Discrimina- for their unwavering commitment to ensurWhat is the tion Act – a bill that would prohibit public ing that all students have access to safe and inclusive schools. ” Student Non-Discrimination Act? schools from discriminating against any “Kids need to feel safe in their schools in The Student Non-Discrimination Act student on the basis of actual or perceived order to learn, ” said Senator Franken. “Right (SNDA) prohibits public schools from dissexual orientation or gender identity – was now, our civil rights laws explicitly protect criminating against any student on the basis reintroduced in the U.S. House of Reprechildren from bullying due to race, sex, disof actual or perceived sexual orientation or sentatives by Representatives Jared Polis ability, and national origin. But they don’t stop (D-CO), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and gender identity. In addition, SNDA prohibBobby Scott (D-VA) and in the U.S. Senate discrimination based on sexual orientation or its discrimination against any student beby Senator Al Franken (D-MN). With LGBT gender identity. Our legislation fixes this injus- cause of the actual or perceived sexual oriyouth twice as likely to experience verbal tice and extends essential protections to LGBT entation or gender identity of a person with harassment, exclusion, and physical attack youth in Minnesota and across the country. whom a student associates or has associated. at school as their non-LGBT peers, the Hu- No student should have to dread going to Further, retaliation for lodging a complaint man Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest school because they fear being bullied.” of discrimination is prohibited. “Every single child deserves a quality educaLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender The bill allows an aggrieved individual (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the tion that is free from discrimination and pre- to assert a violation of these prohibitions bill as a critical step towards ending harass- pares them for college and a career,” said Rep- in a judicial proceeding. In addition, the resentative Polis. “It’s simply unacceptable that SNDA allows federal authorities to address ment and discrimination of LGBT youth. “No student should face discrimination in 2015, there are thousands of students who discrimination made unlawful by the bill. or harassment at school just because of who face bullying and harassment every day when The SNDA is modeled after Title IX of the they are or who they are perceived to be,” they get to school simply because of their sexu- Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. said David Stacy, HRC Government Affairs al orientation or their gender identity.” §§ 1681-1688), which prohibits discriminaDirector. “We urge Congress to act on this tion on the basis of sex and provides legal reThe Problem legislation quickly to help make an immedicourse to redress such discrimination. LGBT students are subject to pervasive ate and critical difference in the lives of our discrimination, including harassment, bulnation’s LGBT youth.” Growing Up LGBT in America “We commend Senator Franken and Rep- lying, intimidation and violence. They have LGBT youth experience bullying and ha-
rassment at school more frequently than their non-LGBT peers. In fact, according to an HRC survey in 2012, LGBT youth are twice as likely to experience verbal harassment, exclusion and physical attack at school as their non-LGBT peers. Among LGBT youth, 51 percent have been verbally harassed at school, compared to 25 percent among non-LGBT students; 48 percent say they are often excluded by their peers because they are different, compared to 26 percent among non-LGBT students; and 17 percent report they have been physically attacked at school, compared to 10 percent among non-LGBT students. LGBT youth also identify bullying and harassment as a primary problem in their lives. They identified family rejection (26 percent), school/bullying problems (21 percent) and fear of being out or open (18 percent) as the top three problems they face. In comparison, non-LGBT youth identified classes/exams/grades (25 percent), college/ career (14 percent) and financial pressures (11 percent) as the top three problems they face. Clearly, LGBT youth spend time worrying about bullying and rejection, while their non-LGBT peers are able to focus on grades, career choices and the future. “Growing up LGBT in America” is a 2012 survey of more than 10,000 LGBT teens (ages 13-17) across the country on what life is like for them in America today. This is the largest known survey of LGBT youth ever conducted. It includes LGBT youth from every region of the country, from urban, suburban and rural communities, and from a wide variety of social, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Learn more at www.hrc.org/youth. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. www.hrc.org Courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign
HRC condemns Urban Outfitters’ latest offense: peddling tapestry with Nazi-era anti-Gay imagery Retailer already known for hawking items repugnant to Jewish and Native American people strikes again She Magazine
“Urban Outfitters has seized yet again on imagery of the Holocaust, one of the most abhorrent chapters in world history, in an appalling effort to attract attention,” said Fred Sainz, Vice President for Communications at HRC, the nation’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. “This is an affront to LGBT people, Holocaust survivors, their families, and anyone with an ounce of humanity.” The tapestry is made of a gray-and-white striped fabric, imprinted with a bright pink triangle that mirrors badges Nazis forced suspected Gay male prisoners to wear. LGBT rights advocates appropriated the pink triangle nearly four decades ago, transforming it into an iconic image of the movement. This is not Urban Outfitters’ first foray into the realm of the tasteless and cruel. In 2012, the retailer marketed a t-shirt featuring a yellow star that echoed the identifying Star Tapestry sold at Urban Outfitters of David patch Jewish people were forced to WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, selling a striped tapestry featuring a single wear under the Nazi regime. That same year, February 10, the Human Rights Campaign pink triangle, an unmistakable echo of uni- the Navajo Nation sued the retailer over its (HRC) joined the Anti-Defamation League forms Nazis issued to suspected Gay male use of the “Navajo” name in a line of clothin calling out retailer Urban Outfitters for concentration camp prisoners. ing and accessories, including items the tribe
Visit us online www.sgn.org
February 13, 2015
found distasteful and racially demeaning. And just so there’s no mistaking how low Urban Outfitters will stoop: last year, it sold a “Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt” that featured fake blood stains. For those too young to remember, in 1970, four unarmed students were killed, and nine other people wounded, when guardsman at Kent State University in Ohio opened fire on war protesters. The company ultimately apologized for “any offense” the item may have caused. “This retailer has repeatedly embraced the abhorrent, the racist, the bigoted,” Sainz said. “We urge them to reject this strategy, to apologize and keep this kind of offensive merchandise off their shelves.” The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. www.hrc.org Courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign
Seattle Gay News 7
Indiana marriage plaintiff dies: Niki Quasney was 38 Niki Quasney, one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that brought marriage equality to Indiana, died February 5. She was only 38 and had been battling ovarian cancer for more than five years. According to Lambda Legal, which represented Quasney and her wife, Amy Sandler, Quasney died with her wife, mother, and five siblings at her side. One of the arguments Lambda Legal put forward to expedite a ruling in the case Baskin v. Bogan was that Quasney was terminally ill and deserved a decision in her suit before she died. A U.S. district judge found for the plaintiffs – all of them Lesbian couples – in June last year, and the Seventh Circuit Court confirmed the ruling on September 4. When the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in the case, the way was finally clear for same-sex couples to marry in Indiana. “Niki and Amy and their daughters became Indiana’s first family when they bravely joined Lambda Legal’s marriage case, which meant openly sharing very personal and painful parts of their journey together as Niki battled cancer,” Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Paul Castillo said in a press release. “They brought this case and fought so hard because they loved each other and
Alabama
continued from cover ployee of any Alabama probate judge shall issue or recognize a marriage license that is inconsistent with Article 1, Section 36.03, of the Alabama Constitution or § 30-1-19, Ala. Code 1975,” he wrote in an order to state judges. Those sections contain the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. “Charges will be filed against probate judges who violated the chief justice’s orders,” Moore threatened in a Facebook post the next day. Davis announced February 9 that he was closing his Mobile County office and would issue no marriage licenses to anyone until a higher authority clarified the state of the law.
wanted their daughters to be treated with respect, just like any other family in Indiana. “They also fought for all same-sex couples and their children in Indiana. They never wanted to be alone in recognition of their family. They knew that by coming forward they could help accelerate equality for all same-sex couples in Indiana by demonstrating the urgency of their need for equal dignity… “Niki told the court: ‘If my life is cut short because of ovarian cancer, I want our children to know that their parents were treated like other married couples in their home state, and to be proud of this,’ Castillo’s statement continued. ‘I want to know what it feels like to be a legally recognized family in our community, together with Amy and our daughters.’ “Niki spent the last year of her life on earth very publicly fighting for her family and doing everything she could to make sure that her wife and daughters were protected. Although our hearts are heavy, we celebrate Niki’s life and take comfort in knowing that Niki and her family were able to know – through their own efforts – what equality feels like. We thank Niki and Amy for their courage to stand up for their family and lead the fight for marriage in Indiana. We all owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.” Because the court decisions were expedited to accommodate Quasney’s fight with cancer, the case was the “fastest, from filing to victory” of any marriage suit, Castillo added. “I remain committed to properly applying the law in all judicial and ministerial action of the Probate Court,” Davis said in a press release. “[B]ut we are dealing with unprecedented conflicts of law between the federal and state courts and I must be certain that any action I take is fully compliant with the law, both the United States Constitution, as well as the Constitution and statutes of the State of Alabama.” Davis asked the Alabama Supreme Court to clarify Moore’s order on marriage licenses, but on February 11 the court declined to do so. They do not have the authority to address the question, the justices said. Granade solved his dilemma February 12 by ordering him to comply with her ruling, although she did not directly contravene Moore’s instructions to county judges.
Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Amy Sandler (l) and Niki Quasney
“Judge Granade’s ruling confirms that the U.S. Constitution requires Alabama probate judges to issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples, gay and straight,” ACLU Alabama Legal Director Randall Marshall said in a statement. “We hope state and local officials will recognize that their first obligation is to comply with our federal Constitution and will move quickly to follow the court’s ruling so that all couples in Alabama will be able to share in the dignity and protection that marriage provides.” Many other probate judges did comply with the federal court ruling and issued licenses to Gay and Lesbian couples. Monroe County Probate Judge Greg Norris, the president of the state probate judge’s association, said he was now ready to issue same-sex marriage licenses after initially
suspending all licenses. “I’m hoping we can get some clarification on all this,” Norris added plaintively. Meanwhile, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley told The Associated Press that he was staying out of the whole business. “I don’t want Alabama to be seen as it was 50 years ago when a federal law was defied. I’m not going to do that,” Bentley said. “This is not exactly a ‘profiles in courage’ moment by Governor Bentley,” HRC Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz said in a statement. “When Justice Roy Moore chose to ignore a federal ruling, at least he was willing to own up to it. In fact, Governor Bentley is now just as complicit in kicking up lawlessness and discrimination in his state as Moore. That’s not leadership, it’s political cowardice.”
Sam Brownback hates you
Rescinds Kansas rule against employment discrimination womenweb.com
Sam Brownback
8 Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has rescinded an executive order banning discrimination against LGBT state employees in hiring and employment. The Republican governor announced his decision February 10, three months after winning a tough reelection battle, and two months after federal courts legalized samesex marriage in his state. The executive order dated from August 2007, and was issued by Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius. The order applied to hiring and employment decisions by agencies under the governor’s direct control and required them to create anti-harassment policies as well. A Kansas state law prohibits discrimination in housing, private hiring, and employment but does not cover bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In 2009 Sebelius left office to become President Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary. Brownback became governor in 2010, after a notoriously anti-Gay career in Congress. In a short statement Brownback charged that Sebelius had acted “unilaterally” in is-
suing her order. Brownback then issued a new order, reaffirming the state’s commitment to prohibit discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or religion. “This executive order ensures that state employees enjoy the same civil rights as all Kansans without creating additional ‘protected classes’ as the previous order did,” Brownback said. “Any such expansion of ‘protected classes’ should be done by the Legislature and not through unilateral action.” Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, the state’s leading Gay-rights group, said the jobs of hundreds of LGBT state workers are now at risk, after they spent nearly a decade believing they were safe on the job after disclosing their orientation or gender identity. “It’s an outrage – an absolute outrage,” Witt said. “I can conceive of no justifiable reason for doing this.” As a U.S. Senator, Brownback received zeros in four out of five ratings by HRC because he opposed every single protection for LGBT Americans considered by Congress. He converted to Catholicism in 2002.
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 9
10
Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
Celebrating 41 Years!
MoSS Alley MotorS, Inc. SpecialiStS in VolVo, Honda, toyota and Subaru
932 12th ave. Seattle, Wa 98122 (206).325--.3992 www.mossalley.com Seattle’s most progressive auto shop!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 11
12
Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
Celebrating 41 Years!
Slovakia’s Anti-Gay referendum fails due to low turn-out Measure had Papal blessing by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
AP
Slovakia failed to pass a referendum that would have reinforced discrimination against same-sex couples, in spite of the Pope’s blessing of the measure. Slovaks were asked to vote Yes or No on three propositions: • that only a union between a man and a woman can be called “marriage;” • that same-sex partners must be barred from adopting children; • that parents should decide whether their children receive sex education. Only 21.4% of the country’s voters turned out for the referendum, far short of the legally required 50% participation. LGBT activists had urged voters to boycott the election. Pope Francis, on the other hand, called on Slovaks to vote. “I wish to express my appreciation to the entire Slovak church, encouraging everyone
to continue their efforts in defense of the good base” for further activities, he said. same-sex couples may form legal domestic family, the vital cell of society,” he told a genSlovakia is the poorer and more conserva- partnerships and adopt each others’ children, eral audience at the Vatican. tive eastern part of the former Czechoslo- but only with the status of step-parents. The referendum was forced by a petition vakia. In the neighboring Czech Republic, campaign by the Catholic Church-affiliated Alliance For Family, which turned in a reported 400,000 signatures. The referendum also had the backing of several U.S.-based anti-Gay groups – the Alliance Defending Freedom, NOM, C-FAM, and the World Congress of Families. Both pro- and anti-Gay activists hailed the results of the referendum. Romana Schlesinger, an LGBT activist said, she hoped the government will now work to make it possible for same-sex couples to live in registered partnership “because all our partnerships, our families are living without legal recognition or protection.” A leader of the Alliance For Family, Anton Chromik, said he was delighted that a clear majority of the voters who participated in Pope Francis the ballot supported his group. It created “a
New Greek government promises same-sex civil unions Twitter
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Greece’s newly-elected left-wing government has promised to legalize same-sex civil unions. New Justice Minister Nikolaos Paraskevopoulos told parliament on February 9 that the country’s civil union law, passed only for straight couples in 2008, would be extended to Gay and Lesbian couples. Paraskevopoulos did not say exactly when the changes would be made. SYRIZA – the Coalition of the Radical
Left – swept to power in January, upsetting the ruling conservative government. They immediately announced sweeping changes in Greece’s economic policy and the country’s rocky relationship with the European Central Bank (ECB). Although SYRIZA’s coalition partner, the Independent Greeks party, is socially conservative and anti-Gay, the left can count on votes from other left-wing deputies to pass its social agenda. SYRIZA made an alliance with Independent Greeks because both are opposed to the ECB-imposed austerity program endorsed by the previous Greek government.
When the civil unions bill passes, it will resolve a long-standing dispute between Greece and the Council of Europe’s Court of Human Rights. In 2013, the court ordered the Greek government to pay damages to a Gay couple who sued because they were excluded from civil union status. The new Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, is in an opposite-sex civil union with his spouse, Peristera Batziana. They were high school sweethearts and members of the Communist Youth of Greece. Tsipras and Batziana have two sons. Tsipras is also an atheist, and his inauguration as Prime Minister was the first in Greek history to be performed without the assistance of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens. Tsipras’s relationship with the Archbishop is said to be friendly, however. Archbishop Ieronymos, unlike his openly right-wing predecessor, represents a centrist faction in the Orthodox Church. In 2008, when a socialist mayor married two same-sex couples, Ieronymos shrugged off the incident, saying “They’re not church members and they didn’t get married in church, so I have nothing to say about it. You have to adapt to the times.” Some of his colleagues, however, have been openly hostile to LGBT rights.
Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus threatened to excommunicate any public official who supported same-sex unions, calling them a “terrible sin.” SYRIZA carried the working class Piraeus district in the January 25 election. Last June, Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, called the local Pride festival a “disgrace and a challenge.” “Show respect that my position and life is wholly dedicated to the church and the people and respect the fact that I’m well behaved, so don’t associate me with this disgrace,” the bishop proclaimed. “Enough. This is a perversion of the human existence.” Anthimos was a rival of Archbishop Ieronymos in the 2008 election to head the Greek church. SYRIZA also carried Thessaloniki in the January parliamentary election. Reactionary clerics are not the only challenge for Greece’s LGBT community. The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party, which has been implicated in Gay-bashing incidents in Athens, emerged from the January 25 election as the third-largest party in Greece, despite the fact that its leaders are in jail awaiting trial on racketeering charges. Many Greek LGBT activists have also charged that the police are Golden Dawn supporters and turn a blind eye to attacks on Gay people.
Pro-Gay party wins Delhi state elections by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Visit us online www.sgn.org
A pro-Gay and anti-corruption party has swept to power in India’s National Capital Territory of Delhi – the equivalent of Washington, DC in the United States. The Aam Aadami Party (AAP) won 67 of 70 legislative seats. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs the national government, was reduced to a mere three seats, and the Congress Party was entirely eliminated from the state legislature. Anti-corruption activist and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal told cheering party supporters that the “people of Delhi have achieved something spectacular.” “With the help of people, we will make Delhi a city which both poor and rich will feel proud of,” he said. As supporters showered him with rose petals, Kejriwal said the huge mandate was “very scary and we should live up to people’s expectations.”
Kejriwal now becomes Delhi’s chief min- the party favors amendments in the section mon man’s party.” The party’s agenda appeals ister. He held the post briefly in 2013, when so that homosexuals could live without mainly to urban working class voters and minorities – which explains its success in Delhi he led a minority government, but resigned fearing police action.” Aam Aadami Party literally means “the com- and its failure to do well in national elections. after only 49 days in office. Now, with a huge majority, his tenure seems secure. AAP also participated in the 2014 national election, but only elected four members to India’s national parliament. In that election, a key plank in the party’s platform was relegalization of Gay sex. The Delhi High Court held that India’s constitution protected sexual orientation, but their ruling was subsequently reversed by India’s Supreme Court. Aam Aadmi have announced that the re-legalization of homosexuality will be a priority in its election manifesto – to be released later this week. “The party supports the [Delhi] high court’s decision on consensual gay sex. We will be mentioning it in the manifesto,” an AAP spokesperson told Indian media at the start of the election campaign. Arvind Kejriwal “In our manifesto we will promise that
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 13
Swiss priest fired after blessing Lesbian couple Keystone
Wendelin Bucheli
14
Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A Swiss priest is being removed from his parish after giving a blessing to a Lesbian couple last year. Fr. Wendelin Bucheli blessed the couple in October 2014. Bishop Vitus Huonder, Bucheli’s current superior, was outraged. “His actions created attention, even across state borders, and angered many believers,” Huonder’s spokesman Guiseppe Gracia told the Urner Wochenblatt newspaper. He claimed Bucheli’s actions could have “clouded the church’s teachings on marriage and family… “He has to stand up for his actions, he cannot just accept such a vexation, because of all the people adhering to the Catholic belief,” Gracia said. “Priest Bucheli knowingly went against the church’s principle.” Bishop Huonder also called Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Bucheli’s home diocese, and demanded that the priest be recalled. Bucheli’s parishioners are supporting him and are fighting his forced relocation. In 2002 the Swiss Conference of Bishops
issued a document regulating who can be blessed in church. “The bishops are convinced that homosexual people can be given such blessings,” the document says, but adds that same-sex couples may not get a blessing for their relationship. According to Bucheli, he fully intended to bless the same-sex relationship. “There was no considerable difference between this blessing and a wedding ceremony,” the priest told Urner Wochenblatt about the occasion in October. Bucheli said he carefully considered his options and even discussed the matter with a Jesuit priest. According to Bucheli, the Jesuit asked “Can I give this blessing in the name of God and would it be His will?” Bucheli’s answer was Yes, and he went ahead with the blessing. “These days people give blessings to animals, cars and even weapons,” Bucheli said. “Why shouldn’t you give your blessing to a couple deciding to walk through life with God by their side?” Pope Francis recently gave public support to a Slovakian referendum banning samesex marriages, but it failed to get sufficient support to pass.
Celebrating 41 Years!
by Paul Kawata National Minority AIDS Council The info-graphic below shows the stark reality of HIV in Black America. The statistics are mind numbing. At current rates of infection, 50% of black Gay men will have HIV by the time they are 35 (8% of white Gay men are infected). I’ve been accused of caring more for the black community then I do for my own people. I love being Asian and I will always be concerned about my community, but the numbers don’t lie. As an Asian Gay man, I am fighting for black Gay men because it’s the right thing to do. I
WHAT MATTERS? In the fight against HIV over the last 30 plus years, the statistics for the black community were always known. The social determinants of health are often cited as the reason for the big difference. According to the CDC, “The social determinants of health are the circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, as well as the systems put in place to deal with illness. These circumstances are in turn shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics.” America has poor people of all ethnicities, so why aren’t the rates of poverty equivalent by race? The color of your skin should not determine your health outcome, yet all the indicators reveal the opposite. The HIV community cannot solve all the world’s challenges, so what is our responsibil-
Visit us online www.sgn.org
am fighting for black Gay men because like the civil rights movement, it’s going to take a rainbow of people fighting together to make a difference. February 7 is National Black AIDS/HIV Awareness Day. We come together to once again draw attention to HIV’s devastation of America’s black community. How many more awareness days do we need in order to understand that we’ve failed black Gay men? Nowhere in the world are there communities with a 50% infection rate. We have also failed African American women when they are 20 times more likely to be HIV infected then white women.
CALL TO ACTION NMAC challenges health departments and community based organizations to move quickly and aggressively to link/retain all PLWH into care. Since it’s not enough just to link into care, we need implementation research to understand how to retain PLWH in care. AIDS United published an interesting study on the use of smartphone apps to support PLWH in care. A panel from the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care has 5 recommendations on how to retain PLWH into care. NMAC thinks it may be time to look at incentive programs for either the PLWH or healthcare providers.
Viral suppression and when to begin treatment should be the PLWH’s decision with support from their healthcare provider. Health literacy for all people living with HIV is essential in order for individuals to make informed decisions. NMAC calls for impactful, culturally intelligent health literacy programs to be made available to all PLWH. Differences in viral suppression based on race should be closely monitored with timely transparent reporting. Using viral load data, NMAC recommends that money and resources are prioritize for “hot spots”, communities with a large numbers of PLWH who also have a high viral load. The money needs to follow the epidemic.
NMAC challenges the Centers for Disease Control, health departments, and community to re-examine the use of data. There is too much lag time between collecting the data and reporting on it. As a result, decisions are being made using data sets that can be 4 years old. How helpful is it to make decisions in 2015 based on data from 2010? This year the White House will release an update on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, yet the data from the report may have been collected years earlier. It’s very difficult to get a good picture of the epidemic if we don’t have good data. NMAC asks health departments to create advisory committees made up of people living with HIV, activists, community based organizations, elected officials, healthcare providers, civil rights attorneys, researchers, and others to discuss the use of data. Policies that were put in place at the beginning of the epidemic may no longer be relevant. Making good decisions depends on good data. Data should be the foundation to determine how to spend limited HIV resources.
The color of your skin should not determine your risk for HIV infection, viral load, or mortality. On this National Black HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day, let’s commit to retaining everyone living with HIV into care.
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 15
Yours in the struggle, Paul Kawata Executive Director National Minority AIDS Council ABOUT NMACThe National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) builds leadership within communities of color to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced this mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous publications and a website: http://www.nmac.org/.
ity? A recent Lancet article notes, “33 percent of HIV-positive black MSM were retained in care, compared with 51 percent of white MSM; and only 16 percent of black MSM were virally suppressed, compared with 34 percent of white MSM. If black MSM achieved the same degree of HIV care as white MSM, the racial gap in new infection rates would be reduced by 27 percent. If black MSM with HIV had 95 percent diagnosis, or 95 percent retention in care, or both, the reduction would be 27 percent, 25 percent, and 59 percent, respectively.” In other words, if we’re able to retain HIV positive African Americans in care, we can significantly move the curve. It’s not enough to link people to care, all PLWH need to be retained in care.
Rasmussen continued from cover
Tom Rasmussen
expensive. In the short term it has to be busses. “The good news is that as a result of Prop 1 [the transit funding measure passed in November] we’re buying additional busses and we’ll have really frequent bus service. “I also want to see us develop alternatives – Uber, Lyft, Pronto – and I support a quick permitting process. But I want to see those companies provide services to all neighborhoods.” In three terms on the City Council Rasmussen has been involved in many projects. Asked which achievements he’s most proud of, he grins, “I’m Scandinavian. We’re not supposed to be proud of ourselves. “But the thing I think was important was introducing legislation to guide development in the Pike/Pine neighborhood. “Eight years ago whole blocks were being bulldozed. Remember where Man Ray was?” Rasmussen asks, referring to a popular video bar that used to stand at 714 E. Pine St. “They leveled half the block and turned it into a gravel parking lot. “So I tried to create incentives to preserve ‘character buildings’ in the neighborhood – or at least parts of them – to keep what we like about our neighborhoods and still accommodate development. “That’s why now you see new development on top, above the old facades. So the neighborhood retains its distinctive character at street level. “The other thing I’m proud of is that,” Rasmussen adds, pointing to a campaign sign in the corner of his office. It’s a relic of the successful 2008 “Parks for All” campaign that Rasmussen led. “It was very difficult,” Rasmussen remembers. “Mayor [Greg] Nickels did not support it. He had the Pike Place Market levy he was supporting – which was also very important – and he thought this might compete. It
was hard at first lining up endorsers [for the parks measure] because people thought they might offend the Mayor.” Rasmussen has served with three Mayors in his time on the City Council, and in spite of his clash with Greg Nickels over the parks levy, he remembers Nickels fondly. “[Nickels] was very forward thinking,” Rasmussen recalls. “He took on big issues – tough issues. Remember the Mercer corridor? It was impossible before Nickels. We worked together well on that. “He was also very good on human rights. He supported marriage equality long before that was the expected thing to do.” Rasmussen had a sometimes-strained relationship with Nickels’ successor, Mike McGinn, and he still expresses “disappointment” with McGinn’s tenure. “[McGinn] said he would not fight the viaduct replacement, and then, once he was elected, he did. It was a violation of a campaign promise,” Rasmussen says. “But my biggest disappointment was [McGinn] resisting the Department of Justice on police reform,” he adds. McGinn stalled a settlement with DOJ after their scathing report charging Seattle police with excessive and racially-biased use of force. Mayor Ed Murray, on the other hand, gets high marks from Rasmussen. “[Murray] understands the legislative process,” Rasmussen tells SGN. “He consults with the City Council. He talks to people in the community. He has experience as a legislator and he really does want to get things done.” Rasmussen clearly loves his job, especially the intricate policy decisions City Council members must make. Why would he retire from the Council? “I know it sounds trite for a politician to say ‘I want to spend more time with my family,’ but I really do want to spend more time with my family,” he laughs. “This job can be 12 hour days, seven days a week. It’s not the most balanced life. I want to bike more, I want to exercise more, I want to work in my yard… “It’s also good to make room for new people,” Rasmussen adds. There are now at least six “new people” vying for Rasmussen’s seat. While he hasn’t endorsed a potential successor, he has definite ideas about what kind of person he’d like to see in the seat. “Someone energetic,” he says, “able to work with others. Someone who’s responsive and cares about service to the community – in this office you have to be an advocate for individuals. And someone who’s results-oriented.”
Legal Services MARTIN SJOLIE Over 20 Years Experience
Last Will, Power of Attorney & Health Care Directive (Living Will)
$500.00/Person or $750.00/Couple for complete, personalized services.
(206) 841–1373 www.sjolielaw.com
Auto accidents, DUI, Small business needs.
16
Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
Celebrating 41 Years!
Religion & Spirituality www.sgn.org
HOME & SPECIALIZED SERVICES
Gary D. TorGerson Co. Expert Painting and Repairs Rot Repair: siding, doors, windows, porches and decks. Lead-Safe Certified
See photographs of our work at www.TorgersonCompany.com Email: info@torgersoncompany.com Contractor Registration #: GARYDTC134CJ Phone: 206-781-0999
Health and Personal Services
www.sgn.org
Visit us online www.sgn.org
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 17
18
Seattle Gay News
February 13, 2015
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
February 13, 2015
Seattle Gay News 19