Issue 4 Volume 42
Celebrating 41 Years!
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Virginia Attorney General rules state marriage ban unconstitutional Steve Helber / AP
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring
Will not defend it in pending suits by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced on January 23 he had concluded that his state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Consequently, he said, he will not defend the law in two lawsuits challenging it. “After thorough legal review, I have now concluded that Virginia’s ban on marriage between same sex couples violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution on two grounds: marriage is a fundamental right being denied to some Virginians, and the ban unlawfully discriminates on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender,” Herring wrote in a court filing. “As attorney general I cannot and will not defend laws that violate Virginians’ rights,” Herring explained later in an NPR interview. “That’s what I have pledged
over and over to do, is to put the law and put Virginians first. … It’s about what the law requires here, and we have concluded, I have concluded, that the law here is unconstitutional, and I think the Supreme Court … would find the law unconstitutional.” Herring, a Democrat, was elected in November by a slim 907-vote margin over his Republican opponent, and took office in January. His predecessor in the Attorney General’s office, rightwing Republican Ken Cuccinelli, lost his race for Governor to Terry McAuliffe. Cuccinelli promised to defend Virginia’s marriage law in court if he was elected Governor. Herring’s office filed papers announcing the Attorney General’s new position in the pending marriage lawsuit Bostic v. Rainey, in which AFER (Americans for Equal Rights) attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies are counsel. see virginia page 8
Utah gets extension on filing Head of Eastside appeal as ACLU sues state Catholic resigns
The federal Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Utah’s request for an extension on filing papers in The legal situation for same-sex the pending marriage case, while couples in Utah has become even the ACLU sued the state on behalf more complex. of four Gay and Lesbian couples by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
lgbt-idea
AP Photo / Rick Bowmer
Two of some 1300 plaintiffs in the lawsuit brought by the ACLU against the state of Utah, Matthew Barraza (l) and husband Tony Milner with their son, Jesse
who married before the U.S. Supreme Court called a temporary halt to same-sex marriages in the state. In a January 21 announcement, Tenth Circuit clerk Elisabeth Shumaker said the court would extend the deadline for the state’s filing by seven days. Instead of January 27, Utah’s attorneys now have until February 3 to submit their opening brief. Other deadlines will be extended “by a corresponding amount,” Shumaker said, meaning that the response from same-sex couples will be due February 25, and any reply from the state must be filed by March 4. The Tenth Circuit said when it accepted Utah’s appeal that “requests for extension of time are very strongly discouraged and will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances.” The state’s attorneys asked for a 10-day extension on January 17. The next day, attorneys for Gay couple Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity, and Lesbian couples Laurie Wood and Kody Partridge, and Karen Archer and Kate Call filed a motion opposing the state’s request. They argued that none of
Sister Mary Tracy
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
Sister Mary Tracy, head of Eastside Catholic high school, submitted her resignation as president, effective immediately, on Monday. “Sr. Mary came to this decision see utah page 18 after much prayer and reflection.
For Sr. Mary it was a difficult but necessary decision so that a new leader can be brought in to ensure the entire Eastside Catholic community is moving forward on a positive path,” said a statement from Brad Bastian and Tom Padilla, acting chairs of the school’s see eastside page 4
Washington State 1-888-BE-THERE History Museum WashingtonHistory.org 2
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January 24, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
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op-ed
Sochi will be remembered as the anti-Gay Olympics by Peter Tatchell Special to the SGN The Winter Olympics start in the Russian resort of Sochi on 7 February. They are destined to go down in history as the anti-gay Olympics. The intensely homophobic atmosphere in Russia, orchestrated by President Putin’s government, means it would be very unlikely for an openly gay athlete to be selected for the Russian Olympic squad. The Kremlin has banned a Pride House – a social meeting space for gay athletes and spectators, like the one at the London 2012 Olympics. Dozens of countries sending competitors to Sochi criminalise same-sex relationships or actively discriminate against gay people. None of them would be likely to allow the selection of a gay athlete for their Sochi team. These are clear breaches of the anti-discrimination Principle Six of the Olympic Charter. Yet the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said and done nothing. It is allowing the Russian government to ban the Pride House and discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) athletes and spectators. The IOC has also threatened that any athlete who expresses support for LGBT equality during the games will face disciplinary action, possibly including expulsion and being stripped of any medals won. The IOC’s top priority is not Olympic values or human rights. It is driven by commercial interests. The Olympics are big business. The host nation and corporate sponsors are king. Nothing must be allowed to detract from financial success and “good news” PR – certainly not the plight of Russia’s persecuted LGBTs. The 1936 Berlin Olympics took place in an atmosphere of anti-Semitic hatred incited by the Nazi government. The 2014 Sochi Olympics echo that hatred, only this time the victims of demonisation are LGBT people. How can there be normal sporting relations with an abnormal regime like Putin’s Russia? Russia has enacted a harsh anti-gay law that criminalises anyone who portrays homosexuality as “interesting” or “attractive”
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the Nazi Olympics are obvious. No concentration camps but.... That’s why it is outrageous that UK government ministers are going to Sochi. They should, like President Obama, boycott the games and send an LGBT delegation instead. Indeed, all world leaders should stay away from the opening and closing ceremonies. Empty VIP seats would send a powerful message to Putin. I’m hoping that some athletes and spectators will take a stand by wearing rainbow ribbons, scarves, hats and gloves and by making the Principle Six sign – five fingers and a thumb. Everyone everywhere can stand in solidarity by posting selfies doing the same. The international LGBT lobby group, allout.org, is planning a big Global Speak Out for Principle Six just before Sochi. Homophobic discrimination in sport is not just a Russian and Olympic issue. It will figure big at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer. Eighty per cent of participating Commonwealth countries criminalise LGBT people, with penalties ranging up to life imprisonment. In more than 40 of these countries, discrimination against LGBT people is lawful, including discrimination in sport. Any athlete or coach known to be gay would most likely face arrest. They’d stand no chance of selection for Glasgow 2014. The games organisers need to address this issue. But will they?
– or who suggests that homosexuality and heterosexuality are of “equal value” – in circumstances where a person under 18 might witness it. LGBT marches, festivals, posters, magazines, books, films and welfare advice are likely to face criminal prosecution, as will individuals who identify themselves as gay in public. Any statement that homosexuality is natural and normal will become criminal, as will the provision of gay-affirmative counselling or safer sex information to LGBT youth. It could result in the purging of books, films and plays with LGBT characters and story-lines from libraries, galleries, theatres and cinemas, including many classic works of art and literature. It is routine for Russian MPs and media to portray LGBT people as the enemy within; equating homosexuality with paedophilia, bestiality and “decadent” western values. This has prompted a surge in mob violence against LGBTs. Gay teens are lured to rendezvous and then stripped and tortured – with videos of the abuse posted online. The Russian police mostly do nothing, apart from threatening the victims who report these crimes. Courtesy of Peter Tatchell Foundation. This is the homophobic backdrop to the upcoming Winter Olympics. Parallels with www.PeterTatchellFoundation.org.
January 24, 2014
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Senator Patty Murray’s statement on the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade On Wednesday, January 22, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) released the following statement on the 41st anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision to constitutionally guarantee access to safe and legal reproductive choice in the United States:
main very disheartened year after year to see other states fall further and further behind. These haven’t just been attacks on a woman’s right to choose, but it’s been an all-out assault on everything from shaming pregnant women to drafting politically-driven legislation intended to create geographical “As we mark the 41st anniversary of the roadblocks for low-income and racial mihistoric Supreme Court decision in Roe v. norities wishing to access safe reproductive
“If this week’s conversation being held by national Republicans is any indication, it appears the extreme right-wing of this country has no intention of letting up after their recordbreaking year attacking women.” Wade, another type of history is being made. In 2013, our nation saw yet another recordbreaking year of state legislatures passing restrictive legislation barring women’s access to abortion services. In fact, in the past three years, the United States has enacted more of these restrictions than in the previous ten years combined. “While I am very proud to represent a state that is consistently ranked number one among states that strive to provide women with the tools and resources to make informed health decisions on their own, I re-
services. Not surprisingly, these states that have enacted some of the most extreme and archaic restrictions are also the same states that fail to achieve even mediocre standards when it comes to critical issues like education and the economy. “And, if this week’s conversation being held by national Republicans is any indication, it appears the extreme right-wing of this country has no intention of letting up after their record-breaking year attacking women. To combat these misguided attempts we need to not only continue the
ECSA to host January 25 Field Day
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The Emerald City Softball Association, the largest Gay-softball league in the Northwest, invites players of all skill levels to its January 25 Field Day, starting at 10 a.m., at North SeaTac Park (S. 128th St. & 20th Ave. S.). “The new-player clinic and skills assessment is designed for players of all skill levels. Novices are strongly encouraged to
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attend, as are seasoned pros,” said ECSA officials in a media release. “Representatives from many of the ECSA’s 30+ teams will be on hand to introduce themselves and potentially recruit new teammates for the 2014 softball season, which runs from April to July.” “Whether you’re throwing a ball for the first time or seeking the next team in your long softball career, this year’s Field Day can be a great introduction to the ECSA and its 500+ players,” said Jim Neely, ECSA
January 24, 2014
Senator Patty Murray
fight to keep women in the driver’s seat of prevent this deeply personal and troubling their private decisions, but we must also life decision too many women still have to continue investing in quality health care and make. education options, like those made possible through the Affordable Care Act, in order to Courtesy Senator Patty Murray
eastside
continued from cover board of trustees. Her resignation comes after a month of protests from students, parents, alumni and Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea), over the firing of Mark Zmuda, an administrator who had a same-sex marriage last summer. The firing of Mr. Z has garnered international headlines. Sister Mary Tracy said Zmuda was fired because entering into his samesex marriage violated the terms of his contract with the school. The Catholic Church does not recognize same-sex marriages. The dismissal of Zmuda resulted in sit-in protests by Eastside students that spread to other local Catholic schools and led to rallies in front of the Seattle Archdiocese’s membership director. Officials ask that participants bring a mitt and molded plastic cleats (no metal spikes). There is no cost and no RSVP required, though players can join the event on Facebook at bit.ly/Jan25ECSA to stay apprised of Field Day updates and information. In case of rain, Field Day will move to Sunday, January 26, same time and place. For interested players who can’t make it this weekend, a second Field Day is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, at 10 a.m., also at North SeaTac Park. The ECSA features more than 30 teams in three skill-based divisions. Many have started practicing for the 2014 season, and two teams – the Browns and the Woodpeckers – joined numerous Seattle-based “pickup” players in the 2014 Sin City Shootout softball tournament on January 18 and 19 in Las Vegas. Registration has also opened for Seattle’s Gay-softball tournament, the Emerald City Classic, July 4 to 6. In 2013, the tourney featured 60 teams from across the U.S. and
offices and launched a global campaign whose supporters hope to nudge the school and the church on issues of sexuality. This past month, Eastside was heavily criticized for the lack of clarity on the Zmuda decision, with its attorney insisting the vice principal resigned, while Tracy said he was terminated. The school says it plans to start a search for Tracy’s replacement right away and that Principal Polly Skinner and interim Vice Principal Tom Lord will lead the school in the interim. The Eastside students have organized a nationwide “Z-Day” action on January 31 in which students are urged to wear orange (Eastside’s colors) in a gesture of support. Already, students at Holy Names, Blanchet and Seattle Prep have joined in demonstrations. Canada. Teams can sign up at emeraldcitysoftball.org/ecc. The ECSA started in Seattle in 1980 as a group of friends playing ball, and has grown to become a welcoming place for LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ players to partake in the competition and spirit of softball. It is now one of the oldest and largest Gay-softball leagues in the nation. As a member of NAGAAA (North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance) – which represents more than 10,000 players in 36 member cities in the U.S. and Canada – the ECSA sends its top teams to the NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series each year. Last August, a record nine teams represented Seattle and the ECSA in the World Series in Washington, D.C. This year’s World Series is set for September 22-27 in Dallas. To learn more about the ECSA or get information on sponsoring the league or its teams, please contact marketing/communications director Tony Stasiek at marcom@ seattlegaysoftball.com.
Celebrating 41 Years!
national news
Majority of American voters support Gay couples Freedom to Marry poll included states without same-sex marriage by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Freedom to Marry and Anzalone Liszt Grove Research released a first-of-its-kind poll January 23, showing that a majority of registered voters who live in states without the freedom to marry nevertheless support marriage for same-sex couples, with only 41 percent still opposed. The poll, conducted in December 2013, uniquely examines support for the freedom to marry specifically in the states where marriage for same-sex couples is not legal. “The findings of today’s poll show that support for the freedom to marry in America is not limited to coastal states or politically liberal states, or even states that have ended discrimination,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry. “Instead, Americans all across the country have opened their hearts and minds and followed their values of fairness and freedom to move in support of the freedom to marry. This accelerating nationwide support lines up with the legal victories we’ve seen in more conservative states, including Utah and Oklahoma, and explains why the reaction to these court rulings was largely positive. America is ready for the freedom to marry.” The poll shows support in non-marriage states at 51 percent, with strongest numbers
in the Central and Western parts of the country (59 percent and 53 percent of voters respectively). Even in the South, voters are split evenly on the freedom to marry, 46 percent in support and 46% percent opposed. In addition, the poll finds that regardless of personal views, 56 percent of voters believe that marriage will be legal in their state in a couple of years (including 49 percent among marriage opponents.) To read the full polling memo, visit www. freedomtomarry.org/NonMarriageStatesPoll. Freedom to Marry also released its latest strategy memo, “The Pathway Forward,” offering up two potential timelines – as soon as 2015 or 2017 – for a successful return to the Supreme Court to bring the country to national resolution. The strategy memo explains that the legal victories in Utah, Oklahoma, and Ohio are a result of the bedrock legal case for ending marriage discrimination (and absence of justifications for perpetuating it), buttressed by favorable public opinion, greater constitutional clarity stemming from the United States v. Windsor decision, and tens of thousands of couples getting married. Underscoring the Freedom to Marry strategy that has propelled the progress to date and that will lead to victory, Wolfson notes,
“While we can’t know when the Supreme Court will take up a case and ultimately end the patchwork of marriage discrimination in America, what we do know is that we must continue making the same case in the court of public opinion that attorneys are making in the court of law to create a climate that is as favorable as possible to victory.”
Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of To read “The Pathway Forward,” visit same-sex couples from marriage and the www.freedomtomarry.org/pathwayfor- protections, responsibilities, and commitward. ment that marriage brings. STEPHANIE TURNER
Heightened scrutiny required says Ninth Circuit Cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation require judicial standard
improperly excluded from the jury, because discrimination based on sexual orientation must be subject to “heightened scrutiny.” The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has Reinhardt, by the way, also wrote the Ninth ruled that the judicial standard of height- Circuit’s 2012 opinion striking Prop 8. ened scrutiny must be applied to cases of “This appeal’s central question is whether discrimination based on sexual orientation. equal protection prohibits discrimination In a ruling issued on January 21, a three- based on sexual orientation in jury selecjudge panel of the court said unanimously tion,” Reinhardt wrote in the Glaxo case. that a Gay juror was improperly excluded “We must first decide whether classificafrom a jury because of his sexual orienta- tions based on sexual orientation are subject tion. to a standard higher than rational basis reThe case involved two pharmaceutical view. We hold that such classifications are companies – Glaxo Smith Kline and Ab- subject to heightened scrutiny. We also hold bott Laboratories – in an unfair trade prac- that equal protection prohibits peremptory tice dispute over the pricing of rival HIV strikes based on sexual orientation and remeds Norvir, Kaletra, and Lexiva. During mand for a new trial.” jury selection, Abbott’s attorney used his “Rational basis review” means that laws first preemptory challenge to exclude the discriminating among different classes of only openly Gay member of the jury pool. people may not be based solely on animus Glaxo’s attorneys then challenged the ac- or prejudice, but must have some rational tion, arguing that the exclusion was imper- relationship to a legitimate government inmissible because it was based on sexual terest. orientation. “Heightened scrutiny” is a much more In their appeal, Glaxo’s attorneys cited rigorous standard, which requires, as the Batson v. Kentucky, a 1986 case in which Ninth Circuit ruled in the 2008 Don’t Ask, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that jurors Don’t Tell (DADT) case Witt v. Department may not be excluded solely on the basis of the Air Force, that the discriminatory law of their race. The Ninth Circuit, therefore, “must advance an important governmental had to decide if constitutional protections interest, the intrusion must significantly furagainst discrimination on the basis of sex- ther that interest, and the intrusion must be ual orientation parallel those against racial necessary to further that interest.” discrimination. This is a step forward in protecting LGBT Writing for the court, Judge Stephen Re- people from discrimination. “We have in the inhardt found that the Gay juror was, in fact, past applied rational basis review to classiby Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
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Judge Stephen Reinhardt
fications based on sexual orientation,” Reinhardt noted, citing several cases from the 1990s. Reinhardt, however, based his insistence on heightened scrutiny on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking DOMA in USA v. Windsor. “Windsor review is not rational basis review,” Reinhardt wrote in his opinion. “In its words and its deed, Windsor established a level of scrutiny for classifications based on sexual orientation that is unquestionably higher than rational basis
January 24, 2014
review. In other words, Windsor requires that heightened scrutiny be applied to equal protection claims involving sexual orientation.” Under that standard, the Ninth Circuit concluded that Batson also applies to jury exclusions based on sexual orientation. The finding that Windsor requires heightened scrutiny of classifications based on sexual orientation gives this decision significance beyond the immediate issue of jury selection, however.
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NIH research network finds many youth have high levels of HIV by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Some alarming news to report this week as Seattle Gay News learned that more than 30 percent of young males who had sex with other males and who were subsequently enrolled in a government treatment and research network were found to have high levels of HIV, reported researchers from the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The health status of the study participants, who ranged in age from 12 to 24 years, was
blood levels of the virus seen in the majority of study participants indicated that they were diagnosed early in the course of HIV infection, when the chances for minimizing the health consequences of HIV are greatest. The researchers added, however, that the study results suggest that HIV is highly likely to be transmitted among members of this group. “This is not a time for complacency,’’ said study author Bill G. Kapogiannis, M.D., scientific director of the ATN. “Our results suggest that all health care providers who work with young people – particularly those
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 new HIV infections occur in young people from 13 to 24 years of age. monitored as part of their participation in the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN). The ATN provides medical care to youth with HIV and offers counseling, medications, and other preventive measures to youth who are at risk of acquiring HIV. As part of their participation in the network, the youth have the option of taking part in research studies of the latest methods to prevent people from acquiring HIV and to treat those who have become infected. To conduct the current study, researchers analyzed the health records of youth with HIV, soon after they enrolled in the ATN. The study authors noted that the high
needles and other equipment with others • Who have had unprotected sex with men who have sex with men, had multiple partners or anonymous partners • Have been diagnosed with hepatitis, tuwho work with males who have sex with berculosis, or a sexually transmitted disease • Had unprotected sex with someone in other males – should stress the urgency of getting tested, and, if infected, into treat- the above groups ment, which benefits their own health as The network is funded by three institutes well as reduces transmission to others.” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease at the National Institutes of Health: The Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 new HIV Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute infections occur in young people from 13 of Child Health and Human Development to 24 years of age. About 60 percent of all (NICHD), the National Institute on Drug youth with HIV do not know they are infect- Abuse and the National Institute of Mental ed, are not getting treated, and can unknow- Health. The study was published online in the ingly pass the virus on to others. Among the groups that the CDC recommends get tested journal AIDS. The study’s principal investigator was Jonathan M. Ellen, M.D., of All for HIV are those: Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medi• Who have injected drugs and shared cine, St. Petersburg, Fla. The study also in-
cluded researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis; Westat, in Rockville, Maryland, and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. To conduct the study, the researchers measured the viral load and CD4 counts of 852 youth in 14 cities in the United States and Puerto Rico. Viral load is the amount of HIV in the blood. Dr. Kapogiannis explained that viral levels are highest very early in the course of an HIV infection. CD4 counts measure infection-fighting white blood cells known as T-cells. “In the first few weeks, the viral load can be millions of copies, or higher,” he said. “Then, over the ensuing months, it stabilizes at about 30,000 to 50,000 copies. Normal CD4 counts range from 500 to 1,000, but see nih page 18
Starkville, MS to pass resolution recognizing LGBT residents by Chad Griffin Human Rights Campaign On Tuesday, January 21, the city of Starkville, Mississippi passed an inclusivity resolution recognizing the inherent worth of all its city’s residents – including those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT). This is the first time any municipality in Mississippi has recognized the dignity of its LGBT residents. Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin issued the following statement: “The city of Starkville, Mississippi is sending a message to its residents that all people – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity – are worthy of respect and equality. These are fundamental
American values, and Mayor Parker Wiseman and the Starkville City Council are setting an inspiring example for their fellow lawmakers in surrounding cities and towns. While we must continue pushing for ordinances that codify these values into law across the state, the impact of this resolution on LGBT people – particularly youth – will be powerful.” “I want to thank the Board of Aldermen and all those involved with the equality resolution,” said Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman. “The resolution makes it clear that Starkville is a community that works proactively to prevent workplace discrimination before it happens. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that “we must learn to live together as brothers...” I hope the equal-
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ity resolution lives up to the beliefs of Dr. King and sends a message that Starkville is a city that is intolerant of discrimination against anyone and in any form.” Public opinion on equality in Mississippi is ahead of the law in the state. A poll conducted last summer found that nearly 60 percent of Mississippians under the age of 30 support marriage equality, while 64 percent of residents back workplace nondiscrimination protections for LGBT em-
ployees. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
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January 24, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Gender reassignment is necessary medical care, federal court says
Mass. ordered to pay for prisoner’s surgery ap
Kosilek continued to identify as a woman and to dress in woman’s clothes when McCaul was absent. In a 1992 interview, Kosilek said that one day McCaul had returned home unexpectedly, found her dressed as a woman, became enraged, and threw boiling tea at her. In the ensuing scuffle, McCaul threatened to kill Kosilek with a kitchen knife, but Kosilek knocked her down and strangled her. Kosilek first filed suit for the right to gender reassignment in 2000. In 2002 she won the right to hormone therapy and psychological counseling, but not surgery. Federal District Judge Mark Wolf ruled in 2012 that Massachusetts had violated Kosilek’s rights by denying her request for surgery, noting that the Corrections Department’s own doctors had recommended it as necessary treatment for gender identity disorder. The Department of Corrections challenged the decision, claiming that their refusal to provide gender reassignment surgery did not constitute inadequate medical care. Prison officials claimed they were concerned for Kosilek’s security, saying that allowing her to have the surgery would make
her a target for sexual assaults by other inmates. In a 2011 telephone interview with Associated Press, Kosilek said the surgery was a medical necessity, not a frivolous desire to change her appearance. “Everybody has the right to have their health care needs met, whether they are in prison or out on the streets,” Kosilek said. “People in the prisons who have bad hearts, hips, or knees have surgery to repair those things. My medical needs are no less important or more important than the person in the cell next to me.” The National Center for Transgender Equality hailed the First Circuit’s decision in the case. “Today’s decision affirms the increasing consensus among the courts that transgender-related healthcare is just healthcare and that people behind bars, including transgender people, have a constitutional right to healthcare,” NCTE Director Mara Keisling said in a statement. “Decisions about treating serious healthcare decisions like sex reassignment surgery need to be made by doctors and patients, not prison authorities.”
Houston Mayor Annise Parker gets married! courtesy Laura Spanjian
Michelle Kosilek
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A federal appeals court ruled on January 17 that the state of Massachusetts must pay for gender reassignment surgery for an inmate in the state prison system because the surgery is necessary medical care. A three-judge panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2012 Federal District Court decision that the Massachusetts Department of Corrections was re-
Kosilek was convicted of killing her then-wife in 1990, after the wife discovered Kosilek wearing the wife’s clothes. Born into an abusive alcoholic family, Kosilek had a precarious childhood. By age 12, Kosilek reported, she was working as prostitute, although she was never sexually attracted to men. By 14 she had acquired a secret stash of women’s clothes and befriended another Trans woman who taught her how to dress and apply makeup. By 16, she was addicted to heroin.
“People in the prisons who have bad hearts, hips, or knees have surgery to repair those things. My medical needs are no less important or more important than the person in the cell next to me.” quired to pay for inmate Michelle Kosilek’s surgery. “Having carefully considered the relevant law and the extensive factual record, we affirm the judgment of the district court,” Judge Rogeriee Thompson wrote for the First Circuit. Thompson was appointed to the First Circuit by President Obama after a career as a Rhode Island District Judge. Kosilek, now 63, was named Robert Kosilek at birth, and has been trying to get gender reassignment surgery for more than a decade. She is serving a life sentence for murder.
Although Kosilek earned a degree in psychology, found work as a substance abuse counselor, and was briefly on hormone therapy, she was never able to remain clean and sober. In the 1970s, she was in prison, and housed with male inmates who raped her on several occasions. To avoid being targeted as a visibly Trans person, she stopped taking hormones about 1972. Kosilek met and eventually married Cheryl McCaul. McCaul knew Kosilek identified as a woman, but believed their relationship could change Kosilek’s gender identification. The couple had one son together, but
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Mayor Annise Parker (r) and her long-time partner, First Lady Kathy Hubbard
Mayor Annise Parker and her long-time partner, First Lady Kathy Hubbard, were joined in marriage on Thursday, January 16 in a sunset ceremony held at a private home in Palm Springs, California. A small gathering of family and friends, including the mayor’s mother and Ms. Hubbard’s sister, were on hand for the exchange of vows, which were presided over by the Reverend Paul Fromberg, a family friend from San Francisco. Two other close friends from Houston, Judge Steve Kirkland and Mr. Mark Parthie, served as the attendants and formal witnesses. Mayor Parker and the First Lady selected January 16th for their wedding because it marks the 23rd anniversary of the start of their lives together.
January 24, 2014
“This is a very happy day for us,” said Mayor Parker. “We have had to wait a very long time to formalize our commitment to each other. Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship. She is the love of my life and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life married to her.” Ms. Hubbard has other insurance options available to her and will, therefore, not participate in the new policy granting city health insurance benefits to the spouses of legally-married city employees. Courtesy AbOUT Magazine
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Couples sue for right to marry in Florida facebook
The plaintiffs in the Florida lawsuit
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Six Gay and Lesbian couples and the Equality Florida Institute sued the state of Florida for the right to marry on January 21. Their lawsuit argues that Florida’s laws barring same-sex couples from marriage violate the U.S. Constitution by denying them the legal protections and equal dignity that having the right to marry provides. All the couples are from Miami and the surrounding area, and filed their suit in a Miami court. Four of the couples are raising children, and another couple has an adult child and two grandchildren.
virginia
continued from cover Olson and Boies successfully challenged the constitutionality of California’s Prop 8, from 2009 through the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2013. A similar filing in the second lawsuit, Harris v. McDonnell, is expected soon. That suit was filed last year by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Virginia, Lambda Legal, and the law firm Jenner and Block. As a state senator, Herring had voted against marriage equality, but he told NPR’s
Plaintiff Catherina Pareto explained that she and her partner wanted to be married in their home state, rather than go to another jurisdiction where marriage is already legal. “Florida is our home, it is where we are raising our child, and where we want to get married,” she said. “Karla [Arguello] and I wish for our family the same things that other families want. We want to build our lives together, provide a safe and caring home for our child, and share in the responsibilities and protections of marriage.” Plaintiff Summer Greene said she worried about being able to protect her partner as they age.
“As Pam [Faerber] and I get older, it worries me that we do not have the legal protections that marriage provides in case one of us becomes ill or dies,” she said. “Getting married in Florida will provide us with those important protections and it will allow us to celebrate that joyous occasion with all our family and friends, just as other couples can.” The couples are being represented by private attorneys and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “The law should support families, not make it harder for committed couples to support one another and protect their chil-
Morning Edition that he was sorry he did so. “I had voted against marriage equality eight years ago, back in 2006, even though at the time I was speaking out against discrimination and ways to end discrimination, and I was wrong for not applying it to marriage,” he said. “I saw very soon after that how that hurt a lot of people and it was very painful for a lot of people.” Herring said he spoke with constituents, co-workers and his family and has “come to see the issue very differently now.” His children also played a role in his changing views, he said. “They were instructive about the relationships that people have, and they were help-
ful in getting me to see a different perspective,” Herring said. “They pressed me for the position I had taken and made me continue to question it, and I just came to the conclusion that it was the right thing to do.” Attorneys for plaintiffs in Virginia’s pending marriage suits greeted Herring’s filing with enthusiasm. “This is a great day for the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Bostic v. Rainey
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gal officer continue America’s evolution on this issue. More and more Americans are embracing the idea that all loving and committed couples should have access to the protections that only come with marriage,” said Amanda Goad, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. “With the attorney general on our side, we hope that we can soon count Virginia among the 17 other states where
“Virginia’s marriage laws are needlessly mean-spirited and cause harsh and gratuitous pain and humiliation to gay and lesbian Virginians and their families.” attorney Ted Olson. “Virginia’s marriage laws are needlessly mean-spirited and cause harsh and gratuitous pain and humiliation to gay and lesbian Virginians and their families. Attorney General Herring’s actions today have brought Virginia that much closer to the quintessential American ideals of equality under the law and the freedom to pursue happiness. We are grateful for his leadership and look forward to working with him to strike down Virginia’s odious marriage ban.” The ACLU and Lambda Legal, who are representing plaintiffs in Harris v. McDonnell, also hailed Herring’s decision in a joint press statement. “Today’s actions by Virginia’s chief le-
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dren,” NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter said. “Barring same-sex couples from marriage causes great harms to their families and children while helping no one.” “Courts throughout the country are recognizing that this is an issue of basic dignity and fundamental fairness,” Attorney Cristina Alonso added: “We look forward to the day when our clients can celebrate and protect their relationships by getting married in their home state in front of family and friends.” Attorney Elizabeth Schwartz noted that without the right to marry, securing legal protections for same-sex partners can be very difficult. “As someone who has spent nearly two decades helping same-sex couples and their families achieve some measure of legal protection under Florida law, which gives us very few tools, I know too well just how difficult the process can be and how much vulnerability these couples face,” she said. “The protections we are able to cobble together without marriage pale in comparison to the comprehensive security provided by marriage recognized not just by the federal government but by the State of Florida.” Equality Florida Institute Chief Executive Officer Nadine Smith said that public opinion is on the side of the plaintiffs. “Today the majority of Floridians stand with us as we take this historic step toward marriage equality in the Sunshine State,” she said. “These couples have been embraced by their families and communities, but every day, Florida laws are denying them the protections and dignity that every family deserves. These harmful laws are outdated and out of step. It is time for all families in our state to have full equality under the law.” The plaintiff couples in the suit are: Catherina Pareto and Karla Arguello, Dr. Juan Carlos Rodriguez and David Price, Vanessa and Melanie Alenier, Todd and Jeff Delmay, Summer Greene and Pamela Faerber, and Don Price Johnston and Jorge Isaias Diaz.
same-sex couples have the freedom to marry.” “It is a critical and important development when the attorney general – the keeper of the federal and state constitution in the commonwealth – joins us in arguing that barring same-sex couples from marriage is clearly unconstitutional,” said Greg Nevins, counsel in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. “We will continue to work to remove all remaining impediments so that Virginia can join the growing number of states where same-sex couples in loving, committed relationships are treated equally and can enjoy fully the benefits and responsibilities marriage provides.”
Celebrating 41 Years!
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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Discover 40 years of LGBTQ history in the Puget Sound region 860 Terry Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109 206.324.1126 www.mohai.org
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GAY CITY ARTS – “PORTALS TO SPIRITUALITY” JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 9 Join Gay City (517 E. Pike St.) for “Portals to Spirituality” by Darnita L. Howard. Through digital fractals and traditional media (acrylics, ink, and photography), Damita L. Howard explores spirituality, nature, love, beauty, and culture. “Portals to Spirituality” is presented in conjunction with Gay City Arts, through which Gay City collaborates with local LGBT artists to galvanize an audience for Queer arts, foster the development of LGBT artists, and facilitate artistic excellence across a wide range of disciplines, including theatre, music, dance, film, spoken word, literary and visual arts. A portion of any sales will be donated to Gay City. www.gaycity.org
SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB – FAIRYLAND The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday from 6-7:15 p.m., at Seattle Area Support Groups Community Center (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). In January, the club will discuss Fairyland by Alysia Abbott, the true story of a girl growing up with her Gay Buddhist poet father in San Francisco during the ‘70s and ‘80s, and as she goes through his journals 35 years later and recreates their time together, a daughter-father love story that I think will speak hugely to all those fathers in our reading group. It brings back to life post-Stonewall San Francisco, when it was the capital of the Gay universe, as well as the catastrophe of AIDS, when the caregiving parent has to turn to his daughter for caregiving. Sofia Coppola has just purchased the rights to Fairyland to make into her next film. All GLBTQ folks are welcome to participate in this FREE book club. For more information, visit http://faculty.washington. edu/swittet/SGLBookClub/. 19TH ANNUAL SEATTLE ESPRESSO CUP BOWLING TOURNAMENT JANUARY 24-26 On Friday, January 24, through Sunday, January 26, at West Seattle Bowl (4505 39th Ave. SW), the Seattle Unified Bowling Association (SUBA) hosts the 19th Annual Seattle Espresso Cup Bowling Tournament. Approximately 130 bowlers from the Pacific Northwest and from around the country have registered for the tournament. The goal of the tournament is to promote friendship and goodwill within the LGBT community while providing a venue for bowlers to compete in a series of events held throughout the weekend. The team event is Friday at 7 p.m., singles is Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by doubles at 1 p.m. An optional scratch event is Sunday at 9 a.m. Spectators are welcome. www.espressocup.org. EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION – FIELD DAY NEW-PLAYER CLINIC & SKILLS ASSESSMENT On Saturdays, January 25 and February 8, at 10 a.m., at North SeaTac Playfields (S. 128th St. & 20th Ave. S., SeaTac), players of all skill levels are invited to attend this new-player clinic and skills assessment meet-up for ECSA’s 2014 LGBT softball season. For rainout and league information, visit seattlegaysoftball.com.
www.quakerugby.org.
ENTRE HERMANOS – OPEN HOUSE On Wednesday, January 29, from 4-7 p.m., Entre Hermanos (1105 23rd Ave.) will host an Open House at their new location. Come learn about Entre Hermanos, visit their new home and enjoy some food and beverages. Entre Hermanos’ mission is to promote the health and well being of the Latino Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and questioning community in a culturally appropriate environment through disease prevention, education, support servies, advocacy and community building. www.entrehermanos.org; 206-322-7700
compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
friends of The Court from Denver and Salt Lake City in town for Coronation. No cover. On Friday, Feburary 14, doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m., at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway, entrance in alley between Broadway and Harvard Ave. off E. Pike St.), the Imperial Court presents the Out of Town Show ($15 cover), featuring performances by dignitaries and friends of The Court visiting from outside Seattle in town for Coronation. On Saturday, February 15, doors at 5 p.m., ball at 6 p.m., at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel (515 Madison St.), the Imperial Court presents Coronation 2014 – “The Future Masquerade: A Journey Through the Past, Present & Future.” Tickets: $50 available in advance at goo.gl/ioy2wX and at the door. Light fare available for purchase outside the ballroom. All entries $7. Queen Mother of the Americas Empress Nicole the Great presents her 8th annual State of the Empire address. On Sunday, February 16, at 11 a.m., at Lost Lake (1505 10th Ave.), the Imperial Court presents the Victory Brunch. Come celebrate the investiture of The Court’s new reigning monarchs. Cost: $20 per plate. On Sunday, February 16, at 2 p.m., at C.C. Attle’s (1701 E. Olive Way), the Imperial Court presents the Alaska Birdwater Party, featuring performances by dignitaries and friends of The Court in town for Coronation.
DIVERSE HARMONY – “WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE ME” On Friday & Saturday, January 31 & February 1, at 7:30 p.m., join Diverse Harmony, the nation’s first Gay-straight alliance youth chorus, at Broadway Performance Hall (Broadway & E. Pine St.) as we take you on a musical journey from the family we are born into, to the family we choose. Combining Broadway, pop and classical tunes, this concert will explore what family is, and how everyone forms their own sense of family and community. Selections include Sondheim, music from Ragtime, pop hits of the ‘70s and 2000s, and dancing and “REVEALING QUEER” – acting from our amazing youth. LGBT HISTORY AT MOHAI Tickets: $20 general; $25 premium; FEBRUARY 14-JULY 6 $30 VIP. www.brownpapertickets.com/ Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry event/520888. Free youth tickets (ages 22 and under with ID) available at the door on (860 Terry Ave. N. in South Lake Union) presents “Revealing Queer,” a landmark day of show only. exhibit on the history of the Puget Sound rewww.diverseharmony.org gion’s LGBTQ community. KNIGHTS OF MANTRA – BEGGARS FEAST 2014 On Saturday, February 1, door at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., at the Russian Cultural Center (704 19th Ave. E.), the Knights of Mantra present Beggars Feast 2014, a seven course dinner with wine, entertainment and games. Tickets: $35. www.jetchapterkofm.com
On Friday, February 14, from 7-11 p.m., MOHAI will host a special opening night celebration for the exhibit. Enjoy Gay Bingo hosted by Mama Tits, Queer burlesque with Lily Divine and Pidgeon Von Tramp, DJ SassyBlack (Cat of THEESatisfaction), gallery talks with Community Advisory Committee members throughout the night, and a Queering the Museum Project digital storytelling video playing in the Prologue Theater. All galleries at the museum will be open during this event. Tickets: $12 in advance; $15 at the door. www.mohai.org LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE – GAY BINGO! BRIDESMAIDS EDITION On Saturday, February 15, from 7-10 p.m., at Fremont Studios (155 N 35th St.), join Lifelong AIDS Alliance for an evening of Gay Bingo! Bridesmaids Edition featuring live performances from your favorite drag queens plus live on-stage weddings and vow renewals plus costume contests, photo opportunities and more. This isn’t your grandmother’s bingo. Tickets: $50 general admission; $69 Queen for a Day VIP. Proceeds benefit Lifelong AIDS Alliance. www.llaa.org/gaybingo. Q SQUARED MEN – Q-SPRING 2014 APRIL 25-27 Q-Spring, a celebration of self and Spring for Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Men, is a chance to gather with other men to reflect on, embrace, and celebrate who you are, where you have been, and where you are headed. Discover new parts of yourself and enjoy the company of other men in a nonjudgmental, attitude-free atmosphere. For more information and to register, visit www.qsquared.org or phone 253-216-3997.
GAY CITY ARTS – “IT WILL KILL THEM!” FEBRUARY 6-9 On Thursday-Satuday, February 6-8, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, February 9, at 2 p.m., at Calamus Auditorium at Gay City (517 E. Pike St.), Gay City Arts presents Jennifer Jasper’s “It Will Kill Them.” Everyone has tried to put Jennifer Jasper in a box. Is she a Queer artist? Lesbian? Bisexual? Mainstream? In her signature comedic storytelling style, “It Will Kill Them!” explores the struggle she’s had with the need people have to label her. She has been performing improvisational stories of her life for decades. Recently, she had critical success with her one-woman show, “I Can Hear You ... but I’m Not Listening.” Tickets: $15-general, $13-student/senior. www.gaycity.org
IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE – CORONATION WEEK FEBRUARY 9-16 On Sunday, February 9, at 11 a.m., at C.C. Attle’s (1701 E. Olive Way) the Imperial Court presents the In-Town Brunch and Awards ($10 cover), followed by Voting Day at C.C.’s from 1-6 p.m. All King County and Island County residents (with valid ID) are encouraged to vote for the Imperial Court’s candidates for Emperor and Empress. SEATTLE QUAKE RUGBY – On Thursday, February 13, doors at 7 NEW PLAYER ORIENTATION On Saturday, January 25, from 1-3 p.m., p.m., show at 7:30 p.m., at The Baltic Room at Magnuson Park (7400 Sand Point Way (1207 Pine St.), the Imperial Court presNE), join Seattle Quake Rugby for a new ents the Denver and Salt Lake City Show, featuring performances by dignitaries and player orientation.
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by Dr. Rizi Timane Special to the SGN I grew up in Nigeria. In Lagos, to be exact. And I have known since I was eight years old that I am Transgender. I was born as a girl but knew in my heart that I was meant to be a boy, and it is only now, 28 years later, that I am truly coming to live as my authentic self. Part of the reason for this? I hate to say it, but my homeland is not a safe place for any member of the LGBT community. It has not been for a long time; there has always been discrimination, bigotry, and even violence committed against Gay and Transgender Nigerians. The issue now, however, is that this inhuman treatment has been written into law. On January 7, 2014, Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathon signed the “Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act,” under which any Gay couple who seeks to be married or engages in a relationship can be sentenced to up to fourteen years in prison. Anyone who belongs to or even encourages a Gay club, society, or organization may be imprisoned for up to ten years. Sodomy is already illegal under Nigerian federal law, but this new act will give the authorities a much broader hammer with which to strike down the LGBT community, which already lives largely in silence. To speak about their lives could incur serious (though, of course, unwarranted) punishments. On the surface, of course, it’s easy to see just how wrong this all is. In fact, it goes against Section 40 of the Nigerian Consti-
tution of 1999, which ensures the right to peaceful assembly and association. However, when we dig deeper, we find how truly sinister this act and the people who support it are. Nigeria, on the whole, sees itself as a religious nation, and that is what, in part, has fueled this anti-LGBT sentiment. Homosexuality is a sin, they say. However, they seem to have no problem with adultery, which is rampant all across the country despite its being expressly forbidden by God in the Ten Commandments. What’s more, another bill recently passed in Nigeria allows men to marry underage girls. No moral problem there, right? But if two men or two women want to live in a peaceful, loving relationship, that is now against the law. So why is there all this anti-homosexuality hate in Nigeria? Part of the reason is Nigerians think the concept itself is a Western phenomenon – in other words, something that does not happen in their society, only in other heathen lands. This, of course, is far from true. Same-sex relationships and even marriages have existed back to prehistoric times, particularly in African history. We did not know real homophobia until the colonials brought it to us – a practice that is continued today by socalled Christian missionaries who come to “save” but only end up spreading hate. We could forever examine how this state of affairs has come to pass, but the reasons are myriad, and the path Nigeria has followed to this point has been rough. Its people continue to suffer from poverty, hunger, and illiteracy as well as malaria, cholera, and typhoid epidemics; crime is rampant, as
courtesy dr. rizi timane
Transgender activist from Nigeria responds to anti-Gay law
Dr Rizi Timane
is governmental corruption; there is tribalism, religious bigotry, sectionalism, and internal terrorism; clean water is hard to come by; and there is no secure electricity or road infrastructure. Yet we’re talking about a nation that boasts the continent’s highest GDP due to its oil production. And this is what it focuses on? Who people love or who they’re in bed with? I am disappointed in my country. This law is backward, and the harm it will do to so many people could be irreparable. Mass arrests have already been reported; right now there are people in jail simply for be-
ing themselves. Some Western nations have threatened to cut aid to Nigeria if the law is not repealed, but I’m not sure what good that will do to a nation that puts out two million barrels of oil a day. Perhaps a stronger show of force would work; I’ll call on President Obama to intervene in this breach of human and civil rights. But mostly I will pray for my brothers and sisters in the LGBT community back home and remind them it is always darkest before the dawn. Change will come. Just please hold on. http://www.rizixaviertimane.com
The U.S. will “absolutely not” cut AIDS funds for Nigeria, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle said on January 20. Entwistle spoke at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja. The INEC is an independent commission set up in 1998 to monitor elections in Nigeria. When asked if the U.S. would cut funding to Nigeria because of the new anti-Gay law that has already resulted in scores of arrests, Entwistle responded “Absolutely not. But we have to look at it very carefully and make sure that everything we do is in compliance with the new law. “As you know, we put millions of dollars in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And again, I am not a lawyer; I read the law and it seems to me that it may put some restrictions on what we can do to help fight HIV/AIDS in this country. “These are the issues we are looking at as we look at the law.” Under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, Nigerian officials may hand down jail sentences from five to 14 years to Gay people, Gay organizations, same-sex couples entering into marriage, Gay marriage guests, or people who know others to be
Gay and do not report them to authorities. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed the bill in secret on January 7, and scores of Nigerians have reportedly been arrested, some of them being tortured to procure additional names. One Gay man who confessed has already been punished with 20 lashes and a fine. Both the U.S. State Department and the British Foreign Office have condemned the law, and expressed fears it could make AIDS prevention work in Nigeria much more difficult. Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the Nigerian president on media matters, said his country does not need to take advice from anyone. “It is actually illegal to spank children in many U.S. states and in much of Europe and Nigerian parents have been arrested for motivating their children via spanking,” he said. “Now, if foreign domains would not tolerate something that is part of our own culture and which has been used to positive effects by generations of Nigerians, why should we accept something that is not in our own culture in order to please others?” Nigerian ambassador to the U.S., Dahiru Suleiman, yesterday, described Gay and Lesbian sex as “animalistic and degrading to humanity.”
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
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U.S. won’t cut AIDS funds to Nigeria
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle
In an attempt to mollify Nigerian officials, Ambassador Entwistle admitted that samesex marriage is also controversial in the United States. “The issue of same-sex marriage is very controversial all over the world, including my country where 17 states out of 50 have considered it. Some are saying it is not legal,” he said.
“The issue that we see, and I am speaking as a friend of Nigeria, it looks to me that it puts significant restrictions in the Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Expression and, in my opinion, especially in advanced democracies, once a government begins to say something in these areas, freedom no longer applies. It seems to me that such is a very worrisome precedent.”
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Violent anti-Gay Russian gang leader Maksim “The Cleaver” Martsinkevich was arrested in Cuba on January 19, according to Russian news agency RIA Novotsi. Martsinkevich reportedly fled to Cuba in December to escape a Russian prison term on charges of “extremism.” Martsinkevich was tried in absentia – which is legal in Russia – and sentenced to more than three years in prison. He is the leader of the group “Occupy Pedophilia” which uses social media to lure Gay men to isolated spots, then kidnaps and tortures them. Home videos of Martsinkevich and his associates abusing their Gay victims have been posted online. One of the gang’s victims reportedly died as a result of his ordeal, but it remains unclear whether the man died of injuries sustained in the attack or committed suicide when videos showing his face were posted online. Cuban authorities did not confirm or deny the reported arrest. According to one of Martsinkevich’s blog posts from Cuba, an Interpol warrant had been issued for his ar-
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Cuba arrests anti-Gay Russian gang leader rest. Cuba is an Interpol member state, and has been advancing rapidly towards a Gayfriendly legal system. On December 21, Cuba’s legislature passed a landmark LGBT civil rights bill, protecting Cubans from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Much of the progress has been credited to Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro, and niece of revolutionary founder Fidel Castro. The organization she heads, the National Center for Sex Education, has done extensive education work informing Cubans that same-sex attraction is normal. The group also spearheads Cuba’s HIV/AIDS prevention work. In a remarkable 2010 interview with the Mexican newspaper Jornada, Mariela’s uncle Fidel apologized for his government’s persecution of LGBT Cubans in the early days of the revolution. It was “a great injustice, a great injustice!” Fidel Castro admitted. “If anyone is responsible, it’s me.... We had so many and such terrible problems, problems of life or death. In those moments, I was not able to deal with that matter.”
Catholic officials endorse anti-Gay pogrom in Nigeria
Maxim Martsinkevich
Mtande
The Archbishop quickly added that “As a priest and by my Christian values, it’s not a crime to be Gay or heterosexual. I will treat [a Gay person] with great understanding and love, with great compassion.” When Okonkwu pointed out that Gay men may be stoned to death in Nigeria’s Bauchi state, Kaigama denies that Gay men are at risk. “That would be . . . they have extra-judicial abilities [in Bauchi, where sharia law applies],” he says. “I don’t imagine that just simply because somebody is Gay he or she will be arrested or maltreated. I don’t think that is acceptable. I think the constitution is clear about this. The legislation is very, very clear against Gay unions.” Kaigama was appointed Archbishop by Pope John Paul II in 1995. In spite of his assurances, 11 Gay men in Bauchi state face a very real risk of death. Less than a day before the Catholic officials spoke to the press, a lynch mob appeared at the sharia court building in Bauchi City, to demand that 11 prisoners arrested under the new anti-Gay law be stoned to death. “No one can be sentenced to death until confirmed without a reasonable doubt,” judge El Yakubu Aliyu said in response, and then abruptly adjourned the court. The mob then threw stones at the court
building, and security officers fired into the air to disperse the rioters. Of the 11 men on trial, only three had given testimony when the riot began. Their defense counsel was unable to submit an application for bail, and the rest of the defendants were unable to give testimony. According to BBC News, it was unclear when the arraignments would resume. The same court already convicted one young man of sodomy and had him publicly whipped. The court said it was sparing him the sentence of death by stoning because he had confessed to just one act of Gay sex as a boy and had not committed any similar acts since. Arrests of Gay men began in Bauchi state soon after the new law was signed on January 7, with reports of up to 38 prisoners, but have since spread to several states in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria. In Muslim states, Muslims are usually tried under sharia law, while Christians – who make up the majority in the southern part of the country – are tried under regular civil law. Sharia prescribes death by stoning for Gay men, while the new civil law establishes 14 years in prison as the maximum penalty for being Gay, joining a Gay organization, entering into a same-sex marriage, or concealing the identity of Gay people from authorities.
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Cardinal John Onaiyekan
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Nigeria’s highest-ranking Roman Catholic officials endorsed the country’s new anti-Gay law while a lynch mob in one of the country’s northern states demanded that Gay prisoners be stoned to death. Catholic Cardinal John Onaiyekan, appointed Apostolic Administrator for a diocese in southern Nigeria by Pope Francis, said the country had “every right” to pass laws against Gays. “[While] the church accepts people as they are, we condemn homosexuality,” Onaiyekan said in an interview with Nigeria PM News. “Nigeria is an independent country and we do not beg for food. We have every right to order our social life in any way we think it should go. Our social life should not be organized on the basis of what others think. “On this note, I commend our National
Assembly and Mr. President for resisting all the pressures and enacting a law against homosexuality. Signing the bill into law by President Jonathan in spite of pressures from within and outside the country should be commended by all and sundry. The world is at crossroads and there is nothing new under the sun. “We all know that this is not the first time we have heard about the agitation for gay rights but our position, as a church, has not changed. Even when some sections of society view same sex issues as moral disorder acts, homosexuality has not stopped, it still happens in the open around the world. It doesn’t mean that it should be accepted.” Onaiyekan was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Meanwhile, Nigerian Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama thanked God for the new law. “We thank God that this bill was passed,” Kaigama said in an interview with Sahara TV reporter Rudolf Okonkwo.
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health and medicine On death and dying by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer At some point in your life – if not already – you will be faced with one of the most commanding paradoxes of the human experience. That is the death of a loved one. A loved one could be a parent, spouse, child, friend, or family pet. The form (human or animal) is of no consequence. The experience is profound. A paradox is a contradiction and with the experience of grief, the paradox exists where one feels great pain, there is intense
love. Where one experiences immense fear, one finds absolute strength. Understanding this paradox is important as you face the death of a loved one and the feelings of grief. Generally, people are familiar with the phases of grief when they have lost a loved one: 1. Denial and Isolation; 2. Anger; 3. Bargaining; 4. Depression; and 5. Acceptance. These phases are usually presented in a linear way (as numbered above) – you move from one to two, then to three, and so on. In this framework, it is implied that soon you will be through your grief and on with
your life. These experiences are very real! Implying that you will move through them sequentially, and that there is some kind of finish line, is not. You don’t finish grieving the death of someone at the end of the workweek or when your bereavement time ends. This can be a very long process – sometimes a lifetime. When you’ve lost someone you love, you will experience all of these feelings. At the beginning, it may be difficult to delineate one feeling from another. Yet, as time goes on, you will recognize certain experiences and you will note that some feelings are stronger than others. Do not be surprised
grieving will be the determining factor.) So now I’ve briefly framed a broader understanding of the experience of grief. The next part is, “What do I do with my grief?” An important part of getting on in your life after a great loss is the meaning you make of the loss. “Meaning making” is a very individual thing. It simply involves taking a feeling or memory you are having about a loss and doing something intentional with it. I can only give you examples of what I do with meaning making – you’ll have to figure out what is helpful for you. My father was a very generous man. By no means perfect, yet he was very generous
I was so terrified of experiencing the death of someone that I started doing counseling. It was in my terror that I found the tremendous strength that I would call upon in the following years as I would continue to find myself at the side of others who were at the end of their lives. when these feelings cycle back and forth. Do not be surprised when, down the road (sometimes many years after someone has died), you experience some of these feelings again. This is normal. By the time I was 35 years old, many friends had died (during the AIDS crisis), both of my parents had died, as had one of my two brothers. In my 20s, I was so terrified of experiencing the death of someone that I started doing counseling. It was in my terror that I found the tremendous strength that I would call upon in the following years as I would continue to find myself at the side of others who were at the end of their lives. What I have noticed is that as time passes, I can be moved to tears by each loss. Then I can bring forward the love and memorable times I’ve had with each person. The painful memories can lead me to the loving memories just as the loving memories can take me back to the experience of grief. This is the contradictions of the paradox converging – the love with the pain. Don’t expect a time limit on grieving. It is normal for you to grieve for as many years as you need to. (Please note: I did not say, “as many years as you want to.” Because most of us want a finish point to this process, we must understand that time and the healing process of
with his family and friends. When I “make meaning” out of his death, I am conscious and intentional about being generous and noting it as a legacy that I have held on to from my Dad. Sometimes I share this with others and sometimes, my generous gesture is simply a private act that I combine with a memory of my Dad. My mother dabbled in art and was a great baker. Throughout the year, I attempt (sometimes dismally, but no matter) to recreate something she loved to bake. Again, sometimes it is my own private process and sometimes I share it with others. Regardless, I am remembering her and actively engaging in something that was about her and meaningful for the both of us. The anniversary of my mother’s death is coming in a few days. I will go out to a nice restaurant and enjoy a nice meal and reflect on my life with her and how I still miss her every day! This is an annual tradition for me that I enjoy doing. My older brother died unexpectedly (long story). He worked what most would consider a very menial job for most of his adult years because he never graduated from high school. At his service, hundreds of people showed up – so many that there ended up only being standing room on the sidewalk outside and where they had to place loud speakers so people could hear the service.
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From my brother’s death, I never again minimized or trivialized another’s life through what they do for a living. Nor did I ever again put anyone on a pedestal because of something as superficial as a job or money. I became acutely aware that he had impacted the lives of all of these people in different ways because of who he was – not through money or any profound social cause that came from a university degree. Rather through day-to-day interactions. Many years later I try, on a daily basis, to be mindful of my impact and the impact that others have on me no matter their status but simply through their character and actions. I could go on. You get that “meaning making” reflects the impact that someone has had on us. My hope is that what you get from this is that in grief, we feel a mix of intense, contradictory feelings for a very long time, because we love while we are in pain. Let it happen and let it be okay. At some point, be thoughtful and intentional about the meaning you make from the loss of a loved one and let that meaning impact how you show up to others while you are still alive. Michael Raitt, MA LMHC, is a Therapist and a Contributing Writer to the SGN. He writes a bi-monthly column in the SGN. If you would like to comment on this column, ask a question you’d like him to write about, or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast. net.
NIH
continued from page 6 drop substantially during the infection.” Among the study participants, 34 percent had CD4+ counts of 350 or less, 27 percent had counts from 351 to 500, and 39 percent had counts greater than 500. Male youth who had reported sexual contact with another male had the highest average viral load, in excess of 115,000. Among all males, regardless of sexual orientation, the viral load averaged more than 106,000. For females, the average viral load count was roughly 48,000. Most of those diagnosed with HIV had been referred for medical care during the course of the study (79 percent.) “Men with HIV tend to have higher viral loads than do women,” Dr. Kapogiannis said. “But I think there is a timing issue here as well. It’s possible that the young men who have sex with men are being diagnosed earlier than are the women, because of greater awareness of the risks and more frequent testing.” Because of the high viral loads they detected in their study, the researchers concluded that efforts to diagnose and treat people with HIV should focus a large share of their efforts on youth, particularly young men who have sex with men. “It’s important to get these individuals into treatment early, not only for the sake of their own health, but also for that of others, because many youth don’t even know they are infected and may risk unknowingly
transmitting the virus during this time,” Dr. Kapogiannis said. The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute’s website at http://www.nichd. nih.gov/. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.
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harms” they were experiencing pending the appeal. continued from cover Meanwhile, the ACLU, as expected, filed a lawsuit on behalf of four same-sex couthe requisite “extraordinary circumstances” ples, demanding that Utah recognize their existed and that the scheduling request was marriages. not as important as the “real and continuing The suit filed on January 21 says the state has put hundreds of Gay and Lesbian couples in legal limbo and prevented them from getting key protections for themselves and their children. “They’ve put a giant question mark over the lives of all these people that have married,” said John Mejia, legal director for the ACLU in Utah. Utah spokesperson Marty Carpenter responded, noting that Governor Gary Herbert “has said throughout this process that his responsibility is to follow the law. That is exactly what the administration is doing, and we respect the rights of those who disagree to take their grievances before a judge.” The plaintiffs in the ACLU suit are among some 1,300 Gay and Lesbian couples who
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rushed to marry after a federal judge in Utah overturned the state’s same-sex marriage ban on December 20. U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled that the same-sex marriage ban violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Same-sex weddings came to a halt when, on January 6, the U.S. Supreme Court granted Utah an emergency stay – something two lower courts had denied them. Herbert then issued a directive saying that state agencies should consider same-sex marriage rights “ON HOLD” until the Tenth Circuit ruled on the state’s appeal. The Governor said he was not ordering agencies to void the marriages, just not to afford couples the rights associated with marriage. Mejia said the ACLU disagrees with Herbert’s analysis. Marriages performed during the 17-day window when same-sex marriage was legal are valid no matter what the court rules, he said. Couples have vested rights in their new marriages and should be able to move forward with efforts to make
partners legal guardians of children, or add their spouses to their health insurance or pension plans, Mejia added. National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell said the Utah case may have national legal implications. “Let’s just be disabused of any notion that [the U.S. Supreme Court is] not paying attention,” she told the Salt Lake Tribune. “If they believe it’s inevitable, and that the nation is more or less with them, that is going to be very important in an ultimate victory in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.” There are now 42 cases around the country similar to the ACLU of Utah lawsuit, Kendell noted. “I think the Utah case is a very compelling case ... but it would be a total crapshoot to guess whether that’s the case they take,” she said, although she added that the high court will have to weigh in definitively on same-sex marriage in the next one to three years. “It’s just untenable [to ignore the issue],” she said.
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