Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 53 Volume 42
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Fort Lauderdale plans mass wedding for Gay couples Bigots sue to stop Florida marriages but judge gives go ahead www.bwfortlauderdale.com
Fort Lauderdale
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau will invite at least 100 Gay and Lesbian couples to marry on their
beach sometime this winter. The exact date for the event has not been announced. On December 19 the U.S. Supreme Court turned down Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s request to stay a federal court ruling
that same-sex marriages may begin on January 6. In a statement to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper, the president of the tourism bureau said the number 100 will honor Broward County, Florida’s
Top Seattle LGBTQ news items of 2014
The point is, each will make you feel by Shaun Knittel something and that means that we’ve SGN Associate Editor done our job. Thank you Seattle Gay So much has happened in 2014 News readers for sticking with us all that it would be impossible to com- these years. We’ve got you covered! pile a list that accurately describes, down to the second, each imporED MURRAY SWORN IN ARSON AT NEIGHBOURS; tant or memorable news item that AS MAYOR OF SEATTLE SUSPECT SENTENCED took place in Seattle this past year. Ed Murray was sworn in as Mayor TO FEDERAL PRISON However, this is one editor’s attempt of Seattle in front of a raucous capacOn January 1, 2014, just minutes to roundup some of the stories that ity crowd in the lobby of City Hall on I wrote about or a colleague wrote January 6. Former governor and U.S. after the New Year’s Eve countdown about during the 365 days we called ambassador to China Gary Locke, inside Neighbours Nightclub (1509 2014. Some are good stories, some and Murray’s husband Michael Shio- Broadway) Musab Masmari snuck will make you sad or mad, and saki administered the oath of office. while others might give you hope. For the oath, Murray used a 19th see Top Seattle page 3
Bigots sue Meanwhile, the anti-Gay Florida Family Action filed two lawsuits seeking to prevent Florida officials from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The group is represented by the Orlando-based Liberty Counsel, which offers legal rep-
resentation to right-wing Christians. The officials named in the lawsuits are Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Circuit Judge Robert LeBlanc. Ramirez said he would issue licenses to any samesex couple that asked for one. Dyer and LeBlanc promised to officiate at same-sex weddings on January 6. Florida Family action argues the lifting of the ban on same-sex marriage applies to only Washington County in the Panhandle, where the legal challenge to the state’s same-sex marriage ban originated. Ramirez has promised to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. “All three of these officials have shown great contempt and disrespect for the rule of law and are behaving irresponsibly and unprofessionally,” Florida Family Action President John Stemberger said. “The federal court decision is clear that it only applies narrowly to the two plaintiffs and only in Washington County. Elected officials must be held accountable to the law and to the constitution they have see Lauderdale page 7
Biggest LGBTQ news from 2014 Suministrada / glbtrt.ala.org
JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM
Mayor Ed Murray (l) at swearing-in ceremony
century Irish Bible and a rosary inherited from his grandmother, recalling his Irish Catholic roots. Then, in a speech quoting both Franklin D. Roosevelt and his childhood hero Jack Kennedy, Murray promised to make City government work. “We live in a moment in history where government and its ability to function have been called into question,” Murray said. “I reject that cynicism. Government can function again, and Seattle can lead the way. “We can be a national model for a renewed respect for public service and a new appreciation for the role of government as a positive force for change in our lives. “I see government not as the problem, but government as a partner in solving the problems we face.”
centennial celebration. “We’re going to pull out all the stops, just like a proud father does when their child marries,” Nicki Grossman said. Gay tourists are “a very loyal and important part of our destination,” she added. The wedding extravaganza is just the first of many gay-marriage activities planned in Broward, a pioneer in promoting Gay tourism. In 2013, more than 1.3 million LGBT travelers visited Broward and spent about $1.5 billion, accounting for about 10% of tourism in the county, Grossman said. That number includes only those who came on LGBT tours, attended Gay events, responded to Gay ads, or in some way self-identified as LGBT. “We believe that there are considerably more LGBT travelers than that” in Broward, Grossman said.
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor There’s no doubt about it – 2014 was a year for the record books in terms of LGBTQ equality. Around the globe LGBTQ communities found a voice, however strong or faint, and for the first time in, well, forever, others were listening. Here’s a look back at the national LGBTQ news stories of 2014. MARRIAGE EQUALITY Same-sex marriage is now available to a majority of states that are home to nearly 65 percent of Ameri-
cans. In its ruling in Windsor v. United States, on June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court paved the way for states and the federal government to legally recognize same-sex marriages. However, even before that, in December 2012, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to vote for marriage equality at the ballot box. Minnesota voters also rejected a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. It was a historic victory. And even as unbelievable as it was, nobody could’ve predicted see LGBTQ news page 4
2 Seattle Gay News
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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into the club from an adjacent business and started a fire inside the club. Masmari was caught on camera at about 15 minutes after midnight, pouring gasoline in a stairway to Neighbours’ upstairs mezzanine balcony and lit the pool of fuel. The fire was quickly doused with a fire extinguisher; there were about 750 people in the club at the time. No one was hurt or worse. After Neighbours nightclub officials leaked video footage of Masmari to the media, viewers called the East Precinct to report and identify Musab Masmari, who was then arrested days later on his way to Sea-Tac Airport after buying a one-way ticket to Turkey. Masmari tried to explain he’d consumed a bottle of cheap whiskey in the hours before he set the fire. He claims not to remember setting it, though he recognized himself on a surveillance video. Prosecutors offered another motive for the arson – homophobia. An FBI informant said Masmari told him, after he’d set the fire, that he had done it because he wanted to “exterminate homosexuals” and was saying he wanted to buy a gun and go back and “finish the job.” Masmari was initially charged in state court. The case was passed to federal prosecutors during negotiations on a plea agreement, which Masmari accepted in May through a guilty plea to a single arson count. He was to only receive five years in federal prison for his crime. Many members of the Seattle LGBTQ community, including the employees of Neighbours Nightclub, were outraged that Masmari would not be charged with a hate crime or attempted murder; however, given the opportunity to speak at his federal court appearance, I argued the reasons why Musab Masmari should receive more years in prison because of the severity of his crime, the fact that he is a danger to society, and that he had threatened to return to the club to “finish the job.” Although prosecutors and the defense agreed to request a five-year prison term for Masmari, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez doubled the term to 10 years during the sentencing hearing at the Seattle federal courthouse. REVEALING QUEER – MOHAI’S GROUNDBREAKING LGBTQ HISTORY EXHIBIT OPENS FEBRUARY 2014 The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) began its second year at its new Lake Union location by presenting “Revealing Queer,” a landmark exhibit on the history of the Puget Sound’s LGBTQ community. The exhibit was one of the first of its kind in a mainstream history museum, and was on display from February 14 through July 6. “Revealing Queer” explored how the Puget Sound LGBTQ community has grown, changed, became increasingly visible, and worked toward equality. Informed throughout by the lived experiences of the Puget Sound region’s very diverse population, “Revealing Queer” traced LGBTQ history from an emerging underground community in the years before the Stonewall Riots of 1969, to the large and politically active community that helped make marriage equality law in Washington state in 2012. MAN BURNED IN KOMO CHOPPER CRASH A MEMBER OF THE LOCA GAY COMMUNITY Richard Newman, 38, was driving along
Broad Street in Seattle March 18, 2014 when a KOMO news helicopter crashed onto his car, engulfing his red car in flames and killing chopper pilot Gary Pfitzner and photographer Bill Strothman. The King County Medical Examiner’s office announced that Pfitzner, 59, died of blunt force trauma to the head, torso and extremities, and Strothman, 62, died of blunt force injuries to the head, neck, torso and extremities. The crash was ruled an accident. Newman, an openly Gay man and member of the Emerald City Softball Association (ECSA), nearly died as well. He spent an unbearable 90 seconds trapped inside his burning car before he was able to get out on his own. As he ran from the car, according to witnesses, Newman was still on fire. A Fisher Plaza security guard ran to Newman’s aid. Newman suffered second- and thirddegree burns on his back and arms and was treated for a head wound and a broken rib. The KOMO helicopter came crashing down nearly right on top of him. Some witnesses say it is a miracle he survived. SUPPORTERS OF OUSTED OPENLY GAY TROOP LEADER SPEAK OUT AT SEATTLE RALLY Openly Gay Seattle area Boy Scouts of America troop leader, Geoff McGrath, was notified in February 2014 that he was being ousted from his leadership position because leadership says he made an issue out of his sexual orientation. On a rainy February afternoon, supporters of Geoff McGrath, including his brother and state Senator Jamie Pedersen (D-43), rallied to demand no more discrimination under any guise. The national organization told Geoff McGrath in a letter that it “has no choice” but to revoke his registration after he said he was Gay while being profiled by NBC News. The issue harkens back to the days of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” when U.S. service members could serve as long as they remained silent about their sexual orientation. Unlike the U.S. military, The Boy Scouts of America do not have an official policy barring Gay leadership from speaking out about their sexual orientation – they downright say you cannot be a homosexual or Lesbian and remain a part of the organization – period. “Your statement is in direct violation of the BSA’s leadership qualification,” said the letter from the Boy Scouts’ Office of General Counsel in Irving, Texas. And, in a particularly pointed statement, BSA leadership noted that there would not be a review of the decision if McGrath talked about this. “I’m stunned,” McGrath, 49, said. “Our hope is that they’ll rethink their decision.” McGrath earned the rank of Eagle Scout and has been leading Seattle Troop 98 since its formation was approved last fall; he’s taken the troop to camp in a snow cave at Mount Rainier National Park, and they’ve worked on knots and lashing skills just like any other troop. Nothing, in fact, is out of the norm, save the fact that the scouts are now missing their leader due to a discriminatory and archaic policy. McGrath was asked by the pastor of Rainier Beach United Methodist Church, the chartering organization, to lead the troop. He obliged and submitted an application that was approved by the Chief Seattle Council and national headquarters. “We were transparent,” he said. “If they didn’t want us to be a troop, they shouldn’t have accepted our application. To hear claims
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that this is surprising to them is confusing. Seattle celebrated its first Gay Pride Week We’ve been transparent from day one.” June 24-30, 1974, with a variety of activities at private and public venues around the city. JUDGE MARY YU APPOINTMENT Mayor Uhlman gave the event an official enTO THE WASHINGTON STATE dorsement in 1977, declaring June 25 to July 1 SUPREME COURT to be Gay Pride Week in the City of Seattle. King County Superior Court Judge Mary Keith Luttenbacher, in his July 5, 1977 letYu was appointed to the Washington state Su- ter, was one of many who wrote thanking preme Court in May 2014, becoming the first Mayor Uhlman for his support, “especially openly Gay justice, as well as the first Asian after the negative press due to Ms. [Anita] American, to serve on the state’s high court. Bryant.” Local opponents of Gay rights were Yu was one of 19 applicants for the seat va- incensed by the mayor’s proclamation, and cated by Justice James Johnson and was ap- reactions ranged from letter-writing campointed by Governor Jay Inslee. paigns to published threats of recall to pickJohnson, considered the court’s most con- eting outside City Hall. servative member, announced his retireUltimately, Mayor Uhlman’s endorsement ment in April, citing health issues. of Gay Pride Week gave added significance to Yu was appointed to the King County the city’s first Gay Pride March, held in 1977. Superior Court by former Governor Gary Locke in 2000 and earlier served as deputy ALI MUHAMMAD BROWN, chief of staff to the late King County ProsCHARGED WITH MURDER IN ecutor Norm Maleng. She is Inslee’s first apDOUBLE HOMICIDE CASE pointment to the Supreme Court. To keep The suspect in a double homicide in June the seat, she will have to run for election 2014, Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, targeted in November to serve the rest of Johnson’s the Gay men he killed by meeting them term, which was to expire in January 2017. through the personal meet-up mobile app Grindr, according to court documents reGSBA AWARDED $330,000 TO LGBTQ leased in June 2014. AND ALLIED SCHOLARS; A Brown was charged with two counts of aggraRECORD-BREAKING AMOUNT OF vated first-degree murder – a crime that could SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY come with the death penalty, if convicted. LOCAL BUSINESSES Ahmed Said, 27, and Dwone AndersonOver 400 business leaders in attendance at Young, 23, were killed early on the morning the GSBA Scholarship Fund Dinner in May of June 1 near 29th Ave. S. and S. King St., 2014 demonstrated their commitment to in- and according to Senior Deputy Prosecutor vest in the next generation of leaders by award- Wyman Yip, “It is evident that the murders ing over $330,000 in scholarships to LGBTQ were premeditated and unprovoked and and allied students in Washington state. part of a common scheme or plan.” The GSBA Scholarship Fund awards eduBoth victims were shot in the head and cational scholarships to undergraduate LG- there was no evidence of a struggle that preBTQ and allied students, who exhibit lead- ceded the killings. ership potential, demonstrate strong acaYip wrote in charging documents, “The demic abilities and are actively involved in evidence from the crime scene, Said’s veschool and community organizations. hicle, and the autopsies suggest that the vicScholars reflect a diverse group of stu- tims were essentially executed.” dents, from rural and urban areas, pursuing Yip said there was no evidence that the a wide range of professions, who have plans killings were motivated by a robbery, drugs to positively impact their community. GSBA or another crime. is committed to positioning today’s stuThe victims had been with friends at R dents to become tomorrow’s leaders. GSBA’s Place located at Boylston Ave. & E. Pine St. Scholarship Fund supports the community Said told the group he was meeting a “friend” through providing financial support, role- outside the club when they left. One of Said’s modeling and hope to outstanding Lesbian, friends had the feeling that Said hadn’t met Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and al- the “friend” before, because while Said was at lied students, many of whom have no tradi- R Place, he was constantly on his phone and tional means of support. appeared to be texting on Grindr. The group left the bar at closing time and SEATTLE DYKE MARCH crossed Boylston Ave., to meet with Said’s CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY friend; but the man looked unfriendly and The Seattle Dyke March, the oldest contin- out of place. uous Pride event on Capitol Hill, celebrated One of the friends in the group later told its 20th anniversary in 2014. The event police he was “creeped out” by the man who kicked off with live music and speakers, Sat- was later identified as Brown. urday, June 28 at Broadway and E. Pine St., According to two witnesses, they saw followed by the march. New this year was an Brown leave with the victims in Said’s car. The after party in Cal Anderson Park featuring a shooting deaths occurred about 2:20 a.m. performance by The Redwood Plan. After the victims were killed, Said’s gold Seattle Dyke March began in 1994, just 2001 Mitsubishi Gallant they had been ridone year after the inaugural Dyke Marches ing in was found in south Seattle. There was in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, as an exorbitant amount of blood in the pasa way to create visibility for a community senger seat. Brown’s palm print was found whose long involvement in Gay pride activ- on the interior rear driver’s side window. ism was often sidelined or diminished. Spent 9 mm shell casings that matched the “I think it’s critically important to our casings found at the Leschi crime scene were community that we create and maintain also found in the abandoned car. this space that is reserved for celebrating the Brown’s mother told police shortly after the activism and adventures of the Dykes of Se- shooting she had purchases a 9 mm semiauattle,” said Whitney Fraser, who has been an tomatic pistol and that it was missing. organizer since 2000. “We also bring a poNeither Said nor Anderson-Young had a litical voice to Pride as opposed to the more criminal history and were not armed. commercial endeavors.” Brown was eventually caught in July and 40 YEARS OF SEATTLE PRIDE
January 2, 2015
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what happened next. As the nation settled into its new role as “evolving” on the issue, more and more states would change. Soon after our win, lawmakers in Delaware, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Illinois, and Hawaii voted for marriage equality. Twenty-one consecutive court rulings in some of the most conservative states in America would expand the scope of same-sex marriage. Marriage equality was secured in Kansas, Idaho and Oklahoma. State court rulings allowed same-sex couples to wed in New Jersey and New Mexico. On October 6, The Supreme Court, refused to hear appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin, clearing the way for marriages to commence in these states. On September 3, however, the good luck streak was tempered when U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman upheld Louisiana’s law against same-sex marriage. And it came to a momentary halt when a divided U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, on November 6, upheld laws against marriage equality in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. This disagreement between the lower federal courts make it likely the Supreme Court will return to the issue in 2015. But at the end of the year we moved ahead again big time in Florida. On August 21, 2014, Judge Hinkle ruled that Florida’s laws barring same-sex couples from marriage violate the equal protection and due process requirements of the federal Constitution and stayed his ruling until January 5, 2015. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court (on December 19) both subsequently denied the State of Florida’s request to extend the stay. Last week, the Washington County Clerk filed a motion asking Judge Hinkle to clarify his ruling following confusion generated when a private law firm issued a memorandum concluding that Judge Hinkle’s ruling did not permit other county clerks to issue marriage licenses and that those who did so would face criminal prosecution. On January 1, 2015, federal district court Judge Robert L. Hinkle reaffirmed his marriage ruling in a new order stating that clerks of all Florida counties must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after his stay expires at the end of day January 5, 2015.
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When the stay of his prior order invalidating Florida’s ban on marriage by samesex couples expires on January 5, 2015, the federal Constitution requires that all Florida county clerks must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. There is, as we all know, more work to be done. In 29 states, LGBT Americans can still be fired from their jobs based solely on their sexual orientation. In 33 states, Transgender Americans can be fired based solely on their gender identity. We still don’t even have a federal law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Gay men in America earn 10% to 32% less than similarly qualified straight men working in the same occupations. Transgender men and women are both more likely to be the victims of violent crime and more likely to be incarcerated. In some states, same-sex couples are discriminated against in the ability to adopt children. Still, we must remember to celebrate what a monumental victory this has been so far. It’s good for the soul. Being able to get married and be as happy – or miserable – as married straight couples in America doesn’t make other issues of anti-LGBT discrimination go away. But marriage equality has been a movement toward fairness and justice for all. And right now, this movement is unstoppable. TRANS ACTIVIST CECE MCDONALD FREED After serving 19 months in prison, the African-American Transgender activist CeCe McDonald left incarceration in February. She was arrested after using deadly force to protect herself from a group of people who attacked her on the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her case helped to shed light on the violence and discrimination faced by Transgender women of color. According to police reports, in 2011, McDonald and two friends were walking past a Minneapolis bar when they were reportedly accosted and insulted with homophobic, Transphobic and racist slurs. McDonald was hit with a bar glass that cut open her face, requiring eleven stitches. A brawl ensued, and one of the people who had confronted McDonald and her friends, 47-year-old Dean Schmitz, who was high on meth and cocaine, was killed. Schmitz, whose rap sheet included assault and who had a swastika tattooed across his chest, had lunged towards McDonald who, feeling as though
her life was in danger, armed herself with a pair of fabric scissors she found stashed in her purse and stabbed McDonald in the heart. Although it was self-defense, she says, she took a plea deal that sentenced her to 41 months instead of the possible 80 years in prison for the stabbing death of Schmitz. CeCe McDonald was jailed for defending herself. At the time of the attack, the murder rate for Gay and Transgender people in this country was at an all-time high. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs documented 30 hate-related murders of LGBT people in 2011; 40 percent of the victims were Transgender women of color. Transgender teens have higher rates of homelessness, and nearly half of all AfricanAmerican Transgender people – 47 percent – have been incarcerated at some point. UNDOCUQUEER They are here and they are queer. They are also undocumented and they are demanding #Not1More deportation and an end to the criminalization of LGBTQ immigrants. In 2014 the undocuqueer movement really took off. Groups such as Familia (Southern California) protested outside the LGBT pod at the ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention center in Santa Ana, California, and Southerners On New Ground (SONG) staged a seven-hour sit-in at an LGBT Congressional Caucus meeting, leaving only after Gay and Lesbian congress members promised they’d bring specific protections for queer immigrants to President Obama’s attention. Washington Queer and undocumented youth and DREAMers from California, New Mexico, Washington, Florida, New York, Minnesota, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Missouri participate in United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led network in the nation with 47 affiliates in 25 states that organize and advocate for access to higher education and legal status for all. In December, 115 LGBTQ and immigration organizations officially got behind the call to release all Trans people from ICE detention centers, where, according to immigration attorney Olga Tomchin, the departsee LGBTQ News page 7
Celebrating 41 Years!
IN MEMORIAM: John Runyan Beloved brother and friend, John Leslie Runyan, passed while visiting his brother Bill’s family in Martinez, California. He was strong and determined, generous and grateful to the end. John was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the fourth child of seven, to Leslie and Betty Runyan. He was an intelligent and creative student, reading several years above his grade level. John won an essay contest in Madison that took him on a train trip to Washington, DC while a schoolboy. John moved with his family to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1969, where he enjoyed the supportive culture, and worked in restaurants in the City. He loved the Cliff House and Golden Gate Park. He moved to Seattle in 1979, and became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and celebrated 34 years of sobriety on July 14th, 2014. He took his sobriety seriously from early on, served as an AA sponsor, and helped others through detoxification. John worked at the Seattle Gay News doing layout, and writing movie reviews and other articles. John also worked for a tile company, making commemorative tiles, and sandblasted his unique art on gifts. He became licensed in massage and had a business for 20 years. It was important to John to reach the workingman, who he felt needed a massage. He continued to study massage, integrating various techniques. See bodyworkman.com. John loved to shop and loved to give. Sometimes he bought gifts, then kept them because he liked them so much. Often he didn’t keep things for long, giving away his possessions because he thought they suited someone else more. He shared DVDs, CDs, and books with loved ones, shopping intently to find items that matched their interests. He was an avid foodie, enjoying local restaurants and cooking extensive meals. His home was an art gallery of local crafts and garage sale items. He was pas-
sionate about the arts, serving as a theater usher, attending concerts as often as possible in Seattle, and continually discovering new musicians. He could recite movie directors and other artists’ accomplishments, and discuss the merits of their work. He loved to find photographs on the Internet and Photoshop them. As he grew sicker he spent his precious energy planning meals and cooking for others. At Thanksgiving he confessed an intense hatred of dish washing, which he overcame in his later years; this he confessed while others washed dishes from his gourmet Thanksgiving cooking. John had quite a sense of humor. Below are classic email quotes from him: TURDUNKIN’ (TURKEY STUFFEDWITH HAM, DUCK AND DUNKIN’ DONUTS): NOTHIN’ SAYS LOVIN’ LIKE TURDUNKIN’ FROM THE OVEN
courtesy of Star Runyan Poe
MARCH 31, 1953 DECEMBER 26, 2014
OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!! WOWAKAZOWA...WAS SHOCKED TO FIND 2 EMAILS REFERENCING MOOSE, DEER AND COWS ON THE SAME DAY...OBVIOUSLY A SIGN OF THE COMING DEERMOOSEPALOOZA/COWMAGEDDON... HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE SCARY MIND OF A BORED SEATTLEITE GETTING CLOSE TO HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT MAY THE CANDY GODS SMILE ON YOU ALL He is survived by siblings: Barbara (and John Cummings) of Australia, Bill (and Kim) Runyan and Jim (and Sondra) Runyan both of Martinez, California, and Star (and Robin Poe) of Anchorage, Alaska; and beloved nieces and nephews: Sara (and Kyle John Runyan Young), Kylee, Michelle, Trevor, and Ben, and great niece, Addison Young. He was [EDITOR’S NOTE: A get-together in Please contact Rick at the Seattle Gay News preceded in death by his parents, and sibmemory of John Runyan will be organized (206-324-4297 or sgncopy@yahoo.com) if lings Linda and Don (Chi) Runyan. in Seattle in the next couple of weeks. you would be interested in attending.] He will be missed.
Queen honors five LGBT activists and one homophobe thepunditpress.com
notoriously homophobic Northern Ireland politician. The Honors list comes out every year, and usually includes both cultural and political figures. It is based on recommendations from the Prime Minister. One of those honored with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) was Jenny Broughton, founder of Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (FFLAG), the British equivalent of America’s PFLAG. Broughton, now 80, founded the organization after her daughter came out at the age of 17. Another MBE was awarded to LGBT rights activist Nigel George Warner for his work as the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association’s (ILGA) Council of Europe advisor. Dr. Jay Stewart, co-founder of Gendered Intelligence received an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire, a more distinguished honor than MBE), for his service to Britain’s Transgender community. Queen Elizabeth Activist Jenny-Anne Christine Bishop was Queen Elizabeth II has honored five also honored with an OBE for services to the LGBT activists in her annual New Year Trans community. Finally, the Queen knighted Lesbian Poet Honors list, but the list also includes a
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
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Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, entitling her to the title “Dame.” On the other hand, the Queen also honored Northern Ireland Council member Maurice Mills with an MBE. Mills is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), one of the Protestant-based parties supporting Northern Ireland’s continued union with Britain. Mills is notorious for saying that AIDS was caused by the “filthy practice of sodomy” in Africa and for claiming that Hurricane Katrina was God’s revenge for a Gay festival in New Orleans. “The media failed to report that the hurricane occurred just two days prior to the annual homosexual event called the Southern Decadence festival which the previous year had attracted an estimated 125,000 people,” Mills said at the time. “Surely this is a warning to nations where such wickedness is increasingly promoted and practiced.” The Northern Ireland LGBT rights organization Rainbow Project demanded that the DUP reject Mills’ comments but the party declined to do so. Mills has never retracted his remarks.
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Macedonian LGBT activists protest hate crimes V. Dzambaski/CC BY-NC-SA
Hate crime protest in Skopje, Macedonia
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer LGBT activists held four demonstrations in December in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, protesting national authorities’ failure to respond to a series of hate crimes. Activists have also filed criminal hate crime charges against two anti-Gay talk show hosts. According to Global Voices website, there have been six major assaults on the LGBT community in the past two years. Police have not prosecuted a single suspect for these crimes.
Macedonia with its capital at Skopje is a successor state of the now-defunct Yugoslavia, and is separate from the Greek province of Macedonia to its south. Global Voices is an online collective that translates and publishes social media postings. On November 6, LGBT activists staged a protest in front of the public prosecutor’s offices in Skopje, demanding greater accountability. Several dozen protesters blocked the entrance to the office building, with banners in Macedonian and Albanian, asking “The investigation is pending… until when?!”
The banners referred to an October 23 attack in which a group of masked assailants attacked a Pride celebration organized by the LGBTI Support Center in Skopje’s Old Town. Several people were injured and a café where local LGBT people gathered was wrecked. After the demonstration, a Macedonian TV station cornered Marko Zvrlevski, Macedonia’s chief public prosecutor, and asked about the progress of his investigation. Zvrlevski told reporters that he was “not informed about how many attacks there were against LGBTI and when did they take place.” On November 16, about 100 LGBT activists
marched through downtown Skopje demanding “tolerance, justice, liberty, and equality,” as part of the annual March for Tolerance. On November 20, and again on November 27, protesters again gathered in front of the prosecutors’ office, this time wrapping themselves in body bags and staging a diein in the street. On December 12, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee – a human rights organization based on the Helsinki Accords – and the LGBTI Support Center filed criminal charges against two popular talk show hosts, whose shows often feature top Macedonian political figures as guests. Other media personalities and government officials responded with a homophobic media campaign against the LGBT community, publishing an article titled “How the LGBT Minority Terrorizes the Majority.” The European Commission’s 2014 “Progress Report for Macedonia,” published on October 8, called attention to hate crimes against the LGBT community and criticized the Macedonian government for failure to investigate and prosecute such crimes. The report also cited a lack of public information about the laws Macedonian state institutions are supposed to enforce. The October 23 attack on the Skopje Pride celebration is thought to have been revenge for the report. The European Union Delegation to Macedonia – which wants to become an EU member – condemned the violence and visited the LGBTI Support Center’s office in Skopje as a show of support. The human rights groups Frontline Defenders and Amnesty International have also expressed support for the LGBTI Support Center.
Church should recognize same-sex relationships, Bishop of Antwerp says A Belgian Catholic bishop says his church should recognize “a diversity of forms” of relationships – including same-sex relationships. Johan Bonny, Catholic Bishop of Antwerp, made the statement in a December 27 interview with De Morgen newspaper. The interview has been translated into English by the National Catholic Reporter. “There should be recognition of a diversity of forms [of relationships],” Bonny said. “We have to look inside the church for a formal recognition of the kind of interpersonal relationship that is also present in many gay couples. “Just as there are a variety of legal frameworks for partners in civil society, one must arrive at a diversity of forms in the church … The intrinsic values are more important to me than the institutional question. The Christian ethic is based on lasting relationships where exclusivity, loyalty, and care are central to each other.” Bonny told De Morgen that the leadership of Pope Francis had given him the courage to go public with his views. In September the bishop wrote to a Vatican synod called by the Pope, arguing that the church needed to do more to welcome LGBT people, divorcees, and unmarried couples. The church will have to find a way to bless same-sex relationships, Bonny said.
“In the church more space must be given to acknowledge the actual quality of gay and lesbian couples; and such a form of shared-life should meet the same criteria as found in an ecclesiastical marriage,” Bonny said. “We have to acknowledge that such criteria can be found in a diversity of relationships and one needs to search for various models to give form to those relationships.” Bonny added that opposite-sex marriage had a privileged place in Catholic doctrine, however. “[Opposite-sex marriage] will continue to retain its own particular sacramental character and liturgical form,” Bonny said, “But this particularity does not have to be exclusive nor does it have to close the door on a diversity of relationships whose inner qualities the church can acknowledge. “Indeed, we need to seek a formal recognition of the kind of relationship that exists between many gay and lesbian couples. Does that recognition have to be a sacramental marriage? Perhaps the church could much better reflect on a diversity of forms of relationships. One has the same kind of discussion about civil marriages. In Belgium the same model [for civil marriages] exists for man-woman relations as well as for same-sex relations.” As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis opposed legalization of same-sex marriages but reportedly signaled that he could accept some form of civil union as an alternative.
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Bishop Johan Bonny
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At the time of the accident, the city was a few needs of the LGBTQ communities. to develop and supervise an HIV Program. weeks away from implementing the much“Tonight I’m honored to be with all of you She then spent a large portion of the ‘90s as continued from page 3 demanded safety changes for bicyclists on Sec- as we take a moment to look back to the early a couples and family counselor at SCS while charged with the murder of two other peo- ond Avenue, which include the new signaling. days of our LGBTQ history in Seattle and re- also overseeing the long-term AIDS therapy ple. He confessed to murdering the two Semember where this organization came from,” program. Since retiring in 2000, Arleen has attle men. He is awaiting federal trial. THE PINK DOOR UNVEILS A SCS Executive Director Ann McGettigan continued supervising SCS interns and proPUBLIC MURAL IN PIKE PLACE told attendees. “I am grateful to Dr. Robert viding invaluable consultation.” THE GRILL ON BROADWAY MARKET FEATURING WAXIE MOON Deisher for his early vision about the work CREDIT CARD THIEVES Anna-Lisa Notter and The Pink Door an- we need to do and to his early colleagues who SASG TREE LOT FUNDRAISER CAUGHT AFTER YEARS-LONG nounced the unveiling of a brand new outdoor joined with him to start SCS in 1969. I’m also RAISES $214,501.50 INVESTIGATION mural in the Pike Place Market in September. grateful to all of the community members It has been an amazing 30th year servEarly July 2014 federal agents reported they ‘This permanent display of public art fea- who had the courage to reach out for help and ing the Seattle LGBTQ community at Sebrought down the leader of an international tures celebrated Seattle burlesque person- support and found a safe haven in SCS.” attle Area Support Groups (formerly Secomputer hacking ring that targeted several ality Waxie Moon and stands on the 1,000 Ann McGettigan has over 35 years of attle AIDS Support Group). This year also businesses in Seattle and across the country. square foot wall on the north side of the professional experience working with so- marked the 25th annual SASG Holiday Tree The now-closed The Grill on Broadway Stewart Building, directly above the “origi- cial change non-profits in various positions & Greenery Sale fundraiser. had scores of customers turning up com- nal” Starbucks on historic Pike Place,” said from crisis line worker to executive director. “Thanks to the dedication of our amazplaining their credit card numbers had Notter in a media release. She has coordinated rape prevention pro- ing volunteers, staff, and loyal supporters, we been stolen. Now, the major breakthrough Laid over a starry midnight sky, Waxie grams, worked in battered women’s shelters, raised $214,501.50 this year!” said Joshua A. in the case explains what happened. Feder- dangles from a swinging chandelier and provided community education on sexual Wallace, Executive Director of SASG. “This is al agents have arrested a suspected Russian pours bubbles and stars from a champagne and domestic violence and administered the fourth year in a row that we have been able cyber-thief who they accuse of illegally ac- flute out toward Elliott Bay. From his lofty programs that support reproductive rights to set a new record for this fundraiser. Special cessing computer systems across the Unit- vantage point, he looks down over the bus- for women and girls. thanks also go to Group Health for donating ed States. Between 2009 and 2011, Roman tling, tourist-filled street below and can be Ann has been the Executive Director at their employee parking lot and providing us Seleznev hacked into retailers’ computer spied by onlookers from the west sidewalk. Seattle Counseling Service since 1998. She with power. Their generosity has allowed us to systems and inserted malware to collect According to the media release, those seek- chose to work with SCS because she wants to have more space, customer parking, and safe customer credit card data. ing a better view will find one in Post Alley work directly with and for the LGBTQ com- working conditions for our volunteers.” Hackers will look for the most vulnerable near Kell’s front door, although the best, clos- munity with which she identifies. With the ‘The family in the picture were celebratparts of a system, and often that will be the point est and clearest view can be had from The essential support of a dedicated and hard- ing their 20th year buying a tree from us,” he of sale, places where they swipe the credit cards. Pink Door’s outdoor patio which sits directly working staff and Board of Directors Ann has added. “That was pretty cool.” Seleznev is accused of then selling those across the rooftop from the mural itself. led the organization onto a strong financial card numbers to other identity thieves to footing and solid program expansion. ANNE LEVINSON NAMED TO PDC earn millions of dollars. Prosecutors said SCS CELEBRATES 45 YEARS; PFLAG “I’ve often described SCS as ‘The Little Governor Jay Inslee has appointed Anne Seleznev stole data from several Mad Pizza CO-FOUNDER ARLEEN NELSON Ship That Could’ because we have managed Levinson to the state’s Public Disclosure locations, from the Grand Central Baking HONORED AT ANNUAL SCS GALA to survive some big waves of change over Commission (PDC). The PDC is in charge Company in Pioneer Square and from other Founded in 1969, Seattle Counseling the past 45 years,” she continued. “Through of enforcing campaign finance laws. businesses across the country. Service is the oldest LGBTQ-focused com- all of that change we have continued to stay “Ensuring that the letter and the spirit of munity mental health agency in the world. dedicated to the behavioral health and social the State’s disclosure laws are fully met is TRANSGENDER PUBLIC Starting as part of the Dorian Society in well-being of our community.” critically important to maintaining pubEMPLOYEES TO GET EQUAL Seattle in 1969, SCS later expanded to beThis year marks the first annual Dr. De- lic trust in the integrity of the electoral and HEALTHCARE COVERAGE come an independent organization. SCS isher Founder’s Award. Dr. Robert Deisher governing processes,” she wrote in her appliThe Washington Public Employee Ben- began in a rented house with one telephone was dedicated to helping troubled teens. He cation for the position. efits Board (PEBB) voted unanimously on and several volunteers who hung out, ready sought support for social services for Gay “The continually increasing influence of July 31, 2014 to offer Transgender-inclu- to answer the phone, talk with people who youth at a time when those actions were money and special interests in campaigns sive healthcare coverage to all public em- dropped by, and offer counsel and support. unheard of. He opened Seattle Counseling and governance makes our state’s requireployees in the state. SCS has been licensed as a mental health Service – the first counseling center for sex- ments for transparent and understandable Beginning on January 1, 2015, hormones, center since 1974. Among the programs ual minorities in the world – and began the reporting, public access to government remental health, and other non-surgical pioneered by SCS, the Domestic Violence Pioneer Square Youth Clinic among other cords, disclosure of elected officials’ sources healthcare services will be provided for the Program (started in 1982) was one of the incredible accomplishments. of income and interactions with lobbyists as treatment of gender dysphoria. Surgery will first in the nation to offer help to those in “Dr. Deisher affected the lives of so many important today as they have ever been.” also be covered beginning on July 1, 2015. same-sex relationships. throughout his life and his legacy is one we Levinson is currently Auditor of the SeThe PEBB is a state agency that “purchases In 1985, SCS received status as a United are proud to continue,” said McGettigan. attle Police Department’s Office of Profesand coordinates health insurance benefits Way agency. SCS was the first Gay-specific On Sunday, October 26, at their 45th An- sional Accountability (OPA), charged with for eligible public employees and retirees,” agency to receive that status in King County. niversary Gala, Seattle Counseling Service overseeing discipline of SPD officers. according to its web page. SCS began offering services for people gave the first-ever Dr. Deisher Founder’s She is also an attorney and was previously Gender dysphoria is a well-documented with HIV/AIDS concerns in 1985 by pro- Award to Arleen Nelson, MSW, LICSW. a Municipal Court judge in Seattle, Deputy medical condition in which an individual’s viding HIV Test counseling at the Seattle “Arleen came to SCS in 1979 to introduce Mayor to Mayor Norm Rice, as well as a gender does not conform to the gender they Gay Clinic. Long-term AIDS therapy and an herself as a possible referral source for par- part-owner of the Seattle Storm women’s were assigned at birth. Treatment of gender AIDS drop-in group began in 1986, and the ents and family members of Gay and Les- basketball team until 2010. dysphoria is considered medically necessary AIDS Crisis Intervention Program was initi- bian individuals,” said SCS officials. “She Levinson also made her mark as an activist, by the American Medical Association. ated in 1989. In 1996, SCS placed a therapist walked out with the task of developing and chairing the 2012 Approve R-74 campaign to on site at Bailey-Boushay House. leading a four-day training for the agency’s retain the state’s Marriage Equality Act, and ACLU ATTORNEY, SHER KUNG, In 1990, SCS became a sponsoring agency of telephone counselors. Little did she know also chairing the 2009 R-71 effort to keep KILLED IN BIKE ACCIDENT Lambert House, an LGBT youth drop-in center. that she was embarking on a lifetime career newly passed domestic partnership rights. On August 29, 2014, tragedy struck when In 2003, SCS and King County Public Health supporting the LGBTQ community.” Levinson will join the commission January Sher Kung was riding her bike at Second Av- created a collaboration to house Project NEON, “For the past 35 years Arleen has brought 1 and succeed Commissioner Kathy Turner enue and University Street and was struck a harm reduction program for users of crystal her wisdom, compassion and fierce advo- who is stepping down. She will not need to by a large box truck. She died at the scene. methamphetamine. 2003 also brought the ad- cacy to her work at SCS,” said McGettigan. give up her other responsibilities, since PDC By that evening, friends, colleagues and vent of SCS Chemical Dependency Services, “Arleen is a founding member of both the commissioners are not full-time state emstrangers had set up a memorial near the assuming the role previously filled by Stonewall local and national chapters of PFLAG. In ployees. Commissioners earn $100 per day crash site to pay tribute to Kung. Recovery Services in King County. the early years of the AIDS crisis she helped for any day they work, plus travel expenses. In a statement, the Washington ACLU said, In addition to its role providing direct ser“The staff of the ACLU is deeply saddened by vices to sexual minority community members, the news of her death. She was very commit- SCS plays a significant regional role as a psyted to civil rights and social justice, and was a chology and social work professional training lively person and was fun to work with.” site. SCS serves as the practice-training site for The tragic accident calls for changes to the an average of four universities each year. Since bike lanes in the area. 1992, SCS has also provided training to mental “This has been a bad corner for bicyclists health providers statewide to increase their cafor a long time. Probably like once a month pacity to appropriately serve sexual minorities we’ve seen someone get hit and knocked off in their home communities. their bikes, injured. This is the first time I’ve Collaboration is important to the staff and seen someone fatally hurt,” said one man board of SCS. SCS works with other King who works across the street from where the County Mental Health Providers to advoaccident happened. cate on behalf of clients in the mental health About 60 bicycle-involved collisions have system. SCS belongs to the Cross Cultural occurred on Second Avenue in the past four Alliance, the Washington Coalition Against years, according to SDOT. Half of those in- Domestic Violence, and the Washington cluded vehicles turning left at the crosswalk, Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. the agency says. Over the years SCS has garnered numerConsequently, SDOT added designated left ous awards for services provided to the turn signals for vehicles and restricted right community and they continue to add new Sher Kung turns on red to reduce turning collisions. programs and services to meet the changing
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LGBTQ News continued from page 4
ment has “shown over and over that they are incapable of detaining Transgender people with even minimal levels of dignity and safety . . . The only solution is to release [them].” OBAMA BARS ANTI-LGBT BIAS AMONG CONTRACTORS President Barack Obama signed an executive order barring federal contractors from engaging in discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Although concerns persisted that Obama would include a religious exemption in the measure, known as Executive Order 13672, no carve-out was included beyond the already existing Bush administration language allowing religious-affiliated businesses to favor co-religionists in hiring practices. According to the Williams Institute, the order will protect 34 million workers, or about 22 percent of the American workforce. In December, the Labor Department announced the rule for the executive order has become final, giving federal contractors 120 days to update their policies to comply with the measure or lose out on federal contracts. TIME MAGAZINE DUBBED 2014 THE “TRANS TIPPING POINT” WITH A MAY COVER STORY TIME Magazine received praise from the LGBTQ community in May 2014, for their cover story “Trans Tipping Point,” which all but said that the Trans* community has arrived. But for most Transgender women of color, reported violence is on the rise. The Transgender Violence Tracking Portal, which records incidents of murders, violence, missing persons and harassment against Transgender people, found that a Transgender person is reported murdered every 38 hours. The murders of Filipina Jennifer Laude by U.S. Army Private Joseph Pemberton in October and Deshawnda Sanchez, who was gunned down as she sought help at a stranger’s home in Los Angeles on December 3, made the press, but countless others never made the headlines.
ing death of unarmed black Ferguson, Missouri, teen Michael Brown and the death of Eric Garner, the black man and father in New York, also unarmed, who was choked to death by cops when they detained him for selling loose cigarettes, did not lead to the indictments of the officers who killed them. Garza laid out the inspiration for the campaign saying, “When we are able to end hyper-criminalization and sexualization of Black people and end the poverty, control and surveillance of Black people, every single person in this world has a better shot at getting and staying free. When Black people get free, everybody gets free. This is why we call on Black people and our allies to take up the call that Black lives matter.” READING IS FUNDAMENTAL LGBTQ people are overrepresented in prisons across the country; in 2014 some 2,000 packages of books made it into the hands of LGBTQ people behind bars. Thanks to Madison, Wisconsin-based LGBT Books to Prisoners – more are on the way! The organization also announced a partnership with Trans advocate Janet Mock, who began publicizing the #TransBookDrive campaign to much fanfare on Twitter on November 30; the campaign continued through the end of the year.
#BLACKLIVESMATTER CREATED BY LESBIANS Our diversity is our strength. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi (three queer women of color) helped spark the fight against anti-black violence and police brutality by creating #BlackLivesMatter as a response to the murder of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teen shot during a scuffle with neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in 2012. The #BlackLivesMatter movement picked up momentum again when the grand jury decisions in the shoot-
THE MAGIC PILL NOBODY IS TAKING The number of Gay men not taking the socalled “magic pill,” PrEP or Truvada, is certainly higher than the number of men who are taking the once-daily pill that is said to protect them from the spread of HIV/AIDS. For whatever reason, many men remained PrEP skeptical in 2014, which baffled journalists and activists alike. “Behavior change is very difficult, even when the stakes are high,” say officials at PrEPFacts.org. “Despite all that we know about the dangers of tobacco, millions continue to
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who have sex with men but who may or may not identify as Gay or Bisexual. The clinical studies often lump these groups together. The iPrEx study compared Truvada with a placebo pill in nearly 2,500 Gay and Bi men and Transwomen in six countries. All of the participants also got safer sex counseling and condoms, regular sexually transmitted infection (STI) check-ups and treatment, and HIV testing. When the researchers compared people assigned to take Truvada with those assigned to take the placebo, they found that people who were given Truvada had lower HIV infection rates compared to people who were given placebo. When the researchers took it a step further and looked only at people with detectable levels of the drugs in their blood (a sign than the medication was being taken regularly), they found that transmission dropped by as smoke. We also know that we should exercise much as 92%. Further analyses indicate that and eat well, yet obesity is on the rise. We’ve drug levels corresponding to daily use are got the same struggles when it comes to HIV associated with 99% protection against HIV. prevention and sexual health.” Until now, adopting safer behaviors – inLGBT SOUTHERNERS cluding condom use – has been the only opGET ATTENTION tion available for people who wished to proBeing LGBTQ and coming out can be diftect themselves from becoming infected. Lots ficult. Being LGBTQ and coming out in the of people were able to successfully change south of the U.S. can be downright dangerous. their behavior in the late 1980s and early Now our brothers and sisters in the Southern 1990s, so much so that the rate of new infec- states are getting a little help from their friends. tions dropped by an amazing degree. Since It all began in 2014, when several campaigns then, however, helping people maintain safer launched to change the way the Bible Belt behaviors or getting younger people to adopt treats the L, G, B, T and Q in our society. them has gotten a lot harder. In fact, more The Human Rights Campaign started a than 50,000 people are estimated to have multi-year, $8.5 million initiative called become infected each year since the mid-to- Project One America, which aims to make late1990s. That’s about 800,000 new infec- dramatic progress on LGBT rights in the tions since then. Among Gay and Bisexual South. The initiative seeks to make progress men, new cases are actually on the rise, espe- on three fronts: changing hearts and minds, cially for young black and Latino men. advancing legal protections and building “And it’s not just individual behaviors more LGBT-inclusive institutions from the that put people at risk for HIV,” say offi- church pew to the workplace. cials. “There are many external factors that contribute, too. These include poverty, hoOBAMA MAKE HIGH PROFILE LGBT mophobia, racism, homelessness – all of APPOINTMENTS these things can significantly increase HIV President Barack Obama made LGBT aprisk while also contributing to significant pointments to important positions in his health disparities across various racial and administration and the judiciary. Principal socio-economic groups.” among them is Ted Osius, a career Foreign “We desperately need new tools in order Service officer who was confirmed as U.S. to turn things around,” health officials say. ambassador to Vietnam. “PrEP is a new HIV prevention strategy that Gordon Tanner was also appointed to a puts the power of prevention in the hands high-ranking post as General Counsel for of HIV-negative people. Now that PrEP has the Air Force. been shown to be effective in clinical trials, To the federal judiciary, the Senate conthe next step is to determine whether and firmed Lesbian Judith Levy to the U.S. Dishow PrEP can be used to reduce HIV infec- trict Court of Eastern Michigan. tions in communities.” On June 17, the Senate took a historic vote PrEP isn’t just for men, either. Research by confirming two openly Gay judicial nomshows that PrEP works for HIV prevention inees in one day, both of whom were black. for Gay and Bi men and Transwomen. To note Staci Michelle Yandle was confirmed to the again, in the clinical research world, research- U.S. District Court for the Southern District ers use the term “men who have sex with men” of Illinois and Darrin Gayles was confirmed (MSM) to describe Gay and Bi men, Trans- for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the women, and others who were born male and Southern District of Florida.
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sworn to uphold.” not issue licenses to Gay and Lesbian couIn July, Stemberger said that preventing ples, Shea said clerks would not be breaking Gay and Lesbian couples from marrying “is the law if they do so. worth dying for.” “I thank the Court for providing clarity on this issue,” Moore Russell said in a statement Federal judge OKs marriages after Shea’s ruling. A federal judge ruled on December 31 that “I specifically want to thank Judge Shea Orange County Clerk Tiffany Moore Russell for his guidance in this matter. Since the may go ahead and issue marriage licenses to question of issuing same-sex marriage lisame-sex couples on January 6. censes was first directed at Clerks, my office Moore Russell filed a petition the previ- has consistently stated that we would conous day, asking U.S. District Judge Tim Shea tinue to seek judicial clarification. That is to give her instructions on what to do. Al- why we filed this emergency petition and we though the Florida Association of Clerks are grateful for the clear direction it provides and Comptrollers said its members should as we move closer to January 6.”
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