SGN Jul 26, 2019 - Part 1

Seattle Gay News

Victory Funds’ President, Annise Parker Mayor Pete Buttigieg brings presidential campaign to Seattle

by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer

Whenever the opportunity arises of interviewing an Icon in person, I always jump at the chance. When, upon hearing, the former Houston Mayor and current Victory Fund President, Annise Parker, was going to be in town for a reception last Thursday [July 18], I couldn’t pass it up. I arrived about fifteen minutes early, and met Ms. Parker when she arrived, we took at seat and it was awkward at first, but towards the middle, I noticed the passion coming from Parker.

see ANNISE PARKER page 4

CDC makes it official: undetectable = untransmittable

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

“For HIV-positive MSM [men who have sex with men], taking ART [antiretroviral therapy] regularly greatly reduces the risk of HIV transmission to a negative partner. For persons who achieve and maintain viral

suppression, there is effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partner,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now says.

“This translates to an effectiveness estimate of 100% for taking ART regularly as see CDC page 17

Why Boris and Brexit are bad for Europe’s LGBT community

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Boris Johnson became the 77th prime minister of the UK on July 24, and within hours of taking office, he promised to get Britain out of the European Union (EU) by October 31.

Although Johnson promised that “I will continue to champion LGBT+ equality,” his record on LGBT issues is spotty. He voted for marriage equality, and during his brief tenure as Britain’s Foreign Secretary, he instructed British embassies see BORIS & BREXIT page 17

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Larry Kramer’s faulty analysis

Editor:

Thanks for printing Larry Kramer’s remarks at NYC’s WorldPride [Seattle Gay News, July 5, 2019]. Kramer has done enormously beneficial things for the LGBT/HIV communities, although it is well-known that he is a difficult personality. I have often celebrated his accomplishments. However, the analysis in his talk is deeply flawed.

Although often called “radical,” Kramer’s approach is classic liberalism – if there is more of “A” then there must be less of “nonA.” But a better way to understand what is really happening is to use a dialectical approach which shows us how both “A” and “non-A” may be increasing at the same time. As Hegel taught, when a social phenom-

enon increases (the thesis) it gives rise to an opposite reaction (the antithesis). The Trump-Pence Administration’s actions are thus best understood as reactions to our successes. If our movements had not made so much progress so quickly, there would not be growing opposition. We can see similar patterns regarding the women’s and civil rights movements (e.g., the attempts at voter suppression). To expect social change without social reaction to that change is actually naive.

Yes, HIV infections continue (especially in communities of color) at unacceptable rates. And deaths in communities without the medical or financial resources to access good treatments are similarly unacceptable. But Kramer talks as if HIV

disease is not under control for many thousands of people. This is not 1989.

Gay men have always “danced’ and done drugs – nothing new, Larry. He gives no credit to the organizations we have created and support that are “fighting back” – the ACLU, Lambda [Legal], all the local foundations and organizations doing good work regarding AIDS, etc.. And, yes, the task work will always be less than perfectly achieved.

Kramer is still angry, after all these years – ironic, at an event to celebrate our many significant successes.

Phil Bereano Seattle

MK Scott: Welcome to Seattle.

Annise Parker: Thank you.

MK: You are now the President/CEO of the Victory Fund. And I know Chuck Wolfe was the executive director for a very long time. Is there anything that he said, anything, any like words of encouragement?

Annise: Yeah, and Victory existed long before Chuck. And, hopefully, will exist long after I’m no longer leading it. But, and so, when I came in – it’s been several years since Chuck had been actively involved – but the work hasn’t really changed. It’s about our target audience. It is the candidates, because they have to believe that Vic-

tory has something of value to offer them. And it’s the donors who understand that when we vet candidates and provide information on candidates that those candidates are worthy of an investment. Now, what is really growing rapidly is the work that we do on the Institute side, not the Victory Fund side, but the Victory Institute side. That’s our (c)(3). And that’s where we do our candidate campaign trainings, where we do the annual conference. Because it’s the only gathering, worldwide gathering, of LGBT elected official each year, and we have a number of other programs as well. And so it is about continuing to do what we were originally formed for, and we’re the only organization in our space. We’re the only national organization who focuses only on LGBTQ candidates. We don’t do

allies. And we don’t do policy. Every other national organization is focused first on policy. We believe that if we put the right people in the right place the policy will take care of itself. And that a qualified LGBTQ candidate will be able to advocate for their constituents, but also for the broader community. And it’s not up to us to tell them what the issues are, they already know what the issues are.

MK: Now, speaking of endorsing candidates, you just recently endorsed Mayor Pete. And what has impressed you the most about him?

Annise: Well, first I will hasten to say that we didn’t endorse Mayor Pete because he was the only LGBTQ candidate. We didn’t endorse him when he announced that he was going to run. We didn’t endorse

him when he formally entered the race. We waited until he had proven that he could compete on a level playing field with the other candidates, which is what we ask of every one of our candidates. That said I knew him as a fellow mayor. I’ve gotten to know him better since I’ve left office. We’ve been on a number of panels together. We’ve had a number of conversations. He’s a gifted politician. He’s a very, very smart guy. He can connect to people from any background in any walk of life. The fact that he’s so gifted with languages is a huge help as well. And he’s – every day that he is in this race he’s a role model. He’s changing America’s perception of what a gay man is and can be. And he’s a great representative of not just our community, but a really excellent candidate for President of the United States. We’re very excited about it. MK: And what do you think of President Trump’s current policies in regard to … Annise: On just about anything? They’re atrocious! Well, again, we’re not a policy organization. So, but the only thing I can say, officially, for Victory, is that anyone who thinks that Trump has been good for the LGBT community is living in a fantasy land. He is actively targeting the trans community, both clearly in the military by forcing trans soldiers out. But his policies on transgender protections for students, his policies on protections for gay and lesbian students as well, or the rollback of those policies, is very detrimental. And through his cabinet secretaries you also see an unwinding of general protections. When you then add to it that he’s an active supporter of the so called Riptor Bills, Religious and Restoration Act bills, that many of his appointees support things like conversion therapy, including his Vice President, you could see that he’s been not just indifferent to the LGBTQ community but actively hostile to the LGBTQ community.

MK: And so, you know, back to that again, what about … what is your take on all these people who are gay that are affiliated with Trump, who actually support him?

Annise: … gay Trump supporters. There’ll never be any lesbian Trump supporters. (Laugh)

MK: That is true. That is true. Yes. Annise: That’s fine. They may choose to support Trump, but they cannot fool themselves to say that they are doing anything to

support the LGBTQ community by doing that. And one of the victories in a non-partisan organization. And we endorse every Republican that we can. One of the challenges, though, is that we are a pro-choice organization because we believe, very fundamentally, in a right to privacy. And that was part of our founding documents. And we are also a fully inclusive organization. And we have, unfortunately, not been able to endorse some of the Republican candidates who sought our endorsement because they don’t believe in trans inclusion. They will very explicitly say that they are gay, and they support, you know, protections for gays and lesbians, but that they don’t believe the trans issues, that gender identity should be part of the community – that it’s not something that we believe.

MK: Absolutely. And regards to the … Annise: You know, there are folks from all communities. Trump has Latino supporters. Trump has African-American supporters. It doesn’t mean that Trump is good for either the Latin X community, or the African-African community. And people may fool themselves, and people have a lot of reasons for supporting candidates. They simply … no one who supports Trump from our community could stand up and say that they’re doing it because he’s good for our community.

MK: Now, are there any other LGBT candidates across the nation that you have your eyes on?

Annise: A lot of LGBT candidates. This year, this is a, we have a lot of the local elections in 2019, and we dubbed it the year of the lesbian mayor. We elected three or four lesbian mayors, big city mayors, who were contending. We are most particularly excited about Lori Lightfoot in Chicago. The largest city ever in America to have a lesbian mayor, and the largest city ever in America to have a woman mayor. Chicago is the third largest city, Houston was the fourth largest. Lori Lightfoot took both

those titles.

We’re very excited about that, but when you look at her success in Chicago, Dan Castor’s success in Tampa, and Conway’s success in Madison, they – overwhelming victories. Just like a clear marker that they had much broader appeal than just from, you know, we get accused a lot of being involved in identity politics, and we do believe that identity matters, but we’ve never endorsed a candidate simply because they were from the community. And the most successful candidates we have, like Lori Lightfoot, who is 74% of the vote …

MK: Wow.

Annise: … shows that she had appeal much beyond our community. And she had a message that resonated with all the voters of Chicago.

MK: Because actually, as a Northwesterner, we have the pleasure, because I was around in Portland at the time that Sam Adams had his first year as mayor. And then, of course, I came back here, which is my permanent home, and then suddenly Ed Murray, who I have known for years and years and years, who was endorsed by the Victory Fund pretty much every single time that he ran for the legislature.

Annise: Well, this year – well, in 2018, we doubled the number of governors. We doubled the number of senators. And then we increased the number of members of Congress, other members, the members of the House of Representatives from six to eight. That number’s growing. But at Victory we care about the federal races. But our target race is at the statehouse level. We care about all the races. But what has more impact on peoples’ lives? A big city mayor, first and foremost. And where is the next place we really need to be? In the state legislatures. Where does most bad legislation start? In the statehouses. Where can we, when we put somebody in the statehouse, we can tell, we’ve done a lot of analysis of this, if you put one person in a statehouse it

slows the progress of bad bills. But if you put three people in you almost guarantee that the really anti-LGBTQ bills don’t pass. And if you put more than that in then you start getting the positive bills. And we are very excited about what happened in 2018 the number of state candidates who were elected. We think that 2020 will be just as robust in terms of the number of candidates running. We have a tool, and it’s called the Alpha America Map. And if you do an internet search, it’s for Alpha America, it will take you to our map, and it will show you every current LGBT elected official. And the number goes up and down, but right now it’s approximately 700. There were more than 700 candidates who ran in 2018 alone. We identified more than 700. We actually touched in some way where they communicated with us approximately 400 candidates we endorsed in 274 races. And 64% of our candidates won. So we’re really, really excited about it.

MK: That’s fabulous. I have one last question, which is actually kind of interesting. I had just heard a rumor that Houston placed a bid to host WorldPride in 2023.

Annise: Really? I don’t know. If you’ve heard that rumor you’re ahead of me. And I would be really, really happy to see that. One of the things that chagrins me after three terms as Mayor of Houston is that Houston does not have a nondiscrimination policy for anyone. We actually had our comprehensive policy rescinded by the voters. And the State of Texas seems to be pretty anti-LBGT, well; Houston is fine, but …I’m a little surprised. All the big cities in Texas are progressive islands in the big toxic red sea.

MK: Especially Austin.

Annise: Austin’s way to the left of everything else.

MK: And one quick follow-up question. At the Seattle International Film Festival they showed the Beto O’Rourke documentary where just him running, and the way

that he did so well, I think it was the first time that in I would say 20, 25 years, actually it was 25 years …

Annise: He came closer than anyone in the two decades, and he also had the highest voter turnout ever for a Democrat in the state of Texas. It was amazing. He ran an outstanding campaign. Now, part of it, Beto had a good plan. He did a statewide effort visiting every county. He is a gifted speaker, and he excited people, but he was also running against Ted Cruz, who even the Republicans dislike. He is … Ted Cruz doesn’t play nice in the sandbox with anyone. There was a lot of stuff to run on. And Beto did a great job of exploiting Ted’s vulnerabilities. It’s not translated as well to the national stage. Because it’s a lot easier to run, you know, when you have a target. He was running against Ted Cruz and what Ted stood for. And, you know, as a presidential candidate it’s about what you stand for. So it’s a little bit different of an arena for him. But we were excited. Most of us in Texas wish he had stayed in the state and turned his sights to the current Senate seat which is open. But he made a different choice.

MK: Excellent. I think you deserve a lot of credit because you probably brought a lot of change to Texas when you got elected.

Annise: I did. And I was a target for a lot of folks on the right too. (Laugh) When you become part of Mike Huckabee’s dumb speech, and Ted Cruz’s dumb speech, it’s a mixed blessing.

MK: All right, well, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Annise: Oh, sure. Absolutely.

For more information on the Victory Fund, please check their site at victoryfund. org

MK Scott is a freelance public affairs writer. Follow his work at uniteseattlemag. com

Port of Seattle 2019 Primary Election includes 10 candidates for 2 positions

by Tim Peter SGN Contributing Writer

The Port of Seattle is an on often-overlooked office that is included in next month’s primary election. The Port oversees everything coming into Seattle via sea and air. That includes SeaTac International Airport as well as the Seattle waterfront, commercial and private. This year, there are two positions up for election, Position 2 (seven candidates) and Position 5 (three candidates).

“Founded in 1911, the Port of Seattle is a specialized municipal corporation serving the citizens of King County” according to its website www.portseattle.org.

“Its mission is to create good jobs here and across the state by advancing trade and commerce, promoting manufacturing and maritime growth, and stimulating economic development.”

It is the largest port (sea and air) between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Los Angeles, California. Additionally, the Port of Seattle plans to add 100,000 jobs, for a total of 300,000 port-related jobs in the region, “while reducing our environmental footprint.”

“All authority of the Port of Seattle is vested with the Commission in its actions as a public body under RCW 53. Five Commissioners serve four-year terms to govern the Port, lead all inter-governmental functions and oversee the Executive Director.”

Candidates for Position 2:

Kelly Charlton said, “The Port of Seattle is one of the most important ports in the

United States and one of the most important economic engines of our local economy. Let’s work together so the success of our port lifts all boats.

He lists several ”Key strategies for the Port of Seattle: Position the Puget Sound region as a premier international logistics hub; Advance this region as a leading tourism destination and business gateway; Use the Port’s influence as an institution to promote women and minority business enterprise (WMBE) growth, small business growth, and workforce development; Be the greenest, and most energy efficient port in North America; Strengthen access to global markets and supply chains for Northwest businesses; Make Washington a preferred destination for international travelers from countries with which we have direct flights; Establish an educational consortium to serve the needs of the maritime industry for workforce development, applied research, and business growth; Foster a coordinated effort among Puget Sound ports in support of Washington state’s pursuit of a healthier Puget Sound; Continue to be a high performance organization focused on operational excellence, organizational alignment, and a people-centric culture.”

Preeti Shridhar is Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, City of Renton. She stated, “Growing up, I dreamed of a place where I could serve the public and give back to my community. With a suitcase and a scholarship I came to the U.S., arriving in King County 27 years ago. I moved to Woodinville and devoted myself to improv-

ing our region’s quality of life, working for the cities of Seattle and Renton. I will continue that tradition of service as a Port Commissioner.

“The Port must protect our environment by powering every flight from Sea-Tac Airport with biofuel to cut carbon emissions in half. I’ve launched innovative environmental programs, including Seattle’s Climate Protection Initiative, water conservation and recycling programs. I worked with former Vice President Al Gore to launch his movement to stop climate change, won an Emmy for promoting water conservation, and received awards from the US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities for inclusion and equity!

“I will take this experience to the Port and make it more answerable to the people of King County. I plan to reduce noise and other impacts to our airport and seaport communities. The Port must respect the taxpayers! I would be honored by your vote.”

Dominic Barrera is Operations Agent at Alaska Airlines, Commissioner at North Highline Fire and Director of PlantAmnesty.

He said, “As a lifelong South King County resident and longtime airport operations worker, I’m running to bring a voice to Port-area residents and the local labor community, both of which the Port Commission has long lacked. I also serve as an IAMAW union shop steward and Executive Director of an environmental nonprofit. I will balance the needs of business with our obligation to protect the environment and build a more sustainable economy.

Labor loves LGBT lawmakers

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

In advance of its 2019 convention, the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) released its ratings of the state’s legislators, and all seven LGBT lawmakers received perfect 100% scores.

All seven are Democrats. In the state House, the group includes Seattle’s Nicole Macri (D-43), Tacoma’s Laurie Jinkins (D-27), and Pierce County Rep. Chris-

tine Kilduff. Jinkins is the veteran on the House side, having served since 2011, with a cumulative 96% pro-labor record. Kilduff took office in 2015 and Macri in 2017. Both have perfect 100% cumulative scores.

In the Senate, the LGBT caucus includes Marko Liias (D-21), Jamie Pedersen (D-43), Emily Randall (D-26), and Claire Wilson (D-30).

Pedersen has represented his Capitol Hill district in the Senate since 2014, after serving seven years in the House. His

House seat was subsequently held by Brady Walkinshaw and Nicole Macri. Pedersen’s cumulative pro-labor score is 86%.

Liias also entered the Senate in 2014, after seven years in the House, and has earned a solid 96% cumulative pro-labor score.

Newly-elected Sens. Randall and Wilson were singled out by the WSLC for special praise for being “key supporters of HB 1155, which required uninterrupted meal and rest breaks for nurses and front-

“Sea-Tac Airport (the Port of Seattle’s largest enterprise) has grown by 45% since 2012 when I began working in the operation. Meanwhile, infrastructure, technology, and processes are struggling to keep up, negatively impacting travelers and workers alike. We need a Commissioner with a deep understanding of operational realities to guide long-term planning, creatively mitigate the impacts of development, and address the unsustainable and unsafe working conditions faced by many frontline workers. At all Port facilities, I will boost investment in infrastructure that cuts fossil fuel pollution, relieves traffic, and improves freight mobility, and will push to research and incentivize the use of new technologies and best practices.

“As a Fire Commissioner, I have helped restore financial stability and public trust to the North Highline Fire District after mismanagement by previous leadership. I have passed state legislation, balanced tight budgets, improved working conditions and operating efficiency in my district, and proven myself an effective and accountable elected leader.

Sam Cho, President of Seven Seas Export and former Special Assistant to President Obama, said, “As the proud son of immigrants who came to this country through the Port of Seattle, I’m running because I want a Port that works for the people. The congestion going into SeaTac Airport and long lines at security aren’t working for the people.

see PORT ELECTION page 13

line hospital workers, refusing to accept an amendment that nonsensically exempted rural hospital workers from those health and safety standards.”

The WSLC bases its scores on how lawmakers vote on bills identified as especially important to the labor movement in Washington State. For the 2019 legislative session, WSLC identified 20 bills in each house that it considered crucial for working people.

PORT ELECTION

continued from page 8

“My priorities are to promote equitable economic growth, aggressively tackle climate change, bring transparency and accountability to the port, and stop human and labor trafficking. As the port expands, we must account for the concerns of neighboring residents, lower carbon emissions, and transition to sustainable sources of energy.

“My experience making government work for the people includes serving President Obama as a political appointee at the US General Services Administration and working as a Legislative Assistant in both the United States Congress and Washington State Legislature. My time with President Obama has taught me that good policies require great execution. As Port Commissioner, I will use my experience to execute and ensure the tides of a growing economy provides opportunity for everyone. Today, I’m a small business owner in trade and exports working directly with the Port. At a time when our region’s economy is threatened by Donald Trump’s trade wars, it’s more important than ever to have a strong advocate for Washington goods and exports.

Nina Martinez is Owner of Independent Technology, Industry, and Business Consulting firm. She stated, “I ask for your vote so we can create the jobs of the future, reverse the damage caused by pollution, and keep the Port on budget while boosting our economy.

“The Port has a responsibility to be a leader in developing policies that promote both economic and environmental sustainability. We must create partnerships to develop cleaner jet fuels and promote electrification. We must prioritize cleaning the Duwamish River to protect fish, wildlife, and human health.”

Grant Degginger is currently employed as an attorney. He is past Chair of WA Public Disclosure Commission and former Bellevue Mayor.

He said, “I am committed to making the Port of Seattle a transparent and innovative partner, delivering the infrastructure, living wage jobs, and environmental sustainability our economy and communities need and deserve. During my twelve years as Bellevue Mayor and Councilmember, I helped deliver light rail to the Eastside, the new 520 bridge with increased transit service and bike access, fought for water quality, and needed affordable housing. I work hard to bring people together around shared values to create lasting, positive change.

He lists his priorities as “Responsible, Sustainable Growth; Support People and Communities: Transparent and Accountable to You.”

Ali Scego is Manager of Employment and Adult Education at Neighborhood House.

He said, “I’m running for Port of Seattle because I believe in the thousands of workers that have built this strong economic engine. I believe every port and contract worker can achieve a better life if we have a just system that gives working families a living wage.

I also think of our future and know we need to adapt an agile workforce model. A model that will help the Port of Seattle think differently about how contract workers are engaged and can be upskilled to reduce workforce talent gaps. We need local highly skilled small business as venders to keep the dollars in our local economy.”

Candidates for Position 5:

Fred Felleman is Principal, WAVE Consulting; Vice President, Seattle Port Commission.

He stated, “Thank you for the opportu-

nity to serve on the Seattle Port Commission. Since entering office in 2016, I’ve worked hard to reduce the Port’s climate impacts while increasing good-paying, meaningful careers in King County.

“I came to the Port with 30 years’ experience as a conservation leader protecting the health of our marine environment and those dependent upon it. As a Commissioner, I’ve supported our quality of life by securing environmental safeguards while expanding the economic benefits of trade, tourism, fishing and recreation. I’ve helped guide major transformations at the airport and seaport and emphasized integrity through the hiring of the new Executive Director and championing creation of the Senior Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion position.

“In my next term I will continue to: Work with business and labor to protect our working waterfront and industrial lands to advance a diverse economy; Reduce climate impacts as founding Chair of the Energy & Sustainability Committee; Expand opportunities for women and minority-owned businesses while seeking environmental and economic justice for disproportionately impacted communities; Inspire youth to pursue Port-related jobs of the future by championing innovation, apprenticeships and internships; Be accessible, inclusive and responsive to community interests.”

Jordan Lemmon is currently a theater supervisor and technician.

He said, “The Port of Seattle is the backbone of King County, a powerhouse of commerce and industry throughout the Puget Sound.

“Promoting expansion while sustaining and improving the relationship we have with the environment is a central concern we will all face moving forward as a region. The Port of Seattle in cooperation with other government and commercial leaders can help King County maintain and exceed

its status on the national and global stage. In order for us to achieve such success we will have to be mindful of the impact our actions going forward will have on those living here in the Puget Sound.

“To these necessities and concerns, I as a commissioner for the Port of Seattle will bring an openness for communication, ambitious team spirit, and a reasoning mindful awareness of the impact our decisions have on King County and its neighbors.”

Garth Jacobson currently serves as Senior Attorney and Compliance Officer for CT Corporation. Previously he worked at Preston Gates and Ellis LLP. He also served as Chief Legal Counsel to the Montana Secretary of State and Ethics Study Committee member.

He said, “I am running for the Port Commission seat because we can do better. Flying in and out of SeaTac airport often is a painful experience due to traffic, difficult parking, long TSA lines, flight delays and sometimes having to take a bus to a remotely located plane. This detracts from the customer experience. As a frequent flyer, I have seen most other airports do much better. A few examples include Portland parking identifies specific available spots, most airports have better traffic flow, and shorter TSA lines and (DCA) has obvious water bottle refill stations to reduce waste plastic. Let’s use these ideas to improve our airport.

“We must stress cyber security and address impacts caused by trade wars. Likewise the seaport should explore “smart city” technology for: greater efficiencies, environmental protection and safety, while protecting jobs. We should promote electric trucks. We must provide greater transparency and prevent large cost overruns and questionable tax increases. I ask for your vote to use my experience, leadership skills to promote consumer interests and make the port operations better.”

Seattle LGBTQ Commission expresses concerns over uptick in unannounced encampment removals

SEATTLE (July 24, 2019) – The Seattle LGBTQ Commission sent a letter on July 23, 2019, to Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle Human Services Interim Director Jason Johnson, and the Seattle City Council expressing concerns with the recent increase in homeless encampment removals, particularly those with little or no advanced notice.

This action was prompted by several reports from local reporter Erica C. Barnett and the Seattle Times, as well as from the City Auditor, that encampment removals have increased in Q1 of 2019 from both the previous quarter and from a similar timeframe the previous year. The first four months of 2019 have seen 117 encampment removals, 93 of which were categorized as “obstructions” and therefore did not require 72-hours advanced notice. This is in comparison to 67 total encampment removals, 11 of which were unannounced, in the first four months of 2018.

“I am pleased to hear that today Mayor Durkan and Councilmember Mosqueda

have announced legislation to put significant investments forth for affordable housing and expansion of the Multi-Family Tax Exemption program,” said Co-Chair Jessi Murray (she). “This will hopefully make a real difference in the lives of those who are at risk of or experiencing housing instability. However, our concerns with the policies and practices around encampment removals remain. We should use this as an opportunity to keep moving forward on policies that we know will help, and to examine other tactics the city is taking that hurt our neighbors experiencing homelessness.”

As the city continues to invest money in encampment removals, expanding the navigation team in size and operational days, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission recognizes that these policies have the potential to harm individuals when adequate shelter and services are not meaningfully accessible. In its letter, the Commission recommends a number of other potential areas to invest in both the short and long term.

The Commission is also looking for-

ward to seeing the outcomes of the recent Statement of Legislative Intent from Councilmember Herbold around reducing barriers to shelter and services for LGBTQ+ individuals, who are disproportionately represented among homeless populations, especially unaccompanied youth. The 2019-2020 work plan for the Commission includes housing, homelessness, and affordability as top priorities, as well as health care and mental health care access.

“City officials also need to keep in mind the mental health effects of encampment removals. A lack of stability in and systemic barriers to shelter exacerbates the already fragile circumstances of individuals experiencing homelessness,” said cochair Dr. Katrina Sanford (no pronouns or she). “Research shows that those with shelter and a good support network are better able to thrive during difficult times. We must continue to put forth more policies like those announced today that prioritize stability and dignity, and not those that end up with individuals having their only shel-

ter thrown out.”

“Real solutions for real people require courage, commitment, and compassion,” added Co-Chair Byram Simpson (they). “These are our neighbors, members of our community, fellow Seattleites. We can’t forget this or allow ourselves to think in terms of solely our own convenience and sensibilities. We hope that the announcement today will mark a shift toward more solutions like increasing affordable housing, which center those most affected, and away from options like encampment removals, which don’t.”

The Seattle Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission advises the mayor, City Council, and city departments about issues of concern affecting the LGBTQ community.

Courtesy of the Seattle LGBTQ Commission

OutRight NOW: Position of Independent Expert on SOGI renewed

Dear Friends,

Great news: the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) has been renewed by the Human Rights Council of the United Nations!

The Independent Expert on SOGI was created in 2016 to bring attention to the disproportionate violence, persecution, and discrimination that LGBT people face in many countries around the world – including in 68 countries that still criminalize same-sex relations – by talking to states and working collaboratively with UN and regional mechanisms. Since inception, the Independent Expert has already conducted four country visits (to Ukraine, Mozambique, Georgia, and Argentina), issued five thematic reports, and issued over 20 individual complaints to countries about specific violations or concerns about legislation or policy in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity.

The resolution to create and renew the mandate was presented by seven Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Uruguay, all of which are members of the UN LGBTI Core group, which OutRight works together with on a day-to-day basis.

In addition to ongoing engagement with the UN LGBTI Core Group, whose members requested the renewal, OutRight also participated in a coordinated #RenewIESOGI campaign, which was supported by 1,312 organizations from 174 states and territories!

Despite numerous attempts to dismantle the mandate, including 10 hostile amendments on this occasion, the impressive mobilization across global civil society was once again able to halt the efforts to block this important mandate.

The mandate was renewed by a decisive vote of 27 in favor, 12 against and 7 abstentions – a much stronger margin than when it was established in 2016 (23 in favor, 18 against, 6 abstentions). It is especially nota-

ble that, among others, the Bahamas, Fiji, the Philippines, and Tunisia voted in favor of the mandate, increasing not only the number of supporters but the geographic range too.

We have also continued to build upon our well-established relationship with the current Independent Expert on SOGI, Victor Madrigal Borloz, and look forward to continuing our collaboration for recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ people worldwide. He is one of our keynote speakers at this year’s OutSummit on December 7!

Meanwhile, the US Senate is gearing up to approve Andrew Bremberg, who, in his role as the Policy Director for the Republican National Committee’s 2016 party platform committee, facilitated the most overtly anti-LGBT policy positions ever taken by the Republican Party – including support for conversion therapy and opposition to the rights of transgender people – to serve as US ambassador to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva (see the letter we sent

to the Senate opposing his appointment). This serves as a sobering reminder of the uphill battle we face, of the importance of a growing network of diverse allies across the world, and mobilization of civil society, before we can live free to be who we are [and] love whom we choose, free from fear of violence, hate, and persecution.

Thank you for your ongoing support for our cause!

Sincerely,

Jessica Stern Executive Director OutRight Action International

P.S. Watch the campaign videos [at https://bit.ly/2SGG1az].

Read the joint campaign press release [at https://bit.ly/2LEAela].

Courtesy of OutRight Action International

NAACP votes unanimously on three pro-LGBTQ resolutions

WASHINGTON, DC (July 24, 2019) –On July 23, 2019, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, voted unanimously on three pro-LGBTQ resolutions with far-reaching impact on its 2,000+ units/chapters across the country. The NAACP was a champion for marriage equality and remains a strong advocate for the Equality Act. It is now taking action to do deeper work with its units and chapters to invoke change locally.

The resolutions marked the next chapter in the NAACP’s support of our community: ending murders and violence against transgender women and supporting the transgender community, prevention and earlier detection of HIV, and inclusion of LGBTQ diversity and sensitivity training for units/ chapters.

[David Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition said,]

“Anyone who purports to care about the well-being of Black people must care about all of us all of the time. At a time when our community is under attack by occupants of the highest office in the country as well as the lowest depths of hatred and bigotry, it is noteworthy that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is taking meaningful steps toward intersectional social justice. Too many people think that the gains made by the white lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community are eroding civil protections for Black people, and these people miss the fact that as long as there have been Black people, there have been Black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving (SGL) people. Black LGBTQ/SGL people are vulnerable to discrimination and dying at a disproportionate rate, and this does not have to be our reality. The resolutions passed by the NAACP will help to ensure that local chapters across the

country do a better job of holding space and ensuring equality for all Black people. The National Black Justice Coalition is proud to serve as a resource.”

[Victoria Kirby York, deputy director for the Advocacy and Action Department of the National LGBTQ Task Force, said,]

“As a Black, same-gender-loving woman who has been deeply disappointed in the lack of response and coverage across the country to the murder of Black transgender women, it brought me to tears to be at the convention as Black leadership from across the country voted to take action with us. The AIDS epidemic has continued to devastate the Black community, and I am grateful the NAACP hasn’t forgotten about us. Lastly, one of the principles of our #AllofMeAlltheTime campaign, with the National Black Justice Coalition, is to support organizations to live more deeply in seeing our community as a part of theirs,

beyond legislative or policy support, in order to advance comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that include all of who we are all of the time. We look forward to supporting, however we can, the NAACP as it does just that with [its] units/chapters across the country.”

For more information on the National Black Justice Coalition, and on how you can support the fight for gender justice across the country, visit http://nbjc.org. The Gender Justice Toolkit is now available; learn how you can lead potentially uncomfortable conversations around gender as effectively as possible.

Courtesy of Megaphone Strategies

Transcript of Rep. Jayapal’s questioning of special counsel Robert Mueller

WASHINGTON, DC (July 24, 2019)Today, US Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) conducted the following line of questioning during the House Judiciary Committee’s Hearing on “Oversight of the Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election: Former Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III”:

Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Director Mueller, let’s turn to the fifth of the obstruction episodes in your report, and that is the evidence of whether President Trump engaged in witness tampering with Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, whose foreign ties were critical to your investigation into Russia’s interference in our elections. And this starts at volume II, page 123. Your office got indictments against Manafort and Trump deputy campaign manager Rick Gates in two different jurisdictions, correct?

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller: Correct.

Rep. Jayapal: And your office found that after a grand jury indicted them, Manafort told Gates not to plead guilty to any charges, because “he had talked to the President’s personal counsel, and they were going to take care of us.” Is that correct?

Mueller: That is accurate.

Rep. Jayapal: And according to your report, one day after Manafort’s conviction on eight felony charges, “the president said that flipping was ‘not fair’ and ‘almost ought to be outlawed.’” Is that correct?

Mueller: I’m aware of that.

Rep. Jayapal: In this context, Director Mueller, what does it mean to flip?

Mueller: Have somebody cooperate in a criminal investigation.

Rep. Jayapal: And how essential is that cooperation to any efforts to combat crime?

Mueller: I’m not gonna go beyond that, characterizing that.

Rep. Jayapal: Thank you. In your report, you concluded that President Trump and his personal counsel Rudy Giuliani “made repeated statements suggesting that a pardon was a possibility for Manafort, while also making it clear that the president did not want Manafort to ‘flip’ and cooper-

ate with the government.” Is that correct?

Mueller: Correct.

Rep. Jayapal: And that you stated earlier, witness tampering can be shown where someone with an improper motive encourages another person not to cooperate with law enforcement, is that correct?

Mueller: Correct.

Rep. Jayapal: Now, on page 123 of volume II, you also discuss the president’s motive. And you say that as court proceedings move forward against Manafort, President Trump “discussed with aides, whether and in what way Manafort might be cooperating… and whether Manafort knew any information that would be harmful to the president.” Is that correct?

Mueller: And that was a quote from?

Rep. Jayapal: From page 123, volume II?

Mueller: I haven’t... Thank you, yes.

Rep. Jayapal: And when someone tries to stop another person from working with law enforcement, and they do it because they’re worried about what that person will say, it seems clear from what you wrote that this is a classic definition of witness tampering. Now, Mr. Manafort did eventually

decided to cooperate with your office, and he entered into a plea agreement, but then he broke that agreement. Can you describe what he did that caused you to tell the court that the agreement was off?

Mueller: I refer you to the court proceedings on that issue.

Rep. Jayapal: So on page 127 of volume II, you told the court that Mr. Manafort lied about a number of matters that were material to the investigation, and you said that Manafort’s lawyers also “regularly briefed the president’s lawyers on topics discussed and the information that Manafort had provided in interviews with the Special Counsel’s Office.” Does that sound right?

Mueller: And the source of that is?

Rep. Jayapal: That’s page 127, volume II. That’s a direct quote.

Mueller: If it’s from the report, yes, I support it.

Rep. Jayapal: Thank you. And two days after you told the court that Manafort broke his plea agreement by lying repeatedly, did President Trump tell the press that Mr. Manafort was “very brave, because he did not flip”? This is page 128 of volume II.

Mueller: If it’s in the report, I support it as it is, as it is set forth.

Rep. Jayapal: Thank you. Director Mueller, in your report, you make a very serious conclusion about the evidence regarding the president’s involvement with the Manafort criminal proceedings. Let me read to you from your report: “Evidence concerning the president’s conduct towards Manafort indicates that the president intended to encourage Manafort to not cooperate with the government.” It is clear that the presidsent both publicly and privately discouraged Mr. Manafort’s cooperation, or flipping, while also dangling the promise of a pardon if he stayed loyal and did not share what he knew about the president. Anyone else who did these things would be prosecuted for them. We must ensure that no one is above the law, and I thank you for being here, Director Mueller.

Courtesy of Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Same-sex Georgia couple sues US State Department for refusing to recognize their

one-year-old daughter’s citizenship

ATLANTA (July 23, 2019) – Today, Immigration Equality, Lambda Legal, and pro bono counsel Morgan Lewis filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against the US State Department for refusing to recognize the citizenship of Simone Mize-Gregg, the daughter of US citizens Derek Mize and Jonathan Gregg. The State Department’s policy treats married same-sex couples as if their marriages did not exist, unconstitutionally stripping their children born abroad of their rightful US citizenship.

“The State Department’s policy is not only cruel, it is unconstitutional. The government refuses to recognize Jonathan and Derek’s marriage and all of Simone’s rights as a US citizen,” said Aaron C. Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality and one of the couples’ attorneys. “The fight for marriage equality is not over, and we will not stand down until the State Department changes its unlawful policy.”

Derek Mize and Jonathan Gregg are a same-sex couple who married in New York in 2015. They had their daughter Simone

via surrogacy in England, in 2018 and both fathers are listed on her birth certificate. When they applied for recognition of her US citizenship, the US consulate in London rejected their application. Because only one of Simone’s fathers has a biological connection to her, the State Department is disregarding Jonathan and Derek’s marriage and is treating Simone as though she were born out of wedlock, a classification which requires more stringent requirements for recognition of her citizenship. Read more about the Mize-Gregg family [at https:// www.immigrationequality.org/meet-themize-gregg-family/].

“Simone was born to two dads, who lovingly and intentionally brought her into the world, and their family is entitled to equal respect from the federal government,” said Karen Loewy, senior counsel for Lambda Legal and one of the family’s attorneys. “The Supreme Court has been clear that married same-sex couples cannot be denied the same protections that different-sex couples receive, and that includes the right to be recognized as their children’s parents

regardless of who has a biological connection to a child. The State Department has no business refusing to recognize Simone as an American citizen just like her parents. We will not allow this State Department to treat LGBT families like second-class citizens.”

The Immigration and Nationality Act states that children of married US citizens born abroad are US citizens from birth so long as one of their parents has lived in the US at some point, but the State Department routinely denies that right to same-sex couples and their children. While differentsex couples are automatically presumed to both be parents of their children, same-sex couples are subjected to invasive questioning about how they brought their child into their family, and because one parent is not a biological parent, they are treated as if they are not married, and their children are not recognized as citizens unless the biological parent can meet additional criteria.

Plaintiffs Derek Mize and Jonathan Gregg said, “Becoming Simone’s fathers has been the greatest privilege of our lives. Her beautiful voice, her hugs, her toddling

around the house – these are daily blessings in our home. We are filing this litigation today because, as her parents, we have a duty to protect our daughter.”

Immigration Equality is the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization. It represents and advocates for people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse, and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.

Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

Courtesy of Immigration Equality

GLAAD statement on Trump Administration separating families at the border due to HIV and AIDS status

Howdy, folks:

It appears the Trump Administration has issued their 118th attack against the LGBTQ (and ally) community.

This afternoon [Thursday, July 25], Chief Brian Hastings – a top official in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection – declared the administration is actively separating families should a parent have HIV and AIDS, falsely citing it as a communicable disease. However, the administration also admitted that if the parents had an actual communicable disease, like the flu, they would not separate the family – further stigmatizing any person who may have HIV and AIDS.

In light of this startling confession, GLAAD issued the following statement:

“Targeting people living with HIV as part of the cruel family separation policy is a new low for the Trump Administration. This policy relies on discriminatory falsehoods about people living with HIV, and will undoubtedly bring harm and further stigma.”

Thanks,

Drew Anderson Director of Campaigns and Rapid Response GLAAD

LGBTQ civil rights organization launches gender justice toolkit with celebrity panelists at NAACP Convention

DETROIT (July 22, 2019) – The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), officially launched its Words Matter: Gender Justice Matters toolkit this weekend, at the 2019 NAACP Convention in Detroit, and will continue discussions today during its “Strategy Session: Organizing at the Center of Black,” to highlight the Black community’s role in ending violence and abuse against Black women and girls, both cis and transgender, Black LGBTQ/SGL [same-genderloving] people, Black gender-nonconforming people, and Black trans men.

The goal of the Words Matter: Gender Justice Matters toolkit is designed to facilitate uncomfortable, and at times difficult, conversations that give voice to the consequences behind violent speech, othering, and unchecked language used to perpetuate violence, hate, and oppression.

“Negative words reinforce stereotypes, marginalize the most vulnerable among us, and support harmful ideas about race, gen-

der, sexual orientation and gender identity, socioeconomic status, and other factors,” said David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition. “This specific toolkit is designed to call out and end the violence that Black women and girls – both cisgender and transgender –experience simply as a result of who they are and how they show up in the world.”

The toolkit was launched as part of a fireside chat hosted by NBJC Executive Director David J. Johns and featuring Miss Lawrence from “Fashion Queens” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and National Director for the Youth and College Division of the NAACP Tiffany Dena Loftin.

“I am proud to be part of this discussion and happy to support the National Black Justice Coalition as they launch of the Words Matter: Gender Justice Matters toolkit,” said Miss Lawrence. “Regardless of our how we identify or what intersections we represent, all Black people are still part of the collec-

tive Black community, and it is important for each of us to recognize that we’re in this together in spite of our diversity.”

“In this hateful political era, we have to work that much harder to protect each other and stand up for what’s right. Protecting our basic rights to thrive in this world as Black people requires us to push past the insidious ways white supremacy works to divide us so that we can empower one another and ultimately get liberated,” said Loftin.

The NBJC fireside chat and Words Matter toolkit launch also highlighted the urgency of addressing mental health needs in Black communities, responding to increases in death by suicide among Black LGBTQ/SGL students and related policy priorities. The toolkit was released on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Resistance – a significant event for the LGBTQ/SGL community, wherein the courageous actions of Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman, who refused

to allow the police to terrorize LGBTQ/ SGL people at the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village, anchored a movement that endures.

The Words Matter: Gender Justice Matters toolkit is the second toolkit released this year by the NBJC. The first was the Words Matter HIV Stigma toolkit, a resource to help families and loved ones engage in life-affirming conversations.

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is America’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and same-gender-loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS.

Courtesy of the NBJC

CDC continued from cover

prescribed and achieving and maintaining viral suppression. Effectiveness is lower, and there is a risk of transmitting HIV, when persons do not take ART as prescribed or stop taking ART, if viral suppression is not achieved, or if viral suppression is not maintained.”

The CDC also revised its estimates of

the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). According to its latest estimate, PrEP reduces the risk of HIV infection by 99%, with consistent use at least four times per week.

“While daily use is recommended in the US, taking PrEP consistently (at least four times per week) appears to provide similar levels of protection among MSM. The effectiveness of oral PrEP is highly dependent on PrEP adherence,” the CDC now says.

For HIV-negative individuals on PrEP, HIV infection is extremely rare and was not observed in any of the new studies cited by the CDC in its update.

HIV activists hailed the long-awaited update to the CDC’s HIV guidelines.

“Huge victory, folks,” activist Peter Staley, a treatment activist, said.

“The CDC finally updated its page on risk levels of getting HIV, using stats that reflect what the science and the real world are telling us. Having an undetectable viral

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

to fly the rainbow flag to commemorate Pride. On the other hand, as a newspaper columnist, he wrote a number of inflammatory anti-LGBT articles.

Even worse than Boris’s attempts at journalism is his anti-EU, pro-Brexit policy. While Johnson has never admitted that Brits get any benefit from their EU membership, Europe’s LGBT community, at least, gets substantial protection under EU laws and regulations.

First, EU laws protect workers from

discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Thanks to the EU, 500 million European citizens are legally protected from being sacked on the grounds of their sexuality. Contrary to what Boris Johnson said during his campaign for prime minister, every member state is free to exceed or “gold-plate” these rules.

Second, countries joining the EU must sign up to the European Convention on Human Rights, allowing discriminatory domestic laws to be challenged. Brexit does nothing to improve LGBT rights in Eastern Europe and other accession countries, as it would also take away the UK’s diplomatic leverage in trying to improve LGBT rights

in those countries.

In June 2013, EU foreign affairs ministers adopted binding guidelines to promote and protect the all human rights of LGBT people. The EU must now – by law – promote and protect LGBT people’s human rights in all its external actions.

Given the EU is the world’s largest economy and biggest aid donor, the UK enjoys significant influence as a major EU country when it comes to dealing with developing countries, where LGBT rights are often not protected.

The EU also puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to LGBT rights. Up to 20% of European Social Funds – some

load (U=U) is considered 100% protective (untransmittable).

“PrEP use among gay & bi men is 99% effective. These changes finally remove the confusion between most of our prevention ad campaigns and the CDC’s website (where they had been using older, more conservative estimates).”

£7 billion between 2014 and 2020 – can be used by member states to combat discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that if you get a civil partnership, you are entitled to the same benefits as heterosexual married couples. British Labour Party EU members of parliament are also leading the fight to ensure same-sex marriages are recognized across the EU, including countries where they are not yet available. This would, of course, come to a stop if Britain leaves the EU.