Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 27 Volume 42
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Ali Muhammad Brown, charged with murder in double homicide case, at large in New Jersey seattletimes.com
Ali Muhammad Brown
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The suspect in a double homicide last month, Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, may have targeted the Gay men he allegedly killed by meeting them through the personal meet-up mobile app Grindr, according to court documents released Wednesday. Brown was charged with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder – a crime that could come with the death penalty, if convicted. Ahmed Said, 27, and Dwone Anderson-Young, 23, were killed early on the morning of June 1 near 29th Ave. S. and S. King St., and according to Senior Deputy Prosecutor Wyman Yip, “It is evident that the murders were premeditated and unprovoked and part of a common scheme or plan.” Both victims were shot in the head and there was no evidence of a struggle that preceded the killings. Yip wrote in charging documents, “The evidence from the
crime scene, Said’s vehicle, and the autopsies suggest that the victims were essentially executed.” Yip said there was no evidence that the killings were motivated by a robbery, drugs or another crime. The victims had been with friends at R Place located at Boylston Ave. & E. Pine St. Said told the group he was meeting a “friend” outside the club when they left. One of Said’s friends had the feeling that Said hadn’t met the “friend” before, because while Said was at R Place, he was constantly on his phone and appeared to be texting on Grindr. The group left the bar at closing time and crossed Boylston Ave., to meet with Said’s friend; but the man looked unfriendly and out of place. One of the friends in the group later told police he was “creeped out” by the man who was later identified as Brown. According to two witnesses, see Homicide page 18
SCOTUS gets one right: Hobby Lobby fallout: declines to review California law against conversion therapy
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of a California law prohibiting so-called “conversion therapy” for minors. The appeal had been filed by NARTH (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) and “ex-Gay” therapist David Pickup, but was rejected without comment in a June 30 announcement by the high court. The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled NARTH an antiGay hate group, and calls them the “main source for anti-Gay junk science.” One of NARTH’s founding members, the late Charles Socari-
des, was the father of openly Gay former Clinton staffer and current cable TV pundit Richard Socarides. Pickup, who claims to have undergone successful conversion therapy in his 30s, runs a conversion practice in Glendale, California. Conversion – or “reparative” therapy as it is sometimes called – has been rejected by mainstream psychiatrists and psychologists. It often involves harsh or coercive measures, including aversion or isolation techniques, and has been likened to brainwashing or torture. The appeal by Liberty Counsel on behalf of NARTH and Pickup was rejected twice by the Ninth Circuit see SCOTUS page 7
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Within days of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case, religious groups sought to expand on the court’s ruling by claiming a right for employers to discriminate against LGBT employees on religious grounds. On June 30, a slim 5-4 majority of the high court held that some for-profit corporations can claim a First Amendment religious exemption from provisions of the Affordable Care Act. In her dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg warned that the court majority, “in a decision of startling breadth,” would allow corporations to opt out of almost any law that they find “incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs,” including laws against discrimination in the workplace. As if to prove Ginsburg’s argument true, a group of religious leaders sent a letter to President Obama urging him to include a religious exemption in his forthcoming executive order barring federal contactors from discriminating against LGBT employees.
glaAD
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Religious leaders ask Obama to exempt them from executive order barring discrimination against LGBT employees
“We are asking that an extension of protection for one group not come at the expense of faith communities whose religious identity and beliefs motivate them to serve those in need,” the letter states. Among those signing the letter were Fr. Larry Snyder, the CEO of Catholic Charities, and Stephen Schneck, the head of the Institute for Religion & Democracy (IRD).
Catholic Charities has in the past said it would close down its operations if forced to recognize samesex marriages or place orphans with Gay or Lesbian adoptive parents. IRD denounced the United Methodist Church in March for refusing to discipline clergy that conducted same-sex marriages. see Hobby Lobby page 8
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Judge hears Marriage Equality case in Florida as major cities pass resolutions in favor by Viktor Bogatko SGN Contributing Writer Florida is perhaps the most infamous state as far as politics are concerned, and the past few weeks of political and legal drama surrounding marriage equality in the state have been no exception. Fortunately, it appears this time the Sunshine State is poised to be on the right side of history, as a federal judge hears a case on the state’s Gay marriage ban and major cities declare their support for marriage equality. Circuit judge hears arguments Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel heard arguments on Florida’s Gay marriage ban on Wednesday afternoon, in what many believe will be a historic ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, six same-sex couples seeking the right to marry. Attorneys representing the same-sex couples asked the judge for a summary judgment in their favor. “Justice delayed is justice denied, so we hope the court will act swiftly,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, a plaintiff in the case. Sylvia Walbolt, an attorney for the six couples told Zabel that Florida’s Gay marriage ban discriminates against Gay and Lesbian couples, just like the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) did. “The essence of DOMA was to create inequality with respect to the right to marry. That inequality demeans, burdens same-sex couples in numerous ways, some mundane, some profound. And it humiliates their children and stigmatizes them,” Walbolt explained. Jeffrey Michael Cohen, another attorney representing the couples, reveled in the timing of Wednesday’s hearing. “It’s fitting, I think, that we’re here arguing this very, very significant issue on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights bill that was enacted by Congress. We’re also two days from the birthday of our country, a country that was founded on the concept of liberty, freedom and equality of all of our citizens,” Cohen told Zabel. “That is all that we seek today.” Throughout oral arguments, Judge Zabel’s questions seemed to challenge supporters of the ban as she brought up the landmark Loving v. Virginia case, and asked if heterosexual
“couples past their prime” should be allowed to get married if they cannot procreate. “Isn’t that the same argument made in Loving v. Virgina?” she interrupted an attorney defending the ban when he claimed that same-sex marriages were “not part of long standing history and tradition.” Assistant Attorney General Adam Tanenbaum, representing the state, did not address whether or not Gay people should be allowed to marry. He said the people of Florida spoke when they approved an amendment to the state constitution in 2008, by almost 62 percent, to prevent Gay marriage. Like many of her colleagues, Judge Zabel took notice of the numerous state and federal rulings striking down Gay marriage bans in other states – including one in Kentucky on Tuesday – since the Supreme Court’s ruling on the federal marriage act. “What about the flood of cases that has been coming down?” Zabel asked a lawyer for groups supporting the current ban. After a brief pause, the lawyer took a deep sigh and replied that they had all got it wrong. “They misread the Windsor ruling,” he stated. Outside the courtroom, the drama was less civil and more tense as protestors for and against same-sex marriage chanted slogans for nearly an hour after the court adjourned. Both sides used megaphones and individual exchanges between demonstrators flared, with one Gay-marriage supporter asking someone on the other side, “How can we respect you, if you don’t respect our rights?” Judge Zabel did not immediately rule and gave no indication on when she would, but one thing is certain in this legal battle – the losing side is sure to appeal the decision. Major cities pass same-sex marriage supporting resolutions While opponents of same-sex marriage stiffen their rhetoric at the courtroom, the rest of the state seems to be endorsing marriage equality at an unprecedented rate. Indeed, the speed at which major cities here are lining up to back same-sex marriage is remarkable. Just a couple of weeks ago Fort Lauderdale joined Miami Beach in passing a resolution in favor of marriage equality. In a 3-2 vote in favor of the resolution, the only opposition came from Mayor Jack Seiler and Vice Mayor Romney Rogers.
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Local residents of Florida’s most Gay friendly city took the mayor’s opposition personally, calling it a “betrayal,” and a “slap in the face” to the LGBT community. “I voted for him the first time, but I certainly won’t do it again,” one resident declared. Last week, Orlando joined the club by passing its own resolution urging the state to overturn its ban on same sex marriage, and this progressive city’s mayor voted in favor of the resolution. “The City of Orlando is incredibly proud of the steps we’ve taken, including the implementation of the City’s domestic partnership registry, that have made Orlando one of the most inclusive cities in America,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement. “Our city remains committed to equality.” Miami Beach’s mayor issued a similarly supportive statement when his city passed its own version of the resolution May 11th. “Our city is really pro LGBT. It’s important for us not to be pro LGBT by word, but more importantly by action,” Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine said after the Miami Beach commission passed its resolution. “Miami Beach, we want to make it the most progressive, pragmatic in America. These types of initiatives are part of that vision and our mandate.” Attorneys representing both Orlando and Miami Beach filed a joint motion in Wednesday’s hearing. While these city resolutions are promising, they are only part of a massive pro-LGBT movement that is occurring in Florida. The state voted to ban same-sex marriage with 62 percent of the vote in 2008. Today, the majority belongs to pro-Gay marriage advocates, with the most recent polls showing support nearing 60 percent, with a poll in 2011 showing 67 percent of Floridians supporting some form of recognition. In December of 2012, former Republican Governor Charlie Crist switched parties and this May, he declared his support for same-sex marriage. He was recently endorsed by the state’s largest Gay rights group, Equality Florida, in his bid to retake the governorship as a Democrat. And just a couple weeks ago, the fourth largest state made history by producing the first openly Gay male African American federal judge.
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Point Foundation Scholar Crys O’Grady coming to UW to study law advocate.com
Crys O’Grady
by Viktor Bogatko SGN Contributing Writer The nation’s largest LGBTQ scholarship organization, Point Foundation, announced Monday morning that it is awarding an additional 23 scholarships, bringing the organization’s total to 80 full-time students for this academic year. One of these outstanding students is coming to Seattle to attend law school this coming fall. Crys O’Grady was recently accepted to the University of Washington School of Law, where she plans to further her education in pursuit of a career in policy and legal advocacy for LGBTQ youth. Born in southern New Jersey, Crys entered the state’s foster care system at the age of 13. Her experience in the child welfare system exposed her to instances where government agencies can perpetuate racial, sexual, socioeconomic, and gender inequality. It was at this point in her life that she became committed to the pursuit of social justice through public service. In 2008, Crys left New Jersey for Stanford University to begin her undergraduate career. At Stanford, she studied Sociology with a focus in poverty and inequality. As a student, Crys felt that the issues surrounding poverty, race, and the expression of sexual identity were not being explored. As a result, she decided to get involved as a research assistant for the Lucille Packard Children’s hospital on a study on how child abuse affects brain development. She then began to use her personal experience and education to advocate on a national scale for current and former foster youth. As a foster child, Crys struggled to come out as a Lesbian in homes that
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placed a heavy emphasis on religion. This experience encouraged her to make a difference in her academic and professional careers targeting foster youth. In 2011, Crys was an intern for FosterClub, a national advocacy organization for youth in care, and contributed to working groups and panels that developed LGBTQ awareness materials and trainings for foster parents and social workers. After graduating from Stanford, Crys became the Policy Coordinator for the California Youth Connection, an advocacy organization for current and former foster youth focused on incorporating youth input into future legislative and policy reform. This summer Crys chose to intern with a Federal District Court Judge in Birmingham, Alabama so that she could observe some of the struggles for equality in the Deep South. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience, Crys plans to come to Seattle to attend law school after her southern exposure. In an interview with the SGN, Crys admits deciding on a law school was a tricky
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task. Ultimately, four factors brought her to the University of Washington. First, the school had to have the option of pursuing a joint degree in social work. Second, whether the institution was public or private. Third, whether the law school had a strong focus on public service, and finally, whether the location was LGBTQ friendly both socially and professionally. “The University of Washington School of Law had the best combination of those four factors for me,” she told the SGN. Like most Americans, Crys is excited about the recent almost weekly news about marriage equality and other LGBTQ issues. Though she is unsure of how these developments will affect the makeup of LGBTQ families, she hopes “that LGBTQ families will look at the options of fostering and adopting children as viable ways to have children.” There are currently 6 states that protect same-sex foster parents, 2 states that explicitly forbid same-sex foster parents, and 42 states that have varying rules that are dealt with on a more case by case or agency basis. As an adult who spent her teens living in foster homes, Crys believes “the system would benefit significantly” if more LGBTQ families were able to foster or adopt children or if the process was made easier for these families to do so. “This would increase the likelihood that children and youth find permanent families. LGBTQ youth would benefit if LGBTQ people chose to foster older youth because many young people are struggling with their sexual identity and their gender identity – issues that LGBTQ individuals may be able to help with in providing safe homes where they feel understood and supported.” Growing up a Lesbian and in foster homes equips Crys to see LGBTQ issues in a unique light, giving her the drive to pursue positive changes in the child welfare system. She is particularly concerned about LGBTQ children of color living in poverty. “They represent a disproportionate ratio of youth in foster care and those involved in the juvenile justice system.” When asked about what can be done to ameliorate this problem, Crys proposed a simple, yet completely feasible solution that makes perfect sense. “If low-income and minority families were given more support when children are young with childcare resources, food, school programs, parenting classes, and respite care, this could have a profound impact on the number
of children that are placed in foster care. “I hope as society begins to accept LGBTQ people, families will become more accepting of children and youth of minority sexual orientations. An increase in support for these families may help. However, child protective services and child welfare often do not become involved in these cases until the relationship between the child and parent is severely strained.” Given her enormous potential, we asked Crys if she has ever given any thought to running for office in some form of public service. Her answer was perfect. “Honestly, I never thought I had the nerve to campaign for public office,” she replied. “I would love to work in public policy as an advocate or within the Children’s Administration.” If her professional and personal triumphs, experiences, and current successes are any indication of her future, we at the SGN believe that no matter what Crys decides to do with the rest of her life, she will be absolutely terrific at it, making Point Foundation and her community proud. Notable facts about the 2014 Class of Point Foundation Scholars: 48 percent of the new scholars are people of color. 35 percent of the new scholars are originally from the South and 17 percent from Mountain States. (A notable increase in scholars from these regions compared to previous years.) 30 percent of the new scholars are the firstgeneration in their family to go to college. 22 percent of the new scholars are Transgender, and 13 percent are gender nonconforming. The Point Foundation, located in Los Angeles, California, empowers promising Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender, and Queer students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society. Point Foundation’s rigorous selection process for awarding scholarships requires candidates demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement, and financial need. By identifying and supporting these scholars, Point hopes to provide a greater level of acceptance, respect and tolerance within future generations for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity.
Celebrating 41 Years!
Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea) to launch new Queer Youth Program by Zeena Rivera SOSea Youth Outreach Director On Sunday, a few LGBTQ identifying teens stood outside of the Capitol Hill Farmer’s Market selling Otter Pops to raise money for a program that will be getting them engaged in service. “Rainbow Water for Queer Youth” reads one of their signs. But why are Queer youth getting so excited about service? The value of youth in service is huge. Getting youth productive and giving back to the community is central to Social Outreach Seattle’s new youth program, Seattle Queer Youth Doing Service. The mission statement is as follows: “Seattle Queer Youth Doing Service (SQYDS) promotes intergenerational cooperation through a common goal of serving the greater Seattle community; pushing LGBTQIA youth out of their comfort zones and helping them realize themselves as citizens with a duty to those around them.” The goal here is to get Queer youth working for common positive goals with their peers and mentors, playing hard, and working harder. This first “Queer Youth Service Day” will be with First Place School on July 12. As time progresses, I hope that we may be able to have these “Queer Youth Service Days”
every week with a single service organization. Right now, we’re reaching out everywhere we can – food banks, environmental organizations, baby corners – to figure out where our youth will fit and where in the Greater Seattle area many hands are needed to make light work. After a morning of work, we will be having a water balloon fight open to everyone who helped with the morning of service – mentors and youth alike – and an afternoon of community builders. Many of these youth are coming to organizations like these looking for ways to wiggle their way into this community. They’re trying to find mentors and friends. Oftentimes, you see youth seeking ways to find other youth like themselves, but don’t know where to begin. Other times, you have Queer youth like me who just want to make sure that everyone is going to feel welcomed. If you’re interested in joining us on our “Queer Youth Service Day,” here are the details: What? LGBTQ mentors and leaders and LGBTQ youth What? Seattle Queer Youth Doing Service directed by Zeena Rivera, Youth Director at Social Outreach Seattle When? Saturday, July 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where? Arrive at First Place School – contact Social Outreach Seattle for location. www. socialoutreachseattle.com and on Facebook
The history behind Seattle Pride’s 2014 Poster SCOTUS
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Court of Appeals before being brought to the Supreme Court. The high court is not obligated to entertain appeals. The law was passed by the California legislature and signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2012 and is the first of its kind in the nation. State licensed therapists who practice conversion therapy on minors are now subject to professional discipline through state licensing authorities. The law was immediately challenged by two lawsuits claiming that it infringed the free speech rights of therapists. The case was defended by California’s Attorney General and by Equality California, which was represented in court by the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter said that “This life-saving law has cleared the final hurdle and will now protect California youth from harmful practices that have been rejected by all leading medical and mental health organizations. “This important legislation will permanently improve the health and well-being of California’s most vulnerable LGBT young people. We look forward to more states joining California and New Jersey in preventing state-licensed therapists from engaging in discredited practices that offer no health benefits and put LGBT youth at risk of severe harm, including depression and suicide.” Equality California Executive DirectorElect Rick Zbur agreed. “The Supreme Court’s decision to let Senate Bill 1172 protect our LGBT youth is a major step forward for California and our nation,” Zbur said in a statement. “We are proud to live in the first state to protect young people from the lifelong damage caused by these horrific practices. We thank Senator Ted Lieu for authoring this bill, Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez for his bold leadership in helping to get the law passed, and Governor Jerry Brown for signing it into law.”
Seattle Pride, the organizers of the 2014 Pride Parade and other Pride Month events, announced the release of this year’s official Seattle Pride earlier this month in June. The flyer is a recreation of the poster from Seattle’s first Pride, held in 1974. Originally drawn by Joseph Velez, the 2014 poster was traced from the original by artist Brian Donahue of Seattle. 2014 Pride aims to celebrate the history of the Northwest’s LGBTQ rights movement and advance the ongoing progress the LGBTQ community has made since first coming out in 1974, the year of the inaugural Seattle Pride festivities. The 2014 poster features the schedule for 2014 Pride, with events including Trans*Pride, the Pride Parade and PrideFest. The poster and other official Seattle Pride merchandise is available for purchase at pride events and at seattlepride.org. The poster was created as a tribute to the organizers of the original Seattle Pride events, which culminated in a dance-in held at the International Fountain in Seattle Center. The original poster, which features hand-drawn illustrations and a schedule of events, was printed on the reverse side of repurposed federal price control posters donated by a Queer-owned print shop then operating on Capitol Hill. The poster is a tangible tribute to the courageous LGBTQ activists who took the first proud steps out of the closet in the early days of the Queer movement. Seattle Pride is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, WA, focused on informing and educating the community on LGBT issues through community outreach and produced events. Courtesy of Seattle Pride
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SEAMEC announces early candidate endorsements This week, the Seattle Metropolitan Election Committee (SEAMEC) announced their endorsements for the state’s primary election. Ballots will be mailed to voters on July 18 and must be returned by August 5, either by mail or in person. Current SEAMEC Endorsements are as follows: Openly LGBT incumbents with strong pro-LGBT voting records: Marco Liias, State Senator, District 21; Laurie Jinkins, State Representative, District 27; Jamie Pedersen, State Senator, District 43; Jim Moeller, State Representative, District 49.
Incumbents with extremely strong voting records on LGBT issues: Derek Stanford, State Representative, District 1; Luis Moscoso, State Representative, District 1; Bob Hasegawa, State Senator, District 11; Pat Sullivan, State Representative, District 47. State senators who supported marriage equality who have not stood for reelection until this year: Maralyn Chase, State Senator, District 32; Karen Keiser, State Senator, District 33; Sharon Nelson, State Senator, District 34; Jeanne Kohl-Wells, State Senator, District 36; Andy Hill, State Senator, District 45; Joe Fain, State Senator, District 47.
In 2012, SEAMEC took the unprecedented step of endorsing every legislative candidate who voted for the historic Marriage Equality Act in the State Legislature. The endorsements of State Senators Chase, Keiser, Nelson, Kohl-Wells, Hill and Fain follow that policy decision. This is the first year since the legislative vote on marriage equality that these candidates have faced the ballot. SEAMEC has just completed its round of questionnaire intake and oral interviews for candidates who will appear on the Primary Ballot in King County. Steering Com-
mittee members and volunteer interviewers are currently pouring over the results and rating candidates. After the review and rating process, further endorsements may follow, and more may be released pending the results from the Primary. The 2014 SEAMEC Primary Candidate Ratings will be released prior to the ballots being mailed on July 18. SEAMEC has been interviewing, researching, and rating political candidates on LGBT issues since 1977.
Hobby LOBBY
a vindication of the principle that anti- nation. It is more important than ever that states discrimination protections should trump and Congress enact strong, clear nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people.” religious objections in the workplace.” “HRC remains hopeful that the Court’s limitation in this case will be extended to LGBT groups worried In spite of Wolff ’s optimism, LGBT rights the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups expressed fears that the ruling might (LGBT) community,” the group said in a statement. “We will remain vigilant in the be used against the LGBT community. “Today’s majority ruling disregards de- event business owners attempt to use this cades of case law that drew a protective line decision to justify other forms of discrimibetween free religious expression and re- nation, including against LGBT people.” The National Center for Lesbian Rights ligious dominance of others,” the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) said (NCLR) noted that “the majority recognized in a statement. “It is a radically dangerous that even under its sweeping new rule, cordecision that invites more misguided actions porations cannot rely on claims of religious contrary to essential protections for employ- liberty to evade non-discrimination laws. ees, customers and the public.” That limitation is extremely important and “A business owner’s religious objection to a means that employers cannot exploit today’s worker’s same-sex spouse or a customer’s LGBT decision to justify non-compliance with identity is not acceptable grounds for discrimi- laws that prohibit discrimination against
LGBT people and other vulnerable groups, but we will need to be vigilant to make sure that principle is respected and enforced.” “In this case, the owners happen to be deeply Christian; one wonders whether the case would have come out differently if a Muslim-run chain business attempted to impose Sharia law on its employees,” activist George Takei wondered. “Once the law starts permitting exceptions based on ‘sincerely held religious beliefs’ there’s no end to the mischief and discrimination that will ensue. Indeed, this is the same logic that certain restaurants and hotels have been trying to deploy to allow proprietors to refuse service to gay couples.” Takei called for a boycott of “any forprofit business, including Hobby Lobby, which chooses to impose its religious beliefs on its employees.”
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Not all the signers were from the far right, however. The main organizer of the religious leaders was Michael Wear, who directed faith outreach for the 2012 Obama campaign. Other signers were two members of Catholics for Obama, and three former members of the President’s Advisory Council on FaithBased and Neighborhood Partnerships. “This is not an antagonistic letter by any means,” Wear told Atlantic Monthly, but “the administration does have a decision to make whether they want to recalibrate their approach to some of these issues.”
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Scott Olson / Getty
Court says discrimination still illegal The administration has not yet issued a public response to the letter, but University of Pennsylvania law professor and Obama legal advisor Tobias Wolff issued a statement July 2 saying unequivocally that “Hobby Lobby in fact rejects the argument that religious exercise can be an excuse for invidious discrimination.” Quoting from Justice Alito’s majority opinion, Wolff points to language he believes affirms the court’s continued commitment to uphold anti-discrimination laws. “The principal dissent raises the possibility that discrimination in hiring, for example on the basis of race, might be cloaked as religious practice to escape legal sanction,” Alito writes. “Our decision today provides no such shield. The Government has a compelling interest in providing an equal opportunity to participate in the workforce without regard to race, and prohibitions on racial discrimination are precisely tailored to achieve that critical goal.” On that basis, Wolff insists that “it is important that advocates and leaders strongly push out the message that the Hobby Lobby decision strongly supports the enforceability of anti-discrimination laws, even in the face of religious exemption arguments. Hobby Lobby represents
Courtesy of SEAMEC
Religious freedom supporters hold a rally to praise the Supreme Court’s decision
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of bi, trans, lesbian and gay survivors of abuse Celebrating 20 Years of Service, Action & Community
This project was supported by Grant No. 2009-UW-AX-0028 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
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Homicide
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Dear Editor: As a member of the Seattle Gay Community since 1980, I just want to say that I thought this year’s Gay Pride Parade, and the celebration at the Seattle Center afterwards, was the best that I can remember. Although I did miss the giant “Healthy Penis” that Gay City Health Project used to have at past Pride Festivals, and which a friend took a picture of me standing next to. I was not only impressed with the length (over two hours) and content of the parade, but also with all the dignitaries and government officials that honored us with their presence. However, my only concern was with the weather, since a 50% change of rain was forecast. So, even Mother Nature not only did not Rain on Our Parade, but eventually
they saw Brown leave with the victims in Said’s car. The shooting deaths occurred about 2:20 a.m. After the victims were killed, Said’s gold 2001 Mitsubishi Gallant they had been riding in was found in South Seattle. There was an exorbitant amount of blood in the passenger seat. Brown’s palm print was found on the interior rear driver’s side window. Spent 9 mm shell casings that matched the casings found at the Leschi crime scene were also found in the abandoned car. Brown’s mother told police shortly after the shooting she had purchases a John Mark 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and that it was missing. P.S. I would also like to mention the giganNeither Said nor Anderson-Young had a tic and impressive size of last week’s issue of criminal history and were not armed. the Seattle Gay News, which contained five sections. Excellent job, SGN guys and gals! provided us with a bright and sunny day. So, who said that God doesn’t love Fags?! I always try to be prepared for the weather, so I did bring my small collapsible umbrella. But when the sun came out, I didn’t know what to do with it. I didn’t want to carry it around, and look like a “geek,” so I simply stuffed it in the front pocket of the white shorts that I was wearing. Of course, if Mae West had seen me she might have asked, “Is that an umbrella in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me!” Sincerely,
Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said Wednesday morning that Brown is believed to be in New Jersey, where he has ties and is wanted for a weekend armed robbery and attempted carjacking. On Sunday, a 46-year-old man in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, was robbed at gunpoint in front of a coffee shop. Police said it was Brown who took the man’s wallet and keys before fleeing on foot. The victim wasn’t hurt. Brown is also wanted for failing to register as a sex offender. An Ocean County judge issued a $500,000 arrest warrant for Brown and police say Brown is familiar with the East Orange area of New Jersey. The station also reports that Brown is wanted in a third homicide in Washington, but it’s not clear which case.
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Celebrating 41 Years!
INSIGHTS & PERSPECTIVES: “Manna from Heaven” by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer The other day I got a good laugh because someone was telling me how excited they were to be going to the Cyndi Lauper/Cher concert on Pride weekend. “Having them both here on Pride is like manna from heaven” they exclaimed. I smiled; then I thought to myself about why this is so meaningful. Cyndi Lauper and Cher have both been allies of the GLBTQ community for many years. I know nothing of their personal stories or experiences related to GLBTQ people, yet I know their art has been a part of our community and our identities going further back than I care to recall – or can recall for that fact. Our community has made tremendous
gains in legal and social recognition in recent history. Pride is a celebration of “Us” – GLBTQ men, women, and youth of all ages. Thinking about Ms. Lauper and Cher reminded me that “Us” is becoming a much larger group. More than ever, Us includes our allies. Make no mistake, individual GLBTQ men and women have contributed blood, sweat, and tears to move our community out of the shadows of hatred. Their work has been crucial. Yet, without our allies standing with us, we’d likely be years behind where we are today. Our allies are people who love us and include us in their lives. They see our value in society. They see the pain that some of us have experienced and they want to help make our society such that we no longer experience violence or discrimination. Their jobs being politicians, celebrities, a CEO, or
President of the United States, afford them the influence to make substantial societal changes for which we are all grateful. Yet, they too, are men and women as we are. Our less famous allies are no less important. They are our friends, neighbors, parents, peers, and siblings. They are a generation of younger people who are growing up with critical minds and seeing that discrimination of GLBTQ people is wrong. They take stands with school systems and support their peers against the painful experiences of bullying. They talk to their parents and clergy about giving up irrational fears of a group of people who have been apart of families and society for countless generations. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines manna as: “2. anything badly needed that comes unexpectedly.” More than any time in
history, we have what we’ve badly needed for years – allies. Allies who speak out publically and who stand against the fear-based push to maintain discriminatory values and policies. All of Us have much to be proud of and to celebrate this season. Be mindful of where we are in history and who walked confidently beside us on this journey. Be proud, be safe, have fun. Happy Pride to all of Us. Michael Raitt, MA LMHC, is a Therapist and a Contributing Writer to the SGN. He writes a bi-monthly column in the SGN. If you would like to comment on this column, ask a question you’d like him to write about, or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast.net.
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President Obama to issue executive order barring Transgender discrimination Nate Gowdy SGN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
President Barack Obama
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer President Obama announced June 30 that he will issue an executive order giving Transgender federal employees formal protection from workplace discrimination. “The majority of Fortune 500 companies already have nondiscrimination policies to protect their employees because it’s the right thing
to do and because many say it helps to retain and attract the best talent. And I agree. So if Congress won’t act, I will,” Obama told an East Room reception marking Pride Month. Obama thanked activists attending the White House event for supporting and guiding his administration on same-sex issues and equality policies. He also repeated his call for Congress to act to ban discrimination for all workers based on gender identity
and sexual orientation. “We’ve got a lot to be proud of, but obviously we can’t grow complacent,” Obama said. “We’ve got to defend the progress that we’ve made.” On June 16, President Obama announced he would issue an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against millions of employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. He had delayed signing that order in hopes Congress would pass ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act), but changed course when it became clear that the Republican-controlled House would not take it up. At least two other federal regulations forbid discrimination against Transgender employees. In 2009, President Obama signed a memorandum saying that the federal government would not discriminate against any employees for reasons unrelated to their job performance. The measure was interpreted as offering protection to LGBT employees. Last year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, barring discrimination based on gender, also applies to gender identity. Labor Secretary Tom Perez said that his department would update its enforcement guidelines to reflect current rules protecting Transgender workers. “As we celebrate Pride Month and approach the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, the Labor Department is reaffirming its commitment to equal opportunity for all,” Perez said. “That’s why we are updating enforcement protocols and anti-discrimination guidance to clarify that we provide the full protection of the federal non-discrimination laws
that we enforce to transgender individuals. These changes reflect current law. “The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Civil Rights Center, along with the Employment and Training Administration, will issue guidance to make clear that discrimination on the basis of transgender status is discrimination based on sex. While the department has long protected employees from sex-based discrimination, its guidance to workers and employers will explicitly clarify that this includes workers who identify as transgender. The department will continue to examine its programs to identify additional opportunities to extend the law’s full protection against discrimination to transgender workers. Our workforce and our entire economy are strongest when we embrace diversity to its fullest, and that means opening doors of opportunity to everyone and recognizing that the American Dream excludes no one.” “Today President Obama proved yet again why he will be remembered as the most proLGBT president in history,” HRC said in a celebratory statement. “Each and every American worker should be judged based on the work they do, and never because of a fundamental aspect of who they are – like their gender identity. And the federal government, like employers across America, is best served by ensuring every qualified individual are able to serve without fear of discrimination. We thank President Obama for announcing this crucial and historic measure, and we look forward to seeing it signed soon.” Currently, 32 states lack laws protecting Transgender workers from discrimination.
Emerald City Classic tournament this weekend Pride weekend may be behind us. But the party rolls on from July 4 to 6 across multiple Seattle-area venues, as the Emerald City Softball Association presents the Emerald City Classic tournament – now one of the country’s largest Gay softball events. As many as 1,100 players are expected for the two-day tournament, which features a record 72 teams spanning 14 cities and two countries. Teams will travel from as far as Atlanta, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Vancouver (BC) not to mention individual players arriving from Tampa and other cities. Festivities kick off from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 4, with a registration and opening party at World Sports Grille, 731 Westlake Ave. N. The event will feature free pool and table tennis – plus, a fantastic view of Lake Union fireworks after dark. Games begin Saturday, July 5 at Redmond’s Marymoor Park – King County’s largest park – as well as North SeaTac Park and Valley Ridge Park in SeaTac, Petrovitsky Park in Renton and Steven J. Underwood Park in Des Moines. They continue July 6, with championship games in each division slated for that afternoon. After the games, join players for an awards ceremony and closing party from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Neighbours, 1509 Broadway, featuring entertainment from Isaac Scott. This is the second straight year that the
ECC has sold out, tournament director Eric Goemer says. The 2013 ECC featured a then record 60 teams. Securing additional playfields for 2014 allowed this year’s tournament to be the largest it has even been – a massive transformation since it began as the Cascade Cup in 1981, Goemer says. “Our goal is to provide a great overall experience,” Goemer says. “We use quality softball complexes and outfit each complex with enough volunteers to make sure tournament play is as efficient and easy as possible. “We also put a lot of effort into our events, as we know tournaments are just as much about the socializing as it is the competition. Fortunately, Seattle folk are friendly and welcoming, which makes my hospitality efforts that much easier. But most of all, we take pride in making sure all of the attending teams have everything they need to have a successful tournament.” These efforts have paid off, with many outof-town teams returning each year. In fact, the 2014 ECC features many more non-Seattle teams than Seattle participants. “We play on great fields, it’s a well-run tournament and there are great people to meet, great events and parties,” says Canada’s Vancouver Hellfish, which has participated in the ECC for at least eight years. The ECC is proud to have Bud Light as an emerald sponsor again in 2014. Platinum sponsors include Rich King of Cobalt Mortgage and PB&J Textiles, and the ECC’s sil-
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ver-level sponsors are Ajaxx63, 1st Security Bank and Rein Fire Ranch. Want to follow the action? Scores and teams’ “paths to the championship” will be updated in near-real time on seattleecc. com, using a similar platform to what the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) employs for its Gay Softball World Series each year. About the ECSA: The ECSA started in Seattle in 1980 has grown to be a welcoming place for LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ players to partake in softball. It is now one of the nation’s oldest and largest Gaysoftball leagues, with 38 league teams in
2014. As a member of NAGAAA – which represents more than 10,000 players in 36 member cities in the U.S. and Canada – the ECSA sends its top teams to each year’s NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series. In September, a record 11 teams will be representing Seattle and the ECSA in the World Series in Dallas. For more information about the Emerald City Classic or the ECSA, please visit emeraldcitysoftball.org/ecc or contact tournament director Eric Goemer, tournamentdirector@seattlegaysoftball. com, or marketing/communications director Tony Stasiek, marcom@seattlegaysoftball.com.
Celebrating 41 Years!
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Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
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