Issue 25 Volume 41
Celebrating 40 Years!
FRIDAY June 21, 2013 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & newsstands
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Exodus International goes out of business
Leader of notorious ‘ex-Gay’ ministry apologizes to community us news and world report
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Exodus International, listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-Gay hate group, announced on June 19 that it will shut down for good.
Directors has unanimously voted to close Exodus International and begin a new ministry, Chambers said. “This is a new season of ministry, to a new generation,” Chambers added. “Our goals are to reduce fear (reducefear.org), and
“I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the Gay and Lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know.”
Former Exodus International President Alan Chambers
Free speech victory
“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” Exodus President Alan Chambers said in a statement on the group’s website. “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.” For these reasons, the Board of
come alongside churches to become safe, welcoming, and mutually transforming communities.” Founded in 1976, Exodus was the world’s largest “ex-Gay” organization, with branches in a number of countries. It was one of the U.S. Christian organizations participating in the 2009 conference see exodus page 23
Can’t find an apartment?
New HUD study says anti-Gay Feds can’t force AIDS groups to oppose prostitution, Supreme Court says discrimination may be to blame
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 20 that the federal government may not require AIDS groups to oppose legalized prostitution in exchange for federal money. In a 6-2 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court struck down part of the 2003 Leadership Act, requiring feder-
ally funded HIV/AIDS prevention organizations to adopt policies “explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking.” The law also forbids any federal grant money being used to “promote or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution or sex trafficking,” which it says are ways the diseases are sometimes spread. This part of the law was not at issue in the case and remains
in force.
receive significantly fewer responses to e-mail inquiries about advertised units than heterosexual Same-sex couples experience couples,” HUD said in a statement significant discrimination when released June 18. they try to rent housing, a new LAWS NOT A CURE-ALL study by the U.S. Department of According to HUD, “Study reHousing and Urban Development sults in jurisdictions with state(HUD) shows. “The primary form of adverse see free speech page 30 treatment is that same-sex couples see hud page 21
A MATTER OF TRUST While it is U.S. government policy to combat sex trafficking, many AIDS activists say laws against prostitution actually impede efforts to prevent HIV infection, because prostitutes may be reluctant to seek out medical ad-
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
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op-ed Pride 2013: A time to celebrate ent. But most importantly, it was a moment to reaffirm the fundamental right that we all have, from Seattle to Spokane and all across Each June, Pride Month brings commu- our great nation, to live and love freely, fairnities together to honor diversity, equality, ly, and equally. But our fight does not end and love. And this year, we can all celebrate there. some truly historic gains as LGBT couples are finally able to express their commitment ENDING DISCRIMINATION to each other in the same way so many other Thanks to the LGBT and allied commuWashingtonians have throughout our state’s nities’ commitment to achieving equality, history – by joining in marriage and saying the tide is turning and it is turning rapidly “I do.” across America. While perhaps nothing When former Gov. Gregoire signed the I do will be as important and as meaningmarriage equality bill into law last year, it ful in these efforts as when I joined with so was a day of joy for all of the loving, com- many Washingtonians to mark “Approve” mitted LGBT couples in our state and for all on my ballot in November, I am committed of us who respect and support them. Unfor- to continuing the fight for equality back in tunately, there were those who felt the need the “other” Washington. to try and turn back the clock and roll back That’s why right now in Congress I have the gains we made. Thankfully, there was once again signed on to the Employment an impressive coalition of organizations, Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA); it’s why unions, congregations, and businesses in I’m working to implement tough new meaour state who were determined to work just sures to combat bullying and harassment as hard, if not harder, to defend our victory in our schools by cosponsoring the Student and pass Referendum 74. Now, the state I Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA); it’s why love is one step closer to ensuring we are I have called on Veterans Affairs Secretary not discriminating against anyone because Shinseki to allow LGBT veterans and their of who they love. spouses to be buried alongside each other in Passing Referendum 74 was a moment for our national cemeteries; and it’s why I have our state to show why we are looked upon teamed up with Congressman Steve Israel as a national model for being inclusive, for to introduce the Freedom from Discriminabeing accepting, and for embracing what tion in Credit Act (FDCA). makes us alike, and what makes us differWith the support of organizations like the by Patty Murray United States Senator
Human Rights Campaign and Credit Union National Association, FDCA will once and for all prohibit discrimination in the provision of credit based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Obtaining credit is a critical step for many looking to buy a home, go to college, or start a small business. I believe equal protection under the law is a fundamental right in our country, and no one should suffer discrimination when trying to secure a roof over their head or a high-quality education. I am standing up against discrimination because as Americans we value fairness and equality, and together we will pass laws that live up to our ideals. FAIR IMMIGRATION REFORM And finally, I strongly support efforts to craft a system within immigration reform that will unite families by extending immigration sponsorship privileges for married bi-national LGBT couples. My heart breaks each time Washingtonians are split apart because their marriage is not recognized by the Federal government. While I’m hopeful the Supreme Court will strike down DOMA before the end of the month, we should also move decisively to make immigration reform inclusive of all LGBT families. In Washington state, when we see discrimination, we all stand shoulder-toshoulder to defeat it. From immigration and employment laws, to our policies for veterans and military families, I am continuously impressed by the advocacy and passion Washingtonians exhibit when the time calls. While there is much to celebrate this Pride Month, I am particularly proud to represent a state that is poised to once again help change the course of history and give true voice and meaning to the idea that all are created equal. Sen. Patty Murray has represented Washington in the U.S. Senate since 1993.
In Loving Memory Of
Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold
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A vision of true workplace equality
retain high-performing talent while creating high-performance operations and organic growth for the enterprise.”
Out & Equal to host regional summit in Seattle
courtesy out and equal
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On June 28, the nation’s leading workplace advocacy organization, Out & Equal, expects more than 200 participants at its first-ever Northwest Regional Summit, to be held in Seattle. This daylong event will educate and develop professionals passionate about advancing corporate diversity, according to organizers. The Out & Equal Northwest Regional Summit is expected to draw participants from San Francisco to Vancouver, B.C. “The Northwest Regional Summit will bring together hundreds of LGBT professionals and straight allies to share innovative strategies to enhance workplace inclusion, visibility, and diversity. Attendees will participate in workshops and hear from business leaders who pioneered welcoming workplaces for diverse professionals,” Out & Equal officials said. CHANGING THE CULTURE For anyone who might ask, “What does it take to have an inclusive workplace where LGBT and allied professionals can grow and succeed?” Out & Equal officials answer, “Inclusive policies and benefits are a start, but creating a sought-after culture where all professionals feel like valued members of their workplace requires more effort.” The main focus, say officials, is to teach participants how to create more inclusive workplaces and advance workplace equality for LGBT people around the region. Playing host to The Northwest Regional Summit is the Out & Equal Seattle Regional Affiliate, who say they are dedicated to helping employee resource groups (ERGs) foster an inclusive environment for all Pacific Northwest companies by fostering cross-company communication, sharing best practices, providing professional networking and development opportunities, and engaging our communities. “Our Affiliate began when a group of LGBT employees from leading employers in the Northwest region met in 2007 to discuss the state of workplace equality and how best to collectively effect change,” Out & Equal Seattle officials say in a message on the group’s official website. “The meeting was led by representatives from the
Starbucks Coffee Company and Microsoft, but quickly engaged interest from across the spectrum of Northwest companies. This group helped spur many of the changes that have made our workplaces more supportive of LGBT professionals and their families, including protections for LGBT employees, same-sex domestic partner benefits, and Transgender-inclusive practices.” Currently, the Seattle affiliate continues to educate, strengthen, and inform ERGs and professionals across the region. They welcome new companies and individuals to join and help make Washington state employers the best workplaces for LGBT professionals. Visit www.outandequalseattle. org for more details.
high engagement and reducing LGBT attrition. Join them as they discuss their journey utilizing a metrics-driven approach to measure the value created by a more equal and diverse workplace. In this workshop, Accenture’s LGBT ERG will discuss several aspects of their journey including policies, benefits, and practices that helps attract and
‘A GREAT RESOURCE’ Andy Riffle is Out & Proud Seattle’s social and events coordinator. He also serves as the vice president for his Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Alaska Airlines. Riffle told Seattle Gay News he joined Out & Equal because it gives him a “great resource to help grow my ERG and help give ideas to other ERGs in our community.” “Being able to help others just comes naturally,” he said. Riffle tells SGN the regional summit is a big deal because, “in short, it’s important for our community to understand ‘what’s next,’ because we still have work to do making our workplaces inclusive places where all of our LGBT professionals can succeed, and we need to stay focused and motivated. “We need to empower LGBT corporate employees with the knowledge they need to successfully drive change in their organizations,” added Riffle. “We want to continue empowering the next generation of LGBT corporate leaders and give them the guidance to be successful in their careers.” Lambda Legal will be part of the day, helping attendees understand how recent Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality will affect employers. The Northwest Regional Summit is presented by Perkins Coie, with support from corporations and nonprofit organizations that champion diverse and inclusive workforces. Some space is still available at the Regional Summit. Riffle says that any LGBT professional or ally can join them June 28. Register now at http://outandequalnwrs.org.
LEARN WHAT WORKS By attending workshops, summit participants will gain an understanding of what it takes to promote workplace inclusion and advance their own careers. There are a few workshops that seem to stand out, including “Supreme Court Review: Marriage Equality, DOMA, and What They Mean for the Workplace,” conducted by Tara Borelli, staff attorney for Lambda Legal. “With the Supreme Court poised to rule on marriage equality and Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, we have reached a watershed in the movement for equal treatment of same-sex couples,” says an online description of the workshop. “The Court’s decisions will have a profound effect on the lives of same-sex couples, and define the next chapter of work to secure equal treatment everywhere, including the workplace. This workshop will review what we might expect from the Court this month, and the impact its decisions may have on workplace issues such as equal employment benefits for same-sex couples.” Another workshop worth noting is “Driving High Performance with Inclusion and Diversity,” led by Stéphane Mead and Tim Garippa of Accenture. “Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) in the workplace may be the right thing to do, but does it have a business case? Accenture is at the global forefront of I&D practices, supported by the LGBT Employee Resource Group (ERG). The ERG has driven adoption of leading policies, benefits, and practices affecting LGBT employees, ensuring
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Run and Walk with Pride celebrates 30 years seattle front runners
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Run and Walk with Pride, the annual 4K run, 10K run, and 4K walk at Seward Park (5895 Lake Washington Blvd. S.), celebrates its 30th year June 23 and organizers of the event, Seattle Frontrunners, say everyone is welcome. “This is sure to be a remarkable event as we not only celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Run and Walk with Pride, but also the ac-
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this year’s event. Local entertainer and fashionista Victoria Victor, local recording artist Jack Mozie, and 2011 Pride Idol Victor Cruz are scheduled to perform Sunday morning. There is also a fundraiser scheduled for June 21 at R Place (619 E. Pine St.), at 9 p.m., which will include underwear models. “We have an exquisite lineup of amazing men ready for great fun and showmanship in celebration of fitness, athleticism, community, service, striking beauty, and more,” says the event’s organizing committee. This event is sponsored by UnderU4Men.
as runners cross the finish line. If you are interested in being a part of this event, here’s some important information: • Registration cutoff online is set for Friday, June 21, at 11:59 p.m. (in-person registrations will be taken the day of the event). • All abilities are welcome. • Chip timing is provided. • All finishers are entered into a drawing for prizes. Participants can pick up their packet of information at Super Jock ’n Jill (7210 E. Green Lake Drive) from 1:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 22. There will be a raffle drawing for all who pick up their packets and shirts. SHOW YOUR PRIDE Each year, Seattle Front Runners select Participants in the 4K run and walk are local non-profit LGBT organization(s) as encouraged to come in costume or drag, the event beneficiary. For 2013 they sewave their rainbow flags, or even dance lected Seattle Area Support Groups (SASG) their way to the finish line. “This is a cel- and Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea). ebration of PRIDE,” say officials. “Let’s The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. on make it fabulous!” Sunday. Sign up online for $30 at http:// Also, don’t forget to smile for the camera! runwalkwithpride.org/pages/register.htm, A team of professional photographers will or you can purchase tickets at the event for be snapping photos throughout the race and $35.
complishments and milestones made by the LGBTQ community to date,” said officials. “Don’t miss out on being a part of this historic run!” The 2013 30th Anniversary of Run and Walk with Pride is sponsored by CarePlus/ CVS Pharmacy, Team Seattle, Seattle Gay News, R Place, Fleet Feet Sports Seattle, Anytime Fitness (Capitol Hill and West Seattle), Super Jock ’n Jill, and Broadcast Coffee. An entertainment stage is planned for
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FRIDAY, JUNE 21 Underwear Fashion Show – In conjunction with Run and Walk With Pride (June 23), benefits Seattle Area Support Groups and Social Outreach Seattle, R Place (619 E. Pine St.), 7 p.m. Info at www.seattlefrontrunners.org. “The New Legally Wed Game” – Remember The Newlywed Game? Well, here’s the Gay version, hosted by Raja, a past winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Watch nine couples compete to see how much they really know about each other. Benefits HRC’s marriage equality efforts nationwide. W Seattle Hotel (1112 4th Ave.), 7-9 p.m. Tickets at http://newlegallywed.eventbrite.com. Hairspray In Concert – Featuring the Seattle Men’s Chorus, this Tony Awardwinning show celebrates the 10th anniversary of its pre-Broadway premiere in Seattle at the 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Ave.), through June 23. Chorus members perform the ensemble roles, singing all your favorite Hairspray numbers including “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the ’60s,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” Featuring Jinkx Monsoon as Velma von Tussle! Showtimes: 8 p.m. Fri.; 2 and 8 p.m. Sat.; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sun. Info and tickets at www.seattlemenschorus.org or www.5thavenue.org.
at door, www.brownpapertickets.com/ nard Ave. S. & S. King St.), noon-8 p.m. event/397323. Info at www.prideasiaseattle.com. “Nundemic” – The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan, present a Pride fundraiser for Camp Ten Trees, at OutWest (5401 California Ave. S.W.), 2-6 p.m. Details at www.theabbey.org. Fagtastic! A Queer Cabaret – EmpeROAR Fabulous!!! presents “a scintillating showcase of sass, sex, and insanity” featuring boylesque stars Waxie Moon and Paco Fish; drag queens Jackie Hell, Artstar, and Atasha Manila; and much more. Re-Bar (1114 Howell St.), 7:30 p.m. Tickets at http://fagtastic. brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door. Hairspray In Concert (See June 21.)
Out & In: A Pride Comedy Showcase – Gay City, Nick Sahoyah, and Billy Anderson showcase the best Queer and Queeraffiliated comedians and producers in the region, including Solomon Georgio, Derek Sheen, and many more. Neptune Theatre (1303 N.E. 45th St.), 7:30 p.m., free. Part of the Nights at the Neptune: A People’s Theater Joint series, sponsored by Seattle Theatre Group to give voice to emerging projects and underserved populations, and to encourage exploration of issues that include racial and social justice. More info at www.stgpresents.org. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 Pride Bonfire at Alki – Join your friends and neighbors and “light up the night” at Seattle’s annual Pride beach party, Alki Beach Park (1702 Alki Ave. S.W.), 6-9 p.m., free. Info at http://superchargedproductions.com. “Nundemic” – The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan, present a Pride fundraiser for Camp Ten Trees, at St. Dames (4525 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.), 8-11 p.m. Details at www.theabbey.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22 Capital City Pride – Olympia’s annual Pride parade and festival begins at noon at State Capitol Building, march to downtown Sylvester Park for festival. Regional entertainers, food, arts & crafts, booths. Info at www.capitalcitypride.net. Rice Ball – Pride ASIA’s lunar event celebrating LGBTQA Asian/Pacific Islander communities, with food, fashion, dance, drag, and dim sum, New Hong Kong Restaurant, Pacific Rim Center (900 S. Jackson St.), 6-10 p.m. $10 cover; info at www. prideasia.org. ElektroPOP! – Pride party featuring Sugar Rush and Drag Race superstar Morgan McMichaels, with DJs Skiddle and Lightray, performances by Robbie Turner, the Markos Sisters, Mark “Mom” Finley, Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, Olivia LaGarce, and Cherry Sur Bete, along with whippedcream wrestling, aerial artistry, go-go dancers, photo booth, cotton candy, and more. Fred Wildlife Refuge (127 Boylston Ave. E.), 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $15 advance, $20
“Let’s Hear It for the Boys” – Teatro TUESDAY, JUNE 25 ZinZanni’s late-night pre-Pride all-male THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Pride Mindfulness Gathering – Celrevue, featuring Seattle’s best boylesque, ebrate an enlightened Pride with Dharma “Bearing Witness” – A Queer youth of drag, and circus talent, including Waxie Buddies, Lotus Sisters, and other LGBT color performance arts showcase, featuring Moon and Buckaroos USA, plus dance mindfulness communities, in the Tateuchi Donte, Raven, Theo, si dåko’ta, Dani Long, party with DJ Nark. Teatro and Chad Goller-Sojourner, ZinZanni (222 Mercer St.), presented by Quare Arts 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m., $45 Project. Langston Hughes (includes $20 food/beverPerforming Arts Institute age credit). Info at (206) (104 17th Ave. S.), 7 p.m., 802-0015 or www.dreams. free. For more info contact zinzanni.org. Kriss at (206) 295-5218 or Hairspray In Concert visit www.facebook.com/ (See June 21.) events/550208435022079. Queer Teen Ensemble SUNDAY, JUNE 23 Theatre – Bad@$$es: Are Run and Walk With We Queer Enough for You? Pride – Lace up your sneak– This year’s production by ers, grab the jogging strollQTET asks, “When the hero er, and run or walk with you’re dreaming of never Pride at this annual event shows up, can you become open to all ages, sponsored your own superhero? Smallby Seattle FrontRunners. town oppression won’t stand Choose from a 10k run, 4k a chance against these Queer run, or 4k walk, with prizes youth bad@$$es!” Gay for top finishers of each. City’s Calamus Auditorium Costumes, drag, rainbow (517 E. Pike St.), 7:30 p.m. flags, etc., welcomed. ProInfo and tickets at http://qtet. ceeds benefit Seattle Area org. (Also June 28-30.) Support Groups and Social Debauchery: For Queers Outreach Seattle. Begins of All Genders – Lily at 10 a.m. in Seward Park Devine Productions presents (5895 Lake Washington Blvd. S.). Info at Room of the Japanese Garden at Seattle Ar- “Queers stripping for Queers in a hot, antiwww.runwalkwithpride.org. boretum (2300 Arboretum Drive E.), start- oppressive space, raising money for organiPride Asia Seattle – Live music and other ing with a garden tour at 6 p.m. ($6), fol- zations that serve the Queer community,” at entertainment, speakers, and community lowed by a talk and meditation at 7:30 (free) Neighbours (1509 Broadway), 8 p.m. Info booths at this festival celebrating diversity and a tea social at 8 (donation requested). at www.lilydevine.com. and community pride. Hing Hay Park (May- RSVP to info@dharmabuddies.org.
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Down ’N’ Dirty – Pride kickoff party with Jaxen Brown, Gabe Sanchez, Andrew Scott, Drew Paradisco, and Robbie Turner. Baltic Room (1207 Pine St.), 9 p.m., $5 cover. R Place Pride Weekend – Featuring Wendy Ho (6/27-28), Jujubee (6/27-29), and Latrice Royal (6/28-29). R Place (619 E. Pine St.), 9 p.m. Advance tickets at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/399226. FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Trans Pride – Annual celebration of the Seattle-area Transgender community. Assemble in front of Seattle Central Community College on Broadway at 5 p.m.; march to Cal Anderson Park at 6 p.m.; speakers and music 7-10 p.m., featuring keynote address by Julia Serano, comedy by Ian Harvie, and music by Rae Spoon. Details at www. transprideseattle.org. Workplace Equality Conference – Out & Equal sponsors day-long summit featuring informative and educational workshops and talks on fostering LGBT equality in business, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Hyatt at Olive 8 Hotel (1635 8th Ave.). Scheduled speakers include Alaska Airlines VP Glenn Johnson and Out & Equal Workplace Advocates CEO Selisse Berry. Advance registration required at http://nwrs.outandequalseattle.org. Pride Shabbat – a traditional Jewish celebration “where everyone can feel proud,” at Hillel UW (4745 17th Ave. N.E.), 6:30 p.m. (doors at 6), people of all faiths welcome. Co-sponsored by Seattle Gay News. Info at www.jconnectseattle.org. Seattle Storm Pride Night – The Storm takes on New York and the first 3,000 fans get a free Storm Rainbow Koozie! Buy three tickets, get a fourth one free. KeyArena, 7 p.m., tickets at www.stormbasketball. com. Queer Teen Ensemble Theatre – Bad@$$es: Are We Queer Enough for You? (See June 27.) Youth Pride Dance – Music by Galvanized, Sarey Savy, and other special guests, sponsored by GLSEN-WA, for ages 20 and under (free). All Pilgrims Church (500 Broadway E.), 8-11 p.m. Gender Blender: A Queer Revolt and Benefit – All-night party at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway, Seattle), 8 p.m.-4 a.m., featuring Jinkx Monsoon, Mykki Blanco, Honey Mahogany, Alaska Thunderfuck, Amoania, Ben Delacreme, Aleksa Manila, and many more. Benefits Gay City Health Project and Siobhan’s (Rusty Nails) medical recovery. Sponsored by Nark Magazine. Info at www.narkmagazine.com. Cuff Pride Weekend – Featuring DJ/performer Lady Bunny (NYC), Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.). Info at www.cuffcomplex.com. Q Pride 2013: Seattle Pride Redefined – Q Capitol Hill (1426 Broadway) presents Rosabel, Wayne G, Mike Cruz, and DJ Escape, 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Tickets at www.purplepass.com. (Also June 29-30.) R Place Pride Weekend – Featuring Wendy Ho (6/27-28), Jujubee (6/27-29), and Latrice Royal (6/28-29). R Place (619 E. Pine St.), 9 p.m. Advance tickets at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/399226 SATURDAY, JUNE 29 Dignity Seattle Pride Pancake Breakfast – Start your Pride weekend off the way mama said you should, at this 25th annual event at the Central Lutheran Church social hall (1710 11th Ave., across from Cal Anderson Park), 8 a.m.-noon. All you can eat for a $7 donation, plus raffle prizes and recycling drop-off for unwanted small electronics (cell phones, etc.). Benefits Rosehedge/Multifaith Works, Bailey-Boushay
House, and Dignity Seattle. Info at www. dignityseattle.org. Capitol Hill Pride Festival – Celebrate Pride in Seattle’s Gayborhood at this annual street fair on Broadway from E. John St. to E. Roy St, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Live local music, food, and more than 100 booths featuring nonprofits, artists, and commercial vendors. Visit www.capitolhillpridefestival.info for details.
Rainbow Women’s Health Fair – Sponsored by the YWCA and Swedish Hospital, this event features massage, nutrition education, mammograms (age 40+), pap tests, and safer-sex info. All Pilgrims Church (500 Broadway E.), noon-4 p.m. Tests given by appointment: (206) 461-4489. For info and volunteer opportunities, visit www. lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot.com. Purr Pride Block Party – Featuring DJ Pavone, DJ Skiddle, and the Perry Twins from L.A., noon-2 a.m., $20 cover, at Purr (1518 11th Ave.). Info at www.purrseattle.com. PrideFest Family Day – Annual event sponsored by Seattle PrideFest, in Cal Anderson Park, noon-5 p.m., with lots of child-friendly activities including magic shows, bouncy houses, storytelling, free ice cream, and a concert with Recess Monkey. More information, when available, will be posted at www.seattlepridefest.org/ family/. QYS Youth @ Pride 2013 Healing Space – Queer Youth Space (911 E. Pike St.) hosts a drop-in day of healing opportunities for youth from noon7 p.m., including HIV testing, Reiki, yoga class, guided meditation, personal fitness training, life coaching, nutritionist, haircuts & styling. www.queeryouthspace.org. Seattle Gay Social Events Pride Cruise – A sun-soaked (we hope) afternoon Pride party aboard an Argosy Cruises vessel (1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 55), boarding at noon, docking at 4 p.m. Join DonnaTella Howe and an entourage of Seattle’s finest queens who will christen the ship with just the right amount of sass in a series of scandalous drag shows. Featuring DJ Tony Burns and special guests Olivia LaGrace, Alessandra Hunt, Drew Paradisco, and Atasha Manila. Free prizes, cash bar. Info at www.facebook.com/SeattleGaySocialEvents. Pride Celebration Service – Join the Rev. Kari Lipke and the Diverse Harmony youth chorus in a multifaith church service “strengthening the commitment to love,” Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave.), 1 p.m. Free parking, all welcome. Wildrose Block Party – Featuring DJ Ricki Leigh, Don’t Talk to the Cops, Glit-
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terbang, Wishbeard, and more to be announced. The Wildrose (1021 E. Pike St.), 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Watch for more info at www. seattlepridefest.org or www.thewildrosebar. com. Prom Dress Rugby – Exhibition match between the Seattle Quake RFC (in drag) and the Breakers women’s team, benefiting the People of Color Against AIDS Network (POCAAN). Bobby Morris Playfield at Cal Anderson Park (11th Ave. & E. Olive St.), 2 p.m., free (donations will be solicited). Men at Sea Brunch Boat Cruise – Featuring Robbie “Queen of the Sea” Turner, Brian Maier, and Freddy King of Pants, brunch provided by Kitchen Sink Project. Board the Islander (1611 Fairview Ave. E.) at 2 p.m. Sponsored by Nark Magazine. Info at www.narkmagazine.com. Dyke March – Annual Lesbian/feminist rally and march event begins at 5 p.m. in the Seattle Central Community College courtyard (march steps off at 7). Information at www.seattledykemarch.com or on Facebook. Queer Teen Ensemble Theatre – Bad@$$es: Are We Queer Enough for You? (See June 27.) Black Light Party – With DJs Bret Law and Richard J. Dalton, hosted by Drew Paradisco; also Pride Drag Show. Highline (210 Broadway E.), 8-10 p.m. $10 at the door. Queer Carnival Circus Burlesque – Stunts and shows by Ivy Winters, featuring Artstar, Cherdonna & Cher Cher Can Can Castaways, aerialists and more, at Fred
dance chart topper and glamour icon with your fabulous Pride Weekend hostess Aleksa Manila. with Randy Blue models Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights. Q Pride 2013 – Q Capitol Hill, 9 p.m.-5 a.m. (see June 28). R Place Pride Weekend – Featuring Wendy Ho (6/27-28), Jujubee (6/27-29), and Latrice Royal (6/28-29). R Place (619 E. Pine St.), 9 p.m. Advance tickets at www. brownpapertickets.com/event/399226 SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Seattle Pride Brunch – Fuel up for the big day at the Palace Ballroom (2100 5th Ave.), starting at 8:30 a.m., $35 adults/$20 children. Tickets and info at www.seattlepride.org. Pride Service – Trinity Parish, an Open & Affirming congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, invites you to worship and then march with them in the Pride Parade. 609 8th Ave., 10:30 a.m. Seattle Pride Parade – “Equality: Passed, Present & Future” is the theme of this year’s parade, featuring grand marshals Jane Lighty, Pete-e Petersen, Sarah Toce, Zach Silk, Lacey All, and Guatam Raghavan. Parade begins at 11 a.m. at 4th Avenue and Union Street in downtown Seattle, proceeding north along 4th to Denny Way and ending at Seattle Center, home of PrideFest. Visit www.seattlepride.org for information. Seattle PrideFest – Live entertainment on four stages, food, vendor booths, arts & crafts, hands-on activities, lots of family fun. Seattle Center, noon-8 p.m. Info at www.seattlepridefest.org. Pride Karaoke Party – Sing your favorites and sip specially priced Bacardi daiquiris at the Hula Hula Lounge (106 1st Ave. N.), starting at noon (lounge opens at 11). Cuff Street Party – Guest host Lady Bunny, featuring Crystal Waters, Stacey Q, and DJ Dominic Pacifico, with special performance by The Sea & The Stars, Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.), noon-8 p.m. Info at www.cufffcomplex.com. Purr Pride Party – Celebrate on the Hill at Purr’s annual no-cover event (1518 11th Ave.). Info at www.purrseattle. com. Post-Pride Movie Marathon – Mommie Dearest (5 p.m.), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (7 p.m.), and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (10 p.m.), with martinis and black-truffle popcorn. The BottleNeck Lounge (2328 E. Madison St.), no cover. Q Pride 2013 – Q Capitol Hill, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. (see June 28) Queer Teen Ensemble Theatre – Bad@$$es: Are We Queer Enough for You? (See June 27.). TUESDAY, JULY 2 David & Jonathan: A Modern Day Retelling of the Biblical Story – Kathya Alexander and Brownbox Theatre present a new interpretation of the relationship between David and Jonathan detailed in the books of Samuel, set in a contemporary African-American church. Neptune Theatre (1303 N.E. 45th St.). Free. Part of the Nights at the Neptune: A People’s Theater Joint series, sponsored by Seattle Theatre Group. More info at www.stgpresents.org.
Wildlife (127 Boylston Ave. E.), 9 p.m. Sponsored by Nark Magazine. Info at www. narkmagazine.com. Big Red – Annual men’s party sponsored by Seattle PrideFest, featuring music by Tony Moran and Phil B, and live performance by Abigail, at Neumos (925 E. Pike St.), 9 p.m.-5 a.m. tickets available online at www.seattlepridefest.org or at UnderU4Men (709 Broadway E.). Cuff Pride Weekend – Featuring DJ/ producer John LePage (SF), Cuff Complex ONGOING (1533 13th Ave.). www.cuffcomplex.com. Portraits of Pride 2013 – Gay City’s anGay Pride Summer Soulstice – All-night nual visual arts installation, featuring selfparty with DJ General Meow spinning soul portraits by local LGBT artists in a variety of and R&B faves from the ’60s and ’70s, with media. Gay City is at 517 E. Pike St. cocktails inspired by the era. The BottleNeck Lounge (2328 E. Madison St.), 9 p.m. on, no cover. Neighbours Nightclub – Jessica Sutta, multi-platinum pussycat doll, Billboard
June 21, 2013
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The embodiment of hope Timothy Ray Brown, the first man cured of HIV, speaks in Seattle
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percent of northern Europeans,” Brown told SGN last week in an interview. “I was lucky to be in Germany. It’s most common there.” In addition, Germany’s nationalized health-care system paid for the millions of dollars’ worth of treatment it took to cure him. After another standing ovation, Brown took questions from the audience. In his answers, he demonstrated his knowledge about current research trends concerning the treatment of HIV. Brown, the patient, kept up with the three doctors he sat beside. He’s educated himself because he still identifies with HIV-positive people. In the vein of his days in ACT UP, he started the Timothy Ray Brown Foundation to build cooperation between communities and researchers and to raise funds for a cure. ‘WE NEED YOU’ “We’re working hard. We need you to work hard because we’ve got to defeat this thing together,” Dr. Jerome told the audience. It’s exactly what Brown is doing. When asked about what a cure might look like, Dr. Kiem said Brown’s case has “shifted the direction of HIV research back to finding a cure.” Despite being very lucky, Brown had a particularly rough course of treatment, Kiem said.
Timothy Ray Brown
by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer On Wednesday, June 19, Timothy Ray Brown, the famous “Berlin Patient” – the first person ever confirmed to have been cured of HIV infection – participated in a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center panel discussion that was open to the public, in the Pigott Auditorium of Seattle University. Brown was cured of HIV through a blood stem-cell transplant he received in 2007 and has tested negative for HIV ever since. A onetime SU student himself, Brown filled the large auditorium to capacity and inspired all with his humor and bravery as he told his story. Opening the panel was the director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at Fred Hutchinson, Dr. Julie McElrath. She first asked the audience to keep their friends and loved ones who have been affected by HIV on their minds throughout the panel, and then introduced the three Fred Hutchinson researchers joining Brown on the panel: Dr. Keith Jerome of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem of the Clinical Research Division, and Dr. Michele Andrasik of the Vaccine Trials Network. Dr. Jerome spoke about the breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS research related to Brown’s case. For Jerome, it’s those “aha” moments that keep him going in the face of such a terrifying disease. “For a scientist, that is the moment you live for,” he said. ‘THE FACE OF HOPE’ As he introduced Brown, the evening’s keynote speaker, Jerome called the event “a celebration of hope,” saying, “Tonight, hope is really embodied in a person.” He called Brown a “hero,” because “he made a choice to become the face of hope.” As Brown took the stage, the entire audience gave a long, standing ovation. Since he was cured of HIV in 2008, Brown was known simply as “the Berlin Patient” to most of the general public, but he’s not just a nameless medical case – he’s Timothy Ray Brown. He’s funny, sentimental, and noble. Where he once wore the red ribbon we’re all too familiar with, his lapel now sports a blue rose, a traditional alchemic symbol for the impossible made possible. Before telling his story, Brown recalled his time as an HIV activist with ACT UP in Seattle in the early ’90s, well before his own
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diagnosis. “I’m going to speak from my heart,” said Brown. In 1995, while Brown was finishing up his education in Berlin, a former partner told him that he had tested positive for HIV and had been given two years to live. He urged Brown to get tested too, and Brown’s results came back positive. “I was scared to death,” said Brown. “I didn’t tell my mother for a long time.” Like many, though, Brown learned to live with his diagnosis. He took his medication daily and went about his life, but in 2006, he was diagnosed with leukemia. DR. HÜTTER’S HUNCH In addition to his regiment of chemotherapy, it was decided that Brown would need a blood stem-cell transplant. His physician, Heidelberg University’s Dr. Gero Hütter, whom Brown calls “my savior,” had a hunch. For Brown’s donor, he would search for someone with a rare, recently discovered genetic mutation that provides a natural resistance to HIV, just to see if it would help his body fight the progression of the infection. Brown said Hütter came up with a list of 261 possible donors – an exceptional number, as another man in the hospital with Brown at the time came up with zero, which isn’t uncommon. Hütter just kept “testing, testing, and testing,” said Brown. On the 61st donor he checked, he found the mutation, called the “Delta 32” variant of the CCR5 gene. Brown laughed at the fact that the donor was a German man living in the United States and that his cells would be going to him, an American living in Berlin. Just as Hütter had hoped, the resistance transferred to Brown. After two transplants, Brown was not only cured of leukemia, but HIV had been completely eliminated from his body. To this day, he still tests HIV-negative. All could see the smiles forming on the doctor’s faces as his story shifted from one of tremendous fear to an extraordinary message of hope. SEMI-CHARMED LIFE Brown recognizes that he was very, very lucky on many occasions. “They gave me a five-percent chance of survival and I didn’t think that I’d make it,” said Brown. “But I did make it.” “That mutation occurs in only about one
hud
continued from cover level protections against housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation unexpectedly show slightly more adverse treatment of same-sex couples than results in jurisdictions without such protections.” Washington is one of 20 states with laws prohibiting discrimination in housing against LGBT residents. The HUD study, designed by University at Albany associate sociology professor Samantha Friedman, is based on 6,833 e-mail correspondence tests conducted in 50 metropolitan markets across the United States from June through October 2011. For each correspondence test, two e-mails were sent to the housing provider, each inquiring about the availability of a unit advertised on the Internet. The only difference between the two e-mails was the sexual orientation of the couple making the inquiry. Two separate sets of correspondence tests were conducted, one assessing the treatment of Gay male couples relative to heterosexual couples, and one assessing the treatment of Lesbian couples relative to heterosexual couples. Unfavorable treatment was measured by whether the tester was told the unit was available, was asked to contact the landlord, was invited to the see the apartment, or received any response at all.
“In [Brown’s] case, these were not his own cells,” Kiem told SGN in an interview last week. “They reacted with his cells. It’s what we call ‘graft versus host disease.’ It’s a common complication.” Dr. Kiem explained that Brown’s case reflects the value of using gene therapy instead of using a donor. Essentially, the idea is to extract cells from the patient, make them HIV-resistant with the Delta 32 mutation, then put them back. Those cells would then affect the cells around them. Kiem hopes this usage of gene therapy will be ready for human trials later this year or early next year. SUMMERING IN SEATTLE Brown will remain in Seattle for the summer so he can cooperate with the research currently underway at Fred Hutchinson, one of the world’s leaders in HIV study. He’ll then move to Palm Springs, California, for a few months of well-deserved rest as he prepares for an international tour next year. You can learn more about Brown and his foundation at www.timothyraybrownfoundation.org. “Until everyone who has HIV is cured, I’ll keep going. I want everyone to know there is hope,” Brown told SGN last week. “I believe there will be a cure in my lifetime.” been as easily detected in the e-mail,” she continued. “This study is important because it shows that differential treatment exists between same-sex and heterosexual couples in their access to rental housing opportunities. HUD has already taken important steps to combat such discrimination, and we hope this study serves as a springboard for more research and the implementation of more laws against such discrimination.”
HUD PLEDGES MORE HELP HUD officials responded to the study by promising to work toward equal treatment for all people in the rental housing market. “President Obama and this administration have been unmatched in our efforts to ensure equal and fair treatment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons and communities,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “Following the president’s lead, HUD has taken historic steps in the area of fair housing to ensure that we fulfill our nation’s commitment to equality. As this study shows, we need to continue our efforts to ensure that everyone is treated the same when it comes to finding a home to call their own, regardless of their sexual orientation.” “A person’s sexual orientation or gender identity should not be a reason to receive unfavorable treatment when searching for housing,” said Bryan Greene, HUD Acting Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD is committed to making sure that LGBT individuals have GAYS GET FEWER RESPONSES “The discrimination found in this study equal access to housing opportunities.” is mainly at the initial stage of the housing FHA: NO LGBT PROTECTIONS search process, which is alarming because it The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to means that same-sex couples are being shut out of housing opportunities right away by discriminate in rental, sales and lending on not being responded to as frequently as het- the basis of race, color, national origin, relierosexual couples by housing providers,” gion, sex, disability, and familial status, but it does not include sexual orientation or genFriedman reported. “Same-sex couples are less likely than der identity as protected classes. Recently, HUD issued new guidance that heterosexual couples to receive an e-mail response from providers and gain access treats discrimination based on gender nonto targeted rental units. Given how easy it conformity or sex stereotyping as sex disis for providers to respond to e-mails, this crimination under the Fair Housing Act and instructs HUD staff to inform individuals finding is disturbing. “The adverse treatment of same-sex cou- filing complaints about state and local agenples stems largely from the fact that housing cies that have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimiproviders are less likely to respond to the e- nation laws. On February 3, 2012, HUD published a fimail inquiries of same-sex couples, relative to heterosexual couples. The findings here nal rule, “Equal Access to Housing in HUD are alarming but likely provide conserva- Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation tive estimates of such discrimination. It is or Gender Identity,” which requires HUDlikely that in-person audits will reveal more funded and HUD-insured housing providers significant disparities, because landlords and FHA-approved lenders to provide equal will have visual cues to confirm the sexual access without regard to sexual orientation, orientation of testers that might not have gender identity, and marital status.
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Tucson approves civil unions
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she was encouraged by the vote, even though the Arizona state government did not recognize her partner. “Even in the reasonably progressive municipality of Tucson there are policies, environments, and situations which reduce the LGBT community to second-class citizens,” she said. “As one-half of a domestic partnership, I am personally encouraged that in a state that doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage nor grant second-parent adoptions to Gay and Lesbian parents, that if the city of Tucson will recognize my family, it may mitigate some of the hardships that we face every day,” she said.
MUCH WORK REMAINS However, BrickertAlbrecht added that she Tucson City Councilmember Karin Uhlich does not want people to become too content by Mike Andrew with the small success. More progress needs to be made toward full equality, she said. SGN Staff Writer “It deepens the support of the city by In a unanimous vote, Tucson’s City Coun- adding some provisions for including adcil approved an ordinance on June 18 al- ditional documentation in your civil-union lowing same-sex couples to form domestic recognition, but it only goes so far,” she told partnerships and civil unions. Tucson is the the Arizona Daily Star. “I would like to see same-sex unions lesecond Arizona city, after Bisbee, to recoggitimized the same way opposite-sex unions nize civil unions. Ordinance sponsor Karin Uhlich said are legitimized. I think until that’s available that Tucson should do everything it can to to everybody we still aren’t there. As long increase rights for same-sex couples if the as we’re considered not a family and can’t state and federal governments fail to do so. access the same benefits, rights, and oppor“This was an important step for us to take, tunities, then there’s a problem. Especially and we’re going to keep seeking steps to re- since the city of Tucson operates under an inforce nondiscrimination,” Uhlich said at ordinance that says it doesn’t discriminate.” When Bisbee legalized civil unions, Arithe June 18 Council meeting. “I think there’s been widespread support zona Attorney General Tom Horne threatthroughout the community and people are ened to file suit to block the city from implereally pleased to see it pass. I hope the Su- menting the ordinance. According to Tucpreme Court rules in support of marriage son City Attorney Mike Rankin, the state equality and that the country starts to turn could not intervene against his city’s ordithe corner on that form of discrimination.” nance as long as Tucson did not confer any rights on same-sex couples that state law reserves exclusively for married spouses. ONE SMALL STEP Council member Paul Cunningham said that the ordinance is a small advance in the larger battle for complete marriage equality. “This is so important for the youth who are just finding out that they are Gay or Les- continued from cover bian,” said Cunningham. “We’re only halfway there.” Gayle Brickert-Albrecht, co-chair of the in Kampala that drafted Uganda’s notorious Tucson Commission on GLBT Issues, said “Kill the Gays” bill.
Exodus advocated so-called “reparative therapy,” which it defined as “a holistic, counseling approach to addressing unwanted same-sex attraction” and which LGBT rights advocates said amounted to psychological torture. According to Exodus literature, the group’s methods could “include abstinence, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender.”
that you and your families are less than me and mine.”
‘I AM DEEPLY SORRY’ Not only did Exodus decide to disband, but Chambers issued a personal apology for “the pain and hurt” he and his organization had caused. “Please know that I am deeply sorry,” he said. “I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. “I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly ‘on my side’ who called you names like ‘sodomite’ – or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the Gay and Lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. “I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry that I have communicated
MIXED RECEPTION LGBT activists greeted Chambers’ apology with a mixture of satisfaction and skepticism. “Alan stated in his talk tonight that he doesn’t want to see another ‘ex-Gay’ organization fill the void left by Exodus’s closing, but called on the Church to actually become a safe place for Gays and Lesbians,” Truth Wins Out said in a statement. “Of course, the Restored Hope Network is having their conference in Oklahoma City, featuring the biggest quacks in the ‘ex-Gay’ industry, so they’ll fight tooth-and-nail to make sure that Alan’s vision of the Church being a loving place will never come to pass. Thus, our work must continue. Exodus was a large pillar in the ‘ex-Gay’ world, but this fight is far from over. We wish Alan Chambers all our best and look forward to a day when we can truly consider him an ally.” Meanwhile, other right-wing Christian groups, already alienated from Exodus by Chambers’ recent conciliatory gestures to the LGBT community, reacted with unconcealed hatred. “Good news,” Liberty Counsel spokesperson Matt Barber tweeted. “Exodus International has closed its apostate doors, helping biblically sound Restored Hope Network to minister to those with unwanted same-sex-attraction.” “Now Exodus International and Alan Chambers should apologize to all the Biblebelieving Christians they bamboozled,” added Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality.
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PRIDE EVENTS See this week’s SGN for a comprehensive calendar of upcoming Pride events.
LESSONS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR From 1936-39, Spanish workers and peasants almost established a worker-controlled FREMONT STREET FAIR government in a mass uprising, but were be& SOLSTICE PARADE trayed by their leaders. JUNE 21-23 On Sunday, June 23, at 1 p.m., at New www.fremontfair.org Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), FSP hosts a review of Felix Morrow’s book, EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL Revolution and Counter-Revolution in ASSOCIATION – Spain, that explores the debates between anGAY SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES archists, socialists and others, how fascists BERTH TOURNAMENT triumphed, and lessons for today. The ECSA just wrapped up their 2013 The meeting is FREE. A brunch will be regular season and crowned 3 division served at noon for a $7 donation. Wheelwinners who will advance to the 2013 chair accessible. NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series in Washington, DC. RICHARD HUGO HOUSE – On Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m-5:30 ICE CREAM SOCIAL p.m., at Celebration Park (1095 S. 324th On Tuesday, June 25, from 5:30-7:30 Pl., Federal Way), ECSA hosts their GSWS p.m., at Richard Hugo House (1634 11th Berth Tournament to determine the three Ave.) you’re invited to ... Revise, Re-Vision: final Seattle berths for the World Series. Hugo House’s New Mission. The community is invited to watch these fiHave you been wondering what Hugo nal play-off games among the ECSA’s top House has been up to lately? Join us on June teams. www.emeraldcitysoftball.org. 25 and find out! We’re itching to tell you about what’s in store for our future. CITYWIDE PRECINCT The event will feature Tree Swenson, ADVISORY COUNCIL – Brian McGuigan, and Laura Scott, and, 2013 MAYORAL CANDIDATE most importantly, complimentary ice cream PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM from Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream On Saturday, June 22, from 9:30am- – chamomile blossom and birthday neopolinoon, at Bertha Knight Landes Room, City tan, to be exact. Hall (600 4th Ave.), the Citywide Precinct While Tree will give sage answers to Advisory Council presents their 2013 May- questions about our new mission, vision, oral Candidate Public Safety Forum. Co- values, and strategic plan, Brian and Laura sponsored by Seattle City Councilmem- will chat about upcoming programs at the bers Tom Rasmussen and Tim Burgess and House. There will be time to mingle with moderated by Seattle Channel host Brian Hugo House staff, volunteers, dedicated paCallanan, this is a great opportunity to meet trons and members, and, best of all, fellow the candidates in the race to become Mayor writers and readers. and learn about their qualifications and pubAlthough Richard Hugo, our namesake, lic safety priorities for the City of Seattle. wrote, “Think small ... If you can’t think RSVP to seattlecpac@gmail.com will be small, try philosophy or social criticism,” appreciated. we’ve been thinking big and want you to be part of that. FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY – RSVP requested to development@hugoREVOLUTION 101: house.org or call 206-322-7030.
compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
Q-SQUARED/ BOYZ IN THE WOODS – C.A.M.P. 2013 AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 2 Today, we live in a very connected world. Our society has seen the deep entrenchment of technology in our lives. This year our theme is UNPLUG & CONNECT. Unplug from the daily grind. Connect with friends old and new. Join us this Labor Day Weekend and Come And Meet People – a place where you can relax, stay active, play games, relax, laugh, eat, sleep, hike, dance (or not), learn and, above all, relax! Registration fee of $195 includes lodging, meals, workshops, activities, and personal growth. For more information and to register, visit www.qsquared.org or email camp@qsquared.org.
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Delaware enacts Transgender rights law
Transgender victory at Social Security SSA will no longer require surgery to change gender ID by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
had “bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.”
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signed a Transgender rights bill into law on June 19, only hours after it was passed by the state Senate. The new law adds gender identity and expression to the state’s existing anti-discrimination statutes, covering employment, housing, public accommodations, public works, contracting, and insurance. Crimes against Trans individuals were also added to the state’s hate crimes law. “Discrimination on the basis of gender identity is inherently wrong,” Markell said. “Legislation to prohibit it is inherently right.” The bill passed the Delaware Senate by 11 votes to 9 earlier in the day. The Delaware House of Representatives had already passed the measure on June 18. A provision added by the House clarified that gender identity is demonstrated by “consistent and uniform assertion of the gender identity or any other evidence that the gender identity is sincerely held as part of a person’s core identity.” The House amendment also stated that gender identity cannot be asserted “for any improper purpose,” an apparent concession to some members’ fears that individuals might assert a false identity to gain access to restrooms reserved for the opposite sex. According to ThinkProgress.org, the bill
ACTIVISTS CHEER PASSAGE National LGBT rights organizations celebrated the new law. “Until today, Delaware was one of five states in the nation that had nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation but not on the basis of gender identity,” the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said in a statement. “The other states still left are Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Maryland, and New York. The Task Force is committed to ensuring protections in those states as well as passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to provide federal employment protections.” “The Delaware Legislature sent a clear message today that Transgender residents deserve to be treated equally and protected under the law,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Delaware advocates and lawmakers are standing up and ensuring that the First State is one which welcomes all people, and provides the same protections and opportunities.” “Equality Delaware is so grateful for the support and expertise of HRC in helping us pass the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Bill,” said Equality Delaware President Lisa Goodman. “HRC stayed on the ground in Delaware through the entire process and was invaluable in helping us attain these protections for Transgender Delawareans.”
The Social Security Administration announced new regulations on June 14 allowing Transgender people to change their gender identification on federal documents without having sex reassignment surgery, as was previously required. Instead, the agency will accept a letter from a physician confirming that the Trans individual has undergone “appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition,” a more flexible standard. As the National Center for Transgender Equality notes, “no specific type of treatment is required, and details of your treatment should not be included in the letter from your physician to the SSA.” COMMUNITY HAILS CHANGE “This is a tremendous victory for our community,” Ilona Turner, legal director of the Transgender Law Center, said in a statement. “The Social Security Administration was one of the last agencies to hold onto an outdated, one-size-fits-all standard for gender change. Transgender people will now be able to change all their federal documents with a simple letter from their doctor recognizing that they have undergone the appro-
priate treatment for them.” “This new policy is in line with how Transgender people live their lives and is in line with the medical community’s consensus on when a person’s gender should be recognized,” National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director Rea Carey said. “By increasing the options for legitimate recognition of gender reassignment, the SSA has taken a significant step toward reducing the bureaucratic processes which have made Transgender individuals secondclass citizens,” National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling said in a statement. “Most people may not see this as a big deal, but Transgender people know that this seemingly small technical change will protect their privacy and give them more control over their own lives.” “All information for Medicare comes from Social Security, including the gender marker on the Medicare card,” Keisling explained. “If you are not able to change your gender marker on your Social Security account, your gender marker is going to be messed up in other places. Until today, we’ve had to fix each program one at a time.”
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SPORTS
Activists call for boycott of 2014 Olympics Rights group says Russian city is unsafe for LGBT visitors
ident Nina Long. “We really want the LGBT community to know it’s unsafe to travel there,” she said in A U.S.-based group of Russian LGBT an interview with the Russian news agency rights activists have called on Gay athletes RIA Novosti. and spectators to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics, to be held in Sochi, Russia. IOC PLEDGES TOLERANCE The group, calling itself RUSA LGBT, is The International Olympic Committee made up of LGBT exiles from Russia and (IOC) told RIA Novosti in a statement that the former Soviet republics. the IOC has a long commitment to nondis“LGBT people in Russia are scared, they crimination against Olympic athletes, addlive in fear, and we want people to be aware ing that “athletes of all orientations will be of the issue. If they feel strongly about hu- welcome at the Games.” man rights they should boycott the OlymThe IOC statement did not ease her conpics in Sochi,” said RUSA LGBT co-pres- cerns, Long said. by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
“They have to put up the statement like that, otherwise it’s an international scandal, but it’s a lie … it’s just to make it hush-hush and nice on some international level,” she said. RUSA LGBT has several hundred LGBT members from Russia and surrounding countries of the former Soviet Union who live now in the New York area, Long said. The group is planning to march and hand out flyers with information about the proposed boycott at the New York Pride Parade, on June 30. The parade will feature a Russian float for the first time.
“It became really dangerous for me to live there. There was quite a bit of violence that I was faced with, and unfortunately there are no longer isolated instances of persecution. It’s definitely escalated,” Savvine said in an interview with RIA Novosti. “It’s getting worse and worse,” said Alexander Kargaltsev, a political activist from Moscow who said he was persecuted for his sexual orientation and beaten by police in Moscow in 2009. He came to the United States in 2010, when he won a scholarship to the New York Film Academy, and immediately applied for asylum.
WORSENING CLIMATE Long said the issue of LGBT rights in Russia and former Soviet countries is more urgent now than ever before, because a growing conservative movement across the region has led to new anti-Gay laws and a homophobic environment. So-called “Don’t Say Gay” laws that forbid “pro-Gay propaganda” have been enacted in Russian cities like St. Petersburg, and a similar bill passed the lower house of Russia’s parliament on June 11. Such laws give “government-issued license to anyone who wants to persecute Gays,” said Ivan Savvine, who sought asylum because of his sexual orientation shortly after he came to the United States in 2004.
POLICE NO HELP “We’ve had clients in Russia who’ve been beaten by police, but more often it’s vigilante groups and thugs engaging in social cleansing, and unfortunately the police don’t do anything to offer protection,” said Aaron Morris, senior staff attorney for Immigration Equality, a national organization that advocates for LGBT equality under U.S. immigration law and offers legal counsel to those seeking asylum. The U.S. team boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and in retaliation the Soviet Union boycotted the subsequent Summer Olympics in 1984, held in Los Angeles.
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free speech continued from cover
vice and services out of fear of arrest. “Public health groups cannot tell sex workers that we ‘oppose’ them, yet expect them to be partners in preventing HIV,” said Marine Buissonniere, director of the Open Society Public Health Program, one of the plaintiffs in the case. “Condemnation and alienation are not public health strategies. The pledge ignores years of evidence that sex workers are critical partners in the fight against AIDS.” Roberts was joined by Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Samuel A. Alito Jr., while Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented. Justice Elena Kagan recused herself from the case, presumably because she had worked on it while she served as President Obama’s solicitor general.
LEGISLATING BELIEF “This case is not about the government’s ability to enlist the assistance of those with whom it already agrees,” Roberts wrote in his opinion. “It is about compelling a grant recipient to adopt a particular belief as a condition of funding.” He added that the government can restrict the ways funds are spent, but cannot require recipients to “pledge allegiance to the government’s policy of eradicating prostitution.” That requirement, Roberts said, would necessarily extend beyond the HIV/AIDS program to all activities in which the groups are involved, including conferences, publications, and other forums. “A recipient cannot avow the belief dictated by the policy requirement when spending Leadership Act funds, and then turn around and assert a contrary belief or claim neutrality when participating in activities on its own time and dime,” he wrote. “By requiring recipients to profess a specific belief, the policy requirement goes beyond defining the limits of the federally funded program to defining the recipient.” SCALIA: FORCED SPEECH OK In his dissent, Scalia said that the federal government is entitled to enlist the support of like-minded groups. “The First Amendment does not mandate a viewpoint-neutral government,” Scalia wrote. “The government may enlist the assistance of those who believe in its ideas to carry them to fruition; and it need not enlist for that purpose those who oppose or do not support the ideas. That seems to me a matter of the most common common sense.”
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