Issue 26 Volume 37
Celebrating 36 Years!
FRIDAY June 26, 2009
pride events p. 5
jEWISH FEDERATION p. 4
pride idol p. 29
Seattle Gay News
PRIDE weekend FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
2009 Pride Parade Three’s company and Grand Marshals Eric and Jamie Pedersen expecting triplets by Liz Meyer SGN Contributing Writer
At this point, Rep. Jamie Pedersen no longer courts voters; he (pro) creates them. Just next month, the 43rd Legislative District Representative’s family will literally double in size. Jamie and Eric Pedersen, along with their son, Trygve, will soon be joined by triplets. And if that weren’t amazing enough, here’s the clincher: all three of the babies are boys. Years down the road, the Pedersens, if they’re so inclined, could actually field their own start(l to r) Eric, Jamie and Trygve Pedersen ing lineup against the Globetrotnormal family. That is, as tempting whole ‘Octomom’ thing,” says Jaters. However, for all of the story’s as it may be, do not call Jamie and mie, “even though Eric and I both sensationalism, the Pedersens in- Eric “Quadradads.” see pedersen page 24 “Particularly in the wake of the sist that they just want to raise a
Tomorrow’s GLBT activists Why the Gay movement is in good hands
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer These are exciting times. These are progressive times. These times belong to us all, but our future as a community rests in the hands of the unlikeliest of heroes: LGBTQ people 30 years and younger – tomorrow’s Gays.
I recently spoke with seven LGBTQ young adults from the greater Seattle area. From a questioning teenager to a well-adjusted college student, the environment they grew up in, when and how they came out, and where their Pride rests are but a small piece of the pie for these Queers. They are energized. They are beating the drum
of equality now. They don’t want a slice of the pie they want the whole damn thing. Rest assured, the Gay movement is in good hands. GROWING UP GAY AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY Meet the video game and MTV generation. They don’t write letters because they can’t remember a time without e-mail or text messaging. Chances are their family did not sit down to a nice meal together every night – that’s assuming, of course, the parents are still married. They are latchkey kids who microwave their dinner and download music and porn while referencing Wikipedia for homework assignments. All of that is what’s on the surface. All of that is what we think we might know about the postCold War babies. But look a little deeper and what you may find will put a smile on your face. These kids are fearless. 21-year-old Jordan Petersen looks upon his youth with fondness. He said the hardest part of growing up Gay was coming to
SGN Exclusive Interview:
Cleve Jones calls for 2009 Nat'l March by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer
When Cleve Jones talks, the community listens. Now, the human rights activist, author and lecturer is asking for the LGBT community to not only listen, but to march and to protest with him October 11 in Washington D.C. I spoke with Cleve this week in a telephone interview from New York. He told me about the National March on Washington for Equality, which he believes our community has every right to demand. “We do not want a long list of demands read one by one. We have one demand and one demand only: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states,” Cleve told me. Putting an end to speculation, Cleve said the National Equality March this October is a go. Cleve’s application for a permit to hold the see gay youth page 19 march was approved by the Na-
Greg Hernandez
Henry Waymack
Kat Miller
courtesy jamie pedersen
nick ardizzone
a.m. from the corner of Union St. and 4th Ave. near Westlake Park. The parade will last approximately two and a half hours; however, it should only take about an hour from the start to reach Seattle Center. The Parade announcers’ booth will be located at West Lake Park. Parade organizers Seattle Out and Proud (SOAP) are asking that all those attending the Grand Marshal, SGN Publisher George Bakan Parade watch from the sidewalk, for their own by Shaun Knittel safety, but also because the streets SGN Staff Writer need to keep open so the Parade can keep moving. The 2009 Seattle Pride Parade Sunday, June 28, will start at 11 see marshal page 22
Cleve Jones
tional Parks Service, and so far he said he’s been getting nothing but complete cooperation from all the authorities – the D.C. police, the mayor, and the Parks Service. Cleve said almost anyone in the country could attend for well under $700. see cleve jones page 21
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Seattle Gay News
June 26, 2009
Celebrating 36 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 26, 2009
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Deadlines Classifieds - Thursday at noon Calendar - Tuesday 6pm Display Ads: Space Reservation - Monday 5pm Ad copy (non-camera ready) - Tues. 5pm Ad copy (camera ready) - Wed. 5pm Letters to the Editor - Tuesday 5pm Obituaries - Call the SGN office All others - Tuesday 5pm
Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Tom Flint (retired) Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Rajket Dirzhud-Rashid, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel Miryam Gordon, Tim Peter Contributing Writers
Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner
McDermott, Pedersen receive 2009 Tikkun Olam Legislative Tribute
On Thursday, June 25, State Senator Joe McDermott and State Representative Jamie Pedersen received the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s 2009 Tikkun Olam Legislative Tribute at our annual meeting. This award recognizes legislators who embody the concept of tikkun olam, “repair-
ing the world.” This year, we are recognizing these two legislators for their work to expand civil rights in Washington State by shaping and passing two pieces of legislation: comprehensive hate crimes legislation and expansion of legal protections for Gay and Lesbian couples.
Classifieds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers Nick Ardizzone, Joseph P. Herron, Rajket Dirzhud-Rashid National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by JT&A, Inc. © 2008, JT&A, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.
Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business. Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper. Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication. We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write. And please play safe. It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.
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“The Jewish community is proud to have Senator McDermott and Representative Pedersen as partners in the important work of promoting equal rights for all,” commented Ron Leibsohn, Chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Senator Joe McDermott entered the Washington House of Representatives in 2001. Along with then-Rep. Ed Murray, he has worked year after year to pass legislation protecting Gay and Lesbian people from discrimination. The legislation passed both chambers and was signed by Governor Gregoire in 2006. During his time in the House and now as a Senator, McDermott has worked to expand voting rights, protect Holocaust education and expand Washington’s malicious harassment, or hate crimes, statute. Representative Jamie Pedersen came to the Washington State House of Representatives in 2007 after winning a competitive 43rd district primary. In the legislature, Pedersen has pushed for the rights of same sex couples and the civil rights of everyone regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation. In 2007, because of Pedersen’s leadership, Washington passed a domestic partnership statute which was expanded each session after that, and as of this session includes hundreds of rights for same-sex couples. Pedersen also helped pass legislation that will allow a Jewish hospice to open in Washington State. This session, Pedersen also helped guide a critical piece of legislation out of the Judiciary Committee prohibiting people who have been involuntarily committed from buying a gun. Because of the Jewish Federation’s experience with gun violence, we are very grateful for his work on this issue. Past recipients of this award include Reps. Eric Pettigrew, Sharon Tomiko Santos and Sherry Appleton, Secretary of State Sam Reed and Sen. Jeanne Kohl Welles. Courtesy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, which raises and distributes over $10 million from local donors and our endowment each year, to ensure a vibrant Jewish community locally, in Israel and worldwide.
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Seattle Gay News
June 26, 2009
Celebrating 36 Years!
PRIDE EVENTS
CALENDAR compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
Dunshee House. www.dunsheehouse.org; 206-322-2584.
SEATTLE OUT AND PROUD PRESENTS NEW YORK CITY VACATION GETAWAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH ORBITZ.COM Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP), producers of the annual Seattle Pride® Parade, along with Orbitz.com, a leading online travel company and Pride Parade sponsor, are please to announce their New York City Vacation Giveaway. Anyone over the age of 18 can enter to win the Grand Prize and there is no obligation to purchase anything. Says SOaP board member, Jon Mejia, “We are pulling out all the stops to get people excited about Pride 2009, and this Vacation Getaway is a fun way we can say ‘thank you’ to all of the people involved in helping make Seattle Pride dynamic and memorable. Anyone and everyone over the age of 18 can enter to win a trip for two to New York, so make sure you register soon and we’ll see you all on June 28!” To enter the New York City Vacation Giveaway for two, simply visit www.seattlepride.org and submit your email address. That’s all it takes! The winner will be announced on July 31, 2009. And while you’re there, check out the Official Pride 2009 “Peace, Love and Equality” buttons. For more information regarding the Seattle Pride® Parade and all of the great events still to come, please visit our website at www.seattlepride.org, call the Pride office at 206-322-9561 or email us at info@ seattlepride.org.
QLAW PRIDE KICKOFF SOCIAL On Friday, June 26, QLaw, the GLBT Bar Association of Washington State, will be holding their Pride Kickoff Social at BluWater Bistro on Lake Union, 1001 Fairview Ave. N. A huge thanks to Spencer Anderson & Buhr, PLLC for sponsoring the Pride Kickoff Social. www.q-law.org.
“EYE CONTACT: VISUAL DIALOGUES ON IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY” – A PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT BLENDING ART AND WORDS BY QUEER YOUTH The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) GLBTQ Youth Peace & Social Justice Program presents a photography exhibit by Queer youth blending art and words at Kaladi Bros. Coffee, 511 E. Pike St., through July 17.
FROLIC AND OUTDANCING AT CENTURY BALLROOM On Friday, June 26, come frolic with the sassy, classy cabaret artists of Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St. Enjoy dinner starting at 6 p.m. and a Gay evening of dance, drag and striptease (see website for details) from 7:30-9 p.m., followed by OUTDancing Gay Night (salsa, swing and dance favorites), lesson at 9:15 p.m., dance from 9:45 p.m.-12:30 a.m. 21+. Cost $60-dinner and cabaret; $25-cabaret; $10 OUTDancing. 206-324-7263; www.centuryballroom.com; 1-800-838-3006; www.brownpapertickets. com/event/70025. PRIDE SHABBAT 2009 On Friday, June 26, join the greater Seattle Jewish Community for Pride Shabbat 2009. The family-friendly service will be held at Congregation Kol HaNeshamah at Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds St., starting at 6 p.m., followed by an oneg reception (dietary laws observed). Pride Shabbat is a project of Bashert, the LGBTQ initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and their generous co-sponsors. For more information or to become an event co-sponsor, contact Jessica at 206-774-2251 or email Bashert@JewishInSeattle.org.
SHIFT PEER RECOVERY NETWORK BBQ AT MULTIFAITH WORKS On Friday, June 26, from 6-10 p.m., join SHIFT for a Pride weekend kick-off with food, fun and friends. The BBQ will be held at Multifaith Works, 115 16th Ave. at E. Fir St. FREE. For more information, email Chris@gaycity.org. SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network is a multi-agency collaboration that provides administrative, emotional, and “INDIVIDUAL DEMOGRAPHICS” supervisory support for LGBTQ volunteers AT GREG KUCERA GALLERY For the month of June, the Greg Kucera and clients in the Seattle/King County area Gallery, 212 Third Ave. S., presents work by who are struggling with drug/alcohol abuse a dozen plus artists of international standing and addiction issues. www.multifaith.org. addressing Gay political issues, issues of 40 YEARS AFTER STONEWALL – race and gender, and gender identity issues. QUEER LIBERATION: Included in the show are works by Tom of WHAT’S NEXT? Finland, John Waters, Fergus Greer and On Friday, June 26, at 7:30 p.m., the FreeDeborah Oropallo. The show runs through Saturday, June 27. The gallery is open Tues- dom Socialist Party hosts a multi-racial, inday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. tergenerational panel of LGBT activists to www.gregkucera.com/individual_demo- discuss this topic. Leading the discussion will be NaaSira Adeeba, former co-chair graphics.htm of Sistah 2 Sistah, Wen Liu & Jane Mee Wong, UW student activists with Democ2ND ANNUAL racy Insurgent, Jordana Sardo, veteran camPRIDEFEAST BENEFIT paigner against anti-Gay ballot initiatives FOR SEATTLE PRIDEFEST On Friday, June 26, eat at participating in Oregon, and Eli Steffen, co-founder of PrideFeast restaurants and a portion of your the Queer Ally Coalition. The forum will purchase will benefit The Pride Project. Se- be held at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier attle PrideFest, the post Pride Parade fes- Ave. S. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Door donatival at Seattle Center, is produced by One Degree Events with help from the Pride Project. Visit www.pridefeast.com for details and participating restaurants.
tion is $3. Snack plates will be served for a $6 donation. (Sliding scale and work exchanges available for low income and unemployed.) For rides, childcare or work exchanges, please call three days in advance. Bring nonperishable food donations for the local food bank. For more information, call 206-722-2453 or email FSPseattle@mindspring.com. GAY PRIDE MONTH FILM PROGRAM AT SEATTLE ART MUSEUM In collaboration with Three Dollar Bill Cinema, SAM salutes Gay Pride Month with three films by Derek Jarman. On Friday, June 26, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., SAM, 1300 First Ave. at University St., presents The Angelic Conversation in the Plestcheeff Auditorium. For complete details, visit www.seattleartmuseum.org. Tickets are $7 at the door. Advance tickets for the 3-film series are $19-general or $17-SAM and Three Dollar Bill Cinema members. 206654-3121 or www.seattleartmuseum.org. THE BOTTLENECK LOUNGE KICKS OFF GAY PRIDE WITH THIRD ANNUAL TRADITIONAL HOT DOG BLESSING On Friday, June 26, at 10 p.m., kick of Gay Pride with Gina Bling from Team Gina at the Third Annual Traditional Hot Dog Blessing at The BottleNeck Lounge, 2328 E. Madison St. (between E. John St. & 23rd Ave. E. Chow down!
melon, orange juice, coffee and tea. Also purchase raffle tickets – 5 for $5 – to win goods, gift certificates and services from local GLBT-friendly merchants and donors. Dignity/Seattle is also collecting old cell phones and used inkjet cartridges at the event. Proceeds, after expenses, will benefit Bailey-Boushay House, Multifaith Works and Dignity/Seattle. Volunteers needed for Friday evening set-up and cooks, dishwashers and clean-up crews on Saturday. www. dignityseattle.org; 206-325-7314. EQUALITYOGA EVENT AT CAL ANDERSON PARK In the shadow of Stonewall’s 40th anniversary, yogis, yoginia and yoga studios across Seattle will unite in advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality by participating in the largest outdoor yoga class Seattle has ever seen. Equaliyoga on June 27, will use the flow of yoga and energy of community to create positive social change. The event, the first of its kind, will take place at Cal Anderson Park and will be led by instructors Troy Lucero, Maygen McGrew and Matt Meko. Check in begins at 9 a.m. and the see pride events page 11
DIGNITY SEATTLE’S 21ST ANNUAL PRIDE WEEK BREAKFAST On Saturday, June 27, from 8 a.m.-noon, Dignity/Seattle will host their annual Pride Week Breakfast at Central Lutheran Church, 1710 11th Ave. For $7 per person, enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage,
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DUNSHEE HOUSE HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL PRIDE BARBECUE On Friday, June 26, from 5-10 p.m., Dunshee House, 303 17th Ave. E. (at E. Thomas St.), invites the LGBT community and friends to their 3rd Annual Pride Barbecue featuring the music of Purty Mouth, Renegaydes and DJ Soda Pop. There will be lots of traditional barbecue faves – burgers, hot dogs, salads, beer and other beverages – for your enjoyment. The cost is a $10 suggested donation and $20 with your choice of bottomless beers on tap. All proceeds benefit
Visit us online www.sgn.org
June 26, 2009
Seattle Gay News
5
for repealing DOMA – a law he has called ‘abhorrent’ – the brief seemed to embrace DOMA and all its horrific consequences.” Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors: “We ... call on President Obama to order the Justice Department to file a supplemental brief reversing its position and instead urging the repeal of DOMA.” National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey: “The malicious and outrageous arguments and language used in the Department of Justice’s marriage brief is only serving to inflame and malign the humanity of same-sex couples and our families.” Gay writer Dan Savage: “If this shit is ‘fierce advocacy,’ Mr. President, we’ll take benign neglect.” CBS News: “The anger from Gay rights advocates toward President Obama is starting to boil over.” The Wall Street Journal called Solmonese’s letter to Obama “scathing.” The New York Times editorialized: “The Obama administration, which came to office promising to protect Gay rights but so far has not done much, actually struck a blow for the other side last week. ... If the administration does feel compelled to defend [DOMA], it should do so in a less hurtful way. ... There was no need to resort to specious arguments and inflammatory language to impugn same-sex marriage as an institution.” Plans apparently are shaping up for a Gay March on Washington in October, spearheaded, it appears, by veteran activist Cleve Jones, the man who created the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. “The President is in serious danger of motivating a huge mass of Gay people to stream into Washington for the simple joy of standing in front of the White House and giving him a piece of their minds,” wrote syndicated Gay columnist Wayne Besen. “For what seemed like forever, Democrats told us that when the big bad Republicans went away, our lives would improve,” Besen said. “Well, the Republican nightmare is over, so why do I still feel like I’m in the middle of a political Friday the 13th movie? ... As far as I’m concerned, if the donkeys can’t deliver now, they can kiss my ass.” On June 17, when Obama “delivered” to federal employees a smattering of spousal
benefits, via issuance of a “memorandum,” he did again denounce DOMA. “I think we all have to acknowledge this is only one step,” the president said. “Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe it’s discriminatory, I think it interferes with states’ rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it. We’ve got more work to do to ensure that government treats all its citizens equally, to fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms, and to bring about that more perfect union. I’m committed to these efforts, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of these issues in the months and years to come.” Obama also expressed support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act. “Under current law, we cannot provide same-sex couples with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples,” he said. “That’s why I’m proud to announce my support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, crucial legislation that will guarantee these rights for all federal employees. I want to thank Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is behind me somewhere – there she is, right there – for her tireless leadership on this bill and in the broader struggle for equality. I want to thank Sen. Joe Lieberman – Joe is here – as well as Susan Collins for championing this bill in the Senate, and Rep. Barney Frank for his leadership on this and so many other issues.” Sounds good, but Gay activists weren’t impressed. They want action. “We commend President Obama and his administration for taking this beginning step to level the playing field, but we look forward to working with him to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and guarantee the entire American workforce is free from discrimination,” said HRC’s Solmonese. The Associated Press said, “[Obama’s] critics – and there were many – saw Wednesday’s incremental move to expand Gay rights as little more than pandering to a reliably Democratic voting bloc.”
of the European Union just legitimized exclusion and discrimination against a whole fraction of the society by instituting a second-class citizenship status to young LGB people and ripped them off of any support by Rex Wockner and protection.” SGN Contributing Writer If signed into law by outgoing President Valdas Adamkus, the measure likely would end up before the European Court of Human uality, Bisexuality or polygamy. The measure applies to schools and to any Rights, where it probably would be found to information that can be viewed by a minor – violate the European Convention on Human seemingly threatening Lithuanian Gay web- Rights. sites and access to foreign Gay websites, Pride day bomb among other information. injures 21 in São Paulo The vote was 67-3 with four abstentions. Twenty-one people were injured after Sixty-seven MPs did not vote. Amnesty International said the “Law on São Paulo’s 13th Gay-pride parade June 13 the Protection of Minors Against the Detri- when a bomb was detonated in a downtown mental Effect of Public Information” clas- square that is home to nightclubs frequented sifies “homosexuality alongside issues such by Gays and Lesbians. Five of the injured were taken to hospias ... the display of a dead or cruelly mutilated body of a person, and information that tals. It appeared the bomb, which scattered arouses fear or horror, or encourages self- shrapnel, was tossed from a building. About 3 million people turned out for the mutilation or suicide.” Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty’s Europe eight-hour pride extravaganza. and Central Asia program director, said the Zagreb Pride says police measure “denies the right to freedom of exmisbehaved at parade pression and deprives students’ access to the The Zagreb (Croatia) Pride Organizationsupport and protection they may need.” The European Region of the International al Committee is upset with how the police Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Inter- behaved at the June 13 pride parade. “The police violated human and civil sex Association (aka ILGA-Europe) said the law “seriously undermines the right to rights on multiple occasions, permitted an education and can have detrimental effects unconstitutional fascist gathering, permitto young people who are Lesbian, Gay or ted hate speech and, therefore, drastically Bisexual as they are now officially banned decreased democratic standards of public from receiving any information and sup- assembly that have been established in the past years through work and cooperation port.” “We call on the European institutions to with the police,” the group said in a statereact firmly and without delay,” said ILGA- ment. Organizers said that counterprotesters Europe Co-Chair Martin K.I. Christensen. “This is clearly a discriminatory and danger- were allowed to illegally chant “Kill, kill ous move which is against the principles of faggots” and “Faggots to concentration the European Union, the Council of Europe camps” at Ban Jelacic Square, the center of and the United Nations. ... A member state the city.
The organizers also charged that police took no action against people who spit on and threw things at the marchers. The committee vowed to take the matter up with “the European Commission, embassies of EU (European Union) countries, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.” Between 700 and 800 people marched, the committee said, making it “undoubtedly the largest Pride March so far.” “We have shown and proved, for the eighth year in a row, to the entire society what a peaceful assembly is, by expressing our dignity, courage and pride despite intimidation and the permitting of an undemocratic and unconstitutional gathering on Ban Jelacic Square,” the organization said.
NATIONAL
NEWS
Gay tsunami slams Obama You could fill 10 pages of this newspaper with stories and essays on how upset the Gays have gotten with Barack Obama. Where to start? What has he done that’s good? He issued a nice proclamation for pride month and he extended a few spousal benefits to federal employees’ same-sex partners – sick leave and long-term care insurance, for example, but not health coverage, which he said June 17 is not within his power. That’s the good news – all of it. What hasn’t he done? Anything about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, anything about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), anything about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. He’s done nothing about any of the stuff he promised the Gays before they rushed to the polls en masse last November to make sure he won that election. And, then, Mr. Obama’s Justice Department filed a brief June 11 in a federal samesex marriage case that used nearly every nasty homophobic argument in the book to argue against letting Gays get married. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back and unleashed a flood of harsh criticism from Gay VIPs. “I hold this administration to a higher standard than this brief,” Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese wrote to Obama. “In the course of your campaign, I became convinced – and I still want to believe – that you do, too. ... [T]his brief should not be good enough for you. The question is, Mr. President – do you believe that it’s good enough for us? If we are your equals, if you recognize that our families live the same, love the same, and contribute as much as yours, then the answer must be no.” Sirius radio host Michelangelo Signorile wrote on his Facebook page: “Obama defending DOMA, throwing in the kitchen sink – every anti-Gay argument we’ve seen for decades – which was not necessary even if they needed to file a brief. It’s a horrific
by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer and hideous attack on LGBT Americans.” National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell on her Facebook page: “The filing by the Obama administration defending DOMA is shocking and unsettling. Clearly, our self-described ‘fierce advocate’ needs significant additional pushing and pressure from all of us.” Popular blogger John Aravosis: “A Democratic president of the United States of America, in the year 2009, and an AfricanAmerican child of interracial parents no less, gave his lawyers the go ahead to compare our marriages to incest on the same day that 42 years ago the Supreme Court ruled in his parents’ favor in Loving v. Virginia. ... We demand our rights, and we expect this president, who promised them in exchange for millions of our votes and millions of our donations, to deliver. And so help me God, we will continue to hold this president accountable for his broken promises and his betrayals.” Lambda Legal’s Legal Director Jon Davidson: “What they need to be asked is why they gratuitously went out of their way to make the outrageous arguments they unnecessarily included such as that DOMA does not discriminate based on sexual orientation or that the right at issue is not marriage but an unestablished right to ‘same-sex marriage’ or that DOMA is somehow justified in order to protect taxpayers who don’t want their tax dollars used to support Lesbian and Gay couples (while it’s apparently fine to make Lesbians and Gay men pay the same taxes but be denied the benefits provided heterosexual couples). ... I am seething mad.” Top Clinton aide Richard Socarides: “It had such a buckshot approach to it, a veritable kitchen sink of anti-Gay legal theories, that it seemed expressly designed to inflict maximal damage to our rights. Instead of making nuanced arguments which took into account the president’s oft-stated support
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
Australians support same-sex marriage Sixty percent of Australians say Gay couples should be able to get married, a Galaxy poll has found. Thirty-six percent of those questioned oppose same-sex marriage and 4 percent lack an opinion on the issue. The poll also found that 58 percent of respondents think foreign same-sex marriages should be recognized in Australia. “Clearly, Australians believe marriage is first and foremost about love and commitment, not your partner’s gender,” said Peter Furness, national convener of the group Australian Marriage Equality. “This poll scuttles the only rationale put forward by the [Prime Minister Kevin] Rudd government for opposing equality, namely that a majority of Australians believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman. It surely increases the pressure on the Labor Party to endorse same-sex marriage at its upcoming national conference.” A 2004 amendment to Australia’s Marriage Act bans marriage between same-sex couples as well as recognition of overseas same-sex marriages. On August 1, marriage-equality activists will stage a National Day of Action in several Australian cities. Lithuanian Parliament passes “no promo homo” law Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, passed a bill June 16 that bans public dissemination of information that “agitates” for homosex-
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Seattle Gay News
June 26, 2009
see NATIONAL NEWS page 18
Moscow Lesbians sue for marriage A Lesbian couple in Moscow filed suit in Tverskoi District Court on June 16 after they were denied a marriage license. Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shepitko said they will appeal their case up to the European Court of Human Rights, if necessary. In the meantime, they will fly to Canada and get married there in August, then return home and demand recognition of the marriage. Moscow Pride founder Nikolai Alekseev, who is a lawyer and is supporting the case, said Russian law requires recognition of all foreign marriages except in cases such as bigamy and incest. Homosexual unions are not among those prohibited, he said. “It’s sort of a loophole in the law that really allows us to fight for this,” Alekseev told the Moscow Times. With assistance from Bill Kelley
Celebrating 36 Years!
NORTHWEST
NEWS
compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
POZ SEATTLE LAUNCHES POZ ADVENTURES WITH SUMMER KAYAKING OUTINGS This summer, POZSeattle is pleased to present Saturday morning POZAdventures kayaking outings on Seattle’s historic Lake Union. “Join us June through September for a series of kayaking adventures. Enjoy scenic postcard views of the Seattle skyline and the Space Needle, Lake Union’s houseboat communities, and Gas Works Park.” Kayaking dates (and trip themes) are June 27 – Getting to know you month; looking at the houseboats around Lake Union; July 4 & 8 – Lewis & Clark adventure month: checking out more distant locations; August 1, 15 & 29 – Where’s Waldo? – open to suggestions and ideas; September 12 – season final event – some kind of party? Outing schedule: Meet at the Northwest Outdoor Center, 2100 Westlake Ave. N., Ste. 1, at 9 a.m. SHARP! Be on time. “We will not wait for late comers.” 9-11 a.m., get kayak, get gear on, review tour plan suggestions, review safety rules, paddle around and have fun. 11-11:30 a.m., check in kayaks and make plans if anyone wants to get together to eat nearby. For more specific details on cost, gear, preparations, food, itinerary, clothing, safety message, etc. and a map to the Northwest Outdoor Center, visit www.pozseattle. org/images/NW Outdoor Center.gif. If you have questions or would like additional information, email POZadventures@googlegroups.com. The Northwest Outdoor Center provides kayaks with life-vest, paddle, and a drybag to store wallet and water-sensitive items while on the trip. Come to the event self-sufficient with drinking water, sunscreen, snacks, etc. POZSeattle is a social organization run for and by Seattle-area HIV-positive guys. For more information, visit www.pozseattle.org. RALLY & MARCH TO PROTEST AND END POLICE BRUTALITY First, you see a 15-year-old African American girl assaulted by police in a jail cell, in full view of cameras they know are there. A deputy throws her into a wall, then to the floor by her hair and punches her in the face while another deputy helps. Instead of felony assault, the main abuser, a “veteran” who previously shot and killed a mentally ill man, faces minor charges. Then, a survellance camera shows 29-year-old Christopher Harris slowing down and raising his arms to ward off an attack, viciously body-slammed into a wall by a King County Deputy, fracturing Harris’ skull. Wrongly accused of involvement in a fight, Harris ran when he saw men chasing him. Witnesses say they did not recognize those chasing Harris as cops and demanded to know what they were doing. Now Harris lies in a coma, with brain swelling, on the edge of death. For there to be justice, there must be mass opposition from the people. We call on people everywhere, from every walk of life, to join us. Demand justice for Malika Calhoun and Chris Harris. Demand an end to police brutality. Join us in mass protest. On Saturday, June 27, join the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Brutality for a rally and march to protest police brutality. Rally at 1 p.m., at Seattle Central Community College South Plaza, Broadway & E. Pike St.; at 2 p.m., march to Cinerama Theater, 2100 4th Ave. (the site of the assault of Chris Harris). GAY SKATE PARTY AT SKATE KING On Monday, June 29, from 7-10 p.m., get together for a Gay post-Pride skate party at Skate King Bellevue, 2301 140th Ave. N.E. Cost is $8 at the door; $5 for youth under 18. Regular skate rentals: Free. Inline skate rentals: $2. Or bring your own skates.
BENT CAR GUYS IS BACK!! “We went through some tough times in the past year, but we’re back with a new, safe website and are also on Facebook! If you’re a car enthusiast and are looking for a GLBT car club, check us out. Our website is www. bentcarguys.org or do a search for bentcarguys on Facebook. “If you used to be a member, check out our new website! We’ll be in the Pride Parade this year and will also have a table at the Pride Festival, so look for us, or better yet, join up so you can be in the parade with us! Dues are $12 per year for a non-voting membership and $24 per year for voting members. We’ve made it easy to join using PayPal, or send payment to our PO Box. For more information, contact our president, Tom, at president@bentcarguys.org.” KCTS BROADCASTS P.O.V. DOCUMENTARY – BEYOND HATRED On Tuesday, June 30, at 10 p.m., KCTSTV, Ch. 9, will broadcast the acclaimed French documentary Beyond Hatred, which tells the story of a Gay man’s brutal murder and the compelling story of his family’s journey from anger to forgiveness. In September 2002, three skinheads were roaming a park in Rheims, France, looking to “do an Arab,” when they settled on a Gay man instead. Twenty-nine-year-old Francois Chenu fought back fiercely, but he was beaten unconscious and thrown into a river, where he drowned. The acclaimed French verite film Beyond Hatred is the story of the crime’s aftermath; above all, of the Chenu family’s brave and heartrending struggle to seek justice while trying to make sense of such pointless violence and unbearable loss. With remarkable dignity, they fight to transcend hatred and the inevitable desire for revenge. SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES NEXT READING SERIES AT DUNSHEE HOUSE The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dunshee House, 303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St. The club is pleased to announce the following titles to be discussed in their ongoing reading and discussion series: July – Queer by William S. Burroughs; August – A Fairly Honourable Defeat by Iris Murdoch; September – The Thief’s Journal by Jean Genet; October – Wild Dogs by Helen Humphreys; November – The Gifts of the Body by Rebecca Brown; December – A Death in Venice by Thomas Mann. All GLBTQ folks in the community are welcome to participate in this free book club. The reading list is chosen and the discussion facilitated by Nick DiMartino, published novelist and playwright, currently a book reviewer for ShelfAwareness.com, and a 30-year employee of University Book Store. For more information, email nickdimartin@earthlink. net or contact Dunshee House at 206-3222437. SEATTLE TENNIS ALLIANCE HOSTS SEATTLE CLASSIC TENNIS TOURNAMENT From July 3-5, the Seattle Tennis Alliance will host their annual regional LGBT tennis tournament. The venues will be the Amy Yee Tennis Center and the Nordstrom Tennis Center. For details, visit www.sta. clubexpress.com. 7TH ANNUAL CAPITOL HILL INDEPENDENCE DAY COMMUNITY PICNIC AT CAL ANDERSON PARK On Saturday, July 4, from noon-5 p.m., join your friends and neighbors at Cal Anderson Park, 11th Ave. just north of E. Pine St., for an old-fashioned picnic. Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy live music, outdoor fun and community. Bands hitting
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the stage all day will include kids-jammers Recess Monkey, the urban Latin beats of Picoso, the lo-fi pop of Katharine Hepburn’s Voice, and the funky soul sounds of Lady A and the Baby Blues Funk Band, not to mention buskers galore. Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream will make root beer floats, and delicious treats will be available from Via Tribunali as well as Wandering Wieners. Caffe Vita will be on-site with coffee; attendees will also be able to enjoy free cotton candy. Party-goers will be able to participate in the All-Park Parade, try the 11th Ave. Inn root beer tasting garden, and get involved with other free activities including a Spin Art Bike, patriotic tie-dye, a pie-eating contest, Urban Family Portraits (any type of family!), pet/human look-alike contest and more! This event is sponsored by the Cal Anderson Park Alliance.
com/fallball. Cost is $65/person, which includes t-shirt, insurance, and end of season party.
THREE DOLLAR BILL PRESENTS “UNDER THE STARS, THE EIGHTIES STRIKE BACK!” OUTDOOR CINEMA IN CAL ANDERSON PARK This summer Three Dollar Bill Outdoor Cinema presents a slate of three fun and campy films from 1980, the premiere year of the decade that made sexual power plays, alien encounters and shameless success all the rage. The films are Friday, July 17 – Little Darlings; Friday, July 31 – Flash Gordon; Friday, August 21 – 9 to 5. The FREE screenings will be shown at sunset (around 8:30-9 p.m.) at the southeast corner of Cal Anderson Park, near the park’s shelter house off 11th Ave. & E. Olive St. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase on-site with proceeds benefiting Three Dollar Bill EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL Cinema’s non-profit efforts to produce and ASSOCIATION HOSTS promote Queer-friendly film events in the 2009 EMERALD CITY CLASSIC Pacific Northwest. Three Dollar Bill CinREGIONAL BASEBALL ema produces the annual Seattle Lesbian & TOURNAMENT On July 4 & 5, the Emerald City Softball Gay Film Festival. www.threedollarbillcinAssociation will host their annual Emerald ema.org City Classic regional baseball tournament LGBTQA YOUTH CONFERENCE in Seattle. For more details, visit www.emFOR HOPE – IN SPOKANE eraldcitysoftball.org. JULY 24-26 Participation is expected from youth and JEFF CRANDALL, adults from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, KING COUNTY 4CULTURE Montana, California, Alaska and Canada. In AWARD-WINNING GAY POET addition to a series of workshops for youth, AND ARTIST, TO HOST there will be workshops for teachers, leadFIVE FREE POETRY READINGS As part of King County’s 4Culture 2008 ers, community members, service providSpecial Projects Awards to Individual Art- ers and parents. An estimated 500 LGBTQ ists, Gay poet and artist Jeff Crandall will be individuals and straight allies are expected presenting five free and open-to-the-public at this event to network, learn and support poetry readings in Seattle. The readings will each other. For more information and to regbe held on Monday, July 6, 7-7:30 p.m., at ister, visit www.odysseyyouth.org or call the Seattle Public Library Ballard Branch, 509-325-3637. Registration deadline is 5614 22nd Ave. NW; Tuesday, July 7 with June 30. Sponsored by the Odyssey Youth guest poet Ron Starr, 7-7:30 p.m., Beacon Center. Hill Branch Library, 2821 Beacon Ave. S.; SEATTLE HOSTS NATIONAL Wednesday, July 8, 7-7:30 p.m., Capitol CONFERENCE OF LGBTQ Hill Branch Library, 425 Harvard Ave. E.; ASIAN AMERICANS, Thursday, July 9, 7-7:30 p.m., Greenlake SOUTH ASIANS Branch Library, 7364 E. Greenlake Dr. N.; & PACIFIC ISLANDERS Friday, July 10, 7-8 p.m., Edge of the CirSeattle will be host to a national confercle Books, 701 E. Pike St. Crandall will be reading from two complete 60-page poetry ence for LGBTQ Asian American, South manuscripts titled Queer Gods & Demons Asians and Pacific Islander on the weekand The Witch Lover which he is submit- end of August 14-16 at the University of ting to 40 national poetry competitions. The Washington. Titled “Transgress, Transform, poems in these two collections explore the Transcend,” the conference will showcase world through the perspective of a Gay, Pa- the diversity of the LGBTQ Asian Pacific Islander experience and will expand the gan man. capacity and ability of LGBT Asian Pacific ANNUAL BI COMMUNITY PICNIC Islander activists and communities to orgaOn Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., nize. Conference organizers have lined up at Golden Gardens Park, 8498 Seaview Pl. four keynote speakers and over 50 workNW, BiNet Seattle will host their 10th an- shops, panel discussions, caucuses, and nual picnic for the Bisexual community – cultural performances, which will address a rain or shine. Bring your significant others wide array of topics and issues. The event’s and family, and some food to share. BiNet many programs will provide attendees opSeattle will provide burgers, sausages, and portunities to network and to expand their knowledge and skills in advocacy and comveggie burgers. www.BiNetSeattle.org. munity building. Registration fee is $100, with a reduced rate of $75 for presenters and EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL people with limited income. Some scholarASSOCIATION ships are available to assist attendees pay FALL BALL LEAGUE Emerald City Softball Association is for the cost of conference registration. Regsponsoring Fallball ’09, an ECSA Open Di- istration is available online at www.nqapia. vision softball league for men and women org/nc-2009.html. of all skill levels. Play dates will be August AFSC SPEAKER’S BUREAU 9 and 23, September 13, 20 and 27, and OcLOOKING FOR QUEER YOUTH tober 4. Teams are typically a random draw The American Friends Service Commitof available players with a few exceptions to allow people to play with friends. Higher tee’s speaker’s bureau, Out Spoken, is lookrated players from the A and B divisions are ing for Queer youth to interview about their spread evenly amongst the teams to pro- life experiences and hopes for the future to mote mentoring, as are those players that expand and enrich their panel presentations. have a special ability like pitching. This is a Participants will receive a gift card and purely fun and social league so there will be much appreciation for helping out. Contact no trophies or World Series berths. Informal LT at ltan@AFSC for more information and post-game socials will be held at area busi- to set up an interview. nesses after the games. There will also be an LAMBERT HOUSE end-of-season party. SEEKING VOLUNTEER Space is limited to 7 teams or 100 players. GRAPHIC DESIGNER 53 players have already confirmed. To reLambert House, Seattle’s LGBTQ youth serve your spot, please contact Josh the Fall Ball Coordinator at Joshua.wojcik@gmail. center, is currently seeking a volunteer com or register at www.emeraldcitysoftball. graphic designer. This position requires exorg. Registration will be held on Sunday, perience working in graphic design at a proJuly 12, at 4 p.m., at Purr Cocktail Lounge, fessional level. For more information about 1518 11th Ave. Registration by PayPal is this opportunity, please contact Katie@ also available. Requires a login to the ECSA lamberthouse.org or call 206-322-2515 ext website at http://www.seattlegaysoftball. *814.
June 26, 2009
Seattle Gay News
7
Nearly 8,000 attend Olympia Pride by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Organizers of Capital City Pride said they were expecting a large crowd of people from around the region to attend the weekend of events and Pride Parade – but nobody foresaw the crowd of nearly 8,000 who showed up to celebrate in downtown Olympia June 21. “We were prepared to see a real downturn in participation and tourism this year due to the economy, but we’re thrilled because it just hasn’t happened,” said Tony Sermonti, chairman of Capital City Pride. This year, Capital City Pride exceeded fundraising expectations, broke the record for number of booths in Sylvester Park, and organized the largest parade yet, making Olympia Pride a huge success. “Olympia Pride was Great!” said Sermonti. “The weather totally cooperated and we had the largest Pride Parade Capital City has ever seen. We had about 65 entries, including Dykes on Bikes and a servicemem-
bers network color guard from the Portland area.” The theme for the Pride celebration was “Pride with a Purpose.” Committee members said it was a direct response to helping out the broader community through tough economic times. Capital City Pride chose the Thurston County Food Bank and the Olympia YMCA to support financially. The all-day festival began at 11 a.m. June 21 in downtown Olympia at Sylvester Park. The parade began at noon and featured Seattle’s own 50-piece Rainbow City Marching Band, which Olympia Pride said was the “highlight of the parade.” Sermonti said the weekend really began Thursday, June 18, with concerts, shows, and dance events throughout the city. He also noted a large number of out-of-town guests who came to enjoy the festivities. He said it was important to see people show up in Olympia to support the city’s Pride because the town at the center of a lot of work that goes on to move LGBT families and the state forward. all photos COURTESY CAPITAL CITY PRIDE
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Seattle Gay News
June 26, 2009
Celebrating 36 Years!
file photo
SGN interview:
Mayor Greg Nickels by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has an ambitious agenda. Nickels hopes to become only the second man in Seattle’s history to win a third term as mayor. The first, and so far only mayor to do so was Charlie Royer in 1985 (Mayor 1978-1990). When Nickels was sworn in as president of the US Conference of Mayors earlier this month, his inaugural speech featured a bold call for a “New Deal with America’s cities.” Among his first official acts, he presided over passage of a resolution endorsing marriage equality. Nickels is arguably more popular with his fellow mayors than with Seattle voters. According to a KING5 poll earlier this month, Nickels leads his four competitors, with 25% saying they will vote for him, but trails “undecided” at 30%. Polling done by rival candidate Jan Drago shows Nickels in even deeper trouble. Nickels shrugs off his poor polling numbers. “The job is all about making decisions,” Nickels told SGN in an exclusive interview, “and when you make decisions, you’ll alienate somebody.” “Friends come and go,” he chuckles, “enemies accumulate.” “When I make decisions, I have in mind the regular working people of the community,” Nickels continued. “I’m running on my record. I hope I’m reelected. I will wage an aggressive campaign.” Nickels is already waging a hard-hitting campaign. The day opponent Jan Drago let it be known she was planning to launch her candidacy, the Nickels camp announced that the mayor had received the endorsement of six powerful union locals. The next day they followed up with the endorsement of the
Building Trades Council of construction unions, and the day after that with Washington Conservation Voters. Nickels denies that he meant this string of endorsements as a pre-emptive strike against Drago’s candidacy. “No, no, no,” he told SGN, “they were just things happening that week.” “People make their minds up based on where they’re coming from,” Nickels told SGN. “I’ve always worked very closely with labor folks to add to the number of living wage jobs with benefits.” “Sound Transit expansion, for example, will create 65,000 jobs,” he continued, noting that he is chair of the Sound Transit Board. “It will also get Seattle moving. The light rail line from downtown south will be open on July 18. I’ve worked on that for 25 years. In another 15 years, we will truly have a mass transit system.” “My emphasis is on getting the job done,” Nickels says. As an example, he cites obtaining state money for the viaduct replacement, in spite of House Speaker Frank Chopp’s longstanding opposition. “Removing the viaduct and replacing it with the tunnel will help us move people and freight, and it will also open up our beautiful waterfront,” Nickels says. Among other accomplishments, Nickels cites public safety. “We’re seeing a 40-year low in the crime rate,” he says. “There were 29 homicides last year, which is down 40% from when I took office.” Nickels’ public safety record is not without controversy, however. Last year he ordered a series of police sweeps of homeless encampments, which were widely protested by homeless advocates. Twenty-two prosecutions were later dropped by the City Attorney’s office on the instruction of Seattle’s DOT, which owned the land on which the
SGN interview:
Mayoral candidate Jan Drago
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
“At the end of the day – let’s put it this way – people want a tested and trusted leader, ‘trust’ being the operative word,” Jan Drago told SGN, explaining why she decided to run for mayor against incumbent Greg Nickels. As a City Council member since 1993, Drago built a reputation as a pragmatist. While she was one of Mayor Greg Nickels’ most reliable friends on the Council – lining up with him on a range of issues from viaduct replacement to South Lake Union development – she is now working to distance herself from her former ally and current rival. “We’ve worked together on a number of issues,” she said. “But it’s a question of how you get things done. It’s a style issue.” “The Council, the citizens, the neighborhoods are very alienated,” she continued. “Our federal and state partners are alienated. I can’t remember when Seattle has been less respected.” Drago told SGN she decided to run for mayor only recently, after a careful evaluation of Nickels’ weaknesses. “I reviewed the mayor’s polling,” she said. “I knew it was bad, but I didn’t know how bad. Only 15% said they’d definitely vote to reelect the mayor. Only 23% gave him a good job performance rating. 69% had an unfavorable opinion of him – and 49% very unfavorable.” “In head to heads, it was 24% Nickels and 45% Drago,” she continued. “Am I viable? I think the answer is yes.” “The next question is, could I raise mon-
ey? We raised $10,000 in three days. That’s 5% on my way to a $200,000 goal. I think that’s a realistic goal,” Drago said. Drago shrugged off Nickels’ early endorsement by six major union locals and the Building Trades Council of construction unions. “I’ve won elections with labor and I’ve won elections without labor,” she told SGN. “I have a very, very strong labor background. Very strong relations with the firefighters and police, because of my strong record on public safety issues.” While the Firefighters Union and the Police Guild have not yet endorsed candidates, the firefighters have said they are “disappointed” with Nickels because he crossed a picket line of Providence RI firefighters to attend the US Conference of Mayors event earlier this month. Vice President Joe Biden and several other Obama administration officials cancelled their scheduled appearances rather than cross the picket line. Of the other candidates in the race, Drago mentions T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan as a contender. “The T-Mobile millionaire could be the wildcard,” she says. “It seems the mayor is ignoring Mallahan. That will unfold as we get closer to the primary.” In a surprising development, the 37th District Democrats snubbed both Drago and Nickels, awarding a dual endorsement to Mallahan and Sierra Club activist Mike McGinn. Drago’s campaign declined to comment on the 37th District endorsement. The 37th legislative district includes the Central Area, Rainier Valley, and Rainier Beach. Responding to the perception she is a “downtown candidate” out of touch with
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Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
arrests occurred. “There were no rules as to how the city dealt with encampments,” Nickels explains. “They are illegal, they are unhealthy, they are centers for significant violent crimes.” “We also opened a shelter for the people who were displaced,” Nickels added. While the new shelter included only 40 beds for an estimated population of 300 people affected by the sweeps, Nickels insists that “everyone who wanted shelter space got it.” In spite of the controversy surrounding the sweeps, Nickels defends his record on homelessness. “I started the Housing First program for chronic alcoholics, people with addictions,” he says. “We have 300 units now and 300 in the pipeline.” “I was the leader in the previous housing levy in 2002,” Nickels continues, “and I’m working hard for this year’s levy.” Opponent Jan Drago, on the other hand, tried unsuccessfully to get the City Council to reduce the size of this year’s housing levy.
While Nickels acknowledges the challenges of running a major city in the midst of economic crisis, he believes he’s seen tougher times. “When I took office on January 1, 2002, we were in the midst of the post-9/11 recession,” he says. “We had 100,000 people unemployed. The city was unprepared. As a result we had to cut $120 million from the budget.” “I set aside a $30 million rainy day fund,” he continues, “so we wouldn’t be in the same situation as I was in 2002. Now, we did draw down the rainy day fund this year, and we might next year as well. Above all, we have to fund public safety and human services.” Although Nickels exudes self-confidence, he declines to predict his own reelection. “I have over 1000 donors. That’s a broad base of support,” he says. “But I don’t take anything for granted. That’s for the people to decide.”
voters in Seattle’s neighborhoods, Drago said, “Downtown is my neighborhood. I’ve lived downtown. In the late ‘80s, I lived in the Pike Market. The Downtown District Council used to meet at my Haagen Dazs [ice cream shop]. I also sat on the Denny Regrade Business Council.” “The neighborhoods are alienated,” Drago claims. “The mayor decimated the Department of Neighborhoods. I will restore the Department. I will increase the matching fund. I will listen to the neighborhoods, give them a seat at the table in the budget preparation process.” The City’s Neighborhood Matching Fund provides money to neighborhood groups or organizations for locally initiated projects or improvements, including special funding for tree-planting. “Here’s where we get to the style issue,” Drago says. “Norm Rice [Seattle Mayor 1989-1997] had a collaborative style. He’d call in staff, he’d call in the stake-holders, he’d always try for a broader partnership.” Reminded that Rice was criticized at the time for what observers characterized as process-laden decision making, Drago replies, “Well, Norm was risk-averse. It took a lot to get him to make a decision. Now with Greg Nickels, I respect his ability to make a decision and use his political capital.” Not that Drago gives Nickels too much credit. She quickly ticks off issues where she opposes the mayor. “On the bag tax. I voted against it. It’s a
style issue. … Dismantling the gang squad. I fought against it. … On human services. I was the 2002 Budget Chair. The mayor wanted to cut the budget but he wouldn’t meet with the organizations. The mayor cut it and the council restored it. … Annexation. I disagree with annexing White Center and Highline. The mayor never explained why he wanted to do it, except that it was his old [County Council] district….” Asked how she envisions her own term as mayor if she is elected, Drago says, “It’s particularly about building relationships. The first thing I would do is convene a King County legislative summit. Set the legislative agenda for the 2010 session, even if it’s just two or three items. The following year, expand that to the four-county region. Build coalitions with other cities around the state.” “It all goes back to ‘a tested and trusted leader,’” she says.
June 26, 2009
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Seattle Gay News
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cargo capacity, towing capability, and the engine and electric motor. Even though the convenience of all-wheel-drive in a snappy, Lexus LS600 h L may take up more space, sexy package. MSRP: $25,975-$29,250. it has relatively the same overall length as a Chevy Tahoe. You can sit back and relax in
A big Gay year in car reviews by J.T. Hills SGN Contributing Writer
For the non-conformist environmentalist who doesn’t want to drive a Prius, the You are what you drive: environmentalist, 2010 Honda Insight consumerist, non-conformist, liberal, conThe 2010 Honda Insight has an oh-so faservative, jock, preppy, or nerdy, what you miliar look about it, powered by the next park in your driveway is not only a mode generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor of transportation, it’s a form of expression. Assist (IMA) technology that uses an elecThank you, advertising executives! Here’s tric motor between a 1.3-liter i-VTEC foura biased, self-serving look of my favorite cylinder engine and a continuously variable cars. Happy Pride! transmission (CVT). The Insight gets a fuel economy rating of 40mpg city, 43mpg highFor the serial monogamist that moves way. It’s the least expensive hybrid on the from home to home (to home), the 2009 market, and it also says less about making GMC Sierra Hybrid a fashion statement in your driving choice There’s nothing more off-putting than and more about fuel-efficient, affordable showing up to a second date with your future transportation. MSRP: $19,800-$23,200. ex in a U-Haul. With China patterns already picked and a redecorating plan well underFor those who have kids, but really way, hauling capacity and stealthy, cat-like don’t want to drive a mini-van, the 2009 silence puts you at a huge advantage. The Toyota Venza GMC Sierra Hybrid has the ability to go up No matter how much automotive manuto 30 mph in whisper-quite hybrid propul- factures try to make minivans sexy, there’s sion – not to mention it gets 20mpg city for really no way to make a minivan sexy. I a full-size 4WD pickup, to boot. You can don’t have kids, even after years and years actually move an entire dining room set into of trying – it doesn’t seem to be in nature’s or out of your abode of choice before your plan – but I can appreciate the complexities most recent soulmate knows what’s happen- of moving them about. The 2009 Toyota ing to them. MSRP: $38,390-$47,675. Venza provides expansive seating for five,
For those who think “go big or go home,” the 2009 Range Rover Sport Supercharged The Range Rover Sport is Land Rover’s performance oriented sports touring SUV. It’s designed with greater emphasis on onroad performance, but still delivers exceptional off-road capability Range Rover is famous for. Actually the Range Rover Sport
luxury knowing that your carbon footprint is smaller. MSRP: $106,035.
isn’t all that big in actual proportions – the size is very urban friendly – it just makes a big visual impact. It’s substantial in quality, power, performance, and ego. It’s worth every penny. MSRP: $58,375-$71,825.
BMW of North America no longer feels that my reading audience is “exclusive” enough to provide product for reviews. In these trying economic times where auto manufacturers are facing uncertain futures, I find it fortunate that the LGBT readership of this publication is still thought of as a viable economic consumer base by every other major automotive manufacturer of vehicles sold in the United States. Please do not confuse a misguided marketing decision by BMW of North America with the thoughts, values, and practices of local, independently owned BMW dealerships.
For those who might have noticed there isn’t any product from BMW included in a Big Gay Year in Car Reviews: After 10 years of writing car reviews for LGBT publications from my hometown of Seattle to Miami and points in-between,
jim’s southend Servicing all brands, MMI & Factory trained techs p. 206-244-4111 f. 206-244-4110
motorcycle
For those who don’t fly commercial, the 2009 Lexus LS600 h L If you got it, flaunt it. That’s what my mother always says. The LS600 h L is Lexus’ flagship luxury sedan, and the first vehicle in the world to feature a full hybrid V8 powertrain capable of operating in electric-only mode or with a combination of gas
20+ years experience
10840 Myers Way S, Seattle, WA 98168 southendmotorcycle.com
10 Seattle Gay News
June 26, 2009
Celebrating 36 Years!
pride events continued from page 5
On Saturday, June 27, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Hot Flash hosts TWO Hot Flash dance parties at 1) Neighbours, 1509 Broadway, with DJ Stacey, and at 2) The War Room, Harvard Ave. & E. Pike St., with DJ WildFire from Portland, OR. With both clubs running Hot Flash at the same time, there’s room for approximately 1300 partiers. “And, because so many of you bring your out-of=state Gay brothers to Pride Hot Flash, we’re opening our doors to men when they are accompanied by women, for this dance only.” Cost for this 2-for-1 dance is $10 at the door.
hour-and-a-half class begins at 10 a.m. Cost is $15 suggested donation. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Steve Gold and Gina Sala. It will be a unique experience for the LGBT movement as the heterosexual community is coming out in full force to support the rights of the LGBT minority. Proceeds raised will directly benefit organizations that are advancing the equality movement: Lambda Legal, Equal Rights Washington and Gay City Health Project. COUNTRY WESTERN Equalityoga is produced by StonewallForty, PRIDE DANCE WITH a group dedicated to ensuring that LGBT RAIN COUNTRY DANCE people receive the same rights guaranteed to On Saturday, June 27, from 6-8 p.m., Rain everyone else. Country Dance will host a Country Western Pride Dance on the dance floor at Seattle RAINBOW WOMEN’S Center’s Center House. A mixer dance will HEALTH FAIR be taught. FREE. www.raincountrydance. AT GILDA’S CLUB org. WITH FREE MAMMOGRAMS On Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m.-2 ANNUAL PENNIES FROM HEAVEN p.m., Gilda’s Club Seattle and the YWCA FUNDRAISER SHOW Seattle-King-Snohomish will co-host the AT THE CRESCENT 11th annual Rainbow Women’s Health Fair On Saturday, June 27, from 6-9 p.m., join at Gilda’s Club Seattle, 1400 Broadway at Pennie Princess VI, 2008-2009, Sahara Dior E. Union St., to address the health needs of D., at the Crescent Tavern, 1413 E. Olive Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender wom- Way, for an evening of fine drag entertainen. The health fair will feature educational ment and fundraising. speakers, free health services, and community organizations sharing a range of health OPEN CIRCLE THEATER information from early detection of breast HOSTS “BIG GAY PRIDE!” – cancer to overall health. Topics and services SALUTING THE CHUB, will include acupuncture, massage, naturBEAR/CUB & CHASER opathy, osteoporosis check, laughter, moveCOMMUNITY ment, exercise training, breast cancer surviOn Saturday, June 27, at 9 p.m., Open vor services, spirituality, heart health, sleep Circle Theater, 2222 2nd Ave., 2nd floor disorder consultation, breast health infor- (in Belltown) hosts “Big Gay Pride!” with mation and education. A video presentation, music, drink specials, food and entertain“What is killing dykes…” will be showing ment and raffle prizes! Enjoy air conditioncontinuously throughout the day. ing, comfy couches, and a chance to win The YWCA Women’s Health Outreach prizes! This event will help support Open Program will be offering FREE mammo- Circle Theater’s regular programming, that grams at the health fair for un- and under- includes Carolotta’s Wing Ding, OCTV, Sci insured income-eligible people over 40. For Fi theater and more! Just $5 gets you in! an appointment, call 206-436-8623 or email lbtheath@ywca.org. www.ywcaworks.org/ SHIFT PEER RECOVERY womenshealthoutreach. NETWORK PRIDE PARTY On Saturday, June 27, from 9 p.m.-12:30 LAMBERT HOUSE a.m., join SHIFT and Gay City for a FREE “SUMMER OF LOVE” substance-free Pride party at the Velocity PRIDE CELEBRATION Dance Studio in the Oddfellows Hall BuildOn Saturday, June 27, from noon-mid- ing, 10th Ave. & E. Pine St.. Must be 18 or night, Lambert House, Greater Seattle’s older. Enjoy DJ’d music by Joe King, perCommunity Center for LGBTQ Youth, formances by Lady Chablis and surprise ages 11-22, 1818 15th Ave., will be hosting guests, dancing, and plenty of fun! For events and various happenings throughout more information, email Chris@gaycity. the day – including live band performances, org. SHIFT: A Peer Recovery Network is a BBQ, and dancing – plus a sleepover on a multi-agency collaboration that provides Saturday night (permission forms required administrative, emotional, and supervisory for sleepover) with breakfast Sunday morn- support for LGBTQ volunteers and clients ing from 8-10 a.m. 206-322-2515; www. in the Seattle/King County area who are lamberthouse.org. struggling with drug/alcohol abuse and addiction issues. www.multifaith.org. SEATTLE PRIDE CRUISE On Saturday, June 27, join Seattle Pride LAMBERT HOUSE party-goers for Seattle’s hottest floating “BREAKFAST OF LOVE” T-dance on a 4 hour Argosy Cruise aboard AND PRE-PRIDE GET-TOGETHER the MV Spirit of Seattle with light meal, hot On Sunday, June 28, from 8-10 a.m., LamDJ’d music and drag entertainment. Board- bert House, Greater Seattle’s Community ing at 5 p.m. at Argosy Cruises, Pier 55, Center for LGBTQ Youth, ages 11-22, 1818 1101 Alaskan Way, cruise from 5:30-9:30 15th Ave., will be hosting breakfast and prep.m. Tickets: $50 until June 1, $60 after Pride Parade get-together, leaving at 10 a.m. June 1, $65 dockside (if available). www. for the parade. 206-322-2515; www.lamcruiseyT.com; 604-551-BOAT. Proceeds berthouse.org. benefit Seattle Out and Proud. SEATTLE PRIDE® BRUNCH CAPITOL HILL PRIDE FESTIVAL On Sunday, June 28, from 8-11:30 a.m., On Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m.-4 enjoy a special plated Pride Brunch for hunp.m., the Seattle Museum of Mysteries gry Pride Parade-goers. Proceeds from each presents the new Capitol Hill Pride Festival Pride Brunch sold will go to Seattle Out & 2009 on Broadway between E. John St. and Proud, sponsors of the Pride Parade. Cost E. Harrison St. Enjoy music, entertainment, is $25. For a list of participating restaurants history, vendor and non-profit booths. www. and brunch menus, visit www.seattlepride. capitolhillpridefestival.net org. and scroll down the events menu. Sponsored by Seattle Out and Proud and GroupSEATTLE STONEWALL dyne.com. 40TH CELEBRATION AT VOLUNTEER PARK KWANCHAI PRIDE BRUNCH ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27, On Sunday, June 28, from 10-11 a.m., HAS BEEN CANCELLED Kwanchai – The Jonathan Matthews Design Group will host their annual Pride Brunch at SEATTLE DYKE MARCH their interior design office space in the South On Saturday, June 27, rally from 5-7 p.m. Lake Union neighborhood. Enjoy brunch at Seattle Central Community College, bites and specialty cocktails in preparation Broadway & E. Pine St., march steps off at for the parade festivities. For more informa7 p.m. tion and to RSVP, call 206-262-2022, email christina@kwanchai.net or visit www. PRIDE HOT FLASH kwanchai.net.
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KCTS-TV BROADCASTS IN THE LIFE TV’S “SUMMER OF STONEWALL” In The Life, the only national public television program documenting the people and issues shaping the Gay experience, kicks off June Pride with “Summer of Stonewall,” a summer-long three-part mini-series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Exploring the history of the movement from a variety of angles, the June special takes a look at the proliferation of LGBT social justice organizations, the cost 2009 OFFICIAL of coming out young, and Queer communiSEATTLE PRIDE® PARADE cation from flyers to blog. KCTS-TV will VIP VILLAGE broadcast “Summer of Stonewall” on SunBEER/WINE GARDEN On Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m.-2:30 day, June 28, at midnight. The program can p.m., join Seattle’s LGBT community and also be viewed online at your convenience friends starting at 4th Ave. & Union St. at www.inthelifetv.org. for Seattle’s mega Pride Parade traveling ***PRIDE AROUND north on 4th Ave. to Denny Way celebratWASHINGTON STATE ing “Peace, Love and Equality” and the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Bellingham Pride Weekend – Friday, If you would like to enjoy an ice-cold beer or a glass of wine while watching the July 10. The Betty Pages (Bellingham’s alparade, check out the VIP Village for $5 (or ternative lifestyle tabloid) 6th anniversary show your official Seattle Pride® button for party kicks off Pride weekend at 8 p.m. at free entry) at 4th Ave. & Bell St. You must Rumors cabaret, 1119 Railroad Ave. On Satbe 21+ to enter the VIP Village – ID re- urday, July 11 the Betty Pages Family Picnic quired. Sponsored by Seattle Out and Proud will be held at Whatcom Falls Park, from and Groupdyne.com. www.seattlepride.org. 12-4 p.m. (use entrance on Silver Beach Road off Lakeway Drive; or you can use the entrane on Electric Ave. that has more parkCELEBRATE PRIDE DAY ing and walk down to the picnic area). On WITH SEATTLE FIRST BAPTIST Join Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Saturday, from 6-10 p.m., The Royal, 208 E. Harvard Ave. at E. Seneca St., on Sunday, Holly St., will host a community party sponJune 28 at 11 a.m. for a special Pride-related sored by 4 Women Events. Also on Saturday, service. Or watch for the Seattle First Bap- from 6-9 p.m. The Imperial Sovereign Court tist Church contingent in the June 28 Pride of the Evergreen Empire will host an “Absolutely Fabulous” drag show at Rumors. FolParade. www.SeattleFirstBaptist.org lowing the drag show, Rumors will host the official pride party from 9 p.m. to closing. 2009 SEATTLE PRIDEFEST On Sunday, July 12, The Royal will host AT SEATTLE CENTER On Sunday, June 28 from 11 a.m to 7 p.m., the official pride breakfast, from 8-10:30 celebrate LGBT Pride Day at the Seattle a.m., cost of breakfast to be determined. At 11 a.m., the 3rd Annual Pride Parade steps PrideFest. Enjoy local and national talent, commu- off from Bellingham High School, 2020 nity nonprofit and vendor booths, beer gar- Cornwall Ave. via Cornwall Ave. to Depot dens, DJ’d music and dancing at the Interna- Market Square, 1200 Railroad Ave. (across tional Fountain. www.seattlepridefest.com. from Rumors), Pride Festival follows at Depot Market Square from noon-6 p.m., party continues into the evening at Rumors. HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH TO BENEFIT Kitsap Pride (Bremerton) – Saturday, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN On Sunday, June 28, Club Motor, 1950 July 18. Watch for more details. http://kit1st Ave. S. presents the songs from Hedwig sappride.org and the Angry Inch in a live performance Lewis County Pride (Centralia) – Friwith band. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 in advance, $20 at door. www. day, June 5. Centralia College, 600 Centralia College Blvd, 11.a.m.-4 p.m. Sponsored brownpapertickets.com/event/63495. by Centralia College GSA. centraliacollegegsa@gmail.com THE GAY GAY CABARET AT RE-BAR On Sunday, June 28, at Re-bar, 1114 HowCapital City Pride (Olympia) – Sunell St., 7 p.m. door, 8 p.m. show, Paula the day, June 21. Parade starts at noon from the Swedish Housewife presents an evening of Capitol steps, heads north on Capitol Way, Gay cabaret starring Scotty The Blue Bunny right onto 4th Ave., right onto Washington with Waxie Moon, Boi/y’s Club and Lesbi- St. and ends at Sylvester Park. Enjoy music, an stripper Miss Indigo Blue! What could be entertainment, and community vendors at gayer than a grown man in a skintight Blue Pride Festival in Sylvester Park. www.capiBunny suit, platform shoes, stubble and at- talcitypride. titude as high as his ears? Advance tickets: $20 at 1-800-838-3006; www.brownpapertickets.com/event/69977. see pride events page 22 2009 OFFICIAL SEATTLE PRIDE® PARADE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE On Sunday, June 28, from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., join Seattle’s LGBT community and friends starting at 4th Ave. & Union St. for Seattle’s mega Pride Parade traveling north on 4th Ave. to Denny Way celebrating “Peace, Love and Equality” and the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. FREE. www.seattlepride.org.
June 26, 2009
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Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart: “While ending any of the discrimination against Gay and Lesbian federal employees is a welcome step, today’s ... announcement falls far short of our hopes and expectations. President Obama clearly understands how important it is for people to have health insurance coverage to protect their loved ones and this plan does not provide that. Lambda Legal is representing Karen Golinskii, a federal employee who works for the judicial branch and who is seeking health insurance coverage for her same-sex spouse. A federal judge has already issued an administrative decision in that matter, concluding that, within the existing rules, the federal government can choose to provide health insurance for same-sex partners. We think they should. ... The day is long past for incomplete, piecemeal fixes that leave hard-working families uninsured and struggling.” People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan: “Today’s presidential memorandum is a very small step in the right direction, but it’s a token, and tokens are no longer enough. DOMA stands in the way of real progress for same-sex couples now denied federal recognition and protection, and its repeal is long overdue. President Obama has a unique ability to provide the moral leadership to ensure that all Americans are treated equally under the law, but so far he has failed to exercise it. We urge the president to live up to his own rhetoric about being a ‘fierce advocate’ for Gay and Lesbian Americans. Taking action on his pledge to repeal DOMA would be worthy of the vision that he held out to Americans during his campaign.” NGLTF’s Carey: “This presidential memorandum today will extend some selected protections to the same-sex partners and families of federal employees. ... This memo is one building block toward full equality, and much more remains to be done in order for the administration to live up to
the promises of equality the president made as a candidate on the campaign trail. ... We also call on the president to take additional steps that will have a positive impact on our health, our livelihoods and our families’ safety that do not require legislative action. These include reversing the standing policy of the U.S. Census Bureau to manually unmarry any same-sex couple who lawfully states they are married on the 2010 census [the AP reported June 19 that this is now a done deal], extending employment protections to federal employees based on gender identity, and reversing the regulations that continue to throw roadblocks in the way of HIV-positive individuals who want to travel to this country.” NCLR’s Kendell: “The policy announced today by the president committing to a federal workplace free from discrimination is a step in the right direction but inadequate and long overdue. It leaves out millions of Americans who do not work for the federal government and fails to include key benefits including health insurance. When running for office, then candidate Obama called equality for LGBT people a ‘moral imperative.’ We will continue to demand this administration live up to the president’s promise of achieving ‘full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country.’” The language is strong and the front is unified. The White House clearly is listening, but when will our “fierce advocate” act? Writing on his house.gov website June 16, Gay U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., said: “I am a proud Democrat, as are many in the LGBT community, and I believe we must hold our leaders accountable. The Obama Administration made a HUGE mistake in the DOMA brief. If they keep making mistakes like this, they risk losing the support of the GLBT community forever, although I do not believe we are at that point yet. President Obama needs to honor his promise to repeal this ... hateful and divisive law. As the New York Times editorialized yesterday, ‘busy calendars and political expediency are no excuse for making one group of Americans wait any longer for equal rights.’” With assistance from Bill Kelley
Celebrating 36 Years!
gay youth continued from cover
terms with being Gay and accepting himself. But once he did, there was no turning back. Jordan was always well-liked in school, played sports, earned good grades, and was confident. He was elected Longview, Washington’s first openly Gay Homecoming King. “I know that growing up Gay is very hard for a lot of people,” Jordan said. “I had a fairly easy time, and my sexuality has always been a relatively minor issue in my life.” Katherine Miller can relate to Jordan. The 20-year-old Lesbian, who goes by Kat, said she does not look back at her years in a Seattle high school as negative. She said her sexuality was an issue, but only because she didn’t understand it. “I always had a large group of guys as friends that I was emotionally attached to. I didn’t talk to girls as much because a majority of them were straight and I didn’t understand them,” Kat recalls. “Perhaps the hardest part about growing up was not understanding why my male friends kept on wanting to date me. Even when I did date them, I didn’t like them touching me. That is when I realized I was a Lesbian.” Russian-born Sergey Smirnov didn’t come to Seattle until he was 11 years old. Now a 21-year-old man, he looks back on growing up Gay as a positive experience. A self-described cheery person, he said he could count on one hand when the issue came up in a negative way. “Tolerance is a two-person play. People arrive at their worldview through a lifetime of learning which cannot be changed on my command,” Sergey said. “I do my best to understand where they are coming from, even if I completely disagree, and I hope that they will have learning opportunities to examine their values.” Not everyone had as easy a time as Jordan, Kat and Sergey. Karsen Farmer has met with resistance nearly every step of the way whenever the 18-year-old brought up his sexuality. “At my school and in my life I’ve run into many bigoted and homophobic people,” he said. “Still, I refuse to believe they have any merit in telling me how to live my life. I will continue to ignore their uneducated remarks and disgusted stairs.” Megan James is the Q in LGBTQ: Questioning. The 17-year-old Mercer Island teen grew up in a household with a Lesbian mother, and considers herself lucky to be a part of a young Gay movement. Megan said most youth are much more open to new ideas and are sometimes a lot more accepting. She said being young and still questioning, plus dealing with all of the other things that go along with being a teenager, can be tough. Vicente “Kince” de Vera, 23, was born into a strict Roman Catholic household in Manila, Philippines. He realized the best way to change people’s views was to just “be Gay” and show them that other than sexual orientation, it really didn’t make much a difference. “I would do things like hold hands with my boyfriend in public,” said Kince. “Change starts with initiative; in a way, it was like telling everyone to just deal with it.” Hector Sanchez is Bisexual. The 21-yearold was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and said growing up with the secret was difficult because, like Kince, his family has a religious background. Still, he’s managed to keep his faith and become proud of his sexuality. “In most Latino families you will be treat-
COMING OUT ed differently if you are Gay or Bisexual. STILL A CHALLENGE Our culture is still living in old times,” HecComing out of the closet is a pivotal and tor said. “Being a proud Bisexual Latino, I am not scared of what people might say. I undoubtedly important time in an LGBT person’s life. Some are forced out, while am not a bad person.” others are kicked out, and for some, coming out was as easy as ordering dinner at a STICKS AND STONES “Nearly every day of high school, I was restaurant. Regardless of how old you were verbally attacked for being Gay,” said Kars- or what calendar year you decided to claim en. “I have only been physically attacked your place among the ranks of the LGBT once and it ended shortly because of help community, it’s a defining moment in your from friends. I would say that is the most I life. Sergey knew he was Gay when he was 12 can ask for in these times.” Although times have changed since years old. He’d just moved to the U.S. from Stonewall, it can still be dangerous for LG- Russia. When he decided to go public with BTQ youth. Statistics show that most high his sexuality, he told friends first. He didn’t school and college students who identify as know how his parents would take the news. “I came out to my friends when I was in LGBTQ encounter some form of discrimination, sometimes resulting in violence. high school,” he said. “I only recently came The suicide rate for LGBTQ youth is also out to my parents. They were very supportmuch higher than the national average for ive.” Meagan said she began to question her their heterosexual peers. Hector said there is a lot of male posturing sexuality when she was 15. “The first perwithin the Latino culture, which can some- son I told was my ex-boyfriend last year. He times become violent towards Gay men, just kind of smiled,” she said. “I would say that I am ‘out.’ I have told girls at my school motivated out of fear of themselves. “There are statistics out there that show, that I like them.” Ultimately, Kince was aware of his sexuamong Latino males, something like 65% will, somewhere in their life, experience a ality at an early age, which he estimates to Gay situation – that’s higher than most cul- be around 8 years old. He thinks people tures,” he said. “More than half of the guys really always knew but coming out was “a who act so macho are doing so because they whole different ball game.” “There were many different ‘outings’ in are scared to be themselves or come out of my life, most of them small, but I’d have to the closet.” Kat said although she’s never been physi- say the biggest one was when I was 14. At cally attacked she was alienated for a bit the time, my Lesbian aunt was living with while people figured out that her being a us. I ran away from home, got online at an internet café, chatted with her, and told her Lesbian didn’t mean anything bad. “They had to see that I didn’t change as a to break it to the family,” Kince remembers. person,” she said. “But the people I associ- “I ran away because I didn’t want to be there ate with are not hateful people.” For Jordan he found the struggle closer to home. “My younger brother was struggling with my orientation for a while, but it would only come out when he and I would get into big fights over unrelated topics,” Jordan said. “He would call me things like ‘faggot’ and say other rude remarks. He got over it after a couple of years. Other than that, I never once experienced verbal or physical attacks from peers.” Still, Jordan maintains that he doesn’t think his experience was that of the average LGBTQ high school student. He also believes that growing up in Washington probably helped; the state, he said, is progressive. “I’ve been verbally accused of being a Lesbian,” said Meagan, who is still in high school. “I’ve stopped someone from being physically attacked because they were Gay.” Kince said he’d been put down many times in his life for being Gay. “Verbally, yes. Though, in most cases it’s been because I was, in a way, ashamed of being Gay myself,” he said. “Once I owned up to it, I realized I had far fewer problems.”
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June 26, 2009
for the initial blow when my father found out. My mother, of course, had known for years. I took the bus home to find my father was at church. My mother decided it would be best for one of the priests to break the news to him, telling him it was okay for [me] to be Gay.” For Kat, the realization that she was a Lesbian was gradual. She said she didn’t “feel like a Lesbian” or like any major changes had taken place – she just came to the conclusion that she was more physically attracted to other girls, and the word for that just happened to be “Lesbian.” “My family, particularly my mother, suspected I was a Lesbian even before I did. I was 18 years old when my mother asked me if I preferred boys or girls. My immediate family is very accepting,” said Kat. “Other people, I tell when I need to tell them. Just because I am a Lesbian doesn’t mean I have to go out of my way to let everyone know. Likewise, I don’t feel like I need to hide my sexual preferences when I talk about who I’m dating or my involvement in the Queer community.” Karsen said his coming-out story was hard to explain. For years he locked away his attraction to men. He said the denial began to make him physically ill. “I couldn’t hide the truth from myself anymore. So one night I cried and cried and repeated to myself that I was Gay and that I needed to accept that,” Karsen said. He told a school friend who, in turn, told him to tell his parents. He said it was difficult but he knew he had to tell them besee gay youth page 23
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer US Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) announced the introduction of new ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) legislation at a press conference Wednesday. ENDA would prohibit discrimination by employers, employment agencies, or labor organizations on the basis of an “individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” “We can now take for granted that there will be a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives, almost certainly this calendar year, on a fully inclusive ENDA,” Frank said at the press conference. “We are on track to pass this bill in the House this year.” A version of ENDA which omitted protections for Transgender workers passed the US House of Representatives in 2007 by a margin of 235-184, but failed to come up for a vote in the US Senate. Then-President George W Bush had promised to veto the bill if it passed. President Obama has promised to sign ENDA into law. A companion Senate bill has not yet been introduced, but one is expected shortly. In 2007, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) sponsored ENDA in the Senate. Federal law currently protects workers from discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, and disability, but not sexual orientation or gender identity. State laws vary widely. Only 20 states and the District of Columbia ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, and only 13 states and DC expressly ban discrimination based on gender identity. “Typically, workplace discrimination is the number one complaint among people seeking assistance from our Legal Help Desk,” Lambda Legal noted in a statement following Frank’s press conference. “Workplace equality has been a top priority for all of Lambda Legal’s 36-year history.” In Washington State, the Anderson-Murray Civil Rights Act of 2006 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which was defined in the legislation
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to include gender identity and expression. Anderson-Murray covers discrimination in housing and credit as well as the workplace. Frank was joined on Wednesday by Reps Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jared Polis (D-CO) – the other openly Gay members of the House – and Rep Mike Quigley (D-IL). Labor union officials, business leaders, and representatives of mainstream LGBT organizations were also featured. Baldwin believes ENDA will be a wedge issue that can open the door to full equality for the LGBT community. “It will be the first piece of major LGBT civil rights legislation ever enacted by this Congress,” she said, “and once that is in the statute, we don’t have any justification for all the other types of discrimination that exists.” “This piece of legislation is incredibly powerful. It’s saying once and for all we know that this discrimination and this bigotry exists, we see it, there’s clear evidence, it is wrong, and now, with our work, it will become illegal.” While no Republicans attended Frank’s press conference, six are among the118 Representatives signing on to ENDA as co-sponsors. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (RFL) is expected to be the lead Republican on ENDA. She represents Florida’s 18th Congressional District, which includes concentrations of LGBT voters in Miami and Miami Beach. Besides Ros-Lehtinen, Republican Reps Michael Castle (R-DE.), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Todd Platts (R-PA) and Judy Biggert (R-IL) are listed as cosponsors of the legislation. In the Washington state congressional delegation, Reps Jay Inslee (D-1), Jim McDermott (D-7), and Adam Smith (D-9) have all signed on as original co-sponsors. Democrats Rick Larsen (D-2), Brian Baird (D3), and Norm Dicks (D-6) voted for ENDA in 2007 and are expected to vote Yes again. Republicans Doc Hastings (R-4) and Cathy McMorris (R-5) are likely to vote No, as they did in 2007. Republican Dave Reichert (R-8) voted Yes in 2007, but he did not return SGN’s calls for comment this week. The decision of the House Democratic leadership to exclude Transgender workers from the 2007 version of ENDA was controversial, with almost every major LGBT organization condemning it. Frank said at the time that he believed he simply lacked the votes to protect Transgender workers. “If we can pick up 15 Democratic seats,” Frank said before the 2008 election, “then I think we are in a good position to pass a transgender-inclusive ENDA.” Democrats gained 20 House seats – and the White House – in 2008. Frank now believes the inclusive ENDA he introduced
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official photo
Rep. Barney Frank drops new ENDA bill in Congress
Transgender-inclusive ENDA. “But I am encouraged,” he added. “I think the Transgender community and others have been doing this in a very good way. This time they have been doing the lobbying.” National LGBT and labor leaders hailed the new legislation. HRC President Joe Solmonese said, “We all share the challenges of today’s economic downturn, but our community also faces arbitrary discrimination in the workplace, simply because of who we are and who we love. Congress must pass ENDA and ensure that all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, get a fair chance to succeed at work.” “Workplace protections for LGBT people are urgently needed and long overdue,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell. Openly-Gay US Rep Barney Frank (D-MA) “The president has said this week will pass. “Now, 20 more Demo- he is ready to sign this bill. All we need now crats replacing 20 Republicans isn’t a net is for Congress to act.” NGLTF Action Fund Executive Director gain of 20 for LGBT issues,” he cautioned. “But it’s a net gain of about 14 or 15. There Rea Carey echoed Kendall, and called on are a couple of Republicans who are with us President Obama to press for passage of the and a couple of Democrats who are against bill. “We are pleased that President Obama has expressed support for this legislation us.” Frank also believes intense lobbying by and expect the administration to play a Transgender advocates in the intervening role in assisting with its passage in both the two years has helped swing the political bal- House and Senate.” “The AFL-CIO strongly supports ENDA, ance of power in favor of an inclusive bill. “I just need to remind people that when we which Rep Barney Frank introduced today have trouble doing something in New York, in the 111th Congress,” AFL-CIO President Maryland and Massachusetts, it doesn’t get John Sweeney said Wednesday. “Discrimieasier when you have South Carolina, Utah nation based on sexual orientation or gender and Nebraska,” he said, referring to socially identity is inconsistent with the principles conservative states whose congressional of equal opportunity and equal employment representatives will be voting on the new that our movement has fought for.”
AFL-CIO endorses ENDA AFL-CIO President John Sweeney endorsed ENDA today, as it was being introduced in the US House of Representatives by Rep Barney Frank. Sweeney spoke out especially forcefully in support of including Transgender workers in the legislation. The AFL-CIO has supported equality for LGBT workers. Many union contracts now include language protecting workers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and explicit protections for Transgender workers are becoming more common. After Sweeney’s election as AFL-CIO president in 1995, the federation of US labor unions added representation for constituencies that historically have been marginalized and under-represented in the labor movement. Pride At Work affiliated with the AFL-CIO as its LGBT constituency organization. Locally, the Martin Luther King County Labor Council amended its bylaws in 2007 to include seats on its Executive Board for Pride At Work and other AFL-CIO constituency organizations. The MLKCLC and 25 of its affiliates signed on to amicus briefs supporting marriage equality in Andersen v Sims. President Sweeney’s statement follows: Statement by AFL-CIO President Sweeney On the Introduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act June 24, 2009 The AFL-CIO strongly supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which Representative Barney Frank introduced today in the 111th Congress. This common sense legislation would bar discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and
20 Seattle Gay News
June 26, 2009
expression. In far too many states, it is still absolutely legal to fire someone because of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. While federal law protects working people from firing or penalization based on race, religion, national origin, gender and/ or physical ability, no federal law exists to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This means that in 30 states, it is legal to fire someone for being Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. In 37 states, it is legal to fire someone because they are Transgender. Because Transgender people are so frequently vulnerable to employment discrimination, the AFL-CIO applauds their full protection in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009. It is just plain wrong for anyone to discriminate against or fire a worker based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and this legislation gives Congress the chance to make all such shocking discrimination illegal across boundaries. Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is inconsistent with the principles of equal opportunity and equal employment that our movement has fought for. With the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender workers across this nation would have protection from workplace discrimination, protections that so many workers receive now only because of their union contracts. The AFL-CIO is proud to stand behind this significant civil rights legislation that is urgently needed and long overdue. We look forward to working with others in the labor and civil rights communities to move this issue forward on Capitol Hill. Courtesy of Pride At Work AFL-CIO
Celebrating 36 Years!
by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Each year, the Seattle Men in Leather host a Chili Feed at the Cuff Complex on Father’s Day to raise money for Lambert House, a center for LGBTQ youth that encourages empowerment through the development of leadership, social and life skills.. The event has become a tradition for the Cuff Complex and the Men in Leather, who are happy to provide support for this good cause. “This year’s Chili Feed, held from 4-8 p.m. last Sunday, was a huge success – fun was had by all,” said Seattle Men in Leather President Toby “TJ” Noon. “The chili, both meat and vegetarian, as well as the other fixings were made from scratch by Cuff Complex owner Randy Fields.” This year’s Chili Feed went exceptionally well, thanks to the support of the community, with the Seattle Men in Leather raising nearly $750. It’s easy to see why this event is so well received – it’s easy on the wallet. A meager $5 buys you a bottomless bowl of chili; cheeseburgers were $4, and chilidogs went
cleve jones continued from cover
“I think that a majority of the people who will come are within driving distance, but there are flights from the West Coast for under $300,” he said. “We are keeping the whole thing very inexpensive.” This is going to be different from any of the other National Marches that have taken place, Cleve said, and if anyone would know, it’d be Cleve. The Gay-rights activist got his start in the turbulent 1970s when the Gay movement fought some of its most important battles. He’s been involved with the planning of hundreds of marches on both the local and national level. Cleve began organizing alongside Harvey Milk when he was a teenager. When Milk became an elected official, he gave his bullhorn to Cleve, who carried on the grassroots street activism that he and Milk worked side by side on for a number of years. “I’ve been doing this since I was 17 years old. I am now 55.” He said. “I have endured because I love what I do.” Cleve told me that people often thank him for what he’s done. His response is always the same: I’ve never made a sacrifice for this movement. I do what I do because I love it.” “WE CANNOT WAIT!” “Previous marches have been part political convention, rock concert, or cultural fes-
shaun knittel
Father’s Day feed at the Cuff for Lambert House for $3. The money raised at the Chili Feed will support the various programs, events and activities at Lambert House. All proceeds went to Lambert House. TJ said the Cuff Complex management and staff always do all they can to help give back to and support the community. He said over the years the Cuff has always helped the Seattle Men in Leather raise money for their various beneficiaries over the years. “Lambert House has been one of our beneficiaries for many years,” TJ said. “We try to show our support for various groups in our community, but Lambert House has always been an important one for us to support – LGBT youth are our future.” Lambert House is a safe environment for Queer youth ages 22 and under and is located at 1818 15th Ave. on Capitol Hill. According to the house’s website, approximately 25 youth visit each day. The drop-in center has a full kitchen, living room with a pool table, a stereo, a library with Queer books, TV, and board games. The Lambert House drop-in center is open Monday through Friday 4-9:30 p.m. For more infor-
mation about Lambert House, visit www. lamberthouse.org. “As president of Seattle Men in Leather, I would like to personally thank Cuff Complex owner Randy Fields, manager Dan Daniels (a.k.a. Puppy), head of security (Daddy) Jeff Henness and the Cuff Complex staff for their ongoing and continuing support of not only Seattle Men in Leather
and their many beneficiaries – but for their support of our community as a whole,” said TJ. “The Cuff Complex has been Seattle Men in Leather’s home bar since they opened 16 years ago,” said TJ. For more information about Seattle Men in Leather, including their upcoming events, visit www.seattlemeninleather.org.
tival. They’ve flown in celebrities and put them up in nice hotels,” he said. “We are not doing any of that. This is not Lollapalooza or a circuit party and we are not going there to celebrate – we are going there to march.” Jones said he chose Columbus Day weekend because it’s a three-day-weekend, the weather is usually good, and it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the first National March on Washington, which took place in 1979. An estimated one million people attended the last LGBT National March on Washington held on April 30, 2000. “I do not have an idea of how many people will show up, but I think it’ll be huge,” said Cleve. “I have been hearing from older people and younger people. I am hearing from people of faith and people in the military. I have also been hearing from a lot of straight allies. People are showing support already.” During our conversation, Cleve continually stressed the importance of our community reaching out and enlisting anyone who is willing to help us win equality. He referenced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement on more than once occasion, pointing out that no minority group can go it alone. “No movement for the rights of a small minority can be successful without the support of allies,” he said. “In our case, it makes perfect sense to want to reach out to our coworkers, our neighbors, and all of our allies at every opportunity that we can.” Cleve couldn’t be clearer; he says the fight for equality is a federal one.
“The National Equality March is a part of a large strategy. We need a true grassroots movement,” said Cleve. “I would remind your newspaper’s readers that our Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters in Iowa and Massachusetts are still second-class citizens because the most important rights granted are done at the federal level.” Cleve said he is tired of waiting for equality and that the Gay movement’s current strategy is not working. “I believe the current strategy, state by state, county by county, and city by city, is designed to almost prevent us from unifying,” he said. “As long as we empower the turf warriors who only care about their town, their city, or their state, we will not win.” Cleve does not like to get off-message. It is something that is a powerful tool for our detractors which is why, he says, we should ask for equality across the board. “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is absurd. It’s cruel, it’s unworkable and it’s punishing many people,” said Cleve. “But again, I am not interested in bargaining for one right over another. We want full and equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.” He said now is the right time to proceed with the march. Cleve believes if the LGBT community doesn’t get something out of the Obama administration within his first two years, it will end up with nothing at all. For this reason, he cannot understand why none of the national LGBT groups have endorsed the march. He said he’s done nothing but en-
counter enthusiasm. “A door has been opened by history. A door has been opened by the election of Obama, the movie Milk, and our community’s defeat in California,” Cleve points out. “But that door is already beginning to shut and if we want to win we have to begin now. We cannot wait.” In addition to the Sunday, October 11 rally, there is talk of organizing a Saturdaynight candlelight HIV/AIDS vigil at the Lincoln Memorial. Cleve is the creator of the NAMES project AIDS Memorial Quilt and is HIV positive. For information regarding the National Equality March, visit the event’s official website (www.nationalequalitymarch.com).
Seattle Men in Leather at their Father's Day Chili Feed
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Seattle Gay News 21
photos courtesy seattle pride
Pride Parade Grand Marshals Charlene Strong (l) and Anne Melle
marshals
continued from cover The Parade will proceed down 4th Avenue to Denny Way. Although foot traffic will be allowed to cross Denny Way, all vehicle traffic will be turned west on Denny and will have until Western Ave. to pull over, drop off passengers, secure their vehicles, and leave the area. It is important to note there will be no parking permitted in any areas along the route and all vehicles must be registered, display an event pass and have a driver in the vehicle at all times. Parade organizers warn that unattended vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense. From Denny Way participants are encouraged to continue on until Seattle Center for the afternoon festivities planned at the park. This year’s Pride Parade Marshals have been named. They are Charlene Strong, Anne Melle, and Seattle Gay News Editorin-Chief George Bakan. Washington State Human Rights Commission member Charlene Strong has been a tireless advocate of marriage and same-sex equality. Her testimony before the Washington State legislature helped pass landmark domestic partnership legislation in the state. Her past involvement in the LGBT community was with the Human Society’s Pet Project, who provided HIV/AIDS patients with help and care for their pets. She also worked with the Archdiocese of Seattle on an LGBT task force dedicated to improving acceptance and understanding within the
Archdiocese of LGBT parishioners. Charlene maintains a close working relationship with Equal Rights Washington. Anne Melle has been a Seattle Out and Proud board member since 2005. The mother of two Gay sons, she became involved in the LGBT community 40 years ago when she joined a Chicago group called Parents of Gays in 1977. Several years later the group became one of the first PFLAG chapters in the country, of which Anne was a founding member. Anne spent 12 years in Maine as PFLAG’s Mid-Coast representative and served on the PFLAG crisis hotline. Since 1997, she moved to Seattle and has served in varying capacities on the Seattle PFLAG chapter, including co-president and president. She is currently serving as board treasurer. George Bakan has been overseeing the operation of the Seattle Gay News for 26 years and has been a Seattle Gay activist since the early 1980s. He organized the Seattle AIDS Action Committee in 1983, which later became Mobilizations Against AIDS. During the early days of the AIDS epidemic he helped organize an annual candlelight vigil at SCCC. In 1984, he co-chaired the Freedom Day Committee, now known as SOAP. George served as regional co-chair for the 1987 and 1993 National Marches on Washington, DC. During both organizing efforts, he led the Northwest-sponsored push for Bisexual and Transgender inclusion at the national events. He’s served on the Hands Off Washington Executive Committee, and was Vice Chair for Hands Off Washington.
Pride events continued from page 11
Mid-Columbia “Coming Home with PRIDE” Parade and Festival (Pasco) – On Saturday, July 18, starting at 11 a.m., enjoy the Women’s Softball Expo at Memorial Park, 1520 W. Shoshone. A Woman 4 Woman Social will be held at Out & About, 327 W. Lewis St. starting at 4 p.m. From 9 p.m.2 a.m., Out & About will host the Miss Gay Columbia Basin Pageant 2009. On Sunday, July 19, the parade steps off from Out & About at 10 a.m., and travels via Clark St. to Memorial Park. www.vistayouthcenter. org. The festival at Memorial Park follows from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The weekend celebration continues with The Pink Party at Out & About from 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
Sunday, June 14. Central Washington Diversity Coalition Pride Family Barbeque and Shindig, noon-midnight at Club 54, 2014 S. First St. - $5 donation for BBQ; $12 donation for dance ($10 with two nonperishable food items). FREE for ages 60+. Open Wedding at 2 p.m. centralwashdiversitycoalition@yahoo.com. Sunday, June 14. Worship service at Rainbow Cathedral MCC, 225 N. 2nd St. at 6:30 p.m. ***PORTLAND & BRITISH COLUMBIA PRIDE Portland Pride 2009 – Saturday & Sunday, June 13 & 14. Pride Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park: Saturday, noon-11 p.m. and Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Pride Parade on Sunday, June 14 steps off at 11 a.m. from NW Park and NW Davis via NW Davis to NW Broadway, right onto NW Broadway, left onto SW Taylor, left onto SW Naito Parkway to SW Pine to Pride Festival at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. www.pridenw.org. www.pridenorthwest.
Spokane Pride Parade & Rainbow Festival 2009 – Saturday, June 13. Assemble at 11 a.m. on Wall St. between Spokane Falls Blvd. and Main Ave. Parade steps off at noon. See website for parade route. Rainbow Festival at Gondola Meadows, RiverVancouver, BC Dyke March and Fesfront Park, noon-5:30 p.m. www.outspo- tival – Saturday, August 1. Watch for more kane.com details. www.vancouverdykemarch.com. Out in the Park (Tacoma) – Saturday, Vancouver, BC Pride Parade & Sunset July 11. Wright Park. noon-7 p.m. 253-383- Beach Festival – Sunday, August 2. Pride 2318; outintacoma@rainbowcntr.org; www. Parade begins at noon from Robson and rainbowcntr.org. Thurlow and heads west down the hill to Denman, then follows Denman to Pacific Saturday in the Park (Vancouver, WA) and Beach, ending at the Sunset Beach Fes– Saturday, July 11. Esther Short Park. noon- tival which begins at 11 a.m. www.vancou6 p.m. www.myspace.com/sitp2008 verpride.ca. Yakima Pride Fest 2009 – Saturday, June 13. Rainbow Pride Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight at Rainbow Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church, 225 N. 2nd St. (in the Unitarian Universalist Church) - $8 donation.
Victoria, BC Pride – Sunday, July 5. Pride Parade steps off from Government and Pandora at noon; Pride Festival at Fisherman’s Wharf Park begins at 1 p.m. www. victoriapridesociety.org.
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June 26, 2009
Celebrating 36 Years!
gay youth
continued from page 19 fore he lost his nerve. The next day Karsen walked into his mother’s room and said, “We need to talk.” “She told me I was too young and couldn’t know how I felt; she then proceeded to assert that I needed psychological care,” said Karsen. “A week later she threatened to tell my father if I didn’t agree to care.” Karsen beat her to the punch. He told his father that weekend. “He told me that he loved me and then discussed safe sex. He cried and so did I,” he said. “My siblings soon found out and adjusted rather quickly and surprisingly, they were open to my newly found sense of self.” ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER TIME In school, we all learned that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But when it comes to Gay history, this aspect of human development has largely been left out of textbooks across the nation and across the world. LGBTQ people have been around since the human race began; still, most young Gays do not know what impact their Queer ancestors had on the world. “I’m not familiar with many historical Gay figures or movements. The only reason
I know anything about Harvey Milk is because of the movie,” Jordan said. “I guess I could be considered part of the MTV generation, where the most prominent Gay figure for me growing up was Pedro Zimora from the Real World.” Like Jordan, many young LGBTQ kids grow up watching Gays portrayed in movies or on TV. The hugely popular Showtime series Queer As Folk and primetime TV’s Queer Eye For The Straight Guy were, for many, the first exposure to “others like me.” The seven youths unanimously agree that Gay history should not be left out of the public school curriculum. After all, shouldn’t the Gay civil rights struggle be acknowledged when talking about civil rights in general? “I know the basics of Gay history, but I find there’s a limited amount of media that’s available – and an even more limited amount of classes that teach anything related to LGBTQ history and culture,” said Kat. “However, due to the current political climate, I think there is an increase of media coverage of LGBTQ issues, so I find I’m more informed about current history.” Karsen thinks history is important because “if you understand your history it can help you understand yourself.” He said it also could act as a catapult to help someone see that they can make a difference in the world. Sergey believes that, due to the lack of attention to the subject in public schools, selfeducation is essential. Kince couldn’t agree
more. Regardless of how much they’ve all learned about the past, they recognize that the importance of what’s happening in 2009 will have a great affect on the future. Like Kat said, the attention is on our community more than ever before. PROUD TO BE QUEER This year’s Gay Pride celebrations have begun. It’s that magical time of year when LGBT people ask the world to look at our Pride. The weekend celebrations are a time when each of us takes a moment to reflect on what makes us so Proud to be Queer. “Am I proud to be Gay?” asked Kince. “Are you kidding? Absolutely! So many great and successful figures from yesterday and today are Gay! I could easily say I have a lot more under my belt in terms of life experiences than the average person my age, and I attribute a lot of that to being Gay.” He said he feels like LGBT people are exposed to more. “When you are dealing with so many controversies on a day to day basis you’re forced to think and to make decisions about who you are, what you do, or how you react,” said Kince. “That, in itself, builds character.” “I’m as proud as much as a Questioning person can be,” said Meagan. “I’m proud to be a supporter of the LGBTQ community.” Hector’s Gay Pride, although newly found, is evident. He said, “We are human and we deserve respect just like any other
person in the world. Sergey said he is as proud of the Gay aspect of his life as he is of the rest of it, and while Kat doesn’t think “pride” is the right word to describe how she feels as a Lesbian woman, she said she is certainly not ashamed. “While I wouldn’t point out to strangers that I’m Gay – because it is none of their business – I would never want to be any other way,” she said. “I will always believe that everyone is just the same, despite petty labels.” Jordan said everyone has the right to be proud of who they are. “I don’t think there is anything to be ashamed of. As long as it’s with another human being, love is love. I think we should all be proud of the way we were made regardless of whether or not there are people out there who don’t think you should be proud.” Karsen is very proud to be Gay. He said without it, he wouldn’t be himself. “I want people to understand that the LGBT population is not deficient of feelings,” he said, “it’s important to not step on our every dream and thought, like same-sex marriage. I, along with many others, will not stop until we’re treated just as fairly as everyone else.” WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Meagan said she has just one message for see gay youth page 25
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Seattle Gay News 23
pedersen
continued from cover feel like this should be our business, and that it’s not really everybody else’s business, everyone will probably try to make it their business.” “The first reaction of a lot of people has been, ‘Why did you put three eggs in the surrogate?’” he continues. “No one in their right mind would plan on having triplets,” says Eric. Indeed, it’s not exactly as though the Pedersens tried for triplets. However, after the experience that got them there, they’re thrilled to have them on their way.
As they did with Trygve, the Pedersens began the process of having what they thought would be their second child via in vitro fertilization. Says Eric of the first pregnancy, “We were so lucky.” Trygve was somewhat of a statistical improbability; after genetic testing, his egg donor produced just one healthy embryo out of the 22 original harvested eggs. Doctors told the Pedersens the embryo had less than a 10% chance of taking in the surrogate. Miraculously, it did. A couple of months after Trygve’s relatively easy birth, they began planning for his sibling. “After he was born, our ideal plan was to use the same egg donor, because Trygve is
biologically mine, and to have Jamie fertilize the eggs the second time,” says Eric. “So we went through the whole process with the same egg donor again, and ended up with three good embryos. When you implant two embryos, there’s a 70% chance of success. So we put two embryos in, and neither one of them took. We went through the whole process again, the gestational surrogate had to go through a full menstrual cycle again, and then restart the medication, and then we thawed out the third embryo, and that didn’t transfer, either. “ Jamie adds, “That was May of ‘08 when we’d placed the third embryo in. At that point, it’d been expensive and very emotionally draining, so we went back to the doctor and re-briefed.” A NEW APPROACH At this point, the doctor recommended that the Pedersens try a different egg donor, a woman with whom he’d worked before. By the end of last summer, they went through the entire harvesting and genetic testing process, and were back to just one good embryo. “The doctor placed it, and 10 days later we got the pregnancy results back, and it said we were pregnant,” says Eric. “But what we didn’t really understand at the time was that she was just barely over the hormone level that indicates pregnancy. They do a second test two days later, and the numbers should’ve doubled, but instead, it went down.” “So for two days, we were calling up family, saying, ‘Mom, we’re pregnant!’ and then calling them back later to inform them, in fact, we weren’t.” One more time, they went about the long process of getting a new egg donor and a contract. Jamie flew to San Diego to contribute his “genetic material” and meet the egg donor. They chose a very fertile donor: she had donated twice before, with both times resulting in twins. She produced 18 eggs that were biopsied for genetic testing. After the numerous failed attempts to have another baby, Eric and Jamie hoped to see even one or two healthy embryos. Instead, 11 of them tested healthy. Of those 11 embryos, five survived the next developmental phase. “We were on the speakerphone with the doctor,” Jamie says, “and he told us he’d always recommended only placing one or two embryos. However, he knew how difficult the process had been for us, and recommended placing all three.” The odds that all three embryos would de-
velop were less than 1%. However, transferring three embryos would increase the odds of having one baby by up to 80%. The three embryos were transferred on December 20. Finally, after a torturous wait for doctors’ offices closures for New Year’s, the Pedersens found out the surrogate was pregnant on January 5. Early in the pregnancy, the couple thought they would be having twins. Then, during a second ultrasound, the doctor found a third heartbeat. “When we made the decision to put three embryos in, Jamie and I had a very frank conversation about whether we could handle this financially, and if we had enough support from friends and family,” says Eric. “We felt very strongly against selective reduction. Throughout this entire pregnancy, every baby has been about at the same developmental stage. It’s not like we’ve had one of them in there that’s struggling. They’re all thriving, they all have healthy heartbeats. So even if we did want to make that decision [for selective reduction], we couldn’t have.” “So we had that discussion about whether we’d be able to handle it all, and we can,” he says. He pauses, then jokes, “Talk to us in 20 years, and maybe it’ll be another story.” DUE DATE IN JULY Thirty-two weeks is the average gestational period for triplets, which puts the Pedersen triplets’ due date somewhere in mid to late July. Now, with their births quickly approaching, Jamie reflects, “I won’t speak for Eric, but I’ve just felt a lot of peace about it. I just sort of feel like there must be some reason why these three little souls are headed for our lives, against all of the odds, against all the transfers that should’ve taken that didn’t. It just feels like there must be some reason. It’s just going to be a joy to figure out who these little people are and what they’re going to contribute to the world. We feel very fortunate.” The Pedersens briefly touch about the political significance of being Gay dads, of what it means to be in a state where hopeful parents (of any orientation) must find a surrogate who is simply willing to volunteer her time and body (paying a surrogate mother is illegal in Washington state). However, as we sit in their living room, playing with the dog, Luca, and watching Trygve wheel out his impressive collection of toy trucks, I see the Pedersens for what they really are: not public activists, not fame-hungry Quadradads, but as an ecstatic (if soon to be much larger) family.
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Celebrating 36 Years!
gay youth continued from p. 23
the LGBTQ community: “Stand together, that way we will never be alone.” Hector would like to see a world where the separation of church and state is realized. “Everyone has the right to be happy and do as they desire. Gay couples don’t ask me for money, or do not depend on me to feed them or to help them live. So why is the world acting like Gay couples want something? They just want equality,” he said. “I know the Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman, but we are a more open society now. God loves us all equally, so why does a priest stand up and discriminate when God himself does not?” Sergey doesn’t see that we need to fight for equality, but equity, instead. “Equality is important, equity probably even more so. To me, equality means that someone with power has decided to grant equal rights to the subordinate groups and identities. Equity, however, comes from the more innate balance of partners – that those with too many and too little rights, benefits, and positive outcomes will become distressed and attempt to even out the scale,” he said. “This is the ideal that everyone must strive for, and we will hopefully find ourselves halfway there.” Kince believes the road to a better quality of life for LGBTQ people lies within each of us. “Be yourself. Really, truly be yourself,” he said. “If you can’t accept and respect yourself, how can you expect others to do the same?” He said people take for granted all the things Queer individuals have brought to society and thinks it’s time for society to stop picking and choosing. “It’s deathly ironic that the same people who spend loads on expensive couture are also the first to put down the Gays that designed them. Then there are the people who love the classy, chic, happening restaurant, but scoff it when they discover it’s run by a Lesbian couple. There are all sorts of things right under people’s noses, and they either don’t acknowledge them or turn a blind eye,” he said. Karsen envisions a world dominated by love rather than hate. He said in 10 years he expects Gay marriage will be legal in most of America, as well as in other countries. He also expects to see many new Gay families sprouting up around the world living harmoniously with their straight counterparts. “Once someone was asking harsh questions about me being Gay,” Karsen remembers. “I told them it’s not who you love, it’s how you love – and that was the end of said conversation.”
wonderful about Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. “I’m so glad I live in Seattle,” said Kat, “Even if some people think the LGBTQ community is ‘outlandish’ and ‘unconformist’ or even ‘disgusting and wrong,’ they usually keep their opinion to themselves because they rank in the minority opinion. I feel like I could say whatever I want to about my involvement with the Queer community to just about anyone and not fear the consequences. There are strong LGBTQ roots in western Washington.”
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YOUNG ACTIVISTS ARE READY The seven young LGBTQ activists, students, and leaders feel confident and ready in their generation’s ability to take the reins and lead the movement into the next 30 years, regardless of where life may take them. Still, they say, there is something
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Celebrating 36 Years!
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