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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
One-two punch: Tenth Circuit upholds Utah marriage ruling, judge strikes down Indiana ban america24
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In a one-two punch for equality, the Tenth Circuit Court upheld a Federal District Judge’s ruling striking down Utah’s ban on samesex marriages, while a District Judge in Indiana also struck down that state’s marriage ban. Both decisions were announced June 25. In a closely reasoned 65 page decision, the Tenth Circuit upheld the December ruling by Judge Robert Shelby that Utah must allow Gay and Lesbian couples to marry. It was the first time an appellate court ruled on the issue. The Ninth Circuit’s 2013 ruling in the Prop 8 case was decided on narrower grounds. In that case, the circuit court said that California voters could not single out samesex couples and remove their right to marry once it had been granted by a federal court. The Tenth Circuit, however, found that same-sex couples have an affirmative right to marry.
“May a State of the Union constitutionally deny a citizen the benefit or protection of the laws of the State based solely upon the sex of the person that citizen chooses to marry?” the court asked. “Having heard and carefully considered the argument of the litigants, we conclude that, consistent with the United States Constitution, the State of Utah may not do so,” the justices answered. “We hold that the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right to marry, establish a family, raise children, and enjoy the full protection of a state’s marital laws. A state may not deny the issuance of a marriage license to two persons, or refuse to recognize their marriage, based solely upon the sex of the persons in the marriage union.” University of Utah law professor Clifford Rosky called Wednesday’s ruling, “the most important victory of the entire see UTAH page 9
Don’t discriminate against Trans patients, Insurance Commissioner tells industry
AP Photo / Elaine Thompson
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Seattle celebrated its first Gay Pride Week June 24-30, 1974, with a variety of activities at private and public venues around the city. Mayor Uhlman gave the event an official endorsement in 1977, declaring June 25 to July 1 to be Gay Pride Week in the City of Seattle. Keith Luttenbacher, in his July 5, 1977 letter, was one of many who wrote thanking Mayor Uhlman for his support, “especially after the negative press due to Ms. [Anita] Bryant.” Local opponents of Gay rights were incensed by the may-
or’s proclamation, and reactions ranged from letter-writing campaigns to published threats of recall to picketing outside City Hall. Ultimately, Mayor Uhlman’s endorsement of Gay Pride Week gave added significance to the city’s first Gay Pride March, held in 1977. The Gay Rights Movement and the City of Seattle during the 1970s During the decade of the 1970s, Gay rights issues repeatedly found their way onto the municipal agenda, reports the City of Seattle on its website for city archives.
Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
In a June 25 letter, Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler warned insurance companies that exclusions and denial of coverage based on gender identity is a violation of state and federal law. “Transgender people are entitled see 40 years page 14
to the same access to health care as everyone else,” Kreidler said in a statement. “Whether specific services are considered medically necessary should be up to the provider to decide on behalf of their patient.” Currently, some insurers have exclusions for all Transgender services. Today’s announcement makes it clear that disparate access to these and oth-
er medical services is not allowed. Kreidler’s office is currently reviewing all 2015 individual and small employer health plans to determine if they contain any discriminatory exclusions, and to make sure they cover medically necessary services equally for cisgender and see Kreidler page 10
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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New York wants to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020 by Paul Kawata National Minority AIDS Council
happen by accident. Now more than ever we AIDS conference held in the U.S. in 2014. I need our government and business leaders to hope that you will join us this October! provide the resources necessary to make this dream a reality. Without new money, it will Yours in the struggle, be almost impossible to end the epidemic and Paul Kawata find a cure for HIV/AIDS. Once again, there Executive Director are few meetings for our community to come National Minority AIDS Council together to discuss these critical issues. For yet another year, USCA [United States ConferCourtesy of the National Minority AIDS ence on AIDS] will be the only national HIV/ Council – www.nmac.org AP
New York City has joined the ranks of other progressive and forward thinking jurisdictions like San Francisco with the release of an ambitious plan to end the HIV/ AIDS epidemic there by 2020. Internationally, U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, recently called for global action to end AIDS by 2020 and to relegate the disease to the history books. amfAR’s CEO Kevin Frost has also committed the organization to raising $100 million for a cure by 2020. What is your organization doing to end the epidemic? 2020 is only 6 years away. Are we really at a place to end the epidemic so soon? According to New York State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah, “In 1993, at the height of the epidemic, 15,000 New Yorkers were diagnosed with HIV. In 2012 that number had shrunk to 3,400. By 2020 we want to see that number shrink even smaller to fewer than 700.” If New York can reach that target, the prevalence of AIDS infections will be so low that HIV will no longer be considered an epidemic. It is important to note that even if we end the AIDS epidemic, over 1 million Americans will still be living with HIV. These folks will still need a comprehensive continuum of HIV care and supportive services. We can never forget people living with the virus.
Ending the epidemic is not the same as eradicating the disease. As long as there are people living with the virus, our jobs will not be over. As such, we must continue our commitment to finding a cure, both functional in the short term and in the long term, the complete eradication of the virus in the body. The working paper to end the epidemic in New York was spearheaded by Treatment Action Group and Housing Works along with many other organizations and activists. The paper makes the following recommendations: Adopt 21st century surveillance strategies to know the epidemic; Reduce new HIV infections through increased commitment to evidence-based combination prevention for both HIVnegative and HIV-positive persons; Focus on filling the gaps in the HIV continuum of care to maximize the number and proportion of people able to suppress HIV viral load as rapidly as possible following an HIV diagnosis; Assure the availability of essential services that support health, prevention, and retention in care for all New Yorkers, weather HIV-positive or HIV-negative; Commit political leaders and all New York communities to leadership and ownership of the New York Plan to END AIDS. Where is your city and/or state? Do you have a plan? Ending the epidemic will not
Ban Ki-moon
Whose culture is it anyway? poz.com
Paul Kawata
nity and their struggle to end the epidemic? Why aren’t there stories about injection drug users who lead the charge on needle exchange? What about all the Gay men who don’t live in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles? Don’t get me wrong – Matt Bomer in The Normal Heart was a revelation. Tyne Daley in Mothers and Sons reminded me of my mother, except with much better comedic timing. It’s just that we all of us don’t have homes in the Pines or apartments with views of Central Park (you will have to see the movie and the play to understand these references). I don’t begrudge these talented writers, directors and actors. I am just concerned that their stories will define and limit our epidemic. I’m asking Hollywood and Broadway to do more. The HIV epidemic cannot only be defined by The Normal Heart, Mothers and
Sons, Angels in America, Falsettoland, Philadelphia, Dallas Buyers Club, Longtime Companion, And the Band Played On, We Were Here, or How To Survive A Plague. Wouldn’t you love to see a movie where Lupita Nyong’o plays a Lesbian AIDS activist fighting to help her Gay brother living with HIV? Making his big screen debut as the Gay brother is Pharrell Williams! The score for the movie could be composed by Frank Ocean. Philadelphia was released in 1993 at the height of the epidemic. Tom Hanks gave the performance of his career. He opened a window to our fight. For some people, he was their first exposure to the epidemic, other than the often inaccurate and stigmatizing nightly news stories. He helped to translate the compassion, courage and strength it took to fight AIDS in those early years. The
A couple of weeks I had the privilege to watch Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart on HBO. Recently, I saw Terrence McNally’s latest Broadway play, Mothers and Sons. The first was about the early days in the epidemic and the later examines life after the epidemic’s wrath. I cried, I laughed, I remembered. I hope they both sweep the awards season. However, I am concerned that this cannot be the only narrative of our movement’s history. Both the movie and the play are about beautiful, rich, white, Gay men who live in New York. Not that there is anything wrong with that; it’s just that our story is so much bigger. Where are the stories about women and AIDS? Who’s writing about black Gay men? When will we get the definitive biography about the Trans commu-
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Yours in the struggle, Paul Kawata Executive Director National Minority AIDS Council Courtesy of the National Minority AIDS Council – www.nmac.org TriStar Pictures
by Paul Kawata National Minority AIDS Council
disease was no longer about “them.” Mr. Hanks was a familiar face and a beloved actor. He made us human in a world that felt like it had lost its humanity. Twenty years later, it’s time for some new heroes. All of us need to give voice to what it means to fight an epidemic. One day I hope to write my story, not that it’s special. I am not sure how to adequately capture the pain, loss and sorrow of the early years; I just know that our stories and our heroes need to be remembered in all of their diversity.
Tom Hanks in Philadelphia
June 27, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Insights & Perspectives: I “AM” GAY by Michael Raitt SGN Contributing Writer It is in the news: the GOP in Texas has approved a resolution supporting “Reparative Therapy” for Gay and Lesbian people – adults, teens, and kids. Should we be concerned by this? YES. Do most of you know why? Not really. Even though it is a resolution in Texas, it is about every one of us. Whether we came out 60 years ago or are still coming out now, “reparative therapy” speaks to our experiences and whether we are accepted in this culture. Reparative therapy is destructive!! To understand how and why it is damaging, you have to understand the context in which it operates and the particulars of the therapeutic approach. Let’s establish two facts: 1. Clients (in the case of minors, their legal guardians) seek reparative therapy because they experience self-hatred (or the hatred expressed by the legal guardians) related to being LGBTQ. 2. Being GLBTQ is innate!! When these two facts converge, the harmful nature of reparative therapy is created. Here is why: We call self-hatred “shame.” We are not born with shame. You never see a baby who hates him/herself. Self-hatred is 100% the product of the context that one grows up in. In developmental psychology, we know children develop their identities through, first, parents/family/ adults, then through peers. If you grow up with the message that you are bad, sick, “evil,” or what you do and like is a “sin,” of course, you will hate yourself. Humans are born with the need to be accepted and loved. This is a biological drive. It feels unsafe to be in an environment where you feel hated and unwanted. After you feel others hate you and don’t want you, you begin to hate yourself. It is at this point that people develop self-preservation behaviors such as denying that they are GLBTQ. Euphemistically, we call that “being in the closet.” These behaviors are solely to create a sense of safety and to feel loved
and accepted. As well, we develop other destructive behaviors to cope with our emotional turmoil when we hate ourselves. Addictions and affairs are common. How often do you hear someone say, “I have a couple of Gay behaviors?” Rarely, if ever! Usually, people say, “I am Gay.” This is a critical distinction that highlights the intricate, innate nature of human character, which we simplistically refer to as our “sexuality.” Suggesting that being Gay is about who you have sex with is ignorant. Being Gay is an emotional orientation. It is our identity. How you judge your identity affects your emotions, relationships, and how you live your life. This is absolutely no different than, “I am (fill in the blank with any other word that describes your identify).” The simple statement of “I am…” speaks to something very complex. An easy analogy is that being Gay is as innate as being right-handed or lefthanded. A right-handed person can learn to use their left hand, but it will never feel as it is supposed to feel – and vice versa. This is a complex experience. If you don’t believe me, try it. For the record, we now know that shaming a child who is left-handed and trying to make him/her right-handed, causes emotional problems and that is why it is no longer done in elementary schools across the world. Imagine that!! I knew I was Gay when I was 4 years old and that is no exaggeration. I didn’t know what it meant to be Gay, but I knew I liked my male peers the way my male peers seemed to like our female peers. I seemed to like our female peers “differently.” Between the ages of 4 and 16, there was NO way I could have explained that to anyone, but it was my experience. Many of us report a similar experience. The level of one’s awareness of this is so vast and influenced by so many factors. Some people know at an early age. Many repress it so much because the environment they are in does not feel safe and then that they don’t realize it until some later time in life. Here is how all of this comes together. The clinical foundation for reparative ther-
apy is based on the concept of “love the sinner, hate the sin.” The harm in hating the sin is that this strategy continues to pathologize the behaviors of the client. This is an attempt to reduce complex emotions, attractions, experiences, drives, and identity to a behavior. It is not good enough to say “stop the behaviors and you won’t sin.” You are still left with someone who has formed an identity that has a big piece of shame in it because of earlier experiences. The focus is completely about the client. More importantly, the beliefs that created the environments which formed the self-hatred all still exist. Lay-people and clinicians who practice reparative therapy believe in the “sin” of GLBTQ clients and sin is evil and bad. Remember, self-hatred for being GLBTQ comes from the messages that others give. The focus on this therapy is NEVER with what is wrong about the messages that are given by others to young GLBTQ people. Reparative therapists are repeating the painful experiences from earlier. A GLBTQ client can never feel safe or accepted because they intrinsically know that they “are” Gay
which is so much more than the act of sex! Providers and lay-practitioners who do reparative therapy are perpetuating a harmful dynamic that the client has experience from early in their lives. This is unethical. Parents/guardians who subject children to reparative therapy without being fully informed about its ramifications are acting out of ignorance and that is very questionable. Parents who are informed and still subject their children to this are doing it for their own selfish agendas and that is abusive. Culturally, we continue to focus on that which truly creates harm in individuals and families – the messages that being GLBTQ is bad, evil, or a sin. Being Gay is not the problem and isn’t what needs to be repaired. Michael Raitt, MA LMHC, is a Therapist and a Contributing Writer to the SGN. He writes a bi-monthly column in the SGN. If you would like to comment on this column, ask a question you’d like him to write about, or suggest another topic of interest, please contact him at askingmichael@comcast.net .
BC hospital is not shutting down AIDS ward
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Dear Editor: I read with great interest the SGN story, BC hospital shuts down AIDS ward for lack of patients (SGN, June 13) when I was recently in Seattle doing book research. Why I need to comment on this story written by Mike Andrew – great writing btw – is two-fold: I have been on the staff at St. Paul’s Hospital for the past six plus years. Vancouver’s inner city hospital is on the edge of the West End, the city’s Gay neighborhood. And secondly, I have been a health care provider over the past 30 plus years in hospitals, home care and hospices dealing with and taking care of people living with HIV/AIDS. This ward is NOT shutting down. It’s just that it is doesn’t have the number of AIDS patients like it did during the pandemic years of the 1980s and ‘90s. It is still open, and it still takes people living with HIV/AIDS. Although not the numbers as in the past. Buried in the story is the quote from Dr. Julio Montaner, former president of the International AIDS Society and Director of the BC Centre for Excellence (BC-CfE)
in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul’s: Today ward 10C will provide treatment, support and care for those living with HIV-related issues. Andrew was correct to point out that there has been a drop in the number of “HIV-positive people identified as living in BC in 2013 without any medical care for the virus.” A doctor at St. Paul’s told me that it is actually other health issues, not HIV/AIDS, that have become paramount in treatment. Because, thankfully, anti-retroviral medications have made all the difference in a person living with HIV. Not dying of AIDS. This doesn’t diminish the great work St. Paul’s has pioneered with its BC-CfE. But just a clarification of what I know is the truth: 10C isn’t exclusively an AIDS ward, but it still takes patients living with HIV/AIDS.
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Scott Larsen New Westminster, BC Scott Larsen used to live in Seattle and covered faith and religion for the SGN, 1997-2000.
International Human Rights Defense Act introduced in U.S. Senate Murray and Cantwell co-sponsor Jesse Costa/WBUR
U.S. Senator Ed Markey
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill June 16 to create a special diplomatic envoy for LGBT rights. Titled The International Human Rights Defense Act, the measure would direct the State Department to prioritize preventing and responding to discrimination and violence against the LGBT community, devise a global strategy to achieve those goals, and establish a special envoy responsible for coordinating that effort. The measure currently has 20 Senate cosponsors, including Washington’s Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. The bill is also endorsed by a dozen human rights organizations, including the Council for Global Equality, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and the American Jewish World Service. The U.S. currently has a special envoy for women’s issues, established by executive order in 2009. “For the United States to hold true to our commitment to defending the human rights of all people around the world, we must stand with the LGBT community in their struggle for recognition and equality everywhere,” Markey said in a statement. “By fostering a coordinated effort across
the federal government and relevant agencies, we can meet the enormous challenge before us and work to ensure equality for all people around the globe.” “As many nations sanction discrimination and hatred against LGBT people, the United States must stand with the LGBT community in their struggle for equality throughout the world,” Murray said in a statement. “I am pleased to support the International Human Rights Defense Act, which will foster a coordinated effort across the federal government and relevant agencies to meet the enormous challenge before us and work to ensure equality for all people around the globe.” HRC President Chad Griffin applauded Markey’s proposal, saying, “In many nations around the world, [LGBT people]… persistently face the threat of harassment, discrimination, and violence, and we must do everything we can to ensure their rights are fully included in and championed by America’s foreign policy. Passing this legislation is an important step in that direction.” The bill’s future is uncertain, even if it should pass the Senate. The Republicancontrolled House has been hostile to proLGBT legislation, and no House companion bill has been put forward. President Obama established the woman’s special envoy by executive order, and he could do so again to set up the LGBT post.
Transgender priest in Pride celebration at National Cathedral Gay bishop presides at service
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equality is a reality in every state of the nation and also religious equality … in all faith traditions,” he added. The National Cathedral is the seat of the Episcopal diocese of Washington DC, but has also hosted Jewish and Orthodox congregations.
In July 2012, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church overwhelmingly passed groundbreaking resolutions barring discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in access to lay leadership and the ordination process. religionnews.com
A Transgender priest was invited to preach for the first time at Washington DC’s National Cathedral, at a special Pride celebration. The Rev. Cameron Partridge is chaplain at Boston University, and a lecturer and counselor for Episcopal and Anglican students at the Harvard Divinity School. He completed his transition to male in 2001, according to Boston University. Partridge lived as an out Lesbian for 13 years before transitioning to a male identity, and was a candidate for the priesthood at the time he informed his bishop that he would begin living as a man. While women clergy – and especially Lesbian clergy – are controversial in the Episcopal church, and the worldwide Anglican Communion, of which it is the American branch, his ordination was sponsored by a progressive church in Massachusetts. He is now one of seven openly Transgender Episcopal priests. The Rev. Gary Hall, Dean of the National Cathedral, says he hopes Partridge’s appearance “will send a symbolic message in support of greater equality for the transgender community.” The Right Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly Gay Episcopal bishop, presided at the service. Robinson said “the cathedral has come out to the world in new and bold ways.”
In his sermon, Partridge said Transgender people often have suffered “intense oppression, isolation and despair.” Nevertheless, he said, people need to be unashamed of who they are and embrace “the blessing of collaborating visions.” “We need to see one another, to be revelations to one another, to go out into the world together across our differences,” Partridge said, “so that we might be able to show one another resources we literally may not be able to see or access on our own.” In his sermon, Partridge referred back to scripture readings earlier in the service. “When Jesus tells his disciples to speak in the light, to uncover the hidden, to proclaim from the heights, he is asking them to join that stream, to become active participants in that blindingly good news,” he said. “Of course, Jesus also explicitly warns that not everyone would experience such revelation as good, and that some might actively persecute the disciples for it. Doing this work would be utterly demanding.” The special Pride service came at the conclusion of two weeks of LGBTQ advocacy for the National Cathedral. “A lot of really positive things have happened in the past year, but we still have a long way to go,” Hall said, referencing the overturning of California’s Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn part of DOMA. “I hope to see a day where civil marriage
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Rev. Cameron Partridge
Celebrating 41 Years!
Baltimore Catholic church hosts Pride event According to a post on the website of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, St. Ignatius Church had a Pride celebration June 13. Strange as it may seem, a Roman Cath“Celebrate Pride Month with the St. Ignaolic church in Baltimore has hosted a tius community!” the post said. Pride celebration. “Embracing God’s Gifts, St. Ignatius’ Gay & by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
courtesy of
Archdiocese of Baltimore, St. Ignatius Church
Lesbian ministry, is inviting you to join us on Friday, June 13th at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Grace, where we will give thanks to God for the gift of family. Through music, readings, prayer and a spirit of gratitude, we will gather to celebrate being members of God’s family.” A flyer for the event calls “diversity of sexuality” a “gift” from God. “As members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, we are called to celebrate and share the gifts of diversity of sexuality in our church today,” the flyer says. “Our organization, Embracing God’s Gifts, has been formed as an instrument for recognizing these gifts and incorporating their goodness and use into the life of our parish. Our mission is to create opportunities for the spiritual enrichment, support and inclusion of all diverse individuals, while being informed by church teaching, and to promote awareness and community building among them. We will accomplish this through a variety of endeavors that foster support, communication and social activities. We invite all to participate in this group with open-mindedness and compassion.” The LGBT-inclusive message did not sit
well with all the Catholic website’s visitors. “Someone needs to be fired. Someone needs to be reassigned,” one person commented. “Someone needs to be excommunicated,” the next comment said. That was trumped by a later remark: “I’d recommend an old fashioned stake and some kindling…” St. Ignatius is a Jesuit church, and its Pride celebration may reflect a more liberal attitude toward LGBT parishioners than would otherwise be expected in a Catholic church. The Archbishop of Baltimore, William Lori, is known as a theological conservative, who campaigned against Maryland’s 2012 ballot measure legalizing same-sex marriage. The fact that publicity for the event appeared on the Archdiocese website may indicate that Lori is moderating his views, or it may simply indicate carelessness on the part of his staff. Although Pope Francis famously asked “Who am I to judge” Gay people, the official doctrine of the Church remains that LGBT people are “objectively disordered” and that Gay sex is inherently sinful. As yet, no disciplinary action against St. Ignatius or its priests has been reported.
Southern Baptist Convention condemns Trans people The Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution June 11 condemning Trans people for defying “God’s design.” The Southern Baptists are the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with some 16 million members. The group was formed in 1845 when pro-slavery Baptist churches in the South split off from their northern colleagues. After the Civil War, newly-freed black Baptists set up their own National Baptist Convention, the second-largest Baptist group. Northern Baptists evolved into the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA), which emphasizes local autonomy in theological and social issues. Many ABCUSA churches welcome LGBT parishioners, including First Baptist, University Baptist, and Mt. Zion Baptist in Seattle. In their resolution, the Southern Baptists admit that the American Psychiatric Association stopped listing gender dysphoria as a mental disorder in 2013, but say Trans people should repent and live by Biblical standards. “We affirm God’s good design that gender
Utah
continued from cover Gay rights movement.” It is the first time a federal appeals court has recognized that same-sex couples have the same fundamental right to marry as all Americans, said Rosky, chairman of Equality Utah’s board of directors. “Very few courts have embraced the fundamental rights argument and this court seems to have completely embraced it and applied ‘strict scrutiny,’ the highest standard recognized under constitutional law,” Rosky told the Salt Lake Tribune. To pass “strict scrutiny” a law must serve a compelling government interest, be narrowly tailored to serve that interest, and be the least restrictive method of achieving the desired goal. In its decision, the Tenth Circuit found that the state of Utah has no compelling interest in preventing Gay and Lesbian couples from marrying and that “in describing the liberty interest at stake, it is impermissible to
identity should be determined by biological sex and not by one’s self-perception – a perception which is often influenced by fallen human nature in ways contrary to God’s design,” the resolution reads. “We condemn efforts to alter one’s bodily identity (e.g., cross-sex hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery) to bring it into line with one’s perceived gender identity.” The resolution also attacks attempts to “mainstream” Transgender individuals in the eyes of the wider community or treat them as a protected class of people. “We oppose all efforts by media and entertainment outlets and public schools to mainstream transgender identity in the eyes of our children,” the Baptists say. “We call upon all judges and public officials to resist and oppose the efforts to treat gender identity as a protected class. “We commit ourselves to pray for and support legislative and legal efforts to oppose the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and other legislation like it that would give gender identity the same legal protections as sex and race. focus on the identity or class-membership of the individual exercising the right.” The court also said that there is nothing in the institution of marriage itself that would restrict marriages to opposite-sex couples. “[The state of Utah’s] assertion that plaintiffs are excluded from the institution of marriage by definition is wholly circular,” the Tenth Circuit said. “Nothing logically or physically precludes same-sex couples from marrying, as is amply demonstrated by the fact that many states now permit such marriages. “To claim that marriage, by definition, excludes certain couples is simply to insist that those couples may not marry because they have historically been denied the right to do so. One might just as easily have argued that interracial couples are by definition excluded from the institution of marriage.” The ruling was decided by a three-judge panel with Clinton appointee Carlos Lucero writing the opinion and George W. Bush appointee Jerome Holmes joining him. George H.W. Bush appointee Paul Joseph Kelly dissented.
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Photo by Associated Press / Chattanooga Times Free Press
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
The headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention is in Nashville
“We continue to oppose steadfastly all efforts by any court or state legislature to validate transgender identity as morally praiseworthy.” The Southern Baptists also elected a new president, Ronnie Floyd of Rogers, Arkansas. Floyd is the author of the homophobic book “The Gay Agenda.” Floyd’s 2004 book
claims to “expose the agenda that the homosexual lobby is trying to impose on society.” In the 1980s, Floyd was a leader of the socalled “conservative resurgence” that tried to take control of the Southern Baptist Convention, but he was defeated in a bid for leadership of the Arkansas branch of the church in 1989.
The court stayed its ruling to allow Utah’s attorneys time to ask for an en banc review of the panel’s decision, but it is not certain they will grant such review even if the state asks for it. Indiana In Indiana, Federal District Judge Richard Young ruled that the state’s ban on samesex marriage violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. “Same-sex couples, who would otherwise qualify to marry in Indiana, have the right to marry in Indiana,” he wrote. “These couples, when gender and sexual orientation are taken away, are in all respects like the family down the street. The Constitution demands that we treat them as such.” Since Young did not stay his ruling, couples began to apply for licenses and marry in at least five Indiana counties. Indiana’s Attorney General, Greg Zoeller said he would appeal Young’s ruling, and asked the judge for a stay in the case. “Until the United States Supreme Court de-
termines that traditional marriage laws such as Indiana’s are unconstitutional, it is premature to require Indiana to change its definition of marriage and abide by this court’s conception of marriage,” Zoeller wrote in the request for a stay. “Nonetheless, marriages in violation of Indiana’s existing law have taken place, are taking place, and will continue to take place pursuant to this court’s order.” Ken Falk, the legal director of the ACLU in Indiana, who brought one of the lawsuits that prompted Young’s ruling, said his organization will “vigorously oppose” a stay in the case, though he acknowledged Zoeller’s office has a right to seek one. “I think the state of Indiana is swimming against the tide of history,” Falk said. A proposal to ban same-sex marriage by amending the Indiana Constitution failed to advance in the state legislature this year. That means the soonest the issue could reappear would be 2016, when the legislature meets again, but by then the issue may already be settled by court action.
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Kreidler
continued from cover Transgender enrollees. “Health insurance policies that discriminate against any group of people cause significant harm by preventing people from receiving basic health care,” Kreidler said. “I expect the health insurers doing business in our state to meet a high standard of equity and fairness. All policyholders deserve to get the medical services they need and have paid a premium for.” According to Kreidler, Washington’s Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60) and the federal Affordable Care Act (Section 1557) both prohibit discrimination against Transgender individuals who seek insurance coverage. “Reading the provisions of state law in conjunction with the definitions contained in Washington state’s Law Against Discrimination, and the requirements of the
federal Affordable Care Act, it is clear that exclusions, prohibitions, and other forms of discrimination by issuers against policy holders who identify as transgender is prohibited,” Kreidler concludes in his letter to insurance companies. Consequently, Kreidler says, “Health insurers are required to cover procedures that are part of a gender transition process if they’re covered for other policyholders for different reasons. Examples of such services include: hormone therapy, counseling services, gender transition process, mastectomy, breast augmentation and reconstruction.” In other words, Kreidler told insurance companies, if you pay for a procedure for one reason for a cisgender patient, you must pay for it for a Transgender patient seeking to change his or her gender. The only catch is sex reassignment surgery. Because such surgery is essentially a Trans-only procedure – it is not prescribed for cisgender patients for some reason other than gender
transition – it is not covered by these rules. Kreidler says that even though insurance companies cannot be forced to cover surgery, they are not prohibited from paying for it either. “While Washington state insurance law doesn’t require insurance companies to cover sexual reassignment surgery, it also doesn’t prevent insurers from adding this coverage if they chose to do so,” his office said in a statement. Many large employers in Washington state, including Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, and the city of Seattle have already taken action to prevent discrimination against Transgender employees in their health coverage. Medicare recently lifted the ban on coverage for sex reassignment surgery and Washington’s Health Care Authority is looking into what steps it can take to ensure coverage for medically necessary services. Insurance Commission spokesperson Kara Klotz told SGN that enforcement of Kreidler’s instruction could take several tracks. “The first thing is to look at the plans, to
see if anyone is out of compliance,” she said. “We have relationships with the insurers and we have established processes for appeals.” If Kreidler’s office finds any holdouts, “we may go to rule-making, or the legislature may decide to do something,” Klotz explained. She urged anyone who feels they have been targets of discrimination to file a complaint with the Commissioner’s office or call the insurance consumer hotline at 1-800-562-6900.
Wrestling legend Pat Patterson comes out by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
was “Big Time Wrestling,” televising matches from the old Cow Palace in San Francisco. When I was a kid, watching matches with my Before there was Hulk Hogan, there grandma – she never missed Big Time Wreswas Pat Patterson. tling – Pat Patterson was one of the top “heels,” And before there even was a WWE, there the wrestling term for bad guys, in the league. inquisitr.com
Pat Patterson
Although Patterson came out publically on WWE’s “Legends’ House” TV show on June 12, his sexuality was never a secret in the wrestling world. Born Pierre Clermont in Montreal, Patterson debuted as “Pretty Boy Pat Patterson” in 1958. His professional persona featured bleach blond hair, red lipstick, pink trunks, and a pet poodle that accompanied him to the ring. Later on, Patterson lost the pink trunks, lipstick, and the poodle, but kept the blond hair, teaming up with another bleach blond heel, Ray Stevens. Billing themselves as “The Blond Bombers,” Patterson and Stevens won 10 tag team championships. Patterson was also a sixtime national championship as a solo act. By the late ‘60s, Stevens had turned “face,” or good guy, a switch, which started a longrunning feud between the former teammates. The hostilities culminated in a famous Texas Death Match, in which Stevens took the national title from Patterson. In 1972, Patterson himself turned “face,” and launched another feud, this time with Lars Anderson. The same year, he found an-
other bleach blond tag team partner, Rocky Johnson, and won the national title. In 1981, yet another feud, this one with Sgt. Slaughter led to the famous March 4 “Alley Fight” in Madison Square Garden, voted Match of the Year by the Wrestling Observer. Patterson retired from the ring in 1984, at the age of 43, becoming a color commentator and promoter. Wrestling insiders say his business skills are every bit as sharp as his wrestling moves ever were. According to the Wrestling Observer, Patterson first came out in the ‘70s, but his sexual orientation was never acknowledged in a wrestling storyline until the “Legends’ House” show. By Patterson’s own emotional account, he was partnered for 40 years, until his boyfriend died of a heart attack. “For once in my life I’m going to be me now,” he said fighting back tears. “I survived all this being gay. I lived with that for 50 some years. I had a friend with me for 40 years and I lost him...it was tough, guys. It was tough.” In 2013, Darren Young became the first WWE star to come out.
Commonwealth Games must not discriminate Glasgow2014 urged to secure pledges from competing nations by Peter Tatchell Special to the SGN Organisers of next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, are being urged to secure pledges of non-discrimination from participating countries. The Peter Tatchell Foundation has written to the Chief Executive of Glasgow2014, David Grevemberg. “We are asking Glasgow2014 to require competing nations to sign a pledge of nondiscrimination in their team selection, in accordance with Article 7 of the constitution of the Commonwealth Games Federation – but with expanded grounds of non-discrimination such as ethnicity, caste, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation. “This would be a very significant, highimpact equality initiative. It has never been done before and would make Glasgow2014 unique, trailblazing, and rightly deserving of public acclaim. “While all participating countries agree to accept the Commonwealth Games constitution, which includes Article 7, this is a mere formality. They have never been specifically asked to agree to non-discrimination.” Prejudice, discrimination, and legal vic-
timization are prevalent in many Commonwealth countries, which may prevent affected athletes securing access to top class sports facilities and training camps – and inhibit their selection for the Commonwealth Games. Currently, 41 of the 53 Commonwealth member countries have laws that criminalize homosexuality. Seven of these have a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. In parts of two Commonwealth countries, Nigeria and Pakistan, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people can face execution under Sharia law. “These countries have such high levels of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for an openly LGBT athlete to be selected by their country to compete in the Commonwealth Games. Prejudice would almost certainly preclude their selection – and preclude their access to international level training facilities within their home countries. “While Glasgow2014 cannot be held responsible for the anti-gay laws of 80 percent of Commonwealth member states, it does have a responsibility to ensure that there is no discrimination by participating nations in the selection of their national teams.” The issue of discrimination in team selection is not confined to LGBT competitors. In some Commonwealth countries there are serious problems of prejudice and discrimination
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based on ethnicity, caste, gender, and disability, resulting in possibly diminishing access to top class sports facilities and training camps. “While we congratulate Glasgow2014 on its commitment to not discriminate, we believe you also have a duty to ensure that competing nations give an undertaking of non-discrimination in their team selection. “The Commonwealth Games should foster a culture of equality where athletes compete solely on the basis of merit. “Making Article 7 a reality requires an active
pledge by all the participating national teams. “We hope Glasgow 2014 will accept our proposal to further enhance its existing commitment to equality,” said Mr Tatchell. The Peter Tatchell Foundation seeks to promote and protect the human rights of individuals, communities and nations, in the UK and internationally, in accordance with established national and international human rights law. Courtesy of the Peter Tatchell Foundation – www.PeterTatchellFoundation.org
Celebrating 41 Years!
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40 Years
continued from cover “At the decade’s start, members of the city’s Gay constituency began developing a public profile after decades of life hidden from public view. The social tumults of the late 1960s in general – and the battle cry of homosexual rights sounded in New York City’s Stonewall riots of 1969 particularly – inspired a confident sense of activism among many Seattleites,” says the archives. “Interest groups like the Dorian Society, Seattle Gay Alliance, and the Lesbian Resource Center mobilized this exuberance, and turned it towards gaining new legal recognitions of their rights as municipal citizens.” “Concentrated on the area surrounding the modern Capitol Hill neighborhood, these groups formed a core around which a constellation of Gay-centered businesses and establishments grew, initiating the area’s longstanding reputation as the center of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) life in Seattle,” says the archives. “The Dorians, for example, founded the Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities in a residential area near 15th Ave. E., one of the first support centers of its kind in the country,” says the archives. “Even the ‘drag’ community of cross-dressers and female impersonators, once fiercely underground for its own safety, began to occupy public spaces in clubs and bars, and after 1971, elected an annual “Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle” to act as its symbolic leadership.” In 1973 City Councilmember Jeanette Williams introduced a proposed revision of the city’s Fair Employment Practices Ordinance that would prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Williams, a Gay rights advocate and early sponsor of the Seattle Women’s Commission, gradually garnered sufficient support for the revision from fellow councilmembers and Mayor Wes Uhlman. On September 10, the new ordinance was passed 8 to 1. This episode was momentous not only for the protections gained against job discrimination, but for the historic introduction of sexual orientation into Seattle’s legal record. Organized Gays and Lesbians became legitimized actors within the City’s political constellation. By 1975, activist groups were continuing to press for legal protections similar to those in the Fair Employment Practices Ordinance. “The Dorian Group, a loose organization of prominent Gay businessmen and activists led by Charlie Brydon, proposed a revision of the city’s Open Housing Ordinance that would make it illegal for landlords and home sellers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, much as it already was on the grounds of race,” reads the archive. “Sponsored by frequent Dorian Group ally Councilmember, the revised ordinance was introduced to heated debate that lasted for over a month, with strong opposition by the Seattle Apartment Operator’s Association clashing against proponents like the Seattle Gay Alliance’s Tim Mayhew.” After Mayor Uhlman’s announcement that he would sign the law if it reached his desk, the ordinance was eventually passed on August 4, though by a tenuous 5 to 4 vote. The responsibility for monitoring and enforcing compliance with both the Open Housing and Fair Employment ordinances rested with the Office for Women’s Rights, which would fill the role of organizational advocate for LGBT rights within city government through the 1970s. Continuing legal victories in the City Council paralleled Seattle’s jubilant new celebration of an annual Gay Pride Week. Started in the summer of 1974, the events surrounding Pride Week were growing larger and better attended, culminating in the first Gay Pride March that was scheduled for 1977. Mayor Uhlman, encouraged by a close political relationship with Charlie Brydon, chose to commemorate the parade with a historic first, officially declaring June 25 to July 1 to be Gay Pride Week in the City of Seattle. Local opponents of Gay rights were enraged by this, which appeared to them to be
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clear evidence of the mayor’s endorsement of what they viewed as the “amoral” homosexual lifestyle. Reactions ranged from letter-writing campaigns to published threats of recall to picketing outside City Hall. Uhlman’s ceremonial acceptance of the LGBT community, nevertheless, resulted in an outpouring of support for the embattled mayor, and gave added significance to the Pride proceedings of that year. This run of prominent successes was certainly noticed by conservative-minded elements in Seattle, who banded together to aggressively challenge LGBT legal protections during 1978. The organization Save Our Moral Ethics (SOME), founded by Seattle Police officers David Estes and Dennis Falk, spearheaded a successful signature drive to place an initiative on the November ballot giving voters the choice to remove “sexual orientation” from the text of the Fair Employment and Open Housing ordinances. As part of a nationwide conservative reaction to Gay activism’s political triumphs, SOME operated among a wave of anti-Gay initiative campaigns, supported politically and financially by conservative activist Anita Bryant’s Save Our Children group. By late 1978, the first of these efforts proved successful, limiting protections in Miami, Wichita, and St. Paul-Minneapolis. Anxious to prevent a similar defeat, Gay and Lesbian activists quickly rallied in opposition to the upcoming Initiative 13, as it was known. The most prominent of the anti-Initiative associations was Charlie Brydon’s Citizens to Retain Fair Employment, which organized an array of fundraising and promotional activities aimed at educating the public on the perils of rolling back discrimination protections. Following months of demonstrations, debates, and heated rhetoric from both sides, the Initiative 13 proposal was put to a vote on November 7. To the surprise of many, it was defeated by 63 per cent to 37. Coming a day before the defeat of the similarly-themed “Briggs Initiative” in California, the vote was hailed by many activists as a heartening rejection of the resurgent anti-Gay sentiment represented by groups like SOME and Save Our Children. Not all the news was positive that month, however, as Harvey Milk, San Francisco City Supervisor and the nation’s first openly Gay elected official, was slain by disgruntled ex-Supervisor Dan White only a few weeks following the victory. After Initiative 13, the LGBT community ceased to pose any issues of citywide importance for several years. By 1983, however, the growing public awareness of AIDS’ devastating impact upon Seattle’s Gays prompted a program of surveillance and education by the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, as well as further debate on what else should be done. This crisis ultimately overshadowed the great strides previously made in political representation, though the community mobilization of that decade would prove valuable in the fight against the epidemic. By the close of the 1970s, the LGBT community could no longer be ignored within the centers of municipal power. Seattle’s sexual minorities had taken their place as vibrant members of Seattle’s civil society. Who Started Pride Anyway? In 1974, David Neth spearheaded efforts to open the Gay Community Center in a $100-a-month house on Capitol Hill. He also decided the time had come to roll out the first Gay Pride Week in Seattle. “We were ready,” said Neth in an interview with Seattle Weekly. “The climate was right. I’d seen what New York, San Francisco, and L.A. had done a few years earlier, and I thought we needed to put Seattle on the map.” The first Seattle Pride was a seven-day affair staged for just $589. On June 30, 1974, fewer than 50 individuals – including a bare-chested Neth, draped in pearls, wearing cutoffs and a white floppy hat – danced in bliss around the International Fountain at the Seattle Center.
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In May 1974, the same month the Gay Community Center opened at 16th Avenue and E. Olive Street, David Neth and a few other organizers called a meeting at Volunteer Park for anyone interested in pulling together a Gay Pride week. A dozen or so activists attended, and events were mapped out. The venture would begin the evening of Monday, June 25, with a panel discussion sponsored by the Stonewall Recovery Center, a drug treatment program. The following day there would be a talk about the issue of Transsexuality. On the night of June 27, Neth said a memorial service was held at the Metropolitan Community Church to commemorate the 32 lives lost in the arson of the UpStairs Lounge, a Gay bar on Chartres Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, on June 24, 1973. Following the memorial, Rebecca Valrejean, a friend of Neth’s, put on a one-woman show to dramatize in words and song the horror of the deadliest attacks on Gay and Lesbian people in U.S. history. “I called my show ‘Lavender Troubadour,’ ” says Valrejean. “It makes me cry to think back to all of what we went through then [in 1974]. We had no one on our side, no one. You don’t know what we sacrificed,” she told Seattle Weekly as she began to cry. “I’m Queer. It’s amazing that no one killed me on stage. I’m sorry I’m being so emotional.” Saturday, June 29, was the picnic at Occidental Park. “This was very significant for us,” says Neth. “We weren’t behind closed doors and we weren’t in a bar. We were in public space, out in the open. We might have had 200 there that day and we danced until midnight.” “Trying to get a use permit for the park was a pain. It was one obstacle after another. And then at the picnic, I remember, me and another guy got arrested for jaywalking, and the police called us faggots as they were taking us in.” According to Neth, it was an unusually warm day in Seattle when the first Gay Pride festival reached its high point. The mercury climbed to 86 degrees for the “Gay-In” at the International Fountain that Sunday afternoon, June 30, 1974. On a large cotton sheet, Neth spray-painted the words “Proud to be Lesbian, Proud to be Gay” in red and blue. “We all wore zany clothes and held hands, and we danced around the fountain, twice.” Pride Parade So just how big is the Pride Parade? Pride began in the early 1970s as a response to anti-Gay discrimination and violence. What started as a gathering and civil rights march on Capitol Hill of hundreds for basic civil rights has grown into a celebration attended by more than 150,000 people in downtown Seattle. Here is how the Pride Parades were described through the years by Seattle P.I. reporters: 1984 Gay Rights Rally Hears Attack on Initiative Drives “Supporters of Gay rights took to the streets yesterday to celebrate Gay/Lesbian Pride Week and to lambaste initiatives aimed at limiting employment of sexual minorities. Close to 1,000 took part in a parade down Broadway on Capitol Hill, and 10,000 gathered at the Volunteer Park amphitheater to hear speakers, observers estimated. Speakers ranging from elected city and state officials to prominent Gay activists who exhorted the crowd to fight state Initiative 490, which would bar homosexuals from being employed in schools, day-care centers and social programs. A second signature campaign would put an anti-Gay employment initiative on the King County ballot later this year.” 1989 Politicians Join Seattle Gay Pride March and Rally “Thousands of Seattle Gays and supporters, including several political hopefuls, turned out for a festive march down Broadway yesterday in the city’s annual Gay Pride Parade. Marchers clad in leather and lavender
walked, danced, drove and rode motorcycles along a parade route that extended from Pike Street to Volunteer Park. At the park, marchers and spectators took part in a rally. ‘’This is a monumental event,’’ said Chris Smith of the parade’s organizing committee. ‘’It’s the second largest parade in the city of Seattle (behind the Seafair Torchlight Parade), and it deserves to be given some attention.’’ Smith estimated yesterday’s turnout at 20,000 marchers, up from 17,000 last year.” 1992 Gay Pride Event Goes Political/Parade Brings 35,000 People to Capitol Hill “The Gay pride movement yesterday served up a measure of Gay politics, as thousands thronged Seattle’s Capitol Hill for the annual Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Pride Parade and rally. The Gay and Lesbian activist group ACTUP launched a campaign that might be called ‘’none of the above presidential candidates.’’ ‘’We don’t support anybody,’’ ACT-UP member Jeff Harris said. The organization can’t support H. Ross Perot, who has said he wouldn’t name a homosexual to his cabinet, Harris said. President Bush is out ‘’because he’s using Dan Quayle as an attack dog with rhetoric about traditional family values,’’ implying an erosion of rights for Gay and Lesbians. 1995 Thousands Celebrate Gay Pride On Parade “With a splash of colorful dress and behavior, thousands of people celebrated their homosexuality yesterday as they marched in Seattle’s annual Gay Pride Parade through Capitol Hill. The parade slowly made its way along Broadway to Volunteer Park. The street was packed on both sides with tens of thousands of men and women who watched the parade and cheered, whistled and shouted for the participants. Hundreds of others found good vantage points from the roofs of businesses along Broadway. Marchers threw condoms and candy to wildly applauding crowds. There was no official estimate of the crowd size, but police had predicted as many as 40,000 would turn out. One of the biggest crowd pleasers was a group of women riding motorcycles and calling themselves Dykes on Bikes.” 1998 Diverse Community Celebrates Gay Pride/Seattle Parade Draws 50,000 “The Gay Fathers’ Association drew big cheers from the crowd as it marched up Broadway in Seattle’s Gay Pride Parade yesterday. So did the Rainbow City Band – 42 marching musicians who blasted out tunes such as ‘’Over the Rainbow’’ and ‘’Macho Man.’’ So did the Broadway New Avenue Grill float, carrying eight drag queens dressed up in their enormous wigs as first ladies. Under gorgeous, clear skies, thousands of people marched up Broadway and packed the sidewalks in a coming together of the diverse groups that make up Seattle’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities. In all, 124 groups marched from Pike Street to Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park, representing service organizations, religious groups, city and county government offices, corporations and political organizations. 2002 – It’s Tradition – 29th Gay Pride Parade “Snuggled in a backpack, the wide-eyed baby peered from beneath his red hat at the pageantry of yesterday’s 29th annual Seattle Gay Pride Parade. “It’s his first parade,” said Pat Fremon, the adoptive father of 6-month-old Mark. “This might become a family tradition.” Fremon and his partner, Tim Sheehy, who have been together 20 years, said they were happy to see so many Gay and Lesbian families at the Capitol Hill parade, which attracted about 100,000 people, according to parade organizers and police. “It’s a great way for the Gay community see 40 years page 30
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Pride in Greece:
Thousands march in Athens and Thessaloniki Thousands of people joined Pride Parades in Greece’s two major cities, Athens and Thessaloniki. The tenth annual Athens Pride Parade started at Klafthmonos Square in central Athens and proceeded several blocks to Syntagma Square in front of the Greek parliament building. Titled “A Family Affair,” the march was intended to dramatize demands for legal recognition for LGBT families. “This year, we focus on the concepts of equality and freedom of choice from the perspective of family life as defined by every LGBT person, and specifically on the legal recognition of all LGBT families,” the organizers said. “The Greek state continues to deprive us of this right. They deny us our rights even after the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on November 7, 2013, according to which ‘Greece had violated the European Convention on Human Rights, excluding same-sex couples from civil unions.’ Equal Thessaloniki access to family law is a fundamental requireMeanwhile Thessaloniki, Greece’s secondment for a modern democracy. Excluding citizens from civil unions, marriage, procre- largest city, celebrated its third Pride weekend.
My Chacha is Gay –
First Gay-themed Pakistani children’s book nicemangos.blogspot.ca
Illustration from nicemangos.blogspot.ca
The author, who goes by the name Eiynah, is also the creator of the Nice Mangos blog, which deals with sexuality and Pakistani A Pakistani woman living in Canada has pub- culture. Publication of her new children’s lished what is thought to be the first-ever Urdu book, My Chacha is Gay, was crowd-funded language children’s book with a Gay theme. through the IndieGoGo website. by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Police said 6,000 people marched in the Thessaloniki Pride parade on June 21 – up from only 400 people in its first year in 2012. Also taking part were the consuls of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Portugal who marched behind a banner that was carried by U.S. Consul Robert P. Sanders that read “Diplomats for Thessaloniki Pride.” In 2012 counter-protestors attacked marchers, pelting them with eggs and plastic bottles, but this year the march was protected by a heavy police presence and had the blessing of Thessaloniki mayor Yiannis Boutaris who also marched in the parade.
Anthimos probably represents the majority view among Greek bishops, but Archbishop Hieronymos, who beat out Anthimos in a 2008 election for Archbishop of Athens, took a much different view. When a socialist mayor married one Gay and one Lesbian couple on the island of Tenedos in 2008, the newly elected head of the Greek Orthodox Church shrugged it off. “They weren’t members of the church, and they didn’t get married in a church,” Hieronymos said, “so the church has nothing to say about it. You have to change with the times.” cretanwines.gr
ation and adoption on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, means the essential and selective exclusion from state protection and deprivation of the security it provides. As a result it shakes the stability of one’s personal life, while it burdens their everyday life both emotionally and financially.” Greek laws allow civil unions, but have no specific provisions for same-sex couples, and the first known same-sex civil marriage held in 2008 was annulled by a court a year later. The case brought Greece before the European Court of Human Rights, which condemned the Greek government in 2013 for creating a “life partner” legal category excluding Gays. The theme was echoed by colorful banners carried in the parade. “Yesterday in the closet, today on the streets, tomorrow with our children,” read a banner carried by one group. “Motherhood has no sexual orientation,” said another. Athens Pride was supported by several foreign embassies, including the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Orthodox bishops split on LGBT rights About 300 Greek Orthodox faithful staged a counter-protest in front of a church in central Thessaloniki. Earlier this year, anti-Gay groups affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Church gathered 19,500 signatures for a petition to ban Pride altogether. Thessaloniki’s Orthodox Bishop Anthimos has been a vocal critic of the event since its inception and this year he dubbed the march a “perversion of human existence.” “Do not give dogs what is holy,” the Bishop said, quoting the gospel of Matthew.
Greece
“Chacha” is Pakistani slang for a paternal uncle. The book tells the story of Ahmed, who lives in Karachi with his parents, sister, grandmother, and uncle Chacha. They are visited often by “uncle” Faheem, Chacha’s boyfriend, who is a pilot. In the story Ahmed says he likes his uncle Chacha because they have fun together. They fly kites, go for camel rides on the beach, and have ice cream sodas. “Uncle” Faheem also lets Ahmed wear his pilot’s cap. In the book a conservative Muslim shouts at Chacha telling him to get a wife, but Ahmed says he knows Chacha and Faheem’s love is the same as his parents for each other. Eiynah said she wrote the book to dispel stereotypes about Gay people in Pakistan, but also stereotypes about Pakistani people and to show they have a diversity of views. “I dream of a progressive Pakistan as opposed to the extremist state it is close to becoming,” Eiynah told Gay Star News. “With all the religious intolerance and extremism I believe it’s important to push back with the arts and with education. The best way to do this, in my humble opinion, is to start early and teach our children tol-
erance and diversity from a young age. “I would also like to show the rest of the world that all Pakistanis cannot be defined by the terrorism and intolerance you see in the media. We are a varied people; amongst us there are many kind, gentle, and diversity loving souls. But sadly, those voices are drowned out or silenced by extremists.” Eiynah said she knew the book would be controversial in Pakistan where homosexuality is strictly criminalized, but she was hopeful the book would find its way into schools. “We’d be happy to donate copies to any school in Pakistan that would accept our donation,” Eiynah said. “Right now, we are working on finding such an open-minded educational institution. Even if one copy makes it in, and we can all collectively make enough noise – it will make a difference, and will give strength to those who do not have the luxury of being open about who they are.” The author raised $5,000 to print the book and intends to ship the book to Pakistan from Canada. Fifty-four people signed up to contribute to the printing and shipping cost in less than a month, she said.
Mongolia to pass LGBT hate crimes law by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Mongolia’s LGBT community will be protected from hate crimes under legislation proposed by that country’s government, but human rights groups expressed concern that the draft legislation is too broad to enforce. Under the new proposal by Mongolia’s Justice Minister Khishigdemberel Temuujin, law enforcement agencies would be trained to recognize and report crimes motivated by discrimination and prejudice. Penalties for crimes that were motivated by discrimination would be increased, and greater compensation would be offered to victims of such crimes. An initial draft produced in January by human rights groups and justice ministry officials contained language describing
“hate bias,” but the latest version replaces this with more general language covering “discrimination.” As a result, some human rights activists voiced concern that the new law might be unenforceable. “They had intended to draft hate crimes into law,” executive director of Ulaanbaatar’s LGBT Center, Anaraa Nyamdorj told Al Jazeera. “Instead they’ve codified discrimination, drafting it in such a way – so broad – that it will be very difficult to bring down to an implementation level. It means that Mongolia could very well be one of the first countries in the world to criminalize the very concept of discrimination almost entirely.” Same-sex relations have been legal in Mongolia since 1961, but homophobic views are pervasive throughout society and
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LGBT rights were only discussed in parliament for the first time in April of last year. Hate crimes have emerged as a serious political issue in Mongolia, with neo-Nazi nationalist groups carrying out numerous attacks against the country’s LGBT population and local immigrant communities. Human rights groups say vicious attacks continue to mar Mongolia’s international reputation. On April 10, three foreign men were physically attacked by a neo-Nazi group at a rock concert in Ulaanbaatar, the capital. In February, a Gay man was sexually assaulted by homophobic nationalists. Police initially refused to investigate his case because male-on-male rape is not a crime under Mongolian law. The man was later found dead, although it remains unclear whether he was murdered
or committed suicide because of his ordeal. “We are not sure whether later [the victim] was murdered - or whether he killed himself,” a local human rights activist told Al Jazeera. The activist asked not to be identified by name. In September 2009 three Transgender women were kidnapped in broad daylight at one of Ulaanbaatar’s busiest malls by a local neo-Nazi group. They were then driven to a cemetery on the city’s outskirts where they were beaten and raped. The women say they were targeted because of their sexual orientation, with the men describing the vicious assaults as a “warning to their kind,” one victim says. Once a close ally of the Soviet Union, Mongolia stretches over the steppes between China and Russia. There are somewhat less than 3 million Mongolians. Almost half the population lives in the capital, Ulaanbaatar.
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Luxembourg OKs same-sex marriage by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The small European country of Luxembourg approved same-sex marriage on June 18. The vote in the Country’s Chamber of Deputies was a lopsided 56-4 in favor of equality. The bill also allows same-sex couples both open and closed adoptions. In other words, the adopting couple may choose to allow birth parents to retain access to information about the child, or not. The same option is available to opposite-sex couples who adopt. The law will go into effect January 1, 2015. Although Luxembourg has a reigning Grand Duke, the Duke’s signature is no longer necessary to enact a law. In 2008 Grand Duke Henri refused to sign a bill permitting euthanasia, and the Chamber of Deputies promptly stripped him of his power to veto legislation. Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Xavier Bet-
tel, leads the center-right Democratic Party, but governs in coalition with the Socialists and the Green Party. The marriage bill was introduced in May 2012, under the previous government, and passed with support from all sides of Luxembourg’s political spectrum. Luxembourg has somewhat more than half a million inhabitants, but has its own national language. Luxembourgish is an ancient Germanic language, still used in everyday conversation. The country uses the languages of its neighbors, France and Germany, for business. Since 1980 it has been illegal for Luxembourg’s government to collect data on religious affiliation, but according to a 2010 Pew Research survey, 70.4% of the population identifies as Christian – most of them Roman Catholic – 2.3% are Muslims, and 0.5% are members of “other religions.” Almost 27% of Luxembourgers say they are “unaffiliated” with any religion.
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Compiled by Doug Hamilton SGN Contributing Writer and by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
with organizations that serve and support Trans* and Gender Non-Conforming people. Details at www.transprideseattle.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Trans* Pride Annual celebration of the Seattle-area Transgender community. Assemble in front of Seattle Central Community College (1701 Broadway) at 5 p.m.; march to nearby Cal Anderson Park at 6 p.m.; speakers and music 7-10 p.m., featuring a schedule of nationally-renowned speakers from the Trans* community, a performance by The Nasty Habits, and an information & resource fair
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Pride Shabbat The 2014 Pride Shabbat will be held at Temple Beth Am (2632 NE 80th St.) in North Seattle starting at 6:15 p.m., with a Shabbat dinner following the service. Pride Shabbat is open to the entire Jewish community and is a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Jews, with their friends, allies, and families. Temple Beth Am is a Welcoming Synagogue and our program team is excited to make this Pride Shabbat inclusive and joyous. After the service, everyone is invited to attend a free Shabbat dinner. An ASL interpreter will be available for the evening. Temple Beth Am is delighted to host this year’s city-wide Pride Shabbat! Pride Shabbat is an opportunity that provides a way for our community to come together and share joyous and meaningful prayer in an inclusive environment that welcomes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and questioning Jews, their friends and families. Last year there was a fabulous turn out of more than 300 participants at the Pride Shabbat service. Pride Shabbat 2008 marked a step forward in the embracing of all GLBTQ Jews of our community. In the past, rejection by congregations and exclusion from full participation in Jewish life were common and were part of the reason for the founding of Congregation Tikvah Chadashah. Since 2008 Pride Shabbat has demonstrated that the majority of congregations today in our community are welcoming and inclusive. Pride Shabbat has the endorsement of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and other groups including Congregation Tikvah Chadashah and Kolenu. Its attendance grew when it was a project of Bashert: the LGBT initiative of the Jewish Federation. It has been a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and questioning Jews, friends, allies and families. 2014 is the sixth year that Pride Shabbat has been endorsed by the full membership of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. We’ve come a long way! It is inspiring to pray for liberation and freedom together. Congregation Tikvah Chadashah has been Seattle’s GLBT Synagogue since 1980. Congregation Tikvah Chadashah is a chavurah-style congregation, and a member of the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Jewish organizations. CTC holds egalitarian chavurah services for Shabbat and holidays. All are welcome to our events, regardless of observance, religious background, ethnicity or sexual orientation. CTC is proud to co-sponsor Pride Shabbat. www.tikvahchadashah.org.
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ATTN: LGBT MILITARY VETERANS OR GUARD/RESERVE OR ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY! You are cordially invited to join Veterans for Human Rights for this year’s Color Guard for the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday morning, June 29 at 4th Ave. & Union St. Parade steps off promptly at 11 a.m. www.vfhr.org or call Ron at 360-896-9394 (9 a.m.-9 p.m.). (If leaving a voice message, please state your phone number slowly and clearly.) ONGOING (thru JULY 6) Revealing Queer MOHAI (Museum of History & Industry) proudly presents Revealing Queer, a landmark exhibit exploring how the Puget Sound LGBTQ community has grown, changed, become more visible, and worked towards equality. Informed throughout by the lived experiences of this incredibly diverse population, the exhibit traces its history from an emerging underground group in the years before the Stonewall Riots of 1969, to the large and politically active community that helped make marriage equality law in Washington State in 2012. MOHAI (860 Terry Ave.) Tickets: $14-adults; $12 students/seniors/military. First Thursday is FREE. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursdays until 8 p.m. www.mohai.org NOTE: MOHAI is sponsoring a walking tour of Capitol Hill 6/21, noon-2 p.m. Meet at the fountain in Cal Anderson Park (11th Ave. & E. Howell St.). Call 206-324-1126 or visit website for details. Cost: $25 general; $20 MOHAI members. ONGOING (thru JULY 7) Portraits of Pride 2014 In celebration of Pride, Gay City Arts (517 E. Pike St.) is hosting their annual Portraits of Pride exhibit showcasing selfportraits from LGBTQ and allied artists: Amy C. Abadilla, Cody Blomberg, Andrew Caldwell, Dale Davis, McCade Dolan, Scott Dunn, Stephen Eaker, Juan Franco, Elise Koncsek, Nan Leiter, Mario Lemafa, Lector Morales, Grego Rachko, Brian Reindel, Matt Wenci and more… from June 12-July 7. www.gaycity.org
Seattle Gay News
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Open Seattle Pride Weekend with the Storm Seattle welcomes the reigning WNBA Champions Minnesota Lynx to KeyArena (Seattle Center, 1st Ave. N. & Harrison St.). 7 p.m. The first 3,000 fans will receive Storm Rainbow beads and guest DJ Ricki Leigh will be in the bowl performing before and during the game. Tickets at www.wnba. com/storm/tickets/ FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Diverse Harmony – “Walt’s Vault” Seattle’s LGBTQ and allies youth chorus celebrates their 12th season with their favorite songs from childhood cartoons. Through their music, they will examine gender, performance, sexuality, fear, love, and acceptance. Broadway Performance Hall (Broadway & E. Pine St.) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20-general admission; $30-VIP at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/660268 or 1-800-838-3006. As always, youth 22 and under are admitted free. (Also, Saturday, June 28.) FRIDAY, JUNE 27 GLSEN Youth Pride Dance A FREE night for LGBTQ youth, friends and allies through age 21, the GLSEN Youth Pride Dance promises to be a fun night! Emcee by Regine Dynasty and Nubian Pride. Music by DJ Puerto Roc. Make-up table by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Crazy hat theme with hatmaking supplies. Doors 7 p.m., music 8-11 p.m. Belltown Community Center (415 Bell St.) www.facebook.com/ events/1386942978213647 Sponsored by GLSEN WA, Nubian Pride, Seattle Parks & Recreation, and Seattle Pride. FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Parlor Live Comedy Club (Seattle) Presents Pride Tour! With Chuck Roy & Cameron Esposito (See June 26 for details.) FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Seattle Ladies Choir in Concert The Seattle Ladies Choir is an open and inclusive musical community for women made up of 50+ members with varying musical experience, from shower singers to professional musicians. Hear us sing in perfect harmony at our Season 7 Summer Concerts, at Cornish Playhouse (201 Mercer St.) featuring choral versions of songs by Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, One Republic, Adele, Hall & Oates, and more! Showtimes: Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 28 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $12/$14 general admission; $6/$7 kids and seniors. www.brownpapertickets,com/ event/683525, 1-800-838-3006 and at the door. The Seattle Ladies Choir will also perform at the opening ceremony of the Seattle Pride Parade.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 & SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Theatre22 Presents The Lisbon Traviata by Terrence McNally FINAL WEEKEND – Theatre22’s First Annual Summer Pride Series – 8 p.m. at Richard Hugo House (1634 11th Ave.) with a Saturday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $22 general; $14 student/senior/military. www. theatre22.org or www.brownpapertickets. com/event/575647. FRIDAY, JUNE 27 T-Shack Seattle Pride Edition San Francisco’s world famous party, TrannyShack, comes to Seattle! Join Hostess Heklina as she leads the all-star SF Cast, including Holotta Tymes, Turleen TailSpin, Sasha Stephane and Ginger Snap, in a night of performances you won’t want to miss! $5.00 cover at The Unicorn/Narwhal (1118 E. Pike St.) Doors at 8 p.m., show at 10 p.m., 21+. www.facebook.com/ events/1438624926386524 SATURDAY, JUNE 28 2014 SVC Pride Quads Grass Tournament Seattle Volleyball Club is hosting its 5th Annual Quads Pride Grass tournament to celebrate Seattle Pride 2014. Proceeds of this annual event will benefit Kraken VC, a youth volleyball program based on Capitol Hill. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. at Judkins Park (2150 S. Norman St.). SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Dignity Seattle’s 26th Annual Pride Pancake Breakfast Enjoy a great pancake breakfast. 8 a.mnoon at Central Lutheran Church Social Hall (1710 11th Ave. at E. Olive St., across from Cal Anderson Park.) $7 donation; raffle prizes. Proceeds to: Pride ASIA, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Dignity Seattle. (A recycling drop-off will be provided for old cell phones and empty ink cartridges.) SATURDAY, JUNE 28 MOHAI Family Pride Day Celebrate your family pride at MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry, 860 Terry Ave. N.) with Seattle Pride! Check out the Revealing Queer exhibit along with all-day activities, including special performances by Seattle Pride Idol winners, bingo with Lunch Lady Mama, family portraits, make-your-own flair for the 40th Annual Seattle Pride Parade, and more! 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets: $14-adults; $12 students/seniors/military. www.mohai.org/ exhibits/item/2620-revealing-queer SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Capitol Hill Pride Festival Celebrate Pride in Seattle’s Gayborhood at this annual street fair on Broadway from E. John St. to E. Roy St, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Live local music, food, and more than 100
Celebrating 41 Years!
booths featuring nonprofits, artists, and ties.com/events/359421-cher-dressed- rade. Starting at 11 a.m., the parade kicks commercial vendors. www.capitolhill- to-kill-tour-pre-function-benefiting-in- off at 4th Avenue & Union St., and will pridefestival.info. spire-youth-project proceed north down 4th Avenue to Denny Way. It will last approximately two and a SATURDAY, JUNE 28 SATURDAY, JUNE 28 half hours and will be held rain or shine. PrideFest Family Day Maxim’s Unity Ball: Tuxedos and Gowns www.seattlepride.org/pride-parade/ Annual event sponsored by Seattle PrideCelebrate Pride at Maxim’s (5608 RainFest, in Cal Anderson Park (11th Ave. & ier Ave. S.). Featuring BOYeurism with SUNDAY, JUNE 29 E. Howell St.), noon-5 p.m., Lots of child- Isaiah Tillman 6 p.m. Tickets: $10-genSeattle PrideFest friendly activities including magic shows, eral; $25 VIP. http://www.brownpaperSeattle PrideFest 2014 “United We Pride” bouncy houses, storytelling, free ice cream, tickets.com/event/660849 will be more bedazzling than ever. Four stagand a concert with Recess Monkey. www.sees, events over four days, dozens of artists, attlepridefest.org/family/. SATURDAY, JUNE 28 men’s and women’s parties, and over 130,000 Diverse Harmony – “Walt’s Vault” attendees. www.seattlepridefest.org/ SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Seattle’s LGBTQ and allies youth chorus Annual Interfaith celebrates their 12th season with their favorSUNDAY, JUNE 29 PRIDE Celebration Service ite songs from childhood cartoons. Through Cuff Street Party Many faiths join together to celebrate their music, they will examine gender perforFeaturing DJ/performers at The Cuff PRIDE: the spirit of Love and the Accep- mance, sexuality, fear, love, and acceptance. Complex (1533 13th Ave.). www.cufftance of all people. Come just as you are to Broadway Performance Hall (Broadway & E. complex.com. sing, pray, chant, and made Sacred Com- Pine St.) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20-general admunity. 1 p.m. at All Pilgrims Church (500 mission; $30-VIP at www.brownpapertickSUNDAY, JUNE 29 Broadway E. at E. Republican St.). ets.com/event/660268 or 1-800-838-3006. As PrideFest Closing Concert: always, youth 22 and under are admitted free. Steve Grand & Chely Wright SATURDAY, JUNE 28 (Also, Friday, June 27.) Steve is a (quickly) rising singer-song16th Annual Rainbow Health Fair writer and Chely is a well-established From 1-5 p.m. at All Pilgrims Church (500 SATURDAY, JUNE 28 country star. Both are out artists and we are Broadway E. at E. Republican St.) Seattle/ Parlor Live Comedy Club (Seattle) thrilled to host them for our closing conKing & Snohomish County YWCA Women’s Presents Pride Tour! cert for Pride weekend at the Delta Stage Health Outreach presents free mammograms With Chuck Roy & Cameron Esposito at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre. for eligible people 40+ and free pap tests for (See June 26 for details.) 100% of proceeds to benefit marriage all. Massage, nutrition, mammograms, safer equality non-profits. ALL AGES SHOW. sex. Insurance welcome. To schedule an apSATURDAY, JUNE 28 Doors: 7:30 p.m., Steve Grand: 7:45 p.m., pointment, call 206-461-4489. For more Seattle Ladies Choir in Concert Chely Wright: 8:30 p.m.. Pre-sale: $25, at information and volunteer opportunities: (at 7:30 p.m.) the door: $30. www.brownpapertickets. lbtqhealth-ywca.blogspot.com. (See June 27 listing at 7:30 p.m.) com/event/688293 Info and VIP at: www. seattlepridefest.org/concert SATURDAY, JUNE 28 SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Nark Magazine Pride Daytime Cruise Cher: Dressed To Kill Tour SUNDAY, JUNE 29 Board The Islander Yacht (1811 FairErMerGerd! It’s Cher & Cyndi Lauper! SUNDAY, JULY 6 view Ave. E.) for an afternoon cruise ‘Nuff said. Victoria, BC Pride around Lake Union and Lake Washington 8-11 p.m. at Key Arena (Seattle Center, 1st A week of events and activities culmiBoarding at 2 p.m. and returning at 6 p.m. Ave. N. & Harrison St.) Tickets at: nating in the annual Pride Parade and Hosted by Nark Magazine with DJs Trinihttp://arena-wa.com/Tickets-Active. Festival on Sunday, July 6. www.victoritron and Jens Irish (PDX). Tickets: $25 php?eventID=2185598&venueID=229 apridesociety.org general admission; $75 champagne tickets (admits 2 plus bottle of champagne). SATURDAY, JUNE 28 SATURDAY, JULY 12 narkmagazine.com/pride Theatre22 Presents The Lisbon Traviata Out in the Park – (See June 27 for details.) Tacoma’s annual SATURDAY, JUNE 28 LGBTQA Pride Celebration PrideFest Cyndi/Cher SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Noon-5 p.m., Broadway between 9th and Welcome Party featuring Heklina 10th Annual “ALL WHITE” Affair 11th streets. Entertainment, food, fun, and 3-8 p.m. at the Seattle PrideFest MainBoat Cruise Party, community at this family-friendly event. Watch stage (Seattle Center, International Founthe “Masquerade Edition” for more info at www.rainbowcntr.org or http:// tain). More info at www.facebook.com/ Enjoy a spectacular evening on the water tacomapride.org/out_in_the_park_2014 events/1453170404928167/ as we take you across the globe with music, fun & excitement. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. on The IsSATURDAY, JULY 12 SATURDAY, JUNE 28 lander Yacht. http://seattle.gaycities.com/ Bellingham Pride Family Picnic Seattle Ladies Choir in Concert events/353648-10th-annual-all-white-afCome enjoy a picnic at noon in Bloedel (at 2:00 p.m.) fair-boat-cruise-party Donovan Park (2214 Electric Ave.) with (See June 27 listing at 7:30 p.m.) the entire Bellingham Pride family (that inSATURDAY, JUNE 28 SATURDAY, JUNE 28 Seattle PrideFest Presents X 2014 Seattle Dyke March 9:00 pm at Neumo’s (925 E. Pike St.). DJ Rally from 5-7 p.m. at the Seattle Central Brian Gorr + DJ Bret Law. Tickets at https:// Community College Plaza at Broadway and www.etix.com/ticket/online/performancE. Pine St. The March steps off at 7 p.m. to go eSearch.jsp?performance_id=1807900 around Capitol Hill. Join us at 8 p.m. in Cal Anderson Park for free afterparty with RedSUNDAY, JUNE 29 wood Plan, beer garden and food trucks. Build Your Own Bloody Mary www.seattledykemarch.com/ Brunch Whether you crave pancakes or biscuits SATURDAY, JUNE 28 and gravy, start the day at Trace, W Seattle CHER Dressed to Kill Tour (1112 4th Ave.) with a Bloody Mary, your Pre Function way – with your choice of vodka, spice and Benefiting Inspire Youth Project garden veggies. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Make reservaCome and pre func to benefit Inspire tions at 206-264-6060. Youth Project (formally Rise ‘n Shine). Lots of fun and entertainment including SUNDAY, JUNE 29 an appearance by a CHER impersonator! Seattle Pride Parade Admission will include a ride on our George Takei will be the Celebrity Grand CHER Shuttle to and from KeyArena so Marshall for the 40th Annual Pride Parade you don’t have to worry about fighting themed “Generations of Pride.” Recently traffic and finding parking. 5-7:30 p.m. appointed Washington State Supreme at R Place (619 E. Pine St.) on the 3rd Court Justice Mary Yu will be a special Floor. More info at http://seattle.gayci- guest of SO&P at the beginning of the pa-
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June 27, 2014
cludes you!). Donations gratefully accepted to cover the cost of food. www.bhampride. org/events.shtml SATURDAY, JULY 12 Bellingham Annual ISCEE Pride Drag Show (21+) Doors 6:30 p.m. Show at 7:30 p.m. Rumors Cabaret (1119 Railroad Ave.) $5 cover. Annual Rumor’s Pride Party to follow. www.bhampride.org/events.shtml SATURDAY, JULY 12 Bellingham All Ages B-Proud Dance 8:00-11:00 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Park Community Building (2214 Electric Ave.) $3.00 admission, proceeds benefit Pride. All ages welcome! www.bhampride.org/events.shtml SATURDAY, JULY 12 Bellingham Rumors Pride Celebration (21+) 10 p.m.-2 a.m. (close), Rumors Cabaret (1119 Railroad Ave.), cover. www.bhampride.org/events.shtml SUNDAY, JULY 13 Bellingham Pride Parade Noon. Starts at Ohio & Cornwall, travels along Cornwall Ave., ends at Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Ave.). More info at http://www.bhampride.org/events.shtml SUNDAY, JULY 13 Bellingham Pride Festival Until 4:00 p.m., Depot Market Square (1100 Railroad Ave.). Features various vendors, children’s activities, appearances by local and state dignitaries. $2 suggested donation. Pride Party to follow at Rumors Cabaret (1119 Railroad Ave.). www.bhampride.org/events.shtml SUNDAY, JULY 20 Kitsap Pride “Reflection of Pride” is this year’s theme for Kitsap Pride’s annual celebration, noon to 5 p.m., at Evergreen Park (1500 Park Ave.) in downtown Bremerton. www. kitsappride.org. SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 Vancouver (B.C.) Pride Parade & Festival Parade begins at noon in Vancouver’s downtown/West End at Robson and Thurlow streets and proceeds via Denman to festival site at Sunset Beach. Sponsored by Vancouver Pride Society. www.vancouverpride.ca.
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Health and Personal Services
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Seattle Gay News
June 27, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Religion & Spirituality
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Seattle Gay News 27
Bisexual men “at most risk”of HIV infection, CDC says by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer According to a new study by the federal CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Bisexual men are “disproportionally affected” by STDs and are “at most risk” of HIV infection.
The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that the public health needs of Bi men often go unmet, leaving them vulnerable to STDs. Only 2% of sexually active men report having sex with both men and women, but 21% of Bi men report STD treatment, compared to 12% for Gay men and 2.3% of straight men.
Men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) were also less likely to be screened for HIV than men who exclusively have sex with men (MSM), which could lead to undiagnosed HIV and therefore unknowing transmission. The study says that although the HIV infection rate is lower for Bi men than Gay men, Bi men are at greater risk because of the lack of regular screening. According to study author William Jeffries, Bisexual men are often on the “down low” – in relationships with women, but having sex with men on the side. Other factors that may affect their sexual health include sex without condoms, forced sexual encounters, an increased number of sexual partners, and attitudes toward pregnancy. “MSMW’s increased likelihood of insertive sex without a condom, as well as commonly occurring oral sex with men and women, likely increase MSMW’s vulnerability to STIs readily acquired via penileinsertive and oral sex,” Jefferies explained. “Moreover, receptive and insertive sex without a condom with men (no matter how common) makes MSMW more vulnerable to HIV than men who only have sex with women because HIV is more prevalent among
men than women in the United States.” Jeffries also believes MSMW face “several socio-cultural obstacles” including “biphobia.” “Biphobia can manifest in erroneous beliefs that MSMW are Gay men who have not disclosed their sexual orientation and, particularly for black men, are responsible for HIV transmission to women,” he said. “Experiencing these sentiments can contribute to MSMW’s social isolation and psychological distress, which in turn may promote HIV/STI risk through substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and the avoidance of prevention services.” Jeffries suggested that sexual health programs should do more to target Bi men, instead of running hetero-normative and Gay-exclusive campaigns. “Sexual health promotion for MSMW should not be limited to HIV/STI prevention alone,” he concluded. “Recognition of MSMW’s unique sexual and social experiences can lay the foundation necessary for ensuring that these men have healthy and fulfilling sexual experiences. “Purposefully designed and tailored efforts for MSMW are indispensable for improving the sexual health of this vulnerable population.”
Dapper D Clothing: “Menswear” line for women
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After just a year, “Dapper D Fashions,” a new menswear-inspired clothing line for women, will soon be available thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, a network of dedicated friends and donors, and the one savvy power couple behind it all. Dapper D is based out of the Portland area and is the brainchild and dream-come-true of Vanna Pecoraro and her wife, Rasha Pecoraro. Having spent a year building the brand, the two launched Dapper D’s Kickstarter on May 19. The project reached its $15,000 goal on June 11, six days before the deadline. “I only shopped in the men’s department. I never felt comfortable in dresses or feminine blouses,” said Dapper D’s founder, Vanna. Vanna began shopping for menswear at 16, after she got her first job, and she never quit. During her career in law enforcement, she felt the unique sense of pride and confidence that comes with a well-kept uniform. But as good as this dedication made her feel, the dream of Dapper D was already taking shape. Once Rasha had entered her life, and subsequently their daughter, Leilani, Dapper D had become a passion. Vanna retired from the force with Rasha’s full support, to start a clothing line for women like her. “From the minute I told her that I wanted to do this, she told me to just ‘go,’” Vanna told SGN. “It feels amazing! I am so thankful that I have someone who is so supportive.” “Every step I have taken in my life has led me to Dapper D,” wrote Vanna for her Kickstarter campaign. Vanna has also been performing as “Emilio, Latin Drag King” since 2008.
Seattle Gay News
thankful that’s she’s really good at that,” she added. “I couldn’t have done it without her.” Indeed, Rasha is very good. The couple is on “talent hold” for a reality TV show that would potentially profile not just Dapper D, but all aspects of their lives – Vanna’s drag and the full-time job of being moms. The two are a true power couple. “We are going to be very, very busy from now on,” the two admit. The two will be in Seattle for Pride weekend, with Emilio performing in “Inferno” at Neighbours Nightclub on Saturday, June 28, 5-10 p.m. “I love it. I love being able to be a somebody else onstage,” said Vanna, who admitted to being somewhat shy.
Shy or no, it was Vanna people were coming up to and thanking during Portland’s Pride celebration last week, saying of Dapper D, “we’ve been waiting for this.” Unsurprisingly, the line’s initial release has plenty of things right up Emilio’s alley, so while the two aren’t coming in a Dapper D capacity officially, those interested in the line might not want to miss the show. Dapper’s tagline, “Be brave. Be authentic. Be you.” is meant to empower all women by allowing ‘butchfashionstas’ to be the confidant, fashion-forward women they deserve to be. The website, www.dapperdfashions.com, will be up and running in the coming weeks and the rollout will begin. Check it out. Mark Daniel Muzzy
DAPPER D So what does Dapper D offer that the men’s department lacks? For one, it’s building a community, in which customers needn’t face strange looks or insensitive comments – something Vanna knows well. It also offers clothes that, quite simply, will fit. A year of research on Vanna’s part has yielded a selection of shirts, t-shirts – all manner of casual wear – v-necks, hoodies, hats, sweaters and more. “Dapper D is like H&M for Lesbians,” said Rasha. It aims to be an affordable lifestyle brand
that is comfortable – carefully tailored to fit a women’s body while retaining the menswear appeal. After the initial release, the brand will introduce a new line of pants, belts and other accessories. Dapper D’s philosophy is that “fashionistas” doesn’t simply mean pumps, a silk romper and $600 bag – the garments themselves are irrelevant – it’s the confidence they give that counts. It’s clear from the brand’s success that many women find this confidence in Dapper D. Menswear-inspired designs aren’t a new concept to fashion, but they remain mostly on the runway in the realm of couture. Dapper D isn’t the only local retailer with this kind of philosophy either. Based in Seattle, TomboyX sells “women’s clothing, menswear inspired.” They have some great pieces, no question; but the flavor is very different from Dapper D. “There are wonderful companies out there that already cater to the LGBTQ community, and this has inspired us greatly. We love knowing that there are choices out there. This is a great sign that our community is loyal and that they appreciate companies that cater to them. It takes a lot of work and overcoming obstacles to start a business, but the love and support we have been shown is all worth it,” Vanna told SGN. “We really feel that if we all work together instead of seeing each other as competitors, we will be a great force for our community and [that will] make us all a stronger group. At Dapper D we want everyone to be themselves, and be proud of who they are. Be Brave. Be Authentic. Be You.” The brand has taken off surprisingly quickly, a clear testament to its niche. The Facebook page has nearly 2000 fans. Dapper held its first commercial website shoot last Sunday, photographed by Portland area fashion photographer Mark Daniel Muzzy and has already been featured in the Portland Mercury and on afterellen.com. Features in Curve and The Advocate are also upcoming. “We’re in talks right now to be in Portland Fashion Week,” Rasha told SGN. “Rasha’s good with social media and customer service and I’m good at the business end – picking out the clothing and researching the clothing,” Vanna told SGN. “I’m
by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer
Rasha (l) & Vannah
Celebrating 41 Years!
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June 27, 2014
Seattle Gay News 29
40 Years
continued from page 14 to get together and see how diverse we are,” Fremon said. One mother said there’s a “Gayby boom” happening as more and more Gay and Lesbian couples become parents. 2005 – Colorful, Outrageous, But “Family-Friendly” / Change In Tone Cited For Larger Crowd / 150,000 Turn Out For Biggest Gay Pride Parade In Seattle History “About 150,000 people lined Broadway and packed Volunteer Park yesterday for the biggest, lengthiest Gay Pride parade in the city’s history, possibly the last one on Capitol Hill. The crowd’s large size reflected efforts to broaden the parade’s appeal to draw more families and make the event an important campaign stop for local politicians. People stood seven deep in some spots to catch a glimpse of the parade’s record 184 entries, from the raucous, roaring “Dykes on Bikes” to the nude body-painted cyclists bringing up the rear. Crowd favorites during the three-hour parade included the Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps, who drew roars of approval for their disco-tinged routine, and the Just Pink float, which featured dancing men in fluorescent-pink wigs and pink polka-dot dresses blowing bubbles and tossing strings of Mardi Gras beads to bystanders. “Seattle puts on a good parade,” said Steve Lent proudly, as he watched the members of Poodles for Pride make their way down the street.”
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2007 – Many Have Chosen Sides in Gay Pride Celebrations / Events Held On Separate Days This Year “For the second consecutive year, fans of Seattle’s annual Gay pride celebration will be confronted with two parades and two festivals competing for their attention. A downtown parade promises visibility and progress, while a parade on Capitol Hill touts loyalty to the Gay and Lesbian community that nurtured the celebration there for more than 25 years. The dual celebrations were born when Seattle Out and Proud, the group that organizes Seattle Pride, decided to break rank and move the festivities to the Seattle Center last year. While fans don’t technically have to choose between the events – a Saturday march on Broadway and a Sunday parade on Fourth Avenue – many have already taken sides. “Our loyalty stays here,” said Rick Elander, who owns the Capitol Hill bar R Place with his partner. He is among a handful of businesses boycotting the downtown parade in a show of support for the Gay community on Capitol Hill and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center.”
ing the nation. The city will see its second annual Trans Pride event. And so much more. While it is true that we have a lot of work left to do in our movement towards true equality and freedom in all 50 states, one can’t help but marvel at just how far we’ve come. It is amazing and wonderful. We’ve lost many along the way; AIDS was devastating and many of our brothers and sisters have been beaten or killed. But we are a resilient lot and if there is one thing that the LGBTQ commu-
nity has shown it is that we bounce back each and every time. And we do it in style. The parade is now a full-fledged corporate sponsored monstrosity. It is no longer a civil rights march per se. But the one thing we must never lose is our memory. On Sunday, June 29, please take a moment to reflect and honor those who came before us and the sacrifices they made to make our big, bright, and oh so Gay Pride Parade what it is today. Before them – there was nothing.
Good Vibrations in 2014 Whether you like it or not or if you are ready or not – Pride weekend is upon us. Pride is bigger and better than ever, which nobody can deny. Seattle Out & Proud paid off its debt to the City of Seattle that was as high as $100,000 when it was incurred in 2006, at a ceremony at the Seattle Pride Picnic in Volunteer Park on June 14 this year. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray is Gay. The community is growing in both size and in influence. Marriage equality is sweep-
June 27, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
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June 27, 2014
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