Celebrating 40 Years! Issue 11 Volume 41
Seattle Gay News
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SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Mark Zmuda sues Eastside Catholic & Seattle Archdiocese AP Photo
Mark Zmuda
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Mark Zmuda, the Gay vice principal who was forced out of his job at Eastside Catholic School last December filed a discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit against the school and church on Friday. Lawyers
for the church and school planned to respond immediately with a motion arguing King County Superior Court does not have jurisdiction to hear the case without violating the First Amendment. The students at Eastside Catholic High School started a movement that captured the attention of the world. They inspired adults and stu-
dents alike. But once the activist energy around the issue wound down as the kids return to school from winter break – the big question on everyone’s mind was, “Now what?” The case stirred debate at the school and in front of the Seattle Archdiocese and has led to several online petitions arguing for reinstatement of the popular teacher,
coach and administrator and calling for a change in church doctrine on same-sex marriage. It was decided by the school and the church that Zmuda, or Mr. Z, couldn’t continue in his job after they learned he had married his same-sex partner over the summer. They cited an employment agreement Zmuda had signed that said his public behaviors would at all times be consistent with the values and teachings of the Catholic Church. An attorney for the school acknowledged that school leadership, Sister Mary Tracy, told Zmuda he could get a divorce to keep his job. “I was asked by the school to break my wedding vows to keep my job,” Zmuda said at a news conference Friday. “I was told I could either divorce or be fired. How could anyone ask anyone else to make that choice?” The lawsuit Zmuda filed in King County Superior Court accuses the school and the church of discrimination, wrongful termination and violation of the state consumer protection laws. Zmuda has said the school’s administrators were aware that he is Gay and that he was in a relationship.
Zmuda’s lawyers argue he was not a religious employee of the school while lawyers for the church argue the case “would impermissibly entangle the Court in Catholic doctrine,” and would lead the court to examine the church’s definition of marriage. “I am a lifelong Catholic,” Zmuda said. “I am a Gay man. I did not choose to be Gay. I do not see any inconsistency in the teachings of Jesus and being Gay.” Zmuda’s lawsuit notes that the school previously posted a statement on its website that it does not discriminate based on marital status or sexual orientation but that statement was removed after his dismissal. A similar statement was included in the employee handbook. “I relied on those statements,” Zmuda said. But administrators asked him not to bring his partner to school functions, according to the lawsuit. The school sent a letter home to parents on Thursday, saying the school’s board of directors would handle legal issues and the administrators would continue to run the school.
New Q Patrol
U.S. Senator Patty Murray forms in wake of attack on entertainer outlines how ACA is working for women of America
Members of Q Patrol circa mid-1990s
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor After another round of violent attacks on Capitol Hill, a group of citizens have decided to revive the QSafety Patrol, calling it Out Watch. The group says that patrols could start as soon as next weekend. On Wednesday night, a group gathered inside Dr. Jen’s House of Beauty (Atomic Cosmetics) for the first meeting to revive the citizen safety patrol groups that aims to prevent anti-LGBTQ attacks and violence on Capitol Hill. Jennifer Dietrich, owner of the beauty and cosmetic salon told Capitol Hill Seattle Blog (CHS Blog) she decided to organize the meeting after a spate of violent attacks in the
neighborhood, including a rape and an assault of a drag performer. “I just stopped and said ‘this is not cool, that we can’t walk around our own neighborhood.’ We need to do something,” she said. Dietrich said the group will use Dr. Jen’s as a home base. Volunteers will walk Capitol Hill in beats from 10 p.m. - 3 a.m. in groups of four, wear “Out Watch” shirts, and carry mace. Dietrich told CHS Blog said she wants all members to receive some self-defense training, but that having a public presence will be the most important deterrent to would-be criminals. “We’re not a roaming pack of vigilantes,” she said. “It’s important that we report crimes to the police.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 11, U.S. Senator Patty Murray delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting the success of the Affordable Care Act, focusing on the positive impact it has for women. Senator Murray outlined increased access to affordable insurance, benefits, and services for women and their families, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The Senator also discussed the efforts by private corporations to get in between a woman and her health, highlighting her work in leading the Senate’s brief filed in the Hobby Lobby case. Senator Murray shared stories from a self-employed woman in Bellingham, a farmer in Orting, and a small business owner in Seattle, all of whom have benefitted from the Affordable Care Act:
Youtube
Senator Murray shares often overshadowed success stories of constituents from Bellingham, Orting, and Seattle; discusses Hobby Lobby case about to come in front of Supreme Court:
Senator Patty Murray delivering speech
“Four years ago, the insurance companies had all the leverage. And four years ago, too often, women were paying the price. Since the Affordable Care Act became law, women have been treated fairly with increased access to affordable health insurance, benefits and services,” said Senator Murray. “While we can never stop
working to make improvements, we owe it to the women of America to make progress and not allow the clock to be rolled back on their health care needs. Every American deserves to have access to high quality health care coverage regardless of where they work. And each of us should have the right to see Patty Murray page 6
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Seattle Gay News
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Celebrating 41 Years!
The right to be wrong by Richard J. Rosendall SGN Contributing Writer
a battering in the ensuing centuries, yet it persists, and it protects those on both sides. Leah Ward Sears and David Blankenhorn write in Time, “Does any religious conviction justify denying lesbians and gays a basic legal promise of non-discrimination in hiring, public accommodations, and housing? Surely the answer to this question is no.” Blankenhorn was a witness for the anti-Gay side in the Proposition 8 trial. He has had a change of heart, and now supports civil marriage equality. Our fight is not over, but we are winning. The fact that our opponents overreach by seeking to extend faith-based discrimination into the public square with conscience clauses and the like does not mean that we should reciprocate by telling religious organizations whom they can and cannot fire. Neither need we be silent. Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry, writes of those who fired Zmuda, “Though they may have had a legal right to fire Zmuda, did they stop to think what lesson they would be sending to students with such an action?” The outspoken defense of Zmuda by his former students is the latest example of Catholic laity heeding their well-formed consciences over the knee-jerk dictates of bishops. People of faith, from high school students to dissident clergy, are waging the fight for Gay-affirming policies from within their denominations. That is where that part of the fight should be waged. “Gays Not Welcome” signs should no more be allowed in shop windows than “Blacks Not Welcome” signs; on the other hand, “All Are Welcome” signs outside houses of worship must be placed there by the religious groups themselves, not imposed by the state. I have the Constitution and the ACLU on my side, and if you fight us on this point we will win. Holler all you want. The First Amendment is a sturdy thing. Richard J. Rosendall is a writer and activist. He can be reached at rrosendall@ starpower.net.
I have been fighting the Catholic Church since I first argued with a nun at St. Catherine Labouré Elementary School in Wheaton, Maryland in 1962. I don’t recall being smacked with a ruler, but Sister Mary Margaret gave intimidating glares. I remembered her, and the scorn of the parish’s Monsignor W. Joyce Russell toward liberal priests during 1968’s uproar over the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, when I helped win D.C. marriage equality over objections by the Archdiocese of Washington several decades later. The Archdiocese wanted various exemptions enabling them, for example, to receive government contracts for adoption services while turning away Gay couples. They lost. They then withdrew from public adoption services and were replaced by another contractor. Those past battles came to mind last week with the news that Mark Zmuda, the vice principal fired last year from a Seattle-area Catholic school after marrying his samesex partner, has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the school and the Seattle Archdiocese. Zmuda is unlikely to win his case. The U.S. Supreme court unanimously upheld the “ministerial exception” to non-discrimination laws in its 2012 decision in Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Chief Justice Roberts cited a string of rulings going back to 1872. Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has a constitutional right to impose Catholic teachings in church-run schools. I disagree with those teachings, but I also respect and cherish the First Amendment. It does not, in my view, give a baker or a photographer the right to refuse service to a customer (this is being litigated), but it does protect a church in its core religious functions. That does not mean the church is entitled to discriminate using public funds. President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists in 1802 that the First Amendment built “a wall of separation beCopyright © 2014 by Richard J. Rosentween Church & State.” That wall has taken dall. All rights reserved.
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Related Links: Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI, The Vatican, July 25, 1968 http://tinyurl.com/9km3 “The Archdiocese of Washington and Church-State Separation,” Richard J. Rosendall, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, July 8, 2010, http://glaa.org/archive/2010/agenda2010. htm#_Toc266257901 “Gay Vice Principal Mark Zmuda files Lawsuit against Seattle Archbishop and Eastside Catholic School,” Charlette Report, SeattlePI.com, March 8, 2014, http://tinyurl.com/k8rfq4o “Opinion recap: A solid ministerial exception,” Lyle Denniston, SCOTUSblog, January 11, 2012, http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/01/ opinion-recap-a-solid-ministerial-exception/ Letter to the Danbury Baptists, Thomas Jefferson, January 1, 1802, The Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre. html “Catholic Schools Week Calls Us to Reflect on Fair Employment for LGBT Educators,” Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry, January 30, 2014, http://tinyurl.com/q2y7crh
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WASHINGTON STATE MR. & MS. LEATHER ORGANIZATION (WSMLO) – 22ND ANNUAL WASHINGTON STATE LEATHER PRIDE WEEK MARCH 14-23 www.wsmlo.org “REVEALING QUEER” – LGBT HISTORY AT MOHAI FEBRUARY 14-JULY 6 Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (860 Terry Ave. N. in South Lake Union) present “Revealing Queer,” a landmark exhibit on the history of the Puget Sound region’s LGBTQ community. Admission: $14 general; $12-student/senior/military/ teacher; children under 14 free when accompanied by an adult. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Thursdays until 8 p.m. First Thursdays FREE. www.mohai.org.
GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION – MARCH BUSINESS LUNCHEON On Wednesday, March 19, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Red Lion Hotel (1415 5th Ave.), join GSBA and Matt Skallerud, President of Pink Banana Media, one of the nation’s leading experts on social media marketing, to learn about some of the more advanced topics in social media marketing available to us today, including influencers, user-generated content, social media integration with search and #hastags. See examples, including specific case studies, of how your company can implement these techniques to help maximize your social media outreach. Registration: $35 members and students, $45 nonmembers. www.thegsba. org; 206-363-9188.
DADDY’S LEATHER TAG SALE & COMMUNITY LEATHER SOCIAL On Wednesday, March 19, from 7-10 SEATTLE GIRLS OF LEATHER – p.m., at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave. “BUILDING BONDS at E. Pine St.), Daddy Jeff Henness hosts his LEATHER PRIDE MIXER” annual Leather Tag Sale and Community On Monday, March 17, from 7-10 p.m., Leather Social benefitting The Leather Arat The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave. at E. chives & Museum. Pine St.) join local Leather organizations, their friends and allies in celebration of GREATER SEATTLE camaraderie, outreach and community serBUSINESS ASSOCIATION – vice. Build new friendships and chat with PRIME TIME MIXER & local community members about service WESTERN BUSINESS projects and community outreach. Purchase ALLIANCE KICK-OFF raffle tickets to support participating LeathOn Thursday, March 20, from 5:30er organizations in the Pacific Northwest. 7:30 p.m., at Renaissance Seattle Hotel (515 Presented by Seattle girls of Leather. Madison St.), join GSBA for this Prime
Time opportunity that only happens every five years. It is your chance to meet, mix and make business connections with leaders from 13 LGBT chambers across the western U.S. and Canada at this kick-off reception as the GSBA welcomes their sister chambers to Seattle for the 2014 Western Business Alliance Leadership Summit hosted by the GSBA. Make new connections and meet colleagues from around the continent who understand that equality is good business, whether you are from Austin, Las Vegas, Sacramento or Vancouver, BC. Registration: $10 members and students, $20 nonmembers. www.thegsba.org; 206-363-9188
club (1509 Broadway), join King A’kashe Le‘Shyne Hilton-Black and Queen Celys St. James Black for the 5th Annual Nubian Pride King & Queen Pageant. Over $1,000 in cash and prizes. Tickets: $10 advance, $15 at the door. www.brownpapertickets. com/event/525307.
32ND WASHINGTON STATE MR. & MS. LEATHER CONTEST On Saturday, March 22, doors at 6 p.m., contest at 7 p.m., at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.), Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization (WSMLO) presents the 32nd Washington State Mr. & Ms Leather Contest. GAY CITY – A Meet & Greet will be held on Friday, MEET THE AUTHOR: March 21, from 8:30-10 p.m., at Doghouse “DRAWN TO DIVERSITY” Leathers (1312 E. Pike St.). The Victory On Thursday, March 20, at 7 p.m., at Brunch and Emerald Leather Awards will Calamus Auditorium at Gay City (517 E. be held on Sunday, March 23, with brunch Pike St.), join Northwest Press publisher at 11 a.m., and awards presentation at noon. Charles “Zan” Christensen, editor of the recent anthology Anything That Loves, and Q-SQUARED MEN – a panel of comic artists and writers as they Q-SPRING 2014 discuss how they use the medium to speak APRIL 25-27 about their lives and their community and Q-Spring, a celebration of self and Spring what the future holds for comics. Presented for Gay, Bisexual and Transgender men, is in partnership with Queer Geek and Gay a chance to gather with other men to reflect Romance NW Meetup. FREE. www.gayc- on, embrace, and celebrate who you are, ity.org where you have been, and where you are headed. Discover new parts of yourself and 5TH ANNUAL NUBIAN PRIDE enjoy the company of other men in a nonKING & QUEEN PAGEANT – judgmental, attitude-free atmosphere. “STILL STANDING” For more information and to register, visit On Saturday, March 22, doors at 6 p.m., www.qsquared.org or phone 253-216-3997. pageant at 7 p.m., at Neighbours Night-
Appeals court OKs quick hearing for Virginia marriage case Lambda Legal and ACLU join case
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Seattle Gay News
courtesy of
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a motion by American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) for an expedited schedule in Bostic v. Schaefer, formerly Bostic v. Rainey, the Virginia marriage equality case. The appeals court also granted motions by Lambda Legal and the ACLU to intervene in the case. Lambda and ACLU have filed the class action suit Harris v. Rainey challenging Virginia’s marriage laws on behalf of “all Virginia’s same-sex couples.” Opening briefs in Bostic v. Schaefer are due March 28, and reply briefs are due April 11, AFER said in a March 10 press release. Oral arguments have been tentatively scheduled for the week of May 12. Federal District Judge Arenda Wright Allen ruled on February 13 that Virginia law violated the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring have declined to defend the ban on same-sex marriage, which is now defended by two county clerks. Spokespeople for Lambda Legal and the ACLU said they were pleased to be allowed to join the case. “We are pleased the court granted our motion to intervene because the Bostic appeal could decide the fate of not only both couples involved, but also the entire class of
AFER chief counsels Ted Olson and argue for a broad marriage rights ruling more than 14,000 same-sex couples in Virginia whom we represent,” said Greg Nev- David Boies, who argued the Prop 8 case based on the Fourteenth Amendment, and ins, Counsel in Lambda Legal’s Southern before the U.S. Supreme Court, are re- think that the Virginia case might be the portedly eager for a return engagement to best vehicle for them. Regional Office based in Atlanta. “We are still waiting for a decision in the Harris case, but allowing the Harris class to intervene in the Bostic case allows the two cases to be consolidated on appeal without delaying or disrupting either case. We want the freedom to marry to come to lesbians and gay men in Virginia as swiftly as possible.” “We’re thrilled that all of Virginia’s samesex couples will be before the court of appeals together, arguing for the freedom to marry and bringing their many compelling stories to the common cause,” said Joshua Block, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project.” On the other hand, the original attorneys in the Bostic case worried that adding new parties to the suit would delay the proceedings. “The addition of new parties to the case at this late stage risks delaying the proceedings, and there is not a moment to lose when gay and lesbian couples and families across Virginia – and other states in the Fourth Circuit – are experiencing real harm,” cocounsel for the Bostic plaintiffs Matthew McGill told the Washington Blade. “We hope the Harris plaintiffs and their lawyers will continue to support our shared goal of marriage equality by filing an amTimothy Bostic and his partner, Tony London icus brief alongside us.”
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Celebrating 41 Years!
Ninth Circuit delays Nevada marriage case Just hours after it scheduled hearings in a challenge to Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriages, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals postponed oral arguments in the case. No new date was set for the hearing. Court officials said the oral arguments had to be postponed because they could not assemble a panel of judges to hear the case by the original April 9 hearing date. U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled on November 29 that “the maintenance of the traditional institution of civil marriage as between one man and one woman is a legitimate state interest” and, therefore, Nevada’s law was constitutional. It is the only federal court ruling to date upholding a ban on same-sex marriages. Lambda Legal, representing eight Gay and Lesbian couples, appealed to the Ninth Circuit. Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto initially filed a brief defending her state’s law, but withdrew it on February 10 after the Ninth Circuit ruled in an unrelated case that charges of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation must be analyzed with “heightened scrutiny.” On that basis, Masto said, “it has be-
come clear that this case is no longer defensible in court.” To meet the heightened scrutiny test, the law must not only advance a legitimate state interest – as Jones ruled that it did – but “the intrusion must significantly further that interest, and the intrusion must be necessary to further that interest,” as the Ninth Circuit wrote in Witt v. Department of the Air Force. Masto’s withdrawal from the case leaves the anti-Gay group Coalition for the Protection of Marriage as the sole defendant. Mel Goodwin with the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Las Vegas told Associated Press that he knows some of the couples involved in the lawsuit. “The couples who are part of the lawsuit have been in loving, caring relationships and want the same legal rights as other couples in Nevada,” Goodwin said. “I sincerely hope that the court rules in favor of the couples because all Nevadans should have the same legal access, same legal rights and representation under the law, and I’m sure all the couples will go and get married because they’re fighting for the right to love each other,” Goodwin continued. Nevada’s constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage was passed by voters in 2002.
courtesy of Wikipedia
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Oregon Republican conference votes for marriage equality Conservatives denounce the move
courtesy of Dorchester Conference / Facebook
The annual Republican conference was founded in 1965 by Robert Packwood, then an up-and-coming Republican state legislator, and later a U.S. Senator. Packwood was unhappy with the rightward tilt of the Republican Party, which had nominated Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater for the presidency in 1964. Republican conservatives boycotted this year’s event, which they denounced as “a publicity stunt for liberal social causes rather than a forum for Republican dialogue.” The Republican right held its own “Freedom Rally” instead. Nevertheless, Freedom Oregon celebrated the pro-equality vote. The group was organized to drum up Republican support for a proposed ballot initiative to legalize samesex marriage. “There are a large number of young Republicans who are finding their voice in the party,” said Alexis Wolf, a Republican active in Freedom Oregon. “We don’t believe the freedom to express love and commitment should be limited by government.” James Owens, Chairman of Log Cabin Republicans Oregon and Co-Director of Freedom Oregon, said in a statement that “the Dorchester Conference sets the tone for the GOP in Oregon for the coming year…” “I’m proud to have led Log Cabin RepubDorchester Logo licans members on the floor of the convenby Mike Andrew state-wide Dorchester Conference and tion today as we made history and moved SGN Staff Writer voted by a convincing margin to support one step closer to making marriage equality marriage equality. According to Freedom a reality for committed same-sex couples in Oregon Republicans gathered at their Oregon, the vote was 233 to 162. this state,” Owens added.
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“This wasn’t a vote against an anti-gay resolution, it was a vote in favor of freedom for all Oregonians – and a message to those fringe members of the Oregon Republican Party obsessed with pushing discriminatory measures similar to Arizona’s SB-1062 on the ballot in November. Today wasn’t just great – it was the absolute best outcome for Log Cabin Republicans, and a statement that Oregon Republicans are becoming more mainstream, less divided, and ready to win on issues like economic freedom, personal responsibility, lower taxes and a less intrusive government.” One day after the vote on marriage, the conference picked the moderate Republican Monica Wehby over rightwing state Representative Jason Conger in a straw poll on the upcoming U.S. Senate primary. “The key to Republican Party relevance, at least in statewide races, is moderation on divisive social issues,” The Oregonian newspaper concluded in an editorial on the conference. The ballot initiative must qualify by July 3 in order to get on the November ballot, but it is no longer the only road to marriage equality for Oregon. Two lawsuits have been filed in federal court challenging the state’s marriage law, and a hearing on the combined suits is scheduled for April 23. Oregon’s attorney general Ellen Rosenblum said last month that she would not defend state law in court.
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Patty MurraY
ery year, she’s watched her health care costs rise higher and higher. It got to the point where she was paying $300 monthly premiums, with an $8000 deductible all for a plan she described as ‘paying for nothing.’ So, as soon as Susan could access health care through the Washington state exchange, she jumped at the chance. Susan spoke on the phone with a real, live person, and she was able to sign up for an affordable plan in a matter of minutes. Now, Susan is on a plan that costs her $125 a month, instead of $300. It’s a plan that has a $2000 deductible that she says actually pays for things. And guess what? She can afford to go to the doctor. Not just in the case of an emergency, but for a physical or a mammogram that could save her life – not to mention thousands and
instead like to gift my colleagues on the other side of the aisle with a reality check. More specifically, I’d like to talk about a certain group of people who arguably stand to lose the most if their antics continue. So, I’ve come to the floor today to set the record straight on the Affordable Care Act and how it is working for the women of America. “It’s not much of a stretch for me to say the Affordable Care Act is probably one of the most significant pieces of legislation for women in my lifetime. Not because of the battles we fought to get it to the President’s desk. And, not necessarily, because of the size or scope of the law. But because of the tangible and positive impact it has had – and will continue to have – on the health and well-being of the women in America. “Four years ago, health insurance companies could deny women care due to so-called pre-existing conditions – like pregnancy, or being a victim of domestic violence. Four years ago women were permitted to be legally discriminated against when it came to insurance premiums – and were often paying more for coverage than men. Four years ago women did not have access to the full range of recommended preventive care – like mammograms, prenatal screenings, and more. Four years ago, the insurance companies had all the leverage. And four years ago, too often, women were paying the price. “That’s why I am so proud to highlight just how far we’ve come for women over the past four years. “Since the Affordable Care Act became law, women have been treated fairly: with increased access to affordable health insurance, benefits and services, deductibles and other expenses have been capped, so a health care crisis doesn’t cause a family to lose their home or their life savings. Women can use the health care marketplaces to pick quality plans that work for them and their families, and if they change jobs or have to move, they are able to keep their coverage. “And starting in 2012, we saw these benefits for women expand even further: additional types of maternity care are now covered and women are now armed with the proper tools and resources in order to take the right steps to have a healthy pregnancy. Women now have access to domestic partner violence screening and counseling, as
“It’s our job to have an open, honest discussion about what the Affordable Care Act means for our constituents and to talk about ways to responsibly improve it. Instead, as we saw in the House last week, others have spent the better part of the last four years trying to take away the critical benefits I just laid out and trying to score cheap political points on an issue that can literally mean the difference between life and death. “I can understand why some of my colleagues disagree with certain parts of this law or maybe how it has been implemented, but what I can’t understand is why anyone elected to Congress would decide to simply ignore real-life stories of their own constituents whose lives were changed the day this law took effect. “People like Susan Wellman from Bellingham in my home state of Washington. Because Susan is self-employed, she has had to pay for individual insurance, and ev-
thousands of dollars in health care costs. That kind of preventive care is good for women like Susan. It’s good for her family and it’s also good for this country, because when more people have access to preventive care, it makes health care cheaper for every single one of us. “It’s also good for women like Carrie Little – a certified organic farmer from Orting, Washington. A few weeks ago, as she was working outside, one of the rams on her farm attacked her – leaving her with bruises and a broken leg. Fortunately – because of her new health plan – her visit to the emergency room was painless. Well, as painless as it could be with a broken leg. Her hospital bills, her cast and her visits to the orthopedic physician were paid in full. Until last year, Carrie had been spending half her income for a catastrophic-only health plan, forcing her to pay out-of-pocket for even the most basic of care. In a recent op-
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make our own medical and religious decisions without being dictated to or limited by our employers. Contraceptive coverage is supported by the vast majority of Americans who understand how important it is for women and families.” Senator Murray’s remarks as prepared: “I’d like to take a moment to recognize our Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives – who last week cast the 50th vote in their efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. That’s right – their 50th. And while I know it’s tradition to gift gold in celebration of a 50th milestone – I’d
Seattle Gay News
ed Carrie said, ‘What a welcome relief that my new health plan covers preventive care, like mammograms, immunizations and yearly doctor visits. I can keep the primary care doctor I’ve been seeing for years. And I no longer worry about family members getting kicked around due to pre-existing conditions. Thank goodness. In agriculture, profits and losses shift like the weather, so for our community, it is crucial that health premiums stay affordable.’ “Or women like Ingrid Gordon – a small business owner from Seattle – who immediately enrolled in coverage when it became available. After an hour on the website, with minimal technical difficulties, Ingrid was enrolled and received her insurance card in the mail just a few days later. Since her coverage began on January 1, Ingrid had her first dental and physical exams in fourteen years, cured a skin disorder thanks to prescription medicine, scheduled a colonoscopy now that she’s 50, and finally had her bothersome knee Xrayed. Now, all of these exams, visits and prescriptions would have cost Ingrid thousands – if not tens of thousands of dollars – out-of-pocket, just one year ago. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Ingrid paid a grand total of ZERO dollars in co-pay. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act women like Susan, Carrie and Ingrid are now fully in charge of their health care – not the insurance companies. That’s why I feel very strongly that we can’t go back to the way things were. While we can never stop working to make improvements – we owe it to the women of America to make progress and not allow the clock to be rolled back on their health care needs. “But unfortunately, there are efforts underway all across the country – including here in our nation’s capital – to severely undermine a woman’s access to some of the critical and lifesaving services provided by the Affordable Care Act. And no provision of this law has faced quite as much scrutiny than the idea of providing affordable, quality reproductive health services to the women of America. We’ve seen attempt after attempt to eliminate access to abortion services and low-cost birth control, all while restricting a woman’s ability to make personal decisions about her own care. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. Youtube
well as screening for sexually transmitted infections. And now women finally have access to affordable birth control. “As public servants, it’s our job to help our constituents access the federal benefits available to them – particularly when it comes to health care. And since 80 percent of women are not only making health care choices for themselves, but also their families and loved ones – it’s our responsibility to serve as a guide when it comes to understanding how to best access these benefits. That might mean putting them in touch with a Navigator to ensure they are getting the most affordable health insurance plan or making them aware of an enrollment event where they can get information on available coverage options. But our responsibilities don’t end there.
continued from cover
Patty Murray illustrates her point with real examples of ACA successes
Celebrating 41 Years!
“The truth is that the tide of these politically-driven, extreme efforts continues to rise. In 2013, our nation saw yet another record-breaking year of state legislatures passing restrictive legislation barring women’s access to reproductive services. In fact, in the past three years, the United States has enacted more of these restrictions than in the previous ten years combined. This means that now more than ever it is our job to protect these kinds of decisions for women, to fight for women’s health, and to ensure that women’s health does not become a political football. “And for this reason, I was proud to lead members of my caucus in filing a brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. where a secular corporation, and its shareholders, are trying to get in between a woman and her health. And just like the many attempts before this case, there are those out there who would like the American public to believe that this conversation is anything BUT an attack on women’s health care. To them, it’s a debate about ‘freedom,’ except of course the freedom for women to access care. “It’s no different than when we are told that attacks on abortion rights aren’t an infringement on a women’s right to choose – they’re about religion or state’s rights. Or when we’re told that restricting emergency contraception isn’t about limiting women’s ability to make our own family planning decisions – it’s about protecting pharmacists. Or like just last week, when an Alaska state senator said he didn’t think there was a compelling reason for the government to ‘finance other people’s recreation’ in reference to contraception coverage in health care. “In fact, after doing some ‘research,’ this state senator concluded that since birth control costs about ‘four or five lattes’ that the government should really have no reason to cover these costs for women. “The truth is this IS about contraception.
This IS an attempt to limit a women’s ability to access care. This IS about WOMEN. “Allowing a woman’s boss to call the shots about her access to birth control should be inconceivable to all Americans in this day and age, and takes us back to a place in history when women had no voice or choice. In fact, contraception was included as a required preventive service in the Affordable Care Act on the recommendation of the independent, nonprofit Institute of Medicine and other medical experts because it is essential to the health of women and families. And after many years of research, we know ensuring access to effective birth control has a direct impact on improving the lives of women and families in America. “We have been able to directly link to declines in maternal and infant mortality, reduced risk of ovarian cancer, better overall health outcomes for women, and far fewer unintended pregnancies and abortions – which is a goal we all should share. But what’s at stake in this case before the Supreme Court is whether a CEO’s personal beliefs can trump a woman’s right to access free or low-cost contraception under the Affordable Care Act. “Every American deserves to have access to high quality health care coverage regardless of where they work. And each of us should have the right to make our own medical and religious decisions without being dictated to or limited by our employers. Contraceptive coverage is supported by the vast majority of Americans who understand how important it is for women and families. “In weighing this case my hope is that the Court realizes that women working for private companies should be afforded the same access to medical care, regardless of who signs their paycheck. We can’t allow for-profit, secular, corporations or their shareholders to deny female employees’ access to comprehensive women’s health care, under the guise of a ‘re-
ligious exemption.’ It’s as if we’re saying that because you are a CEO or shareholder in a corporation, your rights are more important than your employees who happen to be women. “That is a slippery slope that could lead to employers cutting off coverage for childhood immunizations, if they object to the idea, pre-natal care for children born to unmarried parents, if they thought that was wrong, or blocking an employee’s ability to access HIV treatment. “I was proud to be joined in filing the brief by 18 other Senators who were here when Congress enacted the religious protections through the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993 – and who were also here when Congress made access to women’s health care available through the Affordable Care Act in 2010. They are Senators who know that Congress did not intend for a corporation – or furthermore, its shareholders – to restrict a women’s access to preventive health care. “And in the coming weeks, as the Supreme Court prepares to begin oral arguments in this case, these Senators – and our
colleagues who support this effort – will echo these sentiments. “Because we all know that improving access to birth control is good health policy and good economic policy. We know it will mean healthier women, healthier children and healthier families. And we know it will save money for businesses and consumers. “But, I know many of our colleagues believe that repealing the Affordable Care Act and access to reproductive health services is a political winner for them. “But the truth is, this law – and these provisions – are a winner for women, for men, for children – and for our health care system overall. “So I am proud to stand with my colleagues who are committed to making sure the benefits of this law don’t get taken away from the women of America – “Because politics and ideology should not matter when it comes to making sure women get the care they need at a cost they can afford.” Courtesy the Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray
GOP millennials support same-sex marriage, new poll says Republican millennials – those under 30 – overwhelmingly support same-sex marriage, a new Pew Research poll says. In fact, they are more than twice as likely to support marriage equality as Republicans over 50. Some 61% of Republican millennials said they approve of same-sex marriage, but only 27% of older Republicans agree. That puts the young generation of Republicans ahead of the country as a whole. According to Pew, 54% of the general public favor marriage equality, an all-time high in their surveys. Other recent polls have put the pro-equality number as high as 60%. The youngest Republicans are also fine with Gay and Lesbian couples starting families. Only 18% of Republicans under 30 said same-sex adoptions would be “a bad thing.” In contrast, half the Republicans aged 31-64 viewed child-rearing by samesex couples negatively. Among Republicans 65 and over, the number jumped to 66%. Pew surveyed 1,821 adults nationwide, including 617 millennials, from February 14-23. While the new poll suggests that young Republicans share many of the social views of others in their generation, regardless of party affiliation, the effect of their liberal opinions on the Republican Party may be
limited. There simply may not be enough Republican millennials to influence the policies of the party. Pew found that most millennials do not identify with either of the major political parties, but do tend to vote heavily Democratic. Half identify themselves as Independents, and 27% as Democrats. Only 31% of millennials agreed that “there is a great deal of difference between the Republican and Democratic parties.” More people in older generations, including 58% of people ages 69 to 86, say there are big differences between the two major parties. At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) gathering, a panel on Republican outreach to minority voters was only sparsely attended and did not even mention LGBT voters. “Much to my dismay, there was not a single mention of even the word gay, much less LGBT, in a far broader discussion of basically every other minority community that the conservative movement needs to do conservative outreach for,” Log Cabin Republicans President Gregory T. Angelo told the Huffington Post. “In my opinion, the silence was deafening on that front.” According to the National Journal, most of the relatively few panel attendees were under 25, but their attitude towards LGBT issues was “more indifferent than anything.”
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Uganda anti-Gay law provokes firestorm of protest by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Uganda’s new anti-Gay law, which went into effect March 10, has already touched off a firestorm of protest. Human rights activists filed suit on March 11 to overturn Uganda’s new antiGay law, and they may be joined by UNAIDS, the organization set up by the United Nations to monitor HIV/AIDS treatment. Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has also been denounced for signing the law by his former vice president Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe. The World Bank, the European Parliament and a number of Uganda’s donor countries are also taking punitive measures against the country. Uganda’s penal code already criminalized “carnal knowledge against the order of nature,” a British colonial era term for same-sex relations, but the new law goes much further. “Touching with the intent to commit homosexuality,” is now a crime, as is keeping “a house, room, set of rooms or place of any kind for purposes of homosexuality” and engaging in the undefined “promotion of homosexuality.” “Repeat offender” Gays may be sentenced to life in prison. Several NGOs have asked Uganda’s Constitutional Court to strike down the new law, on the grounds that it violates the country’s constitution. The challenge argues that the new law is overly broad and unconstitutional on multiple grounds, including by violating Ugandans’ rights to equality before the
law without discrimination, as well as their rights to privacy, freedom of expression, thought, assembly, association, and civic participation. U.S.-based LGBT campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) supports the suit, but also warn that hearings before the high court can be delayed for several years. “Uganda’s constitution explicitly protects basic human rights for all,” said Maria Burnett, HRW senior Africa researcher. “The anti-homosexuality law completely defies Uganda’s constitution and its legal obligations under international law, so this challenge is a crucial step to ensure that the law is removed from the books.” UNAIDS TO JOIN SUIT UNAIDS deputy director Luiz Loures said his agency is ready to join the suit as well. The agency has signed on to previous lawsuits challenging sodomy laws in Canada and one currently in Malawi’s courts, Loures told BuzzFeed following a panel at the World Bank on “The Economic Cost of Homophobia.” “We’ll be doing more,” he said. “And now there is a challenge in Uganda [that] we’re prepared to join as well.” Loures said Uganda’s law will make HIV services harder to access for LGBT people, and UNAIDS was obligated to prevent that outcome. “We need to change the way we are doing business, and that is a very radical statement,” he said. Loures said one option needed to be diverting funds away from organizations that will not ensure they reach key populations, including men who have sex with men, or support policies like the Anti-Homosexuali-
Zimbabwe police raid Gay conference by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Zimbabwe police stormed a hotel in the capital city of Harare on March 12, and broke up a conference of LGBT activists. Two conference leaders were arrested, questioned, and later released. The group Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) was holding a media training in the Bronte Hotel, with some 20 human rights activists in attendance. According to attendees, police entered the training session, demanded to see IDs, and took down names and addresses of participants. They then took the training facilitator and a GALZ youth coordinator into custody. Police charged them with a violation of Section 25 of the Public Order Security Act, holding a public meeting without permission. “Any organizer of a public meeting, demonstration or procession who fails to give the police advance notice in accordance with POSA is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of $2000 (€1440) or a year’s imprisonment or both,” the law says. According to GALZ activists, this law is used to target critics of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and groups deemed to be “pro-Western.” The two activists were later released unharmed.
GALZ has won two court cases against the Zimbabwe government this year. In January, Zimbabwe’s High Court ruled that police acted improperly in a raid on GALZ headquarters in which they confiscated computers, materials and publications. A month later, charges against the chair of GALZ were dismissed by the High Court, after the government accused him of running an unregistered organization. At a February news conference, Mugabe claimed that he had not realized until recently that there were Gay people in his country, and he hinted at a further crackdown on the country’s LGBT community. In the past Mugabe has said that LGBT Zimbabweans are “worse than dogs or pigs,” and once threatened to cut their heads off. Activists have also charged Zimbabwe’s police force with harassment, assault, and even torture.
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ty Act that drives them underground. Donor nations need “really to be more selective” in the organizations they fund in countries like Uganda, he said. Loures added that donors should be guided by incountry LGBT movements. “In Uganda today, in Nigeria today, you will find [they are] well organized. They are fighting back, and this should be our reference point,” he said. FORMER UGANDA VICE PRESIDENT WEIGHS IN The former vice president of Uganda has launched a scathing attack on President Yoweri Museveni for signing the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe was vice president of Uganda from 1994 to 2003, and is now the UN’s Special Envoy for HIV/ AIDS in Africa. On the day the law took effect, she issued a statement saying the measure will only fuel stigma and discrimination against the LGBT community and that the law also “undermines the significant progress of the national AIDS response”. “I am in full solidarity with the LGBT community and I will continue to defend their rights in Uganda and across Africa,” Wandira-Kazibwe said. “Rest assured of my unwavering support and action for the realisation of the rights for every human being, which has been my struggle since childhood. I will not reverse my path.” The former vice president says she is working with Uganda’s Ministry of Health to ensure that the law is subjected to a regulatory impact assessment.
FINANCIAL IMPACT The World Bank has postponed a $79 million loan to Uganda, in what is described as “the largest financial penalty to be handed to the country” since the new law was passed by Uganda’s parliament. The loan was intended to finance Uganda’s health services. “We have postponed the project for further review to ensure that the development objectives would not be adversely affected by the enactment of this new law,” a World Bank spokesperson said. In an editorial for the Washington Post, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim warned that legislation restricting LGBT rights “can hurt a country’s competitiveness by discouraging multinational companies from investing or locating their activities in those nations.” He said the World Bank would discuss how such discrimination “would affect our projects and our gay and lesbian staff members”, adding: “Institutionalized discrimination is bad for people and for societies. Widespread discrimination is also bad for economies. “There is clear evidence that when societies enact laws that prevent productive people from fully participating in the workforce, economies suffer,” he added. On March 13, the European Parliament said it would seek sanctions against Uganda and Nigeria, which also passed a draconian new anti-Gay law. Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands have suspended aid to Uganda’s government as well, although all three said they would continue to support NGOs working in the country. Sweden has also said it will review its aid spending.
Openly Gay, HIVpositive man runs for mayor of Athens Warns that neo-Nazis might take office Gregory Vallianatos, a Gay activist and founding member of ACT UP Greece, is running for mayor of Athens in the election scheduled for May 18. According to his campaign consultant, Vallianatos “is attempting to make history as the first openly gay and first openly HIV-positive man to run for mayor of Athens.” Vallianatos also made history as the plaintiff in a lawsuit in which the European Court of Human Rights ordered Greece to afford Gay and Lesbian couples the right to form civil unions. Vallianatos is a candidate for the Liberal Alliance, a small party that advocates an essentially libertarian platform. In fact, on his personal Facebook page, Vallianatos recently posted, “I defend the right of every male and female citizen to call themselves gay, lesbian, trans, queer, bi, straight or anything else they want to, and to say so! Same as the right for everyone who is HIV-positive, such as myself, to say or not to say so.” Polling shows Vallianatos in fourth
place, just behind the candidate of the neoNazi party, Golden Dawn. The left-wing opposition party SYRIZA is expected to win, with the candidate of the governing New Democracy Party coming in second. According to Vallianatos, Golden Dawn’s popularity is surging as electionday approaches, and they are now within three points of overtaking the government’s candidate. A second-place finish would guarantee the neo-Nazis a place in the May 25 runoff election. “The stakes of a Golden Dawn ascension to the mayoral seat of Athens cannot be overstated,” a website supporting Vallianatos says. Vallianatos himself has been assaulted and harassed multiple times by Golden Dawn since the onetime fringe party has won new support in the midst of Greece’s economic crisis. While Golden Dawn is known mainly for its violent attacks on Greece’s immigrant communities, its leaders routinely refer to the LGBT community as “sick and abnormal.” The group recently distributed leaflets in Athens’ Gay neighborhoods which read, “After the immigrants, you are next.”
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Seattle Gay News 13
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Iowa Supreme Court hears oral argument in Lambda Legal case challenging HIV-based conviction courtesy of
Nick Rhoades
“This conviction cannot stand because a person living with HIV who is receiving effective medical treatment and who uses a condom is not guilty of a crime under Iowa law.” DES MOINES, IA – On Monday, March 10, 2014 the Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments in Lambda Legal’s case repre-
senting Nick Rhoades, an HIV-positive Iowan in his appeal for post-conviction relief. Rhoades was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison with registration as a sex offender after having a one-time sexual encounter with another man during which they used a condom. His partner did not contract HIV. “Iowa’s law concerning the criminal transmission of HIV requires the State to show that a defendant engaged in conduct that could result in the transmission of HIV,” said Christopher Clark, Counsel for Lambda Legal. “At the time of the alleged crime, Mr. Rhoades had an undetectable viral load and he used a condom – he was clearly protecting his partner from exposure to the virus. And the growing medical consensus is that there is no real possibility of transmission under these circumstances.” In June 2008, Rhoades had a one-time sexual encounter with Adam Plendl during which they used a condom. Several days later, Plendl was told by a friend that Rhoades might be HIV-positive, and he contacted the police. The police arrested Rhoades in September 2008, and on the advice of his counsel, he pled guilty. Despite the fact that a condom was used and Mr. Plendl did not contract HIV, Rhoades was convicted under Iowa’s HIV criminal-
ization law. He received the maximum sentence: 25 years in prison and classification as the most serious type of sex offender. Subsequently, the court suspended his prison sentence, and he was placed on supervised probation for five years. On March 15, 2010, Rhoades filed an Application for PostConviction Relief, arguing that the attorney who advised him to plead guilty had failed to inform him of the specifics of the statute, resulting in his conviction for a crime he did not in fact commit. In December 2011, the district court denied the application. Lambda Legal is representing Mr. Rhoades in his appeal, and gave oral arguments on Mr. Rhoades’ behalf in September 2013. On October 3rd, the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed Rhoades’s conviction. Lambda Legal appealed that decision and the Iowa Supreme Court granted review of the case in January 2014. Thirty-nine states have HIV-specific criminal statutes. Among other things, HIV criminalization perpetuates the many myths and misconceptions that fuel other types of discrimination against people living with HIV. It sends an inaccurate message regarding prevention responsibility, creates a disincentive to getting tested, and may actually discourage disclosure of HIV status. “Iowa’s law that criminalizes people living
with HIV is particularly unjust and extreme. It subjects them to unwarranted prosecution and punishment, and has not proven effective in reducing new infections,” said Scott Schoettes, HIV Project Director for Lambda Legal. “Nick Rhoades’s story and the extreme sentence imposed in this case illustrate how these types of laws are outdated and unnecessary. They are abusively misused against people who have no desire or intention to harm anyone.” The case is Nick Rhoades v. State of Iowa. For more information, visit Lambda Legal’s case page here: http://www.lambdalegal. org/in-court/cases/rhoades-v-iowa Christopher Clark, Counsel in Lambda Legal’s Midwest Regional Office and Scott A. Schoettes, HIV Project Director are handling the case for Lambda Legal. They are joined by Joseph C. Glazebrook and Dan L. Johnston with Glazebrook & Moe, LLP based in Des Moines, Iowa. Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexuals, Transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work. Courtesy of Lambda Legal
HIV and stigma in 2014 by Ron Anders SGN Contributing Writer
14 Seattle Gay News
times report that their friends have made disparaging remarks about men who they have heard are HIV-positive. They report feeling intensely conflicted and alienated. It reinforces their fear that they have much to lose by revealing their status. Many HIV-positive Gay men whom I have
ple rejections can diminish their willingness to reach out to others. Some men report that they feel like “damaged goods,” which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, often manifesting as depression. They feel defined by their HIV status often losing track of their intrinsic worth and appeal. To help resolve the isolation caused by feeling stigmatized, it is crucial to look for support in the community. Talking with others who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS can be hugely helpful in normalizing the spectrum of emotions that are brought on by a diagnosis. This can be done on an individual or group basis. Seattle organizations such as Gay City and the Seattle AIDS Support Group, among others, provide a wide variety of services for people with HIV concerns. Some social groups, like POZSeattle, hold events specifically for HIV-positive men. Organizations such as meetup.com also offer forums for discussion. An HIV diagnosis is a serious and challenging issue. Its accompanying stigma often precipitates a feeling of being out of control – emotionally and physically. It is crucial to develop coping skills that foster a feeling of equilibrium. These may consist of acknowledging the diagnosis and, simultaneously, choosing to move forward with one’s life. For some, these two steps may initially feel incompatible. However, working on one’s own or with the help of a therapist, support group or friends can go a long treated report that they avoid dating, not way in integrating the tasks facing those wanting to repeatedly have “the talk” (reveal- newly diagnosed with HIV. ing their HIV status) with a potential partner. Having a date “disappear” after the discloRon Anders, LICSW is a psychotherapist sure is a common experience, one that can in private practice in Seattle. He can be congradually erode feelings of self-worth. Multi- tacted through his website: ronanders.com. fightaidsghana.org
By 2014, one might think that the stigma and shame attached to an HIV-positive diagnosis would be greatly diminished. After all, the epidemic, which started in the early 1980s, is now over 30 years down the line. For many people with HIV today, symptoms can be managed similarly to other chronic illnesses. HIV treatment was transformed with the introduction of the first protease inhibitors in 1996 and recent polls show that most Americans no longer consider AIDS to be a major public health issue. This assumption, however, does a great disservice to people living with HIV. People are still dying of AIDS and, while infection rates are stable, they are still alarmingly high. In my psychotherapy practice, I have treated many individuals who struggle with the stigma of HIV and the concomitant challenges of depression and isolation. Historically, there have been many diseases which stigmatized particular minorities as carriers. African-Americans have long been stigmatized as carriers of sickle cell anemia. As a result, during World War II, the American Red Cross practiced racial segregation of blood plasma, not unlike the ongoing prohibition of blood donations by Gay men. Outbreaks of the bubonic plague in Europe were often blamed on Jews. This stigmatization is glaringly apparent when discussing Gay men and HIV. Emerging only 11 years after Stonewall, AIDS is a relatively new disease. Fear surrounding the surfacing epidemic in the 1980s is still fresh in many people’s minds. The continuing stigma of HIV/AIDS can
lead to self-defeating behaviors in some Gay men. One of these behaviors consists of self-shaming, feeling that they “should have known better” than to get infected with a disease whose mode of transmission is well known, unlike early in the epidemic when transmission paths were
unknown. Even those men with a large network of friends can feel isolated because they refrain from mentioning their HIV status to others. They often say that they feel “alone in a crowd.” HIV-positive men whose status is unknown by others some-
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The thrift shop craze courtesy of Cure Thrift SHop
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by Sugie SGN Contributing Writer A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE THRIFT SHOP CRAZE I consider myself a healthy thrift shop shopper. Long time ago when I lived in Bellevue, I listened to a bank officer rave about the ten silk blouses she got at The Overlake Service League Thrift Shop in Bellevue Square. I also got to listen to how “embarrassed” she was for even thinking about going into a thrift shop! Myself, I have no such qualms. I would like to reveal a little history of a few thrift shops on the present horizon. Value Village was founded in 1954. In it’s 59 year history, it has been giving many employment opportunities as well as giving the public second hand clothes, furniture, and books. The Goodwill was founded in 1902 by Edgar M. Holmes. It functions as a nonprofit organization and provides employment training and rehabilitation for those who are involved in it. Last yet not least is the Salvation Army, founded by William
Booth in 1852. This gentleman was a minister who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1858, Booth decided to call his organization The Salvation Army. WHY I GO TO THRIFT SHOPS IN THE AUTUMN OF MY LIFE At first, I was hesitant about going into thrift shops, perhaps for the same reason the previously mentioned bank officer stalled about going into thrift shops. I remember how my dear departed mother gathered up our old clothes to take them to the consignment shop on Mercer Island known as The Dark Horse. Since then, I have stepped on the thrift shop bandwagon, and have yet to get off! I presently wear a forest green leather jacket that I got for only $33 at Value Village! I could rhapsodize on and on about the beauty of thrift shops, yet it is up to you, dear reader, to find a thrift store, harness it, and ride it to victory to the price wise finish line! Need I say more? Take it from me, Susan B. Gemson – only your pocketbook will know for sure!
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