Celebrating 43 Years! Issue 13 Volume 45
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Trump to allow busiEd Murray vs. Jeff Sessions on immigration nesses to discriminate against LGBT Americans enforcement
Ed Murray – Photo by David Kidd
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The City of Seattle is suing the Trump administration over threats by US Attorney General Jeff Sessions to cut off federal
funding to so-called “sanctuary cities.” In its lawsuit, filed March 29, Seattle says that it is acting in accord with federal law and the US Constitution, and that the see SEATTLE SUES page 6
HRC President Chad Griffin led a rally Tuesday of LGBT groups and allies who had no faith that Trump was on their side – Photo by Paul Morigi / AP Images
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Donald Trump has issued an executive order allowing companies that do business with the federal government to discrimi-
nate against LGBT Americans. The order, issued March 27, revokes President Obama’s Executive Order 13673 – the “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” orsee DISCRIMINATE page 8
Rep. Barbara Lee urges Immigration lawsuit: Local Congress members President Trump to abandon HIV/AIDS cuts side with Seattle
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Attorney General Jeff Sessions – Photos courtesy of democracynow.org and politico.com
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Both Seattle-area members of Congress announced their support for the City of Seattle in its dispute with the Trump administration over immigration policies.
Trump’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, threatened to cut off federal funds to cities like Seattle that refuse to play ball with ICE agents seeking to arrest and deport undocumented residents. In response, see SANCTUARY CITIES page 6
Rep. Barbara Lee – Photo courtesy of siliconbeat.com
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee for the 13th District of California released the following statement regarding proposed cuts to PEPFAR and other lifesaving HIV/AIDS programs: “The passage of PEPFAR was one of the greatest moments of bipartisan cooper-
ation in the history of our government. Understanding the life-and-death stakes of our fight against HIV, members of both parties have put aside our ideological differences to address this global pandemic over the see BARBARA LEE page 8
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Celebrating 41 Years!
Dr. George Weinberg: Society and the Healthy Psychotherapist by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer When Society and the Healthy Homosexual, Dr. George Weinberg’s most famous book, was published in 1972, the consensus was that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people were mentally ill. A bestselling book from that period was Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) by Dr. David Reuben, a quack who described gay men as sad, promiscuous types who cruised public toilets and trans women as “surgically mutilated male homosexuals.” Dr. Weinberg was one of the first non-LGBT mental health professionals (Dr. Evelyn Hooker was another) to defy conventional wisdom. Because of his work, and that of activists like Barbara Gittings, Franklin Kameny and Jack Nichols, the Board of Trustees of the American Psychiatric Association declared, on December 15, 1973, that “by itself, homosexuality does not meet the criteria for being a psychiatric disorder.” Dr. Weinberg, who died of cancer on March 20 at age 87, was a true pioneer, and Society and the Healthy Homosexual was the most important book about LGBT people written by a heterosexual ally. (Dr. Alfred Kinsey was bisexual.) It was a must-read book for LGBT people coming out in the seventies; and Barbara Gittings included it in her “Gay Grab-Bag” list of essential titles. I myself named Dr. Weinberg’s book number 6 in my list of the
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most important LGBT books of the 20th Century (2000). To Dr. Weinberg, antiLGBT bigotry was the true mental illness: “I would never consider a patient healthy unless he had overcome his prejudice against homosexuality.” In Society and the Healthy Homosexual Weinberg coined the word homophobia to describe “the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals;” calls homophobia a disease; and notes that this is “an attitude held by many non-homosexuals and perhaps by the majority of homosexuals in countries where there is discrimination against homosexuals,” our own included. Though the concept of homophobia is Dr. Weinberg’s most famous contribution to queer thought, he is also one of the first to “propose a distinction between the words ‘homosexual’ and ‘gay.’ To be homosexual is to have an erotic preference for members of one’s own sex. ... A homosexual person is gay when he regards himself as happily gifted with whatever capacity he has to see people as romantically beautiful. It is to be free of shame, guilt, regret over the fact that one is homosexual, that the searchlight of one’s childhood vision of human beings shined more brilliantly on members of one’s own sex than on those of the other. ... To be gay is to view one’s sexuality as the healthy heterosexual views his.” This was written in 1972, so Dr. Weinberg may be forgiven for his use of sexist pronouns and the all-inclusive “gay” instead of LGBTQIIAA. The late, great gay rights pioneer,
my good friend Jack Nichols, who was a healthy homosexual long before Society and the Healthy Homosexual came along, called Dr. Weinberg (his good friend) a “gay-lib pioneer” and a true ally of our cause. Jack Drescher, clinical professor of psychiatry at New York Medical Center, told Lou Chibbaro, Jr. of the Washington Blade that Weinberg “was an early straight ally to the LGBT community who is responsible for introducing the concept of ‘homophobia’ into everyday language and thought. His was no small accomplishment, as the concept shifted society’s focus away from an automatic hatred or disdain for gay people and instead asked what’s wrong with people who feel that way. Instead of gay people having to explain themselves, the haters did – or as is often the case, they had to publicly and falsely deny they were haters.” Though Society and the Healthy Homosexual is no longer in print, you may find copies in public or LGBT libraries or through used book web sites. Even 45 years later, this is a book worth reading.
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OBITUARY
IN MEMORIAM – Jim Irish (1936-2017) by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Jim Irish, real estate appraiser and veteran LGBT rights activist, died March 23 at the age of 80. Jim was a member of the GSBA for at least two decades, and the group’s communications manager Matt Landers described him as “a stalwart on the Public Policy Task Force…” He was also one of the longest-serving members of SEAMEC’s Steering Committee, helping that organization interview and rate candidates for public office on their commitment to LGBT rights. In addition, Jim was active with PFLAG, Seattle Prime Timers, and Mature Friends. He also participated in the annual AIDS Walks. Anyone who ever visited a place where LGBT folks were likely to congregate probably ran into Jim as he made the rounds, distributing GSBA Guides, SEAMEC voter guides, and stacks of the Seattle Gay News to locations around the city. Hip replacement surgery in 2016 might have slowed Jim down, but it did not prevent him from distributing literature to LGBT-friendly venues. Jim’s activism was motivated at first by a desire to support his two Lesbian daugh-
Jim with wife Donna – Photo courtesy of Virginia Irish
ters, Virginia and Melissa. Much later in life, he would come out as Gay himself. “Everybody loved him,” his daughter Melissa told SGN, “in all the circles he ran with. He always tried to be helpful.” “His nickname was ‘Sunny Jim,’” Vir-
Jim celebrating his 80th birthday – Photo courtesy of Seattle Prime Timers
ginia added. In 1980, while home on leave from the Marine Corps, Melissa came out to Jim. “There are two things I want,” she remembers Jim telling her. “One, don’t tell your mom – I think it would kill her.” “That wasn’t true,” Melissa continued. “Mom took it very well. The second thing he asked was ‘Help your sister come out too. I think she’s having trouble with it.’” “His own coming out was a very, very slow process,” Melissa remembers. “He was a very private man. We both think he was Gay for a long time, but he never really spoke about it till maybe 2013.” Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1936, Jim attended West Point for three years and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic with a degree in engineering. He married his wife Donna in 1960. Jim and Donna moved to Seattle from upstate New York in 1979. After a sevenyear stint in Topeka – 1985 through 1992 – they moved back to Seattle and remained here for the rest of their lives. Donna died in 2012 after a protracted illness, through all of which Jim tended to her daily, while still keeping up with his commitments in the LGBT community. Jim is survived by his daughters Virginia and Melissa Irish, and grandchildren Michael and Jessica Cook.
Act NOW to protest WA State Mr./Ms. Leather Organization removal of LGBTQ survey questions Contest winners
Please welcome the newly selected Leather Representatives from this weekend’s Washington State Mr./Ms. Leather, and Bootblack Contest, that was held at The Cuff this past Saturday. From left: Washington State Bootblack, Caleb, Washington State Mr. Leather, Travis and Washington State Ms. Leather, Carla – Photo by Malixe
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March 31, 2017
Dear Friends, For decades, we have worked to reduce social and health disparities facing LGBTQ older adults and ensure access to competent care, services and policies. We, at Generations Aging with Pride, have worked hard to have questions about sexual orientation and gender identity added in national health and aging surveys to understand and address the needs of LGBTQ older adults. The federal government has recently proposed the removal of voluntary questions about LGBTQ people, including sexual orientation and gender identity, from two federal surveys, which provide data to assist in the allocation of resources for senior services. It has been proposed to remove sexual orientation and gender identity questions from the 2017 versions of the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants and the Annual Program Performance Report for Centers for Independent Living. The National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants provides critical feedback on programs funded by the Older American Act, including nutritional and support programs. The Annual Program Performance Report for Centers for Independent Living allows for the assessment of programs that serve people with disabilities. Please click on this link [NOTE: link was inadvertently deactivated when this PDF letter was created and submitted to the SGN – contact Generations Aging with Pride for more information – http:// age-pride.org/ – or submit comments via email or mail as described below] to submit your comments regarding the removal of sexual orientation and gender identity questions in the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants by May 12, 2017. Or you can email comments to heather.menne@acl.hhs.gov or via the mail to: Heather Menne, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC 20201.
In addition, please click on the link below [NOTE: see note above regarding link problem] to submit your comments on the proposed removal of the sexual orientation and gender identity questions in the Centers for Independent Living program report by April 7, 2017. Or you can email comment to: veronica.hogan@acl.hhs.gov or via mail to: Veronica Hogan, Administration for Community Living, 330 C Street, Room 1133D, Washington, DC 20201. In our research, we have found that more than two-thirds of LGBTQ older adults have experienced victimization and discrimination more than three times in their lives, including discrimination in health, aging and disability services. In addition, some LGBTQ older adults do not have others to help them, elevating their risk of social isolation. Generations Aging with Pride is the Seattle based organization established to empower older LGBTQ older adults to live with pride and dignity by supporting their strengths and providing innovative programs and services. If you would like to support the work of Generations Aging with Pride, please make a tax-deductible donation by clicking on this link: http:// gapseattle.org/?page_id=133 We very much appreciate your commitment to LGBTQ older adults and ensuring we have the information needed to better address their needs. Sincerely, Karen Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen, PhD Board Co-Chair Generations Aging with Pride Shilpen Shilpen Patel, MD Board Co-Chair Generations Aging with Pride
Celebrating 41 Years!
The Israel Defense Forces’ first Transgender officer in Seattle April 4 and 5 To Whom It May Concern: I wanted to make you aware of an exciting opportunity. Lt. Shachar, the first transgender officer to transition from female to male during active service in the Israel Defense Forces, will be in Seattle April 4 and 5 to share his story and discuss the reality of transgender rights in Israel and Seattle. Lt. Shachar joined the IDF five years ago already identifying as a man. However, unsure of how the IDF would react to his gender, he chose to hide his identity and draft as a female. Eventually he made the transition during his IDF service with the support of his officers and peers. (His full bio is below.) Lt. Shachar will be speaking at multiple events: April 4, 7-8:30pm @ Congregation Beth Shalom, 6800 35th Ave. NE – A community event with Jewish and non-Jewish community leaders and LGBTQ leaders for large group discussion with Q&A. April 5, 6:30pm @ Central Building, First Floor Conference Room, 810 Third Ave. Hosted by Seattle’s LGBTQ Commis-
Lt. Shachar – Photo courtesy of gopride.com
sion and the Seattle Office of Civil Rights – A roundtable discussion with Shachar and an audience that will include City Commissioners, invited guests from other departments, and LGBTQ community members. Anders McConachie is a lay leader and he will make a few remarks and introduce Shachar. Shachar will then have the floor to share his story and lead a discussion about
transgender issues and experiences affecting both communities. BIOGRAPHY: Lt. Shachar is the first transgender officer to transition from female to male during active service in the Israeli Defense Forces. Shachar joined the IDF five years ago already identifying as a man. However, un-
sure of how the IDF would react to his gender, he chose to hide his identity and draft as a female. In his service he was chosen to go through officer training where he realized that in order to be the best commander for his future soldiers he would need to be open and honest with them. Shachar chose to stand up in front of his company of cadets and tell his story to emphasize that his goal was “to give them, as future officers, the tools to better treat their own soldiers.” He graduated officer school as a male officer. Since graduation he has become a consultant to the gender affairs unit in the IDF, leading the evolution of this subject area that has led to official policy. Today he is the coordinator for military affairs for Ma’avarim, the Israeli organization of the transgender community, where he advises youth, soldiers, and professionals on how to better integrate transgender people into the armed forces, speaking in Israel and the U.S. about his personal experience and the IDF policy he helped to form. Courtesy of the Consulate General of Israel (San Francisco)
Andrew Christian, men’s underwear designer: “I have a stronger voice now” by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor ANDREW CHRISTIAN SEX=POWER=FREEDOM BOOK-SIGNING EVENT UNDERU4MEN March 30 “I feel like I have a stronger voice now,” Andrew Christian, perhaps the best-known male underwear designer next to Calvin Klein said to SGN at his underU4men book-signing event March 30. “People listen when I tell them what I am about.” Christian and I reminisced about how much has changed since I first interviewed him at that very same E. Roy St. and Broadway Ave E. store some eight years ago. Then, a slightly younger mostly unknown designer who’d done so-so as a contestant on “Project Runway,” Christian had just embarked on his new project: men’s underwear. Fast-forward almost nine years later and he is the undisputed king of men’s underwear; particularly among Gay men. Christian wasn’t in town on Thursday to promote his underwear line, however (although it is impossible to differentiate the man from the project or his many, many hunky models that accompany him whenever he makes a public appearance), instead, he was in town promoting his book (and signing copies of) Sex=Power=Freedom. The book, available in a collector’s edition of silver or gold, is an art/coffee table book filled with Andrew Christian’s exclusive models. It features 200 pages of B&W photos. “This book will push the limits of sexuality, create conversation, and stir quite a bit of controversy,” Christian says of the book. He says the book “isn’t just sexy photos … it explains that SEX [sic] is more than SEX … it’s power, it’s emotion, it’s creation, it’s personal expression, it’s political freedom … it’s HAPPINESS.” For Christian, creating the book has been an endeavor into bringing positive
awareness about LGBTQ empowerment as it relates to political freedom around the world. In Seattle, the book is a hit. Minutes after the book-signing began on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., all of the Gold edition Sex=Power=Freedom books were sold with just a handful of Silver editions left. Not only is the book beautiful to look at, Christian is quoted throughout the book explaining his views on his personal convictions, what sex means to him as a Gay man,
in the Iranian police state if it were discovered that he were Gay.” Upon escaping into Turkey, Arad was held in prison for six months for having a forged passport – an illegal move he made in order to save his own life. “Eventually, after another three years of paperwork, Arad was rescued by the United Nations and resettled as a refugee in Dallas,” says Christian. He now works for Christian and his life has changed immeasurably – not only professionally, but personally, as he now enjoys the freedom to be out and proud as a Gay man.
Through his work with Christian and the other Trophy Boy models Arad has embraced his sexual orientation wholeheartedly. Arad accompanied Christian at the March 30 underU4men book-signing event as well as the after party at R Place. Although the images in the book appear overtly sexual, the text presents an important political statement that presents activism in a novel way. ‘My artistic vision for the book was to show all facets of sexuality, without any judgment or morality,” says Christian. “I didn’t consider anything ‘too far.’ What one person may think is pornographic and taboo, another may consider totally acceptable.” Christian told SGN that though the important message of his book is non-judgment, he faced quite a bit of judgment during the process of printing his work. “One printer outright laughed in my face over the subject, and it was evident to me that many were rejecting the project because of their internalized homophobia,” he said. “Some will do whatever they can to silence us and our advancement into mainstream society. The rejection of my book was shocking; having people laugh in my face was even more insulting, but it made me more determined than ever to see the project through and fully execute my first amendment rights.” “I think it’s especially important at this time in history that Andrew Christian stand up and show LGBT sexuality in a positive representation,” said Christian. “We all have to do our part to show those that oppose our efforts to seek equal rights under the law that we are here and we will be heard. Right now, the LGBT community needs to band together and use our collective voice to ensure that our civil rights are not eroded by people who would be all too happy to silence us. If you want to be heard, you must be visible. I am hoping this book and book-signing tour provides another avenue of visibility for our cause.” Sex=Power=Freedom is available at www.AndrewChristian.com
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(center) Andrew Christian with models Jon Pastor, and Jorge Orlando – Photo courtesy of andrewchristianimages.com
and much more. Christian (who is both Latino and Gay) continues, “There are many people in the world that still believe that sexual orientation is still a choice or a disease. These people would love to rid the world of LGBT+ people. As a community, we need to remember that we are all like-minded brothers and sisters; we need to stick up for each other no matter where in the world we live.” “Let’s lift each other up instead of tearing each other down,” said Christian. “Let’s spend our time thinking about important social and human rights issues that have
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real meaning and spend our efforts.” One story that Christian tells is of Arad (one of his many popular Trophy Boy models) and his journey to America. “If Trump’s ‘extreme vetting’ had been in place during the last 8 years, Arad would surely be dead today,” he said. “In search of freedom, Arad deserted the Iranian military at the age of 22 and walked on foot through snowy mountains for three days and two nights. He knew he would be killed
At last! Space Needle settles with workers after six years by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Ending a bitter labor dispute lasting almost six years, management at the Space Needle has reached a settlement with UNITE HERE Local 8, the union that represents more than half of the 300 workers at the iconic landmark. In a March 28 “Joint Statement,” the two sides announced they’d “reached a tentative agreement for a new labor contract.” The previous contract expired in 2011. Since then, workers have struggled to get Space Needle management to bargain in good faith. The National Labor Relations Board – the agency charged with enforcing federal labor laws – found the Space Needle guilty of multiple violations, including retaliation against pro-union workers and discouraging workers from participating in the union. In 2015, management unilaterally proclaimed talks at an impasse and proceeded to implement the contract offer they’d put on the table, including the first wage increase their workers had seen in three years. While workers celebrated the money, they still persisted in their other demands – on several occasions invading Space Needle corporate offices.
Seattle Space Needle – Photo courtesy of spaceneedle.com
In spite of the contentiousness of the dispute, both sides proclaimed themselves satisfied by the settlement. “One of our biggest concerns with the previous offers was that they did not include enough job-security protections for our members,” said Erik Van Rossum,
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Trump administration has no cause to deny it federal funds to which it is entitled. At issue is Trump’s Executive Order 13768, which threatened to strip federal funding from sanctuary cities, and Sessions’ reading of US Code 1373, the federal law which says cities cannot block federal authorities from gaining information about an individual’s immigration status. Sessions made a surprise appearance at a March 27 White House press conference to issue an ultimatum to sanctuary cities, including Seattle. “The Department of Justice will require that jurisdictions seeking or applying for DOJ grants to certify compliance with [US Code 1373] as a condition of receiving those awards,” he said. “The president has rightly said disregard for law must end,” Sessions added. “Today, I am urging states and local jurisdictions to comply with these laws.” Seattle was clearly included in the threat, because City employees are directed not to inquire about residents’ immigration status and to make City services available
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Seattle has filed suit against the administration. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, member of the House Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement in response to Seattle’s decision to file a lawsuit challenging provisions of President Trump’s executive order targeting sanctuary cities: “Seattle has been at the forefront of standing up for immigrants for decades. As one of the most welcoming cities in one of the most welcoming states in the country, we understand that our communities are stronger when our policies ensure the participation of everyone, regardless of immigration status. Since this administra-
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Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes – Photo courtesy of holmesforseattle.com
to every resident. In a March 29 statement, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray bluntly rejected the federal threats. “Seattle will not be bullied by this White House or this administration and today we are taking legal action against President Trump’s unconstitutional order,” Murray said. “We have the law on our side: the fedtion took office, Seattle has also been at the leading edge of the many battles waged against the xenophobic attacks of this president, including his latest attack on sanctuary cities. “The president and his administration are simply wrong. The anti-sanctuary provision of the executive order is based on a false premise that cities with welcoming policies are somehow violating the law and it attempts to punish them by threatening to withhold federal funding. It also completely ignores the fact that the primary role of local law enforcement must be to preserve public safety – and to do that, trust with community members is essential. “I’m fully behind Seattle’s decision to challenge the administration’s executive order. The president has been on a losing streak in courtrooms across the country where his immigration orders have been
March 31, 2017
President of UNITE HERE Local 8. “This tentative agreement includes strong job safeguards during the upcoming Century Project renovations. And with this agreement, our members won’t have to worry about construction length impacting their rights to return to their jobs.” eral government cannot compel our police department to enforce federal immigration law and cannot use our federal dollars to coerce Seattle into turning our backs on our immigrant and refugee communities. We simply won’t do it. We are proud to be a welcoming city that is inclusive of all our residents. We are a safer more prosperous city because of our immigrant and refugee communities and will continue standing with them.” Murray was joined by Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, who will shepherd the lawsuit through the federal court system. “Like Monday’s irresponsible press conference by the Attorney General, the Administration’s continual saber rattling is causing real harm in America’s cities,” Holmes stated. “This lawsuit represents Seattle’s attempt to mute histrionics in favor of a plain statement of the law. I hope the President will refrain from tweeting his legal opinion before our Courts have an opportunity to do so.” The lawsuit, filed in US District Court, makes two main arguments about the Executive Order: • “The order is unconstitutional and ambiguous, and creates uncertainty around Seattle’s budget by threatening federal funding. challenged. I would not be surprised if he keeps on losing as long as he pursues hateful and poorly-designed policies.” Congressman Adam Smith also issued a statement supporting Seattle: “Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made it clear that the Trump Administration does not respect local jurisdiction’s understanding of how best to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of their residents. The Trump Administration has threatened to revoke or withhold critical public safety funds from communities in a clear act of misguided retribution. “The grant funds Attorney General Sessions has threatened to ‘claw back’ from local jurisdictions support not only the ongoing efforts of agencies such as the Seattle Police Department to strengthen and
For several years, the Space Needle company has been talking about a major remodeling project, including installing double-decker elevator cabs and a glass floor in the restaurant. Workers were worried that they might be laid off during construction and then not rehired – to be replaced by non-union employees working for lower wages. With the pending agreement, members won’t have to worry about construction length impacting their rights to return to their jobs, Van Rossum said. The union’s bargaining committee unanimously recommended that workers ratify the contract, and a vote will be forthcoming, union leaders said. Space Needle management expressed relief that the long labor dispute had been resolved. “The Space Needle employs some of the most talented workforce in the Pacific Northwest and provides them with one of the strongest wage and benefits packages in the tourism and hospitality industry,” said Jeff Wright, Chairman of the Board of the Space Needle. “We are committed to being a great place to work, and look forward to increased accord and alignment for all our Team Members.” It violates the Tenth Amendment by attempting to force local entities to enforce federal immigration law; and violates the Spending Clause by attempting to coerce local action through the denial of federal funds. • “The City of Seattle and our welcoming city policies do not violate federal law. The Executive Order calls for localities to cooperate with the federal government and share information. City employees are directed to cooperate with, not hinder, federal actions; however, City employees are prohibited from inquiring into immigration status. The City does not prohibit information sharing, but instead limits the collection of information.” According to the City’s press release, Seattle would receive at least $55 million of federal funds to support its operating expenses in 2017. Seattle also receives federal contributions to its capital budget to support City construction and maintenance projects. For 2017, that will amount to $99 million. Grants from Sessions’ Justice Department are expected to come to $2.6 million in 2017. Those funds go to a number of projects, including domestic violence and youth violence prevention programs, human trafficking prosecutions, community policing, and police body cams. diversity their ranks, but also the efforts of prosecutors to tackle horrific crimes such as labor and sex trafficking. Shutting the door on these initiatives simply because the Administration refuses to acknowledge established facts on immigration disrespects the men and women who work every day to keep us safe. “Local leaders in the Puget Sound region understand that ensuring the safety of our communities and protecting the rights of recent immigrants are goals that flatly do not conflict. Washington state should stand by our values and fight to keep families together.” Jayapal represents the Seventh Congressional District, which includes Seattle north of Madison Street and west of I-5, while Smith represents the rest of Seattle and points south.
Celebrating 41 Years!
DelBene vs. Reichert over Trump tax returns by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Seattle-area Congress members Suzan DelBene and Dave Reichert squared off in their House Ways and Means Committee over an attempt to force Donald Trump to disclose his tax returns. DelBene represents the First Congressional District, stretching from Kirkland and Redmond north to the Canadian border. Reichert is in the eastside’s Eighth District, going from Issaquah and Kent all the way to Wenatchee. The Democrats, including DelBene, introduced a resolution asking the US Treasury Department to send them Trump’s full tax records from 2006 through 2016, along with supplementary documentation. The resolution also asked Treasury for documentation of any Trump debts held by foreign governments and foreign companies. It requested information on his investments in foreign countries and foreign enterprises. And the resolution asked for information on any tax shelters, corporate structures, and tax avoidance maneuvers or loopholes used to eliminate tax liability. The Republicans, including Reichert, voted to kill the Democratic proposal. The resolution accordingly went down to defeat by 24 votes to 16. DelBene, the cosponsor of the proposal, spoke in favor of it during debate. “This President is breaking 40 years of precedent with his alarming lack of financial transparency and his refusal to release his tax returns is a serious red flag,” she said. “Given the President’s evasive ma-
Seattle-area Congress members Suzan DelBene and Dave Reichert – Photos courtesy of bloomberg.com and huffpost.com
neuvering, Congress has a constitutional responsibility to obtain the records needed to perform rigorous, unbiased oversight.” Reichert voted No, but did not speak on the measure. Reichert is a senior member of the powerful committee, which writes the country’s budget and other financial bills. He chairs the trade subcommittee of Ways and Means. Last year, he helped rescue the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which was marked for extinction by right-wing Republicans and
such groups as the Heritage Foundation. However Reichert has found himself on the defensive after voting for “Trumpcare” in committee, and refusing to hold town hall meetings on healthcare. In February, hundreds of his constituents besieged his office, demanding that Reichert vote against repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has also launched an advertising campaign against Reichert. The Trump tax resolution was never
expected to pass, but was designed to embarrass Reichert and other Republicans by forcing them to vote against transparency. “If this resolution fails, the public should know which members of Congress are continuing to allow President Trump to hide his business dealings and possible conflicts of interest, and the ways that he could gain personally from his tax (reform) plan,” said Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. Hillary Clinton carried Reichert’s Eighth Congressional District in November.
HRC Foundation releases 10th edition of Healthcare Equality Index showing record number of providers committing to LGBTQinclusive policies More than 300 healthcare providers nationwide earn the coveted “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation WASHINGTON, DC – On March 29, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization released its 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting a decade of progress in LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare. A record 590 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2017 HEI survey, committing to LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. In addition, the HRC Foundation proactively researched the key policies at more than 900 additional nonparticipating hospitals. Of facilities surveyed for the HEI, 303 earned HRC’s coveted “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation. This year also marks the first time the HEI has awarded numerical scores – and three quarters of the healthcare facilities actively participating in the survey scored 80 points or above. “The 2017 HEI reminds us again that though we have made tremendous gains over the past decade, there is still much more work left for us to do. With some of
our biggest battles still ahead of us, it is crucial that institutions continue to demonstrate that the march toward full equality is not slowing down,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The 590 participants in this year’s HEI continue this march in partnership with the LGBTQ community. For the past decade, the HEI has been the roadmap to closing the gap in ensuring equal care to LGBTQ patients and their families, and we urge every healthcare facility to join us in this continuing effort to provide inclusive care to all.” This year’s HEI highlights the groundbreaking work taking place at two transgender youth clinics – GENECIS at Children’s Health in Dallas, and the Center for Child and Adolescent Gender Care at Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. Legislative attacks on the transgender communities in both of those states underscore the importance of the care and affirmation these clinics are providing transgender youth. In Texas, SB6, a bill targeting transgender people’s access to public facilities, passed out of committee and is up for a vote by the full state senate. And in North Carolina, the negative effects of HB2, which, like SB6, targets the state’s transgender community for discrimination, continues to significantly damage North
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Carolina’s reputation and economy. The 10th edition of the HEI includes new criteria that raises the bar on what it takes to earn HRC’s “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation. For the first time, HEI participants are awarded numerical scores for their implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices in four areas; LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, fullyinclusive employee benefits and policies, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. Participants receiving the maximum score in each section, for a total score of 100, earn the coveted status of “2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.” In the 2017 report, an impressive 303 facilities – 51 percent of those actively participating in the survey – met this year’s more challenging criteria to earn the Leader designation. Another 144 facilities earned a Top Performer designation for scoring between 80 and 95 points. With threequarters of actively participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, it is clear that healthcare facilities are going beyond the basics in adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care. In addition to the positive scoring criteria, the 2017 HEI includes a fifth section focusing on responsible citizenship, and
calling out activity that would undermine LGBTQ equality or inclusive patient care. Healthcare facilities may have 25 points deducted from their score for a large-scale official or public anti-LGBTQ blemish on their recent records. This year, Johns Hopkins Hospital became the first and only facility to receive this deduction. Of the hospitals who did not participate in the 2017 HEI but were scored based on HRC’s research, only 61 percent have nondiscrimination policies that include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” and only 52 percent were found to have an LGBTQ-inclusive employment non-discrimination policy. However, 95 percent of these facilities are committed to equal visitation, close to the rate of the facilities that actively participated in the survey.
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The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the education arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. Courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Trump wants to cut NIH funding HIV/AIDS budget on the chopping block by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Trump administration wants to cut $1.23 billion from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) budget for the current fiscal year. Among the cuts proposed would be $300 million in funding for HIV/AIDS assistance worldwide. The reduction is part of $18 billion in cuts that the administration wants in fiscal 2017, which ends in October. Most of the proposed reductions at NIH would come from research grants, with $50 million specifically taken from a program meant to support biomedical research in states that typically get less agency money. An international initiative to help people with HIV/AIDS, known as PEPFAR and heavily focused on patient treatment in Africa, would be slashed by almost $300 million under the Trump plan. The savings would be found by slowing the rate of new patients put on treatment and reducing support to “low-performing countries.” US states also face a $50 million cut that would target “less effective HIV research and prevention activities.” Because Congress never approved a full budget for fiscal 2017, the government is operating under short-term funding legislation that expires April 28. Trump has already proposed cutting biomedical research at the NIH by $5.8 billion for the next fiscal year, putting 2018 investments in health research about 18% below 2017 levels. The Office of Management and Budget called the change “a major reorganization of NIH’s institutes and centers to help focus resources on the highest priority research and training activities.” The Trump administration is requesting $65.1 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services in fiscal 2018, down from $84.6 billion in 2016.
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last thirteen years. “President Trump’s proposed reductions to PEPFAR and other HIV/AIDS programs would be a humanitarian catastrophe. If these cuts are enacted by Congress, we will lose decades of progress in the fight against
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der – requiring companies receiving large federal contracts to demonstrate that they have complied for at least three years with 14 federal laws, several of which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender stereotyping, or gender identity. Among the 14 laws included in the Obama-era order are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Title VII prohibits discrimination based on sex in employment. Under the Obama
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Senator Roy Blunt – Photo courtesy of progressmissouri.org
Other proposed cuts for the current year include: • $40 million from staffing funds at the Food and Drug Administration, achieved in part with “slower than anticipated hiring.” • $50 million from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which may delay missions and reduce grants. • $350 million from research grants at
the National Science Foundation for biology, information science and engineering. • $372 million from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps people heat their homes. Not all Republicans are enthusiastic about the proposed cuts, however. Asked if he thought the cuts proposed by Trump would be implemented, Senator Roy Blunt,
HIV. More people will become infected, fall ill, and die of this preventable disease. More children will become orphans. Formerly healthy individuals will be unable to work, undermining global anti-poverty efforts. “The consequences of cutting nearly $350 million from global and domestic HIV/AIDS programs are unthinkable. While I am confident that my colleagues in Congress will reject this morally bankrupt proposal, I am disturbed that the Presi-
dent of the United States has forsaken this bipartisan cause. After years of bipartisan progress on HIV/AIDS, we cannot afford to retreat from our global leadership just so President Trump can line the pockets of defense contractors.”
administration, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) argued that discrimination based on “sex” included discrimination based on sexual orientation. The ADA and Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination based on HIV infection and other disabilities. And the Family and Medical Leave Act, under the Obama Department of Labor, was held to include employees caring for a same-sex spouse, even if the employee lived in a state that did not recognize marriage of same-sex couples. By rescinding the requirement that federal contractors be able to demonstrate that they have not violated these federal laws, says Camilla Taylor, senior counsel
at Lambda Legal, “this administration has made it extremely difficult to enforce these federal laws as applied to federal contractors.” “It’s sending a message to these companies,” said Taylor, “…that the federal government simply doesn’t care whether or not they violate the law.” When Obama signed Executive Order 13672, the action was hailed by many LGBT activists as protecting “millions” of LGBT workers from discrimination. It applied to companies who sought federal contracts in excess of $500,000. While Trump’s order takes away an extra layer of enforcement, Taylor said “the substance of the laws are still there” and
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a Missouri Republican who serves on the Appropriations Committee, said “No, no.” Washington Senator Patty Murray condemned the cuts and said they were “absolute nonstarters for Democrats.” “Republicans in Congress need to do the right thing and ignore this demand from President Trump to renege on our bipartisan agreement,” she added.
Progressive Caucus and a Senior Democratic Whip. She also serves as chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity.
Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees, Vice Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, former co-chair of the
Lambda Legal would do everything it can to “make sure companies understand their obligation not to discriminate.” Besides revoking LGBT protections, the new Trump order also overrules Executive Order 11246, signed in 1965 by Lyndon Johnson, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Four years later, President Nixon added discrimination based on disability and age. In 1998, President Clinton added sexual orientation. And in 2014, President Obama added gender identity. All these protections are now gone from federal policy.
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WEEKLY PETS:
Adoption Center Sunday – Wednesday | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday – Saturday | 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Phone: (425) 649-7563 Email: adoption@seattlehumane.org
SPENCER
Spencer is a 3-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier who would love to be your best buddy. Spencer is blind, but that doesn’t stop him from exploring the world. This happy-go-lucky guy loves to play and will happily lead you anywhere you want to go. His kisses and tail wags are non-stop! Spencer would do well with active owners who can show him the world and let his personality really shine. He would do best in a cat-free home with no children younger than 8. Introduce Spencer to resident dogs prior to adoption. Meet lovable Spencer today at Seattle Humane! As with all of our dogs, Spencer has been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and behavior-tested. He will go home with a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian and an identification tag. PLUS, most dog adoptions include 30 days of pet insurance from Trupanion and a training rebate when you complete a dog behavior course - a great way to start off on the right paw!
ELLIE
Meet Ellie, a sweet 9-year-old calico girl. Although reserved and shy at first, she’ll come out of her shell and open up once she gets to know you. She loves to have her beautiful fur petted often and will appreciate a gentle caretaker who makes this the routine at her new home. With her laid back and friendly personality, Ellie will make a great addition to your family. Come to Seattle Humane today to meet Ellie - she might be just the kitty your have been hoping for. As with all of our cats, Ellie is spayed, microchipped and vaccinated. All of our cats have been tested for Feline Leukemia/FIV and go home with a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian and their very own identification tag and collar. PLUS, most cat adoptions include 30 days of pet insurance from Trupanion - a great way to start off on the right paw! Tax-Free Extended Weekend | April 15-18 Taxes can be taxing. Luckily, the IRS aren’t the only folks granting extensions. Pets can help soothe your nerves, revive your energy and cherish the cuddly parts of life! Visit fantastic animals at Seattle Humane during our Tax-Free Extended Weekend, April 15-18 and take 10 percent off adoption fees for the furry friend of your dreams. Make tax season a joy and find your match at Seattle Humane in Bellevue.
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