Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 21 Volume 43
FRIDAY May 22, 2015 FREE!
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WELCOME! Thirst Seattle Volleyball Players and Magnitude 15 Ruggers
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Seattle Volleyball Club hosts Thirst Seattle NAGVA Championships 2015 – May 21-24 33rd Annual North American Gay VolA full week of camaraderie, competition leyball Association Championships to draw and events are planned, with 1,500+ athletes 1,500+ athletes and fans to Seattle this and fans converging on Seattle to play volweekend leyball, and to also dine, drink, shop, sightsee, and enjoy our diverse Seattle night life, Seattle Volleyball Club is hosting Thirst all while vacationing here in our beautiful Seattle, the 33rd Annual North Ameri- city. The weekend of events and competition can Gay Volleyball Association (NAGVA) officially kickoff May 21st, but many of the Championships, May 21st thru 24th at the athletes will be arriving earlier as they begin CenturyLink Field Event Center (1000 Oc- their vacations in Seattle. The Seattle Wescidental Ave. S.). 136 teams from all over tin is the official host hotel for Thirst Seattle, North America, and as far away as Puerto where we have over 1200 rooms booked Rico and Hawaii, are meeting in Seattle to with volleyball players enjoying their stay. compete for the ultimate prize, the NAGVA The fantastic CenturyLink Field Event CenChampionship Trophy and bragging rights for the next year of competition. see THIrst page 5
Ban on Gay Scout leaders must end, BSA president Robert Gates says by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) must end their ban on Gay Scout leaders, BSA President Robert Gates said in a speech May 21. Gates is a former Eagle Scout, winner of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, and a member of the Order of the Arrow, BSA’s honor society. He has been president of the organization since last year. He was formerly Secretary of Defense for both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and oversaw the end of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Gates bluntly told BSA’s annual meeting that “The status quo in our movement’s membership standards cannot be sustained.” The group cannot continue to “ignore growing internal challenges to our current membership policy,” he said. “We must deal with the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be,” Gates added. “Any other alternative will be the end of us as a national movement.”
In 2013 more than 60% of BSA leaders voted to end the group’s discrimination against Gay Scouts, but the policy of excluding Gay adults as leaders was maintained. Since 70% of Boy Scout troops are sponsored by churches, Gates called for local sponsors to be able “to determine the standards for their Scout leaders.” “We must, at all costs, preserve the religious freedom of our church partners to do this,” Gates said. Gates said no policy changes would be made at the national meeting, but the policy might be revised soon, so that local Scout organizations could decide on their own whether to allow Gays as leaders. “It seems like the Boy Scouts will continue an internal dialogue about the subject and that a change within the next year or two is imminent,” Zach Wahls, the executive director of Scouts for Equality, said in a statement. “While our work won’t be done until we see a full end to their ban on gay adults once and for all, today’s decision moves the Boy Scouts in that direction,” Wahls added.
Amid rise in reports of bias crimes against Seattle’s LGBTQ community SPD launches May 15 GSBA Safe Place program Scholarship Dinner was by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
– or night – inside this park located in the center of the city’s LGBTQ community and is named after the state’s first openly Gay Seattle is beautiful when the sun comes legislator. out; suddenly all the gray days of winter and CAL ANDERSON PARK fall seem worth it. It’s picturesque. It’s peaceOn Wednesday, a group of five individuful. It’s Seattle in the summer. In droves, Seattleites and Seattle-transplants alike, enjoy als were taken into custody after an early Seattle City Parks. On Capitol Hill these in- morning armed robbery reported on the clude Cal Anderson and Volunteer Parks. By eastern edge of Cal Anderson Park at 12:40 now though, everyone knows that Cal An- a.m. According to East Precinct radio disderson Park – particularly after the sun goes patches, at least two victims suffered facial down – also attracts violent criminals, drug injuries and were robbed near 11th Ave. and trafficking, and in some cases anti-LGBTQ E. Olive St. Witnesses said as many as eight or nine people could be seen fleeing the area bias crimes. As an example, in January a knife attack southbound on 11th Ave. after the holdup on three men involving a suspect who alleg- in which at least two guns were brandished. edly yelled derogatory remarks about their A witness who heard the melee called 911 sexual orientation during the assault result- bringing police quickly to the scene. Minutes later the five males were spoted in the arrest of a 37-year-old who is now ted a few blocks away walking on E. Pike facing a hate crime charge in the case. But it isn’t just bias crimes; violence has St. at Boylston. Police contacted the group been known to occur all hours of the day
the most successful ever! Celebrating 25 years Reaching two million dollars in scholarships awarded since 1990 Presenting $350,000 to 48 outstanding students Raising a record $200,000
It all made for a truly amazing evening! We heard stories from our scholarship Founders and early champions in a moving video created by InterChange Media (included below). We brought this visionary group on stage for Michael Auch to present the Richard C. Rolfs Scholarship and Bob Dlugosh & Don McKee to present the Founders’ scholarships. Mayor Ed Murray welcomed our guests and touchingly reminded us of other early scholarship chamsee Safe place page 3 pions who have passed. During the evening,
we were saddened to hear of the continuing challenges of poverty, violence, and lack of family support which so many of our scholars face. Our keynote address, given by GSBA’s first four-year scholar, Laramie Smith, was incredible. Laramie shared the story of her journey, from being disowned by her family as a teenager, leaving her with no hope of being able to attend college, to the difference that four years of scholarship support from GSBA meant to her, knowing she had the backing of an entire community. Today Laramie has a PhD and just last week was appointed Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. There was not a dry eye in the room see gsba page 6
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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and brought witnesses to the scene to identify the assailants and took the suspects into custody. According to reports, the suspects were four juvenile males and an additional male adult suspect. Police recovered two guns, one, an air gun, the other was found to be a “real gun.” The five taken into custody were transported to East Precinct. Additional police units were called to the scene following a disturbance involving at least one of the males as the suspects were taken into custody. Cal Anderson Park has become dangerous even for Seattle Parks Department employees. On April 20, a Seattle Parks worker called police to a disturbance at Cal Anderson at 8 a.m. but gave up waiting for officers to arrive and walked to the East Precinct to report an assault. According to the police report, the worker was walking in the park when a hostile man approached him and demanded he give back a blue bag he’d supposedly stolen. When the worker denied stealing anything the man became so hostile he smashed some glass onto the ground and threatened him with what he believed to be a screwdriver. The victim went into what he called a “defense mode” and the angry man left the park kicking over trash cans and yelling. Now, if this all reads doom and gloom to you, I apologize, but these are the facts. And you can bet that it is worse because there are no doubt other crimes which have been committed but never reported. The fact remains that Capitol Hill is unsafe after dark, sometimes during the day, and never while you are alone. Pike/Pine businesses and community groups are concerned about another warmer-weather spike in crime that impacts the areas around Cal Anderson and the neighborhood’s nightlife district. However, under the direction of Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole and with leadership from East Precinct Capt. McDonough, the East Precinct has successfully rolled out “emphasis patrols” and they plan to apply tactics used to quell street crime downtown on the Hill. SCARCE SPD RESOURCES The fact of the matter is there is an issue with resources. They are scarce. The department is simply not able to keep up with the demand. And on the weekends it’s worse. The 911 Call Center is often busy when someone calls for an emergency. Why? You guessed it! Staffing issues. Last
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week, an independent review of the Seattle Police Department 911 Communications Center found critical problems in service, including busy signals for callers and software freezing up. The report also highlights delays in calls being dispatched because of shift changes. Apparently, shifts have a onehour overlap. Perhaps the most ridiculous statistic of it all? The report cites the fact that the staffing level at the 911 Center is the same as it was 20 years ago. Something patrol officers complain about, too, as they are operating at numbers that do not seem like they can police the amount of people that have moved into the neighborhood – especially the thousands (nearly 20,000) bar/ nightclub capacity crowd on the weekends. Now, if anyone reading this mistakes my tone it will be of their own accord. I am in no way beating up on the police department, mocking their efforts or saying that they are not making some headway. I believe that O’Toole and Assistant Chief Carmen Best alongside SPD Outreach Liaison Office, openly Gay officer Jim Ritter, a 30-year veteran of the force, East Precinct Captain McDonough and others are making the changes that are needed to get the department functional again as well as restore citizen’s trust in their police. Issues of budget, staffing, and policy however, come from City Hall, the Mayor’s office and even the feds. I often think the department takes a bad rap for things they have little control over. It is important to note that Mayor Murray has promised more officers (the first wave of cadets are currently being trained) but that will take at least one year before they can be considered a police officer capable of doing the job required without direct supervision and training. While that is something, to victims it can feel like too little, too late. SPD SAFE PLACE So what can you do as an LGBTQ person when, according to SPD, there’s been a “spike” in bias crimes reports so far this year vs. 2014. Overall city totals showed “antiGay and Lesbian” victims were the most frequently targeted group with 24% of the reported incidents tallied in the second half of 2014. Out of that group, white, cisgender Gay males were the overly represented target of bias crimes. The department says the increase in bias reports is due to increased awareness; in other words more LGBTQ people might actually be stepping forward and filling out reports when, in the past, they traditionally would not. One thing is for sure – SPD has made addressing hate
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crimes a priority and continues to deal with serious cases. Thursday, Mayor Murray and Chief of Police Kathleen O’Toole announced SPD Safe Place, a public education and visibility campaign aimed at preventing and responding to anti-LGBT bias crimes. “Seattle welcomes all people,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “There is no place for bigotry or harassment in our city. We developed Safe Place so that businesses and community organizations can visibly stand up against intolerance and provide shelter to victims.” SPD Safe Place is a voluntary program that provides businesses and organizations with decals and information on how to report malicious harassment, otherwise known as “hate crimes.” Training for these organizations includes when to call 911, sheltering victims of crime until police arrive and proactive outreach about working with the SPD’s LGBT liaison officer. “Seattle Police officers work every day with the diverse communities of Seattle to ensure safety. SPD Safe Place is another way of connecting and educating those who live, work and visit Seattle about how the SPD can assist in times of crisis,” said Chief Kathleen O’Toole. Businesses, organizations and educational institutions can request SPD Safe Place placards or posters and learn about how to work with police to prevent and address anti-LGBT crime concerns at spdsafeplace.com. Safe Space was developed by SPD LGBTQ Liaison Officer Jim Ritter, who worked closely with my social justice organization Social Outreach Seattle and others to come up with a program that would quell fears that the police are against the LGBTQ community and to ensure any email complaint will be answered within a reasonable amount of time and any questions they might have about the process or what their rights as a victim are can be answered. So far people are taking to the idea of the program. It will be up to everyone in the community to support this. Things have been better on Capitol Hill, but the power is ours to transform the neighborhood from a lawless outpost in some stretch of neighborhood that has become a no-man’s land to the all-inclusive, welcoming, loving and weird Queer Gayborhood that it is. Whenever one member of our community is attacked we are all being attacked. Our neighborhood belongs to us, not crime!
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Purr’s 8th Annual Bartender Auction raises $30,920 for Inspire Youth Project by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor On May 20, Purr’s 8th Annual Bartender Auction raised over $30,000 for the Inspire Youth Project, an organization that provides the missing social and emotional links for at-risk youth affected by HIV/ AIDS, and those who have suffered abuse, neglect and homelessness. Formerly Rise n’ Shine, their goal is to create an emotionally and socially healthy child; a child who will grow and contribute to our society rather than become dependent upon it. “We inspire young children and teens to maintain hope in the midst of adversity and loss, while empowering and giving them
the tools to attain their dreams,” say Inspire Youth Project officials on the organization’s website, www.inspireyouthproject.org. The more than $30,000 funds they will receive will go to well-structured and effective programs for the youth. Leading up to the event, hosted by local drag entertainer GLAMAZONIA, Inspire Youth Project teased attendees of the event all in good fun by saying, “Hope you’ve been saving your pennies because this bartender – date night – auction – extravaganza is worth every single cent. So let the bidding begin…as our o’so tasty bartenders strut their stuff for a good cause.” Purr, which has hosted all eight years of this fundraiser, which has become an
annual tradition, was packed with people ready to bid on their favorite Purr and R Place bartenders! The grand total from the evening’s fundraiser came out to $30,920 – which is $920 better than last year’s take! The event also garnered many sponsors. This year’s included gift baskets from ABSOLUT, swimwear from UNDERU4MEN, dinner/dates from LeFaux at Julia’s on Broadway, Tango, La Cuchina, Skillet, and Poppy, plus gift certificates from the Crypt and Seattle Mens’ Chorus. Purr owner, Barbie Roberts, was ecstatic to break the news to everyone saying, “Your generosity was over the top! A big thanks to our bartenders! From R Place, Kord, Dave, and Reece Pewitt, and Purr’s
own Rusty Martin, Robby Anderson, Cesar Rios, Wesley Nead, Andrew Flewelling, and Shaun Hurd. Glamazonia did an awesome job hosting! Such a huge reward to see our community come together for such a great cause!” GLAMAZONIA posted to Facebook, “Thanks to all these people and businesses, we were able to raise $30,920 last night for Inspire Youth Project. Add that to the $100,000.00+ from the previous 7 years, and you have an idea of the good that happens when the right people get together. I am humbled to be among this group.” For more information about Inspire Youth Project visit the organization online at www.inspireyouthproject.org.
Business, labor groups make City Council picks by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Major business and labor groups have made their endorsements in the crowded Seattle City Council races. CASE (Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy), the political arm of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, announced its endorsements May 18. On May 20, delegates representing the 150 unions affiliated with the Martin Luther King County Labor Council (MLKCLC) met to vote on their own picks for City Council. Not surprisingly, the candidates favored by the two organizations showed very little overlap. In fact, CASE and MLKCLC agreed on only two races. In City Council District 2, both endorsed incumbent Bruce Harrell,
and in District 7, both groups also endorsed the incumbent, Sally Bagshaw. In other races, business and labor were far apart. For District 1, in West Seattle, the business group picked Shannon Braddock, chief of staff for King County Council member Joe McDermott. Labor, on the other hand, made a dual endorsement for Lisa Herbold and Brianna Thomas. Herbold is the veteran legislative aide to retiring City Council member Nick Licata, and Thomas is the Working Washington organizer who led the successful $15 minimum wage campaign in SeaTac. In District 3, which includes Capitol Hill and the Central District as well as Montlake and Madison Park – CASE endorsed Urban League president and CEO Pamela Banks. Labor endorsed incumbent City Council
member Kshama Sawant, who has already won the support of many MLKCLC affiliates. For District 4, the University District and Wallingford as well as Laurelhurst and View Ridge, CASE picked transportation Choices head Rob Johnson. MLKCLC gave Johnson a dual endorsement with incumbent Jean Godden, a retired Newspaper Guild member. It was the only good news in recent weeks for Godden’s campaign. She has been snubbed by Seattle’s Democratic legislative district organizations. In District 5, Seattle’s Northend, the business group did not make an endorsement. No one got the two-thirds vote necessary for endorsement at the labor meeting, so MLKCLC will revisit that race at their June meeting.
Business also passed on making an endorsement in District 6, Fremont, Ballard, and Crown Hill. Labor, on the other hand, backed incumbent Mike O’Brien. In District 8, an at-large seat, CASE endorsed incumbent Council member Tim Burgess. Labor gave Burgess a dual endorsement with Longshore worker and Georgetown community activist John Persak. In the other at-large seat, District 9, CASE endorsed Mayor Ed Murray’s former legal counsel Lorena Gonzalez. The Labor Council will consider endorsements in this race at their June meeting.
May 20 was “Fair Trade Music Day” in Seattle City supports musicians’ organizing by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Seattle has always prided itself on being a leader in the music scene, and on May 20 it was once again, with the first-in-thecountry Fair Trade Music Day. Passed by a unanimous vote of the Seattle City Council, Fair Trade Music Day was a response to grassroots organizing by local musicians for fair treatment by the city’s live music venues. While music makes up a huge part of the local economy – $2.8 billion according to a 2008 City of Seattle estimate – the musicians who play it see very little of that revenue. According to musicians’ union organizer Paul Bigman, many local bands perform under a “pay to play” or “zero less expenses” system, in which they may go home with as little as $10 after a night of performing. “Our work is given little or no value,” singer-songwriter David Guilbault stated. “It’s considered a labor of love. But it is labor, and I should be paid for my labor.” Under the Fair Trade Music system, local music venues would promise to sign written contracts with musicians who play there, give them documentation of the total take at the door – which often forms the basis for musicians’ pay – provide up-to-date sound systems, and other reforms. Fair Trade Music will provide window
stickers for participating venues to identify the clubs that have signed the pledge to treat musicians fairly. Participating venues are also listed on the Fair Trade Music Seattle Facebook page. “We’re asking that people go to the clubs that treat musicians fairly,” said bass player Nate Omdal, one of the leaders of the musicians’ movement. “Seattle values our music, and we call ourselves a music city. We need to back that up by valuing musicians, as well as the music.” “The [City Council] resolution provides working musicians with a safety net and a shield to help us organize ourselves,” Omdal added. “Knowing that we’re being taken seriously by the City leaders has helped to open doors to engage musicians, some of whom have been worried about possible retaliation if we stand up for ourselves.” City Council member Nick Licata, cosponsor of the Fair Trade Music resolution, said the situation facing many musicians was “basically a form of wage theft, death by a thousand cuts. For Seattle to remain a national cultural hub, we must treat our musicians to fair working conditions. This legislation is a first step toward that.” City Council member Mike O’Brien, the other co-sponsor, called the musician’s organizing effort a model for other workers. “This speaks very highly of our music community,” O’Brien said, “and provides a
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The musicians who testified at a May 13 hearing on the resolution – facebook.com
model for other industries with independent contractors not protected by traditional labor law.” Motter Snell, President of Musicians Association of Seattle, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 76-493, expressed appreciation to the Council. “Seattle is fortunate to have a City Council committed to workers’ rights and fundamental social justice,” she said, “and we par-
ticularly want to thank Council members Licata and O’Brien for their leadership.” AFM has worked with both members and non-union musicians on the Fair Trade Music campaign.
Celebrating 41 Years!
IN MEMORIAM – Leonard Eugene Tritsch Leonard Eugene Tritsch March 15, 1925 - May 14, 2015
Leonard Eugene Tritsch, 90 passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2015. He was born on March 15, 1925, in Hewitt, Minnesota, to Arthur C. Tritsch and Della O. Habben Tritsch. He graduated from Hewitt High School in 1943 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1949 from Hamline University and was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award from Hamline in 1989. Len also received a Master of Science degree from the University of Oregon in 1969. In 1994, he was placed into the Hamline University Hall of Fame. During World War II, Len served in the U.S. Navy on a troop transport ship, transporting troops to locations in the Pacific, such as Okinawa. After graduating from Hamline University, Len devoted his first seventeen years to the health and well-being of youth as a public school teacher and an athletic coach in Minnesota. Later, he taught college level health education at four universities, including the University of Oregon. Len served as the Health Education Specialist for the Oregon Department of Education. Len’s dedication and commitment to school health education impacted Oregon’s public school curriculum and influenced the lifelong health behaviors of significant numbers of people in all age groups. He served on the Oregon Governor’s Council for Aging and was consulted on the development
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continued from cover ter will play host to all tournament competition where 26 indoor volleyball courts will be assembled for 1,000+ volleyball games to be played across 3 days of play May 22nd, 23rd & 24th. All tournament activities and events conclude on May 24th when 4 Divisional Championship teams will be determined, and Seattle officially ends its hosted weekend, with the Quench Closing Show and Party at Neighbours, immediately fol-
of a state-of-the-art housing facility for lowincome seniors. His passion for coaching, fitness and health led him to start “A Week to Build a Lifetime” that was the theme for the Seaside Health Promotion Conference. For almost three decades, teams of educators and community members from across Oregon met for a week at the Oregon Coast to focus on wellness. There were years when the SHPC exceeded 1,000 attendees. Len created an atmosphere where the conference greeting was a “HUG.” This wellness conference became a model for twenty-six other states, so Len’s legacy of wellness lives on. He led fitness groups and workshops for senior fitness in both Seattle, Washington and Seaside, Oregon for many years. During this time, Len authored several books, including Health Instruction: An Action Approach, published by Prentice-Hall. Because of his health experience, he served as a consultant on the national level as a trainer for the AIDS education project for the American Association of School Administrators. One of his many honors was an award from Surgeon General C. Everett Koop for his contributions to health program throughout the country. Len served as President of Mature Friends for six years and was the first recipient of the “Achievement Award” for an outstanding volunteer, and in 2014, the group honored him with a “Legacy Award.” He also started and led the exercise group for this club for over twenty years.
He served as President of the Seattle Frontrunners and on the board of the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association (GLISA). Len started and coached a Seattle Frontrunners track team in 1994 and led the team to the Gay Games and OutGames in New York City, Amsterdam, Sydney, Montreal, and Antwerp, during the past 23 years. Len set new records for his age group in the 100, 200, and 400 meters at the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam. He changed the life of many people who had never stepped on the track before Leonard Eugene Tritsch and changed their health forever. The track team became Len’s Harold L. Tritsch and is preceded in death family and track members helped to care by his parents and sister-in-law. for and manage his care during the past A memorial and Celebration of Life will year. be held at a later date to be announced. Len is survived by his older brother,
lowing the Awards Banquet at the Seattle Westin Hotel. In addition to the volleyball competition, there is a full schedule of evening and nightlife activities planned. From the Miss Thirst NAGVA 2015 Drag Pageant at R Place on Thursday night, to the Hot Jock contest Friday night at Diesel, and the GoGo Dancer contest at Purr Cocktail Lounge on Saturday night. Quench is this year’s closing show and party at Neighbours on Sunday night, where the volleyball athletes will be celebrating the great accomplishments and camaraderie of this year’s
NAGVA Championships and Thirst Seattle. Seattle Volleyball Club chose the word “Thirst” as this year’s theme, as it vehemently describes the Seattle LGBT volleyball population’s drive to compete, while celebrating the close-knit and passionate community of friends and family that is Seattle Volleyball. If you would like to catch some of the volleyball action, please join us at the CenturyLink Field Event Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 22-24, admission is free, and you will surely be impressed by the athleticism and competitive spirit of the
NAGVA athletes. For a complete Schedule of Events and more information, please visit ThirstSeattle. com and NAGVA.org. Jared Walters Seattle Volleyball Club Director Thirst Seattle Organizing Committee Chair
ICON benefit for Seattle Counseling Service sold out at W Seattle by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
ICON, the annual gala celebration and fundraiser (that is actually fun to go to) hosted by Seattle drag legend Aleksa Manila on behalf of Seattle Counseling Service came early this year – May 17 at the W Hotel in Downtown Seattle. In the past, the event has been held in October, but Aleksa Manila and SCS leadership decided there was quite enough happening in October so they moved the gala to May – which only gave organizers seven months between the May 17 event and the previous ICON in 2014. The great news is they sold every single ticket they had and the audience had a blast. SCS has not yet reported back on just how much ICON XI – A Celebration of Drag, Art and Life netted the mental health and chemical dependency organization exclusive to the LGBTQ community since 1965; however, an announcement will be made shortly, say officials. The talent roster is always the main draw for the event, which this year included
Atasha Manila, Arnaldo! Drag Chanteuse, Anastacia Beaverhausen, Miss Indigo Blue, Shanghai Pearl, Jaylene Tyme, Isaac Scott, and Latrina Bidet on the main stage during the dinner and dessert portion of the evening, while Sister Siren and Brian Buck performed for all of the VIP arrivals earlier in the evening. Sponsors for the event included 1st Security Bank, Swedish, Seattle Meds, Bill & Melinda Gates Fou n d at i on , Group Health, Amerigroup Real Solutions, Chateau Ste Michelle, iSOutsource, Seattle Gay News and Seattle Gay Scene.
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The event’s in-kind donors included Atomic Cosemetics, Babeland, Banya’s Urban Spa, Chateau Ste Michelle, Cherry Street Coffee, The Dog Resort, Pagliacci Pizza, Panache, The Pine Box, Salon 7, and Sugar Pill Apothecary. Throughout the evening several people spoke about SCS and what it means to them and the c o m m u n i t y. Among the speakers were Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Dean of Students at Seattle University, who spoke about his fears as a closeted Gay black man who had newly arrived in the city and his journey to find
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himself which began when he went to SCS for guidance and counseling over a decade ago. Rev. Goodwin also hosted the “ask” of the evening. The highlight, however, happened when Steven Griffith gave personal testimony about the life he once thought could never be for him – successful, happy, and healthy – and how he now lives his truth every day because of the counseling, patience, and professional help provided to him by SCS so he could free himself from crystal meth addiction and alcohol abuse. His vulnerable speech was met with tears by the audience and a nearly 5 minutes, sustained standing ovation. Seattle Counseling Service is a community based organization that has been dedicated to promoting health and wellness within the LGBTQ community for 45 years and that remains committed to providing accessible services, offering a sliding fee scale in addition to accepting Medicaid and many insurance plans. For more information visit www.seattlecounselingservice. org.
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The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan, want to give you money!!!
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St Joan – theabbey.org
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan are opening the coffers they have been steadily filling the past 12 months and are now accepting applications for their 2015 Charity Granting Cycle. For the last several years The Sisters have been giving out grants annually to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington state. The organizations who have qualified for grants in the past have all been supportive of our GLBTQ community in some way, including, but not limited to, HIV/ AIDS services, STD prevention, GLBT veterans, youth support, and marriage rights. Since our Grant program was started, The
Abbey Sisters have given away thousands and thousands of dollars to help support our community. Check out our website to find a link to the application for downloading and printing, plus instructions on filling it out so that you give us the information we need to make a thoughtful and informed decision (no bribes, please, no matter how sparkly). You can reach the application/instructions by clicking or typing http://www.theabbey. org/projects/grants.html into your web browser. If you have questions about the application process even after reading the precise
instructions, we’ll be available to answer questions via email at grants@theabbey.org We encourage you to get your thorough and concise application in ASAP, because it must reach The Abbey no later than June 26, 2015 to be considered. This will give us enough time to review each one before we distribute the monies at our Anniversary Party in July. (Stay tuned for Party details.) And the competition will be even more intense this year than previous years, so make sure your application strongly reflects your work! The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan’s mission statement: “We
are an order of 21st Century Nuns dedicated to the promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt. We work to raise money for AIDS charities, fight for queer rights and visibility, do safer sex outreach and strive diligently to never take ourselves so seriously that we forget to have fun. We gladly welcome all races, creeds, genders, and sexual orientations.”
gsba
arship to Kelly Hill who is pursuing her graduate degree in AIDS Research; Glenn Johnson and Michael Melancon presented the Bright Horizon Scholarship to Jazmine Perez; and Linda Barzalai spoke eloquently and poignantly about the “still small voice” inside all of us and how this voice honors the memory of her son David. The connection between past and future was everywhere; with past scholars seated around the room, including past Chester Podlodowski Scholars at Tina’s table. A wonderful video with four past scholars – Ryan, Arianna, Morgan, and Linda – talked about the impact receiving a scholarship had on their lives, which made us all reach for the tissues. Kent and Shay Thoelke shared connections they have made with their new scholars demonstrating the joy and fulfillment their family has gotten by establishing a scholarship in memory of their father and husband, Rich Thoelke. A very special thank you to PwC, our Title Sponsor, and RBC, our presenting sponsor, as well as our evening’s sponsors: Alaska Airlines, Carter Subaru, Microsoft and Seattle Goodwill. Thank you also to Team Photogenic for capturing the evening through photographs, Girlie Press for all the print collateral, and to FunFrames Pho-
to for adding a bit more fun. Big thanks also to the Marriott Waterfront for all the support they gave to this event and to Janiece Haug for her donation of wine. Demonstrating their continued support of the GSBA Scholarship Fund, our annual sponsors were well represented, including our Jewels, the businesses which invest in both the Chamber and the Scholarship Fund. Our Diamond Jewel Sponsor: Microsoft; Emerald Jewels: 1st Security Bank and Alaska Airlines; Ruby Jewels: PwC and RBC Wealth Management. And, our Annual Sponsors: Platinum: US Bank; Gold sponsors: American Family Insurance, Outerwall, Pacific Medical Centers and Wells Fargo; Silver sponsors: Boeing, Carter Subaru,, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, Seattle Goodwill, Starbucks and UW Medicine; and, our Bronze sponsors: Argosy Cruises, Carpet Liquidators, CenturyLink, DML Insurance, Google, Group Health, Irons Brothers Construction, Mona Smith, Attorney at Law, Overlake Reproductive Health, Verity Credit Union, Vulcan and Whitepages. We are so grateful for all their support. Also, how exciting to see so many guests ready to sign up as table captains for our over-the-top Scholarship fundraising gala,
the TASTE of GSBA on November 21, 2015. Given, this event has sold out for the past four years, it is a good reminder to reserve your TASTE table now.
continued from cover when Scholarship Chair Stephanie Dallas came on stage with an impassioned plea that opened our hearts and compelled us to give generously. Thank you to all of our table captains who brought wonderful guests to fill the room at the Waterfront Marriott. Chaired by Allan Aquila and Scholarship Dinner volunteers Ryan Digges and Steve Gunn and our Scholarship Fund staff led by Mark Rosén and Jessica Wootten, we were able to create an evening that powerfully connected our past to our future. Other highlights of the evening included two announcements from Board Chair Martha Davis: the first about the launching of a new Leadership Matching Fund, and the exciting news that GSBA has committed to fund every returning undergraduate scholar. With your continued support, both of these commitments will make a huge difference in the lives of LGBTQ and allied students. How wonderful it was to hear about the scholars who received our named scholarships this year. Bob Rhodehamel & Dana Snyder presented a Future Ribbons Schol-
6 Seattle Gay News
May 22, 2015
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For the future, Louise Chernin President & CEO Greater Seattle Business Association VIDEO 1 (Thank You) – https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=dogdro8phOs VIDEO 2 (History of Scholarship) – https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zb7yXx88Qok Courtesy of the GSBA
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Louisiana House committee kills “Freedom to Discriminate” bill, Bobby Jindal throws hissy fit by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order bypassing his state’s legislature and commanding state agencies to connive in discrimination against Gay and Lesbian couples. Jindal issued the order on May 19, mere hours after a Louisiana House committee killed his pet bill, the so-called Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act. The measure would have allowed businesses and service providers to use religious belief as justification to refuse service to Gay and Lesbian customers. Saying he was “disappointed by the committee’s action,” Jindal took executive action to order state agencies not to prosecute or punish “individuals, non-profit, or for-profit corporations” who refuse to serve Gay or Lesbian customers if they claim to be acting “in accordance with [their] religious belief that marriage is or should be recognized as
the union of one man and one woman.” The move put Jindal at odds with leaders of Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature and its business community. The bill got off to a bumpy start in the Legislature, with Republican State Senate President John Alario saying flatly that “It puts Louisiana in a light of hatred and bigotry and discrimination.” A House committee later voted by a lopsided 10-2 margin not to advance the measure. Meanwhile, IBM’s top Louisiana official wrote Jindal expressing the company’s “strong opposition” to the bill. “IBM has made significant investments in Louisiana including most recently a technology services delivery center in Baton Rouge, creating new jobs for Louisiana workers,” James M. Driesse, the company’s senior Louisiana executive, wrote. IBM employs about 800 people in Baton Rouge. Jindal’s office quickly responded, saying he was sure IBM would be in favor of the legislation if they understood what the
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bill was really about. “We’re beginning to convince the world that Louisiana is one of the best places in the world to do business,” said Michael Heck, the president and CEO of Greater New Orleans, a regional business promotion group. “These gains are real but fragile. Companies think [the anti-Gay measure] will make it harder to recruit workers to Louisiana.” Equality Louisiana, an LGBT rights group, and Louisiana Progress Action, denounced Jindal’s executive order and suggested that the governor’s actions were designed to advance his presidential aspirations. “It is shameful that Gov. Jindal has decided that abusing his executive power to accomplish the goals of House Bill 707, even after it was tabled indefinitely by our legislature today, is worth more effort than fixing our disastrous state budget,” the groups said in a statement. “In his time in Iowa, he may have forgotten what everyday Louisianians value, but
the testimony today against HB 707 should have reminded him. Discrimination is not a Louisiana value. “Gov. Jindal is clearly trying to leave the biggest mess possible, as he readies himself to spend even less time in Louisiana and to launch his presidential campaign. In the end, his extreme ideology is only making the state a worse place for those of us who actually plan to live here past his last day in office.” HRC had a similar assessment. “This executive order falls into the category of unnecessary, gratuitous and discriminatory,” the group said. “On the same day that Louisiana legislators had the good sense to turn back discrimination, Governor Jindal, who’s facing one of the lowest approval ratings in state history, decided to promote his presidential fortunes by championing ignorance. He’s on the wrong side of this issue and will no doubt be on the wrong side of history.”
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U.S. condemns anti-Gay threats by Gambia President Yahya Jammeh by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice has condemned anti-Gay threats made by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. At a recent political rally in the small African country, Jammeh reportedly threatened to kill Gays. “If you do it [in Gambia] I will slit your throat,” Jammeh is quoted as saying. “If you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it.” In a May 11 statement, Rice condemned Jammeh’s remarks and raised concerns about other anti-Gay moves in The Gambia. “The recent unconscionable comments by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh underscore why we must continue to seek a world in which no one lives in fear of violence or persecution because of who they are or whom they love,” Rice said. “We condemn his comments, and note these threats come amid an alarming deterioration of the broader human rights situation in The Gambia. We are deeply concerned about credible reports of torture, suspicious disappearances – including of two American citizens – and arbitrary detention at the government’s hands.” In October, Jemmeh signed a law making “aggravated homosexuality” punishable by life in prison. As defined under the law, “aggravated homosexuality” includes “serial offenders” as well as engaging in samesex sexual contact with a minor or while having HIV. While Rice was forceful in condemn-
ing Jammeh, LGBT activists were concerned that the U.S. response was slow in coming. Only one day before Rice made her statement, Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary Eric Schultz told a news briefing that he “had no comment” on The Gambia president’s remarks. A week previously, HRC and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights wrote an open letter to Rice calling for a White House statement condemning the remarks. Such an official statement, the groups said, would “help advance human rights in the country by exposing these ongoing injustices to the world and by standing on the side of ordinary Gambians who continue to advocate for accountability and justice in the country.” The letter also calls for visa bans for Jammeh and other leaders engaged in anti-LGBT conduct as well as a review of military and security assistance with the country. A visa ban would have particular impact on Jemmeh because he owns a $3.5 million mansion in Maryland less than 20 miles from the White House. HRC Vice President Fred Sainz said his organization is happy with the statement Rice issued on May 11. “We’re very gratified that she spoke out so forcefully against conduct that by any
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh – www.bellanaija.com
measure is completely unacceptable,” Sainz said. Jeffrey Smith, an Africa specialist at the Robert Kennedy Center, also expressed gratitude over the condemnation of Gambia’s leader. “Ambassador Rice’s timely statement strikes a nice balance by both condemning President Jammeh’s most recent and repugnant comments while also rightly linking them to the wider human rights crisis that has afflicted The Gambia under Jammeh’s two-decade reign,” Smith said.
But more action is needed from the Obama administration beyond strongly worded statements from the White House, Smith said. “It is also important to note, however, that strong denunciations from the White House, while certainly welcome, are not enough,” Smith said. “There must be consequences, and I hope this latest incident proves to the U.S. government that the time has come to issue visa bans and travel restrictions on The Gambia’s political leadership.”
#AskTheHIVDoc! A new YouTube series from Greater Than AIDS: Taking away the shame and silence, prominent HIV doctors get real about HIV MENLO PARK – Two out of every three new HIV infections in the U.S. today are among Gay and Bisexual men. Yet, according to a national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, few are talking about HIV with their health care providers. Greater Than AIDS is working to break that silence. Leading HIV doctors give frank, nononsense answers to commonly-asked questions from Gay men about HIV prevention, testing and treatment in #AskTheHIVDoc, a new YouTube series from Greater Than AIDS. “The more you talk about these things, the more comfortable you’ll be – and frankly, the more comfortable everyone will be,” says Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, one of the two doctors featured in the first installment of 12 one-minute videos, “and that’s going to be how you get rid of stigma.” Dr. Daskalakis, the Assistant Health Commissioner of New York City’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, is known for his energetic, active approach to addressing HIV/AIDS. Appearing alongside Dr. Daskalakis in the series is Dr. David Malebranche, a primary care physician at the University of Pennsylvania’s Student Health Center with expertise in clinical management of HIV and behavioral HIV prevention research
with Black men in the United States. Dr. Malebranche says he hopes people will use the information as a jumping off point with their own health care providers. “Whether it’s in your relationship, in your community or with your health care providers, our hope is that these questions give you the tools to start having real conversations about HIV with the people in your life.” In addition to being highly-regarded HIV/AIDS clinicians, both doctors are also openly Gay and bring a personal perspective to their responses. As Dr. Daskalakis says in the video, “We have no shame about it, so you shouldn’t have any shame about it.” While the tone of #AsktheHIVDoc has a playfulness and lightness, the answers are straightforward and packed with useful information. Questions were solicited by Greater Than AIDS through social media and reflect those that some may be reluctant or not even know to ask: Is there some sort of regular checkup I should be getting, like a Gay physical? Are there different levels of risk for a top and a bottom? What does “undetectable” mean? “#AskTheHIVDoc seeks to take away any shame or stigma that men may feel in talking with their health care providers about HIV, while providing much needed information,” says Tina Hoff, Senior Vice President and Director of Health Communication and Media Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation – a co-founding part-
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Seattle Gay News
AskTheHIVDoc is a new YouTube series – courtesy of #AskTheHIVDoc
ner in Greater Than AIDS. “When we know better, we do better.” Greater Than AIDS partner HERE Media (OUT, Advocate, Plus, pride.com and more) is helping to promote the series through its platforms. The series was filmed at Here Media’s studio in New York City. As Dr. Malebranche says, “Keep the questions coming!” Post your questions tagged #AsktheHIVDoc @GreaterThanAIDS.
To watch the full series, go to @GreaterThanAIDS on YouTube. Greater Than AIDS is a leading public information response to the U.S. domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic with a focus on the areas and people most affected. Learn more at @GreaterThanAIDS. Courtesy of Greater Than AIDS
Celebrating 41 Years!
Co-founder of first Gay police association dies Sam Ciccone was 71 by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Sam Ciccone, co-founder of the first LGBT police association in the United States, died of heart disease May 10. He was 71. Ciccone is survived by his partner TaWei Yu, and three sisters. Ciccone was one of two original founders of New York City’s Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) in 1982. Co-founder Charles H. Cochrane Jr. died in 2008. At just 20 years of age, Ciccone became a police officer in New Jersey in 1964. Over the next 15 years, he rose to become a detective sergeant, but always kept his sexual orientation a secret from fellow police officers. He quit the New Jersey Police in 1979 and moved to New York City after New York Mayor Ed Koch signed an executive order banning discrimination on the grounds of “sexual orientation or affectional preference” in all city agencies, including the police force. In 1982 Ciccone and Cochrane called a meeting at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Greenwich Village. A dozen other officers showed up and formed GOAL, now recognized as the first LGBTI police association in America. The organization is still going strong
today with over 2,000 members and has inspired dozens of similar organizations across the United States. Ciccone and GOAL were instrumental in supporting Gay and Lesbian officers on the New York police force, and also in improving relations between the LGBTI community and police in the city. Ciccone is credited with convincing the organizers of New York’s Gay Pride Parade to start securing police permits for the event in the ‘80s. Ciccone also helped the New York City Anti-Violence Project write a curriculum for cultural competency trainings for the New York Police Academy, teaching recruits how to work with LGBT crime victims. When there were spikes of violence against LGBT people in New York in the late ‘80s and ‘90s he helped convince NYPD to place additional resources in the Greenwich Village and Chelsea neighborhoods to protect residents and businesses there. Ciccone went on to earn a law degree at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University and work for the law firm Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik. He was also the author of a play, Nothing to Report, about his experience as a Gay police officer, which ran Off-Broadway in 1987. .
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