NEW YORK (May 24, 2019) – Today, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled its proposed regulation to roll back regulations issued during the Obama administration that clarified that,
pursuant to federal law, the sex discrimination protections of the Affordable Care Act forbid discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. see ACA page 19
LOS ANGELES (May 28, 2019) –Today, Lambda Legal, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit challenging the “denial of care” rule issued earlier this month by the US Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS). In the lawsuit (County of Santa Clara v. US Department of Health and Human Services), filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California in coordination with Santa Clara County, the organizations are representsee DENIAL OF CARE page 18
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
The US Supreme Court announced on May 28 that it will not hear a challenge to
school policies that allow Transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
see SCOTUS page 7
WASHINGTON, DC (May 28, 2019)
– Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, responded to news that the Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from the Alliance for Defending
Freedom (ADF) over a 3rd Circuit ruling in Doe v. Boyertown Area School District, meaning that students in that school district will be permitted to use bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identities.
see HRC page 7
Compiled by SGN Staff
HAPPY LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH FROM SEATTLE GAY NEWS!
FRIDAY, MAY 31
City of Seattle Pride Flag Raising
4-5pm. Seattle City Hall Steps (600 4th Ave). Join Mayor Jenny Durkan for Seattle’s seventh annual Pride Flag Raising to demonstrate our city’s commitment to inclusion and to honor our LGBTQ residents and visitors. Our Flag’s month-long display signals to all that they are welcome in our city and that they will be accepted for who they are. Light refreshments will be served and music will be provided by DJ MIXX America.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 -
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Dine With Pride
Take a bite for equal rights! See http:// seattlepride.org/events/dinewithpride/ for a list of participating restaurants.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Burien Pride Festival 2019
10am-10pm. Burien Town Square Park (480 SW 152nd St, Burien). Music, booths, food, and much more in celebration of the Burien LGBTQ Community. Watch for more info at www.burienpride.com.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Snohomish County Pride Festival
10am-9pm. Willis Tucker Park (6705 Puget Park Dr, Snohomish). The third annual Pride Festival in Snohomish County. All welcome to celebrate the richness of our community with art, entertainment, information and food. Sponsored by Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan. Info: http://theabbey.org/ snohomish-county-pride-festival/.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
PhinneyWood Pride Rainbow Hop 10:30am-1:30pm. Seattle Public Library, Greenwood Branch (8016 Greenwood Ave N). Seventh annual event celebrating love and solidarity with our LGBTQ families and friends. Participating businesses along the “Hop Route” will host activities that promote inclusiveness and fun. Kids who collect six stamps from businesses along the route will receive a free ticket to Woodland Park Zoo. Also features Drag Queen Storytime, face painting, arts & crafts, and more. Free; all ages. Info and route map at www.phinneycenter.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Capitol Hill Pride Concert
12 noon-10pm. Seattle Central College (1701 Broadway). An event celebrating diversity and community pride, remembering Stonewall on its 50th anniversary, and local history. Featuring speakers, live music, and artists. Open to everyone of any background. Scheduled performers include Asukaa Jaxx, Jay Westwind Wolf Hollingsworth, Michael Cagle, Oz – The Untold Story, Mac High Singer, Lies in Dust Band, Broadway Showstoppers, Tom Orr – Dirty Little Showtunes, and more. Info: www. capitolhillpridefestival.info.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Blue Dress Party
7-10pm. A fundraising gala cruise raising awareness for PrEP. An evening of dancing, art, music, and cocktails. All aboard the fabulous HIYU floating venue (ontheHIYU.com). Sailing the night away on Lake Washington. All proceeds will benefit Lifelong and The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Abbey of St. Joan Charity Granting Fund. Tickets $65 general; $125 VIP at BlueDressParty.com.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
Capitol Hill Clean Sweep: Pride Kickoff
10am-1:30pm. Cal Anderson Park (1635 11th Ave). Help us make the streets and parks of Capitol Hill shine for Pride Month. Volunteers receive free coffee, donuts, T-shirt, post-sweep lunch and entertainment. All ages welcome. Pre-register at www.caphillchamber.org.
by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer
In 1999 I wrote an article, “Stonewall at Thirty,” where I discussed the Stonewall Uprising and what the event meant for us thirty years later. In 2004 I wrote another column, “Stonewall at Thirty-Five,” which was basically a rehash of the 1999 piece. I also wrote about Stonewall for an encyclopedia, Youth, Education, and Sexualities, edited by James T. Sears (2005), not one of my best efforts. Though I still think of Stonewall as the most important event in LGBTQ history, its meaning has changed as we changed over the years, both as individuals and as part of an LGBTQ community. What used to be a truly subversive event – queers resisting police oppression – has become banal; a way to sell products or services or an excuse to throw a party. Fifty years ago, I was a 16-year old high school student in Miami; and I did not learn about Stonewall until I read my first gay newspaper two years later. Today, almost every high school student in America knows about Stonewall. What was once unmentionable is now part of our countryʼs political and social history. Former President Barack Obama brought Stonewall, and the LGBTQ movement that it represents, up to the level of the feminist and civil rights movements when he named it along with the Seneca Falls Convention (1848) and
the Selma March (1965) as a major event in the history of American freedom. (The fact that all three events start with an S helped.) History books that once would have ignored the Stonewall Uprising and the LGBTQ movement now mention both, if briefly. In 2011 PBS first broadcast “Stonewall Uprising: as part of its “American Experience” series, giving the event its seal of approval. Then in 2016 the Stonewall Inn and its surroundings became a National Monument. All this happened during the Obama years, a period of history when, to use the title of a book by Ta-Nehisi Coates, “we were eight years in power.” Donald Trump and his evangelical base would never allow a Stonewall National Monument, though the fact that there are no fossil fuels below Greenwich Village means that the monument will continue to exist, at least for now.
Though the memory of Stonewall brings the LGBTQ community together once a year, if only to party, the event continues to create controversy within our community. Even the make-up of the Stonewall rioters leads to many arguments: were they young, mostly-white, gay men or young, mostlyblack or brown, trans women? In a way I think the debate is a healthy one, if only because it finally gives a Stonewall veteran like Miss Major Griffin-Gracy the recognition that she deserves. On the other hand, arguing the presence of this or that person
or group can get tedious, like the debate on what trans Latinx activist Sylvia Rivera was actually doing on June, 28, 1969: challenging the cops outside the Stonewall Inn or passed out on a nearby bench. I think the distinguishing mark of the Stonewall rioters was mostly economic and not racial or gender. These people – women or men, trans or cis, Black or Latinx or white –hung out at the Stonewall because they had nowhere else to go, unlike the well-off gays who were enjoying the weekend on the West Side or on Fire Island.
Though the Stonewall Uprising was by no means the start of the LGBTQ movement, it happened at the right place and the right time: in Greenwich Village at the tail end of a tumultuous decade. Stonewall only happened because of Selma and Seneca Falls Convention (and their aftermath). Events like the Comptonʼs Cafeteria Riot in San Francisco (1966) or the Black Cat Riot in Los Angeles (1967) did not get the attention that Stonewall did. It helped that activists like the late Craig Rodwell saw the Stonewall Uprising as a useful tool and worked to make its anniversary a symbol of queer resistance and community. All in all, we should continue to honor Stonewall for what it was and what it represents, though always remembering those who made Stonewall possible. If Stonewall never existed, another event would surely take its place.
Radical Women in numerous cities joined thousands of feminists across the US in coming out May 21 to denounce the outrageous attacks on legal abortion being enacted in Alabama, Georgia, and dozens of other states. National Organizer Helen Gilbert spoke at the Seattle event (see text of her speech below). Please contact Radical Women with your ideas for how we can work together to build a militant, multiissue offensive to roll back attacks on reproductive freedom and other targets of the right wing.
I’m Helen Gilbert, the national organizer for Radical Women.
Radical Women has been fighting for reproductive rights since our founding. We’re proud that our earliest members worked with Black women from the antipoverty program to hold one of Washington’s first rallies for legal abortion at the state capitol in Olympia. We’re proud that Radical Women members have confronted the fetus fetishists in clinic defense in Seattle; Los Angeles; New York City; Melbourne, Australia; and elsewhere. We need to step up clinic defense now because the abortion bans are going to make the anti-choicers even more aggressive.
We need to be just as aggressive in defending women’s lives. The religious right is not just about stopping abortion but
controlling every aspect of women’s lives. We need to stand for and with those most under attack: Black and Native American women who are at highest risk of death in childbirth and infant mortality. We need to fight with a multi-issue focus, knowing that reproductive justice has to include free abortion on demand, affordable childcare,
no forced sterilization, health care and housing for all, and an end to the racist prison pipeline that separates families just as much as ICE does. To keep abortion legal, we need a militant, feminist movement that’s out in the streets with all communities under attack. We need to call on our unions to defend the rights of their
members. We need to show how assaults on legal abortion are just the beginning of the reactionary agenda of the Trump regime and the far right.
Since Roe v Wade was won, we’ve spent a lifetime trying to hold on to our rights. We’ve been told to pin our hopes on one more candidate, one more sympathetic judge. Meanwhile, we’ve lost more and more ground. This incremental fight isn’t working.
We can’t spend another lifetime to win women’s right to control our own bodies. We can’t spend another lifetime trying to stop racist and anti-trans violence and deadly US wars that victimize women and children all over the world. As we mobilize for abortion rights and reproductive justice, we need to build a movement to overthrow this whole, woman-hating racist capitalist system.
We can’t take another lifetime to win a socialist world, where human rights and environmental sanity are the highest values. Let’s build the reproductive justice fight into a mass movement that challenges patriarchal capitalism at every level. That’s the only way to be sure that the rights we fight for today will still exist tomorrow.
See the video of the speech [at https:// bit.ly/30Vs1gL].
by Nick DiMartino Special to the SGN
Talking about the experience you’ve had reading a book is one of the greatest pleasures a good book offers. Only one person came to the four meetings in April discussing Tennessee Williams. Only one came to the four meetings in May discussing Leading Men. I love hearing other people’s ideas about books. I’ve sat alone waiting in the café once too often. So let me say, I’d sure love to know what you think of Simeon Wade’s Foucault in California, in which almost all the people in the book are gay, though it’s not about sex – it’s about
a gay guy getting his gay hero, the French philosopher, to join him dropping acid in Death Valley in 1975. Just the story of how the manuscript survived is a heartfelt tale of determined journalism. But if not, if no one comes to the June meetings, it will be the last selection of our club.
It’s a short, lovely little book – with a glossy white cover showing a handsome photo of bald Foucault wearing Technicolor-infused sunglasses. It only takes a couple days to read. I’d love to know what you think of it! It costs $22 – tell the cashier at University Book Store you’re buying it for the book club, and get 20% off.
I’ll be at the University Book Store’s
charming bookstore café on two Wednesdays, June 12 and June 19 at 6 pm. I’ll wait to see if anyone joins me. If not, I want to thank all of you for a long-lived book club under several names – from 2009 to 2019. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed hearing your thoughts and seeing the ways you read. Joe Derr taught me to notice which characters lied in novels. What a gift! You’ve kindly supported my own writing. A number of you have become my friends. Maybe I’ll have a tableful of members again in June, but if not – THANK YOU for some wonderful conversations about books!
REDMOND, Wash. (May 28, 2019)
– Voters in Washington State overwhelmingly disapprove of Donald Trump and would support a Democratic challenger if the 2020 presidential election were being held now, according to a new statewide survey commissioned by the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI).
Sixty-one percent of respondents said they disapproved of Trump, while only 35% approved. Four percent were not sure. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they would support Trump’s Democratic opponent if the election were being held now, while 34% said they would vote for Trump. Seven percent were not sure.
Conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP), the survey of 886 likely 2019 Wash-
ington state voters was in the field May 21–22, 2019. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.3% at the 95% confidence level and utilizes a blended methodology, with automated phone calls to landlines and online interviews of cellphone-only respondents.
One year ago, [the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI)] and PPP found that 59% of Washington voters disapproved of Trump, while 35% approved and 6% were not sure.
Within just Eastern Washington, Trump has gone from plurality disapproval (48%) in 2018 to majority disapproval (51%) in 2019, suggesting that his catastrophic policies are taking a toll on his support even in areas he carried in 2016.
“Donald Trump’s unpopularity could
be a big problem for the Washington State Republican Party in 2020,” said Northwest Progressive Institute founder and executive director Andrew Villeneuve. “Trump’s presence on the ballot next year could be like an anvil that drags the entire ticket, hurting the reelection prospects of Republican incumbents like State Treasurer Duane Davidson, or Republican legislators representing districts like the 6th or the 10th.”
“While Trump didn’t carry Washington in 2016, he did do well in rural areas of the state, capturing even some counties that have been voting Democratic in presidential contests for decades,” Villeneuve noted. “Our data suggests that 2020 could be a different story. It’s particularly significant that most voters we surveyed east of
the Cascades do not approve of Trump and would vote for his Democratic opponent if the election were being held today.”
These findings are also available in a post on NPI’s Cascadia Advocate at https:// bit.ly/2EGBsHI.
The Northwest Progressive Institute is a netroots-powered strategy center working to raise America’s quality of life through insightful research and imaginative advocacy. The NPI was founded in 2003 and is based in Redmond, Washington.
Courtesy of the NPI
WASHINGTON, DC (May 28, 2019) –
The Supreme Court today declined to hear Doe v. Boyertown Area School District, allowing school districts to continue to support transgender students by allowing them to use restrooms that match their gender.
In 2016, the Boyertown Area School District began to allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender while also allowing all students the option of using private facilities. A group of non-transgender students sued Boyertown, arguing that the Constitution requires boys and girls who are transgender to be excluded from the facilities that other boys and girls use. They also argued that the mere presence of transgender students in common restrooms and locker rooms is sexual harassment.
The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the idea that transgender students are a threat to other students and ruled in favor of the school district. In a powerful opinion, the court recognized that forcing transgender students to use separate facilities from everyone else would “publicly brand all transgender students with a scarlet ‘T,’ and they should not have to endure that as the price of attending their public school.”
The American Civil Liberties Union represents the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, a coalition of LGBTQ youth leaders and youth organizations, which intervened in the case to defend the district’s right to allow transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender. The law firm Cozen O’Connor is cooperating counsel.
Ria Tabacco Mar, senior staff attorney with the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, had the following response:
“This is an enormous victory for transgender students across the country. Boyertown’s schools chose to be inclusive and welcoming of transgender students in 2016,
a decision the courts have affirmed again and again. This lawsuit sought to reverse that hard-won progress by excluding transgender students from school facilities that other students use. That would have increased the stigma and discrimination that transgender students already face.
“Thankfully, today’s announcement allows schools to move forward with policies that support transgender students. But our work is far from over. We will continue to defend the transgender community from attacks in the courts, the legislatures, and the White House.”
Aidan DeStefano, a recent graduate of Boyertown High who is transgender, had the following response:
“By the time I graduated high school, I was using the boys’ bathroom and partici-
WASHINGTON, DC (May 28, 2019) –Today, the Supreme Court declined to hear Doe v. Boyertown Area School District, a case that challenged a Pennsylvania school district’s policy that protects transgender students from discrimination in all aspects of their education.
[Below is a] statement from Transgender Youth Project Staff Attorney Asaf Orr:
“The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Boyertown is a major victory for transgender students and their families. The vast majority of people in this country support equal treatment of all students, including those who are transgender. The lawsuit challenging Boyertown’s supportive school policies was a political stunt
brought by an anti-LGBTQ organization whose agenda is to strip transgender people of basic legal protections. The lower courts rightly rejected that hateful agenda, and we are relieved that the Supreme Court has allowed their decisions to stand.”
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.NCLRights.org
Courtesy of the NCLR
pating on the boys’ cross country team. I felt like I belonged and had the confidence I needed to continue with my education. I’m glad the Supreme Court is allowing schools like mine to continue supporting transgender students.”
SCOTUS continued from cover
The high court’s decision leaves such policies in place, at least for now, and represents a victory for Trans rights. The high court will only take up cases that at least four justices vote to hear.
The case, Doe v. Boyertown Area School District, originated with a group of four students at a Pennsylvania high school, who claimed that their privacy rights were violated by a school policy allowing Trans students to use facilities that matched their gender identities.
The four were represented by the antiLGBT hate group, Alliance Defending Freedom.
The central legal issue is the interpretation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which forbids schools that receive federal funds – in other words, almost all schools in the US – from discriminating on the basis of sex.
The Obama administration believed that the language of Title IX also protected gender identity. When that reading of Title IX was challenged by lawsuits, the Supreme Court was preparing to review
continued from cover
“This is a critical victory for transgender students throughout the United States,” said Robin Maril, HRC Associate Legal Director. “Again and again, federal courts have affirmed the right of students to use facilities that align with their gender identity, and this latest decision by the Supreme Court to reject an appeal to overturn Boyertown’s policy affirms that pattern of equality under the law for all students, regardless of gender identity. The fight is far from over, and from the ballot box to the courts, we will never stop advocating on behalf of transgender and nonbinary students.”
The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) over a ruling by the US
This statement is online at https://www. aclu.org/press-releases/supreme-courtallows-school-district-restroom-policiessupporting-transgender.
Courtesy of the ACLU
the case, but a policy change by the Trump administration rendered the suit moot and the high court ultimately declined to hear it. The court has also said it would review the scope of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which involves anti-discrimination protections for LGBT workers, next term.
The ACLU called the Supreme Court’s decision “an enormous victory for transgender students across the country.”
“Boyertown’s schools chose to be inclusive and welcoming of transgender students in 2016, a decision the courts have affirmed again and again,” the group said in a media release.
“This lawsuit sought to reverse that hard-won progress by excluding transgender students from school facilities that other students use. That would have increased the stigma and discrimination that transgender students already face.
“Thankfully, today’s announcement allows schools to move forward with policies that support transgender students. But our work is far from over. We will continue to defend the transgender community from attacks in the courts, the legislatures, and the White House.”
3rd Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld Boyertown Area Schools’ policy allowing students to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
The Human Rights Campaign will continue to fight alongside coalition partners [to ensure that] transgender students are treated with dignity and respect in their school environments.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The 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 HRC
Dear Friends:
May has been a packed month here at Pride Foundation – but in the best kind of way. I hope this spring has held the same abundance and energy for you as it has for us.
Here are just 3 of the cool things that have been happening this month at Pride Foundation that are helping to build community for LGBTQ+ folks and our families in the Northwest:
1. Last week, we were thrilled to announce our 2019 Scholars! Thanks to the support of our generous community, we awarded $540,000 to 135 amazing student leaders, and we couldn’t be more honored to support them on their educational journeys. We hope you can join us to celebrate these incredible students at our Scholarship Celebrations happening across the region over the next month—beginning next Wednesday in Seattle!
2. Our 2019-2020 Community Grants application is now open! This year we anticipate awarding more than half a million dollars to support the incredible organizations that are helping create a better world for LGBTQ+ people. Please share this opportunity with your networks and learn more about the guidelines and process here.
3. This past weekend, our staff and board traveled from across the 5-state region to Spokane, Washington for our annual retreat. We got to celebrate with more than 70 community members from Central and Eastern Washington and North Idaho at a special gathering on Friday night to celebrate all that we have overcome, and all that we have accomplished together.
During our retreat, we also had the privilege to learn from our brilliant and generous colleagues and friends at Native Americans in Philanthropy, who led us in The Blanket Exercise, a participatory history lesson that
fosters understanding and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people. We hope to incorporate the deep learning we gained from this experience as we continue to center racial justice at Pride Foundation and work to become more intentional and thoughtful about how we engage
What began as an idea between 2 friends having a drink at The Lumber Yard Bar has turned into a full-blown Pride celebration in White Center. Recently, White Center has become a popular destination for the Seattle area LGBT+ community. “There has been a lot of talk that White Center is becoming the new Capitol Hill. But we’re not looking to be the new Capitol Hill. We want White Center to be White Center. We just want more people to be able to experience it.” a spokesperson said. The 5-day event incorporates long-time established businesses with newer bars and restaurants.
Official Kickoff
The festivities will kick-off on June 5 at 7pm with a Pride Flag raising at Triangle Park (16th Ave SW & SW Roxbury St) in the heart of White Center. Christine Spencer, from Mac’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW), will raise the flag. Spencer, a well-known and respected figure in White Center, was the obvious choice to lead the ceremony. The Triangle Pub has long been known as a place that is welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. Following the flag raising, Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th Ave SW) will host Pride Skate Night. Southgate has offered a monthly Pride Skate Night for several years. What started as a small event has created a cult following that draws a higher number of skaters each month.
The remainder of the celebrations will occur at various bars and restaurants. There will be a BBQ & Drag event at Drunky Two Shoes BBQ (9655 16th Ave SW) on Thursday, June 6. The show will feature the Rat City Queens. Friday night will include The Swallow Bar (9608 16th Ave SW), the newest gay bar in the neighborhood, and a swimwear themed party at the Lumber Yard Bar (9619 16th Ave SW). The Lumber Yard opened in January of 2018 and has been extremely popular, known for its friendly staff and creative event nights.
The weekend will round out with karaoke at Mac’s Triangle Pub and a main event party at The Lumber Yard on Saturday night; and a Sunday Funday Gay Pride Fair at Future Primitive Brewing (9832 14th Ave SW) which will feature local vendors. The celebration will wrap up with a Sunday afternoon tea dance at The Lumber Yard. The goal is to grow Pride over the next few years to offer a street fair and include more of the local businesses. There has been a large amount of positive feedback from the neighborhood and interest in future involvement. Volunteers and businesses can still get involved by emailing info@ whitecenterpride.org.
Courtesy of White Center Pride
with, support, and invest in Native American communities in the Northwest.
This month has left our hearts incredibly full, and we are excited for all the future holds. We are so deeply grateful for all of the ways you show up every day for equity and justice for our communities.
With pride, Katie Carter (she/her) CEO Pride Foundation
10th Ave S). Everyone is welcome to this 9th annual family friendly event. Drag show, food, music, dancing, more. Free tamales for the first 200 people! Sponsored by Entre Hermanos, www.entrehermanos.org.
Flag raising at Triangle Park (16th Ave SW & SW Roxbury St). The 5-day event contin ues with celebrations at various community bars and restaurants through the weekend. Participating venues include: Mac’s Trian gle Pub, Southgate Roller Rink, Drunky Two Shoes BBQ, The Swallow Bar, The Lumberyard, Future Primitive Brewery. For complete information, visit https:// whitecenterpride.org/
(9646 17th Ave S). Kick off to the first White Center Pride at this event with after party at the Lumber Yard Bar. Admission $8 at door. More info at www.whitecenter pride.org.
Ave S). Puget Sound Business Journal, in partnership with GSBA, invites you to cele brate the 2019 Outstanding Voices and our largest LGBTQ-owned businesses. Tickets: $135 (includes reception, dinner, compli mentary beer, wine, soft drinks) or $2,750 for table of 10. www.bizjournals.com/seat tle/event/163794
THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Queer Me Out at the W 5:30-7pm. W Seattle Hotel, Great Room (1112 4th Ave, 2nd floor). “Fifty Years from Stonewall in Seattle” panel discussion and Q&A with the movers and shakers who are pushing the LGBTQ+ movement forward, followed by cocktails and DJ. Led by Seattle PrideFest founder Egan Orion and featuring Candis Cayne, Arson Nicki, Sarah Toce, Monseratt Padilla, Tony Radovich and Paul Blakes (Kaluha Ice). RSVP at www.facebook.com/events/411857619579367/.
How Far We’ve Come: A Queer Art Show 902 Feet in the Air,” curated by Timothy Rysdyke (on display June 1-30). First Thursday event also includes Rainbow Bingo with Sylvia O’Stayformore (6-8pm). Info on this and other Pride-related events at www.skyviewobservatory.com/en-US/ experiences/offers-events/pride.
Columbia Tower for Seattle’s 50 Years of Pride Celebration. “We’re gonna shout it from the rooftops, honey!” The higher the floor, the closer to justice! Join us for appetizers, drinks and incredible performances. Let’s start our month-long celebration of Pride with an exciting evening of activists, artists, educators, journalists, policymak-
ers, students, and others engaged in Seattle’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. Space is limited! RSVP and receive 2 complimentary drink tickets. Everyone is welcome! Donations encouraged, but not required. RSVP to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/50-yearsof-pride-celebration-tickets-61024820882. Follow us and get involved by tagging your own Pride experiences using our official hashtags: #SomosPride #Stonewall 50 #HereToStay. Event presented by Emma Moreno, her son Max Sebastian and Somos Seattle – Latinx LGBTQ Organization. https://www.somosseattle.org/
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Exhibit Opening: “In and Out: Being LGBTQ on Vashon Island” 6-9pm (opening reception). Vashon Heritage Museum (10105 SW Bank Rd, Vashon). Interactive, collaborative exhibit and series of programs that examine and celebrate the long, quiet history of LGBTQ+ people on Vashon-Maury Island, which has the largest per-capita LGBTQ population in Washington State. Curated by Ellen Kritzman and Stephen Silha. Exhibit on display thru March 2020. Info: https://vashonheritagemuseum. org/exhibition/lgbtq-vashon. (Watch this site for news of special events tied to the exhibit.)
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Exhibit Opening:
“Queer Clay” at Pottery Northwest 6-8pm (opening reception). Pottery Northwest (226 1st Ave N). What makes a “home” becomes increasingly convoluted post-adolescence, particularly for Queer folx: if you’re Queer, “homemaking” often means forging a family from scratch. This exhibition brings together artists working in the Pacific Northwest to address themes of home and belonging. These artists represent a geographical range from Seattle and Portland all the way to Montana and Alaska, and they include a mix of ceramic artists and artists from other disciplines who were willing to take on clay. Exhibit on display thru June 28. Info: https://potterynw.org/portfolio-item/june-2019-queer-clay/.
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
GenPRIDE Inaugural Fundraiser 6-9pm. The Sanctuary at Admiral (2656 42nd Ave SW). Join GenPRIDE (Generations Aging With Pride) in celebrating the generations of our community from Stonewall to Marriage Equality and beyond. Aleksa Manila and other fabulous entertainers will make it a night to remember! Dinner included. Tickets ($50 single, $25 senior) and more info at https://gapseattle.org or call (206) 393-3400.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Trans Health Fair
10am-3pm. MLK F.A.M.E. Community Center (3201 E Republican St). Meet Medical Providers who know Trans issues! Meet agencies staffed by and for Trans People! Do you know if your medical exam is appropriate? Answer questions like these: What if I face homelessness? How do I change my name? Why should I care about HIV? How do I access health care with no insurance? Speakers include: Queerdoc.com’s Dr. Crystal Beal; Gender Justice League; Lambda Legal; Tribalmed.com’s Janna Cuneo, ARNP. “A resiliency space.” Advocate for your health! Sponsored by Lifelong.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Panel Discussion:
“There Goes the Gayborhood”
10:30am-12 noon. Seattle Central Library Microsoft Auditorium (1000 4th Ave, 1st floor). Join Historic Seattle and Vanishing Seattle for a discussion on the history of LGBTQIA spaces and the changing nature of our city. In the face of rapid redevelopment, how do we save the places that anchor Seattle’s LGBTQIA communities but may lack the architectural significance typically required for landmarking? A panel of preservationists, small business owners and activists will discuss important community places and the challenges we face in making preservation more inclusive. Panelists include Rich Freitas, Kevin McKenna, Sylvia O’Stayformore, Jeff Henness, Steve Bennett, and Martha Manning. Free. Info/ RSVP: https://historicseattle.org/event/theregoes-the-gayborhood-panel-discussion/.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Volunteer Park Pride Festival
12 noon-7pm. Volunteer Park (1247 15th Ave E). The Volunteer Park Pride Festival is a chance for family and friends to come together in one of Seattle’s iconic parks and celebrate Queer arts, music, performance and culture. Features beer garden, live music, food trucks, craft fair & informational booths. Free, all ages. Music lineup includes Thunderpussy, J GRGRY, Whitney Monge, Sassyblack, Left At London, Betty Wetter, Marco Collins and DJ KIRK. More info at www.seattlepride.org/festival.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Youth Pride Skate
5:30-9:30pm. Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17 Ave S). A benefit for Lambert House. Sponsored by Southgate Roller Rink, Girl Scout Troop #44284, and Southside Revolution Coed Jr. Roller Derby. Hosted by DJ McLovin. $10 at door with free skate rental and 21+ bar. Info: www. facebook.com/events/463435874473650/.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Blue Moon Pride Show & Benefit for Pizza Klatch
9pm. Blue Moon Tavern (712 NE 45th St). Live music from local Queer artists Creature Hole, Seaside Tryst, and After Party. Proceeds benefit Olympia’s Pizza Klatch. $10 cover, 21+. Info: www.facebook.com/events/534043733795341.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Kitsap Pride Picnic
12:30-4pm. Pilgrim Firs Conference Center (3318 SW Lake Flora Rd, Port Orchard). Annual family-friendly event on beautiful Lake Flora. Pilgrim Firs provides lunch including a vegetarian option. Bring your own beverages, lawn chairs and umbrellas. Music, a children’s craft project, lawn games, volleyball, and you can enjoy walks in the woods including trails around the lake and a contemplative laby-
TUESDAY, JUNE 11
UW Lavender Graduation 6-9pm. Intellectual House (4249 Whitman Court NE). A special ceremony for LGBTQ graduating students hosted by Aleksa Manila and featuring local Trans/ Queer poet, educator and youth advocate J Mase III. (Check him out at https://jmaseiii. com/.) Sponsored by the UW’s Q Center. All are welcome to attend, but participation requires pre-registration at www.eventbrite.com/e/lavender-graduation-2019-tickets-61912892127/amp.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
GSBA Pride Business Luncheon: “Stonewall Forward” 11am (expo), 12 noon (luncheon program). Embassy Suites by Hilton (255 S King St). Join GSBA in recognizing 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising with LGBTQ activists discussing the early years of the movement, its successes, challenges and the work still to be done. Sally Clark of the University of Washington will moderate a panel consisting of Judge Anne Levinson (ret.), Monserrat Padilla (Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network), State Rep. Laurie Jinkins, Thatcher Bailey (Seattle Parks Foundation), and Marsha Botzer, a founding member of Equality Washington. This event features a Small Business Expo, showcasing businesses in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors. The GSBA’s 2019-20 annual guide will also be revealed. Tickets $70 members; $80 nonmembers. Visit www. thegsba.org or call (206) 363-9188.
rinth. This event is by donation, everyone is welcome. Picnic will be held indoors in case of rain. Info: www.facebook.com/ events/2061263750839458/
THURSDAY, JUNE 13
Capitol Hill Art Walk –Queer Edition
5-9pm. Various locations. Seattle PrideFest cosponsors this month’s event with
Capitol Hill Art Walk. Just like the regular monthly art walk, but more Queer! An easy, gentle June stroll through some of the best art the Queer community has to offer. Map of participating venues available for download a week before the event. For details, visit www.facebook.com/ events/532255640619560/.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Seattle Frontrunners
Annual Run/Walk with Pride 4K/10K 9am. Seward Park (5900 Lake Washington Blvd S). This year’s beneficiary is Seattle Area Support Groups (SASG). Registration fee $35 adult, $20 student/ youth for both 4K and 10K events. Register at www.raceentry.com/races/run-walkwith-pride/2019/register. Info at www. runwalkwithpride.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Tukwila Pride Street Fair
10am-8pm. East Marginal Way S from S 128th to S 130th Street. Help make history by being a part of Tukwila’s firstever Pride event! Featuring a huge lineup of entertainers including Athena, Lala Amish, Kristie Champagne, Africa Violeta, Sage Rose, and many other musicians, drag performers and DJs, plus food trucks, beer garden and much more. Children’s activities include reading by “Grandmother Fish” author Jonathan Tweet. Free, hosted by PFLAG, Friendz Café, and NB Garden and Lawn Care. Info: www.tukwilapride.org.
TUESDAY, JUNE 18
PBS presents “The Lavender Scare” 9-10pm. KCTS-TV. In 1953, President Eisenhower declared Gay men and Lesbians to be a threat to national security and therefore unfit for government service. In doing so, he triggered the longest “witch hunt” in American history. Over the next four decades, tens of thousands of government workers lost their jobs and careers
solely over their sexual orientation. But this injustice had an unintended effect: it helped ignite the LGBT rights movement. This new documentary is narrated by Glenn Close and Frank Kameny (the man who dared to fight back). For a complete schedule listing other LGBT-themed programming during June, visit https://kcts.org.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20 –
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Northwest Film Forum
presents “Queens” 6pm (VIP pre-show wine & cupcake tasting), 8pm (screening). Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave). Drawing inspiration from the strategic drama of chess, Simone Pin Productions presents a sexy, thought-provoking burlesque centering two opulent, opposed queens. Gaze upon the staggering beauty of rooks, knights, and two primal Queens facing off on the chessboard! Powerful female figures, love, and the battles experienced by women of color all take center stage in this stimulating burlesque. The Queen’s Court features Adra Boo, Caela Bailey, TAQUEET$!, Elise, Shay Simone and Annya Pin, with choreography by Shay Simone that fuses burlesque and technical dance to scintillating effect. Tickets: $40 general, $50 VIP (includes reserved seating, wine, cupcake, signed poster, meet-andgreet with cast), at https://nwfilmforum.org/ events/simone-pin-productions-queens/.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
Radical Women/Freedom Socialist LGBTQ Pride Forum
7pm. New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave S). Panel discussion focused on the fight against the far right (it didn’t start with Trump). Featuring SGN publisher George Bakan and other local leaders in the struggle. Watch for details at www.radicalwomen.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Pride Shabbat
Join the Seattle Jewish community for Pride Shabbat 2019. This year’s event will be held at Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle campus (1441 16th Ave between E Pike St & E Union St). Pride Shabbat is a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queere Jews, friends, families, and allies of all ages. All are welcome. Guests will be welcomed at 5:30pm with pre-oneg heavy appetizers, followed by a 6:30pm service, and concluding with a dessert oneg at 7:30pm to celebrate the evening. This event is free of charge with dietary laws observed. RSVP at https://www.jewishinseattle.org/ investments-in-jewish-life/pop-up-events/ pride-shabbat-2019/
FRIDAY, JUNE 21 –
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Seattle Men’s Chorus: “Summer of ’69” 8pm (Fri), 2pm (Sat). Benaroya Hall (3rd Ave & University St). Let SMC transport you back to that vibrant year of culturedefining music. Featuring hits by Marvin Gaye, Three Dog Night, Sly & the Family Stone, the Fifth Dimension and many others. Plus: the premiere of “Quiet No More,” an inspiring new musical theater work that tells the stories of the Stonewall riots and the birth of the struggle to live life out loud. Info and tickets: www.seattlechoruses.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Seattle Women’s Pride 2019
6-10pm. The Riveter (1517 12th Ave). This year’s theme: “The Year of the Woman.” Awards presentation (8pm) honorees include Greta Cammermeyer, Mitzi Johanknecht, and Kim Bogucki. Comedy show (9pm)
Monisa Brown, Val Nigro and Tambre Massman. Also food, non-host bar, silent auction, raffle, VIP lounge. Come as you are! Tickets $40 general, $55 VIP (plus fees). Sponsored by The Seattle Lesbian. Info: www.seattlewomenspride.com.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Pride All-Gender Swim at Rainier Beach Pool
6-8pm. Rainier Beach Pool (8825 Rainier Ave S). Amenities include water slide, diving board, sauna, leisure pool, hot tub and 25-yard lap pool. (Access stairs and ADA lift available for leisure pool, lap pool and hot tub.) All welcome – changing rooms will be gender-neutral with five family/private changing rooms available. Special rate of $2 (children under one year free with adult). Info: www.seattle.gov/parks/find/pools/ rainier-beach-pool.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Houselpuff at Blue Moon 8pm. Blue Moon Tavern (712 NE 45th St). A Harry Potter themed dance party, featuring the talents of DJ Eff, Kid Amiga, Kzar, Shitbox, and Flintlock3r. $5 cover, 21+. Info: www.facebook.com/ events/3397409100052121/.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
Capitol City Pride Parade and Festival (Olympia) Parade at noon. Festival 1-5pm. Heritage Park www.capitalcitypride.net and www.facebook.com/capcitypride.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23 –
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Northwest Film Forum presents “Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community” 5 & 8pm 6/23; 3pm 6/24-25; 8:30pm 6/26-28. Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave). Newly restored print of classic 1984 documentary of the LGBT movement in the decades before the 1969 Stonewall riots. Narrated by iconic author Rita Mae Brown and featuring groundbreaking interviews with Ann Bannon, Martin Duberman, Allen Ginsberg, Barbara Gittings, Harry Hay, Mabel Hampton, Dr. Evelyn Hooker, Frank Kameny, Audre Lorde, Richard Bruce Nugent, Jose Sarria, and many more. Tickets and info at https://nwfilmforum.org/.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Trans Pride Seattle March 5pm (assembly), 6pm (march), 7pm (party). Assemble at Broadway & Thomas St, march south on Broadway to Pike, east on Pike to 11th, and north on 11th to Cal Anderson Park for Trans Pride celebration. For more info or to volunteer, visit www. transprideseattle.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Butt Dial at the W 6-8pm. Hotel W Seattle (1112 4th Ave). Mix and mingle with Mama Tits while jumping on the Butt Dial Express with live music on the W Stage. No cover charge. Happy Hour 4-8pm daily. Info: www.evensi.us/amp/love-loud-weekendhotel/310431783.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 –SUNDAY, JUNE 30
GLTA Seattle Classic
11am (Friday’s first match). UW Nordstrom Tennis Center (3833 Walla Walla Rd) indoor and outdoor courts. Annual open tournament sponsored by Seattle Tennis Alliance. Registration deadline: June 14 at 11:59pm. To register or for more information, visit www.seattletennisalliance.org.
On Friday, June 7, from 6 to 9pm Vashon Heritage Museum (10105 SW Bank Road, Vashon) invites you to attend the opening of its largest special exhibit ever: “IN AND OUT: Being LGBTQ on Vashon Island.”
More than a year in the making, the exhibit explores the long, quiet history of LGBTQ people on Vashon Island – their challenges, contributions and visions.
To create the exhibit, co-curators Ellen Kritzman and Stephen Silha interviewed over a dozen people, spoke with old-time Islanders, issued a questionnaire asking about LGBTQ life, assembled a multigenerational advisory committee, and held a “story circle.” They researched articles and family histories, put out the word for photos and artifacts, and searched for film and videos.
Even though Vashon has the highest per capita population of LGBTQ people in Washington state (and one of the highest in the country), there is no cohesive queer community here today.
Yet the Island hosts a rich assortment of families, individuals, artists, entrepreneurs, gardeners, chefs, organizers and public servants who consider themselves LGBTQ.
The exhibit includes a timeline of LGBTQ history, a honeycomb of stories about Island queer history, an AIDS memorial garden curated by Terry Welch and Peter Serko, and a display by Vashon High School’s largest student organization, the Queer Spectrum Alliance (QSA).
“It has been an enormous privilege to have folks be willing to be fully OUT of the closet, and open up their lives to us, and
to you. We hope we have made the exhibit interesting and impactful for everyone, gay and straight and everywhere on the spectrum,” Kritzman and Silha wrote in their curators’ statement.
The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 4pm. The exhibit runs through March 2020. You can support the LGBTQ History exhibit on Vashon Island at https://www.gofundme.com/ vashon-in-and-out-of-the-closet
Courtesy of Vashon Heritage Museum
Thunderpussy to headline Seattle Pride’s Tenth Annual Volunteer Park Pride Festival on June 8
Seattle Pride is kicking off this year’s Pride celebration with the tenth annual Volunteer Park Pride Festival from noon to 7pm. on Saturday, June 8 in Seattle. The event is Pride’s annual celebration of queer arts, music, performance and culture. The free event will feature a beer garden, food trucks, local crafts fair, sponsor and community nonprofit informational booths, and is highlighted by live concert performances.
“The Volunteer Park Pride Festival keeps getting bigger and better every year,” says Seattle Pride Board President Kevin Toovey. “The Festival began in 2009 as a family picnic with hot dogs and inflatable bounce-houses and has grown into a fullblown festival with a beer garden, food trucks and top name musical acts – there’s truly something for everyone.”
Live Music Performances
The can’t-miss music lineup, which celebrates LGBTQ+ arts, features nationally recognized local artists. The Festival will be hosted by popular drag queen Betty Wetter, KEXP’s Marco Collins and DJ Kirk, known for his disco, house R&B, and dance beats. The free live concert will showcase a musical lineup of top acts culminating with a performance by Seattlebased headliner, Thunderpussy.
1pm – Left at London – a trans woman known for her intimate and accessible pop
writing sensibility as well as her introspective lyricism focused on subject matter specific to her life.
2:05pm – SassyBlack – an unexplored galaxy made of fist-pump, funk, and beatfertility known for her blend of experimental hip-hop, unpredictable syncopation and neon-womanism.
3:10pm – Whitney Mongé – raised with rhythm and blues in her blood, her powerful smoky voice and guitar playing draws in listeners, coining her own genre, alternative soul.
4:25pm – J GRGRY – a musician that elicits joyous inclusiveness and challenges the status quo, his mighty melodies bring people together.
5:45pm – Thunderpussy – the popular quartet – Molly Sides (vocals), Whitney Petty (guitar), Leah Julius (bass), and Ruby Dunphy (drums) – breaks through all rock ‘n’ roll stereotypes. The band’s highly popular self-titled debut album Thunderpussy (Stardog Records/Republic Records) produced by Sylvia Massy, features the hit single “Speed Queen.”
“Events like this based in love and community, centered around art and music are so important to connecting people, as a city like Seattle continues to thrive and expand,” said J GRGRY who grew up in Seattle. “I’m so proud and excited to share my music and my message of love and acceptance in this environment.”
Food & Drink Favorites
Back this year by popular demand is the Volunteer Park Pride Festival Beer Garden featuring beer from Elysian Brewery, as well as several of Seattle’s favorite food trucks including Athena’s Gyros, Delfino’s Chicago Style Pizza, Ezell’s Famous Chicken Express, Full Tilt Ice Cream and more.
Local Arts & Crafts and Exhibitor Showcase
A Festival favorite each year is the local arts & crafts fair carefully curated with some of the Pacific Northwest’s premier handcraft artisans – as well as fun interactive exhibit booths – including AK Name Rings/Funbus Traders, Coast & Clearing, Esha’s Treasures, Juice It Up, Namasgay Inc., Planet Music 33, Silverworks and more.
In addition, informational and interactive booths are being planned by many of Seattle Pride’s valued sponsors and community partners – from Delta Dental of Washington’s Fairy Wing Decorating Station hosted by the Tooth Fairy to All is Divine Tarot Card Readings, Seven Star Women’s Kung Fu’s onsite Self-defense Demonstrations and Lessons, MOViN 92.5’s Photobooth, AEG’s Prize Wheel for Bumbershoot and The Showbox prizes, and much more.
The complete list of Festival exhibitors include: AEG, The AMP (AIDS Memorial Pathway), Big Brothers/Big Sisters of
Puget Sound, Boeing, Boys & Girls Club, Camp Ten Trees, Cascade Flag Football Association, CHEER Seattle, Community Health Plan of Washington, Country Doctor Community Health Centers, Delta Dental of Washington, The Diversity Center of Washington, Fred Meyer, GSBA, Gothic Pride, HomeStreet Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Legal Voice, Lifelong Recreation/Rainbow Recreation, MOViN 92.5, Mud Bay, Multicare, One Million Kids for Equality, PFLAG Seattle, Poster Giant, RTI International, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Vaccine Trials Unit, Seven Star Women’s Kung Fu, Smirnoff, Symetra, T-Mobile, Uber, Walmart, The Washington Bus Education Fund, Washington State Department of Health, and Wish Bone Pet Foods.
This year’s Seattle Pride presenting sponsors are Alaska Airlines, Premera Blue Cross, T-Mobile, Starbucks and Uber; KIRO 7 is this year’s official media sponsor of Seattle Pride.
To learn more about the Volunteer Park Pride Festival and other Pride-related events, visit www.seattlepride.org and follow Seattle Pride on Facebook and Instagram at @SeattlePride, and on Twitter at @ OurSeattlePride.
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Lambda Legal, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit on May 28, charging that the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was illegally fostering discrimination against LGBT patients and women in the provision of health services.
The three groups are representing Trust Women Seattle, Hartford GYN, WhitmanWalker Health, the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Center on Halsted, the Mazzoni Center, GLMA, the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists, Medical Students for Choice, the County of Santa Clara, and several private physicians.
The case, County of Santa Clara vs. HHS, challenges new Trump administration regulations allowing health care providers to claim personal religious or moral beliefs as a reason to refuse service to LGBT patients and women seeking abortions or contraceptive care.
Health care facilities that do not comply – in other words, those that require doctors, nurses, EMTs, and other medical staff to treat every person who presents themselves – could be denied federal funding. This is the exact opposite of the policy under the Obama administration.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say that the new rules will cause mass confusion among health care providers and are completely infeasible to implement. As a result, health care facilities may do away with reproductive and LGBT services altogether, leaving millions without access to critical health care.
The new rules are unconstitutional, the plaintiffs continue, because they advance specific religious beliefs in violation of the First Amendment; violate patients’ rights to privacy, liberty, and equal dignity as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment; and chill patients’ speech and expression in violation of the First Amendment, all to the detriment of patients’ health and well-being.
The lawsuit also says that HHS violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act in creating the rule by arbitrarily and capriciously failing to consider the impact on patients.
ing Trust Women Seattle, Hartford GYN, Whitman-Walker Health, the BradburySullivan LGBT Community Center, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Center on Halsted, the Mazzoni Center, GLMA, the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists, Medical Students for Choice, and various physicians. Mayer Brown, LLP is serving as pro bono counsel.
The new regulation invites health care workers – doctors, nurses, EMTs, administrators, and clerical staff – to deny medical treatment and services to patients because of personal religious or moral beliefs. Health care facilities that do not comply risk losing federal funding. The regulation will cause mass confusion among health care providers and is completely infeasible to implement. As a result, health care facilities may do away with reproductive and LGBTQ services altogether, leaving millions without access to critical health care.
The lawsuit argues that the rule is unconstitutional because it advances specific religious beliefs in violation of the First Amendment; violates patients’ rights to privacy, liberty, and equal dignity as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment; and
“This denial-of-care rule will have disastrous public health impacts,” Lambda Legal’s senior attorney, Jamie Gliksberg, said in a statement.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and particularly transgender people all face significant barriers to care; this proposed rule is clearly aimed at restricting health care for LGBTQ people and women seeking reproductive health care.
“We’re already receiving reports of targeted discrimination, whether it’s gay men facing harassment at dialysis clinics for receiving HIV-related care, or transgender youth being misgendered by hospital workers in their most vulnerable moments of need. Our lawyers have heard dozens of these heartbreaking, traumatic testimonials from our clients.”
Among the new HHS rules is one that proposes eliminating gender identity as a
chills patients’ speech and expression in violation of the First Amendment, all to the detriment of patients’ health and wellbeing. The lawsuit also asserts that HHS violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act in creating the rule by arbitrarily and capriciously failing to consider the impact on patients.
“The breadth of the harm this new rule will cause is impossible to exaggerate, and opens up yet another front in the Trump administration’s assault on civil rights of minorities and already marginalized, vulnerable populations,” Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Jamie Gliksberg said. “This almost limitless invitation to discriminate will inevitably result in women, LGBT people, and religious minorities facing hostile health care workers and denials of medical care at moments of greatest need, where any delay could be fatal.”
“Discrimination in the delivery of health care can be a matter of life or death. This new policy could threaten anyone seeking medical care in this country but will fall particularly hard on women and LGBTQ patients,” said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “The Trump administration is skirting congressional approval to push through this extreme and dangerous policy. It’s a glaring violation of patients’ right to equal treatment.”
protected class in health care and government policy. The new rule would reverse protections in the Affordable Care Act made by the Obama administration in 2016 that protected gender identity under the category of “discrimination on the basis of sex.”
The Trump administration is proposing that the term “sex” should now be open to interpretation by individual health care providers, thus removing specific protections for Trans people.
“This proposed rule is yet another outright attack from the Trump administration on the health, well-being, and survival of transgender people,” Kris Hayashi, executive director of the Transgender Law Center, said in a statement.
“Everyone should be able to go to the doctor when we need help without being turned away or denied treatment because of who we are. That’s what the law says, yet in practice, many transgender people still face devastating discrimination in health care.
“The Trump administration will stop at nothing to sanction discrimination in the name of religion in every facet of our lives,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “We will not tolerate this dangerous policy that puts the health of women, LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and so many others in jeopardy. Our government should be protecting America’s patients, not putting their lives at risk and calling it religious freedom. The Constitution does not condone this type of grave harm to others.”
“This rule encourages discrimination against vulnerable patients already facing barriers to care,” said James R. Williams, Santa Clara County Counsel. “It places an enormous burden on public health care networks like the county’s, which already have robust protections in place to accommodate employees’ religious objections without compromising care to the communities we serve.”
The rule applies to all health care facilities that receive federal funding through HHS, which includes most hospitals. Threatened with the loss of all federal funding and facing confusing and unworkable requirements, many health care facilities will face strong incentives to do away with critical health care services for women and the LGBTQ community.
“This rule dangerously encourages illegal discrimination, putting the lives of transgender people in jeopardy – particularly for trans people living with HIV, black transgender people and people of color, trans people with disabilities, and rural and Southern trans folks.”
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, added, “This is not about free health care or special treatment. It’s about the right of every American to be treated with dignity when they walk into an emergency room, meet a new doctor, or find the right insurance plan.
“If permitted, this rule will promote ignorance and hate that no American should have to face while seeking care, and we are ready to fight it with everything we’ve got.”
The rule could also lead to many LGBTQ patients not fully disclosing their identity and medical history for fear of discrimination, resulting in improper or incomplete care. While marginalized communities are the intended target, the rule is so broad that the religious objections of a health care worker could result in anyone – the elderly, children, and those in critical condition – being denied lifesaving medical care.
Read the complaint here: https://www. lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-docs/ county_ca_20190528_complaint
From the plaintiffs:
“Hartford GYN Center has been an established community resource for families in New England for over 40 years,” said Elizabeth Barnes, president of the Women’s Centers. “We pride ourselves on providing reproductive health care – including first- and second-trimester abortion – that is patient-centered. Our staff are experts in the field, and we are routinely referred to by area specialists, hospitals, and universities. If we were to deny care or medical referrals, we would no longer serve the needs of the community who have come to depend on Hartford GYN Center thanks to our reputation [for] nonjudgmental and sciencebased care. The HHS denial-of-care rule would deliberately drive reputable health
[At the beginning of May, on May 2] the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a final rule that strengthens the ability of health care workers to refuse to provide health services for religious or moral reasons.
Williams Institute Executive Director Jocelyn Samuels, the former Director of OCR, said, “In the Obama administration, we were focused on expanding access to health care through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the full and balanced enforcement of anti-discrimination and provider conscience laws. By contrast, this administration is simultaneously trying to restrict universal access to care through
continued from cover
The proposed regulations would carve out LGBT people from the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination protections, and purport to permit health care workers, doctors, hospitals, and health insurance companies that receive federal funding to refuse to provide or cover health care services critical to the health and well-being of LGBT people, such as transition-related and reproductive care. The proposed regulations also seek to permit, yet again, health care entities and workers to be able to deny insurance or care to LGBT patients or policy holders because of personal, religious, or moral beliefs, endangering the lives of LGBT people.
Lambda Legal Litigation Director Diana Flynn released the following statement:
“Yet again, the Trump administration strives to harm LGBT people, this time by rolling back crucial health care protections for LGBT people and other vulnerable persons. By repealing a regulation clarifying that LGBT people are protected against health care discrimination under the Affordable Care Act’s nondiscrimination provisions, the Trump administration seeks to deny life-saving health care to LGBT people and others and replaces these critical protections with a narrow definition of sex not grounded in science or the law.
“The move comes during the same week that HHS finalized its denial-of-care rule inviting heath care discrimination against LGBT people and others, and the news that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is proposing a new rule that will allow
care providers away from Connecticut and would not serve patients’ best interests.”
“We at Whitman-Walker Health stand for dignity, affirmation, and respect in health care,” said Naseema Safi, CEO of Whitman-Walker Health. “We stand for providing the right level of care for our patients, as directed by the needs that they report to us. We stand for the evidencebased and ethically driven guidelines that are the foundation of our work. The language within the US Department of Health and Human Services ‘denial-ofcare’ rule has left us with only one clear option, and that was to advocate for access to health care. This is not a new position for Whitman-Walker. This is, in fact, the kind of discrimination that led to our founding.”
“This so-called ‘conscience rights’ rule is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to codify discrimination against LGBT people, among others. It eliminates critical health care protections and puts millions of lives at risk. Moreover, it is a clear violation of civil rights laws, medical ethics, and basic human values,” said Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “Time and again we have stood in opposition as this administration has levied blow after blow against the LGBT community. Now, we are taking the fight to them.”
“Medical Students for Choice is chal-
attacks on the ACA and expand the authorization for denials of care by religious providers. These actions stand to undermine the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities, including LGBT people.”
The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, a think tank on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, is dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research with real-world relevance.
Courtesy of the Williams Institute
federally funded homeless shelters to turn away transgender people. This week’s nefarious trifecta is just the latest in the Trump administration’s unrelenting campaign to promote anti-LGBT discrimination.
“The Trump-Pence administration’s targeting of the LGBT community is unmistakable and unconscionable. HHS should be in the business of ensuring that people get the health care they need, not providing excuses for providers and insurers to turn people away.
“No matter how ardently Trump administration officials may want to gut the civil rights protections in our federal laws, only Congress and the courts have that power. This latest assault on our rights will not go unchallenged. Anyone who experiences mistreatment in health care services based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status should contact our Legal Help Desk to discuss their potential legal options.
“In matters of health, such an assault is especially pernicious and potentially lifethreatening. Today’s announcement from HHS is not the last word – Lambda Legal will use every tool in our arsenal to defend LGBT people from the kind of discrimination that this proposal intends to unleash.”
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. www. lambdalegal.org
Courtesy of Lambda Legal
lenging the denial-of-care rule because this rule will negatively impact our members’ ability to receive the education they will need to adequately care for their patients, greatly harming the quality of care everyone will receive from all future doctors nationwide,” said Lois Backus, executive director of Medical Students for Choice.
“Like all Americans, LGBT people deserve high-quality health care. Unfortunately, the LGBT community experiences challenges when it comes to accessing high-quality health care, leading to significant health disparities and worsened health outcomes,” said Adrian Shanker, executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, PA. “These health challenges will be exacerbated due to the HHS denial-of-care rule. This is especially true in small, underserved cities and rural communities like the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, where we are located. That’s why the BradburySullivan LGBT Community Center is suing the Trump administration. We cannot stand by and allow such an ill-considered rule to go into effect while the health of our community suffers.”
“The denial-of-care rule strikes at the very core of the GLMA’s mission by encouraging discrimination in healthcare against LGBTQ people, people living with
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Transgender health issues will no longer be classified as mental and behavioral disorders, according to the new World Health Organization (WHO) global manual of diagnoses.
The new version, titled ICD-11, removes Trans health issues from the chapter on mental and behavioral disorders and places them in the chapter on sexual health. A WHO spokesperson said the group now understands that Transgender is “not actually a mental health condition.”
Changes to the diagnostic manual were first discussed last year and approved at the World Health Assembly on May 25. Countries will have until January 2022 to put the changes in place.
In some countries, Japan for example, individuals currently need a mental health diagnosis to make a legally recognized change to their gender.
Dr. Lale Say, a reproductive health expert with WHO, said, “It was taken out from mental health disorders because we had a better understanding that this was not actually a mental health condition, and leaving it there was causing stigma. So in order to reduce the stigma, while also ensuring access to necessary health interventions, this was placed in a different chapter.”
HIV, and women, all of whom already face frequent and pervasive discrimination when seeking health care,” said Hector Vargas, executive director of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality. “The denial-of-care rule also stands in direct conflict with the Joint Commission and the major medical and health professional associations representing physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, and other health care providers that have adopted standards to ensure [that] all patients, including LGBTQ patients, are treated with respect and without bias and discrimination. The rule endangers the lives of LGBTQ people by putting their health at risk and must be invalidated immediately.”
“The Center on Halsted is committed to the right to bodily autonomy, whether for a transgender individual seeking health care or a person seeking reproductive health care,” said Center on Halsted CEO Modesto Valle. “We have fought long and hard for the rights of LGBTQ people to live free from harm, particularly when the systems that should be providing safety nets fail us. This is one of those times. This denial-of-care rule is the latest in attacks on the LGBTQ community by the current administration. The Center on Halsted
Trans issues are now defined as “gender incongruence,” in other words “a marked and persistent incongruence between a person’s experienced gender and assigned sex.”
In the previous version of the manual, ICD-10, this was considered a gender identity disorder and treated in the chapter entitled “Mental and Behavioral Disorders.”
Commenting on the revisions, Graeme Reid, LGBT rights director for Human Rights Watch, said the changes would have a “liberating effect on transgender people worldwide.”
“Governments should swiftly reform national medical systems and laws that require this now officially outdated diagnosis,” he added.
Nine organizations working on gender identity issues said in a joint statement, “It has taken us a long time to get here. Until a few years ago, removing pathologizing categories affecting Trans and genderdiverse people from the ICD-10 list of mental disorders seemed impossible.
“Today, we know that full depathologization can be achieved and will be achieved in our lifetime.”
The statement added that “although placement in this chapter is an improvement, it is by no means perfect. For example, it is somewhat reductive to define Trans health as related only to sexual health.’’
will do everything we can to ensure the health and well-being of our community. Our community deserves better from our government institutions.”
Founded in 1992, the Center for Reproductive Rights is a global legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing reproductive health and autonomy. The Center’s groundbreaking court cases have expanded access to safe abortion, birth control, and maternal health care in the US and across the globe. www.reproductiverights.org
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. www. lambdalegal.org
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, DC. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom. www.au.org
Courtesy of Lambda Legal
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 –SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Queer/Pride Festival 2019
6pm-12 midnight Fri; 2pm-12 midnight Sat; 2pm-10pm Sun. Queer/Bar (1518 11th Ave) and outdoors on 11th btwn Pike & Pine. Queer/Pride Festival is an annual three-day street festival during Seattle Pride Weekend in the heart of Capitol Hill. We are here to be a safe, fun space for our LGBTQIA+ community so that we can honor our history and diversity, while celebrating our Queer culture together. Enjoy nightly performances on two stages of the hottest in drag and LGBTQIA+ talent from all over the country, dance your glitter off all day long with DJs and Go-Gos, and meet the stars at our Meet & Greet events! VIPs party in the ultra-exclusive VIP lounge with a private stage, premium bar, and drop-ins with “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” queens. Tickets: $30 (single-day pass); $75 (3-day pass); $199 (VIP Experience). Meet-and-greet packages also available ($50 addl). Info: www.strangertickets.com/ events/92033887/queerpride-festival-2019.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 -
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
The Cuff Complex Block Party
The Cuff Complex (1531 13th Ave) hosts their annual Pride Weekend celebration. Watch for more details at www.cuffcomplex.com
FRIDAY, JUNE 28SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Wildrose Block Party
15,000 square feet outdoor beer garden with rotating schedule of DJs throughout the weekend at The Wildrose (1021 E Pike St). Games, photobooth, booty shaking contest. Watch for details at www.thewildrosebar.com
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
OutDancing: A Fundraiser for the Dyke March
8:30pm-1am. Century Ballroom (915 E Pine St, 2nd floor). Dance party featuring MC Koop and DJ Nudie. Tickets ($10 advance and day-of bef. 10pm; $15 aft. 10pm) at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/4250594.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Pride Pancake Breakfast
9am-12 noon. Central Lutheran Church Social Hall (1710 11th Ave). Fuel up for Capitol Hill’s Pride celebrations while helping support Samaritan Center’s CareTeams, Food Lifeline and the Dignity/Seattle Scholarship Fund. This event is a Seattle tradition now in its 31st year! Donation of $7 includes food and prize raffle. Dignity/ Seattle is a faith community of LGBTQ Catholics, families and friends that has been in existence since 1973. Info at http:// dignityseattle.org/node/198.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Capitol Hill Pride March & Rally 11am (Doggie Drag Costume Contest), 12 noon-1pm (parade). More info coming soon at www.capitolhillpridefestival.info.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
PrideFest Capitol Hill
12 noon-9pm. Broadway E from John St. to Roy St. The biggest festival day on Capitol Hill all year long! Return to the place where Pride was held for decades, now a five-block festival with food, vendors, five stages of entertainment, and the most diverse crowd you’ll see all year
long. Best of all, it’s free. Info: www.seattlepridefest.org/schedule/2019/6/29/pridefest-capitol-hill
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Seattle Dyke March 5pm (rally), 7pm (march). Seattle Central College Plaza, 1701 Broadway. March goes around Capitol Hill and back to the Plaza. People of all genders and identities are welcome to join in celebration at the rally and on the march. See the Seattle Dyke March Facebook page for more info.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Seattle Sounders Pride Match 7pm. Century Link Field (800 Occidental Ave). “We stand for Pride, we march for Pride, we play for Pride!” The Sounders host the Vancouver Whitecaps in the
annual Pride Match, with additional events centered around Pride and the celebration of equality. Tickets and more info at www. soundersfc.com/tickets/themematches.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Pride-lesque at the W 8-10pm. W Seattle (1112 4th Ave). Kick off the night with feathers and fierceness as W Seattle welcomes five of the city’s hottest burlesque dancers who will steal the scene with their shimmy and shake while you prefunk with your besties. Featured performers on the W Stage include Waxie Moon, J Von Stratton, Moscato Extatique, Ruby Mimosa and Faggedy Randy. No cover. Info: www.evensi.us/amp/love-loudweekend-hotel/310431783.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Mimosas with Mama Tits Pride Brunch at the W 8am-2pm (Mama Tits performance 9am-11am). W Seattle (1112 4th Ave). Soak in the Pride celebration (and soak up that Hill hangover) with the brunch of all brunches in the W Seattle Living Room. W Seattle sits right on the parade route so you won’t miss a thing. Buffet brunch $29, full menu to come at www.evensi.us/amp/loveloud-weekend-hotel/310431783.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Seattle Pride Parade 2019 11am-4pm. Downtown Seattle, 4th Ave at Union St. The 45th annual Seattle Pride Parade includes more than 200 participating groups and 60,000 individuals marching in support of LGBTQ pride. This year the parade will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, which became a national movement and eventually led to marches around the country, including the first Seattle Pride march in 1974 –which has been held in late June ever since to commemorate the June 28th Stonewall Riots. The 2019 Grand Marshals include Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, drag performer/
actor/singer/comedian Jinkx Monsoon, and four organizations – Bailey-Boushay House, Camp Ten Trees, Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic, and U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle. The parade is a fun, community-wide celebration advancing awareness of LGBTQ issues and promoting mutual respect and equal human rights for all. Free, all ages. Updates and more info: www.seattlepride.org/parade.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
PrideFest Seattle
12 noon-8pm. Seattle Center. Seattle’s official Pride Festival celebrates 50 years since the start of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, ignited by the Stonewall riots in New York City. Come one, come all, to this free celebration, to honor the events where Pride began. Music, food, information booths, and much more. Free admission. For updates see www.facebook.com/ events/386290931942076/.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Seattle Storm Pride Game
4pm. Alaska Airlines Arena (3870 Montlake Blvd NE). The Storm host the Phoenix Mercury with Section 9 ticket sales benefiting Equal Rights Washington. Tickets ($25) at https://actionnetwork.org/ ticketed_events/2019-seattle-storm-pridegame. (These specially priced tickets can only be purchased at this site.)
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Spec Script at Blue Moon
7:30pm. Blue Moon Tavern (712 NE 45th St). A reading of a TV show episode written by someone who has never actually seen the show! For tonight’s edition, the show is “Transparent” (Amazon) written by a Trans person and featuring an all-Trans cast of readers. Suggested donation $7, 21+. Info: www.facebook.com/SpecScriptShow/.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
Everett AquaSox Pride Night 7:05pm. Funko Field (3900 Broadway, Everett). Join the AquaSox for a night of minor league baseball vs. the Spokane Indians. Special $30 Pride Night package includes AquaSox Pride T-shirt and upper box ticket (purchase before June 28 to assure your correct size). Enjoy $2.50 hot dogs, sodas, popcorn and 12-oz Coors Light. Tickets and info at www.milb.com/ everett/tickets/theme-nights/.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
Pacific Northwest Black Pride PNW Black Pride celebrates, inspires and advances equality for all. TRANSFORMING | TRANSITIONING | TRANSCENDING. A weekend of special events. More details to come. For more information and to volunteer on the NW Black Pride Planning Committee, please contact Autry Bell at Autry@nwblackpride.com. Pacific Northwest Black Pride is a division of POCAAN of Seattle.
BEYOND THE SOUND
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
OutSpokane Pride Parade and Rainbow Festival
12 noon -1pm (parade); 12 noon-10pm (festival). W Spokane Falls Blvd & N Stevens St. (staging begins at 10:45am). This year’s theme: “To Thrive, Not Just Survive.” Since 1992, Spokane has seen the LGBTQ+ community come together to honor those brave individuals that fought back against the police raids in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York. We will continue the legacy of marching around downtown Spokane in memory of those who have fought for us to exist and to celebrate to beauty of our future! Parade will be followed by the Rainbow Festival at Riverfront Park, Lilac Meadows. A fireworks display caps the festivities at 10pm. Visit
Donations fund a local youth center for LGBTQ teens and allies. Sponsored by Jefferson County Pride. Info: www.facebook.com/events/pope-marine-park/pridein-the-park-2019/373265339930572/.
SATURDAY, JULY 13
Tacoma Pride
12 noon-6pm. Pacific Avenue between South 7th and 9th streets. Tacoma Pride is bursting with activities, fun, and engagement with the resilient and brave LGBTQ community from Tacoma and the surrounding Pierce County area. Entertainment, booths from local organizations and businesses, food trucks and stalls, beer garden, youth dance tent, and much more! Free, family-friendly event hosted by the Rainbow Center (www.rainbowcntr.org). Visit www.facebook.com/ events/399061404026350/ for more info.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
Gay Day at Wild Waves 11am-7pm. Wild Waves Theme &
non-binary people, and Lesbian/Bi/Queer women, including massage, acupuncture, mammograms, HIV/STI testing, informedconsent clinic, reflexology and cuddle therapy. Gender-affirming hormone therapy also available (insurance or self-pay required). More info at www.facebook. com/events/759346554460032/.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
Kitsap Pride 2019 – “Stonewall 50” 11am-5pm. Evergreen Park (1500 Park Ave, Bremerton). Kitsap Pride is a festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Kitsap County. This year’s festival will feature two stages of entertainment including live music, a beer/cocktail garden, food vendors, 50 local exhibitors, Olympic College art project, and kids activities. Our location is beautiful Evergreen Park which has plenty of room for you to lay out a beach blanket and picnic on the grass. Visit http://kitsappride.org/kitsap-pride-2019/ for more info.
Portland Pride Waterfront Festival
12 noon-8pm (Sat), 11:30am-6pm (Sun). Tom McCall Waterfront Park (98 SW Naito Pkwy). Two-day event features music, comedy, community activists, food, beer garden, and much more. Watch for updated info at www.pridenw.org/portlandpride.
11am. North Park Blocks (NW Park Ave btwn W Burnside & NW Glisan St). Portland’s 25th annual Pride parade travels through Northwest Portland and along SW Naito Parkway to end at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, site of the Portland Pride Festival. Info and updates at www.pridenw. org/portlandpride.
SUNDAY, JULY 7
Victoria (BC) Pride Festival 2019 12 noon-6pm. MacDonald Park at James Bay (212 Niagara St). Multifaceted festival featuring two entertainment stages, beer garden, food court, vendor area, and youth pride/kids’ camp area. Free, all-ages event sponsored by the Victoria Pride Society and co-hosted by the GVNCS TwoSpirit Collective. Info: https://victoriapridesociety.org.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
Vancouver (BC) Pride Parade and Festival
11am-6pm. This year’s theme: “50 Years and Still Fighting.” Sponsored by Vancouver Pride Society. Watch for updates at www.vancouverpride.ca.
