SGN May 4, 2012 - Section 1

Celebrating 39 Years!

Issue 18 Volume 40

FRIDAY May 4, 2012 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

BOY SCOUTS p. 2

N. CAROLINA FIGHT p. 6

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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Seattle May Day events, GET ENGAGED–DEFEND including anarchists

MARRIAGE EQUALITY by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

see may day page 19

see engaged page 18

james whitely / seattle gay news

government, and commercial institutions downtown, and approximately eight people were arrested – all these things arguably stole the spotlight from the normally massive immigrant rights march that has been taking place every May Day in Seattle since 2000. This year’s May Day had three

“They are slowly, meticulously growing their army. We have one month to match them,” Zach Silk, campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage – the statewide campaign to protect Washington state’s marriage equality law – told Seattle Gay News. The most important thing that can be done in this phase of the campaign for marriage equality in Washington state is build a statewide movement. “We believe that we need to match our opponents name for name and dollar for dollar,” said Silk. “The Pledge to Approve [Referendum 74] campaign is the easiest way to connect people with the campaign.” “We started with 4,000 supporters in January,” said Silk. “Thanks to the pledge campaign, we now

Participants in the May Day march in downtown Seattle

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer The annual May Day marches and gatherings received a very different sort of news coverage this year than they’ve had in previous years. Rocks were thrown through the windows of Mayor Mike McGinn’s home, approximately 75 “anarchists” clad in black took direct action against financial,

HIV criminalization forum Romney campaign at Lifelong AIDS Alliance Gay aide quits, two weeks on the job

On April 30, Lifelong AIDS Alliance hosted an open community forum on HIV criminalization. Although criminalizing people with HIV has been commonplace for years, the effort to reexamine the laws that discriminate against people with HIV is fairly new. The forum, which featured three speakers and a short film by the SERO Project, was attended by about 25 people that were interested in learning more and adding their input to the movement that is still in its developmental stages. “It’s easy for us to see HIV in the context of a bullet,” said Renee McCoy, one of the featured speakers. “When we criminalize people with HIV, we basically take a group of people who have a health issue and make them criminals.” According to the Positive Justice Richard Grenell Project, an organization dedicated Grenell was hired April 20 as to the repeal of HIV criminal stat- by Mike Andrew Romney’s foreign policy and nautes and the end of HIV-specific SGN Staff Writer tional security spokesperson. He prosecutions, “36 [U.S.] sates and Richard Grenell, the only open- previously worked in the George territories have HIV-specific criminal laws, but people with HIV ly Gay staffer employed by Mitt W. Bush administration as a Romney’s presidential campaign, quit May 1 after only two weeks see grenell page 20 see hiv page 20 on the job.

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by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer

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Editor In Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel

Scout official resigns, supports ousted Lesbian leader

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ban on Gays, reports the Associated Press. The Boy Scouts of America’s policy of not allowing Gays within its ranks has been debated for more than a decade since being upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. It is, however, facing new questioning in eastern Ohio after Jennifer Tyrrell, a Lesbian and mother of a 7-year-old cub scout, was thrown out last month. David Sims resigned from the Ohio River Valley Council’s board April 27 after learning of Tyrrell’s story. “Ms. Tyrrell’s removal goes against my fundamental beliefs of how we should treat our fellow human beings and is, in my opinion, wholly discriminatory,” he said in his resignation letter, released by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). According to the AP, Sims achieved Scouting’s highest honor, Eagle Scout, as did his father and grandfather. He said he understands that the ban is legal but thinks it’s time to re-examine the policy. getty images

Editorial Assistant Nick Ardizzone Production William Creswell Calender Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Travel Editor George Bakan Advertising Manager Marty Weisbrod Advertising Department Maggie Bloodstone Executive Assistant Mike Andrew Staff Writers Mike Andrew, Nick Ardizzone, Miryam Gordon, Anthony Greer, Shaun Knittel, Albert Rodriguez, James Whitely

Jennifer Tyrell

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor A board member for an Ohio regional Boy Scouts group who resigned to protest the removal of a Lesbian den mother said he wants the national organization to review its

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NUNS DESERVE OUR SUPPORT

who are actively alleviating the inequalities in our society. They deserve our respect, adAs a progressive Catholic educated by miration, support, and prayers. nuns who ingrained in me the social justice teachings of our faith, I find the hierarchy’s Leo N. Egashira inquisition against women’s empowerment, women’s rights, and women who enter the STOP THE STASI TACTICS Catholic religious life utterly despicable and, sadly, totally contrary to Christian ethDear Councilmembers, ics. The hierarchy is using the excuse of Mayor McGinn and the SPD have drafted “tradition” and “morality” to preserve pow- a clever sound byte called the 20/20 plan er and privilege; indeed, even the most ca- to address the deterioration of the Seattle sual observer of the Vatican and its minions Police Department. I am concerned about would easily assume that the hierarchy’s the last bullet point under item #1 “Reform sole purpose for existence is Darwinian Management of Public Demonstration.” self-preservation. That last bullet point asks you, the Council, Control of territory, exclusion, and the to allow police to “proactively film demonexercise of absolute authority are predomi- strations.” This creates a Stasi police state nantly male traits in nature. Is it surprising, like East Germany had before the Wall then, that a thoroughly artificial, insular, came down. all-male, celibate hierarchy would act any I helped organize several large demondifferently? strations during the 1990s, including Queer “What would Jesus do?” is exemplified Nation surrounding KCTS when anti-Gay by selfless Catholic nuns – teachers, social bigot Lon Mabon came to town in 1993. We workers, hospital staff and missionaries – had several hundred demonstrators on that

May 4, 2012

Tyrrell called his resignation “a huge statement.” “I’m just wondering how many board members, how many Scouts that they have to lose before they change the policy,” she said May 1. “Gay rights groups have taken up Tyrrell’s cause, starting an online petition to get the Scouts to change their policy,” reports the AP. “Tyrrell said that within the past week she has heard from dozens of people, including some current Scouts who are Gay.” “It’s sad,” said Tyrrell. “These kids are fine examples of what a young man should be, and they have to hide their true selves.” The Scouts maintain that as a private organization they have a right to exclude Gays. “We value the freedom of everyone to express their opinion and believe to disagree does not mean to disrespect,” said Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America at its headquarters in Irving, Texas. “We’d like to thank this Boy Scout Council board member for his service to youth and wish him well.” occasion, locking arms around the building and making speeches. We peacefully allowed Mabon supporters to pass through our ranks to enter the building. I was in charge of police liaison. This all worked because the SPD had an officer who was the “demonstration coordinator.” I kept him informed as to expected numbers, routes of march, and intentions and he kept me informed as to police presence and actions. On the day of the protest, I contacted the officer in charge at the site and we kept in touch during the entire event. Nobody got hurt, no property was damaged, and the protest was successful. On many other occasions, the Queer Street Patrol worked with East Precinct to keep Capitol Hill safe while assisting protests. 20/20 videotaping by police is not only a Stasi tactic, it is evidence of the growing disconnect between the SPD and the public. The SPD is no longer our friend and neighbor. The situation has become Us and Them. That’s not right nor is it productive. The City should shed the militarization of the SPD and get back to community policing. Dump the armored cars, drones, and videotapes, and get back to coordination between activists and officers. Janice Van Cleve

Celebrating 39 Years!

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May 4, 2012

Seattle Gay News

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GLAD publishes groundbreaking Transgender Family Law resource by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) this week announced the publication of Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy, the first book to comprehensively address legal issues facing Transgender people in the family law context and provide practitioners the tools to effectively represent Transgender clients. “Featuring chapters by attorneys with expertise in both family law and transgender legal advocacy, the book was edited by Jennifer L. Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project, and Elizabeth E. Monnin-Browder, a litigation associate in the Boston office of Ropes & Gray and a former GLAD attorney,” said Carisa Cunningham, a spokesperson for GLAD. “Transgender Family Law: A Guide to Effective Advocacy will be available in bound and electronic versions in May.”

“Some of the most heartbreaking stories I have heard in my career as an LGBT legal advocate involve Transgender people in family courts,” said Levi, a nationally recognized expert on Transgender legal issues. “The rights of Transgender people – as parents, spouses, and simply as human beings – are often trammeled in family court because of pervasive bias and misunderstanding. Transgender Family Law is a road map for Transgender individuals and their attorneys to navigate the family court system in this evolving area of law.” “This book tackles a cutting-edge area of family law and we’re thrilled to have contributions from some of this country’s most well-respected experts in this field,” said Monnin-Browder. “Transgender Family Law details the unique needs and vulnerabilities of Transgender people in the family law context. I hope Transgender people will read and share it with their attorneys as they

plan a family, navigate the dissolution of a relationship or a custody dispute, or simply seek to protect their rights and those of their children.” The chapters address a broad range of topics, including Culturally Competent Representation; Recognition of Name and Sex; Relationship Recognition and Protections; Protecting Parental Rights; Relationship Dissolution; Parental Rights after Relationship Dissolution; Custody Disputes Involv-

ing Transgender Children; Protections for Transgender Youth; Intimate Partner Violence; and Estate Planning and Elder Law. For more information, or to purchase a copy of Transgender Family Law, visit www.glad.org/TFL. Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.

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May 4, 2012

Celebrating 39 Years!

Seattle Parks reaches out to LGBTQ teens with The Purple Prom by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Seattle Parks and Recreation and Born This Way Kafé are hosting The Purple Prom on May 19, from 8 to 11 p.m. at Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave. E.). According to Karen O’Connor, a spokesperson for Seattle Parks, the Purple Prom is an event for all Queer youth, friends, and allies age 14 to 20. Metro routes 8, 12, and 43, serve Miller Community Center with Metro routes 11 and 48 nearby. “The evening offers live DJs, a great dancing opportunity, food, and fun,” said O’Connor is a press release. Youth can obtain free tickets by visiting www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/243179. It is important to note that the event capacity is 100 people and requires advance tickets. Born That Way Kafé is a component of

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s LGBTQ youth programming. The program goals focus on the creating safe and community based connections between LGBTQ youth within their neighborhoods. Environments like Born This Way Kafé help nurture healthy LGBTQ youth and pave the way for civic engagement with the greater community. These LGBTQ programs work with the youth in these communities to bridge perceived differences and to build common ground. This LGBTQ programs are central to identifying and working with these communities to decrease the programming gap to LGBTQ youth. Get more information on Seattle Parks LGBTQ Teen Programs by contacting randy.wiger@seattle.gov or by text or phone to 206-883-6110 or by visiting www.facebook.com/seattleparkscod. The Seattle Parks page for teen activities can be found at www.seattle.gov/parks/ teens.

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

On April 30, Charlene Strong and Sarah Toce, editors at The Seattle Lesbian online magazine, published a story about Cleveland’s WMMS Radio’s Dominic Dieter, host of Rover’s Morning Glory, a popular morning show that airs on Cleveland’s 100.7 FM radio. During the April 27 broadcast of the show, Dieter told a father who said he saw his daughter kissing another girl, “You should get one of your friends to screw your daughter straight.” The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) reached out to the station management asking for Dieter to be suspended for his remarks. In response, station officials took important steps to tell its audience that Dieter’s comments were grossly inappropriate and ensure that incidents like this do not happen again. Strong and Toce wrote about the incident, and subsequent apology, on Monday. “One person was not very happy with us,” Toce told Seattle Gay News in a written statement. A fan of Rovers Morning Glory, who identified himself as “Mr. Fuckyoudikes,” commented: “Are you fucking kidding me? You complain about a best of segment that has ran multiple times before. So on behalf of all the fans I would like to say fuck you, you god damn dike bitches, and I hope you all get fucking raped in the ass and get beat to within an inch of your life!” “Threatening violence is never appropriate and we [The Seattle Lesbian] debated whether or not to even acknowledge the comment before deciding that we needed to address the larger issue at hand,” said Toce. Charlene Strong published an article on May 1 in response to this hateful anti-Gay comment, entitled; “There is Help for the Homophobic.” Penned as a letter to Mr. Fuckyoudikes, Strong asks, “How does one come to this

conclusion, Mr. Fuckyoudikes?” Consulting a website called All About Counseling, Strong says she aimed to give him “concrete solutions” for his hatred. “Unlike homosexuality,” Strong pointed out, “homophobia is considered a mental health issue.” Strong cited, “Though homosexuality was seen as a mental disorder until the late 1970s, the majority of people have grown to understand the plight of LGBT people. Unfortunately, though, there is still some fear of them in our communities. This fear of a person’s own sexual preference and lifestyle is nearly always irrational and usually due to an inexperience around these different groups of people. Homophobia is an exaggerated, irrational, or extreme fear of Gay men or Lesbian women, and will usually lead them to fear and sometimes hate these groups and subsequently avoid most people they envision as homosexual.” In contrast to most phobias, Strong points out homophobia is “primarily caused by a person’s direct environment rather than an inherent view held within them or any series of traumatic events.” According to All About Counseling, the demographics that have reported the highest levels of homophobia include older men; low levels of education; religious; supportive of traditional gender roles; politically conservative; and residing in a geographic area where tolerance of same-sex marriages are incredibly low. Strong informed Mr. Fuckyoudikes that he was “not alone in your delusional pursuit,” citing the Anti-Defamation League’s website. “Many conservative religious leaders have, at some point, spoken out against the Gay community and warned of the danger they supposedly pose to America. 700 Club television host Pat Robertson said that ‘many of those people involved in Adolf Hitler were Satanists, many of them were homosexuals – the two things seem to go

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courtesy seattle lesbian

The Seattle Lesbian online magazine receives rape threat

Charlene Strong

together.’ Former Congressman William Dannemeyer also compared homosexuals to Nazis when he wrote that ‘the homosexual blitzkrieg has been better planned than Hitler’s.’ Clearly, it is ridiculous to compare homosexuals in America to Germany’s Nazi government, which believed in warfare and mass murder as a means for taking over the world.” Signing off with the word “Peace,” Strong

May 4, 2012

concluded, “I do hope this shines some light on your condition and hopefully you will find your way to a mental health establishment that might help you find some relief for your outbursts of hatred and ignorance.” SGN applauds the courageous response by The Seattle Lesbian and stands in solidarity that threatening violence is never appropriate and that the so-called “corrective” rape of Lesbian women should be condemned.

Seattle Gay News

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Coalition to Protect All North Carolina Families – the group opposing Amendment One – has a significant fundraising advantage over anti-equality forces, numbers released at the end of April showed. North Carolina voters will decide on Amendment One – which would bar legal recognition of all same-sex relationships in North Carolina – on May 8. According to figures released by the North Carolina Board of Elections, the proamendment group Vote for Marriage had raised $1,192,278.59, and had $121,271.38 cash on hand. The Coalition to Protect All NC families had raised almost twice as much, $2,261,849.63, with $293,523.41 left on hand. That is good news for pro-equality forces as the campaign enters its final week. Polling still shows Amendment One winning, but the margin has been closing. As expected, the major donors supporting Amendment One are conservative religious groups. The Christian Action League, a largely Evangelical Protestant organization, donat-

file photo

Pro-equality forces have money advantage in North Carolina amendment campaign

ed $309,652.70 to the campaign. The Bayleaf Baptist Church contributed $19,130, and the First Baptist Church of Charlotte gave $15,000. NOM, which is reportedly financed by the Roman Catholic Church, donated $302,589.52. The Catholic diocese of Charlotte and the diocese of Raleigh each put in $50,000. The American Family Association contributed $20,000. Bible merchant Phil Drake was the largest individual contributor to Amendment One, with a $250,000 contribution. On the pro-equality side, most of the large contributions came from individuals. Medical supply heir and philanthropist Jon Stryker was the largest single donor, with a $200,000 contribution. Atheist activist Todd Stiefel gave $100,000. SAS Software director Ann B. Goodnight, North Carolina Human Relations Commission executive director John Campbell, and attorney Michael Edwards each gave $25,000. HRC contributed $196,081.08 to the campaign, and an HRC-created PAC gave $55,000. Blueprint NC, a coalition of 40 advocacy groups put in $104,612.97. The Center for Community Self-Help donated $35,857.24.

Pro and anti-Gay marriage demonstrators

Gerry Melendez

NAACP against NC Amendment One

Amendment One meant to “protect Caucasian race,” says author’s wife by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Rev. Dr. William Barber II, president of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP

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Seattle Gay News

May 4, 2012

The president of North Carolina’s NAACP chapter spoke out forcefully against Amendment One – the proposal to ban same-sex marriage in the state – while the wife of the measure’s main author said he wrote it to “protect the Caucasian race.” The Rev. Dr. William Barber II is featured in two radio spots that will run until the special election on May 8. “No matter our color. No matter our faith tradition. Those who stand for love and justice are not about to fall for their trick,” Barber says. “No matter how you feel personally about same-sex marriage, no one, especially those of us whose forebears were denied constitutional protections, should ever want to pass a constitutional amendment restricting rights of a minority. It sets a precedent for future discriminatory amendments that could impact the rights of even more minorities.” Barber was one of the early opponents of the proposed ban on marriage equality, lobbying North Carolina legislators not to pass it in September 2011. He was particularly outraged at revelations that NOM had crafted a deliberate strategy to turn the African American and LGBT communities against each other. The right-wing – which fought equality for African Americans – “now somehow think the sons and daughters of the Civil Rights Movement cannot see through their Trojan

Horse trick,” Barber said. The NAACP has also printed and circulated a one-page flyer titled “10 Reasons to Vote Against Discrimination in Our Constitution.” “For 102 years,” the flyer begins, the NAACP’s mission has always been to “ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all persons. … We should never codify discrimination, division, and hate into our constitution.” The organization said it will be running radio spots, robocalls, and newspaper ads, and using its grassroots network in 50 county branches to work to defeat Amendment One. Meanwhile, the wife of North Carolina State Senator Peter Brunstetter told poll workers outside an early voting center in Winston-Salem that her husband wrote Amendment One to “protect the Caucasian race.” According to freelance journalist Chad Nance, a friend witnessed that conversation between Jodie Brunstetter and the poll workers and subsequently reported it to him. “During the conversation, Ms. Brunstetter said her husband was the architect of Amendment One, and one of the reasons he wrote it was to protect the Caucasian race,” Nance reported. “She said Caucasians or whites created this country. We wrote the Constitution. This is about protecting the Constitution. There already is a law on the books against same-sex marriage, but this protects the Constitution from activist judges.”

Celebrating 39 Years!

Senate passes LGBTinclusive Violence Against Women Act by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

AP Photo

The U.S. Senate voted on April 26 to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and extend its protections to LGBT persons. The final vote was 68-31, with 15 Republicans joining all Senate Democrats in passing the measure. Republicans held up the legislation for weeks after the Senate Judiciary Committee sent it to the floor, but finally agreed to allow an up-or-down vote. VAWA was first enacted in 1994 to assist victims of domestic violence, date violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The latest version of the law sets aside grant money for programs dealing with sexual assault and enhances training for law enforcement officials to identify high-risk offenders who could commit domestic violence homicide. For the first time VAWA also includes enumerated protections for victims of domestic violence in the LGBT community. The bill contains non-discrimination language prohibiting VAWA grantees from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. It also makes grants available for programs providing services to underserved communities, including LGBT victims of domestic violence. According to a 2010 from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 44.6% of LGBT domestic violence survivors were turned away by a shelter and 54.4% of LGBT survivors seeking an order of protection were denied help. Prior to the final vote, the Senate defeated

an alternate version of VAWA reauthorization, sponsored by Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), that would have stripped the measure of its LGBT protections. The vote on Hutchison’s proposal was 37-62. No Democrats voted Yes. Eleven Republicans who voted to strip LGBT protections also voted to pass the final version, which included the LGBT language, including Hutchison. Five Republicans voted against both versions, indicating they opposed VAWA reauthorization in any form. They were Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). LGBT activists celebrated the Senate’s action. HRC President Joe Solmonese commended the Senate for the bipartisan nature of the vote. “Senators from both sides of the aisle came together today to ensure that all domestic violence victims, including those who are LGBT, will not face discrimination when they seek victim services,” Solmonese said. “We applaud the Senate for recognizing the importance of this bill and taking bipartisan action, and we call on the House to do the same.” NGLTF Executive Director Rea Carey emphasized the importance of the legislation for LGBT victims of domestic violence. “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people are not immune from this violence, and their distress should not be further heightened by a lack of proper response

from service providers or law enforcement,” Carey said. “Imagine being assaulted, scared, and in pain – and then being turned away from receiving basic services and care. No one should ever be subjected to such inhumane treatment.” Carey said VAWA reauthorization would ”go a long way toward ensuring everyone has access to life-sustaining resources,” thanking the Senate for passing the bill and urging the House “to swiftly follow suit.” VAWA reauthorization now goes to the Republican-controlled House, where passage – at least in the expansive version approved by the Senate – is considered un-

Ichabod

Tennessee “Don’t Say Gay” bill dies by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Tennessee state capitol

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likely. Vice President Joe Biden, who authored the 1994 version of the measure, also commended the Senate and urged the House to pass the measure. “In 2012, we should be beyond questioning the need for the Violence Against Women Act,” Biden said in a statement. “This law has been overwhelmingly successful since it was first enacted 17 years ago to improve the criminal justice response to this violent crime and to assist those who experience this abuse. Since then, the law has twice been reauthorized with the broad support of members of both parties. It should still be bigger than politics today.”

A proposed Tennessee law that would have banned any discussion of sexual orientation in grades K-8 died when the legislature adjourned May 1 without voting on the measure. Republican State Rep. Joey Hensley Announced on April 29 that he would not bring the bill up for a floor vote in the House. It passed the Tennessee Senate last year. Hensley said he had assurances from officials of the Department of Education and the state Board of Education that they would send a letter to all Tennessee schools “telling them they cannot teach this subject in grades kindergarten through eight.” “With that assurance and the opposition of some people who didn’t want to vote on it, I’ve decided simply not to bring it up,” Hensley said. Hensley had previously been forced to amend the language in his bill in an attempt to make it more palatable to fellow legislators. The original bill said, “No public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.” An amended version was passed out of the Tennessee House Education Committee

May 4, 2012

by a narrow 8-7 vote. That version said that “classroom instruction, course materials or other informational resources that are inconsistent with natural human reproduction shall be classified as inappropriate for the intended student audience and, therefore, shall be prohibited.” In spite of the amendment, the bill continued to be controversial, and the controversy was only intensified by the hateful language used by the measure’s supporters. Last month, Republican State Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, one of the bill’s cosponsors, enraged opponents when he compared homosexuality to bestiality while speaking in favor of the bill. “There is no need to talk about Billy wanting to marry a goat,” he said. The ACLU, which had led opposition to the bill, concluded that “this bill is so tainted by its original wording and intent to ban any discussion of sexual orientation that its passage will still send the wrong message to schoolchildren: that a particular group of people are not worthy of recognition or even mention in their day-to-day lives.” The Missouri state legislature is considering even more restrictive legislation. That bill would ban discussion of sexual orientation in all K-12 public schools and also in school-sponsored extracurricular activities.

Seattle Gay News

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California Trans woman murdered in possible hate crime First same-sex marriage proposal on military base at Camp Pendleton particularly against Transgender women, Woods said. Many Transgender women have difficulty being hired, and turn to sex work as a source of income, thus exposing them to higher risk of violence. Woods added that Martell herself was not a sex worker.

A vigil was held in Martell’s honor on the night of her murder at the scene. It was organized by members of Occupy Oakland, Woods says, with some 75 people in attendance. A public funeral will be held May 9, and another celebration of her life is also being planned for later in May.

Tiffany Woods

courtesy San Diego LGBT

Brandy Martell

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Brandy Martell was shot dead in downtown Oakland, California, early in the morning of April 29. She was 37. Oakland police said she had been shot repeatedly through the window and side door of her car as she sat near the intersection of Franklin and 13th streets near the city center. According to an as-yet unidentified witness, who said she was in the car with Martell, the victim, the witness, and two other Trans women had been hanging out in the parked car for several hours. At about 3 a.m., the witness said, two men approached the car and struck up a conversation. Martell told the men that she and the other women in the car were Transgender. The men then left. Two hours later, the witness said, the men reappeared and one of them stuck the barrel of an automatic weapon into the crack of Martell’s window. He then shot Martell in the side. The other women fled and Martell tried to

drive away. She only made it as far as the intersection. The assailant then fired multiple shots into the car. Two of the shots hit Martell. The shooter and the other man escaped on foot. The other women in the car were taken away by the police to be interviewed as potential witnesses. Martell died at the scene. The Oakland Police Department would not comment on the case, and has not released any public statements. Martell worked as a Transgender peer advocate at the TransVision Center in Fremont, a group that provides medical and psychological support to Trans people in the Bay Area. TransVision Center director Tiffany Woods, who worked closely with Martell, said she would be missed. “Brandy had a serious sense of humor – she could impersonate anyone after five minutes of meeting them,” Woods says. “And she was very close to her family, and very into spending time with them. She was very close to her mom and dad.” Woods said she hears many reports of assault and violence against Transgender people in the Bay Area every month. “There are no safe spaces for them, no resources for them, no places for them to go and just be themselves,” said Woods, who is also Transgender. She added that until there is a place for Transgender women – especially Trans women of color – in our society, they will be forced to live on the margins and be vulnerable to violence. Oakland has a long history of hate crimes,

Hot

Cory Huston (r) proposes to Avarice Guerrero

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor A U.S. Navy veteran and active-duty Marine became the first Gay couple ever to get publicly engaged on a military installation. Last week, Cory Huston proposed to Avarice Guerrero at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. “I was blown away,” Guerrero told San Diego LGBT Weekly, the newspaper credited with breaking the story. “I was shocked

that after all we’d been through, he would honestly want to spend the rest of his life with someone like me.” Guerrero had just returned from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. Huston served in the Navy as a hospital corpsman and was discharged under DADT, the government policy that banned Gays and Lesbians from serving openly in the military. DADT was officially repealed on September 20, 2011.

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Celebrating 39 Years!

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compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

TRANSLATIONS: THE SEATTLE TRANSGENDER FILM FESTIVAL MAY 3-6 Three Dollar Bill Cinema presents the seventh annual “Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival.” This groundbreaking festival is one of only a very few Transgender film festivals in the world. The 12 programs and 27 films that make up this year’s “Translations” slate tell unique and fascinating stories that are poignant, witty, tragic, comic and inspirational. The line-up for this weekend is as follows: Friday, May 4: The Last Summer of La Boyita at 7:15 p.m.; Rockin’ Roles: Short Films at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5: “I’ve Got a Story” – FREE panel discussion at 1 p.m.; Radio Wars at 2:30 p.m.; Free to Be (short films) at 4:30 p.m.; I Stand Corrected at 7:15 p.m.; Doing It Ourselves: The Trans Women Porn Project at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6: Angel at 1 p.m.; I Am a Woman Now at 2:30 p.m.; Austin Unbound at 4:30 p.m.; Facing Mirrors at 7:15 p.m. Cost: $50-festival pass; $11-opening night (includes post-screening opening night party at Solo); $9-single tickets; $7-Three Dollar Bill Cinema members. For more information and complete description of films, visit www. threedollarbillcinema.org. RE-ACT THEATRE – “A LANGUAGE OF THEIR OWN” On Fridays and Saturdays, April 20-May 12, at 8 p.m., at Richard Hugo House (1634 11th Ave.), ReAct Theatre, Seattle’s only Multi-ethnic Philanthropic Theatre Company, proudly presents a new staging of the newly revised edition of “A Language of Their Own,” the award-winning 1995 play about the lives and relationships of four Gay men written by Chay Yew. In every relationship, a new language is forged and this early AIDS play explores the nature of desire, sexuality, race and self-definition. Wonderfully simple yet beautifully complex, “A Language of Their Own,” looks at the universal aspects of love, particularly how the past can affect the present in matters of the heart. Tickets: $15-general admission; $12-students/seniors/military/ disabled – with a $3 discount for advance purchase through www.brownpapertickets. com/event/239555, 800-836-3006 or Elliott Bay Book Company (1521 10th Ave.), 206624-6600. PHOTO CENTER NW – “AUTHOR AND SUBJECT: CONTEMPORARY QUEER PHOTOGRAPHY” Photo Center Northwest (900 12th Ave.) presents “Author and Subject: Contemporary Queer Photography.” The exhibit runs April 7-May 27 and highlights ten regional and national photographers and video artists who focus on identity, gender, sexuality, courage and the human form. The exhibit has been organized in response to “HIDE/ SEEK: Gender and Sexuality in American Portraiture” currently at the Tacoma Art Museum. The gallery is open MondayThursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and FridaySunday, 12 noon-8 p.m. FREE admission. www.pcnw.org. CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA 5K OLE! AND TACO TRUCK CHALLENGE AT VOLUNTEER PARK On Saturday, May 5, Volunteer Park (14th Ave. & E. Prospect St.) hosts the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta 5K Ole! Run/Walk and Taco Truck Challenge. Registration for the run/ walk begins at 7:30 a.m.; the run/walk takes off at 9:30 a.m. The 107.7 The End beer garden and concert opens at 10:15 a.m. Must be 21+ ID required. The Taco Truck Challenge begins at 11 a.m. – open to all ages. Live music starts at 1 p.m. The event ends promptly at 9 p.m. This is a CASH ONLY event; ATM’s will be available onsite.

“BLACK TIE & SEQUINS” – FLYING HOUSE PRODUCTIONS AKA SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS’ & SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS’ ANNUAL DINNER, DANCE & AUCTION GALA On Saturday, May 5, at 5:30 p.m., at Fremont Studios (155 N. 35th St.), stroll back to the Golden Age of Hollywood for “Black Tie & Sequins,” Flying House Productions’ 16th Annual Dinner, Dance and Auction. Enjoy an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and conversation, silent auction, sit down gourmet dinner, live auction, entertainment, dessert and dancing. Tickets: $175 to $250. 206-388-1400; www.flyinghouse.org. IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE – “GAYS GONE WILD” – IMPERIAL PRINCE & PRINCESS BALL 2012 On Saturday, May 5, door at 5 p.m., ball at 6 p.m., at R Place (619 E. Pine St.) join His Most Imperial Highness Imperial Prince XXXVIII Patrick Lucey and Her Most Imperial Highness Imperial Princess XXXV Harmony Victoria Dior D. and the Imperial Court of Seattle for “Gays Gone Wild,” the Imperial Prince & Princess Ball 2012. The Imperial Court of Seattle’s new Emperor and Empress, Rick Peters Lake and Beverly Peters Lake, will be honoring Patrick and Harmony for all their hard work and service on behalf of the Court and will also be crowning the new Imperial Prince XXXIX and Imperial Princess XXXVI at this event. There will be special performances by Mr. and Miss Gay Seattle, Alexander Mentele and DonnaTella Howe, along with The VisQueens and Everett, WA Empress, Scarlett Vain, with a rare performance by Imperial Princess Royale, Marcy Kraft. Patrick and Harmony also have a special surprise performer under their sleeve. Tickets: $20 at the door. RADICAL FAERIES FILM FESTIVAL On Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m., at the fabulous Fred Wildlife Refuge (127 Boylston Ave. E., across from C.C. Attle’s), the Radical Faerie Short Film Festival will feature approximately 80 minutes of creative, outrageous, moving and colorful films about the Radical Faerie experience. Cost: $8. www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/242151. 206-200-3020. Conveniently offered on the evening before Goddess Ravenna Ravine. www.goddessravennaravine.webstarts.com. EMERALD CITY SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION www.seattlegaysoftball.com PRIDE IDOL 2012 On Sundays through June 10 (no Pride Idol May 20), doors at 6 p.m. (with open community karaoke), contest at 8 p.m., at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), join Seattle Out & Proud and your hostess Gaysha Starr for Pride Idol 2012, Seattle’s annual LGBT Pride karaoke contest – weekly $100 cash prize; $1000 grand prize. For complete details and to register for the contest, visit www.seattlepride.org/pride-idol. No cover charge to watch. GLSEN WA – 7TH ANNUAL AUCTION & AWARDS RECEPTION On Sunday, May 6, from 5-8 p.m., at Bell Harbor, Pier 66 (2211 Alaskan Way), join GLSEN WA (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, Washington State chapter) board members, GSA (GayStraight Alliance) Washington State chapter members and LGBT and allied community members for an evening honoring the work of GSA chapters and chapter members around the state. The event will be hosted by the always fabulous Gaysha Starr, with keynote speaker Seattle City Council President

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“REVOLUTION IN SEATTLE: VOICES FROM THE 1919 SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE” On Saturday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m., at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), hear the story of the first time in U.S. history that Labor ruled an American city. Narrative, dramatic readings and song bring this episode to life. $3 door donation. Strike kitchen dinner served at 6 p.m. for an $8.50 donation. Sponsored by the Freedom SoSCCC QUEER COMMUNITY FAIR On Monday, May 7, from 11 a.m.-3:30 cialist Party. Information: 206-722-2453; p.m., at Seattle Central Community College www.socialism.com. (1701 Broadway), Room BE 1110, SCCC’s RIGHTEOUS MOTHERS LGBTQ Triangle Club hosts their Queer AT THE TRIPLE DOOR Community Fair, where groups and compoOn Saturday, May 12, at 8 p.m., at The nents of the Seattle LGBT community can come together and educate a campus. Tables Triple Door (216 Union St.), bring your will be available to set out fliers, merchan- mother and friends and celebrate Mother’s dise, information, games, or anything else Day Eve at the Righteous Mothers 30th Anrelating to your organization. The Triangle niversary Bash and watch all seven of the Club will also be organizing games, face- talented Righteous Mothers kids join their painting, popcorn machines, and other ac- moms on stage. There will be other guest tivities for the day. For more information artists, a trip down memory lane, and some and to reserve a table for your organization great new material, too, including a song to or activity, please RSVP to Zachary at 206- celebrate passage of WA State’s same-sex marriage bill. Tickets $22-advance, $25 501-5891. at the door. www.righteousmothers.com; www.thetripledoor.net. POZ SEATTLE’S 13TH ANNIVERSARY SEATTLE’S ANNUAL POZ SOCIAL LGBTQ YOUTH PINK PROM On Wednesday, May 9, from 6-8 p.m., at FOR YOUTH, AGES 13-22 The Cuff Complex (13th Ave. & E. Pine St.) On Saturday, May 12, at 8 p.m., at All Pilmeet up with POZSeattle, a “face-to-face” social networking group for HIV-positive grims Christian Church (500 Broadway E.), men and their friends, in the downstairs bar Lambert House hosts Seattle’s 2012 LGfor socializing to catch-up with old friends, BTQ Pink Prom for youth, ages 13-22. You to make new ones, and a whole lot of fun. A do not have to come with a date. Creative special catered buffet will be provided for dress is encouraged, but you do not have to this special 13th Anniversary celebration. buy fancy clothes. This is a drug, alcohol A $5 suggested donation will be requested and hate free event. Suggested donation is to help defray the cost of the buffet, but no $15. Advance tickets include a 10-minute one will be turned away for lack of funds. touch-up session with a make-up artist. For Beverages will be provided by The Cuff more information and to purchase advance at their regular prices. This event is for all tickets, visit www.seattlepinkprom.com. HIV-Positive men and their friends, regardNORTHWEST NETWORK MINI less of age, shape, size, or color. POZ SeRELATIONSHIPS SKILLS CLASS attle meets the 2nd Wednesday each month On Wednesdays, May 16 and May 23, at The Cuff. For more information and to be added to POZSeattle’s event promotion list, from 6-8 p.m., at Seattle Central Communiemail info@pozseattle.org or visit www. ty College (1701 Broadway), exact room to be determined (the building is accessible), pozseattle.org. the Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse presSEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN ents a “Mini Relationships Skills Class on BOOK CLUB – Social Networking.” ARE YOU MY MOTHER? Online social networking sites are here to The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club meets every Wednesday, at 6 p.m., at Seattle stay, and new ones are popping up everyday. Area Support Groups Community Center How can you use these sites to build, maintain, and strengthen relationships in your (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). May selection will be Are You My Moth- life, be they with intimate partners, friends, er? by Alison Bechdel (author of Fun or flings? And what kinds of strategies can you keep in mind to stay safe and sane in Home). All GLBTQ folks are welcome to partici- this ever more interconnected world? Join pate in this free book club. For more infor- us to hear our ideas and to share your own! Suggested donation is $20, but no one will mation email nickdimartin@earthlink.net, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/swittet/ be turned away for lack of funds. ScholarSGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at 206- ships and trades are also available. For more 322-2437; www.sasgcc.org. For discount on information, accessibility questions, and to register, contact DeAnn at 206-568-7777. cost of books, email Nick. Sally Clark and entertainment by the Seattle Men’s Chorus ensemble, Captain Smartypants. Enjoy a fun vegetarian/vegan-friendly taco bar where you can build your own tacos, nachos or salads with a delicious ice cream bar for dessert. A silent auction with some great items will also be held. Tickets: $35-general admission; $20-students. www. brownpapertickets/com/event/213231.

“STANDOUT/STAND TOGETHER” – THE 2012 GSBA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DINNER On Friday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m., at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront (2100 Alaskan Way), join GSBA members and friends for the 2012 GSBA Scholarship Awards Dinner. Celebrate this year’s award recipients and enjoy special remarks by guest speaker Gautam Raghavan from the Office of Public Engagement, The White House. Tickets: $120-GSBA members; $140 nonmembers; $100-students. For more information and to register – 206-366-9188; www.thegsba.org. The Greater Seattle Business Association SEATTLE CENTER FESTAL – (GSBA) is Seattle’s LGBT and allies ChamSPIRIT OF WEST AFRICA On Saturday, May 12, from noon-8 p.m., ber of Commerce. Seattle Center, Center House, hosts “Spirit BORDER RIDERS of West Africa.” Explore and experience MOTORCYCLE CLUB the cultural roots and contemporary influSUMMER CAMPING SCHEDULE ences of West Africa through live perforwww.borderriders.com. mances, visual arts, hands-on activities, foods, games, and a tempting marketplace. SEATTLE CHEESE FESTIVAL This lively and colorful festival features PIKE PLACE MARKET traditional dance and music by world-class MAY 19-20 artists from Senegal, Guinea, Benin, Ghana, www.seattlecheesefestival.com Zimbabwe, Congo, Uganda and Afro-Peruvian. www.seattlecenter.com; www.thionediop.com. CAPITOL HILL SPRING CLEAN SWEEP On Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m., meet at Cal Anderson Park Shelter House (11th Ave. & E. Olive St.) to organize teams for the morning’s Spring Clean Sweep of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Breakfast snacks (provided by Starbucks) and cleaning supplies will be provided. Help pick up litter along the byways of Capitol Hill and put a shine back on this jewel of a neighborhood. At noon, return to the shelter house for lunch (provided by Pagliacci Pizza).

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A Baptist pastor who told parents to beat their Gay children now says he was misunderstood. Sean Harris, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, was preaching about marriage and the upcoming vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, when he launched into a diatribe about permissive parents. The 55-minute sermon was captured on video, and a part of it was posted on several blogs, going viral within hours. Parents who see boys dressing like girls without “squashing that like a cockroach” are neglecting their duty, Harris said. “Can I make it any clearer?” he continued. “Dads, the second you see that son dropping the limp wrist, you walk over there and crack that wrist. Man up. Give them a good punch. OK?” Laughter and a few shouts of “Amen” can be heard in response. Harris also urged parents of girls who are “acting too butch” to make them “walk like a girl and talk like a girl and smell like a girl.” The sermon outraged LGBT rights activists and religious leaders alike. “I feel like we have our very own Westboro Baptist Church right here in Fayetteville,” said Storm Silvermane, president of the Alliance, an LGBT rights group in North Carolina.

After listening to the video, Campbell University divinity professor Tony Cartledge called it “one of the most disappointing and un-Christ-like diatribes I have ever heard.” “I would not dishonor the word ‘sermon’ by identifying it as such,” Cartledge said. Campbell is a Baptist university, but Cartledge said Berean Baptist appears to be an independent congregation. “We must be careful not to assume that every Baptist, or even everyone who believes homosexual behavior to be sinful, would endorse Harris’ over-the-top promotion of beating Gay tendencies out of their children,” Cartledge said. “At the same time, we have to state unequivocally that Harris’ position presents a distorted view of scripture that is completely out of keeping with the teachings of Jesus.” By May 1, Harris was backing away from his remarks. Harris said that Berean Baptist has a code of parental discipline on its website, supported by biblical references, that endorses spanking but he added that “we reject the idea that bruising is ever the objective when disciplining a child.” “If I had to say it again, I would say it differently, no doubt,” he told Fayetteville Observer reporters. “Those weren’t planned words, but what I do stand by is that the word of God makes it clear that effeminate behavior is ungodly.

courtesy forbes

NC pastor: Beat the Gay out of your kids, but don’t bruise them

Pastor Sean Harris

I’m not going to compromise on that.” Harris also said he was getting “abusive” phone calls and emails once the sermon went viral. He polled his church staff and the congregation to gauge their response, he said.

According to Harris, “the response was, ‘Pastor, we know you didn’t mean that. We know when you’re saying something seriously and when we’re supposed to just understand the intent and not the application.’”

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Irish priest who accidentally showed Gay porn to a group of parochial school parents expecting a presentation on their children’s First Communion has asked to be put on leave. Fr. Martin McVeigh intended to do a Powerpoint presentation for the parents of St. Mary’s School in the little town of Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. McVeigh plugged in a flashstick, but instead of the intended presentation on the sacrament of communion, images of 16 naked men appeared on the screen. McVeigh quickly pulled out the flashstick and fled the room. Parents said they were

courtesy pacemaker press

Porn priest quits parish “horrified” by what they saw and called for action to be taken against the priest. The matter was then referred to Cardinal Sean Brady, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland. On March 30 Cardinal Brady issued a formal statement saying, “inappropriate imagery was inadvertently shown by a priest at the beginning of a Powerpoint presentation, causing concern to those present. “The priest has stated that he had no knowledge of the offending imagery. The priest is co-operating with an investigation of the matter on the part of the archdiocese.” The incident was also investigated by Northern Ireland police, who concluded that no crime had been committed.

Father Martin McVeigh

In a statement issued April 29, McVeigh asked to be put on administrative leave from his duties at St Mary’s parish. “In the hope of bringing resolution and healing to the division and pain within the parish, I have taken the decision to ask Cardinal Brady to allow me to leave the parish of Pomeroy and to take sabbatical leave,” he said. “The memory of this awful episode will remain with me for the rest of my life.” The priest apologized “for the hurt caused” and “his failure to check his presentation in advance,” but insisted he “was not responsible for the presence of the offending images and in this respect I ask you to accept my innocence.” McVeigh also revealed he had destroyed the flashstick that contained the images. “After the images were inadvertently

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shown, I immediately removed the memory stick from the laptop,” he said. “In my shock and upset and in my concern to ensure that the images would never be shown again, I destroyed it later that evening.” In a separate statement on April 29, Cardinal Brady said he accepted McVeigh’s request to go on leave, but expected him to return to the parish eventually. Brady added that he believed McVeigh’s contention that he had no advance knowledge of the Gay porn. Other computers used by McVeigh had been “forensically examined by an independent technical expert and no inappropriate imagery has been found,” the Cardinal said. The Cardinal also apologized for the incident, saying it had been “a traumatic time for the whole parish community and for Father McVeigh personally.”

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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A new Gallup poll of U.S. Catholics released May 2 shows that race trumps religion when it comes to preference in the 2012 presidential race. “Catholics constitute almost one in four voters in the United States today, making their vote an important target for the Obama and the Romney election campaigns,” Frank Newport of Gallup wrote in assessing his poll’s findings. “However, although Catholics as a whole are almost precisely average in their vote choice at this point in the campaign, there are major differences by the ethnicity and religiosity of Catholics that underscore the difficulties of typifying and subsequently targeting an ‘average’ Catholic voter.” President Obama is tied with Republican rival Mitt Romney among Catholics as a whole, the new poll says, but when race is taken into consideration, significant differences emerge. Latino Catholics favor Obama by a margin of 70% to 20%, while white Catholics lean toward Romney 55% to 38%. Degree of religious commitment also makes a difference in presidential prefer-

REUTERS / Jim Young

Race trumps religion in presidential preference, Gallup poll says ence, the Gallup poll showed. Catholics who described themselves as “devout” favored Romney 62% to 32%, while less religious Catholics support Obama by a 54% to 40% margin. Obama narrowly carried the Catholic vote in 2008, despite being pro-choice. While the Catholic hierarchy has always been strongly opposed to contraception and abortion, it has mounted a particularly strident campaign against implementation of the president’s Affordable Care Act, denouncing the administration for a requirement that health care plans offered by church-affiliated universities and hospitals offer coverage of contraception. Although the administration offered a compromise, Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria compared the president to Hitler and Stalin, and pro-choice Catholic politicians to Judas. According to Gallup, “results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking April 11-30, 2012, with a random sample of 1,915 Catholic registered voters, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.” The margin of error for this poll is plus or minus 3%. courtesy romanmissalchanges.com

Archbishop Antonio Mennini

President Barack Obama

Catholics, Muslims, Jews should ally to defeat marriage equality, says Vatican by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Vatican’s ambassador to Great Britain has called for an alliance with Muslims and Orthodox Jews to defeat the British government’s plans for marriage equality. In a speech to English and Welsh Catholic bishops last week, Archbishop Antonio Mennini warned them they faced a “lengthy and probably difficult campaign” against same-sex marriage. “I wonder if we shouldn’t ask for and look for more support among other Christian confessions and indeed, persons of other faiths,” he said. “It seems to me that, concerning the institution of marriage, and indeed the sanctity of human life, we have much in common with the position of the Jewish community, the Chief Rabbi, and many of the more significant representatives of Islam.” Mennini is Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, the equivalent of an ambassador. Mennini’s speech followed protests by Muslim and Orthodox Jewish leaders after British Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone launched a national consultation on upcoming marriage equality legislation. On March 9, Pope Benedict XVI denounced marriage equality to a gathering of U.S. bishops, calling it “gravely sinful” and “damaging to the stability of society.” Speaking in London on April 26, Catholic Archbishop Peter Smith said there had been no “formal” contact with Jewish groups to form a united front on the subject of marriage. However, he said, “We will work with anyone who agrees with us that to redefine marriage is not a good thing for society and

will lead to more confusion.” “It is a very dangerous way to go forward in terms of legislation on such a vital topic,” Smith said of the British government’s plans to introduce marriage equality legislation. In March, the Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement opposing government plans to introduce a marriage equality bill, describing it as “unnecessary and unhelpful.” In Scotland, the Council of Glasgow Imams passed a joint resolution describing same-sex marriage as an “attack” on their faith and fundamental beliefs. Opinion in the Jewish community has been sharply divided, however. Liberal and Reform synagogues have given their support to same-sex marriage, but rabbis within the main United Synagogues have expressed opposition. Great Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, has so far resisted pressure to voice opposition to the government’s proposal. The Church of England is also divided over the issue. In an April 21 letter to The Times, a group of prominent Anglicans wrote, “We believe the Church has nothing to fear from … civil marriage for same-sex couples.” Among the signers were five retired bishops and openly Gay priest Dr. Jeffrey John, the dean of St. Albans Cathedral. On the other hand, the Archbishop of York, African-born John Sentamu, has been a vocal opponent of equal rights for Gay and Lesbian couples. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the highestranking Church of England clergyman, said in February that the British government has no right to impose cultural change on the country.

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money. It’s about voters.” “We will make sure that every supporter is continued from cover registered to vote and we will put them into our get-out-the-vote operation to make sure have 53,000 supporters.” these committed supporters cast their bal“This is exactly the kind of movement- lots,” he said. building that will give us the resources we need to win in November,” he said. THE POWER OF Silk is talking about Washington United’s DIGITAL ACTIVISM Pledge to Protect campaign: a month-long Silk tells SGN the campaign is taking full drive to get 120,577 people to sign a pledge advantage of the power of digital activism to approve Referendum 74. to “spread the word and engage our supportWhy 120,577 signers? Because that’s ers.” how many signatures opponents of mar“For years my mantra has been, ‘talk to riage equality need to turn in to the secretary your family, friends, neighbors, and coof state by the first week of June to place the workers about why marriage matters.’ And referendum on the November ballot. I have urged people to do this in personal “Make no mistake, they WILL get those terms by sharing stories about themselves signatures,” Silk said in a May 1 email to and loved ones rather than getting wonky,” supporters of marriage equality. “And that Josh Friedes, an official with Equal Rights means they will have found 120,577 people Washington, said. “Now we need to do even to support their cause. If we want to defeat more.” them in November, we can’t afford to fall Friedes has worked toward marriage behind. We have to match them name for equality for over a decade and currently name.” serves as marriage equality director at ERW. To take the pledge, go to Washington He was the campaign manager for the sucUnited’s official website, www.washingto- cessful Approve Referendum 71 campaign nunitedformarriage.org. in 2009. Opponents of marriage equality are ru“With so many people now supporting mored to have a $1 million war chest. marriage equality, we need to engage them “We have had an excellent response to in the process of talking to friends and famiour fundraising asks,” said Silk. “And it’s ly so when, through conversation, you idennot just about supporters, volunteers, and tify a fellow marriage equality supporter, it’s vital that you ask them to talk to their friends and family,” he told SGN. “This will really help us reach out into suburbs and more rural areas. And it’s great when we can build our lists so we can stay in contact with marriage equality supporters. That’s why I carry Approve 74 postcards in my computer bag and keep some in my glove compartment in my car. This way I can conclude personal conversations with the signing of a postcard so that the campaign can follow up.” “One thing that fascinates me is how communication has changed,” he said. “I call

engaged

it ‘cross-platform activism.’ We use email, Facebook and Twitter, websites, and online videos to engage people in offline advocacy. It’s important that we maximize our online activism and it’s important that we also step away from our computer screens and smartphones and engage in traditional forms of education and campaigning.” “We communicate the message of talking to friends and family via Facebook posts, for example, and we hear back that people are having these conversations at parties, backyard BBQs, and at social hours at church and synagogue,” said Friedes. “We let people know that Pledge to Approve 74 postcards are available via email and so many people request cards or download them from the website and then go to farmers markets or collect them at colleges or houses of worship or some other venue.” “It’s really surprising how much physical activism starts through virtual communication,” he pointed out. “Still, I believe it’s important for people to attend local community organizing meetings and other events. Developing a sense of community strengthens a campaign and facilitates sharing of information. At a community meeting, you may meet another person who is willing to collect postcards at your local farmers market, but only if they have someone else to go with them, and this can both increase how much you enjoy the activity and double the number of cards collected.” “I was recently asked to give a talk at Highline Community College about Approve 74 and the entire planning process was done through email and texts,” said Friedes. “Similarly an advocate, with whom I had worked before, was giving a talk at Edmonds Community College and everything was done online and we simply dropped off materials at his doorstep late at night while he was sleeping so he would have materials to provide interested students.” “When I first started doing campaign work we would be on the phone so much and usually meet to plan out a presentation,” he said. “Things have changed.” Still, Silk points out that digital activism is only a small part of the work the campaign is doing every day to talk to voters about the importance of defending marriage equality. “We have a talented field operation that works with volunteers every day to talk to voters on the phone, at the door and at events throughout the state,” he told SGN. You can find a schedule of volunteer

events on their website at washingtonunitedformarriage.org/events. “We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of volunteer energy,” said Silk. “It is incredible.” “Our staff reaches out to new volunteers every night to get them engaged, but we know that we need more staff to increase our response times and give people easier access to volunteer opportunities,” he said. “The good news: we are busy hiring outreach and field staff. We’ll triple our field and outreach team by June 1.” Days later, on June 6, opponents of marriage equality are expected to turn in the required amount of signatures needed to qualify Referendum 74 for the November ballot. Voters who wish to keep the state’s current marriage equality law – which allows samesex couples in committed and loving relationships to be legally married – must vote to APPROVE. WASHINGTON UNITED/ERW GALA FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY Washington United for Marriage and Equal Rights Washington announced this week the “Get Engaged and Defend Marriage Equality” gala scheduled for June 9 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (corner of 8th Ave. and Pike St.). “At this annual gala, we will celebrate the passage of the marriage equality bill in the legislature, and more importantly, will prepare for the challenge to defend the law when it goes to the voters in November,” said officials. “These efforts won’t be easy and we have a tough fight ahead of us,” they continued. “The gala takes place three days after the referendum becomes official. We need you to be a part of this so we can show the opposition how strong, united, and engaged we are to defend marriage equality in Washington state.” “Join the growing list of sponsors and table captains to ensure our kick-off is a huge success,” they urged. “Most importantly, get engaged. Spread the word. Invite your friends. Be part of a historic campaign. You won’t want to miss this.” There are a few different ways people can help make the gala a giant success. To sign up to be a table captain or sponsor, contact nicole@washingtonunited.org. To donate auction items, contact doug@equalrightswashington.org. Ticket and event information is available at www.washingtonunitedformarriage.org/gala.

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So what did the actions of the black bloc Democratic recuperators [sic], the banks, and the business and property owners would activists accomplish? They’ve made Seattle prefer if May Day was peaceful, for this public opinion of anarchism far worse, and it is very likely that their actions caused the would perfectly serve their interests.” diminished presence at the Judkins march. Michael Douglas, a member of the Occupy Seattle movement, told the Seattle Times that the vandalism shouldn’t distract from the underlying reasons for the demonstrations, including abuses by Wall Street and support for labor unions and immigration. “There are many larger issues,” Douglas told the Times, “but they all kind of revolve Protesters clash with police during May Day protests in downtown Seattle. around the same AP Photo / Ted S. Warren

The anonymous blogger went on to say, “Anarchists fight for total freedom. And on the way, we are consistently disparaged, misquoted, attacked, imprisoned, and murdered.” After the events of the noon anti-capitalist march, McGinn declared a state of emergency in the interest of public safety – a seemingly necessary gesture. But whether justified or not, it allowed police to confiscate anything that could be used as a weapon from protesters, including protest signs. “The state of emergency declared by the mayor was an effort to protect capital and nothing else,” said the anonymous blogger. “While he may continue to cloak his actions under the guise of liberal-humanism, the mayor revealed himself yesterday as being a reactionary guardian of capitalist order and harmony.”

james whitely / seattle gay news

scheduled marches: an anti-capitalist march at noon, a march against police and racist violence at 3 p.m., and the march for immigrant and workers’ rights from Judkins Park at 5 p.m. It was during the anti-capitalist march when black bloc activists attacked buildings and windows with poles and paint bombs. After a few clashes with police, most of the activists were able to change clothes and dissipate back into the crowd. The march against police and racist violence from Westlake Park to Seattle Center was surrounded by riot police for its duration, which presumably kept anything like the events of the earlier march from happening again. According to Jorge Quiroga, an organizer of the march from Judkins Park, this year’s event was much smaller than usual. There were noticeably fewer families, and while marches in past years have filled up to four city blocks, this march filled only one. “It’s unfortunate now that when people think of the May Day march, they’ll remember the violence rather than the ongoing hope for immigration reform,” Quiroga told the Seattle Times. Clearly, this is unfortunate. Most anarchists would also agree. So why did what happened, happen? Seattle Gay News looked to the anarchists themselves for answers. “I don’t like seeing the city destroyed. This is not at all within the spirit of May Day celebrations,” said Seattle City Council Member Bruce Harrell. A www.pugetsoundanarchists.org blogger who chose to remain anonymous responded directly to the council member. “May Day is in no way a day reserved for exclusively peaceful demonstrations, and it never has been. The city, the police, the

The defense offered of their actions is rooted in their political philosophy. The anonymous blogger wrote, “The tactics displayed on May 1 not only demonstrate an ability to attack these seemingly invincible structures, they also encourage and promote agency amongst people who rarely get the chance to strike back at the institutions that they despise. The authorities do not want a populace that asserts itself outside the legal framework. They want to preserve the system that has brought us all to the dead end we now face. … There is no legal route out of the current impasse. There is only rebellion, illegality, experimentation, mutation, and abandon. Our goal is and will remain to encourage people to disregard the laws that allow this death-culture to grind on and on and on. This does not only mean destruction – for there is so much to create – but it is undeniable that destruction is central to this project of snatching our lives and the earth back from those who haven [sic] stolen them.” “As far as I can observe, the minority of violent ‘black bloc’ thugs who marred the May Day protest in downtown Seattle were white kids who, based on demographic trends, grew up in suburbia,” wrote Seattle Times columnist Jon Talton on May 2. Although their philosophies are outside of the mainstream, Puget Sound Anarchists’ response suggests they are not the “thugs” he labeled them as. “Downtown has by now returned to normal,” said the blogger. “Cars and buses move freely through the streets as people numbly trudge from home to work to store and back again. ShopMarchers on Denny Way near the Seattle Center pers and shoplifters thing: seeing people as less than you.” pass each other on shining escalators, surThe Seattle Times is reporting that pros- rounded by millions of dollars worth of disecutors are already readying their charges, posable, sweat-shop-produced crap. Teens which will likely be as extreme as they can and middle-aged women crane their heads make them, as public opinion seems to be around to examine their asses in dressing on their side (unlike during the aftermath of room mirrors, frowning with anxiety. Workthe WTO protests years ago, when public ers slack and pilfer a little at a time, hoping opinion seemed to differ). the boss won’t notice. Dead-time reigns.”

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grenell

continued from cover spokesperson for the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. When he was hired, Log Cabin Republicans executive director R. Clarke Cooper, who also served in the Bush administration, said that Grenell would be “a tremendous asset” to the Romney campaign. “Having served with Ric,” Cooper said, “I can attest that his experience in the multilateral environment of the U.N. and familiarity with domestic and international media make Ric a strong voice.” Prior to being hired by the Romney campaign, Grenell was best known for two things: his snarky tweets about prominent women like Rachel Maddow, Hillary Clinton, and Callista Gingrich, and his efforts to get his partner, Matt Lashley, listed as his spouse in the U.N.’s Blue Book registry. It was his unsuccessful fight to get recognition for his relationship with Lashley that

proved to be his undoing. When Grenell was hired, American Family Association head Bryan Fischer Tweeted some snark of his own. “Romney picks out & loud Gay as a spokesman. If personnel is policy, his message to the pro-family community: drop dead,” Fischer said. When news of Grenell’s resignation went public, Fischer said he was “happy” that the Romney campaign had done “the right thing.” “I think it’s probably going to be a long time before Gov. Romney hires another homosexual activist to a prominent position in his campaign,” Fischer said. “And that’s good news if you’re in the pro-family community.” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, also criticized Grenell. “It’s concerning that you would have somebody tapped to be potentially in an administration that would continue the policies that we’re seeing in the Obama administration,” Perkins said.

While Grenell did not directly blame farright Republicans for his decision to quit, he did claim in his farewell statement that “my ability to speak clearly and forcefully on the issues has been greatly diminished by the hyper-partisan discussion of personal issues that sometimes comes from a presidential campaign.” LGBT rights groups, however, were not so shy about pinning responsibility on rightwing Republicans. “From the moment Richard Grennell signed on as Mitt Romney’s Foreign Policy and National Security Spokesman, he faced a torrent of unfounded criticism from the far right,” HRC said in a statement. “Not once did the Romney campaign condemn these attacks and support Grennell. Mitt Romney capitulating to the demands of extremist anti-Gay groups is nothing new.” “Mitt Romney sat silently and let the bigoted wing of his party control his personnel choices,” Stonewall Democrats said. “Either Mitt Romney is a coward who is afraid to stand up to the anti-LGBT bullies in his party, or he is fine with an America where LGBT people can have a career only if they’re willing to work quietly from the confines of the closet.” Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades issued a tepid statement several hours after Grenell’s resignation became public. “We are disappointed that Ric decided to resign from the campaign for his own personal reasons,” he said. “We wanted him to stay because he had superior qualifications for the position he was hired to fill.”

hiv

continued from cover also are being prosecuted for assault and other crimes under regular criminal laws.” Washington is one of these 36: RCW 9A.36.011 Assault in the first degree. (1) A person is guilty of assault in the first degree if he or she, with intent to inflict great bodily harm: (a) Assaults another with a firearm or any deadly weapon or by any force or means likely to produce great bodily harm or death; or (b) Administers, exposes, or transmits to or causes to be taken by another, poison, the human immunodeficiency virus as defined in chapter 70.24 RCW, or any other destructive or noxious substance; or

(c) Assaults another and inflicts great bodily harm. (2) Assault in the first degree is a class A felony. All the legal jargon means that if someone who is HIV-positive doesn’t disclose their status, it’s first-degree assault. In Washington, a class-A felony can bring a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and/or a fine of $50,000. Across America, people who are HIV-positive are receiving sentences of up to 25 years. Again, the crime is, essentially, non-disclosure of HIV-positive status, but these laws can be used against the HIV-positive individual even if they use a condom. Whether HIV is actually passed – and in most of these cases nationally it isn’t – is irrelevant. Additionally, an estimated 25% of these cases are for spitting and biting incidents perpetrated by HIV-positive individuals that pose no or only a remote risk of HIV transmission. “HIV criminalization creates a viral underclass with different laws or enhanced punishments based on HIV-positive status,” says the SERO Project, a non-profit initiative “combating HIV and viral-related criminalization, discrimination, and stigma and promoting the empowerment of people with HIV and viral conditions to improve the quality of their lives and advocate for sound public health policy based on science and epidemiology, rather than ignorance and fear.” This is an issue on which the community is divided. Sixty-eight percent of Gay men polled said that if someone doesn’t disclose their status, it should be a crime. Thirtyeight percent of those polled who identified themselves as HIV-positive said they supported the laws, as well. Sean Strub, founder of POZ Magazine, co-founder of the SERO Project, and longtime HIV activist, puts it best. “Imagine meeting someone online, having a nice chat, and then deciding to hook up. You have HIV, but you’re adherent to your meds and have had an undetectable viral load for years. You and your sexual partner use a condom. Sometime later, the partner learns you have HIV and presses charges against you for failing to disclose your HIV status prior to sex. “Your life is suddenly turned upsidedown, with your name and picture splashed across the media. You are called an ‘AIDS Monster.’ You and your family and friends feel humiliated and embarrassed. Your em-

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ployment, housing, and relationships may be put in jeopardy and you need to find tens of thousands of dollars for legal fees for the impending prosecution. “If convicted, you face decades in prison, lifetime registration as a sex offender, and other restrictions – if acquitted, your life is still never the same, because you will always be known as the AIDS Monster. “Think about that for a moment: consenting adults. No intent to harm. Undetectable viral load. A condom was used. No HIV transmission. Twenty-five years in prison. This isn’t hypothetical; it is exactly what happened in a recent case in Iowa. “Many criminalization prosecutions are about a person with HIV being unable to prove they disclosed their HIV status to a partner prior to intimate contact,” says the SERO Project. “Criminalization also encompasses people with HIV who are charged with a crime like assault or prostitution but, because they have HIV, the charges or penalties are made much more serious. For example, a simple assault charge might become ‘assault with intent to kill.’” To McCoy, HIV does not belong in the law books; it belongs in hospitals, clinics and support groups.

“Criminalization is especially an issue for marginalized people of color,” said McCoy. “These laws keep people from getting tested. … These laws are a barrier,” said BJ Cavnor, public policy coordinator at Cascade AIDS Project. “Take the test and risk arrest,” is a phrase that’s mentioned in the eight-minute film that was presented during the forum, because if one doesn’t know that they’re positive, they can’t be charged through these laws. According to Cavnor, this means that, in some sense, people are being punished for being responsible. As controversial as the issue is, the HIV Is Not a Crime film by the SERO Project sheds a lot of light as to why this issue is worth examining. You can watch the video online at www.seroproject.com. The film features three stories of people affected by these laws, all interviewed by Strub, one of which is Robert Suttle, the other co-founder of the SERO Project. Suttle was HIV-positive and in a “contentious” relationship. He disclosed his status while still in the relationship, but when the couple broke up, his partner pressed charges. Suttle pled guilty to save himself from decades of imprisonment, serving only six

months, but now he’s a registered sex offender. Strub is calling for a reexamination and modernization of these HIV specific laws. For Strub, an HIV-specific statute doesn’t make sense, as other no statues exist for other STDs. According to McCoy, it’s about telling the truth, but, “In the threat of criminalization, we silence the truth.” A reexamination of these laws, like marriage has been thus far, will likely have to

go state by state, according to Strub. Iowa is the only state where a bill has been introduced to take another look at these laws. If these laws are indeed barriers as Strub suggests, they – like SERO’s film – are worth a look. “I believe that in my lifetime, we will see an end to this disease,” said McCoy. For more information and for information on how to protect yourself as an HIV-positive individual, Check out the Positive Justice Project at www.hivlawandpolicy.org/ public/initiatives/positivejusticeproject.

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