Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 19 Volume 42
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That girl from Once :
Section 2
Pa g e 1
An interview with Dani de Waal
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Masmari enters guilty plea in Federal Court for Neighbours Nightclub arson courtesy of
Neighbours Nightclub
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Musab Mohamed Masmari, 30, pleaded guilty to a federal arson charge on May 2. More than 750 people were at Neighbours Nightclub on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2013, when Masmari entered the club just before midnight with a canister of gasoline, doused a stairwell with it, and then lit the stairwell on fire. Before leaving the club, Masmari set the red plastic gasoline can at the top of the stairs, creating the potential for an explosion had the fire actually reached it. Luckily, due to the fast actions of the nightclub staff and two off duty military personnel that had been drinking at the club, the fire was extinguished and Masmari’s plan to burn people alive was foiled. It is no secret that I was closely involved with this case since the very moment Masmari set fire to the nightclub. My husband and I were at Neighbours celebrating the
New Year’s Eve holiday and were a mere 20 feet or so away when the flames began to climb the steps leading to the upstairs mezzanine. Armed with a video camera, I instantly began to film the scene as it unfolded. Part of that footage includes the moment when a bartender, member of Neighbours security team and I found the container of gasoline at the top of the stairs – minutes after the fire had been extinguished. Jonathan Horton, a longtime Neighbours bartender, grabbed the two gentlemen that had put the fire out and directed me to them, allowing me to film their testimony about the event that had unfolded that night. That footage, along with other footage I shot that night, has all been turned over to investigators and, perhaps more widely known, to the media. A lot has been said about my decision to share the security footage that shows Masmari inside the see ARSON page 7
SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Brunei fallout: Unions, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin celebrities, Gay wisn.com
rights groups boycott Beverly Hills Hotel
abc news
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer “I enjoy the Senate,” U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin told SGN by phone from her DC office. “I’m back in the majority, and that means I’m able to help set the agenda.” Baldwin, the Senate’s only open Lesbian, has represented Wisconsin there for almost a year and a half. Before that, she served in the House from 1999 through 2013,
only four of those years with a Democratic majority. “[The Senate] is smaller, so you get to know your colleagues,” she added, “and you can look for common ground and persuade people to move.” Among the colleagues Baldwin has gotten to know well is Washington state’s Patty Murray. The two have worked together on budget issues and are now co-authors of the Tyler Clementi Higher Edu-
cation Anti-Harassment Act. “Senator Murray led the DSCC [Democratic Senate Campaign Committee] in 2012 [when Baldwin won her Senate seat, defeating popular former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson]. She encouraged me to run and she kept tabs on my campaign,” Baldwin recalls. “When I arrived in the Senate I sought a seat on the Budget Committee, where Patty is the Chair
Brunei Sultan Hassnal Bolkiah
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Imposing sharia law on his small Southeast Asian country has already cost the Sultan of Brunei $1.5 million, and is likely to cost him much more as a world-wide boycott of his luxury hotels grows. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, resee baldwin page 16 portedly worth $20 billion includ-
ing investments in posh hotels in the U.S. and Great Britain, introduced sharia on May 1. Among the penalties is death by stoning for Gay people and for women who have sex outside of marriage. Men will be allowed to take four wives and married women will be legally obligated to have see Brunei page 17
2 Seattle Gay News
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Celebrating 41 Years!
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Seattle Women's Commission and Councilmember Jean Godden seek nominations for the Jeanette Williams Award Award will honor those working for pay equity and economic opportunity for women Seattle Pi
Seattle City Councilwoman Jeanette Williams in 1987
The Seattle Women’s Commission and Councilmember Jean Godden are seeking nominations for the Jeanette Williams Award. This year, the award will honor outstanding individuals, organizations or businesses in our community making strides to improve pay equity, highlighting the importance of women’s advancement in the work place, and eliminating economic disparities for women and girls. “I am thrilled to partner with the Women’s Commission to celebrate those in our com-
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munity committed to eliminating the pay gap between men and women,” said Councilmember Jean Godden who chairs the Committee on Parks, Libraries, Gender Equity, and Seattle Center. “During Councilmember Williams’ 20 years on the Council she was a tireless advocate for women’s issues. This award in her honor is fitting, especially now, as the City takes steps to address its own pay gap and encouraging businesses and organizations in the region to do the same.” “We are excited to honor those working to-
wards building a better Seattle, a city where we are judged by the value of our contributions instead of our gender, race, or creed,” said Wendy Gillihan, Co-chair of the Women’s Commission. “The first step in building a great society is acknowledging that barriers exist in our pursuit of that endeavor.” Jeanette Williams served on the Seattle City Council from 1969 to 1989 where she championed social justice. She assisted in the establishment of the first shelter for battered and abused women in Seattle, and helped to create the City’s Division on Aging. Williams also developed policies to address early childhood education, and sponsored critical legislation that for the first time prohibited discrimination in housing and employment in the City of Seattle. The Jeanette Williams Award was created as part of the 2003 Seattle Women’s Summit to honor those who demonstrate significant leadership and service in advancing the cause of women in Seattle. Nominations are due by July 7, 2014 and should be sent directly to Marta Idowu at marta.idowu@seattle.gov. Past recipients include: Economic Opportunity Institute; Victim Support Team, Seattle Police Department; Honorable Jeanette Williams; Lisa Stone, executive director of Legal Voice (formerly the Northwest Women’s Law Center); former State Representative Velma Veloria; Pramila Jayapal, executive director of OneAmerica; and Germaine Covington, former Director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights. The mission of the Seattle Women’s Commission is to research, identify, and recommend policy, legislation, programs, and budget items concerning women to the Mayor and City Council. Courtesy Seattle Office for Civil Rights
Celebrating 41 Years!
“REVEALING QUEER” – LGBT HISTORY AT MOHAI FEBRUARY 14-JULY 6 Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (860 Terry Ave. N. in South Lake Union) presents “Revealing Queer,” a landmark exhibit on the history of the Puget Sound region’s LGBTQ community. Admission: $14 general; $12-student/senior/military/ teacher; children under 14 free when accompanied by an adult. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Thursdays until 8 p.m. First Thursdays FREE. www.mohai.org. NOTE: MOHAI is sponsoring walking tours of Early, Queer Pioneer Square 5/10 & 6/7 and Capitol Hill 5/17 & 6/21. Cost: $25 general; $20 MOHAI members. Call 206324-1126 or visit website for details. SEATTLE CINERAMA SCI-FI FILM FESTIVAL MAY 1-11 www.cinerama.com THREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA – TRANSLATIONS: THE SEATTLE TRANSGENDER FILM FESTIVAL MAY 8-11 Northwest Film Forum (1515 12th Ave.). http://translations.strangertickets.com THE NORTHWEST VINTAGE WEDDING FAIR On Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m.-12 noon private VIP preview, 12 noon-3:30 p.m. general admission – at Fremont Abbey (4272 Fremont Ave. N.). The Northwest Vintage Wedding Fair has grown from a boutique trunk show to become THE venue where all couples can find authentic, vintage wedding treasures, nostalgic and handmade items, unique local vendors and oodles of inspiration all in one place. Tickets: Single: $10 general, $15 VIP; Couple: $14 general, $20 VIP. thevintageweddingfair.blogspot.com SEATTLE MEN’S CHORUS & SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS – BLACK TIE & SEQUINS: “A VENETIAN BALL” GALA DINNER, DANCE & AUCTION On Saturday, May 10, at Fremont Studios (155 N. 35th St.) doors at 5:30 p.m., with silent auction, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, dinner at 7:30 p.m., live auction at 7:45 p.m., dancing at 10 p.m. Enjoy an evening of fundraising, fine dining and dancing in support of the Seattle Men’s Chorus and the Seattle Women’s Chorus. Tickets: $225 patron and $265 benefactor. www.flyinghouse.org
questions or concerns, email oasis@oasisy- positive guys that is committed to planning outhcente.org or call 253-671-2838. and promoting fun, social activities. www. pozseattle.org. IMPERIAL COURT OF SEATTLE – CLOSET BALL 2014: SEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN DO YOU WANT TO BUILD BOOK CLUB – A SNOW QUEEN? THE NORMAL HEART On Sunday, May 11, door at 6 p.m., show The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club at 7 p.m., at R Place (517 E. Pine St.) the meets every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m., Imperial Court of Seattle presents Closet at Seattle Area Support Groups Community Ball 2014: “Do You Want to Build a Snow Center (303 17th Ave. E. at E. Thomas St.). Queen?” If you’ve ever wanted to witness In May, the club will discuss Larry Kramthe birth of a drag queen or drag king, this er’s 1985 AIDS play, The Normal Heart. On fun event is a great opportunity to do so. May 7, the group will read aloud Act One; Join contestants who have never done for- on May 14, the group will read aloud Act mal drag before and drag mothers for a Two; on May 21, the group will discuss the transformational makeover session with play; on Sunday, May 25, HBO will telecast delightful drag entertainment in between. the made-for-television movie, The Normal $5 donation benefits the Court’s JC/Lady Heart, with Julia Roberts and Mark RufGraytop Scholarship Fund. www.imperial- falo; on May 28, the group will discuss the courtofseattle.com and on Facebook. made-for-television movie. SEATTLE PRIDE IDOL On Sunday, May 11, Seattle Out & Proud (SO&P) hosts the 6th annual Seattle Pride Idol talent showcase and competition. The event will be held at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway) – with contestant registration beginning at 6:30 p.m., doors at 7 p.m. and contest at 8 p.m. Registration is free, and contestants may bring their own musical accompaniment. There is no cover charge. Contestants may choose from over 10,000 songs (covering the 1950s to the present) from an extensive karaoke song list. Contestants may also bring their own music on audio compact disc (CD). Audio track must be instrumental without lead vocals. All accompanying music not selected from the karaoke music library must be submitted on CD at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the evening’s contest. The 2014 Pride Idol winner will perform in the Seattle Pride Parade on June 29, at the Pride Picnic on June 14, and potential performances at other events representing Pride Idol, and receive the grand prize of $1,000 and a vacation package from Alaska Airlines. The first runner-up will receive $500 and a T-Mobile iPad Mini, and the second runner-up will receive $250 and a Microsoft Surface Tablet. All competitions will be hosted by Miss Gay Seattle, Olivia LaGarce. Regular competitions will be held every Sunday, April 4-May 25 (except May 18) at Neighbours Nightclub. Regular competitions will also be held on Thursday, May 1 at Baltic Room (1207 Pine St.), Wednesday May 7 at The Lobby Bar (916 E. Pike St.), and Thursday May 22 at OutWest Bar (5401 California Ave. SW). The Wild Card Night will be held on Sunday, June 1 at Neighbours and the Finale on Sunday, June 8 at Neighbours. For more information, call 206-322-9561, email info@seattlepride.org, or visit www. seattlepride.org.
PURR COCKTAIL LOUNGE – 7TH ANNUAL BARTENDER AUCTION: A BENEFIT FOR INSPIRE YOUTH PROJECT On Wednesday, May 14, bidding begins at 8 p.m., Purr Cocktail Lounge (1518 11th Ave.) hosts their 7th Annual Bartender Auction to benefit Inspire Youth Project (formerly known as Rise ‘n Shine). Check out some of Seattle’s hottest bartenders on the runway, bid on a date with your favorite bartender, enjoy the camaraderie of this fun community event. This year’s event will be hosted by Glamazonia. www.purrseattle. com. GAY CITY ARTS – CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 2014-2015 SEASON: CROSSING THE LINE The Gay City Arts Curating Council is seeking proposals for the 2014-2015 Season: Crossing the Line. We invite LGBTQ artists to present the best of Queer performance art in Gay City’s 49-seat fringe theater space, Calamus Auditorium. This is an opportunity to propose performances and events, which seek to push the boundaries, perception and perspective of queer performance. In order to express the LGBTQ experience, what lines have been crossed in the past? What lines need to be crossed now and in the future? Gay City Arts is committed to bringing the Seattle community the best of queer art and performance from a variety of disciplines. Theater, dance, music, performance art, spoken word, film/ video, new media and interdisciplinary projects are welcome. The Season Two guidelines and application form are available at www.gaycity.org. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION is Thursday, May 15. Art is the voice, spirit and conscience of every community and is a vital tool for community reflection, dialogue and pride. Through Gay City Arts, Gay City collaborates with local LGBT artists to galvanize an audience for queer arts, foster the development of LGBT artists, and facilitate artistic excellence that is accessible, including the promotion of new works. Gay City Arts is committed to presenting challenging, dynamic and excellent queer art across a wide range of disciplines, including theater, music, dance, film, spoken word, literary and visual arts.
ALLYSHIP’S FIRST DANCE-A-THON – “DANCING WITH THE STARZ: A NIGHT OF SOCIALIZING FOR JUSTICE “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution!” – Emma Goldman On Saturday, May 10, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at Washington Hall (153 14th POZ SEATTLE – Ave.), join Allyship for an evening of danc15TH ANNIVERSARY ing in support of Allyship’s programs. 3 DJs CELEBRATION & will keep the music going. “THANK YOU, SEATTLE!” Minimum donation: $25 single, $45 couPARTY ple, $90 team of four, $140 team of six. On Wednesday, May 14, from 6-8 p.m., www.lgbtqallyship.org. at The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.), join POZ Seattle for their 15th Anniversary CelOASIS YOUTH CENTER’S ebration and “Thank You, Seattle!” Party. ANNUAL QUEER PROM This month’s event will feature BBQ ribs On Saturday, May 10, from 7:30 p.m.- and chicken, 50/50 raffle, special guest, midnight, at Pacific Lutheran University’s drawings, prizes, and music by DJ Vinnie. GAY CITY ARTS – University Center at Chris Knutsen Hall (at “Dear Seattle, Thank you for the love and THE BLOOD AND Park Ave. and 122nd St., in Tacoma), LG- support for our social group. We could not POT ROAST, APRONS BTQA youth ages 14-24 are invited to Oasis have reached this milestone without your AND JUNE CLEAVER Youth Center’s annual masquerade-themed, continuous generosity. This event is for On Thursday, May 15-Saturday, May drug and alcohol free Queer Prom for a fab- you!” 17, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 6:30 ulously great time. $2 suggested donation. This event is POZSeattle is a social orga- p.m., at Gay City, Calamus Auditorium For more information or if you have any nization run for and by Seattle-area HIV- (1517 E. Pike St.), presents Dani Tirrell’s
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The Blood and pot roast, aprons and June Cleaver – two works of dance theater exploring love, hate, and spirituality in the midst of discovering and maintaining one’s identity. Dani Tirrell’s The Blood is a dance theater piece that deals with one man’s journey to find peace with God and come to terms with his sexuality while serving “the black church.” After being oppressed by scriptures and sermons, he finds restoration to God in order to love himself completely. pot roast, aprons and June Cleaver explores the dreams and hopes of a Transidentified person and their relationshp to love and marriage. Tickets: $16 general admission; $12 students and seniors. www.gaycity.org EMERALD CITY TRAPEZE ARTS – “PINSTRIPES AND PIN-UPS” On Thursday, May 15, doors at 8 p.m. (all ages), and Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17, doors at 9 p.m. (21+), join Emerald City Trapeze Arts (2702 6th Ave. S.), for their spring show “Pinstripes and PinUps,” featuring a variety of flying trapeze and aerialists coming in from around the world who throw incredible tricks such as the triple tuck, triple pike, and double double! These amazing feats will be followed by mesmerizing aerial performers who will captivate your minds and enthrall your senses with different apparatuses such as Cyr Wheel, strips, and rope, for an amazing show, followed on Friday and Saturday night with a DJ and dancing all night. Tickets: Thursday (all-ages) $25 general and $40 VIP, Friday and Saturday (21+) $45 general and $75 VIP. 206-906-9442; www.emeraldcitytrapeze.com. GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION – GSBA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS DINNER On Friday, May 15, from 5:30-9 p.m., at Seattle Marriott Waterfront (2100 Alaskan Way), join the GSBA board, staff and members for an inspirational evening as they introduce and celebrate their 2014 scholars. This year the GSBA is proud to award a record-breaking $330,000 to deserving students. The GSBA Scholarship Fund awards educational scholarships to post secondary LGBTQ and allied students who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities, and who are actively involved in school and community organizations. Their scholars represent a diverse group of students who have dreams of making our community and the world a better place; each of them possesses the skills, talents and dedication to make those dreams a reality. Registration: $135 members, $145 nonmembers, $100 students. 206-363-9188; www.thegsba.org. THE 33RD ANNUAL LA FEMME MAGNIFIQUE SEATTLE AND SEATTLE PLUS PAGEANT On Sunday, May 18, doors at 6 p.m., pageant at 7 p.m., at Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway, entrance in alley between Broadway and Harvard Ave. off E. Pike St.), Darcelle XV, Gaysha Starr, and Sinfinite Events present “The 33rd annual La Femme Magnifique Seattle and Seattle Plus Pageant.” (See article in this week’s SGN, Section 2, for complete details.) TRIANGLE RECREATION CAMP – MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CAMPOUT MAY 23-25 www.camptrc.org
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Jack Mozie and the Dreamers join in support of the 14th Annual May Day March and Rally for Workers and Immigrant Rights “I love my people!” That’s what Seattle recording artist Jack Mozie excitedly said as he was leaving the main stage at the recent May Day Rally at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle. For Ramiro Alonso Orellana-Guzman, known more commonly by his stage name, Jack Mozie, May Day means something more for the singer and songwriter than just a day of marching or taking off work in solidarity with the undocumented immigrants that are calling for comprehensive immigration reform. Jack Mozie was born and raised until the age of 12 in Lima, Peru. Up until September 2012, Jack was not a U.S. citizen. So to say that the issue of immigration reform is near and dear to his heart would be an understatement. Jack, at one time, lived that struggle, and even now, some of his family continues to struggle in hopes of a better tomorrow. Many of his fans might be surprised to learn that Jack Mozie spent over a decade in the United States as an undocumented immigrant. On May 1, at the invitation of El Comité and the May 1st Action Coalition, Jack Mozie performed the single “JUMP” off of his 2013 album Iron Fist. Jack told Seattle Gay News that he felt honored because equal to his passion for music is his commitment to social justice, especially for LGBT people and immigrants. Mozie hopes that through his songs, he can inspire others to change the world. The song “JUMP” is about immigration reform. “Performing ‘JUMP’ at the immigration rally was a life changing experience,” he told SGN. “ When I first wrote the song I never imagined it would get so far. I just wanted to tell my story. I hope my story can inspire others not to give up and that ‘JUMP’ brings change for the undocumented community I was once a part of.” Jack Mozie told popular Gay news blog Bilerico Project, “History shows that pop music has a very strong influence on society. From Madonna and Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga, they all used pop music to create change in the world. When I was 14 years old, I said I wanted to take over the world so I can set it free. And ... that’s still what I want to do. I’m holding onto that
child part of myself that wants to make a positive difference.” Although he is only 24-years-old, Jack Mozie does not shy away from politics. “The LGBT community moved forward with equality because we organized and protested,” he said. “The undocumented community and allies are now doing the same. We are organizing and letting our government know we are not just a number, but we are a significant part of the population and a community that stands united.” He says he is aware that there are some people that believe pop stars should not comment on politics. He disagrees with that sentiment. “Any form of expression is that, expression,” said Jack Mozie. “As an artist I have been able to speak up and have a louder voice that allows me to make others aware of the issues in the undocumented community.” “If my music doesn’t have a purpose, if my music doesn’t cause change or make an impact, then it’s just a bunch of random words put to rhythm,” he continued. “I cannot call myself a true artist if I don’t fight for social justice.” Jack says he believes that young voters will be the turning point in the fight to achieve true and lasting immigration reform across the nation. “We are part of a generation that wants equality and change and we are growing in numbers and it will reflect on the ballot,” he said. “If our government doesn’t do it right, we will.” Jack Mozie also performed the Marc Anthony hit single “Vivir mi Vida” with Latin Rose, another up and coming Latino recording artist in the area. According to El Comité and the May 1st Action Coalition, an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Seattle to participate in the 14th Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights. The events began at Judkins Park at 2 p.m., with a brief program that included music, speeches, and logistical announcements for the march. Participants then filed westbound, on Lane Street to start the March at 3 p.m. At around 3:30 p.m., the march departed from St. Mary’s Church, with Danza Ce Atl Tonalli, setting the tone. According to officials, despite a detour from the regular march path of years’ past, due to construction on the western portion Reuters
Jackson Steet during the Seattle May Day March
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Shaun Knittel
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor and El Comité Special to the SGN
Recording artist Jack Mozie
of South Jackson Street, the march still drew a larger attendance than last year. The march swelled, with contingents of groups joining along the way on South Jackson Street and 20th Avenue, along Boren Avenue, as well as on several street corners on First Hill and downtown Seattle. Included among these groups were contingents for organized labor and for a coalition of activist youth groups from the Seattle area. The march concluded at Westlake Park, as thousands streamed in from 4th Avenue. Dr. Reverend Leslie D. Braxton addressed the crowd, speaking on the need to join as a larger social justice community. “We have the power, and the tools to work for what is right! When we join our immigrant brothers and sisters. When we join our brothers and sisters in labor. When we join our brothers and sisters struggling for a dignified wage. When we join our brothers and sisters in the Black community, in the Latino Community, in the Native community, in the Asian community, we will see a better, more just society.” Councilmember Kshama Sawant also offered remarks on the struggle for worker justice. “It is your presence, your continued push, that has forced the city to acknowledge the need for a livable minimum wage. You made a profound statement. That we are not playing around, we are not playing around with peoples’ lives. Workers deserve more, and we say no to deduction in wages for tips, and we say no to deducting health care from workers’ hourly wage. We don’t have time to wait while many workers live in poverty.” Other speakers at the rally also addressed larger regional issues, with updates on the ongoing campaign by immigrants that are detained at the Northwest Detention Center. One speaker detailed the conditions in the
Tacoma-based center, which include inadequate medical care, poor nutrition that is provided, unreasonable charges for communicating with family via telephone, and mistreatment and neglect by center staff in general. These grievances were what lead to a hunger strike in late February. The campaign for better conditions is ongoing. There was also a call to continue the Boycott of Sakuma Farms products by members of the organization Familias Unidas por la Justicia in Skagit County. Workers have been in a labor dispute over work conditions and wage theft over the last year and held a march for Farmworker Dignity on May 4 in Bellingham. “This for me was such an honor and privilege that I cried when Juan Bocanegra called me and asked if I could sing for May Day,” said Ruth Alfaro, who goes by the stage name, Latin Rose. “When I saw all my people marching and chanting for the same cause … it made my soul sing! When I started singing the song that I made for the Latin and LGBTQ community called ‘Vive La Vida’ I got such a rush; this moment is what I was born for! … No more deportations, no more discrimination, freedom and justice for all!” For more information about the May Day March and Rally, contact the following: El Comité and the May 1st Action Coalition call (206) 650-2106 or (206) 6961348, or email info@elcomitewa.org. For more information about Jack Mozie, including booking information, photos and announcements for upcoming shows, go to www.JackMozie.com. Interview with Jack Mozie by Shaun Knittel; report on the march and rally courtesy of El Comité
Celebrating 41 Years!
Minimum wage plan goes to City Council Seattle.gov
Seattle City Council
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Seattle City Council took its first look at Mayor Ed Murray’s compromise minimum wage plan at a hearing on May 5. While technically a “select committee” to receive the recommendation on a $15-anhour minimum wage from the Mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee, all nine City Council members were in attendance. On May 1, Mayor Ed Murray announced that his committee had reached agreement on a compromise plan to phase in a $15 minimum wage over a period of years – three for businesses with more than 500 employees and seven for smaller businesses. For some employees of smaller businesses, tips and employer-paid healthcare benefits can be counted toward the minimum wage goal, but only in the first years of the plan, and that system will be phased out as the $15 wage is phased in. After the $15-an-hour goal is achieved, minimum wages will be linked to the CPI (Consumer Price Index), so that wages will increase automatically as prices go up. While Council member Kshama Sawant,
continued from cover club before, during, and just after the fire was set. I knew it was the right thing to do. People didn’t feel safe with this guy on the loose. It was not a decision that I mulled over for very long. Seattle Police Department had released a grainy photo earlier that week and, aside from a few calls, had gotten nowhere with it. However, once I released the video footage, witnesses and people that know Masmari from the neighborhood or from attending the same mosque as he did, began to reach out and give their statements to the police. One of those people became an FBI informant. Prosecutors say a friend of Masmari’s contacted the FBI to warn them he could be planning terrorist activity. The friend also told FBI agents that Masmari had a “deep distaste for homosexual people” and thought “homosexuals should be exterminated.” The informant told the agents he had met Masmari at a café near a mosque both attended and that Masmari had laid out his hatred of LGBT people over the course of their conversation. He said Masmari told him he had obtained a rifle, and added that he feared Masmari might have been planning other terrorist acts. Musab Masmari had only been named as a person of interest in the case up until the day of his arrest. He was captured trying to flee the U.S. on a one-way ticket to Turkey after three people contacted authorities to say they believed he was the man in the video circulated to the media.
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Network Executive Director Will Pitz, and Joshua Welter of the Mainstreet Alliance, an organization of progressive neighborhood businesses, also spoke in favor of the committee’s plan, indicating that the compromise went a long way toward alleviating the anxiety of non-profits and small businesses over the jump to a $15-an-hour wage. After the brief public comment period, a panel of City staff and members of the advisory committee offered comments and were questioned by Council members. Council members Sally Bagshaw and Tom Rasmussen asked about a so-called “training wage” – a less-than-minimum wage that would be offered to “youth 17 or 18 years old, entering the workforce,” as Rasmussen explained the concept. The idea was promptly rejected by the labor side of the panel, who said “training wages” would violate the agreement reached by the advisory committee. Under questioning by Council member Nick Licata, who was himself a member of the Mayor’s advisory committee, business panelists David Watkins of the Seattle Hotel Association and Bob Donegan of the Restaurant Alliance admitted their organizations had not yet signed on to the compro-
mise proposal. “Our members may have concerns,” Watkins said, “and they will make those known to the City Council.” Outside the Council chambers, other members of the Mayor’s advisory committee said that both Watkins and Donegan had voted for the compromise proposal and they hoped that the business interests they represent would not undermine it. Sawant introduced a chart showing that once wage increases are adjusted for inflation, the $15-an-hour goal will take longer to meet than seven years. Licata countered that even if inflation is taken into account, Seattle’s minimum wage will still be twice the federal minimum and half-again as much as the state minimum wage. All panelists agreed that franchise operations like McDonald’s came under the definition of “Big Business” and would be required to phase in a $15 wage in three years. The City Council plans to hold additional public hearings on the minimum wage plan, with more time for public comment, the first one being May 13 in Rainier Beach.
Masmari had been held in King County Jail on $1 million bail. He had been charged with arson and prosecutors said he was a flight risk. I have been extremely vocal about the fact that I believe Masmari should be charged for committing a hate crime; but even more so, he should be charged with attempted murder. I don’t see what he did in any other light. The man deliberately set fire to a crowded nightclub on a holiday at the height of the celebration. What he did was attempt to murder 750 people. Yet, still, no hate crime or attempted murder charges have been filed. I’m bothered by that fact. Masmari has signed a plea deal with prosecutors that will see them recommend he be jailed for five years. He could potentially still be jailed for twenty years, however. Judge Ricardo Martinez will preside over the sentencing hearing on July 31. Seattle Gay News will attend the hearing. On Friday, when Masmari entered the guilty plea, Assistant United States District Attorney Todd Greenberg said, “It’s a great result for the community. The defendant took responsibility for a serious and violent crime.” Greenberg told media, with regards to the possibility that Masmari could receive additional charges, “Nothing has happened with it yet. One of the issues for the court at the time of sentencing will be to address the motive.” “The collaboration in this case between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the King County Prosecutor’s Office and state and federal law enforcement authorities has resulted in
swift and serious consequences for the defendant,” King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said. “Although the fire was quickly put out, Mr. Masmari’s actions put hundreds of people at risk. The sentence he faces in federal court reflects the inherent danger of his actions.” Neighbours Nightclub released a statement May 2, saying management was “pleased with the outcome thus far.” “We thank the community for all the support we received throughout the investigation and we definitely appreciate the many wonderful messages of love that the community shared with us after the arson,” said Neighbours. “We would like to thank the staff for an amazing job, our customers for exiting the building quickly and in an orderly fashion,
and the media for covering this story so thoroughly,” continued the statement. In addition, Neighbours thanked the Seattle Mayor’s office and the Seattle Police Department. “We look forward to PRIDE 2014,” they concluded. According to Susan Story from the King County Prosecutor’s office, the standard charge for arson is only 21-27 months. Story said, “Five years is a much better result.” While I am pleased that Neighbours can begin to put this behind them and move on, I still believe Masmari should be charged with a hate crime and attempted murder. I will be at the sentencing in July; however, between now and July 31, I will also continue to call on the feds to do the right thing. Continue to read the Seattle Gay News for updates in the arson case.
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who made the $15 wage the centerpiece of her campaign for office, called the advisory committee’s plan “watered-down” when it was first announced, at the hearing she called the plan “good.” Nevertheless, she made it clear she will continue to support the idea of a November ballot initiative to establish a $15 wage by popular vote rather than action by the City Council. Sawant and her Socialist Alternative party are backing a group called 15Now, which grew out of her 2013 City Council campaign. Some 15Now supporters have labeled the compromise plan a “fake 15.” Labor unions and community groups have formed 15 for Seattle, a coalition supporting the advisory committee proposal. The hearing was – surprisingly – not packed with red-shirted 15Now supporters. In fact, Sawant’s group was outnumbered by SEIU members in their signature purple shirts. David Rolf, President of SEIU 775NW and co-chair of the Mayor’s advisory committee, is an enthusiastic supporter of the compromise plan offered up by the committee. During the brief public testimony segment, Washington Community Action
I support equality but I’ll still fight against it, Arkansas Attorney General says AP
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said on May 3 that he personally supports the idea of marriage equality, but also promised to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in the courts.
“I want to tell you I do support marriage equality and I do believe Arkansans should have the right to be equal in the eyes of the law,” McDaniel told the Associated Press Managing Editors convention. “I’m going to zealously defend our constitution, but at the same time I think it’s important to let people know where I stand
on the matter,” McDaniel told AP reporters after his speech. Arkansas’s ban on same-sex marriage is currently being challenged by one state and one federal lawsuit. McDaniel has also accepted two initiatives seeking to repeal the ban, one for the 2014 ballot and one for 2016. Although Attorneys General in several states have declined to defend state bans on same-sex marriage, McDaniel said he did not accept the idea that state officials should allow their personal views to determine whether to defend state law. He also criticized U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for advising state officials that they need not defend unconstitutional laws. “I do not take orders from Eric Holder and I’m determined to live up to my obligation, and that includes with regard to our state’s definition of marriage,” McDaniel said. The HRC issued a statement praising McDaniel for his comments. “Today Attorney General McDaniel adds his voice to an ever-growing chorus of Americans from across the country that are standing up for the right of all couples to marry, and there is no turning back that tide,” HRC President Chad Griffin, an Arkansas native, said in a statement released by the group. “As a proud Arkansan, I know it’s only a matter of time before committed and loving
gay and lesbian couples in my home state get to enjoy all the rights and benefits that come with civil marriage.” On the other hand, the head of the group that campaigned for the ban when it was passed by voters in 2004 said he was surprised by McDaniel’s remarks. “I’m disappointed because he didn’t have to take a position one way or the other. It is disappointing that he has taken this position,” said Jerry Cox, president of the Arkansas Family Council. “However, I do not doubt the ability of his staff to adequately defend the Arkansas marriage amendment because I believe the people on his staff are very capable lawyers and I have seen them work very capably on other issues.” McDaniel, a Democrat, is in his last year as Attorney General. He briefly ran for governor, but dropped out of the race last year after admitting to an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman attorney. Other Democratic candidates have opposed marriage equality. U.S. Senator Mark Pryor, a Democrat, who is running for reelection, and former Congressman Mike Ross, a Democrat, who is running for governor, remain officially opposed to same-sex marriage.
Pro-equality Attorney General runs for Governor of Kentucky
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AP
Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced May 6 that he would be a candidate in his state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. Conway made headlines in March when, in an emotional press conference, he said he would not appeal a U.S. district judge’s ruling striking down Kentucky’s ban on samesex marriage. Kentucky’s conservative Democratic Governor Steve Bashear then hired private lawyers to handle the appeal. In announcing his candidacy for Governor, Conway warned potential opponents against using that decision against him. “They do so at their own peril,” he said. Public opinion is shifting in favor of marriage equality, even in Kentucky, Conway noted. “I think in the fall of 2015 that will not be the big issue,” he said. “I think the voters will be more interested in building Kentucky’s future than in reliving all of that.” A February 2014 Bluegrass poll found that 35% of Kentucky residents support same-sex marriage, while 55% oppose it, rising from 18% support in 1994-1996 and 31% in 2010. Meanwhile Kentucky Republicans did not raise the marriage issue, instead labeling Conway as a clone of President Barack
Obama, who is widely unpopular in Kentucky. “It should concern all Kentucky voters that a true liberal like Jack Conway, who has publicly embraced President Barack Obama and the views of his administration, wants to lead our Commonwealth,” Kentucky GOP chairman Steve Robertson said. While Republican candidates have come to define themselves by their opposition to the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), Conway said he would work to keep in place Kynect – Kentucky’s version of the Affordable Care Act. More than 413,000 Kentuckians have reportedly signed up for health insurance either through Medicaid or subsidized private plans. “I think Republicans have to answer why they want to advocate policies that take health care away from 415,000 people,” Conway said. “The people of Kentucky have distinguished between the inability of Washington to get it right and what Kentucky did.” Conway is the first Democrat to announce for the 2015 governor’s race. Republican Hal Heiner, a former Louisville Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway councilman, announced his candidacy in March. Conway has been elected twice as KenHe has lost campaigns for federal offices, the Louisville area. In 2010, he also lost a tucky’s Attorney General, defeating his however. In 2002, Conway nearly unseated grueling campaign for the U.S. Senate to Republican opponents by comfortable Republican U.S. Representative Anne Nor- Republican Rand Paul. margins. thup in a hard-fought congressional race in
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Celebrating 41 Years!
U.S. nuns not off the hook yet, Vatican official says AP / Seth Perlman
under discipline in an April 30 meeting with nun leaders. Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, the Vatican’s The Vatican official charged with over- Prefect of the Congregation for the Docseeing the Catholic Church’s crackdown on trine of the Faith (CDF), told officials of U.S. nuns reminded them that they are still the Leadership Conference of Women Re-
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
ligious (LCWR) that their decision to honor feminist theologian Elizabeth Johnson was unacceptable to the Church hierarchy. Johnson’s popular book Quest for the Living God was publically denounced by the Committee on Doctrine of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2011. The bishops’ group alleged that the text reaches many “theologically unacceptable” conclusions. “It saddens me to learn that you have decided to give the Outstanding Leadership Award during this year’s Assembly to a theologian criticized by the Bishops of the United States because of the gravity of the doctrinal errors in that theologian’s writings,” Cardinal Mueller told the nuns. “This is a decision that will be seen as a rather open provocation against the Holy See and the Doctrinal Assessment. Not only that, but it further alienates the LCWR from the Bishops as well.” The Prefect of the CDF is the Vatican’s “enforcer” when it comes to issues of church doctrine. Before becoming Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, held that post. After assuming the papacy, he initiated disciplinary action against the U.S. nuns,
charging them with asserting “radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith.” Seattle’s Catholic Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was appointed to ride herd on the nuns. Johnson is a Distinguished Professor of Theology at Fordham University, a Jesuit college in New York. The LCWR is the largest group of nuns in the U.S., representing about 83% of the total. The nuns tried to soft-pedal Mueller’s remarks, saying only that they “accurately reflect the content of the mandate communicated to LCWR in April 2012. As articulated in the Cardinal’s statement, these remarks were meant to set a context for the discussion that followed. The actual interaction with Cardinal Mueller and his staff was an experience of dialogue that was respectful and engaging.” Mueller was appointed to his post at the CDF by Benedict XVI. It is not clear whether the current Pope supports his view of U.S. nuns. Pope Francis reportedly told a group of South American priests and nuns “not to worry” if the CDF sent them letters criticizing their behavior.
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has filed a brief arguing that the federal judge hearing her state’s same-sex marriage case should reject NOM’s attempt to intervene in the lawsuit. NOM filed a motion with U.S. District Judge Michael McShane on April 23, asking to intervene to defend Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage. At the time, NOM chairman and attorney John Eastman said his group wanted to intervene to represent Oregon voters who approved the 2004 state constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman. Rosenblum, who as Attorney Gen-
eral would otherwise have defended the law in court, said she believed it was unconstitutional and not legally supportable. In her brief opposing NOM’s entry into the case, Rosenblum charged that the antiGay group had not filed its motion to intervene with reasonable speed, and therefore their participation would only delay the proceedings. “Delay would not be a particular factor here if NOM had acted with reasonable speed when it knew the Attorney General’s position in February,” she wrote. “It chose not to, and should not be rewarded for its delay by obtaining its own separate briefing schedule, its own hearing on its own arguments, and a later decision on the plaintiffs’ rights.” The plaintiffs – four same-sex couples
seeking the right to marry – also opposed NOM’s request to intervene. Their brief said that the attorney general’s office had signaled in legal filings as early as October of 2013 that Rosenblum’s office would not defend the law. Rosenblum also said that “NOM and its members have no right to substitute their voice or their judgment for that of the Attorney General simply because they disagree with the chief law officer’s conclusions.” NOM “fails to identify any argument that has not already been presented to this Court by the defendants,” Rosenblum added. “Instead, what it would appear to offer this Court is the same arguments identified and presented by the state defendants without the context of how those arguments fail
Oregon Department of Justice
Keep NOM out of marriage suit, Oregon Attorney General says
Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum
when considered in the full context of Oregon law.” NOM has until May 9 to reply to the latest briefs from Rosenblum and the plaintiffs. McShane has scheduled May 14 oral arguments on NOM’s motion to intervene.
Michigan activists kick off 2016 ballot initiative by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
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Attorney General Bill Schuette in his pleading to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals defending the state’s ban on same-sex marriage from a federal lawsuit. Schuette told the court that “respect for Katie Bailey
On May 8, a coalition of community activists, religious leaders, and other supporters of equal rights kicked off their campaign for a 2016 ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage in Michigan. The initiative will be called Michigan for Marriage, organizers said. Petition drives were launched simultaneously in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and the Metro Detroit area. Recent polling suggests that public opinion has turned decisively towards equality. A February 2014 Michigan State University poll found that 54% of Michigan residents support allowing same-sex couples to marry, while 36% are opposed and 10% are unsure. The poll had a margin of error of 3 points. Support for allowing same-sex couples to marry was highest among those 30 and younger at 68%, while 47% of respondents
age 65 and older were supportive. The study also found that 59% also supported same-sex couples adopting children. A ballot measure would directly challenge one of the claims made by Michigan
Opponents of the MIchigan gay marriage ban, outside a Detroit courthouse
May 9, 2014
the dignity of these millions of voters [who passed the ban in 2004], who must be presumed to be decent and rational, should make courts reluctant to conclude that support for maintaining the definition of marriage is irrational.” In March, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman struck down the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. About 300 couples were married before the Sixth Circuit stayed Friedman’s decision pending appeal. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on March 28 that the federal government would recognize the legality of those marriages, but Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said the state would not. An April 2014 Public Policy Polling survey found that 49% of Michigan voters thought that the same-sex marriages performed in the state on March 22, 2014 should be recognized, while 44% thought they should not be recognized, and 7% were not sure.
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HIV criminalization and the military: A botched case Erik Walker
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Pinkela
by Jeromy Carpenter Special to the SGN In what appears to be a gross miscarriage of justice, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Pinkela of the United States Army was sentenced to one year in military prison and recommended for dismissal from service on charges of exposing a younger lieutenant to HIV. His accuser, who shall remain nameless until the appeals process is over, claims that he and Kenneth had consensual sex and that he was exposed to HIV at that time. Kenneth was brought before a military general court martial after several years of waiting for the court to hear his case. He was denied a lawyer, which is very unorthodox, considering that even terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay are allowed military legal counsel. According to Kenneth, a Marine Corps captain called him out of the blue in 2008 and asked him if he could mentor a new lieutenant who was nervous about being deployed to Iraq. Kenneth volunteered to mentor the lieutenant and met with them at the Silver Diner in Arlington, Virginia, not far from where Kenneth worked at the time, at the Pentagon. They communicated by email using their military email addresses and by cell phone from that point forward. The calls mostly centered on the young man’s military commander and how much he hated him. Then one September night the young man “drunk dialed” Kenneth and made some racist remarks about President Obama, at which point Kenneth cut him off and stopped answering calls from the young lieutenant. Three months later, in December of 2008, Kenneth was in his home with both of his parents when the young man contacted Kenneth, claiming he had nowhere to go for New Year’s Eve and was going to be de-
baldwin
ployed in the next month or two, and asked if he could come up to Ken’s place from Huntsville, Alabama, where he was visiting his own parents. According to Ken, the young man showed up around 8 p.m. and then left to see a friend. According to both Ken and his mother’s testimony, there are three dogs in the house who bark at the drop of a pin, who all sleep upstairs with Ken or with his parents when they visit for the holidays. Pinkela didn’t see the young man again until the next morning when he and his mother found him sleeping on the couch when they got up to feed the dogs. After breakfast, they invited the lieutenant to go sightseeing with them at the war memorials, but he declined. In his testimony, the young man says he went to the gym at this time. When Ken and his parents returned home that night, the young man declined their invitation to stay for dinner and then left. Several years later, the young man claimed that Ken exposed him to HIV and that he contracted HIV from this exposure. He states that he came up the stairs in the middle of the night, without waking the dogs, and that he used Ken’s shower, which is adjacent to the room where Ken’s parents sleep, without Ken’s mother hearing anything, despite the very thin walls in Ken’s Virginia home. The young man states that Ken came into the shower with him to assist him in using a “douche hose” which Ken says does not exist. The young man claims that he was in physical pain from the hose, but that he proceeded with his preparations for sex anyway. The accuser alluded to the claim that they then had sex, but he never actually stated that they did. In her testimony, Ken’s mother stated that the bathroom walls are so thin that she can “hear Ken fart” when he’s in the bathroom. In his own testimony, the young man said that he made
and we worked to get a budget resolution through the Senate. “[Senator Murray] was determined the Senate would pass a budget. Then she led our conference committee to get a compromise with [Republican Congressman] Paul Ryan. I was pleased to be able to make a mark on the budget as a first-term Senator.” Baldwin says she has also gotten to know many Republican women senators, some of whom served with her in the U.S. House. “The women in the Senate are particularly close,” she said. “We try to meet on a monthly basis. As things approach gridlock, that gives us the opportunity to look
for a path forward. During the government shutdown, it was the women who provided a way out.” In answer to a question, Baldwin challenged the perception that the Senate is too mired in process to get legislation passed. “The Senate is the place where things are happening!” she exclaimed. “In sharp contrast to the House.” “We were successful in passing ENDA [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act]. A Trans-inclusive ENDA. That was a milestone. We passed an LGBT-inclusive Violence Against Women Act. “It’s tough, it takes a long time. In the Senate debate takes days, not hours. But it’s very satisfying when we get it done. “And remember – anything we do in the
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a lot of noise during the douche process because it was very painful. Apparently, there has been no investigation on the part of the prosecution into the factual basis of these allegations. They did not search Ken’s home to see if he actually had a douche nozzle on his shower head. They did not verify whether or not sounds can be heard through the walls and they have not met the dogs, who bark at the drop of a pin. In Ken’s own words: “In my case, there is no testimony or evidence that I actually touched him in any way that could have even ‘exposed’ him to any virus regardless of HIV. That to me is a huge part of these cases. They are medically and evidentially lacking.” It appears as though they have taken virtually everything that the accuser claims entirely on faith and have given no weight to the thirty letters in Ken’s defense that have been submitted to the court nor the testimony of Ken’s own mother who was there throughout the night that the accuser said that all of this happened. Among the many letters of reference that have been submitted to the court in Ken’s defense is one from former President Jimmy Carter. There are also twenty-nine other letters attesting to Ken’s character from Army colonels on down to his own mother who is also a witness in the case. As a possible motive for these allegations, Ken proposes that the young man contracted HIV well before meeting Ken and that he is trying to use Ken as a scapegoat for his own promiscuous behavior that he most likely contracted HIV from. The young man is the son of two high ranking Army officials and it is a safe bet that they are (a) not terribly open minded about homosexuality and (b) not keen on knowing that their son is HIV positive. However, because of regular sexually transmitted infection screening in the military, it would become public knowl-
a fact that the young man is dishonest. Why would the military judge that tried Ken for the alleged crime of exposing this young man to HIV so willingly accept the testimony of his accuser without any evidence? It is Ken’s theory that the recent scrutiny that the military has been under regarding sexual assaults may have something to do with the gross mishandling of his case. At the time that these allegations were made, there were a number of high profile and very public cases of sexual assault in the military that were clearly being mishandled by the military and it is possible that they railroaded this case, without any evidence, into a judgment of “guilty” which will result in Ken being dismissed from the military with no pension, no health insurance and no compensation for the year that he spent in jail and the subsequent year that he has spent fighting this case, all the while unemployed. Ken is now losing his home in Virginia due to the two years of missed work and the cost of fighting this case. The case is currently in the appeals phase, where three independent judges will have an opportunity to review the details and decide whether or not to overturn the original “guilty” verdict that was handed down by the military judge in this case. Regardless of whether or not these allegations are true, this has been a gross miscarriage of justice and, at the very least, Kenneth Pinkela deserves a fair trial with legal council and proper discovery of evidence. Unfortunately, so many years have passed since the original accusations took place that discovering anything new in this case will be difficult, if not impossible. However, the overwhelming evidence in support of Ken’s innocence speaks for itself. This case is about more than just Kenneth Pinkela. It is about the future of HIV criminalization in America; and while there are
“In my case, there is no testimony or evidence that I actually touched him in any way that could have even ‘exposed’ him to any virus regardless of HIV.” different rules for military tribunals than civilian court, convicting Kenneth in this case would be a dangerous step in the direction of criminalizing HIV in a way that could result in countless more cases of injustice being perpetrated against those living with HIV in America today, and in other countries. If the three judges who review Ken’s appeal have any judicial prudence, they will overturn his “guilty” verdict and make sure that this never happens again to another military person who is wrongfully charged with “exposing” someone to HIV. It may be a military tribunal, but there can be no justice until these mistakes are corrected.
edge eventually. Court records show that the lieutenant knew of Ken’s HIV status months prior to ever meeting him. Ken and his attorneys believe that this is the reason why this young man came to Ken in the first place. When the young man finally did report his HIV positive status to the CDC, he listed his sex partners as “TNTC” which is an abbreviation for “too numerous to count.” In his testimony to the prosecutor, the young man admitted to several occasions of dishonesty. He admits to hacking into Ken’s personal email and altering messages sent between he and Ken. He also admits to lying to the prosecution at one point. It seems bizarre that the prosecution would accept the allegations this young man has made without any corroborating evidence and no discovery at all. There has been no investigation into the allegations and they know for
This article originally was published on hivster.com on May 7, 2014. Reprinted with permission of the author.
Senate has to be bipartisan because we need 60 votes,” Baldwin added, referring to the Senate rule that requires 60 Senators to consent to bring a bill to the floor for debate. “Now to get the House to act – I still believe the votes are there. I was one of the vote-counters on LGBT issues when I was in the House. If [Speaker] Boehner brought it to the floor, there would be enough votes to pass ENDA. “He won’t, because he follows what’s called the ‘Hastert Rule’ – he’ll only bring something up if a majority of the Republican caucus supports it – rather than being a true bipartisan leader. That’s a big obstacle.” Baldwin says she will be “squarely focused on the economy” during the rest of her Senate term. Among the measures she wants to
pass is federal minimum wage legislation. “We tried to get to full debate on the $10.10 minimum wage, increasing over two years, and tied to inflation,” she explained. “But the Republicans blocked us. “I’m vowing to continue to bring this back until we get the votes to pass it. The Director of the Congressional Budget Office says it’s the best strategy for lifting people out of poverty. I feel excited about getting something done.” As for the Democratic Party’s immediate prospects of retaining control of the Senate after upcoming elections, Baldwin acknowledged that the elections would be “challenging,” but added that “I hope I return in the majority because of the progress we’d be able to make.”
Celebrating 41 Years!
Senators Murray and Udall introduce bill to ensure equality for same-sex spouses U.S. Senators Patty Murray of Washington state and Mark Udall of Colorado have introduced legislation to guarantee that all same-sex spouses will get equal treatment by the Social Security Administration. The SAME (Social Security and Marriage Equality) Act of 2014 would make all same-sex spouses eligible for all Social Security benefits regardless of where they live. Unlike most federal departments, the Social Security Administration applies a “place of residence standard” in determining spousal benefits. In other words, a married same-sex couple living here in Washington would be entitled to the same Social Security benefits as a married opposite-sex couple, but if they moved to Idaho, where same-sex marriage is not legal, they would no longer get those benefits. Both retirement benefits and survivor benefits are affected by these rules, which put same-sex couples at a significant disadvantage compared to their opposite-sex counterparts. The SAME Act would amend the Social Security Act to apply the so-called “place of celebration standard,” which recognizes any legal marriage that takes place in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. In a February 10 memorandum to the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder used the place of celebration standard for determining the validity of marriages for DOJ policies and procedures. “The current delay of survivor benefits claims by the Social Security Administra-
tion not only places an unfair economic burden on legally married same-sex couples, but an extremely emotional one as well,” said Senator Patty Murray. “Your zip code should not determine whether or not your family will have the means to survive after the death of a spouse. While I believe the Social Security Administration can, and should, resolve this inconsistency through administrative action, the SAME Act would provide a roadmap to ensure equality under our federal laws do not end at state lines.” Udall added that the Social Security Administration has lagged behind federal law in recognizing Gay and Lesbian marriages. “Nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, there’s no excuse for the federal government to continue withholding certain federal benefits from legally married same-sex couples. That’s why I am proud to lead the effort to ensure the Social Security Administration doesn’t discriminate against anyone who is appropriately eligible for spousal benefits,” he said. “Marriages don’t end when couples cross state lines, and neither should the federal benefits they have earned. Whether it’s veterans’ home loans or spousal survivor benefits, I won’t rest until the federal government treats all marriages equally.” The SAME Act has been endorsed by HRC, the National Committee for the Preservation of Social Security and Medicare, OWL National, the Pride Foundation, Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), and Social Security Works. “Every legally married, same-sex couple
Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
(l-r) Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell collect on their Super Bowl wager from Colorado Senators Mike Bennet and Mark Udall.
deserves to have their marriage fully recognized by the federal government regardless of where they live or what federal benefits they have earned,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “We are grateful to Senators Patty Murray and Mark Udall for bringing attention to the essential protections provided by Social Security. Their strong, passionate and consistent leadership is moving us closer to an America where every citizen is treated equally regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” “SAGE congratulates Senators Murray and Udall on introducing this important legislation,” said Michael Adams, Executive Director, Services and Advocacy for GLBT
swagroup.com
brunei
continued from cover sex with their husbands. If they refuse, they may be flogged. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has ruled that Brunei’s sharia laws were incompatible with international human rights law, and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has said he was deeply concerned by their introduction. The Sultan’s action touched off a global firestorm of protest, including a boycott of his landmark Beverly Hills Hotel, the venue for an annual pre-Oscar event. UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents Los Angeles-area hotel workers, has been joined by Hollywood celebrities like Jay Leno and Ellen Degeneres, and by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) in leading the boycott. UNITE HERE 11 has posted a satirical “Breaking Up with the Beverly Hills Hotel” video on its website, and has created the DumpBHH.org site to document the progress of their boycott. The Beverly Hills Hotel, long a gathering place for Hollywood celebrities, has already lost $1.5 million in bookings as organizations moved their events to different venues, among them the Motion Picture and Television Fund’s annual Night Before the Oscars charity event, and the Feminist Majority Foundation’s annual Global Women’s Rights Awards. Virgin Airlines owner Richard Branson Tweeted on May 3 that he and his employees would no longer use the hotel. Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse introduced a City Council resolution condemn-
Elders (SAGE). “It is high time that LGBT older adults were treated like first class citizens when it comes to receiving the Social Security benefits they have earned through a life of hard work.” Among the key provisions of the SAME Act are: • Conferring spousal benefits on any individual legally married in United States. • Eliminating the requirement that the spouse reside in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage in order to be eligible for Social Security benefits. • Ensuring that spouses legally married outside the United States are eligible for Social Security benefits.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
ing Brunei, which passed unanimously. She had made a “personal decision” to boycott the hotel, Bosse added, due to the “shocking and inhumane” actions of its owner. “We are standing for human rights, we are standing for dignity and we are standing for those who don’t have a voice,” she said. In England, Gay actor Stephen Fry is leading a similar boycott of the Sultan’s flagship hotel, London’s Dorchester. HRC called on the Beverly Hills Hotel to stop promoting same-sex wedding servic-
es, which offer free champagne and strawberries as part of the package. “The sultan is offering free strawberries to LGBT couples in L.A. and death by stoning to those in Brunei,” said president Chad Griffin in a statement. “This is the height of hypocrisy, and we must ensure that profits from LGBT weddings in the U.S. stop going to a regime that could soon start executing its LGBT citizens.” Christopher Cowdray, CEO of the Dorchester Collection group, the Sultan’s holding company, said he felt the hotels
were being unfairly targeted. “It is not just about the Sultan of Brunei. These laws exist in other parts of the world,” Cowdray said, and activists were not “refuting laws in those countries.” “There are other hotel companies in this city that are owned by Saudi Arabia ... you know, your shirt probably comes from a country which has human rights issues,” Cowdray added.
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Dear Kiki with D, I recently met someone on a dating app that I've really connected with. Over time we've gone from messages to Facebook to texting to finally meeting. We've hung out several times since then. This person is extremely respectful toward me, supportive, sensitive, and very ambitious. We've discussed anything and everything. We've met each other's closest friends and have spent a lot of time really getting to know each other. It's been fantastic. There's only one problem. Technically this person is taken – they're in an open relationship. They were totally honest from the get-go and I have allowed myself to wind up in this position. I find myself wanting more for obvious reasons and have been honest regarding my insecurities about the situation. They've been receptive to this and have shared that they're unsure what their next steps are at this point. The significant other resides in a different state for career purposes and it's unclear if they'll move back. There are so many unknowns. Friends say I should stick it out and see what happens. This person says they would understand if I walked away, but that it would destroy them. Am I an idiot for thinking they'll break up? Do I walk away? Do I hang on and see what happens? Help. –In love and undecided
Dear In love and undecided, You have to walk away from this. You're on your way to becoming a placeholder, which is no good for anyone. You're too invested in this new relationship to pretend that you can be casual or share. You have to remember this person is not yours, he was promised to someone before you came along. He is Mr. Right now, and right now the reality of the situation is he has two people in his life and you are playing second to someone else who is not present. Now it’s possible that they'll break up, but waiting around for this person to make decisions won't move this along. You can't sit and stew about your future while this person enjoys two significant others. You have to ask yourself “Is that really what you want to do?” It makes one wonder what brought it to this point… open relationship… and would you want the same for your life? Explain that you must end the relationship because after meeting friends and getting to know each other, you want more. This person might rally… or not. Either way, you'll get your answer. Hope this helps. Remember be true to you, love yourself, encourage yourself and others.
–D
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New anti-bullying / anti-hate speech campaign celebrated by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Two student organizations at Duke University are raising awareness about offensive words used in everyday conversation with their “You Don’t Say” campaign. The campaign is simple – but effective. It features black & white photos of a young person with the text. Here’s just one example: “I don’t say ‘man up’ because the strongest people I know have cried in front of me, regardless of their age, gender, or sex.” Fiona McCrossin, one of the student participants, told BuzzFeed last week, “I am doing this project because language is a re-
flection of our culture as a whole and it contributes to a person’s understanding of what is ‘normal’ or ‘good.’ We hope to start conversations about the cultural practices that these words reflect and start to change the hostile environment that they create.” “I personally chose not to use these words because I want to contribute to that change as much as possible,” she said. “I encourage people to do the same, but I understand if they do not wish to.” You can follow the “You Don’t Say” campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ thinkbeforeyoutalkduke and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/youdontsayduke.
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is teaming up with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) on a new project to address the needs of LGBT people living in rural areas of the United States. Called the Rural Pride campaign, the project was officially launched May 7. “What we want to do is dismantle some of these myths that the LGBT community doesn’t live in rural areas, that they are wealthy, and then also talk about the policies that would impact these peoples’ lives,” NCLR Policy Director Maya Rupert said. “As we experience an unprecedented number of LGBT equality victories across the country, many people living in rural communities have not seen the full impact of these victories simply because of where they live. We wanted to give people the opportunity to talk to the USDA officials and advocates and say, ‘These are the things we need.’” The campaign will also raise awareness of the particular issues faced by LGBT ru-
Petritap
USDA and NCLR launch Rural Pride campaign ral communities including increased rates of economic insecurity, lack of family protections, lack of nondiscrimination protections, and the heightened challenges facing rural LGBT youth and rural LGBT people of color. The centerpiece of the campaign is a series of day-long summits hosted by USDA, NCLR, and local partners based in rural communities across the country. These summits will focus on the specific needs of the rural LGBT community, highlight the efforts the Obama administration has undertaken to protect this community, and identify next steps to ensure all rural communities have access to the resources they need to thrive. The kick-off summit will take place on June 6 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and will be co-hosted by USDA, NCLR, and the LGBTQ Law Center at North Carolina A&T State University. The keynote address and luncheon will be sponsored by the True Colors Fund. “The Rural Pride campaign will allow us to focus on the particular needs of the
LGBT people who make their homes and their lives in the communities that USDA is proud to serve,” USDA Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights Dr. Joe Leonard said in a statement. “We could not be more proud to partner with NCLR on this campaign. It is an opportunity to showcase the diversity of rural America and highlight one of USDA’s fundamental values: We represent and are here to serve all people.”
“We are incredibly excited about this chance to highlight the needs of LGBT people in rural America,” Rupert added. “Too often, these issues have been ignored and, as a result, rural LGBT people too often are marginalized both in the LGBT community and in the rural communities where they live. We are grateful for USDA’s leadership in targeting and addressing the needs of this community.”
Sub Pop store is Sea-Tac’s newest arrival ALBERT RODRIGUEZ
It might smell like teen spirit the next time you’re at Sea-Tac Airport, thanks to Sub Pop Records. The iconic Seattle-based record label that launched the careers of Nirvana, Fleet Foxes and The Shins, to name a few, opened a physical store location inside the main terminal of the airport on May 1. Vinyl albums, tee-shirts, mugs, posters, books, trucker caps, flasks, shot glasses, neck pillows and even a special blend of roasted coffee are among the items for sale at the store, scheduled to be open 365 days a
year from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Prices are very reasonable, for example $15 for tote bags, $10 for coffee mugs and $3 for stick pins, making Sub Pop merchandise an affordable, local souvenir that can be conveniently packed into your carry-on bags. Obviously, Sub Pop gear and goodies will appeal more to music fans – especially those who understand its connection to Seattle – but the store is definitely worth checking out, located north of the central terminal’s food court, across from Anthony’s Restaurant. A brief ribbon-cutting reception included speeches by Port of Seattle Managing Director Mark Reis, Sub Pop Executive Vice
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ALBERT RODRIGUEZ
by Albert Rodriguez SGN A&E Writer
campaign, which legalized same sex marriage statewide, and the label released a promotional copy of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love” to help raise money for the initiative. ALBERT RODRIGUEZ
Sub Pop store at Sea-Tac
President Megan Jasper and Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton, as well as a short performance by singer-songwriter Chad Van Gaalen. “Our music community is second to none”, said a vibrant Jasper, dressed in a floor-length dress and long, straightened cinammon-colored hair. Meanwhile, Creighton spoke about his love for many Seattle rock bands, particularly Queensryche and Soundgarden. In recent years, the Port of Seattle has worked in alliance with the Office of Film + Music, the Seattle Music Commission and PlayNetwork to create the “Experience the City of Music Program,” offering live entertainment to passengers on select days, as well as a hand-picked selection of tunes played on its speaker system throughout the airport. Among the songs by artists with Northwest roots that you’ll hear as you’re checking in for your flight or running to the gate are Nirvana’s “All Apologies,” Brandi Carlile’s “Closer to You,” Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal,” Heart’s “These Dreams,” Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us,” Ray Charles’ “You Are My Sunshine,” Neko Case’s “Wild Creatures,” Quincy Jones’ “One Hundred Ways,” Kenny G’s “The Moment,” Death Cab for Cutie’s “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” and Dave Matthews Band’s “Stay.” The current list features over 500 tracks. Also, several Emerald City musicians voluntarily recorded announcements that occasionally play overhead, including Macklemore, Quincy Jones, Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Brandi Carlile, Ann Wilson (of Heart) and Jerry Cantrell (of Alice in Chains). In 2012, Sub Pop Records donated generously to Washington’s marriage equality
Cuba hosts international LGBT conference ILGA.org
ILGALAC presents the 2014 Regional Conference in Cuba
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Cuba is hosting the sixth International LGBTI Association for Latin America and the Caribbean (ILGALAC) Regional Conference at the resort town of Varadero. The conference runs from May 6 through May 10. The event will be chaired by Mariela Castro, daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro and niece of Fidel Castro. Mariela is director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education and the country’s leading LGBT
rights advocate. Cuba first applied to host the ILGA Conference in 2006. The history of Cuba’s LGBT community has been difficult. After Fidel Castro overthrew the Batista regime in 1959, and especially after the CIA-backed Bay of Pigs invasion attempt two years later, Cuba’s new government began to close Gay bars and send LGBT people to “re-education” camps. Thousands of LGBT people were interned in the camps. Later, in the 1980s, HIV-posi-
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tive Cubans were forcibly quarantined. The Cuban government gradually changed its views, however, and legalized same-sex relations in 1979. The National Center for Sex Education also pushed for reforms under Mariela Castro’s leadership. Cuba’s national healthcare system now provides antiretroviral medications free of charge to the country’s HIV-positive residents. In a 2010 interview with Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Castro admitted the persecution of Cuba’s LGBT people, and called it “a great injustice, great injustice!” “If anyone is responsible, it’s me,” he said in the interview. “We had so many and such terrible problems, problems of life or death. In those moments, I was not able to deal with that matter [of homosexuals]. I found myself immersed, principally, in the Crisis of October [known in the U.S. as the Cuban Missile Crisis], in the war, in policy questions.” In accepting Cuba’s bid to hold the ILGALAC conference, the group acknowledged the progress the country has made. “Cuba is showing clear progress towards the protection of LGBTI rights and I believe that it is important to have a detailed understanding of the work that is being done there,” ILGALAC Secretary General Gloria Carega said in an interview. “As the host country for the sixth ILGALAC Regional Conference, Cuba is not exempt from the problems of the region’s
LGBTI communities,” the group said in a statement. “The humanistic nature of the Cuban Revolution has focused on the human being in his teleological purposes since its beginning. Although the Cuban LGBTI movement does not have the organization of other international movements, the fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the country is now evident with more impact and achievements.” U.S. enemies of the Castro government criticized the ILGALAC for holding its conference in Cuba. “Hosting a conference on LGBT rights is just another farcical attempt by the Cuban regime to pretend they care about anyone’s rights,” said Representative Ileana RosLehtinen (R-FL). “The sad reality is that the Cuban people are harassed, beaten and bullied for having a point of view that differs from the regime’s. This desperate move to seem tolerant does not even come close to obscuring the repressive reality on the island.” Ros-Lehtinen is of Cuban descent, and represents a Miami Beach district that includes both a large Cuban exile community and a large LGBT community. Although she is a Republican, she has endorsed marriage equality and supports ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act).
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