Celebrating 38 Years!
Issue 45 Volume 39
FRIDAY November 11, 2011 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands
aids-free generation p. 4 Blood Ban p. 6 mr./miss gay seattle p. 25
Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Election goes as Commitment Campaign aims to expected locally, change the way we communicate excites nationally about same-sex marriage william creswell/seattle gay news
Washington citizens voted to privatize state liquor stores.
tion of the right-wing Republican political agenda. A record number of LGBT canTuesday’s election went pretty didates were elected to public ofmuch as expected in Seattle, but fice, some of them in areas where results from other parts of the see election page 21 country show a stunning repudiaby Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
This week, a group of high-profile Democrats and Republicans who back legalizing same-sex marriage are calling on advocates to shift the focus on the issue from an argument about equal rights to one promoting the value of commitment. The “Commitment Campaign,” a groundbreaking, bipartisan national effort aimed at developing and deepening support among Middle American voters – moderates and Independents – for allowing Gay couples to marry, officially launched November 7. Created by Third Way, the nation’s leading moderate think tank, Commitment Campaign officials say they will work with policymakers and advocates to persuade the middle that LGBT couples want to marry so that they can make a lifetime commitment, not simply see commitment page 20
Queer Youth Space continues Senate Judiciary Committee advances its search for a home by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
mittee voted for the bill, and all eight Republicans voted against. The bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said DOMA “is discriminatory and should be stricken.” Many businesses, she said, have supported repeal because DOMA forces them to maintain a separate set of books when calculating health and retirement benefits. “DOMA was wrong when it passed in 1996 and it is wrong now,” Feinstein said. “There are 131,000 legally married same-sex couples in this country who are denied more than 1,100 federal rights and protections because of this discriminatory law.” Because of the law, “thousands of American families are now being treated unfairly by their federal government,” said the committee chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (Dfile photo
courtesy queer youth space
Queer Youth Space has been unable to find a space to call home.
Officials for Queer Youth Space (QYS) – a community initiative and coalition that works to secure space for Queer youth in the Seattle area – say that, despite not being able to secure a physical space in 2011 thus far, the organization (and the $100,000 grant they sit on) has more momentum than ever. “This last year has been a whirlwind,” said Genna Watson, a 19-year-old UW student and Queer Youth Space organizer. “Since getting a $100,000 grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods in March of last year, we’ve brought in new youth organizers and held several events, including our upcoming Queer Feast event on November 27.” Watson refers to QYS members as “organizers” because QYS is made up of a youth-led system where the organization and events are run by youth, for youth. Watson told Seattle Gay News that, as it now stands, QYS has at least 20 core organizers. QYS officials say they’ve been
DOMA repeal
Senator Dianne Feinstein
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
On a straight party-line vote, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Respect for Marriage Act to repeal DOMA on November 10, and sent it to the full Senate. All 10 Democrats on the comsee queer youth page 20
see doma page 20
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Celebrating 38 Years!
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Ellen DeGeneres named special envoy for AIDS awareness
courtesy gawker
George Bakan, Albert S. Rodriguez, Nick Ardizzone, Shaun Knittel, Miryam Gordon, Anthony Greer
Hillary Clinton calls for “AIDS-free generation”
Contributing Writers
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Nick Ardizzone, Nate Gowdy, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2011, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission. Publication of names, photographs or likenesses of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business. Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper. Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication. We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write. And please play safe. It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your subscription or ad. However, credit towards any size ad will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer In a speech to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on November 8, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for more funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention to “change the course of this pandemic and usher in an AIDS-free generation.” Clinton also named Ellen DeGeneres Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness. “I want the American people to understand the irreplaceable role the US. has played in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is their tax dollars, our tax dollars that have made this possible and we need to keep going,” Clinton said in her speech.
In Loving Memory Of
Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold
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November 11, 2011
“Creating an HIV-free population has never been a government priority until today. Today it is possible because of scientific advances largely funded by the United States,” she added. Clinton said she envisioned a world in which virtually no children are born with the virus. “We can get that number to zero. I keep saying zero, my speech writer keeps saying virtually zero,” she joked. She set the goal of eliminating new infections among children by 2015, and increasing access to treatments that prevent the development of AIDS. “HIV may be there in the future, but the disease that it causes may not be,” she said. Clinton called for three “combination prevention” measures to help meet the new goal: • Preventing mother-to-child transmission, which accounts for about one in seven cases of HIV infection. • Voluntary male circumcision, a low-cost procedure that reduces the risk of female-tomale HIV transmission by more than 60 percent. Since 2007, some 1 million men have been circumcised for HIV prevention, with some 75% of the procedures having been funded by PEPFAR. • Treatment with anti-retro viral drugs. “If you treat a person living with HIV effectively, you reduce the risk of transmis-
sion to a partner by 96%,” Clinton said, as she pledged to “scale-up” funding for combination prevention programs. “Scaling up combination prevention would drive down new infections by at least 40% to 60%,” Clinton predicted, “on top of a 25% drop” that has occurred due to existing efforts. As a result, she said, the number of new infections will decrease, making it possible to cope with the reduced number of new infections each year. “And so instead of falling behind, we will for the first time get ahead of the prevention,” Clinton explained. “We will be on the path of an AIDS-free generation.” In the same speech, Clinton announced that DeGeneres would take on the role of special envoy, using her celebrity status to raise awareness about the global fight against AIDS. In a letter to DeGeneres, Clinton said, “By lending us your energy, compassion, and star power to serve as our special envoy for Global AIDS Awareness, your words will encourage Americans in joining you to make their voices heard in our campaign to achieve an AIDS-free generation. “The enormous platform of your television show and your social media channels will enable you to reach millions of people with the strong and hopeful message that we can win this fight.” “I’m honored to have been chosen by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as Special Envoy for Global AIDS awareness,” DeGeneres said in her response. “The fight against AIDS is something that has always been close to my heart. And I’m happy that I can use my platform to educate people and spread hope. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go look up what ‘envoy’ means,” DeGeneres joked. In addition to her TV talk show, DeGeneres has some 8 million followers on Twitter and 5.8 million Facebook fans. She has been involved in a number of social causes including anti-bullying, animal rescue and rehabilitation, and breast cancer awareness. DeGeneres has also worked with the advocacy organization ONE to raise awareness about the fight against AIDS. Ambassador Eric Goosby, head of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), said he looked forward to working with DeGeneres. “At this historic moment in our global fight against AIDS, we are thrilled that we have someone like Ellen DeGeneres on our team to raise awareness that we are on the path to beating this devastating disease,” he said. “We at PEPFAR look forward to working with her to deliver a positive and hopeful message that we can work together to put an end to AIDS.”
Celebrating 38 Years!
There goes the neighborhood! Gay couples affect property values, new study says
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A new study published in the Journal of Urban Economics suggests that when samesex couples buy property, housing values will drop in socially conservative neighbor-
schools. The study sampled year 2000 housing prices in neighborhoods in and around Columbus, Ohio. Researchers used that year to avoid statistical complications arising from the housing bust starting in 2008. Study co-authors Susane Leguizamon and David Christafore used voting patterns on Ohio’s DOMA, passed in 2004, to classify neighborhood values as conservative or liberal, and used federal census data to determine the number of same-sex couples in the area. According to the study, the presence of one same-sex couple in every 1,000 households is associated with a one percent drop in housing prices in neighborhoods that support DOMA. On the other hand, the new study showed that sexual diversity was correlated with increasing housing prices in most neighborhoods – and most significantly in very liberal and socially diverse areas, dubbed “Gayborhoods.” Housing prices in those neighborhoods increased by 1.1% when there was one samesex couple for every 1,000 households. “Gays and Lesbians feel that they’re not welcome in certain areas,” Leguizamon said. “This study suggests it’s not just a feeling; people are responding to the pres-
ence of Gays and Lesbians in the ways we’d expect.” “It does serve to justify Gays’ and Lesbians’ feeling that they’re the targets of prejudice or discrimination in the housing market,” she continued. “To what extent, compared to their perceptions, is still up for debate.” While the study seems to establish a correlation between the number of same-sex couples and housing prices in particular neighborhoods, it does not necessarily demonstrate a causal relationship. In other words, it does not show that housing prices go up or down because of same-sex couples buying into an area. The new research also seems to support some previous findings about same-sex couples settling in urban neighborhoods. A 2009 study reported that 20% of Gays and Lesbians consider themselves to have been targets of either price or property discrimination at some point. On the other hand, research led by Richard Florida at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management has consistently shown that higher concentrations of Gay people are linked with economic prosperity, innovation, and creativity within a region.
hoods but increase in liberal-minded neighEVERY MONTH IS Please don’t stop. Every month is Gay hisborhoods. GAY HISTORY MONTH tory month. The study is based on data from more Extend my appreciation to all the contribthan 20,000 home sales, and controls for Good job, SGN! The “October Is Gay His- uting writers and ask them to keep educatother factors like access to amenities, racial tory Month” series was terrific. I clipped ing us all year long. homogeneity, education, income, housing and forwarded the column to friends. They characteristics, and the quality of nearby even made it to Australia. John Gessner
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer One hundred thirty-three Democrats from the US House of Representatives, 70 major corporations, and a number of labor unions have filed amicus briefs arguing against DOMA in Gill v. OPM and Massachusetts v. HHS. The Washington state signers are Rep. (and Democratic candidate for governor) Jay Inslee (D-1), Seattle Rep. Jim McDermott (D-7), and Rep. Adam Smith (D-9). Democratic Reps. Norm Dicks (D-6) and Rick Larson (D-2) did not sign, nor did any of Washington’s Republican representatives. Washington state corporations signing onto the amicus brief include Microsoft and Starbucks. Gill is a suit challenging the constitutionality of DOMA filed by GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) in a Massachusetts federal district court in 2009. In July 2010, federal judge Joseph Tauro found DOMA unconstitutional. Tauro also issued a similar ruling in Massachusetts v. HHS. The U.S. Department of Justice originally appealed Tauro’s decisions, but later informed the court that it would no longer defend DOMA because it had concluded the law is, in fact, unconstitutional. Republican House Speaker John Boehner directed the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to defend DOMA in the combined cases, however, and amicus briefs have
been filed on both sides of the appeal. The House Democrats’ brief was signed by the entire Democratic leadership – Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, and James Clyburn – and by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers and Constitution Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler. It was also signed by the three LGBT Equality Caucus co-chairs, Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and David Cicilline. “Congress passed DOMA without examining its impact on any of the thousand-plus federal laws that take marital status into account or hearing from child welfare or family law experts,” the brief states. “Nor did Congress pause to examine why the federal government traditionally has respected state marriages for purposes of federal law despite the non-trivial differences in state marriage laws over this Nation’s history before rupturing this longstanding federalist practice.” The corporations’ brief notes that many states where the signers do business recognize same-sex marriages, but DOMA precludes employers from providing many benefits of marriage to their employees. “This dual regime uniquely burdens [us],” the brief says. “It puts us, as employers and enterprises, to unnecessary cost and administrative complexity, and regardless of our business or professional judgment forces us to discriminate against a class of our lawfully-married employees, upon whose welfare and morale our own success in part depends.” “Microsoft has joined dozens of corporations, organizations, and governments in
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor The all-encompassing ban on Gay or Bisexual men donating blood was officially lifted November 7, the U.K. Department of Health confirmed. Now, men who have not had Gay sex during the past year will be able to donate, providing they meet other criteria. The move comes after a review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues, and Organs. It will be implemented across England, Scotland, and Wales. A lifetime ban on blood donation by Gay and Bisexual men was put in place in the U.K. in the 1980s as a response to the spread of HIV. Since then, campaigners have criticized the ban, claiming HIV is not just a Gay man’s virus.
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support of a challenge on constitutionality grounds to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA,” the company said in a statement. The amicus brief, Microsoft said, “points out the significant costs and administrative burdens DOMA imposes on employers as well as the ways DOMA interferes with employers’ efforts to promote diversity and equal opportunity in the workplace.” More than 15 labor organizations also signed on to a brief arguing against DOMA, including the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Letter Carriers, the American Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Auto Workers, and the American Federation of State,
County, and Municipal Employees. “By denying married, same-sex couples access to the same federal benefits that heterosexual married couples receive, DOMA violates the constitutional principles upon which this country was founded,” AFGE General Counsel David Borer said. AFGE Staff Counsel Leisha Self, who is AFGE’s lead attorney on the case, said labor unions oppose DOMA primarily because it restricts access to workers’ benefits. “The Defense of Marriage Act denies these couples spousal healthcare benefits and equal access to family medical leave, threatens their retirement planning, and restricts their mobility by not allowing them to relocate for the purposes of employment,” Self said. Waldszenen
U.K. Gay blood ban officially lifted
file photo
House Dems, corporations, unions file briefs against DOMA
In countries such as Italy and Spain, the automatic ban on Gay men giving blood had already been lifted. A U.K. organization, the Anthony Nolan Trust, lifted its blanket exclusion on Gay men donating bone marrow in 2008. Despite all this, the change was welcomed by the sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust. Chief executive Sir Nick Partridge said, “We welcome this change, which is based on strong new evidence that all the experts are agreed on. These regulations will ensure the safety of the blood supply for all of us while also being fair and equal in their application.” The United States examined lifting the ban on Gay men donating blood in 2010, but the ban was upheld by a federal committee.
November 11, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
Kenneth Cole reinterprets the AIDS ribbon Courtesy AWearNESS, the kenneth cole foundation
All profits from the sale of the ribbons will be donated to AWEARNESS, the Kenneth Cole Foundation.
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Fashion designer Kenneth Cole has partnered with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and amfAR on the reinterpretation of the iconic AIDS ribbon. Designed to commemorate the discovery of the virus 30 years ago, and to ignite a new wave of awareness about the pandemic with the next generation, the new AIDS ribbon features
a double loop, symbolizing the coming together of individuals and the re-doubling of efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS. A provocative celebrity PSA campaign entitled “Come Together” will support the ribbon. The campaign, which will air on MTV channels worldwide in November and December, will feature a montage of celebrities wearing the double ribbon reciting lines about how, where, and when they like to wear it. Celebrities featured in the cam-
paign include Ke$ha, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cyndi Lauper, Estelle, Skylar Grey, Cheyenne Jackson, and Rose McGowan. Viewers inspired to get involved or learn more about the campaign will be encouraged to visit MTVComeTogether.com, where they can learn important facts about HIV prevention, purchase the new double ribbon, donate, upload photos of themselves wearing the ribbon, or discuss the issues.
Study on Lesbian couples suggests importance of co-parent adoption
findings suggest the importance of having the parental relationships of both same-sex parents legally recognized. According to a recent report by the Movement Advancement Project, only 19 states and Washington, D.C., currently have laws or court decisions clearly permitting co-parent adoptions by same-sex couples. Same-sex couples face uncertainty in 25 states about whether they can co-adopt, and in six states such adoptions are effectively banned. The Williams Institute advances sexual orientation law and public policy. For more information, go to www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/home.html. courtesy claritymag
University of Amsterdam in the spring of 2012. The study also found that most of these relationships (80%) dissolved before the mothers were able to enter into a legally recognized relationship in any state in the United States. In addition, almost three-fourths of the mothers overall were sharing custody – in contrast to a majority of divorced heterosexual mothers who have sole custody of their children. Shared childrearing after hetby Shaun Knittel guished Visiting Scholar Nanette Gartrell, erosexual divorce has been associated with M.D., and Henny Bos, Ph.D., who will be more favorable outcomes for children. SGN Associate Editor visiting with the Williams Institute from the While more research needs to be done on This week, Family Relations, an interdisdissolutions among same-sex couples, these ciplinary journal of the National Council on Family Relations, published the first longitudinal study on dissolutions among Lesbian couples whose children had been born after their relationships were formed. The study, based on interviews with 40 separated Lesbian couples and their 17-year-old adolescents, found no difference in well-being between children who had been adopted by their co-mothers and those who had not. However, the study did find that the mothers were more likely to be sharing custody if there had been a co-parent adoption, which provides legal recognition of the parental rights of both the biological and non-biological mothers. The former couples with co-parent adoptions also remained in their relationships significantly longer – on average, four years longer – than those without co-parent adoptions. In addition, the percentage of 17-year-old adolescents who reported closeness to both mothers was significantly higher in families with co-parent adoption. Those adolescents also spent significantly more time with both of their mothers after the dissolution than those whose mothers had not had a co-parent adoption. The new findings are from the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS), led by Williams Institute Distin-
“By partnering with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and amfAR on the creation of this campaign, we have come together to cultivate a call-to-action that raises awareness about HIV/AIDS among the younger generation,” said Cole. “The ‘Come Together’ public service announcement is intended to provoke the critical dialogue needed to eliminate the devastating results from the stigma associated with the disease, as well as promote the importance of safe sex.” “The MTV Staying Alive Foundation began with a simple vision: to empower and educate young people engaged in fighting the stigma, spread, and threat of HIV,” said Georgia Arnold, the foundation’s executive director. “The campaign will allow us to educate even more people about the importance of prevention in tackling this epidemic, and enable us to provide even more grants to grassroots projects in our bid to beat this disease.” The ribbons went on sale November 4 and will be available through December 31, with 100% of net profits being donated to AWEARNESS, the Kenneth Cole Foundation, in support of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. The ribbons will be available for purchase at Kenneth Cole retail and outlet stores in the U.S., Latin America, Israel, the Philippines, and at KennethCole. com; Bloomingdale’s and Bloomingdales. com; Gilt Groupe; and House of Fraser in the U.K. AWEARNESS, the Kenneth Cole Foundation, promotes, encourages, and inspires positive and meaningful social change and supports like-minded individuals to make a difference. As part of each partnership, we create products and host events in support of their important causes, and select a “Change Agent” to share their story of social activism to help educate and inspire others to get involved. Interviews and products can be seen on the AWEARNESS website www. awearness.com.
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Joint Commission releases a new field guide to improve care for LGBT patients A new field guide from the Joint Commission that urges U.S. hospitals to create a more welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment that contributes to improved health care quality for LGBT patients and their families was released November 8. The guide, “Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient-and Family-Centered Care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender LGBT Community: A Field Guide,” was developed with support from The California Endowment. The guide features a compilation of strategies, practice examples, resources, and testimonials designed to help hospitals in their efforts to improve communication and provide more patient-centered care to their LGBT patients. In addition, the field guide offers information to help hospitals identify gaps, safety risks, and areas needing improvement, as well as information to strengthen outreach efforts to the LGBT community. The field guide could serve as an educational resource for hospitals to develop staff training, as well as for compliance efforts related to laws, regulations, and standards. “All patients, regardless of social or personal characteristics, should be treated with dignity and respect and should feel comfortable providing any information relevant to their care, including information about sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Jerod M. Loeb, Ph.D., executive vice president, Division of Healthcare Quality Evaluation of the Joint Commission. “Every hospital and health care organization is unique and no single approach works best, but the Joint Commission encourages hospitals to adopt a combination of the strategies and practices discussed and to use these examples as a foundation for creating processes, policies, and programs that are sensitive and inclusive of LGBT patients and families.” Research has demonstrated that LGBT patients often do not receive the same level of care as other patients due to social stigma, lack of awareness, and insensitivity to their unique needs. Members of the LGBT community often have less access to insurance and health care services; experi-
ence higher rates of smoking, alcohol, and substance abuse; and are at higher risk for mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, sexually transmitted diseases, and increased incidence of some cancers. In addition, LGBT patients face other barriers to equitable care, such as refusals of care, delayed or substandard care, mistreatment, inequitable policies and practices, little or no inclusion in health outreach or education, and inappropriate restrictions or limits on visitation. Earlier this year, the Joint Commission implemented its patient-centered communication standards to specifically prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and to ensure access to a support person of the patient’s choice – two critical issues to the LGBT community. Although the standards and the Joint Commission’s 2010 guide “Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence and Patient- and FamilyCentered Care: A Roadmap for Hospitals” were designed to encompass many issues in LGBT health care, the need to provide more information, guidance, and education to health care organizations to address specific LGBT issues was apparent. The Joint Commission brought together representatives from professional associations, key stakeholders, and LGBT health care advocacy groups to identify and discuss how to build upon recommendations and practice examples in “The Roadmap for Hospitals” and tailor these with specific suggestions and strategies geared toward the unique health needs and concerns of those in the LGBT community. “We applaud the Joint Commission’s work to advance LGBT healthcare equality through its accreditation standards, and now this new field guide on LGBT patient-centered care,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Too often members of the LGBT community face discrimination while accessing healthcare or avoid seeking healthcare altogether. Every hospital in the U.S. should take advantage of the resources available in this guide and ensure that LGBT patients and families get the care they deserve.” The field guide points health care facilities to the HRC’s Healthcare Equality In-
the Joint Commission standards addressing non-discrimination, and new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid regulations on visitation. The HEI 2012 survey is now open and available for completion. Healthcare administrators can obtain information on how to participate in the HEI 2012 survey at www. hrc.org/hei.
Dutch prime minister meets Lesbian activist in Moscow Nick van Ormondt
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
dex (HEI) as a resource on best practices in LGBT patient-centered care. The annual HEI surveys and rates respondents on their policies and practices related to LGBT patients and families. Facilities throughout the nation look to the HEI for up-to-date assistance in providing equitable, inclusive care to LGBT patients and families. Completing the HEI can also help hospitals comply with
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met with Russian Lesbian activist Polina Savchenko and other human rights activists while he was in Russia for talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Savchenko is a leader of the LGBT rights group Coming Out. Rutte was in Russia to discuss economic cooperation between his country and Medvedev’s, including construction projects and development of renewable resources. According to a statement from Coming Out, “Rutte made it a public priority of highlighting human rights issues in Russia for the Netherlands.” “At the October 19 meeting with Rutte at the Dutch embassy in Moscow were Alexei Navalny (a Transparency blogger), Elena Panfilova (Transparency International), Tatyana Lokshina (Human Rights Watch), and Polina Savchenko (general manager of the social-service and advocacy LGBT organization Coming Out). “Among the topics discussed were the fight against corruption, the North Caucasus region, and the rights of LGBT citizens – all of which the Netherlands considers important issues in relations with Russia.” After the meeting, Savchenko shared her impressions on the Coming Out website. “The prime minister was sympathetic to the situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in Russia,” she wrote. “He asked many questions: Why did we choose to become activists? How many individuals are involved in our transparency and LGBT groups? Is the Russian government doing enough to protect the human
rights of LGBT Russians? “The discussion was very lively,” Savchenko added, “and all of us who met with Mr. Rutte expressed our thanks for engaging with us. “The main purpose of the meeting for the prime minister was to understand how the Netherlands can contribute to human rights defenders and what questions should be raised in talks with Medvedev and Putin.” Navalny, who was also at the meeting with Rutte, told him that the Netherlands could play a key role in tackling Russian corruption, which has increased substantially in recent years. “The Netherlands is a key country in this sense,” Navalny said in a statement about the meeting. “The tax regime is attractive for numerous foreign companies which have located their headquarters there. My idea is that the Netherlands should help itself, not us. The Netherlands should protect its own citizens against the export of corruption and money laundering, which unfortunately does go on.” Speaking after the meeting, Tanja Loksjina of Human Rights Watch stated she was much happier with her discussion with Rutte than with a previous meeting with then-prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende in 2007. “It was a very substantial chat, very extensive,” she said. “I also took part in the last meeting [with Balkenende]. I think eight representatives from NGOs were invited to say a few words for a couple of minutes. That was a series of monologues. This time it was a real conversation, an exchange of views.”
Rich Full-Bodied Cafes Savory Homestyle Soups & Sandwiches 8
Seattle Gay News
November 11, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
NORTHWEST
NEWS
compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer
“OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHILDREN” BEAUTIFUL 2012 CALENDAR FEATURES LGBTQ PARENTED FAMILIES FROM THE SEATTLE AREA The Lesbian and Gay Child Care Task Force is excited to offer once again its beautiful calendar of LGBTQ parented families from the Seattle area. The task force has been producing the calendar for ten years with the mission of providing the visual reminder to children, teachers and families that families look different and that all families are welcome. Additionally, the calendar has been displayed in diverse work places and in colleges and universities with teacher preparation programs. The upcoming year is the tenth anniversary of the calendar. The task force revisited families from the “early years” and invited twelve (plus two more!) families to come back for another picture shoot. Each family picture has a small inset picture from the first time the family was in the calender. Many families have grown; others have changed their make-up, and the tragic loss of one dad illustrates that our families and our children experience life, death, and change just like other families. Proceeds from the calendar help the task force to produce the calendar for another year, onward to the twentieth year and beyond. An order form is online at www.safeschoolscoalition.org/ocof/OFOC_CalendarOrderForm2012.pdf or you can call Bill Sanders at 206-226-3352. Suggested donation is $15, which includes shipping and handling.
“OMG! WHO ARTED?” – VOTE TO SELECT THE WINNER OF THE SISTERS’ “CONDOM SAVIOUR” PACKAGING ART CONTEST On Saturday, November 12, from 6-10 p.m., at Vermillion (1508 11th Ave.) the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – the Abbey of St. Joan will be hosting a party to select the winner of their “OMG! Who Arted?” art contest to decorate the Sisters’ new “Condom Saviour” packaging. In the Sisters’ spirit of non-judgment and fundraising, the winner will be determined by how much money a particular submission raises through direct donation and silent auction. Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned popularity contest, huh? This is an all-ages contest and event. There is no cover charge; donations at the door will gladly be accepted. Artists under 18 will need a parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to enter. If you are unable to attend the party but would like to check out the art contest submissions and “vote” for your favorite design with a financial donation, stop by Vermillion TuesdaySunday, 4pm-midnight (till 1am Friday and Saturday). All proceeds from “OMG! Who Arted?” go to the Sisters’ “Play Fair!” program. In 1982 as San Francisco’s health scene had hit crisis levels, registered nurses Sister Florence Nightmare and Sister Roz erection joined with a team of Sisters and medical professionals to create “Play Fair!,” the first safer sex pamphlet to use plain sex-positive language, practical advice and humor to educate people on the responsibility of their sexual health. The Abbey of St. Joan continues the duty SEATTLE MEN IN LEATHER of teaching the message that everyone has SEEKING CONTESTANTS a responsibility to themselves and their sex FOR 23RD ANNUAL partners to stay safe and “Play Fair.” “ConSEATTLE LEATHER DADDY dom Saviors” and “Passion Packs” carry AND DADDY’S BOY CONTEST supplies and helpful information, all of On Saturday, November 26, at 7 p.m., at which are free for the asking. The Cuff Complex (1533 13th Ave.) Seattle Men in Leather is sponsoring the 23rd AnTHE NORMAL HEART – nual Seattle Leather Daddy and Daddy’s boy STAGED READING BY Contest. For more information about SML, EDMONDS DRIFTWOOD PLAYERS contest information, and a contestant appliTO BENEFIT cation form, visit www.seattlemeninleather. LIFELONG AIDS ALLIANCE org or stop by Doghouse Leather (1312 E. NOVEMBER 12 & 13 Pike St.). SML membership is not required On Saturday, November 12, at 8 p.m., to be a contestant. Deadline for contest ap- and Sunday, November 13, at 2 p.m., the plication is Friday, November 18. Edmonds Driftwood Players (Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds), presents PAUL DAHLQUIST a staged reading of Larry Kramer’s Tony PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS Award winning play, The Normal Heart. AND PHOTOGRAPHY Kramer’s chronicle of the beginning of the AT GHOST GALLERY AIDS crisis in 1984 New York is alternately NOVEMBER 10-DECEMBER 5 angry and tender, as the protagonist takes on From Thursday, November 10, through the government, the medical establishment, Monday, December 5, Ghost Gallery (on the media, and even his own Gay commuSummit Ave. E. between E. Denny Way and nity to help those he loves. Shattering and E. Olive Way, next to the Hillcrest Market) true, the play reverberates with rights withwill be showing work by Northwest painter held and dignity quashed. All seats are $25 – and photographer Paul Dahlquist. with proceeds to benefit the Lifelong AIDS Gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday- Alliance. 425-774-9600; www.driftwoodFriday, noon-8 p.m., Saturday/Sunday, players.com. noon-6 p.m. Tuesday by appointment. www. ghostgallery.org; www.pauldahlquist.com/ JET CITY HOOPS – SEATTLE’S CO-ED GLBTQ GOODWILL GLITTER SALE BASKETBALL LEAGUE NOVEMBER 12-13 Jet City Hoops winter season games will On Saturday and Sunday, November be held on Sundays, November 6-Decem12 and 13, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., the Seattle ber 18, at Miller Community Center (330 Goodwill (1400 S. Lane St., near the corner 19th Ave. E., just north of E. Thomas St.). of Rainier Ave. S. and S. Dearborn St.) pres- Recreational division games will be held 9 ents their annual Glitter Sale featuring high a.m.-noon; competitive division games will fashion, formal and glamourous attire and be held noon-4 p.m. Spectators welcome. accessories at their famous low prices. www.jetcityhoops.org.
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GENERIC LEATHER PRODUCTIONS OF WA (GLPW) HOSTING COMMUNITY MEETING Generic Leather Productions of Washington (GLPW) and former president Gene Romaine have decided to resign as producers of the Northwest LeatherSIR, Leatherboy & Community Bootblack Contest, effective immediately. The decision does not reflect on their continuing support for the contest or their support for the local titleholders, whom they respect greatly, according to Michael “Odie” Heaston, acting president of the Board. After 9 years of producing the regional contest, GLPW and Mr. Romaine have decided that it was time for a fresh perspective on the contest, as well as a need to refocus energies on building the Queer Kink Community in the Pacific Northwest. Plans for new events and a roadshow are currently in the works, as well as deliberations on how to maximize their core mission of producing events that support the alternative sexuality community from Montana to Washington and Oregon to Alaska. In this effort, GLPW has put together a list of projects and events for the coming year. GLPW and Mr. Romaine are very involved in producing the Leather Leadership Conference XVII, slated to occur in Seattle in April, 2013. Other events that GLPW produces include the Leather Pride Picnic, during Seattle’s Pride weekend; Spanksgiving on Thanksgiving evening; and several play parties over the course of the year, many of which coincide with other Leather or fetish events. With a new direction as their goal, GLPW is putting out an invitation to everyone in the Pacific Northwest who regard the building of a greater Queer Kink Community a priority in their own life to come out and join them for their next meeting to be held on Sunday, November 13, at 1:15 p.m, at the Seattle Public Library, Capitol Hill Branch (Harvard Ave. E. & E. Republican St.), 2nd floor conference room. GLPW will be holding elections to fill three vacant board seats and will be forming committees with both Board and non-board members at the helm to steer the organization and these committees into a brighter future. The new goals of GLPW are in keeping with their mission statement. “Now is the time to step up and make some news about who we are and what we are doing,” says acting president Michael “Odie” Heaston. www.glpw.org.
with a cast ranging from servants to baronets, from piano teachers, to bankers, a literary field day with its roots in an era when passionate friendships dared not speak their name. All GLBTQ folks are welcome to participate in this FREE book club. For more information, email nickdimartin@earthlink. net, visit http://faculty.washington.edu/ swittet/SGLBookClub/ or contact SASG at 206-322-2437. “LATINOS LGBTQ ON THE MOVE” – A COMMUNITY FORUM On Wednesday, November 16, reception at 6:30 p.m., program from 7-8:30 p.m., at Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave. E.), join Entre Hermanos for a community forum to learn how we can take action against proposed budget cuts. The expert panel will discuss: funding for programs that serve Latinos, immigrants, and lowincome people, funding for tobacco prevention including quit support, funding for HIV prevention and care services, event will feature stories from Entre Hermanos’ new mapping website to promote healthy Latino LGBTQ communities in King County. 206322-7700; www.entrehermanos.org; www. mappingvoices.org. EVERETT-SNOHOMISH COUNTY FRIENDSHIP DINNER FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS On Thursday, November 17, at 6 p.m., at The Spirit of Grace United Methodist Church (formerly First United Methodist) (3530 Colby Ave., Everett) come join us for a Thanksgiving feast. The event is free to all and everyone is welcome. For more information, call 425-252-7751. PUDDLETOWN SQUARES’ “HOLIDAY KICK-OFF” – FREE INTRO TO GAY SQUARE DANCING On Thursday, November 17, from 7-9 p.m., at St. Andrews Episcopal Church (NE 80th St. & 1st Ave. NE, near Greenlake, #16 bus route) join Puddletown Squares for a free public introductory event before the next series of beginning square dance lessons starts, on January 5, 2012. This will be a high energy evening of Gay square dancing with nationally-known caller, Gary Monday, who has just moved to the Seattle area with his partner. No experience necessary. Everything you need to know will be taught at the event. The music is contemporary and dress is casual. Singles and couples welcome, and they practice gender-neutral partnering. Admission is FREE, but as a way of also kicking off this season of charitable giving, they are encouraging the public to bring donations of non-perishable food and canned items, as well as personal items, for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. www.puddletownsquares.org.
SISTERS ORGANIZE FOR SURVIVAL COMMUNITY MOBILIZING MEETING On Tuesday, November 15, at 7 p.m., at New Freeway Hall (5018 Rainier Ave. S.), hear about and help make plans for protests of the WA State Legislature budget-slashing special session at the end of November. Explore how to promote restoring jobs, services and benefits by taxing large corporatons BENT MENTOR SHOWCASE and Washington’s richest individuals. Light FEATURING STORME WEBBER snacks available for a donation. For more On Friday, November 18, door at 7:30 information, call 206-722-6057. Wheelchair accessible. www.sistersorganizeforsurvival. p.m., show at 8 p.m., at MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry), McEachern Auorg. ditorium (2700 24th Ave. E.), Bent Writing Institute and TumbleMe Productions presSEATTLE GAY & LESBIAN ents the Bent Mentor Showcase, an annual BOOK CLUB – showcase of original poetry, storytelling, THE STRANGER’S CHILD The Seattle Gay & Lesbian Book Club and spoken word performed by students meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Seattle and instructors at Bent Writing Institute, Area Support Groups Community Center a Seattle school for LGBTQ writers. This (formerly Dunshee House) (303 17th Ave. year’s event features the work of mentor Storme Webber, a multi-genre spoken word E. & E. Thomas St.). Alan Hollinghurst’s stupendous, multi- artist. Webber is the Founder/Artistic Direcgenerational Gay epic is the book club’s No- tor of Voices Rising: LGBTQ of Color Arts vember selection. The Stranger’s Child is a & Culture, and has been a City Artist with challenging, perceptive, labyrinthine, and the Seattle Mayor’s Office, a Writer-in-Residence at Richard Hugo House, and a CD hugely satisfying fiction entertainment. Hollinghurst serves up plenty of the cruel- Forum Creation Project Artist. Tickets: $15 ty and sting of the real world, the irrational- youth/low income; $20 general admission; ity of lust, the fickleness of fame, unantici- $50 patron ticket. www.brownpapertickets. pated deaths, and those unexpected, price- com/event/204205. www.bentwriting.com. less moments of compassion and grace,
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Celebrating 38 Years!
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Celebrating 38 Years!
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If you’re in crisis or need someone to talk to there is help: o National Suicide Prevention Hotline
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Celebrating 38 Years!
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AP
Killer of David Kato gets 30 years
Prosecution blames victim for his own murder by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Ugandan Gay activist David Kato was murdered on January 26, 2011.
A Ugandan court has sentenced the killer of Gay rights activist David Kato to 30 years in prison. Sidney Nsubuga Enoch admitted the crime and was sentenced by High Court Justice Joseph Mulangira on November 10. He killed Kato on January 26 of this year. At the time of the murder and afterwards, the Ugandan government strongly denied that the killing had anything to do with Kato’s Gay rights activism. Lead prosecutor Loe Karungi gave an account of the murder that seems to blame the crime on Kato. “Prosecution led by Ms. Karungi alleges that on 26th January, 2011, at around 8:30 a.m., while the duo was taking tea, the deceased demanded sex from Nsubuga,” the Uganda Monitor newspaper says in its account of the sentencing. Karungi went on to give a step-by-step description of the crime, essentially saying that Kato’s demands for sex led Nsubuga to kill him. Members of Kato’s organization, SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda), were reportedly out of the country to attend a human-rights award ceremony and could not comment on the sentencing or the alleged circumstances of Kato’s death, but other LGBT rights activists questioned the prosecutor’s account of the killing. Lesbian attorney Melanie Nathan, who
by Wayne Besen SGN Contributing Writer For decades, John Smid had been the leader of Love in Action, the infamous “exGay” ministry that took away the underwear of clients if the undergarments appeared too Gay. The strict Memphis-based ministry also used an egg timer in the bathroom to make sure its clients would not masturbate while showering. Of all the ex-Gay ministries, this was the most cult-like – with Smid keeping tight control over the social lives of his clients, who paid a pretty penny to live in the residential program. The amount of mind control employed by Smid to turn Gay people into heterosexuals was stunning. In a 1997 interview with the Memphis Flyer, Smid, spoke of his own special technique for denying reality: “I’m looking at that wall and suddenly I say it’s blue,” Smid said, pointing to a yellow wall. “Someone else comes along and says, ‘No, it’s gold.’ But I want to believe that wall is
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blue. Then God comes along and he says, ‘You’re right, John, [that yellow wall] is blue.’ That’s the help I need. God can help me make that [yellow] wall blue.” This high level of brainwashing was not uncommon for Love in Action’s star clients. For example, Anne Paulk, co-author of Love Won Out, wrote about the mind games she played to allegedly overcome her Lesbian thoughts: “I would start to experience a sexual response … so I’d look out the car window and say something like, ‘Gosh, lord, there’s a tree out there! That tree is green, and it has leaves on it. It’s got brown bark.’ I would fix my mind on anything and everything to distract myself. … Over time, that process made me mentally disciplined enough to displace all Lesbian thoughts, period.” Of course, such techniques can temporarily instill discipline to change sexual behavior – but not one’s sexual orientation. In a stunning admission this week, Smid said that altering one’s attractions are highly im-
John Smid
probable – indeed so unlikely that he claims that he has not met a single man who truly prayed away the Gay. According to Smid: “Yes, there are homosexuals that make dramatic changes in their lives as they walk through the transformation process with Jesus. I have heard story after story of changes that have occurred as men and women find the grace of God in their lives as homosexual people. But, I’m sorry, this transformation process may not meet the expectations of many Christians. I also want to reiterate here that the transformation for the vast majority of homosexuals will not include a change of sexual orientation. Actually I’ve never met a man who experienced a change from homosexual to heterosexual.” Wow. If the ex-Gay myth did not work for Smid, then it won’t work for anyone. After all, he had incredible dedication, adhered to a hardcore form of fundamentalism, and en-
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forced a strict cult-like regimen on his charges. Yet, years later, he is faced with the daunting reality that exGay programs are a Religious Right marketing program, not a legitimate movement. Needless to say, leaving the past completely behind is not easy. Smid is still married to his wife and on a journey to discover his inner-truth. He has one foot in the reality-based community and one foot in a fantasy world. But the first step in leaving the ex-Gay charade behind is admitting that the programs do not work. It is never easy for one to acknowledge being wrong, especially after decades of investing mentally, spiritually and financially in a big lie. I wish Smid the best of luck on his continued evolution and am grateful that he is beginning to honestly discuss the limitations of ex-Gay programs. Smid’s timing is exquisite because desperate GOP presidential candidates are pandering to the Religious Right by touting the ex-Gay myth. For example, on ABC’s The View, Herman Cain said that he thought homosexuality was a “choice.” The ever-Gay-bashing Rick Santorum also jumped on the ex-Gay bandwagon, falsely claiming there is credible evidence that say LGBT people can change from Gay to straight: “There are all sorts of studies out there that suggest just the contrary,” Santorum stated. “And there are people who were Gay, and lived the Gay lifestyle, and aren’t anymore.” Additionally, there are junk science peddlers such as Regent University’s Mark Yarhouse who produces bogus studies that claim that sexual orientation change is possible. I strongly suggest these crass political operatives stop the propaganda long enough to listen to Smid. But, of course, that would require putting peoples’ lives ahead of political lies – so don’t expect this to happen anytime soon. courtesy grace rivers
“Ex-Gay” activist John Smid’s stunning admission
knew Kato personally, wrote to the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, denouncing the prosecutor’s story. “I have reason to believe that the killer was set up to murder Kato for being Gay and that he thought if he established a homosexual sex demand, he would be treated leniently and perhaps even as a hero himself,” Nathan wrote. “What is of greatest concern to me is that the Ugandan government has failed to render a version of the events that makes any sense at all. On the one hand, given the context of anti-Gay fervor in Uganda, the story uses homosexual sex to imply that Kato’s homosexuality had something to do with his death, yet it refuses to consider that maybe it had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with a vendetta against Kato for his Gay rights activism. This version is nothing more than slander of a dead hero and a means to detract from the truth about the murder.” Kato was murdered a few months after he won a court judgment against Uganda’s Rolling Stone tabloid, which had published his photo and personal information, along with that of several other Gay rights activists, under the headline “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos.” Kato’s photo was given a special place next to the headline “Hang Them!” Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill is still pending in parliament. If it is passed, the penalty for being Gay in Uganda would be more severe than the penalty for killing a Gay activist.
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by Matt Foreman Courtesy of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Imagine. To many of our opponents and even to many allies, the LGBT movement is a cohesive force for change. But despite our undeniable successes, particularly at the state and local level, we are not as cohesive as we might appear. And we are certainly not as cohesive as we could be. The reality is that we are two separate movements: the Human Rights Campaign and everyone else. Imagine if we could get past these divisions and present a truly united front in the fight for complete equality for LGBT people. There is a chance to do this right now, as the HRC Board of Directors works to name a successor to its president, Joe Solmonese, who will be stepping down in March. Because HRC’s budget accounts for half of all the policy advocacy dollars now flowing into the movement, the extent that the HRC board makes partnering with the larger community a priority for its new leader will have a huge impact on how quickly we achieve the changes that all of us want to see. I need to start by saying that over the years I have had the privilege of working with some exceptional HRC staff, and I can point to numerous examples where HRC collaborated in a positive way with state partners on legislation, ballot measures and other activities. In addition, there’s no denying HRC’s remarkable prowess in branding and fundraising and its singular access to power brokers in our nation’s capital. That said, the cause of LGBT equality has suffered because of a deficit of trust and a surplus of ill will between HRC and the rest of the movement. Sure, a certain amount of conflict is to be expected whenever national organizations work with state and local ones or whenever organizations of widely varying sizes and with widely varying resources try and work side-by-side. Turf fights are part of institutional life, Gay or straight. But the divisions between HRC and others in the movement cannot be explained away as an unavoidable by-product of movement dynamics. Over 18 years, as executive director of a local, a statewide and a national organization, I saw firsthand how HRC had a tendency to undermine movement unity. They would undertake new initiatives or announce unhelpful positions in policy areas where they had little or no expertise; they were unnecessarily vague and secretive about meetings they were holding and about people and organizations they were working with; they would take credit for things in which they’d never even been involved. In talking with dozens of leaders in the movement, I have heard these same types
of complaints again and again. People say they are reluctant to share core work, contacts or strategies if HRC is in the room (and it’s clear that HRC feels the same way about others). Some donors try to brush off these complaints as “petty infighting” they think is pervasive in the movement. But the truth is there is a surprisingly high level of personal and professional collegiality and collaboration among the other leaders in the LGBT movement. Of course, there is the occasional scrape and we can’t sing “Kumbaya” all the time, but people usually work out their differences. A case in point: the largest four national legal organizations in the movement have to resolve potential turf, strategy, donor, and media conflicts all the time. And then there is the New Beginnings Initiative, a collaboration of two dozen national organizations that has successfully pushed more than 30 significant federal policy advances, and resolved thorny power, tactical, and “access” issues every step of the way. The impact of the movement divide between HRC and others goes far beyond time wasted on organizational piques. Resources are squandered in overlapping and sometimes conflicting lobbying and educational campaigns. Over the years, this has contributed to an array of missed opportunities – including early passage of hate crimes legislation, ENDA falling off the table (again), and the lack of LGBT people appointed to cabinet-level posts. No matter whose version of the facts you believe, it’s clear that the lack of an agreed-to strategy nearly killed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” multiple times. The fact that HRC and the rest of the movement put forward two separate agendas for federal agency policy reform to the Obama administration in early 2008 is one of the reasons why this work got off to such a painfully slow start. Faced with mixed messages and a lack of clarity from the movement, legislators and policymakers feel free to throw up their hands and avoid taking action on issues that very clearly could bring real and lasting benefits to LGBT people. They freely break promises claiming so-and-so said it was OK in some closed-door meeting. As the members of the HRC board weighs the next steps for the organization they lead, let’s imagine an alternative to the recent state of affairs... • Imagine if HRC’s political donations were actually in sync with those of Gill Action’s Political OutGiving program and the Victory Fund’s work to elect LGBT people to office. • Imagine if organizations with deep understanding of specific issues – the needs of Gay families, bullying or anti-LGBT violence, work in communities of color or faith, marriage equality, etc. – could partner with,
courtesy matt foreman
Can you imagine?
Matt Foreman
rather than compete with or work around HRC on their specific priorities. • Imagine if the grassroots, grasstops, and financial clout of the LGBT community was brought to bear in a focused way on our top priorities. • Imagine if HRC partnered with Equality Federation organizations and local groups to build their collective power, lists, fundraising bases, and expertise. • Imagine if information and leverage points were shared honestly so that our com-
munity could start playing legislators and policymakers the way they play us now. Can you imagine? I can. Let’s hope that the HRC board of directors can, too. Because if they do, then we all win. Matt Foreman, executive director, NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (1990-1996); Empire State Pride Agenda (1997-2003); National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (2003-2008)
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Seattle Gay News 17
Republican candidates’ missteps work to Obama’s advantage by David Webb Courtesy of The Rare Reporter
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Anyone wanting to see President Barack Obama serve a second term in the White House for the sake of LGBT equality has got to be feeling pretty good about now as his Republican challengers struggle to survive what must be one of the most peculiar national campaign seasons ever. When the Republican candidates aren’t self-destructing en masse, they appear to be too busy destroying each other to make any headway with the nation’s voters. Herman Cain, the black anti-Gay Georgia businessman who has led the pack of Republican contenders for president in recent weeks, likely will soon suffer a steep plunge in opinion polls as a result of several women telling The New York Times and other members of the media he sexually harassed them years ago. Cain calls the allegations “baseless,” but Republican heavyweights, such as Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, are showing signs of nervousness and demanding answers as the controversy persists and the number of allegations grows. Cain attempted at first to brush off the allegations by refusing to discuss them with the media, but that strategy obviously collapsed earlier this week when he finally called a press conference on the campaign trail near Phoenix to answer the charges. The former Godfather’s Pizza CEO denied guilt and defiantly vowed to remain in the presidential race. In a debate with the other Republican candidates this week in Michigan, Cain insisted the sexual harassment allegations would not affect his campaign. He cited a continuing flow of campaign contributions from his supporters as proof of his invincibility. That resolve could dissipate, though, if more details of Cain’s alleged improprieties emerge. Two of four women whom Cain allegedly sexually harassed when he was
head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s have spoken out publicly. And a fifth report has emerged that he made a woman with whom he dined uncomfortable by allegedly asking her for an introduction to another woman – in addition to sticking her for an $800 bill for two bottles of wine. The dinner followed a speech Cain gave to USAID in Egypt in 2002, according to the Washington Examiner. Although Cain and his handlers no doubt thought that trying to ignore the controversy might make it go away, he instead came off to many as arrogant and inept. Things aren’t going any better for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who quickly ascended in the polls after he announced his candidacy for president earlier in the fall. But Perry, another major foe of the LGBT community, fell to the bottom just as fast after giving a series of poor debate performances with other GOP candidates. The governor continued his fall from grace when he spoke at an event in New Hampshire recently and appeared to be under the influence of some sort of intoxicant, although he issued a denial and attributed the odd behavior to a casual speaking style he had adopted for the evening. In the Republican debate this week Perry again stumbled by being unable to remember the name of a federal agency he wanted to eliminate if he were elected president. Before the debate Cain’s answer to the sexual harassment question was expected to dominate news coverage afterwards, but Perry’s slip-up instead became the lead. It was Cain’s second break of the evening during the debate. Earlier, Romney had declined to answer a question about whether he thought Cain was unfit for the presidency because of the sexual harassment allegations. The problems stunting the Cain and Perry campaigns ordinarily would work to the
Texas Gov. Rick Perry
advantage of the other major Republican contender, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, but the savagery the other GOP candidates’ campaigns will inflict on him in coming months no doubt will offset the advantage. Political analysts expect Romney, who also demanded answers from Cain this week, will be portrayed in millions of dollars’ worth of advertising as a flip-flopper who can’t be trusted by Republican voters. For that matter, LGBT voters probably can’t trust Romney either – and certainly not Cain or Perry, who already have made it clear they would not support Gay rights issues. In the case of Romney, he does indeed appear to flip-flop on issues. Although he once seemed supportive of the LGBT community when he was the governor of Massachusetts, there’s no telling what stand he might take in an effort to win the Republican nomination and the presidency. As for Perry, his disdain for the LGBT community is well known in Texas. He has long fought rumors that he is secretly Gay, and that could be part of the reason for his vehement opposition to any LGBT human rights advances. It was for that reason the picture of him going down on a corn dog at a state fair made him the laughingstock of the country. Likewise, Cain has already vowed to reverse any Gay rights gains seen during
Obama’s administration, and the revelations about his alleged sexual harassment of women should concern all LGBT voters. If he repeatedly treated women over whom he had power with disrespect, it’s unlikely that he showed any mercy to Gay and Lesbian associates he encountered. But despite the dangers the three major Republican candidates pose to the Gay rights movement, the one who wins the nomination will enjoy significant LGBT support. Many LGBT voters believe the Republican Party’s policies regarding economic, defense and other issues represent the best course for the country, regardless of the impact on the Gay rights movement. The saving grace for Gay rights activists who want to see Obama remain in office is that the Republican Party has failed to come up with a candidate to electrify the nation’s voters. As discouraging as the country’s economic situation remains, Obama continues to outpoll other candidates and would likely win the election if it were held today. And at this time it appears unlikely any of the Republican candidates are going to change that scenario by Election Day next year. David Webb is a veteran journalist who has covered LGBT issues for the mainstream and alternative media for three decades. Email him at davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.
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18 Seattle Gay News
November 11, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
knows, the National Enquirer doesn’t let truth get in the way of a fabulicious story. So, despite Bono’s threat to sue if the tabloid doesn’t apologize, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Enquirer instead continued to hound him by producing another cover story similar to the following.
Enquiring about Chaz
Reuters/Lucas Jackson
Chaz Bono
by Leslie Robinson SGN Contributing Writer The National Enquirer claims in a November 14 cover story that Chaz Bono will die within four years due to his gender transition. The corpse-to-be is perturbed. His lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to the
tabloid, accusing it of defamation and demanding a printed retraction and apology. According to the lawyer, the story asserts that “obesity, testosterone supplements, and high suicide rates among Transgender people all increase Chaz’s risk of an early death.” As everybody this side of Carol Burnett
Chaz Bono: TRYING TO CONTACT SONNY! Weekly Séances. Chaz Bono misses his daddy – and how! The ENQUIRER has learned that Chaz, the Transgender activist and recent Dancing With the Stars contestant, hosts séances in his home every Sunday night in a sad, touching attempt to contact his father Sonny Bono, the singer and politician who died tragically in 1998 when he slammed into a tree while skiing. “The séances are weird, man. I go for the food,” said one insider who has attended three of these macabre gatherings where some 15 people assemble around a spooky table. “We all hold hands while Madame Mertzola chants and groans and moans and stuff. I think she’s getting sort of frustrated. The last time she kept screaming ‘The beat goes on!’” So far, said the insider, Sonny has not materialized, “although a couple of people thought they saw that tree he hit.” Headstrong Chaz refuses to stop these wacky attempts to reach Sonny. The sad, distressing reason is he desperately wants to speak to his father about masculinity! “Y’know, now that Chaz is a dude and all, he wants guidance and stuff,” said the insider. Dr. Scott Pitts, distinguished owner of a framed diploma from the Acme School of Transgender Mental Health, let The ENQUIRER in on a shocking fact: Transgender individuals are often drawn to the occult! “I know one who owns a magic store. That’s good enough for me,” said the esteemed expert. Cher, the mother of Chaz and ex-wife of Sonny, is baffled that Chaz wants advice on
masculinity from his father. “Why Sonny? Most of the time I wore the bell bottoms in that relationship,” Cher told an insider, who told the ENQUIRER, which is telling you. Oh, and remember how Cher sadly, desperately, had two ribs surgically removed to make her waist smaller? The ENQUIRER has learned that she plans to put them back in again! Inspired by Chaz’s efforts to be who he really is, Cher has bravely decided to return her rib cage to normal. Meanwhile, all indications are the Sunday-night séances will carry on. The insider who attended three of the sad, heartbreaking events said Chaz has booked Madame Mertzola the medium through the end of the year. “I’m not sure I’m going again,” the insider said. Chaz wants to change up the energy in the room, in case, y’know, any of us are keeping Sonny away. That’s cool with me. Last time when the lights went off I got groped.” The insider hopes Sonny appears, either in body or spirit. “Chaz is cool. He wants this bad. He deserves it. Can I have my check now?” Leslie Robinson lives in Seattle. Email her at lesarobinson@gmail.com, and for more LGBT humor, head to her blog at www.generalgayety.com.
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November 11, 2011
Seattle Gay News 19
queer youth continued from cover
“working hard to find a permanent space” and will continue to do so until they find the right one. However, on Capitol Hill, QYS organizers have found the task easier said than done. It is important to note that the $100,000 awarded to QYS can only be used on Capitol Hill and is not in the form of a physical check that has been given to the organization. In other words, not one dime of the grant has been spent. According to Watson, the money promised to QYS by the City of Seattle will be spent on rent and the upkeep of the physical space once they find it. However, due to the high cost of ground-level property on the Hill and the lack of ADAaccessible buildings, their search continues. “We know that the space we pick has major implications for the durability of our project, so we want to be sure we select one that will allow us to do our best work long into the future,” said Watson. “In particular, ADA accessibility is very important to us, to ensure that we can truly serve all Queer youth in Seattle.” There are currently four locations on the Hill – which QYS officials refuse to name to “respect the landlords” – the group’s organizers say they are serious about. At one point, Watson told SGN, there were talks between QYS and the soon-to-be-vacated spaces that Gay City occupies. “It turns out that a larger part of the building is not accessible for everyone,” said Watson. “Also, the
plan was to move into the space with other partners, but it doesn’t look like all of that would work out.” QYS has until the end of January 2012 before they are faced with having to talk about the status of their money with city of Seattle officials. Still, Watson said, “I think we will find a space. We have several good options. In some ways it is nice to have that January deadline looming to make sure we are staying focused.” In the meantime, QYS officials maintain they “are busier than ever creating temporary Queer youth spaces and preparing the programming and structures” for when their space does finally open. Currently, QYS organizers meet weekly, on Sunday at Kaladi Brothers coffee shop (511 E. Pike St.) at 1 p.m. The meetings are not closed to the public and all are welcome, said Watson. “Our youth organizers are an incredibly diverse group, representing many different backgrounds and skill sets,” said Watson. “We range from about 15 to 23.” “Personally, I have been involved in this project from the beginning, and am now 19 years old,” she said. QYS has been around, in one form or another, for over two years. “Creating Queer youth space outside of bars and clubs is essential, because the possibilities of what we can do with our space are endless,” Watson pointed out. “We can create an art gallery, provide mental health services, give web-design classes, carry out research space … you name it!”
“For a quick laugh,” she added, “imagine doing all of that in a bar.” In fact, QYS had to outline, specifically, what they would like their space to encompass in order to get the grant. Last June, QYS officials said the Queeryouth-led space, under the moniker “Three Wings,” would consist of a Cultural Activism lab to build Queer peer support networks, a Wellness Collaboration to provide critical education and mental-health services, and a Research & Education Institute, which would work to positively impact the policies and cultural practices that negatively impact the community, by developing a think tank that builds leadership and promotes policy and community change through research, education, and advocacy. Although the space would remain open to the public, it would be, first and foremost, a space for youth, led by youth. “There will always be people who doubt what young people can do,” said Watson. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. Together, we have already built something incredible.” There are some unique challenges that QYS has faced, especially aging-out of their constituency. However, said Watson, “In general, we don’t see many people leaving. It’s been really nice to see more and more youth reaching out. We’ve got a lot of youth that are aging-in to our organization as well. It’s really exciting. We’ve maintained a steady number of organizers.” “We have a lot of momentum right now,” concluded Watson. “In taking our time to find the right space we are finding this to be a strength instead of a weakness. It’s exciting that we have this opportunity and we look forward to creating something sustainable. We are going for it and will do what we can to make sure it happens.”
doma
continued from cover V.T.). “They are shunted aside – singled out from all other marriages recognized by their states.” “The federal government should not deny recognition and protection to the thousands of Americans who are lawfully married under their state law,” Leahy added. “We must repeal DOMA to ensure the freedom and equality of all of our citizens.” DOMA repeal now goes to the full Senate for consideration, where even its sponsors acknowledge that it lacks the 60 votes needed to bring it to an up-or-down vote. There are currently 30 Senate co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act, including both of Washington’s senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. Even if the Senate repeals DOMA, the repeal would then need to pass the House of Representatives, which is controlled by Republicans. Republican House Speaker John Boehner has committed House resources to defend DOMA in court and is unlikely to allow repeal to go forward. HRC launched a petition on its website “Tell the Senate: Push Forward DOMA Re-
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peal!” Signers are asked to send email letters to their senators asking them to push for passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. “I and a majority of Americans support the repeal of this law, and I thank you for considering our position at this critical time for the issue of equality,” the letter says. Other LGBT rights groups celebrated the Judiciary Committee’s decision. “Today’s vote represents real progress toward a repudiation of the radically unfair, misnamed Defense of Marriage Act,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry. “We are one step closer to eliminating DOMA’s Gay exception, which unfairly withholds the federal protections and responsibilities of marriage from loving and committed same-sex couples who are legally married.” Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said he was “pleased to see the Respect for Marriage Act move forward in Congress.” “Repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is a cornerstone of the work that remains to finish the job of bringing about full LGBT equality in the military. Whether it’s defeated in the courts or repealed by Congress, SLDN will not rest until this discriminatory law is history,” Sarvis said. “For the first time in history, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to make Gays and Lesbians whole people,” said Rick Jacobs, the chair and founder of the Courage Campaign, an online, grassroots political organization with more than 750,000 members around the country. “This truly historic vote today should never have been necessary because this absurd law should never have been on the books. “This vote marks an important step toward recognizing our common humanity, and moves us closer to ending a grave injustice against thousands of loving, committed couples who simply want to provide and care for each other as other married couples are allowed to do,” the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said in a statement. “It is shocking and an outrage that, in modern-day America, legally married samesex couples are being singled out and selectively denied fundamental rights by their own federal government.”
commitment continued from cover
for rights and benefits. This first-of-its-kind campaign has already enlisted the bipartisan support of prominent political leaders and activists including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D), former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee (I), and former New Jersey Governor and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman (R), among others. Support for same-sex marriage is increasing across the country, as 53% of Americans now support marriage for Gay and Lesbian couples according to Gallup. The recent passage of marriage in New York state potentially signifies a tipping point on the issue. But the next handful of years will put that support to the test in states, in Congress,
www.sgn.org 20 Seattle Gay News
November 11, 2011
Celebrating 38 Years!
and in the courts. “The Commitment Campaign will help to win over soft supporters and skeptical voters in the middle, which Third Way believes will prove to be the key to victory,” said officials. Advocates have long made the case that legalizing marriage for Gays and Lesbians is a matter of equality, but those who frame the issue that way might be reinforcing a belief among many Americans in the middle on the issue that Gays and Lesbians want to marry for different reasons than straight couples, say Commitment Campaign officials. Jonathan Cowan, president of Third Way, said the New York state Assembly’s passage of Gay marriage legislation this year marked a pivotal point and that the issue will be battled in the courts. Winning broad support will be crucial to winning the legal battle, Cowan said. “There is no question when the Supreme Court makes a decision on an important social issue that one of the factors that they look at is where the country is,” he said. “If we stick with a rights-and-benefits framework, we will ultimately not be able to win over enough of the middle of the country that we need to prevail.” Some Gay-rights advocates, including the Human Rights Campaign, have started reframing their messaging. Last month, the group launched an Internet ad campaign in which prominent African-American leaders such as former NAACP leader Julian Bond note that Gay and Lesbian couples “have the same values as everyone else – love, commitment, and stable families.” In addition, Charles Moran, chairman of the California Log Cabin Republicans, said there has been a “fundamental flaw” in the way that the LGBT community has framed the issue in the past, and this, he says, has led to 31 straight defeats in ballot initiatives across the country. “This is a real radical way of changing the approach in communicating why Gay marriage equality is important,” said Moran, who supports the commitment campaign. Maryland Governor O’Malley, who is pushing his state’s legislature to pass marriage in 2012, voiced his support for the effort, saying, “Americans of all walks of life want their children to live in a loving, stable, committed home, protected under the law. By focusing on these values, the Commitment Campaign will help broaden support for marriage across the country and help states like Maryland pass marriage legisla-
tion in the near term.” Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, whose state may also have marriage legislation pending next year, concurred. “Third Way’s Commitment Campaign will play a vital role in helping to move the country towards allowing Gay couples to enter into lasting relationships,” he said. “It will also foster a shift in the way many Americans think about marriage for Gay couples.” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, a leading voice on LGBT issues in the Senate, has also endorsed the campaign’s framework and goals. “Taking this message of commitment to the American people will help us broaden support for marriage nationwide and ensure that other states follow in New York’s footsteps,” she said. And former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman noted the importance of bringing the campaign’s message to Americans across the political spectrum, noting, “Third Way’s Commitment Campaign will be among the most strategic and effective national efforts to broaden support for marriage, with a unique focus on winning over moderates, Independents, conservatives, and Republicans.”
election
continued from cover none have been elected before. All of Seattle’s City Council incumbents, including openly Gay Tom Rasmussen and openly Lesbian Sally Clark, won reelection as expected. The only incumbent who faced a real challenge was Jean Godden, who at press time was leading her opponent Bobby Forch by more than six percentage points. All the other incumbents beat their opponents by two-to-one margins or better. The biggest loser in this election is Mayor Mike McGinn, who has been at odds with the City Council since he took office in January 2010. The relatively easy victory of the incumbent Council members shows that the mayor is unable to mount a serious bid to elect allies to the Council. McGinn can take some comfort in the victory of the Families and Education levy, which he supported. It is intended to raise funds for school improvements and is passing by just under 20 points. Statewide, voters rejected I-1125, the Tim Eyman/Kemper Freeman production that would have crippled mass transit in Washington state. The margin was slim – a mere three and a half percentage points – and the
decisive factor was a huge No vote in King County, with most other counties voting Yes. I-1163, to upgrade training and background checks for home healthcare workers, passed easily. Essentially the same measure passed in 2008, but the legislature refused to budget money to implement it. They are now directed to do so once again. The outcome of the I-1183 campaign proved that you can, indeed, buy an election. Retail giant Costco poured a recordbreaking $22 million into the successful effort to privatize state liquor stores, easily overwhelming the coalition of public safety and retail workers who opposed the measure. Republican agenda defeated Results from other parts of the country showed what a difference a year can make in politics. The 2010 election swept Republicans into control of the U.S. House of Representatives and a number of state governments, but this year voters completely rejected the Republicans’ extremist political agenda. By a 20-point margin, Ohio voters repealed SB 5, the law that would have ended collective bargaining rights for 350,000 public-sector workers. It was a political slap in the face for Republican Governor John Kasich, who made the anti-union measure the centerpiece of his political agenda. In Mississippi, voters defeated the socalled personhood initiative, a measure that would have conferred full legal rights on fertilized human eggs and thus outlawed both abortion and some common birth-control methods. The initiative was rejected by more than 55% of voters, falling far short of the threshold needed for it to be enacted. Democrats also retained control of the Iowa State Senate, when Democrat Liz Mathis defeated Republican Cindy Golding in Iowa’s 18th District. Mathis’s victory means that Democrat Michael Gronstal remains Senate majority leader and will continue to prevent action on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. In a special election in Wisconsin, Democrats prevented Republicans from increasing their slim one-vote majority in the state senate. Democrat Jill Billings beat her Republican opponent for the open seat by an almost three-to-one margin. LGBT candidates elected
A record number of LGBT candidates were elected this year. According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, 53 of the organization’s 75 endorsed candidates won election, with two additional races still undecided. Locally, Ryan Mello was reelected to a full term on Tacoma’s City Council after serving as an appointee to a vacant seat. Also in Tacoma, Anita Latch won election to the city’s Civil Service Commission by a wide margin. Annise Parker, the first openly Lesbian mayor of a major U.S. city, won reelection as mayor of Houston, holding off five challengers to avoid a runoff election. In Holyoke, Massachusetts, Alex Morse, a 22-year-old Gay man, won his first race for public office, ousting a longtime incumbent mayor. Daniel Hernandez, Jr., the openly Gay intern who helped save the life of Rep. Gabrielle Gifford when she was shot at a rally in Arizona, won his first election to the Sunnyside Unified School Board in Pima County, Arizona Other LGBT winners listed by the Victory Fund were: • Zach Adamson becomes the first openly LGBT city councilmember in Indianapolis, Indiana; • Caitlin Copple won a seat on the Missoula, Montana City Council; • Adam Ebbin, a Virginia delegate, now becomes the first openly Gay state senator; • Robin Kniech, becomes the first openly LGBT member of the Denver, Colorado City Council; • Mike Laster becomes the first openly Gay man elected to the Houston, Texas City Council; • LaWana Mayfield will be the first openly LGBT city councilmember in Charlotte, North Carolina; • Chris Seelbach makes history as the first openly LGBT candidate to win a seat on the Cincinnati, Ohio City Council. “The election of Gay and Lesbian candidates in places where they have never won before is a major step forward, and we could not be happier about these victories,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “All of the openly LGBT candidates who stepped up to run for office this year are true leaders who deserve our profound thanks.” Of the 75 candidates endorsed by the Victory Fund in 2011, 46 were non-incumbents, 22 were women, and 15 were people of color.
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November 11, 2011
Seattle Gay News 21
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November 11, 2011
Seattle Gay News 23