SGN Nov 22, 2019 - Part 1

Holiday Special

Seattle Gay News

LGBTQ Victory Institute Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today (November 20, 2019), on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, we mourn. In the United States alone, 22 known transgender and gender non-conforming individuals – almost all of whom were Black trans women – were tragically mur-

dered this year. Targeted because of their identities in what the American Medical Association is categorizing as an “epidemic,” each of these souls were robbed of their right to exist. In a world that far too

Cities’ commitment to LGBTQ equality rising in Trump era

2019 Municipal Equality Index gives us real cause for hope

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 19) – Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute, announced that a record-setting 88

cities across the U.S. earned the highest possible score in the eighth annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI). The MEI is the only nationwide assessment of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law, policy and services.

EQUALITY INDEX page 13 see TDOR page 6

Anti-LGBT hate crimes spike in Washington, FBI says

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

FBI statistics released on Nov.

The FBI bases its annual hate-crimes report on numbers reported to it by state and local law enforcement agencies. Because police agencies are not required to collect data on hate crimes or see HATE CRIMES page 12

Washington cities shine in latest Municipal Equality Index

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 19) – Today the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federation Institute, released its eighth annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), assessing LGBTQ equality in 506 cities across the nation, including 10 in Washington.

WASHINGTON page

A PROCLAMATION FROM THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND RESISTANCE

WHEREAS, the trans community faces ongoing persecution and violence driven by discrimination and bigotry; and

WHEREAS, the Trump administration has attempted to erase trans people from all civil rights protections, further emboldening oppression and violence; and

WHEREAS, in 2018 in the United States, at least 23 transgender people died as a direct result of fatal violence, and 2019 has already seen at least another 28 trans people violently killed; and

WHEREAS, November 20th is widely recognized as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, when community members gather in solidarity and support of those whose lives have been lost, and to continue the fight to build a united movement of the trans community and allies against persecution and oppression; and

WHEREAS, to honor also the active struggle of trans people against persecution, last year in Seattle the community celebrated November 20th as the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resistance. Visible events such as this show solidarity and support for people facing discrimination and isolation, and demonstrates that our community stands against hate and bigotry; and

WHEREAS, the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resistance in Seattle will gather on November 20, 2019 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Seattle Central College Room BE1110; and

WHEREAS, at the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resistance community members will hold a candlelight vigil to read the names of those who've lost their lives to anti-trans hate crimes, and will hear from trans rights activists and organizers about their ongoing struggle against bigotry and violence;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL PROCLAIMS: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019, TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

Transgender Day of Remembrance at Seattle Central

The 2019 Transgender Day of Remembrance at Seattle Central College took place on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 and was hosted by Astro Pittman, Editor-in-Chief, Seattle Collegian and President, Queer Cooperative. The event was coordinated by Morgan Wigmore, Queer Cooperative. Event speakers included: Natalie Star, Trans Rights Activist, Lobbyist, Mentor, Teacher; Taylor Briggs, Scholarship Program Director for GSBA and Trans Advocate/Activist; Jasper Hice, Membership Outreach Co-Chair for HRC Seattle Steering Committee, Teacher, Queer Rights Activist; Honor Love-Lacy, Trans Activist and Seattle Central Student; and Elayne Wylie, Executive Director of Gender Justice League, Filmmaker, Trans Rights Activist, and Trans Pride Seattle Organizer. The event was sponsored by Queer Cooperative of Seattle Central College, with grateful support from HRC Seattle, Gender Justice League, Greater Seattle Business Association, the Sisters Of The Mother House Of Washington, and Seattle Central College. Event photo by Harley Rose.

The power in remembrance

Today (November 20, 2019) is Trans Day of Remembrance, a day when we remember and honor the trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people in our communities whose lives have been taken.

This is a day to honor the trans people we have lost, and then to do everything we can to end this epidemic – the violence, hatred, and systemic discrimination that has resulted in the genocide of Black trans women.

Today we remember. We light candles. We hold dearly to the friends and family we love. We make space to grieve, to heal, to support one another, and to find joy in remembrance. And we take time to tell the stories of our lives.

At Pride Foundation, we believe in the transformational power of stories. They not only help us keep those we‘ve lost close to our hearts, they are also an incredible tool in shifting culture. Every single day, and

particularly today, we commit to doing everything in our power to share the stories of our lives that will help change the culture that is perpetuating this hate and violence. The world as we know it today is not safe for trans people, and particularly for trans women of color. Just so far in 2019, at least 22 transgender people, most of whom were Black transgender women, have been murdered in the United States alone. [https:// www.hrc.org/resources/violence-againstthe-transgender-community-in-2019]

True culture shift means creating space for Black and Indigenous trans people of color to own our stories, and it requires that we do everything we can to lift up stories that build empathy, create understanding, and, ultimately, make the world a safer place for Black trans women.

It also requires that we invest in the leadership of Black trans women, and create spaces for healing and community build-

ing. Over the past year at TRANSform Washington, Pride Foundation’s public education program, we have worked alongside community partners to provide spaces for Black and Indigenous trans people of color to do just that – to vision and dream together of a future where we can all live openly and safely, free from discrimination and violence.

Every day, but especially today, we ask:

What more can we do to remember those we’ve lost?

What more could we be doing to make the world safer for trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people in our communities?

What stories could we be sharing – and what voices are being left out – in the fight to make our world safer for Black trans women?

We encourage you to learn more [https://www.yesmagazine.org/peacejustice/black-trans-women-pay-20191111]

about how to support trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people in our communities. I hope you also read more about every single trans person we have lost this year in the U.S. [[https://www.hrc.org/resources/ violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2019], and take time to envision all that they brought to this world. Trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people deserve to have our lives recognized, valued, and protected. We will stop at nothing to make that happen.

With pride,

Agaiotupu Isyss Honnen (pronouns: she/her/suga –Samoan, feminine)

Director of TRANSform Washington Pride Foundation

Courtesy of Pride Foundation

JAYAPAL STATEMENT ON TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

WASHINGTON, DC (November 20, 2019)

– U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a leading transgender rights voice in Congress, today issued the following statement in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance:

“Jamagio Jamar Berryman

Muhlaysia Booker

Paris Cameron

Ashanti Carmon

Jordan Cofer

Pebbles LaDime ‘Dime’ Doe

Kiki Fantroy

Brianna ‘BB’ Hill

Claire Legato

Brooklyn Lindsey

Chynal Lindsey

Itali Marlowe

Dana Martin

Bailey Reeves

Chanel Scurlock

Tracy Single

Bee Love Slater

Zoe Spears

Denali Berries Stuckey

Bubba Walker

Jazzaline Ware

Michelle ‘Tamika’ Washington

These are the names of the 22 transgender and non-binary individuals – most of them women of color – who have been killed this year, taken from their loved ones and chosen family far too soon.

On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we name and affirm them, we honor their lives, and we recommit to ensuring that all of our friends, family and neighbors can live with pride, dignity, authenticity and hope.

Trans rights are human rights. And even as the Trump administration continues to demean and demonize transgender people, I will use my voice, privilege, and position in Congress to fight for full equality for trans and gender non-conforming people everywhere.

As the proud mother of a gender nonbinary child, I have been witness, from a deeply personal mother’s perspective, to the heavy burden that so many of our children bear. I have also seen the precious

Children’s Rights statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today (November 20, 2019) on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, I wanted to share a statement from Children’s Rights, a leading national child welfare organization, on the importance of affirming and respecting the identities of trans and gendernonconforming children in foster care and other institutional facilities:

Children’s Rights stands with transgender and gender nonconforming people in the fight against hatred that has resulted in the murders of at least 32 transgender people in the United States in 2019.

“I think every day about the transgender youth we have worked with over the years who have been pushed out of child welfare systems, charged as criminals for defending themselves and lost to us through cruelty, homelessness and poverty. The very systems that were meant to protect them exposed them to violence and discrimination. As we mark this solemn day, we renew our commitment to protecting and defending their rights.” – Christina Wilson Remlin, Lead Counsel, Children’s Rights.

Through our work with children in systems of care across the country, we know that TGNC kids in child welfare and juvenile justice systems are uniquely vulnerable

to discrimination, abuse, harassment and neglect. A recent study found that the percentage of transgender youth in foster care is almost five times higher than the rate of transgender youth in the general population; TGNC youth are also similarly overrepresented in our juvenile justice systems. They are sometimes subjected to so-called “conversion therapy” treatment, a dangerous effort that falsely claims to be able to change their gender identity, expression or sexual orientation.

When TGNC youth’s identities are rejected in state care, they are often criminalized for acting in their own self-defense. Without safe foster care placements, and without the vital support of caseworkers and other child welfare professionals, they flee abuse in foster care only to face homelessness and sexual exploitation, and to experience suicidal thoughts. Tragically, the suicide rates for transgender and gender-nonconforming people are much higher than the national averages. And we know those impulses spike when young peoples’ identities are not supported.

As we remember the transgender people we have lost, however, we must not lose heart: we know it is possible for TGNC

freedom that comes from being fully and authentically yourself. Every person should have that freedom to bring all of their creativity, brilliance and self-expression into a world that needs more beauty, hope and love – and those of us who are in positions of power or privilege have a responsibility to protect that freedom.

This Transgender Day of Remembrance, I say to my trans and gender nonconforming constituents, family, friends and neighbors: You are seen. You are loved. And you will not be erased.”

Courtesy of the Office of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Courtesy of Children’s Rights

youth to be affirmed and respected in systems of care. Children’s Rights and other advocates published Safe Havens, a comprehensive profile of organizations across the country that are doing right by TGNC youth. We implore providers to follow their lead to help TGNC people feel the love and affirmation they deserve. In doing so, we will be one step closer to ending the cycle of violence against TGNC communities across the country.

TDOR

continued from cover

often singles out transgender people, it is our duty to remember those lost – and do everything we can to ensure more are not claimed by violence.

Here are the names of those we know we lost this year: Dana Martin. Jazzaline Ware. Ashanti Carmon. Claire Legato. Muhlaysia Booker. Michelle “Tamika” Washington. Paris Cameron. Chynal Lindsey.

Chanel Scurlock. Zoe Spears. Brooklyn Lindsey. Denali Berries Stuckey. Tracy Single. Kiki Fantroy. Bubba Walker. Pebbles LaDime “Dime” Doe. Jordan Cofer. Bailey Reeves. Bee Love Slater. Jamagio Jamar Berryman. Itali Marlowe. Brianna “BB” Hill.

Remember their names.

LGBTQ Victory Institute

Positive Women’s Network USA honors

“Trans Day of

My friends,

As always, I am proud to be an ally of the Positive Women’s Network USA and the constituency they represent. I am especially proud to see this fierce advocacy group pay their respects to Trans Day of Remembrance today (November 20, 2019).

In my new post, I share the PWN statement about this day, as well. as artwork and resources you can share with your community to bring attention to this crucial day. Thanks for reading, and please be well.

Mark S. King

My Fabulous Disease

https://marksking.com/

https://marksking.com/my-fabulousdisease/positive-womens-network-usahonors-trans-day-of-remembrance/

Positive Women’s Network USA Honors “Trans Day of Remembrance”

The Positive Women’s Network (USA) has always stood up for gender expression and equality, and that is especially true of their unyielding support of trans women, a population heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS. Today (November 20, 2019), for Trans Day of Remembrance, PWN has released a statement and information about their vision for trans rights, safety, and justice. Please join me in wholeheartedly supporting their work and their commitment to these crucial issues.

Statement and resources from PWN USA on Trans Day of Remembrance:

Remembrance”

For 20 years, November 20 has been observed as Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR), a day for various communities to come together to honor the lives of transgender people that were lost to violence. PWN-USA envisions and works toward a future in which all people of trans experience are supported to live fulfilling, secure and happy lives, free from all forms of violence, harassment, hostility, or discrimination.

Please join us today, and every day, as we honor our trans and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) siblings who have been killed and traumatized by hate and violence, and in uplifting and celebrating the resilience of the TGNC community.

Please enjoy and share the beautiful Trans Day of Resilience artwork, an annual project from our partners at Forward Together where trans artists imagine free trans futures.

We envision and work toward a future in which all people of trans experience are supported to live fulfilling, secure and happy lives, free from all forms of violence, harassment, hostility or discrimination.

People of trans experience are forced to navigate social and political hostility, prejudice, discrimination and violence that compromise their safety and most basic rights on a daily basis. Since the 2016 election, there have been increased efforts to dismantle protections against discrimination based on gender identity in schools, at work, and in health care facilities. New “religious objection” policies have been proposed and implemented at the federal and state levels, explicitly permitting discrimination against transgender people in all areas of their lives.

Data shows that law enforcement may disproportionately target trans and gender non-conforming people. If incarcerated or

detained, people of trans experience generally do not have access to gender-appropriate facilities, increasing the risk of assault and violence. Gender-affirming care is rarely available in jails, prisons, or detention facilities.

At the federal level, PWN supports: 1. Maintaining Section 1557 of the ACA: Non-discrimination Protections for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

2. Passing the Do No Harm Act

At the federal level, PWN opposes:

1. Religious Exemption Guidance and Laws Granting License to Discriminate

At the state level, PWN supports: 1. Laws Facilitating Gender Marker Corrections on Legal Documents

2. Expanding Gender Identity Options on Legal Documents

3. State and Local Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Laws

4. Policies that Preserve the Dignity of Transgender People in Prisons

At the state level, PWN opposes:

1. State and Local “Bathroom Bills”

Requiring Individuals to Use the Bathroom That Matches Their Sex Assigned at Birth

I applaud, as always, the work of PWN (USA) and hope you will share these resources and artwork on this important day.

Mark S. King My Fabulous Disease https://marksking.com/

Vashon World AIDS Day 2019 Events

Vashon Island, a small island community of 10,000 year-round residents in Washington state, will commemorate International World AIDS Day (December 1) with a series of unique events to engage the community on the issue of AIDS. Proceeds from all ticketed events will go to local and regional non-profits.

“This Is What Activism Looks Like:

The Activist Photography of Dana Schuerholtz”

Vashon Island High School Library (9600 SW 204th St., Vashon)

Month of December

Activists played a key role in changing attitudes, policies, and regulations during the early years of the AIDS epidemic in the US. Ms. Schuerholz was a member of the AIDS activist organization ACT UP. The

will

her

documentary

Vashon Heritage Museum (10105 SW Bank Rd., Vashon)

Opening December 8 @ 6pm

A pop-up photography exhibit and presentation opens as part of the museum’s ongoing “IN and OUT” exhibit. vashonheritagemuseum.org

“The Rest of the Story: HIV and Gender Equality in sub-Saharan Africa”

McMurray Middle School Library (9329 SW Cemetery Rd., Vashon)

Month of December

2019 Seattle Anarchist Book Fair BOOKS

The 2019 Seattle Anarchist Book Fair will be held on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 from 10am to 4pm, inside the Vera Project, located north of Key Arena next to the SIFF Film Center at Seattle Center.

The Seattle Anarchist Book Fair is an annual event, now in its eleventh year, that features anarchist publishers, authors, and projects from around the Pacific Northwest and across North America. The book fair includes talks and workshops about anarchist ideas and current struggles against the state and capitalism.

This November 30th marks 20 years since the 1999 N30 demonstrations against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle. In honor of this, the book fair will host a panel of speakers, several workshops, and an archival exhibit to highlight and learn from 1999.

The second day of the book fair (Sunday, 12/1) will feature a no-commerce social

block in the afternoon from 12-1:30pm, during which book fair organizers will provide a full vegan meal. The entire event is free, all-ages, and open to the public.

From anti-ICE struggles to autonomous disaster relief efforts to anti-fascist organizing, anarchists have been in recent news as political tensions and conflicts have grown and spread. However, anarchism is more than just what is portrayed in the media and has a long and storied past in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Anarchist Book Fair is an opportunity for anyone who has ever wondered about anarchists/anarchism to learn more about anti-authoritarian struggles, pick up some new books, and engage in exciting discussions about radical politics.

For more information, visit www.seattleanarchistbookfair.net.

Courtesy of Seattle Anarchist Book Fair

Globally, 340,000 girls and young women are infected with HIV every year. Girls make up three out of four new infections among children aged 10-19 in subSaharan Africa. Young women in subSaharan Africa are twice as likely to be infected with HIV than young men.

“The Rest of the Story…” is a collaboration between 7th-grade social studies teachers, the school librarian, and two women with extensive experience in Africa. The program looks to assist students in exploring the unique social and cultural challenges of addressing HIV treatment and prevention on the African continent.

Staged Reading of the Play OUT!

Vashon Island High School Theater (9600 SW 204th St., Vashon)

November 29 & 30 @ 7pm

A box of old family photographs prompts an unexpected conversation between an ailing grandfather and his young grandson. OUT!, a new play by Peter Serko, weaves an inspiring tale emerging out of the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, exploring the vital role collective family memory and history play in our lives. OUT! reaffirms the capacity of hope and love to heal, and demonstrates the power four simple words: “listen to your heart” have to transform and inspire. OUT! – Written by Peter Serko –Directed by Chris Boscia – Cast: Dedra Whitt Dakota, Gabriel Dawson, Kevin McMurdo, David Mielke, Cate O’Kane, and Alma Villegas – Tickets: reserved at no charge online, donations accepted at the door – vashonworldaidsday.org

Let’s Dance:

A Musical Tribute To David Bowie Island musicians perform the music of David Bowie Open Space for Arts and Community (18870 103rd Ave SW, Vashon)

December 1 @ 4pm Tickets online and at the door No money, no problem. openspacevashon.com

Vashon World AIDS Day 2019

Partners: Vashon Island School District – Vashon Heritage Museum – IN an OUT: Being LGBTQ on Vashon – Open Space for Arts and Community – The David Serko Project Courtesy of David Serko

Helen Collier reads from her latest book The Unexpected

THE UNEXPECTED BY HELEN COLLIER BOOK READING & SIGNING NEW FREEWAY HALL December 5 @ 7pm

Seattle-based Black author Helen Collier will read from her latest book, The Unexpected. Ms. Collier’s novel centers on the life of a female slave named May Bee in 1842 and the bond she forms with a white college student named Dawn from 2016. Meow, a Southern Louisiana catfish, rises from the depth of rivers to reveal secrets that force Dawn to reexamine her biases and face the truths of slavery in the United States. In these circumstances, the women develop a friendship that forever changes their lives and brings hope to both life past and present.

Ms. Collier’s book invites readers to see the power of female friendship between Black and white women that transcends time. Open discussion following the reading. Advance copies of the book are available.

Thursday, December 5 at 7pm. Dinner served at 6:30 pm for $8.50 donation. New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle. Auspices: Radical Women. Information: 206-722-6057, RWseattle@mindspring. com. Everyone welcome. Call in advance to arrange childcare. Wheelchair accessible. www.RadicalWomen.org

Courtesy of Radical Women

Trans kids: It’s not “just a phase”

UW study finds gender identity equally strong among Trans and cis children

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Gender identity and gender-typed preferences manifest similarly in both cisgender and Transgender children, even among children who recently transitioned, according to a new study conducted by UW researchers.

Children who identify with the gender assigned to them at birth tend to gravitate toward the toys, clothing, and friendships stereotypically associated with that gender. Transgender children do the same with the gender they identify with, regardless of how long they have actually lived as a member of that gender, the researchers found.

These findings contradict the assertion, frequently voiced by religious conservatives, that Transgender children are merely going through a “phase” they will “grow out of” or reject later on in their lives.

The study, published Nov. 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, followed more than 300 Transgender children from across the United States, as well as nearly 200 of their cisgender siblings and about 300 unrelated cisgender children as a control group.

Of the Transgender and cisgender control group participants, about one-third were boys and two-thirds were girls; the average age was eight. Among the cisgender siblings, the average age was also eight, with slightly more boys than girls.

It is the first study to report on all of the participants in the TransYouth Project, launched in 2013 by UW professor of psychology Kristina Olson, and is the largest study of socially-transitioned Trans children in the world.

The children in the study enrolled between the ages of three and 12 and had socially transitioned when they participated. They had changed their pronouns and often their first names, and were dressing and playing in ways associated with a gender other than their assigned sex at birth. None of the children had gender confirmation medical procedures.

For the study, researchers met individually with participants and their parents at participants’ homes, conferences and camps. Participants were asked about specific aspects of life that are typically connected to gender in children – clothing, toys, and friends, for example.

The researchers also evaluated participants’ sense of their own gender identity.

While the team observed some variability in how strong children’s preferences and identities were, the Trans children showed, on average, strong preferences and behaviors associated with their current gender, just as the cis children with whom they were compared.

When asked to identify their gender, an equivalent percentage of cisgender and Transgender children – 83% and 84%, respectively – named their current gender.

Researchers noted, however, that among the youngest participants in all groups, this question often resulted in a less definitive answer, like “I don’t know.”

“Trans kids are showing strong identities and preferences that are different from their assigned sex,” said lead author Selin Gülgöz. “There is almost no difference between these Trans and cisgender kids of the same gender identity – both in how, and the extent to which, they identify with their gender or express that gender.”

Gülgöz added that both Trans and cisgender children appeared virtually identical when it came to their interests.

“The most surprising finding is, overall, just how similar Transgender and cisgender kids looked,” Gülgöz told Newsweek. “What this means is that, if I saw the data of any random participant, I would not be able to tell if that child is Transgender or cisgender.”

Both Trans and cisgender children also showed similar variations in gender expression.

Within both groups, Gülgöz said, “we find a wide range in the strength of their identity and preferences. For example, we had some ‘tomboy’ Transgender girls in the study, just as we had ‘tomboy’ cisgender girls.”

Human Rights Campaign embraces AMA’s new policy opposing conversion therapy and supporting electronic health records

(Tuesday, November 19) Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, responded to the American Medical Association’s adoption of a new policy opposing conversion therapy and supporting electronic health records.

The new policy would:

• Develop model legislation for states to combat conversion therapy as well as advocating for nationwide federal legislation to protect youth from conversion therapy;

report it to the federal government, the FBI totals are not necessarily complete. About 16,000 agencies reported statistics to the FBI for the period 2017-18.

The majority of the reported hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias (59.6%). Additional biases included religion (18.7%), sexual orientation (16.7%), gender identity (2.2%), disability (2.1%), and gender (0.7%).

Hate crimes in general plateaued in Washington from 2017 to 2018, going from 510 to 506 of reported incidents. But the state still had the fourth-highest number of hate crimes nationally, trailing only California, New York, and New Jersey.

While hate crimes overall decreased by one percent, those fueled by sexual orienta-

• Reinforce the importance of electronic health records (EHRs) that contain inclusive information on transgender patients; and

• Ensure that medical students and professionals have a comprehensive understanding of health issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

HRC President Alphonso David said:

“The discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy” poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth.

tion discrimination increased by 30 percent across the state.

“It is unacceptable that hate crimes are at a near all-time high here in the Pacific Northwest and across the U.S.,” said Miri Cypers, Pacific Northwest regional director for the Anti-Defamation League in a news release after the FBI report came out, singling out the increase in sexual orientationrelated hate crimes.

“We will continue to work with elected leaders, community groups, and law enforcement to ensure that individuals are adequately protected from targeted attacks. We will not stop until all communities are safe from hate,” Cypers added.

The 30-percent increase for 2017-18 came on top of a 42-percent jump in Washington anti-LGBT hate crime between 2016 and 2017.

As in the rest of the country, race- or ethnicity-based hate crimes were the most com-

“These new policies from the American Medical Association reaffirm the urgent need to protect LGBTQ youth from this dangerous practice. This policy will also be a critical resource for state legislators across the country as they work toward crafting legislation combating ‘conversion therapy.’

No child should have to endure this painful and life-threatening practice, and we are glad to see the AMA taking seriously the need to protect LGBTQ youth.

“Additionally, inclusive health records that respect the identities of all patients is central to building a health care system that

mon in Washington State. In Seattle – the Washington city with the most hate crimes – 159 of the 291 reported hate crimes were related to race or ethnicity.

Hate crime in Seattle increased at a much faster rate than the population during the 2017-18 period, with the number of hate crimes rising 19.59 percent while the population grew by 2.97 percent. Other reported crimes in Seattle increased by 2.14 percent.

Earlier this year, a report from the Seattle city auditor documented the increase in hate crimes in Seattle. City Councilmember Lisa Herbold asked a University of Washington professor to study the numbers and the cause of increases.

Sociology professor Tim Thomas showed his findings to the Council in June, and one striking discovery was that hate crimes happened often in more diverse neighborhoods.

Thomas told the Seattle P-I website in an interview that this could be representa-

can serve everyone. Improving electronic health records for transgender patients will dramatically enhance the ability of providers to uphold the privacy and dignity of their patients. The voices of medical professionals have long been central to the growing support for LGBTQ-inclusive laws, policies and communities -- these AMA policies continue that trend.”

Courtesy of HRC

tive of the so-called “racial threat theory.” In other words, if a formerly dominant group feels threatened by a minority group, and seeks to reassert social control, hate crimes may be one of the strategies members of the dominant group use to do so.

In Washington, some hate crimes may be classified as felonies. Offenders convicted under “malicious harassment” laws, where bias is the motivation, can receive a more severe sentence than they would for the same crime absent an allegation of bias.

The maximum sentence is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the standard sentence is six months in jail. In Seattle, people can be charged and convicted of gross misdemeanor malicious harassment and face a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

From 2012 to 2017, there were 37 people convicted of malicious harassment on either misdemeanor or felony charges.

Free database of over 180 films and TV shows celebrating transgender lives launched

by Andy Reynolds Popular Publicity for Harrington Park Press

To introduce a free and public database of over 180 films and television shows celebrating the diversity and richness of transgender lives, the author of the first ever

EQUALITY INDEX

continued from cover

Cities and municipalities are meeting and exceeding HRC’s inclusion standards with innovative measures to protect LGBTQ people. The record 88 cities earning the highest score is up from 78 in 2018 and 11 in 2012, the first year of the MEI. And the average score for cities has increased every year President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have been in office – from 57 in 2017 to 60 this year.

“These inclusive and welcoming cities are standing up to the unrelenting attacks on the LGBTQ community by the Trump-Pence administration, and sending a clear message that the fair and equal treatment of our community, our families and our neighbors is a true American value,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “This year’s Municipal Equality Index shows that across the country, city leaders are working tirelessly to ensure that their constituents can secure housing, make a living and participate in community life without being discriminated against because of who they are.”

“And the people overwhelmingly agree with these leaders,” David continued. “Support for nondiscrimination protections to protect LGBTQ people topped 70 percent, which includes a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents. These policies are not only the right thing to do, but they are also critical in driving economic success by attracting residents, visitors and businesses that place a high value on inclusivity.”

Rebecca Isaacs, executive director of Equality Federation Institute, added, “This report on LGBTQ equality at the local level couldn’t be more timely. There are critical decisions being made about our lives at the Supreme Court, in the federal administration and state and local legislative bodies. If they listen to the millions of Americans represented in this report the answer

JAYAPAL STATEMENT ON GORDON SONDLAND TESTIMONY

WASHINGTON, DC (November 20, 2019) – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on the testimony today by Seattle hotelier and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland during the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence’s open hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump:

transgender studies textbook has curated a list of thirteen films featuring transgender subjects, characters or themes.

Visit https://popularpublicity.com/13transgender-films/ to view the list (with film trailers) and database. Includes a link to an HTML doc for easy reposting of the list with the embedded trailers.

should be simple – we need protections for LGBTQ people now.”

“We are proud to partner with HRC on the Municipal Equality Index. It is a powerful tool for elected officials and community leaders to use as they advocate for equality. This marks the third year in a row that the national city score average increased, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that number continues to grow. It’s time for leaders at every level to take a stand and demand that no one be treated differently because of who they are, where they live, or who they love,” said Isaacs.

This year’s report also includes two new issue briefs for policymakers: “Achieving a Healthier, Stronger Workforce Through Inclusive Paid Leave” and “Expanding PrEP Access to Help End the HIV Epidemic.”

Since the MEI’s debut in 2012, the number of cities earning the highest score has increased by more than eightfold, and today at least 25 million people live in cities that have more comprehensive, Trans-inclusive non-discrimination laws than their state.

Progress on Transgender equality has been particularly noteworthy in cities across the U.S. this year, continuing a positive trend that the MEI has tracked – and encouraged – since 2012. Trans-inclusive health care benefits are offered to employees of 164 municipalities this year, up from 147 in 2018, 111 in 2017 and just five in 2012. The MEI’s Issue Brief on Transgender-Inclusive Health Benefits is available here: https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/ resources/MEI-2014-TransInclusiveHealthBenefits.pdf.

Other key findings from the 2019 Municipal Equality Index include:

• Norman, Oklahoma, and Overland Park, Kansas, enacted LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances covering private employment, housing and public accommodations;

• As of this report, 28 MEI-rated cities have local anti-conversion therapy protec-

“Gordon Sondland’s bombshell testimony today further corroborated the facts and evidence the House has already gathered through our impeachment inquiry. One by one, we have seen career civil servants, a decorated military officer, and now a Trump appointee – who gave $1 million to Trump – all saying the President directed efforts to pressure a foreign ally to dig up dirt on a political opponent.

WASHINGTON

continued from cover

The Municipal Equality Index, the only nationwide assessment of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy, shows that cities across the country, including here in Washington, continue to take the lead in supporting LGBTQ people and workers, even in the face of renewed attacks this year on the LGBTQ community by federal officials and those of many states.

The average score for cities in Washington is 81 out of 100 points, well above the national average of 60.

Here are the 10 Washington cities ranked by HRC/EFI, and their scores:

tions in states with no state-level protections;

• For the third year in a row, every 100point city had LGBTQ police liaisons. In keeping with findings from previous years, cities with LGBTQ liaisons scored nearly twice as high as cities without LGBTQ liaisons; and

• MEI-rated cities in every region of the country experienced mean score increases.

Despite the fact that local leaders continue to lead the way on LGBTQ equality, there remains an unacceptable patchwork of laws for LGBTQ people across the country. This reinforces the need for the federal Equality Act, bipartisan legislation passed by the U.S. House that would provide consistent and explicit nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

The MEI rated 506 cities including the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the U.S., the five largest cities or municipalities in each

“Sondland also corroborated under oath what President Trump and Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney have admitted to: There was a quid pro quo. He so clearly painted a picture of President Trump using American foreign policy as leverage to further his own personal and political interests.

“The President of the United States inviting a foreign ally to interfere in our elections – using taxpayer dollars as hostage – is a gross abuse of power and a betrayal of our Constitution, values and national security. My Republican colleagues shift their defense of President Trump on a daily basis, but the stark reality is that there is no defense of the President’s conduct.”

Courtesy of the Office of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Bellevue – 100

Bellingham – 50 Kent – 80

Olympia – 100 Pullman – 56

Seattle – 100

Spokane – 67

Tacoma – 98

Vancouver – 65 Vashon – 94

The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city, as well as a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.

Courtesy of Human Rights Campaign

state, the cities home to each state’s two largest public universities, 75 municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples and 98 cities selected by HRC and Equality Federation state group members and supporters. It assesses each city on 49 criteria covering citywide nondiscrimination protections, policies for municipal employees, city services, law enforcement and the city’s leadership on LGBTQ equality.

The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city, as well as a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Courtesy of Human Rights Campaign

World AIDS Day Event

Sunday, December 1, 4pm Hugo House 1634 11th Ave, Seattle

The AMP: AIDS Memorial Pathway invites you to commemorate World AIDS Day with us.

Attendees are welcome to arrive at 3:30pm to meet the artists commissioned for The AMP and see artwork concepts that will be shown to the public for the first time.

The short program starts at 4pm, and will include videos and community members sharing more about the AIDS Memorial Pathway.

It will conclude at 5pm after a musical performance and procession to the future site of The AMP for a communal moment of silent reflection and remembrance.

Please RSVP with a response to our Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/ events/1011221389221825/

Or you can email your RSVP to: info@theamp.org

This event will be ASL Interpreted.