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Issue 42 Volume 38

Celebrating 37 Years!

FRIDAY October 15, 2010 FREE! 25¢ in bookstores & news stands

The 2010 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival see Section 2 for full reviews of featured films &

festival highlights!

Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

Federal judge stops Belgrade Pride attacked as antiDADT enforcement Gay protesters battle 5,000 police by Andy Harley Courtesy of UK Gay News

There was tight security at the October 10 Belgrade Pride – the first since 2001, which saw participants violently attacked by farright homophobic elements. And the result was that Gay Pride went ahead peacefully, with some 1,000 taking part in the march through a small part of the centre of the Serbian capital. However, there were violent clashes elsewhere in the city. The undisputed stars of the show were the reported 5,000 police officers who kept the anti-Gay protesters from the far-right wing – and mostly young men – at least two blocks away from the march. It was apparent that the protesters took no notice of government appeals for no violence as the police came under attack from the thugs who hurled petrol bombs, bottles, and bricks. And the police retaliated with tear gas to disperse attackers. Early reports say that at least 40 police officers were injured – one of them seriously. The figure was later put at 124 police officers and 17 rioters. All told,

uk gay news

gavel grab

U.S. military to stop enforcing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy – putting, for now, an end to the ban on openly Gay troops. The judge, a Clinton appointee based in the Central District of California, previously ruled that the policy violated servicemembers’ Fifth Amendment rights to due process and freedom of speech, but had delayed issuing the injunction. “The act known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ infringes the fundaJudge Virginia Phillips mental rights of by Shaun Knittel the United States servicemembers SGN Associate Editor and prospective servicemembers and violates (a) the substanOn October 12, U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ordered the see dadt page 19

Belgrade Pride

207 people were detained by the three security checks in the space police, with 100 remanded into of some 750 meters. Such was the custody for violent behavior and security. looting. The protesters, who had plasGetting to the area where Pride was staged required going through see belgrade page 20

Six political races to watch “We give a damn!” Entertainers send clear message

cyndilauper.com

counties now have all mail-in voting. Pierce County still maintains in-person poll sites. To be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before election day, November 2. While all races are important, and many of them will be hotly contested, these six are especially by Shaun Knittel important to the LGBT commu- SGN Associate Editor nity’s political future. Get informed. Get inPatty Murray vs volved. Give a damn! That’s Dino Rossi, U.S. Senate the message that Cyndi LauDemocratic incumbent Senator per and a number of celebriPatty Murray is the co-sponsor of a ties are spreading in a new number of LGBT rights measures campaign to help support – including the Military Readiness LGBT equality. Enhancement Act to repeal Don’t The Give a Damn CamAsk Don’t Tell, and ENDA (the paign is a project of the True Employment Non-Discrimination Colors Fund, founded by Act). Cyndi Lauper. The True ColMurray also co-sponsored the ors Fund works to inspire and Matthew Shepard and James Byrd engage everyone, especially Jr. Hate Crimes Act in 2009, and the straight community, to has consistently voted to fund fed- get involved in the advanceCyndi Lauper is an outspoken eral HIV/AIDS programs. ment of LGBT equality. As supporter of LGBT issues. Her Republican opponent, Dino an advocate for more than Rossi, says Don’t Ask Don’t Tell 25 years, Cyndi has worked Issues”: workplace discrimination, “seems to have been working,” to bring her straight peers on board hate crimes, military, marriage, so he sees no need to repeal it. He in support of equality. As she says, youth suicide, school safety, youth has not yet revealed his position on “If one of us is not equal, none of homelessness, older adults, faith, ENDA or other pro-Gay legislation us are.” parenting, health care, and immibeing considered by the Senate. The multi-media project, con- gration. His record as a state senator sisting of video messages by ceUnder each Damn Issues tab on might be instructive, however. lebrities and tools for the Gay the website, users can read about In the state senate, Rossi co- community and their allies to un- the issue, get important informaderstand and “give a damn” about tion on the topic, and, most imLGBT equality issues, is very ensee races page 20 gaging. The site lists the “Damn see entertainers page 21

file photos

Democratic Senator Patty Murray (l) and Republican Dino Rossi will be squaring off in the race for Washington state senator.

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer As Washington voters begin filling out their ballots this week, the stakes are high. One of Washington’s U.S. Senate seats is up for election, as are all nine of its U.S. House seats. All 98 members of the state House are up for election, and 25 of the 49 state Senate seats. A swing of seven state Senate seats and 13 state House seats

would shift control of the legislature from the Democratic Party to the Republicans. In addition, three state Supreme Court Justices are up for reelection. All of them voted against marriage equality in the Andersen case, but only one of them will have an opponent in the election. According to King County Elections, general election ballots will be mailed to the state’s voters starting October 13. Thirty-eight of Washington’s 39

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2010

Deadlines Classiﬁeds - Thursday at noon Calendar - Tuesday 6pm Display Ads: Space Reservation - Monday 5pm Ad copy (non-camera ready) - Tues. 5pm Ad copy (camera ready) - Wed. 5pm Letters to the Editor - Tuesday 5pm Obituaries - Call the sGn ofﬁce All others - Tuesday 5pm

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

Contributing Writers

Rev. Barbara Allen, Mike Andrew, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Jessica Davis, Ron Anders, Jessica Price, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Keen News Service, Jason A. Miller, Liz Meyer, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, Richard Kennedy, Romeo San Vicente, Rex Wockner

Classiﬁeds Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon Photographers Nick Ardizzone, Joseph P. Herron, Shaun Knittel, James Whitely National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Website Designer Barry Thorsness/Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by JT&A, Inc. © 2010, JT&A, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission.

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

Seattle Gay News

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor In a study released this week, the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the UCLA School of Law found that only one third of adults who admit to having same-sex sexual experiences identify as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual (LGB). While 3% of adults identify as LGB, an additional 6% identify as heterosexual but say that they had same-sex sexual partners since age 18. “These provocative findings demonstrate the challenge in understanding the complex relationship between sexual orientation identity and behavior,” said the study’s author and Williams Institute distinguished scholar, Dr. Gary Gates. “Given that nearly half of Americans still believe that homosexual relationships are morally wrong, it is not surprising to find ambiguity between how people behave sexually and how they identify their sexual orientation.” According to Dr. Gates, the study analyzes data from the 2008 General Social Survey (GSS), conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. The GSS has monitored social and demographic changes in the U.S. since 1972. The 2008 GSS marks the first time that survey participants were asked about their sexual orientation. Prior surveys had only asked about same-sex sexual behavior. The 2008 survey also includes a module of questions designed by Williams Institute scholars that ask sexual minorities about their experiences of coming out, relationship status and family structure, workplace and housing discrimination, and health insurance coverage. Findings from the new GSS report focus on the coming-out experiences and the demographic characteristics of sexual minorities who identify as LGB or report same-sex sexual behavior. Analyses show that although 90% of LGB people are out about their identity to other people, only 25% report being out to all of their coworkers in the workplace. “Fear of discrimination in the workplace is still common among LGB persons,” observed Dr. Gates. “Many more are open

October 15, 2010

about their sexual orientation to friends and family than to their work colleagues.” The study also highlights how Bisexuals differ in several ways from those who identify as Gay or Lesbian, including being less likely to be out and more likely to be women and racial or ethnic minorities. Other findings from the study include: • In adults, 1.7% self-identified as Gay or Lesbian, and 1.1% self-identified as Bisexual. • More than three in four LGB adults say that they were first attracted to someone of the same-sex before they were 18 years old. • Women are more likely than men to be LGB (4.6% vs. 2.9%). They are twice as likely to be Bisexual than men (1.9% vs.

The Williams Institute of Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy advances law and public policy through rigorous, independent research and scholarship, and disseminates its work through a variety of education programs and media to judges, legislators, lawyers, other public policy makers, and the public.

Stonewall veteran Raymond Castro dies

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Stonewall veteran Raymond Castro has died at the age of 68, according to a report from GLAAD. While he never sought the fame that Raymond Castro in the 1960s surrounded other Stonewall figures like Sylvia Rivera, Castro was central to the events that launched the modern Gay Liberation movement. On June 27, 1969 Castro was arrested by New York City police inside the Stonewall Inn. He was, according to GLAAD, the only arrestee who was publicly Gay. As two officers led Castro out of the bar, the crowd gathering outside began to chant “Let him go! Let him go!” When the officers tried to load him into courtesy raymond castro

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.

Study shows 9% have LGB experience, but only 3% identify

0.7%, respectively). • Younger people are more likely to be LGB. A total of 7.2% of those aged 18-30 are LGB, compared with 3.8% of those aged 30-54 and only 1.4% of those aged 55 and older. • Gay men and Lesbians are more likely than Bisexuals to be out to at least some people (96% vs. 75%, respectively). • Older people are much more likely to be in the closet. Adults over the age of 55 are 83 times more likely than those under 30 to have never come out to another person. • Bisexuals are more likely to be a racial/ ethnic minority than heterosexuals, Gay men, or Lesbians. More than half of Bisexuals are non-white compared to approximately 30% of heterosexuals, Gay men, and Lesbians. The racial and ethnic characteristics of Gay men, Lesbians, and heterosexuals are similar to each other.

a waiting patrol van, he pushed against it with both feet, knocking the officers to the ground, thus becoming the first to resist arrest. Although he was taken into custody, Castro was later released without charges. Like many of the Stonewall rebels, Castro was born in Puerto Rico. He came to the U.S. when he was 5. After the riots, he became a baker and wedding cake designer and moved to Florida with his husband Frank. They were together for 31 years. “I’ve always lived a quiet life. I was not a partygoer,” Castro told the New York Daily News at this year’s Pride celebration. “I had no idea that I was going to be involved in history-making. ... I would do it all over again.” While he was never a political activist after that night in 1969, Castro always kept a sense of his role in Gay history. “A lot of people, especially the young ones, have no inkling what Stonewall is. They think Gay Pride is just a big party,” Castro said. “None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for 1969.”

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

October 15, 2010

Seattle Gay News

October 15, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

October 15, 2010

Seattle Gay News

October 15, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

NORTHWEST

NEWS

compiled by Rick McKinnon SGN Staff Writer

NEW CLASSICS THEATRE PRESENTS A DROPPED STITCH On Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16, New Classics Theatre presents A Dropped Stitch, a new play written and directed by local playwright Jeff Stilwell, at New Space Theatre (17517 15th Ave. NE #202, Shoreline). Show at 8 p.m., tickets $20. The four-person farcical play deals with gender roles and features the over-the-top catalyst character The Metro - a metrosexual neighbor - along with mother/daughter pair and Bertram, a friend of the family. The role of Bertram is performed by Robert Geller, former SGN contributing book review writer and the one and only track announcer at Emerald Downs, Seattle’s horse racing track. As one of the more accomplished announcers in the industry, he was featured in a recent book They Call the Horses by Edie Dickenson. COMING OUT DAY WORSHIP SERVICE On Friday, October 15, at 6 p.m., University Baptist Church and University Christian Church will host a Coming Out Day Worship Service: Blessing the Journey of LGBTQ Individuals and their Allies at University Christian Church (4731 15th Ave. NE). The service celebrates the sacred act of coming out, recognizing that when we tell our stories, when we come out, God celebrates and rejoices with us. For more information, contact Rev. Jamie Haskins at jamie@uchristian.org. MEN IN DANCE AGAINST THE GRAIN From Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 17 at 2 p.m. at Broadway Performance Hall (1625 Broadway Ave.), Men in Dance present the 8th Festival of Against the Grain. Against the Grain is a festival that showcases a diverse group of talented choreographers and male dancers from Seattle and beyond. It was originally conceived in 1994 by a small but dedicated group of male dancers and choreographers seeking a vehicle that would highlight their specialty and uniqueness. Approximately one in 10 dancers in our North American culture is male. As the minority in this profession, men have sometimes struggled to find their voice. This festival allows them the camaraderie and the opportunity to celebrate their art with pride while serving as a diversified role model for the male dancers of tomorrow. This powerful showcase features the best and brightest of Seattle choreographers, both male and female. They represent a broad cross-section of dance, from the world of classical ballet, to the most current contemporary techniques and ideas. For tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets. com. SEATTLE LESBIAN & GAY FILM FESTIVAL OCTOBER 15-24 www.threedollarbillcinema.org SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: TURKFEST On Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Seattle Center Pavilion (Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St.), join Seattle Center Festál: TurkFest for an exciting weekend of culinary, visual and performing arts – including Turkish food and food demonstrations, photography exhibit and paper marbling workshop, costume and fashion show, Mavi Dance and Sufi dance performances, traditional and contemporary music. For more information, visit www.seattlecenter.com. DUNSHEE HOUSE FALL CRAFTS FAIR On Saturday, October 16 from noon-4 p.m. at Dunshee House (303 17th Ave.), Dunshee House will hold their Fall Crafts

Fair, featuring handmade items crafted by local artists. Join this special fall event and get a chance to win a gift basket for a $1 donation raffle ticket. All proceeds go to Dunshee House. For more information, visit www.dunsheehouse.org. SEATTLE WOMEN’S CHORUS’ WE ARE FAMILY CONCERT On Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Benaroya Hall (3rd Ave. & Union St.), Seattle Women’s Chorus celebrates its eighth season with a concert showcasing the full range of family connections. We Are Family features segments of Rosie O’Donnell’s HBO documentary film A Family Is a Family Is a Family, complemented by a delightful collection of choral music, performed by one of the finest women’s choral ensembles anywhere. Songs include Broadway selections by Sondheim and Rodgers & Hammerstein, original compositions, ballads by Holly Near, classic pieces like “Everything Possible,” and well-known pop numbers like “We Are Family.” With or without your own family in tow, it’ll be a great time. Tickets $20 to $50 are available by calling (206) 388-1400 or at flyinghouse.org. Tickets are 2-for-1 when you call the box office noon to 7 p.m. and use the password “Rosie.” In addition, through their Youth Ticket Program, all children in your family under the age of 21 can receive a complimentary ticket to attend the concert with you. MUSIC OF REMEMBRANCE: SPARKS OF GLORY On Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m. at Seattle Art Museum (1300 1st Ave.), Music of Remembrance presents Sparks of Glory: Art and Defiance. At MOR’s acclaimed outreach series, artistic director Mina Miller uses examples from SAM’s Picasso exhibition to examine the power of art and music to speak against oppression. Pablo Picasso’s life and his art reflect his passionate engagement with the events and forces that transformed the world during his lifetime. The musical program includes Paul Schoenfield’s “Sparks of Glory” (narrated by Erich Parce), Erwin Schulhoff’s “Duo,” and Ernest Bloc’s “Nigun,” performed by violinist Marie Rossano. Free to the public. For more information, visit www.musicofremembrance.org. VOICES RISING PRESENTS D’FAQTO LIFE On Saturday, October 16 at 3 p.m. at Washington Hall (153 14th Ave.), Voices Rising presents D’Lo with Militant Child and DJ B-Girl, and special host Crystal Ybarra. Described as a “jolt of creative and comedic energy,” D’Lo is a Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre artist/writer, music producer and director. Using excerpts from D’s different solo shows, D’FaQTo Life (pronounced “de facto”) is a roller-coaster ride of emotions with stories executed through stand-up, spoken word/ poetry, and theater. D’Lo explores topics relating to South Asia and Transgender social justice from the perspective of being a child of immigrant parents, raised in hip hop culture while trying to negotiate how identifying as “Queer” intersected with a passion to create political art. Soul speech is all local hip-hop artist Militant Child claims. Heavily influenced by the Black Baptist tradition, she is a self described blaspheme and militant – no white Jesus, no hetero, and no snitchin’. She rocks her unique brand of hip hop and poetry, popping with freedom beats up and down the West Coast. Militant Child does her thing! Tickets $10-$25, available at www. brownpapertickets.com.

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MURDER CITY DEVILS, PAST LIVES, COLD LAKE PERFORM AT BENEFIT CONCERT

On Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. at Showbox at the Market (1426 1st Ave.), The Murder City Devils with Past Lives and Cold Lake will perform a benefit concert (to benefit Lifelong AIDS Alliance). Tickets $30 online at Ticketmaster.

inline skate rental $4, or bring your own skates. Entry $8 at the door, $5 kids under 18. For more information, visit www.gayskateseattle.com or e-mail info@gayskateseattle.com.

RAINBOW CITY BAND PRESENTS AN EVENING OF DISNEY MUSIC On Saturday, October 16 at 8 p.m. at the Edmonds Center for the Arts (410 5th Ave. N., Edmonds), join Rainbow City Band for an evening of princes, Dalmatians, beauties, and beasts, as we celebrate 80 years of Disney music. You’ll be a kid at heart once again as you hear the 75-piece concert band perform “When You Wish upon a Star,” and leave you breathless with the sweeping melodies of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” The band will also explore the Disney of today with a suite of music from the movie Enchanted, and you can discover your inner superhero with the music of The Incredibles (cape and matching boots optional). The evening gets more magical when RCB’s own Purple Passion Swing Band takes to the stage with several toe-tapping numbers to make your heart sing. Tickets $25, $10 for children under 12. For more information or tickets, visit ec4arts.org.

NORTHWEST NETWORK’S QUEER PARENT NETWORKING DINNER On Thursday, October 21 from 6-8 p.m. at El Centro de la Raza (2524 16th Ave S.), the Northwest Network will hold their a monthly dinner to meet other LGBTQ families and parents and talk about parenting and other issues that are affecting your lives. Open to all Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian, Gay, TwoSpirited, Queer, and Questioning families, including co-parents, and people who have a significant role in the life of a child. For more information, visit www.nwnetwork.org. FAITH TRIPTYCH AT ON THE BOARDS From Thursday, October 21 to Sunday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. at On the Boards (100 West Roy St.), On the Boards (OtB) is pleased to present Pat Graney Company’s Faith Triptych, a mini-retrospective of Graney’s career including three of her most iconic works, Faith (1991), Sleep (1995), and Tattoo (2001). Reconceived and remounted to be performed side-by-side, Faith Triptych is a unique opportunity to see the archetypal NW dance that Graney has honed throughout her 30 year career and to watch the development of her craft over the course of the decade the triptych took to create. General admission $20 at ontheboards.org.

SEATTLE RED DRESS PARTY The 3rd Annual Seattle Red Dress Party will be held on Saturday, October 16, from 8 p.m.-2 a.m., at Fremont Studios, 155 N. 35th St. Gaysha Starr hosts, with DJ Brian Gorr and special performance by Shokra. Tickets are $40-advance; $50-at the door; VIP $80-advance; $100 at the door (limited quantity available). Must be 21+ to attend. MARCH AND RALLY Proceeds benefit local non-profits that care AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY for people living with HIV and AIDS. Red On Friday, October 22, at 5 p.m. at Seattle dress required; attitude optional. www.seatCentral Community College (Broadway tlereddressparty.org & Pine), the 15th Annual National Day of EMERALD CITY MCC SEATTLE’S Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation will COMING OUT TO YOUR be held. Rally starts at 5:30 p.m., followed FRIENDS AND FAMILY by a march downtown to sites of police bruWORKSHOP On Sunday, October 17 from 12:30-4 p.m. tality and murder. Wear black to remember at UW Wesley Club, George Russel Hall the stolen lives from police brutality and to Suite 202 (1414 NE 42nd St.), Emerald City support families who have lost loved ones to MCC Seattle will hold a free Coming Out police brutality. Seattle area has had several to Your Friends and Family workshop for high profile cases. Police brutality occurs youth and young adults. Co-sponsored by every day across this country and hundreds UW Wesley Club and Emerald City Metro- of people are killed by law enforcement every year. Be there! Stand together to say politan Community Church Seattle. For more information call Rev. Ray Neal, “Enough is enough!” For more information, call (206) 264Emerald City MCC Seattle, at 206-3252421 or revray@comcast.net, or Rev. Amy 5527 or e-mail oct22seattle@hotmail.com. Wyatt, Wesley Club, wesleyuw@gmail.com LOW INCOME HOUSING or 206-632-5210. INSTITUTE 8TH ANNUAL AUCTION AND DINNER NORTHWEST NETWORK’S On Friday, October 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the EXPLOITATION AND SEX WORK Hyatt at Olive 8 (1635 8th Ave.), the Low NAVIGATION TRAINING On Monday, October 18 from 1-5 p.m. Income Housing Institute (LIHI) will hold at the 2100 Building (2100 24th Ave.), the its 8th Annual Auction and Dinner. Event Northwest Network will hold training for proceeds will benefit LIHI’s Homeless Suptheir program “Prostitution, Exploitation portive Housing Programs and the Urban & Sex Work: Navigating Multiple Frame- Rest Stop. Tickets are $100, or $1,000 for works with Queer & Trans Youth.” This a table of 10. For more information, visit training is for anyone interested in learn- www.urbanreststop.org. ing more about support for Lesbian, Gay, LAST DANCE Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Questioning REMEMBERING OLYMPIA 18 youth who exchange sex for money, clothKRISTIN DIOR ing, drugs, a place to stay, or other survival On Saturday, October 23 at 6 p.m. at needs. We will look at and unpack some of the many frameworks used to address these Neighbours Nightclub (1509 Broadway), experiences including commercial sexual the 18th Annual Remembering Olympia exploitation of youth, human trafficking, 18 Kristin Dior Last Dance show and fundsurvival sex, sex work, and youth in pros- raiser will be held. Performances by special titution. Our goal is to help equip advocates guests from throughout the Northwest. Siand youth workers with the skills to help lent auction, live auction, and raffle. Proceeds to benefit Bailey-Boushay support LGBT youth in their own self-determination and resiliency. We will be explor- House Day Health Program. Presented by ing topics around youth self-determination, Pennies From Heaven and Sahara Dior D. specific support for Trans youth, exploita- Suggested donation $10. tion vs. choice and harm reduction. EX-GAY NO WAY AUTHOR Pre-registration is required. We expect TO SPEAK AT MCC SEATTLE this training to fill up and it’s recommended On Sunday, October 24 at 11 a.m. at that you register as soon as you know you’re able to attend. To register, go to www.sur- Emerald City MCC Seattle in the Chapel of University Temple United Methodist veymonkey.com/s/B3RH26D. Church (1415 NE 43rd St.), Jallen Rix, author of Ex-Gay No Way, will speak about GAY SKATE PARTY On Wednesday, October 20 from 7-10 his devastating journey through the ex-Gay p.m. at Skate King Bellevue (2301 140th world and what he did in the aftermath to Ave. NE), Skate King holds their monthly reintegrate positive sexuality with healthy Gay Skate Party. Regular skate rentals free, spirituality.

October 15, 2010

Seattle Gay News

The African adventure continues in Mozambique It’s always amazing to feel sad when leaving – we really enjoyed Tofo in southwestern Mozambique, the beauty, the beaches, the whale sharks, and John’s Place. We were on our way to Mampula via Inchope. It was a long trip – we thought it would take two to four days. We took the ferry from Inhambane to Maxixe, where the main highway was. We arrived in Inchope about 8 p.m. in the darkness and were let off at the highway junction in the town. When we walked into a

small restaurant to ask where we could find a room. There were lots of little rooms available, cheap (MT 200, or about $6.50) with no running water. The prostitutes seemed to never give us a second glance. The toilet room was more like northern Africa, with a real bowl toilet that you could not sit on,

The federal Justice Department announced on October 12 that it was appealing a U.S. District Court decision that DOMA is unconstitutional. Federal Judge Joseph Tauro ruled on July 8 that Section 3 of DOMA violates the 10th Amendment, as well as the Equal Protection, Due Process, and Spending clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Tauro’s decisions came in two Massachusetts cases, Gill v. Office of Personnel Man-

Seattle Gay News

pected. “We fully expected an appeal and are more than ready to meet it head on,” Mary L. Bonauto, GLAD’s Civil Rights project director, said in a statement after the appeal was announced. “DOMA brings harm to families like our plaintiffs every day, denying married couples and their children basic protections like health insurance, pensions, and Social Security benefits. We are confident in the strength of our case.” GLAD (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders) represented the plaintiffs in Gill. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize samesex marriages in 2004. State Attorney General Martha Coakley said she would defend the U.S. District Court ruling at the appeals court. “DOMA is an unjust, unfair, and unconstitutional law that discriminates against Massachusetts married couples and their families,” she said in a statement. The notice of appeal filed by the Justice Department means that the record of the trials in District Court will be sent to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Once the record is complete, the Justice Department will have 40 days to file its brief. Then GLAD or the state of Massachusetts – depending on the case – will then have 30 days to file its own brief.

The Justice Department then has 14 days to file a reply brief. At that point, the appeal will be scheduled for oral argument. Briefing could be concluded by the spring of 2011 with oral argument to follow by the fall of 2011. DOMA was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 1996. President Obama has said he opposes DOMA, but believes his administration is required to uphold existing federal law. “As a policy matter, the president has made clear that he believes DOMA is discriminatory and should be repealed,” said Justice Department spokesperson Tracy Schmaler. “The Justice Department is defending the statute, as it traditionally does when acts of Congress are challenged.” The White House declined to comment on the appeal. Human Rights Campaign spokesman Michael Cole said in an e-mail published in Metro Weekly, “While most advocates including GLAD expected the administration would appeal the DOMA cases, we remain disappointed and frustrated that they continue to defend a law that serves no purpose but to harm our families. However, GLAD and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley have already made an unassailable case against DOMA. We are confident they will prevail.”

with a bucket of water beside it to flush. The shower used the same water bucket. Our room was bug-free, and we slept in our own sheets and actually did quite well. We were up at 5:30 and on our way up the highway to the waiting “Mampula Express.” My heart missed a beat. The windows were dirty and the paint had been removed from most of them. It must have been 30 years old. Suddenly one window slid open and a blondish German woman waved at us. I was delighted. We had met the two women at the Base Backpackers in Maputo. At least Louis might be more willing or able to handle our

transportation for the day. It was like riding an old, broken school bus. The seats had worn out and a big metal bar pushed against our lower backs. We were lucky that everyone was able to have a seat. It was the fastest, scariest bus ride I have had in many decades of travel on any continent.

Justice department appeals DOMA ruling by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Often I thought we could tip over. How that old bus held together over incredible bangs and bumps, I don’t know. (We later found that our computer was not so lucky.) We tried to spend the night in a “recommended” hotel from the Lonely Planet guide, the Brazilian Hotel, but everything was broken in the rooms and the woman at the front desk wasn’t interested in negotiating. We walked up the street to the Monte Carlo, where we spent two nights. The next morning, we got on the bus to Mozambique Island. We got to the one-lane bridge which led from the mainland out to the island. Only chapas (or vans) could cross the narrow bridge, so we had to unload and reload into the back of a truck. The ride over the bridge was impressive and we gasped in enthusiasm looking at the typical blue-green water and the long tidal flat. Then there was

All photos by Barry Thorsness

by Barry Thorsness SGN African Correspondent

Makuti town where the locals lived, looking somewhat like the “townships” in South Africa, but with a more African look. Then there was “Stone Town,” the UNESCO Heritage site, with all the incredible buildings from the early 16th century, many in almost ruinous condition but still showing the excitement and architecture of a recently bygone era. We soon arrived at Casa Luis. Casa Luis was a great choice for a place to stay. Luis was a very outgoing man. He easily befriended us and loved to chat. Mozambique was the first experience Louis had with the regular Muslim calls to prayer, day and night, from the nearby mosque. Every morning before sunrise, we were woken by the loudspeakers from minaret. In its earlier days, the island had been very important to the Arab traders. It was then an important town and defensive fort for the Portuguese. It was also a center for the slave trade. It now has a large local population, most of it probably under the age of 30 (the average lifespan is only 41 years old here). Walking around on the island was a treat, day or night. You felt safe and the locals were friendly. The kids follow you around and they thrill at seeing their pictures on your camera screen. They play with you, dance for you, and just plain make your stay feel so like so much fun. There are many interesting bars and restaurants. We worked out our plans to go to Nampula, and got ready to leave the next morning.

agement and Massachusetts v. Department of Health and Human Services. One of the challenges to DOMA was brought by several same-sex couples, including U.S. Postal Service employee Nancy Gill, who could not obtain healthcare coverage for her wife, Marcelle Letourneau. The other was brought by the state of Massachusetts, asserting that the federal DOMA usurped its right to define marriage, and deprived some of its legally married citizens of benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled. The Justice Department appeal was ex-

October 15, 2010

DOMA brings harm to families like our plaintiffs every day, denying married couples and their children basic protections like health insurance, pensions, and Social Security benefits. We are confident in the strength of our case.

Celebrating 37 Years!

SGN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Speaking in Seattle:

El Salvadorean Gay activist William Hernandez for his crimes 10 years later, and we won the case. • I went back to school when I was 30 years old, returning first to middle school (estudios básicos) and then high school (bachillerato). I graduated from the equivalent of high school (bachillerato) at age 37 in 2007.

courtesy amnesty international

Can you estimate the size of the LGBTQ community in El Salvador? Do LGBTQ people tend to concentrate in the cities as they do here in the U.S.? • We don’t know exactly how many people make up the LGBTI community in El SalEl Salvadorean Gay activist William Hernandez vador, but through our educational by Mike Andrew outreach work in the last five years, we have reached 13,000 Gay men, Bisexuals, Trans SGN Staff Writer women, and other men who have sex with El Salvadorean Gay activist William Her- men but do not consider themselves GBTI. • It’s true that in the main cities groups nandez will speak in Seattle on Thursday, of LGBTI people are more noticeable, but October 28. Hernandez is director of the Asociacion through our work we have proven that the Entre Amigos, one of the leading LGBT population is present throughout our narights organizations in El Salvador. He is tional territory. There are greater indices of also secretary for human rights of the Co- violence against LGBTI people in rural aralition of Gay Organizations of Central eas, or in cities other than the capital. There is also greater impunity for such crimes in America. A veteran of more than 15 years of human those areas. • In San Salvador, the capital, there is rights activism, Hernandez has faced death threats, police raids, and other forms of in- more nightlife and social life for the LGBT people, there are spaces which are specifitimidation, but refuses to be silenced. He will speak at the University of Wash- cally designed to attend to the interests and needs of this population. In the rural areas ington, Thompson Hall 317, at 6:00 p.m. Hernandez was interviewed recently by of the country, on the other hand, there are SGN. Since he does not speak English, the not exclusive spaces like this, which makes interview was conducted by e-mail, with things less safe for LGBT people. Angelina Sondgrass Godoy of the UW Can you describe how LGBTQ people are Center for Human Rights translating SGN’s questions into Spanish and Hernandez’s an- viewed in your country and culture? And how might that differ from the view in the swers into English. U.S.? The interview follows. • People in general often make disagreeFor background, can you share some per- able comments, even discriminatory comsonal details with our readers? When and ments, but there are other people who maniwhere were you born? How long have you fest their homophobia publicly and physibeen “out”? Do you have the support of cally attack LGBT people. • However, the main problem lies with family members? • I was born in San Salvador on May 13, people who are in social organizations, or 1971, I’m 39 years old and I live with my unions, NGOs, among others – and even partner, Joaquín Cáceres, who is 49 years more so among public servants or governold. We have been in a relationship from ment officials – who put their homophobia 1994 until now, and for the last 16 years we before their obligation to serve people withhave shared the responsibility of raising my out regard to their sexual orientation. • Within the structures of the Salvadoran two biological daughters, Eliana Hernández, now 22 years old, a law student; and Liliana state, the National Civilian Police, the Judicial Organism, and the Legislative AsHernández, a communications student. • I came out of the closet at age 24 because sembly are the structures which have most of the need to put a face to the activities in violated human rights, even committing defense of the human rights of LGBT peo- violence against LGBT community – in particular against Gay men who may appear ple in 1994. • I have the unconditional support of my feminine, Lesbians who may appear mascuparents, Joaquín’s mother, our daughters line, and Transgender women. Just like in and their biological mother, from the mo- any democracy, these institutions are fundament I came out of the closet – as well as the mental pillars for access to justice, but in the support of all the rest of our family members case of our populations, they have participated in human rights violations on various in general. • I dropped out of school when I was 14 occasions. years old, and started working with the I’ve read that there are no laws protectCatholic Church. I experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a priest; he was taken to court ing LGBTQ people in El Salvador from

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discrimination. What is the legal status of the LGBTQ community, and how do people protect themselves from discrimination and/ or violence? • That’s correct. In El Salvador there are no legal tools to protect the dignity of people on the basis of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. In addition, there are no legal tools that recognize sexual orientation or gender identity. This makes it impossible to adequately guarantee access to justice with the existing tools.

In addition to this security, which was only for me personally, the American Jewish World Service in New York (AJWS) helped us present our institutional security needs to the Front Line Foundation in Ireland, who are specialists in supporting human rights defenders throughout the world. As a result, Front Line has provided us with technical support as well as economic assistance for designing security strategies for our offices and for our personnel.

I’ve read that [El Salvador’s president] We’ve covered the murders of LGBTQ Mauricio Funes issued a presidential decree people and activists in Puerto Rico against discrimination on the basis and Honduras. Are similar of sexual orientation. Have the events happening in El Sallives of LGBTQ people imvador? proved since the FMLN • In El Salvador, in [Farabundo Marti 2009 alone we docuNational Liberation mented 23 homicides Front] came to powof this sort. Most er? Do you expect were of Gay men more improvement who had not rein the future? vealed their sexual • The decree was orientation, or of published in the ofTransgender women. ficial newspaper on May 12, 2010; it has It seems that many not been shared within of these crimes targeted government instituTransgender or Transsextions, but it’s a decree that ual people in particular. Is does not establish penalties there a large Trans community for violations. It only urges in El Salvador, and are they espegovernment employees and public cially at risk for violence? servants to not promote or practice discrimi• Yes, Trans women represent the most nation against people on the basis of their visible face of the LGBT community, and sexual orientation or gender identity. they are the ones who have been the target • Aside from the publication of Execuof generalized violence, as well as of vio- tive Decree # 56, the government created an lence aimed specifically at the community. office in the Secretary of Social Inclusion These are violent homicides with character- called the Directorship of Matters of Sexual istics of hate crimes. Diversity. This office is directed by Dr. Vanda Pignato, President Funes’ wife. Do you, as an activist, fear for your personal safety? What precautions do you The U.S. State Department says it comtake? Have you been the target of violence municates with other governments to urge or threats? them to respect the rights of LGBTQ people • Yes, I fear for my safety and for that of in their countries. Has the U.S. State Departour team, and that of my family. My family ment played that role in El Salvador? has always been with us, through the most • We do not know if, in their high-level adverse conditions that our community has meetings, the State Department emphasizes faced. Our safety situation has changed this point or not. However, our office has since 2008; from 2001 to 2007 the Nation- conversations with the Cultural Affairs ofal Civilian Police provided me with police fice at the U.S. Embassy, and we share our protection through a program to protect im- reports of human rights violations against portant public figures and human rights de- our community with them. Since 2008, the fenders, thanks to pressures brought by Am- U.S. Embassy opened a human rights office nesty International in London and its Urgent and the reports are sent to the human rights Action Network, the International Gay and attaché at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. Lesbian Human Rights Commission in San • From 2008 to 2010 we have twice reFrancisco, and the Triangle Foundation in ceived visitors from the Embassy at our ofSpain. These organizations insisted on such fices. They have joined us to converse with measures because the authorities at the time us about our human rights, and the latest declaimed not to know anything about the at- velopments in our country, and to offer their tacks against me and against the offices of assistance to us for any human rights probthe Entre Amigos Association. lems we might have.

In El Salvador, in 2009 alone we documented 23 homicides [of LGBTQ people]. Most were of Gay men who had not revealed their sexual orientation, or of Transgender women.

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Iceland “best country for gender equality,” says World Economic Forum by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Iceland once again leads the world in gender equality, according to a World Economic Forum report released October 12. This is the second year in a row Iceland has topped the WEF Global Gender Gap Report. The report measures gender equality in four areas: politics, education, employment, and health. Iceland’s government is headed by Johanna Sigurdardottir. She is the country’s first woman prime minister, and the world’s first openly Lesbian head of government. Sigurdardottir has headed a Social Democratic-Green coalition government since February 2009. Forbes magazine listed her as one of its 100 Most Powerful Women in 2009. Iceland was also represented by the world’s first elected woman president –

Vigdis Finnbogasdottir – from 1980 through 1996. Nordic countries lead the list of 134 countries, with Norway in second place, Finland in third, and Sweden in fourth place. Denmark placed seventh, after New Zealand and Ireland. Lesotho was the best performing African country, ranking eighth, up from 10th place in 2009. South Africa fell to 12th place from sixth in 2009. The Philippines continues to lead the way in Asia, remaining in ninth position. It was the only Asian country to place in the top 10. The U.S. rose to 19th place, after coming in at number 31 in 2009. The improvement was attributed to the higher number of women serving in the Obama administration and a reduction in the pay gap between men and women. The U.S. overtook Canada to become the

best-performing country in the Americas. Great Britain came 15th in the latest rankings, as it did in 2009. France plummeted to 46th place from 18th in 2009. WEF said that was a result of a decline in the number of women holding ministerial positions in the French government. At the bottom of the list of 134 countries, the widest gaps between women and men are in Pakistan (132), Chad (133) and Yemen (134). WEF said that across all the nations surveyed, the divisions between men and women were lowest in health and education, but highest when it comes to economic partici-

pation and opportunity. “Low gender gaps are directly correlated with high economic competitiveness. Women and girls must be treated equally if a country is to grow and prosper,” said WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab. Ricardo Hausmann, co-author of the report and director of the Centre for International Development at Harvard University, added that “Progress will be achieved when countries seek to reap returns on the investment in health and education of girls and women by finding ways to make marriage and motherhood compatible with the economic participation of women.”

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Porn actor tests HIV-positive, two production companies shut down by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Two L.A. porn companies stopped production when one of their actors tested positive for HIV, the L.A. Times reported on October 13. Wicked Pictures and Vivid Entertainment said they were shutting down as a precaution after they learned of the actor’s test results. According to Associated Press, they are “two of the industry’s biggest companies.” The as-yet-unnamed actor was tested at the Adult Industry Medical (AIM) Healthcare Foundation STD clinic. AIM is an industry-sponsored clinic. Clinic spokeswoman Jennifer Miller told the L.A. Times that efforts are under way to

notify individuals who may have had sexual contact with the actor. California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA) Chief Counsel Amy Martin complained that the clinic has been uncooperative in providing state officials with information they needed to investigate porn producers. Cal/OSHA is charged with investigating unsafe working conditions, and may prosecute employers who knowingly allow such conditions to continue. The AIM clinic has declined to provide even redacted copies of its patients’ employment histories, citing a patient’s federal right to medical privacy, Martin said. This is hardly the first time the porn industry has been rocked by charges that it ne-

Anti-Gay attacks rock Bronx neighborhood

by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor

ber 10, the defendants did not enter pleas to charges that include robbery, assault, sexual On October 3, the lives of 12 Bronx men abuse, and unlawful imprisonment as hate were changed forever. The men – nine gang crimes. The most serious charge carried a members of the Latin Goonies gang – had potential 25-year prison term. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg heard a rumor one of their teenage recruits was Gay, found him, stripped and beat him, said he was sickened by the accusations of and sodomized him with a plunger handle violence “and saddened by the anti-Gay until he confessed to having had sex with bias.” “Such violent acts chip away at the tolera man, police say. The violence didn’t stop there; the gang members then found a sec- ance and equality that have always been the ond teen they suspected was Gay and tor- pillars of our great city,” said Bloomberg. “New Yorkers have always had an answer to tured him. The violence did not stop there. The Latin acts of prejudice and intolerance, and that is: Goonies then invited the man the first teen We reject them. We renounce them.” The Bronx beatings followed a string of had admitted having sex with to a house, telling him they were having a party. When anti-Gay attacks and teen suicides attributed he arrived, police say, five of them burned, to anti-Gay bullying. The attacks don’t square with the repubeat, and tortured him for hours. The man was sodomized with a miniature baseball tation of the Bronx neighborhood, where bat while being taunted, “You like that. You (largely Hispanic) LGBT people live openly with tolerant neighbors. like that,” according to court documents. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Still, the violence did not stop there. Two of the 30-year-old man’s attackers went who is Gay, and other elected officials went to his home, where they encountered the to the empty brick townhouse where the atman’s brother. They punched him, bound tacks took place and passed out leaflets Sathis hands with rope, and threw a mattress urday. “People were very, very clear that they on top of him. They demanded money and jewelry and threatened to beat the man to wanted it known that the acts of these indeath before leaving with cash and a 52- dividuals do not represent their neighborhood,” said Quinn. “They were as stunned inch flatscreen television. The suspects were identified as Ildefonzo as anyone that something so violent, so preMendez, 23; Elmer Confresi, 23; David Ri- meditated … could happen there.” According to community leaders, on Sunvera, 21; Steven Caraballo, Denis Peitars, Nelson Falu, and Bryan Almonte, all 17; day an assortment of colorful flowers were laid in front of the home with a sympathy and Brian Cepeda, 16. The gang members were eventually card that read: “Prayers for healing – for our caught. During court proceedings on Octo- community.”

glects its actors’ health and safety. In 2004, an HIV outbreak involving several porn actors temporarily paralyzed the industry. Up to 14 people were believed to have been infected during on-camera sex with a male actor. AICS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) President Michael Weinstein said the latest case is the ninth HIV-positive adult film star to be treated at the AIM clinic since the 2004 outbreak. Weinstein said his organization has been advocating for tightening porn industry regulation, but the porn industry and AIM clinic would “do everything in its power to prevent us from knowing who was impacted.” In April, AHF filed complaints with the

California Labor Commissioner against nine talent agencies that specialize in porn actors, alleging that the agencies recruited performers and sent them out to porn shoots knowing they would be working in situations that put their health at risk. In August AHF also filed a complaint against porn mogul Larry Flynt. AHF previously filed 16 worker-safety complaints with Cal/OSHA in August 2009, citing the lack of condom use in adult films made in California. In December 2009, AHF also filed a separate petition with Cal/OSHA asking the board to clarify protections for workers in the porn industry and explicitly include a condom requirement. Federal law currently requires that all porn actors be tested for HIV and other STDs within 30 days of going to work on a film, but it does not require porn actors to use condoms. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health estimates that condoms and other protection are used in less than 20% of hardcore pornography.

NATIONAL

NEWS

NLGJA faces tough times Membership in the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association has dropped from a high of 1,300 in 2006 to 693 today, reports Press Pass Q, the newsletter for LGBT media. The group’s recent national convention drew 277 attendees, down from a high of 700 in 2004. NLGJA formed 20 years ago to fight for such things as domestic-partnership benefits in mainstream media and a safe environment to come out in mainstream-media newsrooms, and to respond from within newsrooms to skewed coverage of Gay people and LGBT issues. The first two goals have, for the most part, been achieved, and biased or bizarre coverage of Gay people and LGBT issues is much less common today than it was in 1990. There is some debate within NLGJA as to whether the group might be in a position to declare its mission accomplished. Other members, however, feel the group should reformulate its mission to respond to the many new issues that vex LGBT journalists and publications in today’s wired world.

by Rex Wockner SGN Contributing Writer Indianapolis. He resigned following the incident. Equality NC sends Froot Loops to state rep Between October 6 and 11, each donor to Equality North Carolina had a personal message and a box of Kellogg’s Froot Loops delivered to Republican state Rep. Larry Brown. The stunt was a response to Brown’s having hit “reply to all” on an e-mail from House Minority Leader Paul Stam and writing: “I hope all the Queers are thrilled to see him [House Speaker Joe Hackney receiving an award from Equality NC]. I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience.” “If it’s Froot Loops Rep. Brown wants, then that’s what we’ll give him!” Equality NC said.

Alyson Books stops publishing books Venerable Gay publishing company Alyson Books, owned by Advocate parent company Here Media, has stopped publishing books and will rework itself into an e-book Indiana motor publisher, said Publishers Weekly. vehicles head Authors under contract can have their arrested in toilet, rights back or move to the online venture. resigns In August, Village Voice columnist MiThe head of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Andrew J. Miller, was arrested chael Musto had complained that the comOctober 6 on a charge of public indecency pany was “holding my new book hostage.” for allegedly masturbating in front of an With assistance from Bill Kelley undercover cop in a cruisy public toilet in

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reported comments included a self-described “bi-racial” woman saying she was “tired of the GLBT plight being compared to civil rights.” Others claimed that members of the LGBT community would use the month as a way to “infiltrate the public school system,” allowing the “Gay lifestyle” to become part of the curriculum. It isn’t known for sure what it was that drove Zach Harrington to suicide. He killed himself in his family’s home exactly seven days after the council meeting. Zach’s memorial website is available online at www. havenbrookfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/ memsol.cgi?page=profile&section=info&u ser_id=257282. His memorial says nothing about his sexuality.

government will be irreparably harmed unless the current policy is allowed to remain in place temporarily. The Defense Department’s top lawyers have told troops that the military will comply with the court order, even though the Obama administration is asking Judge Phillips to stay her order pending an appeal. If Phillips turns down the request, the Justice Department would likely turn to the federal appeals court in California. Gay rights groups warned Gay troops not to disclose their identity for now. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that abruptly ending DADT would have enormous consequences. “I feel strongly this is an action that needs to be taken by the Congress and that it is an action that requires careful preparation, and a lot of training,” said Gates. President Barack Obama is pushing for a repeal of the controversial policy. A bill currently before Congress would overturn the continued from cover measure after a Pentagon review is completed in December. tive due process rights guaranteed under More than 12,500 people have been bootthe Fifth Amendment to the United States ed from the military since DADT went into Constitution, and (b) the rights to freedom effect in 1993. of speech and to petition the Government for redress of grievances guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,” wrote Phillips in her October 12 order. Judge Philips went on to order the “Dependents United States of America and the Secretary of Defense immediately to suspend and discontinue an investigation, or discharge, separation, or other proceeding, that may have been commenced under the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Act.” On October 14, the Justice Department asked a federal judge to allow the DADT to continue during an appeal. In court papers, the Obama administration says the case raises serious legal questions and that the

dadt

Zach Harrington

by James Whitely SGN Staff Writer Another teenager, Zach Harrington, 19, killed himself this week in what is looking like another bullying-related LGBT suicide. Harrington, from Norman, Oklahoma, was an aspiring musician and recently graduated from his town’s local high school, where he was in band and orchestra and became the first male captain of the color guard. Harrington’s parents claim that a city council meeting their son attended the week prior could have sparked his turn to suicide. On September 28, one of the topics up for debate was whether or not the city should adopt October as LGBT History Month. After three hours of debate by city council members and concerned citizens during the open comment portion of the meeting, which welcomed the general public, the city council voted 7-1 to approve the resolution, marking a victory for LGBT individuals of Norman. According to his parents, it was hearing the negative comments of the townspeople that shook Harrington to his core. The 6’4” Gay teenager had already been bullied and taunted in school, according to his parents. However, it was this “toxic exchange among neighbors, railing against the recognition of Queers’ contributions to society, that led

Zach to take his own life a week later,” his family says. Harrington’s father, Van, told reporters he felt his son may have glimpsed a hard reality at the September 28 council meeting, a place where the same sentiments that quietly tormented him in high school were being shouted out and applauded by adults the same age as his own parents. One man said that “he moved to Norman because he thought it was the kind of place that wouldn’t welcome Gay and Lesbian people,” reported the Tulsa World. A “Straight Reproduction Month” to mock LGBT History month was reportedly proposed by a citizen. Another citizen reportedly said, “Facebook is full of pedophiles because of the Gays,” and then claimed that “history lessons promote homosexuality.” “When he was sitting there, I’m sure he was internalizing everything and analyzing everything. … That’s the kind of person he was,” said Zach’s elder sister Nikki. “I’m sure he took it personally, everything that was said.” “I don’t think it was a place where he would hear something to make him feel more accepted by the community,” said Zach’s father. “For somebody like Zach, [the meeting] was probably very hard to sit through.” In addition to reciting Bible verses, other

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continued from cover sponsored Washington state’s DOMA in 1998. He opposed both the Anderson-Murray Civil Rights bill and the state’s domestic partnership laws, although he was already out of the legislature when these finally passed. Rossi is also against reproductive choice. The Seattle Gay News endorses Patty Murray. Rick Larsen vs John Koster, 2nd Congressional District Incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen is facing a stiff challenge from Republican John Koster, former state Rep and current Sno-

homish County Council member. Like Sen. Murray, Rep. Larsen has cosponsored several key pieces of LGBT rights legislation being considered by Congress, including the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal and ENDA. Koster, on the other hand, has a long history of anti-Gay political activities. Like Rossi on the Senate side, Koster was a co-sponsor of the state DOMA on the House side of the legislature. As a Snohomish County Council member, Koster introduced a 2006 budget amendment to strike funding for a December holiday program because Seattle Men’s Chorus was scheduled to perform there. He also sponsored a resolution supporting a controversial Ten Commandments display installed on City of Everett property. Like Rossi, Koster is also anti-choice. He believes that abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the

mother’s life. Koster’s campaign manager is his longtime political ally Larry Stickney. Stickney was campaign manager for Protect Marriage Washington’s Referendum 71 petition drive, to repeal the state’s domestic partnership laws. The Seattle Gay News endorses Rick Larsen. Charlie Wiggins vs Richard Sanders, Washington Supreme Court In the only Washington Supreme Court race that is still contested, attorney Charlie Wiggins faces incumbent Justice Richard Sanders. While Wiggins believes the main opinion in the Andersen marriage equality case – written by now-Chief Justice Barbara Madsen – was “reasonable,” he is sharply critical of the concurring opinion by Jim Johnson, which Sanders joined. Madsen said that the state legislature enacted DOMA on the reasonable assumption that the state had an interest in protecting opposite-sex marriages. Johnson and Sanders said flat out that the legislature was correct to deny same-sex couples equal marriage rights. They added that children benefit more from oppositesex parents. This view is “too extreme,” Wiggins says, and illustrates Sanders’ judicial bias. Sanders also argued against LGBT rights in at least two other cases, both dissents, Wiggins says. In Heinsma v City of Vancouver, Sanders said cities could not offer same-sex domestic partner benefits to their employees, and in Parentage of LB he said that non-birth parents of children of a same-sex couple were not entitled to visitation rights. The Seattle Gay News endorses Charlie Wiggins.

Laurie Jinkins vs Jake Fey, 27th District Position 1 Laurie Jinkins, out Lesbian and a longtime activist, is running to represent a legislative district in Tacoma and Fife. A former assistant attorney general, she is now deputy director of the Pierce County Public Health District. Jinkins chaired Tacoma’s landmark Hate Crimes Task Force, and co-chaired the successful Approve Referendum 71 campaign that saved the state’s domestic partnership laws. Because of Washington’s top-two primary system, Jinkins is running against another Democrat, Tacoma City Council member Jake Fey. By all accounts, Fay has been an excellent city council member. Jinkins says she differs from him mainly in having broader political experience and more diverse support. The Seattle Gay News endorses Laurie Jinkins. Donna Tucker vs Larry Mitchell, King County Northeast District Court Attorney and pro tem judge Donna Tucker is an out Lesbian running for a permanent seat on the bench. District court judges are the ones most people would encounter – trying DUIs, reckless driving, domestic violence, smallvalue theft, and civil cases with values under $75,000. Tucker has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the King County Bar Association, the Latino/a Bar Association, and QLaw – the LGBT Bar Association. Her opponent is Redmond Prosecutor Larry Mitchell. He has been endorsed by Republican King County Council members Reagan Dunn and Jane Hague. The Seattle Gay News endorses Donna Tucker.

Marko Liias vs Elizabeth Scott, 21st District Position 2 Openly Gay Rep. Marko Liias earned high marks for HB 2801, the new anti-bullying bill he sponsored and shepherded through the legislature with unanimous votes in both continued from cover House and Senate. Liias is also the sponsor of several other progressive measures, including one giving Washingtonians online access to consumer protection information. tered “We Are Waiting” posters across the He is running for reelection in a district city on October 9, chanted “death to Gays” that includes Mukilteo, Edmonds, and parts as they battled with police, who were guardof Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace. ing the “secure zone” of the city. His opponent, Elizabeth Scott, is associInside the zone it was peaceful, with most ated with the Tea Party and is endorsed by a of the Pride participants unaware of the batnumber of anti-Gay political figures includ- tles going on. ing John Koster, Val Stevens, Matt Shea, Serbian Human and Minority Rights MinKirby Wilbur, and Rev. Wayne Perryman. ister Svetozar Čiplić was at the march, as She told SGN she “supports existing state were representatives of Democratic Party, law” on LGBT rights, but she is on record Liberal Democratic Party, NGOs, and the as opposing the 2009 expansion of domestic European Union. partnership benefits. She also opposes marThe Pride was opened by Vincent Degert, riage equality. head of the European Union delegation The Seattle Gay News endorses Marko in Serbia who said that this day had been Liias. awaited for years. He stressed that the Pride

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October 15, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

was a very important event and said that Serbia had “good legislation regarding protection of human rights and rights to sexual and religious orientation.” “It is important that people can live with these rights and values,” he said, adding that the Pride March was also important as an indicator that society was rejecting violence. Fire crews raced to the headquarters building of the ruling Democratic Party when a garage was torched by protesters, and quickly brought the fire under control. Also, the headquarters of state broadcaster RTS was attacked. The thugs also tried to storm the Parliament building, but were thwarted by police. Returning to the hotel following the march – a short 10-minute walk – tear gas still lingered in the air. Staff at the hotel advised foreign guests not to go out of the building. The latest reports from the B92 News website say that “the tension was subsiding in the streets of Belgrade.” Septian President Boris Tadić reacted to the violence: “The state is ready to get tough with the hooligans,” he said. Linda Freimane, a co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, is in Belgrade and took part in the march. In a statement on October 10, she said, “Belgrade Pride had a history of being one of the most violent and bloodiest Prides in Europe. “However, today, the Serbian authorities proved they are serious in their respect for

everyone’s right to exercise their fundamental rights, and for European integration. Despite significant pressure from some of its citizens, religious leaders, and threats by ultra-nationalists, the March for Equality could take place and no participants were hurt during the March. “Our deepest sympathy goes to those Serbian police officers who received serious injuries and a participant of the March who we learned has been attacked. … We regret and denounce the fact that some sections of the Serbian society do not want to see their country as an equal and democratic part of the European family and employ barbaric and violent methods to prevent the progress in their country. “We sincerely hope that the Serbian government and the political elite will continue to their work towards protecting the human rights of all citizens, and we will continue monitor the situation in Serbia closely, as well as continue our work with LGBTI and other organizations who are dedicated to legal and social change in Serbia,” she concluded. Television stations in Serbia showed pictures of some of the injured police officers. “The police were without question the heroes of the day,” said William Urich who took part in the march on behalf of InterPride. “It makes me angry that some of them were injured – some of them seemingly seriously hurt,” he added.

The website, which can be found at www. wegiveadamn.org, is full of thousands of continued from cover stories just like that. In addition to the Give a Damn Campaign, readers can log onto the Damn Blog, where daily updates are added in relation to the portantly, share a personal story about said Damn Issues. topic. “From middle school onward, I was bullied and tormented because of people assuming I was Gay,” wrote “Tom” under the Youth/School tab. “Every single year, it got worse and worse. I thought by high school it would become less and less, but that is when it really took off. Every second of my life became hell. I couldn’t even work through one blow because the next one would already be starting. I attempted suicide in the 10th grade. It was such a low point. Even though it doesn’t happen as much now, my past still haunts me. I still cry all the time and have constant nightmares. It’s very rough to deal with and me heart goes out to anyone who deals with hate crimes. I truly give a damn … even more than just a damn about this! This needs to stop.” Under the Healthcare tab, “Janet” wrote, “I dream that one day my partner and I will be entitled to the same rights that any straight couple is entitled to – like social security benefits. I hope that my family will recognize her right to share in the important decisions regarding my health/life issues, she is not protected by law as of yet … therefore, I give a damn.”

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October 15, 2010

Celebrating 37 Years!

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