Celebrating 46 Years! Issue 42 Volume 48
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2020 Visions
ELECTION & POLITICS SPECIAL ISSUE SEE SEC 2
Seattle Gay News S E AT T L E ’S L GB T Q
N E W S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T W E E K LY
MASS ARRESTS SPD makes mass arrests of BLM protesters outside East Precinct Police claim demonstrators caused a riot; assaulted civilian, dumped trash, obstructed law enforcement and roadway
by Renee Raketty SGN Staff Writer The Seattle Police Department made mass arrests outside the East Precinct at 12th Ave. and E. Pine St. in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood after midnight on Thursday morning. The lights and commotion awoke many residents of nearby buildings who could be seen watching from their windows.
see ARRESTS page 5
Photo by Renee Raketty
SCOTUS OKs end to census count Photo by Ted S. Warren / AP
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The US Supreme Court gave the OK for the Trump administration to terminate the US Census count in an October 13 ruling. The high court granted an emergency
request from the administration to overturn a lower court ruling extending the counting. As is typical for rulings on emergency requests, the high court’s order was unsigned. Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor
see CENSUS page 13
Red flag at Amy Coney Barrett hearing
Nominee says she won’t discriminate against “sexual preference” Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett – Photo by Win McNamee / AP
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett used a suspect phrase when referring to marriage equality in Senate hearings on October 13.
In response to a question from California Sen. Diane Feinstein, a Democrat, Barrett initially refused to comment on how she might follow the lead of her judicial mentor, Antonin Scalia, on issues of same-
see BARRETT page 8
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OBITUARY
Lambda Legal mourns passing of pioneer journalist and LGBTQ advocate Monica Roberts
NEW YORK (October 8, 2020) – Avery Belyeu, director of Lambda Legal’s South Central Regional Office in Dallas, made the following statement: “Lambda Legal is sad to learn that Texas-based transgender activist, advocate, and educator Monica Roberts has passed away. She dedicated her life to creating a more just and equitable world for transgender people. She championed the voices of the most marginalized, particularly the voices of Black transgender women, in the work for equality. “All transgender advocates, myself included, have benefited from her courage, her persistence, and her tireless work. Our entire community owes her a debt of gratitude. As we grieve this enormous loss, we commit to honoring her memory by continuing the fight for justice and equality for transgender people in Texas and beyond.” Kevin Jennings, Lambda Legal CEO, made the following statement: “Lambda Legal is heartbroken at the devastating news that pioneering journalist and activist Monica Roberts has passed
away. Her commitment to fighting for LGBTQ equality and telling our transgender community’s stories left an indelible mark on media and our movement. “This is an incredibly sad loss for the city of Houston and the country. Our hearts go out to all who knew her and were touched by her kind spirit. Monica was a beacon of light in our fight for equality in Texas and all over this country. She advocated on behalf of those often left in our movement’s shadows, especially Black transgender women. “Monica Roberts created TransGriot, a blog focused on the lives of transgender women, especially those of color when no one else was telling those stories. With her life-saving community activism and awardwinning reporting, Monica changed the culture. She inspired a generation of journalists and countless young people who wanted to devote their lives to justice. “Monica was fearless, and she demanded respect for transgender people, no matter who it was. Her love for and her commitment to her community saved
lives. Monica Roberts never stopped talking about the violence against transgender women. Her mission to end the misgendering of transgender victims in media to ensure transgender women’s dignity in death was often the only final rites that they received. Monica’s care for those women is her legacy. “We send our condolences to Monica’s loved ones and all who knew her. We will remember her as a tireless worker on behalf of our community’s forgotten, and Lambda Legal will continue Monica’s work and honor her legacy by continuing to fight for freedom and justice for our most vulnerable.” Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and those with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Courtesy of Lambda Legal
UNMUTED: new anthology highlights Seattle’s growing community of LGBTQIA elders
SEATTLE (October 7, 2020) – As the baby boomer generation ages, LGBTQ+ adults over age 55 are among the fastestgrowing populations in Seattle/King County. While the US census has never measured the LGBTQ+ community, reports estimate that there are currently around 3 million LGBTQ+ adults over age 50. That number is expected to grow to approximately 7 million by 2030. And yet, this community remains virtually unseen. “LGBTQ+ seniors face disparities in disability and health, [and] economic and social discrimination,” says Steven Knipp, executive director of GenPRIDE, a Seattle-based nonprofit formed to address the needs of this underserved community. According to the national organization, SAGE (Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders), LGBTQ+ older people are twice as likely as their heterosexual peers to live alone, nearly 60% report feeling a lack of companionship, and over 50% reported feeling isolated from others. The health effects of prolonged isolation have been equated with smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2016.) “For LGBTQ+ seniors, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified feelings of isolation and created greater urgency to find new ways to connect and combat social isolation,” said Knipp. “Our writing workshop is one such outlet. And with Unmuted, readers can experience the powerful connection through storytelling that led to this anthology.” Unmuted: Stories of Courage and Resilience from the GenPRIDE Community (October 21, 2020) began as a monthlong writing workshop, just one of many programs and services provided by Gen-
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shared experience.” This gripping collection of stories explores issues that have marked a generation of LGBTQ+ members: AIDS, gender identity, sexuality, persecution, and reclaiming one’s true self. Others grapple with health, family, loss, addiction, and love. Unmuted will be available in print, e-book, and audio form starting October 21, 2020, in honor of LGBTQ History Month. Books can be purchased directly from GenPRIDE, or via Amazon, Audible, and other online stores. (Volume discounts for print books are available.) A book launch virtual event is scheduled for October 21, featuring a panel of Unmuted authors discussing the storytelling process that led to the anthology publication. The event is free, and registration is required.
PRIDE during the past two years. But as the group of 14 midlife and older adults began sharing their experiences, the communitybuilding power of personal narrative took hold. Isolation gave way to friendship and support. In writing and sharing their stories, a group of strangers found healing, acceptance, and empowerment. All proceeds from sales of Unmuted will be used to support ongoing programs at GenPRIDE. “I was astonished by the bonds that developed as people shared stories of personal triumph, heartbreak, and trauma,” said Knipp. “In our deeply divided world, these stories remind us that regardless of gender, sexuality, identity, race, or age, we are unified by the common ground of
GenPRIDE is a nonprofit response to a grassroots movement, research from the University of Washington School of Social Work, and a report funded by the City of Seattle Office of Housing to address the needs of the growing LGBTQ+ over-55 population in King County. It empowers this underrepresented community to live healthy, full lives by developing and promoting innovative programs and services that enhance dignity, pride, and connection, and eliminate discrimination. One project on the horizon is the construction of the GenPRIDE Senior Community Center, located on the ground floor of the first LGBTQ+-affirming Senior Affordable Housing building in Washington. For more information, visit genprideseattle.org. Courtesy of GenPRIDE
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ARRESTS
continued from cover A police report provided to the Seattle Gay News states that the group was arrested for a variety of offenses: dumping of solid waste, obstructing an officer, resisting arrest and rendering criminal assistance. The SGN arrived late to the scene but did observe several individuals being searched and taken into the precinct for identification and processing. Medics from the Seattle Fire Department were also seen tending to an injured protester. The SGN attempted to talk to protesters as they were released. One protester had claimed that over 20 people had been arrested and that four individuals were transported to the King County Jail on
obstruction charges. Another protester released Thursday morning said they were arrested for “illegal dumping.” Bags of trash were seen on the barricade outside the Precinct and an officer was busy moving trash out of the street. This writer had also visited an intersection near 15th Ave. E. and E. Harrison St. The intersection had been blocked by a variety of traffic related construction signs, cones and barrels. A private security team at Uncle Ike’s, a marijuana dispensary nearby, was seen outside the business cleaning up eggs and sand thrown on the sidewalk outside its front door. One released protester claimed that they had not been responsible these incidents. According to the SPD, a group of approximately 25 protesters had been marching through the streets of Capitol Hill. A flyer provided to the SGN earlier in the day did
announce a protest in honor of the birthday of George Floyd, who died in the custody of Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020. It appears the two are related. Police say that protesters attacked a patrol vehicle while the officers were getting food from a nearby restaurant and that they had attempted to prevent a police vehicle from responding to a robbery call. They add that the group had defied orders to disperse and had advanced on patrol vehicles while chanting, “move back.” Police followed the protesters and removed obstructions from the roadway. Later, police responded to a call in the 1600 block of 15th Ave, where a man claimed to have been assaulted when he confronted the protesters. The police report stated that he had abrasions on his knees and that witnesses confirmed his account.
At approximately 11:40 p.m., the protesters then approached the Precinct for a second time. However, this time they threw trash over the barricade outside and dumped trash into the street. It was here when Lieutenant Brooks ordered the arrest of the entire group, who are believed to be associated with “Every Night Direct Demonstration’’ or ENDD for short. Several bystanders claimed that protest medics were among those arrested. However, all the medics from the two largest volunteer protest medic organizations, PUMC and DarkMed, appeared not to have been involved. A new group of established protest medics, Umbra, could not be reached for comment by press time. The SGN later learned that several medics associated with Umbra were indeed scooped up during the arrests.
Photos by Renee Raketty
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Durkan Digest: We must keep leading the way on COVID-19 SEATTLE (October 9, 2020) – In this unprecedented year, COVID-19 has forever altered our city. While we were an original epicenter of the virus, the actions that each of us are choosing to take are literally saving lives. As reported by the Seattle Times this week, Seattle is recording the lowest cases of COVID-19 compared to the top 30 other major cities with currently available data. In addition, our city has some of the lowest hospitalization rates and death in the country. Seattle is leading the country in our response to COVID-19 because of the continued actions of Seattle’s residents and businesses. We must continue our actions, because in recent weeks we have seen an increase in cases across King County and the state. In the last 14 days, our city has seen 492 cases, 16 hospitalizations, and 8 deaths.
Unlike the other Washington, every step of the way, our local officials, residents, and businesses have understood how dangerous and deadly COVID-19 is to our community. Our community believes in practicing physical distancing, wearing face coverings, washing their hands, and limiting their gatherings. Most of our businesses have modified their business models to transform into safer establishments to minimize the risk to both employees and customers. When individuals believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 or feel sick, they can visit our free citywide testing sites, which have now surpassed 250,000 tests (more on that below). There continues to be no national leadership on the COVID-19 crisis or recognition of basic scientific facts. We are not
Image courtesy of the Office of the Seattle Mayor
taking our leadership cues from a White House whose actions continue to put at risk the lives of so many. To address both the public health crisis
and economic crisis, I continue to listen and learn from other cities. In the early days of the virus, many cities like New York City did not act quickly enough and saw an astonishing surge in cases, deaths, and hospitalizations. We have now seen that many cities have reopened too quickly, leading to a dramatic increase in cases. Here’s what we know: seven months into the crisis, Seattle has the lowest cumulative cases of the top 30 major cities in the US. Seattle also has the lowest hospitalizations per resident and the second lowest deaths per resident. Across the country, there are now 7.6 million cases and 213,000 deaths. Many individuals have been hospitalized. We must never forget that these loved ones are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and friends. Many families could not be with their loved ones in their final days or mourn their losses. Ultimately, we are taking actions locally to protect our friends and family while preventing our health care system from being overwhelmed. COVID-19 will continue to be in our community until there is a vaccine or proven treatments. We need to continue to be vigilant and continue our efforts to save lives. The actions of individuals who ignore public health guidance will hurt the health and well-being of our friends, families, and community. In this challenging year, let’s continue to prove to the country and the other Washington that science prevails and saves lives. As always, please continue to write me at Jenny.Durkan@seattle.gov, reach out via Twitter and Facebook, and stay up-to-date on the work we’re doing for the people of Seattle on my blog. City of Seattle free testing sites administer 250,000 total tests – so far The City of Seattle continues to lead the way in our COVID-19 response with widespread free testing across the city. Our existing testing sites are testing thousands of individuals each day, and have administered 250,000 tests since opening in June. Under the leadership of Chief Scoggins, we have pioneered innovative testing programs that have been replicated across the state and country. In the initial days of the crisis, the City of Seattle created a site to test first responders exposed to COVID-19 and deployed our firefighters to test seniors and workers at long-term care facilities, where the virus had spread rapidly due to the lack of testing. Testing at these City of Seattle sites is free, so if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to a family member or individual with COVID19, please visit www.seattle.gov/mayor/ covid-19/covid-19-testing to get tested. Courtesy of Mayor Jenny Durkan
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Dunn’s request for study on COVID-19 response approved by King County Council SEATTLE (September 29, 2020) – The King County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Councilmember Reagan Dunn that directs King County to partner with the University of Washington to analyze the effectiveness of the COVID-19 response in King County. The report would look at key aspects of the pandemic and how the actions taken by King County leaders and Public Health –
Seattle and King County (PHSKC) affected the spread of the virus. “The COVID-19 pandemic is among the most significant viral outbreaks this generation has experienced,” Dunn said. “Given that this is new territory for all of us, we must arm ourselves with empirical information on what is effective in battling a pandemic. We never know when we will face another crisis-level outbreak.”
The independent analysis will be spearheaded by graduate students at UW’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. They will use publicly available data to examine the health, economic, and social impacts of COVID-19 and the effectiveness of various methods of fighting the pandemic. The study will look back to the outbreak of COVID-19 in King County and may examine such things as the timeline of
King County’s outbreak, subsequent decision points for King County leaders and PHSKC, and potential equity impact of the disease response on underserved or more vulnerable communities. The report is due to the King County Council by July 31, 2021. Courtesy of King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn
KC Council passes unprecedented funding to create supportive housing SEATTLE (October 14, 2020) – The King County Council on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to an unprecedented investment to target help to the people experienciang homelessness who are the hardest to reach. “I believe that government is people coming together to do collectively what we cannot do individually. And nowhere is that more true than in addressing the challenges that prevent all King County residents from having a safe and stable home,” said Councilmember Joe McDermott, prime sponsor of the Health through Housing proposal. “This unprecedented investment will provide a stable and long-term funding stream to house upwards of 2,000 people living chronically homeless, as well as behavioral health care. People experiencing chronic homelessness are bearing the brunt of inequality in our region and need housing and support services
to empower their path to health and stability.” Backed by a 0.1% sales tax increase, the legislation will provide permanent, supportive housing for those deemed “chronically homeless” – people who reside in a place not meant for human habitation for at least a year, and with serious physical or behavioral health issues. About 4,500 people are considered chronically homeless in King County, according to the Homeless Management Information Service. The legislation will create space for up to 2,000 individuals. The Washington Legislature in its 2020 session granted authority for local governments to adopt the small sales tax to fund affordable housing. King County plans to bond against future tax revenues and use the funds to buy existing hotels, motels, and nursing homes around the county and con-
vert them into affordable, supportive housing for people who have struggled to access and maintain housing. “By their vote today, the County Council moves our region one step closer to ending the trauma of homelessness for up to 2,000 individuals and families throughout our region who are living every day without the safety and dignity of a place to call home,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “With this initiative, we have a unique and extraordinary opportunity to make a real, observable difference in the crisis of homelessness, and I look forward to working throughout King County to make that happen.” The Health Through Housing program is part of the biennial budget proposal, now in front of council, and includes two ordinances: one that establishes the sales
tax and another that creates the Health Through Housing Fund. “Adopting these measures is an important opportunity that we must take to reach our most vulnerable neighbors experiencing chronic homelessness,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, co-sponsor of the ordinance establishing the Health through Housing Fund. “We need a greater inventory of affordable housing that we can target for use by those in our community struggling the most to make ends meet: those with low to no income. This will make a big difference in helping us with that task. It will take all of us, working together on this and other future measures, to end homelessness.” Courtesy of the King County Council Office of Council Communications
2020 now officially the deadliest year on record for Transgender and gender-nonconforming people in the US WASHINGTON, DC (October 9, 2020) – Today, with news of the death of 20-yearold Brooklyn Deshuna, whom some reports identify as Brooklyn DeShauna, in Shreveport, LA, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has now officially recorded more violent deaths of transgender and gendernonconforming people than any year prior – and we still have three months left in the year. At least 32 transgender or gendernonconforming people have been violently killed this year. We say at least because too often these stories go unreported – or misreported. Previously, the highest number of fatal deaths of transgender or gender-nonconforming people that the Human Rights Campaign has tracked over a 12-month period was in 2017, when we recording 31 people violently killed. In response, Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David issued the following statement: “Today, we have reached a tragic milestone as we mark the 32nd transgender or gender-nonconforming person killed this year, Brooklyn Deshuna. Each person was ripped from their family, their friends, and their community by an act of senseless violence driven by bigotry and transphobia, and inflamed by the rhetoric of those who oppose our progress. “Dehumanizing rhetoric, especially by political leaders like President Trump, has a real-life consequence for the community, particularly transgender women of color and especially Black transgender women.
In order to combat stigma against transgender and gender-nonconforming people, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has collaborated with WarnerMedia on a PSA campaign to lift up transgender people’s voices and stories. Watch the PSA [at https://youtu.be/YERutolpOrE] and visit www.hrc.org/trans to learn more. Background information: • We have lost at least 32 transgender and gender-nonconforming people to fatal violence in 2020, exceeding the previous record of 31 set in 2017 • There have been 32 deaths in 40 weeks, or about one death every 9 days. • Since we began tracking fatal violence in 2013, we have lost at least 197 lives. • Two-thirds of known victims have been Black women (2013-present). • More than 60% of the incidents involved gun violence (2013-present)
Photo by Richard Vogel / AP
As the presidential campaign has hit its crescendo, so too has the attacks coming from Trump, his administration, and his allies. They have spent millions on ads spewing hate and lies about the transgender and gender-nonconforming community, and have attacked their right to health care, right to serve, and right to live openly – dehumanizing and denying them the dignity they deserve at every opportunity.
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“Every life has value, and we must utilize this moment to not only remember Brooklyn and each and every one of the people killed this year but take action and work to dismantle this culture of violence and stigma that the transgender and gender-nonconforming community faces. Our community’s lives are on the line, and we must commit with every breath to fight for the change we need.”
October 16, 2020
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the HRC. Courtesy of the HRC
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Scalia’s mirror image: HRC releases report on Amy Coney Barrett WASHINGTON, DC (October 9, 2020) – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released a 12-page report detailing the troubling judicial approach and philosophy of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett was nominated to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion for LGBTQ equality. The report details Barrett’s history as a judge and past statements and how they are likely to shape her opinions as a potential Supreme Court Justice. Tellingly, Barrett says that the late, anti-equality Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s “judicial philosophy is mine.” “With such little daylight between Justice Scalia and Amy Coney Barrett, every American should be concerned by this nomination and its implications on the progress of equality for LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups,” said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “Justice Scalia ruled the wrong way on virtually every major Supreme Court case dealing with issues of LGBTQ equality, from Lawrence to Obergefell. This upcoming term and beyond, we expect crucial cases about the future of LGBTQ rights to appear before the Court. Amy Coney Barrett poses a clear threat to any progress we can expect to see
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett – Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo / AP
from the Court and her record shows she will take every opportunity to oppose us and scale back our rights. We vigorously oppose her nomination.” To read the full report on Amy Coney Barrett, [go to https://bit.ly/3dmcqh5]. Barrett has demonstrated hostility toward LGBTQ rights in her words and rulings. She defended the Supreme Court’s dissenters on the landmark marriage equality case of Obergefell v. Hodges, questioning the role of the court in deciding the case. She said Title IX protections do not extend to transgender Americans, claiming it’s a “strain on the text” to reach that interpretation. She misgendered transgender people, referring to a transgender women
as “physiological males,” while casting doubt on transgender rights. Barrett has also consistently demonstrated opposition to reproductive rights, calling Roe v. Wade an “erroneous decision.” She also refused to rehear a racial segregation case, raising significant concerns about her approach to civil rights law. She has criticized the ruling that upheld the Affordable Care Act – which has helped millions attain quality, affordable healthcare – and expressed opinions that suggest she would strike down the law. Days after the election, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an argument in a case that could undermine this transformative piece of legislation, and with it the healthcare security of tens of
millions of people, including a disproportionate number of LGBTQ people. The day after Election Day, the Court will hear Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which considers whether governments must allow taxpayer-funded organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ people when providing critical services. A ruling hostile to equality in this case could have staggering consequences for American social safety net programs including services for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, runaway youth, refugees, and those needing emergency shelters and services. Her hostility toward many of society’s most marginalized, victimized, and vulnerable groups raises serious concerns about her ability to be impartial and fairly consider the rights of all who come before the Court, including LGBTQ people; therefore, the Human Rights Campaign opposes her nomination in the strongest terms and will work steadfastly against it. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community. Courtesy of the HRC
Lambda Legal urges Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett WASHINGTON, DC (October 9, 2020) – Today, Lambda Legal sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging the members to oppose Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s nominee to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the United States Supreme Court. The rushed confirmation hearings are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 12, while voting for the next president and one-third of the senate is already underway. “Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s record is filled with red flags that should disqualify her from sitting on the US Supreme Court. Given her perverse, reactionary judicial philosophy, Judge Barrett is unfit to fill the seat, much less the shoes, of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” said Sasha Buchert, senior attorney at Lambda Legal. “Furthermore, this rushed confirmation process undermines the integrity of the Court and betrays the legacy of Justice Ginsburg. The politically motivated decision of the Senate Judiciary Committee to rush this confirmation process will further jeopardize the reputation of the Court, which must have the respect and confidence of the people in order to be effective. Our country cannot afford having the Supreme Court be seen as just another political branch – unbalanced and wielding disproportionate power. “There is so much at stake for LGBTQ people and everyone living with HIV right now because so much of our civil rights progress has happened in the courts,” Buchert added. “Decades of hard work have led to legal victories such as the right to marry the person we love, to protect our families, to access health care and make decisions about our bodies. Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s record is fundamentally at odds with basic guarantees of equality, liberty, justice, and dignity under the law for our communities. It is impossible for LGBTQ people to have confidence in Judge
Barrett, as her publicly available record makes clear that she would be unable or unwilling to respect and affirm our rights to equal protection of the laws.” In 2016, then-Professor Barrett gave a presentation in which she expressed that marriage should not be viewed as a fundamental right for same-sex couples and instead should be decided on a stateby-state basis. This approach mistakenly erases the duty of courts to enforce everyone’s constitutional rights. If followed, it would deny equal liberty, dignity, and autonomy to LGBTQ people, women, racial minorities, and any other marginalized community historically denied those rights. In a lecture discussing issues that could soon be before the Supreme Court, thenProfessor Barrett took the troubling and legally unsound position that transgender people are not protected by federal protections against sex discrimination. Justice Gorsuch explained why her view is wrong in the Court’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision of this past June. More disturbing yet, she mischaracterizes transgender people. She has opined that “people will feel passionately on either side about whether physiological males who identify as females should be permitted in bathrooms, especially where there are young girls present.” This ill-informed misgendering and disrespect of transgender people, and in particular of trans youth, ignores that it is transgender people who are at widespread risk of assault and discrimination. Spreading such inflammatory ignorance is dangerous to their very lives and ability to fully participate in public life. Further analysis of Amy Coney Barrett’s record reveals opinions that would immediately threaten the Affordable Care Act – which has expanded health care coverage for more than 20 million people, and
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helped countless LGBTQ people and those living with HIV who are more than twice as likely to be uninsured. She also has showed her lack of concern for racial equity – an important duty of our federal courts – when she denied rehearing of a decision that allowed a company to segregate its employees by race, violating a core tenant of Brown v. Board of Education. Read Lambda Legal’s letter at www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-
docs/20201009_letter_amy-coney-barrettopposition-supreme-court.
BARRETT
In a recent ruling in the case of Kim Davis, the county clerk who defied the Obergefell decision by refusing marriage licenses to Gay couples, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito wrote a scathing dissent challenging Obergefell on First Amendment religious-liberty grounds. Barrett, a member of an extremist Catholic traditionalist organization, would certainly be sympathetic to such an argument should cases come before the Supreme Court. Barret also refused to answer questions on her views of Roe v. Wade, the case that established women’s right to reproductive choice. In past statements, Barrett has said Roe was wrongly decided. In 2006, Barrett signed on to an advertisement that called the landmark decision “barbaric.” The nominee also skirted questions on the Affordable Care Act, long a target of the Trump administration. “I have had no conversation with the president or any of his staff in how I might rule in this case,” Barrett said in response to questioning from Democrat Patrick Leahy. “It would be a gross violation of judicial independence for me to make such a commitment,” Barrett added.
continued from cover sex marriage. Scalia was one of the four conservative justices who voted not to recognize samesex marriage rights in the historic Obergefell case in 2015. In response to pressing questions from Feinstein, Barrett said she could not comment because cases derived from Obergefell might come before the court. She then added: “I have never discriminated on the basis of sexual preference and would not ever discriminate on the basis of sexual preference.” The term “sexual preference” instead of “sexual orientation” is now considered outdated, if not pejorative. It is especially problematic in a legal context, because in the US legal system protections are afforded to immutable characteristics like race or sex, but not usually to preferences or choices. Barrett’s statement is also troubling because she says she foresees cases challenging or limiting Obergefell coming before the high court while she serves on it. It’s well known that right-wing legal groups deliberately recruit clients to challenge rulings like Obergefell, hoping they can get a favorable ruling from judges who share their social philosophy.
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Courtesy of Lambda Legal
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Celebrating 46 Years!
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Celebrating 46 Years!
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Organizations of color blast Supreme Court ruling cutting census short SEATTLE (October 14, 2020) – Today, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to conclude the 2020 census count immediately, two weeks ahead of schedule. Community organizations and civil rights watchdogs have warned that an accurate census count is essential for lowincome and underrepresented communities to receive the federal resources and representation they deserve. Justice Sonia Sotomayor echoed that perspective in her dissent. Organizations from communities of color across Washington state condemned the court’s decision and issued the following statements: “Our community feels betrayed by the Supreme Court today. We’ve organized tirelessly to ensure that everyone has a chance to be counted, but today’s court ruling undermines those efforts by allowing the administration to end the census early and leave people behind in the midst of a pandemic. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to complete the census immediately, before the administration slams the door shut on
the ability to be counted. We deserve an accurate census for fair representation in line with the promise of the Constitution.” – Lucy Gitau, outreach coordinator, Northwest Kenyan Community Association “This ruling enables yet another move by the Trump administration to twist a nonpartisan process for political gain, alarming observers across party lines. The administration has made a whole series of efforts to undermine the 2020 Census, including failed attempts to add a citizenship question to the census questionnaire and exclude immigrants from the apportionment process. Now, this ruling is rewarding the administration’s efforts to defy constitutional requirements to represent every person in the United States.” – Shomya Tripathy, director of policy and civic engagement, Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) “Indigenous people are one of the most historically undercounted populations in the nation. As Justice Sotomayor recognized in her dissent, a shortened timeline
will mean tens of thousands of missed Native American people in the census data and millions of dollars diverted from our communities. Today’s Supreme Court’s rule does not have our most marginalized communities’ needs in mind.” – Samantha Biasca, community engagement coordinator, Na’ah Illahee Fund “Here in Washington, the self-response rate is much higher in the Seattle area than in our rural areas, such as Ferry and Okanogan Counties. Rural communities were counting on door-to-door census outreach through the end of the month, partly because unlisted addresses can’t receive census materials in the mail. For the Supreme Court to allow the Trump administration to cut the census count short will have a devastating impact on the count in rural Washington and rural communities across the country.” – Margot Spindola, field organizer, Latino Community Fund “The chaos and confusion SCOTUS has thrown into the process by allowing Trump to cut the census timeline recklessly endan-
gers an accurate count of all Americans. The Roberts court is giving a wink and a nod to the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress the voices of working class Black and Brown communities, especially those in rural areas. Each person who gets counted in the 2020 Census builds power for their community, just like each person who turns out to vote builds power for their cause. All of us need to be in the fight for a democracy that counts everyone in with no one left behind.” – Kamau Chege, director, Washington Census Alliance
CENSUS
bureau a better chance of getting an accurate and complete count of the country’s residents, the lower courts ruled. In her dissenting opinion, Sotomayor wrote that “meeting the deadline at the expense of the accuracy of the census is not a cost worth paying, especially when the Government has failed to show why it could not bear the lesser cost of expending more resources to meet the deadline or continuing its prior efforts to seek an extension from Congress.” In a statement, Kristen Clarke of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the attorneys who helped bring
the lawsuit to extend the census schedule, noted that the order “will result in irreversible damage” despite the challengers’ efforts to “secure more time on the clock to achieve a fair and accurate count.” Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community – one of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs – called the ruling “a bitter pill for us to swallow here on the Reservation” in Arizona. “With no explanation or rationale, a majority simply decided that our people do not deserve to be counted, thus continuing a long history of leaving Indian peoples at the margins of the US society at large and
economy,” Lewis said in a statement. Despite the Constitution’s requirement to include the “whole number of persons in each state” and the president’s limited authority over the census, Trump wants to try to exclude unauthorized immigrants from those numbers. That effort has sparked another legal fight that is also before the Supreme Court. On Friday, the court is set to discuss whether to hear oral arguments for that case in December.
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continued from cover filed a dissenting opinion in the case. The administration’s plans to end the census count early had been challenged by several parties who argued that because of the COVID pandemic, more time was needed to ensure an accurate count. The census date is used to allocate House seats and federal money. Lower courts previously ordered the administration to keep counting through October 31. More time would give the
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The Washington Census Alliance is a statewide coalition of 90 organizations led by and working in communities of color. it advocates for the unique needs of our communities. It’s launching an unprecedented relational organizing campaign to ensure that historically undercounted communities throughout Washington state are counted in the 2020 census. Courtesy of Pyramid Communications
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National AIDS Memorial to launch 50-state AIDS Memorial Quilt virtual exhibition in conjunction with World AIDS Day
Photo courtesy of National AIDS Memorial
SAN FRANCISCO (October 9, 2020) – The National AIDS Memorial is announcing a virtual exhibition of the AIDS Memorial Quilt (the Quilt) that will feature more than 10,000 quilt panels representing all 50 state and US territories. The memorial is inviting interested panel makers, individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to be part of this historic effort to use the power of the Quilt to help a nation heal and remember during these difficult times. Each year on World AIDS Day, the National AIDS Memorial Quilt team works with hundreds of partners to arrange more than 1,000 in-person Quilt displays across the country at universities, places of worship, museums, businesses, and community centers to honor and remember loved ones lost to AIDS. This year, for health and safety reasons, that isn’t possible due to COVID-19. “World AIDS Day is taking on new meaning this year, as COVID-19 has brought an enormous loss of life and grief to millions of people,” said John Cunningham, executive director of the National AIDS Memorial. “During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, the Quilt was a source of immense comfort, inspiration and used as a tool for social activism to open the eyes of the nation to injustice and to help survivors grieve and heal.
Through this exhibition, we hope the power and beauty of the Quilt can serve that same purpose for those who are experiencing loss and grief due to COVID-19.” The virtual exhibition provides a unique way for individuals and organizations to host a display of the Quilt and be a part of this first-ever 50-state exhibition. Each display host will be able to feature a selection of beautiful Quilt blocks of their choice and curate a personalized display narrative that will accompany each display. The exhibition will be free to the public, launching on November 16, 2020, in advance of World AIDS Day at www.aidsmemorial.org/virtual2020. Displays will be categorized by state under the individual or organization host name and presented virtually as the first-ever 50-state exhibition of the Quilt. The exhibition will run through March 31, 2021. The fee to participate as a virtual display host is $500.00. Proceeds from the exhibition will be used to ensure the continued care and conservation of more than 48,000 individual panels of this national treasure. Each year, in-person Quilt displays account for more than half of the Quilt’s annual operating budget. Additional support for the Quilt and its programs are funded through
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the generous support from Gilead Sciences, Vivent Health, and other partners. “Even though nothing can replace seeing our beautiful Quilt in person, this virtual exhibition allows us to still share the Quilt and its stories just as we have done for past three decades around World AIDS Day,” said Gert McMullan, a co-founder of the Quilt and quilt conservator at the National AIDS Memorial. 2020 marks 40 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported in the United States, a pandemic that has led to nearly 700,000 lives lost, and still no cure four decades later. As our nation struggles through the COVID19 pandemic, the horrific loss of life has surpassed 200,000 in a matter of months. On World AIDS Day on December 1, the National AIDS Memorial will bring together powerful voices from both pandemics for an important conversation about health justice, social activism, remembrance, hope, and resilience. “World AIDS Day 2020: A National Conversation” will spotlight the interconnectedness of both pandemics – the lives lost, the survivors, the activism, the heroes. Through a distinguished list of guest speakers, panelists, video storytelling, and musical tributes, we will share important insights and help
answer the questions about how a nation responds, how it heals, and what lessons must be learned to prepare for the future. More details about the National AIDS Memorial World AIDS Day program will be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about the National AIDS Memorial World AIDS Day commemoration and sponsorship opportunities, please send an email to ssagaser@aidsmemorial. org. To become a virtual Quilt display host visit www.aidsmemorial.org/virtual2020. The National AIDS Memorial, through the AIDS Memorial Grove, AIDS Memorial Quilt, and inspiring programs, helps ensure that the story of AIDS and the AIDS movement is known in perpetuity so that never again will our national conscience allow a community to be devastated by an epidemic because of fear, silence, discrimination, or stigma. The memorial relies solely on funding from personal donors, foundations, and corporate partners to support its mission and programs. Learn more at www.AIDSMemorial.org. Courtesy of the National AIDS Memorial
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FILM
25th annual Seattle Queer Film Festival preview: Q&A with Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s Executive Director Kathleen Mullen by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer If one were scripting how the 25th annual Seattle Queer Film Festival (SQFF) was going to proceed in 2020 preCOVID-19, it’s safe to say running this silver anniversary milestone virtually and not in local theatres wasn’t a part of any initial drafts. But in the midst of a global pandemic, with local theatres still pretty much closed (a scant few are reopening this weekend to 25% capacity limits), it’s not like the folks over at Three Dollar Bill Cinema had a lot in the way of options. Yet, after a successful virtual edition of the Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival back in May, and with other festivals all over the world making similar adjustments, it only makes sense SQFF would take its 25th edition online. In doing so Three Dollar Bill interim executive director Kathleen Mullen and her determined team of festival programmers made sure to pull out all the stops and put together a diverse slate of features, shorts, documentaries, forums, Q&As and special events audiences will undoubtedly be eager to get a look at. As the old adage goes, there’s something for everyone, this 11-day event chockfull of intriguing opportunities worth getting excited about. I had the opportunity to Mullen for a brief ten question Q&A. Here’s what she had to say: Sara Michelle Fetters: It’s the 25th anniversary of the festival. I’m guessing this isn’t exactly the way you thought this anniversary was going to be celebrated? Kathleen Mullen: Absolutely not, but we adapted and have completely pivoted to be an online organization starting with a successful Translations: Transgender Film Festival this past spring, Pride screenings in the summer, and now our flagship program, The Seattle Queer Film Festival. We also managed to produce the Reel Queer Youth virtual camp with six participants and are screening the three films they created in our youth shorts program, “The Kids are Alright.” It has not been easy, but it’s certainly been interesting and rewarding. Sara Michelle Fetters: What new opportunities does a virtual festival offer? What’s surprised you the most? Kathleen Mullen: We are excited to be able to put on a festival in our 25th year! A virtual festival offered us the opportunity to expand our geographic audience to all of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. We have become more accessible to people who could not attend the prior festivals inperson. We hope this will bring vital queer visibility to new communities we have not reached in the past. Also, audiences get to watch on their couch or wherever they are comfortable, and with popcorn! Sara Michelle Fetters: In that vein, what were some of the unexpected challenges that you’ve encountered? Kathleen Mullen: Getting the word out! Conveying the how-tos of the festival. Even though many people have started watching films at home, the notion of experiencing a film festival virtually is still quite new. We try to say it’s similar to a video-on-demand scenario for a 72-hour time period once you click the link. You have access to all the films from October 15-25. We have suggested watch times to coincide with live Q&As with some very special guests. Sara Michelle Fetters: Even though we won’t be seeing one another at a local theatre or a community space, you still have a number of forums, programs and special events planned, including an entire
Ahead of the Curve – Photo courtesy of SQFF
program for deaf viewers. Talk to us more about these events and programs. What excites you the most about them? Kathleen Mullen: We have many interactive opportunities, including our DJ Zoom Parties following the Q&As after the opening film (DJ Vinnie) and closing film (DJ MIXX America), free workshops including “How to be a Trans Ally” and “How to be an Effective Ally” and live Q&As streamed to Facebook Live, Youtube Live and Cinesend (the platform for viewing festival films). I am excited we are still able to offer a version of the film festival experience. Dancing in your living room is not the same as an Opening Night Gala, but we hope it can evoke some of the same feelings, especially in this milestone anniversary year. Sara Michelle Fetters: Most of the films, forums and events are geo-blocked (but not all). What does geo-blocking mean and who does this apply to? Kathleen Mullen: Most of the film programs are geo-blocked to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Only people in those states can buy tickets and watch those films. This is per the distributors and filmmakers wishes. We have some films that are not geoblocked which we list on our website including Our Dance of Revolution, which is part of the QTBIPOC series called “Many Rivers to Cross: Diaspora Stories.” All events and workshops presented via Zoom are not geo-blocked and can be accessed by people from all over the world! All live Q&As can also be watched on Facebook Live and Youtube Live. Sara Michelle Fetters: Let’s talk about the films themselves. At first glance, it doesn’t appear that you had to pare down the number of features, shorts and documentaries even though due to current events you had to shift to a virtual festival. Am I correct on that? Kathleen Mullen: We did have to pare down the number of film programs a bit, but we tried to maintain a rich variety of
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narratives, documentaries, shorts programs and features. There was so much great work out there that we had to make some tough decisions. Sara Michelle Fetters: It’s also a pretty varied and diverse selection. How exciting is it to put a program like this together? What are you most proud of as far this year’s schedule is concerned? Kathleen Mullen: Being able to curate some great films! I love our three spotlight films (opening, closing and centerpiece). Breaking Fast is such a great romantic comedy. Gossamer Folds is by one of our alumni filmmakers and stars the wonderful Alexandra Grey, who will be with us for a Q&A along with director Lisa Donato and producer Yeardly Smith. It focuses on the friendship between a young boy and a Black trans woman in the ‘80s. And, of course, Ahead of the Curve is such an important documentary about the history of this quintessential lesbian magazine and its founder, Franco Stevens. So many highlights to give you! Cooper Sealy who has been on the SQFF and Translations programming committee for the past few years spearheaded the QTBIPOC committee that was formed to create a series of programs for the festival. I am totally looking forward to the discussion around Our Dance of Revolution and the pre-poetry event before the film Alice Júnior! I would like to highlight the preview of the series Equal. It is directed by Stephen Kijak, who directed last year’s opening night film Sid & Judy. I am looking forward to the Q&A for this program featuring Kijak, Cheyenne Jackson, Jai Rodriguez and moderated by Jenni Olson. We also have 11 shorts programs that are spectacular and bring new stories to the forefront. Check out “Queering the Narrative,” “Plugged In: Sci Fi Shorts,” and “Spectrums of the Spirit: Indigenous Showcase.” Sara Michelle Fetters: Are there any surprises or special events that might be also part of the festival this year that we’re not currently aware of? Kathleen Mullen: We have the opening and closing night Zoom parties with DJs. If you buy a ticket you are invited to a Zoom dance party! Also, we have two former Three Dollar Bill Cinema Executive Directors moderating discussions. The free screening of Vito (in honor of our 25th anniversary) will have a Q&A afterwards
between Jason Plourde the film’s director, Jeffrey Schwarz, and the Q&A for our closing night screening, Ahead of the Curve, will be moderated by Rachael Brister. Sara Michelle Fetters: How do you recommend people approach this year’s festival? If you were a regular viewer eager to get a look at some of these films and events, what would your game plan be? Kathleen Mullen: The film guide on the website is divided into categories, so I suggest people start there based on the types of films they typically like to watch such as documentaries or short films. The guide also has categories for films that would be considered lesbian, gay, bi/ queer, trans and BIPOC. However, I always encourage audiences to try something new and watch a program you might not usually attend or gravitate to at first glance. That’s another great entry point into the festival! Sara Michelle Fetters: What happens next? Where do you, the festival and Three Dollar Bill Cinema go from here? Kathleen Mullen: We want to leverage the success of this year’s online festivals and our milestone 25th-year festival to continue to bring new programs to the forefront in our 26th year. Whether we remain virtual for some part or all of next year, the important thing is that we continue our mission-based work to strengthen, connect and reflect diverse communities through queer film and media and bring vital visibility to queer voices both on-screen and behind the camera. To support this, we need our community’s support through membership, donations, and, of course, ticket sales. Like so many arts organizations, we have been significantly impacted by COVID-19, but we are working to build momentum for 2021. We have been a part of the Greater Seattle community and the international landscape of queer film festivals for 25 years, and want to be around 25 more.
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The 25th annual Seattle Queer Film Festival runs from October 15 thru October 25. This year’s festival is a completely virtual event with many of the features and shorts geo-blocked to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. All forums, events and workshops presented via Zoom are not geo-blocked and are open to viewers everywhere. For more information including the full schedule, tickets and full-series passes please go to https:// threedollarbillcinema.org/.
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FILM
Star-studded Chicago 7 a timely tale of protest, injustice and personal courage
The Trial of the Chicago 7 – Photo courtesy of Netflix
by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN A&E Writer THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Now playing on Netflix It feels obvious to state that Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a bit on the timely side as far its release this weekend is concerned. Hitting Netflix less than three weeks before the Presidential election on Nov. 3, the parallels between the 1969 political show trial of the eight men charged for instigating the riots during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago and what’s been happening in streets across the country today aren’t exactly subtle. Many viewers are going to read much of what happens in this film to be a commentary on the current political situation in the United States, and that’s just fine. For my part, I went into this one sadly knowing precious little about these historical events other than bits and pieces we went over in one of my introductory Political Science classes when I was a freshman at the University of Washington. The riots and how they started? How newly elected President Richard Nixon’s Justice Department was able to find a way to charge this group of men of crossing state lines to start a riot? The shocking ineptitude of Judge Julius Hoffman (Frank Langella)? Most of this was new to me, so as dramatic reenactments of semi-recent history are concerned to say my interest was piqued would be an understatement. If only Sorkin the writer had found someone other than Sorkin the director to handle his script. While a good, highly engaging film filled with sublime moments, there are still tons of little hiccups that kept me from falling completely in love with this one. There is a heavy-handed didacticism to the material that can feel a little smothering. Very little about this presentation is anything close to understated, and there are moments throughout where it’s somewhat clear Sorkin is attempting to channel his inner Robert Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird) or Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men) and failing to do so.
Then there is the ending. Much like with Sorkin’s directorial debut Molly’s Game, this one drops the ball right at the end. Thankfully, also like that one the positive aspects of this production are so voluminous this egregious, almost insultingly mediocre and blatantly preachy misstep isn’t as disastrous as it could have been. Still, from Daniel Pemberton’s (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) smothering score to the overblown framing of this histrionic denouement, I cannot say the climax did all that much for me. Yet The Trial of the Chicago 7 is still pretty dang entertaining. Sorkin’s dialogue is frequently killer, and in the hands of an eclectic all-star cast featuring the likes of Langella, Sacha Baron Cohen, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya AbdulMateen II, Michael Keaton, Jeremy Strong and Mark Rylance, it’s all delivered with such pinpoint precision I was oftentimes in awe. Cohen is surprisingly great as Abbie Hoffman, while Redmayne brings Tom Hayden to life with startling effectiveness. Lynch (as Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam leader David Dellinger) has a couple of terrifically memorable scenes, specifically one where the revered pacifist loses his even-tempered cool in front of his family and the look of shame that crosses his face is nothing short of devastating. For me, the best of this talented bunch end up being Rylance and Strong. The former plays defense attorney William Kunstler, his battle of wills with Judge Hoffman a thing of exasperating beauty. As for Strong, he completely disappears into his portrayal of Hoffman’s best friend and fellow comedic iconoclast Jerry Rubin, and it took me half the film to realize it was him in the role. His performance is a constant revelation, his pained, mournful fury during the flashbacks depicting the 1968 Chicago DNC riots breathtakingly extraordinary. I can’t help but think a tighter motion picture could have been made out of Sorkin’s energetically dynamic script. Once upon a time Steven Spielberg wanted to make this one, and it’s difficult not to imagine what he
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or the writer’s The Social Network collaborator David Fincher might have done with this material had they stepped behind the camera. But as those are what-if scenarios and nothing more. I can only take The Trial of the Chicago 7 for what it is and not speculate on any woulda coulda shoulda’s. On that front, Sorkin’s latest directorial offer-
ing is timely, engaging and undeniably thought-provoking. It is also spectacularly acted across the board. All of this helps offset a small handful of missteps that admittedly did annoy me, and for this jury of one I still found this story of injustice, sacrifice, personal courage and protest worthy of my enthusiastic support.
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