Celebrating 41 Years! Issue 38 Volume 42
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Seattle Gay News SEATTLE’S LGBT NEWS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Watch the Sixth Circuit, Justice Ginsburg says FACEBOOK
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Facebook won’t budge on socalled “real name” policy; Drag queens mobilizing
On Monday, the protest scheduled for Facebook’s Menlo Park campus had been postponed after Gay San Francisco Supervisor David Campos arranged a meeting with company executives and drag queens. Leading the charge was outspoken Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, Sister Roma, whose real name is Michael
Williams, and Heklina, whose real name is Stefan Grygelko. The meeting, most people thought, was a good sign that Facebook would drop its potentially dangerous policy where the world’s most popular social network is demanding that users – well, not really all, just the LGBTQ ones mostly – change their stage names or chosen names to the name that appears on their birth certificate.
see FACEBOOK page 6
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says the U.S. Supreme Court will likely take one or more marriage cases if the Sixth Circuit Court overturns lower court rulings striking down state bans on same-sex marriage. In a September 16 speech at the University of Minnesota Law School, Ginsburg said “there will be some urgency” for the Supreme Court to rule on the issue of same-sex marriage if the Sixth Circuit bucks the trend in federal court decisions and upholds bans on Gay and Lesbian marriages. The Supreme Court has already announced that it will look at all pending marriage cases in its September 29 conference, the first after the justices return to work from their summer vacations. The court is not obligated to hear any of them, however, and Ginsburg’s remarks seem to indicate that she, at least, would not feel a pressing need to intervene in the marriage issue unless lower courts disagree. In a July interview with Katie Couric, Ginsburg predicted that
the high court would return to the issue of same-sex marriage “sooner or later,” but declined to say when. “The court took the first step in DOMA [United States v. Windsor],” Ginsburg noted. “There will be other cases to come before the court. If not in the new term, then in the term after, or the one after that. Sooner or later the court will answer that question. And of course I can’t predict how the court will decide an issue that may come before it.” In her Minnesota speech Ginsburg noted what she called a “remarkable” shift in public opinion toward samesex marriage. The fact that more LGBT Americans are out, and openly talking about their relationships, Ginsburg said, made the difference. “Having people close to us who say who they are – that made the attitude change in this country,” the justice said. Ginsburg, who likes to refer to herself as “Notorious RBG,” was one of the majority of five justices in Windsor who ruled that DOMA violated the equal protection and due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. Subsequent federal see ginsburg page 7
LGBTQ Allyship hosts first LGBTQ Intergenerational Conference FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Jewelle Gomez & Nic Masangkay
Courtesy of Jewelle Gomez
Courtesy of Honey Bucket
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
And even that doesn’t work. Last week local entertainer and activist Chase Silva was told that his middle name, which is Hawaiian and over 20 letters long, was not his legal name. Only, it was. Silva went so far as to upload a portion of his birth certificate, which clearly shows he was telling the truth (not that anyone who isn’t ignorant to names that sound different to “Smith” or “White” needed to see proof). Facebook officials still did not accept the name, and Chase, rather than lose all of his contacts, videos and photos, simply used the middle initial, “N.,” and told Facebook officials where they could shove the rest of those letters and moved on. Meanwhile, the “I AM” photos that are being uploaded by performers (drag, burlesque, but mostly drag) have tripled since last week. The case could easily be made that these entertainers have been targeted because Lady Gaga is certainly not Stephanie Germanotto’s “real name” and I’m pretty sure that well-known author Danielle Steel
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Jewelle Gomez
“Where have we been? Where are we going? An exploration of money, power, health and history in the LGBTQ community.” – LGBTQ Allyship
generational Conference. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the first workshops start at 9:30 a.m. The cost of attending the conference is FREE. Allyship is requestOn Sunday, September 28, at Se- ing a $5 to $25 donation to help attle University’s Student Center them cover costs of the conference; (901 12th Ave.), LGBTQ Allyship see ALLYSHIP page 8 kicks off their first LGBTQ Inter-
2 Seattle Gay News
September 19, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
The Elections of 2014: You Can Make a Difference by Jesse Monteagudo SGN Contributing Writer
ernors or state legislatures. On the other hand, Republican and Tea Party state governors, attorney generals and legislators in charge of most red states are doing their best to prevent the spread of marriage equality. Though not all Democratic politicians have evolved on the marriage equality issue – Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler is a good example – most political office holders in the USA who favor this important cause are still more likely than not to be Democrats. We only have a few weeks left until Election Day. The Republicans are using their lavish campaign funds on negative campaign ads that tarnish their Democratic opponents and discourage the Democratic base. We cannot let this happen. Though I am sure all my readers are ready to go out and vote on November 4, you must know people who need convincing. Let us get them out to vote, by any legal means possible, and let us elect candidates who will work for our rights and our interests, and for the common good. onmilwaukee.com
In 2008 a coalition of women, racial minorities, environmentalists, labor unions, civil libertarians, antiwar activists and LGBT people helped elect Barack Obama President of the United States, along with a large Democratic majority in the Senate and House of Representatives. In 2010 Obama and the Democrats suffered a setback when the Republicans took the House. In 2012 Obama was re-elected President and, though the GOP kept the House, the Democrats retained the Senate. 2014 threatens to be another bad year for the Democrats, with Republican candidates ready to topple red state Democratic Senators on their way to a Senate majority. Even Nate Silver, who predicted Obama’s re-election, gives the GOP a good chance of taking the Senate. What happened? The rise of the Tea Party as a major part of the Republican coalition helped that party in 2010 and promises to do so again this year. And Obama’s second term follies and misfortunes have energized his enemies and disillusioned his friends. In addition, 2014, like 2010 before, is a mid-term election; and mid-term elections favor the GOP. This is largely because the people who usually vote in mid-term elections are the old, the rich, the white and the male; the types of people who usually vote Republican. On the other hand, the young, the poor, minorities and women, people who usually vote Democratic, often stay away from the polls in non-presidential elections. I suspect that LGBT people also fall in that category. Republican candidates also have a lot more money to spend, both from their own well-stocked pockets and from wealthy donors who realize that a GOP victory will help their interests. Democrats, who do not have as many deep pockets to draw from, are not as fortunate.
It does not have to be that way. A successful get out the vote campaign could counter the Republican and Tea Party money machine and elect Democratic and Progressive candidates. It is not easy. A lot of people on our side only vote in presidential elections, and only when they can vote for a charismatic candidate like Barack Obama. They were not brought up on the belief that voting is both a right and a privilege; a privilege that is denied to millions of people around the world. They do not realize that electing a senator, a congressperson, a state governor or a state legislator is just as important as electing a President. As a result most non-presidential elections are decided by a small minority of eligible voters, and a conservative minority at that. Though my Log Cabin friends disagree, I believe that the interests of the LGBT community are better served by electing Democratic or Progressive candidates for political office. Just to give you one example, marriage equality in America has made the most progress is blue states with Democratic and Progressive gov-
Thank you from Mid-Columbia Pride Dear Maggie and SGN Staff, Thank you for always remembering us. Thank you so much for participating in this year’s Pride celebration. Having you there means a lot to our organization and community. We look forward to working with you in the future. Sincerely, Mid-Columbia Pride Committee
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September 19, 2014
Seattle Gay News 3
Obituary
Fred Ketteman (1938-2014)
IN MEMORIAM
Fred Ketteman Frederick Charles Ketteman passed away peacefully at home in Seattle, Washington on September 9, 2014, with close friends by his side. Fred was born to Annie and Charles T. Ketteman on March 12, 1938 in Dayton, Ohio. He is survived by his sisters Patricia (Patti) McKinney and Margaret (Peggy) McConnell, both of Centerville, Ohio, and Helen Draughn of West Carrollton, Ohio. Following graduation from Ohio University in 1960, Fred was hired by Dave Hackett to work in John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. He had the time of his life in those much simpler times. He worked both in answering correspondence and the distribution of campaign materials to the field. For a brief time in 1961, Fred worked at the White House in the old Executive Office Building answering the tons of mail that was elicited by JFK’s “Ask Not” proposition. Somehow he survived all of the cuts in staff, mainly due to Dave’s influence. Fourteen months later, he embarked upon a maritime career as a purser with American President Lines in San Francisco and made his maiden voyage aboard the S.S. PRESIDENT HOOVER in May 1962. For the next 30 years, he collected
friends and fascinating ports-of-call, and lived in Honolulu, Maui, San Francisco, and sin. In a 1991 appearance on “Jeopardy!,” he won $22,500 in one game. Thank you, John Paul Jones. Fred’s Act II opened in 1993 in Seattle, where he was employed by the Seattle Symphony and joined Seattle Men’s Chorus – arguably the largest and most celebrated Gay choral organization in the world, eventually appearing on the stage of Carnegie Hall with Harvey Fierstein. During his tenure with the chorus, he served on the Board of Directors and was recognized by the membership and staff for his outstanding and unflagging volunteerism, having received both the Rainbow Award for “meritorious service beyond all reason” and the Ruby Slipper Award. Fred continued to volunteer right up to the end, lending his talents to Companis, a group of professionals who serve the non-profit community; Diverse Harmony, the nation’s first Gay/Straight Alliance youth choir; and local public radio station KUOW. A memorial service in celebration of all that Fred is will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at Seattle First Baptist Church in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Fred’s name to either Seattle Men’s Chorus (seattlemenschorus.org) or Diverse Harmony (diverseharmony.org).
9 Seattle teams travel to Dallas for Gay Softball World Series
The Emerald City Softball Association’s contingent will be one of the largest at the weeklong, 168-team event, which takes place September 22-27
One of the country’s largest Gay sporting events is set for this coming week – and Seattle will be a big part of it. Nine teams from the Emerald City Softball Association will travel to compete in the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance’s Gay Softball World Series, September 22-27 in Dallas. As of September 15, 168 teams from the U.S. and Canada have quali-
fied to take part in the annual tournament. Seattle’s contingent will be one of the largest at the event – and it is the largest in the history of the 35-year-old ECSA, matching 2013’s number of teams. Representing Seattle will be the following teams: • B Division: Battalion, Dirty Dawgs • C Division: Browns, Knights, Maulers • D Division: Fat Cats, Muffin Tops, Xtreme • Masters Division: Rainiers “It will be fun to watch the competition
4 Seattle Gay News
September 19, 2014
by Tony Stasiek Special to the SGN
and to see how our teams represent the ECSA, the city of Seattle and the state of Washington,” says Frank Pichinini, ECSA commissioner. The ECSA’s World Series teams won their divisions locally or qualified by winning one of the top seeds in a berth tournament this past July, following the ECSA’s three-month regular season. One exception: the Rainiers, whose Masters Division is reserved for players ages 50 and older. Seattle’s 2012 Masters Division team, the Strokes, took home a World Series ring two years ago – as did the Seattle Inferno in the D Division. In fact, in the past 10 years, Seattle has earned more Gay Softball World Series titles than all but one city. Seattle’s opponents this year may range from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and from San Diego to Rhode Island. Of course, with more than 2,000 athletes descending upon Dallas, there are more to the festivities than softball. Hot on the heels of Dallas’ Gay-pride events this coming weekend, World Series week kicks off on September 22 with opening ceremonies at Annette Strauss Artist Square at Dallas’ AT&T Performing Arts Center. Special guests include Dallas-area television personality Dale Hansen, whose commentary on Gay NFL player Michael Sam earlier this year went viral on Facebook and other social media. Also on the agenda are September 23’s GSWS Night Out at Globe Life Park, where
Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers will take on the Houston Astros; an annual talent show on September 24 hosted by Seattle’s Selma Sue; and closing ceremonies following the championship games on September 27, featuring recording artist Deborah Cox. The trip doesn’t come cheap, with the cost of hotels and airfare alone averaging more than $1,000 per player for the tournament. Each of Seattle’s teams has spent most of the summer raising funds for their week in the Lone Star State. To support or keep track of the ECSA’s teams, check out the league on Facebook – facebook.com/ecsa.opendivision – or find their game scores on mygsws.com, which will be updated in real time as each World Series game concludes. About the ECSA: The ECSA started in 1980 in Seattle as a group of friends playing ball and has grown to be a welcoming place for LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ players to partake in the competition and spirit of softball. It is now one of the oldest and largest Gaysoftball leagues in the nation. It is a member of NAGAAA – which represents more than 10,000 players in 36 member cities in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about the ECSA – the Pacific Northwest’s largest Gay-softball league – or to speak with players from any of the ECSA’s teams, please contact Marketing/ Communications Director Tony Stasiek at marcom@seattlegaysoftball.com or visit www.seattlegaysoftball.com.
Celebrating 41 Years!
October 5 “Walk for the Animals” at U Village’s FidoFEST gives everyone an opportunity to help Seattle Humane support local cats and dogs in need of help
Pets like Bailey, who came to us at just under a year old and suffering from cerebellar hypoplasia. This disorder occurs when the cerebellum doesn’t form properly in the womb. As a result of her condition Bailey has wobbly and uncoordinated movements that make it difficult for her to walk. She was severely underweight and had spent the majority of puppyhood in a ken-
nel – often for 12-hours at a time. Bailey’s muscles had atrophied, so our veterinary team prescribed daily therapy to regain her strength. An experienced foster parent worked with Bailey, helping her to put on weight, grow and strengthen her muscles, and essentially teach her how to walk for the first time. After four months of one-on-one care, Bailey’s health was transformed. She gained nearly 20 pounds and her confidence (and her muscles!) became stronger with each passing day. While she will never lose her wobble, Bailey learned not only how to walk, but to run, play, and even take stairs just like any other young pup! Days before Christmas, a very special adopter learned of Bailey’s story and fell in love. He took her home and wrote to Seattle Humane to say, “Bailey and I are doing great! She is one happy dog and she is learning to live in the city pretty well. We go on one long walk every day, with time off-leash at a dog-friendly field next to where I live. There are other dogs there for her to play with, too.” Bailey’s story reminds us of the compassionate animal lovers in our community and the equally incredible pets available for each and every one of them! We’re a donor-funded organization whose life-saving work and community programs would not be possible without the generous support of animal lovers like you. By registering to Walk for the Animals on October 5 at U Village’s FidoFEST, you can help raise critical funds for pets like Bailey. It’s easy, fun, and you’ll earn great prizes for every milestone you reach. We’ll help you along the way – just sign up at seattlehumane.org/ walk, share our story, fundraise, and then leash up your dog and celebrate with us at Walk for the Animals! The event kicks off
WIKIPEDIA
Seattle Humane is a private, not-for-profit animal welfare organization striving to provide the best care and services to both the animals and the people of our region. We offer pet adoptions, spay and neuter services to low-income pet owners, a pet food bank, on-campus dog training classes, and humane education for children of all ages. Seattle Humane also believes that animal companionship should be accessible to all members of our community. Our outreach programs provide free pet food to low-income seniors, and basic veterinary care to pets of community members disabled by HIV/AIDS. Nearly 7,000 animals came through our doors last year in various stages of life and health. Some were only week-old kittens too young to even open their eyes. Others were older dogs who lived with one family their entire lives and became homeless through no fault of their own. Many were strays who were abandoned or lost their way, and others were rescued from shelters that didn’t have the resources to care for them. All of these pets had one thing in common – they needed our help. What sets Seattle Humane apart is that we are an open-door shelter with no time limits. That means we accept every animal in need of our help – regardless of age, breed or physical condition. We provide them with the care they deserve for as long as it takes us to find them a loving home.
with a 2-mile dog walk on the Burke-Gilman wine garden, and so much more! trail, and continues with FidoFEST – a festiSign up and learn more at seattlehumane. val of all things pet that includes live music org/walk. by the Moondoggies, pet vendors with tons of freebies, dog costume contests, a beer & Courtesy of Seattle Humane
Census data shows Seattle had steepest rise in rent increase in the nation by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor Rent is high in Seattle. And people are hurting. Families are scraping by and all that anyone ever gets told about why the rent in Seattle has gone sky-high is that rent is being raised everywhere, nobody is hurting as bad as people are saying they are and so on. It’s ridiculous. Why are we paying New York prices without New York tourism dollars? Why does rent cost more in Seattle than in Miami where there the beaches don’t have boulders and big rocks and the sun is out year-round? Regardless, the U.S. Census released data this week that might shed some light on the issue. Data released Thursday by the Census Bureau ranks Seattle among the 10 mostexpensive cities for renters. According to FYIGuy.com, between 2010 and 2013, Seattle renters took a bigger hit to their pocketbooks than renters in any other large U.S. city. The gross median rent
here spiked by $113, or nearly 11 percent. That’s the sharpest rise in rent among the nation’s 50 most-populous cities. Seattle is the only large city where rents jumped by more than $100, and by more than 10 percent, in this period. The median amount paid by Seattle renters, across all size units, reached $1,172 in 2013. The census data also show that three out of five Seattle apartments now rent for more than $1,000. Rents in Bellevue rose even more dramatically than they did in Seattle, jumping by $152 between 2010 and 2013. The median rent there now stands at $1,494 – that’s $3 higher than San Francisco, believe it or not. The census data also shows that Seattle’s apartment-dwelling population reached 307,000 in 2013 – a 13 percent increase since 2010. So while it may not be cheap to rent here, that certainly isn’t keeping people away.
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Courtesy of The Seattle Times
September 19, 2014
Seattle Gay News 5
Sign at new Facebook campus
continued from cover dropped a few names from her birth certificate, which has her designated as being named Danielle Fernande Dominique SchueleinSteel. Yet, their stage or pen names have not been targeted. Something doesn’t seem right, because something is most definitely not right. We know bigotry and discrimination when we see it – so Facebook officials have picked a fight with the wrong crowd. But even amongst Gays, to pick a fight with drag queens is just poor judgment. They are, and always will be, loud, and with a microphone in hand, and a wanting audience waiting in the wings. In addition, more and more people – many who are using their legal name for their profile name, but agree that people should have the right to choose – are signing the petition daily. As Seattle Gay News goes to press, the Olivia La Garce petition has an impressive over 20,000 signatures, and shows no signs of slowing down. It is important to note that the San Francisco queens that are organizing around this issue and the Seattle queens organizing locally are working separately, but towards the same cause – meaning that no organization or official campaign name has been launched, but cooperation coming from both cities seems to be a key reason why so many know about this issue. For activists that have spent many years organizing, this issue is dripping with nostalgia. It was, after all, a drag queen that threw the first punch/ brick that started the modern day LGBTQ equality movement at Stonewall in 1969.
I think this issue really speaks to drag culture; if you really think about it, most queens have stage names that are all camp or all drag haus. As outlandish or weird or fun or just plain sexually suggestive as these names are – they belong to the performer and the community as one in the same. When Mama Tits stared and yelled down the so-called Christian protestors at this year’s Pride Parade, the community felt they had done the same. Love them or hate them, the drag queens represent our culture and history in the most visible way possible – even on TV. Speaking of RuPaul … has RuPaul, the creator of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the drag queen who fought to use the word “Tranny,” a word the Transgender community has criticized him for using, been told to change his account? Who knows? And who cares? Not me. The reason why this movement is taking off is not because somebody is or is not famous. In fact, I see this as being the opposite of that. It is taking off because the queens and their supporters have had enough, and after what must seem like an eternity of cold shoulders, “you’re not welcome here” looks, and attacks, these queens have dug their heels in and are determined to bring the world’s most known and used social network to its knees, bowing before its Queens. Back to San Francisco … On Wednesday, Supervisor David Campos arranged a meeting with company executives and drag queens Sister Rom and a good number of drag queens joined them. see FACEBOOK page 8
Rep. Jared Polis files discharge petition for ENDA by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Openly Gay Congressman Jared Polis (DCO) announced on September 18 that he has filed a discharge petition for ENDA (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) in the U.S. House of Representatives. “A discharge petition is a procedure to force a vote on legislation if it receives signatures from the majority of the House of Representatives,” Polis explained in a statement. ENDA would prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, giving LGBT employees federal legal protections for the first time. Polis said he was taking the unusual step of filing a discharge petition because Republican House leaders have repeatedly refused to bring the measure to a vote. “This is common sense legislation that is supported by a majority of Americans and was passed overwhelmingly by the United States Senate,” Polis said. “The Republicans have been dragging their feet on this bill for too long, allowing workplace discrimination against hardworking LGBT Americans to continue. In our nation that was founded on the notion that with hard work and dedication anyone can get ahead, it is unthinkable that employees can still be fired for who they love or what gender they are. I hope Members from both sides of the aisle will sign this petition and protect all Americans from discrimination in the work place.” Polis needs 218 signatures, a majority of
6 Seattle Gay News
the House, to bring ENDA up for a vote. He currently has 75, all of them Democrats. If all his Democratic colleagues sign on, he will still need 27 Republican signatures. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), an original co-sponsor of ENDA, has denounced Polis’s discharge petition as a “partisan political tool” and promised not to sign it. Polis replied that he wanted “to throw down the gauntlet” because co-sponsoring the legislation is not good enough. Narrow religious exemption A version of ENDA passed the U.S. Senate in 2013, but Polis’s version is not identical with that bill. Since the Senate action, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Hobby Lobby, in which the court granted some for-profit corporations a broad religious exemption to the Affordable Care Act, made LGBT activists take a second look at the religious exemption language in ENDA. Most national LGBT organizations – including the ACLU, Lambda Legal, NGLTF, NCLR, the Transgender Law Center, and Pride At Work – pulled support from the bill. Polis responded to their concerns by significantly narrowing the exemptions in his version of ENDA. If Polis’s new version passes, it will then have to go to the Senate again. Polis said he believed the Senate would pass it. “The previous incarnation of ENDA was in the pre-Hobby Lobby era,” Polis said. “I’m confident that if this is brought to the House floor and passes, the Senate will be able to expeditiously act on this bill and send it to the President’s desk.”
September 19, 2014
Congressman Jared Polis
Celebrating 41 Years!
Group that attacked Philly Gay couple claims self-defense, community outraged Sometimes, after the bruises heal and the scars begin to fade, the thing that hurts victims of violent attacks more than the physical harm/threat is the defense their attackers use in court to justify why they did whatever heinous thing they are accused of doing. Everyone has heard of the “Twinkie Defense,” I assume. Well, the days of that crackpot defense tactic have come and gone, but now the bigots, according to what the alleged attackers of a Gay couple in Philadelphia last weekend have said, claim self-defense. And the community, as one could only imagine, is outraged. And for good reason! How in the Hell does a group of 15 privileged white kids, graduates from a Catholic school, attack two unarmed Gay men on their way out for pizza and claim self-defense? This we simply cannot allow. Caryn Kunkle, a source close to the victims, 30 and 31, described as “tall, masculine-looking dudes,” said the men were walking home when a group of approximately eight to ten young people bumped into them. After a very brief verbal confrontation where one of the attackers asked if the men were boyfriends, the group physically struck. “It went from 0 to 100 miles per hour,” she said. “They were calling them ‘fucking faggots’ and everything.” According to Kunkle, one of the victims fractured both his cheekbones and jawbone, and has a 2-inch laceration from his nose to
inside his lip; surgery was required. Kunkle also said that the Special Victims Unit got involved. On Thursday, the people who allegedly committed the assault made their claim that they acted in self-defense and Kunkle says that “the District Attorney prepared the boys for that. It would be pretty much the only attempt at an excuse they could possibly try. However, it was very clear that the group asked if they were dating before the assault began, and they verbally assaulted them before and during the time they were beating them. I don’t think self-defense will stick for long. Every witness refutes their claim.” Archbishop Wood Catholic High School has released a statement concerning reports former students were involved in the incident. “Earlier today, Archbishop Wood High School became aware that some of its former students were allegedly involved in the assault of two men in Center City last week. This afternoon, administrators communicated with the entire Archbishop Wood school community to make it emphatically clear that the school does not, under any circumstances, tolerate or condone the violent and hateful behavior displayed by those who took part in this senseless attack,” the school said in the statement. “Administration also stressed that Catholic schools are centers of learning where students are expected to treat each other in a Christ-like manner at all times and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The actions of those who took part in the attack are reprehensible and entirely unacceptable. They are not an accurate reflection of our Catholic
www.philly.com
by Shaun Knittel SGN Associate Editor
Philadelphia Police surveillance of identified attackers
values or of Archbishop Wood High School.” An assistant coach for the school’s basketball team resigned before he could be fired Wednesday for his alleged connection to the attack on the Gay couple in Center City. The man, who has not been officially charged, is a person of interest in the assault. Police are in the process of interviewing several persons of interest after they released surveillance video and photos of a group of men and women who may have been involved in the attack. Authorities identified several persons of interest after a social media firestorm tracked down the possible suspects based on check-ins at a Center City restaurant pic-
tured in an image that showed people similarly dressed to the attackers. The man, or person of interest, resigned his post as an assistant basketball coach at Archbishop Wood after being confronted about the allegations, according to a school spokesman. School officials said that if he hadn’t quit he would have been fired. Original reports were that the unnamed coach was fired rather than resigned. “He was not a teacher at the school but serving as a coach on a contract basis,” the spokesperson said. “We expect all those who work with students in our schools to model appropriate Christian behavior at all times.”
Lambda Legal asks for summary judgment in Puerto Rico marriage suit by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer Lambda Legal entered a motion for summary judgment on September 15 in a suit to overturn Puerto Rico’s ban on same-sex marriages. As a Commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico is internally self-governing, but is under the jurisdiction of U.S. federal courts, and the suit was filed in March in the U.S. District Court in San Juan. Lambda Legal entered the suit in June. Summary judgment means that the court would rule that the ban on Gay and Lesbian marriages is discriminatory and unconstitutional on its face, without a need for further hearings. The case, Conde v. Garcia Padilla, involves five same-sex couples and the organization Puerto Rico Para Tod@s. “All families deserve to have their love and commitment recognized in Puerto Rico; they need the protections only marriage can provide as soon as possible, without discrimination,” Lambda Legal staff attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan said in a statement. “Every day that passes, our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender family members are told they are inferior to our other family members. They are living, working and caring for each other now and need the
dignity and respect of marriage.” Attorney Ada Mercedes Conde Vidal filed the original suit on March 25, on behalf of herself and her wife, Ivonne Álvarez Vélez. The couple had been legally married in Massachusetts in 2004, and wanted Puerto Rico to recognize their marriage. They have been together for 14 and have one daughter. When Lambda Legal entered the case, they also brought additional plaintiffs: • Iris Delia Rivera Rivera – a veteran of the National Guard deployed in the first Gulf War – and Maritza López Avilés have been together for 38 years and are parents of one daughter; • José A. Torruellas Iglesias and Thomas J. Robinson have been together for 13 years and married in Toronto in 2007; • Zulma Oliveras Vega and Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro have been together for six years and are parents of one daughter; • Johanne Vélez García and Faviola Meléndez Rodríguez have been together for six years and married in New York in 2012. The organizational plaintiff, Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, is a leading advocate for LGBT people and their families in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, with many members throughout the island. Their suit argues that Puerto Rico’s marriage ban unfairly discriminates against LGBT couples and sends a
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purposeful message that LGBT people and their children are second-class, undeser ving of the legal protections, respect, and support that differentsex couples and their families are able
to enjoy through marriage. The ban was enacted in 1999, but proposed amendments that would have enshrined it in the Commonwealth’s constitution were defeated in 2008 and 2009.
September 19, 2014
Seattle Gay News 7
continued from cover however, no one will be turned away for lack of a donation. The keynote speeches are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and a celebratory performance/art show will be held at 5 p.m. This is event is open to all LGBTQ and allied individuals in the community. During the conference, Allyship volunteers will be interviewing conference participants to collect their “coming out” stories. These stories will be made into a short intergenerational documentary representing one of the most important and universal moments of an LGBTQ person’s life. Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in an interactive Northwest LGBTQ social justice timeline honoring all of our histories in the fight for Queer and Trans* justice. This conference is wheelchair accessible and all ages are welcome. All attendees are asked to refrain from wearing scents so this conference can be relatively accessible to scent sensitive people. CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: OPENING ROUND OF WORKSHOPS at 9:30 a.m. The workshop topics and presenters are: 1) Talking Across Generations – Presented by Jack Barker, Jo ‘Paradigm’ Roberts, Katie Scheier, and Symone Ashley. 2) Immigrant Rights, Racial Justice and LGBTQ Equality Timeline – Presented by Emma Moreno and Justine Winnie. KEYNOTE ADDRESSES at 11:30 a.m. The keynote speakers are: JEWELLE GOMEZ Jewelle Gomez is a writer and activist and the author of the double Lambda Awardwinning novel, The Gilda Stories, from Firebrand Books. Her adaptation of the book for the stage, Bones & Ash: a Gilda Story, was performed by the Urban Bush Women company in 13 U.S. cities. The script was published as a Triangle Classic by the Paperback Book Club. She is the recipient of a literature fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts; two California Arts Council fellowships and an Individual Artist Commission from the San Francisco Arts Commission. Her fiction, essays, criticism and poetry have appeared in numerous periodicals. Among them: The San Francisco Chronicle, The New
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York Times, The Village Voice; Ms Magazine, ESSENCE Magazine, The Advocate, Callaloo and Black Scholar. Her work has appeared in such anthologies as Home Girls, Reading Black Reading Feminist, Dark Matter and the Oxford World Treasury of Love Stories. She has served on literature panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council and the California Arts Council. She was on the original staffs of “Say Brother,” one of the first weekly, Black television shows in the U.S. (WGBH-TV, Boston) and “The Electric Company” (Children’s Television Workshop, NYC) as well as on the founding board of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). She was an original member of the boards of the Astraea Foundation and the Open Meadows Foundation. Her first novel, The Gilda Stories, celebrated its 20th year in print in 2011 with readings at the Museum of the African Diaspora and at the Queer Arts Festival. Her other publications include three collections of poetry: The Lipstick Papers (1980) and Flamingoes and Bears (1986), both self-published, and Oral Tradition from Firebrand Books (1995). She edited (with Eric Garber) a fantasy fiction anthology entitled Swords of the Rainbow (Alyson Publications (1996) and selected the fiction for The Best Lesbian Erotica of 1997 (Cleis). She is also the author of a book of personal and political essays entitled Forty-Three Septembers (Firebrand Books, 1993) and a collection of short fiction, Don’t Explain (Firebrand Books, 1997). She has presented lectures and taught at numerous institutions of higher learning including San Francisco State University, Hunter College, Rutgers University, New College of California, Grinnell College, San Diego City College, The Ohio State University and the University of Washington (Seattle). Formerly the executive director of the Poetry Center and the American Poetry Archives at San Francisco State University she has also worked in philanthropy for many years. She is the former director of the literature program at the New York State Council on the Arts and the director of Cultural Equity Grants for the San Francisco Arts Commission. She is currently the director of Grants and Community Initiatives for the Horizons Foundation and the President of the San Francisco Library Commission. Her new projects include a comic novel about black activists of the 1960s as they face middle age entitled Televised. Her new play, written in collaboration with Harry Waters Jr.
courtesy of LGBTQ Allyship
ALLYSHIP
Nic Maskangsay
is called Waiting for Giovanni. A dream play THIRD ROUND OF WORKSHOPS at 3 exploring the inner life of author James Bald- p.m. The workshop topics and presenters are: win, it had its world premiere at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in the Fall of 2011. 5) Money Can’t Buy You Freedom: Or Can It? – An Exploration of Money and Power in Local NIC MASKANGSAY LGBTQ Politics – Presented by Debbie Carlsen, Nic Maskangsay is a genderqueer, Filipin@ Marcos Martinez and Pride Foundation American, chronically ill, disabled trauma survivor, award-winning poet, Aquarius Pi6) Healing Through Art: The Importance of sces rising, boy band enthusiast, and dog per- Poetry and Other Forms of Artistic Expresson (with lots of respect for cats). In Seattle, sion of LGBTQ Generations – Presented by communities regularly invite Nic to perform Paradigm and Symone Ashley and speak at venues including GenderFierce, Rain City Slam, Bumbershoot, and Pride 7) Ten More Good Years – a film screening Asia 2014 as keynote. They have also featured – Presented by City Employees for Equality in cities such as La Verne, CA, Los Angeles, Portland, OR and New York. While at UW CELEBRATORY PERFORMANCE/ they were in the 2013 The Blank Monologues ART SHOW at 5 p.m. cast, served as the ASUW Queer Student Commission Director from 2012-2014, and WHAT IS THE LGBTQ INTERGENERcompeted nationally on the 2012 and 2013 ATIONAL PROJECT? poetry slam teams. On the Internet, they have The LGBTQ Intergenerational Project been featured on websites that include Auto- will build community amongst generations straddle, Tumblr, and BuzzFeed. through story sharing, create space to talk about ageism and adultism and the impact SECOND ROUND OF WORKSHOPS at social isolation from age has on youth/ 1 p.m. The workshop topics and presenters are: young adults and seniors/elders, strengthen a sense of shared LGBTQ history and pro3) From Education to Advocacy – Incorpo- vide avenues for LGBTQ communities to rating an Intergenerational Approach to LG- advocate around adultism and ageism in the BTQ Justice – Presented by Luis Viquez and broader community. Kimberly Hudson For more information, visit www.LG4) Polyamory and Non-Monogamy – Pre- BTQAllyship.org and on Facebook. sented by Kristen Knapick Courtesy of LGBTQ Allyship
agree the policy is wrong.” Advocates said that during the hour-long meeting, they shared people’s stories of how the policy has harmed them. “We’re not going to rest until this unfair, discriminatory policy is taken away from Facebook,” Sister Roma said. “They’re claiming they’re trying to create a safe environment,” but she and others have heard from people who have escaped abusive spouses and “the only outlet they have is through Facebook.” Heklina, the longtime hostess of the “Trannyshack” drag show, popular in both Seattle and San Francisco, said Facebook is “an incredibly important marketing tool” for artists, and if the company “really wanted to find out if I was genuine or not,” staff there would just have to look at the numerous photos of her performing over the years that she’s included on her page. Advocates said that LGBT employees at Facebook have been pushing their cause, and Roma said, “There are people on both sides of this issue within the company.”
At a news conference at City Hall Wednesday afternoon, Campos said he, the drag queens, and others who met with Facebook staff were “hopeful we would be able to get” an acknowledgment from Facebook that its policy “was wrong and misguided,” and that they would get the social site to lay out what steps would be taken to correct the situation. “That, unfortunately, was not accomplished,” Campos said, but “we are committed to continuing to work with Facebook.” A future meeting date has not been set. Currently, no protest has been scheduled – or at least one hasn’t been officially announced, in response. But that doesn’t mean one is not coming. The Associated Press reported that Facebook restored the suspended accounts for two weeks so people can decide whether to provide their real names. Heklina said that Wednesday’s meeting only included a public relations staffer and Roma, who’s had a profile on the site a content policy employee who joined the since 2008, said she hasn’t lost any data. “I meeting via satellite. downloaded my archive,” she said, advising Campos said, “After an hour of discussion, other users to do the same. we have yet to hear from Facebook they
8 Seattle Gay News
September 19, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
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Ginsburg
continued from cover court decisions have relied on the Fourteenth Amendment to strike down state bans on same-sex marriage, so the five-justice majority in Windsor may not hold if the justices take cases focusing on state laws. The Fifth Amendment says what the federal government may and may not do, while the Fourteenth Amendment says that states may not do the same things the federal government may not do. Justice Kennedy, who wrote the majority decision in Windsor, is known for his com-
mitment to federalism – the idea that states should be free to enact laws that seem suitable to their own citizens. Meanwhile, Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the four who voted to uphold DOMA, told an audience at the University of Texas that he believed in a strictly literal interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. He was “not into creative writing,” Thomas scoffed. Thomas and Scalia, the court’s most conservative justices, are known to oppose broad application of the Fourteenth Amendment, and are almost certain to say that federal judges have misapplied it in ruling for marriage equality.
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Join us as our mentors perform and share their personal journeys with you, as well as answer any and all questions about the program. More info contact Rodney in Seattle Parks at 206-295-5218 or rodney.greene@seattle.gov Want to earn $250 this fall? Are you a young person age 16 - 22? Come to the September 24 Mentor’s Showcase and info session for the Fall 2014 “Bearing Witness” program at 3:30 p.m. at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (104 17th Avenue S at Yesler Way) or contact Rodney Greene in Seattle Parks at 206-2955218 or Rodney.Greene@seattle.gov Application Deadline: Six positions open. Deadline to apply is October 1
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September 19, 2014
Seattle Gay News 13
Brazil issues three-parent birth certificate
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
girl born on August 27. Judge Rafael Pagnon Cunha said his ruling would create a legal precedent for the country. The two mothers have been in a committed relationship for more than four years, and wanted a child. They asked a male friend to be the sperm donor and he agreed, but only on the condition that he would be recognized as the baby’s father. Cunha said all three parents had been involved in the pregnancy and preparations for the birth of the baby girl. “Being a father and a mother is above all about taking care and fulfilling tasks. I feel sure that for this child the possibility of happiness will be very great,” the judge said. In addition to the three parents, six grandparents are listed on the child’s birth certificate. Like the United States, marriages in Brazil are regulated by state governments, not the national government. Although Rio Grande do Sul legalized same-sex civil unions in 2004, it was not one of the 14 Brazilian states that allowed same-sex marriage before the May 2013 court ruling that established marriage equality throughout the country. Prior to that ruling, a 2011 court decision allowed same-sex couples to form what were called “stable unions” that granted them all the rights of opposite-sex married couples. A 2010 court decision allowed same-sex A judge in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, has issued a birth certificate list- couples to adopt children in the same way ing two mothers and a father for a baby and under the same conditions as opposite-
sex couples, but Judge Cunha’s decision goes much farther, in that he recognized a samesex couple as the natural parents – not merely adoptive parents – of a child. Brazil affords LGBT residents most of the same civil rights protections as straight Brazilians enjoy. The federal constitution prohibits all forms of discrimination, but sexual orientation and gender identity are not explicitly mentioned. The constitutions of at least two Brazilian states protect sexual orientation, but not gender identity. Twenty-three states and more than 70 municipalities protect both orientation and identity by statute. Gay sex was decriminalized in 1830 and it has never been illegal for LGBT people to serve in the Brazilian military. Trans people are entitled to change their identity cards to reflect their gender identification, and can receive free transition services, including surgery, through the national healthcare system. On the other hand, anti-LGBT violence is endemic in Brazil. A 2005 study by the Latin American Center for Human Rights in sexuality found that 65% of LGBT Brazilians reported being targeted by hate speech and/or physical aggression. In 2013, an official in the Brazilian Presidential Office for Human Rights estimated that 44% of the world’s anti-LGBT violence occurs in Brazil. According to Brazilian human rights activists, many anti-LGBT hate crimes are committed by police.
Pope marries 20 nontraditional couples
September 19, 2014
Seattle Gay News
20 couples are married during a unique ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica AFP / Getty Images
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AFP / Getty Images
In his first wedding since being elected Pope last year, Pope Francis married 20 nontraditional couples at St. Peter’s Basilica on September 14. It was the first time a Pope has conducted a mass wedding service since John Paul II married eight couples in 2000. Those married by Pope Francis were what the Vatican chose to call “modern” couples, including people the Roman Catholic Church would previously have refused to marry – couples who had been divorced or who had children from previous relationships. “There are those who are already cohabiting, those who already have children, who got to know each other in Church,” the Vatican said. For example, one woman, identified as Gabriella Improta in La Repubblica newspaper, has an older daughter from a previous marriage and will marry a man who had his marriage annulled. An annulled marriage is one that is declared invalid by the Church, and the man in question would have been entitled to another Church wedding, but the Church does not recognize divorce, and divorced people would formerly not have been allowed to remarry within the Church. “We didn’t feel worthy or able to meet the requirements of a good Catholic couple,” Gabriella told the newspaper. “But the Church under the leadership of Pope Francis has welcomed and embraced us. “This Pope is marvelous; he is renewing the Church. Not even non-believers
can remain indifferent to his drive and his disarming simplicity.” In the homily he preached at the wedding service, the Pope referred to the couples as the “bricks that build society.” The Pope has warned that the Catholic Church must end its obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception, and Gay sex, and become more merciful or risk collapsing “like a house of cards.” The Pope continues to oppose Gay and Lesbian weddings, although he has suggested he might support some form of relationship recognition that provided financial security to partners and children. Tracey Byrne, chief executive of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said it was “impossible” not to feel hopeful about the Pope’s renewed engagement with real people’s relationships, commitments, and marriages. “For the ordinary couples involved, this must have been a wonderful occasion, and at LGCM we’re delighted for them, as well as hoping this signals something positive for the many gay and lesbian Catholics who long to have their relationships recognized by their church,” she said. “We’ve a long way to go, but this and the meeting of the Catholic bishops, really does seem to suggest an increased willingness to discern God at work in new ways in real people’s lives.” According to the Catholic News Service, the mass wedding took place only weeks before a scheduled Synod of Bishops that will deal with the institution of marriage, among other topics. The international meeting of bishops is scheduled for October 5 through 19. As preparation for the Synod, the Vatican sent out a survey about the Church’s standing in public opinion and how it can be improved.
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
20 couples are married during a unique ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica
Celebrating 41 Years!
Seattle University food service workers go union Food service workers at Seattle University (SU) ratified their first union contract on September 17, according to UNITE HERE Local 8, the union they organized to join. The 150 workers who serve students and faculty at campus dining facilities are employed by Bon Appetit Management Company. Like many colleges and universities, SU contracts out its food services. UNITE HERE Local 8 represents some 5,000 hospitality and food service workers in Washington and Oregon. SU food service workers went to management at the end of the 2014 academic year with strong majority support for the union and demanded recognition. Once an employer recognizes a union as the bargaining agent for its employees, the two sides negotiate a contract, and then the workers must vote to ratify it. In their newly ratified contract, SU food service workers won substantial pay increases, lower-cost healthcare benefits, and a number of improvements in their working conditions. “I’ve been a cashier at Seattle University for more than six years,” said negotiating committee member Glenda Navas.
“I feel so proud that we now have a contract that gives consistent wage increases, immigration rights and protections, cheaper health insurance for myself and my coworkers, and most importantly, job security. Si se puede!” UNITE HERE said workers enjoyed strong support from SU students and faculty. “As a student at Seattle U, my greatest sources of pride and commitment to our mission of social justice have been in moments like these, when staff and students are able to see a direct impact in our communities,” said Class of 2015 student Lorena Mendoza-Flores. “I’m so happy knowing that the women who serve us will now be able to better support their families. Working with UNITE HERE and Bon Appetit towards the first contract for our cafeteria workers was an experience that will stay with me forever.” Veteran union members from around the Puget Sound region were involved in the successful organizing effort, the Food service workers at Seattle University join UNITE HERE Local 8 union said, and they joined in celebrating the victory. 8 successfully won the first hotel contract “We welcome Seattle University workers member at the Westin Hotel. “Together we can change that and raise in the country to explicitly protect Transto our union. Seattle is booming and getting the standard for food service workers in the gender workers. The language protecting more expensive, while we are struggling,” Seattle area. We deserve better. ” gender identity and expression is now UNITE HERE member Melody Swett said. It was at the Westin in 2007 that Local standard in UNITE HERE contracts. She is a cocktail server and long-time union www.unitehere8.org
by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer
Weight-shaming makes people fatter, British study shows huffington post
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by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A study by University College in London suggests that making people feel ashamed about being overweight could lead them to gain weight rather than lose it. The study, published in the scientific journal Obesity, examined data from some 3,000 British adults over the age of 50, who had taken part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Among adults in the sample, those who had experienced weight discrimination put on more weight than those who did not. Examples of “weight discrimination” included being treated disrespectfully, receiving poor service in shops, and being harassed. One in 20 respondents reported weight discrimination; but in the morbidly obese group, one in three reported discrimination. “Morbid obesity” is usually defined as having a body mass index equal to or above 35 or 40, and is associated with a variety of potentially fatal health problems. In the study, men and women reported similar levels of weight discrimination. Over the four-year period of the study, people in all weight groups who said they had experienced weight discrimination added, on average, nearly 1 kg. in weight, or just over 2 lbs. Those who did not experience these negative attitudes typically lost 0.7 kg. The researchers say this suggests that blaming and shaming people for being
overweight is counterproductive. Instead, they added, it is better to be supportive and encouraging. Researchers said there was no evidence of a causal relationship between weightshaming and weight gain, but discrimination could lead to what they called “comfort eating.” “There is no justification for discriminating against people because of their weight,” lead researcher Dr. Sarah Jackson said. “Previous studies have found that people who experience discrimination report comfort eating. Stress responses to discrimination can increase appetite, particularly for unhealthy, energy-dense food. “Weight discrimination has also been shown to make people feel less confident about taking part in physical activity, so they tend to avoid it.” The study said “widespread weight bias” had also been reported among healthcare professionals, and not just among the general public. Professor Jane Wardle, director of the Cancer Research UK Health Behavior Centre at University College, said weight discrimination was part of the obesity problem – not the solution. “Everyone, including doctors, should stop blaming and shaming people for their weight and offer support, and where appropriate, treatment,” she said.
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