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Celebrating 43 Years! Issue 38 Volume 45

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Seattle Gay News

SPD hate crime unit Air Force Major reviewing Transgender Margaret Witt to speak attack at Rancho Bravo at Museum of Flight

Rancho Bravo Taco on Capitol Hill – Photo courtesy of theinfatuation.com

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Seattle Police say a Transgender woman was beaten and bloodied inside the Rancho Bravo Capitol Hill restaurant over the weekend. The late night attack is being reviewed by the city’s hate crime officials.

Officers found the victim with blood on her face and chest, and a cut above her eye after the attack inside Rancho Bravo, according to the Seattle Police report. A close friend, Chris Ferrentino, was with the victim at the time of the assault. Ferrentino said the night started as cel-

see ATTACK page 4

Margaret Witt (right) with partner Laurie McChesney (left) – AP Photo / Ted S. Warren

After a highly decorated 18-year career in the Air Force, Major Margaret Witt was discharged based on an allegation that she had engaged in sexual conduct with another woman: a civilian with whom she was in a committed relationship, in their home, miles from any military base. The ACLU of Washington sued, claiming that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and its applica-

tion to Witt, violated her rights of liberty and equal protection. She won her case in 2010 and settled with the Air Force in 2011. The success of the Witt case at the Ninth Circuit and the district court contributed to Congress’s passage of legislation finally allowing the executive branch to end the

see MAJOR WITT page 5

Arizona Supreme Court Groundbreaking affirms equal rights for investigative effort same-sex parents identifies gonorrhea Obergefell supersedes state law, court says vaccine candidates

Phenotypic microarrays - Photo courtesy of Oregon State University Photo by Potra / Getty Images

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that the US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges – the ruling that

legalized same-sex marriage nationwide – supersedes state law and requires the state to recognize the rights of same-sex parents. The Arizona ruling came in the case

see ARIZONA page 6

by Steve Lundeberg Oregon State University CORVALLIS, Ore. – Researchers at Oregon State University have identified a pair of proteins that show promise as the basis for a gonorrhea vaccine.

The findings are an important step toward a potential new weapon in the fight against a sexually transmitted disease that affects millions of people around the globe, with nearly 80 million new cases estimated each year.

see VACCINE page 11

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Celebrating 43 Years!

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Editor in Chief George Bakan Associate Editor Shaun Knittel Travel Editor George Bakan Copy Editor Rick McKinnon (since Dec. 2013) Advertising Department George Bakan, Maggie Bloodstone and MK Scott National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Staff Writers Mike Andrew, Sara Michelle Fetters, Miryam Gordon, Shaun Knittel, Albert Rodriguez Contributing Writers Rev. Barbara Allen, Ron Anders, Eric Andrews-Katz, Madelyn Arnold, Alice Bloch, Maggie Bloodstone, Beau Burriola, Sharon Cumberland, Jessica Davis, Tina Gianoulis, Anthony Greer, Milton W. Hamlin, Nevin Jefferson, Richard Kennedy, Liz Meyer, Jason A. Miller, Jesse Monteagudo, David Nguyen aka Teriyaki Temple, Rod Parke, Don Paulson, Jerry Peerson, Jessica Price, Scott Rice, Leslie Robinson, MK Scott, Gaysha Starr, Paul Torres, Janice Van Cleve, Ed Walsh, James Whitely, Scott Wittet, Rex Wockner Calendar Editors Mike Andrew and Rick McKinnon

MARK MY WORDS

Glass half full of progress?

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Website Designer Barry Thorsness / Digital Team Works Seattle Gay News is published weekly by Frogs and Ink, Inc. © 2017, Frogs and Ink, Inc., all rights reserved. Reprints by permission. Publication of names, photographs or likeness of any person, organization, event or business in this publication cannot be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of the person, organization, event or business. Opinions expressed in bylined articles, columns, and letters are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of this paper. Seattle Gay News welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject material. All rights revert to authors upon publication. We assume no liability for loss or damage of materials, solicited or not. We invite feedback, please write. And please play safe. It is our policy that no money shall be refunded if you choose to cancel your ad. Credit will be given for the balance owed. No exceptions.

In Loving Memory Of Steve Foiles, Scott Roger Alpert, Cookie Andrews-Hunt, James Leland Moore, Randy Peters, Lee Richeson, Shaun Shelton, Jim Tully, James Arnold

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

by Mark Segal Philadelphia Gay News I saw a picture today of a young gay couple standing next to an older heterosexual couple. Then I noticed that the two men were holding up their hands to show their wedding rings and the older couple must be one of their parents. It brought tears to my eyes, and I don’t even know these guys. What went through my mind was, isn’t it wonderful that we live in a time when not only can two people in love marry, but a majority of the country supports our rights? Those of us at a certain age, as the saying goes – simply translated: old, a word I personally love – we have lived during a time when nothing about our community was appreciated. In fact, we were called criminals, immoral and mentally ill, were not allowed to gather in groups, were not

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anyone you would want to be seen with. And all of that began to change in the 1960s. We old folks have had a front-row seat (some of us had that seat in a police wagon) to watch as this nation’s attitudes changed, but also how the community views itself evolved, along with the expectations of our youth for themselves. These young people can literally dream of getting married and raising a family. Do you realize how amazing that is, and the effort it took to get us to this place in history? Well, in a couple of weeks we’ll enter October, which is LGBT History Month, and our community’s media will, in various ways, tell some of those stories. Our history is amazing and something that fascinates me. Two factoids that often amaze people: Our LGBT-rights struggle didn’t start at Stonewall, but really in 1925 by a man

named Henry Gerber, who organized the first gay-rights organization in Chicago. The other is a major piece of U.S. history: Without gay man Baron Friedrich Von Steuben, George Washington might have lost the Revolutionary War. But back to the personal. Each time I see two men or two women portrayed happily, I think of what it took to get to this point. I know someone will make the point of Trump here, but that is looking at things with a glass-half-empty view. I like to look at it half full – and we earned each drop.

September 22, 2017

Seattle Gay News 3

Mark Segal, PGN publisher, is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media. His recently published memoir, “And Then I Danced,” is available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or at your favorite bookseller.

SPD releases Bias Crimes Report for first half of 2017

SPD Officer Jim Ritter – Photo courtesy of cnn.com

by Shaun Knittel SGN Staff Writer Seattle Police Department released its semiannual report September 12 detailing bias crimes and incidents for the first half of 2017. According to the report, during this time, a total of 178 criminal and non-criminal bias based incidents were reported. That number is up from the 128 incidents reported at the same time last year. Seattle Police Department public affairs says the increase in reports can be attributed in large part to victims feeling more comfortable reporting bias crimes due to enhanced trust, improved reporting mechanisms and ongoing community outreach by the Department. “SPD continues to be a national leader in investigating and reporting bias crimes as well as outreach to communities experiencing these acts,” said Chief of Police, Kathleen O’Toole. “In the spirit of transparency and accountability we continue to release these reports letting the community know that the Department works hard every day to make sure our most vulnerable victims are heard and we pursue the justice they deserve.”

ATTACK

continued from cover ebratory, but it turned into one of the worst of his life shortly after he and his friend arrived at the restaurant. “It was my birthday last week, so she wanted to take me out,” he told KOMO News. They ordered some food and sat down, he said. The victim told police she was beaten after a verbal exchange with the suspects who were recording her and her friend on video and making hateful comments. The victim told SPD that a black male began to comment about her gender. He allegedly told her that she was not a woman. According to the report, “The victim

4 Seattle Gay News

Here is what SPD says about the latest bias crimes data: • Bias crimes often occur between complete strangers and take victims by surprise. Many of them are property crimes committed anonymously under the cover of darkness. • The Seattle Police Department’s clearance rate for these incidents is 39%. • Many of these arrests are made by patrol officers arriving on the scene soon after an incident has occurred. Detectives work hard to locate suspects not found at the time of the incident. • 13 cases from this period remain open and may be cleared by arrest. Over the past few months the Seattle Police Department’s Bias Crime Coordinator partnered with community organizations to reach out to some of Seattle’s most vulnerable populations. In particular, refugee and immigrant populations were a focus for outreach during this period. Seattle Police officials say that the Information from the report has been distributed in 18 different languages describing how to report a crime. The highest rate of increase in reporting is in the category of crimes with bias elements, which are incidents which are not

primarily motivated by bias, but bias language is used during the commission of a crime. These incidents went up 64%. On a good note, SPD has observed that both officers and the community recognize and report bias when they observe it. “The first half of 2017 was characterized by a high level of interest in the community regarding hate crimes, as evidenced by the high rate of reporting in Seattle. I was contacted many times by people wanting to report incidents they had witnessed, or asking how they could help if they were to see someone being victimized,” said Detective Beth Wareing, Bias Crimes Coordinator. “We rely on the community to stay involved and aware for our efforts in combating hate crimes to be successful. The community is our most valuable partner.” “SPD has adopted a number of best practices with regards to hate crime prevention, response and reporting,” said Dr. Jack McDevitt, Director of Institute on Race and Justice, at Northeastern University and a leading expert in bias crimes. “The Department has made numerous efforts toward improving both the data collection and reporting of bias crimes incidents. This data is not only collected, but analyzed monthly, a rarity in law enforcement.” According to the report, the demograph-

ic most impacted by bias crimes during the first half of 2017 is the black community. Among blacks in Seattle, there were 12 malicious harassment reports, 22 crimes with bias element, and 11 non-criminal bias incidents. This year, SPD broke up the report into the different demographics of the LGBTQ community. Lesbian and Gay men were the second most targeted group of Seattleites to report bias crimes. Among Lesbian and Gay men, 19 malicious harassment reports were made, 17 crimes with bias elements, and 11 non-criminal bias crimes were reported. Transgender folks were the 5th community of people that experienced bias crimes in the first half of 2017. There were 5 malicious harassments reported, 3 crimes with bias elements reported and 4 non-criminal bias crimes reported. There was only 1 reported malicious harassment report made by a member of the gender non-conforming community. And equally, 1 report made for crimes with bias element. If you’ve been a victim or witnessed a bias crime, SPD encourages you to call 911 immediately.

corrected the suspect and stated that she was a woman, and that she was not giving consent to be filmed.” The victim attempted to take the phone away and that is when the suspect began to yell at her and say that “he can film wherever he wants, and that the phone is his property.” The victim then told the suspect that his mother wouldn’t be proud of him for his actions. The suspect warned the victim not to bring up his mother, the report says. The victim responded by saying of course she would bring up his mother because she wouldn’t approve of him. According to the SPD report, that’s when things turned violent. The situation escalated quickly when a third suspect, a white male, struck the victim and ulti-

mately she said she tried to pretend to be unconscious to stop the beating as the two suspects and a third, another black male, continued to attack her. “The victim said she wrapped her arms around the suspects legs,” the SPD report states. “She said she continued to be struck, and eventually pretended to be knocked out in an attempt to bring the assault to an end.” “There was blood all over me, all over the floor, the tables, and they continued to start kicking her. And I tried to fend them off,” Ferrentino said. “And it was to the point where she had to pretend to be passed out in order for it to stop.” Police were provided with only a general description of the attackers in the report – a black male with a “faded” hairstyle, a black male in a “blue with white” shirt, and the white male who punched the victim,

also wearing a blue with white shirt. The suspects were reported to have left the scene in a white Cadillac SUV. Detectives also may have a partial license plate to work with, the last three digits of “631.” The victim said that the suspects left eastbound on E Pine Street. According to the report, the incident may have been captured on the restaurant’s security video system, however SPD has not put out any more information at this time. According to a department spokesperson, the investigation is currently being reviewed by the SPD bias crimes unit. “It’s very emotional. And it’s incredibly emotional for me, too, for somebody that I love and care about. And it’s destroyed us a bit,” Ferrentino told KOMO. Ferrentino said the attack has made the victim scared to leave her own home.

September 22, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Art for a Cause – A Cause for Art

The 50th Birthday Benefit Bash (Celebrating the Photography of Lee Forshey) by Eric Andrews-Katz SGN A&E Writer LEE FORSHEY’S 50TH BIRTHDAY BENEFIT BASH (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) BLUE CONE STUDIOS (1520 11TH AVENUE) October 7 @ 6:30-10pm How would you like to discover new art, attend a 50th birthday party, and help save a life at the same time? This can be done. Thanks to Blue Cone Studios the photographic art of Lee Forshey is being exhibited and is for sale. And as for being charitable, 100% of the evening’s proceeds go towards the photographer’s own “Lee’s Cancer Fund” at gofundme.com. “I’ve enjoyed taking pictures my whole life,” says Lee Forshey. Approaching the age of 50, he sits in his small, downtown Seattle condo and smiles. Diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in September 2015, he hasn’t let it get the better of him. “I was diagnosed with cancer the first time about six years ago. I was in terrible shape,” Lee recalls. He found refuge and solace in short hikes, photographing the sights along the different trails in various places. Hiking “became my gym and my church.” Being diagnosed only served to move his dreams forward and the things Forshey always wanted to do moved to the forefront of his plans. One thing on his “bucket list” was to go to Africa, especially the island of Madagascar, and see the lemurs. His photographs not only include the animals he encountered, they also include “night and day shots of the scenery, insects, reptiles, birds, and amphibians. Everything listed and more,” Forshey promises. The photographs include a wide range of locations, with Madagascar and South Africa only being the start. “Other locations include local hikes, Costa Rica, the Grand Canyon,” and Forshey’s home of origin, “Upstate New York.” “Picture canvases are order-to-print in any size,” Forshey says encouragingly. “They start at $30 and can go up to $145 depending on what size the buyer would like to have in their home or office.” And it’s not just photographs that are available for purchase. Other items being offered in silent auctions include gift certificates from many local businesses all banding together to help Forshey out. “We’ve got gift certificates generously donated by Machiavelli Ristorante as well as from The Massage Guy™ and Excellent Therapeutic Massage,” Forshey says. “We have

MAJOR WITT continued from cover

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Now, Witt is telling her whole story to the world in her memoir, TELL: Love, Defiance, and the Military Trial at the Tipping Point for Gay Rights, which she has co-written with Tim Connor. Major Witt is inspiring beyond imagination and reading about all the action behind the scenes gives the reader a whole new appreciation for her bravery, the ACLU, and our military. Major Witt will be speaking at the Museum of Flight (9404 E Marginal Way S) on Tuesday, September 26, from 7:309pm. Tickets are $5. The event is presented by Town Hall, The Seattle Lesbian, Museum of Flight and Gay City. https://townhallseattle.org/ In 1993 Margie Witt was a young Air Force nurse chosen as the face of the “Crossing into the Blue” recruitment campaign. This was the same year President Clinton’s plan for gays to serve openly in the military was quashed by an obdurate Congress, resulting in the blandly cynical

Liliac Breasted Roller in Flight 1; Kruger National Park, South Africa – Photo by Lee Forshey

tickets for Ragtime from the 5th Avenue, two novels signed by authors (including the award-winning Ursula LeGuin), a signed DVD documentary “Christiania; 40 years of Occupation” and even CDs from Seattle’s own Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme. Gift certificates to Twice Sold Tales will also be raffled off with $1 tickets.” Lee Forshey moved from Upstate New York to Seattle in 1991. “I fell in love with Seattle when I visited,” Forshey explains. “I was going across country after I graduated college. I moved here a year later.” Shortly afterwards, Forshey met Donnie Duran, the man who became “the love of my life.” They were together three years before Duran succumbed to AIDS. “We shared a last kiss and then he died in my arms.” Forshey started a career in 1999 with a company helping people get back to work, including being contracted to Children’s

Hospital and other local healthcare organizations to help keep their facilities fully staffed and their staff fully trained. “At the end of 2015 the colon cancer moved to my lungs,” Forshey says. “It’s finally gotten to the point where my last day of work will be at the end of September, 2017.” It was from this point of view that Forshey decided to hold the benefit. “I never dreaded turning 50,” exclaims Forshey. “I don’t want cancer either, but neither can be avoided.” This is why he is turning his 50th birthday into a celebration of life, friends and art. The GoFundMe campaign was started in late 2015 and was mostly contributed to by friends and family. The fund will be going to pay for Lee’s living and medical expenses once the necessity of disability from work takes place. “My goal for the evening,” Forshey explains, “is for folks to come together. I want them to enjoy each other and the art I have to share.” Forshey hopes the event

will launch the next phase of his life. “I’ve wanted to have a mechanism for getting my photos out to a wider audience for a long time now, and this is it. I hope that this will provide an on-going income so I won’t have to rely on public resources.” Blue Cone Studios is owned and run by Carolyn Hitt. Hitt is generously donating the space for Forshey’s exhibit. The evening will also include music by DJ Thad Wenatchee. Those who can’t make the event but wish to purchase Lee’s photos on canvas can go to http://scenicfocus.com/ and those simply wishing to contribute to Lee’s Cancer Fund may do so at: http://www. gofundme.com/leescancerfund

political compromise known as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Contrary to its intent, DADT had the perverse effect of making it harder for gay servicemen and women to fight expulsion, and over the next 17 years more than 13,000 gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, marines, and coast guards were removed from military service. That is, until Margie Witt’s landmark case put a stop to it. TELL: Love, Defiance, and the Military Trial at the Tripping Point for Gay Rights is a memoir of the decorated US Air Force officer whose case overturned the ban on gays in the military. TELL is the riveting chronicle of Major Margaret Witt’s decorated military career and dedication as a front-line flight nurse, and of her love and devotion to her partner (now wife) Laurie Johnson. TELL captures the tension and drama of a politicallycharged legal battle that directly led to the Congressional repeal of the controversial law, and helped pave the way for the suite of landmark political and legal victories for gay rights that followed. TELL is a personal account and detailed explanation of the end of DADT. What’s luminous about this story is the joyful resolve of Margie and Laurie, and how that ultimately inspires and sustains all the

other people in their story. Judge Leighton originally ruled against Witt, but it was her personal story and the love and support of her family that changed his mind. “He knew his decision would have historic ramifications,” writes Witt. “But beyond the historic importance, the judge recognized the transformative power of love and how one person’s passion for justice can elevate us all.”

prejudice against gay people in the U.S. armed forces. TELL is the inspiring story of the remarkable grit and courage that have made her a true American hero.” – Lillian Faderman, author of The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle “Few people get to actually witness history and fewer still are fundamental in making it happen. Major Margaret Witt has managed to do both. TELL reminds us that now more than ever we must learn to care for each other across differences within our communities, especially when those in power attempt to diminish us.” – Ryan Berg, author of No House to Call My Home “The name Margaret Witt may join the canon of US civil rights pioneers.” – The Guardian

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“Major Witt’s trial provided an unparalleled opportunity to attack the central premise of [Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell] . . and set an important precedent.” – The New York Times “A landmark ruling.” – Politico “You may not know her name, but Margaret Witt is one of those seemingly ordinary Americans whose persistence changed the country’s culture. Her determination will help many who serve this country live better lives. Read her story. Tell others. What she’s done speaks for itself.” – Bob Dotson, NYT bestselling author of American Story: A Lifetime Search for Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things “Margaret Witt made history when she refused to be vanquished by the senseless

September 22, 2017

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Major Margaret Witt is a decorated twenty-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She is currently a rehabilitation supervisor for the Portland VA Health Care System in Portland, Oregon. Tim Connor is an investigative reporter specializing in legal and science journalism.

Seattle Gay News 5

GLAD and NCLR, at the center of Transgender military ban legal fight, express outrage over Trump judicial nominee calling Transgender kids part of “Satan’s plan” Advocates say Trump’s efforts to promote anti-Transgender animus will erode equality, reinforce need for aggressive litigation strategy on Transgender military ban

Jeff Mateer – Courtesy of Texas Attorney General / Flickr / Creative Commons

WASHINGTON, DC – [On September 20, 2017], the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the LGBT advocacy organizations at the center of the transgender military fight, expressed outrage over comments made by Trump judicial nominee Jeff Mateer, following reports that he called transgender children part of “Satan’s plan” and supported conversion therapy. NCLR and GLAD have said that Mateer’s nomination, coupled with efforts to bar transgender Americans from serving in the military, continue to promote false stereotypes, scapegoating, and fears that will hurt our country. “NCLR and GLAD are at the forefront

of protecting the rights of transgender Americans, and we will fight discrimination of any kind,” said Shannon Minter, NCLR Legal Director. “These comments made by a Trump nominee reflect hostility toward transgender people that is deeply disturbing. There is no room for this sort of vitriol in our public discourse. Our government must stand for inclusion and fairness for all, and we will speak out against efforts to turn back the clock on equality.” “It’s concerning that the Trump administration is trying to infuse its anti-transgender ideology into our judicial system,” said GLAD Transgender Rights Project Director Jennifer Levi. “Our courts must serve as a backstop to President Trump’s

divisive and exclusionary policies, not promote discrimination. Courts must treat all Americans fairly and promote equal rights. That’s why GLAD and NCLR filed Doe v. Trump, because if President Trump is going to discriminate against our community, we will use all the legal tools at our disposal to stop him.”

ARIZONA

Both the trial court and the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that Suzan should indeed be recognized as a legal parent to her child, just as she would have had the couple been an opposite-sex couple. The Arizona Supreme Court upheld the lower decisions. “It would be inconsistent with Obergefell to conclude that same-sex couples can legally marry but states can then deny them the same benefits of marriage afforded opposite-sex couples,” the Arizona Supreme Court said in its decision.

In June 2017, the US Supreme Court ruled in Pavan v. Smith that Obergefell required states to treat married same-sex parents and married opposite-sex parents equally. As in the Pavan case, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) represented the plaintiff, Suzan McLaughlin, in her suit. NCLR attorney Claudia Work also got substantial support from Arizona legal experts. Prof. Barbara Atwood and the Child and Family Law Clinic at the Univer-

continued from cover of Suzan McLaughlin and Kimberly McLaughlin, a Lesbian couple who married in 2011 and had a child using an anonymous sperm donor. The couple separated in 2013, and Kimberly, the biological mother, stopped allowing Suzan to see their child. Suzan then filed a legal action to be recognized as a parent.

6 Seattle Gay News

September 22, 2017

Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation (www.GLAD.org).

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education (www. NCLRights.org). Courtesy of the NCLR and GLAD

sity of Arizona Rogers College of Law, as well as 23 Arizona family law attorneys, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Arizona, filed amicus briefs in support of Suzan. “The Arizona Supreme Court’s decision in McLaughlin follows this [Obergefell and Pavan] settled law and should be instructive to other states across the country considering this issue,” the NCLR concluded in a September 20 statement.

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Celebrating 43 Years!

Federal judge upholds Minnesota Human Rights Act Christian businesses must serve same-sex couples by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer A federal judge in Minnesota has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s Human Rights Act on the grounds that it interferes with the religious liberty of Christians who oppose same-sex marriage. US District Judge John Tunheim ruled on September 20 that the Minnesota law was constitutional and did not infringe the First Amendment rights of Christians. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Carl and Angel Larsen, alleged that the state law amounted to “a state effort to stamp out expression opposing same-sex marriage.” The Larsens own Telescope Media Group, which they use to promote their Christian beliefs. They wanted to go into the business of videotaping weddings but serve only opposite-sex couples. Consequently, they filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota attorney general and the state’s Commissioner of Human Rights in an attempt to preempt legal penalties for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which is forbidden under the state Human Rights Act. The Larsens have said that they want to post a notice on their website of their intent to deny services to same-sex couples. Judge Tunheim rejected their claims, however. In his ruling, the judge said that posting a notice refusing services to samesex couples was “conduct akin to a ‘White Applicants Only’ sign” that may be outlawed without infringing on First

Amendment rights. “Posting language on a website telling potential customers that a business will discriminate based on sexual orientation is part of the act of sexual orientation discrimination itself,” Tunheim wrote. “As conduct carried out through language, this act is not protected by the First Amendment.” Tunheim went on to say that the Minnesota Human Rights Act forbids discrimination in the basic terms of an agreement, such as charging a higher price or declining services based on sexual orientation. The Larsens must offer services to couples of all sexual orientations, the judge said, but they are not required to publish each video online, and he suggested that they could even post language on their site expressing opposition to same-sex marriage. “The Larsens have an obvious, easy way to avoid hardship – the terms of their contracts are within their control, and state law does not compel them to contractually obligate themselves to post videos of samesex weddings online,” Tunheim wrote in his 62-page opinion. In a statement, Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey said the Larsens were unable to demonstrate any infringement of their First Amendment rights. “In the event an appeal is filed, the Dayton-Smith administration [Gov. Mark Dayton and Lt. Gov. Tina Smith] will remain steadfast in ensuring that all people in Minnesota continue to be treated fairly by business owners,” Lindsey said.

Phenotypic microarrays - Photo courtesy of Oregon State University

VACCINE

continued from cover The pathogen that causes the disease, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is considered a “superbug” because of its resistance to all classes of antibiotics available for treating infections. Gonorrhea is highly damaging to reproductive and neonatal health if untreated or improperly treated. It can lead to endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, epididymitis and infertility. Also, babies born to infected mothers are at

increased risk of blindness. More than half of infected women don’t have symptoms, but those asymptomatic cases can still lead to severe consequences for the patient’s reproductive health, including miscarriage or premature delivery, said OSU College of Pharmacy researcher Aleksandra Sikora. Subjecting N. gonorrhoeae to the phenotypic microarray screening method for the first time, Sikora’s team focused on seven proteins from the bacteria’s cell envelope, which consists of the outer membrane, the cell wall and the inner membrane. Phenotypic microarrays are a high-

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Angel and Carl Larsen, owners and founders of Telescope Media Group, tried to challenge the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The case was deemed unconstitutional. Photo by Alliance Defending Freedom

throughput system featuring plates with 96 wells per plate, each well representing a different condition under which to research the phenotypes – the observable characteristics – of the examined mutants. The goal was to see which if any of the seven proteins would show strong potential as a vaccine antigen – a molecule that sends the immune system into action. Vaccines prevent disease because the antigens they contain trigger an immune response that allows antibodies to recognize and attack pathogens to prevent future infection. “Proteins in the cell envelope play key roles in cell function and bacterial physiology,” Sikora said. “That and their location make them attractive candidates for developing vaccines. But a lot of them are hypothetical proteins – we know bacteria have them but we don’t know for sure how they function. Learning what they contribute to cell structure, permeability, membrane biogenesis and so on is important in vaccine research because antibodies against protein antigens can disable the protein’s function.” In all, more than 1,000 conditions were used to study the effects of knocking out each of the seven proteins. “It’s like a football coach trying to choose the top quarterback among seven candidates by looking at their performance on many different teams during many different games,” Sikora said. “Imagine being able to look at those seven quarterbacks in over a thousand different games simultaneously. Of course, that’s not possible with football, but this is what we are doing here to identify the most promising vaccine candidates.” Researchers found 91 conditions that had uniquely positive or negative effects on one of the mutants, and a cluster analysis of 37 commonly beneficial compounds and 57 commonly detrimental compounds revealed three separate phenotype groups. Two of the proteins, NGO1985 and

NGO2121, showed extensive sensitivity to antimicrobial compounds and thus emerged as the most promising vaccine candidates. This study serves as a jumpingoff point for further characterization of proteins in the cell envelope. “Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a difficult bacteria to work with, and it’s very diverse,” Sikora said. “It has great genome plasticity – there are huge variations between strains. Phenotypic screening allows us to see how similar and how different they are.” The National Institutes of Health supported this research. Findings were recently published in the Journal of Bacteriology. The study was designed by Sikora and performed by Ph.D. candidate Benjamin Baarda in collaboration with Philip Proteau, a colleague of Sikora in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Sarah Emerson in the Statistics Department of the OSU College of Science.

September 22, 2017

Seattle Gay News 11

About the OSU/OHSU College of Pharmacy: The College of Pharmacy prepares students to be pharmacy practitioners and pharmaceutical sciences researchers able to advance societal health through leadership in pharmacy education, research, community engagement, and improved patient care.

12 Seattle Gay News

September 22, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

September 22, 2017

Seattle Gay News 13

www.sgn.org www.sgn.org

More than you think

Gary D. TorGerson Co. Expert Painting and Repairs Rot Repair: siding, doors, windows, porches and decks. Lead-Safe Certified

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14 Seattle Gay News

September 22, 2017

Celebrating 43 Years!

Looking for funding for your community programs? Apply now for the Arts in Parks program! Arts in Parks funds outdoor arts and cultural projects in City parks. Apply online by October 24 at seattle.gov/arts/arts-in-parks for projects taking place in 2018. Funded projects include new and established:  

festivals and fairs performances

 

educational arts programs temporary public art

Organizations and artists representing priority populations including the LGBTQ community, people of color, immigrants and refugees, and low-income communities are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about how to apply by attending a technical assistance workshop! We can make interpreters available with 72 hours’ advance notice. Please contact Jenny Crooks at 206-684-7084 or jenny.crooks@seattle.gov for more information.

September 28, 2017 5:30-7 p.m. Columbia Library 4721 Rainier Ave. S Seattle, WA 98118

September 30, 2017 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Southwest Branch Library 9010 35th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98126

October 7, 2017 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Northeast Branch Library 6801 35th Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115

Interested in funds for temporary public art? Please contact Sandy Esene at 206-233-3930 or sandy.esene@seattle.gov for more information.

PETS OF THE WEEK

Tayler

Adoption Center

Meet Tayler, a beautiful 5-year-old medium-haired sweet-

Sunday – Wednesday | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday – Saturday | 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

heart! Tayler is an absolutely gorgeous girl with luscious

white fur and a few patches of brown tabby markings

13212 SE Eastgate Wy, Bellevue, WA 98005 (425) 649-7563 | adoption@seattlehumane.org

and a brown tail. She's a sweet cat who enjoys pats and

ear scratches as well as naps, often in silly positions. Does Tayler sound like the kitty for you? Come meet her today

Is your life missing a furry friend? Now is the

at Seattle Humane – she'll purr her way right into your

Coldwell Banker’s Homes for Dogs program

As with all of our cats, Tayler is spayed, microchipped,

dogs into homes across the country. Could your

examination by a King Country veterinarian and an iden-

heart!

perfect time to open your world to a pet in need. with Adopt-a-pet.com has helped place 20,000

place be the next happy ending for a pet in need? Make your house a home by visiting the shelter and bringing back the pet of your dreams. Adoption Specials: Through September: Thanks to a generous donor, adoption fees are

waived through the month of September for cats 1 year and up – come meet your new feline best friend!

Thanks again for highlighting our fabulous adoptable pets!

Visit us online www.sgn.org

and vaccinated. She will go home with a certificate for an

Boomer

tification tag. PLUS, most cat adoptions include 30 days of

Meet Boomer, a stunning 5-year-old German Shepherd. Boomer is a regal boy who melts when he gets ear rubs! He loves his people and will be sure to make you feel special every time you come home. Boomer is a fetch fanatic and will chase the ball until he drops. If he sounds like the perfect dog for you, meet him today by talking to one of our adoption advisors.

pet insurance from Trupanion-a great way to start off on the right paw!

As with all of our dogs, Boomer has been neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. He will go home with a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian and an identification tag. PLUS, most dog adoptions include 30 days of pet insurance from Trupanion and a training rebate when you complete a dog behavior course - a great way to start off on the right paw! Boomer will need to live in an adult only home. Boomer will need to be the only pet in the home.

September 22, 2017

Seattle Gay News 15

HEALTH AND SEX BELONG TOGETHER

Healthysexuals

CONNECT

Know your status. And be ready for what’s ahead. VISIT AND TALK TO A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

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