SGN Sep 28, 2018 - Part 1

Funny and cathartic, Gilda a spellbinding love letter to a comedy legend

Seattle Gay News

The “fight was on” at the recent Seattle Rainbow Housing Survey meeting

by MK Scott SGN Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, September 25, a group of over 150 LGBTQ seniors gathered at the new Generations Aging with Pride LGBTQ

Senior Center located on the second level of the Broadway Market. The meeting was a reunion of sorts for many senior LGBTQ community members to once again address

see RAINBOW HOUSING page 7

LGBT activist murdered in Athens

Funeral shows outpouring of love and support

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

LGBT activist and drag queen Zak Kostopoulos was buried in the Greek

village of Kirra on September 26. Kostopoulos himself was born in the US, but the village was his ancestral home and the place he grew up after his parents returned see ATHENS MURDER page 13

HRC responds to defeat of anti-LGBTQ child welfare amendment

WASHINGTON – [On September 26], the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) organization, responded to the defeat of the Aderholt Amendment, which the House Appropria-

tions Committee added to the FY 2019 Labor, HHS & Education Appropriations bill in July. The amendment would have granted a “license to discriminate” in the

see CHILD WELFARE page 12

Out & Equal hosts world’s largest conference on LGBTQ workplace equality in Seattle Oct. 1-4

Join Out & Equal Workplace Advocates in Seattle Oct. 1-4 at the largest conference dedicated to LGBTQ Workplace Equality in the world, attended annually by over 4,000 LGBTQ & Ally Professionals!

The 2018 Workplace Summit in Seattle will feature 3 days of educational opportunities including over 100 workshops, featured panels, community advisory roundtables, see WORKPLACE SUMMIT page 6

A memorial gathering for Clinton Todd Jessee at Re-bar October 4

Memorial service for Neil Powers

Former aide to Peter Steinbrueck, GLBT and indigenous peoples’ activist, housing and homeless advocate

Saturday, October 6

Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave. (at E. Union St.)

Doors open for socializing at 3pm Service begins at 3:30pm

Two weeks ago, Neil Powers passed away of natural causes at the age of 63. This came as a terrible shock to all of us who had the good fortune to know and work with him, especially those of us who have maintained long-standing and close friendships

with him. Neil served as Peter Steinbrueck’s aide throughout his tenure on the City Council and then worked at United Way, assisting programs serving the homeless. Recently he had been pursuing a career in journalism in Toronto, Canada. Neil always contributed much of his time and resources to homeless, GLBT, and indigenous people’s causes here and in Canada. To honor his life and accomplishments, share stories about him and his work, and reminisce, please join us on October 6.

Our beloved Neil Patrick Powers

by Sarah Luthens Special to the SGN

Longtime LGBTQ activist, affordablehousing champion, and beloved friend Neil Powers died on September 11 of natural causes at his residence in Toronto, Canada. Best known for his astute political acumen, long hours of hard work, low-key nature, sweet kindnesses, and fierce dedication, Neil served as an aide to then Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck from 1997 to 2007.

Neil was born in 1955 to Helen and James Powers. Raised in West Pittston, near Scranton, Penn., Neil graduated from both the University of Pittsburgh and George Brown College (Toronto). Recently he attended Centennial College (Toronto), where he was selected for the Dean’s Award. The faculty there have created a scholarship in his name. Neil’s articles were published by the Financial Times (Canada), the National Post (Canada), the Seattle Gay News, and The Body Politic (Canada). During the 2017 Seattle mayoral race, Neil wrote for www.outsidecityhall.com.

In his salad days in Toronto, Neil was

a grassroots community organizer for economic and social justice, working side by side with firebrand Jack Layton and others. Neil was active in the first mass mobilization against bathhouse raids in 1981, sometimes known as Canada’s Stonewall. Neil also broke through a homophobic barrier by becoming the first openly gay mentor in the Big Brothers program in Canada.

Years later Neil lived on Toronto Island, which he loved. Neil spent considerable time in Vancouver and the west coast of British Columbia. He was a true Canadaphile. Neil had many close First Nations friends.

When he moved to Seattle, he helped to launch what is now known as Roots Young Adult Shelter. After working at City Hall, Neil worked for the United Way of King County, providing strategic direction to fund programs serving homeless people. Neil served on the boards of the Seattle Displacement Coalition and the Broadway Cooperative Association. He also served on a City of Seattle commission studying nightlife.

He enjoyed Toronto life with John Redekop, Earl Groenewegen, and Bryan Wierzimok; vacations and holidays with Otto Nupponen and Daniel Morisette;

Clinton Todd Jessee was a force of nature. Anyone who knew him could tell you he lit up a room.

Many may remember Clinton from his many musical theater performances. However, it was his bigger than life drag persona, Frida Layy, that really left a mark in the community. Frida, like Clinton, dazzled when she performed and was always the life of the party. As Frida, Clinton brought the community together not only with many performances around the community, but also volunteering his time to various fundraisers and charities.

More recently, Clinton had been very involved in politics. You may remember seeing him don a costume during the 2016 presidential campaign as “Captain Hillster” and would rally for Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party. His political efforts and activism extended beyond that election as he was recently involved in the upcoming mid-term elections.

Beyond his legacy in theater, drag, politics and charity, Clinton left a bigger legacy,

a family. Not just his loving family including his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and beautiful nieces, but a family of friends. He considered every friend he made his family. He never forgot a birthday, anniversary or any momentous occasion. Always giving of his time, he never left a friend in need, never asking anything in return. His love knew no end.

In a time lacking in kindness Clinton had kindness to spare. He gave when he had little to give. In a selfish world he was selfless.

Sadly now, the world now is missing a little bit of those qualities, as he has left us too soon.

In memory of Clinton we will be celebrating his laughter, love and spirit with stories, performances and drinks. Please join us at Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, on Thursday, October 4, beginning at 7pm. (NOTE: Re-bar is 21+ with ID and cash only.)

hiking with Randy Beitel; photography with Oscar Adrian Centeno; talking politics with John Fox, Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, Sharon Lee, David Bloom, Gary Clark, Sinan Demirel, Alice Woldt, Trevor Griffey, Stephanie Pure, Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck, Sarah Luthens, and so many others.

The youngest of five, Neil is survived by brother James and sisters-in-law Dorothy, Bobbie, and Anne, in addition to nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings Brian, Kevin, and Ellen. Memorial services will be held in Swoyersville, Penn., on Oct 20.

A memorial service will be held in Toronto on September 29. A memorial will

also be taking place in Vancouver, date TBD.

The local memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 6, at Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave (First Hill). Doors open at 3 p.m.; the program begins at 3:30 p.m. Flowers are welcome.

To honor Neil’s memory, please contribute to the Seattle Displacement Coalition, the Roots Young Adult Shelter, or the Neil Powers Journalism Scholarship at Centennial College (Toronto).

Our cherished friend left indelible marks in the hearts of so many and on many public policies in Seattle and Toronto. Our Neil will be missed immensely.

LGBTQ Victory Fund shatters previous endorsement record, endorses 55 more LGBTQ candidates and 272 overall in 2018

WASHINGTON, DC – [On September 26], the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed 55 more candidates for elected positions across the nation. The latest slate brings to 272 its total number of endorsements for the 2018 election cycle, shattering its previous record of 180 candidates in 2012. The record-breaking numbers reflect the rainbow wave of LGBTQ candidates running for office this year and the potential to dramatically increase the number of LGBTQ elected officials at every level of government.

“Never before in our 27-year history have we seen so many viable and qualified LGBTQ leaders standing up to run for office,” said Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund. “While the rainbow wave of LGBTQ candidates is impressive in numbers, we are also running for more high-level offices than ever before and for positions where no openly LGBTQ person has served. We can elect our first out trans governor, our first representatives to the Kansas and Nebraska state legislatures, and a historic number of LGBTQ leaders to Congress. This surge in LGBTQ political power is important not only because the LGBTQ community needs us but because America needs us. Our nation needs more values-driven leaders determined to find solutions to the issues that matter most to everyday Americans – and they are finding those leaders in our LGBTQ candidates.”

Among the latest round of endorsees is Tracy Mitrano, a US House candidate for New York’s 23rd Congressional District, who is running against a pro-Trump incumbent. She received a Game Changer endorsement for the national implications of a victory for her on Election Day. Receiving Spotlight endorsements were Megan Hunt and Scott Winkler, both running for the Nebraska legislature, and either will become the first openly LGBTQ people in that body if elected. Susan Ruiz, candidate for Kansas House of Representatives, also received a Spotlight endorsement. She joins

previously announced Spotlight candidate Brandon Woodard in running to become the first openly LGBTQ people elected to the Kansas state legislature.

Of the 272 LGBTQ candidates endorsed in 2018, 224 are still in their races and will appear on general election ballots in November. You can view the Victory Fund’s “2018 Rainbow Wave by the Numbers” report – released last week – online at victoryfund.org/rainbowwave2018.

A complete list of candidate endorsements announced today is below:

Game Changer Candidate: Tracy Mitrano, US House of Representatives, NY-23

Spotlight Candidates:

Megan Hunt, Nebraska Legislature, District 8

Scott Winkler, Nebraska Legislature, District 18

Susan Ruiz, Kansas House of Representatives, District 23

General Candidates:

Sarah Scanlon, North Little Rock (AR) School Board, Zone 7

Alexandria Brown, Chico (CA) City Council, At-Large

Denise Davis, Redlands (CA) City Council, District 1

Jason Galisatus, Redwood (CA) City Council, At-Large

Alex Gutierrez, Tulare (CA) City Council, District 2

Rosanna Herber, Sacramento (CA) Municipal Utility District, Ward 4

Laura Parmer-Lohan, San Carlos (CA) City Council, At-Large

Cori Schumacher, Carlsbad (CA) Mayor

Whitney Weddell, Kern County (CA) Supervisor, District 2

Cesar Zepeda, Richmond (CA) City Council, At-Large

Dionne Reeder, D.C. Council, At-Large

Javier Estevez, Florida House of Representatives, District 105

Maggie Trevor, Illinois House of Representatives, District 54

Evan Ross, Amherst (MA) Town Council, District 4

Gerri Cannon, New Hampshire House of Representatives, District 18

Caitlin Giles-McCormick, Flemington (NJ) Borough Council

Melanie Scheible, Nevada State Senate, District 9

Aidan O’Connor, New York State Assembly, District 102

Chelsey Branham, Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 83

CM Hall, Newport (OR) City Hall, At-Large

Rebecca Kislak, Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 4

Samuel Bell, Rhode Island State Senate, District 5

Charles Spain, Texas Court of Appeals District 14, Place 4

Lee Snodgrass, Wisconsin State Senate, District 19

Matt Spurlock, West Virginia House of Delegates, District 16

Lyn Franks, Alaska House of Representatives, District 15

Paul Gonzalez, Santa Ana (CA) City Council, Ward 2

Phil Kim, San Francisco Unified School District

Mia Satya, San Francisco Unified School District

Betty Valencia, Orange (CA) City Council, At-Large

Teri Johnston, Mayor of Key West (FL)

Chris Miller, Madison County (IL) Treasurer

Tanya Neslusan, Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1st Hampden District

Wendy Berry, West St. Paul (MN) City Council, Ward 3

Neil Abadie, Jersey City (NJ) Board of Education, At-Large

Meghan Huryk, Neptune City (NJ) Borough Council

Matt Titone, New York Surrogate Court of Richmond County (Staten Island)

Taylor Sappington, Ohio House of Representatives, District 94

Beach Pace, Hillsboro (OR) City Council, Ward 1, Seat A

Incumbents:

Lori Droste, Berkeley (CA) City Council, District 8

Todd Gloria, California State Assembly, District 78

Shevrin Jones, Florida House of Representatives, District 101

Sam Yingling, Illinois House of Representatives, District 62

Susan Lamb, Lexington (KY) County Council, District 4

Bonnie Cullison, Maryland House of Delegates, District 19

Greg Razer, Missouri House of Representatives, District 25

Greg Ford, Wake County (NC) Board of Commissioner

Amanda Maris, North Carolina District Court Judge, District 14

Michael Scott, King County (WA) Superior Court Judge

Shay Franco-Clausen, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, District 5

Evan Low, California State Assembly, District 28

This is the eleventh and final round of endorsements by the Victory Fund for the 2018 election cycle. All currently running openly LGBTQ endorsed candidates can be seen at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates.

Since 1991, the Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections.

The LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government. victoryfund.org

Courtesy of the LGBTQ Victory Fund

HRC, Equality Florida, and SAVE endorse Andrew Gillum for governor of Florida

MIAMI – [On September 24], the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, joined with Equality Florida, the largest civil rights organization working to secure full equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community, and SAVE, South Florida’s foremost advocate for the LGBTQ community, in announcing their endorsement of Andrew Gillum (D) in his bid to become the next governor of Florida.

HRC President Chad Griffin, Equality Florida Executive Director and CEO Nadine Smith, and SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima joined Gillum and other key leaders and allies for a rally in Miami to announce the endorsement and speak about the importance of the race for LGBTQ and allied Floridians.

“The stakes this election couldn’t be higher, and the choice for Florida voters couldn’t be clearer,” said Griffin. “The HRC is proud to endorse Andrew Gillum’s campaign to become the next governor of Florida, because he is a proven pro-equality leader who will represent all Floridians –not just those who look a certain way, speak a certain way, or love a certain way. As we mobilize the millions of Equality Voters across Florida, we look forward to working with Andrew Gillum as governor to chart a new path forward for the Sunshine State.”

“Andrew Gillum is a longtime champion for LGBT Floridians and his election will be a game-changer for equality in our state,” said Smith. “This week, Equality Florida Action PAC is launching the largest LGBT campaign ever in a Florida gubernatorial race. Of the millions of pro-equality supporters in Florida, we are targeting nearly 500,000 for whom LGBT equality is a litmus test issue. We will use direct mail, calls, and digital outreach to reach unlikely voters and show the stark contrast between the candidates. Ron Desantis has embraced the anti-LGBT extremist agenda of Donald Trump, and Gillum stands with us to protect marriage equality and secure statewide nondiscrimination protections. In Florida, elections are won or lost by 100,000 voters or less. We intend to deliver that margin for our champion, Andrew Gillum.”

“SAVE’s strong bilingual field work will be instrumental in assuring a win for Andrew Gillum, especially because of our legacy of consistent and effective outreach in traditionally conservative and Spanish-speaking communities,” said Lima.

“Mayor Gillum’s proven pro-equality track record will continue to advance equality and equal treatment in Florida, and SAVE vows to engage all available resources to help make him our next governor.”

“I am proud to have the support of the

Human Rights Campaign, Equality Florida, and SAVE – organizations that have led the way in fighting for equality and advocating for the LGBTQ community in Florida and across the country,” said Mayor Gillum. “As mayor, I’ve stood up for the LGBTQ community and demanded equal rights when others refused. As governor, I will continue to fight to ensure that Florida is a welcoming place for all people, where everyone receives the rights and respect they deserve.”

Throughout his public service career, Mayor Andrew Gillum has proven to be a staunch advocate for Florida’s LGBTQ community. Before marriage equality was the law of the land nationwide, Gillum fought to expand domestic partner benefits for city employees as City Commissioner. As mayor of Tallahassee, Gillum strongly opposed efforts to undermine marriage equality by extending invitations to Florida same-sex couples to marry in the state capital. He will continue to be a leader in the fight to advance full equality for LGBTQ Floridians and make LGBTQ equality a priority as governor. Gillum has also pledged to install an interagency LGBTQ task force and sign the Competitive Workforce Act, legislation that would extend critically important nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ people across the Sunshine State.

Gillum is running against anti-LGBTQ Ron DeSantis (R). DeSantis has eagerly embraced the rhetoric and anti-LGBTQ attacks of the Trump-Pence administration. He has consistently scored abysmally on the HRC’s Congressional Scorecard, which measures members of Congress on their support for LGBTQ equality and policies.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

SAVE is recognized as South Florida’s leading organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and defending the rights of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) against discrimination. Since 1993, SAVE has advocated for equal rights through political advocacy, community outreach, and education.

Courtesy of the HRC

WORKPLACE SUMMIT

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special networking mixers, receptions and events. The conference will also include 3 inspirational plenary sessions featuring prominent LGBTQ and ally leaders and amazing performances, including: Olympian Adam Rippon, Pose Actress Indya Moore, Model and Deaf Activist Nyle DiMarco, Indie Band Walk the Earth, Scott Nevins from Bravo TV, and Out & Equal’s new CEO Erin Uritus!

Each year over 4,000 employees, including executives, Employee Resource Group members, HR and Diversity & Inclusion professionals, join other experts to share strategies and best practices to create workplaces which are inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. For more information and to register, visit http://outandequal.org

Courtesy of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

RAINBOW HOUSING

the need for LGBTQ senior housing and services. The need for LGBTQ senior housing has been a topic that has been discussed for many years but still has not yet been fulfilled. Generations Aging with Pride hosted the meeting and the evening featured appearances by Mayor Jenny Durkan, King County Council Chair Joe McDermott, and Seattle City Councilmembers Lorena Gonzalez and Lisa Herbold.

Longtime LGBTQ activist, Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, revealed the findings of her recent Seattle Rainbow Housing Survey in a report commissioned by the City of Seattle Office of Housing titled “Aging in Community: Addressing Inequities in LGBTQ Housing and Senior Services” with the goals of examining the housing and service needs of LGBTQ older adults.

More than 500 surveys were returned, with 419 completed by LGBTQ diverse adults including those age 70 and over (30%), Woman (43.1%) and Trans/non-binary (17.8%).

Based on Fredriksen-Goldsen’s report there are inadequate services for LGBTQ seniors in Seattle/King County – services which would allow many LGBTQ seniors to remain in their homes and age in the community. The lack of affordable housing is one contributing factor that needs to

be addressed. The report also noted that Seattle/King County is behind other major cities in addressing the needs of LGBTQ seniors for housing and services.

Other key findings in the report included:

• In Seattle/King County, 58% of renters aged 60+ were housing cost burdened compared to 87% of the LGBTQ older adult participants.

• In the general population, 13% of adults aged 65+ want to move compared to 39% of LGBTQ older adult participants.

• Those who moved within the past year experienced Homelessness (48.5%),

Eviction (33.3%), and Foreclosure (15.5%) in recent years.

This one quotation that is included in the report sums it all up: “I remember the early days of AIDS here in Seattle, we were dying. No one would help us. Now we are old and dying. Still today, no one is here to help us.”

After the dissemination of the report, Fredriksen-Goldsen introduced a panel featuring Ruben Rivera-Jackman (GenPRIDE), Debbie Carlsen (LGBTQ Allyship), George Dicks (Geriatric Mental Health Practitioner, Harborview) and Marsha Botzer (Ingersoll Gender Center).

The most pressing issue is still about money. With Capitol Hill Housing owning a site at 14th Avenue and E. Union St. when will funding be available to them so the building can start?

On Tuesday, October 2nd, from 5-6pm Fredriksen-Goldsen will again present the Seattle Rainbow Housing Survey Report at the Generations Aging with Pride LGBTQ Senior Center (401 Broadway #223) on the second level of the Broadway Market above QFC. More conversation and discussion on these issues of housing and services for LGBTQ seniors will ensue. Go to gapseattle. org for more information.

The Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project celebrates the release of Nigerian asylum-seeker Udoka Nweke from the Adelanto Detention Facility

LOS ANGELES – The BLMP, a project of the Transgender Law Center, celebrated the release of Udoka Nweke, a 29 year-old gay Nigerian migrant, from the Adelanto Detention Facility last Friday.

Nweke arrived in the United States in December 2016. He presented himself to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at San Ysidro Port of Entry, where he asked for asylum. He fled Nigeria, where he was the target of violence for being gay. After arriving in the United States, Nweke was immediately detained and sent to the Adelanto Detention Facility, an immigration detention facility notorious for its human rights violations toward immigrants. He was there for nearly 19 months.

The Adelanto Detention Facility is a federal, contracted private detention facility run by the GEO Group. A June 2018 report by Human Rights Watch, the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Detention Watch Network, and the American Civil Liberties Union analyzed the death records of people who died while in immigration prisons and found that between 2010 and 2017, seven people died at Adelanto, more than any other facility in the US.

“When Udoka presented himself at the border, he came with the trauma of being attacked with knives at home and witnessing the death of an intimate partner due to his sexuality. These are the conditions that create queer and trans migration, and sending someone who’s experienced this violence to a detention center is inhumane. Udoka’s story tells us that LGBTQ lives do not matter in this country,” said Ola Osaze, national organizer for the Black LGBTQ+

Migrant Project. “His story also reminds us of the invisibility of Black migrants. Rarely do we center people like Udoka in our fight for migrant justice.”

The report laid out the stark and fatal consequences immigrants face while trying to access comprehensive medical care, including mental health care, while detained. For Black queer and trans migrants, the impact is compounded. Nweke struggled with depression and attempted suicide while detained. Advocates pleaded with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release Nweke in order for him to receive the care he needs.

“Instead of receiving help when they present themselves in the US, queer and trans migrants are criminalized and imprisoned, which tells them that the violence they were attempting to escape was their fault. ICE does not have the tools to hold the realities of LGBT people, and therefore, ICE must create policies to no longer detain queer and trans asylees,” added Isa Noyola, deputy director for the Transgender Law Center. “Being thrown in a jail cell deteriorates the mind, body, and soul. Humans don’t belong in cages, especially those who have faced trauma on every step of their journey toward what they believed would be safety.”

Nweke is represented by Monica Glicken and Diana Spix at the Public Law Center, who will continue to represent him in his bid for asylum. Advocates have organized an online fundraiser on Udoka’s behalf to cover his living expenses while his case is pending. Visit the #FreeUdoka Fund, [http://bit.ly/FreeUdokaFund] to learn more.

Through leadership development, capacity building, and organizing, the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) addresses the ways in which Black LGBTQIA+ migrants are targeted by the criminal law and immigration enforcement system and marginalized in the broader migrant community and racial and economic justice movements. Housed at the Transgender Law Center, the BLMP was co-created and is staffed by TLC National Organizer Ola Osaze through a 2017 Soros Fellowship. The BLMP aims to reduce isolation, build leadership, and protect and defend Black LGBTQIA+ migrants from increasing attack by holding community-building events around the country, providing legal support, increasing access to services, creating regional organizing networks, and launching the first-ever survey focused on our experiences. To learn more, visit: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/programs/blmp

Courtesy of the BLMP

Alabama man traveling the country to capture stories of the LGBTQ community

2016 was the deadliest year on record for the LGBTQ community – a record that stood until it was broken in 2017. 2018 is on track to be even deadlier.

To help amplify the voices of the LGBTQ, this week, Marriott announced VideoOut founder Jordan Reeves as one of four grant recipients of the #LoveTravels Beyond Barriers Social Innovation Investment – inclusive of a $50,000 grant for their organization and a year of summits and mentorship opportunities from Marriott executives.

The Marriott International #LoveTravels Beyond Barriers program will provide $500,000 in grants to groups and individuals who are actively breaking down barriers. In addition to the first four grant recipients, the remaining $300,000 will be distributed via a merit competition that

will award 30 individuals with $10,000 to accelerate their vision for how to advance inclusion, equality, peace and human rights through travel.

Since 2016, Jordan has been traveling the United States amplifying the voices of LGBTQ people by capturing their coming out stories for VideoOut, working alongside organizations and communities to build the largest library of coming out

stories. The VideoOut library serves as a tool for advocacy, awareness and education. More information on the contest, including how to enter, can be found at MarriottLoveTravelsContest.com.

Courtesy of Marriott International

Gay union employee sues for discrimination, wrongful termination

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

A Gay office worker in Washington, DC is suing the union that employed him for discrimination and wrongful termination because of his sexual orientation.

Barry Hobson was hired by the Washington Teachers Union (WTU), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), as a receptionist and office assistant in January 2017. He was fired less than a year later – because he is Gay, he charges.

Ironically, the giant AFT union is led by an out Lesbian, Randi Weingarten, often called the most powerful Lesbian in the US.

On its website, the WTU proclaims its dedication “to social and educational justice for the students of the District of Columbia and to improving the quality of support, resources, compensation, and working conditions for the public servants and proud teachers who educate our students in DC Public Schools.”

Nevertheless, Hobson says, his immediate supervisor, WTU chief of staff Dorothy Egbufor became hostile to him and ultimately got him fired as soon as she found out he is Gay.

Hobson says in the lawsuit that Egbufor learned he is Gay during a phone call on

January 31, 2017, while they were discussing his employee benefits.

Egbufor asked who “Timothy” was, since the name was listed on the benefits documents, and Hobson replied that Timothy was his fiancé (and now husband).

The lawsuit describes the ensuing conversation. “Prior to abruptly hanging up on Plaintiff, Defendant Egbufor said in a tone of disgust with a raised voice, ‘Your fiancé, OK, Barry, goodbye.’ Then she immediately hung up.”

This incident led to a dispute between

Hobson and his supervisor and denial of Hobson’s health care benefits.

The lawsuit also contains two emails that Egbufor allegedly sent.

In the first, she reportedly wrote that “allowing Barry Hobson benefits will without question open the door to many issues down the road. Market data shows a substantial premium/rate increase when allowing the LGBT community to participate in employer-sponsored plans for various reasons.

“AIDS, HIV, and STD statistics are great pricing factors when considering this community and would be a detriment to our regular employees…”

In the second email, Egbufor recommended firing Hobson.

“Barry’s nature of resistance and pushback is common among his peers in the homosexual community and will be an ongoing issue for [the] WTU if not addressed,” she wrote.

“As a result, I plan to recommend termination and immediately begin reassigning the remainder of his job duties to various staff in the coming days.”

Following this, Egbufor did, in fact, recommend firing Hobson to the WTU board, which accepted her recommendation and terminated Hobson’s employment.

In a statement to the Washington Blade, WTU President Elizabeth Davis questioned the authenticity of the emails. She also said the union would hire an outside firm to analyze the emails in question.

Hobson’s claims are “outrageous and totally without merit,” Davis added.

“The Washington Teachers Union has always been, and continues to be, strongly committed to treating all individuals equally regardless of their sexual orientation,” she concluded.

The WTU’s General Vice President Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons agreed to write Hobson a recommendation later in his search for a new job.

In the letter, she called Hobson “a truly valuable asset to any team.” She also described him as “honest, dependable, and incredibly hard-working” and someone who “manages to foster positive discussions and bring the best out of other employees.”

Hobson’s attorneys filed the lawsuit in US District Court on September 18. Egbufor is named as one of the defendants in the suit. Other defendants include Davis and the union itself.

LGBTQ people while disregarding what is in the best interests of children,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy.

provision of child welfare services, allowing child welfare placing agencies that receive federal government funding to turn away qualified prospective parents based on the agency’s religious beliefs. House and Senate negotiators dropped the provision from the final version of the bill, which is on its way to the President’s desk.

“Fortunately, Congress has rejected this harmful effort to discriminate against

“Congress should be focusing on ways to help children in the child welfare system find homes rather than creating needless obstacles for prospective parents, effectively shrinking the pool of qualified folks who want to provide children with a loving home.”

The HRC recently released a report, titled “Disregarding the Best Interest of the Child: License to Discriminate in Child Welfare Services,” detailing the harms of efforts to write anti-LGBTQ discrimina-

tion by child welfare agencies into law. Statistics suggest that an estimated two million LGBTQ adults in the US are interested in adoption, but the LGBTQ community often remains an untapped resource when it comes to finding families for children and youth in foster care.

Research consistently shows that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, as many have been rejected by their families of origin because of their LGBTQ status, and are especially vulnerable to discrimination and mistreatment while in foster care. This type of

amendment will only exacerbate these challenges faced by LGBTQ young people.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. The HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

Courtesy of the HRC

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ATHENS MURDER

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to their native country.

Kostopoulos was murdered on September 21 in downtown Athens, under circumstances that are still being investigated.

It is traditional in Greece to throw handfuls of dirt on the coffin, but mourners threw glitter instead.

“In the end, the grave wasn’t brown anymore, it was pink and blue and purple, shiny glitter everywhere, tiny gay flags everywhere,” Kostopoulos’ friend, journalist Christina Michalou, told the British website PinkNews

“Some drag queens threw their wigs in the grave too.”

Michalou said that Kostopoulos would have been touched to see such a gathering of different people from all walks of life.

“Once, Zak said his biggest dream was to create a time and place in which everyone would coexist in absolute peace and union, even for a little bit,” she said.

“That was his funeral. Conservative parents, drag queens in huge heels, people who just met him, new in the community, barely 19 years old, old villagers who used to know him as a child, people expressing their grief in strict black and people expressing it in rainbow dresses, transgender girls holding hands with grandparents who never left their tiny village in their lives.

“All these people, so different, with absolutely nothing in common, and they

all kept hugging each other, overseeing what makes them different to unite in what makes them the same. Zak.

“I really wish he could see that. I really wish he could know his dream came true.”

Kostopoulos died in horrific, but unexplained, circumstances. Cell phone videos of the incident show him apparently trapped inside a small shop, trying to break down the glass door with a fire extinguisher. Eventually he managed to break a shop window and crawl out, but he was immediately attacked by two older men who kicked him repeatedly.

The two, who have been arrested by Greek police, have been tentatively identified as the owner of the store in which Kostopoulos seemed to be trapped, and the owner of a shop across the street. They have been charged with manslaughter.

Kostopoulos managed to escape from the two shopkeepers but was apparently assaulted by other people in the crowd gathered around the shop. Some people in the crowd then intervened to protect him, but police at the scene did nothing.

Later cell phone photos show Kostopoulos handcuffed on a police gurney. He

subsequently died at the hospital where he was taken by police.

Kostopoulos’ reason for being in the shop is unknown. Initial police reports said he entered the shop armed with a knife, intending to rob it, but witnesses at the scene said he fled there after a brawl broke out nearby.

The cause of death is also unknown. Initial autopsy reports indicate minor injuries that should not have been fatal.

Authorities say they are continuing to investigate, but Greek activists said they had little confidence in the police, who are widely believed to be linked to the neoNazi party Golden Dawn.

According to a 2014 report from Amnesty International, Greek police have a long history of ignoring crimes targeting minority groups, including the LGBT community.

Greek attorney Anna Paparousou, who represents Kostopoulos’ family, told the Greek station Omnia TV that the coroner’s report failed to identify a clear cause of death, but it did report brain swelling, the cause of which is yet to be determined. She added that no eyewitnesses have come forward to testify and that the police have failed to record the beating in its report of the incident.

Paparousou credited the existence of the video with bringing the mob attack to light.

“If the video did not exist, the case might have been closed. No violence would have been recorded by anyone,” she said.