SGN Sep 6, 2019 - Part 1

Tasveer South Asian Film Festival announces 2019 lineup

Brittany Runs a Marathon sprints to redemptive victory SEC 2 PG 1 SEC 2 PG 1

Seattle Gay News

HRC and CNN team up for town hall on LGBT issues with Democratic presidential candidates

WASHINGTON, DC (September 5, 2019) – Today, the HRC Foundation announced CNN as the exclusive broadcast partner for the organization’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)focused town hall for Democratic presiden-

GLAAD joins One Iowa, The Gazette , and The Advocate as national partner for Presidential Candidate

Forum on LGBTQ issues

tial candidates this fall.

The evening will constitute the largestever audience for a Democratic presidential town hall devoted to LGBTQ issues and

Iceland greets VP Mike Pence with rainbow flags

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

US Vice President Mike

Pence, known for his anti-LGBT politics as well as his subservience to Donald Trump, found businesses all over Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital city, flying the rainbow Pride flags.

see ICELAND page 11

2020 candidates Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Julian Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Sestak, and Marianne Williamson have confirmed attendance LGBTQ forum will be livestreamed

from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to a national audience on Sept. 20 and will exclusively feature questions on LGBTQspecific issues

see HRC page 7 see GLAAD page 7

GSA in Bakersfield invaded by MAGA students

School investigating as harassment incident

by Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer

Student members of the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at Frontier High School in Bakersfield, California, found their first

meeting of the school year invaded by people waving MAGA flags and shouting antiLGBT slurs.

According to social media posts, the invaders – other students who belonged to

see BAKERSFIELD page 11

The labor choice in District 3 is obvious:

Working people should support Sawant against Amazon’s candidate

Election Day is November 5. For working people in Seattle City Council District 3, the choice could not be clearer.

Kshama Sawant has been one of the most consistent fighters for working people and our unions to serve on the City Council. We are proud to support Councilmember Sawant’s re-election, along with the 15 unions and counting who have endorsed her campaign.

Against her is the candidate of the Chamber of Commerce, Egan Orion. Orion’s campaign coffers are flush with donations from a who’s who of corporate America, including big developers, corporate lobbyists, 15 Amazon executives from around the country, and a long list of businesses that have fought against pro-labor policies in Seattle, like the $15/hour minimum wage.

Among those who’ve maxed out to Orion are real estate billionaire Martin Selig, who also gave the maximum donation of $5,600 to Donald Trump in 2016. This year Selig also gave the maximum donation to Ari Hoffman against Tammy Morales. Joining him is wealthy hotel chain owner Richard Hedreen, who has a long track record of union-busting.

In fact, corporate PACs and the super-rich are trying to buy our elections this year. In the August primaries, a candidate backed by the Chamber of Commerce made it through to the general election in every single district.

The Chamber’s PAC, CASE, propped up by unprecedented corporate funding for a Seattle City Council race, has made union sister and socialist Councilmember Kshama Sawant its main target.

Despite that, Sawant came in 15 points ahead of her closest opponent in the primary election.

Unfortunately, while Sawant has strong rank-and-file union support, some labor leaders supported one of her opponents. We understand there were differences in labor on the District 3 race in the primary, with some seeing Zachary DeWolf as a progressive alternative. But this general election is a fundamentally different race.

Progressive unions simply cannot support an out-and-out corporate candidate like Egan Orion. Orion is the first choice of the corporate elite, and out of all 55 City Council candidates in the crowded Seattle primary, he was the #1 recipient of corporate PAC money.

Last week, a new $200,000 donation from Amazon has brought their total PAC contribution up to $450,000. Altogether, three corporate PACs have amassed more than $1.7 million and counting, including half a million from a real estate lobby that wants to stop rent control at all costs.

As we all know, he who pays the piper calls the tune. The long experience our movement has had with corporate-backed candidates has shown their election-year promises to be hollow. Orion says he will listen to everyone, but his actions, were he to be elected, would be guided by his corporate masters, not by our unions.

Orion has said unequivocally he does not support rent control, an urgently needed public policy to stem the hemorrhaging of our city’s affordable housing. He’s not campaigning for any tax on big business. He has no viable plan to address the affordable housing crisis. He does not support a Green New Deal.

Orion has also been remarkably dishonest about his PAC funding, with his campaign putting up posters saying “No Corporate PAC Money” after completely flip-flopping on the issue. In fact, he applied to the Chamber’s CASE PAC for its financial backing, interviewed for it, and said he was “proud” to receive its endorsement (while addressing a business audience).

This kind of dishonesty stands in sharp contrast to Kshama Sawant’s highly principled approach to her council seat and complete rejection of all corporate cash.

We can’t let big business buy this election. They want a Seattle exclusively for them: a corporate tax haven and playground for the rich, where they reside in waterfront mansions with manicured lawns, while workers and people of color continue to be gentrified out of the city.

A lot is at stake in this election. We need to build the fight for rent control and affordable housing, for a Green New Deal, and for taxing big business instead of working people. We need a proven fighter like Sawant who has shown time and again she will stand up for ordinary people and not bow down before business interests, including their ongoing attacks on labor and efforts to privatize the public sector.

All unions should now stand together and endorse Kshama Sawant against this corporate onslaught.

Signed by, David Parsons, President of UAW 4121, MLK Labor E Board member*

Paula Lukaszek, President of WFSE 1488, MLK Labor delegate*

Claude Burfect, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists*, MLK Labor E Board member*

David Yao, Vice President of Greater Seattle Area American Postal Workers

Mike Andrew, MLK Labor eboard member*, UAW 1981/National Writers Union

Kathy Yasi, Second Vice President of SEIU 925

Justin Vinson, MLK Labor delegate*, Seattle Education Association E Board member

Jonathan Rosenblum, UAW 1981/National Writers Union, author of Beyond $15

Tricia Coley, IBEW 46*

Annelie Day, UFCW 21*

Kathy Heffernan, SEIU 1199NW

* Personal capacity only

Seattle/King County Clinic to return for sixth year Volunteers sought as 4-day free health clinic finds temporary home during Seattle Center Arena construction

As Seattle/King County Clinic prepares to open its doors for a sixth year at Seattle Center, Feb. 13-16, 2020, organizers have an ambitious goal of recruiting 1,000 volunteers for each of the four days of this immense undertaking. Their hope is to provide over $2.5 million in dental, vision and medical services free of charge to people in need. KeyArena was home to the Clinic in its first five years of operation. Although construction at the Arena put the fate of the Clinic in doubt, the community rallied to make it happen.

“When the new Arena at Seattle Center was announced, people were elated. That was immediately followed by calls asking what that meant for the Clinic and pleas to keep it going,” said Seattle/King County Clinic Director Julia Colson. “Finding a temporary home for something of this scale and complexity is challenging. We explored numerous options and were about to give up when we discovered one week of potential availability in five Seattle Center facilities. By a stroke of luck, all of the healthcare equipment was also available. So, thanks to the tenacity, flexibility and efforts of many, we are holding a sixth Clinic.”

Still, Colson is tempering her excitement as she considers new challenges ahead. She said, “Volunteer and patient recruitment is paramount given the different time of year and temporary location. We can’t assume people are aware the Clinic is still operating. Plus, the number of volunteers we have will determine how many patients we can serve. We have to get the word out!”

The Clinic needs healthcare professionals and general support volunteers to fill a broad range of functions and shifts. It also seeks volunteers for the days before and after the four-day event to help with preparation and wrap-up. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Individuals may register at seattlecenter.org/volunteers.

Seattle/King County Clinic is the largest event of its kind in the state of Washington. Produced in partnership with more than 100 healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits and private businesses, the Clinic brings together thousands of volunteers and the organizing and event expertise of Seattle Center to address acute health issues among people who routinely face barriers getting the care they need. Since the Clinic’s inception in 2014, more than 17,900 volunteers have participated.

Clinic outcomes speak to the accomplishments of this immense effort in responding to a profound need in our community for accessible and affordable healthcare. Patients can receive a variety of services ranging from dental fillings and extractions, eye examinations, physicals, behavioral healthcare and social work to prescription eyeglasses, immunizations, laboratory tests, mammograms, ultrasounds and x-rays.

“At a time when so many in our region struggle to meet basic needs, Seattle/King County Clinic is a beacon of caring and generosity,” said Christine Lindquist, Executive Director of Washington Healthcare Access Alliance. “Seattle/King County Clinic provides immediate dental, vision and medical care and connects patients to resources beyond the clinic walls. It also demonstrates the good we can accomplish when we work together as diverse partners to serve others and effect change.”

In its first five years, the Clinic provided $17 million in direct services to 20,000

patients who came from over 260 unique zip codes and spoke more than 50 primary languages. Clinic patients are parents, children, elders, veterans, immigrants, refugees, people living homeless and, in large part, wage-earners who struggle with the high cost of living.

As one volunteer described, “I was truly surprised to see that people seeking services were just like me, my family, my co-workers and neighbors. That was the biggest realization for me; folks who desperately need these services aren’t ‘them,’ they’re ‘us.’”

The commitment to produce an event of this magnitude represents the serious dedication of a caring community to address healthcare issues at the local level, to make a difference for those who struggle to access and afford care, and to raise awareness about who is left out of the current healthcare system.

Find out more about Seattle/King County Clinic by visiting seattlecenter.org/ skcclinic or by calling 206-684-7200.

ABOUT CLINIC PARTNERS

These are just some of the organizations that collaborate to produce Seattle/ King County Clinic and contribute needed resources and expertise:

141 Eyewear, America’s Dentists Care Foundation, Arcora Foundation, Auston James Photography, The Ballmer Group, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Burkhart Dental Supply, City of Seattle, Cornish College of the Arts, Crane Fund for Widows and Children, DCG ONE, Delta Dental of WA, Essilor Vision Foundation, Group Health Foundation, HealthPoint, Hepatitis Education Project, HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response, JorgensonPeninsula Optical Supply, Kaiser Permanente, King County Metro, King County Nurses Association, Laney Dental, Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization, Medical Teams International, Mediterranean Inn, Microsoft, Mid-Gulf Instruments, Moccasin Lake Foundation, Opticians Association of WA, Optometric Physicians of WA, Pacific Office Automation, Patterson Dental, Philips Healthcare, Physical Therapy Association of WA, Project Access Northwest, Public Health — Seattle & King County, Seattle Animal Shelter, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle Center, Seattle Center Foundation, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Information Technology, Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs, Seattle Opera, Seattle Police Department, Shofu Dental Corporation, Space Needle, SPARK, Spectra, Swedish, UW Medicine, UW School of Dentistry, UW School of Public Health, Virginia Mason, VOSH Northwest, WA Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons, WA Academy of General Dentistry, WA Dental Hygienists’ Association, WA Healthcare Access Alliance, WA State Chiropractic Association, WA State Dental Association, WA State Department of Health, WA State Nurses Association, WA State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Zeiss.

of Seattle Center and Seattle/ King County Clinic

HRC

continued from cover

will mark the first time in history that a major cable news network will air a presidential event devoted to issues of importance to the LGBTQ community.

The Human Rights Campaign is the world’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, representing more than three million members and supporters.

This historic town hall event, entitled Power of Our Pride, will take place on Thursday, October 10 at the Novo in Los Angeles, California. The event is set to take place on the eve of the 31st annual National Coming Out Day, a celebration of coming out as LGBTQ or as an ally. The first National Coming Out Day was held on October 11, 1988, on the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, as a way of celebrating the power of coming out and promoting a safe world for LGBTQ individuals to live truthfully and openly.

CNN will air the event exclusively live during prime time on CNN and CNN en Español, across mobile devices via CNN’s apps for iOS and Android, and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and Android TV.

For reference, CNN’s July Democratic presidential debate drew more than 10.7 million viewers.

GLAAD

continued from cover

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization announced [on Wednesday, August 28, 2019] that it will join One Iowa, The Gazette, and The Advocate as national partners for the upcoming LGBTQ Presidential Forum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 20, 2019.

The Forum will take place at Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and will be livestreamed through GLAAD’s partnership across social and digital channels to a national and international audience. Further details about access to the livestream, RSVP logistics, and additional commitments from other 2020 presidential candidates are forthcoming.

The partnership for the forum grew as the 2020 presidential election cycle continues and LGBTQ issues have been largely absent on the national debate stage. LGBTQ Americans have faced more than 124 anti-LGBTQ attacks in policy and rhetoric from a hostile Trump Administration, including the president’s ban on transgender Americans from serving in the nation’s armed forces and opposition to the Equality Act. Combined with recent research from GLAAD and The Harris Poll suggesting a decline in LGBTQ acceptance among younger Americans, the LGBTQ vote will shape the upcoming 2020 elections.

To date in the 2020 presidential primary, LGBTQ issues have largely been absent on the national debate stage, with only a fraction of candidates mentioning the LGBTQ community and the issues affecting their lives. Exit polls from the 2018 mid-term elections revealed LGBTQ voters represented about six percent of the electorate, making LGBTQ Americans an influential voting bloc in the crowded 2020 presidential primary contests.

“LGBTQ issues and the LGBTQ community have been largely left out of the 2020 presidential primary conversation so far, and this forum will bring these important topics to a national audience for the first time in this election cycle,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “We look forward to hearing how each 2020 candidate will fight for LGBTQ acceptance during this campaign and beyond and, as President, how each of them would repair the damage done to LGBTQ equality and acceptance by the Trump Administration.”

“We’re excited to have GLAAD on board as we shine a light on the lives and needs of LGBTQ people living in the heartland,” said One Iowa Interim Executive Director Courtney Reyes. “The overarching narrative that LGBTQ people in the U.S live in urban coastal areas ignores the millions of LGBTQ individuals living and working in the middle of the country. We look forward to hearing what the presidential candidates have to say to this often overlooked, but politically powerful community.”

“At The Advocate, we are committed to serving LGBTQ populations living in big cities and small towns with vital news and information to educate, inform and inspire,” said Zach Stafford, The Advocate editor-in-chief. “Creating a forum where our issues are front and center will allow the LGBTQ community to make clear and informed decisions about the candidates seeking our valuable votes.”

Currently, confirmed attendees include former Vice President Joe Biden, New Jersey U.S. Senator Cory Booker, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, U.S. Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District Tulsi Gabbard, Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, former Pennsylvania representative Joe Sestak, and author Marianne Williamson. All presidential candidates will lay out their vision on how they will protect and improve LGBTQ acceptance –including in the Heartland and across rural America. All Democratic presidential candidates actively campaigning in Iowa have been invited to participate.

One Iowa, a statewide LGBTQ advo -

cacy organization, The Gazette, Eastern Iowa’s daily newspaper and online news source, and The Advocate, the world’s leading source for LGBTQ news previously announced the LGBTQ forum is free to the public with required pre-registration. More than 350 people have RSVP’d, and additional tickets are available at www.thegazette.com/2019LGBTQforum or by calling 319-398-8345.

Several leading elected officials from Eastern Iowa are serving as honorary cochairs for the LGBTQ Presidential Forum:

• Abby Finkenauer, U.S. Congressman (IA-1)

• Dave Loebsack, U.S. Congressman (IA-2)

• Zach Wahls, Iowa State Senator

• Rob Hogg, Iowa State Senator

• Liz Bennett, Iowa State Representative

• Kyla Paterson, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party Stonewall Caucus

• Bret Niles, Chair of the Linn County Democratic Party

• Aime Wichtendahl, Hiawatha City Councilwoman

Doors will open at 6:15pm., and the program will run from 7pm to 8:30pm. Each candidate will have individual stage time to address the audience, followed by a one-on-one moderated Q&A session. Moderators are:

• Lyz Lenz, The Gazette columnist

• Zach Stafford, The Advocate editor-inchief

• Keenan Crow, One Iowa director of policy and advocacy

One Iowa advances, empowers, and improves the lives of LGBTQ Iowans statewide. Find out more at www.oneiowa.org.

The Gazette is Eastern Iowa’s independent, employee-owned daily newspaper and media company. Founded in 1883, the company continues to be innovative in program, product and service while maintaining its commitment to provide the latest in local, state and national news. Find out more at www.thegazette.com

The Advocate continues to be the world’s leading source of LGBTQ+ news, culture and entertainment, since it was first published over half a century ago in 1967. Through its award-winning journalism, compelling photography, and impactful video, The Advocate continues to capture the most important political and culturally relevant news and conversations taking place today, that affect the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Find out more at www. advocate.com.

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www. glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

Courtesy of GLAAD

KarmaScentsCandles

Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College presents FREE fashion show at Broadway Performance Hall on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 15

Dear Seattle Gay News:

On Sunday, September 15, at 1pm and 3pm, our company is hosting a FREE fashion show at Seattle Central College’s Broadway Performance Hall (1625 Broadway – Broadway & E Pine St) that is traveling to Seattle from Tokyo, Japan. We would love to have our event posted on your website/next newsletter.

Bunka Gakuen University, affiliated with Bunka Fashion College, founded in 1923 in Tokyo as Japan’s first dressmaking school, is now one of the top ranked fashion schools in the world.

Many of Asia’s top fashion designers such as Kenzo, Junya Watanabe (Comme des Garcons), Yohji Yamamoto, Nigo (Bathing Ape), Koshino Junko, and Tsu-

mori Chisato have graduated from Bunka Fashion College.

Students from Bunka Fashion College are bringing this exciting, modern, and creative fashion show to the Broadway Performance Hall (1625 Broadway – off Seattle Central College’s South Plaza) where it will be presented on Sunday, September 15 at 1pm and 3pm.

The fashion show will last approximately 45 minutes. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime.

The students are responsible for all stages of the show; designing, creating, modeling plus stage preparation, lighting, music and developing the program.

This is an all-ages event and admission is FREE with RSVP. Don’t miss this rare opportunity! Seats are limited so please

RSVP today at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/fashion-show-from-tokyo-japantickets-67635039223

Frequently asked questions:

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

All ages are welcome.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

USA International, Inc.

Email: fashion@ushomestay.com

Tel.: 425-483-5974

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

BAKERSFIELD continued from cover

Future Farmers of America – followed the GSA members out to the parking lot when the GSAers retreated to avoid a confrontation.

School officials suspended the invaders and said they would investigate the incident as malicious harassment.

“The Kern High School District and Frontier High School recognize that students have varying viewpoints and opinions,” a September 3 statement from school

officials read.

“One of the goals of the educational process is to teach students how to communicate respectfully with each other.”

The district added that the incident is “currently being investigated,” and that it would take “appropriate follow-up measures” after the investigation is complete.

Some parents expressed anger and frustration on social media.

“My husband is ready to go down to the school (I’m disabled.) If we need to go en masse, we should,” one parent wrote in a Facebook comment.

Tickets will be held in Will-Call at the Box Office. Just tell us your name when you arrive.

“My LGBT kid has a history teacher that is openly MAGA at Frontier... this [is] populism in their culture and they need to address that.”

Another parent claimed that tension exists between “FFA and any kids they’ve determined as ‘liberal,’” and that they’ve targeted the LGBTQ community.

But “not my kid and his friends,” she continued. “I will not go down without a fight. I want these kids punished.”

The Bakersfield chapter of PFLAG said in a statement that it was “saddened to learn about the incident.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Icelandic tech company Advania, which flew the flag from its HQ next to Höfði House (the location of a famous summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev), explained to the Reykjavik Grapevine newspaper, “This wasn’t a decision made by any one person. Rather, we decided as a group that today would be a good day to celebrate diversity.”

“Here’s a great example of why I’m proud to be from Iceland. Mike Pence is visiting the country, and everyone is outraged,” Icelandic drag queen Heklina said.

“The mayor of Reykjavík, all the biggest firms and companies, everyone, they’re all flying the gay flag. All Pence will see everywhere on his visit is gay, gay, gay.”

Iceland is one of the most LGBT-positive countries, having introduced same-sex marriage in 2010 under former Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, who was the world’s first openly Lesbian head of government.

In contrast, Pence has a thoroughly anti-LGBT record and is known to be close to religiously affiliated anti-LGBT hate groups.

A 2018 report charged that Pence played a pivotal role in actions taken by the Trump administration to dismantle civil rights protections for LGBT people.

In 2000, when he was running for Congress, Pence promised to “oppose any effort to recognize homosexuals as a ‘discrete and insular minority’ entitled to the protection of anti-discrimination laws similar to those extended to women and ethnic minorities.”

Once elected, he made good on his promise. In 2007, Pence voted against the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would have banned workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Pence also opposed the 2009 Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, saying that Barack Obama wanted to “advance a radical social agenda” under which pastors “could be charged or be subject to intimidation for simply expressing a biblical world-

seats here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashion-show-from-tokyojapan-tickets-67635039223

https://youtu.be/WdF70hcKQLQ

Hope to see you there! Kind regards,

One of the students accused of harassing the GSA members, identified by local media only as “Matthew,” told 23ABC News that he and his friends weren’t looking for any trouble. They just joined the meeting out of curiosity, he claimed.

“It wasn’t just us saying stuff to them and it wasn’t just them saying stuff to us. We were all screaming at each other,” said Matthew, who was suspended for harassment, intimidation, and sexual harassment.

view on the issue of homosexual behavior.”

The vice president’s wife, Karen Pence, also teaches at a school that excludes Gay children and parents.

White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere claimed earlier this week that Mike Pence isn’t “anti-gay” because he had lunch with Gay Irish leader Leo Varadkar and his partner.

The HRC responded with this tweet: “We’ve all shared a meal with people we fundamentally disagree with out of obligation. One word: Thanksgiving. This lunch has nothing to do with LGBTQ rights; it’s literally just with an LGBTQ person.”

New exhibition Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Their Circle: French Impressionism and the Northwest opens at Tacoma Art Museum Sept. 28