Take a peek at this year’s June PRIDE Events ! Vol. XV, No. 4
Eyman’s Dirty Tricks by Joe Reilly
An effort has begun to repeal the newly won rights of Washington citizens to be free of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity when seeking employment, housing, credit, insurance, and making certain contracts. Beginning on March 10, petitions were mailed for Referendum 65 (R-65) to overturn House Bill 2661, a civil rights bill which was signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire on January 31. Backers of R-65 hope to collect 112,440 signatures by June 7, 2006 to place the measure on the ballot in November. The bill is scheduled to become law on June 8. Washington will become the 17th state to provide protections to its citizens based on sexual orientation and the seventh state to do so based on Continued on page 16
Fly your Flags on Fridays! Inside This Issue Arts & Entertainment......................... 12 Business Directory . ........................... 21 Calendar............................................... 22 Classifieds............................................ 20 Distribution Locations....................... 20 Eating Out............................................ 18 In My Opinion........................................ 3 Letters of the Law............................... 18 National / International News.......... 11 No Rest for the Wicked ....................... 6 OUT! in the Middle of Nowhere........ 7 Pride Events .......................................... 9 Regional News . .................................... 6 Resource Directory............................. 23 Reviews & Previews ........................... 14 Spokane Downtown Map................. 19 Spokane News....................................... 4 Tell Trinity............................................. 17 Voices...................................................... 2
Inside Our Web Site www.stonewallnews.net - GLBTQA Regional Calendar - Resource Directory - Distribution Locations - Employment Opportunities - Circulation Information - Advertising Information - Current Issue - Back Issues - Community Forms & Flyers
by Graham Ames
Serving the GLBTQA Community of the Inland Northwest since 1992
April 2006
Is it time to pull the plug ?
After two three-hour-plus meetings to gather public input, the Rainbow Regional Community Center Board of Directors voted not to close the Center immediately. They voted instead to take the next 60 days to create a committee consisting of members of established GLBTQ organizations to report back to the Board on how the Center can be
“The Board members who are tired and want to go should be allowed to do so. The Center hasn’t died, it’s taking on a new form of life” – Audience Member
Photo by Astazio
...page 9
The Rainbow Regional Community Center on 2nd Avenue in downtown kept open through community support. Spokane awaits its fate. The last-minute maneuver extends the life of the RRCC temporarily in the face of looming financial and location woes. members of the public, and the RRCC Second Avenue address. This is changThe move for immediate closure Board all spoke frankly about issues and ing, however, and the Center must now was brought before the Board in Febquestions relating to the Center and its begin to pay utilities to remain open. It ruary in response to a negative cash functions. During the dismust also balance on the Center’s books, coupled “How can we talk about moving to course, two main themes begin with a letter from the landlord of the began to emerge. looking a new building when we have no Center’s building stating that their fufor a new The first was that money for rent?” ture there is uncertain. The motion died location RRCC, as an organization, – Barrie Ryan with no second, and the Board decided when the is in terto solandlord “Would a new board solve the rible financial licit public closes a rental or renovation deal on the shape. With little-to-no problems?” comment. building. – Ramon Alvarez income flow, the Center An has been able to survive The poor financial affairs were overflow largely due to a large donalargely blamed on lack of cash support crowd filled the RRCC’s main room on tion every month in the form of rent for the Center by the community. Many March 7. Community leaders, interested and utilities from the landlord of their Continued on page 16
Come OUT Spokane – Join the Journey!
$50,000
A community service announcement:
Many of our Spokane GLBTQ organizations are jumping on board for the 15th anniversary of Spokane’s annual Pride Celebration. This year is more ambitious than ever before and we really welcome your involvement! We are garnering more sponsors and have more events for which volunteers would be a great help. There are floats to be designed and created and this year’s Rainbow Festival will last longer and have more going on than any of us imagined even a couple of years ago. Two stages are planned for the entertainment this year. We are adding a stage for the Children’s Section that we instigated last year so that they will have their own entertainers as well as the exuberant giant bouncy kid’s toys.
Patricia Nell Warren, the legendary OUT gay author of The Front Runner and other books that have inspired and helped many of our brothers and sisters seek freedom and realize self worth, will be our Grand Marshall and spend an extra day in our community working in youth forums and signing books. (See page 13 for more information about this gay icon.) An ongoing mission for OutSpokane in planning our Pride Celebrations is to honor the heroes and legends who have historically pioneered for our rights. For more information on Patricia Nell Warren, her writing, history and her stand for GLBTQ issues visit: www.patricianellwarren.com. Northern Quest Casino and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane have helped pushed the OutSpokane thermometer up to $31,000. Our goal is $50,000. Continued on page 9
June May
$31,000
April