Community Spotlight... What’s Valentine’s Day without a compelling love story? Three couples share theirs. Page 8
Vol. XV, No. 2
Serving the GLBTQA Community of the Inland Northwest since 1992
February 2006
At long last... anti-discrimination bill passes!
Inside This Issue Arts & Entertainment......................... 12 Be Our Guest ......................................16 Business Directory . ........................... 21 Calendar............................................... 22 Family . ................................................... 8 Healthier Options .............................. 20 In My Opinion............................... 3 & 18 Letters of the Law............................... 19 National / International News.......... 11 No Rest for the Wicked ....................... 6 OUT! in the Middle . ............................ 7 Regional News . .................................... 6 Resource Directory............................. 23 Reviews & Previews ........................... 14 Spokane News....................................... 4 Tell Trinity............................................. 17 Voices...................................................... 2
Inside Our Web Site www.stonewallnews.net - GLBTQA Regional Calendar - Classifieds - Resource Directory - Distribution Locations - Employment Opportunities - Circulation Information - Advertising Information - Current Issue - Back Issues
nation in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, insurance and other financial services. Protections against discrimination based on age, race, sex, creed, national origin, marital status and disabilities have been in place for years. The first attempt to include sexual orientation in the nomenclature on protection was made in 1977. The state House has passed anti-discrimination measures many times in the interim only to see the bills languish in Senate committees or fail on the floor. A vote on a similar bill in the Senate last session (HB 1515) failed to pass by a single vote. The House approved HB 2661 by a vote of 60-37 on Jan. 20. It cleared a Senate committee on a vote of 7-3. The Continued on page 5
Gov. Chris Gregoire, Sen. Lisa Brown, the Rev. Monica Corsaro and Rep. Ed Murray (insets) and Rabbi Jonathan Singer (below) addressed nearly 1,000 GLBTQA activists gathered on the Capitol steps for Equality Day, Jan. 23. Pictured holding ‘7’ is Gerry Stinnett of Harrington with Tracy Sturchio of Chattaroy holding ‘3.’
Crowd rallies for equality by Rob Chandler
More than 1,000 gay rights supporters from across the state of Washington rallied Jan. 23 on the steps of the Capitol, calling for passage of a gay rights bill that finally became law Jan. 31 after nearly 30 years of failure in the state Legislature. Many in the crowd wore red, along with red “I’m for Equality” buttons. Those who had attended morning workshops were told to “get the word out” and “be visible.”
Oops!... Forum to be held on Feb. 11 The Community Forum on Marriage Equality announced in these pages last month is indeed happening, but not on the date reported (editor’s error). The event will actually take place Saturday, Feb. 11, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave., in downtown Spokane. Rogers High School teacher Peter Perkins will moderate the program, as he did Stonewall’s first forum in November. See pages 2 and 22 for additional
information about the forum panel. Each panelist will make an opening statement and then there will be an extended question-and-answer exchange among panelists and the audience. The program is free and open to all voices. Civil discourse is expected; disruptive individuals or groups will be ejected. Stonewall reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone whose presence appears to pose a risk to program participants or attendees.
Many carried numbered signs signifying their legislative district. Nearly all of the state’s 48 legislative districts were represented. Others carried placards that read “Equality for All of God’s Children.” Following a performance by the Seattle Men’s and Women’s Choruses, under the direction of artistic director Dennis Coleman, the Rev. Monica Corsaro of the United Methodist Church in Seattle welcomed Continued on page 5
Fridays are our Flag Day!
Photo by Pat Devine
Essentially two simple words... nearly 30 years in the making... It sounds like a promo for a potential Hollywood blockbuster, but it’s merely background on the biggest GLBTQArelated news story out of Olympia in more than a generation. The Anderson-Murray Anti-discrimination bill (HB 2661) was passed in both houses of the Washington State Legislature last month and signed into law Jan. 31 by Gov. Christine Gregoire. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane (3rd District) ushered the long-awaited measure through the historically reluctant legislative body, helped in large measure by a change of heart announced well ahead of the vote by state Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland.He was the only Senate Republican to vote for the bill. Two Democrats opposed the bill, as did all other GOP senators in attendance. The vote, taken Jan. 27, was 25-23. Spokane Valley’s Bob McCaslin was excused from the vote; he was in Spokane for medical reasons. HB 2661 adds sexual orientation to language in existing law governing the mandates and authority of the state’s Human Rights Commission to investigate and redress claims of discrimi-
Photos by Rob Chandler
by Catherine D. Willis
Show everyone that we are here and proud. Let’s make a statement at least once a week.