M O N D A Y
November 13, 2006 Volume 15, Issue 15 www.stonewallnews.net
Now published every other week!
Serving the GLBTQA Community of the Pacific Northwest since 1992
Bigotry & ignorance rampant in U.S. Border Patrol Referred to as “Fag”, “Abomination”, “Transvestite”, “Thing”, and “Freak”; U.S. Border Patrol seeks to fire local decorated transsexual employee in shoddy investigation By Joyce Crosby Special to Stonewall News Northwest
Telecommunications Officer with Customs and Border Protection under the Department of Homeland Security. Sturchio, 58, has worked for the Border SPOKANE, WA - “It doesn’t matter Patrol since 1991, and has worked at the whether they are gay or straight,” Tracy Spokane office since 1998. The friendly Sturchio proclaims, referring to being and engaging transgender, “people Sturchio describes just don’t understand her relationship the drive to change “As you can see by with coworkers at your sex.” People the investigation, Tracy Border Patrol as do understand is still referred to in “great” until she what it is like to be derogatory terms by began to transition different though. former co-workers at the from the macho Gaining acceptance Ron Sturchio to the Border Patrol. And that is a matter of now female Tracey overcoming fear attitude appears to have Sturchio. In 2002 through education made its way to the top Sturchio changed and activism. with the former Chief of her name to Tracy Sturchio is not the Spokane Sector using and began living alone in being derogatory terms to refer her life as a woman tired of bigotry, to Tracy as well.” in preparation for hatred, ignorance, sex reassignment --Larry Kuznetz corruption and surgery. During this cover-ups. It Attorney for Tracy Sturchio period Sturchio was appears that bias the object of many and harassment are jokes and often flourishing here in subjected to defamatory remarks at Eastern Washington work. With the support of her wife of Tracy Sturchio, highly decorated nearly 30 years, Sturchio underwent firefighter and EMT, longtime EMCC sex reassignment surgery in August member, co-facilitator of Papillion a 2004. Eight months later she lost a social/support group for transgender federal lawsuit alleging discrimination individuals and a transsexual woman by coworkers because under the Civil herself is fighting for her job as a
Photo by Mike Schultz
Tracy Sturchio talks with Stonewall News Northwest on November 2, 2006. Sturchio explains what she wants most is a thorough investigation.
Rights Act of 1964 transsexuals are not members of a protected class. Under reorganization by the Department of Homeland Security, and due to her expertise and technical skills in her field Ms. Sturchio earned a temporary supervisory position with Customs and Border Patrol (CPB). However, because of her previous
lawsuit, Sturchio contends that there was so much animosity directed at her by CBP staff that it precluded a working relationship with several of her coworkers. Tracy was subjected to derogatory remarks, sometimes daily, Please see STURCHIO page 3 Further coverage page 10
Record number of gays elected to office THIS ISSUE
Arts & Entertainment.............................8 Business Directory . ..............................11 Calendar....................................................14 Classifieds.................................................13 National / International ........................6 No Rest for the Wicked .........................4 Out! In the Middle of Nowhere . ........5 Resource Directory................................12 Reviews & Previews ...............................9 Spokane / Regional.................................2 Spokane Map..........................................15 Voices...........................................................2
Fly your Flags on Fridays!
Sixty-seven candidates endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, an organization that helps LGBT candidates gain office, were elected in national, state and local races (Washington) The wave that swept Democrats to victory on election day led to unprecedented success in electing openly gay candidates. Sixty-seven candidates endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, an organization that helps LGBT candidates gain office, were elected in national, state and local races. Some of the victories were historic said Victory Fund president Chuck Wolfe. “This is the tipping point election for openly gay candidates,” said Wolfe. “We’re proving that qualified, well-prepared candidates matched with committed donors means gays and lesbians can move from having a stake in policy to actually making policy. There’s no reason to sit on the sidelines with our fingers crossed anymore.” The 67 winners were among 88
Victory Fund endorsed candidates - the most the organization has ever fielded. Thirty-seven of them were running as openly LGBT for the first time. Among the winners was Patricia Todd, who will represent District 54 in the Alabama State House. Todd is the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in the state. Kathy Webb will represent District 37 in the Arkansas State House. She is the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in the state. Al McAffrey, who will represent District 88 in the Oklahoma State House, is the first openly gay person ever elected to the Oklahoma state legislature. Jamie Pedersen became the third consecutive openly gay person to be
elected to represent District 43 in the Washington State House Ed Murray, who will represent District 43 in the Washington State Senate, is a former state representative and becomes the first openly gay state senator in Washington history. Jolie Justus becomes the first openly gay state senator in Missouri history. Matt McCoy, who becomes the first openly gay candidate ever elected to the Iowa legislature. McCoy, a sitting state senator, came out during his last term. Henry Fernandez won a seat on the Lawrence Township School Board, making him the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in Indiana. Please see ELECTION page 13