WEDNESD A Y
February 21, 2007 Volume 16, Issue 4 www.stonewallnews.net
News Northwest Serving the GLBTQA Community of the Pacific Northwest since 1992
Farewell John Deen
Stonewall News Northwest turns 15!
Now published every other week! Next Issue: Wednesday, March 7th
Photo by Mike Schultz
Ad and Content Deadline: Wednesday, February 28th
Dean Lynch speaks to a packed house at the John Deen Memorial Celebration at Dempsey’s Brass Rail in Spokane on Sunday, Feb 11th, 2007. Others gathered also shared stories and memories of Deen, former decade long Stonewall News Northwest publisher, and his impact on their lives. Tributes to Deen can also be found in other publications: Editorial A Generous Life, The Spokesman-Review, Page B4, February 14, 2007; Publisher Deen fought for rights, The Spokesman-Review, Front Page, February 12, 2007; Remembering John Deen, The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Page 14, February 8, 2007. Links to these articles can also be found on Stonewall’s website, www.stonewallnews.net/johndeen.htm.
EWU’s SAFE works toward open and accepting campus Issues available free throughout the Pacific Northwest and at www.stonewallnews.net THIS ISSUE
A Kiss Too Far? | Page 5
By Joyce Crosby Special to Stonewall News Northwest
SPOKANE, Wash - When Adam Gudith, 21, moved into the dorms on Eastern Washington University in the fall of 2004, he was the only person who knew he was gay. After two quarters of silence about his sexual orientation, Gudith came out to his roommate. “I had wanted to talk to him about it for a while before, but I decided to wait,” Gudith, a Mechanical Engineering major explained. He came out to his roommate just before Spring Break “so that, if things went sour, I could move. Things went better than I could have ever hoped, especially considering he’s Christian, and we’ve
been close friends ever since,” Gudith said happily. “I slowly started to come out to a few select people, first a friend who worked in a theater, and then a teacher in the women’s studies department. That teacher pointed me in the direction of Steve, but I didn’t want to meet him yet,” Gudith said referring to Steve Bertram, Staff Advisor for EWU’s Student Alliance For Equality more commonly known as SAFE. Gudith’s experience coming out is one thing that binds the entire queer community together. Whether someone identifies as lesbian, transgender, bisexual, gay, questioning or somewhere Please see SAFE page 15
Photo by Joyce Crosby
Adam Gudith shares his experience in coming out and EWU’s SAFE
Spokane Lesbian Mom’s Group begins Page 5
Arts & Entertainment.............................8 Business Directory . ..............................11 Calendar....................................................14 Classifieds.................................................13 National & International........................6 No Rest for the Wicked..........................5 Politicklers..................................................4 Resource Directory................................12 Reviews & Previews ...............................9 Spokane......................................................2
Photo by Joyce Crosby
Danielle Satrom organized the Feb 2, 2007 meeting of Spokane lesbian moms.
Voices...........................................................3
Fly your Flags on Fridays!
By Joyce Crosby Special to Stonewall News Northwest SPOKANE, Wash - The initial meeting of Spokane Lesbian Moms was held on Saturday, February 2, at
the play area inside NorthTown Mall on Spokane’s north side. The purpose of the group is to provide “a place for support and friendship,” stated group organizer Danielle Satrom, 23. The idea is to bring together like-minded women and their children in a safe and fun environment. Parents can connect and network with each other while the kids have lots of fun playing with other kids from families like their own. “I had been wanting to join a group like this for some time now,” said Satrom, who is raising a three-year-old son with her partner Katherine Cutright, 36. “As a gay mom, I tried joining other moms’ groups and just felt like the odd one out, and all the questions got draining. The questions about my supposed husband, and then how in the world did I have a child if I am gay.” The newly formed group currently has nine members, not including partners, and is open to mothers who
are biological, non-biological, adoptive, foster, and step-parents. Though she started the group to meet other lesbian parents, when asked about including gay, bisexual and transgender parents, Satrom added that she “would be open to expanding to include others in the group.” Three families came to the Spokane Lesbian Moms first “outing,” which started at 10:30 a.m. and lasted about two hours. The women seemed eager to connect with other parents and engaged in lively discussions about their kids and jobs. Satrom indicated that she and Cutright enjoyed meeting the other parents, and their son Seamus “had a blast” playing with the other children. After the meeting, Satrom said her family ate lunch in the mall’s food court with another family they met at the gathering. Please see MOM’S GROUP page 4