WEDNESD A Y
January 24, 2007 Volume 16, Issue 2 www.stonewallnews.net
John M. Deen 1934-2007 Stonewall News Northwest
turns 15!
Issues available free throughout the Pacific Northwest and at www.stonewallnews.net Next Issue: Wednesday, February 7th Ad and Content Deadline: Wednesday, January 31st
Memorial Celebration of John Deen
When: Sunday, February 11, 2007 2-4pm Where: Dempsey’s Brass Rail 909 W 1st Ave Spokane, WA 99201 In keeping with John Deen’s wish for a no-frills nonreligious remembrance of him, an informal Celebration of John Deen will be held at Dempsey’s Brass Rail. Dempsey’s is opening early for the memorial celebration and is providing food. In leu of flowers, donations can be made to Spokane Cancer Care, 601 South Sherman Street, Spokane, WA 99202. For updates, please check Stonewall’s website at www.stonewallnews.net or contact: John Marshall 509-209-0312 Mike Schultz 509-570-3750 publisher@stonewallnews.net
THIS ISSUE
Former Stonewall News Northwest publisher dies of lung cancer By Mike Schultz, Publisher
I walk into the darkness of this loss at some disadvantage. Scores who remain in our community and others who have moved away have known John Deen for some time. I’ve known John only since I acquired this publication from him in June, 2005. But from the moment I stepped onto this stage as Stonewall’s current publisher, I immediately faced a sense of John’s history and relationship with individuals and organizations in this community where I have lived and worked, largely under the
GLBT radar, for the last 30 years. John and I didn’t agree on many points, but we found common ground. I admire him for the good he brought to the larger cause of human dignity and equality. His fervent persistence, tenacity, and sacrifice carried this publication for a decade and tore down the political barriers that finally brought us the passage of City of Spokane’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance C32232. John was his own person with strong convictions. His words and actions, weighted by those convictions, carried gravity of substance and consequence,
The Merq empties out Sudden closure again leaves creditors unpaid and questionable filings with bankruptcy court
52 Things for Transgender Equality returns next issue Arts & Entertainment.............................7 Business Directory . ..............................11 Calendar....................................................14 Community Remembers John Deen10
National .....................................................6 Politicklers..................................................4 Practical Spirituality................................5 Regional Distribution...........................13 Resource Directory................................12 Reviews & Previews ...............................9 Spokane / Regional.................................2 Spokane DT Map....................................15
Fly your Flags on Fridays!
While the Merq Cafe & Liquid Lounge’s phone recording states the cafe & bar is closed for the MLK holiday, interior was already emptied out.
both constructive and destructive. As we remember John Deen, we can feed the good and the light within ourselves by appreciating the good and the light that John sought, in his unique way, to share with us. Even through poignant words tightly wrapped in deep-seated convictions, rest assured, John embodied a light that sought to shine. John’s death extinguishes his fragile flame of physical existence. But through what he accomplished for the community, for each of us, his light continues to shine. Continuing coverage on page 10
By Mike Schultz A call to the Merq Café & Liquid Lounge on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, was met with the recording “…we will be closed January 15, 16, and 17 due to Martin Luther King Holiday… and a couple extra days to treat ourselves.” At the same time, a “For Rent” sign hung in the Merq’s window; the interior already emptied out. The Merq’s sudden closing again leaves creditors unpaid and unanswered questions about its financial statements submitted during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed May 24, 2005, confirmed April 20, 2006, and closed November 2, 2006. While much of the $23,650 in prepetition debts the Merq racked up were discharged and left unpaid in its May 2005 bankruptcy filing, the Merq continued racking up bills while stating to the bankrupcty court it had none. Those left unpaid include a local non-profit organization for which the Merq collected money in a Pride-related fundraiser in June 2006 but refused to forward on to the organization. And questions arise from its financial statements filed with the bankruptcy court during its bankruptcy. Copies of bankruptcy documents and bank statements obtained by Stonewall Please see MERQ page 5