BECU Employees, Families & Friends: 2014 Pride Parade
TAKING PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1935 BECU was founded 80 years ago to fill a critical need in the lives of Boeing factory workers for funds to buy the tools they so desperately needed to be able to do their jobs. It was right in the middle of the Great Depression, and banks weren’t lending to help these individuals. So they started their own credit union, what we now know as BECU, and with only $9 in assets they forever changed our community in ways they could never have imagined. We honor them, as we honor every group of caring, committed individuals who recognize the power of people coming together
to help each other for the better. That’s what BECU is about today – doing what’s best for our members. If you’re not a member, you should look into becoming one. All Washington state residents are eligible to join. Visit us online at www.becu.org BECU is a proud sponsor of Seattle Pride – and our employees, families and friends march with pride to honor all of our members.
becu.org | 800-233-2328
TABLE OF CONTENTS Official Seattle Pride Guide 2015 SEATTLE PRIDE ORGANIZATION Eric Bennett President Anthony Coraggio Board Member Christine Lyon Treasurer Anne Melle Board Member Kevin Toovey Board Member Marc Ackerman Parade Operations Manager PUBLICATION CREDITS Aubbie Beal Project Manager Marisol Ortega Designer, Seattle Pride 2015 Campaign & Pride Guide Cover Encore Media Group Publication Design and Production Advertising Sales Northwest Polite Society Sponsorship Sales Nate Gowdy Cover Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Aubbie Beal Aleksa Manila Eric Bennett Olivia McCausland Joseph Bento Paris Mullen Peter Blecha Brian Peters Marsha Botzer Jason Plourde Michael Godfrey Zachary Pullin Monisha Harrell Sarah Toce Emily Klein Justice Mary Yu Victoria Liss
THE PARADE Welcome from Seattle Pride.................................................................4 Welcome from Mayor Murray...............................................................6 Grand Marshals: The Wildrose..............................................................8 Grand Marshals: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence........................10 Pre-Parade Extravaganza....................................................................12 Event Announcers...............................................................................15 Insider Tips..........................................................................................16 SEATTLE PRIDE DIRECTORY Parade Route Map..............................................................................28 We Are Pride Sponsors.......................................................................29 Event Listings.............................................................................. 34 - 42 VOICES OF PRIDE The Way We Were...............................................................................20
Marty Griswold Pride Guide Project Director
Let’s Pivot to Youth.............................................................................22
Joey Chapman Lead Pride Guide Account Executive
Finding Yourself in Film.......................................................................24
Gwendolyn Fairbanks, Ann Manning, Lenore Waldron Account Executives
Aging With Pride.................................................................................26
Carol Yip Sales Coordinator Jonathan Shipley Ad Services Coordinator Susan Peterson Design & Production Director
From Survival to Thriving: Gender Identity and Our Mutual Joy........30 A Conversation with John Criscitello..................................................32 HIV Epidemic: From Tragedy to Triumph............................................33
Robin Kessler Pride Guide Design and Production Lead
Same Love: A Brief History of Queer Musicians in the Northwest.....44
Ana Alvira, Deb Choat, Kim Love Design and Production Artists
Why I Believe in Safe Schools for LGBT Students...............................47
Paul Heppner President Mike Hathaway Vice President
Equality at the Intersections................................................................48 Intersection of Substance Abuse with Queer Culture .......................51
Genay Genereux Accounting Encore Media Group 425 North 85th Street Seattle, WA 98103 p 206.443.0445 f 206.443.1246 adsales@encoremediagroup.com 800.308.2898 x105 www.encoremediagroup.com © Seattle Pride Organization 2015 OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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WELCOME
CELEBRATING A LIFETIME OF PRIDE Member FDIC
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Welcome to the official Seattle Pride Guide, featuring the stories and events that matter most to you during Pride Month, and all throughout the year. This is the first time in Seattle Pride’s 41year history that our organization has published a guide, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with you now. In the pages of our inaugural publication we explore the 2015 Seattle Pride theme: A Lifetime of Pride, recognizing the unique challenges LGBT people face at different moments in their lives, and celebrating the incredible progress that has been made in LGBT equality and social justice in our lifetime. With the Supreme Court of the United States striking down the Defense of Marriage Act and marriage equality now legal in 37 (and counting!) states, there is much to celebrate. Still, there is work to be done to protect our community’s youth, elder, transgender, and minority members, and we bring light to these important topics here. We have assembled an incredibly talented group of passionate people to share their unique perspectives on A Lifetime of Pride. Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu calls on our community to assist and empower LGBTQ homeless youth as they begin their journey to find and embrace their identity. Gay City’s Paris Mullen recounts the milestones of the HIV epidemic, from tragedy to triumph. Equal Rights Washington’s Monisha Harrell teaches us
THREE DOLLAR BILL CINEMA SHOWS
Nate Gowdy Š 2014
A LOT OF
to work at the intersections, where issues of discrimination, poverty, and violence are magnified by being an LGBTQ person of color. We hear from Seattle artist John Criscitello about the evolution of a neighborhood, and one of the original Seattle Pride organizers—David Neth— about the evolution of a movement. Seattle Pride produces the Pride Picnic (Saturday, June 13 at Volunteer Park), the Pride Comedy Series (March – June at Parlor Live Seattle), Pride Brunch (Sunday, June 28 at Parlor Live Seattle), and the iconic Seattle Pride Parade along 4th Avenue, while also supporting other organizers and events that represent the dynamic community in which we live. Whether you’re LGBTQ or an ally, be sure to check out our comprehensive events calendar on pages 34-42, and find a new way to celebrate Pride this year. Our continued celebrations can be a beacon of hope to young people in communities where their rights are limited or denied. Along with the rest of the Seattle Pride board, we thank you for your support and love, and look forward to seeing you out and about this month! With Pride,
Queer Vision 20/20
Celebrate 20 years of Three Dollar Bill Cinema & Northwest Film Forum with films selected from the 20s, 40s, 60s, & 80s! 7PM HAPPY HOUR / 8PM SHOW EVERY THURSDAY IN JUNE // NWFF
Gayzer Laser Light Show
Queer music favorites in a whole new light, on the largest laser dome in the world! 6:30PM JUNE 27 & 28 // PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
PrideFest Film Festival
Curated in partnership with Seattle PrideFest! JUNE 23–27 // VARIOUS VENUES
Eric Bennett President, Seattle Pride OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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WELCOME June 2015 Friends,
SEATTLE PROUD spaceneedle.com
THRIVE
ACHIEVE
BE
Welcome to the 41st annual Seattle Pride Festival! Pride parades began as a result of years of repression by the government. This year’s theme, A Lifetime of Pride, recognizes the unique challenges LGBTQ people still face at different moments in their lives. It also celebrates the progress we have made in equality and social justice during our lifetime. Seattle Pride has an amazing lineup of events, including the Pride Picnic, the Pride Parade, and a host of other events. This inaugural edition of the Seattle Pride Guide will show you the wide range of events happening around Seattle to celebrate Pride. Pride month is a time to reflect on the work we have accomplished, celebrate who we are, and think about the work we still have to do. Marriage equality continues to gain traction across the nation and public opinion is on our side – support for marriage equality has reached a strong and growing majority. Laws legalizing discrimination are not only still on the books in some states, but they are able to pass through legislative bodies as we saw earlier this year. In 76 countries it is still illegal to be LGBTQ and in ten countries the punishment is life in prison or death. We know these laws are on the wrong side of history. We saw our community and our allies come together to call out these laws for their discriminatory nature. Businesses, elected officials, state and local governments, and our allies across the nation leapt into action and made the call for equality and nondiscrimination loud and clear. This is the future. Again, welcome to Seattle Pride and thank you for celebrating with us. Sincerely,
For more information visit WWW.BILLINGSMIDDLESCHOOL.ORG Billings Middle School admits students of any religion, race, color, creed, sexual orientation and national or ethnic origin.
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Mayor Edward B. Murray City of Seattle
July 30 – August 02, 2015 at CenturyLink Field Event Center
seattleartfair.com
seattleartfair.com
Rachel White for Off White Photography offwhitephotography.com © 2015
GRAND MARSHALS
THE WILDROSE’S SHELLEY BROTHERS & MARTHA MANNING By Emily A. Klein One of the oldest lesbian bars on the West Coast, the Wildrose has been an essential part of Seattle’s LGBT business community for more than 30 years, providing a safe, inclusive, and fun space for lesbians and their friends. We talked with owners Shelley Brothers and Martha Manning about their take on Pride. Congratulations on being selected as this year’s Grand Marshals! What does this mean to you? Shelley: It’s a big honor to us, definitely, to be recognized for being in business so long and being part of the community. We appreciate it a great deal.
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Wildrose’s block party is a cornerstone of the Pride festivities. What’s your secret for making it so fun and inviting? Martha: It’s Shelley—she puts so much planning into the design of it! She engineers it to allow people the maximum amount of space with what we have. There’s been a shift in the culture, with marriage equality in 37 states, positive queer role models in the media, and more representation and acceptance in general. Why do we still need Pride? M: Because we haven’t gotten there, at all! S: Everybody brings up, well, we’ve got gay marriage, people voted for that... But how many people out there that didn’t vote at all are opposed to it? M: Certainly people are changing… but you still see people of all ages go by [the Wildrose], and go “teehee, lesbian bar…” It’s so silly! [Shelley] gets called a lot of
names. She’s out with security, so she sees it a lot more. How do you reconcile assimilation and acceptance into mainstream culture with pride in a specific identity? M: They coexist! S: There’s nothing that says you can’t be proud of your heritage while still being an American. M: And if people want to participate in that with you, regardless of their sexuality—that’s great! That’s exactly what we want. Is there a message you’d like to give to LGBT youth who might be attending their first Pride? M: Enjoy it! S: And learn your history, the history of the people who came before you… There’s a lot of work still to be done. Do you have any favorite Pride memories? M: It’s all a blur! There are some funny things, but I don’t know if some of them we can really say! (Laughs) S: The Gossip playing was one of the highlights. M: And Leslie and the Lies… so many things! Pride is hot, rowdy, and loud. Do you have any safety tips? M: Pace yourself! S: Drink water! And eat food… and keep in mind that you’re not the only person in the universe! Emily A. Klein lives in Seattle, where she writes, eats, works at a restaurant, and alternates between vigorous activity and luxurious sloth. She blogs at squidbasedink.com.
LOVE IS LOVE.
PHOTO: JAKE CLIFFORD
SOMETIMES MESSY. ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL.
WWW.CITYARTSONLINE.COM
GRAND MARSHALS
BREAKFAST & EVENING HAPPY HOURS Nate Gowdy © 2014
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 7 - 9AM 7 DAYS A WEEK 4PM - CLOSE eatatlowells.com
THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE, ABBEY OF ST. JOAN By Emily A. Klein Since their inception in 1979, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been at the forefront of LGBT activism, providing outreach to the community around sexual health and advocating for happiness, equality, and, of course, pride. We talked with Sister Ophelia from the Abbey of St. Joan about the Sisters’ work, and the meaning of Pride. What’s the best part of being chosen as a Grand Marshal? It’s incredibly humbling, and it’s a very beautiful thing to be acknowledged by other community organizations for the work that we do on behalf of our community. The Sisters started their work almost 40 years ago. How has the organization evolved over time? When we were first formed… the message then was, “I’m hella okay in these borrowed traditional nun’s habits running around the streets of San Francisco looking completely nuts. I’m okay—and you’re okay too!” That was the entirety of the message. During the early days of the AIDS crisis… the Sisters wrote the world’s very first frank language safer sex pamphlet and distributed it in the streets of San Francisco. It was called “Play Fair.” That program is very much alive—we talk to people about making smart, good decisions for themselves surrounding their sexual lives. So that’s a 10
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huge thing, and it was a major change in focus for us. There’s been a paradigm shift in the culture at large, with marriage equality in 37 states, positive queer role models in the media, and more representation and acceptance in general. Why do we still need Pride? As long as there is any sort of social or religious pressure that would discourage us from being who we are and instead encourage us to lead inauthentic lives, we need to express our pride in ourselves. I do it every day. Is there a message you’d like to give to queer youth who might be attending their first Pride? Love yourself; take good care of yourself; you’re the only you! Any favorite Pride memories? My favorite of everything is the parade. The big thing for me is responding to my community—the community reaching out for some physical contact, and my mission in those parades is to offer a handshake, a hug, a kiss… expressions of love as I stroll down the route. Your outfits and makeup are stunning. Any advice for Pride-goers who want to stay looking their best despite the heat and the crowds? Don’t worry about how you look; it’s your day. Hydrate. Get in whatever shade you can, but don’t worry about it. Don’t be concerned with your appearance—no one else is!
PRE-PARADE EXTRAVAGANZA
S U N DAY JUNE 28 PA R LO R L I V E 9–11 AM 1522 6TH AVENUE $ 4 5 B R U N C H O N LY, INCLUDES MIMOSA $65 BRUNCH + V I P S E AT I N G AT T H E PA R A D E S TA R T YO U R DAY WITH GLAMOUR AND GOOD FOOD! B A R O P E N S AT 8 A M
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MAMA TITS AND “MIMOSAS WITH MAMA” PRESENT: SEATTLE PRIDE PRE-PARADE EXTRAVAGANZA Awarded “Best Theater Group” in 2014 by KING 5’s “Best of Western Washington” viewer poll, “Mimosas with Mama” is a whirlwind of live entertainment facilitated by Seattle’s own Mama Tits. For the last five years Mama Tits has hosted Seattle Pride Parade’s 4th and Bell and Westlake Park stages, and last year she famously took on anti-gay protesters in one of the Parade’s most memorable moments, ever. Let the cast of “Mimosas with Mama” take you on a wild and fun journey you never knew you couldn’t live without. It’s comedy, lip sync, live song, performance art and fierce Queens all rolled up into one fabulous show. This Pre-Parade Extravaganza stars the one and only Mama Tits, the incomparable Tipsy Rose Lee, the glamazon goddess Isabella Extynn St. James, and the starlet chameleon Felix Manchild. The show also features the musical styling of our very own glittery touch of gay, DJ Disco Vinnie. The cast of “Mimosas with Mama” will bring something extra special to the 2015 Seattle Pride Pre-Parade Extravaganza, but you’ll have to be at the Westlake Park Stage (4th Avenue and Pine Street) at 10 AM on Sunday, June 28th to experience it for yourself! You can catch the cast of “Mimosas with Mama” every Sunday at 1 PM performing at the Unicorn/Narwhal. For more information, head over to MimosasWithMama.com.
Proudly supporting Seattle’s beautiful diversity. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance unites doctors from Fred Hutch, UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s. Since 2013, SCCA has been honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality.
turning cancer patients into cancer survivors
Be Proud Be Safe Get Tested Get Treated Public Health STD Clinic at Harborview Medical Center
HIV & STD Testing and Treatment Proudly serving LGBTQ communities in Seattle and King County for over 40 years
Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Ninth and Jefferson Building 908 Jefferson St, 11th Floor Seattle, WA 206-744-3590 www.kingcounty.gov/health/hiv
SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE ANNOUNCERS 4TH AVENUE & PINE STREET Mama Tits One of the key hosts for the Seattle Pride Parade for the past 5 years, the world was introduced to Mama Tits by the viral video of her taking on the anti-gay protesters at the 2014 parade, which has been viewed over 1.8 million times! Mama is the producer and star of “Mimosas with Mama,” Seattle’s #1 and longest running weekly drag brunch.
Chi Chi LaRue Director, DJ and drag diva Chi Chi LaRue is one of the most recognized names and faces in the history of adult film, her fame surpassing that of even the biggest superstars she has helped create over the past three decades. Beginning in the press department for Catalina Video (a label now owned by her company, Channel 1 Releasing), it wasn’t long before Chi Chi’s creative spark was set afire directing some of the highest-selling releases of all time.
Leanna Karg Photography
4TH AVENUE & BELL STREET Cherry Sur Bête Cherry Sur Bête is a conceptual performance and makeup artist with a particular flair for post-modern drag. Cherry Sur Bête (French, for “Cherry on Beast”) obliterates gender stereotypes for a refined personal truth. A master of disguise and chameleon of color, Cherry is a constant metamorphosis of spectacle and design. Cherry’s devotion to entertainment is rivaled only by a commitment to community, education and charity work, including fundraising efforts and raising awareness around gay, lesbian and trans issues. DonnaTella Howe DonnaTella Howe is working the freelance circuit! Moving and shaking all over Seattle from Bacon Strip to Rainbow Bingo, Balls Out Bingo, DTH vs Humanity, Pulse Seattle, and Queen of the Brunch. Miss Gay Seattle XLVIII and double crowned Imperial Princess, now the Czarina of Capitol Hill, she continues to represent her community throughout Western Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Canada!
Steph Brusig
Nate Gowdy
4TH AVENUE & DENNY WAY Chris Kauffman Since moving to Seattle from Montana over a decade ago, Chris has become immersed in Seattle’s gay community. This is Chris’s sixth year of involvement with Seattle Pride, including hosting the Seattle Pride Picnic and co-hosting the L Corner Stage at the Parade. He also enjoys hosting his well known garden parties and getting to meet new people from the community.
S U N DAY JUNE 28 3 LO C AT I O N S O P E N AT 9 : 3 0 A M 4 T H AV E & C L AY S T 4TH AVE & BELL ST 4TH AVE & PINE ST UNOBSTRUCTED BLEACHERS ON 4TH AVE & BELL ST RESERVE IN ADVANCE! $25 • 21+ EVENT VALID ID REQUIRED
S E AT T L E P R I D E . O R G Sarah Toce Named one of GO Magazine’s Red Hot Entrepreneurs of 2014, award-winning journalist Sarah Toce has interviewed and profiled many of the world’s most influential players ranging from high-level politicians to A-list celebrities, health experts, and key civil rights advocates. Her diversified portfolio has runs the gamut between local, national and international news coverage and features. Sarah is the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of Seattle’s only lesbian newspaper – The Seattle Lesbian.
PRESENTED BY
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PRIDE PARADE INSIDER TIPS By Victoria Anne Liss It’s that time of the year again. Pull out your pride and prance it out on the streets. Rain or shine—it’s Seattle’s most colorful day of the year. Dykes, dudes, dorks, clowns, hunks, drunks, moms, dads, hippies, freaks, queens, kings, bikers, bears, babies and, most importantly, lovers of all shapes and sizes. Gather your group together and join us Sunday, June 28th for the 41st annual Seattle Pride Parade!
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Seattle’s vibrant, progressive and welcoming community is the home for this unique resource for the LGBT traveler. A great destination for all travelers to find hotels, exciting nightlife spots, fabulous food, entertainment, shopping and attractions. Each business found inside the visitors center is friendly, supportive and gladly welcomes the LGBT traveler.
Where Do We Begin? Before you hit the streets, hit the eats and be sure you have something in your stomach before the mimosas and sunshine lay into you. The official Seattle Pride Brunch is at Parlor Live in downtown Seattle (1522 6th Avenue). Come on by for a morning of delicious food, great company, drink specials, and general merriment before heading over to watch the glitz and glamour. Just two blocks from the parade kick-off, it’s an ideal location to start your day with multiple parking and transit options. The bar opens at 8:00 AM, and the fancy buffet is served from 9:00 to 11:00. The best part? You don’t have to stress about getting a good viewing spot for the parade, because reserved VIP grandstand seating is part of the package. Reserve your spot in advance at seattlepride.org, then go ahead and enjoy another cocktail. The Parade officially starts at 11:00 AM, but come early for the Seattle Pride PreParade Extravaganza, featuring the cast of Mimosas with Mama. It all gets under way at 10:00 AM at Westlake Park with acts hand picked by the legendary Mama Tits, who won our hearts by shutting
down the haters at the 2014 Pride Parade. Not today, Satan! And not at our parade! The Main Event Following a trail of glitter and fallen hair weaves is one way to find the Parade, or you can just head to your favorite spot along 4th Avenue. There will be over 200 groups walking, waving, and sharing love from Union Street to Denny Way. Be prepared to spend a good 2-1/2 hours if you want to catch every color of the Seattle Rainbow. We want you to see it all comfortably too, but bleacher seating is limited, and must be purchased in advance at seattlepride.org. You’re welcome to bring your own chair or blanket, but remember to share the sidewalk. More than a few people might be stumbling through, just going about their Sunday routine. Nothing beats finding yourself in the middle of the party! We welcome stragglers and ask you to be courteous to those who are just trying to navigate around the festivities. Keep in mind Pride is for everyone, not just the party crowd. Kiddos, grannies, pooches, and friends who insist you pull them around town on a leash are all invited. We know to many of you, your dogs are like children, and we can’t wait to see your chill old dogs with rainbow leashes, strollers full of Pomeranians, chunky Pugs in bumblebee wings, and bouncing mutts in pink triangle tees. Remember to bring plenty of water for Fido, and let’s also not forget that respect is a huge part of the day. Be sure to pick up poop and make sure everyone’s diapers, human and beast, end up in the appropriate receptacles.
Nate Gowdy © 2014
614 Broadway E Inside 1st Security Bank different.
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Seattle is a city on the go, so you’ll still see buses and Ride the Ducks crossing the parade route. The views at Pride surely distract our summer tourists. We can’t help but outshine the sunset, stand as tall as mountains, and work it better than the Space Needle. This year on the route we have three— yes, three—beer gardens. Each beer garden features port-o-potties, First-Aid stations, accessible seating, and a spunky parade announcer or two. Mama Tits and the incomparable Chi Chi La Rue will rule Westlake Park (4th Avenue & Pine Street), 4th Avenue and Bell Street will be DonnaTella Howe and Cherry Sur Bête’s sweet spot, and The Seattle Lesbian’s Sarah Toce and her pal Chris Kauffman hold the reigns at 4th Avenue and Denny Way for the third straight year. All beer gardens open at 9:30 AM and close at the end of the procession. Be prepared to have proper I.D. You will absolutely need it whether you’re 21 or 101. Yes, that means you, Grandma. And you, adorable leather daddy with saggy nipple rings! Visiting from out of the country? A Brazilian driver’s license is very sexy, but we do require a passport. The bright side is we’ll all know you’re an international traveler, so you may become very popular. But We Don’t Wanna Go Home! As the parade wraps up, follow the party to Seattle Center where they’ll keep the celebration going all day. More beer gardens, family friendly activities, and indoor plumbing—oh my! The Seattle sky always slips us a spot of sunshine no matter what the weather report, which means scantily clad cuties in the International Fountain. In need of a break? Throw down a blanket, bang the glitter out of your boobs and butt crack, and just take it all in. Check out the mainstage continued on page 19
SEASONAL EXHIBITS FOR YOUR PALETTE Located at Chihuly Garden and Glass in the heart of Seattle Center, Collections Café offers artistically inspired dishes with ingredients sourced from artisans that call the great Pacific Northwest home.
COLLECTIONSCAFE.COM 305 HARRISON ST / SEATTLE WA 206.753.4935
Welcome home
To friends, family, and living your life to the fullest at Horizon House, the dynamic retirement community in the heart of downtown Seattle.
www.HorizonHouse.org 900 University Street | Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 382-3100
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PRIDE PARADE INSIDER TIPS continued from page 17
Nate Gowdy © 2014
ON STAGE IN ISSAQUAH MAY 14 – JULY 3
talent, run into old flames, make new friends, live, love, and shake what your momma gave you. Still not ready to pack it in? Flip to the event listings right here in this handy little guide to find the party of your dreams. Keep it going all night, because that’s what Pride is all about!
Box Office: (425) 392-2202 I VillageTheatre.org
One More Note Did you know that Seattle Pride Parade is one of the top 5 pride parades in the country? Nearly a half million people come downtown to watch this parade, making it the largest parade in our region—not just the largest pride parade, but the largest parade overall. Holy glitter bombs! Now, we know that might be a little too much humanity in one place for some people, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss a minute of the action. Our friends at KIRO 7 will stream the entire party at kirotv.com, so be sure to check it out if you can’t be with us in person. Thanks for 41-derful years, and here’s to 41 more! Victoria Liss has been fighting for queer rights since the 4th grade. Seattle born and raised, Vicky uses her rebellious rants to run social media campaigns by day, and by night works at the Cha Cha Lounge.
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VOICES OF PRIDE
BECU
ZOOTUNES presented by Carter Subaru
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS with special guest PAT SIMMONS JR.
JUNE 19
THE B-52s JUNE 28
INDIGO GIRLS JULY 12
MELISSA ETHERIDGE & BLONDIE JULY 21
BRUCE HORNSBY & THE NOISEMAKERS JULY 22
"SWEET
HARMONY SOUL"
featuring MAVIS
STAPLES, PATTY GRIFFIN & AMY HELM JULY 26
EMMYLOU HARRIS & RODNEY CROWELL JULY 29
ZIGGY MARLEY AUGUST 9
TRAMPLED BY TURTLES & THE DEVIL MAKES THREE AUGUST 16
KENNY LOGGINS AUGUST 19
Tickets available now at
zoo.org/zootunes
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THE WAY WE WERE By Zachary Pullin In the early 1970s, the infamous “Boeing Bust” left an economic crater in our city. The aviation company cut their workforce from a 1968 high of more than 100,000 jobs, to 37,000 jobs by 1971. Businesses closed, and the Capitol Hill neighborhood waned. The newly-low rents attracted activists and LGBTQ folks to the neighborhood like David Neth, a young, Lutheran park ranger from Pennsylvania. Twenty-two years old and recently transferred from Gettysburg to Mount Rainier, David felt compelled to explore the sexuality he had long arrested to assimilate more successfully into the broader culture. Traveling almost three hours round-trip from Sunrise, Washington to visit places such as the 614 Club in Pioneer Square—the neighborhood the LGBTQ community had settled—David yearned to meet other LGBTQ people. He never turned back. Now 40 years from organizing Seattle’s first pride celebration, Neth sits across from me at a buzzing Capitol Hill café. He’s generous with the re-telling of his experience, his ruddy face and his eyes gloriously alive. Not knowing anyone in 1973, Neth connected with the Seattle Counseling Service for Sexual Minorities, the only queer organization on Capitol Hill. And shortly thereafter, Neth and a few friends opened the Gay Community Center in a $100/ month rental home on 16th Avenue and East Olive Street. They had a hotline, funding for two staff persons (courtesy of a closeted but supportive queer person at the State), and collaborated with other movements and organizations. At the time, Capitol Hill, home to many activists marginalized based solely on their sexuality, still carried the subconscious bias employed during the period of racist housing covenants that kept people of color from renting or buying real estate in the neighborhood; fair and open housing becoming law just four years before David arrived. The world made it clear to people like David, and the many queer people across the country, that being gay was dangerous, he could lose everything by acting on his sexuality, he would lead a miserable life of discrimination and shame, and would probably feel so hopeless he’d ultimately choose suicide. “The world tells you you’re fucked up, so you fight against that,” David shares. “If you were gay, you had to be an activist.” He recalls one early protest when he helped organize a “skate-in” to protest a Lynnwood roller rink’s policy, “Couples
S AT U R DAY JUNE 13 Pride 1974 – photos courtesy of David Neth. only! Man and woman!” Too many of his friends and peers felt unequal, judged, discriminated against by these policies at the level we can all feel. Soon David and his friends realized that getting people out of the bars to celebrate who they are could provide a profound opportunity for empowering his community; they could affect more change with a big, public celebration than one-off protest actions. Devised among friends at Volunteer Park in May 1974, they would host a weeklong celebration to express pride, which included a panel discussion about substance abuse and treatment, trans* issues, a memorial for the 32 lives lost in the UpStairs Lounge arson, and a family-friendly picnic at Occidental Park— unprecedented because people wouldn’t be inside a bar under guise of night but instead out in public. 1974 Pride culminated with a dance around Seattle Center’s International Fountain on Sunday, June 30 after weeks of planning, organizing, close surveillance by local law enforcement, and skepticism that it would be meaningful.
I asked David his thoughts about the evolution of Pride in the last four decades. “One thing that strikes me when looking back—there was no alcohol. In the first year, it was advertised on the poster ‘Childcare services provided,’” he says, eyes closed to recall the memory of the poster. Now, “[Pride] is fun. It’s turned into a big party…a business venture.” He believes that rural, small-town LGBTQ people still need these events the most. Though, I believe Pride is critical for all of us, and especially for queer and trans* people of color, low-income queer people, and immigrant and refugee queer people. But we can’t lose the fight David and so many of his friends couldn’t separate themselves from, using the same compass of justice to guide us evermore toward a world profoundly greater for the next generation.
V O LU N T E E R PA R K 11 AM HOSTED BY D O N N AT E L L A H O W E LIVE MUSIC FUN & GAMES FOR ALL AGES! $1 PICNIC LUNCH PROCEEDS BENEFIT YOUTHCARE
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Zachary Pullin is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree tribe of Rock Boy, Montana, an LGBTQ activist and community leader, and a housing and community advocate living in Capitol Hill with his partner Derek and their dog Maya Jo. OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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Nate Gowdy © 2014
VOICES OF PRIDE
CELEBRATING A LIFETIME OF PRIDE: LET’S PIVOT TO YOUTH By Justice Mary Yu I am so very proud to be the first LGBTQ woman of color on our Supreme Court. I never would have dreamt that being a State Supreme Court Justice was within my reach. Having grown up in the inner city of Chicago in a simple working class neighborhood, I understood our economic challenges and limitations. Kids like me didn’t grow up to be lawyers, much less judges. Although we didn’t
have much by way of financial resources, I now recognize that what I did have was essential to my success: unconditional love, a roof over my head, a decent meal every night (along with someone to share that meal with), education, and a childhood free from abuse or assault. I am aware that my presence on the Court as a statewide elected official provides a unique opportunity to share our “life experience” with a wider community. Over the last few years, my “life experience” has included presiding over countless celebrations of marriage and ordering the protection of families through second parent adoptions. We navigated what appeared to be insurmountable legal challenges and celebrated who we are and what we have achieved! However, despite our incredible successes, our work is not yet done and I invite each one of you to now pivot your attention to our youth.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 7:00 - 11:00 PM For LGBTQ Youth, Friends & Allies up to 21 years Belltown Community Center 415 Bell Street » Music, food, and fun! » Hosted by DonnaTella Howe » Face painting by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence » Creative, beach theme dress encouraged » Pre-registration required
FACEBOOK.COM/GLSENWA
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As I wander through downtown Seattle, I cannot help but notice the number of homeless youth in our presence. The common myth is that they are making lifestyle choices or flying high on drugs for the fun of it. The reality is that for many of these young people, living on the streets is the safest and best choice they have. Reliable agencies like YouthCare report that a survey of more than 600 of their clients revealed that 74% had been physically abused at home and 39% sexually abused. And up to 40% of homeless youth self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. As noted on YouthCare’s web page, most of those were kicked out simply for being who they are. Living on the streets without a shower and no reliable source of food or shelter contributes to serious anxiety and despair. What remains elusive for many of our LGBTQ youth on the streets are the basic elements for success that I identified in my own life: unconditional love, a place to call home, a decent meal, access to education and job training, and most importantly a safe environment. No matter what the reason is for their homelessness, these young people are our future and they belong to us. Those of us who have achieved some level of economic success and visibility need to notice who is being left behind and to pull them forward with us. We can’t all be social workers and some of us can’t even find the time to volunteer. However, each one of us can still do something to support the myriad of programs like Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets (PSKS) that focus on homeless youth in our community and make this upcoming generation our priority. For so many of us, acceptance and subsequent success came from an adult or mentor who reached out during a critical time in our lives. You too can be that beacon of hope or voice of comfort for a young person struggling through one of their toughest periods of life. Together, we can assist and empower our youth to embrace their identity as they strive for self-sufficiency. There may be a few doctors, lawyers, or even Supreme Court Justices just waiting for the chance to be discovered. Join me in building A Lifetime of Pride for the next generation! Mary Yu is an Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court. She is the state’s first out lesbian Justice, the first Asian American Justice, the first Latina Justice, and the 11th woman ever to serve on the Washington Supreme Court.
Princess Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Seabourn are proud to support Seattle’s LGBTQ community, the 2015 Lifetime of Pride parade, plus inclusion and diversity everywhere.
VOICES OF PRIDE FINDING YOURSELF IN FILM By Jason Plourde We don’t all get to choose our first encounter with queer cinema…for many of us it comes as a surprise. For queer viewers, that moment of connection with the imagery on screen can be exhilarating, unnerving, or eyeopening—you never know what you’ll take away from the experience.
Courtesy of Teegarden-Nash Collection.
The first “gay movie” I saw was The Boys In The Band, when I was around 13 years old. It was shown as one of those weekend matinee films on television. It seems inconceivable to me now that it was on broadcast TV, but it was the early ’80s, in the blue state of Connecticut, and I suppose proximity to New York City helped. The 1970 film is about a group of (mostly) gay friends who convene at an apartment in the upper east side of Manhattan for a birthday party. In a nutshell, the person turning one year older isn’t very happy, guests take potshots at each other, and the whole shindig doesn’t go so well. As an adult, I might have taken umbrage with the stereotypical, self-loathing characters, but as a young gay boy, I was rapt. Yes, there was lots of yelling, tears, and insults… but these guys were snappy dressers, they did a fabulous dance routine on the patio, and they invited a hunky cowboy to the party! I didn’t exactly understand what homosexual meant, but I knew it meant me. An awareness of my own identity was awakened, and the actual possibility of gay adulthood outweighed the less than flattering representation of it. What you bring to a film viewing is often more significant than the actual work itself, and even the briefest representation (positive or negative) can stay with a viewer forever. Since the first moving pictures were projected on screen, this experience has at times been a catalyst for recognizing a burgeoning sexual identity, a cathartic recreation of 24
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a personal story, or simply a titillating exposure to inherent desire. Of course, film has always allowed queer people to view their same-sex desire regardless of storyline. Being able to ogle a matinee idol, in whatever genre film he happened to be in, has long been a perk for gay male film goers, and the same must certainly be true for lesbian cinephiles gazing at beautiful and strong women on screen. The moment of recognizing yourself on screen is a powerful thing, but it doesn’t even need to be exact representation. In college, while I was still figuring out my sexuality, I saw I Heard The Mermaids Singing. The story of one woman’s awkward (and at times hilarious) journey to accept her same-sex desire spoke to me directly from the big screen. It remains one of my favorite films (and coincidentally instilled an appreciation of opera with its gorgeous score). And then there is the communal experience of cinema. Watching a film with a queer audience, big or small, can heighten your appreciation of it, as well your connection to the LGBT community. When I was newly out as a gay man, right after college, I met friends who occasionally quoted The Women. When I admitted I had never heard of the film (probably to gasps of disbelief), they
It’s even stronger when those films come from within your community and region. In the Pacific Northwest, film fans could identify with the rural lifestyle depicted in Bachelor Farmer, from Seattle-based filmmaker Mike Culpepper, and Sherman Alexie’s Native American characters in The Business Of Fancy Dancing. They might have felt intimately familiar with the drama presented in Heart Breaks Open, which was shot and set in our city, or shed tears for the tragic loss in For My Wife…a film whose story arguably paved the way for marriage equality in our state. As new viewers continually happen upon their first, favorite, or formative queer films, it’s more and more likely these days that they are ultimately positive and affirming. There’s an evergrowing, broad range of films that allows us to see ourselves, understand our identities, and provide a shared experience for the LGBT community. If you’re an experienced movie lover, I encourage you to help others find their own good “first.” To get you started, check out The Celluloid Closet by Vito Russo (and the documentary based on it), Chick Flicks by B Ruby Rich, and 101 Must See Movies For Gay Men by Alonso Duralde. Of course, you should also visit threedollarbillcinema.org to see what queer films are currently playing. Jason Plourde is the Executive Director of Three Dollar Bill Cinema. The organization produces Translations: the Seattle Transgender Film Festival, the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and free outdoor movies every August in Cal Anderson Park.
Bachelor Farmer still Courtesy of M Culpepper
invited me to a viewing party. It was one of the best film-going experiences in my life. The fun and camp humor would never have been the same seeing it by myself. Even with my appreciation of the film a foregone conclusion (after all, I was imprinted by The Boys In The Band), it was a special night and I felt privileged to be part of a new, yet not unfamiliar, world. This shared appreciation happens at LGBT film festivals all the time. If you’ve ever attended one of these screenings, you know that the laughs are louder, the quotes more memorable, and the emotions felt more strongly when you see a queer film with a queer audience.
Courtesy of Teegarden-Nash Collection.
VOICES OF PRIDE
Family is Family
vid Goehrin Photo by Da
g
AGING WITH PRIDE By Michael Godfrey
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Evergreen Washelli
1111 Aurora Avenue N. 206-362-5200 www.washelli.com
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Peter was 80 when he moved into the retirement community where I was Executive Director. Pocket-sized, his hair was grey and quaffed. A fan of bowties, sweater vests and perfectly ironed striped shirts, he was never without his amber-tipped, wooden walking stick or horned-rimmed glasses. His apartment was so meticulously decorated, the marketing team asked him if they could include it on their tours of the community. Peter had grown-up locally, taking the ferry from Madison Park to Kirkland to visit his family’s farm, fought in the Pacific in WWII, and had never married. He was quiet, shy and kept to himself, except for the small group of octogenarian ladies who became his constant dining companions. Peter knew I was gay, so he came out to me and a few others on staff. As our friendship grew, Peter regaled us with stories of crossing Skid Row to get to Pioneer Square (“where the fun happened”), about The Garden of Allah, a gay cabaret in the ’40s and ’50s that operated in the basement of the Victorianera Arlington Hotel, and about house parties where gay men would dress in June Cleaverinspired drag. Peter had never actually “come out” as we would describe it today—never telling his 60 year-old nephew or any of his colleagues over a 50-year career. Peter did have a gay friend, 15 years his junior, who took him out for a monthly lunch, but Peter’s generation lived their lives largely in the shadows. Research on LGBT elders at the federal and state level is almost non-existent, meaning the specific issues and obstacles facing LGBT seniors remain largely invisible. But we do know this: LGBT seniors are at higher risk for discrimination, poverty, isolation, abuse and neglect than their straight contemporaries. In the recent swing towards public acceptance of marriage equality and LGBT rights, older adults have been the most resistant to change; many LGBT seniors go back into the closet upon entering retirement communities for fear of being ostracized by residents or mistreated by staff. LGBT seniors have greater financial risk than their heterosexual peers. During Peter’s working life, no federal prohibition against workplace discrimination existed for LGBT people. This frequently meant thinner paychecks, fewer chances to build pensions, and smaller Social Security payments for LGBT seniors. A study published in 2009 found gay couples’ Social Security benefits were more than 17% smaller and lesbian couples’ benefits were typically 31% smaller than their heterosexual counterparts. It has also been typically harder, more expensive, and more complex for samesex couples to navigate inheritance laws. A
surviving heterosexual spouse could inherit the couple’s assets without incurring a tax penalty, but federal and state laws have historically required same-sex partners to pay inheritance taxes—the basis of U.S. vs. Windsor, the landmark 2013 Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Defense of Marriage Act. Additionally, social isolation looms large for LGBT elders. Up to 80% of long-term care for American seniors is provided by family members. More LGBT seniors live alone than their heterosexual peers, as they are more likely to be single, not have had children, and/or be estranged from their biological families. This can lead to seclusion, higher rates of depression, poor nutrition, delays in seeking care, hospitalization and premature death. Moreover, not only do LGBT elders lack support from many mainstream retirement communities, senior programs, senior centers, and houses of worship, but they also tend to feel unwelcome within their own LGBT community. All this translates to Peter and his fellow LGBT seniors being poorer, sicker and having fewer opportunities for social and community engagement than their straight contemporaries. But change is on the horizon. With the Supreme Court rulings in U.S. vs. Windsor and Hollingsworth vs. Perry, federal and state government is moving to create equity in laws, policies and practices around pensions, spousal benefits, inheritance taxes, and other civil rights, which will help close the financial disparity felt by LGBT seniors. LGBT retirement communities are becoming more and more common and organizations like the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, SAGE, NW LGBT Senior Care Providers Network, and Senior Services of King County provide resources for LGBT seniors looking for community or care. Retirement communities across the country are feeling the growing wave of LGBT seniors, and are training their staffs to be more inclusive. Each year, the labyrinth of challenges facing LGBT seniors grows easier to navigate. Acceptance is something Peter feared impossible, yet 40 years later national equity in marriage is within grasp. My partner Troy and I were legally married last September; in the long arc of our struggle for equality and acceptance, we see history changing around us at breakneck speed. As more out LGBT individuals reach retirement age, they will help create a world Peter and our community never dreamed possible. Michael Godfrey is the former Chief Operating Officer at Lifelong, and prior to that, worked at Chateau Retirement Communities. Michael has been a longtime advocate for gay senior issues and a frequent speaker and author on the subject. OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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VOICES OF PRIDE FROM SURVIVAL TO THRIVING: GENDER IDENTITY AND OUR MUTUAL JOY By Marsha C. Botzer Concerning Trans* and Gender Non conforming people, once there were dangerous, hidden meetings. As with so many other human struggles, our awakening around gender identity came slowly at first, with a few brave ones visible and speaking, and many more left isolated by swirling fears. Not so today! Now our voices rise with others to proudly call out our identities. Our Allies rise as well: You are with us, we are with you! This is our Lifetime of Pride! In the 1970s we met and discussed, planned and argued, and worked to overcome arguments that harassed even our bravest back in those days—claims that we were inauthentic or dangerous or mentally ill. This was one of the first steps to achieving anything; by debunking the old arguments and showing how we were healthy people, we strengthened efforts to provide resources, medical and psychological care, social and individual support, and hope. Those old debunked claims are still heard today from opponents, and they still hurt people, but now we answer from a place of strength as we continue the fight. Transgender and Gender Noncon forming people have always been around, but rarely visible in modern history. Now is a powerful time when we can truly add our voices to the great global discussion. In our second or third truly public “generation,” there are many more people who can do more than struggle to survive, they can be active, and they thrive. We have growing numbers of families that support their Trans* members, schools and workplaces that welcome, and protective laws that include us. But it is still the beginning. We must win a time when Trans* and Gender Nonconforming people are not subject to still very high rates of abuse and discrimination, rejection and murder. Trans* people must be known as what we are: part of human diversity, not part of any pathology. I am proud Seattle’s Ingersoll Gender Center (ingersollcenter.org) remains a leader in this history making. We have been helping Trans* and Gender Nonconforming people, their families friends and workplaces, for decades. Since the late 1970s, Ingersoll has assisted many 30 Untitled-2 S E AT 1 TLE PRIDE 2015
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thousands of people to find their individual ways to self-understanding and peace— basics of freedom and a good life. Where once there were fearful revelations and charges of sickness and confusion, now we can offer welcoming groups and services that honor the humanity of exploring and understanding gender identity. We have replaced unhappiness with discovery, and fear with knowledge. Ingersoll has been the foundational birthplace of individual selves, supportive allies, and many new organizations. We partner with care providers, researchers, and friends across the world to build the strongest possible system of support; and by linking hands with many brilliant local allies and national groups that include Transgender and Gender Non-conforming people in their work, we expand our service beyond the limits of a single organization. Ingersoll provides introductory information, referrals for care, counseling and medical information, access to legal information, help on employment and workplace issues, and tools to build community. We offer education and training to intuitions and businesses; we advocate, and we continue to seek training ourselves—learning is constant. And each week of every year Ingersoll provides an open support group for the whole community; we have not missed a single week in decades because our primary mission is to be there for all who need us. Ingersoll has also worked for years in Washington State, King County, and Seattle to educate why we need local and state laws and policies against discrimination that include gender identity and expression as protected areas. And while we know that laws and policies are not the final work, and must always be improved and protected, they are important changes that help us serve many more people. I am the Founder of Ingersoll, but Ingersoll is fully and wholly an idea that is part of our community and the larger discussion. If you want to know what guides us, look at this quote from Robert Green Ingersoll, whose name we take: “Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so!” Marsha Botzer served as co-chair of The National LGBTQ Task Force in 2005-6 and 2009-10. She is a founding member of Out In Front Leadership Project, founded Seattle’s internationally known Ingersoll Gender Center, and served as a national co-chair of the 2008 Obama Pride Campaign.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL
T R A N S * P R I D E S E AT T L E
Friday June 26th Broadway Ave & Cal Anderson Park A project of Gender Justice League March: 6PM Celebration: 7PM
w w w.t r a n s p r i d e s e a t t l e.o r g photo credit: Nate Gowdy ©2014
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VOICES OF PRIDE You’ve become the voice of this community. Not just the queer community, but any sort of counter-culture, anybody who lives in the neighborhood, any self-described weirdo. I just came from a place like, “God. This is happening again.” This really mainstream, very watered down, very boring, segment of society overrunning what was formerly a counterculture stronghold. And not just for gays and queers, but for anybody who had a different take on life, or anybody who lived through that stuff you go through in high school, where you’re harassed or bullied or made to feel like you’re not going to be a part of anything… that’s why people gravitate to the cities. To get away from that, so you can express that part of yourself, with abandon. And a sense of that of is being lost in favor of sameness. Where it used to spread out away from the cities, and the suburbs became more and more homogenized? It’s almost like the wave went out, and now it’s crashing back toward the city. This neighborhood, or any neighborhood, whether a gayborhood, or a place for artists, or all those things combined, is a fragile ecosystem. Not unlike a coral reef. It is a very fragile thing, and it operates with purpose. And the purpose, especially for creative people and thinkers, is to commune and interact with each other. This is how great art movements are made. Now we have the internet. But there’s something to be said for a daily face to face in your place where you interact with people who are creative.
Alex Berry
How has your position specifically in the gay community changed with this art? It’s made me higher profile as an artist, which is good. It’s been beneficial for the studio because my community buys art. They’re interested in the art, and they say that they want to support artists. That’s dear for people. So I’m proud to be a part of this community. I think we’re really dynamic. I think we’re weathering this storm together, so it’s drawn a lot of us closer together. A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN CRISCITELLO By Olivia McCausland
Olivia McCausland worked as art curator for Cairo Gallery, independent art events organizer, and film producer based in Seattle until May 2015. Olivia now lives in New York City.
How do you approach controversy that arises around your art? I think why the work is finding an audience is that I am not indebted to anybody, and I don’t have a filter, so it goes directly from A to B. Some of it might come off as harsh or ham handed or inconsiderate or repulsive, as far as language goes—but I think that is the way to cut through all the bullshit. I like this feeling of being where I am now, where I don’t have to filter. I’m not indebted to a donor, or a gallery, or a museum. I’m totally independent. So I don’t feel I have to water this down at all. 32
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courtesy of John Criscitello
If you spend any time on Capitol Hill, you have undoubtedly seen John Criscitello’s work. From his first wheatpaste that debuted in June of last year—the words “WHITE GIRLS” with an accompanying Ugg Boot—to his nearly sold out Vermillion Gallery show full of throbbing cocks and bros swapping spit eight months later, John’s work is ubiquitous. A New Yorker in passive and polite Seattle, John’s voice pokes like a fire iron at the changes happening on Capitol Hill. His work is simple, poignant, hilarious, tragic. His words speak for thousands around him who made Capitol Hill a safe space for creative and LGBTQ communities to thrive. John and I caught up to talk about his experience and influence last month—and how his “no bullshit” mentality is stirring the pot.
VOICES OF PRIDE HIV EPIDEMIC: FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH By Paris Mullen The HIV epidemic is a pestilence that swept through the United States, claiming the lives of thousands during the 1980s. An AIDS diagnosis—and later a diagnosis of HIV infection—was a rapid death sentence during much of that decade. As of 2013 over 650,000 lives have been lost to HIV related illnesses in the United States. Today, more than 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States. In its inception, this epidemic had cloaked the US with a seemingly impenetrable darkness. This darkness was pierced by the first dim ray of hope on March 19, 1987. Medical science made progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS when the FDA approved the first anti-HIV/AIDS drug, Zidovudine (AZT). While this single drug
Today, more than 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States. anti-retroviral therapy (ART) showed some efficacy in suppressing HIV, the drug’s side effects were many and severe. The HIV/AIDS scientific community later learned that single drug therapy was ultimately a weak treatment for HIV. However, in 1996 medical science realized another game changer for the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Saquinavir, the first protease inhibitor drug, was developed to target a cell’s protease, a protein needed by HIV to replicate itself. It was approved for use in a combination of three or more anti-retroviral drugs. Suddenly we were able to successfully suppress the amount of HIV virus in the blood, maximizing a person’s health and decreasing the probability of transmission. Though some challenging drug side effects still remained, those living with HIV/AIDS had the possibility of living longer and healthier lives. On July 16, 2012 the FDA approved the use of Truvada® as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). A clinical trial study determined that Truvada® offered 96% protection against HIV, if taken consistently by HIV negative persons.
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LOCAL PRIDE EVENTS THURSDAY, JUNE 4 Queer Vision 20/20: Different From the Others Every Thursday in June, Northwest Film Forum and Three Dollar Bill Cinema celebrate queer cinema throughout the 20th century. Made in 1919, Different From the Others contains one of the earliest frank depictions of homosexuality on film, and the first to take a stand for gay rights. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Avenue, 8:00 PM, $11, film unrated, nwfilmforum.org
OFFERING $4 SPARKLE SHOTS AND A RAINBOW MENU FOR OUR PRIDE GUESTS.
SATURDAY, JUNE 6 Spectrum Concert Spectrum, Diverse Harmony’s small a cappella ensemble, perform a free concert. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Avenue, 7:00 PM, FREE, all ages, diverseharmony.org SUNDAY, JUNE 7 Capitol Hill Clean Sweep Clean up Capitol Hill for Pride month! They feed you breakfast and lunch, you help clean the streets of Capitol Hill, and then you get a t-shirt. DJs L.A. Kendal, Skiddle, and Tony Burns spin to get you in the mood! Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Avenue, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, FREE with pre-registration, all ages, caphillchamber.org
Come enjoy our new patio open nightly 4-10pm
THURSDAY, JUNE 11 Queer Vision 20/20: Now, Voyager Every Thursday in June, Northwest Film Forum and Three Dollar Bill Cinema celebrate queer cinema throughout the 20th century. Queer icon Bette Davis sparkles in this Warner Brother’s weeper about transformation and forbidden love. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Avenue, 8:00 PM, $11, film unrated, nwfilmforum.org
star ting in May.
Pride Month Capitol Hill Art Walk Gay City Health Project and Ingersoll Gender Center team up for the Capitol Hill Art Walk to host an art show featuring Seattle LGBT organizations and the artistic talent within them. Also features readings by trans* poets Sarah Galvin and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore. Ingersoll’s Trans* Space, 517 E Pike Street, lower floor, 6:00 – 9:00 PM, FREE, all ages, ingersollgendercenter.org
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Nate Gowdy © 2014
Mon-Thurs until 6pm
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Restaurant, full bar and bottleshop featuring a scratch kitchen, apple-based craft cocktails, 130+ ciders and more.
SEATTLE PRIDE PICNIC Come have a relaxing day with your family or your chosen family in one of Seattle most iconic parks, and enjoy Seattle’s LGBTQ community at its finest. $1 picnic meal, benefitting YouthCare. Free live entertainment all day, plus Box Car Derby Races by Rat City Roller Girls, bouncy houses, field games, photo booths, and much more. Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave E, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepride.org WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle’s 2nd Annual Teen Pride Pageant Drew and Jessica Paradisco host the search to crown the next Mr. Ms. Miss Teen Pride (ages 1820). Highly competitive categories include how well you wear the theme “Taste The Rainbow,” talent, and formal wear. Neighbours, 1509 Broadway, 8:00 – 10:30 PM, $7 spectator, $10 competitor, 18+, neighboursnightclub.com THURSDAY, JUNE 18 Divas Take The Hill | A Benefit for PSKS – Peace for the Streets by Kids From the Streets Join Divas Take the Hill for the city’s best drag, burlesque, and GLBTQ talent. All ticket and booze proceeds benefit the most vulnerable part of your GLBTQ community. Powered by the love and glitter of Miss Kitty Baby Fan Page, DonnaTella Howe, Sylvia O’Stayformore and more. 12th Ave Arts, 1620 12th Avenue, 7:30 – 10:30 PM, $10 students, $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $25 VIP, 18+, facebook.com/SeattleDivas Queer Vision 20/20: Black Lizard Every Thursday in June, Northwest Film Forum and Three Dollar Bill Cinema celebrate queer cinema throughout the 20th century. How does one describe Fukasaku Kinji’s rare 1968 film Black Lizard? You won’t believe it until you see this truly bizarre film that belongs in the canon of queer cinema. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Avenue, 8:00 PM, $11, film unrated, nwfilmforum.org SEATTLE PRIDE COMEDY SERIES: GINA YASHERE The June Seattle Pride Comedy show at Parlor Live Seattle features Gina Yashere from Live at the Apollo and Mock The Week. Originally from the UK, Gina broke into the American comedy scene with her appearances on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, where she made it to the final 10. Parlor Live Seattle, 1522 6th Avenue, 7:30 PM, $30, 18+ (Thursday show only), parlorlive.com
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LOCAL PRIDE EVENTS FRIDAY, JUNE 19
JULY 8 WITH THE WARNER BROS. PICTURES AND CADENZA ARTISTS PRESENT MARCH OF THE PENGUINS WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY PERFORMING THE SCORE LIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE THE FILM IS SHOWN ON THE BIG SCREEN AT BENAROYA HALL.
SEATTLE PRIDE COMEDY SERIES: HEATHER MCDONALD & GINA YASHERE The June Seattle Pride Comedy show at Parlor Live Seattle features Heather McDonald and Gina Yashere. Heather is a comedian, actress, story producer, and best-selling author best known for her roundtable appearances on E!’s top rated show Chelsea Lately. You know Gina from the final 10 on Last Comic Standing. Parlor Live Seattle, 1522 6th Avenue, 7:30 & 10:30 PM, $30, 21+, parlorlive.com Pride Shabbat 2015 Join the Seattle Jewish Community for Pride Shabbat 2015. Pride Shabbat is open to the community and is a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Jews, friends, allies and their families. Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1511 E Pike Street, 6:00 PM, FREE, all ages, tdhs-nw.org SATURDAY, JUNE 20 Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County Pride Build Pride Build brings together members and friends of the LGBTQ community to sponsor a day of building at La Fortuna, a development of 41 townhomes in the Benson Heights neighborhood in Renton. Get more information at habitatskc.org. Seattle Women’s Pride The second annual Seattle Women’s Pride is THE Pride party for lesbians (and their friends) in Seattle! Headlining the event is none other than Bravo’s Julie Goldman (The Mindy Project, The People’s Couch, Faking It, Big Gay Sketch Show). DJ Wildfire of Hot Flash Inferno fame will provide music. Q Nightclub, 1426 Broadway, 6:00 – 10:00 PM, $20, 21+, qnightclub.com Girl Bye: Pride Edition Queer Hip Hop featuring Cakes Da Killa from New Jersey Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 9:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com Seattle Pride Comedy Series: Heather McDonald & Gina Yashere These hilarious ladies bring the funny for another two performances. See Friday’s description for more details. Parlor Live Seattle, 1522 6th Avenue, 7:30 & 10:30 PM, $30, 21+, parlorlive.com SUNDAY, JUNE 21 Cathedral: Pride Edition High Drag Deliverance Pride Week Kickoff featuring Two Dudes in Love (San Francisco/Portland) Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 9:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com
FOR TICKETS:
206.215.4747 | SEATTLESYMPHONY.ORG 36
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MONDAY, JUNE 22 Transfabulous: Pride Edition Queer and Trans Cabaret and Burlesque featuring The Lady B and Mal de Fleur Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 9:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com
Nate Gowdy © 2014
CAPITOL HILL DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 PrideFest Film Festival: Featuring PRIDE Inspired by an extraordinary true story—it’s the summer of 1984, Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers’ families. Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 7:00 PM, $3, all ages, central-cinema.com
Gender Blender Annual Drag Show & Benefit This is the big gay sucker punch of the year as people of all variety come together in this drag filled dance-party show and love-fest to raise thousands of dollars for Gay City Health Project, our local free HIV testing and awareness center. Neumos, 925 E Pike Street, 9:00 PM, $35 GA / $70 VIP, 21+, narkmagazine.com
Hairy Pit Queer Music Fest. Bands TBA. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 9:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com
Stiffed! Disco: Pride Edition Pride Disco Party featuring The Juan MacLean Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 8:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com
ArtHaus Final Battle Royale: Pride Edition The final ArtHaus! See which House reigns notorious. Featuring performance by none other than Purple Crush from LA! Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 8:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com THURSDAY, JUNE 25 Queer Vision 20/20: Born in Flames Every Thursday in June, Northwest Film Forum and Three Dollar Bill Cinema celebrate queer cinema throughout the 20th century. A canonical work of radical cinema, Lizzie Borden’s feminist sci-fi treatise imagines a post-revolutionary world where women battle for their rights through the microphones of pirate radio. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Avenue, 8:00 PM, $11, film unrated, nwfilmforum.org The Totally Gay Sing Along! We celebrate Pride with a brand new Sing Along that features divas, camp classics, new tunes, hunks, foot stompers, rump shakers and every video is certified TOTALLY GAY! Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave, 8:00 PM, $12 adv / $14 door, central-cinema.com
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FRIDAY, JUNE 26 Trans* Pride Seattle The 3rd annual Trans* Pride March assembles at 5:00 and steps off at 6:00 from the northend of Seattle Central Community College. March immediately followed by a celebration in Cal Anderson Park, featuring speakers and performers from 7:00 – 10:00 PM. Seattle Central Community College & Cal Anderson Park, 5:00 – 10:00 PM, FREE, all ages, transprideseattle.org
PASS
Trans*Pride After Party After the Trans* Pride Celebration, come on over and get down with Big Dipper at this benefit for Gender Justice League. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 8:00 PM, 21+, kremwerk.com
CAPITOL HILL 401 BROADWAY AVE E. SEATTLE WA | 206 322 2322
Nate Gowdy © 2014
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 All the Letters in the Rainbow: LGBTQI Writers Pride Month Showcase Readings by Sarah Galvin, Matthew Schnirman, Anastacia Tolbert, and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore. David Schmader emcees. Books by the writers will be on sale. The bar will be open and selling drinks (valid ID required). Hugo House, 1634 11th Avenue, 7:00 PM, FREE, all ages, hugohouse.org
FREE
DOWNTOWN 1310 4th AVENUE SEATTLE WA | 206 583 0640
OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE Untitled-25 1
37 5/1/15 10:34 AM
LOCAL PRIDE EVENTS
ECA has brought you:
Bootie Seattle: Madonna Mashup Night Mixing and matching every musical genre, era, and style into one big dance party where everyone feels welcome, Bootie provides the soundtrack for the A.D.D. generation. Neumos, 925 E Pike Street, 9:00 PM, $10, 21+, bootieseattle.com Bearracuda Seattle Bearracuda is the largest attended bear dance party and most prolific gay dance event in the U.S, with bears, cubs, otters, beefcakes and other wildlife! Featuring DJ G Luve, DJ Freddy, King of Pants, and DJ Matt Stands. Re-Bar, 1114 Howell Street, 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM, $10 adv / $15 door, 21+, bearracuda.com/seattle
Don’t you want to know... what’s next?
SNEAK PREVIEW: JUNE 3
Nate Gowdy © 2014
LES BALLETS
T ROCK A DERO DE MON TE CA R LO
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 Dignity/Seattle’s 27th Annual Pride Week Breakfast This annual pancake breakfast benefit the good works of many charitable organizations which in past years have included Bailey-Boushay House, Rosehedge/Multi-Faith Works, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Pride ASIA and others. Central Lutheran Church, 1710 11th Avenue, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, $7 or free for those unable to afford, all ages, loveiscentral.org GLSEN’s 5th Annual Youth Pride Dance Hosted by DonnaTella Howe, this beach theme party is for LGBTQ youth, friends, and allies up through the age of 21. Creative dress encouraged, and pre-registration required on their Facebook page. Belltown Community Center, 415 Bell Street, 7:00 – 11:00 PM, FREE, 11-21, glsen.org/chapters/washingtonstate Turn Back the Dial Diverse Harmony finishes their 13th season with a throw back to high school days in the 1970s and ‘80s. From field trips, to holidays, to school dances, Diverse Harmony will rekindle your love for decades lost. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Avenue, 7:30 PM, $20 with youth under 21 FREE, all ages, diverseharmony.org Follow You Everywhere - A Memoir: Growing Up And Coming Out In Texas Comedian Georgia Ragsdale explores her Texas roots in a quirky, poignant childhood to coming-of-age theatrical memoir. Set in suburban Houston in the 1960s and 1970s. 12th Ave Arts, 1620 12th Avenue, 7:30 PM, $30 general admission, $10 senior and students, all ages, georgiaragsdalepresents.com
Capitol Hill Pride Festival March & Rally “Never Forget” 1969 Stonewall civic march (10:00 AM) from the Seattle Central Community College campus to Harrison Street. Festival includes live entertainment such as Revisit Steppenwolf, Doggie Drag Costume Contest, Rainbow Light Art Walk, and Broadway’s Got Talent Contest. Broadway and E Harrison Street, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM, FREE, all ages, capitolhillpridefestival.info 17th Annual Rainbow Health Fair YWCA of Seattle offers traditional and holistic health services and education from culturally competent providers to lesbian, bisexual and queer women, genderqueer and transgender people. Free mammograms, Pap tests, Hep C and HIV testing, acupuncture, massage, and more. All Pilgrims Church, 500 Broadway E, 12:00 – 4:00 PM, FREE, all ages, ywcaworks.org or 206.461.4493
ec4arts.org 425.275.9595 410FOURTHAVENUENORTH EDMONDSWA98020 38
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Too Many Creeps: Pride Edition A late 70s – early 90s dance party, hosted by DJ Mike Steve, Kate, & Dave Hernandez, plus a special Guest DJ, Go-Go Dancers, drink specials & more. Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison Street, 9:00 PM, $5, 21+, chopsuey.com
Nate Gowdy © 2014
Dickslap! Pride Edition A let loose scenario for boys and girls and more boys... a wonderland full of free beard rubs, slick hands and magical dancing gogo men, where the jello shots seem to just shoot themselves down your throat. Featuring DJs Jay Douglas & Jens Irish. The Eagle, 314 E Pike Street, 8:00 PM, $10, 21+, narkmagazine.com
Julia’s Pride Street Party A street party along all of Broadway, Julia’s features food & drinks specials, and a stage presenting local drag talent along with Le Faux celebrity impersonators. Julia’s on Broadway, 300 Broadway East, 12:00 – 10:00 PM, FREE, all ages, juliasrestaurantseattle.com PrideFest Capitol Hill PrideFest Capitol Hill has two stages—one with family and all-ages programming, and a DJ stage and a beer garden for the rest of us. Don’t miss drag queen storytime to start and end the family programming (1-1:30 PM and 3:30-4 PM). Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Avenue, 1:00 – 8:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepridefest.org
WE MARCH WITH PRIDE SOUNDERS FC PRIDE NIGHT
Bears, the Baths, & Beyond: Pride Edition Oh, my. Steamworks Seattle, 1520 Summit Avenue, 1:00 – 6:00 PM, 21+, steamworksbaths.com/seattle
VS
Nark Magazine Annual Pride Cruise The epic daytime boat party returns for an afternoon out on the water, cruising all around Seattle and dancing in the sunshine. Flashing innocent families on nearby boats is highly recommended. Featuring DJs Won Love (Riz Rollins & Rob) & James Cerne. Rain or shine. The Islander Yacht, 1611 Fairview Ave E, 2:00 – 6:00 PM, $25, 21+, narkmagazine.com Lambert House Pride Drop-In Planned activities, dinner at 6:00, sign-making for the Seattle Pride Parade, and other activities for LGBTQ youth and allies. Lambert House, 1818 15th Avenue, 4:00 – 9:30 PM, FREE, ages 11-22, lamberthouse.org
JUNE 20TH, 1PM AT CENTURYLINK FIELD
Seattle Dyke March This march highlights and honors the experiences, pleasures, activism and identities of queer women and dyke-identified people across the gender spectrum. All genders and identities welcome to join in celebration. Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, 5:00 PM rally & 7:00 march, FREE, all ages, seattledykemarch.com Follow You Everywhere - A Memoir: Growing Up And Coming Out In Texas Please see page 38 for complete description. 12th Ave Arts, 1620 12th Avenue, 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM, $30 general admission, $10 senior and students, all ages, georgiaragsdalepresents.com Turn Back the Dial Diverse Harmony finishes their 13th season with a throw back to high school days in the 1970s and ‘80s. From field trips, to holidays, to school dances, Diverse Harmony will rekindle your love for decades lost. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway Avenue, 7:30 PM, $20 with youth under 21 FREE, all ages, diverseharmony.org
FOR TICKETS, VISIT SOUNDERSFC.COM SS 050415 pride 2_3v.pdf
OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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LOCAL PRIDE EVENTS Kiss Off: Pride Edition Queer Women’s Pride Party featuring DJ Kim Anh from LA. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Avenue, 8:00 PM – 4:00 AM, 21+, kremwerk.com Queer Central: The Soul of Pride Soul + Funk + Disco + Afro Futuristic Beats + Bounce + Trap + Rap and of course... some BOOTIE. Featuring all local DJs. Neumos, 925 E Pike Street, 9:00 PM, $7, 21+ neumos.com
Seattle Pride Pre-Parade Extravaganza The Pre-Parade Extravaganza stars the one and only Mama Tits, the incomparable Tipsy Rose Lee, the glamazon goddess Isabella Extynn St. James, and the starlet chameleon Felix Manchild. See page 12 for more details. Westlake Park, 4th Avenue & Pine Street, 10:00 – 11:00 AM, FREE, all ages, seattlepride.org
Dance Yourself Clean: Pride Edition Indie-Pop Dance Party featuring Black Gatsby Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison Street, 9:00 PM, Free before 10:30, $5 after, 21+, chopsuey.com SUNDAY, JUNE 28
The Nation’s First and Largest Queer - Straight Alliance Youth Choir
Choir has open auditions Concerts, events and camps
Join us! www.diverseharmony.org
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SEATTLE PRIDE BRUNCH A fabulous meal to start the most fabulous day of the year! Join us for a morning of delicious food, great company, and general merriment before heading over to watch the Seattle Pride Parade. Brunch runs 9:00 – 11:00 AM, while the bar is open 8:00 AM – noon. Don’t miss the option to reserve VIP grandstand seating with your brunch ticket, so you can have that second mimosa without worrying about getting a great viewing spot. Parlor Live Seattle, 1522 6th Avenue, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, $45-65, 21+, seattlepride.org Lambert House Pride Brunch LGBTQ and ally youth and their adult allies (adults must be accompanying a youth) are welcome for a delicious brunch at Lambert House before heading down to the Seattle Pride Parade together! Lambert House, 1818 15th Avenue, 9:00 – 10:00 AM, FREE, all ages, lamberthouse.org KEXP Pride Party Celebrate Pride where the music matters. KEXP DJs Riz, El Toro, Larry Rose and Alex will spin. And yes, the 5 Point Café will host a pig roast again! Tilikum Place Park, 2701 5th Avenue, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, FREE, 21+, kexp.org
SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE The 41st annual Seattle Pride Parade is one of the top 5 Pride parades in the country, and the largest parade overall in our region! Featuring more than 200 contingents with 10,000 participants, and nearly a half million spectators, everything Pride revolves around this glittery jewel! Beer gardens open at 9:30 AM (valid ID required), and are located along 4th Avenue at Pine, Bell, and Clay Streets. 4th Avenue from Westlake Park to Denny Way, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepride.org PrideFest Seattle Center After the Parade, the party moves down the street to the largest free Pride Festival in North America, now in its 9th year. Shangela, Fly Moon Royalty, DJs Julie Herrera Kim Anh, and other artists and programming announced soon. Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, 12:00 – 8:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepridefest.org Kill the Keg: Pride Edition Early Sunday show with $1 drafts on selected kegs until they blow! Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison Street, 3:00 PM, $5, 21+, chopsuey.com Follow You Everywhere - A Memoir: Growing Up And Coming Out In Texas Please see page 38 for complete description. 12th Ave Arts, 1620 12th Avenue, 7:30 PM, $30 general admission, $10 senior and students, all ages, georgiaragsdalepresents.com
Nate Gowdy © 2014
Bait Shop’s 2nd Annual Pride Patio Party A flamingo patio party with all-day drink specials, including rainbow Jell-O Shots and frozen boozy Arnold Palmers, plus tasty snacks like street corn, tacos, and fried goodies. Margaritas will flow like a glitter river. Opens at 11 AM for those who want to get their celebration started on the earlier side. Bait Shop, 606 Broadway East, 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM, FREE, 21+, baitshopseattle.com
Nate Gowdy © 2014
Lambert House Pride Sleep-Over LGBTQ and ally youth are welcome for the one sleep-over a year at Lambert House. Movies, snacks, late night talking and much more! Lambert House, 1818 15th Avenue, 9:30 PM – 9:00 AM, FREE, ages 11-22, lamberthouse.org
REGIONAL PRIDE EVENTS Take your Pride on a road trip! With Pride celebrations of all sizes conveniently staggered throughout the summer, you can let your rainbow freak flag fly all around the great Northwest! ALASKA PRIDEFEST May 30 – June 6 Alaska PrideFest features 10 events with a little something for everyone. How about the Rainbow Run, Bear Tooth Pride FilmFest, Alaska Grrlz Pride Dance Party, Drag Queen Bingo, Country Line Dancing: Pride Edition, or the very wet and very wild Lube Wrestling? Anchorage, Alaska | alaskapride.org BOISE PRIDEFEST June 11–20 Idaho’s pride week festivities include an AIDS Walk, the Boise Gay Men’s Chorus Pride Concert, a movie night, rally, parade and festival. Boise, Idaho | boisepridefest.com PORTLAND PRIDE June 9-14 Portland Pride features the Pride Glow Run (“Portland’s Sickest Night Run”), a 2-day festival, a dance exclusively for women and the trans* community, and a number of marches and rallies. The main Parade leaves from W Burnside Street and NW Park Avenue at 11 AM on the 14th. Portland, Oregon | pridenw.org JUNEAU PRIDE June 12-21 In a town with no gay bars, the Southeast Alaska LGBTQ Alliance manages to host a nineday Pride celebration. Now that is something to be proud of! Juneau, Alaska | seagla.org
Extraordinary Performances from Around the Globe Grupo Corpo / An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma / Anoushka Shankar / Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn / MalPaso Dance Company / The Peking Acrobats
/ ETHEL with special guest Robert Mirabal
presents The River / Igor Levit / Gil Shaham Bach Six Solos with original films by David Michalek / Youssou N'Dour / globalFEST on the Road: Creole Carnival / Sō Percussion / Garrick Ohlsson / Trisha Brown Dance Company / Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
/ Martha Graham Dance Company / The Danish String
Quartet / Akram Khan Company / Anonymous 4
/ Jonathan
Biss / Daedalus Quartet / Yulianna Avdeeva / Jane Comfort & Company / Vicente Amigo / Sankai Juku / Murray Perahia
At Meany Hall on the UW Campus
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW 206-543-4880 / uwworldseries.org / #uwworldseries
SPOKANE PRIDE PARADE & RAINBOW FESTIVAL June 13 OutSpokane (best organization name ever!) produces a parade on the second Saturday of June, followed by the Rainbow Festival in Gondola Meadows at Riverfront Park. Spokane, Washington | outspokane.com CAPITAL CITY PRIDE June 19-21 The Olympia-based Pride festival draws 15,000 people—that’s amazing for a little community of only 36,000 people. Olympia, Washington | capitalcitypride.net MID-COLUMBIA PRIDE June 15-20 Mid-Columbia Pride celebrates with events across the Tri-Cities region, including Family Bowl Night, Pride After Dark, Fun In the Sun (featuring kickball, softball and a barbeque), a guest speaker hosted by the Tri-City Freethinkers, and the parade at John Dam Plaza in Richland on June 20. Tri-Cities, Washington | midcolumbiapride.com OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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REGIONAL PRIDE EVENTS VICTORIA PRIDE June 28 – July 5 It might seem un-American to head to Canada over the 4th of July weekend, but with events like Dragball, Pride Cruise, Pride Big Gay Dog Walk, Pride in the Word plus a festival and parade, we might just consider it. Victoria, BC | victoriapridesociety.org TACOMA PRIDE FESTIVAL July 10-18 Tacoma’s Rainbow Center produces a weeklong Tacoma Pride Festival, with a variety of events including a block party, film series, benefit brunch, and their crown jewel: Out In The Park on July 11 in Pierce Transit Park. Tacoma, Washington | tacomapride.org KITSAP PRIDE July 18 Kitsap Pride Network produces LGBTQ events all year long, but they host their rainbowiest celebration on a Saturday afternoon in Bremerton’s Evergreen Rotary Park. Bremerton, Washington | kitsappride.org EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD PRIDE FESTIVAL August 8 Taking place in beautiful Alton Baker Park on the Willamette River. August is a beautiful time to visit Eugene! Eugene, Oregon | eugenepride.org CAPITOL PRIDE August 15 Their annual festival takes place in Salem’s Riverfront Park. Not a lot of details out yet, but Oregon is best enjoyed without any itinerary. Just show up. Salem, Oregon | capitolpride.org
Nate Gowdy © 2014
VANCOUVER PRIDE July 25 – August 2 Our neighbors to the north produce 20 events throughout the summer months, including the Pride Run and Walk, Picnic in the Park, Dave Street Block Party, Sunset Beach Festival, and culminating with the Vancouver Pride Parade on August 2. Remember: Bring your passport. Leave your weed at home. Vancouver, BC | vancouverpride.ca
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The Northwest music scene has long benefited from the creative spirit and expressive talents of innumerable LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) artists. From pop singers and jazz players necessarily shielding their true natures during more-repressive earlier decades, up into the Gay Liberation era when country pickers and rock ‘n’ rollers could finally break free, and onward through the recent grunge and hip-hop eras, time and again queer musicians have energized the community’s nightlife action—and positively impacted the evolution of this region’s musical arts. Regardless of whether they were publicly “out” or not, many of these musicians’ life-paths were not particularly easy ones, and thus it is inspiring to ponder the challenges they faced and the achievements they accomplished along the way. In recent times it has been a perfectly common experience for mainstream Seattle-area citizens to enjoy music performed by openly LGBT musicians. Indeed, the city is home to both the popular Seattle Men’s Chorus and the Rainbow City Band. The Seattle Men’s Chorus was founded in 1979 and as of 2015 it is “the largest gay men’s chorus in the world with over 350 singing members.” The chorus is established as a treasured part of Seattle culture, tours widely, records often, and has performed high-profile gigs with the Seattle Symphony. Also active locally is the Rainbow City Band, which was founded in 1998, and is an “organization consisting of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight members from all around the Puget Sound area.” With all the social progress affecting gay rights that has been forged in the modern era, it may not always be realized that, not so long ago, certain prominent Northwest musicians led public lives in which their true sexuality and/or gender were closeted. And if the truth was revealed, their reputations and/or careers were often negatively impacted by the bigotry of the times. SOMETIMES WE CRY Consider Johnnie “The Cry Guy” Ray (1927-1990), the androgynous bisexual pop singer from Oregon who skyrocketed to status as the biggest international vocal
Johnny Ray box-set cover illustration ca. 1950s, Courtesy Peter Blecha Collection
VOICES OF PRIDE
sensation to arise in the decade between Sinatra’s bobbysoxers and Elvis’s empire. With early successes like 1951’s No. 1 hit “Cry” and No. 2 hit “The Little White Cloud That Cried,” Ray’s remarkable career was nearly derailed by negative publicity after he was busted for soliciting an undercover male vice-squad detective at a burlesque club that same year. Ray’s marriage to a woman the following year was overly publicized by his managers, but his showbiz peers were already well aware that he also maintained a circle of boyfriends, and rumors insisted that this marriage was a sham. Divorced in 1954, Ray was arrested again in 1959 and, hounded by lurid gossip-magazine headlines, his damaged career never recovered. Ray’s singing talents, however, are still revered and he has even been name-checked in songs by artists ranging from Dexy’s Midnight Runners (“Come on Eileen”) to Billy Joel (“We Didn’t Start The Fire”), Van Morrison and Tom Jones (“Sometimes We Cry”). Another troubling case was that of Billy Tipton (1914-1989)—an obscure jazz lounge pianist who worked out of Spokane for 40 years. Obscure, that is, until his death, when it was revealed that the musician had actually been a woman. Turns out that Tipton had masqueraded as a man for five decades—reportedly fooling even his wife and adopted kids. This tortuous lifestyle surely caused considerable personal anxiety, just as its public revelation sparked international headlines, academic genderidentity debates, and finally a sympathetic salute in the 1990s from an all-woman Seattle group: the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet. But even eras earlier than the heydays of Johnnie Ray or Billy Tipton saw some LGBT artists who lived openly without noticeable torment. One prime example: the composer John Cage (1912-1992). He arrived in Seattle (along with his wife Xenia) in 1938 to accept a teaching position at the Cornish School. By 1939 the radically experimental music pioneer was collaborating in
Lavender Country cover Courtesy Paradise of Bachelors
local performances with various leading local artists—including Centralia-born modern-dance genius Merce Cunningham (1919-2009). In time, Cage’s marriage dissolved and he and Cunningham proudly commenced a half-century-long romantic partnership and an artistic collaboration whose pioneering mixed-media performances, like many of Cage’s other radical innovations, profoundly influenced subsequent artists in many genres.
OUT IN THE COUNTRY It was during the 1970s that the Gay Liberation movement took significant leaps forward locally. In 1972 a Seattle performer named Larry Fox recorded his “Crazy” single for a local label—and also bravely revealed to his booking agents at Far-West Entertainment that he was gay. In 1973 Seattle got its first gay-oriented discotheque, with the creation of Shelley’s Leg (75 S Main Street) in Pioneer Square, and in 1974 the Seattle Pride organization emerged. Also in 1973, Gay Community Social Services of Seattle released an LP of gayoriented country songs by a local band, Lavender Country. Ignored at the time, that Lavender Country album—with its anthems like “Come out Singing” and “Back in the Closet Again”—was reissued in 2014 by a North Carolina-based label, a move that surprised bandleader Patrick Haggerty, who reflected, “The culture has really shifted. ... It’s a statement about how far we’ve come.” In the mid-1970s a Seattle-based country-rock band, Rose and the Dirtboys, was fronted by lesbian singer Annie Rose De Armas—who went on to lead a popular 1980s soul-revival band, Annie Rose & the Thrillers. Then at the turn of the century came Seattle’s hillbilly jump band, Jo Miller & Her Burly Roughnecks. ROCKIN’ OUT And, as the 1960s rolled into the ’70s and musical styles progressed into disco, glitter/ glam rock, and then into the punk and New Wave eras, many musicians began feeling continued on page 54
BLACK ROCK SPIRITS • SEATTLE, WA • SPARKLEDONKEY.COM OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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WALKAbLE URbAn Living
Enjoy more freedom of movement — when you move it to downtown Seattle. One of the most important things you can do is stay active. And there’s no better place to do it than walkable Seattle, where multitudes of pursuits and desirable destinations are right around the corner. Imagine being minutes from cultural arts and some of the best dining in the world — and just a short hop to a sports venue or the airport.
SKYLINE
725 9th Avenue (206) 973-8915 www.SkylineSeattle.org
WALK SCORE: 97
EXETER HOUSE
720 Seneca Street (206) 965-9982 www.ExeterHouse.org
WALK SCORE: 95
COME FOR A VISIT. Considering a future move for you or a loved one? Get started by visiting some of the best 62+ communities in the city. Please call to schedule your personal visit at one or more of the communities below.
FRED LIND MANOR
1802 17th Avenue (206) 934-1714 www.FredLindManor.com
WALK SCORE: 95
Cosmopolitan, Innovative, Creative.
Timeless, Elegant, Classic.
Tree-Lined Neighborhood.
Enjoy a big outdoor garden plaza for summer dining, a chef’s herb garden and a rooftop deck with 180-degree views of the water and mountains. Plus we have an active garden club and a dog romp area—because Fido likes the great outdoors, too! CCRC and true Life Care community.
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VOICES OF PRIDE WHY I BELIEVE IN SAFE SCHOOLS FOR LGBT STUDENTS By Joseph R. Bento In 2002, I started teaching in the Seattle area brighteyed and ready to make a difference in the lives of my students. My year went well (or as well as it could for a new teacher), until I heard a rumor about a student of mine who was hospitalized after a suicide attempt. I was devastated. Why would any student try to take their own life? When the student returned, I pulled them aside after class expressing my concern. “What happened?” I asked. “Nothing happened,” they said. “I was just feeling down.” I didn’t want to push. “I’m here if you ever need to talk to me about anything.” Later that day my student returned, along with a couple of friends. “We want to start a GSA,” my student told me. “Yes,” I said, and our journey began. I have to admit, I didn’t know a lot about a GSA. From my teaching program, I knew it was a Gay-Straight Alliance, but other than that, I didn’t really understand what the group did. I needed some concrete support, so I contacted GLSEN. Founded in 1990 as a volunteer group of gay and lesbian educators, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network seeks to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. One of approximately 40 chapters nationwide, the Washington State chapter provided me with resources to start my school’s GSA , including the “Jump-Start Guide” that gave me ideas for leadership models, activities and events that I could use to engage my students into this new group. They also provide several support resources, such as Safe Space training for educators, Gay-Straight Alliance student club support, and GLSEN events like leadership summits, Youth Pride Dance, continued on page 53
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VOICES OF PRIDE EQUALITY AT THE INTERSECTIONS By Monisha Harrell
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Pride weekend is one of my favorite of the year. For me it represents a time where the LGBTQ community comes together in celebration of all of our diversity and as our full, authentic selves. It is the quintessential “come as you are” party. However, it is also during this time period that I am reminded that there are still many within our community who continue to be silenced, marginalized and discriminated against at crisis levels. The visibility that we share during Pride weekend, isn’t shared by all equally throughout the rest of the year, and this is something that none of us should find acceptable. If we believe Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in saying “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” we also have to believe that it is true for equality as well, with no exceptions. If we as a community value diversity, justice and equality, then we have to value those things for everybody, at all times, not just when it suits us personally or is convenient. Values can never be compromised. Easier said than done, so where do we start? We start by looking at the people who have been fighting with us for years. Nobody solely identifies by their sexual orientation or gender identity. There is no monolithic LGBTQ perspective because our identities as individuals are multidimensional, complex and varied. We are influenced by our ethnic backgrounds, educations, geographies, socio-economic status, interests and abilities. We must admit there is racism, sexism, transphobia, and classism within the LGBTQ community, and these illnesses help to keep our community divided and depressed. If we riot at Stonewall, but fall silent at Ferguson, how can we say we truly value equality and justice? We must continuously fight oppression based on identity—whether that is sexual orientation, gender, race or ethnicity. Working at the intersections means we recognize our LGBTQ and allied people of color, women, low-income, or rural individuals, and that we are just as tied to their rights and protections as we are our own, regardless of how we self-identify. As they have stood with us, we must stand with them.
We need to not just show up at rallies and parades, but to speak out against all prejudice when and where we see it. The work for justice and equality is not just in our legal systems, it is in our open dialogues and conversations with one another. Working at the intersections ensures that all boats rise, and everybody has full and equal access to jobs, housing, health care and education. We must fight so that we all have the ability to live free from fear of violence and oppression. Working at the intersections invites all voices to the table (even those that don’t have the same perspective), and requires diligence and deliberateness in thought and action.
Families headed by gay and transgender people of color are more likely to live in poverty than any other demographic. – The State of Gay and Transgender Communities of Color in 2012, Center for American Progress We have made great strides in LGBTQ rights in recent years, and we celebrate that progress. However, we have to recognize that our entire community hasn’t arrived yet, and this is not the time to take a break. We can’t stop until we live in a world where earning potential, life expectancy and poverty rates aren’t predicted by our race, ethnicity, gender identity or geography. We have momentum and the power to bring full equality home for everybody. Add your voice and resources to this work. When you see injustice, speak up—silence is complicity. Begin a dialogue, tell your story, and allow others to share theirs. There is a future ahead of us where our community can bring its whole self to the table, and we can be our complete and authentic selves all year long—where our entire community is visible, valued, respected and safe. Monisha Harrell is the current Board Chair for Equal Rights Washington.
VOICES OF PRIDE HIV, continued from page 33
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However, a further investigation of a subset of trial participants determined that if Truvada® were administered daily for 7 days, it offered 99% protection against the virus. This advance in prevention lifted hopes within the HIV scientific community that we could reduce new infections globally. As we now know how to prevent and treat a virus that has claimed the lives of millions, we are living in an era where no one has to contract HIV. Nonetheless, discrimination and inequities continue to drive the global pandemic, making it a civil rights issue. The effort to save lives has been greatly compromised by systemic HIV stigma, homophobia, racism, sexism, classism, poverty, lack of education and personal responsibility. People still acquire the virus and die of related illnesses— approximately 50,000 new infections are reported annually. We desperately need cures for HIV. There was a time when we wouldn’t even whisper the words “HIV cure.” But in 2007, the unimaginable occurred. A Seattle native, Timothy Ray Brown, also known in the media as the “Berlin Patient,” was cured of HIV through a bone marrow stem cell transplant from a donor whose cells were naturally resistant to most forms of HIV. Although to date Timothy is the first and only person to have been cured of HIV, we are closer than ever to ending the HIV pandemic. The National Institutes of Health has funded HIV cure research groups in three US cities, including defeatHIV, conducting
its HIV cure research at Fred Hutch right here in Seattle. defeatHIV offers opportunities for community members to learn about cure research and participate in community HIV education, awareness and engagement activities (defeativ.org). As local community members, we can do our part to end the HIV epidemic in Washington State. Gay City Health Project has partnered with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s “END AIDS Washington 2020” proclamation (endaidswashington.org) through the #myHIVmoment campaign. This campaign (myhivmoment.org) provides resources and encourages communities to work toward ending AIDS in Washington State: 1) Get Health Insurance 2) Get Tested 3) Get PrEP and 4) Get Treated. The road has been long, many lives have been lost and the fight wages continuously against HIV/AIDS. However, we have the power to end the epidemic as we know it. Continue to do your part to keep you, your loved ones and all of our communities safe. As we continue to search for HIV cures, hopefully we will find healing for humanity and be cured of that which allows us to drive this epidemic. The epidemic stops with us! Paris Mullen is a Program Manager at Gay City, and a Health Educator for Seattle Public Schools. He facilitates workshops addressing HIV prevention, therapy, cure and stigma. Paris graduated with a BA in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University.
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Timothy Ray Brown, Paris Mullen, and Dr Gero Hütter, who performed the bone marrow stem cell transplant that cured Mr. Brown. Photo courtesy of Paris Mullen.
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HOPE AND LGBT - INTERSECTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITH QUEER CULTURE by Aleksa Manila When I was asked to write this article, I was cautioned that it might be too depressing of a feature penned by a Debbie-downer. No doubt, drug addiction and alcoholism are not bright and shiny topics. But let’s talk about the pink elephant in the room. In the last 40 years, Pride parades have morphed from socio-political rallies to underwear parties sponsored by liquor companies. Some continue to be human rights forums, while some perpetuate stereotypes of go-go boys twerking and drag queens lip syncing. First things first—do you have a problem? Do you have a roof over your head? Can you afford food on your plate? Are your family members, friends or co-workers concerned, or have they stopped talking to you? However, be careful about denial, which can be blinding and deafening. Perhaps problems exist, but you can’t see the direct arrow pointing back to the substance use—that line, needle, pill, bottle, or herb. So what does one do when struggling with drug and alcohol problems while celebrating Pride? I’m a big fan of mnemonic devices, like the classic HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) which I’ve modified to HHALT (pronounced HuhHALT) for Horny-Hungry-Angry-LonelyTired. In short, if you are struggling with addiction and are challenged with triggers, take note whenever you feel horny, hungry, angry, lonely and/or tired—then HALT. If you’re hungry, then eat. Don’t get drunk. If you’re tired, then rest. Don’t get high. HONESTY TO SELF AND OTHERS Honesty is critical especially with the first steps. Ask yourself the sensitive and important questions, and don’t shy away from the truth. Even if the truth hurts a bit, it will be very rewarding in the end. Remember, honesty is also not omitting. Be very careful when skipping on details. These can be tricks the addictive mind plays on our brain and body. continued on page 52
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VOICES OF PRIDE HOPE…, continued from page 51 And while we’re on the “H” subject. Let’s also consider “higher power.” Whether you believe in God, Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Lady Gaga or Madonna, believe in something bigger than yourself. This is a reminder that we are only human. We are fallible. We fall down, but then we get up. Sometimes the barrier to recovery is that the addicted mind thinks we’re invincible and superhuman. Newsflash! We’re not. This makes it difficult to recognize the problem. The sensitive step is to truly accept our weakness and that we are ready for help from others. OUT AND FRONT Admitting and accepting one’s addiction can be very similar to the “coming out” process. It can be an essential ingredient, especially with the first steps. I’m not saying go onstage and proclaim it—this is still your personal business, after all. But remember that if your inner circle doesn’t know what’s going on, they may not know how to interact with you. By sharing your challenge with family and close friends, those who love you can help you create sober social gatherings that honor your recovery. PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE Be kind to yourself. The recovery journey can feel like a never-ending ride that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Try to think of it as a necessity, not a burden. Don’t run—gracefully walk and grab amazing friends along the way. EMBRACE YOUR COMMUNITY You are not alone. We are bound to thrive in the company of others—but other healthy and positive people. For some, Pride events are where and when they find community. Support meetings are a great way to find others just like you—a gentle and kind reminder that you’re not alone. Foster positive and healthy relationships that are long lasting and help you create a lifetime of great memories. At the end, it’s all about connectedness. Aleksa Manila is a celebrated drag personality, honored for her work in the LGBTQ community with emphasis on HIV/ AIDS, youth and transgender advocacy and education. Follow her many adventures at aleksamanila.com. When not-in-face, Aleks Martin is Program Coordinator at Project NEON and Program Supervisor of Addiction Services at Seattle Counseling Service (SCS).
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VOICES OF PRIDE SAFE SCHOOLS, continued from page 47 Day of Silence, Ally Week, No Name Calling Week, and more. I have volunteered with GLSEN Washington State as a board member ever since, and I continue to do the work because I know that the work is important. My student had told me that they were tired of being bullied about their sexual orientation. As a teacher, I make sure that my classroom is a safe place. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same about my colleagues’ classrooms, the hallways, the bus, or the community. In fact, recent statistics from the 2013 GLSEN National School Climate survey show that around 60% of LGBT students in Washington State still experience harassment and bullying in schools, resulting in a hostile school climate, student absenteeism, lowered educational aspirations, and poor psychological well-being. While we know that students have challenges at school, focusing on solutions such as Gay-Straight Alliances, inclusive curricula, supportive educators, and comprehensive bullying/harassment policies and laws help students. If schools were to focus on proactive measures, they can be safer places for all students, not just our LGBT students. To this day, the GSA club at my school is still strong. They are activists. They are allies. They are supportive. While the circumstance for starting was sad, the support that has been put into place has made my school stronger. Many classrooms have “Safe Space” stickers on the doors and windows, GSA is included in every event, and bullying and harassment is less likely to occur. While it’s not perfect, the work still continues because education about LGBT bullying and harassment must continue. The volunteers at GLSEN Washington State (glsenwa.org) and other organizations that provide help for LGBT youth, such as Seattle PFLAG (seattle-pflag.org) and Lambert House (lamberthouse.org), are constantly looking for supporters. Please visit our websites to learn how you can be a part of the solution. Joe Bento is a 9th grade health teacher from Seattle. He is an NEA (National Education Association) trainer on GLBT issues, advises his school’s Gay Straight Alliance, is the current co-chair of GLSEN Washington State, and has been involved in safe schools training since 2003.
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VOICES OF PRIDE SAME LOVE, continued from page 45
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freer to just be themselves. Among the first, and most legendary, Seattle bands to risk flaunting their homosexuality were certain members of the Ze Whiz Kids—a comedic theatrical drag troupe/rock group that, from 1969 into 1972, faced skeptical booking agents but nevertheless rose through the ranks of bands and scored gigs opening concerts for the likes of Alice Cooper and the New York Dolls. Various members of Ze Whiz Kids went on to form subsequent punk bands, most prominently Tomata Du Plenty (David Harrigan, 1948-2000), co-founder of Seattle’s Tupperwares, an ensemble that regrouped in Los Angeles and gained some fame as the Screamers. Perhaps the most liberated gay singer around was Charles “Upchuck” Gerra (d. 1990), frontman for the Seattle band Clone, which cut one single, “Jacuzzi Fluzzi.” Upchuck went on to lead the Fags, a Seattle band that moved to New York in 1984 and was embraced by everyone there from Andy Warhol to the Ramones and even Madonna, who chose them to appear in her danceclub scene in the hit 1985 movie Desperately Seeking Susan. Following in their wake came more Northwest-based musicians -- or punk/ new wave/grunge/post-grunge/queercore/ homocore/riot grrl and hip-hop bands -- with one or more out LGBT members. Those bands and performers included Student Nurse, TKO, the Neoboys, Randy & the Randies, the Debbies, Solger, the Shivers, Mondo Bando, Visible Targets, Concordia disCors, the Features, Mondo Vita, the Fartz, Variant Cause, the Attachments (whose bassist Chris Freeman split for San Francisco where he helped found the Panzy Division, pioneers in the queercore movement), the Neumatics, the Life, 5 Sides Collide, 10 Minute Warning, Girl with 100 Heads, 66 Saints, Common Language, Ondine, Barbie’s Dream Car, Heatmiser, Sleater-Kinney, Team Gina, Vicci Martinez, Gossip, the Need, Team Dresch, Sera Cahoone, the Lovers, Noddy, Parini, THEESatisfaction, Magic Mouth, Crydaddy, Telepathic Dream Army, the Mukilteo Fairies, and Gaytheist. SAME LOVE Additional measures of general progress being made on the cultural front are two more-recent examples of local musicians whose sexuality and/or gender politics have not been a detriment to their careers and artistic successes. First there is Ravensdale’s folk-rock singing star Brandi Carlile (b. 1981), whose recordings have met with substantial commercial success. Carlile was included as
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one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists to Watch in 2005 and her Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony album from 2011 reached the No. 14 slot on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart. Lastly, there is the success and impact that Seattle hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis enjoyed in 2012 with their “Same Love” single. Aware of the issues facing LGBT communities, as well as the fact that hip-hop culture historically had not been sympathetic to those communities, Macklemore—Ben Haggerty (b. 1983)—said in an interview: “Misogyny and homophobia are the two acceptable means of oppression in hip hop culture. It’s 2012. There needs to be some accountability.” Toward that end, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis (b. 1988), and lesbian singer/songwriter Mary Lambert (b. 1989) of Everett co-wrote “Same Love.” The song featured Macklemore’s rap, which included the lines, “If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me. Have you read the YouTube comments lately?” It also included a memorably sweet melodic vocal line—”My love: she keeps me warm”—sung by Lambert. The whirlwind timing behind, and sociocultural impact of, “Same Love” was almost like magic. Recorded in February and released as a single in July 2012, the song was quickly adopted by the campaign for Washington’s Referendum 74—an effort to legalize samesex marriage. It raced up to No. 11 hit status on Billboard’s charts; and then in November, Referendum 74 passed. Later, in the summer of 2013, Lambert scored again by sampling her line from “Same Love” and creating a new song, “She Keeps Me Warm,” that became a Top-40 hit. And finally, on January 26, 2014, Lambert and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed “Same Love” at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, where the tune was also honored with a Song of the Year nomination. This essay was provided by HistoryLink. org (http://www.historylink.org/index. cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=11049). Peter Blecha is a Seattle native, a Staff Historian and Contributing Editor at HistoryLink.org, the awardwinning author of six books, and an original Senior Curator at the Experience Music Project. OFFICIAL PRIDE GUIDE
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