PRIDE PARADE | VOLUNTEER PARK PRIDE FESTIVAL | DINE WITH PRIDE
The Official Seattle Pride Guide 2016 INTERVIEW with
YOUTH SPOTLIGHT Q&As
BROOKLYN BUENAVENTURA
DAVID SCHMADER on
Parade MAP
honoring the past while
& MORE
charging into the future
JUNE 2016 | FREE
#WEAREPRIDE OURSEATTLEPRIDE
THE FUTURE of PRIDE
Seattle PRIDE Guide 1
Table of Contents Official Seattle Pride Guide 2016 SEATTLE PRIDE ORGANIZATION Kevin Toovey Interim President of the Board David Hale Vice President-Elect Director of Sponsorship Christine Lyon Treasurer and Director
Melissa Celia Garcia Director of Outreach Directors at Large Anne Melle, Jeff Cornejo, Álex Baña, Ryan Lum, Chris Nichols, Juliana Lacey, Stephanie Bailey, Mitchell Maczulski PUBLICATION CREDITS Eric Bennett Managing Editor Teresa Griswold Project Manager, Design & Copy Editor Encore Media Group Publication Layout and Production Advertising Sales Northwest Polite Society Sponsorship Sales Nate Gowdy Photographer Marty Griswold Advisor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eric Bennett, Álex Baña, Calvin Elam, Melissa Garcia, DonnaTella Howe, Ryan Parish, Marty Griswold, Teresa Griswold, Victoria Liss, Alex Nugent, David Schmader, Doug Vitaly
© Nate Gowdy
Alex Nugent Secretary and Communications Director Editor-in-Chief, Seattle Pride Guide
FEATURED ON THE COVER (from top, left to right): Tyler Long, Christian Kaleo Raddler, Mike Andersen, Jediah McCourt, Keyada Espinosa, Maggie Nelson, Bryan McCarthy, Fezz Ignacio Reyes, Velicity V. Moore, Lucy McMillan, Daniel Ensley, Melissa Celia Garcia, Tiffany Louie Cover and Youth Spotlight photos by Nate Gowdy
The Parade Welcome from Seattle Pride............................................................................................ 4 Welcome from Mayor Ed Murray .................................................................................... 6 Welcome from Governor Jay Inslee ................................................................................ 8 Grand Marshals ............................................................................................................... 9 Parade Announcers ....................................................................................................... 13 Insider Tips .................................................................................................................... 35
Seattle Pride irec r Dine With Pride ............................................................................................................. 37
Paul Heppner President
Parade Route Map......................................................................................................... 38 We Are Pride Sponsors.................................................................................................. 40
Mike Hathaway Vice President
Event Listings ................................................................................................................ 42
Genay Genereux Accounting/Office Manager
The u ure
Brianna Bright, Joey Chapman, Ann Manning Account Executives Carol Yip Sales Coordinator Jonathan Shipley Ad Services Coordinator Sara Keats Marketing Manager Ryan Devlin Business Development Manager Susan Peterson Design & Production Director Shaun Swick Pride Guide Design and Production Lead Ana Alvira, Robin Kessler, Stevie VanBronkhorst Design and Production Artists 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 encoremediagroup.com ©Seattle Pride 2016
Pride
All Together Now by David Schmader .......................................................................... 14 Brooklyn Buenaventura: On Being True To Yourself ...................................................... 16 The Future of Pride: Keeping the Momentum .............................................................. 20 Youth Spotlight: Mike Andersen.................................................................................... 26 The Morning After: A Dialogue with Local Performers ................................................. 28 Youth Spotlight: Daniel Ensley ...................................................................................... 30 Youth Spotlight: Christian Raddler ................................................................................ 41 Youth Spotlight: Keyada Espinoza................................................................................. 52 Stuck at Square One...................................................................................................... 54 PrEP 101: What You Need to Know .............................................................................. 56 Youth Spotlight: Jediah McCourt .................................................................................. 58 The Evolution of Seattle Pride Bar Scene ...................................................................... 62 Quake Shakes Up Sports Culture .................................................................................. 67 Youth Spotlight: Melissa Garcia ..................................................................................... 71
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Welcome
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As we celebrate U.S.-wide Marriage Equality, granted to us by the United States Supreme Court in the past year, we must ask ourselves which direction the LGBTQ community is now going to take. Prides across the country are used as celebrations of our rights and as beacons to show direction in furthering full equality. Seattle Pride looks to the youth and people of color in the LGBTQ community to lead the new fights for full equality in areas such as employment, housing, and transgender rights. These two groups represent the theme of the 2016 Seattle Pride Parade, Volunteer Park Pride Festival, and Guide of “The Future of Pride.” The Future of Pride here in Seattle is assured by the groups represented throughout our community. The stories of the youth and people of color in this 2016 Seattle Pride Guide bring us hope and inspire us. For this year’s parade, Brooklyn Buenaventura has been selected as Seattle Pride’s inaugural Presidential Parade Marshal. She is a courageous transgender teen who reigned over her high school prom last year making national news when she was selected prom queen, and it is an honor that Brooklyn is reigning over our 2016 Seattle Pride Parade. This second guide takes a look at sports in the LGBTQ community through the
Quake rugby team; shares the stories of the youth featured on the cover; and has our first article by and for the Spanish speaking members of our community, a dialogue with local drag Queens, and many other great stories to show you how we celebrate Pride in Seattle! Some of what you will read in this guide are stories from Christian and his unique place as a femme boy and performer, Keyada’s story of her military service while being closeted, and Mike who wishes to create youth-inclusive programs in the Puget Sound area. These great people show that our community is diverse and each of us has his or her own defining story to tell. We also feature a story about honoring the past while charging into the future by celebrated author David Schmader. These stories and regular features like our events calendar fill this second Seattle Pride Guide for your continued enjoyment. The excitement for pride is tangible in Seattle year-round, but through the month of June our community thrives on the high of our strong advances in the continued fight for equality. Our city hosts the fourth-largest pride celebration in the nation, and while we persevere to fight for the Future of Pride, we must always honor our past and the steps taken to come as far as we have.
We are lucky to live in a city that embraced equality early-on, and as the articles in this Pride Guide strongly state over and over, our community along with our allies must continue to work to ensure equality for all. Seattle Pride’s goal is to showcase our community’s achievements and celebrate and support equality while promoting inclusiveness and unity through the parade – creating something we can all be proud of – a vibrant community that works together in positive ways. I am thrilled to be a part of the team that brings this 2016 Seattle Pride Guide to you and hope you find something within the pages that inspires you.
Alex Nugent Secretary, Communications Director of Seattle Pride Editor-in-Chief, Seattle Pride Guide
© Nate Gowdy
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June 2016
rie d Welcome to the 42nd annual Seattle Pride Parade! This year’s theme, The Future of Pride, focuses on the next generation of LGBTQ people and the hope and future they are creating. Pride has always been a time to reflect on our accomplishments, celebrate who we are, and focus on the work not yet complete. During last year’s Pride, we celebrated the Supreme Court of the United States affirming marriage equality rights across the entire country, ensuring that all families are protected under the law no matter which state they live in. And last year we also celebrated that the City of Seattle moved to achieve fair and safe access to restrooms and other places of public accommodation for transgender and gender-diverse residents and guests visiting Seattle. City staff, departments, and our police officers now have the resources to ensure they better serve the communities they work in, creating safe and inclusive places for all, regardless of one’s gender identity or expression.
While we have made significant strides, we are not finished. In our own state we faced extreme legislation designed to turn the clock back on protections for the LGBTQ community, with particularly disturbing attacks on transgender and gender-diverse people. These efforts are contrary to our values, and we will remain vigilant and continue to protect our hardfought victories. Our nation was founded on the principle that we are all equal. Every generation works to make that principle a reality. Together, we will continue to push forward to create a world where no one has to live in fear because of who they are or who they love. Again, welcome to Seattle Pride and thank you for celebrating with us. Sincerely,
Mayor Edward B. Murray City of Seattle
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 7
Welcome
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2016 Parade Grand Marshals Exemplify Community Spirit by Teresa Griswold The 2016 Parade Grand Marshals are involved in cultivating a healthy and connected community through service, support and celebration. From empowering marginalized populations to using the power of words and music for fostering acceptance to addressing issues of health and mental well-being to providing educational scholarships, the four grand marshals representing 2016 Seattle Pride stand out in their efforts to build a strong, vibrant community in Seattle. This year’s Seattle Pride Parade Grand Marshals include the Seattle Area Support Group, Dennis Coleman of the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus, and El Centro de la Raza. To honor their 45th year in service, the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle is the Special Grand Marshal of the parade. The 2016 Parade Grand Marshals collectively support our community in notable ways. El Centro de la Raza brings hope and support to all people of the world while Dennis Coleman conducts choirs that sing out messages of acceptance. Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center provides a place for peer support and understanding, and The Court of Seattle Organization raises funds for community organizations and individuals through splendid celebrations.
l e r de la a a The e er r Pe le ll ace As an organization that is “home” for all people who are interested in building a better world, El Centro de la Raza has a mission to build unity across all racial and economic sectors, to organize, empower and defend its most vulnerable and marginalized populations, and to bring justice, dignity, equality and freedom to all people of the world. Founded in 1972, El Centro de la Raza envisions a world free of oppression based on poverty, racism, sexism, sexual orientation and discrimination of any kind
that limits equal access to the resources that ensure a healthy and productive life for all people. Rooted in a group of diverse community members that led a peaceful and innovative three-month occupation of a local abandoned school building, El Centro de la Raza now responds to a broad range of community needs with 48 culturally and linguistically competent education and asset-building programs, child and youth programs, and emergency and human services, benefitting low-income children, youth, adults, and seniors. “El Centro de la Raza exemplifies the concept of serving the community,” Eric Bennett, former Seattle Pride President said. Last year, El Centro de la Raza served 15,085 individuals and 8,581 families by providing a unique blend of services and advocacy that resulted in a stronger, more effective future for all people in the community.
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As conductor of the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus for 35 years, Dennis Coleman has led the choruses to artistic excellence. With a combined singing membership exceeding that of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the choruses are one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most vibrant and successful music organizations. The choruses entertain and enlighten audiences with a vision to see a world that accepts and values its gay and lesbian citizens. “It is so fitting to have Dennis join in leading the 2016 parade. Dennis and the Seattle Men’s and Women’s Choruses are such an integral part of our community,” Bennett said. Active as a clinician and guest conductor throughout the U.S. and Canada, Coleman served six years on the national board of directors for Chorus
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America and was on the founding board of directors for the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses). Conducting the choir of First Congregational Church of Bellevue since 1981, the 45-voice choir toured Europe three times, sang in churches in New Zealand, and toured South Africa. Coleman commissioned and premiered choral works from many leading composers including Gian Carlo Menotti, Ned Rorem, Robert Moran, Conrad Susa, David Diamond, Robert Seeley, British composer Paul Patterson and Canadian Stephen Hatfield.
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Of Rage and Remembrance, a 15-minute work for male chorus, mezzo soprano, speakers and orchestra by composer John Corigliano, was premiered by Seattle Men’s Chorus in Seattle in 1991. A recording of this work and the companion Symphony 1, also called Of Rage and Remembrance, by the National Symphony under Leonard Slatkin was awarded the 1998 Grammy for Best Classical Album. Over the course of his career, Coleman has collaborated with a long list of acclaimed artists which include Maya Angelou, Frederica von Stade, Judith Martin (Miss Manners), Bobby McFerrin, Tatiana Troyanos, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Harvey Fierstein, Michael Feinstein, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Marni Nixon, Diane Schuur, Armistead Maupin, Lucy Lawless, Faith Prince, and Lily Tomlin. Coleman’s final Seattle-area concert ahead of his 2016 retirement will be the Seattle Men’s Chorus Summer Concert held during Pride Week.
Seattle rea Su r Gr u u i e er S SG Founded in 1984, originally as Seattle AIDS Support Group to provide peer emotional support services to those affected by the burgeoning AIDS epidemic, SASG offered a place to come together in loving support to cope with loss during a time of confusion, fear, and lack of knowledge of this disease. Today, SASG carries forward the power of peer support and understanding – the support that can only occur between people with shared experience and struggles.
Whether one-to-one or in peer groups, SASG addresses issues of mental well-being, chronic illness, personal development, addiction, and safe social interactions. “Their contribution to the health of our community makes them exemplary in the role of a parade Grand Marshal,” Bennett said.
The ur Seattle Or a i a The erial S erei ur Seattle The Ol ic a d ai ier ire The Court of Seattle Organization is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide funds and services to other non-profits within the LGBTQA community of Seattle and King County, Washington. The Court of Seattle annually provides educational scholarships to deserving high school or post high school undergraduates who reside in the state of Washington via the oldest LGBTQA-oriented scholarship program in the United States. The J.C./Lady Graytop Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1977 as a permanent memorial to Emperor J.C. and Empress Lady Graytop. Since its inception, the Court of Seattle has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to deserving students pursuing a post-secondary education. The Court holds fundraising events throughout the year which have come to be an essential part of the community. Held in grand tradition and pageantry, most notably the election and crowning of the Coronation of the Court of Seattle, the Court stands out as an organization that celebrates respect with ceremonial revelry. The Court of Seattle also elects or appoints the Imperial Princes and Princesses, the Mr. and Miss Gay Seattle, the King and Queen of Hearts and the Kings and Queens of the Seas. “As we celebrate the crowning of our 45th Empress, DonnaTella Howe, we are honored to be acknowledged as Honorary Grand Marshals of Seattle Pride! This is the first time in 45 years that the Court has been awarded this honor,” Barry Burns of the Court said. “We look forward to serving our community once again, this time as Deeds, and will continue to celebrate the Queen in us all far into the future.”
Experience Seattle Pride’s glorious return to where it all started, with a celebration of LGBTQ Arts, Performance, and Culture in Volunteer Park
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Not just today. Every day. Seattle Cancer Care Alliance brings together the leading research teams and cancer specialists of Fred Hutch, Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine. We couldn’t be prouder to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality since 2013.
Parade Announcers Westlake Stage at 4th & Pine aTella
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DonnaTella Howe is an active member of the LGBT community in her performances, from Bacon Strip to Rainbow Bingo and eXposed, to playing hostess for DonnaTella Vs Humanity at 500 East and events with Team Diva Real Estate including “Divas Take The Hill”. Having completed her reign as Miss Gay Seattle XLVIII in January 2013, she currently represents her community as the Czarina of Capitol Hill throughout Western Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Canada.
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Cherry Sur Bête (French for “Cherry on Beast”) is a high-concept, performance and makeup artist with a flair for post-modern drag. Her devotion to artistry and entertainment is rivaled only by a commitment to community, education and charity — making her a phenomenal choice to represent the Westlake stage at the 2016 Seattle Pride Parade. Cherry has raised funds for Seattle Counseling Services, Gay City, and Camp Ten Trees.
4th & Bell Stage True alli ell True Halliwell is living proof that no matter how dark your past is, you can still be secure, successful and happy. After serving in the U.S. Navy, True moved to Seattle and began focusing his passion for positive change in his new found gay community. True was awarded Mr. Gay Seattle XXXIII. As captain of Seattle Quake RFC, he is known as an enthusiastic rugby player who spends hours spreading positive energy, love and encouragement.
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Miss Kitty Baby is a Femme To Be Reckoned With. Timeless and elegant, Kitty Baby transports you back to the Golden Age of burlesque. She supports the burlesque and queer communities and the world at large and has supported various charities through her shows, marched in Seattle and New York Pride Parades, been a member of the support crew of Homo For The Holidays, and more as your femme “Homo-About-Town”. Photo by iROK Images.
L Corner Stage ea ar ar Ceasar Hart is best known for his male persona and impersonations. Named Mr. Neighbours Seattle 2011-2013, he is the only drag king to hold the title in the history of the pageant. He is a cast member of the longest running drag show in Washington state, “Marlayna Mcbride and The Jakettes Show” and has performed at benefits supporting Marriage Equality, Washington United for Marriage, Referendum 74, AIDS awareness, Planned Parenthood, and more.
Sheli a P r a Shelita Potroast is Seattle’s hungriest drag queen. After winning the first season of ArtHaus at Kremwerk night club as one of the founding members of The Haus of Keebler, Shelita has been spotted around town with her sisters either gorging on the gourmet offerings of the 7-11 hot case or hosting and performing at a variety of the amazing nightclubs and bars Seattle has to offer. She is thankful for all the support she has received from friends, family and the local community over the last few years.
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All Together Now The S a e i a d e e
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by David Schmader Greetings, lesbian, gay, bi and trans people of the Pacific Northwest and those who love them. I’m David Schmader, homosexual writer, here to speak to you about “the future of Pride” — a phrase that evokes virtual-reality parades with Martha Wash holograms and tea dances on the moon. But beyond fantastic speculation, mapping the future demands a clear assessment of the present. What does the current state of the LGBT union look like? As always, the answer depends on where you look. On the sunny side of the street lie the hard-earned trappings of LGBT progress and enlightenment: the lesbian mayors and trans candidates and White Houses lit up like rainbows for marriage equality; the casual boundary-smashing of TV shows like Empire and Transparent and The Fosters; the mainstreaming of the battle for LGBT rights, with artists like Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam refusing to perform in states with transphobic laws; the HIV stopped in its tracks by Truvada. And in the strip of dank shade running along the gutter, the typical threats fester, proliferating in sometimes horrifying new ways. The “religious freedom” battles, with their imperiled wedding cakes and conscientious-objector photographers,
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get the majority of the attention, which only adds to the horror of the epidemic of deadly violence against trans women or the staggering rates of HIV/AIDS in African-American communities. And so we find ourselves in a place similar to most years since the dawn of the new century: awash in progress that would have blown the minds of our LGBT forebears, while struggling through a fresh batch of challenges that threaten our very existence. As always, the questions remain: How do we celebrate our accomplishments without losing sight of the work yet to be done? How do we honor the past while charging into the future? Let’s start with honoring the past, a mandatory task for all queers, and one that requires more than just knowing the names Sappho, Stonewall, and Harvey Milk. It requires an imaginative plunge into the past. Our recent decade has brought such a snowballing accumulation of gains and changes in perception that it’s sometimes hard to remember how long it took to just get our foot in the door, and how much resistance met every step. As LGBT activist and historian Vito Russo said in the ’70s, “Things they say will take ten years take 100 years.” But as we’ve seen over the past decade and a half, once the “queers are people, too” concept takes hold in a large enough portion of the populace, things change fast, and it’s been thrilling to watch our straight allies progress from “maybe homosexuality isn’t an illness” to “maybe LGBT relationships are pretty much like straight relationships” to “maybe I should cancel the expansion of my company to a state that legislates discrimination against trans people.” In just under four decades, the U.S. changed
e d ur el e ear i ce he da ce ur a a h i r re l he i d ur G ru li hr u h a re h ha hrea e ur er e i 14 Seattle PRIDE Guide
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from a nation where “most Americans are repelled by the mere notion of homosexuality” (as Mike Wallace put in 1967’s CBS Reports: The Homosexuals) to one where even evangelical Christians are coming around to the idea that maybe not all same-sex relationships are a sin. Amazing, yes, but also jarring, especially for those who experienced firsthand the extensive, agonizing struggle to claim the first few inches of progress that made our current age of relative enlightenment possible. Following the good ideas of others in an increasingly welcoming society is easy compared to being a pioneer in a world that denies your existence, and we should never forget or fail to appreciate the heroic deeds of those who fought back first and made all our other fights possible. That said, it’s important to not be so paralyzed with gratitude over LGBT gains that you stop pushing forward. I got a bracing lesson in this fact while watching The OUT 100, a collection of documentary profiles of notable LGBTers, from Janet Mock to Jake Shears. Another subject was Lupe Valdez, the lesbian sheriff of Dallas County, Texas, who told a story of being accosted on a plane by a woman who tearfully told Valdez of her own gay child and gushed about how validating Valdez’s election had been to her son. Ten or fifteen years ago, that’s where the story would’ve ended, perhaps with a swell of emotional music to underscore the heartwarming point. But in 2013’s The OUT 100, Valdez was allowed to continue into itchier territory. “I wanted to scream,” says Valdez, bemoaning the need for elections to change minds. “Why can’t we be validated for being human?” As Valdez made clear, the future of Pride involves balancing gratitude for what we have with an unapologetic hunger for more, until we have achieved full LGBT equality. But what does “full LGBT equality” mean? A significant percentage of the LGBT community is female, and from wage inequality to assaults on their legal freedoms, women remain under attack. Lots of sexual minorities are also racial minorities: Does the gay community only care about these community members’ gay rights, or all their basic rights?
© Nate Gowdy
As we chanted in rhythmic unison in the ’90s, “Gay rights are human rights,” and two decades later, I’d like to point out the inverse is also true. The proper response to contemporary gay-rights gains is not for us to pull up stakes as soon as mainstreamy gays get theirs. The proper response is to take our knowledge and experience about what it means to be an outsider and use it to help other minorities fight for more. Clearly trans issues should have a central role in the future of Pride. From the epidemic of deadly violence to predatory legislative attacks on their basic right to exist, the T in the LGBT community are experiencing a level of aggression no decent person can ignore. Then there’s the aforementioned HIV/ AIDS crisis in the African-American community. “Of the more than 1 million people in the U.S. infected with HIV, nearly half are black men, women and children — even though blacks make up
about 13 percent of the population,” reports NPR. “AIDS is the primary killer of African-Americans ages 19 to 44, and the mortality rate is 10 times higher for black Americans than for whites.” Addressing this problem doesn’t mean expanding available services — available services aren’t working. It’s time to fight and do what it takes to figure this out. We’ve done this before. Even if we don’t know exactly how to do this, we know how to do this. Finally, having devoted a fair amount of words to urging the younger generation to respect their elders, I would now like to urge the elder generation to respect the young, who have the energy and idealism to get angry in ways many of us older people simply cannot, and in ways that are crucial to pushing the LGBT movement forward. Full speed ahead.
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David Schmader is an essayist, theater artist and author of the book Weed: The User’s Guide, available everywhere now.
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Brooklyn Buenaventura: On Being True to Yourself Interview by Marty Griswold
In 2015, transgender teen Brooklyn Buenaventura made national headlines when she was chosen as prom queen of her high school in Renton, Washington. A year has passed since she wore her sparkly crown, and now she shares her thoughts on her very personal journey on being true to herself. She tells us what she’s been up to, discusses her hopes and dreams, and reveals some candid details about her young siblings’ quizzical responses to her transition to a woman. It’s been nearly a year since you were named prom queen at Renton High School and made the national news. How has your life changed between then and now? Not to sound cocky or ignorant but I feel “famous”. Winning prom queen was important for me (don’t get me wrong), but what it signifies to me the most is the votes and the appreciation that I got. From the first day of high school until the end of senior year so much respect and acceptance happened, not just for me but for the fellow LGBT people in my school. Can you catch us up on what you are up to today? I am currently working for an airline called British Airways. I took a year off after graduating, but I will be going back to school this fall season to study hospitality and tourism so I can pursue my dream of becoming a flight attendant. In terms of active work in the LGBT community, I’ve been invited to some screenings and Q&A panels as well as been in a movie (that I just finished filming) in regards to the life of what trans people go through in terms of acceptance and somewhat of survival. I’m sure you have heard this time and again, yet it never hurts to say it again – your bravery has been an inspiration. How difficult was it to find the strength to be true to yourself at such an early stage in your life? I never really thought that I was brave because when Brooklyn was born in high school, I was always scared to dress up as a girl. I was scared to wear any women-branded products, so I started off slowly. I was then told by my peers
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and teachers that the only way to survive acceptance was to be yourself. So from then onwards, that’s what I’ve been doing – not giving a f*ck about what people think of you because at the end of the day, it’s all about you.
Yes, absolutely. I’ve gotten some pretty harsh comments especially when King5 published the article on Facebook. But I knew reading the negative comments would put me down. So I focused on the success that I had achieved.
From the footage and interviews that followed your crowning, it appeared you had a great deal of support from your family, friends and classmates. How important was this to you embracing your true self?
What has been the most difficult part of your journey – to date?
The amazing support system that I had was paramount especially when I was first accepting myself. Having that support meant so much because it made me feel that I wasn’t alone in this journey and this allowed me to transition faster. Has there been any backlash from the media attention you received and, if so, how have you addressed it?
The most difficult part of my journey is being able to explain who I am to people who thought the opposite. For example, my siblings, who are 5 years old and 8 years old, would ask me why I’m wearing makeup and why I dress up like a girl. I would simply explain to them “because that’s who I am”, then we would change the subject. Also, since I have not legally changed my name, it’s embarrassing for me to tell people in the workforce (higher authorities and TSA) my real name. But that will soon change – by the end of this summer season.
P at H ublic H arb orv ealth S iew T Me D Clin dic al C ic ent er
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Outside of your “crowning achievement”, what have you achieved that you never thought possible?
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I have achieved my dream of working in the airline industry – which has been my dream ever since I was a little girl. Being able to work in the industry as Brooklyn and being surrounded by people who are very accepting is beyond what I thought possible. Also, I am constantly getting invited to LGBT events, and I am slowly learning what goes on around the community. It is very fulfilling because I was never into learning what my community goes through, but now I feel enlightened and ready to make a change! The past few years have been an incredible time in LGBT history – from gay marriage to the White House lit up in rainbow spotlights to the crowning of transgender teens like yourself – yet discrimination bills are running rampant across the nation. How important is it to you to continue sharing your story and what impact do you hope it will have in building acceptance in the world? By continuing to share stories of bravery and acceptance, fellow family members of the LGBT people will learn to accept what is right and just [in place of] not being able to relate or pointing out what the Bible says in regards to homosexuality or what the law requires its citizens to do when in public and having to “act” right. My wish is to build something that should be recognized and be normal. Will you be attending Seattle Pride in 2016? Uhm, duh! That’s shouldn’t even be a question. It’s a ritual since last year. This year Seattle Pride’s theme is “The Future of Pride”. What is your hope for the future? My hope for the future is for people to see US or whomever regardless of their sexuality, disability, whatever it may be, as normal.
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Look for Brooklyn Buenaventura in this year’s Seattle Pride Parade. We are thrilled that she is presiding as our Presidential Parade Marshal.
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 19
The Future of Pride: Keeping the Momentum by Doug Vitaly
June 26th, 2015 was a historic day for the LGBTQI* community as the sweat, blood and tears of decades of organizing and activism culminated into a successive victory. I can remember myself feeling completely overwhelmed at hearing the Supreme Court decision and almost believing that it couldn’t be true – but it was. What is also true is that the Supreme Court Justices who voted, whether in favor or not, were only a small part of the struggle for our community achieving legally recognized marriage equality. The praise should be reserved for those in our community who dedicated their lives, and more often than not, their safety and security at the hands of those upholding society. If it were not for the thousands of brave people mobilizing themselves and their community to fight towards liberation, then the prospect of having the state vote upon this matter would have never happened.
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At this time, our community nationally has enjoyed almost an entire year of benefits that heterosexual couples do and while this is something to be appreciated and enjoyed, it is now more important than ever to keep the fight going against LGBTQI* oppression and bigotry. It is almost daily we hear news about some backwards, regressive politician working to undermine the gains of LGBTQI* people. Furthermore, attacks against Trans* people as they grow more visible in our society are sky-rocketing, and homeless LGBTQI* youth still comprise an enormous demographic of the homeless population.
Lesbian Task Force demonstrate the ways in which our community must continue the fight for liberation. According to their sample of 6,450, Trans* people experience higher rates of poverty at 15 percent, which is double that of the general population. Additionally, significant housing instability affected this community where 19 percent were either presently or previously homeless, and another 26 percent were forced to seek temporary living arrangements. Much of this is contingent on the staggeringly high rates of job discrimination, where 47 percent stated they were fired or denied promotion because of their identity.
All this in addition to the statistics found by National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and
At the forefront of many struggles against marginalization and discrimination are youth and particularly youth of color
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who hold within them some of the most powerful and revolutionary fervor. For much of the history of our community, it has been youth who helped organize and lead the fight against anti-LGBTQI* bigotry, and it is no different today. I spoke with two youth regarding their perceptions of where our community will be in the future, specifically the next 10 years, and what they shared was powerful.
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Ryannah is a Trans* woman who has been in Seattle for nine months and works in policy writing to make conditions better for her community. Ryannah gave her thoughts on where the future of the LGBTQI* community will go by saying “the youth are our future, and we need to listen to them. I see Queer and Trans* youth of color taking and creating their own leadership roles to create dialogue and eventually build a movement where people of color can lead our community in Seattle.� She added to this by saying that she hopes people will continue to grow in their desire to understand the systems of oppression and ways in which
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 23
those in the LGBTQI* community are further marginalized and how they intersect. She also said that if we are to truly care for and want to help all members of our community, we must learn and understand their struggles, echoing something another youth shared.
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Jackie is a Trans* woman who first came to Seattle in 2010 with a strong background in the arts, as well as music. On the topic of where she sees the LGBTQI* future going she stated, “I see our community working to take and make power to uplift the voices of the most marginalized and building more of a platform for their voices to be heard. Just like Ryannah said, I hope to see people
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take the initiative on learning what our struggles are and how they can end perpetuating them. I think that this is where the future is heading, and I cannot wait to see where we are in 10 years”. Both Ryannah and Jackie felt optimistic about the future of our community and the ways in which conditions will improve. What is true is the youth are feeling hopeful and positive on how their future will be and are ready to continue fighting for equality just as their predecessors have. If we are willing to listen to the youth in our community while educating ourselves on their struggle, the possibilities will be endless on where the LGBTQI* community will go from here. Doug Vitaly is a student at Seattle University, as well as Sister Mary Stonewallcraft of the Sisters of the Mother House of Washington.
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by society’s expectations of LGBTQ members? Would you like to change those stereotypes, and if so, what views would you like society to take on in the future?
Name: Mike Andersen Age: 23 Profession: Teen and Youth Sports Director for the YMCA and a Grad Student Studying Education What is your identity/affiliation with the LGBTQ community? I identify as a bisexual man. Do you have a strong identity within the community? I do not have a strong identity within the community. I am Black, Native American, White, low income, first generation, and gay, yet I have never let these factors define fully who I am. I understand that because of these identities I am who I am and they contribute to my cultural identity. I will happily speak about my many different identities and defend them as well. For example, I volunteered a lot with Washington United for Marriage when we were fighting for same-sex marriage and I also marched with the Black Lives Matter movement. I believe that living my life to the fullest and pursuing my passions and dreams is how I display my identities; simply by being me. How do you feel you stand among the archetypes/stereotypes of other community members? Would you say you fit well within the boxes set
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I feel as though I don’t fit into the stereotypes of other community members which I have found difficult for me at times. I have an offensive lineman type build, and I’m Black, Native American and White. I’m not a skinny or ripped white gay man which I find I get pushed aside when I’m in the gay community. I like to break stereotypes and show people that I’m not the stereotype that they see on TV. The one place in the gay community that I feel accepted is in the Bear community. Within the Bear community there are men who look like me and share the same interests as I do. Honestly, I would like society to know that LGBT individuals come from different walks of life, and they don’t just look and sound like what is shown on TV.
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i ea ei r a hi hi ha G T ri h a d cie al ie are cha i ra idl u i her ar he c u r uch a d S uh hi i he ca e ~ As the millennial generation of the LGBTQ community, where do you see the future of the community headed? I definitely think that in the future we will see more people coming out, and it won’t be as taboo. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. It is easy, being
from Washington, to think that LGBT rights and societal views are changing rapidly, but in other parts of the country such as down South, this is not the case. One of the biggest ways that I believe will help create more societal acceptance is through the media. Right now what we see on TV and in movies about gay men is that they are the comedic relief. They are generally white males who are fit. If they aren’t comedic relief, then they are fit and sexually promiscuous. I wish that media portrayed different types of gay
as the Teen and Youth Sports Director. Our goal has been to create inclusive programs where teens can explore their passions and feel a sense of love and belonging. I have been in this position since the end of January 2016 and within a month the number of teens in the programs doubled. Even though we are not directly reaching out to LGBT youth at the moment, I view this as my personal outreach because we are trying to create inclusive programming. Maybe in the future we will see programs that directly serve LGBT youth, but at the moment we are focused on all teens. As a millennial, have you personally seen progression from society in accepting LGBTQ individuals?
men in the media. This would help those who are questioning their sexuality realize that they are represented within the community. Are you actively involved in the community? I am not actively involved in the community at the moment. I used to be involved in HERO at Gonzaga University which was our gay-straight alliance. I helped with awareness events and even served as a campus captain for Referendum 74. At the moment, I am working for the YMCA
As a millennial I have definitely seen progression in society as a whole. Many individuals and companies have become more accepting of LGBT individuals. For example, I work for the YMCA, and the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap counties passed a non-discrimination policy in January which mostly addresses non-discrimination in locker rooms for transgender people. They are putting a couple million dollars into renovating the locker rooms at their nine branches to make sure that transgender people feel safe and secure. The YMCA lost members and large donors; however, they did what they believed was right by including all people. This is a very big step for a Christian organization, and I am proud to say that I work for them.
Seattle PRIDE Guide 27
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The Morning After: a Dialogue with Local Performers By Alex Nugent Taking on the opportunity of chatting with drag queens and local performers after closing time sounded like an instant ticket to a couple of hours of hilarity and spontaneous conversation. I volunteered for the article without hesitation, mentally preparing myself for the entertainment. I reached out to DonnaTella Howe and was thrilled when she said she would be interested in getting a group together for a post-show interview.
We met around 1:30 a.m. at Glo’s Cafe on Olive Way, where they graciously gave us two of their valuable tables for our antics over the next two hours. DonnaTella, myself, and Kevin Toovey of Seattle Pride made ourselves comfortable and set up the recorder while waiting for the rest of our group to join us. Abbey Roads was the next to arrive, quickly followed by Miss Kitty Baby, a burlesque performer, and Yani Robinson, and with the addition of Shelita Potroast and The Lady B, I felt confident such an incredible group of performers would
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give the entertaining conversation I was expecting. What transpired instead was a dialogue far exceeding, and completely different from, my original expectations. The conversation quickly became a focus on the future — echoing the theme of the 2016 Seattle Pride Parade which is “The Future of Pride.” Yani Robinson expressed concern for the
safety of Capitol Hill, citing the rise in hate crimes in recent years. “We need more than cosmetic fixes. Expressing solidarity with the community through rainbow crosswalks and the ‘safe place’ program isn’t enough. What we need is real action to stop the violence,” Robinson said. From there, we talked about how crucial the need for further equality was. The most crucial step in the fight against the hate crimes on the Hill is to continue changing minds and gaining acceptance for all people within the LGBTQ+
Later in the night, The Lady B shared similar sentiment and fear for the future of the hate crimes, specifically regarding both trans individuals and people of color. “Marriage equality is an incredible achievement, but it is so far from enough in the fight for equal rights,” The Lady B said. Racism within the community is a prevalent fear, and the community should also be stepping up to fight for our transgender brothers and sisters. We all whole-heartedly agreed that more needed to be done, and that with the victory of marriage equality, we should continue on to gain victories in equal rights and further acceptance of transgender
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Since I was sitting at a table full of local performers, I also wanted to address the future of performance within the LGBTQ community and Capitol Hill. Miss Kitty Baby, a local burlesque performer, had no fear that shows would continue to flourish. Abbey Roads and Shelita Potroast agreed. Both are members of Haus of Keebler, a local, new group of © Nate Gowdy drag queens, helping to keep the future of drag performance very much alive. We spoke about Kremwerk, and the gay bars and clubs in Capitol Hill staying active and relevant. The nightlife is changing (see DonnaTella’s article in the guide for a further inside view!) on the Hill, as well as the shows and forms of expression and performing arts within the community, but there is certainly no end in sight, here.
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community — and our next fight should be focusing on the rights for transgender people.
I was prepared for an evening following the stereotypes of drag queens — loud, full of jokes, and very “Drag Race”, catching them right off the high of their shows. The ability to sit and talk about pertinent issues within the community, brainstorming ways to create more inclusion, more equality, and more safety in Seattle (and the nation, and world-wide), and see where the future of the nightlife and self-expression among performance, which is such a key part of the LGBTQIA+ history, was more than I could have asked for. Our “round table” has re-motivated my personal drive to continue the fight for equality, as well as promote the importance of our local performers who fight for self-expression on a daily basis. Alex Nugent is the Secretary of the Seattle Pride board of directors, as well as the editor-in-chief of the 2016 Seattle Pride Guide.
Seattle PRIDE Guide 29
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gotten older I have realized that my sexuality is fluid and not concrete. Do you have a strong identity within the community?
Name: Daniel Ensley Age: 19 Profession: Full Time Student doing a Work Study for the College Art Department and serving as Student Ambassador for the Admissions and Outreach Department What is your identity/affiliation with the LGBTQ community? I identify as Daniel within the LGBTQ+ community. I am also a Transgender man who doesn’t label my sexuality; as I’ve
Being transgender is only one part of who I am today, but it is a very important part. I am a kind, caring, loving, intelligent, sexy, and funny man; and I am trans. I am proud to be trans in the same way I am proud of every other part of the man I am becoming. As a result, I take great pride in being transgender. How do you feel you stand among the archetypes/stereotypes of other community members? Would you say you fit well within the boxes set by society’s expectations of LGBTQ members? Would you like to change those stereotypes, and if so, what views would you like society to take on in the future? I am trans, but I’m not angry all the time. I am trans and people can’t tell unless I tell them. I am trans, and I am a human. I used to struggle with trying to be “man enough” until I realized there isn’t one
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way to be a man, or even one way to be a trans man. I would like to see society accept that people are different and that is what makes us all amazing. I want people to be able to be who they are without having to question if they are man enough or woman enough or anything enough; because they are human beings and that is enough.
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I hope in the future that society will be even more accepting so that people can live as their true selves openly. What that looks like I am uncertain, although it would be nice to live in a society where your gender and sexuality is not assumed because being something other than the “norm” is so accepted. I look forward to seeing the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community grow and being a part of whatever that may look like.
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Are you actively involved in the community? As a senior in high school I implemented a Gay-Straight Alliance, and I am currently the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Grays Harbor College. Through the GSA, I work with my members to promote education, advocacy, and support for the LGBTQ+ community. We hosted a Transgender Awareness Week at the college in which we brought in a national speaker to talk on transgender issues and their journey as well as having a candlelight vigil for those who had lost their lives to transphobic violence. In February, we held our sixth annual Drag Show to fund raise for the two $2,000 scholarships we offer to students; we successfully raised over $2,500. In my future, I plan to be very active within the community and working to promote more education and acceptance.
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As a millennial, have you personally seen progression from society in accepting LGBTQ individuals? I have personally seen progression in the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in my life. When I first came out as a lesbian, no one had ever come out at my school. When I came out as transgender I was the first trans person most people had ever knowingly met in my town, and we didn’t even have a GSA until 2015. However, since I have graduated, more and more individuals feel comfortable enough and safe enough to come out, and to me that is progress. In addition, when I tell people I am trans, I receive positive reactions and have very rarely been met with hate or non-acceptance. Progress is being made; we still have a long journey ahead but we are getting there.
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 33
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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 26th for the 42nd annual Seattle Pride Parade!
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Before you hit the streets, hit the eats with BRUNCH WITH PRIDE and be sure you have something in your stomach before the mimosas and sunshine lay into you. Check out the Seattle Pride Parade
map for restaurants serving brunch near the parade route and visit dinewithpride. com to make a reservation before or after the parade! Plan ahead. Space is limited! The best part? You don’t have to stress about getting a good viewing spot for the parade, because you’ll be close to the parade route.
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The Parade officially starts at 11:00 a.m. 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 150 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.
Seattle PRIDE Guide 35
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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. DonnaTella and Cherry Sur Bête will rule Westlake Park (4th Avenue & Pine Street), 4th Avenue and Bell Street will be True Halliwell and Miss Kitty Baby’s sweet spot, and Ceasar Hart and his pal Shelita Potroast hold spotlight at 4th Avenue and Denny Way.
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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 main stage 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!
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Did you know that Seattle Pride Parade is one of the top four 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.
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[Editor’s note: Article updated by Seattle Pride for 2016.]
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WE ARE PRIDE
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I know I stand WITH the stereotypes in the LGTBQ community in aspects to mannerisms, flamboyance, etc. As far as society’s expectations for the LGBTQ community, I don’t know if I fit into the box society has set, nor do I care to. I’d rather eliminate the stereotypes towards this community than change them, but in the meantime I’d just like to be a part of the reason society looks at our community and says, “They’re just people, no more, no less. Just people.”
Name: Christian Raddler Age: 26 Profession: Professional Dancer What is your identity/affiliation with the LGBTQ community? I consider myself an out and proud gay man. For a short time I didn’t want to label myself, whereas now it’s not about labeling; I guess it just makes for an easier answer should anyone ask. Do you have a strong identity within the community? Even though me being gay is more obvious than almost anything else about me, I consider my sexuality both defining of who I am today — given my struggles and trials growing up — but also not something I let stop me from living a comfortable life. There are definitely times I question my choices and the outcomes that are to follow due to my sexuality, but other than that it’s just a part of me. How do you feel you stand among the archetypes/stereotypes of other community members? Would you say you fit well within the boxes set by society’s expectations of LGBTQ members? Would you like to change those stereotypes, and if so, what views would you like society to take on in the future?
As the millennial generation of the LGBTQ community, where do you see the future of the community headed? I have a feeling there will be less closets in the future. I’m not sure about people aligning themselves as queer, but definitely a rise in numbers of allies.
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Are you actively involved in the community?
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Admittedly I’m not. I spend so much time working that when I have a day off from work I’m usually resting at home or spending time with my friends and/ or family. I have attended a few events and, if time and opportunity were kind enough, I’d definitely get involved. As a millennial, have you personally seen progression from society in accepting LGBTQ individuals? Yeah, most definitely. The simple fact that gay people can get married is evident enough. There’s still some progress to be made, but you gotta take baby steps. It can’t, and won’t, happen overnight.
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 41
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© Nate Gowdy
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Fourth annual Pride Rainbow Hop kicks of Pride month with a family-friendly day of fun. Events and activities throughout the day focusing on diversity and fun from face painting to rainbow sidewalk art. Kick off at 10:30 AM with Drag Queen Story Time with Sparkle Leigh at the Greenwood Library. Events throughout the neighborhood with Not-Its! concert at Naked City Brewery from 1 – 1:30 PM, Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM, FREE, all ages, phinneycenter.org
SATURDAY, JUNE 11 VOLUNTEER PARK PRIDE FESTIVAL Experience Seattle Pride’s glorious return to where it all started, with a celebration of LGBTQ arts, performance, and culture at Volunteer Park in Pioneer Square. There will be live music, food trucks, a beer garden, artist booths, lawn games and more. Performances by Hell’s Belles, Selene Vigil et Amicis, Boyfriends and Aeon Fux. Volunteer Park, 1247 15th Ave E, 12:00 – 7:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepride.org
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Pride Events THURSDAY, JUNE 9 CAPITOL HILL ART WALK (QUEER EDITION) An engaging and fun way for enthusiastic attendees, businesses, and artists to connect and celebrate the vibrant, artsy neighborhood of Capitol Hill during Pride Month. Capitol Hill, 6:00 PM, FREE, all ages, capitolhillartwalk.com
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, JUNE 15 – 19 TWIST OF PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL PrideFest and Three Dollar Bill Cinema present the best of last year’s TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival and will include some new films as well. seattlepridefest.org/filmfest/
FRIDAY, JUNE 17 THEATRESPORTS COMEDY IMPROV: PRIDE NIGHT Seattle’s longest-running show, Unexpected Productions’ Theatresports is among the best improv the Northwest has to offer. At Theatresports, teams of improvisational actors use their quick wits to create scenes on the spot, based entirely on audience suggestions. It is a comedy death match. Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 10:30 AM, $15 but $12 with promo code PRIDE, PG13, unexpectedproductions.org
SATURDAY, JUNE 18 SEATTLE WOMEN’S PRIDE Seattle Women’s Pride is THE Pride party for lesbians (and their friends) in Seattle! Dana Goldberg - one of Curve magazine’s “Top Five Funniest Lesbians in America” — is headlining this year’s event. Q Nightclub, 1426 Broadway, General Admission $30, VIP $45, 21+, seattlewomenspride.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 FLAMINGO Inspired by all-time favorite summer hits — such as Cry Baby, Grease, and Hairspray, Flamingo transforms Can Can’s intimate theatre into a tropical oasis where classic beauty, comedy and provocative entertainment mesmerize dinner guests five nights a week. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St, Early
shows 18+, late shows 21+, purchase tickets at thecancan.com
KITCHEN SESSIONS: INSPIRING BEAUTY Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas and Bellevue Arts Museum bring you a night of performances surrounding themes of beauty, style, and fashion. Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA, 6:30 – 8:00 PM, $10/ BAM/CDForum Members, $15/nonmembers, 16+, cdforum.org & bellevuearts.org
THURSDAY, JUNE 23 FLAMINGO Inspired by all-time favorite summer hits — such as Cry Baby, Grease, and Hairspray, Flamingo transforms Can Can’s intimate theatre into a tropical oasis where classic beauty, comedy and provocative entertainment mesmerize dinner guests five nights a week. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St, Early shows 18+, late shows 21+, purchase tickets at thecancan.com
JUNK YARD Get ready babes and boys: it’s time for Junk Yard, Can Can’s all-star all-male revue! True masculine magic happens when these gentlemen take the stage - so come out and enjoy an evening of food, drink, and Seattle’s hottest hunks strutting their stuff. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St, 9:30 PM, 21+, purchase tickets at thecancan.com
CATHY DISCO! Cathedral Queens: Cucci Binaca + Amoania; Stranger Disco DJs: Vera Rubin, Stormy Roxx, Sappho; Installations and Visual Arts by: Dickey Pete, Katey Pants, and Night Craig, Photography: MYKLFSTR; Vibes: Every Queer That’s Ever Existed. Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison St, 9:00 PM, $12, 21+, chopsuey.com
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
STORM VS SUN 7PM | KEYARENA
EXPOSED - A NIGHT OF STANDUP COMEDY What happens when some of the best Stand-up Comics come head to head with some of the fiercest Drag Queens of the Pacific Northwest? You will be Exposed to some of the brightest stars of the LGBT Community! Join these stellar
Seattle PRIDE Guide 43
Local performers as they combine forces to raise money for Bailey-Boushay House, the nation’s first HIV/AIDS hospice. Rendezvous’ Jewelbox Theater, 2322 2nd Ave, Doors open at 7:00 PM, Show 8:00 – 10:00 PM, General Seating $20, 21+, therendezvous.rocks
FRIDAY, JUNE 24 TRANS PRIDE SEATTLE 4th Annual Trans Pride Seattle! The Trans Pride March assembles at 5:00 PM and steps off at 6:00 PM at a Capitol Hill location (TBA). Followed by a celebration in Cal Anderson Park from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM featuring speakers Kris Hayashi, Gabriel Foster, and more! transprideseattle.org
ENCORE! CONCERT Celebrate the end of an era with an emotional and uplifting final concert under the baton of incomparable artistic director, Dennis Coleman. Highlighting the iconic moments of the Choruses’ influence on the landscape of Seattle, the performance will also look ahead to an exciting new future. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 8:00 PM, $25 – $75, all ages, seattlechoruses.org
WILD ROSE PRIDE 2016 Kick off Pride Wildrose style with DJ RickiLeigh and more to be announced. There’ll be a Booty Shakin’ contest with cash prizes. The Wildrose Bar, 1021 Pike St, $2 OFF w/ June 24 Seattle Storm Ticket, 21+, thewildrosebar.com
LOOK BALL PRIDE EDITION
JUN 9 – AUG 28 VISITSAM.ORG/GRAPHICMASTERS The exhibition is organized by the Seattle Art Museum. Special exhibitions at SAM are made possible by donors to
Los Caprichos: El sueño de la razon produce monstruos. (The sleep of reason produces monsters.) (detail), 1799, Francisco Goya, Spanish, 1746–1828, etching and aquatint, 8 3/8 x 5 7/8 in. Private Collection, Photo: Elizabeth Mann.
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Presenting Sponsors
Special thanks to Fundación ICO
The Look Ball is a competition runway show with featured performances that focus on mental health, wellness, and celebration of gender diversity. Up to $1500 in cash prizes. Performances by Ursula Major, Eva Androgyny, Briq House, Dani Tirrell, Butylene O’Kipple, Brooks Corbeaux, Kara Sutra, Verbal Oasis, The Lady B, Cherry Sur Bete, & Miss Kitty Baby with featured artist John Criscitello. Don’t miss this event. It’s a fundraiser for Seattle Counseling Services and Ingersoll Gender Center presented by Maison de la Bete & Kremwerk. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Ave, 10:00 PM, $20, 21+, kremwerk.com
Pride Events WHITE PARTY SEATTLE Go Crazy, run free, be wild at the White Party. Live performances on the decks headlining DJ CITIZEN JANE and headlining artist DEV. White attire encouraged but not required. The Baltic Room, 1207 Pine St, 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM, General Admission $25, VIP $55, 21+, whitepartyseattle.com
FLAMINGO Inspired by all-time favorite summer hits — such as Cry Baby, Grease, and Hairspray, Flamingo transforms Can Can’s intimate theatre into a tropical oasis where classic beauty, comedy and provocative entertainment mesmerize dinner guests five nights a week. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St. Additional show on Friday (6/24) at 9:30 PM. Early shows 18+, late shows 21+. Purchase tickets at thecancan.com
BEARRACUDA SEATTLE Kick off Pride with HOT GO-GOs, back at their original home for one night! DJ MVery with special guest DJ: Matt Consola (San Francisco) and Matt Stands. Lights by Pacific NW Laser, Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison, Doors at 9:00 PM, $10, 21+, bearracuda.com
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THE MIDNIGHT SHOW Every Friday and Saturday night, get a taste of the best late-night decadence at Can Can. Enjoy a full kitchen and bar, while Can Can’s in-house company performs new and original choreography for your viewing pleasure in The Midnight Show. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St, 12:00 AM, 21+, purchase tickets at thecancan.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 25 PRIDEFEST CAPITOL HILL Share your love at PrideFest Capitol Hill. Event has two stages — one with family and all ages programming and a DJ stage and a beer garden for the 21+ crowd. Family events include popcorn, ice cream & hot dogs galore; and don’t miss drag queen story time, bounce houses, Diverse Harmony & more! Cal Anderson Park, 1635 11th Ave, 1:00 – 8:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepridefest.org
Every Queer Thing to Do StrangerThingsToDo.com Seattle’s Comprehensive Event Calendar Seattle PRIDE Guide 45
Local
© Nate Gowdy
LAMBERT HOUSE PRIDE DROP-IN
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Events for youth, led by youth including games and a movie. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave, 4:00 – 9:00 PM, Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM, FREE, ages 11 – 22, lamberthouse.com
SEATTLE DYKE MARCH AND RALLY Incredible performers, inspiring speakers, and a space that highlights, celebrates, and embraces our queer women identified community! Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, 5:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattledykemarch.com
SLUMBER PARTY AT THE LAMBERT HOUSE An adult-chaperoned slumber party for youth ages 14 through 22 at the Lambert House. The overnight is available only to youth that will have attended Lambert House at least two times prior to June 25 and have gone through an orientation. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave, 9:00 PM Saturday – 9:00 AM Sunday, lamberthouse.com
MAY 24 — JUNE 19
STICK FLYWEDDING BAND BY LYDIA R. DIAMOND
TWC @ SEATTLE SOUNDERS PRIDE MATCH
Plus
Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White, a tribute to playwright Adrienne Kennedy & more!
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INTIMAN.ORG 46 Seattle PRIDE Guide
TWC is headed to the Sounders’ game on Pride Saturday, and you’re invited. Join their queer cheering section for an afternoon of rowdy fun as they watch the home team take on New York City FC. There’s a pre-party at a nearby spot before hitting the stands to show NYC how SEA does it. CenturyLink Field, 800 Occidental Ave S, 2:00 PM, $38, 21+, thewelcomingcommittee.com
Pride Events ENCORE! CONCERT Celebrate the end of an era with an emotional and uplifting final concert under the baton of incomparable artistic director, Dennis Coleman. Highlighting the iconic moments of the Choruses’ influence on the landscape of Seattle, the performance will also look ahead to an exciting new future. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 8:00 PM, $25 – $75, all ages, seattlechoruses.org
CAPITOL HILL PRIDE FESTIVAL MARCH & RALLY
We don’t care Who You Sleep With. AS LONG AS YOU SLEEP WITH US
Get your Wicked on this year! Events start with the “Never Forget” 1969 Stonewall civic march at 10:00 AM from the Seattle Central College campus to Harrison Street. Festival follows with everything from a doggie drag costume contest to pony rides. Live entertainment, food and fun throughout the day until late night. Broadway and E Harrison St, 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM, FREE, all ages, capitolhillpridefestival.info
BAIT SHOP PRIDE PARTY Get your celebration started on the earlier side. A patio party with all-day drink specials and tasty snacks and goodies. The Bait Shop, 606 Broadway E, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, 21+, baitshopseattle.com
FLAMINGO Inspired by all-time favorite summer hits — such as Cry Baby, Grease, and Hairspray, Flamingo transforms Can Can’s intimate theatre into a tropical oasis where classic beauty, comedy and provocative entertainment mesmerize dinner guests five nights a week. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St. Additional shows on Saturday (6/25) at 9:30 PM. Early shows 18+, late shows 21+. Purchase tickets at thecancan.com
DANCE YOURSELF CLEAN A lights and music entertainment event with music inspired by LCD Soundsystem, Phantogram, CHVRCHES, Mike Snow, Haim, Charli XCX, MØ, Empire of The Sun, Hercules & Love Affair, Purity Ring, and many, many more. Chop Suey, 1325 E Madison, FREE before 10:30 PM, $5 after, 21+, chopsuey.com
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5/17/16 7:56 AM Seattle PRIDE Guide 47
Local WILD ROSE PRIDE 2016 Continue the Pride party with DJ Jay Hines, DJ Crispy, and live music with a Pop-a-Shot Contest and Beer Pong Tournament. The Wildrose Bar, 1021 Pike St, 21+, thewildrosebar.com
KINGS KREMWERK A Drag King show. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Ave #10, 7:00 PM, $20, 21+, kremwerk.com
KISS OFF A queer women’s event for LGBTQ and friends. Kremwerk, 1809 Minor Ave #10, 10:00 PM, $20, 21+, kremwerk.com
THE MIDNIGHT SHOW Every Friday and Saturday night, get a taste of the best late-night decadence at Can Can. Enjoy a full kitchen and bar, while Can Can’s in-house company performs new and original choreography for your viewing pleasure in The Midnight Show. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St, 12:00 AM, 21+, purchase tickets at thecancan.com
SUNDAY, JUNE 26 BRUNCH WITH PRIDE Join us in supporting Seattle Pride! When you Brunch with Pride before or after the parade at one of the restaurants listed on the parade map, your brunch helps to raise money for the Seattle Pride Parade. dinewithpride.com
LAMBERT HOUSE PRIDE DAY BRUNCH Lambert House will host a 9:00 AM Pride Day Brunch for LGBTQ youth ages 11 through 22 and their families. Lambert House, 1818 15th Ave, lamberthouse.com
LAMBERT HOUSE PRIDE PARADE CONTINGENT Lambert House invites LGBTQ and allied youth, ages 11 through 22 — and their friends and families — to join our contingent in the Pride Parade. Meet us at Lambert House by 10:00 AM or find us in the Parade lineup or join us as we walk past. lamberthouse.com
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Pride Events
S E N U ZOOT
BECU
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© Nate Gowdy
JUNE30
case/lang/veirs (neko case, k.d. lang, laura veirs) with special guest ANDY SHAUF
JULY17
SUNDAY, JUNE 26 SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE The 42nd annual Seattle Pride Parade is one of the top four parades in the country and the largest parade in our region, overall! Featuring more than 150 contingents with 10,000 participants and close to a half million spectators, everything Pride revolves around this glittery jewel. 4th Ave from Westlake Park to Denny Way, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepride.org
PHILLIP PHILLIPS & MATT NATHANSON with A GREAT BIG WORLD
JULY21
UB40 featuring ALI CAMPBELL,
ASTRO & MICKEY with THE WAILERS
JULY24
PRIDEFEST SEATTLE CENTER
FLAMINGO Inspired by all-time favorite summer hits — such as Cry Baby, Grease, and Hairspray, Flamingo transforms Can Can’s intimate theatre into a tropical oasis where classic beauty, comedy and provocative entertainment mesmerize dinner guests five nights a week. The Can Can Kitchen & Cabaret, 94 Pike St, Early shows 18+, late shows 21+, purchase tickets at thecancan.com
THE B-52s
with special guest THE ENGLISH BEAT
JULY26 “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC &27 THE MANDATORY WORLD TOUR AUGUST2
After the Parade, the party moves down the street to the largest free Pride Festival in North America. Big Freedia and Candis Cayne headline. Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, 12:00 – 8:00 PM, FREE, all ages, seattlepridefest.com
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Carter Sub
ZIGGY MARLEY
with special guest STEEL PULSE
AUGUST3 PINK MARTINI &4 featuring CHINA FORBES & STORM LARGE AUGUST21
JEFF BECK
AUGUST23 BRANDI CARLILE &24 with THE SECRET SISTERS
WILD ROSE PRIDE 2016 Continue the Pride party with DJ Tony Burns, DJ Little and more to be announced along with a Pop-a-Shot Contest with the Seattle Storm and games, beer pong, corn hole, and a photo booth. The Wildrose Bar, 1021 Pike St, 21+, thewildrosebar.com
Tickets available at
zoo.org/zootunes Seattle PRIDE Guide 49
Regional Pride Have Pride. Will travel. Pride celebrations of all sizes are conveniently staggered throughout the summer, so you can let your rainbow freak flag fly all around the great Northwest!
ALASKA PRIDEFEST JUNE 18 – JUNE 25 Alaska PrideFest features more than 20 events with a little something for everyone. Experience Alaska Pride at its most spectacular with a Kick-Off BBQ, Rainbow Run, Drag Queen Bingo, Equality Parade, and a Pride Festival at Delaney Park Strip! Anchorage, Alaska | alaskapride.org
© Nate Gowdy
BOISE PRIDEFEST JUNE 18 Boise Pridefest hosts Idaho’s largest pride event of the year. Festivities include a rally, parade and festival. Boise, Idaho | boisepridefest.com
PORTLAND PRIDE JUNE 17 – 19 Portland Pride features the Pride Glow Run (“Portland’s Sickest Night Run”) and Gaylabration, (annual dance party and fundraiser), a two-day Waterfront Park festival, and a number of marches and rallies. The main parade leaves from W Burnside Street and NW Park Avenue at 11 a.m. on June 19th. Portland, Oregon | pridenw.org
JUNEAU PRIDE JUNE 10 – 19 In a town whose mayor officially declared June as “Juneau Pride Month” last year, there’s a lot to celebrate. The nine-day event boasts something for everyone; and in previous years included outdoor activities, social gatherings, a dance, scavenger hunt, karaoke, family picnic, a
50 Seattle PRIDE Guide
Events 2016 concert, films and a good old-fashioned game of kickball game to start it all off!
KITSAP PRIDE JULY 16
Juneau, Alaska | seagla.org
Kitsap Pride Network celebrates 20 years of Pride in Kitsap County! This year’s international theme is “Solidarity Through Pride” and, clearly, there’s a lot to celebrate! Count on this year’s festivities to be bigger and better than ever.
SPOKANE PRIDE PARADE & RAINBOW FESTIVAL JUNE 11 Celebrating Pride on the second Saturday every June for 25 years in a row (another reason to celebrate this summer), OutSpokane hosts a parade followed by the Rainbow Festival in downtown Spokane. OutSpokane’s anniversary theme is a fitting: From Silence to Celebration. Spokane, Washington | outspokane.com
CAPITAL CITY PRIDE JUNE 17 – 19
From Seattle author
Bremerton, Washington | kitsappride.org
EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD PRIDE FESTIVAL AUGUST 13 Entertainment all day long takes place in beautiful Alton Baker Park on the Willamette River. August is a beautiful time to visit Eugene and join the fun. Enjoy live music, vendors, craft beers and lots of activities.
Washington state’s capital draws nearly 15,000 people for a parade and festival in downtown Olympia, astounding for a little community of only 36,000 people.
Eugene, Oregon | eugenepride.org
Olympia, Washington | capitalcitypride.net
This year’s festivities will be bigger and better when Salem’s Riverfront Park will be filled with information booths, food vendors and plenty of entertainment. Come one. Come all. Everyone is welcome to join in on this day of fun!
MID-COLUMBIA PRIDE JUNE 18 Mid-Columbia Pride celebrates with a weeklong series of events that culminates in a parade and park event on June 18th. Quickly growing in the tri-cities region, events leading up to the parade last year included a family bowling night, an evening social and a family barbecue.
DAVID SCHMADER
CAPITOL PRIDE OF SALEM AUGUST 6
Salem, Oregon | capitolpride.org
“Required reading for longtime potheads and new users alike.”
—DAN SAVAGE
Tri-Cities, Washington | midcolumbiapride.com
VICTORIA PRIDE JULY 1 – 10 Extend your 4th of July holiday by heading to the top of the compass and joining our Canadian neighbors for 10 days of revelry peaking on July 10 with Victoria’s second biggest parade of the year including over 100 colorful groups and floats. Victoria, BC | victoriapridesociety.org
TACOMA PRIDE FESTIVAL JULY 5 – 16 Celebrate Pride in the “City of Destiny” with a multi-day event centered around the Out in the Park street festival on July 9. Make a day of it and enjoy the streetside vendor booths, live music, and guest speakers.
© Nate Gowdy
VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE JULY 31 Attracting crowds of more than 650,000, the Vancouver Pride Parade is renowned on the international stage as one of the largest and most successful LGBTQ2+ events in the world. Head north to enjoy this beautiful and diverse celebration. Remember: Bring your passport. Leave your weed at home. Vancouver, BC | vancouverpride.ca
Available Now Wherever Books Are Sold
Q sasquatchbooks.com
Tacoma, Washington | tacomapride.org
Seattle PRIDE Guide 51
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Homemade Kimchi Bloody Mary
Name: Keyada Espinoza Age: 27 Profession: Full Time Student and Intern for International Economic Development What is your identity/affiliation with the LGBTQ community? I identify as ‘lesbian’. Do you have a strong identity within the community? I consider being a lesbian a very strong part of my identity, but only because it has to be.
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52 Seattle PRIDE Guide
How do you feel you stand among the archetypes/stereotypes of other community members? Would you say you fit well within the boxes set by society’s expectations of LGBTQ members? Would you like to change those stereotypes, and if so, what views would you like society to take on in the future? Being an intersectionality of minorities (African American, Asian, FemmeLesbian) makes it difficult for me to fit comfortably in the LGBTQ community because I carry stigmas institutionalized by society. The LGBTQ community within the United States is seen as predominantly of domestic-born, white Americans. If you identify as a member of the LGBTQ community, you are already considered
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as a minority group within the US; being someone who possesses more than one minority trait, or being intersectional, fighting for other equalities and acceptance besides being gay, are not on the agenda for the mainstream gay community. It’s extremely important to recognize how far individuals have come and where they have come from to help them with where it is they’re going. Within every community there should be honor, respect, and pride with the multiple identities that are used every day, not just the ones that have been chosen for us.
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As the millennial generation of the LGBTQ community, where do you see the future of the community headed? Judging it from a “crawl-walk-run” approach, I’d definitely say that we’re in the “walk” phase. Our laws have changed to help us become more accepted but our culture still hasn’t. This means the mindset of the majority of people still remains the same or on the fence. I believe, ‘coming out’ will still very much be a monumental experience for a while to come.
Have you shopped Goodwill lately?
Are you actively involved in the community? For the LGBTQ community, no I am not. I served in the military for a few years and during that time I concealed my sexuality by keeping to myself. I’m still transitioning from being a soldier to a veteran comfortable with herself among civilians. As far as social services go, I am currently an intern for an NGO in Perú at an emergency shelter for young girls. I’m hoping to bring my experience back to the states and continue my services. As a millennial, have you personally seen progression from society in accepting LGBTQ individuals? This question honestly depends on where I am. For the West Coast, I’ve seen much progression and acceptance. For the East Coast, unfortunately, personally I cannot say the same. This is a bit generalized, but I feel as though the East has much more catching up to do. Overall, I sometimes feel as though the general population tolerates us more so than accept us, but it’s still a step forward. Experiencing discrimination makes it more difficult for me to have a more positive answer, but I guess to cut it short would be: Yes, I see slow progression. Slow, but progression nonetheless.
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 53
Stuck at Square One By Alex Nugent When I entered the dating world as a lesbian, I was 20 years old and had no idea where to start the journey of meeting someone. I turned immediately to online dating for the first time in my life, and at the current time, am a regularly active user of three apps: OKCupid, Tinder, and HER. OKCupid is personally my favorite app. The filters for women only are pretty bullet-proof, but my favorite feature is the extensive bios. I like reading about people and trying to gauge their personality through how they talk about themselves. I’ve met some great women off OKCupid, some I have dated, and others who have become incredible friends once we realized dating wasn’t in the cards for us. I’d say it’s the most legit of the three I use.
Seattle Opera, Semele, 2014 © Avi Loud
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54 Seattle PRIDE Guide
a ed e irl had a ched i h ha her ie Ti der a a a le ia da a a d her re e a a lea etter ha al i i ar a d elli re here a her le ia here ~ Tinder has always been more of a laughing matter for me, mainly because of the connotations of using it. (If anyone knows what the actual hook-up success rate is for lesbians via Tinder is, I’m dying to know.) The number of women I’ve actually been on a date with from this app is a lower number, and I find it harder to initiate or maintain a decent conversation using it. While writing the article, I asked
one girl I had matched with what her view of Tinder was as a lesbian dating app, and her response was, “It’s at least better than walking into a room and yelling, ‘Are there any other lesbians here?!’” I couldn’t agree with her view more. HER is far and away my least favorite dating app, and I would say it is the least user-friendly app of the three. I’m not entirely sure what the intent behind the creation of this app was other than to evoke complete discomfort among the users. The app is designed to be some combi-
nation of Tinder and Instagram – you can “like” pictures of other women, and if they “like” one of your pictures in return, you can message them. The catch, however, is that if you don’t message your match within 24 hours, HER automatically populates a question for you, acting like an awkward parent trying to convince two teenagers to have a conversation. The apps themselves do all have their pros and cons and walking into the world of online dating is always something
to do cautiously; I have accepted that I won’t encounter the next woman of my dreams on a daily basis. All of the apps I’ve used, whether currently or previously, seem to have the same group of women circulating through – which I believe I’m safely assuming they are all in a similar position as I am with low expectations and hopes, but the refusal to give up on online dating altogether. The group of us on all of the apps can feel almost incestuous at times, and I have started to feel like I know many of them though we have never met, or I am continuously scrolling friends of mine who are also on the app. My new personal favorite is when I catch myself scrolling, see a familiar face, and think, “Hey, she uploaded a new picture!” Those are the same moments I immediately exit whatever app I’m on, as I’ve clearly logged too many of my precious minutes looking for a date instead of living my life. I have a true love-hate relationship with online dating apps in the lesbian world, constantly hoping for the next great thing to show up on my phone screen while simultaneously wishing I would meet her organically, while at a bar or the grocery store. However, until I find myself in my next relationship, I know there is no solid reason for me to exit the use of the apps completely. Alex Nugent is the Secretary of the Seattle Pride board of directors, as well as the editor-in-chief of the 2016 Seattle Pride Guide.
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Seattle PRIDE Guide 55
LUDOVIC MORLOT, MUSIC DIRECTOR
tuning up!
TWO WEEKS OF AMERICAN MUSICAL CREATIVITY
TUNING UP!
FRIDAY, JUNE 17, AT 8PM
TUNING UP!
RHAPSODY IN RED, WHITE & BLUE Ludovic Morlot, conductor Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano Members of the Seattle Symphony Chorale EDGARD VARÈSE: Tuning Up CHARLES IVES: Orchestral Set No. 2 GEORGE GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue DEREK BERMEL: Elixir JOHN ADAMS: My Father Knew Charles Ives DUKE ELLINGTON: Harlem These daring composers captured the essence of their homeland: jazz, ragtime, patriotic songs and even noisy city streets. Jean-Yves Thibaudet’s performance is generously underwritten by The Martine and Dan Drackett Family Foundation.
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, AT 7:30PM
STAGE & SCREEN
FROM APPALACHIAN SPRING TO THE RED VIOLIN
LIVE WITH THE SILVER SCREEN
SATURDAY, JULY 2, AT 8PM
LIVE WITH THE SILVER SCREEN THE SYMPHONY IN HOLLYWOOD
Ludovic Morlot, conductor Cyndia Sieden, soprano Nathan Cole, violin Efe Baltacıgil, cello John Goberman, narrator VellVett, hip-hop artist The Sound of the Northwest MAX STEINER: Selections from Gone With the Wind ERICH KORNGOLD: Cello Concerto BERNARD HERRMANN: Selections from Vertigo ERICH KORNGOLD: Selections from Robin Hood DAVID LANG: “Simple Song No. 3” from Youth JOHN WILLIAMS: Rey’s Theme and Scherzo for X-Wings from The Force Awakens JOHN STEPHEN, LONNIE LYNN, CHE SMITH: “Glory” from Selma Film clips come to life on a giant screen with the Seattle Symphony playing music from Gone With the Wind to “Glory” from Selma.
Ludovic Morlot, conductor Philippe Quint, violin Daniel Mantei, choreographer LEONARD BERNSTEIN: Divertimento for Orchestra FLORENCE PRICE: Dances in the Canebrakes AARON COPLAND: Suite from Appalachian Spring JOHN CORIGLIANO: Chaconne from The Red Violin JOHN WILLIAMS: Theme from Schindler’s List MARVIN HAMLISCH: A Marvin Hamlisch Celebration From stage to screen to concert hall, emotions run deep in music from Schindler’s List, The Red Violin and Copland’s Appalachian Spring.
ALL TICKETS $25!
by Calvin Elam It wasn’t all that long ago that an HIV diagnosis was effectively considered a death sentence. In fact, if you graduated from high school as few as five years ago, you probably remember learning in health class that treatment options for AIDS were either: a) virtually nonexistent, or b) catastrophically expensive. Fortunately, treatment options for HIV/ AIDS have improved significantly in recent years, in both cost and efficacy.
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Pr P i a ca a e e he re u a her i e ric i ua ~ Unfortunately, advances in pharmaceutical science can only do so much to combat stigma. This is where you come in – whether you’re someone who has been diagnosed with HIV, someone considering entering a sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner, or just a friend of someone who is at a high risk for HIV infection, you can help! What is PrEP? Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill that can be taken by people who are HIV-negative, but are at a high risk for exposure through sexual contact or drug use.
STAGE & SCREEN
Tuning Up! is made possible by a generous gift from the Judith Fong Music Director’s Fund.
206.215.4747 | SEATTLESYMPHONY.ORG 56 Seattle PRIDE Guide
PrEP 101: What You Need to Know!
PrEP works by fighting the HIV virus before it can take hold in your body, making it a viable option for those who are HIV-negative to engage in a safer sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner.
When taken daily, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 90 percent. Consistency is critical when taking PrEP, so if you decide to use it, it’s important to take it every day! When combined with traditional prophylactics like condoms, it is even more effective. Who Should Take PrEP? According to aids.gov, anyone who is at high risk for HIV infection should consider taking PrEP. This includes people who may be in an ongoing relationship with an HIV-positive partner, people in a relationship that is not mutually monogamous, or men who engage in unprotected anal sex (due to the higher risk for transmission). Is PrEP Safe? Yes! Clinical trials showed occasional mild side effects, including upset stomach or loss of appetite, but in most instances, these subsided after a month. Obviously, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider before deciding that PrEP is right for you.
®
How Much Does it Cost? Depending on your situation, you will likely be able to get PrEP for free! Many insurance providers cover PrEP as a form of preventative medication. If your insurance provider does not cover PrEP, or if you don’t have insurance, the drug manufacturer, Truvada, offers an assistance program. Visit truvada.com/truvada-patient-assistance for full details. No matter if you’re HIV-positive or friends with someone who’s at risk for HIV exposure, knowing that PrEP is an option can take some of the stress out of an otherwise tricky situation. Calvin Elam lives in Spokane, Washington, and works for Visit Spokane. He is a straight ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.
i e i hP JUNE 1–26 www.dinewithpride.com
Seattle PRIDE Guide 57
u hS
li h
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was being validated in the straight world. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that “passing” for straight is by no means a positive, because being gay isn’t negative. I would love it if in the future, we view others for their heart and their mind, as opposed to how masculine or feminine they might come off.
}
Name: Jediah McCourt Age: 22 Profession: Social Media Coordinator
OUR COLOR MAY BE RED, BUT THIS WEEK WE’RE EVERY COLOR. PROUD SPONSOR OF #SEATTLEPRIDE
All Washington State Residents Are Eligible To Join Federally insured by NCUA
800-233-2328 becu.org 58 Seattle PRIDE Guide
What is your identity/affiliation with the LGBTQ community? Within the LGBTQ community, I identify as a gay man of color. Do you have a strong identity within the community? Being gay is simply another aspect of who I am. It doesn’t define me, nor does it always guide my choices or aspirations. If I were to explain myself in a few sentences, being gay would not be one of the first traits I would list off. The way I see it, being interested in other men isn’t inherently noteworthy. How do you feel you stand among the archetypes/stereotypes of other community members? Would you say you fit well within the boxes set by society’s expectations of LGBTQ members? Would you like to change those stereotypes, and if so, what views would you like society to take on in the future? I’ve been told throughout my life that I could “pass” for straight, and it’s usually been intended as a compliment. When I was younger I took it as praise, like I
ile e li e ad Ga a r Thi a a d he le ali a a e e arria e i he S ha e h e ha i d are cha i e re he ri h rac a e ere r hi a ~ As the millennial generation of the LGBTQ community, where do you see the future of the community headed? I don’t think that labels are going away anytime soon. I know that a lot of people view labels as negative, because they’re seen as boxing people in. Personally, without some sort of label or community to grasp onto when I was 15 and coming out, I’m not sure what I would have done. Feeling like you’re different without any way to describe it sounds like an incredibly difficult journey. As time progresses forward and the LGBTQ community steps further into the mainstream, perhaps we won’t need labels. But for now I do think that labels help people approach our community in a more accessible way.
Welcome home Are you actively involved in the community? As far as social outreach or awareness goes, I must admit I’m no Harvey Milk. The company I work for, Northwest Polite Society, does a lot of work for LGBT clients like Seattle Pride and local drag queens. While I may not be personally advocating for anything, it allows me to feel close to a community that I don’t actively feel the need to be involved in. As a millennial, have you personally seen progression from society in accepting LGBTQ individuals? Society has certainly made huge strides in accepting LGBTQ individuals. Maybe it’s just my age talking, but it feels like the progress our community has made in the past 20 years is massive. Milestones like Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. have shown me that minds are changing. We’re on the right track, baby. We were born this way.
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
WINNER OF 10 TONY AWARDS
■
SCORE BY ELTON JOHN
ISSAQUAH
MAY 12 – JULY 3 EVERETT
© Nate Gowdy
JULY 8– 31
ISSAQUAH (425) 392-2202 I EVERETT (425) 257-8600 VillageTheatre.org SPONSORED IN PART BY
Seattle PRIDE Guide 59
© Nate Gowdy
Faces of Seattle Pride
60 Seattle PRIDE Guide
Seattle PRIDE Guide 61
ALL IS ONE
The Evolution of Seattle Pride Bar Scene By DonnaTella Howe
Seattle has changed. Even I can’t deny that. From the time I came out I explored the house party scene and was ushered right into the core of the nightlife by my friends in doing the WET underwear contest at RPlace, hosted by Mark ‘MoM’ Finley. The rest, as they say, is history.
MEET * GREET * ROCK * PARTY
I’ve been around Capitol Hill and ‘in the scene’ for 12 years, coming up on 10 years being DonnaTella ‘full-time’. Thinking back to where everything was and how it has evolved is surprising, at times sad in a reflective sense, but also amazing as our great city has been coming into its own. Picture it: Sicily (Well, Capitol Hill… 2004,5,6)…
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62 Seattle PRIDE Guide
i ac here e er hi a a d h i ha e l ed i ur ri i a e ad i a re ec e e e u al a a i a ur rea ci ha ee c i i i ~ RuPaul might have then been an icon, but there was no drag race. The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle was prominent as were the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (or as I called them when I first saw them, the Mardi Gras nuns). RPlace had WET Wednesdays, the strip show on Thursdays hosted by Shaka Kwan or occasionally Gaysha Starr, and then it was heavy hard hip hop Friday and
Saturday with DJ Rizz and Queen Lucky. Julia’s didn’t have Le Faux – honestly, I don’t remember ever going to Julia’s until it premiered. The Pike and Pine corridor was about as strong then as it is now, but it was very gay. You would either do a downhill roll or an uphill roll. Downhill you would hit the original C.C.Attle’s/Men’s Room, Thumpers, The Sea Wolf and or Martin’s Off Madison, Madison Pub and then maybe The Cuff. My usual deal was uphill, as I lived on that side of Broadway, starting with Timberline. (I missed out on the original Timberline, which is a part of the Cornish campus, but its final incarnation was at the base of Denny, which
is now the Orion Center. Talk about a Queer as Folk-esque discotheque. It was amazing, and the Sunday tea dance was packed and legendary.) From Timberline, you might hit the Crescent, Cha Cha, Bus Stop, ManRay – or maybe even Kincora’s – all of which were on the block where 500 East once was. RPlace and Linda’s were rarely forgotten, but what had always been particularly fascinating was Neighbours, and how, regardless of the roll you took thru the bars, was always the final landing point if you went so
Stay healthy. Stay proud. As a sponsor of Seattle Pride, we celebrate with you, supporting health and happiness for all communities.
© 2016 Group Health Cooperative
ghc.org
Seattle PRIDE Guide 63
far. I used to refer to it as ‘the spawning grounds’, as it was the final meet up of the night where anything could happen. So much of our neighborhood has changed. Olive Way was not as vibrant and active as it is today. Long time businesses have moved from one location to another, such as the Elite from the north end of Broadway to Olive Way. (Ultimately, we lost that space to change.) Many blocks went dormant with the recession and those having to move out were taken over momentarily by new
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2508202
gecoach for Pride
The Wells Fargo Stagecoach is coming
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The symbol of our legendary service, the Wells Fargo Stagecoach, is headed your way to be part of your community’s parade. Come experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of an authentic reproduction Wells Fargo stagecoach pulled by a team of beautiful horses, wave to the driver, and imagine heading off for a new adventure in the frontier. Please join us at the next Wells Fargo Stagecoach appearance: June 26, 2016 Seattle Pride Parade Along 4th Ave ending at 2nd & Denny Parade starts at 11 a.m.
For more information: Capitol Hill | 401 Broadway Ave E | 206-568-3740
Share your stagecoach adventure #stagecoach
Š 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. ECG-2508202
64 Seattle PRIDE Guide
ideas that have become awesome established places, such as Pony. Happily we didn’t lose Cha Cha or Bimbo’s for long as they now reside on Pike just down from Wildrose. Manray found a new incarnation of sorts when Barbie opened Purr and C.C.Attle’s moved to where it is now on Olive Way and has flourished. Urban lore even discusses the ‘cursed location’ that once was Sugar and became the second incarnation of Kincora’s – King Cobra and later Lobby Bar which had a wonderful run. Some say the whole space is cursed or it’s the side that was once a dance floor and later was supposed to be a check cashing location that never opened. Change has been a constant
and has brought many new locations and opportunities to our hill. Prior to much of the shift and growth that has become today’s Capitol Hill and gay scene, we saw a long stretch of closing businesses and what seemed like an impending death of the area. The hill and Seattle are seeing so much change that was held off in part by the recession. While there are unpleasant effects, like losing beloved businesses, we are also getting to see our city evolve and become a major player in business and tourism. Our community as a whole has gained more inclusion with marriage being granted for LGBT people, and we are catching up and joining in a more intertwined way with the rest of the communities around us. Where we once based ourselves in Pioneer Square, we are now seeing folks move to West Seattle, Ballard and so on. I believe our community is in evolution just as our city and hill are. We will find a new balance and it will take time and changes will continue. I will always love the memories of what once was and continue to celebrate what is and will be while honoring the past. DonnaTella Howe is a local Drag Queen, as well as Olympia 45 Empress of The Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle.
Seattle PRIDE Guide 65
A HISTORY OF
PRIDE
throughout the U.S. & Seattle
1969
1972
1974
1974
Stonewall Riots
First gay minister ordained
1st Seattle Pride in Occidental Park & march to Seattle Center
The Seattle Gay News begins publication
U 1997
-
Ellen DeGeneres comes out on national television
B
1977 Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman officially declares “Gay Pride Week”
© mmmmmmm
1979
75,000 people march on Washington
1991
1986
The red ribbon is first used as a symbol in the campaign against HIV/AIDS
King County adds sexual orientation protections to its open housing ordinance
1983 Seattle becomes only the second city in the U.S. to allocate funding for AIDS
2002 NYT publishes gay marriage ceremonies 2006 Gov. Christine Gregoire signs into law Washington’s first gay civil rights bill
2007
Seattle Pride Parade moves downtown to accomodate record crowds
Washington is first state to vote in favor of rights for same-sex partners
G
NEXT DECADE
2015
The FUTURE OF PRIDE is in your hands
U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage / White House illuminated in rainbow colors
66 Seattle PRIDE Guide
Y
2006
2013 Seattle elects first openly gay mayor
IIIIII 2015
Rainbow crosswalks in Seattle 2015
Transgender Washington teen, Brooklyn Buenaventura, crowned prom queen
Quake Shakes Up Sports Culture By Ryan Parish
You’ve heard the story before. You know, the one about the ugly duck? It’s a staple of bedtime storytelling; a story that teaches that we all have the potential to grow into something beautiful, even if the rest of the world insists we are ugly. In many ways, this is the perfect metaphor for members of the LGBTQ+ communities of the world. Nowhere may this be more apparent in the world of sports, where heterosexual masculinity still holds a tight grip on how the culture is represented.
However, the culture is shifting, albeit slowly. One team that is doing its part to break down these long standing barriers is Seattle’s own Quake Rugby. Founded in 2002, the Quake were one of the first gay teams in America. The team came together after members of the San Francisco Fog, another of the early gay rugby teams, expressed interest in helping Seattle form a team. One of the people the Fog reached out to was Mike “Milly” Farris. Farris was a commissioner for Emerald City Softball Association at the time. Farris played a big role in organizing the founding of the
Quake and is still a player on the team today. The team faced plenty of adversity as it tried to establish itself. Many of the players were learning the sport of rugby for the first time and the first five years saw a lot of turnover, Farris said. The team would often lose by large margins in the early years. Kevin Waizenhofer, a former West Point grad, Stanford strength coach and head coach for the Fog said that a lot of the gay clubs struggled to keep up on the scoreboard in the early years, but that they were laying the foundation for future generations. “We earned a lot of respect,
Seattle PRIDE Guide 67
SEASON
2016 2017 Man of La Mancha Disney’s The Little Mermaid The Pajama Game Murder for Two
A co-production presented at ACT Theatre
The Secret Garden Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion Fun Home
even though we got the shit kicked out of us,” Waizenhofer said. Seeing these gay teams play and hit hard began to change how a lot of the heterosexual players viewed masculinity and realize that their stereotypes of gay men were unfounded. “All of the sudden, there were all these gays clubs. After teams would play us — they would realize — ‘Holy shit. These f****** can play!’” Waizenhofer said.
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Farris echoed those sentiments. When the team was starting out, some players would direct hateful slurs towards members of the Quake before games. Farris said that oftentimes, after the games had been played, those same players would come and apologize. “One of the amazing things about playing for this team is that it’s beautiful to see that [hate and bigotry] break down in 80 minutes,” Farris said. The team is full of interesting and inspiring people. Farris grew up in Olympia and eventually began working in law
68 Seattle PRIDE Guide
enforcement in Idaho, before being fired for being gay. He has since changed careers and is also the rookies coach for the Quake. One of the things he said he enjoys most is introducing the sport to gay and minority men who may never have experienced the sport before. “We have helped a lot of gay people come into themselves,” Farris said. One of those is Lance Moore. Moore grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where societal pressures discouraged him from embracing his sexuality. A deeply religious man, Moore led worship at his church and dated girls. He went on to attend the University of Tennessee and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Moore was never fully happy during this time though. Because his surroundings showed no evidence of any successful, gay, black men, Moore continued to hide this part of his life. After moving to Seattle, he even saw a counselor for three years to try and change who he was. That was when his life began to change. “He asked me ‘Why don’t you try being yourself,’” Moore said. Moore eventually was convinced he needed a change. He left his church, the controversial Mars Hill Church, and began to accept himself for who he was. Eventually, some friends convinced him to join the Quake. Though it took some time to convince him to join the team, once Moore joined, he was all in. When he took a position of leadership on the team, he decided the time was right to officially come out. It is not a requirement to be gay to be a member of the Quake, and as a private person, Moore had let his teammates form their own assumptions. For Moore, this was a huge moment. He said it felt like “the weight of being you, was lifted.” Moore is just one example of how sports can play a role in healing and informing a community. By traveling around the country playing games and doing charity work with groups such as The Sisterhood of Perpetual Indulgence, the Quake are helping change the culture of the sports world. Ryan Parish is the Sports Editor of the Western Front, Western Washington University’s school newspaper. He is a straight ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Seattle PRIDE Guide 69
SPRING PROGRAM BOOK MAR–MAY 2016
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SEATTLE REP PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE OCTOBER 2015 December 2015 NOVEMBER 2015
PLUS
Street art in Seattle New Century Theatre Company
BY
Childbirth’s provocative new record
Irene sankoff DavID HeIn
AND Introducing Grace Love & the True Loves
FUNK & SOUL
DIRECTED BY
CHrIstopHer asHley
2015 /16 SEASON
A NEW GENERATION CATCHES FIRE
november 13—DeCember 13, 2015
Original cast from the La Jolla Playhouse production of Come From Away. Photo by Jim Carmody.
MATILDA AUG 18 - SEPT 6, 2015 WATERFALL OCT 1 - 25, 2015 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S THE SOUND OF MUSIC NOV 24, 2015 - JAN 3, 2016 HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING JAN 28 - FEB 21, 2016 ASSASSINS FEB 27 - MAY 8, 2016 CO-PRESENTED AT ACT - A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE
A View from the Bridge / buyer & Cellar / come from away / disgraced / constellations luna gale / brownsville song (b-side for tray) / sherlock holmes and the american problem
A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN MAR 25 - APR 17, 2016 KINKY BOOTS APR 27 - MAY 8, 2016 LERNER & LOEWE’S PAINT YOUR WAGON JUNE 2 - 25, 2016 A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER JULY 12 - 31, 2016
Celebrating arts and culture in Seattle and San Francisco for 45 years Proud producer of the Official Seattle Pride Guide, Encore Arts Programs, City Arts and more. EncoreMediaGroup.com Clockwise from top left: Jersey Boys at The Paramount, March 2016; SFJAZZ, March 2016; SIFF Guide, May 2015; City Arts, October 2015; Come From Away at Seattle Repertory Theatre, November, 2015; The Sound of Music at The 5th Avenue, December 2015.
u h S li h eli a Garcia
Name: Melissa Garcia Age: 26 Profession: Youth Counselor at YouthCare What is your identity/affiliation with the LGBTQ community? I identify as a lesbian. I was born and raised right outside Chicago and was excited to see the Capitol Hill neighborhood when I first moved here a little over a year ago. Luckily, through work, I was able to network and build rapport with some awesome LGBTQ community leaders and have been actively involved within it ever since. Do you have a strong identity within the community?
© Nate Gowdy
I surely don’t go around with the word “lesbian” tattooed on my forehead, but I think the majority of people know who I am and what I stand for based on my
Seattle PRIDE Guide 71
past work. I think being proud of the fact that I am a lesbian is really important though. I would never deny it if asked, and I would not be who I am today without the struggles and amazing experiences that came along with identifying as such.
}
ha atter e i he u er e era reall u r ha e r rai e each her u crea e r a d di er e c u i e a d re re e ur e era i ha e e Pride ha i u a eri ~
How do you feel you stand among the archetypes/stereotypes of other community members? Would you say you fit well within the boxes set by society’s expectations of LGBTQ members? Would you like to change those stereotypes, and if so, what views would you like society to take on in the future? Personally, I feel a lot of the stereotypes regarding lesbians are somewhat true but not necessarily true for everyone, and I don’t think it’s fair to assume anything otherwise. I’m not sure I care about fitting well within the boxes of society’s expecta-
72 Seattle PRIDE Guide
tions so I couldn’t answer that. What matters to me, and what I would like to see more of, is the younger generation really putting forth an effort to raise each other up, create strong and diverse communities and represent our generation with a sense of Pride that is unwavering; and collaborating with one another to make our world a little bit more of a friendly, safe and loving place.
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As the millennial generation of the LGBTQ community, where do you see the future of the community headed? I definitely think that coming out present day is a lot less scary than coming out in let’s say, the 1960s. Our society is constantly progressing and becoming more compassionate and understanding of each other. You either progress with it, or you get left behind. I think sexuality is fluid and your self identification should never have to be justified or explained to anyone. Are you actively involved in the community? I am. A former co-worker (shoutout Lauren Petersen-Green) and I organized the first ever Pride Build for Habitat for Humanity Seattle King County last year during our AmeriCorps service term, and I’m currently the Director of Outreach for Seattle Pride. Sometimes you can catch me working security at the WildRose on weekends, and my full-time gig is doing Community Outreach/Youth Counseling at YouthCare. Giving back and helping others in my community is the most important element of my life. As a millennial, have you personally seen progression from society in accepting LGBTQ individuals? Definitely. Within my personal life I experienced a ton of backlash from my family members, especially since my mom was raised in the ’50s and super conservative. From a mom who struggled to accept it to one who now hangs out with my girlfriends and drinks coffee, progression is real and it’s beautiful. I think it’s really important to show acceptance in local businesses, media and especially in schools. It helps everyone become more comfortable in their own skin.
by lorraine hansberry
by Karen harTMan
Produced in association with American Conservatory Theater and Shakespeare Theatre Company
by MiKe barTleTT
Produced in association with Oregon Shakespeare Festival
by Qui nguyen
DEVISED BY
DAVID M. LUTkEn nIck corLEY
wITh
by lisa Kron
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Produced in association with American Conservatory Theater
a revoluTionary Musical experience froM
david byrne and fatboy slim
Seattle PRIDE Guide 73
Marcha Hacia El Futuro by Álex Baña Entre Hermanos surgió por la iniciativa de un grupo de latinos y latinas gay, lesbiana, bisexual y transgénero que reconocieron la necesidad de tener servicios sociales, educativos, sanitarios y de apoyo en la primavera de 1991. En diciembre de 1992, el grupo ya se habia organizado y llevaba a cabo diversas actividades incluso recaudando fondos para cubrir sus diversas actividades. Estas actividades se realizaron en colaboración con la Coalición Latina Contra el SIDA de Washington, DC. En abril de 1993, el grupo comenzo a funccionar de forma independiente, dirigiendo varias actividades para la comunidad. Ese año, Entre Hermanos se afilió con POCAAN (People of Color Against AIDS,) una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada a la prevención y servicios educativos contra el VIH / SIDA para las personas de color. En mayo del mismo año, llevaron a cabo su primer concurso para elegir a una reina Latina en Seattle. Ese mismo verano, tambien participaron por primera vez en la Marcha del Orgullo LGBT de Seattle. Hacia finales de 2001, recibieron permiso por parte del estado de Washington para operar como una organización sin fines de lucro. Desde entonces, siguen creciendo, gracias a su excelente personal, Consejo de Administración, cuerpos de voluntarios, y actividades educativas y recreativas. Mirando hacia adelante, Entre Hermanos marcha hacia el futuro, siempre progresando y ofreciendo más servicios a los latinos/as de la comunidad LGBT, en el estado de Washington. Seattle Pride se sentó con Sergio Miranda y Luis Fernando Ramirez, directores de Entre Hermanos, para charlar con ellos sobre esta importante organizacion. ¿Que piensan que son las dificultades más significativas para un inmigrante recién llegado que sea que LGBT? “Principalmente la comunidad que inmigra a Washington no tienen amigos ni familia y entonces encuentran que
74 Seattle PRIDE Guide
están solos y que extrañan. Ahí podemos entrar para formar una comunidad con ellos. Tenemos varias actividades en donde pueden encontrar personas similares a ellos y se puedan sentir cómodos. Entre Hermanos trata de hacer un puente para que las personas no se sientan tan solas y que también sépan que hay servicios para ellos.” ¿Qué es lo que es la Noche Latina? “La noche latina es uno de los programas que tenemos. Es una noche social y tambien para recaudar fondos. Cada domingo hacemos la noche latina y pedimos una donación para que la organización siga funcionando. La gente vienen, socializan, bailan y ha tenido muy mucho éxito. Actualmente lo hacemos en Neighbors pero a través de los años ha estado localizado en otros sitios. Es solamente una de las actividades que tiene la agencia.” ¿Usan la noche latina para ofrecer pruebas de VIH o otras enfermedades transmitidas sexualmente(ETS)? “La noche latina la utilizamos como un punto de encuentro para muchas cosas. Para socializar, para promover nuestros otros eventos culturales, como la fiesta de 5 de mayo y las fiestas de patria y también para diseminar información sobre la prueba de VIH/ETS. Lo hacemos así para que las personas no pierdan contacto con su cultura y que sigan viniendo a nuestros eventos. Tenemos, por ejemplo, una abogada de inmigración que ofrece asesoría una vez al mes para aquellos que lo necesiten. También tenemos muchos contactos que le podemos ofrecer a personas que viven con VIH para que obtengan o sigan su tratamiento. En Seattle los latinos siempre han vivido repartido por diferentes partes de la ciudad. Por esa razón la noche latina es muy útil porque ofrece un punto de encuentro semanal para toda la comunidad.”
¿Hay otras agencias LGBT en Seattle o en el estado de Washington cuyo enfoque es la comunidad Latina? “No, somos los únicos en el estado de Washington que ofrecemos servicios a la comunidad latina LGBT. Si no tenemos un servicio que necesita una persona podemos funcionar como un punto de referencia para ellos. También tenemos los servicios de una trabajadora social para las personas que viven con VIH.” ¿Cómo ha cambiado el trabajo de Entre Hermanos ahora que existe el PrEP, el medicamento profilaxis contra el VIH, tambien conocido por su nombre, Truvada? “En cuanto al PrEP efectivamente existe esta cuestión si hombres gay latinos en general deben de asumir este tratamiento preventivo. En los planes que ha habido con el departamento de salud pública, los latinos han respondido muy bien. El porcentaje es muy bueno ya que es casi el 30% de hombres latinos que utilizan el PrEP. Poco a poco la gente se están educando y están informándose sobre los efectos secundarios y otros temas relacionado con este profilaxis. También reconocemos que existe un estigma relacionado con un medicamento que también se prescribe para personas que ya tienen VIH. Cuando las personas aprenden sobre lo que es y lo que no es, en general se ponen mucho más abierto. Nosotros promovemos la prevención del VIH también a través de foros comunitarios en donde se tratan una variedad de temas. Tenemos por ejemplo una colaboración con la Casa Latina y la ciudad de Seattle con respecto a el tema de los salarios impagos y los derechos de los trabajadores. En general siempre tocamos dos o tres temas cuando tenemos reuniones o foros con la comunidad. No tenemos una posición formal sobre el uso del PrEP porque no somos una organización médica pero si nos dedicamos a informar a la comunidad LGBT latina sobre todos los temas que nos puedan afectar.”
© Nate Gowdy
Faces of Seattle Pride
Seattle PRIDE Guide 75
Ride in pride. SEATTLE MINI CUSTOM COLOR CONTEST COLOR YOUR CUSTOM MINI BELOW, FOR THE CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR DESIGN PRODUCED AND FEATURED IN THE PRIDE PARADE, JUNE 26, 2016!
Visit CityArtsOnline.com/MINIPride to view full contest rules and details, download large-scale printable MINI, and upload your entry. Contest ends June 11, 2016 and Winner will be notified June 15, 2016. NAME:__________________________________________________ PHONE: ________________________________________________ EMAIL: _________________________________________________ ZIP:___________________ AGE:_____________________________
ENTRY CATEGORIES: Youth (15 and under) Adult (16 and older) Want more info. on MINI? YES Want MINI news & updates? YES
LOOK FOR SEATTLE MINI DURING THE VOLUNTEER PARK PRIDE FESTIVAL ON JUNE 11 AND VIEW THE WINNING MINI DESIGNS DURING THE PRIDE PARADE ON JUNE 26!
SEATTLE MINI IS PROUD TO BE A COLORFUL SPONSOR OF PRIDE. SEATTLEMINI.COM #MINIPRIDE
© Nate Gowdy
Faces of Seattle Pride
Seattle PRIDE Guide 77
78 Seattle PRIDE Guide
© Nate Gowdy
© Nate Gowdy
Faces of Seattle Pride
Equality is calling. We are answering. SPONSORED T-Mobile believes in a workplace and a world that encourages everyone to be their full self. Join us as we all continue down the road toward equality by celebrating Seattle Pride Week. Share your stories and pics using
#magentapride
T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG.