W E D N E S D A Y February 21, 2007 Volume 16, Issue 4 www.stonewallnews.net News Northwest Serving the GLBTQA Community of the Pacific Northwest since 1992 Farewell John Deen Stonewall News Northwest turns 15! Now published every other week! Next Issue: Wednesday, March 7th Ad and Content Deadline: Wednesday, February 28th Photo by Mike Schultz Mike by Photo Dean Lynch speaks to a packed house at the John Deen Memorial Celebration at Dempsey’s Brass Rail in Spokane on Sunday, Feb 11th, 2007. Others gathered also shared stories and memories of Deen, former decade long Stonewall News Northwest publisher, and his impact on their lives. Tributes to Deen can also be found in other publications: Editorial A Generous Life, The Spokesman-Re- view, Page B4, February 14, 2007; Publisher Deen fought for rights, The Spokesman-Review, Front Page, February 12, 2007; Remem- bering John Deen, The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Page 14, February 8, 2007. Links to these articles can also be found on Stonewall’s website, www.stonewallnews.net/johndeen.htm. EWU’s SAFE works toward Issues available free throughout the open and accepting campus Pacific Northwest and at By Joyce Crosby www.stonewallnews.net Special to Stonewall News Northwest been close friends ever since,” Gudith said happily. “I slowly started to come out SPOKANE, Wash - When Adam to a few select people, first a friend who Gudith, 21, moved into the dorms on worked in a theater, and then a teacher THIS ISSUE Eastern Washington University in the in the women’s studies department. That fall of 2004, he was the only person who teacher pointed me in the direction of knew he was gay. After two quarters of Steve, but I didn’t want to meet him yet,” silence about his sexual orientation, Gudith said referring to Steve Bertram, Gudith came out to his roommate. “I had Staff Advisor for EWU’s Student Alliance wanted to talk to him about it for a while For Equality more commonly known as before, but I decided to wait,” Gudith, a SAFE. Mechanical Engineering major explained. Gudith’s experience coming out is He came out to his roommate just before one thing that binds the entire queer Spring Break “so that, if things went community together. Whether someone sour, I could move. Things went better identifies as lesbian, transgender, Photo by Joyce Crosby than I could have ever hoped, especially bisexual, gay, questioning or somewhere Adam Gudith shares his experience in A Kiss Too Far? | Page 5 considering he’s Christian, and we’ve Please see SAFE page 15 coming out and EWU’s SAFE Spokane Lesbian Mom’s Group begins the play area inside NorthTown Mall are biological, non-biological, adoptive, Page 5 on Spokane’s north side. The purpose foster, and step-parents. Though she of the group is to provide “a place for started the group to meet other lesbian support and friendship,” stated group parents, when asked about including Arts & Entertainment ............................8 organizer Danielle Satrom, 23. The gay, bisexual and transgender parents, Business Directory ...............................11 idea is to bring together like-minded Satrom added that she “would be open women and their children in a safe and to expanding to include others in the Calendar ...................................................14 fun environment. Parents can connect group.” Classifieds ................................................13 and network with each other while the Three families came to the Spokane National & International .......................6 kids have lots of fun playing with other Lesbian Moms first “outing,” which No Rest for the Wicked .........................5 kids from families like their own. started at 10:30 a.m. and lasted about Politicklers .................................................4 “I had been wanting to join a group two hours. The women seemed eager Resource Directory ...............................12 like this for some time now,” said Satrom, to connect with other parents and Photo by Joyce Crosby Reviews & Previews ...............................9 who is raising a three-year-old son with engaged in lively discussions about Danielle Satrom organized the Feb 2, 2007 her partner Katherine Cutright, 36. “As their kids and jobs. Satrom indicated Spokane .....................................................2 meeting of Spokane lesbian moms. a gay mom, I tried joining other moms’ that she and Cutright enjoyed meeting Voices ..........................................................3 groups and just felt like the odd one out, the other parents, and their son Seamus and all the questions got draining. The “had a blast” playing with the other By Joyce Crosby questions about my supposed husband, children. After the meeting, Satrom Special to Stonewall News Northwest and then how in the world did I have a said her family ate lunch in the mall’s Fly your Flags child if I am gay.” food court with another family they on Fridays! SPOKANE, Wash - The initial The newly formed group currently met at the gathering. meeting of Spokane Lesbian Moms has nine members, not including was held on Saturday, February 2, at partners, and is open to mothers who Please see MOM’S GROUP page 4 Page Stonewall News Northwest Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Spokane & Regional Deal or No Deal ERW organizes Strategic win requires our action Vow to Take a Stand Forum, first of five events, informs pro-equality groups SPOKANE, Wash - Wednesday stated that people need to hear from evening February 7, close to 50 people at least five friends or family members attended the Vow to Take a Stand before they understand the issue of Forum at the Unitarian Universalist marriage equality. He urged everyone Church of Spokane (UUC). This is one to tell legislators, as well as neighbors of a series of five events occurring across and co-workers, why they support Washington State to inform people same-sex marriage. He believes that and encourage support of legislative “When people know the truth about initiatives before the Washington our lives, they support us”. State Legislature. The event sponsors Friedes provided the following Above: concerned individuals who attended the Spokane HIV Town Hall meeting December 13th, 2006. include a wide variety of groups legislative updates: Left to Right: Kenneth Grunert, Joseph Ready (Co-chair of the Spokane County Ryan White CARE Consortium), including the American Civil Liberties • SB 5336 and HB 1351: A Mark Garrett (Client Advocate Spokane AIDS Network), Mark Niclas, James Breedlove (Preseident of the Spokane Union of WA, Peace and Justice Action domestic-partnerships proposal would HIV Speakers Bureau, John Gildroy, Susan Fabrikant (Executive Director Spokane AIDS Network), Walt Biggs, League, Inland Northwest Equality, create a state registry of same-sex Christopher Zilar (Health Educator Spokane Regional Health District), Senator Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Cat and the UUC, which housed the partnerships, as well as partnerships Carrel (Prevention Coordinator Spokane AIDS Network), Charles Fawcett and Susan Sjoberg (Program Manager of event. Field Organizer Nathan Riding in which one person is at least 62, HIV/AIDS Spokane Regional Health District). of Equal Rights Washington provided which would be maintained by the pointed out that following the state coordination as did Carla Brannan. secretary of state. It also would grant By Mark Garret elections in November, our chances Kevan Gardner, Pride Foundation Spokane AIDS Network same-sex partners the right to visit a of finally passing the “Healthy Youth Regional Program Director was partner in a health-care facility, receive Act” that would require school sex-ed Master of Ceremonies. Spokane’s programs teach accurate information health information about the partner, This year the state legislature will Senate Majority Leader, Lisa Brown, decide the biennium budget for the next supported by scientific research, is also grant informed consent for care of an two years, and like the show Deal or No possible this year, after years of failed attended via video and described the incompetent partner, make funeral Deal, it’s a game of strategy. attempts in Olympia. Recent polling real possibility of pro GLBT family arrangements, consent to autopsies On December 13, HIV advocates shows that 85% of Washington parents legislation passing this year. This and inherit property in the absence of from the Spokane area met with State want schools to help them provide sexual was followed by Former Spokane a will. This legislation is given a fair Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown from health information to their teens (Global City Councilman Dean Lynch, who chance of passage. Spokane to discuss what that strategy Strategy Group, 2004). presented a brief social/political • SB 5335 and HB 1350: A same- will be this year. Senator Brown was Locally, we are seeing over 30 new history. (See the sidebar Social and sex-marriage proposal would repeal optimistic that after more than six years individuals diagnosed with HIV in Political Progress.) the state’s ban on same-sex marriage Spokane every year and 600 statewide. of flat funding or funding cuts for HIV Josh Friedes, ERW Advocacy and amend the state’s marriage laws to care and prevention, the legislature The majority of these individuals are men who have sex with men and half of those Director spoke of the early success of and governor appear ready to support ERW in helping to get 13 “equality” increased funding. The Senator also Please see DEAL page 10 freshmen elected to the legislature. He Please see VOW page 15 MICHEAL CHAPPELL HAS MOVED TO SPOKANE www.northwesthomesandland.com Micheal Chappell Shawn Gilson 218-0382 216-4082 COME HOME WITH US! Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Stonewall News Northwest Page Dean Lynch shares local Voices progress time Letters to the Editor line at Vow to Besen hits nail on the head Take a Stand Thank You Dear Stonewall News: I would like to convey my that often requires subtlety and tact because the vast majority appreciation to everyone who I am originally from Seattle and Social and Political Progress attended and help make possible of the heterosexual world just have spent a lot of time in Eastern doesn’t “get” why things like this 1980s John Deen’s wake.