October 1, 2006 Volume 15, Issue 12 www.stonewallnews.net Serving the GLBTQA Community of the Pacific Northwest since 1992 In their own words Pride and Prejudice Students challenge Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Walking by the recruiting station, the scene of the sit-in, Spokane resident and former Marine, Mike Tonkyn, comments on the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. “The stupidest thing the government did after 9/11 was to fire two translators who were gay. Ryan Olson (left) and Dana Corral (right) Absolutely stupid. Who cares what await criminal citations following their they do in their private time. If they refusal to leave the recruiting office. can do their job, nobody needs to ask them anything else!”” Tonkyn then entered the recruiting station to shake the hands of Olson, Corral, and Lapalm. and offer words of support. Armed Forces recruiter Sgt. Clark (standing background center) ac- companies Spokane Police officers before escorting Ryan Olson, Dana Corral and Nick Lapalm (seated on floor) from the recruiting office. as Olson, Corral and Lapalm, all Gonzaga Army tells Gays ‘No Way’ University students, sat By Joyce Crosby, Special to Stonewall News Northwest on the floor and staged a peaceful sit-in. Protest supporters accompany Olsen and Corral on the floor Ryan Olson appears to be an of government-sanctioned discrimination Their attempted of the armed forces recruiting office in south Spokane. exemplary candidate for military service. against gays. military enlistment and He’s bright, educated, athletic, and active After a press conference in a parking resulting demonstration was part of a our state and federal legislatures to adopt in student government; just the type of lot at 29th Ave. and Regal St., the trio, nationwide campaign against the decade the Military Readiness Enhancement Act person military recruiters are scrambling accompanied by about a dozen sign old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) by which would do away with DADT and add to enlist at a time when America can’t wielding supporters, marched into the U.S. Soulforce, a Virginia-based gay rights sexual orientation to the armed services afford to reject even one qualified soldier. Armed Forces recruiting station at Lincoln group. It is expected that this fall over non-discrimination policy. Let no brave In the spirit of ACT-UP and Lesbian Heights shopping center on Spokane’s 1000 young people, from thirty-three and courageous soldier be turned away.” Avengers, on the morning of Tuesday, south hill. Olson and Corral respectfully cities across the nation, will participate This is the first time in the 13 years September 26th, Olson, 23, the equally requested that they be allowed to enlist in Soulforce’s Right to Serve Campaign. since DADT was enacted that a group of qualified Dana Corral, 20, and straight in the military. As expected, when it was The DADT policy damages soldiers’ self- openly gay youth has protested the policy ally Nick Lapalm 19 , took a very direct revealed that Olson is gay and Corral is respect, encourages harassment, brings by attempting to enlist in the Armed and dramatic action in targeting “Don’t bisexual, they were denied their right to about persecution and results in hate Services. According to a 2004 report by Ask, Don’t Tell” the U.S. military’s policy serve their country, simply because of crimes. the Urban Institute, an estimated 63,000 their sexual orientation. Olson stated that the goal of the Right GLB soldiers are forced to lie about whom As Recruiting Center personnel to Serve Campaign is to, “end the Don’t they love, and serve in fear of being outed. THIS ISSUE escorted supporters and media outside Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy by encouraging Please see SIT-IN page 5 OutSpokane joins ValleyFest for second year Len Mace Interview - part 2 - Page 4 Arts & Entertainment ............................8 Business Directory ...............................11 Calendar ...................................................14 Gay-Straight Alliances ...........................3 National / International .......................6 Politicklers .................................................5 Practical Spirituality ...............................7 Excited children wait patienty as OutSpokane Board mem- Posing in front of the OutSpokane booth (L-R): OutSpokane Board members Steven Sanford, Christopher Lawrence and Regional News ........................................5 bers Bridget Potter and Christopher Lawrence affix Pride tattoos on their arms. Bridget Potter. Resource Directory ...............................13 Reviews & Previews ...............................9 (SPOKANE VALLEY) Begun in have been overwhelmingly accepted and “Last year, OutSpokane expanded Spokane .....................................................2 1990, Valleyfest annually brings to the encouraged for our participation.” its mission and its purpose to include Voices ..........................................................2 Inland Northwest a parade, multiple With festival events and activities education, outreach and community music venues, and day long festivities at focused on children, the OutSpokane involvement.” Rapier continues, “Reaching Mirabeau Park in the Spokane valley. booth povided water-based “Pride” tattoos out to the surrounding community- “This is the second year OutSpokane to scores of eager youngsters in addition at-large furthers the ideals of equality, Fly your Flags has joined the annual ValleyFest to literature about OutSpokane, Odyssey inclusion and understanding that we hope on Fridays! celebration”, states Francisca Rapier, Youth Center, SAN, local Pride Calendars, to share” OutSpokane Board Secretary, “and we and Stonewall issues. Letters to the Editor Page 2 Stonewall News Northwest October 1, 2006 Voices Spokane Olson, Corral, Lapalm coura- “Two Women and a Poodle” Dissolving geously rise above complacency Differences One Person at a Time Commentary by Steven Sanford An event took place on Tuesday, September 26th, that went mostly unnoticed as far as the Spokane public was concerned. Although many of the local media were invited and showed up, worthwhile coverage was minimal to non-existent. To me, the story here wasn’t about the possibility of handcuffed protestors getting dragged out and arrested; it was about three students unwilling to sit on the sidelines of social complacency. They did more than just complain about an injustice, they acted, and they did so – peacefully - from a principled position of social equality. The event was a sit- in protest of the Don’t ask, Don’t Tell policy (DADT) that bans gay men and women from serving in our country’s military. While the sit- in wasn’t as sensational Roby and Dotti with their poodle Rylee (bottom center) are surrounded by attendees and violent as some of at St Mark’s Lutheran Church for a reception following their workshop at Unitarian the 60’s protests, this Universalist Church. protest was against a by Bonnie Aspen, Vision Committee incredible journey. policy, not a war, and Board Member St. Mark’s Lutheran Church hosted a there was still a clear reception and dinner on Sunday night to message and a hand (SPOKANE) Sponsored by PFLAG welcome these “Two Women and a Poodle” full of people who had and the Unitarian Universalist Pride to our Spokane community. Monday the conviction to take a Team, two women on a year-long night’s event featured an hour long talk by day out of their lives to Spokane police issue trespassing citations to Ryan Olson, nationwide trip stopped in Spokane on Roby and Dotti chronicling the mission Dana Corral and Nick Lapam. take a stand and make September 18th and 19th to share their and journey they’ve undertaken. story. Robynne Sapp and Dotti Berry live a statement, even at the risk of arrest. have been serving in the war in Iraq for To get everyone in the mood, in Blaine, Washington with their standard At least for Ryan Olson, Dana Corral and extended periods of time and unable to participants were “drummed” into the poodle Rylee Joy and have spent the last Nick Lapalm that day began at 11:00 in take much needed time off to be home event by the Giant Ass Drum Corp and year traveling across the country. They the morning when the trio and their with their families and loved ones due to then treated to a special piece written to have been engaged in a mission to change supporters entered the local U.S. Armed the shortage of replacements. celebrate the transgender community. themselves and the world, one person at Forces Recruitment Office located in the “We are here to support our troops.” Local vocalist/pianist, Andrea Goddard a time. This stop in Spokane was one of Lincoln Heights Shopping Center on 29th Olson states, “There is a fundamental the last speaking engagements on their Please see TWO WOMEN page 12 Avenue in Spokane. Olson, Corral and belief that we share with the rest of Lapalm weren’t alone. Olson estimated America when we say that we believe more than 80 men and women in 30 cities our troops to be brave, honorable and across the nation were in a coordinated courageous young women and men. I movement. don’t think anyone would disagree that These men and women represent to be in the armed forces takes integrity, an organization known as Soulforce, honesty, and above all a sense of duty to Olson explained, a group that follows the one’s country. Unfortunately, at a time life and teachings of both Gandhi and when we need soldiers more than ever, King in non-violent demonstrations in I and countless others would be turned order to end institutional and religiously away from the armed forces because of based discrimination against lesbian, a policy known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell gay, bisexual and transgender people. which bars any out gay or lesbian soldier Earlier in the month, other Soulforce from serving.” protestors were met with closed and Though political in his statement locked recruiting offices in Austin, Times of equality, justice and freedom from Square, Shreveport, and Chicago. In other discrimination, there is an underlying locations, some were arrested while current of compassion and human others detained and released without dignity that is at the heart of his crusade.