The Stranger: We Asked, He Told
July 28, 2005
Esser didn't flinch when I asked him about his sexuality. He didn't sound uncomfortable, didn't say the word "gay" like it was something sour in his mouth. Instead he sounded like a lot of modern men who sometimes get mistaken for gay and don't take umbrage, but also don't like to leave anyone with a mistaken impression.
"Are you gay?" I asked.
"I am not," Esser replied, saying he is straight.
"Are you gay?" I asked.
"I am not," Esser replied, saying he is straight.
Seattle Times: Opinion: Following Canada
July 26, 2005
The United States has slowly started on the path toward legal gay marriage. Massachusetts allows it. Connecticut and Vermont have civil unions.
Gay marriage continues its contentious history in Washington following the gay-rights bill's narrow defeat in the Legislature. That does not mean the issue should be abandoned. The Legislature should revisit the issue next session.
Americans need to get past the politics and cultural knee-jerk reactions to gay marriage and join our northern neighbors in allowing same-sex couples to legally marry.
Gay marriage continues its contentious history in Washington following the gay-rights bill's narrow defeat in the Legislature. That does not mean the issue should be abandoned. The Legislature should revisit the issue next session.
Americans need to get past the politics and cultural knee-jerk reactions to gay marriage and join our northern neighbors in allowing same-sex couples to legally marry.
Tacoma News Tribune: The ethics of ‘outing’: National debate resonates here
July 24, 2005
The defeat of gay rights legislation in Olympia, a newspaper report “outing” a prominent politician and advice from a syndicated ethics columnist have sparked a heated debate about whether the sexul orientation of public officials is fair game.
And it’s all leading to predictions that more political outings are on the way in Washington state.
Gossip about politicians’ sex lives is nothing new in political circles. But since a bill barring discrimination against gays went down to an emotional one-vote defeat in April and The Spokesman-Review newspaper outed Spokane Mayor Jim West in May, Washington state’s political world has grappled with the questions of whether – or when – the public has a right to know about politicians’ sexual orientation.
Those questions prompted state Sen. Ken Jacobsen (D-Seattle) to write a letter to a New York Times ethics columnist asking about when an elected official’s private life should become public record.
And it’s all leading to predictions that more political outings are on the way in Washington state.
Gossip about politicians’ sex lives is nothing new in political circles. But since a bill barring discrimination against gays went down to an emotional one-vote defeat in April and The Spokesman-Review newspaper outed Spokane Mayor Jim West in May, Washington state’s political world has grappled with the questions of whether – or when – the public has a right to know about politicians’ sexual orientation.
Those questions prompted state Sen. Ken Jacobsen (D-Seattle) to write a letter to a New York Times ethics columnist asking about when an elected official’s private life should become public record.
Kitsap Sun: Black-and -white versus shades of gray
July 22, 2005
Since 1916, the Suquamish United Church of Christ has been a cozy presence on a residential corner in North Kitsap. The once-brown clapboard church is now a soft white with peaceful stained glass windows and a steeple with a bell.
A typical American church -- until you open the doors.
Over the last two decades, the loudest Christian voices have come from the right, overshadowing the smaller group of more liberal Christians.
Take for instance the gay marriage debate. Conservative Christians believe such a union is a violation of Scripture. But there are Christians in Kitsap and around the country who believe the Bible is not black and white on gay marriage or other social issues.
A typical American church -- until you open the doors.
Over the last two decades, the loudest Christian voices have come from the right, overshadowing the smaller group of more liberal Christians.
Take for instance the gay marriage debate. Conservative Christians believe such a union is a violation of Scripture. But there are Christians in Kitsap and around the country who believe the Bible is not black and white on gay marriage or other social issues.
Seattle Times: When outing is out of line
July 20, 2005
"I think an outing campaign is coming here," says Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle. "The tension's so damned high right now. Ever since the gay-rights bill failed by one vote, there's been a lot of anger."
In Sunday's New York Times Magazine, Jacobsen wrote in a letter to "The Ethicist" advice column that some Washington state lawmakers are considering outing fellow legislators "who oppose gay rights but are rumored to be gay."
"What are the ethics in this case?" Jacobsen wrote.
Jacobsen was more specific on the phone.
"There's been talk about outing one of the Republicans in the state Senate," he said.
In Sunday's New York Times Magazine, Jacobsen wrote in a letter to "The Ethicist" advice column that some Washington state lawmakers are considering outing fellow legislators "who oppose gay rights but are rumored to be gay."
"What are the ethics in this case?" Jacobsen wrote.
Jacobsen was more specific on the phone.
"There's been talk about outing one of the Republicans in the state Senate," he said.
Spokesman Review: Challenge to partner benefits misses goal
July 15, 2005
Effort opposing coverage to unmarried couples lacks 121 signatures by
the numbers
Invalid signatures Partner benefits opponents turned in 6,532
signatures, but only 4,982 were valid. That was an invalidation rate
of about 23 percent, slightly below average.
The referendum drive to repeal Spokane's domestic partner benefits
ordinance has failed.
County elections officials say sponsors of the referendum petition
fell 121 signatures short of the number needed to qualify for the
ballot.
Attorney Michael Smith, of Choice of the People, which had circulated
the petitions, said he didn't know what the group will do next.
"That won't be the end of it," said Smith, who added he had not yet
received formal notice on the shortfall in signatures. "We're talking.
We haven't made any decisions."
The referendum targeted an ordinance the City Council passed in April,
which extends city employee benefits to domestic partners of unmarried
employees the way the city has for years offered benefits to its
employees' spouses. Under the ordinance, participants would have to
sign an affidavit declaring their partnership. Extension of the
benefits, however, is subject to contract negotiations for all but 17
city workers who are not represented by unions, along with the City
Council.
Proponents say the ordinance provides equity to unmarried employees.
Opponents said it condones cohabitation, which they believe is morally
wrong.
The ordinance passed 5-2 in April and became law after Mayor Jim West
declined to either veto or sign it. Choice of the People quickly began
circulating referendum petitions to give voters a chance to overturn
the ordinance in an upcoming fall election.
the numbers
Invalid signatures Partner benefits opponents turned in 6,532
signatures, but only 4,982 were valid. That was an invalidation rate
of about 23 percent, slightly below average.
The referendum drive to repeal Spokane's domestic partner benefits
ordinance has failed.
County elections officials say sponsors of the referendum petition
fell 121 signatures short of the number needed to qualify for the
ballot.
Attorney Michael Smith, of Choice of the People, which had circulated
the petitions, said he didn't know what the group will do next.
"That won't be the end of it," said Smith, who added he had not yet
received formal notice on the shortfall in signatures. "We're talking.
We haven't made any decisions."
The referendum targeted an ordinance the City Council passed in April,
which extends city employee benefits to domestic partners of unmarried
employees the way the city has for years offered benefits to its
employees' spouses. Under the ordinance, participants would have to
sign an affidavit declaring their partnership. Extension of the
benefits, however, is subject to contract negotiations for all but 17
city workers who are not represented by unions, along with the City
Council.
Proponents say the ordinance provides equity to unmarried employees.
Opponents said it condones cohabitation, which they believe is morally
wrong.
The ordinance passed 5-2 in April and became law after Mayor Jim West
declined to either veto or sign it. Choice of the People quickly began
circulating referendum petitions to give voters a chance to overturn
the ordinance in an upcoming fall election.
Seattle Gay News: Equal Rights Washington appoints new executive director
Fran Dunaway: I have been working in the film and video industry over the past nine years. I have my own company, but I am taking a hiatus to work on this important equal rights work. I have been on the Human Rights Campaign board of governors for the past four years. I was co-chair for the HRC Dinner for two years. I am currently co-chair of the [Seattle HRC] steering committee, but my term expires at the first of October and I will not be re-upping. I just resigned from the HRC's board upon taking this job, but my term was up in October anyway.
I have lived in the Northwest since 1987. I lived in Bellingham and was actually on the steering committee of Hands Off Washington in Bellingham. That was kind of my first foray into the political arena; keeping Lon Mabon out of our state. Then, I decided to apply for the executive director job for Equal Rights Washington primarily because I have been extremely impressed by the work and growth of this organization. This organization is run by primarily volunteers and a volunteer board that has thought long about what ERW should be&. I am excited about the opportunity to take it to the next level. I have a lot of organization systems processing skills. I look forward to making ERW a statewide organization and working as a coalition builder among LGBT organizations statewide as well as nationally.
I have lived in the Northwest since 1987. I lived in Bellingham and was actually on the steering committee of Hands Off Washington in Bellingham. That was kind of my first foray into the political arena; keeping Lon Mabon out of our state. Then, I decided to apply for the executive director job for Equal Rights Washington primarily because I have been extremely impressed by the work and growth of this organization. This organization is run by primarily volunteers and a volunteer board that has thought long about what ERW should be&. I am excited about the opportunity to take it to the next level. I have a lot of organization systems processing skills. I look forward to making ERW a statewide organization and working as a coalition builder among LGBT organizations statewide as well as nationally.
Seattle Gay News: Join Lambda for July 30 neighborhood canvass in Bellevue
On Saturday, July 30, Lambda Legal will be coordinating a door-to-door canvass in Bellevue and other eastside suburbs of Seattle where the state senator voted NO on the LGBT anti-discrimination bill earlier this year. We need volunteers to:
1.) go door-to-door in teams of two or,
2.) help debrief the door-to-door canvassers and collect data when they return.
This kind of person-to-person advocacy is important and fun - and is not as difficult as it may sound.
All volunteers will receive training on the 30th before they are sent out and will be conducting their surveys from a written questionnaire.
1.) go door-to-door in teams of two or,
2.) help debrief the door-to-door canvassers and collect data when they return.
This kind of person-to-person advocacy is important and fun - and is not as difficult as it may sound.
All volunteers will receive training on the 30th before they are sent out and will be conducting their surveys from a written questionnaire.
KOMO TV: Passionate Pastor Talks About Making Waves
July 14, 2005
Pastor Ken Hutcherson has been called a hate-filled preacher, an egotistical, and an intolerant bully.
But others say Pastor Hutcherson is simply bringing clarity to the rules of the scripture.
Whatever you believe, Pastor Hutcherson is making some big waves and said he loves every minute of it.
You can learn a lot about him by walking through his office. He is a hunter and there are a lot of animal trophies on his walls
"God has given us this country and has given us animals to subdue and train, and that's what I do and I enjoy it." I asked him, "You think God gave us animals to subdue and train?" Pastor Hutcherson replied, "Oh yeah, you bet, to please man."
But others say Pastor Hutcherson is simply bringing clarity to the rules of the scripture.
Whatever you believe, Pastor Hutcherson is making some big waves and said he loves every minute of it.
You can learn a lot about him by walking through his office. He is a hunter and there are a lot of animal trophies on his walls
"God has given us this country and has given us animals to subdue and train, and that's what I do and I enjoy it." I asked him, "You think God gave us animals to subdue and train?" Pastor Hutcherson replied, "Oh yeah, you bet, to please man."
Bremerton Sun: OUTKITSAP vs. Tyranny of the Majority
July 10, 2005
The next event in Kitsap's schedule of summer festivals is KITSAP PRIDE 2005, to be held this coming Saturday, July 16, from noon to 5 p.m. at Evergreen Rotary Park in Bremerton. It's a celebration/festival/picnic featuring live music, food vendors, speakers, games, and information booths set up by Kitsap businesses and non profit organizations.
The event is sponsored by OUTKITSAP, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the health and social welfare of those Kitsap citizens whose sexual leanings may be different from your own. If you believe in their goal — "Equal rights. No more. No less." — you may want to stop by and support that modest end.
In their efforts to achieve that end, OUTKITSAP members and their friends face a daunting and sometimes frightening obstacle in the form of excessively conservative residents who, when they come upon something that makes them angry or squeamish — burning the American flag, for example, or same-sex marriage — agitate for a Constitutional amendment to solve what they imagine as a problem.
The event is sponsored by OUTKITSAP, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the health and social welfare of those Kitsap citizens whose sexual leanings may be different from your own. If you believe in their goal — "Equal rights. No more. No less." — you may want to stop by and support that modest end.
In their efforts to achieve that end, OUTKITSAP members and their friends face a daunting and sometimes frightening obstacle in the form of excessively conservative residents who, when they come upon something that makes them angry or squeamish — burning the American flag, for example, or same-sex marriage — agitate for a Constitutional amendment to solve what they imagine as a problem.
Seattle Gay News: Rep. Ed Murray, City council aide turned State Representative took up the torch
July 1, 2005
Ever since “back in the day” when Rep. Ed Murray was learning the ropes of municipal politics as aide to one of our city’s more popular Seattle City Council members, Martha Choe, Edward B. Murray has boldly advocated for the rights of our state’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender citizens. Upon the death of the beloved Rep. Cal Anderson, Murray left city government and was appointed to the Washington State House of Representatives in October 1995. Ensuring that Cal’s vacated seat continue being held by a Gay legislator, Ed picked up the torch and ran with it like he was a natural. Under Rep. Murray’s leadership, our state’s GLBT citizens now have domestic partner benefits for state employees, a model anti-bullying bill to protect children in schools, and he continues to fight the good fight for the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 1515) so that every GLBT person in the state is protected from discrimination.
Seattle Gay News: Rep. Joe McDermott,Would-be civil engineer still builds bridges, but of a different sort
Since his election to the State House of Representatives in November of 2000, J. Joseph McDermott has enjoyed widespread support for his candidacy – having been reelected twice in 2002 and, again, in 2004. He has come to be known by colleagues and members of his district alike as someone of conviction, a person who does what he believes is right.
He led an effort to ban smoking in public places, despite criticism from business interests and the conservative media who claimed the effort was too far reaching. He has also doggedly worked to fund education and has been critical of WASL testing, which he fears may not be an accurate test of intelligence for all students.
As a member of the Education Committee, he helped to pass a statewide anti-bullying law for schools. The measure was popular with the region’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community who saw the bill as an important step to stemming the rate of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. McDermott has also worked to pass the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 1515) and other pieces of legislation that are important to LGBT civil rights.
He led an effort to ban smoking in public places, despite criticism from business interests and the conservative media who claimed the effort was too far reaching. He has also doggedly worked to fund education and has been critical of WASL testing, which he fears may not be an accurate test of intelligence for all students.
As a member of the Education Committee, he helped to pass a statewide anti-bullying law for schools. The measure was popular with the region’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community who saw the bill as an important step to stemming the rate of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. McDermott has also worked to pass the Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination Bill (HB 1515) and other pieces of legislation that are important to LGBT civil rights.
Seattle Gay News: Preparing for the state Supreme Court decision on marriage equality
The Washington State Supreme Court is expected to hand down a decision on the so-called “same-sex marriage case” soon. This decision can come as soon as this week or as late as the end of the calendar year. But whenever it comes, we, as a community, need to be prepared with a response.
We are already working with Seattle Parks Department to have a spirited community gathering starting at 5:00 p.m. in Volunteer Park on the day of decision, whenever that will be.
The court might issue a bad decision, one that says DOMA is constitutional.
The court might issue a “Vermont”” decision, one wherein the court punts to the legislature and allows the legislature to decide how to define the marriage rights of same-sex couples.
Hopefully the court will issue a “Massachusetts” decision, where the Supreme Court strikes down DOMA and declares that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights, full and equal marriage rights, that mixed-sex couples now enjoy.
We are already working with Seattle Parks Department to have a spirited community gathering starting at 5:00 p.m. in Volunteer Park on the day of decision, whenever that will be.
The court might issue a bad decision, one that says DOMA is constitutional.
The court might issue a “Vermont”” decision, one wherein the court punts to the legislature and allows the legislature to decide how to define the marriage rights of same-sex couples.
Hopefully the court will issue a “Massachusetts” decision, where the Supreme Court strikes down DOMA and declares that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights, full and equal marriage rights, that mixed-sex couples now enjoy.
