Seattle Times: University Place school district bans novel about gay teens
November 20, 2005
University Place school officials have removed a book about gay teens from the district's library shelves following parents' complaints.
In banning "Geography Club," Superintendent Patti Banks said she was alarmed by the "romanticized" portrayal of a teen meeting a stranger at night in a park after meeting the person — revealed to be a gay classmate — in an Internet chatroom. She said her decision was not due to the homosexual theme of the novel by Brent Hartinger of Tacoma.
"Geography Club" is one of 10 nominees for the Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2006. It's received favorable reviews and been placed on numerous adolescent reading lists.
Although the novel has been challenged in other schools for its sexual content, Hartinger said this issue with his book is a first.
"The reason gay teens are drawn to the Internet is that's a safe place to explore their identity without being harassed or bullied," Hartinger said. "It's ironic my book would be pulled for this reason, contributing to this atmosphere of silence and gay intolerance."
In banning "Geography Club," Superintendent Patti Banks said she was alarmed by the "romanticized" portrayal of a teen meeting a stranger at night in a park after meeting the person — revealed to be a gay classmate — in an Internet chatroom. She said her decision was not due to the homosexual theme of the novel by Brent Hartinger of Tacoma.
"Geography Club" is one of 10 nominees for the Evergreen Young Adult Book Award 2006. It's received favorable reviews and been placed on numerous adolescent reading lists.
Although the novel has been challenged in other schools for its sexual content, Hartinger said this issue with his book is a first.
"The reason gay teens are drawn to the Internet is that's a safe place to explore their identity without being harassed or bullied," Hartinger said. "It's ironic my book would be pulled for this reason, contributing to this atmosphere of silence and gay intolerance."
Seattle P-I: Gregoire refuses to push gay marriage
November 19, 2005
But even in the gay-friendly heart of the county that almost single-handedly delivered her victory in one of the closest gubernatorial elections in history, Gregoire refused to endorse same-sex marriage.
She noted the much-anticipated state Supreme Court ruling on the issue as important, but she did not reveal her personal opinion on the subject.
Gregoire said she believes in equality for everyone, but she deferred to the courts when asked whether equality was tantamount to marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
She noted the much-anticipated state Supreme Court ruling on the issue as important, but she did not reveal her personal opinion on the subject.
Gregoire said she believes in equality for everyone, but she deferred to the courts when asked whether equality was tantamount to marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
Spokesman Review: Couple given Civil Libertarian Award
November 18, 2005
A Spokane couple is among 19 lesbian and gay couples who have been honored this month with the ACLU-Washington's 2005 Civil Libertarian Award.
Marge Ballack and Diane Lantz, who have been together for 26 years, joined one of two ACLU lawsuits seeking the right to marry. Last fall, judges in both King County and Thurston County Superior Court ruled that Washington's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. An appeal of the cases is pending before the Washington Supreme Court.
Lantz and Ballack — who have raised two children together and have six grandchildren — will receive their award during the annual ACLU Bill of Rights Celebration Dinner this Saturday in Seattle.
Marge Ballack and Diane Lantz, who have been together for 26 years, joined one of two ACLU lawsuits seeking the right to marry. Last fall, judges in both King County and Thurston County Superior Court ruled that Washington's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. An appeal of the cases is pending before the Washington Supreme Court.
Lantz and Ballack — who have raised two children together and have six grandchildren — will receive their award during the annual ACLU Bill of Rights Celebration Dinner this Saturday in Seattle.
Seattle P-I: Gregoire address to gays is a good start
When Gov. Christine Gregoire steps to the podium this morning in front of the first national gathering of openly gay officeholders and powerhouses ever to meet in Seattle, she'll be standing right where she should -- on the side of equality for all.
But Gregoire's welcoming speech to the 21st annual Gay and Lesbian Leadership Conference was no foregone conclusion. In all its years and in all of the places the group has gathered, no other governor has formally addressed the group.
It's more than a symbolic appearance. It's smart. Attendees do business and wield power even in places where gays not only have trouble holding office but even holding onto their heads.
But Gregoire's welcoming speech to the 21st annual Gay and Lesbian Leadership Conference was no foregone conclusion. In all its years and in all of the places the group has gathered, no other governor has formally addressed the group.
It's more than a symbolic appearance. It's smart. Attendees do business and wield power even in places where gays not only have trouble holding office but even holding onto their heads.
KOMO TV: 'We Are A Great Nation Only If We Believe In Equal Justice'
It was a first, and some say a big political risk, for Governor Christine Gregoire.
She became the first governor in the country to speak to the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute. About 200 institute members are meeting in downtown Seattle this weekend.
"I come to you today to say, 'don't you ever give up,' " Gov. Gregoire told the group.
"The governor carries a lot of weight when she stands up there and says, 'I believe in what you're doing. I believe in you as public officials and I can't imagine that you don't have equality in your jurisdiction, or throughout the country or in the State of Washington,' " said Chuck Wolfe, President of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute.
She became the first governor in the country to speak to the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute. About 200 institute members are meeting in downtown Seattle this weekend.
"I come to you today to say, 'don't you ever give up,' " Gov. Gregoire told the group.
"The governor carries a lot of weight when she stands up there and says, 'I believe in what you're doing. I believe in you as public officials and I can't imagine that you don't have equality in your jurisdiction, or throughout the country or in the State of Washington,' " said Chuck Wolfe, President of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute.
Seattle Times: Gay and lesbian officials to meet
State Rep. Joe McDermott, a Democrat from West Seattle and one of several openly gay elected officials in Washington, said he worried privately that coming out might hurt his long-held desire to run for office. "I look back now and think how unfortunate that I even thought my orientation might make it more difficult serving in public office, and how great that it didn't."
The presence of gays and lesbians in elected office gives greater voice to the gay community on issues that go beyond police, potholes and pensions, bringing influence to such policy matters as domestic partnerships, civil-rights benefits for gays and lesbians and gay marriage, experts say.
The presence of gays and lesbians in elected office gives greater voice to the gay community on issues that go beyond police, potholes and pensions, bringing influence to such policy matters as domestic partnerships, civil-rights benefits for gays and lesbians and gay marriage, experts say.
Olympian: Gay parent granted rights
November 5, 2005
By acknowledging the rights of the nonbiological parent in a same-sex relationship, the ruling bolstered hopes of gay couples with and without children as they await a Supreme Court ruling on equal marriage rights.
Jeff Kingsbury, artistic director at Olympia's Capital Playhouse theater, and his partner are among 19 couples who filed lawsuits last year for the same protections, including parental rights, afforded to married heterosexual couples.
Thursday's ruling was a shot in the arm, said Kingsbury, who also is running for a seat on the Olympia City Council.
"I think that's clear evidence the Supreme Court recognized that relationship as a marriage," he said. "That parent needs to be treated the same way any parent going through a divorce might be. I think that's how the Supreme Court might be thinking.
"I think it's a step forward regardless of how they rule on our particular lawsuit."
David Walddon of Olympia, who is raising two adopted children with his partner, Jeff Walddon, was less enthusiastic.
"It's a little step toward full citizenship," Walddon said. "If we had the same rights as heterosexuals and could be married, these would be moot point issues."
Walddon and his partner adopted a son, now 3 years old, and a daughter, now 2 months old, as a couple. Both parents' names are on the birth certificates.
But David and Jeff Walddon aren't linked by marriage: They only are related through their children, which creates some problems, David Walddon said.
"I just really believe you can't have it both ways," he said. "You can't treat us and our families one way with respect and then say we're not due all our rights."
Jeff Kingsbury, artistic director at Olympia's Capital Playhouse theater, and his partner are among 19 couples who filed lawsuits last year for the same protections, including parental rights, afforded to married heterosexual couples.
Thursday's ruling was a shot in the arm, said Kingsbury, who also is running for a seat on the Olympia City Council.
"I think that's clear evidence the Supreme Court recognized that relationship as a marriage," he said. "That parent needs to be treated the same way any parent going through a divorce might be. I think that's how the Supreme Court might be thinking.
"I think it's a step forward regardless of how they rule on our particular lawsuit."
David Walddon of Olympia, who is raising two adopted children with his partner, Jeff Walddon, was less enthusiastic.
"It's a little step toward full citizenship," Walddon said. "If we had the same rights as heterosexuals and could be married, these would be moot point issues."
Walddon and his partner adopted a son, now 3 years old, and a daughter, now 2 months old, as a couple. Both parents' names are on the birth certificates.
But David and Jeff Walddon aren't linked by marriage: They only are related through their children, which creates some problems, David Walddon said.
"I just really believe you can't have it both ways," he said. "You can't treat us and our families one way with respect and then say we're not due all our rights."
Seattle Times: Editorial: Pointing the way toward gay marriage
November 4, 2005
THURSDAY'S gay-custody decision by the Washington Supreme Court shows why Washington needs to legalize same-sex marriage. Without it, the court was forced to choose between accepting a bad result by following the law and achieving a good result by inventing the fuzzy doctrine of the common-law parent.
The case was about a lesbian couple that decided to have a child. One had a baby through a donor. The daughter was born in 1995 and raised by the two women. After several years, the couple split up. The birth mother kept the daughter. The question was whether the estranged partner had a legal right to visit the girl.
The case was about a lesbian couple that decided to have a child. One had a baby through a donor. The daughter was born in 1995 and raised by the two women. After several years, the couple split up. The birth mother kept the daughter. The question was whether the estranged partner had a legal right to visit the girl.
Seattle P-I: State Supreme Court rules lesbian may seek parental rights
November 3, 2005
The state Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a woman who raised a child from birth to age 6 while in a relationship with the girl's biological mother can seek rights as a "de facto parent," essentially creating a new class of parent in the state.
"Today we hold that our common law recognizes the status of de facto parents and places them in parity with biological and adoptive parents in our state," the court, led by Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, wrote in the 7-2 decision. "Neither the United States Supreme Court nor this court has ever held that 'family' or 'parents' are terms limited in their definition by a strict biological prerequisite."
"Today we hold that our common law recognizes the status of de facto parents and places them in parity with biological and adoptive parents in our state," the court, led by Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, wrote in the 7-2 decision. "Neither the United States Supreme Court nor this court has ever held that 'family' or 'parents' are terms limited in their definition by a strict biological prerequisite."
