http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/index.cfm Gay, Lesbian News National and International Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT en-us http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page1.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page1.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Pope Benedict XVI touched off an international controversy when he declared to visiting British Catholic prelates on February 1 that LGBT rights legislation pending in parliament is sinful. In remarks to 35 Roman Catholic bishops visiting Rome from England and Wales, the pope said that Britain's Equality Bill would "i http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page2.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page2.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer The U.S. military's top uniformed officer, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen, said the armed services should lift the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) ban on openly Gay persons because 'it's the right thing to do.' 'I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces me http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page3.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page3.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer In January, a group of 45 LGBT activists from around the country converged on the historic Highlander Research and Educational Center near Knoxville, Tennessee for the Radical Minds Retreat. The idea behind the retreat was to get all the LGBT activists together who were sick of delays, compromises and excuses and brainstorm ideas abou http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page4.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page4.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer President Obama's 2011 budget, released by the White House on February 1, is already controversial. The likely effect of the $3.83 trillion budget on the U.S. economy will no doubt be debated for weeks in Congress, and perhaps for longer than that in the media. The key provisions that affect the LGBT community can alre http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page5.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page5.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer Three cigarettes a day. I'm pleasantly surprised I've been able to get this far. I have not lapsed in my tapering plan once - it hasn't been easy, but it has also not been as difficult as I was anticipating. I'm beginning to see myself as a nonsmoker. In the past week, I have become much less reliant on cigarettes, and I am gettin http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page6.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page6.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Utah state legislators concluded what may prove to be a history-making deal on February 1, with Democrats promising not to bring up new LGBT rights bills till 2011, and Republicans dropping their efforts to roll back anti-discrimination ordinances in Salt Lake City. While Equality Utah applauded the compromise, many http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page7.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page7.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer The Hawaii House of Representatives indefinitely postponed action on the state's civil unions bill, effectively killing it for this year. The action came on an unrecorded voice vote on January 29. On February 2, Lambda Legal and ACLU Hawaii announced that they are planning legal action against the stat http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page8.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page8.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Leslie Robinson - SGN Contributing Writer The Word Warriors website, a project of Wayne State University, aims to retrieve expressive English words from obscurity. Hoping to re-inject some colorful words into conversation and writing, Word Warriors released its 2010 list of neglected but useful words. I'm willing to help the word worriers. But wil http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page9.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page9.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT Mayor Luzhkov lashes out at Gays again Homophobic Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov is at it again. 'For several years, Moscow has experienced unprecedented pressure to conduct a Gay pride parade, which cannot be called anything but a Satanic act,' he said during a public appearance January 25. 'We have banned such parades and will ban them in the fut http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page11.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page11.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer Watertown Coffee Queer Mixer January 28 Watertown Coffee On January 28, about 60 people gathered at Watertown Coffee (550 12th Ave.) for the Watertown Coffee Queer Mixer. The mixer was an event open to all ages. Events like this are uncommon on Capitol Hill, as most LGBTQ spaces are limited to http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page12.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page12.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery are legitimate medical treatments, qualify as 'medical care' under the Internal Revenue Code, and are tax deductible, the US Tax Court ruled on February 2. The court's decision in O'Donnabhain v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue wrote a happy ending to a nine-year legal batt http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page13.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page13.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT In the Super Bowl, a kiss is just a kiss by Jennifer Vanasco - SGN Contributing Writer In the ad, the two men are watching the Big Game. They are scruffy, wearing football jerseys, and appear to be straight. A roar rises from the TV. The men cheer and both reach for the chips. Their hands touch. Their eyes lock. And then, with http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page14.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page14.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Beau Burriola - SGN European Correspondent Tick and tick and tick and tick and. The second hand of the kitchen clock ticked loudly in unison with my heartbeat. Each second was swelling more and more with the raw anger of every word we were both holding back now, biting our lips, not speaking. He sat to my right, staring off at some memory j http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page15.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page15.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Speaking to the National Prayer Breakfast on February , President Barack Obama strongly condemned anti-Gay laws both here and abroad. "We may disagree about Gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target Gays and Lesbians for who they are, whether it is here in the United States or and more ext http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page16.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page16.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer On January 26, the Greater Seattle Business Association Young Professionals with Pride (YPP) celebrated their one-year anniversary at the Rosebud Restaurant and Bar (719 E. Pike St.) on Capitol Hill. About 35 young professionals showed up to mix, mingle and sip complimentary wine while they networked for more business contacts. http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page17.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page17.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Michael Raitt - SGN Contributing Writer As a child/adolescent, were you called a faggot or a dyke? Were you threatened or physically attacked? Did you feel isolated, or were you excluded because people perceived you as being GLBTQ? Was fear a motivating factor to keep you in the closet to avoid being labeled as Gay and, therefore, subjected to verbal and/or physic http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page18.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page18.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer Watertown Coffee Queer Mixer January 28 Watertown Coffee On January 28, about 60 people gathered at Watertown Coffee (550 12th Ave.) for the Watertown Coffee Queer Mixer. The mixer was an event open to all ages. Events like this are uncommon on Capitol Hill, as most LGBTQ spaces are limited to those 21 ye http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page21.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page21.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Bebe Zahara Benet - SGN Contributing Writer The reigning drag queen from last season's RuPaul's Drag Race follows the new season each week with a conversation with the latest eliminated contestant. Have you missed me? I've missed you! It's been nearly a year since I won the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo, and I've been one busy dr http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page22.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page22.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer Elton John and Billy Joel's Face 2 Face tour February 3 Key Arena After a six-year hiatus and rescheduled Key Arena concert dates, Elton John and Billy Joel returned to the Emerald City on their Face 2 Face tour. It's not often that one gets the opportunity to see two legends perform on the s http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page23.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page23.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Milton W. Hamlin - SGN AandE Writer South Pacific 5th Avenue Theatre Through February 21 Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical South Pacific is one of the most honored musicals in Broadway history. The original 1949 production won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and a ton of Tony Awards for production and performances. The recent http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page24.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page24.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer Love Song ArtsWest Through February 20 Are there new ways to talk about love? The ArtsWest production of Love Song by John Kolvenbach might be a new way. Love Song seems to say that love can enliven your life - even if it's made up. That could be one way to look at the unrequited love affairs you h http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page25.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page25.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer La Fête February 6 and 13 at 7:30 PM Century Ballroom La Fête, Century Ballroom's newest cabaret, is a show that you do not want to miss. Performed Saturday nights inside the historic OddFellows Hall in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, La Fête (French for "the party") is an elegant di http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page26.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page26.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Rod Parke - SGN AandE Writer Itzhak Perlman concert of Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn January 27 Benaroya Hall It's harder to write a review of a perfect concert, for flaws are easier to describe than perfection. If only Itzhak Perlman were less good as a conductor than he is as a violinist, I could tell you why, and that http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page27.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page27.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Rod Parke - SGN AandE Writer Organist Hans-Ola Ericsson Monday, February 1st Benaroya Hall I came home from this recital so fired up that I could have stayed up all night writing this review. To preserve domestic tranquility with my partner, I did not do so. What got me so inspired? To answer, I must start at t http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page28.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page28.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Mercy Moosemuzzle - SGN Contributing Writer Nicaragua Mercy, Cuteness and Equality made a trip to Leon, Nicaragua, to help Mercy's sister Jubilation move back to the States. Equality's excitement at how different everything was burst out on the way from the airport to their hotel. "No curfew," she pointed out. Indeed, there was a lot of street li http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page21b.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page21b.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer The Violet Hour Seattle Public Theater Through February 21 Let's say you're psychic and think you know the future. What if there's a pivotal moment and you think something terrible will happen to your friend if you do this huge favor? Would you do the huge favor, or not do it because you don't want http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page22b.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page22b.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer Lost in Yonkers Village Theatre Issaquah through February 28 Everett, March 5-28 We should remember during all this financial despair that, years ago, there were no such things as Social Security or welfare for hurting families. And it's not such a long time ago, really - the 1930s. http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page31.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page31.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Albert Rodriguez - SGN AandE Writer Purr Oscar party March 7 Purr To match the number of Best Picture nominations for this year's Academy Awards, here are 10 reasons to attend the upcoming Oscars Party at Purr on March 7, co-sponsored by Seattle Gay News. 1) It's free of charge. 2) No dress code http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page32.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page32.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Sara Michelle Fetters - SGN Contributing Writer White Ribbon Now Playing In a small German village a year or so before the start of World War I, strange things are happening. The Doctor (Rainer Bock) has a not-so-accidental accident while riding which sends him to the hospital. The Farmer's (Branko Samarovski) wife falls to her death t http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page33.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page33.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Scott Rice - SGN Contributing Writer North Face Now Playing The best films, films such as Casablanca, often possess a preternatural blend of cinematic elements. Complicated characters find themselves facing extraordinary obstacles in extreme settings and still find time to fall (back) in love. North Face, written and http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page34.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews38_06/page34.cfm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Staff Writer Inlaws and Outlaws screenings February 5, 8 PM Gay City Health Project; February 6, 2:15 PM MCC Seattle During Freedom to Marry Week, February 5-15, local places of worship, LGBT education and support service centers, and local universities will be offering free screenings of Inlaws