http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/index.cfm Gay, Lesbian News National and International Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT en-us http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page1.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page1.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor President Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to announce support for same-sex marriage, in an interview May 9 with ABC News' Robin Roberts, reversing his long-held position that civil unions are good enough. The president said his support for marriage equality had evolved through conversations wit http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page2.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page2.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor Advocates, entertainers, and organizers from the Seattle-area Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities and their allies have scheduled the first-ever Pride ASIA event at Hing Hay Park in the heart of the Chinatown/International District of Seattle, on Saturday, June 23, from noon to 6 p.m. 'It is our hope http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page3.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page3.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer In a response to President Obama's historic announcement supporting marriage equality, the U.S. House of Representatives 'reaffirmed' its support for DOMA on May 9. In a 245-171 vote, the Republican-controlled House tacked an anti-equality amendment onto an appropriations bill to fund the Commerce and Justice depart http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page4.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page4.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Within hours of President Obama's historic May 9 statement on marriage equality, the heads of a number of major labor unions announced their backing for his position. AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka said his union federation was 'proud' to support equality. 'Working people believe in equality and fairn http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page5.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page5.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer One of the unintended consequences of President Obama's marriage announcement is that it caught state Democratic Party chair Dwight Pelz flatfooted. Pelz has been known as a loyal supporter of both the president and the LGBT community, but he has also been known for impulsive comments that get him into trouble. http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page6.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page6.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer The Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) endorsed the Approve Referendum 74 and No on I-1192 campaigns at its May 5 COPE convention. The decision came on a voice vote, with no one opposed. Referendum 74 would ask voters to approve the Marriage Equality Act, giving equal marriage rights to Gay and Le http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page7.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page7.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The Abbey of St. Joan, are beginning their 2012 grant cycle. For the past several years, the Abbey has given grants annually to nonprofit, 501(c)(3), LGBT-focused organizations in Washington State. 'We're excited to do it,' said Sister Glo Euro N'Wei. 'Throughout the year we ra http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page8.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page8.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT Our dear beloved friend Sonny left us on Sunday, May 6, while attending a social party. Sonny expressed to his group of friends that he felt a bit tired. He put his forearm on the table and leaned forward to take a short rest. After some time had passed his friends noticed that he had been resting for quite some time. They attempted to wake him but received no respon http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page9.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page9.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT HILLARY CLINTON AND ILGA TO RECEIVE WORLDPRIDE AWARDS London will be hot this summer! There are the Olympics, Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, and in July Londoners and their guests celebrate WorldPride 2012. As part of the annual Gay party, the Pride London organizing committee will give U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the World LGBT Award and will give the Inter http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page11.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page11.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said on May 9 that he would call a special session of his state's legislature to debate the civil unions bill that died without a vote on May 8. Hickenlooper spokesperson Eric Brown made the announcement moments after President Obama finished his historic ABC News interview supporting http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page12.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page12.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer North Carolina's Amendment One, which bans same-sex marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships, passed by an overwhelming margin on May 8. Although opponents of the measure outspent supporters by two to one, the amendment passed 61% to 39%. President Obama publicly opposed the amendment, even http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page13.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page13.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer The High Court of Mumbai, India, ruled on May 7 that there is no law preventing an adult from having sex reassignment surgery. Bidhan Baruah, a 21-year-old student from Guwahati, Assam state, who prefers the name Swati, told the court she realized early in life that she was born in the wrong sex and preferred to dre http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page14.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page14.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer On the morning of May 9, as U.S. President Barack Obama voiced his support for same-sex marriage in America, news broke that the Argentine Senate approved a gender-rights law granting Transgender adults the right to receive sex-reassignment surgery or hormone therapy as part of their private or public health care plans. The bill http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page15.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page15.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Dr. Joanne Stekler - Special to the SGN This is one of a series of articles focusing on HIV and other STD prevention and care topics for Gay/Bisexual men and Transgender individuals in Seattle and King County. Recently I've been hearing a buzz about hepatitis C that reminds me of HIV. For those of you who don't know, hepat http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page16.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page16.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer Male birth control. Aside from condoms and vasectomies, you're probably asking yourself why you never hear of this. Next, you might ask, why is it relevant to the LGBT community? Still in the early stages of research, non-hormonal birth-control methods designed for men could make birth control for straight couples a http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page17.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page17.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by James Whitely - SGN Staff Writer On Thursday, May 17, Seattle's Ballard neighborhood will celebrate Norwegian Constitution Day, Syttende Mai (17th of May). For the past six years, LGBT Seattleites of Scandinavian descent or ScandiGayvians, if you will have gathered for Syttende Gay to view the annual Syttende Mai parade, celebrate their heritage, and sha http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page18.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page18.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer Gay writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak died May 8 from complications of a stroke, his editor Michael di Capua announced. Sendak was 83. Perhaps the most influential children's book author of the 20th century, Sendak was known for a dark, terrifying, and yet enchanting view of childhood that challenged the sugar-s http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page21.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page21.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor In a city overflowing with talent - and talent competitions sprouting up like weeds - 2012 Pride Idol is making its mark! Overall the 2012 season has been amazing, but the last two weeks in particular have catapulted Pride Idol into a league of its own. Simply put, the Wildcard Round and Grand Finale are poised to be the bes http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page22.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page22.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Chris Azzopardi - SGN Contributing Writer There are bad romances, and then there's the kind Rufus Wainwright had during the making of his latest album, Out of the Game. The troubadour got smitten with super-producer Mark Ronson, who added a pop bend to Wainwright's classical leanings. Love at first sight? Just about. 'One day we finally hung out at t http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page23.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page23.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Maggie Bloodstone - SGN Contributing Writer Rammstein Tacoma Dome May 14 German industrial rockers Rammstein may not be able to perform one of their most notorious songs as it was originally intended this Monday at the Tacoma Dome - not unless their fans can convince their management that singer Till Lindemann and keyboardi http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page24.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page24.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO ACT THEATRE THROUGH MAY 20 How many people these days don't even know who Groucho Marx was? Or have never seen a Marx Brothers movie? You don't have to know anything about the man to enjoy the touring performance of Frank Ferrante as Groucho Marx, but it sure helps. http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page25.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page25.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer The House of Bernarda Alba Arouet (at Ballard Underground) Through May 19 Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca (1898-1936) was a Spanish poet, dramatist, and theater director. His life was cut short, by assassination according to some, since his poetic writing was a cry against t http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page26.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page26.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer THE PITMEN PAINTERS ACT THEATRE THROUGH MAY 20 'We're pitmen!' they announce repeatedly, these proud English miners in The Pitmen Painters at ACT Theatre. They are all coal miners except for one dentist, who decides 'dental mechanic' sounds more coal-like, and they are taking an art appreciation http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page27.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page27.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Rod Parke - SGN AandE Writer Puccini's Madama Butterfly McCaw Hall May 5 While the opening-night performance of Madama Butterfly at Seattle Opera failed to pluck tears from my eyes, there was much to admire and enjoy in this production. Everything in this opera hangs on the soprano who sings and acts the 15-year-old Butterfly http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page28.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page28.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT Two Dames in the same movie? Yes, please! Britain's creme de la creme star in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, centered on a group of retirees who decide to relocate to the less expensive, yet more exotic India. Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith lead an all-star cast in this hilarious comedy that features magnificent scenery - it was shot in Udaipur. Two-time Oscar nominee Tom Wilkin http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page29.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page29.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT What's Happening in Seattle This Week http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page31.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page31.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT By Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer A Language of Their Own ReAct Theatre (at Hugo House) Through May 12 ReAct Theatre often produces material from diverse playwrights and representing diverse audiences. David Hsieh, the artistic director, is both an accomplished director and actor, and in their latest production, A Language of Their Own, by http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page32.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page32.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Sara Michelle Fetters - SGN AandE Writer I wasn't sure what to expect walking into director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp's latest collaboration, a big-budget Hollywood remake of creator Dan Curtis' late 1960s gothic TV soap opera Dark Shadows. Would it be another Ed Wood or Edward Scissorhands, both borderline masterpieces? Would it be a gargantuan misfire http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page33.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page33.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Sara Michelle Fetters - SGN Contributing Writer With the release of The Avengers last Friday and its record-breaking $200-million haul, it's clear that the Summer Movie Season has begun with a very large bang. If bigger, louder, shinier, and more expensive is your cup of tea, Hollywood has boiled up a steamy hot brew specifically for you. Withou http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page36.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page36.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT Take responsibility, Pisces! by Jack Fertig Mercury conjoining Jupiter in Taurus offers new practical ideas. Then he enters Gemini, stirring up new ideas to build on those foundations. Sun and Mercury squaring Neptune can create confusion or inspiration. Conversation and logic will keep things clear. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Even wi http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page38.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page38.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT by Albert Rodriguez - SGN AandE Writer The first of this year's Bumbershoot Festival performers have been unveiled, and it looks like a huge improvement over 2011. (Not to diss on Hall and Oates, whom I love in my spare time, but they weren't major festival headliner material.) Thus far, the lineup for 2012 includes Jane's Addiction, Tony Bennett, Skrillex, Keane, M8 http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page39.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page39.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT Northwest News http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page41.cfm http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews40_19/page41.cfm Fri, 11 May 2012 18:37:00 GMT By Miryam Gordon - SGN AandE Writer The Pitmen Painters ACT Theatre Through May 20 We're pitmen!they announce repeatedly, these proud English coal miners in The Pitmen Painters at ACT Theatre. They are all coal miners except for one dentist, who decides dental mechanic sounds more coal-like, and they are taking an art appr