Friday March 30, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 13 |
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Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
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Letters |
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THANKS SGN Dear SGN, This single 73-year-old Gay gentleman wishes to compliment Liz Highleyman on her very interesting article, "What is the history of ONE, Inc?" which appeared on page 10 in the March 9th edition of the Seatle Gay News. Her article brought back many memories that I had while trying to accept and understand my sexuality. And the magazine, ONE - The Homosexual Viewpoint, helped me a great deal along that journey. I'm happy to say that I still have all my copies of ONE, which go from January 1955 through October 1962. And, like me, they are well-preserved and in good shape! However, understanding my sexuality still didn't protect me from bigotry, prejudice and homophobia -- in housing or employment. I was never married and, as a result, I suffered a great deal of discrimination, especially financially since I was forced to frequently change jobs, and ultimately my career. Frankly, it was one of the main reasons that I decided to move to Seattle from the East Coast in 1980, as I was aware of Initiative 13, which passed in 1979, to protect Gay people from discrimination in housing and employment. I pick up a copy of the SGN every week and enjoy reading a wide variety of articles which are written by your excellent writers. So please keep up the good work! Sincerely, John Mark Dear SGN, Thank you and everyone at SGN for so generously supporting our Seattle Dinner honoring Marsha [Botzer]. Your contributed ads really boosted attendance. All the best, Matt Foreman Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force WAR DEMONSTRATIONS Dear SGN, Thanks for the article, "Thousands march against the war in Iraq" in the March 23 SGN, p.23. But why were there three separate Seattle anti-war marches in two days! It would have been a much more impressive and effective demonstration if the heads of all three groups had quit fighting with each other, combined forces and organized one large protest. Each of the three major organizing groups - ANSWER Coalition, SNOW working with the Church Council and others, and the Troops Home Now contingent - could have marched together and agreed to let each side present their perspective from the podium. Anti-war leaders have got to learn how to work with each other. Military resisters, Iraqi people and the entire movement deserve it. Sincerely, Chris Smith Seattle, WA Dear SGN, I want to congratulate the Seattle City Council for unanimously passing an anti-war resolution on March 19th, 2007. This resolution connected the effects the war is having on our local communities by diverting funds for the war rather than funding health care, education, low-income housing and social services that many in the LGBT community utilize. Washington has lost $10.4 billion and Seattle has lost almost one billion dollars to this war. This war is affecting more than Iraqis, US soldiers and their families& it is affecting all Americans and US immigrants. If you don't already believe this war is a mistake and that Bush has been leading us astray, then realize this war's real consequences in our own communities. With almost a billion dollars Seattle could have provided four years of free health coverage for every uninsured child in Seattle, and granted every high school senior who has graduated since the war began a four year scholarship to a state university, and paid four year's of salary for 1500 additional public school teachers, and had money left over to provide 1500 affordable housing units to low-income families (National Priorities Project). There are too many costs to this war and it needs to end. This anti-war resolution, accompanied by an "Ending the War Begins at Home" march on the 19th was supported by over 50 community, faith-based, union and student groups in King County. There were a few LGBTQ organizations, Trikkon NW, Allyship and the Seattle Gay News that also supported these efforts. Sally Clark and Tom Rasmussen, two of our own city council members, voted for this anti-war resolution. As more and more people connect how this war is affecting our local communities I hope more LGBTQ organizations come out against this war. Sincerely, Debbie Carlsen DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP LEGISLATION Dear SGN, As Interim Executive Director of Equal Rights Washington, and perhaps even more importantly, as a Lesbian mother, I want to thank the Senate for passing the domestic partnership bill today. I especially appreciate Senator Ed Murray's leadership in moving this bill so quickly. I am confident that the House will swiftly pass the bill and the Governor will sign it. This law would protect same-sex couples and senior citizens from certain types of hardship when they're most at risk-- during illness, incapacity and when dealing with a partner's death. This bill is needed by Gay and Lesbian committed couples because we are barred from marriage; the domestic partnership bill contains a few of the vital protections that marriage provides. In addition, senior couples who choose not to marry due to unfair economic penalties will also gain protections under this law. Passing this bill is sound public policy; it protects families currently without a safety net. One thousand five hundred Washingtonians showed up this past Monday, February 26th, for Equality day to talk to their legislators about why they support the domestic partnership bill and continuing the dialogue about marriage equality. Many of those lobbying we straight people, clergy, and people of faith. But let us be clear. The domestic partnership is not equality nor does it meet the legal needs of same-sex couples. Marriage provides a legal and social safety net that is unparalleled in protecting families during times of crisis. Same-sex couples need all of the 400 plus statewide protections as well as the more than 1,000 federal protections that come with marriage. Nothing short of marriage will provide families like mine with the protections and dignity we deserve; domestic partnerships will, however, offer us the immediate protections we desperately need. Sincerely, Barbara Green Interim Executive Director Equal Rights Washington |
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