Thursday, June 29, 2006

SGN announces Taking Back Sunday, Guster interviews


Seattle Gay News is pleased to announce upcoming interviews with two very hot rock bands, Taking Back Sunday and Guster.

Both groups are listed this week in Billboard's top 100 albums chart, Taking Back Sunday's gold-certified "Louder Now" is #57 and Guster's just-released "Ganging Up on the Sun" debuted impressively at #25. Separately, Taking Back Sunday and Guster are now on multi-city summer tours across the US. Check your local concert listings for dates in your area.

Our interviews with Matt Rubano of Taking Back Sunday and Ryan Miller of Guster will appear in separate issues of the Seattle Gay News in July. Visit "The Music Lounge" weekly column for specific interview print dates and for information on other buzz-heavy artists and new CDs.

Photo of Taking Back Sunday, courtesy of artist's official site.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Happy Pride!

On behalf of the entire staff of the Seattle Gay News, I wish you the happiest of Pride celebrations ever!

Also, I encourage you to take percausions (no, I am not talking about condoms and dental dams -- although I encourage you to use those when engaging in sexual activity), I am talking about sunglasses, sunscreen and plenty of water. It's hot out there!

For a complete listing of Pride events, check out our 2006 Pacific Northwest LGBT Pride Calendar: Click here!

For Capitol Hill Pride info: Click here!

For Downtown Pride info: Click here!

Monday, June 19, 2006

SGN presents Andy Bey Quartet at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley


Seattle Gay News is very pleased to present the Andy Bey Quartet at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, June 20-21.

Bey, a Grammy-nominated pianist-vocalist and out musician, will perform back to back nights at the jazz club with band members Paul Meyers (guitar), Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass) and Vito Lesczak (drums). Set times for both nights is 7:30pm.

We're very honored at Seattle Gay News to support Andy Bey, one of jazz's finest vocalists who has graced the stage with Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Lena Horne, to name a few. In 2005, Bey shared highlights from his career and his openness to the gay community with our readership.

SGN A & E Writer Lorelei Quenzer's preview for the Andy Bey Quartet aopears in this week's issue of the Seattle Gay News.

Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Ref. 65: Celebration planned

A celebration is to be held on Wednesday to recognize the efforts of Washington Won't Discriminate and its countless supporters who sought to defeat Referendum 65.

Referendum 65 failed to quality for the ballot earlier today (see post below).


Party! Party! Party!

When: Wednesday, June 7th, at 5:OO PM

Where: WWD Headquarters, 217 6th AVE N, Seattle

Co-sponsored by the GSBA, Pride Foundation, Equal Rights Washington & Northwest Women's Law Center

Ref. 65: WWD releases statement

Referendum 65 Will Not be on the November Ballot
Anti-Discrimination Law Stands

(Seattle, WA) – Today Tim Eyman, The Christian Coalition, the Faith & Freedom Network and Concerned Women of America announced they were not successful in collecting the 112,440 valid signatures needed to qualify Referendum 65 for the November ballot. Signatures on the referendum were required to be received by the Washington Secretary of State by 5 p.m. today in order to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

"The failure of Eyman and the fundamentalist networks to collect enough signatures after three months of trying is a credit to the people of Washington state. Washingtonians made it clear they do not want to go back to the days when it was legal in our state to fire someone or deny them housing simply because of their sexual orientation," said Anne Levinson, Chair of the Washington Won't Discriminate Campaign, the organization leading the fight to keep the anti-discrimination law.

"Our campaign was just getting started and already more than 5,000 people and hundreds of religious organizations, businesses and community groups from around the state had publicly taken a stand in support of keeping the law. I've been involved in many campaigns over the years, and I have never seen an outpouring of support as we have received for making sure the law against discrimination remains the law in our state," Levinson added.

"Tomorrow, thousands of people will be able to go to work in towns across Washington without fear of being fired because of their sexual orientation," said John Vezina, Washington Won’t Discriminate campaign manager.

"A great deal of effort went into collecting signatures based on a mistaken assumption by the proponents that the people of the state didn't support the anti-discrimination law. To not get enough signatures for a referendum – only half as many are needed as for an initiative – makes a strong statement that the proponents of the referendum do not represent the vast majority of Washingtonians," added Vezina.

To view the list of endorsers, see below or visit the Washington Won't Discriminate website: www.washingtonwontdiscriminate.org

The 'force' fails Eyman, Referendum 65 falls to defeat

Apparently the 'force' was not with Tim Eyman, who failed to turn in the necessary signatures to put Referendum 65 on the ballot. Therefore Washington's new law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity will go into affect tomorrow.

"Tomorrow will be a proud day in Washington," said Governor Christine Gregoire, in a written statement. "In January, Washington took an affirmative stand to say to gay and lesbian individuals, moms and dads, sons and daughters, neighbors, co-workers and friends that, like all other people, they are free to work in an environment absent [of] discrimination. Tomorrow our words become law."

Eyman appeared at the Secretary of State's election office on Monday dressed in a Darth Vader outfit, but donned more humble attire when he made the announcement earlier today that the referendum's backers had failed. According to Eyman, 105,103 signatures had been collected, far short of the 112,440 signatures needed to qualify for the fall ballot.

The defeat was not only a blow to Eyman, who has made a career out of backing ballot measures, but to the network of conservative organizations, evangelical churches and radio stations who had backed the effort.

"This is a set back," said Gary Randall, President of the Faith & Freedom Network, an anti-Gay conservative organization in Washington State.

Representatives from other conservative organizations, such as the state chapter of the Christian Coalition and Restore America, an Oregon based conservative organization seeking to "mobilize and empower America's Christians in directing the moral, educational and political course of their state," were also present. Concerned Women of America, the Eagle Forum and Sound the Alarm were also thanked by Eyman for their efforts.

Randall said that his group may be back with an Initiative to the Legislature, which would require even more signatures than a referendum. Eyman's future participation seemed doubtful.

Photos courtesy of the Northwest Progressive Institute