George Takei – 2014 Pride Parade Celebrity Grand Marshall

Seattle Gay News
Issue 27, Volume 42, July 4, 2014
Section III - Pride Revisited
George Takei – 2014 Pride Parade
Celebrity Grand Marshall
Nate Gowdy for Seattle Pride
George Takei, an actor best known
for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television and film series “Star
Trek,” has more than 40 feature films
and hundreds of television guest-starring roles to his credit.
A member of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender political organization, George was a spokesman
for HRC’s Coming Out Project. In April
2006, he embarked on a nationwide
speaking tour called “Equality Trek”
in which he talked about his life as a
Gay Japanese American. “Star Trek”’s
Leonard Nimoy presented George with
HRC’s Equality Award at its San Francisco gala dinner in July 2007.
As told in his autobiography, To the
Stars, published by Pocket Books in
1994, George was born in Los Angeles,
California. With the outbreak of World
War II, he and his family, together with
120,000 other Japanese Americans,
were placed behind the barbed-wire
enclosures of United States internment
camps. George spent three and a half
years of his childhood at Camp Rohwer
in the swamps of Arkansas and at windswept Camp Tule Lake in northern California.
George’s family eventually returned
to his native Los Angeles, which shaped
his acting career. The motion picture
studios – their magical back lot sets visible behind tall fences – were alluring
presences. Every grammar school skit,
junior high drama club, and high school
play became a stepping stone to realizing his not-so-secret dream of becoming an actor.
After graduating from Los Angeles
High School in 1956, George enrolled in
the University of California at Berkeley.
Later, he transferred to the University
of California at Los Angeles, where he
received a Bachelor of Arts in theater in
1960 and a Master of Arts in theater in
1964. He attended the Shakespeare Institute at Stratford-Upon-Avon in England and Sophia University in Tokyo,
Japan. In Hollywood, he studied acting
at the Desilu Workshop.
George and his husband, Brad Takei,
are residents of Los Angeles. They met
while running with the Los Angeles
Frontrunners in the early 1980s. Life
partners for more than 27 years, they
were married on September 14, 2008, in
the Democracy Forum of the Japanese
American National Museum in Los Angeles. Brad’s last name, Altman, was
changed to Takei by decree of the Los
Angeles Superior Court in 2011.
On October 13, 2009, George and
Brad made television history when they
became the first Gay couple to be invited
to appear on “The Newlywed Game,” the
long-running show now airing on GSN
cable network. They won the game,
earning a $10,000 donation for the Japanese American National Museum.
Recognized worldwide as a member of
the original “Star Trek” cast, George received a star on Hollywood Boulevard’s
Nate Gowdy for Seattle Pride
by Tim Moffett
SGN Staff Writer
(l - r) Mama Tits, George Takei, Brad Altman, Sylvia O’Stayformore
Walk of Fame in 1986 and he placed his
signature and hand print in the forecourt of the landmark Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood in 1991.
A community activist, George serves
as chair of the council of governors of
East West Players, the nation’s foremost
Asian Pacific American theater. He is
chairman emeritus of the board of trustees of the Japanese American National
Museum and a past member of the advisory committee of the California Civil
Liberties Public Education Program.
In March 2012, George performed
in an all-star reading and Los Angeles
premiere of 8, a play written by Dustin
Lance Black and directed by Rob Reiner, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. This
fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights raised $2 million
for AFER’s fight for the freedom to marry for Gay and Lesbian Americans.
Always a political activist, George ran
for the Los Angeles City Council in 1973,
losing by a small percentage. At a crossroads, he had to decide whether to pursue a political career or an acting career.
He decided on acting, but to remain involved in civic affairs to whatever extent
he could.
THRIFT STORES
2 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 3
4 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 5
Anti-Gay protestors thwarted by Mama
Tits & Co. and SPD at Westlake Park
Nate Gowdy for Seattle Pride
Mama Tits
by Doug Hamilton
SGN Contributing Writer
It was a tense start to an otherwise
joyous 2014 Seattle Pride Parade. The
usual gaggle of anti-Gay rights protestors had shown up, numbering maybe
one or two dozen. In a departure from
their standard position on the sidelines
of the parade route, the line-up had
taken center stage in the street near the
Westlake Park viewing stand. They held
huge picket signs (taller than they were)
proclaiming a message of hell for sinners. The signs act as a visual counter-
weight to their small numbers and can
be seen from blocks away.
Nobody ever seems to know the
name of these religious protestors, unlike celebrity Grand Marshals George
Takei, Macklemore or Mayor Ed Murray, who were invited (and not obscure).
And unlike the thousands who lined
the parade route to enjoy each other’s
company and collectively celebrate the
strides the Seattle LGBTIQ A+ Community has made in the last 40 years in
civil rights, and unlike all the marchers
whose organizations had paid or otherwise contributed in order to march in
the parade, the small group of zealots
was there to practice their First Amendment right to free speech and protest
against Gay rights.
Well, okay, that happens at every Pride
event. But what usually does not happen
is the protesters crossing the path of one
of the Parade’s announcers, Mama Tits,
while she is on her way to the reviewing stand. Anybody who has seen one of
Mama Tit’s live drag performances can
tell you that she is not known for holding back.
“I saw them coming up the road preParade and looked at Sylvia and Don-
naTella and said, ‘Ladies, let’s make a
wall!’ Before I knew it, I was standing tits to nose with the leader guy
on the megaphone. It felt like I had
the strength of all the people who
had ever been hurt by these people
standing right behind me, giving me
power! I was almost in auto-pilot mode
from my days as a Sister of Perpetual
Indulgence. I planted myself in his path
and wouldn’t move. When he walked
around me, I got back in front of him,
again and again. I stared him in the
eyes and could see the pain in his eyes.
I could see he was scared and he should
have been. He tried to hit me with his
sign, but like Bianca Del Rio says ‘Not
Today, Satan!’” Mama Tits told Seattle
Gay Scene writer Brad Giligan
What Mama Tits did not know is that
further down the parade route, the human wall had created the optical illusion of being a large mass of protestors,
spawning rumors that the protesters
were there in mass, attempting to block
the parade route. Here and there were
whispers of concern, but no reports.
Eventually, the police escorted the protestors from the parade route, as Mama
Tits yelled at them over the PA system,
“You have NO POWER here; be gone
before someone drops a house on
YOU!”
The parade started roughly on time
at 11 a.m. as the Dykes on Bikes rumbled forth, who (after Mama Tits
and the Seattle Police Department)
members of the community considered in the back of their mind as our
next line of defense should it come
to a full-scale rumble. Which, fortunately, it did not, because, as Mama
Tits said about reacting in violence,
“Once that happens, we all lose.”
Nate Gowdy for Seattle Pride
Bystanders create a “Wall of Love” around anti-gay rights protesters during Pride
6 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
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July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 7
Remarks by the President at
White House Pride celebration
joemygod.blogspot.com
about no pie during the week. (Laughter.)
But he’s also just a wonderful person.
And after seven years, he’s leaving the
White House. So we just want to give
Bill and Charlie the best of luck. And we
love them. Thank you. (Applause.)
So a lot has happened in the year since
we last gathered here together. Samesex marriage has gone into effect in
10 more states -- (applause) -- which
means that 43 percent of Americans
now live in states where you’re free to
marry who you love. The NFL drafted
its first openly gay player. (Applause.)
Harvey Milk got a stamp. (Applause.)
Laverne Cox was on the cover of TIME.
(Applause.) Coca-Cola and Honeymaid
were unafraid to sell their products in
commercials showing same-sex parents
and their children. (Applause.) And perhaps most importantly, Mitch and Cam
got married, which caused Michelle and
the girls to cry. (Laughter and applause.)
That was big. (Laughter.)
MRS. OBAMA: It was big.
President Barack Obama with First Lady Michelle Obama speak at a White House LGBT Pride Event
East Room 5:40 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. (Applause.) Well, I want to thank
Jim and Patrick. First of all, I think they
supported me in my state Senate campaign. (Laughter.) Those were some
early supporters, and we might not be
here if it hadn’t been for them. Congratulations on finally tying the knot after
51 years. (Applause.) I looked it up, and
depending on how you count, the traditional gift for your next anniversary is
either paper, for year one -- or whatever
you want, because there is no traditional
gift for 52 years. (Laughter.) But I think
it’s so important to understand how rare
relationships like yours are. And however you celebrate, we hope you have
many, many more years together.
And with that, why don’t you guys sit
down, because that knee is acting up.
(Laughter.)
I want all of you to know how much
it means to us for you to be able to join
here at this year’s Pride Celebration.
We’ve got some terrific public servants
who are here today, including our Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. (Applause.)
We’ve got mayors, and we’ve got state
legislators, and we’ve got LGBT members of my administration. We also have
three judges that I was proud to name
to the federal bench: Todd Hughes, Judy
Levy, and Nitza Quinones Alejandro.
Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Before I took office, we had only one
openly gay federal judge to be confirmed by the Senate. Now, along with
Todd, Judy, and Nitza, that number is
11. So we’re making some progress. (Applause.)
Three other people I want to mention.
First of all, Tobias Wolff, who’s been
advising me since my first presidential
campaign and has had a great impact
on my administration and how we’ve
thought about a bunch of issues. Please
give Tobias a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Number two -- a special treat for me
-- my college professor when I was a
8 Seattle Gay News
freshman in college at Occidental, Dr.
Lawrence Goldyn is here. I want to just
talk a little bit about Lawrence. When I
went in as a freshman -- this is 1979 at
Occidental College -- and according to
Lawrence, I guess there were maybe a
couple of other gay professors, but they
weren’t wildly open about it. Lawrence
was not shy. (Laughter.) And I took a
class from him, and because he was one
of the young professors, we became really good friends. But also, he was the first
openly gay person that I knew who was
unapologetic, who stood his ground. If
somebody gave him guff, he’d give them
guff right back, and was I think part of
a generation that really fought so many
battles that ultimately came into fruition later. And he also played a huge role
in advising lesbian, gay and transgender
students at the school at a time when
that was still hard for a lot of young college kids. And he went on to become a
doctor and ran an AIDS clinic, and now
is the head of a health center.
But I just wanted to acknowledge him
because he helped shape how I think
about so many of these issues, and those
sort of quiet heroes that sometimes don’t
get acknowledged. So give Lawrence a
big round of applause. (Applause.)
Finally, I have to mention a man who’s
made life at the White House very sweet.
This is one of Michelle and my favorite
people -- our executive pastry chef Bill
Yosses -- (laughter) -- who’s here tonight
with his husband, Charlie. (Applause.)
Where’s Bill?
MRS. OBAMA: But he’s leaving.
THE PRESIDENT: He’s -- this is the
problem. We call Bill the “Crustmaster”
because his pies -- I don’t know what he
does, whether he puts crack in them, or
-- (laughter) -- but -MRS. OBAMA: No, he doesn’t.
(Laughter.) There is no crack in our pies.
(Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: I’m just saying
that when we first came to the White
July 4, 2014
House, I don’t know if some of you remember this -- the first year, like, my
cholesterol shot up. (Laughter.) And the
doctor was like, what happened? You
had like this really low cholesterol. You
were really healthy. And I thought, it’s
the pie. (Laughter.) It’s the pie. So we
had to establish like a really firm rule
THE PRESIDENT: This year, we
mark the 45th anniversary of Stonewall.
And I know some of you were there. And
this tremendous progress we’ve made as
a society is thanks to those of you who
fought the good fight, and to Americans
across the country who marched and
came out and organized to secure the
rights of others. So I want to thank all of
you for making the
United States is a more just and compassionate place.
AUGUSTT30C
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this Fun-D-raising event benefiting the Day Program at Bailey-Boushay House.
Hosted by Washington State Mr Leather 2014 Erik Taylor with the cooperation of
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence; The Abbey of Saint Joan and Seattle Men in
Leather whose combined efforts are providing “Funishment” to help get you
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Mark those calendars as this event will be the highlight of Labor Day Weekend!
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Celebrating 41 Years!
I want to thank you for offering support and guidance to our administration. Because of your help, we’ve gone
further in protecting the rights of lesbian and gay and bisexual and transgender Americans than any administration
in history. (Applause.)
In 2009, I told you at this reception
that I would sign an inclusive hate
crimes bill with Matthew Shepard’s
name on it, and I did -- because hatedriven violence has taken the lives of
too many people in this community,
and it has to end.
When we came together in 2010, I
told you we’d repeal “don’t ask, don’t
tell.” Some of you didn’t believe me.
(Laughter.) You know who you are.
(Laughter.) We did that, too -- because
nobody should have to hide who you
love to serve the country you love. (Applause.)
That same year, we released the firstever comprehensive National HIV/
AIDS Strategy to unite our entire government behind fighting this disease
and helping those most at risk. (Applause.)
In 2011, I said my administration
would no longer defend the so-called
Defense of Marriage Act. And thanks
to Edie Windsor, and Robbie Kaplan,
and the Department of Justice, that law
was overturned, and we’ve extended
benefits to legally married same-sex
couples across the country. (Applause.)
In 2012, I promised that my administration would do more to address and
prevent bullying and discrimination in
our classrooms. And we have -- because
it’s not enough just to say it gets better;
we have to actually make it better, like
so many Americans are trying to do every day.
We’ve got here today Pete Cahall, who
is the principal of Woodrow Wilson
High here in Washington. (Applause.)
At a school Pride event this month, inspired by brave students, Pete stood
up and said something he’d never said
at the school before, which is: “I am a
proud gay man.” And the students all
cheered. Pete is here today. Because of
his example, more young people know
they don’t have to be afraid to be who
they are; no matter who they love, people have their backs. So we’re proud of
you. (Applause.)
Last year, I promised to implement
the Affordable Care Act so this community could get quality, affordable health
care like you deserve. And we did that,
too. (Applause.) And thanks to that law,
you can no longer be denied health insurance on the basis of your sexual orientation or gender identity. (Applause.)
We’ve still got a little more work to
do. I’ve repeatedly called on Congress
to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Right now, there are
more states that let same-sex couples
get married than there are states who
prohibit discrimination against their
LGBT workers. We have laws that say
Americans can’t be fired on the basis
of the color of their skin or their religion, or because they have a disability.
But every day, millions of Americans
go to work worried that they could lose
their job -- not because of anything
they’ve done -- (baby cries) -- I know,
it’s terrible -- (laughter) -- but because
of who they are. It’s upsetting. It
is wrong.
The majority of Fortune 500 companies already have nondiscrimination
policies to protect their employees because it’s the right thing to do and be-
Visit us online www.sgn.org
cause many say it helps to retain and
attract the best talent. And I agree. So
if Congress won’t act, I will. I have directed my staff to prepare an executive
order for my signature that prohibits
discrimination by federal contractors
on the basis of sexual orientation and
gender identity. (Applause.)
And I’ve asked my staff to prepare a
second executive order so that federal
employees -- who are already protected
on the basis of sexual orientation -- will
now formally be protected from discrimination based on gender identity as
well. (Applause.)
So we’ve got a lot to be proud of, but
obviously we can’t grow complacent.
We’ve got to defend the progress that
we’ve made. We’ve got to keep on reaching out to LGBT Americans who are
vulnerable and alone, and need our support -- whether it’s teenagers in rough
situations to seniors who are struggling
to find housing and care. (Baby cries.) I
know, it’s tough. (Laughter.)
We’ve got to keep fighting for an
AIDS-free generation, and for the human rights of LGBT persons around the
world. (Applause.)
And I would also ask all of us to direct
some of the energy and passion and resources of this movement towards other injustices that exist. Because one of
the things that I think we should have
learned -- (applause) -- Dr. King said an
“injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.” And that means that we’ve
got to be able to set up a community that
extends beyond our own particular narrow interests; we’ve got to make sure
that we’re reaching out to others who
need our help as well. (Applause.)
And that means fighting for poor kids.
And it means fighting for workers to get
a decent wage. It means showing compassion for the undocumented worker
who is contributing to our society and
just wants a chance to come out of the
shadows. (Applause.) It means fighting
for equal pay for equal work. It means
standing up for sexual -- standing up
against sexual violence wherever it occurs. It means trying to eliminate any
vestige of racial or religious discrimination and anti-Semitism wherever it
happens.
That’s how we continue our nation’s
march towards justice and equality. That’s how we build a more perfect
union -- a country where no matter
what you look like, where you come
from, what your last name is, who you
love, you’ve got a chance to make it if
you try. You guys have shown what can
happen when people of goodwill organize and stand up for what’s right. And
we’ve got to make sure that that’s not
applied just one place, in one circumstance, in one time. That’s part of the
journey that makes America the greatest country on Earth.
So thank you, everybody. God bless
you. God bless America. (Applause.)
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 9
10 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
100,000 celebrate Istanbul Pride
More than 100,000 people gathered
to celebrate the twenty-second annual
Istanbul Pride on June 29.
Thousands of Turkish police stood by
with water cannons, blocking the roads
to Taksim Square and Gazi Park, the
site of anti-government riots last June.
According to the English-language
Aydinlik Daily newspaper, the crowd
shouted anti-government slogans, “Be
gone AKP!” “Legs up against Fascism!”
and “Down with all the shopping centers!”
The AKP is the governing Islamist
party, and its plans to replace Gazi Park
with a shopping mall touched off the
rioting that shut down Turkey’s largest
city last year.
LGBT groups took a prominent role in
the 2013 protests because Gazi Park is a
traditional meeting place for Istanbul’s
LGBT community.
Pride march organizers said in a postPride press statement that the June
2013 revolt had helped Turks feel more
sympathetic to the local LGBT community, despite the fact that the country is
more than 95 percent Muslim.
The Pride marchers gathered on Istiklal Avenue, close to the center of Istanbul’s commercial district and the foreign consulates.
The United Kingdom Consulate
displayed a rainbow flag on its building near Istiklal Avenue. U.S. consul
Charles Hunter also expressed his support for the community, telling the
Louisfishman.blogspot.com
by Mike Andrew
SGN Staff Writer
Thousands march in Istanbul’s 12th annual LGBT Pride March
crowd “I am also Gay and here I am in
the Pride Parade of the LGBT people.”
The spokesperson of the Istanbul
LGBT community concluded his speech
with the words “It is time to touch each
other, not to avoid!”
Same sex relations have been legal in
Turkey since 1858, in the time of the Ottoman Empire, but there are absolutely
no protections for LGBT people in Turkish law. Police reportedly use charges
of “exhibitionism” and “offense against
public decency” to harass the LGBT
community.
In August 2013, a coalition of opposition political parties said they would
introduce a constitutional amendment
protecting LGBT citizens, but they subsequently failed to agree on specific language.
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Seattle Gay News 11
Goldmine Design
customizes your
dream jewelry
Nestled in the heart of downtown Seattle, just a half-block south of the Pike
Place Market, Goldmine Design has
been a small workshop of fine artisan
jewelers for more than 20 years.
Goldmine is not a “normal” jewelry
store. When you walk in, you will find
yourself in a workshop surrounded by
the tools and equipment used to make
small metal pieces of art. All of our pieces are made at our shop, with showcases
sharing the space with lathes, benches,
and tools.
Many of Goldmine’s customers come
to us confused and overwhelmed by
wedding band shopping, in which
there are many stores, but few options
for personalized jewelry. We first show
them that with us, the sky is the limit.
Our designs are as unique and varied
as our customers, and we try to encourage customer creativity, rather than
push our aesthetic or current trends. It
can be daunting to know that anything
is possible, but our process has worked
for over 16,000 pieces, and we’ve never
made the same ring twice!
From doodles, dreams, and sketches,
Goldmine helps translate your ideas
into a beautiful unique design. We encourage our customers to come up with
symbols, ideas, and concepts, including
artwork, photos, etc. that say what you
want to say about your love and commitment. We help translate your ideas into
an evolution of wax models that bring
them to life, and together we refine your
concept until it is perfect and unique!
The joyous thing about fine jewelry is
that it often symbolizes new beginnings,
important life events, and personal
milestones. To help celebrate, Goldmine
invites its customers to gather their
friends and family at our unique casting
parties. You wield the torch to cast the
gold, transforming molten metal right
before your eyes.
We strongly believe that owning a
beautiful piece of jewelry should be
a guilt-free experience, which is why
Goldmine uses 100% recycled precious
metals and ethically sourced gemstones
and diamonds. We believe in love, and
have always proudly supported the LGBTQ community.
Goldmine Jewelry is located at 1405
1st Avenue in downtown Seattle. 206622-3333. www.goldminedesignjewelers.com.
12 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Courtesy of Goldmine Jewelry
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 13
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14 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Avoiding Reception Pitfalls
5 Secrets to a Wedding Reception of Your Dreams
By Leo Novsky
Special to the SGN
SECRET #2: CREATE INTERACTIVE MOMENTS
The traditional reception already
has its own flow: the cocktail hour, entrance, dinner, toasts, first dance, cake
cutting, and so on. But to make the reception come to life, it is essential to
create fun and meaningful interactive
moments that entertain and connect
two sides of the family.
When I emcee receptions I make sure
that each of these milestones feel fresh
and special. During the cocktail hour,
I sometimes give guests fun tasks, if
meeting five people that they do not
yet know. If dinner is a buffet, I release
guests to join food line with a fun quiz
about the brides or grooms. And, if it is
desired by the brides or grooms, I play
an interactive game that gets the whole
crowd involved. There are countless
options to make the wedding more interactive. The secret is to think of these
ahead of time. Check out fun reception
ideas in books and websites or get a professional to bring the event to life.
A few years ago, before I became a
Master of Wedding Receptions, I was a
guest at my cousin’s reception when her
new uncle-in-law decided to give a toast.
He took the microphone from the DJ,
stood in the middle of the dance floor
and proceeded to talk for 15 minutes!
When he felt his drunk legs were getting
too unstable, he just pulled up a chair, sat
in the middle of the dance floor, and continued to talk for another 10 minutes!
If you have been a guest at a wedding
or are planning your own special day,
you can imagine what an effect this
drunken guest had on the wedding.
Unfortunately, unexpected or uncontrolled events can turn a carefully planned wedding reception into
a stressful, uncomfortable or boring
experience – not what you would want
for one of the most important of life’s
events. Fortunately, in my years of experience as a Master of Wedding Receptions, I have found five secrets to avoiding most common reception pitfalls and
SECRET #3: HONOR THE OLDER
making it a wedding of your dreams.
GENERATION
A wedding is a celebration of youth
and love, but it is very important to make
sure that you honor those who have
made it all possible. One of the most
meaningful ways I know of doing that
is for the brides or grooms to toast their
parents. This act of respect can be particularly powerful if brides or grooms
direct their toasts to their respective inlaws, and if it is a multicultural wedding,
using parents’ native language would
score even more points. For the parents
and those of their generation, to them
SECRET #1: CONTROL THE MI- this simple gesture will probably mean
CROPHONE
more than anything else at the wedding.
The example at my cousin’s wedding
demonstrates the first secret to a perfect
wedding reception: control the microphone! In so many weddings, a DJ sets up
the audio system, announces events, but
then lets the microphone just lie there. To
create a positive and memorable event,
make sure that you have someone in control of the mic. This means both keeping
the spotlight from those who abuse the
privilege and encouraging those who
might otherwise be too shy to speak to
share their heartfelt wishes. This role
should be done by a professional emcee or
SECRET #4: TELL YOUR LOVE
an engaging and responsible friend who STORY
can help minimize the unexpected and
Telling your love story is the fourth
maximize the positive, leaving the bride secret to an amazing reception. After
and groom to relax and feel like the hon- all, it is because of your story that all
ored guests at their own wedding.
of your guests are coming to your wed-
Visit us online www.sgn.org
ding. Many guests have heard the story,
but most likely they’ve heard one side or
the other side of the story, and few have
heard the whole story. Your reception
is the perfect time to play up and tell
your story in light of this important day.
There are many ways to tell your love
story.
One way I have seen it done well included a photo narrative set to music on
a PPT. Another couple created a video
made by both of them telling “their” side
of their love story. A professional emcee or a friend can also tell your story,
making it meaningful, interesting and
entertaining. Telling your love story
should not take more than 10-15 minutes, but it will leave a lasting impression in the minds of your guests.
SECRET #5: MAKE IT YOUR
OWN.
When I first start talking to couples,
they often say that they do not want
anything unusual in their wedding reception, but what they really mean is
that they do not want anything cheesy,
fake or embarrassing, but neither do
they want their wedding to feel cookie
cutter. The biggest secret to making
your wedding reception personal and
meaningful is to make it your own.
There are many ways to personalizing
your wedding reception. Jerry and Mike
met while water skiing on Lake Washington. They personalized their reception by being pulled into the banquet
hall by their wedding party while standing on their water skis. Tess and Miyako
July 4, 2014
added a personal touch by changing
into traditional Japanese dress for the
reception and teaching the guests a
traditional Japanese dance. The key is
to think about what makes your relationship special and changing the template to fit you instead of the other way
around.
A lot of thought, care, and money go
into making your wedding day special.
The venue, the food, the music are all
important, but it is easy to overlook
the importance of staging the wedding
reception to be more than just a fancy
dinner with dancing.
By making sure you have someone
who can control the microphone, create interactive activities, honor the
parents, tell your love story, and get off
the wedding template to make the reception your own, you can avoid most
common reception pitfalls and make
your wedding reception something that
both you and your guests will always
treasure.
Leo Novsky is a Premier Master of
Wedding Receptions and Ceremonies
in Seattle area. For more information
about his wedding services and his
workshop on 5 Secrets to a Wedding Reception of Your Dreams, contact him at
[email protected] or at 425-346-0219.
Seattle Gay News 15
16 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 17
San Francisco’s Hotel Mark Twain
mer in San Francisco.” So if bridal
parties plan a summer wedding, they
might be surprised that it could be a
chilly day. “September and October
are the city’s best weather months,” he
adds, “but we do get quite a few beautiful days in late winter as well.”
The Hotel Mark Twain’s renovation
is so recent that they may not have
posted their professional photographs
on their own website. So to take a look
at the hotel’s current rooms, check out
the candidate shots on www.facebook.
com/HotelMarkTwain.
To book your wedding and to get
more information on San Francisco’s
Hotel Mark Twain, contact Thomas at
[email protected]
Steven underhill
party picks a weekend busy with a convention. “No matter what city you try
to plan a social event in,” he says, “you
should always look at their convention
calendar and try to avoid those very
busy days.” He adds that the discount
you’d receive at any hotel would be
greater if you can be sure to avoid coming during those busy periods.”
Additionally, Thomas says that Mark
Twain is the person who said “The
San Francisco’s recently renovated coldest winter I ever spent was a sumHotel Mark Twain has noticed a big
increase in group reservations for
same-sex weddings, according to Hotel Sales Director Kevin M. Thomas.
“Of course,” Thomas jokes, it doesn’t
hurt that the hotel has a bear sales director and a drag queen general manager.”
Thomas says that a lot of the bridal
parties have been very impressed with
the hotel’s modern new look and have
even had some great pictures taken in
the hotel’s private Hummingbird Garden.
He adds that they love to give special pricing to all wedding blocks but
he kind of feels bad when the wedding
Bear sales director Kevin Thomas (left) and drag queen general manager Mark Dean play
for the camera in the hotel’s recently renovated rooms.
THE SECRET IS OUT!
Sleep with us
for a Discount.
Mark Twain Has a Fierce New Look.
The Hotel Mark Twain’s fabulous renovation is complete.
Just In Time for Gay Pride. With a Drag Queen for a
General Manager, a Bear of a Sales Director
and a Club Kid Front Desk Manager, you
won’t find a more gay place to stay.
Photos: Steven Underhill
Call
415.673.2332
and mention
SEA-GAY for 12% off
Push zero for front desk to get discount
345 Taylor Street
Near Union Square SF
hotelmarktwain.com
“Glamping” Yurts – Roundhouse Yurt – Camping
Events Venue – Scenic Views – Alpacas
www.PacaPride.com
18 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Hotel Modera – a stylish
luxury boutique hotel in Portland
Speaking of the Facebook page, Hotel
Modera fashioned the Timeline to feature
an attractive cover photo and a cutting
edge, active image slider. The new page is
gaining an ever-growing number of fans.
One of the reasons they created a Timeline
page is so visitors are able to make hotel
reservations directly from Facebook. Pretty
cool, eh? When you visit the new page, click
on the “Hotel Deals” icon (just below the
cover photo) to visit the reservation system.
On the same page, you can also sign up for
the Hotel Modera newsletter to receive special offers and upcoming events from one of
Portland’s top hotels.
Experience unrivaled comfort and elegance in the center of downtown Portland
at the amazing Hotel Modera. You’ll be
glad you did!
For more information visit the hotel’s official website at www.hotelmodera.com.
by Shaun Knittel
SGN Associate Editor
Because Portland Pride is two weeks
earlier than our own, year after year many
Seattle Gays drive south to party at one of
the best Pride celebrations in the nation –
in terms of a welcoming attitude, fun and
excitement, as well as being just 3 hours
away by car or bus. Seattle Gay News has
covered Portland Pride for many years
now, and we wouldn’t dare tell you to stay
at the same place twice (unless the property is really, really, good). Well, folks, guess
what? Hotel Modera (515 SW Clay Street,
Portland, Oregon 97201) is that good!
In terms of location, you couldn’t ask for
a better spot. While still being in what is
considered Portland’s downtown, but also
being tucked out of the way of excessive
noise or heavy foot traffic, Hotel Modera
fits the needs of any business traveler looking to unwind, romantic getaway for two
newlyweds, or a place to put your bags and
rest your feet if you’re a party boy in town
for the weekend.
Hotel Modera is one of the most stylish
luxury boutique hotels in Portland. Hotel
Modera is surrounded by fine restaurants,
art galleries, museums, and entertaining nightlife, and provides the luxury of a
modern boutique hotel with a special atmosphere that reflects the vibrancy and
unique beauty of Portland itself. Valet
parking is available at the hotel, but it is a
bit pricey at $30 a night. But if it is convenience you’re after, then valet is the way to
go. Otherwise, the front desk staff will direct you to find a paid parking space on the
street. Parking was not hard to find, but it
can add up depending on how many days/
nights you will stay.
Hotel Modera epitomizes elegance in
an urban environment, demonstrated by
more than 500 pieces of local Portland
and Oregon art, Italian Carrara marble,
black walnut flooring, and the sophisticated architecture in the lobby and rooms.
Exceptional 24-hour concierge service ensures that their guests receive unrivaled
attention. Hotel Modera is, quite simply,
a premiere boutique hotel in downtown
Portland.
Hotel Modera rates for one of 174 guestrooms are $129-$229 for a standard guest
room and $249-$399 for a 500 square
foot suite. Hotel Modera accepts major credit cards and a reservation is only
guaranteed with a credit card, so be sure
to have it handy if you are going to reserve
your room over the phone. The hotel does
offer group discounts, military discounts
and, in some cases, a corporate discount.
The luxury guestrooms feature the latest innovations in modern convenience,
including iPod docking stations, 32-inch
LCD flat screen TVs, motion-sensitive air
conditioning, and complimentary wireless internet. Guests enjoy doorbell entry
and electronic “Do Not Disturb” systems,
which offer superior privacy in the rooms.
The bathrooms are stocked with Italian
Tarocco bath products made with olive oil
and Sicilian red oranges. Lavish luxury
linens and down bedding ensure a restful
and rejuvenating night’s sleep.
If they have one available, ask if you can
get a room with a view of the courtyard.
Hotel Modera’s inner courtyard projects a
tranquil, elegant symmetry. The walkway
is lined with sleek lanterns, illuminating clean lines, and sweeping curves that
stand out against the vivid backdrop of
SW 6th Avenue. The glass-filled glowing
fire pits invite guests to relax and enjoy
the sights and sounds of downtown, while
The Hotel Modera courtyard is also home
to the city’s first “Living Wall,” a fully sustainable 63-by-15 foot living work of art,
making Hotel Modera one of the most
unique boutique hotels in Portland. Enjoy an original cocktail or appetizer from
Hotel Modera’s neighboring restaurant
(which is connected to the hotel) Nel Centro.
This year, in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Portland Pride Celebration, Hotel
Modera offered a special promotion during Pride Northwest, June 14-15, and for
Peacock in the Park, June 29. Guests received a “welcome” bottle of champagne
to kick off the celebration, $35 per night
food and beverage credit at Nel Centro
Restaurant, complimentary valet parking
($30.00 value), and an extra-late 2 p.m.
check out time. All for just $209/night
plus tax!
And the hotel is hip, too. The sales and
marketing department know what is in
and the results are fantastic. Recently,
Hotel Modera asked their guests to participate in what they called the Express
Yourself Selfie contest. Guests sent entries
and three winners were announced on
Hotel Modera’s Facebook page. According
to the marketing department there were
many truly exceptional entries. See more
at: http://hotelmodera.com/2014/06/selfie-contest-winners/#sthash.99Zu1CwM.
dpuf
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 19
WWW.PATTERSONG.ORG
!
e
d
i
r
P
e
t
Celebra
The Metropolitan King County Council is proud to
proclaim June 2014 as Gay Pride Month in King County.
Supporter of marriage equality
Larry Phillips
King County Council Chair - District Four
Metropolitan King County Council
516 Third Avenue, 12th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104
www.kingcounty.gov/phillips
[email protected]
206-477-1004
20 Seattle Gay News
BAGLEY WRIGHT THEATRE
JULY 11-13, 18-20, 25-26
.
.
TICKETS
800 838 3006 OR
themikado.brownpapertickets.com
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 21
22 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
The Sentinel is Portland’s newest, coolest hotel
sentinelhotel.com
by Albert Rodriguez
SGN A&E Writer
Say hello to your new favorite hotel in
Portland, The Sentinel. Located smack
dab in downtown, this 100-room property combines elements of grandeur
and sophistication with touches of cool.
Rooms are split between the hotel’s two
adjacent historic buildings, 80 of them
in the 1909-constructed East Wing and
the remaining 20 in the West Wing that
was put up in 1923. Northwest travelers
might recall staying here under its former name, the Governor’s Hotel. A sister property of Hotel deLuxe and Hotel
Lucia, also in the Rose City, as well as
Seattle’s Hotel Max and Tacoma’s Hotel
Murano, The Sentinel is recommended
for leisure, business and wedding-honeymoon travelers, and it’s both LGBT
and pet-friendly. Here are more details
about this Portland gem:
LOCATION
Try finding a better spot to anchor
your PDX stay than downtown on 11th
Avenue, between Alder and Morrison
with a back entrance on 10th Avenue,
across from City Target. It’s an easy
walk from Union Station, if you’re traveling by train or bus, or a few blocks
from the nearest Max (Red Line) stop, if designated a National Historic Landcoming in from the airport.
mark in 1978.
Across from the front desk is JackLOBBY/GROUND FLOORS
knife, a modern and elegant lounge
The lobby is accessed from 11th Av- serving original signature cocktails
enue through a walkway covered by with a light menu, and at the other end is
glass awning that hangs between giant a Starbucks that offers the usual coffee,
Roman columns on either side, bring- tea, pastries and prepared salads, but
ing you to the West Wing’s ground floor. also has beer and wine available in the
High ceilings, sleek tiled floors, neatly evening hours. For heartier fare, Jake’s
positioned leather chairs on a large rug, Grill on the East Wing’s main level is a
and a stunning foyer that connects both classic American diner with familiar fawings greet hotel guests as they make vorites, such as steaks, seafood, burgers,
their way to the front desk. Designed mac n’ cheese, and homemade meatloaf.
by architects Houghtaling and Dou- It also has a bar with great happy hour
gan, this building showcases the Italian specials.
Renaissance style with meeting spaces
inspired by Rome’s Farnese Palace and
ROOMS AND SUITES
terra cotta features throughout; it was
Standard rooms are cozily equipped
with Simmons Beautyrest Black Napa
mattresses, customized headboards,
Pendleton throw blankets, flatscreen
TVs with cable programming, and Lather bath essentials. Rooms are decorated
in emerald green tones, reminiscent of
the lush Oregon forests and landscape.
Premiere rooms include wingback
chairs, round coffee tables, and in some
of them, working fireplaces.
In addition, The Sentinel has 6 double-room Bridgetown Parlor Suites designed by Portland vintage retail shop
Boys Fort. These suites, all on the West
Wing’s 6th floor, provide guests with a
more local flavor, such as original art
and photography, framed Oregon botanicals, light fixtures from Portland’s
Schoolhouse Electric, and decor hand-
crafted or inspired by the city itself.
Guests staying in the Bridgetown Parlor
Suites are further pampered with fireplaces, Jacuzzi baths, sleeper sofas, Tocca premiere bath supplies and wonderful city views from push-out windows.
AMENITIES
Room amenities include iHome Bluetooth clock stations, electronic charging ports, Italian-imported linens, personal coffeemakers, Portland Roasting
Coffee packets and Steven Smith Tea
bags, pillow, spiritual and iPod menus,
evening turndown service, and an ice
cream menu from local beloved shop
Salt & Straw. For guests needing to keep
to their workout regimen, The Sentinel
has a 24-hour fitness center stocked
with Technogym equipment – Radiant
and Selection lines of elliptical, bikes,
treadmills and weight machines as well
as free weights. Those on a work trip
have access to a 24-hour business center
with the essentials – hard-wire computers, printer, etc. – or get everything done
in the privacy of your room with WiFi,
offered at just $9.95 per day, or complimentary for Stash Hotel Members
(inquire upon check-in). Laundry and
shoe-shine services are available for an
added fee, as is overnight valet parking
for $36 per night. Pets are welcome at
the hotel for a $45 per day charge.
ART COLLECTION
You’ll notice an amazing collection
of artwork displayed throughout The
Sentinel, mainly in its long and elegant
hallways, celebrating the achievements, contributions and struggles of
world visionaries, from Mother Teresa
to Muhummad Ali to Dolly Parton. Giant, black and white photos of luminaries adorn the guestroom corridors, and
thus provide a historical reminder that
ordinary people can become extraordinary human beings through their bravery and determination. A glass roof over
the West Wing’s top floor hallway allows
for marvelous viewing when the sunlight pokes through.
For more information on The Sentinel, or to book your reservation, visit
its website at www.sentinelhotel.com.
Stash Hotel rewards members can accrue points for overnight stays.
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 23
24 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 25
26 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 27
Sister Ophelia struck
by Pride energy
NATE GOWDY
Sister Ophelia Onassis
by Sister Ophelia Onassis
Special to the SGN
On Pride Parade Sunday, my alarm
went off at 6:00 a.m. Having gone to
bed at a responsible hour the previous
night, I didn’t mind. I fixed breakfast
and coffee for my roommates, who are
also Sisters (well one’s a Postulant – just
starting his journey – but we won’t hold
that against him), and Sister Faye Laetio
(we have a long-standing tradition of
manifesting together for Pride). Following breakfast, I did my pre-manifestation mini-meditation and began, what is
for me, the elaborate ritual of manifesting. Some hours later, all manifestations
complete, we made our way to the 2014
Pride Parade. We arrived at the staging
area at 4th and Union, and I was immediately struck by the enormous energy
surrounding us – it was like being struck
by lightning! I looked around, and I saw
a vast sea of smiles! People were highly
animated! The atmosphere was truly
electric! The love surrounding us was
palpable! I took a moment and let all
that energy surrounding me enter me,
knowing it would sustain me throughout the day. My Sisters and I, together
with our volunteers, were ready to begin
the parade!
The long anticipated roar of motorcycles filled the air, as the Dykes on Bikes
prepared to tear down 4th Avenue. We
were about to begin! Members of the local council of the Boy Scouts of America
started down the street, bearing the
colors. The Rainbow City Band began
playing Van Halen’s “Jump” and started
marching, and we were on our way – the
community’s rainbow flag unfurled behind us, borne by volunteers.
My Sisters were working hard, sharing
love and joy with all they encountered.
It’s my custom for parades to work both
sides of the street, stopping after about
half a block to pose for a picture, shake
someone’s hand, give a hug, and then
be on my way. This year, things worked
differently. All down the parade route,
everywhere I looked I saw smiles! It became increasingly important to engage
on a more personal level with the parade watchers. I shook so many hands,
hugged hundreds of people. The community was happy, and I was happy, and
there was this great symbiotic sharing
of joy! The feeling was so powerful, I’m
still feeling it (and hope that you are,
too).
This year marked the 40th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Seattle.
It also marked the 45th anniversary of
the Stonewall riots. I am so humbled to
have been able to stand in the presence
of some of the people who, through their
own activism, have made so much pos-
sible for me – and for you.
We have much to celebrate this year.
We’re seeing marriage equality win every single court challenge. President
Obama has signed an executive order
barring federal contractors from discriminating against their employees due
to sexual orientation or gender identity.
Guidelines have been adopted that requires coverage for Transgender persons within the federal government. In
our own state, our Insurance Commissioner has sent a memorandum to insurance companies stating that failing to
provide healthcare coverage to Transgender persons may be breaking the law.
Nearly every week (and sometimes multiple times in a week) we read or hear
stories that fill us with joy and hope.
We have a great deal to accomplish
as well. We need to work harder than
ever to be one, all-inclusive community. With each of us – the Ls, the Gs, the
Bs, and the Ts (and our allies) – joining
together, accepting one another, and
respecting one another we can work
miracles! We can put an end to schoolyard bullying and to social media bullying that so alienates our young people
that suicide seems to be the only option.
Together, we can ensure that our Transgender brothers and sisters have access
to the medical care they so desperately
need. Together, we can end LGBT youth
homelessness. And together, we can
combat religious dogma and societal
“norms” that are targeted at us from being “other than” from the mainstream.
Thank you, Seattle, for an extremely
moving, and an extremely beautiful
Pride. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in the coming year!
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence®, Abbey of St. Joan and Quake Rugby present:
2PM AT CAL ANDERSON PARK
A strip kickball match benefiting The Sisters’ Granting Fund, Seattle Quake RFC,
and Seattle Humane Society. Hosted by DonnaTella Howe.
28 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
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July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 29
30 Seattle Gay News
July 4, 2014
Celebrating 41 Years!
Visit us online www.sgn.org
July 4, 2014
Seattle Gay News 31
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. 062714MM