SGN December 23, 2022 by sgn.org

ISSUE 51

C E L E B R AT I N G

VOLUME 50

48 YEARS

F R I D AY

DECEMBER 2 3, 202 2

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FEDS INVESTIGATE TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT BANNED LGBTQ BOOKS By Mike Andrew SGN Staff Writer The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating a Texas school district after learning that its superintendent ordered school libraries to get rid of LGBTQ-themed books. Federal education officials notified the Granbury Independent School District on December 6 that it had opened the investigation based on a July complaint from the ACLU, according to the Texas Tribune.

Photo by Shelby Tauber for ProPublica / Texas Tribune / NBC News

see TEXAS page 17

Sister venues Cuff Complex and Queer/Bar to ring in new year with a bang

Capitol Hill welcomes Gemini Room

Photo courtesy of the Cuff Complex

by Georgia Skerritt SGN intern On December 31, Seattle’s beloved Cuff Complex and the newer but equally beloved Queer/Bar will open their doors for New Year’s Eve parties. Since its opening in 1993, the Cuff Com-

Photo by Tanner Mclaughlin / Gemini Room

plex, also called the Cuff, has become a staple of Seattle’s Queer scene and a favorite on Capitol Hill. It was established by two men, Tim F. and Scott R., who sought to provide “a positive social outlet for people who were into leather, Levi’s and uniforms.”

see NYE page 5

by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer The Gemini Room opened its doors to customers for its first day of business on December 16, in the former Capitol Hill location of the beloved Cafe Pettirosso at 1101 E. Pike St. Though the new business,

like the old one, is a cafe and bar, the Gemini brings something new to the Hill with its late hours, calm vibes, and an interior design that fosters a communal atmosphere. “It has been great,” said co-founder Tanner Mclaughlin of the joint’s opening day.

see GEMINI page 14

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C E L E B R AT I N G 4 8 Y E A R S!

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In this Issue

LOCAL NEWS 4 FILM 6 BOOKS 9 TRAVEL • FOOD 13 JACK’S TAKE 16 NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS 17 DECEMBER 2 3, 202 2

SGN

Local News

WASE Forward recognized by Seattle HRC by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer In 2012, a team of dedicated individuals set out to do the impossible: end human trafficking. After realizing that labor trafficking affects nearly every industry in the world, the team decided to create a program that would educate employers of local businesses on the best ways to recognize and prevent human trafficking in their lines of work. The team also planned to connect survivors with safe spaces where they could find employment and begin rebuilding their lives. Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking, or BEST, was born. Organizers met with survivors to plot the most effective ways to prevent trafficking in Seattle, and by 2013 the Inhospitable to Human Trafficking course was launched. BEST began working with local hotel chains, restaurants, and other businesses to promote its classes, but the organization quickly realized that if it wanted to make a bigger difference, it would need to break into the political sphere. In 2014, BEST successfully joined forces with the King County Prosecuting Attorney Office to launch the Ending Exploitation Collaborative, bringing more attention to the issue of human trafficking. BEST continued working with the City of Seattle, and in 2019 BEST launched King County’s first awareness campaign in partnership with public transit. Launching WASE Forward In 2021, BEST took an even bigger step toward ending trafficking with WASE Forward. This new program is a collaboration with policymakers and 34 local agencies to help modify BEST’s prevention training into future laws that could help punish traffickers and protect survivors. “WASE works to advocate for policies and human services that support people with lived experiences of trafficking and reduce sex trafficking in Washington state. WASE Forward educates policy makers, service providers, and the public about needs of diverse people with lived experiences of sex trafficking,” said WASE CEO and Executive Director, Mar Brettmann. WASE Forward is unique in that it is the only coalition in the state of Washington that is led by survivors. Those who have experienced sexual exploitation are now at the helm of creating new state-wide policies that can help others stay safe. Although the coalition was launched fairly recently, it is already hard at work. “We are working with Representative Tina Orwell on a bill that will create a network of healing, support, and transition services for adult survivors of sex trafficking,” said a cofounder of WASE Forward, Nature Carter. “Through this work, we are centering the voices of trafficking survivors, and prioritizing the needs of the communities most disproportionately impacted.” WASE hopes this bill will further help to establish services for adult survivors. “We want to ensure that our most marginalized communities are prioritized for services that are culturally competent and gender-inclusive, including people who identify as LGBTQ2IA+, Black and African American, Indigenous, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latine,” Brettmann said. While the State Legislative session has come to an end, WASE Forward has not stopped working. It is currently preparing a bill that will increase services for adult sex trafficking survivors and provide funds for a statewide study on the effects of sex trafficking on Black women and girls. This bill will be especially important as the average age of a person who enters into sex trafficking is just 14. Of these victims, 43% are Black girls. “The study will provide a report that makes culturally-informed and survivor-informed recommendations on policies and services,” Brettmann added.

Over the last ten years, BEST has trained 116,642 people in human trafficking prevention tactics and helped to employ nearly 500 survivors with safe jobs. Because of their training, BEST has also helped identify over 213 victims in the last year. The organization has also found connections between human trafficking and the LGBTQ+ community. “WASE recently collected data from sex service providers in Washington that serve adults with lived experiences of sex trafficking. In 2020-2021, these providers served over 350 clients who identified as LGBTQ2IA+,” Brettmann said. “While this number may contain some duplicates if clients sought services from multiple providers, it indicates that as many as 14% of people seeking services to recover from sex trafficking and exploitation have diverse gender

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Image courtesy of WASE Forward

and sexual identities. This human rights abuse toward vulnerable LGBTQ2IA+ individuals is something our whole community needs to understand more fully.” Now the hard-working women behind this successful program are receiving the recognition they deserve. Their policymaking program, WASE Forward, was recognized at a special Seattle Town Hall event on December 6, 2022, where the group received the award for outstanding Organizational Human Rights Leader from the Seattle Human Rights Commission. The Seattle Human Rights Commission is an organization made up of 21 Seattleappointed representatives who advise the Mayor, City Council, Seattle Office for Civil Rights, and City departments. Recognition from the commission will mean a higher pro-

file for WASE Forward, both for the Seattle public and for policymakers who can help pass more legislation to help finally end human trafficking in Washington State. “Sex trafficking is one of the worst human rights abuses of our day, happening right here in Washington and disproportionately harming our most vulnerable and marginalized neighbors who identify as LGBTQ2IA+ and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” Brettman said. “As a young organization led by Black and Indigenous survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation and allies, WASE Forward is absolutely thrilled that we’ve received this recognition from the Seattle Human Rights Commission for our work to prioritize the voices of survivors in both policy and in delivery of services for our communities.”

C E L E B R AT I N G 4 8 Y E A R S!

Bosco (l) and Jane Don’t – Photos by Stephen Anunson

NYE

continued from cover In its day-to-day operations, the Cuff offers patrons space for casual drinks or dancing. The venue features four bars, two dance floors, and a full kitchen, as well as pool tables, darts, and a patio area. The bar also acts as a meeting and events space for local kink and/or Queer organizations like Northwest Bears, POZ Seattle, Seattle Men in Leather, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf. In social media and online state-

ments, the Cuff has described itself as “one of the oldest LGBQT+ clubs in Seattle with a mission to provide the best Queer experience in the city.” The party on News Year’s Eve begins at 7 p.m. and will wrap up around 3 a.m. Resident DJs Alfonso Tan, Morgan J, and Kolman will be mixing throughout the night, and the Cuff’s party announcements say they will have a “fully-loaded go-go crew.” With all this spanning multiple bars and dance floors, a memorable night is surely in store. Just a few blocks away, the Cuff’s sister venue, Queer/Bar, will also be hosting a New Year’s Eve party from 8 p.m. While the

Cuff can serve a large crowd, and attracts a predominantly Gay male crowd (but all are welcome!), Queer/Bar caters to the broader LGBTQ+ community and tends to draw a more diverse crowd. Hosted by Jane Don’t, the evening will star local favorite drag performer Bosco as well as an MX line-up featuring Irene the Alien, Norvina, MyAiko, Kennedy Colby, and Kitty Glitter. With 2023 closing in, people across the city are all looking for exciting places to ring in the new year. For those who are still deciding where to spend the evening or even looking for more spots to bar hop between, the Cuff Complex and Queer/Bar

will offer music, drinks, and entertainment well into the night. If the Cuff is on your list this NYE, consider grabbing tickets online ahead of time to skip the line and jump right into the fun. The New Year’s Eve party will be on Saturday, December 31, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Cuff Complex building at 1533 13th Ave. Queer/Bar, at 1518 11th Ave., will open its doors at 8 p.m. For more information about these events and ticket sales, please see https://www.cuffcomplex.com and https://www.thequeerbar.com.

Photo courtesy of the Cuff Complex

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Film

Melodramatic Empire of Light still casts a cinematic spell

Colin Firth and Olivia Colman in Empire of Light – Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer EMPIRE OF LIGHT Theaters There is nothing subtle about writerdirector Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light. The film’s observations about gender, mental illness, and race are bluntly obvious. Its layers of treacly melodrama can feel oppressive, and there are moments so inauthentically bludgeoning they border on being laughable. But this whimsical period piece is also magnificently shot by Roger Deakins (Fargo, 1917), features a hauntingly gorgeous score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network), and centers on a pair of multilayered, deftly heartfelt performances from stars Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward. Mendes also stages an elegantly ethereal climax, the film’s final moments an irresistibly loving celebration of friendship, art, and cinema that moved me to tears. Suffice it to say, Empire of Light is undeniably messy. Its highs are stratospheric; its lows, borderline unforgivable. But as a purely audio-visual exercise, Mendes’ latest can be captivating. Even though the schmaltzy didacticism caused my eyes to roll back in my head, and even though I have more misgivings about the final product than I have fingers and toes, a part of me is still compelled to urge moviegoers to give the film a look. Set in the early 1980s in a small English coastal town, the story takes place almost entirely at the Empire Theatre, a venue proudly owned and operated by Donald Ellis (Colin Firth). The quiet Hilary (Colman) is his dedicated manager and sometimes secretary, while the gruffly taciturn Norman (Toby Jones) is the venue’s exacting projectionist. The rest of the staff is made up of a cadre of locals young and old, with newcomer Stephen (Ward) the latest member of the crew. Things get interesting when Hilary and Stephen succumb to their mutual attraction and begin a semi-secret relationship. They travel to the beach, spend their lunches together, and even nurse a pigeon with a broken wing back to health. But Hilary has a past that the staff of the Empire does not talk about, and many of her fellow employees — most notably Norman and the empathetic Neil (Tom Brooke) — are worried she’ll

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succumb to old habits, especially now that it appears she’s stopped taking her medications. Mendes’ overstuffed screenplay doesn’t stop there. Ellis is a sexual predator who takes advantage of Hilary’s condition. She is battling mental illness, and her blossoming relationship with Stephen leads to unexpected emotional outbursts and semipsychotic delusions. He happens to be a Black man, the son of an immigrant, living in a majority white town whose most abhorrent citizens feel newly empowered in Margaret Thatcher’s England to openly display their violent racism. Got all that? Mendes also throws in the British premiere of Chariots of Fire at the Empire, which culminates in a cringy faceoff between Hilary and Ellis that would be unforgivably disgusting if not for Colman and Firth’s determined commitment to make the scene work. That they rise above the material during this moment shouldn’t come as a surprise (they each have Academy Awards sitting on their mantles at home, and for good reason), but this does not make the scene any less egregious. Coincidence piles upon coincidence.

Hackneyed storytelling contrivances assault the viewer with punishing ferocity. Some of the dialogue is so thunderously pummeling it can feel like Mendes is hammering it home with a jackhammer. A riot sequence right at the start of the third act is staged with all the finesse of a swift kick to the groin followed by a hard slap to the face. It’s so ill-conceived one begins to wonder if this is the same Mendes who created such magical poetry with nothing more than a floating plastic bag in American Beauty or generated such a consistent state of gut-wrenching intensity with the faux single-shot WWI thriller 1917. But it all looks stunning, courtesy of Deakins. With a notable assist from production designer Mark Tildesley (No Time to Die), the Oscar-winning cinematographer does a stupendous job of making the Empire a living, breathing character standing tall inside this soap opera. The visuals have an immersive dexterity that’s intoxicating, and when those are coupled with the incredible sound design and augmented by Reznor and Ross’ fabulous score, the film

becomes a seductively eerie spellbinder in which the plot no longer even matters. Then there is the ending. Where Mendes leaves things is hardly special, and key elements are reminiscent of Giuseppe Tornatore’s classic Cinema Paradiso. But Colman and Jones underplay these last moments with an intimate simplicity that’s masterful, and the director stages his climax with a grace strangely absent from the rest of this undeniably personal drama. These scenes sing with a sparkling majesty, the power of the cinematic image rendered with mesmeric, breathtaking beauty. Is this ending enough to save Empire of Light and make watching it worthwhile? For me it was, but I also didn’t have to pay for a ticket to get into the theater. Mendes has made far better films, and I am certain he will do so again. But if the viewer is in the right frame of mind and is willing to overlook several noticeable missteps, there is something magical to be found here. As to whether that magic has any staying power, only the passage of time will answer that question, even if my gut tells me it’s sadly unlikely.

Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward in Empire of Light – Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

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Unforgettables: Cinematic milestones with Sara Michelle Celebrating its 25th birthday, Ma Vie en Rose remains a perfectly pink, life-affirming marvel

Ma Vie en Rose - Photo courtesy of Sony Piuctures Classics

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer I shudder to think what the reaction would be if Alain Berliner’s dreamlike fairy tale of gender identity and familial acceptance, Ma Vie en Rose, were released today. Based on a story by Chris Vander Stappen — who also co-wrote the screenplay with the director — this award-winning 1997 drama revolves around sevenyear-old Ludovic (Georges Du Fresne). The precocious and outspoken child begins wearing dresses, announces to the world they’re a girl, and insists they are going to marry their best friend, Jérôme (Julien Rivière), when both of them are older. In 1997 I was still enrolled at the University of Washington, struggling to get by. I was a depressed mess on the verge of flunking out, my inability to deal with my gender identity issues sending my grades into the toilet. Turns out, if you don’t go

to class, don’t keep up with the reading, and don’t go over any of the class notes, it’s remarkably difficult to pass any of the exams. Who knew? I didn’t get to the theater to watch Ma Vie en Rose until early in 1998, heading to the Varsity in the U-District alone as I wasn’t sure I wanted my roommate or my girlfriend to see my reaction. I knew all about the film. The reception had been almost universally rapturous, and the buzz was strong. But I had no idea how this tale would hit me, especially because at that moment I was certain I was destined to live a lie for the remainder of my presumably short life. Berliner’s drama was a shock to my system. The compassion. The understanding. The childlike majesty of its P.O.V. The way the story never mocks or makes fun of its primary characters, treating them instead with love, respect, and understanding. As fantastical and dreamlike as some elements become, this grounded approach was

shockingly ahead of its time, and a quarter century later I’m still gobsmacked the movie saw the light of day in the first place. Times have changed and certain elements are a little dated. Some terminology has evolved, and there are reactions from several of the characters that border on the exploitive, and maybe even grotesque, if viewed under a modern spotlight. But Berliner and Stappen get so much right, these pieces strike me more as wonderful examples of how society has matured more than they are anything to be angry about. For me, Ma Vie en Rose is so decidedly personal a viewing experience it’s difficult to imagine a world in which the film does not exist. While I didn’t quite know it in that first moment, viewing it was a cathartic stepping stone into accepting who I am and doing something about it. If a seven-yearold could show this type of courage, even in a fictional environment, how could I not do the same as an adult?

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Ma Vie en Rose is currently unavailable on domestic DVD. It is available to rent or buy digitally on multiple platforms.

Ma Vie en Rose - Photo courtesy of Sony Piuctures Classics

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Michèle Laroque and Jean-Philippe Écoffey are delightful as Ludovic’s initially bewildered parents, Hanna and Pierre. These performances light up the screen. They have a genuine vitality that’s sublime, and just the thought of seeing them educate themselves as their child blossoms in ways they never could have anticipated brings on a tidal wave of happy tears. What’s astonishing is how real Hanna and Pierre are. While how they would talk about their child and what they would do to research what is going on would be far different today, that does not make these parents any less authentic. I watched their reactions and fantasized how it would go with my parents if I told them all that was swirling inside my own head, and I couldn’t help but dream it would go equally as well. I’m one of the lucky ones, as it did go just as well with my mother and father. Heck, it went even better because this was real life and not a motion picture. While there were countless questions, and while the road hasn’t always been smooth, my parents have both been there with me for every step of my journey. They don’t always understand and they sometimes get things wrong, but their love has never faltered, not for a second, and I’d be lying if said I had the right words to describe how humbling and awesome that is. So it breaks my heart to think how Berliner’s masterwork would be treated in the darker corners of the current zeitgeist if it were released today. With all that’s happening in the world, with the hellscape of disinformation disseminating across social media and with right-wing politicians belligerently trying to eliminate discussions of gender identity from the marketplace of ideas (and thus erasing Transgender individuals entirely), my heart aches at the thought of how such a sweetly empathetic story such as this would be derided. But I want to focus on the positive. Like Ludovic, I marvel at the wonderful, magical mystery that is life. All these years later, Ma Vie en Rose remains a rapturous miracle. I’m elated that the film exists in the first place. That 25 years later it also remains an incisive, euphorically life-affirming marvel is pink icing on the cake.

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SGN

Film

Once more without feeling

Chazelle’s Babylon a visually rapturous Hollywood nightmare

Margot Robbie in Babylon – Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

by Sara Michelle Fetters SGN Staff Writer BABYLON Theaters Damien Chazelle’s Babylon opens with an elephant defecating on its handler as a determined trio attempts to transport it to a hedonistic party thrown by studio mogul Don Wallach (Jeff Garlin). Things only get more vulgar, crazy, and absurd from there. Like some bacchanalian fever dream that would cause filmmakers like Pier Paolo Pasolini, Federico Fellini, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, or Bernardo Bertolucci to rise from their graves and either applaud or rush to the nearest lawyer to sue for defamation (probably both), Chazelle’s ribald flight of self-destructive fantasy is certainly one of the more audacious Hollywood productions in recent memory. But is it any good? To Chazelle’s credit, that’s a question without an easy answer. I cannot say I enjoyed all three hours of this nightmarish yet cartoonish dive into tragedy and exploitation. Much of it turned my stomach, and not in a good way. Yet I was also blown away by the opening act, impressed by some frenziedly untidy set pieces, and left jubilantly stunned by Margot Robbie’s maniacally luminous performance as wannabe starlet Nellie LaRoy. Chazelle’s sprawling pic opens in 1926, and most of the opening act takes place at the orgiastic bash at Wallach’s secluded mansion. It is here that the film’s central trio is introduced: Manny Torres (Diego Calva), Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), and the aforementioned Nellie LaRoy. Manny is one of Wallach’s primary lackies, taking care of problems as weird as figuring out how to truck an elephant to a party and as potentially homicidal as transporting a naked, catatonic actress to the hospital before she dies from a semi-forced drug overdose. Manny dreams about getting onto a set and taking part in the making of cinematic magic. An inadvertent friendship with a drunken Conrad is the serendipitous key to making this fantasy a reality; the lacky takes the silent film star home and the two hit it off. The next thing young Manny knows, he’s shooting a biblical epic in the hot California desert with Conrad, having quickly become the powerful, charismatic actor’s go-to production assistant.

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Nellie is that stereotypical small-town girl with big-time Hollywood dreams. She’s lightning in a bottle, and when chance smiles and gives her a shot, the young woman doesn’t disappoint. Nellie walks onto the set of a low-budget Western melodrama as a featured extra and leaves a bona fide sensation, taking the world by storm with her brazen, no-holds-barred, sexually provocative flirtatiousness. Chazelle has crafted a classic tale, a “be careful what you wish for” tragicomedy that follows Manny, Jack, and Nellie as they each make the transition from silents to talkies with varying degrees of success. The whole thing plays like Singin’ in the Rain on a cocktail of methamphetamine, cocaine, 30-year-old scotch, and steroids, every beat punctuated with the omnipresent, jazzy vivacity of composer Justin Hurwitz’s gargantuan score. The film assaults the senses with lunatic abandon, this chaotic mélange steadfastly refusing to relent for a second of its mammoth 188-minute running time. Yet as impressive as all this may be from a technical perspective — Linus Sand-

gren’s (No Time to Die) cinematography, Florencia Martin’s (Licorice Pizza) production design, Mary Zophres’ (The Tragedy of Macbeth) costumes, and Tom Cross’ (Hostiles) editing are all phenomenal — Chazelle’s wildly overstuffed passion project frequently left me emotionally cold. The film lacks the focus of the director’s best projects, La La Land and First Man, and is more invigorating in brief spurts than it is as a cohesive whole. What really drove me nuts was the movie’s aggressive nihilism. I get wanting to tell a tale about the not-so-pretty price of artistic achievement, but the ugliness at the center of Babylon is maddening. Chazelle becomes so enamored with all the bells and whistles of what he’s doing that he forgets to craft characters worth caring about, and it is only due to the collective strength of his cast that I felt anything whatsoever for Manny, Jack, and Nellie. Even worse, Chazelle pairs all this grandiose, ghoulish nonsense with a single contemplative scene between Pitt’s Jack Conrad and powerful tabloid journalist Elinor St. John, played with suitably flamboyant

aplomb by a scene-stealing Jean Smart. She lectures Jack on the lasting power of his accomplishments, reassuring him that his films will stand the test of time and that no one will remember the ignoble way his time as an international superstar concluded. While Elinor is right, I wonder if Chazelle only wanted to get this scene into his film to justify the bleak oppressiveness of his central thesis. Crowning this hypocrisy is an epilogue in which, roughly two decades after the primary events have concluded, one of this trio of oddballs wanders back into an L.A. theater to joyfully discover their collective tragedy has been used as the foundation for a star-studded Technicolor musical comedy. As happy endings go, the only thing this one did was make me angry. I know what Chazelle is trying to say with Babylon, but it’s all for naught. It’s sensation without feeling; showmanship without ingenuity. While the director is a consummate craftsman who stages several staggering scenes of razzle-dazzle, it’s all pugnaciously heartless. To put it even more bluntly: I couldn’t have cared less.

Brad Pitt and Diego Calva in Babylon – Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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Books

Buyer Aware an all-consuming eye opener by Terri Schlichenmeyer Special to the SGN BUYER AWARE: HARNESSING OUR CONSUMER POWER FOR A SAFE, FAIR, AND TRANSPARENT MARKETPLACE Marta L. Tellado © 2022, Public Affairs $29.00 305 pages Don’t look now, but you’re being shadowed. It sure seems like it sometimes. Play around on social media and a few minutes later, ads start showing up for the discussions you just posted. Search a topic, click on a link, peek at an ad, and hey, are you being followed? Read Buyer Aware by Marta L. Tellado, and bet on it. It’s almost quite scary: the online giants, “the Big Four” — Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google” — know what you’re doing this weekend. They know about your health concerns and your vacation plans, too, and they’re not alone, says Marta Tellado. Consumer products, financial firms,

Image courtesy of Public Affairs

and internet trolls also wreak havoc on your life. And you willingly let them. “At some point early in the internet revolution,” says Tellado, “we lost control over

our digital lives.” She cites problems with Amazon devices that listened to a user’s conversation and sent it to a third party. A Facebook algorithm suggested that a bigamist’s wives become friends. Millions of people innocently going about their lives are monitored and recorded on Ring devices, and the footage is easily accessible by police without a warrant. Tellado points out the “ever-shrinking word ‘Ad’ in the corner of your Google Search.” She wonders why personal data is taken and sold and why “opting out” isn’t the default. There are a few things that we, as consumers, can do. “The first is to be skeptical,” says Tellado. Reviews are faked all too often these days, and certain news outlets are “entertainment” rather than news. Confirm before you share on social media, to avoid passing on misinformation. Keep an eye on your elders; elder fraud is big business now. Likewise, watch your credit report carefully. Know how to opt out of data-collecting as much as you can, and don’t let data breaches go unrepaired. Take security practices seriously and be smarter about navigating the internet. And Tellado urges us to “pester lawmakers by phone, email, or visits to stick up for con-

sumers.” She adds that “we can do it state by state if Congress dawdles.” Once upon a time, when the internet was an infant, it was perceived as a benevolent place for finding knowledge. Buyer Aware makes it abundantly clear that the opposite is true. Focusing on big business, author and Consumer Reports CEO Marta L. Tellado writes about some of the breaches of trust that the “Big Four” have broken; it’s information that rivals anything a horror novelist could offer. These are facts that should keep your finger hovering over your mouse or keypad for a few extra think-about-it seconds before clicking. Then again ... don’t we already know what we’re giving up? While these warnings are great to have together, they’re nothing new. In reading about them in one single, thorough book, readers could be forgiven for wondering if fighting data collection and internet misusage is like a flea battling an elephant. What’s here is encouraging and discouraging, both at the same time, but it’s necessary to know. Indeed, if you’re willing to do the work, Buyer Aware sheds good light on the internet’s shadows.

Courtney Kae’s debut a perfect Sapphic holiday escape Where are all the Queers? Kae first found inspiration for their novel back in 2019 after bingeing on cheesy holiday films with their family. “At the end of 2019, my family was having a rough winter and we coped by just cuddling on the couch and watching holiday movies. They were just a hopeful little bubble that you knew was going to end happily,” they explained. “As a Queer person, I couldn’t help but notice, then, there were zero main characters who were Queer in mainstream holiday movies. I mean, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of holiday movies, and there was not one! At least where I was watching, which was like Lifetime, Hallmark, and Netflix. I may have missed some, but it was very difficult to find.” This got Kae curious, and they started looking into other mediums to find Queer holiday stories. “I think one of the first traditionally published [Sapphic] romances was Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, and I believe that came out in 2020, so that was cool to see because it’s a Sapphic romance set over Christmastime and the holidays.” Out of thousands of books, movies, and TV shows, Kae was surprised to only find a few options, and eventually they realized that if they wanted to see more, they’d just have to write them. “I had been a voracious reader of romance, and I had written YA fantasy up until that point, but I just never thought I would have the chance to do romance. When this main character popped into my head and crashed into a tree farm, I knew I had to write her story, and so came In The Event of Love.”

by Lindsey Anderson SGN Staff Writer The holidays are the perfect time for love. As the year comes to a close and the snow flurries wrap us in a blanket of cold, we are more willing to look beyond ourselves, take account of those we appreciate the most, and let romance blossom in the most unlikely of places. At least that’s how it is in author Courtney Kae’s debut novel, In The Event of Love. Following the timeless formula of a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, In The Event of Love tells the story of Morgan, a big-city event planner reeling from a recent tabloid catastrophe, as she heads back to her Christmas-loving small town. Of course, Morgan has a swoony run-in with her high school crush and former best friend, setting up the perfect Sapphic holiday romance. Finding guidance in the writing world Although the story resonates with many Queer people, bringing all the warm fuzzy feelings of a classic holiday romance the community often excluded from the genre, it took Kae a long time before they were ready to publish the novel. “I have been writing for about a decade, and In the Event of Love was the first book where I felt like I was ready to query with and put out in the world,” they said. Kae finally felt ready to release their book after connecting with other experienced authors through a mentorship program. “I went through a program called Pitch Wars, which is no longer but was a writing mentorship program that writers could submit to. I was chosen to be mentored by Rachel Lynn Solomon, who originates from Seattle. She’s an incredible romance author of Weather Girl and The Ex Talk and the upcoming Business or Pleasure. She’s amazing.” Solomon helped Kae with their draft and guided them through the often mucky publication process. “So we worked together for three months to get In The Event of Love ready for the agent’s eyes, and then the mentoring period ended with an agent showcase. It was a very different way of entering publishing, but I also gained an incredible community from it, and just the nature of the program got me ready for the deadlines and working with

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Courtney Kae – Photo by Albany Katz

an editor. There were so many highs and lows throughout that period, but I wouldn’t change it because of the community and everything I gained. And it was cool to not go through the querying process alone,” Kae said. The program, which helped connect several up-and-coming authors with experienced mentors, gave Kae the confidence to put their story out there. Through their new friendship with Solomon, Kae also learned that there is no ‘right’ way to be an author. “I feel like I’m always trying to find my writing process. It changes with the season

and the week. “Unfortunately, I often have to set aside chunks of time, often full weekends, to get into the headspace. I want to be that author that sits down every morning and [can] leisurely punch out a few words a day, but I tend to write in spurts,” they said. “I don’t think there’s any one way to write a novel, whenever you can get the words down. If I do spend too much time away from a manuscript, that’s when self-doubt creeps in and I tend to sort of get farther away from the characters’ voices, so if I feel that happening it’s time to go back.”

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“Niche, niche, niche” When they first started writing In The Event of Love, it was a personal project, one Kae didn’t plan on sharing with the world. “It was sort of the story I wanted to read or see on the television at that point, so I just really sank my teeth into it and enjoyed it. I didn’t write it with this big feeling that it would sell or get me an agent because it was niche, niche, niche. I felt very much that it was my taste and what I wanted to see represented, and I’m just beyond thrilled and grateful that other people wanted to see it, too. I’m just so grateful for that.”

see KAE page 12

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C E L E B R AT I N G 4 8 Y E A R S!

Episode 44: Death and Friends In our final episode of 2022, Ash & Lindsey discuss art, art theft, Brittney Griner's return to the US, and the weaponization of Queerbating. Special guests Angel Luna and Nash Flynn of podcast Death and Friends chat with Ash about their show, the comedy inherent in history's tragedies, and, yup! You guessed it. Death!

FIND US WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS! VISIT US ONLINE SGN.ORG

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KAE

Books

continued from page 9 One of the reasons Kae never expected In The Event of Love to sell was because the book does not view Queerness from a heterosexual lens. It’s not a tragic story about coming out or a holiday epic of the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community in the face of tragedy. It’s just a fun Christmassy novel that happens to be Sapphic. “I wanted to see Queer community and Queer main characters celebrated in a space that didn’t question or challenge their Queerness. Coming out stories are important, and they have their place, and they’re needed in the community, or stories of challenges and traumas that we’ve overcome personally, or as a community. I wanted In the Event of Love to be pure escapism. Because that’s what you have in a heterosexual holiday movie or book, it’s never examining their straightness or the identity of the characters. I just wanted that sort of escapism for this book,” Kae said. Because Kae intended for In The Event of Love to read like a classic holiday escape, and not a serious look at the intricacies of Queerness, they packed in as many fun romance tropes as they possibly could. “I am trash for so many tropes,” Kae said with a laugh. “You know, ‘Can you help me reach those buttons for me?’ is probably one of my favorites. Only one bed, or any sort of sleeping situation. The second chance is one I love because you get to go back and see the backstory and compare the then to the now. The same thing with friends to lovers. Rivals to lovers [stories] are always great because I love that shift from competing to falling in love. Forearms. Forearms are always great. Yes, rolled up sleeves.” Their favorite tropes — second chances and friends to lovers — are also especially great for writing Queer romances, Kae explained. “I have found that I love childhood friends to lovers or second chances, at least with the two I’ve written so far. It’s been such a joy to incorporate a community. Because I came into my identity later in life or realized my identity a little bit later in life, I always sort of have this sense of loss for the Queer community I didn’t have as a teen. I love being able to incorporate that in the memories of my adult characters, just sort of reliving, in a sense, recreating, a community I didn’t get to experience. I also love including how love interests came out to each other, or welcomed each other into their truths. That’s always a really special and joyful scene for me to write.” Kae doesn’t dwell too much on their character’s pasts but enjoys the snippets of backstories they can create for them. “They aren’t long, but it’s always a little bit of a flashback and I love including that and rewriting sort of some of my moments where I’ve come out and the response hasn’t always been what I would hope it would be, so being able to write that in a way that I wish it could be for everybody, it’s very joyful, especially in Queer romance.”

Courtney Kae – Photo by Albany Katz

The joy of the season While In The Event of Love is pure joy, Kae also hopes readers can take some valuable lessons away from the book as well. “I hope they take away a sense of validation. I hope they take away joy. I hope they feel that it was time well spent and that it filled them up. The resounding point in Morgan’s journey is to fully believe and embrace that she is enough, and I hope that is also how readers feel when they read.” Writing their holiday book was a great way for Kae to feel the Christmas spirit all year long. For them, the magic of the season comes from time spent with friends and family. “One of my absolute favorite [traditions] is we have a holiday street nearby that goes all out, and they call it Candy Cane Lane and we walk with our friends and family and drink hot cocoa,” they said. The tradition landed an important scene in the book as well. “It’s what inspired one of the scenes in In the Event of Love, where

Cover illustration by Monika Roe

Morgan sort of has her realization of what needs to change in her life and her outlook on life. And so I love going there, and there’s always like, a lot of people from the studios live on that street, and it’s wild, they pull out all the stops, it’s cool. It kind of makes you feel like a kid again.” A newer tradition Kae has also come to love is spending time with their adult family. “My family of three and I do a gingerbread house ‘competition.’ It started when my daughter was little and I would handmake all the gingerbread, handmake the

royal icing, and wait for it to dry. Now, we just buy the premade kits and we hot glue them, so it’s not fancy or anything, and my husband always wins the competition, but it’s always just so fun doing it together,” they said with a smile.

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SGN

Continuing the story of Fern Falls For those looking to start a new tradition this year, enjoying a Courtney Kae romance could be a great way to get in the holiday spirit. They are wrapping up the final edits on their second novel, and hope to get it out by

next year, just in time to snuggle around the fire and continue the adventures of Morgan and her small-town friends in Fern Falls. “We are wrapping up the larger revisions for, In the Case of Heartbreak which is Fern Falls number two, it follows a major side character from In The Event of Love,” Kae revealed. “This is our book about our cinnamon roll of a pastry chef Ben Parish, and he is coming off the heels of a major disaster of a live recording of a baking competition show and he runs off to his family’s beach house to sort of lick his wounds, where he finds that his life-long unrequited crush, Adam Reed, is suddenly within reach. So it’s this summer romp of a novel, and it is deeply romantic.” Their latest book is a bit of a tone change from the jolly holiday romance, but just as compelling. “It’s very intense. In the way that In the Event had that holiday whimsy, I feel like In the Case of Heartbreak goes all the way, to the deepest layers, and it took me lots of rewriting to finally reach the bedrock of Ben’s story. Because of that, it will have some bigger trigger warnings for family trauma and childhood neglect and emotional abuse. It goes to some deeper places, but I hope it’s handled with care and in a way that readers can see Ben have this really deep healing journey.” As for Kae’s future projects, “I think as a Queer creator I can’t [not write Queer stories]. Everything I write is going to be Queer,” they said. Readers can look forward to more smalltown hijinks, romance, and lots of fun as they continue the story of Fern Falls.

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Travel

Pacific paradise Plan your visit to Honolulu

by Bill Malcolm Special to the SGN Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, makes for a great beach holiday. I recently spent five days there and enjoyed the beaches, culture, and tropical vegetation. I stayed at the fun Surfjack Hotel and Swim Club, which has a lobby with a pool in the center, free sunscreen, and live music and other events every night. The ten-story hotel is next door to Bacchus, a fun Gay bar, and the In Between Bar, another Gay night spot, is just a block away. The nearby ABC store, part of a chain of Hawaiian convenience stores, has everything you need. The surf-themed Surfjack has personality, charm, and great service you won’t get at the chains and highrises. Plus you get a deck or lanai to relax on and enjoy the tropical breezes. What to do Don’t miss the Foster Arboretum in the center of the city. It showcases the amazing vegetation of this tropical island. Wonder at the huge trunk of the kapok tree and the arboretum’s many palms, including the double coconut palm and the cannonball tree with its huge fruits that weigh several pounds. Enjoy the artwork of Hawaiian artists at the Hawaii State Art Museum. Stop by the beautiful ‘Iolani Palace, which was home to the Hawaiian monarchy, and view the statue of King Kamehameha, who united the islands into one country. (Unfortunately, as I learned, the US annexed the republic that later succeeded Kamehameha’s dynasty.) Tour the State Capitol, and walk around the beautiful campus of the University of Hawaii. Lie back and catch some rays at nearby Fort DeRussy beach, which features great views of the Diamond Head volcano. If you want to burn off some energy, you can walk or run with the Frontrunners Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.; they meet behind the zoo. Then grab breakfast and explore the Farmers’ Market at the nearby Community College. You can hike up to Diamond Head from there. The college also has a botanical garden featuring a cactus display — you are on the dry side of Oahu here. If running and hiking aren’t your speed, work out with the locals at the 24 Hour Fitness. The West Coast chain has a branch near Waikiki.

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Photos by Bill Malcolm

Nightlife Bacchus, the Gay bar next to the Surfjack, has an outdoor deck that’s great for people-watching. Try the Thai food at the restaurant next door. On Sundays, join karaoke night at In Between (just steps from Bacchus). Filled with friendly locals, this Gay bar is Honolulu at its non-touristy best. The Velvet Lounge has sexy supplies just upstairs from the bar, which is located in an alley off the main drag. Catch the sunset at Hula’s (on the second floor of the Grand Hotel) and enjoy happy hour there Monday through Friday. Hula’s special events include a catamaran cruise some Saturdays. You will find them at 134 Kapahulu on the second floor of the Grand Hotel. Dance the night away at the new Atlas Club, or have a drink with locals at Tapas. Getting there Southwest has great fares to Honolulu and other cities on the island (and inter island service for only $39). I took Southwest nonstop from Oakland and returned to Phoenix. There’s no charge for checked bags and you can change your ticket for free if you need to. Unlike American Airlines, Southwest doesn’t overbook their flights, nor do they annoy you with emails asking you to give up your seat for $300. Best of

all, Southwest does not outsource their airline as the other carriers do (via “regional jets” operated by other companies). From the airport, take the #20 bus (known as The Bus) to your hotel in Waikiki on the south shore of Oahu. You can take The Bus — a bargain that runs frequently — around town and around Waikiki. Where to eat Grab some local dishes at Da Spot, 2469 King Street, and enjoy their great smoothies. Nearby, Down to Earth Natural Living (2525 S. King) has a great food bar including salads and fresh juices. You can eat upstairs. The ABC Stores (including the one near the hotel at 408 Lewers St.) have everything you need for your vacation including the Japanese-inspired snack musubi: a block of white rice with a slice of meat (including spam or “salmon flakes”) on top and a thin wrapper of dried seaweed to hold it together. Also try the papaya, and wash it down with coconut or pineapple juice. Where to stay The aforementioned Surfjack (412 Lewers St.) is my go-to. I have stayed there twice. Unlike other hotels, they are currently not charging a resort fee. There is so much to do on the property (great espresso

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bar that also sells tropical clothes and more, restaurant that provides food and beverage service around the pool, live music and other events nightly), you will not want to leave. The spacious rooms are amazing and feature balconies or lanais. Check out the handmade furniture. The Surfjack is popular with locals and hotel guests and has a personality missing from the chain hotels. Pricewise, it the Trader Joe’s of hotels in Waikiki, but with a fun and tropical vibe. You will find them at. Travel tips Book your hotel before your flight as hotel rates vary and can be expensive at times. Learn the Hawaiian language. “Aloha” means not only “welcome” but also “peaceful” and “friendly.” As the saying goes, “practice Aloha,” which means to act compassionately; in appreciation of the Island, please practice Aloha at all times. And wear plenty of sunscreen (free at the Surfjack). You are in the tropics. Bill Malcolm is America’s only syndicated LGBTQ+ value travel columnist. His column appears in LGBTQ+ publications in Florida, Seattle, Toronto, Chicago, and other cities.

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Food

“Of course, we’re a new business, so there’s always kinks to work out that we don’t foresee until you open the doors. But so far the feedback has been incredible. We have, and are a part of, an incredible community up here, and they have definitely showed up for us, so we can’t be more thankful.” Friends and colleagues of Mclaughlin had been filing in all afternoon to offer their congratulations and try some of the fare, but they were far from the only patrons. When I entered the place from 11th Avenue, a few solo visitors were resting their elbows on the high two-person tables at the front. Small groups passed in and out of the orbit of the central coffee table in the lounge, where Mclaughlin and three others were sitting in armchairs and chatting.

I ordered a breakfast sandwich and an americano, and took my number to a coffee table in a corner of the lounge. The color scheme of the room was autumnal, with browns, yellows, oranges, and golds, steering clear of any red for the most part. Both the lighting and the music were clear and gentle. The loudest thing in the room was a child laughing at the antics of a lean, black dog. The person responsible for interior decoration, Mclaughlin said, was none other than Murf Hall. For those unfamiliar with the business side of Capitol Hill, Hall and his husband, Joey Burgess, own a good portion of Capitol Hill’s most iconic Queer businesses, like Elliott Bay Book Company, Queer/Bar, and the Cuff Complex. Together with their associates, they’re known as the Burgess/Hall Group, and they’ve seen their businesses (some they recently bought) through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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GEMINI

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Photos by Tanner Mclaughlin / Gemini Room

C E L E B R AT I N G 4 8 Y E A R S!

Photos by Tanner Mclaughlin / Gemini Room

Part of Burgess/Hall’s mission, Mclaughlin explained, was to “preserve” Capitol Hill’s spirit as a center for minority-owned businesses, and by extension make it a friendly place for people who are Queer, BIPOC, or from other diverse communities. That intention extends all the way to how the Gemini Room’s seating is set up. A long bench extends from the far back corner, encouraging communal seating, and something that looks like a reading nook occupies another spot. Many of the chairs face each other, but there’s nothing stopping patrons from moving a chair or table from one spot to another. “I think Gemini Room is definitely designed in a way to be what you want it to

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be,” Mclaughlin said. “It can be communal if you want it to be, or you are more than welcome to have your own intimate corner.” Mclaughlin was responsible for the place’s branding. She went with the name Gemini Room “because it speaks to the duality of the day to night service, so it’s like the light twin [and] the dark twin,” she said. “And that plays into the logo with the double-headed snake.” The string of lights along the ceiling, behind a facade of wooden slats, will change from white to other colors during the evening, to fit the nighttime mood. I’m not into astrology, and I can say with confidence that Mclaughlin didn’t go overboard with the zodiac theme at the Gemini.

Many of the patterns and designs of the furniture felt as if they were drawn from the 1960s or 70s, with some of the armchairs seemingly dip painted. But there was no tie-dye or big star charts, nor a huge array of zodiac-themed drinks or food. And that, Mclaughlin said, was intentional. “We wanted it to be as close to a theme bar without being a theme bar,” she said. The americano was well-rounded, and not overly bitter or sour, which was a good sign for the other espresso drinks. The breakfast sandwich was both substantial and delicious, which, at its price, was basically required. Mind, while it was double the cost of your standard Starbucks sandwich, it left me deeply content rather than bloated.

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As for the future, there are some events in the works — for instance, a New Year’s Eve party — but unlike so many other late-night destinations on Capitol Hill, the Gemini Room will maintain a much more mellow atmosphere, Mclaughlin said. “It’s definitely the place to come to before you go to the club, or in lieu of the club, or if you’re just not a crazy party person,” she said. “You can go on a date, you can read a book, you can have a more wild night out, [or] you can spend time with friends.” You can learn more about the Gemini Room at https://www.thegeminiroom.com/.

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Op-Ed

The lost arts of letter writing and friendship by Jack Hilovsky SGN Contributing Writer The end of another year always makes me grow reflective. I kick around in my head what is important to me, what I can let go, and what I might like to do differently in the year ahead. I still think of myself as a work in progress. I am leery of getting set in my ways and so will often surprise even myself when I venture into new, uncharted territory. Like walking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago last spring. Or resuming tap dancing in my fifties (see last month’s column). This next year I am wanting to learn more about the variety of birds. Maybe even become a bird watcher. I bought the Audubon Songbirds and Other Backyard Birds picture-aday calendar for 2023. After completing my annual letter to friends and family several days ago, I sat down to watch the winter scene outside my living room window. Snowflakes gently glided from on high and settled softly on the tree branches and statuary in my courtyard. I had taken a walk with my friend Dean earlier that evening, and we got to talking about the unexpected little cards with notes he would often send me after we spent time together, visiting the art museum or attending a sneak preview of a SIFF film. He suggested many people could use a primer on how to write an engaging thank you note. I agreed that sending handwritten notes was a lost art that only he and my dear friend Jenny in Portland seemed to value. In a recent New York Times op-ed, writer John McWhorter remarks that the current generation of college students he teaches no longer writes in cursive. He goes on to say that most writing now occurs on a keyboard, and so cursive, designed for handwriting, has gone the way of the CD and the landline telephone. It is no longer essential, McWhorter claims. I would beg to differ. While texts and emails, even Facebook, FaceTime or Instagram, might bring us into the instant with friends and family, there is nothing like a handwritten letter. During this time of year many people send Christmas cards or New Year greetings. They are precious to me because it takes some effort and thought to select a card, write even a short note, address the envelope, and put a stamp on it (not a ring, Beyonce!) I have even saved some of these cards and letters, bound with colorful ribbons and nestled in a box in the back of my closet. Whenever I am reorganizing, I lift the box lid and read one or two, thinking Maybe I should get rid of these, who will enjoy them when I am dead? But then, sitting in my closet (what an irony), I read my friend Leticia’s note from 1988, postmarked from New York City and telling me in the most comforting handwritten words that she supports my coming out as a Gay man and she loves me regardless. I had forgotten she even wrote this letter, though we’ve been

friends since college. If she’d sent her message in a text or email, it would have been erased long ago, lost to time. When we write with the hand, I’m told, we are more connected to our heart than when we compose words on a keyboard. I keep handwritten journals, a collection of musings, that date back to Ronald Reagan’s second term in office (don’t do the math). My experience is that some of my most personal writing began with letters I sent when I first arrived in Seattle from Ohio. I missed family and friends. I was undergoing so much change in my twenties, coming out and finding myself, daring to be brave enough to confide and let the chips fall where they may.

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Photo by Jack Hilovsky

Fortunately, those friends and family stood by me, despite the fact that my truthfulness challenged my parents, who struggled with it. I can see some of the melancholy in my mom’s letters that I have saved, even though they are difficult to read, not because of her handwriting but because of the emotion behind them: sharing news from back home, saying that she missed me, wanting reassurance that she had been a good mother. As my friend Dean and I came to the end of our walk that snowy night, he gave me a small gift of handmade soaps that he purchased while visiting Portsmouth, New Hampshire, last summer. We embraced. I told him how much his notes had meant

to me over the last year, the thoughtfulness behind them. They were from a bygone era, old-fashioned but lasting. They are testament, like Jenny’s and Leticia’s, to a friendship that stretches through time. Wrapped like a beautiful ribbon. Jack Hilovsky is an author, actor, dancer, and blogger who has made his home in Seattle since 1986. His first book, RJ, Farrah and Me: A Young Man’s Gay Odyssey from the Inside Out, was published in June 2022. It can be found at Madison Books, Nook & Cranny, and the University Bookstore, among other local booksellers.

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National News

Lou Whiting –Photo by Shelby Tauber for ProPublica / Texas Tribune / NBC News

TEXAS

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Jeremy Glenn – Photo by Shelby Tauber for ProPublica / Texas Tribune / NBC News

Whiting, seated next to their father, wipes away tears after speaking against book removals at a school board meeting – Photo by Shelby Tauber for ProPublica / Texas Tribune / NBC News

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The ACLU complaint — based on a leaked recording of a meeting between Granbury’s superintendent, Jeremy Glenn, and school librarians — charged the district with violating a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. The meeting was reportedly held in January, and the recording was first published by NBC News, ProPublica, and the Texas Tribune in March. The news venues say they have verified the authenticity of the tape. In the recording, Glenn instructed librarians to remove books dealing with sexual orientation and Transgender people. “I acknowledge that there are men that think they’re women and there are women that think they’re men,” Glenn told the librarians. “I don’t have any issues with what people want to believe, but there’s no place for it in our libraries.” Later in the meeting, Glenn clarified that he was specifically focused on removing books geared toward Queer students. “It’s the Transgender, LGBTQ and the sex — sexuality — in books,” he said, according to the recording. Glenn’s comments were followed by the district’s decision to remove dozens of library books pending a review. This fostered a “pervasively hostile” environment for LGBTQ students, the ACLU wrote in its complaint. Chloe Kempf, an ACLU attorney, said the Education Department’s decision to open the investigation into Granbury school district signals that the agency is concerned about what she described as “a wave” of anti-LGBTQ policies and book removals nationally.

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“In this case it was made very clear, because the superintendent kind of said the quiet part out loud,” Kempf said in an interview. “It’s pretty clear that that kind of motivation is animating a lot of these policies nationwide. “These comments, combined with the book removals, really send a message to LGBTQ students in the districts that: ‘You don’t belong here. Your existence is shameful. It should be censored,’” Kempf said. An Education Department spokesperson confirmed the investigation and said it was related to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits schools from discriminating on the basis of sex, gender, and sexual orientation. The Office for Civil Rights doesn’t comment on pending investigations, the spokesperson added. If the investigation finds that violations of students’ rights in Granbury schools occurred, the agency can require the district to make policy changes and submit to federal monitoring. Education and legal experts contacted by the Texas Tribune said the federal investigation appears to be the first explicitly tied to the nationwide movement to ban school library books dealing with sexuality and gender. Lou Whiting, 17 years old, a nonbinary senior at Granbury High School, told the Texas Tribune that Glenn’s recorded comments made them feel unsafe and unwelcome at school. Whiting, who helped organize student protests of the book removals, said they cried when they learned that the federal government had opened an investigation. “It’s just really good to hear that there are people who are listening to us and actually doing something about it,” Whiting said. “It means a lot to hear that our efforts meant something.”

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National/International News National news highlights by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Orthodox Jewish school must recognize student group, court rules An appeals court in New York ruled on Thursday last week that Yeshiva University must formally recognize LGBTQ student group Y.U. Pride Alliance. The Jewish university had refused to do so, claiming that it would violate its religious rights and go against its values. The Appellate Division in Manhattan upheld a judge’s ruling that the university didn’t qualify as a “religious corporation,” which — under New York City Human Rights Law — would have exempted it from prohibitions against discrimination by a place or provider of public accommodation. Yeshiva said in a statement that it would “continue to appeal to defend against the claim that we are not a religious institution.” In September, the Supreme Court declined to block a New York judge’s similar ruling from June. But four conservative justices dissented in that decision, and Justice Samuel Alito in particular said that the court would likely take on the case if Yeshiva lost its appeals in lower courts.

Mourners in front of a roadside memorial for the victims of the Club Q shooting – Photo by David Zalubowski / AP

FBI snoops on shady sites in connection with shooting The FBI has been investigating two websites in connection with the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs. Each site hosts racist videos and forum threads under the banner of “free speech,” according to Xavier Kraus, the former neighbor of the man arrested for the violent act.

According to an internet archive, one of the sites previously hosted video of the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, that left ten people dead. The video was then shared on sites like 8kun, which was known as 8chan at the time. A spokesperson for the FBI told NBC News, “The Denver FBI field Office, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Divi-

sion, National Security Division, and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado are aware of the situation regarding the shooting in Colorado Springs at Club Q, and we will review all available facts of the incident to determine what federal response is warranted.”

International news highlights by Daniel Lindsley SGN Staff Writer Transphobic film screening blocked at Scottish U A film screening at the University of Edinburgh was canceled on December 14 after protestors blockaded the venues hosting it. The university’s Pride Society had previously called on Principal Peter Mathieson to stop the event, saying the film was “a clear attack on Trans people’s identities.” The film to be shown was Adult Human Female, billed as an “explainer about the issues, how far things have already changed for the worse for women and how difficult it has been to be heard, to be listened to.” More specifically, the film is about how certain women feel threatened by the existence of Trans women, and try to justify their position partly with simplistic biology facts while conflating sex and gender. A spokesperson for the Pride Society told BBC Scotland that “the occupation and all protests around it make it clear that students of the University of Edinburgh will not tolerate transphobia on campus.” In response, counter-protestors in favor of the screening showed up with signs and chants featuring the slogan “women won’t wheesht,” meaning “women won’t be silenced.” The screening itself was organized by University of Edinburgh Academics

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Demonstrators at Zurich Pride in 2021 – Photo by Michael Buholzer / Keystone via AP

for Academic Freedom (AFAF), which is made up of university staff. They called the cancellation a “temporary victory for censorious bullies” and promised to organize another screening next year. Meanwhile, the university said in a statement that it stood by its decisions to both cancel the screening for safety reasons and allow it in the first place. Swiss advocates anticipate “conversion therapy tourism” With the Swiss parliament readying a debate over conversion therapy and many other EU countries banning the practice, LGBTQ groups in Switzerland have

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been voicing fears that the country could become a haven for “conversion therapy tourism.” Conversion therapy is by no means popular in the Swiss parliament, whose members broadly agree the practice is bad, regardless of party affiliation. The debate mainly concerns how it should be treated. “Some politicians think we don’t have to do anything, we already have enough laws, and we could prevent it with that,” said Pink Cross managing director Roman Heggli. “We tell them it’s not enough, and we can see that because conversion therapy is still happening in Switzerland, and we have a lot of victims.”

Heggli explained that the term “conversion therapy” itself isn’t widely used by those practicing it, which makes it harder to root out. “They say it’s only a self-finding trip, a therapy, or they want people to accept themselves,” Heggli said. “But of course that’s a lie because they don’t really want them to accept themselves. They just want to make them straight and cis.” Heggli said he was confident that public opinion would favor a ban, but also that “Switzerland has to acknowledge this problem and fight back.”

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