(OUTview NW) Plans for the Seattle AIDS Legacy Memorial Resolution 31783 approved!

Photo courtesy of Sabrina Bolieu

by MK Scott
 
On Monday, November 27, the Seattle City Council passed Resolution 31783 allowing the Seattle Parks Department to construct the Seattle AIDS Legacy Memorial at Cal Anderson Park.

The resolution was drafted by Councilmember Debora Juarez with Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Mike O'Brien providing feedback.

While speaking, Juarez made a point to thank former City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen for organizing the Community Advisory Group, which includes Seattle Gay News publisher, George Bakan.

This project has received $275,000 from the City of Seattle with construction to be completed by 2019 as part of the housing development to be built at the Capitol Hill Light Rail station.

This memorial will honor members of the LGBTQ and all communities who were affected by the AIDS pandemic.

Mike O'Brien commented: 'The HIV/AIDS Pandemic: a Health Crisis, a Political Crisis and a Social Crisis, and the historical and current effects on the LGBTQ Community have been devastating.'

Council President Bruce Harrell called this legislation, 'Powerful.'

Also published in the Seattle Gay News

(OUTview NW) LEO Party brings out Drag Royalty with Chad Michaels: Raises over $20K for SCS!

On behalf of Joe Torres, Founder of LEO Foundation - THANK YOU!

Our amazing team of VOLUNTEERS and ENTERTAINERS - AMORA Dior Black, ATASHA Manila, CLAYTON Coleman, DESARAE Pendavis, EVAH Destruction, GAYSHA Starr, ISAAC Scott, JAXEN Brown, LADIE Chablis, LaSAVEONA Hunt, LONDYN Bradshaw, LUNA Palacios, the MARKOS Sisters, URSULA Major, TRULY Scrumptuous with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence - with the generosity of OUR FRIENDS helped raise $20,000+ for Seattle Counseling Service and Imperial Sovereign Court Of Seattle.

We are grateful to our gracious sponsors and donors: Muckleshoot Casino Charities, Silver Dollar Casino - SeaTac, Neighbours Seattle!

Here are the official photos courtesy of John Beursken.

With pride,
Aleksa Manila
LEO Foundation

Also in the SGN 

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: R&B sensation Mya to headline Tacoma Pride Party at Club Silverstone on July 8th!

by MK Scott

If you thought that the Cuff Pride Party with Berlin and Vicci Martinez was great, Club Silverstone in Tacoma has something special planned for their annual Pride Party on Saturday, July 8th. Hosted by The Lady Bunny, the headliner there will be R&B singer and actress, Mya. It was 15 years ago when she collaborated with Missy Elliot and was one of the foursome in the iconic Lady Marmalade remake for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, which was followed by her cameo in the Oscar-winning Chicago as cellmate Mona. I had a chance to chat with by phone last week (June 22).

(OUTview NW) END OF AN ERA: Two Seattle LGBTQ landmarks demolished in one week

by MK Scott

We knew this day was coming, but to lose not one, but two buildings, that each meant so much to many in the Seattle LGBTQ Community (during Pride Week, no less): I am talking about the house on 303 17th Ave. E. (home to the Seattle AIDS Support Group, later called Dunshee House, and then Seattle Area Support Groups & Community Center for 26 years) and the former Brass Door and later Brass Connection and later incarnations (a Gay bar and dance club with various owners and names for over 20 years) at 722 E. Pike St.

For SASG, who vacated the house and moved in late 2015 to its current location on 15th Ave. E. between E. Denny Way and E. John St., it was not clear that the 2,460 SF house that was built in 1906 would ever be torn down. So last week's demolition surprised even myself.

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Peaches Christ and Heklina preview '9 to 5 Inches' coming to the Egyptian on June 15!

by MK Scott

Qurb Media Group and Peaches Christ Productions proudly present a SHE-larious drag stage show parody of the hit 1980 cult classic film 9 to 5 starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton.

This side-splitting rendition stars 'RuPaul's Drag Race' superstars PANDORA BOXX and BENDELACREME along with San Francisco drag legends HEKLINA and PEACHES CHRIST!

Watch these roosters become hens before your very eyes and cheer along as the ladies take on their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot boss in a drag show overthrow like no other!

Featuring a sensationally talented local cast of Seattle performers including: Mackenzie Miller, Fraya Love, Sparkle Leigh, Strawberry Shartcake, Isabella Extynn, Angel Snowbunny, Visage LaRue, and Tipsy Rose Lee!

(OUTview NW) EXCLUSIVE: An interview with Lady Bunny - The Trans-Jester! appearing at the SIFF Egyptian Theatre May 11!

by MK Scott

Lady Bunny is bringing her acclaimed show The Trans-Jester! to the SIFF Egyptian Cinema next Thursday, May 11. (For details read the press release article in this week's SGN.) I had the opportunity to chat with Lady Bunny, herself, via email this past week about her life, her friendships, her politics and her upcoming show and here is our conversation.

(OUTview AMERICA) Former Seattle writer Dominic Holden to receive the 2016 NLGJA Journalist of the Year award!

by MK Scott

In the fall of 2014, Seattle bid adieu to former Stranger News Editor, Dominic Holden as he made the move to New York City and was hired almost immediately at Buzzfeed as a National LGBT Reporter.

This Saturday, September 10, Holden will receive the 2016 Journalist of the Year award from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalism Association at their annual convention being held in Miami South Beach, Florida this year.

In a recent NLGJA press release, one judge wrote, 'Holden presents a really strong mix of thoughtful trans stories, a good take on familiar subject matter, some really strong characters and good depth.' Holden additionally took second place in News Writing (Non-Daily) for 'Why Are Black Transgender Women Getting Killed in Detroit?'

(OUTview NW) CONCERT RE-view: It was all about the legendary Nile Rodgers at the Chic/Duran Duran double play in Everett!

MKS

by MK Scott

The number one concert on my bucket list was finally realized when Duran Duran played the Xfinity Arena in Everett on Thursday, September 1st.

Ever since I was 14 years old, I wanted to be Simon Le Bon. Some would say the same about bass guitarist, John Taylor (the cutest), or keyboardist, Nick Rhodes (super-androgynous). But with Simon, he had great hair, clothes and voice.

Even today, Le Bon, 57, is gorgeous, and a little rugged with facial hair. Taylor, 56, is looking kind of burned out, in a Keith Richards (the Rolling Stone's lead-guitarist) kind-of-way. Rhodes, 54, announced in June that he was taking time off toward the end of the summer tour; and during the concert said who else would fill Rhodes' makeup and high-heels but Amanda Warner - yes, a woman.

(SIFF 2015) INTER-view: Fetters' Exclusive with Tab Hunter, subject of "Tab Hunter Confidential"!

by Sara Michelle Fetters

Of all the visitors, filmmakers and dignitaries scheduled to appear during the SIFF festival, it's quite likely the one that gets me most excited is Hollywood icon Tab Hunter. At one point he was considered a studio golden boy, appearing in big budget musical productions like Damn Yankees and seeing his shirtless image plastered on posters around the globe while also having a number one single with the release of 'Young Love' in 1957. But by the 1960s the worm had turned, the days of the 'Studio System' on their way out, leading to the actor being outed by paparazzi and in many ways ending what had been a successful career as leading man and romantic lead.

He worked off and on for the next 20 years appearing mostly on television and in a series of lower budgeted B-movies, never again rising to the same iconic heights of his youth. It was meeting and working with legendary gonzo filmmaker John Waters on the 1980 underground classic Polyester that ultimately brought Hunter back into the limelight, however; the film giving him a first opportunity to truly be himself in front of the camera like no production before ever had. In 2005 he penned the eye-opening memoir Tab Hunter Confidential, the autobiography a beautifully well-written and intimately raw account of his life and times in Hollywood working as a closeted actor.

It took a little convincing, but celebrated director Jeffrey Schwarz (Vito, I Am Divine) was able to convince the actor that now was the time for a documentary based on his memoir. Sharing the title of the autobiography, the film, playing as a part of SIFF, is a revelation, digging even deeper into Hunter's story while also sharing fascinating interviews - both archival and new - with notable filmmakers and celebrities including Clint Eastwood, Debbie Reynolds, Connie Stevens, George Takei, Noah Wyle, Rock Hudson, John Waters and celebrated Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne. It's magnificent, Schwarz composing a fascinating historical journey that's almost impossible not to be mesmerized by.

A week before his scheduled arrival at the film festival, I had a chance to speak with Hunter via phone. Here are some of the highlights from that conversation: