Three Dollar Bill's "Take Action Tuesday"

by Keith Bacon, Lead Programmer & Marketing Manager at Three Dollar Bill Cinema

Some of the most anticipated films to be screened at the 17^th Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, October 11-21, are also among the most important. On October 16, the festival’s “Take Action Tuesday” will devote an entire evening of programming exclusively to eye-opening, issue-oriented films. Representative from local LGBT community groups will be present at the screenings, providing opportunities for audience members to get informed and get involved. Bring your family, friends, and co-workers… and anyone undecided on Refendum-74!

FOR MY WIFE… -- Free screening

5:45 p.m., Northwest Film Forum

With the vote on Referendum 74 coming up, take a look back at how far we’ve come in the fight for Washington marriage equality with this award-winning documentary on the tragic yet inspiring story of Charlene Strong and Kate Fleming.  Seattle resident Strong, a Washington State Human Rights Commissioner, will be a special guest at the screening, along with the documentary’s filmmakers.

MARRIED AND COUNTING

7:15 p.m., Egyptian Theatre

Join two men who celebrate their 25 years together by traveling the country in a wild road trip to get married in every state that they can.  Narrated by George Takei.

INSPIRATION: ACTIVATE (Shorts program)

7:15 p.m., Northwest Film Forum

Out lesbian Ellen Ratner, an impassioned crusader for free speech and social justice, is profiled by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple (HARLAN COUNTY, USA) in A FORCE OF NATURE, while MISSISSIPPI: I AM examines the relatively new battle, led by primarily young LGBT people, to bring gay civil rights and visibility out in the open in one of our country’s most conservative states.

UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP

9:30 p.m., Egyptian Theatre

This moving documentary focuses on the birth and life of the AIDS activist movement, from the unique perspective of the people of the people who have fought long and hard in the trenches against the epidemic.

UNFIT: WARD VS WARD

9:30 p.m., Northwest Film Forum

This award-winning documentary examines a question tried in court almost too shocking to believe: who is more fit to raise a child, a convicted killer or a lesbian?

Jury Award, Best Documentary, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Best Documentary Feature Award Nominee, Boston LGBT Film Festival; Best Documentary Feature, CNKY Scene LGBT Film Festival.

Visit the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival’s website for more information on Take Action Tuesday.

Charlene Strong's Statement - Prop 8 Ruling

Today’s Prop 8 Ruling Goes Beyond California’s Borders

Seattle LGBT Advocate Charlene Strong Sees First Step to Overturning DOMA

Human Rights are not Special Rights

SEATTLE - August 4, 2010 - Today a federal court ruled that California’s Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative which banned same-sex marriage in the state last November, unconstitutional under both the due process and equal protection clauses. This decision is critical as its ramifications could reach beyond California’s borders to challenge the federal ban on same-sex marriage known as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Charlene Strong, a Washington State Human Rights Commissioner whose personal story of courage in the face of inequality helped to pass landmark domestic partnership legislation, is working hard to see that DOMA is overturned. She sees today’s ruling as an important first step in that process.

Laws barring full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are the last examples of state sponsored discrimination in the United States. Without full equality at the federal level, LGBT people will continue to be second class citizens, unable to fully participate in all of the rights, responsibilities and benefits of United States citizenship.

“Today’s ruling is very good news. LGBT rights are not special rights. These are human rights,” Charlene Strong says. “Anyone who says otherwise, that all citizens are not entitled full equality in our country is speaking from their own personal bias and nothing more. This has nothing to do with sexuality and everything to do with who you love.”

There is a patchwork quilt of same-sex marriage protections in the states. But whether protections are termed “marriage,” “domestic partnerships” or “civil unions,” all of these rights stop at the state border. “There are no protections for LGBT people at the federal level. That is over 1,138 rights we don’t have that are available to opposite sex couples,” Charlene reiterates. These rights include social security survivor benefits, tax incentives for married couples, the ability to transfer property and more.

“I look forward to working with Equal Rights Washington to empower people across the state to talk to their friends and family about the importance of marriage equality and the lives of gay and lesbian families,” Strong relates.

"I am an American and I am proud of that. I am not fighting for my rights alone -- I am standing up and fighting for every gay and lesbian couple who pay their taxes, contribute to society and who want the same protections every other American is afforded if and when they choose to marry."

# # #

Links:

Charlene Strong Op-Ed, Seattle Times, July 26: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012455623_guest27strong.html.

FOR MY WIFE (Trick Dog Films, 2007) -- An award-winning feature documentary film capturing her transformation into an activist for equality and her successful campaign to see domestic partnership legislation in Washington state. FOR MY WIFE will be released on DVD on August 31 (Cinema Libre): www.formywife.info.

Find out about Equal Rights Washington: www.equalrightswashington.org

About Charlene Strong

Charlene Strong lost her wife, Kate Fleming when flood waters invaded their Seattle home in 2006. Initially prevented from seeing Kate on her deathbed and unable to make the most rudimentary of arrangements on Kate’s behalf, Charlene has become a tireless advocate for marriage equality and equal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families. Her testimony one month after Kate's death was instrumental in the 2007 passage of landmark domestic partnership legislation in Washington state and her story was captured in the award-winning feature documentary FOR MY WIFE (2007, Trick Dog Films). Soon after, Charlene was appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire to the Washington State Human Rights Commission. In 2009, Charlene's strong voice was vital to the historic passage of Washington state’s Referendum 71 affirming for the first time by popular vote LGBT partner rights. Taking the fight for equality beyond Washington’s borders, Charlene's story and courage have made her a nationally recognized activist.

Miss Strong Goes to Washington

[UPDATE 9:00 a.m. June 23, 2010]

Charlene will be on the Dave Ross radio show today at 11:35 a.m. -- 97.3 FM [LISTEN HERE]

[UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. June 22, 2010]

Just out of her meeting with President Obama, Charlene Strong shared this with GSBA:

"President Obama was warm and engaging. Most importantly, he paid attention. He's extremely sincere and proud of the advances made on behalf of LGBT people and I believe he and his staff are serious about advancing equality for all American citizens."

Audrey Fleming (Kate's mom) on new rules for LGBT hospital visitation rights by memorandum: "On behalf of all mom's, I want to thank you Mr. President for signing the memorandum."

Note: Rahm Emanuel, the president's chief of staff was deeply impressed with Charlene and her story. He was key in making this White House meeting happen.

[Read More]

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Charlene Strong, whose personal story has become an example of courage in the face of inequality, will be in Washington, D.C. this week to continue her fight for the fundamental civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. In 2006, Charlene was prevented from making the most rudimentary of arrangements, or even being allowed to see her wife, as she lay dying in the hospital after flood waters rushed through their Seattle home. After Kate’s death, Charlene has become a tireless advocate for marriage equality and equal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families. This week she continues that fight as a living example of how inequality can adversely affect an American family, with a trip to the nation’s capitol where she will meet with government leaders and screen her award-winning documentary film, FOR MY WIFE.

“Our lives (LGBT people) are valuable and deserve a voice and full inclusion in the discussion of full equality,” Strong says. “My goal is to be that voice -- a voice that reaches out to say that this is the real story, the real pain and the real collateral damage of discrimination.”

Key Meetings:

Tuesday, June 22: White House reception with President Barack Obama (5 p.m.)

Wednesday, June 23: Meeting with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)on Capitol Hill (12:15 p.m.)

Thursday, June 24: Washington premier screening of FOR MY WIFE, the award-winning documentary, UCDC, 1608 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington (6:30 p.m.)

Meetings will be streamed live at www.whitehouse.gov/live

In the News:

• The United States Supreme Court will rule this coming Thursday or Monday on a lawsuit challenging Washington state’s Public Records Act. This act instructs the state to release the names of people who sign petitions to place an issue up for a public vote. The lawsuit stems directly from that state’s Referendum 71 which reaffirmed legislation granting full-range domestic partnerships to same-sex committed couples for the first time in the U.S. by popular vote (2009).

• Last week, closing arguments were heard in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, better known as the Proposition 8 trial.

• The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) continue to make headlines.

Our Joe Mirabella has more at the Bilerico Project, click here to read more.