Just received a copy of this from the good folks at Seattle Gay News . You can join the celebration by attending the rally in Westlake starting at noon.

Out for Sustainability is hosting a conference on the periphery of Capitol Hill this weekend... at the Olive 8 Hyatt. The conference features a number of topics, ranging from gender and healthcare to the pros and cons of Washington state's DP rights.

The cost of the conference ranges from $5 - $35. For specifics on the conference, visit GayCapHill!

SEATTLE--Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Washington state are facing a crucial vote. Voters are choosing whether to approve or reject SB 5688--a domestic partnership expansion bill passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor in May.

The law would grant the rights of civil marriage in Washington state--like sharing health benefits and death benefits, and hospital visitation rights--to same-sex couples and heterosexual partners where at least one of the two people is over the age of 62, without calling it "marriage." Everyone registered to vote in Washington state should vote to approve Referendum 71 and protect the rights of LGBT couples and seniors.

This "Everything but Marriage" law--as it is referred to by its supporters--is the culmination of a strategy of working toward marriage equality by first creating the domestic partnership category for same-sex couples, and then adding more and more rights until domestic partners have the same state-granted...

With a march paralleling the National March for Equality in D.C. and workshops and activities bringing the community together, organizers of this weekend's LGBT Equality Weekend on are preparing for thousands to come to Capitol Hill to support equality.

"It's beautiful that so many people from such diverse backgrounds [can] make this weekend happen," said Carmen Rivera, spokesperson for Seattle outProtest and one of the organizers behind the weekend's events.

Pre-march activities on Saturday include community workshops on LGBT issues, as well as an education and awareness event for HIV & AIDS. Rivera said that the events have room for about 100 people, with all welcome to the free gatherings. The "Thinking Queerly" workshop to be held Piggot Auditorium, with an AIDS vigil in the evening at SCCC. 

The Sunday march begins at 2:00 p.m., starting from Volunteer park, and concluding in a rally at the Federal Courthouse. The weekend will close with a meet-up and mixer at Sole Repair back on the Hill.

The march's significance is two-fold, falling on National Coming Out day, as well being intertwined with the fight for Ref. 71. While Rivera and the rest of the crew clearly support 71, she said the event was planned well before the issue made the ballot. "Our current message is still equality within all people."

Seattle outProtest has been planning this event since its creation in June, when it organized 200 people to stand against the Westboro Baptist Church's visit to Seattle. Coordinator Eduardo Brambila along with Rivera and 40 volunteers aged "from 17 to 71" have been scrambling all summer to create what looks to be an important weekend of acceptance and justice. "We all feel very passionate about these issues, and that is where the drive is coming from," said Rivera.

Planned Events include:

All events are free and open to the general public, with the exception of the Generation Q Mega Mixer which is aimed at young people 23 and under.

This is an activism weekend! This weekend has a lot of fun club-related events, as well as a whole host of equality rally events.

Friday

• Trannyshack at Chop Suey
• Lady Bunny at Neighbors

Saturday

• Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend 
• Thinking Queerly Workshops
• AIDS Vigil at SCCC

Sunday

• Equality Weekend March and Rally
• National Coming Out Day
• Queer Youth Mixer

Like we said, it's an incredibly busy week on the Hill. At the center of this activity is the LGBT Equality Weekend. Saturday will be filled with workshops and activities to organize and inform while Sunday features the LGBT Equality March and Rally from Volunteer Park to downtown's federal court house building. With the battle to support Referendum 71 in full swing, this is a good time to set aside a few hours to get involved.

Here's a promo video to inspire you and details from seattleoutprotest.org, one of the groups organizing the weekend's events.

Seattle OUTprotest is excited to announce the Seattle LGBT Equality Weekend organized by a coalition of community members and organizations. The events will take place October 10th and 11th and are planned to coincide with the National Equality March in Washington, DC.

The goal of the march is to secure equal protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

Raising awareness for this event...

Word is flying around the Internets of a rally in support of the Approve 71 effort taking place Sunday starting at 1 PM on the corner of Broadway and Pine. Here are details from the Approve 71 - Let's Do This! Facebook event listing:

Ballots are being mailed out in mere weeks! The polls are practically tied and nothing less than our civil rights are at stake! A majority of the state supports the rights of same sex couples, but it won’t matter ONE BIT if enough of those anti-gay voters send in their ballots & our supporters don't bother. Its time for us to get together and kick some ass!

We will have a large table and materials set up on the corner of Broadway & Pine. The more of you come the better! Let's take over the area and show everyone how passionate we are about this issue. Even if you can only come for a short while we'd love to see you.

Our mission is to:

- Sign up volunteers for phone banks, canvassing, etc.

- Register new voters & allow current voters to update their addresses

- Collect donations for APPROVE 71 buttons, stickers, and signs with all funds going back to the campaign.

- Hold up large signs and shout it out – “Protect all families! APPROVE 71!!!”

Between now and Sunday I need to round up several materials, some easier than others. If you have these or know how to get them please let me know as soon as you can:

- Voter registration forms

- Volunteer sign up forms for phone bank shifts, etc.

- Buttons

- Stickers (small round, bumper stickers, etc)

- Signs

- Approve 71 flyers, info, etc.

- Flyers for pro-71 candidates running for office.

I hope you will join us as we fight to Approve Ref 71!!!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow (saturday the 26th) is the Seattle AIDS Walk. Lifelong AIDS Alliance has the goal of raising $750,000 for HIV/AIDS research. They are almost at the 50% mark, so definitely contribute if able!

The Seattle AIDS Walk is a 5K walk & run of support and remembrance through the streets of Seattle. We gladly welcome all supporters and friends. Please join us as we honor 23 years of walking to fight HIV and AIDS in the Puget Sound region. Your support as a walker, donor, or volunteer is deeply appreciated.

The event is tomorrow, starting at 9AM from Volunteer Park (1498 E Prospect St on NE Capitol Hill).

When you are done with the walk, venture on over the Harem for gay belly dancing! For more LGBT events and news on Capitol Hill, visit GayCapHill!

With the goal of raising $750,000 to help fight HIV and AIDS, the Seattle AIDS Walk will bring more than 2,000 walkers to Capitol Hill this weekend for a purposeful stroll around Volunteer Park. Saturday's walk starts at 9:30 AM and proceeds around a loop from Volunteer Park down 12th Ave, over to Broadway and then back up Broadway to return to the park for the after-party with food, music -- and this year you probably won't need your umbrella.

It's the 23rd year for the event and there's still time to sign up to walk or make your pledge. Lifelong AIDS Alliance, the group that organizes the walk, is currently at 40% of its $750,000 pledge goal for the walk. Last year, the organization says it raised about $650,000. With the continuing weak economy, giving for Lifelong -- like it is for more organizations these days -- has below expected levels so far in 2009.

For more information on the walk, check out http://seattleaidswalk.org

'We've got to help the gays that make them shine!'

As our sister site Gay Cap Hill points out, the 'trailer' for the 2009 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is out. It's a We-Are-the-World style hoot:

For more on this year's festival which starts October 16th and features a return for the fest to Capitol Hill's Egyptian Theater, check out Gay Cap Hill's coverage.

From a (very!) new site on Capitol Hill, here's word of an important organizing event for the supporters of Referendum 71. Take it away Gay Cap Hill:

We shouldn't even be having to vote on this issue because it is putting civil rights up for a vote. State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has stated that this would be "a tragic day for the state, where we will put the rights of a group of our citizens up for a vote."

So, come out on September 15 to Broadway Performance Hall to find ways you can volunteer to help ensure that R-71 is passed. You can RSVP at the Equality Events Hub web site.

We don't typically link to 1-post blogs but we're hoping to encourage Gay Cap Hill along. They're part of the Neighborlogs family, for one, but we also think the Hill could use more (original!) online news and information voices. Good luck, GCH.

Yay for math. This from the desk of Ed Murray (D-43).

The current rate of invalid signatures reported by the Secretary of State’s office in the R-71 signature count gives me great hope that the referendum won’t make the ballot.

 

However, there’s a bit of confusion out there about how the count is trending because of an inconsistency in the math used to report the rate.

 

The Secretary of State’s blog first reported that the error rate had to stay under 14.2 percent for the referendum to qualify – referred to as ‘the cushion.’

 

That cushion was derived by dividing the number of signatures turned in (137,689) by the number needed to qualify (120,577) and subtracting 1.

 

With the cumulative invalid rate of 13.3 percent as of Wednesday, many have been led to believe that the referendum supporters are within their cushion.

 

This is wrong. 

 

That’s because in its subsequent reporting of the daily signature check, the Secretary of State’s blog reversed its math, dividing the number of signatures verified by the number examined. 

 

It’s confusing when one method is used to determine the overall rates and the opposite method is used in the daily reports. 

 

If the Secretary of State’s blog had first used the math that it is using now, it would have divided the total they need to verify (120,577) by the total number they will count (137,689) --and, again, subtracted 1 -- for a maximum invalid rate of 12.4 percent.

 

Or, if the Secretary of State’s blog were still using the math it began with, the current error rate would be 15.4 percent, rather than 13.3 percent.

 

We know that 15.4 percent is higher than 14.2 percent, and 13.3 percent is higher than 12.4 percent. 

 

Either way, when consistent methods are used, the current rate of invalid signatures clearly suggests that R-71 won’t make the ballot.

Handy table provided by the senator's office

Notice a few more habits on the dance floor -- and on the beach -- this week? Seattle Gay Scene reports:

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 2009 International Conclave is all this week as Nuns from around the world converge on Seattle at the "Retreat in the Emerald City"

The convention includes events from the top of Capitol Hill to the beaches of Madison Park.

Trash Bob Originally uploaded by chrisfurniss

Let's give the magical CHS link machine a shake and see what comes out:

• 24-year-old man charged with hate crime for attack on Muslim woman and her baby was apprehended on Capitol Hill.
• Text of the speech given at the 2009 Seattle Dyke March by Lulu Carpenter of Pinay sa Seattle. "So I leave you with this chant…. It is based on the greeting I came with, 'MABUHAY!' which means 'Long Live' or 'Live long and prosper.' It comes from the root word buhay meaning 'life, alive, live, and/or become alive.'"
• Sonic Boom press release confirms what CHS reported two weeks ago. Their Capitol Hill outlet is moving to Capitol Hill.
• Poppy chef Jerry Traunfeld will be doing a cooking demo at this Sunday's Broadway Farmers Market.
• PostGlobe has a mostly lovely essay on Stuart Thayer. CHS reported on Thayer's death -- and life as a renown circus historian -- last month after he was hit by a car at 17th Ave/Republican. Why the PGlobe insists on the whole 'blogs are bad' approach to the story is beyond us. Blogs is good.
• I really, really doubt this. OK. Maybe 5 out of 10.

Perhaps a logical response to the Reddit photo we shared last night:

k_hack: http://twitpic.com/9p190 - Only on Capitol Hill... I love this neighborhood! Anti-gentrification graffiti with a twist

Graffiti only makes people want to kick your juvenile, gay asses out of the neighborhood more.

Here are a few more photos from the weekend on Capitol Hill through other people's lenses. I'll try to add some more shots on Monday when more 'crowd sourced' images hit the Internet. More pictures from me, here.

Try Try Try again
Originally uploaded by swooshthesnail

Julia's Block Party Capitol Hill 2-27-09 012
Originally uploaded by gomi_otaku

Mayoral Candidate Jan Drago
Originally uploaded by Essentialarity

Mr. Nude Seattle Originally
uploaded by Essentialarity

gay pride
Originally uploaded by tealeaves

Pride 2009 Random Models at Cal Anderson
Originally uploaded by Norskette

fabulous
Originally uploaded by lilphoton

The Capitol Hill Pride Festival is happening as you read this. Turn lanes are a walkway, restaurants have moved their tables onto the streets and the music and more is just getting started. It all makes way for the Dyke March later tonight.

Meanwhile, Cal Anderson Park's morning of Equalityoga attracted around 300 practitioners to the turf-covered sanctuary of Bobby Morris play field.

Friday started off Pride weekend with Bend It Extravaganza bands like The Redwood Plan rocking sunshine in Cal Anderson and party people remembering Michael Jackson on the streets of Pike/Pine:

On the safety side of things, the 911 logs for the area were mostly incident free with only a few aid response dispatches overnight.

Things were less calm elsewhere in the city including a shooting the Sodo and fights and more breaking up a large party in Greenwood last night.

Capitol Hill fun continues today with events like the Equalityoga gathering this morning (State senator Ed Murray will be there, according to this yogi), also in Cal Anderson, the Capitol Hill Pride Festival on Broadway and the Dyke March later this afternoon. Get the complete Seattle Gay News event guide to Pride here. Street closure list here.

The Redwood Plan

Seattle Gay News was kind enough to share their 2009 Pride Events Calendar with us for your downloading pleasure. As we say around here, if you print it, share it. Have a happy Pride.

Download PDF

Some buzz from some organizers about this year's Pride being the 'serious Pride' or 'political Pride.' How about 'Green Pride'? Organizers from OUT for Sustainability are working hard to make sure this year's celebration will be a ecologically responsible one. Director Gerod Rody passes along this "Green(er) Pride Guide" to, as Rody puts it, improve "your sustainability impact at LGBTQ Pride this year."

Short video and images from the protesters on the move on Madison headed for their next planned encounter with the Westboro Baptist Church. Neighbor Andrew has also added a few pictures from the morning and a link to the BBC documentary about Fred Phelps' followers and their 'God hates' philosophy.

Central District News also has some great photos and coverage from this morning's events.

IMG_2374
Originally uploaded
by bkraai2003

Neighbor Mike with curls provides CHS with this game report from Saturday night's annual Bat n Rouge softball game at Cal Anderson Park's Bobby Morris playfield:

... what a hoot ... Queens vs. Dykes

This is so much fun - big crowd, about 3,00 spectators, perfect weather and the dykes won 33-29 -- remember this is not real playing, but money buys strikes, runs and all kinds of dancing and other creative antics

Fund raising for Alano club, the GLBT AA club - raised a lot of money, the dykes kept buying runs for 100.00 each ... tons of fun, personality galore, and community spirit and many bad jokes

And, yes, most of the male players would have been chosen last in middle school ... so who gives a shit now a few years later

We also get an insight into some of the calls made during the big game -- Bat n Rouge 2009's umpire Kyra Olson has a blog:

So as an ump I lived up to my billing. Calling time out before a pitch to give a queen a wet t-shirt. Dancing with players on the field. One queen got a small rip in his mini skirt as he was batting...so I helped up him...by ripping the skirt further. The dykes would wrestle between innings for money...I would go out and referee it. I did one half inning eating a snow cone (my onfield partner one upped me by eating a hot dog).

The whole thing was a wild outting...and a lot of fun! :) So many people were entertained as evidenced by the laughter. The player had a good time too...and I was complimented by the majority of them for making the game a little more fun. I had a blast too and look forward to doing it again next year (I hope to be asked back...and if reactions right after the game are any indication I am likely to).

Here's a mail from organizer Ben Crowther about an opportunity to add your voice to a Sunday morning "celebration/protest" in the neighborhood:

More about the event from the site:

Join us Sunday June 14th, 2009 for a community celebration.

The Westboro Baptist Church is coming to Seattle with intended efforts of protesting our community's schools, places of worship and spreading lies about our communities.  As a way of counter protesting, we will show Fred Phelps he does NOT disempower our communites.  He unites us as we support each other.  We wont allow ourselves to stoop down to their level by shouting hateful messages.  We shall use this as an opportunity to unite our communities and empower ourselves. Celebrate our victories, how far we've come and unity.  We by no means will tolearte or try to befriend the WBC.  Still, we can be heard and create a much bigger impact.  This is a demonstration/celebration.  PLEASE allow us to keep it this way.

No Fighting

No Profanity

No Hate

No Hateful signs

No Spiting

No Violence

No Alcohol/Drugs

Lets show WBC their efforts of bringing us down will NOT be effective.

 

Meet at Mt. Zion at 10am THEN march starts at 10:45 as we travel down to St. James and try and arrive as close to 11 as possible.

 

Mt. Zion                               St. James

Baptist Church                 Catholic Cathedral

10am-10:45 am                     11am-Noon

1634 19th Ave.                         809 9th Ave.

(19th and Madison)                (9th and Columbia)

Slog points out an anti-development poster making the rounds on Capitol Hill power poles:

The poster maker would not be the first person on the hill to decry development. But they may be the most melodramatic.

 But let's put the cynicism aside. Slog has it covered. Since you asked, poster maker, you should check out a write-up we did about the process around developing new zoning and rules for development in the Pike/Pine core -- seems like a good place for you to start: How to save Pike/Pine: data, maps, proposals

The city council is scheduled to vote on the proposal in the first quarter of this year so the time to act is now. Can you translate 'queer space' into zoning requirements? Don't laugh. That's how it gets done. If not, well, there's nothing for you to do but print more posters. Me, I'd start pulling together a translation of the needs of the communities you want to protect into rules and requirements, get as many people as you can to stand behind those ideas and start spreading the word...