'MO - July 2008 - (Page 15)

if you cross the border into Idaho or any other state that doesn’t Along with Charlene Strong, the ﬁlm have protections, you lose those For My Wife will include interviews rights. Another woman in our with Gloria Steinem, Jay Leno and ﬁlm had papers drawn up but many others. A special showing of was denied hospital access. She the rough cut will take place at the said, ‘here’s my papers,” and the Central Cinema on July 29th at 6:30 person behind the desk said, ‘yes PM. Tickets are available with a $500 but we don’t agree with them.’ So donation. Please contact LD Thompson whether it’s the emergency room in the hospital or the pharmacist at ldthompson@trickdogﬁlms.com for who doesn’t want to dispense ticket info. The premier will be at Three abortion pills, there are people Dollar Bill Cinema’s Gay and Lesbian with the law behind them that can Film Festival this coming October. deny you equal rights. There’s the problem. Until we push or cajole the legislature and the courts to “There is a place where we and the rightgive us equal rights, we won’t get them. If it wing agree,” says Michael, “and it’s in opposiwas up to the voting populace we would still tion to special rights. What we’ve been given have slaves doing the dishes. We need to ﬁght here in Washington is not equal rights, it’s in the courts and we need to ﬁght in legislaspecial rights. We’ve been given a card. Martive bodies.” ried, heterosexual couples aren’t given a card.” Charlene emphasized that, “even if we have At this, the discussion got lively. Charlene marriage equality in the courts tomorrow, you chimed in, “Married couples don’t have to produce their marriage license at the hospital door. They don’t have to carry around a card. “My voice is one for human decency, That night that Kate died, I wouldn’t have had that card on me. Kate arrived at the hospital human kindness, and no one can argue with that.” unclothed from the work of the medics and I arrived in somebody else’s clothes. I was so could still run into individuals who say ‘no’ had become complacent. After many years wet and dirty from trying to get her out that and try to deny it. Marriage equality is not the together, we’d taken legal precautions and as my neighbor lent me some of her 18-year-old end game. Once we achieve marriage equallong-term partners we didn’t think we needed son’s clothes. I had no form of identiﬁcation ity—which I’m convinced will happen in our those protections of full rights. But even here on me. Kate had none on her. That card would lifetimes—will discrimination end? No.” in Washington where protections are in place, have been useless. The minutes tick by in a situation like that. So, what’s with the card? I am glad we have these few right but we need to keep our eye on the prize.” When I asked Charlene if she ever thought her activism would come to an end, she said: “How can it ever be over? I’ve always thought that my story is about two people who love each other, but it’s not just my story, it’s the story of our community and becoming activated.” Whether her character was something she was born with or something that was thrust upon her Charlene’s views are eponymously strong. She is not one to shy from an argument but she is also someone who seeks common ground and not just conﬂict for conﬂict’s sake. “My voice is one for human decency, human kindness and no one can argue with that.” the right brain and some people think with their left brain. I think that fewer people think in a way that celebrates difference.” David agreed, “It seems like liberals think communally and Republicans think individually. They’re willing to get behind that one strong voice. Liberals think in a way that’s compassion based, we look back to see who’s lagging. Conservatives are capitalistic, entrepreneurial, get your stuff together and pull yourself up by your boot-strap thinkers. Those of us who are drawn to community-based thinking really want everyone to succeed. We really need people who can think across both sides of the brain, who can think communally but act individually. We saw a lot of that in Charlene.” Trick Dog Films was doing a fundraising video for Equal Rights Washington when they were exposed to Charlene’s story. “It was pretty instantaneous,” says David, “but when we ﬁrst met, we said we didn’t care if it was marriage, we just wanted civil rights. Charlene was horriﬁed. LD and I really David Rothmiller (left) and LD Thompson of Trick Dog Films are documenting Kate and Charlene’s story in the ﬁlm For My Wife. moseattle.com 15 issue #17 | july 2008 http://moseattle.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - July 2008

'MO - July 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Series 2008 Needs Volunteers Voices 'mo-BIZ: City Lights Sign Company HIV Is Still a Big Deal, The Online Video Series Instant Activist Pet Project: Wiener Takes All Charlene Strong on the Rights Fight Form & Function: Molding Your Middle Will the Economy Ruin LGBT Funding? Toronto is a Great Place to Meet Feature Film Review: American Teen Live Event Preview: Sitting In Circles with Rich White Girls Book Review: In the Eye of the Storm by Gene Robinson Capitol Hill Guide Three Dollar Bill Cinema Presents: Features from the Black Lagoon Raising Spirits: Tini Bigs Offers Five New Martinis SceneOut: People@Places

'MO - July 2008

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