'MO - July 2008 - (Page 8)

community medical, legal, and housing assistance from the then Northwest AIDS Foundation, now the Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Whereas many during this time feared becoming infected through casual contact, I’d read enough scientiﬁc and public health literature to know better. The work I began opened my eyes to the community activism of gay and lesbian people and provided a window into myself. As I grew more secure in my identity (and I’m still working on it), I discovered many more opportunities. I continued my education earning a Masters in Public Affairs from the Evans School at the University of Washington. I sought out volunteer work mentoring LGBT youth with Lambert House. Took part in a two-year fellowship program in Washington, D.C., a portion of which I served on the staff of Congressman Jim McDermott during the health care reform effort. And I returned to Seattle where I’ve worked managing programs in public health and arts education. More than ﬁfteen years ago, while in graduate school, I began spending more time writing, mostly short stories. Lately I’ve turned more attention toward chronicling my experience living on Capitol Hill. I’ve discovered that my awareness of social injustices continues to grow, much of this arising from my faith. So many gay people have had terrible experiences with organized religion. The irony is that my sense of gay activism and social justice has emerged from the very thing that could have left permanent damage but didn’t: my church. While priests and nuns I encountered from elementary school all the way through college didn’t encourage me to be gay, they never laid an abusive hand on me, but instead inculcated in me, along with my parents, an incredible sense of self-worth. I suppose this knowledge freed me to focus on the world beyond and never take for granted my blessings. Like the Kennedys, imperfect Catholics who sought to improve an imperfect world, I’m optimistic we can make small changes that begin with ourselves and continue into our immediate communities. With humility and grace, we can listen for our direction, a stirring I followed that led me to Seattle and my life here 22 years ago! Jack is a freelance writer and longtime Seattle resident who makes his home on Capitol Hill. VOICES Politics Made Personal By Jack Hilovsky I moved to Seattle in 1986, the summer I graduated from college. Four years before, during my freshman year, I was inspired by a woman professor to major in political science. Ronald Reagan had assumed the Presidency earlier that year, and he was charming the country. I too had an interest in politics, fancied one day running for the Senate, and thanks to blind ambition (or youthful naiveté), President of the United States! I slowly learned during those early days in the 1980’s how to separate Reagan the man from his policies that undermined the economic clout of middle class and poor people, and barring his heroic Surgeon General, virtually ignored the AIDS crisis for eight long years. John Carroll University, the Jesuit school in Cleveland where famous alumni and newsman Tim Russert began cutting his journalistic teeth, provided a perfect laboratory for my idealism and deep desire to give something back to my country. The seed was planted earlier by two other major inﬂuences in my life: my parents and the Catholic Church. I think my parents and the church inculcated in me the value of empathy: caring about the needs and situation of others and when possible trying to help improve the lot of society. Struggling with my sexuality during my early twenties helped make me more sensitive to others who had challenges of their own. When I arrived in Seattle in 1986, I came as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. My assignment involved working as a client advocate for people with AIDS, who sought Seattle Plays Host to the 2008 Gay Softball World Series Volunteers Needed Mix together 250 softball teams, 4,000 athletes, nine days of fun and competition, ﬁve sports complexes and eight world champions and what do you get? A serious need for volunteers! Seattle is hosting the 2008 Gay Softball World Series August 22—30. “Series 2008 will be the largest gay event of it’s kind in Seattle history” says Executive Director Frank Pichinini, “and to make it a success requires the support of the local community—gay or straight! Everyone is welcome. Volunteering for Series 2008 will provide you with exposure to people from all over the U.S. and Canada, plus it gets you a really cool t-shirt.” The Series 2008 host committee is looking for 200 to 300 volunteers. Volunteers are needed to do everything from registering players, to ensuring there is fresh water & ice in the dugouts for every game, from answering questions about our area to the thousands of out of state visitors to assisting with Opening and Closing ceremonies. To volunteer, send an email to volunteer@ series2008.org include your contact information and availability the week of Aug 25 – 30. For more information about Series 2008 visit http://www.series2008.org/ and look for the Emerald City Softball Association players marching in the Pride Parade. 8 celebrating seattle’s gay community http://www.series2008.org http://www.madabsfitness.com http://www.series2008.org/

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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