Alaska Pride Conference 2012 will be held October 5-7 in Anchorage at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel. The second annual Alaska statewide GLBT Youth Summit (Alaska youth 13-18) focusing on youth issues in Alaska is being held in conjunction with the Pride Conference at St. John United Methodist Church & at the Millennium Alaska Hotel.

The Alaska Pride Conference is an annual day-long event held in Anchorage filled with workshops, speakers, vendors, and great food. The Alaska Pride Conference was founded in 1994 by Rebecca Rogers, former executive director of the Alaska AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s), and community leaders Doug Frank and F. Ken Freedman, with the first conference designed to help heal the community after a bruising political debate in 1992/93 over whether to provide equal rights based on sexual orientation for Anchorage municipal employees.

Pride Conference 2012 kicks off Friday, October 5 with the First Friday presentation of the “Love is Love” photo project at Treft.Punkt Studio in downtown Anchorage — a GLBT photo project featuring 25 Alaska couples professionally photographed.

The Pride Conference proper will will be held Saturday, October 6 at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel, with registration and breakfast beginning at 8:00 AM. Opening remarks will be by Reverend George Edward Blair III of the First Congregational Church in Anchorage. In a talk titled “Slings and Eros,” Rev. Blair will discuss the costs and joys of standing up for erotic love from the pulpit, especially for lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people.

Workshops will be running throughout the day on topics ranging from life after DOMA, creating healthy LGBTA families, Transgender 101, practical tools for coping with suicidal feelings or other feelings of low mood, reclaiming your identity, the ABCs of polyamory, and self defense — to name just a few.

After lunch, conference attendees will hear keynote speaker Kris Hermanns, Executive Director of the Pride Foundation.  Founded in 1985, Pride Foundation is a philanthropic organization serving the LGBTQ communities of the Northwest through scholarships, grants, advocacy, and community leadership in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington State. Pride Foundation is the only LGBTQ community foundation in Alaska. Kris previously visited Anchorage this past June, shortly after taking up her position at the Pride Foundation. Here she is (at left) with Tiffany Mclain, Pride Foundation’s full-time Regional Development Organizer in Alaska, at a reception at Modern Dwellers in Anchorage.

Saturday evening, the Anchorage Mpowerment Project (AMP) will host bowling at Center Bowl on the corner of Spenard and Minnesota.

On Sunday, October 7, there will be a hot brunch at 9 AM followed at 10 AM by a special panel of non-LGBT parents of LGBT children titled “Straight but not Narrow” and at 11 AM a photo shoot with the conference’s special guests from California: the NOH8 Campaign, which will hold keep its mobile photo studio open until 2 PM.

Schedule of events

Friday, October 5

Love is Love: First Friday

Love is Love is a project that believes just that, and we aim to capture the vibrancy that is Anchorage’s LGBT community. We have been working on a portrait project at our studio the last six months, photographing LGBT couples of all shapes, sizes and colors to help us show how “Love is Love”. Love is Love kicks off Alaska Pride Conference 2012 with its First Friday event on October 5 featuring vignettes of all of the incredible couples we’ve had the pleasure to work with over the past few months.

• Date/time: Friday, October 5, 6:00 to 9:00 PM
• Location: Treft.Punkt Studio, 245 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
• Further info: see Facebook events page, or the Love is Love Facebook page

Saturday, October 6

Pride Conference

Keynote speech by Kris Hermanns of the Pride Foundation, and a wide selection of workshops. Continental breakfast and lunch included. Full agenda and schedule below, or at the Identity website.

Here’s the schedule for the day’s events:

8:00-9:00 AM: Breakfast and registration
9:00 -9:10 AM: Welcome, announcements, etc.
9:10-9:30 AM: Pride: The Beginning
9:30-10:40 AM: Session 1 workshops
10:50 AM-12:00 noon: Session 2 workshops
12:00-12:40 PM: Lunch
12:40-1:40 PM: Keynote speaker: Kris Hermanns of the Pride Foundation
1:40-1:50 PM: Zumba
1:50-3:00 PM: Session 3 workshops
3:10-4:20 PM: Session 4 workshops
4:20-4:30 PM: Evaluations and close

See complete workshop descriptions at the bottom of the post.

• Date/time: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Location: Millennium Alaskan Hotel, 4800 Spenard Road, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $20 adult; $10 student. Scholarships available for 2 hours of volunteering at conference. Registration includes Saturday breakfast and lunch. $5 additional at the door. Youth scholarships available: see application forms at Identity website.
• Further info: see Facebook events page or Identity website.

Bowling at Center Bowl

Mpowerment Project (AMP) will host bowling at Center Bowl on the corner of Spenard and Minnesota.

• Date/time: Saturday, October 6, TBA
• Location: Center Bowl, 3717 Minnesota Dr., Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: see Center Bowl website

Sunday, October 7

Hot Brunch

• Date/time: Sunday, October 7, 9:00 AM
• Location: Millennium Alaskan Hotel, 4800 Spenard Road, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $10 regular; $7.50 student/senior. Registration form at Identity website.

“Straight but Not Narrow” Panel

A special panel of non-LGBT parents of LGBT children.

• Date/time: Sunday, October 7, 10:00 AM
• Location: Millennium Alaskan Hotel, 4800 Spenard Road, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $10 regular; $7.50 student/senior. Registration form at Identity website.

NOH8 Campaign Open Photo Shoot

On Sunday, October 7 the NOH8 Campaign will set up its mobile studio at the Alaska Pride Conference 2012, bringing the NOH8 Campaign to Anchorage for the first time!

The photo shoot, hosted at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel, is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM and end at 2:00 PM. Thank you to Identity Inc. for helping to facilitate this event!

Once you arrive, you will receive a numbered model release to fill out, followed by receiving your NOH8 tattoo. We will call numbers throughout the day as people mingle, and the announcement of your corresponding release number will signal your time to line up to have your photo taken.

You do not need to make reservations; it’s first come, first served – and we move quickly!

We always do our best to make sure that everyone in line by 2:00PM has a chance to pose for their photo – and up to this point, we haven’t ever had to turn anyone away! Anyone that would like to join the NOH8 Campaign is asked to wear a plain white shirt to match the look of the signature NOH8 photos.

Celebrity Photographer & NOH8 Co-Founder Adam Bouska will be working around the clock to photograph 5-10 frames for each person that comes through. The final selection he chooses will be retouched and made available to you in about 8 weeks through the NOH8 Campaign website.

Have other questions about the event? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website!

What do you need to do?

• Arrive at the Millennium Alaskan hotel between 11 AM and 2:00 PM
• Come camera ready
• Wear white
• Pose and make a statement

Once you arrive, the NOH8 Campaign will apply the NOH8 temporary tattoo to your face, and we will also supply you with the silver duct tape for the photo.

The NOH8 Campaign is an approved 501(c)(3), donations will be tax-deductible up to the amount allowable by law.

• Date/time: Sunday, October 7, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: Millennium Alaskan Hotel, 4800 Spenard Road, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost: The costs of posing for an official NOH8 portrait are: Solo portraits $40.00; couple & group portrait $25.00 per person. Funds raised by the NOH8 Campaign will be used to continue promoting and raising awareness for marriage equality and anti-discrimination through NOH8’s interactive media campaign. The NOH8 Campaign accepts cash, most major credit cards, and checks made out to ‘NOH8Campaign’. Fees cover services & processing for one retouched digital print only (made available through www.NOH8Campaign.com) and do not include physical prints.
• Further info: see Facebook event page or Identity website or the NOH8 Campaign website.

Pride Conference workshops & presenters

[updated 10/4/12]

Here is a listing of workshops to be presented at the Pride Conference on Saturday, October 6.

Session 1 workshops
(9:30 to 10:40 AM)

Creating Peace — Origami Creations
Christina

Together we will create Peace Cranes. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane or granted eternal good luck, long life or recovery from illness or injury. The origami crane has become an international symbol of peace.

Is there life after DOMA?
Allison Mendel, J.D. and Marjorie Kaiser, CPA

A discussion of the tax and legal issues that will arise when the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is either struck down as unconstitutional, or repealed, which seems poised to happen in the next 9 months or less. Suddenly, couples married anywhere may be recognized as married for a whole range of federal benefits, and obligations. We will take a look at what a post-DOMA life might look like. This workshop should be required for anyone in a same-sex marriage, as well as anyone who might consider marrying, or plans to marry.

Transcending Gender: Portraits from the Community
Gale Smoke

This workshop features real-world portrait of transgender individuals describing what they’ve gone through. Transcending Gender: Portraits from the Community DVD will be shown. The workshop will discuss workplace and healthcare concerns. Transgender individuals are welcome to help critique what is depicted.

Session 2 Workshops
(10:50 AM to 12:00 PM)

Healthy GLBT Families, A Work In Progress
Jackie Buckley and Dawn Ridge

GLBT families have special challenges and typical challenges. Finding balance and meeting the challenges requires tenacity, creativity, resilience, and a sense of humor. To prevent or interrupt self-destructive behavior patterns brought on by a judgmental world, foster/adoptive parents, social workers, and leaders have to step up to the challenge.
Presenter bio: Jackie Buckley and Dawn Ridge didn’t create their big family on their own. They had lots of help and lots of learning along the way.

“That’s So Gay”: Subtle Discrimination and How to Cope
Annie Derthick and Danielle Giroux

Researchers in Psychology have recently begun addressing a phenomenon called microaggressions. This is subtle discrimination and oppression that is difficult to detect but nonetheless has damaging effects on the victims. This presentation will explain microaggressions and offer positive ways to cope with these painful experiences.

Polyamory, what is it and why should we care?
Shannon Sanderson

Workshop description: There will be a presentation explaining what polyamory is, how it works and how it pertains to the LGBTA community. Questions throughout will be welcomed for discussion by all.

Yoga Flow
Spirit Path Yoga and Wellness

Join us for a joyful Vinyasa Flow Yoga practice. Learn a basic flow sequence to promote inner peace and radiance.

Session 3 Workshops
(1:50 to 3:00 PM)

Transgender 101
Grayson Mitchell

A basic, but interactive session, for LGBTQ people and straight allies to understand and grasp those who identify themselves as transgender.  Topics will include: defining what it is to be transgender, politically correct language interaction, how to engage and empower transgender youth and adults, and an exploration of options for those who are struggling with their gender identity.  There will be a Q & A section at the end.

Reclaiming Your Identity
Shelby ”Mahogany ” Wilson

Reclaiming Your Identity is designed to build up your pride confidence. The workshop uses interactive actives and group discussion to shift the perception of how an individual views themselves. Being honest about who you are as individual gives others the opportunity to discover and appreciate the authentic you.

Acceptance: An Alternative Approach to Suicide Intervention, Track 1 —
Everyday Peoples’ Tools to Resist Suicide and Keep on Living
Bianca and Mel, with Tami, Shannon, and Danny

A panel of individuals who have experienced suicidal thoughts or attempts, depressed or anxious moods and self-harm, share personal tools they have used to overcome and survive these challenging times. The workshop enables attendees to recognize and mitigate conditions that can intensify the urge to self-harm or commit suicide. Panelists help attendees by sharing their own methods, encouraging them to help themselves. Mental Health challenges are normalized. Participants exercise  using the HALT assessment (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) ; discussing what things they would do to take care of themselves.

Session 4 Workshops
(3:20 to 4:30 PM)

Basic Self Defense
Darl Schaaff

Would you be able to defend yourself and your loved ones if someone were to physically attack you? It’s a question most of us don’t want to consider, but violence is, unfortunately, a fact of life. Thankfully, regardless of strength, size, or previous training, anyone can learn several effective self-defense techniques.

Pride Foundation Scholarship Speed-Dating
Tiffany McClain

Workshop description: Come learn about applying for Pride Foundation scholarships from the perspective of staff, scholars, and volunteers. Pride Foundation scholarships are available to LGBTQ folks and allies, for any type of education or training, and any age (from high school seniors on up). Come one, come all!

Acceptance: An Alternative Approach to Suicide Intervention, Track 2 —
Battleground of the Mind: The Connection between Mental Health and Suicidal Thought — Ways to Understand, Support and Heal
Bianca and panelists

Mental health professionals discuss conditions or emotional states that include a high risk for suicide. Panelists discuss options and the importance of education and support for people wrestling with mental health conditions and challenges, along with their family and friends.  Attendees are informed about some approaches and symptoms of mental illness/ conditions known to carry a risk for suicide.  Audience feels free to discuss and ask questions about conditions or symptoms experienced or observed. Discussion has the effect of increasing understanding, reducing stigma and introducing options. Attendees are informed about how they can be further educated, supportive and get support for themselves.

High School Gay-Straight Alliance Discussion Group
Jeff Walters and Amy Gallaway

Gay-Straight Alliance members (and other interested people) will share issues faced in running a successful high school GSA. Students will discuss concerns, as well as ideas and strategies for being a positive force for change in Alaska’s high schools.