Articles by Bent Alaska
Bent Alaska is Alaska's LGBTQA blog founded by E. Ross in March 2008 and now edited (as of October 2011) by Melissa S. (Mel) Green.
Pride Foundation and Identity announce the James Crump Scholarship Fund
In honor of James L. Crump, who died in a tragic accident at the Anchorage Pride parade on June 25, 2011, Pride Foundation and Identity, Inc. have announced the James Crump Scholarship Fund. The fund, initiated by an anonymous donor, will benefit GLBT and straight ally students planning to pursue a career in nursing, medicine, social work, teaching or another helping profession and who plan to make an impact in the state of Alaska.
Sara’s News Roundup 8/22/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) The Innovators: Great Gay Moments in 20th-Century Dance
Advocate, August 20, 2011
2) Discharged gay troops ready to re-enlist
Washington Blade, Washington D.C., August 11, 2011
3) Homosexual zebra finches form long-term bond
Berkeley, Calif., BBC News, August 15, 2011
4) Tough for gay members to return to US military
San Diego, MSNBC, August 13, 2011
5) Hundreds rally in Nepal for sexual rights
Narayanghat, Nepal, Associated Press, August 14, 2011
6) Bachmann says she isn’t running to judge gays
Yahoo News, August 15, 2011
7) Rev. Mychal Judge, Gay ‘9/11 Saint,’ To Be Honored By N.Y. Catholic Church
Syracuse, N.Y., Huffington Post, August 10, 2011
8) Lesbian-themed K-drama ‘Daughters of Club Bilitis’ causes stir
Korea, OMG, August 11, 2011
9) ‘Faith and Pride’ concert at Seattle cathedral marks singer-songwriter’s return
Seattle, Episcopal News Service, August 18, 2011
10) Krieger: Tips for dating trans guys
365Gay.com, June 6, 2011
11) Areleh Harel: The Orthodox Rabbi Helping Gay Men Marry Lesbians
Jerusalem, Israel, Time, August 16, 2011
12) Gays Are Us ~ Why LGBT Equality Is Not a “White” Issue
National Black Justice Coalition, August 17, 2011
13) My Life as an Intersexual
PBS, Nova, October 30, 2001
14) Some Deportations Halted for Gay Immigrants
Washington, Advocate, August 20, 2011
Pink Party Dance and Drag Show: Saturday night in Fairbanks
Drag queens, door prizes, and a silent auction will be featured at the Pink Party Dance and Drag Show this Saturday evening in Fairbanks. All proceeds will benefit Dance Theatre Fairbanks (DTF) a local non-profit studio.
As written up by Amy Nordrum for Downtown Association Fairbanks,
Drag queens working for charity on Saturday, August 20th will happily accept your donations and photo requests at a pink carpet fundraiser in the former firehouse studios of Dance Theatre Fairbanks (DTF).
“You’re going to see over-the-top dresses and lots of heavy makeup,: says Jay Howe, Ensemble Co-Director and charitable queen. He adds, with emphasis, “It IS appropriate to tip a drag queen.”
Why pink? DTF staff often jokes about how students love dressing in “pretty pink recital costumes” for performances, Jay explains, and this show needed a theme to make it fun and engaging. Wearing the color will get you in the doors for $5 less, and helps demonstrate your support.
Thus- The Pink Party.
“When you come in, everyone’s wearing pink,” Jay describes. “It’s an opportunity to support it visually.”
(Read the rest of the story at the Downtown Association Fairbanks website.)
As a bonus, The Safety Dancers — a dance group made up of instructors and students affiliated with DTF — will buy your first drink at the beer and wine bar! The Safety Dancers will also be among performers, as will the Dance Revolution Crew, described as “a few brave parents of DTF students…busting out hiphop moves” and a burlesque troupe called Crazy Shakes.
This event is only for 21 and up, ID is required! DJ and Dancing after. Come support a great cause and have a great time!
- Time/date: Saturday, August 20; doors open at 8:30 PM, performance starts at 10:00 PM going to midnight
- Cost of admission: $15 at the door, $10 if you come in pink! $25 VIP seating (first come first serve)
- Location: Edna Wise Theater (DTF Studios) , 656 Seventh Ave, Fairbanks (see map)
- Further info: See the Facebook event page
Equality in Anchorage: What’s it mean? Who gets to decide?
What does “equality” for LGBTQ people in Anchorage mean? Who are the “stakeholders” and “allies” in the process of trying to gain it? These are some of the questions guest blogger Maxine Doogan is asking about the Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall meeting to be held Wednesday evening in Anchorage.
Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall meeting to be held Wednesday evening
What are the best means and methods for advancing LGBTQ equality in Anchorage? A ballot initiative or ordinance effort? Boots on the ground organizing? Working with the faith community, businesses, etc.? A combination of strategies? These are some of the topics to be discussed at an LGBTQA town hall meeting Wednesday evening in Anchorage.
The meeting has been publicized widely within the LGBTQA community on Facebook and in email, including in Bent Alaska’s Facebook profile. One of the meeting’s organizers is Bent Alaska coadministrator Mel Green — which account for her relative silence on our blog recently.
This meeting is ONLY for people — LGBTQ and allies — who have a commitment to advancing equality for lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans/queer/questioning people in the Municipality of Anchorage.
If you are a stakeholder in this process, whether you are an LGBTQ individual, a representative of an organization, an elected official, a non-LGBTQ ally with friends, family, coworkers you care about — we invite you to attend and participate in collaborative decisionmaking about how to advance our common cause.
This is a private event. We ask that people who are members of the media — bloggers as well as as regular press — attend only if you can attend as an individual stakeholder, not in your job capacity.
The meeting will be facilitated by Deacon Sara Gavit of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
- Time/date: Wednesday, August 17. Doors open 6:00 PM; meeting begins 6:30 PM.
- Location: A Street Event Hall, 637 A Street (see map)
- Further info: Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall group on Facebook, or contact Mel or Carolyn at lgbtqapartnership @ gmail.com. (Remove spaces in email address.)
Drag and variety show nets $3,170 toward an Alaska vet’s home
Editor’s note, 9/20/11: This fundraiser was organized by Andrew Caleb Pritt (aka A. Caleb Pritt, Andrew Pritt, Caleb Pritt, Drew Pritt, Diedra, Diedra Windsor Walker, Diedra Richards, Diedra Richards Ho Jenkins), a former contributor to Bent Alaska, who is also author of this press release. Neither Homes for Our Troops nor the Latseen Benson family received the monies raised at this fundraiser. For further info, see the story Homes for Our Troops: “Money from the fundraiser was lost” (Caleb Pritt) by Mel Green (Bent Alaska, 9/19/11).
Sara’s News Roundup 8/15/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Bringing Pride to Alaska’s largest parade
Alaska, Pride Foundation, August 2, 2011
2) Supporting LGBTQ youth in foster care
Washington Blade, July 28, 2011
3) Inmate Right to Hormone Treatment, Surgery Upheld
Wisconsin, Gay City, August 10, 2011
4) Conservatives and the LGBT community
Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage Press, July 27, 2011
5) First Marriage, Now Taxes
New York, Gay City News, August 3, 2011
6) Cuba transgender wedding shows shifting attitudes
Havana, Cuba, Associated Press, August 13, 2011
7) Ghana church to set up centers for gay “cures”
Ghana, 365Gay.com, August 10, 2011
8) Suquamish Tribe approves same-sex marriage
Suquamish, Wash., Kitsap Sun, August 1, 2011
James Steven “Steve” Reese (1968–2011)
We were saddened to learn last week of the death of PFLAG Juneau volunteer Steve Reese. Our condolences to his children, family and friends, and all who knew him. We excerpt one of his letters to the editor, on Christian attitudes towards LGBT people: “If your Bible tells you to hate or to do hateful things, then you are reading your Bible wrong.”
Home for an Alaska hero: A fundraiser for Sgt. Latseen Benson
Editor’s note, 9/20/11: This fundraiser was organized by Andrew Caleb Pritt (aka A. Caleb Pritt, Andrew Pritt, Caleb Pritt, Drew Pritt, Diedra, Diedra Windsor Walker, Diedra Richards, Diedra Richards Ho Jenkins), a former contributor to Bent Alaska, who is also author of this press release. Neither Homes for Our Troops nor the Latseen Benson family received the monies raised at this fundraiser. For further info, see the story Homes for Our Troops: “Money from the fundraiser was lost” (Caleb Pritt) by Mel Green (Bent Alaska, 9/19/11).
Identity’s Phyllis Rhodes featured by I’m From Driftwood
Identity’s Phyllis Rhodes was interviewed last November by the I’m From Driftwood Story Tour about Identity, LGBT youth from the villages, and creating a “family of choice” in Alaska.
Bent Alaska readers might remember the I’m From Driftwood Story Tour that was in Alaska last November 9-12. Launched in the Spring of 2009 and inspired by the film “Milk”, I’m From Driftwood collects and shares true lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender stories from all over the world to help LGBT youth realize they’re not alone.
One of the Alaskans the folks from I’m From Driftwood spoke with when they were in Anchorage was Phyllis Rhodes, Executive Director of Identity, Inc. And they posted the video of their interview with her today! I’m From Driftwood writes,
Phyllis Rhodes is simply awesome. She’s the Executive Director of Identity, Anchorage’s LGBT Center, and has a heart of gold. I wish every LGBTQ Alaskan would go pay her a visit because I know they would feel better afterwards. Alaska is lucky to have her.
We completely agree!
Check out some of the other Alaska stories featured by I’m From Driftwood.