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.
Sara’s News Roundup 7/17/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Jerry Brown signs LGBT school textbook bill
Sacramento, San Francisco Chronicle, July 14, 2011
2) Grantee fights for LGBTQ equality in the courts
Anchorage, Alaska, Pride Foundation, July 11, 2011
3) Mass. city first to pay wedded gay workers to offset tax
Cambridge, Mass., 365Gay.com, July 11, 2011
4) New Rules, Old Institutions
Atlanta, The Advocate, August 2011
5) Transgender people will be forced to divorce to achieve recognition
Ireland, The Journal, July 15, 2011
6) Daily pill can ward of HIV infection, studies find
Atlanta, New York Times, July 14, 2011
7) About This Issue: Coming Out At Work ~ We’re not going to pretend this was an easy topic for Black Enterprise to consider…
Black Enterprise, July 6, 2011
8) Brad Pitt Calls for National Marriage Equality
Advocate, July 6, 2011
9) Sydney adopts gay-proud Gaga
Sydney, Australia, AFP, July 12, 2011
10) Court: ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ will stay in place
Los Angeles, Associated Press, July 16, 2011
11) Fighting Homophobia at the World Cup
Frankfurt, Germany, Advocate, July 13, 2011
12) Glee’s Gay Not Returning for Season 4
Advocate, July 14, 2011
13) Ontario to mandate ‘LGBT support groups’ in Catholic schools
Ontario, Canada, Xtra, July 2, 2011
14) Mayor Bloomberg rewards GOP senators who backed gay marriage with $10K thank you
Albany, N.Y., New York Daily News, July 14th 2011
15) Church May Be Removed From Association For Supporting Gay Group
Owensboro, Kentucky, WLKY.com, July 13, 2011
16) 100s Turn Out For Boston Church Mass Welcoming Gay Community
Boston, CBS, July 10, 2011
17) Irvin endorses same-sex rights
San Francisco, San Francisco Chronicle July 13, 2011
Brandi Carlile in Fairbanks and Anchorage this weekend
Brandi Carlile has two concerts in Alaska this weekend — at the Blue Loon in Fairbanks on Friday, and Saturday in Anchorage at the UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium.
Vote July 22 to help Four A’s win a new Toyota!
Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association is One of 500 Finalists for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program!
Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s) is proud to announce we’ve been selected as a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program. Now we need your support! Vote for Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association at www.facebook.com/toyota on July 22, 2011.
A new Toyota would enable Four A’s to expand HIV/AIDS outreach and education beyond the urban center of Anchorage to rural communities. HIV stigma has a strong hold on rural Alaska, preventing most from knowing their HIV status or seeking services to reduce their risk. Most communities do not have free services, further limiting access. A mobile outreach vehicle would allow us to offer: 1) HIV education to schools, youth groups and anyone who wants it, 2) free HIV tests with results in 20 minutes, 3) risk reduction counseling, and 4) safer sex and harm reduction kit distribution. A new Toyota would be a critical asset in working towards reducing new HIV infections and eliminating stigma.
Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program will award 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public. A total of 500 finalists were selected based on their application as reviewed by an independent panel of judges who are experts in the fields of philanthropy and social responsibility. They are vying for the opportunity to win a new Toyota vehicle. Winning organizations will use the vehicles to help expand their reach and mission within the community.
Please support Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s) on July 22, 2011. Voting will take place at www.facebook.com/toyota.
Update: “Well, the bad news is we didn’t win a new Toyota, but the good news is SafeHouse of Shelby County (Alabama) will have a new vehicle to transport women and children survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Congratulations to SafeHouse! Thank YOU for voting and showing your support for the Four A’s!
Watch the Four A’s video:
Here are some ways you can help Four A’s spread the word:
1. Encourage your friends to “like” Four A’s on Facebook.
2. Become a Four A’s Ambassador! Ambassadors will help us promote the contest within their circle of friends, recruit other ambassadors, get folks to sign up for vote reminders, etc… Contact Four A’s and we’ll let you know what to do.
3. Sign up for a vote reminder. Here’s how:
Go to http://apps.facebook.com/carsforgood/
Go to “view contestants”,
Select “Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association”
Then, click “remind me to vote this day”.
THEN VOTE on JULY 22!
4. When we post an update about 100 Cars for Good, please “like” or “share” to spread the word.
Thanks for supporting Four A’s!!
Sara’s News Roundup 7/11/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Feds: CA school district failed to help gay teen
San Francisco, 365Gay.com, July 5, 2011
2) Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace? ~ Why We Need Queer Critiques of Gay Marriage
Canada, Canadian Dimension, January 2, 2004
3) Watch: The World’s Gayest Ads
Advocate, July 2011
4) Culhane: But are they “bigots”?
365Gay.com, July 1, 2011
5) Southern Baptist Pres Denounces Gay Bashing in Favor of Eternity in Hell
Religion Dispatches, July 1, 2011
6) 10 Reasons to Lay Off Lady Gaga
Advocate, July 6, 2011
7) Australia military may scrap all gender barriers
Canberra, Australia, Associated Press, July 2, 2011
8) Gay or straight, guys reluctant to say I do
New York Post, July 5, 2011
9) No ‘him’ or ‘her’; preschool fights gender bias
Stockholm, Sweden, Associated Press, June 27, 2011
10) Spread the Word to End the Word
Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, R-Word
11) Transgender Samoans ‘glorious miracles’
Samoa, Adelaide Now, , July 5, 2011
12) ‘God Has Created You for Heterosexuality’: Clinics Owned by Michele Bachmann’s Husband Practice Ex-Gay Therapy
The Nation, July 8, 2011
13) NOM Targets N.Y. Republican Senator
Buffalo, N.Y., Advocate, July 1, 2011
14) Don’t laugh at “ladyboys,” Thai election officials told
Bangkok, Thailand, Reuters, July 1, 2011
15) On Going Without
Advocate, July 5, 2011
16) Fraud, larceny charges in sham marriages case
Camp Pendleton, Calif., Military Times, July 3, 2011
17) National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, HRC and UNID@S release new bilingual guide on sexual orientation, gender identity and the Bible for Latino/a families and churches
NGLTF, July 2011
A message from Identity, & talk next Wednesday on healing from trauma
A message from Identity, Inc. Board of Directors regarding the tragic accident on June 25, 2011
Hedwig & the Angry Inch at Out North July 8–30
Out North Contemporary Art House presents, through the end of the month, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. With a two-year run after its February 1998 opening at New York’s Jane Street Theater, Hedwig and the Angry Inch has since been performed in hundreds of stage productions around the world — including a production starring Atz Lee Kilcher in Homer and Anchorage in 2009 — and was made into a film in 2001.
This groundbreaking, Obie-winning, Off-Broadway smash hit tells the story of “internationally-ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt, a fourth-wall smashing East German rock ‘n’ roll goddess who also happens to be the victim of a botched sex-change operation, which has left her with just “an angry inch.” She performs her outrageous & unexpectedly hilarious story in the form of a rock gig/stand-up comedy routine backed by the hard-rocking band “The Angry Inch.”
Out North’s production is directed by Jonathon Minton. A special re-mix of the show by Out North’s artistic director Scott Turner Schofield will take place July 22 at 7 PM. Scott is calling it Hedwig and My Angry Inch — same music, one guy in a fundraiser for Out North Contemporary Art House.
- Dates/times: July 8-30 on Fridays (7:00 PM show) and Saturdays (two shows at 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM).
- Location: Out North Contemporary Art House, 3800 Debarr Road, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: At the door $30 general; $25 students/60+/military (show ID); $25/$20 available in advance at www.CenterTix.net. This is part of Out North’s Live Art and MashUp season pass series.
- Further info: See Out North’s event page.
Sara’s News Roundup 7/4/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) In NY, gay marriage law brings wedding plans
New York, Associated Press, June 27, 2011
2) Etiquette Expert: Hey, NY – 10 things you need to know about gay weddings
365Gay.com, June 24, 2011
3) Cuba’s gay pride parade: big debut, few marchers
Havana, Cuba, AFP, May 28, 2011
4) Anna Paquin on Her Husband’s Gay Fans, Prejudice Against Bisexuals
Advocate, June 28, 2011
5) The End Of Gender?
NPR, June 23, 2011
6) Catholic Church Denies Funeral For Local Gay Man
San Diego, 10News.com, June 27, 2011
7) Political Notebook: White House invites bisexual activist to Pride event
San Francisco, Bay Area Reporter, June 23, 2011
8) Will marriage change gay love?
Salon, June 28, 2011
9) Wanna cash in on gay marriage? NYers say ‘I do’
Niagra Falls, NY, 365Gay.com, June 28, 2011
10) Forced Sex Change On Young Girls A Growing Concern In India
India, Huffington Post, June 28, 2011
11) Australian lesbian housing first in Brunswick
Australia, Moreland Leader, June 11, 2011
12) Gay marriage supporters plan referendum in Maine
Lewiston, Maine, Associated Press, June 30, 2011
13) Beijing’s Gay Community Fights Censorship
Beijing, China, Time, July 1, 2011
14) Taiwan’s Gays Welcome Lady Gaga
Taichung, Taiwan, Advocate, July 3, 2011
15) Transgender Jews Seek Place in Jewish Life
Berkeley, Calif., Baltimore Jewish Times, June 26, 2011
16) Census Shows Drastic Increase in Gay and Lesbian Households in Alaska
Alaska, Your Alaska Link, June 30, 2011
17) NBC’s hit show “The Voice” is giving a voice to gay singers
Associated Press, June 28, 2011
A Circle of Support: Counseling for friends of James Crump at UAA Thursday evening
UAA’s Student Health & Counseling Center will offer grief counseling and information on resources for friends of James Crump and others affected by his sudden and tragic death at Pride last Saturday. Please be sure also to check other resources for psychological and spiritual support about which we posted yesterday.
Service of Remembrance for James Crump to be held Wednesday evening
There will be a Service of Remembrance for James Crump at 7 PM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at Lake Otis and Tudor tomorrow night (Wednesday, June 29), while his family is still in town. People are encouraged to bring something for a light potluck after the service.
Members of James’ family were present earlier tonight at the Anchorage Assembly chambers as the Assembly passed a unanimous resolution remembering, recognizing, and honoring James’ life. Resolution AR No 2011-183 honors James’ work as nurse for Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health & Human Services and as loved member of Anchorage LGBT community. His family members were joined by numerous friends, present and former coworkers, and members of the LGBTQA community. Bent Alaska will post video and full text of the resolution in a later post.
Remembering James Crump; and counseling & spiritual support
This post has information about psychological counseling and spiritual support for those affected by the events of last Saturday, when our brother and friend James L. Crump tragically lost his life. There will also be a resolution introduced tonight in the Anchorage Assembly to remember and honor James, and anyone who can attend is asked to.
