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.
Thanking those who in the past Stepped Up and Stepped Out with Pride
A message from Alaska Pride | originally posted at the Alaska Pride blog
Flashback to July 1978
In this day and age, it isn’t too rare to see Gay Pride marches across the United States and all around the world. In fact, its pretty much expected. Presidents of our nation even declare a month out of the year as Gay Pride Month (when we really should celebrate Pride all year round!).
GLBT folk and our allies get to march in these parades, unhindered and proudly.
That wasn’t always the case…
Lets flashback to Anchorage in July of 1978. This was the reality of that day and age:
Just imagine being someone in this march. These brave marchers had to wear paper bags over their heads for fear of harassment, abuse, and most of all — losing their jobs. Life was already hard enough being GLBT in Alaska in the 1970′s. But to march and show your Pride was even harder.
This Pride, we honor those who took the first steps to ensure that we as a community can march proudly in the streets, open, no brown paper bags over our heads, no disguise. Because of these individuals who Stepped Up and Stepped Out decades ago, we have the luxury to be able to continue Stepping Up and Stepping Out.
So what have you done to make sure that pictures like these become a thing of the past, something that years from now, we will look back and wonder at the incredulity and ignorance of those people?
This year, this Pride, we ask that you Step Up, Step Out, take that paper bag of your head and march proudly with us on June 25. For even today, it is punishable by death to be GLBT in several nations across the world. Today, Pride marches are banned in several nations, like the Pride march banned in Moscow in which marchers were brutalized and arrested (Read more here.)
That will only end when individuals like you end it.
But please, remember that you are walking in the footsteps of giants like Doug Frank, our Grand Marshall for this years Pride. (Read his bio here.) So tread softly, but tread on nonetheless!
A night at the USO, a military affair: A Pride fundraiser this Saturday night
Grab your Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy or your best dame, and join us for a night of fun and laughs in a 1940s USO — a fundraiser for Alaska Pride Fest!
Cohosted by Colleen Crinklaw and Jerad Martens, with performers including Isis Von Croft, Alexis Kellie, Diedra Windsor Walker, Sahandra Crosse, Mariquita, and a few more that are going to work hard to show the guests a good time.
Pay $10 for a grab bag, & you might win prizes ranging in value from $80–$320!!!. We’ll also have a soldier’s toast and light food available while it lasts.
- Date/time: Saturday, June 4, 7:00 to 9:45 PM
- Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Ave. in downtown Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $7.00
- Further info: See the Facebook event page
San Francisco Giants make “It Gets Better” video in support of LGBT youth
Today, the San Francisco Giants became the first professional sports organization to take a stand against bullying in the It Gets Better campaign. Will the Boston Red Sox follow suit?
Obama declares Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
Yesterday President Obama released a proclamation for LGBT Pride Month which detailed his achievements toward LGBT equality since he took office in January 2009, and the work yet to be done. Notably absent: any mention of marriage equality, repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), or even same-sex civil unions.
First Friday in Fairbanks: E.mo.tions at IAA
Unique original artwork by Lee Ward will be on display for his solo exhibition “E.mo.tions,” presented as a First Friday opening at the Interior AIDS Association in Fairbanks.
People ask, “what do you paint?” Well its hard to describe. I suppose I just paint what I see and what I experience. Except usually in a funny, and a lot of times, an odd way. I love to paint, I paint to cool my nerves, relax, progress, and to forget about everything. For the brief time I get to sit down, throw on some music, and pick up a cup of paint, and finally paint; its that escape that I love. It’s what keeps me interested. It’s what makes me want to see what my next painting will look like, or what they will look like a year from now, or ten. So I paint what I see and feel, good or bad, everything around me is inspiration.
More of Lee Ward’s work can be seen at his website.
Come check it out. IAA is straight across 2nd from Gambardella’s in downtown Fairbanks.
- Date/time: Friday, June 3, 5-8 PM
- Place: Interior Aids Association, 709 W. 2nd (across from Gambardella’s), Fairbanks (see map)
- Further info: See the Facebook event page
Sara’s News Roundup 5/29/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Alaskan Students Awarded $2,500 in Scholarships from Pride Foundation
Pride Foundation, Alaska, May 18, 2011
2) Leaders of Color for N.Y. Marriage
New York, Advocate, May 20, 2011
3) Study: Homosexuality, celibacy didn’t cause abuse
Washington, Associated Press, May 18, 2011
4) A steamy lesbian love scene on ‘The Good Wife’? Add to the list of girl-on-girl prime-time TV action
LA Times, May 19, 2011
5) People.com Editor Shares Transition Story
Advocate, May 19, 2011
6) Sexual Diversity and the Catholic Church: Time for a Serious Conversation?
Huffington Post, May 10, 2011
7) Frank Bruni Named First Openly Gay Op-Ed Columnist in New York Times History
New York, The Wrap, May 23, 2011
8) Tenn. Green-Lights Discrimination
Tennessee, Advocate, May 23, 2011
9) Poll: Christians Support LGBT Equality
Advocate, May 23, 2011
10) Congressional briefing spotlights findings of Injustice at Every Turn
Washington, National Gay & Lesbian Taskforce, May 16, 2011
11) Billie Jean King addresses Vermont graduates
Burlington, Vt., 365Gay.com, May 23, 2011
12) Straight or Gay? Vowels in Speech May Give it Away
U.S. News & World Report, May 20, 2011
13) Oakland school’s lessons in gender diversity
San Francisco Chronicle, May 24, 2011
14) Bulls’ Noah says $50,000 fine for slur is ‘fair’
Chicago, Miami, May 24, 2011
15) Parents keep child’s gender under wraps
Toronto, Canada, Yahoo News, May 24, 2011
16) People Think 1 in 4 Americans are Gay
Advocate, May 27, 2011
It’s not acceptable to call me a… [insert slur here]
Jane Lynch and Lauren Potter of Glee finish out this compelling PSA on the unacceptability of calling people by derogatory terms… including fag, including retard.
Lauren will be in Fairbanks and Anchorage in July to help Access Alaska celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Check Access Alaska’s Facebook wall for updates.
Watch. And then join the campaign to spread the word to end the word.
Back Rubber Ball III — Friday night in Fairbanks
The Third Annual Black Rubber Ball in Fairbanks Alaska is a DS/BDSM friendly event featuring the lovely lades of Cabaret Noir Burlesque Dance, the outrageous Grande Dame of Haus of Fusion, Beyonca, the enchanting seductive voice of Kelly “Spade” of the band “Some Kind Of Sorcerer”, and other featured performing artists, with industrialized remix beats from DJ Vlad.
There will be full menu food service upstairs before show & special appetizer plate available downstairs before show; wine bottle & full bar service to tables throughout show (to 21+ only tables), and bar service for those over 21, limited 18+ in restaurant section.
- Date/time: Friday, May 20, 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM the next morning. Doors open at 8:30 PM; show starts at 9:30 PM.
- Location: The Lower L.A. (the downstairs banquet room & lounge at Los Amigos), 636 28th Ave. in Fairbanks (see map)
- Cost of admission: VIP tables (by reservation): $15 in advance ($18 at door if available); general admission $13 advance, $15 at door.
- Further info: See the Facebook event page.
Alaska students awarded $2,500 in scholarships from Pride Foundation
Two Alaska students, Kara Carlson of Fairbanks and Colleen McNulty of Anchorage, have been awarded $2,500 in scholarships from Pride Foundation, according to a press release from Tiffany McLain, the foundation’s regional development organizer for Alaska.
