Bent Alaska | Author Archives

During the 2009 battle over Anchorage Ordinance 64 — which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Municipality of Anchorage’s equal rights code — one thing we heard from the opposition again and again was that there was no “proof” that discrimination was a problem that needed to be addressed. So this fall, a group of concerned community members and organizations came together to brainstorm how to compile this kind of information about the LGBT community in Alaska—both so that we can provide policymakers with accurate information, and so that we ourselves more fully understand the needs of our community. Thus, the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force was born.

The Task Force will complete two important surveys over the coming years. Our broader, more long-term project is the Alaska LGBT Community Statewide Survey, which will provide an extensive profile of the LGBT community all across the state. Over the next six months, however, our focus is the Anchorage Discrimination Survey, which will focus exclusively on experiences of bias and discrimination by LGBT people in Anchorage. Please look for the survey in early 2011! We need as many respondents as possible, and all answers will be completely confidential. You can find more information about the survey at alaskacommunity.org.

I will be serving as Project Manager for the survey, so please also feel free to reach out to me by phone at (907) 263-2006 or by email at scarpenter@akclu.org about any questions you may have.

Shelby Carpenter is the LGBT Public Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, and is Project Manager of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force.

Juneau extends senior citizen sales tax exemption to same-sex domestic partners

Tuesday, 30 November 2010 – 4:40 PM | Comments Off

Sara Boesser writes from Juneau.

A wonderful thing happened in Juneau, Alaska, last night.

It brought to my mind the famous 1969 poster, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?”

What happened is, for the first time in Juneau history, a GLBT-positive ordinance came up for hearing,…and with no discussion by Assembly members, it passed unanimously. It will become law in 30 days.

Willie Anderson of PFLAG was the only one to speak — for the ordinance. Willie, myself, my parents, and two plaintiffs for the 2005 Alaska state G/L benefits lawsuit (Maureen Longworth and Lin Davis) were in the audience. But we didn’t speak.

Can you believe it?! It was exactly 20 years ago I and many of you spoke for the first time before our assembly seeking an equal rights ordinance. And that was a roaring controversy, with multiple meetings hours long for people on both sides to pound away. And we didn’t win then. We compromised, for a tiny step forward instead.

But now…20 years later…we didn’t even have to speak. But I could feel all of us, all of you, all of our energy of years past, in the room.

Thank you all, so much, for everything you’ve done — we’ve done — together.

We have moved mountains to get to this point. And oh — how sweet it is!

Sara referred to a story in today’s Juneau Empire, “City extends senior citizen sales tax exemption to same sex couples” by Sarah Day. The story begins:

The senior citizen sales tax exemption will now apply to same-sex domestic partners, allowing the city code to comply with the Alaska Constitution.

The city code previously allowed those 65 and older an exemption on city sales tax. Their spouse, regardless of age, could also receive the exemption. The wording in this code excluded same-sex domestic partners, which is unconstitutional. While same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Alaska, a 2005 state Supreme Court ruling stated Alaska’s Constitution prohibits excluding a specific group of people from benefits like this.

So the city had two options – include same-sex domestic partners or cancel the sales tax exemption for all seniors.

Congratulations, Juneau!

Sara’s News Roundup 11/28/10

Monday, 29 November 2010 – 12:55 PM | Comments Off

Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) World AIDS Day [Dec. 1, 2010] theme: Universal Access and Human Rights
Avert.org

2) Listen: Gay Grandma Tells Love Story
Los Angeles, Advocate, November 25, 2010

3) Lesbian cadet who quit seeks return to West Point
Findlay, Ohio, Associated Press, November 26, 2010

4) German Zoo Attempts to Re-Orient Gay Vultures
Germany, Time, November 26, 2010

5) A journey for her peers
Houston, Houston Chronicle, November 19, 2010

6) The kids are all right? Not according to the lesbian lobby
The Independent, November 23, 2010

7) High Suicide Risk, Prejudice Plague Transgender People
Live Science, November 19, 2010

8) Marines most resistant to openly gay troops
Oceanside, Calif., Associated Press, November 27, 2010

9) Dawn of the flexisexual: The new word for the women who refuse to play it straight
Daily Mail, November 27, 2010

10) TSA Screening Reveals Transgender People’s Experiences for All of Us
Huffington Post, November 24, 2010

11) Thank God I’m Gay
South Florida Gay News, November 23, 2010

12) Going Legal in Russia ~ St. Petersburg holds first sanctioned gay pride demo
St. Petersburg, Russia, Gay City News, November 24, 2010

13) F to M trans anchor says “It get’s better”
Denver, Colorado, 9News

14) Kimpton most visible hotel group among gay, lesbian travelers
USA Today, November 26, 2010

World AIDS Day events in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau

Thursday, 25 November 2010 – 6:00 AM | Comments Off

World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1 to remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS, to honor those still living with the disease, and to commemorate the theme of universal access and human rights.

Events including candlelight vigils are scheduled in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Click through on the city names to RSVP organizers about your intentions to attend.

Anchorage

Day/time: Wednesday, December 1 · 6:00–9:00 PM
Location: Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road
Sponsor: Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s)
Info: Join us for our annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil to remember and honor all who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Vigil begins at 6 p.m. then afterward at 7 p.m. there will be a free showing of the movie “Life Support” starring Queen Latifah.

Fairbanks

Day/time: Wednesday, December 1, 4:00–7:00 PM
Location: Interior AIDS Association (710 3rd. Ave.) with candlelight walk to 101 Dunkel St. (Morris Thompson Center)
Sponsor: Interior AIDS Association (IAA)
Info: December 1, 2010 Potluck, art, and open house from 4-5:30pm at the Interior AIDS Association. Candlelight walk at 5:30 from IAA 710 3rd Avenue to the Morris Thompson Cultural Center Theatre 101 Dunkel Street. We will have Anna Nelson, executive director of IAA opening and guest speaker Dr. Saltonstall from Anchorage and Father Scott from St. Matthews Episcopal Church. Other speakers TBA. Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to share for the potluck and don’t forget to dress warmly for the walk. Remember, this is Fairbanks and it will probably be cold!

Juneau

Day/time: Wednesday, December 1 · 6:30–9:30 PM
Location: Baranof Hotel/Rendezvous
Sponsor: Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s)
Info: Join us for our annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil in Juneau at the Baranof Hotel, beginning at 6:30 p.m. then come over to the Rendezvous for a free showing of “Rent” at 8 p.m.