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Articles by E. Ross

E. Ross is the founder of Bent Alaska.

Assembly demotes Ossiander, chooses Flynn as Chair

Wednesday, 16 December 2009 – 3:27 AM | 3 Comments

Surprise: the Anchorage Assembly played a political game of musical chairs Tuesday night, voting out the conservative Debbie Ossainder and choosing Patrick Flynn as the new leader, with Mike Gutierrez as the new vice chair.

In Ossiander’s brief time as chair, she rubber-stamped Mayor Sullivan’s agenda against the majority and was unable to provide a balance to his veto-heavy style. Flynn better reflects the Assembly’s positions.

Debbie Ossiander is infamous in the gay community for being the roadblock to the passage of the equal rights ordinance that would have added LGBT protections to the city’s nondiscrimination law.

As chair, she overruled a motion to limit repetitive testimony and instead allowed hundreds of religious opponents to preach anti-gay hate at the hearings.
She allowed Wasilla residents to testify on the Anchorage measure, dragging out the hearings for months.
In her comments before the vote, she admitted that LGBT people face prejudice and discrimination in Anchorage and need protection, then voted against the measure anyway.
She could have been the deciding vote against the mayor’s veto, but instead she chose a legacy of caving in to pressure and supporting an agenda of hate.

Patrick Flynn and Mike Gutierrez both voted in favor of the non-discrimination ordinance. Flynn introduced the version of the ordinance that was passed by the Assembly 7-4 and vetoed by the mayor. Gutierrez, the Assembly’s only Hispanic member, supported the ordinance as a civil rights issue.

Congratulations to the Assembly and the new leaders!

stories at KTUU and the ADN.

Do you give to the (anti-gay) Salvation Army?

Tuesday, 15 December 2009 – 4:19 AM | 4 Comments

If you’ve been in a grocery story or mall recently (and who hasn’t?), you have seen and heard the Salvation Army’s Christmas bell-ringers collecting donations for charity. Straight bell-ringers, because the Salvation Army does not hire gays.

And many gays do not give to the Salvation Army, choosing to give money to charities that do not discriminate against us instead of those that do.

In addition to not hiring gays, the Salvation Army actively lobbies for anti-gay laws, calls gay couples with children ‘pretend’ families, and promotes celibacy as the only option for gay Christians.

But the Salvation Army is not the only option for giving. Queer Alaskans who want to donate to nondiscriminatory charities have many choices. Three local charities with good records are Beans Cafe and homeless shelter for adults and Covenant House for homeless youth, both in Anchorage, and the Street Outreach and Advocacy Program for homeless kids in Fairbanks.

The Salvation Army works on a much larger scale, and some gays and allies say that justifies their donations.

Do you put money in the Salvation Army buckets?

Welcome to Bent Alaska

Monday, 14 December 2009 – 3:29 AM | Comments Off

Hello, Internet visitors! Welcome to Alaska’s LGBT blog. If you’re here to read the Letter to Levi or another linked post, thank you for coming to the source. Please stay a while and look around, get to know Bent and Alaska’s LGBT community.

Alaska is an amazing state, and we love it. Yes, we’re a little behind in terms of gay rights. (OK, more than a little.) We’re working on that. Bent will keep you up to date with our political efforts, introduce you to the people and events of LGBT Alaska, and share the lighter side of being queer on the Last Frontier.

Do you have a question about LGBT people in Alaska? Do you have a tip or an issue you want us to cover? Leave a comment below the post or write to the contact address in the column along the right side of the blog, and I’ll get back to you. (If you have a media request to interview gays in Wasilla, I’ll add you to the waiting list, but don’t hold your breath.)

While you’re here, this is the perfect time to start planning your gay vacation to Alaska, staying in LGBT-owned B & B’s, sailing with gay cruises, and touring the wild backcountry – the real Alaska – with our gay and lesbian adventure guides. For more info, see the LGBT Alaska Travel page under our Everything LGBT Alaska resource list.

If you like what you see here and want to stay in contact, please bookmark Bent Alaska, or subscribe to the posts in email or RSS.

Thanks for visiting us on the queer frontier. Come back soon!

Christmas Music, Youth Drop-In, HIV Survey & Gifts for Change

Saturday, 12 December 2009 – 3:37 PM | 2 Comments

Gay AK – news for and about LGBT Alaska

Youth Initiative “Drop In/Hang Out” kicks off in Anchorage

The Youth Initiative program is ready to offer a safe place for youth to hang out with their peers and adult facilitators. The two facilitators are Johnathan Jones and Ginger Blackmon, community leaders with youth work and education training. To kick off this exciting new program, we’re hosting a special holiday drop-in/hang-out for teenage youth (13 to 19) at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center on Saturday Dec. 19 from 12-3 p.m. The entire center will be set aside so that the youth can use the space as they like. The youth will have the opportunity to meet with the facilitators and let us know exactly what it is they would like to do and how they would like to see the Youth Initiative develop. Because this is a special event, holiday gifts and pizza will be provided. And not just lousy gifts, but cool gifts. If you are a LGBTA youth, you don’t won’t to miss this! For more info or make a donation to support the program, please contact the GLCCA.

HIV Prevention Online Survey seeks rural Alaskan men who have sex with men

The University of Alaska, Department of Health Sciences, has asked for our cooperation in spreading the word about a new online survey. The online survey is primarily targeted for “men who have sex with men” who live in or are visiting rural Alaska. The survey is HERE. If you have questions, please direct them to Dr. Nancy A. Nix, Assistant Professor of Public Health at UAA.

Christmas Music Service and MCC news

The MCC Christmas Music Service is Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Please join us for refreshments, scripture readings by Dianne O’Connell, music by James Gray, Kevin Holtz and the MCCA choir, and a message by Sara Gavit and Matthew Moak. The monthly MCC potluck will be on Sunday Dec. 20th. Feel free to bring a dish to pass or just join us for a great time of food and fellowship after the service. Step by Step, the Wed. Bible study, is taking a break for the holidays and will meet again starting on Jan 6, 2010. The Annual Congregational Meeting is January 17, 2010. Thank you to all those who have donated food and clothing items for Covenant House. We will be packing up the boxes in the next week or so. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of those who so desperately need it. Metropolitan Community Church

The Affirmation Declaration

The Affirmation Declaration expresses the convictions of Christians all over the world and was written in response to the infamous anti-gay Manhattan Declaration. The Affirmation Declaration corrects errors that have been preached in the pulpits of many churches for far too long. Please read The Affirmation Declaration and sign it if you are willing.

Help needed for Kuani’s Kidney Transplant

Kuini AhDar is in need of a kidney transplant. Her friends and co-workers are working with the National Transplant Fund to raise the amount that insurance and other sources won’t cover for the surgery. The Friends of Kuini have organized a fundraiser at the Snow Goose Restaurant on Third Avenue in Anchorage from 6:30-9:00 p.m. on Thursday Dec. 17. Light appetizers and entertainment will be included in the ticket price of $35 per person, with a cash bar and silent auction. If you cannot attend, but would like to make a tax deductible contribution in Kuini’s honor, please call 800-642-8399 or go to The Transplant Fund and enter “AhDar” in the patient box on the homepage. If you can volunteer for the fundraiser, please contact Lori. Thanks

Gifts for Change to benefit the Four A’s

Do your holiday shopping with Four A’s this year by giving those on your list Gifts For Change. The Four A’s Gifts For Change program provides donors with another option for special occasion gift giving and it also supports individuals living with HIV/AIDS in your community as well as prevention efforts across the state. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving and is a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones while impacting your community at the same time. Four A’s will send the recipient a card recognizing the gift and your name (amounts will only be acknowledged if you choose that on the form.) For more information, or to arrange a Gift For Change with a credit card over the phone, call (907) 263-2046 or use the online form HERE.

A Lesbian Bishop

The Episcopal Church has elected a second LGBT bishop! Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool is a partnered lesbian and was chosen as the Assistant Bishop of Los Angeles. In 2004, openly gay Rev. Gene Robinson became the Bishop of New Hampshire. Congratulations to Rev. Glasspool and Los Angeles.

This Week in LGBT Alaska 12/11/09

Friday, 11 December 2009 – 4:02 PM | Comments Off

Happy Hanukkah! The Anchorage International Film Festival continues through Dec. 17, and the annual MCC Christmas Music Service is on Wednesday 12/16 at 7 p.m.

This week’s LGBT events from the statewide newsletter Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.

Fairbanks

4th Annual Gruvn Christmas Toy Drive with Wet Thunder 12/11, 7 p.m. $5 at the door to benefit Interior AIDS Association. Please bring a new unwrapped toy.

UAF Gay-Straight Alliance movie night 12/14, 5 p.m. in the Women’s Center (Eilson 112). Jessi.

Wednesday LGBTA Social around 9:30 p.m. Email Joshua for the current location.

Mat-Su Valley

Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues.

Anchorage

Lesbian Film Night 12/11, 6 p.m. RSVP for location: LGBT Meetup group.

Friday Diva Variety Show 12/11, 9 p.m at Mad Myrna’s.

Second Saturday in Spenard 12/12, 9 p.m. Music, raffle and auction at the Spenard Roadhouse to benefit Four A’s.

Holiday Tapas Taster 12/13, around 5 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

“Your mind is not your enemy” 12/13, 1-3 p.m. Talk on Tantric Buddhism at the A.T.O.M. Center by an LGBT-friendly rinpoche. Contact Bird for more info.

Annual Christmas Music Service at the Metropolitan Community Church, Wed 12/16, 7 p.m. Free and open to the community.

Human Rights Day and Sullivan’s Hypocrisy

Friday, 11 December 2009 – 7:41 AM | Comments Off

Yesterday was International Human Rights Day and the theme was “Embrace Diversity, End Discrimination.” So Mayor Dan Sullivan – who vetoed an LGBT non-discrimination ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly – proclaimed Thursday as Human Rights Day, quoting the “everyone-except-gays” anti-discrimination law as proof that he is committed to “civil and human rights for all Anchorage residents and visitors…”

WTF??

The Anchorage Human Rights Day proclamation touts the straights-only anti-discrimination law, proclaims the day, and ends with the message that the mayor “encourage(s) all residents to work together in the coming year on ways that we can achieve greater progress in respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the full range of human rights contained in the Universal Declaration.”

… so he can veto them?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948 and did not include sexual orientation or gender identity. That explains why the mayor respects not the full range of human rights but the full range contained in the Declaration. Clever… and hypocritical.

But the official Human Rights Day statement does include gays.

The statement begins with the sentence, “The concept of non-discrimination lies at the heart of human rights.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay lists the successes first, the international laws and treaties on non-discrimination which protect people throughout the world. Then Pillay describes the discrimination we still need to address, against women, indigenous people, racial and ethnic groups, religious groups, refugees and migrants. Gays and lesbians are named in the conclusion, which also describes the harmful effects of discrimination on society and closes with a call to action to help end discrimination (from someone who has not recently vetoed a non-discrimination ordinance and thus has credibility on the issue):

“Many other groups face discrimination to a greater or lesser degree. Some of them are easily definable such as persons with disabilities, stateless people, gays and lesbians, members of particular castes and the elderly. Others may span several different groups and find themselves discriminated against on several different levels as a result.

Those who are not discriminated against often find it hard to comprehend the suffering and humiliation that discrimination imposes on their fellow individual human beings. Nor do they always understand the deeply corrosive effect it has on society at large.

Discrimination feeds mistrust, resentment, violence, crime and insecurity and makes no economic sense, since it reduces productivity. It has no beneficial aspects for society whatsoever. Yet we continue to practice it – virtually all of us – often as a casual reflex, without even realizing what we are doing.

I would therefore like to encourage people everywhere – politicians, officials, businesses leaders, civil society, national human rights institutions, the media, religious leaders, teachers, students, and each and every individual – to honour Human Rights Day 2009 by embracing diversity and resolving to take concrete and lasting actions to help put an end to discrimination.”

In support of Human Rights Day, a new Yale study shows that gay people suffer more anxiety and depression in states with fewer gay rights. The American Journal of Public Health reported that LGBT people living in states that don’t have LGBT-inclusive protections suffer higher rates of psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

The study concludes: “Policies that reduce discrimination against gays and lesbians are urgently needed to protect the health and well-being of this population.” More proof for why we need to pass ENDA.

For a brief moment, I wondered if Mayor Sullivan was making proclamations like Human Rights Day and November’s Say No to Bullies Month as a trojan horse strategy to get the social conservatives more comfortable with the idea of civil rights and reduce the tension around gay issues so they won’t blow up the federal building in downtown Anchorage when the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is repealed. But sadly, it’s more likely a cheap strategy to tell the racial and ethnic minority groups that he is willing to give lip service to their rights (no real power, of course, just empty tokens of appreciation) in exchange for their votes on a second term as mayor… where he will continue to oppose our rights.

Happy Human Rights Day, Anchorage.

Ex-gays inspire Kill the Gays bill in Uganda, CBC & Prevo are silent

Thursday, 10 December 2009 – 2:43 PM | 2 Comments

American ex-gay leaders, mega-church pastors and conservative senators are behind the push for Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law that will impose life imprisonment for being gay, death by hanging for having gay sex if you’re HIV positive, and up to 3 years in prison for not reporting gay people to the government.

U.S. ex-gays organized a conference in Uganda earlier this year that provided the inspiration and supposed “evidence” to justify the Anti-Homosexuality Law, introduced right after the conference. If gays can be cured by prayer, goes the argument, then those who continue to be gay are just not praying hard enough. In Uganda, being gay is already a crime, and now anyone who isn’t cured will be sent to prison for life or killed.

Is the true intent of the ex-gay industry to eliminate homosexuals – by any means necessary? Do the sponsors of the ex-gay events in Alaska support this? Why haven’t the UAF Campus Bible Club, the Abbott Loop Community Church, and Jerry Prevo spoken out and condemned this death bill?

Rachel Maddow is reporting an on-going series called “Uganda Be Kidding Me” on the U.S. connection to the proposed law. A segment focusing on the ex-gays shows three American groups closely involved with Uganda’s effort to eliminate gays: congressmen connected to The Family, evangelical pastors, and the ex-gays.

Watch Uganda Be Kidding Me: the story behind ‘curing’ gays (Dec 8):

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The ex-gay methods are dangerous and ineffective, and these groups are exporting a deadly homophobia to countries like Uganda. But the larger goal of The Family is Dominion, a world run by evangelical Christian rule. In other words, sharia, and a return to the Dark Ages.

Frank Schaeffer on the Brad Blog shows that killing gays for Jesus is just part of the larger plan. Bruce Wilson on Talk To Action connects Rick Warren’s purpose driven “reformation” to Uganda’s anti-homosexuality law, and explains the Dominion plan for setting up evangelical Christian governments. Uganda is just the tip of the iceberg.

Box Turtle Bulletin tracks the ex-gay industry and has been following the Uganda bill all year.

For an inside look on African gays, GayUganda is a blog written by a gay Uganda man who is still in the country, writing about the bill and the international response, and questioning whether he and his partner should leave or stay and be martyred. It’s heartbreaking.

So who is going to ask Campus Bible Club, Abbott Loop, and Prevo if they support the Kill the Gays bill?

Wasilla Gays to Levi: We’re here

Wednesday, 9 December 2009 – 10:45 AM | 22 Comments

Levi’s gay Wasilla homeboys (un)straighten Levi Johnson on the topic of whether there are gays in Wasilla. Yes, Levi, there are!

Gay Movie Night at the Anchorage Film Festival

Tuesday, 8 December 2009 – 7:24 PM | Comments Off

“American Primitive” is this year’s gay movie at the Anchorage International Film Festival, showing at the Bear Tooth on Wednesday Dec 9 at 8 p.m. and followed by an after-party at Mad Myrna’s. Tickets are $7 for the movie, and the party is free.

American Primitive is set in Cape Cod in 1973. A widowed father relocates to Cape Cod with his teenage daughters to begin a new business and a new life, and struggles to withhold a secret that would tear the family apart. Ideas of sex and identity are questioned, topics that seemed to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue in the early 70s but were actually still taboo.

Here’s the trailer:

Meditation, Grants, Facebook, Arctic Heat, and lots ‘o news

Saturday, 5 December 2009 – 10:38 AM | Comments Off

Gay AK – news for and about LGBTA Alaska

Good News, Bad News

In national news this week, DC approved gay marriage, New York defeated gay marriage, and New Jersey said they are almost ready to vote on gay marriage. Washington state’s expanded domestic partnership law took effect on Thursday. Atlanta GA elected the first openly lesbian African-American state senator in the U.S., and Campbell CA elected the youngest openly gay Asian-American mayor. Meanwhile, Christopher Constant of Anchorage went to the Victory Fund conference to get ready to run the first openly-LGBT candidates for anything in Alaska. Email Chris at constant(at)alaska.net to see how you can help. We have work to do.

In local news, Gov. Parnell appointed Judge Craig Stowers, a conservative Christian, to the Alaska Supreme Court. The anti-gay and anti-choice groups are thrilled. Speaking of anti-choice and anti-gay, the same local groups that strongly oppose granting protected status to gays are pushing a new ballot initiative to give personhood status to fetuses so that abortion will become murder. They’re doing this in several states, and the Alaska version was just introduced.

Facebook: Hold Sullivan Accountable & Church Life Alaska

Two interesting new Facebook pages: Hold Mayor Dan Sullivan Accountable was created by a young man who lists the ordinance veto as one of many reasons he is concerned about our mayor. Church Life Alaska is a Christian Church for the LGBT community of Anchorage and Allies. If you know about a new local LGBT-related page or group, please share it on Bent’s FB wall.

Arctic Heat 2010 seeks volunteers and candidates

Arctic Heat will be in February 2010 and we are looking for people to help plan and produce the event as well as those interested in running for the following titles: Mr Alaska Leather, Ms Alaska Leather, Mr Bear Alaska, Alaska Bear Cub. Other titles are being considered and will be included if people show an early interest in assisting. Please contact The Last Frontier Men’s Club if interested.

Identity and ACLU win Pride Foundation grants

Congratulations to Identity, Inc. and the ACLU of Alaska for being the two Alaska non-profits awarded new grants by the Pride Foundation on Wednesday.

Gay-friendly Meditation Center & “Your mind is not your enemy”

Bird Trungma is opening the Dharma Joy of Enlightenment Buddhist Meditation and Study Center of Anchorage, and is giving a talk called “Your mind is not your enemy” on 12/13, from 1-3 p.m. at the A.T.O.M. Center, 4025 Raspberry Road, requested donation $25.

Bird is bisexual, with a preference for women, and was “a student of the Tibetan Buddhist guru, the Vidyadhara, Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche since the 1970’s. He was the first Buddhist guru to not only accept gays, but to appoint an openly gay man, Thomas Rich, as his Regent, meaning his chief student and acting guru to all of the rest of us. Besides being the first gay person appointed to such a high position, he was also the first Westerner so appointed. Thomas Rich was given the name Osel Tendzin by Trungpa Rinpoche and acted in that capacity during the 1970’s and 1980’s, prior to his death from AIDS. I knew him personally and loved (and still love) him very much.” For more info on the Center and the talk, email Bird at Joy of Enlightenment.