Articles by Melissa S. Green
Melissa S. (Mel) Green is the editor (as of October 2011) & contributor to Bent Alaska. She also has her own blog at Henkimaa.com.
It’s official: Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative certified for April 2012 ballot
It’s official: the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative will appear on ballot for the April 3, 2012 Anchorage municipal election. One Anchorage, the group spearheading the initiative, received an email yesterday addressed to One Anchorage campaign chairs Arliss Sturgulewski and Gov. Tony Knowles.
Christians for Equality speak out for Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative
Christians for Equality, a new group representing a number of religious and faith-based organizations in the Anchorage area, has formed in support of the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative.
13,515 signatures: Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative will be on the April 2012 municipal ballot
The One Anchorage campaign will turn in 13,515 signatures — over twice the 5,871 needed — to put the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative on the Municipality of Anchorage’s April 3, 2012 ballot. If passed, the measure will provide the same legal protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people already provided to other Anchorage residents.
Happy Thanksgiving from Bent Alaska
Jeff Zarrillo and his partner Paul Katami are plaintiffs in the nationally-watched Prop 8 trial and appeared with co-plaintiffs Perry and Sandy Stier in a video from the American Foundation for Equal Rights discussing the importance of family and this Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving from Bent Alaska to you and your family — no matter what your family looks like.
Transgender Day of Remembrance: Remembering the dead — and the living
On Transgender Day of Remembrance, let’s remember those who have lost their lives to suicide and murder, but let’s also remember — and celebrate, honor, love, and welcome — the living. Even if we don’t “get” them. There’s so many worthy, cool, and interesting transgender and genderqueer people with all kinds of lives and all kinds of interesting stories to tell. And not only stories about being transgender.
Alaska favorite “I Can’t Think Straight” to become a web series — with your help
Last October, two films by independent lesbian filmmakers Shamim Sarif and Hanan Kattan were screened in Alaska, accompanied by Sheetal Sheth, costar of both films. Now one of those films, “I Can’t Think Straight,” based on the true story of Shamim’s and Hanan’s meeting, is set to become a web series — with your help. [Update: The project is on hiatus.]
Candlelight vigils for homeless youth in Fairbanks & Anchorage today & tomorrow — & why this matters to LGBTQ Alaskans
According to a 2007 study by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), between 20 and 40 percent of the estimated 1.6 million homeless youth in the United States identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) — highly disproportionate to their representation in the general population. And so: youth homelessness is an LGBT issue. Which we suggest is a good reason for members of the LGBT communities of Fairbanks and Anchorage to join in two candlelight vigils for homeless youth taking place today and tomorrow.
Drew Pritt, known in Alaska as Caleb Pritt, announces run for Congress in Arkansas
Andrew Caleb “Drew” Pritt — a former member of Anchorage’s LGBT community who fled back to his home state of Arkansas in September after money from a fundraiser he had organized went missing — announced today that he will run for Congress in Arkansas.
Does Anyone Beat Your Heart for You
I spoke this poem today at the Community Building for Alaska workshop sponsored by the Alaska Community Foundation & Alaska Pacific University, after a morning’s discussion. It’s not possible to walk together in community as anyone other than who we are, carrying our own minds, hearts, souls.
Australian hockey goalie Gus Johnston comes out, sparks more discussion on LGBT athletes & homophobia in sports (Bent News, 10/23/11)
Australian hockey player Gus Johnston came out, sparking a discussion of LGBT athletes and homophobia in the sports world; some resources for LGBT athletes and sports fans; and more in this edition of Bent News.
