Articles in Anchorage
Irina’s tour, Frank’s podcast, LGBT Bowling, ATE thanks Senators, Newsletter seeks Helper
Gay AK – Notes from LGBT Alaska
Ordinance Update
A new version of the equal rights ordinance was released today. Check it out, ask Mayor Sullivan to support it, and write a supportive letter to the ADN. Then come to Loussac Library on August 11 for the Assembly debate and possible vote.
LGBT News seeks Co-editor
Alaska GLBT News, the statewide weekly email newsletter, is looking for one or two people to help collect events and news from the local LGBT web sites for posting in the newsletter. Email Alaska GLBT News to volunteer.
Alaskans Together on passage of Matthew Shepard Act
“Alaskans Together for Equality is grateful to our Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich for voting in support of the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Prevention Act,” writes ATE spokesperson Tim Stallard. “Many Alaskans called in to both Senators’ offices to request this support, which resulted in Senator Begich becoming a co-sponsor of the bill. This act will help enable gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Americans to live happy, productive lives without fear of violence.”
Northern Exposure Bowling League
Northern Exposure, the gay and lesbian bowling league in Anchorage, is getting ready to start the 2009/2010 bowling season. We will have our first league meeting on Saturday, August 29, 4 p.m. at Park Lanes, and we’ll cover signup, registration and league setup. Our first day of bowling is the first Sunday after Coronation, Sept 13, and we will bowl every Sunday after that, barring holidays and League tournaments. For more info, email Stephen.
5 minute Frank
Frank Tano, formerly of Anchorage, makes a podcast called 5 minute Frank. “He frequently mentions Alaska and Alaskans,” writes Lisa. “It’s stream of consciousness, out gay humor. Very Frank. Listen to the later ones.” Listen to 5 Minute Frank here or use the iTunes link on Frank’s myspace page.
Irina Rivkin tours Alaska
OutMusic Awardee live-looping folk-world-harmony artist (and out lesbian) Irina Rivkin is on tour in Alaska. She is available for back-yard concerts, house concerts, festivals, summer camps, & live-looping workshops. (Contact Rose Street booking.) Listen to her music here and here (includes live concert video).
Irina’s Alaska tour dates so far:
7/25/2009, 8pm, McCarthy, playing a birthday party at BMAC’s.
7/27/2009, 6:30pm, McCarthy, Wrangell Mountain Center & Hardware store, concert plus audience-participation live-looping jam $5-15 sliding scale donation.
8/01/2009, 8pm, Fairbanks, House Concert, 1202 Heath Ave.
8/06/2009, 10pm, Denali, Panorama Pizza, Mile 224 Parks Highway on Carlo Creek.
8/8 or 8/7 – seeking concert in or near Denali or Talkeetna.
8/10/2009, 8pm, Anchorage, Tap Root Café, 1330 E Huffman (btwn Old and New Seward, across from Wells Fargo, look for the prayer flags.)
8/9 or 8/11, Anchorage area (Palmer to Girdwood) concert TBA.
Public Testimony Closed on Anchorage Equal Rights Ordinance
The Anchorage Assembly voted to end testimony on the equal rights ordinance at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night, after everyone on the speakers list either testified or failed to respond when their name was called. The Assembly has held 6 public hearings on the ordinance since it was proposed on May 12, and over 600 people signed up to testify.
On August 11, Assembly members will debate the ordinance without public input, and will vote on the ordinance when the debate ends, possibly on the same night.
Please write a letter to Mayor Sullivan and the ADN in support of the ordinance, and plan to attend the Assembly meeting on August 11.
Tuesday’s testimony represented a mix of arguments for and against the ordinance. Many opponents spent three minutes displaying their ignorance and fear of homosexuals, sometimes in pornographic detail, then said they were not homophobic.
Supporters spoke of families and friends, discrimination and inequality, history and progress. Chrissy said, “I, like the majority of Anchorage heterosexuals, support this ordinance.” The tolerant majority has spoken.
Bent Alaska would like to thank the many brave supporters who testified during the weeks of hearings, as well as those who attended the hearings and wrote about the ordinance. Your words give us hope and your attendance shows that this is a community effort.
To share that hope, several of the ordinance testimonies will be posted on the blog, along with letters to the Mayor and the newspaper. If you want your letter posted, please send it to Bent Alaska.
Ordinance Hearing #6 on Tuesday, July 21
We need YOU at the public hearing on Tuesday to show Assembly members that people in our town want lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Alaskans to be protected from discrimination. If you haven’t already testified, now is the time to sign up. Don’t let opponents of equality have the last word!
The hearings are at Loussac Library (36th & Denali) in the Assembly Chambers on the 1st Floor. The meetings run from 5-11 p.m, but the Assembly does other business first and gets to the equal rights ordinance around 6 or later.
Wear blue—the color of peace and unity—and your Equality Works button.
Beware false information
At the last hearing on July 7, one of the security guards told people dressed in blue that the ordinance had already gone to a public vote and there was no reason for us to be there. This is false – the Assembly has not voted on the ordinance yet and is allowing more people to sign up and give testimony. As a security guard on duty at the Assembly meeting, it was unprofessional of him to give false information on the ordinance and try to limit our freedom of speech at a public hearing. Do not be deceived by wrong information about the ordinance and hearings, even if it comes from a library or Assembly employee.
Words of encouragement from our allies
Our allies on Alaska Commons and the pro-ordinance site SOS Anchorage.NET have written thoughtful and inspiring new posts for this hearing. Heather explains why she, a straight woman, is fighting for the rights of her friends and the community of Anchorage. She describes how she became involved in gay issues, and why she is involved this time:
I and they know that this ordinance won’t make hatred and discrimination go away, but it will give them somewhere to turn when they are harassed because of who they are. I will stand and fight with them, and with you, to make this community the place that it should be.He [Jerry Prevo] has built his career out of hatred, and I am not willing to let him win this time. He is a pitiable man and a bully, but he does not dictate the behavior of the Anchorage community.
John reports on the hearings and why the ordinance is important for the future of Alaska:
I’ve heard and learned a staggering amount during these hearings. Some words have left me in absolute awe of the intelligence, bravery, and perseverance on display. Other words are harder to drink away.For now, the fate of Ordinance 64 rests with the Assembly. We need to keep showing up, and keep reminding the Assembly that we won’t go away.Hate, in no way, results in the betterment of a society. And we are foolish if we pretend that Anchorage is somehow immune.
Visit their blogs to read the posts, plus transcripts from the hearings and guest posts by Tonei Glavinic. They will live-blog today’s hearing, as will other local bloggers. Bent Alaska will add updates from the hearing on the Facebook wall and below this post.
If you are in Anchorage, please join us at the equal rights ordinance hearing, Tuesday at Loussac Library. Wear blue!
This Week in LGBT Alaska 7/17/09
** The next Anchorage ordinance hearing is Tuesday, July 21 at Loussac Library. **
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to 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
Women’s Motorcycle Ride Saturday, 7/18 meets in the Regal/Goldstream Theater parking lot at 4 p.m.
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
Midnight Soapscum: Goes to Hell! Final Episode, 7/17-7/18, 10:30 p.m. Out North Tickets $15 online or at the door. Saturday’s show follows The Big Fat Gay Wedding (see below.)
Integrity (Episcopal GLBT group) monthly potluck, fellowship and worship 7/17, 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Lake Otis & Tudor.
Gay-Karting with Adam & Steve 7/18, 2 p.m. RSVP required.
Barony of Spenard 7/18, 7:16 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s $5. Best in Theme Contest & Auction.
The Big Fat Gay Wedding 7/18, 7 p.m. Out North. Unions blessed & vows renewed.
Mad Mike @ Mad Myrna’s 7/18, (Saturdays) 10 p.m.-2:30 p.m. with Special Guest DJ’s.
LGBT & Supporters Community Potluck at Goose Lake Picnic Shelter 7/19, 1 p.m.
Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage 7/19, 2 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Anchorage Equal Rights Ordinance Hearing 7/21, 5-11 p.m. Loussac Library. Equality Works.
Hate Crimes Passed, Inclusive Episcopals, Eagle River, Top 4 & Better Communication
Gay AK – Notes from LGBT Alaska
BREAKING: Hate Crimes Amendment Passes
The US Senate voted 63-28 Thursday night to include the Hate Crimes Act as an amendment to the must-pass defense spending bill. The added measure will “provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes.” Both Begich and Murkowski voted in favor, and Begich is a co-sponsor of the original bill. The House passed a stand-alone hate crimes act in April, and President Obama supports it.
Episcopal Church passes LGBT measure co-authored by Alaskan
The Episcopal Church Convention approved two gay-positive resolutions: to open the ordination process to all individuals (D025), and to start the process of developing rites for blessing same-sex marriages (C056). Resolution D025 is a response to the restraint passed in 2006 on the election of gay and lesbian bishops in committed same-sex relationships. In the vote by orders, D025 passed the lay and clergy orders in the Diocese of AK, but not without dissent. Rebecca Snow, senior lay deputy from Alaska, co-authored the original version of D025 and was interviewed before the vote. Mary Ellen Harris, an alternate delegate member, describes the day the Convention passed D025 on the Alaska delegation’s blog. The national Integrity (LGBT Episcopal) blog has a news roundup on both measures.
Eagle River/Chugiak Ordinance meeting
We believe that the LGBT community has more support for the equal rights ordinance in Eagle River/Chugiak than most people assume, but we need your help to make sure that the voices of those who support equality are heard. Please join us for an organizing and strategizing meeting in the community room of Jitters Coffee House in Eagle River, 11401 Old Glenn Hwy, on Thursday, July 23, at 6:00 pm and help us create and execute an action plan to let Debbie Ossiander know that she has constituents who support LGBT equality. Invite supportive friends, neighbors, and family members to attend this meeting and learn how they can get involved. Thank you. Equality Works.
Top 4 on Bent Alaska
A big “thank you” to everyone who contributed writing, quotes, links and/or photos for these popular recent articles on Bent Alaska: Sarah Palin’s Top 10 Anti-LGBT Moments, Alaskan Celebrates Gay Pride in India (picked up by the ADN newsreader), Palin and Gays Make the Queerest July 4th Ever, and the top post of the month Kelly’s Story: A Transgender Christian Woman.
Self-Healing & Compassionate Communication Workshop
Are you in need of healing after the marathon of public hearings that have taken place this summer? Are you looking for effective ways to speak and hear compassionately in difficult circumstances? An evening introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers practical tools that help you to generate empathy for self and others, identify what’s at the heart of people’s behaviors, and create simple, profound shifts in awareness and speaking habits. NVC can be used in any kind of interpersonal interaction. Interactive learning invites participants to use their own real-life situations to experience the NVC process. Facilitated by NVC practitioner and teacher Louise Baquero Deerfield. The LGBT Workshop is Monday, July 27, 6:00-8:30 pm, 1057 W. Fireweed, Suite 102, United Way Conference Room. Please pre-register if possible. E-mail: Tiffany McClain.
This Week in LGBT Alaska 7/10/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
RFamily Vacations cruise visits Juneau aboard the MV Norweigan Star, Tuesday 7/14 from 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. SEAGLA
Fairbanks
PFLAG Fairbanks meeting, Sunday 7/12, 4 p.m.
Women’s Motorcycle Ride Night, Thursdays, 6 p.m. meets in the Regal/Goldstream Theater parking lot.
Homer
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” performed live at the Down East Saloon, Mon-Wed 7/13-7/15, at 8 p.m. Tickets $15 at the Homer Bookstore and Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. Show is a benefit for KBFC.
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 Group Night 7/10, 6 p.m. potluck and socializing, 7 p.m. movie. 2nd & 4th Fridays. An Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group event.
Ever Ready in Eagle River playing at the Bear Paw Festival 7/10, 8-10 p.m.
Midnight Soapscum: Goes to Hell! Episode #4, 7/10-7/11, 10:30 p.m. Out North Tickets $15 online or at the door.
Bac’untry Bruthers All-Night dRAGTIME Revue opening for the Dead Milkmen at the Brown Bear in Indian, along Turnagain Arm 7/11, 8 p.m.
Sunday worship and monthly potluck with MCC Anchorage 7/12, 2 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Poetry Parley: works by Walt Whitman, plus local poet Joshua Garcia 7/15, 7 p.m. Free admission, and cake for Poetry Parley’s one-year anniversary. Out North
The PFLAG Anchorage & Identity, Inc. annual picnic at Valley of the Moon Park 7/16.
Palin and Gays Make the Queerest July 4th Ever
Gay Alaskans planned the queerest July 4th in years, with openly LGBT contingents in three Independence Day parades around the state. Then Gov. Palin announced her resignation on Friday, ensuring that all Alaskans – gay and straight – would have a downright queer 4th of July.
That’s So Palin
Palin’s resignation speech gave no real reason for quitting in the middle of her first term as governor, so Alaskans spent the holiday weekend speculating on why she did it. When bloggers wrote about rumors of investigations, Palin’s lawyer issued a statement warning reporters not to investigate and threatened legal action against Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore. Threatening freedom of speech and freedom of the press, on Independence Day? That’s so… Palin.
Meanwhile, LGBT Alaskans in Homer, Anchorage and Ester added a festive touch of queerness to our local Independence Day parades.
Anchorage Something Fierce
Two floats brought LGBT creativity to Alaska’s biggest Independence Day Parade. ‘The Starship Something Fierce’ hovered around the Delaney Park Strip with the Queer Trek crew on the bridge, hosted by the Imperial Court’s Duke & Duchess of Anchorage. Youth 14-19 rode their own float, ‘Let Our Colors Bloom, Youth for Equality’ which was covered with rainbow flags and balloons.
Making History in Homer
The new Homer PFLAG chapter painted a rainbow skiff for the July 4th parade, cut ALASKA rainbow toe-socks from Safeway into colorful arm and leg warmers, added a hula-hooper in the truck, and paraded down Pioneer Avenue carrying signs saying “support”, “advocacy”, “respect”, “peace” and “equality” for LGBTQ people, their families and friends.
“We were received very warmly,” said PFLAG board member and hooper Catriona Lowe. “It felt like people saw us there, understood what we were about, and really appreciated what we were doing.”
This was the first time in Homer’s history that LGBTQ community members, and their friends and allies, marched in a local parade as an openly-gay contingent. Over 20 adults, 6 children, and 3 dogs marched with the float, making it one of the largest groups in attendance.
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) burst onto the Homer scene a few months ago, sponsoring a booth at the health fair and the movie MILK at the Homer Family Theatre. The group decided to further increase its visibility by marching in the 4th of July Parade. Alaska also has chapters of PFLAG in Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage.
Ester Dyke on Bike
Dykes on Bikes (a.k.a. the Thursday Women’s Motorcycle Group) planned to ride in the irreverent Ester Fourth of July Parade, where it’s traditional to bribe the judges.
“This year there was only one Dyke on Bike,” writes Jeanne, coordinator of the women’s ride night, “but with an appropriate bribe (I gave a bottle of Gnarly Head red zinfandel to the judges) I, on behalf of all Dykes on Bikes, won the Most Colorful award.” A dyke giving the judges gnarly head?
And that wraps up our Queerest July 4th Ever!
Photos:
The crew of ‘The Starship Something Fierce’
‘The Starship Something Fierce’ float and truck
Youth float, ‘Let Our Colors Bloom, Youth for Equality’
Anchorage Youth float contingent
PFLAG marching group in the Homer July 4th parade
Homer PFLAG’s rainbow skiff float
Hula-hooper, Catriona Lowe
Dyke on Bike in Ester’s July 4th Parade
Ordinance Hearing #5: Equality Rally and Town Hall, Today at the Library
The Anchorage ordinance is alive and kicking, and today, Tuesday July 7, is Round 5 of the public hearings. Outside, the rockin’ Equality Rally on the Library lawn will have music, food, sign-making supplies and a special town hall meeting. Inside, the testimony on the non-discrimination ordinance continues in the Assembly Chamber on the first floor.
“We encouraged more of our supporters to sign up to testify,” writes Tiffany McClain of Equality Works, “so that opponents of equality do not get the last word in front of the Municipal Assembly. Many of those who signed up still haven’t had an opportunity to speak. It would be great if, once they finally get to the microphone, the Assembly Chamber is filled with friends and allies who are there to support them.”
To make sure you have a seat, arrive early – the doors open at 3 p.m. When you have a seat, you can take breaks and come back inside by giving your ID to the security guards at the entrance.
Don’t get off work until 5 p.m., when the seats will all be taken? Can’t stand to ruin another beautiful summer evening listening to hours of anti-gay bigotry? Not sure why we’re doing this?
Then rock with the rally on the lawn and come to the town hall. “Join the steering committee of Equality Works for a town hall meeting on the front lawn of Loussac Library before the testimony begins” writes Tiffany. “This is your opportunity to learn more about our strategy and future options, and to share your own ideas and concerns.” The Town Hall will be held on the lawn near 36th and Denali Street, at 5:30 p.m.
A Christian Transwoman’s Letter to Mayor Sullivan
Dan Sullivan was sworn in as the new Mayor of Anchorage on July 1, two days before Gov. Palin resigned. Mayor Sullivan has not yet stated where he stands on the issue of LGBT equality, or how he will respond to the equal rights ordinance. Please email Mayor Sullivan and respectfully explain why he should support an ordinance that will help to protect all Anchorage residents from discrimination.
Kelly, a transgender Christian woman who wrote her story for Bent Alaska last month, sent this letter to Mayor Sullivan.
———–
Dear Mayor Sullivan,
I wanted to write and thank you for keeping an open mind concerning the debate that is taking place before the Assembly concerning the rights of LGBT people. My name is Kelly and I split my time between Alaska and Kentucky and overseas. I own rental property in both Eagle River and Wasilla, and work for one of your largest employers in the city/state. Finally, I am a Christian, and I am transgendered.
Although it is my desire to have the Assembly grant us equal protection as afforded to us under the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, it is not the purpose of my letter. Rather, my hope is to assist you in understanding Gender Dysphoria. I write to you because I am deeply saddened by the misinformation that has come from some of the local churches. As a Christian, it hurts to see these false accusations come from an institution that is to represent the One who came to save us.
Transgender individuals do not just wake up one day and wish to change genders. It is a condition that was caused in utero, when the Androgen receptors were blocked from receiving the proper amount of hormones to mirror that of the one’s anatomy. Contrary to the information that was published on SOSAnchorage.org, there is scientific and medical data that backs this argument. Studies done from the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research have found the Bed of Nucleus Stri Terminalis (BSTc – part of the brain that identifies who one is) of a transgendered woman mirrors that of a genetic woman and vice versa for that of a transgender male. Another study, done by the Prince Henry Institute in Melbourne, Australia, found a genetic variation of the human genome that is believe to cause the disruption of the Androgen Receptors in utero. Studies done on drugs such as PCP, DDT, and Diethylstilbestrol (DES) have also found a link to the cause of Gender Dysphoria.
I refer you to a blog post that I wrote, along with the letter I sent to my Municipal Representative, Ms. Debbie Ossiander. It answers many of the questions concerning the cause of Gender Identity, in hopes that someday people will recognize this was not something we created, but something we were born with. Should you have any questions, or wish to learn more about people such as me, you may reach me via this letter.
I recognize the enormous responsibility you have to represent all the citizens of this great city and want you to know, you are in my prayers.
May God bless you in all you do.
Kelly
Bingo, Cruises, Scholarships, and Raffle with a Twist
Gay AK – Notes from LGBT Alaska
Four A’s at PrideFest, Testing Day, and Drag Queen Bingo
A record breaking 200 people attended Drag Queen Bingo this year! The standing room only event won Best Non-Bar Event for Pride Week and raised over $2,800 for the Adam and Steve HIV Prevention program.
Four A’s marched for equality in the Pride Parade, showing that ABT equals “Anything But Tolerant” (photo below.) Mayor Matt Claman got tested on June 27, National HIV Testing Day, as one of 85 Mayors nationwide getting tested in the national campaign.
Pride Foundation’s Raffle With A Twist
An Alaskan non-profit will win $1,000 from Pride Foundation again this year, and another could win the grand prize. What’s the twist?
If your name is drawn on September 15, 2009, they will make a $2,500 donation in your name to your favorite nonprofit. They will also give $1,000 to each of the most named organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Winning nonprofits must have a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. There is no cost to enter the raffle, and no donation required. Enter the raffle here.
ICOAA Applications for Emperor/Empress and Scholarship Program
The application for Emperor and Empress of the ICOAA is due on July 12. Applicants must submit the completed form, required documents, fees, and photo no later than 4 p.m. on 7/12 to the board meeting at Mad Myrna’s. Applications are available online and at Mad Myrna’s or The Raven. The application for the 2009 Scholarship Program is also available for download. The Scholarship application is due on July 31.
Gay Cruises Visit Juneau
SEAGLA posted this summer’s schedule of gay and lesbian cruise groups visiting Juneau:
- 07/14/2009 RFamily tour group visits Juneau aboard the MV Norweigan Star, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- 08/16/2009 Pied Piper tour group visits Juneau 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. on the M/V Celebrity Millennium. SEAGLA Reception at a local venue, 5-7 p.m. Plan to be there!
- 08/26/2009 RSVP Vacations visits Juneau aboard the MS Westerdam, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- 09/22/2009 Olivia Cruises visits Juneau aboard the MS Veendam, 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- 09/27/2009 Aquafest Gay tour group visits Juneau aboard the MS Zaandam, noon to 10:30 p.m.
