Sunday, 6 October 2013 – 5:19 PM
| Comments Off on A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013
Bent Alaska’s blog will continue in hiatus indefinitely; but the Bent Alaska Facebook Group on Facebook is thriving — join us! A long-overdue update from Bent Alaska’s editor.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008 – 4:18 PM
| Comments Off on Video of the Anchorage Prop 8 Protest
Check out the video of the Anchorage, Alaska ‘Join the Impact’ rally protesting the passage of Prop 8! The rally was held on Nov. 15 at the Atwood Building, outside Gov. Palin’s local office.
Thanks to Stef for taking this video. Watch his other clips of the Anchorage protest.
About 110 supporters of same-sex marriage protested Prop 8 in front of Sarah Palin’s Anchorage office on Saturday, Nov. 15, driving from as far as Seward and Wasilla to participate in southcentral Alaska’s Join the Impact rally.
Two men carried signs with photos of their California wedding, and two women brought copies of their marriage certificate.
The first group of protestors arrived at 9:30 a.m., to coincide with the 10:30 west coast/ 1:30 east coast protests in the nationwide event. The main Anchorage protest began at noon.
“The turnout and energy at the demonstration today was great,” said organizer Stef Gingrich. “I thought it really took off when people started marching and chanting. It was very inspiring… we got a lot of good reactions.”
The march was spontaneous, perhaps an effort to stay warm in the light snow and hail. The protestors marched from the Atwood Building to Fourth Avenue, carrying a big rainbow flags. They marched through Town Square to the park in front of the old city hall, then took a long detour to the current Anchorage City Hall. They chanted as they walked, and two marchers beat on Eskimo drums. When they returned to the starting point, the protestors set off again on a longer circle.
Several who could not attend sent messages of support, saying they were ‘there in spirit.’ They hung posters in the windows of their home or car.
We also received a message from Scotland. “A small group in Edinburgh, Scotland march
ed and protested outside the US Consulate General in solidarity with our friends in the US,” wrote Rev. Johnathan, former pastor of MCC Anchorage. “Afterwards a few of us had coffee and I shared with them the political climate in Alaska. We are with you!”
Photos and News
Alaska contributed to the nationwide protest, and we have the photos to prove it!
The Anchorage Daily News wrote a story about it, although they underestimated the number of protestors:
“In Anchorage, between 50 and 100 people gathered in front of the downtown Atwood Building holding signs in support of same-sex marriage. Some chanted “Gay, straight, black, white – marriage is an equal right.” The group marched to nearby City Hall, then back again to the Atwood Building, which houses many state offices, including the governor’s when Sarah Palin is in Anchorage.
“No citizens have the right to vote away other citizen’s rights,” said organizer Stef Gingrich, in a later phone interview.
“In Fairbanks, about 30 people showed up in below-freezing temperatures and stood in front of City Hall for about 45 minutes, said organizer Kristen Magann.”
Both Channel 11 and Channel 2 reported the protest on the local news. (Does anyone have links for these clips?)
Photos of the Fairbanks City Hall protest are posted on the Facebook page Protest Prop 8 in Fairbanks, and the Daily News-Miner has a story.
Our protests were also news outside of Alaska. The Denver Post mentioned both the Anchorage and Fairbanks protests, and the Los Angeles Examiner linked to the ADN story.
Were you there? Share your story of the protest in the comments.
Photo credits: top – Kirt & Roger, middle two – Kristina Vaughan, bottom – Koala. Thanks!
Thursday, 13 November 2008 – 3:05 PM
| 18 Comments
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight citizens will take to the streets of Anchorage and Fairbanks on Saturday Nov. 15, 2008 to protest the passage of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage amendment, and the lack of LGBT equal rights in Alaska.
Tens of thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and our allies have taken to the streets to show outrage with the outcome of California’s Proposition 8. Prop 8 is a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage, taking away a right that was granted before the vote. Same-sex marriage bans also passed in Arizona and Florida. The outcome of these propositions has angered the national gay community and our supporters. Many feel as if they are second-class citizens, but the fight is not over.
On Saturday, November 15, the LGBT community and their supporters will take to the streets in what could be the largest organized protest since the Civil Rights Movement. To date, more than 250,000 individuals have pledged to take part in the nationwide event and descend upon the City Halls, State Capitols and the Nation’s Capitol to make their voices heard. Signs, posters and numerous websites have already been created and the word is spreading quickly throughout the nation. JoinTheImpact.webpaint.com lists protest locations in all 50 States and the District of Columbia.
The message is simple, yet profound: Equal Rights for All.
The organizers of this nationwide event stress that these will be peaceful demonstrations. “Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are United States citizens equal in mind, body and spirit and deserving of full equality under the law.”
The Protest / Movement is scheduled to take place across the nation at the same time: 1:30 PM Eastern, 12:30 PM Central, 11:30 AM Mountain and 10:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, November 15th, 2008. Those interested in attending this historic event may find their local protest location by visiting: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com
ANCHORAGE
WHAT: Prop. 8 Protest – Equal Rights
WHO: LGBT and straight citizens who support Equal Rights
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008; at 12 Noon*
WHERE: 550 W 7th AVE, ATWOOD Building
*We are not the only city holding the protest at a different time. But if you feel that it is important to be there at 9:30, then go and make your voice be heard! (and stay for the noon rally if you can.) Thanks.
FAIRBANKS
WHAT: Prop. 8 Protest – Equal Rights
WHO: LGBT and straight citizens who support Equal Rights
Thursday, 13 November 2008 – 1:58 PM
| 11 Comments
UPDATE: The organizers called the protest for NOON, and sent the press release to the media. We are not the only city holding the protest at a different time. But if you feel passionate about being there at 9:30 or cannot join us at noon, then go and make your voice be heard, more power to you! (and send the photos to Bent Alaska.) Thank you.
On Saturday November 15th, people in cities all around the U.S. are coming together to take a stand for equality. To date, more than 250,000 have made the pledge to take part in this national protest. Join the movement! For more information visit http://jointheimpact.com/
The Anchorage Protest
We are protesting in front of the Atwood Building, 550 W 7th Ave. between E and F Streets. Please bring a sign and DRESS WARM. Spread the word!
If we follow the national movement and hold our protest to coincide with all the others, we would hold it at 9:30 a.m. in Alaska. However, the last time we held a protest early on a Saturday morning, people said the same thing but did not show up early! Many showed up around noon, after the early group left. So this time, maybe we should do what works here and call it for noon, or compromise on 11 a.m., despite the national timing.
Many gay and lesbian couples from Alaska were married in California this summer, and many more want the option to marry. Alaskans held several No on Prop 8 fundraisers, wrote to friends and relatives in California urging them to vote No, and a few traveled there to work on the No on 8 campaign.
The passage of California’s anti-gay marriage amendment is also personal to gay and lesbian Alaskans because we experienced similar votes. Gay marriages were banned in Alaska by a constitutional amendment passed in 1998 after a mean-spirited campaign by our opponents, and our fellow Alaskans voted to take away our Court-granted family employment benefits in the advisory vote of April 2007. (The benefit vote was non-binding, and the benefits remain, for now.)
Twice in the last decade, we lived through months of public debate on whether we are citizens or abominations. Twice, a majority of our neighbors and coworkers voted against our humanity. We struggled to remain positive, productive residents of a state that does not consider us ‘equal under the law.’
Alaskans will protest the passage of Prop 8 on Nov. 15, in support of marriage equality and in solidarity with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities protesting at the same time all across this country. Please join us!
Gov. Sarah Palin wants a federal ban on same-sex marriage, but gay and lesbian Alaskans support the right to get married.
An unknown number of gay and lesbian couples from Alaska have been legally married in California since the state Supreme Court struck down their ban on same-sex marriage. Although not valid in Alaska, the marriages are recognized by several states and countries.
Will the right to marry be taken away by California’s Proposition 8?
When the California Court granted gay and lesbian couples the right to marry on May 5, LGBT Alaskans celebrated the news.
“LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT,” Shelly commented, and Koukla wrote, “Finally! I would love to be in San Francisco tonight.”
Alaskans Together for Equality and the ACLU of Alaska gave official statements supporting the decision, PFLAG Anchorage and Identity, Inc. added their statements, and many LGBT Alaskans sent their personal reactions on the impact of this historic event.
“It is a great day for humanity that this important state Supreme Court acknowledged that gay and lesbian Americans are due the same rights under the constitution as other Americans,” said Tim Stallard of Fairbanks, writing for Alaskans Together.
We knew the decision would be challenged, and Alaskans began donating money to support marriage equality.
“This good news definitely impacts us personally as Alaskans,” said Marsha Buck of PFLAG Juneau. “Way to go California! I’m sending off several personal checks to make certain this decision is not overturned in November.”
“I intend to give more money to our side in that campaign than to any in my life,” said Sara Boesser, author of Silent Lives: How High a Price?
A few weeks after the decision, the Juneau Pride Chorus collected donations for Equality For All during “Songs for the Soul,” their 10th Anniversary Spring Concert.
Alaskans also held two Equality For All: NO on 8 fundraisers and set up a state donation page for the NO on 8 campaign.
The Anchorage LGBT community Celebrated the Summer of Love with rumba dance lessons and a gay and lesbian newlywed game at Mad Myrna’s.
Juneau residents Jumped the Broom in Solidarity and Celebration of Love and Marriage at a wedding party hosted by a lesbian couple who were married (again) in California, eighteen years after their original non-legal wedding.
Many individual Alaskans donated to NO on 8, and Elias Rojas registered an Alaska Fundraising page to track our contributions.
“Why should Alaskans care what happens in California?” Elias wrote in his letter to Alaska’s LGBT community. “Simply put, [Prop 8] will not only eliminate the right to marry by same-sex couples in California . . . but it will also be an extreme step backwards for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community’s efforts to achieve civil equality in Alaska and across the country.”
Prop. 8 is unfair, unnecessary and wrong. Special interest groups behind Prop 8 have engaged in a deceptive campaign to confuse voters. Nearly every major newspaper in California, and a broad range of groups and leaders representing teachers, nurses, seniors, business and labor, oppose Proposition 8.
The polls are close. We can save this basic human right, for California and for all of us.
Support marriage equality – Ask your friends and relatives in California to vote NO on 8 on Tuesday, and donate to NO on 8 today: Alaska Fundraising page for NO on 8.
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This post is in honor of Write to Marry Day. Please join bloggers around the country and around the world on Wednesday, October 29 to blog in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples and against California’s Proposition 8.
Check out the many wonderful Write to Marry posts listed on Mombian.
Here is the political poll you’ve been waiting for, the big questions of our time: Will LGBT Alaskans vote for McCain and Palin, or for Obama and Biden? For Stevens or Begich? For Berkowitz or Young? Who do we support, and by how much? Inquiring minds want to know. (Well, I want to know – don’t you?)
Answer the 3 question poll in the right hand column here on Bent Alaska and we’ll see how the community votes. 60-40 for Obama? 70-30 for Begich? 80-20 for Young? (kidding!) Make your predictions below for how our community will vote.
There have been dozens of political messages on our email lists and newsletters. What does all this talk boil down to, what are the numbers? Take the poll, send the link to your LGBT friends in Alaska, and come back Friday for the results!
The very real consequences of DADT repeal; seeking survivor benefits for same-sex partner of Alaska shooting victim; waiting on SCOTUS decision about whether it will hear Prop 8 case; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
In this month’s “Ask Lambda Legal” column, Lambda Legal answers a question about the federal government’s longstanding ban against donations of blood from men who have sex with men (MSM).
Alaska Pride Conference 2012 kicks off on October 5 with a First Friday showing at Tref.Punkt Studio of Love is Love, a photographic exhibit of LGBT couples from across the state.
United for marriage: Light the way to justice. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26–27, in two cases about freedom to marry. Please join us on Tuesday, March 26, at the federal courthouse in Anchorage (7th & C) in a circle united for equality.
Pariah, a critically acclaimed film about a 17-year-old African-American woman embracing her lesbian identity, will screen at UAA on Friday, November 2, and will be followed by a discussion on acceptance in honor of Mya Dale. The event is free and open to the public.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight citizens will take to the streets of Anchorage and Fairbanks on Saturday Nov. 15, 2008 to protest the passage of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage amendment, and the lack of LGBT equal rights in Alaska.
