A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

• Arctic Heat (Jan.) – TLFMC comes out of hibernation to choose the next Bear and Leather titleholders.
• Celebration of Change (April) – RAW’s ‘break-up’ performance celebrates women, art, music and springtime. UPDATE: changed to JUNE for 2009.
• Femme Fatale (end of April) – ICOAA’s Juneau benefit for 4 A’s closes the legislative session.
• Day of Silence (April 25) & Pride Prom (April in Anchorage, Feb. in Fairbanks) – Gay/Straight Student Alliances (GSA’s) participate in National Day of Silence, and Pride Prom graduates teens in style.
• Pride Picnic (May, Memorial Day) – The Picnic and BBQ celebrate unity and the beginning of summer.
• Juneau Pride Chorus spring concert (May) – An evening of music, food and dance. UPDATE: The Pride Chorus concert was in February this year.
• PrideFest (June) – The summer solstice parade and festival displays Gay Pride in downtown Anchorage & Fairbanks.
• Coronation (August) – ICOAA’s late summer extravaganza invests the new Imperial Court.
• Pride Conference (October) – Identity’s back-to-school conference is inspired by National Coming Out Day.
• World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) – Four A’s and IAA recognize World AIDS Day with red ribbons and candlelight vigils.

Anchorage, Alaska has been named by the Advocate Magazine as one of the “top five emerging cities for gays and lesbians.”

Yes, Anchorage.

Gary Gates, a researcher from UCLA, compared Census data from the years 2000 and 2006. He wanted to see which of the country’s 100 largest cities had the biggest growth in the proportion of same-sex couples to all couples. Anchorage jumped from number 74 to 54, with 7.54 same-sex couples per one thousand households, earning a place among the top five emerging cities. 

All five of the cities are located in conservative parts of the country. The other four are Plano, Texas; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Jacksonville, Florida. 

The study suggests that more gay and lesbian couples are moving out of the progressive but expensive mega-cities and into less popular cities that have better job and housing markets. The more affordable cities tend to be in conservative areas.

According to the Advocate, gays and lesbians move to Anchorage for the good balance between cultural diversity and outdoor activities. It’s big enough to have gay bars and a community center, small enough to have access to nature. It also has jobs, and a growing economy, which the Advocate didn’t mention.

The other surprise is this description of Anchorage: “Culturally the city has a hip Pacific Northwest feel similar to Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Canada.”

Anchorage is “hip?”

by E. Ross

Rev. Johnathan Jones is leaving MCC Anchorage, and the church is hosting a farewell potluck in his honor. 

“I have had a wonderful and rewarding time working with our church and community,” said Rev. Jones. “However, it is now time for me to move on.” 

Johnathan worked hard to build the church and the gay community during his four years as pastor of MCC Anchorage, a gay and lesbian-inclusive church that welcomes everyone. In addition to leading MCC, he spoke at UAA, lobbied politicians, and was a board member of several LGBT organizations, including PrideFest and Identity. His good works and admirable qualities are the subjects of an earlier post, Appreciating Rev. Jones.

“We are very sad to have him go, but wish him well in his new endeavors,” said Edie Bailey, MCC board member. “He has been a very dynamic personality in Anchorage and will certainly leave a hole in the church and in the community.”

To thank him for his contributions and wish him well in his next location, MCC invites the community to Johnathan’s last Sunday service on May 25. The service begins at 2 p.m., and the potluck will follow at 3 p.m.

In June, MCC Anchorage will begin the next stage in it’s development. “We are going to have a tough time without a minister,” said Edie. “We have lined up some guest speakers and pastors, but we need everyone to pitch in.”

During this transition, the board will need help with singing and reading scripture at the Sunday service, bringing refreshments and paper goods, and preparing the food and program for the Thursday Night Soul Food service.

Johnathan’s last day at MCC is May 31, and he will be leaving the country soon after. “A great opportunity has come up for me and I have decided to pursue it,” he said. “My visa expires this year, so it seems God has been planning my next step.”

“I will always have fond memories of my first Parish.”

Add your good wishes to Rev. Johnathan Jones in the comment section:

It’s true: Elton John is performing in Alaska!

In Anchorage, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 5. There is a six-ticket purchase limit, and prices range from $56.50 to $116.50. Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, Charge-by-Phone at 562-4800, Fred Meyer Ticketmaster outlets and Sullivan Arena box office.

In Fairbanks, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3 and will be available at Fred Meyer Ticketmaster outlets, the Carlson Center box office, 456-4800, and Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are set at $75 and $115, not including fees.

“The ICP Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball was a huge success. Prince Cory Crowder and Princess Rhonda Sheer stepped down, making way for our new Prince and Princess, Joseph Williams and April Rains. Fun was had by all, and the entertainment was awesome. Cory and Rhonda put on a fabulous show.”

 ~ From Mary Bess of the Imperial Court of All Alaska (ICOAA)

It’s a pirate’s life for Celebration of Change this year, and the Pirates of the Lesibbean have captured the Wilda Marston Theater for the annual women’s performance. 

The show begins with a rowdy pirate song and dance number with music from the Pirates of the Caribbean 3. “Plenty of swabbing of the poop deck and stage combat,” said Leslie Ward, who choreographed the scene. “Dancers ‘capture’ performers and ‘toss them into the brig’ (backstage).”

Ward will perform two solo dances later in the show, jazz/modern and hip hop style. Other performers include EverReady, Barbara Wish and Stray Dogma. There will be dance, song, spoken word and comedy, and Radical Arts for Women (RAW) will announce the winner of the Radical Woman Award.

The Bazaar before and after the show includes visual art, information and snacks.

“I haven’t seen the rehearsals at all,” said Laura Carpenter, Coordinator of RAW and Treasurer/P.R. for Celebration. “I’m the behind the scenes person this year. The show will just happen like magic for me that night. I’m excited about it.”

Carpenter has been involved with Celebration of Change for five years and performed in several shows. As Coordinator of RAW, she oversaw the distribution of $2,000 in grants in 2007 to feminist and lesbian artists.

“Celebration is usually a full house, but not sold out,” said Laura. “I like it that way because I don’t like turning people away.” The $15 tickets are available before the show at Metro and the GLCCA, and are the same price at the door Saturday night. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.

Celebration of Change is the annual fundraiser for Radical Arts for Women, a Lesbian and Feminist philanthropic organization that funds Alaskan women art projects. In addition to Celebration and the Radical Woman Award, RAW sponsors a short story contest for women in Alaska. This year’s winning entry is posted on the RAW web site.

So hoist a lavendar skull and crossbones, and come to the Wilda Marston Theater in Loussac Library for Celebration of Change – Pirates of the Lesibbean!

• Johnathan left Australia in 2004 when he was only 24 to accept a position as the pastor of MCC-Anchorage. 
• He had already experienced a divorce from a heterosexual marriage and was a physical and sexual abuse survivor.   

• He threw himself into the work and began building the church.
• He labors to lead a service that has wide appeal, because the congregation is very diverse. 
• His sermons make positive references to the GLBT community. 
• He quotes scripture that dispels the notion that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible.
• He made MCC known in the community. 

• He works on the Identity Helpline and fields questions concerning homosexuality and the Bible. 
• He is Co-Chair of the PrideFest 2008 Committee and leads the Gay Memorial & MCC Pride Service. 
• He accepts numerous speaking opportunities at UAA and in the community at large. 
• He gives interviews on radio talk shows about homosexuality and religion.  
• He speaks out through Compass pieces in the Anchorage Daily News.  
• He is often interviewed on TV when there is an issue in the news about the GLBT community.  
• He lobbied the Senate and Congress in DC concerning the Matthew Shephard Act. (Equal Opportunity Law Enforcement Act and Equal Non-Discrimination Act.)  
• He personally met with Senator Murkowski to discuss the bills. (She did vote for the Matthew Shephard Act.)

• Johnathan is a very personable young man who laughs easily and loves deeply.  
• His sincerity is immediately apparent to all who meet him.  
• He shares many of his life’s experiences with the congregation, demonstrating that one can survive all sorts of discrimination, prejudice, and abuse and still be a Christian.  
• He is deeply loved by his congregation.