Articles in Fairbanks
This Week in LGBT Alaska 1/9/09
Check out this week’s events from Alaska GLBT News.
For full listings, news and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.
The deadline for the RAW Short Story Contest is next Thursday, Jan. 15. Open to all women living in Alaska. The pieces must be fiction, between 250 and 5,000 words, and contain some lesbian content. For prizes and guidelines, see Radical Arts for Women.
EVENTS
Juneau
Miniature Golf New Year Social 1/10, 4 p.m. at the JACC. Contact SEAGLA.
Fairbanks
PFLAG’s January Meeting 1/10, 4 p.m.
The Masquerade Ball (show & dance) 1/10, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. dancing after. Join ICOAA at the Carlson Center.
Anchorage
Sarah Gavit will bring the message at MCC’s Sunday service 1/11, 2 p.m.
PrideFest planning meeting 1/12, 6 p.m. Join Identity and ICOAA in planning Anchorage PrideFest 2009, set for June 14-21.
Step by Step with Rev. Van Manen 1/15, 6: 30 p.m. Fellowship at 6:30 p.m. and class at 7 p.m. Metropolitan Community Church.
National Drag History Month
January 2009 marks the first-ever celebration of National Drag History Month!
“This month-long event salutes the richness of drag culture and pays tribute to the courageous queens & kings who have fought for equality while inspiring, educating & entertaining us all,” according to Logo, the sponsors of Drag History Month.
Come celebrate Drag History Month in Fairbanks at ICOAA‘s Masquerade Ball, January 10 at the Carlson Center, 8 p.m. The evening includes a drag show, food, and a contest awarding $100 for the best mask.
Please Don’t Divorce Alaska’s Married-in-California Couples
The “Yes on 8” campaign has filed legal papers to nullify all 18,000 gay and lesbian marriages performed in California between May and November of 2008.
In response, dozens of families added wedding and holiday photos to a slideshow of same-sex couples who will be divorced if the anti-gay effort succeeds.
The California Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of Prop 8 in the spring.
The “Please Don’t Divorce” Project
In response to the threat to gay and lesbian families, The Courage Campaign created an online slideshow of same-sex married couples, along with friends and relatives who support them.
“It’s time to put a face to the 18,000 couples facing forcible divorce by the state of California. To put a face to marriage equality,” says the web site of the community photo project.
Dozens of families contributed wedding photos with the message “Please Don’t Divorce Us” and holiday pictures of their children, pets and Christmas trees.
Other supporters sent pictures saying, “Please Don’t Divorce Our Friends” or “Please Don’t Divorce Love.”
Gay Alaskans Married in California
There is no residency requirement for marrying in California, and same-sex couples from Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau were married there, along with couples from other states and countries.
Mo and Lin of Juneau were legally married in San Francisco on Sept. 15, eighteen years after their original, non-legal wedding. Juneau residents formed a “human arch of love and acceptance” for the couple to walk through during the October reception, and the party raised money for Equality California.
At the Anchorage rally protesting the passage of Prop 8, a gay couple put their wedding photo on their signs, and a lesbian couple brought copies of their Palm Springs marriage certificate. Both couples were interviewed by local television reporters at the Nov. 15 rally.
The same day at the Fairbanks City Hall protest, two young men posed for a photo with their sign: “Just Married, San Francisco, Sept 8, 2008.”
The state of Alaska does not recognize these marriages, but they are recognized in at least four states, Canada, and several other countries.
Please don’t divorce them!
View the pictures “Please Don’t Divorce Us” and add your wedding photo, or a photo in support of your married friends.
– Photo: Lori & Artemis with their California marriage certificate, at the Anchorage protest against Prop 8. (photo by Koala)
Best of 2008?
2008 was a busy year for Alaska’s GLBT community. In addition to all the big annual events, and the fundraising and social activities, we were also involved in local and national political issues.
What were the best GLBT happenings in Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and statewide during 2008? What was your favorite GLBT group’s most successful event?
Send in your “Bests” and I’ll list them in a new post next week.
(Not sure what we did? Look back through the Bent Alaska archive of stories and photos for ideas.)
Lesbian Singer Performs Coming Out Song at UAF
What does a lesbian Jewish Russian-emigre songwriter do when she comes out to her mother? She writes a song about it.
Irina Rivkin, a singer/songwriter from California, and her sister Dr. Inna Rivkin, of Fairbanks, performed Irina’s coming out song “Ya Eyo Lublu” at her Nov. 8 concert in UAF’s Schaible Auditorium.
The concert was sponsored by the UAF Women’s Center and the Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity.
A week later, Irina sang her bilingual love song for the anti-Prop 8 rally outside Fairbanks City Hall on Nov. 15, part of the nation-wide protest after California’s Prop 8 narrowly passed and same-sex marriage was rescinded.
“In a time of hope for change to come,” wrote Irina two days after the election, “I’m taking a plane from CA to Fairbanks tonight” to perform and join the protest.
Irina returns to Alaska every summer, to visit her family and perform her music. She plans to visit again in 2009.
Right-wing Pastor Invited to Bless Obama’s Inauguration
President-Elect Barack Obama chose Rick Warren, an ultra-conservative pastor who is anti-gay and anti-choice, to give the invocation at his inauguration in January.
Why? Because he wants to include all voices, all Americans.
So which LGBT leader was invited to participate the inauguration to represent our inclusion? No one.
No openly-gay leader was given a role in the ceremony. We are represented by . . . a GLBT marching band during the entertainment.
Which leads to the next item:
Protest for Equality
Barack Obama made promises to the LGBT community. He promised to help:
repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA),repeal the anti-gay military policy Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,strengthen Hate Crimes Legislation, andpass a fully inclusive Federal ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act.)
Another national Join the Impact protest is scheduled for Saturday, Jan 10, 2009, to make our voices heard and remind him of his commitments.
I heard from a few Alaskans who said “Let’s Do It.” Are you with us?
Drag*d Through the Ages raises $2,000 for IAA
Cross-dressing Vikings in Fairbanks?
On December 5, Drag*d Through the Ages performed a sold-out show in UAF’s Woodcenter Ballroom as a benefit for Interior AIDS Association.
“I’m quite proud of everyone!” wrote Leah, an organizer for Drag*d. “No one fell off stage, and everyone did wonderfully.”
The program was packed with drag kings and queens in scenes representing human history, from cavemen to future fashion models.
ICOAA Duke Liz and Dutchess Brittany made a special appearance as Spankers for the Spank-a-Thon, where audience members paid one dollar per spank on the cast member of their choice.
The Spank-a-Thon made over $300.
Local funk band The Good Daze played for the dance following the show.
The UAF GLBT Alliance sponsored the benefit. They are considering another show in the spring.
A review of Drag*d Through the Ages is posted on The Ester Republic, and Jesse posted this great set of photos from the show.
Good work, Drag*d!
This Week in LGBT Alaska 12/12/08
Check out this week’s events from Alaska GLBT News. For full listings, news and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.
The movie MILK opens today (Friday, Dec. 12) in Anchorage at the Century 16. Don’t support the Century/Cinemark CEO who donated $9,999 to Prop 8! Boycott Century’s concessions! Eat before you go and only buy the ticket, no food or drinks. Then take the Milk Challenge!
EVENTS
Fairbanks
Jeff’s Black and White Solstice Party 12/13, 9 p.m.
PFLAG’s December Meeting 12/14, 4 p.m.
Anchorage
MILK opens at the Century 16 on 12/12. Take the Milk Challenge!
A Powerful Noise at the Anchorage Museum, 12/13 at 6 p.m. (AIFF)
Half-Life 12/13 at 5:30 p.m. at The Bear Tooth and 12/14 at 4:45 p.m. at Fireweed Theater. (AIFF)
ICOAA’s SnowBall Winter Wonderland at Mad Myrna’s 12/13, door opens at 8:30, show at 9 p.m.
Meet MCC pastoral candidate Rev. Norman Van Manen, 12/14 at the 2 p.m. service.
The Men’s Club Christmas Party 12/14, 5-10 p.m. RSVP.
Homo for the Holidays
Celebrate the holidays gaily with Alaska’s LGBT community!
In Anchorage, start celebrating this weekend with ICOAA‘s Snow Ball Winter Wonderland on Dec 13, and an early Christmas Party with The Last Frontier Men’s Club on Dec 14.
Enjoy Christmas events at Mad Myrna’s, including the “Toys for Nots” Fundraiser on Dec 19, and Miss MeMe’s Gospel Christmas on Dec 20. On Christmas Eve, be filled with the holiday spirit by MCC‘s Carol and Recital Service. The Community Center will be open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Christmas Day, thanks to Mike, and cookies, muffins and sodas will be available.
Wrap up the season with New Year’s Eve at Mad Myrna’s and the New Year’s Day Cookie Exchange at the GLCCA.
In Fairbanks, don’t miss Jeff’s Solstice Party this Saturday. In Palmer, put it on the calendar to rock with Ever Ready on New Year’s Eve.
Do you know a GLBT holiday event in Alaska that isn’t mentioned? Tell us about it!
This Week in LGBT Alaska 12/5/08
Check out this week’s events from Alaska GLBT News. For full listings, news and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.
The Anchorage International Film Festival runs December 5-14, 2008. Over 150 films will be shown, and there are four Gay or AIDS themed films.
Dream Boy (photo right), Queer Duck, and A Powerful Noise are showing this week (details listed below) and Half-Life shows next week.
Watch the trailers for Dream Boy and Queer Duck here.
December 10 is International Human Rights Day. Don’t call in sick to work, call in “gay” and spend the day helping your favorite Alaskan LGBTA non-profit. Join the national reverse boycott Day Without A Gay!
EVENTS
Juneau
Domestic Partnership Planning Seminar 12/9, 5:15 p.m. Free. See the flyer for details.
Fairbanks
Drag*d Through the Ages, a benefit show for IAA, 12/5, 8:15 p.m. $10 at the door, $8 for students/military. Dance party after the show.
Anchorage
Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) 12/5-12/14
Ever Ready in Anchorage 12/5 & 12/6, 7-11 p.m. at the AMVETS Post 49.
AlaskaRainbows Dinner 12/6, 5 p.m. at Chili’s.
TLFMC Cookie Exchange 12/6, 7 p.m. and Hump Day Happy Hour at The Raven 12/10 & 12/24 from 5-7 p.m.
Queer Duck, with Sex Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll, at The Bear Tooth, Sunday 12/7, 8:30 p.m. (AIFF)
Meet MCC pastoral candidate Rev. Norman Van Manen 12/7 & 12/14 at the 2 p.m. service, and 12/11 at 6:30 p.m. for Thursday night Soul Food. See MCC for details.
A Powerful Noise at the Anchorage Museum, 12/8 at 7:30 p.m. and 12/13 at 6 p.m. (AIFF)
Dream Boy at The Bear Tooth, and after-screening party with Director James Bolton at Mad Myrna’s, Wednesday 12/10, 7:45 p.m. movie, 10 p.m. party. (photo above)
