Articles in Juneau
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.)
Anchorage & Juneau Wear Red on World AIDS Day
The Four A’s “Painted the Town Red” for World AIDS Day again this year in Anchorage and Juneau.
Over 60,000 red ribbons were distributed the week before World AIDS Day. Volunteers in Anchorage waved to morning traffic and handed out more red ribbons on December 1.
Fifty-five people came to the Anchorage Candlelight Vigil for World AIDS Day and read a non-denominational prayer in memory of those lost to AIDS.
After the vigil, about 70 people attended a free showing of Rent and a panel discussion on local resources, held at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater.
For the third year, Four A’s staff and volunteers waved signs at major intersections during the morning commute. They stood on the corners of Northern Lights/Minnesota and Northern Lights/New Seward from 7:30 a.m. until around 9.
“A lot of people waved and honked,” wrote Chrissy, the Director of Development at Four A’s. “We usually get a positive response.”
After the sign waving, they gave away red ribbons at City Hall, Providence Hospital, the 5th Avenue Mall, Northway Mall and UAA.
In Juneau, free HIV testing was offered during the day at the University, and over 40 people attended the Candlelight Vigil.
The Four A’s thanks everyone who helped to Paint the Town Red this year.
“Remember to wear your red ribbons not only on World AIDS Day,” wrote Chrissy, “but throughout the entire year.”
Gay AK Odds & Ends
Recent LGBT Alaska-related items on the web:
Beauty Queen Sissy
“Among closed-minded straights, [sissy] is a devastating insult,” says the Advocate Magazine. So they give The Sissy Awards to the “biggest irritants” of the year. The winners of the 2008 award: Sarah Palin and John McCain. The announcement lists the anti-gay positions of the former running mates, including Gov. Palin’s refusal to sign the National Coming Out Day proclamation submitted by Alaskans Together. The Advocate points out that “Anita Bryant was also a former beauty queen and … a TV-ready smile can hide lots of homophobia.”
Gay & Lesbian Alaskans Do Our Part
Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Family is a new awareness campaign to encourage LGBT families to consider adopting children. HRC unveiled the effort as part of its “All Children – All Families” initiative.
Gay and lesbian parents are currently raising 4% of the nation’s adopted children, about 65,500 kids. The highest number of these families are in New England, the mid-Atlantic and the West Coast – and the highest percentages of gay and lesbian adoptive parents are found in Alaska, California, Massachusetts and New Mexico, according to PageOneQ.
More Gay Tourists in Juneau
RSVP Vacations announced a new all-gay Seattle to Alaska cruise on Holland America’s ms Westerdam, on August 23 – 30, 2009. The cruise departs from Seattle and sails to scenic Glacier Bay, with stops in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. The Seattle departure means they won’t be partying at Myrna’s with us in Anchorage, but SEAGLA will have more gay tourists to meet and greet.
From the Fringe
The Anchorage Daily News posted a Compass editorial by the president of a fringe Alaska Family group, complaining that far right issues, like anti-choice and anti-gay legislation, are not “fringe” issues. He is “willing to fall on the sword” for these causes, but does not consider this “radical.” To prove his (il)logic, he compares putting anti-gay discrimination into the U.S. Constitution to ending slavery in the British Empire!
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)
Candlelight Vigils and Celebrations for World AIDS Day in Alaska
Today is World AIDS Day. Four A’s in Anchorage and Juneau, and IAA in Fairbanks, are holding candlelight vigils and celebrations of life tonight in honor of the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.
In Anchorage, join Four A’s at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater for the Annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil at 6 p.m., and a free showing of Rent at 7 p.m.
In Juneau, Four A’s is sponsoring Free HIV testing at the UAS Cafeteria from 12 to 3 p.m. and a Candlelight Vigil and Reception at the Baranof Hotel, at 5:30 p.m.
In Fairbanks, Interior AIDS Association (IAA) is celebrating their 20th anniversary and World AIDS Day at the UAF Salisbury Theatre with dance and theater performances at 6:30 p.m., followed by a candlelight vigil at 8:30 p.m.
While we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done!
This Week in GLBT Alaska 11/28/08
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.
Monday, December 1, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, when individuals and organizations around the world bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.
AIDS organizations in Anchorage and Fairbanks are holding candlelight vigils on Dec. 1, along with celebrations of life.
Juneau
Cosmic Bowling at the Juneau Bowling Center with SEAGLA, 11/29, 8-10 p.m.
Fairbanks
IAA‘s 20th Anniversary & World AIDS Day 12/1, 6:30 p.m. at the UAF Salisbury Theatre.
Anchorage
Four A’s World AIDS Day Vigil & “Rent” 12/1, 6 p.m. at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater.
Human Arch Reflects Love and Acceptance for All Families
“Jump the Broom” celebrated love and acceptance with over 130 supporters on Oct 5th in Juneau, and $1300 was raised to help keep marriage legal and equal in California. Our $1300 doubled into $2600 when it was matched by another donor on arrival in California. Beyond that, some of you donated on line, and the total generated was well over $3000.
Thanks to so many of you who came hours early in your party clothes and helped set up. To those of you who created yummy potluck items, brought fabrics, table cloths, silver party favors, and rainbows galore, thank you.
It was truly a lifetime highlight walking through the human arch of love and acceptance. To all the broom jumpers, all the celebratory dancers and arch makers, your love and support are tenderly held.
Some have stopped us on the street since, asking if we can make this an annual activity. It’s not a bad idea to celebrate and be reminded of love, acceptance and equality on a regular basis!
Sadly, our nation lost the right for all couples to marry in California on Nov. 4 with the passage of Proposition 8. (Stay tuned at equalityforall.com, hrc.org, and pfaw.org for ways you can help fight this discrimination.)
So we may need to do that arch of love and acceptance again and again, letting it grow until all are included and equal in our nation. If any of you want to plan the next one in Juneau, or one for your community, we’d be happy to share our expertise. Perhaps we can have arches of love and support all over our state in 2009, or all over our nation.
Eighteen years ago, when we first married in California with no legal significance or recognition, our Dads were still alive and one of them said, “What we wish for you, is that barriers will fall away for you and people like you, and that you may have all the love you have for one another reflected back to you, all the days of your lives.”
His words were a cherished wedding gift. Now, dear Juneau friends, and supporters and family, you have given us a reflection of that love, a very powerful gift, keeping the words of Frank Longworth alive and believable, even at this very tender time. Thank you.
We are grateful to all of you.
Mo and Lin,
Juneau, Alaska
– Photo of Mo and Lin just legally married at San Francisco City Hall, Sept. 15, 2008, exactly eighteen years after their original (non-legal) wedding. Congratulations!
This Week in GLBT Alaska 11/21/08
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.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays 6-8 p.m.
Fairbanks
“The Laramie Project” Play and Discussion at Theatre UAF, 11/21-11/23
“Live and Let Live: The Local Context of The Laramie Project,” a community discussion after the 2 pm matinee on Saturday 11/22 Theatre UAF
Fairbanks Meet n’ Greet with the ICOAA 11/22, 5-6:30 p.m. at Bobby’s Downtown
Anchorage
Ever Ready in Eagle River & Indian, 11/21 & 11/22
Black Ball – A Fetish Party 11/22, 9 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s. A fundraiser for Mr. International Bear 2008.
Trans Support Group, Sundays 4-6 p.m. at the GLCCA
EVE’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner 11/26, 5 p.m. Mad Myrna’s. FREE
Hump Day Happy Hour, Wednesdays 5-7 p.m. with TLFMC
GLCCA Thanksgiving Day Open House 11/27, 2-6 p.m.
Juneau’s "Mobile" Prop 8 Protest
All three of Alaska’s main cities are participating in Saturday’s protest against Prop 8!
While Equal Rights supporters in Anchorage and Fairbanks hold Fight the H8 protests, Juneau NOW and their friends are holding a ‘mobile protest’ in solidarity:
I would like to be part of this national day of protest. So here’s the plan and I hope you’ll all join me. I’m going to put a sign in my car window and be a sort of mobile protester as I do my Saturday errands and schlep my kids to and from soccer games. I’ve attached my sign and would be honored if some of you want to use it and join me. Or you can modify it as you please, or make your own. You can find other suggestions at Join the Impact.Please spread the word.
I’ll honk if I see you!
This Week in GLBT Alaska 11/7/08
Check out this week’s events from Alaska GLBT News.
For full listings, news briefs and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays 6-8 p.m.
Fairbanks
Irina Rivkin, plus Alma and Inna 11/8, 6:30 p.m. at UAF’s Schaible Auditorium
Fairbanks PFLAG Meeting 11/9, 4 p.m.
“The Laramie Project” Play and Discussion at Theater UAF, 11/14-11/23
Anchorage
Mr./Ms./Miss Gay Alaska Pageant Show 11/8, 8 p.m at Mad Myrna’s
Trans Support Group, Sundays 4-6 p.m. at the GLCCA
Hump Day Happy Hour, Wednesdays 5-7 p.m. with The Last Frontier Men’s Club
Alaska Women Write, Thursdays 6-8 p.m. at Immanual Presbyterian Church
Craft and Chat, Thursdays 7-9 p.m. at the GLCCA
