A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

This Week in GLBT Alaska – 10/3/08

Harvest Ball 10/3, door at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $15 at the Pioneer Park Civic Center. ICOAA 

Disco/Funk Party with DJ Double D 10/4, 9 p.m.-? 21 and over. Jeff’s house. 

Ever Ready in Eagle River 10/3, 7:30 – 11:30 p.m.

Salon DaVinci’s Four A’s Fundraiser 10/4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

End of Summer Weenie Roast with The Last Frontier Men’s Club 10/4, 7 p.m.

The Voices of Mad Myrna’s, a Night of “Live” Karaoke 10/4, 9 p.m.

Bible Study at MCC, starting this Sunday 10/5, 1:15-1:45 p.m.

Hump Day Happy Hour with TLFMC 10/8, 5-7 p.m.

1049 Daily US Newspapers Accept Same-Sex Wedding Announcements – But Only 339 Have Received Them

In cities and small towns all over the country, communities are seeing the lives of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) family members, friends and neighbors reflected in their media outlets. These stories will spur the kinds of everyday conversations that will change hearts and minds.

GLAAD first launched the Announcing Equality campaign in 2002, after working with The New York Times to open its weddings/celebrations pages to lesbian and gay couples. Six years later, the number of inclusive newspapers has jumped from 70 to 1049, and nearly 72 percent of all daily newspapers in the United States now accept wedding and/or commitment ceremony announcements for same-sex couples.

Unfortunately, most of these papers haven’t had a chance to run an announcement. That’s where you come in! 

We’re urging you to recognize the celebrations and milestones in your life by sharing the story with the newspaper, and to share your story in other forms of media, from office newsletters and union periodicals to church bulletins, public radio, Facebook and YouTube.

This Week in GLBT Alaska 8/15 – 8/21

ICOAA Emperor & Empress Voting 8/16 at the GLCCA 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Absentee ballots for download at ICOAA.

Bag Lady Sue Comedy Show, Saturday 8/16 at 9 p.m.  Mad Myrna’s, $10.

MCC Board of Directors Meeting 8/17. Service at 2 p.m., meeting at 3:30 p.m.

Debate Party for Mark Begich, Wednesday 8/20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Email M.E. for more information.

Alaskan Vigils for UU Church Shootings at "Welcoming Congregation"

We were all shocked and saddened to learn about the horrible events that took place at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville.

Apparently a deeply disturbed man entered the sanctuary yesterday during Sunday morning service, shouted “hateful things” according to a witness, and opened fire into the crowd during a children’s program. Two adult members of the church were killed, and 6 others are currently in the hospital being treated for serious injuries.

Such senseless violence happening in a place of worship and peace is difficult to process. Especially difficult is the fact that this horrible incident is now being investigated as a hate crime after a letter was found in the shooter’s car indicating that his motivation was born out of hostility toward “the liberal movement.”

Details of the letter are unavailable, but the church had just become a UU “Welcoming Congregation,” openly showing their support and welcome to the GLBT community, in addition to promoting religious tolerance and acceptance of those with differing or no religious beliefs.

The Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, also a “Welcoming Congregation,” will be holding a candlelight vigil in support of all those affected by the tragedy, and all those who hold dear the ideals of freedom, reason and tolerance for all people.

We invite any and all to attend who wish to be together in reflection, compassion and support.

State House Candidate David Newman Supports Same-Sex Marriage

Repeal Alaska’s Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage

David submitted the following article to the Juneau Empire as a My Turn piece on June 11. He just found out that the Empire doesn’t run candidate pieces, so he’s published it here.

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In 1998, Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage by a vote of 152,965 to 71,631. This marked the first and only time in Alaska’s history that a constitutional amendment took rights away from a group of people. Yet despite the fact that this amendment passed by a 2-1 vote, it’s a violation of the U.S. Constitution and directly conflicts with the Alaska Constitution, because both documents guarantee citizens equal protection under the law.

Ratified in 1868, the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Supreme Court in rulings which eliminated discrimination, including the desegregation of public schools in Brown v. Board of Education, and overturning Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia. The Loving case, decided in 1967, is relevant in this debate, because the arguments against interracial marriage parallel those against same-sex marriage.

In Loving, an African-American woman and a white man were sentenced to one year in jail for living in Virginia as husband and wife. The trial judge suspended their sentence on the condition that they leave Virginia and not return together for 25 years. In his ruling, the judge stated that “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and placed them on separate continents. And, but for the interference with this arrangement, there would be no cause for such marriage. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.” The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Virginia’s law – and the law in 15 other states as well – based in part on the fact that “(m)arriage is one the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival.”

Most people would agree that the statements made by the Virginia judge are not only supremely offensive, but ridiculous as well. Yet we should ask ourselves – Are the arguments made today against same-sex marriage really any different than those made against interracial marriage? The reasons for and against same-sex marriage have been made numerous times in the pages of this newspaper [Juneau Empire]; I won’t recite them again. But, I believe there is no difference. The disparate treatment of one group versus everyone else, whether it be based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation, is discrimination, pure and simple.

Not only does Alaska’s amendment violate the U.S. Constitution, but it is in direct conflict with Alaska’s Constitution as well. Article 1, Section 1 of the Alaska Constitution guarantees Alaskans equal rights, opportunities and protection under the law. It also guarantees everyone the right to pursue happiness, which most people believe is one of the basic human rights of a civilized society. This idea was not lost on the Loving court, which stated that “(t)he freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.” Yet our own Constitution contains an amendment that denies same-sex couples the ability to pursue what the U.S. Supreme Court recognized as one of the most vital personal rights – not only the right to marry, but the right to enjoy all the additional benefits that accompany marriage.

When those 152,965 people stepped into the voting booth in 1998 and voted to amend Alaska’s Constitution to remove rights from an entire group of people, what were they thinking? Were they motivated by religion, fear, hate, bigotry, ignorance, or something else entirely? I don’t know. What I do know is that we as a people must reject all forms of discrimination, regardless of where it comes from or how it materializes.

"Rising Star" Director Peter DuBois Honed Skills at Juneau’s Perseverance Theatre

Ben Bohen, his partner of 11 years, will keep their Brooklyn apartment as DuBois sets up another home in Boston for the Huntington job. They plan on commuting, but it won’t be as difficult as when DuBois moved to Alaska to become artistic director of Juneau’s Perseverance Theatre. 

“Ben finally came out to visit for the month of December,” said DuBois, “which is one of the hardest months to be there, and he said, ‘OK, I’ll make the leap.’ We lived together there for four years before I got the call from the Public.” 

“Even in Alaska, which is an incredibly conservative state, I actually was very consciously keeping myself out [as a gay man] because it’s a part of my identity that I’m really proud of.”

In a bold move to the furthermost reaches of the United States, DuBois took over where Perseverance founder Molly Smith had left off. It was at Perseverance that he honed his institution-building skills, cutting debt and raising $2.5 million in capital and endowment campaigns to make Perseverance Alaska’s largest producing arts organization. He also brokered a relationship with the University of Alaska Southeast in which Perseverance would assume responsibility for all theater education activities at the college, offering minors to its students.

DuBois ran Perseverance from 1998 to 2003, beginning to make a reputation for himself as an up and coming American artist and institutional leader.

Know Your Status: Four A’s Extends Hours for National HIV Testing Week

Pride Chorus Spring Concert Touches the Soul

The Juneau Pride Chorus is meeting on June 26 to vote on music for next season, and they invite interested women singers to attend. Then the Chorus takes a break for the summer and begins rehearsing again in August. Contact Marsha for the time and location of the June meeting, or check Alaska GLBT News for updates.

Once again, the Juneau Pride Chorus and our fabulous audience created magic in a space that doesn’t seem at all magical! Betsy, our sound engineer, was a genius in using a light touch with amplification. I was astounded by the return of that magnificent powerful final note after we stopped singing….as if the space confirmed the power and beauty we offered. I am always amazed at the relationship we have with our audience….they always spur us on to be better, brighter, more full of life. We are fortunate to have an audience who engages with us. Thanks to all for the wonderful season full of laughter, tears, beauty. It has a been a real privilege to be a part of this phenomenon for 10 years.  – Soprano 2, Jill Sandleben

I, too, loved watching the performance. I was so impressed with you all, and especially of the many of you who put yourself out there to do solos, play an instrument, or sing in an ensemble! Everyone had great expressions on their faces and in their body movement. While it was fun to be in the audience and get to be entertained, I will hurry back to join you all when we get going again this fall!  – Alto 1, Linda

Those who weren’t there missed a wonderful, wonderful performance. I loved every minute of it and wasn’t at all ashamed of some of my tears since they were in the eyes of many around me. “Power Tools” was the biggest kick and the audience loved the “choreography.” Have a wonderful summer and I’ll see you in the fall. – Soprano 2, Paula Terrel, a Pride Chorus member on spring hiatus.

Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Organizations, Groups & Publications

UPDATE: Check out the updated list of LGBTA Businesses in Alaska!

Visitors, new residents and even long-time Alaskans want to know where they can find GLBT Alaska. Previously, I posted our Annual Events and Recurring Events. Here is the resource list for Alaska’s GLBT organizations, groups and publications with their current web links or email contacts.

Organizations (in alphabetical order):

• 4 A’s – Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association provides supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, and works to eliminate the transmission of HIV infection and its stigma. Includes Power-On Alaska, Get It On, a quarterly newsletter and the Adam & Steve young men’s group.
• Alaskans Together – formed in 2007 to fight the anti-gay advisory vote, Alaskans Together is now a permanent statewide organization that advocates for LGBT equality in Alaska.
• Equality Works – a coalition working to protect Anchorage residents from discrimination and harassment.
• GLSEN & GSA – the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has an Anchorage chapter, and the Gay Straight Alliance has student clubs in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks.
• IAA – Interior AIDS Association is a nonprofit organization in Fairbanks that provides HIV-related prevention, case management, and other support services.
• ICOAA – The Imperial Court of All Alaska raises money for scholarships and community non-profits through participation in fundraising events, benefits, titleholder balls and other functions.
• Identity – Identity’s programs include a statewide Helpline, the NorthVIEW quarterly newsletter, Anchorage PrideFest, the Pride Conference, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage (GLCCA), the Identity Advocacy Program, and support for local youth programs.
• Mat-Su LGBT Community Center – A new Center opened in Palmer, with social groups, a blog and a library.
• MCC – Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage, an Inclusive Church: Proud, Courageous and Loving.
• PFLAG – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has chapters in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Homer.
• RAW – Radical Arts for Women presents Celebration of Change, a short story contest and scholarships for women in the arts.
• SEAGLA – The Southeast Alaska Gay and Lesbian Alliance provides a supportive social network for GLBT people in Southeast Alaska.
• TLFMC – a non-profit social club that provides bears, leathermen, cowboys, their respective admirers, and other masculine Alaskan gay and bisexual men with the opportunity to meet socially.

Groups:

• AK Community – an informal youth and family group with a discussion forum.
• Alaska Women Write – women’s writing workshop, Thursdays 6-8 p.m. Immanual Presbyterian Church
• Anchorage FrontRunners – Anchorage GLBT walking/running club affiliated with International Front Runners, meets May-Oct, Monday nights at 6 p.m. for a run/walk on the Coastal Trail.
• Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group – meet with other members and supporters of your local LGBT community.
• Juneau Pride Chorus – The Women’s Chorus is affiliated with Juneau PFLAG, and rehearses weekly from late summer through their spring concert in May.
• Men of Alaska – a social Meetup group for gay men in and around Anchorage.
• Trans Alaska Pipeline – the official site for the Transgendered Alaskans’ Social Group and source for information and support for TransPeople everywhere.
• Transgender Support Group – Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

Publications:

• Alaska GLBT News – statewide email newsletter with news, announcements and upcoming events.
• Bent Alaska – blog for GLBT News and Events with a Local Alaskan Bent.
• Grrlzlist – Anchorage women’s email newsletter with news, announcements, ads and upcoming events.
• Naked Ptarmigan – creative writing journal.
• NEWS – Sara’s emails of current local, national and international LGBT news briefs.
• Quarterly newsletters – 4 A’s and Identity (linked above) print quarterly newsletters.
• Yahoo! Groups – AnchoragePride, fairbankspride and matsulgbtcc, and some organizations have members-only groups.
• Facebook – several of the organizations have Facebook pages.

Have I missed something?

Blogging for LGBT Families Day: Two Moms and Two Boys DO Make a Family