Articles in Juneau
Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho joins 95+ U.S. mayors calling for marriage equality
Bruce Botelho, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, has joined (at last count) 98 other U.S. mayors from over 25 states in calling for marriage equality. The formation of Mayors for Freedom to Marry, a bipartisan group in coalition with the national organization Freedom to Marry, was announced in a press conference at the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Friday, January 20.
Stories of Pride: Pride Foundation presents an evening of storytelling and celebration at Out North
Pride Foundation would like to express our gratitude to the many donors and volunteers who have made this year a success with an intimate evening of storytelling and celebration. Light food and beverages will be served, coming out stories will be powerful, and “thank you’s” will be abundant. This is a free event. All are welcome.
World AIDS Day 2011: Aiming for zero
World AIDS Day is Thursday, December 1. The Four A’s and the Interior AIDS Association have organized events including candlelight vigils in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 each year around the world. It has become one of the most recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services. Events including candlelight vigils are scheduled in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
More than one million people are living with HIV in the U.S., and more than one in five (21%) of them are unaware of their infection, according to estimates of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s) reports that there have been 1,394 reported cases of HIV infection in Alaska since 1982. In 2010, 38 Alaskans were newly diagnosed with HIV.
Internationally, the theme of World AIDS Day for 2011 to 2015, as decided by the World AIDS Campaign’s Global Steering Committee, is Getting to Zero: zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths. The Four A’s has joined in with this theme, declaring its own theme this year as Aim for Zero:
We are aiming for zero stigma, zero discrimination, zero risk, zero new cases and most importantly, zero deaths.
The Four A’s and the Interior AIDS Association have organized events including candlelight vigils in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
Anchorage
Join us at Four A’s for a night of awareness and a candlelight vigil. Following the vigil from 9 to midnight, there will a Condom Pub Crawl in downtown Anchorage bars, during which AMP and VOX will be distributing free red ribbons and condoms.
- Date/time: Thursday, December 1, 6:00–7:30 PM
- Location: Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s), 1057 W Fireweed, Ste 102, Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Further info: see Facebook events page
Fairbanks
Join the Interior AIDS Association, West Valley High School GSA, and the Pride Foundation for an evening in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Refreshments at 5:30; program including presentations from the West Valley High School GSA and the Pride Foundation begin at 6pm. The evening will end with a candlelight vigil at 7.
- Date/time: Thursday, Dec 1. Refreshments at 5:30 PM; program begins 6:00 PM; candlelight vigil begins 7:00 PM.
- Location: Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, 101 Dunkel St, Fairbanks, AK (see map)
- Further info: see Interior AIDS Association Calendar of Events or the Facebook events page
Juneau
- Date/time: Thursday, December 1, 6:00 PM
- Location: Baranof Hotel, 127 N Franklin St, Juneau, AK (see map)
Sara’s News Roundup 11/14/11: Antigay propaganda for Halloween
A Juneau father speaks out against antigay propaganda dropped in with his children’s Halloween candy, recent polls show public support for transgender equality, and “gay” penguins at the Toronto Zoo. That and other recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Bipartisan group reframes case for legalizing gay marriage
Washington, USA Today, November 8, 2011
2) Second Edition: Transition and Beyond now available
Portland, Oregon, www.transtherapist.com, November 2011
3) Same-sex penguin pair fascinates zookeepers
Toronto, Canada, Toronto News, November 4, 2011
4) Letter: The scariest thing this Halloween
Juneau, Alaska, Juneau Empire, November 8, 2011
5) Intersex councillor likely to be mayor
Sydney, Australia, Star Observer, November 7, 2011
6) Houston Mayor Annise Parker Wins Reelection
Houston, Texas, Advocate, November 8, 2011
7) Strong Majorities Favor Rights & Legal Protections for Transgender People
Washington, D.C., Public Religion Research Institute, November 2011
8) NY radio station launches new voice of black gay life
New York, inGrio, November 5, 2011
9) ‘Yes’ wins big in TC non-discrimination vote
Traverse City, Mich., Record Eagle, November 8, 2011
10) Commentary: More Faith Leaders Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
Black Entertainment Television, November 7, 2011
11) More than 90 Percent of American Catholics Back Transgender Rights
Washington, DC, Equally Blessed, November 8, 2011
12) Gay Penguins Buddy and Pedro Will Reunite Once They’ve Helped Propagate Their Species!
Toronto, Canada, SheWired, November 11, 2011
The circle turns
by Lauren Tibbits. Alaska Pride Conference was about drawing the younger and older generations together to better serve the LGBT community in Alaska — a wonderful experience, but coupled with grief for the passing of a beloved mentor, Alison McKenna of Juneau, who died unexpectedly on Saturday. The important thing, I’ve discovered, is to be part of the living legacy Alison has left behind.
Juneau Pride Chorus presents gay & lesbian film festival for National Coming Out Day
Juneau Pride Chorus — “a chorus of mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers and grandmothers bonded by love of singing and desire to celebrate diversity” — will celebrate National Coming Out Day this coming Tuesday, October 11, with a festival of gay and lesbian short films from some of the country’s top film festivals. The Pride Chorus will sing at intermission.
Admission is free, but donations are not only welcomed but encouraged: Pride Chorus is raising funds in hopes of going, for its first time ever, to the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) International Chorus Festival, which will be held in Denver in July 2012. GALA’s festival happens only once every four years.
National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an internationally observed civil awareness day observed by members of the LGBTQA communities on October 11 every year (or October 12 in the United Kingdom). Its date was chosen in commemoration of the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, held on October 11, 1987. National Coming Out Day is also an important for another reason, the Juneau Empire reports: the Juneau Pride Chorus held its very first rehearsal on National Coming Out Day in 1997.
The Juneau Empire continues,
Pride Chorus lays claim to the title of Juneau’s only year-round chorus, not counting church choirs. It rehearses every Tuesday from 5:30–7 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church, open to the (female) public—to listen or to sing.
In fact, Pride Chorus prides itself, no pun intended, on its unrestrictive admission policy, which does not limit membership by audition, voice part or even sexual orientation.
“You don’t have to be LGBT to be a member of Pride Chorus, just supportive of our causes,” [Pride Chorus director Leslie] Wood said, who estimates that a third of the women in the chorus are lesbian, a third bisexual and a third, allies.
“You don’t have to be able to sing, either, but it helps.”
Juneau Pride Chorus holds an annual concert in April and also performs annually at Alaska Folk Festival and sometimes for World AIDS Day.
If you’re in Juneau, make time next Tuesday evening for some terrific films and terrific music. As one of Bent Alaska’s friends — a Pride Chorus member — wrote on our Facebook wall yesterday, “Come hear us sing — it will be a blast!” And don’t forget to chip in to help the Pride Chorus on its way to GALA 2012!
- Date/time: Tuesday, October 11, 6:30 to 9:30 PM
- Location: Gold Town Nickelodeon Theater, 171 Shattuck Way, Juneau, AK (see map)
- Cost of admission: Admission is free; donations accepted and encouraged: this is a fundraiser for Juneau Pride Chorus.
- Further info: see Facebook events page
Celebration of Steve Reese’s life Wednesday, September 7 in Juneau
Steve Reese’s family invites his friends and coworkers in a celebration of his life.
Steve died an accidental death while hiking near Juneau at Herbert Glacier, where his body was found on August 2nd. He worked at Bartlett Regional Hospital for eleven years as a registered nurse and most recently as nursing supervisor, and was an active volunteer within the Juneau community, including with PFLAG Juneau. Bent Alaska published his obituary and an excerpt from one of his letters to the editor of the Juneau Empire on August 11.
Come for food, music and conversation. Vegetarian cuisine, energy drinks, diet pepsi and other favorites of Steve’s will be served. Please bring written memories, stories or letters about Steve. They will be treasured by his family.
Come as you are. Dress up or down.
- Date/time: Wednesday, September 7, 5 to 9 PM
- Location: Parkshore Condominium Clubhouse, 800 F Street (Behind Downtown Fire Hall), Juneau (see map)
- Further info: See Facebook event page or Bent Alaska’s post about Steve Reese’s death, and life
Steve’s family writes:
There seems to be some confusion concerning donations. To set the record straight, donations can be made in Steve’s memory to the Girl Scouts of Alaska, as stated in his obituary. I truly believe this would be his top priority as evidant from his many years of devout cookie selling. Checks can be made out to Girl Scouts of Alaska Troop 4026 and either mailed to PO Box 33441 Juneau, AK 99803 or deposited in First National Bank of Alaska account #30758437.
If you wish to make a donation elsewhere, please wait 2 months. We are trying to raise as much funds as possible right now for Janae’s girl scout troop. I personally feel that donations to other causes right now are taking away from what my father would have wanted.
Please share this information with anyone who may be confused.
Thank you for your support.
-Jordan Reese
LGBTQA students ready for a new academic year at University of Alaska campuses
New and returning University students around the state are getting ready for a new academic year, and LGBTQA students are no exception. Students at University of Alaska campuses will be enjoying something they didn’t have this time last year: protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. University of Alaska Regents passed an amendment to UA’s nondiscrimination policy last February 18 after two periods of testimony at University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).
Vote Saturday for Coronation!
Coronation is coming up! — and Bent will soon have the full Coronation schedule of events up on its calendar. But before you can have coronation, you’ve got to have new heads of state to crown! Here are the details on where and when to vote.
James Steven “Steve” Reese (1968–2011)
We were saddened to learn last week of the death of PFLAG Juneau volunteer Steve Reese. Our condolences to his children, family and friends, and all who knew him. We excerpt one of his letters to the editor, on Christian attitudes towards LGBT people: “If your Bible tells you to hate or to do hateful things, then you are reading your Bible wrong.”
