Over 100 youth attended the successful Pride Prom on Friday night at the end of Day of Silence, coming from all over Anchorage and even from the Mat-Su, and KTVA interviewed two adult supporters on the Friday News at 10. Julia, one of the student organizers, reports on the Prom:
“The bass vibrated the walls and strobe lights flashed on the dance floor. This was the scene that greeted LGBT youth and their allies on April 16th as they arrived at the Kincaid Chalet for Pride Prom 2010.
The youth planned and set up the event with help from supportive adults and their effort paid off. The dance was a huge success and everyone had a great time dancing to popular music hits, many by request to the live DJ.
The theme that was chosen was ‘gender bender’ and quite a few of the youth dressed up in clothes usually worn by the opposite gender. At one point in the night there was voting for a royal pride court based on how loud of a cheer the people nominated received. Two young men in drag were voted as the pride queens and they both received gift certificates.
The dance went off as planned and many youth are already interested in helping out in planning next year’s prom.”
KTVA Channel 11 aired a short piece on Pride Prom and interviewed two adult supporters – Alex Barros of Four A’s and Anne Marie-Moylan of Identity – during the News at 10 program on April 16. The video is not posted on line.
Students all over Alaska participated in Day of Silence during school on Friday, and some came to Pride Prom from as far as the Mat-Su Valley. Here is a description of the day and evening by a high school student in the Mat-Su:
“So… Day of Silence.
Per. 1: Mr. — took off points for me not speaking even though he didn’t even call on me. He gave Erica some BS about politics not belonging in the classroom. I should’ve ductaped my rainbow flag to my desk.
Per. 2: No problems.
Per. 3: Random guys asked me if I was a lesbian. Now that they know, hopefully they’ll stop hitting on me. They were really starting to get on my nerves.
Per. 4: I had a whiteboard conversation with a friend about what happened in 1st period.
Lunch: I sat next to my girlfriend and ate lunch quietly like I usually do. All of the DoS kids ate lunch in our adviser’s room.
Per. 5: The sub caught me saying sorry and said that I should just give up and take off my DoS tee (which was over my other shirt). I flipped him off in french when he wasn’t looking. I ate a cutie pie (turnover) that my girlfriend gave me and then had a spaz attack because of all the sugar.
Per. 6: No problems.
Now, on to Pride Prom…
My parents rented an impala and my mom put flowers in my hair and made a matching boutonniere for my girlfriend. I made french onion soup for dinner.
Pride Prom itself was spectacular. There was a strobe light, glow sticks, black lights, balloons, free pictures, great music, and more rainbows than I thought existed. In the car ride home I fell asleep on my girlfriend’s shoulder. Bliss. Some moments I wish could last forever…”
That moment makes all the work worthwhile! Congratulations to the Gay-Straight Alliance students and the Pride Prom organizers for another successful Day of Silence/Night of Noise in south-central Alaska.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010 – 5:29 AM
| Comments Off on Trans Alaskans get back into Action
Exciting developments from Alaska’s Transgender community: the TransAK website is back online and up-dated with two new projects, TransAKtion and a podcast, and four members will be guest speakers at a special YWCA luncheon Transwomen in Alaska on June 16.
TransAK website
TransAlaska Pipeline, the website for the TransGendered Alaskans’ Social Group, is back and better than ever! New features include
TransAKtion, an effort to form a TG non-profit in Alaska, and the up-coming “Good Morning, TransAmerica” podcasts hosted by Anja.
“It has long been a dream of mine to see an organization formed by us, run by us, that exists to help us.
Transgendered people suffer discrimination at every turn. Many of us face violence, simply for being ourselves. Transition can also be cost-prohibitive for many of us, especially the guys. Many of us are forced into the sex industry due to lack of opportunties and societal marginalization of TGs.
There is so much work to do. This website is the first step towards fulfilling my dream of uniting us into a real community.”
The podcasts are expected to debut on April 30 with the segments “Transpeople and Christianity: Does God have a plan for us?” – Part 1, “Life in a small Alaskan town” featuring a trans commercial fisherman, and a review of the book “The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism & Transgender Rights.”
If you are the owner of a trans-friendly business, please let them know, so your business can be listed in the directory. Visit TransAK at
www.transakpipeline.com
“Transwomen in Alaska” 6/16 at noon
Guest speakers Anja Gensel, Kelly Johnson, Michelle Gallante and Meaghan Lockard present Transwomen in Alaska as part of the “Opening Minds and Hearts” luncheon series at the YWCA of Anchorage on June 16, from 12-1 p.m. Open to the public, $15 or $10 for students with ID. YWCA Anchorage is located at 324 E. 5th Ave. RSVP 644-9605.
Trans Social Group
The Transgendered Alaskans’ Social Group meetings are held in Anchorage on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLBT Center. The Mat-Su Valley meetings are held Wednesdays at 5 p.m. at the Vagabond Blues Coffee Shop in downtown Palmer. Check the
calendar on TransAlaska for more events.
Sunday, 18 April 2010 – 5:57 AM
| Comments Off on Gay AK: locals win grants & awards, unblock web sites, thank Kristara
News and notes from LGBT Alaska
Gay Youth sites unblocked in Mat-Su schools
The Day of Silence website was unblocked from the Mat-Su school computers a week before the April 16 national event, according to Melissa, a high school student in the district. It was blocked all school year under the catergory of “Pornography/nudity.” She gave her teacher a list of blocked LGBT websites that are age appropriate for students and now they can be accessed from school computers. She thinks that this affects all schools in the Mat-Su School District, but she’s not sure. Go, Melissa!
ACLU wins grant for LGBT voter campaign
The ACLU of Alaska
won a 2010 Pride Foundation grant “to identify, educate, and register new pro-LGBT Anchorage voters.” Since 2007, Pride Foundation has invested over $100,000 in twelve organizations that serve Alaska’s LGBTQ community. In addition, numerous Pride Foundation scholars hail from Alaska. The next grant application for organizations based in Alaska will be available in June.
Identity thanks Kristara for birthday fundraiser
Last Saturday night’s fund raiser for the Gay & Lesbian Community Center and Kristara’s birthday was a great evening of community, laughs, and donations for the Center. Our thanks go out to Kristara (ICOAA Empress 17, 26, 30, 32), Myrna, all the divas, Kevin and Paige, Mikey, sound, lights, food, folks at the door, and everyone who was there for this special evening.
72% support hospital visitation
In
an unscientific poll conducted by KTUU.com Channel 2 News in Anchorage, respondents were asked, “Should hospitals grant the same visitation rights to gay and lesbian partners that they do to married heterosexual couples?” Of the 430 people who voted, 72% said Yes, and only 28% said No. The April 16 poll was in response to
President Obama’s memo ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination in hospital visitation, including for gay and lesbian couples.
Gay-Straight Alliance wins UAF Diversity Award
The GSA student group at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks won a Diversity Enrichment Award and $100 at the SOAR awards ceremony on Saturday. The GSA is leading the effort to add gays to the UA non-discrimination policy, participates in the annual Day of Silence against anti-LGBT bullying, and raised awareness about the controversial ex-gays when a workshop was held on campus. Read the
full story.
Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister who lives in Palmer, Alaska, and an ally of the LGBT community. This essay on gay equality – in church, in the military and in government recognition of relationships – appeared in the Religion section of the Mat-Su Frontiersman:
———
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is everywhere
I have been involved in advocacy for justice for our gay citizens for over 35 years. I have long been an advocate of full acceptance of gay people in our churches. No position in our churches, including the office of ordained clergy, should be denied. No blessing of our churches should be withheld. Gay people are ordinary folk. They live in our communities in abundance. For churches to impose different standards on our gay neighbors is a grand absurdity.
The time is long past to welcome our gay friends in our churches.
Along side the struggle for gay acceptance in our churches, is the pursuit of equality under the laws of our country. Under what provision of our Constitution can we possibly deny gay people the honor of serving in the military? Under what provision of our Constitution can we deny the same legal privileges and protections to committed gay couples that we provide to heterosexual couples?
As the discussions and arguments have developed, specific concerns have crystallized. Within the churches’ discussions, ordination and marriage have become central. In the realm of governmental bodies, service in the military and legal recognition of gay couples are core issues.
Fifty years from now, I have no doubt about the standards that will be commonly acceptable. Gay people will serve freely in the military. Discrimination based on sexual orientation will be long gone. Most denominations will have congregations that are served by gay priests and ministers, who have partners. Gay couples will associate freely with heterosexual couples. Americans will look back with amazement that discrimination against gay people was ever accepted, advocated and defended.
Just as we look back and wonder how we could have ever denied women the right to vote, so we will also look back and wonder how we could have denied gay people basic rights and privileges.
Just as we look back and wonder how we could have tolerated slavery based on race, so also we will look back and wonder how we could have treated gay people so shabbily.
What will it take to put this nightmare of injustice behind us?
The easiest part is to get rid of “don’t ask; don’t tell.” To rid our military branches of this burden, an act of Congress is needed. I suspect the votes are present to pass the legislation. Opposition by military leaders is rapidly melting away. Implementation will be smooth and simple. In the past few months, [hate crimes] legislation that covers sexual orientation has been passed by Congress and signed into law.
The thorniest issue to be resolved is marriage. As the argument has developed, the word marriage has become the issue. Gay activists want the word. Religious bodies want to protect the word from legal use by gay couples. Government has become unnecessarily entangled in the conflict. A growing number of people are saying that the real issues are justice and equality, not marriage. I could not agree more.
Much of the responsibility for the confusion lies at the feet of churches and ministers. A wall of separation between churches and government has served our nation very well. As a Baptist and an advocate of the wall of separation, I ask myself, “Why are religious bodies and their ministers involved in legalizing marriage? Have we become unnecessarily entangled in an issue that is not ours?”
The system now works like this: A couple who wants legal benefits for their relationship goes to the courthouse or the city hall and gets a license to marry. The couple sometimes goes to a judge, a mayor, or (in Alaska) a willing friend. More often a couple finds a willing minister. There are no particular words that must be uttered. The important step is that someone signs the license and returns it to the appropriate governmental office. There is nothing intrinsically religious about the process.
I once knew a retired minister who hung around the city clerk’s office. His services were on the spot. He made a nice living. He had no personal or religious relationship with his clients. It was a business proposition. This is an unusual illustration, but it serves a point. Is this the system churches want to legally protect by enshrining the word marriage?
Churches and ministers should get completely out of the business of legalizing human relationships by whatever name. We should not be servants of government in any circumstance.
To my many gay friends, I ask, “Why are you hung up on the word marriage?” Turn loose of the word. Your real issue is equal rights under the law.
There are many couples, gay and non-gay, who want the blessing of God on their relationship. It is the job of clergy to formalize that blessing. I have come to the conclusion that such a service should have nothing to do with legalizing their relationship. It is a profoundly religious service. Furthermore, in such a setting the relationship can be called anything the minister and the couple want.
Representatives of all parties involved need to get together and formulate a workable system. We are involved in a disagreement that has lasted much too long.
Friday, 29 January 2010 – 9:34 AM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 1/29/10
This week’s LGBT events from the statewide newsletter Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.
Fairbanks
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance Get-Together 1/29, 4:30-6 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge.
“Bears, Bears, Bears” Taco Feed 1/30, 7 p.m. for Bears and Bellies and their admirers. $5 RSVP.
LGBTQ Discussion with Heather Neville 1/31, 12-1 p.m. at the UUFF.
Wednesday Social & Movie “A Serious Man” 2/3, 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Loon. Joshua.
Mat-Su Valley
Lulu Small and the Small Band at Del Roi’s 1/30, Old Glenn Hwy just north of the Knik River bridge.
Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues.
Anchorage
“The Laramie Project” Movie and panel discussion 1/30, 7p.m. in the Student Union Den, for Alaska Civil Rights Month, sponsored by UAA Women Studies.
Colleen Crinklaw’s “Soul Searching Tour” begins 1/30, 7-9 p.m. $10 at Mad Myrna’s.
Kodiak Bar and Grill GIRL PARTY 1/30, 9 p.m.
UAA’s “Out” 1/31, new time: 2 p.m. on Sundays, 2nd floor of the Student Union.
Memorial Birthday Party for Nicole Blizzard 1/31, 3:30 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s. Sign her memorial book.
Midnight Over Siberia: Re-investitures 1/31, 6 p.m. at Sub Zero.
LGBTQA Game Night at the GLCCA 2/3, 6-9 p.m. Anchorage Meetup group.
Church Life AK Special Prayer Vigil for Uganda 2/4, 6:30 p.m. at the GLCCA as part of the nationwide “American Prayer Hour.”
Monday, 21 December 2009 – 11:41 AM
| Comments Off on Have a Merry Gay Christmas in Anchorage
Parties, services, potlucks and brunches – come celebrate Christmas with your LGBT friends and community at these events:
The Alaska
Center for Spiritual Living Christmas Eve service is on Wed. Dec 23 at 7 p.m. at Grant Hall (APU campus). As always, the music will be rockin’, the message uplifting, the hearts open, and ALL are welcome. The Center is also hosting Christmas Dinner followed by a movie on Friday, Dec 25.
Mad Myrna’s Christmas Eve Party is on Dec 24 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Visit with Santa and his helpers, eat, drink and be merry. Come on down and be nice at being naughty.
Church Life Alaska is holding a special holiday “Queer Christmas Brunch” on Christmas Day, Dec 25 from 11am – 1pm. The free brunch will be held at the Gay and Lesbian
Community Center. Everyone is invited to attend. Please RSVP and check out the menu on their Facebook page linked above, or contact
Church Life AK.
The Anchorage/MatSu
LGBT Meetup group is combining the end of the year vegan potluck with a holiday party and Chinese auction. The party and potluck will be held in Palmer on Dec 26 at 6pm, at the Palmer Presbyterian Church, 713 S Denali St. Please bring a small gift for the game.
Join
MCC Anchorage on Dec 27, the Sunday following Christmas, the last Sunday of 2009, for an inspiring New Year message called “Overflow.” Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage is at 2 p.m.
Levi’s gay Wasilla homeboys (un)straighten Levi Johnson on the topic of whether there are gays in Wasilla. Yes, Levi, there are!
Friday, 20 November 2009 – 5:37 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 11/20/09
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
“The Morality of Same-Sex Marriage” with Dr. Joseph Thompson 11/20, 6 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium at UAF.
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance meets Mondays at 5 p.m. in the Women’s Center (Eilson 112). Jessi.
Wednesday LGBTA Social at 9 p.m. Email Joshua for the current location.
Mat-Su Valley
Transgender Day of Remembrance service 11/22, 11 a.m. at the Church of the Covenant in Palmer.
Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues.
Anchorage
Integrity, the Episcopal GLBT group, meets 11/20, 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church the third Friday of the month. Potluck, fellowship and worship. All are welcome.
The Rocky Horror Show, 11/20-11/21, Fri & Sat 7 p.m., and Sat also at 10 p.m. $20 at Mad Myrna’s.
Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial service during the MCC Anchorage Sunday service 11/22, 2 p.m.
Candlelight Vigil Against Hate Crimes, in memory of Jason Mattison Jr and Jorge Steven Mercado 11/22, 3-4 p.m. along the Park Strip at 9th and L St, in front of the American Flag. Bring a candle.
Miss MeMe’s Gospel Show 11/22, 4 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s, a fundraiser for MCC and ICOAA.
Eve’s Family & Friends Thanksgiving Dinner, 11/25 at 5 p.m. and 11/26 at 3 p.m. at The Raven Bar, 4th and Gambell St.
Friday, 25 September 2009 – 5:08 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 9/25/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Reception for Aquafest cruisers 9/27, 6 p.m.
Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
Jeff’s White Trash Party 9/26, 9 p.m. with DJ White Chocolate, for GLBT and friends 21 and over.
Mat-Su Valley
Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues.
Anchorage
The True Diversity Dinner & Awards Celebration 9/25, 7 p.m. at the Snow Goose.
Tan-N-Test: Free Tan for a Donation to Four A’s 9/26, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. at Preview Sun & Day Spa.
Free “Hopes & Dreams” spiritual retreat and potluck 9/26, noon-6 p.m. at MCC Anchorage.
Diversity Month GLBT Open House 9/26, 5-7 p.m. at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage.
“Hedwig and The Angry Inch” 9/26, 7 p.m. & 11 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Sunday worship, 2 p.m. at MCC Anchorage.
ICOAA’s Investitures for the 37th Reign 9/27, 6 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
The Lion Sings Tonight: A Four A’s benefit with “The Lion King” cast, Monday 9/28, 7 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Grrlzlist Town Hall, Monday 9/28, 5 p.m. at Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge.
International Student Association: LGBT Issues Across Cultures, Thursday 10/1, 4-5 p.m. in the UAA Learning Resource Center, Rm 126.
Friday, 19 June 2009 – 3:20 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 6/19/09 – PRIDEFEST Saturday!
The event you’ve been waiting for: Saturday is PRIDEFEST, with the Diversity Parade at 11 a.m., Pride on the Park Strip at 2 p.m., and DJ Dan spinning tunes after the show. Check the official Pride Week schedule for updates. The route is different this year and the map is on the PrideFest Links page.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Gay Pride Picnic Celebration at Skater’s Cabin 6/20, 2-7 p.m. SEAGLA
National HIV Testing Week 6/23-6/27 Four A’s is offering free HIV testing June 23-27 at various locations around Juneau.
Mat-Su Valley
Come to Anchorage PrideFest on Saturday, June 20. Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues. Harmony Choir meets at the Center on Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.
Homer
Hedwig and the Angry Inch, 6/19-6/21 at 8 p.m. Live performance starring Atz Lee Kilcher as Hedwig, with a 5-piece band, at the Best Western Bidarka Inn. A benefit for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. Opening night $50, other shows $15.
Anchorage
Mr/Ms/Miss Gay Anchorage 2009-2010 competition, 6/19 at 8 p.m. Mad Myrna’s. $3
Midnight Soapscum at Out North, Fridays & Saturdays 6/19-7/18, 10:30 p.m.
Diversity Parade and Festival on the Park Strip, Saturday, June 20.
An Evening of Musical Entertainment 6/20, 8 p.m. Kevin Holtz with GMK and Company. Mad Myrna’s. $10.
10th Annual Allie’s Slave for a Date Auction, 6/20, 9 p.m. $5 at the Kodiak Bar.
Coffee Date showing at the Museum 6/20 & 6/21, 6 p.m.
Pride Week Reception: Celebrating Marriage 6/21, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. at Bernie’s Bungalow. Hosts: 2-3pm Identity, 3-4pm The Imperial Court of All Alaska, 4-5pm GLSEN.
National HIV Testing Week 6/20-6/27 Four A’s is offering free HIV testing.
Pride Weekend Worship with MCC Anchorage 6/21, 2 p.m. Music, scripture, and message titled “Fear N Faith.”
Free BBQ at the Kodiak 6/21, 8 p.m. with Speed Dating and Kissing Booths.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
