Articles in Alaska communities
Christians for Equality speak out for Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative
Christians for Equality, a new group representing a number of religious and faith-based organizations in the Anchorage area, has formed in support of the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative.
13,515 signatures: Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative will be on the April 2012 municipal ballot
The One Anchorage campaign will turn in 13,515 signatures — over twice the 5,871 needed — to put the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative on the Municipality of Anchorage’s April 3, 2012 ballot. If passed, the measure will provide the same legal protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people already provided to other Anchorage residents.
“An Ordinary Family” and “Weekend” — two gay films showing in Anchorage this week
Two films featuring gay male characters are playing this week in Anchorage: An Ordinary Family with two screenings on Wednesday and Thursday, December 7—8 (part of the Anchorage International Film Festival), and Weekend on Monday, December 12.
Last Frontier Drag Kings debut show in Anchorage this Saturday
Join the Last Frontier Drag Kings for their debut show, a Christmas celebration!
What makes this show especially special is that it’s Alaskas’ very first all drag king show. That’s right: kings only — though we’re betting some of Alaska’s favorite drag queens will also make a showing as audience members in support of their brothers-in-drag.
Come check it out!
Hosted by Allie Hernandez of AMC Entertainment, LLC.
- Date/time: Saturday, December 10, 10:00 PM to midnight
- Location: S Lounge, 720 Gambell Street (Corner of 7th and Gambell), Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Cost of admission: $10 cover
- Further info: see Facebook events page
One Anchorage Open House this Saturday at new campaign office
The One Anchorage Campaign is the campaign for an April election ballot measure to offer the same legal protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people already offered to all other Anchorage residents. Now One Anchorage has opened its new campaign office, and invites you to celebrate at an Open House on Saturday, December 3.
News from the campaign is that its got just a few more days to gather signatures. KTUU Channel 2 News reported on November 17 that the campaign already has more than the 5,800 signatures needed to put the measure on the ballot — but the more signatures the campaign has, the more support will be visible, and the more momentum the campaign will have as it moves forward.
There’s several things happening this weekend to assist with this final signature push:
Sign the petition. If you haven’t already signed the petition, here’s two ways on Saturday to find one to sign —
- Curb service in Anchorage: On Saturday, December 3, drive thru at 1057 W. Fireweed (Four As/ACLU Bldg), between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. A One Anchorage volunteer will bring a petition and pen to your car window and present you with an official One Anchorage sticker for your car!
- Coffee and petitions in Eagle River: One Anchorage will have petitions for you to sign at the Sleepy Dog Coffee Company in Eagle River from 9:00 AM to noon. Look for the table with the purple table cloth and support the cause for equality.
Volunteer opportunities. Want to help out?
- Gather signatures. Pick up petitions from the ACLU office (1057 W Fireweed, Suite 207) Monday through Friday 10 AM to 5:00 PM, or from the new campaign office (207 E. Northern Lights, Suite 225) on Saturday 12/3 or Sun 12/4 from noon to 4:00 PM. The campaign will give you petitions, training, and a location to go to.
- On Saturday, December 3, stop in at the new campaign office to volunteer!
Noon-4:00 PM: Signature gathering
2:00-4:00 PM: Fundraising phone bank
2:00-4:00 PM: Volunteer recruitment phone bank
4:00-6:00 PM: OPEN HOUSE!!! Refreshments and fun will be served
Open House. The new campaign office is located in the Northern Lights Professional Building at 207 E. Northern Lights, Suite 225. The office is across the street from Blockbuster Video, on Northern Lights between Cordova and A. St.
- Date/time: Saturday, December 3, 4:00 to 6:00 PM
- Location: One Anchorage Campaign Office, Northern Lights Professional Building, 207 E. Northern Lights, Suite 225, Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Further info: Contact Johnathan Jones at jjones@oneanchorage.com
Happy Holi-Divas! — and 11th annual holiday toy drive at Lower LA in Fairbanks
Happy HOLI-DIVAS to you!
This month’s First Friday at the Lower L.A. in Fairbanks features entertainment by “Haus oF Fusion” Femme Illusion, live singing with Karnelle Brown, plus Cabaret Noir — Burlesque!
It’s also the 11th Annual Holiday Toy Drive Event, a Toy Drive to benefit the Interior AIDS Association (IAA). Toys & donations to toy fund will go to benefit children whose families utilize the services of IAA. Your door charge will be waived for any new toys brought in of $10 value or more! (If you are not able to attend this event, please consider dropping off an unwrapped toy to the offices of IAA at 710 3rd Ave, anytime between now and December 16th! )
- Date/time: Friday, December 2. Doors open at 9 PM, show 10 PM to 1 AM
- Location: Lower LA ( lounge downstairs from Los Amigos Tex-Mex), 636 28th Ave, Fairbanks, AK (see map)
- Cost of admission: $10 general seating, $15 VIP table seat. Limited VIP table seating & general seating tix available at (907) 322-5242. Tonight: your door charge waived for any new toys brought in of $10 value or more!
- Age restrictions: 21+ in bar area, limited 18+ in restaurant area.
- Further info: see Facebook events page
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)
Paige’s Birthday Wish: A Saturday evening of entertainment benefiting Operation Morale Boost
After spending Thanksgiving with loved ones, help celebrate Paige’s 31st birthday this Saturday, November 26, by helping Operation Morale Boost send off packages to servicemembers unable to be with their families this holiday season.
Open Projector Night 4, this Saturday night at Out North
The time has come for Open Projector Night, the Alaska independent filmmakers’ open mic, presented by the Alaska Film Forum and Out North Contemporary Art House, on Saturday, November 26 at Out North.
Bring a short film or clip of something longer on DVD, BluRay, or digital format ( h.264/m4v, 720p). Projector slots will be given out on a first-come first-serve basis.
For filmmakers, this is a great opportunity to meet other people working in town and have your films screened for an audience. For everyone else, this is your chance to see the awesome work that the local filmmaking scene is putting out, and to show your support for independent filmmakers and filmmaking.
Schedule for the evening:
5pm – Media drop off begins at Out North
8pm – Doors open for socializing/networking time
9pm – Screening begins
- Date/time: Saturday, November 26, 8:00 to 11:30 PM
- Location: Out North Contemporary Art House, 3800 Debarr, Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Age restriction: This event is 21+. IDs will be checked at the door.
- Further info: see Facebook events page
Want to know more about Open Projector Night? Read Ben Anderson’s July 2011 story in the Alaska Dispatch. Or, check out the video:
Open Projector Night 4 from Tri-Seven Pictures on Vimeo.
Alaska Film Forum and Borderline Productions helped to put this piece together to talk more about the creation of OPN and its role in the Alaska Film Community.
