Articles in Alaska communities
UAA celebrates DADT repeal on September 20
It’s not a post-DADT world yet, but it will be after September 20 — and University of Alaska Anchorage will be celebrating! Wear camo and join the UAA students and veterans as we celebrate the end of this discriminatory legislation. We’ll be at the Student Union with pizza and other resources.
Why September 20? It marks 60 days after the formal certification of DADT repeal by President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — and as passed by Congress, the repeal bill required that wait before DADT could finally end.
Other celebrations will be going on around the country: check Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) for details. If you’re in the service, see SLDN’s new guide to the post-DADT military, Freedom to Serve: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Military Service.
- Date/time: Tuesday, September 20, 2011
12:00 noon to 1:00 PM8am-11am - Location: UAA Student Union, 3211 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Further info: See SLDN event page
One Anchorage Community Forum to be held this Wednesday
On September 1, 2011, Equality Works launched the One Anchorage Campaign, a ballot initiative campaign to place an initiative on the April 2012 municipal ballot in Anchorage to add sexual orientation and transgender identity to Anchorage’s equal rights code. This follows on an equal rights ordinance which passed the Anchorage Assembly in 2009 by a vote of 7–4, only to be vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan.
The One Anchorage Campaign will hold a community form on the ballot initiative Wednesday, September 14 to speak directly with members of the LGBTQ community, answer questions, and hear suggestions.
To RSVP or if you have any questions about the Community Forum please contact Johnathan Jones at 263-2006 or jjones@oneanchorage.com.
- Date/time: Wednesday, September 14. Doors open 6:00 PM, program begins 6:30 PM
- Location: Waldron Hall, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 2222 East Tudor Rd (near the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor) (see map)
- Further info: see Equality Works website or Bent Alaska’s blog post
Tina Beltz (1979–2011)
We were saddened to learn of the death of Tina Beltz in a traffic accident in Manhattan, Montana on August 31. A celebration of her life will be held this Saturday, September 10 at 2 PM at the Covenant Church in Wasilla. We offer our condolences to her fiancée, family, friends, and all who knew her.
Choosing Alaska: Soldotna “sisters” light the closed minds of others
“My partner and I have lived in Soldotna for 11 years now,” writes Klondyke.”We are openly gay women yet still some people like to think we are just ‘sisters.'” From our series Choosing Alaska on living and working in Alaska as LGBT.
Out North hosts Season Revealing Party Thursday
Artists at work. Visual art for sale. Performances to see. Tickets, wine, goodies and services to bid on.
Support Out North’s programming, outreach and education programs by joining us for our Season Revealing Party and Auction.
There will be comedy (in the theater). There will be sorrow (when you low-bid that set of kd lang tickets or Talkeetna Air Taxi seats). And there will be beer.
You can also donate online by going to www.outnorth.org, and clicking the “donate” button on the calendar page. Just enter $35 or more in the amount field and write “Revealing Party” in the text field provided.
(PS: If you want to donate objects, services, tickets, vacation opportunities, etc., to the auction, contact development@outnorth.org.)
Out North, a nonprofit multidisciplinary art house that produces and presents art that challenges and inspires; that nurtures creative space where people of all cultures, generations, circumstances and abilities can gather and learn; that champions artists whose work pushes traditional boundaries of aesthetics and content.
- Date/time: Thursday, September 8, from 5:30 to 8:30 PM
- Location: Out North Contemporary Art House, 3800 Debarr Road, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: The admission price of $35 includes food and beverages, entertainment and art explorations, bidding on good stuff, and seeing art forms of all kinds in the making and on exhibit. Tickets at the door or in advance by stopping by or calling Out North at 279-8099.
- Further info: See the Facebook event page.
Equality Works launches One Anchorage Campaign ballot initiative
Equality Works has launched the One Anchorage Campaign, a ballot initiative campaign to place an initiative on the April 2012 municipal ballot in Anchorage to add sexual orientation and transgender identity to Anchorage’s equal rights code. This follows on an equal rights ordinance which passed the Anchorage Assembly in 2009 by a vote of 7–4, only to be vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan.
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
Pride Conference calls for workshop and vendor applicants
Pride Conference organizers have issued their call for workshop and vendor applicants. And we’ve got the application forms here! So step up, step out, and fill ’em out.
Coronation 2011: Once Upon a Mattress
Come one! Come all! Denali Emperor Cory Crowder and Aurora Empress Paige Langit invite you to beautiful, scenic Anchorage, Alaska for….
Coronation XXXIX: Once Upon a Mattress —
A Far Off-Broadway Night to Remember
Below we’ve got the complete schedule of events. For further information, see the Facebook event page or the Coronation page at ICOAA’s website.
The Imperial Court of All Alaska is the oldest and largest not-for-profit GLBTA organization in the state of Alaska. It awards scholarships to Alaska students each year and raise money for other charitable organizations in the state. Over the decades, ICOAA has raised over a million dollars through participation at fundraising events, benefits, titleholder Balls and functions. Funds raised are used for scholarships or turned back to gay, lesbian or community-wide nonprofit groups for their use.
Bent Alaska congratulates Emperor Cory Crowder and Empress Paige Langit for a successful and glorious reign, and looks forward to the reign of the Emperor and Empress-to-be.
Thursday, September 1
10th Annual “Sunshine Over Siberia” Welcome Party
followed by
“Roast of Their Mosts with Duchess IX Colleen Crinklaw as Host”
- Time: 5-9 PM
- Location: Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, 626 D Street, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: No charge
and then:
CORYOKE with Cory and Paige
- Time: After the Roast, but before we all go to rehab
- Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
Friday, September 2
In Town Show
Hosted by Ginger Grant & Darcy Kniefel
- Time: Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM
- Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $10
Saturday, September 3
Brown Bear Bus Run
Miss Alaska Leather Sarha Shaubach will be hosting a pancake feed at The Raven, so come and get some grub before getting on the bus!
- Time: Departs at 12 noon
- Location: departs from The Raven, 708 E. 4th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $20
Out of Town Show
Hosted by Sister Mary Sunshine & Jenuwine Beaute
- Time: Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM.
- Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $15
Sunday, September 4
Coronation 39
- Time: Doors open at 5 PM, starts at 6 PM
- Location: Anchorage Marriott Downtown Hotel, 820 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 (see map)
- Cost of admission: $45
Monday, September 5
Victory Brunch
- Time: 12 noon
- Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $35
Equality Works Community Advisory Council to meet September 6
Equality Works recently announced changes to its structure “to achieve a higher level of accountability and transparency” including creation of a EW Community Advisory Council to work with the EW Campaign Leadership Team chaired by Trevor Storrs. The first meeting of the EW Advisory Council will take place next Tuesday, September 6, at the YWCA, 324 E. 5th Avenue.
Here is the announcement as presented by EW.
Dear All,
We have set the first meeting of the EW Community Advisory Council for Tuesday Sept. 6th, from 6:00pm- location to be confirmed. Update: location has been confirmed as the YWCA, 324 E. 5th Avenue.
The EW Campaign Leadership Team would like to present to the group and receive feedback on how we can move forward.
An agenda will be compiled and disseminated closer to the date.
Please send this invite to folks who you think would be interested in attending.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Johnathan Jones
Equality Project Manager
Equality Works
907.263.2006
