Articles in Alaska communities
Prevo divorce documents raise “loosey-goosey” questions about Anchorage Baptist Temple house
Court documents in the divorce of Allen Prevo, son of Anchorage Baptist Temple pastor Jerry Prevo, and Holly Jo Prevo raise questions about ABT religious exemption housing. Or, in the judge’s words, “if there was a tax appraiser or a reporter from the Anchorage Daily News, things would not look good… it’s pretty loosey-goosey to me.”
Equality Works announces changes
Last Wednesday, August 17, saw the first meeting of the Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall to discuss “the best means and methods for advancing LGBTQ equality in Anchorage.” Equality Works, which led the campaign for the passage of Anchorage equal rights ordinance AO-64 in 2009 (later vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan) presents the following open letter to the community about how it is restructuring itself in preparation for a new positive campaign toward LGBTQ equality in the Anchorage municipality.
Dear LGBTQA Community,
After the recent Town Hall meeting, Equality Works felt the community gave strong support for a positive campaign for LGBTQ equality in Anchorage (either through a ballot initiative or municipal ordinance). Equality Works met the following Sunday and discussed how to move forward, be more accountable to and work more closely with the LGBTQA community.
Equality Works is a coalition of organizations working to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents of Anchorage from discrimination and unfair treatment, focusing on five key areas:
- Housing
- Employment
- Public Accommodation
- Finance
- Education
To achieve a higher level of accountability and transparency, Equality Works implemented a more formal structure. This structure will allow us to act more strategically and ensure accurate community representation, while at the same time supporting robust community dialogue, including easy avenues for input and guidance. This new structure includes two components: (1) Community Advisory Council, and (2) Campaign Leadership Team.
The Community Advisory Council will be made up of LBGTQA organizational and individual stakeholders. Our goal is to have as broad and deep representation as possible. Membership in the Community Advisory Council is based on a commitment to:
- Support the mission of Equality Works
- Send representatives to attend meetings
- Volunteer time
- Assist in fundraising efforts
- Assist in spreading the message of Equality Works
To become a member, contact Johnathan Jones at jjones@akclu.org or (907) 263-2006. In addition, we will be actively recruiting stakeholders to join the Community Advisory Council. All members will be listed on the Equality Works’ website.
The second component is the Campaign Leadership Team. This team will work in conjunction with a professional Campaign Manager to ensure the campaign is run in the best interest of the LGBTQA community and will succeed by April 2012.
Trevor Storrs will be chairing the Campaign Leadership Team, the Community Advisory Council will select its’ chair and Johnathan Jones will continue to volunteer as support staff to both.
Equality Works will be hosting a community outreach forum very soon to share greater detail on the new structure and the campaign plan. If you have any comments, concerns or ideas please contact us. We truly desire open and honest communications with our stakeholders and community. You can contact Johnathan Jones at: jjones@akclu.org or (907) 263-2006.
Johnathan Jones
Equality Project Manager
Equality Works
907.263.2006
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).
Drag Divas go mobile! — debuting Saturday at Anchorage’s S Lounge
Drag Divas are on the go, and invite you to their debut show Saturday night at the S Lounge in Anchorage.
A sneak peek at the line up:
- Drag Daddy Allie ( newly named by Rj) as your DJ and Co-Host!
- Queens — D’Licious as your Hostess! Candidate for Empress Mariquita! Hot Chi-Chi Longa! Mz Diane! Sofanda Cox! and a few more!
- Kings — Kemistry!, Random Danger! Stacey!, Noah!
Whew this is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!! oh got surprise performers as well!!!! OK enough info! The question is ARE U GONNA MISS THIS? …..we want to thank all of friends for opening your arms to us! We won’t disappoint!
- Date/time: Saturday, August 27, 10 PM to midnight
- Location: S Lounge, 720 Gambell St, Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $5 cover charge
- Further info: See Facebook event page or Anchorage Night Out event page, or friend Drag Divas on the Go on Facebook
Pride Foundation and Identity announce the James Crump Scholarship Fund
In honor of James L. Crump, who died in a tragic accident at the Anchorage Pride parade on June 25, 2011, Pride Foundation and Identity, Inc. have announced the James Crump Scholarship Fund. The fund, initiated by an anonymous donor, will benefit GLBT and straight ally students planning to pursue a career in nursing, medicine, social work, teaching or another helping profession and who plan to make an impact in the state of Alaska.
Pink Party Dance and Drag Show: Saturday night in Fairbanks
Drag queens, door prizes, and a silent auction will be featured at the Pink Party Dance and Drag Show this Saturday evening in Fairbanks. All proceeds will benefit Dance Theatre Fairbanks (DTF) a local non-profit studio.
As written up by Amy Nordrum for Downtown Association Fairbanks,
Drag queens working for charity on Saturday, August 20th will happily accept your donations and photo requests at a pink carpet fundraiser in the former firehouse studios of Dance Theatre Fairbanks (DTF).
“You’re going to see over-the-top dresses and lots of heavy makeup,: says Jay Howe, Ensemble Co-Director and charitable queen. He adds, with emphasis, “It IS appropriate to tip a drag queen.”
Why pink? DTF staff often jokes about how students love dressing in “pretty pink recital costumes” for performances, Jay explains, and this show needed a theme to make it fun and engaging. Wearing the color will get you in the doors for $5 less, and helps demonstrate your support.
Thus- The Pink Party.
“When you come in, everyone’s wearing pink,” Jay describes. “It’s an opportunity to support it visually.”
(Read the rest of the story at the Downtown Association Fairbanks website.)
As a bonus, The Safety Dancers — a dance group made up of instructors and students affiliated with DTF — will buy your first drink at the beer and wine bar! The Safety Dancers will also be among performers, as will the Dance Revolution Crew, described as “a few brave parents of DTF students…busting out hiphop moves” and a burlesque troupe called Crazy Shakes.
This event is only for 21 and up, ID is required! DJ and Dancing after. Come support a great cause and have a great time!
- Time/date: Saturday, August 20; doors open at 8:30 PM, performance starts at 10:00 PM going to midnight
- Cost of admission: $15 at the door, $10 if you come in pink! $25 VIP seating (first come first serve)
- Location: Edna Wise Theater (DTF Studios) , 656 Seventh Ave, Fairbanks (see map)
- Further info: See the Facebook event page
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.
Equality in Anchorage: What’s it mean? Who gets to decide?
What does “equality” for LGBTQ people in Anchorage mean? Who are the “stakeholders” and “allies” in the process of trying to gain it? These are some of the questions guest blogger Maxine Doogan is asking about the Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall meeting to be held Wednesday evening in Anchorage.
Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall meeting to be held Wednesday evening
What are the best means and methods for advancing LGBTQ equality in Anchorage? A ballot initiative or ordinance effort? Boots on the ground organizing? Working with the faith community, businesses, etc.? A combination of strategies? These are some of the topics to be discussed at an LGBTQA town hall meeting Wednesday evening in Anchorage.
The meeting has been publicized widely within the LGBTQA community on Facebook and in email, including in Bent Alaska’s Facebook profile. One of the meeting’s organizers is Bent Alaska coadministrator Mel Green — which account for her relative silence on our blog recently.
This meeting is ONLY for people — LGBTQ and allies — who have a commitment to advancing equality for lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans/queer/questioning people in the Municipality of Anchorage.
If you are a stakeholder in this process, whether you are an LGBTQ individual, a representative of an organization, an elected official, a non-LGBTQ ally with friends, family, coworkers you care about — we invite you to attend and participate in collaborative decisionmaking about how to advance our common cause.
This is a private event. We ask that people who are members of the media — bloggers as well as as regular press — attend only if you can attend as an individual stakeholder, not in your job capacity.
The meeting will be facilitated by Deacon Sara Gavit of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
- Time/date: Wednesday, August 17. Doors open 6:00 PM; meeting begins 6:30 PM.
- Location: A Street Event Hall, 637 A Street (see map)
- Further info: Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall group on Facebook, or contact Mel or Carolyn at lgbtqapartnership @ gmail.com. (Remove spaces in email address.)
Drag and variety show nets $3,170 toward an Alaska vet’s home
Editor’s note, 9/20/11: This fundraiser was organized by Andrew Caleb Pritt (aka A. Caleb Pritt, Andrew Pritt, Caleb Pritt, Drew Pritt, Diedra, Diedra Windsor Walker, Diedra Richards, Diedra Richards Ho Jenkins), a former contributor to Bent Alaska, who is also author of this press release. Neither Homes for Our Troops nor the Latseen Benson family received the monies raised at this fundraiser. For further info, see the story Homes for Our Troops: “Money from the fundraiser was lost” (Caleb Pritt) by Mel Green (Bent Alaska, 9/19/11).
