Articles in Alaska communities
SantaLand Diaries elf tale by David Sedaris, a benefit at Out North
On the day after Christmas, Out North is presenting “The SantaLand Diaries” written by award-winning gay author David Sedaris and performed by Ben Brown of Juneau. Out North recently lost a major funding grant, and this show is a benefit so they can continue fulfilling their mission of Art for Everyone, No Exceptions.
You think you’ve had enough of Christmas shopping, piped-in holiday music, disgruntled Santas, crying children and occasional crying.
Take your holiday headache to Out North and have your yule attitude readjusted with “The SantaLand Diaries.” Juneau-based actor Ben Brown performs David Sedaris’ hilarious autobiographical tale about his stint as an elf in the annual holiday display at Macy’s Department Store in New York City. Just as Sedaris took consolation in the fact that some of the other elves were TV extras on “One Life to Live,” maybe you can take consolation in the fact that you’re enjoying a great play, not out in the shopping mayhem still.
The SantaLand Diaries plays at 7 p.m. Sunday, December 26th at Out North (3800 DeBarr Road). Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 online. For more information, visit www.outnorth.org.”
“The SantaLand Diaries” is a benefit show for Out North this year, and we greatly appreciate Ben’s generosity. We look forward to spending the evening with you, and invite you to bring your friends.
The Grrlzlist shared this message last week from Out North to their supporters:
Thank you for your continued support of the cutting edge work Out North produces. Your donations in the wake of our funding pull has so far raised $25,000 in less than a month! The overwhelming majority of the donations have been less than $200. I know you know how incredible that is. We here are overcome with gratitude – and relief. Thank you for pushing so hard to keep Out North in Anchorage. We still have $55,000 to go to make up the shortfall, but clearly, together we can do this! If you have not donated already, I can assure you that you are backing a winner by supporting Out North right now. Your support now will mean that we can maintain our commitment to the artists and schools we had promised to support in Season 26. And it means that we can continue to bring you work you just can’t see in Anchorage, as well as vital inclusivity for ALL people and ALL arts. What happened to us is not an isolated instance. Out North’s funding was pulled because the funder did not want to support the kind of work we do here. To them, we went “too far” by programming a musical about marijuana and two films that featured the (award-winning) story of lesbian lives. To us, art is for everyone, no exceptions.
Please help support Out North – attend shows, buy season tickets, or donate directly.
New youth grant and Alaska staff from Pride Foundation
Pride Foundation of the Pacific Northwest is strengthening their commitment to Alaska’s LGBT community by funding a full time regional staff position and continuing to provide grants for Alaska’s LGBT non-profits.
Equality Works "Friendraiser" on Dec 11
Gay & Trans films in the Anchorage International Film Festival
“Craig and Shane were holding hands when they fell victim to a brutal hate crime off Sydney’s Oxford Street in 2007. The image of Craig’s shattered face on the cover of the local newspaper called Sydney’s queer community to action, and the couple were nominated leaders of the 2008 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade. The hardest year of this young couple’s lives is documented through endless surgeries, physical and psychological recovery and their struggle to plan for their future. But at its heart, Holding Hands reveals that even in the worst circumstances, we can all create positive change.”
“A group of transgender women are violently beaten and left for dead. After regaining their consciousness the violated vixens turn deadly divas and with their new-found confidence and courage, slice their way to vengeance. A homage to the exploitation/revenge films of the 70’s and 80’s, this film sets out to create a new and unique genre called — transploitation. Loaded with titillating dialog, bodacious bods and extreme violence, this revenge-fantasy proves that it takes more than balls to get even.”
Anchorage Discrimination Survey to be distributed in early 2011
by Shelby Carpenter / Crossposted at Alaska LGBT Community Survey
During the 2009 battle over Anchorage Ordinance 64 — which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Municipality of Anchorage’s equal rights code — one thing we heard from the opposition again and again was that there was no “proof” that discrimination was a problem that needed to be addressed. So this fall, a group of concerned community members and organizations came together to brainstorm how to compile this kind of information about the LGBT community in Alaska—both so that we can provide policymakers with accurate information, and so that we ourselves more fully understand the needs of our community. Thus, the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force was born.
The Task Force will complete two important surveys over the coming years. Our broader, more long-term project is the Alaska LGBT Community Statewide Survey, which will provide an extensive profile of the LGBT community all across the state. Over the next six months, however, our focus is the Anchorage Discrimination Survey, which will focus exclusively on experiences of bias and discrimination by LGBT people in Anchorage. Please look for the survey in early 2011! We need as many respondents as possible, and all answers will be completely confidential. You can find more information about the survey at alaskacommunity.org.
I will be serving as Project Manager for the survey, so please also feel free to reach out to me by phone at (907) 263-2006 or by email at scarpenter@akclu.org about any questions you may have.
Shelby Carpenter is the LGBT Public Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, and is Project Manager of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force.
Juneau extends senior citizen sales tax exemption to same-sex domestic partners
Sara Boesser writes from Juneau.
A wonderful thing happened in Juneau, Alaska, last night.
It brought to my mind the famous 1969 poster, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?”
What happened is, for the first time in Juneau history, a GLBT-positive ordinance came up for hearing,…and with no discussion by Assembly members, it passed unanimously. It will become law in 30 days.
Willie Anderson of PFLAG was the only one to speak — for the ordinance. Willie, myself, my parents, and two plaintiffs for the 2005 Alaska state G/L benefits lawsuit (Maureen Longworth and Lin Davis) were in the audience. But we didn’t speak.
Can you believe it?! It was exactly 20 years ago I and many of you spoke for the first time before our assembly seeking an equal rights ordinance. And that was a roaring controversy, with multiple meetings hours long for people on both sides to pound away. And we didn’t win then. We compromised, for a tiny step forward instead.
But now…20 years later…we didn’t even have to speak. But I could feel all of us, all of you, all of our energy of years past, in the room.
Thank you all, so much, for everything you’ve done — we’ve done — together.
We have moved mountains to get to this point. And oh — how sweet it is!
Sara referred to a story in today’s Juneau Empire, “City extends senior citizen sales tax exemption to same sex couples” by Sarah Day. The story begins:
The senior citizen sales tax exemption will now apply to same-sex domestic partners, allowing the city code to comply with the Alaska Constitution.
The city code previously allowed those 65 and older an exemption on city sales tax. Their spouse, regardless of age, could also receive the exemption. The wording in this code excluded same-sex domestic partners, which is unconstitutional. While same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Alaska, a 2005 state Supreme Court ruling stated Alaska’s Constitution prohibits excluding a specific group of people from benefits like this.
So the city had two options – include same-sex domestic partners or cancel the sales tax exemption for all seniors.
Congratulations, Juneau!
World AIDS Day events in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau
World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1 to remember those we have lost to HIV/AIDS, to honor those still living with the disease, and to commemorate the theme of universal access and human rights.
Events including candlelight vigils are scheduled in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Click through on the city names to RSVP organizers about your intentions to attend.
- Day/time: Wednesday, December 1 · 6:00–9:00 PM
- Location: Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road
- Sponsor: Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s)
- Info: Join us for our annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil to remember and honor all who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Vigil begins at 6 p.m. then afterward at 7 p.m. there will be a free showing of the movie “Life Support” starring Queen Latifah.
- Day/time: Wednesday, December 1, 4:00–7:00 PM
- Location: Interior AIDS Association (710 3rd. Ave.) with candlelight walk to 101 Dunkel St. (Morris Thompson Center)
- Sponsor: Interior AIDS Association (IAA)
- Info: December 1, 2010 Potluck, art, and open house from 4-5:30pm at the Interior AIDS Association. Candlelight walk at 5:30 from IAA 710 3rd Avenue to the Morris Thompson Cultural Center Theatre 101 Dunkel Street. We will have Anna Nelson, executive director of IAA opening and guest speaker Dr. Saltonstall from Anchorage and Father Scott from St. Matthews Episcopal Church. Other speakers TBA. Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to share for the potluck and don’t forget to dress warmly for the walk. Remember, this is Fairbanks and it will probably be cold!
- Day/time: Wednesday, December 1 · 6:30–9:30 PM
- Location: Baranof Hotel/Rendezvous
- Sponsor: Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s)
- Info: Join us for our annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil in Juneau at the Baranof Hotel, beginning at 6:30 p.m. then come over to the Rendezvous for a free showing of “Rent” at 8 p.m.
“Two Truths and a Lie” benefits Out North
As we wrote last week, Out North needs our help. A national funder representing one-third of Out North’s budged has “changed direction,” and Out North need to raise money in order to keep giving us all the top-notch stuff they’ve been giving us for the past 25 years. One way you can help is to attend one, or even both, of Out North’s performances this weekend of Scott Turner Schofield’s “Two Truths and a Lie” — all proceeds of which will benefit Out North.
Thanksgiving Eve in Anchorage
Two free Thanksgiving Eve events in Anchorage this Wednesday evening.
Eve’s Family and Friends Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Event info on Facebook
At the Raven: 4:30-6:30 PM
At the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage (GLCCA): 5:00-7:00 PM
At Mad Myrna’s: 5:30-7:30 PM
The event is free, but donations are welcomed and will benefit the GLCCA.
More on GLCCA’s portion of the evening:
The GLCCA is thrilled to be able to offer a family friendly Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday evening, Nov. 24, from 5 – 7 pm. We will be using the space next door at the YWCA for this meal. Please join us for turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and other Thanksgiving classics. If there is anything special that you want to have on your plate feel free to bring a dish to share and place it on the table. This event is free and specially designed for families or those who prefer an alcohol free atmosphere.
336 E. 5th Avenue, (info@identityinc.org) or 929-4528
The GLCCA will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25.
Wild Turkey Night at Bernies’ Bungalow Lounge
Event info on Facebook
Wednesday, November 24 at 9:30pm – November 25 at 12:30am
Join us and Wild Turkey in supporting the Food Bank of Alaska!
Here’s the run down: Come out on the 24th, and we’ll drink some Wild Turkey! Every $5 donation to the Food Bank of Alaska will get a chance to win a take home THANKSGIVING DINNER FROM MARX BROTHERS good for 8 PEOPLE!
Bottom line, we drink, raise money for a good cause and someone gets a (semi-) free turkey dinner without all the work!
Interior AIDS Association: Three Fairbanks events
Three upcoming events from the Interior AIDS Association!
This Friday, November 19th, join us at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in the Binkley Room for the 2nd Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction fundraiser – sponsored by the UAF Pre-Med Society. Tickets are available at Gulliver’s Books and at IAA. You can also buy them on line on the IAA website – www.interioraids.org. See details on the Events page. Students: $15, Adults $20, Couples $35. $25 at the door.
Wednesday, December 1st is World AIDS Day. Meet at IAA for a potluck and preview of First Friday artwork from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Then, we will do our traditional candlelight walk from IAA to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor’s Center (15-20 minute walk). The program will begin at about 6:00 pm in the Theater. Our featured speaker is Dr. Elizabeth Saltonstall, MD. She is the HIV expert in Alaska!
Friday, December 3rd is IAA’s official first First Friday. Join us at 710 3rd Ave from 6-8pm. Several local artists will be displaying their work. There is also some parking in the back (709 2nd ave. – across from Gambardella’s).
