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Alaska Pride Conference 2010

Friday, 3 September 2010 – 5:49 AM | Comments Off

The 17th annual Alaska Pride Conference will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 8 am to 4:30 pm at Alaska Pacific University in the Carr-Gottstein Building. The conference organizers are calling for workshop proposals and vendor applications. The forms are available for download at Identity, Inc.

Workshop Proposals are due by Sept. 15, and Vendor Applications must be submitted and paid in full by Sept. 30.

They have a special deal with the WestMark Hotel downtown for those who live outside of Anchorage, and have secured a block of rooms for just $75 a night. To make your reservation, please call their reservations department toll free at (1-800-544-0970). Ask for the 17th Annual PRIDE Conference sleeping room rate and they will be happy to confirm your reservation over the phone.

The AK Pride Conference is held every year in Anchorage, on or near National Coming Out Day (Oct 11). The mission is to facilitate unity within the queer communities of Alaska and our Allies, to promote equality for all, and to provide education and fun.

If you have any questions, please contact Johnathan or visit the AK Pride Conference 2010 Facebook page.

Four A’s 25th Anniversary

Thursday, 2 September 2010 – 9:54 AM | Comments Off

Did you know that 25 years ago this month the Four A’s was formed as an all volunteer agency that took helpline calls from volunteers’ living rooms about the new epidemic called AIDS?

For the next year, we will be celebrating and recognizing the incredible support we’ve received from the community for the past 25 years. This will include a marketing campaign taking a look at the past 25 years of HIV/AIDS in Alaska to illustrate how far we’ve come from those beginning days and culminate in a celebration event in February of 2011. Stay tuned for more as we kick off this 25th Anniversary Adventure!

“Did You Know” Fact:

The Alaska Department of Epidemiology announced the first three cases of AIDS in Alaska in August of 1983.

Watch for more 25th Anniversary “Did You Know” Facts in e-mails, our Facebook page and on our website throughout the year! Who knows, there might be a pop quiz…

Don’t forget the Arctic Siren’s Cabaret on Friday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Snow Goose Theater. Tickets are $15 and proceeds of this fantastic show will benefit the Four A’s!

Gay AK: Music, Dance, Free Food & Guest Bloggers

Monday, 30 August 2010 – 8:48 PM | Comments Off

Gay AK is a semi-regular column with short news items and up-coming events for LGBT Alaska.

The good news: my right shoulder should be healed in a week or two. The bad news: I’m right handed. I can manage the FB page, but would really appreciate a few guest bloggers so the blog doesn’t go silent. Any LGBT Alaskans with something to say? Here’s your opportunity. Send a few paragraphs to Bent Alaska.

Arctic Siren’s First Friday Cabaret at the Snow Goose is $15 a person to benefit the Four A’s. Friday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:45 p.m.)

Womyn’s Dance, 10/9 at the Snow Goose. We’re back with new music and a new sound system! Come alone, bring a friend, an ex, a blind date or a gaggle of lesbians, but come on out to the Snow Goose the Saturday night of the Pride Conference. Doors open at 7:30pm and we’ll dance until around midnight.

Marcia Stuber has offered to throw an end-of-summer Women’s Retreat weekend at her resort in Sterling. Her cabins sleep 2-4, and she slashed the rate to only $100 per night per cabin. Located about a 9-iron from the Kenai River, this promises to be a weekend full of fun, fishing, friendship, campfires, music, an all-around blast! Alaska Red Fish Lodge

The long awaited revealing of the Fairbanks HAUS oF FUSION: Join Beyonca Fusion on her ultimate coming out on the town party event with the revival of the long lost tradition of Follies of Dollies: the ReMix. Downtown at the 310 1st Ave Banquet Hall on Saturday, Sept 18. Doors open at 8, drag show at 9. This is partly a benefit to “honor & give love to our dear friend Richard Welch, a pioneering community member who has been instrumental in the “art of the night” for many years.” $9 @ door, 21+ only.

NE2010 was “a RAGING success with over 100 attendees enjoying three full days of educational classes and workshops taught by 8 national presenters on the SM and Leather lifestyles. Attendees were spoiled with a bustling registration brunch, brown bag lunches sponsored by the ICOAA and an off the hook farewell Seven Course Sinners Dinner with 10 performers and awards.” The Dirty Dick Award was given to it’s 8th recipient: Sarha was proud to award it to the GLBT community of Alaska.

Every Sunday night, Kodiak Bar and Grill on 5th Street hosts a totally free BarBQ at 7 pm. Chicken, steaks, burgers, fish, (different meats, different weeks, it’s just a surprise) but always very good. Baked potatoes with sour cream, butter, shredded cheese, chips and dip. Of course, you are free to purchase your beverage of choice. Music and dancing after the dinner.

Meet actress Sheetal Sheth at her Alaska film premiere

Thursday, 26 August 2010 – 2:11 PM | Comments Off

Yes, it’s true! Join this hot actress for a Q&A session following her girl-gets-girl action in the Alaska premiere of two award-winning lesbian movies, I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen, playing as a double-feature at Out North on October 8 & 10. And it’s a benefit! Tickets go on sale at Metro in September.

The timing is great. It’s right before National Coming Out Day (Oct 11) and the same weekend as the annual Alaska Pride Conference (Oct 9 at APU in Anchorage) and the biannual Womyn’s Dance (Oct 9 at the Snow Goose). With the conference all day on Saturday, the dance Saturday night, and the films and Sheetal on Friday and Sunday, you’ll definitely want to Come Out and join us!

Maureen Suttman is the organizer of the premiere. She chose I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen (see the trailers below) partly because of their rich multi-cultural perspectives and the long term lesbian couple who created the films. She wrote to Bent Alaska:

They have earned over 30 international awards AND haven’t been screened here. I happened to cross emails with Sheetal and stepped out there and invited her, and she has been saying “yes” for the last 2 months about coming here. Alaska sure does help in sparking interest.

Last spring, I saw 2 films that have been gaining the attention of both lesbians and the greater GLBT community. One set in London and a romantic comedy, the other set in South Africa and a drama, they both take on multiple layers of culture without losing underlying relationship themes — and while bringing tremendous heart and thought provoking images to the screen. Looking more, I found that between the two films they have won over 30 awards from around the globe. Further research into the production house behind them showed that at its helm are 2 women who are long-term domestic partners (and moms to their boys). Shamim Sarif is an award winning novel writer turned screen writer turned director. Hanan Kattan is her partner and the films’ producer. Together they head London-based Enlightenment Productions and are gearing up additional novels to movies, music and television projects.

Thinking others here would be interested in the films and the women behind them, I found myself compelled to show them in Anchorage. I sought out permission from EP’s main office and am happy to report that on October 8th and 10th there will be a benefit screening of the films I Can’t Think Straight and The World Unseen at Out North. In addition, and by an incredible stroke of good luck, Sheetal Sheth — co-star of both films (and NOH8 campaign supporter!) is coming to join us and will be available for audience Q&A and after-film conversation. Tickets will go on sale at Metro Music and Books in September.

Since the films’ releases, Sheetal’s co-star Lisa Ray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and underwent stem cell replacement treatment. Though now in remission, she was unable to work throughout treatment. Out of concern for her, there was an outpouring of fan support and a project to generate income for her was set up. The benefit film screenings will support both the Lisa Ray audio book project fund, as well as our own Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage.

“Check out Enlightenment Productions for more info on the films and the very creative gals behind them. More information on the Lisa Ray audio book project can be seen on Shamim Sarif’s blog.”

“Check out Sheetal at www.sheetalsheth.com. Her email address is there so why not leave her a message in anticipation of her visit? Personal experience suggests she will likely answer especially if you reference Alaska in the subject line.”

“Thanks and hope to see everyone there!”

Thanks to Maureen for inviting this internationally-known actress to visit Alaska with the premiere of these two great films! Let’s give Sheetal a warm Alaska welcome and fill that theater.

Where: Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road
When: Friday October 8 at 6:30 p.m., and Sunday October 10 at 1 p.m.
How much: $15 for the double feature

Watch the trailer for I Can’t Think Straight:

Watch the trailer for The World Unseen:

Coronation 2010 – Kickin’ it Old School!

Saturday, 21 August 2010 – 6:03 AM | Comments Off

It’s almost Labor Day weekend and you know what that means – Coronation!

Please join The Imperial Court of All Alaska, Emperor 37 Kevin Holtz, and Empress 37 Miss MeMe Jenkins for

“Coronation XXXVIII: Kickin’ it OLD SCHOOL: Back to Our Roots – A Trip Down Memory Lane”

on September 2-6, 2010 in Anchorage, Alaska.

EVENTS:

Thursday, September 2 at 5 PM:

SUNSHINE OVER SIBERIA

Annual meet-n-greet hosted by Empress 31, Sister Mary Sunshine

WHERE: Sub Zero Lounge, 6th Avenue & F Street in downtown Anchorage

(no cover)

Thursday, September 2 when we’re done with Sunshine Over Siberia

THE ROAST OF THEIR MOSTS

An irreverant look back at Kevin & MeMe’s year, brought to you by Duke & Duchess 9 of Anchorage, Mikel Wiles and Colleen Crinklaw. Please be prepared to skewer Their Most Imperial Majesties one last time!

WHERE: Either Sub Zero or Mad Myrna’s – we haven’t decided yet.

(no cover)

Friday, September 3 at 9 PM; Doors at 8 PM

THE IN-STATE SHOW

The best of the Alaskan Court Members will entertain you for hours! The worst of them will just get you drunk! Hosted by Their Most Imperial Majesties, Kevin & MeMe!

WHERE: Mad Myrna’s

($10)

Saturday, September 4 at NOON

THE BROWN BEAR BUS RUN

Whatever you do – don’t wear jeans with holes in them. Jus’ sayin… Meet at The Raven Bar to board the busses no later than 11:30. Don’t be late, or we’ll leave you in the parking lot. Hosted by the Candidates for Emperor and Empress!

WHERE: The Raven Bar (didn’t you just read that?)

($20)

Saturday, September 4 at 9 PM; Doors at 8 PM

THE OUT-OF-STATE SHOW

Visiting Monarchs dazzle us with their talents! Hosted by SoFonda Peters and Sister Mary Sunshine

WHERE: Mad Myrna’s

($10)

Sunday, September 5 at 6 PM SHARP! Doors at 5 PM

CORONATION CEREMONIES XXXVIII

We highlight the 2010 College of Emperors and Empresses Scholarship Recipients, honor our stepping-down monarchs, and crown the newest leaders of the ICOAA.

WHERE: The Sheraton Anchorage Hotel

($40)

Monday, September 6 at NOON

VICTORY BRUNCH

Eat, cry, eat some more, applaud, drink, and cry! The BEST brunch on the circuit!

WHERE: Mad Myrna’s

($30)

Visit ICOAA Coronation for updates and to purchase tickets for all Coronation events.

Fairbanks officer discharged under DADT

Friday, 20 August 2010 – 5:47 AM | 3 Comments

West Point graduate and Former Army Capt. Jonathan Hopkins was stationed in Fairbanks until last Tuesday when he was discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the military’s ban against openly-gay service members.

Hopkins lived in Alaska for several years between combat missions to the Middle East. He was outed early last summer, and continued to work on the base in Fairbanks throughout the investigation. His boyfriend of ten months, Finely Bock, of Ninilchik, Alaska, said the soldiers Hopkins led in Alaska were “very accepting” toward him and his relationship with Hopkins after it was revealed, according to the Seattle Times.

Hopkins, once the fourth-ranking graduate of West Point out of 933 cadets and an officer who led three combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, was kicked out of the Army for being gay. His last day of service was Tuesday in Fairbanks, Alaska. He left behind — grudgingly — nine years of risking his life and training soldiers.

“I love the Army, I’ve always loved the Army. Otherwise I wouldn’t have spent nine years depriving myself of the ability to have happy personal relationships with others,” Hopkins said on “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC.

Fourteen months ago, on the same day he learned he was going to be promoted to major a year early, Hopkins was told by his battalion commander that he had been outed for being gay. After years of paranoia — he didn’t fully realize he was gay until after graduating from West Point — the fatigue of living a lie had caught up with him.

“It’s a job that we risk dying doing, and yet we have to be more scared of somebody realizing we’re gay, more paranoid about that, than whether the enemy is going to blow us up,” Hopkins said, referring to the more than 14,000 gay people who have been kicked out of the military. “You have to keep that all secret and tell lots of lies.”

“It’s time for the best, most powerful military in the world to allow gays to serve in the armed forces.”

Hopkins and Bock are moving to Washington D.C. where Hopkins will attend graduate school this fall at Georgetown University.

Watch Rachel Maddow interview Captain Jonathan Hopkins about being fired from the U.S. Army under DADT:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Catholics reject ceremony for Alaska’s married gay-friendly Episcopal Bishop

Thursday, 19 August 2010 – 5:38 AM | 3 Comments

The consecration of Bishop-Elect Mark Andrew Lattime to the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska was set for Sept. 4 at a Catholic church in Anchorage, but the venue for ordaining the married religious leader was abruptly changed to a Methodist church.

Catholic news sites announced the event last week, focusing on Lattime’s LGBT ministry:

“Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will ordain an Episcopal cleric from New York State as the Episcopal bishop of Alaska on September 4. The ceremony will take place at a Catholic parish in Anchorage.

“Until recently, Lattime was a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester’s Committee for Gay and Lesbian Ministry, which “seeks to further the cause of recognition and legitimization of lesbian and gay relationships within the church and in civil society.” Lattime is married and has three children.”

Oh, no — he has a wife!

Lattime’s resume for the Alaska position said he is a three-time deputy to General Convention from Rochester, NY, where he served on the diocesan council and as a dean of the southwest district and a stewardship consultant, among his many posts. He is also a certified private pilot and was a volunteer ambulance driver for the Fire Department

The Catholic news sites didn’t mention any of his qualifications, only that he was a member of a committee on Gay and Lesbian Ministry. He wasn’t the chair or founder, just a member. They didn’t say what work he did on the committee, or how long he was on it. He was involved with a gay and lesbian ministry, and that’s enough.

The consecration was to take place in the Lady of Guadalupe Church in Anchorage, but is now scheduled for First United Methodist Church. After the ceremony, a reception will be held at the church, and a no-host banquet will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sheraton Hotel — where, in a sweet coincidence, The Imperial Court’s Coronation is also being held that weekend.

Kudos to the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska on the election and consecration of Bishop Lattime, and to First United Methodist for hosting the ceremony after the Catholic church backed out.

Protesting 101: How to make fun of anti-gay bigots

Wednesday, 18 August 2010 – 7:54 AM | 2 Comments

The Westboro Baptist wackos are threatening to protest Wednesday’s memorial service for Senator Ted Stevens held at Anchorage Baptist Temple. Most likely, they won’t come – they announced several Alaska protests over the years but only showed up once, protesting Anchorage PrideFest in 2003.

Many state and national dignitaries are attending the ABT memorial for Stevens, the iconic senator of Alaska who died in a plane crash last week with four others. Stevens was respected by Alaskans of all stripes, and a protest against him will not win points with anyone, not even with locals who support WBC’s anti-gay message.

But the irony of America’s most anti-gay, media-craving, batsh*t crazies protesting at the home of Anchorage’s most anti-gay, media-craving, batsh*t crazies is not lost on Alaskans.

Last summer, ABTers held Homos are going to Hell protests against the equal rights non-discrimination ordinance, which was passed by the assembly but vetoed by the mayor. Their mass produced signs with large block lettering on primary colored backgrounds, similar to Westboro’s ‘God Hates Fags’ signs, were designed more to get media attention than to get assembly votes.

The LGBT community of Anchorage and our allies held Equality Rallies outside the assembly chambers, focusing on positive messages in favor of the ordinance. The signs were creative, clever and individually made.

But our LGBT friends and allies in the lower 48 have dealt with years of anti-gay protests. They honed the counter-protesting of anti-gay bigots into an art form, bringing signs that turn the protest on it’s head by making fun of the haters.

Next time ABT and the local bigots hold an anti-gay protest, we can take our cue from the signs in this video and respond to their idiocy with humor:

Alaska conservative supports LGBT rights: "Their time is coming"

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 – 3:52 PM | Comments Off

On Monday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals extended the hold on same sex marriages until they review the Prop 8 case in December. The waiting couples will have to wait longer, but the case is being fast-tracked and the Prop 8 supporters will have to prove their right to appeal, which is still in doubt.

One side effect of this slow but inevitable progress toward marriage equality in the U.S. is that the issue is splitting the GOP, even in Alaska.

While the culture war conservatives are raising holy heck about Prop 8 being overturned and proposing a Constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage, the mainstream GOP is trying to avoid the issue, and big name conservatives are coming out in favor of marriage equality.

For example: Arnold Swartzenegger, the Republican governor of California, will not appeal Judge Walker’s decision and asked the court to allow the marriages to resume. Attorney Ted Olson is co-counsel on the case representing the gay couples and touts the conservative arguments in favor of same sex marriage. Republicans like Cindy and Meghan McCain are vocal supporters of marriage equality. Fox contributor Margaret Hoover wrote an editorial last week encouraging the GOP to listen to young conservatives and be on the right side of civil rights history. Even Glen Beck said that he doesn’t care if gay and lesbian couples get married.

But did you know that some Alaska conservatives are in favor of same sex marriage? Conservative ADN contributor Paul Jenkins wrote a strong piece on LGBT equality. Jenkins wonders

“why gays and lesbians are forced to fight so hard for rights the rest of us take for granted. How did we come to believe — and blindly accept — that gays and lesbians have fewer rights? How did we start being comfortable thinking of them as lesser people, second-class citizens at best?

As a conservative, I wonder at those who think the Constitution takes sides, picks winners and losers. Count me among those who believe it protects us all equally; that it means what it says and exists to provide equal opportunity and freedom from an oppressive government. No one group has more rights than any other. I’ve read the Alaska Constitution, and nowhere does it say, “except for gay people or anybody different,” and I’m here to report the U.S. Constitution does not either, at least the copy I read. In no place did I find, “but not gays or people we are not particularly fond of.”

Too many of us believe our prejudices somehow trump those documents; that our hatreds are somehow codified in them and therefore acceptable; that some of us, incredibly, do not deserve the same protections as others.

Some believe that enshrining religious beliefs and taboos in a constitution is not only acceptable but necessary. Face it, in this country you are allowed to hate anyone — as long as you do not act on your hatred. You are allowed to think what you want, feel what you want, resent, loathe or despise anybody who strikes your fancy. You can be prejudiced. You can be a jerk. But you have no more rights than anybody else — straight or gay.

Too often, too many of us forget that. We use our differences and our fear of gays and lesbians to demean them, at least constitutionally. We have no right.

No matter the outcome of the ACLU lawsuit against the city and state, or the California federal court decision, gays and lesbians are here — and have been since the dawn of time. They are part of our community. Now they are demanding the rights we have denied them, and it is increasingly difficult, even for bigots, to justify denying gays and lesbians the very rights we take for granted.

Their time is coming soon. Get used to the idea. We’ll all be better for it.”

Wow, great piece. So why are conservatives, even in Alaska, writing articles in support of gay rights?

Conservatives see the writing on the wall – gay rights are coming, and they might as well get their base ready for it. The GOP doesn’t want a war over this because they know they will lose, they have more important issues, and the youth overwhelmingly support LGBT equality.

Besides, gay rights is a great opportunity for the fiscal conservatives to take back control of their party and put the bigots back on the fringe where they belong.

Making marriage equality a bipartisan issue is good news for mainstream conservatives, and excellent news for gays. It’s also good for Democrats who have supported us all along and celebrated our victories. They know that once LGBT’s have equal rights, we can focus our political skills on other issues that are important to us and our allies.

The only losers are the bigots who continue to push an agenda of hate and fear after everyone else has seen the light.

Our time is indeed coming.

PFLAG wins best themed booth at Alaska fair

Saturday, 14 August 2010 – 7:16 AM | Comments Off

This year’s Tanana Valley State Fair is themed “Barn in the USA” and Fairbanks PFLAG won Best Theme Decorated Booth for their barn display with a red-white-and-blue picket fence and same sex pairs of barnyard animals partner dancing at a barn dance, including two cartoon steers, two male pigs, two female geese, two stuffed animal hens nesting in the hay loft over the dance floor, and an emcee rooster in drag.

Fairbanks Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) posted a Facebook message on Friday announcing the result:

“PFLAG Fairbanks won “Best Theme Decorated Booth” at the Tanana Valley State Fair! The booth has received many positive comments, gentrifying the Borealis Pavilion in the fair’s main showcase for non-profits, vendors and (this year) politicians. Congratulations to Jenn and Beverly for all their preparation and to the volunteers (especially to Kerry, who recruited volunteers) who have made the booth a success with young and old alike.”

Pete of PFLAG added:

“Besides thanking Beverly for the hard work on constructing the booth and Jenn for painting the animals, including the Rave Rooster, PFLAG also wanted to thank the Imperial Court of All Alaska for their support in helping underwrite the costs, and Alaskans Together for their support as well. It is a community project, with over 50 volunteers, several new members, and everyone providing their own touch in making an impact in community. Good job.”

“I hope the booth helped gain recognition for PFLAG,” wrote Beverly. “I hope the Fair gives us a good theme next year so we can rise to it.”

She’s also thinking of names for the two stuffed animal hens that watch over the booth 24 hours a day from the hay loft shelf, and wants your suggestions.

The Tanana Valley State Fair ends Saturday night, August 14th. If you’re going to the Fair, be sure to stop by the PFLAG booth.

Congratulations to PFLAG Fairbanks!

– Above: Shayle and Nancy staff the 2010 PFLAG booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photos by Chris.