Articles in Alaska communities
Pride Prom rocks for Anchorage and Mat-Su students
Over 100 youth attended the successful Pride Prom on Friday night at the end of Day of Silence, coming from all over Anchorage and even from the Mat-Su, and KTVA interviewed two adult supporters on the Friday News at 10. Julia, one of the student organizers, reports on the Prom:
“The bass vibrated the walls and strobe lights flashed on the dance floor. This was the scene that greeted LGBT youth and their allies on April 16th as they arrived at the Kincaid Chalet for Pride Prom 2010.The youth planned and set up the event with help from supportive adults and their effort paid off. The dance was a huge success and everyone had a great time dancing to popular music hits, many by request to the live DJ.The theme that was chosen was ‘gender bender’ and quite a few of the youth dressed up in clothes usually worn by the opposite gender. At one point in the night there was voting for a royal pride court based on how loud of a cheer the people nominated received. Two young men in drag were voted as the pride queens and they both received gift certificates.The dance went off as planned and many youth are already interested in helping out in planning next year’s prom.”
KTVA Channel 11 aired a short piece on Pride Prom and interviewed two adult supporters – Alex Barros of Four A’s and Anne Marie-Moylan of Identity – during the News at 10 program on April 16. The video is not posted on line.
Students all over Alaska participated in Day of Silence during school on Friday, and some came to Pride Prom from as far as the Mat-Su Valley. Here is a description of the day and evening by a high school student in the Mat-Su:
“So… Day of Silence.Per. 1: Mr. — took off points for me not speaking even though he didn’t even call on me. He gave Erica some BS about politics not belonging in the classroom. I should’ve ductaped my rainbow flag to my desk.Per. 2: No problems.Per. 3: Random guys asked me if I was a lesbian. Now that they know, hopefully they’ll stop hitting on me. They were really starting to get on my nerves.Per. 4: I had a whiteboard conversation with a friend about what happened in 1st period.Lunch: I sat next to my girlfriend and ate lunch quietly like I usually do. All of the DoS kids ate lunch in our adviser’s room.Per. 5: The sub caught me saying sorry and said that I should just give up and take off my DoS tee (which was over my other shirt). I flipped him off in french when he wasn’t looking. I ate a cutie pie (turnover) that my girlfriend gave me and then had a spaz attack because of all the sugar.Per. 6: No problems.Now, on to Pride Prom…My parents rented an impala and my mom put flowers in my hair and made a matching boutonniere for my girlfriend. I made french onion soup for dinner.Pride Prom itself was spectacular. There was a strobe light, glow sticks, black lights, balloons, free pictures, great music, and more rainbows than I thought existed. In the car ride home I fell asleep on my girlfriend’s shoulder. Bliss. Some moments I wish could last forever…”
That moment makes all the work worthwhile! Congratulations to the Gay-Straight Alliance students and the Pride Prom organizers for another successful Day of Silence/Night of Noise in south-central Alaska.
Trans Alaskans get back into Action
Exciting developments from Alaska’s Transgender community: the TransAK website is back online and up-dated with two new projects, TransAKtion and a podcast, and four members will be guest speakers at a special YWCA luncheon Transwomen in Alaska on June 16.
TransAK website
TransAlaska Pipeline, the website for the TransGendered Alaskans’ Social Group, is back and better than ever! New features include TransAKtion, an effort to form a TG non-profit in Alaska, and the up-coming “Good Morning, TransAmerica” podcasts hosted by Anja.
“It has long been a dream of mine to see an organization formed by us, run by us, that exists to help us.Transgendered people suffer discrimination at every turn. Many of us face violence, simply for being ourselves. Transition can also be cost-prohibitive for many of us, especially the guys. Many of us are forced into the sex industry due to lack of opportunties and societal marginalization of TGs.There is so much work to do. This website is the first step towards fulfilling my dream of uniting us into a real community.”
The podcasts are expected to debut on April 30 with the segments “Transpeople and Christianity: Does God have a plan for us?” – Part 1, “Life in a small Alaskan town” featuring a trans commercial fisherman, and a review of the book “The Riddle of Gender: Science, Activism & Transgender Rights.”
If you are the owner of a trans-friendly business, please let them know, so your business can be listed in the directory. Visit TransAK at www.transakpipeline.com
“Transwomen in Alaska” 6/16 at noon
Guest speakers Anja Gensel, Kelly Johnson, Michelle Gallante and Meaghan Lockard present Transwomen in Alaska as part of the “Opening Minds and Hearts” luncheon series at the YWCA of Anchorage on June 16, from 12-1 p.m. Open to the public, $15 or $10 for students with ID. YWCA Anchorage is located at 324 E. 5th Ave. RSVP 644-9605.
Trans Social Group
The Transgendered Alaskans’ Social Group meetings are held in Anchorage on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLBT Center. The Mat-Su Valley meetings are held Wednesdays at 5 p.m. at the Vagabond Blues Coffee Shop in downtown Palmer. Check the calendar on TransAlaska for more events.
Dan Carter-Incontro 1947-2010
Bent Alaska received this sad news Sunday evening:
“Dan Carter-Incontro, long time Alaskan GLBT activist and supporter of equal rights for all, died this afternoon in Clermont, Florida, at the age of 62. Dan had been fighting complications from diabetes for many years but finally was overcome by the disease. He is survived by his husband, Al Carter-Incontro, and many Alaskan friends. A Celebration of Life will be held in Anchorage at a date yet to be determined. More details will be forthcoming as they are known.”
Dan was known and admired by many, and will be greatly missed. Our condolences to Al, and to all whose lives were touched by Dan. Rest in peace.
Gay AK: locals win grants & awards, unblock web sites, thank Kristara
News and notes from LGBT Alaska
Gay Youth sites unblocked in Mat-Su schools
The Day of Silence website was unblocked from the Mat-Su school computers a week before the April 16 national event, according to Melissa, a high school student in the district. It was blocked all school year under the catergory of “Pornography/nudity.” She gave her teacher a list of blocked LGBT websites that are age appropriate for students and now they can be accessed from school computers. She thinks that this affects all schools in the Mat-Su School District, but she’s not sure. Go, Melissa!
ACLU wins grant for LGBT voter campaign
The ACLU of Alaska won a 2010 Pride Foundation grant “to identify, educate, and register new pro-LGBT Anchorage voters.” Since 2007, Pride Foundation has invested over $100,000 in twelve organizations that serve Alaska’s LGBTQ community. In addition, numerous Pride Foundation scholars hail from Alaska. The next grant application for organizations based in Alaska will be available in June.
Identity thanks Kristara for birthday fundraiser
Last Saturday night’s fund raiser for the Gay & Lesbian Community Center and Kristara’s birthday was a great evening of community, laughs, and donations for the Center. Our thanks go out to Kristara (ICOAA Empress 17, 26, 30, 32), Myrna, all the divas, Kevin and Paige, Mikey, sound, lights, food, folks at the door, and everyone who was there for this special evening.
72% support hospital visitation
In an unscientific poll conducted by KTUU.com Channel 2 News in Anchorage, respondents were asked, “Should hospitals grant the same visitation rights to gay and lesbian partners that they do to married heterosexual couples?” Of the 430 people who voted, 72% said Yes, and only 28% said No. The April 16 poll was in response to President Obama’s memo ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination in hospital visitation, including for gay and lesbian couples.
Gay-Straight Alliance wins UAF Diversity Award
The GSA student group at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks won a Diversity Enrichment Award and $100 at the SOAR awards ceremony on Saturday. The GSA is leading the effort to add gays to the UA non-discrimination policy, participates in the annual Day of Silence against anti-LGBT bullying, and raised awareness about the controversial ex-gays when a workshop was held on campus. Read the full story.
Student Leader wins Internship, asks for support
Felix Rivera, president of the gay-straight alliance at Alaska Pacific University, has been accepted to an intensive summer program at the Institute on Political Journalism in Washington, DC. The two month internship will teach him valuable news writing skills that he will bring back to use in Alaska. He is asking for help to cover the costs of food and expenses during the program.
“I am very much looking forward to DC, and also looking for more financial help,” writes Felix. “It turns out that I didn’t raise as much as I expected. Housing is provided – well, I’m paying for it. Money for food and other expenses would be great. I believe my parents are pitching in the plane ticket.” He’s leaving for DC on June 6.
The IPJ internship at Georgetown University selects undergraduate journalism students from around the country to attend classes in economics, ethics and leadership, and to serve in internships with major news organizations. Participants also attend regular briefings at The U.S. House of Representatives, the World Bank and The State Department.
Felix has a passion for social justice issues and was awarded the Hartman Writing Prize. He is active at APU and in the Anchorage community:
As a student at Alaska Pacific University, I have the unique opportunity to develop my skills as a leader, mostly because there are so few of us. At the school, I take on the roles of APU Editor (the campus newspaper), ASAPU Sophomore Representative (the student government), president of Spectrum (the GSA and diversity club on campus) and treasurer and secretary of Newman Club (the Catholic-based club on campus).As you can see, this encompasses many different positions and responsibilities. One of the biggest strengths I can bring is the power of religious dialogue, as I am an active Catholic in the community, volunteering with CSS and Brother Francis from time to time.In the community, I also serve various roles. As an employee of the Anchorage Youth Symphony, I have various connections with the musical world of Anchorage. As an intern at the Anchorage Daily News, I can represent the larger issues of the GLBT community in the media. I also volunteer in the GLBT community, representing Spectrum at the GLBT Alliance, serving on the Sponsorships Committee, volunteering for the Youth Drop-ins at the GLCCA, and working to start a subset of the GLBT Alliance focused on the issues of youth, which I am very excited to do!
Congratulations to Felix on the internship! Please support this current and future community leader. If you have donations, questions, or would like to know more about Felix and the internship, please email him.
Three Fairbanks parties benefit LGBT groups
Get ready for summer by planning PFLAG’s entries in the Golden Days Parade and Tanana Valley State Fair, then party, party, party to raise money for Fairbanks PFLAG, the Imperial Court, and Alaskans Together.
PFLAG plans for Fair and Parade 4/18, 4 p.m.
This year’s Tanana Valley State Fair theme is “Barn in the USA.” PFLAG will be planning our Golden Days Parade theme and entry for mid-July at our next meeting, on Sunday, April 18 at 4 p.m. Fairbanks PFLAG meets on the third Sunday of the month at 814 6th Ave.
Dance Party, PFLAG fundraiser 4/24, 9 p.m.
DJ White Chocolate/Nicole will once again be spinning your favorites along with new dance music so be ready to shake, shake, shake your booty! The dance party at Jeff’s house is open to GLBT people and our allies 21 or older. It’s also a fundraiser for Fairbanks PFLAG to help pay for the LGBT community’s entry in the Golden Days parade in July and the booth at the Tanana Valley Fair in August. Suggested donation: $5 or more.
Pretty ‘n Pink Prom, Imperial Court fundraiser 4/30, 7 p.m.
It is show time again in Fairbanks! You can be the next Prom King or Prom Queen. Join the ICOAA for a great show and lots of fun hosted by the reigning Grand Duke and Duchess of Fairbanks, Stephen and DixiE Normous. Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 8 pm. Tickets are $12, and all proceeds benefit the Imperial Court of All Alaska. Open to everyone age 18 and above, must provide proof of age. The Prom and Drag show will take place at the Pioneer Park Civic Center.
Kentucky Derby Party, Alaskans Together fundraiser 5/1, 12:30 p.m.
They’re off! Mint Juleps, mimosas and snacks, contests with prizes, like the most Fabulous Hat contest, as well as Virgin Gambling. Saturday, May 1 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the Cafe Alex building in Fairbanks (310 1st Avenue). 21 and over only. The actual Kentucky Derby race will be on at 2 p.m. Alaska time, and we’ll have a TV set on so we can watch the action. There is a suggested donation at the door of $10-$25, and there will also be a 50-50 raffle, with the proceeds going to Alaskans Together for Equality. Hope to see you at the Kentucky Derby Party!
This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/16/10
Today is Day of Silence, when students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. At the end of DoS, Alaska students Break the Silence in Anchorage at the Pride Prom, in Fairbanks with a group scream and Drag Show, and in Juneau at an after-party with the Juneau Pride Chorus.
The Fetish Ball is on Saturday at Myrna’s, and the Womyn’s Dance is the same night at the Snow Goose.
Juneau
Breaks the silence at a Day of Silence after-party in the Juneau-Douglas High School commons on 4/16 from 4-5:15 p.m. with a special guest performance by the Juneau Pride Chorus. Friends and family members are welcome to attend.
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.
Fairbanks
Join the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance for Day of Silence on 4/16 and break the silence at 5 p.m. in the quad area in front of the Wood Center, then gather in the Alumni Office Lounge for food and music.
The GSA’s Breaking The Silence Drag Show 4/17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hes Rec in the MBS complex, $5.
Wednesday Social Group, contact Joshua for the location.
Kenai Peninsula
Celebration, an LGBT art show in Soldotna, through the end of April at Art Works gallery.
Mat-Su Valley
Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues.
Anchorage
Break the Silence in Anchorage at the Youth Pride Prom, a hate free dance for ages 14-19 on 4/16. The theme is Gender Bender, but dress up formal or semi-formal however you want. $6 at the door, 6-11 PM at Kincaid Park Chalet.
Renegade Art Show 4/17 & 4/18, 2-7 p.m. at 235 E. 9th Ave (up stairs).
Semi-annual Womyn’s Dance at the Snow Goose 4/17, 7:30 p.m. $5 donation requested.
Fetish Ball 2010 with a medical theme, all proceeds to benefit Four A’s, on 4/17 beginning at 8 p.m. $15 at Mad Myrna’s.
LipGloss Revue Adult Drag ExtravaGanza 4/17, 10 p.m. at The Kodiak Bar & Grill.
Reproductive Justice 101 at the YWCA Anchorage 4/21, 6:30p.m. Facilitated by Tiffany McClain.
PFLAG Anchorage Booth at Bi-Lingual & Multicultural Conference 4/21-4/23 at the Sheraton.
Identity Friend-Raiser at the Kodiak Bar & Grill 4/23, 4:30-7 p.m. snacks, music and cash bar.
Day of Silence events in Alaska
Shh! Friday April 16 is Day of Silence, when students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. At the end of DoS, Alaska students Break the Silence in Anchorage at the Pride Prom, in Fairbanks with a group scream and Drag Show, and in Juneau at an after-party with the Juneau Pride Chorus.
Hundreds of thousands of students of all beliefs, backgrounds and sexual orientations participate in national Day of Silence to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. Founded in 1996, DoS has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
DoS occurs during Prom season, and same sex prom dates have been in the news more than usual this year. Some gay and lesbian teens in Alaska go to their school prom with a same sex date, but most don’t. They would rather go to an LGBTA prom where they don’t have to worry about the kind of anti-gay bullying that Day of Silence highlights. In Anchorage, students break the silence of DoS with the annual Pride Prom.
Break the Silence in Anchorage on Friday at Pride Prom, a hate free dance for ages 14-19. The theme is Gender Bender, but dress up formal or semi-formal however you want. $6 at the door, 6-11 PM at Kincaid Park Chalet.Break the Silence in Fairbanks at 5pm in the quad in front of the UAF Wood Center for a Break the Silence scream, then gather in the Alumni Office Lounge for food, music, and friends. A Breaking the Silence Drag Show is on Saturday at the Hes Rec in the MBS complex, and the ICOAA’s Duchess Dixie will be performing. [Note: The UAF Gay-Straight Alliance won a Diversity Enrichment Award last weekend. Congratulations!]Break the Silence in Juneau at a DoS after-party in the Juneau-Douglas High School commons from 4-5:15 p.m. with a special guest performance by the Juneau Pride Chorus! Friends and family members are welcome to attend.
Day of Silence is a positive educational experience, but the bigots are in full attack mode. A fake medical group sent anti-gay propaganda to schools around the country to stop DoS. Faux News riled up the tea party protesters by claiming that DoS was wasting tax payer money, although school funds are not spent. Several anti-gay groups tell parents to keep their teens out of school on Day of Silence because they might hear see that many of their peers oppose their anti-gay bigotry. (They’re often the kids who need to see it the most.) On the Monday following DoS, these kids are told to preach at school the dangerous lie that gay kids should be ashamed of themselves and should pray-away-the-gay, or at least pretend to be straight. And, no, they are not silent about pushing an anti-gay religious agenda in the public schools.
If you are participating in DoS, check the Day of Silence blog for information and resources like the DoS cards, Your Rights during Day of Silence, 8 Tips for Facing Opposition, Tips for the Last-Minute Organizer, and Four Truths about the Day of Silence.
What are you going to do to break the silence around anti-LGBT bullying and harassment?
Gay-Straight Alliance wins UAF Diversity Award
The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) student group at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks won a Diversity Enrichment Award and $100 at the SOAR awards ceremony on Saturday. The GSA is leading the effort to add gays to the UA non-discrimination policy, participates in the annual Day of Silence against anti-LGBT bullying, and raised awareness about the controversial ex-gays when a workshop was held on campus.
The Diversity Enrichment Award is one of seven awards given to UAF student organizations and focuses on positive social change through community education:
Diversity Enrichment Award: To recognize a student organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to enhance diversity on campus through efforts to promote a campus climate that respects and appreciates individual and cultural differences. Groups will be evaluated primarily on their educational outreach efforts. Groups can address any of the following elements of diversity: culture, race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, and economic status.
The UAF Gay-Straight Alliance has shown a strong commitment to promoting campus diversity through educational outreach. Their leadership on campus issues effecting gay and lesbian students, staff and faculty has benefitted UAF, the UA system and the wider community. They are an excellent choice for the Diversity Enrichment Award.
The Gay-Straight Alliance participates in Day of Silence each April to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Last year, the GSA wrote stories and poems on a Silence Memorial and held a candle-lighting assembly in Cornerstone Park. They broke their silence with a screening of The Times of Harvey Milk and a discussion of GLBTQ issues on campus.
This year, Day of Silence is on Friday April 16. The students will be silent during the day, meet at 5 p.m. by the Wood Center for a Break the Silence yell, then gather in the Alumni Office Lounge for food and music. A Breaking the Silence Drag Show is on Saturday.
At the beginning of the school year, the UAF students and staff were confronted with a large banner advertising a pray-away-the-gay speaker with offensive and controversial claims. The GSA supported his right to speak, but were concerned that the huge banner created a negative school climate for LGBT people and our friends. They contacted Chancellor Rogers, made a colorful banner advertising the GSA meetings and hung it next to the anti-gay banner, organized a peaceful sit-down protest, tabled with materials from reliable sources when deacon Delgado spoke, and even attended his first speech to hear and respectfully discuss the presentation.
The GSA turned this difficult event into an opportunity to raise awareness and spark a dialogue with the Chancellor, the Regents and the UAF community. In return, they received an outpouring of support from the campus. GSA president Jessica Angelette summed up the experience:
“The GSA not only had people stopping by the meetings after the whole thing, but it was so amazing to see how much support we were getting on campus… For those who were once worried about how the campus feels about GSA being on campus, that week the speaker was here showed us our campus’ true colors. The support we recieved was a happy and welcomed surprise. I have never been more proud to be a part of this campus then that week.”
During 2009 and 2010, the students of the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance are traveling around the state asking the UA Board of Regents to add sexual orientation to the non-discrimination policy. They speak during the public comment portion of every open Regents’ meeting, explain their concerns about the lack of protection for LGBT students, staff and faculty, maintain a Facebook page to keep the community informed, organize email campaigns, answer questions from reporters, and respond to attacks from a statewide anti-gay group. Their dedication has won them the admiration of the Regents and the community.
The Regents decided in January that they will deal with the GSA’s request during this year. Regardless of the outcome, the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance is educating the Regents on why this policy change is essential for protecting diversity at the University of Alaska.
Congratulations to the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance for winning the Diversity Enrichment Award!
Soldotna art show celebrates LGBT progress on the Peninsula
Art Works gallery in Soldotna is hosting “Celebrate” this month, an Alaska art show honoring the progress made by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. “It’s social commentary. It’s making people think,” said gallery owner Zirrus VanDevere, adding that it’s time for the Peninsula to start talking about these issues.
VanDevere told the Peninsula Clarion that the strong tension in Alaska between the live-and-let-live attitude and those who oppose ‘alternative lifestyles’ prevents many people from coming out:
“It’s something we should be talking about on the Kenai Peninsula,” she said. “We are isolated, in a way, but we are part of the whole world. If we don’t address this issue we are going to be left behind.”She said the show “could easily be a rant” but she wanted it to “be positive about the changes that are occurring.”VanDevere, who identifies herself as bisexual, will be displaying one of her own abstract paintings with a caption about being how and who you are.Other local artists who will be displayed include Donna Steele, Theresa Napolitano and Joe Kashi, along with Anchorage artists like Shelia Wyne.Kiana Johnson, a senior at Skyview High School, said she wanted to be a part of the show to demonstrate support for gay and transgender people on the Peninsula.“I have a lot of friends who are gay,” she said. “I thought it was a cool opportunity to show my art and a cool opportunity for people to gain acceptance throughout the community.”Her painting is an abstract representation of figures and a tree. She said she was trying to depict a separation between the bland figures and their surroundings that she says signifies our misconceptions of people, based on what we think they should be.“Having a show like this really shows how far we’ve come as a community,” said Sierra McKenzie Ball, a 2008 graduate of Soldotna High School who currently lives in Seattle.Her two acrylic paintings, “Bound,” and “What are we made of,” are of people’s faces, she said, and a reflection on herself and her own bisexuality.Having younger artists like Johnson and Ball display their work in “Celebrate” is something VanDevere is especially passionate about.“The youth becoming adults now are way more open-minded.”
“Celebrate” runs through the end of April at Art Works in Soldotna. An expanded version will open later at Out North’s gallery in Anchorage.
