Sunday, 6 October 2013 – 5:19 PM
| Comments Off on A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013
Bent Alaska’s blog will continue in hiatus indefinitely; but the Bent Alaska Facebook Group on Facebook is thriving — join us! A long-overdue update from Bent Alaska’s editor.
Thursday, 8 April 2010 – 3:51 PM
| Comments Off on Anchorage waits for outcome of Midtown race
As often happens in Alaska, the final results of Tuesday’s election are not yet known. In a nail-biter assembly race for the midtown seat, Dick Traini has a 3% lead over Andy Clary, who compared gays to drunks and cheaters. A ballot mix-up that was resolved on Wednesday narrowed Traini’s lead to 147 votes, and the remaining absentee and questioned ballots won’t be counted until next Friday.
For the east Anchorage seat, Paul Honeman has a 6% lead over conservative Adam Trombley. Matt Claman lost the west side to Ernie Hall by more than the number of questioned ballots. Honeman and Hall are moderates compared to the previous assembly members, but both support our community.
Debbie Ossiander and Jennifer Johnston were re-elected to the assembly as expected. Keli Booher earned a respectable 34% of the south side vote against Johnston.
If Honeman and Traini hold their leads, the new Assembly will be Honeman, Traini, Hall, Ossiander, Johnston, Drummond, Gray-Jackson, Flynn, Guttierez, Birch and Starr. That appears to be four conservatives, four progressives and three moderates.
In the school board races, incumbent Jeannie Mackie won Seat B, but James LaBelle and Tommy O’Malley split the progressive vote for Seat A, allowing ultra-conservative Don Smith to win. LaBelle received over 23% of the vote and O’Malley had over 26%, for a total of almost 50% of the vote going to the progressive candidates. Smith got only 41%. He is a far right conservative serving where the majority wanted a progressive. That could make his position harder to defend next time.
Smith is the only fringe member on the school board. The religious conservatives have tried repeatedly to push a far right church-based agenda into the public schools. When O’Malley entered the race after LaBelle, he opened the door for a split vote and Smith’s win.
The land swap and the bonds passed, except for public transportation.
A big THANK YOU to those who voted! Every vote counts.
Andy Clary is the son of Anchorage Baptist Temple’s Glenn Clary. But he doesn’t want us to judge him as an assembly candidate based on his ties to Jerry Prevo or his enthusiasm for Mayor Sullivan. He wants to be judged by his own words, and by his current church. So what is ChangePoint’s stand on gays? Pastor Dan Jarrell wrote on Feb 22:
“God doesn’t hate people who are homosexual; he hates what homosexuality does to people.”
WTF? That’s twisted. Jarrell also calls us “pernicious,” which means destructive in a sneaky way:
“Perhaps the most pernicious behavior of gay and lesbian activists is their effort to indoctrinate children and encourage the promulgation of their alternative lifestyle…”
And what about Clary? During last summer’s battle for the jobs and housing ordinance, he was a staff writer for the anti-ordinance Alaska Standard and he wrote:
“Now, before I go any further, let me say that I am opposed to the ordinance myself, but for very different reasons. You see, I am a committed follower of Christ, and although I believe homosexuality is not a lifestyle that Christ approves of, I see it no differently than other sins such as alcoholism or adultery. Why do we Christians lash out against one sin so differently than we do any other? We need to be reaching these people not tearing them down.”
“These people”? He might have more success in reaching out to “these people” if he didn’t compare our loving families to chronic drunks and cheaters.
“What if some simply have not found answers to the tough questions they have? For instance, why is it that some people struggle with homosexual tendencies their whole life and others do not? It is the same as alcoholism. Some people are predisposed to certain types of behavior…”
Many gays and lesbians are comfortable with our natural and God-given sexuality. What we struggle against is the stigma of being different and the anti-gay prejudice of people like Clary.
“Finally, to answer the question, “Should you legislate morality?”, clearly the answer is again, no. It cannot be done, nor should it be done.”
The religious right often tries to legislate morality, as long as it’s their own moral interpretations that get promoted. Does he really mean that we shouldn’t have laws against murder and rape?
Clary told the Anchorage Press that he grew up in Prevo’s church where his father is assistant pastor:
“I have my own beliefs and I don’t agree with my father on everything. Yes, I grew up at that church; I do not attend there now. People will just have to judge me on myself.”
So he agrees with his father on most things, including his opposition to gay rights, but not on everything. What are the disagreements? He doesn’t say. But he belongs to ChangePoint now. Here are more quotes from the anti-gay ChangePoint article by Clary’s pastor:
“There are no reasonable grounds for considering same-sex unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage…”
“Support ministries that offer help, hope, and healing to those affected by homosexuality. Exodus International is one example of an effective effort to provide a way out for homosexuals who want help.”
Being gay is not a sickness that needs healing. Prejudice is the sickness. The pray-away-the-gay methods used by Exodus have been discredited over and over, but churches like ChangePoint and ABT continue to push the “ex-gay” lies.
Jarrell also tells his church members to become politically active against gays:
Get involved in the political process supporting any effort to preserve a biblical definition of marriage as a life-long, intimate partnership between one man and one woman.
And they have their own anti-gay “pernicious indoctrination” class for children:
There are many excellent tools available for any parent wanting to instruct their adolescent child about marriage, sex, and family issues… ChangePoint’s Due North program for 6th grade girls and boys is exceptional as well, get your kids involved.
How sad for those kids, especially the LGBT ones and their parents.
So, in his own words, Andy Clary thinks that gays (“these people”) are struggling with a lifestyle like alcoholism and adultery. His current pastor calls us “pernicious,” pushes harmful pray-away-the-gay methods, and encourages church members to get involved in politics against gay rights. Sounds close enough to Prevo.
This is NOT who we want to represent us on the Anchorage Assembly.
Local elections are important. That point was driven home during the ordinance battle between the assembly and the mayor last year. In Tuesday’s municipal election, we have several allies – and opponents – running for the assembly and school board, and it’s important to know who they are.
One opponent is Andy Clary, son of Anchorage Baptist Temple pastor Glenn Clary and current member of evangelical ChangePoint. Both churches promote pray-away-the-gay “therapy” and oppose gay civil rights. Clary supports Mayor Sullivan’s agenda, and will be Jerry Prevo’s voice on the assembly.
Dick Traini is running against Clary for the midtown assembly seat. Traini is an independent former assembly member who works on both sides of the political isle. Between the two, Traini is the better choice. Read Bent’s post on Clary and Mel’s post “Why I picked Dick Traini over Andy Clary, & you should too” on Henkimaa.
In other races, LGBT ally Sheila Selkregg is retiring and endorsed Paul Honeman for her East Anchorage seat. Honeman is a moderate and a supporter of our community. He’s running against ultra-conservative Adam Trombley, who opposed ordinance 64, has no ideas, and is a friend of our veto-happy mayor.
In West Anchorage, both progressive Matt Clamanand moderate Ernie Hall are supportive of the LGBT community. Claman introduced the equal rights ordinance last year and is endorsed by progressives. Hall thinks the ordinance should have been handled differently. The nonpartisan Hall is endorsed in this race by conservatives, but once ran as a Democrat for lieutenant governor.
In South Anchorage, conservative Jennifer Johnston is being challenged by progressive Keli Booher. Johnston voted for the ordinance, but generally votes conservative. Booher is young, motivated and gay-friendly.
Remember former assembly chair Debbie Ossiander, who allowed Wasilla homophobes to testify against the Anchorage ordinance? How could we forget that. Independent Joelle Brown is challenging her for the Eagle River seat.
Yes, we are also voting on school board seats, and there are two ultra-conservative candidates who promote ‘traditional’ education and no diversity. Creationist Don Smith made nasty racial comments about President Obama, according to Alaska Commons, and is the darling of the far right along with Bob Griffin. Both are running against people who are more supportive of diversity. Jeannie Mackie currently holds Seat B and is doing a good job. James LaBelle has the best chance of defeating the anti-gay Smith for Seat A. But there are two progressive candidates for Seat A, which might split the vote and allow Smith to win. So we need every vote we can get against him.
Your vote counts! Please learn about the assembly and school board candidates, and vote for the ones who support our community and the LGBT youth of Anchorage.
Vote on Tuesday, April 6 at your regular polling place, or vote at these general voting locations.
Friday, 2 April 2010 – 12:48 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/2/10
Happy Easter and Passover. Tonight is the First Friday Art Walk in Anchorage. Tuesday is the Municipal election for assembly, school board and bond measures. The Walk A Mile in Her Shoes benefit for STAR is also on Tuesday. Here are this week’s LGBT events from the statewide newsletter Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance meets Fridays at 4 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge. Jessi.
Wednesday LGBTA Social at 9 p.m. Email Joshua for the current location.
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 and Girdwood
Lez Zeppelin all-female tribute band plays in Girdwood 4/2 and 4/3, 10:00 p.m. at The Sitzmark Bar (base of Alyeska Resort) 21 and over only, $20.
This is no April Fool’s joke: assembly candidate Andy Clary is the son of Anchorage Baptist Temple pastor Glenn Clary, who called Mayor Sullivan’s veto of the equal rights ordinance one of Jerry Prevo’s greatest victories. The junior Clary also has close ties to Sullivan and served on his transition team. He’s running for the Midtown assembly seat against former assembly member Dick Traini.
“Clary’s father… is an assistant pastor at Anchorage Baptist Temple and has been a Republican Party activist. Andy Clary belongs to the same political party but a different church, ChangePoint. When asked at a candidate luncheon how he has served the community, he cited church work. He taught Sunday school, led men’s studies and cooked food for different events,” according to yesterday’s ADN article.
Did he switch from controversial ABT to the less politically tainted ChangePoint last summer, when Prevo threatened to take down the pro-ordinance assembly members? Is Prevo positioning Clary to be the city’s future evangelical mayor?
The article also describes Clary’s ties to the current mayor, giving us another reason to oppose him:
On an Assembly that’s been fractious over Sullivan’s leadership, Clary makes it clear he is allied with Sullivan, who became mayor last July. He served on Sullivan’s transition team, held a fundraiser at McGinley’s, the pub Sullivan co-owns, and says of Sullivan, “Generally, I like what I’ve seen.”
We don’t need another assembly member who rubber-stamps Sullivan’s personal agenda against the best interests of the city.
Dick Traini is a conservative with an independent streak. He has also said that he could support a non-discrimination ordinance similar to the one passed in Salt Lake City with the approval of the Mormon Church. The two SLC ordinances added sexual orientation and gender identity, but involved only housing and job protections.
But Clary will oppose everything that benefits the LGBT community of Anchorage. And as Prevo’s man on the assembly, he will actively work against us.
Midtown residents, please vote for Dick Traini on April 6th.
– photo of Rev. Clary asking ABT’s television audience to give money to Rev. Prevo in celebration of his no-compromise victory over the homosexuals, after Mayor Sullivan’s veto of the equal rights ordinance.
The Broadway hit Avenue Q is coming to Alaska as part of the Anchorage Concert Association’s new 2010-2011 season. It’s a funny and witty puppet musical for adults, based roughly on a grown-up Sesame Street, and includes a struggling to come out gay puppet who resembles Bert of Bert and Ernie fame.
Avenue Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice.
There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceé Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod — a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate. And would you believe the building’s superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
Called “one of the funniest shows you’re ever likely to see” by Entertainment Weekly, Avenue Q features a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart, risque and downright entertaining way.
Avenue Q is about real life and addresses issues like sex, drinking, and surfing the web for porn. Parents should use their discretion based on the maturity level of their children. The Anchorage Concert Association recommends the show for ages 15 and up.
Monday, 29 March 2010 – 8:00 PM
| Comments Off on Tell UA Regents that fairness matters
The UA system’s lack of protection for gays and lesbians is the topic of a front page article in this month’s UAA student newspaper The Northern Light. The article quotes Regent Kirk Wikersham as saying that he hasn’t heard much about adding sexual orientation to the non-discrimination policy:
“I haven’t heard anything antidotal regarding the issue when I travel to different campuses,” Regent Kirk Wikersham said. “I don’t know if (a policy) would pass right now. The board has not really spoke privately on the subject, but we decided at our retreat in January we would deal with it this year.”
Students have raised the issue before the board at every public regents’ meeting for over a year, sharing their concerns about the lack of protection for LGBT students, staff and faculty in the UA system. Apparently, Regent Wikersham needs to hear more.
If you study or work on a UA campus and have ever seen, heard or experienced unfair treatment of LGBT people, be sure to tell the regents about that (without outing the people involved.) LGBT people who are currently being harassed are less likely to speak up for themselves, for fear of being outed or fired, so it’s important that we speak for them.
If you have friends at other campuses, especially the smaller ones, please ask them to contact the regents as well. There are LGBT people at every UA campus, and the regents need to hear from them and their friends.
“Seeing as this has been an ongoing issue for about 25 years, I don’t see it going away,” [Jessica Angelette, the GSA president at UAF] said. “There is too much press and public interest, and not just in Alaska but the entire nation.”
Saturday, 27 March 2010 – 7:01 AM
| Comments Off on UA’s Gamble, Mayor’s Marathon, Walk A Mile & Felix goes to DC
Gay AK: Notes from and for LGBT Alaska
UA Gambles on another general
The University of Alaska has a new President: Patrick Gamble was CEO of the Alaska Railroad, a former general from Texas, and has no work experience in the field of education. Does he support adding LGBTs to the non-discrimination policy? I guess we’ll find out. Articles on the new leader in UAA’s Northern Light and UAF’s Sun Star.
Help Felix go to Washington
Felix Rivera is a student at Alaska Pacific University and the president of the LGBTQ student group Spectrum. He plans to go to DC for a two month internship at the Institute on Political Journalism this summer, and is looking for donations and fundraising ideas. Why help Felix? “As a journalist, I have a passion for social justice issues and would gain crucial knowledge in DC and bring it back to Anchorage.” If you can help, please send Felix an email.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes & Take Back the Night
April is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a nationally recognized time dedicated to raising awareness and preventing sexual violence. Check out the activities planned statewide, including the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser for STAR where males of all ages strap on women’s shoes for a one-mile walk in Anchorage, and a rally and Take Back the Night march in Fairbanks. (Remember Take Back the Night marches?)
A Merry (and gay) Mayor’s Marathon
An Anchorage LGBT group is planning to run in the Mayor’s Marathon this summer: “I’m sure we have enough of a following to be a strong presence as part of this year’s Mayor’s Marathon. Let it be a Fun, Merry, Joyous, and Exhilarating experience for ALL of us who reside in this community!” Join the Facebook page I’m Proudly Representing My LGBTQ Community in the Mayor’s Marathon.
Femme Fatale 3/26 at The Rendezvous & 3/27 at The Baranof Hotel, doors open at 9, show begins at 10 p.m. Two unique shows to benefit Four A’s in southeast. Tickets $15 each, or $25 for both shows.
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.
Fairbanks
Lez Zeppelin all-female tribute band in Fairbanks/Ester on 4/1, 10 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Wednesday social group. Contact Joshua for location.
Social Networking: “Use 1/2 the time, get 2x’s the attention” 3/30, 7:00p.m. Free workshop with Jay Her at the GLCCA. Please RSVP.
Lez Zeppelin Tribute Band in Girdwood 4/2 and 4/3, 10:00 p.m. at the Sitzmark. Tickets are $17 in advance (call 754-2274) or $20 at the door. Please be over 21 and bring your ID.
The very real consequences of DADT repeal; seeking survivor benefits for same-sex partner of Alaska shooting victim; waiting on SCOTUS decision about whether it will hear Prop 8 case; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
In this month’s “Ask Lambda Legal” column, Lambda Legal answers a question about the federal government’s longstanding ban against donations of blood from men who have sex with men (MSM).
Alaska Pride Conference 2012 kicks off on October 5 with a First Friday showing at Tref.Punkt Studio of Love is Love, a photographic exhibit of LGBT couples from across the state.
United for marriage: Light the way to justice. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26–27, in two cases about freedom to marry. Please join us on Tuesday, March 26, at the federal courthouse in Anchorage (7th & C) in a circle united for equality.
Pariah, a critically acclaimed film about a 17-year-old African-American woman embracing her lesbian identity, will screen at UAA on Friday, November 2, and will be followed by a discussion on acceptance in honor of Mya Dale. The event is free and open to the public.
