Tuesday, 23 March 2010 – 8:49 PM
| Comments Off on Court upholds right to attend Prom with a same sex date
Students have a First Amendment right to bring a same-sex date and wear gender non-conforming clothes to the prom, a federal court ruled today. School officials violated Constance McMillen’s rights when they canceled the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend and wear a tux.
“All I ever wanted was for my school to treat me and my girlfriend like any other couple that wants to go to prom,” said McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi. “Now we can all get back to things like picking out our prom night outfits and thinking about corsages.”
School officials told McMillen that she could not arrive at the prom with her girlfriend, who is also a student at the school, and that they might be thrown out if any other students complained about their presence. The school board canceled the prom when the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition demanded that the district reverse its decision.
In the 12-page ruling, the court wrote, “The record shows Constance has been openly gay since eighth grade and she intended to communicate a message by wearing a tuxedo and to express her identity through attending prom with a same-sex date. The Court finds this expression and communication of her viewpoint is the type of speech that falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment. The Court is also of the opinion that the motive behind the School Board’s cancellation of the prom, or withdrawal of their sponsorship, was Constance’s requests and the ACLU’s demand letter sent on her behalf.” Further, the court says that since the school represented the private prom being organized by parents at a furniture store as open to all students, then the court expects that event will indeed invite McMillen and her girlfriend.
McMillen said that she plans to attend the “private” prom, but has also long planned to attend the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition’s Second Chance Prom, to be held Saturday, May 8 in Tupelo. That event, sponsored by Green Day, Tonic.com, Iron Chef Cat Cora, and Lance Bass, among others, will be open to all LGBT students in the state, as well as straight students who are LGBT-supportive. The MSSC and the ACLU deal every year with complaints from LGBT students all over Mississippi who face resistance from their schools about bringing same-sex dates to proms or who don’t feel safe going to their own school proms.
“Today’s ruling isn’t just a win for Constance and her girlfriend – it’s a win for all the students at her school, and for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who just want to be able to be themselves at school without being treated unfairly,” said Kristy Bennett, Legal Director of the ACLU of Mississippi. “Public schools can’t just stomp on students’ free expression rights just because they don’t want to deal with these students, and if schools do try to do that they’ll be dealing with us.”
In Alaska, some LGBT students bring same sex dates to their school prom, if they feel comfortable doing that. Many don’t attend prom or bring an opposite sex friend to fit in. But they have the right to bring a same sex date, if they want to.
Alaska also has an alternate prom for LGBT students and their high school allies. The annual Pride Prom is the closing event for Day of Silence/Night of Noise, organized in Anchorage by the Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs.
Friday, 19 March 2010 – 1:24 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 3/19/10
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.
Fairbanks
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance meets 4 p.m Friday in the Alumni Lounge.
Wednesday Social Group Retreat Weekend 3/19-3/21. Contact Joshua for the 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
RAW’s Celebration of Change Art Show Reception 3/19, 7 p.m. at Kodiak Bar and Grill.
Integrity, the Episcopal GLBT Advocacy Group, meets at St. Mary’s 3/19, 6:30 p.m. All are welcome for the monthly (3rd Friday) potluck, fellowship and worship.
QrSA Youth Initiative Drop-In 3/20, 12-3 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Imperial Crown Princess/Prince XVIII Candidate Walk-about 3/20, 8:30 p.m. at The Raven, 10 p.m. at Myrna’s.
MCCA Sunday service 2/21, 2 p.m.
Miss MeMe’s Birthday Gospel Show 3/21, 5-7 p.m. fundraiser at Mad Myrna’s.
Anchorage LGBT Book Lovers Club 3/24, 6:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 – 8:49 PM
| Comments Off on Outed Lesbian Sergeant returns to Alaska
Jene Newsome, an Air Force sergeant stationed in South Dakota, was outed by city police, discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and has returned home to Fairbanks with her wife Cheryl Hutson. They created a
Justice for Jene! Facebook page, and ask us to contact the Rapid City mayor and council on her behalf.
Newsome served nine years in the Air Force before the forced honorable discharge ended her career. She lived according to the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy and never told them about her orientation.
But the Rapid City police did tell. They told the Air Force they saw a marriage certificate at Newsome’s home when they showed up with a warrant for Hutson, who was wanted on theft charges in Alaska. Newsome was not named on the warrant and did not commit any crime. The couple had married in Iowa, where gay marriage is legal just across the South Dakota border.
Please send an email to the Mayor of Rapid City, the Police Chief, and the City Council asking that:
1. the officers involved in outing Jene Newsome be reprimanded, and the police department issue an official apology to her, and
2. Rapid City implement a non-discrimination policy that includes protections for LGBT people and applies to the police department.
Contact information for the Rapid City Council Members is
HERE.
Newsome and the ACLU of South Dakota filed a complaint against the police for invasion of privacy, but the bigger problem is the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. President Obama promised to support a repeal, and a majority of the public agrees that qualified gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve. Congress is expected to introduce a repeal this summer, and Defense secretary Robert Gates asked the Pentagon to start changing the policy. The third-party outing that ended Newsome’s career is yet another example of why Don’t Ask Don’t Tell must be repealed.
Friday, 12 March 2010 – 11:42 AM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 3/12/10
Juneau
Emma’s Revolution/ Pat Humphries & Sandy O in Concert 3/18, 7:30 p.m. Juneau Pride Chorus opens the show at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. (Emma’s Revolution will also perform in Sitka and be live guests on KTOO radio.)
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.
Fairbanks
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance Meeting 4 p.m on Friday in the Alumni Lounge.
Wednesday Social at 9 p.m. Contact 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
Over Coffee: A Conversation For Gay Partnership & Conservative Faith 3/12, 8-9:30 p.m. at Metropolitan Community Church.
OUT’s “Pop Superstar Night” Drag Show 3/13, 7 p.m. in the UAA Commons. Imperial Court judges, MC Paige, and stand up comedy by Colleen Crinklaw at intermission. Tickets $5, half of all proceeds donated to the GLCCA.
Holcombe Waller performing at Out North 3/12-3/14 at 7:30 p.m. & 4 p.m. on Sunday.
MCCA Chili Cook Off 3/14 at 3 p.m., following the 2 p.m. Sunday service.
Alaskans Together Anchorage organizing meeting 3/14, 4 p.m. at the GLCCA
Gay Games presentation and Team Alaska 3/17, 7 p.m. at the GLCCA
Thursday, 11 March 2010 – 9:06 PM
| Comments Off on Words matter on DADT polls, but labels keep us apart
Jeanette writes about health care and democracy on the blog “Day to Day Democracy Alaska” and sometimes about LGBT issues. In “Words, Words, Words” she responds to an article on the words used in opinion polls about the military’s gay ban.
In the poll, 59 percent say they now support allowing “homosexuals” to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it.
But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support “gay men and lesbians” serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it.
Jeanette takes issue with our dependence on any labels, and instead encourages us to reach out to others as people and get to know them as individuals:
Why must we care what word we use to describe ourselves in this world. Truly, no word can describe a person, or do much to resolve one person’s prejudice against another. The need to provide equal protection was conceived to protect people from the damage inflicted by a word or a combination of words. Because of equal protection under the law, I am not allowed to extend or deny to my fellow citizen access to basic necessities such as food, shelter or income because I may believe that a person’s character and worth can be defined by the color of their skin, their ethnic heritage or their ability to physically function at my level.
We cut ourselves off from so very much in this world, from potential allies, acquaintances and friends, when we allow ourselves to place people in boxes defined by words, and bullet phrases based on physical characteristics, or even outward mannerisms. We certainly deprive ourselves when we rely on the comments of others to determine with whom we may be compatible. Many amazing, spiritually mature and gifted leaders have throughout human history declared that to understand someone, one must take the time to know that person as an individual. By no other means can one ascertain whether another human being be friend or foe.
I wrote this comment, and I will end the article with it. May we all step out of our comfort zones in order that we find greater comfort in the companionship of others who we may not at first trust or understand. It works. I speak from experience. Some of the greatest lessons taught to me have been from those whom at first I did not trust:
What I long for more than anything else is to have a person simply ask me about my life – not my lifestyle, my agenda, or attempt to define my label. I am, above all else, a human being. I do not wear my hair in a particular style, adorn my feet with a select brand of comfortable shoes or even regularly attend the most public of rallies or parades for the LGBT community. My parents love my partner, and her parents love me. We have the support of our family. We could not exist as a couple without that support (get back in there and work it out, then come talk to us later). I do not hide my life, but then neither do I try and define it with outward props or affectations. Should a stranger need to understand me better, I can offer no one word or combination thereof to dispel their discomfort. All I can do is to offer them a cup of coffee, a plate of food, and a moment of my time, and perhaps, should both our hearts be open and free from preconceived resentment, we might become better acquainted and less fearful of one another. This method alone has helped ease my way in life, and open doors that might otherwise have remained closed to me, and the love of my life. I thank all those neighbors, relatives, states, persons and more who took the time to get to know us and accept us with love and understanding.
Thursday, 11 March 2010 – 2:56 PM
| Comments Off on Emma’s Revolution in concert, Pride Chorus opens
Pat Humphries & Sandy O of Emma’s Revolution bring their music of “truth, hope and a dash of healthy irreverence” to Juneau on March 18, 7:30 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, and Juneau Pride Chorus will open the concert with a few songs. They will also perform in Sitka and on KTOO radio.
Emma’s Revolution has traveled around the world and throughout the US spreading their message of peace and justice. As a duo, they performed at hundreds of peace and justice events over the last eight years. Their current tour is for their new CD We Came To Sing!, a collaboration with the legendary Holly Near.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, or in advance through
Emma’s Revolution and are $15, or $12 for members of co-sponsoring organizations. The concert is co-sponsored by Juneau Pride Chorus, Juneau Veterans for Peace, Juneau People for Peace & Justice and Juneau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
During their week in Alaska, Emma’s Revolution will also perform in Sitka and be live guests on KTOO radio. On Monday March 15, they will join “A Juneau Afternoon” at 3:30 p.m. Tune in to KTOO 104.3 FM or
via live streaming (click “Listen Live” in the top left logo.)
On Saturday, March 20 they perform in Sitka at the Sheet’ka Kwaán Naa Kahídi
Tribal Community House. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door, no one turned away for lack of ability to pay. Advance tickets may be purchased at Old Harbor Books. On March 21, they will be adding music to the Sunday service at the
Sitka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. All are welcome.
Emma’s Revolution has been called “Smart, funny and informative. Like Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart with guitars.” Don’t miss them.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010 – 9:54 AM
| Comments Off on Femme Fatale fundraiser returns to Juneau
Juneau’s hottest event of the year is the Four A’s Femme Fatale shows, on Friday, March 26th AND Saturday, March 27th. (Each show is unique, so mark your calendar for both.)
Friday night’s event takes place at The Rendezvous, doors open at 9 p.m. and the show begins at 10 p.m.
Saturday night’s event is at The Baranof Hotel, doors open at 9 p.m. and the show begins at 10 p.m..
Tickets can be purchased in Juneau at Hearthside Books, the Baranof, Rendezvous, Triangle and the Four A’s Juneau office. Or, call 1-800-478-AIDS to purchase tickets over the phone with a credit card.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010 – 3:26 PM
| Comments Off on Surfacing, New Pride site, Arctic Heat winners, Youth Drop-Ins, & DC Marriage
Gay AK: Notes from and for LGBT Alaska
Holcombe Waller at Out North 3/12-3/14
Portland-based performer Holcombe Waller presents a 1-hour performance combining excerpts from two song-driven works: “Into the Dark Unknown (The Hope Chest),” a theatrical folk concert combining songs, storytelling and video imagery, and a new work titled “Surfacing,” an silent film with live musical accompaniment that explores the universal themes of love, identity and language arising in the debate for GLBT equality. Watch a video excerpt from “
Into the Dark Unknown (The Hope Chest)” and check out
Holcombe Waller’s website. Tickets at
Out North Theatre 3800 Debarr Road, Anchorage.
Saturday Youth Drop-In meets twice a month
Identity Inc. and “QrSA” (queer and straight allies) are pleased to announce that the
Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage will be hosting a new bi-monthly Saturday drop-in for youth ages 13 to 19 only. The drop-ins will take place from 12-3pm on the first and third Saturdays of the month. The community center will be open to the general public afterwards, from 3-6pm.
Alaska PrideFest’s new website
This year’s PrideFest theme will be “Alaska Pride 2010: A Pride Odyssey” and we have a new website:
www.alaskapride.org. The old website is still active and current, and we will complete the transition after this year’s PrideFest so you can still find all the PrideFest information at
www.anchoragepride.com. We are also excited to have full state wide representation – we have planners from Fairbanks and sponsors from Juneau – and this year will certainly be an exciting PrideFest. Check out the new website to see this year’s logo!
Introducing the new Arctic Heat title holders
The Last Frontier Men’s Club is pleased to announce their new title holders: Alaska Cub – Shane, Mr. Bear Alaska – Kirt, Ms. Alaska Leather – Sarah, Mr. Alaska Leather – Tom. Congratulations to the new title holders! (pictured right.) Thanks to all the contestants, and to everyone who attended Arctic Heat Weekend and supports the Bear and Leather Community and TLFMC. We would like to invite men over the age of 21 to get involved in our gay men’s social club,
The Last Frontier Men’s Club.
Same-Sex Marriage now legal in Washington D.C.
Washington is now the sixth place in the nation where same-sex marriages can take place. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Gay-rights advocates hailed the day as a milestone for equal rights as same-sex marriage became legal in the nation’s capital. The law survived Congressional attempts to block it, and US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rejected a request from marriage opponents to put the new law on hold.
The first D.C. same sex marriages took place on Tuesday, March 9.
Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister who lives in Palmer, Alaska, and an ally of the LGBT community. This essay on gay equality – in church, in the military and in government recognition of relationships – appeared in the Religion section of the Mat-Su Frontiersman:
———
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is everywhere
I have been involved in advocacy for justice for our gay citizens for over 35 years. I have long been an advocate of full acceptance of gay people in our churches. No position in our churches, including the office of ordained clergy, should be denied. No blessing of our churches should be withheld. Gay people are ordinary folk. They live in our communities in abundance. For churches to impose different standards on our gay neighbors is a grand absurdity.
The time is long past to welcome our gay friends in our churches.
Along side the struggle for gay acceptance in our churches, is the pursuit of equality under the laws of our country. Under what provision of our Constitution can we possibly deny gay people the honor of serving in the military? Under what provision of our Constitution can we deny the same legal privileges and protections to committed gay couples that we provide to heterosexual couples?
As the discussions and arguments have developed, specific concerns have crystallized. Within the churches’ discussions, ordination and marriage have become central. In the realm of governmental bodies, service in the military and legal recognition of gay couples are core issues.
Fifty years from now, I have no doubt about the standards that will be commonly acceptable. Gay people will serve freely in the military. Discrimination based on sexual orientation will be long gone. Most denominations will have congregations that are served by gay priests and ministers, who have partners. Gay couples will associate freely with heterosexual couples. Americans will look back with amazement that discrimination against gay people was ever accepted, advocated and defended.
Just as we look back and wonder how we could have ever denied women the right to vote, so we will also look back and wonder how we could have denied gay people basic rights and privileges.
Just as we look back and wonder how we could have tolerated slavery based on race, so also we will look back and wonder how we could have treated gay people so shabbily.
What will it take to put this nightmare of injustice behind us?
The easiest part is to get rid of “don’t ask; don’t tell.” To rid our military branches of this burden, an act of Congress is needed. I suspect the votes are present to pass the legislation. Opposition by military leaders is rapidly melting away. Implementation will be smooth and simple. In the past few months, [hate crimes] legislation that covers sexual orientation has been passed by Congress and signed into law.
The thorniest issue to be resolved is marriage. As the argument has developed, the word marriage has become the issue. Gay activists want the word. Religious bodies want to protect the word from legal use by gay couples. Government has become unnecessarily entangled in the conflict. A growing number of people are saying that the real issues are justice and equality, not marriage. I could not agree more.
Much of the responsibility for the confusion lies at the feet of churches and ministers. A wall of separation between churches and government has served our nation very well. As a Baptist and an advocate of the wall of separation, I ask myself, “Why are religious bodies and their ministers involved in legalizing marriage? Have we become unnecessarily entangled in an issue that is not ours?”
The system now works like this: A couple who wants legal benefits for their relationship goes to the courthouse or the city hall and gets a license to marry. The couple sometimes goes to a judge, a mayor, or (in Alaska) a willing friend. More often a couple finds a willing minister. There are no particular words that must be uttered. The important step is that someone signs the license and returns it to the appropriate governmental office. There is nothing intrinsically religious about the process.
I once knew a retired minister who hung around the city clerk’s office. His services were on the spot. He made a nice living. He had no personal or religious relationship with his clients. It was a business proposition. This is an unusual illustration, but it serves a point. Is this the system churches want to legally protect by enshrining the word marriage?
Churches and ministers should get completely out of the business of legalizing human relationships by whatever name. We should not be servants of government in any circumstance.
To my many gay friends, I ask, “Why are you hung up on the word marriage?” Turn loose of the word. Your real issue is equal rights under the law.
There are many couples, gay and non-gay, who want the blessing of God on their relationship. It is the job of clergy to formalize that blessing. I have come to the conclusion that such a service should have nothing to do with legalizing their relationship. It is a profoundly religious service. Furthermore, in such a setting the relationship can be called anything the minister and the couple want.
Representatives of all parties involved need to get together and formulate a workable system. We are involved in a disagreement that has lasted much too long.
Thursday, 25 February 2010 – 1:15 PM
| Comments Off on Arctic Heat 2010
Arctic Heat Weekend is here! Come out and support the men and women candidates for Alaska Bear Cub, Mr. Alaska Bear, Mr. Alaska Leather, and Ms. Alaska Leather during this weekend of Fur and Leather fun.
Here’s the schedule, from The Last Frontier Men’s Club:
Meet & Greet
Friday, February 26th 8 PM @ the Raven, FREE
This will be your first chance to meet all the contestants and judges for the contest. We’ll have food, raffle items, a slave auction, and other Men’s Club goodness. This is a great time to meet new members of the club and get information about club events.
Arctic Heat Competition
Saturday, February 27th @ Mad Myrna’s
8 PM Doors Open, 9 PM Contest Starts
Tickets: $10.00
All candidates will be judged on the following three areas: Bar Wear, Fetish Wear, and Full Title Attire. We’ll have live entertainment, door prizes, auctions, and of course hot hairy men, and hot leather daddies (of all genders.)
Victory Brunch
Sunday, February 28th @ Mad Myrna’s
11 AM Cocktail Hour, 12 PM Brunch
Ticket: $15.00
Celebrate the victories of our new title holders. We’ll have a delicious buffet style brunch and fun entertainment.
* * *
A note from the Men’s Club: The Last Frontier Men’s Club has dropped it’s membership fee. The club recognizes that during difficult economic times it maybe challenging to some of our members to pay dues, so we have decided to go dues-free. But we are still a members club, and you must submit a membership to be an official part of the club. This membership helps us verify that members are over 21, are male, and are currently living in Alaska.
Half Naked Pictionary is another Men’s Club event, happening on the 1st Wednesday of every month, at Mad Myrna’s from 9-11 p.m. Come have fun with half naked men this Wednesday! Hosted by Men’s Club President Tom.
