Articles in Alaska communities
Gay & Lesbian Alaskans at the National Equality March
When Cleve Jones announced the National Equality March for LGBT Rights, he invited people to come “from Utah and California, from Maine to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida.” Four months later, several Alaskans marched in the Washington DC rally – and people noticed.
“From as far away as Alaska, thousands of LGBT people demanding marriage, adoption and immigration rights rallied Sunday at the National Equality March,” began a Washington Blade article on the DC rally.
“The National Equality March brought participants from states across the country — some from as far away as California and Alaska — and included a strong contingent from Atlanta,” wrote Southern Voice Atlanta.
A description of the Camp Courage workshop on Saturday said, “About 200 participants from across the country including Alaska showed up learning the basic skills of telling your story in order to change hearts and minds.” [Asian Pacific Americans for Progress]
And a 365.GAY blogger was impressed by “the huge number of young activists – or would-be emerging activists – present and eager to be accounted for. Students had come from Maine, Alaska, Texas, Tennessee and California…”
The Washington Blade reporter spoke with Maureen:
“Some marchers came from as far away as Alaska. Maureen Longworth, a lesbian physician from Juneau, and member of Alaskans Together for Equality, said she wanted to join the march because she’s always been a civil rights believer.”“A plaintiff in an Alaska lawsuit that brought partner benefits to state employees, Longworth said she hoped the march would push Alaska’s delegation in Congress to act more favorably on LGBT issues.”“Two of three of our legislators are very conservative, and not always voting in our favor, she said.”
Three Alaskans, Marty, Lin and Maureen, were interviewed by This Way Out, an international gay and lesbian radio program that airs in southcentral Alaska on Wednesday evenings. The complete Equality March segment is online HERE (in audio) and the Alaskans are interviewed near the end, between NAACP chairman Julian Bond and America the Beautiful.
Reporter: “You’re coming from Alaska?”Marty: “Juneau, Alaska. That’s right.“That’s a long way. I think you win the prize for longest distance travelled to be here.”“Yes, sore wings.”“What was the impetus for your coming here?“We had the privilege of getting married in California about a year ago, and then when the vote turned it around, it just brought [to our] attention that this is something that was really great, it was a really important thing for the two of us after we’ve been together for 27 years to actually be able to celebrate this. And it’s just wrong that other people don’t get that privilege and that right.”“Is this the first march you’ve been to?”“Yep.”
Lin: “We’ve been several times…”Reporter: “How would you compare this one to previous marches?”Lin: “This isn’t as big as the ’93 but the spirit is huge, and it’s wonderful to see a lot of young people too. I had already given up hope that in our lifetime we would have equal rights. During the Bush administration, it got very discouraging and now I feel like I have optimism again. It’s really wonderful to feel like my heart is more open to our government and the government’s heart is opening and softening towards us.”Maureen: “I’m here because I believe in equality for all people and I always have. I was raised that way in Los Angeles in the 60’s and we started demonstrating for civil rights for African-Americans when I was a kid. So whoever needs the rights, I will be there for that person. That’s why I’m here today, and they happen to be for me.”
Thanks to the Alaskans who travelled so far and represented us so well at the 2009 National Equality March for LGBT Rights!
Help Kalamazoo, Apply for Scholarships, Fix Alaska’s Property Tax Laws, Read the NorthView
Gay AK: short news items from and for LGBT Alaska
“No Discrimination” stickers
Alaskans Together created these “No discrimation” bumper stickers, and left a stack of them at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center in Anchorage. Pick up your sticker today!
Anchorage helps Kalamazoo
Join Anchorage Won’t Discriminate in helping One Kalamazoo, the campaign to protect the non-discrimination ordinance facing a recall vote in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Kalamazoo ordinance is similar to the one vetoed this summer in Anchorage.
GLCCA Open House x2
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCCA) hosted QLBTQA youth from UAA’s The Family and APU’s Spectrum GLBT groups for an open house, tour, pizza, and meet and greet on Sept. 26. Later the same evening, another open house was held at GLCCA to celebrate Diversity Month. The center was packed to the rafters with visitors enjoying each others’ company, fine food and great entertainment. See the October issue of NorthView, Identity’s quarterly bulletin, for more Community Center News.
Seeking over-65 same sex couples who own their home
Lesbian and gay couples in Alaska are not treated equally under the state’s Senior Citizen Property Exemption laws. Married residents 65 years of age or older are exempt from taxation on the first $150,000 of the assessed value of their home, regardless of whether the property is held in the name of the husband, wife, or both. However, same-sex domestic partners are excluded from the full exemption. Only one person in the same sex couple can receive the exemption, and the amount is essentially cut in half because state law treats same-sex partners as roommates. If you are 1) in a long-term, committed relationship with your partner, AND 2) at least one partner is 65 or over, AND 3) you are living with your partner in a home that one or both of you own, then the ACLU of Alaska would like to talk with you. Please contact Tiffany McClain at (tmcclain@akclu.org).
Pride Foundation scholarship applications
Pride Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2010-11 school year. Each year, Pride Foundation provides educational scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight-ally leaders and role models from Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington attending any accredited post-secondary school. They offer 50 different scholarships, but have only one application to complete. Just create an account and complete your application online.
This Week in LGBT Alaska 10/23/09
NEWS: Congress passed the Hate Crimes Protection Act on Thursday, and President Obama has promised to sign it!
This week’s 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
For info on these events, please see the post Fairbanks Retreat, Panel, GSA, and Harvest Ball
LGBTA Retreat 10/23-10/25 RSVP to Joshua.
The Halloween Harvest Ball 10/24, doors at 7:30, show at 8:30 p.m. Carlson Center $12. ICOAA.
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance, Mondays at 5 p.m. Jessi.
UAF panel on Anti-Gay Discourse 10/27 (Tuesday), 1-2 p.m. in the Wood Center.
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
Friday Movie Night at the GLCCA 10/23, 6:30 p.m. Anchorage LGBT Meetup group.
TLFMC Dinner 10/24, 6 p.m. RSVP to the Men of Alaska Meetup group.
AMP Launch Party at Snow City 10/24, doors at 6 p.m., Rocky Horror Picture Show movie at 7 p.m. Free, including snacks. Four A’s.
GRRLZ-only Halloween Bash 10/24, 8 p.m. RSVP for location.
Char & Teddy at the Indian House 10/24, 8 p.m. Ever Ready
ICOAA Annual Meeting 10/25, 3 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s
Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage.
Gay-Straight Alliance sparks dialogue on "ex-gays" with Chancellor’s support
The third Ally Week post celebrates the determined and creative actions of the Gay-Straight Alliance at UAF, and their allies on the staff and in the community, in dealing with CBC’s pray-away-the-gay speaker on campus last month.
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Gay and lesbian students and staff at the University of Fairbanks got an unpleasant surprise when they entered the Wood Center in mid-September: “GAY? LONELY? CONFUSED?” read a banner hanging from the stairs. The solution was to stop being gay, according to the “ex-gay” speaker Edward Delgado, who was invited to UAF by Campus Bible Club to preach on how he stopped having sex with men and became heterosexual through Jesus. His speech was called “From Sin’s Bondage to Christ’s Freedom!”
The banner listed the anti-gay group Exodus International, but didn’t mention that the Exodus “reparative therapy” methods are dangerous and discredited, or that Exodus supports forced therapy and incites hatred and violence towards gays around the world. Nor did it mention that Delgado is a deacon at Dimond Boulevard Baptist Church in Anchorage.
This was not a good way to start the school year. Nothing like a big homophobic banner in the central gathering place of the campus and a 4 day anti-gay religious event at a public university to ruin the welcoming educational atmosphere for the gay and lesbian students and staff.
But the Gay-Straight Alliance was all over it. At first, the GSA wanted the banner taken down.
“We aren’t looking to stop the speaker, as he does have the right to speak,” wrote Jessi Angelette, “but the banner is uncalled for. Many people from staff to students are offended by it and are working to have the banner removed.”
Their plan to ask the Chancellor to remove the banner started a wide-ranging discussion in the comments of the News-Miner article and Bent Alaska post about freedom of speech and using more speech, especially humor, to counter hate and absurdity.
The students prepared factual flyers on the so-called “therapy,” wrote on the UAF free speech wall, organized a peaceful sit-down protest, and created a positive banner to hang next to the anti-gay one.
Delgado’s first speech was on Tuesday Sept. 15. “There were GSA members who went to hear what the speaker had to say, including me,” wrote Jessi. “We thought that if we were going to be opposing someone we might as well hear what we were opposing.”
Was he reasonable? “I would have to say no,” Jessi replied. “One person said to the speaker that he was happy for him that he found God and everything but that he is happy with who he is and was wondering if the speaker could show him the same kindness and be happy for him… the speaker said NO.”
“One GSA member said the speaker gave the most hateful loving speech she has ever heard.”
That night, UAF Chancellor Brian Rogers addressed the issue during the Convocation ceremony:
“I’m committed to an open and welcoming and inclusive university. It’s important to me that this is a community where people feel safe and able to pursue their academic goals. I know there are times where this campus does not feel welcoming, inclusive or safe to some of our members. I’d like to change that.”“For those in this community who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, I’m sorry that there are people who are intolerant of who you are.”
The video of his speech includes photos of the anti-gay banner and the free speech wall:
With the support of the Chancellor, the GSA fought the “ex-gay” lies with truth and humor, and creative support came from all sides.
A few students put up a temporary banner near the anti-gay one, but it was quickly replaced with an approved banner advertising the weekly GSA meetings. The rainbow poster (above) starts, “Gay? Bi? Ally? Be Proud! STOP the HATE.”
“I was contacted by a friend who does graphics and he offered to do the graphic for us on the computer so that we could get it printed right away,” wrote Jessi. “We then took it to the Graphics Artist in the Wood Center and he printed it for us, then we talked to the scheduling office and got the banner authorized to go up that day.”
Creative responses also came from UAF staff. Kate Wattum’s photoshopped parody-banner advertised her “Life of Laughter (lol)” story “Move Forward, Never Straight: ‘Gay’ for 46 years and partnered to a fabulous woman and has three children!”
But Wattum thought the anti-gay banner should stay up for a different reason. “I think it is absolutely critical that everyone is reminded that gays face this harassment every day,” she wrote.
Fairbanks resident and “Nuggets” creator Jamie Smith, a former UAF student, drew a cartoon about it for his blog ink & snow:
“Delgado was quoted saying ‘the homosexual lifestyle leads to promiscuity, abuse, alcoholism and drug abuse’…”“Fact is, the vast, overwhelming number of promiscuous, diseased, abusive drug-addicted alcoholics (some of the darned nicest folks you’d ever ask for as friends, I might add) are heterosexuals. You know, the very same people who keep constantly screwing up marriage; that righteous bastion of American moral purity, the sacred institution threatened with destruction by same-sex unions.”“Never got around to hearing any of Delgado’s speeches, or a chance to confront the guy with his hypocrisy… But when all’s said and done, I’m left using the tools that I have been blessed with, lobbing poo from the sidelines. So I went home and drew about it…”
Meanwhile, Jim Minnery, president of the Alaska Family Council, told their parent organization Focus on the Family that Chancellor Rogers refused to bar Delgado from the campus, entirely missing the point that the GSA never asked for him to be barred. FOF recently got out of the ex-gay business because their donations are down this year.
“Kudos to him,” Minnery said. “There are folks on the campus that may have a more conservative bent in their mindset, and I hope they’re emboldened by this.”
But the students who were made bold by the Chancellor’s speech and the outpouring of support from the campus and community are the gay and straight students who faced this threat together and grew stronger.
“The GSA has an amazing amount of energy and has spearheaded quite a bit of that toward some good dialogue,” wrote Pete Pinney of PFLAG Fairbanks. “We support them.”
Jessi summed up the week for the GSA:
“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. While we were doing our sit-down protest, a very nice man bought a few of us hot chocolate, and then later on even our Chancellor sat down with us for a few mintues… ON THE FLOOR!”“We have had so many people tell us we were so awesome in the way we handled ourselves. 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.”
Kudos to the Gay-Straight Alliance for being true allies!
Anchorage man wins OfficeMax Diversity Award
The second post for Ally Week 2009 highlights business ally OfficeMax and local employee Christopher Oeser, who won a company-wide Diversity Award for marching in the Anchorage Pride Parade with the OfficeMax banner.
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Gays and lesbians in Anchorage have many workplace allies, from corporations with LGBT-inclusive diversity policies to small business owners who supported our efforts for a non-discrimination ordinance. One business ally is OfficeMax, a multinational office supply company with stores in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
“I just found out that my work made me the 2009 diversity champion,” enthused Chris Oser on August 8, three days before the Assembly passed the ordinance and nine days before the mayor vetoed it.
“There are only 3 diversity champions in the whole company… I am having dinner with the CEO in September and I get a trophy. I am way excited and wanted everyone to know. Officemax is an awesome place to shop and work for the LGBT community!”
What did Chris do to win a company-wide diversity award? And what did OfficeMax do to get such a loyal employee?
In May, Chris called the corporate office and suggested that OfficeMax support LGBT diversity for the month of June. “Our work is all about cultural diversity and working inclusively with each other, and they pride themselves on doing that,” he wrote.
And they did, as Bent reported on June 4. When Chris returned to work at the OfficeMax store in the Northway Mall, he saw a rainbow poster in the break room that read, “OfficeMax Celebrates Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Pride Month: Embracing Inclusion.”
“My company OfficeMax made this June LGBT Pride Month,” wrote Chris on the PrideFest wall. “I am so proud to work there!”
So he asked if he could march in the local pride parade with the company’s diversity banner. And they said yes. Chris and a few others marched in Anchorage PrideFest holding a colorful banner with the message “OfficeMax: Celebrating Diversity Through Inclusion.”
OfficeMax displayed their Pride Month posters in many stores and their LGBT employees marched in other pride parades. They even had a float in Chicago Pride. But they had never been represented in Anchorage PrideFest until Chris came along.
So they honored their proud employee with a company award. Just three days before the Mayor’s no-diversity-allowed Unity Dinner, the CEO of OfficeMax flew to Anchorage to present a Diversity Award to Chris.
CEO Sam Duncan, Diversity officer Caroline Brooks, the head of Retail and head of Human Resources all attended the special Diversity Lunch on September 22 at the Northway Mall OfficeMax store. Leaders of the Anchorage LGBT community came to share the moment with Chris, including Phyllis Rhodes of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center, and Kevin Holtz & Miss MeMe of the Imperial Court of All Alaska.
“We had seafood dishes, King crab legs, and really good desert,” wrote Chris. “I played piano for everyone. Most people didn’t know that I could play 13 instruments.”
And that’s how OfficeMax showed their employees and the community that they Celebrate Diversity Through Inclusion. Even LGBT inclusion. Even here in Anchorage.
(Too bad the mayor wasn’t listening.)
Fairbanks Retreat, Panel, GSA, and Harvest Ball
Gays and allies in Fairbanks can enjoy an interesting variety of events in the next few weeks: the Wednesday social group is holding a cabin retreat, the UAF Women’s Studies Program is hosting a discussion on anti-gay talk, the Gay-Straight Alliance is showing the Laramie Project movie, and the Imperial Court of All Alaska is celebrating Halloween a week early with “A Haunted Enchantment” Harvest Ball at the Carlson Center.
Wednesday Social & Retreat
LGBT people and allies have been meeting on Wednesday nights around 9 p.m. In addition to the weekly social, the group rented a cabin on Oct. 23-25 for an LGBTA Retreat. “If you just want to stop out and chill instead of spending the night, you are welcome to do that too,” writes Joshua, the coordinator. RSVP to Joshua for the locations of the retreat and the Wednesday social.
UAF: Anti-Gay Discourse & Gay-Straight Alliance
The UAF Women’s Studies Program is hosting a panel discussion called “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Anti-Gay Discourse” from 1-2 p.m. in the Wood Center Multilevel Lounge on Tuesday, October 27. Chris Coffman (WMS Program Coordinator and English faculty), will moderate. Panelists include Sine Anahita of Sociology, Tim Lower of Psychology, Joseph Thompson of Philosophy, Jordan Titus of Sociology, and possibly others.
This semester, the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance is meeting on Mondays at 5 p.m. They will be sponsoring a free showing of The Laramie Project movie in Schaible Auditorium on Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. Email Jessi for the location of the GSA meetings.
“A Haunted Enchantment” Harvest Ball
The Grand Duchess and Grand Duke of Fairbanks invite you to their Harvest Ball “A Haunted Enchantment” on October 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carlson Center. The doors open at 7:30 p.m., the show starts at 8:30, and tickets are $12.
The Harvest Ball is a costume party and drag show fundraiser that introduces the community to the newly elected Duchess and Duke of Fairbanks. “A Haunted Enchantment” includes performances by members of the Imperial Court of All Alaska (ICOAA) and by members of the wider community. Everyone is welcome to participate by attending, donating the entrance fee, or getting on stage and performing.
The Fairbanks Court holds several events throughout the year to raise money for two charity organizations, chosen by the Duchess and Duke at the end of their reign. More information is available on the main ICOAA website.
Please Help Captain Kaos get a New Leg
Captain Kaos needs our help! Kaos, a.k.a. Kevin Bohall, is a karaoke performer and ex-security guard at Mad Myrna’s. He lost his right leg below the knee this summer and can’t drive or work until he gets a prosthetic leg. Social Security and public assistance turned him down, so Laurie Branstiter is collecting donations and throwing a benefit Pirate Karaoke party at Myrna’s on October 22 to help Kevin get his leg.
This is Kevin’s story, as told to Bent Alaska by Laurie:
“Kevin lost his right foot and partial leg to diabetes in June 2009. He was working for a local landscaping company when he developed a blister on his right foot. His employer wouldn’t allow anyone time off during the ‘busy season’ without 3 weeks notice. Kevin didn’t realize his diabetes had flared up again and his body couldn’t fight the diabetes and the infection in his foot. It soon turned gangrene. He was lucky and it is a “BKA” (below knee amputation).”
“Kevin had just started his dream job as a truck driver for Klondike Cement. But without a right foot, he cannot drive. He doesn’t consider himself ‘disabled’ and is anxious to get back to work.”
“We applied for Social Security Disability – denied and on appeal; State of Alaska Public Assistance and Unemployment – denied; Love, Inc. has given us food and we are on waiting list for rent assistance; Limbs for Life has been contacted and he’s on a waiting list.”
“I have been supporting Kevin, my 15-year old son and myself since June. We are $4000 behind in rent and utilities. Kevin has a couple of credit cards that we haven’t been able to pay on.”
“Kevin loves to perform karaoke at Myrna’s. He uses the name Capt. Kaos as his stage name. It is actually a character (played by Dom Deluise) in Cannonball Run, one of Kevin’s favorite movies.”
Kevin and Laurie are active allies in the Mad Myrna’s community and held a fundraiser there last year for diabetes and the Cancer Association.
Their friends are stepping forward to help. Marsha Brannan is giving $8 from every $12.50 fleece neck warmer she sells to the Kevin Bohall Prosthetic Fund. The neck warmers are available in solid black, cream, red, or blue and can be shipped anywhere in the United States. Email Marsha to order.
Despite the roadblocks, Laurie is hopeful. “Thank you and God Bless each of you for taking the time to read about Kevin.”
Donations can be made to the Kevin Bohall Prosthetic Fundraiser account at First National Bank Alaska. Donations will also be accepted at the door during the Pirate Karaoke party at Myrna’s, 8 p.m. on October 22. Please email Laurie to help with the party.
This Week in LGBT Alaska 10/16/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Men’s Movie Night 10/17, 7 p.m. Email SEAGLA for details.
Fairbanks
Wednesday LGBTA Social at 9 p.m. Email Joshua for the current location.
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance, Mondays at 5 p.m. Jessi.
Mat-Su Valley
LGBTA Potluck 10/17, 3 p.m. at the Community Center.
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
Bryan Emler at MCC: “How To Be A Superhero” 10/16, 7-8 p.m.
Ever Ready in Eagle River at the VFW 10/16, 7:30-11:30 p.m.
Mad Myrna’s Diva Variety Show, with MCs Daphne DoAll & Duchess Paige, 9 p.m
LipGLoss Review Drag Divas and Kings 10/16, 10:30 p.m. at Kodiak Bar.
Bryan Emler at MCC: “Dream Big” 10/17, 7-8 p.m.
Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.
Jay Her’s PINK Comedy Hypnosis Show 10/17, 9 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Salon DaVinci’s 2nd Annual Fall Harvest Fundraiser for Four A’s 10/18, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday worship, 2 p.m. at MCC Anchorage.
Gay, Joyous and Free AA Meeting, Mondays 6 p.m. at the GLCCA.
“Taking Woodstock” at Beartooth Theater 10/20-10/22, 5:30 p.m.
Step by Step Bible study group, Wednesdays 7-8 p.m. at MCC Anchorage.
Capt Kaos Fundraiser 10/22, 8 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Emler brings ‘inspirational comedy with a call to action’ to MCC
Bryan Emler, a gay comedian and motivational humor speaker from Arizona, will perform two shows in Anchorage this week: “How To Be A Superhero (Without Wearing Your Underwear In Public)” on Friday October 16, and “Dream Big (Size Matters)” on Saturday October 17. Both are fundraisers for the Metropolitan Community Church.
“After the ordinance hearings, we thought the community might want to come together for a night or two of laughter,” wrote Matthew Moak of MCCA.
Emler has over 15 years of experience as a stand-up comedian. While travelling to perform, he shot up to 310 pounds. After seeing a photo of himself with actress Sharon Gless of Queer As Folk, Bryan vowed to never perform again at that weight. He lost over 100 pounds, was out of the spotlight for over three years, and is back as hungry as ever.
“Bryan has generously agreed to donate 50% of the ticket proceeds to MCCA,” wrote Matthew, “so let’s do all we can do to make these two nights a success.” The Anchorage tour is part of Emler’s Share the Wealth project to help gay non-profits raise money.
Tickets are $15 and available online or at the church. Students can attend for $10 at the door with student ID. Both shows will be performed at St. Mary’s Church, on the corner of Tudor & Lake Otis, from 7-8 p.m.
Bent Alaska caught up with Emler to learn more about motivational comedy, Superhero & Dream Big, fundraisers for gay churches, and the importance of seeing a moose.
Q. Why did you choose these two shows for your Alaska performance?
A. I chose the shows DREAM BIG (SIZE MATTERS) and HOW YOU CAN BE A SUPERHERO (WITHOUT WEARING YOUR UNDERWEAR IN PUBLIC) due to the current political climate in Alaska. I felt that not only do you all need a good laugh, but you need a bit of encouragement and motivation to propel your state forward.
Q. The announcement said it’s a gay comedy show, but your ad talks about transforming your spirit. Is it a combination of comedy and religion?
A. This “comedy show” is part comedy, part motivational, part inspirational. DREAM BIG will offer concrete steps on how you can live the life you dream about, at the same time you will be laughing at my trials and tribulations while I am trying to live out mine.
In HOW YOU CAN BE A SUPERHERO, I show you how to become a superhero in Alaska and help change the world. It looks like this is a show that is needed in Anchorage to give you hope.
They aren’t religious shows, they are inspirational comedy shows with a call to action.
Q. Anchorage is part of your Share the Wealth tour. What is that and how does it help local communities?
A. I came up with the SHARE THE WEALTH TOUR, because I wanted to find a way of giving back to gay communities across the US.
One of the biggest issues with gay churches, non-profits, and organizations, is that they can’t always afford to pay thousands of dollars to bring in entertainers for their events. If by chance they can afford it, then they have trouble re-couping the costs of that entertainer, and they find themselves in the hole when it was supposed to be a fundraiser.
So, I devised a way the gay organizations can book me WITHOUT my normal fee, they get 50% off all ticket sales for hosting the event, and not only do they get a comedy show, they make some money in the process.
Q. Have you ever been to Alaska? Will you have a chance to see anything outside of the city?
A. This will be my very first trip to Alaska, so I am looking forward to it. I am going to fly in a day early, and stay a day after my shows, so that I will have some time to look around. The only thing I MUST do while I am there is to see a MOOSE. I will not leave the state until I see a moose!
So, if anyone wants to go Moose Watching, let me know!
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Join Bryan Emler on his hilarous journey, and discover how you can change the world and transform your spirit and your life!
Tickets:
“How To Be A Superhero (Without Wearing Your Underwear In Public)” Friday October 16, 2009 at 7-8 p.m.
“Dream Big (Size Matters)” Saturday October 17, 2009 at 7-8 p.m.
The Personal is Political at Pride Conference & Rally
Anchorage hosted both the Alaska Pride Conference and the support rally for the National Equality March on Saturday, and queer youth were front and center at both events.
Gays and allies from Fairbanks, Juneau, Homer and the Mat-Su joined the Anchorage LGBTA community at APU for Identity’s annual Pride Conference. The morning workshops focused on providing support for young adults in the Gay-Straight Alliances, the new generation of queer and straight youth who are passionate about equal rights and excited about being on the cutting edge of political progress.
Instead of one keynote speaker for the afternoon, the Pride Conference asked a panel of leaders to speak on issues relevant to queer Alaska.
Jackie Buckley spoke on the importance of health care issues like the lack of insurance coverage for LGBT families, limited health information targeted to us, and not being included in either the medical studies or the educational campaigns. She noted outreach to the LGBT community by the local stop smoking campaign as an example of progress. Buckley is a healthcare administrator who volunteers with the Identity Advocacy Team and PFLAG Anchorage.
Rev. Susan Halvor, an ordained Lutheran pastor, said she is often asked, “Where can LGBT Alaskans go to church and be welcomed?” Rev. Halvor encouraged the LGBT community to support general human rights issues in Alaska, along with specific issues of gay equality.
Marsha Buck is an ally from Juneau, a proud PFLAG mom, and the President of Alaskans Together for Equality. She noted that many of our state House legislators are far-right republicans and that it’s time to bring the Alaska legislature back into balance by electing more progressives. She encouraged LGBT people to live honestly and open, in a respectful way, and we will get honesty and respect in return. She said that our allies are glad to speak for us, but that we also need to speak for ourselves. And she recommended that we join Alaskans Together for Equality to work for our rights here in Alaska.
Mike Mason is a young man who attended the hearings for the equal rights ordinance this summer and helped organize the rallies on the lawn. He supports activism for minority rights, to achieve legal equality in the city, state and country. He said that religion is not our enemy, ignorance is, and he suggested that we come out because change is made through personal contacts.
Verner Wilson is not the only gay Eskimo. He grew up in a small rural town where he was teased for being gay. There are no resources for LGBT kids in rural Alaska, and no support for LGBT Native Alaskans anywhere. He is concerned about Pebble Mine ruining his home waters of Bristol Bay, about the mayor’s veto of the equal rights ordinance, and about the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He also noted that his family accepts him now.
Frank Jenkins (aka Miss MeMe) is the newly-elected Empress of the Imperial Court of All Alaska, the state’s first gay organization. He grew up in supportive communities and remembers marching in a candlelight vigil following the murder of Harvey Milk. He said that opposition is often the instigation for progress because it creates a backlash against the prejudice. When people speak out for what is right and are knocked down, they become heroes. Our local allies woke up to the prejudice we faced this summer, and the homophobes will never support us. But how do we motivate those in the middle and get more LGBT youth to stay involved? Leadership development and mentoring for gay and especially trans young adults after they come out, to help them live full lives around work, relationships, spirituality, and politics.
Trevor Storrs is the director of Four A’s. He was raised in a small isolated town and even they have evolved on LGBT issues. The actual bigots are a minority, the rest fear us because they don’t know us. When they get to know us as individuals, not categories, they can accept us for who we are. Personal contact is important to help them get past their fear.
After the panel members spoke, conference chair Johnathan Jones opened the discussion to the audience. The main issues were how to develop better connections between the LGBT groups and more effective outreach to the mainstream public.
The conference participants also enjoyed a comedy hypnosis show by Jay Her, visited vender and information booths representing LGBT groups, ate lunch and breakfast provided by The Last Frontier Men’s Club, and met in person their far-flung email contacts and Facebook friends.
When the conference ended, several of us drove down 36th to the Library and joined the support rally for the National Equality March. Rally organizers Tara and Jon and the other young protestors, gay and straight, had been standing there since 10 a.m., despite the drizzle, and were happy to see us. With that kind of commitment, LGBT equality is inevitable.
