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.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009 – 8:28 PM
| Comments Off on Coronation 2009!
The Imperial Court of All Alaska requests the Honor of Your Presence at CORONATION XXXVII – “GOLD, FUR, AND FEATHERS” CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF STATEHOOD, Sept. 3-7, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Enjoy Labor Day weekend with the Imperial Court: the meet and greet, a show with performers from Alaska and a second show with visiting performers from out of state followed by a Las Vegas party, a bus run, a glacier tour, a victory brunch, plus the big night of Coronation itself, Sept. 6 in the Sheraton Ballroom!
The full Coronation schedule is posted below, and tickets can be purchased online at the Imperial Court’s Coronation web site.
Another school year has begun, and the Juneau School District created a new suicide prevention resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, which is available for adults who work with teens.
“Gay and lesbian youth belong to two groups at high risk of suicide: youth and homosexuals.” The brochure lists 3 actions to take if you or a friend has a problem.
“The root of the problem for GLBT youth suicide is a society that discriminates against and stigmatizes homosexuals while failing to recognize that a substantial number of its youth are GLBT.” – from the report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide, US Dept. of Health and Human Services
The brochure gives Juneau-area and national suicide hotline numbers and mental health web sites that are accessible to all Alaska youth, along with general GLBTQ resources like SEAGLA, PFLAG and the Juneau Gay-Straight Alliances.
The brochure was funded by a grant from the State of Alaska, and is available for people who work with teens and places where teens frequent.
If you would like to receive copies of the brochure, or have suggestions for where they can be placed, please contact Juneau-Douglas High School Counselor Brendan Kiernan at this email address.
In addition to the thoughtful supportive testimony at the Assembly hearings and the well-argued letters to the editor, there have been some very creative responses to the struggle for Ordinance 64, and to the hateful statements of the anti-gay lobby.
Bent Alaska posted one of Glenn Harvey’s “Jerry: In His Own Words” posters on Monday’s No Dead Queers post. Below are several more ordinance-related posters by Glenn.
Like the “perverted, diseased and depraved” poster linked above, this poster quotes Prevo’s anti-ordinance sermon from June 28 (sermon video HERE).
Remember the mass-produced “Truth Is Not Hate” signs carried by the red-shirted children and anti-gay church members bussed in from Wasilla? We’ve heard that the signs were provided by Bailey’s Furniture.
Like Sarah Palin and her gay friend (who doesn’t deserve to be equal), opponents of the ordinance have a twisted understanding of friendship. Glenn mirrors their prejudice back at them.
Thanks to Glenn for creating the posters and allowing Bent to post them.
Friday, 21 August 2009 – 2:43 PM
| Comments Off on Protest Sullivan’s Veto Tonight at McGinley’s
Update: Bent was unable to attend this event, but Mel was there and wrote about it on Henkimaa.
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Stand up for Equality and be Counted: Protest Mayor Sullivan’s veto of the equal rights ordinance, tonight in front of McGinley’s Pub. Sullivan is part-owner of McGinley’s, and the customers should know that he supports discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
McGinley’s Pub is in downtown Anchorage at the corner of G Street and 7th Avenue, and the protest begins at 6:30 p.m. After the protest, go get a drink at one of the supportive businesses in Anchorage!
Sullivan vetoed Ordinance 64 on Monday, saying that he saw no evidence of anti-gay discrimination and was following the will of the people. The Anchorage Assembly passed the ordinance 7-4 on Aug 11, after weeks of public hearings showed the need for equal protections.
A spontaneous rally against the Mayor’s veto attracted about 100 people to City Hall on Monday. Ordinance supporters held big letters spelling EQUALITY NOW and signs saying, “Anchorage Mayor Supports Discrimination” and “Celebrating 50 Years of Discrimination.” The protestors marched down the street to McGinley’s Pub, chanting “Equal Rights Now” and “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
Two short videos of Monday’s protest, taken by Chris N., are posted below:
Thursday, 20 August 2009 – 9:59 PM
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Anchorage cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl on Mayor Sullivan’s shameful veto of the equal rights ordinance:
This isn’t the first time Dunlap-Shohl has drawn about our struggle for protection. In 1992, Dunlap-Shohl’s cartoon on the attempt to add sexual orientation to the Equal Rights Charter appeared on the cover of a special issue of The Northview, Identity’s magazine.
Steve Gingrich remembers that cartoon. On the left was a person with the caption: “This person wants – A chance to work, a place to live, and a little privacy.” On the right was a person with a sign with ‘GAY RIGHTS’ within a circle with a diagonal, and the caption: “This person wants – To perpetuate bigotry, to impose his religious views on others, and to undermine the right to privacy.” Below was the question: “Which is demanding special privileges?”
“I keep returning to the “Special Rights” theme because it is so galling and cynical,” writes Peter. “My blood pressure is going up right now just thinking of it.”
Thanks to Peter for creating this cartoon. More of his work can be found on his site Frozen Grin.
On Monday afternoon, Mayor Sullivan vetoed the LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance passed 7-4 by the Assembly last week, citing a lack of evidence and the will of the majority as his reasons.
“I have received nearly 2,500 additional communications from Anchorage residents,” said Sullivan’s veto statement, and “the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.”
“Civil rights are not a popularity contest,” countered Jackie Buckley, spokesperson for Equality Works.
The news of the veto spread quickly through Alaska’s LGBTA community and protestors gathered at City Hall. A line of ordinance supporters along the street held big letters spelling EQUALITY NOW. Around them stood protestors with signs like, “Headline news: Anchorage Mayor Supports Discrimination” and “Celebrating 50 Years of Discrimination” based on the recent 50 Years of Statehood events.
The Assembly has 21 days to override the veto, and they are 1 vote short of the 8 needed to override. Their next meeting is Tuesday, August 25. Please email the Anchorage Assembly at WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.us and tell them that we DO matter, and we are counting on them to protect all minority groups from discrimination, not just the popular ones.
Monday, 17 August 2009 – 10:39 PM
| Comments Off on Equality Works Disappointed in Mayor’s Lack of Leadership
Equality Works today expressed disappointment in Mayor Sullivan’s lack of leadership in unnecessarily vetoing the hard work of the Assembly, which voted by a clear majority to provide much-needed equal rights protections for Anchorage’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
“It’s a shame that the Mayor has decided to exclude LGBT people from the city’s promise of ‘equal opportunity for all persons,’ said Jackie Buckley, Equality Works spokesperson. “We will continue to work towards an Anchorage that guarantees residents will be judged on their ability to contribute to and participate in the economy and community, and their qualifications to be tenants, homeowners or patrons. We all deserve equal access to employment, housing, and public accommodations.”
“The Ordinance passed by the Assembly, after hours of testimony clearly documenting the need for these protections, is good for business, and would ensure that Anchorage can continue to attract and retain the best employees and customers. The Mayor’s actions are a step backwards.”
Monday, 17 August 2009 – 2:01 PM
| Comments Off on Sullivan VETOES Ordinance 64: no evidence, will of people
Statement from Mayor Sullivan’s office:
On August 11, 2009, the Anchorage Assembly passed AO2009-64(S-2) as amended. I have reviewed the ordinance, heard the Assembly justifications for and against it, and understand the sentiments expressed during the many hours of public testimony. Since the passage, I have received nearly 2,500 additional communications from Anchorage residents. I thank all of those who took the time to participate in the process.
My review shows that there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance. My review also shows that the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.
As elected officials, we are charged with reflecting the will of the community in our decisions, particularly in the absence of compelling data that would supersede that will.
Therefore, I hereby veto AO2009-64(S-2) as amended.
Note: The mayor’s office does not plan to conduct individual media requests today. Questions will be referred back to the statement.
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.
Like Sarah Palin and her gay friend (who doesn’t deserve to be equal), opponents of the ordinance have a twisted understanding of friendship. Glenn mirrors their prejudice back at them.
Thanks to Glenn for creating the posters and allowing Bent to post them.
