A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Palin church promotes converting gays

Update: The LGBT community is hosting three events on the truth about the ‘pray away the gay’ conference. See “God loves you just as you are” for more on these events.

Palin church promotes converting gays
By RACHEL D’ORO Associated Press Writer

Sep 5th, 2008 | ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

“You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years.

Palin’s conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain’s candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.

Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the “Love Won Out” Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.

Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called “pray away the gay” movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin’s church, was not available to discuss the matter Friday, said a church worker who declined to give her name.

Gay activists in Alaska said Palin has not worked actively against their interests, but early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision [and] to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional. But her reluctant support didn’t win fans among Alaska’s gay population, said Scott Turner, a gay activist in Anchorage.

“Less than 1 percent of state employees would even apply for benefits, so why make a big deal out of such a small number?” he said.

“I think gay Republicans are going to run away” if Palin supports efforts like the prayers to convert gays, said Wayne Besen, founder of the New York-based Truth Wins Out, a gay rights advocacy group. Besen called on Palin to publicly express her views now that she’s a vice presidential nominee.

“People are looking at Sarah Palin as someone who might feasibly be in the White House,” he said.

God loves you just as you are: Three events

The LGBT community is hosting three special events for families struggling with homosexuality, for Christians trying to reconcile same-sex attractions with their faith, and for everyone who wants to learn the truth about the “pray away the gay” conference.

1) “God Loves You Just as You Are” and Truth Wins Out

Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage, an inclusive church with a special outreach for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and straight allies (GLBT), is sponsoring an Ecumenical seminar called “God Loves You Just as You Are.” The seminar’s main focus will be to assure parents of GLBT adolescents/adults and the GLBT persons themselves that God loves them just as they are.

Four local clergy will share their denominations’ stand on homosexuality. Other speakers include representatives from the National Association of Social Workers Alaska Chapter, the Alaska Counseling Association, and a school psychologist. The main presentation is by Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that travels the country presenting research on the so-called “reparative therapy” and “ex-gay” movements.

The seminar will be at the Metropolitan Community Church, 7208 Dubin Avenue (corner of Oklahoma St) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 11. A dinner ($6 donation if able) will be served at 6:30 and the presentations will begin at 7:15. Following the presentations, members of the clergy as well as PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will be available to have one-on-one discussions with participants.

Please RSVP to Edie Bailey, Worship Coordinator, if you’re coming for the dinner.

“God Loves You Just as You Are” and Truth Wins Out
Thursday, September 11, 2008
dinner at 6:30 p.m. ($6 suggested donation) and program at 7:15 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage
7208 Dubin Avenue, Anchorage, AK

2) “God Loves You Just as You Are” with Wayne Besen and Dr. Ellen Cole

Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage welcomes everyone to a special Sunday program on September 14, 2008 with two guest speakers: Wayne Besen and Dr. Ellen Cole. Wayne Besen is the author of Anything But Straight, written to give the truth about the so-called “ex-gay” movement. He founded Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the truth about Exodus and the other “ex-gay” organizations.

Dr. Ellen Cole is a Professor of Psychology at APU, a certified sex therapist, and the immediate past-president of the Alaska Psychological Association. She co-edited the books Loving Boldly: Issues Facing Lesbians and Lesbian Therapists and their Therapy and has conducted research on lesbian sex at menopause. She is married to Doug North, president of APU. The presentations are followed by a potluck in the fellowship hall.

Wayne Besen and Dr. Ellen Cole
Sunday, September 14, 2008
2 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage
7208 Dubin Avenue, Anchorage, AK

3) A Loving Alternative to “Reparative Therapy”

PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) welcomes families who have questions about so-called “reparative therapy” and the “ex-gay” movement to join their support group at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact PFLAG Anchorage.

“Reparative Therapy” Discussion with PFLAG
Thursday, September 18, 2008
7 p.m.

This Week in GLBT Alaska 8/28/08

This Week in GLBT Alaska 8/22/08

Four MCC Programs on the “Ex-Gay” Movement, Thursdays 8/21-9/11, 6:30 p.m. $6

Ever Ready at the AMVETS Post 49, 8/22, 7-11 p.m.

Northern Exposure Bowling League season registration, 8/23, 4 p.m. at Park Lanes

Benefit for Off the Rocks, 8/23, 7 p.m., at Out North, pay what you can. More info.

Hump Day Happy Hour with The Last Frontier Men’s Club, 8/27, 5-7 p.m. at the Raven every 2nd & 4th Wednesday.

1049 Daily US Newspapers Accept Same-Sex Wedding Announcements – But Only 339 Have Received Them

In cities and small towns all over the country, communities are seeing the lives of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) family members, friends and neighbors reflected in their media outlets. These stories will spur the kinds of everyday conversations that will change hearts and minds.

GLAAD first launched the Announcing Equality campaign in 2002, after working with The New York Times to open its weddings/celebrations pages to lesbian and gay couples. Six years later, the number of inclusive newspapers has jumped from 70 to 1049, and nearly 72 percent of all daily newspapers in the United States now accept wedding and/or commitment ceremony announcements for same-sex couples.

Unfortunately, most of these papers haven’t had a chance to run an announcement. That’s where you come in! 

We’re urging you to recognize the celebrations and milestones in your life by sharing the story with the newspaper, and to share your story in other forms of media, from office newsletters and union periodicals to church bulletins, public radio, Facebook and YouTube.

GLBT performances at Out North

Fairbanks Duke and Duchess

Coronation 2008 Schedule

This Week in GLBT Alaska 8/15 – 8/21

ICOAA Emperor & Empress Voting 8/16 at the GLCCA 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Absentee ballots for download at ICOAA.

Bag Lady Sue Comedy Show, Saturday 8/16 at 9 p.m.  Mad Myrna’s, $10.

MCC Board of Directors Meeting 8/17. Service at 2 p.m., meeting at 3:30 p.m.

Debate Party for Mark Begich, Wednesday 8/20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Email M.E. for more information.

Educate the media: Update on responding to the “ex-gay” conference

Alaska’s GLBT community will respond when the anti-gay Love Won Out seminar comes to Anchorage on Sept. 13. GLBT and progressive groups are planning events to educate the media and the community.

Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, is coming to Anchorage to oppose the notorious “ex-gay” event.

“Love Won Out distorts gay life and conflates stereotypes with science, while selling false hope to vulnerable people,” said Besen. “We are looking forward to working with Alaskan advocacy groups to counter Focus on the Family’s false and destructive messages.”

The Anchorage Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is hosting two events with Besen. He will present a workshop at the Thursday night Soul Food gathering on Sept. 11 ($6, dinner at 6:30, workshop around 7 p.m.) and will speak at the worship service on Sunday, Sept. 14 (service begins at 2 p.m.)

The Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) offered to host an event, and other GLBT-welcoming churches expressed support.

Celtic Diva announced Bloggers Diversity Week, with GLBT Day on Sept. 12, the day before the ex-gay conference. Other Alaskan bloggers have signed on.

Seventy-two people voted in the “How should we respond?” survey here on Bent Alaska! Fifty nine (81%) voted to “Educate the media and community with a presentation or forum.” Twenty-eight (38%) chose to “Show films on the damage done by the ex-gay lies.” Twenty-six (36%) want to “Protest outside the church during the conference.” And nine (12%) said “Don’t bother, just ignore them.”

A sample of the comments I received from community members are posted here: Your Words.

I’ll continue to post updates on our response, on the blog and in the Alaska GLBT News email newsletter.