Articles in Alaska communities
State House Candidate David Newman Supports Same-Sex Marriage
David Newman is running for State House against Juneau Representative Beth Kerttula. David recently posted a statement:
Repeal Alaska’s Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Same-Sex MarriageDavid submitted the following article to the Juneau Empire as a My Turn piece on June 11. He just found out that the Empire doesn’t run candidate pieces, so he’s published it here.*******In 1998, Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage by a vote of 152,965 to 71,631. This marked the first and only time in Alaska’s history that a constitutional amendment took rights away from a group of people. Yet despite the fact that this amendment passed by a 2-1 vote, it’s a violation of the U.S. Constitution and directly conflicts with the Alaska Constitution, because both documents guarantee citizens equal protection under the law.Ratified in 1868, the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Supreme Court in rulings which eliminated discrimination, including the desegregation of public schools in Brown v. Board of Education, and overturning Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia. The Loving case, decided in 1967, is relevant in this debate, because the arguments against interracial marriage parallel those against same-sex marriage.In Loving, an African-American woman and a white man were sentenced to one year in jail for living in Virginia as husband and wife. The trial judge suspended their sentence on the condition that they leave Virginia and not return together for 25 years. In his ruling, the judge stated that “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and placed them on separate continents. And, but for the interference with this arrangement, there would be no cause for such marriage. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.” The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Virginia’s law – and the law in 15 other states as well – based in part on the fact that “(m)arriage is one the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival.”Most people would agree that the statements made by the Virginia judge are not only supremely offensive, but ridiculous as well. Yet we should ask ourselves – Are the arguments made today against same-sex marriage really any different than those made against interracial marriage? The reasons for and against same-sex marriage have been made numerous times in the pages of this newspaper [Juneau Empire]; I won’t recite them again. But, I believe there is no difference. The disparate treatment of one group versus everyone else, whether it be based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation, is discrimination, pure and simple.Not only does Alaska’s amendment violate the U.S. Constitution, but it is in direct conflict with Alaska’s Constitution as well. Article 1, Section 1 of the Alaska Constitution guarantees Alaskans equal rights, opportunities and protection under the law. It also guarantees everyone the right to pursue happiness, which most people believe is one of the basic human rights of a civilized society. This idea was not lost on the Loving court, which stated that “(t)he freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.” Yet our own Constitution contains an amendment that denies same-sex couples the ability to pursue what the U.S. Supreme Court recognized as one of the most vital personal rights – not only the right to marry, but the right to enjoy all the additional benefits that accompany marriage.When those 152,965 people stepped into the voting booth in 1998 and voted to amend Alaska’s Constitution to remove rights from an entire group of people, what were they thinking? Were they motivated by religion, fear, hate, bigotry, ignorance, or something else entirely? I don’t know. What I do know is that we as a people must reject all forms of discrimination, regardless of where it comes from or how it materializes.
Valerie Miner and Judith Barrington Read at UAA
Two lesbian authors, Judith Barrington and Valerie Miner, are among the sixteen distinguished writers of fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry who will be in Anchorage this month giving free public readings and talks.
On Tuesday, July 15, Judith Barrington reads with Anne Caston. Barrington is a memoirist, poet and teacher who was born in the U.K. and lives in Portland, OR. Her memoir, Lifesaving, won the Lambda Book Award, and her writing guide, Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art, is a bestseller. Her most recent poetry book is Horses and the Human Soul. Her work has been published in many literary journals, and she gives memoir workshops in Europe and America.
On Wednesday, July 16, Valerie Miner reads with Zack Rogow. Miner is the author of 13 novels, collections of short fiction and nonfiction. Her new novel, After Eden, presents urban planner Emily, whose annual return to a Northern California women’s land collective for rest and relaxation in her cabin turns to tragedy when her life partner’s flight goes down in flames. Miner’s work has appeared in many literary journals, and her stories have been dramatized on BBC Radio 4. She is a professor and artist in residence at Stanford University.
The UAA Campus News lists the full schedule of authors and readings.
UAA’s first Northern Renaissance Arts and Science Series is part of a new graduate writing program of the UAA Department of Creative Writing and Literary Arts (CWLA).
The Low-Residency MFA program focuses on writing with a sense of place and exploring the landscape of memory, family, and culture.
The public readings run July 13 through July 22. Readings are scheduled for 7:45 to 9:15 each evening in Room 150 of the Fine Arts Building, on the east side of the UAA campus. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m.
Mr/Ms/Miss Gay Anchorage 2008
The new 2008-2009 Gay Anchorage title holders were chosen during Pride Week at the Anchorage Pageant, held at Mad Myrna’s. They posed with the current Gay Alaska title holders, who hold their titles until October.
Pictured from left to right: Miss Gay Anchorage – Delicious, Miss Gay Alaska – Ashley, Mr. Gay Anchorage – Steve, Mr. Gay Alaska – Kevin, Ms. Gay Alaska – Leslie (above), and Ms. Gay Anchorage – Stacey (below)
Photos of all the current title holders, the Pageant and other Court events are posted on The Imperial Court of All Alaska (ICOAA) web site.
Congratulations to the new Anchorage title holders!
Gay Ally Howard Bess Retires From Church, Stays Active in Community
UPDATE: The ABC News clip on Sarah Palin’s support of removing Howard Bess’ “Pastor, I Am Gay” from the Wasilla public library is at: Palmer Pastor’s Gay-Positive Book was on Mayor Palin’s Censor List
Palmer community activist Howard Bess celebrated his 50th year as an ordained American Baptist minister by retiring from his role as pastor of the Church of the Covenant.
Bess is the author of the book “Pastor, I Am Gay” and one of the founders of the Anchorage-based gay rights group Identity Inc. In Palmer, he encouraged the Mat-Su GLBTA community to hold their meetings at the church.
The Anchorage Daily News ran an interview of Howard Bess, including why he became involved in gay issues, the local response to his work on behalf of Alaska’s GLBTA communities, and the wide variety of other social issues that are important to him.
"Rising Star" Director Peter DuBois Honed Skills at Juneau’s Perseverance Theatre
Peter DuBois, the openly gay former artistic director of Alaska’s innovative Perseverance Theatre Company and award-winning resident director at New York’s acclaimed Public Theater, became the new Artistic Director of Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company on July 1.
The San Francisco Bay Area Reporter calls DuBois “a rising star in the American theater” and compares his move to Boston with his move to Juneau:
Ben Bohen, his partner of 11 years, will keep their Brooklyn apartment as DuBois sets up another home in Boston for the Huntington job. They plan on commuting, but it won’t be as difficult as when DuBois moved to Alaska to become artistic director of Juneau’s Perseverance Theatre.“Ben finally came out to visit for the month of December,” said DuBois, “which is one of the hardest months to be there, and he said, ‘OK, I’ll make the leap.’ We lived together there for four years before I got the call from the Public.”“Even in Alaska, which is an incredibly conservative state, I actually was very consciously keeping myself out [as a gay man] because it’s a part of my identity that I’m really proud of.”
The Huntington Theatre Company‘s profile of DuBois includes his work in Juneau:
Before being recruited to the Public, DuBois was artistic director of Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska. A mid-sized regional company, Perseverance is hailed for distinctive artistic boldness, innovation, and a dedication to its community and its audience. There, DuBois directed revivals of Beckett, Shakespeare, and Chekhov, and introduced modern-day works by Paula Vogel, Suzan-Lori Parks, and others.
The Boston Globe adds:
In a bold move to the furthermost reaches of the United States, DuBois took over where Perseverance founder Molly Smith had left off. It was at Perseverance that he honed his institution-building skills, cutting debt and raising $2.5 million in capital and endowment campaigns to make Perseverance Alaska’s largest producing arts organization. He also brokered a relationship with the University of Alaska Southeast in which Perseverance would assume responsibility for all theater education activities at the college, offering minors to its students.DuBois ran Perseverance from 1998 to 2003, beginning to make a reputation for himself as an up and coming American artist and institutional leader.
On WBUR, DuBois commented on his plans for the 2008-09 season:
“I’ve developed relationships at the Public and living in Europe and even in Alaska that are relationships that I plan to be bringing to the Huntington Theatre, and I think the programming is going to represent a really diverse range of what theater means.”
Congratulations, Peter!
Know Your Status: Four A’s Extends Hours for National HIV Testing Week
National HIV Testing Week
June 23-28, 2008
Mission Possible: Know Your Status
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to get tested to KNOW YOUR STATUS. Even though it is 100% preventable, 30-40 Alaskans are diagnosed with HIV each year. One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from HIV is to KNOW YOUR STATUS and get tested.
Extended HIV Testing Hours at Four A’s
June 23-26, 2008
9 a.m. -7 p.m.
1057 W. Fireweed, Suite 102
Free HIV Testing at PrideFest
Saturday, June 28, 2008
1-5 p.m.
9th and L Street Clinic (Across from the Parkstrip)
All tests will be performed with the OraQuick Rapid Test which produces results in 20 minutes. For more information on National HIV Testing Week, contact Alex Barros, Director of Prevention: abarros@alaskanaids.org
Extended hours are also available for free HIV testing at various locations in Juneau, June 24-28. Contact Lee Wagner, Southeast Outreach Specialist.
UAF Guest Speaker on Masculinity Says All Men Harmed by Homophobia
by E. Ross
What does it mean to be a man?
Dr. Michael Kimmel, sociologist, author and lecturer, will bring that question and his thoughts on masculinity to Fairbanks as part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Summer Session program.
Kimmel is a speaker for the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS), a network that focuses on three different aspects of feminist work for men. One is the anti-violence movement, offering public education about violence against women, and interacting with men convicted of violent crimes against women. Another promotes fatherhood issues and education.
The third topic is particularly important in terms of the social pressures men face: Homophobia.
“One of the things that hold men back from living this emotionally rewarding and impacting life available to them is homophobia. The fear of being marked as gay or connected to homosexuality is one of the most constraining elements in men’s lives,” Kimmel said.
He gave an example, asking how many seats two men would use if they went together to the movies. The answer: usually three or four. If two female friends go to the movies together, they use only two seats, unafraid to sit next to each other.
“That is what homophobia does. It distorts life,” he said.
During his discussion of masculinity in Fairbanks, Kimmel will focus mostly on relationships between men and women. He will encourage his audience to think about the costs of maintaining certain beliefs about masculinity “that we’ve been brought up with” — that it is not acceptable for a man to show emotion, that men should be domineering, that men and women are not equal — and the benefits of restructuring those beliefs.
“You can live a happier, more robust life by not fighting women’s equality but embracing it,” he said.
“Mars and Venus or Planet Earth: Men and Women in a New Millennium,” will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday June 24 at the Davis Concert Hall. The event is free to the public.
Drag Queen Bingo!
Join Adam & Steve at Snow City Cafe on Thursday, June 26, 7-9 p.m for their annual fundraiser. Admission is $5 unless you come in drag or bring 5 cans of food for the Four A’s food drive. Drag Queen Bingo is an all ages event, with fabulous prizes and entertainment.
Route Change for Anchorage PrideFest 2008
The Anchorage PrideFest Parade will go down 9th Avenue this year, due to construction along the usual route and the Statehood Celebration on 4th.
The Parade will begin on E Street & 8th Avenue, move south on E for one block, then travel west along 9th from E to L. The Festival will be in the usual place on Delaney Park Strip between K & L.
Parking may be more difficult. Plan to carpool, walk, take the bus or ride your bike.
