A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

from Equality Works

Since Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander has decided to keep the public hearing open indefinitely, we are asking that all supporters of equality attend the Assembly meeting this Tuesday, June 23rd, and sign up to register your support for equality if you haven’t already. Recruit your friends, your family, your neighbors, and your co-workers and have them sign up, too. 

We know that our opponents do not represent the majority of Anchorage citizens and we need to show our Assembly members, Acting Mayor Claman, and Mayor-Elect Dan Sullivan that the vocal minority that is opposed to this ordinance is not a true reflection of our community. The meeting starts at 5:00 pm, but as usual, we need to pack the Assembly chambers with our supporters so please arrive early if possible. The Chamber doors are usually unlocked at 3 pm. 

Opponents of equality want to push a vote to July in hopes that Dan Sullivan will veto any ordinance that gets passed. We say, let them do it! Matt Claman’s return to the Assembly will just give us one more vote for equality and increase our chances of gaining enough votes to override any veto. 

Change is never easy, but this fight is not over. We are willing to bring our case to Acting Mayor Claman, we are willing to bring the case to Mayor-Elect Dan Sullivan, and we are willing to bring our case to the people of Anchorage.

Remember, Equality Works.

The parade of bigotry continued inside the Assembly chambers on Wednesday as opponents to the Anchorage ordinance demanded the right to keep discriminating against gays.

Outside the library, DJ Dan spun tunes for the demonstrators. Ordinance supporters celebrated diversity and civil rights, while opponents pushed lies and fear.

How many hours of prejudice does the Assembly need to hear to recognize us as a stigmatized minority group? How many days and weeks of personal attacks do we need to sit through to gain legal protection? 

The next scheduled hearing is on Tuesday, June 23. Please wear blue.

The crowd lining 36th Avenue danced to the DJ’s tunes, holding their homemade ‘equal rights’ signs and cheering to the drivers who honked. But on the other side of the library, and inside the building, grim people in devil-red shirts preached a different message, a mix of prejudice and theocracy.

At this second Anchorage Assembly hearing on adding “sexual orientation” to the city’s non-discrimination policy, two men held a banner across the building entrance with the words “Jesus is the Lord of Alaska” written in all capital letters across the Alaska flag.

Nearby, in a crowd of mass-produced “Truth is not Hate” signs, a teenage girl in tight jeans held a sign saying “Homosexuals are going straight to HELL!!” and two young men held signs with religious quotes about sin. When I tried to take their picture (second photo), an older man blocked my view and told them to put away the signs. He agreed with their beliefs, but they couldn’t risk being seen as anti-gay.

I listened to hours of testimony in the overflow room. Gay, lesbian and transgendered people of Anchorage shared personal experiences of discrimination, and allies hoped that our city would adopt this overdue measure of fairness. Opponents, in a fascinating twist of illogic, doubted that anti-gay discrimination existed, then asserted their religious right to continue discriminating against us.

All of their arguments came down to the same point – the Bible says that homosexuality is an abomination, and the city law must support that. No civil rights for sinners. Equality is immoral. Separation of church and state is un-American.

The overweight man sitting next to me nodded and clapped at the unpatriotic speeches, quoting Bible verses in support of each point. I asked him to be quiet so I could hear the testimony. He replied that he came to the Assembly meeting to bring the word of Jesus to gays, so we could repent and find salvation. I moved to another row.

Opposition leaders are trying to control the media message with their pre-printed signs about speech and truth, but bigotry leaks out of the rank and file members. They’re protesting at the library because ‘God Hates Fags’, in the words of the infamous Fred Phelps, and thus the law should hate gays too. 

Prejudice against gays is their focus this month because of the equal rights ordinance. But the bigger target is the state, and the goal is theocracy. How will the Assembly respond?

Gov. Palin, in today’s acceptance of David Letterman’s apology, talked about America’s Right to Free Speech: “may that right be used to promote equality and respect.” I couldn’t agree more!

The second Assembly hearing on the equal rights ordinance for Anchorage is tonight, Tuesday June 16, in Loussac Library. Doors open at 3 p.m., meeting starts at 5, arrive early if you want a seat inside. 

At least two groups are holding picnics with food and music outside on the Library lawn. Potluck of the People will celebrate both the diversity and the unity of our city, and everyone is invited. Bring food and musical instruments. Wear whatever you like and make your own sign.

An anti-ordinance demonstration is also planned, with food and a “praise band.” Mass-produced signs with a pre-approved message in large block letters (shows up great on TV!) will be available for you to carry. Everyone wears red. The demo is Prevo’s media display, to show that he calls the shots in this town, to flash his big red band.

So who should determine the laws of Anchorage?

1. The Assembly and Mayor, with input from a diversity of Anchorage people.

2. Residents of Wasilla (who are being allowed to testify against the ordinance.)

3. Jerry Prevo.

The ordinance has already been watered down once to appease Prevo, who responded that “the term “sexual orientation” is not acceptable in any discrimination ordinance.” Members of the clergy, including Prevo and those who support equality, met with the Assembly and Mayor last night. Today, the ordinance is being revised again.

Who should decide what becomes the law in Anchorage and what doesn’t? The Assembly, Mayor and residents, including you and me and the Moderate Majority? Or extremists like Prevo and his followers?

Send your answer to the Assembly members today: 

Attend the second hearing on the equal rights ordinance this evening. Come early if you want a seat inside the library. Bring food, drink and music for the unity picnic on the lawn. See you there!

from Equality Works

Please come early! Doors to the Assembly chambers are unlocked at 3 pm, but if you can get there earlier, even better. Bring a book, bring friends, bring your laptop–but be there!

There is a third round of testimony scheduled for the following day, Wednesday, June 17, from 4-10 pm. So if you can’t make it on Tuesday, come Wednesday.

We are aware that the atmosphere outside Loussac Library last week was in many ways far more heated and hostile than the atmosphere inside the Assembly chambers. Many of our supporters were so intimidated by the red shirts that they never even made it into the library. Others were afraid to walk back to their cars alone when the meeting was over.

To ensure that LGBT community & allies feel safe and welcome at this week’s hearings and other hearings to come, Jackie Buckley is organizing the Buckley Brigade—a welcome wagon/security team that will be present to greet our supporters with smiling faces, escort them back and forth to their cars if necessary, and ensure that the rallying outside doesn’t get too loud or out of control.

If you have any friends who left Loussac Library last week without going inside, please let them know that the Buckley Brigade will be working all evening to make sure that everyone is safe. If you’re outside the library and don’t see a supportive face, head toward the fountain just south of the library entrance and someone will greet you there.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email Tiffany McClain of Equality Works. Thank you!

Gov. Sarah Palin has ignored a Gay Pride Month proclamation submitted by Anchorage PrideFest, but a proposal to add “sexual orientation” to the city’s non-discrimination policies caught the attention of Wasilla fundamentalists, who arrived in busloads to testify at an Anchorage hearing on Tuesday while their children protested outside.

Children opposed to the equal rights ordinance lined the entrances to the parking lot and building during the meeting, wearing red shirts and carrying mass produced signs from the Alaska Family Council.

Palin’s hometown of Wasilla is not part of the Anchorage Municipality, but perhaps opponents could not find enough anti-gay Anchorage residents willing to testify against their neighbors and coworkers.

Before the hearing, Anchorage PrideFest sent a Pride Month proclamation to Gov. Palin, inviting her to attend the annual Parade & Festival on June 20. Palin has not responded, although she has proclaimed Flag Day, Fishing Week and Auburn Founders Day in honor of Auburn, New York, so far for June.

The proclamation asks Palin to declare June as Gay Pride Month and to “urge all citizens of Alaska to join me in celebrating diversity by attending, supporting, recognizing, and respecting Anchorage PrideFest 2009 activities and events.”

On June 1, President Obama declared June 2009 as LGBT Pride Month, stating support for measures like “outlawing discrimination in the workplace,” a subject covered by the proposed Anchorage equal rights ordinance.

The ordinance, AO 2009-64(S), adds “sexual orientation” to the list of groups protected against discrimination in employment, housing, financing, education, public accommodations and municipal business. The original proposal was revised by the mayor to address concerns by religious opponents, but opponents still object, saying “the term “sexual orientation” is not acceptable in any discrimination ordinance.”

Wasilla residents do not pay property taxes to Anchorage, nor do they vote for our Assembly members. However, a suggestion to limit testimony to Anchorage residents was turned down by the Assembly Chair.

Please join us at the next hearing on the equal rights ordinance on Tuesday, June 16, at Loussac Library. Doors open at 3, the meeting begins at 5 p.m. and ordinance testimony is likely to run from 7-11. Come early if you want a seat inside. Everyone is invited to share food and music at a Potluck for the People, on the Library lawn. Anchorage residents are encouraged to write to our Assembly members and ask them to vote YES on the Equal Rights Ordinance.

The Assembly has also scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, June 17, from 4-10 p.m.

A revised version of the ordinance that removes “veteran’s status” and strengthens the religious and business exemptions was released on Friday. The revision, AO 2009-64(S), also states that the ordinance “does not apply to discrimination because of one’s biological gender in matters such as access to restrooms…”

Equality Works explains the problem with legislating bathroom use in their assessment of the revised ordinance:

“We feel that excluding transgender people from the right to use the restroom in which they feel most safe and comfortable is not only unnecessary, but an irresponsible public policy choice that endangers lives… We sincerely hope [for] an ordinance that respects everyone’s right to safe use of public restrooms and is based on facts rather than fiction and fear.”

But opponents to the ordinance fill their collection plates by pedaling fiction and fear. The response from Jerry Prevo’s site was immediate:

“NEW!!! A revised version of the sexual orientation ordinance has been released by the acting Mayor. Supposedly, it is to prevent some of the problems we have raised. However, the term “sexual orientation” is not acceptable in any discrimination ordinance. The first ordinance shows what the homosexual movement really wants. We must say NO to the inclusion of homosexuality in any discrimination ordinance. Please encourage the Assembly to vote NO on this ordinance and do not amend Anchorage’s discrimination ordinance to include homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle. This will eventually lead to homosexuals wanting to make homosexual marriages legal in Alaska.”

To Ivan Moore and others who thought that an ordinance limited to sexual orientation would be acceptable to Prevo and his followers, the message is clear: they will not accept anything that gives us civil rights, in any form. The equal rights ordinance cannot be made acceptable to Rev. Prevo, because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered human beings are not acceptable to him:

“I can’t minister to these people. I can’t tell them that Jesus Christ died for them and will forgive them just like He will an adulterer or a murderer…”

We cannot compromise with him because he is not bargaining in good faith. He is simply using the media attention to gain money and fame.

Prevo’s real goal is to increase his power over our city’s laws and politics. He admitted to ADN reporter Julia O’Malley that he will force a recall vote if the Assembly passes any version of equal protections for gays. He also admitted that he will use his pulpit to ruin the careers of politicians who resist his control of the city. 

The choice clear for us, our allies, and anyone who thinks that Anchorage should not be run by a fundamentalist minister. We must support an inclusive ordinance, stand firm against Prevo and take back our city.

by Matthew Moak

Each time I read something written by Rev. Prevo, I can’t help but equate him with the character Harold Hill from the Music Man.

Melodically, Rev. Prevo takes to the media singing his own version of “Trouble.” Rev. Prevo’s ability to use this musical message filled with fear to control his followers as he attempts to push his “moral agenda” is unfortunate. The tune he sings however is catchy and the beat easy to dance to.

Christians used the Holy Scriptures to condone slavery and to champion against interracial marriages based on their own interpretation of the Scriptures. Rev. Prevo attempts to push his own interpretation of the Scriptures as they relate to homosexuality.

Rev. Prevo is quick to toss out the Clobber Scriptures which he interprets to be damning to homosexuality such as Leviticus 20:13 and yet he refuses to admonish his followers for eating shellfish, which is an abomination (Leviticus 11:10), or to chastise his own male followers who get their hair trimmed, which is expressly forbidden in Leviticus 19.

There were four commandments given to us by Jesus. Love God, love yourself, love your neighbor and love your enemies. Not one of them involves hate.

Oh yes, Rev. Prevo, we’ve got trouble, lots and lots of trouble here in Anchorage. Thankfully the vast majority of us are familiar with not just your song, but also your dance.