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.
Friday, 9 July 2010 – 11:59 AM
| Comments Off on This Week (and next) in LGBT Alaska 7/9/10
Several great events are happening this weekend, with two on Sunday: the Ray Boltz (Gay/Christian) Concert at MCC, and the Seven Deadly Sins Dinner at Mad Myrna’s… an interesting coincidence. On Saturday, the Comedy Hypnosis Show returns to Myrna’s. On Friday, the “Life’s a Drag” show in Juneau is a benefit for Four A’s and the ICOAA.
Next weekend’s events are also listed, including the Brandi Carlile concerts in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and the Pride Picnic in Juneau.
To get the LGBT events as a weekly email newsletter, subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
“Life’s a Drag” show and flogger making party 7/9, 8:30 p.m. at the Rendezvous Bar, $10 benefit for Four A’s & the ICOAA.
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Jaded Lounge.
SEAGLA and PFLAG Annual Pride Picnic, 7/17, 4-8 p.m. at Skater’s Cabin.
Fairbanks
Brandi Carlile concert at The Blue Loon, Thursday 7/15, 8 p.m. Tickets HERE.
Angry, Young & Poor 2010, 7/17 noon-midnight, a (gay-friendly) music event at Ester Community Park.
ICOAA Ducal Ball XVIII: The Duck Awards, Pioneer Park, 7/17, doors at 7 p.m. show at 8. $15 for food and show.
Mat-Su Valley
Coyote Gardens Open Garden 7/17 from 10-5 and 7/18 from noon-4, garden tours by Les and Jerry to raise funds for The Alaska Rock Garden Society and the Willow Garden Club.
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
EverReady plays the Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River, 7/10, 1:00p.m.
Comedy Hypnosis (Summer Hump) Show 7/10, 9-10:30 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s. Tickets HERE.
Seven Deadly Sins 3.0, on 7/11 at 5:30p.m., Mad Myrna’s. Tickets $25 in advance for the 7 course meal and entertainment. Proceeds to benefit NE2010 and Identity Inc. Tickets HERE.
Saturday, 26 June 2010 – 2:16 PM
| Comments Off on What does PRIDE mean to you?
IN THE LIFE speaks with a diverse group of LGBT people and discovers what Pride means to them. Watch the episode and tell us what LGBT Pride means to you:
Friday, 25 June 2010 – 11:01 PM
| Comments Off on TODAY: Alaska PrideFest Parade & Festival – Join the Party!
Alaska’s Celebrating Diversity Parade and Pride Festival is TODAY, Saturday June 26 in downtown Anchorage. The Parade begins at 11 am, marching west on 6th Avenue from D Street, and the Festival follows at noon on the Delaney Park Strip around K Street.
Come march with us – join a group you like and show your Pride in being LGBTQ or an ally. If you don’t want to march, please cheer us on from the side. Every parade needs a cheering crowd! Then join us for the Festival on the Park Strip.
Friday, 25 June 2010 – 3:07 PM
| Comments Off on The ordinance one year later (video)
KTVA looks back at the 2009 battle for an equal rights ordinance, and asks where the LGBT community of Anchorage is today, as we celebrate PrideFest 2010.
Four voices speak for fairness and equal rights: Matthew, Rachel, Johnathan and MeMe. Only one person speaks for hate: Prevo. Which side are YOU on?
Friday, 25 June 2010 – 5:44 AM
| Comments Off on PrideFest parade route, performers and activities
Tomorrow, Saturday June 26, is the big day: the Alaska PrideFest 2010 Diversity Parade and Festival on the Park Strip! Here is the scoop on the parade route and the festival entertainment, food, and activities for kids and adults, from the NorthView’s June Pride issue by Identity.
——
“Paint your toenails, get out your boas, don your Levis and leathers, and get those dykes on their bikes because Pride is here again!”
Pride Parade – June 26th 11:00 AM
Come to the Pride parade! March, ride in a float, or loudly cheer on those fabulous folks who do! The parade begins at 11:00 at 6th and D Street. We will proceed west on 6th Avenue and turn left on K Street, right on 8th Street, left on L Street, left on 10th Avenue and end at Delaney Park near the flagpole in time for the start of our festival on the park strip. Let’s turn up and show some fabulous, finger snapping, glittery pride!
Main Stage Entertainment
Co-hosting the main stage activities are two Empresses: Alaska’s current reigning Empress 37, Miss Meme Jenkins, and former Empress 11 of Southern Nevada, Ginger Grant, along with Mad Myrna’s Friday Nite Diva Show host, Miss Paige. We’ll kickoff PrideFest with the National Anthem and State song followed by proclamations and Invocation by an Alaska Native elder. After that, it’ll be one great performance after another! You won’t want to miss a minute! There’ll be something for everyone. The fun starts at noon on the Park Strip at the big main stage!
This year’s performers include a wide array of talent, including some of past year’s favorites and some new faces too! Divas Ashley, Jovy and Delicious will strut their stuff for your pleasure. Underground Dance Company will wow you with dance performances. The Lu Lu Small Band will get you dancing on the grass and more live music from local solo artists and bands will keep you dancing.
It’s in the large middle section of the Park Strip and we will have lots of entertainment and booths open till 6pm this year. That’s one hour longer than in the past.
Food
We’ve got lots of food!!!! We’ve got fried food, barbequed dogs and burgers, we’ve got reindeer sausages and we’ve got trendy quesadillas, gyros and still more…yep…we scored on the food this year!
Activities
Bungee Run – $5 for three runs. Hours and hours of fun, you and your friends can try and make it to the end of the bungee run — but you won’t! Padded harnesses hold you back and will knock you off your feet!
Bucking Salmon – $5 for three tries. Alaskans can sometimes have a difficult time satisfying their appetite for excitement. You can now “Ride the Red” where you can ride our fully functional mechanical bull transformed into a custom made Chinook salmon. Now there’s a fish story that you have to see to believe.
Sumo Wrestling – $5 for 2 people to play 3 bouts. Belly up to this one! The Sumo Wrestling Suits let everyone experience authentic Sumo Wrestling first hand. Adults try to pin their opponent.
Obstacle Course – $1 per run. This is an inflatable course of obstacles for you to navigate. Test your level of butch or show off for your honey.
What’s Happenin’ for Youth at PrideFest
We have new booths and activities this year that are geared to the children in all of us. No need to look for them–they will be right in the middle of things. Get silly and have fun!
For the little ones we have a very inexpensive Kiddie Carnival. We’ve got a hang-out booth for teens. No older adults and no babysitting of the small fry allowed. Strictly a space for teens to kick back on the bean bags and chill!
Wear Your Pride
This year’s way cool PrideFest t-shirts are short sleeved and black with the 2010 A Pride Odyssey logo on the front. They cost $20 (unless you are a volunteer and get a $5 discount) and come in sizes XS to 4XL. You can purchase your shirt at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center (336 East 5th Avenue), Pride on the ParkStrip, and other Pride events.
Of course, the best logo on the blackest t-shirts will be at the Identity Booth. There will be stickers and t-shirts, and hopefully, some rainbow boas, too, for you to purchase!
Visit the Alaska PrideFest website at www.AlaskaPride.org for more information about the Diversity Parade, the Pride Festival on the Park Strip, and other Pride Week events.
Thursday, 24 June 2010 – 5:23 AM
| Comments Off on Drag Queen Bingo at Snow City tonight
The 3rd annual Drag Queen Bingo is on Thursday June 24 from 6-9 p.m. at Snow City Café in downtown Anchorage, and it’s a fundraiser for the Four A’s Anchorage Mpowerment Project (AMP). This PrideFest event is bigger and better than ever, according to Identity’s The NorthView.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 – 9:43 PM
| Comments Off on Denali Moose Scat Race benefits Interior AIDS
The annual Moose Scat Scoot in Denali National Park is on June 26 at 5 p.m. and this year all proceeds from the race go to benefit the Interior AIDS Association!
Prizes for race winners and top fundraisers include flightseeing, rafting and a variety of tours. Register at Riley Creek Mercantile, near the entrance to Denali National Park, between 2-4pm. Buses leave at 4:45 to take participants to the race start.
ARAMARK parks and resorts is kicking off their season with the annual Moose Scat Scoot Race. Thanks to the community’s previous donations and assistance, our staff can continue to bring various recreational and social events to Denali. The goal of this event is to raise funds for the Interior Alaska AIDS Association.
This year’s Moose Scat Scoot will take place on Saturday, June 26, 2010 inside Denali Park. The race consists of a half marathon bike/run, 5k run/walk, and a 1/2 mile fun run/walk. There will be an entry fee of $25 for each runner, with sponsorships to raise money for the Alaskan Interior AIDS Association.
We hope that you will consider donating items to provide us assistance with prizes and merchandise that will go toward participants and winners, as well as helping provide friendly benefits for the community. Your contributions will be one huge asset to the race and any donation will go directly to the Interior Alaska AIDS Association.
For further consideration, any business which is able to provide prizes and items in the amount of $200.00 or more will have the benefit of displaying their business’ name screen-printed on the back of the event T-shirt.
Please contact Patty Burns at Aramark to donate items for the Moose Scat Scoot 2010 and to make contributions to the Scoot/IAA fund.
The day after the race is National HIV Testing Day. Get tested at IAA on Sunday June 27 from 2-5pm, or on June 28-July 2 from 9am-5pm. Testing is also available at the Fairbanks Regional Public Health Center, Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center, and Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest. Take the Test, Take Control! For more information, visit www.InteriorAIDS.org.
The Anchorage Assembly unanimously passed a resolution supporting Alaska PrideFest at Tuesday night’s meeting! Then the Assembly scored a second Pride Week victory by voting to indefinitely postpone the appointment of Alaska Family Council chair and professional hater Dave Bronson to a school commission.
Time to thank our Assembly members – the longtime advocates, the new members who supported us, as well as the conservatives who stood up to Prevo in support of Alaska Pride.
The PrideFest resolution introduced by vice-chair Patrick Flynn welcomes Alaska PrideFest 2010, recognizes the contributions of the LGBT community to Alaska, and “encourages all residents to enjoy this celebration.” The Diversity Parade and Pride Festival is on Saturday, June 26 starting at 11 a.m.
WHEREAS, Anchorage is richly endowed with a great diversity of people, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, and languages; and
WHEREAS, the strength of a civil society is measured by the level of outreach, participation and engagement of all its members in the social, economic, and political activities of the community; and
WHEREAS, Anchorage is a more welcoming and stronger place as a result of the inclusion and celebration of so many diverse communities within our greater municipal community; and
WHEREAS, along with others, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities have made significant contributions through active involvement in the Alaska economy, and the cultural, social and civic life unique to Alaska; and
WHEREAS, Alaska PrideFest 2010 is a 10-day celebration involving various non-profit, social, and business organizations hosting special events at venues throughout Anchorage from June 18—27, 2010; and
WHEREAS, on Saturday, June 26, 2010, Alaska PrideFest 2010 activities include the Celebrating Diversity Parade through downtown Anchorage and the PrideFest Festival featuring live entertainment, vendors, food, friends, fun and carnival activities on the Delaney Park Strip; and
WHEREAS, although residents of our community may disagree on issues, Anchorage benefits from the ongoing dialogue, awareness, and celebration that builds bridges and strengthens our interdependence as an Alaskan community;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Anchorage Municipal Assembly
WELCOMES Alaska PrideFest 2010
and encourages all residents to enjoy this celebration themed “2010 A Pride Odyssey.”
PASSED AND APPROVED by the Anchorage Assembly this (22nd) day of (June), 2010.
Monday, 21 June 2010 – 10:42 PM
| Comments Off on KTVA on PrideFest 2010 (video)
KTVA Channel 11 in Anchorage reported on the week of events for Alaska PrideFest, with video and interviews from Saturday’s Annual Gay Memorial Service and clips of last year’s Pride Festival. The intro reads: “A bevy of businesses will host special events around town celebrating PrideFest – a ten-day lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community celebration.”
Saturday, 19 June 2010 – 5:24 AM
| Comments Off on Miss MeMe’s Glee-themed promo for HIV Testing Week (video)
This week is National HIV Testing Week, June 21-27, and the Four A’s made a great promo video, “MeMe’s Corner” starring the Imperial Court of All Alaska’s fabulous Miss MeMe in a Glee parody. MeMe knows best and she is lending her name to a very important cause – HIV Testing.
One of many free HIV testing opportunities that week will be at PrideFest on Saturday June 26. The Four A’s and the Municipality of Anchorage will be offering free HIV testing and free gonorrhea and chlamydia testing from 1-5 p.m. Just come visit the Four A’s booth.
There will be a week long series of events offering free HIV testing in both Anchorage and Juneau. It’s important to know your status for the health of yourself and your loved ones. Getting tested is quick and easy. All events will use an oral swab that gives results in 20 minutes.
The Anchorage testing dates and locations are listed below. The Juneau events were posted with the Juneau Pride schedule. Check out Four A’s at www.alaskanaids.org for more information about National HIV Testing Week.
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.
