Friday, 7 August 2009 – 2:39 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 8/7/09
The next Ordinance 64 meeting is Tuesday August 11, and the Assembly may vote on the ordinance that evening. We need YOU in BLUE, sitting in the Assembly chambers on the first floor of Loussac Library, to show that we support them in passing the equal rights ordinance. Please attend!
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to
Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
Ducal Ball 2009 – A Fetish Ball 8/8, doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., to elect a new monarch for Fairbanks. Pioneer Park Civic Center. Fun, food, entertainment, and fetish-friendly attire (no nudity.) $15 at the door, 18 and older. (18-21 in a separate area.)
PFLAG Booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair 8/7-8/15. Volunteer at the booth for a 2-hour shift and enter the Fair free for the whole day. Email Mike to volunteer or visit Fairbanks PFLAG for more info.
Parks Hwy
Ever Ready at the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival 8/7, 4-5 p.m. Mile 102 Parks Hwy, Talkeetna.
Mat-Su Valley
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
Compassionate Communication Workshops for Parents and Anyone Working with Children 8/6-8/8, 6:30-9 p.m. T-F, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.
Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.
Friday Night Divas Variety Show benefit for The Roscoe (Pet) Fund 8/7, 9p.m. $5, followed by Karaoke with Paige. Saturday DJ Mad Mike 8/8 at 11 p.m. Both at Mad Myrna’s.
Irina Rivkin performs 3 nights in Anchorage: Organic Oasis on Saturday August 8, at 7 p.m. Midtown Studio concert on Sunday August 9, at 7:30 p.m. with an optional audience-participation live-looping piece, 6407 Brayton Drive, $5-15 sliding scale. Tap Root Café on Monday August 10, from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday worship and monthly potluck with MCC Anchorage, 2 p.m.
TLFMC Potluck meeting & social 8/9, 6 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Assembly meeting and possible Ordinance 64 vote, Tuesday 8/11, 1st floor of Loussac Library, meeting begins at 5 p.m but come early for a seat inside. Wear blue.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Thursday, 6 August 2009 – 5:40 AM
| Comments Off on August 11th Assembly Meeting: YOU in BLUE
– from Equality Works
The next Assembly meeting is August 11. While the agenda hasn’t been set yet, this very well may be the day that Assembly members get to a debate and vote on AO 64.
I know that many of you couldn’t bear to sit through the public hearings and the offensive testimony that demonized the LGBTQ community. But the public hearings are over now. This is our last time to show the Assembly members that their constituents support legislation to protect people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. You don’t have to testify, you don’t have to engage in debates with people in red shirts, all you have to do is be there to show your support for equality.
If you have never come to an Assembly meeting, please consider showing up on this crucial day. The meeting starts at 5:00 pm, but as usual, you should try to be there earlier if you want to get a seat. You know the drill: Blue shirts, Equality Works buttons.
AO 64 (S-2)
For those of you who don’t know already,
an S-2 version of the ordinance has been submitted for consideration by Patrick Flynn. We believe that this is a strong revision that acknowledges the concerns of some in the religious community by broadening the religious exemption, but does not weaken the original intention of the ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination. It includes employment protections for our entire community–including transgender individuals. Please
call or e-mail your Assembly members and tell them to put their support behind the S-2 version.
Mayor Sullivan needs to know that people in Anchorage support equality, he needs to know why you support equality, and he needs to hear that vetoing an ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination sends the message that he, as the Mayor of Anchorage, believes that LGBT people should be discriminated against. If he doesn’t want to send that message, then he should not veto this ordinance. Please
e-mail Mayor Sullivan or call him at (907) 343-7170 or (907) 343-7100.
Thanks, and Remember: Equality Works. See you on Tuesday!
Friday, 31 July 2009 – 12:44 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 7/31/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
BBQ to decorate the PFLAG Fair Booth 8/2, late afternoon, call 45-PFLAG for directions. The Tanana Valley State Fair is August 7-15 this year. Free admission for the day if you work a two-hour shift at the PFLAG booth. Fairbanks PFLAG.
Parks Hwy
Irina Rivkin‘s Denali concert 8/6, 10 p.m. at Panorama Pizza, Mile 224 Parks Highway on Carlo Creek.
Ever Ready at the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival 8/7, 4-5 p.m. Mile 102 Parks Hwy, Talkeetna.
Mat-Su Valley
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
Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.
Yes @ Cuddy Park 8/1, 2 p.m.-1 a.m. Live Bands, DJs, Breakdancers, Outdoor Festival. Doors close at 11 p.m.
Sunday worship and monthly potluck with MCC Anchorage, 2 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Friday, 24 July 2009 – 3:16 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 7/24/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to
Alaska GLBT News.
Sunday is Sarah Palin’s last day as Governor of Alaska and people all over the state are celebrating with Quitting Parties. Also on Sunday is a memorial service for progressive ally Allan Tesche, at the Central Lutheran Church on 15th and Cordova, in Anchorage.
McCarthy
Irina Rivkin performs in McCarthy on 7/25, 8 p.m. at BMAC’s, and on 7/27, 6:30 p.m. at Wrangell Mountain Center & Hardware store, playing a concert plus audience-participation live-looping jam, $5-15 sliding scale donation. See her current tour schedule
here.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
March with PFLAG and carry the Key West Pride Flag in the Golden Days Parade, 7/25. Meet in the Carlson Center parking lot by 9:30 a.m. in space 36. Post-parade Picnic at Nussbaumer Park from 2-6 p.m.
Women’s Motorcycle Ride Saturday, 7/25 meets in the Regal/Goldstream Theater parking lot at 4 p.m.
Mat-Su Valley
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
Lesbian Film Group & Potluck 7/24, 6 p.m. See The Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group for details.
The Diva’s Variety Show Fridays, 9 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Adult Comedy Hypnosis Show with Jay Her, Saturday 7/25, 9 p.m. $10 at Mad Myrna’s. Tickets available online here.
Mad Mike @ Mad Myrna’s spinning Electro, House & Trance, Saturdays 11 p.m.-2:30 p.m. with Special Guest DJ’s.
Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage 7/26, 2 p.m.
The Last Frontier Men’s Club Annual Meeting and Election 7/26, 6 p.m. Mad Myrna’s.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Self-Healing & Compassionate Communication Workshop for LGBT Community & Allies 7/27, 6-8:30 p.m. 1057 W. Fireweed, Suite 102 (Four A’s Building), United Way Conference Room. Please pre-register if possible.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Friday, 17 July 2009 – 5:02 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 7/17/09
** The next Anchorage ordinance hearing is Tuesday, July 21 at Loussac Library. **
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to
Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
Women’s Motorcycle Ride Saturday, 7/18 meets in the Regal/Goldstream Theater parking lot at 4 p.m.
Mat-Su Valley
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
Midnight Soapscum: Goes to Hell! Final Episode, 7/17-7/18, 10:30 p.m. Out North Tickets $15 online or at the door. Saturday’s show follows The Big Fat Gay Wedding (see below.)
Integrity (Episcopal GLBT group) monthly potluck, fellowship and worship 7/17, 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Lake Otis & Tudor.
Gay-Karting with Adam & Steve 7/18, 2 p.m. RSVP required.
Barony of Spenard 7/18, 7:16 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s $5. Best in Theme Contest & Auction.
The Big Fat Gay Wedding 7/18, 7 p.m. Out North. Unions blessed & vows renewed.
Mad Mike @ Mad Myrna’s 7/18, (Saturdays) 10 p.m.-2:30 p.m. with Special Guest DJ’s.
LGBT & Supporters Community Potluck at Goose Lake Picnic Shelter 7/19, 1 p.m.
Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage 7/19, 2 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Anchorage Equal Rights Ordinance Hearing 7/21, 5-11 p.m. Loussac Library. Equality Works.
Friday, 10 July 2009 – 12:02 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 7/10/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
RFamily Vacations cruise visits Juneau aboard the MV Norweigan Star, Tuesday 7/14 from 7 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. SEAGLA
Fairbanks
PFLAG Fairbanks meeting, Sunday 7/12, 4 p.m.
Women’s Motorcycle Ride Night, Thursdays, 6 p.m. meets in the Regal/Goldstream Theater parking lot.
Homer
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” performed live at the Down East Saloon, Mon-Wed 7/13-7/15, at 8 p.m. Tickets $15 at the Homer Bookstore and Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. Show is a benefit for KBFC.
Mat-Su Valley
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
Lesbian Film Group Night 7/10, 6 p.m. potluck and socializing, 7 p.m. movie. 2nd & 4th Fridays. An Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group event.
Ever Ready in Eagle River playing at the Bear Paw Festival 7/10, 8-10 p.m.
Midnight Soapscum: Goes to Hell! Episode #4, 7/10-7/11, 10:30 p.m. Out North Tickets $15 online or at the door.
Bac’untry Bruthers All-Night dRAGTIME Revue opening for the Dead Milkmen at the Brown Bear in Indian, along Turnagain Arm 7/11, 8 p.m.
Sunday worship and monthly potluck with MCC Anchorage 7/12, 2 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Poetry Parley: works by Walt Whitman, plus local poet Joshua Garcia 7/15, 7 p.m. Free admission, and cake for Poetry Parley’s one-year anniversary. Out North
The PFLAG Anchorage & Identity, Inc. annual picnic at Valley of the Moon Park 7/16.
The Anchorage ordinance is alive and kicking, and today, Tuesday July 7, is Round 5 of the public hearings. Outside, the rockin’ Equality Rally on the Library lawn will have music, food, sign-making supplies and a special town hall meeting. Inside, the testimony on the non-discrimination ordinance continues in the Assembly Chamber on the first floor.
“We encouraged more of our supporters to sign up to testify,” writes Tiffany McClain of Equality Works, “so that opponents of equality do not get the last word in front of the Municipal Assembly. Many of those who signed up still haven’t had an opportunity to speak. It would be great if, once they finally get to the microphone, the Assembly Chamber is filled with friends and allies who are there to support them.”
To make sure you have a seat, arrive early – the doors open at 3 p.m. When you have a seat, you can take breaks and come back inside by giving your ID to the security guards at the entrance.
Don’t get off work until 5 p.m., when the seats will all be taken? Can’t stand to ruin another beautiful summer evening listening to hours of anti-gay bigotry? Not sure why we’re doing this?
Then rock with the rally on the lawn and come to the town hall. “Join the steering committee of Equality Works for a town hall meeting on the front lawn of Loussac Library before the testimony begins” writes Tiffany. “This is your opportunity to learn more about our strategy and future options, and to share your own ideas and concerns.” The Town Hall will be held on the lawn near 36th and Denali Street, at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, 3 July 2009 – 4:44 PM
| Comments Off on Gays Join Alaska’s July 4th Parades
Three of Alaska’s 4th of July Parades – Anchorage, Ester and Homer – will have openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender contingents celebrating Independence Day this Saturday, and all LGBTA Alaskans are invited to join the fun.
Anchorage
The Anchorage
July 4th Parade will include the
Imperial Court float ‘The Starship Something Fierce’ hosted by the Duke & Duchess of Anchorage, and the LGBT Youth float from PrideFest. The youth float theme is ‘Let Our Colors Bloom, Youth for Equality’ and youth 14-19 are invited to join. Adults are welcome to join the Court float, or the ACLU marchers.
“If you would like to join the Court float, please meet us at 7th & H St. between 9 and 10 a.m.,” writes Paige Langit, Anchorage Duchess. The youth float will meet at 7th & I St. This year’s parade route circles the Delaney Park Strip in downtown Anchorage.
The
ACLU of Alaska also invites the LGBTA community to join their walking contingent. They meet at 8th & I St. at 10:30 a.m.
After the parade,
Bernie’s Bungalow is hosting a marathon 4th Fest with live music, burlesque & circus performances from 4 p.m.-midnight, followed by a DJ dance party. The $10 cover gets you an all-event wristband from a VivaVoom Brr-Lesque hostess.
Ester
In the Fairbanks area, Dykes on Bikes (a.k.a. the Thursday Women’s Motorcycle Group, and friends) are riding in the
Ester Fourth of July Parade. They will meet at 11 a.m. for the parade, and stay for the community picnic/potluck afterwards.
“Inspired by our recent motorcycle runs, and the general funky, festive atmosphere of Ester in a high holiday mood, I’ve gotten us a spot in the Ester July 4th parade,” writes Jeanne. “Women looking for a good time in a ‘family’ friendly atmosphere should join us. Any size bike or scooter will do.”
The Ester event is not a typical Independence Day Parade. “Anything goes,” writes Deirdre Helfferich on
The Ester Republic blog. “We’ve had Revolutionary War soldiers, a Visqueen statue of liberty, leather-and-whip wielding fishnetted literati, giant puppets, men in drag and mops, dogs in costume, pigs in porkmobiles, fake politicians with real bribes, real politicians with fake bribes, dance troupes, couch potatoes, marching bands, gaggles of kids, horses, extremely loud firetrucks, etc.” Compared to that, Dykes on Bikes will seem tame.
Bribing the judges is a tradition at the Ester Parade. It’s not required, but it’s part of the fun. The Dykes on Bikes contingent is planning a bribe, a sign, and decorations for the motorcycles.
The Thursday Women’s Motorcycle Group meets at the Regal/Goldstream Theater parking lot every week at 6 p.m. and features a 45-60 minute ride to dinner and back. “If you want to hitch a ride, meet us Thursday evening and we’ll see what we can do,” writes Jeanne. Remember that helmets are mandatory for passengers in Alaska.
Homer
The new
Homer PFLAG chapter made a colorful float for the Homer July 4th parade down Pioneer Ave. to Sterling Highway.
“Come show your support for LGBTQ in Homer,” reads the
event’s Facebook message. “We are gathering at 5 p.m. in the Homer High Parking Lot to put the dazzel on and work out the ditty to do before the judges. Wear bright colors. Let’s show there is a safe place to celebrate diversity in Homertown.”
Happy Independence Day!
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 – 6:31 PM
| Comments Off on Equality Works: Looking Ahead
We hope that you’ve enjoyed the vacation from the marathon of public hearings we’ve had over the last month. The break in the action has given the Equality Works steering committee some time to reflect and consider our options as we prepare for the next round of hearings and the transitioning mayoral administration.
WHAT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW
Who we are: Equality Works is a coalition of organizations to working to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are protected from discrimination in the Municipality of Anchorage. You can find a list of our member organizations
here. At the head of the coalition is a steering committee/decision-making body currently made up of 11 community leaders and activists, mainly long-time Alaskans. We meet and communicate regularly to discuss and debate the most successful course for achieving our goal of protecting the LGBT citizens of Anchorage from discrimination. If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations you’d like to share with the steering committee, feel free to respond to this post and I will make sure they get the message.
We have not given up: Many media outlets are sounding the death knell for any attempts to pass an ordinance to amend Anchorage’s nondiscrimination law, but we are committed to making sure that the Municipality of Anchorage takes steps to protect LGBT people from discrimination by whatever political means is most effective. Until we have used every tool available to us, we will keep organizing for equality. If our opponents think that we have given up simply because we have a new mayor, their short-sightedness will work in our favor in the long run. They were mobilized for a sprint, but we are preparing for a marathon. Time is on our side.
We want the democratic process to continue. While opponents of equality succeeded in pushing the consideration of the ordinance into July and onto the plate of a new mayoral administration, they have not yet succeeded in killing the legislation. As I write this, the ordinance is still alive and we believe that we have the votes to pass a strong ordinance that protects all of us—transgender, lesbian, gay, and bisexual—without sacrificing employment rights. In short, we want our Assembly members to debate on ordinance 64 and take a vote. If we end up losing the votes, facing a veto, or facing the challenge of repeal by voter referendum, we will mobilize to win by other means. But as for now, we believe that this phase of the democratic process needs to play itself out. We hope that you are willing to stick with us for the long haul.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
Contact Mayor-Elect Dan Sullivan
Mayor Sullivan has not yet stated publicly where he stands on the issue of equality for LGBT citizens. Tell him why he should support an ordinance that will help protect all Anchorage citizens from discrimination. Send him an e-mail at <
mayor@muni.org>. Remember to be respectful!
Attend the Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 7th
Last week we encouraged more of our supporters to sign up to testify so that opponents of equality do not get the last word in front of the Municipal Assembly. Many of those who signed up still haven’t had an opportunity to speak and it would be great if once they finally get to the microphone, the Assembly Chamber is filled with friends and allies who are there to support them. Where: Loussac Library, 36th & Denali. When: 5-11 pm (doors open at 3:00 pm if you want to make sure you have a seat)
Make a Donation to Equality Works
Whatever the end of the result of the Assembly hearings happens to be, Equality Works will need to work hard to advance or defend the rights of the LGBT citizens of Anchorage. The fight is just beginning. You can now support the efforts of Equality Works with an
online donation.
Evaluate Us
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.
