Articles in Events
Lima Beans for Croft, the Equality Candidate
- “I believe and have always believed that people should be free to choose their life partner and have that recognized by the state,” Croft wrote in a recent email to Alaska GLBT News. “I will continue to fight for and vote for equality.”
- Croft fought against and voted against the gay marriage constitutional ban in the Legislature in 1998.
- “In the House debate, I compared the gay marriage ban to constitutional bans in southern states against interracial marriage, and told my colleagues that we as a state would be embarrassed by this amendment. We lost. In the decade since, I have always been proud of that vote. I am today.”
- On partner benefits, he told the ADN the Supreme Court was right to allow benefits for same-sex couples.
- “I don’t understand why two people expressing their love for each other affects my marriage,” said Croft in 2006. Eric and Joanna have been married for 15 years.
- When asked if he thinks people choose to be gay: “I don’t care. It’s none of my business, really,” Croft said. “I grew up in an Alaska where you didn’t really inquire too much into people’s personal lives.”
- “At one mayoral forum, they asked us to hold up a green or red card on gay marriage and I held up the red signifying that I knew of the constitutional amendment. I did not mean that my position had changed.”
“Please let Anchorage know that here in Juneau Eric Croft was an outright supporter of us finally getting our state partner benefits. He offered wisdom and support on all his committees when he was a legislator. His opinions were always sound and balanced, thoughtful and well spoken. I think you can’t go wrong with Eric Croft,” wrote Maureen Longworth and Lin Davis, plaintiffs in the state domestic partner benefit case.
- Dan tried to block implementation of domestic partnership benefits in Anchorage, against the Supreme Court ruling. (we got the benefits despite him.)
- He lead the opposition against selling a municipal building to Out North as their new home. (they bought it anyway.)
- He opposed the School Board over a PFLAG-sponsored display in the high schools.
- He promoted a religious right-wing agenda on the Assembly.
- He doesn’t have lips. (I admit that my partner sent that reply. It’s a pet peeve. How can you trust a lip-less man?)
This Week in LGBT Alaska 5/1/09
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Femme Fatale, 5/1 at 8 p.m. and 5/2 at 9 p.m. annual Juneau show and fundraiser for Four A’s.
Rainbow Highway Cleanup with PFLAG & SEAGLA 5/2, 10 a.m.-noon
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.
Harmony Choir meets at the Center, Thursdays 6:30 p.m.
Anchorage
Graze to Raise 5/1, meet the Identity Team at 5:45 p.m. in the Dena’ina Center.
Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage, 4/26, 2 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
BBQ Potluck 5/2, 4-8 p.m. in Sisterhood Park.
Industrial Gothique Fashion Show 5/2, 9 p.m.-11 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Alaska Rainbows monthly dinner 5/2, 5 p.m. Colleen.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays starting 5/5, 6 p.m.
GLSEN Alaska chapter meeting 5/7, 7-8 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Juneau Highway Cleanup with Rainbow Pride
Dine Out, Fight AIDS in Fairbanks
Femme Fatale returns to Juneau
The ICP Ball: End of a Reign
In a week, I will step down as the Imperial Crown Princess of All Alaska, and someone else will step up and begin anew. For a while now I have been regretting this event. It will signify an end to what has been evolving for me in this role, and has exploded into an incredible experience I don’t want to end. A lot of what has unfolded had something, but not everything, to do with being Princess.For the past several weeks, I’ve been working like a dog Monday morning through about noon on Friday, then slipping into a skirt and lipstick until the new work week begins. In some ways, it’s an escape from my reality as a male, while in other ways it’s just a pure expression of myself as a multifaceted and talented person. As the years have evolved, what was once a rare Friday night outing in a skirt by myself, has become a fully intergrated part of who I am. The days of changing last minute in some out of the way bathroom are over. Now I’ll leave the house mid-day for the whole world to see and I won’t care. Where I was once paranoid that someone would find out where I lived or who I was ‘out of face’, now it seems the whole world knows. Where I was just another confused cross-dresser, now The Diva April Rains is becoming as prominent as her male counterpart.I’ve walked through stores and people have complimented me, stood in front of several hundred neighbors, associates and friends as they cheered at the end of “April’s Follies”, spoke with folks who say awesome things about performing in the Friday Night Diva’s show, and stood there humbly as Sherry Vine and Joey Arias acknowledged me during their show. These are all circumstances I never knew I’d get to experience.For months now, emails have come in from men in circumstances similar to mine years before, where fear, disgust, self-hatred and confusion rule their lives. They want to get out of their bedrooms and experience the real world. How do they do that? How do they talk with their wives, kids, and friends about their “secret”. They are relieved to know they are not alone, but realize that it’s a journey of self discovery to find who they are at the core of their being. This has little to do with being gay, straight, bi or any need to have sexual re-assignment surgery or take hormones. They have simpler questions, like what bathroom to use at a club, how to cover a beard, where to find shoes and hair, and so much more.If anything, being the ICP presented a unique route for me to be more open and visible about who I am as a person. It took a role I thought was a “fantasy” and interjected it into dead center of reality. A role where I attended meetings for the corporation of the Court recognized as a female, but blended it with my male experiences to help make real world business decisions. A role where my male community recognition as a builder, fire fighter, dog musher, dad, and partner allowed me to meet with other local business owners and associates as a female, to garner support for a first-ever Valley fundraiser.As the big weekend draws closer, what I felt was an end is in fact a new beginning. The end of the 16th ICP Reign will occur, as the 17th reign steps up and another very unqiuely talented and creative person hopes to make some positive changes during her reign. While my title as Her Most “Not So Sweet, 16th, Valley Trash, Imperial Crown Princess of All Alaska” will be entered into the lineage of the Court, my title as “The Valley Trash Baroness of Big Lake” will remain … and that’s a title I have yet to develop.
This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/24/09
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
Birthday Party/Dance and Fundraiser for PFLAG & West Valley GSA, for friends 21 and over, at Jeff’s House 4/25, 9 p.m.
A celebration of life for Vat Chea, 4/26, 4 p.m. at Club Alaskan. Potluck and silent auction. Friends, 21 and over, are invited to attend; not open to the general public.
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.
Harmony Choir meets at the Center, Thursdays 6:30 p.m.
Kenai Peninsula
Homer Community Gathering 4/30, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Maura’s Cafe next to the Bunnell Street Art Center. Email Homer PFLAG for more info.
Anchorage
ICOAA Imperial Crown Prince and Princess Ball 4/25, doors open at 6 p.m., Ball at 7, $10 at Mad Myrna’s.
Sunday worship at MCC Anchorage, 4/26, 2 p.m.
Tansgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Join Identity’s “Graze to Raise” team, registration deadline 4/27. Register online at Alaska Charity Walk. (The Anchorage Graze to Raise is on May 1.)
“Living With Grief: Diversity & End Of Life Care” Seminar 4/29, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium, UAA, sponsored by Hospice of Anchorage. Rev. Van Manen, paster of MCC Anchorage, will speak on aspects of death, grief and loss in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered communities.
Queer Night Out 4/29, 7:30 p.m. Bluegrass at Tap Root Cafe.
This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/17/09
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Bac’untry Brothers dRagtime Revue 4/17 the Red Dawg Saloon, 8 p.m. 4/18 Hanger on the Warf, 8 p.m. 4/19 the Folk Fest, 8 p.m.
Fairbanks
Day of Silence at UAF 4/17, “The Times of Harvey Milk” showing at 6:30 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium.
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.
The Harmony Community Choir is forming at the Center, rehearsals on Thursdays 6-7 p.m.
Anchorage
Pride Prom for ages 14-19, at the Chalet 4/17, 7-10:30 p.m.
Semi-Annual Womyn’s Dance at the Snow Goose 4/17, 7:30 p.m.
SINsation drag Cabaret with Joey Arias & Sherry Vine from NYC, at ‘Koots, thru 4/18, 8 p.m.
No Foolin’: A Mardi Gras Fiesta fundraiser for Four A’s 4/18, 7 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Scott Turner’s Annual Bake Sale and Bake-Off for charity 4/19, 4 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.
Sunday worship at MCC Anchorage, 4/19, 2 p.m.
Tansgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Scott Turner’s Annual Bake Sale
Update: The 2010 Community Bake Sale for Four A’s is on Sunday, May 16 from 4-6:30 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s, and includes a dessert competition.
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Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 4 p.m.
Mad Myrna’s
Join Scott Turner for his annual bake sale and BAKE OFF on Sunday. Bring your best baked goods to raise funds for the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association. Bake off categories for Professional Bakers, Best Cakes/Pies, Best Cookies/Bars, Best Other (Trifles, Breads, etc.) Prizes awarded to the Winners. This event is a lot of fun, with delicious food baked by your friends and neighbors, food that will tempt you to buy and share for a good cause.
Until the end of April, all gifts to the Four A’s food bank (cash or in-kind) will count toward a matching grant from the Feinstein Foundation.
A No Foolin’ FUNdraiser for Four A’s
