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.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008 – 2:48 PM
| Comments Off on Homo for the Holidays
Celebrate the holidays gaily with Alaska’s LGBT community!
In Anchorage, start celebrating this weekend with ICOAA‘s Snow Ball Winter Wonderland on Dec 13, and an early Christmas Party with The Last Frontier Men’s Club on Dec 14.
Enjoy Christmas events at Mad Myrna’s, including the “Toys for Nots” Fundraiser on Dec 19, and Miss MeMe’s Gospel Christmas on Dec 20. On Christmas Eve, be filled with the holiday spirit by MCC‘s Carol and Recital Service. The Community Center will be open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Christmas Day, thanks to Mike, and cookies, muffins and sodas will be available.
Wrap up the season with New Year’s Eve at Mad Myrna’s and the New Year’s Day Cookie Exchange at the GLCCA.
In Fairbanks, don’t miss Jeff’s Solstice Party this Saturday. In Palmer, put it on the calendar to rock with Ever Ready on New Year’s Eve.
Do you know a GLBT holiday event in Alaska that isn’t mentioned? Tell us about it!
Saturday, 6 December 2008 – 10:21 PM
| Comments Off on Meet MCC pastoral candidate Rev. Norman Van Manen
Rev. Norman Van Manen is visiting MCC Anchorage for the next ten days as a pastoral candidate. The community is encouraged to meet Rev. Van Manen during the Sunday and Thursday services, and to view his educational and pastoral history.
The Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage, a GLBT-inclusive church, has been without a pastor since Rev. Johnathan Jones resigned in May, after four years of service.
“While MCC Anchorage has done a good job in keeping the church together since we’ve been in transition,” wrote Rev. Matthew Moak, the new Vice-Moderator, “the needs of the church have grown and we are headed in a new direction. A direction filled with hope, unity and love.”
Rev. Norman Van Manen will speak at MCC for two Sunday worship services. “What Shall I Cry?” is his sermon title for Dec. 7, and “Let’s Rejoice” is the topic on Dec. 14. The Sunday service begins at 2 p.m. and there is a time for fellowship after the service.
Rev. Van Manen will also speak at Soul Food, MCC’s mid-week dinner service, on Thursday Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. A $6 donation is requested for the meal. After this week, Soul Food will take a break for the holidays and will resume on January 9, 2009.
Vice-Moderator Rev. Moak will speak on “The humility in Christmas” for the Dec. 21 Sunday service. The community is invited to join MCC for a Christmas Eve Carol and Recital Service on Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. MCC meets at 7208 Duben Ave. in east Anchorage.
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Meet and greet pastoral candidate Rev. Norman Van Manen at MCC Anchorage:
Dec. 7, 2 p.m. Sunday worship service, with speaker Rev. Van Manen on “What Shall I Cry?”
Dec 11, 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening Soul Food, dinner and program with Rev. Van Manen.
Dec 14, 2 p.m. Sunday worship service, with speaker Rev. Van Manen on “Let’s Rejoice.”
Dream Boy (photo right),Queer Duck, and A Powerful Noise are showing this week (details listed below) and Half-Life shows next week.
Watch the trailers for Dream Boy and Queer Duckhere.
December 10 is International Human Rights Day. Don’t call in sick to work, call in “gay” and spend the day helping your favorite Alaskan LGBTA non-profit. Join the national reverse boycott Day Without A Gay!
EVENTS
Juneau
Domestic Partnership Planning Seminar 12/9, 5:15 p.m. Free. See the flyer for details.
Fairbanks
Drag*d Through the Ages, a benefit show for IAA, 12/5, 8:15 p.m. $10 at the door, $8 for students/military. Dance party after the show.
Anchorage
Anchorage International Film Festival (AIFF) 12/5-12/14
Ever Ready in Anchorage 12/5 & 12/6, 7-11 p.m. at the AMVETS Post 49.
TLFMC Cookie Exchange 12/6, 7 p.m. and Hump Day Happy Hour at The Raven 12/10 & 12/24 from 5-7 p.m.
Queer Duck, with Sex Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll, at The Bear Tooth, Sunday 12/7, 8:30 p.m. (AIFF)
Meet MCC pastoral candidate Rev. Norman Van Manen 12/7 & 12/14 at the 2 p.m. service, and 12/11 at 6:30 p.m. for Thursday night Soul Food. See MCC for details.
A Powerful Noise at the Anchorage Museum, 12/8 at 7:30 p.m. and 12/13 at 6 p.m. (AIFF)
Dream Boy at The Bear Tooth, and after-screening party with Director James Bolton at Mad Myrna’s, Wednesday 12/10, 7:45 p.m. movie, 10 p.m. party. (photo above)
Thursday, 4 December 2008 – 4:55 PM
| Comments Off on Light Up the Winter with More Impact Events
Join the Impact, the group that promoted the nationwide prop 8 protest, is coordinating an ongoing series of national LGBT events through February 12, the annual Freedom to Marry Day. The goal is to keep LGBT issues in the media, keep the momentum going within our community, and keep having discussions about gay rights with more and more people.
Some of their ideas are individual actions, like sending a postcard to Obama, wearing a white knotand participating in Day Without a Gay. Other events (LGBT Food Drive, Light Up the Nightandthe DOMA protest) require planning.
Which actions do you want to do in Anchorage, Fairbanks and/or Juneau?
Actions planned for specific dates
LGBTQ Food Drive – now through Dec 20: With the first national LGBTQ Food Drive for Equality, we will reach out not only to those who have worked alongside us, but to organizations and individuals that fear us and oppose our cause by donating to *faith-based* food pantries.
Day Without A Gay – Dec. 10: On December 10, which is International Human Rights Day, don’t call in sick to work, call in “gay” and donate your time to community service.Day Without A Gay lists local volunteer organizations that need your help. (Don’t see your favorite Alaskan LGBTA non-profit on the Day Without A Gay Alaska page? Send them the link so they can get on the list before Dec 10.)
Light Up the Night – Dec 20: On December 20th, join us again for a nation-wide demonstration, Light Up the Night for Equality. Hold a peaceful candlelight vigil in the commercial center of your city, in memory of the rights taken away and in support of the 18,000 marriages in legal limbo.
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) National Protest – Jan 10, 2009: DOMA states that a) states don’t have to recognize same-sex unions from other states, and b) the federal government will not recognize those marriages, even if the state does. With DOMA in place, we cannot have full marriage equality.
Ongoing actions
Project Postcard: Make an impact on the next presidency. Send Barack Obama a postcard from your town asking him to follow through on his promises around equal rights.
Wear a White Knot: The White Knot is the symbol for marriage equality. It takes two traditional symbols of marriage – white and tying the knot – and combines them in a simple way to show support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry. Wear the knot and tell people why you are wearing it.
The movie Milk is opening in Anchorage on Friday, December 12 at the Century! Watch the trailer here: MILK
Unfortunately, Century/Cinemark is owned by Mormons who donated to Yes on 8. Some in the LGBT community are boycotting the Century and giving their movie dollars to supportive cinemas. Locally, we hope Milk will play at The Bear Tooth in a few months.
Others are calling for a big national turnout on the opening weekends, because record-setting attendance for Milk will make it easier to get funding for future gay-themed movies. The message of Milk is timely, and the reviews sound great.
What will you do?
1. See it this month at the Century (and not buy food or drinks, since they make most of their profit from the concession stand), or
2. Wait until The Bear Tooth shows it in the spring.
Queer Duck is an animated feature, and Dream Boy is a gay coming of age romance. For a special treat, go to The Gay-La, an after-screening party at Mad Myrna’s with James Bolton, the Portland-based director of Dream Boy.
The trailer for Dream Boy (2008):
The commercial for Queer Duck, the Movie, which came out on Logo in 2006:
Tuesday, 2 December 2008 – 6:06 PM
| Comments Off on Fairbanks is "Drag*d Through the Ages" for IAA Benefit
Drag*d Through The Ages is a music, dance and comedy show with scenes from throughout human history: a caveman routine to a futuristic fashion show and plenty of drag fun in between.
Stay for the dance party following the show, with music by local funk band The Good Daze, featured in one of the scenes.
Other headliners include Cold Fusion Tribal Dance (an experimental belly dance troupe) in a flapper number from the 1920’s and a 1990’s song, The Fairbanks Roller Girls doing a 1970’s number, and Dance Theater Fairbanks performing an 1980’s scene.
The program is also packed with drag kings and queens as cavemen, operatic Vikings, Victorians, flappers, silent film stars, 80’s Vogue Off dancers, and fashion models of the future, plus songs from Marilyn Monroe, Al Green, The Blues Brothers, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Drag*d Through The Ages is sponsored by the UAF GLBT Alliance and is a benefit for Interior AIDS Association (IAA.)
Don’t miss this hilarious one night only show!
UAF Woodcenter Ball Room, December 5th, 8:15 pm. $10 at the door, $8 for students. All proceeds go to IAA. Dance party after the show with The Good Daze.
Friday, 28 November 2008 – 3:39 PM
| Comments Off on This Week in GLBT Alaska 11/28/08
Check out this week’s events from Alaska GLBT News.
For full listings, news and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.
Monday, December 1, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary ofWorld AIDS Day, when individuals and organizations around the world bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.
AIDS organizations in Anchorage and Fairbanks are holding candlelight vigils on Dec. 1, along with celebrations of life.
Juneau
Cosmic Bowling at the Juneau Bowling Center with SEAGLA, 11/29, 8-10 p.m.
Fairbanks
IAA‘s 20th Anniversary & World AIDS Day 12/1, 6:30 p.m. at the UAF Salisbury Theatre.
Anchorage
Four A’s World AIDS Day Vigil & “Rent” 12/1, 6 p.m. at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008 – 10:58 AM
| Comments Off on Two Gay Thanksgiving Meals in Anchorage
We have much to be thankful for this year. To help us celebrate, there are two free LGBT Thanksgiving meals in Anchorage this week: Thanksgiving Eve at Mad Myrna’s, and Thanksgiving Day at the Community Center.
On the Eve of Thanksgiving, join EVE’S Family and Friends for a GLBT Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Wednesday Nov. 26 at Mad Myrna’s. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. and is free. The Thanksgiving menu includes turkey, spiral ham, prime rib and all the trimmings. Just bring a friend and be hungry.
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage (GLCCA) is hosting an open house on Thanksgiving Day, and a complete Thanksgiving meal will be served from 2 to 4 p.m., with desserts out until 6 p.m. Join the LGBT community in giving thanks for having such a great facility, and sit down to a good meal and friendly conversation.
Besides two free Thanksgiving meals in the company of LGBT Alaskans and our friends, what else are you thankful for this year?
Tuesday, 25 November 2008 – 11:34 PM
| Comments Off on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2008
Monday, December 1, marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, when individuals and organizations around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. While we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done to fight the disease and its stigma.
AIDS organizations in Anchorage and Fairbanks are holding candlelight vigils on Dec 1, along with celebrations of life.
Anchorage Paints the Town Red
On World AIDS Day, the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s) holds events and activities to create awareness and educational opportunities for the community. This year’s theme is Paint the Town Red: Wear the Original Ribbon. They’re distributing free red ribbons for everyone to wear on December 1.
Over 200 organizations and businesses will have cans full of free red ribbons beginning November 25. Check the list of Anchorage locations and pick up your ribbons today. To have a paint can of ribbons at your business or organization, contact Chrissy at Four A’s.
On Monday, Dec 1, join Four A’s at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater (5225 Juneau Street) for the Annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil at 6 p.m., and a free showing of Rent at 7 p.m., with live entertainment by TBA Theatre.
IAA Celebrates 20 Years in Fairbanks
On Dec 1, the Interior AIDS Association (IAA) is celebrating their 20th anniversary and World AIDS Day at the UAF Salisbury Theatre. The evening includes dance and theater performances and a speaker starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by a candlelight vigil at 8:30 p.m.
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.
