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Transgender Day of Remembrance

Thursday, 20 November 2008 – 8:07 PM | One Comment

Today is the 10th annual International Transgender Day of Remembrance, commemorating transgender people who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.

The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 inspired the Remembering Our Dead web project and a candlelight vigil.

Unfortunately, another trans person was murdered just this week for being trans and gay, Teish Cannon of Syracuse, New York.

Others being remembered this year as part of Transgender Day of Remembrance include Lawrence King of Oxnard, Calif., a 15-year-old boy who liked to wear women’s clothes and was shot in the head by a fellow classmate; Simmie Williams Jr., 17, shot in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. wearing women’s clothes; and Angie Zapata, 18, of Greeley, Colo., brutally murdered by a 31-year-old man who became enraged when he learned that she was a biological male.

Locally, MCC Anchorage held a Transgendered Day candle lighting service last Sunday.

Richard LaFortune, a Native Alaskan member of the Yup’ik tribe, spoke yesterday at Washington State University about ‘two-spirit people,’ American Indians with both a male and female spirit. LaFortune helped organize the International Two Spirit Gathering, an annual gathering of LGBT Native people that occurs in late August.

Juneau’s "Mobile" Prop 8 Protest

Friday, 14 November 2008 – 5:11 PM | Comments Off

All three of Alaska’s main cities are participating in Saturday’s protest against Prop 8!

While Equal Rights supporters in Anchorage and Fairbanks hold Fight the H8 protests, Juneau NOW and their friends are holding a ‘mobile protest’ in solidarity:

I would like to be part of this national day of protest. So here’s the plan and I hope you’ll all join me. I’m going to put a sign in my car window and be a sort of mobile protester as I do my Saturday errands and schlep my kids to and from soccer games. I’ve attached my sign and would be honored if some of you want to use it and join me. Or you can modify it as you please, or make your own. You can find other suggestions at Join the Impact.

Please spread the word.

I’ll honk if I see you!

Anchorage and Fairbanks fight the H8, protest Prop 8!

Thursday, 13 November 2008 – 3:05 PM | 18 Comments

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and straight citizens will take to the streets of Anchorage and Fairbanks on Saturday Nov. 15, 2008 to protest the passage of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay marriage amendment, and the lack of LGBT equal rights in Alaska.

Tens of thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and our allies have taken to the streets to show outrage with the outcome of California’s Proposition 8. Prop 8 is a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage, taking away a right that was granted before the vote. Same-sex marriage bans also passed in Arizona and Florida. The outcome of these propositions has angered the national gay community and our supporters. Many feel as if they are second-class citizens, but the fight is not over.

On Saturday, November 15, the LGBT community and their supporters will take to the streets in what could be the largest organized protest since the Civil Rights Movement. To date, more than 250,000 individuals have pledged to take part in the nationwide event and descend upon the City Halls, State Capitols and the Nation’s Capitol to make their voices heard. Signs, posters and numerous websites have already been created and the word is spreading quickly throughout the nation. JoinTheImpact.webpaint.com lists protest locations in all 50 States and the District of Columbia.

The message is simple, yet profound: Equal Rights for All.

The organizers of this nationwide event stress that these will be peaceful demonstrations. “Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are United States citizens equal in mind, body and spirit and deserving of full equality under the law.”

The Protest / Movement is scheduled to take place across the nation at the same time: 1:30 PM Eastern, 12:30 PM Central, 11:30 AM Mountain and 10:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, November 15th, 2008. Those interested in attending this historic event may find their local protest location by visiting: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com

ANCHORAGE

WHAT: Prop. 8 Protest – Equal Rights
WHO: LGBT and straight citizens who support Equal Rights
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008; at 12 Noon*
WHERE: 550 W 7th AVE, ATWOOD Building

*We are not the only city holding the protest at a different time. But if you feel that it is important to be there at 9:30, then go and make your voice be heard! (and stay for the noon rally if you can.) Thanks.

FAIRBANKS

WHAT: Prop. 8 Protest – Equal Rights
WHO: LGBT and straight citizens who support Equal Rights
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008; at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: 800 Cushman Street, CITY HALL

Anchorage Fight the H8 Protest, Nov. 15

Thursday, 13 November 2008 – 1:58 PM | 11 Comments

UPDATE: The organizers called the protest for NOON, and sent the press release to the media. We are not the only city holding the protest at a different time. But if you feel passionate about being there at 9:30 or cannot join us at noon, then go and make your voice be heard, more power to you! (and send the photos to Bent Alaska.) Thank you.

On Saturday November 15th, people in cities all around the U.S. are coming together to take a stand for equality. To date, more than 250,000 have made the pledge to take part in this national protest. Join the movement! For more information visit http://jointheimpact.com/

The Anchorage Protest

We are protesting in front of the Atwood Building, 550 W 7th Ave. between E and F Streets. Please bring a sign and DRESS WARM. Spread the word!

We are protesting for EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL, and this is a peaceful protest. Sign ideas here: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Protest+Signs

TIME??

If we follow the national movement and hold our protest to coincide with all the others, we would hold it at 9:30 a.m. in Alaska. However, the last time we held a protest early on a Saturday morning, people said the same thing but did not show up early! Many showed up around noon, after the early group left. So this time, maybe we should do what works here and call it for noon, or compromise on 11 a.m., despite the national timing.

What time will you commit to showing up?

Fairbanks Fight the H8 Protest, Nov. 15 at 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, 12 November 2008 – 11:01 PM | Comments Off

On Saturday November 15th, at *9:30 a.m. our time,* people in cities all around the U.S. are coming together to take a stand for equality. To date, more than 250,000 have made the pledge to take part in this national protest. Join the movement! For more information visit http://jointheimpact.com/

The Fairbanks Protest

We are protesting in front of City Hall, located at 800 Cushman Street, at 9:30 a.m on Saturday Nov. 15. Please bring a sign and a candle and DRESS WARM. Remember to tell your friends and families – Let’s get as many people out there as we can!

We are NOT trying to be anti-church or anti-religion, and this is a peaceful protest. We are protesting for EQUAL RIGHTS for ALL, no matter the sexual orientation. Please make signs in accordance with that. Sign ideas here: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Protest+Signs

Facebook group: Protest Prop 8 in Fairbanks.

I hope that the people whose hearts are invested in this will show up despite the early time. I think the fact that we will be protesting at the same time as everyone else in the country really makes an impact.

Thanks to everyone for the emails and offers to help out!

– Kristen, Fight the H8 protest coordinator for Fairbanks

Fight the H8: Join the Impact

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 – 10:17 PM | 7 Comments

UPDATE: Anchorage protest is Noon at the Atwood building. Fairbanks is at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. Check the press release for details. Thanks.

Alaska is joining the national protest against Prop 8!

Rallies are planned in Anchorage and Fairbanks on Nov. 15 at 9:30 a.m., to coincide with the 10:30 a.m. west coast/ 1:30 p.m. east coast protests.

The Alaska page is: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Alaska

Many gay and lesbian couples from Alaska were married in California this summer, and many more want the option to marry. Alaskans held several No on Prop 8 fundraisers, wrote to friends and relatives in California urging them to vote No, and a few traveled there to work on the No on 8 campaign.

The passage of California’s anti-gay marriage amendment is also personal to gay and lesbian Alaskans because we experienced similar votes. Gay marriages were banned in Alaska by a constitutional amendment passed in 1998 after a mean-spirited campaign by our opponents, and our fellow Alaskans voted to take away our Court-granted family employment benefits in the advisory vote of April 2007. (The benefit vote was non-binding, and the benefits remain, for now.)

Twice in the last decade, we lived through months of public debate on whether we are citizens or abominations. Twice, a majority of our neighbors and coworkers voted against our humanity. We struggled to remain positive, productive residents of a state that does not consider us ‘equal under the law.’

Alaskans will protest the passage of Prop 8 on Nov. 15, in support of marriage equality and in solidarity with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities protesting at the same time all across this country. Please join us!

"The Laramie Project" Brings the Truth about Hate Crimes to Fairbanks

Sunday, 9 November 2008 – 8:01 PM | Comments Off

Matthew Wayne Shepard was an openly gay university student who was brutally attacked near Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998 and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie. He died several days later.

“The Laramie Project” is a play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reactions of the people of Laramie to Shepard’s murder. The play draws on hundreds of interviews with inhabitants of the town in the months after the incident and during the trial.

Theatre UAF is presenting “The Laramie Project” along with a panel discussion “Live and Let Live: The Local Context of The Laramie Project” after the 2 pm performance of the play on Saturday November 22.

“We really wanted there to be some kind of discussion, so the many issues raised in this get further attention and so people can feel really involved,” said Carrie Baker, local director of the play. “We wanted a forum for dialogue. If nothing else, if people to talk about this and other hate crimes, it is a step in the right direction.”

Panel discussion members will include Kayt Sunwood of the UAF Women’s Center, Peter Pinney of Cooperative Extension, and Chris Coffman of the UAF English Department.

“The Laramie Project,” presented by Theatre UAF at the Salisbury Theatre, 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 14, 15, 21 & 22, and 2 p.m. on Nov. 22, 23. The discussion “Live and Let Live” follows the 2 p.m. performance on Nov. 22.

Tickets: $15 adults, $12 seniors, military and UAF employees, $7 students, available at the UAF Wood Center or the Theatre UAF box office: www.uaf.edu/theatre/season

Read the News-Miner article about the local production of “The Laramie Project.”

Read the powerful editorial by current Juneau resident and former Wyoming resident Leslie Wood about Matthew Shepard’s murder and anti-gay hate crimes, printed last month on the 10 year anniversary of Shepard’s murder: Remembering Matthew Shepard.