Articles in Friends & allies
Will Alaska get gay Presbyterian ministers?
The Presbyterian Church (USA) becomes the fourth mainline Christian denomination to permit the ordination of LGBT ministers and lay leaders. Celebrating Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Anchorage) and other More Light churches which worked for decades to bring about this change.
3 LGBT movies at Out North
In addition to the lesbian-themed film Three Veils (posted here), Out North is also screening two gay-themed films in the next few weeks, both starring Steve Callahan: Abrupt Decision is playing this Saturday, May 14, and Role/Play is showing on June 18, the first night of Alaska Pride Week.
1. Three Veils
You know about Three Veils, showing on June 11 at 7pm. Director Rolla Selbak will be in attendance. Just confirmed: Sheetal Sheth is returning to Alaska for the show! There will be more events connected with this screening, so stay tuned to Out North and to Three Veils movie websites, facebooks and twitters. And if you haven’t already, friend Sheetal and welcome her back on her wall.
2. Abrupt Decision
This Saturday, May 14 at 7pm, will be a fundraiser showing of Abrupt Decision. This is a gift to Out North for the work they do, and all box office proceeds go directly to Out North, allowing the theater to bring more films of interest to us.
Denis’ world is falling apart and his marriage is shattered. He went into the office Friday morning. Ten minutes later he was fired and his entire world changed. As a man in mid-life crisis, he believed there has to be more to life than this. A stray dog in the park opens his eyes. It takes an angelic vision to see the light in this dramatic romance about passionate true love.
Abrupt Decision stars Steve Callahan and David LaDuca, and is a new film from Silly Bunny Pictures, a production company that creates ‘Movies about men in the heartland.’
3. Role/Play
Role/Play is showing on Saturday, June 18 at 7pm. It stars Steve Callahan and Matthew Montgomery.
When hunky soap opera star Graham Windsor (Steve Callahan; East Side Story, Make the Yuletide Gay, Nine Lives) is outed as the result of a gay sex tape scandal, he seeks refuge at an exclusive Palm Springs resort. But quiet anonymity eludes him when handsome marriage-equality activist Trey Reed (Matthew Montgomery; Redwoods, Back Soon, Pornography: A Thriller) checks in to escape the fallout from his own bitter divorce. As an undeniable passion begins to sizzle between Graham and Trey, they force each other to confront their professional downfalls — and the firestorm each has created in the gay press.
The trailer looks good. Watch:
Out North is delighted to show these films and invites you to come down and support the theater, LGBT film makers and their allies by seeing these up and coming films.
Abrupt Decision on May 14. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Three Veils on June 11. Tickets are $10 general admission, $7.50 students/60+/military, and available at the door only.
Role/Play on June 18. Tickets TBA.
All three movies are showing at 7 pm. Check for updates at Out North.
– Thanks to Maureen Suttman for providing this information.
Believe Out Loud: A Million Christians for LGBT Equality
This Mother’s Day, Believe Out Loud is inviting mothers and children everywhere to break the silence.
Determined to give voice to the millions of Christians who believe in equal rights for all, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community, Believe Out Loud is launching a campaign to get one million Christians to break the silence and join the burgeoning chorus for full LGBT equality in the church.
Progressive Christians across numerous denominations believe that Jesus’ message of justice, compassion and love compels them to be fully welcoming of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Now is the time to speak up and remind the world that it is possible to be Christian AND believe in LGBT inclusion.
Simply believing that LGBT individuals ought to be welcomed into our church communities is not enough. The time has come to break the silence. Believe Out Loud. Express your compassion by welcoming and supporting the gay and lesbian members of our communities. Join us, and raise Christian voices around LGBT issues.
How can you make your beliefs real? Be active. It can be as simple as starting a conversation. Lending a hand. Offering a seat. Kind gestures are the first step down the road to inclusion.
Watch their new video and be inspired to break the silence around LGBT equality in your church:
“Inside and Out” and Creative Outreach at IAA
The Fairbanks public is invited to “Inside and Out” tonight, a First Art Friday exhibit at Interior AIDS Association and part of their Creative Outreach program.
This exhibition will include stories, posters, and artwork from agency consumers of the Interior AIDS Association. The presenters chose the title “Inside and Out” because some of them are telling stories or sharing concepts that have had to remain hidden for years, while others are sharing artwork that they have never shared outside of their immediate friends and families. There will likely be stories of recovery, struggles, prejudice, and unique original artwork.
Samuel Johnson has been working with people at IAA to put their stories together and consolidate artwork for the show.
“It won’t be artsy in the same way that other FF openings will be… it will have posters, written stories, pictures, and art that folks here have made. Some of it relates to the above themes, and some relates to the person’s own interest or efforts at drawing and art.”
The previous IAA story event on April Fools Friday showed digital stories related to HIV/STD Prevention. Check out Samuel’s cool digital story about finding IAA and joining the Creative Outreach project:
Interior AIDS Association Creative Outreach Digital Story from Samuel Johnson on Vimeo.
Inside and Out
Date/time: Friday, May 6, 6:00-8:00 PM
Location: Interior Aids Association, 709 W. 2nd, in downtown Fairbanks, across from Gambardella’s.
Cost of admission: Free
Further info: See the Facebook event page.
Keep track of this and other events in LGBTQ Alaska at Bent Alaska’s new & improved events calendar.
How many gays must God create before we accept them?
The Minnesota legislature is debating a ban on same sex marriage, similar to the one passed in Alaska in the 90’s. On Monday, Rep. Steve Simon spoke in support of gays and lesbians and raised thoughtful questions, like this one that earned him spontaneous applause:
“How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?”
Watch the video:
Kobe and The Lakers make a PSA for gay acceptance
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers recorded a video message against bullying and anti-gay language as part of GLSEN’s “Think Before You Speak” campaign. After calling a referee an anti-gay slur during a live broadcast of a recent basketball game, Kobe claimed that his use of “f—king f—-t” was not a slur against LGBT people. [WTF?] He was given a $100,000 NBA fine, which he is appealing.
Gleek out at Anchorage Pride Prom
Pride Prom 2011 will be fabulous, with live performances in the Glee theme, a prize for best costume, and plenty of music to keep you dancing ’til midnight!
The annual youth dance is open to teens who support the LGBTQ community. It is drug-free and alcohol-free, and ID’s will be checked.
The costume contest will be judged by an expert panel for best in-character Glee costume, and the audience will get to decide the final contest winner.
Dress to impress (it’s officially semi-formal, prom dresses and suits are fine but not required) or dress as your favorite Glee character. Either way, be ready to dance.
Pride Prom 2011 will be held at Out North, a community theater and art space located kitty corner from Costco on Debarr and Bragaw. Parking is available on Primrose Street. (Do NOT park at the church next to Out North.) The evening is hosted by Identity Inc, with thanks to Out North, ICOAA, PFLAG, AMP, and ADK’s Deejays.
Come meet new teens and have a great time with your friends!
Pride Prom 2011
Saturday, April 23
8pm – midnight
Ages: 14-19
Cost: $10
Where: Out North Theater
3800 Debarr Rd, Anchorage
Passover LGBT potluck, a kosher chef challenge
Congregation Beth Sholom in Anchorage is hosting a Passover Potluck on Friday, April 22, for LGBT Jews and their friends and families. This is a Passover Dinner — it is NOT a Seder. Everybody is welcome. You don’t have to be Jewish; you don’t have to be invited by anyone.
Homer: Rockabilly Ball with the queens of Anchorage
What’s buzzin’, cuzzin? The Rockabilly Ball, that’s what!
All cats and daddy-o’s are invited to the Rockabilly Ball, a benefit for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, on April 16, 2011 at Alice’s Champagne Palace! So slap on your boss threads, coif your pompadour and join KBFPC for this rockin’ bash!
Don’t be a square, come and dance to the sounds of Iron Mermaid, eat scrumptious morsels from Maura’s Cafe, gawk at the babes from Mad Myrna’s and fork over your bread at the live auction.
Tickets are $25 in advance, available at KBFPC and Two Sisters Bakery, or $30 at the door. For updates, check out the Rockabilly Ball event page on Facebook.
Rockabilly Ball
A benefit for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic
Saturday, April 16 · 7:00pm – 11:30pm
Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
Adults Only
Entertainers from Mad Myrna’s
Live Music by Iron Mermaid
Auction of paintings by Steve Collins
Junkyard Auction ~ auctioneer Dave Aplin!
Hors d’œuvres by Maura’s Cafe
Divine drink concoctions by Homer’s best mixologists
Alice’s Champagne Palace
195 E Pioneer Avenue
Homer, Alaska
2 Concerts benefit homeless youth in Fairbanks (this weekend)
Did you know there are between 500-800 homeless youth at any given time in Fairbanks, Alaska? About 300 of them are in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. Help us to help them!
FCA SOAP is holding two concert fundraisers this weekend to benefit homeless, runaway and at-risk youth in Fairbanks. The Concert & Silent Auction for adults 21+ is Friday night at The Pub, and an all-ages We Are Visible concert is Saturday afternoon at the 310 First Avenue Banquet Hall.
For both events, please bring new or gently used clothing for a clothes drive for the youth, and keep in mind that most of the clients are ages 15 to 21 years old.
Also, they’re selling a 14-track benefit album for $10:
WE ARE VISIBLE! is a compilation benefit album with 14 tracks donated by mostly local Fairbanks bands with an ultimate mission of supporting the clients we serve. It will be available at our SOAP Benefit Weekend events, April 8 & 9, 2011. After that, if you’d like a physical copy, please e-mail vista@fcaalaska.org or call 907-374-9913. All proceeds from this album go toward helping each one of our clients recognize his or her value as a human being in a world that seems to change faster with each passing day.
Friday, April 8
SOAP Benefit Concert & Silent Auction @ The Pub
Come to The Pub and help us create a better city for our youth!
$5 Students / $8 General Admission — Ages 21+
Silent Auction Starts at 7pm and Music Starts at 9pm
9:00 Danny & The Jampires
9:45 Phineas Gauge
10:30 The Avery Wolves
11:15 Alaska Redd
Silent auction items will be highlighted by some awesome photographs by Krista Heeringa. We’ll have door prize giveaways, as well. For more information, please e-mail vista@fcaalaska.org or call 374-9913.
Many thanks to our other donors: Pro Music, Grassroots Guitar, Music Mart, College Coffeehouse, Gulliver’s Bookstore, Sipping Streams, Forget-Me-Not Bookstore, McCafferty’s, College Town Pizzeria, Mona Vie, UAF Pub, KSUA, and others.
All proceeds benefit Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption’s Street Outreach & Advocacy Program. SOAP is brought to our community through FCA and United Way of the Tanana Valley.
Saturday, April 9
WE ARE VISIBLE: A Benefit Concert for Homeless Youth
Join us for the ALL-AGES version of our concert fundraiser
Saturday, April 9 · 12:00pm – 11:00pm
310 First Ave. Banquet Hall
310 1st Ave, Suite 100
Fairbanks, AK
$5.00 — Fun, Music, Arts, Crafts, Guitar Lessons, $10 Haircuts from noon-2 & 4-6, Soda/Water, Door Prizes, Raffle!! Oh yeah, FUN TOO!
Bands (subject to change):
12pm InVein
1pm Bernie Bousa (of Danny & The Jampires)
2pm Bryan Whitten
3pm Alex Beasley
4pm From The Ashes
5pm Not Enough Flannel
6pm New Teen Paranormal Romance
7pm Eating For Two
8pm Until Death
9pm Alaska Redd
10pm Phineas Gauge
(DJ sets if there’s time)
Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption: We Take Familes to Heart
As a program operated by Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption, the Street Outreach & Advocacy Program (SOAP) reaches out to 10- to 21-year-olds who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. “Our goal is to protect these youth from abuse, sexual exploitation, assault, and criminal activity due to their lack of money and beneficial resources.”
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am-6pm
Drop-in Center, 2pm-6pm
-Drop-in Services in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska
-Transportation to resources and shelter
-Survival supplies: food, hygiene, clothes
-Assistance using the Fairbanks justice, business, and social service system
-Mediation and Conflict Resolution
-Counseling Services
-Referrals to community resources
-Independent Living Skills classes
-Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Seasonal Activities
