Articles in Friends & allies
Fetish Ball 2011
What’s better than having a fetish? Having a night devoted entirely to FETISH!
Saturday is Fetish Ball 2011: The Fall of Rome – Caligula’s Revenge. Come in theme, or as your own fetish. Either way, it’s a night you won’t forget. The people are the show!
The Fall of Rome – Caligula’s Revenge is Saturday, April 9 at Mad Myrna’s, beginning at 8pm. Admission is $15.
The Fetish Ball is an annual benefit for the Four A’s during their $1 Million Challenge food bank fundraiser.
At least 3 allies re-elected to the assembly
Three of the four pro-equality assembly members were re-elected by Anchorage voters on Tuesday, with solid leads over Mayor Sullivan’s conservative challengers.
The preliminary election results show assembly allies Elvi Gray-Jackon, Harriet Drummond and Patrick Flynn being re-elected, while the East Anchorage race between incumbent Mike Gutierrez and challenger Adam Trombley is too close to call. As of this writing, Trombley leads Gutierrez by about 250 votes.
Dave Bronson of the Alaska Family Council was soundly defeated by Assemblywoman Elvi Gray-Jackson, who won with a margin of over 15% of the vote.
Two assembly members who oppose equality – Bill Starr and Chris Birch – were also re-elected.
In the school board races, Gretchen Guess has a good lead over Treg Taylor, while Pat Higgins leads Bob Griffin by 186 votes.
Absentee ballots will be counted on April 15.
Yes, Anchorage, there WILL be an Election Central this year!
You know I have been lucky to live and work in many states in the political process. But Alaska is unique in the fact that when elections occur, Alaskans of all political persuasions gather with the candidates themselves, supporters, the media, and everyone watches the votes come in. It’s a chance to witness democracy at its finest. This is the gathering known as Election Central.
So I was disturbed when I heard that Mayor Dan “The one we should Ban” Sullivan had not approved funding for the traditional Election Central.
Maybe he wants everyone to adjourn to a certain pub he is part-owner of downtown, so he can make a profit during the evening?
Maybe because he has personally attempted to defeat three members of the Anchorage Assembly with his own candidates, he may have jitters and doesn’t want to face the press as well as three emboldened and perturbed re-elected members of the Assembly, if the votes pile up against his choices.
Maybe he really is a fiscal conservative and feels any displays of democracy are too frivolous?
Who knows… but that’s why I sprang into action. I contacted a local member of our community, Douglas Locke — the owner of Kodiak Bar & Grill, who graciously donated the use of the A Street Event Hall and refreshments. The facility was a Centergy Office, Congregationalist Church, and most recently the Steinway Piano Studio.
It is located between 6th and 7th streets at 637 A Street. See map.
There’s plenty of parking, the facility is ADA-certified, and you can’t miss it with the orange awnings. There will be press, candidates, and a wonderful example of how democracy still works in this nation.
I have no idea at the writing of this post who will win on Tuesday. I don’t care if you are liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, Coffee or Tea… just go vote. And after the polls close, come join your fellow Alaskans at the party.
To make a pun on Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, let me close by saying, Yes Anchorage, there will be an Election Central this year!!!
See the Facebook event page for more information.
Anchorage election: Assembly and school board candidates to vote for
Anchorage voters going to the polls Tuesday will see pro-equality assembly members up for re-election in 4 districts, a supportive challenger, and 2 good school board candidates on the ballot, running against a slate of anti-gay candidates endorsed by Mayor Sullivan. Here are Bent Alaska’s recommendations.
Gov. Parnell, Choose Respect for All Alaskans
Today is Governor Sean Parnell’s Choose Respect rally against domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. It’s an important cause, and members of the LGBT community will be there, some marching with rainbow sashes. But does Parnell respect LGBT Alaskans?
The website for Parnell’s Choose Respect project includes information on the marches, local resources for victims of abuse, and something called the Safe Homes Strong Families proclamation. [The proclamation is in bold, my comments are in italics.]
“The 2010 Public Safety initiative continues our commitment to establish safe homes and build strong families for all Alaskans.”
ALL Alaskans? Since I can personally verify that LGBT people live in Alaska, that means Parnell is committed to promoting safe homes and strong families for LGBT Alaskans.
“This year, we are addressing key elements to end exploitation and harm inflicted upon minors, seniors, and vulnerable adults.”
Gay and especially transgender Alaskans are at high risk for a variety of harms committed against us and we qualify as vulnerable, especially LGBT minors and seniors.
“The initiative proposes tougher punishments for crimes against seniors, harsher punishment for criminals accused of child exploitation, increased investigation of child exploitation cases, and enhanced enforcement for registered sex offenders.”
Parnell is a big fan of harsher punishments for crimes against vulnerable people, so tougher punishments for crimes against LGBT Alaskans is right up his alley! The Alaska Hate Crimes bill (SB 11) is currently stalled in the legislature, but I’m sure it will jump forward and pass quickly when the Governor assures everyone that he supports tougher punishments.
“These efforts, combined with the progress and partnerships we made this last year, draw us closer to shifting the tide against abuse, exploitation, harm, and fear that has gripped our communities.”
LGBT Alaskans know about the harm and fear that grip our community. The fear that we can be fired simply for being gay, the harm caused by public officials when they appoint people who say our very existence should be illegal… Oh, wait. (see below)
“Last year, my administration began a dialogue and awareness effort with the Choose Respect initiative. The Choose Respect initiative included increased funding for shelters,”
Good. In addition to the women and children who flee abusive husbands and need these shelters, some are fleeing abusive partners of the same sex. This should also include increased funding for homeless youth shelters, because abused youth often end up on the streets and LGBT youth are abused and kicked out of their homes at alarming rates.
“… harsher punishment for offenders,”
Again with the ‘harsher punishment’ for crimes against vulnerable Alaskans. He’s really going to love the Alaska Hate Crimes law!
“… increased VPSOs in villages,”
Good to see more funding for the Villages.
“… and hired the state’s first Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Coordinator.”
I hope the person Parnell hired for this position has a more realistic understanding of criminal behavior than his recent choice for the panel that nominates state judges. That appointee believes all sex outside of marriage should be a crime. (Really. See below.)
“The Parnell administration will continue to take action to protect the defenseless and establish safe, strong homes. Together, we can make Alaska safer.”
Yes, Gov. Parnell, together we can protect the defenseless gay and transgender young Alaskans who are kicked out of their family homes by unloving parents and out of housing rentals by bigoted landlords simply because they are LGBT. Together we can help to establish safe, strong homes for gay and lesbian couples and their children, with the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples. Together we can choose respect and take action to make Alaska safer for ALL Alaskans. Yes!
Unfortunately, I don’t think he means that.
Last week, the state senate questioned Don Haase, recent president of the anti-gay Eagle Forum and Parnell’s choice for the panel that nominates state judges. Haase kept off his resume his leadership role in the extreme conservative group, but admitted that he thought sex outside of marriage should be illegal, saying, “I think that would be up to the voters… I can see legitimate reasons to push that as a crime.”
(The judicial panel only has three members of the public, and already has one far right member: Sarah Palin appointed Kathleen Tompkins-Miller, wife of tea party Senate candidate Joe Miller, to the council in 2009.)
Let’s put the pieces together on Don Haase – the person Sean Parnell wants to pick our state judges – and LGBT Alaskans: Leader of the Eagle Forum which pushes a strong anti-gay agenda, worked against the effort to allow same sex marriages in Alaska, worked to take away domestic partnership benefits for same sex partners of state employees, worked against hate crimes protections and non-discrimination laws, and clearly does not support even civil unions. So sex outside of marriage is a crime, and gay and lesbian couples must not be allowed to get married, therefore… consensual sex between two adults of the same gender should be illegal.
This is not the way to choose respect for all Alaskans.
Last year, Parnell flew to Colorado on state money to spend the day with Focus on the Family. He told them about his Choose Respect project and other ideas for Alaska. Why? He doesn’t need their approval to start a sexual assault and child abuse prevention program in Alaska. What would a corporation that sells harmful pray-away-the-gay workshops tell the governor of another state about his domestic violence project?
The hate watch site Good As You writes:
“Focus on the Family dedicates much time to keeping same-sex couples away from adoption, foster care, and a whole host of protections that strengthen LGBT families. And of course they work every day to deny a fair shake to gay kids and/or the kids of gay parents… [They] talk only about the kind of ‘strong family environment’ that’s defined by evangelism and heterosexuality.”
This is not the way to choose respect for all Alaskans.
Back on the Governor’s Choose Respect website, Parnell has strong words for Alaska:
“As a society – as Alaskans – we must change our practice of preserving silence. And, we must promote a culture of respect that will not tolerate this conduct.
The first step to prevention is raising awareness.
On March 31st, … I’ll lead a march from the steps of the capitol to raise awareness and call for a cultural shift. A shift towards honor and respect for all Alaskans.
… I am challenging all Alaskans to step up – to march forward into a new day, when Alaskans live with hope and opportunity, rather than fear and despair. Together, we can make a difference.”
He’ll call for a cultural shift towards honor and respect for all Alaskans… WOW. If only he meant that!
As for today’s Choose Respect marches:
“And you can join me at the point of the spear. We are having the second Choose Respect march here in Anchorage and across Alaska on March 31. Last year, 18 communities rallied; this year I set a goal of 40 communities participating. Think about what it means to be a survivor of domestic violence or rape or child abuse. Imagine what it will mean to see hundreds of people marching together to proclaim ‘Enough, already! We support you. You are not alone. You are not to blame.'”
Governor Parnell, please say that to Alaska’s gay and transgender youth who are abused by their families for being queer.
I can imagine what it means – can’t you? – to a young adult standing by himself in downtown Anchorage in late June, his first time at Alaska’s annual LGBT Pride Parade, he came out to his parents and now has to live at the homeless youth shelter, or maybe he hasn’t come out yet because he was beaten by his father for being a ‘sissy’ as a kid and he’s afraid of what his father will do. Or maybe it’s a young women at her first Pride Parade, she was raped by a cousin when he caught her kissing another girl, said if she told anyone then he would tell the girls’ families that they’re dykes. Yes, I can imagine what it would mean to them to see hundreds of people marching together to proclaim “Enough, already! We support you. You are not alone. You are not to blame.”
OK, Gov. Parnell. Put your money where your mouth is. Tell ALL Alaskans who have been abused, including LGBT Alaskans, that you support us and we are not alone. Show all Alaskans, including LGBT Alaskans and those who abuse us, that together we can break the silence and choose respect. Walk the talk: Be a role model for how to choose respect by choosing leaders who respect all Alaskans. Call for a cultural shift towards honor and respect for all Alaskans and encourage the legislature to pass Hate Crimes and non-discrimination bills that include sexual orientation and gender identity. Or start small and proclaim June 2011 as LGBT Pride Month in Alaska. Do it.
Stand at the point of the spear and choose respect for all Alaskans. And mean it.
Alaskan minister preached against homosexuality, now an ally
Murray Richmond, a Presbyterian minister for 17 years (the last 10 years in Alaska) and a hospital chaplain for 3 years, writes about how he changes his mind about homosexuality and marriage equality.
Carrie Newcomer: An ally Before and After
Folksinger and straight ally Carrie Newcomer performs three concerts in Alaska this week, March 24–27, 2011, for her Before and After tour: Seldovia on Thursday, Anchorage on Saturday, and Palmer on Sunday. She was in Sitka last week.
Help LGBT ally John Aronno go to Netroots Nation!
I was delighted to learn that John Aronno of Alaska Commons — a Bent Alaska contributor — had applied for the scholarship for Netroots Nation 2011; & I’m even more delighted to support his candidacy, both as a progressive blogger per se, and as a tremendous ally to LGBT Alaskans. Please vote for him!
We answer to a higher calling….
A. Caleb Pritt writes on the relationship between Christian faith and the GLBT community.
Terry Dean 1950–2011
The Juneau LGBTA community joins other friends and family members in mourning the loss of our friend and ally, Terry Dean, who died on February 27 surrounded by her loved ones and friends. Terry was a founding member of Juneau PFLAG.
Terry and Ken Dean attended the very first PFLAG meeting in 1995 that was called to see if there was interest in forming a Juneau PFLAG chapter. A resounding YES was stated by meeting participants. Terry and Ken, along with Mildred and Mark Boesser, Dixie Hood, Marsha Buck, Willie Anderson, and Pat Dobbins became the core of PFLAG Juneau in the late 1990s and the years that followed, assuming leadership roles and providing support for many parents and family members in the Juneau community. Terry’s design work on the PFLAG Juneau banner and her logo suggestion for our chapter — Love has no boundaries will remain with us as a beautiful legacy.
Mildred notes, “I will always remember Terry as an example of kindness and compassion and steadfastness of spirit. It always rejoiced my heart to see Terry and Ken come to PFLAG meetings. We could not have continued to exist without their steady hand.”
Terry’s life will be celebrated Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 7:00 PM at the Tlingit & Haida Community Center in Juneau.
Please keep Terry and Ken in your thoughts and prayers — whatever they may be.
Her family has prepared this obituary:
Teresa ‘Terry’ Kathleen Hamilton Dean
Teresa (Terry) Kathleen Hamilton Dean passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on February 27, 2011. She was born June 22, 1950 in Ketchikan, Alaska to Willis and Violet (Skulka) Hamilton Sr.
Terry grew up in Ketchikan where she attended elementary school at the old Main School. She graduated in 1969 from Ketchikan High School.
Terry married her soul mate, Kenneth M. Dean on June 14, 1969 at the Presbyterian Church in Ketchikan. They made their home in Juneau and were happily married for 41 years.
Terry was a Haida Eagle, Frog (Hlk’ya’an K’ust’a’n) and Sculpin. She was so very proud of her Haida lineage and was active in promotion of the Haida language and culture. She was a charter member of the Xaadas Gitalang dancers of Juneau; helping to form the dance group in 1984. She was a talented weaver of Haida basketry and ravenstail. She was also a member of the Ravenstail Weaver’s Guild. Terry was a very talented artist, making regalia for herself and other family members.
Both Terry and Ken were active in the community and touched many lives. They organized and attended the very first PFLAG meeting in 1995, which was called to see if there was interest in forming a Juneau chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Terry and Ken were founders and became the core of PFLAG Juneau in the late 1990s and the years that followed. Terry assumed leadership roles and provided support for many parents and family members in the Juneau community. Terry’s legacy will be her design work on the PFLAG Juneau banner and her logo suggestion for their chapter – “Love has no boundary”. Terry and Ken also founded the local MS Society Support Group, organizing the 1st MS walk with Senator Egan as Master of Ceremonies. Terry and Ken both served the Douglas Lion’s Club for over 20 years and Terry was a member of the Juneau Lioness Club. She managed the Loan Closet which loaned medical equipment and gave encouragement to the disabled community in Juneau and was sponsored by the Douglas Lion’s Club. Terry and Ken were instrumental in creating the 1st handicapped accessible trail in Juneau, which runs along the Mendenhall River.
Terry worked for the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game until 1983, when she joined the University of Alaska Chancellor’s Office. She continued to serve on the administrative staff of the Provost Office until February of this year. Terry has the distinction of being the longest serving staff member of the office.
She is preceded in death by her parents Willis and Violet Hamilton; father-in law Gilbert Lynn Dean; her brothers Gideon Duncan Jr., Leonard Alex Hamilton, and Owen Earl Hamilton; sisters Joy Ann Hamilton Cutshall, and Margaret Hamilton (who died at birth); and sister-in law Carla M. Timpone.
She is survived by her husband Kenneth M. Dean, her son Aaron Lynn Dean and wife Audrey of Fairbanks, grandchildren; Jacqueline Michelle Dean and Victoria Lynn Dean; her sisters Lavina M. Hamilton of Anchorage, and Bert G. Hamilton and Raymond Guthrie Sr. of Ketchikan; her brothers Willis H. Hamilton Jr., Gary Hamilton and Dana Craig Hamilton of Ketchikan; mother-in law LaRaine Dean; sisters-in law Linda L. Lappin and Shirley R. Dean, many nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Xaadas Gitalang c/o Vicki Soboleff, 2924 Simpson Avenue, Juneau, Alaska 99801, or the PFLAG Juneau Chapter, c/o Jonathan Anderson, 9162 Jerry Drive, Juneau, Alaska 99801.
A Celebration of Terry’s Life will take place Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Tlingit & Haida Community Center, 3235 Hospital Drive, Juneau, AK. A second Celebration of Terry’s Life will take place on March 8, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at 429 Deermount St., Ketchikan, AK, followed by interment at the Bayview Cemetery next to her Mom and Dad. Fellowship will follow immediately after at 429 Deermount.
We at Bent Alaska express our sincere condolences for all of Terry’s family and friends.
