Articles in News
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.
A majority of Republicans support either marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples
A majority of Republican voters support some form of legal recognition for same-sex relationships, according to a recent poll; and national trends show that a majority of Americans support marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Sara’s News Roundup 5/8/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser of Juneau, Alaska.
1) Bill Clinton Endorses N.Y. Marriage
New York, Advocate, May 5, 2011
2) Lesbian ex-cadet giving up West Point fight
Albany, New York, Associated Press, April 27, 2011
3) Gay Mormon Comes Out on The Voice
Advocate, May 4, 2011
4) 15-year-old girl says Christian school threw her out for talking about being bisexual on Facebook
Sacramento, New York Daily News, April 28, 2011
5) How Chaz Bono, Cher’s son, became a man — and possibly a transgender icon? [documentary on Oprah’s OWN channel May 10]
Los Angeles Times, May 6, 2011
6) ‘True Blood’s’ Evan Rachel Wood says she’s bisexual, ‘into androgyny in general’
LA Times, April 18, 2011
7) Maternity Store Offers Discount Only To Lesbian Customers
New York, CBS News, April 23, 2011
8) S.F. Catholic lawsuit rejected by Supreme Court
San Francisco, San Francisco Chronicle, May 3, 2011
9) Hands up! Moment a sham wedding groom was seized at the altar after officers hid in the church vestry
U.K., Daily Mail Reporter, April 15, 2011
10) Despite rapid growth, India lets its girls die
Moren, India, Associated Press, May 4, 2011
11) Growing Up Gay and Transgendered in Appalachia
Appalachia, The Atlantic, April 30 2011
12) Harvey Milk High School Competes for Gaga Funding
New York, Advocate, May 4, 2011
13) NYT Editorial: Fit to Rule on Same-Sex Marriage
New York Times, May 3, 2011
14) Gay Calif. mayor seeks U.S. House seat
California, Washington Blade, May 5, 2011
15) Arthur Laurents Dies at 93
New York, Advocate, May 5, 2011
16) USOC official Peter Vidmar resigns after anti-gay marriage actions
USA Today, May 7, 2011
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:
Sara’s News Roundup 5/1/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser of Juneau, Alaska.
1) League of Women Voters Joins N.Y. Marriage Coalition
New York, Advocate, April 25, 2011
2) West Point rejects lesbian cadet
Albany, New York, Associated Press, April 22, 2011
3) Clement to defend DOMA with different firm
Washington Blade, April 25, 2011
4) Put It Gets Better In School Libraries
Advocate.com, March 28, 2011
5) Texas may strip away transgender marriage rights
Austin, Texas, Associated Press, April 25, 2011
6) U.S. Department of Labor adds gender identity and pregnancy status to its equal employment policy
Washington, National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, April 28, 2011
7) Uncensored, Gay Dorian Gray
Advocate, April 28, 2011
8) Marines get trained on accepting gay recruits
365Gay.com, April 28, 2011
9) Ellen DeGeneres leads celebrities on Out’s power 50 list
San Francisco Chronicle, April 28 2011
10) Archie Comics devoting series to new gay character
San Francisco Chronicle, April 4, 2011
11) StoryCorps: A military man finds peace with his sexuality and his Mormon faith
San Francisco Chronicle, April 7, 2011
12) White House to host first ever trans meeting
Washington, Washington Blade, April 27, 2011
13) Business moguls pen letter endorsing same sex marriage
New York, CNN, April 29, 2011
Nicole Blizzard Short Story Contest — 2011 winners
Winners of this year’s Nicole Blizzard Short Story Contest were announced last Saturday night during the 2011 Celebration of Change at UAA’s Wendy Williamson Auditorium.
Words do matter….
by Caleb Pritt
I wrote an article yesterday about a Hate Crime committed against Chrissy Lee Polis. In writing the article, because I didn’t know the names of the attackers, I classified and described them as “two African-American women.” That is a fact. I also said it was sad that they had not learned the lessons Dr. King taught us.
Some people read this with racial overtones. That’s not what was meant or what was intended. I apologize to anyone who read race into my comments because there is not any racial bias. Had they been Hispanic, Polynesian, Anglo-Saxon, Jewish, etc., I would have written that as a descriptive comment of who they were.
We are very quick in society to seize upon something. One of the comments made in my grassroots group I started to protest how Chrissy was treated reminded me, we have become an instant society. We expect change to happen immediately. We also are very conscious and aware and often times do not wish to offend. We can sometimes make the leap that if they are described by race and the comments are by people of a particular race, than race is the overriding theme. That is not what was meant in this case.
Look the long and short of it was I was attempting to inspire and write that this attack was wrong. In the long run, I ended up flubbing it and sticking my foot in my mouth unintentionally. I did not mean to do that and for that, I apologize.
I hope you the readers can accept my apology and realize what I wrote was not written in a vein of racism but rather a plea to aspire to a higher ideal in how we treat one another.
Gay pride flags thrown in mud outside youth dance
136 queer and allied youth from Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley attended the Glee-themed Pride Prom last weekend at Out North – and at least one vandal, who took down four of the five rainbow flags decorating the outside of the building. A flag was hung upside down, others were thrown on the ground in the mud.
Can you stomach this?
Caleb Pritt writes opinion pieces for Bent Alaska. His opinions are his own.
This post concerns an attack on a transgender woman in a Baltimore McDonalds, the attack video that went viral over the weekend, Caleb’s response to the incident, and suggestions for taking action.
Update: Please see Caleb’s post “Words do matter….” for a follow-up on issues about race brought up in comments to this post.
* * *
I want you to watch this video before continuing with the article. [warning for violence]
Chrissy Lee Polis is just like you and I. She has a brain, a heart, and she is an American who expects the benefits of a nation that promises LIFE, LIBERTY, & THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. But in the words of one of this nation’s modern fathers, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from his famous “I Have a Dream” address at the Lincoln Memorial, we now echo for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, TRANSGENDER, Ally community, the following:
“When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens are concerned….a bad check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.”
Chrissy Lee Polis was spit upon, attacked, beaten, and dehumanized by sadly two African-American women who forgot Dr. King. Forgot about the sacrifices and the lives that allowed these two women to walk into a McDonalds and order their food. Even more insulting, McDonalds, which is a symbol of America as much as Sunday football or the American flag, had employees that looked on and watched this display of hatred and did nothing to intervene.
The question has to be asked, when do we say enough is enough? I say today is the day we say enough is enough. When the day has come, which is now, that ANYONE cannot enter a McDonalds and be served, but rather savagely treated like a dehumanized choice to be viciously assaulted with no regard, enough is enough.
Shall we as a society continue to fund a corporation that allows this hatred and violence to happen? If it doesn’t stop now….WHEN WILL IT?!
McDonalds needs to institute policies for ALL of its employees teaching them sadly how to be humans. This means no violence, no sacrificing of liberties, and no allowing the idea of some or any violence or disrespect is allowed.
As Dr. King also said, “An injustice somewhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
What happened in Baltimore can tomorrow be in Anchorage, in Honolulu, in Salt Lake City, in Boston, in Fayetteville, N.C., or yes even in Washington, D.C.
We need to remember the words of Dr. King and re-echo them today. We need to stand up and tell McDonalds, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Here are 3 ways to do it:
Starting Monday at 4:00 p.m. for twenty-four hours, I ask you to make your Facebook profile pic a picture of a simple candlelight. The candle is for Chrissy Lee Polis and to let her know, while we are not at the vigil in Baltimore, a candle of hope burns bright all across this nation and she is loved.
Secondly, the phone number for McDonald’s Corporate is 1-800-244-6227, open 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST. Let them know you are horrified and that you demand nationwide training in transgender issues for ALL McDonald’s franchise owners and employees.
Thirdly, and finally, if you want to sound off, join Aunty Anita and I in two places. Join on Facebook, the group named BOYCOTT McCRUELTY. And also join us on the radio at Aunty Anita on Tuesday, April 26 at 7p.m. Alaska Time/ 8pm Pacific. The studio hotline is toll free (619) 393-6513. Please call in or listen on demand.
In the words of Reverend Jesse Jackson, who I hope will join us in this fight for civil rights, “Red, Yellow, Black, and White….WE ALL are precious in His light.”
Sara’s News Roundup 4/24/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser of Juneau, Alaska.
1) Some Republicans joining NY gay marriage push
New York, 365Gay.com, April 22, 2011
2) What leads gay, straight teens to attempt suicide?
Chicago, Associated Press, April 18, 2011
3) A New Tool for Treating Transgender People
Huffington Post, April 17, 2011
4) Malaysia sends 66 boys to anti-gay camp
Kuala Lumpurk, Malaysia, April 19, 2011
5) Italian book exposes Rome gay priest scene
Rome, AFP, April 19, 2011
6) Lesbian Activist To Assume State House Seat
Chicago, CBS Chicago, April 18, 2011
7) Footballer in Saudi fined over ‘gay’ remark
Saudi Arabia, Emirates247, March 14, 2011
8) Donald Trump’s views on gay issues might hurt hotels, resorts
Chicago, GoPride, April 23, 2011
9) Corvino: What the Bible doesn’t say
365Gay.com, April 22, 2011
10) Rapper says ‘I’m Gay’ album title provoking death threats
365Gay.com, April 22, 2011
11) Gay rights groups target prominent Atlanta law firm
Georgia, AJC, April 24, 2011
12) Picoult surprised by lesbian novel reaction: Jodi Picoult’s complicated new novel
BBC News, April 21, 2011
