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Gay AK: Singing, Marching, Donating, Writing and Leading the Way Forward
Ossiander bristles at Imperial Court award
The scene was too familiar: people entered the Assembly Chambers a few at a time on Tuesday evening, looked around and chose seats. One man wore a bright red shirt. But the ordinance hearings were over, the equal rights ordinance passed 7-4 then was vetoed by the new mayor who sat at the end of the curved Assembly table. There was one more loose end to tie, one more thank you to the Assembly members who stood for equality and fairness. One more award to present. The Imperial Court honored them with the Raymond Jorgenson Memorial Award at Coronation and were here to present it in person.
But first, the mayor wanted to speak. He thanked everyone at the Assembly meeting for attending his “Unity” Dinner. He mentioned the keynote speaker (GOP-fundraiser Lynn Swann), the number of people attending (400), and that the money raised from the dinner will support “diversity events” all year. He did not mention the amount of money raised or what diversity events would be sponsored by the city.
The moment was awkward only partly because a quarter of the people in the room represented a gay organization and recently endured a summer of hearings on an equal rights ordinance that the mayor vetoed right before the start of his Diversity Month. He may not have known they were there, but he certainly knew that several of the Assembly members attended the sold-out True Diversity Dinner instead of his union-picket-line-crossing “unity” night.
There was more business, then Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson donated her personal comment time so The Imperial Court could present the award to the seven Assembly members who voted “yes” on the ordinance. The Court announced the award winners at Coronation during Labor Day weekend, along with their other annual awards and scholarships. Gray-Jackson said that the last Assembly meeting of Diversity Month was an appropriate time for them to present this award…
…but Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander interrupted, saying that it should have been presented at the Diversity Dinner (although the Court did not organize the dinner) and she had already rejected their request for time. Gray-Jackson persisted that it was her time, and Grady Frank Jenkins presented the award on behalf of the Imperial Court of All Alaska.
Now, aside from Ossiander’s negative tone toward a community group that was trying to give Assembly members an award, she didn’t even bother to know which group was presenting the award before she objected. It’s as if she thinks there could only be one gay group in Anchorage and they must be responsible for all gay-related awards and events – including the Diversity Dinner, which was organized by a heterosexual couple who have never been involved with the Imperial Court. It’s not like the names “True Diversity Dinner” and “Imperial Court of All Alaska” could be easily confused. It was a “they all look the same to me” moment.
Or maybe she’s upset because Anchorage Baptist Temple hasn’t given her an award for being the deciding vote against the override.
Grady kept cool under pressure and made his statement to the Assembly:
This award is from The Imperial Court of All Alaska, the largest and oldest gay and lesbian organization in Alaska and one of the oldest in the nation. We wanted to thank you all for your courage in dealing with Ordinance 64 this past summer. It was very difficult and we appreciate the time that you all took. By unanimous vote, our organization, at our Coronation Ball which occurred three weeks ago, voted to present a plaque to the seven members of the Assembly that chose to vote “yes” on Ordinance 64. This is named our Raymond Jorgenson Memorial Award and we present it to Patrick Flynn, Elvi Gray-Jackson, Matt Claman, Jennifer Johnston, Sheila Selkregg, Mike Gutierrez, and Harriet Drummond. We appreciate the time that all of you took on this ordinance this year. Thank you.
And immediately, Ossiander jumped in, “Thank you. Moving on,” and had to pause for the clapping before saying, “the next order of business…”
Grady gave the awards to Claman and Gray-Jackson, who read them, smiled, and passed them down the table to their colleagues. The Assembly members moved on to other business and the Imperial Court members left the room.
But that wasn’t the end of Diversity Month for the Assembly. Anthony Wilkerson planned to address the Assembly on Workplace Discrimination issues during the public comment period. Tony is the Alaska State Coordinator for the national Workplace Bullying Institute, and he was also disappointed in the mayor’s veto of the ordinance:
It’s unfortunate that the Anchorage Mayor vetoed this measure to guarantee equal rights for all, but this should not stop those that have fought thus far…. I will be addressing the Anchorage Assembly in regards to discrimination and harassment that is currently not protected by Federal Laws. I would ask that you come in support, and help make Anchorage safe for all to work; free from discrimination and harassment, thus making Anchorage safe for all to pursue the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I left before Wilkerson’s address, but I wonder if Ossiander objected to him as well. Just another one of those darn diversity people.
No Unity Without Equality: A Diversity Dinner to Remember
At the True Diversity Dinner, the progressive community of Anchorage celebrated diversity and equality with a dynamic mix of Native Alaskan culture, democratic politics and gay civil rights.
When Mayor Sullivan vetoed the equal rights ordinance two weeks before the start of his Diversity Month and changed the name of the main event from the Diversity Dinner to the “Unity” Dinner, John and Heather Aronno (of Alaska Commons and the good version of SOS.Anchorage) and a few people they met during the ordinance hearings discussed an event to protest the mayor’s lack of appreciation for diversity. After a few hectic weeks of planning, the result was the True Diversity Dinner, a celebration instead of a protest.
Here’s a run-down of the evening’s planned, unplanned and many inspiring moments:
The Native dance troupe Masingka set the tone of the evening with their stories and songs of life in Alaska, while the guests ate delicious food from the Snow Goose buffet tables.
Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson, looking regal and towering above the crowd in her heels, was the first to say the line that echoed throughout the evening: equality is for e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e (she spelled it out.)
Diane Benson gave an impassioned speech about stopping the abuse of women, children and Native Alaskans.
Steven Alvarez performed his rousing song “See What Love Can Do” with backup by the doo-wop girls, his daughter Sarah and friend Shelly.
Reverend Marquita Pierre, of the Alaska Center for Spiritual Living, kicked butt. (Can I say that about a preacher?) She spoke about being treated differently based on the color of her skin, and how we treat people as “other” based on many kinds of differences, including sexual orientation. She said, “There can be no unity without fairness; there can be no unity without equality” which is the quote I used for the title of this post. Then she called for us to move to a better place regarding diversity – not tolerance (we can tolerate bad things) or acceptance (things that are only OK) which value people despite our diversity, but we can learn appreciation, for the gifts we each offer our family and community, because of our diversity.
Keynote speaker Shannyn Moore was next, but Daphne Do’all LaChores, a local icon in full drag, got on stage with Shannyn and ranted about the mayor’s veto. She dissed Shannyn’s shoes, plugged the Diva Show at Mad Myrna’s, and announced that she was heading down the street to crash the “unity” dinner. She ruffled a few feathers but added a good dose of humor and reality – many in the queer community are still angry about the veto and think it’s odd to throw a party when we don’t have any rights or protections to celebrate.
Then Shannyn spoke and disagreed with Daphne about the veto being a slap to the GLBT community, saying that it hurt everyone, including the straight allies who withstood the “summer of hate.” Shannyn was the keynote for this Diversity Dinner, where most of the organizers, speakers, performers, and politicians were straight allies. Gay rights and gay people were visible and acknowledged (a rare thing at an Alaska political event), but the focus of the event was to recognize and thank the allies who continue to work for an equality that includes us, and to strengthen those alliances.
After the speakers and performers, the diversity awards were presented.
Excellence in Business – Cook Inlet Region, Inc (CIRI)
Eric Cordero, a Mat-Su school board member, noted the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and read a statement from CIRI accepting the Excellence in Business Award. CIRI is a Native Alaskan corporation that ‘walked the talk’ about equality this summer: they were the only large company (of the many that have protections against anti-gay discrimination) that wrote a public letter to the mayor in support of the equal rights ordinance (posted HERE.)
Excellence in Non-Profit – Identity, Inc.
Scott Turner and Steph Gingrich, two Identity board members, accepted the non-profit award from Heather. Identity runs the Gay & Lesbian Community Center, organizes PrideFest in June and the Pride Conference in Oct. (see HERE for the upcoming conference), supports the gay-straight alliances, sends the Advocacy Team to educate groups throughout the city, shares funds with other gay groups and publishes the NorthView.
Excellence in Print Media – Julia O’Malley
Bob Poe, candidate for governor, spoke about his essay (posted HERE) on how gay rights is not just the right thing to do but is also good for the economy, then announced the print media award. Julia was not able to attend, so her mother, Assembly member Sheila Selkregg, accepted it for her. She was proud of Julia and spoke about the women in her family and their commitment to civil rights. She reminded us that standing up for civil rights can have consequences, that some politicians (like her mother) lost their jobs standing up for civil rights, and that members of the Anchorage Assembly who voted for the ordinance may face tough re-election battles because of their support.
Excellence in Online Media – Mel Green of Henkimaa
Mel’s blog Henkimaa mixes the personal and the political with in depth analysis and keen observation. She accepted the award in an orange sweatshirt, worried that she wouldn’t be recognized without her blue-colored ordinance hearing clothes. She also spoke of the union picket line at the mayor’s “unity” dinner down the street as an issue of diversity, equality and quality of life.
Excellent in Outreach – Tiffany McClain
Tiffany is the coordinator of Equality Works, the group that organized in support of the equal rights ordinance. She thanked everyone for our support this summer and pledged to continue working for equality in Anchorage. She encouraged each of us to write to our senators in support of ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has been introduced in both branches of Congress. ENDA only protects us from workplace discrimination (not in housing, education, finance or public accommodations, like the ordinance would have) but it is a step in the right direction and an important federal protection.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Vic Fischer and Jane Angvik
M.E. Rider, editor of the Grrlzlist and all-around community leader (grand marshal at PrideFest this year, and she has won just about every award the LGBT community gives to women) announced the winners of the lifetime achievement award. Neither Vic nor Jane could be present, but M.E. described their decades of work for Alaska and the diverse communities of Anchorage, starting before most of us were born.
The last official speaker was organizer John Aronno. The final award, the Epic Fail Joke Award, was won by Mayor Dan Sullivan for vetoing the ordinance. But in deference to the recent death of Dan’s father, former mayor George Sullivan, the award was not given. Instead, John told a story comparing political involvement in Anchorage to politics in Lower 48 cities. Here you can meet your elected leaders at local events like the Diversity Dinner, and that makes all the difference.
There was an impressive showing of politicians at the Diversity Dinner. In addition to those already mentioned – Elvi, Diane, Eric (Cordero), Bob, and Shelia – I saw Les Gara, Patrick Flynn, Harriet Drummond, Eric Croft, Ethan Berkowitz… and then Senator Mark Begich came from his Health Care Town Hall and said a few words of support.
One of the goals of this event was to build the momentum from the ordinance battle to address future gay concerns. So what is next? For the GLBT community, October is Gay History Month, National Coming Out Day (Oct 11), the Anchorage Pride Conference (Oct 9-11), and supporting the National Equality March in DC on Oct 10-11.
I invite our friends and allies to join us in celebrating diversity and equality at GLBT events in October and throughout the year, and to continue learning about our community and working together to achieve, as Elvi said, “equality for e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e.”
Thanks to John and Heather for organizing a True Diversity Dinner, and thanks to the speakers, performers, award presenters, helpers and guests for making the evening such a grand success!
– photo from Floridana Alaskiana, where Janson Jones has four posts of photos from the dinner.
Sara’s News Round-up 9/27/09
KK editor, former ADN writer seeks Queer Alaska stories
Sara’s News Round-up 9/20/09
Alaskans Together annual meeting on Oct 11, scholarships available
True Diversity Dinner gives Everyone a Place at the Table
Update: It was awesome! Read A Diversity Dinner to Remember for the planned, unplanned and many inspiring moments of the evening. Thank you, John and Heather.
* * *
September is the Mayor’s Diversity Month, beginning just two weeks after Mayor Sullivan vetoed the Anchorage Assembly’s LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance. The main event of Diversity Month is the Mayor’s Dinner.
The evening of food, awards and entertainment was called the Diversity Dinner by Mayor Begich, but Mayor Sullivan changed the name to “Unity” after vetoing Ordinance 64, and invited Lynn Swann, an anti-gay Republican political candidate from outside, to give the keynote address.
The irony of his actions inspired allies John Aronno of Alaska Commons and Heather Aronno of SOSAnchorage.net to plan an alternate diversity dinner, with input from other bloggers and LGBT newsletter editors.
Please join us for a real diversity celebration, on the same night as Sullivan’s “dis-unity” dinner. True Diversity Dinner will be a wonderful evening of pro-diversity entertainment, speakers and awards:
September is our Mayor’s Diversity Month and September 25th is the Diversity Awards banquet at the Hilton in downtown Anchorage. Unfortunately, Mayor Sullivan is uncomfortable with the term “diversity” and has changed the name to the “Unity” Awards Banquet and celebration. The mayor has stated publicly that he does not celebrate the ways in which we are all different, but rather, the ways in which we are the same.
Some of us do not feel celebrated at all, and are organizing a true diversity celebration on the same night, in the spirit of the current administration’s own definition of diversity. We have rented the Snow Goose (September 25th, doors open at 7pm and festivities begin at 7:30). We wish it to be as diverse and multi-cultural as possible and much more fun than whatever will occur at the Hilton. And while the “Unity” Dinner will feature a silent auction and cost the small price of $60 a ticket… Ours will be only $10 (just to cover costs) and is quickly filling up with local performers, awards, and speakers including Assemblywoman Elvi Gray-Jackson, Diane Benson, and Shannyn Moore!
It will be a great night, after what has been a rough summer for many in our Alaskan family, and we hope you can join us. Tickets are available in advance through Borders Books & Music (and hopefully some place in mid-town or downtown, TBA.)
Awards in excellence in the representation, advancement, and advocacy of diversity will be handed out at the True Diversity Dinner. Voting has begun for the 6 award categories HERE on a tab of the main web site for True Diversity Dinner.
In addition to the True Diversity Dinner, there will be one LGBT event on the official Mayor’s Diversity Month calendar: A GLBT Open House at the Community Center.
The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage is hosting a Diversity Month Open House with entertainment, door prizes and light refreshments to welcome our GLBT friends and allies. The GLCCA Open House is on Sept. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at 336 E. 5th Ave.
Pray-Away-the-Gay Speaker at UAF, Students say "Stop the Hate"
Sara’s News Round-up 9/13/09
