Articles in News
Public Input Needed Today on WAR as Attorney General
UPDATE: The House Judiciary Committee hearing is on Friday April 10, and they will take public testimony at 5 p.m. 1-800-295-4546. Listen live on Gavel to Gavel. The full Legislature is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote on April 16.
UPDATE 2: Read Leah Burton’s testimony on WAR’s family values: “There wouldn’t be an issue with domestic violence if women would learn to keep their mouths shut.”
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The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking public testimony for the Attorney General Confirmation Hearings for Wayne Anthony Ross on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m.
The call in number is: 1-888-295-4546. You can also walk in to your local Legislative Information Office to testify. The Anchorage office is on 4th Ave.
“Does he have the qualifications, ethical standards and temperament to be the state’s top law enforcement official and run such an important, politically sensitive department?” asked an ADN editorial.
Qualifications
- Ross has been up for two separate Judicial advancements in the past two years, for the Alaska Supreme Court in 2007 and the Alaska Court of Appeals in 2008. He was not nominated by the Alaska Judicial Council either time. His mediocre Alaska Bar Association scores were cited as the reason he did not receive a nomination.
- In response, he wrote a letter to the Bar Association newsletter complaining about the judicial selection process and the negative comments made about him in the anonymous Bar Survey used to rate the applicants.
Ethics and Temperament
There is an extensive written record on Ross from his two unsuccessful runs for governor and his long history of political activism. His zealous support for a host of controversial causes and his insulting public statements about those who believe differently show intolerance, bad judgement and the inability to seek common ground. He has a long list of enemies, and even his attorney peers and NRA buddies don’t want him in positions of power.
- He called on the governor to fire an Assistant Attorney General for her participation in a peaceful animal rights demonstration. (“Animal Activists Real Enemy”)
- He threatened to sue the Permanent Fund Dividend division because they denied a check to his son Brian, who had not lived in Alaska for 14 years.
- During a talk on domestic violence, he said that the women’s movement emasculated men and was the cause of domestic abuse.
- He promised to fight the federal law requiring rural subsistence, and opposes tribal sovereignty saying, “If the state wants to deal with tribes, it should treat them as it treats fraternal organizations rather than as governments.”
- He did not support Mayor Wuerch for re-election because Wuerch refused to help Ross’ friend get into the Anchorage Fire Department after the friend failed a required psychological test.
- He publicly stated that pro-choice people are “baby killers,” and called gays and lesbians “degenerates” in an open letter to the state Bar Association.
- He endorsed Rick Mystrom for mayor in 2003 “because he fights the unions.”
- He represented without fee, and personally supported, a man who twice poured buckets of water from a passing pickup onto anti-war demonstrators.
- He was a founder of Alaska Right to Life and has provided free legal services to anti-abortion activists since 1972.
- He blamed moderate Republicans for the state’s fiscal problems saying, “Moderates are mush.”
- He is a former vice president of the National Rifle Association and was in line to become president, but was voted out of office by his peers.
- He is frequently described as “arrogant,” uncompromising and attention-seeking.
Do we trust an arrogant political activist with mediocre professional ratings, zealous positions on sensitive state issues, and openly expressed prejudice against groups of Alaskan citizens to be “the state’s top law enforcement official and run such an important, politically sensitive department?”
Give your public testimony on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m. The call in number is: 1-888-295-4546.
Iowa gets Gay Marriage: ‘A Matter of Common Sense and Decency’
UPDATE: The Vermont Legislature did override the governor’s veto a few days after the Iowa ruling, and marriage is now legal for same-sex couples in 4 states. Vermont is the first state to legalize gay marriage without a court order.
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Iowa’s Supreme Court legalized gay marriage today in a unanimous decision that makes Iowa the third state — and the first in the nation’s heartland — to allow same-sex couples to wed.
“We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective,” wrote Justice Cady.
In a joint statement, Iowa’s Senate and House leaders wrote, “When all is said and done, we believe the only lasting question about today’s events will be why it took us so long. It is a tough question to answer because treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa common decency.”
Marriage licenses will be available to gay and lesbian couples in about three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Vermont House passed a gay marriage bill 95-52 yesterday, but needed 99 votes to override the governor’s promised veto. The Senate approved it by a veto-proof majority last week. The governor has five days to veto the bill, and then it returns to the House for a final override attempt.
The New Hampshire legislature is also expected to approve a same-sex marriage bill next week, and the democratic governor supports it.
Iowa is the 4th state to gain marriage equality. Massachusetts and Connecticut allow same-sex marriage, and California briefly allowed gay marriages before a voter initiative narrowly overturned it. The California court will issue a ruling on the voter ban by June 5.
On Wednesday, Sweden became the 7th nation in the world to legalize gay marriage.
LGBTQ panel at UAA tonight
A panel of lesbian, transgendered and Samoan “fa’afafine” students and community members will discuss LGBTQ personal experiences and issues on campus and in the community, on March 31, 7 p.m. in the UAA/APU Consortium Library, room 307.
“Ultimately the goal is to get people talking,” writes Kimberly Pace, Director of Women’s Studies at UAA. “We don’t necessarily have to agree, but let’s keep the conversation alive.”
The LGBTQ discussion is presented by the University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) Women’s Studies Program as part of Women’s History Month.
The event is open to all members of the UAA community – students, faculty & staff – as well as to community members from Anchorage and surrounding areas, whether LGBTQ or straight. It is free of charge and refreshments will be served.
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LGBTQ Personal Experiences at UAA, in Anchorage & Beyond: a panel discussion
Tuesday, March 31, 7-9 p.m.
UAA/APU Consortium Library, room 307.
Sponsored by the UAA Women’s Studies Program
Equality Works Everywhere
Tiffany McClain is in the perfect position to write a gay rights column: she is the LGBT Coordinator for the ACLU of Alaska, the organizer of Equality Works, and on the board of Alaskans Together. Tiffany recently wrote a guest post on her experience at the Creating Change conference, and I am pleased to welcome her as a regular contributor to Bent Alaska.
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Equality Works in Florida Too: LGBT Rights Activists Victorious in Gainesville
by Tiffany McClain
Over the past year, conservative groups have been trying to strip Gainesville’s LGBT citizens of protection from discrimination. They’ve been whipping up opposition with fear-inducing lies, including demonizing attacks representing transgender people as sexual predators. For weeks leading up to the vote, all the news was dire, but we finally found reason to hope on March 24th when the citizens of Gainesville stood up against prejudice and handily defeated the initiative by a vote of 58% to 42%.
As most of us well know, when activists, legislators, or court officials take positive steps to end discrimination against LGBT people, we often end up fighting efforts to impede our progress. The Prop 8 debacle in California is the most recent example of this, but we need only look back to the 2007 advisory vote to roll back the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling on domestic partnership benefits as an example of the tug-of-war that has come to characterize the national movement for LGBT civil rights. With this in mind, we have been keeping an eye on Gainesville for lessons on how to overcome obstacles as we continue on the path of protecting LGBT Alaskans from discrimination and harassment.
So what can we learn from the Gainesville victory?
We can learn that as much as the fear-mongering might hurt and offend us, it doesn’t necessarily translate into votes against equality.
We can learn that while we might do what we can to avoid being dragged into an ugly—and inherently unfair—battle for votes, we shouldn’t assume we’ve lost until every ballot is counted.
We can learn that as much as we have come to depend on judges and lawmakers to recognize the rights that the Constitution promises us, and as much as we might hate to legitimize the idea that anyone’s civil rights should be determined by a popular vote, our losses are never inevitable.
Win or lose, a fight for civil rights is always worth it.
Support efforts to advance and protect the rights of LGBT Alaskans:
www.equalityworks.org Working to protecting Anchorage citizens from discrimination and harassment
www.akclu.org Dedicated to the cause of civil liberties for all Alaskans
www.alaskanstogether.org Advancing civil equality for LGBT Alaskans
Palin’s AG pick called gays "degenerates"
Update: I posted this on Pam’s House Blend and the intro was picked up by the Huffington Post! They want to know what Alaskans think of Ross, so please join the conversations at HuffPo and the Blend – and be sure to tell your legislators what you think of WAR as our AG.
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Gov. Sarah Palin named Anchorage lawyer Wayne Anthony Ross as her new attorney general on Thursday. We did not expect her to pick a gay-friendly AG, however his blatant prejudice expressed in a public letter to the state Bar shows that he is a poor choice for our top attorney:
“During a fight several years ago over gay rights, [Allison] Mendel helped organize Anchorage lawyers in support of an anti-discrimination ordinance. Ross wrote a nasty letter to the Bar Association newsletter, using words like “immoral”, “perversion” and “degenerates.” The language went way beyond reasonable disagreement, Mendel and others said.” [Wayne Anthony Ross never a quiet force, Anchorage Daily News]
Other interesting facts about Wayne Anthony Ross:
- He was a founder of Alaska Right to Life and represented, without fee, anti-abortion protesters charged with trespassing. “I feel I have a good relationship with the good Lord (but) if I could overturn Roe vs. Wade, I figure I got my ticket,” he told a reporter.
- He was the defense lawyer for former Rep. Vic Kohring, who is now serving time in prison.
- He opposes Native subsistence rights and was the lead lawyer in the case that got Alaska’s subsistence law declared unconstitutional. When running for governor in 2002, he said he would hire a band of “junkyard dog” assistant AG’s to challenge the federal law that requires a subsistence preference, or seek changes through Congress.
- He wrote for the old Anchorage Times, then for the Voice of the Times in the ADN, with titles like “KKK ‘ Art’ Project Gets’ A’ For Courage” listed on the publications page of the Ross & Miner law offices.
- He represented Palin in her ethics case against state GOP chair Randy Ruedrich when both were on the Oil and Gas Commission, and became the co-chair of Palin’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign. He was hoping for an appointment to the Department of Health and Social Services so he could “stop the department from interfering with families when they should not be interfering and get them interfering with families when they should be interfering” but he was passed over.
- He defended a Soldotna man who twice poured buckets of water from a passing pickup onto peaceful demonstrators in the rain and snow. His client was convicted of harassment and violating constitutional rights.
- He was the co-chair of Alaskans for Phil Gramm. (Gramm is one of the people responsible for the current economic crisis, and as co-chair of John McCain’s presidential campaign he called us “a nation of whiners.”)
- He is a former vice president of the National Rifle Association and was in line to become president, but was voted out of office.
- He ran for governor in 1998 and 2002. (Think he’ll use the AG position as a stepping stone to the governor’s mansion?)
The state House and Senate Judiciary committees will hold confirmation hearings on his appointment.
Signs of Gay Life at the End of the Road
Homer now has its very own PFLAG chapter, and the potential leaders of a Gay-Straight Alliance.
“We had a fundraiser with a showing of Milk at the Homer Theatre and got an amazing turnout,” wrote Jennifer, President of Homer PFLAG. The group brought handouts on LGBT issues and ‘Homer PFLAG’ buttons to the theater. “We plan to have another fundraiser soon to raise money for a scholarship.”
Alaska has active PFLAG chapters in Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage. Chapters in Kenai and Palmer are not currently active.
At the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer has a reputation for being artistic and progressive, but in many ways it is also a conservative fishing town.
“We are so excited about the two outspoken high school student allies who recently wrote letters to the editor in the Homer News,” Jennifer wrote. The letters were published in the March 11 issue of the paper, calling for more acceptance of gay people and less discrimination by students, teachers and society.
In “GBTLs are human too,” Lukas compares the lack of tolerance at Homer High to the acceptance seen at his previous school:
“I just moved to Homer from Portland, Maine, seven months ago. I was really surprised at the lack of acceptance of gay, bi, transgender and lesbians (GBTL) in the community. Where I went to school in Portland almost half the freshman class was GBTL, and more than a third of my friends were, too. They were accepted into the community like everyone else. We celebrated Gay Pride Day and had a Gay-Straight Alliance at school. On Gay Pride Day we had guest speakers who were GBTL speak to our school about their experiences. We listened to their stories in complete silence, some brought to tears. Even those of us who were homophobic listened with respect, acknowledging the speakers for who they were.“Here at Homer High School it is as if being GBTL is an infectious disease. People cringe at the mention of gay love. In my Alaska studies class the role of gay men in Inupiat communities was briefly mentioned. Our books said that they had an important role in the community; they were honored for their fine skills in medicine. Immediately my classmates started to gag and proclaim how disgusting this was. I confronted one of them and told him I saw no problem with being gay. He started to laugh. I see no education in the school promoting GBTL, or even promotion for acceptance from the teachers. Whenever something is boring or frustrating it is automatically referred to as gay.“GBTLs are human too; there is no difference between them and me. Some may not see eye to eye with them, but I see no reason to bash them. Just as I accept you for who you are, can we not live our lives and accept them for who they are?”
In “Nation needs more acceptance,” Emerson argues that accepting those who are different by nature is a moral act:
“It has been recorded that a gay percentage of the human race has existed ever since we first came onto this earth. This makes me wonder why it is that we can’t accept them as just another faction of our race. The population of this country doesn’t seem interested in making gays a welcome part of society as shown in the recent banning of gay marriage in all states [DOMA], and especially by proposition 8 in California, which intends to nullify all of the gay marriages in the state. I consider this a terrible tragedy, and am baffled by our inability to accept the fact that this is the way humans are and always will be.“I think it’s time that this country matured as a people, to accept those things that are different and stop being afraid of those things unfamiliar. We have all seen the good that can be done when we join together for a cause or a belief. Beautiful things can happen, but at this point in time we seem incapable of achieving unity. If we have the ability to accept, than there is no valid excuse not to; and I can tell you here and now that every human has the capability to accept those who are different, and I say that it is morally incorrect not to do so.”
Thank you to the students for writing these letters, and thank you Homer News for printing them. Congratulations to Homer PFLAG on a good start.
National Progress on LGBT Rights
America is experiencing a burst of progress on LGBT rights:
- The United States finally signed the U.N. declaration to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide,
- voters in Gainseville Florida beat back a repeal attempt of the city’s LGBT non-discrimination policy,
- the Vermont Senate and the New Hampshire House each passed a same-sex marriage bill,
- a banned Gay-Straight Alliance club was reinstated by court order,
- an out lesbian attorney was appointed general counsel for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (the director is a gay man)
- and another lesbian attorney (who is legally married to her wife and is an ordained Episcopal priest) was appointed Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
This is just the beginning. For a full round-up of current efforts to improve the lives of LGBT Americans, see Keori’s list on Pam’s House Blend.
Here are a few national LGBT events and resources that crossed my screen recently:
- 40 Years of Pride – June 28, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, internationaly recognized as the beginning of the modern gay rights movement.
- Faces of Us – Send a picture to this LGBT photo project so they can add Alaska to the list of participating states.
- Day of Silence – The National Day of Silence, celebrated this year on April 17, brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.
- Think before you speak – Don’t say “that’s so gay.”
- Welcoming Our Trans Family and Friends – PFLAG’s most recent trans resource.
- Day of Decision on Prop 8 – Day of Decision actions, held the evening of the California Supreme Court Prop 8 decision.
Happy 40th Anniversary, Dan & Al
Dan & Al Carter-Incontro have been together for 40 years, and 32 of them were spent in Alaska.
They got together in 1969, three months before the Stonewall riots began the modern gay rights movement, and lived in Alabama four years before moving to Alaska. In 2005, they moved to Florida and are celebrating their 40th Anniversary on March 21.
During their decades in Anchorage, Dan & Al were involved in the gay community and were plaintiffs in the case that won partner benefits for state and city employees. The conference room at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center (GLCCA) is named in their honor.
“At the GLCCA, we have created a celebratory photo booth to help Dan & Al celebrate their 40th,” wrote Phyllis of Identity. “Come by any time the GLCCA is open and the volunteer on duty will take your photo with the ‘Happy Anniversary Dan & Al’ sign.” The complete set of digital photos will be sent to Florida as a present from their many friends in Alaska.
Visit the Gay & Lesbian Community Center, M-F 3 to 9 p.m. and S-S noon to 6, to take the ‘Happy Anniversary’ photo, browse the library collection, use the computers and socialize in a safe LGBT environment.
Dan & Al, congratulations on your 40th Anniversary! May you enjoy many more good years together.
MCC Anchorage is Moving
MCC Anchorage will hold the March 22 Sunday service in their new location at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, on the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor Road. The service marks the fourth Sunday of Lent, and Pastor Van Manen’s sermon is titled “Day of Action.” The worship will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the A-frame chapel.
“Come and enjoy an action packed day of celebration and worship,” wrote Pastor Van Manen in his Pastor’s Ponderings. “Come and worship with us as we move through this Lenten season.”
The MCC newsletter includes this message of appreciation: “Thanks to our Board of Directors for all of their hard work in making this move a reality, and thank you to the good people at St. Mary’s who saw fit in welcoming us into their home. This move, which has been three months in the making, affords the congregants of MCC Anchorage the opportunity to worship God in a welcoming, accepting & collaborative environment.”
“We are excited to say the least,” wrote Vice Moderator Matthew Moak about the move. “It is the second step in rebirthing MCC in the community [and] our attendance has grown dramatically over the months.”
MCC Sunday worship: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 2 p.m. Beginning on March 25, MCC’s mid-week program Step by Step will be held on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
Equality Works Update
Equality Works is the coalition working to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Municipality of Anchorage. We are grateful for your support and hope that we can work together to bring equality to Anchorage in the upcoming year.
February was a busy month for our coalition:
* We held a well-attended Town Hall meeting on February 12 to spread the word about Equality Works and recruit volunteers.
* We added five new organizations to our coalition: Alaska Women’s Lobby, Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network [GLSEN], Parents, Friends, & Families of Lesbians and Gays [PFLAG], and Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest … Bringing our total to 15 coalition organizations.
* And we tripled our contact list!
Thanks to all the people who helped to make February a success, including Steve, who is responsible for those nifty neon-colored Equality Works buttons, Mia, who moderated the Town Hall meeting, and Jackie, who helped to gain the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s support for Equality Works. Our work will not be successful without people willing to volunteer and speak up for our cause, and in the following months we’re going to need you even more.
Here Are More Ways You Can Help:
Host a Party for Equality Works
If you’re interested in raising money for our cause and helping to spread the news about our efforts to your friends and associates, we encourage you to host a party for Equality Works! You can host your party at home, work, church, or wherever you can secure a good amount of space. If you are worried about turnout, consider co-hosting a party with friends. We will provide you with any resources and volunteers you might need to make your party a success. Email Equality Works for the house party kit and guidelines.
Raise Money as Fundraising Chair
Equality Works is looking for two well-connected, organized, outgoing people who know how to put the “fun” in fundraising to head up our Finance Committee. You should be energetic, aggressive, and like asking people to donate to a good cause. Fundraising and/or event-planning experience is ideal. You will not serve as the Treasurer (but you might help us recruit one.) If this description sounds like you or someone you know, please send a note of interest or referral to Equality Works.
Become a Neighborhood Ambassador
Equality Works needs your help recruiting community councils to join our coalition! Do you live or own a business in any of the communities listed below? Do you want to help Equality Works while getting to know some of your neighbors? Do you enjoy working with a team? Are you ready to speak up for equality in Anchorage?
If so, please sign up to become a neighborhood ambassador in one of the following communities:
Airport Heights, Bear Valley, Downtown, Fairview, Girdwood, Glen Alps, Government Hill, Hillside East, North Star, Portage Valley, Rogers Park, Spenard, Tudor, Turnagain, University Area.
Tell a Friend
Help us double the number of people in our network during the month of March! Do you have friends or family members who should know about Equality Works? Have you been looking for an easy way to get them connected and involved? Encourage them to sign up for email updates on the Equality Works newsletter sign up page. You can also join Equality Works on Facebook and invite your friends to join as well.
Share Your Story
Our Story Gathering Committee is looking for stories of discrimination or harassment. If you’re interested in sharing yours, please contact Equality Works, attention Melinda.
Thanks, again!
Tiffany McClain
ACLU of Alaska
Equality Works
