Articles in News
13,515 signatures: Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative will be on the April 2012 municipal ballot
The One Anchorage campaign will turn in 13,515 signatures — over twice the 5,871 needed — to put the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative on the Municipality of Anchorage’s April 3, 2012 ballot. If passed, the measure will provide the same legal protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people already provided to other Anchorage residents.
Sara’s News Roundup 12/6/11: Occupy Wall Street poor on gender analysis
OWS not so good on gender, Marine Corps good on DADT repeal, major league baseball adopts nondiscrimination in sexual orientation, and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Occupy Wall Street’s Tragic Lack of Gender Analysis
Gay City News, October 26, 2011
2) Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Under Fire For LGBT Community Stance
Huffington Post, November 25, 2011
3) Top Marine says service embracing gay ban repeal
Manama, Gahrin, Associated Press, November 28, 2011
4) Conservatives Grapple With Gay Wedding Rite ~ Rabbis Create Traditional Service, But Some Couples Balk
Jewish Daily Forward, November 28, 2011
5) Major League Baseball adopts pro-gay non-discrimination policy
Washington Blade, November 23, 2011
6) LGBT Films Score Big Year End Honors
New York, Advocate, November 29, 2011
7) Barney Frank to Retire
Newton, Mass., Advocate, November 28, 2011
8) TV’s New Transgender Sensation is 11-Years-Old
Advocate, November 26, 2011
9) FBI agents upset over movie alleging J. Edgar Hoover was gay
Washington, Washington Post, November 29, 2011
10) Judge Rules Texas Transgender Man’s Marriage Valid
Dallas, Texas, Advocate, December 2, 2011
11) Asexual Is Good
Gay City News, November 9, 2011
12) Religious experts agree anti-gay texts of major faiths taken out of context
California, University Daily Sundial, December 1, 2011
13) Sex, History And Lesbian Outlaws
Advocate, December 3, 2011
14) ‘Trans-parency’ in the workplace
PhysOrg.com, November 17, 2011
15) Wendi C. Thomas: Ex-head of ‘Love’ rejects claims
Memphis, Commercial Appeal, November 20, 2011
16) Why I go gaga for Lady Gaga
Charleston Gazette, December 1, 2011
Sara’s News Roundup 11/28/11: Phyllis Lyon celebrates 87
Longtime LGBT activist Phyllis Lyon turns 87, the impact of same-sex marriage in the presidential race, and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Rachel Maddow Wishes LGBT Activist Phyllis Lyon Happy Birthday – Video
SheWired, November 22, 2011
On November 16, Rachel Maddow wished pioneering LGBT rights activist Phyllis Lyon Happy Birthday at Phyllis’ “Big Birthday Bash” sponsored by Lyon-Martin Health Services on November 16, 2011 at the San Francisco LGBT Center (her 87th birthday was actually on November 10). Watch:
Lyon-Martin Health Services provides personalized healthcare and support services to women and transgender people who lack access to quality care because of their sexual or gender identity, regardless of their ability to pay.
2) Gay Marriage Could Bring Shifts in Republican Race
Concord, New Hampshire, Associated Press, November 24, 2011
3) Gay marriage message takes gentler tone in Maine
California, San Francisco Chronicle, November 21, 201
4) Opinion: Keeping Marital Secrets Closeted
New York Times, November 24, 2011
Baltimore, Maryland, Marketwire, October 28, 2011
6) Seniors Know The Key to Happiness
Advocate, November 21, 2011
7) Young, Gay And Homeless: Fighting For Resources
NPR, November 20, 2011
8) The Flesh and the Spirit
Advocate, November 23, 2011
9) Two Spirit Documentary Breaks PBS Records
Advocate, November 19, 2011
10) The Gay Men’s Chorus strives to stay relevant
Sacramento, Calif., Sacramento Bee, November 27, 2011
11) Transgender Player Helps American Samoa to First International Soccer Win
Apia, Samoa, New York Times, November 25, 2011
12) I’m Retiring the Word ‘Tranny’… Will You Join Me?
Huffington Post, October 19, 2011
13) Lady Gaga To Receive Trevor Hero Award For LGBT Community Work
Huffington Post, November 20, 2011
14) Do You Want To See The “It’s Time” Marriage Ad On TV?
Australia, Advocate, November 27, 2011
ICOAA recognized with 2012 Jose Honors’ Court of Distinction
Please join Bent Alaska in congratulating the Imperial Court of All Alaska (ICOAA), which has been awarded the prestigious 2012 Jose Honors “Court of Distinction” among the existing International Court Chapters.
The Imperial Court of All Alaska is the oldest and largest not-for-profit GLBTA organization in the state of Alaska. Over the decades, ICOAA has raised over a million dollars for scholarships for Alaska students and for other charitable organizations in the state through fundraising events, benefits, titleholder Balls, and functions. Thank you, ICOAA, for all you do!
The Imperial Court System’s Jose Honors was founded in 1997 by the International Court Systems’ current leader, Empress Nicole the Great, as a tribute to the founder of the ICS, Empress Jose, to ensure that her legacy lives on for a very long time. This is the highest award given to members of the International Courts System for outstanding accomplishments within the Courts System and in the larger community they live in. Each year, the Jose Honors also recognizes an individual member Court for outstanding service.
This year, The Imperial Court of All Alaska, Alaska’s oldest LGBT organization and a major fundraiser and community service organization for the past 40 years, has been awarded the prestigious 2012 Jose Honors “Court of Distinction” among the existing International Court Chapters.
The ICOAA was chosen this year based on our many criteria, but one of our major attributes is our success while being isolated from other Imperial Courts. While we have been in existence over the past 40 years, we also have strong partnerships with other Court Chapters, even given the fact that our closest chapter is over 1400 miles away. This isolation allows us to be an even stronger partner to other in-state organizations, including our strong alignment with the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s); Identity, Inc.; the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Alaska (GLCCA); our university LGBT organizations and youth programs; The Roscoe Fund, an animal partnership program for people in our community; and fundraising opportunities supporting smaller, local organizations throughout our very large state. As Alaska’s oldest GLBTA Organization, the ICOAA helped to fund almost every other GLBTA organization as they were spin-offs of the Court when court members saw an immediate need and started new organizations.
The ICOAA is especially honored to have been acknowledged this year as a stand-out organization, and our members over the past 40 years are truly proud to have these successes acknowledged on this grand scale. While we are receiving the award this year, the contributions of many people in our Alaskan communities are an important reason that we are being recognized.
The ICOAA is a proud member of the International Court body, and is pleased to have been selected as the Court of Distinction for the 2012 Jose Honors. The official award ceremony and presentation will be held on February 24, 2012 at a special dinner in San Francisco, CA. A special thanks to everyone who has touched our organization over the past 40 years!
Sara’s News Roundup 11/21/11: The Advocate’s list of 2011’s top 21 LGBTQ stories
The top 21 stories of 2011, 100 people of the year, bishops bearing false witness, and Nepal’s first lesbian film. That and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) 21 Top News Stories of the Year
Advocate, November 2011
2) Brazil Grants Residency Based on Same-Sex Marriage
Rio De Janeiro, Associated Press, November 14, 2011
3) Catholic Charities Groups End Ill. Suit
Illinois, Advocate, November 14, 2011
4) New effort in state to legalize gay marriage
Seattle, Herald, November 13, 2011
5) New Options For Gay Retirees
Smart Money, November 14, 2011
6) North Carolina LGBT Activists Gearing up for Ballot Battle
Greensboro, N.C., Advocate, November 14, 2011
7) Bishops Behaving Badly
Pasadena, Calif., Huffington Post, November 14, 2011
8) Girl Takes Life After Gender-Based Taunting
Ridge Farm, Illinois, Advocate, November 15, 2011
9) Nepal’s First Lesbian / Gay Film Ever ‘Snow Flower’ Dubbed ‘Brokeback Everest’
Nepal, SheWired, November 16, 2011
10) Marriage: What’s It Worth?
Advocate, December-January 2011
11) Op-ed: The Beckhams, the Movie Tomboy, and Me
Advocate, November 16, 2011
12) People of the Year: The Out 100 Picks
Advocate, November 17, 2011
13) What It’s Like for Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys
Advocate, November 18, 2011
14) Colorado researchers seek LGBTQ participants for survey on health care providers
Posted November 16, 2011 by Bent Alaska
15) About World AIDS Day, December 1st
World AIDS Day, November 2011
16) Women driving means prostitution, pornography, homosexuality and divorce: Saudi
Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe Metro, November 18, 2011
Sara’s News Roundup 11/14/11: Antigay propaganda for Halloween
A Juneau father speaks out against antigay propaganda dropped in with his children’s Halloween candy, recent polls show public support for transgender equality, and “gay” penguins at the Toronto Zoo. That and other recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Bipartisan group reframes case for legalizing gay marriage
Washington, USA Today, November 8, 2011
2) Second Edition: Transition and Beyond now available
Portland, Oregon, www.transtherapist.com, November 2011
3) Same-sex penguin pair fascinates zookeepers
Toronto, Canada, Toronto News, November 4, 2011
4) Letter: The scariest thing this Halloween
Juneau, Alaska, Juneau Empire, November 8, 2011
5) Intersex councillor likely to be mayor
Sydney, Australia, Star Observer, November 7, 2011
6) Houston Mayor Annise Parker Wins Reelection
Houston, Texas, Advocate, November 8, 2011
7) Strong Majorities Favor Rights & Legal Protections for Transgender People
Washington, D.C., Public Religion Research Institute, November 2011
8) NY radio station launches new voice of black gay life
New York, inGrio, November 5, 2011
9) ‘Yes’ wins big in TC non-discrimination vote
Traverse City, Mich., Record Eagle, November 8, 2011
10) Commentary: More Faith Leaders Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
Black Entertainment Television, November 7, 2011
11) More than 90 Percent of American Catholics Back Transgender Rights
Washington, DC, Equally Blessed, November 8, 2011
12) Gay Penguins Buddy and Pedro Will Reunite Once They’ve Helped Propagate Their Species!
Toronto, Canada, SheWired, November 11, 2011
Preliminary report of the Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey released
The preliminary report of a survey conducted earlier this year finds that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) residents of the Municipality of Anchorage experience significant levels of harassment, violence, and discrimination in employment, housing, education, public services, and child custody as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identity or presentation. Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey: Preliminary Report by Melissa S. Green was released today by the Anchorage-based nonprofit Identity on behalf of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force.
The Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey was conducted in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, from January through March 2011, with 268 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) respondents included in the final dataset. The preliminary report presents key findings from the survey on the incidence of violence, intimidation, and discrimination in employment, housing, education, child custody proceedings, and public services experienced by respondents in the Municipality of Anchorage because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender presentation. Summary data is presented for the total study population of 268 respondents, as well as for the 50 respondents who had been resident in the Municipality of Anchorage for less than five years.
Results show that discrimination, harassment, and bias are experienced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual residents of the Municipality of Anchorage at levels comparable to those experienced by respondents to One in Ten, a statewide survey of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Alaskans conducted in 1985 (published in 1986), and that that discrimination, harassment, and bias are also commonly experienced by transgender residents of the Municipality of Anchorage. The 50 respondents who had lived in Anchorage less than five years reported experiencing discrimination/bias in Anchorage at only slightly lower rates than the survey population as a whole, despite of a much shorter span of time in Anchorage within which to accumulate experiences of discrimination.
More comprehensive information from the study, including methodology, complete demographic data on survey respondents, detailed analysis of the findings, and comments from survey respondents will be included in the final report (forthcoming in December 2011).
[Download the preliminary report from the
Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force website]
The Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey came about as a result of a perceived need for quantifiable data on the incidence of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in the Municipality of Anchorage. It represents the first effort since the late 1980s to compile rigorous data about the incidence of sexual orientation bias and discrimination in Anchorage — and the first effort ever to document Anchorage or Alaska-specific data about discrimination and bias on the basis of gender identity and expression.
The Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey is a collaborative project of the Alaska LGBT community and a coalition of Alaska organizations which serve the LGBT community, including Identity, Inc., the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A’s), Alaskans Together for Equality (ATE), Equality Works, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska. The survey questionnaire and overall research project were designed by members of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force in consultation with Dr. Brad A. Myrstol and Khristy Parker of the Justice Center at University of Alaska Anchorage. Shelby Carpenter, LGBT Public Policy Coordinator with the ACLU of Alaska during the first half of work on the survey, was project manager for survey distribution and data collection, assisted by Drew Phoenix. Dr. Myrstol conducted statistical analysis on the final dataset. The principal investigator for the study is Melissa S. Green, who prepared this report and is also writing the final report. Questions about the survey can be directed to her at alaskacommunity@gmail.com.
Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey: Preliminary Report by Melissa S. Green is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.identityinc.org/.
Press release
Here is the text of the media advisory released this morning by Identity.
For Immediate Release
Identity
Phyllis Rhodes, Executive Director
907-929-4528
Report shows discrimination against lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender Alaskans.
Anchorage, AK, Nov. 10, 2011 — The nonprofit group Identity released today preliminary results of a study conducted this year about discrimination in Anchorage’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey’s initial results indicate members of the LGBT community in Anchorage continue to experience significant levels of discrimination in areas of employment, housing, education, public services and child custody as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identity or presentation. They also experience high levels of verbal harassment and physical violence.
“Unfortunately, we know discrimination within the LGBT community continues to be a problem in Anchorage as it does in other communities across the country,” stated Phyllis Rhodes, Executive Director of Identity. “The survey will help us quantify the problems we face so we can work to eliminate discrimination in our community as a whole.”
In the area of employment, 44 percent of respondents reported being harassed by employers or other employees; nearly 21 percent believed they were turned down for a job when otherwise qualified; almost 18 percent were denied a promotion and close to 15 percent said they were fired by their employer based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In housing, over 18 percent of respondents reported being harassed by a landlord or other tenants, and more than 10 percent said they were denied a housing lease, even though they were otherwise qualified, because they were LGBT.
The Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey also shows that roughly three out of four survey respondents experienced verbal abuse, and nearly 43 percent were subjected to threats of physical violence. Further, almost 13 percent experienced property damage because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Melissa S. Green was the principal investigator for the project and authored the preliminary report released today. Green was also part of two similar research efforts in the 1980s conducted by Identity to document sexual orientation bias and discrimination in Alaska. The new study added transgender Alaskans to the survey and was conducted between January and March of this year, and involved paper and online surveys collected from 268 respondents in Anchorage who identified themselves as being LGBT. The project was designed by members of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force in consultation with Dr. Brad A. Myrstol and Khristy Parker of the Justice Center at University of Alaska Anchorage. Dr. Myrstol also assisted with statistical analysis.
Identity is an Anchorage-based, nonprofit organization founded in 1977, and provides programs supporting equality for the LGBT community and its allies. The complete report from the Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey will be released in December 2011.
Identity
Phyllis Rhodes, Executive Director
907-929-4528
A copy of the complete preliminary report is available online at www.identityinc.org or alaskacommunity.org.
# # #
Sara’s News Roundup 11/8/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) N.J. judge allows gay marriage suit
New Jersey, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 5, 2011
2) ‘Ex-Gay’ Movement: Weaker By the Minute
Advocate, November 4, 2011
3) Race, Religion and Same-Sex Marriage
New York Times, October 31, 2011
4) Church of England vetoes services of blessing for same-sex couples
U.K., Guardian, November 2, 2011
5) Gay Teen Suspended for Wearing Makeup
Lexington, Tenn., Advocate, November 4, 2011
6) IRS Formally Agrees with Historic Court Ruling for Transgender Taxpayers
Washington, Human Rights Campaign, November 3, 2011
7) RIVERSIDE: Cal Baptist expels transgendered student
Riverside, Calif., Press-Enterprise, October 28 2011
8) Conference to discuss issues for gay Mormons
Utah, Salt Lake Tribune, November 3, 2011
9) Locker room is ready for a gay player: NHL scout
British Columbia, CTVBC, November 4, 2011
10) UN Report Spotlights LGBT Rights Abuses in Iran
Iran, Advocate, November 4, 2011
11) Glee Spoiler: Gay Sex Guarantees Controversy
Advocate, November 4, 2011
12) Mormon bishop says church responsible for gays’ emotional wounds
Utah, Salt Lake Tribune, November 6, 2011
Sara’s News Roundup 10/31/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
1) Editorial: Still a fight for gay soldiers
Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2011
2) David Carter Hails Frank Kameny as History’s Greatest Gay Activist
Gay City News, October 26, 2011
3) Lesbian Survives 11th Hour Right-Wing Assault to Win Court Seat
New York, Gay City News, October 21, 2011
4) Former Aussie Hockey Star Comes Out, Discusses Homophobia
Australia, Advocate, October 24, 2011
(See also Bent Alaska’s October 23 sstory, “Australian hockey goalie Gus Johnston comes out, sparks more discussion on LGBT athletes & homophobia in sports”
5) Male or female? Babies born on the sliding sex scale
BBC News, October 10, 2011
6) Rachel Maddow: “100% of my hate mail is about my appearance”
Advocate, October 23, 2011
7) Eight Military Couples Challenge DOMA
Massachusetts, Gay City News, October 27, 2011
8) Balls of Fury: Inside Underground LGBT Culture
Advocate, November 2011
9) Transgender Activists Celebrate Huge Federal Prison Victory
Washington, Advocate, September 30, 2011
10) Children of gay families more likely to be poor: study
Boston, Reuters, October 25, 011
11) Dan Kloeffler: Out for Good
Huffington Post, October 28, 2011
12) Two men who divorced their wives, came out as gay, became transgender lesbians, now MARRY after one has a sex change
Wales, Daily Mail UK, October 27, 2011
13) Lesbian Couple Crowned Homecoming King and Queen
Roanoke, VA, ABC News, Oct. 30, 2011
14) Perry supports overturning N.H. marriage equality
New Hampshire, October 30, 2011, October 29, 2011
Drew Pritt, known in Alaska as Caleb Pritt, announces run for Congress in Arkansas
Andrew Caleb “Drew” Pritt — a former member of Anchorage’s LGBT community who fled back to his home state of Arkansas in September after money from a fundraiser he had organized went missing — announced today that he will run for Congress in Arkansas.
