Articles in Pride
"The Big Gay Musical" at Mini Film Fest for Anchorage Pride
The Bear Tooth is hosting a GLBT Mini-Fest for Anchorage Pride Week with three movies: City of Borders (an Israeli documentary), The Big Gay Musical (a romantic date movie) – both showing on Monday June 21 – and the 1994 classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert showing Thursday June 24.
The Big Gay Musical: Monday, June 21 at 7:45 PM, tickets $3
Paul and Eddie have just begun previews for the new Off-Broadway musical “Adam and Steve Just the Way God Made ‘Em.” Their lives strangely mirror the characters they are playing. Paul is looking for the perfect man and Eddie is dealing with how his sexuality and faith can mix. After yet another disastrous dating experience, Paul has an epiphany. He is done dating and just wants to be a slut like the sexy chorus boys that share his dressing room. Eddie has to tell his parents that he’s gay and is starring in a show that calls the bible the “Breeder’s Informational Book of Living Examples”. Eddie comes out to his family and Paul goes on Manhunt. Eddie’s parents are destroyed by the news and Paul can’t even have a good one-night stand. But after musical numbers with scantly clad tap dancing angels, a retelling of Genesis, tele-evangelists, a camp that attempts to turn gay kids straight, and a bunch of showtunes, everyone realizes that life gets better once they accept who they really are. And they are just the way God made ’em. (US 2009, not rated)
The other two trailers will be posted separately. For more information, visit the Anchorage Pride Mini GLBT Film Festival, and see the full Pride Week schedule at Alaska Pride 2010.
ACTION: Anchorage Mayor appoints homophobe to school commission during LGBT Pride Month – Contact the Assembly
UPDATE: The Assembly heard our concerns and voted on June 22 to postpone Bronson’s appointment indefinitely! Happy Pride Week to all.
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What was he thinking?! Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan appointed rabidly anti-gay Dave Bronson, founder and president of the Alaska Family Council and long time member of Anchorage Baptist Temple, to sit on the School Budget Advisory Commission – and he tried to sneak Bronson through the Assembly confirmation vote at last night’s meeting, while progressive Assembly member and PrideFest 2010 grand marshal Elvi Gray-Jackson is out of town.
Bronson is the guy who threatened then-Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander last summer, saying the AFC would blame her personally for the failure to stop the gays if Ordinance 64 passed. He even highlights his anti-gay activities in his resume, reaching back to his role in the 1994 repeal of the previous equal rights ordinance to show why he thinks he should be on the School Budget Commission.
As for his finance background – none. His education degree – zip. His kids’ experience with the Anchorage school district – nope, they were home schooled. What are his qualifications? According to the resume he submitted for the school position, he leads a bible ministry, is a retired pilot, and has spent the past two decades being a professional homophobe.
Last night, the Assembly voted 6-4 to postpone the confirmation vote until their next meeting, on Tuesday June 22, when all members will be present. Yes, that’s right, they might confirm this hater four days before Alaska’s PrideFest!
Please contact the Assembly today and oppose Bronson’s appointment: wwmas@muni.org for the whole Assembly, and HERE for the list of assembly email addresses and phone numbers.
Also contact Mayor Sullivan and ask that he withdraw the appointment: mayor@muni.org and (907) 343-7100.
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Addendum, 6 Feb 2011: The resume submitted Bronson submitted for the position is no longer available on the Municipality of Anchorage website. However, a post at The Mudflats from 8 Jun 2010 lists the “qualifications” he presented in his resume:
- Member of the Anchorage Baptist Temple since 1992
- Founding board member and current Chairman of the Board of the Alaska Family Council
- Volunteer Coordinator for the Repeal of the Homosexual Ordinance, Municipality of Anchorage 1994
- Officer District 30, Republican Party of Alaska
- Leader AWANA Children’s Bible Ministry
- With Alaska Family Council helped lead the effort against MOA O-64 [the 2009 Anchorage equal rights ordinance]
- With Alaska Family Action, helped lead Alaskans for Parental Rights parental notification petition drive
New LGBT Caucus Named in honor of Dan Carter-Incontro
The LGBT Democratic Caucus has officially been named after the late Dan Carter-Incontro, Alaska’s first openly gay delegate to the Democratic Convention, with the endorsement of Dan’s husband, Al Carter-Incontro. Dan passed away on April 18.
The next meeting of the LGBT Dan Carter-Incontro Democratic Caucus is on Monday, June 7 from 6-8 p.m. at ADP Headquarters, 2602 Fairbanks Street in Anchorage.
They are currently working on a candidate questionnaire and a candidate forum, which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday June 22 with the Democratic gubernatorial candidates. If you want to help with the forum and become involved in electing Democratic candidates who support LGBT issues, please attend the meeting.
Also, they are looking for Democrats to march in the PrideFest parade in downtown Anchorage on June 26. The party has applied for and been granted a slot in Alaska PrideFest “2010: A Pride Odyssey”. If you can participate, please call Bert Mead, Interim Chairperson, at 694-7528. Staging for the parade begins at 10 am and the parade starts at 11 am.
The caucus wants to involve more people statewide and is setting up conference calling ability for statewide participation, but they don’t have the arrangements completed for that yet. Stay tuned.
“Exciting things are happening in the Democratic Party and we want our caucus to be a part of the change we seek in our state legislature,” said Mead.
AK Queerlympics begins today
LGBT Pride in Alaska kicks off today with part one of the new 3-part event AK Queerlympics. Week 1 is Queer Trivia, held at Organic Oasis at 2:30 p.m. and at Spenard Roadhouse at 4:30 p.m.
What is AK Queerlympics?
AK Queerlympics is a time to come out and WIN PRIZES through showing off what you know about your LGBT Community and competing in some outdoor competitions that you may never see anywhere else! Games will be based on teams of 4 and will take place on the 3 Saturdays leading up to PrideFest. Awards will be given at Pride on the ParkStrip.
AK Queerlympics will be divided into 3 parts
Week 1 – June 5: Queer Trivia. Spenard Roadhouse and Organic Oasis. Games will be intellectual and trivia.
Week 2 – June 12: Outdoor Blast. APU. Games will be physical and skills.
Week 3 – June 19: Mixed Talents. Held at one venue with final two teams playing for first place.
The Deal:
1) Come register Your Team
2) Play the Trivia to Gather Points for Your Team
3) Attend Next Week’s event to Collect More points
Here’s How You Win:
1) Win per Week – The Team with the Most Points at One Event
2) Win the Championship – The Team with the Most Overall Points
Download the rules, register your team, and see the full Pride schedule at Alaska PrideFest: www.alaskapride.org.
LaMex for Four A’s, DoB at Pride, Softball, HIV testing & AYP in Fairbanks
Gay AK – Notes from and for LGBT Alaska
Calling all Dykes on Bikes (and other wheeled transport)
We need a leader to organize the entry in the parade this year. Is it you? Are you ready to lead us with flair? Alaska PrideFest 2010: www.alaskapride.org.
Eat Good, Do Good at La Mex
On the second Tuesday of each month, both Anchorage LaMex locations (Spenard and Dimond) donate 10% of their proceeds from the entire day to a non-profit. On Tuesday, June 8, The Four A’s will be the lucky recipient of this generous program. Go out to lunch, after work appetizers or plan on taking the family out that night to either location (or, maybe get something to go)! In addition, from about 6-8 p.m., Four A’s staff will be at each location with an information booth so be sure to stop by and say hello.
Women’s Softball in Anchorage
This is where the Grrlz are on Thursdays and the Fireweed Dry Cleaning softball team is the one to watch. Women’s D League, plays Thursday evenings at the Cartee Fields on Pine & DeBarr. 6/10 at 7:35 pm; 6/17 at 9:45; 6/24 at 8:40; 7/8 at 9:45; 7/15 at 8:40; 7/22 at 6:30; 7/29 at 6:30; 8/5 at 7:35. Put their games on your calendar and go support the grrlz!
June 21-27, 2010 – National HIV Testing Week
One of many free HIV testing opportunities that week will be at PrideFest on Saturday June 26th. The Four A’s and the Municipality of Anchorage will be offering free HIV testing and free gonorrhea and chlamydia testing from 1-5 p.m. Just come visit the Four A’s booth. Check out www.alaskanaids.org next week for full details about National HIV Testing Week!
Seeking LGBT groups for free youth-outreach event in Fairbanks
Angry, Young & Poor 2010 is looking for community-based groups to host booths (no fee) at our annual event in Fairbanks. Angry, Young & Poor is an upbeat, awesome event full of positive creativity, local bands, free food, art, activites and more! It’s a free concert from noon to nite on July 17 at the ever-scenic Ester Community Park. All the proceeds from the things we sell (t-shirts with local art, bumper stickers, patches, food) are given to a local charity. Last year we were able to donate $1,000 to the Street Outreach and Advocacy Program which supports homeless and underprivilged youth in Fairbanks, including LGBTQ youth.
AYP is super-inclusive, with a primary goal of helping kids in the Interior find ways of expressing themselves through art and find community support. Booths are hosted from everything from the Environmental Center to local magazines to theatre companies etc. It’s important to get LGBTQ community resources to these kids. Hannah would like to talk with services/groups in the Interior/South-ish that gear towards the younger folks and are in promotion of the caring, supportive community we all try so hard to establish and nurture. If you think you can help, please reply via email to Hannah Hill, Event Disorganizer. Thanks!
Obama declares June Pride Month 2010
President Obama proclaimed June as LGBT Pride Month again this year, in the statement posted below. He lists the progress made by his administration and the struggles that remain in the movement for LGBT equality.
In Anchorage, the third Saturday in June was officially Gay Pride Day during Sen. Mark Begich’s years as mayor. Will Mayor Sullivan proclaim Pride Day this year, or will he be the Grinch who stole Pride?
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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
May 28, 2010
As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.
LGBT Americans have enriched and strengthened the fabric of our national life. From business leaders and professors to athletes and first responders, LGBT individuals have achieved success and prominence in every discipline. They are our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and our friends and neighbors. Across my Administration, openly LGBT employees are serving at every level. Thanks to those who came before us the brave men and women who marched, stood up to injustice, and brought change through acts of compassion or defiance we have made enormous progress and continue to strive for a more perfect union.
My Administration has advanced our journey by signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which strengthens Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides life saving medical services and support to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and finally eliminated the HIV entry ban. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give LGBT patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions.
In other areas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a series of proposals to ensure core housing programs are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD also announced the first ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services has created a National Resource Center for LGBT Elders.
Much work remains to fulfill our Nation’s promise of equal justice under law for LGBT Americans. That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We must protect the rights of LGBT families by securing their adoption rights, ending employment discrimination against LGBT Americans, and ensuring Federal employees receive equal benefits. We must create safer schools so all our children may learn in a supportive environment. I am also committed to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” so patriotic LGBT Americans can serve openly in our military, and I am working with the Congress and our military leadership to accomplish that goal.
As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles. Our Nation draws its strength from our diversity, with each of us contributing to the greater whole. By affirming these rights and values, each American benefits from the further advancement of liberty and justice for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
2 Alaskans win Pride college scholarships
Two LGBT college students from Alaska received Pride Foundation scholarships for the 2010/11 school year: Tonei Glavinic and Kady Titus.
Tonei Glavinic is a Queer 20 year old from Anchorage, AK. Tonei is a student at American University in Washington, DC and is pursuing a degree in Political Science and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Tonei wants to thank Anchorage Youth Court, GLSEN, the ACLU, and everyone who has supported Tonei’s work over the years. Tonei is a Public Policy and Advocacy Intern at the Task Force; volunteer at a pro-choice clinic; Executive Director of American University Queers and Allies; and will be a Resident Assistant next year.Tonei won the following scholarships: Pride Foundation Community, Political Leadership, and Scott Rodriguez LeadershipKady Titus is 21, bisexual, and an Alaskan Native. She is currently a freshmen at Haskell Indian Nations University studying Social Work. Kady owes a huge “thank you” to Kathy Halverson, who was Kady’s first social worker from Foster Care. Kady says, “She stayed with me throughout everything.”“My plans and aspirations are the same now as they were almost 10 years ago: to open the interior of Alaska’s first Transitional Living Program with special services geared toward GLBT youth and foster children.”Kady won the following scholarship: Pride Foundation/Alaska
Congratulations to Tonei, Kady and all 108 scholarship recipients! More information on the annual scholarship program can be found at PrideFoundation.org.
Put the "March" back in Pride March
Take Back Pride is a new campaign to bring action back into the Pride Marches around this country. They ask that we educate ourselves on the many inequalities we face, and stand up and say something about it. Let’s put the “March” back in Pride March.
Watch the Take Back Pride promo:
What do you think: Is there room in our PrideFest Parade – an act of visibility and festivity – for an element of protest against the many injustices the LGBT community still faces, in Alaska and elsewhere?
Here’s the full Take Back Pride message:
While last year we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of our liberation at Stonewall on the last Sunday of June in 1969, we are celebrating another anniversary in 2010. And we need to do it right.On the last Sunday in June 1970, Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance, in commemoration of the Stonewall riots, staged the first Gay Liberation Day March. Organizers in Los Angeles and San Francisco also held marches that day.We have much to celebrate. As a community we have struggled and fought for our very lives. Together, we have accomplished what at one time was a fantasy at best. Our sexual liberation has been celebrated every year now for 40 years with what was once a march and is now a parade, in the streets of New York and dozens of other cities across the country and the world.This year, in light of the major battles we have ahead of us, we are asking for all of you to join us in taking back pride. While we have so much to be proud of in what we have accomplished as a community, this fight is far from over. We want our community to not only remember those who have fought and died before us, but to forge ahead in the struggle — so that our children may one day live truly free and equal lives in this country.The organizers of Pride Marches around the country work tirelessly over the course of the year to bring us the most inclusive marches and celebrations in the world. We want to help those organizers by working with them to implement plans for education and protest within our marches.We know that our community is made up of every race, creed, religious affiliation and political background imaginable. We come from everywhere, from Africa to New Zealand. We represent Conservatives and Socialists. We are made up of Catholics and Buddhists alike. The time has come to embrace our ideals and differences and remember that what we have in common as a community – is our strength.For Pride 2010, we ask that organizers and participants of marches around this great country take this opportunity to be heard. Yell. Scream. Chant. Wear your chaps and thongs, but carry a sign while you do it. Put on your most sequined ball gown, but shout for your rights as you flaunt your fabulousness. The sheer number of people who turn out in the streets this June will send a clear message around the world that we are not content with what we have. We are somebody. We deserve full equality.If you’re marching with a group, ask your group what they are angry about. It could be Marriage Inequality, or Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It could be that in 31 states, you can still be fired for being gay. (see the Get Angry section for more issues.)We owe it to our community and to those young gay people who are still afraid to say who they are to TAKE BACK PRIDE. Make your signs. Create your chants. It’s time for us all to remember this is a march, not a parade. This is OUR celebration of who we are and it has the potential to once again be something we are ALL truly proud of.Please join us by making a comittment to Take Back Pride in your own way.
Sequins and signs – we can do that! June 26, 2010: Alaska PrideFest in downtown Anchorage. Be there, and bring your friends.
Annual spring and summer LGBT events in Anchorage
Summertime, and the living is easy… Here is a sneak peak at some of the great annual LGBT spring and summer events in Anchorage, and the return of an event that used to be annual: the Women’s Music Festival. Get out your calendar and mark these dates.
Graze to Raise for the GLCCA 5/7, 5:30 p.m.
Walk through downtown stopping at different food stations along the way, then finish back at the Dena’ina Center for the Grand Finale event with dessert, live entertainment, a beer and wine garden, children’s activities and prize drawings. On May 7 at 5:30 p.m., register at the Community Center by May 3.
Dehibernation Brown Bear Bus Run 5/8, Noon-5 p.m.
Join The Last Frontier Men’s Club for the annual Dehibernation Bus Run loaded with food, drinks and bears on Saturday May 8 from 12-5 PM. Tickets are $20, available at The Raven and from current Men’s Club title holders. 21+ only.
Memorial Day Picnic at Kincaid Park 5/31, noon
The Imperial Court’s College of Emperors and Empresses hosts the annual Memorial Day Picnic at Kincaid Park, on May 31 from noon to 5 p.m. For more than 30 years, this showcase event has launched the summer meet and greet season. Strike a pose, see you there!
Pride Week 2010: A Pride Odyssey
Alaska’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities (and our fabulous straight allies) will demonstrate our PRIDE for 10 colorful days from June 18-27 as we celebrate Alaska PrideFest 2010: A Pride Odyssey. Pride Week activities on the schedule so far include the new QUEERLYMPICS and the annual Mr./Miss/Ms. Gay Alaska Pageant, Drag Queen Bingo, and Gay Holocaust Memorial Service.
Pride Parade and Festival 6/26, 11 a.m.
The Celebrating Diversity Parade is the highlight of Pride Week and will be held this year on June 26 at 11 a.m. in downtown Anchorage, followed by the Festival on the Delaney Park Strip. Be there!
Alaska Women’s Music Festival 7/23-7/25
That’s right – it’s happening! Stay tuned for details, but block the weekend of July 23-25 and get your camping gear ready.
Coronation XXXVIII, Labor Day weekend
The Imperial Court of All Alaska requests the honor of your presence at Coronation XXXVIII on Labor Day weekend 2010.
Pride Prom rocks for Anchorage and Mat-Su students
Over 100 youth attended the successful Pride Prom on Friday night at the end of Day of Silence, coming from all over Anchorage and even from the Mat-Su, and KTVA interviewed two adult supporters on the Friday News at 10. Julia, one of the student organizers, reports on the Prom:
“The bass vibrated the walls and strobe lights flashed on the dance floor. This was the scene that greeted LGBT youth and their allies on April 16th as they arrived at the Kincaid Chalet for Pride Prom 2010.The youth planned and set up the event with help from supportive adults and their effort paid off. The dance was a huge success and everyone had a great time dancing to popular music hits, many by request to the live DJ.The theme that was chosen was ‘gender bender’ and quite a few of the youth dressed up in clothes usually worn by the opposite gender. At one point in the night there was voting for a royal pride court based on how loud of a cheer the people nominated received. Two young men in drag were voted as the pride queens and they both received gift certificates.The dance went off as planned and many youth are already interested in helping out in planning next year’s prom.”
KTVA Channel 11 aired a short piece on Pride Prom and interviewed two adult supporters – Alex Barros of Four A’s and Anne Marie-Moylan of Identity – during the News at 10 program on April 16. The video is not posted on line.
Students all over Alaska participated in Day of Silence during school on Friday, and some came to Pride Prom from as far as the Mat-Su Valley. Here is a description of the day and evening by a high school student in the Mat-Su:
“So… Day of Silence.Per. 1: Mr. — took off points for me not speaking even though he didn’t even call on me. He gave Erica some BS about politics not belonging in the classroom. I should’ve ductaped my rainbow flag to my desk.Per. 2: No problems.Per. 3: Random guys asked me if I was a lesbian. Now that they know, hopefully they’ll stop hitting on me. They were really starting to get on my nerves.Per. 4: I had a whiteboard conversation with a friend about what happened in 1st period.Lunch: I sat next to my girlfriend and ate lunch quietly like I usually do. All of the DoS kids ate lunch in our adviser’s room.Per. 5: The sub caught me saying sorry and said that I should just give up and take off my DoS tee (which was over my other shirt). I flipped him off in french when he wasn’t looking. I ate a cutie pie (turnover) that my girlfriend gave me and then had a spaz attack because of all the sugar.Per. 6: No problems.Now, on to Pride Prom…My parents rented an impala and my mom put flowers in my hair and made a matching boutonniere for my girlfriend. I made french onion soup for dinner.Pride Prom itself was spectacular. There was a strobe light, glow sticks, black lights, balloons, free pictures, great music, and more rainbows than I thought existed. In the car ride home I fell asleep on my girlfriend’s shoulder. Bliss. Some moments I wish could last forever…”
That moment makes all the work worthwhile! Congratulations to the Gay-Straight Alliance students and the Pride Prom organizers for another successful Day of Silence/Night of Noise in south-central Alaska.
