Articles in Pride
Thanking those who in the past Stepped Up and Stepped Out with Pride
A message from Alaska Pride | originally posted at the Alaska Pride blog
Flashback to July 1978
In this day and age, it isn’t too rare to see Gay Pride marches across the United States and all around the world. In fact, its pretty much expected. Presidents of our nation even declare a month out of the year as Gay Pride Month (when we really should celebrate Pride all year round!).
GLBT folk and our allies get to march in these parades, unhindered and proudly.
That wasn’t always the case…
Lets flashback to Anchorage in July of 1978. This was the reality of that day and age:
Just imagine being someone in this march. These brave marchers had to wear paper bags over their heads for fear of harassment, abuse, and most of all — losing their jobs. Life was already hard enough being GLBT in Alaska in the 1970′s. But to march and show your Pride was even harder.
This Pride, we honor those who took the first steps to ensure that we as a community can march proudly in the streets, open, no brown paper bags over our heads, no disguise. Because of these individuals who Stepped Up and Stepped Out decades ago, we have the luxury to be able to continue Stepping Up and Stepping Out.
So what have you done to make sure that pictures like these become a thing of the past, something that years from now, we will look back and wonder at the incredulity and ignorance of those people?
This year, this Pride, we ask that you Step Up, Step Out, take that paper bag of your head and march proudly with us on June 25. For even today, it is punishable by death to be GLBT in several nations across the world. Today, Pride marches are banned in several nations, like the Pride march banned in Moscow in which marchers were brutalized and arrested (Read more here.)
That will only end when individuals like you end it.
But please, remember that you are walking in the footsteps of giants like Doug Frank, our Grand Marshall for this years Pride. (Read his bio here.) So tread softly, but tread on nonetheless!
This weekend in LGBTQ Alaska (6/2/11): An ordination, a USO show, male strippers, and IAA First Friday
The ordination of an Anchorage religious leader, a USO-themed fundraiser for Alaska Pride, the visit of a male-stripper review from NYC, and IAA’s First Friday show in Fairbanks dominate this weekend in LGBTQ Alaska. Those events and more, plus a preview of what’s coming up next week.
A night at the USO, a military affair: A Pride fundraiser this Saturday night
Grab your Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy or your best dame, and join us for a night of fun and laughs in a 1940s USO — a fundraiser for Alaska Pride Fest!
Cohosted by Colleen Crinklaw and Jerad Martens, with performers including Isis Von Croft, Alexis Kellie, Diedra Windsor Walker, Sahandra Crosse, Mariquita, and a few more that are going to work hard to show the guests a good time.
Pay $10 for a grab bag, & you might win prizes ranging in value from $80–$320!!!. We’ll also have a soldier’s toast and light food available while it lasts.
- Date/time: Saturday, June 4, 7:00 to 9:45 PM
- Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Ave. in downtown Anchorage (see map)
- Cost of admission: $7.00
- Further info: See the Facebook event page
Obama declares Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
Yesterday President Obama released a proclamation for LGBT Pride Month which detailed his achievements toward LGBT equality since he took office in January 2009, and the work yet to be done. Notably absent: any mention of marriage equality, repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), or even same-sex civil unions.
Bent News, 5/31/11: Pride fundraisers, & solidarity against hate
Last weekend’s Pride fundraisers, a presidential proclamation, Old Navy Pride t-shirts, and Moscow repression; solidarity against hate in Portland; marriage equality updates from California and Minnesota; a memorial to gay Holocaust victims in Munich; and more in this edition of Bent News.
About those Old Navy “Pride” t-shirts
The LGBT blogosphere was all abuzz yesterday about major retailer Old Navy’s partnership with the It Gets Better Project to sell Pride 2011 t-shirts at all Old Navy stores, including in Anchorage and Fairbanks. But today it turned out that only 26 of its 1,000+ stores will sell the tees. What gives?
This weekend in LGBTQ Alaska (5/27/11): 3 Pride fundraisers & annual Memorial Day picnic
It’s Memorial Day Weekend, which means it’s time for the Imperial Court’s annual Memorial Day picnic! But with Pride Month almost upon us, it’s also a weekend dominated by several fundraisers for Identity and Alaska Pride Fest 2011. Those events and more, plus a preview of what’s coming up next week.
Bent News, 5/26/11: Roger Ailes finds us skeeeeeery!
A Gallup poll update on American attitudes about gays and lesbians, how to help Joplin LGBT tornado victms, Moscow Pride, Fox News president Roger Ailes is skeeeeered, and more from the past couple of days in today’s Bent News.
Prepare for Takei Pride Month!
Tennessee’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill would prohibit teachers from discussing homosexuality in classrooms below the 9th grade level. But never mind: just say “Takei” instead!
Alaska students awarded $2,500 in scholarships from Pride Foundation
Two Alaska students, Kara Carlson of Fairbanks and Colleen McNulty of Anchorage, have been awarded $2,500 in scholarships from Pride Foundation, according to a press release from Tiffany McLain, the foundation’s regional development organizer for Alaska.
