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This Week in LGBT Alaska 9/25/09

Friday, 25 September 2009 – 5:08 PM | Comments Off

This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

SEAGLA Reception for Aquafest cruisers 9/27, 6 p.m.

Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.

Fairbanks

Jeff’s White Trash Party 9/26, 9 p.m. with DJ White Chocolate, for GLBT and friends 21 and over.

Mat-Su Valley

Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues.

Anchorage

The True Diversity Dinner & Awards Celebration 9/25, 7 p.m. at the Snow Goose.

Tan-N-Test: Free Tan for a Donation to Four A’s 9/26, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. at Preview Sun & Day Spa.

Free “Hopes & Dreams” spiritual retreat and potluck 9/26, noon-6 p.m. at MCC Anchorage.

Diversity Month GLBT Open House 9/26, 5-7 p.m. at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage.

“Hedwig and The Angry Inch” 9/26, 7 p.m. & 11 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

Sunday worship, 2 p.m. at MCC Anchorage.

ICOAA’s Investitures for the 37th Reign 9/27, 6 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

The Lion Sings Tonight: A Four A’s benefit with “The Lion King” cast, Monday 9/28, 7 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

Grrlzlist Town Hall, Monday 9/28, 5 p.m. at Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge.

International Student Association: LGBT Issues Across Cultures, Thursday 10/1, 4-5 p.m. in the UAA Learning Resource Center, Rm 126.

You Are Not Alone: Teen Suicide Resources

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 – 5:18 PM | One Comment

Another school year has begun, and the Juneau School District created a new suicide prevention resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, which is available for adults who work with teens.

“Gay and lesbian youth belong to two groups at high risk of suicide: youth and homosexuals.” The brochure lists 3 actions to take if you or a friend has a problem.

“The root of the problem for GLBT youth suicide is a society that discriminates against and stigmatizes homosexuals while failing to recognize that a substantial number of its youth are GLBT.” – from the report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide, US Dept. of Health and Human Services

The brochure gives Juneau-area and national suicide hotline numbers and mental health web sites that are accessible to all Alaska youth, along with general GLBTQ resources like SEAGLA, PFLAG and the Juneau Gay-Straight Alliances.

The brochure was funded by a grant from the State of Alaska, and is available for people who work with teens and places where teens frequent.

If you would like to receive copies of the brochure, or have suggestions for where they can be placed, please contact Juneau-Douglas High School Counselor Brendan Kiernan at this email address.

Equal Benefits for LGBT Alaskans

Monday, 24 August 2009 – 7:22 PM | Comments Off

Public employers such as municipal governments, state agencies, and school districts have an obligation to provide the same benefits to same-sex domestic partners that they provide to spouses. The ACLU of Alaska wants to ensure that all Alaskans are receiving equal benefits, and conducted a survey of all public agencies in the State of Alaska.

“Know Your Rights! Domestic Partnership Benefits in Alaska” (.pdf) is an initial summary of the findings. It lists public employers who currently provide domestic partnership benefits, those who do not offer benefits, and employers who did not complete the survey.

What can you do to receive your benefits or help expand coverage?

Your employer has an obligation to provide you with information regarding the benefits available to you and your same-sex partner. If you work for a public employer who did not respond to our survey, you can help enforce your rights by:

1) Requesting that your employer make explicit their status on domestic partnership benefits.

2) Providing the ACLU of Alaska with accurate information regarding your employer’s domestic partnership benefits policy or lack thereof.

If you have questions, suggestions or corrections, please contact Tiffany McClain, LGBT Public Policy Coordinator, ACLU of Alaska, 907-258-0044 ext. 101.

For more information, visit the ACLU of Alaska’s LGBT rights page.

Out in Alaska featured in Gay Travel Magazine

Sunday, 12 July 2009 – 5:40 AM | 2 Comments

Passports Magazine: The Insider’s Guide to Gay Travel posted an interview with local guide Tim Stallard, owner of Out in Alaska, an adventure tour company catering to GLBT travelers. The article also lists gay-friendly lodges, restaurants and B&B’s in Alaska.

“Tim Stallard believes that the best way to experience our 49th state is to get out and enjoy the wilderness,” reads the introduction to the online story. “His company, Out in Alaska, makes sure you do just that.”

Out in Alaska takes small groups of LGBT travelers and open-minded friends all over Alaska, often visiting Seward and Denali in addition to Anchorage and Fairbanks. They organize adventure travel, comfortable land tours, small boat cruises, and custom options like romantic remote lodge trips and corporate retreats, and have a full line-up of exciting trips for summer and fall 2009.

Passports: “Why did you choose to cater to LGBT travelers?”

Stallard: “Because LGBT travelers have a reputation for being avid, adventurous, and discerning travelers. However, straight travelers (especially Europeans) have gay travelers beat for recognizing Alaska as a world-class destination. No one was serving the gay market for real travel experiences in Alaska so I saw an opportunity to do that. Also, many gay people love nature and animals, but a majority of gay people live in highly urbanized cities, so gay Alaskan adventures seemed the obvious antidote! As I later realized, operating a gay travel business in Alaska also allows us to promote equal rights for gay Alaskans through our business networking and supplier connections.”

In addition to being an explorer, adventure guide and Fairbanks-based business owner, Tim is the Vice President of Alaskans Together for Equality, a group dedicated to achieving full civil equality for all Alaskans.

Read the Passports article, and check out Bent Alaska’s Travel Resource page for more LGBT Alaska travel-related businesses.

A Christian Transwoman’s Letter to Mayor Sullivan

Monday, 6 July 2009 – 8:27 PM | One Comment

Dan Sullivan was sworn in as the new Mayor of Anchorage on July 1, two days before Gov. Palin resigned. Mayor Sullivan has not yet stated where he stands on the issue of LGBT equality, or how he will respond to the equal rights ordinance. Please email Mayor Sullivan and respectfully explain why he should support an ordinance that will help to protect all Anchorage residents from discrimination.

Kelly, a transgender Christian woman who wrote her story for Bent Alaska last month, sent this letter to Mayor Sullivan.

———–

Dear Mayor Sullivan,

I wanted to write and thank you for keeping an open mind concerning the debate that is taking place before the Assembly concerning the rights of LGBT people. My name is Kelly and I split my time between Alaska and Kentucky and overseas. I own rental property in both Eagle River and Wasilla, and work for one of your largest employers in the city/state. Finally, I am a Christian, and I am transgendered.

Although it is my desire to have the Assembly grant us equal protection as afforded to us under the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, it is not the purpose of my letter. Rather, my hope is to assist you in understanding Gender Dysphoria. I write to you because I am deeply saddened by the misinformation that has come from some of the local churches. As a Christian, it hurts to see these false accusations come from an institution that is to represent the One who came to save us.

Transgender individuals do not just wake up one day and wish to change genders. It is a condition that was caused in utero, when the Androgen receptors were blocked from receiving the proper amount of hormones to mirror that of the one’s anatomy. Contrary to the information that was published on SOSAnchorage.org, there is scientific and medical data that backs this argument. Studies done from the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research have found the Bed of Nucleus Stri Terminalis (BSTc – part of the brain that identifies who one is) of a transgendered woman mirrors that of a genetic woman and vice versa for that of a transgender male. Another study, done by the Prince Henry Institute in Melbourne, Australia, found a genetic variation of the human genome that is believe to cause the disruption of the Androgen Receptors in utero. Studies done on drugs such as PCP, DDT, and Diethylstilbestrol (DES) have also found a link to the cause of Gender Dysphoria.

I refer you to a blog post that I wrote, along with the letter I sent to my Municipal Representative, Ms. Debbie Ossiander. It answers many of the questions concerning the cause of Gender Identity, in hopes that someday people will recognize this was not something we created, but something we were born with. Should you have any questions, or wish to learn more about people such as me, you may reach me via this letter.

I recognize the enormous responsibility you have to represent all the citizens of this great city and want you to know, you are in my prayers.

May God bless you in all you do.

Kelly

Know Your Status on National HIV Testing Week

Saturday, 13 June 2009 – 9:36 AM | Comments Off

National HIV Testing Week is June 20-27, 2009 and the Four A’s is offering free HIV testing at various locations in Juneau and in Anchorage, including at Anchorage PrideFest.

The Four A’s will be marching in the PrideFest parade on Saturday, June 20th. “Come out and join our marching unit, themed Mission Possible: Know Your Status. Wear your camoflauge and help us encourage people to get tested to Know Their Status!”

Words for Equality

Tuesday, 2 June 2009 – 2:53 PM | Comments Off

[Editor’s note: Mel compiled this great list of links to written fact and opinion pieces in support of the Anchorage equal rights ordinance. I’d like to add that there is television and radio coverage as well, involving speakers from Equality Works and Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage, plus supportive letters to the editor by LGBT Anchorage-ites and our allies every day in the ADN. The public hearing for the ordinance is June 9 at Loussac Library.]

—————

by Mel Green

On Tuesday, May 12, 2009, an ordinance was introduced in the Anchorage Municipal Assembly which would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, financial practices, public accommodations, and education on the basis of sexual orientation and veteran status — adding these two classes to those already included in Title 5, Anchorage’s equal rights code: race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, and physical or mental disability.

One week away from ordinance testimony & possibly an Assembly vote. Time to write those letters to the Anchorage Assembly, if you haven’t already done so.

Meanwhile, here’s a list — as comprehensive as I’ve been able to make it so far — of blog posts & opinon pieces favoring equality. I’ve compiled a list of pieces that are anti-equality too, but see them on my Equality page — I don’t want to give them another link here. And please do tell me if I’m missing anything.

Anchorage equal rights ordinance

Proposed ordinance

AO 2009-64, “An ordinance of the Anchorage Municipal Assembly amending Anchorage Code Chapters 5.10 Equal Rights Commission and 5.20 Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.” Draft prepared for reading May 12, 2009. Anchorage Municipal Assembly, Anchorage, AK.

Facts about the ordinance (as opposed to lies)

Equal Rights Ordinance: Focus on the Facts (Equality Works)
5/29/09. Equal Rights Q&A (Patrick Flynn’s Blog — Patrick Flynn, Anchorage Assemblyman)
SOSAnchorage.net. Fact checks the Prevo/Anchorage Baptist Temple fundraising-through-a-pack-o’-lies website of a similar name.

Blogs & opinion pieces

Henkimaa.com

Follow the tag Anchorage equal rights ordinance for all my ordinance-related posts.
See also the category Equality, which includes posts about equal rights (inluding marriage equality) in general.

Bent Alaska. Your best single blog source for news & events in the Alaska LGBT community.

Follow the tag Ordinance for all ordinance-related posts.

Other blogs. Various other Alaska blogs have also posted news/commentary related to the ordinance, including Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis, Progressive Alaska, Shannyn Moore: Just a Girl from Homer, Elise Sereni Patkotak, The Immoral Minority, What Do I Know?, Christ Our Savior Lutheran Grace Notes, The Alaska Commons, The Mudflats, and Mamadance.

5/10/09. …and justice for all (Patrick Flynn’s Blog — Patrick Flynn, Anchorage Assemblyman)
5/13/09. The noise begins — repost of my blog post posted at Henkimaa here. (Progressive Alaska)
5/14/09. Anchorage Assembly Gay Rights Ordinance — my 1990’s flashback (Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis)
5/16/09. Equality Works has a Fun-Raising party…more on Mike Method’s show — KBYR at 7:00 PM! (Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis)
5/17/09. Sermon (a poem) — repost of my poem posted at Henkimaa here. (Progressive Alaska)
5/21/09. Gays deserve all the protections of the law, Jerry Prevo notwithstanding (Elise Sereni Patkotak; published as column entitles “If anyone has a gay agenda, it’s Prevo” in Anchorage Daily News, 5/19/09)
5/23/09. HOW AFRAID ARE THE “Not So Jesus Christians?” (Shannyn Moore: Just a Girl from Homer)
5/24/09. Jerry Prevo shows the whole world his ignorance and intolerance. Thanks for saving us the trouble buddy! (The Immoral Minority)
5/24/09. “What they are not telling you about the homsexual ordinance!” by GottaLaff (Political Carnival)
5/25/09. Dr. Prevo’s Friday Anchorage Daily News Letter to the Editor (Progressive Alaska)
5/26/09. Perfect love casts out fear (Christ Our Savior Lutheran Grace Notes)
5/28/09. If it’s good enough for J.Edgar Hoover…. (Elise Sereni Patkotak; published as column entitled “Unlike gays, church has its ‘special’ rights” in Anchorage Daily News, 5/26/09)
5/28/09. Men Jerry Prevo Would Ban from Anchorage Schools (What Do I Know?)
5/28/09. Equal Rights; Our Problem Just Got Holier Than Thou (The Alaska Commons)
5/29/09. Fundamentalists raise bar of intolerance by Alan Boraas (Anchorage Daily News)
5/29/09. Civil rights activist now focuses on gays by Steve Haycox (Anchorage Daily News)
5/29/09. Equal Rights Q&A (Patrick Flynn’s Blog — Patrick Flynn, Anchorage Assemblyman)
5/29/09. Out, out, demon hatred (Christ Our Savior Lutheran Grace Notes)
5/29/09. Please Help Bring Equal Rights to Anchorage! (The Alaska Commons)
5/30/09. What renews my belief in humanity (Elise Sereni Patkotak)
5/30/09. HATE; The Real Antichrist (Shannyn Moore: Just a Girl from Homer; reposted at the Alaska Report)
5/30/09. Isn’t There an Ice Floe Somewhere That Needs a Homophobic Preacher? (The Mudflats)
5/30/09. Saturday Alaska Progressive Blog Roundup – May 31, 2009 – Part One — The Quality of Writing at Our Blogs (Progressive Alaska)
5/30/09. Fear and Loathing in Alaska (The Immoral Minority)
5/31/09. All You Need is Love (Mamadance)
6/1/09. Check this out (Elise Sereni Patkotak)
6/1/09. Homophobes and their motives (Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis)
6/1/09. Beware of beards in women’s bathrooms by Andrew Halcro (Alaska Dispatch)
6/1/09. It’s time for city to stand for equality by Cynthia Toohey and Arliss Sturgulewski (Anchorage Daily News)
6/2/09. Paint This Town EQUAL! (Alaska Commons)

Where to find GLBT Alaska — Churches & religious groups

Sunday, 31 May 2009 – 6:19 AM | 7 Comments

Visitors, new residents and long-time Alaskans want to know where to find churches and that are inclusive, welcoming, open, affirming or at least LGBT-friendly. Here is our list as of May 2009.

Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Travel Businesses

Tuesday, 5 May 2009 – 8:50 PM | 2 Comments

Visitors, residents and travel professionals want to know where to find LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly Travel and Tourism Businesses in Alaska. The current list is below.

Do you want to include your Travel and Tourism Business on Bent Alaska’s free Travel Business list? Do you know a gay-owned or gay-supportive travel business that should be here? Please leave a comment below the list or contact Bent through the address in the right hand column.

Disclaimer: This list is not an endorsement or recommendation for the businesses, only a recognition that they are owned by GLBT Alaskans and our Allies.

The main list of Businesses in Alaska is here: Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Business List.

Bent Alaska’s resource list for Alaska’s GLBT organizations, groups and publications remains one of the most often visited pages on the blog. There is also a list for GLBT Alaska’s Annual Events, and Seasonal and Recurring Events.

Alaska’s LGBT Travel Resources

Fairbanks
Tim Stallard
Out in Alaska
Alaska Adventure Travel
P.O. Box 82096
Fairbanks, AK 99708

Anchorage

Earth Bed & Breakfast
Hosts: Lori & Angel
1001 W. 12th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 907-279-9907
Fax: 907-279-9862

Arctic Fox Inn
327 E 2nd Court
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-272-4818
(toll free) 877-693-1239

A Wildflower Inn
1239 I Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-274-1239
(toll free) 877-693-1239

City Garden B&B
1352 W. 10th Ave.
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: (907) 276-8686
Fax: (907) 276-2358

Copper Whale Inn
440 L Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(866) 258-7999
(907) 258-7999

Alaskan Leopard B&B
16136 Sandpiper Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
Toll Free: 1-877-454-3046
Local: 907-868-1594

Mat-Su Valley

Karen Harris
Alaska Garden Gate B & B
950 S. Trunk Road
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 746-2333

Juneau

The Silverbow Inn
Inn, Bakery, Catering, Cinema, Gallery
120 Second Street
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-4146
(800) 586-4146
Fax (907) 586-4242

Haines

The Guardhouse Boarding House
PO Box 853
Haines, Alaska 99827
Phone: 907-766-2566
Toll free: 1-866-290-7445

Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Business List

Monday, 20 April 2009 – 7:07 PM | 8 Comments

Visitors, new residents and long-time Alaskans want to know where to find GLBT-owned and GLBT-friendly businesses in Alaska, so we can support the community with our consumer dollars. Here is the current list.

Obviously, it is not a complete list, and now is a good time to update it. If you are a GLBT Alaskan, or an ally of our community, and want to include your business on Bent Alaska’s free list, please leave your information in a comment below the list. If you know a gay-owned or gay-supportive business that you think should be here, please ask the owner to visit Bent and leave a comment.

Disclaimer: This list is not an endorsement or recommendation for the businesses, only a recognition that they are owned by GLBT Alaskans and our Allies.

Bent Alaska’s resource list for Alaska’s GLBT organizations, groups and publications remains one of the most often visited pages on the blog. There is also a list of GLBT Alaska’s Annual Events, and Seasonal and Recurring Events.

UPDATE: There are so many listings for Travel-related businesses, that I’ve added a separate post and linked it in the right hand column of the blog! Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Travel & Tourism

Alaska’s GLBT Business List

Anchorage

Mad Myrna’s (bar)
530 East 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-9762

The Raven (bar)
708 East 4th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-9672

Kodiak Bar & Grill
225 East 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-5233

Ginger Restaurant (LGBT-friendly)
425 W 5th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 929-3680

Side Street Espresso (LGBT-friendly)
412 G Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-9055

Jay Her, Hypnotist
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 720-9909

Preview Sun & Day Spa
Stephen Nolan
1443 West Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
907.245.0036

The Skin Bar (day spa)
inside Sunrise Sun Spa
(Huffman and Old Seward)

Custom Cleaning
Home or business cleaning.
Weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly.
Gift Certificates available.
Carol: 351-5100

Dee Gould
ORGANIZE IN SYNC
Personal Organizer
Member NAPO
907-301-6811

Liza Sims, CPCP
Cosmetic Tattoo
907-561-3937
4100 Lake Otis Parkway #205,
Anchorage AK 99508

F Ken Freedman Counseling
therapist specializing in GLBTI people
(907) 566-1708

Out North Theater (LGBT-friendly)
3800 DeBarr Road
(907) 279-8099
Mission: Art + Community = Change

Lea McDermid (LGBT-friendly)
Attorney, immigration law
310 K Street, Suite 200
Anchorage AK 99501
(907) 264-6755

Erin Hall Meade (LGBT-friendly)
Financial Advisor
Beckwith Meade Group
3601 C Street, Penthouse West
Anchorage, AK 99503
907.561.4433 Main
907.564.6603 Direct
800.770.7000 Toll Free
866.365.9750 Facsimile

JeaShoots
Jeannette Ramos, photographer
photo note cards on 100% recycled paper

Earth Bed & Breakfast
Hosts: Lori & Angel
1001 W. 12th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 279-9907
Fax: (907) 279-9862

City Garden B&B
1352 W. 10th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-8686
Fax: (907) 276-2358

Arctic Fox Inn
327 E. 2nd Court
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 272-4818
1-877-693-1239

A Wildflower Inn
1239 I Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 274-1239
1-877-693-1239

Alaskan Leopard B & B
16136 Sandpiper Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
(907) 868-1594
1-877-454-3046

Copper Whale Inn
440 L Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-7999
(866) 258-7999

Eagle River

Mile 5.2 Greenhouse
17026 Santa Maria Drive
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
(907) 694-3978

Mat-Su Valley

Karen Harris
Alaska Garden Gate B & B
950 S. Trunk Road
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 746-2333

Fairbanks

Tim Stallard
Out in Alaska (travel)
P.O. Box 82096
Fairbanks, AK 99708

Michael Bartels
College Floral
(flowers & gifts)
3260 College Rd,
Fairbanks, AK 99709
907-479-6926

Deirdre Helfferich (LGBT-friendly)
Ester Republic Press (newspaper)
PO Box 24, Ester, AK 99725
907.479.3368

Interior

229 Parks Restaurant and Tavern (LGBT-friendly)
Mile 229.7 Parks Hwy, near Denali National Park.
Specializes in locally grown produce,
organic/free-range meats and game
and is a member of Chef’s Collaborative.

Juneau

Perseverance Theatre (LGBT-friendly)
914 Third Street, Douglas, AK 99824
Tickets: 463-TIXS
Telephone: 907-364-2421

The Silverbow Inn
Inn, Bakery, Catering, Cinema, Gallery
120 Second Street
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-4146

Haines

Alaska Guardhouse B & B
PO Box 853
Haines, Alaska 99827
(907) 766-2566
1-866-290-7445

Homer

Bunnell Street Arts Center
non-profit arts center (LGBT-friendly)
106 W. Bunnell Street, Suite “A”
Homer, Alaska 99603

Sitka

Neurobehavioral Consultants
Dr. Cindy Westergaard
201 Lincoln Street, Suite 1
Sitka, Alaska 99835
(907) 747-3743