Articles in Resources
Identity grant, RAW award, Meetup & Alaskans Together
Gay AK – News and Notes from Alaska’s LGBT communities:
Good Work, Lima Beans!
The Legislature rejected Wayne Anthony Ross for the position of Attorney General today, after hundreds (thousands?) of Alaskans voiced opposition to his appointment. Ross is the Anchorage lawyer who called gays “degenerates,” and that is one of the many reasons he was denied the AG post. The vote was 35-23. THANK YOU for spreading the word and giving your testimony. We can make a difference!
Alaskans Together
As Alaska’s statewide LGBT advocacy group, Alaskans Together for Equality can take public stands on political issues, like opposing the appointment of Wayne Ross. Alaskans Together is organizing our statewide effort to achieve civil equality. Become a member of Alaskans Together for Equality.
Anchorage LGBT Meetup group
Meet with other members and supporters of your local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community. Join the new Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group.
Identity receives Pride Foundation Grant
Identity, Inc. is one of the 32 organizations (out of 91 that applied) to receive a Pride Foundation grant for Spring 09. The grant was given in support of Education, Advocacy and Outreach, and for general operating support of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage. The Pride Foundation report states: “The move in 2006 to a visible downtown location has made the Center the hub of LGBTQ life, providing a safe place for the community to meet, hang out, hold and attend group meetings, and use the resource library and computers.”
“Pride Foundation was very impressed with the work we are doing and the size of our volunteer staff,” writes Phyllis of Identity. “Over 60 volunteer shifts each month allow us to keep the Center open and available six hours a day, seven days a week, and the volunteers have been doing this for over seven years.”
“The funds from Pride Foundation will help pay the rent and utilities for about one third of the year. We still need our community support for the other two-thirds. We would like to encourage members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied community to also be impressed with what we are able to do with volunteer staff. Please pledge $10 a month for the next nine months of 2009 to adopt a day to honor yourself, a friend, or, heck, honor the volunteers who keep the doors open and the Center available!”
Radical Woman Award nominees
The Radical Woman Award honors women who have made significant contributions to the GLBT community in Alaska. Please nominate a wonderful woman in your life. Write a short paragraph highlighting her contributions and send it by May 30 to Radical Arts for Women (RAW). The winner will be announced on June 13 at Celebration of Change.
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.
Boot Camp: Fetish Ball 2009
The Fetish Ball, where the people are the show!
“Please help me and The Alaskan Kinksters raise money for the Four A’s, and have one hell of a party,” wrote Scott, organizer of the Ball.
The Fetish Ball will be held at Mad Myrna’s on March 28 at 2130 hours (9:30 p.m. civilian time.) There is a $15 “enlistment fee” (cover charge) and all proceeds benefit the Four A’s food bank. Events include a fashion show by The Look and a piercing demo by The Hole Look. Come on down and check it out!
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
One Year of Getting It On
Friday was the one year anniversary of the Get It On Campaign by the Four A’s.
A few highlights of the campaign over the past year include:
- 1,744 page loads from 1,529 visitors on the www.getitonak.org website
- A trip to Homer to launch the campaign to the local Public Health and Family Planning Center
- A trip to Bethel planned for March 20th to launch the campaign
- Over 350 posters sent to individuals and organizations throughout Alaska
- Over 60,000 custom Get it On Condoms distributed to organizations in rural Alaska
- Statewide airing of the Get It On PSA on GCI Cable
Most importantly, the campaign has educated countless individuals about safe sex and how they can make and keep their community a safe place!
What can you do to help the Four A’s GET IT ON throughout the next year?
- Join the Get It On Campaign’s Facebook page to keep updated on news and events about the campaign,
- Become a subscriber of the Get It On Campaign blog and join in on campaign conversations,
- Link the Get It On website to your organization’s website or personal blog,
- Continue to forward the Get It On home page to your friends, family and online networks.
Thank you for your support of the Get it On Campaign and the Four A’s!
LGB and T Resources for Schools and Staff in Alaska
As reported last week, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District passed a motion to include “gender identity” as a protected group in all six non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies at their Feb 17 meeting.
“Quite a few people testified,” writes Tim Stallard. “Those testifying against the change … mainly expressed concerns about bathroom usage and why we need to define new groups for protection from discrimination.” He asks us to email the school board and thank them for their courageous vote.
Now that the policy is in place, Barbara McCarthy wants to encourage the school board to provide good resources and training for teachers, administrators and staff on gender identity. She asked Bent’s readers, “Do you know of a good teacher/administrator in-service training program on gender identity discrimination and harassment in the schools?” Do we have people in Alaska trained to facilitate these programs?
Since then, we’ve received great program ideas, and offers of help from Alaskans who are trained to lead workshops on LGBT issues in schools or are willing to share their personal experiences with gender identity:
- Fairbanks school counselors Jeff Walters and Lynn Harrison offered to plan the trainings. Jeff co-sponsors the Gay-Straight Alliance at West Valley High School.
- The founders of Transgendered Alaskans Social Group (TASG) offered to share their personal stories at the workshops.
- Laura in Anchorage found a good Transgender workshop posted online by the National Center for Transgender Equality.
- Sara Boesser in Juneau sent the link for the revised GLSEN Lunchbox, a training program for ending anti-LGBT bias in schools, created by the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
- Jackie Buckley participated in the GLSEN training several years ago in Anchorage and mentioned that the original program does not include the gender identity materials added to the revised version, but we can update our materials.
- Jackie works with Anchorage PFLAG to support parents and the Identity Advocacy Team, which speaks to local schools and organizations. She suggested PFLAG’s Safe Schools program as another good resource.
Jeff also attended the GLSEN training and used the materials for teacher inservices. He will pull together ideas from these suggestions, other established programs, and feedback from students to develop an inservice plan. “The students are interested in issues of gender identity,” he wrote “and have given us GREAT ideas and input from their perspective for other trainings in the past.”
This is what I’ve learned:
- We have access to good resources on LGB *and* T issues in schools.
- We have teachers and counselors who are trained to lead the programs.
- We have Alaskans who will share their personal stories of being LGB *and* T with students and staff.
- We have students, parents and staff who are interested in the issues.
- And we have a school board in Fairbanks that is willing to protect LGB *and* T students from discrimination and harassment.
It’s a good start. So when Anchorage, Juneau and other school districts in Alaska add “gender identity” to their policies, we will know who to contact.
Thanks to everyone who responded. That was – and continues to be – a great team effort.
Greetings from Pastor Norman Van Manen
Reverend Norman Van Manen was installed as Development Pastor of MCC Anchorage on Feb. 15 in the presence of over forty members of the LGBT-inclusive church. Van Manen visited in mid-December as a pastoral candidate and was appointed soon after, due to the positive response by church and community members.
Pastor Van Manen wrote a special greeting for readers of Bent Alaska and Alaska GLBT News:
“I am new to Alaska by only a few days. As I settle in and become acquainted with the GLBTQ community, I am looking forward to meeting you. I have already discovered that Alaska is not an easy place to find comfort in being the person you were born to be. It is my goal that all who worship at MCC Anchorage will find self esteem, love from others, and always feel loved by God. I am looking forward to working with you and listening to your stories.”
Reverend Van Manen brings 41 years of ministry experience to MCC Anchorage and to the community. Van Manen’s Pastoral Ponderings for this week are posted on the MCCA site:
“It is a revising and adjusting time for me. I still have to remind myself when I awaken in the morning that I am in Anchorage, Alaska. I was expecting to see water to the south and mountains to the north but instead the Cook Inlet is to the west (water) and the Mountains are to the east. What an awesome sight it was for me to see Mount McKinley from a high place for the first time a few days ago. It is 300 miles from here.“MCC Anchorage has a great spirit of embodiment and I am impressed with your warmth and kindness. Our worship is exciting and I am looking forward to the second message in a Sermon Series entitled The Week That Changed The World. This week’s message is entitled The Day of Authority.“This series of messages will take us up to and including Easter Sunday. On Thursday nights, we have a program that is called Step by Step. This is a Bible Study time with much discussion. We are looking at the foundation of our faith at the moment and you are all most welcome to attend. We have soup at 6:30 p.m. and begin Bible Study at 7 p.m. Please bring your Bible and a pen or pencil.“I am looking forward to meeting with the Board of Directors this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. for our first official meeting. There is much to talk about and much to plan. We have great and exciting days ahead. I have each of you in my prayers.”
The MCC Sunday service begins at 2 p.m. Photos of the Consecration and Laying of Hands ceremony at the installation of Rev. Van Manen are posted on the Metropolitan Community Church web site, which was recently up-graded by webmaster Matthew Moak.
Gay Alaskan Seeks Northern Community
Alaskans know about isolation. So do gays. LGBT Alaskans can easily find ourselves in a beautiful but remote place, cut off from the visible queer communities in the Lower 48.
Jerod Opsal is a gay man from Idaho, now living on an island in Southeast Alaska. He is an author, photographer and health care worker who writes The Northern Vox, a blog on liberal politics and human rights.
Last week, Jerod posted “A Gay Community in Alaska?”
After living in Southeast Alaska now for six months, it is time to weigh-in about living gay in Alaska.I definitely find myself still a little cautious about being “open” about my sexuality. It is interesting as I know everyone that lives on my little rock of 1400 people. They all know that I am Gay. I write a human rights political blog that is very searchable, I am the author of a book on religion and sexuality (coming out in July.) However, the snoozy silence in most of my professional conversations leaves me feeling quite isolated.Basically, Alaska is a place that anyone could move to, live out their life, and retire. This picture is actually quite comforting… IF you have a family or are already living with a long time companion. Palin rules Alaska with christian fundamentalist values and has not embraced diversity. The tone [is] grim, needless to say.My time here is short. I believe that if there was a measure of a gay community in Alaska, I could live out my life here. However, even Idaho, one of the most conservative states in the Union, has a thriving gay community that reminds you that “there are others.”
The post got a few comments from Fairbanks, Anchorage, and two women on Kodiak Island who saw his link on Bent’s Facebook page. Jerod is thrilled, but still hopes to meet LGBT people in Southeast Alaska.
Please go say “hello, we’re here, we’re queer, welcome to Alaska” to Jerod on The Northern Vox.
If you are GLBT from any part of Alaska and on Facebook, become a friend of Bent Alaska and post a message or personal link on the wall. Then reply to other messages and follow their links. I’ve met so many interesting LGBT people and allies from all over the state since creating Bent. The Facebook page is an easy way for you to meet each other, and for all of us to help isolated gay Alaskans feel the comfort of queer ‘family’ up here on the Last Frontier.
Withrow Wins RAW Story Contest
The winners of the RAW Short Story Contest 2009 are (… drumroll … )
1st Place ($500, publication and an invite to read at Celebration) – Frayed Yellow Rope by Wendy Withrow
2nd Place ($300) – She Remembers on a Cold Summer Day by Brianna Dym
3rd Place (tie, $50 each) – Tomorrow by Alix Layton and Gestures by Marilyn Conner
Honorable Mentions –
The Crinoline Revolution or Searching for Regina’s Vagina by Terrilyn F. Watts
Moving Mountains by S.P. Horton
The Thing That Killed Her by Karis Koett
Pathways of Desire by Jean Anderson
Holding Pattern by EJ Essic
Thunderstorm by Annette Baker
Congratulations to everyone who submitted a story!
Celebration of Change, Radical Arts for Women’s annual performing arts event and fundraiser, is June 13, 2009 in the Wilda Marston Theater at Loussac Library in Anchorage. Visit RAW for more information and to get involved.
The Naked Ptarmigan, the queer Alaska journal that published several of last year’s contest stories, is now accepting email submissions year-round.
Pick. Click. Give. for Gay Alaska
Alaskans can go online to apply for the PFD and support our favorite Alaska non-profits with just a click. It’s a chance for all of us to come together and give a little extra.
More than 330 organizations have qualified for the 2009 PFD check-off program, including several LGBT non-profits and our allies: Identity, Four A’s, the ACLU of Alaska, and Out North.
To donate all or part of your PFD, apply online then choose the groups you would like to support. The filing period continues through March 31, 2009.
Find more info online at Pick. Click. Give.
