Articles in Resources
1049 Daily US Newspapers Accept Same-Sex Wedding Announcements – But Only 339 Have Received Them
Q. Which of Alaska’s daily newspapers will print same-sex wedding announcements?
A. All of them – technically.
Alaska is one of only 9 states where all of the daily newspapers will print same-sex wedding announcements, according to a report this week from GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
The Juneau Empire posted a same-sex wedding announcement in May, and the Anchorage Daily News has printed several. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner agrees to print them (but hasn’t yet) only if the wedding is legally recognized where it was performed. Alaska’s other daily newspapers (see chart) will print our wedding, union and commitment ceremony announcements – but none have been submitted.
The Announcing Equality project asks us to send our announcements to local newspapers to increase LGBT visibility.
In cities and small towns all over the country, communities are seeing the lives of their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) family members, friends and neighbors reflected in their media outlets. These stories will spur the kinds of everyday conversations that will change hearts and minds.GLAAD first launched the Announcing Equality campaign in 2002, after working with The New York Times to open its weddings/celebrations pages to lesbian and gay couples. Six years later, the number of inclusive newspapers has jumped from 70 to 1049, and nearly 72 percent of all daily newspapers in the United States now accept wedding and/or commitment ceremony announcements for same-sex couples.Unfortunately, most of these papers haven’t had a chance to run an announcement. That’s where you come in!We’re urging you to recognize the celebrations and milestones in your life by sharing the story with the newspaper, and to share your story in other forms of media, from office newsletters and union periodicals to church bulletins, public radio, Facebook and YouTube.
And be sure to send the link to Bent Alaska!
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ALASKA
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Media Outlet
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City
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URL
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Will Publication Print an Announcement?
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Has Publication Printed an Announcement in the Past?
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Anchorage Daily News
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Anchorage
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Y
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Y
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
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Fairbanks
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L
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N
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Juneau Empire
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Juneau
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Y
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Y
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Peninsula Clarion
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Kenai
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Y
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N
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Ketchikan Daily News
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Ketchikan
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Y
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N
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Kodiak Daily Mirror
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Kodiak
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Y
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N
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
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Sitka
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Y
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N
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L = Newspaper will print announcements only if the union is legally recognized.
Pride Foundation Fall 2008 Grants Available to Alaskan Non-Profits
Pride Foundation, the organization that runs the popular Raffle with a Twist, announced the opening of the Fall 2008 grant cycle.
Organizations helping the LGBT community in Alaska, Seattle/King County, parts of Idaho, Oregon and Washington can apply for funding through Pride Foundation’s Northwest Grants, which are due on August 29, 2008.
Since 1987, Pride Foundation has granted over $7.2 million to organizations helping the Northwest’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Grants are made in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington to 501c(3) nonprofit organizations (or nonprofits with a 501(c) 3 fiscal sponsor) in the following categories: Arts and Recreation; Education, Advocacy, and Outreach; Health and Community Service; HIV/AIDS Service Delivery and Prevention; Lesbian Health; Youth and Family Services.
If you are an organization seeking a grant, please read the Grant Guidelines.
Project or Program Support will be considered for projects/programs that target lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender people, and/or the allied community.
General Operating Support will be considered for those organizations that target services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender people, with an emphasis on small grassroots organizations.
Pride Foundation maintains a commitment to funding:
- In a wide range of programmatic areas including education, advocacy, and outreach; HIV/AIDS education and support; arts and recreation; youth and family services; lesbian health; and other health and community services.
- A balance of projects among those that serve women, men, and all inclusively. Projects serving communities of color are especially encouraged.
- In diverse geographic areas in the Northwest states, both urban and rural. Regional Community grants applications must operate within the geographic area specified in that application.
Minimum Requirements
- An organization must have 501(c)3 non-profit tax status or be affiliated with an organization that has 501(c)3 tax status that will assume fiscal responsibility for all funds received and expended.
- Projects or programs must directly benefit the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual community; people affected by HIV/AIDS; and/or their friends and families.
- Organizations or projects must operate within one or more of the Northwest states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
General Restrictions
- Grants to individuals cannot be considered.
- Maximum Grant Award is $5,000 for Pride Foundation Northwest grants. This amount varies for Pride Regional Community grants.
- Pride Foundation grants are not meant to convey a commitment to ongoing funding. A grant in one year does not make it any more likely that an agency will be funded in the future.
- Organizations can apply for only one grant and one project per cycle.
- Organizations that apply for a grant from Pride Foundation Clark, Pierce and Whatcom-Skagit Regional Communities may also be considered for a grant from the Northwest granting fund. Please note that if you apply for a grant for the same portion of a project/program from these Regional Communities and Northwest Grants, you will not be awarded funds from both. Organizations with projects in other Regional Communities cannot apply to Pride Foundation Northwest Grants.
Alaskans Together Returns and Gives Marriage Advice
Alaskans Together, the group that led the surprisingly successful fight against the April 2007 anti-gay advisory vote on same-sex partner benefits, is pleased to announce that it is re-forming as two new groups.
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is a non-profit that can lobby the Alaska Legislature for equal rights for LGBT Alaskans. Alaskans Together Foundation will be an educational non-profit that can receive grants and educate the Alaskan public on the need for equal treatment and civil rights for LGBT Alaskans.
There is much work to be done in Alaska!
As one of our first projects, we would like to support the new marriage freedoms in California. We ask Alaskan couples who plan to get married in California to please contact us, so we can support you and work with you in our shared goal of advancing LGBT rights in Alaska. There is also media interest in interviewing Alaskan couples traveling to California to get married.
Although Alaska’s LGBT couples deserve full marriage rights, we discourage Alaskan couples who marry in California from suing for marriage rights when they return to Alaska. Given the current constitutional ban on gay marriage in Alaska, a lawsuit demanding marriage rights in Alaska is likely to lose, and this loss could set us back even further.
Please contact us at alaskanstogether@gmail.com if you are planning to get married in California, or if you are interested in learning more about Alaskans Together.
We look forward to your future membership and involvement in our organizations.
[Editor’s Note: LGBT organizations around the country are urging couples who get married in California but reside in states with same-sex marriage bans to enjoy being married and to share news of their wedding with friends, relatives and neighbors – but not to sue their home states. They believe that the goal of national marriage equality will be set back by such law suits.]
LGBT Community Interest Survey
UPDATE: The survey is now available on Survey Monkey.
What is the biggest problem facing Alaska’s LGBT community?
What legal issues do you support: LGBT parenting rights, marriage and domestic partnership rights, safe schools policies, and/or nondiscrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity?
Tiffany McClain wants to know your top priorities for our community, and your top LGBT priorities for the ACLU of Alaska. The LGBT Community Interest Survey is available through e-mail, and Tiffany will also bring the survey to Anchorage PrideFest.
LGBT people and our allies all over Alaska, please complete this survey. Then ask your friends and neighbors to take the survey.
Write to Tiffany McClain, LGBT Public Policy Coordinator, ACLU of Alaska: tmcclain@akclu.org
Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Organizations, Groups & Publications
UPDATE: Check out the updated list of LGBTA Businesses in Alaska!
Visitors, new residents and even long-time Alaskans want to know where they can find GLBT Alaska. Previously, I posted our Annual Events and Recurring Events. Here is the resource list for Alaska’s GLBT organizations, groups and publications with their current web links or email contacts.
Organizations (in alphabetical order):
- 4 A’s – Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association provides supportive services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families, and works to eliminate the transmission of HIV infection and its stigma. Includes Power-On Alaska, Get It On, a quarterly newsletter and the Adam & Steve young men’s group.
- Alaskans Together – formed in 2007 to fight the anti-gay advisory vote, Alaskans Together is now a permanent statewide organization that advocates for LGBT equality in Alaska.
- Equality Works – a coalition working to protect Anchorage residents from discrimination and harassment.
- GLSEN & GSA – the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has an Anchorage chapter, and the Gay Straight Alliance has student clubs in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks.
- IAA – Interior AIDS Association is a nonprofit organization in Fairbanks that provides HIV-related prevention, case management, and other support services.
- ICOAA – The Imperial Court of All Alaska raises money for scholarships and community non-profits through participation in fundraising events, benefits, titleholder balls and other functions.
- Identity – Identity’s programs include a statewide Helpline, the NorthVIEW quarterly newsletter, Anchorage PrideFest, the Pride Conference, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage (GLCCA), the Identity Advocacy Program, and support for local youth programs.
- Mat-Su LGBT Community Center – A new Center opened in Palmer, with social groups, a blog and a library.
- MCC – Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage, an Inclusive Church: Proud, Courageous and Loving.
- PFLAG – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has chapters in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Homer.
- RAW – Radical Arts for Women presents Celebration of Change, a short story contest and scholarships for women in the arts.
- SEAGLA – The Southeast Alaska Gay and Lesbian Alliance provides a supportive social network for GLBT people in Southeast Alaska.
- TLFMC – a non-profit social club that provides bears, leathermen, cowboys, their respective admirers, and other masculine Alaskan gay and bisexual men with the opportunity to meet socially.
Groups:
- AK Community – an informal youth and family group with a discussion forum.
- Alaska Women Write – women’s writing workshop, Thursdays 6-8 p.m. Immanual Presbyterian Church
- Anchorage FrontRunners – Anchorage GLBT walking/running club affiliated with International Front Runners, meets May-Oct, Monday nights at 6 p.m. for a run/walk on the Coastal Trail.
- Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group – meet with other members and supporters of your local LGBT community.
- Juneau Pride Chorus – The Women’s Chorus is affiliated with Juneau PFLAG, and rehearses weekly from late summer through their spring concert in May.
- Men of Alaska – a social Meetup group for gay men in and around Anchorage.
- Trans Alaska Pipeline – the official site for the Transgendered Alaskans’ Social Group and source for information and support for TransPeople everywhere.
- Transgender Support Group – Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Publications:
- Alaska GLBT News – statewide email newsletter with news, announcements and upcoming events.
- Bent Alaska – blog for GLBT News and Events with a Local Alaskan Bent.
- Grrlzlist – Anchorage women’s email newsletter with news, announcements, ads and upcoming events.
- Naked Ptarmigan – creative writing journal.
- NEWS – Sara’s emails of current local, national and international LGBT news briefs.
- Quarterly newsletters – 4 A’s and Identity (linked above) print quarterly newsletters.
- Yahoo! Groups – AnchoragePride, fairbankspride and matsulgbtcc, and some organizations have members-only groups.
- Facebook – several of the organizations have Facebook pages.
Have I missed something?
"Get Busy. Get Equal" with Tiffany McClain, ACLU of Alaska’s New LGBT Coordinator
by E. Ross
Tiffany McClain is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Public Policy Coordinator of the ACLU of Alaska. She is the first permanent full-time staff member dedicated solely to the advancement and protection of LGBT rights in the state of Alaska.
“I feel privileged to have been offered an opportunity to work on such an important project—protecting the equality and civil rights of LGBT people—in a state for which I have so much respect and affection.” McClain, who earned an MA from the University of Michigan on the politics of gender and race in U.S. history, came to Alaska for a working vacation last summer.
“Get Busy. Get Equal” is the National ACLU project to provide organizing tools for LGBT equality on relationships, discrimination, parenting, schools, and transgender issues.
“It’s a great guidepost for how to go about organizing local campaigns, and I can’t wait to put some of the suggestions to use here in Alaska,” said McClain. “We should have educational and promotional materials available to the public in time for Anchorage PrideFest.”
Jeffrey Mittman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Alaska said about Tiffany’s appointment, “In fulfilling our mandate to protect the constitutional rights of all Alaskans, the ACLU is particularly pleased to make this long term commitment to ending discrimination in our state, including ensuring legal protection for LGBT Alaskans. Tiffany has both the intellect and passion to step into this needed role.”
Mittman was the Deputy National Field Director of the ACLU prior to taking the Alaska position, and he is no stranger to LGBT issues. Before joining the ACLU, he was the Special Projects Manager for Equality California, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, managing the marriage equality and non-discrimination campaigns in the Southern California region.
The ACLU of Alaska brought two LGBT cases to victory in the last decade. In 1999, they challenged the denial of employment benefits for the partners of gay and lesbian employees of the State of Alaska and the Municipality of Anchorage. In October 2005, the Alaska Supreme Court agreed and ordered the implementation of benefits plans that provide equal benefits.
In the summer of 2001, the ACLU of Alaska filed suit when Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch ordered the removal of a staff-approved Gay Pride Month exhibit at Loussac Library called “Celebrate Diversity Under the Midnight Sun.” The U.S. District Court agreed with the ACLU and issued an order allowing the sponsors of the exhibit to reinstall it.
Tiffany McClain took the time to answer a few questions about herself and the new LGBT Coordinator position:
What are the main issues and top priorities that you will begin working on as LGBT Public Policy Coordinator?
As the ACLU of Alaska’s LGBT Public Policy Coordinator, these are my primary responsibilities:
1) to ensure that the State of Alaska and its municipalities are following through with the extension of domestic partnership benefits to their employees on a fair and equal basis by reducing the incidence of non-compliance,2) to defend against any proposed challenges to the constitutional rights of LGBT individuals, and3) to help build an organizing strategy and public education/outreach campaign to advance the rights of the LGBT community in Alaska.
The first goal will partially be achieved by surveying employers and obtaining copies of their revised benefits policies, but we’re also going to need the help of LGBT employees who will be able to help us find out what’s actually happening on the ground level, regardless of what policy the booklets state. So if you work for a state or municipal agency or a public school, please feel free to contact me and share your experiences and opinions. (tmcclain@akclu.org, 258-0044).
How do you envision your relationship with Alaska’s LGBT community?
Actually, cultivating a relationship with the LGBT community is a huge priority for me—I don’t think I can be successful without it. I believe that finding out the community’s concerns is crucial to building a long-term organizing strategy. We want to make sure that we’re addressing the local community’s needs while we work to advance the larger goals of the ACLU’s national LGBT & AIDS Project. It’s not always helpful to go forward with an agenda without getting the input of other community members and leaders—especially when you’re the new person in town.
So for the first couple of months, I plan to meet with the point people of all the organizations and networks in the state to get a sense of who they are, what are their current concerns and projects, and to share with and get feedback from them regarding the ACLU’s plans.
One of the first things we plan to do is distribute a community interest survey (which we’ll be encouraging people to complete at Anchorage PrideFest, so stop by our booth) but we’re also working on making it available to those of you who live in other parts of the state.
What drew you to this position?
I was drawn to this position because it was an opportunity to work on a project that I’m passionate about in a state I’m passionate about.
I did seasonal work in Alaska last summer and was considering the possibility of moving here long-term. I’ve spent a lot of time studying civil rights history and politics and I wanted to find work that was somehow related to what I’d learned as an undergraduate and graduate student. It was quite a surprise to find out that the ACLU of Alaska was looking for someone to work on LGBT issues and I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Even though I’m no longer officially a student, I will always love learning. What is great about this job is that I get to actively contribute to the LGBT movement for equality while continuing to learn about law and activism.
Online Resources for Organizing
ACLU of ALASKA: http://www.akclu.org/
National ACLU’s “Get Busy. Get Equal” project: http://gbge.aclu.org/
National GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network): http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home/index.html
Lambda Legal: http://www.lambdalegal.org/
Recurring GLBT events
Anchorage
- MCC Religious services (Christian) – Sunday worship at 2 p.m. and Wednesday “Step by Step” at 6:30 p.m.
- Transgender Support Group – Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
- Alaska Women Write – Women writers’ workshop. Thursdays 6-8, Immanual Presbyterian Church.
- Gay, Joyous and Free AA Meeting – 6 p.m. Mondays at the GLCCA.
- Anchorage FrontRunners – Coastal Trail running group. May-Oct. Mondays 6 p.m.
- This Way Out, The International Lesbian & Gay Radio Magazine – Wednesdays 8:15-8:45 p.m. on KWMD.
- Mad Myrna’s Divas Variety Show – Fridays 9 p.m.
- Side Street Saturdays – Saturdays at noon, an LGBT writer’s group at Side Street Cafe.
Mat-Su Valley
- LGBT Social group – Wednesdays 5 p.m. at Vagabond Blues in Palmer.
Juneau
- SEAGLA Social Fridays – 6-8 p.m at the Imperial Bar & Billiards, Downtown.
- Juneau Pride Chorus – Fridays 5:15-6:45 p.m. Juneau Pride Chorus, a women’s chorus, rehearses at the Resurrection Lutheran Church, August-May. Marsha
Fairbanks
- Pump House Wednesdays – LGBTA social group Wednesdays at 9 p.m. at the Chena Pump House.
- UAF Gay-Straight Alliance – GSA meeting Mondays 5-6 p.m. in the Women’s Center (Eilson 112)
Anything else?
Local Progressive Blogs and Other Allies You Should Know About
by E. Ross
It’s been a busy week of building blog alliances at Bent Alaska.
When the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner published an article about the fake web addresses that went to an anti-Berkowitz blog and to gay sites in San Francisco, the author Robert Dillon described the gay pages as “gay lifestyle” sites. I was dismayed to see a professional journalist use that phrase, so I posted a response here and sent an email to Mr. Dillon. He replied on his blog Alaskan Abroad, and noted in the comments that his AP Stylebook agrees with me. He also linked to Bent Alaska, and listed Bent in his blogroll. Thank you, Robert!
Alaskan Abroad is a well-read blog, and Robert Dillon is the Washington D. C. correspondent for the News-Miner. It didn’t take long for someone to notice his post.
Philip Munger of Progressive Alaska saw it and followed the link to Bent Alaska. In his Saturday Progressive Blog Roundup, he included Bent with other blogs that he was adding to his blogroll, saying “Why did I not know about this site until this week? It is great!” Thank you, Philip!
Progressive Alaska is subtitled: Spreading the word about the growing presence of progressive Alaskans and their powerful ideas on the web. The current focus is on the political races and the environment, but a variety of progressive issues are covered on PA.
Then Linda of Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis saw the mention on Progressive Alaska and came for a visit. She left comments on several posts and listed Bent Alaska in her blogroll. Thank you, Linda!
Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis is another great progressive blog, and Linda is a long-time ally of the LGBT community. She sang with the band “Sky is Blu” and performed at the March on Washington in 1993. She also worked on the municipal ordinance that added sexual orientation to the protected classes of employees in Anchorage.
Meanwhile, Brendan Kelley at the Anchorage Press commented on Bent Alaska about the fake addresses going to gay sites. Fighting hate speech is part of Brendan’s job, and he was one of the trio of reporters who uncovered evidence linking the web site trick to Jake Metcalfe’s campaign. Metcalfe has now dropped out of the race, because of poor campaign decisions and a lack of funds.
If you live in Anchorage, you probably pick up a copy of this free alternative paper on Thursdays. Wherever you live, you can read and comment on their articles online at Anchorage Press.
These writers are our allies. They are also well-informed citizens and good reporters. Most of them are dedicated to progressive issues, including civil rights. If you want to keep up with political and environmental issues in Alaska, visit these sites regularly and leave an occasional comment.
That’s how we build alliances in the blog world.
Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Annual Events, Revised
Update – Please see the most recent version of this list: Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Annual Events, Revised Again
by E. Ross
Previously, I posted the first part of a series on GLBT Alaskan Resources: Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Annual Events. I asked for feedback to update the list and received several messages about two changes: The Pride Conference was not held at UAA last year, and the Picnic may no longer be held in Eklutna.
Here is the revised list of main annual events for GLBT Alaska, in seasonal order:
- Arctic Heat (Jan.) – TLFMC comes out of hibernation to choose the next Bear and Leather titleholders.
- Celebration of Change (April) – RAW’s ‘break-up’ performance celebrates women, art, music and springtime.
- Day of Silence & Prom (April) – GLSEN’s Day of Silence and same-sex prom graduates teens in style.
- PrideFest (June) – Identity’s summer solstice Pride Parade and Festival displays our Pride downtown.
- Coronation (August) – ICOAA’s late summer extravaganza invests the new Imperial Court.
- Pride Picnic (Memorial Day) – The Picnic and BBQ celebrate unity and the end of summer.
- Pride Conference (October) – Identity’s back-to-school conference is inspired by National Coming Out Day.
The list is still focused on Anchorage. What are the main annual events for Fairbanks and Juneau? Please email or leave a comment below, and help to make a complete resource list for GLBT Alaska. Not sure how to comment? Read 5 Easy Ways to Enjoy This Blog.
5 easy ways to enjoy this blog
Why did I chose a blog instead of a web site for Bent Alaska? What is a blog anyway? Here’s how to get the most out of Bent Alaska.
