Articles in Politics
McAdams to LGBT Alaska: Full Equality
Scott or Lisa? Values, not fears
With Scott McAdams gaining in the polls and Tea Party Joe slipping, LGBT democrats and undeclareds don’t have to vote for Lisa M out of fear of Joe. We can vote for the candidate who supports equality and can win, the only candidate who will vote to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: Scott McAdams.
Two months ago, when Joe won the primary and Lisa announced her write-in campaign, LGBT Alaskans were divided between Lisa and Scott. We agreed that we had to stop Joe, but disagreed on which other candidate had the best chance of beating him.
When DADT came up for a vote in the Senate, we flooded Lisa’s office with calls asking her to be the moderate Republican she claimed to be and vote for the repeal. When Lisa confirmed that she would have voted with the GOP filibuster to block the repeal if she’d been in D.C for the vote, we learned that LGBT Alaskans are not important to her. We gave her a chance, and she brushed us off.
But the real tipping point for many voters was Lisa’s speech in honor of Rev. Jerry Prevo, a baptist minister who built his reputation by spreading lies and hate against gays. The man bragged that his main legacy is blocking gay rights in Anchorage. And Lisa honored him!
HERE is a sample of anti-gay hate spewing from Prevo, a sermon he gave last summer against the equal rights ordinance, including the long list of insulting names he repeatedly calls us. (If you’re not familiar with Prevo, follow the link and watch the video so you know first hand why Lisa’s tribute to him is so disgusting.)
Lisa fawned all over this hater at the 39 year anniversary of his career at the temple of doom, Anchorage Baptist Temple. (Did I mention that they do exorcisms on gay kids? Really!)
Watch Lisa’s tribute to the leader of anti-gay hate in Anchorage:
“It is such an honor and a real delight to be with so many here today… So much of what we’ve seen that has been good and strong has been built right here at the Anchorage Baptist Temple by Reverend Prevo… We thank you for what you have given our community – the guidance you have shown, and the love for so many. Continue it for another 39.”
Enough to make you sick.
Where was Scott McAdams that weekend? Scott spoke at the annual LGBT Pride Conference, impressing us with his support of equality and fairness for all Alaskans. Lisa didn’t attend.
The good news is that we don’t have to settle for Lisa out of fear of Joe. We can vote for someone who will vote for us, someone who has a real chance of winning if we pull together. Vote your values, not your fears: Vote for Scott McAdams.
Sitka lesbians, gays & allies for Scott McAdams
Scott McAdams is a serious contender for the U.S Senate and Lisa is trying to steal votes from him with an ad featuring her supporters from his home base of Sitka. It’s a low blow to turn someone’s neighbors against him, especially in a small town. But it doesn’t seem to be working with LGBTA Sitkans. The few gays, lesbians and out-spoken allies that I could find in Sitka are all voting for Scott.
When Scott won the democratic nomination and Joe won the GOP primary, I contacted a straight friend of my lesbian friend who used to live in Sitka. What did she think of Scott, I asked, and did she know any gay or lesbian Sitkans who might educate me on his attitude towards us?
She knew someone, and they knew someone, and we started a conversation. Three of them gave me permission to publish some of their comments – one lesbian, one gay man, and one ally – but only Mo, the ally, is comfortable including her real name with her comments. The others are ‘out’ about voting for Scott, but they (or their partners) do not want to be known as gay or lesbian to their employers.
The gay man summed up the thoughts of many LGBT Alaskans:
Scott would be a big improvement on what we have had and would get otherwise.
Our ally Mo McBride worked with Scott and had more to say:
I know Scott very well having worked in the school district he was on the board for. I will give you my impression which has its own biases… He is mayor of our city and was on the school board here for about 10 years. He has served on the statewide school board and even did some work with the national school board… I did not agree with his decisions many times when he was one the school board but I did not find him to be biased in his approach to his decisions. He has political speak which for me is like coctail speech, can talk briefly on many things and has good sound bytes but not good depth… He is a quick learner and can search out info when he wants to. He is supportive of gay issues, he has openly gay people who are working under him and they say he has not ever made that a concern for them… He is the first to say he is still learning, but he also now has experience in goveernment… I plan to vote for him even with my disagreements on his school board stuff. I think he can be an advocate for Alaska… I just hope we can keep Miller out. So my vote is for him and I think he is the most GLBT friendly vote of the three.
The lesbian and her partner both like Scott:
[My partner] liked working with Scott… I have dealt with Scott in a different capacity. He was on the local school district school board when I was a teacher within that school district. I dealt with him occasionally and it was always professional. He is our current mayor and seems to be doing okay. There have been concerns that the meetings are not as thorough and inquisitive when the assembly should be delving further into issues. Also, there are concerns that he has conflicts of interest between being mayor and working for Community Schools, which is a part of the school district. [He is currently on Leave of Absence from Community Schools, and Cheryl Westover is the new mayor.] I don’t know Scott on a friend level so I really can’t speak to more than this.
I’m pleased to hear that he attended [the LGBT Pride Conference]. I will be voting for Scott on Tuesday. There is no question about that for me.
There you have it – the word from LGBTA Sitkans: Vote for Scott McAdams!
Thanks to my Sitka friends for adding their voices to the conversation.
Scott also has a Sitka ad. Watch:
Anti-gay group targets Alaska Supreme Court Justice
Voters received a flyer today from the anti-gay Alaska Family Action with a last minute attack against state Supreme Court Justice Dana Fabe, because she agreed with the majority on several abortion and gay rights decisions that went against the agenda of the far right. Claire Rosston, an Anchorage attorney, wrote to Bent Alaska about the attack on Justice Fabe:
I am writing to bring to your attention an issue of concern to your readers. Outside special interests have launched an unfair last-minute attack on Justice Dana Fabe in an effort to try to control Alaska’s judiciary. Today, voters across Alaska received a mailer campaigning against the retention of Justice Fabe. One of the many misleading statements made in the mailer is that Justice Fabe ordered “taxpayer subsidies for same-sex partners.” In fact, Justice Fabe joined the unanimous decision of ACLU v. State, which ruled that government employees are entitled to equal compensation and benefits regardless of their sexual preference. As a result of this decision, workers who are employed by the state or a municipality and who are in committed relationships with a same sex domestic partner are eligible to receive the same employment benefits for their domestic partners that a married employee receives for a spouse.
Justice Fabe currently chairs the Alaska Supreme Court’s Fairness, Diversity and Equality Committee, which seeks to ensure that the promise of “justice for all” is a reality for all Alaskans.
The attack on Justice Fabe is led by Alaska Family Action, Inc., whose top contributor is Citizen Link, a Colorado-based “family advocacy” organization. Another organization that has been identified as a top contributor is the American Family Association, a Mississippi-based “pro-family” organization. Alaska Family Action launched its attack just two weeks before the election–no doubt designed to ensure that Justice Fabe has little time to respond or correct the record.
Citizen Link is the activist arm of Focus on the Family. Likewise, Alaska Family Action is the activist arm of the Alaska Family Council, both run by Jim Minnery whose cousin Tom Minnery is senior vice president of Focus on the Family, a top outside contributor to the Alaska anti-gay lobby.
An editorial spat has broken out in the pages of the Anchorage and Fairbanks newspapers about Justice Fabe and the importance of a non-partisan judiciary. Alex Bryner, a former state supreme court justice, summed up the issue:
They do not attack her for doing her job poorly; they attack her for disobeying their particular agenda… Alaska’s voters must resist this threat by casting informed votes based on the merits of Justice Fabe’s history of judicial performance, not on her willingness to obey pressures exerted by vested interests funded outside Alaska.
To learn more about Justice Fabe, visit www.yesonfabe.com.
Miller to Maddow on gay rights: "I wanna be straight with you"
No. Not here because we have… 3-4 gay bars here in this small town of Anchorage, and probably over half of the people that’s in these campaigns are secretly gay but they won’t come out. So we don’t really have a anti-gay movement here like they have in other places because… diversity runs big here, very very big here, so we don’t have that problem.
AFL-CIO: It Gets Better
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka speaks out against discrimination in the workplace and in support of the It Gets Better Project. He connects anti-gay school bullying to job discrimination, and encourages us to Make It Better by standing together for fairness and equality. (For a local example of this message, the Alaska AFL-CIO is working to unseat anti-worker & anti-gay Rep. Kelly.)
Watch:
E Pluribus Unum
Measure 1: Redistricting is an LGBT Alaskan issue
– a guest post by Maxine Doogan on Ballot Measure 1: a Constitutional Amendment to Increase the Number of Alaska State Legislators and Districts
Redistricting is the process of redrawing congressional and legislative district boundaries to reflect population changes based on the 2010 census information gathered every 10 years. This state constitutional amendment would expand the current State House Representatives from 40 to 44 and the State Senate from 20 to 22. When redistricting is done correctly, it should maximize the impact of one person, one vote. Redistricting is done to make sure no district is larger by population than another. It also groups people with common interest such as belonging to a rural or economic area and is critical in determining the makeup of the governing bodies. Representatives have to make sure that all parts of their district’s needs are being served. And the degree of support and opposition to LGBT related legislation could be determined by the redrawing of district line.
One of the concerns for passing this ballot measure is recognizing the difference in population from the bush communities to the larger cities and assuring rural community members continue to get enough representation. If this ballot measure doesn’t pass, resources to serve the current population could be spread too thin. If this ballot measure does pass there will be costs incurred for the additional staff, offices and travel. However, we generally don’t put a price tag on democratizing representation.
Making sure the redistricting process is democratic is important. This constitutional amendment was put before the voters by bipartisan support and opposed primarily by Republicans. It is our responsibility as part of the LGBT community to ensure the passing of redistricting legislation, as it effects our population and will ensure the voices of all LGBT people get heard. We must ALL turn out our vote and cast our ballots for governor and legislators who support the LGBT community. In doing so, we will decide whether Democrats or Republicans will dominate the State governing bodies and therefore have a say in the redrawing of state and federal political borders for the new decade.
With fair-minded voters voting for fair minded candidates, extremists cannot lock-up or lock-out certain interests for the next decade. Measure 1 needs our immediate response and support to ensure our voice gets heard now and for years to come. If this legislation is blocked by extremists, it will not be good for the LGBT community and the effects will be felt for the next decade. If this constitutional amendment passes, there will be more representation that reflects our best interests and Democrats have traditionally shown the LGBT community that they take our concerns seriously when we care enough to show up at the polls and tell them so.
Early voting and In-Person Absentee Voting is available now. Don’t wait till the last minute.
Vote on November 2nd and Vote Blue
Rachel Maddow in Alaska Tomorrow!
Grab a Redbull and buckle up, Buttercup. The Rachel Maddow Show is coming to Anchorage! Apparently, our tight, 3-way US Senate Race is generating a lot of national interest. Rachel did a great 10 minute segment on our crazy race last week… [posted Friday on Bent HERE]So, here are the details. Rachel will be broadcasting live from the new home of Moore Up North, Taproot, TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 5:00 pm.
Don’t forget the legislature, the key to Alaska’s future
— another great guest post by Caleb Pritt
You’ve heard about Ethan and Sean, Diane and Mead, Harry and Don. Joe and Lisa and Scott too. But do you recall… the most important election in Alaska of all. Sorry, having some fun with the nearing of Christmas. But the clever use of the old Rudoph the Red Nose Reindeer song is meant to remind you that besides the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Governor, there is one other VERY important race for many of you in Alaska… the State Legislature.
From the State Legislature comes so many laws that affect everyday life. And there are some pitched battles for legislative races that I thought I would highlight in brevity the ones that are the key to Alaska’s lock on the future.
The State Senate is split 10 Democrats to 11 Republican-Coalition members.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT J – Recommendation: BILL WIELECHOWSKI
State Senator Bill Wielechowski (D), a progressive young Democrat, is seeking re-election against Ron Slepecki (R). You can listen online to the debate between the two. But what should concern you in this year of odd & crazy elections in Alaska is that Mr. Slepecki is a minister at the Anchorage Baptist Temple (yes, the lair of Jerry Prevo himself.) Yet Slepecki fails to point out that profession or the fact that he is one who helps those who have fallen prey to the cults of the New Age, Hinduism, or Bhuddism. And on Amazon.com, Rev. Slepecki compares President Obama’s education plan to the THIRD REICH! Honestly, Bill Wielechowski has worked hard to be re-elected. He is one of the leaders working to end violence against women and children in Alaska. He has fought for seniors, to lower their prescription drug prices, and he’s an all around good guy. Vote for Bill Wielechowski.
STATE SENATE DISTRICT P – Recommendation: JANET REISER
Those in State Senate District P have a choice between Janet Reiser (D), Catherine Giessell (R), and Phil Dzubinski (I). Ms. Giessell is very proud of her Tea Party roots. In fact, she proudly declares about civil rights that “I support strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and Alaska Constitution.” Has anyone bothered to tell her, and all these other Sharon Angle clones, that had there been a “strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution” then they as women would not have the right to vote, much less run for office? More importantly, Giessell was the individual that Joe Miller propped up to attempt to oust Randy Ruedrich as Chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, an unsuccessful attempt that saw Miller improperly use the property of the Borough Government in Fairbanks to promote Giessell. [And Giessel wants to take away partner benefits.] Dzubinski is a conservative like the outgoing member, Con Bunde, who all three hope to succeed. He has outspent the two female candidates and has Andrew Halcro advising his campaign. Reiser is a pro-business, pro-oil development candidate who calls herself a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. She likely will appeal to the considerable number of moderate Republicans in the district as well as her own Democratic base. Vote for Janet Reiser.
MEANWHILE… in the State House, but for a handful of seats, the House could tilt Democrat. Can you imagine a Speaker of the House Les Gara??? It can happen with a few of these House seats flipping.
HOUSE DISTRICT 7 – Recommendation: BOB MILLER
A shout-out to all my Fairbanks friends. Here is your chance to vote for the right Miller. Vote for Bob Miller for State House and rid Alaska of Mike Kelly. Other races I view the pros and cons of who is running but Mike Kelly is one individual who gives Alaska politics a bad name. Rep. Mike Kelly co-sponsored the $1.2 million advisory vote bill to block same sex employee benefits granted by the Alaska Supreme Court. I refer you to this article on why to vote against Mike Kelly. [There’s a newer article HERE.] Meanwhile, during the Pub Crawl for Coronation Weekend, Miller joined the group at Spenard Roadhouse. He’s open minded and one who sat down with Empress 37, MeMe Jenkins, to listen for over a half an hour about what matters to the community. BOB MILLER cares and BOB MILLER will get results for Alaska, because he believes ALL Alaskans deserve a seat at the table of state government. Vote for Bob Miller.
HOUSE DISTRICT 31 – Recommendation: LUPE MARROQUIN
This features a race between Bob Lynn (R), a Republican politician who was elected in California and now elected in Alaska, and a small yet very effective Democrat named Lupe Marroquin. One thing about Mr. Lynn is one of his top contributors is Joe Miller. But Lynn learned to be stealthy at an early age as a Republican in California. So he plays up labor money and endorsements and has a fiscally liberal voting record. Marroquin meanwhile is a social progressive and fiscal conservative who is working hard to go door to door and earn the votes. In the end, it’s about who is genuine and there’s only one candidate. Vote for Lupe Marroquin.
Be sure to remember (3) other Democrats who need our vote: Jodie Dominguez is an advocate who needs support. Martin Lindeke is a veteran out in Eagle River who needs support. Lynn Zaugg has experience in office and is running. She has a wonderful plan to modernize voting so that Alaskans can vote by mail or online.
There are other legislative races. Look into the candidates and let’s paint Alaska blue in 2010. It’s time for a meaningful change… an ALL-ALASKA Change on November 2nd.
