Articles in Politics
Vote for Mayor of Fairbanks, COLAGE survey, and Out in Alaska recruits East Coast travelers
Gay AK – news briefs for and about LGBT Alaska
Vote in Fairbanks’ Nov. 3rd Mayoral Runoff
The runoff election for borough mayor is on Nov. 3rd. The two candidates are very different in ideology and experience, and our borough will look very different depending on who wins this race. Luke Hopkins, a democrat, won the first round and now faces Tammie Wilson, a conservative Christian, in the run-off election. Please vote.
Imperial Court elects new board members
Congratulations to the new members on the ICOAA Board of Directors: Mikel Wiles, Mary Bess Bohall, Scott Turner, and Christopher Oeser.
Another Fairbanks LGBT Retreat?
Thanks to everyone who showed up at the retreat this weekend. It was a great success and the feedback suggests that people would like a similar event to happen in the near future. Contact Joshua to suggest ideas for other events.
AMP Launch
More than 20 people showed up to the AMP Launch at Snow City. “We got the ball rolling on our MPowerment Project, now it’s time to spread the word about AMP throughout the community,” writes Ted Jones, Prevention Coordinator/Facilitator at Four A’s. The MPowerment Project is a community-level HIV prevention program for young gay and bisexual men.
Take the COLAGE Donor Insemination Survey
COLAGE, a national network of people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer parents, announces the ART Project to highlight the experiences of COLAGErs born through Assisted Reproductive Technologies. COLAGE is calling all youth born through donor insemination, and their parents, to take a 15-20 minute online survey, available through November 30. There is a survey for LGBTQ identified parents with a donor conceived child and a different survey for people born through donor insemination with a LGBTQ identified parent. For more info, contact Jeff DeGroot.
Out in Alaska Roadshow
Meet Out in Alaska’s lead guide Tim Stallard at the Gay and Lesbian World Travel Expo in Boston on 11/3, at the LGBT CENTER in New York City on 11/6, and at the All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC on 11/10. Visit Out in Alaska for more info on the roadshow and the Alaskan adventures.
Rep. Young and Rev. Prevo support a gay rights law?
The Hate Crimes Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama is supported by an unlikely alliance.
Advocate of the week: “After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we’ve passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are.”
– President Obama at Wednesday’s signing of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
Amen to that.
Confused person of the week: “Prevo says he agrees with this hate crime bill but he continues to stand against the anti-discrimination ordinance. ‘Hopefully this will satisfy the homosexual community and they will not defy our city again…'”
– from New law protects LGBT community in Alaska, KTVA Channel 11.
Defy our city??
Prevo preached 35 years of hate and bigotry against us, and built his church on a foundation of homophobia, but he agrees that we should be protected from the violence that his hate speech promotes.
Wait… he agrees with the hate crimes bill, a gay rights law? So if we propose a similar ordinance to protect LGBT Alaskans against violent hate crimes, Prevo will publicly support us. That I’d like to see.
Surprise of the week: All three of Alaska’s Congress members voted for the Hate Crimes Act. Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski and Representative Young all voted for the Defense spending bill which the Hate Crimes Act is attached to. Most republicans voted against it. Young added special projects for Alaska and voted for a gay rights bill to get them. Pork for Equality.
Alaskans Together on today’s signing of the Hate Crimes Act
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. applauds President Obama for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law
Anchorage – The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. celebrates the final passage of this legislation, signed into law by President Obama today. We congratulate the joint efforts of everyone who worked to make this bill become law.
“This is a great day for all fair-minded Americans that our government has finally taken a strong stand in opposition to violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans simply for their identity or perceived identity,” said Tim Stallard, Spokesperson for Alaskans Together For Equality, Inc.
The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped, severely beaten, and left to die tied to a fence in October 1998, and James Byrd, Jr., an African-American who in June of 1998 was beaten, chained to the back of a pick-up truck, and dragged for miles over rural roads in Jasper, Texas. While all violent crime is reprehensible, ‘hate crimes’ are meant to terrorize and invoke fear in an entire community of people.
“We are very proud that both Alaska’s Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski have supported this strong statement against hatred and violent discrimination,” said Elias Rojas, newly elected Board President of Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
This important legislation will make it easier for federal prosecutors to step in when state or local authorities are unable or unwilling to pursue hate crimes. This is welcome news for LGBT Alaskans in the wake of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan’s recent veto of a municipal non-discrimination ordinance that would have extended protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from workplace and housing discrimination, despite evidence and extensive public testimony that such discrimination exists.
Alaskans Together for Equality is a membership based group that advances civil equality for all Alaskans through grass roots organizing and advocacy. Alaskans Together for Equality is the only statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Alaska.
Gay & Lesbian Alaskans at the National Equality March
When Cleve Jones announced the National Equality March for LGBT Rights, he invited people to come “from Utah and California, from Maine to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida.” Four months later, several Alaskans marched in the Washington DC rally – and people noticed.
“From as far away as Alaska, thousands of LGBT people demanding marriage, adoption and immigration rights rallied Sunday at the National Equality March,” began a Washington Blade article on the DC rally.
“The National Equality March brought participants from states across the country — some from as far away as California and Alaska — and included a strong contingent from Atlanta,” wrote Southern Voice Atlanta.
A description of the Camp Courage workshop on Saturday said, “About 200 participants from across the country including Alaska showed up learning the basic skills of telling your story in order to change hearts and minds.” [Asian Pacific Americans for Progress]
And a 365.GAY blogger was impressed by “the huge number of young activists – or would-be emerging activists – present and eager to be accounted for. Students had come from Maine, Alaska, Texas, Tennessee and California…”
The Washington Blade reporter spoke with Maureen:
“Some marchers came from as far away as Alaska. Maureen Longworth, a lesbian physician from Juneau, and member of Alaskans Together for Equality, said she wanted to join the march because she’s always been a civil rights believer.”“A plaintiff in an Alaska lawsuit that brought partner benefits to state employees, Longworth said she hoped the march would push Alaska’s delegation in Congress to act more favorably on LGBT issues.”“Two of three of our legislators are very conservative, and not always voting in our favor, she said.”
Three Alaskans, Marty, Lin and Maureen, were interviewed by This Way Out, an international gay and lesbian radio program that airs in southcentral Alaska on Wednesday evenings. The complete Equality March segment is online HERE (in audio) and the Alaskans are interviewed near the end, between NAACP chairman Julian Bond and America the Beautiful.
Reporter: “You’re coming from Alaska?”Marty: “Juneau, Alaska. That’s right.“That’s a long way. I think you win the prize for longest distance travelled to be here.”“Yes, sore wings.”“What was the impetus for your coming here?“We had the privilege of getting married in California about a year ago, and then when the vote turned it around, it just brought [to our] attention that this is something that was really great, it was a really important thing for the two of us after we’ve been together for 27 years to actually be able to celebrate this. And it’s just wrong that other people don’t get that privilege and that right.”“Is this the first march you’ve been to?”“Yep.”
Lin: “We’ve been several times…”Reporter: “How would you compare this one to previous marches?”Lin: “This isn’t as big as the ’93 but the spirit is huge, and it’s wonderful to see a lot of young people too. I had already given up hope that in our lifetime we would have equal rights. During the Bush administration, it got very discouraging and now I feel like I have optimism again. It’s really wonderful to feel like my heart is more open to our government and the government’s heart is opening and softening towards us.”Maureen: “I’m here because I believe in equality for all people and I always have. I was raised that way in Los Angeles in the 60’s and we started demonstrating for civil rights for African-Americans when I was a kid. So whoever needs the rights, I will be there for that person. That’s why I’m here today, and they happen to be for me.”
Thanks to the Alaskans who travelled so far and represented us so well at the 2009 National Equality March for LGBT Rights!
Sara’s News Round-Up 10/25/09
National LGBT news from Sara Boesser of Juneau, Alaska.
Dept. of Washington, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), October 21, 2009
Huffington Post, October 14, 2009
Maine, Telegraph, UK, October 21, 2009
Baltimore, Maryland, Baltimore Sun, October 21, 2009
Arizona, Vietnam Net, October 20, 2009
Dublin, Ireland, Irish Central, October 21, 2009
New York, UPI.com, October 20, 2009
Utah, On Top, October 21, 2009
Washington, Memphis Flyer, October 19, 2009
San Francisco, The Reporter, October 19, 2009
Maryland, Washington City Paper, October 20, 2009
Washington, New Kerala, October12, 2009
Auckland, New Zealand, St. Mathew In-the-City, October 20, 2009
Copenhagen, Salon, October 12, 2009
Washington, 365Gay.com, October 23, 2009
Augusta, Maine, October 23, 2009
Celebrating our Allies on Ally Week, Oct 19-23
On Ally Week, straight students pledge to support their gay friends by speaking out against anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. In Alaska, we are fortunate to have many allies, both teens and adults, who speak out for us throughout the year.
In honor of Ally Week, Bent Alaska is celebrating our allies and the alliances that enrich our lives.
Students created Ally Week to build upon the good work of Gay-Straight Alliances across the country. Whether you belong to a GSA or not, Ally Week is the perfect time for you and your friends to sign the Ally Pledge:
“I believe all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression deserve to feel safe and supported.
That means I pledge to:
- Not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) language or slurs.
- Intervene, if I safely can, in situations where students are being harassed.
- Support efforts to end bullying and harassment.”
School is not the only place where LGBT people face harassment, and the GSA’s are not our only organized group of allies. Four chapters of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) also speak out for LGBT Alaskans.
In addition to these organized ally groups at school, at home and in the community, LGBT Alaskans have many individual allies at work and play, in the church and the government. Our allies in Anchorage stood against bigotry this summer, testified for equality, reported the fight for our rights, and took action in support of diversity.
Today’s Ally Week post is a video slideshow about the True Diversity Dinner, an Anchorage event that celebrated our political allies. Thanks to the wonderful allies who created and participated in this event, and to ally Janson for the video:
Sara’s News round-up 10/18/09
This week’s national GLBT news chosen by Sara Boesser of Juneau, plus a photo of Alaskans Together for Equality representing our state with a rainbow big dipper banner at the National Equality March in Washington, DC on October 11, 2009. (Thanks to the folks at SEAGLA for sending the photo.)
Washington, Washington Blade, October 16, 2009
Sacramento, Calif., Newsday, October 12, 2009
San Francisco, Reuters, October 14, 2009
Uruguay, Advocate, October 13, 2009
Washington, Advocate, October 14, 2009
Washington, 365Gay.com, October 14, 2009
Portland, Maine, WCSH6, October 15, 2009
Paris, France, Associated Press, October 14, 2009
Pittsburgh, Post-Gazette, October 15, 2009
Reconciling Ministries, Flashnet, August 27, 2009
Missouri, The Maneater, September 29, 2009
Philadelphia, The Triangle, October 16, 2009
Los Angeles, EURweb, October 13, 2009
San Francisco, Community Marketing Inc., October 17, 2009
The Personal is Political at Pride Conference & Rally
Anchorage hosted both the Alaska Pride Conference and the support rally for the National Equality March on Saturday, and queer youth were front and center at both events.
Gays and allies from Fairbanks, Juneau, Homer and the Mat-Su joined the Anchorage LGBTA community at APU for Identity’s annual Pride Conference. The morning workshops focused on providing support for young adults in the Gay-Straight Alliances, the new generation of queer and straight youth who are passionate about equal rights and excited about being on the cutting edge of political progress.
Instead of one keynote speaker for the afternoon, the Pride Conference asked a panel of leaders to speak on issues relevant to queer Alaska.
Jackie Buckley spoke on the importance of health care issues like the lack of insurance coverage for LGBT families, limited health information targeted to us, and not being included in either the medical studies or the educational campaigns. She noted outreach to the LGBT community by the local stop smoking campaign as an example of progress. Buckley is a healthcare administrator who volunteers with the Identity Advocacy Team and PFLAG Anchorage.
Rev. Susan Halvor, an ordained Lutheran pastor, said she is often asked, “Where can LGBT Alaskans go to church and be welcomed?” Rev. Halvor encouraged the LGBT community to support general human rights issues in Alaska, along with specific issues of gay equality.
Marsha Buck is an ally from Juneau, a proud PFLAG mom, and the President of Alaskans Together for Equality. She noted that many of our state House legislators are far-right republicans and that it’s time to bring the Alaska legislature back into balance by electing more progressives. She encouraged LGBT people to live honestly and open, in a respectful way, and we will get honesty and respect in return. She said that our allies are glad to speak for us, but that we also need to speak for ourselves. And she recommended that we join Alaskans Together for Equality to work for our rights here in Alaska.
Mike Mason is a young man who attended the hearings for the equal rights ordinance this summer and helped organize the rallies on the lawn. He supports activism for minority rights, to achieve legal equality in the city, state and country. He said that religion is not our enemy, ignorance is, and he suggested that we come out because change is made through personal contacts.
Verner Wilson is not the only gay Eskimo. He grew up in a small rural town where he was teased for being gay. There are no resources for LGBT kids in rural Alaska, and no support for LGBT Native Alaskans anywhere. He is concerned about Pebble Mine ruining his home waters of Bristol Bay, about the mayor’s veto of the equal rights ordinance, and about the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He also noted that his family accepts him now.
Frank Jenkins (aka Miss MeMe) is the newly-elected Empress of the Imperial Court of All Alaska, the state’s first gay organization. He grew up in supportive communities and remembers marching in a candlelight vigil following the murder of Harvey Milk. He said that opposition is often the instigation for progress because it creates a backlash against the prejudice. When people speak out for what is right and are knocked down, they become heroes. Our local allies woke up to the prejudice we faced this summer, and the homophobes will never support us. But how do we motivate those in the middle and get more LGBT youth to stay involved? Leadership development and mentoring for gay and especially trans young adults after they come out, to help them live full lives around work, relationships, spirituality, and politics.
Trevor Storrs is the director of Four A’s. He was raised in a small isolated town and even they have evolved on LGBT issues. The actual bigots are a minority, the rest fear us because they don’t know us. When they get to know us as individuals, not categories, they can accept us for who we are. Personal contact is important to help them get past their fear.
After the panel members spoke, conference chair Johnathan Jones opened the discussion to the audience. The main issues were how to develop better connections between the LGBT groups and more effective outreach to the mainstream public.
The conference participants also enjoyed a comedy hypnosis show by Jay Her, visited vender and information booths representing LGBT groups, ate lunch and breakfast provided by The Last Frontier Men’s Club, and met in person their far-flung email contacts and Facebook friends.
When the conference ended, several of us drove down 36th to the Library and joined the support rally for the National Equality March. Rally organizers Tara and Jon and the other young protestors, gay and straight, had been standing there since 10 a.m., despite the drizzle, and were happy to see us. With that kind of commitment, LGBT equality is inevitable.
Pres. Obama promises to end DADT, support ENDA, on eve of National Equality March
President Obama addressed gay rights on the night before the National Equality March, describing the fight for gay equality in light of the history of rights movements, and pledging his support on a list of issues where he sees the opportunity for progress.
“I’m here with a simple message: I’m here with you in that fight,” he said, emphasizing his support despite the slow pace of progress. “Do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach.”
In addition to praising the hosts of the dinner, the Human Rights Campaign, Pres. Obama also:
- recognized the commitment of Judy Shepard and the imminent passage of the Hate Crimes Act in Congress, saying, “This bill is set to pass and I will sign it into law.”
- supports an inclusive ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
- will defend his appointees when they are attacked for their sexual orientation.
- wants to renew the Ryan White Act for AIDS funding, and repeal the HIV status ban on entering the US.
- will repeal DADT: “I will end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, that’s my commitment to you.”
- called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act.
- honored the founders of PFLAG and the advocacy of parents for their GLBT children.
“Hope is stronger than hate,” he said, promising to work for an America “where no one is a second class citizen.” He did not give timetables, but pledged to continue working for equality “day by day, law by law, changing mind by mind. That is the promise.”
The full speech is posted here on 3 videos, and is worth watching:
