Articles in z
ABT pastor’s son runs for Anchorage assembly
“Clary’s father… is an assistant pastor at Anchorage Baptist Temple and has been a Republican Party activist. Andy Clary belongs to the same political party but a different church, ChangePoint. When asked at a candidate luncheon how he has served the community, he cited church work. He taught Sunday school, led men’s studies and cooked food for different events,” according to yesterday’s ADN article.
On an Assembly that’s been fractious over Sullivan’s leadership, Clary makes it clear he is allied with Sullivan, who became mayor last July. He served on Sullivan’s transition team, held a fundraiser at McGinley’s, the pub Sullivan co-owns, and says of Sullivan, “Generally, I like what I’ve seen.”
AK Family Council attacks the Girl Scouts
In case you didn’t know, it’s not your mother’s Girl Scouts any more. While the Boy Scouts of America has remained true to its traditional ideals, the Girl Scouts have gone full tilt into feminism/sexual revolution/GLBT politics. And doing their best to export it internationally.
It is enormously disappointing that an Alaskan coalition would forward such inflammatory statements without having made any contact with Girl Scouts of Alaska. Girl Scouts is a non-religious values based organization that strongly respects families and makes no statements or stands on girls’ sexuality.Girl Scouts of Alaska builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. The values that Girl Scouts stand for are what’s stated in the Girl Scout Promise and Law, essentially unchanged since 1912.
Avenue Q comes to Anchorage
Avenue Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice.
There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceé Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod — a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate. And would you believe the building’s superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
Tell UA Regents that fairness matters
“I haven’t heard anything antidotal regarding the issue when I travel to different campuses,” Regent Kirk Wikersham said. “I don’t know if (a policy) would pass right now. The board has not really spoke privately on the subject, but we decided at our retreat in January we would deal with it this year.”
Sara’s News Round-up 3/28/10
UA’s Gamble, Mayor’s Marathon, Walk A Mile & Felix goes to DC
This Week in LGBT Alaska 3/26/10
Juneau
Femme Fatale 3/26 at The Rendezvous & 3/27 at The Baranof Hotel, doors open at 9, show begins at 10 p.m. Two unique shows to benefit Four A’s in southeast. Tickets $15 each, or $25 for both shows.
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.
Fairbanks
Lez Zeppelin all-female tribute band in Fairbanks/Ester on 4/1, 10 p.m. at the Blue Moon.
Wednesday social group. Contact Joshua for location.
Mat-Su Valley
Lulu Small and the Small Band play at Del Roi’s 3/27
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
Lesbian Film Night and Potluck at the GLCCA 3/26, 6 p.m. potluck, 6:15 movie.
Ever Ready plays in Eagle River 3/26, 7:30 p.m. at the VFW.
RAW’s Celebration of Change ‘Masqueerade’ 3/27, 7 p.m. at Wilda Marston Theatre 7pm, $15. After-party at Kodiak Bar & Grill.
MCCA Sunday service 3/28, 2 p.m.
Social Networking: “Use 1/2 the time, get 2x’s the attention” 3/30, 7:00p.m. Free workshop with Jay Her at the GLCCA. Please RSVP.
Lez Zeppelin Tribute Band in Girdwood 4/2 and 4/3, 10:00 p.m. at the Sitzmark. Tickets are $17 in advance (call 754-2274) or $20 at the door. Please be over 21 and bring your ID.
Changes to Don’t Ask: ‘fair’ enforcement of an unfair policy (video)
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Court upholds right to attend Prom with a same sex date
Students have a First Amendment right to bring a same-sex date and wear gender non-conforming clothes to the prom, a federal court ruled today. School officials violated Constance McMillen’s rights when they canceled the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend and wear a tux.
“All I ever wanted was for my school to treat me and my girlfriend like any other couple that wants to go to prom,” said McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi. “Now we can all get back to things like picking out our prom night outfits and thinking about corsages.”
School officials told McMillen that she could not arrive at the prom with her girlfriend, who is also a student at the school, and that they might be thrown out if any other students complained about their presence. The school board canceled the prom when the ACLU and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition demanded that the district reverse its decision.
In the 12-page ruling, the court wrote, “The record shows Constance has been openly gay since eighth grade and she intended to communicate a message by wearing a tuxedo and to express her identity through attending prom with a same-sex date. The Court finds this expression and communication of her viewpoint is the type of speech that falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment. The Court is also of the opinion that the motive behind the School Board’s cancellation of the prom, or withdrawal of their sponsorship, was Constance’s requests and the ACLU’s demand letter sent on her behalf.” Further, the court says that since the school represented the private prom being organized by parents at a furniture store as open to all students, then the court expects that event will indeed invite McMillen and her girlfriend.
McMillen said that she plans to attend the “private” prom, but has also long planned to attend the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition’s Second Chance Prom, to be held Saturday, May 8 in Tupelo. That event, sponsored by Green Day, Tonic.com, Iron Chef Cat Cora, and Lance Bass, among others, will be open to all LGBT students in the state, as well as straight students who are LGBT-supportive. The MSSC and the ACLU deal every year with complaints from LGBT students all over Mississippi who face resistance from their schools about bringing same-sex dates to proms or who don’t feel safe going to their own school proms.
“Today’s ruling isn’t just a win for Constance and her girlfriend – it’s a win for all the students at her school, and for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who just want to be able to be themselves at school without being treated unfairly,” said Kristy Bennett, Legal Director of the ACLU of Mississippi. “Public schools can’t just stomp on students’ free expression rights just because they don’t want to deal with these students, and if schools do try to do that they’ll be dealing with us.”
In Alaska, some LGBT students bring same sex dates to their school prom, if they feel comfortable doing that. Many don’t attend prom or bring an opposite sex friend to fit in. But they have the right to bring a same sex date, if they want to.
Alaska also has an alternate prom for LGBT students and their high school allies. The annual Pride Prom is the closing event for Day of Silence/Night of Noise, organized in Anchorage by the Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs.
Senator Begich on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal: "It’s Time"
