Bent Alaska | Category Archive

Best of 2008?

Friday, 26 December 2008 – 6:07 PM | Comments Off

2008 was a busy year for Alaska’s GLBT community. In addition to all the big annual events, and the fundraising and social activities, we were also involved in local and national political issues.

What were the best GLBT happenings in Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage, and statewide during 2008? What was your favorite GLBT group’s most successful event?

Send in your “Bests” and I’ll list them in a new post next week.

(Not sure what we did? Look back through the Bent Alaska archive of stories and photos for ideas.)

Lesbian Singer Performs Coming Out Song at UAF

Wednesday, 24 December 2008 – 8:53 PM | Comments Off

What does a lesbian Jewish Russian-emigre songwriter do when she comes out to her mother? She writes a song about it.

Irina Rivkin, a singer/songwriter from California, and her sister Dr. Inna Rivkin, of Fairbanks, performed Irina’s coming out song “Ya Eyo Lublu” at her Nov. 8 concert in UAF’s Schaible Auditorium.

The concert was sponsored by the UAF Women’s Center and the Office of Multicultural Affairs & Diversity.

A week later, Irina sang her bilingual love song for the anti-Prop 8 rally outside Fairbanks City Hall on Nov. 15, part of the nation-wide protest after California’s Prop 8 narrowly passed and same-sex marriage was rescinded.

“In a time of hope for change to come,” wrote Irina two days after the election, “I’m taking a plane from CA to Fairbanks tonight” to perform and join the protest.

Irina returns to Alaska every summer, to visit her family and perform her music. She plans to visit again in 2009.

Celebrate the Holidays with Anchorage’s GLBT Community

Tuesday, 23 December 2008 – 3:23 PM | Comments Off

The Metropolitan Community Church hosts their annual Christmas Eve Service and Recital on Wednesday, from 7-8:30 p.m. All from the community and church are welcome to attend the special evening of Christmas music and fellowship.

MCC Anchorage is also celebrating the appointment of Reverend Norman Van Manen as their Development Pastor. Rev. Norman will officially take the helm on February 15th, 2009.

After the service, join the staff at Mad Myrna’s for their annual Christmas Eve pajama party.

On Christmas Day, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage (GLCCA) will be open from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. serving cookies, muffins and sodas to the gay community and our friends. The Center will be closed on Christmas Eve.

Visit the GLCCA page on Identity’s site for the address, a photo tour of the Center and pictures from the Thanksgiving Day open house.

Wrap up the season with the New Year’s Eve Party at Mad Myrna’s, or rock with Ever Ready on New Year’s Eve in Palmer. Then begin 2009 with the GLBT community at the New Year’s Day Cookie Exchange at the GLCCA.

Trying to Blame Us for the Church Fire

Friday, 19 December 2008 – 6:03 PM | Comments Off

Did you see this Alaska-related bit of hate made up by right-wing reporters? I hope it is quickly dispelled and no one is hurt by it.

A suspicious fire on Dec. 12 at the Wasilla, Alaska church attended by Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin was instantly blamed on gay arsonists, though no evidence exists at this time that the fire, if deliberate, was set by gays.

Nor is there any evidence that the church was targeted, as right-wing religious publications have speculated, because of its having promoted an “ex-gay” event in Anchorage.

I quoted this from gay news site Edge Boston, but the right-wing sites used words like “terrorist homosexuals.”

This is such an obvious attempt to stir up hate and encourage violence against us.

Be careful out there!

Right-wing Pastor Invited to Bless Obama’s Inauguration

Thursday, 18 December 2008 – 5:28 PM | 2 Comments

President-Elect Barack Obama chose Rick Warren, an ultra-conservative pastor who is anti-gay and anti-choice, to give the invocation at his inauguration in January.

Why? Because he wants to include all voices, all Americans.

So which LGBT leader was invited to participate the inauguration to represent our inclusion? No one.

No openly-gay leader was given a role in the ceremony. We are represented by . . . a GLBT marching band during the entertainment.

Which leads to the next item:

Protest for Equality

Barack Obama made promises to the LGBT community. He promised to help:

repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA),

repeal the anti-gay military policy Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,

strengthen Hate Crimes Legislation, and

pass a fully inclusive Federal ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act.)

Another national Join the Impact protest is scheduled for Saturday, Jan 10, 2009, to make our voices heard and remind him of his commitments.

I heard from a few Alaskans who said “Let’s Do It.” Are you with us?

Drag*d Through the Ages raises $2,000 for IAA

Wednesday, 17 December 2008 – 6:07 PM | Comments Off

Cross-dressing Vikings in Fairbanks?

On December 5, Drag*d Through the Ages performed a sold-out show in UAF’s Woodcenter Ballroom as a benefit for Interior AIDS Association.

“I’m quite proud of everyone!” wrote Leah, an organizer for Drag*d. “No one fell off stage, and everyone did wonderfully.”

The program was packed with drag kings and queens in scenes representing human history, from cavemen to future fashion models.

ICOAA Duke Liz and Dutchess Brittany made a special appearance as Spankers for the Spank-a-Thon, where audience members paid one dollar per spank on the cast member of their choice.

The Spank-a-Thon made over $300.

Local funk band The Good Daze played for the dance following the show.

The UAF GLBT Alliance sponsored the benefit. They are considering another show in the spring.

A review of Drag*d Through the Ages is posted on The Ester Republic, and Jesse posted this great set of photos from the show.

Good work, Drag*d!

Toys for "Nots" Gives to Gay Families First

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 – 11:44 PM | Comments Off

Ms. Alaska Leather 2008 is hosting a fundraiser for Toys for “Nots” on Dec. 19, with a Christmas food sale and gift auction at Mad Myrna’s. Her goal is to raise at least $500 dollars worth of donations to buy items for families in need, as the Toys for Nots committee did last year.

Tami won the title of Ms. Alaska Leather last January at Arctic Heat, the titleholder event for The Last Frontier Men’s Club.

Toys for Tots collects donated Christmas toys for needy families and is sponsored by the United States Marine Corps. But what is Toys for Nots?

Keith, President of the Men’s Club, explained the story behind the name:

A few years ago, the Duke and Duchess of the Imperial Court held a Toys for Tots fundraiser and recieved hundreds of toys for donation. When the Marines were called to pick up the toys, the ducals were told to put the toys outside on the icy sidewalk, because the Marines wouldn’t enter Mad Myrna’s. They will accept toys from the gay community, but they are afraid to walk into a gay bar to pick up our donations.

So the ducals renamed the event Toys for Nots and give first choice to the children of gay families in need. Remaining gifts are offered to the Toys for Tots program.

“We did receive an apology phone call from a Ft. Richardson general promising that it would never happen again,” wrote Keith. “However, they have not picked up our donations for the past 3 years.”

The Toys for Nots Fundraiser is Dec. 19, 2008, from 6:30-9 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

Anchorage & Juneau Wear Red on World AIDS Day

Monday, 15 December 2008 – 2:23 PM | Comments Off

The Four A’s “Painted the Town Red” for World AIDS Day again this year in Anchorage and Juneau.

Over 60,000 red ribbons were distributed the week before World AIDS Day. Volunteers in Anchorage waved to morning traffic and handed out more red ribbons on December 1.

Fifty-five people came to the Anchorage Candlelight Vigil for World AIDS Day and read a non-denominational prayer in memory of those lost to AIDS.

After the vigil, about 70 people attended a free showing of Rent and a panel discussion on local resources, held at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater.

For the third year, Four A’s staff and volunteers waved signs at major intersections during the morning commute. They stood on the corners of Northern Lights/Minnesota and Northern Lights/New Seward from 7:30 a.m. until around 9.

“A lot of people waved and honked,” wrote Chrissy, the Director of Development at Four A’s. “We usually get a positive response.”

After the sign waving, they gave away red ribbons at City Hall, Providence Hospital, the 5th Avenue Mall, Northway Mall and UAA.

In Juneau, free HIV testing was offered during the day at the University, and over 40 people attended the Candlelight Vigil.

The Four A’s thanks everyone who helped to Paint the Town Red this year.

“Remember to wear your red ribbons not only on World AIDS Day,” wrote Chrissy, “but throughout the entire year.”

Got “Milk”?

Sunday, 14 December 2008 – 4:29 PM | Comments Off

Did you see Milk this weekend?

“My partner and I just returned from seeing it and it is a MUST SEE,” wrote Dee. “We did not buy from the consession stand, due to the ownership of the theater (Mormon) but would not have missed the first day of this film… I urge the community and our allies to see this movie. We’re thinking Academy Award for Penn.”

“The Prop 6 part was disturbing because it reminds me so much of Prop 8,” wrote Elias, “along with the other dozen ballot measure campaigns I’ve been in.”

I agree that Penn gave an excellent performance, and that the comparison between winning Prop 6 and barely losing Prop 8 is heart-wrenching.

Gay and lesbian history is so hidden that many young adults don’t know about the struggle for our rights. Milk opens with the police raiding a gay bar, beating the customers and dragging them off to jail, simply for being gay. The scene uses real video from the late 60’s and early 70’s. We’ve come a long way.

Then in 1978, the newly-elected Supervisors, representing minorities who had never been represented before, voted to add ‘sexual orientation’ to the non-discrimination policy of San Francisco. They knew the gay community was an ally, and they understood that job and housing protection is an important civil rights issue.

I watched this scene in a movie theater in Anchorage, Alaska, where 30 years later we do not have ‘sexual orientation’ in the city’s non-discrimination policy. It isn’t in the state policy either. Or the national policy.

We still have a long way to go.

If you haven’t seen Milk, definitely see it. Remember to take the Milk Challenge — boycott the concession stand and give a donation to Alaskans Together for Equality, to off-set the ticket profit to the Mormon-owned and Prop 8 supporting Century/Cinemark.

If you saw Milk, what did you think about it?

This Week in LGBT Alaska 12/12/08

Friday, 12 December 2008 – 4:25 PM | Comments Off

Check out this week’s events from Alaska GLBT News. For full listings, news and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.

The movie MILK opens today (Friday, Dec. 12) in Anchorage at the Century 16. Don’t support the Century/Cinemark CEO who donated $9,999 to Prop 8! Boycott Century’s concessions! Eat before you go and only buy the ticket, no food or drinks. Then take the Milk Challenge!

EVENTS