A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

by E. Ross

Rev. Johnathan Jones is leaving MCC Anchorage, and the church is hosting a farewell potluck in his honor. 

“I have had a wonderful and rewarding time working with our church and community,” said Rev. Jones. “However, it is now time for me to move on.” 

Johnathan worked hard to build the church and the gay community during his four years as pastor of MCC Anchorage, a gay and lesbian-inclusive church that welcomes everyone. In addition to leading MCC, he spoke at UAA, lobbied politicians, and was a board member of several LGBT organizations, including PrideFest and Identity. His good works and admirable qualities are the subjects of an earlier post, Appreciating Rev. Jones.

“We are very sad to have him go, but wish him well in his new endeavors,” said Edie Bailey, MCC board member. “He has been a very dynamic personality in Anchorage and will certainly leave a hole in the church and in the community.”

To thank him for his contributions and wish him well in his next location, MCC invites the community to Johnathan’s last Sunday service on May 25. The service begins at 2 p.m., and the potluck will follow at 3 p.m.

In June, MCC Anchorage will begin the next stage in it’s development. “We are going to have a tough time without a minister,” said Edie. “We have lined up some guest speakers and pastors, but we need everyone to pitch in.”

During this transition, the board will need help with singing and reading scripture at the Sunday service, bringing refreshments and paper goods, and preparing the food and program for the Thursday Night Soul Food service.

Johnathan’s last day at MCC is May 31, and he will be leaving the country soon after. “A great opportunity has come up for me and I have decided to pursue it,” he said. “My visa expires this year, so it seems God has been planning my next step.”

“I will always have fond memories of my first Parish.”

Add your good wishes to Rev. Johnathan Jones in the comment section:

by E. Ross

The Neighbors section of the Juneau Empire includes a wedding announcement for a gay male couple.

This is the first same-sex marriage announcement to appear in the Juneau Empire. The newspaper published an article about a lesbian couple who were planning to get married in San Francisco when that was briefly possible. However, the couple missed the window of opportunity, so no wedding announcement was posted. 

These men live in the Netherlands, where same-sex marriage is legal:

Congratulations to Crispian and Jeroen on their wedding, and to the Juneau Empire for their first same-sex marriage announcement.

From the newsletter Alaska GLBT News:

“5K Graze to Raise” (Anchorage) 5/2, 5:30 p.m.

MCC Yard Sale 5/3, starting at 8 a.m. Contact Johnathan: revjohnathan@gmail.com

TLFMC De-Hibernation Bus Run (Anchorage), 5/3, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Men of Steel, Sunday 5/4, 9 p.m. Mad Myrna’s

Anchorage Frontrunners weekly Fun Run on the Coastal Trail begins 5/5, 6 p.m.

Margaret Cho 5/5, 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center

ICOAA Scholarship, apply by 7/31

The Imperial Court of All Alaska College of Emperors and Empresses (ICOAA) is pleased to open the 2008 ICOAA Scholarship Program. Scholarship awards are granted for the 2008/2009 academic year. Awards are based on economic need, scholastic achievement, leadership ability and contributions to the Lesbian/Gay community. Application is offered to Alaska residents with preference given to members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allied (GLBTA) community. Download an application at www.imperialcourtalaska.org 

by E. Ross

Someone is making dirty Internet-based attacks on an Alaskan democratic candidate for senate, The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported on Monday:

The addresses direct viewers to either a fake blog, a San Francisco-based gay lifestyle site or a merchant selling items imprinted with the phrase “Trust Fund Baby.” The implication is that [he] is a rich California liberal — otherwise known as an Outsider.

Actually, the implication is that he’s a rich ‘queer’ Outsider.

One of the fake addresses redirects to CastroOnline.com: “Your Online Guide to Gay San Francisco” with business listings, a calendar of events, and articles from SF Spectrum, an LGBT publication that reports news, entertainment and information for the gay community in the SF Bay Area.

The political attacks include a second fake address that redirects to a gay site, which the News-Miner didn’t describe. The address goes to Only in San Francisco: The Official Visitor’s Site for San Francisco. But it doesn’t redirect to the home page of the city guide – it goes to Itinerary 6: Queer Culture Tour. 

The attacks are specifically anti-gay, not just anti-Outsider.

This attempt to harm a politician’s reputation by falsely linking his campaign to gay web sites was exposed during the same week that Alaskans were debating the participation of local students in Day of Silence, a national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name calling and harassment by highlighting the voices that are silenced by prejudice.

The News-Miner article did not discuss the anti-LGBT aspect of the attacks. Instead, the author brought attention to his own lack of awareness by describing the destination page as a “gay lifestyle site.”

If a gay news site posts news, and a gay events site lists events, what does a gay lifestyle site post? Fashion tips?

Castro Online is a community guide and the online home for a news magazine – similar to the News-Miner’s web site for posting articles, ads and events relevant to Fairbanks. Does that make newsminer.com a Fairbanks lifestyle site?

The Anchorage Press didn’t have the News-Miner’s problem describing a gay web site. They published the story first and wrote that the fake site redirects to “CastroOnline.com, a San Francisco calendar and information guide for the LGBT community.” 

The News-Miner changed it to a “gay lifestyle site” in their article posted five days later. The next day, the Juneau Empire described the sites as “pages associated with gay culture in San Francisco.” Awkward, but accurate.

So what happened at the News-Miner? They report a story about an anti-gay smear campaign, but they barely acknowledge the anti-gay aspect and instead refer to the gay community as a lifestyle. 

Perhaps our journalists should take a Day of Silence to highlight the lack of good quality news reports on LGBT issues in Alaska.

It’s true: Elton John is performing in Alaska!

In Anchorage, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 5. There is a six-ticket purchase limit, and prices range from $56.50 to $116.50. Tickets will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, Charge-by-Phone at 562-4800, Fred Meyer Ticketmaster outlets and Sullivan Arena box office.

In Fairbanks, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3 and will be available at Fred Meyer Ticketmaster outlets, the Carlson Center box office, 456-4800, and Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are set at $75 and $115, not including fees.

Tell us what you love and what you wish you could change. Describe where you go to wander and where you wouldn’t be caught after dark. Share your favorite place to get a beer with friends, have a romantic dinner for two, or escape from the world for a little while. We want to hear about the people you meet and the vibe that greets you when you walk down the street. Anything goes.

What’s this all about? We want to bring America’s LGBT people closer together. How many times have we separated ourselves according to where we live? Coasts versus heartland, big city versus small town, gay ghetto versus mainstream suburb — our life experiences reflect the places where we put down roots. So…what makes you proud about your hometown? Tell us — and tell the world.

From Alaska GLBT News (subscribe)

  Juneau’s Femme Fatale 4/25-4/26, 9:30 p.m.

Get ready for Femme Fatale, Juneau’s annual show and benefit for Four A’s. The hottest performers from Anchorage are coming down for 2 shows at Marlintini’s Lounge, 9121 Glacier Hwy. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information, email Lee: LWagner@alaskanaids.org.

  Fairbanks Men’s Discussion, 5/1

The next men’s discussion is scheduled for May 1. Contact Brad for time and location: bradoen@yahoo.com. 

  Anchorage Pride Prom 4/25, 7 p.m.

Pride Prom is ON – Friday 4/25, ending Day of Silence with a night of celebration! At Russian Jack, $10.

  Bac’untry Bruthers 4/25-4/26, 9 p.m.

Bacuntry Bruthers, a lesbian drag band from Fairbanks, is performing in Anchorage this weekend. 4/25 – 9:00pm, the KODIAK bar, Anchorage. 4/26 – 9:00pm, Crossroads Bar, Anchorage. Listen to them at www.myspace.com/bacuntrybruthers.

  TLFMC’s Last Saturday Brunch 4/26, 10:30 a.m.

Last Saturday Brunch (Anchorage) will be held at Sunrise Gill & Pancake House again this month. This location was very popular last month, so worth a repeat. Now located at 8201 Old Seward Hwy. Contact Road Captain: ykhway@yahoo.com

  A Starry ~ Starry Night to benefit S.T.A.R. 4/26, 8 p.m.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the stars of Myrna’s stage are holding a benefit for Standing Together Against Rape (S.T.A.R.) MC’s Paige and Daphne lead us through a night of glamour. $10 Mad Myrna’s

  Ever Ready at the Del Rois 4/26, 9 p.m – 1 a.m.

Rock, country & blues at Del Rois Bar (Mile 39.5 Old Glen Hwy, in Palmer).

  “Graze to Raise” for Identity, register by 4/28

Raise money for Identity on May 2 at the 8th Annual Alaska Charity Walk. Eat and walk through downtown Anchorage, then return to the Park Strip for dessert, prizes and entertainment. Adults $30, $15 for kids 5-18. Register by 4/28 at GLCCA or online. Information and online registration: Alaska Charity Walk 

  Get it On short sleeve t-shirts, order by 4/28

Due to the overwhelming interest in the Get it On campaign t-shirts, the Four A’s is going to make another order. The short-sleeve t-shirts cost $10.00 each, and the SMART design is available for the first time. To see the designs, visit www.getitonak.org.

by E. Ross

What are you going to do to end the silence?

Students in Alaska will join hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students across the nation in a Day of Silence to protest anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling, bullying and harassment. Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA) members and their allies in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks will be silent on April 25, to echo the silence caused by prejudice and discrimination.

Students in Fairbanks can participate in Day of Silence, despite the efforts of anti-gay groups. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner published several pieces on the issue, including an article Controversy escalates over ‘Day of Silence’, an editorial Council reaction to Day of Silence goes overboard, and a letter to the editor from a student member of the West Valley GSA. The hundreds of comments include support and opposition to DOS.

Wayne Gerke, assistant superintendent of secondary schools at the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, said the event is not an official school activity and is not sponsored by the school district but is a way for students to express their freedom of speech. Gerke said he believes the purpose of Day of Silence is not to promote homosexuality but rather to stand against bullying. (from Controversy escalates over ‘Day of Silence’)

The Juneau Empire began a similar discussion for Day of Silence in 2006, and received 32 Responses to “What do you think of the day of silence that is held for gays and lesbians at Juneau-Douglas High School?” The next year, they published an article with photos, Harassment gets the silent treatment at high school. 

“We are missing out on all of these voices, we don’t get to hear these students’ voices, because they’re too afraid to risk harassment,” said Casady Herding, GSA advisor, on the panel of Anyone & Everyone: An Alaskan Perspective, which aired on KTOO and KAKM last week. “There’s a real need for education in the schools about GLBT issues, because of the invisibility, because of the discrimination that is still very much in place.”

Anchorage GSA’s participate in Day of Silence, and ‘break the silence’ that night with Pride Prom. Alaska Superstation posted a piece on Day of Silence and the opposition in Anchorage, Day of Silence Creates Outcry. In the article, Superintendent Carol Comeau said that the district is not promoting the “Day” and teachers will continue with their lesson plans, while taking into account that some students choose not to speak.

“What we’ve done is acknowledge the fact that some of our students want to participate in a national Day of Silence. And we’ve said that if you do it respectfully without causing a disruption we will say that’s ok,” said Comeau.

Around the country, support for Day of Silence is growing. CNN’s Larry King made a public service announcement for Day of Silence, in honor of the murdered student who shared his name: Lawrence King, a 15-year-old who was shot and killed in class for being gay. Lance Bass, the former ‘N Sync singer, made a PSA with a group of students. Azariah Southworth, host of the Christian TV show The Remix, came out as gay and supports DOS. The Day of Silence blog posted these statements, plus information about DOS and comments from students, advisors and supporters around the country.

Organizations that spread the word about Day of Silence include GLSEN, the GSA Network, Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE) and PFLAG. They are also talking about the film ‘Tru Love‘, which shows the straight daughter of lesbian parents starting a GSA group in a conservative suburban high school.

“Today we fall silent, but tomorrow, and each day after tomorrow, we must speak up,” said PFLAG executive director Jody Huckaby at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Day of Silence Observance. “When our children are in danger, and our schools are havens of hate, we must give our own voice to those who suffer at the hands of bullies.” (from ‘Do Not Be Silent‘)