A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles toured four South American nations performing multi-lingual theatrical performances. ‘Simple Gifts’ was one of the highlights:

The gay choral videos posted this week celebrate music and the joy of Christmas. They also bring the message that gays and lesbians are not spiritually lost just because we are open and honest about our love.

In today’s video, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus sings “We’re Not Lost We’re Here” from Naked Man, while soloist and first tenor Cecil O’Neal Johnson tells his story of joining the chorus and becoming whole:

Merry Christmas!

Gloria, the lesbian and gay choir of Dublin, Ireland, performed their Christmas concert in St. Anne’s Catholic Church last week, including a beautiful rendition of “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” that opens with a piano solo:

The Hallelujah Chorus (featuring les freres de St. Francis de la Sissies) performed with great comic timing by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus:

Continuing with the theme of gay holiday music videos, here is the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus dancing in drag to “Waltz of the Snowflakes” from the Nutcracker ballet:

They aren’t in Alaska, and I don’t recommend coming out at big family gatherings, but this video of the London Gay Men’s Chorus singing “Coming Out at Christmas” is more entertaining then the current gay (and anti-gay) news. So here it is, around a hundred gay men singing a classic gay Christmas song:

– by Rev. Johnathan Jones, of Church Life Alaska

It is certainly the time of holidays, rituals and celebrations. From Thanksgiving, to Yule-Tide, Kwanza to Christmas and winter solstice. For some of us these separate holiday seasons may seem very different to each other and sometimes even at odds with each other.

However, I want to think about what binds us all together through these holiday seasons. I must warn you though – the jist of this message may be upsetting to some, but, hopefully encouraging and activating.

Listening to the radio this year, I have heard the same Christmas song played over and over. “Have yourself a merry little Christmas, make the Yule-time gay, from now on, our troubles will be miles away.” I’m not using these lyrics because they have the word “gay” or because the song was immortalized by Judy Garland, but rather, because the song is very melancholy to me and the lyrics seem untrue.

Especially for us in the queer community, some of us can find ourselves estranged from family and our troubles certainly don’t seem miles away. So what can we do?

We can choose to spend the holidays with our families of choice. We can make an effort to invite those alone to our celebrations. We can give to the needy, poor and homeless. We can be thankful for what and who we have.

“Have a merry little Christmas” may seem a faraway dream for some of us, whilst others of us have that joy every holiday season. Where ever you fit on the “holiday spectrum,” may I encourage you to take some time to help and love others, and help and love yourselves. Whatever your background, may you have a truly blessed holiday season.

Parties, services, potlucks and brunches – come celebrate Christmas with your LGBT friends and community at these events:

The Alaska Center for Spiritual Living Christmas Eve service is on Wed. Dec 23 at 7 p.m. at Grant Hall (APU campus). As always, the music will be rockin’, the message uplifting, the hearts open, and ALL are welcome. The Center is also hosting Christmas Dinner followed by a movie on Friday, Dec 25.

Mad Myrna’s Christmas Eve Party is on Dec 24 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Visit with Santa and his helpers, eat, drink and be merry. Come on down and be nice at being naughty.

Church Life Alaska is holding a special holiday “Queer Christmas Brunch” on Christmas Day, Dec 25 from 11am – 1pm. The free brunch will be held at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. Everyone is invited to attend. Please RSVP and check out the menu on their Facebook page linked above, or contact Church Life AK.

The Anchorage/MatSu LGBT Meetup group is combining the end of the year vegan potluck with a holiday party and Chinese auction. The party and potluck will be held in Palmer on Dec 26 at 6pm, at the Palmer Presbyterian Church, 713 S Denali St. Please bring a small gift for the game.

Join MCC Anchorage on Dec 27, the Sunday following Christmas, the last Sunday of 2009, for an inspiring New Year message called “Overflow.” Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage is at 2 p.m.

1) D.C. Mayor Signs Marriage Equality Bill

Washington, D.E., Advocate, December 18, 2009

2) OUT-100: The Class of 2009

Out Magazine

3) U.S. Supreme Court: Can Scripture trump non-discrimination law?

Washington, UPI, December 13, 2009

4) China to stage first gay pageant: organisers

Beijing, China, AFP, December 10, 2009

5) Brown pushes for gay rights in Eastern Europe

E.U., BBC News, December

6) Lesbian Rabbi to Attend White House Hanukkah Reception

Washington, Advocate, December 16, 2009

7) New Report Documents ‘Decade of Progress’ on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality in America

San Francisco, PR Newswire, December 16, 2009

8) Ask the Expert: Should I bring my partner home for the holidays?

365Gay.com, December 1, 2009

9) Black LGBT Orgs. Protesting Buju

Advocate, December 11, 2009

10) Fresno hospital trains to stop gay discrimination

Fresno, Calif., San Diego Union-Tribune, December 16, 2009

11) BBC Slammed For Inviting Debate On Killing Gays

Uganda, Africa, CBS2.com, December 17, 2009

12) Rugby star Gareth Thomas: I’m gay

Whales, CNN, December 20, 2009

13) Rugby star Gareth Thomas speaks of ‘amazing response’ after revealing he is gay

Whales, Telegraph, December 20, 2009

14) Firms expect economic windfall from gay marriage in District

Washington, D.C., Washington Post, December 20, 2009

RuPaul’s holiday greeting card this year is a parody of Sarah’s book cover, “Going Vogue: New Year. New Season. No Experience Required.”

NewNowNext posted the photo and quipped:

“(T)his time she’s “Going Vogue!” Watch out, Grandma Palin. Ru’s got on her red anorak and she’s ready to govern! And I’m guessing Ru knows her way around a lumberjack. Plus, I’m sure Ru also knows all about laying some serious Alaskan pipeline.”

You betcha! So who wants to be her First Dude?

Season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race starts Feb. 1 on Logo.