Bent Alaska | Alaska's LGBTQA blog

This Week in LGBT Alaska 8/28/09

Friday, 28 August 2009 – 9:36 AM | Comments Off

The Assembly has until Sept. 8 to override Mayor Sullivan’s veto, and they need 8 votes in favor. Please urge Debbie Ossander (ossiander@gci.net) and all the Assembly members (WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.us) to Do the Right Thing and support an override.

This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.

Fairbanks

UAF Gay-Straight Alliance tabling at New Student Orientation 8/31 from 12-2pm in the Wood Center.

Kenai Peninsula

“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” starring Atz Lee Kilcher, 8/28-8/30, 8 p.m. at Pier One Theater. Tickets $15 at the Homer Bookstore and Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic.

Mat-Su Valley

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

Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.

Northern Exposure Bowling League, 1st league meeting of the 2009/2010 season, 8/29, 4 p.m. at Park Lanes.

Mad Mike @ Mad Myrna’s 8/29, 10 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.

Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage, 2 p.m.

Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

Ever Ready at the Alaska State Fair 8/31, 5-6 p.m.

Joy Harjo reading her poetry at Cyrano’s 8/31, 7 p.m. Tickets $10.00 at the door.

Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

QueerWorld: 16th Alaska Pride Conference, Oct 10

Thursday, 27 August 2009 – 9:31 PM | 3 Comments

Identity, Inc. is sponsoring QueerWorld, the 16th annual Alaska Pride Conference, at the APU Atwood Center on October 10, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. People of all ages, cultures, sexualities and professions attend the conference each year to strengthen ties with one another and build community. There will be 8 workshop sessions.

We are seeking inspiring presenters to share their knowledge, experiences and successes on diverse topics using innovative presentations. We welcome presentations that include a focus on connection, connecting with ourselves, one another and our communities. We hope to promote unity and community growth through QueerWorld.

E-mail Johnathan Jones, co-chair of QueerWorld, for the workshop proposal. The deadline for submitting proposals is September 25.

Coronation 2009!

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 – 8:28 PM | Comments Off

The Imperial Court of All Alaska requests the Honor of Your Presence at CORONATION XXXVII – “GOLD, FUR, AND FEATHERS” CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF STATEHOOD, Sept. 3-7, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Enjoy Labor Day weekend with the Imperial Court: the meet and greet, a show with performers from Alaska and a second show with visiting performers from out of state followed by a Las Vegas party, a bus run, a glacier tour, a victory brunch, plus the big night of Coronation itself, Sept. 6 in the Sheraton Ballroom!

The full Coronation schedule is posted below, and tickets can be purchased online at the Imperial Court’s Coronation web site.

SEPTEMBER 3RD – 7TH

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

SEPTEMBER 3RD

“SUNSHINE OVER SIBERIA”

7PM MEET AND GREET

SUB ZERO LOUNGE

SEPTEMBER 4TH

11:30 AM GLACIER/WILDLIFE TOUR

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND

6 hour tour, meal included – Great Trip

IN STATE SHOW – MAD MYRNA’S SHOWROOM

SHOW @ 8PM $10

SEPTEMBER 5TH

BROWN BEAR BUS RUN

MEET IN PARKING LOT OF “THE RAVEN”

10AM $15

EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF BEAR

CONTEST, BBQ AND FUN

OUT OF STATE SHOW- MAD MYRNA’S SHOWROOM

SHOW @8PM $10

LAS VEGAS PARTY FOLLOWING SHOW

SEPTEMBER 6TH

CORONATION XXXVII

“GOLD, FUR, & FEATHERS”

SHERATON HOTEL BALLROOM

6PM $35

FOOD FOR PURCHASE

SEPTEMBER 7TH

VICTORY BRUNCH

MAD MYRNA’S SHOWROOM

11AM $30

HOST HOTEL

ANCHORAGE SHERATON HOTEL

401 E 6TH AVENUE

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99501

(907) 276-8700 (907) 276-8700

WWW.SHERATON. COM/ANCHORAGE

$142 PER ROOM NIGHT

MENTION “IMPERIAL COURT OF ALASKA”

ROOM BLOCK RATE ENDS AUG 31ST

You Are Not Alone: Teen Suicide Resources

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 – 5:18 PM | One Comment

Another school year has begun, and the Juneau School District created a new suicide prevention resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, which is available for adults who work with teens.

“Gay and lesbian youth belong to two groups at high risk of suicide: youth and homosexuals.” The brochure lists 3 actions to take if you or a friend has a problem.

“The root of the problem for GLBT youth suicide is a society that discriminates against and stigmatizes homosexuals while failing to recognize that a substantial number of its youth are GLBT.” – from the report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Youth Suicide, US Dept. of Health and Human Services

The brochure gives Juneau-area and national suicide hotline numbers and mental health web sites that are accessible to all Alaska youth, along with general GLBTQ resources like SEAGLA, PFLAG and the Juneau Gay-Straight Alliances.

The brochure was funded by a grant from the State of Alaska, and is available for people who work with teens and places where teens frequent.

If you would like to receive copies of the brochure, or have suggestions for where they can be placed, please contact Juneau-Douglas High School Counselor Brendan Kiernan at this email address.

Equal Benefits for LGBT Alaskans

Monday, 24 August 2009 – 7:22 PM | Comments Off

Public employers such as municipal governments, state agencies, and school districts have an obligation to provide the same benefits to same-sex domestic partners that they provide to spouses. The ACLU of Alaska wants to ensure that all Alaskans are receiving equal benefits, and conducted a survey of all public agencies in the State of Alaska.

“Know Your Rights! Domestic Partnership Benefits in Alaska” (.pdf) is an initial summary of the findings. It lists public employers who currently provide domestic partnership benefits, those who do not offer benefits, and employers who did not complete the survey.

What can you do to receive your benefits or help expand coverage?

Your employer has an obligation to provide you with information regarding the benefits available to you and your same-sex partner. If you work for a public employer who did not respond to our survey, you can help enforce your rights by:

1) Requesting that your employer make explicit their status on domestic partnership benefits.

2) Providing the ACLU of Alaska with accurate information regarding your employer’s domestic partnership benefits policy or lack thereof.

If you have questions, suggestions or corrections, please contact Tiffany McClain, LGBT Public Policy Coordinator, ACLU of Alaska, 907-258-0044 ext. 101.

For more information, visit the ACLU of Alaska’s LGBT rights page.

A Sunday cartoon for homophobes

Sunday, 23 August 2009 – 10:31 AM | 2 Comments

Cartoon © 2009 by Glenn Harvey, used with permission.

Jerry, in his own words: A creative response to prejudice

Friday, 21 August 2009 – 11:47 PM | 6 Comments

In addition to the thoughtful supportive testimony at the Assembly hearings and the well-argued letters to the editor, there have been some very creative responses to the struggle for Ordinance 64, and to the hateful statements of the anti-gay lobby.

Bent Alaska posted one of Glenn Harvey’s “Jerry: In His Own Words” posters on Monday’s No Dead Queers post. Below are several more ordinance-related posters by Glenn.

Like the “perverted, diseased and depraved” poster linked above, this poster quotes Prevo’s anti-ordinance sermon from June 28 (sermon video HERE).

Remember the mass-produced “Truth Is Not Hate” signs carried by the red-shirted children and anti-gay church members bussed in from Wasilla? We’ve heard that the signs were provided by Bailey’s Furniture.

Like Sarah Palin and her gay friend (who doesn’t deserve to be equal), opponents of the ordinance have a twisted understanding of friendship. Glenn mirrors their prejudice back at them.

Thanks to Glenn for creating the posters and allowing Bent to post them.

Protest Sullivan’s Veto Tonight at McGinley’s

Friday, 21 August 2009 – 2:43 PM | Comments Off

Update: Bent was unable to attend this event, but Mel was there and wrote about it on Henkimaa.

——–

Stand up for Equality and be Counted: Protest Mayor Sullivan’s veto of the equal rights ordinance, tonight in front of McGinley’s Pub. Sullivan is part-owner of McGinley’s, and the customers should know that he supports discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

McGinley’s Pub is in downtown Anchorage at the corner of G Street and 7th Avenue, and the protest begins at 6:30 p.m. After the protest, go get a drink at one of the supportive businesses in Anchorage!

Sullivan vetoed Ordinance 64 on Monday, saying that he saw no evidence of anti-gay discrimination and was following the will of the people. The Anchorage Assembly passed the ordinance 7-4 on Aug 11, after weeks of public hearings showed the need for equal protections.

A spontaneous rally against the Mayor’s veto attracted about 100 people to City Hall on Monday. Ordinance supporters held big letters spelling EQUALITY NOW and signs saying, “Anchorage Mayor Supports Discrimination” and “Celebrating 50 Years of Discrimination.” The protestors marched down the street to McGinley’s Pub, chanting “Equal Rights Now” and “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”

Two short videos of Monday’s protest, taken by Chris N., are posted below:

This Week in LGBT Alaska 8/21/09

Friday, 21 August 2009 – 12:19 PM | Comments Off

This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

RSVP cruise Reception 8/26, 3-7 p.m. at the Imperial Saloon. SEAGLA

SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.

Fairbanks

Voting for ICOAA Empress and Emperor XXXVII, 8/22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at College Floral.

Parks Highway

Bac’untry Bruthers at the Trapper Creek Music Festival 8/21, 9 p.m.

Mat-Su Valley

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

Emperor and Empress Candidates Pancake Breakfast 8/22, 10 a.m.-noon at Mad Myrna’s.

Voting for ICOAA Empress and Emperor XXXVII 8/22, 10a.m.-8 p.m. at the GLCCA.

MCC Anchorage Garage Sale 8/22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Out North Garage Sale 8/22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.

Bac’untry Bruthers performs Saturday, at the Girdwood Blueberry Festival at 3 p.m and at Tap Root Cafe in south Anchorage at 8 p.m.

Sunday worship with MCC Anchorage, 2 p.m.

Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Out North Season 25 Launch Party 8/27, 6 p.m.

Sullivan’s "Special Right" to Discriminate

Thursday, 20 August 2009 – 9:59 PM | Comments Off

Anchorage cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl on Mayor Sullivan’s shameful veto of the equal rights ordinance:

This isn’t the first time Dunlap-Shohl has drawn about our struggle for protection. In 1992, Dunlap-Shohl’s cartoon on the attempt to add sexual orientation to the Equal Rights Charter appeared on the cover of a special issue of The Northview, Identity’s magazine.

Steve Gingrich remembers that cartoon. On the left was a person with the caption: “This person wants – A chance to work, a place to live, and a little privacy.” On the right was a person with a sign with ‘GAY RIGHTS’ within a circle with a diagonal, and the caption: “This person wants – To perpetuate bigotry, to impose his religious views on others, and to undermine the right to privacy.” Below was the question: “Which is demanding special privileges?”

“I keep returning to the “Special Rights” theme because it is so galling and cynical,” writes Peter. “My blood pressure is going up right now just thinking of it.”

Thanks to Peter for creating this cartoon. More of his work can be found on his site Frozen Grin.