A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Adding “sexual orientation” to UA policy supports the mission, attracts best applicants

University of Alaska students and supporters asked the Regents to add “sexual orientation” to the UA system’s nondiscrimination policy during the Regents meeting in Fairbanks last week. The News-Miner wrote in part:

Jessica Angelette, president of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Gay-Straight Alliance, told the university’s Board of Regents on Thursday that its current anti-discrimination rules lack explicit bans on discrimination based on “sexual orientation,” something she indicated leaves university life scarier for gay students and active supporters of gay rights.

Angelette told regents that some students, gay or straight, are harassed after participating in campus events. She said one girl moved out of her dorm room two weeks before classes ended because she was being bullied by her roommate.

“We … would like to work with the board to have the amending policy (be) the first step in making all campuses safe for every student,” she said.

The university system follows some “interdependent partnership” rules that extend benefits for same-sex couples to employees and faculty. But efforts to explicitly mention sexual orientation in the regents’ nondiscrimination policy — which bans discrimination based on sex, race and other factors — have fallen short at least twice, according to university records.

The comment section below the article is filled with thoughtful support and a few opponents who just don’t get it.

This comment posted under the screen name “reason” clearly explains why the policy change supports the UA mission and is essential in attracting the most qualified employees:

Kudos to UA students for taking the initiative to ask for a change in policy that is long overdue!

Many colleges and universities across the United States already include “sexual orientation” in their nondiscrimination policy, and many are beginning to add “gender identity” as well. The Fairbanks North Star Borough public school district already includes both of these aspects of identity in their nondiscrimination policy. It is important for UA to add both of these to its nondiscrimination policy in order to protect students, staff, and faculty from the very real incidents of harassment that do take place on campus and that Christopher Eshleman’s article describes very well. Adding to the UA’s nondiscrimination policy is essential in forwarding the university’s mission: students, staff, and faculty all need a climate free of harassment in order to do their best work.

Moreover, like any other organization situated in a national and international marketplace, UA is competing with comparable organizations for students, staff, and faculty. Accreditation standards require universities to hire faculty with the most advanced degrees in their fields, and in many disciplines, such degrees are not offered in the state of Alaska. UA thus _must_ compete in the national and international marketplace for many of its faculty. As a faculty member who has sat on search committees for job candidates, I recently heard a job candidate express great surprise upon learning that UA does not offer a form of protection from discrimination that elsewhere is considered “standard.” The lack of language concerning “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” hurts UA.

The University of Alaska system cannot and should not wait for a federal law banning discrimination based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”. Many universities, colleges, school districts, and businesses already ban these kinds of discrimination because such policies better help them to achieve their mission. UA needs those protections now: to ensure that we can compete most successfully in the national and international marketplace to deliver the best education to the students in Alaska, and to ensure that all of our people can do their best work in a climate free of harassment and discrimination.

Alaska Pride 2009

Alaska is celebrating LGBT Pride in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Homer this summer, with a variety of events beginning on June 13.

On June 1, President Obama proclaimed June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. For the last few years, Anchorage has declared the third Saturday in June as Gay Pride Day, and then Mayor, now Senator Mark Begich read the proclamation from the Festival stage.

Anchorage Pride Week 6/13-6/21

Anchorage Pride Week 2009: “The Last Queer Frontier” runs June 13-21, with the Diversity Parade and Festival on the Park Strip on Saturday, June 20. The full schedule of PrideFest 09 includes movies, a play, religious services, a reception, and the choosing of this year’s Mr/Ms/Miss Gay Anchorage.

Juneau Gay Men’s Hike 6/14, and Gay Pride Picnic at Skater’s Cabin 6/20

Juneau is celebrating LGBT Pride Month with a Gay Men’s Hike up West Glacier Trail on June 14, and a Gay Pride Picnic Celebration at Skater’s Cabin on June 20.

West Glacier hike is mostly moderate with a little bit of rock scrambling, but not technical. Please dress for the weather, and wear appropriate foot wear and clothing. Bring a day pack with your own drinking water, trail or energy snacks, and a sandwich. The round trip should take about 6 hours with an hour break at the glacier. Meet at the trail head next to Skater’s Cabin at 9:45 am and depart promptly at 10:00 am.

The Gay Pride Picnic Celebration at Skater’s Cabin is on June 20, 2-7 p.m. Everyone in the LGBTA community is invited. Please bring a side dish, and SEAGLA will provide burgers and some beverages. Glass containers are prohibited. This year’s Pride Picnic is sponsored by SEAGLA, PFLAG, Alaskans Together, Juneau-Douglass GSA, and the Imperial Court of All Alaska.

Homer: Hedwig and the Angry Inch 6/19-6/21, and PFLAG in the July 4th Parade

The queer show “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” is being performed live with a five-piece band at the Best Western Bidarka Inn as a benefit for Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, Homer’s gay-friendly clinic. Tickets for opening night are $50, other performances $15, and are available at the Homer Bookstore and KBFPC. There is a discount for KBFPC members.

Also, the new Homer PFLAG chapter has decided to make a float for the local July 4th parade this year, and the entire LGBTA community is invited participate.

Fairbanks PFLAG in the Golden Days Parade 6/25

Fairbanks PFLAG will march in the Golden Days Grand Parade on July 25, starting at the Carlson Center, and the LGBTA community is invited to help carry the historic rainbow flag again this year. There will be an LGBT picnic after the parade.

It has become a tradition for the PFLAG contingent to carry a forty-five-foot rainbow flag from Key West, Florida, a segment of the longest gay pride flag ever made, in the Fairbanks Golden Days Parade.

“This will be PFLAG’s third year in the parade, and the Chamber, the city, and the crowds have been really good about us being a part,” writes Pete of Fairbanks PFLAG. “PFLAG is also planning a booth for the Tanana Valley State Fair again this August.”

Photos from the Ordinance Hearing

Equal Rights Rally & Picnic at Loussac Today

Attend the Public Hearing: Tuesday, June 9 at Loussac Library

Revised Ordinance Exempts Small Businesses, Religious Groups, and Bathrooms. Prevo still opposes it.

Anchorage Pride Week 2009 Schedule

Anchorage ex-marine faces work discrimination for being transgender

Laura O’Lacy wrote the following letter to the Anchorage Assembly in support of a trans-inclusive ordinance, describing the harassment and discrimination she has faced as a transgender woman trying to get a job in her field of training.

Revised ordinance weakens the law and endangers transgender people

Mayor Matt Claman and members of the Municipal Assembly presented a revised version on Friday of the ordinance to amend Anchorage’s nondiscrimination law to include Anchorage’s LGBT citizens. Equality Works analyzes the changes.

Sex is between the legs, Gender is between the ears