A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

The ICP Ball: End of a Reign

In a week, I will step down as the Imperial Crown Princess of All Alaska, and someone else will step up and begin anew. For a while now I have been regretting this event. It will signify an end to what has been evolving for me in this role, and has exploded into an incredible experience I don’t want to end. A lot of what has unfolded had something, but not everything, to do with being Princess. 

For the past several weeks, I’ve been working like a dog Monday morning through about noon on Friday, then slipping into a skirt and lipstick until the new work week begins. In some ways, it’s an escape from my reality as a male, while in other ways it’s just a pure expression of myself as a multifaceted and talented person. As the years have evolved, what was once a rare Friday night outing in a skirt by myself, has become a fully intergrated part of who I am. The days of changing last minute in some out of the way bathroom are over. Now I’ll leave the house mid-day for the whole world to see and I won’t care. Where I was once paranoid that someone would find out where I lived or who I was ‘out of face’, now it seems the whole world knows. Where I was just another confused cross-dresser, now The Diva April Rains is becoming as prominent as her male counterpart.

I’ve walked through stores and people have complimented me, stood in front of several hundred neighbors, associates and friends as they cheered at the end of “April’s Follies”, spoke with folks who say awesome things about performing in the Friday Night Diva’s show, and stood there humbly as Sherry Vine and Joey Arias acknowledged me during their show. These are all circumstances I never knew I’d get to experience. 

For months now, emails have come in from men in circumstances similar to mine years before, where fear, disgust, self-hatred and confusion rule their lives. They want to get out of their bedrooms and experience the real world. How do they do that? How do they talk with their wives, kids, and friends about their “secret”. They are relieved to know they are not alone, but realize that it’s a journey of self discovery to find who they are at the core of their being. This has little to do with being gay, straight, bi or any need to have sexual re-assignment surgery or take hormones. They have simpler questions, like what bathroom to use at a club, how to cover a beard, where to find shoes and hair, and so much more.

If anything, being the ICP presented a unique route for me to be more open and visible about who I am as a person. It took a role I thought was a “fantasy” and interjected it into dead center of reality. A role where I attended meetings for the corporation of the Court recognized as a female, but blended it with my male experiences to help make real world business decisions. A role where my male community recognition as a builder, fire fighter, dog musher, dad, and partner allowed me to meet with other local business owners and associates as a female, to garner support for a first-ever Valley fundraiser.

As the big weekend draws closer, what I felt was an end is in fact a new beginning. The end of the 16th ICP Reign will occur, as the 17th reign steps up and another very unqiuely talented and creative person hopes to make some positive changes during her reign. While my title as Her Most “Not So Sweet, 16th, Valley Trash, Imperial Crown Princess of All Alaska” will be entered into the lineage of the Court, my title as “The Valley Trash Baroness of Big Lake” will remain … and that’s a title I have yet to develop.

This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/24/09

Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Business List

Visitors, new residents and long-time Alaskans want to know where to find GLBT-owned and GLBT-friendly businesses in Alaska, so we can support the community with our consumer dollars. Here is the current list.

Obviously, it is not a complete list, and now is a good time to update it. If you are a GLBT Alaskan, or an ally of our community, and want to include your business on Bent Alaska’s free list, please leave your information in a comment below the list. If you know a gay-owned or gay-supportive business that you think should be here, please ask the owner to visit Bent and leave a comment.

Disclaimer: This list is not an endorsement or recommendation for the businesses, only a recognition that they are owned by GLBT Alaskans and our Allies.

Bent Alaska’s resource list for Alaska’s GLBT organizations, groups and publications remains one of the most often visited pages on the blog. There is also a list of GLBT Alaska’s Annual Events, and Seasonal and Recurring Events.

UPDATE: There are so many listings for Travel-related businesses, that I’ve added a separate post and linked it in the right hand column of the blog! Where to Find GLBT Alaska – Travel & Tourism

Alaska’s GLBT Business List

Anchorage

Mad Myrna’s (bar)
530 East 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-9762

The Raven (bar)
708 East 4th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-9672

Kodiak Bar & Grill
225 East 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-5233

Ginger Restaurant (LGBT-friendly)
425 W 5th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 929-3680

Side Street Espresso (LGBT-friendly)
412 G Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-9055

Jay Her, Hypnotist
Anchorage, AK 99504
Phone: (907) 720-9909

Preview Sun & Day Spa
Stephen Nolan
1443 West Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
907.245.0036

The Skin Bar (day spa)
inside Sunrise Sun Spa
(Huffman and Old Seward)

Custom Cleaning
Home or business cleaning.
Weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly.
Gift Certificates available.
Carol: 351-5100

Dee Gould
ORGANIZE IN SYNC
Personal Organizer
Member NAPO
907-301-6811

Liza Sims, CPCP
Cosmetic Tattoo
907-561-3937
4100 Lake Otis Parkway #205,
Anchorage AK 99508

F Ken Freedman Counseling
therapist specializing in GLBTI people
(907) 566-1708

Out North Theater (LGBT-friendly)
3800 DeBarr Road
(907) 279-8099
Mission: Art + Community = Change

Lea McDermid (LGBT-friendly)
Attorney, immigration law
310 K Street, Suite 200
Anchorage AK 99501
(907) 264-6755

Erin Hall Meade (LGBT-friendly)
Financial Advisor
Beckwith Meade Group
3601 C Street, Penthouse West
Anchorage, AK 99503
907.561.4433 Main
907.564.6603 Direct
800.770.7000 Toll Free
866.365.9750 Facsimile

JeaShoots
Jeannette Ramos, photographer
photo note cards on 100% recycled paper

Earth Bed & Breakfast
Hosts: Lori & Angel
1001 W. 12th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 279-9907
Fax: (907) 279-9862

City Garden B&B
1352 W. 10th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-8686
Fax: (907) 276-2358

Arctic Fox Inn
327 E. 2nd Court
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 272-4818
1-877-693-1239

A Wildflower Inn
1239 I Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 274-1239
1-877-693-1239

Alaskan Leopard B & B
16136 Sandpiper Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99516
(907) 868-1594
1-877-454-3046

Copper Whale Inn
440 L Street
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 258-7999
(866) 258-7999

Eagle River

Mile 5.2 Greenhouse
17026 Santa Maria Drive
Eagle River, Alaska 99577
(907) 694-3978

Mat-Su Valley

Karen Harris
Alaska Garden Gate B & B
950 S. Trunk Road
Palmer, AK 99645
(907) 746-2333

Fairbanks

Tim Stallard
Out in Alaska (travel)
P.O. Box 82096
Fairbanks, AK 99708

Michael Bartels
College Floral
(flowers & gifts)
3260 College Rd,
Fairbanks, AK 99709
907-479-6926

Deirdre Helfferich (LGBT-friendly)
Ester Republic Press (newspaper)
PO Box 24, Ester, AK 99725
907.479.3368

Interior

229 Parks Restaurant and Tavern (LGBT-friendly)
Mile 229.7 Parks Hwy, near Denali National Park.
Specializes in locally grown produce,
organic/free-range meats and game
and is a member of Chef’s Collaborative.

Juneau

Perseverance Theatre (LGBT-friendly)
914 Third Street, Douglas, AK 99824
Tickets: 463-TIXS
Telephone: 907-364-2421

The Silverbow Inn
Inn, Bakery, Catering, Cinema, Gallery
120 Second Street
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-4146

Haines

Alaska Guardhouse B & B
PO Box 853
Haines, Alaska 99827
(907) 766-2566
1-866-290-7445

Homer

Bunnell Street Arts Center
non-profit arts center (LGBT-friendly)
106 W. Bunnell Street, Suite “A”
Homer, Alaska 99603

Sitka

Neurobehavioral Consultants
Dr. Cindy Westergaard
201 Lincoln Street, Suite 1
Sitka, Alaska 99835
(907) 747-3743

Day of Silence in Fairbanks

Anchorage Pride Prom 09

Identity grant, RAW award, Meetup & Alaskans Together

Gay AK – News and Notes from Alaska’s LGBT communities:

Good Work, Lima Beans!

The Legislature rejected Wayne Anthony Ross for the position of Attorney General today, after hundreds (thousands?) of Alaskans voiced opposition to his appointment. Ross is the Anchorage lawyer who called gays “degenerates,” and that is one of the many reasons he was denied the AG post. The vote was 35-23. THANK YOU for spreading the word and giving your testimony. We can make a difference!

Alaskans Together

As Alaska’s statewide LGBT advocacy group, Alaskans Together for Equality can take public stands on political issues, like opposing the appointment of Wayne Ross. Alaskans Together is organizing our statewide effort to achieve civil equality. Become a member of Alaskans Together for Equality.

Anchorage LGBT Meetup group

Meet with other members and supporters of your local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community. Join the new Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group.

Identity receives Pride Foundation Grant

Identity, Inc. is one of the 32 organizations (out of 91 that applied) to receive a Pride Foundation grant for Spring 09. The grant was given in support of Education, Advocacy and Outreach, and for general operating support of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage. The Pride Foundation report states: “The move in 2006 to a visible downtown location has made the Center the hub of LGBTQ life, providing a safe place for the community to meet, hang out, hold and attend group meetings, and use the resource library and computers.”

“Pride Foundation was very impressed with the work we are doing and the size of our volunteer staff,” writes Phyllis of Identity. “Over 60 volunteer shifts each month allow us to keep the Center open and available six hours a day, seven days a week, and the volunteers have been doing this for over seven years.”

“The funds from Pride Foundation will help pay the rent and utilities for about one third of the year. We still need our community support for the other two-thirds. We would like to encourage members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied community to also be impressed with what we are able to do with volunteer staff. Please pledge $10 a month for the next nine months of 2009 to adopt a day to honor yourself, a friend, or, heck, honor the volunteers who keep the doors open and the Center available!”

Radical Woman Award nominees

The Radical Woman Award honors women who have made significant contributions to the GLBT community in Alaska. Please nominate a wonderful woman in your life. Write a short paragraph highlighting her contributions and send it by May 30 to Radical Arts for Women (RAW). The winner will be announced on June 13 at Celebration of Change.

This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/17/09

Juneau

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

Bac’untry Brothers dRagtime Revue 4/17 the Red Dawg Saloon, 8 p.m. 4/18 Hanger on the Warf, 8 p.m. 4/19 the Folk Fest, 8 p.m. 

Fairbanks

Day of Silence at UAF 4/17, “The Times of Harvey Milk” showing at 6:30 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium.

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. 

The Harmony Community Choir is forming at the Center, rehearsals on Thursdays 6-7 p.m.

Anchorage

Pride Prom for ages 14-19, at the Chalet 4/17, 7-10:30 p.m.

Semi-Annual Womyn’s Dance at the Snow Goose 4/17, 7:30 p.m.

SINsation drag Cabaret with Joey Arias & Sherry Vine from NYC, at ‘Koots, thru 4/18, 8 p.m.

No Foolin’: A Mardi Gras Fiesta fundraiser for Four A’s 4/18, 7 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

Scott Turner’s Annual Bake Sale and Bake-Off for charity 4/19, 4 p.m. at Mad Myrna’s.

Sunday worship at MCC Anchorage, 4/19, 2 p.m.

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

Alaskans Together on WAR’s Defeat

Alaskans Together for Equality applauds the legislature’s vote to reject Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General.

“Wayne Anthony Ross’s derogatory statements about gay Alaskans, his stance on native rights, and his views on women and domestic violence made him an incredibly polarizing and divisive figure,” wrote Tim Stallard for Alaskans Together.

“Many Alaskans joined us in our doubt that Ross could uphold the constitutional rights of ALL Alaskans without discrimination. We hope that Governor Palin will nominate someone who will earn the public’s trust and respect the constitutional rights of all Alaskans.”

Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is the statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Alaska.

WAR goes down!

Report from Mel: “23 yeas, 35 nays. Wayne Anthony Ross will NOT be Alaska’s Attorney General. We fought the good fight, people, and we WON!”

WAR’s anti-gay letter: pedophile jokes, criminals, "immoral in the eyes of anyone with intelligence"

UPDATE from Mel: “23 yeas, 35 nays: WAR goes down! Wayne Anthony Ross will NOT be Alaska Attorney General. We fought the good fight, people, and we WON!”

* * *

Wayne Anthony Ross’ letter to Lawyers Against Discrimination began with a reference to gays as pedophiles: “Dear LAD: (LAD??? Intentional, on your part? Or merely a Freudian slip?)”

Three weeks ago, Bent Alaska reported that Attorney General-nominee Wayne Anthony Ross called gays “degenerates”, “immoral” and a “perversion” in a letter to the Alaska State Bar Association’s newsletter, according to the ADN. Since then, Ross has refused to answer the legislators when asked if he feels this way about gays and lesbians now, and, when pressed, compared his homophobia to hating lima beans.

We’ve learned much about Ross, on many topics, but the question remained: what did the rest of his letter say? The Legislature is scheduled to vote on Ross’ appointment Thursday at 11 a.m., and Bent obtained the letter just in time.

Ross wrote the letter to the Alaska Bar Rag in March 1993 in response to an appeal from “Lawyers Against Discrimination,” a group that fought the repeal of a non-discrimination ordinance, approved by the Anchorage Assembly, which prohibited the Municipality from employment discrimination on the basis of “sexual preference.”

“It was a big messy battle in Anchorage in late 1992/early 1993,” writes Mel Green. “The ordinance was ultimately rescinded.” Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or preference remains legal today in Anchorage and the rest of Alaska.

Ross’ full response to Lawyers Against Discrimination:

“Dear LAD: (LAD??? Intentional, on your part? Or merely a Freudian slip?)

I received your letter of 23 February 1993 regarding the Anchorage homosexual rights ordinance. While I am not surprised to see some of the names on your letterhead, I am most disappointed in other names thereon. I had more respect for some of you than I do now.

I am in favor of repeal of the measure. I see nothing involving civil rights in this matter. We all, heterosexual or homosexual, have certain rights. This bill seems to give extra rights to a group whose lifestyle was a crime only a few years ago, and whose beliefs are certainly immoral in the eyes of anyone with some semblance of intelligence and moral character.

It is a shame that you folks don’t have some causes you could become involved in that are of benefit to society in general. Instead, you support degenerates. No wonder the legal profession is treated with less respect than we wish.

If, as you apparently believe, morality is not based on long-standing God-given and God-instilled principles, but is something that changes from time to time based on public perception of right and wrong, then that is even more reason for you to allow this referendum to go to a vote of the people. After all, isn’t it your position that public morality is based upon whatever the public decides?

None of you has done anything publicly (to my knowledge) to attempt to protect the millions of lives of innocent children killed each year through abortion, yet you collectively contribute $5,000 to the cause of sexual perversion. It is quite disheartening to me to see my fellow members of our honorable profession display such a lack of proper priorities.

Wayne Anthony Ross

(from page 7 of the May-June 1993 Alaska Bar Rag)

— hat tip to Steve for obtaining Ross’ letter