A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Celebration of Steve Reese’s life Wednesday, September 7 in Juneau

Steve Reese’s family invites his friends and coworkers in a celebration of his life.

Steve died an accidental death while hiking near Juneau at Herbert Glacier, where his body was found on August 2nd. He worked at Bartlett Regional Hospital for eleven years as a registered nurse and most recently as nursing supervisor, and was an active volunteer within the Juneau community, including with PFLAG Juneau.  Bent Alaska published his obituary and an excerpt from one of his letters to the editor of the Juneau Empire on August 11.

Come for food, music and conversation. Vegetarian cuisine, energy drinks, diet pepsi and other favorites of Steve’s will be served. Please bring written memories, stories or letters about Steve. They will be treasured by his family.

Come as you are. Dress up or down.

• Date/time: Wednesday, September 7, 5 to 9 PM
• Location: Parkshore Condominium Clubhouse, 800 F Street (Behind Downtown Fire Hall), Juneau (see map)
• Further info: See Facebook event page or Bent Alaska’s post about Steve Reese’s death, and life

Steve’s family writes:

Pride Conference calls for workshop and vendor applicants

Pride Conference organizers have issued their call for workshop and vendor applicants. And we’ve got the application forms here! So step up, step out, and fill ’em out.

Coronation 2011: Once Upon a Mattress

Come one! Come all! Denali Emperor Cory Crowder and Aurora Empress Paige Langit invite you to beautiful, scenic Anchorage, Alaska for….

Coronation XXXIX: Once Upon a Mattress —
A Far Off-Broadway Night to Remember

Below we’ve got the complete schedule of events. For further information, see the Facebook event page or the Coronation page at ICOAA’s website.

The Imperial Court of All Alaska is the oldest and largest not-for-profit GLBTA organization in the state of Alaska. It awards scholarships to Alaska students each year and raise money for other charitable organizations in the state. Over the decades, ICOAA has raised over a million dollars through participation at fundraising events, benefits, titleholder Balls and functions. Funds raised are used for scholarships or turned back to gay, lesbian or community-wide nonprofit groups for their use.

Bent Alaska congratulates Emperor Cory Crowder and Empress Paige Langit for a successful and glorious reign, and looks forward to the reign of the Emperor and Empress-to-be.

Thursday, September 1

10th Annual “Sunshine Over Siberia” Welcome Party
followed by
“Roast of Their Mosts with Duchess IX Colleen Crinklaw as Host”

• Time: 5-9 PM
• Location: Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, 626 D Street, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: No charge

and then:
CORYOKE with Cory and Paige

• Time: After the Roast, but before we all go to rehab
• Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)

Friday, September 2

In Town Show
Hosted by Ginger Grant & Darcy Kniefel

• Time: Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM
• Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $10

Saturday, September 3

Brown Bear Bus Run
Miss Alaska Leather Sarha Shaubach will be hosting a pancake feed at The Raven, so come and get some grub before getting on the bus!

• Time: Departs at 12 noon
• Location: departs from The Raven, 708 E. 4th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $20

Out of Town Show
Hosted by Sister Mary Sunshine & Jenuwine Beaute

• Time: Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM.
• Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $15

Sunday, September 4

Coronation 39

• Time: Doors open at 5 PM, starts at 6 PM
• Location: Anchorage Marriott Downtown Hotel, 820 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501 (see map)
• Cost of admission: $45

Monday, September 5

Victory Brunch

• Time:  12 noon
• Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $35

Equality Works Community Advisory Council to meet September 6

Equality Works recently announced changes to its structure “to achieve a higher level of accountability and transparency” including creation of a EW Community Advisory Council to  work with the EW Campaign Leadership Team chaired by Trevor Storrs. The first meeting of the EW Advisory Council will take place next Tuesday, September 6, at the YWCA, 324 E. 5th Avenue.

Here is the announcement as presented by EW.

Dear All,

We have set the first meeting of the EW Community Advisory Council for Tuesday Sept. 6th, from 6:00pm- location to be confirmed. Update: location has been confirmed as the YWCA, 324 E. 5th Avenue.

The EW Campaign Leadership Team would like to present to the group and receive feedback on how we can move forward.

An agenda will be compiled and disseminated closer to the date.

Please send this invite to folks who you think would be interested in attending.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Johnathan Jones
Equality Project Manager
Equality Works
907.263.2006

Sara’s News Roundup 8/30/11

Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) “My (Extra) Ordinary Family — My Kid Is Transgender”
Nightline, ABC, August 31, 11:30 Alaska time (4 hours earlier than East Coast time)

2) Perry signs pledge on anti-gay marriage amendment
Austin, Texas, Associated Press, August 26, 2011

3) No Surprise for Bisexual Men: Report Indicates They Exist
New York Times, August 22, 2011

4) Trevor Project Honored at White House
Washington, Advocate, August 25, 2011

5) Op-ed: My Bathroom Transition, and Letting Go of Trans Privilege
Advocate, August 24, 2011

6) New Belgian Statistics
Gay Marriage Blog, August 2011

7) Census: More same-sex couples in more places
CNN, August 25, 2011

8) Man goes to hospital with stomach ache, gets uterus removed
U.K., CBS News, August 3, 2011

9) Quebec unveils guide to care of gay elderly people
Quebec, Canada, BBC News, August 9, 2011

Prevo divorce documents raise “loosey-goosey” questions about Anchorage Baptist Temple house

Court documents in the divorce of Allen Prevo, son of Anchorage Baptist Temple pastor Jerry Prevo, and Holly Jo Prevo raise questions about ABT religious exemption housing. Or, in the judge’s words, “if there was a tax appraiser or a reporter from the Anchorage Daily News, things would not look good… it’s pretty loosey-goosey to me.”

Equality Works announces changes

Last Wednesday, August 17, saw the first meeting of the Anchorage LGBTQA Town Hall to discuss “the best means and methods for advancing LGBTQ equality in Anchorage.”  Equality Works, which led the campaign for the passage of Anchorage equal rights ordinance AO-64 in 2009 (later vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan) presents the following open letter to the community about how it is restructuring itself in preparation for a new positive campaign toward LGBTQ equality in the Anchorage municipality.

Dear LGBTQA Community,

After the recent Town Hall meeting, Equality Works felt the community gave strong support for a positive campaign for LGBTQ equality in Anchorage (either through a ballot initiative or municipal ordinance). Equality Works met the following Sunday and discussed how to move forward, be more accountable to and work more closely with the LGBTQA community.

Equality Works is a coalition of organizations working to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents of Anchorage from discrimination and unfair treatment, focusing on five key areas:

• Housing
• Employment
• Public Accommodation
• Finance
• Education

To achieve a higher level of accountability and transparency, Equality Works implemented a more formal structure. This structure will allow us to act more strategically and ensure accurate community representation, while at the same time supporting robust community dialogue, including easy avenues for input and guidance. This new structure includes two components: (1) Community Advisory Council, and (2) Campaign Leadership Team.

The Community Advisory Council will be made up of LBGTQA organizational and individual stakeholders. Our goal is to have as broad and deep representation as possible. Membership in the Community Advisory Council is based on a commitment to:

• Support the mission of Equality Works
• Send representatives to attend meetings
• Volunteer time
• Assist in fundraising efforts
• Assist in spreading the message of Equality Works

To become a member, contact Johnathan Jones at jjones@akclu.org or (907) 263-2006. In addition, we will be actively recruiting stakeholders to join the Community Advisory Council. All members will be listed on the Equality Works’ website.

The second component is the Campaign Leadership Team. This team will work in conjunction with a professional Campaign Manager to ensure the campaign is run in the best interest of the LGBTQA community and will succeed by April 2012.

Trevor Storrs will be chairing the Campaign Leadership Team, the Community Advisory Council will select its’ chair and Johnathan Jones will continue to volunteer as support staff to both.

Equality Works will be hosting a community outreach forum very soon to share greater detail on the new structure and the campaign plan. If you have any comments, concerns or ideas please contact us. We truly desire open and honest communications with our stakeholders and community. You can contact Johnathan Jones at: jjones@akclu.org or (907) 263-2006.

Johnathan Jones
Equality Project Manager
Equality Works
907.263.2006

LGBTQA students ready for a new academic year at University of Alaska campuses

New and returning University students around the state are getting ready for a new academic year, and LGBTQA students are no exception. Students at University of Alaska campuses will be enjoying something they didn’t have this time last year: protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. University of Alaska Regents passed an amendment to UA’s nondiscrimination policy last February 18 after two periods of testimony at University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).

Drag Divas go mobile! — debuting Saturday at Anchorage’s S Lounge

Drag Divas are on the go, and invite you to their debut show Saturday night at the S Lounge in Anchorage.

A sneak peek at the line up:

• Drag Daddy Allie ( newly named by Rj) as your DJ and Co-Host!
• Queens — D’Licious as your Hostess! Candidate for Empress Mariquita! Hot Chi-Chi Longa! Mz Diane! Sofanda Cox! and a few more!
• Kings — Kemistry!, Random Danger! Stacey!, Noah!

Whew this is going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!  oh got surprise performers as well!!!!  OK enough info! The question is ARE U GONNA MISS THIS? …..we want to thank all of friends for opening your arms to us! We won’t disappoint!

• Date/time: Saturday, August 27, 10 PM to midnight
• Location: S Lounge, 720 Gambell St, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $5 cover charge
• Further info: See Facebook event page or Anchorage Night Out event page, or friend Drag Divas on the Go on Facebook

Pride Foundation and Identity announce the James Crump Scholarship Fund

In honor of James L. Crump, who died in a tragic accident at the Anchorage Pride parade on June 25, 2011, Pride Foundation and Identity, Inc. have announced the James Crump Scholarship Fund. The fund, initiated by an anonymous donor, will benefit GLBT and straight ally students planning to pursue a career in nursing, medicine, social work, teaching or another helping profession and who plan to make an impact in the state of Alaska.