A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Trans driver license lawsuit: Privacy & equal protection

Jillian T. Weiss, J.D., Ph.D., analyzes the legal issues of privacy and equal protection in the ACLU’s brief in K.L. v. State of Alaska, which involves Alaska DMV’s denial of a transgender woman’s driver’s license with a correct gender marker without proof of a surgical sex change.

Who writes Alaska’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)?

Alaska DMV based its refusal to put the correct gender marker on a transgender woman’s driver’s license on Alaska’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) D-24. Just who wrote SOP D-24, and what kind of review did it get before being used to make decisions affecting people’s lives?

Sara’s News Roundup 7/24/11

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

1) Historic anti-DOMA hearing at the Senate airs pro-, anti-gay sides
Washington, 365Gay.com, July 23, 2011

2) Transgender people to be recognised in law
Ireland, Irish Times, July 15, 2011

3) Lesbian Couples Boosting Gay Marriage Numbers
NPR, July 11, 2011

4) Up, Up and Out of the Closet: DC Comics introduces several gay superheroes including Batwoman, The Question, and Voodoo in its new line of comic books
Advocate, July 18, 2011

5) Obama Nominates Another Gay Man for Federal Bench
Washington, Advocate, July 21, 2011

6) Alaska sued in transgender driver’s license case
Juneau, Alaska, Sacramento Bee, July 18, 2011

7) Queer theologian makes the case for (radical) love ~ God as ‘Divine Top’ and other surefire feather rufflers
Gay City News, June 29, 2011

8) One-third of Methodist clergy in New England would break rules on same-sex marriages
New England, Providence Journal, July 18, 2011

9) Clay Aiken on Being a Gay Teen in the South
North Carolina, Advocate, July 22, 2011

10) NY’s ‘First Lesbian’ of Bronx ready for wedding
New York, AFP, July 22, 2011

11) North Carolina Is in for a Fight on Marriage
North Carolina, Advocate, July 1, 2011

12) Researchers Discover Sex-Change Gene
Advocate, July 21, 2011

13) N.Y. Marriage Windfall: $155M
New York, Advocate, July 23, 2011

14) Let the Outgames begin
Vancouver, Canada, Yahoo News, July 21, 2011

15) Couples wed on 1st day gay marriage is legal in NY
New York (AP), Yahoo News, July 24, 2011

DADT repeal certified, & Sen. Begich’s remarks on DADT at Anchorage Pride

Seven months after DADT repeal was signed into law, it’s finally being certified! This seems like a good time to post our video of Sen. Begich’s remarks at Anchorage Pride, and to again thank him and Sen. Murkowski for their votes to end this draconian law.

This weekend in LGBTQA Alaska (7/21/11): Fairbanks Pride 2011, a Toyota for 4A’s, Summer Osborne, Hedwig, & Raja

Fairbanks celebrates Pride 2011; Four A’s needs your votes to get a Toyota; Summer Osborne performs in Fairbanks and Anchorage; and RuePaul’s Drag Race winner “Raja” appears at Anchorage’s Kodiak Bar & Grill. Those events and more, plus a preview of what’s coming up next week.

Focus on the Family leader’s antigay testimony demolished at DOMA repeal hearing

In a Senate committee hearing on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Senators Al Franken and Patrick Leahy demolished testimony by Tom Minnery of the antigay organization Focus on the Family. Tom Minnery is a cousin to Alaska Family Council’s Jim Minnery.

Melissa Etheridge Radio Show on the air in Alaska

Melissa Etheridge has a new radio show, and an Anchorage station is one of the first in the country to pick up the full show.

KNLT Lite 105.7 in Anchorage, a light rock station, plays The Melissa Etheridge Show on weekdays from 7pm – midnight. Between songs, Melissa tells stories, answers questions from listeners, recognizes people who give to others, and chats with her cohost about the topic of the day. Email your questions to The Melissa Etheridge Show or call her at (855) 637-2346.

Listeners outside of Anchorage, Alaska can hear clips from the show online at The Melissa Etheridge Show or can hear the full show online at Lite 105.7 FM.

Melissa was asked about her new radio show in a recent interview:

Windy City Times: Tell me about this radio show that I saw on your website.

Melissa Etheridge: I am doing a radio show and I am on Bangor, Maine and Anchorage, Alaska. It is taking over the country right from the top down!

I am always looking for ways to reach out, be part of this whole entertainment world and yet not leave my home. That is the plan we are working on. I was approached about doing a radio show. I love to talk. I love to do music and like to be on the radio. So we started it. I am really enjoying it a lot. Hopefully we will get some more stations.

Windy City Times: Fans can listen to it on your website.

Melissa Etheridge: You can listen to it on the Internet at http:// www.melissaetheridge.com .

Windy City Times: Is it a time-consuming thing for you?

Melissa Etheridge: It’s not bad. It takes me about two hours a day. It is a music and talk so a lot of music. That’s why it only takes me about two hours to record it. The radio stations put in the music that they want.

Bent Alaska has a question for Melissa:

You’re performing in Bangor, Maine on July 23. As the only other town to pick up your show, does Anchorage get a concert too? Alaska loves you! Please come play here.

In June, Melissa called Lite 105.7 and talked with Program Director Justin McDonald about the midnight sun and salmon fishing. Listen to the short clip online HERE.

Lite 105.7 also promotes an anti-bullying campaign, and local ally Colleen Crinklaw is the DJ on Saturdays and Sundays from 7pm – midnight.

Lite 105.7 plays “light rock classics and today’s favorites” and is one of several local stations run by Alaska Integrated Media (AIM), including alternative rock station The End 94.7 which was at PrideFest this year.

Photo of Melissa Etheridge by Craig O’Neal via Wikimedia Commons; used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

2011 ICOAA scholarship application deadline is July 31

The Imperial Court of All Alaska College of Emperors and Empresses (ICOAA) is pleased to open the 2011 ICOAA Scholarship Program. Scholarship awards are granted for the 2011/2012 academic year. Awards are based on economic need, scholastic achievement, leadership ability and contributions to the lesbian/gay community. Application is offered to Alaska residents with preference given to members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied (GLBTA) community.

Over the years, ICOAA’s College of Emperors and Empresses has helped numerous GLBTA Alaskan scholars to further their educations, with awards including $25,000 to 26 scholarship recipients in 2010, $48,500 to 19 recipients in 2009, and $60,000 to 25 recipients in 2008.

To qualify for an ICOAA scholarship, the applicant:

• must be an Alaska resident;
• must be fully admitted to any college, university, trade or vocational school;
• may be an incoming or continuing student;
• must meet academic/trade program’s satisfactory academic progress criteria;
• must have a cumulative GPA average of at least:
  2.0 for undergraduate/trade programs or
  3.0 for graduate/professional programs; and
• must attend at least as a half-time student.

Complete applications must be received no later than July 31, 2011, so give yourself time to mail it in time! NO Hand Delivery! NO Exceptions! Scholarship awards will be announced September 1 at Coronation.

Download an application at the ICOAA website. Questions and clarifications may be emailed to madeline@alaskalife.net.

Good luck to all the scholarship applicants. And thank you, ICOAA, for all that you’ve done to help GLBTA students in Alaska!

Why should LGBT college students return to Alaska after graduation?

Bent Alaska received a great topic request from an Alaska-raised grad student who is studying in the lower 48: What is it like to be an openly LGBT professional in Alaska?

I’m a new reader to your blog and 18-year Alaskan. I left Alaska to go to university in 2005 and stayed for medical school. I’m currently in my seventh year. At my university there are usually about 5 or 6 kids from Alaska each year and inevitably, most are gay. In my year, only one of the kids from Alaska was not gay (and he was an awesome dude!)

It seems like a lot of young gay Alaskans get out of Alaska as soon as they can — that’s old news. What I’m interested in are those Alaskans who are gay who left, but went back.

Why did they choose to return? How have their experiences been? What is it like to be an out professional in Alaska? Rural v. urban? What kind of community awaits them? Did they return with a partner?

I’d love to read more in depth about this issue!

OK, readers — what do you think? Did you return after graduating from an out of state school? Tell us your reasons for returning, and what it’s like for you as an LGBT professional in Alaska. Leave a comment below, or email us directly at Bent Alaska @ gmail .com (without the spaces), and we will include your response in the follow up post. Help this university student and others decide where to start a career after graduation.

And if you have a topic you’d like to see on Bent Alaska, please tell us about it!

Photo: A crowd of college students at the 2007 Pittsburgh University Commencement, by Kit of Pittsburgh. Via Wikimedia Commons; used in accordance with Creative Commons licensing.

Lauren Potter of “Glee” in Fairbanks and Anchorage to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act

Lauren Potter of the hit Fox show Glee will be in Fairbanks tonight and in Anchorage on Thursday to help Access Alaska celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  In Fairbanks, she’ll also be joined by champion musher Lance Mackey.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted by Congress in 1990, is a wide-ranging civil rights law which provides similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides against discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, and other characteristics.

We at Bent Alaska share in celebrating the 21st anniversary of this landmark civil rights legislation. Welcome to Alaska, Lauren!

Co-sponsors of Lauren’s appearances include University of Alaska Fairbanks, State of Alaska ADA Coordinator’s Office, and Fox 7 Fairbanks.

In Fairbanks —

• Date/time: Tuesday, July 19, 6:30–9:30 PM
• Location: Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Convention Center, 813 Noble St, Fairbanks, AK (see map)
• Cost of admission: Free admission; donations appreciated
• Further info: see Facebook events page

In Anchorage —

• Date/time: Thursday, July 21, 6:30–9:30 PM
• Location: West Anchorage High School Auditorium, 1700 Hillcrest Drive, Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: Free admission; donations appreciated
• Further info: see Facebook events page

Lauren Potter was joined by Glee‘s Jane Lynch to finish out a compelling PSA on the unacceptability of calling people by derogatory terms… including fag, including retard.

Watch. And then join the campaign to spread the word to end the word.