A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Kristara Live and In the Raw, a benefit for the Community Center

Kristara is back in Alaska for Pride with “Kristara Live and in the Raw,” a show to benefit the GLBTA Community Center, on Saturday, June 25 following the Pride Parade & Festival.

Don’t be a drag, come to Drag Queen Bingo

Alaska Pride Week continues with a Drag Queen Bingo block party! This year we are taking it to the streets – 4th Avenue between K and L Streets will be blocked off for all the fabulous festivities. Join Daphne, Ashley and the men of AMP for this Four A’s annual fundraiser.

Bear Tooth Theatrepub presents two films for Pride tonight

The Bear Tooth Theatrepub in Anchorage is presenting two movies tonight in celebration of Pride: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls and Making the Boys. Thanks, Bear Tooth, for joining us in celebrating Alaska Pride!

Sara’s News Roundup 6/19/11

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

1) Being gay today: The debate over pride in the 21st century
Toronto, Canada, Globe and Mail, June 10, 2011

2) Bisexual Christian embarks on homophobic ‘hurt’ journey
BBC News, U.K., June 15, 2011

3) Maine Pols Save Transgender Rights Policy
Maine, Advocate, June 8, 2011

4) White House to host Pride celebration on June 29
Washington, Washington Blade, June 7, 2011

5) From I.R.S. to Gay Couples, Headaches and Expenses
Utah, New York Times, June 11, 2011

6) Trans people trying to be just ordinary
Ontario, Canada, The Spec, June 10, 2011

7) Portland Adopts Trans-Inclusive Health Care for City Workers
Portland, Oregon, Advocate, June 9, 2011

8) Gaga sings ‘Born This Way’ at Rome gay rally
Rome, Italy, MSNBC, June 12, 2011

9) Man in Turkey Admits To Writing ‘Gay Girl in Damascus’
Turkey, Yahoo News, June 12, 2011

10) Some gay-rights foes claim they now are bullied
Boston Globe, June 12, 2011

11) Kentucky: Disabled Gay Couple Ejected From Pool
Hazard, Kentucky, Advocate, June 13, 2011

12) Gay: Born this way?
The Independent, June 14, 2011

13) NETROOTS: Lesbian SEIU Head Backs Exec Order Against LGBT Job Bias
Washington, Washington Blade, June 18, 2011

14) Bankruptcy Court: DOMA Unconstitutionally Limits Same-Sex Married Couples From Joint Bankruptcy Filing
Los Angeles, Metro Weekly, June 13, 2011

15) GOP Candidates on Marriage, DADT Repeal
New Hampshire, Advocate, June 14, 2011

16) Church clears the way for celibate gay bishops
London, England, BBC, June 19, 2011

17) Chris Christie Makes the Gaga-Argument for Gay Rights
New Jersey, Advocate, June 15, 2011

18) UN backs gay rights for first time ever
Geneva, Switzerland, Associated Press, June 17, 2011

Doug Frank: Grand Marshal for Alaska Pride Fest 2011

Doug Frank has been announced as tthe Grand Marshall for Alaska Pride Fest 2011. Alaska Pride Fest provided this biography documenting Frank’s decades of service to the LGBTQA community of Alaska, including his work with World AIDS Day and the Names Project Quilt, cofounding of the annual Pride Conference, and the 20012 Pride Month display at Anchorages’s Loussace Library.

Bringing Netroots home to Alaska

Our fatigued reporter’s last report from Minneapolis, because by the time you read this, she’ll be on a plane on the way back to Anchorage. But she’ll have more to say about Netroots Nation and LGBT Netroots Connect and some of the stuff she learned there to benefit — at least so we hope — the LGBT community(s) of Alaska — once she’s able to decompress & unpack it.

A Big Wild Lesbian at Netroots Nation

In which our erstwhile reporter dons her Radical Arts for Women t-shirt, which confers superpowers sufficient to push through another day of (mostly) interesting sessions at Day 2 of Netroots Nation, despite far too little downtime and an overabundance of stress hormones.

PINK DOT in Anchorage, Alaska: Support the Freedom to Love

The open-minded people of Anchorage are invited to join us downtown to create a human Pink Dot this Saturday, in a fun and visual demonstration of support for LGBT people that began in Singapore and has spread worldwide.

“Come out and show your support for everyone’s Freedom to Love through the formation of a Huge Human Pink Dot!

Find your nicest pink (or pink tie-dye) and let’s stand together and express our support of the Freedom to Love.

Everyone should have the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation. But fear, ignorance and prejudice often stand in the way. We believe the first step to overcoming these barriers is for open-minded segments of society to come together. If you believe that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender people deserve to express their love just like any other Alaskan, come join us to form a giant PINK dot on June 18, and help us make this statement!”

Watch the inspirational video from Pink Dot Singapore:

“The Online Citizen: A Community of Singaporeans” posted their event and noticed that we’re doing Pink Dot in Alaska:

“Pink Dot 2011 will be held on the 18 June, Saturday at Hong Lim Park. The event which celebrates the freedom of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people to love is now in its third year and seeks to continue its mission in making Singapore a more inclusive and cohesive society. Last year, the event saw a record turnout of over 4000 people.

With less than two weeks to go, the hype for the event has been steadily rising with its official video going viral worldwide and reaching 180,000 views within just three weeks.

The campaign has also inspired the sprouting of Pink Dots across the world in places like New York, London, Montreal, Alaska, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines.”

So come to the Anchorage Town Square on Saturday at 3pm to create a human Pink Dot and show that Alaskans support the freedom to love.

Pink Dot [Anchorage, Alaska]: Supporting the Freedom to Love
When: Saturday, June 18 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: Anchorage Town Square (downtown)
Wear Pink!

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AT THE EVENT??
Just show up, mingle, have fun and smile for our cameras – an aerial photograph has been planned to commemorate this symbolic event. Bring yourself, family, and friends… Along with Your Fabulous Pink!!!

DO I REALLY HAVE TO COME DRESSED IN PINK??
You don’t have to, but if you’re going to come down to show your support, you might as well go all the way!

IS THIS EVENT A PROTEST??
It is NOT a protest. It is a congregation of people who believe that everyone deserves a right to love, regardless of their sexual orientation. Fear and bigotry can get in the way of love – between friends, family and other loved ones – so this is an event for everyone who believes that LGBT individuals are equally deserving of strong relationships with our family and friends.

BUT I AM STRAIGHT. WHY SHOULD I GO??
Many LGBT Alaskans around you are not easy to identify. They may be amongst your sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, colleagues and bosses, teachers and schoolmates. Though more LGBT individuals are slowly emerging into the mainstream, prejudice and bigotry in present societal attitudes keep many LGBT individuals from coming out of the closet. Many of them fear that in coming out, they might lose their family, friends and even their jobs. Yet, by not coming out, their lives are shrouded in secrecy.

Relationships should be built on love, not fear and secrecy. Unfortunately, most LGBT individuals in Anchorage are denied this basic freedom to be who they are in front of their loved ones. Your presence at the Pink Dot [Anchorage Alaska] event can change that. The gathering on June 18th may be a small gesture, but it goes a long way.

For more information, visit the Pink Dot [Anchorage, Alaska] event page.

This weekend in LGBTQ Alaska (6/17/11): Pride Week begins!

Pride Week kicks off in Anchorage with a Pride art exhibit, a big Pink Dot for love in Town Square, the film Role/Play, the annual Mr/Ms/Miss Gay Alaska pageant (with a new title this year), the LGBT Memorial Service, a free BBQ, and Drag Camp! to teach us how it’s done: those events and more, plus a preview of what’s coming up next week.

Netroots Nation is not just one nation

A second report from Minneapolis, this time from Netroots Nation proper, as the participants of the LGBT Netroots Connect preconference mix in with the population of the more general NN11 attendance, and have a very very long day. But a day that, one hopes, gets us somewhere.