A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Alaska Pride Week 2011 events

Pride Week 2011 begins on Friday June 17, and there’s something for everyone! Here is the full schedule of June Pride events in Anchorage. (Check Alaska Pride for updates and new events added after this post.)

The day at LGBT Netroots Connect

This is a fairly bare bones report of the LGBT Netroots Connect preconference in Minneapolis held earlier today. Tomorrow begins the Netroots Nation conference proper, about which I’ll be also writing over the next few days.

Two Spirits airs tonight on PBS, with Yupik tribe member Richard LaFortune

A Native American LGBTQ film “Two Spirits” premieres on PBS’ Independent Lens tonight, Tuesday, June 14, showing on KAKM at 9 pm Alaska time. Two Spirits tells the story of Fred Martinez, his life and violent death, and the history of multi-gendered people in many Native American cultures.

“Two Spirits interweaves the tragic story of a mother’s loss of her son with a revealing look at the largely unknown history of a time when the world wasn’t simply divided into male and female and many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders.

Fred Martinez was nádleehí, a male-bodied person with a feminine nature, a special gift according to his ancient Navajo culture. He was one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history when he was brutally murdered at 16. Two Spirits explores the life and death of this boy who was also a girl, and the essentially spiritual nature of gender.

Two Spirits mourns the young Fred Martinez and the threatened disappearance of the two-spirit tradition, but it also brims with hope and the belief that we all are enriched by multi-gendered people, and that all of us — regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or cultural heritage — benefit from being free to be our truest selves.”

The concept of Two-Spirit is explained in the film by LGBTQ Native Americans, including Richard (Anguksuar) LaFortune of the Yupik tribe, director of the media project 2SPR-Two Spirit Press Room and an early organizer of the International Two Spirit Gatherings. LaFortune was born in Bethel, and is currently living in Minnesota working on reducing the suicide rate of Native youth and revitalizing Native American languages.

The American Library Association (ALA) recognized Two Spirits in its 2011 list of Notable Videos for Adults, a list of 15 outstanding films released on video within the past two years that make a significant contribution.

Watch the Two Spirits trailer:

Watch the full episode. See more Independent Lens.

The Two Spirit film blog recently highlighted the contributions and unique history of the Two-Spirit community:

“Many indigenous peoples recognized centuries ago the natural complexity of sexuality and gender, and have identified multiple genders and held an honored role for people now described as “LGBT” as ambassadors, healers, counselors, matchmakers, parents to orphaned children, artists, and medicine people who are seen as having special gifts to contribute to the society because of their Two-Spirit status.

Native American scholars are reclaiming ancient beliefs about gender and sexuality that are found in Native cosmology, traditions and ceremonies, and cultural stories. Unfortunately, the research conducted in scholarly circles rarely, if ever, reaches the general public or the media and therefore has not been a focal part of the public advocacy done on behalf of LGBT and Two-Spirit people.”

Other challenges include the lack of funding for Two-Spirit projects, geographic isolation and homophobia:

“Native Two-Spirit people are more vulnerable to homophobic violence and also to self-inflicted violence and suicide than the general LGBT population. Native LGBT teen suicide is a particularly urgent issue, and clearly a major contributing factor is that many two-spirit youth lack a sense of connection to the inherent dignity and respect that should rightly be afforded Two-Spirit traditions and values. Many Two-Spirit people live in geographic isolation from LGBT resources and/or in cultural separation from their two-spirit traditions. Native LGBT people want to be more connected to each other, and they also want to be more involved in making a difference to LGBT equality work locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.”

The Two-Spirit community hopes to build on the awareness raised by the film to address these issues:

“The leaders and activists of the Two-Spirit movement are working to shape more progressive national attitudes toward gender and sexuality with the general public and within tribal communities. Two-Spirit people are making the most of the increased awareness generated by the film Two Spirits and other resources to build the framework for long-term development and by working with public sector partners, foundations, philanthropists, and tribal leaders.”

ITVS, the co-presenter of Independent Lens, is supporting the film Two Spirits with community cinema screening events and materials in support of the national broadcast. There are dozens of public screenings around the U.S. and Canada this month, free at libraries and community centers, and supported by the local PBS stations. No screenings are scheduled in Alaska. (Who wants KAKM to host one? Contact them HERE.)

Two Spirits
KAKM – Tuesday, June 14 from 9-10 PM

If you miss it tonight, you can set your DVR for one of the later showings of Two Spirits on KAKM:
Thursday, June 16 — 2:00am
Sunday, June 19 — 2:00am
Monday, June 20 — 1:30am

Another Target for Trolls (or, Airing Laundry)

by Lauren Tibbitts

Editor’s note: Bent Alaska would like to welcome Lauren Tibbitts as a regular contributor to Bent Alaska.

The following is a comment written Sunday, June 12 in response to the article “One Less Band” (Anchorage Press, 6/8/11) and its comments. For the full backstory, read the article and then comments from bottom to top at the Anchorage Press and the related story last week at Bent Alaska; for the nutshell, read this:

Felix Rouse, a Vietnam veteran, is a bandmember of the Wasilla-based band, Ogopogo. After they had been asked to perform at the Fairview Block Party this weekend, they had backed out, with Rouse citing that “he’d heard there would be fag shit on stage” and refused to play at the party.

“Rouse blames [Chris] Constant for not informing him up front
there would be a drag show at the block party. He says he
‘felt like an asshole’ for backing out of the booking, but he’s
‘not a fag guy'” (Brenden Joel Kelley, Anchorage Press).

Now imagine the remarks to follow THAT, from both sides of the spectrum. I do really suggest reading the entirety of the article and responses, they made me laugh. My response is below.

* * *

@Chris: Congratulations on throwing a very successful and fantastic party. I wish I could have gone and supported you and your efforts, but know I hold you in dear regard. I am so glad that the Anchorage community responded so positively to the block party. I hope to see pictures of it soon!

To the general public: I fervently hope you read all this. If not, you’ll miss the surprise plot twist.

Let me make another target for you. I’m an average student going to college, from a loving home with an amazing set of parents and extended family close-by. My brother and I grew up happy and healthy, with all our needs met to beyond compare and most of our wishes fulfilled as it was possible. Abuse was never a situation in my family, and my parents spent a lot of time with both my brother and I growing up. As an adult, I look back and see a very happy life, filled with positive influences up the wazoo; friends and lovers to my heart’s content; and generally a long 20 years without want. But even with this blissful life (which many others are not blessed with, and for which I am extremely thankful), I ‘turned out’ pansexual–meaning that I disregard gender in my relationships through life. This status has never fluctuated through my life, and I knew at a young age who I was. My parents love and accept me for who I am, and it has never impacted my life other than weeding out the close-minded individuals who I had, regrettably, come into contact with. I’ve never felt the urge to touch children or animals (because that’s just… I’m not going there, it’s not my thing. REALLY not my thing.), and no one in my community (my town) had ever come to me and said “You’re going straight to hell, you muff-diving little bitch” because A) that’s inappropriate to say to a 15 year old (that’s when I formally ‘came out’, though most people in my life knew long before then) and because that’s just plain rude and inhumane. Where is the wrongness in the above scenario? Oh, probably that no one came to set fire to a rainbow float in my yard, huh? Yeah, that’s probably it.

There are many theories on why people are gay and why others are straight while others go through the spectrum between. My favorite is “It’s a choice”. Believe me, When I say that I weeded out people I had once considered friends, it was a tough business. Being a 100%, no-vaginas-other-than-my-own-allowed straight girl would have been a BLESSING. It certainly would have made a lot of things easier, but I’ve been looking back over the years–growing up hearing bigots on the radio, TV, reading them in print– and wondering, when exactly did I choose to like and love women as well as men?

I’ve found my answer: Never.

I even asked the people in my life the same question, whether straight, gay, nonsexual, or in between: When did you choose your orientation? Everyone has answered some variant of “Never” (well, to be fair, there were a couple awkward pauses before the conversation was swiftly carried to a new topic, because…well, you don’t ask my religious, Republican grandparents ‘that kind of question’ out of the blue. They later both came back and said that there was never a time they chose what sex they appreciated romantically or sexually). My point is that there isn’t a choice. Of course, the above study isn’t scientific, but out of the thousands of people I’ve asked over the past five years, I’ve never gotten an answer indicating choice.

Now onto genetics, another favorite of mine. Is there a gay gene? (My best friend Gene is a wonderful gay man–and Catholic! Whodathunkit?–but I’m sure that’s not what we’re looking for here.) I have no idea. All I know is that my paternal grandfather is a gay man in a loving and committed relationship with his partner, and has always been gay–even when he was less-than-happily married to his wife, who always knew he was gay but married him anyway and granted me a wonderful father. (That’s drama for another story-time.) On my mother’s side, her paternal grandparents had three children of seven* declare they were either gay or lesbian early in their lives. Within three generations of myself, there are or were gays and lesbians. (And three of seven kids being not-straight-Steve/Sally? That knowledge always amuses me.)

If someone is so afraid of being diverse, I would advise them to think about it to themselves. Quietly. If you talk to people (or the general populace) about your feelings and thoughts, I would expect you to ready yourself for comments from wherever they come (because we all know that word spreads like wildfire). I respect Rouse’s (loudly stated) opinion on this matter, and would defend him (and like-minded individuals, of which there are an abundance) to the death for the right to say it– but I do believe that only a fool is unprepared for the consequence of conversation when airing laundry for public consumption. (Yes, that includes myself.)

Ogopogo, I wish you many blessings in the future. May your performances be many, and may they be at venues you approve of. I will never call your band for any gigs, paid or otherwise, and will recommend the (numerous) LGBT-friendly communities across Alaska to do the same. I dearly hope for you to get only what you want.

As for commentators who are clearly either homophobic, intolerant or otherwise disapproving of the ‘lifestyle’, as you call it: I only ask that you discriminate equally. If I’m a bad person, unclean and dirty and filthy and a lot of other names, for being attracted to people who self-identify as men and women, please, I ask you to hate me for also being Korean, Irish, Scottish, third-generation American on one side, Native/Indigenous People/First Nation of North America, bipolar, tall, middle-class, publicly schooled, fat, Wiccan, and the result of unwed, teenage parents. I’m certain that there are other reasons to discriminate against me, you’re free to find them. Hate my fellow LGBT citizens of the US for also being black, brown, Asian, white, African, thin, fat, rich, poor, sick, healthy, and a slew of other things.

Oh, I’m sorry. That means discriminating against us all for being American. That’s too bad… I’m sure your consciences will figure that one out. We are, after all, in the land of the free, right? Where people aren’t equal, where rights don’t matter if they’re not yours. I’m sorry, I forgot about that one.

Veterans and enlisted servicemen and -women of the country and of my family, thank you for proudly volunteering and serving our country and insuring the safety of our democratic political system, where people are “endowed certain unalienable Rights by their Creator, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. I will take my Rights and be cozy with the love of my life, and advise you to do the same, if you are able to.

*Edit: I had mistakenly thought that my great-grandparents had five children; in truth, they had seven. My mistake. –L

Sara’s News Roundup 6/12/11

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

1) 35% – Disapprove of Gay and Lesbian Couples Raising Children
Pew Research Center, Yahoo News, June 9, 2011

2) Army Launches DADT Website
Washington, Advocate, June 6, 2011

3) Don Lemon on Being Gay, Black & Twitter Feed Crush Fodder
National Black Justice Coalition, May 31, 2011

4) Red Sox to Do “It Gets Better” Video
Boston, Advocate, June 6, 2011

5) For Gay Men, Serious Relationships Still Harbor Risks for HIV
HealthDay News, June 7, 2011

6) Steeped in a man’s sport, lesbian footballers fit the mold
Germany, D-W World, June 7, 2011

7) Female couple flout French same-sex marriage ban
Nancy, France, AFP, June 4, 2011

8) LEBANON: Lady Gaga’s newest album seized as potentially offensive to Christians
Lebanon, LA Times, June 6, 2011

9) Glbt (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) Teens More Prone To Risky Behaviors
Atlanta, Third Age, June 6, 2011

10) Bisexual, Lesbian Women Less Likely to Get Pap Tests
Health Behavior News Service, June 7, 2011

11) Transgender Vermonters Score Historic Legislative Victories – Under the Radar
Vermont, Seven Days, June 1, 2011

12) Wyoming Supreme Court reverses same-sex divorce ruling
Cheyenne, Wyoming, Tribune, June 7, 2011

13) [Transgender] Anti-discrimination bills among 49 signed into law by Sandoval
Carson City, Nevada, Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 2, 2011

14) US bishop ends ban on blessing of same-sex couples
West Hollywood, CA, Guardian, June 9, 2011

15) Canceled Mass outrages gays
Boston, Boston Globe, June 11, 2011

16) VA says transgender [and intersex] vets are eligible for hormones
Washington, Associated Press, June 10, 2011

17) Gwyneth Paltrow encourages children to learn about lesbian parents
London, Telegraph, June 10, 2011

My first Anchorage Pride, 1983 — and (some of) Identity’s early history

As Pride Week approaches, we thought we’d revisit a few of the Pride Weeks of Anchorage’s past. Last week, Alaska Pride gave us a flashback to 1978. Now we’ll jump forward in time a few years: to 1983, my first Pride in Anchorage, just short of a year after I first arrived in Alaska.

Prepping for Netroots Nation — #nn11 #nn11lgbt

Two weeks ago we announced that Bent Alaska coadmin/contributor Mel Green is going to Netroots Nation 11 on full scholarship through the LGBT Netroots Connect initiative. Now she explains how she’s prepared for the conference, & what she hopes to bring back for Bent Alaska.

This weekend in LGBTQ Alaska (6/9/11): Three Veils, Loud & PROUD, Irina Rivkin, Fairview, & more

“Three Veils” and Loud and PROUD at Out North, the annual Alaska Women’s Run for breast cancer, a block party in Fairview, hypnotic hilarity at Mad Myrna’s, and live-looping harmony in Fairbanks with singer/songwriter Irina Rivkin. Those events and more, plus a preview of what’s coming up next week.

Jay Her’s Comedy Hypnosis Show this Saturday at Mad Myrna’s

Come start your summer fling at Jay Her’s Comedy Hypnosis Show at Mad Myrna’s!

Another crazy night of hypnotic havoc is before you! If you’ve been to a few before then you know what can happen at these shows. If you haven’t come find out why these shows have the reputation they do.

• Find out how orgies can be Boring.
• Why people pick their noses.
• Why little things can cause so much excitement!
• How some people get Great Cellphone Reception.
• And many other silly little things we humans are capable of…

Each show is entirely dependent on You and Your Friend’s involvement in making it come alive. And the potentials of these shows are anywhere from “Oh, it’s funny…” to “I can’t believe he just made love to the leg of that chair!”

Come and bring your friends to make this show another hilariously jam-packed Show!

• Date/time: Saturday, June 11, 9:00 PM to midnight
• Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Ave. in downtown Anchorage (see map)
• Cost of admission: $10.00 cover (get your pre-sale tickets starting in May)
• Further info: See the Facebook event page or Eventbrite event page

Southern Baptist Convention called upon to apologize for mistreatment of LGBTs

A new coalition of organizations has started a petition calling on the Southern Baptist Convention to apologize for the harm its teachings have caused the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The coalition includes the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, Believe OutLoud, Faith in America, GetEQUAL, Soulforce and Truth Wins Out. Sign the petition!