A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Colbert’s extended analogy of gay sex and smoking

On Tuesday’s show, Stephen Colbert poked Rep. Michele Bachmann and Bob Vander Plaats, the leader of an anti-gay Iowa group that she’s in bed with. Plaats believes that same-sex marriage is as dangerous as second-hand smoke, and Colbert works that analogy to comedic extremes.

Watch “Threat Level: Rainbow” (warning: adult humor)

P.S. Jon Kyl is gay. (#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement)

Note: If you haven’t seen the Pap Smears at Walgreens episode where Colbert first exposed Kyl’s lie and ripped Fox hosts for their ignorance of women’s healthcare, go watch it. It’s not about LGBTs, but it’s one of his funniest.

What it would sound like if all queer students and their allies were silenced

Today is GLSEN’s 2011 Day of Silence.

“Hundreds of thousands of students at thousands of middle schools, high schools and colleges will take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.”

Why?

• Because nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment in American schools each year.
• Because 60% of LGBT youth feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.
• Because nearly 1 out of 3 LGBT youth missed school in the past month because of safety concerns.

Think about the voices you’re not hearing today.

MSNBC: Anti-gay activist “actually listened to his opponents and changed his mind”

Lawrence O’Donnell did a story yesterday on Louis Martinelli, a conservative republican activist who worked against marriage equality for years, then finally talked to gays and lesbians and saw the harm his work caused. He now supports marriage equality.

Watch the video:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Equality on Trial adds,

National Organization For Marriage defector Louis Marinelli had a front seat for NOM’s “Summer For Marriage Tour.” He had every reason to stick with the bias that surrounded him. But because of pro-equality voices like the Courage Campaign’s NOM Tour Trackers, Louis had a change of heart. He now supports full marriage equality under the law!

His story reminds us to continue telling our stories and making LGBT people visible. That’s how we change hearts and minds.

UAFA reintroduced, bi-national couples sought

Two equality bills were reintroduced in Congress today: Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA sheds light on workers fired for being gay or trans, and UAFA raises awareness of bi-national couples torn apart by the ban on same sex marriage. (A repeal of DOMA was introduced earlier this session.)

Bi-national couples have one partner who is an American or a legal permanent resident, and the other partner is from another country. Several bi-national same sex couples were in the news lately when a partner was about to be deported, sometimes to a home country where they may be targeted for being gay. Because of DOMA, Americans cannot sponsor same sex spouses for citizenship.

Tom works with Immigration Equality, an organization fighting to end discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans and legal permanent residents in our nation’s immigration laws. He is working on building support for UAFA from Alaska’s members of Congress, and looking for more bi-national LGBT couples to share their stories.

When UAFA was introduced last year, Tom (working on the same issue but for a different group) explained the importance of UAFA to Bent Alaska and asked us to contact Senators Begich and Murkowski. Recently, Tom wrote to us again, about his current project sharing our stories for UAFA:

“Dear Friends,
Judy and Karin are spending their retirement traveling among 4 countries – missing family birthdays, hospital visits, and weddings – so that they can be together.

Although Edward started a business in the United States and cares for his ailing partner, he could be deported at a moment’s notice because John, an American citizen, can’t sponsor him for residency.

Jaylynn and Shirley have been together for over two decades, and are raising twin boys – but even as an American citizen, Jaylynn worries every day that her wife will be sent back to the Phillipines.

Do you have a story like these, or know someone who does? We are working with Immigration Equality to pass the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their foreign born partners for residency in the United States – and we need your help.

Stories like yours, and those you’ve just read, are the most powerful weapons our community has – whether we are fighting for marriage equality, non-discrimination laws, or immigration rights. Your story makes a difference to members of Congress, to the media, and to other couples fighting for equality. Please take a moment to visit Immigration Equality’s website and submit your story.

If you would like to find out other ways that you can help pass Uniting American Families Act, please contact Tom Tierney of Immigration Equality, at ttierney@immigrationequality.org

Thank you for all you do for equality.”

UAFA finished the last Congress with 162 co-sponsors in the House and Senate. That was a record, and they want to set another record this year. Neither of our senators is a co-sponsor of UAFA.

Please call Senator Begich and Senator Murkowski at the Capitol switchboard: (202) 225-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) this year.

Director Rolla Selbak and “Three Veils” starring Sheetal Sheth, in Anchorage 6/11

Out North is hosting a special one-night screening of the film “Three Veils” on June 11 at 7pm, and filmmaker Rolla Selbak will be there.

Speak out for the hate crimes bill

Nobody should have to go through what happened to Cody: coming out gay only to be rejected, bullied and even assaulted – which is bad enough – and then the police let the attacker go free after only one night in jail, with no further investigation or charges, free to attack again.

Senator Bettye Davis introduced a state hate crimes law this year that includes LGBT Alaskans. It was considered and approved by the Judiciary Committee, and sent to Finance. But a second hearing was not scheduled, although all of the documents that were requested were delivered.

It’s time for the Finance Committee to hold a hearing on SB 11, the Alaska Hate Crimes bill. How do we get them to schedule a hearing and vote? You know the answer to that: We contact them. All of us.

Fred Traber of Anchorage wrote to the legislators in support of SB 11. He told the Finance Committee:

“With less than three weeks left in the session, thousands of constituents around the state are concerned about the fate of SB 11, the Hate Crimes Bill.

Two weeks ago in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Human Rights Council issued a joint statement co-sponsored by 85 countries – YES – 85 countries – calling for “Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based On Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.”

And SB 11, the Alaska Hate Crimes Bill, has been held in the Senate Finance Committee since February 28.

Is there support for SB 11? Are your fellow legislators so much busier than the delegates from those 85 countries that they can’t find time for SB 11? Or don’t they care? Or maybe issues like the personalized pro-life license plates and designating the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 caliber .30-06 caliber rifle as Alaska’s state gun are just more popular issues. Or is there another agenda here?”

Go, Fred!

Traber also notes that “SB 11 is one of the least complicated, non-financial issues before the legislature this year.”

Senator Ellis is the only committee member who replied:

“I am a cosponsor and have requested movement on the bill, as has the prime sponsor [Senator Davis]. I will continue to push. More Alaskans need to speak out for hate crimes bills to pass.” [emphasis mine]

It’s your turn to speak out.

Please contact the senators today and tell them to approve SB 11, the Alaska Hate Crimes bill.

Don’t let what happened to Cody – or worse – happen to other LGBT Alaskans.

– Thanks to Fred for being an active citizen and sharing his letter with us.

Gay teen from Wasilla was assaulted, tires slashed, rejected by parents but looking ahead

Cody had a horrible coming out. His college buddies at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and his brother and parents in Wasilla all reacted badly, only his sister is supportive. But he won’t let them ruin his life.

The “I’m From Driftwood” team interviewed LGBT Alaskans for their national story project, and the first video from Alaska was uploaded on Monday. The story is from Cody James, raised in Wasilla. Watch:

How sad that their son was assaulted and, instead of helping him, they caused him more harm. Hopefully, they will learn to love and support him as the wonderful young gay man that he is.

And what kind of university would allow a student to be harassed for 4 months?

The main perpetrator got a slap on the wrist, 24 hours in jail and some community service hours, Cody told Bent Alaska. The others got off. The city and campus police wouldn’t do anything to stop the bullying, so he fled Fairbanks and moved to Anchorage. When he explained to his family why he left college, they rejected him for being gay.

The University of Alaska, Fairbanks and the Fairbanks police owe Cody an apology, at the very least, and assurance that they will protect other students from being bullied out of an education. [Hint: Get an LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying policy, and enforce it.]

Cody wants to put this bad time behind him and move forward. But he could have called the FBI to investigate the assault under the federal Hate Crimes law passed in 2009. They have the authority to step in when local officers won’t take an anti-gay attack seriously.

Why the FBI? Because we aren’t protected by Alaska’s hate crimes law, and a bill adding LGBT Alaskans is currently stuck in the Finance committee.

Please contact the legislators today and tell them to approve SB 11, the Alaska Hate Crimes bill. We obviously need it.

Thanks to I’m From Driftwood for including Alaska in their story tour and collecting this important story. And thanks to Cody for being brave, finding support and sharing his story. May his life get much better and stay good.

Sara’s News Roundup 4/11/11

She’s back from vacation! Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser of Juneau, Alaska.

1) 10 countries now allow same-sex marriage
New York, 365Gay.com, March14, 2011

2) NBJC featured in a Groundbreaking Lesbian Soldier’s Story in Essence Magazine
National Black Justice Coalition, February 17, 2011

3) ‘Glee’ goes Gaga with expanded, 90-minute episode
Los Angeles, Advocate, April 7, 2011

4) Intersex Babies: Boy or Girl and Who Decides?
ABC News, March 17, 2011

5) Excellent Young Adult book with transgender character
Review by David N. Parker of PFLAGTNET, Feb 10, 2011

6) Daughter of bisexual bishop shares memoir, ‘uncloaking’ her father’s sexuality
Spectator, March 9, 2011

7) Black Church Leaders Ask for Forgiveness From the LGBT Community
Washington, The Root, March 3, 2011

8) US hails world move to end violence against gays [bi’s and trans]
Washington, Yahoo News, March 23, 2011

9) Bio Details Malcolm X’s Gay Life
Advocate.com, April 5, 2011

10) Lesbian families and co-mothering
Gay City News, March 23, 2011

11) Ohio Gay, Children’s Choruses: It Gets “Beautiful”
Ohio, Advocate, April 4, 2011

Huckabee and the lesbians sail to Alaska. Or Africa. Whatever.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and a boatload of holy rollers are cruising southeast Alaska this summer, hot on the trail of two lesbian cruises. Well, maybe. Huckabee says he’s coming to Alaska, but the closing image of the tour’s video ad shows what happens when flat-earthers try to navigate a round world.

Stand Up! against anti-gay bullying (video)

This anti-bullying message is from BeLonG To Youth Services for their annual Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week in Ireland. The campaign promotes friendship among young people as a way to combat homophobic bullying.

Watch the video:

More about Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week:

“Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people develop their sexual and gender identities within supportive families and communities and are leading happy lives. However, many other LGBT young people experience serious levels of homophobia, transphobia and exclusion in their schools, youth clubs and local areas.

Stand Up! Week will provide an annual focus for promoting positive awareness of LGBT young people, tackling homophobia and homophobic bullying, and building allies among young people and youth workers.”

This year’s Stand Up! Weeks are April 4 – 15, 2011.