A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013

Is Homosexuality Immoral?

Editor’s note: We’re pleased to welcome Heather and John Aronno of the Alaska Commons as contributors to Bent Alaska. From the summer of 2009, when Heather and John regularly blogged about the Anchorage equal rights ordinance, to the present, they have been two of our best friends and allies in the Alaska LGBTA blogosphere. Please make them welcome!

Is Homosexuality Immoral?

by Heather Aronno | published originally at the Alaska Commons

There’s a lecture title worthy of a few head turns. When I first saw the poster, I felt a little, nauseous pit form in my stomach. I thought, “is UAA actually bringing in an anti-gay speaker?” Fortunately, I paused long enough to read the description before I flew off the handle.

With a combination of humor, sensitivity, & intellectual rigor, Corvino examines the most common arguments against homosexual conduct.

Whatever your sexual orientation, moral perspective, or religious conviction, this program will invite you to rethink some of the “easy assumptions” that often characterize the debate over homosexuality.

A visit to the UAA Student Life & Leadership website provided a little more information: “Dr. John Corvino, a.k.a. “The Gay Moralist,” is a writer, speaker, and philosophy professor. For over 15 years he has been traveling the country speaking on gay rights.  Combining philosophy, sensitivity, and humor he has challenged all sides of the debate about homosexuality and morality.”

During my first year at UAA, I was pleased to learn that many departments and student organizations coordinate a series of events every February called “Healthy Sexuality Week.” And being that Alaska now rates ninth in the country for its rates of gonorrhea, it’s probably a good idea to focus on healthy sexuality. As part of the events for every year that I’ve attended there has been a notable speaker, come to help make up for our lack of comprehensive sex education. For the past two years, columnist and personal hero Dan Savage has been our guest of honor. (Some of you may remember when the Anchorage Press carried Dan’s Savage Love column. Do you miss it? Send the Anchorage Press an email and let ‘em know.)

This year, Dan gets a break and Dr. John Corvino will be taking the stage. I asked a few UAA students for their opinions on the lecture and its subject matter:

“Homosexuality isn’t really immoral or a threat to marriage. Divorce is probably a bigger threat to marriage than homosexuality.” Eric – Business Management Major

“I have no problem with it. I have friends that are gay. I might potentially take part in [the lecture], depending on what they end up talking about. I don’t mind that kind of discussion. That actually sounds pretty interesting.”  Mike – Psychology and German Major

“To me, it doesn’t matter because I see them just as another human being, who has a different opinion than my opinion. It doesn’t affect me at all.” Simon – Undergraduate

“I’m not really biased. It’s a good topic to get people talking about it, because most people are shy in this day and age. It’s not that they don’t have an opinion, they’re just scared to voice it. At least he’s opening up the question for discussion. If I don’t have class at the same time, I might attend.” George – Management Information Systems Major

“I don’t have a problem with homosexuality. I have family members who are [gay]. I have friends who are. It doesn’t bother me at all.”  Tim – Electrical Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, and Mathematics Major

“He looks pretty cute. Too bad he’s gay.” Heidi – International Studies Major

Now, that’s just a small sample of UAA students who happened to be in the Student Union when I was asking questions. I didn’t have anyone who spoke against homosexuality that I chose not to include; all of the students I spoke to indicated they had no issue with people being gay. (Except for Heidi. Ah well, she’s not the only girl stuck pining after an attractive gay man. I’ve had a crush on Neal Patrick Harris for years.) But for every student who is comfortable talking about their gay friends, family members, selves, there are other students who may very well benefit from hearing a different perspective on the morality/immorality of homosexuality. I encourage them to attend.

I’m looking forward to Dr. Corvino’s lecture. I hope some of you will be able to join me.

* * *

“Is Homosexuality Immoral?” with Dr. John Corvino

Presented by UAA Student Activities.  American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for this lecture.

• Date & time: Thursday, February 17, 7:30-9:30 PM; doors open at 6:30 PM
• Location: UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium
• Cost of admission: This event is free to everyone.
• Info: Dr. John Corvino, a.k.a. “The Gay Moralist,” is a writer, speaker, and philosophy professor. For over 15 years he has been traveling the country speaking on gay rights.  Combining philosophy, sensitivity, and humor he has challenged all sides of the debate about homosexuality and morality. Dr. Corvino holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Wayne State. He has written over 100 articles and opinion pieces, wich have appeared in regional and nationally at the online Independent Gay Forum and in numerous academic journals and anthologies.
• Further information: UAA Student Activities, or this event’s Facebook page

Chuck O’Connell 1942–2011

The Anchorage LGBT community joins other friends and family members in mourning the loss of our friend and ally Chuck O’Connell, who died unexpectedly early last Thursday morning.

Alaska Hate Crimes Bill: Testify this Wednesday

An action alert from Alaskans Together for Equality —

Dear Members and Supporters of Alaskans Together For Equality Inc.,

Senate Bill (SB) 11, the Alaska Hate Crimes Bill, has been scheduled for its first hearing, before the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 16th. The full text of the bill can be found at:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20%2011&session=27

The Judiciary Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. and has several bills scheduled to be heard so testimony could be taken on SB 11 anytime between 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. We invite you to provide short testimony in support of SB 11 as written which includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Testimony can be given in person in Room 105 of the new Thomas Stewart Building adjacent to the Capitol, by teleconference from your local Legislative Information Office (see http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/lios.php for the location of your LIO) or by calling toll free 877.763.5073.

If you are not able to testify on Wednesday, February 16th, please send a message to your own state senator and ask them to co-sponsor the bill and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee plus the bill’s sponsor, Senator Davis.

The legislators are:

Senator Hollis French – Co-Sponsor
Senator_Hollis_French@legis.state.ak.us

Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator_Bill_Wielechowski@legis.state.ak.us

Senator Joe Paskvan
Senator_Joe_Paskvan@legis.state.ak.us

Senator Lesil McGuire
Senator_Lesil_McGuire@legis.state.ak.us

Senator John Coghill
Senator_John_Coghill@legis.state.ak.us

Senator Bettye Davis – Sponsor
Senator_Bettye_Davis@legis.state.ak.us

If you are not able to send an email message, then your third option is a Public Opinion Message or POM, a short and easy-to-send 50 word message that should be addressed specifically to the Senators listed in the previous paragraph. Your POM could say something like: “I strongly support SB 11. Please pass this bill as written out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.” To send a POM go to: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/

The following talking points are provided for your use in writing testimony or sending a message to legislators regarding SB 11.

We look forward to hearing your testimony on Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at alaskanstogether@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors
Alaskans Together for Equality Inc.

Sara’s News Roundup 2/13/11

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

1) Antigay Testimony May Sway Md. Senator’s Marriage Vote
Baltimore, Maryland, Advocate, February 10, 2011

2) Hawaii House passes same-sex civil unions bill
Honolulu, Hawaii, February 11, 2011

3) Jobs program targets transgender people
Boston, Boston Herald, January 24, 2011

4) Court: Student Counselor Must Treat Gays
Michigan, February 11, 2011

5) Lady Gaga’s Latest Song: Born This Way
Gaga Daily, February 11, 2011

6) “Born This Way” Shatters Records
Advocate, February 11, 2011

7) ACLU: Transgender woman, ejected from Lynnwood store, spurs policy change
Lynnwood, Washington, Seattle PI, February 8, 2011

8) Corvino: Love, partnership and Valentine’s Day
365Gay.com, February 11, 2011

9) Opinion: Africa: Transgender Rights Not Simply Gay Rights
Africa, AllAfrica.com, February 10, 2011

10) Harvard Law Review elects first openly gay student as president
Cambridge, Mass., 365Gay.com, February 10, 2011

11) Culhane: Are ‘religious exemptions’ swimming against the tide?
365Gay.com, February 10, 2011

12) GLAAD nominations for Glee, Project Runway
TVNZ.com, January 21, 2011

Valentine’s weekend in Anchorage: Sunday brunch benefits Out North & ICOAA

Out North recently lost a major funding grant, and needs your help to continue fulfilling its mission of Art for Everyone, No Exceptions.

One way to help is by enjoying a splendid Valentine’s weekend afternoon this Sunday at Mad Myrna’s!  This event benefits both Out North & the Imperial Court of All Alaska.

Joani LaChoy’ Sweetheart’s Champagne and Cabaret Brunch

Please join Joani LaChoy as she presents her annual Sweetheart’s Champagne and Cabaret Brunch.

• Benefit for Out North Contemporary Art House and The Imperial Court of All Alaska.
• Date/time: Sunday, February 13 at 2 PM.
• Location: Mad Myrna’s, 530 E. 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK (see map)
• Cost of admission: $35.00
• Info: Live and Silent auction, fantastic entertainment, and of course – a gourmet champagne brunch!
• Further information: See Facebook event page.

Please help support Out North – attend shows, buy season tickets, or donate directly.

Keep track of upcoming events with Bent Alaska’s LGBT Events Calendar.

Valentine’s Day weekend in Fairbanks: Two fundraisers featuring KRISTARA

It’s a KRISTARA double-header in Fairbanks this weekend for Valentine’s Day, with both events benefiting Interior Alaska causes: the Interior AIDS Association (Friday’s event) and the Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living (Saturday’s event, sponsored by the Imperial Court of All Alaska).

RAW seeks submissions for Nicole Blizzard Short Story Contest

Every year, Radical Arts for Women (RAW) sponsors a short story contest open to all women living in Alaska. The contest is named in honor of Nicole Blizzard, a local lesbian writer and creator, publisher, and editor of the local LGBT literary journal Naked Ptarmigan, who passed away in December 2009.

To enter, you must be a woman living in Alaska as of January 2011. Stories must be fiction of between 250 and 5,000 words and contain some lesbian content. Per the contest website, “The fiction and lesbian stipulations may be interpreted by the author, but we are not seeking poetry or non-fiction. Erotica is acceptable.”

Entries must be mailed in (no electronic submissions!), so writers, leave yourself with enough time to get to the post office!  The postmark deadline is Friday, April 1.

And if you win?  Generous cash prizes: first place $500, second place $300, and third place $100.  Winners will be announced at the Anchorage annual women’s show Celebration of Change, which will take place this year on Saturday, April 23, at the Wendy Williamson Theatre on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. The first place winner’s story will also be published on RAW’s website.

There are formatting and other issues to be addressed in submitting any writing for contests or publication, so check out the complete submission guidelines on the RAW website.  And while you’re there, enjoy the writings of past years’ winners, too!

Assembly ally challenged by doomsday letter writer

Dave Bronson, a prominent member of the anti-LGBTQ organization Alaska Family Council, is challenging incumbent Elvi Gray-Jackson for her seat on the Anchorage Assembly.

Sara’s News Roundup 2/6/11

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

1) Parenting by Gays More Common in the South, Census Shows
Jacksonville, Florida, New York Times, January 18, 2011

2) UI student becomes Internet sensation after defending gay parents
Iowa, Daily Iowan, February 4, 2011

Here’s the speech referred to in the news item, in which Zach Wahls speaks about being raised by his lesbian parents during a public forum in the Iowa House of Representatives on Resolution 6, which would end civil unions in Iowa:

3) What Protests Mean for LGBT Egyptians
Egypt, Advocate, February 4, 2011

4) French court upholds ban on homosexual marriage
Paris, France, New Kerala.com, January 28, 2011

5) Transgender and Transgender-Like Veterans: A documentary of  individuals who crossed gender lines to serve their country (video), Part 1, Part 2
U.S.A., YouTube, April 2, 2010

6) At last, a role model for ‘queer crips’
Washington Blade, February 3, 2011

7) Star Trek’s Gay Problem: Producer Brannon Braga Regrets Not Having Homosexual Character
Huffington Post, January 27, 2011

8) Methodists Urged to End Gay Clergy Ban
Advocate, February 4, 2011

9) Researcher: Mona Lisa Really da Vinci’s Gay Lover
Italy, Pennsylvania Fox News, February 3, 2011

10) Transgender activists face multiple challenges
New York, Boston Globe, February 4, 2011

11) Veteran Reveals Life As Transgender In Military
San Diego, San Diego 10News.com, February 3, 2011

12) Bush twin makes pro-marriage video for HRC
New York, Washington Blade, February 2, 2011

13) Tickets On Sale for Tony Kushner’s Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide Jan. 25
New York, Playbill.com, January 25, 2011

14) Gay Enough?
London, Gay City News, February 2, 2011

15) Obama Appoints LGBT Leader to Faith Council
Washington, Advocate, February 5, 2011

Gay Alaskan joins AmeriCorps, makes it better for himself and other youth

Kevin Viado was raised in Kodiak, had never been to a gay event, and described himself as “really shy” before joining AmeriCorps. After several months of helping other people, with a team of mostly straight young adults who like and accept him as he is, he is now confident enough to make his own It Gets Better video and help other LGBT youth.