Tuesday, 26 May 2009 – 9:25 AM
| Comments Off on CA’s Prop 8 Upheld (for now)
The California Supreme Court today upheld Proposition 8’s ban on same-sex marriage, but also ruled that gay couples who wed before the election will continue to be legally married under state law.
The decision ensures another fight at the ballot box over marriage rights. Equality supporters in California said they may ask voters to repeal the ban as early as next year, and opponents have pledged to fight that effort. Proposition 8 passed with only 52% of the vote.
“No civil rights movement has EVER lost. It is not a matter of IF our community will win full equal rights, including marriage. It is only a matter of WHEN. But as in all civil rights movements, we will have to fight like hell for it,” stated Robin Tyler, the lead petitioner in the case to overturn Prop 8.
In response to the decision,
Alaskans Together for Equality wrote: “We believe that the option to get married is a basic human right. Gay and Lesbian Americans should have the same access to marriage and associated rights as other citizens. We are disappointed that the California Supreme Court has let a narrow majority of citizens vote to take away rights from a minority group. The State Constitution and Court System are supposed to prevent such a
tyranny of the majority injustice.”
Same-sex marriage was legal in California for almost 6 months before Prop 8 passed. Gay marriages are currently legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and Maine, and may become legal in New Hampshire and New York later this year.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 – 12:52 PM
| Comments Off on Senator Begich Listens to Alaskans, Co-Sponsors the Matthew Shepard Act
Senator Mark Begich has become a co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard Act, the hate crimes prevention bill currently before the Senate, despite being targeted by opponents.
Earlier this month, Alaskans Together reported that Begich was “getting lots of calls from our opponents asking him to vote against the Matthew Shepherd Act.”
“This is a time when we need to raise many, many Alaskan voices to give our senators the support they need to vote with us,” wrote Marsha Buck of
Alaskans Together for Equality.
Bent Alaska
posted the call to action and sent it to other Alaskan blogs that are concerned with civil rights. Sen. Begich received many supportive calls.
“He did get the message,” wrote Diane DiSanto from Senator Begich’s office. “More Alaskans called to support it, and most of the negatives were from out of state.”
The
Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S 909) was introduced in the Senate on April 28 “to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.”
The House approved it last month, although Don Young voted against it. President Obama supports the measure. Opponents argue that enforcing hate crime penalties will protect pedophiles. They use this threat to oppose all anti-discrimination and civil rights measures that include sexual orientation.
Senator Begich’s response on the Matthew Shepard Act:
“Thank you for your letter regarding federal hate crimes legislation.
“The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA)/Matthew Shepard Act gives the Department of Justice (DOJ) the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence by providing the DOJ with jurisdiction over crimes of violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. It does not and cannot infringe on an American’s right to free speech.
“The Act provides the DOJ with the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable to act, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated, violent crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The LLEHCPA also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers or assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes. It covers only these violent crimes, not beliefs or expressions of belief.
“In addition, the Act is endorsed by over 280 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations, including: the National Sheriffs’ Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National District Attorneys Association, Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Young Women’s Christian Association and National Disability Rights Network.
“Thank you for expressing your concerns on this issue. Please contact me again with your thoughts as the 111th Congress progresses.”
Friday, 15 May 2009 – 11:13 AM
| Comments Off on This Week in LGBT Alaska 5/15/09
This week’s events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to
Alaska GLBT News.
Bethel
Social reception for Alaskans Together for Equality 5/15, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bethel Community Services Building.
Fairbanks
Country Western 2 step lessons & dancing, three Fridays 5/15, 5/22, 5/29, at 7:30-8:30 p.m. $30 for the series, $12/drop in per class. Bovee Studio, 1845 Caribou Way, off College Rd. RSVP to Judith.
Pajama Party drag & variety show 5/16, doors open at 7 p.m. show at 8, at the Pioneer Party (Alaskaland) Civic Center.
Fairbanks PFLAG meeting 5/17, 4 p.m.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Palmer
Mat-Su LGBT Community Center in Palmer is open M-F 5-8 p.m. (except 6-8 on Wed.) The social group meets Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. at Vagabond Blues. Harmony Choir meets at the Center on Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.
Anchorage
Equality Works BBQ Party & Fun-Raiser 5/15, 6:30 p.m. private home, please RSVP for directions.
De-HiBearnation Brown Bear Bus Run 5/16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. meet at The Raven Bar (4th & Gambell) the bus leaves promptly at NOON! The Last Frontier Men’s Club.
Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, 5/16 at noon in Side Street Cafe.
“Homosexuality, Christianity & The Clobber Scriptures” used by traditional Christian Churches to promote anti-gay messages, this week’s sermon at the Sunday service with MCC Anchorage, 5/17, 2 p.m.
Patio Potluck Picnic at Mad Myrna’s 5/17, 3 p.m.
Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
Check the Anchorage LGBT Meetup group and the Men of Anchorage, Alaska Meetup group for informal gatherings.
“I just called Senator Begich’s office to ask him to “Please SUPPORT THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT (S. 909)” which is coming up for a vote in the Senate soon,” writes Marsha Buck of Alaskans Together for Equality.
“The aide or intern who took my call said she was surprised to hear that I was asking him to *support* the bill, because they are getting lots of calls today from our opponents asking him to vote against the Matthew Shepherd Act.”
“This is a time when we need to raise many, many Alaskan voices to give our senators the support they need to vote with us!”
The House of Representatives passed hate crimes legislation on April 29, with a vote of 249-175. The legislation adds protection for actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to existing protected categories such as religion, race, and ethnicity. Most law enforcement and civil rights groups support it.
Don Young voted against it.
The
Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S 909) was introduced in the Senate on April 28 “
to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes.” The haters are calling it protection for pedophiles.
Please call both Senator Begich and Senator Murkowski today and ask them to SUPPORT THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT (S. 909):
Senator Begich 202-224-3004
Senator Murkowski 202-224-6665
Senator Begich can be contacted by email
on his website, and Senator Murkowski can be reached by email
on her website. Or send the same message to both senators at the same time, watch the PSA, and find out more about the Matthew Shepard Act, at the HRC Action Center’s
Hate Crimes Act page.
Sunday, 3 May 2009 – 11:26 PM
| Comments Off on Alaskans Together joins United ENDA
“We continue to support ENDA in our statewide activities,” wrote Marsha Buck, Board President of
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. “We would be proud to join the other members of the coalition toward that end.”
ENDA, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, will add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal employment protections, currently provided based on a person’s race, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability. United ENDA is a coalition of nearly 400 state, local and national LGBT organizations and allies committed to the passage of an inclusive ENDA.
Sunday, 3 May 2009 – 10:45 PM
| Comments Off on Gay AK: Scholarships, Frontrunners, and Memorial Day
ICOAA Scholarship Applications
July 3 is the submission deadline for the Imperial Court of All Alaska’s Scholarship Program applications, available online at the
ICOAA web site under “About Us.”
Femme Fatale
Just (about to be) Married
Congratulations to Chris Olson and Michelle Coen on their upcoming wedding in Iowa. They met in 1981 while living in Anchorage, Alaska but moved to Wisconsin in 1998 to be closer to their families. They plan to marry in Olsen’s Iowa hometown, so her 96-year-old mother can attend the wedding.
Story and photo.
Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays starting 5/5
Join
Anchorage Frontrunners, a GLBT group that walks/runs/rollerblades (dogs welcome) along the Coastal Trail on Tuesdays from May-September. Meet at Westchester Lagoon at 6 p.m. in the far west parking lot near the coffee shack.
Memorial Day GLBT Community Picnic 5/25
The annual Memorial Day Community Picnic will be held at Kincaid Park again this year. The Community Picnic is a tradition going back more than 40 years, held in Eklutna until that property was sold last spring. The College of Emperors and Empresses sells burgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks as a fundraiser for
ICOAA.
Gay AK – News and Notes from Alaska’s LGBT communities:
Good Work, Lima Beans!
The Legislature rejected Wayne Anthony Ross for the position of Attorney General today, after hundreds (thousands?) of Alaskans voiced opposition to his appointment. Ross is the Anchorage lawyer who called gays “degenerates,” and that is one of the many reasons he was denied the AG post. The vote was 35-23. THANK YOU for spreading the word and giving your testimony. We can make a difference!
Alaskans Together
As Alaska’s statewide LGBT advocacy group, Alaskans Together for Equality can take public stands on political issues, like opposing the appointment of Wayne Ross. Alaskans Together is organizing our statewide effort to achieve civil equality. Become a member of Alaskans Together for Equality.
Anchorage LGBT Meetup group
Meet with other members and supporters of your local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community. Join the new Anchorage LGBT Meetup Group.
Identity receives Pride Foundation Grant
Identity, Inc. is one of the 32 organizations (out of 91 that applied) to receive a Pride Foundation grant for Spring 09. The grant was given in support of Education, Advocacy and Outreach, and for general operating support of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage. The Pride Foundation report states: “The move in 2006 to a visible downtown location has made the Center the hub of LGBTQ life, providing a safe place for the community to meet, hang out, hold and attend group meetings, and use the resource library and computers.”
“Pride Foundation was very impressed with the work we are doing and the size of our volunteer staff,” writes Phyllis of Identity. “Over 60 volunteer shifts each month allow us to keep the Center open and available six hours a day, seven days a week, and the volunteers have been doing this for over seven years.”
“The funds from Pride Foundation will help pay the rent and utilities for about one third of the year. We still need our community support for the other two-thirds. We would like to encourage members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied community to also be impressed with what we are able to do with volunteer staff. Please pledge $10 a month for the next nine months of 2009 to adopt a day to honor yourself, a friend, or, heck, honor the volunteers who keep the doors open and the Center available!”
Radical Woman Award nominees
The Radical Woman Award honors women who have made significant contributions to the GLBT community in Alaska. Please nominate a wonderful woman in your life. Write a short paragraph highlighting her contributions and send it by May 30 to Radical Arts for Women (RAW). The winner will be announced on June 13 at Celebration of Change.
Thursday, 16 April 2009 – 6:29 PM
| Comments Off on Alaskans Together on WAR’s Defeat
Alaskans Together for Equality applauds the legislature’s vote to reject Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General.
“Wayne Anthony Ross’s derogatory statements about gay Alaskans, his stance on native rights, and his views on women and domestic violence made him an incredibly polarizing and divisive figure,” wrote Tim Stallard for Alaskans Together.
“Many Alaskans joined us in our doubt that Ross could uphold the constitutional rights of ALL Alaskans without discrimination. We hope that Governor Palin will nominate someone who will earn the public’s trust and respect the constitutional rights of all Alaskans.”
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is the statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Alaska.
This guest post by Marsha Buck gives the contact information for testifying against Wayne Anthony Ross’ appointment as Attorney General, and includes her own testimony as an example. For more on Wayne Anthony Ross, see Public input needed on WAR and Palin’s AG pick called gays “degenerates.”
* * *
If you were not able to testify during the Senate hearing, you have another opportunity to testify on the confirmation of Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General of Alaska today, Friday, April 10 at 5 p.m. when the House Judiciary Committee will take public testimony, in Room 120 of the Capitol, by teleconference (1-888-295-4546), or by going to your local Legislative Information Office. I hope many of you will be able to testify.
During the Senate hearing on Wednesday, 31 people provided testimony, 14 in support of Mr. Ross and 17 in opposition. Six people testifying in opposition spoke about his record of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Alaskans and many more voices need to be heard on this topic. Our greatest allies in opposition to Mr. Ross’ confirmation appear to be members of the Native community, many of whom spoke forcefully against the appointment because of his record on subsistence and his divisiveness.
If you cannot testify on Friday, please call or email members of the House Judiciary, or send a Public Opinion Message, and express your concerns about Mr. Ross and his statement in the state Bar Association newsletter in which he referred to GLBT Alaskans as “degenerates” and spoke of being gay as a “perversion.”
Contact information for House Judiciary members:
Rep. Jay Ramras Phone: 465-3004 Email: Representative_Jay_Ramras@legis.state.ak.us
Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom Phone: 465-3783 Email: Representative_Nancy_Dahlstrom@legis.state.ak.us
Rep. Carl Gatto Phone: 465-3743 Email: Representative_Carl_Gatto@legis.state.ak.us
Rep. Bob Lynn Phone: 465-4931 Email: Representative_Bob_Lynn@legis.state.ak.us
Rep. Max Gruenberg Phone: 465-4940 Email: Representative_Max_Gruenberg@legis.state.ak.us
Rep. Lindsey Holmes Phone: 465-4919 Email: Representative_Lindsey_Holmes@legis.state.ak.us
The entire Legislature will be voting on the confirmation of Wayne Anthony Ross on Thursday, April 16th. Please contact all legislators, including your own senator and representative, and state your opinion about the confirmation of Mr. Ross as Attorney General. The Public Opinion Message (POM) system is an excellent way to communicate with legislators briefly and easily.
Thank you for your activism in support of civil equality for ALL Alaskans!
* * *
Senate Judiciary Hearing Testimony
Wayne Anthony Ross Nomination for Attorney General
April 8, 2009
My name is Marsha Buck and I live in Juneau. I am here representing Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. which is a new statewide organization to advance the civil equality of all Alaskans with a focus on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality.
I would like to testify in opposition to the appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General for Alaska. Mr. Ross’ record of negative comments about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Alaskans would appear to make him biased against the citizens Alaskans Together for Equality represents and therefore make it difficult for us to imagine how he could uphold our constitutional rights fairly and without discrimination.
We need an Attorney General who respects ALL Alaskans equally, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex Alaskans. I would, therefore, ask that you oppose Mr. Ross’ nomination.
Thank you,
Marsha Buck
Board President, Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
Monday, 30 March 2009 – 1:37 PM
| Comments Off on Equality Works Everywhere
Tiffany McClain is in the perfect position to write a gay rights column: she is the LGBT Coordinator for the ACLU of Alaska, the organizer of Equality Works, and on the board of Alaskans Together. Tiffany recently wrote a guest post on
her experience at the Creating Change conference, and I am pleased to welcome her as a regular contributor to Bent Alaska.
——
Equality Works in Florida Too: LGBT Rights Activists Victorious in Gainesville
by Tiffany McClain
Over the past year, conservative groups have been trying to strip Gainesville’s LGBT citizens of protection from discrimination. They’ve been whipping up opposition with fear-inducing lies, including demonizing attacks representing transgender people as sexual predators. For weeks leading up to the vote, all the news was dire, but we finally found reason to hope on March 24th when the citizens of Gainesville stood up against prejudice and handily defeated the initiative by a vote of 58% to 42%.
As most of us well know, when activists, legislators, or court officials take positive steps to end discrimination against LGBT people, we often end up fighting efforts to impede our progress. The Prop 8 debacle in California is the most recent example of this, but we need only look back to the 2007 advisory vote to roll back the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling on domestic partnership benefits as an example of the tug-of-war that has come to characterize the national movement for LGBT civil rights. With this in mind, we have been keeping an eye on Gainesville for lessons on how to overcome obstacles as we continue on the path of protecting LGBT Alaskans from discrimination and harassment.
So what can we learn from the Gainesville victory?
We can learn that as much as the fear-mongering might hurt and offend us, it doesn’t necessarily translate into votes against equality.
We can learn that while we might do what we can to avoid being dragged into an ugly—and inherently unfair—battle for votes, we shouldn’t assume we’ve lost until every ballot is counted.
We can learn that as much as we have come to depend on judges and lawmakers to recognize the rights that the Constitution promises us, and as much as we might hate to legitimize the idea that anyone’s civil rights should be determined by a popular vote, our losses are never inevitable.
Win or lose, a fight for civil rights is always worth it.
Support efforts to advance and protect the rights of LGBT Alaskans:
www.akclu.org Dedicated to the cause of civil liberties for all Alaskans
