Sunday, 6 October 2013 – 5:19 PM
| Comments Off on A long-overdue Bent Alaska update — October 2013
Bent Alaska’s blog will continue in hiatus indefinitely; but the Bent Alaska Facebook Group on Facebook is thriving — join us! A long-overdue update from Bent Alaska’s editor.
Monday, 20 September 2010 – 9:24 PM
| Comments Off on Will Lisa vote for the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal?
The word from DC is that Senator Murkowski is considering voting for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the military ban against openly serving gays and lesbians. LGR wrote that Murkowski is listening:
Our DC staffer is on the Hill right now, and according to Senator Murkowski’s staff, the Senator is more than willing to listen to the calls. Her official phone number is (202) 224-6665, though the Senate can be reached via (202) 224-3121. LGBT Alaskans should call her and ask for her to vote for the repeal and to start and end debate over this.
By 9 p.m. on Monday, Lisa’s DC voicemail box was full for the day. If it’s full on Tuesday, call her Anchorage office at 907-271-3735, Fairbanks at 907-456-0233 or toll free in Alaska at 1-877-829-6030. Her email contact form is HERE.
Lisa announced a write-in campaign on Friday against the Palin-endorsed Joe Miller and Democrat Scott McAdams. She has only 6 weeks (and a few more for the recount?) as Alaska’s Republican senator – after that, either she will be our write-in senator or she will be unemployed.
Voting for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” would be one way for her to declare her independent status in Congress and get back at the GOP leaders who are lining up to support Miller.
The Senate cloture vote on DADT is scheduled for Tuesday. Alaska has an unexpected opportunity to help repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and stop the filibuster. Let’s make the most of it.
Call Senator Murkowski today at (202) 224-6665 or toll free in Alaska at 1-877-829-6030 and ask her to vote for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 – 4:49 AM
| Comments Off on Primary election: Hollis and Ethan on LGBT rights (results)
UPDATE: Ethan Berkowitz and Diane Benson will run for Gov. & Lt.Gov. on the Democratic ticket against Republicans Sean Parnell and Mead Treadwill. The big news from Tuesday’s primary election is that Tea Party candidate Joe Miller is leading Sen. Lisa Murkowski for the GOP nomination for her senate seat!
—–
Alaska’s primary election is Tuesday August 24, and the main contest on the Democratic ticket is between progressive Hollis French and moderate Ethan Berkowitz, two Anchorage LGBT allies running for Governor. Only one will take on the Republican candidate in November. How do they compare on LGBT issues?
The French campaign sent a flyer to Bent Alaska a few days ago, reminding the LGBT community of his support for partner benefits in the legislature and for the Anchorage equal rights ordinance.
The small print on the poster is paraphrased from his statement on the rights of LGBT Alaskans, posted last fall on Bent and currently posted on French’s campaign website.
“A few years ago the civil rights issue being discussed in Juneau was whether same sex couples should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples. In 2005 the Alaska Supreme Court ruled unanimously that they should, but some legislators objected, and in 2006 they introduced measures to amend our constitution to shrink the meaning of ‘equal protection under the law.’
“I fought that measure as a member of the Judiciary Committee and I fought it again when it came up for a vote before the full Senate. The debate spilled over into 2007, when an advisory vote asking whether our constitution should be amended was placed on the ballot statewide and it narrowly passed. In response another constitutional amendment was introduced in the Legislature, and I was proud to help other like-minded legislators defeat it.”
Yes, French is an ally. But the poster’s big print claims that he is “the ONLY candidate for Governor to OPENLY support the Alaskan GLBT community.” How is that true? I asked for clarification, but did not get a reply.
Ethan Berkowitz is also an ally, and he was endorsed by the national LGBT rights group HRC in 2008 because he supported same sex benefits in the legislature. His statement on the HRC endorsement was posted on Bent during that election.
“I am proud of my record on civil rights. During my ten years in the Alaska State House, I fought to protect the personal liberties enshrined in the state constitution and to defend individual civil rights against the tyranny of the majority. Those positions might not always have been popular, but they are founded in the belief that the rule of law extends constitutional rights to all Americans, and protects minorities against institutional prejudices and bigotry like racism and sexism. That’s why I stood for subsistence rights. That’s why I spoke out for same-sex benefits, and against changes to the state constitution. That’s why I know that a better future for this state and this country means living up to the values of ‘liberty and justice for all.'”
The Berkowitz statement isn’t focused on LGBT rights like the French statement, but he does openly state his support. (And so did former-candidate Bob Poe.) So what’s up with the “only” stuff?
Well, anyway, here’s how they compare on visible support for the LGBT community:
1. The French statement in support of gay equality is on his campaign website and highlighted as an issue. The Berkowitz statement was on his website in 2008, but is not on his current site.
2. The French statement focuses on LGBT rights, discussing his support for both partner benefits and the Anchorage ordinance. The Berkowitz statement lists his support for civil rights in general, and only mentions LGBT Alaskans twice, briefly. (See the paragraph quoted above for one mention.)
3. Both supported domestic partnership benefits at the state level, and the Anchorage equal rights ordinance. Berkowitz attended the first ordinance hearings, while French issued a written statement against the mayor’s veto of the ordinance. It’s the same French statement linked above, and includes this on the ordinance:
“This year’s effort to expand the meaning of ‘equal protection’ was the ordinance passed by the Anchorage Assembly that would have prohibited discrimination in jobs and housing based on sexual orientation, much the same way that discrimination is prohibited based on race, gender, age and religion. As we all know, the measure was vetoed by Mayor Sullivan and the Assembly was one vote short of an override. That setback for the civil rights of Alaska’s citizens will someday be righted; perhaps through a citizen’s initiative, or perhaps through the election of a new mayor, or through the election of one more equal-rights minded assembly member.
“Thus, the struggle goes on. The tide of history is clear, though. We are on the right side of this issue, and we will prevail.”
4. The French campaign created and sent a flyer, reaching out to the LGBT community and reminding us of his support. The Berkowitz campaign didn’t produce anything on LGBT issues during the current election, as far as I know.
It seems fair to say that Hollis has been more openly supportive of the LGBT community in this election, especially in writing. But the main difference between their campaigns is not about their mutual support for LGBT issues – it’s about the gas pipeline and energy taxes. (Note: the link goes to an article on the ADN, which has now endorsed French.)
Either way, we will have an ally to vote for in November. Which one has the best chance of winning that election?
Bent Alaska’s report that an anti-gay national group Focus on the Family is calling Alaska voters to pressure Sen. Murkowski to vote against the annual Defense Budget because it includes the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was picked up by the blog Lez Get Real, and they filled in the missing information about the Burris Amendment.
The pre-recorded call received by Alaskan voters “summed up by using all the buzz words and concepts, something like ‘if you don’t condone ‘open homosexuality’ in the military or want your tax dollars spent on abortions at military bases, call Lisa Murkowski and tell her to vote no on the defense budget which has amendments to repeal DADT and bar abortions on military bases.'”
“The Abortion amendment FoF is talking about, is the Burris Amendment, which does not in fact affect the prohibition that currently exists on publicly funded abortions at armed services hospitals and even if the amendment passes, female service members will still be forced to privately finance the procedure, thanks to the Hyde Amendment. What it does, is allow military hospitals to provide abortions to women service members in war zones only, at the service member’s own expense.”
Yes, FotF wants to punish all service members by withholding the Defense Budget just because of these two amendments:
“Because that budget also includes the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and a provision for female service members to pay for an abortion at a military hospital, with funds out of their own pockets, should they happen to be raped in a combat zone… so of course the FoF does not like that at all, because as we know its better not to buy bullets and body armor for our service people should the budget include anything to do with the queers or women.”
Please call Senator Murkowski and urge her to vote YES for the repeal of DADT: 202-224-6665, or toll free in Alaska at 1-877-829-6030.
Her other Alaska phone numbers and online email contact page are listed HERE.
Focus on the Family, a radical anti-gay group based in Colorado, is pressuring Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski to vote against the 2010 Defense Budget because it includes the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
A Bent Alaska reader received a pre-recorded call from CitizenLink, FotF’s political action wing:
“… After their intro remarks, they summed up by using all the buzz words and concepts, something like “if you don’t condone ‘open homosexuality’ in the military or want your tax dollars spent on abortions at military bases, call Lisa Murkowski and tell her to vote no on the defense budget which has amendments to repeal DADT and bar abortions on military bases.”
“There was absolutely no opportunity to talk to a live person at the end… We need to counter by calling her to vote YES!”
The repeal of DADT is attached to the Defense Budget, and the Senate will vote on it soon, but I have not heard of an abortion amendment on this year’s military budget.
Murkowski claims to be a fiscal conservative and a moderate Republican. She should resist the pressure from outsiders like FotF and vote for the repeal of DADT. It will allow gays and lesbians currently serving in silence to serve with honesty, and allow many qualified Americans currently barred from the military to join and defend our country.
Call Senator Murkowski and urge her to vote YES for the repeal of DADT: 202-224-6665, or toll free in Alaska at 1-877-829-6030.
Her other Alaska phone numbers and online email contact page are HERE.
Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s pro-choice Roe v Wade ruling. Why is that on a blog about Gay Alaska? Let’s get Larry from Wasilla to explain the connection:
“This victimization of the underaged female, and the failure of society to remark or to react with condemnation, point to the success of the goal of the liberals who want to use our children for sex toys. This success is marked by the revealing clothes young girls wear, MTV, the ever younger indoctrination of our young in public schools about sex and alternative lifestyles… Abortion is part of the desensitization of society to the taboos associated with how we view and treat our young… The homosexual agenda shares in the goal of the liberal establishment that seeks to breakdown morality and the family to accomplish recruitment for casual sex at ever younger ages.”
Larry Wood was somehow allowed to write an Alaska Gubernatorial column for the Examiner. He wrote glowing columns about Sarah Palin until she quit and made him write about appointed governor Sean Parnell. The quote above is from a column asking Parnell to sign a petition to declare fetuses a protected minority group and thus make abortion a hate crime. The post begins:
“A national movement has finally hit Alaska. This movement seeks to extend Constitution protection to the right to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ to the unborn. Given former Governor Sarah Palin’s avowed pro-life stance, one wonders if Governor Sean Parnell will add his voice in support of this initiative?… Unlike Sarah Palin, his predecessor, Parnell has yet to speak out on the issue of whether or not the State should be in the business of killing babies in the womb.”
What do you want to bet that ol’ red-shirt Larry testified against extending protection to the right to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ to the LGBT residents of Anchorage who tried to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance last summer? The anti-abortion post isn’t the first time he called gays pedophiles. His post on the passage of the Hate Crimes Act berated our Congress members for supporting it:
“Yes, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young, two staunch, conservative Republicans voted with the pack, rather than voice their disapproval of this dirty trick by the Reid Senate and the Pelosi House. Of course, Sen. Mark Begich voted with his party to further establish homosexuals as a “protected” class under a system of law that was supposed to be based upon the fact that none stand above any other…. Meanwhile, in our Congress, the priority is keep pedophiles and homosexuals from being offended by heterosexuals. Once again the liberal congress and Alaska’s congressional delegation said to Hell with our troops and their needs. Why, the egos of this evolutionary dead end faction of our society takes precedent over the welfare of our troops in harms way.”
Protecting a minority group that is targeted for discrimination does not raise them above others, it simply levels the field. But given his opinion on protected status – that it raises some groups above others and creates an unfair situation – his argument in the very next column in favor of making fetuses a protected class, and thus unfairly raising them above others, is a stunning about-face. Enough to give one a touch of vertigo.
Of course, Pres. Obama is also to blame for gays and liberal destroying the country. In the special rights for fetuses column, his tirade against gays and “liberals who want to use our children for sex toys”includes a predictable attack on Obama for the appointment of Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educators Network:
“One of the most notable examples is the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), supported by Kevin Jennings, President Obama’s director of the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS).”
You knew he was going to mention NAMBLA, didn’t you? How tired. And completely untrue. Kevin Jennings is the current punching bag of the far right homophobes because he’s an openly gay man appointed by Pres. Obama – two people who send the far right into crazyland. Jennings founded GLSEN and dedicated his life to creating safer schools for LGBT kids, and no, he does not support illegal sexual activities. But truth is low on the far right list of priorities, well below firing gays and demonizing liberals. He also argues that abortion causes immigration:
“Another byproduct of abortion is the current illegal migrant worker situation. These are foreign nationals that are in the U.S. illegally, who are taking jobs, benefits and resources that are rightfully the purview of the naturalized U.S. citizen and their children. Abortion has created the demand for labor by terminating approximately 45 million Americans before birth, too many in the last trimester of the reproductive process. We have killed those before they are born who would otherwise be there to replace an aging and diminishing U.S. workforce.”
Creepy, huh? Let’s drag his whole paranoid argument out into the light and see what it says. (hold on to something solid):
Abortion causes illegal immigration,
because America doesn’t have enough poor children
waiting to fill all the menial jobs for starvation wages.
And abortion promotes the homosexual agenda
because… well, somehow abortion allows gays to share
in the liberal goal of using children as sex toys.
So if Gov. Parnell is a good governor like Sarah Palin,
he will sign a petition to give ‘special rights’ to fetuses
(protected group status for stigmatized minority groups,
Wednesday, 18 November 2009 – 11:46 PM
| 11 Comments
A Message from Alaskans Together for Equality
In Alaska, firing a person because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity is still legal. This is also true in 60% of the United States where gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens are not protected against employment discrimination. Congress is getting ready to vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would offer protection from discrimination for LGBT citizens, and action on our part is required. If we want the discriminatory status quo to change, it is our responsibility to speak up and ask our Congressman Don Young and our Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski to vote in support of fairness and basic protections from job discrimination for LGBT Americans.
Neither Representative Young nor Senator Murkowski have made public their support for ENDA. We can help by writing letters to the editors of our local newspapers on the importance of passing this legislation. We can also spread the word among our friends and family to take action in support of this legislation. Most importantly and easy to do – we can email and call all three members of our Congressional delegation. This will only take about 5-10 minutes – isn’t ending discrimination worth that?
Call and email Congressman Young, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Begich today.
Contact Congressman Don Young
at 202-225-5765 and via e-mail.
Contact Senator Murkowski
at 202-224-6665 and via e-mail.
Contact Senator Begich
at 202-224-3004 and via e-mail.
Here is a suggested phone message:
“My name is____________ and I am a proud resident of (your city, Alaska). I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017 and S. 1584), to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. Please take swift action to pass ENDA. I can be reached at ________ (provide your phone number). Thank you.”
Sample email message to our Congressional delegation (please personalize):
“Subject: Support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017/S. 1584)
Honorable Congressman/Senator______________:
Today, employers in many states including Alaska can still legally fire people because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. These hardworking Americans deserve the same protection as their coworkers, and Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would go a long way to making this a reality.
Please support an inclusive ENDA – the bill that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans from losing their jobs simply because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.
LGBT Americans deserve and need the ability to work — just like every American. Please help by supporting ENDA (H.R. 3017 and S. 1584) and bringing the bill to a vote in the House and Senate soon.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Insert Name,
address and phone number]”
We must speak up loudly and clearly! The opponents are flooding Congressional offices with calls and emails – we all need to call in and speak up against discrimination. Our elected officials need to hear that this bill (ENDA) is a top priority of fair-minded Alaskans.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed because the LGBT community and our many allies spoke up so loudly and clearly – that they even heard us in Washington DC.
We have a real opportunity for positive change!
Change will come, if enough of us act. The more of us who call, the faster full equality for LGBT citizens will arrive!
After you call and write your email, please forward this message or tell your friends and family what is at stake and ask them to contact their Congressional delegation too.
ENDA will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protections for paid workers in businesses with over 15 employees, and for local, state, and federal government employees. (Religious organizations are exempt, and so are the Armed Forces.)
ENDA is likely to pass in the House, and is only a few votes short in the Senate. President Obama supports ENDA and has agreed to sign it.
Earlier this year, Alaskans Together and Bent Alaska asked you to call Senators Begich and Murkowski in support of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Many Alaskans called, both of our senators voted in favor, and it was signed by Pres. Obama on October 28. Now, for the first time, LGBT Alaskans can turn to the federal government for help investigating and prosecuting violent hate crimes when our city and state authorities refuse to protect us. For the first time, harmful acts that target LGBT Alaskans are recognized as illegal.
It’s time to do that again with ENDA to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers from discrimination in Anchorage, in Alaska, and all over America.
It’s time to pass employment protections for thousands of LGBT Alaskans, protections that cannot be blocked by an assembly chair, vetoed by a new mayor or repealed by a mob.
2.) Send this message to your friends and ask all Alaskans to call our senators in support of ENDA.
YES on ENDA
Senator Murkowski: click here to send her an email, or call her office in DC: 202-224-6665, Anchorage: 907-271-3735, Fairbanks: 907-456-0233, Wasilla: 907-376-7665, Kenai: 907-283-5808 or Ketchikan: 907-225-6880.
Senator Begich: click here to send him an email, or call his office in DC: (202) 224-3004, or the Anchorage office 907-225-6880 which is toll free for callers with an Alaska (907) area code.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009 – 2:42 PM
| Comments Off on FBI ready to protect queer Alaskans
GLBT Alaskans have a new ally in the fight against anti-gay and anti-trans violence. If the authorities in Alaska will not protect us against hate crimes, the federal government will.
On October 28, President Obama signed the Hate Crimes Protection Act, an expansion of the civil rights law protecting communities that are targeted for hate violence. Now, if an Alaskan is killed or caused serious bodily injury for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, or being perceived as queer, the federal government will investigate it as a hate crime.
The local FBI agent already called the Gay & Lesbian Community Center in Anchorage to offer assistance.
“By the time the ink had dried on President Obama’s signature, the Agent-in-Charge of the Alaska FBI was on the phone to me,” wrote Phyllis Rhodes of Identity, Inc. and the Community Center. “Until advised otherwise by the Justice Department, the local office will fully investigate any violence against GLBT individuals.”
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act gives the federal government jurisdiction over violent hate crimes that target the victim because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, when the local authorities are unwilling or unable to investigate, like in Alaska. The new law also allows funding for local, state and tribal authorities to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers on the characteristics of hate crimes, and keep better records on the hate crimes committed.
“We have very weak anti-hate crime legislation in Alaska,” Rep. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage told KTVA. “Probably one of the reasons that the federal government felt it was so necessary to do this [is] because a number of states, including Alaska, just do not protect their citizens.”
According to the FBI, over 12,000 reported hate crimes were committed in the US based on sexual orientation during the last decade.
“We are very proud that both Alaska’s Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski have supported this strong statement against hatred and violent discrimination,” said Elias Rojas, newly elected Board President of Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
All three of Alaska’s members of Congress voted for the final version of the Hate Crimes Act. Senator Begich became a co-sponsor of the original bill, and Senator Murkowski voted for it after many Alaskans called in support. Representative Young voted for the final House version as part of the Defense Authorization bill.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 – 4:58 PM
| One Comment
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. applauds President Obama for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law
Anchorage – The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. celebrates the final passage of this legislation, signed into law by President Obama today. We congratulate the joint efforts of everyone who worked to make this bill become law.
“This is a great day for all fair-minded Americans that our government has finally taken a strong stand in opposition to violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans simply for their identity or perceived identity,” said Tim Stallard, Spokesperson for Alaskans Together For Equality, Inc.
The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped, severely beaten, and left to die tied to a fence in October 1998, and James Byrd, Jr., an African-American who in June of 1998 was beaten, chained to the back of a pick-up truck, and dragged for miles over rural roads in Jasper, Texas. While all violent crime is reprehensible, ‘hate crimes’ are meant to terrorize and invoke fear in an entire community of people.
“We are very proud that both Alaska’s Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski have supported this strong statement against hatred and violent discrimination,” said Elias Rojas, newly elected Board President of Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
This important legislation will make it easier for federal prosecutors to step in when state or local authorities are unable or unwilling to pursue hate crimes. This is welcome news for LGBT Alaskans in the wake of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan’s recent veto of a municipal non-discrimination ordinance that would have extended protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from workplace and housing discrimination, despite evidence and extensive public testimony that such discrimination exists.
Alaskans Together for Equality is a membership based group that advances civil equality for all Alaskans through grass roots organizing and advocacy. Alaskans Together for Equality is the only statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Alaska.
Monday, 5 October 2009 – 7:31 PM
| Comments Off on 6 Things Alaskans Can Do This Week for LGBT Rights
The National Equality March (NEM) is Oct 10-11 in DC, and a group from Juneau will carry the Alaska banner in the march. Those of us who are not going to DC can also support the march and LGBT rights this weekend. How?
Equality Across America called this march to address the lack of federal rights and protections for LGBT people AND to build support for LGBT equality in all 435 congressional districts in the United States.
“to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal rights for LGBT people. We will gather. We will march. And we will leave energized and empowered to do the work that needs to be done in every community across the nation.
“Our single demand: Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.”
Here is the National Equality March call to action video:
Alaska has only one congressional district, representing the whole state. Here are 6 things we can do this week in Alaska’s at-large congressional district to support the goals of the National Equality March:
1. Rally here when they rally in DC: Join the Anchorage support Rally for LGBT Equality! Anchorage is holding a support rally for the DC march, along the sidewalk in front of Loussac Library, 36th and Denali Street, on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. (the start time of the DC rally) until 6 p.m. (Everyone from the Alaska Pride Conference at APU can carpool a few blocks down 36th and join the rally when the conference ends at 3:30.) Rally for our rights!
2. Bring your ideas for national LGBT equality to the Alaskans Together for Equality annual strategy meeting! The 1st annual Alaskans Together for Equality meeting will develop plans for LGBT Alaskans and our allies in this congressional district to support our state and national rights, on Sunday, Oct 11, from 9a.m.-3p.m. in the Country Kitchen banquet room, 346 E. 5th Ave. (next door to the Gay & Lesbian Community Center.)
3. Meet Alaskans who support LGBT equality at the Alaskans Together social! Come to ATE’s social gathering with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a no host bar, on Saturday Oct 10, at the Kodiak Bar & Grill, 225 E. 5th Avenue, from 5-7:30 p.m. (after the Pride Conference and National March support rally.)
4. Contribute to the Alaska banner for the National Equality March! The group representing Alaska is carrying a blue banner with gold letters saying “Alaskans Together for Equality” with nine rainbow stars showing the Big Dipper and North Star, a gay version of the Alaska state flag. They would appreciate donations from the community to cover the cost of the banner. Send to: SEAGLA, PO Box 21542, Juneau, AK 99802.
5. Come Out on National Coming Out Day! The march was called for this weekend because Oct 11 is National Coming Out Day. Wherever you live, have Conversations from the Heart about LGBT equality with your friends and family. A simple conversation can change lives.
6. Call Alaska’s Members of Congress to support LGBT Equality! Let our elected leaders know that we support the National Equality March and full GLBT equality under the law. Encourage them to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which they will be voting on soon, the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and the repeal of the marriage ban known as DOMA. Contact Rep. Don Young, Senator Mark Begich and Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Spread the news about these events, and bring your friends and family members to support LGBT rights this weekend, right here in Alaska!
The very real consequences of DADT repeal; seeking survivor benefits for same-sex partner of Alaska shooting victim; waiting on SCOTUS decision about whether it will hear Prop 8 case; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
In this month’s “Ask Lambda Legal” column, Lambda Legal answers a question about the federal government’s longstanding ban against donations of blood from men who have sex with men (MSM).
Alaska Pride Conference 2012 kicks off on October 5 with a First Friday showing at Tref.Punkt Studio of Love is Love, a photographic exhibit of LGBT couples from across the state.
United for marriage: Light the way to justice. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26–27, in two cases about freedom to marry. Please join us on Tuesday, March 26, at the federal courthouse in Anchorage (7th & C) in a circle united for equality.
Pariah, a critically acclaimed film about a 17-year-old African-American woman embracing her lesbian identity, will screen at UAA on Friday, November 2, and will be followed by a discussion on acceptance in honor of Mya Dale. The event is free and open to the public.
