Bent Alaska: February 2010

Arctic Heat 2010

Arctic Heat Weekend is here! Come out and support the men and women candidates for Alaska Bear Cub, Mr. Alaska Bear, Mr. Alaska Leather, and Ms. Alaska Leather during this weekend of Fur and Leather fun.

Here's the schedule, from The Last Frontier Men's Club:

Meet & Greet

Friday, February 26th 8 PM @ the Raven, FREE

This will be your first chance to meet all the contestants and judges for the contest. We'll have food, raffle items, a slave auction, and other Men's Club goodness. This is a great time to meet new members of the club and get information about club events.

Arctic Heat Competition

Saturday, February 27th @ Mad Myrna's

8 PM Doors Open, 9 PM Contest Starts

Tickets: $10.00

All candidates will be judged on the following three areas: Bar Wear, Fetish Wear, and Full Title Attire. We'll have live entertainment, door prizes, auctions, and of course hot hairy men, and hot leather daddies (of all genders.)

Victory Brunch

Sunday, February 28th @ Mad Myrna's

11 AM Cocktail Hour, 12 PM Brunch

Ticket: $15.00

Celebrate the victories of our new title holders. We'll have a delicious buffet style brunch and fun entertainment.

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A note from the Men's Club: The Last Frontier Men's Club has dropped it's membership fee. The club recognizes that during difficult economic times it maybe challenging to some of our members to pay dues, so we have decided to go dues-free. But we are still a members club, and you must submit a membership to be an official part of the club. This membership helps us verify that members are over 21, are male, and are currently living in Alaska.

Half Naked Pictionary is another Men's Club event, happening on the 1st Wednesday of every month, at Mad Myrna's from 9-11 p.m. Come have fun with half naked men this Wednesday! Hosted by Men's Club President Tom.

PrideFest 2010 theme and dates announced

Alaska's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities (and our fabulous straight allies) will demonstrate our PRIDE for 10 colorful days in June as we celebrate Anchorage PrideFest 2010. Our theme is 2010 A PRIDE ODYSSEY.

Anchorage PrideFest 2010 will take place June 18-27. During this ten-day period, various non-profit, social, and business organizations will host special events at venues around Anchorage. A highlight of PrideFest is always the Celebrating Diversity Parade which will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday June 26 through the heart of downtown Anchorage, where we hope to see a record crowd. After the Parade, please join us for the Festival on the Delaney Park Strip from noon until 6 p.m. The Festival will feature live entertainment, vendors, food, friends, a kiddie carnival, and fun, all under the glorious Anchorage summer sun.

To make this year's PrideFest a success, we need the support of our entire community... sponsors, donors, parade entries, festival entertainers, vendors, groups who sponsor events, hundreds of volunteers... you name it, we need it. Thank you for making it great each year!!

If you are interested in helping in any way with this year's PrideFest festivities, please join us at our next planning meeting. You don't need any skills, just a passion for pride, willingness to work as a team and the expectation to have fun. We are aiming to have as many groups and regions as possible throughout Alaska represented in our planning.

The next meeting is Wednesday, February 24, at 6:30 pm at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center in Anchorage. If you are outside of Anchorage, we can arrange a speaker phone. For more info, send us an e-mail.

Thanks and Happy Pride,

Johnathan Jones and Gail Palmer

Co-Chairs of Anchorage PrideFest 2010

Kathy Griffin looks for gays in Anchorage

Award-winning and gay-friendly comedian Kathy Griffin is performing in Anchorage on Friday March 5 at the PAC.

In addition to stand-up comedy, Griffin played a lesbian activist on a recent episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and posed for the NoH8 photo project. She also escorted Levi Johnston to the Teen Choice Awards, and joked that they are engaged and she's carrying his baby.

"Kathy invades Alaska for one night only in March. Make sure to get your tickets early for this rare stop. In addition, Kathy will be stopping at Borders (1100 East Dimond Boulevard, Anchorage) at noon sharp for a very special book signing. Please call in advance for any special instructions the store may have: 907-344-4099."

"Multiple HBO and Bravo specials weren't enough! Catch double Emmy award winning Kathy Griffin live in her true element. She has more stories, more dish, more of what she shouldn't say but you know you want to hear. Chicago native Kathy Griffin is a multi-faceted performer with a rapid fire wit. Come with an open mind and laugh until you puke . . . Just a little."

Griffin loves "her gays" and will definitely have gay and lesbian fans at the Anchorage show. She even looked for - and found - gay soldiers when entertaining troops in Afghanistan, in this video clip from her DVD Allegedly:

Her fourth stand-up comedy DVD She'll Cut A Bitch was released in January. Learn more at Kathy Griffin's home page.

Tickets are $65 for the main floor and $45 for the mezzanine and balcony, and are available through the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts event page for Kathy Griffin.

Alaskan witness to Uganda Anti-Gay Rally

Amber lived in Alaska before going to work in Uganda. Last week she witnessed an anti-gay demonstration, and the experience triggered this response, forwarded by a reader:

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I've got to put this down...

its 11:57 pm and i'm sweaty and tired. after emails and phone meetings and evening shopping at the market and necklace class and compound hunting and lots of other things, sleep should come easy. maybe it's too much sweet tea or monitor glare.

today my progress was twice blocked by an anti-homosexual march. i was driving down main street and noticed some mzungus (white people) on motorbikes carrying pastel-colored signs and honking horns and yelling. i was intrigued until i read the signs. the crowd driving and marching down the street got thicker until the whole road was blocked. by that time i was trying to make a right-hand turn across that side of main street. (yes, we drive on the left here) and was trapped watching as hundreds walked and drove carrying signs of the most hateful nature. i eventually made my right turn and did my commercial business and there they were again, blocking my path for a second time. i don't often feel rageful, but sometimes i think indignation is appropriate.

today i hated americans. i hate right-wing religious zealots who think its ok to promote the government-sanctioned killing of people they don't like in places where government-sanctioned killing turns into genocide. i hate people who incite an underfed, undereducated population into taking to the streets when angry mobs kill people who happen to cross their paths. i hate all people who just watched the hatred go by. i hate that this is another reason not to live in this place and trust these people. i hate that colonialist westerners continue to come here and leave their oppressive, self-loathing fear of everything behind. i hate that this country will be seen as ignorant and intolerant and will be ignored by NGOs who say they are only here to help. i hate the sanctimonious bullshit that comes out of black and white mouths. i hate that people i love don't want to come here to visit me because they will have to hide who they are.

later in the day, i realized there are more things i hate. i hate that women i know have to have more children than they know they can take care of. i hate that they have to choose between getting their teeth fixed and feeding their children. i hate that they don't know that soda causes cavities and that they don't know what cavities are. i hate that their clothes are ripped and falling apart and pregnant women wear shirts they can't button because they don't have any other clothes. i hate that they aren't hateful and are able laugh and smile and have a good time while they are experiencing these things. i hate when i see this and i feel small and stupid. i hate that i whine about paper cuts and sweatyness to people who have teeth pulled with no anesthesia and have never experienced indoor plumbing. i hate that they show me that i have the choice to be hateful.

it's 12:16 am. a new day. maybe today i won't be hateful. maybe i'll look at what i have and what i have done and feel satisfied that the equation balances. maybe i'll go use my indoor plumbing and accept the truth that it just takes more everything to keep me alive and functioning and i'm lucky because i've never had to suffer. maybe i'll go to sleep and feel better because

Amber

Monday, February 15, 2010

Sara's News Roundup 2/21/10

This week's LGBT news roundup from Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) CPAC Poll: Gay Marriage Not Priority

Advocate, February 22, 2010

2) Black Gay President for Grinnell

Grinnell, Iowa, Advocate, February 18, 2010

3) Albania outlaws homosexual discrimination

Albania, UPI, February 16, 2010

4) Gay rights reveal a papal blind spot

Sydney, Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, February 3, 2010

5) Lesbian-led film wins cheers at Berlin Festival

Berlin, AFP, February 17, 2010

6) GLAAD to Honor Drew Barrymore and Wanda Sykes

Los Angeles, Seattle PI, February 18, 2010

7) Planning a Transgender Wedding... My Own

Boston, Huffington Post, February 15, 2010

8) Elton John: Jesus Was a Gay Man

Advocate, February 18, 2010

9) On 'ask,' Lieberman answers the call: An exclusive chat about Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Washington, New York Daily News, February 22, 2010

This Week in LGBT Alaska 2/19/10

I've been on medical leave the last few weeks, but will return to regular posting when I'm able. Here are this week's LGBT events from the statewide newsletter Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

Pride Chorus "Eyes on Chicago" Concert 2/20, silent auction at 6:30, music at 7:30 p.m. at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center.

SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.

Fairbanks

UAF Gay-Straight Alliance Meeting 4 p.m on 2/19 in the Alumni Lounge, and GSA Bowling in the Wood Center 3:30 p.m. on 2/20.

Jeff's Jungle Party with DJ Nicole, for over 21 LGBT's and allies 2/20, begins at 9 p.m. off Sheep Creek Road.

Wednesday Social at 9 p.m. Contact Joshua for the current location.

Mat-Su Valley

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.

Anchorage

Wa-Wa Party: Memorial for Dan Cook (aka Cherresse) 2/20, 6-7 p.m. cocktails at the Raven, 8 p.m. show at Mad Myrna's.

MCCA Open House 2/21, 3-4:30p.m. meet and greet the new board and other community leaders after the 2 p.m. Sunday service.

The ICOAA Monthly Business Meeting 2/21, 4-5p.m. at Mad Myrna's.

Miss MeMe's Gospel Show: "No Surprises" 2/21, 5 p.m. fundraiser at Mad Myrna's.

2nd PrideFest planning meeting for Alaska PrideFest 2010: "A Pride Odyssey" 2/24, 6:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

Sara's News Roundup 2/14/10

This week's LGBT news roundup from Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.

1) 2010 census will include question about same-sex marriages, relationships

Washington, Chicago Tribune, February 13, 2010

2) Support for Gays in the Military Depends on the Question

Washington, CBS News, February 11, 2010 2:00 PM

3) Chinese Contestant Enters Worldwide Gay Pageant

Beijing, China, New York Times, February 12, 2010

4) Filmmaker: Prop. 8 Film's Distribution Rights Sold

Salt Lake City, Utah, CBS 5, February 11, 2010

5) Church To Host Panel On LGBT Issues

Leesburg, Virginia, Leesburg Today, February 12, 2010

6) Former Publisher of The Advocate Dies

Los Angeles, Advocate, February 12, 2010

7) Vigils Honor the Memory of a Murdered 15-Year-Old

Oxnard, Calif., Advocate, February 12, 2010

8) Not enough sex talk in churches or seminaries, report says

Westport, Conn., American Statesman, February 11, 2010

9) Lesbian Applies to Marry Man in Protest

Buffalo, New York, Advocate, February 13, 2010

10) Gays and Lesbians or Homosexuals?

Huffington Post, February 14, 2010

k.d.lang's queer Alaskan Valentine

k.d. lang sings - and howls - the love song Barefoot from her movie Salmonberries, which takes place in Kotzebue, Alaska. Although the video does not show her feet, she is bare from the chest up. Happy Valentine's Day!

This Week in LGBT Alaska 2/12/10

Happy Valentine's Day! This week's LGBT events from the statewide newsletter Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

SEAGLA Valentine's Dance 2/14, 8 p.m. at the Silverbow, all ages, everyone welcome. $10 suggested donation.

Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar.

Fairbanks

Wednesday Social at 9 p.m. Contact Joshua for the current location.

Mat-Su Valley

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.

Anchorage

Hypnotic Journey: Jay Her's Comedy Hypnosis Show 2/12, 7:30 p.m. Colleen Crinklaw opens with stand up comedy. UAA's Wendy Williamson Auditorium. Tickets $20 at the door, cash only.

PrideProm 2010 planning meeting 2/13, 11:30 a.m. at the GLCCA.

"Sweetheart's Dinner" 2/13, Cocktails at 6pm and Dinner at 7pm, at Mad Myrna's. $20, annual fundraiser for ICOAA.

MCCA Retreat: "Newness" 2/13, 12-2 p.m. open to all.

Love Your Gay Neighbor Valentine's Day Party 2/14, 3-4:30 p.m. At MCC Anchorage, after the 2 p.m. Sunday service.

New LGBT Book Lovers Club meets at the GLCCA 2/17, 6:15 p.m. showing the movie Jane Austin's Book Club and choosing books to read and discuss.

Palin on DADT Repeal: Unnecessary

Sarah Palin said that now is not the right time to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and criticized President Obama for mentioning it in his State of the Union address. She did not say when would be the right time for the repeal.

Palin appeared on Fox News Sunday and was asked, "Should the rule 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' for the military be repealed?"

"I don't think so right now," she said. "I'm surprised that the president spent time on that in his State of the Union speech when he only spent about 9% of his time in the State of the Union on national security issues. And I say that because there are other things to be worried about right now with the military. I think that kind of on the back burner is sufficient for now. To put so much time, and effort, and politics into it? Unnecessary."

Watch the video clip here:

Freedom to Marry Week 2010

The 13th annual Freedom to Marry Week begins today and marriage equality events are planned around the country. In Anchorage, marriage equality supporter and Seattle sex columnist Dan Savage returns for another entertaining and educational question and answer session on all things sexual for UAA's Healthy Sexuality Week, and we have GLBT Valentine's events in Anchorage and Juneau.

"Every year, right around President Lincoln's birthday and Valentine's Day, symbolizing equality and love, supporters of the freedom to marry take action and promote conversations about why marriage matters to American families, gay and non-gay alike," said Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People's Right to Marry. "This year, Freedom to Marry's partner organizations across the country - from Rhode Island to Washington state - are organizing Freedom to Marry Week rallies, house parties, film screenings, and lobby days."

Freedom to Marry Week is February 8-14, 2010. Learn how to talk about marriage equality, and read A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights at Freedom to Marry Week 2010.

In this video, Dan Savage shows how the definition of marriage has already been changed by heterosexuals, and the absurdity of using children as the reason to deny same sex marriage: