Time Travel with Four A's at 25

You are cordially invited to join Four A's in celebrating our 25th anniversary. Experience 25 years in one night during a most triumphant fundraiser. Reserve your seat in our time machine and experience live time travel. The evening will be a most excellent adventure showcasing our history and the history of HIV/AIDS in Alaska. You won't believe where we visit and who visits us!

Four A's 25th Anniversary

Saturday, February 26, 7-9:30 pm

Crosspoint Community Church, in Anchorage

Tickets $50 each. Call (263-2050) to reserve your tickets, or buy on online at Four A's.

Alaska's Barnes & Noble stores join national No Name-Calling project

January is "No Name-Calling Month" at Barnes & Noble, and B&N stores nationwide are hosting events in support of GLSEN's annual No Name-Calling Week, happening this year on January 24-28, 2011. Stores in Anchorage and Fairbanks will hold Storytime readings and art activities before NNCW, and teaching materials on name-calling and bullying will be displayed during the month.

"Bringing awareness to the seriousness and severity of name-calling, teasing, bullying and cyber bullying is very important to Barnes & Noble. We're pleased to be partnering with Simon & Schuster and GLSEN for such an important effort," said Mary Amicucci, vice president of Children's Books for Barnes & Noble.

"GLSEN is excited to work with Barnes & Noble to bring No Name-Calling Week's message of respect to youth across the country throughout the month of January," said Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Executive Director Eliza Byard. "As the world's largest bookseller, we applaud Barnes & Noble for embracing this opportunity to raise awareness about the problems of name-calling and bullying."

No Name-Calling Week is a week of educational and art activities aimed at stopping name-calling and bullying of all kinds, including anti-LGBT harassment. Lessons and resources for elementary, middle and high schools are available online HERE.

Barnes & Noble's No Name-Calling Storytime in Anchorage is on Saturday, January 15 and includes the two books recommended in the press release quoted below. The Fairbanks Storytime is scheduled for Saturday, January 22, and involves a different book.

Barnes & Noble stores across the country have events planned throughout January to recognize No Name-Calling Month including: All stores will host a national Storytime event on Saturday, January 15 at 11 a.m. The event will include a Storytime reading of the books Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and One by Kathryn Otoshi, arts and crafts and other activities.

From January 15 through January 23, stores will host Barnes & Noble Educator Appreciation Week. Stores will have No Name-Calling materials available for teachers and educators including book recommendations, tip sheets for organizing No Name-Calling events, lesson plans for elementary and middle school students, classroom posters and buttons, [and] in-store panel discussions with GLSEN local chapters. Exclusive No Name-Calling articles by James Howe and Jodi Picoult will be featured in the January line-up of the More In Store program available on NOOK, the Barnes & Noble eBook Reader.

Barnes & Noble.com will feature a No Name-Calling page. Exclusive video content from bestselling children's, teen and adult authors will be placed on the site during the month of January... The authors will discuss their thoughts on and experiences with bullying.

Barnes & Noble stores will also provide information on GLSEN's Creative Expression Contest for Students:

The Creative Expression Contest is an opportunity for students to submit essays, poetry, music, original artwork, or other pieces that convey their experiences and feelings about name-calling, and their ideas for putting a stop to verbal bullying in their schools and communities. This year, we have added a new High School category to the contest for short-film submissions that focus on anti-LGBT name-calling and bullying in school. The goal is to have students working on their art pieces during the week as a way to learn about and deal with name-calling and bullying.

For contest guidelines, school resources and more information, visit No Name-Calling Week.

Thanks to GLSEN and their partners for the LGBT-inclusive No Name-Calling campaign, and to Barnes & Noble for bringing the anti-bullying message to their bookstores in Alaska and throughout the country.

Christian Gay & Trans Resources

The Christmas season is a good time to highlight resources for LGBT Christians and people with Christian friends and family members. The Gay Christian Network, SoulForce and the Parents Reconciling Network are a few of the online resources that were recently recommended by Alaskans.

The Gay Christian Network

"I wish that you guys could post a link to The Gay Christian Network. [They have] amazing YouTube videos on helping people who are gay come to terms with their spirituality," wrote Mark Allred of Alaska Native Lutheran Church in Anchorage.

Mark encourages watching all 7 videos, but he thinks the one embedded below is the most useful. Watch Gay Christian Answers, episode 4: "Aren't we designed for heterosexuality?"

MCC Anchorage

Matthew Moak at Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Anchorage also recommends The Gay Christian Network, along with several other resources. Of course, MCC itself is a great resource.

• What the Bible Says - and Doesn't Say - about Homosexuality (pdf) is an important resource from SoulForce, a group that "works to end the religious and political oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people."
• Homosexuality And The Bible is a list of articles and websites by Christian Gays, a group that provides "the resources for any who wish to understand the ACCURATE interpretation of the Original Scriptures with regard to homosexuality."
• SisterFriends Together "is an outreach ministry of Grace Unfolding Ministries, and we exist to provide a safe and welcoming online faith community for lesbian, bisexual, questioning and transgender women." They can also be found at ChristianLesbians, their previous name.
• The Gay Christian Network is "a nonprofit ministry serving Christians who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, and those who care about them."
• Coming Out as a Transgender Person is a workbook created by MCC Transgender Ministries, which "provides opportunities for spiritual development for transgender people and their families and friends."

Parents Reconciling Network

PRN is an organization of United Methodist parents of GLBT children. Rev. Johnathan of Church Life Alaska mentioned a new transgender resource from PRN in last week's Alaska GLBT News. The information came from Sara Boesser, who compiles the weekly LGBT News Roundup posted here on Bent Alaska.

New Resource: Our Transgender And Intersex Children

What causes a person's sexual orientation is unknown. Causes for people being transgender or intersex are not fully understood. A huge variety of factors are at work in making each individual the person that they are and there is no one reason that causes people to be transgender. It has nothing to do with anything you did or did not do, nor anything your child did or did not do.

Families love their children and want what is best for them. You cannot change your child. However, you can change your response to your child. Your specific response can improve your child's health and happiness. Your consistent parenting and unconditional love does have a central and enduring influence on your child's life. Here are some parenting guidelines, shown by research, to improve the physical and mental health of LGBT children.

LGBT-friendly church groups

Most denominations have an LGBT or LGBT-friendly wing, and many of these movements have web sites with resource pages. A good list of national LGBT-friendly church groups can be found HERE. This does not imply that the local Alaska congregations are LGBT-friendly, unfortunately, but the online resources can be useful.

The Resource page on the Open and Affirming (ONA) site of the United Church of Christ (UCC) was suggested by a reader named Matt. He belonged to an ONA church before moving to Alaska, although he is not involved with the UCC in Alaska. None of the Alaska UCC's are listed as Open and Affirming on the Coalition's site, and I don't know if the local congregations are LGBT-friendly or not. But the national ONA site includes resources for gay and trans Christians.

A list of Alaska's LGBT-friendly churches and religious groups is posted HERE.

Do you know a good online LGBT-positive Christian resource that we didn't mention? Please leave the name and link in a comment below this list.

SantaLand Diaries elf tale by David Sedaris, a benefit at Out North

On the day after Christmas, Out North is presenting "The SantaLand Diaries" written by award-winning gay author David Sedaris and performed by Ben Brown of Juneau. Out North recently lost a major funding grant, and this show is a benefit so they can continue fulfilling their mission of Art for Everyone, No Exceptions.

You think you've had enough of Christmas shopping, piped-in holiday music, disgruntled Santas, crying children and occasional crying.

Take your holiday headache to Out North and have your yule attitude readjusted with "The SantaLand Diaries." Juneau-based actor Ben Brown performs David Sedaris' hilarious autobiographical tale about his stint as an elf in the annual holiday display at Macy's Department Store in New York City. Just as Sedaris took consolation in the fact that some of the other elves were TV extras on "One Life to Live," maybe you can take consolation in the fact that you're enjoying a great play, not out in the shopping mayhem still.

The SantaLand Diaries plays at 7 p.m. Sunday, December 26th at Out North (3800 DeBarr Road). Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 online. For more information, visit www.outnorth.org."

"The SantaLand Diaries" is a benefit show for Out North this year, and we greatly appreciate Ben's generosity. We look forward to spending the evening with you, and invite you to bring your friends.

The Grrlzlist shared this message last week from Out North to their supporters:

Thank you for your continued support of the cutting edge work Out North produces. Your donations in the wake of our funding pull has so far raised $25,000 in less than a month! The overwhelming majority of the donations have been less than $200. I know you know how incredible that is. We here are overcome with gratitude - and relief. Thank you for pushing so hard to keep Out North in Anchorage. We still have $55,000 to go to make up the shortfall, but clearly, together we can do this! If you have not donated already, I can assure you that you are backing a winner by supporting Out North right now. Your support now will mean that we can maintain our commitment to the artists and schools we had promised to support in Season 26. And it means that we can continue to bring you work you just can't see in Anchorage, as well as vital inclusivity for ALL people and ALL arts. What happened to us is not an isolated instance. Out North's funding was pulled because the funder did not want to support the kind of work we do here. To them, we went "too far" by programming a musical about marijuana and two films that featured the (award-winning) story of lesbian lives. To us, art is for everyone, no exceptions.

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

New youth grant and AK staff from Pride Foundation

Pride Foundation of the Pacific Northwest is strengthening their commitment to Alaska's LGBT community by funding a full time regional staff position and continuing to provide grants for Alaska's LGBT non-profits.

Tiffany McClain, formerly of the ACLU of Alaska, was hired by the Pride Foundation to fill a newly-funded staff position as Regional Development Organizer for Alaska:

From Anchorage to Bozeman, to Eugene to Idaho Falls – Pride Foundation is deeply committed to building and sustaining local leaders and organizations to increase visibility for LGBTQ people across the greater Northwest. Over this past year, staff, volunteers and donors have been working together to determine how to best leverage and increase Pride Foundation's prior work in regional and rural communities. We're so excited to expand our regional commitment.

By investing in full-time staff members in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Western Washington to lead our philanthropic and community development strategies, we know that we can increase our understanding of local issues and work better and even more collaboratively to build the future of equality in the Northwest.

The five Regional Development Organizers start their new positions in January 2011. Here is Tiffany's staff bio. (Learn about the other regional team members here.)

Growing up in St. Louis, MO – a humid, mountain-less city of brick and concrete, where two weeks of Girl Scout camp seemed like the roughest of adventures – I never imagined I'd end up living in Alaska. But I've never felt more at home than I do in Anchorage and am excited that I've been offered the opportunity to engage my passion for social justice and community organizing while living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Grants from Pride Foundation made possible many of the projects I worked on as the LGBTQ Public Policy Coordinator for the ACLU of Alaska and now I get to support the efforts of other activists, artists, and service-providers who are working to improve the lives of LGBTQ Alaskans. When I'm not working, you can find me outside soaking up Alaska's beauty, daydreaming about my next travel adventure, or hiding from the cold in a nice, warm movie theatre or bookstore.

Congratulations to Tiffany, and thanks to Pride Foundation for funding this local position.

In addition to a staff member for Alaska, Pride Foundation awarded a youth grant to Identity to bring LGBT youth from rural communities to the annual Pride Conference in Anchorage.

Pride Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to 48 projects that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Youth-related grants were the largest recipients of funds.

[snip]

This year's youth-related grantees include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound in Washington, Idaho Safe Schools Coalition, and Identity Inc's Alaska Bush Youth at Pride Conference 2011, a project aimed at connecting LGBTQ youth in remote parts of Alaska to community services and networks of support – addressing the disproportionately high rates of LGBTQ youth suicide in remote Alaska.

A year-end giving appeal to the public allows donors to specifically give to LGBTQ youth-related projects. To donate, visit www.pridefoundation.org/giving/give-online.

These grants are just one way Pride Foundation works to empower and support the next generation of LGBTQ people. Of course, Pride Foundation grants focus on more than just youth. Dozens of grants were also awarded in the areas of 1) Arts & Recreation, 2) Education, Advocacy & Outreach, 3) Health & Community Services, 4) HIV/AIDS Service Delivery & Prevention, and 5) Lesbian Health.

This is the description of Identity's rural youth project grant:

Identity Inc. (Anchorage, AK) www.identityinc.org : $3,500 for travel expenses to insure the attendance of youth from Southeast Alaska, Fairbanks, Kenai Peninsula, and from bush villages at Identity Inc.'s 2011 Pride Conference in Anchorage. The conference will focus on these youth sharing their experiences of being LGBT in their home communities. Youth traveling from remote Alaska will have the opportunity to meet and interact with other LGBT youth and to enhance their personal self-esteem and self-worth. Published suicide data predicts 95% likelihood that a young person between the ages of 12 and 19, who is an Alaska Native, lives in a village, is male and is gay will attempt suicide.

Thanks to Identity and Pride Foundation for addressing this important issue and funding the project.

Anchorage Discrimination Survey to be distributed in early 2011

by Shelby Carpenter / Crossposted at Alaska LGBT Community Survey

During the 2009 battle over Anchorage Ordinance 64 — which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Municipality of Anchorage’s equal rights code — one thing we heard from the opposition again and again was that there was no “proof” that discrimination was a problem that needed to be addressed. So this fall, a group of concerned community members and organizations came together to brainstorm how to compile this kind of information about the LGBT community in Alaska—both so that we can provide policymakers with accurate information, and so that we ourselves more fully understand the needs of our community. Thus, the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force was born.

The Task Force will complete two important surveys over the coming years. Our broader, more long-term project is the Alaska LGBT Community Statewide Survey, which will provide an extensive profile of the LGBT community all across the state. Over the next six months, however, our focus is the Anchorage Discrimination Survey, which will focus exclusively on experiences of bias and discrimination by LGBT people in Anchorage. Please look for the survey in early 2011! We need as many respondents as possible, and all answers will be completely confidential. You can find more information about the survey at alaskacommunity.org.

I will be serving as Project Manager for the survey, so please also feel free to reach out to me by phone at (907) 263-2006 or by email at scarpenter@akclu.org about any questions you may have.

Shelby Carpenter is the LGBT Public Policy Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, and is Project Manager of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force.

Don't Forget the Legislature, the Key to Alaska's Future

- another great guest post by Caleb Pritt

You've heard about Ethan and Sean, Diane and Mead, Harry and Don. Joe and Lisa and Scott too. But do you recall... the most important election in Alaska of all. Sorry, having some fun with the nearing of Christmas. But the clever use of the old Rudoph the Red Nose Reindeer song is meant to remind you that besides the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Governor, there is one other VERY important race for many of you in Alaska... the State Legislature.

From the State Legislature comes so many laws that affect everyday life. And there are some pitched battles for legislative races that I thought I would highlight in brevity the ones that are the key to Alaska's lock on the future.

The State Senate is split 10 Democrats to 11 Republican-Coalition members.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT J - Recommendation: BILL WIELECHOWSKI

State Senator Bill Wielechowski (D), a progressive young Democrat, is seeking re-election against Ron Slepecki (R). You can listen online to the debate between the two. But what should concern you in this year of odd & crazy elections in Alaska is that Mr. Slepecki is a minister at the Anchorage Baptist Temple (yes, the lair of Jerry Prevo himself.) Yet Slepecki fails to point out that profession or the fact that he is one who helps those who have fallen prey to the cults of the New Age, Hinduism, or Bhuddism. And on Amazon.com, Rev. Slepecki compares President Obama's education plan to the THIRD REICH! Honestly, Bill Wielechowski has worked hard to be re-elected. He is one of the leaders working to end violence against women and children in Alaska. He has fought for seniors, to lower their prescription drug prices, and he's an all around good guy. Vote for Bill Wielechowski.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT P - Recommendation: JANET REISER

Those in State Senate District P have a choice between Janet Reiser (D), Catherine Giessell (R), and Phil Dzubinski (I). Ms. Giessell is very proud of her Tea Party roots. In fact, she proudly declares about civil rights that "I support strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and Alaska Constitution." Has anyone bothered to tell her, and all these other Sharon Angle clones, that had there been a "strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution" then they as women would not have the right to vote, much less run for office? More importantly, Giessell was the individual that Joe Miller propped up to attempt to oust Randy Ruedrich as Chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, an unsuccessful attempt that saw Miller improperly use the property of the Borough Government in Fairbanks to promote Giessell. [And Giessel wants to take away partner benefits.] Dzubinski is a conservative like the outgoing member, Con Bunde, who all three hope to succeed. He has outspent the two female candidates and has Andrew Halcro advising his campaign. Reiser is a pro-business, pro-oil development candidate who calls herself a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. She likely will appeal to the considerable number of moderate Republicans in the district as well as her own Democratic base. Vote for Janet Reiser.

MEANWHILE... in the State House, but for a handful of seats, the House could tilt Democrat. Can you imagine a Speaker of the House Les Gara??? It can happen with a few of these House seats flipping.

HOUSE DISTRICT 7 - Recommendation: BOB MILLER

A shout-out to all my Fairbanks friends. Here is your chance to vote for the right Miller. Vote for Bob Miller for State House and rid Alaska of Mike Kelly. Other races I view the pros and cons of who is running but Mike Kelly is one individual who gives Alaska politics a bad name. Rep. Mike Kelly co-sponsored the $1.2 million advisory vote bill to block same sex employee benefits granted by the Alaska Supreme Court. I refer you to this article on why to vote against Mike Kelly. [There's a newer article HERE.] Meanwhile, during the Pub Crawl for Coronation Weekend, Miller joined the group at Spenard Roadhouse. He's open minded and one who sat down with Empress 37, MeMe Jenkins, to listen for over a half an hour about what matters to the community. BOB MILLER cares and BOB MILLER will get results for Alaska, because he believes ALL Alaskans deserve a seat at the table of state government. Vote for Bob Miller.

HOUSE DISTRICT 31 - Recommendation: LUPE MARROQUIN

This features a race between Bob Lynn (R), a Republican politician who was elected in California and now elected in Alaska, and a small yet very effective Democrat named Lupe Marroquin. One thing about Mr. Lynn is one of his top contributors is Joe Miller. But Lynn learned to be stealthy at an early age as a Republican in California. So he plays up labor money and endorsements and has a fiscally liberal voting record. Marroquin meanwhile is a social progressive and fiscal conservative who is working hard to go door to door and earn the votes. In the end, it's about who is genuine and there's only one candidate. Vote for Lupe Marroquin.

Be sure to remember (3) other Democrats who need our vote: Jodie Dominguez is an advocate who needs support. Martin Lindeke is a veteran out in Eagle River who needs support. Lynn Zaugg has experience in office and is running. She has a wonderful plan to modernize voting so that Alaskans can vote by mail or online.

There are other legislative races. Look into the candidates and let's paint Alaska blue in 2010. It's time for a meaningful change... an ALL-ALASKA Change on November 2nd.

Not In Our Town: Juneau

In the spring of 2009, the Juneau Human Rights Commission showed the video Not In Our Town to start a discussion about prejudice and discrimination in general and about specific incidents in Juneau. Now they're working on the next step: setting up a local coalition on human rights.

The members of the Juneau Human Rights Commission have been working this past year on developing a Juneau Human Rights coalition of organizations and individuals here in Juneau. Juneau has many people of different ethnic origins and nationalities whom, in the past, have been victims of discrimination. Nationally, there has been an increase in groups promoting hate crimes towards racial minorities, gays and lesbians, and those of different religions and ethnic backgrounds. Bullying in schools has continued to plague communities around the country. To counter these concerns and to develop opportunity for dialogue among our citizens, the Juneau Human Rights Commission proposes to develop a local Human Rights Coalition.

The impetus for this has come from the efforts of the people in Billings, Montana, to confront hate crimes in the late 1980's and early 1990's. When violence against racial, ethnic and religious minorities exploded in Billings, the people of that city, through various groups and as individuals, drew together to demonstrate their belief in the pluralistic values that have been the bedrock of our nation. They dubbed their efforts, "Not In Our Town". Since then, "Not In Our Town" has become a national movement emulated in communities and cities across the country.

The Commission members here in Juneau want to foster that movement here in Juneau for many reasons. We want to foster a high level of understanding, support and acceptance of all members of our community. We want there to be a forum where issues can be discussed. We want to support the school district in its efforts at reducing bullying in the schools.

To better understand the nature of such a coalition and how it functions, we have invited Eran Thompson to speak at the Egan Library on the evening of November 3. Eran is from Billings, and while he wasn't there during the initial period of the early 1990's, Eran is current president of their "Not in Our Town" coalition. He will speak on the formation of the coalition, what it does, who belongs, how it relates to the community, and how it provides a forum for issues that Billings confronts.

This Not In Our Town video is an excerpt from a program they produced about communities uniting against hate.

Obama: It Gets Better. Dan Savage: Thanks, now Make It Better

Over 10 million people viewed the It Gets Better project started by columnist Dan Savage, millions participated in Spirit Day events wearing purple to raise awareness of anti-gay bullying, and thousands attended vigils for the gay teens who killed themselves recently. Yet the suicides continue, with another gay teen taking his life this week.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton uploaded an It Gets Better message on Tuesday, and President Obama followed with his message on Thursday. They are strong messages against prejudice and in support of LGBT youth.

Clinton's video was appreciated as the highest level government official to join the project at the time, while Obama's message sparked anger in the LGBT community because the good words are contradicted by his lack of action on behalf of gay rights.

Watch President Obama's It Gets Better video:

The It Gets Better project is about kids, anti-gay bullying and suicide prevention. This is the first time a sitting president has told gay youth that there is nothing wrong with them. He is a good speaker and his message can reach many people, including those who might not have heard this kind of message before and those who have been told otherwise. A speech like this from the president has the ability to save lives, and that's what the It Gets Better project is all about.

Now it's time to follow those words with deeds that actually make it better for LGBT youth and adults.

On Friday, Dan Savage responded to President Obama's video, voicing the mixed feelings expressed by the LGBT community:

Thanks to Dan Savage and his husband for creating a project that brings national attention to the problem of anti-LGBT discrimination and the harm it causes our youth and our society.

Solidarity in Spirit and Action

- a guest post about Spirit Day by Lauren, president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Today we wore purple to celebrate and rejoice in unity for each other within the LGBT community, coming together in support of one another. The simple act of incorporating the color in our wardrobe today was a powerful action that showed our friends, neighbors, family and strangers that there are people who care about you, about me, about everyone. We asked our friends and family to wear a color to show their love and they did, and to everyone who wore purple today, to show your support, we thank you.

I don't know if you heard, but just hours before Spirit Day commenced, another young man couldn't bear his pain and took his own life on campus at Oakland University in Michigan. Though the police reported that bullying was not an evident factor in 19-year-old Corey Jackson's death, we all know that there are many kinds of pain that drive us to the edge and, oftentimes, over it. I wept when I read the article; my heart hurt as I read and I just couldn't believe that just before our day of pulling together as an allied community, that one man was unable to hold on just one more day. I think the response of Melissa Pope, the director of the university's Gender and Sexuality Center, sums up a lot of what people are feeling today and recently in response to the rash of suicides that have ravaged our nation and communities the past two months:

We must look beyond the term "bullying" to the overall treatment of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community to begin to grasp the long-standing epidemic of suicide among our LGBT youth.

While the national press has picked up this issue over the last two months, we have been losing high numbers of LGBT youth to suicide for decades. In recent years, we've labeled the cause as bullying. But the root cause goes deeper – it goes to the very core of our society that discriminates against the LGBT community on all levels, including the denial of basic human rights that are supposed to belong to every person.

As I sit with the students who regularly visit the Oakland University Gender and Sexuality Center, including the newer members of our community, drawn to the Center for affirmation and support, I am confident that these individuals know they are loved and accepted for who they are. My greater concern is the hundreds of students, faculty and staff who do not come to the Center. Those who are afraid to come out – perhaps even to themselves – for fear of the persecution they will suffer. My greatest hope is that those who feel isolated reach out to resources like the GSC to discover they are not alone. We are here to listen and offer support.

I, too, hope that people out there can find somewhere they feel safe enough to share their burdens. As I write this, I'm listening to SuperChick's "We Live" on repeat because of these words that make up the chorus: "We live, we love, we forgive and never give up / Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above / And today we remember to live and to love". That entire song is about learning to live when you know life is hell, when there isn't much you can do. Each day, we just need to remember to live and love. To not give up, to keep moving forward, because it gets better. It really does, I promise. I wouldn't be here, writing this to you all, if it didn't.

There are safe spaces on campus if you feel overwhelmed by anything in your life, related to sexuality or not, and it doesn't matter if you are an LGBT student or not. Here at UAF, you can go to any of our GSA advisors for advice (hence the title 'advisor') or anything that you need. You can go to the Student Health and Counseling Center. Talk to a friend, an RA, your Dorm Director, peer mentor, friendly person on your floor. Call your parents, if you feel comfortable, or call someone you can trust. The GSA meets every Wednesday at 4:30pm at the Library, room 502. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come to share their stories--because all stories deserve to be listened to. Even the people in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity office (OMAD) are cool enough to listen with respect if you come to them. You can apply these suggestions on different campuses as well--get in touch with your diversity/LGBT clubs, your Women's Center, Men's Center, health center, and faculty that help advise these groups and services.

Outside of campus, there are many places you can go if you are being harassed or bullied in any way. If it's bad enough, let the police know (do this if you are on campus as well). Treat harassment, even if it's 'not important' or 'not violent' in the form of verbal abuse, as a potential attack and tell people. Tell anyone who will listen. Sympathetic ears really work wonders for hurting hearts, and they generally come with shoulders you can cry on. Your friends are friends for a reason: they know you, support you, and love you. If they don't do these things, they're not good friends (and you should think about making new ones). Let them help you out of a bad situation. Is it a loved one who is targeting you? Find someone to help mediate some sort of conflict resolution meeting AFTER extracting yourself from the situation. If your faith is kosher with the way you love (like many are growing to be nowadays), find someone who can guide you on that front as well.

No one deserves to be hurt for who they love. The way I see harassment is that it is like a cancer--you can often not tell that it's there. It might be subtle as a butterfly's kiss or like a freight train barreling down the tracks, but it is there. Early treatment of the situation will generally help resolve the issues, but sometimes you need other outside help. Build your support network up and get help dealing with things if you are confronted with harassment, abuse, and/or bullying. Violence, verbal abuse, bigotry, pick the poison: none of it is all right or acceptable, and if you find yourself in a situation where you are dealing with these issues, get help. Now.

In the end, wearing purple alone does not help us get over the fact that bigotry leads to abuse in its myriad of forms. What it does is identify those who are capable of supporting us while we deal with said abuse. No one should have to live or stay in a place or situation that does not support them--no one. Domestic or not, violence in any form is not something that should be a part of our social community. Whether you are gay or not, if you are confronted with harassment, you are able to take charge of the situation. You are not a victim, you are someone who has the power to change what is going on to you. People can only hurt you if you let them, right? Don't ever let them. Get help. A lesson I had to learn the hard way is that asking for assistance is not a sign of weakness, but rather a form of power.

Be powerful, my friends.

APU to Anchorage: Stop the Bullying!

Students at Alaska Pacific University wore purple t-shirts and decorated the school with purple flags for national Spirit Day on Wednesday, to commemorate the recent teen suicides due to bullying and anti-gay prejudice.

The Spectrum club provided 50 purple shirts for students and staff to paint with supportive messages, and gained permission to raise awareness on campus.

APU is a private school with graduate and undergrad programs, and was originally a Methodist college. It's the only major university in Alaska with an anti-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.

There haven't been any reported incidents at APU, but the climate off-campus is not as welcoming. The city of Anchorage has struggled with the need for equal rights for LGBT residents, passing and vetoing a non-discrimination ordinance again last year. The public University of Alaska system has been "studying" their non-inclusive policy for years without making progress.

In addition to raising awareness on campus, two Spectrum students were interviewed about Spirit Day on the local TV news. [I'll post the videos when they're available.] Here's their press release:

APU to Anchorage: Stop the Bullying!

On Wednesday, October 20, APU students, staff and faculty will be wearing purple in support of an anti-bullying movement which started on Facebook.

After a series of what was five suicides by gay youth across the country, Facebook users rallied together to form a variety of groups to commemorate the lives of these youth and send a message to the nation – No more bullying, no more harassment and no more discrimination.

This movement slowly picked up steam and drew the attention of hundreds of thousands of Facebook users.

At Alaska Pacific University, we remember those who have taken their lives and, with one voice, remind Anchorage that the lives of all youth are valued.

The student government of APU, the Associated Students of APU, and Spectrum, the diversity club on campus, are co-sponsoring this event at the university.

Dr. Don Bantz, the new president of APU, gave permission last Friday to drape the log in purple and decorate the school grounds in purple flags and triangles.

We hope to raise awareness and understanding by unifying the many different voices at APU.

Thanks to the students, staff and leaders at APU for organizing and supporting this event. At APU, It Gets Better!

Transgender health care workshop in Anchorage, Wed. Oct 20

Health care providers can learn more effective ways to care for Anchorage's growing transgender population and earn 3 CEU credits at a half day training on Wednesday led by Samuel Lurie, an expert on transgender issues and access to health care services.

Transgender People and Access to Care: Demystifying Gender Identity in the classroom, in the clinic and in the community

As the visibility and activism of transgender and gender-variant people has grown, providers are seeking ways to increase their understanding of the diversity of transgender experiences. This workshop will provide basic information and present strategies, standards of care, best practices, and resources for incorporating appropriate and effective support to your transgender clients. Our presenter is a member of the transgender community as well as a seasoned trainer who has presented on transgender awareness and health topics nationally for the past 12 years.

Learning Objectives

At the end of our workshop, participants will:

• Understand basic terminology, language and concepts of gender variant experiences including gender transition process and the role of mental health and social service providers.
• Distinguish between biological sex, gender identity and sexual orientation and ways in which care for transgender populations specifically differs from care for gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities.
• Identify current standards of care and approaches to supporting transgender clients and members of the client's support system.
• Be able to incorporate a basic knowledge of gender identity into their current professional work, including resources for supervision and educational materials.

The Trainer

Samuel Lurie is the director of Transgender Training and Advocacy (www.tgtrain.org) and is recognized nationally as an expert on transgender issues and access to health care and prevention services. He has been active in community health for over 20 years, focusing on HIV/AIDS activism, harm reduction and empowerment in marginalized communities. Samuel has an interactive, engaging and thought-provoking training style, and has presented on transgender issues to over 26,000 providers in 28 states. He lives in Vermont, where he recently opened a private practice in mind-body health.

The workshop is on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at the BP Energy Center, 1014 Energy Court (near E. Benson/Seward Hwy) in the Alder/ Cottonwood Room, 2nd Floor, from 1:30-4:30pm (registration and snacks at 1:15pm.) Registration fee: $50 per person or $80 for 2 people from the same agency. Student/community scholarships are available. Registration and questions, please contact Katherine Huffman, Education Manager at PPGNW-Alaska.

Transgender Health Care Survey

A national report released on Oct. 13 revealed rampant discrimination against transgender people by health providers.

Transgender and gender non-conforming people face discrimination in health care settings, are regularly denied needed care, and experience a range of health risks because they are transgender or gender non-conforming, according to a report of more than 6,450 transgender and gender non-conforming people.

Key findings of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey: Report on Health and Health Care include:

• Nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) reported being refused care outright because they were transgender or gender non-conforming.
• Survey participants reported very high levels of postponing medical care when sick or injured due to discrimination and disrespect (28 percent).
• Harassment: 28 percent of respondents were subjected to harassment in medical settings.
• Significant lack of provider knowledge: 50 percent of the sample reported having to teach their medical providers about transgender care.
• Despite barriers, the majority has accessed some form of transition-related medical care, but only a minority has had any surgery, despite the fact that a strong majority stated wanting to have it someday.
• Respondents reported more than four times the national average of HIV infection, 2.64 percent in our sample compared to 0.6 percent in the general population, with rates for transgender women at 3.76 percent, and with those who are unemployed (4.67 percent) or who have engaged in sex work (15.32 percent) even higher.
• Over a quarter of the respondents reported misusing drugs or alcohol specifically to cope with the discrimination they faced due to their gender identity or expression.
• A staggering 41 percent of respondents reported attempting suicide compared to 1.6 percent of the general population.

The report also includes critical public policy recommendations, such as the urgent need to train medical professionals about how to effectively and respectfully treat transgender and gender non-conforming patients; an end to the discriminatory practice of transgender exclusion from health care coverage; the development of transgender-specific programs to address suicide; the spread of HIV, and other health risks; and increased research that focuses specifically on health needs of the transgender population. [Download the health report.]

Preliminary findings on employment and economic insecurity, which provide an overview of statistics from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey on the pervasive employment discrimination transgender and gender non-conforming people face, unemployment rates, poverty levels, and housing instability, are available HERE.

Statistics related to suicide, and the relationship to bullying and harassment in school, were released last week, and are available HERE.

City Councilman Joel Burns: It Gets Better

Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns reaches out to GLBT teens with a personal story and a message of hope. Get out the tissue and listen to this heartfelt message from a brave and openly gay city councilman in Texas (who is a personal friend of several LGBT Alaskans):

UA retired professor on coming out in the sciences

In addition to the Anchorage community leaders who spoke to the local media on National Coming Out Day, retired University of Alaska professor Steven Jacquier wrote his story of being gay in the sciences for a national website:

The writers at boingboing realized they'd never seen a Coming Out Day feature dedicated to the experiences of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered persons in the sciences and engineering, and hoped to add to the diversity of stories and help science-minded young queer folks everywhere know that it does, indeed, get better.

One of the featured stories is by Steven Jacquier, who trained teachers and science educators at the University of Alaska and experienced the pink glass ceiling:

Early Oppression Led to a Happy Life in the Sciences

Becoming a minister was my first career goal but the clash between being gay and the church killed that intention. At the same time—age 16—being gay also got me kicked out of my parent's house. In high school I had won science fair awards, prompting the military to persistently recruit me, so with the seminary door closed I decided to become an officer. Military college tuition and benefits were a tantalizing opportunity for a teenager on his own with no money ... but while actually filling out the induction papers at the recruiting station I discovered I had the option to either lie about being gay and be in, or be honest and be out. I chose to be out—in more ways than one. The remaining career path on my list? Science. I worked my way through university in part by serving food to military-funded students and washing their dirty dishes, yet am still glad I did not lie. A life in the sciences has worked out so much better!

Internships and field studies with the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies, Indonesian Institutes of Ecology and Parasitology, and in industry led to decades of work on a diverse range of fascinating and rewarding projects. Human ecology in Java, mariculture in Ecuador, agricultural research in New Jersey and California, health science education and disease prevention projects in Alaska and Nepal. At some junctures being gay in the sciences has meant hitting a glass ceiling, no doubt about it; for example, the same year I ultimately won a national award I was conspicuously passed over at the state level in Alaska. There has been definite progress over the years, though, thanks in large part to the efforts of NOGLSTP working with AAAS and other professional associations.

As with being LGBTIQ, being a scientist is as much—if not more—a privileged perspective and invaluable approach to perceiving and understanding the world than how one is defined by professional employment or simply by the nominal fact of for whom one feels affection. Whenever I work with students I have them draw a scientist; they usually draw a man in a lab coat pouring chemicals or peering through a microscope. Especially with LGBTIQ youth, I know I have been successful when at the end of the course I ask them again to draw a scientist and they draw a smiling self-portrait. Out and proud career role models for LGBTIQ youth have too long been restricted to hairdressers, dog groomers, and positions in the arts.

Our youngest recently graduated from high school and flew the nest for university; with her away my partner and I decided to retire. We moved from Alaska to Hawaii, where I am beginning work with some local efforts on rat lungworm, dengue fever, and other emergent and resurgent tropical diseases as well as with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders). Overall, life as a gay man in the sciences these past decades has been good; thanks to folks like you being out and proud I expect the outlook for our children and students to be even better.

Thanks to Steven for contributing his experience as a gay man in the sciences and as a gay Alaskan!

Do you know LGBT Alaskans in the sciences and engineering? NOGLSTP, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals, is calling for nominations for their 2011 Recognition Awards:

Do you know a GLBT colleague who conducts important scientific research, develops critical engineering applications, or mentors GLBT students in science, technology, engineering, or math? If so, please nominate them for one of NOGLSTP's 2011 GLBT Recognition Awards in the categories of GLBT Scientist of the Year, GLBT Engineer of the Year, and GLBTA Educator of the Year. Nominees need not be well known to the STEM community, but they should the "out" and willing to serve as role models. Self-nominations are accepted. The nomination dealine is November 15. Follow this link for more information and nomination instructions.

Alaskans speak out on National Coming Out Day

In addition to the many individuals who came out to friends and relatives on Monday, October 11, several LGBT Alaskans representing local organizations spoke out about National Coming Out Day and the importance of supporting queer youth by providing safe spaces and passing equal rights.

Johnathan Jones of Identity, Inc. explained on Channel 11 why the National Coming Out Day message is even more critical this year:

Anne Marie Moylan and Scott Turner, co-chairs of Identity, wrote an editorial in the Anchorage Daily News: True equal rights could stop harassment. They describe recent attacks on gays and teen suicides from anti-gay bullying, and ask what effect the lack of LGBT equal rights has on creating this atmosphere of violence.

The events of recent weeks beg the question: What is it in our culture that says that gay lives are worthless? Gay teens commit suicide because others tell them their lives are not worth living. And homophobes go so far as to verbally and physically attack gay people, believing their actions are perfectly justified.

As chairs of Identity Inc., the organization that runs the Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Anchorage, we take the view that political inequality is a key piece of the problem. The lack of legal protections for the gay community both in Alaska and across the country legitimizes anti-gay bias and harassment.

The kind of virulent homophobia that leads to hate crimes and teen suicides is not limited to the Outside -- just recall the sea of red shirts at the Loussac Library when the Anchorage Assembly considered Ordinance 64. That Mayor Sullivan vetoed the ordinance means that right now in Anchorage, we can be fired from our jobs, kicked out of our apartments, or refused service in a restaurant based on our sexuality and have no legal protections.

By letting discrimination slide, the city of Anchorage is saying that gay and transgender Alaskans are less valuable members of the community.

This National Coming Out Day, we say that it is time for things to change -- time for Anchorage to stand for fairness and equality.

Read the full Compass piece and leave supportive comments HERE.

Scott T. Schofield, director of Out North, wrote a letter to the Anchorage Press:

I have heard that Alaskans get things done. I have heard that Alaskans pull together, crossing social boundaries to get through tough times. We must take action against this tragic possibility facing our young people, a possibility that no doubt many of us have faced down in our own families, whether gay, perceived to be gay, or were bullied for other reasons. At the very least, we must stop being silent about it. Coming out is for everyone: Come out as an ally, come out as conflicted but accepting of all people, come out as pro-life and therefore anti-bullying, come out and make a majority that does not tolerate hate, nor the tactics of shame, nor the senseless death of good people. You never know how what you say can affect a person: say your support for a hate-free community out loud.

Schofield offers Out North as a safe space for the people of Anchorage, especially LGBTQ youth, and adds a personal message:

I do not write this to capitalize on a disturbing national trend. I write this to break my own silence on an issue rooted deep in my own heart. When my own identity issues brought me to seriously consider suicide as a teen, a place very much like Out North kept me alive: They told me I was okay, and gave me an outlet for my otherwise destructive energy. I owe it to the child I was then to speak to children and adults now. I am grateful that I am alive to do so, and grateful that I have something to offer. I offer it sincerely.

Out North's motto is Art for Everyone, No Exceptions. Whatever your identity, but especially if you are an LGBTQ teen who doesn't know why to stick around for tomorrow, you are welcome here. We encourage you to explore your own mind, to work and laugh with people who are different from you, to learn how there is strength in diversity. We are holding a place for you in our community, and we are excited for you to fill it, whoever you are. We invite you to drop in from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., every day after school. We have a drug-free space to do your homework, create your own art, volunteer your time, and share your experiences with new friends. We want to know you.

But seriously, if you feel isolated, we beg you to let your first act—before your final act—be to come see us, tell us your story, and let us tell you that you are valued.

Read the full letter HERE.

Thanks to these LGBT Alaskans for speaking out on National Coming Out Day!