Where to Find GLBT Alaska - Annual Events, Revised for 2011

The main annual events held by the LGBT organizations and local communities in Alaska are listed here in calendar order, along with city-wide events that we participate in every year.

Fur Rondy Grand Parade (Feb 26) - The Imperial Court creates a float for the Rondy Parade in downtown Anchorage.

Femme Fatale (mid-April) - The Imperial Court's Juneau show closes the state legislative session and is a benefit for Four A's.

Day of Silence (April 15) and Pride Prom (April 23 in Anchorage) - Alaska's students, teachers and Gay/Straight Alliances (GSA's) join the National Day of Silence, and break their silence celebrating at Pride Prom.

Celebration of Change (April 23) - Radical Arts for Women's 'break-up' performance celebrates women, music and art in Anchorage.

Juneau Pride Chorus spring concert (April 30) - The concert is a spirited evening of women, song and dance at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center, and the chorus performs at various events during the spring and summer.

LGBT Pride Picnic (May 30, Memorial Day) - The Anchorage Picnic and BBQ celebrate unity in the community and the beginning of summer.

Alaska Pride Week and Festival (3rd week in June) - The summer solstice parade and festival celebrates LGBT Pride in downtown Anchorage, following a week of Pride events.

Northern Exposure (during Pride Week this year) - Alaska's new gay & straight BDSM/Leather conference returns for a second year.

Juneau Pride Picnic and Glacier Hike (summer) - Juneau celebrates Pride with a GLBT community picnic and glacier hike organized by SEAGLA.

Marching in July 4th Parades - LGBT contingents design floats and march in July 4th parades in Anchorage and Homer.

PFLAG in Golden Days Parade (late July) and Tanana Valley State Fair (August) - PFLAG and the Fairbanks LGBTQA community march in the annual Gold Rush parade, host a Pride Picnic after the parade, and create a booth for the Interior state fair.

Coronation (Labor Day Weekend, Sept.) - An extravaganza of performances in Anchorage invests the new Emperor and Empress of the Imperial Court of All Alaska, and announces community awards and scholarships.

Pride Conference (Saturday near October 11) - Identity's back-to-school youth conference is inspired by National Coming Out Day, celebrated nationally on October 11.

Alaskans Together annual meeting (Sunday after Pride Conference) - The state-wide LGBT advocacy group holds a strategy meeting each year in Anchorage.

Thanksgiving Community Meal (Thanksgiving Day) - Several gay-owned businesses in Anchorage host a Thanksgiving Day meal for the LGBT community.

World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) - Alaska commemorates World AIDS Day with red ribbons and candlelight vigils sponsored by Four A's and IAA in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.

Arctic Heat (Jan. 2012) - The Men's Club chooses the new Bear and Leather titleholders every other year.

Alaska's LGBT groups hold many other events and performances, as well as weekly and monthly meetings and events, that the community is invited to attend. Visit the links in the side column of the blog for more lists of Where to find LGBT Alaska.

Free Coming Out Day films for Juneau

October is both LGBT History Month and National Bullying Prevention Month, which is sadly appropriate this year with all the recent gay teen suicides due to bullying.

In addition, National Coming Out Day is on October 11, and the Juneau community is recognizing the day, and the month, by screening two LGBT documentaries, one about families and one about bullying:

Free Films Sunday and Monday, October 10 & 11, at 6 pm, kick-off the new Conscientious Projector Film Series at the Nickelodeon Theater, sponsored by the Juneau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

In honor of National Coming Out Day, the October Films are co-sponsored by SEAGLA (SouthEast Alaska Gay and Lesbian Alliance) and PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

** Bullied is the new Southern Poverty Law Center release by an academy award nominee filmmaker documenting a true story of one student's ordeal at the hands of anti-gay bullies. His story offers inspiration to those fighting harassment. 40 min

** Straight from the Heart interviews a wide cross-section of American parents including a police chief, a Mormon couple, an African American mother, and Bobby Griffith's mother (the mother of Bobby from Prayers for Bobby) all speaking from the heart about their grown gay and lesbian children. 27 min

Optional discussion following both films. Snacks and admission are free. Donations are appreciated.

The Juneau Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets Sundays at 10 at the corner of Cordova & Foster in West Juneau and is a Welcoming Congregation, welcoming people from every class, nationality, race, gender and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit JUUF online.

The film Bullied is available free to schools from Teaching Tolerance, along with a viewer's guide. Watch the trailer:

Juneau adds Film Night to Pride Picnic and Hike

Juneau's Pride events for June and July include a new LGBT Film Night benefit for Alaskans Together featuring the award-wining film Out in the Silence, along with a Pride Picnic at Skater's Cabin, a hike at West Glacier, a drag show benefit for Four A's, and local events for HIV Testing Week.

The First Annual Alaskans Together for Equality LGBT Film Fun-Raiser is on Thursday, June 17 at the Gold Town Nickelodeon Theater, 171 Shattuck Way. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and the film schedule is below. Come for one segment or stay for the whole evening. Finger foods and refreshments will be available. Bring your checkbook and cash for the donation baskets. Membership in Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is available at all levels, from $10 up.

LGBT Film Fun-Raiser Schedule - June 17

6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Dramatic Narrative Shorts

Coming to Terms – College student deals with coming out by phone

The Manual – Sent to psychiatric institution as a boy, Sonny tries to help niece avoid similar treatment

The Call – Lesbian women interact with their sperm donor

Two Encounters – Hidden cameras reveal difference in treatment of blacks and whites in gay bars

7:15 - 8:15 p.m. Main Feature

Out in the Silence – Challenges of coming out and living in small towns and rural America

The film will be followed by an optional discussion in a breakout room led by Juneau Assembly member Jonathan Anderson

8:30 – 9:30 p.m. Humor & Love Shorts

Hi Maya – Mature women strike up relationship in hair salon

Float – Male love in the Bahamas

Hummer – Dinner party brings surprises for women participants

For further information or to help with the event, email Kelli or Marsha.

Watch the trailer for Out in the Silence:

Juneau's other LGBT events for June and July include the Mendenhall hike, the Pride Picnic, the Friday social, a drag show fundraiser for Four A's, and free testing during National HIV Testing Week.

Mendenhall Journey: June 19, 2010. Meet at 9:30 AM at the trail head of West Glacier Trail. Round trip is 5-6 hours, distance is 3.4 miles one-way, bring a lunch and water to drink, trail mix would also be wise, good footwear is mandatory. The hike departs promptly at 10 AM. Do not be late! Access directions: take Montana Creek Road from the Mendenhall Loop road, and follow the signs to the campground. Go past the campground entrance, and Skater's cabin to the parking area at the end of the road. This trail is rated "more difficult" by the Juneau hiking trail guide. There is some rock scrambling/climbing involved to reach the ice caves.

Annual Pride Picnic with SEAGLA and PFLAG: July 17, 2010 at Skater's Cabin from 4-8PM. Please plan to be there. Bring a salad and whatever you would like to drink, glass is not allowed. Firewood might be good depending on weather. Volunteers are requested to help with set up, breakdown, music, and a BBQ grill. SEAGLA will provide paper plates, cups and plastic ware that we already have. Also we will provide some burgers both meat and non-meat as well as hot dogs, and soft drinks. But if you can bring a salad or bake some cookies or a cake that would be great.

Friday Social: June 18, June 25, 2010. Each Friday after work from 6-8 PM, community members and their friends, both men and women are invited to get together. Drop by the Jaded Lounge in the Goldbelt Hotel, downtown Juneau to unwind from the work week. If you are over 21, you are invited to join us. Please try it out this Friday, or another Friday in the future. Come on out, and make a new friend today! Visit SEAGLA for future locations.

Drag Queen and King show: July 9, 2010 at the Rendezvous Bar. Marguerite the recently appointed Duchess of Juneau is planning a local Drag Queen and King show and recycled flogger making party as a fundraiser for Four A's, at the Rendezvous Bar on Friday July 9th, and she's looking for help. Donations of time, supplies, ideas and funds are welcome. Please email Marguerite.

National HIV Testing Week is an annual campaign coordinated by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage people of all ages to "Take the Test, Take Control." National HIV Testing Week is June 21-27, 2010. The Four A's will be providing free testing (Oral Swab, results in 20 minutes) at closed and public locations for the whole week in Juneau. The public locations:

Tuesday, June 22: 7-10 p.m. at Rendezvous

Wednesday, June: 23 11-4 p.m. at Blaze and 4-8 p.m. at Four A's

Thursday, June 24: 8:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. Free blood draws at Juneau Public Health (no appointment necessary) and 8-11 p.m. at Alaskan Bar

Friday, June 25: 4-8 p.m. at Four A's

Free HIV Testing also available at Four A's (174 S Franklin Street, #207/Above Heritage Coffee) during business hours, call 586-6089 for an appointment.

Coronation, 2nd Celebration for F. Ken, Leaders & Cleaners

Gay AK - Notes from LGBT Alaska

Coronation 38, Labor Day weekend

Alaska Coronation 38 - "Kickin' it old School...Back to our Roots" Labor Day weekend in Anchorage, Sept. 2 - 6, 2010! Call the Sheraton for reservations (907) 276-8700, mention 'ICOAA' for the special rate. Visit Imperial Court of All Alaska for updates throughout the summer.

2nd Celebration of Life in August for F Ken Freedman

F. Ken Freedman, a long-time member of the Anchorage LGBT community, a licensed professional counselor, Queer Activist and loving presence in the world, passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2010. Many calls and e-mails came in after the Celebration of Life was held on May 6th saying "But I did not know", "Can we have a second service?" We decided to do so. Please send your name to Victoria if you would like to be kept in the loop about this service. His brother, who was very close to F Ken, spoke to him daily on the phone would love to meet all of F Ken's Alaskan family. They are planning a second Celebration of Life in August 2010 to allow the greater community to mourn with them. More details to follow as they are planned. Please sign his guest book and share your memories with F Ken's family of origin and family of choice.

Judge Lack wins Harvard fellowship

Judge Jonathon Lack, appointed in 2007, serves as the Superior Court Master and District Court Magistrate in the Alaska court system, and he is one of ten LGBT leaders to win a Harvard fellowship this summer from The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute. Congratulations!

New leader for the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance

Jessi Angelette, president of the UAF Gay-Straight Alliance and the student spokesperson for the effort to add gays to the UA non-discrimination policy, is moving out of state this summer. Lauren Tibbitts-Travis, current pres. of the GSA at Juneau Douglas High School, is graduating and moving to UAF where she will be their new GSA president and will continue working for the UA policy change. The Regents agreed to deal with it this year, their next meeting is June 3-4 in Anchorage, and Lauren will speak at the meeting. Thanks, Lauren! Congratulations to Jessi on the pregnancy, and good luck in your next state!

PFLAG thanks Mary Parker

The Anchorage PFLAG Board of Directors has accepted, with gratitude and thanks, the resignation of Board member Mary Parker. Mary has been a board member for the past 14 years, among many other things she has been our primary contact person with all aspects of Anchorage youth and UAA during that entire time. She plans to continue her work as a point of contact for both youth and UAA, but she wants to eliminate Board meetings from her busy schedule. The Board thanks Mary for her many years of valuable service and we hope her future schedule has a little more flexibility. Thank you very much for your time and efforts Mary, your wisdom will be missed!

Thanks to the Fabulous Nine

A great big Thank You to the Fabulous 9 people who showed up at 10 a.m. on Saturday and worked so hard to clean the highway for PFLAG Juneau. There were 4 men and 5 women who worked really hard! We collected 12-15 bags of garbage and quite a bit of recyclables. The sunshine was glorious, the lake was beautiful, and we got several waves and gratitude honks from passers by. That was community service you can see and feel good about, SEAGLA and PFLAG working together on improving the community in which we all live... Thanks!

This Week in LGBT Alaska 5/7/10

This week's LGBT events from Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

Annual Highway Clean-Up with PFLAG and SEAGLA on 5/8. Meet at the Auke Lake parking lot promptly at 10 a.m. wearing bright colored clothing. Bags and gloves are provided.

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

Fairbanks

SOAP Presents "Alice in the Underground" at the Empress Theater 5/7 thru 5/15, at 7:30. Tickets $20 general/ $15 students, seniors, and military. Free for youth under 18. On May 7, they're hosting a First Friday event featuring youth artwork and a silent auction before the show.

Wednesday Social Group, contact Joshua for the 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

Identity Team in the Graze to Raise fundraiser 5/7, 5:30 p.m. Start at the Dena'ina Center and walk through downtown, raise funds for the Community Center.

TLFMC Dehibernation Brown Bear Bus Run 5/8, 12-5p.m. Ages 21+ only. Tickets $20. Bus leaves The Raven (708 East 4th Ave) at noon.

LGBT Democrat Caucus: Get Our LGTB Voices Heard, meeting on 5/11 at 7p.m. at the GLCCA.

Gay AK: Singing, Marching, Donating, Writing and Leading the Way Forward

Reports from LGBT Alaska

Lion King cast raises thousands for Four A's

"The Lion Sings Tonight" raised a grand total of $15,401 for Four A's and Broadway Cares, singing to an over-capacity crowd at Mad Myrna's! The Four A's thanks the Lion King cast and crew, Mad Myrna's, the host Miss MeMe, and everyone who attended.

Identity wins in Raffle with a Twist

Identity, Inc. won $1,000 from Pride Foundation's Raffle with a Twist for being our favorite Alaska non-profit yet again this year. Congratulations! Identity sponsors PrideFest in June, and the Alaska Pride Conference, which is being held this year on the APU Campus, October 9-11. Work place giving season is upon us. Wherever you work, please select Identity, Inc. for your contributions.

Buy an Alaska Banner for the National Equality March

Alaskans are marching in the National Equality March in DC on Oct 10-11 for full equality for all LGBT people. If you cannot march with them, you can still support them: they're buying a big blue and gold banner that will say "Alaskans Together for Equality" to carry at the march and are asking for donations. They've raised about half of the money already (the full cost is $235) and would be very grateful for additional donations from the community. Please send $10, $25 or whatever amount you choose, in care of: SEAGLA, PO Box 21542, Juneau, AK 99802. Thanks!

The Laramie Project returns

October 12 is the anniversary of gay college student Matthew Shepard's murder, and The Laramie Project is releasing a sequel to their famous play about the incident. It opens on Oct. 12 at more than 130 theaters nationwide, and a free reader's theater performance will be presented one night only in Juneau, on Monday October 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Alaska Territorial Hall.

Alaskans Together Looking for Statewide Leaders

Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is Alaska's only statewide advocacy organization with a focus on LGBT rights. ATE is seeking people from all across Alaska to serve on the Board of Directors. People from rural and urban Alaska who are highly motivated to increase civil rights for LGBT Alaskans and are able to serve on a working Board are encouraged to emil the current Board President Marsha Buck. New Board members will be elected at the annual meeting of Alaskans Together on October 11 in Anchorage.

Alaska GLBT News

The statewide e-newsletter Alaska GLBT News is seeking one or more co-editors, proofreaders and other volunteers to help create this informative weekly resource. Contact Alaska GLBT News.

Whale Watching Tour & Pride Chorus fundraiser

Bring your family and friends on a whale watching cruise on Sept. 12 and raise funds to send the Juneau Pride Chorus to the Sister Singers Network Festival.

Sister Singers Network is "a cooperative web of feminist choruses and ensembles, composers, arrangers, and individual singers working together to support and enrich the women's choral movement." The next festival is the 2010 Choral Festival in Chicago.

The Whale Watching Trip is Saturday, Sept 12, 1-4 p.m. The Allen Marine Catamaran will depart from Auke Bay Public Boat Harbor. Please be on board by 12:45, bring a warm, rainproof jacket to wear on the observation deck, and don't forget your camera. Finger Foods will be served. Tickets are available from chorus members, or call 780-5230. $40.00 Adults, $20.00 Students (K-8), $100.00 for a family of 4. Contact SEAGLA for more information.

You Are Not Alone: Teen Suicide Resources

Another school year has begun, and the Juneau School District created a new suicide prevention resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, which is available for adults who work with teens.

"Gay and lesbian youth belong to two groups at high risk of suicide: youth and homosexuals." The brochure lists 3 actions to take if you or a friend has a problem.

"The root of the problem for GLBT youth suicide is a society that discriminates against and stigmatizes homosexuals while failing to recognize that a substantial number of its youth are GLBT." - from the report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, US Dept. of Health and Human Services

The brochure gives Juneau-area and national suicide hotline numbers and mental health web sites that are accessible to all Alaska youth, along with general GLBTQ resources like SEAGLA, PFLAG and the Juneau Gay-Straight Alliances.

The brochure was funded by a grant from the State of Alaska, and is available for people who work with teens and places where teens frequent.

If you would like to receive copies of the brochure, or have suggestions for where they can be placed, please contact Juneau-Douglas High School Counselor Brendan Kiernan at this email address.

This Week in LGBT Alaska 8/14/09

This week's events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.

Juneau

Juneau-Douglas Picnic: Spectacular Summer Diversity Celebration at Sandy Beach Saviko Park Shelter #1, 3-8 p.m. on Saturday, August 15. SEAGLA

Pied Piper tour group Reception 8/16, 5-7 p.m. at the Imperial Saloon. Cash Bar, Dance Music. SEAGLA

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

Fairbanks

PFLAG Booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair, thru 8/15. Fairbanks PFLAG

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

Friday Night Divas Variety Show, 9p.m followed by Karaoke with Paige. Mad Myrna's.

Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.

Jay Her's Comedy Hypnosis Show 8/15, 9 p.m. at Mad Myrna's, followed by DJ Mad Mike at 11 p.m.

Sunday worship and monthly potluck with MCC Anchorage, 2 p.m.

Emperor and Empress Candidates BBQ 8/16, 4 p.m. at The Raven.

Transgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

Anchorage Frontrunners, Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Juneau Highway Cleanup with Rainbow Pride

For over a decade, there have been two "PFLAG Adopt-A-Highway" signs on the Juneau public road system near Auke Bay. The signs have been vandalized and replaced more than once, but both signs can still be seen by every driver on that scenic 2 mile stretch of the Egan Highway. 

PFLAG Juneau and SEAGLA need your help to fulfill their biannual cleanup duty on Saturday, May 2, from 10-noon.

Volunteers will meet at the Auke Lake parking lot. Bright yellow trash bags and sanitary gloves will be provided, along with free cookies for the cleanup crew. 

"Please wear very bright colored clothing," write Bronze of SEAGLA and Lin of PFLAG. "We want you to be safe while working near the highway, and we also want to show a very bright rainbow of colors on the road Saturday morning."

This Week in LGBT Alaska 4/17/09

This week's events from Alaska GLBT News:

Juneau

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

Bac'untry Brothers dRagtime Revue 4/17 the Red Dawg Saloon, 8 p.m. 4/18 Hanger on the Warf, 8 p.m. 4/19 the Folk Fest, 8 p.m. 

Fairbanks

Day of Silence at UAF 4/17, "The Times of Harvey Milk" showing at 6:30 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium.

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. 

The Harmony Community Choir is forming at the Center, rehearsals on Thursdays 6-7 p.m.

Anchorage

Pride Prom for ages 14-19, at the Chalet 4/17, 7-10:30 p.m.

Semi-Annual Womyn's Dance at the Snow Goose 4/17, 7:30 p.m.

SINsation drag Cabaret with Joey Arias & Sherry Vine from NYC, at 'Koots, thru 4/18, 8 p.m.

No Foolin': A Mardi Gras Fiesta fundraiser for Four A's 4/18, 7 p.m. at Mad Myrna's.

Scott Turner's Annual Bake Sale and Bake-Off for charity 4/19, 4 p.m. at Mad Myrna's.

Sunday worship at MCC Anchorage, 4/19, 2 p.m.

Tansgender Support Group, Sundays 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GLCCA.

Bowling, Ballroom and Easter Madness

Alaska's LGBT communities are holding events all over the state this week: Cosmic Bowling in Juneau, Gay Ballroom Dance classes in Fairbanks, a choir forming at the Mat-Su Center, and two Easter events in Anchorage - "Millinery Madness" at Myrna's, and Easter Sunday at MCC. 

SEAGLA Cosmic Bowling Night at the Juneau Bowling Center, April 11, 8-10 p.m.

Cosmic Bowling for community members and their friends. Both men and women are invited to join us at the Juneau Bowling Center, 608 W. Willoughby Ave. Come early for a meet-n-greet in the bar area. Bowling starts at 8 pm and is timed for two hours, so don't be late. Four lanes have been reserved. SEAGLA

Gay Ballroom Dance Classes in Fairbanks, Tuesdays April 14-May 5, 7:15-9 p.m

Ballroom dance classes for lesbians and gays. The Fox Trot, Swing and Waltz classes will be taught by Kurt Byers and Terri Babers. Each class is two 45 minute sessions of instruction. The cost is $60 per person for the set, or $50 for UAF students, paid at the first session.

"We suspect there is a big unmet desire among the Fairbanks gay community for solid training in ballroom and swing dancing," wrote Kurt. "That's a desire we intend to fulfill in a fun and congenial atmosphere."

The dance classes will be held April 14, 21, 28 and May 5 from 7:15-9 p.m. at the Artisan's Courtyard, 1755 Westwood Way, off College Road next to Toy Quest. RSVP to Kurt

Harmony Choir at the Mat-Su LGBT Community Center, Mondays 6 - 7 p.m.

Harmony Community Choir is a new a capella group rehearsing at the Center on Monday evenings. "We need singers," said Talyne. "Must be able to take direction and at least be able to carry a tune."

The Center is open M-F 5-8 p.m., except Wed. 6-8, at 415 South Bailey, in the Church of the Covenant, in Palmer. The Wednesday social meets at 5 p.m. in the Vagabond Blues coffee shop. Mat-Su Center

Millinery Madness in Anchorage, April 11, dinner at 6 p.m, show at 8 p.m.

Emperor 36 Michael and Empress 36 Paula extend a warm invitation to The Imperial Court's Easter show "Millinery Madness." Join us for dinner, a 50/50 raffle, an egg hunt, an Easter bonnet contest and a wonderful drag show. Come out and help raise money for charity. Mad Myrna's and ICOAA 

Easter Sunday with MCC Anchorage, April 12, 2 p.m.

Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage is hosting a special Easter Worship Service, a time of rejoicing, celebration and worship, followed by a potluck. The service will be interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

"Our new place of worship is proving to be very exciting," said Rev. Norman Van Manen. "The colorful glass windows allow light to enter. The seating causes us to sit a little closer together making the music swell. The warm welcome of St. Mary's Episcopal Church is greatly appreciated. There are exciting things happening at MCC Anchorage." 

Sunday services begin at 2 p.m. and are held in the A-Frame Chapel located at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 2222 East Tudor Road. MCC Anchorage