Anchorage’s LGBT Discrimination Survey

by Melissa S. Green

Originally published as an op-ed in the Anchorage Press on Thursday, January 27, 2011.

In the 1980s, I was part of two major research efforts conducted by Identity, Inc. to document sexual orientation bias in Alaska. One in 10: A Profile of Alaska’s Lesbian & Gay Community, published in 1986, reported on the results of a statewide survey of 734 lesbian, gay, and bisexual Alaskans. Identity Reports: Sexual Orientation Bias in Alaska, published in 1989, included three papers, including “Closed Doors,” a survey of Anchorage employers and landlords; and “Prima Facie,” which documented 84 actual cases of of violence, harassment, and discrimination due to sexual orientation bias. (Copies of both reports are available on the Internet at http://www.henkimaa.com/identity/.) Some of our findings:

Of the 734 respondents to One in 10:

• 61% reported being victimized by violence and harassment while in Alaska because of their sexual orientation (ranging from verbal abuse/harassment, reported by 58%, to physical violence, 11%, and sexual assault, 5%);
• 39% reported discrimination in employment, housing, and loans/credit; and
• 33% reported discrimination from services and institutions.

From the “Closed Doors” component of Identity Reports:

• 31% of the 191 Anchorage employers in the survey said they would not hire or promote or would fire someone they had reason to believe was homosexual.
• 20% of the 178 Anchorage landlords in the survey said they would not rent to or would evict someone they had reason to believe was homosexual.

From the “Prima Facie” component of Identity Reports:

• 84 case histories of antigay bias, discrimination, harassment, or violence (including three murders) were documented involving 30 men and 21 women. 64 of these cases took place in Anchorage.
• A former intake investigator with the Alaska Human Rights Commission found that 32 of 42 discrimination cases based on personal testimony would "definitely" be jurisdictional under state human rights law if it included protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. (That is, the commission would investigate them if complaints were made.)
• Victims were predominately gay men or lesbians, but also included heterosexuals who were erroneously assumed to be gay or lesbian.

On June 16, 2009, I testified about these findings before the Anchorage Assembly during public hearings on Anchorage Ordinance 64, which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the Municipality of Anchorage’s equal rights code. I also provided every member of the Anchorage Assembly with CDs containing the full reports, as well as photocopies of the “Prima Facie” report.

In spite of this evidence, one of the chief arguments used in 2009 by opponents of equal rights was that there was no evidence of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people. Mayor Dan Sullivan echoed those arguments when, less than a week after the Anchorage Assembly passed AO-64 by a vote of 7 to 4, he vetoed the measure, claiming that “there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance.” And so for the third time in 35 years, the Anchorage Assembly in 2009 passed an ordinance that provided at least some equal rights under the law for LGBT residents, only for those rights to be almost immediately stripped away again. (The other instances were in 1975–76 and 1992–93.)

But of course, the evidence of One in Ten and Identity Reports was two decades old, so Mayor Sullivan and ordinance opponents found it easy to ignore. But they found it just as easy to close their ears to the public testimony of a number of Anchorage LGBT residents who stepped forward during the summer of 2009 to testify to very recent experiences of discrimination and bias — even after one opponent openly testified to the Assembly that he’d once beaten a gay man so badly that he put him in the hospital. Public testimony about discrimination, no matter how recent, was downplayed as "just anecdotal.”

And so we come to 2011 and the Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey, now in progress: the first effort since the late 1980s to compile rigorous data about the incidence of sexual orientation bias and discrimination in Anchorage — and the first effort ever to document Anchorage or Alaska-specific data about discrimination and bias on the basis of gender identity.

The Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey is a collaborative project of the Alaska LGBT community and a coalition of Alaska organizations which serve the LGBT community, including Identity, Inc., the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (4-As), Alaskans Together for Equality, Equality Works, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska. Our survey questionnaire and overall research project were designed with the expert assistance of Dr. Brad Myrstol and Khristy Parker of the Justice Center at University of Alaska Anchorage. In the future, we plan to conduct a second and far more expansive statewide survey, which will survey LGBT Alaskans statewide not only about their experience of discrimination and bias, but also a full range of other questions of concerns to LGBT Alaskans and their friends and allies.

In the meantime, online surveys are at our project website, http://alaskacommunity.org/, and on the ACLU of Alaska website at http://www.akclu.org/ by clicking the button marked “LGBT Survey.” To obtain a PIN number to access the online survey, or to receive a printed version of the survey, contact Shelby Carpenter of the ACLU of Alaska at (907) 263-2006 or at scarpenter@akclu.org. Survey data collection will continue until February 28, 2011.

We invite the participation of all members of the LGBT community in this important and confidential survey, and we welcome the assistance of our non-LGBT friends and allies in getting the word out.

Melissa S. (Mel) Green was principal writer of One in Ten: A Profile of Alaska’s Lesbian & Gay Community (1986) and coauthor with Jay K. Brause of Identity Reports: Sexual Orientation Bias in Alaska (1989). She is a founding member of the Alaska LGBT Community Survey Task Force. (She also has a blog at Henkimaa.com.)

Take the Anchorage LGBT Survey

- by Shelby Carpenter

I am pleased to announce that the Anchorage LGBT Discrimination Survey is now available! This survey will collect information on experiences of bias and discrimination in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Anchorage, Alaska. It is the product of a coalition effort by organizations that serve the community, including Identity, Inc., Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association, Alaskans Together for Equality, Equality Works and the ACLU of Alaska.

It is the first survey of its kind in over 20 years, and the first to collect information about transgender Alaskans.

Please see below to take the survey. All answers are completely confidential, and survey administration has been designed to ensure the privacy of all respondents. While the survey website may contain cookies, your survey responses cannot be tied to your IP address.

An individual PIN number is required to access the survey. To request a PIN or for questions, contact Shelby Carpenter, LGBT Public Policy Director for the ACLU of Alaska, at (907) 263-2006 or at scarpenter@akclu.org. Paper surveys are also available upon request.

TO TAKE THE SURVEY, CLICK ON THIS LINK:

TAKE THE ANCHORAGE LGBT DISCRIMINATION SURVEY TODAY!

Equality Works "Friendraiser" on Dec 11

Join Equality Works for an evening of fun, libations, and a little raising of funds! Heather and John Aronno are hosting a "friendraiser" from 7 pm to 9 pm on Saturday, December 11th at 7020 Potomac Drive. Food and drinks will be provided, but feel free to bring something if you like. Any funds raised will go directly toward Equality Works' efforts to ensure the fair treatment of all Anchorage residents. So join us on Saturday, December 11th for a good time and a good cause.

McAdams is keynote speaker at Alaska Pride Conference, Oct 9

The Alaska Pride Conference theme this year is "Equal" and we have structured the conference around this. The keynote speaker will be US Senate candidate Scott McAdams speaking on how we can move forward for Equality for LGBT Alaskans. (Please note that all senate candidates were invited to speak). Senator Mark Begich's office will give a "State of the State" report on LGBT Equality.

With 17 workshops, 11 vendors, 4 guest speakers, free rapid HIV testing, a drag king performance, door prizes, gift certificates, food and friends, you don't want to miss the Pride Conference!

AK Pride Conference 2010 is being held in the Carr-Gottstein Building at APU on Sat. Oct 9th from 8a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Guest Speakers and Panelists

· Scott McAdams: Scott is the mayor of Sitka and is the Democratic Candidate for the US Senate representing Alaska. He is here today to give his take on how Alaskans can move forward in achieving full equality.

· Kim Mack: At Gay Pride this year, Kim gave an impromptu thank-you speech for the benefits she has received as the result of activism by others. She is here today to tell her story.

· Panel: "Opportunities for Activism in Alaska": Our panelist will speak on ways we can move forward in the fight for Equality in Alaska. Our Panelists include:

- Shelby Carpenter works with Equality Works. Equality Works is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to protect Anchorage citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in matters of employment, housing and public accommodations.

- Elias Rojas is the President of Alaskans Together for Equality. Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is a political nonprofit incorporated in the State of Alaska. Its mission is to advance civil equality for all Alaskans through grass roots organizing and advocacy.

- Edie Bailey is a Board Member of the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission (AERC). Established in the Anchorage Charter in 1975, the AERC is the Municipal law enforcement agency charged to eliminate and prevent unlawful discrimination under Title 5 of the Municipal Code within the geographic boundaries of the Municipality. (Sexual orientation/gender identity is not covered under Title 5).

We have three streams of workshops: Activism, Community, and Relationships. Workshop details, the full conference schedule, and registration forms are available at Identity, Inc. - Conference. Register before the conference and save $5!

We will have door prizes, raffles, entertainment and delicious food catered by The Last Frontier Men's Club.

In conjunction with the Alaska premier of the films I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen, AK Pride Conference will be holding a post-conference Brunch on Sunday morning at 10:00a.m. at Out North Theater.

Join us at APU on Sat. Oct 9th for the Alaska Pride Conference 2010!

Ugly Betty, Equality Mixer, ATE update

Gay AK - notes for and from LGBTQ Alaska

Justin's Episode on "Ugly Betty"

GLESN and the creative team of "Ugly Betty" have announced that the character Justin will come to terms with his sexual identity in an April 7 episode. "Your support for GLSEN is making real storylines, just like Justin's, possible in schools all over our country. We applaud the work you do, and hope you'll be watching with all of us at Ugly Betty as we help our much-loved Justin take the next step in his personal coming out journey."

Equality Works Mixer

Join Equality Works for a night of entertainment, education, and community-building, on April 10 at 7 p.m. Meet other people interested in making Anchorage safe for gay and transgender Alaskans. Test your knowledge of LGBT issues and politics in the U.S. Find out how you can help Equality Works move Alaska forward. Be there for the start of something beautiful. E-mail Tiffany McClain for address and directions or call (907) 258-0044 ext. 2006.

DADT, ENDA and AK Hate Crimes updates

Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. (ATE) continues to monitor legislation at the federal and state level. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1283/S. 3065) is moving forward to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. In addition, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017/S. 1584) is making its way through Congress. In order for these two pieces of legislation to continue to move forward we need your help. If you haven't already, please contact our Congressional delegation and voice your support for these two important pieces of legislation.

In Alaska, we have been monitoring Senate Bill 202 (Alaska Hate Crimes Legislation) that is making its way through the State Senate. If passed as amended it will cover crimes motivated by prejudice, bias, or hatred based on the victim's sexual orientation as well as on other inherent characteristics. For more news, to become an ATE member or to volunteer for ATE visit Alaskans Together for Equality.

Celebration wrap-up from RAW

"Thanks for another awesome Celebration! Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers, performers, crew and committees that helped make this year's Celebration of Change a success. Special thanks to Metro and GLCCA for selling tickets and Kodiak for hosting the after party. And thanks to all that came out and watched the show. See you next year!" Radical Arts for Women.

Override Deadline & Support for ENDA

from Equality Works:

Thanks to all of you who called and e-mailed Debbie Ossiander encouraging her to help override the Mayor's veto of AO 64. Many of you have forwarded your letters to us and we have been impressed by your passion and commitment to this cause. We believe that Assemblywoman Ossiander's concerns with AO 64 are matters that could easily be addressed by overriding the veto and offering up amendments to Title V. Unfortunately, she has not responded to attempts to work with her productively to craft the best and most inclusive nondiscrimination law possible.

The deadline for overriding a veto runs out this coming Monday, September 7th, and while we are still willing to work with Assembly members to achieve an override, we have also begun to look ahead at other ways in which we can work with members of the LGBT community and our allies to ensure that Anchorage becomes a city that protects all of its citizens from discrimination, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the short run, one way that you can help us achieve our goal is to contact Senators Begich and Murkowski and encourage them to become co-sponsors of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). If passed, ENDA would make employment discrimination a violation of federal law. While it is not as expansive as our local laws—it would not protect people from discrimination in housing and public accommodations, for example—it would nonetheless be a huge step forward in our goal of achieving equality for all in Anchorage. While we would have preferred for such a law to be passed on a local level, we are willing to use every tool available to us. As we said months ago, our opponents may have prepared for a sprint, but we are prepared to go the distance and hope that you are too.

Contact Senator Mark Begich and Senator Lisa Murkowski through the online contact forms linked to their names.

Mayor to Gays: You Don't Count

On Monday afternoon, Mayor Sullivan vetoed the LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance passed 7-4 by the Assembly last week, citing a lack of evidence and the will of the majority as his reasons.

"I have received nearly 2,500 additional communications from Anchorage residents," said Sullivan's veto statement, and "the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition."

"Civil rights are not a popularity contest," countered Jackie Buckley, spokesperson for Equality Works.

The news of the veto spread quickly through Alaska's LGBTA community and protestors gathered at City Hall. A line of ordinance supporters along the street held big letters spelling EQUALITY NOW. Around them stood protestors with signs like, "Headline news: Anchorage Mayor Supports Discrimination" and "Celebrating 50 Years of Discrimination" based on the recent 50 Years of Statehood events.

The Assembly has 21 days to override the veto, and they are 1 vote short of the 8 needed to override. Their next meeting is Tuesday, August 25. Please email the Anchorage Assembly at WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.us and tell them that we DO matter, and we are counting on them to protect all minority groups from discrimination, not just the popular ones.

More detailed reports of the protest are posted on Henkimaa, Alaska Commons, and SOSAnchorage.NET.

Equality Works Disappointed in Mayor's Lack of Leadership

Equality Works today expressed disappointment in Mayor Sullivan's lack of leadership in unnecessarily vetoing the hard work of the Assembly, which voted by a clear majority to provide much-needed equal rights protections for Anchorage's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

"It's a shame that the Mayor has decided to exclude LGBT people from the city's promise of 'equal opportunity for all persons,' said Jackie Buckley, Equality Works spokesperson. "We will continue to work towards an Anchorage that guarantees residents will be judged on their ability to contribute to and participate in the economy and community, and their qualifications to be tenants, homeowners or patrons. We all deserve equal access to employment, housing, and public accommodations."

"The Ordinance passed by the Assembly, after hours of testimony clearly documenting the need for these protections, is good for business, and would ensure that Anchorage can continue to attract and retain the best employees and customers. The Mayor's actions are a step backwards."

Native Corp, Credit Union & other businesses support Ordinance 64

UPDATE: Alaska Airlines has asked to be removed from the list of supportive businesses.

-----------

The Anchorage business community supports the LGBT equal rights protections passed by the Assembly, Equality Works announced today, and the Alaska Native Corporation CIRI took a strong stand for equality.

The statement made by Jackie Buckley of Equality Works and supported by local business leaders reads:

"The Anchorage business community strongly supports AO 64. An open and diverse workplace fosters strong customer relations and a vibrant, expanding economy. Businesses have to recruit and retain the best and the brightest personnel. For us to succeed, Anchorage must protect everyone's right to equal opportunity in employment, education, housing, financing, and public accommodations. We are pleased with the Assembly's action and support including sexual orientation and gender identity in equal rights laws."

Anchorage business leaders and small, mid-size, and large businesses joined in the statement:

Arctic Wire & Rope Supply, Cabin Fever, Circular, CIRI, Classic Woman/Portfolio, Copper Whale Inn, Credit Union One, Finite Technologies, Ginger, Middleway Café, Modern Dwellers, Quilted Raven, Snow City Café, Spenard Roadhouse, Sacks Café and Restaurant, Glenn Johnson, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director of Finance, Alaska Airlines, and Mike Jens, owner, Hawk Consultants.

Many national businesses with locations in Anchorage understand the business benefit in ensuring lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender employees are not discriminated against. They include: Aetna, Allstate, American Airlines, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, BP America, Carrs-Safeway, Chevron, Chili's Grill, Citigroup, Continental Airlines, Costco, Hilton Hotels, JC Penney Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., MetLife, Nordstrom, REI, Sears, Shell Oil Co., Staples, Starbucks, State Farm, Target, and Wells Fargo.

CIRI (Cook Inlet Region, Inc.) sent their own letter to Mayor Sullivan today, stating their support for the ordinance and asking that he allow it to become law. The CIRI letter, signed by Barbara Donatelli, Senior V.P. of Administration and Government Relations, is posted below with permission (emphasis is theirs, typing errors are mine.)

Dear Mayor Sullivan:

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. ("CIRI") strongly supports Anchorage Ordinance 2009-64 ("AO-64") that was recently passed by the Anchorage Assembly and encourages you to support anti-discrimination in our community by allowing the ordinance to pass.

CIRI strongly believes that all individuals deserve fair and equal employment opportunities, protection from unfair discrimination and the right to live their lives without fear. CIRI promotes fair and equal treatment within our own company through our Business Ethics and Compliance Program and our Code of Business Ethics and Compliance. Our policies provide "... equal employment to all persons regardless of ethnicity, religion, age, gender, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital and/or parental status." These policies were developed to provide a clear and common understanding of CIRI's values and the ethical expectations that we have for the conduct of our employees and business activities.

As a major employer in our community, CIRI takes pride in our reputation as a good corporate citizen as demonstrated by our own monetary and in-kind contributions and volunteer activities, as well as those of our many affiliated subsidiaries and non-profit entities.

As Mayor, you can take pride that AO-64 sends a clear message that our City protects the diversity we value so much and will not tolerate discrimination against individuals based upon their sexual orientation for employment, housing, education and public accommodation opportunities.

CIRI joins many other businesses and organizations in voicing our support for AO-64 and urges you to do the right thing by not exercising your veto power over AO-64.

Sincerely,

Cook Inlet Region, Inc.

Bent Alaska applauds their stand for equality, and appreciates their willingness to support Ordinance 64 in a public letter. Although many national companies have LGBT-inclusive policies, it is significant that an Alaska Native Corporation like CIRI recognizes anti-gay discrimination as an ethical and business issue that is important to them.

Thank you to all the businesses that value us as part of the diverse workforce of Anchorage and have encouraged the Mayor to support Ordinance 64.

AO 64 Passes - Call Mayor Sullivan Today

from Equality Works

Thanks to everyone who came out last night for an unexpectedly emotional debate and vote on equal rights ordinance AO-64. I am happy to report that the Anchorage Assembly voted 7-4 to pass the S-2 version, which protects LGBT people from discrimination in all aspects of public life, while providing broad protection for religious organizations to employ and serve according to their values.

Assembly Members Selkregg, Gutierrez, Claman, Johnston, Flynn, Drummond, and Gray-Jackson voted for the legislation. Assembly Members Ossiander, Starr, Birch, and Coffey voted against.

What can you do to ensure that the ordinance becomes law?

Call or E-Mail Mayor Sullivan!

The Mayor hasn't publicly shared his stance on AO-64, but he needs to know that people in Anchorage support equality, he needs to know why you support equality, and he needs to hear that vetoing an ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination sends the message that he, as the Mayor of Anchorage, believes that LGBT people should be discriminated against in employment, housing, education, financing and public accommodations. If he doesn't want to send that message, then he should not veto this ordinance.

If you haven't already, PLEASE call Mayor Sullivan at (907) 343-7170 or (907) 343-7100, or e-mail him at mayor@muni.org

If you fall into one of these categories, be sure to include this information when you ask him to support AO 64:

I lived in Anchorage for X years.

I grew up in Anchorage.

I am an Anchorage voter.

I am a Native Alaskan voter.

I am a business owner/leader.

Economic justice and equality are important to me.

Then please e-mail and call the Assembly members who voted for AO 64 and thank them for their time, consideration, support and bravery. The Assembly member profiles and contact information is found HERE.

Thank you!

YOU in BLUE, Today at the Library

from Equality Works

The next Assembly meeting is today, Tuesday, August 11th. While there are no certainties, this very well may be the day that Assembly members get to a debate and vote on AO 64.

I know that many of you couldn't bear to sit through the public hearings and the offensive testimony that demonized the LGBTQ community over the last couple of months. And I have been told that some of you have given up hope that your presence in the Assembly Chambers means anything.

But I assure you that it does mean something. It means something to the people who have spent time writing letters, getting petitions signed, meeting with Assembly members, and giving testimony, to feel surrounded and supported by friends and allies. And it means something to Assembly members who plan to vote for AO 64 and need to know that the citizens of Anchorage appreciate their courage.

This could be the last time to show the Assembly members that their constituents support legislation to protect people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

Over the last couple of weeks they have sat through verbal abuse and threats to vote them out of office if they dare to vote "Yes" on AO 64. They need to be reminded that they have constituents who are grateful for their vote to support equality. If we cannot be present to show them where we stand, it is more difficult for them to feel accountable to us.

One Equality Works supporter put it this way: "No matter what happens, I want them to see me when they are making their decision. I want them to look me in the eyes." Assembly members need to know whose lives are being affected when they cast a vote for equality and whose rights are being denied if they vote "No."

So Be There on Tuesday

You don't have to testify, you don't have to engage in debates with people in red shirts, all you have to do is be there to show your support for equality. If you have never come to an Assembly meeting, please consider showing up on this crucial day. The meeting starts at 5:00 pm, but as usual, you should try to be there much earlier if you want to get a seat. 4:00 would not be too early. Doors generally open at 3:00 pm. You know the drill: Blue shirts, Equality Works buttons.

Coffey's Resolution

Assembly Member Dan Coffey plans to introduce a Resolution to establish a task force to study the extent of discrimination against LGBT people in Anchorage and whether or not such discrimination warrants protection. The proposed resolution implies that protecting people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation would somehow infringe upon the freedoms of religion and association.

We at Equality Works believe that discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation has already been studied and proven. The State of Alaska Human Rights Commission—an unbiased agency—declared nearly twenty years ago that the State Legislature should pursue a statute banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation [Resolution 90-01]. The case has already been made. It is time for our representatives to act.

Furthermore, we believe that it is erroneous to argue that protecting LGBT people from discrimination infringes upon religious rights. How could 108 other cities and 13 states (including D.C.) have made such a "mistake" without any of the consequences that opponents of AO 64 predict? Religious freedoms are clearly and strongly protected in the U.S. Constitution. No local law could ever trump the power of the Bill of Rights.

Now is not the time for a resolution. It is time for our Assembly members to vote on AO 64.

Support S-2 version of the ordinance

For those of you who don't know already, an S-2 version of the ordinance has been submitted for consideration by Patrick Flynn.

We believe that this is a strong revision that acknowledges the concerns of some in the religious community by broadening the religious exemption, but does not weaken the original intention of the ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination. It includes employment protections for our entire community--including transgender individuals. Please call or e-mail your Assembly members and tell them to put their support behind the S-2 version. We want this version of the ordinance to be debated and eventually voted upon.

Call or E-Mail Mayor Sullivan and Write a Letter to the Editor

Mayor Sullivan hasn't publicly stated what he will do if the ordinance reaches his desk, but he needs to know that people in Anchorage support equality, he needs to know why you support equality, and he needs to hear that vetoing an ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination sends the message that he, as the Mayor of Anchorage, believes that LGBT people should be discriminated against in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. If he doesn't want to send that message, then he should not veto this ordinance. If you haven't already, please call or e-mail Mayor Sullivan at mayor(at)muni(dot)org or call (907) 343-7170 or (907) 343-7100. If you've already written to Mayor Sullivan, please write a Letter to the Editor. Remember to be respectful. No one responds positively to insults, accusations, or anger.

Thanks, and See You at the Library! Equality Works

Coffey Ignores Evidence, Calls for Yet Another Study

After six public hearings this summer — and 30 years of studies and delays — Assembly member Dan Coffey wants the Assembly to appoint a task force to study discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people in Anchorage and postpone the Ordinance 64 vote for at least a year and three months: 30 days to choose the task force, 60 days to develop a plan, and a minimum of 12 months for the study. The report would not be due until just after the Nov. 2010 elections, at the earliest.

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has already been studied and proven in Alaska. Equality Works points out:

"The State of Alaska Human Rights Commission—an unbiased agency—declared nearly twenty years ago that the State Legislature should pursue a statute banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation [Resolution 90-01]. The case has already been made. It is time for our representatives to act."

During the 1980's, Mel Green worked on two other reports documenting sexual orientation bias in Alaska and included the findings in her testimony to the Assembly. She posted her testimony yesterday on Henkimaa, along with her response to Coffey's proposed task force and her recommendation on the four versions of the ordinance. Her piece is reposted below, with permission:

* * *

Over the past couple of weeks, Bent Alaska has been publishing some of the testimony of people who testified to the Anchorage Assembly in favor of the Anchorage equal rights ordinance AO 2009-64, which if passed will grant equal protection from discrimination to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people who live, work, and/or visit the Municipality of Anchorage. And I realized, well, although I've written a fair amount on my blog about the ordinance battle, and even posted the full text of the letter I wrote to the Assembly in early June, I somehow hadn't gotten around to posting the testimony I gave at the Assembly on June 16. So that became one of my tasks this evening: to find my prepared testimony, & put it online.

I couldn't have timed it better: earlier today I learned that Assembly Member Dan Coffey — in whose district I live — has placed a resolution on the agenda for the August 11 Assembly meeting which would establish a task force to study the issue. For a year. After we've just been through six long nights of public testimony stretched out over the summer.

Another year?

This isn't the first time a task force has been suggested. It came up in some of the questions Assembly members asked during the first night of public testimony way back on June 9. The idea seemed to inform the proposal by Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander, in her S-1 version of the ordinance, to authorize the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission to track complaints of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression (even while permitting most such discrimination to continue unabated).

My testimony, given on June 16, the same meeting at which Ossiander's version was presented, directly addressed whether a task force was needed. Here it is as I wrote it.

Thank you for hearing my testimony.

My name is Melissa Green. I am an Anchorage resident.

I was part of two major research efforts in the 1980s to document sexual orientation bias in Alaska. One in 10: A Profile of Alaska's Lesbian & Gay Community published in 1986 reported on the results of a statewide survey of 734 lesbian, gay, and bisexual Alaskans. Identity Reports: Sexual Orientation Bias in Alaska was published in 1989 and included three papers, including "Closed Doors," a survey of Anchorage employers and landlords; and "Prima Facie," which documented 84 actual cases of violence, harassment, and discrimination due to sexual orientation bias. Copies of both reports are now on the Internet at Henkimaa.com — that's H-E-N-K-I-M-A-A dot com. I've also prepared copies on CD for all members of the Assembly, as well as hard copies of "Prima Facie," which I will give to the clerk when I complete my testimony. Some of the relevant findings from both reports:

Of the 734 respondents to One in 10:

• 61 percent reported being victimized by violence and harassment while in Alaska because of their sexual orientation;
• 39 percent reported discrimination in employment, housing, and loans/credit; and
• 33 percent reported discrimination from services and institutions.

From the "Closed Doors" component of Identity Reports:

• 31 percent of the 191 employers in the survey said they would not hire or promote, or would fire, someone they had reason to believe was homosexual.
• 20 percent of the 178 landlords in the survey said they would not rent to, or would evict, someone they had reason to believe was homosexual.

From the "Prima Facie" component of Identity Reports:

• 84 actual instances of antigay bias, discrimination, harassment, or violence (including three murders) were recorded involving 30 men and 21 women. 64 of the cases we documented were in Anchorage.
• Victims were predominately gay men or lesbians, but also included heterosexuals who were erroneously assumed to be gay or lesbian.

It was suggested last week that we need a "study" or a "task force" to decide if we need this ordinance. The studies have been done. The testimony you've already heard about discrimination updates those studies and shows that sexual orientation discrimination is still going on today. And that's not even including the people who have not testified because there's nothing to protect them from more discrimination for just showing up and telling you their stories. Do we really need another study, or a task force, to discover again what we already know? There are at least 108 examples of other cities with similar ordinances, which not only continue to function, but do it better because their citizens do not suffer from unfair discrimination. I ask you: how much discrimination is tolerable? What is the threshold for justice? How many stories do we have to bring to you before you stop passing it on to the future, and establish protections for the people who are being discriminated against today?

Please: pass a full version of this ordinance.

No, a task force wasn't needed then; and nearly two months later, it still isn't. The task force proposal is just another means to delay acting in accordance with the public policy the Municipality of Anchorage purports to adhere to, as written in Anchorage Municipal Code 5.10.010:

The public policy of the municipality is declared to be equal opportunity for all persons.

Is this really the Muni's public policy? Or is it not? Decide, and vote.

* * *

More about Dan Coffey's task force resolution, starting with the text of the resolution itself:

• AR NO. 2009–186. "A resolution of the Anchorage Municipal Assembly authorizing a citizen task force to review the nature and extent of discrimination based on sexual orientation and the potential for conflict with constitutional rights." Submitted by Assembly Member Dan Coffey for reading August 11, 2009.
• 8/6/09. "Coffey says city needs gay rights task force — NO DELAY: But backers and critics want to see assembly vote on proposed ordinance" by Don Hunter (Anchorage Daily News)

Incidentally, Don Hunter's ADN story is incorrect in stating that there are "three versions of the original sexual orientation ordinance" for consideration by the Anchorage Assembly. In fact, there are four versions: on July 23, Assembly Member Patrick Flynn announced on his blog that he had written a new draft, version S-2.

Here are all four versions of Ordinance 64:

• AO No. 2009-64. Original draft submitted on behalf of then-Acting Mayor Matt Claman, for reading May 12, 2009.
• AO No. 2009-64 (S). First substitution version submitted on behalf of then-Acting Mayor Matt Claman, for reading June 9, 2009.
• AO No. 2009-64 (S-1). Second substitution version submitted by Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander, for reading June 16, 2009.
• AO No. 2009-64 (S-2). Third substitution version submitted by Assembly Member Patrick Flynn, for reading August 11, 2009.

I'll be writing a post comparing the four versions over the next couple of days. I'll just say for now that I consider Ossiander's S-1 version the worst of the four (it permits discrimination in private employment, and permits discrimination on the basis of gender identity across the board). Flynn's S-2 is the best, and is the one I support: it's the most clear both in its anti-discrimination provisions and in its language about religious exemptions, and addresses specific issues some had about employees of religious organizations such as Sunday School teachers and bus drivers.

I urge you to throw your support behind S-2, too. Let your Assembly representative(s) and Mayor Sullivan mayor(at)muni(dot)com know which one you support.

August 11th Assembly Meeting: YOU in BLUE

- from Equality Works

The next Assembly meeting is August 11. While the agenda hasn't been set yet, this very well may be the day that Assembly members get to a debate and vote on AO 64.

I know that many of you couldn't bear to sit through the public hearings and the offensive testimony that demonized the LGBTQ community. But the public hearings are over now. This is our last time to show the Assembly members that their constituents support legislation to protect people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. You don't have to testify, you don't have to engage in debates with people in red shirts, all you have to do is be there to show your support for equality.

If you have never come to an Assembly meeting, please consider showing up on this crucial day. The meeting starts at 5:00 pm, but as usual, you should try to be there earlier if you want to get a seat. You know the drill: Blue shirts, Equality Works buttons.

AO 64 (S-2)

For those of you who don't know already, an S-2 version of the ordinance has been submitted for consideration by Patrick Flynn. We believe that this is a strong revision that acknowledges the concerns of some in the religious community by broadening the religious exemption, but does not weaken the original intention of the ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination. It includes employment protections for our entire community--including transgender individuals. Please call or e-mail your Assembly members and tell them to put their support behind the S-2 version.

Mayor Sullivan needs to know that people in Anchorage support equality, he needs to know why you support equality, and he needs to hear that vetoing an ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination sends the message that he, as the Mayor of Anchorage, believes that LGBT people should be discriminated against. If he doesn't want to send that message, then he should not veto this ordinance. Please e-mail Mayor Sullivan or call him at (907) 343-7170 or (907) 343-7100.

Thanks, and Remember: Equality Works. See you on Tuesday!

Support the New S-2 version of Ordinance 64

from Equality Works

No more public hearings! Thanks to all of you who sat through hour after hour of tiring and hurtful testimony over the last two months. As hard as it was, I think it would have been much harder to do without feeling a sense of connection with others in the room who support equality. Over the weeks, people started to recognize familiar faces and strike up friendships and other forms of political collaboration that might last for a long time. So while we might wish that we hadn't had to sit through all the hearings, I hope that we have emerged from it with a better understanding of who makes up the LGBT community and a greater appreciation for the allies who stuck with us over the months.

As we move into August, and into a new (hopefully shorter) phase of this campaign, here are a few things you can do to bring Equality to Anchorage:

Call or E-Mail Mayor Sullivan and Write a Letter to the Editor - Mayor Sullivan needs to know that people in Anchorage support equality, he needs to know why you support equality, and he needs to hear that vetoing an ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination sends the message that he, as the Mayor of Anchorage, believes that LGBT people should be discriminated against in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. If he doesn't want to send that message, then he should not veto this ordinance.

Please call or e-mail Mayor Sullivan mayor(at)muni(dot)org or call (907) 343-7170 or (907) 343-7100. Be respectful. No one responds positively to insults, accusations, or anger. And if you've already contacted the mayor, revise your letter accordingly and send it to the Anchorage Daily News. [Note: feel free to send a copy to Bent Alaska for posting on the blog.]

Call or E-mail your Assembly members and ask them to support the New S-2 version of the ordinance - An S-2 version of the ordinance has been submitted for consideration by Patrick Flynn. (Read the .pdf HERE.) We believe that this is a strong revision that acknowledges the concerns of some in the religious community by broadening the religious exemption, but does not weaken the original intention of the ordinance to protect LGBT people from discrimination. It includes employment protections for our entire community--including transgender individuals. Please call or e-mail your Assembly members and tell them to put their support behind the S-2 version.

Attend the August 11th Meeting - The next Assembly meeting is August 11th. While the agenda has not been officially set, this may be the day that Assembly members get to a debate and vote on AO 64. It would be great to have as many supporters as possible inside the Assembly Chambers so that they can see how many people care about this issue. You know the drill: Blue shirts, Equality Works buttons. We will keep you posted once the agenda is set and/or if plans change. Thanks & Remember: Equality Works!

Tiffany's testimony: To protect each citizen

My name is Tiffany McClain, I'm a resident of downtown Anchorage, and a beneficiary of the civil rights movement that ultimately gave birth to laws to protect people of color, women, people with disabilities, and religious communities from discrimination in the public sphere and--in at least 108 cities across the country--also protect me from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I'm here to urge Assembly members to vote Yes on a version of AO 64 that does not yield in its original purpose of protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

When I hear the arguments in opposition to AO 64, I can't help but be reminded that in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, there was a huge outcry from white segregationists who invoked their interpretation of Christianity to rationalize their objection to school integration. They argued that the Supreme Court was forcing them to disobey the laws of God, who had--in their view--created the races as separate for a reason. School integration, they believed, would inevitably lead to intermarriage between the races, which violated God's plan for the universe. To them, integration was a sin.

I am very grateful--because otherwise I probably wouldn't be standing here today--that in the face of such arguments, those in charge of making and enforcing the law recognized that they had a responsibility to protect each and every citizen from discrimination and that while people and churches have a right to believe what they want, the exercise or invocation of religion is no excuse for discrimination in the public sphere--I mean public schools, housing, restaurants, and employment. And I sincerely hope that Assembly members will do the same by voting Yes to protect LGBT people from discrimination in these aspects of public life.

At the last hearing, Assemblymen Gutierrez asked a man testifying against AO 64 if this was a black-and-white issue, if one side had to lose in order for the other to win. I strongly disagreed with that man's answer in the affirmative. Our Constitution, our legal system, our government is all about compromise, about finding the right balance between protecting individual freedoms without allowing any group of people to run roughshod over the freedoms of another group. It hasn't always been easy, but if we want our democracy to survive it's a balancing act that we all have to commit to. There's nothing black-and-white about any of this and to suggest otherwise is just as extremist a view as those who, back in the 1950s, were so certain that integration would lead to the destruction of the white race. Take a look around--white people are still here. And I believe that if this law passes tomorrow or next month, or next year that 60 years from now there will still be churches and schools that choose to preach against homosexuality and they will be allowed to exist--and should be allowed to exist--because that's what our Constitution promises. But that promise can in no way be interpreted to mean that individuals should be denied equal access to employment, housing, education, and public accommodations just because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. That is all we're asking you and the mayor to recognize.

Thank you.

Ordinance Hearing #6 on Tuesday, July 21

We need YOU at the public hearing on Tuesday to show Assembly members that people in our town want lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Alaskans to be protected from discrimination. If you haven't already testified, now is the time to sign up. Don't let opponents of equality have the last word!

The hearings are at Loussac Library (36th & Denali) in the Assembly Chambers on the 1st Floor. The meetings run from 5-11 p.m, but the Assembly does other business first and gets to the equal rights ordinance around 6 or later.

Wear blue—the color of peace and unity—and your Equality Works button.

Beware false information

At the last hearing on July 7, one of the security guards told people dressed in blue that the ordinance had already gone to a public vote and there was no reason for us to be there. This is false - the Assembly has not voted on the ordinance yet and is allowing more people to sign up and give testimony. As a security guard on duty at the Assembly meeting, it was unprofessional of him to give false information on the ordinance and try to limit our freedom of speech at a public hearing. Do not be deceived by wrong information about the ordinance and hearings, even if it comes from a library or Assembly employee.

Words of encouragement from our allies

Our allies on Alaska Commons and the pro-ordinance site SOS Anchorage.NET have written thoughtful and inspiring new posts for this hearing. Heather explains why she, a straight woman, is fighting for the rights of her friends and the community of Anchorage. She describes how she became involved in gay issues, and why she is involved this time:

I and they know that this ordinance won't make hatred and discrimination go away, but it will give them somewhere to turn when they are harassed because of who they are. I will stand and fight with them, and with you, to make this community the place that it should be.

He [Jerry Prevo] has built his career out of hatred, and I am not willing to let him win this time. He is a pitiable man and a bully, but he does not dictate the behavior of the Anchorage community.

John reports on the hearings and why the ordinance is important for the future of Alaska:

I've heard and learned a staggering amount during these hearings. Some words have left me in absolute awe of the intelligence, bravery, and perseverance on display. Other words are harder to drink away.

For now, the fate of Ordinance 64 rests with the Assembly. We need to keep showing up, and keep reminding the Assembly that we won't go away.

Hate, in no way, results in the betterment of a society. And we are foolish if we pretend that Anchorage is somehow immune.

Visit their blogs to read the posts, plus transcripts from the hearings and guest posts by Tonei Glavinic. They will live-blog today's hearing, as will other local bloggers. Bent Alaska will add updates from the hearing on the Facebook wall and below this post.

If you are in Anchorage, please join us at the equal rights ordinance hearing, Tuesday at Loussac Library. Wear blue!