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.
The results are in from the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, and Team Alaska kicked butt!
Five gay and lesbian athletes and four supporters traveled from Alaska to Germany as Team Alaska, competing in squash, martial arts, road racing and sport shooting.
Their medal count is impressive: Nathalie Martin won the top women's gold medal in squash, Trevor Storrs won 3 golds and 2 silvers in martial arts, Darl Schaaff won 2 golds and a bronze in martial arts, and Charles Francis won 3 silvers and a bronze in sport shooting.
Congratulations, Team Alaska!
"Cologne was great," Nathalie told Bent Alaska.
"I got fourth place overall in the combined men and women Division B out of 50 [squash competitors], and got the gold medal for all women participants, and on a side note received a sportsmanship pin from the Games!"
"We all did well and put Alaska on the map!"
Sport shooting was offered for the first time at the Gay Games, held at a local shooting club, and Charles was the only participant from the U.S. He praised the club to Games-Cologne.com.
"Amazing, fantastic, excellent competition venue," said Charles Francis from Team Alaska, USA. Charles is participating for the second time at the Gay Games, but for the first time in sport shooting.
He won silvers in the two individual contests, and won a silver and a bronze in the 3-person team competitions, where he was paired with male and female shooters from Germany.
As a part-time resident of Homer, Alaska, the Band of Thebes blogger was also on Team Alaska. He sent the Alaska flag photo of Nathalie and Trevor, and wrote
"In ten days of many conversations, including long meals, with Germans and athletes from four continents, no one ever mentioned Obama to us. Not once. A few did ask about Alaska's half-term governor..."
What was the best part of the Cologne Gay Games?
"The people," replied Trevor. "Nearly 10,000 athletes and thousands more spectators from 70 countries. Having the opportunity to meet them and talk was amazing."
"There were people here from parts of the world that even if they won a medal they could not take it back let alone talk about their experience because they would be killed. Stories like this and others makes the Games so powerful."
Most of the Cologne Team Alaska also attended the Chicago Gay Games in 2006. Nathalie and Trevor medaled in Chicago, as did Federation of Gay Games board member and Team Alaska organizer Darl Schaaff.
Darl, as the FGG Officer of Ceremonies, was in Cologne months before the games began. The slow economy was a challenge for organizers, he told the B.A.R., but he was inspired by the way the citizens of Cologne supported the event.
"I think there's a remarkable story here, and it's a tribute to bad times and generous people," he said. "The money is very tight, and the [financial] contributions have not been great. The way this has been dealt with is that the volunteer effort has rallied. It's remarkable to go into the Gay Games office and see the enthusiasm of the volunteers.
After years of preparation, and an exciting week of competition, these games have ended. The closing ceremony was held on Saturday: the Vice Mayor of Cologne thanked everyone, the flame was extinguished and the flag of the Federation of Gay Games was handed over to the hosts of the Gay Games Cleveland 2014.
Video of the closing ceremony, with the cheerleading exhibition group Cheer SF passing the torch from the Cologne leaders to the Cleveland organizers, is posted on Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010's Facebook page. (I'll update the post with a clip when they're on YouTube.)
After a series of letters, denials and meetings, the Homer Chamber of Commerce apologized to PFLAG in a public letter yesterday, because the emcee for the city's 4th of July parade refused to introduce the LGBT float. Paul Dauphinais, Executive director of the Homer Chamber of Commerce, apologizedfor the "omission." (Emcee Tim White has not apologized.)
"It has been brought to the attention of the Homer Chamber of Commerce that part of the narrative provided by Homer PFLAG for its participation in the Fourth of July Parade was not read during the parade. The Chamber regrets this oversight and apologizes for the omission."
The fallout from the gay float snub in Homer just kept getting worse: First, emcee Tim White wouldn't say the names PFLAG and GSA or the words gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender in the introduction of the float. Then the Homer News censored White's name out of PFLAG's first letter to the editor about the parade incident. The Homer Tribune, which printed the full letter and posted it online, pulled down the online version. (PFLAG contacted the Trib and the letter is back up.)
Then PFLAG members met with the Chamber of Commerce director, because the Chamber organizes the annual parade and chooses the emcee. PFLAG asked for an apology for this year's insult and the assurance that next year's emcee will read the group's statement as written.
But director Dauphinais initially blew off PFLAG's concerns, saying that the emcee "has the option to reword material for time, readability, etc." and that this is a normal practice of "adlibbing" which occurs every year.
"Along the route, when the crowd realized who we were, they often loudly increased their cheering. However, the emcee in the judging booth who read every other group's information or prepared statement refused to announce our name, mission, wouldn't say PFLAG, GSA, lesbian, gay, or anything about us other than "Float #10... uh... building community... and diversity."
That's not an ad lib, that's an insult! Joseph Lapp, vice president of Homer PFLAG, responded with this excellent open letter to the Chamber, which he also sent to Bent Alaska:
"I appreciate both your taking the time to meet me in person and the emailed response you sent last week. PFLAG were and remain very concerned about the fact that the emcee chosen by the Homer Chamber of Commerce omitted the words "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered" during our participation in the Homer 4th of July Parade. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some background about who we are and what we stand for, respond to a couple of points in your email, and hopefully identify some positive ways to move forward. I have decided to reply publicly in hopes of answering some questions among our constituency that have been raised since the incident, and since the incident occurred in a public venue I think that the discussions that come out of it ought to be public as well, so I will be forwarding this message to our Homer PFLAG list and to other groups and individuals who picked up the story. I hope that you will share it with the board of the chamber as well.
First, I'd like to say that marching in the Fourth of July parade is enormously meaningful for our organization. Last year when we entered the parade it was the first time that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (lgbt) people and their friends and allies publicly marched down a Homer street in the town's history. For many of our participants it was the first time that they publicly identified themselves either as an lgbt person or a straight ally to our community. I think it's safe to say that we were all terrified, and with no small of amount of reason, many of us having been victims of harassment, violence, and discrimination at various points in our lives. So to say that we were thrilled by the overwhelming support we had in terms of numbers (our float fielded more participants than any other in the parade) and from the amazingly supportive on-lookers would be a great understatement. For me, and I'm sure for many of our marchers, it was one of the proudest moments of my life.
Hopefully that gives you some idea why our reaction to what happened at the parade this year is so strong. When your emcee failed to read the words "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered" it felt like a slap in our collective faces. The amount of personal courage it takes to stand up as an lgbt person in Alaska, where it is perfectly legal to fire us from our jobs or kick us out of our apartments solely because of our sexuality, is enormous and to be met with such a bold dismissal from the professional announcer chosen by the Chamber of Commerce was awful.
Second, I'd like to respond to a couple of points from your email. You write that the emcee "has the option to reword material for time, readability, etc." and that this is a normal practice of "adlibbing" which occurs every year. I'm curious because there were a number of much longer and wordier statements announcing other floats in the parade. Our written statement was a bit less than 25 words long. It takes less than 30 seconds to read. So I don't see how time could have been a factor in the emcee's "editing" process. As for readability, I can see that a word like transgendered might be a mouthful, although one would think that an emcee who works as a talk radio host could probably tackle it, [but] a word like gay, consisting of three letters and only one syllable, is extremely pronounceable. Next I would ask why it is the policy of the chamber to allow their emcees to personally and without any accountability edit the contributions of parade participants. I'm curious if you would find it acceptable for one of your emcees to edit out references to military service from the VFW folks, or references to boats from the Homer Wooden Boat Society. Either one would render the statement meaningless, just as what your emcee announced was completely devoid of meaning. You also state explicitly in your email that you did not speak with the emcee regarding what happened. Is it the policy of the Homer Chamber of Commerce to ask no accountability from its employees and volunteers when evidence exists of possible willful discrimination against a whole segment of the population? It's my understanding that people like this represent the organizations they work for; is discrimination a proper representation of the Homer Chamber? If so I think that there are many of your members who would like to be made aware of that fact.
Third, I would like to offer two suggestions for moving forward in a positive way. While I'm outraged by the emcee's actions during the parade I do not believe that the chamber as an organization is one that favors discriminating against people based on their sexuality or gender identity, but the events of the 4th cast some doubt on that. I think it's fair to ask that the chamber both make a public apology for what happened and to publicly clarify the organization's position on this form of discrimination. In addition, I think that it's fair to ask that the chamber make a commitment to more carefully screen emcees in the future to prevent against selecting one that has such an ideological bias as to prevent them from reading references to the race, gender, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity from the written statements provided by the parade participants.
In closing, the emails I've received from you end with a quote that I rather like, it says "it is curious that physical courage should be so abundant in the world and moral courage so rare." I agree with Mark Twain here, and I can only assume that you do as well, so while it takes a degree of moral courage to take a stand against hate, fear, and discrimination, I hope that you and the Homer Chamber of Commerce have that courage. I would hate for the young people who courageously marched in the parade with us to have their first experience with public support for lgbt people to be insulted.
The letter was shared on Homer PFLAG's Facebook page, and they asked us to call and write to the Homer Chamber of Commerce, which many people did. The Tribune posted Joseph's letter yesterday, the same day as the Chamber's apology.
The Homer News also published the Chamber's apology, along with a response from PFLAG thanking the Chamber for "it's commitment to not engage in any sort of discrimination against people based on their sexuality or gender identity." PFLAG also thanked the people of Homer:
"We would like to thank the Homer community for the support you've shown us, and look forward to continue working with all of our partners and allies to make Homer a community free of hate and discrimination."
Congratulations to Homer PFLAG and the people of Homer for resolving the Chamber's role in this incident with letters and meetings!
The only question now is whether emcee Tim White will take responsibility for his actions and apologize to PFLAG. Mr. White, will you step up to the plate, or will you hide behind the Chamber?
Miriam Elizondo made this very cool video of Homer PFLAG marching in the July 4th Parade. Please watch it:
A straight couple asked this question at the Alaska PrideFest parade and I posted my reply on the blog after reading the answer Homer PFLAG gave to a similar question about their float in the July 4th parade. The post got an interesting comment, and when I shared the link on Bent's FB page readers gave even more great answers - as I knew you would. (It's true, the readers are my best source of ideas. How did I do this blog before setting up the Facebook page?)
Our answers form a wonderful set of responses to anyone who faces this question, and show the diversity of Alaska's LGBTA community. Are the PrideFest committee chairs taking notes?
"Some people have said, "Why do those gay people need to have a special float in the parade at all?" I would answer, that the reality of discrimination and ignorance towards LGBT people is very real in Homer, Alaska---particularly for young people."
"Well, why do we need a July 4th parade?" I asked. "We don't - we have it because we want to celebrate our country."
"Even if we didn't need a gay pride parade, we'd want to have it to celebrate the LGBT community. We celebrate our LGBT groups, mostly run by volunteers, we celebrate the LGBT people in Alaska, we celebrate our friends and allies, and we celebrate that we can have a gay parade in Anchorage, that we have the right to peacefully assemble and celebrate our community. Like the 4th of July parade."
First, a reader made good points in a blog post comment:
I would have also mentioned that the Pride Parade comes at the end of Pride Week, which is celebrated in cities all over the country... during a month proclaimed by the President of the United States!
The LGBT celebration is no different than that of February and African-American History Month, or March and American Red Cross. Cheers for sticking to your guns, and educating... without getting up on a soap-box... LOL!
Then the FB readers jumped in with these interesting comments:
Why have a parade at all? To express our pride in something, to show how far we've come, to make known that we all are great. Parades are great shows of triumph. We have a gay pride because, hello, we're in the 21st Century, not the 18th. We have a gay pride because we're proud, too.
Because it's much friendlier than an equal rights march.
Processions have in all peoples and at all times been a natural form of public celebration, as forming an orderly, and impressive ceremony. Symbolic processions were an important tool in the non-violent protest of Gandhi. Marches on Washington include formal processions. I think for us, as a community, to have the parade we are demonstrating our heritage as well as our unity as a community.
Why? Simple....as a community WE ALL are largely invisible....how else are we to show that we are here?
In one respect, it's less about being proud of ourselves and more about showing ourselves to the world at large. We're showing the richness of our diversity and the support we enjoy from our friends and family. But just as much as highlighting our differences, we're celebrating the things that make us like everyone else, we love, laugh, party and share our lives with friends and family just the same way everyone else does.
Is "Why do we need a gay parade? the real question or is it more "Why must you publicly flaunt your gay selves? You know some folks are just not comfortable with anyone who does not fit inside their closet.
Unless every GLBT turns purple tomorrow they'll never know we are even here....THATs why we need a parade. Without it how will they even know we exist? If they don't know we exist then laws or omissions will be made to make out lives even MORE unequal.
To liven things up!
The answer to the question should it have been asked by someone who is not comfortable with gays is this: We do not need a gay parade, but you do.
To raise awareness that gays are everywhere/can be anybody and to celebrate that we are not alone!
I have met so many people who are still struggling to come out of the closet. When I was in the closet I felt ashamed of who I was as a person. Its important to see people who can assert their own identity for everyone who is still struggling, because no one should have to feel ashamed of who they are.
I love the ideas expressed here (it WAS one of our bigger parades)! With what happened to the Imperial Court's float showed the entire community who and what we're about. We are a loving, inclusive, and as expressed here, diverse community. Our friends, family, and allies especially showed true colors and really came together. I couldnt be more proud of the face we showed. And THAT'S why I feel a Parade is a celebration of who we are and a very healthy way to express our Diversity!
Such great answers. I learn more about this community with every post and discussion, from the generous people who send information to the responses of readers after the post is up. (Sometimes, they write the post for me!) I'm a lucky blogger.
This discussion began with straight people who are not supportive asking us to justify our parade. However, LGBT people also ask why we still have these parades. Next time you hear an LGBT friend - in Alaska or elsewhere - say they aren't going to their Pride Festival and we don't need gay parades any more, remember the answers above and the gay and straight people who do need and want an annual gay parade, for all kinds of reasons. Remember, and come to the parade!
In a letter from Homer PFLAG about the emcee who wouldn't say the words gay and lesbian at the July 4th parade, Jennifer also responded to a loaded question asked by some locals, "Why do those gay people need to have a special float in the parade at all?" She wrote that "the reality of discrimination and ignorance towards LGBT people is very real in Homer, Alaska---particularly for young people."
A straight couple visiting from Texas asked me a similar question at the Anchorage Pride parade, the week before July 4th: "Why do you need to have a gay parade?"
The tourists were stuck at the intersection of 6th Ave. and I St. because the APD blocked the cross streets along the route for the hour long parade without bothering to divert traffic or even warn the cars to turn at 7th. (Who's bright idea was that?)
Like Jennifer, I started to answer the question as asked, explaining about the ordinance veto and the red-sirts demanding that we be fired for being gay... but the parade wasn't a protest, and the answer felt incomplete because the question was biased.
The question asks us to prove why we need a gay parade, or an LGBT float, as though we were taking something we might not deserve. It makes us defensive, and lets them argue that we don't need the parade and shouldn't be allowed to have it.
But the parade is a celebration, not an argument.
"Well, why do we need a July 4th parade?" I asked. "We don't - we have it because we want to celebrate our country."
"Even if we didn't need a gay pride parade, we'd want to have it to celebrate the LGBT community. We celebrate our LGBT groups, mostly run by volunteers, we celebrate the LGBT people in Alaska, we celebrate our friends and allies, and we celebrate that we can have a gay parade in Anchorage, that we have the right to peacefully assemble and celebrate our community. Like the 4th of July parade."
The woman just stared at me, but the man nodded. "OK, I can see that," he said.
Tim White, DJ at K-WAVE, was the emcee who dissed the LGBT float in Homer's July 4th parade, and Jennifer Baker of Homer PFLAG wrote this letter to the local newspapers about the incident:
I am writing on behalf of the Homer Chapter of PFLAG, to express my heartfelt appreciation to the community of Homer for the cheers and support we received for our float during this year's 4th of July Parade. This year, PFLAG (Parents, Friends of Lesbians and Gays) marched with the newly-formed Homer Youth Gay-Straight Alliance, in order to strengthen efforts at providing support and solidarity for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered) youth in Homer.
I am also writing to express my concern about the significant omissions by the emcee of this year's parade, Tim White, while he was reading the description of our organizations and float. Rather than reading the prepared statement as written, he omitted the names of our organizations and would not say the words lesbian or gay, which were part of our statement. This omission was quite obvious and did not appear to be accidental.
It is tragic to think that this incident might be related to anything other than a logistical mishap, especially on a day when we are celebrating a day that is all about freedom. It is my sincere hope, and that of Homer PFLAG, that the Homer Chamber of Commerce is committed to having the voice of the 4th of July Parade be one that would never in any way be associated with discrimination, censorship, or homophobia.
Some people have said, "Why do those gay people need to have a special float in the parade at all?" I would answer, that the reality of discrimination and ignorance towards LGBT people is very real in Homer, Alaska---particularly for young people. The intention of PFLAG and the GSA in our community is to promote equal treatment of all people---regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In the words of the ACLU, "freedom does not protect itself." Silence is deadly---and the silence of this year's parade emcee has given us an opportunity to speak a bit louder.
White owes an apology to PFLAG, the GSA and the people of Homer! And the Homer Chamber of Commerce needs to choose emcees who will read the LGBT group's prepared statement as it's written, the same way they introduce all the other floats and marchers.
Make sure the LGBT youth of Homer are not dissed again - Call the Homer Chamber of Commerce at 907-235-7740, or write a letter to the Homer Tribune and the Homer News.
And if White doesn't apology, don't listen to K-WAVE.
Two days into a camping trip, I received a text message that a Pride Parade float entered in the Anchorage 4th of July parade had been destroyed by a suspicious fire.
The Imperial Court had 48 hours to rebuild. They called for volunteers and for the LGBTA community to march along with the new float. In the nearest town, I shared that information on Bent's Facebook wall before the connection quit.
Coming home last night, I saw photos of the new LGBT float and the queer youth float that also participated in Sunday's parade.
The Pride float was built by the efforts of many. Thanks to the LGBT people and allies who created the float so quickly and with so much style. Thanks to the businesses and individuals who donated the materials, funds and labor to rebuild the float. Thanks to all who rode and walked with the float. And thanks to the Facebook users, local media, and bloggers for reporting the fire and the story of Phoenix Rising, the LGBT float that won the Grand Prize in the 4th of July parade. It was a community effort, in every way.
A fund is set up to help rebuild Paula & Ken Butner's garage (Wells Fargo account #9297382088). The fire investigation is still in progress. In a possibly related incident, the police are investigating eggs thrown on the home of Daphne, the emcee for the LGBT float.
Meanwhile in the town of Homer, Alaska, the LGBTA float for the July 4th parade was created without incident by PFLAG and the Gay/Straight Alliance, but the announcer refused to introduce the PFLAG/GSA float when they passed the judging booth. One of the marchers had to step forward and tell the crowd who they were.
More people rode in the PFLAG rainbow skiff this year, and several of the walkers wore Alaska rainbow socks. The LGBT contingent included the skiff, two bicycles, two gay olympic athletes with their medals, a skateboarder, a group of walkers, and a blond queen wearing a pink sweater-set with black leather boots and riding a motorcycle.
Thanks to the national LGBT book blogger Band of Thebes (who lives part time in Homer) for the story and photos.
Please join the Imperial Court as they host the annual Memorial Day Picnic in Anchorage, at the Kincaid Park chalet again this year, on Monday, May 31, noon-5 p.m. For more than 30 years, this showcase event has launched the summer meet and greet season. Strike a pose! See you there!
Homer's New Youth-Community GSA
A group of young adults in Homer started a Youth-Community GSA. Their first meeting is on Saturday, May 22, from 3:30-5:30pm in the Homer Public Library Conference Room.
Marcia's Redfish Lodge on the Kenai
Thinking about a summer tip to the Kenai? Check out Marcia's Alaska Redfish Lodge. Beautiful cabins, friendly environment, and a great place to get away.
Half Moon Creek opens new art gallery in Palmer
The new Palmer store is open! Come support some fabulous lesbians and some of Alaska's finest artists. Half Moon Creek.
Juneau Drag Queen and King benefit show, help needed
The recently appointed Duchess Marguerite of Juneau is planning a Drag Queen and King show as a fundraiser for Four A's, at the Rendezvous Bar on Friday June 18th, and she's looking for help.
"I need some awesome talent to get up there and shake it. You can lip synch, sing live or karaoke, juggle, I don't care really, just as long as you're willing to cross dress while doing so. Or not, I'm pretty open to any help! Not a performer? How about help with sound, lighting, costumes? Sign making, donations, general street team getting the word out action is definitely needed. Donations of time, supplies, ideas, money, I want it all." Please contact Marguerite, to offer assistance.
Art Works gallery in Soldotna is hosting "Celebrate" this month, an Alaska art show honoring the progress made by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. "It's social commentary. It's making people think," said gallery owner Zirrus VanDevere, adding that it's time for the Peninsula to start talking about these issues.
VanDevere told the Peninsula Clarion that the strong tension in Alaska between the live-and-let-live attitude and those who oppose 'alternative lifestyles' prevents many people from coming out:
"It's something we should be talking about on the Kenai Peninsula," she said. "We are isolated, in a way, but we are part of the whole world. If we don't address this issue we are going to be left behind."
She said the show "could easily be a rant" but she wanted it to "be positive about the changes that are occurring."
VanDevere, who identifies herself as bisexual, will be displaying one of her own abstract paintings with a caption about being how and who you are.
Other local artists who will be displayed include Donna Steele, Theresa Napolitano and Joe Kashi, along with Anchorage artists like Shelia Wyne.
Kiana Johnson, a senior at Skyview High School, said she wanted to be a part of the show to demonstrate support for gay and transgender people on the Peninsula.
"I have a lot of friends who are gay," she said. "I thought it was a cool opportunity to show my art and a cool opportunity for people to gain acceptance throughout the community."
Her painting is an abstract representation of figures and a tree. She said she was trying to depict a separation between the bland figures and their surroundings that she says signifies our misconceptions of people, based on what we think they should be.
"Having a show like this really shows how far we've come as a community," said Sierra McKenzie Ball, a 2008 graduate of Soldotna High School who currently lives in Seattle.
Her two acrylic paintings, "Bound," and "What are we made of," are of people's faces, she said, and a reflection on herself and her own bisexuality.
Having younger artists like Johnson and Ball display their work in "Celebrate" is something VanDevere is especially passionate about.
"The youth becoming adults now are way more open-minded."
"Celebrate" runs through the end of April at Art Works in Soldotna. An expanded version will open later at Out North's gallery in Anchorage.
Queer Alaska had a busy year! Here are some of the highs and lows compiled from the blog, the newsletter, and your suggestions on Bent's Facebook wall:
Best moment: The Anchorage Assembly passed the LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance.
Worst moments: Mayor Sullivan vetoed the nondiscrimination ordinance and Debbie Ossiander refused to override the veto.
Sweet Consequences moment: Ossiander was fired from the chair position on the Assembly.
Best LGBT improvement
State: Fairbanks School District added gender identity to the non-discrimination policy
National: The federal Hate Crimes Act
Worst narrowly avoided disaster: Wayne Anthony Ross becoming Alaska's Attorney General
Best allies: The 7 Assembly members who voted for the nondiscrimination ordinance, and all the allies who testified, wrote letters, and attended the hearings and protests, standing shoulder to shoulder with us in support of equality and against the forces of hate. Honorable mention to the Fairbanks allies who protested against the ex-gay speaker at UAF.
Worst homophobes: Mayor Sullivan? Debbie Ossiander? Rev. Prevo? Wayne Anthony Ross? Those crazed bigots spitting hellfire and homophobia at the Assembly hearings? So many to choose from.
Best visiting LGBT celebrity: Dan Savage, author of The Slog
Best LGBT movie shown in Alaska: MILK at the Bear Tooth in Anchorage, the Blue Loon in Fairbanks, and the Pioneer Theater in Homer. Honorable mentions: Outrage at the Bear Tooth, and Brother Outsider at the Anchorage Museum.
Best LGBT live theater: Midnight Soapscum at Out North, The Lion Sings Tonight benefit for Four A's, Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Pier One in Homer and Mad Myrna's in Anchorage, Sordid Lives at Myrna's, Dog Sees God at Out North, and Shakespeare's R&J by Thunder Mountain in Juneau.
Best solo shows: Tim Miller at Out North, and Bryan Emler at MCC.
Biggest events in Anchorage: PrideFest, Coronation, Celebration of Change, and the True Diversity Dinner
Fairbanks: the protests against the ex-gay speaker at UAF, the Fetish Ball, and PFLAG in the Golden Days parade
Juneau: Femme Fatale, the Pride Picnic, and the Pride Chorus concerts
Homer: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and MILK
Mat-Su: April's Follies
Event most celebrated by LGBT people in different parts of Alaska: July 4th
(The 2008 event with the widest participation by LGBT people around Alaska was the Prop 8 protest.)
Today, Dec 1, is World AIDS Day and Alaskans will remember those lost to HIV/AIDS, and honor those living with HIV/AIDS, by holding candlelight vigils in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, and by wearing red ribbons.
Unaids.org reports that there are currently 33.4 million people worldwide infected with HIV and 2 million of those are children. Last year saw nearly 2.7 million new cases of HIV.
To help HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in Alaska, make donations to Four A's (southcental and southeast) and IAA (interior), and visit Four A's for the list of locations in Anchorage and Juneau that have a paint can full of free Red Ribbons.
Alaska's World AIDS Day events
Anchorage:
Join Four A's for the annual World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil, at 6 p.m. in the UAA Wolf's Den (Student Union/Bookstore Building). Four A's also co-presented the documentary "Sex Positive" with the Bear Tooth on Monday night as a World AIDS Day event.
Juneau:
Join Four A's for the Juneau World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil at 6:30 p.m. in the Baranof Hotel. Four A's is also sponsoring a free showing of "Life Support" on Wednesday, December 2 at the Gold Town Nickolodean Theater at 8 p.m.
Fairbanks:
Join Interior Aids Association for a World AIDS Day Walk and Vigil on Tuesday, Dec 1. Meet at IAA at 5:30 p.m. for a Candle Light Walk to First United Methodist, 915 2nd Ave. and a service and potluck at 6 p.m.
Homer:
HIV testing is available today and every day without an appointment at Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. Red ribbons are located at KBFPC, K-Bay Caffe & Two Sisters.
- photo: Alex Barros reminds drivers to wear a red ribbon for World AIDS Day. Supporters of Four A's stood on the corners of Northern Lights and New Seward, and Northern Lights and Minnesota, in Anchorage this morning.
The Assembly has until Sept. 8 to override Mayor Sullivan's veto, and they need 8 votes in favor. Please urge Debbie Ossander (ossiander@gci.net) and all the Assembly members (WWMAS@ci.anchorage.ak.us) to Do the Right Thing and support an override.
This week's events from the statewide newsletter. Subscribe to Alaska GLBT News.
Juneau
SEAGLA Social Fridays (6-8 p.m.) for GLBT people and our friends over 21, at The Imperial Bar, downtown.
Fairbanks
UAF Gay-Straight Alliance tabling at New Student Orientation 8/31 from 12-2pm in the Wood Center.
Kenai Peninsula
"Hedwig and the Angry Inch" starring Atz Lee Kilcher, 8/28-8/30, 8 p.m. at Pier One Theater. Tickets $15 at the Homer Bookstore and Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic.
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
Side Street Saturdays, an informal meetup for LGBT writers, at noon in Side Street Cafe.
Northern Exposure Bowling League, 1st league meeting of the 2009/2010 season, 8/29, 4 p.m. at Park Lanes.
