29 Years Together: Anchorage gay couple interviewed for Vancouver Pride

"When Fred Traber and Larry Snider began dating in 1981, the social and cultural landscape in their small hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, did not allow them to be open with their relationship."

So begins an interview of a gay Anchorage couple in a Vancouver, Canada newspaper.

Fred and Larry attended Vancouver Pride on August 1 and got an unexpected souvenir - they were interviewed by The Vancouver Sun about their 29 year relationship, and a video clip was posted online with the article and photos.

The newspaper was looking for gay couples who met in various decades, as part of a Gay Pride series, and a local friend recommended them for the couple who met in the '80s.

"We had fun doing the interview and were flattered that they asked us," Fred told Bent Alaska. "It was a fun adventure. They brought a film crew to the hotel and got nearly 2 hours of tape."

"We covered a lot of topics, and sadly, some of the things most important to us didn't make the cutting. We talked about the onset of AIDS and the impact it had on the gay community in Alaska - the huge number of friends we lost, the stigma, and lifestyle changes. We talked about having to carefully plan vacations to destinations where we would be safe and accepted. Lots of issues that were prevalent 30 years ago that are not so much today."

We've come a long way, but we still travel to big city Pride events in LGBT-accepting locations. Like Vancouver Pride.

"Vancouver Pride is always a very important event for us. The city is so beautiful, the people are so enlightened and there is such a terrific sense of community. The Pride Parade was over 3 hours long - without any gaps. Major corporations, labor unions, government officials, social service agencies, bars, and lots of LGBT groups of people of every stripe. A new attendance record this year with over 600,000 families, friends and visitors watching, applauding and laughing. Very exhilarating and a total validation of our lifestyle."

And the local newspapers run Gay Pride articles before, during and after Pride weekend, sometimes featuring out of town visitors!

The interview clip focuses on Fred and Larry's early years together as closeted gay men in Alaska, as well as their California wedding in October 2008 and the Anchorage reception. Here is the video (it starts with a short ad):

Team Alaska wins 13 medals at Gay Games

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.)

Congratulations to Team Alaska, and welcome home.

Gay Games 2010 begins July 31

The Gay Games VIII will take place in Cologne, Germany from July 31 to August 7. Around 12,000 participants from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the Gay Games and celebrate the principles of participation, inclusion and personal best.

The invitation is open to everyone, whether heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, male, female, transgender or transsexual, and regardless of religion, nationality, ethnic heritage, political convictions, age or physical condition.

The motto is Be part of it! and Team Alaska will be there to represent us. You can follow the international action at Gay Games Cologne, and I'll post updates from Team AK!

Watch the PSA "Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010 Welcomes You"

2 Alaskans win Pride college scholarships

Two LGBT college students from Alaska received Pride Foundation scholarships for the 2010/11 school year: Tonei Glavinic and Kady Titus.

Tonei Glavinic is a Queer 20 year old from Anchorage, AK. Tonei is a student at American University in Washington, DC and is pursuing a degree in Political Science and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Tonei wants to thank Anchorage Youth Court, GLSEN, the ACLU, and everyone who has supported Tonei's work over the years. Tonei is a Public Policy and Advocacy Intern at the Task Force; volunteer at a pro-choice clinic; Executive Director of American University Queers and Allies; and will be a Resident Assistant next year.

Tonei won the following scholarships: Pride Foundation Community, Political Leadership, and Scott Rodriguez Leadership

Kady Titus is 21, bisexual, and an Alaskan Native. She is currently a freshmen at Haskell Indian Nations University studying Social Work. Kady owes a huge "thank you" to Kathy Halverson, who was Kady's first social worker from Foster Care. Kady says, "She stayed with me throughout everything."

"My plans and aspirations are the same now as they were almost 10 years ago: to open the interior of Alaska's first Transitional Living Program with special services geared toward GLBT youth and foster children."

Kady won the following scholarship: Pride Foundation/Alaska

Congratulations to Tonei, Kady and all 108 scholarship recipients! More information on the annual scholarship program can be found at PrideFoundation.org.

Gay Games director still comes home to Alaska

Although Darl Schaaff is forming Team Alaska for the 2010 Gay Games, Cleveland.com said that Schaaff - a martial arts competitor, Alaska Statehood event planner, and Federation of Gay Games board member - is moving to the midwest next year. It's partly true:

Cleveland didn't just win the 2014 Gay Games when it went all out to woo organizers this summer. It won the heart of the site selection committee's top judge, too.

Darl Schaaff, who has lived in Alaska for more than three decades, bought a condo in Ohio City after he was "blown away" by Cleveland.

"Cleveland was, and I say this lovingly, this joke because we had Washington, D.C. bidding and we had Boston bidding," said Schaaff. "And along came Cleveland, the little engine that could."

Schaaff will spend much of this year in Germany, where this year's games are. And he knows he'll get the same question he always gets when he mentions the next venue: "Where is Cleveland?" He answers: "The heartland of America."

And now he can say it's home, too.

"I came to Cleveland, found the people to be charming and the city lovely," he said.

So he bought a still-under-construction condo in the old YMCA on Franklin Blvd., where his downstairs is the old basketball court, wood floor and all.

"I'm a Clevelander," he declared proudly.

Schaaff spends time working in each host city and usually rents an apartment. He's currently looking for a rental in Cologne for this summer's Games. As for the Cleveland condo:

"I bought the place because I will be there so much in the next 5 years," Schaaff wrote when I asked if he was moving. "Planning to use it for FGG Headquarters and hang out spot."

The Federation of Gay Games announced Cleveland as the 2014 host last October, citing the city's world-class athletic facilities, hotels and public transportation. From TIME:

"We've never really gone to the heartland," says Schaaff, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska. "Here was an opportunity to boldly go to a place that is perhaps not recognizable throughout the world as a gay center, but where real change is starting to happen."

Cleveland instituted a registry for domestic partners in May. The Ohio house of representatives passed a bill on Sept. 15 that would make it illegal to discriminate against gay people in housing and in the workplace. The same day, Cleveland's city council passed a law guaranteeing the Gay Games $2 million in cash and in-kind contributions. "The city of Cleveland is prepared to roll out the welcome mat to the LGBT athletes, their families and spectators from around the world," Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson said in a press release.

They wouldn't get that kind of welcome in Anchorage. Besides, we don't have world class public transportation.

Schaaf will share his knowledge of the Gay Games, the largest GLBT sport and culture event in the world, on March 17 at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage at 7 p.m. Athletes and others interested in the Games and Team Alaska are encouraged to attend.

"Looking forward to the GLCCA meeting as I love telling about the Gay Games," he wrote. "I am currently working to raise money to provide scholarships for a few people to go from Alaska."

Athletes outside the Anchorage area can contact Schaaff through Art Services North.

Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles: Simple Gifts (video)

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles toured four South American nations performing multi-lingual theatrical performances. 'Simple Gifts' was one of the highlights:

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus: We're Not Lost We're Here (video)

The gay choral videos posted this week celebrate music and the joy of Christmas. They also bring the message that gays and lesbians are not spiritually lost just because we are open and honest about our love.

In today's video, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus sings "We're Not Lost We're Here" from Naked Man, while soloist and first tenor Cecil O'Neal Johnson tells his story of joining the chorus and becoming whole:

Dublin Lesbian and Gay Choir: Hark The Herald Angels Sing (video)

Merry Christmas!

Gloria, the lesbian and gay choir of Dublin, Ireland, performed their Christmas concert in St. Anne's Catholic Church last week, including a beautiful rendition of "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" that opens with a piano solo:

Boston Gay Men's Chorus: Hallelujah Chorus (video)

The Hallelujah Chorus (featuring les freres de St. Francis de la Sissies) performed with great comic timing by the Boston Gay Men's Chorus:

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus: Waltz of the Snowflakes (video)

Continuing with the theme of gay holiday music videos, here is the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus dancing in drag to "Waltz of the Snowflakes" from the Nutcracker ballet:

Coming Out at Christmas (video)

They aren't in Alaska, and I don't recommend coming out at big family gatherings, but this video of the London Gay Men's Chorus singing "Coming Out at Christmas" is more entertaining then the current gay (and anti-gay) news. So here it is, around a hundred gay men singing a classic gay Christmas song:

LDS Church supports Gay Anti-Discrimination ordinance passed by Salt Lake City

Tuesday was a big day for anti-discrimination measures, as Salt Lake City, Utah approved protections for gays in housing and employment - with the support of the Mormon church - and Fort Worth, Texas added transgender protections to their anti-discrimination law.

The Salt Lake City Council unanimously passed the gay anti-discrimination ordinance after a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offered a strong statement in support of the new law.

The ordinance represents "common sense laws that should apply to everyone," said LDS church spokesman Michael Otterson. "The Church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage."

Their support for human rights does not extend to same-sex marriage. Yes, they miss the point that marriage is a basic human right, but their position is far ahead of the mobs that protested Anchorage's anti-discrimination ordinance this summer.

Also on Tuesday evening, the Fort Worth City Council voted 6-3 to add transgender protections to its anti-discrimination ordinance, which already includes gays. The mayor supports the measure.

More than 200 people packed the council chambers and overflow rooms. Three transgender people spoke in favor of the ordinance. One man protested against the ordinance by standing on top of his Bible in front of City Hall to symbolize that he was "standing on the word of God."

Despite a crowd of opponents, the council passed the ordinance one week after introducing it.

So Anchorage fell behind two more cities, in Utah and Texas, in our efforts to become a world class city. Even the Mormon church is more progressive than Anchorage on gay rights.

Gay & Lesbian Alaskans at the National Equality March

When Cleve Jones announced the National Equality March for LGBT Rights, he invited people to come "from Utah and California, from Maine to Hawaii, from Alaska to Florida." Four months later, several Alaskans marched in the Washington DC rally - and people noticed.

"From as far away as Alaska, thousands of LGBT people demanding marriage, adoption and immigration rights rallied Sunday at the National Equality March," began a Washington Blade article on the DC rally.

"The National Equality March brought participants from states across the country — some from as far away as California and Alaska — and included a strong contingent from Atlanta," wrote Southern Voice Atlanta.

A description of the Camp Courage workshop on Saturday said, "About 200 participants from across the country including Alaska showed up learning the basic skills of telling your story in order to change hearts and minds." [Asian Pacific Americans for Progress]

And a 365.GAY blogger was impressed by "the huge number of young activists – or would-be emerging activists – present and eager to be accounted for. Students had come from Maine, Alaska, Texas, Tennessee and California..."

The Washington Blade reporter spoke with Maureen:

"Some marchers came from as far away as Alaska. Maureen Longworth, a lesbian physician from Juneau, and member of Alaskans Together for Equality, said she wanted to join the march because she's always been a civil rights believer."

"A plaintiff in an Alaska lawsuit that brought partner benefits to state employees, Longworth said she hoped the march would push Alaska's delegation in Congress to act more favorably on LGBT issues."

"Two of three of our legislators are very conservative, and not always voting in our favor, she said."

Three Alaskans, Marty, Lin and Maureen, were interviewed by This Way Out, an international gay and lesbian radio program that airs in southcentral Alaska on Wednesday evenings. The complete Equality March segment is online HERE (in audio) and the Alaskans are interviewed near the end, between NAACP chairman Julian Bond and America the Beautiful.

Reporter: "You're coming from Alaska?"

Marty: "Juneau, Alaska. That's right.

"That's a long way. I think you win the prize for longest distance travelled to be here."

"Yes, sore wings."

"What was the impetus for your coming here?

"We had the privilege of getting married in California about a year ago, and then when the vote turned it around, it just brought [to our] attention that this is something that was really great, it was a really important thing for the two of us after we've been together for 27 years to actually be able to celebrate this. And it's just wrong that other people don't get that privilege and that right."

"Is this the first march you've been to?"

"Yep."

Lin: "We've been several times..."

Reporter: "How would you compare this one to previous marches?"

Lin: "This isn't as big as the '93 but the spirit is huge, and it's wonderful to see a lot of young people too. I had already given up hope that in our lifetime we would have equal rights. During the Bush administration, it got very discouraging and now I feel like I have optimism again. It's really wonderful to feel like my heart is more open to our government and the government's heart is opening and softening towards us."

Maureen: "I'm here because I believe in equality for all people and I always have. I was raised that way in Los Angeles in the 60's and we started demonstrating for civil rights for African-Americans when I was a kid. So whoever needs the rights, I will be there for that person. That's why I'm here today, and they happen to be for me."

Thanks to the Alaskans who travelled so far and represented us so well at the 2009 National Equality March for LGBT Rights!

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.

Alaskan Celebrates Gay Pride in India on Historic Ruling

India overturned its ban on gay sex last week, and Ryan from Juneau, Alaska was there to celebrate in Bangalore's Gay Pride Parade.

The High Court in New Delhi ruled that gay sex between consenting adults is no longer a crime, overturning the 1860 anti-sodomy law, known as Section 377. "Moral indignation, howsoever strong, is not a valid basis for overriding individuals' fundamental rights of dignity and privacy."

Ryan is traveling in India and studying at the Visthar Center near Bangalore. In the post Welcome to Bangalore & the South India Artist Intensive, Ryan described the theater and dance workshops and his adventures in the city, then wrote about gay life in India and the historic court ruling:

Finally, it's been a surprisingly eventful week in sexual politics in India. Last Sunday I found myself marching in Bangalore's gay pride parade, which is a scenario I never would have envisioned. It certainly was no New York or Amsterdam pride, but it beat out Juneau's gay pride parade—which consists of me walking down Franklin Street to get a cup of coffee. There were several hundred people and drumming and shouting—lots of people wearing masks, though, for the sake of anonymity in photo or video. That very day, the Indian High Court was reviewing section 377, which is the law used against gay people in this country (though it doesn't refer to homosexuals verbatim). Thursday, the law was amended! Huge news. What this basically means, as someone at Visthar put it, is that homosexual lifestyles are now 'recognized as non-crimes.' Still not equal rights, but at least not outright discrimination. …Now this weekend, there have been counter-protests and demonstrations in some cities, some apparently violent.

It will be interesting to see how this continues to unfold here. I would at least venture to say that from what I've seen, the divide between rural and urban here, 'liberal' and 'conservative,' seems to be HUGE. As part of our cultural context class this week, we had a session discussing sexual minorities, and Visthar invited 2 gay men and 2 lesbian women to speak. It was incredible to me that all 4 of them—none of whom could have been older than 40—had attempted suicide due to their sexuality-combined-with-social/family-situation. Two had had their partners die in double-suicide attempts that they themselves had survived. It does seem that the situation here is behind the US by a few years or decades.

Check out his photos of India, and follow Ryan's future adventures by subscribing to his blog Forging Ahead.

- hat tip to Maia of Own The Sidewalk

Human Arch Reflects Love and Acceptance for All Families

"Jump the Broom" celebrated love and acceptance with over 130 supporters on Oct 5th in Juneau, and $1300 was raised to help keep marriage legal and equal in California. Our $1300 doubled into $2600 when it was matched by another donor on arrival in California. Beyond that, some of you donated on line, and the total generated was well over $3000.

Thanks to so many of you who came hours early in your party clothes and helped set up. To those of you who created yummy potluck items, brought fabrics, table cloths, silver party favors, and rainbows galore, thank you.

It was truly a lifetime highlight walking through the human arch of love and acceptance. To all the broom jumpers, all the celebratory dancers and arch makers, your love and support are tenderly held.    

Some have stopped us on the street since, asking if we can make this an annual activity. It's not a bad idea to celebrate and be reminded of love, acceptance and equality on a regular basis!  

Sadly, our nation lost the right for all couples to marry in California on Nov. 4 with the passage of Proposition 8. (Stay tuned at equalityforall.com, hrc.org, and pfaw.org for ways you can help fight this discrimination.) 

So we may need to do that arch of love and acceptance again and again, letting it grow until all are included and equal in our nation. If any of you want to plan the next one in Juneau, or one for your community, we'd be happy to share our expertise. Perhaps we can have arches of love and support all over our state in 2009, or all over our nation.

Eighteen years ago, when we first married in California with no legal significance or recognition, our Dads were still alive and one of them said, "What we wish for you, is that barriers will fall away for you and people like you, and that you may have all the love you have for one another reflected back to you, all the days of your lives." 

His words were a cherished wedding gift. Now, dear Juneau friends, and supporters and family, you have given us a reflection of that love, a very powerful gift, keeping the words of Frank Longworth alive and believable, even at this very tender time. Thank you. 

We are grateful to all of you. 

Mo and Lin, 

Juneau, Alaska

 - Photo of Mo and Lin just legally married at San Francisco City Hall, Sept. 15, 2008, exactly eighteen years after their original (non-legal) wedding. Congratulations!

Elias in LA with NO on 8: A Dead Heat in the Polls, Every Vote Counts

Elias Rojas, from Anchorage, is in California to help the NO on 8 campaign. If it passes, Proposition 8 will eliminate same-sex marriage in California. 

Same-sex marriage has been legal in California since May 5, and there is no residency requirement. Thousands of gay and lesbian couples from all over the country have been legally married there during the past six months, including couples from Alaska. 

Keep marriage equal - make a donation on the Alaska Fundraising page for NO on 8.

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An Alaskan in California: Working to Defeat Prop. 8.

 

I just landed at Los Angeles International Airport. It's about 70 degrees. I'm excited to be involved in the final days of the campaign to defeat this anti-gay constitutional amendment.

 

The election is now 72 hours away. Apparently, the Yes side sent a misleading message claiming that Obama and Biden support the elimination of same-sex marriage in California. This is a flat out lie! The opposition will do anything to win this vote. 

 

A new poll shows 49% of California voters oppose the constitutional amendment and 44% support it, with 7% undecided. Support for gay issues is usually overstated by 5-7%, so it's going to be very close.

 

Because this race is basically a dead heat, the side that gets more of their backers to the polls on Election Day will probably win. Over 7,000 people statewide have volunteered to help us get out the vote on Nov. 4.

 

I will arrive at the campaign office later tonight. I plan to send a quick update to you each night. 

There is still time to donate to the NO on 8 campaign. Please visit the Alaska Fundraising page at: http://eqfed.org/equalityforall/fundraising/erojas2001-669616 

In addition to giving, please call everyone you know in California and urge them to vote NO on Prop 8! This campaign could be decided by a few thousand votes.

Pride Outside: Cid Celebrates in San Diego

Cid from Kodiak wrote in about the San Diego Pride parade and festival she attended last Saturday. The theme was "Live, Love, Be" (the national Pride theme for 2008.) She enjoyed watching the parade and had a good time at the women's dance party (photo below).

"It was a great event, and huge! It was $15 to get in, but had 3 beer gardens, 2 with dancing, and a wine tasting area that was wonderful. All very well organized and put together. I volunteered: my job for 5 hours was to search people's bags and purses!"

Cid is in San Diego this summer taking college classes, and she met up at the parade with several other students. Her overall review of San Diego Pride: "I would recommend this one for future travelers."

Thanks for sharing the Pride with us back home in Alaska!

***

Big city LGBT Pride parades are exciting in big city ways: Crowds of gay people and our allies ride the public transit system to the parade, cheering as they approach the festival. Dozens of sexy Dykes on Bikes rev and honk at the front of the parade, roaring past sidewalks filled with spectators. Floats, bands and uniquely-costumed individuals march past rainbow-decorated lamp posts, courtesy of the city. Local businesses encourage their gay employees to march with the company banners. National icons provide high quality entertainment.

Perhaps best of all is the experience of thousands of openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people taking over a public space and becoming the dominant culture for a day.

Did you attend Pride Outside this summer, or are you planning to attend another big LGBTA happening? Tell us about it - the best moments, something cool and different about the event - and bring home the Gay Pride.