Toys for "Nots" Gives to Gay Families First

Ms. Alaska Leather 2008 is hosting a fundraiser for Toys for "Nots" on Dec. 19, with a Christmas food sale and gift auction at Mad Myrna's. Her goal is to raise at least $500 dollars worth of donations to buy items for families in need, as the Toys for Nots committee did last year.

Tami won the title of Ms. Alaska Leather last January at Arctic Heat, the titleholder event for The Last Frontier Men's Club. 

Toys for Tots collects donated Christmas toys for needy families and is sponsored by the United States Marine Corps. But what is Toys for Nots? 

Keith, President of the Men's Club, explained the story behind the name: 

A few years ago, the Duke and Duchess of the Imperial Court held a Toys for Tots fundraiser and recieved hundreds of toys for donation. When the Marines were called to pick up the toys, the ducals were told to put the toys outside on the icy sidewalk, because the Marines wouldn't enter Mad Myrna's. They will accept toys from the gay community, but they are afraid to walk into a gay bar to pick up our donations. 

So the ducals renamed the event Toys for Nots and give first choice to the children of gay families in need. Remaining gifts are offered to the Toys for Tots program. 

"We did receive an apology phone call from a Ft. Richardson general promising that it would never happen again," wrote Keith. "However, they have not picked up our donations for the past 3 years."

The Toys for Nots Fundraiser is Dec. 19, 2008, from 6:30-9 p.m. at Mad Myrna's.

Anchorage & Juneau Wear Red on World AIDS Day

The Four A's "Painted the Town Red" for World AIDS Day again this year in Anchorage and Juneau. 

Over 60,000 red ribbons were distributed the week before World AIDS Day. Volunteers in Anchorage waved to morning traffic and handed out more red ribbons on December 1.

Fifty-five people came to the Anchorage Candlelight Vigil for World AIDS Day and read a non-denominational prayer in memory of those lost to AIDS. 

After the vigil, about 70 people attended a free showing of Rent and a panel discussion on local resources, held at the Alaska Wild Berry Theater. 

For the third year, Four A's staff and volunteers waved signs at major intersections during the morning commute. They stood on the corners of Northern Lights/Minnesota and Northern Lights/New Seward from 7:30 a.m. until around 9.

"A lot of people waved and honked," wrote Chrissy, the Director of Development at Four A's. "We usually get a positive response."

After the sign waving, they gave away red ribbons at City Hall, Providence Hospital, the 5th Avenue Mall, Northway Mall and UAA. 

In Juneau, free HIV testing was offered during the day at the University, and over 40 people attended the Candlelight Vigil. 

The Four A's thanks everyone who helped to Paint the Town Red this year. 

"Remember to wear your red ribbons not only on World AIDS Day," wrote Chrissy, "but throughout the entire year."

Got "Milk"?

Did you see Milk this weekend?

"My partner and I just returned from seeing it and it is a MUST SEE," wrote Dee. "We did not buy from the consession stand, due to the ownership of the theater (Mormon) but would not have missed the first day of this film... I urge the community and our allies to see this movie. We're thinking Academy Award for Penn."

"The Prop 6 part was disturbing because it reminds me so much of Prop 8," wrote Elias, "along with the other dozen ballot measure campaigns I've been in."

I agree that Penn gave an excellent performance, and that the comparison between winning Prop 6 and barely losing Prop 8 is heart-wrenching.

Gay and lesbian history is so hidden that many young adults don't know about the struggle for our rights. Milk opens with the police raiding a gay bar, beating the customers and dragging them off to jail, simply for being gay. The scene uses real video from the late 60's and early 70's. We've come a long way.

Then in 1978, the newly-elected Supervisors, representing minorities who had never been represented before, voted to add 'sexual orientation' to the non-discrimination policy of San Francisco. They knew the gay community was an ally, and they understood that job and housing protection is an important civil rights issue.

I watched this scene in a movie theater in Anchorage, Alaska, where 30 years later we do not have 'sexual orientation' in the city's non-discrimination policy. It isn't in the state policy either. Or the national policy.

We still have a long way to go.

If you haven't seen Milk, definitely see it. Remember to take the Milk Challenge - boycott the concession stand and give a donation to Alaskans Together for Equality, to off-set the ticket profit to the Mormon-owned and Prop 8 supporting Century/Cinemark. 

If you saw Milk, what did you think about it?

This Week in LGBT Alaska 12/12/08

Check out this week's events from Alaska GLBT News. For full listings, news and up-coming events, subscribe to AGN, the weekly email newsletter.

The movie MILK opens today (Friday, Dec. 12) in Anchorage at the Century 16. Don't support the Century/Cinemark CEO who donated $9,999 to Prop 8! Boycott Century's concessions! Eat before you go and only buy the ticket, no food or drinks. Then take the Milk Challenge!

EVENTS

Fairbanks

Jeff's Black and White Solstice Party 12/13, 9 p.m. 

PFLAG's December Meeting 12/14, 4 p.m.

Anchorage

MILK opens at the Century 16 on 12/12. Take the Milk Challenge!

A Powerful Noise at the Anchorage Museum, 12/13 at 6 p.m. (AIFF)

Half-Life 12/13 at 5:30 p.m. at The Bear Tooth and 12/14 at 4:45 p.m. at Fireweed Theater. (AIFF)

ICOAA's SnowBall Winter Wonderland at Mad Myrna's 12/13, door opens at 8:30, show at 9 p.m.

Meet MCC pastoral candidate Rev. Norman Van Manen, 12/14 at the 2 p.m. service.

The Men's Club Christmas Party 12/14, 5-10 p.m. RSVP.

The "Milk" Challenge

The movie MILK opens tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 12) in Anchorage, showing at 1:40, 4:35, 7:35 and 10:30 p.m. at the Century 16, across from Loussac Library. The message of Milk is timely, and the reviews sound great. (Watch the Milk trailer.)

Here's the problem: We want to support a good-quality gay movie (and encourage the production of more gay movies) but don't want to support the Mormon-owned Century/Cinemark whose CEO donated $9,999 to Prop 8, the California initiative that eliminated gay and lesbian marriage. 

The solution: Boycott Century's concessions! Eat before you go and only buy the ticket, no food or drinks. 

Theaters don't make much on admissions; most of their profit is from concessions. We can support the film and still deprive the theater of revenue. 

Several people wrote in about the concessions boycott (thank you!) Jason suggested that we "sneak in our own candy" as an extra dig at Century. 

Elias suggested that we off-set the ticket fees to Century with a donation to Alaskans Together for Equality, the state LGBT rights group that takes on political issues like the ones Harvey Milk fought for. It's a great way to support equal rights and, at the same time, withhold money from those who work against us!

Take the Milk Challenge: See Milk, and balance your political karma with a donation to Alaskans Together.

And Milk is the perfect time to start wearing a White Knot for marriage equality, "because everyone should be able to tie the knot."

Today is Day Without A Gay

Today is December 10, International Human Rights Day. Today is also "Day Without a Gay." We are asked to call in 'gay' to work, not contribute to the economy for one day, and spend the day helping others. 

Day Without a Gay includes:

1. An economic Boycott. For one day, do not go to work (if possible) and do not buy anything. The LGBTQ community contributes $700 billion per year to the U.S. economy, but we don't get the same rights as other citizens. Stop contributing to the economy for one day.

2. A day of Volunteering. Get out there and help a local gay rights group.

3. A day of Visibility. There are many ways to increase visibility for LGBT rights on Dec. 10. For example, wear a white knot for marriage equality ("because everyone should be able to tie the knot") and pack your lunch instead of buying it.

What are you doing for Day Without A Gay?

Homo for the Holidays

Celebrate the holidays gaily with Alaska's LGBT community! 

In Anchorage, start celebrating this weekend with ICOAA's Snow Ball Winter Wonderland on Dec 13, and an early Christmas Party with The Last Frontier Men's Club on Dec 14. 

Enjoy Christmas events at Mad Myrna's, including the "Toys for Nots" Fundraiser on Dec 19, and Miss MeMe's Gospel Christmas on Dec 20. On Christmas Eve, be filled with the holiday spirit by MCC's Carol and Recital Service. The Community Center will be open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Christmas Day, thanks to Mike, and cookies, muffins and sodas will be available.

Wrap up the season with New Year's Eve at Mad Myrna's and the New Year's Day Cookie Exchange at the GLCCA. 

In Fairbanks, don't miss Jeff's Solstice Party this Saturday. In Palmer, put it on the calendar to rock with Ever Ready on New Year's Eve. 

Do you know a GLBT holiday event in Alaska that isn't mentioned? Tell us about it!