SantaLand Diaries elf tale by David Sedaris, a benefit at Out North

On the day after Christmas, Out North is presenting "The SantaLand Diaries" written by award-winning gay author David Sedaris and performed by Ben Brown of Juneau. Out North recently lost a major funding grant, and this show is a benefit so they can continue fulfilling their mission of Art for Everyone, No Exceptions.

You think you've had enough of Christmas shopping, piped-in holiday music, disgruntled Santas, crying children and occasional crying.

Take your holiday headache to Out North and have your yule attitude readjusted with "The SantaLand Diaries." Juneau-based actor Ben Brown performs David Sedaris' hilarious autobiographical tale about his stint as an elf in the annual holiday display at Macy's Department Store in New York City. Just as Sedaris took consolation in the fact that some of the other elves were TV extras on "One Life to Live," maybe you can take consolation in the fact that you're enjoying a great play, not out in the shopping mayhem still.

The SantaLand Diaries plays at 7 p.m. Sunday, December 26th at Out North (3800 DeBarr Road). Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 online. For more information, visit www.outnorth.org."

"The SantaLand Diaries" is a benefit show for Out North this year, and we greatly appreciate Ben's generosity. We look forward to spending the evening with you, and invite you to bring your friends.

The Grrlzlist shared this message last week from Out North to their supporters:

Thank you for your continued support of the cutting edge work Out North produces. Your donations in the wake of our funding pull has so far raised $25,000 in less than a month! The overwhelming majority of the donations have been less than $200. I know you know how incredible that is. We here are overcome with gratitude - and relief. Thank you for pushing so hard to keep Out North in Anchorage. We still have $55,000 to go to make up the shortfall, but clearly, together we can do this! If you have not donated already, I can assure you that you are backing a winner by supporting Out North right now. Your support now will mean that we can maintain our commitment to the artists and schools we had promised to support in Season 26. And it means that we can continue to bring you work you just can't see in Anchorage, as well as vital inclusivity for ALL people and ALL arts. What happened to us is not an isolated instance. Out North's funding was pulled because the funder did not want to support the kind of work we do here. To them, we went "too far" by programming a musical about marijuana and two films that featured the (award-winning) story of lesbian lives. To us, art is for everyone, no exceptions.

Please help support Out North - attend shows, buy season tickets, or donate directly.

New youth grant and AK staff from Pride Foundation

Pride Foundation of the Pacific Northwest is strengthening their commitment to Alaska's LGBT community by funding a full time regional staff position and continuing to provide grants for Alaska's LGBT non-profits.

Tiffany McClain, formerly of the ACLU of Alaska, was hired by the Pride Foundation to fill a newly-funded staff position as Regional Development Organizer for Alaska:

From Anchorage to Bozeman, to Eugene to Idaho Falls – Pride Foundation is deeply committed to building and sustaining local leaders and organizations to increase visibility for LGBTQ people across the greater Northwest. Over this past year, staff, volunteers and donors have been working together to determine how to best leverage and increase Pride Foundation's prior work in regional and rural communities. We're so excited to expand our regional commitment.

By investing in full-time staff members in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Western Washington to lead our philanthropic and community development strategies, we know that we can increase our understanding of local issues and work better and even more collaboratively to build the future of equality in the Northwest.

The five Regional Development Organizers start their new positions in January 2011. Here is Tiffany's staff bio. (Learn about the other regional team members here.)

Growing up in St. Louis, MO – a humid, mountain-less city of brick and concrete, where two weeks of Girl Scout camp seemed like the roughest of adventures – I never imagined I'd end up living in Alaska. But I've never felt more at home than I do in Anchorage and am excited that I've been offered the opportunity to engage my passion for social justice and community organizing while living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Grants from Pride Foundation made possible many of the projects I worked on as the LGBTQ Public Policy Coordinator for the ACLU of Alaska and now I get to support the efforts of other activists, artists, and service-providers who are working to improve the lives of LGBTQ Alaskans. When I'm not working, you can find me outside soaking up Alaska's beauty, daydreaming about my next travel adventure, or hiding from the cold in a nice, warm movie theatre or bookstore.

Congratulations to Tiffany, and thanks to Pride Foundation for funding this local position.

In addition to a staff member for Alaska, Pride Foundation awarded a youth grant to Identity to bring LGBT youth from rural communities to the annual Pride Conference in Anchorage.

Pride Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to 48 projects that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trangender and queer (LGBTQ) community in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Youth-related grants were the largest recipients of funds.

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This year's youth-related grantees include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound in Washington, Idaho Safe Schools Coalition, and Identity Inc's Alaska Bush Youth at Pride Conference 2011, a project aimed at connecting LGBTQ youth in remote parts of Alaska to community services and networks of support – addressing the disproportionately high rates of LGBTQ youth suicide in remote Alaska.

A year-end giving appeal to the public allows donors to specifically give to LGBTQ youth-related projects. To donate, visit www.pridefoundation.org/giving/give-online.

These grants are just one way Pride Foundation works to empower and support the next generation of LGBTQ people. Of course, Pride Foundation grants focus on more than just youth. Dozens of grants were also awarded in the areas of 1) Arts & Recreation, 2) Education, Advocacy & Outreach, 3) Health & Community Services, 4) HIV/AIDS Service Delivery & Prevention, and 5) Lesbian Health.

This is the description of Identity's rural youth project grant:

Identity Inc. (Anchorage, AK) www.identityinc.org : $3,500 for travel expenses to insure the attendance of youth from Southeast Alaska, Fairbanks, Kenai Peninsula, and from bush villages at Identity Inc.'s 2011 Pride Conference in Anchorage. The conference will focus on these youth sharing their experiences of being LGBT in their home communities. Youth traveling from remote Alaska will have the opportunity to meet and interact with other LGBT youth and to enhance their personal self-esteem and self-worth. Published suicide data predicts 95% likelihood that a young person between the ages of 12 and 19, who is an Alaska Native, lives in a village, is male and is gay will attempt suicide.

Thanks to Identity and Pride Foundation for addressing this important issue and funding the project.

Alaskans Together on DADT repeal

Alaskans Together for Equality sent a message to their members and supporters following the senate's historic vote to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy on Saturday. Alaskans Together is the statewide LGBT advocacy group for Alaska.

Just over an hour ago the Senate by a vote of 65 to 31 repealed the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Today's vote allows lesbian, gay and bisexual people the ability to serve openly and honestly in our military. It's a wonderful step forward in our fight for full civil equality. We are extremely pleased to report that both Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich voted in favor of the repeal!

Your efforts made a big difference! This repeal couldn't have happened without you and your calls and emails.

Please take a moment in the next few days to call and email both Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich and thank them for their vote to repeal DADT. It is great to have two Senators that believe in fairness and equality in our military.

Senator Murkowski

Email or Phone: 202.224.6665

Senator Begich

Email or Phone: 202.224.3004

Please thank Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Begich for representing all Alaskans with their vote to repeal DADT today. Our military has become even stronger with today's vote.

Also, be aware there is still work to be done for the implementation of a full repeal of DADT. There is a 60-day waiting period, during which soldiers can still be discharged under the policy. We will post on our blog in the coming days when we have more details.

With all of our continuing efforts we are confident that we will have more victories to celebrate in 2011 on our road to achieving full civil equality in Alaska.

Let's enjoy today's victory.

Also, three Anchorage-based gay service members were interviewed by KTVA about the effects of the DADT policy and why repeal is necessary. The local troops are members of OutServe, a national network of gay and lesbian active-duty service members. (The clip was posted earlier this week, before Congress passed the stand-alone DADT repeal measure.)

Congress REPEALS Don't Ask Don't Tell!

We did it!

The Senate voted today to repeal the military ban on openly gay and lesbian troops, following the House vote in favor of the repeal earlier this week. Both Senators Begich and Murkowski voted for repeal. Rep. Young voted against it.

Saturday morning (very early for those in Alaska watching the live broadcast), the Senate voted for cloture on the DADT repeal, voting 63-33 where they needed at least 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. The cloture vote was the main hurdle, since repeal itself needed only a simple majority to pass. After a few more hours of debate, they passed the repeal 65-31. Now it goes to the President to be signed and certified.

Please thank both Senators Begich and Murkowski for supporting all of our troops and voting to repeal this discriminatory law.

However, it is not safe for gay and lesbian troops to come out yet, as the policy will not be fully implemented for at least several months. Even after the President signs the bill, service members will remain at risk for investigation and discharge. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will still be the law until 60 days after the Commander-in-Chief, Secretary of Defense, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs certify that repeal can happen.

President Obama on the Senate's DADT vote:

Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.

The Senate also voted for cloture on the Dream Act this morning, but the motion failed to get the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. Both senators from Alaska voted in favor.

Sen. Murkowski will vote for DADT repeal

The stand-alone Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal measure is set for a cloture vote in the senate on Saturday, with a final vote possible on Monday, and both of Alaska's senators have agreed to vote for it!

Senator Murkowski's spokesman Michael Brumas verified on the phone on Thursday:

"Senator Murkowski will vote in favor of DADT cloture on Saturday morning. She will also vote to repeal DADT when it comes to a vote on Monday."

The comment was made to clarify an earlier statement. A blog post titled Snowe and Murkowski Vow To Vote For DADT Repeal quoted Brumas as saying:

"Sen. Murkowski will support a stand-alone repeal of the DADT law. With the tax package out of the way, and legislation to fund the government on a glide path to passage, Sen. Murkowski will vote to move to DADT when it is brought to the floor."

That did not sound like a 'vow to vote for' this repeal measure, and a Facebook friend of Bent Alaska asked her office for an explanation. Murkowski recently expressed support for repealing DADT, but voted against cloture on the repeal last week when it was attached to the defense budget. Repeal supporters were disappointed by her no vote and want to be sure we understand her position on the current measure.

Senator Murkowski is still being pressured by opponents to vote against this repeal measure.

Please call Sen. Murkowski today, thank her for supporting all of our troops and remind her to vote for S 4023, the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, this session: 202-224-6665 (DC office) or 877-829-6030 (AK office).

The stand-alone DADT repeal passed the House by a wide margin on Wednesday, although Rep. Young voted against it.

A few hours after the House vote, several news sites said that Sen. Murkowski "announced" support for the stand-alone DADT measure, but they didn't quote or link the announcement.

Senator Begich continues to support the repeal of DADT and voted for cloture last week.

On Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unexpectedly filed cloture on the stand-alone DADT repeal passed by the House and on the DREAM Act, and announced that he will hold the cloture vote on both measures on Saturday.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who introduced the stand-alone DADT repeal, said "We can get it done by Monday, maybe Tuesday at the latest, and then go back to the START treaty."

They expect to get the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster by Sen. McCain. Here's the breakdown, according to the Advocate: of the 58 Democratic senators, 56 are likely to vote for passage (excluding Sen. Joe Manchin, who joined the last GOP filibuster of the defense authorization bill, and Sen. Ron Wyden, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing surgery Monday); but the support of GOP senators Susan Collins, Scott Brown, and Lisa Murkowski brings the count to 59, and most believe Sen. Olympia Snowe will also come along since she stated support for repeal though not specifically for the stand-alone bill. A few other GOP senators, such as Richard Lugar and George Voinovich, are also potential votes.

It's going to be close!

House passes DADT repeal, Rep. Young votes no

The House today passed a stand-alone bill to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" by a vote of 250-175, with 15 Republicans joining 235 Democrats to end the discriminatory policy. Rep. Young voted against repeal. Now the measure goes to the Senate, where advocates will try to bring it up for a vote by the end of next week.

Sen. Begich supports repeal, although he isn't listed as a co-sponsor. News reports mention Sen. Murkowski as one of 4 senate Republicans who support repeal - but will she actually vote for repeal this time?

Call Senator Murkowski and ask her to vote for the DADT repeal: 202-224-6665 (DC) or 877-829-6030 (AK office).

After the House vote, Senator Snowe (R-Maine) said that she now supports the repeal of DADT. If she will vote for the stand-alone measure, that puts repeal within one or two votes of passing.

Sen. McCain and others opposed to gay and lesbian troops are trying to run the clock down on the session to avoid a vote, but allies are determined to see this pass before the new, more conservative Congress begins work in January.

Ask AK senators to co-sponsor S. 4023, the stand-alone DADT repeal

On Friday, Senators Lieberman and Collins introduced a stand-alone bill to repeal DADT, named S 4023. As of Monday morning, there are 27 co-sponsors of the bill. Neither of Alaska's Senators are co-sponsors, even though both are on record as supporting repeal.

Please contact both Sens. Begich and Murkowski and urge them to co-sponsor S 4023, the stand-alone legislation to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

202-224-6665 (DC) or 877-829-6030 (toll free)

Sen. Mark Begich

202-224-3004 (DC) or 877-501-6275 (toll free)

The full name of the bill is "S. 4023: A bill to provide for the repeal of the Department of Defense policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces known as Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It was read into the calendar today, but will only be brought up for a vote if they have the 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.

We need Sen. Murkowski to tell Lieberman and Collins that she will vote for this!

Should all go well, we will be able to provide a nice holiday gift to the estimated 66,000 LGBT servicemembers currently serving our country.