Alaskans Together Plans for Future

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Alaskans Together Plans for Future of Interior Lesbian/Gay Community

Posted in News from FOR Members at 11:17 AM by Bruce Amsbary
Anti-Gay Legislators Move Forward with Discriminatory Legislation

This past Tuesday (4/17/07) Alaskans Together and the Fairbanks chapter of the national organization Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) met at the Noel Wien Library to strategize for the future.

The meeting this began with a recap of the April 3rd election. It was noted that it is clear that those who wish to move a Constitutional Amendment forward to ban domestic partnerships have no intention of stopping their religious crusade against Gay and Lesbian Alaskans. Indeed, even before the April 3rd “Advisory Vote” North Pole Representative John Coghill had all ready introduced an amendment, HJR 9, to the legislature. Coghill noted that he intended to move forward regardless of the outcome of the vote.

A recap from several who had attended that day’s hearing for HJR 9 before the House Judiciary Committee was provided as well. One person who had attended the House hearing noted that a member of the Judiciary Committee had requested an opinion from a state attorney on the amendment with which pro-amendment committee members where not happy. The attorney pointed out that the language and impact of the proposed amendment is so sweeping that changing the constitution may require a constitutional convention rather than public vote. It was mentioned that Representative Coghill took a confrontational approach toward members of the public who opposed his amendment.

Following introductory remarks the approximately 20 people in attendance broke-into groups which later reported back to the full group. The topics discussed in the subgroups where: providing support for families of people who are “coming out;” planning for visibility events this summer; long term strategies; and creating a web presence in the Interior, especially in the Bush.

Conclusions which came out of the subgroups included: reenergizing Fairbanks PFLAG, engaging in more aggressive efforts to strengthen ties with supportive Christian churches, finding ways to increase visibility of Lesbian and Gay events in the broader community and looking into bringing nationally known Lesbian and Gay leaders to Alaska for public events.

In past years the Fairbanks Lesbian/Gay community has held an annual Gay Pride event in June to commemorate the 1969 “Stonewall Rebellion.” It was noted that the Gay Pride Parade that accompanied the day’s events flew under the radar in the broader community. Seeking to create greater visibility in the Fairbanks community it was decided not to hold a Gay Pride Parade this year, but to make an entry in the annual Golden Days Parade followed by a “private” Lesbian/Gay community picnic. As one attendee noted, “We can have a Gay Pride Parade that maybe 100 people see, or walk in the Golden Days Parade and be viewed by 20,000.” Another attendee noted that those who choose to participate in Golden Days would have to be braced for heckling from some anti-Gay members of the community.

http://www.fairbanksopenradio.org/2007/4/20/alaskans-together-plans-for-future-of-interior-lesbian-gay-community

The subgroup that focused on long-term strategizing decided that the 20 minutes allotted to that evening’s discussion was not long enough and decided to meet again at 6:00 PM, this coming Tuesday, April 24th.

The meeting concluded by deciding it is important to hold another public meeting in May. The date and time to be determined.