Anti-Discrimination Battle Coming To A Head In Anchorage

As you may know, Anchorage is currently embroiled in battle against anti-gay discrimination.

In less than two weeks, the Alaskan city's residents will vote on whether to include sexual orientation and gender identity in its anti-discrimination ordinance. While equality advocates are optimistic about their odds of passing Proposition 5, the Los Angeles Times reports that conservative Christians are ramping up their opposition and that it may be a drag out fight:

Antidiscrimination advocates say a new initiative on the April 3 municipal ballot — gaining almost more attention in Alaska these days than the U.S. presidential race — has won unprecedented support from faith leaders, including the Episcopal bishop and some 50 other churches and religious groups.

Twice as many churches have mobilized to defeat the measure.

Now, thousands of dollars in contributions from grass-roots advocates on both sides, as well as from donors outside Alaska, are funding an onslaught of television and radio ads as Alaska becomes the latest front in the national debate over gay rights.

…

Critics have mobilized church congregations and gathered support from religious conservative groups outside Alaska to warn Anchorage residents that the ordinance could strike a blow to business owners and jeopardize religious freedom.

In a television commercial, they warned that a gay bar owner who wanted to hire gay waiters and a Christian bookstore owner who wanted to hire straight booksellers could both run afoul of the ordinance if it is passed.

“No. 1, we don’t believe that there is widespread discrimination that’s preventing gays and lesbians from having jobs and getting loans and housing. There’s ample evidence from those in the [gay and lesbian] community who say Anchorage is a very tolerant place,” said Jim Minnery of the Alaska Family Council, who is heading the No-on-5 Protect Anchorage campaign.

Journalist Kim Murphy concludes, "As the campaign goes into its final week, no one is betting confidently on passage." Sounds pretty dire. Anyone interested in learning more about Yes on 5, the equality initiative working to pass Anchorage's anti-discrimination measure, check out their website.

Anchorage, Alaska in Final Push Toward LGBT Anti-Discrimination Law

Dan Savage alerts us to a situation in Anchorage, Alaska, where they are trying to pass an equal rights initative on the ballot. protections they've been fighting for for 35 years.

Read Dan's whole post about it here.

He writes:

To combat the inevitable, last-minute anti-gay/anti-trans hate campaign, One Anchorage is raising money to get television ads on the air up here in the last weeks of the campaign. They're asking people to consider donating $35—one dollar for each year that Anchorage has been fighting for equality and basic civil rights protections. (There are no limits on campaign donations for initiatives up here, so if you're moved to donate $350 or $3500 or $3,500,000, please don't hesitate.) There's also the 35/35/35 Club: Ask 35 friends to donate $35 each. You can set up your own page at One Anchorage and you'll get a fundraising thermometer of your very own!

We scored major victories in California and Washington state this week. But the LGBT community in Anchorage is still struggling to achieve the most basic civil rights protections.

Anchorage, Alaska to Try for LGBT Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

Back in August 2009, you may recall, Anchorage, Alaska Mayor Dan Sulivan vetoed an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance passed by the Assembly. Sullivan said he hadn't seen any evidence of discrimination.

Now they're trying again, this time via the ballot, the Anchorage Daily News reports:

A local group -- One Anchorage -- filed an application Thursday that would put an initiative on the April 2012 municipal election ballot asking voters to ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people...

...As it stands, the anti-discrimination ordinance already makes it illegal to withhold housing, employment and other opportunities based on race, gender, age, religion, marital status, or physical and mental disability. One Anchorage wants voters to add "sexual orientation or transgender identity" to the list, said the group's spokesman, Trevor Storrs.

"It's a new name for a very old cause that we've all been working toward, which is the same legal protections for all. It's been going on for decades," Storrs said. "What this initiative does is ensures that the gay and transgender Alaskans, who work hard and play by the rules, will have the exact same legal protections as any other Anchorage resident."

Person Killed At Alaskan Gay Pride Parade

It appears as if the pedestrian was killed in a tragic accident this morning that involved the car carrying the parade's grand marshal. The AP reports:

Anchorage police Lt. Dave Parker said the 50-year-old man who was killed was participating in the Celebrating Diversity Parade. He said the car accelerated and ran over the man just minutes after the parade scheduled for 11 a.m. started. Officers "immediately started CPR, but were not able to revive him," Parker said. "He was declared deceased at the scene." Police questioned the driver and authorities were trying to determine whether the collision was caused by mechanical failure or driver error. There was no indication that alcohol was involved. Grand marshal Doug Frank told the Anchorage Daily News that the convertible's driver had trouble with the car's accelerator. "It ran over a person, totally over," Frank said, sobbing. "This went from one of the best days of my life to the worst."

The parade was immediately canceled following the accident.

The Alska Dispatch has printed an eyewitness account on what may have caused the crash: "According to people participating in the event, the driver of parade grand marshal Doug Frank's convertible did not know how to operate the car's stick-shift. A witness called it an "irresponsible" decision that left a woman dead and ruined a day of celebration for Alaska's queer communities."

While the AP has said the victim is male, other sources report that the person's gender at this time remains unconfirmed.

(Above photo courtesy of the Anchorage Daily News)

Arson Suspected In Gay Pride Float Fire

A gay pride float built by a married couple each year for the gay group the Imperial Court of All Alaska has been destroyed in what the Anchorage Fire Department is calling a suspicious fire. The float was slated to be part of the city's 4th of July parade. Neighbors claim to have seen someone running from the scene just before the fire.

The builders, a husband and wife team, plan to use ash and pieces of scorched remains to create a new float for tomorrow's parade which they'll call "Phoenix Rising." 

Watch a news report about the fire AFTER THE JUMP.

Photo via the Anchorage Daily News.

News: Gerard Butler, Gay Adoption, Dominick Dunne, Anchorage

Florida ban on gay adoption goes before appeals court.

Summer of loss: Writer Dominick Dunne, songwriter Ellie Greenwich die.

Trial resumes for killers of South African lesbian football star Eudy Simelane, targeted with "corrective rape" and stabbed to death because of her sexuality: "Men are unemployed and feel traditional male preserves — such as football or drinking in a bar — are under attack. That was Eudy’s crime. An aggravating factor was that she did not look like a typical female. People are just getting killed here because they are different, like HIV-positive people have been killed in the past. What is important is to get a verdict which includes murder."

Gerard Butler and his pug Lolita in doggie dust-up.

Dueling dot-coms battle for .gay domain address.

State senator Ed Murray mulling write-in campaign in Seattle mayoral race.

Lesbian Houston City Controller Annise Parker is among top contenders in mayoral race: "She’s the most experienced, most well-known candidate in the race, but the anti-gay far right knows this too, so we fully expect them to use her sexual orientation to divide and distract the voters. We’re preparing for that."

Ed Westwick hangs out with his Gossip Girl gay kiss recipient Neal Bledsoe.

Tom Ford's London home on the market.

Advocate interviews gay men who created Miley Cyrus 'Party in the USA' Fire Island video.

New Jersey Catholic bishops launch campaign against marriage equality.

Celestia is back and crazier than ever.

Kylie Minogue talks about first North American tour with Black Book magazine.

Freelance writer goes undercover at "ex-gay" seminar.

Russian lesbians protest postponement of court hearing over marriage challenge with a kiss: "Ms Fedotova-Fet and Ms Shipitko applied to marry at a Moscow registry office in May, but were refused on the grounds that same-sex marriage is illegal in Russia. The couple argue that Russian law does not forbid such a union. A court ruled the refusal was legal and their complaint would be heard today."

First online gay rights and support group formed in the Maldives. Official site.

Afton, Minnesota home targeted with anti-gay graffiti.

Gay High Line founder Robert Hammond rewarded handsomely by board of directors.

In Anchorage, it looks unlikely that the Assembly will move to override the veto of a gay rights ordinance by Mayor Dan Sullivan: "The first opportunity for the Anchorage Assembly to override Mayor Dan Sullivan’s veto of an ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation went by Tuesday night without action."