MatSu LGBT Community

The "T-word".

2012-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hi There!

OK, gotta make a post on this. I have become more than aware this last week of swirling controversy over use of the word "tranny". with the visibility of Transfolk growing thanks to the internet, there is more awareness of Transpeople in cis-gendered circles (ie. those who aren't transfolk, or "normal" if you will). That's good so far as it goes.
Problem is, we transpeople live in a world that is made for cis-gendered people. The majority rules in this case, and the majority of our fellow people see the world as a gender binary place. Male or Female. I'm not judging here, just reporting a fact.
Thing is, Tranfolk are a bunch of odd ducks. We sit on the shoulders of the bell curve in our building of self-identies. Having to struggle with our individual identities, we tend to develop a lot of insecurity, probably a bit more than our fair share.
Of course there are plenty of well-adjusted Transfolk out there. I like to think of myself as one, but I'm not without my fears. Being pre-op there's always a bit of concern that I'm gong to run into the odd fool who gives me crap when I go potty, or the cop that pulls me over for a traffic violation then proceeds to violate my civil rights. Problem is, I understand that these are semi-rational fears. The probabilities of that happening are along the lines of getting run over by a battleship. Possible, but not likely.
So, I harbor fears that people are just all kinds of ready to gang up on me and tear me apart like Pentheus at the Bacchanal. I know that it's not likely to happen, but the fact that it's a non-zero possibility does sit over my head sometimes. And I see that it sits over other heads too.
That's kinda the problem with discrimination, the fact that real victimization occurs generates the fear of victimization, and unchecked, the victim turns that fear back into reality, seeing discrimination where it doesn't exist. The reality of discrimination is real, don't get me wrong. Transpeople get hit with little tastes of it all too often, and I've lost one dear friend to it.
But I can't go around looking over my shoulder or being afraid of my own shadow. That isn't why I came out, but rather the reverse. I'm glad to be me, and I won't let the fear that someone else doesn't like it stop me. That's the road to self destruction.
Yeah, I want to be liked and loved and treated respectfully by EVERYBODY, and I'm a realist enough to know that it won't happen. I'm liberal enough to allow the jerks and the turds of the world have thier asinine opinions because it's thier right to do so. There are laws that protect me from most gross abuses, and even though I've been hurt with words (I find being called "it" most objectionable) I have on occasion been able to say; Hey, that's thier insecurities lashing out, it's not about me.
And that's the truth of the matter. Anyone who accosts me with words (or fists even) does so out of thier own dark shadowed soul. I am secure enough in who I am to know I'm not some kind of freakish alien. None of us are.
Back to "Tranny". Some people are convinced that tranny is a slur. I don't think it is and here's why; Tranny is a diminutive of transexual, the suffix -y, derived from the Old English -ge denotes an intensification of the word to which it's added. One shortens the four syllable word transexual into a two syllable version trann-y the -y indicating that no loss of the aspects that go into transexual has occured.
That's it. There isn't anything demeaning in "tranny" that isn't there in "transexual".
The only issue here is usage. Some people spin the word into a verbal attack, implying what? that somehow to be a transperson is to be "less-than"? Screw that. This is my word.
Call me an "it" if you want to insult me, because that's what you want to imply anyway, that I'm not a person, and not as good as you. But if you say it, know that I secretly am aware that YOU are the one who's got the problem. It's you who are uncomfortable, offended, SCARED of me. I'm not going to let you turn that table and victimize me. I'm going to dial 911, and I'm going to hold my head high. I'm a human being, and I'm a woman, and you don't have to like it, but you aren't going to change it.
Have a nice day!
Brianne

2012-01-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

Hi There Reader!

It's Saturday Night, and I'm sitting with the notebook at the dining table with a hot cuppa tea and a bag of popcorn, racking my bean to come up with a worthwhile post.
I'm looking forward to going to my Church tomorrow morning. I can't imagine a more wonderful and fun way to spend my morning than among the brilliant congregation of Palmer's Church of the Covenant. While I'm not big on the going out in the cold thing, it's worth it to hang out and praise my blessings from Heaven with the intellectual, and well read, and accepting group there.
And that's what sets it apart, the intellectual, literate approach to the bible. One that places the human stories about God, the mythology and the history, into it's proper context and therefore allows us to see something besides mere Bibliotry.
The old testament is fascinating as a window on a cruel and violent world, but the New Testament is something else. It's the crux, if you will, of the idea of Civilization
Jesus expresses it as; Love God, Love your nieghbor, and love your enemy as though they were family. Jesus tells the wealthy over and over again to give it away, share, and be free of it. He tells us that judging others is a wicked business to get into. That the proper business of mankind is the loving care of each other.
To be a Christian is to accept unconditional love from God, and then, to share it UNCONDITIONALLY with everyone else. A true Christian, one I would call a real follower of Jesus, sees the web of interdependence of all living things. Is obligated to reach out to those others despise, those labeled as wicked, and unlovable. The mean and the ugly and the abusive with all our powers of healing. There is no room for condemnation in the Kingdom of Heaven. No labels that divide and dehumanize.
There is no room for twisting Justice into Vengeance. No excuse for killing.
Living up to the Kingdom is hard. I have to admit a heart that throbs for revenge. I'm often petty, and I condemn those on the Right of the political spectrum more easily than I'm willing to listen to the concerns. This isn't the way to the Utopia.
In today's cynical, war torn, over-commercialized and downright corrupt world, we've come to laugh at Utopian visions. But that's what the Kingdom is. Utopia. Christianity is Utopian. A endless table of friends where one is warm, well fed, happy, and safe just being yourself. That's the good news. The concept of a free democratic and safe world.
It's a world we will find once we conquer our inner fear of others, of government, of foreignness, of the unfamiliar. It's the promise of the Rainbow. But it is for us and must be built by us.
Blessings to you. May you be well, find joy, and see the beauty around you today.
Brianne

Another rambly post

2011-12-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

Good Morning! It's -freeze-your-butt-into-an-ice-block Cold here today. The kind of deep cold that oozes through the windows like a heavy tentacled monster. Thank goodness for electric heat, hot coffee, and fuzzy slippers!
I'm up a little early, so I have time to read the news, do some blogging, drink my AM Coffee, and get my brain up and running for the day.
It was interesting yesterday at the Glbt (Giblet) Coffee, as we got a phone call on Vagabond Blue's landline from a person wanting information. I must thank Phyllis at Identity for helping people find us.
OK, so we don't have tons of people flocking to get in the door. At least VB doesn't have to hire bouncers to sort out who can come in and who gets turned away!

In today's news is a story of a Trans teenager who's been VERY naughty. click here to see it. The gist is Kerry Marshall misused her gender identity to commit criminal fraud. It's wrong. And now that she's been caught she will face the legal system. Natural Consequences.
But I feel for her. Transition surgeries like SRS are very expensive, and for under-employed young people the price tag can be very daunting. Impatience got the better of Kerry's good sense I guess.
In the modern world the imaginary "ideal" TV family is pretty much gone. Dad usually doesn't have the luxury of a 40 hour a week job with affordable health care for his family that supports all thier needs and a few luxuries, while Mom takes care of the house, handles the social interaction and oversees the child rearing to be sure that kids are brought up with some common sense and civilized coping skills.
That kind of life style, where a family has two sensible adults taking responsibility for child rearing and laboring to turn thier young people into Responsible members of thier community has taken a hit in the past decades. The obvious result is a generation of adults who are lost. They grope for direction in life. They lack endurance, are filled with impatience, and haven't learned to let go of selfish behaviors as inherently unhappy making in the long run. They yearn for escape from a world that seems harsh, cruel, unfair, and beyond thier control. They yearn for security, and for someone to fix thier out of control lives, while selfishly resenting any real help that might be offered.
The problem is, there never has been a Utopian world of 9 to 5 well paying jobs with benefits. Yes, there have been jobs, and periods in the mid Century where there were quite a few of them, but there weren't so many out there that everyone had one. The real world isn't Donna Reed, Leave it to Beaver, and Father Knows Best. It never was.
Yet I find that the core beliefs of many of the most conservative right wingers I know is grounded in this black and white TV fantasy world. They are convinced that life really was this way. The are blind to the real mid century world. The Jim Crow laws, the unfair and sometimes brutal treatment of women, minorities, and gays in the public sphere. In fact, the brutality of the Government in many places was so normal that it didn't deserve comment.
They are blind to the fact that the ideal lifestyle as seen on TV is the product of Communists and Socialists, and Unionists. Of people willing to put thier actual LIVES on the picket line. Real American Heroes like Big Bill Haywood, Charles Moyer, Eugene V. Debs, Margaret Dreier Robins, folks who spoke up, even if it meant a fight, losing thier homes and work.
There was optimism, hope, and a willingness to work for a better day. Where did it go?
Today, as I sit and type, I'm aware that many of my generation have lost all hopefulness, all optimism. They embrace a philosophy of Doom. they see the modern political landscape through lenses of ennui. The idea that the individual cannot influence the government has been successfully implanted by huge economic interests, and nourished by media and politician alike. So much chaos!
I don't know how to fix the world. I do know that the future is still in our hands to shape. All it takes is the willingness to be guided by principles and beliefs that put the well being of the whole Community before the pleasure of the private person. It will take a modicum of discipline as well.
But mostly it will take will, the will to set aside one's own private desires to work towards a future that fulfills the needs of us all. Once that future is obtained, our true needs get naturally fulfilled. The need for love, for being respected, being valued. Our need to be a part of something greater than ourselves.
It's a Christian promise. A Buddhist ideal as well.
It is the essence of "Do unto others". The heart of it is Lovingkindness, rooted in a willingness to give without demanding a return. Giving without resentment or reservation. This kind of giving is just like planting seeds. The little tiny bit you reach out and let go of, takes root in the soil and grows, returning far more that was given.
We humans and Americans have been good at fumbling through history. I expect we will continue to do so for quite a long time to come. And in doing so, I expect we will see the true American Heritage bequeath to the world something wonderful. It's slow evolution to a truly free society of individuals. The pursuit of a more than transitory happiness, a Sublime well-being replacing the mere self-indulgence of sensual pleasure. Why not?
It is our duty to the future to toil for a better world. And it's our pleasure to do so, for when we quit, give up, and descend into hedonism, selfishness, and self pity, and self seeking we humans become deeply unhappy.
I am grateful to all the hard working people who will make my day happen. The workers I'll never know who are behind my electric power, my hot shower, my home. The guys who put in the Traffic Lights, grew my food, made my plastics.
and I'm grateful I chose not to follow Ms. Marshal's path.
Brianne

more blah blah.

2011-12-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hi there Gentle Reader!

I just wanted to put a new post on to let folks know the MatSu Coffee is still merrily limping along!
I saw this article today, and wanted to post a link to it as it's about Trans-violence. I feel strongly that "violence is the last resort of the incompetent" in Heinlein's words. But everyone is only human, lord knows in my own life I've resorted to it out of frustration, anger, and so on.
It was long ago, and my lashing out was provoked by a history of being abused by my peers and parts of the Family. No one said being on the edges of the societal bell curve would be easy (that's a way of saying "not normal"). Nevertheless, I repent of it. It made me feel as mean and horrible as I thought my tormentors were. I don't like that feeling, it shames me. I want to be a better person than that. I don't want to roll over and be a door mat, and I believe in turning the other cheek, but I only have 4 to turn, the fifth one...well...
That's where Assertiveness Training comes in. When confronted with hate, discrimination, and anger I've learned that keeping to Assertive principles usually defuses the situation and counters the efforts of others to provoke me.
Well here's the link to the article I read this morning. I don't have a link to the video yet, and don't really want to watch it. Who needs to see the mess?
Keep up a positive and constructive attitude, pray for knowledge, set aside self-pity, meditate, and do good to others who would hurt you, and your life will be much better. My bitterest life lessons have turned out well in the long run.
Gentle Readers, if you are having trouble, keep in mind your problems are temporary -they probably seem insurmountable and inescapable, but there are solutions to them out there, and 10 years from now you might not even remember them! Stay safe and well
-Brianne!

A Heritical Christian speaks out.

2011-12-13T21:25:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I'm upset a bit. The Macy's Natalie Johnson thing makes me wonder if the Far Right hasn't decided to shift the onus of it's hate campaign away from the increasingly socially acceptable Gay and Lesbian community onto the more "hate-able" Transgendered community.

Some "versions" of Christianity hold that we humans ought to fear God. That somehow the Highest Creative Force in the universe is a mean and hating bastard. A god whose worshipers are in daily imminent danger of losing thier souls, of being punished for sins, and generally at risk of spending eternity squirming and suffering in Hell. Thing is, that fear is fantastic!
"Fantastic"? you say. How on earth can that be a good thing? It's simple. Fearful people are willing to buy thier way clear of a painful eternity. Pass that plate is a driving mentality of the same far right preaching community that wants to perpetuate itself with fear mongering and hate. These people cloak the evil fear and hate they spew with names like "Focus on the Family", and "Liberty Council". Well who doesn't love and appreciate Family, and Liberty? How can you possibly disagree with people who love liberty and family?
Except these people pretty clearly don't love them. They apparently do love power, they love huge shiny cars, and massive fancy churches, equipped with round the clock sermons (or fleecing s) and little green/yellow/red lights to tell the rent-a-minister when to wrap up his drivel.
They are bent into paroxysms of of hate, fear, and punishment. They write books teaching parents a abusive mode of child rearing both repugnant to Lovingkindness focused Christians and down right immoral. Books such as;

Bringing Up Boys, Paperback Edition

By: Dr. James Dobson

Dr. Dobson's Doctorate isn't a religion doctorate, it's a Child Psychology honorary doctorate quite questionable in it's validity. A position he used to torment young Gay and Lesbian children, and put the "fear of God" into his fragile charges. a figure all the more threatening as he controls a massive powerblock of "Faith Based" organizations that move large amounts of political money around. In addition his son in law, with his financial backing has raised a private army called "Blackwater Security". These people have been guilty of atrocities in Iraq and Afganhistan . This private army frankly scares me. They require a political oath to join, wrap themselves in the American Flag, and have the money and political far right sponsorship that makes them a great candidate for the nucleus of a right wing armed insurrection. But that's a post for another day.

Fact is, I don't believe Christianity is about being afraid. God Loves humankind. He is the ultimate creator god, delighting in our diversities, our uniqueness, and our own expressions of creativity. In my personal theology God made us to love, and that REQUIRES free will (after all, with no choice to not-love, how can it truely be love? Love is all about volition). So, we are made to love, and we are made to create, and in order to create he made us curious. God loves curiosity and creativity when those gifts are used for bringing love and well being to the universe then we are that much closer to God. In Carl Sagan's words "We are the Universe's way of knowing itself" And to my mind, God is the alpha and omega, the sum total of all things knowable and mysterious, and his many people are motes of consciousness within himself. God knows and loves because we learn and love.
And what is love? I don't know all the ins and outs of love. I doubt I ever will. But when find myself filled with hateful feelings, cursing people, or want to hurt them - it's an act of fear and not love. Fear is human too, but I believe that we trancend mere humanity and move into the realm of being "civilized" when we can bridge our fearful hates, come to see where others are coming from, then offer them comfort and help. j
But can we do that before our Union tears itself apart? Before we allow Megacorporations, and Faith based initiatives to rot away the protections of the Constitution, and rewrite the balance of powers that made America the face of a "New World Order" in 1776. The idea that EVERYONE is equal. EVERYONE deserves to live in a way that is most pleasing to them so long as it's not stomping on thier neighbors. No Religion may be paramount in this country, No religion may be favored by the government.
The reason I find DOMA a travesty is that it IS a religious proscription. It is saying that the Judeao-Christian-Muslim view of marriage is the only one this country can have. What other grounds can it be defended upon save religious ones? It is a law respecting religion, and that IS unconstitutional, since the congress Cannot make any law respecting religion.
Doma will fail. To be a free union the people must be free to associate in the way that is most pleasing to them and thier own conscience. It's our highest calling as Christians and Americans to increase the freedom of each other, restricting it only where freedom of action restricts another person,s reaching grasp for fulfillment and happiness. In short we must grant everyone the right to wave thier arms about as they wish, so long as they aren't using that freedom to punch others in the nose.
And Doma is a nose punch.
Right wing Christians like punching Noses.
and Natalie Johnson's action was a Nose Punch below the belt.
Shame on her, Shame on Dobson, but forgiveness and compassion to them also. May they find wellness, happiness, and freedom from harm in My United States of America!
May we all find it.
-Brianne

Not much on my mind today

2011-12-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

Hi there,
I'm glad you've joined me for yet another post Wednesday ramble! On my mind is this interesting item;

http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressreleases/2011/12/20852/

It's nice to see the Wacky Right is flailing around. These people are a goose step, and a few nuts and bolts away from tearing apart the Union in my opinion. My prayer is that enough normal people spot the nuttiness before it's too late.

Fox "news" is making me laugh again, The latest Muppet Movie is, according to them, an attempt at Communist Child Subversion... http://tv.yahoo.com/news/fox-accuses-muppets-brainwashing-kids-165944980.html

Planet Transgender is a blog by Kelli Anne Busey and you can see it here; http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/ She has interesting things sometimes that I don't see on Bent or other LBGT places.

Caf Night on Wednesday was fun! The usual suspects for the most part, but it's great to get out of the hut for a while and see how Palmer looks at Christmas.

Well, till I can think of something I really need to say, ciao!
Brianne

Thursnight

2011-12-01T20:35:00.001-08:00

Hi there.
I spent a bit of time on Yahoo! news and Facebook. Thought I'd share a few things that caught my eye.

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/12/01/georgia-appeals-court-leaning-in-favor-of-transgender-woman-fired-by-state/

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upshot/student-questions-bachmann-gay-rights-220036387.html

http://www.afterelton.com/tv/2011/11/the-sing-off-removes-trevor-project-reference-pentatonix

http://front.moveon.org/two-lesbians-raised-a-baby-and-this-is-what-they-got/#.TthOonMUCod.facebook

I'll let you check his out

The Procrastinator!

2011-11-28T17:17:00.000-08:00

Well among my many many character defects I must list Procrastination. I have been needing to post a correction for several days now. Here's the Correction; our own dear Rachel Runyon - doesn't exist. It's my fault actually. I've been corrected before. And probably more than once.
Nevertheless, Ms. Runyon is a non-person, because the wonderful woman I MEAN to be referring to is Ms. Rachel Runyan. That's R.U.N.Y. *A* N. Ug. So I'm humbled again. Beware of Pride and the Ignorance of Assumption! I should always double check my facts, I didn't, and I'm embarrassed as hell. Sorry Rachel!

Well, I've been way busy of late. It's THE SEASON, which for me means Crafting Season. As I'm typing this, I'm also quite literally watching paint dry. I have sewing, cross-stitching and soldiers to paint. I am still behind on my dollhouse, it is over there begging me to finish the touch-ups...

As for LBGT stuff this week...

Well if you are a Valley Giblet like me, you might wonder where you could go to meet other giblets without having to drive to Anchorage. Well, look no farther! The LBGT Community (in the persons of myself, Rachel Runyan, my partner Debbie, and the lovely Miss Julie) will be at Vagabond Blues at 5pm on Wednesday to host the MatSu Giblet Coffee. It's just a bunch of friends getting together to shoot the bull. (well, actually I've never shot a bull, and we don't bring guns to coffee...I think...) We cordially welcome you on in. Look for the Rainbow Flags!

If you want some intellectual/spiritual perking up you might go to the Sunday 9:30 am discussion group at the Church of the Covenant, 415 S. Bailey, Palmer Ak. Don't worry, they are an Evergreen Association, American Baptist Congregation devoted to Social Justice, Marriage Equality, Community Service, and entirely open and accepting. It's a fabulous group of people in a progressive, and safe, great place right here in Palmer! I regularly attend the Sunday 11 o'clock service too! (You know it's a great church, they have the tree of life hand painted on the floor, and a forest in the potty...)

Now my head is empty, I should probably be sure to send you off to Bent Alaska's site for news... http://www.bentalaska.com/

Huggs to all,
Brianne!

ps. If you noticed something changed...I did it again. UGH! A is not O. A is not O, A is not O, A is not O, A is not O...

I'm stuffed!

2011-11-23T22:26:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night has rolled around again, and it's been a lovely time! Ginger Ale at Vagabond's was festive. After schmoozing at the coffee shop we adjourned to Athena's over by the Noisy Goose for a bit of sustenance. I really should get advertising pay for all the great things I can say about them. Let me simply say the food was terrific, and you certainly won't starve... (we're talking HUGE...) McLarge Huge. I got a Calzone that should require a ship's Pilot license to serve!
I'm so full as I write this, that I can't see how I can possibly think about having Turkey tomorrow...
Which brings me to Thanksgiving. Now I'm the sort of person that really hates to read all those "10 things I'm grateful for" lists that go up on Facebook, or come into my Inbox, and so I'm not going to subject you, my dear reader, to any syruppy, nostalgic rambling.
I'm going to say that many people worked thier butts off, and we got DADT repealed this year. Thank you people!
I want to Thank Rachel Runyon for the amazing things she's done for the Alaskan Community this year, You are a most appreciated girl!
Identity Inc's hard work needs our appreciation and support, Thank you Identity, and thanks to Phyllis for supporting the WHOLE lbgt community every day.
The people at Bent who keep us up to date deserve our thanks too.
We live in a world which is sometimes disappointing, but nonetheless I am glad to live in it because there are so very many people who go out of their way to help others, and who have helped me. That makes it sweet to live here. So a big Thank you to all of you. And Hugs and Kisses to my ultra supportive Partner Debbie, Thank you Dearheart, I love you!

Brianne

Transgender day of remembrance

2011-11-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

Once again it's the 20th of November. For most people that means we are just 4 days from Thanksgiving. For others it's a football Sunday. For me it's a solemn day, The Day of Remembrance, heavy with the memory of Chloe Nicole Caldwell, a beautiful 21 year old who took her own life because the difficulties of coming out as a trans-gendered woman were too much for her. I, and others, miss her.

Her sad story is just one of the many. In her case, her life was taken by her own hand, and yet I think, in a fashion it was also a murder, by fear, pain, and hopelessness, of isolation, a murder that might have been changed had others really reached out to her, helped her see the love and joy, as in a mirror, that she gave others, and that was returned.

That's the reality though, too often the only reaching out done to transgendered people is in the shape of a hand, a "speak to the hand" silence, a rejection, or worse even a fist. It's real danger, Transfolk are murdered regularly, and there are many more that endure rape, beatings, "accidents", bullying, mugging, and god knows how many other degradations to thier personhood .
That generates fear. Fear is the constant shadow of too many transfolk. It was Chloe's shadow, her dark murdering monster.
Now for most regular "straight" folk fear is normal and often it's healthy, it keeps us out of dangerous situations, yet for transfolk, we live IN a dangerous situation every day. For a transwoman like me, fear stalks in big and small ways. I fear being read and outed in public because I know there are some who hate and fear transpeople.
It's sad, even awful to me that People have been taught to fear me, to think that in some way I am dangerous. Some people have odd notions of what being a transwoman means, often dark notions. and that's a pity. I don't expect everyone to like me, or to like transpeople in general, but I am not dangerous, and I don't ever want to hurt anyone. That's a simple statement of fact, and here's another; I don't want to change my sex, I want to live my everyday life as me. For whatever reason the Creator saw fit to put a mind suited for a woman, into the body of a ...male. Perhaps it is biological, a thing out of my control, a matter of the timing of hormone expressions in my fetus self, perhaps it was induced by medications my mother took. Perhaps I am simply cross wired, or chemically altered in the brain in some way, or perhaps my Spirit, my soul, is simply Brianne, a normal woman. It doesn't really matter, I am a woman, I cannot be a man because it doesn't fit. Living in a man's body is like wearing an ill-fitting coat. If there was no way to change it, I couldn't have hope. I am simply not wired properly upstairs to act in the social role of a male in this world.
That's OK. I believe that I am part of God's plan, her/his world. Yes, I am unusual, of the 7 billion people in the world, I'm a queer oddity. I'd guess there's only a few million of people like me on earth. If I were an oyster, I'd be the one with the pearl (which is not a good thing if you are an oyster is it?) In the world of collecting, it's the odd ones that are the most valuable, the poster with the wrong color, the stamp printed upside down, the matchbox car with the wrong package, or the star-wars figure painted "off-model". I'm sure you can think of other things that have value and are considered beautiful only (4 leaf clover?) because they are different. I am different.
Yet different from the "mean",(the mathematical concept related to a bell-curve illustration describing where the majority of a certain quality collects or congregates) means I am, among people, an object of fear.
That's sad.
Even more sad is that the fear of Transgendered people is often so great in some people that it makes it OK to hurt us. We become ,in those eyes, something not really human. I can't change other people. There will always be someone out there whose heart is filled with violence and pain enough that they need to hurt someone else. There will also always be "average" people. People who might have sympathy and compassion enough to intervene in the worlds affairs in a positive way. I hope I reach some of them with this blog post.
I am reaching out to share my human-ness. to encourage you to view the wounded and slain and raped women and men near you with compassion and love. to set down fear and see us all as family and neighbors trying to get by. Just as you are.
Acceptance, acknowledgement, Walk in our shoes, take a moment to talk to us, do not try to preach us out of our choice to express what we truly are. See us at face value. If you should "read" a transperson, be honest, kind, and simply accept us as we are, for we are simply people trying to do the best we can in this ol' world - exactly like you are.
This is the treatment that builds trust, and trust gives hope. That defeats fear. Hope, love, compassion - it's for everyone, and that willingness to share someone's moccasins just a little bit can save a life. I know it, because it is exactly what changed mine, and saved me from suicide.
Perhaps some day there will be a black wall, a monument to the murdered, the suicides, the raped, and tortured transpeople who are the shoulders we stand on trying to reach for fairness and equality and balance - for hope. But I would rather it be a garden. Because one thing CAN come from remembering the dead, and I mean all people that have passed from violence whatever thier gender - and that thing is hope. it is love, it is equality before the law, and the privilege of living each day in the sunshine of the soul, free of gray shadow of fear because we know we can trust everyday people to treat us with respect. It is happening before our eyes. So as I remember Chloe, I also take joy in today. This day I was not afraid. I spent it with others who love me. I give thanks because I know if I am in trouble I have wonderful people to reach out to knowing that they love me just as I am.
So please, be loving and kind to someone today. A friendly smile, an arm, a holding of the door, a polite word of praise. THAT can change the world for the better. Go a little out of the way for someone today. It's healing for the soul. Everyone's soul. It's even pretty easy to do.
Help make an environment in which we can trust our voice will be heard, and in which we know we are equal to you. That's the environment that withers hatred, and it crushes fear. Nourish someone today and you might just be the difference between a life and a death.
That's all I really hope for. That's the direction I know we are slowly moving. I was once alone, afraid and lonely. A stranger went out of thier way to see me, and as we both grew from the encounter, I found a glimmer in my darkness that saved my life. Therefore I KNOW that compassion saves lives and makes them better. It breaches the wall of fear that separates people with different ideologies, religions, beliefs. and that's the world I want to live in. That's the world where the flowers of wellness and prosperity and joy will bloom.
-Brianne

Transgender day of remembrance

2011-11-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rUhZzvBiv4Y
Hey all,

Sunday
is TGDOR, Trogdor!!

a quiet monday evening.

2011-11-14T20:51:00.000-08:00

So I'm on the couch in the Living Room, splitting my attentions between Barbie as Rapunzel on the TV screen, Debbie wiggling her toes in her recliner/rocking chair, and the weener-dog whose whole demeanor seems to be "I'm sad. so sad. food?"
I must admit I do like my Barbie movies. They aren't art, but hey, I needed something comfortable, sweet, and nice this evening. "Family" entertainment.
I can't really say why, but I feel sort of emotional lately. I'm moody, and the weather sucks, having gone cold, snowy and wintry. It will be around zero degrees F. come Wednesday according to forecasts. To me that means a knife in my knee joints and iron rusticles in my back-bone. YUCK!
The good news for me is that tonight I should be able to get some electrolysis in after the movie! Every hair gone makes me feel happier. I long for the day I no longer have to shave before I dare going out in public. I think I have developed some sympathy for poor werewolves!
It's one of the hardest parts of my transition right now, shaving. I've never been good at it, it takes me nearly half an hour or more to get a good close shave, and there's always blood. Add to that my skin is sensitive, and my little curly que hairs ingrow like a keratin corkscrew... ow.
Not that electrolysis doesn't hurt... it can be a bit uncomfortable sometimes (like when you bump the machine and the power knob accidentally goes to "full"). I am still wincing about that one. Just a hint: if you hear frying bacon, the current is too hot.
Every hair that slides out root and all is a victory to me. It's somehow a baby-step to being able to look in the mirror and not feel deformed, ugly, and wretched.
Body image is my nightmare, it always has been. I felt ugly and fat, and deformed when I was a child. Today, it's better, it's easier to live with myself, but I still battle the mirror in my mind. If it wasn't for my 12 step group, therapy, and my loving and supportive friends; people like Rachel, and Julie, and Sparky, I would have long ago given up. So I'm grateful that I have my gifts, that is, my friends. People who have been through hell, and haven't given up.

There's a lot of heroism in the LBGT community!
In this season of thanksgiving, I am honoring those who have given. There's a lot of them. People like Phyllis Rhodes at Identity, Howard Bess, Rachel Runyon, Anja Gensel, Jamey Duhamel, Jaime Rodriegez, George Takei, Janis (I with-hold her last name for anonymity's sake), and on and on. These folks are heroes and role models. I'm grateful that I have been blessed with walking the same world as they. I urge anyone who feels alone, left behind, ugly, unwanted, friendless... look around you. There are wonderful people everywhere. You might even consider coming to the Matsu Valley LBGT Community Coffee, 5pm every Wednesday evening and meeting some of mine.

Hi There!

2011-11-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here I am, at Vagabond Blues with the girls. It's a perfect hot coffee evening. Cold, with cold and some cold outside, plus the typical freezing winter wind.
Thank Goodness for the rainbow flags, they are giving nice color to the table.
Debbie went next door and bought me a lovely pink and lime sparkle rose ring! I love the Sidekicks store!
My coffee is delicious, just an Americanno, black. My favorite! The discussion has wandered around, from HAM radio, to the pains of Physical Rehab, and the general LBGT community gossip. Finances, Doom and Gloom and hopes for the future.
My big question though is Where is the community? We are here regularly, and we are here for you. But community only works if individuals work together. We can't do good things for you if you don't come out. So get over here!
I'd hate to have to rename this the ex-Gay, lesbian, and transgender community coffee.
OK, hope to see you soon,
Brianne!

Another Wednesday Meeting

2011-10-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hi there folks,
Wednesday's Vagabond Blues meeting was small, but fun. We ushered in the Winter with frappes and iced coffee.
Ms Rachel was getting around pretty well on that new hip. She's Bionic-awesome!
Sadly, Julie wasn't able to make it (Stupid public office lines!). Bill did grace us with his presence though.
Most of the talk revolved around the joys of medicine and surgery, and Little Montoya's bid to join the girl scouts. Kudos to the Girl Scouts for supporting Transgendered kids. Looks like I've got a good excuse to buy the cookies now!
A few notes on the community. I spoke with Laura, prayers for her and her partner are welcomed, as said partner is back in the hospital.
Oh, and before I wrap up, I just want to say Thank you to Vagabond Blues for their tirelessly welcoming environment, and to The Noisy Goose for the best food in the Valley...outside my Debbie's Kitchen of course.

Pride in Other Places

2011-06-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post this little item, since it's pride week. Maybe it will remind us of where our rights as LBGT people would be without the hard work and risks of the people before us. And maybe to remind us all that those "bad old days" can be ahead again if we don't stay united.

Another lovely Wednesday

2011-06-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

The clouds were dark in Palmer today as we sat down to our weekly coffee. (I totally recommend the "Sludge", a hot mug of sludge with whipped cream is just the thing for a gray day!)
Our coffee circle was small, and most of the talk was actually about me, which happens when I go there with a partner who snitches my bad behavior to my best friend and mentor! Sheesh!
I brought the flags out, a small act, but one that I must admit I forget all to often. I know, it's my only responsibility besides actually showing up, I should plead the 5th now I think...
Of course the news of the day is mostly all the fun stuff going on in Anchorage for pride month. Identity, Bent, and Grrlzlist are all better than I at filling you in on that, use the links in the sidebar to know more.
Other than that there's not much to tell. Texas is gay hostile, New York is on the edge about gay marriage,
There's some news items I ran across on the net today; The gay debate in Texas, A Tranny who kisses and tells, One who's partner is in hot water, A lawsuit to get an SRS surgery on public moneys, And something nice; hope of having a baby for a lady who otherwise couldn't...

After some light gossip, heavy coffee, and a bit of sprinkly rain we adjurned.

still breathing.

2011-06-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

"I Ain't Dead jyet!"
That's probably something that needs saying since I've made so few posts lately.

I have to say there's so much good coverage of the Anchorage and State of Alaska gay community out there. Grrlzlist and Bent Alaska are doing bang up jobs. I'm amazed and inspired by them! Good work you guys!
As for the Matanuska Susitna Valley? well...

To be truthful, when I moved here I'd hoped I'd find resources such as; a weekly dance, clean and sober places to meet other LBGTish folks, gatherings of friendly people to watch movies and eat popcorn or pizza, maybe a Matsu LBGT chior that could by singing at various churches, be a goodwill ambassador to the community. Fundraising to benefit the Palmer/Wasilla/Biglake foodbanks and shelters. An LBGT friendly buisness or two brave enough to hang out the rainbow flag. At least on Pride day if no other time. Possibly even a small Lbgt bookstore- I don't mean a XXX "Adult" one either. (Not that I'm against them, I'm not)

{ed. note. Actually...it's odd to me that there isn't one here in the valley. I'd think the Valley would be great buyers of cheap sleezy porn, and vibrating latex appliances...}

Fact is, the valley does have one ongoing institution. For few years now there has been one weekly event for the LBGT community.
Actually I rather think of it as "Our" event. Only because I've been lucky to be a part of it. Each Wednesday at 5 pm a small group of the most amazing people I've known make it a point to show up to spend an hour or two chatting at Palmer's premier coffee spot - Vagabond Blues.
Yes, LBGT people, enjoying the company and words of other LBGT folks. Sitting up together proud and fearless. For years we've met there, and the staff has been unfailingly kind, and has treated us all like Royalty. In this valley there is certainly much fear and misunderstanding of what it is to be an LBGT person. But there is also much of kindness, of brotherly love, of caring here. There is much to welcome one in Palmer.
Yet it's strange to me. There are so many people here that certainly wrestle with thier identity as an LBGT member of the community. Many who hide themselves out of fear. Fear is still trapping so many of us in the closet.
I invite anyone, anyone at all, to take a step out of the closet, over to the best coffee place in dear old Palmer, and sit at a table of friends you haven't met yet.
Have a happy day!
Brianne

News and commentary this week

2011-01-21T16:22:00.001-08:00

Hi All!

Not much original to say, but there's a few items on Grrlz List that warrant repeating;

Hospital visitations required by feds
Federal regulations on hospital visitation took effect 1/18 that protect same-sex couples in hospital settings across the country. The new regulations apply to all hospitals receiving Medicaid and Medicare. Hospitals may not place any restrictions on visitation based on sexual orientation. In addition, the hospitals must inform each patient of his or her right to receive visitors designated by the patient, "including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member or a friend."

28. The Mat-Su LGBT Community Group
A social opportunity at the Vagabond Blues Coffee shop in Palmer. Come join us & have some great fun as we discuss LBGT issues in the valley. http://matsulgbt.blogspot.com/.

29. Carrie Newcomer performs in Palmer 3/27, 6:00 pm
Carrie Newcomer is an acclaimed musician who continues to create music from her uniquely spiritual & poignant take on the world. www.carrienewcomer.com. The concert: Vagabond Blues, www.centertix.net.

The Wednesday Coffee

2011-01-13T15:00:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone out there!
I have an exciting surprise for you, an UPDATE! a NEW POST! a return to my weekly ramblings about the Valley Giblet Community (Thanks Rachel!).
Wednesday was the traditional Valley LBGT Community Coffee at Vagabond blues in Palmer. As on every Wednesday our regulars convened over steamy cups of coffee like beverages and shared news and gossip about the goings on in the valley, Alaska generally, and the State of the Union.
I suppose our top subject was the state of the Anchorage Trans Community (fair), followed by the joys of winter (few), Passport photography, cold snowmachine runs to Dawson, life on Alaskan trails and the deep wilderness. Trucks and transmissions, subarus and the blackness of coffee.
Lastly, an exhortation: Community Coffee is open to everyone, and welcomes everyone. When you sit with us, you not only get the comradarie and comfort of like minded folks, a chance to make new friends, to share about the state of your world, and ideas for the future - you also provide a needed service to us. Without you, there is no us. No community. nothing. We who are gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual, friendly or unsure, remain invisible, and invisibility invites repression. So long as fear prevents you attending, you feed the public fear of us. You help give the impression that LBGT people are rare, and not like "us". It's only when our friends and aquaintances find that the people they live with, love, work with, and respect are also members of the LBGT community, that the wider community can put a face to us, and dispell the myths and false notions so common here in the Valley.
We are not perverts, child molesters, freaks, sickos, and nasty promiscuous panderers. But how can anyone think otherwise if they don't know us? When the wary become aware that "those" people are just people like themselves it becomes much harder to believe hateful rhetoric, and participate in discrimination.
Just showing up for coffee is all it takes, you win, we win, they win. So, think about it. Wednesday, 5pm, Vagabond Blues. It's your chance to make the world just a little bit better.
Have a great week,
Brianne!

'Nother quickie Post

2010-08-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

Hi hi!

Just heard the news about Prop 8. Yay! Although I admit to being fuzzy, the headline that Prop 8's been declared unconstitutional rocks. I suppose it will be fought up to the Supreme Court though. No worries! Good stuff comes to those who quietly chip away at the system.

Anyhow, still here and breathing!

-Brianne

I will Survive!

2010-07-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

Yes! I'm still around and busy in the valley! The center however has succumbed to community disinterest. We've had to close the empty bank account and shut off the phone. Perhaps it's simply not time for a community resource center up here. And I am dissapointed.
The good news; the Community concept isn't completely dead. Our LBGT community meetings will continue.

Every Wednesday at 5pm I will be showing the flag, literally, at Vagabond Blues in Palmer. We have been treated so well there I think they deserve a letter of thanks. So if you live in the valley and want to swell the ranks, show your support, meet new people, then come on out - join us, and enjoy the fun.

I'd like to apologize to anyone who has been hoping for an update here. I know it's been a very long time coming. Thank you so much for waiting. I don't have internet anymore so expect it to be a big gap between postings. I'll do my best for ya'll!

Brianne Elizabeth

Wednesday Coffee recap, and other neat stuff.

2009-07-16T09:16:00.001-07:00

Do you want to know some more about this Gay Pride Flag? and did you know the Rhinoceros was a Gay Pride emblem?

Good Morning (or whenever it is) to You!

Yesterday was the Wednesday coffee for July 15. Taylene, Chris, Denise, and Lisa, myself (of course), and a new guest, Don all attended! We now consider a meeting of 6 to be small! Wow, how far we've come here in the valley!

Some items that came up that everyone should be aware of; Taylene is nearly done with our letter to the Imperial Court. I hope that works out, an influx of cash is what we really need.

In order to fill our coffers a little bit more, Chris, Talyne, and I are thinking we should hold a spaghetti feed. I'm thinking a small fee 3, or 5$ or $10 at the door, and all you can eat, spaghetti, garlic bread, ice tea, etc. Proceeds benefit the Community Center. We will need copious advertisements to get the word out! I think we should do an ad in the community section of the Frontiersman, and also Craigslist.

Next; we are opening Support Groups!

Chris is undertaking a Men's Group scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 10th!

I will begin a Transfolk Support Group on the 6th of August. Right now I'm thinking we might meet at my apartment, since the AA meetings at the center might make T's feel too conspicuous. Post your ideas on that to the Community Center's Yahoo! Group?

CDs will be welcome in fem (or guy) mode, as well as transexuals. I hope it will be a great environment to discuss trans issues.

Paula, who has just joined us, is working out the details of a Women's Group, but no hard and fast data on that yet.

Taylene will restart the Choir on the 9th of September! Tune up your singing voices everyone! This is important as it's our best venue right now for reaching out to the Community! Anyone, good singers, or Shower singers, can come along and join the fun. There will be coffee tea and goofing off, in addition to serious work! Get your butt off the couch and involved in something, it's better than cold lonely winter nights! :)

And Now, The News:

By MICHELLE RINDELS, Associated Press Writer – Wed Jul 15, 11:33 pm ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Episcopal bishops authorized the church Wednesday to start drafting an official prayer for same-sex couples, another step toward acceptance of gay relationships that will deepen the rift between the denomination and its fellow Anglicans overseas.

The bishops voted 104-30 at the Episcopal General Convention to "collect and develop theological resources and liturgies" for blessing same-gender relationships, which would be considered at the next national meeting in 2012.

Would you like to know more?

More about the tragedy of Lateisha Green;

Witnesses: NY murder suspect used anti-gay slur

Wed Jul 15, 2:44 pm ET

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Two prosecution witnesses who were at a New York house party when a transgendered woman was murdered testified the man accused of the killing had directed an anti-gay slur at the victim.

Finish the Article?

On the Rainbow Lounge Police Raid;

New facts surface on gay bar raid

Previously intoxicated man sparked gay bar raid

Updated: Thursday, 16 Jul 2009, 10:56 AM CDT Published : Thursday, 16 Jul 2009, 10:56 AM CDT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - A police report indicates officers had observed an extremely intoxicated man leaving a Fort Worth gay bar two days before a raid at the Rainbow Lounge.

finish the article here.

Gay marriage opponents raise large sums

By Kevin Miller
BDN Staff

AUGUSTA, Maine — Groups on both sides of the debate over gay marriage in Maine are building massive campaign warchests in anticipation of a costly and emotional political campaign already drawing national attention and money.

More Here!

Citizen McConkey: a one-man battle against state's gay marriage ban

Judith Davidoff — 7/15/2009 1:29 pm

Bill McConkey's street cred as a straight man, as he finds himself reminding people these days, is ironclad.

More...?

At Bent Alaska; Sarah Palin's Top 10 Anti-LGBT Moments

I am Outraged. period.

2009-07-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

In Fort Worth Texas there has been an incident that seems depraved, sick, and exactly the sort of thing that can be fought only with Community Effort.

I'm going to quoted the whole Dan Savage post here;

Fort Worth Police Chief: That Faggot Had It Coming

posted by DAN SAVAGE on TUE, JUN 30, 2009 at 4:18 PM

Most residents of Fort Worth have never even seen the inside of a gay bar. Fort Worth's police chief Jeff Halstead is counting on that fact—counting on the average person's ignorance about gay bars and certain stereotypes about gay men—to get a half a dozen Forth Worth police officers off the hook for conducting a violent raid on a Forth Worth gay bar, the Rainbow Lounge, late last Saturday night. Seven men were arrested during the raid, which took place on the 40th anniversary of the raid on the Stonewall Inn that kick-started the modern gay rights movement, and one of those men—Chad Gibson—remains in intensive care with a brain injury. Gibson may not survive.

The officers who raided the Rainbow Lounge claim that the men in the bar made "advances" on them—and Forth Worth's police chief is backing them up:

Monday, police chief Jeff Halstead said the officers' actions are being investigated. However, he also said that officers that entered the bar during the scheduled inspection were touched inappropriately.
"You're touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar, that's offensive," he said. "I'm happy with the restraint used when they were contacted like that."

Allow me to translate the chief's comments: "Them faggots in that thar bar touched mah officers and now they're complainin' about some rough stuff and one little ol' faggot with a brain injury? Those perverts should be grateful they'realive."

This is a classic example of the Gay Panic Defense. In the very recent past all a straight man who brutally murdered a gay man had to say was, "He made a pass at me!", and the jury would ignore the evidence and let the murderer off. The Gay Panic Defense doesn't fly in many courts of law these days but it still has currency in the court of public opinion. And the chief of police in Forth Worth, a major U.S. city, is attempting to use the Gay Panic Defense to convince the citizens of Fort Worth to ignore the evidence—to ignore photographic evidenceand credible eyewitness accounts—and let his officers off.

And you'll never guess who the police are accusing of being the groper: Chad Gibson, the one man arrested at the Rainbow Lounge who can't defend himself and may never be able to give his side of the story. But another person at the bar witnessed Gibson's arrest:

"They were hyped up. They were loaded for bear," said Todd Camp, a veteran journalist who was there celebrating his birthday with friends. "They were just randomly grabbing people, telling them they were drunk."
Camp told me he has been in bars during TABC/police "checks" before, "and it was never anything like this." Usually, he said, officers discreetly walk through, looking for anybody who has had too much. This was different. "They were shoving patrons," Camp said, "asking, 'How much have you had to drink?'"
...
"[Gibson] was taken down hard," said Camp, with "four or five" officers wrestling him to the floor inside the club. Cellphone photos shot by patrons and posted to blogs show a person being held facedown by officers in a short hallway inside the club, then show a dent in the wall where his head was apparently banged.

The police claim that Gibson wasn't injured when those four or five cops slammed him to the floor of the bar, but after his arrest, when, drunk and handcuffed, Gibson somehow fell and hit his head on the pavement outside the bar.

All of this is bullshit.

I've been in a million gay bars. I've been in gay bars on multiple occasions when the police came in to check everyone's IDs and make sure no minors were being served. Gay men don't grope police officers when they enter gay bars. I find it inconceivable that the gay men drinking in the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth responded to a raid by attempting to grope the police officers. This "they groped us!" shit is a lie. As the owner of the bar, J.R. Schrock, put it at the protest the night after the raid:

"The groping of the police officer—really? We're gay, but we're not dumb," Schrock said to the crowd that gathered at the bar Sunday afternoon. "That is a lie, and I am appalled by it."

Jeff Halstead can't be allowed to use the Gay Panic Defense. His officers weren't groped, no one was "touched and advanced." Homophobic cops raided a gay bar, roughed up the patrons, and a young man is in the hospital and may die.

Some will say that this was just an ill-timed raid on a gay bar in Texas, of all places, one that got out of control. So what's the big deal? But this is exactly the kind of state-sponsored violence that gays and lesbians fought back against at Stonewall 40 years ago. Gay men all over the country are going to have to speak up and defend the patrons of the Rainbow Lounge. We can't allow the chief of police in Fort Worth to use the Gay Panic Defense or exploit stereotypes about gay men—so sexually reckless that they can't even keep their hands off cops during a raid!—to get away with violating the civil rights of gay men in Fort Worth or murdering Chad Gibson.

UPDATE: More on Chad Gibson's condition:

Chad Gibson, the 26-year-old Fort Worth resident who wound up in John Peter Smith Hospital in the intensive care unit after a law enforcement raid on a gay bar over the weekend, remains in danger with a blood clot on his brain. Dallas Voice senior editor Tammye Nash reports on the newspaper's blog, Instant Tea, that Gibson's sister, Kristy Morgan, told her a CAT scan had revealed the blood clot has quit growing, but it is still considered a life-threatening situation. Until the clot dissolves, there is a danger that the clot could break off and cause severe brain damage or death. A rupture of the clot could also start bleeding again.
The blood clot could take from six months to two years to dissolve, according to the update. Gibson, shown in a picture from facebook.com, will likely remain in the hospital for the rest of the week and will be referred to a neurosurgeon for follow-up treatment. Surgery is reportedly not being considered at this time.
Discussion is under way about the establishment of a medical fund to assist Gibson. His hospital bill will undoubtedly be enormous, and it is unlikely that he will ever recover any of those medical expenses from the City of Fort Worth. Police officers and other government employees are protected by state law from liability in any legal action that arises in connection with the performance of their official duties, unless they are involved in misconduct or broke laws.

UPDATE 2: Someone needs to put this follow-up question to Fort Worth's police chief:

If Chad Gibson—the 160-pound, 26-year-old gay man that it took five of your officers to subdue—groped one of your officers, and if it was Gibson's lewd action that caused your officers to go absolutely apeshit, then surely Gibson—who is in an intensive care unit and may not survive his injuries—was charged with assault, right?

Wrong:

Officers then went to the Rainbow Lounge, which had opened about a week ago. They encountered two drunk people who made "sexually explicit movements" toward officers and another who grabbed a TABC agent's groin, according to the police report.
No one was arrested for assault but about half a dozen people were arrested on charges of public intoxication, according to police records. Police Chief Jeff Halstead said Gibson was the patron who grabbed at the agent's groin.

So... Chad Gibson sexually assaulted a Fort Worth police officer and, according to the Fort Worth's chief of police, Gibson's assault not only prompted but justifiedthe actions of his officers at the Rainbow Room, but... Gibson wasn't charged with assault.

Can someone please ask the chief of police to explain how that works?

UPDATE 3: Via Slog commenter jasonzenobia: The Fort Worth Police Department's email address is fwpdweb@fortworthpd.com and the number for FWPD's internal affairs office is 817.392.4270. That's the number to call to report officer misconduct. Joel Burns is the openly gay member of the Fort Worth city council and he's been all over this. You can reach him at his email isJoel.Burns@fortworthgov.org.

UPDATE 4: I've heard from folks in Fort Worth that Joel Burns' office is being slammed with furious phone calls and emails about the raid on the Rainbow Lounge and the assault on Chad Gibson. Burns, however, has taken action on this and has called for an investigation and is doing everything an openly-gay elected official is supposed to do in a circumstance like this. If you're itching to send an outraged emails, Sloggers, I'd urge you to send emails to the six Fort Worth councilmembers who haven't joined with Burns and two of his colleagues in calling for a full and independent investigation into the appalling raid on the Rainbow Lounge.

Councilmember W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
817-392-8803
District3@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Danny Scarth
817-392-8804
District4@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Frank Moss
817-392-8805
District5@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Jungus Jordan
817-392-8806
District6@fortworthgov.org

Councilmember Carter Burdette
817-392-8807
District7@fortworthgov.org

And send an email to the mayor, Mike Moncreif, who has yet to make a statement:

Mayor Mike Moncrief
817-392-6118
mike.moncrief@fortworthgov.org

Tell them the whole country is shocked and outraged and that you're appalled by their failure to join their colleagues Joel Burns, Sal Espino, and Kathleen Hicks in calling for an investigation into the raid on the Rainbow Lounge and the assault on Chad Gibson.

There are REAL Christians in the world!

2009-07-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

I just want to share a the newest article of Pastor Howard Bess, he's a personal friend, and been a friend of the Gay Community in Alaska for many years. Although many of us are certainly not Christian, there are some who are saying things that are worth the listening. I think this is.

MARRIAGE IS A CULTURAL THING!

By Howard Bess

“Marriage is a cultural thing.” So began a very good sermon that I recently heard. My mind was set in rapid motion as I considered the raging arguments that are now taking place all over the country. What is marriage? How should we codify marriage in the laws of our land? The discussions become very sticky when our gay friends enter the debate and ask for equal treatment under the law.

The exchanges become very heated when a participant demands that we turn to the Bible for answers that will once and for all settle the issues. Many well-meaning people want us to set aside the reality that the United States was built on a Declaration of Independence and a Constitution with a Bill of Rights. On the issue of marriage the Bible, so they say, should be our ultimate authority.

I remain unmoved from my historic Baptist roots, and I too give a special place to the messages that are found in the Bible. When I feel it is appropriate, I do not hesitate to quote generously from the Bible writings. I treasure the contents of the Bible and honor those who authored its words. The writers were special people and typically wrote in difficult times that required strong opinions and vigorous debate. The wisdom found in the Bible has been fundamental in the development of western culture.

When vigorous debate develops in the public square, it is foolish to reject or ridicule the wisdom and teachings that are found in the Bible. There is nothing stupid or un-American when people bring their Bibles to the public square where we discuss marriage and the challenge to include fully our gay brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and neighbors in our legal family structures.

However, in the marriage debate I insist that not just isolated portions of the Bible be allowed in the debate, but that the whole Bible be brought to the table.

Since it is rare that Bible believers have read the whole Bible, I am taking space to quote an extended passage from Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

When brothers reside together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, taking her in marriage and performing the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and the firstborn whom she bears shall succeed to the name of the deceased brother, so that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. But if the man has no desire to marry his brother’s widow, then his brother’s widow shall go up to the elders at the gate and say “My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.” Then the elders of his town shall summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying “I have no desire to marry her,” then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and declare “This is what is done to the man who dose not build up his brother’s house.” Throughout Israel his family will be known as “the house of him whose sandal was pulled off.

The custom that is described seems very strange to us in 2009. In ancient Israel it was not strange, but a part of a system that was used to define property rights and to maintain social order.

My point in repeating this passage from Deuteronomy is to illustrate that the Bible does not have a single set of rules for marriage that can be applied to a modern society. An honest student of the Bible can trace the changing understanding of marriage among the Israelites and identify the reason for the changes. I could have pointed out that Israelites were polygamous and men fathered children with the slave girls they owned. Abraham married his sister. Women had no rights and were considered property. Wealthy men accumulated wives and concubines, not for love but for breeding stock.

All of these practices can be understood, and the reasons for the systems can be justified. What seems strange to us in the 21^st century was not strange to ancient cultures of the Near East.

The material of the Bible reveals a very important fact. Down through history marriage practices have been determined by cultural needs and customs. To assert that there is such a thing as Biblical marriage is not a defensible reading of the Bible. The Bible makes no statement about marriage between two committed persons of the same sex. Same sex marriage is never a subject of concern in the Bible. The culture of early Christian churches showed no concern for such relationships.

This brings us to the early 21^st century in America. Our American society also needs to define social structures. Women are no longer a lesser partner in any relationship. Children need secure environments in which to grow up. Men need to know that procreation is a lesser part of their societal responsibilities. The phenomenon of the stable, loving same-sex couple is a fixed part of our society.

The discussions about marriage that we are now having are needed, and a broad spectrum of people should participate in the discussion.

I insist that people who treasure the Bible and its ethical insights ought to be at the discussion table as we talk about marriage in America. I also insist that those who bring their Bible to the discussion should read it before they arrive.

THE END

PS The sermon to which I referred was preached by The Rev. Diane O’Connell at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 28, 2009.

The Rev. Howard Bess is an American Baptist minister living in retirement in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

2009-06-23T13:47:00.001-07:00

Hey!

Since I can't get into Anchorage again for the hearing, I figure I'll flake out here at home, make some soup for supper, rock out to some old 80's metal, and after a bit of blogging, go study my Electrolysis textbook.

At the Pride Festival I met Mel from Henkimaa. She's a great woman and has some neat pics up that she took at the Pride event. I've sent a request to use some in this post, so make sure you run over to her blog and check it out and say Thank you!

My friend D'nah, a rockin' BBW in Lakewood, Tacoma, (yeah, it's just a few miles inland from Eden), has posted this spiffy flowchart of the Gay Marriage Debate. It's very useful.

I really want to thank all our volunteers who put so much time and effort and do all kinds of boring grunt work.

Chris, Talyne, Kathy, Sparky, Roxy, Rachel, Denise, Woody - You guys are "Way Allright!" in my book. Give 'em a hand folks!

Post Pride Review! and the Redina/Bluevia Wars.

2009-06-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks!

So it was an Amazing weekend! Pride absorbed most of my energy this week past, but we got the signs finished, and ourselves as (mis)organized as we could.

Friday night was spent at the center with Denren making signs. It was so therapeutic doing drawing that I'm seriously considering using my degree in art by way of offering an LBGT art class at the Center, if I can get 3 or 4 people who are interested.

The result of our efforts was a Fantastic Saturday.

Talyne and I rode down to Chug and met up with Chris there, we all together ran down to AnchorTown. We weren't too late, so we dug in and set up our MatSu Community Center tables.

To raise some funds Talyne and I made stickers, jewelry, poetry books and a simple donation can "The We-Can!" available for the fair goers. I didn't sell a single string of beads, but many people did admire them, so that was nice, if unproductive. The stickers were a hit, probably because they were a "give away", but they were a great incentive to donations, and the tally ended up being some thirty ($30.00) Dollars.

I appreciate the public's generous donation! Yay! It's nice to know that our undertaking is important enough to people that they opened their wallets for us. It is a hard time economically, so THANKS FOLKS!

After we got set up on park lawn, we headed out to get our spot in the Parade. Since my Back and Knees were going out (too much sitting in small folding chairs hurts me, my L4 & L5 are severely damaged). So I asked on a whim if we could actually drive instead of march. Talyne asked about it, and Phyllis (Hooray! for Her) agreed. Chris suggested putting down the Jeep top, and So, we rode in style with all our signage hanging out. Well, Chris and I rode with reggae blaring. Talyne and Miss D traipsed (!) down the parade route in glee, it was Awstaculartastic!

People stood up and clapped as we came down the road. I'd like to think that was the fantastic response to having a LBGTCC in the Valley, but I suspect some of it was my Earth Mother Goddess poster that read "My Mother Loves Me".

Whichever it was, the fact is that the crowd went wild, "yay."

In other news; it's been interesting at the center. We've gotten some great information coming in this week from various sources about Transgendered issues.

The Institute for Welcoming Resources, a program of the Nation Gay and Lesbian Task Force has announced the creation of a curricula for the education of churches and religious/faith organizations accepting and understanding Transgendered congregates.

So many of us Transfolk have really suffered at the hands of the religious community, but I think we should Applaud the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists for their efforts to promote understanding of Transfolk, their needs and fears and aprehensions about Equality, Justice and faith. These efforts will help educate the church-going public about our real selves, and put human faces and honest stories in front of them. This will inevitably lead to acceptance and understanding of us by all people of honest good faith.

Gender Spectrum will be putting in it's 7th annual Gender Odyssey Conference in Seattle, WA. September 4-6, 2009 you can find out more here.

On July 23 Linda Sanchez, Dem Representative of California introduced a bill to protect all students from bullying and harassment in schools. The language includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression specifically, and will recommend that states and districts maintain and report data regarding incidents of bullying and harassment. I'm not actually sure that this is an entirely good thing frankly. Yes I know, it sounds like I'm defending bullying. I abhor it. And still, I get a bit nervous with the "police state" mentality that says we need to watch each other so closely that our children become steam kettles.

Violence and anger, and childhood bullies have been a part of human society since year dot. I don't think any legislation can end it flat out. I'm afraid that the enforcement might put even more environmental pressure on our nation's children. The same children that are exploding like popcorn in frenzies of mass shootings and thuggery. The ones already acting out violently in small spurts don't need more pressure do they? Unless this bill includes language and legislation to provide bullies with high quality psych counseling, I believe it will do more harm than good. Of course that's my own personal opinion. Your milage may vary.

Lastly, tomorrow might be the last installment of the War Between Redina and Bluevia. Or, How the City Council finished hearing testimony about the New City Ordinance. Jerry Prevo's friends from ABT will be there, and probably some bussed in from the Valley again. I'm going to try my best to make it as well. Although I won't be bringing a bus load with me I Will be riding in one, my first experience with the Alaskan version of Public Transit. What terrors will that involve I wonder?...

Frankly I'm not looking forward to this with any relish. Ossiander (Hoping my good prayers for her override my nasty thoughts), has put on the table a "new" version of the ordinance that screws over TG people. I urge everyone to stand together against That particular version. In fact I firmly believe the only acceptable version is the first.

Well all, 'M Tired and It's Late.

~Brianne!

Very Late Pride Eve

2009-06-20T02:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I won't make this long since it's very late, and I should be conducting an exam of my inner eyelid. I just finished up with the sign-age for the Parade tomorrow. Many thanks for all the volunteers who turned out to help, fried chicken and iced tea was served, and lot's of 80's metal was played!

Don't forget the Parade!

Talyne posted this on the Yahoo group. I'm putting it here too.

Saturday June 20 - PRIDE DAY

PARADE
Parade begins at 11 am. We will meet at 10:30 on the corner of 8th and D St in
Anchorage. The parade is about 12 - 14 blocks total.

FESTIVAL BOOTH
After the parade, from 12 - 6pm we will have a vendor table at the
festival. Chris and Brianne - Side note to you - as Co-Chairs I think
it's great that you both will be there to visit with folks - Thanks.
We need folks to sit at the table. Please come out and Celebrate and help make
this happen. it's going to be a great festival this year.

What we'll do at our booth... The booth size is 10 x 20.
We got the larger one so that Chris could do couple's portraits (or
families or anybody that wants one eh Chris)
Chris - what do you need from folks to help you make this happen. I have a
large rug we can put down for ambiance - green and black or a golden red and
browns one. Watch for info from Chris on how you can help with the photo booth.
You need a big sign that says - PHOTO PORTRAITS or something like that.

The next thing we will do at the booth is sell things we have gotten for
ridiculously low prices...like jewelry, a sightseeing tour as a bonus for the
Adopt-a-Day program, sightseeing tours (the center gets a percentage of every
tour sold at the booth) and some stickers and bookmarks. This could turn out to
be a very good fundraiser for the center if we have some support to accomplish
all this. The more the merrier, so come on out and lend a hand and party with
us.
WHAT D'YA SAY...LET'S BRING THE VALLEY TO TOWN!!! Let's show them we are Out in
the Valley!!

Pride Stickers~

2009-06-18T17:11:00.001-07:00

Just some ideas for pride day stickers and signs. Enjoy!

An open letter to the Anchorage Assembly

2009-06-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hi!

I want to thank the Alaska Commons for giving us who couldn't make the Anchorage Ordinance meeting a nice way to follow it from home. I'm sad to hear so many people swayed by misinformation, and opinions that are not factual. Never the less there will always be those people who are blinded to truth by fear.

So what do people fear about us?

I see from the testimony that the general population, or at least the right wingy ones are scared that granting LBGTIQ people fair protection under law, will somehow enable mean people - rapists, pedophiles, and zoo-aphiles free reign to hurt them and their families.

I can see they fear that their city and community will be ravaged and destroyed by god. I have a feeling that they probably also think they will survive same, but their friends will be salted.

It seems that they are scared that we will make their marriages not real, their kids perverts, and their families dysfunctional.

I see that these things are already happening in strict religious families, and blaming us is easier and less scary than rewriting the understanding they have of God. So the family goes to hell, so to speak, and we do too.

There is a distinction between sexual preference and sexual predation. It's very well defined. Sexual preference means that you have true deep love, a affinity and care for the well being of your partner. Sexual predation on the other hand is based in power, in spite, in hate, and all about intimidating, scaring, hurting other people or animals. Rape is not a sexual preference, rape is the act of forcing another to submit to your will. Which is unethical, the soul of immorality. Child abuse is even more so, it is taking cruel and unholy delight in spoiling the innocence of youth, of destroying happiness, of breaking the ultimate trust of the helpless for the gratification of selfish lust. And animal abuse? so much the same, slaking a thirst for causing pain in others. Are these what Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning, Allied, Believers and Non-Believers, or any other person of good conscious condone? Of course not. We say so over and again.

It dismays me that so many disbelieve us. It pains me that many on the Board are ignorant enough to be afraid of us, of what protecting the rights of All good hearted, loving people, including us will mean something grim and dark. It's pure nonsense, cooked up by people who love to scare others. Who have learned to "love" God by fear, and to rule their families by fear, and manipulate other people with fear. I don't like it one bit.

I'm a happily transgendered, or transexual. A transwoman by any name (you decide what you want to call me). I have never raped anyone. Ever. I've never screwed an animal, and DEFINITELY never wanted/thought about sex with kiddies. I know about 30 Transfolk very well, and literally dozens and dozens of LBGT persons. I don't know of a single one who has any of the above tendencies. (However I know of quite a few Heterosexual Church-going white men who do and who have carried these reprehensible acts out).

I love the children in my life and find their happiness quite precious.

If God hates me and wants to destroy somebody else because of it, then is he the sort of God you should be worshipping?

I'd like to see an explanation of how my being married to anyone impacts someone else's marriage. It seems to me that the only way to devalue a marriage is to break your wedding vows to each other and whatever Higher Power you invoke, and, of course, disrespect your spouse. If Sam and Marlene get married what on earth can that say about your family - whoever Sam and Marlene may be. I need that one explained to me.

Now being an LBGT person in close and regular contact, often daily, with a great many straight people - about a hundred individuals in a week at least. I think I can safely say I have yet to make one a transperson, or to force anyone to have sexual urges for people of their own respective sexes.

When I'm about town running my errands, as many of us have a tendency to do, I sometimes find that my bladder is full. Especially if, as a good business customer, I have just bought and drunk a cup of coffee. I experience a great need to "powder my nose", "comb my hair", or in plain language - widdle. I choose the bathroom that's appropriate for my gender, ie. the Ladies' Room. I like to get through that process quickly wash and dry my hands and go about my business.

I can say that I pass as a fully genetic female pretty well. I fancy that not too many people pick up on the cues that I was born with boy parts. So it goes unnoticed and unremarked on. But let us suppose some child picks up on the cues that I was like a boy at one time. The reaction of that child is the child's own, the one his parents taught them. If it is a shrug, a smile (as it usually is) or a curious glance, it's fairly likely the result of good and happy upbringing.

If it is fear and terror, hate, and nervousness, then doesn't that rest with the child's own emotional state and ultimately the home environment they are raised in? If I smile and say "hello" to them on my way out I have always had a smile back. Not one time have I ever experienced a screaming run for mommy. That is as it should be.

I can't say why God decided that physical boyhood, and mental femininity would be a good place for me to start in life, but I know that the experiences, largely unpleasant, that I gained by this fact must be important to His will for me, and it has a purpose in His plan. I was declared male at birth, yet he chose to give me as His servant, and by His will a brain, and thus a mind, more appropriate to a female. Questioning this will of His isn't important to me, carrying the burden as best I can, and using my wisdom and knowledge offered by it is.

The people at the hearing wearing red shirts, and claiming to see no discrimination against the LBGT part of their world, (while they are actively being discriminatory), are also under God's care. He loves them too, even though they choose not to follow his will, or recognize his love for all his thinking beings the way he made them. They claim to know his will for me and my LBGT friends. Yet I think they do not. I think God knows His will for me, gives me to understand it, and the courage and strength to carry it out; despite rude names, Doctors who refuse to treat me, bottles of urine thrown from moving cars, ugly protest signs, and physical beatings by men claiming to listen to Him.

Therefore I am content that the Ordinance has been brought forward. I am content to let it pass or fail, and I am convinced that what ever the outcome, I will have grown stronger for the fighting, stronger in Faith, and ultimately, that God's will for peace, love, serenity, and the well being of His people will win out over the fear of mere mortal humanity.

Hate and fear are the price of free will. If we are to have the free will to love, we must have it to hate also. That many a person reading this has chosen to hate someone or something in their life is sad, but it is what must be if we are all to learn to love ourselves, our fellow people, and ultimately that High Providential Creative Power of the Universe.

I'd urge every one to pause for a single moment to wish that the people you hate, despise, fear, or even just dislike - that they may have every single good thing that you want to have for yourself. It's a hard task, but a loving one. I wish you luck in it.

~Brianne.

Vote yes, wear blue!

2009-06-16T19:38:00.001-07:00

If you can go on Tuesday, go. If you can go on Wednesday, go and carry this!

Stuff.

2009-06-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

So it's update time. I really want to keep all kinds of UP on this, but I think you're going to have to do with my trademark procrastination and stalling for a while. Now I'd love to spend lots of text telling you folks all about the great festivities Anchorage has planned for Pride Week. but (I bet you thought I was gonna say there aren't any, didn't you?) I think you can find that on Bent Alaska, the Matsu lbgtcc Yahoo group , (In speaking of which, this is one of the preferred channels of up to date involvement with the center, join up and get involved!) Grrlzlist, or the Trans support yahoo group, so I'll spare you.

The one I'm sure you all will want to know about most is the Parade on the 20th. So there's this Parade that will be happening at 9am on the 20th. Or was it 11am?, I can't remember. I could probably look it up, but I wouldn't want to steal your opportunity to be lazy, well, actually I do, so I'm going to be lazy for you and just go with 9, or 11, or something like that. See!? Aren't I helpful? Now you don't have to not look it up for yourself. I'm all publicy-servanty like that.

Now, as you know, there's lots of flap about Prevo fellow's usual slobbery venom, the coming Anchorage City Ordinance regarding protecting LBGT people from the kind of harm we so often have to face. ( Like having bottles of pee flung at me from a moving car along with a nice family friendly battle-cry of "Fat F%^&ing Fag!". It's enough to make you leery of walking alone down the Palmer-Wasilla in daylight). and suchlike. Here's another juicy, salty, fishy little challenge to Mr. P's allegations regarding the possible new city ord. Enjoy!

By the way, here's a link to the legislation itself.

there are some great essay/letters here, I encourage reading April and Laura's especially.

So now THAT bug is out of my system.

ON TO CENTER BUISNESSY STUFF

Wednesday, after the coffee social we held the first real board meeting in a while. In attendance were Chris, Brianne (ME!), Kathleen, Talyne, Woody, and Fi (Everyone welcome her, she's a little gun shy from previous Center issues)

Well, anyhow we covered some ground.

It's been pretty much agreed on that we need to shrink the open hours; probably to look something like Wednesday 6-8, Thurs 5-8, and maybe Tues as well, but I won't be there on Tuesdays, that's my sacred-drink-coffee-and-sew-Barbie-clothes time.

Talyne proposed that we establish a support group nights in this way - I'd run a trans support group (more on this below), Chris might run a men's group, and maybe a lesbian (if we can find one?) and a bi group as well. There's also a need for a Pflag meeting, but I don't see people lining up to take that on.

The fact is that interest in the operating of the center is waning!

We are short of volunteers willing to tackle things like; collecting current updated LBGT related VALLEY resources into the reference manual. Creating an actual membership with dooby-dues system.

Our library needs to be organized and cataloged, Volunteers are wanting who are willing to show up regularly, reliably and on time every time (Special Thank you's though to Rachel, and Talyne, and Chris - who make a really long drive at their own expense to come up there, and are pretty darn reliable, and to Kathy who shows up on Monday nights even though the door has been locked for weeks and she hasn't got a key.

We could use a few folks willing (or able) to put money into keeping us afloat, (This might be helped by our Adopt A Day program, if you're interested post a note to the Center's Yahoo Group above). Our financial system is beyond "sucks" and well into "scary bad". We have managed to keep the internet bill paid for the past two months, and that's about it. (And many many thanks to Steve's wonderful donation).

Chris has now accepted the role of Information Officer, since there is information relevant to us coming through the Yahoo Group, this blog, our Facebook network, and Chris' website. Someone needs to make sure all the dissemination tools are playing the same song. Tough job, so GO Chris! Lastly, we are short on little day to day things. At the moment we need toilet paper, some paper towels for the bathroom, some hand soap for same - it's been a waste of dishsoap, and kinda gross too, to have to wash hands at the dish sink. We need some coffee creamer, more coffee, and maybe some honey or sugar in the raw. Also a bottle of lysol kitchen cleaner (the kind in the windex-like spray bottle) to keep our place all shiny and tidy.

We also made some decisions about pride day, but I'll let Talyne fill you in-

Talyne Writes:

The MatSu Community Center is involved in this year's Pridefest in several

ways. Thanks so much to the folks who are helping put that together. (see below) You want to be involved you say? GREAT! Here is the breakdown of the plan so far. Thursday June 18 - Sign decorating and miscellaneous prep stuff at the center. Bring ideas and Anything we might be able to sell - like Crafts, jewelry, art, stickers, tickets to ?, (not yard sale type stuff) Saturday June 20 - PRIDE DAY PARADE Parade begins at 11 am. We will meet at 10:30 on the corner of 8th and D St in Anchorage. The parade is about 12 - 14 blocks total. FESTIVAL BOOTH After the parade, from 12 - 6pm we will have a vendor table at the festival. Chris and Brianne - Side note to you - as Co-Chairs I think it's great that you both will be there to visit with folks - Thanks. We need folks to sit at the table. Please come out and Celebrate and help make this happen. it's going to be a great festival this year. What we'll do at our booth... The booth size is 10 x 20. We got the larger one so that Chris could do couple's portraits (or families or anybody that wants one eh Chris) Chris - what do you need from folks to help you make this happen. I have a large rug we can put down for ambiance - green and black or a golden red and browns one. Watch for info from Chris on how you can help with the photo booth. You need a big sign that says - PHOTO PORTRAITS or something like that. The next thing we will do at the booth is sell things we have gotten for ridiculously low prices...like jewelry, a sightseeing tour as a bonus for the Adopt-a-Day program, sightseeing tours (the center gets a percentage of every tour sold at the booth) and some stickers and bookmarks. This could turn out to be a very good fundraiser for the center if we have some support to accomplish all this. The more the merrier, so come on out and lend a hand and party with us. WHAT D'YA SAY...LET'S BRING THE VALLEY TO TOWN!!! Let's show them we are Out in the Valley!!

So, did you get all that!?

I can tell I'll be re-reading it later.

On another front; our new neighbor has seeming moved in; the legal assitance non-profit Eric Cordero is involved in. I'd also like to give him our congratulations on winning a seat on the school board! Yay! He has an insightful blog here. So, not only is he handsome, he's smart and Socially progressive as well. Now that's a MAN, I'll bet he's married already...lol!

About a Transgendered Support Group.

We do have an excellent and fun group down in Anchorage that meets every Sunday - ask for more information from the Yahoo Group mailing list if you'd like. Anchorage, however is a long haul for those of us who are short on cash, and don't want to spend two hours of their life each Sunday in transit. Several of us transfolk are more likely to be able to get to a meeting up here.

I'm proposing the idea that we pick a night that isn't Sunday and start our own little T support meeting here. We can concentrate on developing Valley Area resources and giving some support to people who are wanting a safe place to go in DRAG and socialize for a couple of hours a week but can't get to Anchorage. I need feedback on this, so please post your ideas regarding same to me at the Yahoo group.

Ok, that's it for now, I want to go eat my Caribbean Black Bean Soup and play with my dollies now. Smoochies!

~Brianne!

Hi! Friday's Post.

2009-06-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Not much to talk about tonight. There was this little city ordnance hearing in Anchorage, and a week of pride about to hit.

Ok, I was there in the chamber on Tuesday. I can't say less than Wow! As always the foaming-at-the-mouth crowd was up to their usual silliness, hitting people and saying stupid things (when you could even understand them). After wiping widely flung spittle off my nose it was such a pleasure to hear well spoken and considered testimony from both LBGT and Straight folks supporting equal rights. I hope any readers out there will wear blue and show up at the Lussac next Tuesday at 4 for episode 2, The Prev-erts Strike Back.

As for pride, Thursday Talyne and I met at the Center and made a banner to carry in the Parade (on the 20th, so don't forget it!). It was fun, but sadly we were late to the center and missed Rachel. So I want to underline that she really deserves our thanks, it's a 40 mile trip for her, and THAT is dedication to helping us work for you. Thank heaven's we have fantastic Volunteers like Rachel, like Talyne, like Chris, like Kathleen who drive a long distance (well except Kathy) to work on this, and who put their efforts in on your behalf.

Thank you guys !

I probably ought to mention that I owe an apology to our incredible supporting readers. I do have a bipolar/bpd diagnosis, I allowed myself to get overwhelmed with the center and with the addition of the power of hormones I hit a depressed period and simply haven't been getting much done (like blogging). Sorry for that, I'm trying to do better, but I am still overwhelmed by the sheer amount of small details that this center entails.

That said; be sure to go to the MatSu LBGTIA group to stay current on events!

My first Post in May.

2009-05-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Wow. May already. Deep breath.
Well folks, the Community Center at 415 S. Bailey in Palmer (suite B, which is downstairs under the church) is a going concern. I emphasize "concern", because we literally don't have a penny in the bank account since we paid the last phone bill.
The good news is that we've installed a fine new piece of equipment here in the office! What may you ask, would that be? ....(wait for it).....A CALENDAR! Yes! although only invented about 2,500 years ago we have managed to lay hands on a nice big plastic coated calendar to write down important things like Volunteer Shifts, and .... um. dates. important dates.

Chris and I attended a training session recently with Sage from Identity, Inc. I found that to be extremely eye-opening. I'm going to give a quick summary of points she gave us that will help keep our center functioning and afloat and best of all, Effective.

1. To meet our expenses we will need money. It's expected that the members of the Board of Directors lead the way in financial contributions. That means Cash or Kind. It's usual at meetings to pass the hat. Donation cans for Coffee and Tea, and sales of LBGT stickers, flags, etc are a fine idea. Best of all, is the "adopt a day" concept. You donate the expenses of staying open one day, and we put up a nice sign thanking you, and include on it a dedication (perhaps a person, perhaps a cause, or maybe even just yourself; "Look at Me! I'm helping us out!" . Whatever you want to say in a short paragraph on your dedication sign. To that I'd like to add we are still collecting items for our yard-sale (indefinite date, depends on when we actually have enough fine items to sell). Another idea I'd like to have seriously considered is the possiblility of hosting a picnic or food event with a cover charge.

2. It's essential to define our purpose. There are so many needs in the LBGTIA community of the Valley, but our one itty bitty center can't do it all. All of us have issues that grab our attention and that do desperately need attention. Physical Abuse, Plight of the Youth, Creation of a Queer safe valley community and the list goes on and on. But the reality is that this center has one real purpose, one baseline purpose; Providing access and awareness of resources; books, websites, personal contacts, helplines, etc. And creating a social setting that is safe for all of us to get together and BE a community. Other issues have to be handled, but will best be served by organizations dedicated to those ends. Again, we certainly support that work, but we can't do all those other things, and be a Community Center too.
The Center does provide a great place for other organizations to meet. With luck in a year we'll have support groups, PFLAG, etc. using our space for meetings, addressing the issues we can't directly.

Well, that's it for today.

-Bri!

Fizzle, crash, and burn.

2009-04-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well folks.
I hate to say this but our yard sale fund raiser didn't. Raise funds, I mean. I have to admit that I didn't listen to people very well when they warned me about being too early in the season. Add to that a whole cascade of logistical and preparation problems, and we have the recipe for a life learning lesson.
I admit I was disappointed briefly. Having to cancel the sale/show just because we didn't have enough to sell, and our "vendors" didn't show is almost enough to damp my spirits.
But throwing in the towel on this is a mistake. I think more effort and planning will make a second try come off more successfully.
Points I've learned:
1. Make everyone's job extremely clear.
2. We need more advertising.
3. I need to aggressively pursue more stuff to sell.
4. (not in my control) A warm sunny day will help too.

That being said. I'm of the opinion that we can do this in three weeks, and make it work.
To make it work we'll need a sandwich board sign, some helium balloons, a couple of smaller signs to point the way to the site. I want advertising in the Frontiersman and the ADN as well as our usual LBGT sources. We need to get at least four tables lined up. I need to arrange for the cash box and money for change. MOST IMPORTANTLY, by waiting a few more weeks we can take advantage of the typical seasonal garage clearing that goes on all over the valley.

Never give up, never give in, there's always some way to do what needs to be done.

Mourning, The Day of Silence, and Hate management.

2009-04-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

Most of you have heard about Angie Zapata's murder, or read about the trial here. The man whose hatred fueled the deed "struck Zapata twice in the head with the extinguisher and thought he had "killed it" before hitting her again as she struggled to get up" and reported from jail that " "gay things need to die""

From the Day of Silence comes something I find nearly overwhelmingly emotional, another victim of the War on Diversity;

Carl Walker-Hoover took his life last week after enduring constant bullying, including anti-LGBT bullying. Though Carl did not identify as gay, his story is a tragic reminder that anti-LGBT bullying and harassment affects all students. Carl would have turned 12 on the Day of Silence.

And Another;

-HoovEric Mohat, 17, was harassed so mercilessly in high school that when one bully said publicly in class, "Why don't you go home and shoot yourself, no one will miss you," he did.

Just a few recent tales of horror fueled by the common acceptance of hateful spite in our public sphere.

Outproud.org has this interesting article on the subject

Suicides among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Youth

In 1989, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its "Report on the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide," which found that "A majority of suicide attempts by homosexuals occur during their youth, and gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. They may comprise up to 30 percent of (the estimated 5,000) completed youth suicides annually. (5) The report recommended that "mental health and youth service agencies can provide acceptance and support for young homosexuals, train their personnel on gay issues, and provide appropriate gay adult role models; schools can protect gay youth from abuse from their peers and provide accurate information about homosexuality in health curricula; families should accept their child and work toward educating themselves about the development and nature of homosexuality"

According to Kevin Berrill, Director of the Anti-Violence Project of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force at the time of the report,s release stated, "The increased risk of suicide facing these youth is linked to growing up in a society that teaches them to hide and to hate themselves. We welcome this report and hope it will lead to action that will save lives."

Initially, however, the report was suppressed by the Bush administration under pressure from right-wing groups and by conservatives in Congress. After the findings, William Dannemeyer, who was at the time a conservative Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California, called for then-president Bush to "dismiss from public service all persons still employed who concocted this homosexual pledge of allegiance and sealed the lid on these misjudgments for good." HHS Secretary Louis Sullivan wrote in a letter to Dannemeyer that the study "undermined the institution of the family." (6)

The findings of the report were leaked to the press and finally released. Other studies confirm these findings. Gary Remafedi, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, and author of Death by Denial: Studies of Attempted and Completed Suicide in Gay and Lesbian and Bisexual Youth, found in a 1991 study of 150 gay and lesbian youths in Minneapolis, more than 30% said they had attempted suicide at least once as a teenager.

The youths who are at the greatest risk for suicide are the ones who are least likely to reveal their sexual orientation to anyone. Suicide may be a way of making sure that no one ever knows. It's homophobia that's killing these kids. (7)

Remafedi confirmed a 30% suicide rate among gay and bisexual youth, and also found that young men with more "feminine gender role characteristics" and those who recognized their same-sex orientation at an early age and acted on those sexual feelings seem to face the highest risk of self-destructive behavior. This study also documents an unusually high relationship between homosexuality and sexual abuse, drug abuse, homelessness, prostitution, feelings of isolation, family problems, and school difficulties. Thirty percent of these subjects reported at least one suicide attempt, and almost half of the attempters reported more than one attempt. The mean age in this sample at the time of the suicide attempts was 15 1/2 years. Ingestion of prescription and/or nonprescription drugs and self-laceration accounted for 80% of the attempts. Twenty-one percent of the suicide attempts resulted in medical or psychiatric hospitalization, but almost 3 out of 4 attempts did not receive any medical attention. One-third of the first attempts occurred in the same year that subjects identified their bisexuality or homosexuality, and most other attempts happened soon thereafter. Family problems were the most frequently cited reason for attempts. Eighty-five percent of the attempters reported illicit drug use and 22% had undergone chemical dependency treatment. (8)

The earlier a young person is aware of a gay or lesbian orientation, the greater the problems they may face and may be more likely at risk of suicidal feelings and behavior.

Younger gay adolescents may be at the highest risk for dysfunction because of emotional and physical immaturity, unfulfilled developmental needs for identification with a peer group, lack of experience, and dependence on parents unwilling or unable to provide emotional support. Younger gay adolescents are also more likely to abuse substances, drop out of school, be in conflict with the law, undergo psychiatric hospitalization, run away from home, be involved in prostitution, and attempt suicide. (9)

Pollak found that nearly all gay and lesbian suicides occur between the ages of 16 and 21. (10)

The fear of AIDS adds to the anxiety gay youths experience. According to Joyce Hunter, Behavioral Researcher at the New York State Psychiatry Institute's HIV Center in New York City:

Gay teenagers already have so much to deal with that when they find out they are HIV-positive or even that they are going to have to live in a world where HIV is prevalent and a constant threat, they become overwhelmed. It's just another factor that can add to their suicidal thoughts. (11)

Issues of race and gender identity also impact suicide. Thirty-six percent of African-American lesbians compared to 21 percent of white lesbians, and 32 percent of African-American gay males compared to 27 percent of white gay males attempted suicide before age 18. (12)

Transsexuals may be at higher risk than homosexuals and much higher risk than the general population to suicidal behavior. (13) Fifty-three percent of transsexuals surveyed had made suicide attempts. (14)

In February 1992, Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld signed an executive order establishing the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, taken, in large part over concerns for the high incidence of suicide among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teens.

Now that I have both depressed myself thoroughly and ranted against the inhumanity, I urge you to observe the day of silence. It's not much, but it's something. And here is a little reminder of why we need it.

All the News that's Print to Fit!

2009-04-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hi, it's Bri again.

I just wanted to share some news items culled from various sources on the WWW, that should interest all us LBGTIQA and Alpha-Omega minorities. whew.

Who want's to just call the Community the Queer community? Seems pretty inclusive to me, It's so much more streamlined than that Dang Alphabet Soup. The point to me is that we are not umpteen separate communities, but one allied community of different individuals. Unity of people, Unity of purpose, that's where our strength comes from! From now forward, I urge us all to say "queer" as a blanket term!

I'm going to post a sad news story next;

Eric Mohat, a 17 year old boy, a precious part of our future was hazed to suicide recently. This is what the LBGTA Community Center is being organized to help put an end to.

I'm going to plug once again for your financial and organization commitment, we can do this job. Even saving one life, and making the future of our people one person more sound is worth everything we can spare. Escorting and nurturing kids safely into sane adulthood is the responsibility of everyone! So please, sacrifice what you can to preserving the most important treasure we have. One child is everyone's child!

Now for a few pic's from April's Follies;

I'd love to caption them with names, etc. but I can't as far as I can tell. Blogger seems to be a little imperfect as you can see.

April's Follies, Saturday night live at the Best Western, north Wasilla. I think April and the Court did a wonderful job entertaining the crowd. The laughing was uproarious- especially when Ms. Rotten and Mad Myrna performed their numbers. It was such a treat. They are real stage royalty. Bless them.

The University of Southern Maine has made a bold move in support of the TG part of the Queer Community. See more href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8614771629859301442&postID=6458940436718788812"">here;

Queer Alaska has an article about Gay print media facing trials and tribulations. I personally don't know quite to make of it, beyond profit motive drives publications. But make your own mind up, here's the article. http://www.ontopmag .com/article. aspx?id=3516&MediaType=1&Category=28

I've written my representative and my senator about the appointment of WAR to Attorney General of the Alaska. I'm not fond of the response so I'll share it here. I'd really like to see more Queer Alaskans take a fundamental role in directing the republic. As you know from the Obama campaign Grassroots works! We can change things, slowly, but it requires all our participation. So, read this, think about who we are choosing to represent us, and GO TO YOUR PARTY CAUCUSES! I can't stress enough that when all us Queer folk turn out at the caucus we have the power to choose who the lazier population must vote for later. That's how the christian right has manipulated things, and I think we can do better if we want to.

OK here's the letter;

" dear="" brianne,="">

Thank you for writing of your support of Representative Beth Kerttula to fill the Senate seat for Senator Elton and your opposition to Wayne Anthony Ross.

The Alaska Constitution provides for the Governor to appoint vacated seats in the legislature with individuals from their own party and requires confirmation by the members of that party within the House or Senate. In this case, only nine Senate Democrats may confirm or deny Mr. Grussendorf. I have no vote on this issue. Wednesday the nine Democrats voted 5-4 to oppose Mr. Grussendorf's nomination.

In the case of the Governor's choice for Wayne Anthony Ross for Attorney General, I respectfully disagree with your assessment. While I understand that you may not agree with him politically, we in the Judiciary Committee evaluate his credentials to ensure he is qualified to be appointed to the position. The full House and Senate acting as a joint body will decide his approval for appointment. This is scheduled to happen before we adjourn.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,
Representative Carl Gatto "

here; Queer Alaska has an article about Gay print media facing trials and tribulations. I personally don't know quite to make of it, beyond profit motive drives publications. But make your own mind up, here's the article. http://www.ontopmag .com/article. aspx?id=3516&MediaType=1&Category=28

OK here's the letter;

" dear="" brianne,="">

I'll point out that our esteemed Senator got a copy of my email as well, but hasn't seen fit to respond.

Now I know there are no alcoholics, druggies, shopaholics, compulsive overeaters, or other kinds of addicts in the Queer community but if you might be curious about the whole AA experience I'll go ahead and post this off the Anchorage Pride mailing list;Title: Gay, Joyous & Free AA Meeting

Date: Monday April 6, 2009
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Repeats: This event repeats every month on the first Monday.
Location: Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage
Street: 336 E 5th Avenue
City State Zip: Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 929-GLBT
Notes: Gay Joyous and Free Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting

Held the first Mondays of every month
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
at the GLCCA (Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage - new location at 336 W. 5th Ave. - next to Country Kitchen - lots of free street parking)

Anyone from any 12-Step group is welcome to attend
No children, please

Questions? Call the GLCCA at 929-4528 or Laura G. at 344-2474

here;

OK here's the letter;

" dear="" brianne,="">There's a lot of good news for us lately, especially about the fight for marriage equality, please go here to catch some of it.

Iowa's historic legalization of Gay Marriage is perhaps the most heartwarming event of the week. It gives me a sense of hope that we might win this struggle, finally realizing the national dream of a nation of equals. Maybe I won't be fleeing to Canada after all.

A Happy Birthday to Kristara of the Imperial Court! The day was Saturday April 4. Many happy returns to her.

From the great girls at Grrlzlist I borrow this;

Events this Week and Next
1. Anniversary Celebration at the Kodiak Bar-friday 4/3 at 9;00 p.m.
2. The Brits & Their Telly 4/3-4, 10-11 various times
3. Celebration of Change Meeting-4/11 at noon at Café Felix inside Metro Books

Mark Your Calendar
4. Pride Prom 4/17, 7-10:30 p.m.
5. womyn’s dance at the snow goose-4/17, 7:30 p.m.
6. Off The Wall ~ Recycled Art Sale, 5/1 4:30-7:00 p.m.
7. Arctic Bike Club’s 9th Annual Bike For Women 5/3, 11 a.m., registration is open now
8. The Alaska Women's Gold Nugget Triathlon 5/17
9. Celebration of Change Call for Performers & Backstage volunteers 5/30
10. Celebration of Change Call for Art 6/3, 3 p.m.
11. alaska run for women 6/13 (registration begins 4/20)
12. Celebration of Change 6/13, 7 p.m.
13. Anchorage PrideFest 2009 6/13-21
14. FLy Fishing retreat “Casting for Recovery”- 7/10-12 in the Valley

Get involved as best you can, making friends and bonding us all together makes the world a better place, and helps satisfy deep human needs in a healthy way! YAY!

What do we want to do for the Day Of Silence folks? I'm taking recommendations on our Yahoo list!

OK, that about wraps up this post.

If you've read the whole thing I thank you. Just reading this blog makes you involved in the Queer community, links you to other people, and gives us all the connections we need to be well, happy and functioning.

Good job! many people don't take the time to nurture themselves this way, and you have, so Gratulations!

~Brianne!

The Day After!

2009-04-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Elections were held last night at the Matsu LBGTIA Community Center!

The new secretary now has the results, and will be posting a full report, this is just a gloss of the evening.

Co-chair; Jaime

Co-chair; Brianne

Vice-Chair; Chris

Treasurer; Carolyn

Secretary; Chris

Director; Roxy (Sergeant at Arms of Cellphones)

Director; Woody

Director; Talyne

Director; Kathleen

Now I won't swear my memory is perfect, so the Secretary will probably be posting a correction or two, but that's pretty much it.

Last night the following business was attended to by the new board;

Brianne and Chris were authorized to take care of the internet and phone thing. We will be going with GCI for cable internet.

The Board decided to hold a large yard sale on the weekend following Easter. Donations for the yard sale are being taken now! Contact Kathleen on the LBGTACC yahoo group.

The board has created a comittee to begin to draft a policy, guidelines, and a program to fashion a youth - safe and nurturing environment at the center. We want the coming generation to feel secure, develop functioning and happy identities, and be in better shape to live in the world than all previous Alaskan generations have been in.

Absolutely no Alcohol, Drugs, Violence, or Pornography will be tolerated, that's all got to stay outside the doors of the center. We are a family friendly place.

For more questions contact Woody.

Beauty and the Beast!

2009-03-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Tomorrow is the board meeting and Thursday's the day that the LBGTA community choir will be getting together to do it's thang for the first time!

Tonight wasn't too exciting at the center. Chris and I were alone. (No, not like that, shame on you!) We made a pot of coffee, and watched Beauty and the Beast, the Jean Cocteau one. I think it's a really pretty postwar fairytale.

The beast seems to look somewhere between the Lon Cheney Werewolf, and the Vincent character Ron Pearlman made famous, with a slight hint of the Lion from The Wizard of Oz. We didn't finish it, but I'm enjoying it, and I think I'll run it again tomorrow if there's no objections.

Since I'm a bit of a film buff and my Playstation and TV are at the center making it impossible to watch my Netflix at home, I'll be running a lot of old and art films. Yay for Netflix and Playstation2s.

Remember the Community Center opens late on Wednesday. It's open at 6, not 5 p.m. so I can be at Vagabond Blues during the 5pm coffee.

Right, well then that's all I got.

Brianne.

Monday evening Newses.

2009-03-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

Life, believe it or not, is not something we have much control over (some would say we have NO control over - I'd be nodding agreement with them). This weekend reinforces that once again for me. I'll leave out the details for brevity, but the upshot is that I've not done any CC work since Saturday, and precious little today.

Still, reviewing a weekend's worth of emails I wanted to post a few excerpts here to share with the general community highlights I think we should all be aware of;

from Kathleen:

" Reminder to all:
Get together Meet & Greet/Coffee: Wednesdays @ 5:00 PM @ Vagabond Blues in
Palmer-642 S Alaska St., across from Well Fargo. Meet others here in
the valley,,, Just Like You!!!

PS. Don't forget, come to the Community Center at 415 S. Bailey on April 1 at 6pm to vote in a new Community Center Board!"

From QueerAlaska Yahoo group:
http://www.queerty. com/is-this- the-end-of- gay-media- 20090323/

From Grrlzlist:

Hi Grrlz,
In last Thursday's Grrlzlist we briefly mentioned a town hall-type meeting to talk about the Grrlzlist survey and what we can do to strengthen our community. We were actually talking about Wednesday 4/1, and will meet you at 5:30 at Kaladi at Title Wave. We are planning on 1 hour, and anyone who wants to grab a bite afterwards is welcome to do so.
Please let us know if you will join us. If we need to do more than take over a few tables, Jill and I will figure out an alternative (probably Title Wave).

A Note from those Imperial Court Guys:

IT IS I THE PESKY REIGNING EMPEROR AND I HAVE A
FAVOR TO ASK OF EACH OF YOU. AS YOU MAY (OR MAY NOT) BE
AWARE WE (PAULA AND I) ARE HOSTING A SHOW APRIL 11TH -
MILLINERY MADNESS - A SPRING DINNER AND SHOW

WE ARE LOOKING AT A NEW AND DIFFERENT LINE UP FOR THE
PERFORMERS FOR THIS SHOW - AND THIS IS WHERE Y'ALL
COME INTO THE STORY. WE ARE ASKING, HOPING. PRAYING,
AND YES EVEN BEGGING EACH OF YOU TO STEP FORWARD AND ADD
YOUR NAME TO THE LIST TO PERFORM. LETS MAKE THIS AN
ALL MONARCH REUNION TOUR - WHAT SAY YOU?
PLEASE
PRETTY PLEASE
WITH THAT RED THANG ON TOP!!!
SERIOUSLY WE WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU WOULD ALL TAKE A PART
AND I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE EACH OF YOU PERFORM AS I
HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITH SO MANY OF YOU.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW VIA MY PERSONAL EMAI - MICHAEL0828@ HOTMAIL.COM
THANK YOU
EMPEROR 36 MICHAEL

From National Center for Transgender Equality:

Gainesville, Florida: NCTE congratulates the wonderful advocates at Equality is Gainesville's Business who organized and executed a highly professional and effective campaign to counter yet another organized anti-LGBT fear mongering effort. With 100% of the city ballots counted, the discriminatory Charter Amendment One has been soundly defeated by a vote of 58% to 42%.

...check out the rest of the article? http://www.nctequality.org/

At the Matsu LBGTACC; Friday night's flick was "Gilda" with Rita Hayworth. Monday's was "She Done Him Wrong" with Mae West and Cary Grant.

Ms. Palin's at it again. Here's a fun headline:

Frank: Scalia's legal opinions reveal his homophobia, which comes from http://www.cnn. com/2009/ POLITICS/ 03/25/frank. qanda/index. html#cnnSTCText

I've been advised of the following:

DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

Guys, the landmark AIDS service organization, STOP AIDS Project here in San Francisco is looking for a Program Manager to oversee their social and assistance department that is devoted entirely to HIV+ gay men in the Bay Area. It's a demanding but potentially rewarding position, and best of all, you get to live here in this remarkable city with a wealth of HIV services and an active poz community. I'm very very very sure that moving costs are not covered, but I will personally buy you dinner at Boulevard Restaurant, which looks directly at the legendary Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, if you get the job!

NOTE: Please contact STOP AIDS directly, do not email me. I will only delete your application. If you are not savvy enough to not follow my instruction, I wouldn't want you to be working for this important program anyway. Seriously, in all things that are Rachel Maddow serious, if you can't follow this simple instruction, you are not capable enough to handle this job and I personally would not want you work there. Positive Force has been a very important addition to the lives of HIV+ gay men in this city that I love. Here's hoping they find someone fabulous and fierce! :)

MESSAGE FROM STOP AIDS PROJECT

We are still actively searching for qualified applicants for the
Positive Force Program Manager. Please continue to spread the word and
pass this job description amongst your social, professional, and
extended networks. Recommended places to list or post this job
announcement would be welcome too. Thank you.

STOP AIDS Project
2128 15th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
Direct: (415) 575-0150 x299
Fax: (415) 575-0166
Email: dmould@stopaids. org
Web: www.stopaids. org

From Queeralaska we get some info for those who want to quit breathing nicotine laced carbonized products right down into all that vulnerable lung tissue:

www.iquit.medschool .ucsf.edu.

Keep current on events by signing up for the Alaska LBGT News here.

From Talyne:

Thanks for the great visit and all the ideas I got Wednesday night! I wanted to let everyone know that I am forming an a capella choir and I would like to have rehearsal at the center on thursday from 6 till 7pm.
The name of the group is Harmony Community Choir. I will supply the music, we need singers. Must be able to take direction and at least be able to carry a tune in a bucket :).
for more info email me, talyne@lifecoachala ska.com Please put Harmony Choir in the subject line or call -746-5057.

The latest PDF update of Gayellow Pages is now available at
http://www.gayellow pages.com/ online.htm

Ok, that pretty much does it for the Evening News. I'd like some feedback to know if I should keep doing these kinds of posts? don't forget to use the comment line below.

Review of the Wednesday Coffee-rama.

2009-03-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

I love this peacock! It's from Galnet, (A Bisexual, Transgendered, and Lesbian Alliance) and I totally borrowed it without permission, so at least to check them out!?

I am flabbergasted! Attendance at the Wednesday Coffee keeps rocketing upwards, and we are beginning to draw the attention of the younger crowd! This is Fantastic. Coming out can be difficult, heck, transition from youth to adult is no picnic for straight teens! Doing both at the same time is something that we LBGT adults have done, sometimes well and sometimes poorly, but we've all learned a lot on the way. I'd like the young'ins to know they have honest information, advice, and encouragement through our Community Center. We're here to share what we've learned, and we are happy to do it!

So we're still growing! New faces at every Wednesday Coffee and a lot of enthusiasm for the Center!

With the Board Vote coming up on April 1, we already have some nominations;

Chris - Secretary, Chair

Ron - Secretary, Youth Outreach Officer

Kathleen- Director (Officer)

Brianne - Vice Chair

Talyne - Director (officer)

Jaime - Chair, Secretary, Director

Keep in mind, these are only nominations, Anyone may volunteer to throw their name in the ring, or the name of anyone they feel is qualified, and anyone nominated, of course can strike themselves off the list. These are suggestions. But they are to be commended for the public spirit and service they have shown our community!

Moving along, I'd like to make sure that everyone is aware that the Center will be open tonight from 5pm to 8pm. We have a comfortable, Family-friendly environment. We welcome people to come play games, watch movies, read a book, chat with our friendly volunteers and patrons, drink some tea or coffee (Thanks to Donating Volunteers!) and just have a good time in a place you won't be hit on, you won't be looked down on, and you won't be put on. It's Fun!

OK gotta go now, but I want to wish all out there a Fabulous day!

~Brianne!

Pansy Farming, and Today's News

2009-03-24T14:56:00.001-07:00

My ex once said she hated the term "Fag Hag", much prefered to be called a "Pansy Farmer". I've always liked that so when I saw this pic, it reminded me of her long time support for my coming out. I wanted to share it with everyone.

Yesterday Chris and Kathleen and I opened the office and had our first day of buisness at the new Community Center. We are learning quite a lot about operating this kind of venture. Last night we learned that we need to bring a playstation and something to watch to distract us from the "constant stream of interesting people" (HEY, INTERESTING PEOPLE, COME TO THE CENTER AND LET US HELP YOU!!).

Begining today at 5pm (we open at 4) we will be playing movies, you are all invited to come down and watch something. OR you can play with my playstation2. I have games or you can bring your favorite. This will be an everyday thing down at the center.

Now for the News.

OK, today's news is! Mt. Redoubt Asplode! it wasn't impressive enough for us valley types though. I don't see any of that shiny black glass stuff we were promised, no ground rumbling, or dark clouds that SHOULD have given us streets full of people afeared that the Second Coming was here, Endtimes upon us, and the Fiery Trumpets blaring the call of the Righteous. sigh, Darn Vulcanologists! Let's clip their ears and send them back to their homeworld. I was really looking forward to Unchained Melody played on Fiery Trumpets, too! :b

Affairs In Anchorage that affect us might include the Mayoral Race. I was sent this over the Anchorage Pride Yahoo Group, and thought I'd be good and share!

You are cordially invited to a spring outing and afternoon with Sheila
Selkregg, candidate for Mayor. Sheila stands for clean air, water,
renewable energy of all kinds, and social equality.

If you have not had an opportunity to meet Sheila and hear her plans
for governing our city, please join me at the lovely home of Lottie
Michael, 1010 Beech lane, on Sunday, March 29th, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.

Of course, as always, there will be food, wine, great conversation,
and an opportunity to meet the next Mayor of Anchorage.

The location is in downtown Anchorage, a block past the SW corner of
the Park Strip.

Sheila has publicly said she supports marriage equality for LGBT
people. Her mother, Lidia, was the principal person in passing the
1976 equal rights ordinance, her daughter is a member of our
community.

This is a combined LGBT and arts community house party."

I heard HOUSE PARTY!

Well, that's about all I have for Tuesday.

Keep in mind that TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, IS THE 5PM COFFEE AT VAGABOND BLUES IN ADORABLE DOWNTOWN PALMER. It's always more fun when you come!

Brianne.

Monday. Coffee, bleary eyes and back to work!

2009-03-23T13:14:00.001-07:00

Hi Hi!

Today is a special day for us. The culmination of months of waiting, networking, begging, pulling my hair out, chewing my nails (ok, nail polish tastes terrible so I quit that habit) and other unhealthy behavior (Drinking Coffee after noon, annoying half asleep Queens, and driving to Anchorage, among other things) You can tell this means a lot to me, because this is the first time I've ever used red text, and I rarely use italics, and you have the rare pleasure of seeing them combined in one sentence, in one post, on one blog!!

I am so very proud to announce the first day of operation of the MatSu LBGTA Community Center!!

Doors open this afternoon at 4:00, under the Church of the Covenant, 415 South Bailey, right next to the Alcoholics Anonymous fellowship rooms. Come on out! We'll have coffee and cookies if you bring some, and I'm sure we can celebrate by finding community services you can provide.

Remember, President Obama has called on each American to Serve their Communities to the level of their ability? well, that goes double for us folks. I promise we won't work you hard, and you love our splendiferous company! *eyelash flutters*

In all seriousness, you will have fun! We have a library, and a computer! Um. OK and a vcr with tv. We could use some kind of cd/dvd player thingy. A playstation2 might be perfect!! (hint, hint).

In Other News (like there should BE any other news);

Mad Myrna's and the Imperial Court are going to do dinner and a show on April 11. It's called Millinery Madness. There will be picnic inspired food, a raffle, and best of all a bonnet contest. So, wear your most outrageous easter bonnet and join the fun! for more info go to Mad Myrna's website!

Up the valley in Wasilla there is more community happenings coming up! April's Follies is bringing DRAG QUEENS TO THE VALLEY!. Be aware, these Drag Queens will be the real deal: word is there will be local acts, and fancy out of state queens too!

Hosted by the Imperial Court on April 4, 2009 at the Best Western, Lake Lucille. It's going to run from 8pm to 10:30, or maybe 'till the plastic bottles of booze are all empty? Be 19 or older, dress in your fine attire (dirty baseball caps and worn blue-jeans de rigor! ) You can email aprilsfollies@yahoo.com for pricing information.

Well that should be all the updating you need for now.

Thank You Mad Myrna!!

2009-03-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

Anyway, the center, as I have pointed out before, is BROKE. We Got Nuttin!, aside from some very nicely donated furniture and an lovely antique iMac

(we Adore Macs at the Center)!

We, the "board" of Directors-de Facto, noticed that it was sort of hard to do the kind of research into grants, or free money, or the whole LBGTA community, current fashion tips (red lips are VERY in this season Girls!!) or call out for dinner- without a phone, or even -GASP!- internet!!

What to do??

"Well" said Chris to Brianne, "Why not Beg?".

I paused a moment, caught up short by the uncivilized notion of going abegging for a basic necessity like internet (I'm not sure, but I think it's somewhere between air, water, toilet paper and food in Maslow's hierarchy) .

Then I remembered my couch surfing days in Seattle and felt much better. Some days my knees still ache from losing my gag reflex.

"OK", says I, "Who can we beg from?

Where do we go to find people with money to spend for the noble cause of LesiGayBiTransiness (and yes, all the other letters except Q, nobody likes Q).

Looking at Chris I could see the wheels churn, smoke come out, and suddenly, with a typewriter "DING!", a bright light shown above his head. Only one word came from him; a word of Promise, hope, inspiration, and beery fabulosity!~

"MYRNA'S"!

Friday Night At Mad Myrna's is always fun!

This one was special. Besides being the Vernal Equinox, which seems to be a great time for birth days, I think there were 10 or twelve last night there, and by the by, our own dear Matthew had his as well - pity he didn't come with us.

So Chris grabbed his G-man Hat, I grabbed the We-can, and like a flash we were in the Guy's-Guy-Jeep like Batman and Robyn in the batmobile!

Chris quickly figured out how much dirty green cash we needed for internet, prolly about 127 grand, 58 cents at MTA, and only $60 some-some with GCI, Whata Deal!!

I called up "The Only Gay Nightclub in Alaska", talked to someone that might have been the mysterious Myrna, and got a fabulous "sure" from the guy on the other end.

Well, to cut my story to the chase, Daphne and Paige of the Friday Night Divas

(WE LOVE YOU! ..... UM.....WILL YOU AUTOGRAPH MY PANTIES DIVAS?)

graciously made some room in their act to plug our cause, we passed the We-can (around the room I mean). And our handsome handy dandy Dan-Man bared his awesomely furry chest "et Viola!!" the money came pouring in!

We came, hat in hand; or at least Chris did, but we left with the means for internet, sore legs, ringing ears, dizzy heads, happy hearts, and the satisfied feeling of a job well done!

So, to everyone at Mad Myrna's last night a huge "THANK YOU" from everyone in the Valley.

You couldn't have been kinder to us out here in the MatSu.

-Brianne!

PS. Don't forget, come to the Community Center at 415 S. Bailey on April 1 at 5pm to vote in a new Community Center Board!

PPS. Please come visit us any weeknight 4-10 pm at the center as well! We'll keep the coffee on for you!

PPPS. Just to let you know while I'm here, Due to our Kind Hearts, Poor Wallets, and Community Spirit (Yay Community!) we will soon be sharing our office space with a group that arranges pro bono legal aid for underprivileged people in the community. Let's help make them comfortable room-mates! Maybe they'll bring home some cute dates?

-Brianne!

And the Doors will Open.

2009-03-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Several Items of news for us this week!

The first is (drummmmmm-rollllllll) The doors on the community center open on Monday 23 of March!

Our Hours of Operation will be from 4pm-10pm!

I'm ecstatic!

Next, The whole LBGTA community in the Valley is strongly encouraged to come to the Center on the 1st of April to participate in the Election of the Board of Directors. This is a very important election, people. It will shape the future success of the whole enterprise, and the future of sexual minorities in the whole valley!!

We Want You There!

Over the last 6 weeks it has been such a blessing to me to witness the huge growth of the community center. We are still tiny though. We need your participation. You are a part of this Valley, and you face daily discrimination. You don't have the freedom to wave a rainbow flag from your porch. Think about walking openly with other LBGT people on Pride day in Wasilla or Palmer. Can you imagine a picnic and concert event just for gay people in any of your nearby public parks or squares? Try wearing a pink triangle pin, or a rainbow necklace to work and explain what it means to your co-workers or your school friends. How many will support you?Imagine putting a big sign in your yard that says you are proud to be Gay, lesbian, etc. Or marking your car with emblems of LBGT Pride. If any one of these ideas makes you uncomfortable, if you fear retaliation from others for it- Then You Are One Of Us!

YOU ARE A DISCRIMINATED MINORITY!

Only your participation in the Community, your unity with others, can hope to wipe away the shame and humiliation thrust upon us. Seriously, your participation can bring all of us a better life in the valley. You can be a part of opening up the closed minds of the people who hate us.

If you choose, and it is YOUR choice, to sit on the sideline and hope someone else will do the work for you, or you choose to hide your head in the sand, pull tight shut the closet doors, then you doom yourself.

Think about it, is your job at risk when you are openly out, will you loose face in your churches, with your friends?

It doesn't have to be like that. It isn't in Seattle, Tacoma, San Francisco, New York, Norway, Sweden, or Switzerland. We are free to be open in Canada and Brazil. Why the heck should we bow our heads and hide in fear in this country? In our state?

Sure, if you stand up for the community the shock of change will ripple out - But so will the glow from the torch of justice. That light can be blown out, but if we CHOOSE to guard it like the lighthouse keepers in the storm, the service we do, YOU do, only helps everybody around you.

Think about it.

We'll be at the center, working, when you decide to join us.

-Brianne!

Movin' on up! In downtown Palmer!

2009-03-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

These photos are proof that you CAN move heavy furniture in high heels!. Our lovely model Kate sports high heeled boots AND can heave hide-a-footrest style couch into a giant truck! She also restores cars and drinks coffee like a lady!
In Seriousness our community center has been growing by leaps and bounds. Furniture has been showing up and getting moved in, computers donated, many hours of labor freely given, and the library has started to arrive! I can't thank all our volunteers enough for their dedication and hard work, that's what builds community and makes us united!
Our weekly Wednesday At 5:00 Coffe-rama's at Vagabond Blues have been leapfrogging in attendance over past couple of weeks, and I'm having to show up early to sit the BIG table!
The doors should be opening soon, and there is a HUGE list of things we need, and need to accomplish! On that list is assembling a board of directors and voting them in, and finding sources of funding, since we don't have enough to pay rent at this time, let alone supplies or phone connections.
Our Gay members have been amazing! they've been an essential part of the work that's already been accomplished - and believe me, it's been filthy work sanding the paint, smoke and rust off our classy retro '50's desk. Imagine it painted in something like Pink Cadillac with aqua trim and some chrome auto trim! Now that's cool, How cool you ask - well, I'd have to say Supercoolilisticexpialla-awsome!
Our Trans-members have worked like horses; real ones, like the ones that pull wagons and stuff. Well, not me actually, I just supervise so I don't break my nails, or a sweat, er....glow? LOL.
Our straight allies are people I cannot say enough good things about, they almost outnumber us and work with every bit the dedication, from rusty metal grinding to office...modifications? and hauling stuff, and fixing stuff, and just plain moral support and sleeve-rolling-uppish work. Hats off!
BUT Where on earth are our lesbian friends?? I distinctly see an absence of Lesbian women and Bisexuals? How can we have a truly representitive board, and a unified operation without your help gals (and guys!)? Don't be shy, just come on in to the Wednesday meetings and share your ideas and views, drink coffee and have a good time. C'mon! You KNOW you want too! :)

Recently I have contacted some foundations for grants to help keep our doors open and our resources growing, but I want to make a direct appeal to the public here; WE NEED MONEY!!
If you can donate, please show how you appreciate the free work on your behalf! If you can't spend $$ then volunteer, send suggestions for fundraising, or at least post a response here sharing how you feel about having these kind people building our community a nucleus. It's your place too, you know. It's our safe haven, and relaxed friend finding home. It's really a fun place! No pressures to go home with anyone, no drinking, smoking in the (somewhat cold) exterior smoking lounge, laughter, movies and potlucks, gaming nights, and new friends.
If you're not coming to coffee I swear you don't know the good stuff you are missing out on!

Blessings,
~Brianne!

News that is Very Most Pleasing!

2009-03-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hi gang!
We had a fantastic meeting on Wednesday; our attendence is UP! 7 wonderful people joined us to celebrate the diversity of the Palmer community and enjoy tea and coffee at Vagabond Blues! This more than doubles all previous attendance and makes me smiley happy!
While I can't wait to see our future growth, it's wonderful to see the interest and the commitment growing out here.
We recieved a fine donation of a desk, couch, and conference table for the center - they need work so anyone with time on their hands would be welcome to come help with the preparation. I am hoping to get things together for a grand opening of the center in the coming few weeks!
I'll keep you posted on more,
Bri!

DONORS? VOLUNTEERS?

2009-02-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody!
Before I begin my post I'd like to introduce you to the "We Can!". The We-Can! is that charming round tin can that marks the table at which we sit each week at Vagabond Blues for the informal coffee. I am encouraging all LBGTA people in the Valley (or beyond, for that matter) to attend. We meet every Wednesday at 5pm in Vagabond Blues, Palmer. It's a very informal thing, meet some new faces, and talk about whatever you wish! We'd sure love to see you there!

Ok, on to the post; first I'd like to point out that:
Transgendered Alaskans Support Group-offers weekly support group meetings as well as social functions for Transpeople, their partners, and adult children. Meetings are held in Anchorage on Sundays at 6:30. Transpeople from around the state will soon be able to attend and participate via Live video chat!
Next I want to take a moment to pitch for the Valley team! We need your help badly! The MatSu Valley now has offices for it's community center; but they're bare as a bone! If you can donate to us an old couch, comfy reading chairs, a meeting table, bookshelves, a desk, anything you think might be useful please contact us!
I'll be giving the center it's first computer; a Mac Mini, scanner, printer, etc. but until we can afford to hook up some internet down there it won't do us much good. You can help with your time, with your money, with your services!
I'd love it if we could get enough furniture to open up next week. I'll be volunteering as much time as I can to cover office hours, but we need people who can help me to unpack and organize our library - at least as soon as we can scare up some shelves.
In other news; I really want to thank all the kind and supportive people in the Anchorage LBGT community who have rooted for us all the way, and given me bushels of useful advice. Thank You Anchorage!
Tomorrow the Church of the Covenant will be hosting a speaker on the Darfur Tragedy, the church has been extremely kind to us in the Queer community, be we straight, transgendered, gay or lesbian, or something else entirely. The people of the Church of the Covenant have consistantly shown us support and have practised the principles of their teacher in a way I've never seen before in a Christian Church. If you can be there tomorrow - 415 South Bailey in Palmer - about 10 AM, it would be a wonderful show of thanks to this inclusive and accepting, and refreshingly supportive body of people.
One last thing. I've added myself to the followers list, from there you can visit my personal blog, where often LBGTA related things get put that I forget to post here. I invite you to see it!
OK, 'nuff for today, hope yours is wonderful!
~Brianne!

I FEEL EXCITED!

2009-02-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

And I just can't hide it!!
Hooray for Our Side! The Matsu Lgbt (or TLBG?) Community Center now has an official HOME!
Our organization has graciously been given access to an office space about a block from downtown Palmer, and in easy walking distance of the post office, Vagabond Blues, Valley Hotel, etc. The greatest thanks needs to be extended to the Church of the Covenant who supports the LBGT community and believes in our Community Center enough to grant us, for free, a space (with room for the Mat-Su lbgta library, a meeting room, & office nook), untill the time we can support ourselves through our own contributions.
I will be spending this week trying to move resources in to the office. I will be donating my personal Mac Mini and associated hardware, so Members of the Center can have internet access there. If I can get the wireless router up and working, anyone will be able to bring their laptop and surf in a peaceful pro-Family environment. If you are interested in volunteering some time or office things from paperclips to coffee makers, please contact me!
Brianne

Lots of busy and bubble

2009-02-14T20:23:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Here at the huge Matsu C.C. we are swamped with requests to join, donations, and huge attendences in our capacious halls. I also own a pineapple plantation
just up the road towards Fairbanks, you can have it cheap!

Really, I'm doing lots of "networking" right now, trying to remember names and faces, and fill my date book with meetings. I'm encouraged by the friendliness and helpfulness of our Anchorage community. Thanks Anchorage, for your support!

I had the good luck to be in Anchorage last Sunday, and attend the inaugural meeting of the Transgender support group. Along with it there's a new site to support all Alaskan Transgendered People. Sort of like an accessory, think of it as a really big hand bag! Once Anja is happy with the site and releases it to the general public I'll post it here. I will say that she's calling it the Transalaska Pipeline which is a PERFECT name for the information clearing house it's shaping up to be. Yay!

And one last note; if you read this blog and want to come to a meeting. Or if you don't want to come but will anyway,remember this: Monday at 2:00 PM and Wednesday at 5:00 pm.

Come and bask in my cheerful glow and let me share my scintillating conversation with you!

-Brianne

Big Mistake!

2009-02-04T17:09:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm now recovering from my brain surgery well enough to get back to working with the LBGTA Community Center. I wanted to hold Wednesday 7PM meetings at Vagabond Blues. That won't work since VB isn't open that late. Instead the "new" time will be Wednesday nights at 5PM.

Repetition follows: Wednesday night, Vagabond Blues, at 5pm.

I'll be there next week, I hope you will be too.

-Brianne

Monday's Meeting

2009-01-27T02:36:00.000-08:00

Due to the blowing tumbleweeds and slow lazy clouds of bored dust too disinterested to linger, this weeks meeting was officially adjourned, and our tiny persevering party of one transwoman and two straight people moved to the Valley Hotel.
We discovered that the Nacho Plate can be had without meat - *crowd cheers*. It's also important to relate that the dish can feed 4 comfortably. Although the coffee isn't quite as good at the Hotel, it's hot and acid enough to count as coffee, so down it went.
I'm still trying to find new members, so beware! If you see a Big Transwoman with a Lasso headed your way, run! and run fast lest you find yourself sipping steamy beverages and talking about the LBGTA community in the Valley. And, *shuddering horror* enduring Ms. Bri's misbegotten sense of humor.

I realize that most of my recent posts tell the same story, viz. that we haven't had a new member show up yet. But I am not discouraged. There are lonely Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Allied people out there who could really use an avenue to meet and enjoy the company of other friendly people, and in an atmosphere of bonhomie.
I intend to keep hammering at this in one way or another until I break (ain't happening), or the wall breaks. *whistling "If I had a Hammer", while daintilly striking the rocks with a jeweler's hammer in my sundress and big hat".

Since our Monday 2:00's aren't proving resoundingly popular, I'm going to open a new meeting time: Wednesday at 7pm. I will probably begin that next week as I am going in for Brain surgery tomorrow. Maybe that's prophetic? I wonder if the Universe is trying to tell me something?

Well, no matter. You have a great opportunity to meet new people with NO expectations on you. Why, you might even Like us!

Latest Update on the Community Center Meetings

2009-01-24T12:35:00.000-08:00

Brianne has not been idle! Really! Lately I've been cultivating contacts in the wider Alaskan LBGTA community. I've gotten the attention of the Imperial Court who has been very kind in support of this project. The wonderful anonymous people on Grrlzlist have also been great; may kindness and blessings bloom in their paths.
I'm still trying to encourage anyone who can to come to Vagabond Blues on Monday at 2pm. Meet your neighbors and friends and have some coffee and fun! We can Badmouth our favorite bad-guy politicians, gossip about celebrities, yak about haute couture, or tell bad jokes. Best of all you get an opportunity to make the friends that make our lives richer. If nothing else you can enjoy the best coffee house ambiance Palmer has to offer. I think there's even a Chess set.
I have Surgery this coming Tuesday but I will certainly be there at Monday's meeting. Once I have recovery well in hand I'll be launching a new meeting, Wednesday at either 6 or 7 pm. I'm taking comments to this post seriously, if you have a vote for 6 or a vote for 7 please leave them here so I can plan for the time that best serves us.
Ok, I'm off to be a busy bee now.
-Brianne Elizabeth.

Coffee and Conversation

2008-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks!

Today (The 29th) We had another great meeting at Vagabond Blues. ! Our little meeting is small, but that just means we have room for everyone! We are seeing ourselves grow. We also have straight people coming, making the "A" in LBGTA an important part of our growing community center effort. It's exciting and fun to know that we have supporters in the larger community.
Two O'clock on monday is a difficult time for some of us, but as a group we would be willing to negotiate a better meeting time if it helps us bring more people on board. Just contact us or come to a meeting. As a community center we are here for you. So I really do hope that we will see some of you readers join us next Tuesday!
Conversation this time included topics such as 12 step recovery programs, automobile maintenance, and the quality of the coffee. There might well have been a few whispered admirations of the quite attractive clientele of Vagabond Blues. Why don't you join with us? Come get in the fun, meet new people, laugh and drink great coffee, or tea, or water for that matter. Hanging out with us helps build a community that helps you!

Thanks,
Brianne.

Just a Reminder

2008-12-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Hi! I just wanted to post a reminder that on Monday afternoons at 2pm we will be meeting at the Vagabond Blues Coffee shop in Palmer. Come join us and have some great fun as we discuss LBGT issues in the valley.
-Brianne.

Vision

2008-11-19T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, I'm Brianne, and I'd like to take a moment to share the vision I have of what the MatSu LGBT Community Center can be for all of us who live in the valley. It can go a long way towards removing the sense of Isolation that so many of us are saddled with.
First it can give us a sense of belonging, of Family. It can be a haven, a place to sit and read. A place to meet other queer folk, and to make friends in the safety and security of a pressure, alcohol, and drug free environment.
A place to organize picnics,dances, and parties, to have movie nights and potlucks, to have group meetings that build solidarity in each of our smaller sub-communities, from Bears to Leather Dykes, Transgendered People to Asexuals. And those smaller groups may participate in building a unified and strong over-arching Queer Family, fulfilling the promise of that Rainbow flag we all wave.
The Community Center offers a nexus to give all sorts of support to those who need help of every kind, from listings of gay friendly doctors and therapists, to co-ordinating transportation needs. Finding housing, or lawyers, to the best gay friendly restraunts. And it gives all of us, in concert, the power to advocate on the local and state level, for our needs and our concerns as members of, arguably, the most marginalized class of Alaskan Americans.
It gives you a voice, much louder than your own. And you get the chance to participate, helping yourself, and also helping to serve others. We will need volunteers, we will need contributors, donators, and public servants willing to go into schools and teach our young, give them hope and show them inspiration through our long suffering strength, and the promise of peace and tolerance in our shared future.
I invite you to participate in something that benefits you directly, your friends and loved ones, your acquaintances, and potentially even the straight segment of the Valley we all live in. Please help us, in whatever way you can. A donation of 2 dollars or 200, a chair, couch, bookshelf, your time, your service, what can you spare that will make our world that little bit better?

-Brianne

Resurrecting The MatSu LGBT Community Center

2008-11-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

The Church of the Covenant in Palmer has been the physical home of the MatSu LGBT Community since it's inception in 2002. There is some office space coming available in the basement of the church on January 1, 2009. The space is 600 square feet, and rent would be $600.00 per month. The space has a nice reception area with a coffee nook and small bathroom, and has two offices suitable for a library (We already have many boxes of books for the library, they need a home)and conference room. The main drawback is that is down a small flight of stairs - so the space is not ideally accessible, but it would be nice to have a home of our own from which we can grow.
Right now we have several needs. The most important is a functioning board of directors. If you are available and willing to serve, please email me.
To make this work we really need your donations to help cover a six month lease. We don't have a post office box any more, but we do have a bank account at Northrim Bank, and our 501c3 status is still good. For now, tax deductible donations may be mailed c/o Church of the Covenant, 450 S. Bailey, Palmer, AK 99645.
You can also review our history at our Yahoo Group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/matsulgbtcc/
A functioning Valley Community Center can help create a real community where none exists, and provide a central clearinghouse for information, contacts and services, not to mention a fun and safe place for meetings and activities of all sorts.