Category Archives: True Diversity Dinner

The True Diversity Dinner originated with several Anchorage progressive bloggers — including me — who had been writing about the fight for the Anchorage equal rights ordinance 2009-64 during the summer of 2009. The ordinance, which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the municipal human rights code, passed the Anchorage Assembly by a vote of 7 to 4 but was vetoed by Mayor Dan Sullivan. The following month, for Mayor’s Diversity Month (an event originally created during the administration of Mayor, now Senator, Mark Begich) was renamed the Mayor’s Unity Dinner by Mayor Sullivan. The True Diversity Dinner was our alternative, with the motto, “Because we all deserve a seat at the table.”

My story of 2009

By Mel | Published: Friday, 1 January 2010

Not quite ALL about my 2009, because that would take a year to write. This only took several hours.

Also posted in About writing, Alaska justice system, Alaska politics, Cold, Depression, Journal, Long Dark, NaNoWriMo, Ordinance | Tagged Alaska Commons, Alaska Judicial Council, Alaska Legislature, Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage ordinance 2009-64, Anchorage Press, Arliss Sturgulewski, Bent Alaska, cave, Celtic Diva, Columbia Sussex, couch, Crossed Genres, Dad, Dan Sullivan, Dave, death, Eddie Burke, Floridana Alaskiana v2.5, Grandpa Claude, Green family, Green-Lieght family, grey, Grrlzlist, Heather Aronno, Hilton Anchorage, hotel workers, Identity Inc., Identity Reports, James Bopp Jr., Jane Angvik, Janson Jones, Jesse, John Aronno, Julius, lgbtq, LGBTQ allies, lima beans, Linda Kellen Biegel, Mark, Mark Begich, Melz published work, Mer, Miller v. Carpeneti, Mom, my apartment, NaNoWriMo 2009, Nicholas Hughes, One in 10, Palin ethics complaints, PrideFest, Progressive Alaska (blog), Ptery, Sarah Palin, Sean Cockerham, SOSAnchorage.net, Stef Gingrich, Summer of Hate, sunflowers, True Diversity Dinner 2009, Väi the cat, veto, Vic Fischer, violence against women, Wayne Anthony Ross (WAR), writing | 2 Comments

True Diversity Dinner video, part 5: Diane Benson

By Mel | Published: Saturday, 3 October 2009

Janson Jones' fifth video of the September 25 True Diversity Dinner in Anchorage features Diane Benson speaking about healing racism in Anchorage -- & some of my additional commentary on Alaska's high rate of sexual violence that especially victimizes Alaska Native women.

Also posted in Alaska politics | Tagged Alaska Natives, André Rosay, Diane Benson, diversity, Elizabeth Peratrovich, Janson Jones, racism, sexual assault, True Diversity Dinner 2009, UAA Justice Center, video, violence against women | Leave a comment

True Diversity Dinner video, part 4: Masingka Singers & Dancers

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 1 October 2009

Janson Jones' video, & my photos, of the Yup'ik troupe Masingka Singers & Dancers performing at the True Diversity Dinner in Anchorage on September 25, 2009.

Posted in True Diversity Dinner | Tagged diversity, Janson Jones, Masingka, slideshow, True Diversity Dinner 2009, video | Leave a comment

True Diversity Dinner video, part 3: Hotel workers, & Elvi’s speech

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 1 October 2009

Part 3 of Janson Jones' video of the September 25 True Diversity Dinner in Anchorage includes Hilton hotel workers protesting outside the Mayor's Unity Dinner, and the speech of Assembly Member Elvi Gray-Jackson.

Also posted in Social justice | Tagged Elvi Gray-Jackson, Hilton Anchorage, hotel workers, Janson Jones, lgbtq, Mayor's Unity Dinner, True Diversity Dinner 2009, unions, UNITE HERE Local 878, video | Leave a comment

The Daily Tweets, 2009-09-29: True Diversity Dinner videos by Janson Jones

By Mel | Published: Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Today's Daily Tweets include links to Janson Jones' videos of the True Diversity Dinner held in Anchorage on September 25, 2009.

Also posted in The Daily Tweets | Tagged True Diversity Dinner 2009 | Leave a comment

True Diversity Dinner 1 & 2: Video by Janson Jones

By Mel | Published: Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Parts 1 & 2 of video coverage of the September 25, 2009 True Diversity Dinner in Anchorage by Janson Jones of Floridana Alaskiana v2.5. Part 1 includes background on the summer 2009 fight for the Anchorage equal rights ordinance AO 2009-64; part 2 is a montage of Janson's photos of the dinner.

Also posted in Ordinance, Social justice | Tagged Anchorage ordinance 2009-64, crossposted, Dan Sullivan, diversity, Hilton Anchorage, hotel workers, Janson Jones, Mayor's Unity Dinner, True Diversity Dinner 2009, unions, UNITE HERE Local 878, video | 1 Comment

True Diversity Dinner: Slideshow

By Mel | Published: Saturday, 26 September 2009

Here's a selection of photos I took at last night's True Diversity Dinner.

Posted in True Diversity Dinner | Tagged diversity, lgbtq, slideshow, True Diversity Dinner 2009 | 2 Comments

Unity & union-busting

By Mel | Published: Friday, 25 September 2009

Workers fight for a fair contract with a union-busting employer -- the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, where today two events featuring keynote speaker Lynn Swann are being held: an Alaska Republican Party fundraiser, and the Mayor's Unity Dinner. Unity? -- or union-busting?

Also posted in Social justice | Tagged crossposted, Dan Sullivan, diversity, Hilton Anchorage, hotel workers, Lynn Swann, Mayor's Unity Dinner, True Diversity Dinner 2009, unions, UNITE HERE Local 878 | 4 Comments

True Diversity v. fake unity

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 24 September 2009

Another aspect of the Mayor's "Unity" Dinner: it's being held at the only hotel in town, the Hilton, that is in the midst of an employee-encouraged boycott because of the employer's refusal to bargain in good faith. Also, we could use a little assistance with costs of our dinner!

Also posted in Social justice | Tagged Brendan Joel Kelley, crossposted, Dan Sullivan, diversity, Hilton Anchorage, hotel workers, Shannyn Moore, True Diversity Dinner 2009, unions, UNITE HERE Local 878 | 1 Comment

Diversity, unity, family

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 17 September 2009

Mayor Dan Sullivan claims, with his Mayor's Unity Dinner, to be honoring values we all share, including the importance of family. But his veto last month of the Anchorage equal rights ordinance makes it clear that he only deems some families important -- and mine's not one of them.