Tag Archives: Anchorage ordinance 2009-64

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.

Posted in About writing, Alaska justice system, Alaska politics, Cold, Depression, Journal, Long Dark, NaNoWriMo, Ordinance, True Diversity Dinner | Also tagged Alaska Commons, Alaska Judicial Council, Alaska Legislature, Anchorage Daily News, 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

Coming out

By Mel | Published: Sunday, 11 October 2009

In celebration of National Coming Out Day 2009. As Julia O'Malley pointed out after Sullivan vetoed the Anchorage equal rights ordinance, it's not laws that change people, but personal relationships. Which is why the most important work I've done in the struggle for equal rights for LGBTQ people is simply to live my life, openly, as who I am.

Posted in LGBTQA | Also tagged coming out, lgbtq, National Coming Out Day, Wellesley College | 3 Comments

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.

Posted in Ordinance, Social justice, True Diversity Dinner | Also tagged 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

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.

Posted in Ordinance, True Diversity Dinner | Also tagged Anchorage Assembly, crossposted, Dan Sullivan, family, Green-Lieght family, lgbtq, True Diversity Dinner 2009 | 1 Comment

Should white heterosexuals be permitted at a diversity event?

By Mel | Published: Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Does being a lesbian make me "diverse"? Does being white and heterosexual make my white heterosexual friends and relatives "not diverse"? Duh. But apparently some people believe you should have diversity credentials to attend a diversity dinner. With a tribute to our allies in the summer 2009 fight for the Anchorage equal rights ordinance.

Posted in Ordinance, True Diversity Dinner | Also tagged diversity, True Diversity Dinner 2009 | 10 Comments

True Diversity Dinner: September 25, 2009

By Mel | Published: Sunday, 13 September 2009

Shortly after vetoing equal protection for LGBTQ people in Anchorage, Mayor Sullivan changed the name of the Mayor's Diversity Dinner to the Mayor's Unity Dinner. But we still value diversity. So we're having our own Diversity Dinner. Join us.

Posted in True Diversity Dinner | Also tagged Dan Sullivan, diversity, True Diversity Dinner 2009 | Leave a comment

No, Debbie, Title VII does NOT prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in employment. Hello?

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 3 September 2009

Wishing doesn't make it so: despite Anchorage Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander's contention that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers sexual orientation discrimination, federal case law consistently shows that it does not. Here's more proof, with a recent 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals case which found that an effeminate gay man in Pennsylvania (but not actually Emmett Honeycutt) laid off from his job had recourse under Title VII for discrimination based on gender role stereotyping, but not for sexual orientation.

Posted in Ordinance | Also tagged 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, Anchorage Assembly, Assembly public hearing, crossposted, Debbie Ossiander, ENDA, July 21 public hearing, lgbtq, Pamela Kelley, Prowel v. Wise Business Forms, Title VII, U.S. Supreme Court | 5 Comments

Queer eye for the sci-fi (& fantasy): LGBTA writers & homophobia

By Mel | Published: Tuesday, 1 September 2009

The Outer Alliance was formed to “educate, support, and celebrate LGBT contributions in the science-fiction and fantasy genres" following virulent homophobic statements by Nebula-nominated writer John C. Wright. Orson Scott Card is another prominent SF/F writer with a history of homophobia and antigay advocacy. Get the skinny here, and if you love SF and fantasy consider joining the Outer Alliance.

Posted in LGBTQA writers | Also tagged crossposted, fantasy, homophobia, John C. Wright, lgbtq, Orson Scott Card, Outer Alliance, science fiction | 16 Comments

Outer Alliance Pride Day 2009: An excerpt from Mistress of Woodland

By Mel | Published: Tuesday, 1 September 2009

As a member of the Outer Alliance, I advocate for queer speculative fiction and those who create, publish and support it, whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity. I make sure this is reflected in my actions and my work. I’ve been reading the SF & fantasy for most of my life, thanks to me picking [...]

Posted in Finndex, LGBTQA writers, Mistress of Woodland | Also tagged fantasy, Finnish myth, Fort Rich woods, Helvetti, lgbtq, Mielikki, Outer Alliance, science fiction, writing | 2 Comments

Gay-ins at McGinley’s

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 27 August 2009

Brendan Joel Kelley at the Anchorage Press reports on last Friday’s goings-on at McGinley’s — about which I wrote at the time. Brendan mentions Michael Mason’s conversation with managing partner Jack Lewis: According to Mason, he plans on returning to talk to Lewis and bringing him a statement much like the one Cook Inlet Region, Inc. [...]