LGBTQ

Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds participate in Juneau LGBTQ+ rally as Trump administration seeks to erase letters and rights

President’s actions to stop “woke” are putting people’s safety and health at risk, participants say.

 

Southeast Alaska LGBTQ+ Alliance Board Chair JoLynn Shriber reads a list the names of killed transgender people as Thunder Mountain High School students Kyla Stevens, center, and Laila Williams hold flags in the wind during a transgender remembrance at Marine Park on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s hard enough to be a trans kid in the US without Trump trying to erase them

Trans folks have always been and will always be here.

 

A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward Pride Alliance rallies after bomb threat displaces drag story hour

The event was able to continue after a delay and a fundraising effort has brought in more than $13,000

 

A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State Board of Education bars trans girls from girls high school sports teams

Schools or school districts must create separate athletic categories for cisgender girls and other student athletes

A sign opposing the participation of trans girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Alaska Board of Education met in the building to discuss a resolution that would ban trans girls from girls high school sports. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, reads an announcement during the Senate floor session Wednesday. Tobin, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, emerged as a potential road block to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “parental rights” bill by declaring it would not get a hearing if referred to her committee. The bill was subsequently referred to two other committees, with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, stating it will get a public hearing.

Bill limiting sex, gender discussion in education will get public hearing, senate president says

However, lawmakers say it will not be a main focus.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, reads an announcement during the Senate floor session Wednesday. Tobin, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, emerged as a potential road block to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “parental rights” bill by declaring it would not get a hearing if referred to her committee. The bill was subsequently referred to two other committees, with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, stating it will get a public hearing.
The Senate Judiciary Committee moved a bill that would ban transgender student athletes from competing on teams of the sex they identify with on Monday, May 2, 2022. The bill could go to a floor vote sometime this week. (Screenshot)

Transgender sports bill ready for Senate vote

Senate Bill was moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday

The Senate Judiciary Committee moved a bill that would ban transgender student athletes from competing on teams of the sex they identify with on Monday, May 2, 2022. The bill could go to a floor vote sometime this week. (Screenshot)
Screenshot In this screenshot of Gavel Alaska, Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, spoke to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 3, 2022, regarding a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the sex they identify with.

Hearing held for restrictive transgender sports bill

Opponents say courts will strike it down.

Screenshot In this screenshot of Gavel Alaska, Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, spoke to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 3, 2022, regarding a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the sex they identify with.
KPBSD Itinerant Counselor Natali Jones reads “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold in support of the LGBTQ+ community during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. Treatment of LGBTQ+ students within the school district dominated public testimony during the board’s Monday night meeting. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Everyone deserves to have a safe learning environment’

Students, teachers speak out about LGBTQ+ inclusion at school board meeting.

KPBSD Itinerant Counselor Natali Jones reads “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold in support of the LGBTQ+ community during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. Treatment of LGBTQ+ students within the school district dominated public testimony during the board’s Monday night meeting. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A progressive pride flag hangs in Winter Marshall-Allen’s classroom at Homer High School on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 in Homer Alaska. Marshall-Allen was previously asked to take the flag and other symbols displayed in her classroom down, but was allowed to put it back up after filing a grievance with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

‘The school building needs to be a safe haven’

Union forms commission in response to accusations of LGBTQ+ censorship in schools

A progressive pride flag hangs in Winter Marshall-Allen’s classroom at Homer High School on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 in Homer Alaska. Marshall-Allen was previously asked to take the flag and other symbols displayed in her classroom down, but was allowed to put it back up after filing a grievance with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
Manuel Balce Ceneta / associated press file Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights hold placards in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 8, 2019.

Alaskans celebrate Supreme Court decision protecting LGBTQ+ rights

The 6-3 decision is a resounding victory for the LGBTQ+ community.

Manuel Balce Ceneta / associated press file Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights hold placards in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 8, 2019.
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks to the media in this file photo from 2017.

Legislator proposes adding LGBTQ protections to state hate crime laws

Bill from Anchorage lawmaker follows attack on Sterling woman.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks to the media in this file photo from 2017.
LGBTQ equal rights bill unlikely to advance any further this year

LGBTQ equal rights bill unlikely to advance any further this year

Alaska could be 23rd state to ban discrimination.

LGBTQ equal rights bill unlikely to advance any further this year
King Key watches the Juneau Pride Chorus sing at the Stonewall 50 Tea & Dance event in McPhetres Hall Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Golden anniversary of Stonewall uprising celebrated in Juneau

They did something.

King Key watches the Juneau Pride Chorus sing at the Stonewall 50 Tea & Dance event in McPhetres Hall Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)