Follow up #2: LGBTQ Safety Townhall

Please note, a lot of this information is past date - the purpose of sharing it here is so that all of our information is in one place.

February 7, 2020:

"It's time for another LGBTQ Peninsula Update."

PENDING LEGISLATION ALASKA SENATE BILL SB 147 - Designating June as Pride month  - See the full bill here: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/31?Root=SB%20147 . SB 147 was introduced and sent to Senate State Affairs and no action has been taken. Email Senate State Affairs Chair Josh Revak at Senator.Joshua.Revak@akleg.gov to show support for this bill.

City OF KENAI RESOLUTION 2020-05 (Supporting HB 198): PASSED. 

CITY OF SOLDOTNA RESOLUTION 2020-006 (Supporting HB198): PASSED.

Anchorage is working on a similar resolution. If you know anyone in surrounding areas, encourage them to pass the resolution on to their governing bodies. Consider writing a  letter to the editor for local newspapers, posting the information on your facebook page, attending representative town halls and other public meetings, and otherwise spreading the word. The more cities, tribes, burroughs, school districts, etc supporting the legislation, the harder it will be to defeat in the AK legislature. The same can be applied to the two following points as well.

ALASKA HOUSE BILL 198, AN ACT RELATING TO AGGRAVATING FACTORS CONSIDERED AT SENTENCING - This bill adds "sexual orientation and gender identity: to existing legislation. See the full bill here: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/31?Root=HB%20198. This bill just made it out of the House State Affairs Committee on 2/6/2020. It will now head to the House Judiciary Committee. We will need help and additional testimony to get it out of this committee and onto the floor of the House. Once/If it passes, we will repeat the process in the senate. There is not currently a timeline for the House Judiciary Committee.

ALASKA SENATE BILL 82 "An Act adding to the powers and duties of the State Commission for Human Rights; and relating to and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression." - See the full bill here: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/31?Root=SB%2082. SB 82, which was introduced last session, and still sits in Senate State Affairs. Email Senate State Affairs Chair Josh Revak at Senator.Joshua.Revak@akleg.gov to show support for this bill. HB 82 (companion bill to SB 82) See the full bill here: http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/31?Root=HB%2082 HB 82 still sits in House Judiciary. Email House Judiciary Chair Matt Claman at Representative.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov to show support for this bill.

Safe Zone TOMORROW (2/8) Many Voices is hosting our first ever public Safe Zone Training at KPC ResLife. See the facebook event page for more info, and please consider RSVPing if you are attending (it is not required but will help the organizers prepare). https://www.facebook.com/events/2250840535208462/Alliance

Queens Guard Jamie Gilliam is working with Vincent Feuilles at the Anchorage Branch of the Queens Guard to set up a Soldotna Branch. Please contact her at Jamieldooleygilliam@gmail.com if you are interested in participating. If you have already signed up to receive information about this specifically, expect a follow up email from one of us in the near future. (A Follow up email was sent out on 2/10/2020).

Soldotna Pride 2020 The next Pride in the Park Planning meeting will take place at 6:30 PM on March 5th at KPC ResLife:  https://www.facebook.com/events/2712569585492181/  We have received an email from Joel at Parks & rec, informing us to "plan ahead" for June 20th, 2020! If you are wanting to be on the planning committee, please come to one of our meetings or email me so I can put you on the private planning facebook page.

Homer Pride https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562227424079582/ . Homer Pride has not yet advertised a date for their pride activities in 2020.

Seward Pride https://www.facebook.com/SewardPride/ . Seward Pride is June 12-14, 2020.

Anchorage Pride https://www.facebook.com/AnchoragePride/. Anchorage Pride is a week long celebration, culminating in the Parade and festival on June 27, 2020.

LGBT Alliance Meeting The next LGBT Alliance meeting will take place at 7 P.M. on February 28th at KPC Reslife:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1058547787814674/

Update on Tammie's case There are no updates at this time.