Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alaska. Show all posts
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Support Hate Crime Legislation In Alaska This Week
Senate Bill 202, the Alaska Hate Crimes Bill, has been scheduled for its second hearing before the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 17th at 1:30 p.m. in Room 105 of the new Thomas Stewart Building adjacent to the Capitol. Because this is the second hearing on the bill, the focus will mostly likely be a discussion among committee members regarding possible amendments to the bill. Discussion may be followed by a vote to determine passage out of committee.
Action is needed on your part between now and Wednesday. Please send a message to ask Senators on the Judiciary Committee to amend the bill by adding gender identity and expression in paragraph (a) of Section 11.76.150. (Once the bill has been amended, a CS or Committee Substitute will declared.) Also ask committee members to pass the CS for SB 202 out of committee.
Please send an email message to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee plus the bill's sponsor, Senator Davis today. It is always a good idea to copy your own state senator as well. The legislators are:
Senator Hollis French
Senator_Hollis_French@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator_Bill_Wielechowski@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator_Dennis_Egan@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Lesil McGuire
Senator_Lesil_McGuire@legis.state.ak.us
Senator John Coghill
Senator_John_Coghill@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Bettye Davis
Senator_Bettye_Davis@legis.state.ak.us
Action is needed on your part between now and Wednesday. Please send a message to ask Senators on the Judiciary Committee to amend the bill by adding gender identity and expression in paragraph (a) of Section 11.76.150. (Once the bill has been amended, a CS or Committee Substitute will declared.) Also ask committee members to pass the CS for SB 202 out of committee.
Please send an email message to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee plus the bill's sponsor, Senator Davis today. It is always a good idea to copy your own state senator as well. The legislators are:
Senator Hollis French
Senator_Hollis_French@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator_Bill_Wielechowski@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator_Dennis_Egan@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Lesil McGuire
Senator_Lesil_McGuire@legis.state.ak.us
Senator John Coghill
Senator_John_Coghill@legis.state.ak.us
Senator Bettye Davis
Senator_Bettye_Davis@legis.state.ak.us
If you are not able to send an email, then another option is a Public Opinion Message or POM, a short and easy-to-send 50 word message that should be addressed specifically to the Senators listed in the previous paragraph. To send a POM go to: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/
Your POM could say something like:
"I strongly support SB 202 with an amendment that adds gender identity and expression to Section 11.76.150(a). Please pass this bill, with a gender identity amendment, out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 17th."
The following talking points are provided for your use in sending a message to legislators regarding SB 202.
Your POM could say something like:
"I strongly support SB 202 with an amendment that adds gender identity and expression to Section 11.76.150(a). Please pass this bill, with a gender identity amendment, out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 17th."
The following talking points are provided for your use in sending a message to legislators regarding SB 202.
SB 202 Talking Points for Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
1. We/I support the amendment of SB 202 to add the phrase "gender identity and expression" to Sec. 11.76.150 (a) because:
a) it covers crimes motivated by prejudice, bias, or hatred based on the victim's sexual orientation as well as on other inherent characteristics, but does not yet cover gender identity.
b) people who are perceived as gender variant, whether heterosexual or gay, seem "different" to some people and may evoke a violent emotional response leading to harm.
c) a substantial number of crimes have been documented that are based on the societal perception of someone as "too feminine" or "too masculine," or transgender. These crimes can include bullying in schools as well as assault and battery throughout Alaskan communities.
b) people who are perceived as gender variant, whether heterosexual or gay, seem "different" to some people and may evoke a violent emotional response leading to harm.
c) a substantial number of crimes have been documented that are based on the societal perception of someone as "too feminine" or "too masculine," or transgender. These crimes can include bullying in schools as well as assault and battery throughout Alaskan communities.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at alaskanstogether@gmail.com.
The full text of the bill can be found at:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0202A&session=26.
The full text of the bill can be found at:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0202A&session=26.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.
Friday, April 10, 2009
W.A.R. - Palin's AG pick - Too Radical for Alaska
Alaskans Together for Equality asks all reasonable, fair minded Alaskans to oppose Governor Palin's Attorney General nominee Wayne Anthony Ross (WAR) because he is too extreme and ideology driven to represent all Alaskans fairly.
In a letter he wrote to the Alaska Bar Association, WAR has referred to gay people as 'degenerates' and 'immoral' and described being gay as a 'perversion' that until recently, 'was a crime.' Such extreme comments are almost funny they are so wacko, but of course such hate speech is dangerous and even promotes discrimination and violence. Can such an extremist uphold the constitutional rights of gay, lesbian, and transgendered Alaskans fairly and without discrimination?
WAR has also worked against the rights of Alaska Natives and women. He has a long published record of his extreme views on many subjects.
Alaska needs and deserves an Attorney General who will represent all Alaskans and our interests, not his own radical agenda.
The entire Legislature is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of WAR on Thursday, April 16th. Please contact all the legislators you know, including your own senator and representatives and state your opinion about the confirmation of Mr. Ross as our Attorney General.
The Public Opinion Message (POM) system is an excellent way to communicate with legislators briefly and easily. Simply go to http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/
Or visit the home page for the Alaska Legislature and find contact info for your Sentor and Representative: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/index.php
In a letter he wrote to the Alaska Bar Association, WAR has referred to gay people as 'degenerates' and 'immoral' and described being gay as a 'perversion' that until recently, 'was a crime.' Such extreme comments are almost funny they are so wacko, but of course such hate speech is dangerous and even promotes discrimination and violence. Can such an extremist uphold the constitutional rights of gay, lesbian, and transgendered Alaskans fairly and without discrimination?
WAR has also worked against the rights of Alaska Natives and women. He has a long published record of his extreme views on many subjects.
Alaska needs and deserves an Attorney General who will represent all Alaskans and our interests, not his own radical agenda.
The entire Legislature is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of WAR on Thursday, April 16th. Please contact all the legislators you know, including your own senator and representatives and state your opinion about the confirmation of Mr. Ross as our Attorney General.
The Public Opinion Message (POM) system is an excellent way to communicate with legislators briefly and easily. Simply go to http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/
Or visit the home page for the Alaska Legislature and find contact info for your Sentor and Representative: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/index.php
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Fairbanks School Board bravely acts to protect all its students
Kudos to the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board who voted on Feb. 17, 2009 to add gender identity to the school district's anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
Students questioning their gender identity (for example, the gender they feel in their heart they should express differs from the gender assigned at birth) are the most vulnerable group of students to discrimination, harassment, violence, dropping out and even suicide. Still many folks do not believe these students require specific protection.
We are glad that the Fairbanks school board took this proactive step to protect all of our students! This brave action sets a good example for schools, governments, and organizations across Alaska on how to protect and show basic respect for the most misunderstood group of students and members of our community.
Students questioning their gender identity (for example, the gender they feel in their heart they should express differs from the gender assigned at birth) are the most vulnerable group of students to discrimination, harassment, violence, dropping out and even suicide. Still many folks do not believe these students require specific protection.
We are glad that the Fairbanks school board took this proactive step to protect all of our students! This brave action sets a good example for schools, governments, and organizations across Alaska on how to protect and show basic respect for the most misunderstood group of students and members of our community.
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