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

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.

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.

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.

Sincerely,


Board of Directors
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.

Support Hate Crime Legislation on Monday, March 8

Dear Members and Supporters of Alaskans Together For Equality,

Senate Bill 202, the Alaska Hate Crimes Bill, has been scheduled for its first hearing, before the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, March 8th. 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 Judiciary Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. and has several bills scheduled to be heard so testimony could be taken on SB 202 anytime between 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. on Monday. We invite you to provide short testimony in support of SB 202 with an added amendment to cover gender identity and expression. Testimony can be given in person in Room 105 of the new Thomas Stewart Building adjacent to the Capitol, by teleconference from your local Legislative Information office (see http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/lios.php for the location of you LIO) or by calling toll free 877.763.5073.

If you are not able to testify on March 8th, please send a message to your own state senator and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee plus the bill's sponsor, Senator Davis. 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 message, then your third 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. 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." To send a POM go to: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/

The following talking points are provided for your use in writing testimony or sending a message to legislators regarding SB 202.

SB 202 Talking Points for Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.

1. We support SB 202 introduced by Senator Davis in the second session of the 26th Alaska Legislature 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.

b) we recognize that hate crimes are not limited to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community but occur throughout minority communities and are designed to create fear. This bill emphasizes that Alaska has no tolerance for such acts.

c) the Alaska court system has primary jurisdiction over crimes of assault and battery which may result in prosecution as hate crimes when occurring in Alaska.

d) Alaska prosecutors and law enforcement officials need the support and force of an Alaska statute in order to most effectively investigate, prosecute, and track all potential hate crimes within the state.

2. We support the amendment of SB 202 to add the phrase "gender identity and expression" to Sec. 11.76.150 (a) because:

a) 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.

b) a substantial number of crimes have been documented that are based on the societal perception of someone as "too feminine" or "too masculine." These crimes can include bullying of both straight and gay persons in schools and throughout Alaskan communities.

3. We appreciate Senate Judiciary Committee for holding a hearing on SB 202, ask for its passage out of committee with a "gender identity" amendment, and support its swift movement through the legislative process so that it becomes law in the very near future.

We look forward to hearing your testimony on Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at alaskanstogether@gmail.com.

Sincerely,


Board of Directors
Alaskans Together for Equality

Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. applauds President Obama for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law

Anchorage -The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, makes it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc., celebrates the final passage of this legislation signed into law by the President Obama today. We congratulate the joint efforts of everyone who worked to make this bill become law.

“This is a great day for all fair-minded Americans that our government has finally taken a strong stand in opposition to violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans simply for their identity or perceived identity” said Tim Stallard, Spokesperson for Alaskans Together For Equality Inc.

The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped, severely beaten, and left to die tied to a fence in October 1998, and James Byrd, Jr., an African-American who in June of 1998 was beaten, chained to the back of a pick-up truck, and dragged for miles over rural roads in Jasper, Texas. While all violent crime is reprehensible, ‘hate crimes’ are meant to terrorize and invoke fear in an entire community of people.

“We are very proud that both Alaska’s Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski have supported this strong statement against hatred and violent discrimination”, said Elias Rojas, newly elected Board President of Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.

This important legislation will make it easier for federal prosecutors to step in when state or local authorities are unable or unwilling to pursue hate crimes. This is welcome news for LGBT Alaskans in the wake of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan’s recent veto of a municipal non-discrimination ordinance that would have extended protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from workplace and housing discrimination despite evidence and extensive public testimony that such discrimination exists.

Alaskans Together for Equality is a membership based group that advances the civil equality for all Alaskans through grass roots organizing and advocacy. Alaskans Together for Equality is the only statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Alaska.

Tyranny of the majority in CA

Official Statement from Alaskans Together for Equality regarding the California Supreme Court ruling upholding Prop 8:


We believe that the option to get married is a basic human right. Gay and Lesbian Americans should have the same access to marriage and associated rights as other citizens. We are disappointed that the California Supreme Court has let a narrow majority of citizens vote to take away rights from a minority group. The State Constitution and Court System are supposed to prevent such a tyranny of the majority injustice.

Anchorage Assembly to consider gay rights ordinance

Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is supportive of this effort and has recently signed on as a coalition partner of Equality Works in Anchorage.

Here is the Anchorage Daily News story regarding the recently introduced non-discrimination ordinance in Anchorage.

Assembly to consider gay rights ordinance
DISCRIMINATION BAN: Assembly proposla would also cover vets; Rev. Prevo plans fight.

A proposed ordinance to ban discrimination against homosexuals in hiring, housing and education will be considered by the Anchorage Assembly next month.

It would also ban discrimination against military veterans.

The ordinance brings to the forefront a gay rights issue that has bitterly divided Anchorage in the past, and at least one local religious leader said Tuesday he plans to battle it again.

Assemblyman Patrick Flynn, a supporter of the ordinance, said it's time Anchorage stands up for all its residents. "People are simply people," he said. "It is wrong to discriminate against them just because the person they happen to love and make a family with is the same gender."

A public hearing on the measure is set for June 9.

Acting Mayor Matt Claman, who could veto the decision if it passes the Assembly, said he supports the measure.

"In an ideal world, the code would just say, 'Thou shall not discriminate for any reason,' " Claman said.

The issue of banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation first surfaced in the mid-1970s. It was initially passed by the Assembly, but was vetoed by former Mayor George Sullivan and set off years of sometimes harsh political argument.

A similar code provision was enacted again in the early 1990s, but was struck from the code by another Assembly vote in 1993.

State law does not explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual preference. But the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that state employment benefits must be extended to the partners of gay state employees.

The Anchorage ordinance introduced Tuesday adds to the city's existing anti-discrimination code which already protects people based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age, or physical or mental disability.

"I'd like to think that we've matured enough as a community that this won't be a big deal," Flynn said Tuesday before the assembly meeting. "But I could be wrong."

But the Rev. Jerry Prevo, pastor of the Anchorage Baptist Temple, said the proposal is an example of one part of the community trying to force its values on everyone.

"It's an issue that the homosexual community is using to force homosexuality on the people," said Prevo, who also fought the first sexual orientation protections in the 1970s. He said the sponsors of the current ordinance are trying to pry open the door to broader gay rights, which he said most Alaskans don't want.

Prevo said he plans a public campaign to fight the proposed change, including taking it to the pulpit this Sunday to tell his congregation about it.

Prevo said he thinks veterans were included in the ordinance just to distract from the "sexual orientation" issue. He warned that making the proposed law could open employers and landlords to a cascade of lawsuits.

"If I were a veteran, I'd be upset that they are linking the two together," Prevo said.

Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Alaska, helped write the proposal. He said it contains a provision that allows organizations such as the Baptist Temple to legally refuse to hire people because their sexual preference conflicts with religious beliefs.

"It's unfortunate when organizations want to muddy the water and misrepresent what an actual ordinance does or says," Mittman said. "People should go to the ordinance themselves and read it."

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Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. applauds the legislature’s vote to reject Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Anchorage, Alaska -- Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. applauds the legislature’s vote to reject Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General.

Statement by Tim Stallard
Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc.

“Wayne Anthony Ross’s derogatory statements about gay Alaskans, his stance on native rights, and his views on women and domestic violence made him an incredibly polarizing and divisive figure. Many Alaskans joined us in our doubt that Ross could uphold the constitutional rights of ALL Alaskans without discrimination. We hope that Governor Palin will nominate someone who will earn the public’s trust and respect the constitutional rights of all Alaskans.”

Alaskans Together for Equality, Inc. is a political nonprofit incorporated in the State of Alaska. Our mission is to advance civil equality for all Alaskans through grass roots organizing and advocacy. Alaskans Together for Equality is the only statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in Alaska.

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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