A report from Anchorage's "True Diversity" dinner with photos

[Blue_In_AK]

Some of you may remember that I posted last summer about the attempt by the Anchorage Assembly to pass a GLBT antidiscrimination ordinance. Public testimony was taken week after week, with the vote being prolonged by the anti-ordinance members of the assembly until after the newly elected conservative mayor could be sworn in. Despite the fact that the ordinance passed the assembly by one vote, as expected, the new mayor, Dan Sullivan, vetoed the ordinance.

Flash forward to the present. September is "Celebrate Diversity" month in Anchorage, and in years past a "diversity dinner" has been held at the end of the month with awards and performances by people from across the spectrum of Anchorage's very diverse population. Well, this year, Dan Sullivan decided instead to hold a "unity" dinner, not to celebrate our diversity, but (allegedly) to celebrate our "oneness" as a community. To add insult to injury, the "unity" dinner was to be held in the Hilton Hotel, the one hotel in Anchorage presently being picketed by the mostly minority workers at the hotel who are protesting unfair treatment by management AND the featured speaker was to be Lynn Swann, whose expenses were being paid by the state Republican party and who would be appearing at other Republican events while he is here.

Naturally, this whole arrangement didn't sit well with our Progressive bloggers and other local progressive groups, so rather than protest the "unity" dinner, in short order they arranged a "True Diversity" dinner to be held at the same time, last night, but a couple of blocks away. The True Diversity dinner was a rousing success, with all the tickets sold out beforehand, and a great time was had by all. Here are a few photos from the event.

We started out with some singing and dancing by a young Inupiat dance group.





Assemblywoman Elvi Gray-Jackson worked tirelessly throughout the summer for the ordinance.


Congressional candidate in 2006 and 2008 and my very dear friend Diane Benson spoke of the struggles of Native Alaskans to achieve equality. Diane's documentary on civil rights in Alaska premiered at the American Indian museum in DC a couple of days ago and will be shown on PBS sometime in November.


I do not recall this woman's name, but she is pastor of a spiritual center here, and she spoke movingly of the difference between "tolerance," "acceptance" and "appreciation" of our differences. She was a fantastic speaker.


Followed by the keynote speaker, Shannyn Moore, fresh from her appearance earlier in the day on Countdown with Lawrence O'Donnell.


Shannyn and Ms. Daphne from Mad Myrna's, Anchorage's premier gay bar.


Democratic candidate for governor, Bob Poe, presents an award


Assemblywoman Sheila Selkregg accepts an award for print excellence on behalf of her daughter Julia O'Malley who writes a column for the Anchorage Daily News.


Mel Green accepts her award in the field of "excellence in online media" for her blog Henkimaa http://www.henkimaa.com/ which is probably the best place to go for background on this whole issue.


A speaker whose name I didn't get from the Alaska ACLU


I also didn't get this lady's name, but I just love the photo. :)


Bob Poe sharing photos with a couple of nationally-known local "anonymous bloggers."


Shannyn


And even Senator Begich stopped by following his health care town hall.

[MadMaddie]

1. There is something about genuine smiles and body

body language that touches me.

Looks like the event was a success.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. It really was a great event.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority has a very nice post about it which you might enjoy. He's always so funny. http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2009/09/senators-diversity-and-famous-authors.html

[MadMaddie]

3. Great Read!!! The event is even better than I thought.

I do want to read Max Blumenthal's Republican Gomorrah, I hear it is a really good explanation of the fall of the Repugs.

http://www.amazon.com/Republican-Gomorrah-Inside-Movement-Shattered/dp/1568583982

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I'm excited to be hearing him speak tomorrow from 12:30 -2:30

at the UU church which is about a half block from my home. I'm listening to him on Shannyn Moore's show right now. :)