Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Anchorage’s NRP affiliate reports:
An Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica investigation published last week revealed the attorney general directed the Alaska Commission for Human Rights to void equal protections for LGBTQ Alaskans in areas like housing and financing.
On Wednesday, the state’s first-ever out, queer lawmakers sponsored a bill in the Alaska House to enshrine anti-discrimination protections in law. For LGBTQ Alaskans, it’s long overdue.
Representative Jennie Armstrong, a West Anchorage Democrat who filed the bill, said it’s both a human rights issue and an economic one, for a state that is facing a deep labor shortage as people leave for opportunities Outside.
Read the full article. As noted in last week’s report, the move to void LGBTQ protections was done without public notice at the demand of a local Christian group.
On Wednesday, Alaska’s first-ever out, queer lawmakers sponsored a bill to enshrine anti-discrimination protections in law. For LGBTQ Alaskans, it’s long overdue.https://t.co/M89vBYnCAL
— KTOO (@KTOOpubmedia) March 11, 2023
Alaska has never had statewide LGBTQ+ protections in statute, but the Alaska State Commission on Human Rights (@ASCHR7) announced in 2021 that Alaska’s LGBTQ+ protections extended beyond the workplace to housing, government practices, finance & public accommodation.
— Rep. Jennie Armstrong (@rep_jennie) March 11, 2023
In 2022, following a request made by a conservative Christian group, Attorney General Treg Taylor advised that these protections for LGBTQ+ folks be rolled back.
— Rep. Jennie Armstrong (@rep_jennie) March 11, 2023
My team began working earlier this year on legislation to ensure everyone is protected from discrimination, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation. Our bill draft was completed in February, and we filed our bill on Monday: https://t.co/dNrk4yapKF
— Rep. Jennie Armstrong (@rep_jennie) March 11, 2023
The next day, Governor Dunleavy held a press conference announcing a bill that is an attack on LGBTQ+ youth. You can read an article from @adndotcom detailing it here: https://t.co/i5UX1Z3ofZ pic.twitter.com/hnIw5oBhJ3
— Rep. Jennie Armstrong (@rep_jennie) March 11, 2023
In its more than 60-year history, Alaska has never had an openly LGBT state lawmaker.
After this year’s election, Andrew Gray, Ashley Carrick and Jennie Armstrong are set to be the first three openly LGBT Alaska legislators in January. #akleg https://t.co/DeY0H7qpKl
— Wesley Early (@wesley_early) November 18, 2022