Anchorage LGBTQ community calls latest actions 'Dehumanizing'
Dehumanizing, neglected and fear — those are only three words used by members of Anchorage's LGBTQ community Thursday, when asked about the potential changes surrounding members of the community on both the national and local fronts.
"I thought we had made such progress even within my lifespan," said Brooks Banker, who identifies as queer and is the organizer of Q-Club. "Of the history that the LGBTQ community does have, I’m confused as to how anyone, and we ourselves as a country and nation, could digress," Banker said.
Q-Club is a club through Identity Inc. geared toward providing resources, and support, to LGBTQ youth.
Banker said he felt legal rights impacting the LGBTQ community made significant strides, particularly under the Obama administration and in recent years.
"It’s unfortunate, because I think these youth have been feeling more empowered in the last five years," he said.
Banker said propelling hate and encouraging bullying are his concerns for the future, under the Trump administration.
"People take what he (Trump) says as an example, and will lead with that," Banker said. "As opposed to uplifting people who are marginalized in our community and supporting them and talking about them in a positive way - leading by example to be loving, and kind and caring."
One of Anchorage's first openly gay assembly members to be elected, Felix Rivera, said he would like to see Alaskans working on other issues, like economic stability and homelessness.
"Stop trying to put these nonsensical initiatives on the ballot," said Rivera. "Because we have quite frankly other things to be focusing on."
He added that to target specific members of the community is dehumanizing.
"We have just as much right to exist, to serve in the military, to live, work and play, in this country, as anyone else," said Rivera.
In continuing progress in the fight for equality, Banker said, "There's absolutely more work."
