Hours after the Alaska Watchman published a story about a controversial LGBTQ activist who had been invited to speak at the state-funded Alaska Youth Suicide Prevention Summit, organizers cancelled the talk for teens, ages 13-19.
The speaker, Brooks Banker, was set to present on Sept. 12. Following the Watchman story earlier that morning, however, he was replaced and his photo and biography were removed from the conference website.
“We had a great opportunity to have Dr. Lisa Wexler from University of Michigan,” a State Health Dept. official told the Watchman. “She specializes in youth suicide prevention, and she spoke during that time slot.”
She added Dr. Wexler was a better fit for the youth summit.
“This presenter was just much more in alignment with the goals of the conference in general,” she explained. “When we had the opportunity to do something different, it was an easy choice.”
Banker had been scheduled to talk to youth on how to navigate various forms of bullying and harassment.
As reported earlier by the Watchman, Banker’s current day job is working as a violence prevention educator with STAR (Standing Together Against Rape). Before that, he was a youth outreach programmer for the LGBTQ activist group, Identity, Inc. During that time, Banker organized, promoted and participated in drag queen story hours for toddlers and teens at Anchorage’s Loussac Library.
In his off hours he’s better known as “Goldie Delicious,” a buxom, bearded drag queen who dances in gay bars, and for Democrat fundraisers, children’s story hours and left-leaning nonprofits. His Instagram account describes him as a “Lip Quivering Queen & Anchorage’s Original Bearded Babe.”
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Banker has spoken at Alaska Health Department events in the past. In a 2022 “LeadOn” conference Banker spoke to Alaska youth about the “spectrum” of gender identities and urged them to be aware of perceived “inequities” experienced by the LGBTQ2IA+ community and how to support those who claim to be sexual and gender diverse.
The 2025 Alaska Youth Suicide Prevention Summit took place at the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage. The stated aim was to provide youth with a “safe space to explore mental wellness, connect with peers, and gain tools to better understand yourself and those around you.”
12 Comments
Thank the good sense of those who removed him from that speakership time. I hope all other groups wil follow the example.
Well done, Joel. 🙂
“When we had the opportunity to do something different, it was an easy choice.”
Duh, the public found out and spoke up.
Yes Thank You Joel.
Why is the State of Alaska doing funding this? Didn’t Trump issue an ordered for the DEI crap to stop, why is the Governor allowing this to happen?
BECAUSE Arnold, THIS GOD FORSAKEN GOVERNOR DOESN’T HAVE THE SENSIBLE CAPACITY IN HIM TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT!!! YOUR A LITTLE LATE TO RECOGNIZE THAT DUNLEAVY ISNT JUST A LITTLE COMPROMISED, HES COMPLETELY SOLD OUT TO THE RUEBENSTIEN/ SOROS REPUBLICANS!!! THE VALLEY’S MEDIOCRE CHRISTIANS EVEN EMBRACE HIM!!! OUR CONSERVATIVE PROBLEMS ARE INSURMOUNTABLE!!!
Why is the State of Alaska funding suicide prevention for youth? Because Alaska has some of the highest rates in the country.
So who the heck was responsible for booking Brooks Banker?
PUNKS IN CHARGE! NEVER HELD ACCOUNTABE!
This is unfortunate. Brooks is a wonderful role model for youth and even other adults in our community. Maybe we can arrange for him to talk to y’all about your bullying behavior and its effects.
sure butt Willie keep his pants on?
It is strange that previous comments that supported Brooks are now missing from this page. Hmm. What selective censorship…
I think that removing Brooks as a presenter is a true representation of our political climate where hate and discrimination are allowed to run rampant. Having booked Brooks myself for several events, he is an EXCELLENT speaker and is able to relate to our youth in a way that doesn’t make them feel talked at but talked to. Shame on the Alaska Department of Health for not standing up for ALL members of our society.