Under the current administration of Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, the city used public resources and departments to promote, fund and celebrate LGBTQ sexuality and identity.
In addition to having the city be an official sponsor of the recent Anchorage Pride parade, Mayor LaFrance enthusiastically waved rainbow signs and wore a “Pride” shirt as she joined a litany of sexually suggestive drag queens, abortion advocates and myriad businesses and non-profits in flaunting alternative sexual orientations through downtown Anchorage.
The municipal library joined the foray with a van promoting its mobile library. Likewise, the city’s health clinic had a float. Additionally, LaFrance flew an LGBTQ flag from City Hall, and at least one Anchorage Police vehicle was adorned with a rainbow flag.
Four A’s (Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association) was the primary nonprofit sponsor. Other benefactors underwriting this year’s Pride spectacle included: Andrew and Vicky Halcro, Me & Meda, ConocoPhillips, Choosing Our Roots, Chugach Dental, Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, GCI, The Mobilization Center, Nations Law Group, Nordstrom Rack, Pablo’s Bicycle Rentals, Planned Parenthood, St. John United Methodist Church, Stoel Rives LLP and the Pride Foundation.
Radio stations KOOL 97.3 and MIX 103.1 were listed on the official parade banner.
Several left-leaning churches participated in the parade or hosted a booth. This included Trinity Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church of Hope, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Church, Turnagain United Methodist Church and St. John United Methodist Church.
The Catholic-identified hospital – Providence Alaska Medical Center – had a banner in the parade.
Other groups that had a presence in the parade included Alaska Airlines, Fred Meyer, Rasmuson Foundation, GCI, STAR Alaska, YWCA, Anchorage Women’s Clinic, Credit Union 1, Crush restaurant, Alaskans for Public Lands, BMW of Anchorage, Alaska Women’s Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Miss Anchorage, Miss Alaska, Alaska Rainbow Elders and others.
Groups that posted images and messages in support of Pride celebrations included: UAA, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Volunteers of America (VOA-Alaska), United Way of Anchorage and Wild Scoops ice cream.
Politicians and political candidates at the sexuality celebration included Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Tom Begich, Forrest Dunbar, Matt Schultz and Meda Dewitt, among others.
