For a single hour on June 19, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will host its first event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride Month.
It's an announcement that has received angry responses and comments on some social media platforms -- including JBER's official Facebook page -- but Alaska military representatives are standing by the event, emphasizing its importance for the inclusion of LGBT members of the armed forces.
In September 2011, the Pentagon ordered the end of "don't ask, don't tell" regulations for the military that had allowed LGBT members to serve but also ensured their ouster if they were found out. LGBT Pride Month, a militarywide observance, was declared by President Barack Obama five years ago.
The JBER event, similar to those at U.S. military installations around the world, will feature a local speaker: Drew Phoenix, executive director of Identity Inc., an LGBT educational outreach organization headquartered in downtown Anchorage. Two drag performers will also take the stage.
In the days after JBER announced the event on its official Facebook page, almost 200 commenters sounded off on the event, both for and against, though the visible majority was opposed. The comments list a variety of reasons why people believe it is unfair to single out particular groups for special days or months of celebration.
"JBER are you going to sponsor a 'straight' pride event?" Facebook commenter Phil Northam asked.
Others expressed concern about the presence of drag performers.
"A speaker is fine, a drag show is dead wrong," wrote Paul Michaels.
Despite the social media uproar, Phoenix said the Alaska military is setting a great example by hosting the LGBT Pride event, especially in a state with no local laws protecting LGBT members of the community from discrimination.
"I do want to give the military kudos because often through history, it may seem like small steps to us but they have been the leader in including previously excluded groups, historically," he said.
The JBER public affairs office, in an emailed response to questions from Alaska Dispatch News, said it was offering the event as part of the military's systemwide LGBT Pride Month celebration.
"Per Presidential Proclamation, June is recognized as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month," the office wrote. "The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI), on behalf of DoD, lists LGBT Pride Month as one of the recognized special observances."
JBER officials said a similar observance has already happened in Alaska, last year at Eielson Air Force Base south of Fairbanks. Celebrations have been held at military bases across the U.S., in Korea, Europe, and at a forward-operating base in Afghanistan. At the Pentagon's own LGBT Pride event this year -- its fifth -- Army Gen. Randy Taylor introduced his husband with little fanfare or controversy.
JBER officials insist that the base supports its LGBT members and suggest that the flood of comments on its Facebook page may not be representative of a majority opinion of its service members when it comes to LGBT issues.
"The military is made up of a cross-section of America," JBER spokesperson Jim Hart said. "LGBT service members are people who work alongside us, on the same team. You have to treat them with respect and dignity and realize that we are on the same mission."
Phoenix said he is elated that the state's biggest military base is holding an LGBT Pride event for the first time and insists he won't let a few negative Facebook comments change that.
"I didn't give it much energy," Phoenix said. "If I gave my energy to that, then I would be completely discouraged."
The JBER LGBT Pride event will begin at 1 p.m. June 19 at the Arctic Warrior Event Center.